“How many” said Boss leaning over the shoulder of the radar operator

“Six, just their side of the border, flying a patrol pattern. But they are very close to it, could be over and here in 30”

“I thought those bastards had been a bit too quiet”

“Get airborne!” Snapped the old man from his office as he kicked the door shut. Boss looked at the expectant faces of the squadron looking up at him from the plotting room floor.

“I’m ready!” said Skit going for his flight suite.

“You are still off your head on drugs bunny – sit down. Snowy and Peter” (who the fuck calls their rabbit son Peter for gods sake! Had they not heard the song) “time to get your feet wet!”

The two next most able rabbits grabbed their crash helmets and grinned like idiots. The rest of the squadron murmured various “not fairs” and “good lucks” and got out of their way.

“I am better. So what about the drugs – won’t need a plain to fly” Skit moaned as he sat in the corner fingering the crescent shaped hole in his ear – the only outwardly visible mark of his first combat mission against the Howling Fuck up Monkey Squadrons.

“Boss, I am still on the combat roster” Said Hazel softly as he went past.

“Someone has to teach this lot if I don’t get back Hazel. That’s you and Skits job. If it all goes pear shaped of course”

And with that he and the two other Rabbits were running up the concrete stair way and out into the sun, across the grass to the runway, towards the three ready SU37s’
This is being alive! thought Boss.
“Right” he shouted “Time to kick some arse or die trying”
Snowy turned half way up the ladder to his fighter and flashed Boss a thumbs up, a big grin splitting the black fur of his face. Peter was already in his and checking through his systems.
Up the ladder, strap in, quick pre flight check and taxi as fast as possible to the runway.

As the three fighters left the ground in close formation boss checked left and right and looked right again. The cheeky little puppies of Peters ground crew had painted a big black fly onto the nose cone of his plane!

“Christ!” Said Boss “Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose!”

“Not half!” came Peters reply. God he sounds happy, he could be in bits in 30 minutes, Boss shook his head. Enough.

They climbed up into the clear blue sky at full throttle and gained height as fast as possible, Afterburners glowing like the fires of hell.

“Right Snowy, your our top cover and Flyboy – your on my six”

“Hey, I got a cool nickname already. And this my first combat mission as well!” you could hear Peter grinning over the radio.

I just hope I get a chance to use it again, thought Boss.