MIDGAR FORCES ONE: PART FIVE
THE JOY WAS ALL OVER THE MF1 COCKPIT, as the Major and Rufus shook hands. But then Rufus looked to Reeve, who was tending to Heideggar. He was not dead, but was in severe pain, and was loosing a fair amount of blood.
Rufus then looked back to the Major. "You know how to fly this thing?"
He shook his head, his voice worried…"No sir…"
Rufus nodded, then turned to the cockpit…"Then come along, I'll need a co-pilot."
"Of course sir…" He spoke as he followed.
They both buckled into their respective seats…"How long since you've flown sir?"
Rufus thought for a moment…"Quite a while…small planes. Never jets." He put on his headset-phone, and spoke into it. It was connected to the Situation Room…"Er…you guys got someone there that can help me fly this thing?"
A voice replied, but it was not one he had heard previously…"Rufus, this is Colonel Jackson"
"Hey Bob…"
The Colonel nodded…"Alright, we've got to get you out of enemy territory…"
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Okay, now should be a small screen, surrounded by LED lights and knobs, do you see it?"
Rufus looked about, then spotted it…"Yeah"
"Okay, that's your course setting. Now below that, there should be a knob surrounded by hash marks, I need to turn the knob clockwise until the screen says One-Two-Zero."
Rufus did as he was told…"The plane's starting to turn!"
"Yes Mr.President, this course will take you out of Rocket Town."
Elena was caring for Heideggar for the moment, as Reeve examined the body of Cid. When no one was looking, he lifted the pistol from the body, and slipped it into his own holster.
Back in the Situation room, the VP and the SoD were still quite pleased with their president. They looked over to a radar screen, which showed the position of the MF1, the F-15 squad…and another set of planes…curious, they got the attention of the two Generals…Scarlet pointed to the screen…"General, what's that?"
The Air Force general answered…"Madame Vice President, that red dot represents MiG's…"
The other general finished…"On a course to intercept Midgar Forces One!"
The SoD added to the newfound threat…"Christ, they took off from an air base near Costa del Sol. The base commander there is loyal to AVALANCHE!!"
The VP turned to the Air Force general…"Send out fighters into Rocket Town…order them to use any and all means to protect the President!" She then walked over to the Colonel, who was teaching Rufus how to fly the plane off of autopilot. She grabbed the phone.
"Mr.President?"
"Yeah Scarlet?"
"We're tracking six MiG's closing in on your position! We're sending in the F-15's to protect you!"
Rufus took off his headset…"Shit…"
The Major looked to him…"Did she say MiGs?"
Rufus nodded…"Yeah, she said MiGs." Rufus looked to the others in the other rooms…"You guys better sit down and put a seatbelt on…."
*****
THE F-15 FLEET WAS PATROLLING THE BORDER OF ROCKET TOWN when they received the order. Reno spoke on his radio…"Okay, we have clearance to execute! Open the burners and push it!"
In the blink of an eye, the fighters were travelling at massive speeds towards the MF1's position...Rude spoke to Reno...
"Did you tell them about Tseng yet?"
Reno was surprised…"Me? I thought you were supposed to tell them!"
They both spoke in unison…"Uh-oh…"
*****
RUFUS AND THE MAJOR WERE LOOKING ON, praying that the good guys got here before certain death did. Rufus spoke into his mic..."So these MiGs, how far away are they?"
The status screen began to beep repeatedly. It displayed the message "Radar Lock". Rufus spoke back into the mic…"Never mind…"
The MiG squadron had acquired a lock with Midgar Forces One. One of the jets, released a homing missile at the MF1, as the Major was frantically trying to counter it.
As when the Shinra fired on the plane before, the plane had another countermeasure ready. A series of flares were dropped from the plane. The plane dove and banked left, as the missile went flying past. The Major jolted upon sight of the missile….
He spoke into his headset. The entire series of radio chatter was being heard back at HQ…"TURK flight - this is M-F-1, we are under missile attack! Where the hell are you?"
Reno yelled into his radio, sweat pouring from his forehead…"ETA two minutes!"
Rufus, still trying to level the plane, spoke…"We may not be here in two minutes!"
