The Price of Freedom

" Terran fleet 6200 kilometers ahead my prince. " said one of the T'quan bridge officers looking at prince Khaln' Achat. " Now I finally have my revenge terran, I will destroy you first and then I will destroy everything you hold dear. " the prince thought excitedly the thrill of battle calling him as they got nearer. " My prince? " it asked again. " DON'T DISTURB ME WHILE I'M THINKING SERVANT! " the prince burst out with rage. " We're within firing range my prince. " it said cowering with a frightened voice. " Good prepare my ship. This time we will destroy the terrans If one of the pilots encounters a terran named J.T. Marsh contact me and let me destroy him. " it said menacingly. It walked of the bridge letting the captain take over.

The front line of the T'quan fleet opened fire on the terrans devastating the front defense line. They launched million upon millions of fighters which cause further destruction. The Exofleet quickly countered this with their own ships and fighters. Not doing much damage but surprising the enemy with their improved weaponry nonetheless. " Ah, so the terrans grew claws. Well we will cut them! " prince Khaln' Achat acknowledging the improvement. He shot across the battle field causing destruction and havoc wherever he appeared like a great juggernaught of death cutting down whoever got in his way be it friend or foe.

Meanwhile, Able squad fought fiercely to protect what could be the cause of the exofleet's salvation. They approached the first light carrier in front of them. David was the first to attack the carrier making a strafing run and launching a barrage across it's side. He knocked out several turrets and then peeled off before he hit the shields. The squad made one missile run on the ships and were swarmed with enemy fighters. They entered past the barrier with the shuttles defending them all the way and fighting the fighter at the same time. In order for their enemy to attack them they had to go inside the barrier also. David skimmed along the top of the ship as one of the fighter chased him and as he got close to a turret he used the delay time to speed over it with just enough distance and timing for the turret to shoot it's own fighter down. He began chasing another one who suddenly stopped to try and get behind him. David in turn stopped much to the enemy pilots dismay and shot a stream of laser fire into it's rear destroying it outright and he sped up to engage the next target. Kaz sped to the side of two enemy fighters that were charging him and did an after burner slide launching two missiles and destroying the first fighter and ended up behind the other one. J.T. came up behind Kaz as the enemy fighter made a dead stop and Kaz sped past it. He shot both his pulse laser and his exogun into the rear of the enemy fighter destroying it before it could get a hit on Kaz. Kaz flew up next to him and they fought side by side. Nara fired her new cutter claw replacing the claw on the left arm of her frame. It went by the side of two enemy fighters and then turned slashing right into the middle of both fighters destroying them almost immediately. Alec came at one of the superiority fighters chasing Rita and jammed it's system. He then fired a high powered laser and two of his four missiles on the left arm into it severely damaging it. Rita wheeled around and finished it off with a scythe missile. Marsala was hit from behind, a minor hit but he broke right in time to avoid a dumbfire missile. He fired a barrage at the two bombers chasing him and destroyed them both.

Inside the light carrier, Charlie squad was locked in a fierce battle against the robotic defense systems and the T'quan invaders on the ship. So far it was an winning battle for the jumptroops, Charlie squad had lost many but the T'quan had lost many more and were being steadily pushed back. One of the defenders charged at O'Reilly with a double-handed, C-shaped two edged energy blade aimed at her head. She crouched down and with her lightening fast reflexes grabbed the handle just in time and jammed one end into the T'quans stomach. Another three of the ships defenders had Longfeather pinned down by laser fire. Longfeather decided to take a risk and dash across the hall. He picked up all large piece of metal that had been blasted off in the fight and using it as a shield ran across the hall shooting several grenades from his launcher hitting the area in between the three. Pelligrino and three other soldiers from his platoon were locked in close combat with some of the close combat soldiers from the enemy's defense. One of the enemy shoved it's blade into one of the jump troops lifted him in the air and threw him against the wall, then it went after Pelligrino. At the same time another close combat T'quan attempted to shove it's blade up his stomach. They charged from both ends and Pelligrino ducked the T'quan impaling each other. After destroying a few more robots that came from behind they came onto the bridge. They startled crew members dashed behind whatever cover was there and began firing their sidearms at the platoon. One of the bridge crew members raised it's head to fire at the entering platoon and got it shot off. The T'quan were all so scared that they couldn't hit anything even at point blank range and the bridge was taken fairly quickly. " Bridge secure. How you and Magna squad holding up on the flight deck? " Colleen said talking to the other commander on the other end of her comm-unit. "It's about time Charlie squad flight decks secured. " the other commander said a bit impatient. " How 'bout you guys in Guardian squad? " Colleen said ignoring the other commander. " Engineering room secure. " said the third commander. " Good now let's see if we can figure this stuff out. I'll contact Able squad and tell them we're ready to go. " she said and switched signals to David's exofighter.

David closed on the damaged fighter commander of the enemy squadron he made a few shots of his laser cannons and finished the commander off. " Charlie squad commander to Able squadron, we have control. All we need ... " O'Reilly said coming on his comm. " Alright then get that tub outta here. We'll escort you out then your on your own. " David replied quickly not giving her a chance to finish. " Give us a little bit of time to figure out how to move it. " she said in an annoyed tone. " Hurry up the battle's getting a little hot out here!" he blatantly replied. " Alright, alright! " she said. As soon as they got out they were rushed by two squads of T'quan fighters. One was made up of the usual medium fighters and they other which flew past them were made up of superiority fighter and two bombers. David quickly realized what they were going to do and chased them down. He shot a barrage of missiles and lasers at the two bombers destroying them both but the other six superiority fighters made it through the shields were the exosquad couldn't touch them. The six enemy fighter blew up the shuttles and began scouring the light carrier with missiles. The carrier despite minor suffering from the first attack jolted forward and it's batteries came to life. The three platoons inside attempted to defend themselves by shooting the fighters down with the batteries but since they were not used to the controls of the alien craft they missed with all the batteries. The six fighters made another attack on the carriers rear and the left side of it's engines to burst into flames. The rest of Able squad finished up the medium fighters and attempted to get through the shields. They knew they would be destroyed if they hit the shields so they attempted to take the already weakened shields out with their weapons to no avail. This time the shield worked as a curse instead of a defense for the small carriers because exosquad could not get inside to defend her.

Inside there was chaos the platoons scrambling to try and repair and defend the ship. They in a way knew they were doomed, the fighter were way too fast for their batteries to hit and the exosquad could no longer get inside the shields and chase the enemy away. The engineering room was like hell, with jumptroops rushing to put out flames and keep the ship alive. The bridge was almost as bad the jumptroops trying to take out their attackers. They had managed to destroy two in the whole time. Never had they felt so helpless.

Just then an explosion in the engineering room of the alien ship took out the shields thus lowering their ability to defend from outside assailants but now the exosquad could get through to defend them. " Shiel ... down! Go ... 'em Ab... squad! " O'Reilly said speaking through the damaged communications. " Gladly! " J.T. answered instead and they charged the light carriers assailants. J.T. quickly closed on and dispatched a superiority fighter that was trying to destroy the bridge by shooting an for an extended period with his pulse laser and exogun. David came at one of the other superiority fighter and shot it down firing three bursts of all of his laser weapons the other two ran for their lives but were literally stopped dead in their tracks by the rest of the exosquad. As J.T. flew by the bridge window he could see the extent of the damage on the bridge collapsed support beams and panels, live wires, flames. Worried by the damage he landed on the ship and went to see if O'Reilly was alright.

This annoyed and angered David greatly but he was too busy defending the ship to say anything. Once J.T. landed he hopped out of his frame and noticed that the flight deck was just as bad but made no attempt to look for any survivors here. He rushed up the stairs and made his way to the bridge after several hours. He found O'Reilly her arm twisted back at an extreme and odd angle and various other cuts and bruises she was unconscious. He picked her up and immediately noticed another jumptroop moaning reaching out as if asking for help. Deciding he couldn't leave the soldier there he carefully put down O'Reilly and attempted to reach his squad.

" David we have some major injuries down here I need some help to pick them up. " J.T. said trying to be heard the din of the battle. " No time we have to continue with the mission! " David replied of the comm-unit. " Forget about the ship she's too damaged to make it back we've got save what's left of the platoons. " J.T. said. There was a pause and J.T. heard David say " Kaz, Marsala, your going down with me to get some of the jumptroops off that ship, it's a lost cause. " They made a sharp, quick and dangerous combat landing and got out off their frames in time to meet J.T. who was carrying O'Reilly to his e-frame. He ran up to them and quickly said " It was worth the try wasn't it? " " Yeah, fortunately we're not the only ones trying this. Maybe the other squads will have more luck. Get her back to the Liberty and then join up with us, we're going to attempt to help one of the other squad with this mission. " David replied calmly " All the survivors seem to be on the bridge.

They ran up to the bridge and grabbed whoever was still alive encountering some really gross decapitations and injuries one of which was still alive. Longfeather had bad burns all over his face and his arm was all cut up along with other cuts and broken bones. Kenith had two broken legs and one broken arm so she had to be moved carefully, unfortunately they didn't have the time. Lori screamed in pain as Marsala quickly picked her up and she fainted from the pain. Marsala also picked up Pelligrino who was missing a hand and had cuts all over his body. Kaz looked around searching for more survivors " Kaz come on this place could blow any second and besides we don't have room for another one. " David said as he ran from the bridge. Kaz without question quick left the bridge not noticing Natasha one of O'Reilly's best friends. She had been maddened by the loss of so many of her comrades and deliberately hid from her rescuers. She watched them as she left and thought "Yes Kaz get out of her. I have a job to do. " She hauled herself up from under the collapsed panels. One of her legs was dead so she could not walk so she had to drag herself across the rubble to one of the control panels. She dragged herself up and pressed a few buttons activating the ships self-destruct sequence a knowledge she had figured out and not told the rest of the squad. By the time fortunately, the exosquad had cleared the alien carrier and were fighting their way to the Liberty.

