CHAPTER 5

Sangjin Province, China.

A man dressed in red clothing is standing in the middle of a room. He seems to be a man of importance, tall , educated and civil. His hands are clasped behind his back and his mind appears to be somewhere else.

"Sir." A voice came from behind. The man looks back and saw another dressed in military uniform. This one is older than he is and is a bit bald. The man walked inside the room, he has a hat that is firmly clasped between his arm. He has a badge of a general.

"What do you have for me general?"

"Good news." says the general. "I've received reports that more and more troops are coming over to join us. Some have already joined our troops on the way here."

The man slowly smiles. "Our troops are still loyal to mother china. That is good news indeed."

The general replied. "They are loyal to you Mr. President. They know who to follow. However it is still too early to celebrate. General Teng still has a lot of supporters. They still control 60% of China's armed forces. That includes the airforce, army, navy---"

"And mother china's nuclear weapons." the President added then paused for a while.

"General." the President continues. "What are our chances of overpowering Teng if we strike now?"

"We can fight the good fight sir. But I can't guarantee victory at this time." says the general. "Teng has all the advantage. We need more time. More troops."

"Time is something we don't have general." the President replied then he showed the general a pocket device. "Look at the display and you will understand."

"Is this verified?" asks the general. The President nodded.

"That information came directly from the defense center."

The general smiles. "Well, it's good to know they haven't found out about the brother-one bug that is sending us vital information by the hour. This may be the only tactical advantage we have against Teng."

The President looks surprised. "I'm no longer thinking about Teng general. Have you seen the data? Our asian neighbors are being attacked! If I understand the data correctly, Korea is already gone. Japan is under siege and the smaller nations are not faring well at all."

"And it's just a matter of time before China is invaded." the general said. He paused for a while before uttering a single word.

"UCAT."

The President nodded. "The UCAT."

"They must also be the reason why we are having communication failures." says the general. "Then again, Japan tried the same thing on us twenty years ago."

"You don't think Japan has anything to do with this General?" says the President.

The General sighed. "Twenty years ago, war almost broke out between Japan and Mother China. If you ask me Mr. President, I wouldn't trust those Japs with my life. They can be dishonorable as they can be like any enemy. Remember World War II?"

"That is a very long time General." says the President. "It is not wise to bring back what belonged in the past."

"Nor is it wise to ignore the events of the past Mr. President." says the General. "To tell you frankly I distrust the Japanese. There were reports that the japs have secretly allied themselves to the UCAT cause. I wouldn't be surprised if they turn the tables on their allies any moment now."

"Those reports were unconfirmed General." says the President.

"And yet more reports like this have surfaced." counters the General. "I know it is difficult in your position to differentiate your allies from your enemies. But looking at our present situation, we need to be wise in choosing our allies. If not, it can be our undoing."

"I'm aware of our problems General Mei." the President said. "And right now, my concern is to take back Mother China from General Teng as soon as possible. How we do that is your problem."

"Understood Mr. President." General Mei said. "Brother one is sending us pictures of the Presidential Palace in Beijing. We know where Teng's troops have been deployed, the time the guards are changed and if possible other sets of information including Teng's specific location in the palace."

"Good." the President said. "Compile every bit of information we could get from brother one. I fear that this advantage may be short lived so we have to act quickly. If I'm correct, we are also the only nation in the world aside from the WNL that still has a working satellite in space."


SPACE. A small satellite with a logo of China's flag is floating above China. Suddenly, the satellite's thrusters kicked in propelling it away. From the horizon, a lone satellite appears. A574.

Back on the ground, inside the remote UCAT Headquarters where its own defense center is also located. Technicians are trying to pin down the satellite.

"It keeps moving away! Damn that satellite!" the technician fumes then punched a few instructions to the keyboard.

"We can't get a decent shot of that thing." says the supervisor. "Can we determine its identity by analyzing the data stream?"

The technician shakes his head. "No can do sir. The satellite is sending streams of heavily encrypted code. It would take the fastest computer we have, 30 years of continous crunching unless we have the primer."

The supervisor sighed. "Has this information gone through channels already?"

The technician shakes his head again. "No sir not yet, we haven't drafted a report about this."

The supervisor leaned forward and whispered to his ear. "Make sure it stays that way. But for the meantime, try your darndest to kill that satellite. Our asses are on the line here if the Fleet Commander discovered we let one puny satellite got away."


BEIJING. China's Presidential Palace. A group of generals are arguing inside the Palace's biggest conference room.

"If you had better grip on your planes General, then my tanks would still be rolling in battle!" a furious General is accusing another. The General being accused slapped his hand on the table.

"Your tanks fired blaster missiles at my planes General! I lost thirty-four planes because of your incompetence!"

"Incompetence!" the general fumed. "It is you who are incompetent you miserable old---"

A sound was heard at the entrance door. A man walked-in dressed in a military uniform. His face is harsh and he has a mustache and a round body. But he walks confidently, almost majestic as the other Generals ceased their bickerings out of respect for this man. The man stared at each one of them.

"Well don't stop on my account." says the man in a calm but strong voice. "I heard you shouting all the way from the hallway. You seemed to me like wild beasts battling for territory, but now it seems the beasts have turned back into what they really are."

The man paused for a while then slammed his hand on the table and pointed his finger at them. "SHEEPS!" Then he pointed his finger to another. "GOATS!", then another. "AND PIGS!"

The Generals did not say a word. The man looks at them with fierce eyes. "Is this, what's become of mighty China?"

"General Teng." a voice came from one of the Generals. General Teng fixed his eyes on this man. "I don't quite agree with your opinion."

General Teng's fierce eyes glared on the General who is known as General Hu. Clasping both his hands in the back and spoke in a commanding voice. "Explain yourself!"

"We have supported you General." Hu said. "We betrayed the trust of mother china to follow your lead. The people around you believed in you General. But this is war. A war that cannot be won easily since the President still has his followers. Your ramblings and malicious accusations are not contributing anything to the war effort."

"And what, pray tell does the Generals need from me to ensure our victory?" Teng asked.

General Hu responds. "Leadership."

General Teng smiled then without warning points a gun at Hu's head then fired! Hu was hit on the forehead and he fell down on the floor dead. Blood gushes out of the wound and the floor where his body lays became covered with his own blood.

"There's your leadership!" General Teng shouts, his gun is still smoking when he points it to his Generals who backed off with fear.

General Teng shouts in a loud voice. "I WANT THE HEAD OF PRESIDENT QING BROUGHT TO ME! I WANT HIS SUPPORTERS KILLED! I WANT THEIR WEAPONS DESTROYED! I WANT THE WHOLE OF CHINA UNIFIED UNDER ONE COMMAND! MY COMMAND! DO... I... MAKE MYSELF... CLEAR!!"

The Generals are silent with fear. Teng holsters his weapon and looked around. It is clear who is the boos in this room. Teng huffs then walked out of the room with his escorts. But before he steps out of the door he gave one final order.

"I also want to find out who has been tipping Qing about troop movements. We have a traitor among us, AND I WANT THAT TRAITOR EXPOSED AND TAKEN CARED OF!"

The Generals bowed their heads and Teng finally walked out of the room. The Generals look at each other then to Hu's body. One General whose name was Li kneeled down at Hu and retrieved a button from his uniform. He secretly gripped the button where it sends a signal that secretly activates a miniature chip inside one of the buttons of his own uniform. The button becomes online with China's main computers. He stood up and silently walked out of the room.

General Li goes down to the Command Center and clasped the shoulder of a technician manning the controls. The technician looks up and Li casually remarks, "Empire is a go."

The technician returned his gaze to the monitor screen then whispered silently. "Good luck General."


THREE HOURS have passed and the Asian coalition reached Japan. From a distance, large plumes of smoke are visible and the waters are littered with debris. X24s flew by the carriers for a quick look. A couple of AF300A jets doing reconnaissance spotted them and changed their direction to intercept.

"Gamma five four nine. We have been spotted. Engage." the team leader reports. He kicked in the engines and the jets screamed across the sky reaching Mach 2 in 20 seconds. The UCAT jets did the same reaching Mach speed in much less time. The UCAT jets screamed past the X24s sending the jets rolling and out of control.

"Damn!" the team leader screamed while trying to regain control of his jet. The inboard computer calculates the right configuration to get the plane out of the loop. Once stable, the X24's targetted the AF300A jets now circling back for another run. The team leader chooses from a list of weapons displayed in HUD which is automatically received by his squadron.

"Lock and load." the team leader orders his team. The AF300A's screaming towards them.

"Fire!" the team leader commands and the X24's shoots silvery globes each one as small as a hand. Unknown to the AF300A pilots, the globes form an invisible net and with the UCAT jets flying at supersonic speed, the mainboard computer was unable to detect and analyze the globes until it's too late. The globes exploded simultaneously executing a massive sonic wave that hits the UCAT planes, damaging the plane's body and hurtling it out of control. The sonic wave also hits two X24 jets, but was able to regain control. From the distance, the carriers detected missile and torpedo launches.

"Red Alert! All hands!" the captain of the PWS-MALVAR declared.

The air filled with a defeaning roar as ten more Philippine X24 Screamers joined the battle of Japan along with the other warships PWS-Aquino, PWS-Marcos, PWS-Ramos and PWS-Arroyo.

"What the hell are those?" says the captain of the UCAT warship War Machine. "Are those navy ships?"

SSHHOOOOMMMM!!! An X24 flew close to the deck of the War Machine at Mach 6.3. The resulting force of air pushed the A103 Fighter jets over the side of the carrier and dropping to the ocean below and damaging the tower of the War Machine. X31 Bombers shot from the carriers and began bombing the UCAT warships below.

WUD! WUD! WUD! WUD! WUD!

Plasma clusters ejected from the X31 bombers exploded on the UCAT carriers while the X24s battled the AF211s in the air.

"Activate plasma repeaters." says the pilot in the X24, an AF211 is firing from behind. The wing of the X24 opened to revealed a launcher.

"Target and lock." says the pilot. The launcher locked its target to the AF211.

"Fire!"

BADABADABADABOOOOMM!! Plasma bullets ripped the wing of the AF211 sending it spinning violently in the air before exploding. Another AF211 joined the fight head on and started firing air to air missiles. The X24 released radar disruptors to disrupt the missiles targeting systems. The missiles spin violently in the air. However one of the missiles got close and exploded near the X24's wing.

BOOOMM!! The X24's wing was shattered and it started to fall.

"Mayday! Mayday!" the pilot shouts then with one pull, he ejected from the fighter plane. Two X24's passed by him and shoots an air to air cluster at the AF211, obliterating it in the process. Meanwhile, Japanese bombers are now on the offensive striking and sinking UCAT warships. A pair of Malaysian and Indonesian warships also arrived that boosted the strength of the AA. Before the day ends, three UCAT warships surrendered. But some were able to get away.



