I will be uploading these next 3 chapters simultaneously, in light of the pandemic and the increasing load in my personal life, I wanted to give you guys the whole War Factory portion of the story, starting now.


Chapter 30: War Factory Assault

As the party exited the Power Room after succeeding in obtaining the cipher, Jak turned to Calidan to ask a question, "What exactly did you find down there that you said you could use?"

"As I said, some components for my most recent invention, it's been lacking two critical pieces and that supply chest may have them," Calidan answered.

"I thought we agreed you wouldn't mess with anything," Jak reminded.

"I don't mess around when it comes to technology, remember that," Calidan argued point blank, "also keep in mind that I could have easily just taken the chest without a second thought. But I didn't because this isn't the wasteland, and given what's happened to your friend in there, he deserves every bit of courtesy."

His statement reminded Jak once again how protective this guy was of his own integrity, much like how Spyro was of his own. Although Spyro and Calidan had different personality traits, honor was something they definitely wished to maintain, with their peers and with themselves. It seems every one of the group had a combination of shared traits with one another, which was probably why they worked together in sync real well. They all walked down the ramp toward the KG city exit to the port, where they hoped to find a city zoomer to take them back to Freedom HQ.

After crossing the area toward the port exit post haste, they turned through the narrow exit. In coming around the corner, they found a T-wing cruiser. Jak, Calidan and Daxter boarded and took flight, with the dragons flying right behind them. The flight through the KG city section was slightly more dire than the last one. The KG had rebounded since losing the barrier, and numerous sentinel and spydroid patrols were scouting again. Spyro and Cynder easily took care of any sentinels foolish enough to approach, while the spydroids just helplessly watched the cruiser fly out of their reach back out of the KG city section. They flew just as quickly through the slums, and entered into New Haven. Jak flew the cruiser back in the direction of Freedom HQ and parked in the same spot as before. The whole hero party gathered near the entrance and entered the elevator.

They exited into the Main hub once again, where Samos, Onin, Robin and Packer were still present, but now accompanied by Torn standing behind the holograph. Needless to say, Calidan wasn't too pleased with seeing him again so soon, but put his bias aside remembering Jak and Spyro's advice from before. Calidan and the dragons remained near the front of the holograph while Jak broke away and walked up to Torn on the other side.

"We got a big one this time Jak," he said to him acknowledging his presence, "that decoder you found, helped us decipher the gate key for the main KG War Factory, we can get inside now, and we need our best people on the raid."

"Oh gee, I wonder who that might be," retorted Daxter.

"Three guesses and the first two don't count," Sparx replied.

"Cut it out you guys, we've made it this far, and we'll go the rest of the way," said Spyro.

"Your aerial advantage would be a great asset here, think you can help Jak shut that place down?" Torn asked the dragons.

"You didn't even need to ask once," Cynder replied with sass.

"I presume I'm also included?" Calidan asked.

"Sure," Torn replied dryly while not even looking at him, causing Calidan to glare. Everyone else breathed exhaustively, this truce definitely wasn't going to come easily.

Samos broke the tension saying, "There is a good chance that factory is doing more than just making deathbots."

"What do you mean?" Spyro asked.

"We mean there's more to that factory than the obvious, and there are many questions that need answers. Such as whose behind it all? How is so many deathbots being made? Where are they getting the supplies and the eco? Something about this just doesn't seem right," Torn stated while observing the holograph.

"Alright, right into the hornet's nest! This is gonna be fun," Jak said to Daxter.

"Yeah, remind me when to laugh," Daxter replied.

"Laugh later!" Packer cut in, annoying the ottsel, "Right now Onin says your transport is prepped and ready outside, good luck... and...try not to bring the factory down like the palace was, just saying."

He gave a real cheesy grin as he finished his speech, only for everyone to respond by giving him stern glares at his bad joke. Pushing the parrot-monkey's bad humor aside, they all turned back to the exit to proceed out. Before leaving with the rest of the group, Calidan stopped to look over and saw Robin watching him while sitting next to Onin.

"Mrowr"

"Stay here and behave buddy, believe me, where we are going is the last place for a land creature like you," he spoke to the wildcat before following the hero party again.

Robin watched him leave, with a sad sobering look in his eyes. He was pulled out of it when Onin gave him a reassuring pat, believing and knowing they would be back. The hero party entered the elevator and rode down once again to street level. Once outside headquarters again, Jak turned around to address everyone.

