Ace Combat: Ranma's War
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; Ace Combat belongs to Namco; Area 88 belongs to Kaoru Shintani; Full Metal Panic belongs to Shoji Gatoh; and Stratos 4 belongs to Bandai Entertainment and Studio Fantasia
Author's Notes: I know what some of you might say. Why it took this long? Safe to say, I had some issues that needed to be attended to; plus I was very much uninspired during those times. Trying to continue this 'fiction' was getting frustrating and I would lucky if I ever finish a couple of sentences each day. Anyways, I've gone and done another chapter of the above title and so for those who are still following, please read on.
Mission 106: Countdown
"…Aircraft wreckage, 2000 yards to the starboard side! Wait a second…I also see a life-raft and a confirmed survivor!"
"Helmsman, changed course for the wreckage."
"Aye, sir!"
The Federation coastal patrol craft sent out to pickup the pieces from the recent conflict, west of Sand Island, veered and headed toward the indicated area of the debris. Upon arriving, the vessel settled right beside the floating survivor. A rope ladder was tossed down and offered to him. Two burly Marines, in green-camouflaged fatigues, positioned themselves on either side of the ladder and trained their M-16 assault rifles at the pilot of the downed aircraft.
"If you understand us, please carefully climb up the ladder and come aboard!" called out one of the marines, not letting down his sights of his weapon on the survivor.
The pilot still clad in his flight suit and wearing his helmet, seem to comply and began climbing up the rope ladder.
"And no funny stuff, got it!" warningly added the other Marine.
Eventually the unidentified pilot, who appeared rather short for his stature, clambered aboard the ship's deck. Several sailors gathered around to watch the drama unfolding.
"Hands behind your head! Nice and slow."
The helmeted airman did as ordered. Suddenly something small, white and furry shoots out, like a blur, from the folds of the pilot's jumpsuit and jumped for one the Marines – right on his face and began furiously scratching it while emitting wild screeching sounds.
"Ahh! Get it off me!" screamed the imperiled Marine, dropping his weapon and frantically trying to pull the 'animal' off the front of his head. His fellow Marine just stood there, stunned, unsure how to assist his brother-in-arms. Remembering the 'prisoner', the unoccupied Marine turned to where the pilot stood.
There, already crumpling onto the floor was the pilot's flight suit, followed by the helmet, sans the pilot.
"HIYAH!"
The Marine looked up, toward the sound of the battle cry. The last thing he saw was a pair of legs, covered in white stockings, ending with black sandaled feet that painfully connected to his face with such force that it sent him flying and tumbling on the ship's deck, nearly barreling a couple of sailors, until he lay still, prone and knocked out.
"Ukiya! To me!" A squeaky, feminine voice cried out in what must have been Tsungnese.
The small furry bundle responded to the caller's voice by flying off of the Marine's scar-scratched face.
Somewhat relieved, the bawling marine, tried to clear his vision. "What the FU-OOFFH!" A powerful blow struck him squarely below the chest and propelled him off his feet, off to where his unconscious comrade lay and rendered him in a similar state.
The sailors around gawked at the amazing display of what they perceive as martial arts. And the one responsible – a girl in her pre-teens with black hair – tied into a couple of intricate buns and pigtails on either side of her cute head. She was dressed in a short, alluring red Tsungnese dress with an elaborate bright yellow tie or bow near the collar. A small white monkey perched on one of her shoulders, snarling dirty looks at the sailors.
"Did you see that…"
"…She just touched him with both palms of her hands and sent him flying like he was nothing…"
"…Who is she?"
"…Is she the pilot of that MiG?"
The Tsungnese girl turned to her audience, shifting into another fighting stance, she readied herself for anything. "Alright. Who next want feel Feiring's fists?" she challenged, her Anglish not sounding perfect.
More marines appeared at the scene at various points throughout the ship securing any means of escape for girl, or to prevent her from having a free rein of moving around.
"Don't move! We have you surrounded!"
"Aiyaya, this doesn't look good Ukiya."
The white monkey screeched in response and suddenly took off from the girl's shoulder and over the ship's railing onto the water below.
"UKIYA!"
A gunshot was fired.
The Tsungnese girl grimace in pain and stumbled flat onto the floor, a scarlet streak slashed one of her stocking-covered legs that began to bleed profusely with her own blood.
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"
"U-Uki-ya…Ahhh!" A Marine, who rushed in, violently secured the girl by planting his boot on the back of her head and neck.
Handcuffs were produced and immediately clasped on the girl's wrists, which were drawn painfully to her back. A couple of Marines lifted her to her feet and presented her before their CO.
"Tell me girl, were you the pilot of that crashed MiG?" asked the Marine Officer in a no nonsense manner.
The Tsungnese girl merely spited at the Officer's face in response, her face distorted in indignant defiance.
The Officer perversely held his wrath in check but not his displeasure while wiping off the spittle on his cheek. "Take her below and keep her on constant. We wouldn't want her kung-fu shit causing any more trouble."
"What of the monkey, sir?" asked one of the Marines holding her.
"What about it…?" The Marine Officer went and looked over and down the railing. "It probably drowned…"
"NO! Ukiya!"
"Get her out of my sight! And have somebody look over her leg, we don't want out 'prisoner' to bleed to death."
"Yes, sir!"
The two Marines escorted the bleeding and hobbling girl away while the Officer made one final check on the monkey's whereabouts. Seeing nothing but flotsam in the water the Marine Officer left the side of the ship in disgust.
Divers were later sent into the water to sift through the crash site for anything relevant. After a while finding little of anything, the ship moved out to the next location but not before a small wet furry form scurried on to the anchor line, after evading searchers in the water, managing to stowaway on board.
'News of the 'Captain's' death came in, and came in hard like a psychological blow to everyone but more so for Wardog Squadron who witnessed it all. Search and rescue were conducted almost immediately after the said incident, hoping by some miracle that the Captain would be found alive and well. But the hours ticked on with no hope forthcoming. The search was halted when the day faded into evening, it would continue first thing at first light on the next day.
I heard from some volunteer sources, that I've come to make friends with, that a lone survivor from the enemy's side was picked up and brought here for questioning. Naturally the prisoner was considered off limits, especially for me. Man, what I would give to have an exclusive interview with one from the other camp. But I guess that would be a useless aspiration since all of my media effects have been taken away from me not mention my prisoner-like status here in the Base.
