Vandread: Corruption

Chapter 5: Operation wipe them out

In the last chapter Samui had found out that his sister Atsuko has had a deadly disease since her birth. It has been three weeks now and despite the attacks on the Nirvana and the number of worlds Samui has helped save over the past three weeks he has made time to see his beloved sister. Though her condition has worsened all of a sudden and she is now lying in bed in the sick bay unable to leave. There is no known cure for the disease but the doctor is doing in his best in trying to find a cure for her. Though right now Atsuko is sleeping and like always Samui is by her side.

“I am imagining that everything that has been happening lately has taken a lot of you Samui. Are you sure you are ok you seem to be exhausted.” The doctor sits down beside Samui crossing his legs and folding his arms; he looks at Samui waiting on a response. Samui turns to face him flicking his hair back.

“I am ok doctor. It’s Atsuko I am more concerned about.” Replied Samui as he looks at the doctor again his eyes full of worry and concern.

“I know you are and I reassure you I am doing everything I can for her, but you must also look after yourself as well.” Replied the doctor as he continued with is work.

“Samui are you here again?” Asked Atsuko in a weak tone of voice, as she slowly opened her eyes after her sleep. She lifts one of her hands as she strokes his face. Samui remembers the gentle touch well and he feels the fear of losing his sister building up inside him. He looks down at his sister and replies.

“Yeah I am here again; I am just wanted to see how you are feeling today.” Samui smiles at his sister as Atsuko smiles at him.

“I am feeling a little better.” Replied Atsuko as she looked at him her breathing pattern long and deep. Samui smiles his eyes showing the kind heart, Samui always had he continues to sit by her side chatting to her about what has happened to him and the others lately on the ship. Though else where Meia has called everyone to have a tactical meeting, Samui was not asked due to his state of mind at the current time.

“Aright as you all know we will arrive at the planet Helix in three hours, this world has just come under attack from the new type of harvest, however the planet destroying weapon appears to have not shown up yet, or it simply won’t show up. I want you to check over all your equipment before we go into battle that is all.” Meia looks around the room and everyone nods in agreement. They all get up and leave the room except Valore, who walks over to Meia with a very serious expression on her face.

“I have a bad feeling about this Meia.” Commented Valore as they left the room, making their way to check on their Dreads just like the others are doing, except Hibiki who will be checking his Vanguard.

“I know I feel it too.” Replied Meia as she quickened the pace the determination in her eyes also makes Valore quicken her pace, they then catch up to Hibiki and the others a few minutes later as they all enter the hanger bay and begin to go over their machines making the final checks before the start of the mission as each of them sit in the cockpits of their respected machines Meia talks to them over the com device in their Dreads and Vanguard units. “So how does everything look?” Meia waits a few moments as she hits a few buttons and flicks a few switches.

“Everything seems to be ok with me.” Replied Barnette as she checks all her dreads functions with everything reporting back green. Barnette the checks the secondary functions and she gets the same report back. “Yep everything is fine with me.” Barnette then relaxes in her cockpit taking a deep breath.

“My systems are all ok nothing bad to report.” Added Jura as all her read outs gave her the ok. Jura the sits in her cockpit with her arms folded, she is waiting to hear how the other Dreads and Hibiki’s Vanguard are looking.

“Everything is a green over here with me, no problems what so ever.” Added Valore in her usual flare.

“Everything is ok; I can go and shoot down all the bad aliens!” Cheered Dita over the communication device with her typical cheeriness and high spirits.

“Me and my partner are fine and ready to deal some damage to the bad guys!” Hibiki is all fired up and Meia then replies the firm and professional tone in that it puts Hibiki off.

“We don’t attack until we are thirty minutes from the planet you still have a while to wait.” Added Meia calmly as she climbs out of her cockpit shutting down the ships power. Meia’s Dread falls silent as she waits on the others, to get out of their respected combat vehicles. She watches as each of them then climbs out of their machine.

“How long do we have anyway?” Asked Hibiki as he walked over Meia with the others following behind him, he stops in front of Meia and everyone else then falls in around Hibiki.

“We have about another two and a half hours left, before the attack begins.” Replied Meia as she folded her arms as they all turned to leave the hanger bay.

