The Robo Soviet Saga Part One: Exodus Chapter 1: Prologue, a sonic the hedgehog fanfic

Hey, folks. I'm still alive. For the time being, I've run into a severe case of writer's block on Anaconda. I guess writing along the lines of counter-terror operations was harder than I thought. My apologies to anyone waiting on that story. Since this is a new series, I'm turning to the old Cold War theme for inspiration; massive armies, nukes, and large scale battles. As usual with my stories, modern firearms will be used along with current events, current politics, and existing and near future technology. Hope you like.

On a side note, some revisions have been made. Most of them are chronological in nature, although there are some that affect the backstory. To those who read the first version, it may serve you well to browse through and reread the first three chapters.

The first decade of the new millennium saw the Earth survive a handful of near apocalyptic crises: Perfect Chaos, the ARK Incident, Metal Overlord, and Black Doom to name a few. It also saw more governments ousted than any other in history. Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Taiwan reunited with China, and Korea reunified, but by the end of the decade, a war-fatigued world was not prepared for what would happen next. On 1 December, 2011, exiled former Soviet mad scientist Dr. Ivo Robotnik marshaled up his fleet of four egg carriers and troop transports, slipped into Russian airspace using a curtain of heavy electronic jamming and electromagnetic weaponry to disable the early warning radar systems, and blindsided every city, major military installation, and industrial complex in the Russian Federation. With an estimated strength of a little less than 1 million ground forces and aircraft, and Russia's military scattered and disorganized, it only took 16 days for Robotnik to completely nullify the military and oust the government, and by the middle of 2012, he had begun his march on the other breakaway republics of the Soviet Union with the immediate goal of reuniting the Soviet Union under his rule. One by one, the former republics capitulated. Estonia, Lithuania, and Georgia, NATO members by that time, even revoked their membership, and began to toe Robotnik's line. Although the rest of the world suspects foul play, nobody can do anything about it short of an act of war. By early 2013, the only five former republics not yet overrun, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, are standing by to be overrun. And thus, a new war is about to begin...

Homestead, Florida U.S.A. Old Homestead Air Reserve Base, 'The Strip'. March 4, 2013. 1145 hours...

Homestead Air Reserve Base was home to the 482nd Fighter Wing and its subordinate units until 2010, when the latest round of base closings claimed the South Florida base along with a handful of others. Sonic and Tails, seeing the opportunity to use the unused runway and empty hangars for their own equipment, quickly petitioned the governor of Florida to allow them to take ownership of the derelict airfield, which was granted within 24 hours of the request. In the year and some change since Dr. Robotnik assumed dictatorship of the New U.S.S.R., Sonic and Tails made so heavy use of the base they decided to move out of their apartment and take up permanent residence.

Now, the only activity right now is Tails continuing to work on a new aircraft within a hangar's vast expanse while Sonic listened intently to a CNN report regarding the invasion's refugees in an office not too far from it.

"Right now, up to two million refugees from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are scattered across about fifteen camps in Poland." The reporter stated amid a live backdrop of tents and a mass of humans and anthropomorphs alike. "And as the refugee population continues to grow, the camps' grim states of sanitation, food, and supplies continues to worsen. The International Committee of the Red Cross is now openly looking for medical volunteers anywhere to help stem and eventually improve condit--"

"Son of a bitch." Sonic swore under his breath as he turned off the TV and left the room. How could Robotnik do this? A few months after the doctor came into power, stories started filtering out of the New Soviet Union about his gulags; 'political reeducation' camps whose brutality would've made Joseph Stalin proud. Political prisoners, resistance members, pretty much anybody who was foolish enough to openly oppose his new government would soon find themselves, and their families snatched up in the middle of the night, and shipped somewhere in Siberia to work at a labor camp.

And yet, Sonic couldn't do a thing to stop it.

In the past six months Sonic and Tails made three attempts to infiltrate Moscow and eliminate the doctor. However, Robotnik had turned the city into a fortress with heavy anti-air and anti-ground assets, and the two were lucky to have escaped the New Soviet Union alive.

And now, Sonic could do nothing but seethe as the doctor's droid armies marched on virtually unchecked.

