Greki: Thanks!
Shadow Taker of Souls: To answer your question, no I'm not in the military but I've always been interesting in the strategy and the technology and stuff. Don't worry about your story, I've read it, and its pretty good, just keep going with it and see how it turns out.
Hero o Donuts: Lol read slower! No, just kidding, I'll see if I can make longer chapters.
Janus Kamaren: Lol, its ok that you don't, I just like wasting my time on it cause I enjoy that kind of thing. Yeah, the glossary seemed good, so everyone knew what the terms and places are and such.
CJON: lol, ill try to update faster.
GM Ace: I see from your name and your profile that you are interested in the Gundam universe of anime. I'm also a big fan on the gundam universe and I'll admit that some parts of my story are inspired by various gundam series. Out of curiosity which of the UC series did you like the best?
Yes, I know, I have been lazy as of late, very lazy. Sometimes its just so hard to stay focused on things and especially because I love to put stuff off, I haven't updated in a while. So I'd just like to apologize before I continue on with this story.
In addition, the first part of the glossary had been started in the tech database section. Several battles and operations have been put in. I'm planning on more of those as well as a general description of technology in this story as well as places.
Onogoro Island, Hylian Military Installation
The Freedom's Cry and its escorts drifted slowly over the base at the island preparing to land. Following directions from the control tower, Mido set the ship down in one of the larger docking circles.
Immediately, trucks and other vehicles pulled up to the ship as ramps were extended towards the hatches so that crewmembers could leave the ship. The hangar bay door in the front of the ship opened and two large mobile cranes moved forwards to load ordnance. Meanwhile, a jeep pulled up to pick up Nabooru and Impa to take them to the command center.
The jeep wound its way through the base at top speed weaving through parked fighters and stacks of missiles. Within a few more minutes they were in front of a blocky concrete structure laden with communications antennae. The two guards at the front steel door raised their rifles in the salute as the doors whooshed open to admit Nabooru and her executive officer as well as their guide. They were led through a maze of corridors and down a few levels and eventually arrived at what was the map room of the command center. Standing around the table already were a Brigadier General, three Colonels, and two Majors who nodded in greeting.
"Welcome to Onogoro Island Captain Nabooru. Our reports indicate you have doen and excellent job on the enemy's main staging base." The brigadier general praised.
"Thank you sir." She replied modestly.
"However, our enemy is recovering quickly and already has shipped in enough material to make up his losses. I've brought you here to inform you of our strategy and our situation." He proposed. "Now the IFC has been unpleasantly surprised that the ground war has become a stalemate and they have been planning a drive on the Northeast Continent for a while now. Fortunately the only access route available to them is through here, Onogoro Island, which is only a few miles from the mainland coast of the continent and allows us to defend the continent rather easily, because we know from where the enemy must come. The bad news is that the enemy knows this too and is bringing everything he can bear. Now this base is well sited and fortified but in a prolonged siege we cannot last long. As you can see we are several miles in from the coast of the island and the enemy can only reach us via amphibious landings on these beaches." He said indicating several spots on the map highlighted in red. "The only way we can mount a successful defense is if we stop them on the beachhead before they can establish a sure foothold. Colonel Layzner who is in charge of all army troops here will brief you further." The General stated indicating a Hylian whose weather beaten face belied years of service.
"Captain, there are around five thousand ground troops defending this base, three army regiments of a thousand each, as well as four battalions of marines. Each of the three regiments will be deployed at the likely major landing sites and two marine battalions will cover the smaller ones while the final two remain in reserve. Unfortunately we have not had the time to properly fortify each beach so this is where your taskforces comes into play. We want yours ships positioned on the beaches to provide heavy support for our defending troops. The Cry and a destroyer would cover the largest beach and the rest would be spread elsewhere." The Colonel stated placing small plastic markers indicating ships on the various beaches.
"What about air cover, will we be using our own fighters, or will the base be able to support us?" Nabooru inquired.
This time it was one of Majors who answered, she evidently being the commander of the base's fighter force. "We'll be stretched thin as we've only got three squadrons to start with and we need to conduct patrols as well as escort missions. We'll try and support you when you need it but I cannot guarantee anything.