I tried sugar-coating my way of asking of the details of what happen over up there from the Wardog squad members but Ranma and Ayamo just gave me the look that told me 'now's not the time for such things' less I want to be chewed up by those two. Poor Nagase. This must be very hard for her, having already lost most of her friends and teammates and now this with Captain Bartlett.
The next day didn't promise to be bright. No sign of the Captain, living or otherwise. The search was finally discontinued after twelve noon, and the confirmation of Captain Bartlett's passing was put up. A funeral service was to be held at five-thirty at a place called Eagle's Rock. There a memorial shrine was setup with all the names of the deceased Wardog members including our beloved Captain Bartlett. Many attended, including Lieutenant Colonel Perrault. No surprise there. He presided in the overall ceremony, giving out a touching speech for all to hear; he seemed sincere but I wonder. The funeral ceremony had the entire shebang, 21-gun salute and all including a fly over by F-5s, handled by the members of Wardog themselves – a fitting tribute to their dearly departed Captain and friend. With that done and over, the question on everybody's mind is: 'Where would all of this, everything that has happened so far, lead to now?'
"…Second Lieutenant! Kei! This isn't the way to deal things…" Ranma kept up his pace with Nagase, down the corridor. She bore a large duffle bag with her.
"I've made up my mind, Ranma. I'm leaving the Federation Air Force for good, and nothing…no one can make me change my mind. Not you, no one." Nagase's expression was an impassive mask – to hide the hurts and guilt that was welling inside of her.
"Leaving the service? Leaving, Wardog? What would the Captain say if he were…"
Nagase suddenly whirled around to answer him. "But the Captain ISN'T HERE! He's DEAD! Don't you see that! He's one of the reasons am leaving." Nagase was nearing in tears at this point.
Ranma had a realization. "Wait a minute. Are blaming me blaming of what happened out there?"
Nagase's distraught look twisted into a frown at the implication. "Don't be so conceited, Ranma. I'm doing this for my very own selfish reasons."
"Yeah, that's what I figured," he said in defense, crossing his arms on his chest.
"You DON'T understand," she snapped back, "what I'm going through. If I stay here any longer, I might lose it. I don't want to be there when someone close dies."
"Kei…" Ranma uttered with genuine concern. He gently grasps her shoulders, feeling her sudden flinch. "I promise, I will protect you. I will protect everyone. You. Mikaze. Ayamo. Shizuha. Karin. Everyone. I swear I won't let anyone die again."
Nagase brushed aside Ranma's hold, averting those clear, concerned eyes of his. "Tough words," she said, wiping her teary eyes, "that's all they are. In this line of work you would most likely die at some point in time. No matter how careful or good of a pilot you are. You will die if you stay here."
"But what of your dream? Of flying…?"
"Goodbye, Ranma. Say farewell to girls for me."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Lieutenant Iwasaki," uttered Ranma, noticing the said CO with Shinjou meeting them by the opposite way of the hall.
With a stern look on his face, the Lieutenant continued. "Under Article 324, Section 8 of the Federation Armed Service Code, it states that any enlisted personnel that insists to leave the Armed Service, for what ever reason, during the time of war will be subjected to incarceration for the duration of the armed conflict or for a period of not more than six months – which ever is the longest."
"Incarceration? War? You don't mean…"
"Haven't you heard, kid?" Shinjou answered Ranma's befuddlement. "A few minutes ago, the People's Republic of Tsung has declared war on Nippon."
Both Nagase and Ranma were shocked out of words by the statement.
"Very soon this will become a Federation problem as well. If you'll excuse me I will be attending to the matters related to the 'issue'." Iwasaki turned for his leave; after a few paces, without turning he said, "I suggest you collate your thoughts and feelings, Second Lieutenant Nagase. The Federation will still need of your services, unless you prefer the alternative." Without any further words the Lieutenant left the three by the hallway.
Nagase listlessly dropped her pack to the floor as she stared out at noting in particular.
Ranma could only feel a pang bit sorry for her. "Kei…"
Shinjou decided to change the mood. "Does this mean I get to have my camera back?"
They came in, in the dead of night, like birds of prey using the deep shadows of the moonlit night to their advantage waiting for the right moment to strike at their quarry. It was extremely humid in that hour of darkness, the hot air seeming to suffocate both light and sound; the roar of their jets engines sounding like a faint rumbling from the distance as the flights of Tu-16 Badgers bombers speed toward the dark south eastern horizon.
They were flying without fighter escort, banking on the moonlit darkness and flying low over the seawater to escape both visual and electronic detection. On board the lead plane, of the flight, its crew was busily focused on the precarious mission at hand.
"ETA to strike point – two hours and twenty-minutes. We'll be entering enemy radar range in one hour." The navigator informed the rest of the crew of the plane of the matter of fact.
The commanding officer and pilot of the aircraft readied to address the entire bomber squadron. "This is Lotus Leader to all Lotus units. We'll be observing radio silence in a little while. Make your final preparations and weapons check. Any necessary changes or communicating with one another will be relayed via signal flashes after communications blackout is initiated."
The flight commander continued after a brief, contemplative, pause. "I need not to remind you Comrades that the success of this mission will determine the path our great nation will take in the world's affairs. Also our Maharlikan allies are depending on us to free them from the yoke of the oppressive Federation Imperialists that pollute their islands, let us not let them down. If we succeed here, we would have caused a great blow to the enemies of our People. FOR THE PEOPLE AND TSUNG!"
The chant was reiterated and reverberated throughout the airwaves. "FOR THE PEOPLE AND TSUNG!"
The co-pilot interjected after making sure of shutting off the communications. "You are aware Comrade Commander, that if our Maharlikan friends fail to do their part in this grand campaign the mission will end in disastrous failure for us."
The flight commander nonchalantly answered. "I know, but I have great faith in our Maharlikan compatriots. They will succeed; you must believe that they will as well."
"Of course I do, Comrade Comander. It's just that we must be prepared for the alternative should the need arises."
"If they fail many of us won't be returning home." The flight commander grimly put it, silencing any doubts from the co-pilot. Rummaging through his breast pocket, the flight commander brought out a photo and stared at it with longing eyes.
"Your daughter?" the co-pilot asked.
"Hmm? Feiring," the flight commander simply answered while not looking away at the picture of a twelve-year old girl clad in typical red Tsungnes motifs and sporting a smiling, toothy gape at the originator of the photo in hand. "I'm afraid she's still upset with me. She hasn't answered a single letter I sent her, ever since I sent her to the Program."
