CHAPTER 9
Bubbly Clouds. Highly protected airspace a few hundred miles from the DeDessian border, supported by an enormous blockade of several fleets of aircraft and a
heavily armed, armored floating aerial fortress.
Bubbly Clouds, Ukrainon. 1800 Hours.
A small battle group of three St-239s mounted with heavy machine guns flew through the sea of encroaching clouds in the dark maelstrom of fear and despair.
About seven miles away from their position approached a vast armada of airplanes, twenty one squadrons of fighters, bombers, and carriers in formation at high
altitude, possibly the largest fleet of warplanes ever amassed. Their important mission was to maintain aerial superiority along the DeDessian border with bringing
down its defenses along with ground support in a crushing blitz. Lightning crackled and thunder sounded in alerting the pilots and passengers onboard. In a few
minutes, they were all ready to approach their destination, the target, compulsively charging into the area toward the giant aerial fortress and several smaller
platforms, possibly seconds away from noticing the battalion, proceeding with opening fire and destroying all of it. Forces of enemy squadrons and anti air fire, and
even worse, the KRACKO had to be faced. Yet the pilots and passengers had little fear or regrets as they watched the St-239s prepare for boarding onto the aerial
fortress and had analyzed the schematics of the arriving battle groups. They were much too proud and overconfident of themselves as usual, very fervent and
zealous. "This is Seginorishippu. Destined Providence is nearing target. Preparing for boarding in 7000 meters and counting. The fortress will be here soon along
with its many defending forces. Several slow moving platforms with anti-air shotzos and other defensive batteries are positioned in orbit around the position, about
six, as well as possibly hundreds of enemy aircraft that can appear and attack us without warning. Even the base will be armed and heavily guarded."
"This is Team Leader of Flappy 77th Fighter-Bomber Division. Thanks for the intel. All squadrons are prepared and ready to strike. We'll give em' hell without delay.
Nothing will be in our way."
"This is Meinoyonoken. We'll take care of it. There will be a lot of fireworks, I'm sure of it."
"This is Flappy Bomber Six. We are getting some high turbulence up at this altitude, man. The huge storm is shaking our planes a little bit. Are we there yet? A
little more, maybe."
"This is Seginorishippu of Destined Providence. Multiple contacts. Target is on our radar. 7000 meters and closing. 6500...6000...5500...5000...Target in visible
range...Be ready..."
A huge wave of clouds surrounded the aerial groups, engulfing them into total blackness. Then, the base came clear on the radar and through the windows, along
with the platforms and several enemy formations of fighters and bombers flying in the high altitude defending six large floating circular platforms held up by six
giant propellers and a massive hull for defense with bulbous gun turrets. The giant fortress towered above the numerous clouds, with the reading of its potential
defenses unknown. Out from the clouds, all the planes caught a glimpse of the target and its approaching cohorts.
"Whoah...look at the size of that thing...its pointing to the sky...its huge..." shouted a pilot.
"How can we destroy that thing?..." panicked another pilot over the communications.
"We board it, of course...we'll occupy that thing...after we clear all of the surrounding forces...that's when all you guys are going to sacrifice your lives for your
country..." said determined Hikariowataru as the base neared the position of the several aerial groups.
"I don't like the sound of that...we have it covered!...yes ma'am!...we'll bring it!..."
"Evasive maneuvers immediately...we're under attack...holy shit...AAAAAHHHHH!"
Suddenly, several squadrons of enemy Birdon-like and Capsule J2-like jets swooped past them and quickly dispatched them with mounted machine guns,
immediately trailing away for other Amerikirban fighter jets to make chase.
"Opening fire...yeah...you get some lead in your fucking planes...yeah..." a sadistic pilot exclaimed as he opened fire with his machine gun, targeting the wings and
then the engine at the rear of a locked on Birdon-like jet.
"Your wings are clipped, bitch!" he shouted as the fragmented target exploded and burned in flames.
Two enemy Capsule J2 jets speedily pursued him, opening fire with their machine guns and then two missiles that the pilot quickly evaded.
"I've got two on me...I need backup...they're shooting at me...no...no...nooooooo!"
"I've got you, man. Don't you worry! One missile for these motherfuckers...YEAH!...See you in hell!...Oh, wait, I've got two bogies on my tail...damn it...turning
around...eat lead, you sons of bitches...BOOM! OH! You are not getting away from me that easy!"
