Around the World: An Unexected Journey

by Stryker512

After the events of the Shadow Legion Saga, life has returned to normal. However, the life of Justin is about to change forever as he meets a woman he can only dream of, and gets caught up in her mission, with the Pasadena crew caught up in the mix. Contains OC's, only in Ace Combat because the character Kei Nagase is very similar to Kei Nagase from AC5

10. Chapter 8

Around the World: An Unexpected Journey

Chapter 8: Day 20: Copenhagen, Denmark: Steel Carnage Part 1

(We come upon Justin and the gang as they drive to where the starship combat competition is taking place. Everyone is talking about what ship they are going to use.)

Sheldon: I shall choose the Starship Enterprise.

Leonard: I was thinking about a Mon Calamari cruiser.

Howard: I plan on using a BC-304 from Stargate.

Raj: I don't know what to choose.

(While Sheldon and his friends discuss what they'll choice, Justin and Kei, who are sitting next to each other in the back of the second SUV. They are not talking about the competition, but are talking about starships.)

Justin: The Ambassador class may be an old design, but in Star Trek online, they modernized a Constitution class, so why not do the same with the Ambassador Class.

Kei: You're a Star Trek fan?

Justin: My mom once told me that before I was born, whenever I started to kick, they turned on Star Trek and I calmed down.

Kei: I grew up watching Space Battleship Yamato, and I often had dreams of being on that ship. That ship remained my one of my favorites, even after growing up, and seeing other ships from the Macross Class, to the Darwin Class.
Justin: You're certainly an anime fan.

Kei: Yeah, been watching those series ever since I was young.

Justin: They are also sci-fi, one of my favorite genres

Kei: Mine too.

Justin: We certainly have a lot in common.

Kei: But we also have great differences.

Justin: Family line is a big one.

Kei: Our personalities also have differences. You're more quite than I am, and a little more adherent to routine then I am. An example is that you stay to a single way of putting your clothes on; I'm a little more flexible.

Justin: But I do have a temper.

Kei: Only because your brother just loves to push your buttons. Without him egging you, you are much calmer. And you can be a little jumpy, especially when someone surprises you.

Justin: And it looks like we're here, we're stopping.

(Justin is right, for the two SUV that the group is using have stop. After being let in by a competition organizer, they enter the building that is holding the competition. Another member of the competition staff, most likely a commentator, stops to greet them.)

Commentator: You must be the last of the competitors.

Sheldon: That's right.

Commentator: You better come with me.

(The commentator takes them to a VIP section which was similar to a theater, where a whole crowd of people are gathered. Most of them were the other competitors, but there were plenty of camera crews. He seems pretty excited about the hosts of the competition)

Commentator: These three are big stars. It's an honor to have them hosting this competition.

Kei: I'm sure you're very excited, but this is a game, I would like to keep the theatrics down a bit.

(Suddenly, a massive fanfare booms through the theater, one that Justin seems to recognize)

Justin: Are these hosts are who I think they are?

(An announcer off stage then speaks through microphone)

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, here are your hosts for the competition; the hosts of the Top Gear US series, Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara, and Rutledge Wood!

(The curtain pulls back and reveals said three, as well as a screen showing cars flying off ramps and other stunts)

Raj: Dude, what are they doing here?

Tanner: Greetings everyone, you may forgive our surprise but we're used to doing automotive events.

(The crowd laughs)

Rutledge: Anyone here driven a Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup?

(A few raise their hands, mostly from the camera crews)

Adam: You had to ask that, did you, Rut?

Rutledge: It's a great car.

Adam: You tried to turn it into a limo and failed.

Tanner: Let's just skip the memories and get to point of why we are here?

(Adam takes a letter out of his pocket and opens it to read it)

Adam: 'One thing that has always been around since science fiction was created was the starship. Over the years, this concept has been used in various different ways, ranging from small one man fighters, to goliath mobile space stations that reach up to 800 kilometers. Now these starships, ranging from classic to recent, will go head to head in a three day competition that will end with the largest space battle in history. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Steel Carnage.'

(Thunderous music plays, while a montage of space battles is played on the screen. When it's over, the worlds "Steel Carnage" are displayed on the screen)

Adam: Huh? How's that?

(The competitors cheer, and Justin can imagine the people watching it cheering as well)

Tanner: So, we're going to be seeing plenty of explosions?

