Warning: The following chapter is rated M, for language. Marines and pilot's take the blame.
"Brothers in arms are brothers for life." Morals.
Location: Potomac River, Quantico, 41 days ABG, Earth year 2035, May, 25th, 3:22 pm:
Commander Atkinson sighed, 'how did it come to this?' he thought.
Bouncing up and down, he looked at the fast retreating shores of Quantico Marine Base. The base was mostly a smoldering heap of rubble. The nearby thunderstorms had arrived and with them came heavy rain. Each wave of stinging droplets dampening the spirits of everyone left alive. A few thousand droids stood at the shores, firing off pot shots. It was a futile effort, but droids were dumb, just annoyingly large in numbers.
Of the two thousand Marines originally stationed along Green Defense, just over a thousand remained, retreating with him on evac boats to the USS Carter, a Zumwalt-Class Destroyer. It had been the airstrikes that had cost him the majority of his men. The Hyenas came with little warning, but they had targeted the main base, not the defense line west of it.
Atkinson turned his sights on a rather battered and charred looking Marine standing next to him. She had been the one to throw herself over him when the bombs hit.
"Colonel, once we get aboard, make sure all the wounded get to the medical bay. We have a lot, and get me the Carter's Captain. I need to speak with him, immediately."
Looking up though the rain, she nodded. Atkinson gave one last glance at the destroyed base. Red blaster fire could be seen around the entrance to the GARD Hanger.
'Well, looks like someone's still holding out, hopefully the reinforcements arrive before they fall.'
Location: Inside Roy & Speeds destroyed Humvee, 3:15 pm:
With a quick slash, he made his decision.
The last thought in Roy's head was that of utter disappointment as Speed slashed the knife through the seatbelt straps, freeing him.
'Why'd you have to be the hero, Speed? Why?'
C-16 grabbed Roy's semiconscious body the best he could in the cramped space. The hard part was going to be lugging his body vertically up and out of the vehicle. He looked at the distance to the ground, steeling himself he jumped; holding onto his friend the best he could.
"Argh!" Landing with a thud on the rail ballast, Speed walked away from the wreck before slowly putting his friend down across some concrete rail ties.
"You really thought I'd fall for that, huh bud. Well, you picked the wrong clone to fool," Speed mumbled while checking his friend for the pulse he hoped still existed. Finding it, he breathed a sigh of relief. They weren't out of the woods yet, and Roy could easily die from his injuries, but for now, knowing his friend was still alive made a huge difference to C-16.
Moving his hand to the back of Roy's head, Speed pressed a small button. Normally, the armor would lock up automatically if the user sustained a critical injury; immobilizing him. However, Roy's armor hadn't done so; Speed figured it had more to do with the damaged helmet. However, all suits had a manual trigger, and he just hoped Roy's still worked.
A small hiss issued from the suit followed by white foam frothing out of any holes in the armor; the foam not only immobilizing Roy but also stopping all bleeding from his wounds.
Hearing nearby blaster fire, Speed instinctively went for his carbine.
"Shit!" he exclaimed remembering where he'd put it and his helmet, on top the overturned Humvee which at any time could explode.
Running over to the vehicle and ignoring the pain in his side and shoulder, he grabbed the gun and helmet, before racing back to his friend's side. No sooner had he done this the Humvee burst into flames.
"You owe me big time, bud..." Speed whispered while lifting Roy into his arms in a wounded soldier carry.
"Mmphh... I don't remember you being so heavy when I got you out of the Humvee…"
With his friend hoisted over his left uninjured shoulder, and his carbine held firmly in his right hand, C-16 began walking forward to the Hangar, making sure to make wide berth of the burning vehicle. The GARD Hanger was the one place he could probably make it too before the droids completely took over, and the one place he could get medical help for his friend.
All he had to do was climb a steep embankment from the tracks to the road, cross the road, enter the airfield. And then cross a half-mile of open tarmac before making it to the Hangar. All without getting spotted while carrying a 190 pound unconscious body, how hard could it be?
"Well, at least I don't think it could get any worse," Speed muttered, starting to climb the embankment. Just then, it decided to start raining, hard, "Fucking spoke too soon," he grumbled as he continued on his plight.