"This is bomber three of Flappy Bomber Squadron...we're taking heavy fire...the fighters are too fucking fast...nearing target...we're going to bomb one of the
platforms...opening bomb bay doors...dropping...looks like a direct hit, boys...What...don't tell me...we're hit...but there were no enemy fighters on our
radar...engine's been hit!...those motherfucking turrets!...We're going down...An enemy fighter...it's coming right for us...it's shooting...Our engines are
burning...face it...we are going to crash...I don't care if we overheat this thing but by the ancients we will succeed...turn at full speed...yes...yes...
YEEEEAAAAAHHHH!" The B-71 crashed into the giant aerial platform, causing both machines to instantaneously disintegrate.
"Take that you son of a bitch...Missile...YEAH!...Another one bites the dust...Whoah...we are heading toward another one of the aerial platforms...taking heavy
fire...more of em'...shit...AAHHH! I'm hit! Somebody fucking cover me! AAAAHHHHH!"
"Bombing runs on the way! YEEEEEOOOMMM! BOOM BOOM BOOM! GIVE EM' HELL! YEAH! MOTHER FUCKERS! YEAH! OOOHHH! Another lot of yahs dare challenge
me! I'll take you all on! Three and one...you cannot touch me...machine gun!...eat lead, you fuckers!...boom...BOOM! Yeah! One more...why are you running
away...come and fight me...you coward...where'd you go...Wait...he's flying under me...I've got five contacts under me...they're coming up...I need to get out of
here...Somebody...help...no, never mind, I got this...one missile for you...BOOM! You are dead, you son of a bitch...NO...AAAAHHHHH!"
"This is Flappy Four of Flappy Fighter Squadron...We are having a hard time trying to escort these C-7 carriers...they just barely scratched them...we are reaching
target...No...Not those fucking platforms...they are all grouped around the fortress...Oh no...here comes another enemy squadron..turrets opening fire...be ready
Destined Providence...you've got a lot coming..."
"Nothing to worry about...just a little bit more, men...we will get through...holy shit...they're shooting everywhere...fighter groups closer to the fortress...take out
the platform escort...bombers dispel the platforms...I'll protect the carriers...This is your leader speaking..."
"No...leader...look out...enemy on your tail...it's right behind you...take this...one missile up your fucking ass...YEAH! BURN MOTHERFUCKER! Get to safety,
leader...it's hell up here!"
"Oh no, this is not good at all! They're destroying the squadrons!" exclaimed Pinkobashi.
"We need to board the fortress and clear out the perimeter for the carriers to board it successfully for backup. We'll be able to stay on for some time" inferred
Seginorishippu.
"What about the KRACKO unit? It'll catch us off guard! That thing's an advanced prototype! It will make this mission a total failure! Hundreds, thousands will die!"
confessed Muhanseinoshotto.
"We have to destroy this thing, but how do we know how it operates, its capabilities, its abilities. How can it destroy entire battalions? You do realize there is a large
ground escort marching toward the border, thirty thousand meters above us! It could attack them without warning! If it has perfect accuracy like they say it has,
thousands of brave lives will die! Most of our remaining armed forces are being dispatched toward here! If this fails, we will have little chance, no chance of winning
this war at all!" said Muhanseinoshotto bothered by the outcome.
"It will just be a chance we will have to take!" asserted Seginorishippu, determined against the odds.
"We're almost there, guys. We're being chased by three fighters. They're shooting us...Our engines are hit...We need to land immediately!" said Muhanseinoshotto
frightened.
"Will someone take these bastards out for us?" said Seginorishippu to the group trying to remedy the situation sitting next to Muhanseinoshotto.
"Don't worry, help has arrived." A group of two fighters brought down the enemy fighters with a volley of machine gun fire and one missile. The two jets flew
alongside the three transport aircraft but were shot down by anti-air fire.
"Whoah...what just happened...it couldn't be enemy fighters...there's none on our radar..."
"We're taking heavy fire too. I don't think we're going to make it!" blurted Pinkobashi.
"We've just got two more of those fucking platforms to get through...They're flanking us. How can they be shooting us from that far...the fucking turrets...We need
the bomber squadrons now!...they're the last line before the carrier escort!..." shouted Hikariowataru near Pinkobashi.
"Hopefully they haven't brought reinforcements to fuck us over yet...Son of a bitch...the fighter escorts...they just keep coming...the turrets...the planes...all must
burn..." angered Pinkobashi.