Sonic walked into the base's lone occupied hangar, to find Tails downing the last of a bottle of water. At eighteen years old, the Gemini-tailed fox had grown as tall as him, and still had his passion for aviation and mechanics. "Tails, how's the 'bird'?" He asked.

The younger fox gave a thumbs up. "Just finished installing the new radar about half an hour ago." With a smile, he added. "Hey, it won't have the tank busting reputation of an A-10, but we should handle ground threats much better now."

The "bird" Sonic was referring to was the Hurricane, originally built by Tails solely as an air dominance fighter three years ago to combat Robotnik's fleet of Egg Carriers with precise, crippling surgical attacks. Agile, stealthy, and fast with unique switchblade variable geometry wings, the Hurricane was well-suited for its original task. However, since the doctor took over Russia and the majority of the rest of the former Soviet Union, an abundance of ground threats manifested themselves in the battle, and became a problem as the Hurricane had no anti-ground capabilities whatsoever. After the duo's third unsuccessful foray into the New Soviet Union, Tails made the decision to install a new multi-mode radar fully compatible with all of NATO's air-to-ground weapons systems from unguided gravity bombs to anti-ship missiles, to the vaunted Joint Direct Attack Munition, to even the anti-ship missiles converted for anti-Egg Carrier use. Furthermore, Tails had installed a heavier 27mm Mauser cannon to complement the aircraft's incumbent 20mm Vulcan cannon, and both can be fired independently or in linked mode.

As an afterthought, Tails warned. "But, even with the upgrades, I suggest not going straight for the throat again. Not while we have no on the spot support with the UN holding NATO on a short leash about starting open war with Eggman."

"Since when has the UN been able to make NATO stand down?" Sonic countered. "Back in 2003, it didn't stop the US and Britain from forming a coalition to invade Iraq. Right now, the only thing keeping NATO, hell, any country from open war with Eggman is politics. Frankly, with the world as it was back in '10 and '11, Eggman timed his plan perfectly."

Tails had to give him that one. The Republican Party lost the blessing of the war-weary American people after spending the better part of the first decade of the new millennium at war in Iraq. Although all objectives were achieved and insurgencies minimized, some pundits point that conflict the main reason the Republicans lost control of the White House, and now the less hawkish Democrats are enjoying a period of great popularity.

"In case you missed it, the new UN Secretary-General is Canadian." Tails reminded. "As such, the UN will have a much bigger influence on NATO than it did in the past."

"... I guess..." Sonic muttered and glanced down at his watch. 11:55, it read. "Hey, wanna lock up and get some lunch? It's time to relax for once, man."

"Cool."

Langley, Virginia USA. CIA Headquarters. 1430 hours...

"It's confirmed, Mr. Director. Dr. Robotnik's Iron Curtain has entered Kazakhstan."

From the corner of the CIA's satellite surveillance room, paramilitary agent Rouge the Bat watched as the realtime satellite images continued to stream onto the room's big multiscreen display. The college town of Semey, called Semipalatinsk in its Old Soviet days, looked completely occupied with two divisions, and three other divisions looked to be racing south and west.

"Curiously, Semipalatinsk was the first city to be captured by Robotnik's forces." An analyst said. "Astana is reporting its military bases and outposts are being bombarded with heavy artillery fire, airstrikes, and cruise missiles."

Rouge felt it was time to make her presence known. "Hold on a second. Wasn't Semipalatinsk a former nuclear testing site?" Rouge asked.

"That's right." Director James Wilhelm, a former career Army officer pushing fifty, nodded. He had earned his worth within the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion, eventually becoming the battalion's commander before retiring.

"Also, Semey was home to a handful of ICBM missile silos before they were all destroyed in 1994." The director further explained. "However, I don't think the testing ranges there are reason enough to leave two divisions there. There's gotta be something else there..."

"Mr. Director! We got President Palmer on secure." Another analyst announced, holding up the secure line.

"I'll be right there. Everyone else, keep an eye on Semey." Wilhelm took the receiver from the analyst, and after a deep breath to relax himself, put it up to his ear. "Yes, Mr. President?"

"Mr. Director, I just received a call from Chinese Premier Ma Ruikai." President Palmer's Southern drawl sounded over the line. "You remember those old Soviet missile silos near Semipalatinsk, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"The Chinese have intel that Robotnik's forces have rebuilt one of the silos and is loaded with a ballistic missile. Do you know about this?"