TRUDD JUST ARRIVED at the UCAT Command Center from his meeting with Barter. His boots echoes through the halls as he proceeds to the main center. Trudd literally kicked the door open. His face, having that menacing look glanced at the large monitor.

A beep is suddenly heard from the control panel. It's a communication dispatch. Someone is trying to reach him. Trudd angrily clicks the button and spoke in a harsh voice.

"You must have rice cakes for your brain or you really don't know how to follow protocol." says Trudd.

"I am not amused Commander." says the voice from the speaker. "I am still waiting for the weapons you promised, three months ago. The weapons you told me would make my invasion complete. We have an agreement commander."

Trudd angrily snaps back at the monitor. "First of all, don't call me commander. This line may be secure but you are still broadcasting. There are decrypters working to intercept this message. How many times do I have to tell you that!"

"My patience wore thin... commander." the voice replied. "I don't want to think that you are backing out of our agreement... As far as I'm concerned I have done everything what you tasked me to do. Now I task you... commander, to deliver what you promised me or, you will find yourself in a well of trouble. I am not your lackey and I can be a dangerous... very dangerous opponent."

"We... are having a bit of a problem right now... general." Trudd answers while trying to compose himself. "The agreement stays. You will have your weapons as I am not the kind of person who backs out of a deal."

The voice chuckled then answers, "That is not what I heard... commander. Word has it... that you are a distrustful person. Word has it that in the past you did not 'honor' an agreement that resulted in a violent and gruesome situation. I allied myself to you thinking that knowing who I am, what I am, you will not dare to repeat such dishonor."

"Then... general." Trudd answers. "Also knowing who I am, what I am, you know that I can also become a very dangerous opponent. In fact more dangerous now than ever before. I will not stand for empty threats and I will not be bullied by you... General."

"My threats, empty?" the voice said. "We will see commander. You already know what you have to do. I advice you to do it, fast. Or you will found out if my threats are truly as empty as you believe it is."

The call was disconnected. Trudd slams his fist on the table.

"Pig." Trudd silently exclaimed then sits back to ponder his situation. The large screen downstairs are monitoring the battle of Japan and the UCAT forces are being pushed back slowly. An officer, a female is standing on his side.

"Our forces are being pushed back---" she said but Trudd interrupts her in mid-sentence.

"I can see that Lieutenant, don't you think I couldn't see that?" Trudd angrily responds.

"I think you should know sir, that the leaders of the WORLD NATIONS LEAGUE are now debating if it's in their best interest to continue this war." the lieutenant reports.

"What?" Trudd is surprised. "I was just with a meeting with Barter eight hours ago."

"It seemed that they convened right after your meeting sir." says the lieutenant.

Trudd's brow darkened. "Barter. He wants to end the war and make me look bad."

A beep is heard and the lieutenant pulled out a communicator.

"Sir, our forces are asking for your orders. They are currently 70 miles from Japan and they are asking for further instructions" the lieutenant said. Trudd remained silent, tapping his fingers on the table. Then he stands up and looked over the large monitor screen.

"Execute Plan-719." Trudd declared.

The lieutenant appears surprised. "Sir, don't you think it's too early for that?"

Trudd looks her in the eye menacingly. "Execute Plan-719."

"Yes sir." the lieutenant bowed then went down to her station. She activates a series of codes that was checked and rechecked by station supervisors until a message is sent to Trudd's workstation asking to supply the first of two passwords that will execute PLAN-719.

Trudd typed the first password: DOMINANCE


AT SEA, where the UCAT ships have retreated, a computer warning is displayed on the screen.

"Captain something's wrong!" an officer said. The captain immediately went to look. The monitor screen displays a large red box with the words: SECURITY OVERRIDE LEVEL A

"What the fuck is going on?" says the captain. "Are these happening to the rest of the ships?"

"No way to know captain." says the officer. "Communication is also being jammed."


BACK AT THE UCAT HEADQUARTERS. Trudd received another message confirming completion of PLAN-719.

Trudd encodes the last password: ANNIHILATION

A siren screams three times to confirm the plan is being put into action. The large monitor screen changes display and an icon is displayed on top of every UCAT ship and UCAT facilities all over the world. Trudd smiles as the icon confirms his control over these ships.

"Your targets sir?" the lieutenant asks.

"London." Trudd said.


WORLD NATIONS LEAGUE, LONDON. President Barter is addressing the leaders of the nations under the WNL, unaware of a sinister plot that is developing right now.

AT SEA where hundreds of UCAT ships have retreated, a missile port opened from one of the carriers and launched an intercontinental-ballistic missile. The crew surprised at what just happened and totally unaware that their carriers are being controlled from the UCAT headquarters.

BACK at the UCAT H.Q. Trudd smiled as he tracks the missile on its way to London where the leaders of the WNL are convening.

"Control is power." Trudd says silently. "And power is control."


IN LONDON, advanced monitoring facilities have tracked the missile as it is about to enter British airspace. President Barter and the rest of the leaders are surprised when security forces barged in on the meeting declaring a nuclear attack on its way and rushed in to secure the leaders. Outside, the sound of sirens emanate throughout the city while the people rushed to get out of London and find a place to hide. Suddenly the large metallic object is seen falling out of the sky right on top of the WNL Headquarters.

A white blinding light emanates from the sky. Then a powerful wave of destruction swept throughout London, destroying buildings and obliterating the WNL Headquarters. WNL leaders deep underground felt the shockwave of the blast as large blocks of concrete began to fall and cave in on them. Barter was hit, breaking his back while seven more leaders are crushed to death. With his dying breath Barter spoke of only one word. A word that he spoke with anger and hatred.

"TRUDD!"


BACK AT THE UCAT H.Q. Trudd punches another target. His lieutenant's face expressed fear when she saw from her workstation the target Trudd has selected.

Smiling, Trudd declares. "It's game-over, you miserable, incompetent fool!"

Another ICBM preps for launching, this time from a UCAT submarine near Japan.

"Let's see what the Chinese will do when they thought it came from Japan." says Trudd as he punched a red button. Deep in the Japanese harbor. The UCAT submarine launched a single ICBM.

Trudd tracks the missile as it gains altitude. He punches a series of codes in the console sending information to the satellite A574. In space the satellite, repositions itself and points its homing dish to China.

"I'm only giving you a few moment." says Trudd. '"Just a few precious moments for you to see who is attacking you."

In China, the defense center's large monitor screen began to receive information.

"Hey we are online again!" says one chinese.

"We must've regained control of our satellites!" says another, then he saw the blinking light coming from Japan and moving towards China.

"What is that?" he asks then he began to realize what it is.

"A nuclear launch!" he screamed.

"Where is it headed!" screamed another. The chinese maneuvers the keyboard for information. After a few seconds he screamed.

"Beijing!"


GENERAL TENG is busily reviewing troop movements when his communicator beeps. He looked first who's calling then clicks the communicator to answer it. But before he can answer, the voice from the other line beats him to it.

"Remember how I told you that I can become a very dangerous opponent?" says the voice from the communicator.

"Trudd?" General Teng exclaimed.

The signal from the communicator was cut off. Then Teng heard multiple sirens filling the streets of Beijing. Teng saw the dawning fear from the eyes of his men then with his body shaking in fits of anger, he screams on his communicator!

"WE HAD A DEAL! WE HAD A DEAL! YOU DISHONORABLE F---"

Then a flash! Energy ten times hotter than the sun filled the whole city, burning, destroying and obliterating everything in its path. Shockwaves swept through the city toppling even the strongest buildings. Millions of people died on the spot including General Teng and his army that was caught up in the explosion.


IN SANGJIN, President Qing and his army was shocked when they intercept the signal from satellite A574. General Mei confirmed the attack.

"Beijing is in ruins Mr. President."

President Qing fell back to his chair. The shock and realization of what just transpired has robbed him with most of his energy. Slowly he faces the general.

"How did it come to this?"

The general answered him. "It was an attack Mr. President. The missile came from Japan."

"Japan?" President Qing exclaimed.

"There is more sir." General Mei said. "The signal we intercepted includes instructions to the Japanese Navy and the ASIAN ALLIANCE to proceed to China. The order is to INVADE CHINA at all costs."

General Mei's communicator suddenly beeps. Mei answered the call. "General Mei here. What? Are you sure? Well that is good news soldier. Well done."

"What is it?" asks President Qing.

General Mei has a wide smile on his face. "Mother China Mr. President. We have control of the armed forces, army, navy and air force. Our troops are now waiting for your command."

"All of them?" asks President Qing.

"All of them sir." says General Mei. "With Teng gone, you control the whole of China once more. Control of various defense centers all over China has been restored under your command."

"So if we strike back?" asks President Qing.

General Mei moved closer and spoke in a cold manner. "We can strike back with everything we have Mr. President. Everything. Our enemies will pay dearly now that we have gained back control of our ICBMS. We will burn their cities ten times as they've burn ours. Just give me the order sir and it will be done."


BACK at the UCAT Command Center. The large monitor screen displays IMPACT. Trudd smiles then smokes a cigar. The A574 satellite is no longer providing information to China. There isn't any reason now. The information he manufactured and embedded in the signal will convince the Chinese that the ASIAN ALLIANCE is bent on invading it. The Chinese will blame the attack on Japan and its counterattack will result in the implosion of the ASIAN ALLIANCE. The UCAT campaign in asia will be successful as planned.

Trudd laughs. He couldn't have planned it any better.

TO BE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 4

Three more mechanized drillers bore its way to the ground reaching the long dark tunnel that leads to Japan's Iruki Defense Center. The drillers converge, long steel connections connect to one another. The drillers began transforming into a large sphere. Three different levels of energy shields envelopes the sphere. The sphere churns, then sparks of energy emanates from the exterior as it began to roll towards the target faster and faster.

Inside the shielded base, the Japanese are shocked to discover the sphere is generating massive amounts of energy as it rolls faster towards them. The mini-cannons were refocused and fired! However to their surprise, the lethal energy that came from the mini-cannons are absorbed by the sphere.

"The weapon is absorbing the energy from our cannons!" says the one manning the control panel.

"That's not all. According to my readings, the weapon is 10 times stronger than it was before." says another.

Defense Manager Sako hurried to the main control panel. "We're switching to non-energy based weapons."

Outside, several chain guns appeared and fired explosive bullets. The sphere rolls through the barrage seemingly unaffected. Explosive charges bounced off the energy shields hitting concrete and exploding on impact. However, when the sphere reaches the large metallic door that protects the center, it stops.

Defense Manager Sako stared at the monitor. The sphere is just sitting there, its shield deflecting explosive charges with ease. Sako clicked on a button and the barrage stops.