The very jet that had fired upon MF1 closed distance and began it's attack run. Using it's cannons, it began to fire at the tailcone. The tail was a tattered mess when he was finished, as he moved towards the wings. He only got a few shots off before he was forced to move, all the shots missing but one, that shot striking the left-most engine. Rufus looked out…"Shit, we've got an engine on fire! Number four engine is on fire!"
Col. Jackson shouted a solution…"Pull the fire handle, above the status screen!"
The Major did as they were told. The plane began to tilt slightly…
"We're turning Bob!"
"Left rudder! You have to compensate!"
The Turk flight was almost in position…Reno spoke, the honorary squad leader…"Okay y'all, everyone lock a bandit!"
All five fighters locked their missiles on the MiGs. It was like a game of chicken, but at extreme long range…"Okay everyone…and…Fox Three!"
All five released one missile each into the air, as they rushed towards their targets. Two of the missiles hit their targets, reducing them to flaming wreckage. The flight quickly got into an attack formation to eliminate the rest. Rufus turned back to the others…"Hey hey! Good guys are here!"
"Midgar Forces One, this is Reno McMahon, in forwarding command…"
Elena thought for a second…wasn't Tseng the leader?
"Bug out west, we'll cover you!"
"You got it!"
As all the fighters prepared to go into their aerial dogfight, they failed to notice one MiG on MF1's tail…
Rude yelled out…"Boss! You got one on your tail!"
As if waiting for that statement, the MiG fired a missile towards the MF1…
The Major looked to the status screen…his heart sank…"We've lost countermeasures!"
Reno looked about from his seat…what the? Tseng's jet was flying straight for the missile! Must be the autopilot…he didn't want to say it, but he had to…"Tseng's going in!"
Tseng's jet was closing in on the missile…the missile was maybe twenty metres from the plane when Tseng's jet rammed the missile, destroying both of them immediately…
Reno barked out…"Tseng is down!"
Elena overheard that…her eyes swelled with tears…
The MiGs were starting to break formation…one of them yelled out "Retreat!"
"Not so fast, you son of a bitch!" Reno yelled, as his plane flew behind the apparent captain of the MiG flight. He let loose a missile, which destroyed the MiG in no time at all.
The F-15s got back into standard escort formation with MF1. Reno checked his radar…the MiGs were backing off!
"The rest of 'em are backing off! We're clear!"
Both Rufus and the Major high-fived, as they failed to notice Elena sobbing quietly in corner…"Tseng…no…you can't be…I loved you…" Reeve being the only non-incapacitated male left, held her reassuringly…
Rufus played a bit around with the flight controls…he spoke into his headset…"Bob, you still there?"
"Yes, what is it Mr. President?"
"We've got a problem…my rudder is sluggish…
Reno spoke…"Let me take a look at it sir…"
His jet flew around to survey the damage MF1 had taken…he stopped to look at the tailcone…"Oh man…Sir, you're looking pretty bad from up here…do you have any elevator control?"
Rufus tested it…"Sluggish too…plus we're still losing fuel…"
"Okay…" Reno started…"Sirs, we have a problem…Midgar Forces One has been badly hit…with the damage they've sustained, there's no way they can land…" Reno moved his jet until it his cockpit was in clear view of Rufus'. "I'll stay on your wing sir. Just take it straight until we figure out what to do…sir?"
He looked to Rufus…Rufus looked back…Reno saluted…"You did great sir."
Rufus paused, then saluted back…
The VP, SoD, and both generals were standing in front of the radar projection…the SoD spoke…
"They're out of parachutes, they can't land and they're running out of fuel…"
Scarlet added…"There must be something we can do to help…"
The Air Force general looked to the radar…he saw a yellow dot, the same colour as the F-15s and MF1…"Is that the Air Force Gelnika?"
The other general nodded…"Yeah why?"
The generals looked at each other…"I just had a wild idea…"
*****
"TIMING IS CRITICAL, START HEADING NORTH. You'll receive detailed instructions en route." Squawked over the radio of the Gelnika's radio. The pilot did as he was ordered…"Gelnika 2-4 acknowledges."
