A/N The plot continues to grow deeper and deeper. Huehuehuehue. And the reason why this chapter is out so early is because I decided I wanted to let it go early. Enjoy you guys.

Chapter 7 - Resistance

Pushing Back

- Sachana Air Force Base -

- March 30th, 2020 0900 hrs -

"We were successful in destroying the enemy supply facility and put their forces in a major bind, allowing our own allies to begin their own counterattacks and push back Leasath's troops. This air base and its forces are not exempt from this joint push, with our job being one of the most important." started the Base Commander once everyone settled into their seats.

"On the southwest end of mainland Aurelia rests Port Patterson. Thankfully the port has not fallen into enemy hands, and our military has decided to pool most of our resources into building a fighting force centered around our surviving naval vessels, which are stationed at the port. Reconnaissance has shown that our enemy has caught wind of our operation and dispatched ships of the Leasath Navy backed up with aerial support, suggesting that they plan to surround the port and our fleet. Destroy the enemy fleet and escort our ships all the to the capital to finally bring an end to this war."

- Port Patterson, Aurelia -

- March 30th, 2020 1019 hrs -

"There's the fleet. Just look at the size of it!" exclaimed Roy as he and the Gryphus Squadron approached the port alongside Falco Squadron at top speed, intending to reach the port early.

"I can't believe we're already nearing the end of this war. All we have to do is get past the Leasath fleet and we're on our way to Griswall!" said Gryphus 4 excitedly.

"Don't lose focus. We still have a job to do here, and we're gonna make sure it's done right." stated Falco 1 to reprimand him, Church chuckling at how quickly Gryphus 4 hushed up.

They arrived over the port in a few minutes and circled patiently over the fleet Aurelia had amassed to take back their capital and bring a quick end to the war. They had one Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier stationed in the port, and the rest of its battle group consisted of a couple Ticonderoga-class cruisers, at least four Hatakaze-class Guided Missile Destroyers, six Cassard-class frigates, and a single Iowa-class Battleship that acted as the carrier's personal bodyguard.

"This is the Carrier Beacon to allied air forces. We appreciate your assistance in the coming battle ahead. We'll be departing from the port shortly."

"Roger that Beacon, we'll be ready and waiting." replied Church before he settled into his flight seat and entered a long-swooping arc around the fleet with his squadron and Falco Squadron.

True to their word, the fleet was combat ready in under five minutes and soon enough they had left the port and had begun the long journey around the southern tip of Aurelia along the eastern coast up towards the Danern Straits, and from there, to Griswall. The end of the war was within their grasp.

- Costner Residence, Anfang, Belka -

- Same Time -

Cipher awoke with a start when he heard the soft rapping of knuckles on the front door, his hands moving to his eyes to rub away the tiredness in them. He picked himself up out of his chair and yawned as he reached for the remote to turn off the T.V before shuffling over towards door.

When he reached the door he yawned again and turned the knob, stepping a little to the left to allow the door to swing past him and into the crook of his arm while he looked out at the person standing on the welcome mat. Instantly he knew just by how the guy dressed that he wasn't any ordinary person.

"Are you Aleksandar Costner?" the man asked as he lifted his head up to allow Cipher a perfect view of his face.

It unnerved him slightly, but he kept the reaction hidden well, "Who's asking?"

"Doesn't matter. What we need to do though is talk. Can I come inside?"

"Sure...I guess." replied Cipher as he stepped aside to let the man in through the door.

He rested his cane against the wall beside the door and entered the living room, choosing to sit down on the couch and face Cipher as he sat back down in his recliner and leaned back. He also took off his top hat and rested it on the ottoman placed between the T.V stand and the furniture.

"So...what's your name? And why the clothes? This isn't the eighteen hundreds, y'know." asked Cipher with a slight grin, his guest chuckling as he rested his hands in his lap.

"I'll tell you, of course, I just need you to promise me one thing." asked the man, Cipher thinking for a few moments before nodding.

"I need you to keep this meeting secret. Don't tell anyone, not even your own son."

Cipher's eyes visibly grew larger in surprise when the man mentioned his son, considering he should have no idea that he had a son in the first place. "How did you know I had a son?"

"I know everything there is to know about you Alek, or should I say Cipher? Mobius 1? Blaze? How about Patient Zero?" asked the man, Cipher's expression quickly morphing into a scowl when he referred to him as the designation he received from Project ACES.

"You...how do you know about Project ACES? No one should have knowledge about that."

"Like I said, I know everything there is to know about you. I also know that your "brother", Ethan Costner, callsign Talisman, is in Aurelia right now with the Razgriz aboard the P-1112 Aigaion as we speak, guarding the Stonehenge Unit in the event the forces of either Aurelia or Leasath attempt to take over the railgun installation for their use in the war." the man continued without a wasted breath, Cipher about to respond before he saw Jasper walk down the stairs and peer over the railing.