"Don't be hard on yourself, Fen," said the co-pilot, using his superior's personal name, "what you did was for the good of the People and the Republic and, it was for your own good and for your daughter as well. Had you not done so you both would have gone down with 'them' as subversives and traitors."
"Yes I did good as a loyal citizen of the Republic. But as father and as a son…"
"Just be thankful that you still have a daughter. The Program will do her good, and she will eventually understand of what you did. But as you said, right now we must concentrate on the mission at hand, for the future of our country."
Commander Fen, flight leader of the dubbed 'Lotus Squadron', made one final look at the photograph before putting it away to resuming his mission duties.
"That's it. Lets call it a day. It looks like we have to wait for the big shots from the mainland after all, to grill anything useful from this girl."
The two custodian officers finally left the room, leaving the bound Tsungnese girl all to herself once more in this Spartan of a room. It had only a table and chair in the middle for furnishings. The girl's wrists were cuffed to the armrests of the chair, which gave her little slack or mobility. Although her legs were free, her right leg – the one with the gunshot wound – appears to be cleanly bandaged. A platter of untouched food lay on the table. An audible grumble can be heard originating from the girls slight stomach.
Although trained and indoctrinated to persevere in situations like these, Feiring's food deprivation has finally reached its limits. She has been in this 'cell' for more than two days now since her capture. On impulse she flexed her bonds while looking hungrily at the plate of food. Her captors tried spoon-feeding her, as they feared the trouble her martial arts would cause if left unfettered. But her indignation and distrust of non-People stubbornly prevailed over hunger at that time. But right now, she would be willing to eat anything even if it's poisoned, if she can just get these darn handcuffs off.
A distinguishable soft screeching sound brought Feiring's attention off of the food.
"Ukiya…is that you?" She craned her head about trying to pinpoint the source. A light tapping sound directed her to a ventilation screen on the wall. The screeching sound became frantically excited upon Feiring's discovery.
"Ukiya!" Lowering her voice she continued. "Ukiya, I'm glad you're okay. How did you get here?"
The small white monkey behind the screen just screeched in response.
Feeling a bit stupid to expect for an animal to coherently respond Feiring quickly changed the subject.
"Nevermind. Ukiya can you help find a way to free me from these," Feiring said, referring to the handcuffs. "The keys for these perhaps."
Ukiya bounced up and down excitedly then scrambled off, his monkey sounds fading.Fen Feiring could only sit and wait, hoping that Ukiya will get her out of this. She then once again focuses her attention on the food on the table with determined eyes.
Ukiya navigated through the ventilation shaft with a knack of familiarity, uncannily knowing where to proceed and not to. His small size and inconspicuousness has gotten him this far, having tracked her master and confidant to this place after escaping detection from the Base's personnel. All he has to do now is to find the keys for her bonds and after that hopefully they both will find a way off this island.
Finding the right shutter Ukiya scanned the area beyond if the coast is clear; believing it is he went about in opening the screen. In spite of his diminutive stature Ukiya's strong enough to manipulate and lift certain objects like the ventilation shutter before him. Giving it one final push it clatters to the ground. Peering out on either side, Ukiya made sure to see if anyone heard that ruckus. Seeing no response, Ukiya quickly but cautiously clambered down into the corridor and headed down the direction of Feiring's cell. He found it without any trouble and there his intended target: a lone Marine who sat on a stool beside the door to the cell who was busily reading a pocket book, his assault rifle leaning nearby. Dangling by his belt was a bunch of keys that presumably had one that opens Feiring's handcuffs.
Ukiya took notice of the Marine. Even if the Marine is at present mildly distracted by his reading, the situation didn't warrant as good an opportunity of swiping the keys away from him without creating any fuss. Ukiya had to be creative.
An annoying screeching sound made the lone Marine on guard stop his book reading to attend to the disturbance at hand.
"Hey, how did ya get in here?"
There right before him, on the floor to be exact, was small white monkey prancing on the about on the spot and otherwise acting like a fool and making funny faces directed at him. But before he could do anything, the monkey suddenly grabs his pocket book, toss it on the floor and begins tearing pages out.
"HEY! MY BOOK!"
The Marine tried to make a move against Ukiya but the monkey was quick.
He jumped up at the moment the Marine tried to make a grab for him (actually he was going for his precious book) and landed on the back of his crouching form. With skillful fingers, Ukiya manages to pilfer the bunch of keys without the Marine knowing it. He then made a quick dash for escape back where the opening to the ventilation system waited leaving a fuming but distraught Marine.
"Come back here YOU… My book…"
Feiring bent and strained as much as her confined position allowed, trying to get to the platter of food on the table like a chained dog. The act both looked hilarious and inhumane. The familiar screeching of Ukiya, the monkey, bouncing up and down excitedly by the open ventilation, interrupted her endeavor.
"Ukiya, you're back. Did you get the keys?"
The small white furry mammal gave out a monkey smile as it brought forth the ring of keys for Feiring to see.
"Good," she beamed, itching to be freed from these cuffs. "Now get here quickly."
Ukiya scampered down in to the cell of a room toward his bound master, his small form barely making any sound save for the slight jingling clang of keys he carried. He eventually hopped onto the chair and then to the lap of Feiring and began the tedious processes going through the lock of her cuffs with one key at a time.
"Hurry Ukiya!" urged Feiring. Although things were going well, so far, Feiring was worried that her luck might change any moment now. It seem like an eternity for Feiring even thought Ukiya was still going through her cuff with just the second key of the bunch, she could only sit still and hope that it would the one of them that would free her from her bondage. A welcoming mechanical click came upon the insertion and turn of the second to the last key followed by the slacking of the handcuff holding one of Feiring's arms. She then quickly grabs that particular key from Ukiya and started working on her second handcuffed wrist.
A sigh of relief escaped Feiring as she rubbed her liberated limbs. Her eyes then quickly darted to the plate of food and hungrily proceeded in scooping up and wolfing it down in several gulps. No bad, she thought, but it's nothing compared to food back home, of course it didn't matter to her as she was famished. Ukiya helped himself to some tidbits as well.
After scrapping last bit of morsel on the platter, Feiring considered her situation. She was far from being safe as she is at the moment inside an unknown military complex, deep within enemy territory. The chances of her getting caught were still very high and if she takes too long the knowledge of her escape would be known eventually. She had to move fast and decisive. Her eyes settled on the ventilation opening high on the wall of the room.