By now Rufus had gone to check up on the others…Elena, her tears still leaking tears, rushed into Rufus' arms…"It's not fair…not my Tsengy…"
All Rufus could do was stand, and hold Elena close…looked like their relationship was over. Ah well, there was always the Postmaster General…
*****
A LARGE CROWD HAD GATHERED OUTSIDE OF THE SHINRA BLDG, many concerned citizen, others members of the press. Many people were handing around lit candles, praying for their President's safety…a reporter was doing a report for MBC
"As you can see, hundreds of people have gathered here to pray and await word on the President and his friends. They have made it out of enemy territory, but MBC has learned that Midgar Forces One is badly damaged, and virtually un-landable. Hope is starting to run out, but the Shinra claim there is a mid-air rescue under way…Faxanadu Sheridan, MBC News."
*****
THE REMINANTS OF THE F-15 FLEET BROKE FORMATION away from MF1, as the Gelnika arrived on the scene. They started to get into position, above and ahead of the MF1, as daybreak emerged. Rufus and the Major were in the cockpit…finally, they were getting off this hunk of junk. The Major swore that IF he got off this plane, he was definitely going to retire and publish an autobiography.
The Situation room was tense. The PressRoom was filled with reporters. A speaker was brought in by Hojo, so the press could listen in on the radio chat. The voice of Col. Jackson was heard first…"Gelnika 2-4, they're almost out of fuel!"
"Gelnika 2-4 acknowledges."
Rufus looked out to Reeve…"Go get the door."
Reeve nodded, as he walked down the stairs, and toward the front of the plane. He didn't have to walk far before he reached a door leading outside. He wrapped his arm around a large handle near the door. He lifted the door latch, and pressed a button on the door. The door opened, and flew directly off of the plane.
The rear cargo bay door of the Gelnika opened up. A soldier was strapped into a long cable, ready to start his mid-air flight towards MF1. They prepped him, and when they deemed themselves ready, they began to unravel the cable, the man slowly drifting towards MF1. The Major was at the controls. The soldier was almost near the door, when the right-most engine died…
"Gelnika 2-4" The Major started…"We've just lost another engine."
"Gelnika acknowledges. Midgar Forces One, if you loose any more engines, sacrifice altitude to maintain airspeed!"
Reeve had just caught a glimpse of the soldier, as he reached out an arm to pull him in. After a brief moment of pulling, he managed to get the soldier into the plane. He took the cable and attached it to one of the handles inside the doorframe. "Where's the President?" He spoke in a military voice, as he turned to Reeve.
Reeve pointed to the stairwell…"Up in the cockpit!"
The soldier ran up the stairs, and greeted the President and the Major in the cockpit. He saluted.
"Sir, it's time to go!"
"But who's going to fly the plane?"
"I'll take care of that sir!"
The pilot made himself comfy in the pilot's chair, as the Gelnika sent down two more men, who boarded quickly.
The Gelnika spoke into their radio. The press and the politicians started to feel a bit better, as they heard the news. "Okay, Gelnika 2-4 is moving into the receiver position!"
The Gelnika lowered their altitude, and took place behind the MF1.
One of the soldiers held a harness for the President, but Rufus shook his head…"Elena first!"
"But sir! I have orders to take-"
"Elena first!"
Elena, still all worked up over Tseng, was all strapped in, ready to go. She looked to Rufus, not smiling, but Rufus patted her on the back…"Tseng'll be with you. Always."
She managed to get a small smile going, as the soldier strapped in with her jumped off the plane. Elena quickly shut her eyes and shrieked for her life, as the cable guided them down to the Gelnika. They arrived, as the soldiers pulled them in. The clouds beneath them disappeared, as the ocean was clearly in view now.
The last soldier, aside from the one in the cockpit, held out a harness for Rufus, but Rufus shook his head, and pointed to Heideggar, who was still bleeding, not quite as much, from the earlier incident. "Him next, he's wounded!"
Reeve managed to guide him towards the soldier, but Heideggar managed to blurt out to the President as he passed him…"No, you go…"
Rufus shook his head and smiled…"You're getting off this hellhole!"
As with before, the soldier and Heideggar were making their way down the cable, but misfortune struck again as the only engine on the right died. The MF1 began to slip beneath the Gelnika, the soldier and Heideggar simply bobbing in the middle. "Midgar Forces One, you're sinking too fast! We only have time for one more retrieval, Get the President out of there!"
The pilot shoved the plane into auto, and made his way close to the door. Rufus was putting his harness on out of boredom. The pilot shouted to be heard over the wind…"Time to go Mr.President!"
Rufus finished with his harness…"What about the other team?"
