A/N: Finally, after so much time, here is the next chapter. As it turned out this chapter was not enough to close the arch for the bond promise so there will be another chapter dedicated to it. I'm working on it so hopefully that will be sooner than the last update. Enjoy and review! Thanks!
The Prophecy of Rao - Season 1: New Verses
Disclaimer: Based on DC comics' characters and the mythology created in Smallville (i.e. property of the CW network), and created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster but the words are my own.
AU/SML: At the aftermath of Dark Thursday, Cor of the House of El, presumed dead, leaves the Phantom Zone. He arrives on Earth and hopes to begin a better life but mystery surrounds him quickly. He sets to unveil this mystery and find the answers he craves for, guided by the spirit crystal of his mother.
Note:
Rao - the Red Sun God of Krypton and creator of the universe
Krypton - home world of the Kryptonians
Kandor - capital of Krypton
The Phantom Zone - prison dimension created by Jor-El
Collaris - the Blue Giant of Eerie and co-creator of the universe
Eerie - home world of the Yllyan Empire
Lux Eternis - capital of Eerie
Ventu Collaris - Highguard of the Yllyan Royal Court
Chapter 9
The bond promise – Part III
Previously:
Jordana now got the distinct impression that someone stole the F-104, her plane. And it seemed the Colonel wanted a qualified pilot to pursue him with the super plane. It was not the best case scenario she envisioned for her mission but she needed the data from it.
"Colonel Stent," Jordana attracted the colonel's attention. "I'm a qualified pilot."
Colonel Stent looked at her and perused through her file. She was indeed a qualified pilot. She had tested many aircrafts some of which prototypes. "Major Snider, issue a recognition flash authorization for Captain Lisa Gilbert on the Sterne-Falke EF1717."
"Sir?"
"I don't have the time to explain. Do it."
"Yes, sir,"
"Captain Gilbert, the intruder left twenty minutes ago and is obviously flying under the radar."
Jordana got thinking. "Colonel, you may not be able to track plane with the radar with it should leave a heat trail and that is something you can track."
"Good thinking," Colonel Stent exclaimed. "Major Snider, acquire satellite and look for any heat trail leading away from the base at the time of takeoff. Captain, lets get you sorted." Stent said and proceeded towards the super plane.
Jordana followed without a second thought. Twenty minutes was a lot of time. The F-104 had a maximum speed of Mach 2.2. It can be very far away even for the super plane given that they were just prepping it for flight. By time she took off the F104 would have been gone for more than forty minutes.
Jordana was surprised though of the officers' efficiency. Apparently stealing a plane had put them in an expedite mood. The plane was ready five minutes later and all she needed for takeoff already placed in the computer. She had simply to fool the biometrics. Hopefully it was something she was ready for.
The plane fired up its engines and was outside the hangar bay. She did not have to take off like a normal plane as this one had vertical takeoff. Moments later she was in the air.
"Captain Gilbert, the F104 is currently moving across the Bavarian border into the Baden-Wurttemberg province." Colonel Stent announced. "Force the intruder down without destroying the plane if possible."
"Understood, Colonel Stent, Sterne-Falke out," And she punched it…
And now
The plane's engines roared. Jordana was surprised of the ease and speed with which this plane took off. She could have done the vertical takeoff but it was not nearly as fun and adrenaline like to just squeeze the speed out of this beast of a plane.
She gained altitude and altered course for the Baden-Wurttemberg's border. The intruder had nearly an hour advance and with a speed of Mach 2.2 he was definitely in the province now. Still it was a risky move to fly beneath the radar with such incredible speed unless he sought some adrenaline feeling of his own.
She was so close to completing her mission that she just never anticipated the possibility that someone else could steal the plane right under her nose. She wondered though where did the intruder come from. How did he infiltrate the base? She doubted he just barged in through the main gate. She could have done that too but it was also possible that the base commander would choose to verify her credentials closely and there would be some cracks that she would not rather explain.
She hoped to pass just by the guards long enough so she could download the data she required and then make her exit as she had planned for nearly four months. Of course this situation made her plan easier and though she had prepared for the possibility of flying the super plane she actually did not expect to do so.
It was worth so anyway. The super plane was indeed super. She had punched it to a good velocity – Mach 3.4. She hoped to intercept her pray within the next two hours or so. She played with the controls just to feel the plane beneath her. It had surprising maneuverability at this high velocity.
"Captain Gilbert, come in." The com came to life with Colonel Stent's voice.