Wilhelm had to bite his tongue to keep the shock of this revelation in. The retired Lieutenant Colonel quickly scanned the satellite image of Semipalatinsk, but came up blank.

Palmer laughed humorlessly. "I thought you wouldn't, not relying completely on satellites anyway. Beijing has had agents on the ground for the past seven months in and around Semey, and they barely spotted the sites. Apparently, Robotnik's had sleeper cells inside Kazakhstan for a few years preparing for something like this. According to the Chinese, they were very careful to camouflage the site. The agents were able to infiltrate the control center and confirm the birds are aimed at targets in China before they were killed. Right afterwards, Ma got served notice from Robotnik, said if the Middle Kingdom tried a stunt like that again, he'll launch the nukes. And until those nukes are gone, the PLA isn't going beyond its borders."

"So, I guess they're relying on our newfound cooperation, huh?" Wilhelm surmised. Taiwan's peaceful absorption into the PRC in early 2010 amid sweeping changes of Beijing's policy effectively erased the biggest obstacle hindering Sino-American relations, and the two world powers even participated in a naval exercise off of Wake Island later that year. There was even talk going around about making China an honorary member of NATO. "Anyway, my paramilitary is stretched thin, with everyone locked in to deploy to Germany--"

"Excuse me, Mr. Director?" Rouge piped up. "Can I make a suggestion?"

"One moment, Mr. President." Wilhelm put down the receiver. "What is it?"

"What about Sonic? Right now, he's at the point of frustration over not being able to hit the home run ball. Suggesting that he blow up a nuke might persuade him to stop going on his suicide missions to Moscow."

While Wilhelm thought about it, she gave him more to think about. "Come on. He's completely independent, can't be traced to any agency, or to the government. Eggman knows this, too."

"Alright, I'll suggest it to the President." Wilhelm picked up the receiver. "Mr. President, how about Sonic? You know he'll take any opportunity to inflict some sort of damage to Robotnik."

Palmer thought for a moment. "Hmm... I don't like relying on freelancers, but he may be our best bet. However, should he fail, I want someone ready to go."

"Yes, Mr. President." With that, the line went dead, and Wilhelm hung up the phone. "Alright, Rouge, I'll contact Chinese Military Intelligence to try and pinpoint this silo. Then, I'll declassify the images myself, and you're free to send'em out."

"Thanks, Mr. Director." Rouge took her leave. "Sonic, I hope you appreciate me doing this..."

Homestead, Florida USA. 'The Strip'. 1645 hours.

Tails looked up from inside the Hurricane's opened cockpit, hearing Sonic walk inside the hangar from the office. "How's it looking?" He asked.

Sonic groaned. "Just for the record, I hate politics. So much time is spent yapping about making something happen instead of doing it. I've had more than my fill of CNN for one day. Supposedly, the UN is close to passing some type of new super alliance resolution, supposed to bring all permanent members of the Security Council under it."

Since Robotnik had either killed or imprisoned Russia's legitimate government, and nobody in their right mind would recognize his, Germany had taken Russia's place as a permanent member of the Security Council.

"Really? I didn't know China and the US warmed to each other that much." Tails commented.

"Things aren't all gravy between Washington and Beijing yet. That's why the UK and Germany are the linchpins in this effort." Sonic sighed. "God, I hate politics."

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" A familiar feminine voice called out.

"We're in here, Ames." Sonic answered.

Moments later, the pink hedgehog stepped into the hangar. No longer the obsessive fangirl of her adolescent years, at 23 year old, Amy had blossomed into an intelligent and beautiful young woman, currently in college majoring in sports medicine. She had long since retired her trademark red dress, and now wore a pair of cutoffs with a pink Puma baby T-shirt, and a pair of trendy Timbaland boots, and had allowed her quills to grow out to her mid-back. As he expected, any extremes in her personality had mellowed out over the years, and the two grew to become close friends. However, Sonic was always reluctant to take their friendship to the next level for the sake of protecting Amy. Eight years ago during the ARK incident in and around San Francisco, his death had seemed a very real reality until some quick thinking helped him escape that capsule in space. Although he had other close calls, that one made him swear that as long as Robotnik was still a threat to world peace, he couldn't afford to get romantically involved with anyone. Even at the cost of hurting himself and the ones closest to him.

