Chapter Seventeen: This is Our Home
/USS William Stenz, San Francisco, October 12th, 2029….

"Madam President," Jefferson started as the two walked throw the narrow corridor leading to the hangar. "We have reports of confirmations of the plan from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Forces across the globe will be ready for the offensive in less than an hour." He explained. "Good. Incredible how we were able to organise it over social media." Dianna remarked as she stepped through a hallway into the hangar of the Aircraft Carrier. The gigantic chamber was almost empty as most of the crew and aircraft were already on deck. Levi was stood by a nearby elevator watching several deck hands cart along a payload of missiles for the planes on the deck above them.

"Captain Pravdin?" Dianna called out as she approached him. "Ma'am?" He replied, turning around and saluting as she came up to him. Dianna imitated the salute before beginning to explain. "We're a little short of pilots. With a surplus of jets, I'm gonna need you to link up with Raven Squadron, Raven Five is already prepped up and ready to go. You know how to fly a F55, right?" she asked. Levi nodded, "Of course, Madam President. Flew in them for four years before moving to the V36 project." Dianna smiled. "Outstanding."

"Did somebody say they need pilots?" A voice called out from across the hangar as the trio turned to look. Hunter walked down towards them through the massive chamber, clad in a flight suit with a helmet tucked under his left arm. He looked like his old self again, with the same charismatic smile on his face and proud, confident stride. His hair had been cut short again and his long scraggly beard was now gone. "Hunter Storm of the Counter-Godzilla Force requesting orders, Ma'am."

Jefferson grinned as he looked at the man. "Good to have you back, sir." He said as Dianna stepped forward. "You're not serious, are you?" she asked. Hunter simply nodded in reply. "I can fly. You can teach an old dog new tricks, you know." Dianna put her hands on her hips. "I see. We'll get something ready for you, then, Dad." She said and turned to Jefferson and Levi who were waiting at the elevator. "Right this way." She said to him as she followed the two.

….

Walking across the deck of the carrier, she saw the ship was alive with commotion as techs and engineers darted about prepping fighter jets and choppers as soldiers and pilots talked and geared up. "They look a little young." Dianna said to Jefferson on them. "That they are, ma'am." He replied bluntly. "They look a little nervous." She added, commenting on the worried faces of everyone around her as they crossed the deck. Jogging up to a nearby deck hand who was pulling away the small step ladder up to a jet, "'scuse me, sir." She said to him, hopping up the ladder on top of the jet to look around at everyone. "Good morning!" She called out as the deck fell silent, hundreds of pairs of eyes slowly turned to her, their owners listening patiently.

"Not long from now, we will be participating in the largest mobilised assault in the history of the world." Dianna began. "The world. Our World….Our Home. On this very planet, our ancestors fought, loved and lived before us. But now all of that is in jeopardy, these monsters threaten our very existence. Today is the day we come together as a species, united under a common goal of survival, to free our world so that our children, -and our children's children-, can live lives of peace and happiness. It won't be easy, and we have all already lost so, so much…" She looked around at the hundreds of wide-eyed hopeful faces all staring up at her. "But this is where we take a stand. We say 'NO MORE!' and when take the fight to our enemy, we will show them what happens when they threaten our home; TODAY IS THE DAY HUMANITY SURVIVES!" Dianna roared.

There was a brief moment of quiet as the message sank in, before suddenly, the deck of the William Stenz was lit up in a chorus of cheers and chants. Many of the people saluted, threw what they were holding to the air or hugged as the President climbed down off the jet back onto the deck. Levi was among the hundreds cheering as Hunter and Jefferson were both awestruck at the speech.

….

"Madam President," Commander Ellsworth greeted Dianna as she stepped onto the bridge. "We've confirmed an all-out assault has begun across the globe with any and all military and militia groups attacking MUTOs in their local area." He said, gesturing to the wall of screens and monitors showing various satellite photographs of cities around the world. "What's the casualty rate?" She asked with concern. Ellsworth grimly looked across to a nearby screen. "So far, we've only managed to bring down eighteen MUTOs. Human casualties are climbing as we speak." Rosa stepped in, "We've found Colossus!" She exclaimed. "He's got four MUTOs at his aid ad he's en route to San Francisco as planned." The two looked to the scientist as she gestured to a small stopclock she took from her pocket. "Colossus will make landfall in roughly thirty minutes." Ellsworth nodded. "Right. Time to rock and roll."