"Very well." Nabooru answered somewhat uneasily.
"In that case, I'd like to request more air-ground ordnance for our fighters." Impa interjected.
"I'll have the quartermasters work on that right away Lieutenant." The Major replied.
"Is that all?" Nabooru questioned.
The general never got to answer as a klaxon sounded and an air-raid siren began to wail.
"General, incoming enemy raid, bearing two-one-zero, altitude 15,000 feet." A voice informed over the intercom.
The major grabbed one of the many phone laying around the edge of the map table. "This is Major Adler, scramble all fighters immediately!"
Nabooru also ordered Impa to use her radio to contact the ship to scramble its own fighters.
Outside pilots sprinted from their ready rooms as technicians rushed to clear their vehicles and any excess ordnance laying around. Safety flags were pulled, and chocks yanked from under the wheels as the tower began directing the fighters to the runway.
Hangar Bay, Freedom's Cry
At the sounding of the alarm, the operators immediately moved their cranes aside. Inside the hangar were two fighters already attached to the catapult carriages and their crews sprinted out to them. Within moments, the ship's complement of ten fighters was airborne and vectoring towards the enemy.
Link was one of the last two launched, and as he sortied he saw the base's own fighters scrambling. They were the same HF-29 that Link and his comrades flew, but were painted in a drab olive color which indicated these belonged to the Air Force rather than the Navy.
Unexpectedly, Link heard his radio crackle. "Hey, don't worry Navy, we'll handle the real fighting, just stay behind us and you wont mess up your pretty little uniforms." An unknown pilot from one of the land-based fighters joked.
"Sorry, to disappoint you but we don't waste our time baby sitting infants like you." Navi retorted.
"Hey, all of you cut the crap." A controller from the tower exclaimed. "Raid count is seventy four, repeat seventy four. Forty four bombers and thirty fighters, all bearing two-one-zero, altitude 15,000. Separate by flights and prepare to attack."
Link instructed the fighters comprising his flight to form up on him and begin a steep vertical climb. The fighters on either side of him also did so, and soon the defenders were cruising at 30,000 feet, eyes warily searching downwards for the enemy.
"Attention flight leaders. Enemy is now in range, prepare to dive and attack. Group one hit the bombers, group two draw off the fighters." The controller instructed over the radio.
Navi was looking downwards and saw an array of black dots below them, standing out from the tranquil blue of the ocean.
"There they are Link, lets get em." She called out.
The Hylian fighters dove down like hawks from the direction of the sun, employing a trick known to fighter pilots for years that hampered the vision of the prey.
The IFC raiders were in a stacked formation with the twenty fighters approximately 500 feet above the bombers. Link dove his fighters straight through the fighter screen leaving it for others to deal with. Now, Link was looking down at a five plan V of IB-44 bombers. Selecting his machine guns, he shot off the wing of one bomber and watched it tumble into the sea while Navi used a missile to blow off the cockpit of another. The IFC bombers kept formation obviously attempting to weather the worst until they could release their ordnance.
The escorting fighters reacted by diving after the Hylians who were now savaging the bomber formation but were rudely caught by surprise when the second group of Hylian fighters dove down releasing a volley of missiles. The remaining IFC fighters split up to distract the first group of Hylians from the bombers and the other to contain the second Hylian group.
Back at the base, the operators at the tower were keeping a close watch on the radar screens.
"We're taking out their bombers but not fast enough. Their fighters are forcing ours to duel with them so that's taking the pressure off their bombers. We're going to get some leakers sir." An controller informed the tower commander.
"Alert the air defense crews and have them stand to." The commander grimly replied.
About thirty of the bombers remained droning on towards their target. Link maneuvered for a shot at the formation but was forced to pull off when an IF-3 appeared out of nowhere forcing Link to break off with a deflection shot.
"Damn it, every time I draw a bead on a bomber, an IF-3 comes out of nowhere." Link groused.
"Yeah, well deal with it." Navi said while searching behind them incase they were being tailed.
Suddenly half of the remaining bombers opened their bomb bay doors.