“Oh come on, that is too long to wait.” Replied Hibiki as he tapped his foot on the ground, getting very impatient.

“That’s how the plan was decided, so that is what we will stick to.” Replied Meia looking over at Hibiki, her arms still folded across her chest.

“Though you have to admit Meia, Hibiki does have a point.” Added Barnette, as she turned to look at Meia.

“I agree with them both, if we don’t act now that planet’s people will die!” Jura slams her hand off the metal wall, as everyone turns to look at Jura with a shocked expression on their faces.

“Hey what is that all about Jura? You’re very serious today.” Replied Hibiki as he looked over at Jura, who is resting her head against the wall. Jura doesn’t reply but Meia speaks, while Dita watches everyone with an upset look on her face.

“We are sticking to the plan, as Gascogne always said you should keep a cool head when going into battle. So we will wait as ordered.” Added Meia as she turned to look at everyone else, her eyes darting to each person before they could say anything back.

“She is right it wouldn’t be smart to attack now, when they still could detect us at such a distance. It is smart to close in and launch the attack when we are closer, it will catch them off guard, leaving them vulnerable.” Added Valore as she smiled, leaning up against the wall.

“Yes that should be the result from our plan of attack, so everyone get their orders to Gascogne for the weapons orders. We have sixty minutes left let’s go.” Meia signals everyone in the hanger bay to proceed to the orders department, to get all their weapon stock piles stocked and loaded on to your Dreads. Everyone nods and they all walk off, to go and get their Dreads supplied. Though back in the Medical centre Samui has left his sisters side, now Ezra and her baby are sitting with Atsuko.

“I thought I would come and visit you, since I have time now. So I see you are keeping better, I am so glad.” Smiled Ezra as she held Kahlua, her baby in her arms.

“Yeah I am feeling better, I heard about the mission the others are doing in forty five minutes time, I am worried.” Replied Atsuko as she lay their, in her bed with a bigger, more healthy looking smile on her face.

“You shouldn’t worry about them, they will be ok you should concentrate on getting better. Let them worry about the mission you just concentrate on getting yourself all better.” Smiled Ezra as Kahlua, sits beside Atsuko on her bed.

“Yeah you’re right I am sure they will be ok, though Samui isn’t going out to fight is he?” Asked Atsuko as she glanced at Ezra, with a smile on her face.

“Well I know the Dreads are launching in five minutes, they then fly with us for forty minutes and then the mission begins.” Replied Ezra, not knowing exactly if Samui is going out to fight, along side his friends this time around.

“Though you don’t know if Samui is fighting do you?” Replied Atsuko as she sat up. Atsuko helps her up, by resting her back against her pillows. Atsuko looks at Ezra as Kahlua continues to crawl along Atsuko’s bed.

“No I don’t know, sorry Atsuko.” Replied Ezra, as she lowered her head, looking towards the ground.

“It is ok Ezra, it is not your fault don’t worry. I am just concerned about Samui that is all.” Replied Atsuko in a cool calm tone of voice, despite her medical condition.

“Yes he hasn’t been involved in many of the battles lately; his concern really falls with you. I bet you’re really proud of him, he is so protective and concerned for his beloved sister.” Smiled Ezra as lifted her baby Kahlua, resting her in her own loving arms.

“He loves me greatly but I am worried, that if I should pass away he might not be able to continue on in this world. I worry he will do something bad, either to himself or others.” Replies Atsuko as she looked up at Ezra, who has just stood up from her chair.

“He wouldn’t be like that I am sure of it, but I need to head back to the bridge and resume my post. The Dreads have already launched, I will call back when the mission is over.” Ezra waves and she takes her baby with her, they both leave as Atsuko waves back. Atsuko then watches as the doctor and Paiway rush around the medical bay, getting all the medical equipment to deal with causalities, which will appear in the up coming battle. Atsuko then hears over the com an announcement from BC.

“Everyone go to battle stations, we have now entered the designated battlefield everyone please proceed to your battle posts. It is time to begin “Operation wipe them out.” BC cuts the com and the whole ship gets lively. Atsuko listens to the foot steps running up and down the hall; Atsuko has never seen the ship so lively. Though the foot steps worry her, it could be the ships last battle.