J.T. quickly landed the same way he did on the alien craft and without waiting for anything after he landed he opened the canopy and hopped out with the unconscious Colleen O'Reilly in his arms. Hew yelled for some med-techs to come and get her and a group of med-techs came almost immediately out of the crowd and came over to take her. The captain also came over to him as the med-techs took Colleen from him. " What about the carrier? " he said inquisitively. " It's a lost cause sir. I gotta tell you that we need to figure out a better way to do it because we can't get past those shields and defend her the right way to be effective. " he said hysterically. " Now if you don't mind sir I gotta get back out there. David wants to join the other squads to see of we can't get another ship behind our lines. " " I knew this would happen, I told the admiral it wasn't going to work. " the captain muttered to himself barely audible. " We'll make it work sir. " J.T. said and walked quickly back to his e-frame. Just as Able squad finished off the next squad that attacked them they noticed the T'quan carrier jolt forward again and begin to move back toward the T'quan fleet " What the. " said Rita in a surprised and confused tone. The ship fired all of it's remaining weapons at three T'quan destroyers and the destroyers attacked the light carrier and Able squad watched intently. J.T., Kaz, David and Marsala flew over to the squad and David said " Ignore it and let's see if we're more successful with one of the other capture attempts. They slowly turned around and flew toward a fast moving embattled battleship that had also been captured by their jumptroops. Natasha slid down from the control panel and watched the three light destroyers she had engaged close on her. She grimaced as she sat on the chair near her an smiled a grave smile as the count down ended. " 4...3...2...1 " the computer said that being the last thing Natasha saw as she, the carrier and the destroys were all destroyed in a huge ball of incandescent light.

Able squad had not noticed the huge explosion, not surprisingly since it would be seen as just another destroyed ship in a sky filled with them. They were embattled with three squadrons of medium fighter and two bombers alongside the remnants of Alpha squadron. Bronski passed in between one of the bombers and a medium fighter. They bomber which had lost it's ability to turned in place trying to hit the puny e-frame. Bronski shot out his grappling hook and grabbed the bomber turning it even quicker making the path of fire move right on to the medium fighter attempting to defend the bomber destroying it's own escort. Bronski made a few commands into his frame and the claw closed on the cockpit of the bomber that was already severely damaged crushing the cockpit and the pilots inside. The claw quickly released the bomber and snapped back into position just as the bomber exploded. Alec fired his exogun and the four missiles on the same hand at the other bomber which though not destroyed outright spun out of control into two more of it's escorts David feigned left and then made a sharp spin almost running right tin to the enemy fighter chasing him and David fired two missiles at point blank range and made a sharp turn directly up just as the medium fighter exploded. The rest of the enemy fighter were already beating a hasty retreat and were out of range. " Cowards! You run from mere apes! " prince Khaln' Achat yelled and with a few quick and crazed movements destroyed his own pilots. Khan' Achat then engaged Able and Alpha squads destroying all but one from Alpha squad, Sarah Hall and none from Able squad.

Enraged at what he thought to be a dismal failure to destroy them all. With a madman's speed he engaged Rita Torres who Khaln' Achat only managed to have in his sights for a second. Just then as Sergeant Torres pulled up she came to face another T'quan ace who called himself S'lri who violently attacked Rita blowing off her claw and power blade. She turned only to face Khaln' Achat again and then broke left sharply coming toward the rest of her squad in an attempt to escape them both. They came to Rita's aid but were far too far away to do any good. Sergeant Torres again turned back toward her pursuers and fired of all her weapons in an attempt to destroy them both. To her unbelieving horror and dismay them managed to avoid most of her shots. S'lri only took one missile to the rear while Khaln' Achat's right wing was hit and damaged by a few laser shots. They closed on her from both sides and both launched two missiles at her. She managed to shot down two of the four missiles aimed at her but the other two impacted from behind destroying the most of her weapon systems. She again shot straight up in a another attempt to escape her pursuers but this time it did her no good. Her frame was so damaged now that it could no longer maneuver adequately, it reacted far too slowly. The T'quan ace and prince began firing streams of laser fire most of hitting her and destroying her last weapon system, the Neoblaster rocket. To add to the damage the ammunition exploded causing secondary explosions in the cockpit. Shards of hot metal flew toward her cutting her face arms and a larger piece lodge itself in between her lower ribs and piercing her abdomen. She went limp just as a helmet slapped down over her head since her canopy was punctured and she was quickly losing air. Her then frame basically stopped, Khaln' Achat and S'lri were about to close in for the kill when they were interrupted by her arriving friends. The squad split into two and began chasing the prince and pilot. Enraged about how they battered Rita J.T. began to attack Khaln' Achat violently. " Already the terrans mind weakens being torn up by the claws of the T'quan. So why not kill me terran and add me to the stains on your history. " the said prince taunting J.T. " That no longer works on me cockroach and I don't have any stains on myself. I've fought for the freedom and survival of humanity it's you who are stained. " J.T. said in a courageous and slightly proud tone. J.T. sent a stream of missiles and laser fire that would definitely destroy the prince most of which hit their mark damaging him enough so that one more missile would take him out. J.T. fired that last missile when S'lri who was also damaged streaked up in front of the prince and was destroyed by the missile. " Death is not my fate terran but it is yours! " Khaln' Achat said and a wall of eight fighter began closing on J.T. allowing Khaln' Achat to once again escape. " Some one get sergeant Torres back to the ship! " yelled J.T. over the fighting and chattering of the battle. Without saying anything David slapped on his helmet opened his canopy and quickly got Torres out of her own e-frame and reeled her into his exo fighter. He closed his canopy and shot off toward the Liberty.

The rest of J.T.'s squad rushed to his aid and they all engaged the fighters who were light and medium fighters. Kaz began chasing one threw an asteroid field weaving in and out of the huge rocks. Kaz suddenly sped up and forced the medium fighter right into an asteroid. Bronski fired off all the missiles on his missile launcher aiming them at three target two of which were immediately destroyed. One swerved out of the way and returned fire with it's forward two laser beams all hitting Bronski. Panels came open and lives wires crackled and popped from under it but Bronski himself remained unharmed. Jenny came up behind Bronski's assailant and shot her laser harpoons through the fighter's engine nacelles causing various internal explosions. The armor bulged and the ship was turned into an empty floating shell. Nara shot straight at another medium fighter and shot a stream of laser fire at it bring down it's shields for a while. The fighter returned fire and Nara shot straight up and came down at the fighter from an angle at high speed. She reached out with her claw and tore a large panel off the top of the fighter, turned around and fired into the exposed area. The ship was turned into a fiery forward moving fireball for a few seconds and then exploded. Alec flew into one of the larger asteroids and sped down a dark cave. He rounded sharp corners and avoided objects such as stalagmites and stalactites and emerged on the other side. He stopped, turned around and activated his jammer jamming the systems of his pursuers making two of fighters run into the wall of one of the last sharp turns. The last one stopped and waited for Alec to turn around and he then shot out after Alec's frame. Just as he got ready to fire a barrage of missiles J.T. came streaking down and destroyed the fighter with one of his plasmic torpedoes. They met up and Alec said " So what now? " David landed on the Liberty for the second time during the battle he picked up Rita whose blood had stained the legs of David's uniform a deep reddish color. Without being called the med-techs ran up to them with medical supplies and took her away. Captain Sarson walked up to David and said " It's that bad out there. " " Yep, but only two were responsible. One the guy we told you about, that prince, Khaln' Achat and some ace named S'lri. We got the ace but the prince got away again. " David said turning around with a worried tone in his voice. The captain looked away and mumbled something to himself, David's expression changed to a curious one " Sir? " " Oh, it's nothing. You have to get going commander, your squad needs you. " captain Sarson said with a very professional and serious face. " Alright but let me and my squad know what happens as so as you can " David said and he ran back to his " I will. " the captain said calling after him.