Adam: Hold up, it's not done yet. 'The first day will be held at your current location, where capital ships will go against each other in a one on one battle. Each competitor will be given a ship at random, but the winner of the first day will be able to choose which ship he or she can have on the next day, which is a starfighter only day. The third day will bring both types in the final battle where two teams will go against each other for the championship.'

Rutledge: And how do we choose who gets what?

Tanner: How about the conventionally placed pair of buttons on opposite sides of the stage.

(Adam and Rutledge look at the two ends of the stage and indeed see a button at both ends)

Rutledge: Right.

(Adam and Rutledge walk to the two buttons, but not before Adam hands the letter to Tanner.)

Tanner: It says here that the left button selects the ship, while the right button selects the user. And the order is left to right. That means Adam; you must push your button first.

Adam: Pushing.

(Adam pushes the button, and the screen goes through a flurry of pictures showing starships before stopping on Space Battleship Yamato, in its most recent configuration. Rutledge then pushes his button; it goes through pictures of faces of the competitors, before stopping on Kei's face. Kei, after a brief moment of shock, gives a squeal of delight, before walking up to stage.)

Tanner: Congratulations, (looking at the id displayed with the picture) Ms. Sato. I can see you really like the ship you have been given.

Kei: Are you kidding, I've seen the show since I was a kid, and had dreams of being on it, but now, it's…it's…it's just…amazing.

(Sheldon and his friends are stunned by Kei's behavior, but Justin, while just as surprised, seems to understand)

Justin: Having a dream come true, that can make anyone feel extremely happy.

Tanner: Since you have been chosen first, it's now time to pick your first opponent.

(Adam and Rutledge then press the buttons at the same time. The two pictures stop and a Venator Class Star Destroyer and Sheldon respectively. Sheldon doesn't even show signs of concern as he walks up to the stage.)

Tanner: So how does it feel going up an icon of starships with a variant of a classic, Dr. Sheldon Cooper?

Sheldon: It's no contest; the Yamato was built around the hull of a WWII battleship that was defeated. My ship is a purpose built ship designed to take on ships with even more firepower and defense.

Kei: Say that when you ship gets hit by the Wave Motion Gun.

Adam: Hey, save it for the competition, we got more people to assign ships to.

(The rest of competitors get their ships, leaving Justin for last.)

Tanner: Mr. Justin Durante?

Justin: Yes, that's me.

Tanner: Since you're the last one to have a ship, you get to push the button.

(Justin walks up the button that selects the ship, and pushes it. The pictures cycle on the screen before stopping on a ship that surprise all four.)

Rutledge: Is that…

Justin: That is. It's a Galactica type battlestar, in the configuration during the time of the First Cylon War.

Adam: You mean the war showcased in Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome?

Justin: Exactly.

Rutledge: Then means you have one last choice.

Justin: Huh?

Tanner: The Galactica had corners cut in its construction. Do you want to have your battlestar built that way or completely up to specs?

(Justin thinks hard on his decision, knowing that the Galactica, despite it's age and construction, held on through the Re-Imaged series, but against the ships he might be facing, he might need every advantage he could get.)

Justin: Have it up to specs. I'll need every advantage I can get.

Tanner: Alright then. We better get to the viewing center, the first match is about to begin.

(The four make their way to the viewing center, essentially an IMAX theater. Tanner, Adam, and Rutledge head the VIP box, while Justin joins his fellow competitors in the regular seats. Tanner speaks through a microphone)

Tanner: This theater is linked to another for guests who are here. We also have it connected to other systems so it can be televised around the world.

Adams: Those with 3D capable TVs, put on your glasses and watch the fireworks.

Rutledge: I have never seen a space battle in 3D before.

Adams: Ah, there's nothing to it.

Tanner: Now let's have the first two contestants enter. Sheldon Cooper, disengage your hyperdrive.

(A Venator Class Star Destroyer drops out of hyperspace. It has the standard Republic colors, along with a Flash logo on it, typical of Sheldon.)

Tanner: Hoshi Sato, return to normal speeds.

(A ship identical to the Space Battleship Yamato drops to sublight speed. It moves to make an intercept course.)

Rutledge: Identify yourselves.

(Sheldon's face appears on the screen. We briefly cut to where Sheldon is sitting, a room with a top of the line computer and multiple screen simulating a one man Star Destroyer Bridge)

Sheldon: This is Dr. Sheldon Cooper, captain of the Republic Ship Sheldor.

(Kei's face appears on the screen. Her room is similar to Sheldon, but it simulates the bridge of the Space Battleship Yamato in it's most recent configuration.)

Kei: Captain Hoshi Sato of the EDF Donryu, ready for action.

