17. Resistance
Disclaimer: Same as usual.
Just had to thank those that have reviewed, your comments help allot. Apologies to those not familiar with modern military hardware designations. There are numerous wikipedia's that are available on any craft that I mention if anyone is curious.
Resistance
Somewhere near the Afghan border
Despite world condemnation, sanctions, and boycotts of the U.S. invasion, Harris' orders to increase the buildup and use the small nation as a testing ground proceeds on schedule. Over 150,000 clone forces now occupy the small nation. Any new weaponry developed is immediately shipped to the test area for deployment and field testing. The remote nation became a convenient site for plans that will soon affect every nation on Earth. Some nations though are not content to just sit idle.
The Iranian leaders prepare to commit their country on a course that would change the history of the region. Iran's powerful Air Force is on course for the border of Afghanistan. The Iranian government finding themselves near the American incursion has coordinated an air and ground assault near the border of Afghanistan.
Iranian forces using old Soviet built T-72, T-62, and T-55 tanks rumble through the desert. While at 45,000 ft, a huge air armada, the bulk of the Iranian Air Force flies above carrying their deadly payload, the huge combined force does not go unnoticed.
In Afghanistan, the town of Farah becomes a flurry of activity. In the short time, Harris' build up has made this town a major staging area for new shipments. Satellite and radar installations have monitored the expected force heading their way. Pilots and troops move to their posts.
Squadron Commander Fasil fly's his Russian-built Mig-29, NATO code name "Fulcrum" on escort of the Mig-33's "Fulcrum E" which carried air to ground armaments. Fasil is amazed and proud to be part of this glorious campaign to drive the infidel Americans out. He scans left and right and can't help but smile as he looks out at the vast forces he is part of. The recent diplomatic breakthroughs have served to provide modern aircraft from the Russians who seemed eager to share their technology once again.
From the corner of his eyes, he glimpse something, a quick check of his radar shows nothing on the powerful forward scanning radar. In moments the craft off his 10 o'clock position explodes as do several more around him. From above he sees craft that that leave him gaping in shock. Craft from an American pirated movie he once saw as a child many years ago, TIE fighters fly gracefully above his formation, turning, rolling, and firing green bolts that rip through his once organized forces.
He banks his plane to the left in an evasive pattern. A quick check of his radar still shows nothing, stupid Russian junk. He switches weapons to guns and finds a target to pursue. Fasil pushes his sturdy plane forward with afterburners. He intends to at least bring down one of them as they are effortlessly obliterating his squadron. He strokes the firing stud and unleashes 30mm cannon tracer fire at a TIE fighter. What should have been a hit is evaded by a jink to the left and split S maneuver that no Earth air plane could hope to duplicate as the TIE's ion engines prove their advantage. Fasil's last thought is one of awe as the same craft accelerates away, rotates on its axis to face him, and fires, shredding his plane into a blossoming fireball.
The proud Iranian 18th, 81st, and 88th armored divisions move toward their objective. A large dust cloud in the distance is spotted by forward scouts. The formation commander calls a halt and all heavy units to form a battle line where each tank presents their strongest armor toward the enemy. From the Gulf War in 91, the Iranian forces have learned the doctrine of strike first and strike far, using advanced Antitank Guided Missile (ATGM) technology from the 2A46M launchers; most of his tanks are able to begin shooting at ranges up to 4000 meters.
A blast of hell fire spews forth with a loud roar and hundreds of missiles hurtle toward the American armored units. As the commander watches through his binoculars, several missiles strike the distant vehicles. A cheer is heard from the radios from many tank leaders. An answering storm of missiles responds back, surprising the commander as no known American vehicle was thought to have such capabilities. The American Infidel technology striking back again, the commander thinks.
The American missile volley is accurate and deadly as thirty tanks explode. The Commander sighs in relief as it seems the American vehicles are small in number. He gives the order to have at least five units target each enemy; another volley is shot. Again a number of explosions dot the distant vehicles. The enemy continues to close. As the enemy closes to 2000 meters, he finally is able to see the enemy vehicles. They are unlike anything he has ever seen before.
