Angel was up on her wheels and rolling the instant she saw the smoke from the first explosion. She didn't need to know where it was, only that she knew the president would be en route and he needed her to get him out of London. Something she couldn't do if she wasn't properly fueled. She didn't bother to wait for the fuel trucks to come out to her, she went to them. "Two of you hook up to me, now!" She roared. The driver's scrambled to comply with Angel picking up their trucks and positioning them properly underneath her wings when they weren't fast enough. As they pumped fuel in on both sides, Angel lowered her head, opening the receptacle door on her nose. She needed to get more fuel in faster and this was the only way. It was risky because there was no VTO sensors to stop the tanks from overflowing which could lead to a fuel spill but Angel had bigger problems. She could hear gunfire now and it was getting closer. Never a good sign. "Come on, come on!" She grumbled. While attached the fuel trucks she couldn't move and she couldn't deploy her weapons. The risk of hitting the volatile fuel load was too great. She was a sitting duck. She could see Marine One in the distance but the joy was short lived.

"Marine 3 is down!" reported the lead helicopter. "Shit!" Angel muttered. "What is your status Marine One?" She asked. "5 minutes out but taking heavy fire. More incoming!" Angel watched as the two remaining helicopters popped flares and dived to get out of the way. Thankfully the missiles went for it and Angel recognized just what kind they were. "Marine One, they've got Stingers. Continue evasive action!" She ordered. "Tell me something I don't know, ma'am. Fuck, we need back up and we need it now!" Angel gave a nod to the lead British fighter plane that had come over. "The fighters are scrambling now but they won't reach you for another 5 minutes." "We won't be here in 5 minutes ma'am." "I know that! Jesus fuck! How the hell did these bastards pull this off?" "No idea. All I know is Marine 2 and I are out of flares and we've got more incoming. Marine 2, prepare for sacrifice." Angel could hear the somber tone in both helicopter's voices. "Copy that. Clear skies partner." Marine 2 turned broadside, taking both incoming missiles. It was a quick, noble death. One that Angel seared into her mind. She would see to it he got a Medal of Honor for his actions. Then she saw the next wave of missiles. "Marine One you've got another missile on your six. You're exposed. Get the fuck out of there!" "Believe me, I'm trying! I'm trying!" He outran it for as long as he could but eventually it closed, striking his tail rotor. "Fuck, I'm hit! I'm going down. There's a park right below me, I'm gonna try and land there." "Copy Marine One, I've got a lock on your signal. We'll get the president out of there." "Semper Fi ma'am." was the reply and the radio went dead. The smoke Angel saw rising up through the trees told her what couldn't be said.

"Someone get me a goddamn drone on station. I need to see what's happening!" She roared. "Drone's coming up in a minute ma'am." Angel activated her internal screen. It was a few tense moments before the president and Banning finally emerged from the wreckage. "Thank the Ancients." She breathed. "President's still alive." She allowed the cheering to last for only a minute before she barked sternly "This isn't over. We still need to get him out of this." "I don't think here is the best place for that anymore Angel." Mike said, nodding to the swarm of motorcycles currently racing towards them. They matched the ones seen on the drone feed. "Those goddamn sons of bitches!" She swore. "Get airborne the lot of you!" She cried. She was stunned when no one moved. "Did you not hear me, get those wheels off the ground, now! That's an order." "Not until you do, ma'am." Mike spoke up. "What?" She looked at him. "Pardon me ma'am but you're the president's ride out of here. If you don't get airborne, none of us do." She blinked, stunned. "I still need 5 more minutes before I can taxi out to the runway. Can you buy me that time?" She asked. "Oh please," One of the fighter jets who's name plate identified him as Ryan, rolled his eyes. "If you're gonna request something from us, make it a challenge at least. Let's go lads!" Still attached to the fuel trucks on both wings and through her nose, Angel could do nothing but watch as Mike, his C-130s along with the British fighter planes engaged in combat. She had no doubts they'd buy her the time she needed. Except, they'd buy it in blood.