Adam: Everyone out there, are you ready for some carnage?!

(Everyone shouts in approval.)

Tanner: Then it's (the rest of the people counting) 3…2…1…FIGHT!

(Kei wastes no time getting her ship into firing rage and unleashing the shock cannons, which pummel the Sheldor's shields. Sheldon coolly retaliates with the Sheldor's Turbolaser batteries. All the while, Tanner, Adam, and Rutledge provide commentary. The two ships slam each other with heavy ordnance for a minute when Sheldon does something bizarre. He opens the ventral bay doors. Kei, being the soldier that she is, sees this as an opportunity. She angles the Donryu so she can fire the Wave Motion gun. Justin then has a flash back to when he watched Star Wars Episode III, remembering Venator class Star Destroyer destroying a Separatist cruiser with the same tactic. Justin then realizes what Sheldon is doing.

Justin: A SPHA is inside that bay, and it's aimed right at the Wave Motion Gun. (By instinct, despite Kei being nowhere close enough to hear him.) KEI, GET OUT OF THERE, NOW!

(But it's too late, Sheldon fires and the beam shoots down the barrel of the Wave Motion Gun. Meer seconds later, the Donryu buckles from explosions coming from inside the ship before an explosion tears the ship apart. Everyone is stunned, and then Sheldon's voice is heard on the intercom)

Sheldon: An effortless victory, brought about by superior technology and intellect.

Rutledge: Did he just shoot through the barrel?

Adam: He did.

Tanner: Incredible, and it give Sheldon the win.

(Then everyone hears crying, which causes Justin to leap out of his seat and run, trying to find Kei. As if somehow he knew exactly where to look, he finds Kei on the floor, curled up with her head in her knees. Justin quickly shuts off the mike and sits next to her, comforting her.)

Justin: Hey, it's okay.

Kei (between sobs): How…how could I lose to Sheldon? I had the experience, and I knew what my ship could do.

Justin: You made a mistake, it happens. No matter how good you are, you're still human. I don't think you even knew what Sheldon was up to until he fired the shot.

Kei: How could he do that? Did he cheat?

Justin: Did you ever watch Star Wars?

Kei (stops crying and sniffs): No, why?

Justin: Then you didn't know that Sheldon must have followed a clever trick.

Kei: What?

Justin: Venator Class Star Destroyers sometimes were fitted with SPHA turbolaser cannons in their ventral bays. Said cannons are extremely powerful.

Kei (starts putting the pieces together): So when I angled my ship to fire the Wave Motion Gun, I exposed the power generators to his trump card.

Justin: Perhaps while we wait, I can…

(The mike cracks to life)

Tanner: Hey Mr. Durante.

Justin (turns on the mike): Yeah?

Adam: Where the heck are you? You're next up!

Justin: Just give me a minute.

(Justin scrambles to adjusts the screens to simulate a battlestar's CIC)

Justin: Ready.

Rutledge: Then Justin Durante, jump right in!

(Justin has the coordinates of the fighting area plugged into the computer. We cut to the main viewing area where the other competitors are watching. A flash of light appears and Justin's Battlestar jumps in, ready for a battle.)

Adam: Mr. Fornandas, enter the combat zone.

(We cut to the second competitor room, where Justin has the camera on his computer focus an area of space that seems to be rippling. A ship jumps out of FTL speed and comes into view. Kei, who has now recovered from her shock, looks at the screen)

Kei: That's a…

(We cut to the first spectator room)

Rutledge: No way.

(Adam Laughs)

Tanner: We got ourselves a variant of a mirror match!

Adam: That's right; it's a classic Battlestar vs. a Re-imaged Battlestar.

(Mr. Fornadas's face appears on the screen, he is a young man with glasses)

Fornadas: This is the Battlestar Hornet, ready to fight.

(Justin's face appears on the screen)

Justin: Captain Justin Durante of the Battlestar Wasp, ready for action.

Tanner: Then it's (the rest of the people counting) 3…2…1…FIGHT!