"I swear, when you get better, you're gonna be cleaning my armor for a month, no make that three months, actually for the rest of your life... Ugh, fuck, you're heavy..."
Location: Under the White House, ISA facility, 3:18 pm:
"Mr. President, we're ready."
"You know, I never thought this would happen," James stated sorrowfully, looking past the Speaker of the House to the awaiting podium. They were deep under the White House, in part of the extensive sprawling ISA facility.
Nodding in acknowledgment the Speaker continued, "I know what you mean, sir. But I think we've all been there today. The fact is, sir, things happen whether we like them to or not. Whether it is destiny or chance, you are the President of the United States now, and until she wakes, you will lead our nation. You have my full trust and support Mr. President."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, now if you'll excuse me, I have the speech of the century to give."
With one last ruthful look at the officials gathered off camera, James walked out to the podium. He was nervous to say the least.
"Mr. President, we're live in three... two..."
James straightened his tie, clearing his throat he looked into the camera.
"One..."
The light went green. A pause ensued...
"My fellow Americans and citizens of the world, it brings me no great pleasure to come before you today as the President of the United States. I would first like to assure those at home that the President, Lisa M. North is alive, but is not able to carry out the duties demanded of her as President.
However, as acting President, I will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of this nation, and world.
We are at war... a war not with ourselves, but with a far more dangerous adversary, one which will stop at nothing to destroy us all. At this time..."
3:20 pm:
Speed wanted nothing more than to be at the Hangar, but he wasn't. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw hundreds of B1's running after him, red blaster bolts spewing forth.
"We will not cower in fear from those who strive to do us harm…"
Speed ran as hard as he could carrying his brother-in-arms, Roy, his heart pounding in his ears, his breathing quick, shallow and rushed. He could see the door to the Hangar ahead, it was enticingly open.
"It is through unwavering determination that we will persevere..."
The sound of rolling, to Speeds dread, filled his ears; he could outrun B1's but Droideka's? It didn't matter; he had no choice but to.
"It is our men and women, in uniform, who fight so bravely to defend this great country of ours…"
"Almost there, buddy, were going to make it," Speed managed through pants, the rolling sound was getting closer.
"I ask you not to be afraid, but to support your fellow countrymen. We need not fear these droids; they will not undermine our resolve, our liberty, our freedoms, and most importantly, our will to survive…"
It was at times like these, Speed really wished he could fully live up to his name, he was so close; he had to make it, not only for his sake but for Roy's as well. He needed to live, they both did.
"There may come a time, when all hope seems lost, I assure you we will face such a time….."
With red blaster fire flashing passed on all sides, with the Droideka's nearing, Speed kept his focus through the heavy rain on the door; life and death hanging in the balance. Then it started closing.
"But, we will not face it alone, nor will we have no one to call upon in that time of need…"
"Stop! Wait!" the hoarse cry escaping from Speeds lips. He was so close, it couldn't end this way. He clutched his friend as close as possible and doubled his speed.
"We have new allies, new friends, and while we have new enemies, our allegiance will get us through, we will not fail you on this…"
Suddenly, to C-16's relief, the door opened wide, and three white armored bodies stood out. Immediately, streaks of blue rushed past him in slow motion. There was hope yet.
"Therefore, I stand with you in these trying times, and together, we will continue on, in the memory of those who've fallen and those who continue fighting…"
Searing hot pain ripped through Speeds body as several bolts melted the armor to his skin. He kept running; he only had a few meters to go, black gloved hands waving him forward. Suddenly the rolling stopped, but with despair he knew what followed.
"We are no longer alone... we cannot afford to ignore this, we know the danger this presents, but we also have opportunity. Our new allies will not let us down, they are human, and share our values as a nation and… as a democracy..."
Speed knew it would hurt, but getting hit by a Droideka, hurt. Two red bolts passing completely through him. He stumbled forward, crying out in pain, clutching his friend tight. But he didn't hit the ground, instead he found himself in the arms of the strange white-clad soldiers. "Who in the blazes are you?" he mused, as all pain disappeared along with his sight.
"All this I promise you. As was once said in a time of war and bares repeating, we have nothing to fear but fear itself… Thank you. God bless you. And may God always bless these United States of America."
Shouting, hushed voices, pain, but no blaster fire.
