AN: Well, that wasn't three weeks. My comp crashed right about the time school started, so all the progress I had on this chapter was lost, along with the motivation and time to restart it. Perhaps a blessing in disguise, as I was not very pleased with the first draft. Anyway, long overdue, this is the second to last chapter of Fortress World.

12. Prelude to War

"Open fire!"

The Marathon Control Room exploded with the sharp cracks of gunfire. Every Marine in the room fought the recoil of their weapons to stay on target. Somebody threw a grenade, which exploded directly above the two unknown beings that had entered the Control Room. Smoke from the blast spread through the room, obscuring the Marines' view. They stopped firing, but their rifles never wavered from the target location.

As the smoke cleared, a shimmering hemisphere appeared, hexagonal tiles shimmering ever so faintly. Two armored figures crouched inside, both clutching bladed weapons. A collective wave of realization swept over the room as it became apparent who they had very nearly killed.

Sora lowered his Keyblade and slowly stood, ending his spell. Only his superhuman reflexes, bestowed by his magical blade, saved him and Kairi from the Marines' misguided attack. He looked around the room at the green-armored soldiers. Every one of them had lowered their weapons and was looking towards the back of the room at one soldier. The Heads-Up Display projected on Sora's faceplate identified the Marine in question. Captain Darrin, Meghan – Aegis Marine Corps – Serv. # 339201458

Ah. The Marine that Kairi had been coordinating with. What an unexpected and somewhat unpleasant surprise.

Captain Darrin hurriedly made her way down the rising concentric rings of the large room. "Sir! Ma'am! Are you alright?"

Kairi dismissed her Keyblade, unknowingly allaying one of the Captain's fears. "We're fine, Captain. No harm done."

"Ma'am, please accept my apologies, we've been under constant attack-"

"Everything's okay, Marine, we're just-"

"You- you didn't identify yourselves, it was dark, all my troops are on edge-"

"Captain…"

"We've been stuck here without power, we're surrounded-"

Sora firmly grasped Darrin's armored shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself, Marine! What's the situation here?"

Darrin collected herself and led the pair to the top of the room. "We were assigned to defend one of the choke points on board while you were getting the power core back. We were holding that position no problem until, without warning, the Heartless came pouring out of everywhere.

"We abandoned our position when the mounted machine guns ran out of ammo. Coming here was Lieutenant Sievert's idea. It would have been brilliant… if the power hadn't been cut five minutes after we got here. We've been fending off attacks from the Heartless for hours. The only reason we still have ammunition is the emergency armory they put in this room.

"I don't know why the power came back on, but the lights gave away our position. I had them turned off as soon as they came on, and you showed up only seconds afterward. I didn't think there were any humans still on board, which is why I didn't bother to identify you before shooting."

Kairi tapped Sora on the shoulder. "Open a secure line to General Harris. This complicates things a bit." Sora turned away, trying to get a clear frequency. Kairi then addressed Captain Darrin. "We'll take over from here, Captain. There are SEALS boarding teams all over this station. We just got the power core and Primary Fire Control back. I think your work here is just about done, Captain."

Sora cut the transmission to Harris. "Actually, it looks like they're staying for a while. There's no way off this station until the boarding teams move their landing craft, and who knows when that'll be. Captain, just keep them in the defensive positions they've been holding-"

He was cut off by a surprise burst of static in his helmet radio. Everyone in the room could hear the message in their helmet speakers.

"This is SEALS squad Delta! Fire Control's been sabotaged! Everything's destroyed, the Heartless are everywhere! We're pulling back! Get the boarding craft ready for medevac! We have casualties that need immediate medical attention!"

Sora's reaction was immediate and confident. "Forget my last order, Captain. I'm taking some of your company with me – we're going to get those SEALS."

The deck of the Javelin shook as the starboard missile batteries fired the first salvo against the descending Heartless ships. The port batteries followed, sending white streaks reaching to the sky. By the time the fire control center registered hits on the leading ships in the formation, the missiles had climbed well out of view. If everything went according to plan, the 4th Terrestrial Fleet would be able to keep the Heartless from landing nearby at all.