"The Freedom jet fighter should be positioned in the hanger around back, follow me," he said. Everyone obliged as they all followed him down the walkway passed the fountain. He led the way around the headquarters perimeter along the canal walkway. There, on the opposite side of the building, was another door. It opened upon approach, and Jak and Daxter looked around the bend to see the blue H-cat fighter all prepped and ready for them. The Haven duo smirked at it, while Calidan and the dragons looked at it with intrigue and surprise.

"Sweet, now I know I'm gonna enjoy this," Calidan commented.

"Isn't that one of the KG fighters that tried to kill us before?" Cynder asked remembering the chase through Haven in their last adventure.

"Those were decommissioned long ago, although some were salvaged and rebuilt for the Freedom League. Of course improvements were made, including greater thrust capacity and stronger weapons. Though right now, this one stands as the last one of its kind," Jak informed.

"Best not crash it then," Spyro stated, making everyone chuckle.

Jak just shook his head and said, "climb aboard."

Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx all flew up and positioned themselves in the gun hole atop the fighter. Calidan climbed into the passenger seat while Jak took the controls with Daxter jumping from his shoulder to the arm console. The thrusters were ignited, the top hatch opened up for the fighter to rise out of headquarters. Once hovering above HQ, Jak ignited the thrusters and the fighter flew directly toward the War Factory hovering above Haven. Meanwhile down below, two other Freedom League members standing near the fountain watched the fighter take off, one with admiration, and the other with concern.

"Be careful Jak," Keira said aloud watching them fly away. Ashelin standing next to her put a hand on her shoulder in assurance. She didn't speak, but merely gave a nod assuring the mechanic that he would return. After all, he had his friends watching his back, and there had yet to be a challenge they couldn't overcome together.


As the fighter reached the factory altitude and approached its perimeter, the War Factory security systems activated. Everyone aboard the fighter, dragons and humans alike watched apprehensively as multiple doors opened up around its base, releasing drone security tanks and drone KG fighters. The closest tank drones opened fire on the H-cat, and Jak maneuvered to avoid. Behind them, KG fighter jets were oncoming.

"Cover our backs while we aim for the defenses! Stay close to avoid getting picked off!" Jak shouted to the dragons.

They nodded and Spyro and Cynder took to the skies to engage the KG fighters following them. The fighters tried shooting at them only to miss. The dragons initial attacks of electric streams and sonic screams crippled them like all the other bots.

Jak meanwhile flew the H-cat over to the first factory security tower, while Calidan, Daxter, and Sparx hung on for the ride. The tower was where the defense system glowing yellow power lamps were located. Jak activated the concussion bomb launcher and once he took aim, he fired the first one at the tower. It exploded upon contact, only scarring the shielded tower but destroying the four power lamps that were stationed there. That took care of the first group, and left three more.

Fortunately the H-cat was able to cover the entire factory perimeter in minimal time with it's new thrusters, while evading laser fire from all around at the same time. Jak flew for the next wave of cells at the next tower straight ahead, and repeated the same tactic with success. He made a left turn toward the next one to engage just the same, and with another thruster burst he gained enough ground to fire another bomb and blow them away as well.

Spyro and Cynder flew through and around the factory layout keeping within proximity of the H-cat. Seeing that Jak had succeeded in destroying the third group of lamps, they flew a little further back to keep their distance as he finished with the final group. Jak flew over to the final tower that was stationed next to a large door protruding from the factory base. He knew that was their way in, but only if the defenses were dropped, so he fired one more bomb and blew the final lamps away, eliminating the War Factory's first line of defense.

The dragons hovering in the air watched in shock as the second line activated, another series of power lamps protruded from all over the structure. There were a total of 16, and some were stationed like the last ones, while others held horizontal. Using a bomb to blow these would have been a waste. Jak knew this and flew back over to the dragons to relay the plan.

"We are gonna have to pick these off one by one, each of you take a side and I'll handle the rest, alright?! he yelled over the factory noise.

They nodded again and split off to destroy the cells individually. Spyro destroyed his first one with an Earth shot, and Cynder destroyed her own with a pinwheel tail strike. Jak flew his H-Cat toward a base where two were stationed. He activated the upgraded blasters and fired at each one with one shot. Both hit their marks with little effort, thanks to the additional improvements made to the blaster which included greater range, increased power, and more reliable homing ability.