"Hey, you two!" Amy let out a cheerful greeting before turning fully serious. "Hey, Sonic? Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Sonic looked at Tails for any hint of what was going on. Receiving a blank look back, he sighed. "Fine. Guess what, Tails? You get to watch CNN until I get back." He quipped, gaining a small measure of satisfaction in the fox's groan of protest as he walked out with Amy.

"Um... actually, it would be better if you both heard this." Amy suggested.

Now it was Sonic's turn to groan. How bad could this be? "All right, Tails. You're off the hook. Okay, Ames. Let's hear it."

"Well, I'm sure you two have been keeping up with the news," Amy began after taking a deep breath. "So, you know about the need for aide in Poland."

When Sonic wearily nodded, Amy went on without a beat. "About two weeks ago, I submitted a request to volunteer at the humanitarian mission at one of the camps. Today, I got a call accepting my request. I figure this to be my way of helping fight the good fight."

Sonic just stood there numbly before the shock and awe wore off. "What...the hell..."

"Before you try to talk me out of this," Amy interjected, cutting Sonic off. "I'll tell you right now that I've been thinking about this for the past three weeks, and I can't stand sitting around here doing nothing about what Eggman's doing!"

"Yeah, but what the hell, Amy? When were you gonna let someone know?!" Sonic berated.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, you're one to talk! The two of you disappear without a trace without warning for about a week only to find out you narrowly escape death trying to get Eggman! You have a lot of nerve talking to somebody about giving notice! Be lucky I didn't do one of your numbers!"

"Hold up! Since when do I need to tell anybody if I'm going on a mission?!" Sonic countered.

"I should ask you the same thing!" Amy retorted.

"Look--" Sonic stopped himself, making a silent ten count to calm himself to prevent anything unintended from happening, then realized Amy had a valid point. "Alright, I see your point, Ames. But, the thing is Tails and I have more combat experience than some sergeants, while you're still green."

"I am not green, Sonic!" Amy challenged.

"Yeah? Ever since we met, one of us had to bail you out of a jam." Sonic retorted.

"Well, what about when Perfect Chaos--"

"We bailed you out."

Amy groaned in defeat and thought of another situation. "Remember Prison Island? I had to bail you out then!"

"Actually," Sonic argued. "Tails had to bail you out when Eggman had you cornered on that carrier, and he was the one who did all the dirty work to get to my cell!"

"Metal--"

"Bailed you out."

When Amy sighed miserably, Sonic decided to get straight to the point. "Look, I won't stop you from going. All I'm saying is I have a bad feeling about this. I don't think Eggman's gonna stop his march at the borders of the former Soviet Union."

Amy allowed a hopeful smile. "Aww, how sweet, worrying about me. If you want, you can come along with me just to make sure."

"Maybe some other time. Right now, Tails and I have other engagements."

The girl's features dampened, then sharpened. "You're not thinking about going after Eggman again, are you?"

When she received no answer, a worried look etched her face, and she grabbed both of his arms. "Sonic, please don't. You said it yourself last time that you didn't think you'd make it back at times. Every time you and Tails head out on one of these raids, I worry myself sick about you two. I... I keep thinking back to the last time," she whispered the last sentence barely loud enough to hear. The memory of Sonic coming back with with his left arm in a bloodied sling caused her eyes to water up with suppressed tears. He had been hit in his left shoulder, and the AK-74's 5.45x39mm round had for all intents and purposes left his arm dangling by a thread. Surgery and rehab had been hell for both of them. Sonic physically, and Amy physiologically. "Sonic, you almost lost an entire limb! What's it gonna take for you to lose before you realize you need to ease up!?"

Sonic groaned. He still felt the effects of the surgery to this day. The memory of the pain from rehabbing that shoulder did not wane in his memories. He lost a little bit of range of motion in his left arm, but not enough make him combat ineffective. Yeah, he had plans to make another incursion into Moscow with the intent of neutralizing the doctor's threat. But, with the pleading look Amy was giving him, he didn't have the heart to tell her.

