Alright, its show time for the Omega Force in this fourth chapter of the same title.
This is where all the preparations that were stated in the last three chapters would bear fruit. Now it is the time for the critical phase for the battle plan for Raid.
Sorry, I must have been watching too many "Battle Nights" in History Channel to even type that lame Battle Plan joke.
Anyway, I will also add yet another cameo from Ranma one half in this chapter but he is the last one from that anime along with two others.
Just read and enjoy everyone.
Chapter 3 – A Rip-Roaring Rescue
Interstate 35 – April 2, 2044, 4:00 AM - Tuesday
Even if the Stiletto was traveling on the same highway as before, the road has retained its old name of Interstate 35 as the black Lamborgini had crossed the border to the Republic of Oklahoma. At one point, the newly built patch of the road has detoured around a heavily guarded concrete wall.
The concrete wall itself was crowned with electrified barbed wire, the said wire's length running across the wall's top. Rising above the said vine covered wall was the spire of a brightly lit oil derrick.
While Akane was driving, Angela was scanning the local stations on the AM band on the Pioneer digital radio. She had caught something of interest in an all-news station and gently increased the volume so that her mother could also hear it.
"Today is the wedding day for Oil Baron John Twoeagles and Sayuri Nonoka, daughter of President Sanosuke Nonoka of the Republic of Louisiana," one of the youngish broadcasters had said through the car's four speakers. "The announcement of the wedding was a surprise to most – but not apparently to President Sanosuke Nonoka who is now at the Twoeagles ranch just for the festivities."
An outdoor wedding was planned but it may have to be moved indoors due to the crazy weather we're having. And speaking of the weather, what does Mother Nature have in store for us, Kira?" the smooth voice added before turning to his co-host.
"Nothin' good, Athrun. We're currently experiencing the worst storm surge Oklahoma has ever seen since the original land rush." was the given reply by the other radio host.
The second radio voice had added quickly. "Widely scattered thunderstorms are pounding the entire nation including the northern half of Texas. Hail has been widely reported, we even have a recent update about hailstones the size of baseballs in Broken Arrow. Tornadoes have been reported all across the country, there was even a twister touchdown east of Enid with three lives lost."
The voices from the radio then dissolved in static as sheet lightning had flashed in the northern horizon. The brief flash of light had showed Akane and her AI daughter that another thunderstorm was approaching the Stiletto from the west and slightly to the north.
Angela had wisely turned down the volume as she again scanned the AM band for more informative newscasts. Sometime later, the Stiletto had passed a shell-pocked sign saying:
"Now Leaving Love County"
After a short ride through high winds and rain, the Stiletto had come upon the town of Ardmore. The fairly large town was zipped up tight, partly due to the time of day (4:30 AM) and partly due to the still raging storm. The sleek Reventón thus had breezed thorough the town easily.
Five minutes after the Lamborghini had exited the city, it came upon a pattern of stubborn red flares spread out in a line along damp the highway. The flares had illuminated a stranded 18-wheeler Peterbilt semi-trailer truck. Akane slowly brought the car to a stop, right at the trailer's rear bumper.
As before, she walked to the soaked red cab cautiously after assuring her A.I. daughter that she would be alright. She did not draw her side arm just yet, confident in her own ability that she could knock out the agressor before he could even draw their own weapons.
As Akane was about to climb the running board to open the cab's bullet ridden door, the said door with the words "Member of the Brotherhood of Truckers" stenciled on it, suddenly creaked open.
She jumped back and had gotten into a tight fighting stance as soon as her damp blue boots had made contact with the wet asphalt.
A big shadowy figure in black body armor had slowly lumbered out of the cab and faced the duelist with his large gloved hands up in surrender.
"Whoa, lady. I'm neither armed nor am I in any shape ta fight. Please, let's jus' talk."
Akane had relaxed her stance and asked the large man his name.
"Name's Mark Donahue and I jus' came from Harlingen with a load of grapefruit," the man explained as he held his green gloved hand out for a hand shake.
