Chapter 8

The silence that hung in the air after my statement felt almost lethal.

"You…you aren't serious, right?" Kayomi said in a small voice, dripping with fear.

"Unfortunately, I am serious." I heaved the briefcase of intelligence God had given me. "Follow me."

Some twenty minutes later…

Everyone stared at either the files laid all across the desk or at me, terrified.

We've proceeded to the tactical meeting room of the air base's main terminal, and I laid out the sheets all across the table. Most were radio & telegram transmissions from Alisa to "P.K.T", which probably is a gang or something. There is also a list of all the personnel and vehicles included in tonight's assault. If the list is true, then we'll be greeted by some 250 people, all grown-up men, tonight. Approximately 20 out of them were mercenaries who operate on individual will, according to another private frequency. They wield mostly gear that the U.S used during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, which meant Thompsons, M16 assault rifles, a few HKM16 rifles, M1 Carbine rifles, M2 Garand rifles and frag grenades. There will be 2 M20 Super Bazookas and quite some M2 heavy machine guns, 9 M8 Greyhound armored vehicles, 2 M20 armored vehicles, 7 M2A1 light tanks and 1 T27 Armored Tank. The best of the gear, given to the 20 mercenaries, including 3 V100 Commando armored cars and 1 M5 Stuart light tank. While we have the fortifications and heavy gear, the numerical advantage is still troubling. And they plan to land their gliders at an abandoned part of the city next to the old highway, as well as the westmost point of our airfield. We don't have that much fortifications available.

"What are we supposed to do?" a pilot said, shaken up significantly.

"Andrew, how many people do you have under your command?" I asked.

"70." He sighed.

"Great. We're in some big trouble."

"I've an idea." The boy who spoke to me about the AA net yesterday piped up suddenly. "We can get the Oarai Rangers and the Police!"

"Forget the cops, they can't find out about this base." I grumbled, "and who are these Ranger dudes?"

"Imagine an Oarai version of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts…"

"How many? And their age? Can they even wield a gun?"

"They've 300 approximately. Most are our age, if I remember correctly. And I think they can wield weapons; they train with military backpacks loaded with sand and weights."

"Let's hope so. How do we get to them?"

"I told you last night, my friend is their vice-captain."

"Well, do it quick."

…

Robert Jameson was getting a real shock.

It was another ordinary training day. He had just ordered his faction to finish the routine trek when his phone rang. A call from his old friend, apparently.

"Hey Thomas, what's up?" he said cheerily into the phone.

"I have a major problem here." His BFF didn't sound so happy.

He frowned, "what?"

"Before I say anything else, promise me this: NEVER tell anyone save for your Rangers about anything I say, ESPECIALLY not the authorities."

"Umm, I promise?" he said, confused.

"Get your captain and round up every last member of the Rangers who can fight. Proceed to the unfinished highway next to the Tankery grounds. You know that place."

"Yeah, the old road."

"Good. And turn all your phones to flight mode as soon as you exit the urban areas. I can't say much more. Hurry, you have to arrive before 12."

And Thomas hung up.

Robert frowned in puzzlement. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but Thomas didn't seem to be willing to answer before his Rangers showed up.

He heaved a sigh, and approached his captain.

"Umm, captain? I need to ask you a favor…"

10 minutes later…

I nodded at the sight of the Oarai Rangers, who were all looking around in astonishment at the airfield around them.

"I think they'll be good enough to make up the numerical disadvantage."

"You still haven't explained." The Rangers' Captain, an Oarai boy named Hiroshi, said.

I heaved a major sigh. "I'll explain over the PA. Now get to your team."

And I picked up the microphone next to me. In a grim voice, I explained about the situation we face and my plans to counter the emergency. I didn't tell them about the system we have, or how to counter the vehicles, stating that we have a way. I also told them that this war is launched by and only by Alisa, and that the school of Saunders cannot be held responsible. I was modestly worried throughout the speech, because I'm worried that they'll back out once they realize how serious this is.

I never needed to.

As soon as I stopped speaking, the Rangers all yelled in fury at the situation I've explained to them. I heard their cries, "This is an INVASION!" "We will not tolerate this war behavior!" and such. In short, they were hopping all over with rage and excitement.

The captain looked at me, his eyes ablaze.

"The Rangers will do anything to defend our school from this attack, comrade."

Many hours later…

I sat in the control room of the airfield's systems, looking down at the green radar screen.

We've done some training, handed out guns to the Rangers, and bought some anti-personnel vehicles, including Sd Kfz 222 armored vehicles and Panzer I light tanks, all remote controlled to avoid casualties (I told the Rangers we had these in stow, and they believed it). Some Rangers were assigned to WWII antiair weaponry throughout the area, in order to make the antiair system unleash its full potential.

I was sweating with anxiety, nervousness and fear. This is a fight that we must win, I know, and I've done so many preparations that we can't lose. But what if … no, we definitely will, we won't lose! But just what if we …

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I looked at the screen, and sure enough, there were an entire fleet of aircraft flying toward the airfield. Toward me and my troops.