"Yes, I read you five by five, Colonel."Jordana replied.
"The intruder has altered heading."
"Where is he now?"
"He's skimming the Bavarian border. His heading would take him into Northern Bavaria."
"Understood," Jordana said. "Permission to increase speed to maximum velocity,"
"Permission granted,"
Jordana punched it hard. The plane accelerated to maximum speed – Mach 6. She will have him sooner than anticipated. This plane was almost three times faster. She estimated to overtake him within the next forty minutes tops.
Still she couldn't but wonder what this intruder's motivation was. Steal a plane from a highly guarded German base. Have an advance of an hour and then turn back into German territory. This did not make any sense to her. Why take the risk? She was certain the intruder was smart enough to realize he would be pursued and eventually caught. There were a few bases along his path. German forces would mobilize and intercept him.
So why take the risk? It was obvious to her that the intruder did not know about the data contained in the hard drive on the plane. So why not steal the super plane? It is far more valuable than the F104. There were many questions but she couldn't answer any of them with a reasonable explanation. The erratic path of the intruder did not provide any clues to his intentions.
Cor could not believe his luck when he was able to board the F-104. It appeared in the base's database that the base commander expected an Oberstleutenant Edmund Ekkehard for the test flight of a super plane. Cor did find the schematics for that plane and it was one hell of interceptor. Its maximum sustained velocity was Mach 6. But fooling its defenses were not something Cor had time for so he had to choose the next best thing. That was the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. It was still an impressive plane. Maximum sustained velocity was listed as Mach 2.2.
Cor had to improvise a lot to get on the F-104. The uniform of an Oberstleutenant he had found would serve him becoming the expected test pilot. As it turned out, the central command of the Luftwaffe did not send a photograph, which he found a bit peculiar but he also welcomed it. The only thing he found in the file was the mention of a swastika. He thought it might be the way this wing commander would introduce himself. Finding one within the base proved a tad difficult but Cor did not give up easily and found one.
Now he had to fool the guards that the F104 was the plane to inspect and test. That was not an easy task. He had very little time to alter certain parameters within the base's database without being detected. He also had to find a way to take off without anyone noticing it take off.
Cor looked at the schematics of the base and the hangar where the plane was. There was a possibility of taking off from the ally on the back of the hangar. It was unorthodox move but it could work though of course he could use runaway one. It was closer to the hangar and had the sufficient length.
The problem however that he had was that he had to present himself to the base commander or at least the second in command. The other problem was after he would take off. Every test flight must have a logged flight plan. Cor had to log in a bogus plan and then he would have to take a radically different route.
Cor had little time to ponder his move. He reentered the system and logged in a bogus flight path. He then sought the maps of the region to decide on the best flight plan without the risk of being caught. He devised the shortest path allowing pursuit even with the super plane at maximum speed. He now just needed the perfect timing and weather forecast.
Fortune smiled upon him. The weather was perfect for him. The air currents at Northern Bavaria were ideal for his plan. He just needed to divert any pursuit long enough to reach them on time and a big advance. Say twenty minutes.
Now the F-104 was in hangar bay 2 and the super plane in hangar bay 4. The entry in the database that he had altered suggested that the super plane was in hangar bay 2 rather than bay 4. Cor could only hope that the guards of bay 2 were not aware of that. Cor also got his hands on the transfer papers shortly before meeting Major Snider, second in command.
"Major Snider, I'm Oberstleutenant Edmund Ekkehard, reporting as ordered for the test flight of the Sterne-Falke EF1717." Cor announced in perfect English-German accent as he entered the major's office while saluting according to protocol.
"Herr Ekkehard," Major Snider replied taking the given papers. Within the pages, the Major noticed the swastika. The wing commander had chosen an elegant way of introduction. "You have arrived earlier than expected."
"My orders are to inspect the craft as soon as possible with as little delay as possible."
"Of course," Major Snider said and sat on his desk putting wing commander's papers aside so he can issue the proper access badge. He checked the computer and frowned almost immediately. Wasn't the plane in bay 4 just yesterday?
"Is there a problem, Major?"
Major Snider did not reply immediately. He checked the database and noticed the altered entry. He checked the code against that of the authorized list of code entries. It was made this morning by the central command. He found that a bit weird. He knew for sure that the plane was in bay 4. Why did the central command change it to bay 2 without letting them know first? And more to the point why was the plane moved without informing anyone in the base? This was highly irregular. He then remembered his conversation with Colonel Stent. Was it possible that this sudden change was part of the surprise infiltration ordered by the central command?