The soldier shook his head, as he adjusted his harness…"There's no time for the other team! I have orders to take you!"
Rufus shook his head, and yelled…"No! We're all going!"
"That's impossible sir! I have to take you!"
"Sir!" The Major started…"It's time to get you off this plane! Go sir, go!"
Everyone was still for a moment…all except Reeve, who was out of the sight of everyone…
A gunshot was heard, as blood splashed all over the doorframe. The pilot fell out of the plane, already dead. Rufus and the Major looked to him in shock…the Major yelled out…"It was you?!!?"
Reeve nodded slowly, pistol gripped with both hands. He fired at the Major's right shoulder, as he reeled for a moment in pain. His dying body fell onto Reeve, as he put the pistol to his heart and fired, the bullet travelling through him, coming to rest in the wall. The dead body of the Major fell to the ground. Reeve, slightly covered in blood, pointed the pistol then to Rufus, who was holding the last strap for the cable. The MF1 was coming closer and closer to the water…
"I trusted you with my life!"
"So will the next President! Now give me the strap!"
"Never!"
Reeve was about to fire the pistol, but was unable to when a much louder and stronger sounding shot was heard. Reeve fell at the President's feet, he was dead. Rufus looked down at the body, then at the assassin. Tseng raised the magnum to his mouth, and blew off the smoke, smiling…
"Boss, about that raise I've been asking for…"
"Granted!"
They both looked to the water below, then the handle the cable was attached to. The weight of the MF1 was starting to pull the Gelnika down with it. The handle started to loosen.
Tseng dove at the handle, and held it for a moment, but lost his footing when it detached from the plane. Rufus anticipating this, dove at Tseng's legs, as the MF1 plunged towards the sea below. It skimmed the surface for a moment, then began to roll, and split into several pieces…and the people in the Gelnika eyed the cable…two men, one hanging on for dear life, the other hanging onto the other.
The radio cracked…"Midgar Forces One is down!"
All of Midgar was silent. The Situation Room. The Press Room. The Shinra Bldg. Courtyard where the citizens had gathered. A voice spoke back…"Do you have the President?"
Still unsure of their mystery passengers, they replied…"Stand-by!"
Elena was sulking in a corner, not paying any attention…"First Tseng, and now Rufus…any guy I'm around dies…if I were these soldiers, I'd run…"
The two were hanging on as best they could…the Gelnika began reeling them in. All held their breaths.
They managed to pull the two onto the plane! Rufus and Tseng managed to get to their feet, as they closed the parachute door. One man yelled into the radio…"Gelnika 2-4 is changing call signs: Gelnika 2-4 is now M-F- 1!"
A unanamous string of yelling and screaming errupted from Midgar as the people were rejoicing. The bunch gathered outside danced around with glee, toasting with either drinks or their candles. The reporters in the press room stood and threw their notepads in the air, some even going as far as to shake the hands of their competitors in the newspaper business. The Situation Room exploded with even more rejoicing than before. The VP, SoD, the two generals, and Scarlet's advisor were smiling.
Scarlet reached into the file folder, and stared at the document for a moment…she then quickly proceeded to tear it into shreds, placing the pieces in the file folder. The SoD gave her thumbs up, not bothering to think of the mess that would have happened if they had given up. Scarlet thought to herself…"Oh shoot, I should have kept those names…what a lucky guy Rufus is, he gets to fire half his cabinet…" She smiled, and began to cackle with glee…"Kya ha ha!"
Rufus turned to Elena, but shook Tseng's hand. Tseng also looked at Elena…Rufus spoke purposely loud enough to be heard by Elena…"Good work Tseng!"
Elena pulled her teary red face from her blanket, and looked up to see the man of her dreams. Pushing soldiers aside, she leaped into Tseng's embrace, and held onto him tightly…"My hero!"
Tseng padded Elena's back, as he looked to Rufus. Rufus took off his white jacket, and placed it around Tseng and Elena…"She's all yours, that's your raise." Tseng smiled back, only for a moment, as Elena burried her face in his chest, as he looked down on her. Rufus stared at the ceiling, shaking various hands at the same time. He spoke to himself…"There's always the Postmaster General…"
One of the soldiers looked to Rufus…"But the Postmaster General is my brother!"
"He's fired."
