And I am back, sorry for the wait
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice *cough* or Captain America *cough*
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but to rise everytime we fall" -Confucious
Pyrrhic Victory
Svalbard: September 8, 12:21 NST
The three hour flight to Svalbard was to say the least boring. The Team knew the importance of this missions, yet they failed to understand the need for six of them to do an escort. If what they heard was that a military escort was being sent bring back the Lieutenant.
"I mean really, I understand the importance of the guy but do we really need so many people taking care of one guy." Kid Flash said for the fifth time in route to their destination.
"As Batman said, there are numerous groups who are interested in the body of Mr. America. That being said, there is no doubt that there will be some who will do anything to get a sample. Escort the cargo and complete the mission." Aqualad said. Kid Flash simply nodded as Miss Martian spoke up.
"Beginning decent in three minutes." Upon landing the Team was approached by a man in military uniform. With all the medals on the man they could tell he was at least the rank of colonel. The man might have been in his forties, but you couldn't tell, he looked in shape for a man of his age. His hair was slowing greying, it wasn't all grey but it was more of a distinguished man who experienced much in life. As the Team exited the bioship they could tell there were more than a few military personnel here. Aqualad stepped forward to meet the man who was most likely in charge.
"Aqualad, we were sent by the Justice League to assist you and your men in the transport of Lieutenant Stephen." Kaldur said as he extended his hand towards the man.
"Colonel Thom, U.S. Army. We appreciate the help though we were expecting a member of the League. Oh well." Truthfully the colonel believed that his men were more than enough to escort Stephen back to America, but orders were orders. Even if they were in his opinion stupid. He also did not know why the League had to interject themselves in this. All he was told was that Batman told the higher ups that there might be some who would try to steal Stephen's body. Honestly Thom felt that the Batman was being an alarmist, but whatever. "As you can see we, are loading the Lieutenant onto the C-27J Spartan aircraft carrier. We will take off approximately in one hour and the flight time will be a little over five hours. Most of my men will be on the plan with the Lieutenant. Your Team will be welcomed onboard, but if you do want to help, I think it would be best if you helped make a perimeter around us."
"Agreed. I will have some of my Team with your men and the rest will be flying separately as a guard." Aqualad told the older man. Colonel Thom nodded in acceptance then walked off to finalize the paperwork for transport. Aqualad then turned to his Team. "Robin, Artemis, and myself will go along onto the Spartan. Miss Martian, Kid Flash, and Superboy will fly along on the bioship. Miss Martian, link us up when we take off" Everyone nodded understanding their assignments.
"Everyone online?" Miss Martian asked the team telepathically.
"Yes." Superboy responded
"You know it babe." Kid Flash said with what he thought was a seductive smile.
"Wally focus!" Artemis said glaring at the yellow speedster.
"Seriously dude." Robin said with a headache already growing.
"Good. Everyone remain in contact and alert us if anything happens." Aqualad told his Team as he left to regroup with the military personnel.
Svalbard: One Hour Later
Aqualad, Artemis, and Robin sat on the plan looking for the first time at the body encased in ice. It was odd to them on how well preserved the body was after almost seventy years of being in water.
"I don't know if I should be whelmed or not." Robin commented skeptically. He saw the file pictures of the Lieutenant but seeing him in person, he just wasn't sure how to feel. Turning his head Aqualad saw many of the men looking at the body of the Lieutenant. What caught his attention were the Colonel and his thoughtful look towards the body.
"Is something wrong Colonel?" Aqualad asked the older man. For the first time since meeting him the Colonel smiled at the hero.
"My father was a private in the army during the war. He served with the Lieutenant, in fact he was there in Hamburg when he went down. I wasn't alive until much later, but my father, he told me stories about Mr. America and how he became a true once in a lifetime hero. It just feels odd meeting your hero for the first time. Even if this circumstance is not ideal, I thought I would not live the day until I saw him." The Colonel's words were heard by many of the men around him and many of them nodded in appreciation to the story. How many people in their life ever meet their hero. This was something you would never forget.
As the group flew over the Atlantic Ocean there was an unseen body under the currents of the water. What it was, was Black Mantas submarine with anti-air missiles.
"Black Manta sir. We are in range of the plane." Said one of the many troops on the submarine.
"Shoot it down." The leader said. The plan was simple enough. Shoot down the plane into the water and kill any survivors while another group took the body. Failure was not an option. Black Manta still remembered what happened at Atlantis and he was still irked by it, and the Light still remembered well his failure to retrieve the specimen.