"Dad?"

"Go upstairs Jasper. I'm just talking with a...friend." he said to his son with a hand motion, Jasper nodding once before he turned around and disappeared.

After he was gone Cipher leaned forward and fixated his cold hard gaze on the man, disregarding the freakish smile the man wore from cheek bone to cheek bone and asked, "Just who are you?"

"Ah yes, excuse my manners. Just call me Jack." said the man, Cipher narrowing his eyes and silently urging him to continue. "And all you need to know is that I am an assassin, a very good one at that."

Jack sighed deeply before he leaned forward as well and locked gazes with Cipher, his grin falling and his visible left eye, its red color making it glow with evil intent, twitching slightly. "And, unfortunately, my employers have hired me to kill you."

Cipher's heart skipped a beat and he stared at Jack, who was sitting calmly in the couch as if telling him he was a highly successful assassin that had been hired to kill him was just a simple matter.

His eyes flicked over to the small table resting beside his recliner, his Glock 17 sitting on its surface just inches away, but before he could try to reach over and grab it Jack chuckled and leaned back.

"Please, I do hope you will refrain from trying to shoot me. If I had wanted to kill you, I could've done it twenty different ways as soon as you had opened the door." he said matter-of-factly, Cipher glancing back at the assassin and raising an eyebrow.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"It's simple really, if you would let me finish." said Jack with a slight growl. "Yes, my employers hired me to kill you. But...I'm not going to. It's something that I don't want to do, and after seeing how much your son cares about you, it would be selfish of me to take his father away from him."

"So then, why did you come here if you're not going to kill me?" questioned Cipher, still suspicious about Jack's intentions.

"I'm going to tell you some things that are going on in the shadows, things that the world has absolutely no idea about. Things that if it's discovered I told you about them...I would be killed on the spot. I highly doubt that last part, though. Interested?" asked Jack with a grin again, Cipher narrowing his eyes once more before he returned to a relaxed position in his recliner and crossed his arms.

"I am. Go ahead."

Jack chuckled as he got into a comfortable position himself and took in a deep breath, "Well, let's start from beginning. You remember the Osean War of 1905, correct?"

- Aurelian Sea, 18 miles away from Sachana Air Force Base -

- March 30th, 2020 1130 hrs -

"Enemy fleet detected three miles out, approaching fast. It consists of one *Iowa-class Battleship, three *Ticonderoga-class cruisers, and three *Georges Leygues-class frigates. Enemy air forces accompanying them are comprised of several squadrons of Rafale Ms." reported the Carrier Beacon's IFF operator, Church taking a deep breath and getting ready for the coming fight.

The enemy Leasath fleet coming straight at them was the last obstacle that stood in the path to liberating their capital and pushing the rest of Leasath's forces out of their country, officially ending the war. It was exhilarating to think about, and the sooner it was over the sooner they could all prepare for the eventual arrival of the Odysseus Asteroids.

"Falco 1 to Gryphus 1, we'll handle the ships. You guys take care of the fighters."

"Roger Falco 1, take care of yourself." replied Church as he increased his altitude, his wingmen following suite, while Falco 1 and his squadron dropped down to engage the oncoming Leasath fleet.

"When do I ever not take care of myself?" asked Falco 1 with a chuckle.

'Mhmm, yeah, sure. Alright boys, and girl," said Church in respect for their one female member. "Let's show them why they shouldn't mess with the Aurelan Air Force! Engage all targets and bring them down!"

"Roger! Let me at 'em!"

They spread out into attack formation and met the enemy Leasath fighters head on, the two opposing forces clashing in a duel of superiority that would decide who continued on towards their objectives. Would it be the Aurelians, who would be able to liberate their capital and end the war? Or the Leasaths, who if allowed to pass by would blockade Port Patterson and open up another front on the mainland, effectively entrapping their forces and bringing them closer to victory.

It all hung in the balance, and both sides were quite aware of this fact.

"Hammer them! Do not let the Aurelians pass!" ordered the Leasath commanding officer on board the Iowa-class Battleship, its massive 16-inch guns opening fire on the Aurelian fleet with multiple resounding booms.

"Open fire!" ordered the Beacon's captain as the Aurelian fleet returned fire at their enemy, shells and missiles from each fleet flying out over the bare patch of water that separated them this way and that.

Church weaved through the oncoming missiles from the enemy Rafale Ms and shot one down with his gun, moving onto the next while his wingmen backed him and kept anyone from getting on his tail. It was just six of them going up against at least fifty pilots, and they were blowing through them as if it were the easiest thing in the world. And down below the same was happening with Falco Squadron going against the Leasath fleet vessels.

The operation was going smoothly and they would seen be done and on their way to Griswall.

"Keep pushing forward! Griswall is calling for us!"