A few minutes after David got into space the captain came on his comm. " David we've just got a distress call from the Resolute II. I want you to go and get your squad and escort the Liberty to the Resolute II's position to help her out. " the captain said. " Why not just send the e-frames to help 'em? " David asked. " Because we've detected quite a few large capital ships in the vicinity and e-frames won't do the job! Now get going colonel! " the captain said getting quickly frustrated. " Okay, Okay! " David said surprised at the captains attitude. He flew over to his squad and relayed the message " Okay people the Resolute II needs our help. We are to escort the Liberty to the area and defend the Resolute II. " " Yes sir! " they said in unison, " What about Rita? " Nara asked worriedly. " Let's just say she'll be out for this battle. Now come on! " David said quickly and blatantly. They fell into an escort pattern around the Liberty and took off at pace with the liberty toward the Resolute II as fast as they could go. " Good thing we're not far from the Resolute II. " said Kaz as they battled their way through the fleet battle. They didn't have any numbers but it looked really bad for the Exofleet. Maggie came on their screens and said " It's about time! We're gettin' our asses kicked down here. " she said hysterically. David looked up and saw a ship that looked different and was bigger than all the cap ships. " Is that the flag ship? " David said awed and afraid of the massive space structure. " Naw, it's their pet robot. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS! " Maggie said getting more excited by the second. " Jeez don't get yerself tied up in knots Maggie, we'll take care of it. " Bronski said surprised. Able squad attacked the flag ship riddling it with missiles and laser fire, but they failed to do any damage nor even make the shields flicker. " Damn! That things shielding is too strong! " Nara said. " Hey Cap'n you got anymore of those barrier disruptor cannons 'cause we sure could use 'em about now. " David said switching channels to the Liberty. " I'll send out five shuttles but you better defend them well because their the last ones we got. " the captain replied. " Naw just send out three that all we need and we don't wanna have to babysit them the whole time we all need to take that ship. " David said. " Five we're going for it too. Some of you guys can stay outside and defend them. " the captain replied. David had a surprised look on his face and merely replied " Okay. "

Able squad flew over to the Liberty and escorted the Liberty and the five shuttles to the T'quan flagship. The shuttles stopped about 1000 kilometers from the flagship and fired their cannons opening a gapping hole in the flagship's shielding. " My prince they're making an opening in our shields we're exposed! " said one of the flagship's bridge officers. Prince Khaln' Achat roared with anger and punched in one of the panels in his console. Able, Theta, and Hornet squads entered the shields and all fired at once at the ship's bridge. Fortunately for the T'quan inside and Unfortunately for the Exofleet they ships armor held. The Liberty herself fired all it's weapons inside the shielding and the damage took of several panels from the flagship but no more. " They shall not have the Quintari! DESTROY THEM! DESTROY THEM ALL! " the prince roared and laughed insanely. " That thing is still too strong we're not doing enough damage! " the captain said with severe frustration. Meanwhile the Resolute II which was about to be destroyed anyway launched all of it's flight ready e-frames. Though admiral Frazer would've preferred Maggie evacuated with the rest of the crew on the shuttles he let Maggie climb into her e-frame which in her opinion had been idle for far too long. The e-frames cleared the Resolute II and attacked the enemy flagship. The enemy flagship ignoring the e-frames fired several cap ship missiles into the Resolute II's front hull almost finishing her. The Resolute II jolted forward continuing to take hits. " Well it's been a really short command but my times ended Greg. " Frazer said in calm, submissive tone. " Admiral? " the captain said worried and then had a sudden realization. " The fleet's more important than one flagship and we have to take out that enemy ship. Wish me luck! " the admiral said and then closed his communications locking in a course straight for the enemy flagship. "ADMIRAL! " captain Sarson yelled trying to regain contact with the Resolute II. The e-frames quickly cleared out of the way of the Resolute II that was charging the enemy flagship. Prince Khaln' Achat pushed over one of the T'quan pilots getting into a superiority fighter and took off running from the two flagships. While outside Khaln' Achat charged J.T. Marsh getting a few good hits in on J.T.'s e-frame. An explosion in J.T. cockpit sent a huge, hot piece of metal into his arm " Ahhhhhh! " he yelled full of pain. He had an open signal on and all of his squad members heard. " J.T.! " Kaz wheeled around and confronted the crazed prince. " A grub versus a Tarrilian spider this should be interesting. " the prince laughed. " You didn't notice his friends. We humans step on spiders! " David said taunting Khaln' Achat to come at him. " Kwiki lactna aremanu nars!" the prince said in his own language. " I challenge you commander Sames in a fight to the death! " the prince translated.

David and the prince charged each other in a fight to the death. David shot all of his forward guns at once in a spread. The prince smartly dodged every laser and fired every single missile he had on the ship. David fired his lasers and two missiles to destroy the cloud of missiles coming at him. As David flew forward the prince seized the moment, got on top of David and hit him with the bottom of the fighter. The move was insanely stupid as well as disorienting for this enemy for as the prince hit David from above one of the top mounted missiles exploded doing severe damage to both ships and knocking out some of their systems. David lost his radar and smart targeting systems making him unable to fire any missiles. The prince had his communications severely damaged and totally lost all of it's targeting systems. " Ah ... have ... ost ... rad ... tracking eh? " the prince said trying to make up for his foolish show. " I have eyes. Let's see how good you are without targeting systems. " David said calmly with a mocking smile on his face. The prince roared with frustration and came at David who quickly turned around and fired his other top-mounted missile at point blank range at the prince's cockpit. The missile much to the princes relief missed it's initial target but to his dismay hit the engines. Khaln' Achat's fighter went out of control his stabilizers and maneuvering systems shot to hell. Just as that happened the Resolute II took heavy damage but it plowed through the Quintari's shields and into the Quintari's main bridge. " Not again! " Kaz whined. The two ships detonated with an explosion so large that it enveloped all nearby ships around it including the Liberty and her sister ship the Valiance. Both took severe damage and had to stop for repairs. The Hornet and Delta squads were hit by the blast and were killed outright dead. Able squad fortunately escaped the blast but just barely escaping with minor damage. Prince Khaln' Achat barely managed to escape, though he was out of control his fighter managed to take him a good distance before he ejected. The T'quan fleet seeing it's flagship in flaming ruin and their prince ejected quickly sent by some ships to scoop him up and ran. The whole of the Exofleet seized the moment and used it to do quite a bit of damage without having to defend themselves and did. The exosquad landed aboard the Liberty where the flight deck looked like hell. People ran around putting out fires, tending to the wounded and taking care of the people landing all at the same time. Captain Sarson ran up to the exosquad and saluted in which they saluted back. " A fighter we managed to shoot down decided to do as much damage as it could and rammed the flight deck. Along with the flying debris from both flagships we took a lot of damage. Fortunately we didn't fair as bad as the Valiance. The damage she got was so bad that all we can do is take on survivors and then used her for scrap metal. " the captain said trying to be heard over all the commotion " We can see that. " David said staring at the gaping hole here the fighter had rammed them. " I guess your going to be needing my services a lot here. " Maggie said also amazed by all the damage. " Well you can't go back to the Resolute. " the captain replied calmly. " Come on let's go give these people a hand. And you. " he said looking at Nara very seriously " Go take J.T. down to wherever medical is and make sure he gets patched up. I know how stubborn J.T. is. " he said turning his gaze on J.T. " Medical is were it's always been, it's just been extended. " the Captain said to Nara. " Come on J.T. " she said about to grab him by his shoulder. " Not there. " he said warning her of the metal that was still jutting out of his arm " That's sharp on the outside too. " She grabbed him by the other arm and they left the flight deck.

The two med-techs finished inspecting his arm and they said something to each other that was inaudible to J.T. and Nara. The gave J.T. a long metal pole and had him touch it on the rubber part. " What's this for? " J.T. asked inquiringly. " This is gonna hurt. " said one as they put on thick gloves. They grabbed the piece of metal jutting out of J.T.'s arm and quickly ripped it out of his arm. " Ahhhhhhh! " he yelled from the pain and blood started to ooze out of the wound. They bandaged his arm up and gave him some pain killers. " Well at least you didn't end up like him. " Nara said looking at a pilot who had his right arm cut off and was missing two fingers on his left hand and she walked away. J.T. stood up and said " Do you know where commander Colleen O'Reilly and sergeant Rita Torres. " " No sir their obviously not in our sector because we haven't taken care of people by those names. " said one of the med-techs. The other added " You might wanna check in sector one near the flight deck they were the ones who took most of 'em as they came. " On the flight deck the crew had started clean-up of the area and Nara returned to join Able squad. The captain walked up to Able squad " Good job people. " he said. " In the battle or the running around on the flight deck like crazy people? " Maggie said sarcastically. " Both but I primarily meant the battle. You guys definitely helped save the day. Oh and by the way the captured ship made it behind lines good work on that too." he said and walked off. The squad got up and walked off the flight deck talking " You know he's faking it. " Kaz said. " We've got a long way to go and another fleet to fight. " Alec added. " We've taken heavy damage it'll take a miracle to get through the next one. " They noticed J.T. walking sadly down the hall " Hey J.T. what happened? " He raised his head and look at them with a sad expression " She's gone. " he said in the same tone. " Which one? " Bronski asked excitedly " They got one of our own. " he said as if talking to himself since it was barely audible. " How 'bout Colleen how's she. " David asked looking at J.T. as J.T. lowered his head again. " I ... I couldn't ... " he said on the verge of another emotional breakdown and quickly pushed his way through the squad. David who immediately knew what he was talking about walked up beside him " That was all of our fault's. We couldn't get to her soon enough. " he said trying to get J.T. to listen to him. " She ran into bad luck. " Nara added also trying to help. " There was nothing any of us could do. " said Alec also adding his own two cents. Everyone in the squad was following J.T. now " Why didn't I just stay away. " he said ignoring his squad like they weren't even there. They reach his e-frame and he reached inside and picked up the pieces of the angel that Colleen had given him " And on top of it this had to happen, Colleen wanted me to take care of it for her. " he said hold the pieces up. They were sure he was talking to them since he held it up for them to see. Marsala who had been quite lately spoke up " I do not think that O'Reilly will care for the necklace as much as the knowledge that you are safe. " " That's the first time you've talked in a week Marsala. " noted Kaz. " I have not had much to say lately. " Marsala said turning to Kaz. " Is it a symbol of my fate or the entire squads. " J.T. mumbled to himself. " J.T. it's just a necklace. Now what about Colleen? " David asked kind of annoyed by J.T.'s strange talk. " How should I know." he said abruptly. " Come on let's go the to rec-room and take some time off. Maybe it'll wear off. " David said in a tired voice. " Leave me alone everyone, only death follows me now. " J.T. said as they turned to leave.

