From just outside the extraction zone, at Little T, 3rd Sgt Major Tothon arrived with help in the guise of Dragon snipers, blasting into the tunnel to meet Captain Tord’s fighter and their prizes. Engaged elements of 2nd Lt. Gricks made ready to join with the warriors of Captain Tord and 3rd Sgt Major Tothon when they prepared to move out into the openness of the extraction zone – once more.

Upon later review, her superiors would not care if the enemy just sprung out of a command post in the side of the mountain or if they dropped out of the sky. Her actions would be viewed as careless and reckless. At the least, ‘ a real bad nasty gram ‘ would end up in her Imperial Forces personal file.

All this time, high above the extraction battle, Anna 7 and Lt. Colonel Motre Dnalrob, flew about observing the V-220’s waxing and waning delivery of either suppression, defensive and cover fire on the hapless, thoroughly surprised motorcade column of the coup. The Eastern Continental Air Command, escorting the coup forces had from the beginning had either been shot down by Dnalrob’s Blue Firebolts or fled the scene, in the skies above the ambush.

A lone fighter Blue Firebolt interceptor also occupied the lofty skies in the upper reaches, above the theater of a non-existent air battle along with the Lt. Colonel Dnalrob and Anna 7. Anna soared in Vigor, flying in a series of circles 5000 feet higher and to the right of her two companions below. Suddenly, the accompanying Blue Firebolt pilot, spoke questioning his instrumentation, as he reviewed his screens once more.

“ Sir. Can you confirm twenty boogies coming in from the west, north west, Sir?” speaking to Dnalrob for affirmation. “Yes, I can.” “ Can you confirm seven boogies coming from the north, Sir?” “Yes I can.” “Sir. I also need to know. Can you confirm six. No, no…. no…. ten boogies coming in from the south, sir.” “ Yes, I can, Lieutenant,” responded an agitated Motre. “ Anna. This is Dnalrob. Notify the Altecca II . We may have to initiate a Rapid Response Team drop to our ground elements, ‘down town ‘ to complete this mission.” “ Sir. That is a total of 37 boogies heading our way Col. Dnalrob. “ I can count, Lt.!! Anna, can you confirm for me a heavy amount of activity happening along the ridges of the mountain. My instrumentation detects a lot of energy radiating from the mountain surface. My thermal detector screens are….pegged. Slammed in the corner.” There was an uneasy pause for a second then Motre barked again to Anna, “ What do you read? ” “ I read the same. The mountain is heating up internally also. My measurements are showing rapid movement along the ridge line across the whole front of the mountain facing the two hill tops. Big T and Little T.” “Anna. Have you sent that message top side …. yet?” asked a very concerned Lt. Colonel Dnalrob. “ Aye, aye!! Colonel, the Command aboard Altecca II is aware. Right on it! “ as Anna made ready for intervention into the fray, pushing buttons making munitions systems go live!

“ How soon will these boogies make contact with our squadron’s present position, Lt. ? “ asked Dnalrob. “ They should converge on their position in the next 47 seconds, Sir” “ To all Blue Firebolt team leaders. Prepare for contact with approximately 40 boogies in the next twenty seconds from your present position.” Dnalrob cut off comm to his warriors turning attention to Anna once more. “Anna. Have you gotten a response from the battle cruiser “ “Altecca II yet?” “ Yes. The Rapid Response Team Sgt. Commander Zia has been alerted. Should they have to intervene,” Anna answered back confidently. Both warriors knew what that meant. The wrath of the CT would converge down below within in the next six minutes if awakened to action. Lt. Col. Dnalrob nor Anna 7 had, had the pleasure of meeting Sgt. Commander Zia of the Imperial Forces Rapid Response Team, who served under Gen. Ranee’s command. But they heard ‘he was no joke’!

If the mission’s success became in very deep jeopardy, the Altecca II, would have to swing its guns and torpedoes to bare, on the surface of the planet, directly assaulting the mountain fortress? The Altecca II would “ bring its own brand of hell “ into the situation? Boy! Oh! Boy!. The political ramifications of this type of heavy handiness, would create numerous, ungodly complications for members of the 22nd CT’s Congressional members, should this type of unacceptable intrusion occur.

Does Captain Tord have direct communication to the battle cruisers above?
Where’s Anna 7?

Read Chapter Twenty-One