Chapter 3: New Declaration of War

Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Ace Combat series.

Vandread Ace

Inside the conference room, BC began her report, "Our ship has been completely consumed by the crystals. The bridge, residential quarters and engine room have been engulfed as well. Fortunately, the Dread platform and Reg Central are undamaged, we are currently cleaning up and installing the new database. The bridge has stopped sliding and situated over the ship's garden. The growth of the Paksis Pragma has seem to reach its peak and all other changes have ceased for now. Your report, Meia."

Meia nodded, "Right. The three Dreads that have been transformed by the Paksis no longer fit in our standard platform so we modified the male's side to store them. While investigating, I discovered that this ship hasn't been used for quite some time all the circuits are decayed and useless."

BC concluded, "The real problem is our currently location. It's hard to believe but we are extremely away from Mejale territory and estimates show that it'll take approximately 270 days to return."

Magno uses a fan to cool herself.

She sighed, "What did we deserve to be swept across the galaxy?" The aged woman turned to Meia, "What about our enemy? Have we received any information on them?"

Meia responded, "My team was understaffed so I sent some volunteers to investigate the sight."

Magno asked, "Volunteers? Who?"

Out in space, Edge escorts Dita and Gascogne toward the remains of the Seed Ship that survived the previous battle.

The Reg leader sighs, this is going to be a long day!

On the bridge, the bridge bunnies struggle to keep themselves cool from the heat that's spreading throughout the ship.

Belvedere fanned herself, "What's going on with the air conditioning?" She contacted an engineer, "It's 82 degrees in here!"

The engineer replied, "Stop complaining, it's over 86 in here! Are you having any luck on your end, Parfet?" Inside the engine room housing the Paksis, the lead engineer was busy working on it wearing a specesuit.

She sighed, "This thing's ancient! Is it some kind of prototype?"

Somewhere else, Paiway sat on an elevator writing in a little notebook, "As the brave crew takes over the enemy ship, Magno's family faces a whole new crisis!"

A crew member said, "If you have nothing to do, Paiway then help us out."

The nurse replied, "I am doing something." Barnette and Jura get on, holding some stuff.

Barnette scolded, "Fooling around again? Come on, Paiway!"

Paiway said through her frog puppet, "Barnette and Jura certainly have a lot of stuff. We're lucky that our room was not hit so we won't have to move, ribbit!"

Jura cried annoyingly, "That pisses me off to no ends."

Barnette said, "You're not helping matters whatsoever." She then noticed the rope, "Why is that tied to you?"

Paiway told them, "This elevator's only temporary, I won't be held responsible if it falls. See you later."

Jura said ridiculously, "You're...you're kidding, right?" In the brig, Hibiki, Bart, Duero, Nathan, Grimm and Snow are currently being hosed by a group of woman wearing their spacesuits.

Hibiki complains, Bart scurries around while Duero stood. The male members of Razgriz Squadron on the other hand seem to enjoy it even if the water was cold. Magno and BC watch from a monitor.

Magno asked, "So these are the only men left?"

The platinum-haired commander nodded, "Yes. We'll have to rely on them for the time being until we fully figure out how the system works."

The pirate leader said, "Yeah, I have never seen anything like it before. Very unnerving." She recalls the time when she saw Bart being ejected from the sphere.

Later on, Bart's busy telling a made-up story. Duero, Grimm and Snow go with the flow, Hibiki dozes off into space and Nathan reads a Blue Dove for a Princess, Nagase's favorite book from her childhood.

Bart said, "It was so unnerving, my comrades were dying one by one but I knew I had to persevere in order to defeat the enemy. Now fate has presented with allies..."

'This sucks. I thought I had proved my existence but I was wrong but what the heck...' He thought.

Bart brought him out of his thoughts, "What the heck happened back there? Who made that Vanguard and why did it combine with the Mejalian fighter?"He pointed to Nathan, "How did your aircraft transform into that robot form?"

Nathan looked up from the book, "Beats me. All I did was press a red button in the cockpit of my F-15E Strike Eagle and then viola, it transformed into what you saw. You know, your academy on Tarak should train your Vanguard pilots better because me or any of my wingmen could take out an entire squadron of them without breaking a sweat." He resumes reading the book.

Bart looked at Hibiki, "What about you?"

Hibiki snapped, "How should I know? You think I'm going to forgive you for socking me yesterday?"