The remnants of the F-15 fleet flew into formation with the honorary MF1 as they flew into the new dawn…
THE END
THE JOY WAS ALL OVER THE MF1 COCKPIT, as the Major and Rufus shook hands. But then Rufus looked to Reeve, who was tending to Heideggar. He was not dead, but was in severe pain, and was loosing a fair amount of blood.
Rufus then looked back to the Major. "You know how to fly this thing?"
He shook his head, his voice worried…"No sir…"
Rufus nodded, then turned to the cockpit…"Then come along, I'll need a co-pilot."
"Of course sir…" He spoke as he followed.
They both buckled into their respective seats…"How long since you've flown sir?"
Rufus thought for a moment…"Quite a while…small planes. Never jets." He put on his headset-phone, and spoke into it. It was connected to the Situation Room…"Er…you guys got someone there that can help me fly this thing?"
A voice replied, but it was not one he had heard previously…"Rufus, this is Colonel Jackson"
"Hey Bob…"
The Colonel nodded…"Alright, we've got to get you out of enemy territory…"
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Okay, now should be a small screen, surrounded by LED lights and knobs, do you see it?"
Rufus looked about, then spotted it…"Yeah"
"Okay, that's your course setting. Now below that, there should be a knob surrounded by hash marks, I need to turn the knob clockwise until the screen says One-Two-Zero."
Rufus did as he was told…"The plane's starting to turn!"
"Yes Mr.President, this course will take you out of Rocket Town."
Elena was caring for Heideggar for the moment, as Reeve examined the body of Cid. When no one was looking, he lifted the pistol from the body, and slipped it into his own holster.
Back in the Situation room, the VP and the SoD were still quite pleased with their president. They looked over to a radar screen, which showed the position of the MF1, the F-15 squad…and another set of planes…curious, they got the attention of the two Generals…Scarlet pointed to the screen…"General, what's that?"
The Air Force general answered…"Madame Vice President, that red dot represents MiG's…"
The other general finished…"On a course to intercept Midgar Forces One!"
The SoD added to the newfound threat…"Christ, they took off from an air base near Costa del Sol. The base commander there is loyal to AVALANCHE!!"
The VP turned to the Air Force general…"Send out fighters into Rocket Town…order them to use any and all means to protect the President!" She then walked over to the Colonel, who was teaching Rufus how to fly the plane off of autopilot. She grabbed the phone.
"Mr.President?"
"Yeah Scarlet?"
"We're tracking six MiG's closing in on your position! We're sending in the F-15's to protect you!"
Rufus took off his headset…"Shit…"
The Major looked to him…"Did she say MiGs?"
Rufus nodded…"Yeah, she said MiGs." Rufus looked to the others in the other rooms…"You guys better sit down and put a seatbelt on…."
*****
THE F-15 FLEET WAS PATROLLING THE BORDER OF ROCKET TOWN when they received the order. Reno spoke on his radio…"Okay, we have clearance to execute! Open the burners and push it!"
In the blink of an eye, the fighters were travelling at massive speeds towards the MF1's position...Rude spoke to Reno...
"Did you tell them about Tseng yet?"
Reno was surprised…"Me? I thought you were supposed to tell them!"
They both spoke in unison…"Uh-oh…"
*****
RUFUS AND THE MAJOR WERE LOOKING ON, praying that the good guys got here before certain death did. Rufus spoke into his mic..."So these MiGs, how far away are they?"
The status screen began to beep repeatedly. It displayed the message "Radar Lock". Rufus spoke back into the mic…"Never mind…"
The MiG squadron had acquired a lock with Midgar Forces One. One of the jets, released a homing missile at the MF1, as the Major was frantically trying to counter it.
As when the Shinra fired on the plane before, the plane had another countermeasure ready. A series of flares were dropped from the plane. The plane dove and banked left, as the missile went flying past. The Major jolted upon sight of the missile….
He spoke into his headset. The entire series of radio chatter was being heard back at HQ…"TURK flight - this is M-F-1, we are under missile attack! Where the hell are you?"
Reno yelled into his radio, sweat pouring from his forehead…"ETA two minutes!"
Rufus, still trying to level the plane, spoke…"We may not be here in two minutes!"
The very jet that had fired upon MF1 closed distance and began it's attack run. Using it's cannons, it began to fire at the tailcone. The tail was a tattered mess when he was finished, as he moved towards the wings. He only got a few shots off before he was forced to move, all the shots missing but one, that shot striking the left-most engine. Rufus looked out…"Shit, we've got an engine on fire! Number four engine is on fire!"
