Chapter 13

In the hanger.

"Gentlemen here is your ships. This is as far as I can take you, but our finest team will assist you and insure a safe take off. May God be with you all!" Not the best speech but it was all Kolten could think of on the spot.

He knew that most of Shark Squadron wouldn't make it to see another day.

The men all ran to their ships and hopped in waiting for the Marshall to give their signal.

Kolten pulled Tara in one more time. Briefly held her tight, then kissed her. Not knowing if he'd ever see her again he spat out.

"Tara I love you! I always have. Be safe out there and come back home to me."

She looked up at him and smiled. Gave him one more kiss for luck. She returned the sentiment. "Diddo Commander! I'll see you soon."

Then she ran and jumped in her shiny metallic ship with the blue stripe and Shark silhouette. As soon as the glass hatch closed. Kolten bursted into tears. He new it was a suicide mission and couldn't stand the thought of living without her.

"Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz! his handheld was ringing again. It was Admiral Thompson.

Kolten quit smooching on that girl and get your ass to the flight command deck. We have a job to do!

So Kolten waved goodbye and ran to the flight deck.

Tara strapped into the cockpit was ready to fly. They were well briefed on the mission. To her it seemed like a simple mission that would take no time. No one actually told them the severity of it and how it was nearly suicide.

"Systems check " Shouted the marshal.

"Engines check" he yelled.

Tara gave him two thumbs up.

"Go! Go! Go! he screamed while waving the green battons urging them to launch. And off they went!

Back at the flight control deck. everyone was in position at their stations ready to go. Admiral Thompson looked furious. His face was boiled red, and he was pacing the floor. He saw Kolten rush into the room out of the corner of his eye. The Admiral yelled.

"CIT Kolten! Where the fuck have you been? You're 10 minutes late!"

"Sorry sir" he responded while still trying to catch his breath.

"You smell like alcohol and sweat! I hope she's worth it! I'm putting you in charge of the coms for Shark Squadron. You will be my voice to them, and you'll be their voice to me. Understand?" impatience surrounding his tone.

"Yes sir" Kolten quickly spat back.

"Crsssh" static from the coms.

"Sir this is green Shark. I'm the tail end of Shark Squadron. All sharks have left the hanger!" The man confirmed.

From the deck windows all Kolten could see was the E Defenders of the Shark Squadron trying to fight off oncoming enemy fighters.

"Tell them to keep holding them off. Six minutes until we land" Shouted officer Fowler.

"Sir Shark leader. We lost red Shark, yellow Shark, orange Shark, and black Shark. You have 7 sharks and Shark leader left" Tara yelled.

" Thirty Seconds!" hollered officer Fowler.

"We just lost green Shark! Hurry and land your fucking ship before they wipe out the rest of us!" Tara cried. "There's hundreds of their ships to our seven total left."

"Thuddddd!! Crashhh! Thummp!" "The Space Hammer " has landed.

The hanger doors opened to the internal hanger on the ship. Thousands of men in suits with weapons came running out. Tanks, and rovers rolled out in rear.

Then what's left of Shark Squadron retreated into the hanger before the hanger door closed.

"Shark leader to Commander! We're secure in hanger!" Tara informed the flight command deck.

"Over and out Shark Squadron. We did it!" Kolten said with joy knowing Tara had survived.

Now all they had to do was wait for the ground troops to finish the job and they could roll out.