"I'm Akane Saotome, a professional duelist. So what's the problem here?" Akane asked as she shook hands with the six foot six trucker.
"Ah, so you're the better half of the Saotome tag-team duelin' pair. Am I right, Miz Akane?" Mark surmised as he rubbed his blond beard with his right forefinger and thumb. "Oh yeah, my rig's power plant went on a fritz and I can't make heads or tails about it."
"Yes, I am. Let me try fixing yer power plant so you can still keep your schedule," Akane said as Mark raised one of the cab's hoods. She leaned inside the opened hood for a few minutes with her pocket light (that she kept on her back pocket) on before finding the burnt wire near the flywheel.
After wrapping a good length of black electrical tape on it, she asked the trucker to start the engine. The truck's massive Thunder Cat power plant had purred like a contented kitten after a brief grinding start.
"Mighty thanks, Miz Akane. Yer husband sure iz a lucky man fer marryin' ya," Mark quipped as he gave the duelist his worn orange Kraft paper calling card over the opened window.
"Actually, I'm the lucky one since he taught that specific trick ta me way back when we were still teens." Akane retorted as she had hopped down to the asphalt and watched the red Peterbilt truck slowly roar away.
-oOo-
Interstate 35 – 4:45 AM, Tuesday
The Stiletto had prodded on its way thorough the scattered thunderstorms. Angela had suggested that they could push it to seventy miles per hour since they only have a little more than eight hours to get to the wedding on time.
Akane had agreed and gave more weight to the accelerator pedal, the digits in the speedometer's little display gradually increased. The resulting G-forces from the resulting acceleration had pushed the duelist further back to her leather seat.
-oOo-
Somewhere in the Oklahoman Panhandle – 5:45 AM, same day
Ranma had woken up early from the white cot that he had laid in the concrete floor the night before. The room was large enough for most of the Omega Force that were with him to sleep comfortably in their respective futons.
This had even included the forty more men and women who would man the tanks and armored vehicles that would surround the entire Twoeagles estate later in the morning. The rest of the hastily assembled forces were similarly housed in other similarly constructed buildings nearby.
That is, if the weather had calmed down enough to actually let them get to their battle positions. Thanks to the storms that had passed them by, the reddish brown ground was awfully muddy and would only be fit for travel by tracked vehicles like tanks or half-tracks.
Even then, it would be slow going until the rain has let up just enough for the plants to suck up enough water for the soil to be sturdy enough for the other vehicles to pass over. He stood up, rolled up his cot before starting his morning ablutions.
The whole time he had ignored the pitter-patter of raindrops on both the roof and the perm flex windows.
"Commander?"
A surprised pony tailed leader of the Omega Force had looked behind him to see Sousuke holding a toothbrush in his left hand.
Looking at his newly alerted brown eyes alone, Ranma had already surmised that the younger man had just woken up himself.
"Sousuke, what're the chances of us succeedin' in our mission even with the weather as it is right now?" The older man asked as he brushed his teeth.
"Sir, we can get about 45 percent of our forces in position so the chances are a little slim." The young man with unruly black hair replied after a moment as he had watched his superior finish brushing his teeth. "Unless the weather changes in the next six hours that is the best we can have."
"Alright, you can brush yer teeth now." Ranma said with finality as he had picked up all of his toiletries and left the bathroom, leaving a puzzled mercenary behind.
-oOo-
Within two hours (6:45 AM), the Stiletto had reached Oklahoma City's outskirts. The Reventón had pulled up for a needed fifteen minute charge while the duelist ate a quick breakfast at the newly opened truck stop before hitting the road again.
Akane had also tried to contact one of Yuka's allies in the said city via a public payphone but only found a busy signal instead.
'I do hope that he's alright,' the duelist had thought as she entered her car and left the city.
Angela had whined that they should have taken the time for some needed repairs but Akane was adamant since they could get the same thing at New Tulsa, just a few traveling hours away.
In the end, the A.I. had agreed since they would get there faster by means of the newly built Turner turnpike.
The turnpike itself was deserted thanks to the thunderstorms that were still raging throughout Oklahoma.
