11

Toshiko comes over, sits next to Jerry. "He still gets air sick, huh? In all of this I didn't get the chance to thank you two.

"Think nothing of it, Spanky."

Toshiko smiles, corrects him. "Spunky. He told you about that?"

All he could think about was getting to you." Jerry waggles a finger at her "There's still love there I think."

"Love was never our problem." She sighs sadly.

All you need is love. John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back, very sad."

.

.

.

.

In the distance we can see the devastated Los Angeles, the space craft still hovering above it. The Fighters zoom in. Jack looks down, becomes worried. "I shouldn't have left him.

"Don't worry, big guy. I'm sure he got out of here before it happened."

Jack nods absently. "Let's lock and load."

.

.

.

.

AIR FORCE ONE

The center F/A-18 on the radar map begins to flash yellow, just under its image. We SEE a video display of its FLIR (forward-looking infrared) targeting system, locked on.

"Los Angeles attack squadron has AMRAAM missiles locked on target." A Tech says.

"Washington and New York squadrons, reporting lock on." Another barks.

"Fire at will." Claymore demands.

.

.

.

.

An Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) DROPS down from the underbelly of Jack's fighter, zooming off. Radar targeted, the missile banks hard, adjusting. It is joined by dozens of other missiles, all rocketing towards their target.

The missiles are headed straight for the alien ship. Suddenly about a quarter mile before they reach it, they explode, as though blown out of the sky.

When the smoke clears we see there has been zero damage.

"Damn it!" Jack roars

"I didn't even see them fire!" John yells back.

"Command, Eagle One." Jack is a machine "Switching to "sidewinders." We're moving in."

In unison these amazing birds dive together, realigning themselves into six groups of five, spreading out to attack different areas of the ship.

The first attack group, Jack's, are the first to near the colossal alien craft. Simultaneously they drop their AIM-9 sidewinder missiles.

They reach the same quarter-mile proximity and EXPLODE.

"They must have some kind of protective shield surrounding their hull. Pull up." Jack realises almost too late as he yanks on the joy stick. Most of the fighters do, but one is too late and smashes into the ship's protective shield.

Jack's squadron banks hard, skirting the edge of the ship's protective shield.

As the fighters approach, the alien ship's enormous Attack Bay doors open. Suddenly dozens of alien vessels dart out towards our fighters.

"Evasive manoeuvres!" Jack yells "Check Six!"

Just moving away in time, our Fighters barely dodge the oncoming enemy Attackers as they fire a hailstorm of firepower(tracker bullet-like lasers) showering the sky.

As Jack's plane DIVES, an Attacker follows. John's plane pulls up behind the attacker.

John's HUD has the alien attacker in his sights. "Got you covered, Jackie."

John fires, another AIM-9 Sidewinder takes off.

The Sidewinder overtakes the attacker as Jack tolls away out of position. Five yards before the sidewinder can get to the Attacker, it EXPLODES.

"Shit! They've got shield too." John cries with alarm.

Jack banks back around to get a shot. Just as he turns, three American Fighters are blown apart from Attacker tracer fire.

The Attackers are in hot pursuit of John's fighter. The Fighter flying next to John is hit.

"John, roll right. I'll cover."

John's fighter narrowly rolls away from the tracer fire as Jack fires another Sidewinder, momentarily distracting the Attacker.

John falls in line with Jack as the attackers turn on them. Both fighters jerk downwards at a ninety degree angle at MACH ONE. Narrowly missing the ground, they bank away. The Attackers can't follow.

.

.

.

.

AIR FORCE ONE

Fighter after fighter begin to disappear from the display screens.

"We're losing them." Toshiko gasps.

"Then get them out of there." The President shouts but suddenly one of the large radar display maps fizzles out.

"We've lost the satellite." The Tech explains but before he can adjust, another monitor fizzles away.

.

.

.

.

One by one Jack can see the fighters getting taken out. Fireballs litter the laser-tracer fire covered skies.

"Maybe we can out run them. Follow my lead." Jack makes a decision and John and Jack bank away from the craft, hit the super-cruise, bolting away at Mach 2.

Both John and Jack are held tight against their seats, straining against the G-Force.

Two Attackers spot them and follow in hot pursuit.

Jack and John are flying at breakneck speeds, the attackers slowly gaining on them.

"John, kick it! They're gaining."

"We're already over Mach 2!" John splutters.

"So push it!"

Readouts show the planes flying beyond measurement. As the planes accelerate, John fights to remain conscious. "Jackie... I can't..."

"John, stay with me."

John slowly loses consciousness. His fighter slows, drifting off to the right.

"JOHN!"

Aliens gain on them. One catches up with John's fighter and fires.

Laser-tracers shower the Fighter. It EXPLODES. Job done, his Attacker banks away, returning to Los Angeles.

"No!" Jack is screaming as his Attacker stays right with him, slowly gaining. Jack kicks his harder, keeping the distance.

.

.

.

.

EL TORO - AIR TOWER

A radar operator spots something on his screens. He turns to Captain Watson. "We have incoming."

"Friendly?"

"I don't think so."

Watson hits an alarm which ROARS.

A dozen pilots race out onto the field, running for their planes. Before anyone can reach them, the sky darkens with alien ships who strafe the runway.

Through the front glass of the tower they watch the Attackers firing. One fires directly at the tower. Watson dives for cover as everything around him erupts into a gigantic fireball.

The entire base goes up in flames.

.

.

.

Jack looks down over the side of his fighter.

Jack hits the brakes. Surprised, the attacker zooms past.

Taking the moment, Jack dive down into the Grand Canyon.

"Okay, jerk-off. Let's have some fun."

The Attacker recovers, dives after Jack who flies dangerously close to the canyon walls. The Attacker has trouble keeping up with him but does.

Jack puts on a clinic in advanced aerobatics, banking, diving, swerving.

The Attacker seems to be improving, following closer and closer.

Jack ducks into smaller canyons, twisting sideways. Still the Attacker follows close.

Near empty, the fuel light is flashing. Frustrated, Jack gets pissed.

"Damn it!"

Jack turns down a dead and side canyon. The Attacker is right on his tail.

"Let's see if you're fully equipped."

The Fighter is on a collision course with the end of the canyon wall. Suddenly Jack yanks his ACES II – EJECTION SEAT.

Jack shoots up into the air.

The Fighter crashes into the canyon wall. The Attacker can't turn in time. He tries to pull up, over it, just misses the top of the canyon wall.

As the nose of the Attacker hits the tip of the canyon wall the Attacker is flipper over, rolling end over end in a high sped crash over the top of the canyon.

The parachute on Jack's ejection seat pops open.

Rolling end over end, the Attacker is banged up as it finally comes to a stop.

Not far away, Jack has a quick, hard, landing. Rolling over, Jack quickly pops the buckles on the chute and frees himself.

He stands and looks around. Spotting the beat up and incapacitated alien Attacker, Jack gets an angry resolved look.

"How you like that you piece of shit!" He screams with rage. He marches over to the fallen alien Attacker. He scans it quickly, spots a type of door that has been knocked ajar.

With all his might, Jack yanks the door open.

For the first time we get a quick glance at these aliens, an odd hybrid creature with fluctuating skeletal structure.

The reason we only get a quick glance is because the moment it turns woozily towards us, Jack rears back and SLUGS it in the face, knocking the alien totally unconscious.

His anger finally subsiding, exhaustion taking over, Jack stands over the craft, slowly withdrawing the prized Victory Dance cigar. He lights it and takes a long angry puff.

"Welcome of Earth Mother Fucker!" He collapses in a heap and looks over at the alien.

"Now that's a close encounter."