Olette's crew was working at top speed to keep all the batteries firing at top speed. They were setting speed records in every task, and they were just barely outpacing the rate of fire the Javelin could muster. Even with mechanical assistance, though, it was demanding and exhausting work. Every second they got ahead of schedule was another second they could spend fixing the inevitable mistake.

She was checking every step of the process individually, making sure that nothing was done improperly. A mistake here could sink the ship, and the already thinly stretched defensive fleet would lose an irreplaceable asset. So far, there hadn't been a mistake that couldn't be fixed by a simple adjustment. It was a testament to the training regimen Olette had devised that the task at hand was proceeding so smoothly.

Hours passed. There were mistakes, close calls, and injuries all around, but nothing that hadn't been planned for. By the time the replacement team took over, Olette's team had successfully prepared over two hundred missiles. The Heartless Gummi ships hadn't been able to get further than the upper atmosphere before succumbing to the withering barrage of anti-aircraft missiles put forth by the fleet. Word in the mess hall was that the Marathon orbital defense platform had been put out of commission again, so the 4th Fleet was putting up with the most intense offensives. The exhausted crew got a much-needed morale boost in knowing that they were repelling the best the Heartless could throw at them.

Most of the junior officers from the first shift were trying to get some sleep before they were needed again in a few hours. Unlike volunteer navies, the ships of the Aegis Navy had enough sailors to crew each ship with two separate and independent crews for each ship. Though the ships had to be built bigger to accommodate the extra sailors on board, everyone liked being able to rest a decent amount between work cycles.

Olette was no exception. She was in the female junior officers' quarters, readying herself for bed. As she was prepping her second working uniform, she heard a voice behind her.

"We're giving 'em hell, aren't we?"

She turned to see her bunkmate, Lieutenant Junior Grade Holly Calais, stepping into the room. The two had met on the ship, and they had hated each other with a passion. Neither could fully articulate why the other angered them so much, but it was no secret that the two were practically at each other's throats. They were professional enough to keep their ill will suppressed when on duty, but when they weren't, there were no holds barred.

It was four months until Holly overheard Olette talking to another officer about Hayner's annoying habits at home. Having married a similar man, Calais could instantly relate to Olette's complaints. The two started talking, and by the end of their conversation, they mutually decided that they would tolerate each other. By the end of their first tour of duty, they were making travel plans and discussing their significant others'… shortcomings during intimacy.

Olette smiled. "I just load the things. You're the one targeting them."

"Yeah, but thanks to you, I never have an empty chamber. When I push the button, a fully-Olette-certified missile always goes skyward."

"I have good reason to keep up." She looked at the picture of Hayner and her she'd affixed on the wall of her bunk. "The 14th is in the middle of the city."

Holly sighed. "I feel so bad for you." She put her hands on Olette's shoulder. "But don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine. He always is."

Turning to face her friend, it was Olette's turn to be sympathetic. "At least I get to help protect him. Isn't the 5th all the way on the other side of the continent?"

"Ah, Burke's gonna be fine. That's the good thing about being in Armor – you sit in a great big tank all day and nothing can touch you." Holly sat Olette down on her bunk. "You, Lieutenant, have to get some rest. Don't worry about Hayner. You know as well as I that he's too slippery, even for the Heartless. Remember how you told me he used to run from the cops all the time when you were kids?"

A nostalgic smile slowly crept across Olette's face. "Oh yeah… Heh… That was fun…"

Holly deftly tapped her friend once on the forehead. "Now go to sleep. You're my source of missiles, and you know how cranky I get when I don't get my fix of missiles."

Olette rolled her eyes and flopped unceremoniously onto her side, the rolling of the ship on the sea slowly rocking her to sleep.

