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All or Nothing

The two teams moved from the gloom of the tunnel and into the sunlight of the main courtyard. There were several piles of crates, which hid them from sight as they moved slowly towards the gate. Haze moved towards Jet's position, behind him was Krystal, Slippy and Falco; while Tex stayed with Fara to help Miyu.

Haze found Jet behind the final set of crates watching a guard at the gate. Jet turned his head to Haze; "There's four sentries, one here and three on the other side watching the road." Haze nodded and signalled the three behind him to move to a position to ambush the guard.

Just as the others got into position, Tex came over to Haze and Jet. "Belle just radioed, the airstrike is inbound with an E.T.A of two minutes. If we hit the guards as they pass overhead, the enemy won't notice the guards going down in the chaos." Tex said. "Tell the others to get ready to drop the guys by the gate during the first pass. Then we move on towards the redoubt." replied Haze, Jet nodded and moved with him to the ambush position.

Fox glanced at his radar as the seven fighters approached the maximum range of the first battery of Anti-Aircraft guns. "Approaching Danger Zone, we'll take out the armour and then circle round to give the ground team cover; Check your fire, there are friendlies down there with no means to mark themselves on your HUD, so watch your fire around the Redoubt" Chase called the team over the radio. "Got it Chase, they won't know what hit them." Replied Vasili. "Let's go get the Bastards" shouted Sonar. Fox told his flight to hang back and cover the BattleHawks. He hoped they were in time.

Titania- Mellinin Base Redoubt

Major Khairn looked up from the manifest he was reading as his radio operator called out to him. He said the rest of the regiment was a little over two miles away, and were they ready for them. "Tell them we are in position, digging in to the redoubt. We await their arrival" replied the Major. The Radio operator nodded and relayed the message to the column. Khairn turned back to the men moving around between the dugouts and the command post. His command company was a little over 50 men strong with combat losses and he was meant to prep the old base for the arrival of the rest of the battalion. He spotted two men who were struggling with a supply crate. He ordered two passing troopers to move over to the struggling men and assist them.

Khairn turned his back on his men and stepped to the sandbag wall facing the old base. The ferret stood pondering his orders when a low rumbling filled the air; he turned towards the horizon as fear clutched his heart. Seeing seven shapes flying over the horizon he ordered his men into cover before diving into a nearby foxhole.

Jet, Tex, Haze and Falco were in position watching the gates when they heard the low rumbling, the Venomian guards jumped and began scanning the skies frantically as the rumbling grew to a deafening roar the soldiers abandoned their attempts to spot the incoming fighters and ran through the gates to find cover. As all four entered the open space in the centre of the courtyard; Jet, Haze Tex and Falco stood up and opened fire. Each hit a soldier each, the shots drowned out by the Thunderbolts passing low overhead. The four mercs moved up to the gate and Haze stuck his head out to see the soldiers in the redoubt running for cover, he pulled his head back just in time.

The three Thunderbolts roared over the redoubt, dropping a stick of bombs on the fortifications before continuing on to the column. As the Arwings passed the redoubt, the Thunderbolts had destroyed the leading and trailing vehicles of the armoured column causing chaos and ending any chance the men in redoubt had of receiving reinforcements. Fox glanced down at the unfolding carnage unfolding amongst the enemy column, his respect for the Battlehawks growing as he saw the Venomians reel from the bombing run.

The four mercs jumped back as the first bombs fell; the explosions rocked the ground and stunned the four men. As the concussion subsided, they looked outside the gate and saw the two bunkers nearest the gate were on fire and there was a large opening in the perimeter of the redoubt, leaving an open path through the trenches to the centre of the redoubt, the Evac point.

Jet rose from his firing position, "What are we waiting for, let's go." He proceeded to scramble over the crates and sprinted towards and then through the main gate. "Jet, wait!" shouted Haze, but Jet was already through the gate. "He's right, we gotta move, Now!" replied Tex as he scrambled after Jet. Slippy and Krystal approached the other side of the gate and watched as Tex hared after Jet.