Though outside everyone is currently flying along side the Nirvana as its shields go up, protecting the Nirvana from all attacks. Hibiki though is flying in front of the Nirvana in his Vanguard.

“I can see the battle on my scanners, we should get going and attack them before that world and its army gets destroyed.” Commented Hibiki as he watches the destruction unfolding in front of him. However Meia then contacts all the Dreads.

“Dread team leaders report in.” Meia listens as she gets a signal, from each Dread team leader as they report in.

“Jura here, Dread team is all ok and ready for action.” Jura’s Dread team then flies, close to Meia’s Dread team with Jura at the centre of her team’s formation.

“Barnette here Dread team has formed up, we are all green good to go.” Barnette gives a thumbs up over a video link, and just as Barnette appeared she then disappears in which Meia then says.

“Ok Valore how is your Dread team?” Asked Meia into the come as the battle begins to draw closer.

“We are all good here Meia, give the order to attack.” Replied Valore, eager to get into the battle.

“Alright all Dread teams break off and attack, defend that planet’s ships, wipe out those big battle ship first they are our mean concern. Hit them in the vents break the shield and destroy the core, then concentrate on destroying all enemy forces, Meia out.” Meia cuts the com as each Dread team, and then breaks of from the Nirvana as Hibiki’s Vanguard and Dita’s Dread combine to make Vandread Dita.

“Yeah let’s get them Mister Alien!” Smiled Dita as she bounced up and down she then turns to Hibiki, who smiles back and replies.

“Alright then Dita lets show them!” Both Hibiki and Dita put their hands on the controls and the push them forward, Vandread Dita then flies forward the two green cannons on it’s back flip round, locking on to the fore arms turning them into swords. Vandread Dita then flies forward again as its space thrusters roar, Vandread Dita then slashes at two enemy fighters cutting them clean in two. Another enemy flies close to them opening fire on Vandread Dita; the shots hit their mark exploding on impact of the metal shell of Vandread Dita, knocking them backwards. “That won’t stop us alright come on!” Vandread Dita then surges forward, grabbing the ship Hibiki makes the Vandread unit, throw the enemy fighter into a group of enemy fighters as they approached them. The enemies explode in a large fireball, letting Hibiki move on as he gets closer to the main targets; He watches as the vessels from the people he is trying save, fighting the harvest style machines with all their might. Hibiki and Dita then fly of in Vandread Dita, fighting to get closer to their objective.

“Who are they?” Asked the General of the battle fleet, as he watches as Hibiki and his friends join in their battle against these new foes.

“I don’t know sir but I am picking up a big ship closing in from behind.” Replied one of the bridge crew, as the Nirvana now shows up on their scanners.

“What bring it up on the monitor!” Replied the captain, as the bridge crew member hit a button on his console, bring up a picture of the Nirvana as it closes in.

“It doesn’t seem to be a ship of our enemy sir.” Replied the ships second in command as he stepped forward, looking at the monitor.

“Yes so it would appear, keep close tabs on that vessel and continue we won’t them fiends destroy our world.” Replied the captain as he hit a button beside him firing his ships weapon systems, blasting a few enemies into space dust. The ship and the others in their fleet continue to battle the enemy. Though else where Meia and her Dread team have just reloaded their ammo supply and they are still a brave distance from their target.

“Meia look out!” Shouted one of her team’s Dread pilots, as an enemy mecha fired its weapon at her.

“Dread’s scatter!” Replied Meia as all her team, suddenly move away from each other. Their Dreads including Meia’s then perform a u-turn manoeuvre, their engines roar and in flash, their guns open fire blowing up the enemy mecha, destroying it in a huge fireball. Each Dread flies through the explosion only to come under heavy fire again, There is a loud scream over the com and Meia looks around to see Dread zero five of her team explode.

“NO Meia we have lost Dread zero five, they shot Alana down!” Cried another one of Meia’s wing women.

“Everyone one form up let’s take that thing out.” Meia’s remaining Dread team members form up behind her. The calm and professional look on Meia’s face disappears, a new face of rage and hate takes over. Through out the whole time has lead a Dread time she has never lost a single life under her command, this has taken its toll already. Meia then gets a lock on the black and red version of a Vanguard, she pulls the trigger launching six missiles towards it. Each Dread pulls up as the missiles strike their target destroying it with out much effort.