The helmsman raised his hands defensively, "Calm down, there's no need to get upset. I was only thinking of your best interests." That certainly got under one of Hibiki's nerves.

The young Tarak glared at him, "You really don't know when to shut up, do you? There's enough hot air in here as it is!"

Duero informed Hibiki, "He's simply worried, that's all. He is trying to take his mind off of things through conversation. Try to forgive him."

Bart gasped, "You're really sharp, you must be one of elite! So what do you say? With your intelligence, my speaking skills and their strength." He pointed at the Osean pilots, "We will have no problem defeating those..."

BC's voice cuts him off, "Would you care to repeat that?" The prisoners wonder if she was listening in on the whole thing.

Bart answered sheepishly, "Oh, nothing. We were just joking around."

The woman said sarcastically, "I'd like to hear your jokes. You'll come with me, won't you?"

The helmsman answered nervously, "I'd be happy to as long as it's of social nature." Out in space, Gascogne commences with the investigation of the Seed Ship.

She said, "This looks more of a giant factory than a space ship in my opinion."

In the conference room, Magno asked her, "Well? Anything worthwhile?"

Gascogne answered, "We're searching the database right now for clues but it's pretty banged up."

Dita approached the Reg leader, "Hey, Miss Gasco would it be okay if I looked around?"

Gascogne flicked her away, "Absolutely not! We got work to be done!" With no gravity to stop her, Dita rolls back. Magno chuckles at the sight then she hears an incoming transmission.

She pushed a button and asked, "Yes, BC?"

BC informed, "I brought our navigator."

Magno said, "I'll be right there." She returned at the Reg leader, "Keep me informed of your progress, Gascogne."

The fellow Mejale space pirate saluted, "You got it." Pressing a button, Magno's seat slides back through a set of doors, turns around and slides down to its position on the bridge.

Bart said timidly, "Hi there. I was told that...you need me for something."

Magno pointed at the sphere, "Yeah, that thing. We haven't been able to discover how to operate it by ourselves so tell us how you did it."

Bart blinked for a moment then regained his composure, "I might as well, given the circumstances." He held up the hand restraints to emphasize it and BC deactivated them, "Listen closely, this is a male's ship which means only men can operate it. So I find it very fortunate that you ladies found me. You may find me to be indispensable..." He's soon sucked inside the sphere again.

Magno sighed, "I don't think we will ever understand this system." Once inside, Bart reflexively moves which in turn, made the ship boot up and move to a different direction.

In the brig, Hibiki, Duero, Grimm, Snow and Nathan are tossed around like toys, hitting the wall or floor. Nathan was somehow able to hold onto the Blue Dove for a Princess book.

Snow said, "I take it from this violent shaking that our helmsman has started up the ship. You guys okay?"

Hibiki answered, "I'm okay. What the hell was that?"

Duero calmly stated, "Most likely Bart."

Grimm said, "We might as well make ourselves comfortable, seeing as how we are going to be in here for a while."

Hibiki looked at him, "Are you crazy or something? We have to take back this ship!"

Snow stated, "And how do you propose we do that? In case you have forgotten we on a ship where the women can call upon reinforcements, is that you want? To be shot on sight?" Hibiki lowered his head, "See what I mean? It's best we help the women out and become allies instead of being at each other's throat constantly."

Duero said, "You seem unfazed by the fact that this crew's made almost entirely of women except for us."

Grimm answered with a smile, "Believe me, Duero we come from a planet where men and women lived together in peace instead of being mortal enemies that your two planets are doing. We might educate you guys on the finer points on what it's like to have a female as a companion."

Hibiki shouted in confusion, "Men and women living together in harmony? That's impossible!"

Grimm continued, "You may believe in that propaganda non-sense that your military feeds ya but I speak the truth."

'What are you guys exactly? Why you know so much about women is currently beyond my knowledge but I will find out.' Duero thought as he narrowed his eye and absorbed the information, Hibiki took it in as well before trying to get some shuteye.

Little do they know that Magno listened in on their conversation through a monitor.

'These Ghosts of Razgriz are certainly an interesting lot. You guys are truly an enigma to all of us.' She thought.

The hours mercilessly tick by and Hibiki begins to sweat as if he is having a fever, the temperature inside the ship must have gone by 20 degrees or more. Duero leans his forehead on Hibiki's to check his temperature since he can't use his hands for the task.

Upon seeing this Hibiki shoved him away, "What do you think you're doing?"

