Mission: Pilot a MH-9 Hummingbird by RobJ
Link: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=270827866&searchtext=
We had just returned from a successful, but stressful, Search and Rescue mission. We took small arms fire on the approach but got in quickly and got out even quicker - all without taking scratch. As we were refueling at the FARP, the Battle Captain came across the net: Apparently the locals had gotten a little stir crazy and wanted to play - A recon mission near the town of Athira had gone sour, and a team of grunts had just called in an emergency extraction after taking contact with a sizable enemy force.
Contact was likely so it was important that my co-pilot and I studied the map, ensuring that we applied the fundamentals of terrain analysis. The factory where the grunts were holed up was nestled beneath a hill, only a few hundred meters from town. We decided that it would be too risky to approach from the hill, given the sudden change in elevation and the possibility that we would take too much fire. Our other option wasn't any better; approach low and fast from the Northeast, circle around town to the West to gain situational awareness, then swing in from the south at the factory. It wasn't great, but then again time was not on our side.
Refueling complete. Time to haul ass!
Our Foward Base / FARP is set Northwest of a mountain range. The MH-9 is a small aircraft designed for low-level reconnaissance. It doesn't handle mountains very well, and is limited with its maneuverability at higher elevations. In other words, we are extremely vulnerable as we pass through the mountains. A well placed RPG or Anti Aircraft Missile would make quick work of us.
We have a visual on Athira in the distance, as well as the factory. We don't see any tracers or signs of combat. This could mean things are quiet, or on the other hand it could mean the recon team has already been overrun.
Still no signs of contact as we approach our LZ.
Change of plans - we make radio contact with our squishy friends. They need extraction, immediately. We quickly assess the situation and have no contact with enemy forces. We head straight for the LZ.
Contact, small arms! Enemy forces open up on us as we move to our LZ. They waited until we were low and slow on the approach to open up - a smart enemy. Our engine is hit, but there's no visual sign of damage.
We find a clearing behind a 2-story building that will give us protection while we load the recon team - a great advantage with the size of the MH-9. All the while, enemy tracers are flying all around us and the distinct
crack sound echoes throughout the factory complex.
All personnel loaded with no casualties, surprisingly! We suffered minor damage to our engine but luck is still on our side. Using the terrain and the advantage of the MH-9 we haul ass away from the LZ low and quickly. All the while, we are taking a significant amount of small arms fire.
One last obstacle and we're home free - the mountains South of the FOB. As we begin our ascent across the mountains, I notice a significant weakness in our controls. Our throttle begins to stutter as our engine produces a weird buzzing sound. I take the mountains low, following a road that leads through the pass. I'm flying low, our engine is hurting, and we are sitting ducks for any lucky enemy fighter. My co-pilot warns me about the risk of our flight path, but there's no time. I don't think we have much left in our engine.
Fortunately, our reliable MH-9 holds out through the pass and we safely return to base. "You guys got us out of there right in time! remarked the Recon team leader, who was far more relaxed than I was. The maintenance crew begins to perform post-operations maintenance, to get us back in the air as quick as possible. However, for my co-pilot and I that means we'll get a good night rest while the crew works on our bird.