Col. Jackson shouted a solution…"Pull the fire handle, above the status screen!"
The Major did as they were told. The plane began to tilt slightly…
"We're turning Bob!"
"Left rudder! You have to compensate!"
The Turk flight was almost in position…Reno spoke, the honorary squad leader…"Okay y'all, everyone lock a bandit!"
All five fighters locked their missiles on the MiGs. It was like a game of chicken, but at extreme long range…"Okay everyone…and…Fox Three!"
All five released one missile each into the air, as they rushed towards their targets. Two of the missiles hit their targets, reducing them to flaming wreckage. The flight quickly got into an attack formation to eliminate the rest. Rufus turned back to the others…"Hey hey! Good guys are here!"
"Midgar Forces One, this is Reno McMahon, in forwarding command…"
Elena thought for a second…wasn't Tseng the leader?
"Bug out west, we'll cover you!"
"You got it!"
As all the fighters prepared to go into their aerial dogfight, they failed to notice one MiG on MF1's tail…
Rude yelled out…"Boss! You got one on your tail!"
As if waiting for that statement, the MiG fired a missile towards the MF1…
The Major looked to the status screen…his heart sank…"We've lost countermeasures!"
Reno looked about from his seat…what the? Tseng's jet was flying straight for the missile! Must be the autopilot…he didn't want to say it, but he had to…"Tseng's going in!"
Tseng's jet was closing in on the missile…the missile was maybe twenty metres from the plane when Tseng's jet rammed the missile, destroying both of them immediately…
Reno barked out…"Tseng is down!"
Elena overheard that…her eyes swelled with tears…
The MiGs were starting to break formation…one of them yelled out "Retreat!"
"Not so fast, you son of a bitch!" Reno yelled, as his plane flew behind the apparent captain of the MiG flight. He let loose a missile, which destroyed the MiG in no time at all.
The F-15s got back into standard escort formation with MF1. Reno checked his radar…the MiGs were backing off!
"The rest of 'em are backing off! We're clear!"
Both Rufus and the Major high-fived, as they failed to notice Elena sobbing quietly in corner…"Tseng…no…you can't be…I loved you…" Reeve being the only non-incapacitated male left, held her reassuringly…
Rufus played a bit around with the flight controls…he spoke into his headset…"Bob, you still there?"
"Yes, what is it Mr. President?"
"We've got a problem…my rudder is sluggish…
Reno spoke…"Let me take a look at it sir…"
His jet flew around to survey the damage MF1 had taken…he stopped to look at the tailcone…"Oh man…Sir, you're looking pretty bad from up here…do you have any elevator control?"
Rufus tested it…"Sluggish too…plus we're still losing fuel…"
"Okay…" Reno started…"Sirs, we have a problem…Midgar Forces One has been badly hit…with the damage they've sustained, there's no way they can land…" Reno moved his jet until it his cockpit was in clear view of Rufus'. "I'll stay on your wing sir. Just take it straight until we figure out what to do…sir?"
He looked to Rufus…Rufus looked back…Reno saluted…"You did great sir."
Rufus paused, then saluted back…
The VP, SoD, and both generals were standing in front of the radar projection…the SoD spoke…
"They're out of parachutes, they can't land and they're running out of fuel…"
Scarlet added…"There must be something we can do to help…"
The Air Force general looked to the radar…he saw a yellow dot, the same colour as the F-15s and MF1…"Is that the Air Force Gelnika?"
The other general nodded…"Yeah why?"
The generals looked at each other…"I just had a wild idea…"
*****
"TIMING IS CRITICAL, START HEADING NORTH. You'll receive detailed instructions en route." Squawked over the radio of the Gelnika's radio. The pilot did as he was ordered…"Gelnika 2-4 acknowledges."