Duero replied, "Checking your temperature."

The young Tarak cried, "I'm fine doc, there is nothing wrong with me."

Duero asked him, "Except you were mumbling in your sleep. Who's grandpa?"

Hibiki replied, "No one special he raised me ever since I was little."

The doctor said, "Peculiar. I don't recall any of the first generation having parents like that."

Nathan closed the book, "Give the kid a break, doc! Your endless barrage of questions is really beginning to annoy me!" At the bridge, Ezra tries to contact Gascogne, Dita or Nagase but all she gets is static on the other end. Suddenly her cheeks flush and her breathing becomes labor then she faints onto the console.

In the brig, Duero is soon called upon to check on Ezra. An elevator brings him along with BC and a pair of armed guards to the infirmary, the man spots Ezra laying in a bed.

BC explained, "She's running a fever that is showing no signs of subsiding. I'd like you to take a look."

Duero wondered, "That's strange. I was told that your medical technology was really advanced."

The commander closed her eyes, smiling, "You really are one of the elite, you probe for information whenever the opportunity presents itself. Alright then, approximately 98% of systems are presently offline that includes the infirmary." She looked at him, "Is that enough for ya?"

Duero smiled, "I will examine the patient." Eventually, the ship dips into a sea of water ice inside a nebula making the engines to shut down. However, that doesn't lift Magno's spirits.

The aged pirate grumbled, "Just when I get the good news that we've stopped, we wind up in a nebula of all places." The fan next to her turns off without warning.

Belvedere alerted her, "Captain, another part of the ship is changing again." The power to the infirmary goes off.

Noticing this, Duero snatched a communicator from a guard much to her displeasure, "Engineering, I need power to the infirmary restored right away."

Parfet told him, "I would love to but I can't read a male's language." BC gives him permission to go up to the engine room. While all of that is going, she goes to the male section of the ship to contact Magno.

She said, "Captain, I have a suggestion." The pirate leader had an ice pack on her head in her desperation to keep cool.

Magno looked at her image, "Go ahead, I'm all ears."

BC explained, "I think sending the Vanguard pilot and one of the Ghosts of Razgriz to rescue Gascogne, Dita and Nagase."

Magno said, "That's not a bad idea. May I ask why you are in the male's section of the ship?"

BC smiled, "Just fulfilling my duty as your First Mate. Over."

'Anymore of this waiting and I will go crazy from boredom.' Snow thought as he, along with the other members of Razgriz Squadron push their g-suits to their waists while Hibiki went down to his underwear.

He groaned, "Hot." For a third time, the platinum-haired woman comes down to the brig.

She teased upon seeing them in their current state of undressed, "My, my, what interesting outfits you have there. Have you no shame?"

Hibiki glared at her, "It is our turn to go, right?"

BC shook her head, "Actually no. I came here to ask for a favor."

Nathan asked curiously, "And what would that be?"

The commander said, "I'm going to be honest right now, we left some of our crew members behind. I want you..." She pointed at Grimm and Snow, "To rescue Barnette and Jura from an elevator they are trapped in and you two..." Now pointing at Hibiki and Nathan, "To rescue our recon team we sent out earlier."

Hibiki scoffed, "Give me one reason why we should help you."

Nathan informed, "This is no 'we' in this, Hibiki. As I said before, it's best that we help each other and become allies rather than remaining as enemies and trying to rip one another's head off. Besides it's said that the strong help the weak." He looked at the commander, "You going to let us out?"

Hibiki sighed, "Fine, I'll help out!" The four get dressed and proceed to their respective tasks.

Nathan and Hibiki enter their craft and take off.

Out in space, Dita tries to escape from a bunch of cube-types that are attacking her. Edge was initially with her but had to break off to engage a formation of MiG-21s. Her Dread's radar shows her that two unknown objects are approaching from 12 o'clock, out of reflex she fires at them. It's revealed to be the Vanguard and F-15E Strike Eagle though Hibiki's machine took the damage while Blaze avoided it in time.

Hibiki scolded, "Hey! Is that your way of thanking someone coming to get you?"

Dita exclaimed in excitement, "The alien!" Hibiki starts backing up but he doesn't get far because Dita's Dread combines with his Vanguard to create Vandread Dita. The two find themselves in the futuristic looking cockpit again.

Hibiki said, "Would you quit moving around so much?"

Dita looked at him, "I just want to thank you for coming to my rescue."

