Mission 28: Part 2
The next day, Erik Dobermann sat with the other younger Nova Rangers at a table in the mess hall. They were finishing lunch and getting themselves mentally prepared for an afternoon booked full of training sessions. Despite the continued quieter mood around the base, there some light banter from across the table as Jake and Ella laughed over a few jokes while Erin and Bharata chatted quietly. The Blue Ranger gave a mild sigh and took a sip of tea before turning his head to see a surprising sight.
Everyone stopped and turned to see their commander Martin Sterling enter the hall and stride toward their table. To everyone's surprise and relief, he was looking more like his normal self again: clean shaven with a fresh ironed duty uniform and an alert look about him. As the Red Ranger approached the table, the others fell silent as Erik rose to attention and called the others to order, "At ease."
"As you were everyone," Martin answered casually waving off the protocol as he reached the table.
"You're looking well today Captain. It's good to see you again and have you back," Erik offered.
"Thanks Erik," Martin replied looking to his team gathered around the table, "Everyone? I wanted to come here today to apologize to all of you. I've been neglecting my duties and the squad and none of you should have to suffer for my weakness."
"Don't be so hard on yourself sir," Erin answered gently, "We know you've been going through a rough patch right now but it's nothing we can't handle."
"Regardless... I still want to thank you all for putting up with me and offering to help in your own ways. I do appreciate it."
Erik moved over and made room at the table, "Do you want to join us? We were just finishing and..."
Before anyone else could speak, a general low level warning klaxon began to sound and everyone in the base stopped and looked up in surprise. Soldiers and airmen immediately rose from their seats and began to head out the doors for their assigned meeting areas. There they would await further orders as the whole base went into a state of battle readiness. The Rangers all exchanged troubled looks as they headed out of the mess hall and Jake asked, "Why would we be going to battle stations? What's going on?"
His question was immediately answered as their morphers sounded and General Caldwell spoke to them, "Rangers, I need you in my briefing room right now. There's a major situation developing as we speak."
"What's wrong General? The whole base is going into lockdown," Erin called.
"I'll explain when you get here Lieutenant. All I can say is that it's not looking good right now."
With that, the Rangers picked up the pace and continued to hustle down the busy hallways as the sense of urgency began to spread further through the base and caused a general scramble.
A short time later, the Nova Rangers convened in the central Command Tower of the base and took their respective seats at Caldwell's conference table. The general wore a grim look and his features were all taut with concern. He gave a squad a curt nod as they were seated and brought up his holographic projector. "Rangers… it looks like the day we've been fearing has finally arrived."
He pulled up the display showing a view from the Earth's high orbit where a large number of Xeno Machina warships were engaged in a space battle with the Earth's defenses. There was a dense cloud of multicolored radar blips showing UNAF space frigates and cruisers holding a defensive formation alongside the orbital gun platforms. They were coordinating blistering torpedo volleys and ion cannon salvos against the incoming cloud of Xeno ships but it was looking like a desperate battle to hold the line. Large holes had been punched through the Terran fleet's line along with the wreckage of some orbital guns which had been destroyed by the all out rush of alien ships. Despite suffering major losses and damage, the Xeno fleet looked to have the advantage in what was fast becoming a brutal war of attrition.
Caldwell stood at rigid attention, "Approximately two hours ago, the full Xeno Machina fleet launched an all out attack against our defenses in high orbit. Admiral Viera reports that the UNAF space fleet has managed to hold their positions and repulse several pushes but the situation is growing tense. We've inflicted some heavy losses on the other side but there is reason to believe the alien mothership has lifted off from the moon and is on the move here."
A horrified silence fell over the table as Erik swallowed hard, "If that's true, then the mothership's arrival would be just the push the Xenos need for a complete breakthrough."
Caldwell nodded, "Yes. Unfortunately, pockets of enemy invasion forces have managed to break through in several areas and begun making moves on some major cities on the surface."
He changed the display to show a more focused view of North America where a few large red dots were pinging over some major cities. "Large invasion ships have broken though over North America and started furious assaults on the cities of Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, and Mexico City."
Ella covered her mouth with her hands in wide eyed shock, "I can't believe it. This is horrible."
