The battle for Gateway
Chapter 3: Assault on Mars
Disclaimer: I own fuck all
Authors note; Thanks Innortal and please continue Hina one half, good to hear from you Jerry and thank you Ar-Kaos I really like your prices paid story.
All the pilots and ground assault troops all stand in the launch bay being briefed on what to do.
"Okay, you all know the drill but for those here that are new we're basically going to go in first and destroy the bunkers and other various large obstacles blocking the way for the ground assault, the last operation on this scale was the beginning of this war." An officer said as Nabiki puts her hand up.
"Yes Ms Tendo?"
"What do we do when we're done?" Nabiki enquired "ah yes, once you have done the first job, enemy fighters and short range bombers will be trying to bomb and strafe our boys so fly cover for them… dismissed!"
They leave and the pilots go to their fighters and get in them before putting on their helmets and closing the cockpits before Nabiki climbs into hers Ranma catches up to her and hands her a pistol and Nabiki looks at it then Ranma "just in case you get shot down and survive." He said before he runs to his and gets in and puts his helmet on and closes the cockpit as the ground assault troops get into the landing crafts as the pilots await clearance to launch. When the order is given the fighters leave and begin their descent towards Mars, some sing songs and others pray as they descend. Once their descent is done they can see all the bunkers and large obstacles.
"Okay, prepare for attack formation and good luck." Ranma said over the intercom in his helmet.
"Rogue one standing by."
"Rogue two standing by."
"Rogue three standing by."
"Rogue four standing by."
"Rogue five standing by.
"Rogue leader standing by, prepare for attack." Ranma said before his squadron dive for the attack "remember to leave the generators in tact." With that said Ranma launched a missile at the first bunker blowing it up as other squadrons join in the attack destroying the bunkers and various large obstacles and creating craters for the ground assault troops to hide in.
Meanwhile on the AEF Sulaco the ground assault troops carriers are given the order to descend and they leave the carriers of the fleet and begin their descent to Mars' surface and when they land the doors lower and the ground assault troops run out and immediately come under fire from enemy fighters and Rogue squadron come up behind the enemy fighters and destroy them before they bank their fighters round and help out Nabiki's squadron who had lost two pilots and were coming under fire from an enemy tank when a bazooka round in the right place takes it out before Rogue squadron come up on either side of Nabiki's squadron.
"How are you handling it so far?"
"Well, I haven't been shot down yet." Nabiki replied, "We lost McKenzie and Joey."
"Who the fuck was Joey?" Ranma asked as he tipped his fighter to see how the ground lot were doing and to his surprise very well and they had encountered no short-range bombers and very few fighters but their orders were to keep the ground assault troops covered just in case when an explosion happens.
"What the?" someone shouted.
"MECH AT SIX O'CLOCK!" Ranma shouted as he sees the mech and took his fighter down and opened fire but his blasts don't dent its armour and it turns round and points it gun at Ranma before it opens fire causing Ranma to bank his fighter and narrowly avoids the blast and fires his last missile down at the arm with the gun and watches as it impacts and it does nothing "son of a bitch." Ranma said as he brought the fighter round and fired his guns once again but this time at the chest area and watches as it explodes before flying through the flames and looks at the wreckage before he looks at his radar and sees several blips coming in fast.
"Coming in fast on our six."
"Everyone looks around before they scatter and they take care of the enemy fighters and short range bombers when the ground assault troops make it to the enemy base and they radio for assistance and Rogue squadron and Nabiki's squadron help by taking out the gun towers before they blow a hole in the outer wall for the ground troops to get in and they pour in and the battle for Mars was over.
"Time to go home." Ranma said before all the squadrons left and head back to the Sulaco and land and open the cockpits and take off their helmets as the techs cheer as the pilots get out and leave their helmets in the fighters and head off to the unisex showers to relax and get a shower when they've done that they head off to the reccy room where the captain has a surprise for them.
"Here's your little surprise… you deserve it." The captain said as he pulled a cloth of a table to reveal beer and the pilots grab a bottle before they all sit down and begin to talk about the mission and what they did before they joined up. Ranma sits by himself when Nabiki walks over to him with a bottle in her hand.
"What's up?"
"It's nothing." Ranma replied as he stood up and left and walked through the corridors and heads to the lunch bay and leaned on the railings looking at the fighters and the techs working on them when Ranma goes down the steps and goes to his fighter and runs his hand against the body of his fighter and closes his eyes before reopening them thinking of all the times he had seen people die in it and he could have done nothing to prevent their deaths before he leaves and goes back to his quarters and finds Nabiki waiting for him.
"What do you want Nabs?"
"I'm worried about you, I've known you for a while and I know when you're going to do something." Nabiki replied to Ranma's question.
"Let's talk about this inside." Ranma said before he walked into his quarters and Nabiki followed him inside and pulled up a chair as Ranma sat on his bed "look, honour goes completely out of the window out here, it's either us or them." Ranma said.
"What happened to you?"
"Times change Nabs, I'm really lucky to be alive since my first battle that was back during Yui's time with the squadron. I got what we call new pilot burnout and she pulled me through it." Ranma replied as Nabiki got off the chair and sat beside Ranma and placed her hand on Ranma's shoulder making Ranma look at her "don't." Ranma said before Nabiki kissed him on the lips making Ranma put his arms around her shoulders and return the kiss.
Next day
McQuade and Jonesy walk into Ranma's quarters and find Ranma asleep with Nabiki in his arms sharing the bed "I'm glad he found someone." Jonesy said as Ranma started to wake up and looks at them then Nabiki.
"Up and at 'em, fly boy." McQuade said as he threw some pants at Ranma before he and Jonesy leave as Ranma gets out of bed and puts the pants on that McQuade threw at him before he leaves and catches up with his two brothers in arms.
"What the hell happened last night?"
"Yeah, you left the party early." Jonesy replied as they walked down to the mess hall together for some breakfast, "I needed to sort some files out and Nabiki followed me and one thing led to another." Ranma replied as they got something to eat and sat at a table as the infantry lot came in and sat with the pilots of the various squadrons talking about the assault on Mars and the victory.
R&R