Again, Akane had to rely on the digital display of the instruments before her as well as Angela's spoken advice as road visibility was again nearing zero percent.
The thunderstorms had continued to lash out at the desolate wasteland before them. The once hard and dry topsoil was turned to soft mud.
Even the morning sun was refused entry therefore it was still quite dark outside the car's twin headlights high intensity beams besides being wet and blustery.
"Mom, if we work together, we can speed up ta ninety miles per hour and still be safe." Angela suggested as she had already analyzed her wheels' handling along with the wind and rain factors.
"Alright, dear and when we arrive at New Tulsa, I'll have ya not only fully repaired but even sport a brand new paint job complete with buffing." Akane replied as she had gripped the steering wheel tighter and pushed the accelerator pedal further down towards the floorboards.
"Now you're talkin', Mom." The A.I had noted the gradual increase in speed and did her own job of manipulating the traction control.
-oOo-
The Stiletto had arrived in New Tulsa by 9:15 AM. The city itself was completely rebuilt after the Oil Wars. Its shining new towers were much better looking in sharp contrast to the other cities Akane has visited before where most of their buildings were old and ruined.
After the brief inspection at the city gates, the duelist had pulled up at a nearby phone booth.
After a few rings, a youngish male voice had answered the phone. "AADA New Tulsa branch, Hiroshi Yamamoto speaking."
"Uh, hi. I'm Akane Saotome, and I was given this number by the supervisor of the Austin branch. So wh-" Akane had started to say.
"Say no more, ma'am. Please follow the following directions to our field office and we will give you any assistance in your mission as soon as you arrive."
"Thank you, Mr. Yamamoto."
"The pleasure's all mine, Mrs. Saotome. Besides, it's basically our own revenge against that mother fucking dick wad for what he did to us two years ago. By the way, here are the directions…"
-oOo-
While Akane was on her way to the AADA building in New Tulsa, President Sanosuke Nonoka was already on his way to his daughter's room where the latter was being prepared for her wedding.
He was already outfitted in his favorite three piece suit and black leather shoes.
After his frail and wrinkled knuckles had met the door twice, it was opened by a nervous maid who thought it was the future groom. It was no secret that even the maids were afraid of Twoeagles since he always insisted on getting his way.
Anyone who did not agree to his whims were either fired or taken to a one way trip to the countryside before disappearing altogether.
The old politician had stepped into the spacious room to find his daughter, who was still in her sleepwear and also barefoot, sitting on the queen sized bed and splotching her make up with fresh tears while two other maids tried to console her.
Sayuri's specifically designed wedding dress and body armor was still lying on the queen sized bed, not a rumple was found on it.
"Are you sure about this, dear?" He said as soon as the door was closed and locked.
Thankfully, the guards posted outside the door were sent somewhere else so he could speak freely without someone suddenly grabbing him from behind and be tortured later.
"Yes, Father." Sayuri had meekly replied, her shoulder length brown hair already tied in a neat bun. Her hands was still clutching the purple pajama bottoms in her anxiety.
"Sayuri dear, have faith in your friend- Yuka. I'm sure she has sent the e-mail that I told you about so help's already on the way," The elder Nonoka said as he sat down on the bed as his legs had ached from standing too long.
"But Father, even if she did send the message. The storms would delay whatever rescue attempt our allies will try to save us. If not, they would have to face all of Twoeagle's forces in battle."
"Don't ever underestimate the Omega Force, child." Sanosuke said in admonishing his only daughter. "I'm sure they'll find a way and you can quote me on that."
"Your Excellency, are they really on their way here right now?" The young maid who was sitting on Sayuri's right side had spoken up upon hearing the famous group's name.
"Yes, and I'm pretty sure that John had also known about it." The president of Louisiana said with a sneer. "It'll be quite a show when they do arrive though since whatever advantage Twoeagle's henchmen may have in numbers and equipment would be squandered by their lack in skill. And that my dear, is what the Omega Force has plenty in supply."
"Father…" Sayuri was about to say something but kept herself quiet. The president had briefly looked at his Seiko watch with leather straps on his left wrist before standing up.
