Phelan's Grunts
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel Universe or any characters that originated there, I just own the Grunts
Notes: Same as in chapter 1
The Team Forms - chapter-6
April 2003
Brian slowly sails through the air high above the Atlantic Ocean. He is about 100 miles out from New York harbor. He is in his suit with his wings fully extended. He is in what he called hang-glider mode, the wings are barely glowing as he glides through the wind currents. The glow is from using his force shield to closely surround his body and wings to protect himself from anything. Even though the wings are covered with an outer layer of adamantium making them almost indestructible and Stefano has also incorporated adamantium thread into the suit making extremely tough. Using the force field is a habit he had gotten into during the last three months of training with the suit.
Stefano feels he is good enough with his powers and the suit to test a new prototype aircraft fighter. So, here he is waiting for the plane to show up.
He looks over his right shoulder and can barely see Eagle. Eagle might be the most state-of-the-art artificial bird ever made but It had an irritating artificial intelligence. The blasted thing bugged the hell out of him most of the time. Stefano kept telling him he would fix it.
"Eagle."
*Working.*
"Anything?"
*Please be more concise.*
"Is there anything else up here beside us?"
*Negative. All scans show clear.*
* * * * * *
"Alpha base to Skymaster. Alpha base to Skymaster."
Stefano looks at his communications officer "Well?"
"Everything is working sir. He does know his designation is Skymaster?"
Stefano lowers his head to hide his smile. Brian hates the name Skymaster and swears he is going to pick a new name first chance he gets. "Try again."
"Yes sir. Alpha base to Skymaster."
* * * * * *
*I believe they are calling you.*
Brian jerks his head around when Eagle's mechanical voice comes over his comlink. "Crap! I keep forgetting that silly name is me. Skymaster to Alpha base, go."
"Your status?"
"All systems go. Just floating around out here waiting for some action."
"It's coming, be alert."
* * * * * *
A young tech walks up to Stefano and hands him a form to sign, "Sir, are you sure you want to test the X-5 Scorpion like this?"
Stefano smiles handing the form back to the tech "We're not testing the Scorpion. We're testing Skymaster and Eagle."
"Do they know this?"
"No they don't."
* * * * * *
"Eagle."
*Working.*
"Where is it?"
*Please be more .*
"The damn Scorpion! Where is it?"
*Unknown.*
"Well, find it. That is why you're here."
*All scan showing clear.*
"This thing flies. That means it disrupts the air. Can you track it that way?"
*I do have Doppler radar and it can track atmospheric disturbances.*
"Then look for some." Brain could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise he increases the intensity of his force shield. He stops gliding and begins to increase his altitude. Always command the high ground. He had heard that in a movie once.
*Skymaster.*
"Yes?"
*I am tracking a constant atmospheric disturbance. Bearing 167, Mark 61*
"Lock bearings into my heads-up display."
*Affirmative.*
The oversize goggles that Brian is looking though suddenly begin to show numbers and directional arrows. He quickly begins turning until he is facing the direction of the object Eagle is tracking. He begins to feed energy into his hands and he feel them start to warm.
*Object is approaching at mach one.*
"This is it" He increases his speed and increases the size of his force shield. As usual the more power he uses the brighter his wings glow. He is headed toward a huge cloudbank.
The cloudbank hides what is coming, suddenly a missile comes out of the clouds heading right at him. Brian is unprepared for the missile and his force field is not at full power. The missile hits his force shield and the explosion rocks Brian causing his force shield to destabilize. A second later a red plane comes out of the same cloud its 30 caliber mini gun firing. Brian has only one chance he folds one of his wings around himself. The 30 caliber rounds bounced off the adamantium skin of the wing. The plane rushes past him at better than mach one, barely missing him, but the plane's jet wash causes Brian to start to tumble over and over out of control toward the cold water below as the plane starts to circle around for another attack.
* * * * * *
"Yes!" The pilot controlling the Scorpion holds a fist up in the air.
A tech standing near Stefano, "It appears that Carson is more that a match for Skymaster."
Stefano could see that for himself.
"You have to admit that using a stealth missile to mask the planes movements was a good idea."
"The battle is still young."
"Mr. Phelan?"
Yes, Mr. Carson?"
"Do you want me to bring the plane in?"
"Did someone tell you that this exercise is over?"
"No sir, but he is falling out of the sky. It won't take much to finish him off."
"Take your best shot." Stefano hoped he wasn't signing Brian death warrant.
