fanfic_name = Gotterdamerung

chapter = XI

author = Cicero Phelps

dedicate = Jo, Knights Templar, GPPR, Carla, and the whole RDF

Rating = AP15

Type = Angst

fanfic = Chapter XI

“SDF-1 bridge to all Valkyrie squadrons, post sentries and return to the Prometheus,” Vanessa radioed to all the pilots.

“Bridge, this is Skull Lead. Where the hell are our reinforcements,” Rick asked.

“In a holding pattern somewhere over Vancouver,” Vanessa radioed back.

“Damn airport security.”

“Probably. Now get back here so we can analyze all of this.”

A few minutes later, the squadrons touched down on the tarmac, and the pilots trudged to the locker room to stand down.

At 1100 that morning, in the conference room Admiral Gloval looked deeply into the eyes of the men and women surrounding the table. Few were smiling; a look of deep exhaustion filled their faces. Vanessa was fidgeting in her seat, still bleeding off the jitters from the early morning assault; Kim and Sammie were still vainly attempting to use their fingernails to brush their hair into some semblance of order. Claudia was propping her head up on her right forearm, struggling to remain awake. The pilots looked even worse, but they had thin, wan smiles on their faces, because they had survived a tough dogfight with little sleep. Henry inwardly grimaced, then looked over the outline for the meeting, which had numerous typos because he wrote it while nine-tenths asleep.

“Twenty-four hours ago, we received a communiqué from New Portland. They have begun to transport reinforcements and supplies to our base. However joyous that news is, there is some bad news to report, as well. One of the transport detachments, a flight of five choppers, went down in the plains of the Pacific Northwest. Five Karnov class transport helicopters went down on the outskirts of Mount St. Helens, Washington State, which is just over a klick from the Pacific Ocean. There is approximately thirty-five tons of equipment in that clearing, mostly ammunition and spare parts, and the ten crewmembers are cut off, low on rations and are surrounded by a rear-guard of 150 soldiers.

“We will send a relief force of twenty Marines, commanded by Claudia, with Kim and Sammie as her two main subordinates. Max and Miriya, you will take your top two pilots in and out of the airspace with Ferret cargo helicopters.” The Ferret copters could only hold five tons of cargo each, and that meant they’d be flying multiple missions.” “We’ve calculated it out to take twelve trips with these crafts, thus necessitating four trips each. The choppers will be flown in from the deck of the carrier UEG Midway, retrieve the cargo, drop it on the deck, and return to LZ Theta to get more cargo.

“Meantime, Claudia’s group will be concerned with punching a hole through the forces surrounding the downed pilots. You will enter the area on the choppers Max will be leading in, surround the cargo, extract the pilots and evade down the mountain towards LZ X-Ray. Your group will be supplied with standard demolitions packs and hand-held artillery, along with portable electronic interference generators. The fleet will stand by offshore to eliminate any air cover the attackers will have. We scramble at 1800, and it takes two hours to get to the site, which means we’ll be there for 2000. Any further questions?”

Rick raised his hand. “I’d like to volunteer for this mission, sir.”

“Request denied,” Henry said. “You’ve been through more fighting in the past week and a half than the entire air wing combined. You and Captain Hayes are to stand down for this mission.”

“But, Admiral!”

“No ‘buts’ about it,” Gloval replied. “Stand down.”

Rick’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, but swallowed his pride and said, “Yes, Admiral.”

“Good. Any questions, Claudia?”

“Yes, Admiral. What will we have to select from in terms of armaments, and why can’t we send any VT fighters?”

“I consulted with Col. Slydell, and his thinking was that our mecha is too valuable to risk at this time,” Henry replied. “We have a limited amount of spare parts and fuel and armaments, so we cannot afford to risk them, except in a decisive battle. I hate to agree, but he’s right. With so much of our production capacity damaged, we can’t replace what we lose as easily as we used to be able to. In addition, the terrain and atmosphere around the battle zone doesn’t provide for optimal conditions for our VT’s.”

“I understand, sir. Thank you,” Claudia replied.

“In response to your question on armaments, I’ll leave that up to you, but I would advise that at least one of your four squads be a heavy-weapons squad. Make them take advantage of the terrain and establish a firm defensive perimeter. Take care to watch out for snipers amongst the rocks.”

“Aye, sir. We’ll be prepared. Give the word to the Marine commanders that I want a twenty man squad ready by 1500. Anything else?”

“As of now, you three ladies are to stand down from your duties. Get some rest, eat some food, and I expect a plan on my desk no later than 1600 tonight.”

Sammie, Kim, and Claudia all rose, saluted, and exited the briefing room. Max and Miriya did the same after the ladies left, with Rick and Lisa following behind, leaving Gloval alone, deeply lost in his thoughts.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = Lightsaber01ATHotmail.com