Haze fumed slightly before ordering Krystal and Slippy after Tex, he turned to Falco ordering him to stick with Fara and Miyu, he then turned and ran to take cover against the gate, before moving to the shattered trenches.

Jet reached the nearest crater, taking cover at the edge of the damaged fire step, peering round the corner he saw nothing in the immediate vicinity but dismembered bodies of the defenders. Tex stopped at his shoulder, "You go through the trench, I'll follow over the top." Jet said to Tex before starting to climb the rubble to the top of the trench's far side. "Got it, but stay with me ok." Tex replied, Jet nodded from the top of the trench before turning to head further inside. Slippy and Krystal caught up to Tex Jet stepped out of view. Turning to them, he had an idea; "Krystal climb the side of the trench and follow Jet, he's just gone over the top. Slippy you lead the way down the trench; I'll follow right behind you." Krystal nodded and started after Jet, Slippy however wasn't happy at all.

"Why do I have to lead, I'm a pilot and mechanic not a foot soldier?" He complained. "Because you have a shotgun, and in close quarters shotguns are best employed at the front, don't worry i'm right behind you" Replied Tex, Slippy looked slightly satisfied and moved to the head of the passage. As he did Haze and the others caught up.

"Jet and Krystal went over the top; me and Slippy were going to head through the trench." Tex explained to Haze; Haze agreed but told Falco to head topside as well. "Ok, we clear the path to the centre and then hold it while Belle locks on with the Teleporter." "Got it" replied Tex as Slippy led the way through the trench.

Krystal scanned the ground ahead as she got to her feet after climbing the side of the trench, trying to see through the series of smoke trails. She ducked as tracer fire flew over her head, crouching down she moved forward through the drifting smoke towards the sound of gunfire ahead of her.

As she moved forwards, she saw Jet crouching behind a line of steel drums, trading fire with a squad of soldiers that were sheltering in the redoubt. Jet crouched down to reload and saw Krystal, and signalled her to move to a stack of heavy crates to his right and slightly behind him. Krystal moved to the position and peeked over the top, seeing the centre was a raised breastwork surrounded by three smaller pits, all connected by trenches. The bombs had left several craters in the defences and at least twenty dead bodies were in view, with another dozen soldiers still dazed by the blasts.

Krystal turned to Jet as he called out to her; "We have to take out this group to push the ones recovering back, buy time for the others to advance." "Got it" Krystal replied rising up and firing at a soldier peering out of cover.

Jet fired again, dropping one and causing two more to dive for cover, one falling into a gap that Krystal was shooting into. Together they killed several more Venomians before the survivors ran for the redoubt or the other two pits. A retreating soldier fell as a bang came from behind them, which meant Falco had caught up.

"Cover me" Jet cried as he climbed out of cover and clambered down the wall and into the nearest pit. He moved into cover near the middle and signalled Krystal to follow. Krystal repeated Jet's movements and as she stepped up behind him, he turned to her. "We're heading straight for the redoubt, that means close combat, take these concussion grenades, use them to flush out these bastards." Jet said, handing her three grenades. Krystal took them and slung them on her belt, she nodded and the two of them started to make their way across the pit.

Khairn shook his head in an effort to clear his ears; he turned to see one of his men moving over to him. The trooper used sign language to tell him that over half the men were dead and that a group, including the prisoners, was pushing into the redoubt, having already killed at least six men. Khairn replied, telling him to signal the remaining men to regroup, splitting into two forces with one occupying the redoubt lead by him and the other to regroup in the northern mortar pit. "Let the enemy enter the redoubt, before closing in behind them. Catch them in crossfire." Khairn ordered as he rose to his feet. The trooper handed the major his weapon before leaving to rally the second group. Khairn took stock of the situation, before directing his remaining men to their positions.