* * * * * *
Brian spread out his wings, letting them fill with air he uses his flying ability to stop his tumbling and stabilize his flight. He then comes to a stop and begins looking for the plane. "Eagle!"
*Working*
"Where is it?"
*Unable to track plane visually, all scans still show clears, atmospheric track unreliable.*
"You don't have to tell me. Will it attack again?"
*97% probability that it will*
"If radar won't track it, will my targeting system work?"
*Negative"
"Terrific. The hell with being a sitting duck anymore."
Brian heads for the roof. As fast as he can fly he heads up. He engages the suit's internal life-support system. Using a magnetic field the suit sealed itself airtight, the suit has an internal rebreather system that gives Brian five hours of air before he would have to head down. With his force field at full and his natural ability to fly Brian could fly into space if he wanted to, but he wasn't planning to fly that high. Once he is high above the clouds he stops and waits.
He sees the red plane when it brakes the cloudbank, it heads right at him. Brian rolls over and heads for it. He pulls his wings all the way into his back. He adds his flying ability to gravity to pick up speed. Unlike before his force field is now at full power. "Okay boy, let's see if you know how to play chicken."
* * * * * *
Stefano stands behind Carson as he heads toward Brian. Carson looks back at Stefano, "This guy has a death wish. I almost killed him the last time, this time I'll knock him out of the sky. I just hope he lives through it."
Stefano watches as he triggers the missiles and the gun aimed at Brian.
* * * * * *
Brian watches the plane launch three missiles. He pulls the force shield back from his hands, the air is biting cold, he fires his force beams hitting and destroying each missile. As they close the mini guns rounds bounced off the force shield. An instant before they hit the plane tries to swerve to miss him, but Brian is not having it, he moves to make sure he stays in front of the plane and then they hit.
* * * * * *
The explosion can be seen from the Alpha base windows.
"Sir." Carson speaks up. "Sir, I tried to miss him."
"I know you did Mr. Carson."
"Skymaster to Alpha base." The call surprises everyone but Stefano.
A tech grabs a mike "Alpha base to Skymaster."
"Score one for the good guys."
Stefano picks up the mike "Did you have to destroy the plane?"
"Oh yeah. That's a definite roger on that. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me I have a hot date to get ready for."
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel Universe or any characters that originated there, I just own the Grunts
Notes: Same as in chapter 1
The Team Forms - chapter-6
April 2003
Brian slowly sails through the air high above the Atlantic Ocean. He is about 100 miles out from New York harbor. He is in his suit with his wings fully extended. He is in what he called hang-glider mode, the wings are barely glowing as he glides through the wind currents. The glow is from using his force shield to closely surround his body and wings to protect himself from anything. Even though the wings are covered with an outer layer of adamantium making them almost indestructible and Stefano has also incorporated adamantium thread into the suit making extremely tough. Using the force field is a habit he had gotten into during the last three months of training with the suit.
Stefano feels he is good enough with his powers and the suit to test a new prototype aircraft fighter. So, here he is waiting for the plane to show up.
He looks over his right shoulder and can barely see Eagle. Eagle might be the most state-of-the-art artificial bird ever made but It had an irritating artificial intelligence. The blasted thing bugged the hell out of him most of the time. Stefano kept telling him he would fix it.
"Eagle."
*Working.*
"Anything?"
*Please be more concise.*
"Is there anything else up here beside us?"
*Negative. All scans show clear.*
* * * * * *
"Alpha base to Skymaster. Alpha base to Skymaster."
Stefano looks at his communications officer "Well?"
"Everything is working sir. He does know his designation is Skymaster?"
Stefano lowers his head to hide his smile. Brian hates the name Skymaster and swears he is going to pick a new name first chance he gets. "Try again."
"Yes sir. Alpha base to Skymaster."
* * * * * *
*I believe they are calling you.*
Brian jerks his head around when Eagle's mechanical voice comes over his comlink. "Crap! I keep forgetting that silly name is me. Skymaster to Alpha base, go."
"Your status?"
"All systems go. Just floating around out here waiting for some action."
"It's coming, be alert."
* * * * * *
A young tech walks up to Stefano and hands him a form to sign, "Sir, are you sure you want to test the X-5 Scorpion like this?"
Stefano smiles handing the form back to the tech "We're not testing the Scorpion. We're testing Skymaster and Eagle."
"Do they know this?"
"No they don't."
* * * * * *
"Eagle."
*Working.*
"Where is it?"