On board the Leasath battleship the captain in charge of the fleet was beginning to realize that they wouldn't be able to win this fight. He approached a dashboard and picked up a phone, quickly dialing a number and raising it up to his ear. The dial tone played for a few seconds before the person at the other end picked it up and waited for him to speak.

"Sir, the Aurelian fleet proved to be stronger then expected. We won't be able to hold them back."

"Very well. Get your forces out of there and enter our waters to the East. We'll activate Plan B."

"Yes sir, Supreme Commander." replied the Captain before he hung up and looked out through the bridge's glass windows at the battle outside.

"All forces, the order to retreat has been given. Return to our waters immediately."

"They're running away! We showed them what for!" exclaimed Rick with a bout of laughter as the remaining Leasath forces pulled away from the engagement and began to retreat, allowing them to pass by and continue on their way.

"Nothing can stop us now!"

- Costner Residence, Anfang, Belka -

- Thirty Minutes Later -

Jack finally finished and he rested his hands in his lap, Cipher blinking a few times before he fell back into his chair and held his hand up by a hand, a look of total shock plastered on his face. He was utterly speechless, unable to think of anything to say.

"That's...that's horrible. And it's all true…?" he asked, Jack nodding once solemnly.

"One hundred percent." he said, Cipher gulping and shaking his head a few times in disbelief.

"I...I can't believe someone could be that much of a...a.."

"A monster? I had no idea either...before I became one myself." said Jack with a heavy sigh. "That's why I became who I am today, for that reason exactly. He needs to die...and for the past four years I've been planning and figuring out a way to kill him and make him pay."

"But what about all the people that you killed? Don't you feel sorry for them?" asked Cipher, trying to see if the man before him still had any shred of his former humanity left.

Jack blinked once before he sighed and closed his eyes, " I made a promise to myself and to her that I will kill him, no matter the cost. I don't care how many people I have to kill. But every night, when I try to go to sleep, all I see are their faces...staring back at me with lifeless expressions. They'll haunt me for the rest of my life."

Jack rubbed his face with his gloved hand and shuddered vigorously, his usual calm and collected composure dropping for a split second to reveal his guilt-ridden side, one he has never shown to anyone before.

"So what are you gonna do now?" asked Cipher as Jack recovered himself and coughed to clear his throat.

"Return back to my employers and tell them I couldn't kill you." said Jack as he stood up off the couch and grabbed his top hat, promptly returning it to his head and pulling the bill don't at the front ever so slightly. "It was nice to meet you Alek."

Cipher stood up and shook hands with Jack, the two sharing a smile before he walked Jack out to the door, opening it for him and handing him his cane.

"Oh, and Jack."

The assassin turned around and raised an eyebrow, Cipher looking back over his shoulder to make sure Jasper hadn't snuck down to listen in. "I...I have a feeling I'm going to be back in the fight again if what you say is true, so if...well...if I ever get killed, I want you to take care of Jasper."

"What do you mean?" asked Jack, confused.

"I'm going to name you as his Godfather, so that if I'm gone he still has some family left. Would you do that for me?" asked Cipher, Jack becoming taken aback at first by the prospect before he chuckled and nod his head.

"Sure, friend. I would be glad to."

- Danern Straits, 25 Miles out from Griswall -

- Two Hours Later -

"Twenty five miles out from Griswall and counting. We're almost there guys." said Church as they entered the stretch of water between Aurelia and the Danern Islands, which lied in Leasath's territory.

"This is the Carrier Beacon to allied air squadrons up above. We no longer need your escort, thank you for your assistance."

"Roger that Beacon, we'll see you at Griswall." replied Falco 1 as they broke away from the carrier battle group and started to fly towards the mainland, dropping their altitude as they did so.

Church looked back over and could see the islands from where they flew, being the only objects that rested on the sparkling sea out in the distance. It gave him an uneasy feeling that they were leaving the fleet this close to enemy territory, and the thought of a sneak attack crept that crept into his mind only made it worse.

He looked at the islands for a few more seconds before blinked when something caught his eye down below them. He lifted up his visor and squinted to try and make out the thing he had saw, watching as something seemed to fly through the air and distort the very land and objects around it. And he could tell by its shape that it was very, very large.

"What the…" he muttered under his breath in suspicion.

All of a sudden the invisible object turned into a massive black aircraft of sorts with huge wings and a tail that possessed four vertical stabilizers, giving it an overall look similar to that of a graceful bird with black feathers.

Before any of them could react a large missile was fired out of a silo on the aircraft and made a loop in the air, flying straight down at the fleet at break-neck speed.

The missile reached a point above the fleet and all of a sudden it exploded in a bright flash of blue light, a few seconds later a devastating shockwave followed that shook their aircrafts vigorously and caused them to all go dead for a few seconds with severe ringing in their ears.

"What the hell was that?!" yelled Falco 1, Church blinking a few times out of shock when the blue light faded away and a horrific sight appeared.

"T-The fleet...it's gone."