12 were left, and even though fighters and tanks were still opening fire at them, the dragons and H-cat pilot together were able to avoid them all while chipping away at the rest of the lamps. To conserve their elemental energy, the dragons resorted to using melee attacks to shatter any lamps they came across. Jak meanwhile kept firing his blaster at any that came within his sight, while dealing with any tanks and fighters that converged upon him. Fortunately, the upgraded blaster was able to shatter these drones with one shot, and the H-cat shields could endure the damage fired from their lasers to a degree.

Soon, they had dwindled it down to 3. Spyro went for the one up high. Cynder aimed for one down at the base. Jak fired at the one positioned on the pillars in between. Once the dragons shattered their targets with their respective melee attacks, the second line of defenses had been dropped, leaving only one remaining.

The final defense activated, as the four red towers started to open their shields up like giant eggs, while spinning around as it did. The dragons met up with Jak as he flew near the outer perimeter again. The outlanders were curious to what was happening.

"What now?" Spyro asked from the air.

"One last defense, according to Torn, those pillars house the main cannons which protect the security lock. We blow those and we are finally in. Hop back aboard, I'll handle the rest from here!" Jak called to them.

"If you say so!" Cynder replied before she and Spyro flew back over top the H-cat and sat themselves in the gun hole again where Sparx was waiting.

"You know Warfang may have been nuts, but all this action happening in the air at just one factory is complete madness!" the dragonfly yelled venting his opinions about the mission to his dragon companions, just before a laser shot passed above forcing him to duck, and his brother to cover him with a wing.

"Then keep your head down! We'll be in soon!" Spyro replied. Jak flew toward the first pillar that had opened up, and had its cannon aimed directly at the approaching pilot. Before Jak could fire a bomb, the cannon fired back hitting them directly. The shields absorbed most of the impact, but still shook them up. Not taking any chances that the shields would break, Jak immediately retaliated by firing his bomb.

BOOOMMM!

The impact on its exposed core shattered the cannon to pieces and left a ruined base in its place. One was destroyed leaving three, and Jak turned left toward the next cannon. It had fully opened up and was preparing to take aim at the H-cat. Jak ignited his thrusters to approach more quickly, then as soon as the cannon took aim he fired again.

BOOOMMM!

Everyone save for Jak shielded their eyes from the minor debris kicked up from the blast. Once it was clear, they saw yet another ruined base. Calidan decided to voice his enthusiasm.

"Yes! Two down, two to go!"

Jak made another left turn toward the next cannon, which was already open and preparing to take aim. Jak saw he really had no time to waste before he fired so he charged his thrusters while making a slight turn to the right. If he gave the cannon a moving target, maybe he could get an open window. His strategy worked as the cannon fired, narrowly missing its aerial target. Jak redirected the fighter and fired his bomb with no time to lose.

BOOOMMM!

The third cannon was obliterated, leaving only one left. The good morale was felt by everyone who spoke their minds. Daxter was first, "Yeah! That's right! One left!"

"You're doing great Jak! you got this," added Cynder.

Jak was grateful for their cheers, though he didn't acknowledge it. He kept his focus on his last target, after all it would be for nothing if they didn't get the last one. The final cannon had opened up and was aiming at him already! He saw they were sitting ducks, but decided to take the chance with the shields holding one last time. As he ignited the thrusters to close the gap, the inevitable came as the cannon fired.

ZAAPP!

The fighter rocked and shook from the impact and its passengers with it. Jak saw the shields were on the brink of collapse. They couldn't even block another hit, one more and they could be grounded. Seeing how he was just within range, he fired one last bomb and watched it fly, hoping it would make impact in time.

BOOOMMM!

The H-cat fighter made a U-turn away from the debris heading for the center of the factory. Jak and his friends heard over the KG fighter noise the sound of a power down drain. WHIIIRRRRR

He realized now that all of the defenses were eliminated, any door into the factory was open. He made another turn around a factory pillar heading for the large factory base door he noticed earlier. He brought the H-cat in for a landing right at its entrance. As he dismounted he turned to his friends still sitting in the fighter.

"Come on everyone, let's trash this place," Jak said. They all nodded and jumped from the H-cat, and proceeded to follow Jak toward the door. With the security systems disabled, it opened upon their approach. The War Factory infiltration had begun.


The aerial assault is over, and now for the infiltration...