All innocence is lost

Innocence lost

The tanker heaves left, and pulls away.
Fuel spray glistens with brilliant light.
Caribbean sunlight fills the spectre's windows.
My mind races through roaring silence.
The turbo props hum in unison.
Mere seconds left to go.
Black suet clouds fill the air around us.
Then, the silence is broken.
Shards slam into the fuselage.
I swallow hard.
All other thought escape my memory.
Focus it's time to go.
The crow's nest operator nods.
I tighten the straps around me.
I pause, pray, and squeeze the Vulcan's trigger.
A violent burst erupts below.
Air rushes past, disoriented I look down.
A large hole to the right of my feet.
I look around at Tipper.
I see concern in his eyes.
"Kick an ammo box into it," he said.
I do so, kicking spent shells around.
The wind is not as strong, filling the hole.
I return fire with renewed intent.
Can't let them shoot us down.
Bullets spray a spiral arc from my chain gun.
The bofor cannons shake the ship violently.
Their operators smile with clear intent.
We drop altitude to close the gap between us.
The worst of it is yet before us.
All innocence is lost.