Speed slowly opened his eyes, a new face, belonging to that of a Marine Special Op's soldier, hovered above him.
"You're safe, kid, you're safe... You have a name, besides C-16?" the Marine asked quietly, holding out his dog tags.
Speed smiled a little; safe... he had no idea how that felt until now. Speaking of feeling, he felt nothing in his chest and back, instead he felt cold everywhere else.
"It's Speed."
The other soldier smiled, "Well, you definitely proved that, I've never seen a Marine sprint that fast, let alone carrying another on his back."
Roy?… Speed's smile turned into a frown. The other Marine noticed and as if reading his mind continued.
"Don't worry Speed, your friends going to make it, he'll need surgery, but we're taking care of that. I need you to rest now, okay?"
Speed nodded, noticing another Marine watching him nearby; but a sharp pain in his arm interrupted his thoughts. Then for the first time in a long time, sleep was all he knew.
Aaron turned to Trevor, "I'll bring them down to the med-center. They have the necessary tools to keep them both alive, particularly Roy... umm... you okay, Sarge?"
"Yeah, Aaron, get these boys down and quick, I don't know how much longer that door's going to hold out."
Aaron however, knew his Sergeant better than most, "Look, sir, I know it's been a while, but he's not Tye, Tye's dead. They may be identical, but personality wise they're totally different. They're unique individuals, even if they are not genetically so."
Trevor staring at Speed, sighed. He nodded his head, "Understood Private, now get them to safety. Oh, and make sure that data-pad gets to level thirty intact, okay?"
"Yes, sir!"
Trevor, with one last look to the ghost of his former squadmate, went back to the others. He could hear the droids firing away at the door; they'd be through any moment.
Location: Somewhere near D.C. in Virginia Airspace, 3:14 pm:
"Echo Squadron, this is D.C. Air Command. Come in."
"This is Squad leader, go ahead."
"Echo 1, we are sending you updated tactical information. We have new allies coming in from above; they'll show up green on your HUD's. Your new objective is to make sure their drop ships called LAAT/i's or Larty's make it to the ground in one piece. Their fighters will be joining you as well."
Echo 1 was surprised to say the least, "Wait, like the Republic, from..."
"Yes, Echo 1, the Republic, and we're just glad they're on our side. Is everything clear?"
Squad leader almost laughed, no, everything was definitely not clear. He was just getting used to the fact that the droids and Separatist were real, but the Republic? It figured, but still, it seemed to make the situation all the more surreal.
"Do the Russians know about what ships to destroy and..."
"Yes, they already know... General Skywalker is leading the Republic's fighters. From now on you and your men are under his command. He will be in contact with you shortly, however under no circumstances are you or any of your pilots to tell them about what we know of them. Understood?"
Squad Leader quickly decided that either this was way over his head or that he would wake up soon back at his airbase in Portland. He'd worry about making sense of it later, "Yep, crystal clear, command. One question though, since when do the Russian's get to know things before us?"
Silence greeted him on the other end, "D.C command out."
'Figures...' he thought before turning his attention back to the dogfight.
It was just a few seconds later, that a new voice entered his comm, "This is General Skywalker of the Republic. Is anyone receiving?"
Squad leader gulped, 'shit, he even sounds similar!' He watched as a hundred or so new friendlies lit up his HUD radar, coming from above to the south. Almost like clockwork the majority of the remaining Droid fighters abandoned their current targets and headed straight for them.
"Uhh, yes General, this is Echo Squadron leader, call me Echo 1. What are your... orders, sir?"
"Echo 1, huh, I like the sound of that. Echo 1, I need you and your pilots to escort our troop transports to the ground. We'll hold off the droids. Can you do this?"
"Yes, sir! Uhh, where are the transports we need to escort? I'm not picking them... Never mind, got a lock on their positions, two groups, okay. Rookie, I'm putting you in charge of the rest of Echo Squadron. You're to go with them and escort the northern Larty group to the capital. Me and the Russians will take the south group to Quantico. Everyone got that?"
All the pilots pinged in their response. They were all ready.
"Echo 1, good luck. The Sep's just let out another hundred or so fighters. We could use the help when you're done."
"Copy that General, good luck, we'll make sure your men make it to the ground in one piece. Echo out."