(Justin quickly floors the throttle, causing the Wasp to lurch forward and head straight for the Hornet. Fornadas, spooked by Justin's sudden aggression, fires wildly to dissuade Justin. Justin doesn't even flinch, and as soon as he is within range, fires salvo after salvo from the Wasp's batteries, which slam into the Hornet's hull. Fornadas, realizing that Justin is not fooling around, fires directly at the Wasp, the laser blasts slamming into the hull of the Wasp, but the armor withstands the impact. Fornadas then fires missiles, which are taken care of by the point defense guns of the Wasp. Justin retaliates by adding missiles to the barrage he is unleashing, plotting multiple firing solutions, with Kei helping by providing instructions, then letting Justin continue to work at his own pace. The others who are watching from the spectator rooms are treated to a spectacle, with lasers and rail gun rounds racing through space, explosion after explosion, and even get views from inside the ships, with Tanner, Adam, Rutledge, and other commentators providing commentary throughout the fight. The 3D technology causes everyone watching to duck and weave to avoid the occasional round, laser, missile, or shrapnel that comes right at them.)

Rutledge: There are explosions everywhere. It's like a light show, but more dangerous.

(Suddnely, a salvo from the Wasp slams into the port flight pod of the Hornet, destroying it)

Adam: Fornadas has lost a flight pod! A fight pod is history!

(Justin presses the attack by having a group of gun turrets fire at the missile tubes of the Hornet.)

Tanner: Justin's going for the tubes! Fornadas better roll away or he's going have his missiles blow up in the tubes.

(Just as Tanner says that, a lone shot from one of Justin's dorsal turrets flies down a missile tube and slams into the warhead, detonating both, causing other the missiles to detonate in a chain reaction that blows the Hornet in half, causing everyone to duck.)

Kei: You did it, Justin!

Justin: Yeah!

(We cut back to the first spectator room.)

Tanner: That was totally awesome!

Adam: Looks like you really can improve on a classic.

(We cut back to the second competitor room, where Justin has put the screens on standby.)

Kei: That was amazing!

Justin: I just followed my instincts, and used what I had.

Kei: But you've shown considerable skill.

Justin: This was our first time flying capital ships, and we did it from a computer.

Kei: When we go on the second day, I can't wait to show you how to fly in a fighter.

Justin: Let's get back with the others and let the next contestant have his turn.

(Throughout the day, the competitors fight each other, some using novel tactics, and other just go nuts. Sheldon and Justin push through the ranks, with Sheldon logically taking down his opponents, and Justin decimating his. Whenever he's not competing, Justin talks with Kei, bring her up to speed on the Star Wars Universe first, along with talking about Star Trek, then talking about other things. Leonard and the others move up into the high ranks but no farther before losing. Soon, it's down to Justin and Sheldon.)

Rutledge: This is it, an epic battle between a Star Destroyer and a Battlestar. Dr. Sheldon Cooper, drop from hyperspeed!

(The Sheldor drops out of hyperspace, and we can tell that Sheldon keeps making sure that his ship is completely clean for every battle.)

Sheldon: This competition is a simple battle of logic and technology.

Tanner: We'll put that to the test. Justin Durante, jump right in!

(The Wasp jumps in, and while completely repaired, we can easily see battle damage, giving the already formidable looking Battlestar an even tougher appearance.)

Justin: Ready.

Adam: Then say it with me (the rest of the people counting) 3…2…1…FIGHT!

(Justin wastes no time closing the distance, but Sheldon simply loiters around. Leonard, concerned, calls Sheldon.)

Leonard: Sheldon, what are you doing?

Sheldon: It's called logic and patience, I will simply wait for Justin to expend all his ammo on my shields, and then I'll be free to destroy his ship with impunity.

(Justin analyzes the Sheldor, tying to find the tractor beam projectors. When he believes he has found them, he fires a salvo. Sheldon smugly watches as the rounds streak towards his ship.)

Sheldon: My shields will stop your shots before they can do any damage.

(The rounds then slam into the hull, bypassing the shields.)

Justin: Those ray shields don't work with physical projectiles, Sheldon!

(Sheldon's face goes from smug to shock to anger, he then immediately returns fire, but the Wasp's armor does its job. Both soon fire everything they got at each other. If Justin's first battle was a spectacle, this battle was that taken to the tenth power. Both ships, despite their very different technologies, are evenly matched. That battle continues for three minutes, with Tanner, Adam, Rutledge, and other commentators providing commentary throughout the fight, until Sheldon forces Justin to moves his ship underneath the Sheldor to avoid a ramming tactic, right into the firing line of the SPHA cannon in the ventral bay. Sheldon, which until now was angered by the Battlestar's resilience to his Star Destroyer's weapons, regains his smug smile.)

Sheldon: Game over.

(Justin sees this, but then realizes his missile tubes will pass underneath the ventral bay. Plugging a quick firing solution, Justin waits fires the missile tubes line up with the bay, and then fires a trio directly into the bay. The missiles pass through the shields and slam into the bay, destroying the SPHA cannon and causing massive internal damage. Everyone sees this and is amazed.)

