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Legendary Aces

Chapter 29: Sea of Chaos


As the demon sleeps, man turns on man
His own blood and madness soon cover the earth
From the depths of despair awaken the Razgriz
Its raven wings ablaze in majestic light


-Blaze-

Osean Paragon Base, General Bartlett's Office
1430hrs. 27 December 2010

The horror. I couldn't mutter a word during the walk from the runway to the General's office. Even when we got there, I sat silently in the chair. Tears ran from my eyes, down my cheeks.

Mom was sitting next to me, holding me as I cried. Mom knew about the protective detail for my children, but not who was assigned to them. Only he and I knew my brother was handling it. I couldn't speak from my crying, but Mom knew what to say. "General... you said Paragon would protect them!"

Aside Mom, the General, and me, only Allison, Yami, and Zen were in the office. Zen had just given his full report to the General, who then rhetorically explained who "they" were. Everyone who didn't already know had figured it out back at the runway.

"We'll get them back, sweetie," Mom said softly. "But when did this happen?"

"Zen. You said you were flying the plane when the Paragon operatives parachuted with them?"

"That's right," Zen said. "And by the time a rescue team arrived, they were long gone."

"Wasn't there anyone on board that could have jumped after them?" I asked desperately.

"No. You looked inside the plane yourself. It's a small plane. Only myself, your kids, and the rogue operatives were onboard. I would have ditched the plane and gone myself, but the bastards waited until we were over a suburb to jump. I couldn't leave the plane there or it would have crashed in a populated area, and the plane is older so as to give the false appearance it was nothing important... the auto pilot being old would have been risky to use as well. They knew exactly when to make their move to prevent me from going after them. They did leave a note for us, though."

"What does it say?"

"I have it right here," the General said. "The rogue operatives were bought out by the Grey Men. It's likely your children have been taken to Belka, or are on the way there."

"You have to rescue them! *I* will rescue them!"

"We will not stop until..." He was cut off by the buzzer on his intercom. His secretary was ordered only to buzz him if it was of the utmost importance, so he had to answer it. "We're having a private meeting in here, what is it?"

"Sir, you have a call from Belka."

"Belka? Everyone keep quiet. Put it through," he said. He pressed the speaker button so everyone could hear the conversation.

"Am I speaking to General Charles Bartlett of the Osean Air Force... no of the International Paragon Forces?" I recognized the voice on the phone.

"How did you get this number?"

"A rogue gave it to me after he brought these kids to me. Is the Razgriz leader there? The rogue said the kids are hers, but I don't believe him."

"Ashley," I said, "you can't handle me on your own, so you resort to taking my children hostage?"

"So they *are* yours," Ashley said. "One's a pretty little girl, and her long black hair is beautiful. Her eyes are something else, though. I've never seen anyone with silver eyes before. Another one looks more like you, with the blonde hair and all. And the last is a little younger with crimson red hair."

"What do you want?"

"A rematch."

"When?"

"In five days at 1200 hours."

"Where?"

"You'll find out. In the meantime, don't do anything stupid like trying to rescue her."

"How do I know you actually have them? You could be reading off their appearance from the rogue operative's report or a photo."

"From memory actually. Hold on a second." We heard a heavy door opening and closing over the phone. "Hey kid, wanna say anything to your mother?"

"Mom!"

"Rei!" I almost screamed. "I'll get you out of there, sweetie!"

"Don't waste your breath, she can't hear you," he said as he closed the door. "I'm not on speaker like some. Anyway, you'll hear back from us on the location of our rematch. I'm considering the old round table... you could ask the Demon Lord about that one. I expect she's there."

"What about the other two?"

He sighed. "Fine. Hold on." We heard another door. "This is the blonde one. Kid, say something to your mother."

"Untie me. I'll kill you."

*That's Joey.*

"In that case, I'll just leave you tied up," he said as he closed the door.

"And the last?"

After another door he said, "Kid, your mother's on the phone."

"I'm okay."

*And that's Akira.*

"Satisfied? We'll send details on the rematch." He hung up the phone before we could say anything else.

"Was that really them?" Yami asked. "I haven't heard their voices since they were toddlers."

"I know their voices anywhere," I said. "It's them."

"Come in!" the General raised his voice, prompting his secretary to enter the room. "Did you trace it?"

"Yes. The source was in the Belkan capitol, Dinsmark."