The whole squad turned to Martin as he sat silently fixated on the red dot pinging virulently over the Great Lakes region of the US. His own home city was under direct attack.
Caldwell took a breath to steady himself and nodded, "Rangers, UNAF forces in North America have already begun to coordinate plans to counterattack and drive out the invaders, but it's going to be a massive effort on several fronts at once. Los Angeles was requesting help first and…"
"General Caldwell, requesting permission to be reassigned," Martin interrupted as he stood up. "I'd like to fight my battle back home in Chicago."
Caldwell grimaced, "Captain Sterling… I know how upsetting this is to you right now, especially after everything else, but Los Angeles…"
"Doesn't have my family or friends there," the Red Ranger interrupted again, "Please General. I'm begging you. Let me fight to protect to my home. I need this."
Caldwell looked to him and considered his words as Martin made one more plea, "General, I couldn't protect someone I loved in Haifa and I paid for it. I want a second chance to make things right by protecting my other loved ones back home… and to pay the Xenos back tenfold."
Caldwell nodded slowly and looked to the others, "If the rest of the squad feels the same way?"
Erik watched the others nod in assent and rose from his seat, "We do General. If Captain Sterling needs our support in this operation, then we're all prepared to stand behind him and give it."
Despite the grim situation, the Red Ranger gave a faint smile of gratitude, "Thank you Erik… and thank you everyone. I'll need you more than ever now."
Jake rose from the table and pounded his first, "Right then, what are we waiting for? Let's get going and take back the Windy City, yeah?"
Several hours later, the Nova Rangers were transported to an airbase located in Battle Creek, Michigan. Once there, Erik and the younger Rangers boarded the Sky Zord to fly into battle alongside a large joint wing of American and Canadian fighter squadrons. From the cockpit of the zord, Erik shifted nervously as he did his best to fly the big bulky zord in formation behind a large cloud of allied fighter planes. Unfortunately, the Amphibious Assault zord was still undergoing repairs after taking massive damage during a titan battle in Tokyo. For now, he'd have to try and steer the sky ship and not give other Rangers a sense he was uncomfortable with it. Again, he may have served several years in the German Air Force, but that didn't mean he was a natural when it came to flying aircraft either.
He checked one of his proximity sensors and saw that Martin was flying a Pegasus fighter alongside him in a sort of escort position. He heard the Red Ranger radio over to him, "How are you guys holding up over there Erik?""
The Blue Ranger glanced back to where the other Rangers were sitting quietly and strapped in to their seats, "We're okay sir. Just trying not to think about what happens if the dam breaks over our heads."
"We'll treat it like every other Ranger battle. We'll secure the ground first and then we'll take it to the Xenos in space."
Erik snorted quietly, "You sound awfully confident about all that Martin."
"Good, then at least I'm fooling someone," the Red Ranger replied quietly.
Erik looked out the windows ahead of him and watched as the air forces continued to soar west across the waters of Lake Michigan toward the city of Chicago which was likely under siege if not captured already. The skies had grown darker as threatening clouds hung low and blotted out the bright light of the sun.
The Red Ranger angled off slightly and accelerated, "Remember, our job is to knock out the aliens' air support. When we do that, our allies on the ground will drive in from the north and push them out of the city."
"Heh… I've always wanted to see the US mainland up close," Bharata joked grimly while Ella tried to add in a little more banter to lighten the mood.
"Maybe if I'm lucky there will be a few high end shoe shops still standing. I'd love to see those too."
Back in the cockpit of his Pegasus fighter, Martin did a few last minute checks as the familiar sight of the city skyline rose from the waters. The US and Canadian pilots of the allied forces watched in dread as a colossal alien carrier hovered near the downtown of the city and partially over Lake Michigan. These gargantuan invasion craft were among the largest ships of the Xeno fleet in their ability to carry fighters, scores of landing craft, and hordes of troops. The looming carrier cast a large dark shadow over the city as Strigon fighters buzzed around it and troop transports went back and forth ferrying enemies to the ground.
Amid the dark skies and choppy waters of the lake below, plumes of smoke and fire billowed from points in the cityscape as several buildings and skyscrapers showed signs of damage. In the face of such destruction and overwhelming force from the invaders, Martin could only look on with a mixture of dread and fury toward the enemy aliens. Over the comms, several other American pilots were murmuring quiet oaths of shock and horror at the sight of the dying city.