"Don't worry, dear. We'll be out of the woods before you know it," Sanosuke said as he had kissed his daughter's right cheek and headed out the door.
As soon as he left the room, Sanosuke thought bitterly. 'Ah, Sayuri does have a point but I have to keep on believing in them or all is truly lost.'
-oOo-
Fifteen minutes later or 9:30 AM, Akane was parking the damp Stiletto in an underground garage right under the AADA building in the middle of town.
She was also given a two-page print out of the road and bandit reports as well as an even more detailed map of the Twoeagles Ranch as she was escorted to the offices above. The said map was even marked with a red marker for possible escape routes.
In addition, there were some written notes on the type of defensive structures used and where the red and white security trikes were usually parked. Akane was impressed with how the AADA had treated this mission.
Now sitting on a leather seat in the posh office of New Tulsa branch manager - Hiroshi Yamamoto, she asked how long will the Stiletto would be fixed.
"Well, our team of mechanics is already on the job. Plus they have some impressive equipment brought in including four maintenance robots, two of which are MTB and the rest - BRS series." Hiroshi said as he had taken a sip of lemonade from the chilled tall glass in front of him before continuing. "So it would be finished in about forty five minutes, complete with a new paint job, a top up recharge, and some buffing."
"Ah, that's nice. But you told me earlier that this is your 'revenge'. Can ya explain further on that?" Akane asked as she had sipped on the glass of pink lemonade offered to her by the kind secretary.
"Oh that. Actually, it's like this. My grandfather was one of the original Oklahoma oil barons. He and my dad had a bit of a falling out, decades ago. So Dad ran away to Louisiana and met my mom there," Hiroshi then stopped talking for a moment to catch his breath. "Long story short, Grandpa was lying on his death bed about six years ago and left me in charge of his business. But I politely refused since I had just graduated from college back then. Right now, Dad is in charge of the company until I can finally take over."
"Alright, but what has that got to do with Twoeagles?" The duelist has just put down her glass on the desk.
"The Twoeagles family and mine were long term rivals," The young executive said with a grimace." Johnny is actually pissed that a 'Louie boy' , that's me by the way, would become one of the oil barons here in Oklahoma and had made some trouble in this branch whenever he can." The light brunet branch manager said with a sneer.
"Two years ago, he had one of my hard working employees jailed for 'smuggling' gasoline across the border to Louisiana. The case would have been headline news if not from some legal help from HQ. This time, it's our turn to take him down." Hiroshi said befroe sipping some more juice.
"I see, so your father is one of our clients. Am I correct?" Akane said as she had processed all the information in her mind.
"Yep, his two tank companies are now headed by Lieutenant Sousuke Sagara and his wife, Technical Sergeant. Kaname Sagara - Chidori of Mithril. They were to be stationed at the hills northwest of the ranch to take out the security forces placed there by ol' Johnny himself." The twenty eight year old light brunette was about to add more when the desk phone had rung.
"Hiroshi here. What's that? You got the secret high level security password. Thanks, man and yes, I'll tell her." The light brown haired branch manager had replaced the phone's receiver on its hinges and smiled widely. "Almost forgot, we also sent other copies of the map that just we gave you to the other members of the Omega Force who had passed by here. My father had handed the rest to your husband and his team."
"As for the caller earlier, that was Hikaru Gosunkugi, the pale faced hacker you've met along the way here. He says you're hot," Hiroshi said, still grinning like an idiot.
"Wait, how did he recognize me?" The duelist asked with a blush and a bit of revulsion.
"Simple, he's your biggest fan. And no, he won't ask you out, but rather jus' ask for an autograph." Hiroshi replied with a grin. "He also said the Twoeagle Oil password for 'special guests' today is seven. It's so that those lunk heads in the Twoeagles Ranch's security force could actually remember it correctly."
"Ok, can I borrow your pen and a note pad?" Akane asked, still giggling at Hiroshi's crack at the Twoeagle's security force's collective intelligence or rather, the lack of it.