It had been a month since the last attack and they have surprisingly heard nothing a of a second wave. The enemy has sent nothing but small groups of ships to try and pick off some of the Exofleet little by little. So far advanced patrols had been successful in stopping these mini invasions. Still the new leaders of the Exofleet failed to see the logic of their enemy. Was the second wave a bluff of shadows or was it some kind of sinister game. People were taking sheets of scrap metal and attaching them to the walls and bulkheads. He noticed a slightly surprising thing, Maggie and a group of technicians were working on an alien fighter trying to figure out it's properties. He walked over to the fighter and took a look at it for a minute. Maggie was up in the cockpit looking at the control and inspecting systems. " Hey Maggie! " Alec yelled trying to be heard over all the machinery, bolting and other noises. She looked at him and came down " Yes Alec? " she said looking at him seriously. " " If this is an alien fighter and no one knows how to pilot it, how'd you guys get this on the Liberty? " he said in a confused and inquiring tone. " Listen I have to get back to my work but I have three words for you, trial and error. " she said and then went back to her work. " Kinda the busy body aren't we? " he said as she worked. " We have to try and get ready for the next invasion as much as possible, now let me do my job! " she said impatiently. His face took on a startled and surprised expression " Alec! " Jenny said and Alec turned around. " Yeah Jenny ? " he said " Captain Sarson wanted to see Able squad. " she said and looked up at Maggie " That means you too. " Maggie looked up with an annoyed expression and came down again " Let's make this quick. " she said. The entered what was Captain Sarsons new office " It's a storage room. " Alec said. " Well what'd you expect my old office was blown up. Now let's get down to business " the captain said. " While not getting much from them we have managed to get a little bit of info on the alien craft. With the information we have managed into integrate them into some new fighter designs. " The captain dimmed the lights and turned on a hologram displaying a sleek, aerodynamic looking fighter. It is the VG-26, mark 2, or as it has been named the Vigilance superiority fighter. It is the first of many designs to first integrate the alien technology. Since we do not have any way of replicating this technology technicians have used the instruments from the alien fighters. " He turned the light back on and turned off the hologram. " Various tests have been made and the fighter has been declared safe, basically. In two hundred hours you are to take it out for a test run in combat and see how it handles. Any questions? " he said looking around " Yeah why have I been called? " Maggie said patiently. They captain walked out from his desk " While the patrols have been successful in stopping the mini invasions we've lost a lot of pilots to death and injury, including your squad if you've heard." he said and she nodded sadly remembering what she heard about Rita. " Since your flight record has been good and we need the pilots we've decided to make you a pilot again. " he said " Who's going to fly it? " Kaz asked inquiringly. " That's up to you people. " the captain said turning to Kaz. " What if we run into heavy opposition out there? " David said. " Defend the Vigilance fighter as well as you can and minimize damage. Dismissed! " the captain said and they left.

" It's just a necklace. " Colleen said laughing slightly. She had suffered a few chest injuries so it hurt to laugh. " You said it was a good luck charm and I heard that it's very bad luck to break a good luck charm. " J.T. said still sad but now sounding reasonable. " Yes, but then again they say that you'll only have bad luck if you really believe it. Are you superstitious? " she said. " No, but then again so many things have been happening that goes against common knowledge. So many thing have happened to us. " he said. " But we go on don't we? I know what I said back there but it was really a present of my love. It was just something made from ceramic and some kinda metal I bought when I was young because I thought it looked nice. " she said. " But it was still you good luck charm and it's broken now. " J.T. replied. " I've broken it several time over if you didn't notice before and nothing happened to me. I'm still here. I shouldn't have told you it was a good luck charm though." she looked away for a second and looked back with a slight smile. " Just believe you won't have bad luck and you won't " Colleen said laughing again. " Yeah I guess your right. Your leg all right for a bit of walking? " he said. " It's a bit sore but it's fine. " she said and they got up and she hugged his good arm as they left. David walked onto the flight deck he noticed the fighter he was going to fly being prepped for another run. His squad had been talking for a while about it. At first Kaz was all for flying the new ship but when the captain came by and told him he wouldn't be able to fight as hard on that mission he quickly changed his mind. David knew Kaz was the kind who lived for the thrill of battle, it was usually the calmer ones that flew the new stuff. They had selected Maggie who had just come back from her other duties since they also decided that they didn't want to miss a fight, David just didn't feel like it. The new fighter was slightly larger than the old exofighters and more heavily armed it had a good array of missiles mounted on the wings and the new fixed forward missile bay design on the forward cockpit. It had the new fire link or twin-linked fusion blasters and pulse II cannons which was a strengthened version of the Pulse laser. The guns gave you the option of shooting only both of one kind or all four weapons at once. The rear engine thrusters looked stronger and they were shielded by two slabs \of metal that also made for better thrust and turn control. It looked generally more impressive than on the holo's. He stood looking at it for a short while when " Hey David. " David turned around. There stood J.T. looking and sounding a lot more normal his lover and friend Colleen was standing close behind him. " Colleen and I had a talk and snapped me out of my little mode back there so I'm ready to take on whatever mission is next. " he said now seemingly in a good mood. " In about one hundred hours we're to take that thing out on a combat test run. " David said looking back at the fighter. " Maggie 'll be flying it we're to make sure it doesn't get that deep in though. " he said and turned back to them paused and his eyes widened slightly. " Let's hope that this thing makes a difference in this new war. " he said. " Yeah we're gonna need all the help we can get. " J.T. said and they all looked at it.

David hopped out of his exofighter and stormed toward J.T. " Just what the hell do you think you trying to pull back there! " he said in an enraged tone. " During the mission I just got locked in my thought about the two friends I lost, I just got caught up in my emotions, sir. " he said calmly. " Got caught up, got caught up?! Looks like they took you for a joy ride back there. " he said hysterically and enraged at the same time. Kaz walked up to David and J.T. and tried calm David down " Come on man lay off he didn't really do anything wrong. " " Yeah you know how things have been going. " Jenny added. "It won't happen again sir. " J.T. said calmly. David gave an exasperated sigh and said " You better make good on that. " " I will sir. " J.T. said and walked off.

As he was walking down the hall Colleen walked up to him and said " Hi J.T. " J.T. looked at her with a solemn expression and said " Hey. " " J.T. there's something I have to talk to you about, it's really important. " she said. He noticed the look in her eyes of sincerity and caring. They went to his room and sat down on the bed. " I've been thinking about all that's happened and that we could go through. I've come to a decision which was and is still hard for me though I'm glad to say it. " she said and undid the clasp holding the chain that held the engagement ring and held it for a while. " Go on. " J.T. was very curious and inquisitive now. " I've decided .." she snuggled up to his good arm " That I will marry you. " she finally said. He took the ring and slipped it on her finger " I love you. " he said softly " And I you. " she said in the same tone, kissed and then just held each other for a long time.

About ten minutes into that someone rang the ' door bell ' and they looked up from the embrace. " Come in. " he said and a young ensign came in " Captain Sarson wishes to see you. " the ensign said. " Thank you ensign Rol. I can find my way there. Dismissed " he said looking at her name tag really quickly and the ensign left. " I gotta go. " he said to Colleen who was now standing. " Okay see ya later. " she said happily and left. J.T. made his way to the captain make-shift office and knocked. " Come in. " the captain said and looked up. "Ah J.T. " he said smiling " I have some good news that you probably will really like to hear. " " I'm all ears sir. " J.T. said maintaining a serious look on his face. " Well I've told the rest of your squad and them all seem pretty happy about it. I've been going over your records ever since I let you back on the flight roster and except for a short episode after that major battle you seem totally back to normal. What I'm trying to say commander is that I've decided to give you back your command. " the captain said. " Thank you sir. " J.T. said happily and smiled for an instant. " You're dismissed, commander Marsh. " the captain said, J.T. saluted and left for the rec-room after today he felt that for once in a long time, things were going right that day. He walked into the rec-room which was filled with various pilots like it usually was at this time of day. His squad which was talking near the bar all looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back and walked over to them " So how's it feel being the commander of Able squad again. " David said happily. " Well nothing's really happened with it yet but, it feels good. Oh and I will remember that thing between us on the flight deck after we landed. " he said slightly serious sounding for a minute. The entire squad just stood there with their own smug expressions and David just chuckled, knowing J.T. was joking with him. Just then the loudspeaker crackled to life " Everyone report to the flight deck immediately for a full scramble. " the comm officersaid and everyone quickly rushed out of the door " This is not a drill. Repeat this is not a drill. " They ran down to the flight deck along with the several hundred other pilots pulling on their stuff as they moved. One of the women though dressed still had a towel in her head. Able squad was greeted by the captain on the flight who quickly shouted as they passed " This is it people, the big test! " They stopped at their frames and David yelled " Who's taking the new fighter. " " Whoever. " Maggie replied. Since everyone else seemed to prefer their e-frames David just took the new fighter turned it around and took off after the commander. J.T. tried to say something when they got out, his mouth moved to form the words but nothing came out. David managed to get out only one and a half words " Holy sh... " They sat staring at a fleet that was almost twice as large as the last balls of light were erupting everywhere where the Exofleet had already engaged them. " Alright people that's obviously were we're need so let's go and kick some alien ass! " J.T. said. They kicked on their afterburners and sped with the other squads and the Liberty toward the area. " Hmmm. Innnnterrrestingggg. They have no central leader yet the still fight fiercer than before. I must admit that I have never seen such a race with such courage and determination. J.T.'s head will be a worthy addition to my trophies. " the Prince said watching the fight from his newly rebuilt flagship the Quintari II. The Exofleet was failing fast and the future looked bleak for the humans. As the people from the Liberty arrived they were swarmed by thousands of enemy fighters, many e-frames were destroyed fortunately many more made it through.