The young Tarak replied, "I didn't come to rescue you, I was...looking for you."

The redhead giggled, "Well, thank you."

Blaze told them, "This moment is cute and all but we still got a recon team to recover." Edge tries to shake a MiG-21 off her tail but everywhere she turns to, the MiG follows. It acquires a lock for one of its K-13 Atoll heat seeking missiles and fires, missile warning blares inside the F-15E Strike Eagle's cockpit as Edge pulls evasive maneuvers but she gets another missile warning, this time from her 5 and 9 o'clock. She grunts as she feels herself thrown into the seat from the force of 9 Gs. Her g-suit inflates to keep her from passing out. Edge succeeds in popping flares to get the missiles off her tail, the relief isn't long because she avoids being shot at by the MiG-21's 30mm cannon. Executing a vector roll, Edge lines up an enemy MiG for her AIM-9 Sidewinder but its comrade thwarts any attempt of firing it.

'I could use some help about now.' She thought.

Her prayer gets answered when 4 AIM-120D AMRAAM obliterate some of the MiG-21s, causing the others to break off their attack on Edge. The black-haired woman sees Blaze's F-15E Strike Eagle fly past her canopy window.

Blaze said, "We were told that you ladies could use a hand out here." Getting on another MiG-21's tail, he fires the M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon to earn himself a kill. He turns to his left to see Vandread Dita saving Gascogne. Edge pops flares to confuse another K-13 missile and downs the MiG-21 responsible for it with a Sidewinder. Once the radar shows no more hostiles, she forms up on Blaze's left.

She quickly realized something, "Wait, Blaze! I discovered a strategic bomber a few feet away from the Seed Ship that I think you should contact Magno for permission to bring it back."

Blaze nodded, liking the idea, "Hm, that sounds nice." Back with the Ikazuchi, power's restored though the crew had no time to celebrate because 12,000 feet ahead of them was an asteroid-sized chunk of ice hurtling at them.

Magno immediately ordered, "Hard to starboard! 30 degrees!"

Bart screamed, "Please no!" He shielded his eyes and brace for impact but upon lowering them, he spotted the icy rock blown apart by Vandread Dita, "Hmph! So he saves the day again!" Inside the Vandread's cockpit, Hibiki looks like a zombie.

He said, "For some I feel extremely tired." Dita bounces up and down on a certain part of his anatomy that makes him even more uncomfortable.

Dita cried, "I told you it was amazing, Ms. Gasco!"

Gascogne complained with a tick mark, "Yeah, great. Now get me out of here, will ya? Geez!" Sometime later, the ship clears the nebula and just in time to see the F-15E Strike Eagle towing something.

Blaze contacted Magno, "Excuse me, Magno. Nagase has discovered a strategic bomber that might be useful in the future. Requesting permission to bring it on board."

Magno nodded, "Permission granted." Now that they have been cleared to bring the unknown bomber in, the two aircraft lower their landing gear and flaps to touch down. They let the back landing gear touch the hanger floor first then level the jets out so that they're even with the ground. They next apply the speed break to bring the F-15Es to a halt. Emergency nets deploy to stop the cargo Nathan and Nagase brought with them.

Meanwhile, Grimm and Snow reach the elevator in time to hear Barnette calling out for help.

She gasped upon seeing them, "WHAT ARE YOU MEN DOING OUT OF YOUR CELL?"

Grimm replied, "WE WERE BROUGHT TO HELP YOU GET OUT OF THAT STUCK EVELATOR!" Snow secures the rope they have with them on a pipe.

He lowered it, "HERE! CLIMB UP!" Jura goes first, climbing it with expertise and Snow helps pull her up. Barnette looks reluctant but she too begins ascending, she stops when Snow extends his hand. The brunette suddenly loses her grip and was about to fall to her death if Marcus catch her hand in time. He pulls her up then lets go when Barnette is on her feet.

Jura asked them, "Who sent you to rescue us?"

Grimm answered, "BC did. Nobody gets left behind." The platform they're standing on starts groaning as it struggles to carry the weight of 2 additional people. Realizing that the platform can give out, the group heads for more stable ground. They reach the door leading out of the place. The elevator, along with the platform, falls to the ground shattering upon impact.