By now Rufus had gone to check up on the others…Elena, her tears still leaking tears, rushed into Rufus' arms…"It's not fair…not my Tsengy…"
All Rufus could do was stand, and hold Elena close…looked like their relationship was over. Ah well, there was always the Postmaster General…
*****
A LARGE CROWD HAD GATHERED OUTSIDE OF THE SHINRA BLDG, many concerned citizen, others members of the press. Many people were handing around lit candles, praying for their President's safety…a reporter was doing a report for MBC
"As you can see, hundreds of people have gathered here to pray and await word on the President and his friends. They have made it out of enemy territory, but MBC has learned that Midgar Forces One is badly damaged, and virtually un-landable. Hope is starting to run out, but the Shinra claim there is a mid-air rescue under way…Faxanadu Sheridan, MBC News."
*****
THE REMINANTS OF THE F-15 FLEET BROKE FORMATION away from MF1, as the Gelnika arrived on the scene. They started to get into position, above and ahead of the MF1, as daybreak emerged. Rufus and the Major were in the cockpit…finally, they were getting off this hunk of junk. The Major swore that IF he got off this plane, he was definitely going to retire and publish an autobiography.
The Situation room was tense. The PressRoom was filled with reporters. A speaker was brought in by Hojo, so the press could listen in on the radio chat. The voice of Col. Jackson was heard first…"Gelnika 2-4, they're almost out of fuel!"
"Gelnika 2-4 acknowledges."
Rufus looked out to Reeve…"Go get the door."
Reeve nodded, as he walked down the stairs, and toward the front of the plane. He didn't have to walk far before he reached a door leading outside. He wrapped his arm around a large handle near the door. He lifted the door latch, and pressed a button on the door. The door opened, and flew directly off of the plane.
The rear cargo bay door of the Gelnika opened up. A soldier was strapped into a long cable, ready to start his mid-air flight towards MF1. They prepped him, and when they deemed themselves ready, they began to unravel the cable, the man slowly drifting towards MF1. The Major was at the controls. The soldier was almost near the door, when the right-most engine died…
"Gelnika 2-4" The Major started…"We've just lost another engine."
"Gelnika acknowledges. Midgar Forces One, if you loose any more engines, sacrifice altitude to maintain airspeed!"
Reeve had just caught a glimpse of the soldier, as he reached out an arm to pull him in. After a brief moment of pulling, he managed to get the soldier into the plane. He took the cable and attached it to one of the handles inside the doorframe. "Where's the President?" He spoke in a military voice, as he turned to Reeve.
Reeve pointed to the stairwell…"Up in the cockpit!"
The soldier ran up the stairs, and greeted the President and the Major in the cockpit. He saluted.
"Sir, it's time to go!"
"But who's going to fly the plane?"
"I'll take care of that sir!"
The pilot made himself comfy in the pilot's chair, as the Gelnika sent down two more men, who boarded quickly.
The Gelnika spoke into their radio. The press and the politicians started to feel a bit better, as they heard the news. "Okay, Gelnika 2-4 is moving into the receiver position!"
The Gelnika lowered their altitude, and took place behind the MF1.
One of the soldiers held a harness for the President, but Rufus shook his head…"Elena first!"
"But sir! I have orders to take-"
"Elena first!"
Elena, still all worked up over Tseng, was all strapped in, ready to go. She looked to Rufus, not smiling, but Rufus patted her on the back…"Tseng'll be with you. Always."
She managed to get a small smile going, as the soldier strapped in with her jumped off the plane. Elena quickly shut her eyes and shrieked for her life, as the cable guided them down to the Gelnika. They arrived, as the soldiers pulled them in. The clouds beneath them disappeared, as the ocean was clearly in view now.
The last soldier, aside from the one in the cockpit, held out a harness for Rufus, but Rufus shook his head, and pointed to Heideggar, who was still bleeding, not quite as much, from the earlier incident. "Him next, he's wounded!"
Reeve managed to guide him towards the soldier, but Heideggar managed to blurt out to the President as he passed him…"No, you go…"
Rufus shook his head and smiled…"You're getting off this hellhole!"
As with before, the soldier and Heideggar were making their way down the cable, but misfortune struck again as the only engine on the right died. The MF1 began to slip beneath the Gelnika, the soldier and Heideggar simply bobbing in the middle. "Midgar Forces One, you're sinking too fast! We only have time for one more retrieval, Get the President out of there!"
The pilot shoved the plane into auto, and made his way close to the door. Rufus was putting his harness on out of boredom. The pilot shouted to be heard over the wind…"Time to go Mr.President!"
Rufus finished with his harness…"What about the other team?"
The soldier shook his head, as he adjusted his harness…"There's no time for the other team! I have orders to take you!"