"Shit, bomb bay doors are open on the bombers, get 'em quick before they can launch." Link exclaimed following up his words with a beam salvo that struck an IB-44 igniting its payload and turning the bomber into a giant inferno.
Other Hylian pilots hurriedly turned to engage, but by the time they fired, the IFC bombers had released their payloads and were peeling off. At the same time, the remaining bombers went into afterburner and sped forwards.
"Oh, the second group must be armed with bombs so that they can go in after the missiles hit the base defenses." Navi realized.
"Shit, radio the base, tell them to scramble anything left on the field and prepare for more inbounds." Link ordered.
In the tower, the operators were picking up the incoming cruise missiles at the edge of their radar screens.
"Incoming missiles, count is fifty-two missiles, profile makes them AZ-3s." a controller called out.
"Sir, a pilot reports second group of IB-44s inbound to the base most likely armed with bombs." Another controller said upon receipt of Link's message.
Outside three cargo aircraft were moving along the taxiways evidently moving to get out of the base before all hell broke loose.
"Missiles are over the coast now." The first controller called out a few minutes later
On the ground, lookouts saw the familiar smoke trails as air defense soldiers began training their weapons out.
From box launchers around the perimeter of the base HAS-72 surface to air missiles streaked into the sky to intercept the inbound cruise missiles. As soon as the first wave was fired, soldiers hurried to reload the launchers with the box canisters but it was painfully evident that they would not make it in time. The cloud of Hylian missiles destroyed twenty of the inbound missiles but the rest came relentlessly onwards. Anti-aircraft gun positions now opened up throwing up a curtain of steel around the base. Some of the missiles ran into the streams of tracers or the cloud of fragments produced by bursting anti-aircraft shells. Others were pierced in their nosecones or tail fins by ground based small caliber beam cannon. Yet, the missiles were being plucked out of the sky too slow and the missiles began their terminal dive.
Four missiles struck one of the destroyers that had been accompanying the Cry in the magazines and propellant area, vaporizing the warship, its crew, and several vehicles nearby. Other missiles hit anti-aircraft positions detonating weapons and throwing their crews into the air.
Back out at sea in his fighter, Link saw the flashes on the horizon and cringed inwardly at the thought of what was happening on the island base. Focusing now on the task at hand, he inverted his fighter in order to pursue the remaining enemy bombers that were streaking towards the base. Several other Hylian fighters were making attempts to go after the bombers, but the remaining IF-3s were keeping the Hylians busy with a great degree of success. Just then two streams of bullets shot by prompting Link to bank left as two IF-3s shot past in pursuit. Link twisted and turned throughout the sky dodging streams of bullets. One short burst caught the HF-29 along the side and destroyed the IFF beacon that prevented Hylian air-air missiles from locking onto the fighter. Realizing he wouldn't be able to take on both of them alone, he radioed for help.
In response to his call, came the last person that Link would have thought of, Marth. Marth dropped behind the two pursuing IFC fighters and began firing his own machine guns. Link was somewhat surprised that Marth came to help but at the moment he wasn't complaining. One of the IF-3s fell victim to the Marth's guns while the other remained doggedly on Link. Just then, the missile warning alarm started shrieking.
"What is it Navi?" Link asked not able to look at the display himself, being busy dodging his pursuer.
"Crap, its Marth, he's using his missiles now. Our missiles are set to go after the biggest heat source, and since our IFF beacons shot, his targeting system things we're a legitimate target." Navi exclaimed incredulously.
"Marth, hold the missile dammit." Link shouted over the radio.
"Why, I've got a positive lock on target. I'm launching now." Marth replied.
"Don't launch the missile, you're tracking us you imbecile." Link yelled again.
"It's too late, missile is in the air and tracking on us." Navi stated with resignation.
Link opened up the throttle and dodged falling debris and fireballs from other destroyed aircraft. Hopefully, there would be a decoy large enough for the missile to pursue. A IF-3 from below forced Link to bank right with a deluge of machine gun slugs. Unfortunately for Link, his turn allowed the missile to cut the corner and close the distance.
