Chapter 4, The Terror of the Skies

"Land and skies look to be clear Sir" One of the Crewmen said, as the Captain of the Landship nodded.

"Good keep an eye out never knew what the Reds can send at us" He says stepping down to the stairs of the Engineering room.

"Alright boys keep up the process and we'll be in Moscow with our flag wavering high letting the world know that war is officially over we can bring in the peace" He says laughing, The Captain is a charismatic man which all crew members look up towards.

"Pvt. Bishop how's the work going son?" He asks as Patrick saluted "Sir, things seem be to well order I was tinkering with one of the Eagles and noticed one of the joints was loosen so I was able tighten it" Patrick says.

"I see..Keep up the fine work son" The Captain begin looking at the Eagle Mech "It's a fine Mech ain't it not? One of the finest American Engineering this baby can knock down the strongest of walls even the mighty Hänsel Tank can't step to this" He begin to laugh.

"Indeed Sir I always wanted to pilot one of these which is why I became an Engineer Sir as most Mech Pilots are Engineers" Patrick says which the Captain turned to him and smiled.

"Keep up the good work and I'll see that your transferred into one of these" He begin laughing suddenly the alarm went off on the ship.

Captain ran up the stairs as the Engineers listen to the intercom. "All hands prepare for battle! We got boogies in the skies!" Patrick peaked out of the window seeing Plans bearing the Red Star on their bodies.

Except these weren't normal Aeroplane as the back had some from of engine on the back of them instead of the front.

Air Combat has been a thing during the Great War as Planes have changed from scouting to bombing and attack planes the planes were Nieuports which have been modified since the Great War.

The U.S.S Liberator fired it's guns at the planes, crew men ran to man the cannons and machine guns. Patrick ran with a few of the Engineers to repair some of the damage.

"When did the Reds get Planes?!" One of the Engineers shouted, "We've been fighting these bastards for a while so it makes sense they got planes now since their a 'Legitimate Government' " Another Engineer shouted.

Suddenly the ship rocked throwing some of off guard as a hole came into the side. "Holy shit! we're hit!"

Patrick and a few Engineers ran upstairs, up in the skies Red Planes flew firing at the Walker Ship as it kept it's marching course while firing it's main guns.

One of the AA fired blowing a plane apart causing it to crash into the forest. "We need some help manning the gun!" Patrick ran helping load a mounted Maxim Gun.

Once the Gunner was prepare he begin firing at the Planes taking down a few before Patrick was tossed a BAR rifle.

"These will help!" A Sailor said as they used the BAR to fire at the planes.

A lot of the crew ran to either avoid the hail of plane bullets or man the weapons and defend the ship.

Patrick fired the BAR unsure if he's even hitting the planes. One of the AA Operators halted firing pointing the skies.

"We got an Airship!" Everyone looked up to the sky as a large Zeppelin, it had engines connected to the sides it was like looking at large balloon being manned by a large number of crew iron platting covered the top and sides of it making it look like a flying war machine.

"That's not a normal Zeppelin that's a Behemoth..." One of the crew said in awe.

The Zeppelin begin firing his main guns at the Liberator as begin to take heavy damage. Crew scrambled to salvage the mess and try to survive.

But it looked to be far to saving the Ship, "Everyone abandoned ship! get into the Sparrows!"

The Sparrows served as Flying Life boats converted into Planes. Crew and wounded climbed into the Sparrows as a few detached and flew.

Patrick ran up the stairs to grab the Captain only to find the Captain smoking "Captain we need to leave!"

"Go on Son I'll be staying a good Captain goes down with the ship...Here son" The Captain lead Patrick down to the lower levels of the ship to a hanger where a Mech awaited.

"Captain...That's a Stormwalker...How did you?" Patrick asked, "During the Great War I captured it by myself and kept it as a trophy you want to be a Pilot? take it son and get out of here" Patrick watched as the hatch open as he slowly climbed into the Mech.

Stormwalkers are large, yet cramped, bipedal combat walkers. They move about via two chicken-style legs.

The main chasis is large and bulky, with the fuel tanks mounted outside the main body above the legs. This position of the tanks protects the crew from the possibility of being killed if they explode, at the cost of exposing them to gunfire, and thus, deprivation of the walker's fuel.

The entry hatch is located in the walker's pelvis, and sports a heavy metal chain ladder protected by spikes. There are two vision slits for the crew to look outside; one to the right of the main gun, and one on the front of the walker's "head," as well as a hatch on top for a crewman to poke out of for an easy view of the walker's surroundings.

The engine block is mounted on the back, and the entire machine is assisted in staying upright via a balance system.

Patrick put on some goggles and saluted the Captain, "It's been an honor Sir" The Captain smiled and saluted "Make me proud boy"

Patrick active the Stormwalker as it stood and jumped out of the Liberator and begin running as the Zeppelin continues to destroy the Landship.

Clenching the controls as he shivered in grief as the Liberator begin to fall and crash into the ground while the Tanks and Albion Knights are force to retreat.

"I need to warn Command of this Zeppelin the Red Army is in position of...I need to get to Allied Command in Kyiv" He says as the Stormwalker ran through the fields.