(A/N: 03/15/2010-At the request of a reviewer, I will be posting weapons systems as they appear, until I post the weapons information. Most likely, it will be a chapter of it's own.)

Chapter 8 The Shadow Falls…

Naruto felt the Gee forces pull at his body. Every muscle was affected. The blonde pushed his fighter to the limits as the alarms blared in his headset. A Haydonite fighter had moved in on his six and was now trying to kill the unpredictable blonde. But Naruto was running out of ideas, and fast. A luck would have it, he heard the commanding voice of Skull Squadron's new CO.

"Uzumaki. Fake right and then jinx left and throw in the afterburners. I'll take that bastard out for you."

Naruto smirked.

"No need. Watch this."

Naruto yanked back on the throttle and slammed the control stick to the right and back. His fighter slowed abruptly, throwing him forward, causing his harness to bite uncomfortably into his shoulders. The Haydonite appeared smarter than his brethren and decelerated as well, but not as quickly as Naruto. The veritech pilot switched to guardian mode and let lose his EP-13 80mm particle gun, sending sizzling death at the Haydonite, who apparently did not mix well with the incoming rounds, seeing as he exploded. The VF-6A switched back to fighter mode and sped off to tackle another wave of Haydonite fighters.

Xxxxx

Rick was pissed as he watched another cruiser go up in a brilliant flash of light. They couldn't get the retro code for the shadow tech uploaded to the fleet quickly enough due to their communication channels were being jammed. Short range worked in limited capacity, meaning fighter communication only. He ordered the SDF-3 to move toward the head of the fleet and draw fire from the Haydonites as the rest of the fleet began to rally behind them.

"Snychro cannon lock! Ready to fire!"

Rick grinned darkly.

"Time to use their own guns against them. Fire at will!" He ordered.

The mighty SDF-3 fired her main gun. A lance of blue energy sliced through the darkness, slamming into the lead Haydonite vessel. They watched as it's shields flickered but remained operational. Rick gritted his teeth.

"Damn it. Fire again. Prepare the SLS VMLs. Standby to fire a volley of reflex warheads on impact of the snychro cannons."

The weapons officer began the calculations, quickly acquiring a firing solution.

"Ready!"

"Fire!"

Again, the SDF-3 fired her main gun, the shot slamming into the shields that failed to reform this time. Not even a moment later, the SLS-25 Long Range Anti-Spaceship missiles impacted onto it's hull, blowing massive holes into it's forward structure, damaging it's main guns. Rick nodded in some satisfaction.

"Lock forward PB-45s onto that ship. Fire once you have a firing solution."

The weapons officer smirked as he tapped a few controls, sending twelve spears of energy at the wounded target. Rick watched the particle beams tore through the unshielded hull, finally punching through into it's reactor. A cheer sounded around the bridge as they REF scored it's first kill. Rick let out his held breath before he looked back up at the display.

"We're going to get over run. Their just too damn many of them. Options?"

Edwards glanced from the display to the fighter load out before his eyes widened.

"Of course! The EU-13s! Why didn't we think of them before?"

Rick took a moment to process this before he too felt his eyes widen.

"Edwards! You're a genius!" He turned to the com officer. "Order all squadrons to pound the hell out of the lead ships with their EU-13s."

The officer nodded and quickly sent the order out to each squadron and to each of the pilots. Rick could only hope that this worked.

Xxxxx

Naruto glanced at his com screen and wondered why he seemed to get the suicide missions. He pulled his wingmen up on screen and relayed the orders before Fox Flight kicked it into overdrive and dove toward the nearest Haydonite ship that Naruto took to be a frigate. He switched to guardian mode and fired his disruptors. He watched as the shields flickered just before a beam of energy slammed into the weakened shields, destroying them and punching into the hull. Fox Flight sped out of the area as the frigate took a hit to it's more sensitive innards and imploded. Naruto didn't know how much longer that they could last against the Haydonites, but he swore he'd fight to his dieing breath if need be. He just hoped it didn't come to that.

Xxxxx

Admiral Edwards looked around the bridge as the SDF-3 took another bone shaking hit from the Haydonites. Even with the shadow dimensional field active, they were getting the hell beat out of them. He looked down at the battle display and paused as his eyes swept over Liberty. He pulled up it's scan and discovered something that could save them ad destroy the Haydonites. He only hoped that Rick wouldn't be pissed at him.

