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