"Kill em' all! We need to have the area clear for boarding...opening fire with missiles...direct hit...most of the turrets on the third platform have been
destroyed...give em' hell...fire again!...fuck em' up...it's in flames...fire...fire...fire...yes...it's down...bomber squadrons...take the fourth down...target has been
destroyed...good...just two more...only the ones near the fortress...this will be tough...what...there's more of em..." uttered a pilot.
"Almost there...they're flanking us...we're landing now..." shouted Seginorishippu swerving the flight stick to the right for his plane to dodge the incoming fire from
the turrets. The two other transport aircraft turned following suit while two enemy fighter craft engaged them and opened fire. The engines and wings were
damaged by the missile fire, the impact struck the cabins, shaking the interior. The aircraft began to lose their equilibrium and slowly fall in altitude as the fighters
left them in despair. "This is your commander speaking...I'm losing her!...We're going down...losing altitude...Guys...we can't move...our wings are hit...We need
fire support!..."
"They can't reach us now...they'll be dealing with the platforms...shit..." muttered Hikariowataru.
"Damn...I don't think we'll be able to provide it...the enemy won't be shooting us down...let's just hope they're ready themselves for death when we get out and
raise some hell" said Muhanseinoshotto as he was boldly bracing for impact onto the grounds of the installation.
"Ready your guns, brothers...take from these bastards they have wrought from our kind...may the ancients bring hell for their defiling of the great kingdoms!"
aggrandized Kanashimiohbingu.
"We don't need to eject from this little accident...We are Destined Providence...Brace for impact!"
"Get off your transports and join with me, team...rid of this simple transgression..." The entire team jumped off their crashed transports and onto the fortress at
the high altitude, with their weapons at the ready, to engage the enemy. The planes slid onto the platform and screeched on the metal. They crashed into two of
the turrets and slid past the surrounding troops and tanks moving into position. The aircraft exploded seconds after, killing several of the enemy troops and leaving
the tanks in burning wrecks and escaping enemy soldiers for dead.
"This is Starman Team Leader to Destined Providence...what's your status...over...are you guys alright...quite some beating you've brought here when you boarded
that thing..."
"We're alright...requesting fire support on surrounding perimeter...turrets...all the tanks...planes...every last son of a bitch that comes your way...do you get me?.."
"We get you...Commander...fire support is on the way...raising hell on the platforms...all platforms have been destroyed...proceed to move in...all active aerial
groups...provide us with cover...we'll help besiege this monstrosity for you to board it...get any intel...then take it down..."
"Um...guys...we have some company...should we really have to have dispatch here..." Pinkobashi grumbled overwhelmed by the enemies taking notice of the crash
and turning to face them with their guns ready with enraged, hardy, merciless expressions of complete distraught, before looking away. Six automated shotzo
turrets revolved from left to right guarding the premises. Bronto Burt-like VTOL aircraft ascended from the flight bays accompanied by Waddle Dees and Doos
patrolling the premises. Birdon-like fighter craft in reserve jettisoned from the short runways, streaking out into the sky to approach the fleet that had laid waste to
the previous models in the hopes for quick succession and clear annihilation of the opposition. Capsule J-2 like interceptor aircraft on different runways quickly
charged their engines and boosted off toward the skies. These high-performance fighter jets were built with more speed and durability than the previous, as well as
outfitted with a cache of various rockets under the wings and chin mounted guns. The team wandered on the looming fortress, looking out at the vapor trails of
approaching fighter jets and hearing the rather loud engines of the planes taking off and racing toward the oncoming fleet. Very faintly could they see explosions
from the gunfire and streaking missiles striking the carriers and blowing them up. Fighters rushed to cover, but were shot down in seconds. Giant turrets raised
their gun barrels and struck the planes that were evading the enemy fighters. Bombers and fighters were caught in flames as the turrets from the fortress and the
remaining two platforms were opening fire on the aerial groups. Fighters tried to lead themselves toward the two remaining platforms in hopes of shaking them off
their positions, but they still followed. One bomber was damaged to the point that it would crash, and it and all its crew rushed toward the platform, bombs armed,
and exploded, sacrificing their lives to destroy the platform and all its personnel and defensive armaments with it. Another did the same as it was totally damaged.