Able squad turned around and charged a squadron of fighters. David fired the twin-linked pulse II cannons and fusion blasters which quickly ate away his foe's shields and tore up the fighter which exploded into a spinning fiery mass. David pulled up to avoid it and quickly dispatched his next target that tried to fly past him with two of the ionic missiles on the wing. Kaz spun his fighter on it's axis and fired all of his forward guns and top mounted missiles destroying two medium fighters going by. Nara shot her drill missile at a heavy fighter which pulled up to avoid it. She then shot both of her top mounted missiles slightly above the fighter and both impacted damaging it but not destroying it . The heavy fighter changed direction again and came right at her guns blazing. She managed to avoid most of it but got hit by one strong blast. Marsala appeared behind it and destroyed it with his own lasers. Nara then shot up above him and destroyed another fight that snuck up behind Marsala. She took her position by his side in which the both of them destroyed two more fighters with a barrage of laser and missile fire. Alec and J.T. worked together in destroying an escort of medium fighter and two bombers. First Alec jammed their systems making some stop and some flew out of control running into each other at last J.T. destroyed the two bomber with his plasmic torpedoes and his pulse laser. Maggie shot her chain lighting weapon which disoriented five medium fighter and then Bronski came in front of the medium fighters and shot a missile from his missile launcher at each one. " Die wretched humans! Die! " said the Prince as he shot through the exosquad causing them to scatter to avoid it's shots. " Doesn't he ever give up! " Maggie yelled. " Nope. Listen you guys get outta here and fight that battle I'll take this guy. " David said a hint of confidence in his voice " But... " Nara said her eyes wide. " I'll be fine. I've done it before. " David replied calmly. " Yes, I'd like to have a rematch. " said Khaln' Achat said. The Prince charged David from behind who quickly pulled up to avoid a barrage of plasma and fusion lasers and the duel ensued.

The Liberty had been sitting in waiting for a few hours but now the path was pretty clear for them to go on through. The crossed the area where most of the fighters were fighting and just as soon as they got through they were met by a heavy destroyer. The destroyer opened fire immediately with it's forward guns and two torpedoes. In an instant, chaos from the guns alone. Passing Able squad shot down the missiles and turned their sights also on the heavy destroyer. The Liberty though it's crew a bit disoriented return fire first with two barrier disruptor cannons that had only been recently added on. Able squad entered the opening and launched most of their missiles and shot streams of laser fire. Points of light began erupting all over the enemy ship and some shots even pierced the hull but the damage remained light. " We have gotta find a better way to do this. " said Nara her eyes going wide. " How 'bout attacking the rear. " Maggie began " Pilots always used to attack the rear when they wanted a quicker kill. " Without another word the exosquad began racing to the rear of the destroyer when a heavy alien fighter appeared in front of them and launched most of it's own missiles. Everyone in Able squad pulled up to avoid the missiles but then remembered about the shielding. Once they were out they couldn't get back in unless the Liberty fired it's cannons again and they had their hands full at the moment. Bronski fired one missile from his missile launcher which knocked the heavy fighter back into the destroyers hull, he gave a slight smirk and then joined the rest of his squad. On the Liberty the chaos continued, a light attack e-frame that had just been shot down crash landed on the flight deck and caught fire. The pilot inside scurrying to get away from the flames forgot to secure his ejection seat which was cooked off by the heat. He came smashing out of the cockpit and hit the ceiling cracking just about every bone in his body and his head smashed open. The e-frame exploded causing nearby crates of fusion packs to explode, a wave of fire then swept the entire flight deck. Fire retardant foam sprayed down to put out the flames and while putting out most of it crews were needed to come down to put the rest out. The young ensign who's some of the time in the military had been spent being the errand boy for Sarson suddenly and painfully came to an end as a door which contained fuel cells blew open spouting flame as he crossed it and was thrown onto the deck below. In the starboard engineering room the damage was almost as bad. There was the high pitched whining of the metal catwalk bending than collapsing trapping several crewmen underneath. Parts of systems and equipment exploded into flames burning the same people to death. In the port room an entire wall was torn off by an explosion coming from that engine sucking any survivors into the depths of space. Able squad was finishing off the destroyer which was crippled and J.T. shot off his remaining plasmic torpedo into the gaping hole were what left of the bridge was. With a final groan from the impacting torpedo the T'quan destroyers bridge began to float off into space. Meanwhile on the bridge, the right section had collapsed and some panels were now spouting flame, nevertheless the captain and his crew had to keep to their duties. Captain Sarson watched in horror with a pale face as the back of the ship diagram turned to red then parts of the port bow and even areas near the bridge. " Drieson, do we still have long and short range communications? " he asked hopefully. " We have short range communications sir. But our long range is shot to hell. " damage control officer Drieson said. " Damn! What's our status as far as weapons and maneuverability? " he asked. " We're at 45 percent full movement ability and at half of full maneuverability. Weapon systems are at 75 percent functionality and we've lost one of the barrier disruptor cannons " damage control answered trying to stay calm. Ahead of them the internal explosions wracking the destroyer finally caused the ship to give in and explode showing the Liberty with debris. Several more parts of the diagram turned from green to yellow and some to red the was no more green. People on the bridge began to chatter and talk hysterically " Stay calm! Stay calm everyone we'll get through this yet! the captain said excitedly.

" I've improved since our last meeting terran! " Khaln' Achat said mockingly and laughed. " This time it will be you who are consumed by flames, fool! " the Prince continued. " Over my fat ass! " David said and wiped a small trickle of blood from his forehead from when he had been thrown forward by a hit and hit his head on the edge of his console but he had not lost a bit of confidence since they started the duel. The starboard engine on his fighter was trailing smoke, it was scared by laser burns and one of his wing tips was crumpled. The prince on the other hand hadn't taken a lick of damage, yet. He wheeled around and shot a barrage of all four guns and two missiles which Khaln' Achat swerved to avoid. What the Prince had not noticed was the he had flown right by an asteroid earlier. He flew to close to it this time and his right wing hit it the missiles exploding and the metal sheering off. " Who's the fool? " David said wryly and smirked. " CURSED TERRAN I WILL KILL YOU! " the Prince screamed with rage and frustration. The Prince wheeled around and shot his own volley of laser and missile fire at David. David broke hard left and let lose a string of four chaff pods. The missile yawed or pitched at the first, second and third pods and David turned back toward Prince Khaln' Achat who came at him again. Again David fired his fire-linked guns sending a stream of fire into the Prince's left wing causing similar results but this time the damage was so bad that the Prince couldn't move his fighter at all. The Prince screamed blood oaths and curses at the colonel as he flew away back toward the battle but David ignored Khan' Achat's words. " David to J.T. " he said, static. " David to J.T., do you read, over. " David said getting worried. " David to Nara. " he said switching to Nara's signal and her image flickered on screen. " We're k...da busy ... the ... ~bzzt~... Wha ... is ...t? " she said abruptly her signal breaking up. Either she was far away, the enemy was using a signal jammer or her communications were heavily damaged. He'd like to think it was just a jammer and she couldn't be that far away. " I'm done with cockroach boy and I can't get a hold of J.T. What's goin on? Do you need my help? " he asked in an extremely worried tone. " D... straight ... do! We're taking heavy fire down here and they have a ... ~ bzzzzt~ ... get down here! " Nara said in a demanding and frustrated tone. David was looking around while she was talking and saw that the Liberty was also taking heavy fire from a corvette and two fighter squads. " I'll get there as fast as I can, but the Liberty is taking heavy fire and I don't know if she can take much more. Over half of her has already turned red and she's still taking hits, can will you hold out? " he said. " ... Guess ... ~bzzt~ ... have to. " she said in an exasperated tone. David slammed on his afterburners and headed toward the skirmish where the Liberty was.