"Link missile's one hundred feet away, you gotta evade!" Navi screamed.
Link attempted to, however at that moment two HF-29s and a triplet of IF-3 flashed by on either side preventing him from going anywhere. He took one more glance and saw the missile now only feet from the aircraft.
Seconds later the missile impacted on the right side of the fighter, its warhead detonating and sending a cloud of fragments into the aircraft. However, by luck, or fate, Link's fighter was still alive but barely.
"Navi damage check." Link ordered, somewhat relieved he hadn't been vaporized by a Hylian missile.
"Not good, starboard engine's down to twenty percent power. Hydraulic lines to the right side are cut. The ejection system's also gone, fragments must have severed the lines between the switches and the rocket motors. Lucky for us though, the radio's still working. All in all, we've got one sick bird." Navi reported.
"I'm going to kill that asshole when we get back to the ship." Link exclaimed pounding his fist on the canopy.
"That's if we get back." Navi quipped.
"Right." Link replied resignedly. Transmitting his status to the Hylians nearby, two friendly fighters dropped by on either side to escort him back to the island.
At the same time as Link turned back for home, the second wave of IFC bombers was overhead the base. Tracers, shells, and beams of energy once again shot skywards in an effort to defend the base. The ships that were docked on the ground had manned their dorsal weapons and were now firing at the marauders. However, many of the bombers got through to deliver their bomb payloads. A stick of bombs destroyed a barracks, while another two, cratered the tank-repair yard. An IB-44 bomber that had been hit by a 40mm beam cannon dove with its tail flaming into a supply building, setting off thousands of rounds of small arms ammunition. The final casualty was the control tower, it being destroyed by the bombing runs of three aircraft. Luckily enough, the remaining naval ships sustained no damage.
H.C.N.S Freedom's Cry
Nabooru and Impa were now back on the bridge of their ship viewing the destruction caused by the IFC air raid. Only a skeleton crew remained on the bridge, most of the personnel being unnecessary for this battle, only the gunnery chiefs, and Ruto remained on the bridge. They had seen the tower go up in flames and the tiny specks of men and women thrown from the structure.
"Results from the air battle?" inquired Nabooru.
"Losses are pretty heavy on both sides Captain. Of the three ground based squadrons we had sent out, only enough aircraft for one and a half squadrons are returning. The naval aircraft fared a bit better ma'am with three and half of four squadrons returning."
"Captain, incoming message from Flight Officer Link. He's coming in, but his aircraft is severely damaged." Ruto reported.
"Well tell him to eject." Nabooru replied.
"He says he can't ma'am. His ejection system has been disabled from a missile hit." The Zora ensign informed the Captain.
"Order him to land on the base runways then." Nabooru ordered.
"That won't be possible ma'am. They're too damaged right now. It'll take some time before they're repaired and Link's only five minutes out." Ruto stated.
"Very well, then alert the hangar bay crew." Nabooru ordered quietly hoping that her friends would make it back alive.
Inside the hangar bay Chief Mechanic Darunia stood giving orders.
"I said set up the nets dammit!" the irascible Goron shouted.
Technicians hurried about while hydraulic motors whined as the metallic posts used to hold the nets rose from the deck of the hangar. Others brought forth the nets and feverishly began to attach them to the posts.
"I want fire crews standing by, and a medical team down here immediately." Darunia ordered.
Above them along the upper areas of the hangar bay, crowds of crewmen who weren't needed at the moment were standing at the observation windows staring apprehensively down at the hangar bay floor and watching the activity there. Among the observers was Zelda who was not needed at her station and had been wondering around the ship until she had found her way here.
"What's going on here?" she inquired having never seen this before.
"We've got a damaged fighter coming in now. The crew can't eject, so they're going to have to land it. I hear they're in pretty bad condition too." A random crewmember said in reply to Zelda's question.
"Do you know who it is?" she asked concernedly, hoping that it wasn't Marth.
Then, the hangar bay began to open, ready to receive Link's damaged craft.
Link and his two escorts left the melee behind, where the Hylian fighters were now taking a fearful toll on the IFC raiders.
"Alright, we're almost there. I'm going to try and line us up for an approach." Link stated.
