Shattered Lylat: The Fragmentation War

Disclaimer 8: I own the Mudcruncher LRV.

Chapter 9

Trying to hold on but didn't even know

I wasted it all just to

Watch you go

I kept everything inside and even though I tried it all fell apart

What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when...

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

Linkin Park- "In the End"

***

Katina, September 25th 2550 (1 day after last chapter), 1300 hours,

The Shadow Wing cruiser Phantron exited hyperspace, followed by the 12 Arwings belonging to the pilots of Beta Company. On the bridge of the Phantron, Captain Robert Smirnov was issuing orders

"Open a channel to Admiral Gestahl," the Arctic Wolf said.

"Admiral Gestahl here, go ahead Captain Smirnov"

"We have exited hyperspace with our VIFs alive and well. Beginning entry burn towards the planet. ETA 9 minutes"

"Copy that, Captain, have a safe voyage. Gestahl out."

The Phantron and its escorts began to burn towards Katina.

***

Well out of sensor range, 12 other Gray Arwings flew towards the Phantron. These Arwings, however, belonged to the Shadow Wing Alpha Company, or the Maverick Wing, as they were starting to call themselves.

"Okay, you know the mission" said the flight leader, Storm Eagle, "We are to engage all of Beta Company except for Marlowski and Cronin. Wipe out the rest, and make sure that the Davidson family and General Pepper do not survive the engagement."

"Sir, what happens if any pilots make landfall?" came the Slavic accent of Revolver Ocelot's voice over the comm.

"In the unlikely event that happens, Emperor Caine has decided to have Star Wolf take out any survivors, once they arrive with the strike fleet, that is."

"Send in the Dirty 1/3 Dozen to do the dirty work, eh?" said Chill Penguin.

"Whatever, just stick to the task at hand," Storm Eagle said.

The fighters flew on, their targets oblivious to the danger

***

Katinan Frontline Base, outside Katina City, Same time

The impending danger was also unknown to the Military Base, where many of the wing commanders were waiting around for patrol orders. The commanders on standby included Ed Wallace and Fox McCloud. They were in the main operations room, overseeing the inbound Phantron.

"Phantron inbound on normal approach vector" reported Smirnov

"Base command copies, continue on approach for LZ, you are cleared for landing."

"Affirmative Base, we will be there in five…"

All of a sudden a massive explosion blanked out the camera feed from the Phantron for a second.

"What the hell just happened?!" Smirnov shouted

"Something is attacking us!" shouted the TO.

"We're under attack by stealth fighters!" Jason Kage's voice came over the comm. "I have no clue where they came from!"

Ed froze. Oh, God…KATYA!

***

Katinan high orbit, same time

The Mavericks had attacked without warning. Within the first few seconds, their missile salvos had damaged deck 5 of the Phantron.

As Jason Kage fought for control of his fighter, he noticed that two Arwings from his own squad were breaking off, and gunning right for him. He identified his assailants almost immediately.

"Cronin! Marlowski!" Kage shouted "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Isn't it obvious? We're switching sides along with Alpha Company, who is here right now to help you on your way to your doom!" Marlowski laughed.

"I always knew you were messed up Ivan, but now you've gone too far!" Jason said as he opened up on Ivan's fighter. Ivan dodged the shots, and then fired on Jason's Arwing. Jason's shields drained quickly under the fullisade, and a few shots tore off part of his right wing. The Arwing spun violently, and Jason nearly blacked out. As he regained control of his fighter, he had enough time to see the Arwing of 1st Lieutenant Clyde S. Dale explode in a ball of fire as lasers from two Maverick Arwings tore apart the fusion core.

"Shadow-Beta-11, respond!" Kage yelled into his comm.

"Don't bother, sir" Dante Davidson said, "He didn't stand a chance, and you've got a bigger problem to deal with."

Jason looked back, and saw Ivan come at him again. He tired to shake his former comrade, but failed. Laser fire punched holes through the fuselage, and an explosion came from the engine.

"Shit. This is Captain Kage to all Shadow Betas. I'm losing power, heading in for the planet. Cheng, take over for me."