"Let's go Ukiya." The small white monkey followed her right before the opening. She then deftly jumped and made a grab for the opening's rim and promptly pulled herself up and into the shaft. Ukiya easily followed her up.
"Lead the way…" she said to Ukiaya. Her little, furry companion much obliged her request and moved on ahead of her while she tried snaking her way through the cramp passageway.
"Captain Bartlett…Kei…Dammit!" Ranma gave out a solid punch to the tiled wall of the men's shower room causing a cobweb of cracks to appear at the point of impact. "If only I had done something, anything, to have changed the outcome of that incident…"
Man, you sure not cut out to be a natural born killer.
Ranma was surprised to have recalled those words, words coming from 'him'.
…Don't come back crying when you come looking for me…
The thought gave him the shivers in spite of the warm water flowing all over him. He was at that moment taking a shower. He retracted his slightly bruised fist, staring at it and flexing it for its faculties.
"What was that voice? Did I really hear it? And those images…" He clasped his head and tried to shake off the thought. "God, am I losing it?" He shook his head, sideways, to that effect.
"And this upcoming war with Tsung," he continued. " Is this all really happening? Are we really going to fight them? I never really expected it come to this. All I ever wanted was to fly…Ka-Ka-Ka-COLD!"
A sudden freezing chill overcame Ranma as the hot shower water turned to lukewarm then to freezing cold, triggering his Jusenkyou curse and transforming him from he to the distinguishable redhead 'she' alter ego.
"Who the FUCK is messing with the hot water!"
"There," grunted the maintenance crewman as he finished shutting off valves and stuff on a heavy piece of machinery just outside the base's main building. "It's off. Now we can work on the heater just like Chief Sako told us."
His 'four-eyes' buddy looked perplexed while adjusting the frame of his glasses. "I really hope nobody was using the showers when we did this."
"No worries," his companion shrugged. "And if somebody did, they'll sure get a rude awakening."
"Dammit!" cursed onna-Ranma as she tried every shower knob but end up getting cold water. "Now how am I going to change back?"
Ever since Ranma's departure from Nerima, and from his old life, much of the unlucky streak he suffered before gradually faded. Maybe it was all coincidence or a freak probability in circumstances, or maybe the stars destined it, nobody can explain it, and especially not Ranma. No longer did hostile challengers bent to best him in martial arts plague him constantly nor was he pursued by lecherous fiancé wannabes that wanted his hand in marriage and in that kind of nonsense. But one most welcome change came when the frequency of accidentally getting splashed or wet by cold water has greatly diminished since he moved here. And of course he still had to be careful around cats.
"Hello! Is anybody there?"
Ranma's heart almost froze as he recognized the voice coming from outside. "Shit, it's that cameraman. What's he doing here?"
"Funny, I thought I heard a feminine voice coming from in here."
Shinjou was already putting on a towel after disrobing in the dressing area of the men's shower room when he heard that soprano-like shrill coming the shower area proper. He came here to freshen up unbeknownst to Ranma's knowledge. Slowly he crept closer to the darken area of the shower room, curious of who or what he'll find there.
Ranma had his back on the wall by the side of the doorway within the shower area and waited. Cold water still flowed out from the shower nozzles, covering the tiled floor with a thin film of the cool, clear liquid - chilling the pigtailed-haired girl's bare feet. Many things came into her head like how she's going to get out of this fix without much fuss. The last thing she needed was for someone to discover her embarrassing secret. A silhouette popped into view by the doorway.
Ranma mentally cussed and did the first thing that came to mind. She grabbed the shadowy figure by his left wrist, surprising him. She then pulled with all her might, swinging the target one hundred and eighty degrees and slamming him onto the shower room's wall with an audible thud, stunning him. Without pausing for a heartbeat, she then flipped him to his frontage and delivered a kidney punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to slump to the moistened floor. Panting from excretion she tried to compose herself; she then knelt down and checked on the poor sap's condition.
"Yep, definitely this Shinjou guy," said Ranma, examining and recognizing the freelance reporter's face in spite of the shadowy lighting. "I hope I wasn't too rough on him? Moreover, I wonder if he had noticed anything about me during the scuffle?"
A groan and somewhat normal pulse told Ranma that Shinjou would be all right, if not knockout cold for a little while.
"Well all I could do is hope for the best that he never figures out anything."
Ranma prompted him to a sitting position and after making one final concerned, casual glance he left shower room, leaving an unconscious Shinjou.
Feiring peered out of the corner of the corridor. Seeing no one but Ukiya, bouncing a few yards away, she concluded that the coast was clear and moved on.
Having emerged from the ventilation shaft, Feiring proceeded cautiously through the enemy base's halls, using Ukiya as a forerunner and lookout – to lead her to through a clear and safe path. So far she has managed to conceal her presence thanks to the early warnings of her small furry compatriot but she herself had no idea where exactly she was, whether she's near or not to the point of exit of this place.
She watched as Ukiya gave her the signal to continue on and then disappear around an intersection. After a few steps she heard Ukiya shriek.
"Ukiya…" she murmured with concern, forgetting her dire situation. She was about to check out to what happen to him when the said monkey appeared back from the way he came and was scrambling in a hurry.
"Ukiya!" she said in much audible tone.
The small white primate jumped into her arms showing signs of excitement and fright.
"Hey, you! Come back with my book!"
Feiring turned to sound of the voice. There by the middle of the intersection a Marine skidded into view and looked perplexed upon seeing her.
"You! You're that kid prisoner we got locked up. How did you…"
Ukiya screeched at him, baring his fanged mouth. Without waiting any further, Feiring quickly backtracked the way she came, bearing Ukiya along. She could hear the Marine shouting at her to come back but she knew better than to do so. Besides she was prepared to stake her life just so she can escape this place. She would rather die than to experience the humiliation of getting captured again.
"I will escape from here and get back! And when I do, I'll make 'you' pay!"
Ranma wiped his damped hair, with towel he got from the shower room, as he walked down the hallway. Dressed in just undershirt and boxers, he came from the canteen where he was able to get some hot water and change back from a she to a he. Luckily nobody saw him pass by, as it was nearing the hour of the base's curfew.
"I better hurry up before someone catches me."
He quickened his pace back towards to his quarters and that's when he literally bumped into 'her' by accident. Cries of pain echoed in the hallway mixed in with a startled animal screech.