"What... is it doing now?" Sako thinks.


"Okay! That's it. We're returning to point Alpha." the team leader of the Philippine X24 jet declared. The jets have been stretched far beyond their territories to pick up data streams that may shed light on what happened to communications. The engines roared as it picks up speed. Mach 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.5... The jets screamed in the air at 32,000 feet with wings pulled in to avoid V-Max. Suddenly, the inboard computer picks up something from behind.

"Bogey at 6 o'clock!" the team leader said alerting his teammates. Behind them a couple of UCAT AF300A Stratojets fired missiles that are designed to fly close to hypersonic speeds.

"Evasive action everybody!" says the team leader. "And prepare for combat!"

The X24s circled back, the engines roaring and the airframe is fighting the wind pressure. The inboard computer automatically tracks where the missiles are going. Plasma repeaters are automatically chosen by the computer.

The team leader shouts. "Fire!"

Balls of plasma energy shoots out from the X24 jets at the speed of light. The missiles were hit and destroyed. From a distance AF300A jets are hovering and watching the action.

"They destroyed our missiles like it was tin foil." says the lead pilot. "Fortunately, we have a similar weapon of our own."

The AF300A surged from zero speed to Mach 1 in 5 seconds. Its inboard computer has selected the Particle Chain Gun as the primary weapon.

BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM!!! Particle energy shoots out of the AF300A hitting the X24s at the speed of light. Deflector shields deflected the energy but created some sort of a backlash that rattled the pilots inside.

"Away! Away!" shouts the team leader. The X24s scrambles away to regroup. The AF300A jets surges forward catching up with the X24s and firing balls of particle energy.

KABLAMMM!!! Deflector shields are holding at 50% already. "Return fire! Return fire!" the team leader screamed! Plasma repeaters are activated and fired hitting the AF300A jets.

BADABADABADABOOMMM!!! It is now the UCAT's turn to scramble. Their own deflector shields are almost compromised. They fight a close fight. Both sides, hesitant to use a larger weapon for fear of hitting one of their own. The fight raged on for five minutes. The team leader of the X24 realized the enemy's plan is not to destroy them but prevent them from broadcasting the data streams they recorded.

"One of us must be able to reach the mainland." says the team leader while dodging particle beams aimed at him by the enemy. "Who has the most recorded data streams?"

"That would be me sir!" says Berrona, the third pilot. "I'm able to record 300 Terrabytes of data stream from multiple sources."

"How is your condition?" asks the team leader.

"My jet is 80% functional!" says Berrona. "But I can still fly at hypersonic speeds."

"Okay!" the team leader says. "The UCAT jets have a faster speed burst than us but I doubt they can sustain it for very long. We will cover you as long as we can but you will have to max your speed to reach point Alpha. I'm going to transmit the plan. Activate multi-encryption encoding to make sure the enemy can't read our messages."

"But sir, that would take a little longer for the computer to enact the plan!" says the other pilot.

"Either that or we kiss the data streams goodbye!" says the team leader.


BACK in Philippine territory, more Philippine warships have arrived outnumbering the UCAT warships. At the same time, three UCAT warships have already been destroyed, prompting Captain Moore of the USS Silver to declare the intention to retreat.

"All captains! This is Moore speaking. Retreat! Retreat to international waters!"

"The admiral is not going to like this captain." says his exo.

Moore's face is red with anger. But his heart is thumping wildly inside him. His Exo is right. But it is not the admiral's wrath that he is afraid of.

"They are retreating!" shouts the serviceman manning communications from the PWS-Santiago.
"Are we going to follow them?" asks the exo.

"You bet we will." says the captain. "The order is to destroy the invaders and that is what we will do."

X31 Fighters swooped from the sky and fired projectiles damaging the warships. Torpedoes were launched by Philippine warships further damaging the retreating ships.

"Damn it!" Moore screamed. "They are really intent on destroying us!"

The other fighters have joined the X31 jets in their assault. The UCAT warships are already aflame. Four warships are already dead on the water. Smoke fills the air and the water fills with debris from the sinking ships. Captain Saturno from the PWS-Macapagal looks on with a dark brow.

"They shall pay dearly for polluting our waters."


BACK in the air, the AF300A jets fires repeatedly at the X24s. The X24s respond in kind shattering an AF300A's deflector shields and damaging the jet severely. However, the UCAT jets still outnumber the X24s. The team leader decides to execute the plan now.

"I received confirmation that my plan has been received by your inboard computers." says the team leader. "We are about to execute the plan. On my mark... NOW!"

Thrusters engaged! Three X24s broke free with Berrano's jet leading the way. The UCAT pilots were surprised and tried to follow, but the remaining X24s launched missiles damaging the jets before they can get far. However four AF300A jets were still able to follow and is now gaining on Berrano and company.

"Mach 2.0, Mach 3.0, Mach 4.0, Mach 4.5..." Berrano is reading the status display from the monitor. His jet is pulling away faster than the two as planned. The four AF300A who managed to follow are gaining fast. The jets are reaching speeds of Mach 4. At this speed, the missiles are no longer the preferred weapon since by the time the missiles are launched, the jets would've been farther away and it will take some time for the missiles to follow.

The X24s released shock pods that crackles with strong electrical current as soon as it leaves the tail opening of the X24s. The pods cling to the nose of the UCAT Jets and released a tremendous amount of electricity that confused the jets inboard computer just in time for the X24s to unload three balls of plasma energy that goes through the shields of the AF300A Jets destroying it in the process. The two pilots shout for joy, but they shouted too soon. Two hypersonic missiles came from behind so fast that the X24's computer failed to spot it in time. The X24s exploded in flames.

"Shit." Berrano said when his computer picked up the explosions. "Now I'm all alone."

From a distance, two AF300A Jets zoomed by at supersonic speeds. The lead pilot punched the comm button to report progress. "Beta Nine Zero, this is Flashback reporting. A bogey is still on the way. Repeat, a bogey is still on the way." From hundreds of miles away, a UCAT warship received the message. At once, three AF220 fighters were launched to intercept Berrano's X24.

"Acquiring connection." Berrano says as the computer tries to find out if it can transmit the data. However, the computer returned the message CONNECTION FAILED.

"Damn!" Berrano said. He is still far away. He hoped that the communication bridge the X22s have broadcasted has extended far enough for him to transmit the data and call for help. He knows the UCAT will try to intercept him and he doesn't know if the jet can still fly faster than Mach 6. The AF220 fighters have a maximum speed of Mach 8. With the jet's weakened condition, the AF220 jets are sure to catch up with him.

"Only one chance!" Berrano said to himself. He began punching keys in the mini-keyboard. The monitor displayed a simulation of the memory bank being attached to the missile shaped emergency pod. The computer detached the explosive compartment and put the memory bank securely inside it. The engine was also detached and a long range one was attached for maximum distance and speed. From a distance, Berrano saw the three AF220 fighters gaining up speed to intercept him. The computer monitor displayed the words EXECUTE. Berrano has a finger over the execute button. He tried to acquire a connection for the last time. The AF220 fighters launched their missiles.

CONNECTION FAILED.

"Farewell my country." Berrano whispered then maneuvered the jet to the right. The missiles have already targeted him and with the jet's belly clearly visible to the missiles optic scanner now, the missiles stamped a definitive lock on Berrano.

Suddenly, something launched from the nose of the X24 jet. The UCAT missiles detected it but it is already too late. The missiles hit the jet creating a large balls of flame. The UCAT pilots maneuvered their jets to follow the emergency pod. However, the emergency pod has already gained speed and with less load is moving a lot faster than the AF220 jets. As soon as the pod reached Mach 8.5, the AF220 jets gave up.

"Spearmetal to Beta Nine Zero. A bogey is still away." reports the pilot.


MEANWHILE IN LONDON. Fleet Commander Trudd is walking the carpeted hallways of the office of the President. His steps are heavy and his face has that 'Don't mess with me' look. Trudd is definitely not happy. He thinks coming here is a waste of time. For Trudd, this place reeks of bad politics and men of times gone who have lost their flair for adventure. Definitely not the place he wants to be.

The man who summoned him is Hugh Barter, a man in his sixties a former economist and were once President of six multi-national corporations. Barter and Trudd are no strangers to each other. In fact, they met years ago and Hugh came to know Trudd very well. Maybe too well that Hugh is also not happy that he summoned Trudd all the way here to update him on the progress of the war and clear some issues that is troubling him. After all, Barter is currently the President of the WORLD NATIONS LEAGUE.

"Mr. President, Fleet commander Trudd is here." says the secretary.

"Good," says Barter. "Send him in."

Trudd walked in the room as if he is on fire. When he reached Barter's desk he threw his jacket aside and talked insolently at the President.

"I hope you have a good reason for this meeting Mr. President because if you haven't noticed... I am busy winning the war." says Trudd.

"Jason." says Barter. "It is always a thrill meeting with you."

"Why do I have to fly a thousand miles when I've already sent you my report?" asks Trudd. "I have to be on the command center, directing operations. We are winning Mr. President. And I intend to keep it that way!"

"You knocked down their satellites." says Barter. "Very good. Unfortunately, you also knocked down the American satellites and the British and the Russians..."

"A574 did a remarkable job detecting armed satellites and obliterating it." says Trudd. "When we put the satellite in space we weren't able to thoroughly test it. It's a minor bug Mr. President."

"Jason how long have I known you?" asks Barter. "Fourteen years isn't it? Back when you were still directing that job you botched in Jordan."

"That has nothing to do with this." says Trudd. "What I did then, I did for my country."

"You tried to take over an operation that wasn't yours that resulted in the killing of six thousand innocent victims!" says Barter. "I know who you are Jason. Maybe more than you know yourself. You have a homicidal streak that seems to fit your personality very well. You want power don't you Jason?"

"First of all, don't call me Jason." says Trudd. "Call me Trudd or Fleet Commander. Secondly, I already have the power. I control the world's mightiest armed forces. And I am winning Mr. President! The power that you said I wanted? I'm giving it to you and to the state leaders when this is over! I am your man for the job Mr. President."

"You don't fool me Jason." says Barter. "I can see you're lying in my face! But I can't prove it. Not yet." Then he leaned closer. "I know you shut down our satellites on purpose. I know you do. But heed my advice. Whatever your plans are. Don't do it. Because I'm on to you."

Trudd smiled then leaned forward. "UCAT is my business Mr. President and winning this war is my obligation. Be informed that I will do everything in my power to ensure victory for the WNL and believe me that victory is at hand. So if you may Mr. President. Please. Don't ever summon me again unless it is really REALLY IMPORTANT!"

Trudd starts to walk out of the room but Barter called on him to halt. "We are not yet finished!"