"Sure, Mrs. Saotome. We even provided ya with some personal equipment in case somethin' goes terribly wrong. It's in the next room," Hiroshi answered as he had taken yet another sip of his juice.
"Please, call me Akane. Yuka Tsukihime is actually a friend of mine back in high school and she's my political coordinator so to speak. May I call you Hiroshi?" Akane said in a calming had just written her autograph on the leaf of the note pad and tore it off gently.
Akane then placed all the items neatly on the table after using them.
"Uhh, sure. M-Akane. I think the repairs would be finished soon and I still have ta show you all of the extra equipment we'll be giving you," The branch manager had managed to answer as if something had distracted him for the briefest of moments.
He also fumbled with the returned pen as he replaced it in its wooden holder.
After finishing the served beverages, the branch manager had led the duelist to an empty office room.
On the oak table top were the following items: one set of improved body armor, six fragmentation grenades, six smoke grenades, two limpet mines, and a Glock 18 machine pistol with a spare magazine full of 9mm Parabellum rounds.
"Thank you, Hiroshi. I guess it's time for me ta go and rescue the poor girl," Akane quipped as she had carried the items in her leather backpack.
"Actually, Sayuri's not as weak as everyone thinks she is." Hiroshi retorted as he had led the duelist back to her car.
"How would you know?" Akane had turned around in surprise just as they had reached the elevator leading back to the underground garage as she was saying this.
"She once visited this office with her old man, that's how."
-oOo-
By ten-thirty AM, the Stiletto was back in the soaked and slippery streets of New Tulsa. The weather had cleared up but only just a bit while the car left the city's northern exit.
As the black Reventón was cruising along US 75 on its way to the fortress town of Bartlesville, it had met a familiar red Peterbilt truck and its gray refrigerated trailer.
The truck had honked its own greetings as its burly driver had also recognized the sleek sports car.
"Howdy, Miz Akane. How's about convoying with me? I'll take the front door since this stretch of hell isn't a good place for ya and yer car," Mark asked on the radio.
"Sure, Mark. Let me slow down a bit," Akane replied as she had downshifted and let the big rig pass her by before moving the Reventón to position about a car's length behind the truck.
An hour has passed with no problems whatsoever, even the sky was slowly clearing up to let some sunshine in.
There were two purple trikes waiting at both sides of the highway halfway to Bartlesville but their drivers had second thoughts about ambushing an eighteen wheeler reefer trailer truck with an 50mm anti-tank gun on its gleaming turret.
-oOo-
While Akane was talking to Mark Donahue on the highways, the slightly damp Security Six had also arrived in the Twoeagle's estate.
As the two armored men had carried the three layered and tiered wedding cake, Izumi had excused herself from the others and looked for a perfect place to place her limpet mine that she had hidden in the deepest bowels of her brown handbag.
An idea had come to her when she felt the urge to empty her bladder. She had asked around for the nearest restroom.
"I'm sorry, Miss but the only restroom here that's still unoccupied is the one in the garage." One of the newer and kinder guards had told her after pointing at the large building that looks more like an airplane hanger than a garage.
"Oh, can I enter the garage then?" Izumi said. "I really have to go."
The guard at the door had tried to keep her out but with a bit of pouting and some name dropping, the blonde duelist was able to enter the building. Inside, it was cool and well shaded from the now emerging sun.
After exiting the girl's rest room, Izumi had studied the garage's layout as she slowly headed out the door only to find a perfect spot just as she was about to leave.
She then sneaked a limpet mine in one of the big drums of solvent at the far side of the garage; the various vehicles parked there had covered her movements perfectly.
After placing the mine, she had returned to the Security Six while acting as if nothing had happened.
-oOo-
After they had returned to the van, Takuya and Junpei went their separate ways to plant six more limpet mines. Takuya had doubled back towards the main gate while Junpei headed for the security office.
The six foot four medium built duelist had entered the small brick building some distance from the pavilion where the wedding was supposed to be held.
Behind it is a chain link fence where three gleaming security tricycles painted in red and white were parked.
As soon as the duelist had entered, the young man in red and white body armor had looked up to him.
