Part 5: Battle       "J.T. the Victorious has been destroyed!" Alec's voice came over the comlink with a hint of fear. Another nail in the coffin. thought J.T. "Keep fighting" he said, not sure what else to say. The sky was thick with enemy craft as he maneuvered deftly behind two and opened fire, both exploded. His proximity alarm sounded and J.T. banked hard to the right as globs and green energy shot by. The Elt-frame continued to pursue him. J.T. saw Alec pull in behind it, a second later it was gone. Bronski's voice came over the com, "I got two on me and I can't shake 'em, some help would be nice!" J.T. saw them vectoring on Bronski below him, "Hang on on Bronski, I'm coming" J.T. banked left and rolled out down and behind the two pursuing craft. He acquired a target lock and fired. The first of the two was destroyed, the second snapped itself around like gravity didn't exist and reversed direction, avoiding the shot. As it passed J.T. it took a shot at him. His frame shuddered under the impact. "J.T. are you alright?" asked Alec. "Caught a hit, but it was nothing serious. Watch your six!" he replied. Alec juked his frame to the right, narrowly avoiding some red globs of energy. "Hang on Alec, I'm coming" said J.T. * * *       Rodar attacked without words or mercy. He came in fast striking at Taqueza's head. Taqueza dodged and Rodar followed up with a back turning kick which caught Taqueza in the shoulder. Taqueza went with the force of the blow and spun on his heel, wiping his arm around in a spinning backfist. He made a solid connection with Rodar's head. He staggered back, Taqueza moved in and Rodar unleashed a flurry of punches to his chest, head, and stomach. With Taqueza momentarily stunned, Rodar grabbed his wrist with one hand and his belt with the other. A second later Taqueza flew through the air and into a nearby wall. As Taqueza tried to get to his feet, Rodar rushed over and kicked him in the head. Taqueza rolled over onto his back. He brought his hands back and legs up, curling like a spring. He then pushed out, extending himself and flipping forward. Rodar was caught off guard and Taqueza's feet hit him square in the chest knocking him back as Taqueza finished his flip and was on his feet. He delivered a hard open handed strike to Rodar's midsection, followed up with leg sweep that brought him to the floor. Taqueza then brought his elbow down hard on Rodar's face. Rodar shrugged it off, grabbing Taqueza by the neck, he threw him off and got to his feet. Taqueza stuck again with a kick that Rodar blocked and used the opening to deliver a solid uppercut. Rodar followed it up with a quick succession of punches to the head. Seeing Taqueza wobbly on his feet, he moved in with a vicious elbow to the back of the head. Taqueza went down and struggled to get to his feet. Rodar bent down a picked him up by his red guardsman's jumpsuit. '(You betrayed the high council, your people! Before you die I want to know one thing...Why?)' he asked. Taqueza looked at him defiantly, '(Look and understand)' he said. Taqueza's features melted away, his skin lightened, and hair grew from parts of his face above the eyes. His eyes opened to reveal not the Eltorian black but a human brown. Rodar was stunned and momentarily loosened his grip, which was what Taqueza was waiting for. Taqueza brought his hands quickly behind Rodar's head and pulled as he smashed his head forward. The resulting headbutt sent Rodar back. Taqueza reverted back and threw a jab to his head, which Rodar caught. He spun Taqueza around and put his arms around him, intending to squeeze the life out of him. '(Die freak!)' he said. Taqueza struggled to free himself to no avail. He had no leverage. No choice, He brought this on himself. Taqueza clenched his fists, his eyes glowed an eerie blue color, and bioenergy pulsed along his frame and exploded outward in a circular manner. The floor was scorched as was the ceiling and most of Rodar's skin. He had released Taqueza and was leaning on a wall for support, '(W-What are you?)' he asked. '(More than you can handle.)' was the reply. Taqueza moved in, his hands and eyes glowing blue. Rodar struck, Taqueza caught the punch, Rodar's fist could be heard dissolving in Taqueza's hand. He roared in pain. Taqueza pulled Rodar's right arm forward and brought his own left hand, palm down, onto the back of Rodar's elbow. His left hand pulsed with energy and sliced its way through the arm. Rodar looked horrified at his own arm lying on the floor. Taqueza spun and delivered a roundhouse to Rodar's head. Taqueza's foot also glowed and horribly cut Rodar's head. He fell to the floor, unconscious