Fox glanced down at the fighting in the redoubt through the canopy of is Arwing. The group was advancing towards the centre quickly, but there was a force reforming to the north that the others couldn't see, he made his decision. "Chase there's a second force reforming in the northern mortar pit, they can't see it, I'm going down to help." Fox said over the radio. "Alright, but watch your tail, ok?" Chase said. "Got it, I'm heading down" replied Fox.

Fox banked around, setting the auto-pilot to take the fighter back to the Charm's way when he bailed out, he dived towards the ground, levelling out just low enough to jump, before opening the canopy and jumping; landing just behind Fara and Miyu. He watched the fighter correct its course and leave the combat zone before running to catch up.

Fara was helping Miyu through the trench when she heard heavy footsteps behind her. Setting her friend down, she spun round raisng her weapon to fire. "Fara STOP!" Cried Fox; as he came round the corner, only to be met by the muzzle of a blaster. Fara blinked, "Fox?" she said quietly. "It's me Fara, are you ok?" "I'm fine Fox; Miyu got the worst of it. We've got to keep moving, the others are just up ahead." Fox nodded, helping Fara to pick up Miyu before leading the way down the trench.

As the last Venomian in the pit fell, Jet cocked an eye over his shoulder. Slippy and Tex had nearly caught up with Fara and Miyu and another red fox close behind. Jet called out to Krystal and signalled her to follow him. Falco rose from behind cover above the trench and fired at the regrouping Venomians in the north pit, he jumped down into the pit as Fara and Miyu passed bumping into his friend. "Fox? Huh, I should've known they couldn't keep you from a fight" Fox looked at his friend; "I couldn't just sit back and watch, the waiting was killing me. Now come on, we have to keep up." He replied before following Fara.

Jet and Krystal reached the trench leading to the redoubt; they waited a moment for Tex and Slippy to catch up. When they were together, Tex and Jet unslung some grenades and pulled the pins. At a nod from Jet they lobbed the grenades followed by another set into the crater. Through the explosions they heard cries and shouts, indicating at least some had found their targets. The two battle hawks led the charge into the redoubt.

The four mercs burst in guns blazing; the remaining Venomians were stunned and disoriented by the concussive blasts and were slow to respond, apart from the group of four Krystal and Jet engaged which fought back hard. They split up with Jet taking the two on the left with Krystal taking the other two. Jet shoulder barged the first trooper to the ground and clubbed the second before dropping his rifle and breaking the man's neck, he drew his bayonet and struggled with the second trooper for a few moments before fatally stabbing him. He turned to look at Krystal, the blood drained from his face; he jumped up and charged at her attacker.

Krystal ad taken the two Venomians to her right as she and Jet entered this end of the redoubt. She quickly singled out and took down the first trooper with her superior martial skill before turning to the second, she briefly registered that this was an officer, before engaging him hand to hand. This proved to be a mistake as the Venomian was highly skilled as well, blocking most of her strikes before executing a perfect counter and sending the vixen flying. Krystal rolled over and began to rise before stopping dead. The officer had drawn his sidearm and shot her in the leg, wounding her. She looked up and stared into the ferret's face over the muzzle of his weapon, fear clutching her heart.

There was a sudden noise to her left and the Venomian turned to his new attacker, Jet deflected the weapon, the shot going wide and slammed his right fist into the Ferrets face. Krystal watched for a moment as the two men fought, the Venomian's pistol being flung several feet. Krystal craned her neck and spotted Jet's rifle lying in the sand, she crawled as fast as she could to reach it. When she picked up, she spun round and took aim but found the two men were too close to get a clear shot. She lowered the rifle, biting her lip; she hoped the collie would win.

Jet reeled slightly from the officer's last punch but came back strong, snarling at his enemy. The ferret was beginning to sweat, he wasn't experienced with fighting someone so unorthodox or strong, he brought one last kick to Jet's back as the collie staggered but the collie recovered and threw the ferret backwards onto a set of crates which blocked the two from the vixens view. The collie drew his arm down before bringing it up again a few seconds later, throwing it towards the Ferrets face. Khairn caught the punch and wriggled for a moment as he was completely pinned, he drew his head back to head butt the collie when he noticed a rapid bleeping, growing faster. He glanced at the fist he was holding and froze, in the collie's fist was a live concussion grenade with rapidly increasing beeping part of the fuse mechanism. Khairn turned and stared into his foe's eyes, horror struck, to be met only by the collie's steady gaze through his armoured visor.