Adam: He turn Sheldon's trump card against him! He hit the ventral bay.

(Kei sees this and smiles)

Kei: Press the attack, Justin!

(Justin, seeing his success, quickly fires all facing weapons into the ventral side of the Sheldor. The sheer amount of heavy ordnance soon starts to leave gaping holes in the Star Destroyer. Justin then fires on the engines as the Wasp passes them, crippling the Sheldor. Justin then comes around for a sweep with his ventral cannons, pounding the main batteries of the Sheldor, along with the bridge.)

Kei: Keep up the pressure!

(Justin soon has all weapons firing at the Sheldor, with Sheldon fighting back desperately, but it's now only a matter of time before the Sheldor finally gives out. And finally, after two more minutes of non-stop firing, the Sheldor's main reactor goes critical. Justin quickly performs a combat jump to get clear of the blast, as the Sheldor is consumed by its exploding reactor. Everyone suddenly goes into a cheer.)

Rutledge: HE KILLED A STAR DESTOYER! HE KILLED A STAR DESTOYER!

Kei: YATTA! YATTA! (Yes! Yes!)

(Justin, shaking from the intense battle, hears the cheers and immediately head to the first spectator room, where everyone is applauding for him, even Leonard and the others. Then a loud scream is heard)

Sheldon: JUSTIN!

Tanner: Was that Sheldon?

Leonard: That was.

Justin: That was fun. But where are we going?

Adam: We're going to Mother Russia. Moscow.

Leonard: I'll tell Sheldon, it might calm him down.

Rutledge: That's right everyone, pack your things, we're going to Moscow.

(We cut a building in a more rural area of Copenhagen, where the RED team has made a room into a makeshift outpost. The Spy is on a computer, while the others are watching.)

Spy: I found out the real identity of our little thief, the name Hoshi Sato is a false identity.

Engineer: The little belle was lying to Sheldon and the others.

Spy: Her real name is Kei Nagase; she's a 2nd Lieutenant in the Japanese Self Defense, and her skill set is impressive. She is a master in martial arts, weapons, explosives, tactics, stealth, and linguistics. She is also extremely fit with excellent physical performance and health, as well as incredible intelligence.

Scout: So we've been chasing a freakin' NINJA?!

Soldier: So why would an ally send an agent onto American shores?

Heavy: She took the artifacts; perhaps she wants them in her own country.

Sniper: And what about the little piker who hit me in the face with his head, Nagase's companion?

Medic: I found him via medical records. His name is Justin Durante, a clerk living in Titusville, Florida. He's never been out of the country until now.

Demoman: It looks like the lass convinced him to come along.

Pyro: Mmk mm hm nymm ymm miinn mm mmhm. (And from what Scout said, she told him who she was.)

Spy: Should we send the info to Reynolds?

Soldier: Send the info.

Engineer: We got a direct line.

Spy: Sending.

(A few minutes later, at Reynolds's office, Jessie comes in.)

Jessie: Mr. Reynolds. I just received word from the RED team. They say that the Norton Simon Museum thief and Sheldon's assistant are one of the same, and she is using a false name.

Reynolds: Let me see.

Jessie: It should be on your computer now.

(Reynolds looks at the email that the RED has sent him.)

Reynolds: That moron and his friends don't even know that he is transporting the thief.

(Two more of Reynolds's staff, Rick and Bob, speak up)

Rick: Or do they? They did leave in quite the hurry.

Bob: Indeed, leaving the scene of an incident, taking vehicles not belonging to them, it sounds rather incriminating to me.

Rick: One can always deduce that this bet was merely a ruse to facilitate their escape. Won't you agree, Mr. Reynolds?

(Jessie looks shocked)

Reynolds: A very astute deduction, Rick, I make sure you get a position that will befit from it. Sanchez.

Sanchez: Sir?

Reynolds: Please inform your men that Dr. Sheldon and company are without a doubt the people who robbed the Norton Simon Museum!

Sanchez: Sir.

Reynolds: Where are they now?

Jessie: Taking a plane from Copenhagen, Denmark to Moscow, Russia as part of a competition.

Bob: Prefect.

Reynolds: I want every mercenary, assassin, and hired gun you can hire hired at once, send them to Moscow and arm them with enough firepower to take on the entire Russian armed forces. We're going to stop Sheldon and his friends and get my artifacts back, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!