*Please be more .*
"The damn Scorpion! Where is it?"
*Unknown.*
"Well, find it. That is why you're here."
*All scan showing clear.*
"This thing flies. That means it disrupts the air. Can you track it that way?"
*I do have Doppler radar and it can track atmospheric disturbances.*
"Then look for some." Brain could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise he increases the intensity of his force shield. He stops gliding and begins to increase his altitude. Always command the high ground. He had heard that in a movie once.
*Skymaster.*
"Yes?"
*I am tracking a constant atmospheric disturbance. Bearing 167, Mark 61*
"Lock bearings into my heads-up display."
*Affirmative.*
The oversize goggles that Brian is looking though suddenly begin to show numbers and directional arrows. He quickly begins turning until he is facing the direction of the object Eagle is tracking. He begins to feed energy into his hands and he feel them start to warm.
*Object is approaching at mach one.*
"This is it" He increases his speed and increases the size of his force shield. As usual the more power he uses the brighter his wings glow. He is headed toward a huge cloudbank.
The cloudbank hides what is coming, suddenly a missile comes out of the clouds heading right at him. Brian is unprepared for the missile and his force field is not at full power. The missile hits his force shield and the explosion rocks Brian causing his force shield to destabilize. A second later a red plane comes out of the same cloud its 30 caliber mini gun firing. Brian has only one chance he folds one of his wings around himself. The 30 caliber rounds bounced off the adamantium skin of the wing. The plane rushes past him at better than mach one, barely missing him, but the plane's jet wash causes Brian to start to tumble over and over out of control toward the cold water below as the plane starts to circle around for another attack.
* * * * * *
"Yes!" The pilot controlling the Scorpion holds a fist up in the air.
A tech standing near Stefano, "It appears that Carson is more that a match for Skymaster."
Stefano could see that for himself.
"You have to admit that using a stealth missile to mask the planes movements was a good idea."
"The battle is still young."
"Mr. Phelan?"
Yes, Mr. Carson?"
"Do you want me to bring the plane in?"
"Did someone tell you that this exercise is over?"
"No sir, but he is falling out of the sky. It won't take much to finish him off."
"Take your best shot." Stefano hoped he wasn't signing Brian death warrant.
* * * * * *
Brian spread out his wings, letting them fill with air he uses his flying ability to stop his tumbling and stabilize his flight. He then comes to a stop and begins looking for the plane. "Eagle!"
*Working*
"Where is it?"
*Unable to track plane visually, all scans still show clears, atmospheric track unreliable.*
"You don't have to tell me. Will it attack again?"
*97% probability that it will*
"If radar won't track it, will my targeting system work?"
*Negative"
"Terrific. The hell with being a sitting duck anymore."
Brian heads for the roof. As fast as he can fly he heads up. He engages the suit's internal life-support system. Using a magnetic field the suit sealed itself airtight, the suit has an internal rebreather system that gives Brian five hours of air before he would have to head down. With his force field at full and his natural ability to fly Brian could fly into space if he wanted to, but he wasn't planning to fly that high. Once he is high above the clouds he stops and waits.
He sees the red plane when it brakes the cloudbank, it heads right at him. Brian rolls over and heads for it. He pulls his wings all the way into his back. He adds his flying ability to gravity to pick up speed. Unlike before his force field is now at full power. "Okay boy, let's see if you know how to play chicken."
* * * * * *
Stefano stands behind Carson as he heads toward Brian. Carson looks back at Stefano, "This guy has a death wish. I almost killed him the last time, this time I'll knock him out of the sky. I just hope he lives through it."
Stefano watches as he triggers the missiles and the gun aimed at Brian.
* * * * * *
Brian watches the plane launch three missiles. He pulls the force shield back from his hands, the air is biting cold, he fires his force beams hitting and destroying each missile. As they close the mini guns rounds bounced off the force shield. An instant before they hit the plane tries to swerve to miss him, but Brian is not having it, he moves to make sure he stays in front of the plane and then they hit.
* * * * * *
The explosion can be seen from the Alpha base windows.
"Sir." Carson speaks up. "Sir, I tried to miss him."
"I know you did Mr. Carson."
"Skymaster to Alpha base." The call surprises everyone but Stefano.
A tech grabs a mike "Alpha base to Skymaster."
"Score one for the good guys."
Stefano picks up the mike "Did you have to destroy the plane?"
"Oh yeah. That's a definite roger on that. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me I have a hot date to get ready for."
