"I'm going too."
"I'm going as well!"
"The leader is our Eighteenth Squadron's leader; how can he go on a mission without the Eighteenth Squadron!"
"Damn it, leaving our leader to other squadrons' people, I won't have it!"
"We came out with the leader, and we go back with the leader!"
More and more fighters left the escort formation and set off after Zhao Chen.
"You… you are leaving your posts; that defies military orders!" Deputy Leader Li was beside himself.
Old Liu's voice came again, with a trace of calm: "And what if it does? The leader took this task to keep us safe. And set only the one condition. That our Eighteenth Squadron need not take part. For a leader like that… I'll defy military orders today!"
Of the hundred-odd Eighteenth Squadron fighters, seventy or eighty had left by now, and still more kept peeling away.
One middle-aged man held his head in both hands, the flesh of his face trembling, tears running down.
In his hand he gripped a pendant, and inside it a photograph of a mother and daughter.
"I promised them I'd leave the service after this one. That I'd take them and we'd live well. I promised them… I have to get back alive… I have to get back alive… They can't be left without me… I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
There were no few others torn the same way.
For this mission's danger was far beyond anything before.
They might well be wiped out to the last!
To go might truly mean no chance of living.
"Reporting, temporary supply base 06. Large numbers of Eighteenth Squadron fighters assigned to guard the base have suddenly left the area!"
A subordinate spoke to the general, who sat grave-faced in his captain's chair.
"General! The Eighteenth Squadron has left its post in defiance of orders. They should be punished severely!" The middle-aged staff officer from before stepped forward and said it at once.
The general's cold eyes settled on this staff officer.
He said, "Where are these Eighteenth Squadron fighters flying?"
"All… all of them after their squadron leader's craft," the subordinate reported.
Hearing this, the general closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
"Knowing it a mission of nine parts death. He goes willingly, for his squadron's sake. And his squadron, for his sake, follows him to the death. Such a superior, such subordinates. Had I their like, what more could I ask?"
The general opened his eyes, and his cold gaze settled on the middle-aged staff officer.
"Staff Officer Jin. If I remember rightly, the Fifth Flight Group's leader is your nephew. When Zhao Chen joined the Third Flight Group, he became the target of every arrow over the two groups' quarrel about precedence. To keep your rivals down. You truly have abandoned every scruple. Staff Officer Jin. Or is it that the Fifth Flight Group has given you something?"
Staff Officer Jin broke out in a sweat at once.
And bowed his head. "General! I failed to learn the situation and spoke rashly. I beg to be punished!"
He was bitterly sorry now that he had moved so hastily against the Eighteenth Squadron.
But that squadron's rise truly threatened his faction's interests.
"I do not wish to have factional quarrels aboard my carrier. Still less to see such quarrels used on the battlefield!"
The general said coldly, "If I remember rightly, Staff Officer Jin's last medical was poor. Staff Officer Jin has served me faithfully these years. That being so, retire to the second line early. When this war is over I will see to your placement. For now you may go and rest. Hand your work to others."
Staff Officer Jin did not know how he walked off the bridge.
His face was all regret.
He was in his prime, and had been put on the second line.
Which meant he had no hope left of climbing.
Which made him hate Zhao Chen the more: it was all this fellow's doing that he stood where he did.
Yet the corners of his mouth turned up despite himself.
"Zhao Chen, and what if you are strong? What if you can command? Go and carry out that intercept. A million fighters against thirty thousand warships. You are certain to die! And if you flinch and pull back early, I can find someone to impeach you then. Shirking before the enemy, harming the strategic plan. Great merits or not, you would not escape it!" Staff Officer Jin sneered.
On the bridge, the general rubbed his chin and sighed. "Assign other squadrons to fill the Eighteenth Squadron's place. Do not stop those of them who wish to follow Zhao Chen. As for those who did not go. Let them be."
"Yes."
——————
By now Zhao Chen had noticed the fighters 'trailing' him.
He frowned and at once opened the command channel he had closed.
"Li Da! What is the meaning of this? Did I not tell you to keep the squadron on escort duty!" There was anger in Zhao Chen's voice.
At which Li Da felt thoroughly wronged.
Caught in the middle, he could please no one.
Carrying out his leader's orders, and not one of the brothers would listen to him.
And now his leader was taking him to task as well.
"Squadron Leader… it truly isn't my fault… They found out what mission you were going on. Every one of them defied orders outright and came after you. I… I couldn't stop them!" Li Da sounded so aggrieved he was nearly in tears.
"Squadron Leader, it truly isn't Li Da's doing. We came of our own will."
"That's right, we came because we wanted to!"
"You're carrying out the task from above. You're the Eighteenth Squadron's leader; how can you not take the Eighteenth Squadron with you!"
As he listened to the voices on the channel,
something moved in Zhao Chen.
He said heavily, "But you must understand how dangerous this mission is. I cannot possibly guarantee you…"
"Squadron Leader, since we've come, we don't fear death. To tell the truth, from the moment we set out on this secret strike, we've been standing at the cliff's edge. It was you who brought us through alive. Our lives are yours. We agreed on it. When we go home, we go home together!"
"I've heard of a leader leaving his men and running. I've never heard of men leaving their leader to save their own skins!"
"Squadron Leader, we're not afraid to die!"
Listening to his subordinates, Zhao Chen clenched his fists.
He kept his voice level. "There is still time to turn back. Follow any farther and you will have no chance to leave."
Few spoke on the channel.
But the markers pressing after him on the radar said everything.
"I'm no coward clinging to life. If… don't you think of leaving me behind. But… if… if I can't get back alive. I'd trouble my brothers to look after my wife and daughter." A middle-aged man's voice came over the channel, thick with tears.
Everyone knew him.
For he was forever showing off his daughter's picture.
And his discharge papers were already filed.
Once this campaign ended he could leave the service, go home to his own place and the second line, and be with his wife and daughter.