Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

I forgot to say this in the last chapter, but this story is dedicated to all of the victims of 9/11.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 3- The South Tower

(New York Air Traffic Control Center, 8:58 AM, Eastern Time)

In the New York ATC, controller Dave Bottiglia intensely watches his screen. He had been watching American Airlines Flight 11 when it was handed over to his center, until it disappeared from his scopes over 10 minutes ago. Then, for the past 11 minutes, he's been monitoring another flight, United 175. It's been acting very strangely, and nearly collided with a Delta Air Lines flight a few minutes ago.

Now, Bottiglia sees the altitude count begin to change. Dramatically. "Hey, Paul!" he calls out.

His chief hurries over. Dave points to the radar contact and says, "Look at him! He's dropping! He's dropping way too fast! I got a bad feeling about this!"

(United 93, 9:02 AM, Eastern Time)

"Alright, everybody, we have reached our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. I'll be turning off the seatbelt sign, and you'll be free to move about the cabin. However, as we may encounter some unexpected turbulence during our flight, we advise you to keep your seatbelt fastened so long as you are seated. Flight time is estimated at 5 hours and 25 minutes. Very soon, our cabin staff will begin a beverage and meal service. And if there's anything that we in the cockpit can do to make your ride more enjoyable, please don't hesitate to let us know," the pilot says over the intercom.

Rommel sets his book down, glad they're finally getting to the meal portion. That small bag of chips didn't hold him over for long. Now he can get something substantial in his stomach.

(Manhattan, 9:03 AM Eastern Time)

Dakota and Hall stare up at the inferno enveloping the upper floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It's been almost 20 minutes since that first plane hit the North Tower. Ahsoka has been in the tower trying to help evacuate people for over 10 minutes. Meanwhile, they've just been standing there, wondering what is happening.

"That had to be some kind of plane right? But how could that happen? Unless the pilot was unconscious or something, I don't see how that could happen," Hall says.

"I don't know. I mean, look at the size of that hole. Only something big could make that. Something like a Cessna would probably just bounce off the tower. Something bad just happened," Dakota says.

Suddenly, they hear something. Looking up, they see, an airplane flying low over the river, heading towards the World Trade Center. As the aircraft approaches, getting closer and closer, a chill fills the two brothers. "S***!" they both say at the same time. And just a moment later, the aircraft flies right into the South Tower.

The two stare at the expanding fireball for several moments. Then, Hall snaps into action. He turns to Dakota and says, "Get your a** over there now! Help 'em any way you can!" He then turns and sprints in the opposite direction.

A moment later, he sees a cop car approaching and quickly flags him down. As he gets to the car, he shouts, "I'm Brigadier General Tyler Hall, Anti Sith Assault Team! I need you to get me to Newark Airport now!"

"Sir-," the officer starts to say.

"Now, officer! My fighter is sitting at Newark, and I need to get over the city as soon as possible. So get me there or I will take your cruiser and get there myself!" Hall nearly screams at the officer, determined to get back to Newark and his Su-36.

The officer quickly caves and motions for Hall to get in. He then quickly flips on his lights and starts tearing off as fast as he can towards Newark Airport.

(San Francisco, 6:05 AM, Pacific Time)

Adams and Mofaz stare in horror at the television screen. They had headed for a McDonalds near the airport, given it was one of the few places that was open at this time of day. As they were eating breakfast, they had seen the report that one of the towers of the World Trade Center had been hit by an aircraft. At first, they hadn't paid much attention to it. But then, when they looked up at one point, they saw the second plane hit the South Tower, and both were riveted to the screen.

Finally, after almost a straight minute of just staring at the screen, they turn to each other. Both nod, and hurry to stuff the last bites of food in their mouths and then hurrying to take their trays back.

As the two of them hurry out of the restaurant, Adams says, "I'm putting the team on alert. I want everyone ready to move at a moment's notice. I want you to contact Joint Command and let them know what's going on."

"On it," Mofaz says, already pulling out his commlink.