The tanks and the turrets continued to fire at the planes and the supporting fighters never retreated. The carriers and supporting fighters struggled to find a
landing area in the high altitude while still being attacked. Remaining bombers flew in close squadrons and carpet bombed about fifty meters above the target, the
entire fortress, until they unloaded and were quickly chased. The attackers were very vulnerable as they flew low and had a very slim chance of surviving
the impact of the anti air cannons while being pursued by the enemy fighter craft. The VTOL craft while in the air hovered and swiftly pursued the fighters and
bombers with their two machine guns and two missiles, but were made easy targets by the fighters that quickly destroyed them. Troops on the grounds of the
fortress with rocket launchers, tanks, and anti air artillery turrets defending the structures were decimated easily by the bombers' payloads and the fighters striking
them with missile fire. The turrets were rendered nearly inoperable and reserves useless by the same deterring factors.
The team stood out in the open, watching the fires of destruction slowly consume the infidels.
"Stay down, team..." was what Seginorishippu demanded the group to avoid being killed.
"Hey, are you guys alright...we got the platforms down...we're bringing hell...we got this covered...yeah..." blurted Starman Team Leader appalled at the sheer
leveling of the fortress' exterior and destroying of the fighters, unknown of the potential of additional enemy forces. "You guys need to help link up with the forces
and move into the interior of the fortress...I'm not sure if everything is completely destroyed yet...We need your help..."
"Why are you doing this?...didn't we..." said Pinkobashi. "You were supposed to wait for us...Commander...we should have provided support...did they really have to
put their backs into it for us...I mean really...What happened to the carriers?...they must be destroyed by now!"
"Negative...they're all okay...just a few bullet holes and smoke off the engine and wings...no casualties here...just a bunch of scared marines and pilots...the troops
and tanks are almost done unloading off the landing zone about seven hundred meters away from your location...I don't think they can get back...we'll have to
wait for a rescue party to get em' out of there..." affirmed Starman Team Leader over the casualties in the vicinity of the enemy occupied area.
"Great...we'll join them...nothing to worry...we'll take control of this thing...commander out..."
The team continued to walk over the destruction of the leveled territory, observe the carnage as they watch fire and smoke rise from the turrets and tanks. They
turned to see countless piles of charred carbonized corpses and dropped guns as they advance further toward a looming central structure, presumably still active in
the remnant of a falling recluse of technological achievement.
"I wonder what all these buildings are doing on this giant fortress...this is a base...not a city...how the heck can they be so technologically advanced?..." bothered
Pinkobashi.
"I don't know how they can be so ahead of their time...but I think it started in the previous war...DeDeDe took up some Cappie scientists living in his areas and
worked them to develop the innovative weapons of the past as experimental and put them into conventional use later on...the airships...the DeDeDe had several of
these in previous conflicts...and, with pooling the funding...projects had begun and promoted development...but they never were fully ready...but after successful
tests and unveilings...were deadly on the battlefield and stated to bring about a swift victory as vengeance against loss...rockets...jet fighters...chemical
weapons...tactically outmatched and being overwhelmed with our help...the regime toppled...we developed the super bomb...they did too...you do know the
potential of a weapon like that.." detailed Hikariowataru.
"That explains the demon in the woods...the anti-air cannons...the Gordo bombs...the Crash bombs...the Kabula...but how can the KRACKO be possible?...I don't
know...it must be worse than the Kabula...and it's an advanced prototype...by the ancients...they must have been pressured by the government in ensuring
military dominance...forced against their own will...they...they knew that they had blood on their hands..."
"Afraid so...they couldn't see their families after being worked so hard in government operated facilities...they were threatened death...some had fled to left and
join our side overseas...they helped under a secret project that would develop the super bomb...it won the war...it killed thousands of innocent and left the target
area irradiated...it appalled the nations with its potential and put the whole world in a crisis...this...this fortress may bring less of yields and agricultural products
and food and shelter for thousands of people...this is why people are poor! War has done this! There is no preservation...there is no chance for peace...people are
hungry and cold and unclothed...the burden of the arms race has pushed this...with every shot fired...stripping from the people everything...at the satisfaction of
the government...the ruling elite...as tools..."
"All the people...citizens...running off to die...the civilians...left to die...both die without care...the world is a bad place...the leader is the fault for everything
wrong...just for fucking political power and control...what is wrong with the world?..."
"War has happened since the very beginning! Don't whine about it!" stressed Kanashimiobingu.
"Get a move on, you two...we have to at least try and stop the fighting..." assured Meinoyonoken.