Rufus shook his head, and yelled…"No! We're all going!"
"That's impossible sir! I have to take you!"
"Sir!" The Major started…"It's time to get you off this plane! Go sir, go!"
Everyone was still for a moment…all except Reeve, who was out of the sight of everyone…
A gunshot was heard, as blood splashed all over the doorframe. The pilot fell out of the plane, already dead. Rufus and the Major looked to him in shock…the Major yelled out…"It was you?!!?"
Reeve nodded slowly, pistol gripped with both hands. He fired at the Major's right shoulder, as he reeled for a moment in pain. His dying body fell onto Reeve, as he put the pistol to his heart and fired, the bullet travelling through him, coming to rest in the wall. The dead body of the Major fell to the ground. Reeve, slightly covered in blood, pointed the pistol then to Rufus, who was holding the last strap for the cable. The MF1 was coming closer and closer to the water…
"I trusted you with my life!"
"So will the next President! Now give me the strap!"
"Never!"
Reeve was about to fire the pistol, but was unable to when a much louder and stronger sounding shot was heard. Reeve fell at the President's feet, he was dead. Rufus looked down at the body, then at the assassin. Tseng raised the magnum to his mouth, and blew off the smoke, smiling…
"Boss, about that raise I've been asking for…"
"Granted!"
They both looked to the water below, then the handle the cable was attached to. The weight of the MF1 was starting to pull the Gelnika down with it. The handle started to loosen.
Tseng dove at the handle, and held it for a moment, but lost his footing when it detached from the plane. Rufus anticipating this, dove at Tseng's legs, as the MF1 plunged towards the sea below. It skimmed the surface for a moment, then began to roll, and split into several pieces…and the people in the Gelnika eyed the cable…two men, one hanging on for dear life, the other hanging onto the other.
The radio cracked…"Midgar Forces One is down!"
All of Midgar was silent. The Situation Room. The Press Room. The Shinra Bldg. Courtyard where the citizens had gathered. A voice spoke back…"Do you have the President?"
Still unsure of their mystery passengers, they replied…"Stand-by!"
Elena was sulking in a corner, not paying any attention…"First Tseng, and now Rufus…any guy I'm around dies…if I were these soldiers, I'd run…"
The two were hanging on as best they could…the Gelnika began reeling them in. All held their breaths.
They managed to pull the two onto the plane! Rufus and Tseng managed to get to their feet, as they closed the parachute door. One man yelled into the radio…"Gelnika 2-4 is changing call signs: Gelnika 2-4 is now M-F- 1!"
A unanamous string of yelling and screaming errupted from Midgar as the people were rejoicing. The bunch gathered outside danced around with glee, toasting with either drinks or their candles. The reporters in the press room stood and threw their notepads in the air, some even going as far as to shake the hands of their competitors in the newspaper business. The Situation Room exploded with even more rejoicing than before. The VP, SoD, the two generals, and Scarlet's advisor were smiling.
Scarlet reached into the file folder, and stared at the document for a moment…she then quickly proceeded to tear it into shreds, placing the pieces in the file folder. The SoD gave her thumbs up, not bothering to think of the mess that would have happened if they had given up. Scarlet thought to herself…"Oh shoot, I should have kept those names…what a lucky guy Rufus is, he gets to fire half his cabinet…" She smiled, and began to cackle with glee…"Kya ha ha!"
Rufus turned to Elena, but shook Tseng's hand. Tseng also looked at Elena…Rufus spoke purposely loud enough to be heard by Elena…"Good work Tseng!"
Elena pulled her teary red face from her blanket, and looked up to see the man of her dreams. Pushing soldiers aside, she leaped into Tseng's embrace, and held onto him tightly…"My hero!"
Tseng padded Elena's back, as he looked to Rufus. Rufus took off his white jacket, and placed it around Tseng and Elena…"She's all yours, that's your raise." Tseng smiled back, only for a moment, as Elena burried her face in his chest, as he looked down on her. Rufus stared at the ceiling, shaking various hands at the same time. He spoke to himself…"There's always the Postmaster General…"
One of the soldiers looked to Rufus…"But the Postmaster General is my brother!"
"He's fired."
The remnants of the F-15 fleet flew into formation with the honorary MF1 as they flew into the new dawn…
THE END