"Affirmative sir." Dave Cheng responded. "All Betas, destroy the traitors of our wing!"

"Love to but I'm under heavy attack…"

PFC Alek Trevena's comment was lost along with his life as his Arwing was blown in half by Flame Mammoth.

Damn, Dave thought, We're in over our heads.

***

Katya dodged Ivan's shots, desperately trying to reason with him. "Ivan, why do you want to do this?"

"Because you have betrayed the true intentions of Shadow Wing! We are supposed to be secretive, yet you run with that despicable Ed Wallace! You have revealed our presence to the CDF, and as a result, you must die along with your comrades! Unless…you come with me."

A half-second pause and then Katya responded. "Go to hell!"

She flew right at Ivan's fighter, but didn't see Doug fly in behind her and shoot off her right wing with his laser cannons.

"You first!!!" Doug laughed as Katya's Arwing spun in towards the planet.

Jenna Sandoval avenged her friend, coming in guns blazing at both Ivan and Doug. The lasers depleted the shields and then started punching holes through the armor of the two traitor's Arwings.

"Shit! Run!" Ivan said. He and Doug turned their Arwings around and started fleeing the planet.

"Not this time." Jenna said as she released a Nova Bomb at them. The blast started expanding outward. Ivan hit his boosters, but for some reason, Doug didn't.

"Doug! Hit your afterburners!" Ivan shouted.

"I can't! That bitch must've damaged them…AUGHHH!!!"

The blast caught Doug's Arwing, mangling it. The mangled wreck then spun in towards Katina, but hit the atmosphere so violently it twisted apart and exploded.

Ivan looked back as he watched his friend die. She will pay for that…but not today, He thought as he jumped to the coordinates supplied by the Mavericks.

Jenna turned around and returned to the melee raging around the Phantron.

***

Captain Smirnov fought to stand up as another blast rocked his cruiser. "Repeat! Under heavy attack from enemy Arwings! Stealth signatures match our own! I think we've been sold out!"

"Confirmed, Phantron. Looking into identification of assailants using stealth Arwings" reported base control.

"Don't waste your time. I found out who it is." Jenna said "It's Alpha Company, they sold us out, and now they're trying to kill us. Ivan and Doug were in on it, I killed Doug, but Ivan escaped."

"Damn…so that's why they're so hard to kill…" Captain Smirnov said.

The TO suddenly yelped, cutting off any question to Smirnov's cryptic statement. "Picking up almost 75 hyperspace exits around the planet! They have Imperial signatures!"

"Shit!" the Captain shouted "Attention Base Alpha, this is the Phantron, we are confirming numerous Imperial hyperspace exits around the planet! It looks like an invasion fleet!"

"Base Alpha copies, Phantron, relaying information to CDF fleets. Authorizing emergency planetary exodus protocol. All ships, break orbit and head for designated rendezvous points."

Suddenly, Ed Wallace's voice broke through on the comm. "Captain Smirnov, I hate to tell people their business, but I suggest you move the Phantron and escorts to the planet. If you do that, and the traitors follow, they'll light up like Christmas trees on the thermal scanners!"

"Good idea, Ed. I'll implement it now. Attention all Betas! We are going for emergency landing at Katina City, stay close to us and provide cover!"

Captain Smirnov was disheartened to hear only 8 pilots respond. I hope Jason and Katya are all right, they headed into the planet… he thought.

***

Storm Eagle launched a salvo of LRMs at the Arwing belonging to Crimson MacDougal. The cardinal tried to evade the missiles, but failed to do so entirely. Many missiles hit the ship, frying its engine, and then destroying the g-diffuser. The force of the delicate gravity defying device exploding tore right through the cockpit, killing MacDougal instantly. The dead hulk of the fighter spun through the darkness of space, breaking apart slowly.

"That makes 5, with three confirmed deaths." Storm Eagle said.

"Sir! All Betas are heading in towards the planet!" Shouted Overdrive Ostrich.

"Pursue and destroy!"

"But sir, wouldn't that…" Vulcan Raven started to protest

"I said pursue and destroy!" Storm Eagle shouted.