The order had come down from the very highest levels of command to keep the Heartless contained in the city. 2nd and 8th Infantry Battalions covered the northern routes out, 4th Marines were set up in the foothills to the west. Ten minutes ago, elements of the 14th Urban Ops Division were airlifted onto rooftops in the financial district to begin clearing the Heartless that had been bottled up inside. The Hercules Carrier Strike Group was just offshore, launching interceptor aircraft to keep enemy Gummi ships from extracting the trapped monsters or attacking soldiers on the ground. It was up to 14th UO to take the city back.

Hayner's company had been part of the third wave of reinforcements to the initial attackers, so his landing was uneventful. Most of the building had been cleared already, and hunter-killer teams were rooting out the clever Shadows that hid in abandoned closets and offices. Power was out in the downtown area, which meant that everyone had to take all 68 flights of stairs to the ground.

The objective given to Hayner's company was to secure a courtyard 500 meters to the northwest in order to land armored vehicles in the city center. Footsoldiers were sufficient in the close quarters of high-rise offices, but they wouldn't last long against a coordinated attack on the ground.

After climbing down more stairs than ever before in his life, Hayner finally reached the ground floor. Ari was right behind him. They reluctantly checked their rifles, wishing they could have gotten the flamethrowers that they were used to. It would be an interesting fight if the Heartless showed up in significant numbers.

The company commander, a tall, heavily muscled man with dark skin, addressed his troops before sending them out into the fray.

"Alright, boys and girls. It is currently eighteen hundred hours. That courtyard has to be ours before sundown. We're gonna be without air support on this one, so you gotta cover your buddies. The whole damn city is a free-fire zone now. If it moves, destroy it. We're about to get a bunch of fuckin' tanks to cover us, so don't worry about conserving ammo.

"Platoon commanders, you have your individual orders. Infantry squads, if you need support, we've got a buncha toys to choose from. Mortars, machine guns, anti-materiel guns… just tell 'em where to point their guns and hold on to your helmets.

"Stay in the open. Don't get too close to the buildings; the little bastards'll jump right out on your heads. Other than that, easy day, soldiers. Let's move out!"

Soldiers poured out of the building, following officers down streets towards the courtyard. Mortar teams set up position several hundred meters away from the courtyard while sniper pairs entered buildings to find a good nest. Hayner and Ari followed the lieutenant in command of their platoon down the center of an abandoned street, avoiding abandoned cars and craters left by air strikes.

The city was eerily dark and quiet. The buildings blocked the sun's light, and there were no lit streetlights to compensate. The only sounds were the pounding of boots on pavement and wind blowing down the streets. Hayner and Ari swept the intersection in front of them with their rifles. Satisfied it was clear, they moved forward. Down the block, he could see another platoon moving along a parallel street. The first man into the intersection stopped in place and brought his rifle to bear, firing three times. The sharp cracks echoed off of the buildings, causing everyone to look around for the source of the shots.

The shooter moved forward with his platoon. As the soldiers continued down the street, they could see the edge of the courtyard that was their destination. Hayner moved to the sidewalk to get a better angle past the edge of the surrounding buildings. He couldn't see anything unusual, but he knew that the Heartless were masters at appearing out of nowhere.

He was about to rejoin his platoon when something landed squarely on top of his head, knocking him to the pavement. His rifle skittered in front of him, far out of reach. He instinctively rolled onto his back to identify his attacker.

A Neoshadow stood over him, claws ready. Hayner's training took over. He reached for his knife and snapped it forward, hoping to sink the blade clean through the menacing figure. It lashed out with a quick kick, knocking the knife out of his hand. The pistol on his hip was his last option. He scrambled backwards, trying to put some distance between himself and the Heartless assaulting him before pulling his sidearm.

There was a concussive bang to Hayner's right, and the Neoshadow dissolved into black wisps of smoke. Ari lowered his rifle's barrel and ran over to pick up his friend.

"There's a reason the CO told us to stay away from the buildings, dumbass! Get up! The courtyard is less than a hundred meters away!"

The pair of soldiers sprinted to the courtyard, catching up to their platoon just as they entered. All the soldiers sighted down their rifles, looking for any sign of marauding Heartless. Satisfied that the area was secure, the lieutenant nodded to his communications sergeant. The sergeant picked up his radio headset and took a knee.

