World War II - Sky Eagle issue II

Sky Eagle thought for a moment then decided what to do. He summoned the power of the storm, and though less able to control the weather than General Wynn, he hoped it would be enough to do what he needed! Explosions rocked him, and one was close enough to make him drop De Gaulle! Desperately swooping after the unconscious General he scooped him up, then thrust a hand upwards!

Instantly the clouds boiled, turning dark! Ozone filled their air with it's distinctive stink and Sky Eagles' hair - or rather feathers - stood on end! De Gaulles, though reasonably thin, did the same and Sky Eagle gave a grim smile. He shouted "Alright you rat nazi b*stards! Come and get me! you won't take me without a fight, damn you!"

There was a laugh, then a shout of "I hoped you vould say zet!"

Sky Eagle waited as long as he dared, until he finally saw dark shapes soaring through the clouds... then he let rip with the power of the storm! Normally he would have been stood well clear, and his control was clumsy at best, so when lightning struck him, he was momentarily stunned and fell clear of the cloud...

Though once clear he righted himself and saw ALL of the Nazi Jet pack rangers dropping from the sky, their equipment useless! Some had the presence of mind to open 'chutes, others just dropped to their doom!

The loudmouthed nazi metahuman had been struck and his costume was blasted, and he had a shell shocked look on his face as he hovered free of the cloud. As he saw Sky Eagle though, his eyes narrowed and he made ready to fly at him! Sky Eagle used the last of the waning dark power to whip up a fierce wind and rain to drive at the Nazi, and turned to fly in the opposite direction!

Behind, though the storm had abated, the cycle of events for torrential rain and high winds had been set in place, and Sky Eagle escaped into the gathering gloom as more clouds rolled in.

=========

Minutes later he peered from the window of a barns upper floor, resting.

His mood was sombre, and he looked upon the man he'd saved with subdued feelings. How many had died to ensure he lived? he could only hope Churchills instincts were correct! He wasn't out of the woods either - the Nazis would scour the skies when the weather abated. He looked about through the window and saw a farmhouse with lights on several hundred yards away. Would he risk getting food and vital supplied, or push on through the night, the wind, and the rain, in the hope of making good time and getting back to the coast, and from there, England?

Sky Eagle knew that supplies would be a good idea but time was pressing and they only had to survive a few more hours before the Channel came into sight. Added to that he wasn't sure if those in the house were on his side and he didn't want to waste the slim advantage he had at the moment.

Gathering up the Frenchie once more he took to the sky keeping low, using the land to give him cover and the darkness to hide is passing.

The minutes blurred into hours and even Sky Eagle had to rest eventually. As the rain came down he turned to the shelter of a tree where de Gaulle stirred. "...hold ze flank..." he muttered, then some in French which Sky Eagle didn't understand. Finally he woke, and gaped. "Mon dieu! What...? Where am I? Take me back to my men, immediately, you... you FREAK!"

He stood, looking about. Just then both heard a truck rumbling up the road near where they were resting. Sky Eagle figured they must be near the coast from the whiff of sea air he'd gotten, perhaps less than an hours flying time. And yet this fool was outraged that Sky Eagle had plucked him from certain death! "I DEMAND you take me back zere! My Men! Zey vill be slaughtered!" He started marching towards the road...

Sky Eagle wasn't in the mood for crap from the Frenchie so he quickly stood and coming up behind him he gave him a good chop onthe back of the neck, not enough to damage but enough to knock him out.

Smelling the sea air and feeling slightly refreshed he gathered the Frenchie he took off and headed for the coast, the channel and home.

He heard shouts behind, then the familiar (by now) blast of machine guns! He weaved and ducked, swooping left and right and flying for all he was worth! Bruised, bloodied, tired and hungry, the hero flew hard for the channel... then heard the familiar whine of aeroplanes in the distance! He groaned, looking around and saw three distant dots getting closer! Messerschmitts!



Sky Eagle looked about. The land was flat, rolling fields thinning out and eventually giving way to sparse grass, the beach, then the sea! The planes were thrumming towards him, and he knew he'd be caught over the water - dare he push on and hope to somehow lose them with his manoeuvrability or make a stand? The Nazis wouldn't give up their intended target so easy!

There was no way Sky Eagle was going to give up now after all he'd been through damn Churchill and damn this war but most of all damn to Frenchie that was draped over his shoulder. Sky Eagle was to stubborn for his own good but he knew he couldn't make a stand with his valuble cargo so he gritted his teeth and put all the power he could muster into his wings and flew low over the frields and out to sea.

He calculated that his only chance was to get the fighters to follow him over the coast and hope the anti aircraft over Dover would deal with them but he would also have to dodge them as well but first things first he had to get to England first.

Sky Eagle pushed, as low and as fast as he could! The engine sounds got closer in his ear and he knew that they would catch him! One thing they couldn't do was fly so low as he and he skimmed the wave tops! Bullets kicked up in the spray all about and he cried out as several stung his wings and back! Still he flew on, carrying De Gaulle beneath him!