Trudd stops in his tracks and turned to Barter. "Oh yes we are Mr. President. We're out to win the war aren't we? I make sure we do."


MEANWHILE the X22 which formed a bridge in the air to intercept data streams have begun picking something up.

"I'm picking something at port 99." the pilot reports.


MEANWHILE AT SEA. The emergency pod screamed past A UCAT warship which launched hypersonic missiles to destroy it. The missiles began to gain speed. The pod continued to broadcast information.


BACK IN THE tunnels of Iruki. The sphere lies motionless besides the giant door that protects the defense center.

"It's been there for hours." says Aki, a japanese manning the controls. "Perhaps it's dead?"

"It's doing something." says Sako, the facility's defense manager then he cupped his chin. "But whatever it is I don't know."

"We can send a robot rover to check it." says Iyumi from engineering.

"What the hell. Do it." says Sako. "It's better than waiting around."

The group carried a box shaped robot with four wheels to a small opening in the giant door. They opened the hatch and the robot rover went in. Once the hatch is closed, the robot goes online and wheeled itself in the long tunnel towards another small opening at the end. The robot transmits a digital key to the hatch at the end of the tunnel and it opened slowly allowing the robot to come out. The hatch slowly closed but before it does, it stops. To their surprise, the robot rover went inside the hatch again.

"What is happening Iyumi?" Sako asked. "Why did you let the rover in again?"

"I didn't do anything!" Iyumi protests then she tried to check the rover's status. "Um... Basing from these readings, the robot is performing well. It might have detected something outside that it considers a threat. Then again, the robot shouldn't be doing this at all."

"Your robot is malfunctioning!" says Sako in disgust.

"You're right." says Aki. "And that's not all. Look, the hatch on the other side is still open. It didn't close when the robot went in."

"What?" Iyumi exclaimed then she punched some instructions to the keyboard to close the hatch but the hatch did not move. While she's doing this, the hatch besides the giant door that leads inside Iruki is now opening slowly. Sako saw this then asked Iyumi about it.

"Did you authorized the opening of this hatch?" asks Sako.

"No." Iyumi replied. Sako is wide-eyed.

"CLOSE THAT HATCH!" Sako screamed. But before they can do that, they heard the creaking of metal from the large door. The giant door is opening on its own! Sako moved to his control center trying to close the door. But the computers are ignoring him. Outside, defense systems are shutting down. The sphere which has beem immobilized for hours lights up again.

"What is happening? What is happening?" asks a japanese near the giant door.

"The sphere!" Sako screamed. "It sent a virus or something to the rover! When the hatch was opened, the rover transmits the virus to our systems, infecting it!"

The giant door opened and the sphere that is the size of a car rolls inside. The scared people huddled to the side as the sphere rolled by coming to a stop at the middle of the center. Then without warning, the sphere detonates!

The ground above the defense center cracked then shoots up in the air. The UCAT jets which are hovering above felt the shock of explosion and wobbled in the air for a while. The defense center which served temporarily as the coordination center for the ASIAN ALLIANCE is no more.


BACK TO THE X22s, the pilot receiving the data streams is amazed at the size of data he is receiving. He punched a comm button to his team leader. "Sir, the data stream just passed 100 terrabytes." the pilot reports.

"Good." says the team leader. "The data that you are receiving is now being sent to the main land."

"I suspect there are more sir." says the pilot. "If I'm not mistaken, the X24's have amassed terrabytes of terrabytes of data from the---"

"What?" the team leader asks.

"It's gone!" the pilot replies.

"What do you mean it's gone?" the team leader asks.

"The comm port is no longer receiving data." says the pilot. "We've been cut-off."


A LONG DISTANCE AWAY, clouds of fire and debris is visible above the sea. The captain of a UCAT warship not far away smiles.

"Beta Nine Zero," the captain reports to his comm unit. "the bogey is definitely destroyed."

His exo walks towards him. The captain glanced behind his back. He sees the grim face of his exo and wonders. "What's eating you?"

"Sir," the exo replied in a soft voice. "we intercepted streams of un-readable data."

"Encrypted." says the captain then his face grew dark. "The bogey."

"Yes sir." the exo responds. "The bogey has been transmitting information all along."


BACK IN PHILIPPINE TERRITORY. Fifty warships are being mobilized towards Japan. A hundred more is coming from Indonesia and Malaysia. Armed with Berrano's data stream, the governments knew that the UCAT is concentrating all their efforts in Japan. With maximum speed, they can reach Japan in just three hours. This is hoping they can dispatch any UCAT warship that they may encounter along the way. But the mission is a daunting one. Even if they reached Japan in time, will they be able to turn the tide or will they all be swallowed by the UCAT's superior numbers?

If only China is with them right now.

TO BE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 3

WAR!

The UCAT and AA (ASIAN ALLIANCE) warships collided with one another with the AA seemingly getting the upperhand on the first day of the war. The AA were able to sink six UCAT warships and drove the rest away. However, on the second, third and fourth day, the UCAT returned with more warships, and planes started bombing the mainlands. With communications disrupted, the AA warships were unable to communicate with each other. On the fifth day of the war, UCAT ground forces touched down in Korea and captured its solar energy processing plants. The Koreans furiously battled the enemy, however its smaller armed forces proved no match for the overwhelming invaders. The takeover was quick but fortunately, the Korean President was able to escape to Japan.

Advance technology kept Japan afloat. Its warships and warplanes kept the UCAT from coming any closer. Admiral Hatto directed the operations at sea where Japanese warships confronted the UCAT warships in open battle. Japanese defenses are tight and the UCAT warships are unable to advance. UCAT fighter jets were also confronted by Japan's elite fighters. Missiles shoot up in the air and everytime it does, a UCAT or Japanese fighter jet fell down to the open sea. It's a vicious fight and for a while, it seems the Japanese are getting the upperhand. However, more UCAT warships are arriving everyday with no support whatsoever from other members of the ASIAN ALLIANCE that the Japanese Government realized it is just a matter of time before Japan's defenses are finally breached.

In Southeast asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia suffered mild attacks from the UCAT. For some reason, the UCAT did not try to engage the Philippine warships and is just content on firing from a distance. AF220 Fighter Jets which are more advanced than the one felled by the X24, engaged the jets for some time then retreated back to their warships.

"What are they doing?" asks a serviceman. "Why don't they try to cross over and fight it out with us?"

"They are testing us." says Captain Saturno of the PWS-Macapagal. "They are studying our moves." Then he looked towards the person manning communications. "Do you have something for me now?"

"Sorry captain." says the serviceman. "We still can't pick up anything from the satellites. It's as if they are no longer there."

"I don't get it." says another. "A few days ago, those satellites are like christmas trees in this monitor."

"Something must have been blocking our signal." the exo said. Saturno looks at him.

"Or the satellite's signal is not reaching us." says Saturno.

POOOMMM!!

"They resumed firing." says the serviceman.

"Putcha!" Saturno shouts angrily. "How long do we have to wait here? I'm getting tired of this."

"Sir, head command has reiterated the order that all warships maintain defensive positions." says communications.

"What do they expect us to do?" says the exo. "Wait here and get creamed without a fight?"


INSIDE the USS Silver, Captain Moore is also yearning to engage the Philippine warships.

"If they would only come out of their territory. Damn it." says Moore then looks at his executive officer. "Explain to me why we have to wait for them to come to us?"

"Strategy captain." says the exo. "UCAT Command wants them fragmented so they can't help each other."

"But," the exo added, "if they do decide to come out and engage us, we are to pull back and wait until they return to their territory."

"So high command isn't comfortable that we can beat these assholes?" Moore said while scratching his head. "How very comforting." Then he glanced at the monitor tracking the projectiles being fired by the USS Silver and being destroyed in the air by Philippine warships.

"I'm starting to get bored." the captain complains.


BACK inside the bridge of the PWS-Macapagal.

"One more hit sa mga lintik na ito and I'm heading out will all weapons blazing." says Saturno.

"The Macapagal is primed and ready captain." says the exo. Saturno glanced at him then shook his head.

"Does anybody gets jailed for insubordination?" says Saturno with a smile.

The exo smiled back. "Yeah. But in the face of war... they got shot."


MANY miles away, three X22 Fighter Jets are roaring in the sky. Soon they were joined by X24 Screamers.

"Glad you could come!" greets the team leader. "Do you have your orders?"

"Yes team leader." the lead X24 pilot answered him.

"Alright." says the team leader. "With communications down, head command is ordering us to become a telephone line. One very long line. To do this we need to stretch out as far as we can and hope we can pick up something. Allocate 30% of your power to the microwave linkup module."

"We can only allocate 5% of our power." says the pilot from the X24. "The Screamer is built for speed, not broadcast information."

"Then you will use that speed to record radio signals that are not available in our range." says the team leader while punching coordinates and team formation to his computer. "I'm sending coordinates to your systems, now."

The pilots received the information in their computers. "Alright." says the team leader. "Break formation in 3, 2, 1... BREAK!"

VRRROOOOMMMMM!!!!

The fighter jets break formation, each one going to his designated coordinates. The X24 screamers climbed to 20,000 feet. 22,000, 24,000... The X22 stayed in 18,000 feet and once they reached their designated coordinates, hovered in the air as they go online to one another.

"The bridge in the air is now online." says the team leader.


MEANWHILE in Malacanan Palace, the President is currently in a meeting with his chief of staff General Ramon Obarra and secretary of defense Roberto Dinghal. A beep in the general's handheld informs him a message has been patched through. The general reads it then smiled.

"The X22 has completed the linkup." says the general. "Now we wait for the X24s to complete their sweep. But all the same Mr. President, I recommend we mobilize our ships and engage the enemy head on."

The President turned his face towards Roberto. "What do you think?"

Roberto cupped his chin. "I have to agree with the general. Whether we like it or not, war has come to us. The presence of UCAT warships near the Philippines spells big trouble for us. The WNL is planning something and I warrant you... it isn't good."

The President nodded. His mind is thinking, calculating the risks. General Obarra leaned closer and talked in a low voice. "Time is running out Mr. President. We need to decide what to do now and do it quickly before everything is lost."

The President looked at him. "Are we ready to fight this war general?"

The General smiled then nodded. "Ready than ever."

The President glanced at Roberto. Roberto nods. He looked back at the general.

"Attack."


A BEEP alerts the serviceman manning communications that a message is being patched through.

"Sir," says the serviceman. "Head command has given the rest of the fleet orders to engage the enemy!"

The captain grits his teeth and smiled. "Red Alert! Ready the X17 bombers. Target those warships. We're attacking now!"

Engines at full power, the warships moved as one. The captain of the USS Silver has been alerted. He watches the monitor and wonders.