"This is going to be difficult," the General said. "There are some Paragon operatives in Dinsmark. I'll make a call and have them do some recon. I'll also contact our base in Belka and the President of Paragon. We'll get them back."

"Can they be trusted?" I asked. "The operatives."

"They are veteran officers. They were who we trusted to guard you, Zen, and Yami while your mother and uncle were fighting in the Belkan War fifteen years ago. You should remember them."

"Yes."

"I'm sure they will be more than happy to help, knowing your own children's lives are at stake."

"Good."

"In the meantime, you will return to the Kestrel and await further orders."

"What? No! I'm..."

"This is not optional," the General said, reverting to his serious tone. "This problem is Paragon's fault. Paragon will correct it. You will go to your team and act as if nothing has happened. Stay calm and collected and carry out your duties. We cannot-"

"*Act as if nothing has happened?*" I said. "How the hell do you propose I do that? Have you ever had *your* children stolen from you?"

"Kye-" Mom said.

"No."

"Then don't speak to me about pretending nothing happened," I said. "Stay calm and collected? There's a goddamn inferno inside me right now! If I thought I could find them by myself, I'd have already taken off by now. Maybe I'll call Doran and-"

Mom interrupted me with a strong slap across my face. I looked back at her and saw the same look in her eyes that I had in mine.

"You were taken from us when you were only a year old," she said. "December 31st, 1984."

"What? I don't remember-"

"You were only a year old," she repeated. "A long term Void agent made his way into our security detail in Paragon. Your father had just taken over as President only a few months before that, and somehow they knew about you. We kept you a secret. Hell, we were still young ourselves, I was eighteen! They took you during a New Year's Eve party, and we didn't hear anything about you for over a week. Finally, a ransom was called in."

"What happened?"

"Your father happened. We found out who it was, where they were, where you were being kept, and why. They wanted to influence our laws on Pandora Isle."

"And?"

"We sent in a covert team to retrieve you, then your father personally flew in and turned their base into rubble. It took everything he and he," she pointed at the General, "had to keep me from flying that day. I knew how the planes worked, but I had no training. You have that training and that makes you as dangerous as your father. Take it from somebody who was in your shoes: put on a face and let us handle it."

I looked over at my brother. "This was on your watch. *You* will fix this."

"I promise on my life that-"

"No," I said. "Whatever promises you want to make are for you. That means nothing to me. No. The only thing you'll do for me is bring my children to me. *You.* No matter who helps, no matter who leads the mission, no matter what happens. *You* will step off a transport with them. *You* will deliver them to me."

"I will."

"So be it," the General said. "You will return to your duties and speak nothing of this."

I nodded.

"Before you go, you should know that Colonel Buchner, or Pops as you call him and Captain Andersen are both members of Paragon's allied division," the General said. "That being said, you are not to speak to even them about the kidnapping, understood?"

"Then why tell me that they're members?" I asked.

"Because I would have told you if he hadn't," Mom said.

"Now go," the General said. "You'll be cleared for takeoff by the time you get to the hangar.

I turned to the door and left without another word.


-Gennette-

Ceres Ocean 30'59'30"N 147'05'20"E
1721hrs. 29 December 2010

"All hands, proceed to battle stations," Andersen ordered. "Yuktobanian fleet ahead. The enemy fleet contains eighteen ships arrayed in a battle formation designed to block our fleet's path."

"Attention Yuktobanian fleet. This is Prime Minister Nikanor, representative of your government. I am on the... Kestrel?" He said, glancing to Captain Andersen.

"Yes. Kestrel." Andersen confirmed.

"I am on the Osean carrier Kestrel, for the sake of restoring peace between our Yuktobania and the country of Osea. We will once again..."

"Attention, all vessels. The only thing that exists between Yuktobania and Osea is hatred. Prime Minister Nikanor has joined the enemy. Recognize him as such, and sink the enemy fleet with him," the Yuktobanian Fleet Commander ordered.

"But, Commander, that's the Prime Minister talking. Please, stand down, we don't know what we're fighting for anymore. Sir, please, cancel engagement and stand down."

"All vessels loyal to the fleet, a traitor is blocking our way. Attack the frigate ship Pitomnik. Open fire."

Several of the Yuktobanian ships turned and opened fire on the Pitomnik. It was defenseless against the barrage from its own fleet.

"This is missile destroyer Gumrak of the glorious Yuktobanian Navy. We cannot follow a Fleet Commander willing to sink one of his own ships. We will protect Prime Minister Nikanor. All ships who are with us, change course and follow us."