Another strafing run and the planes flew overhead! He was bleeding from a number of wounds now, though none penetrated deep into his skin. It was like being punched, repeatedly, all over his body! He staggered somewhat, crashing into the cold waves! Pulling De Gaulle up, he felt the Frenchman stir, but he was rejuvenated by the cold water. More than that, the planes lost him momentarily and he burst upwards, flying as low and hard as he could!

The Germans spotted him again and came around for another pass!

=========

"This is Callsign Sapphire to Charlie Foxtrot five. This is not a drill! Scramble all fighters bearing ..."

started the message. The wail of a siren rang out and pilots sprung from wherever they were, even the toilet! Sprinting across the fields to waiting planes, they clambered aboard only to pause slightly when they heard their target "That's over the bloody channel!" one said.

=========

He'd failed. The last of his strength gave out as another bullet cracked him on the back of the head and Sky Eagle with his charge plunged into the water!

He started to sink, consciousness ebbing away, but the Frenchman put an arm under his shoulder and started to swim. "Damn... you..." he muttered, kicking hard for the distant white cliffs visible over wave tops... "Stay alive dammit!" he spluttered with a mouthful of english channel, and cursed in french!

Something, some hidden will to live, to win, made Sky Eagle kick. The pain in his body was immense, never ending, and his limbs felt anything but superhuman - like they were weighted with lead!

And still he kicked.

The Nazi fighters made a sighting run then made ready to drop bombs. This was it. Sky Eagle didn't have the strength to do anything but kick, feebly, and the Frenchman couldn't swim with both of them! "Leave me..." said Sky Eagle. "Go!" he hissed.

The Frenchman uttered something rude and kicked with the last of his dwindling strength. They were only hundreds of yards from the beach now, but may as well have been miles! Sky Eagle couldn't think straight, he was so numb. He knew that calling on the Dark Power would be futile and disastrous. Waves washed over his face and he thought as water closed in around and above him... 'this is it'









But he did not die.

His face broke the surface of the water and a hand grabbed a wing, then an arm. "Bloody hell! I... let's get you aboard chum! If them jerries want you, it's safe to say you're on our side! Cor blimey Fred, will ya look? Wings! And them muscles! But his skin.. looks like he's been beaten to a pulp!"

"This one ain't much better Bert! Frenchie from the looks! Lookit that! Does yer 'eart proud..."

Sky Eagle coughed sea water up and looked through half closed eyes up from where he lay on the rowing boat into the sky. The RAF was chasing the Nazi planes around with Spitfires, and though the dogfight was fierce, finally downed the last of the ME109s as the rowing boat finally bumped and dipped onto the beach.

"I say you chaps. Hurry up!" said a Peeler in suit and bowler hat. He peered anxiously into the boat where half a dozen home guard were pulling the near unconscious pair out and covering them with blankets. The Peeler sobered "Bloody good show old chap." he said, patting Sky Eagle on the shoulder. "Welcome to England General De Gaulle" he offered to the Frenchman.

The Peeler looked about "Is that it? Where's the rest of them?"

For answer Sky Eagle could only sag, weeping quietly for those lost and left behind...

OOC Next post will do a wrap on this mission and get you into a new one. Sky Eagle won, in the end, but his team were lost in France. Victory, as always, comes at a price, and it will be paid time and again before the war is over...

"How are you feeling?"

General Wynn sat at the end of the bed. Pain - all over Sky Eagles body - told him he was still alive. He was covered in bandages, and raised in such a way that his wings weren't pressed flat. They were bald in a number of areas, and they too were bandaged.

Sky Eagle groaned, and Wynn rose, patting him on the shoulder. "Rest easy son. Seems that every time we talk you end up in a hospital bed. You've done your country a great service, and the people of France as well. De Gaulle doesn't think so. Idiot wanted to die with his men, but that's the price we pay. The many died so the one could survive that the majority would have hope, and perhaps, win through this god awful mess. Churchill wants to give you a medal. We don't have time for that though. Rest easy."

=========

A week passed, and the recovery painful, slow and felt like it'd never happen

But happen it did, and Sky Eagle was able to move about again within the walls of Bletchley Park. He would spend hours looking up at the sky from the gardens, hearing distant air raid sirens and not be able to respond, because his wings were inoperable. The medics had been unsure how anyone could be struck by so many high calibre bullets and survive. Yet he had done. The body healed, but the soul? It would remain scarred, marked with the memories of those left behind, whose sacrifice would go unnoticed by the people of Britain.

Sky Eagle sighed and felt the cooling afternoon rain come down on his face. Somehow the grim weather matched his mood.

=========

Slobotham barged in through the doorway, waking Sky Eagle

"Up and at 'em lad! Bloody Nazis... INVADING!" said General Wynns 'Bat Man'. Sky Eagle sprung from the bed, pulling on fatigues and wiping sleep from his eyes. The Nazis were invading Britain - this was it - do or die!

OOC To be continued in Sky Eagle Issue III! In the meantime pick a power grade or improve an existing power grade by 1...