As they neared, the voice of Lucy came in over the Ranger's comms, "Oh my God… are you really seeing this?"
The other Rangers could only sit wondering if this was the same scene going on in other cities across the continent, what more carnage would the alien mothership do if it were to finally arrive? Lucy took a moment to compose herself before steadying her voice, "Nova Squadron be advised, multiple enemy contacts dead ahead. I'm trying to lock on to the bio sign of the enemy ground commander but until then, your job is to knock out that super carrier."
"Understood," Erik answered, "The rest of the Rangers are standing by. Captain?"
"Let's rock and roll."
By now, the elite veteran pilots who were flying at the lead of the formations began issuing orders and throttling up while the aliens began to sortie out to the meet the UNAF attack. Long trailing plumes of smoke streaked across the skies as the exchange of fire from blaster cannons began to light up the skyline. No sooner had the Rangers entered Chicago airspace, they were engulfed in a furious aerial melee. Erik gasped and gripped the controls of the zord with white knuckles as he veered through the heavy traffic. All around him, missiles, gunfire, Strigons, and allied fighters were whizzing by. From their side consoles, Erin and Jake manned the guns and tried to pick out a few targets while Ella and Bharata simply held on for dear life.
As chaotic chatter filled the comms, Martin peeled off and wove past some damaged buildings to chase an enemy fighter. As they rolled northward, he could see several gaping holes in the city's iconic Sears Tower, one of the tallest in the world. They juked back and forth trying to counter each other's maneuvers before the superior agility of the Pegasus finally won out. The targeting box went red and Martin sent a missile straight into the tail of the alien fighter, "Locked! Fox-2!"
The Strigon was torn apart in midair and the wreckage rained down as the joint forces scattered and began their sequential attack on the massive super carrier. Erik rejoined Martin in the air as one group of fighters stayed in a holding pattern to provide air cover for the bombers. "Nova Leader, Skull and Rhino squadrons are commencing the first attack."
Martin nodded, "Roger that 2, let's give some support to Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger Squadrons."
As they made another pass through the melee in the city, they watched as the first groups of UNAF fighters launched everything they had at the super carrier. Scores of missiles and bombs rocked the carrier but to everyone's shock, it had taken no damage. When the clouds of smoke and fire subsided, Jake gawked at the sight, "Bloody hell, that didn't even scratch the hull plating."
"We're going to need something a lot heavier to take out the shields on that super carrier," Ella remarked in agreement, "I'm not even sure an ion cannon will be able to punch through."
"Second problem," Bharata pointed out, "Say we broke through the shields. Look how heavy the hull plating is. That's going to be a whole other can of worms."
"Cut the chatter back there," Erik called as the zord took a few stray hits amid the firefight, "We've got another wing of Xenos inbound."
A fresh wave of Xeno Strigons swept into the chaotic battle trying to harry their human enemies. The zord rattled again as Erik checked the rear sensors and saw he had picked up a pursuer. "Oh shit."
He took off northward to try and get the Rangers clear of the thick of the fighting while maneuvering the zord as much as he could. As the enemy Strigon began to fire at the zord, Martin angled in to offer some help. "Bandit on your six Erik. Just stay calm. Break right, I'll take him."
The three aircraft zig-zagged in the skies before Erik made a banking dive toward the ground. Seeing he was now being chased, the Xeno fighter tried to maneuver free, but Martin kept him boxed in and lined up another kill shot, "Target acquired. Locked!"
He fired another missile which mangled the Strigon mid dive. Erik veered clear just as the dying enemy fighter tried to regain control and smashed directly through the main scoreboard of the baseball stadium Wrigley Field before disintegrating on the residential streets below.
"Whoah!" Erin exclaimed while staring at the sight of the demolished stadium, "Not good!"
Martin winced a little before giving a shrug and rejoining the Rangers, "Hmm, that's okay. I was always more of a White Sox fan anyway."
Lucy's voice suddenly cut in over the radio, "Rangers, the attack is faltering. We've already lost six allied aircraft. You need to break through to that carrier."