"Owww!" Ranma wanted to add, Hey, watch where you're going, but decided to be considerate. After all he was partly to blame. "Hey, are you okay? Sorry for bumping in to you…"
"Ah, it hurts," groaned the girl - the subject that Ranma collided with - in her native language as she sat on her behind on the floor after the run into with him.
'Wait a minute, the language she just spoke, that dress she's wearing. Is she Tsungnese?'
Although she didn't look it, the first thought the came into Ranma's mind, upon seeing the girl, is she reminded him of Shampoo.
Of all of his former fiancés Shampoo had left the most lasting impression in Ranma's life. She was the most active in trying to get him to tie the knot so to speak, by hook or by crook, which lead to never ending headaches and consternations in Ranma's part. He could still remember it all like was just yesterday like those times when she drugged him with her strange concoctions; involving and endangering Akane in her petty schemes; having that 'ghoul' of a grandma of hers, Cologne, to join in the fray and add hell to his complicated existence.
But Shampoo was not here, only this girl before him, which has left him agape nonetheless.
Finally shaking off the last of her pangs, Feiring got a good look of the one she crashed into.
"Big Brother?" she uttered in disbelief, still in Tsungnese.
'Nope. She not Shampoo. Why am I over reacting?'
Feiring lunged at the pigtailed-haired airman, encircling him in a loving embrace, causing much grimace from his part.
"Big brother, what are you doing in a place like this?"
'I must remind myself that this isn't Shampoo. She must be a couple of years younger than her. But why is she hugging me like this?' A growing panic brewed within Ranma as similarities of the 'Shampoo Incident' were becoming apparent.
"Big brother, you don't know how I've greatly missed you so!" continued Feiring, while snuggling her cute head on Ranma's chest. "Not since father gave you in and grandfather to the Peoples' Army. By the way how is grandfather?"
Although he wasn't sure what was happening, Ranma decided to end this misunderstanding before it gets out of hand. Gently he clasped the bare shoulders of the girl and lightly pushed her away, making her face him face to face.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. And trust me, I'm not who you think I am."
Feiring frowned in puzzlement at his statement and lack of appropriate response in her innate language.
"The name's Airman 1st Class Ranma Saotome," he said sheepishly. "Sorry about this…"
A sudden realization dawned upon Feiring. "You," she responded, switching to Anglish. "You not Big Brother?"
"Big Brother?"
The base's alarm suddenly came to life bringing about consternation for the Tsungnese girl and confusion for pigtailed-haired Federation pilot.
"There she is!" Both Ranma and Feiring turned to the two Marines coming down the hall, one of them - the sentry assigned to guard the Tsungnese girl. Feiring returned her attention on the pigtail-haired pilot.
"You not Big Brother," she repeated, with a mixture of anguish and seething anger, evident in her face and voice. "YOU enemy! Made to look like my Big Brother! I Feiring kill YOU!"
'Huh? Why do I feel like this has happened before?'
The Tsungnese girl broke out of Ranma's hold and proceeded on giving him a jab. But Ranma's martial arts training and instinct suddenly kicked in, uncannily avoiding the attack while standing in place.
Unfazed by the lucky dodge of her opponent, Feiring immediately followed with a second thrust with her other arm. Ranma manages to evade that as well by bending his body in the other direction and again while staying put.
"Hey, quit it, will you!" 'This girl, could she be the Tsungnese prisoner everybody at the base has been talking about? If that were the case, could she be…Nah! It couldn't be…couldn't?' At that moment Ranma avoided a leg-sweep, meant to trip him, made by the Tsungnses girl, by jumping and somersaulting over her head and landing perfectly behind her.
"Gotcha!" Ranma declared as he lightly tapped one of her shoulders -- an unspoken indication that he outclassed her
Feiring reacted to this in blushed rage and shame. She whirled around and counterattacked with a flurry of blows and kicks, which Ranma easily all dodged.
Both Marines just stood in awe at the lithe dance the two combatants that were locked into. One of them suddenly flashed his sidearm and taking aim. "Don't shoot!" his companion said, swatting down his upraised service pistol. "That's one our airmen there. I think he from Wardog Squadron."
"Then what are we going to do?"
"We wait…and see."
From his peripheral view, Ranma noticed the growing number of spectators. 'I've got to put an end to this.' He waited for the right moment…and right there caught one of Feiring's thrusts by her wrist. Flustered, she tried hitting him with her free arm, but Ranma took hold of that as well. With both arms restrained, Feiring only options left were her feet. She tried kicking him, aiming for his vitals but the martial arts wielding, pigtailed-haired airman was one step ahead of her. With an upraised leg, Ranma manipulated it in a defensive manner blocking Feiring's kick attacks.
'I'm sorry. This is going to hurt me more than it is for you.' Ranma has always been against the idea of fighting women and fighting someone who's probably in her preteens didn't make things easy for him. But he had no time to dillydally; he had to bring to a stop this fight really quick. Ranma twisted Feiring's arms around and about, following in fluid motion, until he had her in painful hammerlock. He hovered his lips closely to the girl's ear. "I know you understand me, so please listen. See those Marines over there…" Ranma said, referring to the two Marines that showed up earlier. "And over there…" He redirected the grappled girl toward another corridor where more Marines have arrived and have taken up positions. "The whole base has been alerted. There's little or no chance for you to escape now. I don't want to see you get hurt…even if you are the enemy… So please give it up…for now." He wasn't sure of what he was saying to girl but hoped it sounded sensible enough. Feirng suddenly ceased her struggling from his grasp.
"Kill me…" she said in a small voice, her head dropping in defeat.
"Huh?"
"Please…kill me…Feiring no want to go through shame as prisoner of enemy again."
Although Ranma didn't see it, he knew, from sound of her voice, that the Tsungnese girl was stiffly crying.
"Feiring failed as pilot, got caught by enemy. Feiring failed as one of People. Feiring failed being good granddaughter…as good sister. Feiring just want to die!" The Tsungnese girl was apparently sobbing now, her body slacking to the floor in despair, forcing Ranma to clumsily hold her up.
"H-hey, don't cry! It's going to be all right. N-nothing bad is going to happen to you, I promise!" Ranma always felt awkward in these kinds of situations, making him say things that he would regret if not now then later.