"Yeah, keep up with the times...it's the propaganda...peace will come...yeah, right..."
Out from the decadent reaches of wrecked battlements on the fortress appeared enemies from the surviving remnant, a pair of Blade Knights clad in blue armor
observing the wreckage. When the two noticed them, they moved in and prepared to attack them, bequeathing their swords and charged, screaming in their
unrecognizable language, their approach catching Destined Providence's attention. Suddenly, reckless gunfire from behind the team urged the Blade Knights to
move forward towards a lot of marines, the combined firepower of a group of seven marines' spraying rifles blowing holes through their armor and tearing, shooting
off their limbs and legs and arms, leaving them revolting as the screaming barbaric warriors left to their final rest, to be appeased by their gods.
"Hey, it's Destined Providence! You're here to help us! We'll protect you every way we can!" proclaimed a marine noticing the lot, glorifying them as if they were
servants of the ancients.
"You are our saviors! We adore you! We want to be just like every one of you! You, Meinoyonoken, the humble swordsman of honor and truth. You!
Muhanseinoshotto! The swift sniper of unmatched accuracy and precision! You! Kanashimiohbingu! The courageous heavy of charging bravery and setter of a path
of righteousness! You! Hikariowataru! The agile spy of the achieving of great knowledge and promising treachery and corruption within all who oppose us! And you,
you, Commander Seginorishippu, the great definitive of glory and deliverance of all towards the preservation and salvation of our nation and all who follow our path
to prominence!"
"Does he really have to say this about us?...I think it's a little too much of a mouthful..." sarcastically whispered Pinkobashi to Muhanseinoshotto on their
idolization on hope for change.
"Silence, you must not humorize our promotion...We give them hope...We lead the future..." emphatically and sternly insisted Kanashimiohbingu whispering to
Pinkobashi on the praise.
"Tell me what the hell is wrong with this message?...freedom by death...glorified..." No comment.
Then another one of the marines said to the unknown meddler within the lot of worthy individuals.
"And what are you doing?! You must be one of their lackeys! A lowly brother at their expense!"
"I'm Pinkobashi, the pink blur...I'm the one who will...um...free us from the evil of this world..."
"Oh, I see then, a new addition! We need to think of something to call him...I don't know...it'll come sometime...come on, fellas, I think we can beat him in some
target practice!"
"Oh, there's no need! I'm already as experienced as they are...I helped burn down the Forest of No Return in Green Greens...I also went against two enemy
officers in a fortress at Float Islands...with only one salvaged Crash Bomb...they were both dead...And then I helped take down an airship...the Kabula...the biggest
airship I have ever seen...and all its fighters...Over the course of my journey...I killed about twenty men, no a hundred, singlehandedly...I'm cool..."
"But you aren't worthy in winning entire battles on your own...it takes skill...you have will...luck even...maybe you are..."
The team joined with the blind loyalty of the lowly grunts marching toward the gaping dark entrance to the central construct, only an impressive sight as it stood
in front of them at the submission of hundreds, thousands dead, lost in the fragmented broken ruins of hopelessness.
"Well, Hikariowataru, on what you said before, that was brilliant...recalling those past events and all...you really had it in you...addressing the hopelessness we
have...we all suffer and share..."
"It's nothing, I grew up in the poor towns around the captured areas...it was horrible, people died from starvation...we had no money and little things to provide for
us...we had nothing to be provided for by the government...my parents were dead by the secret police...I then had the courage to fight against the power...it
caused me to join to fight for your country...When I escaped from the regime, I was taken under and trained to subdue the government...I became an asset to the
revolution because I suffered for my tribulations against the corruption...I saw your country as the reason for freedom...I joined Destined Providence...for this
reason...and I became a figurehead against foreign subversion...now it's becoming corrupt like the evils of the world...the Nightmare...what Meinoyonoken
said...he's a spiritual warrior, after all...he says the Nightmare...will rise above every nation and bring about the end of days...what is wrong?..."
Suddenly, out from the darkness, came the horrible demons associated with the corruption. Two orange Scarfies flew out from the darkness hovering and floating
near the group and circling joyfully as their ears flapped and eyes sparkled. The mouths gaped in glee. The two yellowish dimples glowed in retaining their peaceful
form. The marines were blinded by the cuteness.
"Aww...it's so cute...I want to pet it...can we pet it...oh...sooooo soft...coochie coochie.." gabbed a marine as he tickled the poor animal while others ran to stroke
the unchained beast.