She was right, the allied forces were taking a pounding and they were getting slowly worn down and overwhelmed by the aliens. "We'd love to Luce, but we can't penetrate to the belly of the beast. Have any brilliant ideas?"
"Wait! That's it!" Erin exclaimed causing everyone to listen, "That's how we kill that carrier. We strike it from the belly itself. We can penetrate just enough though the shield to get in a transporter beam to the heart of the carrier."
"Are you nuts? You want us to board that thing?" Bahrata exclaimed in shock.
The Yellow Ranger shook her head, "No. We beam in some low yield tactical nukes and crack the nut from the inside."
"That idea is so crazy and brilliant, it just might work Erin," Martin grinned, "I like it. Lucy?"
"We'll get you those nukes Martin. In the mean time, I'm calculating the optimum flight course for the next run. Transmitting now."
The Red Ranger changed course and signaled all their allies present, "This is Nova-1 to all allies. We have a new game-plan. All Canadian and American aircraft, form up on me and prepare for a saturation attack on the Xeno carrier's shields. Prepare to concentrate fire on the point I'm designating in three, two, one, mark."
Several other UNAF fighters responded in affirmatives and joined the formation for an all out attack. Upon seeing the Terran fighters massing, the enemy carrier began to fire its point defense guns in earnest trying to gun down its attackers but the Sky zord led the way covering the fighters with its heavier armor and shields. Erik held the controls steady as the zord was buffeted and rocked by incoming fire. He held out just long enough before veering away and letting the cloud of fighters behind him fire off a cascading wave of devastating ordinance at the carrier. The attack worked just as intended and the missiles and torpedoes focused on one point was able to punch a hole through the carrier's shields. That one chink in the armor was all Lucy needed as she zeroed in on the point and transported a few small nuclear warheads which Julian set for delayed detonation.
The Terran fighters all began peeling off and swooping clear as the nukes were transported aboard the super carrier. Moments later, the bombs detonated and large bright explosions began to tear through the colossal spaceship. Shrapnel went flying everywhere as gouts of flames erupted out of the sides of the carrier and it listed in the air. The humans all gave a cheer at the sight as the flagship began to lose altitude and crash into the waters of Lake Michigan. Chaos began to reign in the skies as fighters on both sides scrambled to get clear and regroup.
Amid the pileup in the air, Martin gave a panicked cry as a cloud of shrapnel was belched toward him from the dying super carrier. The flaming fragments of the spaceship's hull and internal machinery slammed into his Pegasus along with several other aircraft nearby. Despite having his shields raised, the violent impacts and cloud of projectiles still managed to tear through in some spots. The projectiles cracked the canopy and punched a few holes in the wings and fuselage before a larger metal chunk of deck plating took out one of his vertical stabilizers.
Warning lights and alarms sounded in the cockpit as the Pegasus began to lose altitude and smoke trailed from his rear. Martin gasped and desperately tried to do an emergency restart but found the systems were dying out. He had taken too much damage. As he desperately shook the joystick, he heard Erik call over the radio, "Captain! You're on fire. Your tail... it's..."
"I know! I took some shrapnel but it's no use," Martin growled as he fumbled for the right levers, "I'm bailing out!"
He pulled the safety levers and keyed in the last command as the canopy of the dying Pegasus popped off and the ejector seat propelled him away from the fighter before it tumbled a short distance and exploded. The ejector seat gave way but before the safety parachute could deploy, the Red Ranger morphed in midair and went directly Supernova.
As the air battle began to calm down over the ravaged city, the other Nova Rangers moved to follow their leader has he fired his own suit's booster rockets and make his way toward the streets below. There was still another battle to fight and a field commander to deal with. For the Rangers, now was a chance at some redemption after the tragedy in Haifa and failure was not going to be a viable option.
A/N:
Sorry for the delay this week everyone. I'd been laid low by the common cold but the good news is the "plague" is ending now, lol.
Oh and before anyone corrects me, yes. I know that it's the Willis Tower, but most natives of the city (including this author) refuse to call it that and are just set in their ways... like referring to expressways by names instead of numbers, or eating hotdogs without ketchup. No room for negotiation on those things. Yeah, it can be a strange place. ;)