A superiority fighter slashed up the main viewport of the bridge. It executed a flawless and brilliant roll and loop avoiding the fire from the last of the Liberty's defenders. It then broke hard right and slashed through the formation of defenders taking out two of the four left. The two remaining pilots Sarah and Joel Hall, brother and sister banked hard and shot the fighter down only to be met by a hail of fire from it's avenging wingman. Sarah managed to roll out of the way but her brother was not so lucky. " JOEL! " she screamed as he spun out of control and silently detonated. " JOEL, YOU KILLED JOEL! " she screamed again. " And your next. " Prince Juxama said with an evil grin. " Not while I'm breathing bug. " said David who streaked down and knocked Juxama spinning. He ejected and his ship exploded just as he cleared it. David did a victory roll and turned around Juxama as to mock him. " Colonel Sames! " Sarah said excitedly. She flew up to his side and they pulled up and around and did a perfect roll to right themselves. " Don't get all emotional on me know you two, if you don't take out those squads and corvette we don't have a chance! " Captain Sarson said urgently. " Consider them fish bait sir. " David said confidently. They banked hard left and David poured on the fire on three enemy light fighter coming them. They reeled from the hits and exploded except for one which was damaged and turned to run. Sarah let loose a missile smashing the last one. Once again David slammed on his afterburners and headed for the corvette smashing through it's shields with his guns and missiles. He shot up the T'quan's main viewport on the bridge and came down spinning launching all the missiles on his wings. They impacted with enough force to rock the ship and severely damage the bridge. Sarah saw him and seemed awed by his style. She took one of the fighters and let another chase her and waited for it to fire. Seeing David do it once she expected to let him fire his guns and she pull up making him hit the one she was pursuing then get the other fighter. Instead the her pursuer launched a volley of missiles at her coming fast. She frantically pulled the flight stick back and tried to get away but she was hit in the back by several missiles. She hit the console and was slammed back in her seat, holding her breath and waiting for the hull to split open and the end come but it didn't. She stepped on her afterburners and broke hard right but she only turned right, she couldn't move. The fighter behind her raced ahead of her did a loop and came at her. She fired off her guns hoping desperately they would still work, thankfully they did as the nose of the enemy shredded open and exploded. David blew another hole this time near the engines of the corvette which was being raked by fire from the Liberty and David he thought everything was going well until " David, help meeee! " Sarah yelled over the comm. He shot over to her area and took out one of her assailants. " Bail out trooper Hall. " he said a bit hysterical. She immediately did what he said as her ship detonated under her. He swept by and took out another heavy fighter and then a bomber. She felt a sudden jerk as she realized that the Liberty was reeling her in by tractor beam. " Alright cap'n gotta go my squad needs me. " he said curtly and flew off toward their area " Thank for yer help colonel come back as soon as you can.

" Nara do you read? " he said in a severely worried tone, that fight had taken much longer than he expected. " Nara this is commander David Sames do you read. " he repeated again silence. " Damn can't this bucket go any faster! " he whispered impatiently to himself. Just as he reached the area his radar, missile guidance and long range communications went dead, a high powered jamming frequency. A light green field communications e-frame shot by which he recognized as Alec's being harassed by a round bodied jet black fighter with glowing green exhaust and engine vents both of which missed him. He took the opportunity to come up behind the fighter and get it out of Alec's hair. He made a short, strong burst of fusion energy but the fighter pulled up using his own trick against them. Fortunately because of Alec's quick reaction and small e-frame he avoided the blast rather easily. David banked hard right just as the fighter came down on him guns blazing. " I am Baron D' Varr and I am your death! " it said. " Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah! The last two who said that to me ended up my objects of ridicule. " he said not fearing this new character. " My cousins the princes are fools and shall bring ruin. I am the favored one of G' Shinus and shall lead my people to victory, not those incompetent fools. " it shouted proudly over the comm. David pulled up and over sending a stream of fusion and pulse fire into the Baron's fighter. The fighter spun taking some damage to it's right wing weapons and the Baron shot away " Yeah I thought there was a resemblance. " David said tauntingly. The Baron suddenly turned around and shot a volley of missiles at David which David mostly shot down but the other's continued and sped up greatly. David's eyes widened as they came straight at him with increasing speed. Suddenly, J.T. streaked by shooting down the rest of the missiles and causing the Baron to have to pull up to avoid a collision. David waited a bit and then pulled back as hard and fast as he could pulling up and around then righting himself. He ended up just behind and under the Baron and let loose a volley of fusion and pulson fire and dumbfire missiles. Smoke began pouring out of the rear engine vents and a weapon exploded on the right wing sheering off metal from the front half of the wing. Inside the panels flew open and wires snapped and crackled quickly starting a mini fire which flared up and went out burning the baron painfully. "Ahhhhhhh! " David heard over the comm. The fighter shot far ahead and turned around again attacking him violently this time. Another fast paced one on one started again while his comrades fought around him. It turned out the same with David taking major visible damage but minor instrumental damage and the Baron ejected from his exploding fighter. The jammer exploded with the fighter and he got back all of his systems revealing a screen full of red blips and only a few blue blips which were his comrades. David came around back toward his squad and saw them being attacked by a full two squadron of undamaged superiority fighter and their e-frames looked pretty torn up. J.T. was finishing another superiority fighter riddling it with laser fire. On his rear screen there was more fighting except there were a whole mess of cap ships, friend and foe trading fire and the enemy appeared to be winning. David switched to the Liberty's channel " Cap'n ya have any more fighter pilots down there to spare because the fighting's real hard down here. " he said. " Sorry colonel all we have is that girl you rescued who's ready, all the rest are too injured or dead. " Captain Sarson replied. David thought about the stunt she tried to pull and what might happen if the same thing happened again, but they desperately need pilots there. He broke right and shot down a medium fighter that came at him as casually as you would swat a fly. " Send her over and I'll take care of it from there. " he said slowly as if not so sure. He kicked in his afterburners and came to help his squad. " It's about time we've been dying down here! " Maggie snapped. " The Liberty needed me too and she was closer. " David replied calmly. " David watch your six! " J.T. bursted in on their argument his image flickering for a second. J.T. shot by him and took out a heavy fighter that had guns trained on David's fighter. He turned around and got in front of David calling together the rest of the squad as the enemy shot toward the cap ships. Six more e-frames came by each with a new design and joined them. " Alright the Liberty, Kagamasi and Newton have sent us all they can spare. Now we are going to head toward that battle and I want you guys to split into pairs and get those fighters off our ships back. Each of you will take a newbie here and keep 'em outta trouble. David take Sarah and follow me. " he said quickly. " Oh come on ... " one of the newbies started. " Don't argue just move. " J.T. said abruptly and they flew toward the battle.

" David you and me will take the flagship while you Sarah, will keep those fighter off our backs, and no tricks like David told me about! " J.T. said and then flew toward the flagship. David shot ahead and fired all his weapons at the flagship blowing a hole in the shielding for J.T., he could just race through. They shot through the opening and shower the hull with laser fire, again no damage. David noticed it's hangar bays opening and launching fighter to defend the flagship. He sped up and made it do loops, rolls and banks to avoid on coming fire. He came upon the hangar bay and pulled up and turned around letting loose a hail of pulse and fusion fire and launching two missiles most of which hit the fighters but some hit their marks. He saw flames erupting as fighters crashed on the flight deck and some exploded from hits causing them and various crates to go up in flames. He broke hard right as he passed low to the ship and continued on his way to the rear. J.T. landed on the ship and walked up to a turret launching his wing missiles and shooting his Pulse laser and Exogun. It didn't have as a satisfactory effect as the hanger bay attack but it opened the ship up to him. He flew in and was met but security robots which raised their arms to open fire but he got them first. The door slide open and foot soldiers began opening fire on him. Sarah was locked in an intense battle with many fighters she broke hard right as two chased her from both sides and they blew each other up. She beamed proudly as she pulled off another stunt by looping around and taking out a light fighter with two missiles. She did a diamond break and came up behind another light fighter she fired all her guns as she was straightening out and got another cool kill as it's wings snapped off and the fighter spun out of control and exploded. Kaz and Nara were both being chased by two medium fighters when they slowed down severely and the fighters came up ahead of them. They crossed each other as they destroyed each others target, Kaz crossing to the right and Nara to the left. They crossed each other again as they went after two bomber going after one of their destroyers and launched two missiles each at the bombers. DeLeon used his own jammer and stopped three fighters and took aim. Just then Bronski came by and hooked one fighter on the end and running them into each other and destroying them. " Hey! " Alec said surprised " Whoever gets it first DeLeon. " Bronski said smartly. Alec shot up and destroyed a fighter on Kaz's back shooting right through the explosion. Kaz gave an annoyed sneer and broke hard left, guns blazing as he destroying another heavy fighter coming at Bronski. Marsala and Jenny teamed up and shot down two more fighters streaking through the explosions guns still blazing taking out the first two's, two comrades behind them. They then swerved around to join the rest of the squad.

" Okay so were's J.T.? I'm only picking up two friendlies around the flagship and I've identified them as David and Sarah. " Nara said as they flew toward the flagship. " David where's J.T.? " Marsala asked calmly. " I don't know I thought he was still here. " David said in a confused tone. " You haven't been paying attention have you? " Jenny said annoyed. " Well attacking a flagship with only three fighters has a lot of drawbacks. Like you and your wingmen having to fight the entire compliment ourselves. " David said sardonically. " Yeah, it's not like we have other people backing us up so we have to have our attention drawn to other things. " Sarah added in the same tone " Oh by the way help us out you guys! " " On our way! " said Kaz liking the idea of a big fight like that. They smashed into the fray and drew most of the attention away from the Exofleet cap ships. " David to J.T. David to J.T. do you read. " David said excitedly and J.T. face came on the screen he seemed excited himself. " What?! " J.T. said in the same tone. " Where are you? " Nara said bursting in on the line. " Inside the flagship. " he said calming down a bit. They heard a door slam shut and the shots they were hearing die down. " YOUR WHERE?! " Nara and David said simultaneously. " J.T. you'll be killed down there alone. " Nara said in a worried and hysterical voice. " I know. " he began and they heard an explosion as the battle sounds started again. " That's why I want you to come down with me. We're taking this thing out. " he said. " What are you thinking?! " David said excitedly. " Well, remember the last time the flagship was blown up and the fleet ran? " he said trying to be heard above the commotion. " We don't have a chance if we fight them outright and I've been thinking. " he was interrupted by a loud nearby explosion. " J.T.! " Nara yelled extremely worried. " It was the other guy. " J.T. said coming back on. " It might happen again if we take out this one. " he finished. " But not all of us can get in there. " David said trying to calm down. The wall ahead of J.T. exploded, eight security robots and a huge walker were standing in front of him weapons trained. J.T. opened fire with all of his weapons and said very excitedly " Hurry! ~bzzzzzzt~ " " Nara, you Jenny, Alec and the all others with smaller e-frames go and help J.T. The rest of us will stay out here and take care of the fight out here. " David said taking command. Without questions Nara did just that and David split off to help the rest of the squad outside.