He had to check that with Central Command. In the meantime, he pondered where to send the wing commander. But if the wing commander was part of the deception then telling him to go to bay 4 would be a dead giveaway. Major Snider hated these spy games the central command played from time to time. If the wing commander was part of that game then perhaps he could keep him away for now until he has the chance to receive visual confirmation that the super plane was at bay 4. But sadly he could not delay it much as he would become suspicious.
Major Snider issued nevertheless the badge for bay 2. He went on to get it and placed the needed request for the information he needed and returned to his office.
"Wing Commander, here is your badge for hangar bay 2. The guards at the bay will provide you with the authorization patch for the plane. The test is scheduled for…"
"I'm aware of the timetable, Major." Cor cut him off and took the given badge. "I will be ready as soon as you are."
"Excellent, then you are authorized to proceed to bay 2 as soon as the flight plan has been confirmed." Major Snider said with a tiny smile. He enjoyed efficiency in his subordinates. "I will inform the tower that you are ready for takeoff."
"Herr Major," Cor saluted and promptly left the office. Once outside, he sighed with relief. The first part of his daring plan was complete. But he had the sneaky feeling he had to expedite matters quickly. So he proceeded directly to the hangar bay without waiting for the good major to give him the go ahead.
He reached hangar bay 2 and presented his badge to the guards. They checked it and provided him access to the bay. Once inside Cor smiled with satisfaction. The light in the bay was still dimmed.
He turned around to the guards and exclaimed. "Why is the plane not ready for flight?" The guards were obviously confused.
"We just received the orders for…"
"Excuses!" Cor raised his voice in contempt. "Open the bay doors immediately."
The guards looked at each other but obeyed the order. The doors flung open and Cor mounted the F-104. It seemed it did not have the same lockout system as the prototype plane. The badge proved to be a slide card that unlocked the plane's controls. Cor did not use the authorization patch the guard gave him upon entry as he suspected it was for the other plane and it wouldn't have worked. So far his little ruse seemed to work. He now needed to take off without being shot down.
Cor engaged the flight controls and the plane's engine fired up. He took the plane out slowly and directed it towards the first runaway. It was sufficiently long for him to take off. But he needed to create a small diversion first. It was a risky move but he no longer had the choice.
"Guards, report immediately to Major Snider,"
"Sir?" The guards were really confused now.
Cor had abruptly stopped the plane and had started swearing intensely. "The badge is not valid. It has just locked all systems. Report immediately to Major Snider and inform him of this debacle. Go now before I include this in my report to the central command." Cor shot angrily slightly raising himself from the cockpit and directing his continuing swearing at the guards.
The guards completely forgot they could call the good major on the radio and darted off putting a smile on Cor's face. How gullible can humans sometimes become? Cor waited a time before powering up the flight controls. He directed quickly the plane to the runaway and began preflight check. As he finished that part, he punched it.
There was obviously a lot of confusion in the base as the tower ordered him to slow down but Cor had already gained the necessary speed and soon took off. He gained bit of altitude then pushed the engines to maximum velocity. He needed to put a good distance between himself and the base before going beneath the radar.
Jordana neared the forty minute estimate but the renegade plane was nowhere in sight. She contacted the base for an update.
"Captain, the F-104's heading altered to heading 75 zero point 4..."
"What?" Jordana exclaimed checking her onboard navigational computer. If the base's readings were correct then the renegade have passed under her in an almost opposite direction. The renegade must have altered his path not so long ago. 'Damn he is good whoever he is.' Jordana thought. "Base, altering heading to match intruders,"
"Understood, Captain,"
Jordana reduced speed and altered her heading. Then she punched it again. He will not evade her for long.
"Captain Gilbert, please be advised this heading will take into a class four storm."
"What?" Jordana exclaimed again this time frustrated. 'Damn either he is really good or very, very lucky,' "Understood base, Gilbert out,"
She thought though that the renegade was rather the latter – one lucky S.O.B. No one could anticipate so many moves ahead unless he has a mind of a computer or an Yllyan. She calculated the probable heading and it seemed to go near the German/Czech border.
"Base, this is Captain Gilbert."
"Go ahead Captain."
"Are there any runaways in the area of Hof or Marktredvitz?"
"Checking,"
Jordana waited and waited. "Well?"
"There are no air or commercial airbases in that region, Captain."
"What about private bases?"
"Checking," The tower went silent for a few moments. "There are several runaways listed under Luthor Corp and Queen Industries."