"Devil 2 to Crimeboss. Courtyard secure."

"Crimeboss Actual to Devil 2. I copy. Moving support squads forward. Airlift birds on standby."

Squads carrying machine guns moved into the courtyard, setting up their emplacements on brick planters that ringed the open center of the park. Within minutes, the exposed group of soldiers had become a heavily fortified landing zone. It would take serious numbers to uproot the 14th Urban Ops from their courtyard.

"Devil 2 to Crimeboss. Support squads are in place. Ready to receive airlift."

There was a slight pause before the answer. "Copy that, Devil 2. Birds inbound. Hold tight."

Sora and Kairi charged down the corridors of the Marathon, determined to rescue the pinned SEALS squad. Stray Hearthless that were unfortunate enough to get in their way were dispatched before they even knew they were in danger. Nothing was going to get in the way of relieving the stranded commandos.

Two platoons of Marines followed them, leaving the other half of Captain Darrin's company to guard the Command and Control Center. The thunder of boots on the steel deckplates resounded through the halls of the distressed station.

They rounded a corner and saw the doors to the Fire Control Center. The heavy alloy doors had been blasted clean off their mountings in the doorway. Black scorch marks covered the walls and deck nearby. Flames issued from panels blown from the wall and smoke drifted across the ceiling, obscuring visibility. Through the door, the sounds of a firefight could be heard as the SEALS fought for their lives.

As they approached the door, Sora threw a stun grenade into the opening. It sailed through the air, detonating with a brilliant white flash and deafening concussive burst. The approaching humans, along with the SEALS, were unaffected, thanks to their environment suits. The Heartless, however, were not so fortunate. They reeled from the disorienting blast, trying to regain their senses.

The fifteen-second advantage given to them by the grenade was all the humans needed to mop up the helpless monsters. Each one disappeared with the characteristic wisp of black smoke. One platoon of Marines followed the few Heartless that had managed to flee into the corridor leading away from the sabotaged room while the rest made sure everything was locked down.

After issuing orders to his men, the squad commander approached Sora. "They were waiting for us here. As soon as we entered, they blew up the main fire control panels and the primary power conduit. We suffered three casualties before you arrived. I've already ordered my men to bring them to our boarding craft for extraction."

The destruction to the equipment in the room corroborated the commander's story. Sora examined the destroyed panels, hoping to find anything useful or undamaged. "Why would they attack here? It's not like we can turn the cannon around and shoot them off the platform."

"I don't know, sir. Perhaps they don't know our systems as well as it seems."

Sora laughed doubtfully. When has that ever been the case?

Convinced that the destruction was total, Sora walked to Kairi, who had been tending to some of the SEALS' less severe wounds. She had the look of steely determination on her face that showed whenever she wanted justice. "It looks like they'll make it out alright. The three who went down in the fight will need surgery when they reach the surface. Other than that, there were only a few cuts and a concussion."

Sora nodded. "Good. Let's get back to the Control Room."

Kairi grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Sora, wait. Are you just going to go sit in there again? There's more Heartless all over this station." She stared straight into his eyes. "They nearly killed three people just now while we were standing around doing nothing. We can't just let them keep trying until they actually succeed."

"It's just to find out where we need to cover now that we're down a team. It's only for a few minutes."

"We should be looking around here! The more time we waste, the more lives are in danger. I can't let more people be endangered by going back there."

Sora shook his head. "No, there's more, we need to make sure there weren't other attacks, we need to see if the superstructure was compromised by the explosion, and a hundred different things."

"I thought it would only take fifteen minutes."

"It will. But it needs to happen." He looked back into her eyes. "I know you want to help." Even through her suit, he could see her muscles subtly relax, a sign that he was beginning to calm her. "The best way to do that is to fight smart, and to do that, we need to go to the Control Room."

Kairi exhaled deeply, calming further. "Fine. But I want to get back out here quickly."

Sora nodded. "So do I."