at least, dead at most. His left eye was destroyed. Taqueza rushed to the computer console and pressed the execute button, the Sphere's CPU acknowledged the new instructions. All I have to do now is wait Taqueza thought. * * *       Ellen gripped her rife a little tighter. Who picked this drop zone? She thought. It was surrounded on three sides by cliffs. The fourth side was riddled with trenches that lead out of the valley. It was the perfect place to spring a trap. "Lets double time it people" said her CO. They kicked in their jets and proceeded to hop over to the exit of the valley. The rest of Charlie five landed on the the other side of the valley. It would be a good five or ten minutes until they got there. Once at the exit, they stopped and looked at a sickening site. "My God" was all Mathison could manage. Before them lay 16 Eltorian ground mecha. Ellen screamed, "Incoming, get down!" The ground rocked as the blast hit, sending bits of rock everywhere. Poedowski got to his feet, "They're coming right at us!" he announced. Their C.O. and his second were cut down in the blast, they didn't even have time to scream. "What do we do?" asked Mathison, who looked around him helplessly. Poedowski looked back at him, "I-I don't know." Ellen watched them, she wanted to run, that's what her instincts told her, but the squad was depending on them. She snapped to attention, "Poedowski, I want mortor units set up in this ditch, target the ground unit on the left, the one closet to us. Mathison you help him, and radio Butler, advise him of our situation." Without even questioning her they leapt into action. Mathison activated his comunit, "Captain Butler, this is the point group, do you read?" "Butler here, go ahead." "Sir this is Mathison, we have conformation of 16 enemy ground units. Our C.O. and his second are dead. Wright has assumed control, we are presently setting up our mortor units. Please advise, over." "This is Butler, give me a description of the units." "Sir, they're about 20 meters across, Arachnid-like design, only they have six legs instead of eight. There are gun pods mounted all the way around the body, with two particularly large cannons mounted on the front legs. There is also a bulbous structure on the front end, looks like a cockpit. Over." "Understood point group, we're on our way. Hold position any way you can, Butler out." Mathison dropped down into the ditch with Wright and Poedowski. "We have to hold position until the rest of the squad gets here" he said. Wright stopped helping with the units and picked up her rifle. "Mathison help him with this." she said. Ellen looked out at the approaching mechas, "How long till you can give me some firepower, Poedowski?" "2 minutes." he responded. We don't have that long , she thought. Ellen got out of the ditch and readied herself. "Wright, what are you doing?" Mathison asked. "I'm gonna try and buy you 2 minutes, don't disappoint me!" she said. Without another word, she bolted out into the plains firing her rifle. As she drew to within 50 yards of the first mecha, it targeted her, she continued to fire her rifle, its blasts bounced harmlessly off the thing's outer hull. She saw the main cannons charge up to fire and kicked in her jets, she shot into the air just as the cannons discharged into the ground beneath her. The blast kicked up a lot of dust, she landed in the middle of it and used it as cover as she pulled her missile launcher over her shoulder. When the dust settled, the mecha was 25 yards and closing. Ellen carefully aimed her launcher at the front leg, armors too strong, gotta go for the joints. The mecha charged its guns again, but too late, Ellen had her shot and took it. The missile streaked through the air and collided with the front leg's upper joint. It exploded, destroying the joint and snapping the leg off. The mecha fell forward as it fired. The blast from the right cannon went wide and struck the mecha's neighbor which exploded. The other blast shot into the ground were the mecha fell, the resulting push off it provided flipped the ground unit like a penny. As it landed, its cockpit was crushed. Shortly after, a barrage of mortars pummeled the already disabled mecha until it exploded. Ellen slung her luncher over her shoulder and allowed it to reload. She then brought it back over her shoulder and aimed at a third mecha 100 yards out. Mathison and Poedowski were already raining mortars on it and it was vectoring towards them. Ellen clicked her com-link open, "Mathison, Poedowski, aim for the leg joints, they're vulnerable there!" Mathison answered her, "We'll try!" Ellen saw the main guns start to power up on