War for Mobius

Chapter 27


The Union quickly adopts the name, The United Freedom Front. Sally thinks it is quite fitting, though Sonic feels it's a bit too corny.

The blue hedgehog sighs as he heaves a bag of Overlander weapons onto the lone hoverpod remaining in the hangar bay.

"Having second thoughts?" Knuckles asks as he tosses two more bags in as if they were nothing.

"No," Sonic shakes his head, "I just wish our whole group of Freedom Fighters could go."

"Oh"

"I wasn't originally part of their group you know? Sal, Bunnie, Rotor," Sonic pauses briefly, "Twan and Johnny, They all started this fight together. I had hoped we could at least finish it together."

The Echidna leans against the hover pod, "I guess I can see your point…"

"We're like a family," the blue blur continues, "Not only are some of us no longer around, we just won't be able to get the whole team up there. And if Ben wasn't injured, he and Fiona would be coming too."

"This craft can only hold so much weight, that would fill pretty much the whole team," the guardian concludes.

"And we can't afford anymore losses…."

An awkward silence falls over before Sonic changes the subject.

"Don't think you'd sit it out either"

"As Guardian of the Island," Knuckles admits, "It is my sworn duty to protect this island and in turn protect Mobius."

"That and you're a Freedom Fighter now," the hedgehog adds.

Knuckles turns to Sonic to give him his full attention, "Come again?"

"You've earned your spot on the team as far as I'm concerned," Sonic shrugs, "We never would have made it this far without you, and you're fairly decent in a fight."

The Guardian hesitates, "I'm honored, but my sworn duty is a life spanning responsibility. Save for passing it down to my future eldest child, I'm bound to guard the Master Emerald and this Island indefinitely. After this day…"

"After today we'll either all be dead or Ro-butt-nik will be history," the blue blur counters, "After that who know what Mobius will be like. You wouldn't have to give up your life or responsibilities here."

"And it would be nice to know I have allies who could help me with those duties," the red echidna admits after pondering for a moment.

"So what do you say?" Sonic stretches out his hand.

"I'm in," Knuckles grasps the outstretched hand, "For a Free Mobius."

"Welcome aboard then," Sally's voice comes from behind them, "It's nice to see you two getting along so well."

"Hey cut me some slack, Sal," the blue hedgehog grumbles, "We didn't really fight all that much."

"If I gave you anymore slack, you'd strangle yourself with it," the princess smirks.

"Oho? So that's how it is," Knuckles laughs.

"Gee thanks," Sonic rolls his eyes.

"Is it make fun of Sonic day already?" Rotor joins the group pushing a large cart of electronics. He is accompanied by Tails and Bunnie.

"I do hope so," the cyborg chuckles, "I've been saving a few insults for him."

"Wait for me," Ben adds as he and Fiona arrive, "I believe I owe Sonic one myself."

"Or five," Fiona adds.

"The more the merrier," Sally laughs, "Make Fun of Sonic Day is a Holiday anybody can celebrate."

"Oh c'mon!" Sonic whines, "Ganging up on me? Tails back me up here!"

"Don't drag me down with you," the twin-tailed fox replies, "I still have to live the rest of my life as a freak of nature."

The Mobians bust out laughing. It isn't long before Sonic joins in too.

"I hate to interrupt but my go team is just about finished with their preparations," Kalzier announces as he too arrives on the scene. Another overlander dressed up in combat gear walks up behind him.

"This your pilot," Sally asks.

"Thorn may be young, but he's SpiderTroops highest scoring pilot, and one of the best I've ever seen. He's been my personal pilot for quite some time as well," The GUN Captain replies.

"Fair enough," the purple walrus shrugs, "Our best Pilot is Tails."

Tails shrugs and scratches the back of his neck, embarrassed, "I think I got you beat on the Youngest Pilot claim."

"No problem," Thorn finally speaks, "As long as you don't hold me back, I won't hold you back."

"Deal."

The overlander jabs his thumb at the hover pod, "We better make sure the cockpit is up to speed. We launch soon."

The duo enter the craft. The princess turns her attention back to Captain Kalzier, "We'll be ready for take off as soon as Rotor gets his gear on board."

Fiona points to the group, "Any of you get hurt I'll kill ya. That goes double for you Ben."

The wolf throws up his hands in defeat, "You try to be a hero."

The red fox girl points two fingers at her eyes and then back at Ben. She repeats the gesture a few times to emphasize her point.

"Alright, Alright," Ben sighs, "I'll sit back in the corner and be a good boy and not do anything."

Bunnie and Rotor begin loading the electronics onboard.