With that, the Jetfighters assembled into their respective groups and went off to help the Republic transports.
3:22 pm:
"Hey Oni, looks like the sep's really don't want help arriving at Quantico, a bunch of fighters just broke from Skywalker's dogfight and are heading to intercept. Tighten up the left flank."
Echo 1 watched as the few dozen Russian Jets tightened their formation around the larty's. Then the heavily accented voice filled his comms, again.
"How many times, my comrade? It's Captain Onisim Mihaylov. And my men can fly, don't worry yourself about that!"
"Yeah Oni, I'm sure they can but can they fight? 'Cause I'm counting forty bogeys fast approaching."
Laughter greeted Echo 1 in response.
"I would say the same, my American friend. But, you have a point. Squadrons 2 & 3 break formation; light them up for mother Russia!"
Echo 1 just smiled, he was really starting to like this Russian Captain. Suddenly new information flashed on his HUD; the droids it seemed had set up a makeshift AA battery at Quantico. He immediately sent though the information to the Commander in the larty's next to him.
3:24 pm:
CC-2224's data-pad beeped with an incoming transmission. Opening it he read through the message.
'Not good, so much for friendlies being in control of the ground.'
He looked to his General, bouncing along in the Larty with the turbulence, holding the overhead supports. He wore the same look of determination, as he always did before going into a battle zone. All the men had a sense of excitement; they were going to be fighting soon.
"General, just got a message from the US General. Quantico's fallen, and the droids have set up AA guns. We're going in hot."
"Understood Cody, let the rest of the pilots know. How are the troopers already on the ground faring?"
"I don't know, sir. However, if the droids have taken over the base, they won't be able to hold out forever."
Obi-wan didn't reply, instead, as the airlocks on the larties opened, he looked out onto a lush green world, zooming by. He couldn't help but think of Naboo, as they hugged the ground, ever once in a while, a clearing in the trees showed the human inhabitation of the planet.
But none of this mattered to him; his focus was on the Force. He could sense something unusual in it; there was something special about one trooper in particular at the Hangar.
Suddenly the Larty pilot's voice came through into the main hold of the ship, "ETA, 2 minutes with the ground boys. Hold on, we have incoming enemy fire."
Location: Below the Pentagon, ISA facility, Main Military Operations Base, 3:25 pm:
Five Star General Mel D. Sanford, leader of the United States Military, watched two main screens, with growing frustration. They showed the progress of the Droid forces as they continued to advance at both Quantico and D.C.
Quantico had fallen, but Washington, was more or less of a stalemate. The Droids, to his growing malice, seemed only content on killing any and all civilians they could find. It wasn't good. However he had high hopes in a particular Army Commander, one who had successfully stalled the droids on Pennsylvania Avenue from advancing towards the Capital Building and the rest of D.C.
"Commander, I am pleased to inform you that we have reinforcements on the way."
On the screen, a battlefield camera showed the Commander, hunkered behind a Jersey barrier on Pennsylvania Ave, shouting orders, and firing of rounds at the Droids. As the regular Army didn't have full body armor, the heavy rain was soaking the soldier completely.
"Glad to hear it sir. When will they be here?"
The General was in one of the main command centers far below the Pentagon, another part of the ISA facility. Looking to a data pad, the General smiled.
"They should be arriving there now."
The commander looked around through the rain, seeing no one new, he returned to look at the camera. A sudden blast sent a brick building crumbling down in the background. As dust cleared with the help of the rain the Commander continued.
"Sir? There's no one here. Except my men, what do..."
"Look up, Commander," the General interrupted.
A deep humming/whining sound could be heard through the video feed, as the Commander looked up, blinking the rain out of his eyes.
"Uhh, sir? Are those what I think they are?" he stated absently, watching a few dozen dark shadows streak across the sky, the dark storm clouds behind making it hard to see. A few Jetfighters accompanied the alien aircraft.
"Yes Commander, we have new allies, this is the 501st legion, part of the Grand Army of the Republic. They have a lot of experience fighting these droids so listen to what they have to say. Captain Rex will be landing near you; you two will be working together. Understand?"
All the Commander could do was nod his head. He watched one of the transports descend and land farther down the street near an Abrams tank. The rest continued towards the Capital Building, where there was enough room for all of them to land safely.