“Alright team keep going we are almost there!” Yelled Barnette as they continued to advance on the enemy flag ships, each member of her team fires a quick burst of gun fire talking out a group of enemies in front of them. All of a sudden there are screams and two explosions, Barnette watches in horror as two of her wing mate’s blow up right beside. “No! Dies monsters!” Barnette launches two missiles out of the rear missile launchers, both missiles explode destroying both enemies that killed her wing mates. Barnette’s team mates then form up around her, they fire again saving two allied fighters from destruction, though there a few powerful explosions as three of the defending fleets warships explode, killing who knows how many people.

Jura on the other hand still has all her team mates, they have made it past the enemies and they have destroyed the shields on one of the three enemy flag ships.

“This is Jura we have destroyed the shielding on the middle flag ship, these ones are different how ever the vents are no longer present. They have shield generators located on different positions across their hulls, I am transmitting the image to all nearby vessels. Once you get the image transmit it again so that as many allies as possible get the image.” Jura hits a button and the image begins to be transmitted to all nearby allies. Jura gets a thank you from some of the planets defence fleet as they receive them image.

“Alright nice work Jura!” Smiled Valore as her Dread team opened fire on the hull, though a fire from the defence turret shoots one member of her team down. “NO! All Dreads break away and regroup!” Valore and her Dread team mates pull up narrowly missing the ships structure. By now however the Nirvana and all the remaining warships in the defence fleets arsenal have received Jura’s image and they now know about the shield on the middle flagship being down.

“Commander BC we are receiving a transmission from the defence fleets main flag ship.” Yelled Ezra as she turned, to look at BC with concern as well as joy showing through.

“Alright put him up on the main monitor.” With a few button taps a large picture of a middle aged man appears on the screen. He is old and judging from the scars on his face he has seen a lot of battles.

“My name is Captain Valan, I am the captain of this vessel. We thank you for the assistance and I propose a joint effort to take out, the ship that has lost its shield. Added the captain, the serious look on his face and the look in his eyes mean he is serious about the joint effort.

“My name is BC nice to meet you captain, so what is your plane to get rid of the middle ship?” Asked BC, also giving captain Valan the same he gave her, though the captain knows she is weary that something might go wrong. A couple of blasts hit of the Nirvana’s shield; Bart then fires back destroying a lot of the enemy fighters and mecha. As if like a carnival the exploding wrecks of the enemy fighters and mecha look like fireworks as Bart continues to fire while BC and the Valan continue to talk.

“My ship has a weapon that can take one of those vessels out in a single blast, now that the shield has gone down. All I ask is that you lay down some cover fire while we fire off the main weapon.” Replied the captain as he nodded to one of his men, whom started a three minute count down.

“So that’s the catch, you need three minutes for it to charge very well. BC calling all Dreads and Vanguard units. We need you to create a diversion, so that the lead ship of the defence fleet can fire its main weapon, we two will provide cover fire. Please respond.” BC waits for a response and Valore is the first one to answer back.

“Roger that BC one distraction coming right up, you heard the woman Dread team let’s destroy as many of them as we can. Ignore the battle ships concentrate on the fighters.” Valore’s Dread team then turns away from the big enemy ships and they proceed to destroy enemy fighters, Valore lets of a massive missile barrage causing lots of explosions as Valore expected the enemies in her immediate area turn on her.

“I don’t think so!” Replied Jura as she fired her Dreads weapon systems, the shots destroy a few enemy fighters, when Meia and the remaining members of her team join in, all the enemies then begin to draw away from the Nirvana and the leading ship of the defence fleet. The ship needs only one more minute for its main weapon to charge, the Nirvana continues to deliver fire support, the Nirvana fires again destroying a large number of enemy fighters/mecha.

“Alright men order all the remaining ships fighters to withdraw from the immediate area around the enemies middle flag ship and then fire the cannon.” Ordered the captain the message goes out to all the defence fleets ships, they also relay the message to the Nirvana who has just relayed it to Meia and the others. They ships withdrawal from the area as the front of the defence fleet’s leading ship splits in to two pieces. Then a long cannon extents from the front of the ship, a white light pulsates from the ship before it fires the bright light streaks through the darkness of space, like a comet. The blast hits the centre of straight on, the begins to buckle and crack as the beam blasts out of the opposite end of the vessel. There is a large explosion and the ship is no more.