The Maverick Arwings pursued their former comrades.

***

The Phantron shook as more blasts hit it from behind. "They're trying to hit our engines!" the TO said. "We're pretty much sitting ducks out here, our turrets can't get a lock!"

Smirnov thought. Things are pretty bad, We could end up losing more than the squadron…unless…

He turned to General Pepper and Victor Davidson, who had joined him on the bridge just before the attack. "Can you two fly Arwings?"

"I have to, comes with the rank." General Pepper said, "Passed Advanced Training 7 months ago."

"I have to as well, royal duty. I tested out 4 months ago, why?" Prince Victor asked.

Suddenly the comm screens blanked out, all replaced by the snarling beaked visage of Storm Eagle. "Greetings! Prepare to be destroyed! In a few more salvos, the Phantron will be destroyed by the Maverick Wing, and we shall then dispatch of you inferior Betas!" the eagle laughed.

"That's why. Damn you Storm Eagle, why did you change sides?!" Smirnov shouted.

"I have reasons not even you can understand Robert…or should I say…Sabrewulf?"

Smirnov was taken aback. "That was years ago. That was another life. I left for a reason that you still haven't comprehended."

"Well, then I'll just keep you in the dark as well. Good day…or what will be left of it."

The screen blanked out.

"Sabrewulf?" Prince Victor asked

"It doesn't matter right now," Smirnov said. "What matters is that you two get to an Arwing and get off the ship. You'll have Rainier's squadron provide escort to the base."

"Why Arwings?" Victor asked

"Because they will be harder to hit than the Phantron, besides, we're going to be destroyed anyway if this keeps up, so you might as well evacuate in something that can shoot back. Now get going…sirs."

As more blasts shook the ship, Victor and the General ran towards the hangar bay. There they found Rainier getting his squadron prepped for battle.

"Once more into the breach, eh brother?" Rainier said upon noticing Victor.

"So it seems, Rainier, so it seems. Been a while since we fought side by side."

"You still up to it?" Rainier asked.

Another blast rattled the ship.

"Looks like I don't have much choice." Victor said as he climbed into one of Shadow Wing's extra Stealth Arwings.

14 Wolfhounds and 2 Stealth Arwings flew out of the Phantron and headed towards Katina.

Meanwhile, back on the bridge, Captain Smirnov contacted the MODL group defending Phantron's LZ. "Attention Famfrit Beta Prime, I need you to lay down suppressing fire at all incoming objects not flashing CDF IFF codes."

"Affirmative, waiting for code flash." Said the commander of the guard MODLs.

Smirnov contacted the remaining fighters. "All Betas and Defenders, flash your IFF transponders, things are going to get hectic real fast!"

The Phantron started to rumble as it entered the Katinan atmosphere, its underside beginning to glow.

***

Steven Odell was blasted apart just before hitting the atmosphere. He had died trying to fight Neon Tigress. His burning fighter slammed into that of Misha Svensgaard, killing both Shadow Wing pilots in a hellish blast. The Mavericks continued their hounding pursuit of their former comrades into the atmosphere, heedless of the glow of their fighters from the friction. Lasers burned away at the remaining Arwings belonging to the Beta Company, when azure beams from the MODLs began to shoot up from the ground.

"The hell?" Wheel Gator shouted

"Looks like Orbital gun fire!" Storm Eagle shouted as he barrel-rolled to avoid one of the massive lasers.

"I suggest we break off, sir." Revolver Ocelot said. "They're getting too close for comfort."

"You can break off, but there is still one matter I need to attend to." Storm Eagle said as he located the Arwings of General Pepper and Victor Davidson. He flew at them, locking onto the fighters with his LRMs.

"Fine, breaking off. We have succeeded in disabling or destroying all Shadow Beta fighters." Flame Mammoth reported.

And so, the spine of the CDF is broken, and Caine will rule all. The eagle thought as he released a salvo of missiles at both fighters.

***

"Shit! Missiles have locked onto me! I can't shake them!" Victor shouted

"Same here! There's nowhere to run!" General Pepper shouted back as the 30 or so LRMs converged on their defenseless ships.