Xxxxxx

Naruto dove between a pair of Haydonite capital ships as they fired their main guns. The blonde stuck close to the hull of the lower one and sped off into the center of the Haydonite fleet. He let lose with his disruptors and MRMs, effectively blowing a hole in the shields. The ace pilot moved his fighter inside the protective field and proceeded to move along the hull in fighter mode. He came across a very promising airlock and had no problem with blowing it open. Shifting to battloid, he moved down the corridor as fast as he could. It took him a few moments, but he finally reached the power core. And it was currently occupied. Naruto didn't waste any time as he placed his sights on the oblivious Haydonite and let loose with a deadly stream of particle beam fire, tearing into the Haydonite. The blonde looked around and found a rather important looking conduit and walked over to it. According to his sensors, it was an energy regulator and removing it would be a very bad idea as the amount if raw, unregulated energy into the core would overload it then implode it. But the blonde grinned and used his battloid's hands and found a good purchase before he yanked the regulator out. He knew he hit the jackpot when alarms begin sounding in the compartment. Naruto decided that standing around would be a very bad idea and head back the way he came and managed to find the same airlock he entered as the ship began to creak and shake like some giant toddler was playing with the ship.

Xxxxx

On the SDF-3, Rick watched another Haydonite ship go up from a core implosion and looked to the weapons officer.

"Wasn't the SDF-3. Sensors show a fighter leaving the vessel just before it exploded."

"Who?" Was all he asked.

"VT-10333."

Rick allowed himself a small smile.

"Naruto." He muttered as he prepared to order his forces to retreat.

An alarm caught his attention and he looked around quickly, trying to figure out what was happening.

"Sir! I'm reading a Neutron-S activation…inside the station!"

Rick snapped his head over to Edwards station and saw no one there.

"Damn it! Give me a channel to Edwards! Now!"

The bridge crew rushed furiously to complete their task and sure enough, they were able to open a channel to the missing Admiral. Rick wanted to know just what the hell he was playing at.

"Edwards! What the hel are you doing?"

Edwards gave him a small smile.

"Ensuring that we kill these bastards. The detonation of our Neutron-S warheads here will create an explosion powerful enough to destroy the Haydonites here. Just like when Admiral Gloval used Dolza's own vessel against him and his fleet."

Rick rubbed his temples before he returned hid attention back to the display.

"Edwards. Get your ass out of there. We'll pull back to the station to pick you and the station personnel up and then fold out."

Edwards shook his head.

"Negative. You have to hold them there for a few more minutes. Other wise they'll fold out and the explosion won't catch anything." He paused and looked over a display next to him. "And the station crew are already on the Ark Angel and will be heading out momentarily."

Rick frowned at the man.

"This is a dangerous gamble your making Edwards."

He flashed Rick a knowing smile.

"I know. That's why it'll work. Set fold out for five minutes. Edwards out."

The screen cut out and was replaced by the scenes of battle. Rick felt old and tired.

"Prepare space fold. Have all fighters move to fold perimeter. Pass that order along to all surviving ships as well. Fold in five minutes."

Xxxxx

Naruto glanced at his screen before opening his com. His wingmen appeared on screen, both looking nervous and scared.

"Alright guys. Your doing great. But now it's time to fall back to fold perimeter. Follow me in but keep your heads on a swivel. Damn Haydonites can appear out of nowhere."

The two young men nodded, still not looking so good as Naruto cut the com. The three fighters of Fox Flight hurtled back to the SDF-3's perimeter while the rest of the fleet began to fold out of system while the SDF-3 continued to provide cover for them, but the fact was, even the SDF-3 wasn't powerful enough to stand up to a whole fleet of cruisers and other combat vessels. Naruto and the rest of the flight moved into position along with the rest of the air group as well. Naruto checked his missile load out and frowned. He was done to twenty SRMs and a dozen MRMs. His screen still showed he had both his LRMs. Naruto activated his weapons systems and locked every thing his had left at the incoming swarms of Haydonite fighters. He waited the tone of lock on fill his head set.

"Nighty night assholes." He muttered as he pressed the trigger.