The loud noise made Barnette instinctively wrap her arms around the nearest person that happens to be Marcus Snow. Jura and Grimm look on with their jaws dropped and Snow simply shocked. When the Barnette senses that the loud noise is gone, she opens her violet eyes to discover that she's hugging something definitely not female because of the athletic build to the stranger's body and the feeling of the toned muscles. Looking up into Snow's stunning brown eyes, Barnette's entire face soon resembles a cherry.

'I'm hugging a man!' Was the last thought in her mind before she fainted.

Momentarily confused by this Snow's mind processed on what took place seconds ago but then looks to Grimm and Jura, silently asking what happened just now but both of them shrug their shoulders. Shaking his head, the dark-skinned man holds Barnette bridal-style as they head for the infirmary.

Later that day, BC and Magno enter the bridge after having a conference.

BC said, "The captain and I have finished our meeting. Upon analyzing the data we retrieved, we have decided to inform the entire crew. I'd like you all to take a look at this image." Her face was replaced with a planet with gear-like objects on it, "This is the enemy's home planet, we don't know it's exact location but we assume that they have quite a lot of firepower. They attacking us because they believe our presence in their territory are evil intentioned. For this, we will expect more battles along the way to our return home. We've also learned something else from the data. We have discovered that the enemy has called upon the destruction of our home world Mejale as well was the men's world of Tarak. Our faceless enemy is hellbent on the complete annihilation of our home planets!"

Magno took over, "We are pirates and our loyalties are not bound to Mejale or Tarak but we cannot allow an unknown force drive away our potential costumers. Therefore I have to head back ASAP to inform both worlds of this crisis. In order to be successful, we must incorporate the men we have taken prisoner into our crew." The bridge bunnies gasp at the declaration.

Bart chuckled, "So you finally see it my way."

The pirate leader concluded, "There's still many things we don't know about such as this ship and that large machine, however, I am confident that we'll one piece at a time throughout our journey. I expect full co-operation of the entire crew. That is all!" She closes the communication link with a sigh and hears the door leading to the bridge open, the aged pirate turns her head to see Ezra and Duero stepping inside.

Ezra bowed, "Sorry for being out for a while. I will return to my post now."

Magno asked, "Well doctor, have you figured out what caused her to faint like that?"

Duero replied, "It appears that she has some sort of parasitic organism inside her." Magno gasps.

However, Ezra soothed her fears, "It's not that at all! You see...well...I'm pregnant!" Amarone and Belvedere hop out of their posts and rush up to her.

Amarone wondered, "Why didn't you tell us you were a Fahma?"

Bart said in bewilderment, "But I thought babies were born in the factory."

Ezra apologized, "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, captain."

Magno smiled warmly, "There's no need for that, Ezra. I hope you have a healthy baby."

Amarone said eagerly, "Come on, tell us! Who's the Ohma?"

Duero asked, "What is that exactly?"

Belvedere answered, "An Ohma donates an egg and the Fahma nurtures it in her womb. Don't you know anything?"

Duero replied honestly, "This is the time I've heard of it." Now free to roam about the ship, Nagase convinces Magno to have her and the rest of Razgriz Squadron to have rooms instead of being in the brig. The aged pirate leader accepts her request and Razgriz Squadron enter their respective rooms and fills the dresser drawers with clothes.

Of course, Nagase specifically asked for her and Nathan to share a room and Magno didn't see any problem with that since she has seen plenty of married couples back on Mejale. Nathan stares at the stars through the room's window. He always dreamed of one day being able to go into space. He feels his wife placing a hand on his shoulder, he turns around.

She asked, "What's wrong, dear?"

Nathan replied, "Nothing really. Besides from wanting to become a fighter pilot I always wanted to see Earth from space but it's likely that Earth is devoid of life by now. Heh, I am actually starting to feel home sick."

Nagase wrapped her arms around his neck, "Don't worry so much, Nathan. You got me, Grimm and Snow here for ya. Besides from the battles, this is going to be one interesting journey. Don't you think?"

Nathan smiled, "You're right. I am sure the crew will eventually warm up to us." Nagase pulls him in for a passionate kiss before they both go to their new bed.

A/N: Chapter 3 done.

Nathan and Hibiki rescued Dita, Gascogne and Nagase plus acquire a strategic bomber at the same time. Grimm and Snow rescued Barnette and Jura from the stuck elevator.

This Friday will be the 13th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings and next Thursday, It'll be 26 years since the Chernobyl disaster at Ukraine on April 26, 1986.

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Stay tuned for chapter 4.

Vader 23A