Silently, and deliberately, Rainier Davidson banked his fighter and flew it in between the missiles and the Arwings of Pepper and Victor. As the missiles closed on him, he shouted one final phrase.

"Long live Prince Victor!!!"

Then the missiles hit. In slow motion, the Prince watched as the LRMs detonated off of the cockpit of his brother's fighter. The cockpit shattered, and then exploded. The missiles continued on, smashing into the fuselage and nose of the Wolfhound fighter. The ship was almost torn apart, but instead the pilotless ship tumbled end over end through space, a dead hulk. His act had stopped all missiles aimed at Victor and General Pepper.

"Rainier!!!! Respond!!!" Victor shouted into his comm, but he knew in his heart that his brother was dead.

"He's gone, sir. Your brother is dead." General Pepper said solemnly.

"I know…damn it to hell I know…" Victor said, holding back tears. "Let's get to the base on the double. We have to let the base know there are some downed pilots that need help."

***

Katinan Orbit, Same Time

The ISS Andross and two other Halberd cruisers, plus two Intimidator cruisers, flew in to the edge of Katina's atmosphere, so that they were directly over Katina City. These 5 ships had ignored all other CDF vessels, as they were just searching for one.

"There it is…that 'ark ship'" Josef Caine snarled as he looked at the Ikaruga on the zoom screen. "Target it with the Naval Heavy Lasers and obliterate it!"

***

CDS Ikaruga, same time

Captain Forrest was issuing emergency liftoff orders when suddenly his TO yelped. "We're being targeted by enemy orbital contacts! Looks like Naval Heavy Lasers!"

"Shields up! NOW!" Forrest shouted.

5 deadly laser beams speared through the sky, intent on wiping the Ikaruga off the map. Fortunately, the shields came up just in time. Unfortunately, the energy from the lasers bounced off the shields and impacted on buildings and some of the escorts around the ark. One laser hit the Rook, which damaged some of the upper decks.

"All right, we're getting out of here." Forrest said. "Tell Rook and Castle to escort us out."

"Ikaruga, this is Base Alpha. We are picking up numerous dropships, fighters, and MACs entering the atmosphere. Suggest you use extreme caution in evacuating."

"Copy that, we'll be careful. Ikaruga out." Forrest said as he closed the comm. "Activate fortress mode and shoot anything that isn't friendly."

***

Katinan Frontline Base (Base Alpha), 30 seconds later

"Picking up two Arwings on fast approach. It's Prince Victor and General Pepper!" the sensor officer shouted.

"We're receiving a transmission from the prince. Putting it through." Said the comm officer

"This is Prince Victor, Lt. General Davidson is dead."

"That is most regrettable…but we have to mourn later." Ed Wallace said "What about Shadow Wing?"

"Phantron is landing near the Black Knight, and you have 5 fighters down with pilots that need assistance. Scan the area for their distress beacons."

"Hold on, scanning," the sensor officer said. After a few seconds, "I've got 5 all right. Sandoval, Williams, Kage, Cheng, and Davidson."

"I'll go after them." Ed said

"How? All the Nightshades are being used, and anyway, you'd be a sitting duck. Also, we're running out of time, there's a massive invasion fleet inbound." Said Admiral Smith

Just then, General Mikhail Knight broke in "I have a vehicle you can use. Follow me."

Ed and his squadron followed Knight outside. It was there that Ed noticed an odd vehicle parked at the gates. It looked like an SUV without the roof. It had 6 seats, and a turret mounted on the rear of it. The turret had two heavy machine guns and two rocket launchers on it.

"What is it?" Mark asked

"It's a combination light reconnaissance vehicle and APC. It seats 7, 5 if you exclude the driver and gunner. The rockets are homing, and can put down a MAC if you aim in the right spot. There's also GPS, and a sensor system so you can track the distress beacons. Better hurry though, the ground troops are on their way. It's designation is the M-142 LRV. We call it the Mudcruncher, due to its excellent off-road capabilities"

"I'm driving. Mark, take gunner position. Karl, Damien, grab a seat and a rifle." Ed said as Knight tossed him the keys.