….

"Guess it's your lucky day, Maz." Jackie smiled as she handed him an Ironhorn 20mm. "Gee, thanks." He said, trembling under the weight of the massive gun. "With most of the soldiers spread out around the city, Commander Ellsworth wants as many people on deck to defend the ship if its' under attack." She explained, shouldering her own Ironhorn.

Zack and Angel walked up to the two of them. "You ready, yet?" Angel asked as she picked up and M32A1 from the crate nearby. Maz nodded as he struggled to hold his bulky sniper rifle. Angel offered to take the weapon from him, trading it for a smaller assault rifle. "Thanks…" Maz wheezed as he handed her the heavy gun. For her small form, she hefted the bullpup rifle with surprising ease.

As they walked out on top the deck, a firing line was being set up opposite to the runway, with soldiers and crew laying down sandbags and barriers as they loaded their weapons. "Alright, guys?" Max called out as he clicked a magazine into one of the massive sniper rifles. "What the hell do you think you're doing with that?" Maz asked. His sibling shrugged. "I never actually got to fire the shotgun that time in Tokyo, remember." He explained. "So I decided to step it up a notch." Maz grimaced. "The recoil will probably tear your arm off if you're not careful." He warned as he sat down next to him.

….

Levi opened his locker and grabbed his helmet when someone put their hand on his shoulder. "Ready to kick some serious MUTO ass?" a voice asked behind him as he turned. It was Malcom Derin, one of the other pilots of Raven Squadron. "Yeah," Levi replied as he walked past him to the exit. "About time I got some payback." He said.

Looking ahead, Levi saw Linda in the doorway, waiting for him. "Off again?" She asked. Before he could respond, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, "Just come back in one piece, okay?" She mumbled "You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?" Levi smiled. "I'll be fine. Besides, when have I ever let you down?" He asked confidently. Linda simply looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "…Well…except for that time…" the pilot stuttered awkwardly as he corrected himself.

…

"Alright, guys." Derin spoke over the comms as Levi climbed into the cockpit of his F55 Jet. "Lets' kick the tires and light the fires." He laughed loudly before Raven One barked at him to shut up. Taxiing out onto the runway, Levi flicked down the visor on his helmet as the deck hands attached the front wheel of his jet to the catapult built into the runway. Levi slowly inhaled as he ramped up the throttle, the jet beginning to rumble and rattle as it reared to fly. Holding his breath, he flicked off the clamps and launched the catapult. Rocketing across the deck, he pulled back on the stick and the F-55 tilted back as it took off into the air, its' wheels lifting off the deck moments before the ship disappeared behind him.

As the hundreds of buildings rolled beneath them, the squadron of fighter jets quickly clustered together in formation. Looking out of the cockpit of the F-55, Levi could see the other pilots in theirs following behind the squadron leader, Raven One. "All Ravens report in." The man ordered over the comms.
"Raven Ten standing by."
"Raven Seven standing by."
"Raven Three locked, cocked and ready to rock."
"Raven Six standing by."
"Raven Two standing by."
"Raven Eleven ready."
Levin held his mic up to his mouth. "Raven Five standing by." He said as he flicked on various switches on the control panel. The aircraft switched into attack mode, in which the diamond-shaped wings slid back and opened outwards, revealing the armament of a dozen missiles and four machineguns. As that happened, all of the other jets swapped into the same attack mode as attack helicopters lifted off the deck of the William Stenz below them. "Raven Squadron, this is President Storm. We have confirmed sighting of Colossus, he's making his way into the bay." As she said that, Levi could see five dark shapes emerging over the hillside next to the Golden Gate Bridge as Colossus and a group of MUTOs approached. "Good luck people; we only have one shot at this."