-Chapter 17: The Last Frontier-
In Texas, The battle raged on as the allied forces takes down the enemy TSFs that tried to stop them from getting to the Razenack Headquarters. As Akihiro and Cryska progressed towards the base while shooting through a sheer number of enemy TSFs, they felt a sudden shake, as if it was an earthquake.
"What?!" exclaimed Cryska as the ground beneath her shook.
"Wait! This isn't earthquake! It's a fortress!" said Akihiro over Cryska's intercom.
All of a sudden, A fortress-sized, crab-like battle machine rose up from a giant hole that was created from the underground. As it took it's first steps onto the service, it destroyed several buildings and structures in the area.
"Shiranui! Have you seen the power of the Shinigami that can scorch Japan?!" said an unknown pilot from the fortress's public address system.
"You're gonna pay for this, you jerk!" said Akihiro.
"Heheh! Don't underestimate us! All units, the enemies are Shiranui and The Predator! Do your best to show him the power of the Shinigami!" said the unknown pilot to the several pilots operating the fortress.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" yelled Akihiro angrily.
"FIND ANOTHER WAY!" replied the pilot.
"FEEL THE WRATH OF THE USA!" said a booming voice from the fortress's public address system. It fired several missiles in Akihiro and Cryska's direction. Both of them dodged the missiles and landed on a nearby road.
"DAMN YOU!" said the voice.
"Alright, we're going in. Destroy the legs first then focus on the core." said Cryska over Akihiro's intercom.
"Got it. Let's do this, Cryska!" said Akihiro.
And with that exchange, The Shiranui Phase 3 and Predator MR-S flew towards the fortress in order to take it down. The fortress opened fire on the both of them with one of the fortress's giant gattling gun, which they easily manage to dodge.
"There's a shell covering each leg. Destroy the shell and you'll be able to destroy the leg. Be careful." said Cryska over Akihiro's intercom while instructions were displayed on Shiranui's cockpit monitor.
"I see. Thanks, Cryska." said Akihiro as he charges into start by destroying the front-left leg of the fortress. But as he would soon discover, the shell was too strong to be affected by machine gun ammo.
"Damn! The shell's too tough!" said Akihiro as he shoots down the missiles that were fired at him from the fortress. He puts the Type 87 Assult Cannon away and decides to try using the Type 74-PB Blade that the Shiranui was equipped with for Melee combat. He dashes forward and manages to slice down the shell.
"One down!" said Akihiro.
"Understood." said Cryska as she flew towards the damaged leg and sliced it in half with the automatic chainsaws from the Predator's arms. Cryska manages to fly towards the right side of the fortress and slice down the shell of the right-middle leg.
"Flynn!" said Cryska over Akihiro's intercom.
"Got it!" said Akihiro as the Shiranui flew towards the damaged leg and sliced it off with his blade.
\
Further back, Yui, The Argos Flight and the allied forces stayed behind to fight the enemy TSFs and the BETA. Stella, Fiona, Joshua and half of the remaining allied forces fought off the enemy TSFs while Yui and the other half of the allied forces fought off the BETA. However, the sheer number of BETA were beginning to take it's toll as comrades were TSFs were being destroyed and comrades were being killed.
"White Fang-1 to all units! Fall back and start making your way to the Razenack Headquarters!" said Yui over the open channel to the allied forces.
"Got it!" said Joshua over Yui's intercom.
"Right!" said Stella.
"Roger!" said Fiona.
All the units from the New Yukon Base, Japanese Royal Guard and Soviet Forces fell back and made their way towards the Razenack HQ. This was a tough situation due to the sheer number of BETA. But it was made easier due to the Razenack Forces' thinning numbers. By the end of the second day, their remaining forces were down from 2.9 million to 600,000. However, they knew that they had a long way to go if they wanted to win this war.
\
By the time the forces begun making their way to the Razenack HQ, Akihiro and Cryska have already destroyed the Shinigami Fortress leg's shells. It was now time for Akihiro to strike at the core of the fortress.
"HUUUUUUUAAAHH!" Yelled out Akihiro as the Shiranui striked the core of the fortress with his Type-74 PB Blade.
"Aw hell! All units, evacuate the fortress and report to the chief! Hurry!" ordered the unknown pilot. The units retreated and exited the fortress just in time before it exploded. Akihiro in the Shiranui Phase 3 and Cryska in the Predator MR-S watched on as the fortress self destructed before their eyes.
"Flynn." said Cryska over Akihiro's intercom.
"Alright. Let's go, Cryska!" said Akihiro as the both of their TSFs flew off and made their way towards the Razenack HQ once more.
\
After 3 days and 18 hours, The allied forces manage to reach the Razenack HQ in Colorado. Unexpetedly, there were no security measures and they just flew straight into the underground passage that lead into the Fortress. There's a good reason to believe that this may be a trap set up by Ridley. The remaining 25,000 Eishis of the allied forces lined up as they watched Akihiro, Cryska, Yui, Fiona, Stella and Joshua's TSFs head into Razenack's Underground Fortress.
"Argos-1, are you okay?" asked Yui over Akihiro's intercom while she smiled.
"Never been better, White Fang-1." said Akihiro as he smiled.
"...You will pay for all that you've done, Ridley." Stella thought to herself.
Fiona just looked on as the team progressed through the Fortress. This would be the start of the final phase of the battle and the war. This would prove to be a crucial event in winning the war. It would also determine the fate of the world.
\
In the main hangar of the Fortress, Ridley Abbott was in a fortified suit. He walked on the bridge, approached his BLACK SHELL TSF and stepped into the cockpit. He adjusted some settings and the mechanics below made sure that it was ready to go.
"...It's time we settled this once and for all, Akihiro Flynn." said Ridley as he laughed manically. The last shot focused on the BLACK SHELL's red "eyes" that looked as if they were looking ahead at Akihiro, Yui, Cryska, Fiona, Stella and Joshua as they approached the core of the fortress.
The end was now in sight.
-Next Chapter: Subchapter-
-To Be Continued-