Ed's comrades did as they were told, and in mere seconds Ed started the engine and they took off after the nearest beacon, that of Dante Davidson. As they drove, Imperial dropships began to debark their troops, and the sounds of war started again as the remaining on-planet CDF and DSF forces battled the numerically superior Imperial onslaught.

***

Katinan Plains

BlackWolf managed to rescue Dante without incident, but afterwards things became difficult. Gunfire and rockets flew all around the Mudcruncher as they tried to reach Jenna Sandoval. With one hand on the wheel, and the other firing an Omni-Falcon, Ed mowed down some soldiers as Mark vaporized an Invader III with two rockets. Damien and Karl perforated an enemy APC. They drove on, and picked up Jenna, who ran from the cover of her crashed Arwing, firing her K21 all the way until she reached the LRV.

"How many of us made it?" Jenna asked as they headed towards Dave Cheng's signal

"Besides, you and Dante?" Ed said "Just Jason, Dave, and Katya."

"I see…Ivan will pay for this treachery, just like his friend Doug." Jenna said

"Wait, Ivan sold you out?" Damien asked.

"Yes, I overheard him saying that to Katya, before he shot her down."

"Well, he will pay for this, but right now I need to stick to the task at hand." Ed said as he drove and swerved to avoid a laser barrage from an enemy Flanker MAC. As they drove past, Mark fired a rocket into the MAC's cockpit, killing the pilot. The MAC crashed to the ground like a marionette with it's strings cut.

Dave Cheng wasn't hard to find. He was standing in the middle of a circle of dead Imperial soldiers. His katana was drenched in blood, and bullet shells from K21 and VK assault rifle alike littered the ground at his feet. He sliced through tow more soldiers that charged him, and paused to reload his K21.

"Yo Dave, if you're done killing, let's get out of here!" Karl shouted as Dave noticed them.

"Yes, I think I'm done for now." Dave said as he ran to the LRV.

When the group reached Jason Kage, he was in a bad way. He was pinned down behind his Arwing, and was almost out of ammo. A quick burst of gunfire from the entire party in the LRV removed that threat, but they could see Jason was hurt bad, as blood was gushing profusely from his left wing, which seemed bent at and odd angle.

"I think it's broken…" Jason said as Karl and Dave helped him into the Mudcruncher. Dante found a medkit under one of the seats, and set about putting Jason's wing in a sling.

"Yeah, it looks broken to me. We can get it checked once we're clear of the planet." Dante said.

"One signal left," Ed said. "Katya's."

The going became tough, more resistance from the Imperials as Ed drove through blockades and ran right through troops in an effort to reach Katya's Arwing. On top of that, Dave had to hang on to the side, as they had run out of seating room. Ed finally found Katya's fighter, bent and twisted, but Katya was still alive, using the wreck for cover.

"Katya!" Ed shouted "Over here! We're getting you out!"

Katya started to run for the LRV, but was suddenly thrown to the ground as her Arwing was blown in half by a missile barrage.

"What the hell!?" Ed shouted as he ran to get Katya.

He suddenly stopped as a MAC walked out from the smoke and flames that marked Katya's Arwing. This MAC was one he didn't recognize. It basically looked like a 9 meter tall metal wolf. It was clutching an assault rifle in one hand, and Ed could see there was a grenade launcher slung under the rifle.

"So, Ed Wallace, we meet again!" came the voice of the pilot of the MAC.

"Wolf O'Donnell, I should've known!" Ed shouted back. "What are you doing here now, besides acting as a lapdog to Caine's every wish?"

"You know, one would think you'd show more respect for someone in a 9 meter tall death machine…but then again…you probably don't realize what I'm about to do."

"I can guess. I'd say you're going to kill me." Ed responded

"Close, but not quite. First…I want you to suffer. And in order for that to happen…the bitch must die."

Wolf swung his MAC's assault rifle in line with Katya, who was struggling to get up.

"NO!" Ed shouted, but it was too late. Laughing evilly, Wolf opened fire.