it, the mortars kept coming but wouldn't stop it. Let's try something else she thought. Ellen carefully aimed her launcher, said a little prayer to herself, and pulled the trigger. The missile flew at the mecha and into the left cannon's barrel just as it was ready to discharge. The cannon blew apart instantly, taking the rest of the mecha with it. The next mecha was 300 yards out. Ellen decided not to press her luck and headed back to the ditch. Mathison and Poedowski greeted her warmly, "Nice going Wright!" said Mathison "Makes you wonder why she needs us." added Poedowski. "Thanks, but there's still 13 more to go. There legs seem to be the most vulnerable parts, Poedowski do have any mines?" "Of course" he answered. "Good, because I have a plan."       Butler and the rest of Charlie Five moved swiftly toward the valleys exit. "Triple time it people, point group needs are help!" When they got within 100 yards of their last known position they came upon them running away. The three of them pulled up and stopped next to Butler who ordered the rest of the troops to stand ground right where they were. He then spoke to the three from point group. "What the hell are you doing, I told you to hold position!" he said. "Now we're trapped in the valley!" "Sorry sir, it was my idea" said Wright. "Giving up ground and closing our only avenue of escape is not a good idea, its stupid!" Wright looked at him calmly and said, "Well sometimes you've got to give ground to win, Poedowski?" "With pleasure" replied Poedowski. He pulled a detonator from his pocket and yelled, "FIRE IN THE HOLE!", as he pushed it. The troops took cover as the explosions started, one right after another the mines went off, like the grand finale of a fireworks display. The high ridges that formed the valley crumbled under the onslaught, causing an avalanche. The ground mechas were caught before they even knew what was happening. Boulder after boulder fell on top of them, some were crushed outright and others were buried only to be crushed under the weight of the collapsed mountains. Butler rose and surveyed the area, "Not bad, Wright, there's only five left. Alright people I want a line of mortars, now!" * * *       "Weston! Break right now!" Maggie jerked her frame to the right avoiding a few enemy missiles. Her frame did take a number of smaller shots, they rang all around the frame's body before finally piercing the cockpit. A pressurized helmet sealed itself over Weston's head and a number of proximity alarms sounded. "Maggie are you all right?" asked Rita. "For now, yeah. Only minor damage." Maggie replied. "Rita watch your back!" she cried. Torres rolled out just as a diving Elt-frame took a shot at her. It straightened out and went after her. Weston whipped her frame around and followed both. "Hang on, I'm on him." she said. "Hurry up, he's all over me!" cried Torres. Weston got into position, aimed and fired, "Got him!" Weston then noticed five enemy frames flying in a tight 'V' formation away from her, "These jokers obviously never heard of chain lightning." She targeted the Elt-frame on the end and fired. True to its name, the energy beam bounced Elt-frame to Elt-frame until the entire formation had been destroyed. "Got ya!" Maggie cried. Suddenly her proximity alarm went off, she saw a black Elt-frame vectoring on her. She tried to roll out but too late. The black elt-frame opened fire, blowing off an arm and leg of her frame. Weston tumbled out of control. She clicked on her com, "Mayday! Mayday! I'm going down!"       Shanita entered the fray in the Martian atmosphere with disastrous results. They had just arrived when a terran vessel used some type of odd energy weapon to destroy an entire flight group of her section. Angered, she took action, '(Kamilia stay on the smaller vessel, I'll deal with the larger one myself.)' She spiraled down and came in on the the terran's back side. As she closed, it detected her and tried to avoid, but it was too late. Shanita fired both her arm cannons and plasma missiles. The vessel managed to avoid most of her shots but two of her missiles connected, destroying two if its limbs. The craft then spun out of control towards the ground. It exploded in midair, though it appeared the pilot managed to eject. So you live to fight another day, good for you. Shanita then issued an order, '(Kamilia, stay on that terran until you've destroyed it. Jerico, you and your flight group are with me. Section 32 requires assistance.)'       "J.T. come in, Weston is down! Repeat, Weston is down!" Rita's voice came over the comline somewhat nervous. "Hang on, Rita we're coming to you." J.T. fired and finished off the three enemy craft he was chasing. "DeLeon, stay here with Bronski! I'm going to get Rita." "Understood J.T." answered DeLeon. As J.T. departed, a new group of Elt-frames arrived, the black one in the lead veered off but the others came straight for him. DeLeon activated his electrical disruption field and readied his weapons. The five elt-frames suddenly had problems maneuvering. The two on the right collided and exploded. DeLeon targeted and destroyed the two on the left. The one in the middle managed to dodge Deleon's shot, which only nicked his wing. The Elt-frame kept coming. DeLeon tried to dodge, and by the look of it, so did the other pilot. But they collided in mid-air. Alec's frame tumbled over and he kicked in his boosters to stabilize. But he still had an enemy frame on his canopy. Boy these guys are weird looking close up thought Alec as he tried to swat him off. Some sparks flew out one of his panels and he knew the thing had torn off his antenna. Great, there goes my jammer. With control back, the alien rocketed off his frame firing multiple shots at his canopy. Alec raised his frame's arm and and tried to turn away. The alien ripped most of that arm to shreds and disabled one of his maneuvering jets. He cued his com link, "Bronski I'm hit, I've gotta make an emergency landing." As his frame rapidly descended he noted to himself, They don't get any closer than that. The ground seemed to come up awfully fast, he could see other craft coming in for the kill. "Oh screw this! I'm punching out." He pulled the ejection handle and was rocketed out of his e-frame. A helmet was slapped over his head and his seat cushions wrapped around him revealing a jet pack underneath. Alec hit the jets and slowed his descent to the ground. With touchdown he unfastened the pack and turned just in time to see his frame explode.       '(The primary aggressors here are those three terran vessels.)' Shanita started. '(Section Commander, one of them is leaving, should we pursue?)' asked Jerico. '(Negative, let him go. I'll deal with the one at mark 99, your flight will handle the one straight ahead.)' Shanita broke off and Jerico was left to command. '(Alright, stay in formation, one pass ought to do it.)' Suddenly as they approached the vessel their systems began to fail. The wingmen on his right collided and exploded. The terran then opened fire on the rest. Its the terran's doing, he's using some kind of weapon. Jerico tried to maneuver the best he could. One of the terran's shots came a little too close, striking his wing. His wingmen were not so lucky. Suddenly Jerico realized he was too close and had no way to change direction, but he tried all the same. He struck the vessel's canopy and clung to it for dear life. The terran tried repeatedly to shake him. Jerico looked into the cockpit and thought, by the bloodlines he is odd looking, at least I think it is a he. Jerico looked up and saw an odd circular dish. It must be an antenna. He reached out for it and ripped it off. His systems immediately came back on line. He blasted himself free and opened fire, as the the terran frame fell away in smoke he thought, They do not get any closer than that. He reported to Shanita, '(The terran vessel has been destroyed, Section Commander.)' '(Mine has also been dealt with, we must return to help Kamilia deal with her terran problem.)'       Four enemy craft exploded as Thrax made his pass. "Not bad old man, but top this!" Kaz brought his fighter around and over in a tight loop, he then destroyed the four bandits on his tail and two others that flew below them. "Impressive, said Thrax, "but I tend to stick with what works," four more enemy fighters exploded, "and save the finesse for when its really needed." "Can't argue with that logic." added Kaz. "Logic dictates that we retreat or at least get some reinforcements." Thrax noted. "Good idea" said Kaz, who activated his holographic double. Kaz looked over at Thrax and noted he also had a hologram. "Hey, that's my gimmick!" "Not anymore" said Thrax. "But..." started Kaz. "Less talk, more fighting!" snapped Thrax. Kaz was ready to reply but though better of it, Thrax is right. Instead, he destroyed three more enemy fighters. * * *       "That's right you heard me! I want you to let those walkers push you back" some of the officers tried to argue with Butler but he cut them off, "just do it or we're all gonna die." Butler looked at the troops in front of him, "I need volunteers to stay with me." he said. Wright looked at Poedowski and Mathison who both nodded their heads, "Sir, we'll stay with you!" Butler looked at them, "How did I know you three would jump at the chance? Alright, you three with me. The rest pull back when the word is given." The three crowded around Butler. Mathison asked what was on their minds, "So what's the plan sir?"       