On the bioship, Kid Flash sat in his chair absolutly bored. This escort mission was way to slow paced and he wished something would happen. Little did he know his wish would be granted. Looking out of the window Kid Flash saw two missles break through the water and went straight to carrier.
"Uh guys" Wally said to Superboy and Miss Martian who both then looked out the window seeing what he saw.
On the carrier Robin was checking his computer on his wrist while Artemis and Aqualad looked over his shoulder. All of a sudden Miss Martian gave them the warning
Incoming. The hit rocked the plane flying all those who were not fastened down to their seats.
"What was that turbelance?" Colonel Thom asked getting out of his seat and checking on his men. Mentally an image of a black submarine on the surface of the water appears in their head. Aqualad was the first to recognize that particular transport.
"It's Black Manta. Colonel, please tell the pilots to take evasive maenuvers. Also please open the door so we can try to help" Aqualad said feeling rushed. Miss Martian run interference and stop any more missles that come our way.
On it. The martian said as the bioship shot two missles out of the air.
"Sir, our engine is slagged. We are losing altitude." Came the intercom.
"Colonel, if we continue to lose altitude we will hit the water and we won't be able to protect you in that situation." Robin said to the older man feling the panic in his voice.
Back on the bioship Superboy and Kid Flash exited from the hole that opened up in the ship and landed on the submarine. Superboy began to dismantle the ship piece by piece while Kid Flash knocked any person coming out of the hatch at super speed.
"Sir, the Laviathan is being attacked by two heroes." One of Black Mantas men told him as he brought up the screen of a black haird boy wearing the Superman shield and a ginger heaired boy in yellow was interfering with his mission.
"Launch the Kraken." Black Manta said. In reality the Laviathen was merely a smaller ship detached from his main ship. As the Laviathen attacked the carrier, the main ship would be hidden underwater and would be launched if any problems would arise. Just like right now. At Black Manta's orders a missle larger than teh rest launched from his main ship going straight to the carrier. The missile held a similar shape, but instead of the usual head it woul have it looked like the head of the missile had teeth attached to it.
Miss Martian gasped as she saw the missile being launched from a different location than the other hsip they were focused on. The bioship was to far and would not make in time before it hit the plane.
Look out! Miss Martian mentally screamed as Robin, Aqualad, and Artemis were thrown to the ground from an unknown impact. When they righted themselves up, they saw the warhead stuck through the wall with teeth like a chainsaw.
"A dud?" Artemis asked as she continued to stare at the missile along with everyone else. All of a sudden the chains began to rotate and move forward further into the carrier. The teeth began to rip apart anything in its way whether it be metal or flesh. Artemis cringed as she watched two men who didn't get out of the way soon enough as they were grinded into nothing. The missile stopped once its entire body was inside the plane acting lifeless nut giving off a beeping sound.
"Down!" Aqualad shouted as the missile exploded tearing the plane in half. They watched in horror as the front half began to tear away form the rest of the plane. Miss Martian, we need a evac imeditaely. Aqualad shouted mentally. "Colonel, get your men out of here." Aqualad shouted in panic. Colonel Thom nodded as he orderd his men to bail out of the plan.
In groups the soldiers began to take rafts and exited in groups of four. But they were going to slow and were losing altitude to quickly.
"Get the Lieutenant out of here" Thom shouted to the teens as the bioship tried to level out with the decending carrier.
"We get your men out first!." Robin said as he was being pushed by the man.
"Lieutenant first then us." And so the teens pushed the block of ice onto the bioship. As Aqualad was about to go back and help the rest of the men to evacuate, the ship began to break apart. The bioship was forced to disengage from the carrier at its finaly decent.
The Team watched in horror as they saw the plane cartwheel into the water as parts of it were torn apart until finally sinking under the water. Aqualad bowed his head in silent prayer to the lives that were lost. Colonel Thom knew they were not able to make it and prioritized the Team and the Lieutenant.
As the bioship rounded back to pickup Superboy and Kid Flash who were still shocked at the crashing of the plane, unknown to them a large vessel was diving deeper into the waters. After all was said and done over thirty men not including the Team came to escort Liuetenant Stephen back to America, and only twelve supposedly survived. The loss was great. As the bioship began to skim the surface of the water to pick up the soldiers lucky enough to escape, silent tears were shed among the Team.
"We should contact Batman." Robin said quietly to Aqualad.
"Yes…..we need to inform the League and complete the mission given to us." Aqualad said absolutely crestfallen.
A/N: I was kinda sad when I wrote this chapter. Anyways extra points for whoever figures out what Pyrric Vicrtory means without wikipediaing it...and go...right now...bye