Ed watched as time seemed to slow down. Katya tried to fire her K21, but the MAC's assault rifle was already on the job. The first bullet slammed into her right leg, the second missed, but the third went through her chest and exited out the other side. Her K21 fired uselessly into the air, expending the last 10 bullets of the clip.

Ed's vision went red as he saw his lover fall in a bloody heap. He ran back to the LRV, kicked Mark out of the gunner's position, and swung the turret in line with Wolf's MAC.

"COUNT THE BULLETS, MOTHER FUCKER!!!" Ed yelled as he opened fire.

The twin machine guns spat round after round at Wolf's MAC, chipping away at armor. As Wolf tried to lock up the LRV, Ed adjusted his aim to the cockpit. He opened fire with the machine guns, and the rockets. The bullets cracked the canopy, one of the rockets hit the leg, and the second detonated off the cockpit. The cockpit blew out, and the MAC slumped to the ground. Ed continued firing as Wolf's MAC collapsed, an insane yell coming from deep within. The guns overheated and shut down, but the redness in Ed's eyes remained. That's when Mark grabbed him and threw him to the ground.

"Ed, snap out of it! Katya's fading fast!" Mark shouted.

The redness cleared, and Ed suddenly remembered what was going on. "Oh…god…" he ran up to Katya's prone form. The others tried to follow him, but Mark held them back.

Ed looked at Katya's wounds. It was bad. Even though the shot to her leg hadn't hit the femoral artery, there was still a lot of blood loss. And the chest wound was even worse, it looked like Wolf had got a lung with that shot.

Ed knelt by Katya, and lightly tapped her face. "Katya…wake up…"

Katya's eyes opened wearily. "Ed…I'm cold…very cold…I don't think I'm going to make it…"

"Nonsense…" Ed lied. He knew she was going to die, but he couldn't lose composure now.

"Ed…don't fool yourself. You know this is the end for me."

"I know…I'm so sorry I couldn't save you…"

"You did what you could…and I'm thankful for it…Listen…I'm not going to last much longer. I just have three requests…"

"Whatever you want." Ed said, trying to hold back the tears.

"Promise me…you'll get back to Corneria…end this war…and avenge my death."

"I promise that I'll do that, no matter how long it takes. You will be avenged, and I will take back our home." Ed responded.

"Good." Katya said. She reached for her ID tags and ripped them off. She handed them to Ed, and folded his hand over them.

"What's this for?" Ed asked

"Something to remember me by…" Katya said, suddenly coughing up blood. "Just one more thing…I'd like one last kiss…before I go"

Hell of a time to ask, Ed thought, but he knew her time was up. Ignoring the blood, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. She returned the kiss with her last remaining strength.

"Goodbye Ed, I love you…"

"I love you too…Katya." Ed said as a solitary tear rolled down his muzzle.

Katya nodded, then her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Ed felt for a pulse, but knew he wouldn't find one.

Odd…she looks so peaceful. How ironic that her life ended in a war. Ed thought.

He picked up her limp form, cradling her in his arms, ignoring the blood that was getting on his flight jacket. He turned around, and saw his squadron, and the 4 Shadow Wing survivors standing at rapt attention, unmoving, and silent. They all seemed to know Katya was dead. As Ed slowly walked back to the LRV, the 8 other pilots, heedless of the battle around them, saluted their fallen comrade, and then fell in behind Ed.

Ed placed Katya's body gently in the back seat, and covered it up with a piece of tarpaulin he found under the seat. He then brushed away the few tears he had shed, and turned to face his comrades.

"Okay. Damien, Karl. Take everybody else back to the Black Knight. Mark, you and I are going to run the 2 km distance back to the ship. There isn't enough room to take us all." Ed said.

"But…" Mark started to protest, but a glare from Ed shut him up. "Very well." Mark said. "You heard him, get moving. We have to leave immediately."

Ed reached for his radio. "BlackWolf-1 to base. The Mudcruncher is returning to the Black Knight. BlackWolf-2 and me have to run back due to seating constraints.