They began skimming along the sides of the ship until they found the opening. Fortunately for J.T. this didn't take long and they dropped inside. Inside the place was a wreck, live wires hanging down everywhere, panels hung lop-sided smoke coming from them, dead bodies and robot parts were strewn everywhere. The sound of fighting in the distance echoed in the corridors telling them that he was not too far ahead but " Oh great we can't tell which way it's coming from. " Jenny said. She and the squad sa t looking at the two corridors outside the door both had bodies in them and the noise echoed so much that they couldn't tell in what direction. " We'll which one? " Bronski said looking at Alec. Alec squinted and thought for a second " That way. " he said pointing to the right. They ran down the right corridor following the damage and bodies, until the noise got louder. They burst into the room guns blazing and hit the walker and three robots. The robots disintegrated but the walker stood unscathed. J.T.'s e-frame lied against one corner and was empty. The walker opened fire and sent a barrage that hit the walls around them and sent them flying back. Alec tried to jam it's instruments but it had no affect. Just then Jenny shot two of her harpoon missiles which went up two of the walkers guns. " They're duds! " Jenny said excitedly as the missiles went up but didn't explode. " Not totally! " said J.T. He stepped out from some deep shadows and fired his hand held rifle at the ends exploding them inside the barrel of the walkers two cannons knocking it on it's back. The thing appeared to struggle as if trying to get up but just rolled against a wall. " J.T., you all right? " Nara asked calming down at the sight. He seemed almost totally uninjured except for the occasional cut, bruise and burn, all very light. " I'm fine. Let's get going before more of those robots come. " he said " Help with these will ya. " He walked to the e-frame and took out his fusion pack and began pulling out the last of his missiles. " What are you doing with those. " Jenny said suspiciously and inquiringly. " We're gonna make this thing scrap metal now help me. " he replied impatiently. They rest of the squad went to help, Nara and Jenny were given the job of carrying the ordinance. " But you can't ... " Jenny said but was interrupted by J.T. again " I can't what? " he said in a impatient and angry tone. " You won't be able to get out you can't go through deep space with just that! " she said inquiring his uniform and breather. " You'll be killed if you stay here though, just forget about it. " " We have to destroy the flagship if the Exofleet or our people ever hope to survive. " he said in the same tone as before. " But do you or anyone in this squad have to die for it! " she yelled and calmed down taking on a sort of sad and worried expression " What about Colleen? " He looked at her for a second and got a sort of understanding " Sometimes, you have to put your life and affiliations aside to do the right thing and do your duty. This is mine. " " Come on will ya! " Bronski yelled from down the corridor. " Let's go, we have to. If everything goes right we will be able to get away. " he said and ran down the corridor. She hesitated and ran down with him.

" Last explosives wired J.T. " Maggie said finishing wiring the missiles from J.T.'s e-frame to the main generator. They were standing in a room littered with bodies of the generators defenders and teches. " Alright then, now to set 'em. " J.T. said coming over to set the timer on the fusion pack to explode. " How's the defense going out there. " J.T. over his comm-link. " So far so good J.T. " Alec replied. Alec sat in his e-frame watching over the silent halls like a stone gargoyle his guns trained and ready to shot anything that moved. All of a sudden he heard a small clanking sound coming from above like something was moving through the ventilator shafts. He got out of his e-frame and slowly and carefully opened a grate leading up to the ventilator shafts. He poked his head up and a nervous young T'quan security guard took a shot at it. Alec fell back to avoid the shots and landed on the floor with a loud " Umph! " Alec who landed so close to his frame and J.T. who had lift his comm-link on heard first a shot and then Alec fall. " Alec, are you alright! " he said suddenly excited. " Yeah but the security guards are trying to get the jump on you look out! " Alec said also excited. Suddenly a security guard came down on a rope and landed in front of J.T. taking a swing at him with the butt of it's gun. J.T. moved back just in time and brought out his arm pistol and shot the guard in the head the laser bursting out the other side of the guards head in a disgusting boiling mass. He all of a sudden was thrust forward and down felt a cold chill and warm blood run down his back as an older larger guard slashed his back. He whirled around just in time to be knocked back with awesome force by Nara's e-frame. It hit the console of one of the computers it's neck twisting at an extreme angle with a loud and wet cracking sound. " You all right J.T.? " she said walking up to him. " Yeah it's not deep. " he said grunting as he got up. Nara gave him a concerned look and then they went back to fighting the guards and protecting the explosives. Jenny burst through one of the doors along with the squad and yelled " MARINES! " They stood close together looking in horror as an entire platoon whirling blades and training rifles on them. J.T. ran behind the group and finished setting the timers " J.T.! " Jenny said looking at him with wide-eyes. He ignored her and said " There's only one thing we can do, lock and load! " and he and his squad opened fire on the marines. Many of the incoming T'quan fell against the hail of fire coming from the e-frames but some just would not fall. One leaped up to J.T. who was surprised by the bloody and battered creature landing in front of him and J.T. raised his gun to fire. The creature at the same time raised it's c-blade and brought in down creating a shallow, thin cut across his chest. Not nearly deep enough to be fatal but deep enough to be painful. With this pain he squeezed down hard on the trigger blowing a hole in the creatures stomach. A second one ran up and took another swing with it's blade slashing open his shin and the part just below his it. He fell to the ground clutching the wound and the creature pick him up again and slammed him against one of the consoles. Pain rushed through his body as he hit his head hard on the thing he could swear that he heard something cracking. He grabbed the creatures arms and used that to swing himself and kick the creature in the head. It reared it's head and fell back J.T. landing on the ground like a cat even with his leg wound. He picked up the blade and jammed it in the creatures chest with barbaric force. He found he was out in the open his friends ahead of him back to back fighting creatures coming from both end corridors. "

He ran over to his friends and yelled " GET OUTTA HERE WE ONLY GOT TWENTY FIVE MINUTES! Arrrggghhh! " Another close combat T'quan marine had run up to him and jammed a halberd spear hybrid weapon into the area just above his hip and laughed evil as he twisted it in his wound. J.T. looked at him surprised and felt his strength the all of a sudden drain away and blood trickle from his mouth. The creature again slammed him up against one of the high railing against the generator where his explosives were. He leaned back his head eyes wide as a great pulsating pain rushed through his body and stayed. All of a sudden the creatures expression turned from a evil and malicious grin to a surprised face and it fell over dropping him and revealing jade with her own blade dripping with blood. She pulled out the blade creating a sharp pain and tried to pick him up but J.T. wouldn't let her. " It has to be finished. " he said it seemed a lot more hard to talk in his condition. " It's done J.T. this place is gonna blow. " she said hysterically. " No! It didn't go as planned. " he said and stopped for a short rest panting from the blood- loss and pain. " We didn't expect the marines they'll be able to stop the explosives from detonating. I have to stay here and make sure they go off. " he said weakly and painfully. " Go, take the squad and get them out of here. And tell Colleen, that I love her. " he said the tone increasing. " But ... " Jenny said reaching for him again. " " NO! " he shouted, coughed up some blood and raised his rifle shooting her e-frames arm in just the right place to disable it. The last of the marines fell and J.T. looked at the timer it showed thirty minutes. They heard commands being shouted, getting louder as another platoon made their way to the generator room where they were. She turned slowly and sadly knowing there was no way she could get him to go. Telling Nara what he said how much time there was. She stood and thought looking at him. He shouted at them again " GO! " They voices continued to get louder and at one hall they began to pour through firing their weapons. Able squad ran down the other corridor back toward the opening all with sad, pained looks and thoughts. " I'll see you in heaven my friends. " he said silently. A creature approached J.T. who just lied there with something in his hand, looking at him closely. He waited for a little while and then opened his eyes. J.T. smiled a sort of victorious smile at the creature and then squeezed the detonator on the grenade he was holding. The creature shrieked as it exploded and flew back blown open. J.T. had but one thought, mission complete. As the light and fire of the explosion consumed him he could swear he saw his family as angels smiling upon him. The explosion caused the other explosives to detonate in turn detonating the generator. Fire and debris rushed through the halls killing and destroying everything in it's way.

