The battle for Gateway
Chapter 18: The battle of Gateway and a surprise
Disclaimer: Don't own Ranma ½.
Authors note: Just two more chapters to go and then it's over.
The enemy fleet arrived at Gateway and it was busy in the hangers on Gateway as the pilots scramble to get to their fighters as the crew on the carriers head to their positions on them, on the Sulaco Ranko sits in her chair as the bridge crew get to their positions and the gunners ran to the gunnery positions and closed the hatches before loading their guns.
Back in the hangers O'Hara walked into the rush wearing a flight suit with a helmet underneath his arm and goes to find Ranma "O'HARA, OVER HERE!" Ranma shouted standing up in his fighter and Ranma and O'Hara ran over to him "what are you doing wearing that flight suit?" Ranma asked.
"The marines aren't going to be doing much on here except help with the gunners here so I thought I'd help you guys out."
"Still remember how to use one of these?" Ranma asked patting his fighter "sure do." O'Hara replied as Ranma sat back down in his fighter "well then, grab an empty fighter fly boy." Ranma grinned and O'Hara stood to attention before saluting "YES SIR!" he said before running off to find a fighter to use as the techs started to run for cover as the cockpits started to close.
"This is Admiral Travis, as you all know you are about to engage the enemy fleet in what will be the final battle of this war now most of you may not make it back but I want you all to remember this: the one's that die in battle are the true heroes of war, so good luck."
With that said the hanger doors open and they get the order to launch in which they door and take up formation "okay O'Hara stick with us, no matter what don't try to be a hero." Ranma said as the AEF fleet of carriers and battle cruisers joined them as they prepare to engage the enemy fleet when the enemy sends out their fighters to intercept and the AEF fighters break formation and scatter as the carriers and battle cruisers head to meet the enemy fleet whilst the fighters take care of each other, on the bridge of the Sulaco Ranko opens a comm. Link to all the gunners onboard the carrier "okay, get ready to fire on my order." Ranko said.
"Yes ma'am."
The carriers and cruisers of the AEF fleet get amongst the enemy fleet "OPEN FIRE!" Ranko shouted and the gunners open fire and damage the enemy ship that they had gotten next to before the gunners reloaded and opened fire once again and the enemy carriers returned fire.
Meanwhile the squadrons were dodging fire from both sides "how you holding up O'Hara?" Ranma asked as he nailed a fighter on Nabiki's tail "doing just fine, feels like I've always used one of these." O'Hara replied as he nailed an enemy fighter that crossed his path when Ranma's and Jonsey's fighters come up on either side of O'Hara's fighter and Ranma pointed to straight forward to the battle with the enemy fleet and O'Hara gave the thumbs up "lead the way skip." Jonesy answered. "Nabiki stay with Ritchie and Whistler." Ranma said before he banked his fighter to the left and the other two soon follow "arming missiles." Ranma said.
"Roger that Rogue leader."
"Wilco."
The other two arm their missiles and fly as fast as their fighters can and they travel down the trenches of an enemy carrier taking out the turrets whilst heading for the bridge whilst both fleets are battling it out and they pull out of the trench and fire a missile each at the bridge and the missiles hit the same place destroying the bridge, on the Sulaco Ranko noticed what just happened "DID WE DO THAT?" Ranko ordered.
"No ma'am." Came the reply.
"HOO HAH!" Ranma shouted, as they got clear of the enemy carrier as it went down and passed in front of the Sulaco "Ranma." Ranko said to herself as they watched the three fighter pilots get chased by several enemy fighters before the fighters battle went from Gateway to where the both fleets are engaged and the gunners on Gateway gave them some help by firing their AA guns and hitting the carriers and a few of the enemy fighters that got in the way of the AA fire, Ranma, O'Hara and Jonesy hooked back up with the rest of Rogue squadron as they dodge lascannon fire from the fleets battle.
"Where's the Razorback?"
"I don't know?" Whistler replied to the question as she fired her guns at an enemy fighter and nailed as the AEF fighter in front of her exploded and she flew through the debris when she notices something new on her radar near Gateway and looks at Gateway to spot the Razorback "RANKO, THE RAZORBACKS AT GATEWAY!" Whistler shouted and Ranko stood up "GOT IT WHISTLER, HELMSMAN TAKE US TO GATEWAY TO INTERCEPT THE RAZORBACK!" Ranko shouted and the helmsman plots in a new course and the Sulaco heads towards the Razorback whilst the AEF fighters were battling it out with the enemy's squadrons, Rogue squadron flew in a V formation with O'Hara bringing up the rear as they head to help the Sulaco.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We blow the Razorback out of space." Ranma replied as they caught up to the Sulaco and flew on either side of it as the Razorback opened fire and the forward guns on the Sulaco returned fire hitting the Razorback "just leave the gun turrets to us." Ranma said as Rogue squadron peeled off from each side of the Sulaco and headed towards the Razorback dodging lascannon fire before the split up and take different parts of the Razorback and head to take out the gun turrets before getting out of the way for the Sulaco after taking out the turrets "we took care of most of the turrets, it's all yours now Ranko." Jonesy said as the Sulaco cut the Razorback's route to Gateway off and the gun turrets on the Sulaco aimed at the Razorback and opened fire damaging the Razorback as Rogue squadron flew over the Razorback and could see that the Sulaco had destroyed certain parts of the Razorback.
Back at the main battle the AEF fleet was winning, several of the enemy carriers were destroyed or surrendered now it was up to the Sulaco to win the battle of Gateway, the Sulaco had taken some damage as the rest of the AEF fleet moved into help the Sulaco as it started to take beating from the gun turrets on the Razorback that Rogue squadron couldn't get to and soon the rest of the fleet had engaged the Razorback and severely damaging the Razorback as all the AEF squadrons fired all their missiles at the Razorback before completely destroying it and the AEF fleet and the enemy carriers that surrendered returned to Gateway and docked and the fighters landed back in the hangers and the pilots got out as the techs ran cheering to the pilots and started to pat them on the back.
"Yeah, yeah… get the fuck out of my face."
Rogue squadron leave the hanger and head off to where the Sulaco docked and watched as the crew that was on it entered Gateway along with the rest of the fleet when they spot Ranko and go over to her, "it's over, we won the war." Ranko said as she wrapped her arms around Jonesy and Ritchie's neck and they all head off to the showers.
Hours later
All the crew of the AEF fleet and pilots stood in their best uniform in the main hanger, the fighters had been moved to the sides when Admiral Travis entered and they all stood to attention before being told to stand at ease "the war is now officially over with the destruction of the Razorback the enemy forces surrendered, now most of us can try to go back to civilian life… when we get back on Earth get wankered, that's an order!" Travis said and everyone cheered before they went quiet as Ranma stepped forward.
"Can I say something sir?"
"Permission granted." Travis replied as Ranma turned towards Nabiki and got down on one knee and pulled the box out and opened it "Nabiki Tendo, will you marry me?" he asked making Nabiki go red in the face.
"Of course I will."
Ranma stood up and kissed Nabiki as everyone cheered and clapped before they were dismissed and got their kit bags and climbed aboard the transport ships heading to the earth, once they arrived they reported in and decided to hit the town and carry out the order that Admiral Travis gave them and they climb onto the back of a Bedford truck which took them to the nearest city before it stopped and they all climb out of the back.
"Thanks." Ranko said to the driver who replied by waving and driving off.
"Well, time to carry out our orders," Ranma replied as they head off to a bar for a long night of drinking.
R&R