Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.

Chapter 6:

The fighting had now gone on for more than two weeks, but thankfully none of Big Green had suffered any more heavy casualties, during either land attacks, in the Navy, which was still shaken up about the third Sailor Brother's passing, or the Air Force…that was, until the Air Force was called up to fight the birds in the air and to stop the bombs which were continually falling on the side of Big Green, which resulted in them having to retreat every time the bombs became too much.

Which was, frankly, always.

The bomb raids and shelter underneath Big Green were starting to get destroyed themselves, and the sound could render anyone deaf if too close, resulting in many sleepless nights because of the sounds of the explosions.

You'd think that Twin Masters would be smarter and save the bombs, but Lin Chung hadn't been joking when he had told them that Twin Masters would go all out.

Lin Chung had, of course, gone with them.

This was still one thing that Master Chou was adamant on, unless First or Second Squad could do better…they couldn't.

The Air Force moved fast and silently, hiding in the clouds when they could, trying to avoid being seen, due to their low numbers and risky mission. Along the way, they encountered some birds that were dropping the bombs from the clouds, and immediately got rid of them before they could sound the alarm and ruin the whole point of going out like this.

Any stray members of Big Green were immediately send back.

They soon reached the copy of the large skeleton that the Eagles had previously had. Only this time, it was carried by the different varieties of bird and twice as big because of the sheer number of birds available for the duty.

The skeleton, as the Air Force and Big Green had learnt, was used as a base for either refuelling or getting more bombs. And it seemed like they were starting to miss the other birds who had been taken care off. Looking at the others, Master Chou nodded, and all flew on top on where the clouds were, but still keeping out of sight of the sharp Hawks' eyes.

Only a few stray people were left at the bottom, screaming and running around in circles.

Rosefinch rolled her eyes. Why couldn't they just get to Big Green instead of doing something so pointless? Gesturing to one of the newer members of the Air Force, he nodded and dived down, getting the people and headed back to Big Green, where they would be afe.

However, he had been careless.

One of those people had screamed again in the air, and the Air Force positions were revealed. Master Chou cursed the man underneath his breath. If they didn't make it out alive, his spirit would haunt that man for the rest of his long or either relatively short life.

Within seconds, they were surrounded.

Lin Chung held off any ammunition fired by the other birds, while the Air Force fired either grape seeds or let the chickens handle the birds. Slowly, but surely, they started to gain an advantage. Because the birds couldn't touch the Air Force, the Air Force could fire away as much as they wanted to.

"We have to get the skeleton knocked from the sky!" Master Chou shouted to the other members, who nodded, and focused their attentions on the skeleton.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Chung saw Mano trying to sneak into the skeleton, while the other birds were occupied. However, a Hawk from above let go of a bomb over his head, and Lin Chung shouted out a warning, allowing Mano to move out of the way just in time, eyes wide as he joined the Air Force once again.

Master Chou was screaming orders at the other members of Air Force, keeping them together and organised among the chaos that Twin Masters must be feeding off. Lin Chung tightened his grip on his staff. How he wanted to strangle the monster for starting this anyway. If it had not been for Master Chou, the Air Force would have long ago been scattered and defeated easily.

The bats worked sometimes, letting them manoeuvre out of the way easily, with the chickens firing egg grenades at them, before they stopped, letting the bats manoeuvre around again to a different position. The skeleton began to fall as more birds tried to avoid the onslaught of the eggs.

However, eventually, even Master Chou realised that this was pointless as he shut up about screaming orders, and realised that they would soon be overrun. He shouted orders at the Air Force, who all obeyed, sticking together and forcing a way out of the surrounding bird, who tried to form a tight shield. However, with Lin Chung blocking off any grenades, this was made slightly easier.

The birds soon realised what was happening, and moved quickly to get bombs from the now falling down skeleton and getting out, squawking at the other birds to do the same.

With an almighty CRASH, the skeleton dropped to the ground.

"Yes!" Master Chou grinned, but turned his attention back to the matter on hand.

The birds started dropping the bombs on the fast moving targets of the Air Force, but they dodged and moved away from each one.

That was, until Mano turned around his eyes lighting up. He turned his rocket, ignoring the surprised calls of Lin Chung and Rosefinch, the only two who had seen him go. Diving after one of the birds, they wrestled for a second, with Lin Chung now covering him, and, returned a moment later with something clutched tightly in hand.

He threw it to Lin Chung, who caught it. His eyes widened at this.

Ammunition that the enemy had been using and that Big Green hadn't been able to get. If he could clone this, they could turn the tide of the War. They could use this to advantage, and help the Army. He grinned at Mano, who, despite the destruction going on around them, grinned back, before he turned around. A Hawk was flying over him. Rosefinch opened her mouth to shout a warning, but it was too late.

Rosefinch and Lin Chung's screams were deafened by the bomb which fell onto Mano and exploded.

The news as they travelled back turned them all numb at the sheer quickness and suddenness that this had happened. Everyone was quiet as they flew back. Even the bomb that Lin Chung was holding was forgotten in their grief,

They returned soon enough, safely into Big Green, and closed the hatch before running back down to where everyone else was waiting, where Master Chou had revealed to Apetrully and the waiting First and Second Squad about what had happened to Mano. "The skeleton is brought down, and we have one of the bombs that they were using." The rest couldn't understand yet why he was so sad, until he choked the end off, still trying to keep up the strong presence.

"Mano is gone…dead."

AN: Hope you liked.

09/02/14 - :P