The five remaining walkers made their way to the front lines. One was destroyed in the attempt, leaving four. Butler gave the signal and Charlie Five began to pull back. A number of troops were cut down while trying to retreat. Butler, Mathison, Poedowski, and Wright remained huddled in the trenches. Mathison put his guns down and withdrew a few small holoprojectors from his pockets which he placed along the ridge of the trench. When he activated them, Wright tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you sure those things'll work? I can see right through it." "Its a two-way holo. We see out, they see just another section of the valley floor." he explained. "What if works too well, and they try to plant one of those legs here?" asked Poedowski. "Ever step on a grape?" retorted Mathison. "All of you shut up!" ordered Butler. The ground quaked as two of the walkers appeared on either side of them. "That's two" announced Butler. The third started to pass directly over them. They tensed up, ready to go when Butler stopped them, "No! We wait for the fourth one." he said. The fourth one passed them off center. Butler suddenly realized this and quickly gave the order, "Get out of the hole, Now!!" They scrambled, Wright already saw the huge leg descending on them, she screamed and rolled out of the hole. The others followed suit, minus the scream. Poedowski just made it out as the leg slammed into the hole. "No way am I going out like that!" he said. Butler took charge, "lets do it." They activate their jets and flew up onto the walker's back. Unnoticed, they took positions outside the cockpit. Poedowski carefully laid a charge, "I've used just enough explosive that the wall should blow open without causing any major damage to the stuff inside." "Good", said Butler, "lazers only, we want this thing intact. Hit it Poedowski!" The wall blew open easily, the three alien crew was surprised and tried to reach for their sidearms. They never made it. Wright looked down at one, "So this is what they look like." "Play biologist later, Wright." snapped Butler. Ellen let her rifle hang by her side and she reached for the two control sticks in front of her. She pushed the one on the left and the walker's path began to curve left. Moving the right one did the reverse. Keeping them at the same level moved it forward. "I think I can steer us." she announced. "You've got the job." said Butler, "Now bring us behind number three." Ellen eased off on the right stick and pushed on the left, as they came in behind number three she straightened out. "I think I got the fire controls figure out." said Poedowski. "Well then, by all means, blow that damn thing away." yelled Butler. The hull vibrated as the cannons hummed to life and fired at the walker in front of them. It exploded almost instantly. The remaining two walkers began to turn around to get a shot at them. "Our secret is out people, Poedowski take them out." ordered Butler. "I can't," he said, "I think the guns have to charge up again." "How long?" Butler asked. "A few seconds" he answered. "Sir, we're almost in their line of sight" announced Wright. "We don't have a few seconds, I'm open to ideas people" Mathison looked at the two walkers turning, Charlie Five had already started mortaring them. Number two was almost all the way around. Mathison dropped both his guns and ran up to Wright. He grabbed her pack, "Does this thing detach?" he asked. Catching on Wright answered, "There's a release along side the barrel." Mathison hit it and the missile launcher extended and detached. He slung it on his shoulder and headed for the opening in the wall, "Be ready to take out number one Poedowski." Mathison kneeled outside the opening and took careful aim. From behind he heard Butler, "This better work Mathison!" "Don't worry sir, I've seen it done before!" he said. Wright couldn't help but smile at the comment. Number two had turned around and was getting ready to fire, Mathison pulled the trigger. A second later a walker exploded, Butler was thrilled it wasn't theirs. "Guns are charged, sir" announced Poedowski. "Then make number one go away." Butler ordered. Poedowski fired and the last walker became rubble. Mathison walked back into the cockpit. He fitted the launcher back into Wright's pack, saying "I believe this is yours." "And these are yours." she said handing him back his weapons. Butler smiled, "Good job people, guess I'll keep you around after all." On to Part 6