Fortunately for Sonic, Tails decided to make his presence known. "Sonic! Take a look at this... I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" During their conversation, neither hedgehog realized that Tails had left the two to check their secure e-mail, and was walking back. He held a few sheets of paper in his hands.

Hastily, yet gently, Sonic pried Amy's hands off of him. "What do you got?" The fox handed him the communiques. "This is from Rouge..." he noted. "Eggman's already rolled into Kazakhstan. Wonderful." He muttered dryly before reading on. "Hold on. ICBMs in Semipalatinsk? I thought all their silos were dismantled."

"ICBMs?" Amy inquired, confused.

"Intercontinental Ballistic Missile." Tails clarified. "Apparently, Eggman had sleeper forces in the country secretly rebuilding the silos we helped dismantle. What's more, there's already one that's locked, cocked, and ready to rock. Washington and Beijing think it's there to keep the People's Liberation Army in check. Chinese agents already tried to destroy the launch facility, but failed. Eggman warned if they tried that again, he'd unleash Armageddon."

"So the Chinese tossed the ball to us to see if we can bail them out." Sonic mused. Another failed attempt could mean as many as 50 million lives snuffed out; a real nuclear holocaust. "It's time to make a call." Sonic made his way to the one remaining DSN (Defense Switched Network) phone on the base with Tails and Amy in tow, dialed in the CIA's number then Rouge's extension when prompted, then waited.

"This is Rouge, secure," The bat's weary voice answered after a few seconds.

"You don't sound too happy to hear from me," Sonic joked.

Rouge laughed humorlessly. "Well forgive me if I'm not jumping for joy. It's almost five o'clock, and I'd rather not hang around here any longer than I have to. So, I take it you got the e-mail?"

"Uh-huh. So, what gives? I thought DoD didn't like 'civilian freelancers' meddling in their affairs."

"In this case, President Palmer and Director Wilhelm are willing to make to make an exception. Lemme break it down, as long as those birds are in Kazakhstan, China's not moving an inch outside its borders, and the UN will really need their military power if we want any chance of taking down Eggman." When Sonic didn't respond due to indecision, Rouge added. "Here's something else to think about. I know you've been waiting for a chance to put a hurt in the doctor's forces. That launch site right now is relatively lightly defended, and Eggman's forces will need about a month to get a defense grid online." A beat of indecision. "You were unsuccessful in taking Eggman out with one fell swoop three times already. It's time to think about the long term, Sonic."

Sonic groaned. Yeah, she was right. Another incursion straight into Moscow now would probably mean losing more than an arm. Dead or alive, he'd be no good then. "Alright, fine. Tails and I'll take the mission."

"Great! I'll let... hold on a minute." Rouge dropped her DSN's receiver and looked closer at the large billboard realtime tactical map in the room. There was a gap half the size of Rhode Island traveling east to west currently over northwest China. That gap was caused by none other than Angel Island as it made its orbit in the atmosphere. Rouge picked up the receiver again. "Hey, Sonic? Do you know that Angel Island is about to leave Chinese airspace and drift into southern Kazakhstan?"

"What?!" Sonic gasped. "How long until it reaches?"

Rouge looked up at the display again. "I'd say about another twelve hours. Does Knucklehead even know where he is?"

"Probably not. Look, my plate's gonna be full for the next week. Do you think you can go up there and lend him a hand? Eggman's likely still wanting to get his hands on the ME."

"You are really twisting my arm on this one, Sonic. You owe me one." Rouge allowed herself a smirk. If Knuckles thought he'd never see her again, he was sorely mistaken.

"Thanks. I'll let you go home, then. Out." With that, Sonic hung up the DSN line, and turned to his two comrades. "Change of plans. We're not going to Moscow. We're going to Semipalatinsk. Happy now, Ames?"

She smiled. "Somewhat. Although I wish we don't have to fight this war. You two be careful, okay?"

"I hear ya. When do you leave for Poland?" Sonic asked.

"Tomorrow night."

Sonic allowed himself a smirk. "Then, shouldn't you be packing?"

"Right."

Well, I'll stop for now. If you'd like, you can drop a comment or two in review form and tell me what you think about this. Out!