"Where?"
"There are Luthor Corp runaways listed near Furth in Wald and Pechtnersreuth. Queen Industries lists runaways at Neualbenreuth, at Mahring, and Waidhaus."
Jordana stood pensive for a moment. "Could there be any landing zones inside the Czech Republic within those regions?"
"Yes, there is one abandoned runway at Rybnik."
Jordana checked her navigational computer. The last suggestion was too much of a stretch but she needed to check all possibilities. "Where is the F-104 now?"
"The intruder entered the storm a few minutes ago. Due to its severity we are no longer able to track it."
"How far does it spread?"
"At present meteorological conditions several hundred kilometers in every direction,"
'Damn!'Jordana cursed. The renegade was a smart ass. He can use the storm as cover and get out and in any given direction. She needed quickly to determine the correct direction. Now the abandoned runaway did not seem such a stretch after all. The Luftwaffe have undoubtedly informed the private runaways for the renegade and though Luthor Corp and even Queen Industries may like the idea of having the plane they know they can't hold it for long so that leaves the abandoned runaway.
Jordana altered again her heading and punched it hard. She attained the maximum velocity and flew over the storm. She then began to slow down and proceed to the abandoned runaway. She had the field advantage as she could land her plane vertically secluded in the nearby forest and wait patiently for the renegade to land.
She reached her destination in an hour and began looking for the best spot and soon found the perfect one. She reduced speed and began her descent. There was no sign of the renegade yet but she estimated he would fly at reduced speed inside the storm that's why she flew over it. Now she had only to wait and catch him in the act.
The minutes passed slowly and she began to wonder if she made the right call. The renegade could have easily landed on any of the other runaways despite the danger. He could be working for Luthor Corp or Queen Industries though she did not believe they would be so bold and foolish to steal a plane from the Germans and land it inside German territory.
She was right though. She soon noticed the plane approach the runaway. Its velocity however seemed a bit too fast. Also the landing gears were not extended. The plane though seemed to reduce speed but the landing gears were still not present and she wondered why. Was the thief that inexperienced in landing a plane? The plane soon touched down though not at the runaway but rather the grassy part next to the runaway and crash landed.
Jordana was though surprised that the plane did not break into smaller pieces after this crash landing. She wrestled with the thought whether to go there with her plane or on foot but decided to keep it secluded for the time being. She sent a message back to the base with the location of the plane and informed them she would pursue the thief. Later on they could imagine she continued following him on foot and thus the two planes will be found and returned to their base just without the pilots. She then left her plane and readied her gun. It was time to meet this mysterious thief and retrieve the information she came for.
Jordana reached the crash site and proceeded with caution. There was some damage on the main corps of the craft but given the landing that was not much of a surprise. Actually it was more surprising that the wings were intact. She moved from the tail to the nose. Her pace was slow and calculated.
She neared the cockpit and took a deep breath then she leapt and pointed her gun at the cockpit only to find a new surprise. There was no one in the cockpit. She took a quick look and noticed that the autopilot had been activated.
She quickly ducked around the nearest wing and examined her immediate surroundings. She did not see a chute. Could the renegade have jumped prior to setting the autopilot? Nah, it was not possible she still would have seen the chute. So where was the occupant? How did he disembark the craft without being seen? And how did he know someone waited for him here?
Was he telepathic? If that was the case he already knows every move she could make. Nah, but then how did he know?
Or did he jump just before the craft crashed down? This seemed more plausible given the little to no damage on it. If so she faced a clever opponent, dangerously clever. She was now on her toes. This possibility was very frightening and fear keeps one on alert.
She lay still now. There was no sound however to indicate someone else's presence. If he was around he laid low as well. She wondered how long to stay as still as she did. It was also possible he had already legged it and she was on her toes for no reason but better sorry than wrong.
She remained still but time passed and nothing happened. There was no sound other than the sound of nature around her. She decide to lay low for another ten twenty minutes and then retrieve the information she came for and then go home. The Germans could take it from there and wonder who Captain Gilbert was. She was certain that the base commander will receive quite the scolding from his superiors for letting not one but two intruders sneak into his base and steal two planes right under his nose, one of which being the super plane.
The twenty minutes were up. Jordana stood up slowly still examining her surroundings carefully and then relaxed. She holstered her gun and just as she did it she sensed a movement behind her. But before she could do anything to defend herself stars crossed her eyes and she fell unconscious…
To be continued…
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Lordheaven