“Yes we have done it!” Replied the captain as he watches the destruction on the other end of a monitor.

“The target has been confirmed destroyed, the two remaining enemy vessels also have major damage to their shield generators due to the short distance between them and the now destroyed vessel.

“Order all our fighters to attack the remaining shield generators and relay the message to the Nirvana now that one of the ships was destroyed the units it sent into battle have ceased to function.

“BC we have just received a message informing us that the other two enemy ships shields are weakened badly. They are proceeding to destroy the shield generators as I tell you this, what do you want to do Commander BC?” Asked Ezra as she turned to face BC, waiting on her response.

“Thank him for the message and tell him, we will join in the attack with his fighters. We will attack each generator on the other vessel please relay him the message.” Replied BC as she looked at the video monitor as she watches the Dreads break off and attack one of the vessels.

“Bart! Aim all or guns at the other ship and target their shield generators, also get Hibiki for me.” Replies BC, Ezra nods and she gets Hibiki and Dita over the com device.

“What do you want? Can’t you see that I am busy!” Snapped Hibiki as Dita and Hibiki take out another few enemy ships, they explode in a ball of fire when BC replies.

“I know you are occupied but we are going to attack the other ship and we need you to get there now, as soon as the shield drops. You will fire straight through the ship and destroy it got that?”

“Alright no need to be so fussy over and out.” Hibiki cuts the com, in which he turns to Dita and says. “Let’s go we are off to take out the giant ship over there.” Hibiki points at it as Vandread Dita’s engines increase in power. Vandread Dita then hurtles towards the enemy ship. Though back on the Nirvana, BC spots them on her scanners and she then turns beings to talk with Bart. Her eye brows lower slightly as she yells out.

“Now Bart fire!” BC points to the ship on the screen and Bart replies quickly and sharply.

“Roger that ma’am firing now!” The Nirvana’s weapon systems then open fire on the enemy ship; each blast strikes their target with such deadly force that the generators are destroyed. There a several large explosions and then the shield drops, giving Hibiki the signal to fire.

“Alright Dita, lets get this sucker and go home shall we?” Hibiki looks down and she smiles back, with a small smile on her face.

“Yeah let’s blow them bad aliens away!” Dita smiles and Hibiki lets out a slight chuckle. His facial expression then changes to a very serious look.

“Alright then let’s destroy them.” Both Hibiki and Dita grin as the green swords then shift again, joining themselves to Vandread Dita’s back they then flip round resting themselves on the Vandread’s shoulders. Dita hits something on the control device and the cannons then begin to charge, they glow for a bit then they glow so bright it could blind someone. A large blast then gets fired from the cannons ripping through the ships haul like it was nothing; several important systems get hit as the blast rips through the ship and out the other side. The green light disappears and then there is an explosion following by more explosions. Hibiki watches as the chain reaction rips through the ship destroying the ship. As they watch the ship blow up, all the units the ship had deployed also shut or blow themselves up.

“Yes nice work now the enemy is out numbered, the final shield generator has just been destroyed all units proceed and attack the enemy ship!” The defence fleets warship begins to concentrate its fire on the lone warship; the defence fleets fighters join in as does all the Dread teams. They fire mercilessly as the gun shots and missile explosions being to destroy the ships haul.

“Alright let’s end this once and for all Bart. Fire all weapons and destroy them all!” Yells BC she looks at the screen as does everyone else on the bridge. The weapons fire and the Dreads and the defence fleets fighters pull back as each blast, fired from the Nirvana strikes the ships haul. The blasts pierce the ships haul and the ship explodes in a large fire ball. As bits off wreckage float in space, BC then contacts the Dread teams and Hibiki also.

“That was a good job the mission is a success, everyone come on home.” BC then cuts the com as she watches the screen as the wreckage of the entire enemy ships fleet continue to float in the space. Everyone can breath a sigh of relief now that the battle is over, though no one must forget the lives of the people who perished during the battle they didn’t die in vain.

Well that’s it from the gang this chapter, How will Meia and the others cope of losing members of their team? Will Atsuko ever get better again? Please come back for the next chapter to find out!