"What's wrong with it...hahahahahaha...it's so adorable...why would DeDeDe keep these creatures in this horrible place...they need a home where they need
care..." another solicited.
"He's so cute I could eat him up!" said a marine as he tried to suck in one of the Scarfies.
"No! Stop that! That is an order!" shouted Seginorishippu. The grunts did not obey him at all.
Another had tried to inhale them, but the two beasties just stood in a disturbed shaken motion.
Suddenly, they began to change. The Scarfies growled and gaped their elongating jawed mouths with two sharp teeth jutting out from their mouths. Their cute
dimples shrouded into the changing beige pigment quickly forming on their pulsating skin. Their two eyes quickly pushed together in a horrifying manner, merging
into one gaping bleak black abusive cut slashing, tearing in the white. The ears strutted into a pointed broken shape recognized with the horns of the unholy ones.
The horror had been released within the animals, corrupted by the abuse of their masters, to kill. The marines were horrified at the sight and screamed, attempting
to run away from the demons.
"What the hell...they've changed...what happened to them...AAAHHHH!" shouted a trooper.
"Scarfies are not to be meddled with, you fool! Watch a real man handle this!" shouted the close quarters expert as he raised his sword watching the beasts hover
down upon him. When they charged at him, he swung his sword at an incoming Scarfy poised to maul him to death. The body was slashed in half and slowly fell to
the ground with blood gushing out of two portions. Another Scarfy flew up into the air and swooped down to assault a marine, but Hikariowataru took out her
shotgun and fired it at the mindless animal, point blank range, leaving it to lifelessly fall right by the side of the marine, repulsed and shocked at the dispatch with
utter mutilation.
"Whoah...you two fucked those beasties up! No trouble at all! By the way...do you know what happened to those Scarfies?...why are they these monsters?...they
were so adorable..."
"Oh...to be honest, I don't know...they were once peaceful creatures flying around in these parts...but they can be provoked to attack and kill...but DeDeDe went
and used them in experiments for developing weapons of war...after they were put in breeding programs...that is why they self-destruct...it's very sad..." muttered
Hikariowataru in remorse for killing the things. The marine accidentally stepped on the slowly decaying brain matter of the two corpses, one right by the other
disgusted by his observance of the small guts and blood on his boots. The bloody organs began to glow as if they were still alive. The marine crushed the
corpses with his boots, but suddenly, the two bodies exploded with the remaining blood and guts splashing around the group. Only the marine was wounded, his
right foot gushing out blood and screaming in pain by the ashes from the little remains of the wild creatures, right by his allies.
"AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH! AAAAAAGGGGHHHHH! HELP ME! WHAT THE HELL! AAAAAGGGHHH! IT HURTS! AAAAAGGGGHHHH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
AAAGGGHHH! MEDIC! MEDIC! MEEEEEDDDDDIIIICCCCC! AAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!"
Out from the darkness, came the shouting of enemies who had taken notice, a group of a pink Sir Kibble, and a Waddle Doo. The Sir Kibble had walked up to the
wounded warrior, while the rest of the group outside the entrance hid lying in wait for the time to strike, leaving him behind. The Sir Kibble gripped the marine
without his weapon, the crippled begging for him to let go, while he withdrew his blade and jabbed it through the chest. The defenseless soldier let out
a bloodcurdling scream before dying as it slit along his waistline, more blood being splashed out. He tore the weapon out from the wound for the victim to violently
suffer more. As the guts and blood spilled after the body was dropped, the Sir Kibble raised his weapon and impaled the Kirby's head. The team along with the
remaining marines rushed out to attack the enemies out in the open. The marines had all banded together and concentrate their firepower at the charging Sir
Kibble, managing to severely weaken his armor, while Seginorishippu had used his rifle to shoot right through the opening and easily dispatch it. The marines had
cheered for their glorious leader. The Waddle Doo armed with a rifle walked back into the fortress, retreating in the heat of battle. The sniper had thought he was
going to bring additional troops, so he ran into the tunnel, while the rest of the team followed him, along with their loyal marines. As the Waddle Doo ran
and screamed, calling for the troops on what was a higher floor, he was shot through the eye and collapsed right near a field of pointy iron spikes. A Simirror met
the squad on the higher platform along with a Waddle Dee and another Sir Kibble. The Simirror came in contact with one of the marines and prepared to attack
him by waving a wand, deflecting the bullets with a protective energy shield. The marines were informed to move up to the higher floor while
Kanashimiohbingu used his heavy machine gun. The bullets had no effect on the shield, angering him to the point that he charged at the enemy and splattered
him against the wall, beating him to death with his gun and shooting him with a barrage of bullets when the enemy had no shield up. When enough blood
was spilled, the heavy jumped up to join his comrades fighting the remaining hostiles in the area. The Sir Kibble launched his blade and as it spun toward one of
the marines, he was decapitated. The remaining marines took care of the Waddle Dee in front easily by spraying him with bullets until they decided it was enough.