The thirty enemy vehicles have squat armored bodies that appear to move on air, close to 1500 meters. A center gun turret rotates and spits green bolts at his forces at each touch, men and their vehicles die. His forces fire back desperately, and what he sees causes him to drop his binoculars. Every shot his forces have flung is stopped by what appears to be a force field that surrounds each vehicle. He calls for air and artillery support, but fear their effort will fail too. Wherever the American's have gotten this technology it must have been from the devil himself.
As the enemy closes with the burning remains of his force, he notices a smaller cannon beginning to strafe his troops. Allah help us, thirty American hover tanks have slaughtered his once powerful Armored Division. He frantically calls his radio man to alert the other Commands. He ducks down, as his command vehicle as engulfed by cannon fire from the medium blaster cannon of Harris' new 2-M Saber-class Repulsor tanks. They glide past the burnt wreckage of a once proud formation.
Clone Commander Cody receives a report from the latest encounter. It seems that his 2-M Repulsor units have succeeded in routing another enemy division and are racing to a third. The TIE fighters have proven incredibly nimble against the enemy terrestrial craft. The plan for them to attack from suborbital altitudes was a complete surprise to the enemy. He gives the TIE bomber squadrons the order to launch counter strikes against the Iranian airbases.
Commander Cody turns to nearby console and presses a button, a small hologram of Darth Mortalis appears, "My lord, the Iranian forces have been routed. Your designed vehicles and aircraft have all performed accordingly. I have ordered reprisals against the enemy airbases. What are your further orders, my lord?"
In orbit above Earth
Tok'ra Cloaked Vessel
Jacob Carter stares in shock as his scans show the incredible battle happening below. Selmak, his Tok'ra symbiote, also is speechless. Selmak is amazed at the display of technological advancements while Jacob is stunned by the senseless slaughter of his fellow men. Harris' promise to advance Earth's technology to fight the Goa'uld is coming true, but the price for that deal is now apparent.
You must not let your emotions get to you Jacob, Selmak tells him; imagine what those TIE craft would do against Death Gliders.
Jacob double-checks the cloaking system, fearing detection after seeing the squadron of TIE fighters pass by to intercept the Iranian Air Forces. My God, what is happening to my planet, he wonders. Things from the movies have become reality. He checks his watch hoping that the arrival and transfer of SG-1 will be without incident. The American President– in exile picked the plan that calls for reconnaissance, formation, and coordination of any resistance forces. SG-1's first goal will be to make contact with any potential resistance and provide resources much like what the Allies did with the French Resistance in World War Two. Second objective will be to recapture the SGC. Third objective is to sabotage and steal any technology developed. He longs to hold his daughter, Samantha Carter. He prays they get here soon.
Detention Facility
Boston, MA
Captain Richard Schuler reports early to the detention center. He arrives hoping to see the girl Faith and find out how her mother is doing. What he sees when he arrives though is anything but orderly as clones troops appear to be on high alert as it appears something has happened. Schuler immediately seeks out the duty officer.
"Duty officer, what's happened here?" he asks.
"Captain Schuler, please come with me and you'll be briefed."
In the briefing room several other officers' have also reported in and gathered. Clone Commander Archos enters. "Room attention!" Someone orders.
"At ease." He says and everyone sits back down.
"Late last night two of our detainees have escaped. Somehow a cell was apparently left unlocked and the escapees somehow walked past the security points and disappeared." He clicks a remote; the picture of two women appears on screen.
Captain Schuler is stunned as it is of the girl and mother he brought in a few days ago, Faith and Mrs. Horrocks.
"At first we thought they had help from insiders, but all security videos show them somehow walking right past security. He clicks the remote and a video runs on the screen.
A video shows the two of them walking right out the front doors. At the last moment, Faith turns and gives the finger to the camera. Schuler couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself.
The interview with the guards all say the same thing, they saw nothing despite the cameras. An official from Homeland Security will be arriving to head the investigation. For now an all points bulletin has been put on Isobel Horrocks and Faith Lehane-Horrocks. That is all. Dismissed." The Clone Commander leaves.
How did they just walk out like that? At least no one was hurt. What's the Homeland Security interest in all this? These thoughts and more run through Captain Schuler's mind as he walks out. He can't help but smile.