"Is this the office of…" Junpei had started to say but then looked briefly at the white voucher in his hand. "Captain Michaels?"
The guard lazily answered. "Yeah, so what's it to ya?"
"Well then, my boss couldn't come here but told me somethin' about a password since I was told to come by in his place." The orange haired member of the Omega Force said with confidence. "Mind if I use the phone? By the way, is the line here even secure?"
"Of course," The guard replied as he went back to his comic book. "Be my guest."
"Since this call's a little hush-hush, how's about leav'n me here for a minute or so?"
"Alright, but only fer a minute." The lanky guard had stood up and left the room with his comic book, slightly puzzled at the given request.
Junpei had quickly exited the room's other door leading to where the three trikes were parked and planted a mine on each cycle's front wheels along with a remote detonator receiver. Both of which, he had hidden in his armor's hip pockets.
After coming back inside, he then asked the newly returned young guard while looking up. "What's that in the ceiling?"
Confused, the guard had also looked up only to find himself the recipient of a right uppercut on the jaw. He then fell to the floor already knocked out.
This time, the Security Six's mechanic had hefted him on his broad left shoulder before stowing the guard in the broom closet. Junpei then walked out as calmly as he could to avoid suspicion.
-oOo-
After separating with Mark at the outskirts of Bartlesville after an hour of peaceful convoying, Akane had followed the highway around the fortress city. That particular stretch of concrete was closely guarded by the city's heavy Vulcan machine guns.
A quarter-circle west around the city and she turned left for Highway 60.
After traveling for another five miles, the Stiletto had found itself near the entrance of Twoeagles Ranch - the palatial home of John Twoeagles and its destination.
Akane had pulled over at a vacant wooded lot, about ten meters before the ten inch steel gate itself.
She then pulled out her newly given map to do some last minute planning. Her concentration was eventually broken by the A.I.'s melodious voice.
"Mom, I jus' intercepted a transmission from the Twoeagles security force. It would seem that somebody went thorough the wire fence in Sector 249, near the highway," Angela said as she had began her report."The fence is currently down for twenty feet or so and an electrical crew is needed immediately. Furthermore, it would be scarcely guarded until much later in the afternoon since most of the guards will be placed near the wedding site."
"That's good. Thank you, dear." Akane replied absently as she had looked for Sector 249 on the map in her hand before peeking at the ranch proper.
As it was described in the map given to her by the New Tulsa AADA, the ranch was surrounded by a heavy chain link fence, with electrified barbed wire on top. The front gate was guarded by a heavily armored checkpoint.
The checkpoint itself has a turret armed with an 40mm auto cannon barrel. A single armored guard was checking the IDs of each passing car. He asked the duelist on what is her business here.
She told him the password and he let her in immediately, slowly backing away from the Stiletto as the black car went though the opened gate.
After passing the guardhouse, Akane had noticed three limpet mines that were pasted in the lower part of the right gate posts, a certified blind spot to those looking from the gatehouse's direction.
The guards were not able to notice it since the guardhouse did not have a back window anyway. The said explosives were also cleverly placed on the steel posts in such a way that it would look like someone had pasted three large wads of gray chewing gum on them.
'It has to be Takuya's doing. He always tries something outrageous to make the rest of us laugh even during a mission,' Akane thought with a wry smile. 'Thank God, they made it through safely.'
"Hey, mom. The weather has made a dramatic change. It's now a sunny day," The A.I. reported with an audible chirp.
"So it is. Alright, let's head straight to the ceremony. It would seem that Takuya and Junpei had done their job well."
"Yay."
Following the map, the Stiletto had stopped some distance from an outdoor pavilion with a fountain, near the center of the ranch.
After seeing the other vehicles of her team parked nearby, Akane had dismounted and was met by a happy Arika Tenryou and Karin Karakuchi.
The two young women had led their older friend (and superior) to their seats nearest the wedding party. Both young women had already worn their improved blended body armor as a precaution from kamikaze attacks by Twoeagle's enemies.