"Any vessel that does not follow the flagship will be fired upon."

"Protect those brave defectors," Andersen ordered. "Launch fighters!" Andersen turned off the microphone and turned his attention to Nikanor. "Prime Minister. Please take your leave."

"But..."

"Go to our President, and get a televised picture of the two of you together, shaking hands. Show it to the world."


-Chopper-

The look on Kid's face as we watched the Yuktobanian fleet attack their own was almost indescribable. I could feel her anger climbing as we watched. I was having trouble holding in my own anger, but she was something else entirely. I couldn't help but wonder if there was something else on her mind.

"I'll sink every goddamn-" she said stormed off. Her voice was so cold it could freeze water. I've never heard her so angry before... no it wasn't anger. She was beyond pissed off.

No less than a second later, Captain Andersen gave the order to launch fighters. That meant us.


-Briefing-

The situation is critical. We must help provide stability as quickly as possible. The Kestrel CIC's IFF info will be directly connected to your HUD, so you'll be able to get an ID on your targets.

Engage and render powerless all forces carrying out acts of aggression against the Kestrel and our new allied fleet.


-Mission Start-
-Blaze-

Ceres Ocean 30'59'30"N 147'05'20"E
1744hrs. 29 December 2010

"A group of comrades has come to our aide. Protect these brave souls!" Captain Andersen said. "Commence battle! We are not alone!"

"Kestrel CIC here. We'll transmit IFF data for the opposing ships. Don't fire on our allies. Can you do that?"

"I'll be too busy destroying the bastard ships that fired on our new allies." I said.

"Good. The situation here is critical. Neutralize the opposing ships as quickly as you can."

"Can you get any information on the enemy fleet's weak points from the defectors?" I asked.

"We have already asked for... just a moment... we are receiving that information right now. I'll patch it through to your HUD."

Several new target locations popped up shortly after. They were all labeled "ammo" so I knew if I hit them there, it would result in a chain explosion. I had eight anti-ship missiles and eight normal missiles in my weapons bay. I had to plan my attack carefully. The anti-ship missiles would have an easier time with the larger ships, so I had to use them accordingly.

"Attack any ships that desert the fleet immediately."

"Unbelievable! They're firing at their own ships!" Grimm said.

"No for long..." I muttered.

"I'll support the Yuke fleet coming to our side," Nagase said.

"There are only five enemy planes," a Yuke said. "What a joke. You'd better not take any damage."

"Those planes... are you the Razgriz?"

"That's us!" Chopper said.

"I knew it! This is the Yuktobanian destroyer, Chuda. It is an honor to fight alongside you."

"Kestrel! We're joining your fleet," a friendly Yuke ship said.

"You have my gratitude," Captain Andersen said.

"Okay, team," I said. "Assignment time. There are five destroyers in the front. Going left to right, I'm numbering them one to five. This number will correspond with your Razgriz number. I am Razgriz One, and so on. After that. Nagase and I will split off and take the southern line while the rest of you target the northern line. Fire at the weak points."

"Roger!" everyone responded.

The first five destroyers all went down simultaneously, granting the defecting ships safe passage to join the Kestrel.

A destroyer led two frigates on the south line, and I assumed it was the same for the northern line, leaving the cruiser, aegis, and carrier toward the back. The ships stood no chance against us now that we could target their weak points easily with our anti-ship missiles.

"Anyone else find it ironic that the destroyers got destroyed?" Chopper said, unable to resist cracking the joke. I sighed at the joke. Disregarding the jokes, I focused on the task at hand.

"Allied fleet approaching," the Kestrel's radar specialist reported.

"Osean ships, you mean?" Andersen asked. "Hmm... it's probably a waste of time, but try requesting some support."

"Nagase, target the two frigates, I'll take the destroyer." Without another word, I saw two anti-ship missiles fly past me en-route to their targets just as I fired one myself.

The explosions were huge. I'd normally feel bad for taking advantage of their ammo stores, but they shouldn't have targeted their own ships and pissed me off.

The aegis and cruiser in the back were simple enough to take down, but the carrier was a different story. It took a hit from Nagase, Grimm, and Snow to hit it.

"That's all of them," Chopper said. "Whew. We managed to take them all out before their fighters could come after us."

"We still have an air battle on our hands now, though," Grimm said. "We can't drop our guard now."