"Are we gonna get some action after all?" says captain Moore smiling. "Red Alert! Battle stations everyone! We are going to war!"

"Captain, remember our orders." says the exo.

"Damn it Johnson, I'm not going to run away. These monkeys finally decided to attack and I will face them in open battle. We are going to attack." says the captain.


SKKRRREEEEEE!!!

X17 Bombers shoots up from the flight deck. A220 strike bombers hovered from the USS Silver and joined the others coming from five other warships. Pulse turrets activates and targets the Philippine warships. Particle and Plasma repeaters goes online and targets the UCAT warships.

Captain Saturno watches the monitor as they near the UCAT warships, then looks at his exo and muttered. "The game begins."


SKKRRREEEEE!!!! The X24s screamed in the air at Mach 8. The team leader watches his mini computer screen then noticed something. The jet's communicator is picking up data streams.

"I'm picking up data streams at port 192. Confirm." says the team leader.

"Yep team leader. Port 192 is live, so is port 178 and port 182" says the pilot.

"Mine is port 155, 127 and 164." reports another pilot.

"That is good news!" says the team leader. "Enable direct to drive transfer so we can retrieve the information back in the base."


40,000 feet above Japan, a floating commsite receives the data the X24s have been sending and sends back data of its own. However, before the commsite is able to finish transmission, an air to air missile hits it, destroying the commsite and reducing it to piles of flaming steel as it fell down. An A220 strike bomber flew past the burning cellsite as it falls to the ground.

"Striker here, just knocked out 27 of 80 commsites." says the pilot.


BACK to the screamers, a pilot noticed the abrupt termination of one of his comm ports.

"What the heck? A comm port stopped transmiting data!" the pilot reported.

"Are you still within in range?" asks the team leader.

"I'm still in range... I think." says the pilot. "Well actually I can't tell anymore since the source is no longer there."

"They must have been knocking out the comm sites." says the team leader. "We have to bring back as much data stream as we can."


BACK in Japan. AF210 Bombers are dropping projectiles throughout Japan. The UCAT warships have advanced on their original positions and are now pummelling the remaining warships.

The warship WS-War Machine is moving into position. The large japanese warship Orita is taking a lot of damage but is also dishing damage of its own. It managed to sink seven UCAT warships in four days. The War Machine sneak up to the side of the Orita and opened fire.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

The Orita repositioned its turrets and started firing. The War Machine took damage on the side and it is forced to withdraw to a safer distance. AF209 Jets shot up from the War Machine and pummelled the Orita with air to ground missiles.

WHABOOOMMM!

The formidable warship is aflame but doesn't sink. Inside, the crew of the Orita is trying to re-align systems that has shut down. The Orita is capable of re-aligning its systems so it stays online. However, in this case, the Orita has taken much damage that its computers are failing to re-activate the systems that were shut down.


HIGH UP in the sky, five russian CK311 Scanners flew over Yasuno in search of the hidden base.

"Intelligence suggest a hidden base here." says the lead pilot in russian. "Activate search sensors. Full power."

The eye of the scanners opened up and scans the ground. A computer image appears on their monitor where a mile long transport system from underground that seems to have been cutoff on a mountain is very visible. The lead pilot smiles.

"Arm Drillers." says the lead pilot. The bellies of the CK311 opened up and three six feet machines are dropped to the ground with pinpoint accuracy.

POOOOMM!! The machines fell with such force that it sends dust and soil 52 feet in the air. The machines started drilling underground.

"Scanners to base, we have jackpot." says the lead pilot.


BACK in Philippine territory. Philippine warships have engaged the UCAT. X24 Screamers tries to disorient the A220 bombers whose bombs when dropped are capable of destroying a warship. X31 Lawin Fighters faces the A220 and pummelled them with plasma repeaters.

BADABADABADABOOMMM!!

"Evasive action! Evasive action!" shouts the lead pilot of the A220. The bombers break formation. Two A220 were hit by plasma bullets and exploded in mid-air. The X31s circled back for another approach but a beam of intense light suddenly hits one of their own and it burned in mid-air before it hits the water.

"Charged lasers!" shouts the X31s team leader. The jets flew away evading the lasers from the USS Goodman. The 17 foot Laser cannon builds up energy then shoots another beam of light hitting the PWS-Ejercito damaging its flight deck.

"Particle charges!" shouts Captain Estroja of the PWS-Ejercito. "Fire!"

POOOM! POOOM! POOOM! POOOM! The charges hit the USS Goodman damaging its lower hull. However, the warship is far from defeated and its laser cannon targets the X31's coming in from the side.

FWOOOOOMMM! KABOOOOMM!! Two missiles coming from the PWS-Ramos hits the USS Goodman on its side. The warship repositioned its laser and targets the PWS-Ramos.

"Are the reflectors charged and ready!" shouts the captain of the Ramos.

"Ready captain!" says engineering.

"Activate!"

The warship is enveloped with a semi-transparent shield. The USS Goodman fires!

RRREEEEEEEE!!! The laser hits the shield deflecting multiple strands of thin light and hitting a number of UCAT and Philippine warships. However, the intense energy coming from the lasers broke through the shield and damaged the hull of the PWS-Ramos.

KABOOMMM!!!

"Putang---" screamed the captain as he holds on tight to prevent himself from falling to the side. "Damage report!"

"Decks 4, 5 and 6 have sustained damage captain!" says a serviceman.

"Six?" says the captain. "That's engineering!" Then he grabbed a comm-unit. "Magsalin. Report!"

"Captain!" points the exo. The USS Goodman is charging up its laser. "They are ready to fire again." The captain dropped his comm-unit.


Inside the USS Goodman, the captain is furious about the sudden change of plan.

"We are supposed to back away! That's the plan! What the hell is Moore thinking?"

"Sir we are only moments to fire." says his exo.

"Then by all means---" but before the captain can give the order the laser cannon which was hoisted above the ship was destroyed when a bomb was dropped by two hypersonic X24 jets from the Philippine Navy.


The explosion was very visible in the bridge of the PWS-Ramos.

"Yeah!" shouts the captain of the Ramos. "Cluster missiles! Fire!"

SHOOOM! SHOOOM! SHOOOM! SHOOOM! SHOOOM! SHOOOM! The missiles hit the USS Goodman with such force the warship leaned to the other side. The ship is now aflame.

The X24's roared its engines as it circled back, does some aerial acrobatics and moves in for another kill. However, an A250 Nightcrawler is moving up behind them. The pilot cliked the trigger. Two missiles blasts off towards the X24s.

MISSILE ALERT! MISSILE ALERT! The computer has detected the missile coming straight at them. The pilots kicked in the engines, the missiles followed.

"Isn't it easier to just launch a scrambler?" says Vergara.

"And miss all the fun?" says Arrate. "Come on, let's see if we can outrun the missiles!"


BACK in Yasuno. The Mechanized Drillers reached the transport tunnel that leads to the hidden base. The Drillers' scanners activates and calculates the distance of the target. Suddenly, its body opens up to reveal a large circular pod that hovers as it comes out of the drillers.

In the air, the pilot of the CK311 receives confirmation from the drillers. The pilot smiled as he punches a button in the control panel.

"Garushkov here." says the pilot. "The drillers have activated the nukes. Request permission for WIPE OUT."

Inside the bridge of the russian warship. Admiral Karazski steps on the bridge with Captain Voraspov and pressed the comm button.

"Permission has been given." says Admiral Karazski in russian. "Wipe that base out of Japan for good."

"With pleasure." the pilot replied then he punches the execute button in his control panel.

Underground where the drillers are waiting for confirmation, the nuke pods received the order and powered up for the assault. The pods roared through the dark tunnel calculating remaining distance and power needed to obliterate the hidden base. At the end of the tunnel, the Japanese have detected the intrusion and is now activating defenses to destroy the pods. The large metallic door transformed to reveal several cannons and several energy shields activates to shield the base from the explosion. The pods detected defense systems being activated and reacted by multiplying deflector shields and allocating power for sudden surges.

Multi-particle beams fire away from the cannons. The pods evaded the beams quickly enough that the beam hits parts of the tunnel creating large holes. The pods evaded the beams again and again and the Japanese realized the pods are much faster than the cannons. The cannons began a quick transformation and when it is finished, it is now a mini-cannon and resembles more as a chain gun now. The mini-cannon unleashed its fury by firing particle spheres repeatedly, 0.02 microsecond at each burst. This time the pods were hit and it scrambles to evade the deadly assault. One pod was unable to evade the attack and was obliterated when it was hit several times. The other pod tried to evade the attack by hiding in the rubble but was eventually destroyed.

UP IN THE AIR. The CK311 Scanner Jet was joined by several other UCAT Jets, the american A212, the british BZA500 and the french UC909. The bellies of the jets opened up and dropped drillers of different designs. A japanese manning surveillance inside the hidden base was instantly alerted.

"Three more machines are digging their way in!"


MEANWHILE inside the UCAT Headquarters. Fleet commander Trudd is monitoring everything that is happening in asia. The satellite A574 is sending fleet activity by the minute and he smiles to think that everything is going according to plan.

Suddenly, an officer goes up to his chair and asked for his name.

"Fleet commander Trudd?" says the officer. Trudd's eyes glared menacingly to the officer. The officer steps back. "President Barter requests your presence in London sir."

"The WNL Headquarters?" asks Trudd. "No. Tell the president I have a lot of work to do here."

"Um, sir. The President sends a Hovercopter for your transport. He insists on seeing you sir." says the officer. Trudd stared at the officer. The officer balks at the stare and looks down on the floor. Trudd senses the officer's fear breathed deeply then smiles.

"Then to London we will go."


TO BE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 2

Date: December 3, 2070

Time: 12:00 PM

Place: Iruki Defense Center. Yasuno, Japan


A Hovercopter is descending to the platform with a letter H. Nanding watches as the ground got bigger in his eyes and wondered where the center is since all he sees are blades of grass and no buildings in sight.

Four security guards escorts Nanding and four others to a smaller platform and instructed them to hold tight on the handles. The platform descends to the ground and Nanding saw that the center is built underground. After what seemd to be a mile underground, they transferred to a bullet train that speeds them to the all the way to the center. A japanese man in his forties is waiting for them.

"Mr. Hernan Taymo?" said the japanese in clear english.

"Yes." Nanding replied. "You must be Mr. Sonoka?"

"We met at last Mr. Taymo." said Sonoka, clasping his hand. "Come, the other delegates are waiting for us. I hope you have a fine trip?"

"Well to be honest, I did not know what to expect." said Nanding. "I was told the conference will be held in Tokyo, I felt a bit disturbed when the copter flew us all over here."

"We have to change the location of the conference at the last minute." said Sonoka. "You will know about it."