With a low growl, I hit the AA alarm switch on the counter, and snapped up the mic.

"All troops! Enemies are approaching! Antiair weapons prepare to engage! All infantry, ready your weapons!"

And I dashed out of the room, red alarm lights sweeping past me, sirens wailing in my ears, MP-41 in my hand and all other weapons stowed, and dove into the fight.

…

Miho Nishizumi was sleeping when the sounds woke her up.

Turning in her bed, she tried to shake off the dreams, but another low boom told her that it wasn't the dreams that are causing her insomnia.

"What the heck?" She muttered, slouching over to the window.

As soon as her eyes adjusted to give a sharp image, all the grogginess drained as pure horror replaced it.

Some distance away, multiple beams of light cut through the sky, illuminating the clouds and the area below. But that isn't where the big problem is. All over the sky, high and low, explosions glowed brilliantly, and narrow traces of light cut through the sky, the faint rat-a-tat-tat audible even in her ears.

"I have to be dreaming!" She said to herself, in terror. "These are antiair cannons and machine guns!"

She looked again, and the situation got only worse. Shadows that looked suspiciously like fighter planes are swooping in and out of the sky, occasionally sending out trails of light that are doubtlessly bullets. Looking down, she saw dots of light rising from the earth in a trail of smoke. What they are, she needed only seconds to figure out. Antiair missiles.

She dashed over to the bed where Saori and Hana are sleeping, and shook them vigorously.

"Commander, WHAT?" Saori groaned sleepily. "And what's that sound? It appears to be from outside…"

The two girls stumbled to the window and looked. When they turned back, their faces are wide awake and filled with shock and horror.

"What is going on?! Are those antiair weapons?"

"I don't know! But we have to get there! Something is seriously messed up!"

At the airfield…

"Get them!" I roared as a trio of Rangers dashed past me.

The gliders emerged from the clouds as soon as I stepped out of the building, to be greeted only by our fighters and AA. A few burst into flames or spiraled out of the air, but we weren't able to stop them from landing a few, no surprise. And the fighting begun.

I ducked back down behind the sandbags, loading my MP-41. I rose again, and pressed down hard on the rifle's trigger. A stream of fire whizzed out of the muzzle, taking out a man who was approaching my cover with an M3 Grease Gun.

"Look out!" A Ranger next to me pulled me down as an M16 sent 5 bullets over my head. The boy pulled out a grenade, pulled the pin, and chucked it hard at the sound of the gun. Seconds later, an explosion mixed with a few screams told me the explosive had done its job.

"Move, move!" I yelled, and we jumped over the low sandbag wall, running past some smoldering wooden crates we piled on the ground as anti-glider obstacles. We made a turn, and saw 5 men with M16 rifles moving toward us with an M8 Greyhound. I pulled the boy down as the M2 mounted on the vehicle's turret fired, a stream of flame sweeping over our heads along with some M16 rounds. As soon as the machine gun stopped, I jumped up and slashed an arc of flame with my submachine, sending 2 men to the ground. The boy threw a PWM antitank grenade he was carrying, and the Greyhound's turret exploded in a ball of flames, the machine gunner flying a few feet before landing on the ground. A man pulled himself out of the vehicle's rear hatch and attempted to retaliate, only to be slain by the boy's MP-40. The three attackers, knocked down by the previous explosion, were taken out by my Luger.

All of a sudden, I heard some commotion to our left, and turned to see one of our Panzer I tanks grinding down the road, its machine guns firing mercilessly. I turned, and saw a legion of thugs being taken out by the MG34. As it neared, a girl sitting on the engine compartment threw me something. I grabbed it to recognize it as a grenade launcher.

"Machine guns incoming!" she yelled, "This will help a bit! Good luck!"

And she disappeared into the smoke with the tank she was riding on.

A low "clunk" reached my ears that second, and I knew what it is.

"Duck!" I yelled, and me & the boy dove down as a mortar shell exploded 2 meters from where we stood. Standing up, I saw an enemy soldier aiming his M1 Garand. I reached for my MP-41, but it wasn't there. Then, I saw its form, 3 meters away from me.

I'm dead. Or nearly, for a split second.

Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta !

The report of an assault rifle came from behind, and the soldier fell down. Looking back as I retrieved my gun, I saw a figure advancing through the smoke, AK-47 held aloft.

"Fidel!" I yelled, amazed.

"You alright, commander?" he yelled.

"Fine." I said, dusting off my jacket, "how many kills have you got?"

He pointed at his back, and I noticed the insanely long barrel of an antitank rifle protruding from his backpack. "Took out an M2A1 light tank with my PTRD."

I stared at him. Then, I laughed.

"Good job! Castro would be proud of you!" I said, slapping him on the back. He grinned.

Another bullet nailed itself into the ground.

"Talk later." I said, "Now, let's go bust some militarism vermin!"

And with that, we dashed off into the blazing war fire, and the grueling, unwelcoming night.