"Looks like the Osean fleet has been listening to all of our communications up to now," Kestrel's radar specialist said. "They're calling us traitors that joined forces with the Yukes."

"Look! The battle's just taken a new turn," Snow said.

"Didn't they just watch us destroy the Yuke fleet?" I asked. "What the hell is with this shit? At least the Yuke defectors have joined up with our fleet now, and it looks like a couple of the Osean ships are coming to join us, too."

"Someone out there understands us," Nagase said. "I can't believe it."

"Sorry. My eyes are just tearing up looking at our new fleet," Grimm added.

"Osean ships attacking! Transmitting new IFF data. Intercept their attack," the Kestrel reported.

"Until that happens," I said. "Alright, everyone call out how many anti-ship missiles you have left. I only used two of my eight, so I'm sitting at six."

"Edge here, I have three left."

"Chopper here, I'm sitting on six."

"Swordsman here, I have four left."

"Archer here, I have five left."

"Okay, Edge, Swordsman, Archer, you three are on air superiority. Chopper on my wing. We have the most left, so we'll take out the enemy... *Osean* ships. Does anyone else feel weird about this?"

I heard only a collective, sighed "Yeah" from everyone.

"Hey, Kid, it's about time you put me on your wing again," Chopper said. "Hasn't felt the same."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go." I broke off with Chopper on my wing and headed straight toward the Osean fleet. A couple of them broke away, refusing to fire on the Kestrel, but the rest has no qualms about it.

"We're counting on you," the Kestrel radar man said. "Be very careful not to drop any planes on our allies."

"Shouldn't be a problem," I said. "My team will fight the fighters away from the ships. Chopper, how many ships do you see?"

"A lot," he replied. "Two destroyers, four frigates, one cruiser, one aegis, and one carrier."

"We'll split it up evenly, then. One destroyer and two frigates for each of us. I'll take the cruiser, you take the aegis, and we'll both hit the carrier. Hit the carrier first."

"Roger that."

"I can't believe it," Grimm said. "They are really shooting at us!"

"Of course they are," Snow said. "They don't know us. We're supposed to be dead."

"Well, four of us are," I snickered. I was about to try to crack a joke, but a sudden missile flying past my canopy pulled me back to reality. I managed to evade it a split second before it would have hit me. "Whoa!"

"Captain, are you okay?" Grimm asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. Dodged that missile at the last second."

"Don't scare me like that, Kid." Chopper said.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not getting shot down that easy. In fact, I'm pretty sure that was a stray missile not even meant for me."

After hitting the carrier with a missile from both of us, one each, we turned toward the other ships and started hitting them systematically. Since they were Osean ships, we already had their weak points. The two destroyers went down first, then we turned toward the frigates.

In the meantime, Snow and Grimm had their hands full with fighters, and Nagase was busy keeping a few off our tails.

"These idiots," Snow said. "Can't they see that they're being used?!"

"It just proves all the more how stupid people are," I said.

Just as Snow and Grimm's aerial kill count reached five each, Chopper and I finished rounding up the ships below. Nagase destroyed six fighters that tried to come after us.

"We can't defeat them even with an entire squadron?!" one Yuke said.

"They're not the Razgriz... are they?" another asked.

"Those guys are dead. They're already dead!"

"There's still a dozen fighters left in the air," I said as I turned toward the nearest enemy fighter. "With all five of us, they won't last long."

"They're too fast, sir. I can't get a lock on them!" a Yuke fighter said.

One ADM was enough to take down four enemy fighters. Their numbers were dwindling fast.

"Hatred calls forth nothing but more hatred, and this is the result. Is there nothing we can do?" Snow asked.

"It's just how humans are," I said. "They don't know how to forgive and forget... or at least the forgive part anyway."

"I won't argue with that," Snow said.

"This is the last of them," I said as I finished gunning down the final fighter.

"All enemy ships suppressed," the Kestrel radar man reported. "We've won!"

"This is the captain of the carrier Kestrel. To all the brave souls that have survived, I congratulate you. Our journey is almost at an end, but we must not waver in our resolve to fight, to reclaim peace between the two nations."

"Well said," I added.


-Post Mission-

The chaos has subsided.

All Yuktobanian ships in the area, as well as all hostile Osean forces, have been brought under control. A decision was made to quickly form a combined fleet of Yuktobanian and Osean ships, with the Kestrel as its flagship.