He fought with the control stick as he slowly turned the fighter in order to bring it into line with the opening of the hangar bay on the Cry.
"Flaps aren't coming down Link." Navi mentioned.
"Alright, we'll have to do without em." Link mumbled as he fought for control of the aircraft.
On the bridge Ruto was watching her screen which now displayed an image of Link's fighter descending towards the hangar bay.
"Link, you're coming in too fast, reduce speed." She ordered seeing that Link was coming in much faster than accepted landing procedures dictated.
Link heard Ruto's order but was unable to comply as the throttle control was heavily damaged and flaps used to slow the craft down during landing were unable to operate.
As they neared, he saw the nets that were set up in the hangar bay.
Ruto on the bridge noticed that Link still hadn't slowed down and watched as it continued on towards the hangar bay entrance. Seeing that she could do more on the bridge, she requested permission to go to the hangar bay which was granted.
Inside the hangar, technicians stood behind metal shields on either side ready for anything. Link's fighter crossed the entrance of the hangar bay wobbling a bit from side to side. Coming in at high speed, the fighter hit the deck once and bounced high before settling down. Link fought for control in an effort to settle the fighter down but unfortunately for him luck was not in his and Navi's favor. The HF-29 did settle down but due to damage and extreme stress the gear gave out and the fighter began to skid. The fighter turned sideways and impacted against he first net, slicing through the sharp fragments and high speed combining to make quick work of the net. Link grimaced as he clenched the stick in his hand as Navi braced for another impact. The second and third nets gave way although they did slow the fighter. Looking forwards he saw the final stop, a metal barrier at the end of the hangar bay. Closing his eyes, Link braced for the final impact. Seconds later, the fighter hit the metal barrier with a sickening crunch. Moments later the remaining propellant ignited setting the fighter ablaze. Technicians rushed in from the side with fire extinguishers in hand.
From above, the observing crewmembers watched in horror as the fighter ignited and as technicians rushed towards the fighter to pull out the crew. Zelda watched apprehensively watching for any sign of the pilots. The technicians pulled out the rear seater first and then the pilot both of whom seemed unconscious. Their identities remained unknown until the two were laid down by two medics and their helmets removed. Upon seeing that it wasn't Marth, Zelda released a sigh of relief but then recognized immediately the golden hair of Link, and Navi's sky blue hair. Although she had sworn to herself that she hated those two more than anyone else on the ship, she could not help but feel sorry and compassion for them.
Meanwhile on the hangar deck itself one of the side doors whooshed open and Link and Navi's friends rushed out in concern.
"Will they be alright?" cried Saria to the corpsmen taking care of her two comatose friends.
"The pilot took the worst of it. He's broken his left leg, and cracked two ribs. The other only has some bruising on her right side." The corpsmen informed Saria and her friends as the corpsmen lifted Link and Navi up onto the stretcher and began moving them towards the infirmary.
Meanwhile the Hylian fighters returned to the base either arriving at their carrier ships or landing on the runway which by now had been hastily patched.
Nayru Lunar Base
The three destroyers from S-32 had landed and now there was a cordon of fully armed Marines around the ship. Another squad of twelve marines surrounded the senior captain as he took the briefcase containing the codebook to the command center.
"Captain Marnery reporting sir with the package sir." He declared to the staff officers present in the command room.
"Excellent work Captain Marnery. This will allow us to decipher the enemy plans. You and your crews can take some rest. We'll have new orders for you in two days." An admiral stated, taking possession of the briefcase.
Moments later the staff officers looked about in awe after having read the contents of the briefcase. The codebooks could possibly mean a turning point in the war and could now be used to decipher the sudden flood of messages burning across the IFC military communications network as of late.
A/N: Whew, finally another chapter. I hope you liked this one. Link does seem to get hurt a lot doesn't he? And Marth almost redeemed himself but ended up going even lower than he had before, but don't worry by the end of this story Marth will be somewhere where you all least suspect. Tiniest hint of Zelink in there, and I do mean tiny. Getting to the actual Zelink part will take a while. Please review this, I need all the feedback I can get.