A marine tossed a frag grenade up at the Sir Kibble, with the explosion launching him off from the elevated platform, dead from the impact and the fall
damage hitting him right on his armor's headpiece and breaking his armor easily for it to be scavenged. Right by the area was some kind of a portal, a door to the
higher levels of the giant fortress. The team traversed through a black, unlit hangar bay of unoccupied Bronto-Burt like VTOL aircraft, before they reached another
door to another part of the fortress, but now they went to see light.
They were then outside on the upper deck of a rather large balcony at the already high altitude.
"Where are we? How close are we to the main room? We are only outside the fortress...Come on, guys...let's turn back...I mean...look up...we still have more to
cover..." groaned a marine.
"Wait...I hear something...be quiet, marine...we are not alone up here...look..." the spy justified.
"We have two contacts on the radar...but only one is visible...it's just a Waddle Doo...we can just take care of em' real quick..." said a marine eager to end the
bastard's worthless life. He went up to the Waddle Doo armed with a rifle and shot him dead with a full magazine.
An elevator platform raised a battalion of six tanks and a battle group of six Waddle Dees, starting to move.
"More contacts...we've got company...they're bringing reinforcements..." stated the sniper, observing the mobilizing. Pinkobashi saw the deployment in progress.
"What the...six tanks...where is the air support?" asked Pinkobashi.
"It's probably all gone by now...we're deep in the storm that planes could run the risk of spiraling out of control."
"How far are they away from us?"
"They're getting closer...about one hundred meters away...we're just out of firing range..."
"Do we have any options?"
"Sniper rifle or rocket launcher...either way we have to conserve ammo and shoot to kill..."
"Marine!" shouted the sniper. A marine came up to him wielding his sidearm.
"Yes sir!" replied the marine.
"You got a rocket launcher?"
"Yes sir! It's right in my backpack, sir! Two rounds!" The marine pointed to the open pouch with the bottom of the
unloaded launcher sticking out.
"Load it and fire shots about one hundred meters from where I'm standing. Anti-tank. Armor-piercing round. I'll help pick em' off after you fire. Do you get me?"
"I get you sir!" The marine loaded the shoulder mounted rocket launcher from the backpack and aimed it towards
the six tanks and the Waddle Dees.
"Fire!"
"Yes sir! Take this, you bastards!" The marine fired a missile, feeling the recoil. Smoke expelled from the rear, gunpowder belched from the front, and the projectile
zoomed from the launch tube toward the unwavering targets. A small flash and explosion combusted inside the hull of one of the tanks and ended up hitting two
others on their sides in formation. The other three were unaffected, and still kept going despite their drivers frightened by the unforeseen attack. Three Dees on
the ground were dead. The marine looked onward to observe. "Three targets hit...destroyed...Three are unaffected..."
"Good...fire again!" affirmed the sniper.
"Yes sir!" The marine loaded another shot and aimed at the tanks again. After he said another insult and fired his
last shot, he was enthralled at the destruction. All of the tanks were completely destroyed and all the remaining
ground troops dead on impact when the shot hit the tank, blowing away the remaining three.
"All targets destroyed sir! No need for covering fire!" The marine exuberantly addressed to his comrades in arms, arms raised and jumping with joy and gaiety.
"Good job, marine! Make it out alive and you'll be promoted!" The sniper lauded his comrade while the other marines applauded for his efforts. The rest were silent.
"Wow...I didn't know he had it in him..." inferred the heavy. The team then covered their ears at the sound of something flying by them at a high frequency.
Sound waves thundered over them, battering their ears with the explosions of crashing bombs. The sound intensified.
"What the hell was that?..." asked Pinkobashi.
"Something's on radar...electrical readings are extremely high...it's coming this way! Look out!" A deafened sound of the same break thundered at a lower altitude.