Hidden Rebel Base
Cordelia Chase sits at the Command Center taking the time to think and update her journal.
Mr. Giles and Mrs. Calendar have finally left for Cleveland to find Buffy. I hope the glamour that they had Jonathan place on them holds. Warren is going nuts trying to repair all the damage that Giles had done. At the same time he's trying to incorporate the improvements that Giles gave him. The frightening ease that Giles demonstrated in walking through all our safe guards has made us aware of how lucky we've been. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact of what Giles has become. Other than looking about 10 years older, he looks a lot bulkier and healthier. Where ever he's been was certainly better than any health club I'd ever been to.
Jonathan and Andrew are still geeked about all of it. They are now talking about setting up a Jedi Academy. They almost fainted when they pestered Giles to demonstrate his lightsaber. Argh, I really want to strangle those two some day.
Katrina has gone into town to restock our depleted supplies again. I'm just glad that Warren finally reconciled with her. Warren's been more focused since Katrina's been in his life. I'll never understand what she sees in him though. Must be a love is blind thing.
I've asked Jonathan for an update on his geek contacts if anyone has infiltrated Harris' systems. We're still waiting for a response. The frightening thing that we've been tracking so far has been the growing military build up in the Middle East.
Today's news reports mention only the recent unprovoked attack by Iran on our troops in Afghanistan. Our troops, huh, that's a joke, Jonathan's contacts have confirmed already that those troops are where most of the clone army have been gathering.
Cordy's thoughts are disrupted by a terminal starting to beep.
"Hey Jonathan, your computer is beeping at you. I think you have email or something."
Jonathan arrives and accesses the terminal. He turns to me, "Ah, Cordy, there's something strange that recently happened in Boston. One of my contacts tells me that two people recently escaped from custody and it was called to the attention of Homeland Security, also known as, the NID. It seems they just walked out and no one knew how they did it."
"Can you get a name?"
"Yeah, it's on the Federal Most Wanted site. Isobel Horrocks and Faith Lehane-Horrocks."
Cordy moves to the terminal. Faith! The skank is alive. Don't know who Horrocks is but she sounds like a Watcher, I do remember Faith though. Since Buffy never came to Sunnydale and died to Call another Slayer, I just figured she wasn't a Slayer and wouldn't be important. While I never liked her much, if she can piss off the NID, she may be important to us too. Gotta let Giles know. If he's getting Buffy, he may want to get Faith too.
"Jonathan, I need you to send a message to Giles."
Somewhere on the road from Boston
Faith still couldn't believe how she did it. One moment she was in the cell, focusing so hard on just getting out. Praying to be anywhere else but there and then the door unlocks on her. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she took advantage of the situation and freed Horry too.
I told her what happened and she came up with the idea that maybe I had a talent for magic. She had me focus really hard on that same feeling that opened my cell door but this time convince anyone that saw us that we were not there. And it worked!
We walked right out of that place and I even flipped them off too as I left the building. Horry told me later that while people were fooled the cameras might not be. I was scared and excited at the same time.
We quickly went home and packed. Horry tells me that we now need to find someone named Wesley. A pompous, uptight fellow Watcher who was in charge of the Slayer, oh joy.
The Slayer, I would finally get to meet this lucky girl. I can't help but be jealous. Then I remember the magic I did that helped us escape, and I realize I'm not so helpless either. I can fight and do magic too.
Horry's got me doing mediation exercises now. Boring. I found that if I got angry it was a lot easier to do things. Horry's still lecturing me about that. I can tell she's worried too though. She heard from her contacts and found out that we were now on America's Most Wanted. Wow! We're famous.
"Are we there yet?" I ask. Horry just gives me that irritated look.
"Want me to change the glamour on you and make you my pet dog instead? You just keep it up girl, and you'll find out."
We need to get past a few check points before we reach Cleveland. Horry used magic to make us look different. She says I now look like a homely little girl with lots of pimples. I hope she's kidding. I can't tell as the illusion apparently works only on other people who look at us. I did wonder though why at the last checkpoint the guard called Horry a sir. When I asked her about it, she just smirks. I hate long drives.