Dozens of missiles streaked away from his fighter and found their targets perfectly. The rest of his flight let loose their own swarm of missiles, taking even more of the Haydonites out. Naruto transformed into battloid mode and sent a stream of particle shots at them in a stream of sizzling death. He watched a few explode but saw that a lot more were coming in. He didn't like his odds at this point. But something over the com caught his attention.

"Hellhounds have been obliterated! I'm alone here and need support!"

Naruto felt his heart stop momentarily before he spun his Alpha around and transforming back into fighter mode before peeling off to find Claudia.

"Fox flight, form up on me!"

Xxxxx

They Haydonite commander watched the battle with muted amusement as the humans tried desperately to fight them off. One of his underlings found something and passed it along.

"Several human ships are retreating."

"Clearly they do not yet comprehend that their entire race is doomed. Our victory here today will mark the rise of a new epic for the Haydonites."

Xxxxx

Naruto and his flight arrived to see Edge trailing smoke with her port engine flamed out. The flight tore into the pursuing attackers, destroying several of them before coming back around to take the rest of them out. Naruto and his flight formed up around the wounded Veritech and escorted it back into the fold perimeter. They just managed to make it before the fold system began to fold the ship away from Deep Space Station Liberty. In a flash of light, the SDF-3 and the Ark Angel disappeared just as the Neutron-S warheads finished their terminal countdown.

Xxxxx

Admiral Edwards smiled as he watched the Neutron-S warhead float momentarily as the countdown continued with fifteen seconds left. The man fished a cigarette out of his pocket and brought it to his lips, lighting it at the same time. A sudden alert caught his attention.

"Attention. Smoking in non-designated areas is prohibited. Please put out your tobacco or security forces will be notified."

Edwards smiled at that as he took a deep drag from his cigarette, letting it flow out.

"Go to hell." He muttered as the countdown reached the final ten seconds.

"Security forces have been summoned. Please remain where you are."

Edwards shook his head with amusement. He looked up to the display and watched the SDF-3 vanish in flash of light.

"Detonation in 4...3...2...1..."

"Good luck, Rick."

A loud roar followed by a bright light was the last thing he saw.

Xxxxx

The Haydonites watched as the humans attempted to fold away. It was almost funny to the Haydonites. At least, until something caught their attention.

"We have neutron weapon detonation."

The Haydonite commander was surprised.

"This was not foreseen. Quickly. Initiate space folding."

But the order came too late. The explosion from the weapons caught the Haydonite ships and destroyed them in a blinding flash of light.

Xxxxx

Naruto waited pertinently outside the infirmary as Doctor Jean Grant worked on Claudia. She had sustained a few minor injuries and a few second degree burns from an exploding console. He stopped his pacing as he watched Admiral Hayes-Hunter entered the hospital and make a bee lone over to him. Naruto had no idea what to expect, but to be pulled into a hug by the legendary Admiral Hayes-Hunter was not on any list he had. He awkwardly patted her back as she sobbed.

"Thank you. Thank you Naruto. You saved my little girl."

Naruto felt embarrassed as she regained her composure and whipped her eyes.

"You welcome. But she's a good friend. And I didn't want to lose her." He almost whispered the last part of the sentence.

Lisa smiled lightly as she noticed his gaze return to the doors to Claudia's room.

"You'd like to be more than friends with her, I take it?"

Naruto thought his head would pop off from how quickly he looked back to the Admiral.

"Wha…? No. I mean…well yes…but…"

Lisa watched with amusement as the young man continued to stutter and turn red and rub the back of his head.

"It's okay. I know what you mean. Also, I wanted to commend you and your flight for a job well done. You're the only flight other than Skull Squadron who have a capital ship kill. That's something to be proud of."

Naruto straightened his stance and smiled.

"Thank you, Admiral."

Admiral Hayes-Hunter nodded her head before handing Naruto a sheet of paper that he accepted with some confusion.

"That is a letter to your CO giving you and your flight the next week off."

Naruto smiled and thanked her as the doors opened and Jean walked out, smiling. Lisa gave her a pleading look that she understood all too well.

"She's fine. Some rest and a few days off and it'll be like she was never here in the first place."

Lisa sighed in relief as Naruto felt like a weight had been lifted from him. He wanted to see her, but felt that her family should be the first in to see her, so he quietly began to head out when Lisa's voice made him stop.

"Where do you think your going, lover boy?"

