Chapter XIV

My ear buddy radio spoke to me.  "Rick, this is E.S.S. Enterprise.  We're taking the liberty of launching an aerial diversion.  Seems the female Captain Sterling wants to gather some of the glory."

"I copy, Enterprise.  Catch you in a bit," I whispered back. 

The lead guard took notice of the whispers from my direction and started off towards my position.  I rose up, took careful aim, and fired.  The net flew out and toward the three guards, enmeshing them in fine layers of nylon and silicone fibers and weighed down with fishing weights. We collected the weaponry our prey had left, and secured them to the nearest pole.  Lisa fired a burst from her 9mm weapon, shattering the lock and throwing open the doors to the asylum.

"I just had a thought," I said.

"How inconvenient," she returned.

"Why don't we use the guards' keys next time?"

"Logical," she smirked.  "I knew you had a brain in your head for some reason."

I grinned.  "Hurry up, our friends await."

Lisa stood watch as I recovered the keys, and then took the point as we went inside.  Before I left the doorway, I dragged all our captured weaponry, consisting of three Beryl rifles, three MOG's, two FMG's, and an unholy array of hand-thrown grenades, as well as the guard's comm gear, inside the barricade for safekeeping. 

We encountered Max first; his uniform was ripped, and he was sporting a shiner.  He hadn't been there long, but he looked horrible.  "Glad to see you guys," he whimpered. "They didn't hurt me much, but I'm afraid it'll hamper me teaching Miriya how to play tennis."

"Is your trigger finger okay," I asked.

"Flight certified," he winced.

"Take a rifle and secure the doorway; we'll wake and rescue the others."

Max complied, and Lisa went around the corner; the prison complex was made of green sheets of steel fabricating the outer walls, and sheets of folded steel partitioning the inside into three 'rooms', containing a few prisoners in each.  We rounded the first corner and found Claudia and Vanessa, each with their hands cuffed to bars over their heads and their legs bound together underneath them.  They had duct tape across their mouths, and bruises on their faces and arms.  Lisa ran forward, hastily trying to free our friends.  "Oh, my God, Claudia," Lisa sobbed softly.  "Are you guys all right?"

"Better now, since the cavalry's arrived.  We had almost given up hope."

"Yeah, we were wondering what had taken you so long," Vanessa chimed in.

I looked them over for evidence of broken bones and cuts, but, aside from the chafing from their restraints, they appeared pretty well off.  No signs of malnutrition, but the beginnings of dehydration and slight disorientation were evident.  There were also some serious welts on their faces.  We helped them to their feet, and had them go towards Max, who was parceling out the weaponry.  Lisa took the room to the left, I went to the right.  "Lisa, I found Admiral Gloval; he's good to go."

"Roger that, I found Kim and Sammie.  Let's get this show on the road."

Max whispered, "I think we have trouble."

"What makes you say that," I asked.

"I just listened to their tactical net.  We have a full assault squad on the way, with heavy weaponry and orders to kill on sight."

"What's their ETA?"

"Three minutes, five tops.  Depends on their proximity to the prison level."

I pressed the ear buddy in my right ear.  "You getting this, Enterprise?"

"Roger, Alpha Leader.  Diversion launched five minutes ago, and will be in range momentarily."

"Gotcha, Rusty.  Over and out."

"Miriya and the rest of Skull Group are launching a diversionary assault on the SDF-1, like Max and I planned.  We'll have a window of opportunity, people.  Let's scram."

"Captain Hunter, I suggest another plan than merely escape."

"What's that, Admiral Gloval?"

"This may be just what we need to regain the upper hand.  There is a secret elevator to the rear of this hangar, it connects to my ready room.  An older Earth tradition, to save the command staff, is to make an executive escape pod readily available to save as many people as possible.  We can take it to the bridge and recapture the ship."

"Sounds good, Admiral, but how do we bypass security," Lisa asked.

"Well, we're armed, aren't we?"

"Yes, but wouldn't they anticipate us using the elevator," Max prompted.

"Hm, you may be right, Max.  We need to pull off a flanking maneuver, then."

A burst of automatic fire came at us.  Claudia shouted, "Hold that thought, sir, cuz here they come!"

A rocket-propelled grenade flashed by the wall of the prison and tore through the hangar door like a fist through tinfoil.  Rifles barked their unceasing hatred of all flesh trapped within their sights, and we sought refuge from the debate heading our way.  Admiral Gloval took up a Beryl rifle and returned fire, with seven of his eight rounds finding new residence in flesh and bone.  Seven security soldiers went down with gaping chest wounds or headshots.  Claudia, Kim, and Vanessa each took MOG's and returned fire.  I tossed Sammie my FMG, and Lisa took Max's, as he took a Beryl for his own use.  As the Admiral set up the defensive perimeter, he rasped, "Hunter, find us another exit, the party is getting a little too hot."

I spun around, glanced at the breach in the blast door, and glanced out over the lake below.  Right above us and to the right of our docking level, across an intervening stretch of water, there was a newly installed helipad made to service the commanding officers.  There was a Black Hawk chopper on the pad at all times, as well as an Apache gunship.  I motioned for Max, signaling that he would sweep to the right, and he nodded.  I aimed my wristwatch upwards at the base of the control tower, as did Max, and we readied ourselves for the long climb ahead of us.

"Holy acrobatics, Batman," Max quipped.

"That's the worst line I've ever heard," I retorted.

"And this method of ascent isn't a bad line, as well?"

"You've made your point."

We clambered to the flight deck and found three guards.  One ran up to me, swinging his rifle wildly like a club.  I ducked, and connected with his solar plexus for a stunning punch.  Max took a swift kick to the ribs and missed on his attempt to return a punch.  My target found a new residence in the lake, while Max tried to recover his footing for another attack.  His attacker's next punch swung wide, and he connected his foot to the guard's gut.  The guard followed his brethren into the drink.

I looked over the edge at the guards as they fell, and sketched a brief salute as they went to their doom.  Max gave me a startled look, but raced to the Apache chopper and started the flight prep.  Overhead, Miriya and the Skulls were mixing it up but good with Macross' defenders, and it seemed that our guys were getting the upper hand.  I radioed, "Max, secure the hangar, I've got another plan."

"Roger that, boss."

I saw the window to the Captain's ready room, and, at that same instant, General Maistroff saw me.  He sent his three bodyguards after me, then turned tail and fled.  My Beryl was almost out of ammunition, and my FMG was now in Sammie's hands, so I ran towards the Black Hawk and took control of it's 30mm chain gun, hoping to take a few of those bastards out.  They took the bait and chased me across the tarmac.  I heard the shots whiz by my ears and under my feet.  These guys could use a few lessons from the Blind Master, I thought.  They didn't live long enough to regret their firing skills.  I grimly looked over the freshly killed crewmen and then stared at the bridge.  This war was either almost over or just beginning; I didn't know which.

AN: Gloval's training will be addressed in a future chapter, and who knows, I may even do a chapter from his perspective.  Just, please, R&R as always; I need good, solid input.