But Echo 3 called a warning. "Echo 1, the five lead ships have matched our turn. They must be vector thrust capable too. They're trying to get on our tails!"
"Damn!" The President muttered. "Alpha 2, 3, and 4, turn to meet the vector ships. Alpha 5, stay with me."
There was a moment's hesitation then 2, 3, and 4 all answered, "Yes, sir!" and turned away.
"5," The President continued you take the two ships on board, I'll take the lead ship and two starboard."
"Shouldn't that be the other way around, sir?" Echo 5 answered.
"I'm a better shot, son!" The President answered. "Missiles activated. I've got a lock. Here's where the fun begins!"
Three of The President's missiles went away, the only problem was the enemy was firing at him, too. He destroyed one of their missiles with countermeasures, dodged another, and a third fizzled, exploding far from him. His missiles, however, had much better success. Two enemy planes were blown to pieces. Only one pilot ejected. A third exploded short, but did damage, and the enemy pilot turned and fled for home. Echo 5 did just as good. Their own targets dealt with they turned to help their companions. But they didn't need much help.
Two of their targets were speeding away and three were plummeting earthward. By the time The President and his companions reached the others they were heading back for South Korea.
"The other five got behind us!" Echo 3 warned. "They're at maximum range...they're firing, turning and heading for home. Damn! They threw all their missiles at us! We've got 20 missiles coming at us!"
"Use your countermeasures!" The President ordered.
"This is Alpha 2," a voice cried, "my countermeasures aren't working! I must have taken a hit and didn't know it."
The President throttled back, got behind Alpha 2 so that his countermeasures protected both of them. He used all he had. There were explosions all around them, but finally they stopped.
"Whoa!" The President cried. "I felt the heat of that last one!"
"I believe it," came the voice of Alpha 3. "The paint's seared on your wings, sir."
The President suddenly noticed a warning light. "Oh oh!" he remarked, "Losing cockpit pressure. Got a leak somewhere. Going down! Stay high and cover me, gentlemen!"
The President descended to five hundred feet. "Whoa, better!" he finally managed. "Oops! I just lost my navigational display! Now, my tactical! I'm flying by eyeball and rudder, gentlemen! Gentlemen?"
The President suddenly realized his radio was gone. He looked to his left and found Alpha 3 off his wing. Alpha 3 tapped his earpiece. The President pointed to his microphone, shook his head, then with hand signals told Alpha 3 to lead him in. He found the air field, lowered his landing gear, and matching Alpha 3's speed, went in. It wasn't until the last moment he realized he had no way of telling if his landing gear was down or not. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the screech of tires hitting pavement.
A follow me truck picked him up at the end of the runway. The President followed it to a hangar, brought her inside, shut down his engines, and just sat there, as a crowd of airmen surrounded his plane, clapping and cheering.

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