A fierce screech interrupted the heart-wrenching moment. Ukiya who had been all but forgotten had remained in a corner to watch the standoff between his master and the pigtailed-haired stranger. When he saw Feiring fall to her knees, in tear-streaked disarray, that's when decided to make his move to save her. Bouncing off the floor, he used the adjacent wall to spring board toward the Tsungnese girl's aggressor, landing on his head and proceed in scratching him.
"Hey! What is this! Get off my head!" Ranma let go of Feiring…to attend to his new 'opponent'.
"Ukiya!" Feiring went for Ranma, to make her furry friend cease his antics, but one of the Marines read the move differently. From the corner of his eye, Ranma noticed the Marine and sensed his intent to shoot, from body language he exhibited, and it was aimed for the Tsungnese girl.
"LOOK OUT!" Ranma rushed to Feiring's side, knocking her down on to the floor while not minding the small simian's annoying antics, when the shot was fired. Ukiya screamed with a monkey sound as he jumped off of Ranma to cower nearby.
"Ah!"
"…Big Brother…" Feiring blushed at Ranma as he laid on top of her, his face a mask of pain; a deep gunshot wound matted his right shoulder, the same shoulder where Ukiya was when he jumped off right before the bullet hit, the same bullet meant for her. Feiring realized that this stranger, whom she perceive resemble his older brother, has saved her from certain death had he not shielded from the bullet.
"Move! Move!" The Marines converged on the two, lying over each other on the floor, their guns trained on them.
The lone Marine who fired his side arm stood trembling, stunned in disbelief on what he did, his drawn service firearm, still smoking from is muzzle, shaking in his hands. A forceful hand took hold of his pistol, commandeering it from his person.
"You fool! Who told you to shoot?" angrily scolded his fellow Marine.
The admonished Marine answered with mumbled words. "I…had to…do something…" His compatriot only stared at him in disgust, turning his attention to the two subjects being accosted by his other Marine brothers.
"Ah! Big Brother!" Feiring called out to Ranam pleadingly as she was hoisted up, and handcuffed once more. A frenzied Ukiya squealed and thrash about from the confines a Marine's jacket, having been caught eventually after giving a hassle of a struggle against the Marines. "Ukiya!" was the last she said before being escorted away.
"Hey take it easy on her guys, she still a kid…ah!"
"Are you all right, pal?" asked one of the Marines attending to him.
"I'll be fine, it's just a scratch."
"I don't know, it looks nasty, better have it checked out."
"Nah, it will mend in no time. But forget that. What's going to happen to her? Where is she going to be taken?"
The Marine didn't answer immediately. He was a bit taken aback by the pigtailed-haired airman's disregard attitude with toward his wound and was somewhat peeved by his peaked interest with the Tsungnese prisoner.
"All you need to know is that she's the enemy pilot captured from yesterday's encounter. I believed it was you shot her down…"
'Then it is 'her'.' Ranma was not sure how to take this revelation: guilt, pity, genuine concern. One thing's for sure he was intrigued by the girl and for some reason wanted to know her better. A bump to his side, the one with the wounded shoulder, by a passing Marine caused him to gasp in pain.
"You definitely must have that shoulder of yours check, before you bleed to death or something.
'Yeah, I guess he's right. First things first then, it won't hurt having this thing checked.'
The Federation Early Warning System Complex, located at undisclosed area within the largest island of the Republic of Maharlika, serves as the first line of defense in terms of detection and monitoring of military traffic in the Southeast Equatorial Region particularly against the threat of aggression from the Alliance Nations of the People's Republic of Tsung and the Tri-Indotsung States of: Viet, Khemer and Lao.
It is said to be the most advance electronic military surveillance system capable of detecting anything from a small, light aircraft to shallow traversing sub. Also it has a system that works in junction with orbiting Federation satellites enabling it to receive real time visual feed that can be further enhanced with infrared and thermographic features.
Situated atop the highest knoll around in a hilly, tropical forested region, it is accessible via a winding well-paved road that cuts through the hill's sides and passes through several strategic checkpoints (a few of them more or less well or heavily defended).
It was a stuffy and humid evening for two Federation-Maharlikan soldiers, standing on guard by the main gate into the complex grounds. Their air-conditioning, in the gatehouse, was malfunctioning again forcing the two to contend with the sultry night air.
"Hey bro, got a light?" One of the soldiers began, pulling out a cigarette. His fellow soldier complied by producing a lighter and proceeded in lighting his smoke. After a few puffs he continued. "Sure is a hot night, aye bro?"
His fellow soldier simply agreed with him. "Ummm...Sure is."
"Say, after we finish our shift why don't we go to the 'Maraposa' at Port Angeles. There's this girl, Mika, I'm sure she'll like you…"
"Sorry. I can't. I already made plans to visit my family after this…"
"Man, not that lame excuse again! When are we ever going get together with some hot chicks?"
"Next time. I promise. It's just that my family needs the money I earn, and besides I got to check on my sick mother."
"Next time? Jeez! You always say that but you never seem interested. Are you gay or something?"
The other soldier hesitantly was going to answer but something caught his attention, pointing it out to his friend. "…We got company."
A couple of mega trailer truck, the one that carries heavy equipment like Arms Slaves, came rumbling into view from down the road and stopped right in front of the gates.
"Hey, is there supposed to be a scheduled delivery?" asked the first soldier, his suspicion being aroused.
"Don't know. I'll go check and call." The other soldier immediately proceeded back into the gatehouse but stop short of the doorway when his friend called out.
"Hey, bro…we'll talk later."
Shrugging at his friend's statement, the conservative soldier went in the guard's station to make the inquiry while his friend calmly paced toward the waiting huge utility vehicle.
A large of a man, in grey coveralls, emerged out the driver's side of the truck. His eyes are not discernable from under the like colored bull cap he wore.
"Good evening officer," he began, in a rather gruff voice, handing out a clipboard to the soldier. "We've got a delivery that you'll be receiving."
"Oh, and what are you delivering," answered back the curious soldier, checking out the papers.
"Lead." The man in grey answered, a sinister sneer forming from underneath his bowed down face.
"Huh?"
The soldier didn't noticed until it was a too late – a SOCOM pistol, with built-in silencer, flashed before his startled face; its laser pointer flashing and directed right between his eyes. The last thing he saw before dying was face of the grey man who wielded the gun. He had a mean streak on his expression, a look of depravity, like he enjoyed what he was doing.
"…That's weird? All I'm getting is static…as if being jammed."