" Where's J.T.?! " Kaz said excitedly when he didn't see J.T.'s e-frame emerge from the ship. " I'llexplainitalllaternowlet'smove. " Nara said and shot past. The rest of the squad kicked in their afterburners going as fast as the could away from the flagship. Looking on rear view screens they all saw a flash and then the center exploded followed by the rest of it in an awesome display of light and fire. It rapidly expanded toward them going much faster than they were in the form of a large shockwave, shooting debris and fire everywhere. One of the newbies that joined them earlier in a light attack e-frame was consumed by the explosion and they saw and heard his frightened, painful face and scream just seconds be static. Sarah looked down and crossed her heart in a final prayer for the young pilot and silently said " His name was Topper, Mark Topper. " " Friend of yours? " Bronski asked softly. " No, didn't know him but still. " Everyone in the squad agreed with her. The widest it expanded rocked their ships throwing them around inside until they cleared it. The explosion died down and the debris slowly floated outward. They also slowed down and David said seriously " Now, where's J.T. " Many drew pained looks those who were with him David's eyes widened. " So he's ... " Maggie began softly. " Dead. " Jenny said " Near the end he didn't wanna be helped, he shot at me when I tried to pick him up. " " What happened down there. " David said surprised and silent at the same time. " Well. " Jenny began crying " He said that if everything went as planned he'd have one of you pick him up and we'd all get away, but it didn't. We weren't expecting the marines that came in and severely wounded him. He told me just before he left that he would have to stay to detonate the explosives, he was worried that the explosives would be diffused if he didn't. When I tried to help him up anyway he shot at my e-frames left arm so I could pick him up and yelled at us to run. Since another platoon was coming we figured at the time we'd have to leave him. Now I feel guilty because when I look back on it I feel that I could've easily overcome his stubbornness and save him, but I didn't and now he's dead. " She then collapsed into tears, the rest of the squad was silent. " Well at least he's out of pain were no one now matter how evil can hurt him anymore. " Sarah said silently trying to bring a certain ironic optimism to it. " Come on let's return to the Liberty and break the news. " she said. They silently flew back to the thoroughly battered Liberty and landed. Everyone left on the ship including O'Reilly and Captain Sarson stood their waiting for them. When seeing J.T.'s e-frame wasn't in the group O'Reilly rushed up to them as they got out. " David where's J.T.? " she asked excitedly and David turned around and looked at her sadly.

" NO! " Khaln' Achat screamed as he saw the explosion of his flagship. He stood up slamming his hands on the flight deck. Juxama felt the same about the flagship but formed a half-smile at his brothers reaction. " That's twice my brother. " Juxama said sneering at him. Just then pirate reinforcements for the Exofleet materialized in back of them and Khaln' Achat sat down. " So what now fearless leader? " Juxama said in the same way. Khaln' Achat mumbled and said audibly " Hopefully I at least got that pest J.T. out of my fur. Break off engagement and head toward the fifth planet's orbital plane. This battle is over. " Several ships began to turn and were destroyed by their enemy's immediately but many got away. There were still many more Prince Khaln' Achat could command in battle, many more he could still push to victory. At least he had crippled the Exofleet now there was no way that they could beat him he said out loud. " Be careful brother that's what you said last time and we only run again. " Juxama snarled. He ignored Juxama swore out loud that on his life he would destroy the ones who humiliated him in battle this David and his exosquad just like he did their leader before him. Behind them the Exofleet and pirates chased them trying to do as much damage as they could but then broke off and let them go as to preserve their own number. Such a sight the two princes agreed was one to be avenged.

Colleen fell to her knees and collapsed into tears after she heard what happened to J.T., she was talking only to the squad since they had preferred not to tell her in public. " That should have been me. " she said in between sobs " Boarding ships is a jumptroopers job. " Jenny remained silent staring out into space. Colleen knew about what part Jenny had played but felt no contempt, she was young and inexperienced, plus the situation was urgent. On the other hand she could've done something and she probably knew it. She got up slowly wiping the tears from her face and left. Captain Sarson walked out of the shadows and up to the squad. " I am truly sorry about what happened. David you know what you have to do now. " he said silently and David nodded. The entire squad remained silent all lost in their own thoughts looking dispirited and depressed. Kaz was the only one who looked different he looked angry and hateful. He got up and brushed by Jenny pushing her to the side and growled in a low tone only audible to Jenny and himself " You should've pulled J.T. out. " A single tear rolled down Jenny's cheek and she walked slowly away David looked up and glared at Kaz slightly hopped down and began talking to Jenny as she left. " You all right? " he said softly. " Oh yeah I'm just so happy and perky and smiley all over even though I lost an important friend and my squad members are mad at me. " she said with a sardonic tone. " Well that's not quite what I meant and the squad isn't mad at you. " David said his still soft and understanding. " Why not I could've saved him but I let him and you guys down. Kaz reminded me of that. " she said and cast her eyes on the floor. " Just because Kaz is mad doesn't mean the whole squad is and he'll forgive you. " What about Colleen? She's probably hella mad at me. " Jenny said. " Maybe, maybe not but you don't have to worry about her. " David replied. " But I could've saved him, I could've saved him and pulled him out none of us would've had to feel this way! " she said getting hysterical and ran away to her quarters crying. David felt a hand on his shoulder which startled him and he spun around. " Marsala don't do that! " David chided him. " I am sorry David. I feel great sympathy for Jenny and the squad and I too want to try and help them. " he said calmly and understandingly. " That's great Marsala I could use some help but don't worry about me worry about the rest of the squad. " he said and walked down the hall. " We are you going? " Marsala asked and cocked his head. " To do my duty. " David said and rounded the corner.

David walked into his room everything was as he left it. Colleen was sitting on the bed and she turned around still sad and said in an surprised tone " What are you doing here? " " As commanding officer of Able squad it is my duty to when ever someone in my squad dies to clear out his stuff. " he said calmly. " Oh stop the military chatter and say things normally. " she said annoyed. " I've come to get his stuff and pack it up. " David said still calm and started to take stuff out of his closets and drawers. Marsala and Alec came in with several boxes ignoring Colleen. " Thanks guys I could use some help. " David said watching them as they came in. " Sure thing J... I mean David. " Alec said. Colleen also was going through a few things of J.T.'s seeing if there was anything she could save. She looked through a few books of his most of which were biographies of people in history and went through his stuff trying to see if there was anything she would take. " What are you going to do with his stuff anyway. " she said looking up from what she was doing. " Well, we are going to talk to his friends and family if they survived the neosapien occupation and see if anyone will claim it like your doing now. " David said continuing his work as he spoke. " And what about the stuff that isn't claimed such as clothes, his own furniture and stuff like that. " she said and noticed a computer notebook labeled " personal ". " Those kinda things will be given to the public for people who need it. " he said and they began to move a few boxes out. She took the journal, a couple of books, some pictures of what looked like his family and friends, and his medal of valor. She walked out and turned around to where they were working. " I can take this stuff right? " she asked calmly. " Yeah, go ahead. " Alec replied. " I'm not. " she said and walked quietly to her room. David finished packing up and they left the boxes in his room. David, Alec and Marsala all walked off in different directions.

Colleen laid down on her makeshift bed next to several troopers who were asleep. She looked at them, they seemed like nothing would wake them up snoring away. She sighed with a bit of exasperation and got up again going to a quiet private place to sit down with J.T.'s stuff to remember him. Tears rolled down her face as she looked at a recent picture of him with her and she began quietly sobbing. He looked so happy like nothing was wrong they'd be together forever. He held her close, so lovingly, looking the way he did but at that time only he knew they was something wrong. She slowly reached up and grabbed the ring he had given her that now again hung around her neck and squeezed it tightly. There was a sharp pain in her hand but she ignored it, little drops of blood drip from her hand and she watched in with a pained, depressed expression for a second. She finally let go revealing a shallow cut of her hand from the jewel on the ring. She walked over to some medical supplies and took out a roll of bandages. She wound it around her hand not reacting to the pain because the pain in her heart was much greater. She walked back over to the memories of J.T. and opened his journal. Out fell a picture of him and a young woman next to him leaning against his arm seeming to be in a joyous mood. Inside were the recordings of his day, his emotions, his memories. There were some that moved her but there were two which stood out the most. On the first page there was the very beginning of his military career and why he joined the military, it was a sad story. His hair was the same but everything else about him was younger. He ignored the young woman and had a proud kinda cocky look on his face. No matter what they facial expression or anything else he still was the most beautiful person in the world to him. The other was his descriptions and thoughts about Colleen when he first met her. At the time he said that he didn't have the courage to tell her how he really felt but that he would try and build it up and someday maybe they would be together. She closed it put it down and put her face in her hands and cried freely.

Jenny sat on her bed comptemplating her thoughts about what had just happened to her. Most of them were feeling sorry for herself and her friends but she also blamed herself. She kept repeating in her head " I could've saved him. I could've ..." she finally said out loud. She put her hands on the sides of her head and shed a few tears for J.T. and her own fear. The fear not if her friends would forgive her but herself. Kaz banged his head against the bulkhead lightly. He was depressed, confused and angry. He told himself " It would've been worse if she stayed right? " trying to forgive Jenny for not saving J.T. Again he banged his head against the bulkhead and said to himself " Damn it J.T. Why couldn't you let Jenny help you. Why did you have to be a hero? " His anger continued to increase when he thought about the people who were responsible who made him feel the need to stay. There was only one thing he could think to do but should he, would he do it? In the hanger deck the squad seemed to feel the same thing to share the thoughts of each other. The had questions like why couldn't he just leave? Or, why didn't Jenny pick him up anyway and save him? Their minds were filled with the memories of experiences, missions and feelings for their lost commander and friend. Even Marsala shared all this with them, one who had never felt such an emotion in his life. They all shed tears for him and then one by one they got up and walked to their quarters to be alone. David walked to the bar and looked up at the roll of honor. Three hundred and fifty names were there. Some he knew such as J.T. who was at the top of the list , so many people were just faintly remembered faces and names who were know gone, and others he didn't know. He no longer remembered the names of people who weren't even meant to fight but made the it to the list anyway by sacrificing their own lives to save others. He then looked at the flight roster, there used to be four hundred pilots serving on the Liberty, now there were one hundred and fifty. He looked away and them looked up at the bar sign turned around and walked back down the blackened corridor and to his room. He squeezed past a work crew entered his quarters and collapsed on his bed. " Damn it all. " he said and shed a single tear for his lost friends and then not even bothering to undress, Colonel David Sames went to sleep.

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