A quick peek at the weeding enourage had showed a smirking Twoeagles, looking suave in his black tuxedo looking improved body armor.
Some distance behind him was the "bride" – Sayuri Nonoka. Her eyes were watery; her make up was splotchy in places; and her dark brown hair was a bit disheveled. She was even holding her bridal gown styled blended improved body armor's skirt in anxiety.
Off to one side at the back of the troupe, had stood a slightly depressed President Nonoka in blended improved body armor also made in the image of a brown tuxedo. He was surrounded by six armed guards in military grade body armor.
Sanosuke was also thinking that his daughter's rescuers were just too late to intervene, not knowing how wrong he really was at that very moment. He was so depressed that he did not even see Akane sit down in one of the seats nearest to the bride's current location.
At a minute to one, the Wedding March had begun to play and the wedding party slowly moved through the red carpeted aisle towards the center of the pavilion. A priest was waiting for them at the said location.
At exactly one o'clock, multiple explosions had rocked the whole ranch down to its concrete foundations. One of the worst ones was from the garage, where the planted limpet mine had triggered the ammunition dump there and it resulted in a second and much bigger explosion.
The frightened crowd had dispersed as everyone went his or her own ways to find a safer place to hide nearby.
With a curt nod at each other, the three women had gone into action. From behind the Security Six parked near the pavilion, Izumi Kanbarra had lobbed some smoke grenades.
Ikki Tenryou himself had made a small ruckus by running to and then delivering a powerful left hook to a surprised Twoeagles's right jaw as the green smoke had spread throughout the whole pavilion.
Koji Karakuchi had joined his best friend when two beefy security guards tried to double team the famed duelist as their latter two's boss was unconscious on the concrete grounds for the next hour or so.
Takuya and Junpei had guided the pleased president to the waiting blue van, knocking out every guard in their way.
Izumi still threw some smoke grenades and even some flash grenades to the charging guards from the nearby buildings from her place in the right front door of the blue van.
A quick footed guard had tried to slam the blonde to the concrete roadway but was himself slammed to the thicker concrete deck, face first by the said blonde's furious husband.
Akane and the other two women were guiding the surprised bride to the waiting Stiletto. They had even thrown a few punches and even some kicks at the guards blocking their way. Karin had even landed a bone-cracking roundhouse kick at the skinny guard's face who was approaching them from the right.
The orange haired mother of one had smirked at the sight of her pale faced husband and their racer friend as the latter two had stood shell-shocked only a foot away from their own vehicles.
Arika had even taken a quick photo for posterity before heading for her husband's car while Akane and Sayuri giggled as they were entering the Stiletto. A third giggle coming from inside the car was too soft to be heard by everyone out of earshot.
By the time the Twoeagles security force had sufficiently re-grouped, the convoy composed of the Stiletto, Tiger Claws, Night Hawk, and Security Six were already taking the Sector 249 escape route.
The convoy had just exited to the highway when they were joined by the Altron and the Road Runner. Both vehicles had come from the eastern end of the highway where they had engaged and destroyed the six reversed tricycles and two mid-size cars tailing the convoy from a respectable distance.
Angela could not contain herself and greeted the almost complete Omega Force to Sayuri's and her father's surprise and resigned disgust for nearly everyone else in an encrypted radio channel as well as in the car's speakers.
"Angela, we have ta talk about your speaking when there are other people around." Ranma had quipped in the Road Runner's radio's mike, his controlled tone not successfully hiding his obvious disappointment at his AI daughter's mistake.
"Sorry, Dad."
Sayuri's heart went out to the Reventón's A.I. as a soft whimper was heard thorough the Reventon's speakers as well as the airwaves.
"It's ok… Mr. Saotome was it? She was just so happy to see you guys. It's completely understandable," Sayuri had pleaded on the radio.
"Ms. Nonoka, forgive my rudeness but Commander Saotome has a valid point. The three of us namely the Arbalest, the Stiletto, and I should not even be known to posses such advanced artificial intelligence with the capacity to communicate with our owners and other members of the Omega Force like other humans,"Altron's A.I – Nataku said over the airwaves.