"What the h*** is going on?" Adams whispers to himself as he gets out his commlink to begin contacting the other members of the ASAT team.

(Pentagon, 9:10 AM)

High General Anatoly Kvashnin, the Chairman of the Terran Joint Command, looks around at his 11 colleagues. "We have confirmation that the two aircraft that hit the World Trade Center were commercial flights?" he asks.

"Yes. We have confirmation from Brigadier General Tyler Hall. He was in Manhattan, and personally witnessed both impacts," Admiral Jay Johnson responds.

"And that's not all. It just heard one minute ago that there is at least one more aircraft confirmed to be hijacked. There are several airliners that are suspected of having been hijacked, and we have word that there is an American Airlines flight that is hijacked and heading towards DC," General Michael Ryan says.

"This has to be a terrorist attack. If it was just one plane, I might not be so confident. But with three confirmed hijacking within an hour, two of which have already crashed into buildings, it has to be terrorists," General Yves Crene says.

"I agree. And we need to respond. Those first two planes have already claimed hundreds of lives. We can't allow any more hijacked planes to find their targets," General Ryan says.

High General Kvashnin nods before turning to Fleet Admiral Michael Boyce. "Contact the Repulse. I want the 352nd scrambled immediately. As soon as they can get into the atmosphere, I want patrols established over the entire United States. I also want us in close contact with the FAA, and reports of any possible hijacked aircraft," he says.

"Understood," Boyce responds.

"We cannot allow any more planes to hit targets. No matter what, we must stop further attacks," Kvashnin says.

(Newark International Airport, 9:18 AM)

The NYPD police cruiser roars up to Newark International Airport, driving right up to a section of fence about 50 yards from where Hall's Su-36 is parked. Without a word to the officer, Hall leaps out of the cruiser and sprints towards the fence. Drawing his lightsaber, he ignites it and cuts a large section of the fence away. He then pulls the section of fence down and sprints towards his Su-36.

A ground attendant is inspecting his plane. He had reported a minor electrical fault when he landed, and as he was leaving had asked that it be inspected.

"Ah, General Hall. Good you're back. It looks like…" the attendant starts to say.

"I don't give a s***! Get that hose unhooked from the jet! I'm taking off!" Hall says. Alarmed, the attendant hurries to disconnect a fuel hose from the fighter.

Hall bounds up the stairs and leaps into the cockpit. His hands fly over the controls as the canopy begins to close. Within a few minutes, the fighter is fully powered up, and Hall lifts it off the ground.

Hall immediately turns his Su-36 towards Manhattan. As he heads towards the city, he tunes his radio into the military frequency so that units of NORAD can hear him.

"Attention. This is Brigadier General Tyler Hall, contacting the North East Air Defense Sector. I have just taken off from Newark international Airport in my Su-36 Flanker fighter. I am inbound to Manhattan. Estimate I will be over Manhattan in 30 seconds."

Without waiting for a response, he switches over to a frequency that will allow him to contact ATC and any civilian aircraft in the area. By the time he has dialed into the frequency, he is over the World Trade Center.

"This is Brigadier General Tyler Hall, contacting all Air Traffic Control Centers in the vicinity of New York City. I am currently over the World Trade Center in my Su-36 starfighter. I am establishing a patrol over this area, and I declare that any non-military aircraft within five miles of the World Trade Center will be shot down if they do not change course away immediately."

Hall begins slowly circling the World Trade Center at a distance of a mile and a half, alternating between watching the towers and scanning his surroundings for signs of approaching aircraft. Thankfully, it seems like all nearby civilian aircraft heard his message, as he sees several airplanes begin to turn away.

Within a few minutes, a pair of F-15s arrive from Otis Air National Guard Base to join Hall, having been scrambled shortly after the first plane hit the North Tower. Hall issues orders to them to ensure no aircraft comes within five miles of the World Trade Center.

And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter.

So, next one will feature the beginning of the hijacking of Flight 93. It'll be up soon. Until it is, leave a review, and stay tuned!