THE CENTER is filled with large monitor screens that shows the world's entire map. There are at least a hundred small icons red and blue that is scattered all over the screen. There may be at least a hundred person working on their workstations.

In the middle of the room there is a large round table with at least fifty chairs. The delegates are seated unevenly and already hot on the topic. A think man with glasses is standing and talking to the others.

"... have to think of a way to defuse the situation. Diplomacy is the key here gentlemen."

"We have been doing that since the last century." says a man with a balding head. "But that did not stop them and neither will this. The time for talk is over. We need to act."

"Excuse me gentlemen." interrupts Sonoka. "Before we continue, I would like to introduce Mr. Hernan Taymo, recently appointed ambassador from the Philippine Goverment."

"So, the Filipinos finally decided to come out after all?" says the man with a balding head. "Perfect timing isn't it gentlemen?"

"Mr. Taymo, is here to represent his country and join the ASIAN ALLIANCE. Insulting our newest member will not help our cause." says Sonoka. Then Sonoka begin introducing the others. "Mr. Sung Tai Jung of Korea, Mr. Nobi Iko of Japan, Mr. Jusuf Ambang of Indonesia and Mr. Ali Bawati of Malaysia."

"A pleasure meeting you all." says Nanding.

"There were more of us but the other delegates could not come." says Sonoka as they sit down.

"Is there a problem?" asks Nanding. The man with a balding head who is Nobi Iko scoffs.

"That is an understatement." then he stood up and clicked a button on the panel. A holographic display of the countries in asia appeared on the middle of the table. "Three months ago, we detected UCAT ships in international waters, just beyond our territories."

He clicked a button again and the hologram projects another image. "This is taken two months ago. Notice the yellow ones? UCAT ships. The number of ships have doubled in size."

He clicked on a button again and the hologram projects a stream of unreadable texts. "Our satellite intercepted this code. Using decryption technology, we were able to extract this piece of code." The stream of unreadable texts stopped. Then the computer prints out the code in bold letters.

A574

Nanding looked at Sonoka. "A574. What does it mean?"

"We don't know yet." says Iko. "But this we know. When the stream of texts are displayed on the computer monitor, it resembles a large square with the codes A574 scattered around it." He paused before continuing. "We think the stream of text is some sort of a map and the A574 are---"

"Target points." says Bawati.

"Exactly." says Iko. "But since the stream of texts are multi-dimensional and encrypted in multi-bit, it will take some time for the decrypter to fully extract it."

"Well," says Nanding who is trying to grasp the topic, "have you compared the map to the positions occupied by the UCAT ships?"

"We did that already. They don't match." says Iko taking a seat. "It is hard to speculate but we knew from the images in our satellites that the UCAT ships are taking their positions in the asian region."

"What about the WNL?" asks Nanding.

"What about them?" says Iko. "They claim the UCAT is on a routine exercise only. After that, we are unable to call them. Something is afoot here and I don't like it."

"But showing aggression could result to war." says Sung Tai Jung. "You know that they are only waiting for us to make that move."

"We need to defend ourselves! In case they plan on invading us." says Iko. "We know the Americans and the Europeans are more militaristic now more than ever. We also know that the war in the middle east has deprived them of the wealth and pleasures they enjoyed a century ago. The rift between Asians and Caucasians caused them to lose market share and it is affecting their economy. With the UCAT as the WNL's military arm, they have the biggest armed forces in the entire world. They can invade a country in just a snap."

"What about China?" says Jusuf. "China is a member of the ASIAN ALLIANCE."

"China is having internal problems now." says Sonoka. "A coup d' etat is happening in China right this moment that is why the Chinese President is unable to attend this conference."

"My god." says Nanding. "Is the President safe?"

"He is safe." says Sonoka. "But for the moment, we have to plan on what to do next and we must exclude China for the meantime."

"There is one course of action." says Iko.

"Oh no." says Sung Tai Jung shaking his head.

"The UCAT warships have not yet exceeded the combined armed forces of the ASIAN ALLIANCE. But as warships keep coming in, we may not be able to stop them when we finally decides to do it. So, before it happens, I suggest we attack."

"No." says the Korean delegate.

"We cannot wait for them to complete the build-up!" says Iko. "If the ARAB LEAGUE let the UCAT complete their build-up when war is just starting in the middle east, they would've been overwhelmed. Remember that the UCAT is a powerful enemy and they are equipped with advanced military hardware. When that happens, even China cannot save us from total invasion."

"I agree." says Nanding standing up. "I don't usually condone force and I hate all sorts of violence. But we have to combine our armed forces and attack them while they are weak."

Iko laughs at Nanding's remarks. "We have armed forces ready for deployment anytime." says Iko. "What about you? What can you contribute? Don't tell me you still fly Tora-tora's."

The delegates snickered at this rude remark. Nanding's face becomes hard for a moment. Then he eased up and slowly smiles.

"We have our... planes ready to deploy." he says. "Oh, we have ships too. You know, the ones that can carry small planes on the deck?"

The delegates laughed again thinking it's a joke but Sonoka stood up and motioned them to shut up.

"Alright, it's done then." says Sonoka. "As agreed this center will be the Head Quarters of the ASIAN ALLIANCE, the command center. We will be sending data and information to your command centers by the minute. We will be communicating on a rotating frequency. The code patterns will be given to you as you leave this conference. Can we expect compliance from everybody?"

The others says YES, including the Korean delegate who really has no choice at all. "Good. We'll broadcast information in 1800 hours. Good luck to us gentlemen."



Same date

Time: 2:22 pm.

Place: Somewhere in Korean waters.


The country is in red alert and Korean warships are deployed all throughout the peninsula. Underneath the waters, three submarines are armed and ready, just waiting for the order to launch.

A man who appears to be the captain of this submarine flicked on the communicator. "Beta-1, the champagne is ready."



Same date

Time: 3:06 pm.

Place: Somewhere in Japanese waters.

Three submarines are also waiting.

"Beta-1, champagnes are ready to pop."



Same date

Time: 4:17 pm.

Place: Malaysian and Indonesian waters.

Submarines are hidden underneath. A UCAT logo is displayed on the side.

"Champagnes are ready Beta-1."



Same date

Time: 5:22 pm

Place: Philippine harbor.

Warships are in position and waiting for orders. On the coast line, children are happily playing.

Underneath the waters, a message is being intercepted.

A green light on screen means a message is being intercepted. The serviceman from the PWS-Bonifacio clicked on the light and it showed a stream of unreadable texts.

"Captain, we are intercepting an encrypted message."

"Really? Can you detect where it is coming from?" asks the captain.

The serviceman punched a few keys and the display in the monitor changed to reveal the line of messages coming in and one coming out.

"What the heck is that?" asks the captain. Suddenly, the warship's computer detected a launch from underneath.

SHHWOOOOSSHHHH!!!

ENEMY LAUNCH! ENEMY LAUNCH! The waters seemed to explode as three missiles shoots up from underneath. The children on the beach stopped playing and gazed at the missiles flying towards the clouds.

"I want to know where those missiles came from! Target by ground to air!" shouted the captain. "And mobilize the screamers!"

On the flight deck. Six X24 Screamers hovered then shoots in the air in pursuit of the missiles. GA101 ground to air missiles are launched ahead of them.

"Arm particle charges. If our own missiles failed, it's up to us to destroy those missiles." the team leader says then punched a button on the panel. His screen shows a list of weapons. He chooses the M1200 Particle Gunner. The screamers formed a V-formation with the team leader on the lead position. The missiles are still farther ahead of them.

FWOOOOSSHHHH!!! The GA101s inboard computer calculates the distance. It is still too far away. Unless the allowable distance is reached, the missiles won't fire. The team leader is monitoring the data sent by the GA101 computer.

"Damn!" says the team leader. The GA101's fuel capacity is almost depleted and yet the allowable distance is not yet reached. On the ground, the captain of PWS-Bonifacio shakes his head.

"The missiles are not going to cut it." he says then he flicked a button. "X24s! You have permission to engage!"

The GA101's flew out of position, having reached their range already. The X24s zoomed past the falling missiles.

"Transfer 55% of your power to the hyperengines. We need to close the distance." says the team leader. The screamers are flying up in a perfect vertical position. The engines roared as it fights for control. At this height and speed, air pressure is fluctuating and the engines are having a hard time fighting gravity. Fortunately, the jet's built-in sensor relays were able to calculate this and responded with appropriate power for thrust. Finally, they are closing in on the missiles.

"Wait for my command!" says the team leader. The jets screamed in the air faster than the speed of sound. The missiles are almost on sight. The monitor screen switched to auto-targeting and displayed a list of targets to choose.

"Target the base of the missile!" the team leader commands. His monitor beeps to let him know that his pilots have complied with the target.

"Alright!" says the team leader. "Fire!"

BADABADABADABADABOOOOMMM!

Charged particles shoots from the M1200 port accelerating at the speed of light. The particles hit the fuel tank of the nearest missile.

KAPLANG! KAPLANG! KAPLANG! The fuel tank was ruptured! The missile veers to the right then with a powerful blast, it explodes in the air.

KABWAAAMM!!! Metal fragments blanketed the sky and threatens to hit the jets.

"Evasive maneuver!" the team leader commands. The screamers spins out of formation dodging metal fragments and debris. Some fragments the size of a fist hit the wings of the screamers and did not caused any damage. However one larger fragment hit the cockpit of the third jet causing a large crack in the canopy.

"We're hit! We're hit!" reports the pilot of the third jet. They heard another CRACKING sound, then another and realized the crack is getting larger.

"Team Leader I have sustained damage, I need to disengage, over." reports the third pilot.

"Disengage number three." orders the team leader and the third screamer pulls out of formation.

"One down!" says the team leader. "Two more to go!"


MEANWHILE in Japan. The japanese was also taken by surprise when three missiles shot up from the waters. Japan's ground defense immediately activated a radar scrambler to confuse the missiles. However, the missiles continue to go up far away from the scramblers range. Ground lasers are fired but is unsuccessful. Seven ground to air missiles are then launched and four N202 Jet fighters are mobilized. But it was all in vain. The missiles are so far up it couldn't be reached in time.

The same is happening to other countries. Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, even China which currently has a loose armed force because of the coup d' etat. The Iruki Defense center is currently monitoring the activity. Nobi Iko is looking at the printout and the missiles in the monitor. Looking on both, he finally deduced where the target points are.

"It's in the air!" he shouted. "The target points are the countries in asia!"


BACK in the air, the X24's succeeded by knocking out the second missile. Like the first missile it exploded sending multiple metal fragments to the screamers. Again the remaining jets spins out of formation to evade the fragments. The third missile is a bit far away so the pilots floored their engines to reach it before it does any damage. They are so far up that the earth's curvature is very visible to the pilots now.