"Even so, she reminds me of a little waif who was so happy to see her family again." Sayuri said as she tried again to make her case heard.
"She has a point, Ranma. Even though she and her 'brothers' are a well-kept secret, Angela is programmed to be your teen aged daughter," Koji had now added his own two cents to the on air discussion. "After this mission, I'm going to place AIs on all our vehicles including the Road Runner and the three Hercules transport planes. I hope you don't mind."
"I'm cool with it. For now, let's jus' get ta the Hercules and get out of this damn war zone."Ranma said as he had crumbled to the pressure but still reminded his team that they were still in danger.
Before he could continue, Kaname Sagara's voice had interrupted him in the tactical network.
"Commander Saotome, we cannot ride the Hercules transport planes home since they were forced to take off prematurely. Our forces are currently engaging the enemy in the forests and fields around the airport." Kaname said before pausing for breath.
"The rest of their other forces as well as those of our own allies are already converging there. Luke's and Tear's forces are even taking out the bulk of the enemy forces coming from the Ranch's perimeter," Kaname was saying as she had ended her report.
There was a second brief pause before Kaname's voice was heard again. "Sousuke and I will now be joining your convoy on its way south. Luke is already assuming command on all our forces and has asked us to help out in the extraction of the hostage."
"The more, the merrier. Come on in, Kaname." This time, Izumi's out of the blue comment had elicited a round of laughter in the airwaves and in the vehicles as well.
Ranma had led the convoy as it had turned back and taken the route south, bypassing the fortress city of Bartlesville in the process.
Fifteen minutes later, the Arbalest itself had come into view a mile behind them and closing in fast. Ranma then ordered Koji and Ikki to take the lead while he and Shinji position themselves at the Stiletto's two sides.
Finally, he had told the newly arrived Sousuke and Takuya to take the rear. Akane, on her husband's advice, had also turned on the electronic conceal system to keep the Stiletto from being seen by their pursuer's sensors as the other vehicles had taken their places alongside the digitally masked Lamborghini.
Most of them were puzzled as to why there were set up like this and why the Stiletto's ECS was the only one engaged.
It was only when the various road gangs, who heard about the Louisianan president and first daughter's escape from Twoeagle's ranch, tried to take them for themselves did the rest of the team finally see the wisdom in the formation.
All of the gangs were defeated by thick white smoke, an oil slick that suddenly burst into flames, napalm mines, machine guns rounds, Gauss gun needles, auto cannon rounds, laser beams, recoil-less rifle rounds, and pulse laser beams that seemed to protect the convoy on all sides.
Louisiana's First Daughter and President had to gasp at how efficient the Omega Force could really be and said as much on the radio.
They were later told by an encoded radio message from nearby New Tulsa to park in the city's AADA local branch's underground parking lot.
-oOo-
After the convoy had arriving at the said parking lot, everyone headed to the set table in the cafeteria two floors above to fill their famished appetites as soon as they had disembarked from their vehicles.
All except for two people who were rooted to where they stood, right at the doorway leading to the elevator itself.
"Sayuri, I-" Hiroshi began to speak but found himself unable to continue. He simply brushed his curvy and short light brown hair with his right hand as he had slowly neared the dark haired young woman who was head shorter then him.
"Hiroshi, let's start all over. I mean, I'm free again and now we can even marry with my father's blessing."
"Let's not rush, 'Yuri." Hiroshi said as he had stopped walking in front of his old flame. "We still have a lot of time. I mean, even if we have ta adopt a child after we marry, then we'll do it so that we can be certain that we made the right choice."
"Thank you, 'Roshi. Thank you." The two lovebirds had by then each other kissed tenderly, unaware of their parked "audience".
"Alright, now this is what I call a happy ending!"
"Angela!"
Jeez, a double entendre type of ending that almost broke the fourth wall too. For those who were surprised to see two Gundum Seed cameos in the first paragraph, let us just say that they kind of fit in their given roles anyway.
As with all the cameos in this story, I do not own them so please don't sue.
Epilogue's next and it's a dozy. See ya there.