SailorStar9: And, with Chapter 8 up, this is Chapter 9. Just so you guys know, I actually hated the cliffhanger in the end; now we'll never know what happened. Remember guys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. And now, without further ado, I present Chapter 6.

P.S: Words in italics refer to mental conversations, flashbacks and thoughts.

Disclaimers: Nothing here, except the plot, is mine.

Chapter 9: The Homefront Campaign

"Lieutenant Razak, Lieutenant Walker, approaching drop site." the pilot informed. "Prepare for deployment. Bugs, starboard side, coming fast!" he reported as a swamp of Hooper Bugs swooped in.

"Pilot, fire now!" Razak barked. "Snow?" he turned to see snowflakes falling around the transport.

"Lieutenant Razak," Amy's voice sounded over the intercom. "I am the Elementalist Squad Leader: codename 'Oreithya'. General Redwing has sent my squad as aerial support."

"Appreciate the assist, 'Oreithya'." Razak nodded. "Razak, out."

"Mist Protection." 'Oreithya' cast her icy mist that shielded the transport from the Hooper Bugs. "Icicle Spear.." she formed a large swirling ice balls in her hands as the water in the lake started freezing over. "Barrage!" she released the spears of ice that had formed around her. The screeching Hoopers tried to avoid the the rain of icicles, but most were skewered by the sharp spears.

Both Alpha and Echo Squads leapt out of the carrier once it landed and engaged the remaining Hooper troops.

"Sonar sweep's complete, Lieutenant." Gossard reported. "Should have a grid of every bug hole and tunnel within a five mile radius."

"Then, I think it's time for a swim." Razak remarked.

"Lieutenant, trouble approaching!" T'Phai warned, seeing a troops of Hoopers flying towards them, as down in the lake, the others were attacked by Rhino Bugs.

"Aquarius, Pieces, Concealment Barrier at maximum." 'Oreithya' told her two seals specialists as the Elementalists took to the air. "Mariner, stay with the Skimmer."

"Roger!" the two females nodded and flew off.

"Hope those boys bought their thermal underwear." 'Oreithya' grinned as she powered up. "Because winter is here. Njord's Ice Storm!" she charged up a large swirling sphere of ice and released the chilling storm gale.

"Guess her moniker as the 'Winter Goddess' isn't for show." Carl muttered.

"Captain stills scares me whenever she uses her powers." Mariner shivered. "Water Bullet!" she fired off a shot of water at an incoming Hooper.

"Roughnecks, pulse rifles full engagement!" Razak barked, seeing the greatly minimized Hoopers troops flying towards them.

At his command, the others on the Skimmer fired their weapons at the incoming Hoopers.

"You okay?" Razak asked after the underwater group resurfaced.

"Just a nick." Walker assured. "Miss anything?"

"The welcome wagon." Razak replied. "Let Doc take a look at that. Blue Leader, this is Alpha Team." he voiced over the intercom. "Packages have been delivered. Commence Phase One. Repeat, commence Phase One."

"We have three minutes to reach the one mile safe zone." Gossard reported. "Initiating synchronized detonator countdown, now!" he activated the countdown. "Something's wrong with the timer." he blinked. "It's not counting down."

"Gossard, we have twenty minutes before SICON calls in that air strike." Razak reminded.

"I'm trying, LT." Gossard protested. "But I didn't build the thing. Okay, one of the charges blowers is malfunctioning. The bombs are electronically interdependent."

"Like Christmas lights?" 'Oreithya' echoed. "If one's out, the whole string goes."

"I''ll go down, LT." Rico stepped forward.

"I'm in." Dizzy added.

"Ditto." Gossard chimed.

"Negative." Razak objected. "Gossard, stay on the radio and monitor the detonator connections. Flores, up top with the others. I'll need your trigger fingers if more bugs come to visit. Rico, you and me."

"Razak, I helped set those charges." Walker spoke. "I should go."

"Not with that leg." 'Oreithya' nodded at the Lieutenant's bandaged thigh. "Speed is everything."

"Gossard, No. One charge, reset." Razak reported.

"Not it. Gossard responded.

"No. Two charge, reset." Rico spoke.

"Negative." Gossard replied.

"No. Three?" Razak asked.

"Still not it." Carl shook his head.

"Still not it." Gossard repeated.

"I hate when you do that." Dizzy chided. "Whatever does Amy see in you?"

"Well, there's this thing he does with his fingers..." Oreithya teased.

"Four reset!" Rico shouted.

"Keep going." Gossard encouraged.

"Charge No. Five reset!" Razak barked.

"Yes!" Gossard whooped.

"Gossard, prepare for detonation." Razak instructed. "Rico, surface now!"

"Come on, LT!" Doc shouted, Dizzy having helped Rico back onto the ship after they dealt with the attacking Rhino Bug.

"LT!" Rico warned, reaching out his hand when a towering Rhino Bug surfaced. "Move!" he grabbed hold onto Razak's mechanical arm. "LT!" he screamed, engaged in a tug-of-war with the Rhino Bug. The Rhino Bug simply overpowered Rico and flailed his captive with its claws.

"Let go." Razak told Rico, having pressed the grenade.

"Negative, sir!" Rico objected when Razak released himself form Rico and allowing the Rhino Bug to pull him into the water. The grenade then exploded, taking Razak and the bug.

"Sergeant Rico, where is Lieutenant Razak?" Walker asked.

"Gone." Rico replied.

"What?" Gossard gaped.

"It cannot be." T'Phai breathed in disbelief.

"Gossard, detonate the charges." Rico ordered. "Gossard, detonate now!" he barked, pushing the Corporal aside and activated the charges.

"Blue Leader, Operation Washout is under way." Walker informed.

"Are you sure this will be alright?" Amy asked after Carl took his seat beside her on the carrier that was to take them to SICON Headquarters. "I mean, he was your Lieutenant after all."

"We have our orders, Amy." Carl reminded.

The blue-haired Elementalist looked at her blond lover and sighed, "What's up with men and their insistence of keeping up a brave front?"

"Rico's Roughnecks held out and did more damage than any other squad." Carl informed Rico once the squad returned to SICON base. "You should be proud."

"Rico's Roughnecks." Dizzy repeated.

"Did you lose your bars in battle?" Carl pointed out, spotting Rico's missing bars.

"It's more like he couldn't be bothered to put them on." Amy joked, when Rico reached into his pocket and allowed Dizzy to put the badge on him. "Carl?" she blinked worriedly, seeing the physic overwhelmed by a powerful brainwave. "Oh dear..."

"It's coming..." Carl voiced.

"Carl, it already came." Dizzy pointed out.

"No," Carl retorted, grabbing Amy and pulling her off. "It hasn't began."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.