Suddenly, something sparked from the missile. The computer from the lead fighter jet suddenly beeps up.

DETECTING ENERGY SURGE...

The team leader's eyes suddenly became wide. An energy surge could only mean one thing. The missiles are getting ready to detonate.

"Evasive action! Evasive action!" shouts the team leader. The X24s break formation but it was too late. The missiles have reached the height of 60,000 feet and exploded simultaneously! .

KABWAAAMMM!!! The missiles that the UCAT submarines launched from Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam the Philippines etc. explodes creating a chain reaction that blocks all satellite communications in asia. The large monitor screen in Iruki Defense Center suddenly goes blank. Iko is standing, clutching the printout in one hand and whispered in a weary voice.

"Now it begins."


BACK in Philippine territory. Images from the satellite suddenly goes blank.

"What happened?" exclaims the serviceman manning communications then punched a few keys to refresh the screen. "Did we lose signal?"

"How did we lose signal?" asks the captain.

"I don't know captain," says the serviceman, "but we're cut-off."

"Don't tell me something out there is jamming us?" says the captain.

"It's not just us captain." says the serviceman.


BACK in the air, the pilots are fighting to regain control of the aircraft. The engines are down and the system is erratic with the control lights going up then down then up again until goes down for the final time. The jets spins faster out of control.

SHWOOOOSSHHH!!! The jets dived uncontrollably through the clouds. No engines and with stabilizers and friction shielding offline, the jets are heating up very fast!

"Mayday! Mayday!" shouts the team leader in vain. Electronics are dead. With hydraulics offline in the cockpit, the pilots are absorbing the jet's G-force as it plummets to the ground.

Realizing the jet can no longer be activated and literally on the verge of passing out, he managed to pull a lever above his head and the cockpit exploded sending him out in the air.

POOOMM! His parachute opens up. For a while, he seems to have passed out. But in just a few moments, the team leader opened his eyes and saw other parachutes in slow descent.

"Thank god." he says as he realized his team made out in time after all.


IN SPACE the UCAT satellite detected the explosions and the energy blanketing the entire region, transformed automatically to reveal a laser weapon hidden inside its under belly. The satellite moved towards the satellite used by Japan's defense center and locked on target. The laser fires a bright blue light and Japan's satellite explodes. The UCAT satellite moves in to destroy the other satellites. Firing and obliterating one after the other.



Same Date

Same Time

Place: UCAT Command Center

Fleet Commander Trudd is watching the large monitor screens. The screen shows the progress of the satellite as it obliterates one satellite after another. He smiled then clicked a button on the panel. The screen insets the face of Vorheus.

"Fleet commander, phase 2 is almost completed." says Vorheus.

"Very good captain." says Trudd. "When all the satellites have been destroyed, initiate Phase 3."


TO BE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 1

Date: November 27, 2070.

Time: 4:25 PM

Place: Somewhere in the Philippine Sea


Large waves splashed a large metal wall in the middle of the ocean. No not a wall. A hull. A carrier ship. The USS Melvin Springer, 430 m long is like a sword in a big ocean cruising at 35 knots. The Springer is one of the navy's biggest ships. With 2,100 officers and 60 fighter jets with maximum hypersonic speed of Mach 5, the Springer is a force to reckon with.

A serviceman is manning the radar, chewing gum as he plots each turn of the needle. Everything seems to be fine. Why shouldn't it be? He is sitting on the most advanced carrier ship of the U.S Navy. No foreign power would dare attack a warship as invincible as the Springer.

Past tense.

A blip appeared on the radar screen.

"Captain." the serviceman called. The captain, a bald headed man whose name is Steve Vorheus is seated at the center of the bridge and sifting through some reports. His head turned to the serviceman.

"I think something is out there." said the serviceman.

"I have no use for that 'something', give me details." the captain responded. The serviceman punched some buttons and the color of the screen changed. The captain smirked at his Exo. The Exo smiled and said to the captain, "You know he's only been with us for six months."

"He won't last a year if he don't keep up." the captain said then he looked at the serviceman again. The serviceman appeared to be having some difficulty with the controls. The captain sighed stood up and walked over to the serviceman. The serviceman glanced at the captain then to the screen.

"I... I can't figure out what it is." the serviceman said. The captain looked closer then punched a few buttons. The screen changed again but the computer did not provide any information except the words UNKNOWN.

"We got something ahead of us but the damn computer can't figure out what it is!" the captain said then he punched a button on his commwrist. "Flight Deck, I need visual of bogey at 12 o'clock."

On the flight deck visibility is hazy. A storm is passing by and the sea is a bit rough. Three serviceman on the tower glanced the area with binoculars. After some time the officer on the flight deck punched a button on his commwrist.

"Negative captain. No sign of bogey---"

"What the hell."

A large construct of steel and metal approached the Springer. It is a warship of a different design. It is more rounded than most carriers, but like the Springer, the warship appeared to have several fighter planes on its deck.

"Would you look at that?" the exo exclaimed.

The captain shook his head. "No wonder the computer listed it as unknown."

"Sir, a message is coming through." said a serviceman.

"Patch them through."

An audio message emanates from the speakers. "This is the PWS - Lapu Lapu. You are cruising within Philippine territorial waters. We demand that you turn back."

The captain laughed then looked at his Exo. "Did you hear that? The punk doesn't know what's coming at him." He clicked a button on the panel. "Lapu Lapu this is the USS Melvin Springer. Be advised that you are facing the world's most advanced carrier ship in history. I have weapons that can reduce your little ship to slag. So if I were you, I would turn back to whatever dock you came out to and stay there. Do you copy?"

A bit of silence emanates on the Springer's bridge as they wait for an answer. After a few seconds the speakers acted up.

"USS Springer. Be advised that we are prepared to use force when and if necessary. You have been warned. Turn back."

The captain looked insulted this time. "Lapu lapu, I am not used being ordered around. Especially when I am inside my ship. You dare give me a warning? I'll give you my warning. You go back to your shithole and let us do what we are sent here to do!"

The captain glanced at his Exo who is standing right beside him and whispered. "I want the AF-209 ready just in case."

"Sir do we really need to be this aggressive? After all, we are inside their territory." the Exo said.

"You know our mission as well as I do." the captain said. "I'm not letting these monkeys think we are weak."

"Okay, you're the captain." the Exo said then he punched a button on his commwrist. "Ready the pilots."


The flight deck filled with pilots dressed in their jumpsuits. Each one goes over his own jet with a quick lift from the jet's belly. One by one. The jet's engine fires a glowing yellow light.

"Woohoo!" a pilot shouts. "It's game time!" Five jets hovered on the platform. Then like a group of birds, the jets flew in a flyby to the Lapu Lapu.

"I don't want any weapons fired yet. Wait for my signal." the captain said.

"Understood." the jet's team leader said then they circled again for another flyby when something is picked by their radar. Before they could react, they were thrown aside. Something very fast just passed them and confused the aircraft's guiding mechanism. The lead pilot regains control of this jet.

"What the fuck is that?" said the team leader.

"I don't know but it's fucking fast!" said another. "But I'm betting that something came from that ship." Then he maneuvered his jet towards the Lapu-lapu.

"Steam man what are you doing?" said the team leader. Steam man does not answer but locked his sights to the ship's tower, gripped on the trigger then smiled. "Game over you son of a ---"

BADABADABADABADABOOOMM!

The Lapu-lapu's turrets ripped Steam man's jet to pieces, exploding in mid-air. The rest of the squadron saw what happened.

"Mayday! Mayday! Steam man's down! Steam man's down!"

"God damn it!" the captain banging his fist on the panel. "We're on red alert! All squadrons! I want that ship sunk to the bottom of the sea!"

The AF-209's started to rise from the platform. But before they can achieve the proper altitude, ten X24 fighter jets or Screamers as they were called from the Lapu-lapu appeared out of nowhere and fired multiple plasma bullets ripping the jet's bodies. One by one, the AF-209's fall and exploded on the flight deck.

"What the fuck is going on!" the captain screamed as he saw his priced jets exploding above. He turned to his Exo. "How did they do that?"

"The design of those jets. It's... different." said the exo.

The captain stared at him then punched a button on the panel. "They want to play rough eh. Well they pick the wrong ship to mess this time. Ready torpedoes!"

"Sir we got incoming!"

Above four X17 Bombers descends from the sky nose down. Its belly opened then fired multiple AS missiles towards the Springer.

"Fuck!" the captain exclaimed. "Shoot down those missiles!"

Laser beams fires like a web. Inside the missiles a circuit flared. The missiles as they fall was enveloped in a white semi-transparent shield. The beams hit the missiles but the shield deflected the beams away.

"They've got reflectors on those projectiles!"

The missiles broke through and exploded one by one on the deck and tower. Explosions rocked the Springer damaging it as the deck cracked and crumbled down beneath.

"Son of a bitch!" screamed the captain then he pointed to a serviceman. "Where are my goddamn torpedoes!"

"Sir we got reports of extensive damage in flight deck, tower, engineering and arsenal."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! An X31 Lawin fighter jet unloads its armaments damaging the Springer's port bow. A hissing missile destroys a part of the aft. Steel and metal fell down to the sea as the Springer struggles to stay afloat.

"We've lost control of weapons!" a serviceman shouts. "Turrets, rockets to air, lasers... They are all offline!"

"What else do we have left!" screamed the captain.

"Tactical nukes captain!" the man from the armory shouts back at him. "That's the only one under our control."

The captain's eyes glared at the red button on the center of the panel. He walked towards it, flicked the protective cover up and placed his thumb over the button.

BROOOMMM! Another explosion rocked the Springer. The visuals go down then goes up again. Above, emergency crews struggle to put out the fire while the X24 screamed above. Inside the bridge, an audio message from the Lapu-lapu is heard.

"Turn your ship back to international waters captain. This will be your last warning. If you still refuse to comply, we will unleash everything we have on your ship. You have 60 seconds."

The captain grits his teeth. His muscles tighten. His finger is almost on the button. One push and the Springer's five tactical nukes will launch towards the Lapu-lapu.


Inside the Lapu-lapu's bridge two people are looking at the monitor. From the side a serviceman reports. "Captain, the Springer is still powering up weapons."

The man sitting in the middle nods. The one sitting next to him, a woman speaks up. "Should we strike now?"

The man doesn't respond. He's in deep thought. He's calculating what to do. Finally he smiles as he looks at the monitor.

"No need." he says. On the monitor, the Springer is starting to turn around. Slowly, but at least it is turning around.


Inside the Springer. The captain's face is flushed with anger. As they complete the turn around, the captain flashed a finger on the monitor.

"Sir," his Exo gets his attention, "what do we tell high command?"