The soldier in the guard station had checked the computer console for the day's manifest and found no scheduled delivery at this date and time and not with mega trailers. He then decided to make a call to his superiors for confirmation but only got noise from the receiving end of the handset. Growing extremely suspicious he decided to check on his friend and those trucks.
"Urrahh!"
Three silenced shots pierced his belly rendering it in a soaking bloody mess. The soldier staggered back in shock and disbelief of what was happening to him, staring at his blood oozing stomach that he failed to notice the wicked man with the SOCOM by the doorway. A fourth shot to the head ended his suffering, falling with a meaty thud to the floor. The grey gunman then hovered over the soldier's still slightly convulsing prone form - a delayed reflex action, and gingerly emptied his gun's remaining ammunition through him. After finishing his grisly work, he then sat before the computer console and fished out a CD from his coveralls and inserted it into the computer's drive.
"They'll never suspect it until it will be too late," he said, an evil grin forming on his face. And then began typing and inputting the disc's contents into the network of the complex.
The man in grey coveralls came out of the guard station and pulled out a flashlight and began waving the beam emitting from it at the nearby woods facing out of the complex ground.
Several bands of heavily armed men, in myriad clothing that appear rather worn out and rustic, emerged out the copse of trees and vegetation. They fanned out and secured the area. There were about fifty or more in number. A leader-type guy from among them headed and addressed the grey man who was in the process of disrobing his baggy coverall in place for a tight fitting Arms Slave pilot's jumpsuit from underneath.
"I hope all goes well, Ka Gauron…"
"Please, don't refer to me as if I'm part of your cause. I'm only doing this because my employers have paid me in getting involved in this little war of liberation of yours," said the man called Gauron with a sneer. "And would you relax already, Jose-kun. Why do you think I've trained a few of your men in these." Gauron was referring to the RK-92 'Savage' Arms Slaves being manually unloaded off the mega trailers; their frog-like gait did little in betraying the fact that they were advanced machines of war. Built and mass-produced in the Socialist Republics of Rus, these second generation Arms Slaves serves as the backbone of the Rus Armed Forces. They have been also exported to other Eastern Alliance Nations like Tsung, North Choson, and Viet. These versatile and easy-to-handle mechas are also a favorite of terrorist and clandestine organizations like the one Gauron serves.
"With these at your disposal you could face-off, toe-to-toe, with your Feddy counterparts."
The rebel leader, Jose, still had his doubts while sizing up the ASs. "True. But the Federation dogs have their M6s, which greatly surpasses these RKs…"
Gauron tsked and waved a disapproving finger at leader of the rebels. "Jose-kun, Jose-kun. That's is why my Codarl and I are here to make sure you get your moneys worth."
Jose noticed the last tarp being removed from the lead trailer, revealing an Arms Slave; unlike anything he has seen before, lying prone and facing up the night sky. It was almost humanoid in configuration like that of a medieval knight's suit of armor, complete with a long straight-haired tassel protruding and flowing out on top of its helmet-like head. Gauron was in the process of boarding the unique AS.
"Why, I could just single-handedly win this war for you while you sit back and brood," taunted Gauron before finally sliding into the Codarl's cockpit into the chest part of the mecha.
Jose's irate disposition was interrupted by one his aides that came up to him after noticing the banter between him and the gruff foreigner.
"How much longer must we contend with that Nippon scum, Ka Jose?" the subordinate asked, not hiding his disgust toward the outsider.
"I would be careful in what you say when around him if I were you," said Jose without looking at his fellow comrade. "I've heard of things about that man, terrible and awful things…"
"Don't tell me your afraid of him," said the aide in disbelief.
"That man," Jose continued, "he has the eyes of a remorseless beast. He'll chew you up and spit you out without giving any thought or concern…because he would just like to when he feels like."
"Then why are we still associating with-with him?" asked Jose's aide, cautious now of his words.
"Ka Simon, you must look past your personal beliefs and prejudices. While our cause is righteous and conservative we must be willing to embrace to new ideas and to those who share our ideology," Jose looked up at the Codarl as it stood up, out of the mega trailer, fully erect, its prism eyes glowing ominously for a moment indicating that the Arms Slave is fully operational, "and to those they employ."
"Ka Jose…"
"Right now we must focus on the mission at hand. Put aside all other considerations and coordinate with everyone involve. Is your team ready, Ka Simon?"
"Ready and willing, for the sake of our people and for the future of this country," vigorously stated Simon with much renewed patriotic determination.
"Good, carry on then, Ka Simon."
Simon excused himself, to attend to his men, leaving Jose to his personal assessment of the situation. He pulled out a military-type PDA and checked their mission time to objective.
We are behind schedule, I'm not sure we could make it – Jose thought. Then snapping into action, Jose began directing the final phase of their preparation before striking out.
"…Thirty minutes before we enter enemy radar range!" reminded the navigator of lead Badger (Lotus Leader) to its crew.
"Signal the Lotus units of the situation, and tell them to standby for further orders!"
"Aye, sir!"
"Well this is it, Fen! I hope those Maharlikan friends of ours do their part right."
"They must! I know they will!" Commander Fen gritted himself in anticipation.
The battle for the Early Warning System Complex was fierce as ASI (Alliance Sympathizer Insurgents) forces slowly progressed from one checkpoint to the next, losing many members in the process to the Federation-Maharlikan defenders who were duking it out on the encroaching invaders. Already, the rebels lost a Savage AS and were having a hard time with the fourth defensive point which had a couple of tanks and M6s in its array.
Gauron was bored. The last three checkpoints were no challenge to him, not even the lone M6 he single-handedly dispatched proved worth his trouble. He decided to sit back a bit and let his 'friends' take on the piece of the action, just to see how they fare and because he just felt like it.
"They're such a bunch of wusses. Can't they do any better?"
Gauron observed the skirmish between the two opposing forces and admits that in spite of the rebels superiority in numbers the Federation defenders had the advantage of elevation, defensive vantage point, and better military hardware.
"But you've got to give them credit for their guts, or is it misplaced foolhardiness?" commented Gauron. The ASI advance has grinded to a halt as the firefight intensified with the Federation forces having the upper hand. "With such determination, it makes me wonder why they haven't already taken over this sorry excuse of country."
A second Savage finally falls to the onslaught, its pilot's death throes echoing through the airwaves, but Gauron didn't take any notice. Almost immediately a frantic Jose, blurted out through the radio, interrupted Gauron's 'contemplative' mood.