"Ya will come back now, you hear me?" the cyborg warns him, "I ain't going to be the sole survivor of our team."

"I'm more worried about you guys," Rotor defends, "If Robotnik fires on the island…"

"I'm counting on you to make sure that don't happen," Bunnie reminds him.

The walrus smiles, "Well the weight of the world is on our shoulders, what's a few more pounds?"

He is rewarded by Bunnie playfully punching his arm.

Sonic turns his attention to Sally, "Sal I…"

An explosion rocks the base.

The chipmunk pulls her small computer from her vest, "NICOLE, status report!"

"It's Robotnik!" the AI's voice almost sounds panicked, "He's assaulting the base! SpiderTroop has set up the defenses but they won't be able to hold them back for long."

Zane Kalzier swears, " We're out of time…"

"Then I'll go buy us some," Sonic offers, but the overlander rests a hand on his shoulder before he can dash off.

"Much appreciated, but we can't afford that right now."

The overlander looks over the mobian faces, "We can't risk the Emeralds falling into Eggman's hands. Our only chance is you take the fight to him while he's distracted with us."

"Captain Kalzier, we can still-" Sally interjects but the GUN officer cuts her off.

"There just isn't time Princess. SpiderTroop will hold the line. You'll have to finish this fight without us. I could ask for no better man to represent my people than Thorn as part of your team. And I could ask for no better team to represent Mobius."

"As a child I've always wondered why your people were the ones who shared the name with the planet," he continues, "Show me that answer."

Kalzier concludes with a crisp Salute, "Crack that Eggman wide open!"

Sally returns the gesture before quickly boarding the craft with the other Mobians.

"NICOLE," Kazlier smiles, "Connect me to the communication grid."

"Connected!" the AI replies.

"This is Captain Kalzier! All SpiderTroop forces are to engage Eggman's Machines! Repeat, All of SpiderTroop will engage Eggman!"

The GUN officer turns back to the Mobians, "We'll buy the time."

"I'm good at buying time," Ben says approaching him, "I'm not fit enough for the go team at the moment, but I can at least coordinate you guys down here!"

Fiona points to Ben, "What I said still stands."

"Aye, Aye" Ben replies before turning back the overlander, "Ben Wolfsbane of the Knothole Freedom Fighters reporting for duty sir."

Kazlier nods, "Get your butt to the control room Soldier. We've got a war to win."

"NICOLE has left a program in the system to help keep the base running," Sally tells them, "I wish there was more we could do for you."

"Bring down that flying eye-sore," Kalzier answers before he and Ben race towards the hanger controls.

Thorn's voice crackles over the com system, "United Freedom Front Alpha Team requesting permission to launch."

"Acknowledged," Ben's voice replies, "Opening the hangar doors."

"Engines fired up," Tails announces.

The doors begin to open. Though they move fairly quickly it seems like hours before they finally fully open.


Robotnik watches as his machines pummel through the Temple above his former base. It was quite Ironic that his foes were stationed here.

With his knowledge of the corridors, rooms, and layout, he'd have the emeralds in no time.

Suddenly something bounces off his invisible force shield. It happens again and again. Soon the air is full of them.

Bullets.

GUN Soldiers begin to swarm out of the temple's ruins firing upon his unexpecting Machines. The first line of robots collapses under the onslaught, torn apart the the storm of bullets.

Robotnik smiles. They were the same Overlanders who interrupted his last grab for the emeralds. Revenge was always such as sweet dish…

The doctor simply points and his machines fire towards the attackers. Laser bolts shear through their armor and flesh alike as rockets launch their helpless bodies into the air.

Like Spiders, the overlander soldiers crawl in out of the cracks of the old temple, using the rubble as cover and escape routes to avoid the barrage.

Robotnik is about to halt the attack in order to gloat at the cornered GUN troops when the sound of an aircraft interrupts his thoughts. Out of the rear of the base launches a hoverpod at frightening speeds, madly dashing for the Death Egg.

The Emeralds had been carelessly left behind, and an escape vehicle had been provided. Even a base for a final stand had been provided. Robonik strokes his mustache in thought. There was a traitor in his midst. And Machines can't betray….

There were numerous Mobians under his command that could be double agents. It's why generally he never trusted them with high enough authority to do damage to his plans. They wouldn't be able to command enough weight to set this up.

The puzzle pieces could only align to one answer.

His hand lowers to his Command Console.

UPDATE ATTACK ORDERS:
TAKE NO PRISONERS

DESTROY LOCATION B1A

UNIT C02 NOW CONSIDERED HOSTILE TARGET

"Now for the traitor...and then my Emeralds."