The captain's jaw shivers in anger.

The Springer cruised away. Three X24 Screamers escorts the warship as it heads to international waters. Inside the Lapu-lapu, the crew is ecstatic with joy.

"We beat them!" said the woman who is the Captain's executive officer. "I can't believe we beat them."

"That's not just a ship mind you." says an officer. "It's one of the world's deadliest warship. Read the words: Deadliest warship."

"We got lucky." said the captain.

"Don't be so modest captain." says his Exo. "Our jets performed exactly as they were designed. We didn't even have to fire a single missile."

"We got lucky." repeats the captain then he stood up and faced the two officers. "But luck's got to run out. So we have to be prepared. We risked showing ourselves to the americans. By now their own World Nations League cannot help but know about us."

The captain paused then he took a deep breath. "Communications. Patch me through to head command."

"Yes sir." the serviceman nodded.


Time: 8:44 pm. Same day.

Malacanan Palace. Or to be more specific. The new Malacanan Palace. The President is pacing back and forth inside his office. He just received the news and he just called his advisers to meet with him. The President is around fifty years old and was known more as a pilot than a politician.

A knock on the door gets his attention. Laura his secretary peered inside.

"Mr. President, they are here."

"Thank you Laura." said the President. "Send them in."

The President proceeds to his chair. Then the door on the left opened and three people came inside the room.

"Roberto, Nanding, Lirio." The president paused as they all shook hands with him. "Thank you for coming. Sit down sit down. We have a big problem in our hands right now."

"How did it happened?" asks Nanding who is the President's political adviser.

"An American warship sailed inside our waters." said the President. "They came close to one of our processing plants and the Lapu-lapu was dispatched to warn them away."

"However," the President continues, "the warship refused to go away. So things got ugly after that."

"The Lapu-lapu is forced to attack the American warship, um the USS Springer." said Roberto who is the Secretary of Defense. "The Lapu-lapu is successful in sending them away."

"But," the president lifts his finger, "our shroud of secrecy has fallen aside. They can't help but know that we have the technology that is equally advanced as what they have now."

"Better." said Lirio who is government's top R&D Head. "Based on the reports of Captain Sikara, the fighter planes did most of the job. The Lapu-lapu doesn't even have to use its own weapons. Well, they used the Plasma Repeaters to destroy an attacking aircraft but that's just it."

"This is not good news at all." said Nanding. "We've hurt one of them and they are sure to come back at us. The Americans did not anticipate we could come up with these kind of weapons. They'll use this knowledge against us."

"What are you saying?" asks Lirio.

"I'm saying they'll make us their next target." says Nanding. "Did you remember how our relations with them broke down fifty years ago?"

"Yeah. The Malacanan bombing." Lirio said. "But they never admitted fault on that and there is no concrete proof they were behind the bombing."

"The Americans are still paranoid that every terrorists in the world is out to bomb one of their cities." said Roberto. "Knowing we possess the weapon and the technology to destroy one of their warships, we've just become a threat to them."

"And it's just a matter of time before they announce to the world we are harboring terrorists and make plans to invade us." said the President then he stood up. "Well my friends. I think it's time we came out in the open."

"Expose ourselves to the world? Mr. President--"

"The world already knows Nanding." says the President. "For fifty years we are a closed country. We concentrated on internal affairs, feeding our people, upgrading our equipment and strengthening our armed forces. We managed to do it in secrecy. But we always knew, that eventually they'll find out our secret."

"The Americans have always interfered with the government ever since they granted us their so-called independence. I say our true independence day is the day we broke off with them." says Roberto.

"We are walking on murky waters." says Nanding. "The Americans are stronger in numbers."

"We are also stronger. A lot stronger than what they original perceived." says Roberto.

"They have no idea about our technology. They doesn't have a clue of what we are capable of." says Lirio.

"We can't fight the entire United States Armed Forces. You know they can always ask support from the WNL. The UCAT for example." says Nanding.

"The UCAT is no longer as strong as it was." says Roberto. "The Arab League have managed to soften them up for the past fifty years."

"We are just one country." says Nanding. "If they attack, and you know eventually they'll do, we'll be overwhelmed. We need help. We need allies."

"That's where you come in." says the President then pats Nanding on the back. "I'm sending you to Japan to reintroduce the Philippines to the asian world. You said we need allies right? Who better than our asian neighbors. I want you to be our new ambassador."

Nanding is wide-eyed and for a while he could not speak.

"Um Mr. President. I'm just a politician." says Nanding.

"You can talk to people," says the President. "and you are wiser than you think. Of all the people that could fill this job it is you I trust. I have faith in you my friend, that's why I'm sending you."

Nanding is speechless. But the President urged him on.

"Tell me you'll go to Japan my friend." says the President.

Nanding looked at him, then to Lirio, then to Roberto who smiled and gave him a nod. He took a deep breath then slowly nods.

"When is my flight?"


Date: November 30, 2070

Time: 9:30 pm.

Place: World Nations League Headquarters

UCAT Section seventh floor. Captain Vorheus is seated on a table waiting for Fleet Commander Trudd. He wipes the perspiration on his head although the room is very cold due to centralized airconditioning. Vorheus hated this place. Of all the places he needs to go, this place is definitely off his list.

"Captain? He will see you now."

The secretary lets Vorheus in Trudd's office. It's a big office with wall to wall carpeting and a number of stuffed animals hanging on display. A large head of a lion was hanging on the middle of the wall. Vorheus measured the length of the lion's jaw and the size of its teeth, then felt a tingle of fear in facing a large animal like this in wild.

He heard a THUD in the room. He looked back and saw Trudd holding a long elephant gun looking at him.

"You know, when I shot that animal. He didn't die quickly." says Trudd who walked closer and points his gun to the animal's head. "I have, to shoot it nine times before it finally dies."

Trudd moves closer, gazed at the animal's jaw and smiled. "You know he almost got me. That big jaw of his grabbed my leg and tried to rip it to pieces. He's got a strong bite. Very strong."

"What happened then?" asks Vorheus.

"What happened?" Trudd laughs then his face became serious. "I pointed this gun to his body, right next to his heart... Then I fired."

The barrel of the gun hits the jaw of the animal. Trudd's face looked menacing as he seems to relive that moment of his life.

"His heart was ripped to pieces. But his jaw held on to me. He didn't let me go even when he died." says Trudd.

"It's a magnificent animal." says Trudd then he looked at Vorheus. "A true predator."

Trudd walked away and goes to his seat placing the elephant gun besides him. "Now Captain. I want to know how a backward country with an airforce that doesn't fly and a navy that doesn't swim, was able to beat a technologically advanced and deadly warship under your command?"

"They were not as backward as we think they were. Not anymore sir. Their warship is designed differentenly. It is every bit as advanced as our own. Their fighter jets... damn they were fast. Faster than what we have. They were able to shoot down all my squadrons in 10 seconds flat."

"And you let them get away with it!" shouts Trudd his eyes have that menacing look again. "Do you know how this little incident cost the United States Navy? It showed that we are no longer invincible. Hell, by now every nation in this planet has that in mind captain. And it's all your fault."

"Sir, my mission is to observe the coast and retrieve whatever information is available." says Vorheus. "I was given orders to attack should anybody try to stop us."

Trudd leaned back on his chair and looked intently at Vorheus. Then he snatched a cigar, cut the tip and puts it in his mouth. "Captain." Trudd said as he is lighting his cigar. "You know our mandate as well as I do. The World Nations League is counting on my leadership to gain control through A574. Nothing matters else matters. I won't listen anymore to this crap. We are stronger, more advanced, and we stop at nothing captain. Do I make myself clear?"

"What are my orders sir?" Vorheus asked.

Trudd tossed a folder at Vorheus. Vorheus opened the folder, read the content then looked back at Trudd.

Trudd smiled. "Do you think you can handle that?"

"Certainly sir." Vorheus replied.

Trudd points a finger at him. "Then do it."


November 30, 2070

Time: 11:18 AM Philippine Time

Location: Somewhere in the Philippines


It's a sunny day, not much cloud in the sky. Plantations blanket the whole area. Several people in white clothes are harvesting fruits and putting it in robotic boxes that wheeled on its own back to the processing plant when filled. Like the day before and the one before it, there weren't much to see here.

Was.

A deafening roar filled the skies. Two X24 Screamers on a routine scout passed over the plantation. From the ground, the jets looked marvelous. Able to swerve in any direction even at top speed make the Screamers a valuable asset in the Philippine Navy.

"Hey! Not so fast!" radioed Vergara to the lead pilot.

"Why? Afraid you'd be left behind?" replied Arrate the lead pilot. "Come on, it's a free flying zone. Let's kick in the hypersonic!" Arrate punched a button and his engines roared as it speed up beyond supersonic.

"Hey!" radioed Vergara but Arrate is pulling away. "Damn it, here we go again."

The two jets kicks in at Mach 2, then 3, 4, 4.3, 4.6, 4.9... The whole panel lights up as the computer takes over full monitoring of everything it can detect in the skies. All at once, the computer picks up other jets cruising a thousand miles from them, mountains in direct collisions and many others.

"Blast off!" shouts Arrate. His jet roared at Mach 5. Vergara's jet followed closely behind him. Arrate swerved 180 degress to his right without slowing down, creating sparks of friction in the air. Vergara's jet anticipated the move and swerved at just the right time.

"Holy shit." says Vergara. His stomach seems to have exchanged position with his heart with that turn. "Arrate! Are you going to get us both killed?"

"Wahooo!" Arrate screamed. He just passed Mach 7. The computer now has full control of the hydraulics in the cockpit to keep the pilot from passing out. Already hypersonic, the pilots feel as if they were only riding a bus.

"Come on Vergara, keep up! You were always a slow poke, man." Arrate radioed.

"Slow poke you say?" Vergara said clenching his teeth. His jet passed Mach 6.7, then 6.8... 7.0

Arrate noticed Vergara is catching up and floored the jet to maximum speed. But Vergara is still catching up. Mach 7.5, 7.6, 7.8, 7.9

WHOOOMMM!!! The jets looked as if it's on fire, passing Philippine waters and catching the attention of the coast guard who accidentally spilled coffee on himself. The jets roared as the engines fight for control while it swerved to one side to avoid going over international waters. Vergara's jet gets the upperhand as it overtakes Arrate's jet with the turn.

"Anak ng ---" Arrate exclaimed.

"Who's the slow poke now huh?" Vergara said as his jet pulls away. The scream of their engines and the resulting sonic booms echoed far and wide and catching the sensor of a UCAT warship in international waters. The captain watched the action, marveling at the incredible speeds attained by the jets.

"That's a fine piece of hardware." says the captain. "What a pity it will all be destroyed soon."

TO BE CONTINUED