Naruto turned even redder as he caught the sound of several snickers from nearby personnel.

"I figured it would be better if I let you and Admiral Hunter see her first. After all…isn't it family first?"

Lisa smirked.

"Last I checked…I raised you. That kind of make you family. Now lets go see her."

Xxxxx

Naruto sat against in a chair against the wall and watched as Claudia slept, a peaceful look on her face as she slumbered. He smiled at the sight, but it was quickly extinguished when he heard a familiar voice.

"I'M HER BOYFRIEND! I DESERVE TO BE IN THERE!"

Naruto rose from his seat and took one last glance at Claudia to see her still sleeping peacefully as he exited the room and saw Bobby Redfield, red in the face, baring down on the scared receptionist. The poor girl was close to tears.

"Back off Redfield." He said in a dangerous voice.

Bobby looked over and saw Naruto and snarled at him.

"Back off Uzumaki or you'll meet my fist. Besides…Claudia is mine. She belongs to me." He said arrogantly.

"How do you figure that?" Naruto asked in the same deadly tone, his anger building.

"Please. I'm Bobby Redfield. What I want I get. Besides…what chance does a loser like you have with her?"

Naruto began to slowly make his way over to him.

"You think she's your property?"

Naruto already decided that depending on the answer, Bobby boy might be able to walk to the nearest room. The arrogant prick just grinned.

"Yeah. Got a problem with it?"

Naruto was right in front of him when he shot his fist out and caught the man in the gut. Bobby doubled over, allowing Naruto to knee him in the face. The football player reared back, holding his face as he howled in pain. Bobby caught sight of Naruto and swung at him. The blonde grabbed the fist and spun with the momentum, hurling the taller man through the glass doors. Passerby screamed and a crowd began to form as Naruto stepped through the shattered doors as Bobby stumbled to his feet.

"You want some of Bobby Redfield?! Bring it!"

A split second later, he let out a sharp gasp. Naruto's eyes had become red and had slits like a cat's pupil. The blonde cracked his neck glared at the man as his whisker marks darkened. His hair became shaggy and his canines elongated as did his nails. He stepped into a fighting stance that came to mind with his body low to the ground and the left fist at his hip, the right near his face.

"Your gonna pay for what you just said. Prepare yourself, 'cause your not walking away from this fight."


VFA-6 Veritech:

EP-13 three-barreled 80mm particle gun pod, firing 170 rounds per minute in full automatic mode, also capable of firing all three barrels simultaneously in semiautomatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 8.2 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated protoculture cell and capacitor banks in the 'magazine'. This weapon, built into an external shell identical to that of the GU-13, was developed in 2025 by the EF, but didn't see wide use until 2026. By 2031, the EP-13 had almost completely replaced the GU-13 as the main cannon of Alphas in the EF's inventory. The weapon is stored under the wing root in fighter mode, and in the hand in Guardian and Battloid modes.

EU-13 Destabilizer (after 2043), sub-nuclear particle beam gun with output of 36 MJ, can fire up to 30 times/minute. The gun pod draws power from its own dedicated protoculture canister, but can by fired using the plane's own power, and is stored in fighter mode between the upper reserve engine/missile pylons. The particles have a specific, disrupting effect on force fields, and will short out a low power field completely, while high power fields may temporarily and locally cease to function.

SDF-3 Pioneer/REF Capital Ships:

PB-45 Particle Beam Cannon Turrets: This twin-cannon turret is designed to attack large spaceships. Each turret can rotate 360 degrees and has an arc of fire of 180 degrees. Four turrets are mounted on the top of each of the forward booms, two turets are mounted on the bottom of each of the forward booms, and the other four are mounted in the ship's engine section.

SLS-25 Vertical Missile Launchers: This system replaces the Pepperbox launchers used on old RDF ship designs. This new system consists of two rows of five launch tubes for each missile launcher, this allows for an even higher rate of fire. Four launchers are located near the engines, four amidships, four are in the bow, and the final two launchers are located near the bridge.

SRS-2 Heavy Missile Launchers: A ramp type launch system was designed for the new cruise missiles used by the REF. While these launchers held significantly less rockets, they retained the fast rate of fire that the older designs used on the ARMD cruisers had. Six launchers are located in each of the two forward booms.

More will follow as the story continues.