Jumping out of the nearby transport were a dozen blue and white armored soldiers, illuminated by a streak of lightning through the rain. The Commander, shaking his head in disbelief, ran crouching to a safer location away from the firefight and under cover from the weather. Walking up to him, the Republic soldiers stopped, one in particular stepped forward.
Taking of his helmet, the soldier smiled, "Are you Commander Fulton?"
The Commander nodded with a bit of caution, he was still in disbelief, "Uhh, yes, sir, Commander Henry Fulton of the United States Army at your service. And you are?"
"Captain Rex, leader of the 501st and these... are my boys," he paused waving his hand at the men assembled behind him, "We hear you have a bit of a droid problem, care if we help?"
For once the Commander got over his suspicion and smiled, waving a hand for them to walk towards the front line he continued, "Help, yes, that would be good. I hope those other ships that passed overhead had more of your men in them?"
"Yes, they'll be here shortly," Rex looked around at the partially destroyed neighborhood, before adding, "Wherever here is."
The Commander looked at him appraisingly, "Pennsylvania Ave, Captain, a main arterial for commerce between the west and east side of Washington. The, uhh... Droids... They are using it to make their advance east towards the Capital Building," Fulton pointed east indicating a large domed building barely distinguishable through the rain, an American Flag still on top flapping in the wind, "We've managed to stall their advance here, but we lost a lot of good men to do it. There's just so many of them, and they aren't really trying to advance either... they... they're targeting civilians, they are purposefully going into buildings and killing; children, men, and women... for what purpose?"
Rex sighed; it did seem odd, even for the Sep's, to go out of their way to kill this many innocents. He immediately thought of the two fronts, and the reason became crystal clear. The Sep's were using the city as a distraction. The US, just like the Republic, would send its main forces to the city to defend its citizens, leaving the real target un-protected. Smart, he had to admit, but ultimately they would fail. He supposed they thought they could get away with genocide on a backwater unknown world. However, he and his men would make them pay.
"Doesn't matter right now, Commander, our job is protecting your civilians, shall we get started?"
Rex stood aside, showing a company of eighty clones in blue marching down the street towards them.
"That's all the men you have?" The commander asked incredulously. He thought by the amount of ships that had gone overhead, there'd be at least twice that.
Rex smiled, "No Commander. I have five other groups just like this. General Sanford said your lines extend both to the north and south, so that's where I sent the others. Make sense?"
The Commander nodded, his wasn't the only line of resistance, he was glad the Captain had the foresight to send reinforcements to other parts of the city. Another trooper near Rex stepped forward.
"We may be small in numbers, sir, but with these," he hefted up what looked like a rotary canon of sorts, "the clankers don't stand a chance."
"Hardcase, get back, let the Cap finish up will yah!" yelled one of the other troopers with Rex.
"Rookies, quiet," Rex chided, before turning back to the Commander, "Look, our weapons are more advanced and we've been trained since birth to deal with situations such as this, so don't worry, we'll get the job done."
Before the Commander could even respond, Rex had swiveled around. Facing the column of eighty 501st troops, he gave his orders, "Okay, drive the droids back, protect the civvies, reinforce their defenses; let's send em' back to the Sep's in pieces!"
Flicking his hand to the left a couple of times, the troopers quickly broke formation and rushed to the makeshift Jersey Barrier/sandbag barricade that stretched across the abandoned road. Immediately, Blue bolts started shooting back at the droids, joining the near invisible projectile ammo the Army used. Rex turned to look back at the Commander who was more than impressed.
"Shall we," Rex gestured towards the barricade. Nodding Fulton, Rex and the eleven men accompanying the Captain all ran forward into battle.
A/N: Well, I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. It's been beta'd and as always, I can't thank that person enough, they have my everlasting respect.
So I'll be on a two-week hiatus while I get major college things out-of-the-way. The next chapters will mainly focus on Ten and co, Rex and Cody and the ensuing battles. Lot's of action and all that, with a lot more emphasis on the Republic troops, though I'll still have some POV for the Earth forces. I assure you Ch 21 will be up in three weeks time.
Please review, I always love to hear from you. I don't own star wars, and have a good two weeks... : )