"What!?"
Suddenly the clouds from underneath them were broken through by some unknown force, flying up from the clouds at unknown speeds and floating down slowly
to the point that it was visible. Four pink orbiting spheres were spinning around, electrically held in the orbit of a single ghastly black eye sharply observing the lot.
Electric shocks pulsated in between the spheres and around the eye itself erratically.
"What...the...hell...is that thing?...get down marines...brace for cover now!" screamed the commander as the team dodged the almost weightless being, racing at
speeds lighter than air.
"It must be the KRACKO unit...it must not be fully operational...take it down immediately..." shouted Muhanseinoshotto as he jumped away from the looming
thing, before shooting it with an armor piercing round right at its eye as the weapon was charging toward the lot. The strange creature slowly spun, flying lower in
a downward swoop toward the lot. The commander shouted for his partners to jump, and all of his team jumped except for two marines who were shocked to
death by being administered electric shock at a powerful voltage, continuously cycling around the monster even after it had killed them, signifying that its
insatiable desire for destruction could never be halted from the limits of its capabilities. The monster lofted above them, its eye ominously and violently glowed as it
charged for another attack, and a fury of six large black energy spheres rained upon the troopers, generating large explosions. The power of the blasts shook the
warriors with fear as they were in front of the bombardment, but they still pressed on. The remaining three marines continued to shoot at the strafing attacker
and ducked as it flew over them. A marine had tossed a frag grenade as hard as he could, but it hit the ground, at the chance for the explosion to hit the monster
and halt its chance to react. All the members of Destined Providence and the marines returned fire, continuously shooting it.
The monster could only struggle to dodge the oncoming bullets and was outflanked. It flew straight above their heads and dove down to rush at them again.
Pinkobashi jumped and tossed a grenade right up the monster's eye for the bomb to explode in between the electrically charged orbiting defensive
spheres, thankfully not being shocked himself. He landed on his feet unharmed as he watched the beast jolt, crackle, fizz, and finally explode in a series of
powerful bright explosions of pure energy discharging from the breaking orbits. The central power, the eye, instantaneously sparked and combusted to nothingness.
"The KRACKO unit is dead!..we did it!...yes!...yes!...yes!" shouted a marine, excited over the complete neutralization of a presumed weapon of mass destruction.
Suddenly, loud winds began to blow through the area, lightning bolts struck and thunder crashed.
Dismal clouds descended, shrouding the night sky into complete darkness. The warriors' hair flapped in the wind.
"This is Commander Seginorishippu of Destined Providence...the KRACKO unit under the enemy's possession has been destroyed...we may haven't helped weed out
a base...but we have prevented the complete annihilation of countless lives...all hostile forces in our area have been...eliminated...any aerial groups...rescue
squadrons...anyone...anybody..."
"They can't hear you..." said Pinkobashi. "Communications are down..."
"To be honest...I think it's because we're in a gigantic storm here...we can't find our way back...we don't know even where our allies or enemies are
anymore...they are flying aimlessly in a spiraling, oppressive storm that will make them lose their sense of direction and can get caught off guard...we have no
signal...we might as well be stranded up here forever. Sorry man..this really is a suicide mission...now we can have regrets...we're lost...we can just fall..."
muttered an already perturbed Hikariowataru as she understood the conditions of the mission.
"Wait...what's that...what...the...by the ancients...it can't be...look up here and see for yourselves...you cannot believe what is up here..." demanded
Muhanseinoshotto to the group upon his urging as he heard sounds arriving out from the increasingly tormenting storm. DeDessian planes encroached over the
dark skies.
"Look...planes...they must be...no...they are DeDeDe..fighters...bombers...oh...no...there must be a hundred of them...all united in squadrons...and they are
heading toward the ground forces...right under us...thousands of men will die...it is finally true...what do we do now?"
"I don't know...we need to stop the attack...somehow..." muttered Seginorishippu as he watched the planes pass over them. In the darkness loomed a surprisingly
frightening massive shadow appearing over the dark clouds, above the planes, with every strike of thunder sounded, a shape of fear, provoking the threat of total
annihilation. Meinoyonoken eulogized that the fire will come down from the heavens and destroy all who do not follow the great truth. The team had decided to
move further up the fortress, where they would find the answers to the great truth and the purging of the heavens by the evil infidels. The darkness loomed over
the sea of clouds, the fleet, and the coming hell.