"Ka Gauron, our forces are losing! There isn't much time before the arrival of our Tsung allies…"
Gauron was seething. "Jose-kun…What did I tell you…"
He began pushing and flipping several buttons and switches respectively. The Codarl's monotonic voice intoned, "Lambda Drive initiating…"
Gauron vaulted his AS several scores of meters into the air, to land on one of the squatting M18 'Tank Destroyers', crushing and crumpling as if it were just tin foil.
"…Don't referrer to me in that manner!"
"…Lambda Drive output now at 50…"
He then brought to bear his Mauser MGK 35mm rifle against one of the nearby M6s, bringing it down with several critical shots. Recovering from amazing and deadly display of the new type AS and, the second M6 took the opportunity of a clear shot at it.
"…Lambda Drive at 100…"
The M6 then opened fired but the Codarl was no longer on the spot it was supposed to be anymore.
"…Where did he go?" The M6 pilot pondered in panic, quickly trying to scan for the enemy AS's position. His question was answered with a violent jerking of his AS.
Outside, the Codarl had appeared right behind the M6, catching it by surprise and grabbing it in tight vice-like hold with its left arm. With its free hand, the unusual Arms Slave drew out its 'Dark Edge' molecular cutter – an AS-sized curved-shaped dagger-type weapon – from behind and plunged it deep into the back of the M6, right through the cockpit, killing the hapless pilot in a bloody gore.
The remaining unit – the M18 – swiveled its gun turret for the Codarl but Gauron had anticipated this. Still holding the M6 like some limp rag doll Gauron directed the Codarl in using it as an AS-sized shield between him and the M18's cannon discharge. He then slid his Mauser rifle between the dangling right arm and torso of the M6 and from there opened fire – to finish off the Tank Destroyer.
Having served its purpose Gauron casually dropped the now battered and ruined M6, letting it fall and crash to the ground, nearly crushing a few Federation-Maharlikan soldiers nearby. Noticing just now the human defenders, Gauron, with an evil glee in his expression, began to unsystematically exterminate them in any way he can: stomping on them with the Codarl's legs or by spraying them with rounds from his Mauser. After which, without pausing to survey his handy work, Gauron continued on his ascent up the wooded hill, not following the road route anymore, by jump hopping with his Codarl.
Jose and his band of rebels were dumbfounded on what had occurred. Many were amazed by the prowess displayed by the foreigner and his AS while others, including Jose could not help but feel horrified by brutality of the attack, especially done to their Federation counterparts. Being the first to recover from the grim stupor, Jose rallied the men to move on forward toward their objective on top of the knoll.
Gauron's Codarl continued on jump-hop, like some inhuman athlete, springing from one point to the next covering several hundreds of feet in just seconds, leaving the main rebel force behind. On his progress up the hill he would occasionally make chance encounter with some of the Federation defenders and make short work of them. By this time Gauron was at the height of his killing frenzy like a shark that had the taste of first blood.
He finally reached the top where his main target laid – the Early Warning System Complex. Composed of several secondary and auxiliary buildings, the crown of this facility is the polyhedral dome shaped structure, which houses the long range surveillance array that monitors armed force movement in Maharlika and the nearby surrounding region. Waiting for Gauron were a couple of squads of armored vehicles, a few M6s, and several scores of soldiers.
"No matter how many you come at me, I'll take you all on!"
Gauron was like drunken maniac, intoxicated to the stupor of wanton resolve, dancing to the moves of destruction and death as he one by one, with much fanfare from his piloting skills and the extraordinary feats of his Lambda Drived enhanced Codarl, dispatched the defenders of the complex.
It was utter chaos within the nerve center of the Early Warning System Complex as personnel frantically went about, through and fro, to address the critical situation they were in.
"Checkpoint Number 4 has been breached! ASI forces are continuing their advance…"
"…No response from Checkpoint Number 7…"
"Dammit! Where's our air support!"
"We're still trying to quarantine the vicious Trojan in our network, sir. Until then, we can't even communicate with the outside. We're are practically isolated."
"Damn those ASI."
"Sir! Urgent message from the base defenders!"
"Put it through!"
The message from the intercom came in frenetic and choppy. "…We're bei…slaughtered…re…just one…Arm…ve…"
"Say again defense command? Repeat! Say again?"" Only static answered back from the com.
"What the hell is going on?"
"The Early Warning System Array Dome…It has been destroyed!" shouted the lookout at the observation post above the command center.
"What!"
"It was destroyed by a white Arms Slave, using some kind of energy discharge…It's now coming this way!"
The theater of the command center exploded in massive cloud of dust and debris, indiscriminately injuring those near the affected area. A huge silhouette outlined itself within the confines of dust cloud until it step through, revealing itself as the Codarl AS.
"What kind of Arm Slave is that?"
The Codarl brought its gun to bear and began spraying round after round within the half ruined command center. The horrid cries and pulpy popping sounds that followed became music to Gauron's ears as he sadistically smiled in satisfaction.
"Three minute to launch point!"
"Break radio silence! Inform all Lotus units to prepare to release payloads on my mark!"
"Aye sir, relaying orders to the entire squadron!"
"It looks like this mission is a success, thanks to our Maharlikan friends! We would have not reached this far without their help!"
"It isn't over yet! We still have to fire all our missiles and get away as fast as possible afterwards. Once we're out of the territorial waters of the enemy, only then would I consider the mission to be a success!"
"Sometimes I don't understand you, Fen."
"I'm trying to both hopeful and realistic."
"Twenty seconds to strike point!"
"Arm all cruise missiles!"
"Arming all cruise missiles!"
"Ten seconds…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…""Fire all cruise missiles!"
One by one, starting with Lotus Leader, the Badgers detach their payloads of cruise missiles on either side of their wings, gliding for a millisecond before their rocket engines ignited, after which they proceed off at subsonic speeds toward their predetermined targets.
The radar operator's eyes went wide on what he saw on the radarscope.
"Multiple incomings, bearing 289! They're cruise missiles, sir! Lots of them, with anti-ship types mixed in, and they're heading straight for us and fast!"
The OIC was shocked with incredulity. "How did they get past our Early Warning System! Sound the general alarm!"
"It's too late, sir!"
A cruise missile crashed right through the Port Angles Naval Station control tower, its warhead instantly detonated and engulf everything in white and heat.