Krystal shielded her face from the explosion, fragments flying everywhere. She looked over and saw that her rescuer had been thrown into the more open area in front of her and had been left with a wounded hand. She rose and crossed over to help him. Her stirred slightly as she knelt down to his left side. His left arm, chest plate and helmet had been charred and pitted by the explosion, his left hand had been mangled badly and she set down the rifle to begin tending it. As she took hold of his left hand, the male's right hand came up grabbing hold of her flightsuit roughly between her breasts and throwing her on her back, before staring at the horizon. Krystal was briefly stunned but before she could question Jet, a loud CRACK rang out, making her blink. She noticed the weight had left her chest and looking up again she saw the collie was no longer on top of her. Sitting up she turned to her right and saw him lying spread eagle on his back.

A Bang from behind her, followed by Falco's customary "Gotcha!" told her she had just been in a sniper's sights. A loud cry, followed by the Lynx sprinting over to his team mate's side told her something was very wrong.

Fox followed Fara into the redoubt, noticing how the two teams had begun mopping up; a small explosion from the far side of the crater drew his attention. Noting the prone Battle hawk he concluded a grenade had gone off while flushing out the last remnants of the command company. He raised his blaster to help Tex and Slippy finish off their last foe when a tremendous CRACK sounded to his right. He spun round again to see the same man, again on his back, but with something red on his helmet. "JET!" The cry caused Fox to turn to the lynx, Tex, as he raced to help his team mate, realising numbly that the fallen collie had a serious head wound.

Haze Signalled to Fox and the others to gather towards that end of the redoubt as there was more cover. Fox helped Fara carry Miyu to a spot behind some crates, the same ones Jet had just blown up, before turning around to see Venomians coming from the direction they had come. He shouted to Haze and his remaining team to get into cover and together they began to return fire.

Krystal watched Tex inspect Jet's head as Fox and the others reached them. "OH SHIT! Just keep looking at me, alright?" he said before turning to Haze; "Haze we've got to get him out of here, get Belle to pull us out NOW!" The Lynx turned back to his friend as Krystal got up and moved to the collie's left side again. She now saw the shattered visor and Helmet, and the wound beneath. She heard someone yelling into a radio and gunfire in the background as she saw the pain in Jet's eyes, Tex spoke to him again, trying to keep his attention. She took hold of his hand and squeezed it gently, just as Jet's head fell towards her, his eyes staring straight down his arm. She felt him squeeze back slightly, just as the teleporter activated...

Jet finished recalling the experience to Davis, who had stood there soaking up every detail. The two stood in silence for a few moments thinking over what Jet had just said. Davis cleared his head first and began to prepare treatments for Jet's remaining injuries. Jet turned on the table, bringing up the offending leg for Davis to work on.

Davis proceeded to repair the fracture, and handed Jet a bundle of clothes. "The others have been called back to action; both teams are operating from the Charm's Way. Oikonny has begun Full Scale Fleet Operations between Venom and Macbeth; the Cornerian Armed Forces are tacking the worst of it but nothing we can't handle. You and Miyu are to remain planetside until the others return; we will finish your training here once you have fully recovered." Davis said as Jet put on his new attire, noting they were the same as those he had been given before minus the Flak jacket.

"Ok, but what do I do in the meantime? And where am I?" Jet asked, unsure of either where he was or how long he'd been out. "The Cornerian Flight Academy, you've been here in the medical centre for two weeks, and we have all been assigned quarters here. Let's get you something to eat first, and then figure out what comes next, eh?" The older wolf smiled and led the still sore collie out of the Medical bay and towards the Canteen.