"Understood." General Pepper said "How did you fare with recovering the pilots?"

"4 survivors, 1 KIA" Ed said. The one that mattered most… he thought.

"Well, then…please return safely. Pepper out."

Ed turned to Damien, who was in the driver's seat. "Go." He said.

The LRV sped off in the direction of the Black Knight's LZ. Ed and Mark started running towards the LZ, a battle still raging around them.

***

The fighting was a lot tougher on foot. Ed and Mark blazed a trail with their K21s and Omni-Falcons, shooting their way through soldiers, and taking cover from tanks. In some instances, they found grenades or rockets to deal with the heavier armor. But still the fighting was difficult. Fortunately, ammo was easy to come by. Everything was going reasonably well until the 1 km mark. Without warning, a barrage of plasma fire flew through the air, and hit Mark in the left arm, and also got him in the left leg. The husky let out a howl of pain, and crumpled to the ground. Ed spun around and opened fire at three enemy soldiers. The two carrying plasma rifles crumpled to the ground, but the last soldier turned his assault rifle on Mark. Ed dove in front of his friend, taking a three-round burst in the chest. Ed could feel the hammer-like impacts on his flak jacket as he returned fire. The last soldier fell, and Ed dragged Mark behind some cover to check on his condition. Ed's chest burned from the hits he took, but he willed the pain away. Mark was in bad shape, his leg was bleeding slightly, and most of the fur and flesh on his left forearm had been burned away.

"Judging by how you're howling, I won't ask if you're okay." Ed said. "Can you walk?"

"I don't think so…God it feels like my leg is on fire!" Mark moaned.

"Well, I think I can get you out of this, it's only a little ways till we reach the ship. I'm going to use your ruined flight jacket as a couple of tourniquets and bandages.

Ed tore up the jacket, wrapping most of it around Mark's arm, and then using the last amount to staunch the bleeding on his friend's leg.

"Come on, lean on my shoulder." Ed said as he helped Mark up. Mark wrapped his right around Ed, and they both slowly made their way back to the ship.

That's when more gunfire broke out, and a bullet caught Ed in the right leg. He felt the pain searing through his thigh as he crashed to the ground, Mark falling as well. Ed struggled onto his good leg, and identified his assailants. It was non other than Star Wolf, with a very pissed Wolf O'Donnell leading them.

"I see you survived Wolf!" Ed shouted in anger.

"Yes…something you won't be doing!" Wolf retorted as he brought his pistol in line with Ed.

Ed rolled to one side, brought up his Omni-Falcons, and opened fire. Pigma, Andrew and Leon dove out of the way successfully, but Wolf was a little slow. Ed was sure he scored a hit even as Wolf dove behind cover, and his belief was confirmed when Wolf let out a howl of pain even louder than the one Mark had let out.

"OW!!! MY ASS!!! You shot me in the ass! Damn You Ed Wallace! Damn you to hell!"

Ed grinned, but then returned to the matter of his friend. Mark had apparently passed out from the pain. Gathering his strength, Ed picked up Mark and threw his friend over his shoulder. Ignoring the pain in his leg, Ed began doing a half limp, half run, back to the Black Knight. He saw Damien was laying down covering fire from the main personnel access door, and signaling for Ed to hurry up. Ed managed to hand off Mark to Damien, then he struggled into the access bay amidst a hail of gunfire.

"What happened to him?" Damien asked as the door slammed shut and the Black Knight began to take off.

"Plasma ambush. He's hurt pretty bad." Ed responded

"How are you holding up?"

"Shot to the leg, but I'll be fine." Ed answered. Suddenly, he coughed violently. He then looked at the hand he had used to conver his mouth. It was wet and red with blood. He looked down at his chest, it was bloody as well, and this was not blood from Katya, this was his own. He suddenly realized what happened. The bullets that hit his chest went through the vest, and probably got a lung, if not more than that.

Ed's vision tunneled, and his legs felt weak. "Maybe…not…" he managed to say as he collapsed on the floor and lost consciousned. It happened so fast, he didn't even hear Damien shout for a medic.

END CHAPTER 9.