Tom Ace

There was pure confusion now. It wasn't clear whether the rebels should land on the fortress and fight, or fly by and destroy enemy planes or to shoot down the entire fortress. Some rebels must have believed that they would spare the floating fortress to use it in the rebel's future military, but Tom'snext message cleared up everything.

"This ship is doomed, I order all rebels to shoot down the airship. I repeat, SHOOT IT DOWN!" By now there were waves of rebels zooming every which way, firing quick bursts to blow the airpockets of the blimps. Slowly, the fortress sank. Tom flew in circles around the top of the now evident victory. Watching his comrades come dangerously close to one another, he feared they would crash into eachother. But they did not. It was as if they were all one force working together to fight off oppression.

Tom looked down, a black monoplane was rolling on the runway. It wasn't just rolling, it was driving. It turned and headed for the decline. Tom noticed many markings on the side of the plan. A single mark mean that that pilot had destroyed one enemy aircraft. This plane had so many, it was dotted with them all over. "MAX!!!!" Tom cried out.

Several enemy crafts that had escaped the falling airfield were striking out against the rebels. Because the rebels were not in formation, they were being picked off one after another. Tom attempted to dive down so that he could wipe out Max who was ready to take off, but he couldn't get through the swarm of planes which had formed a dogfight.

"All units, destroy the elite Auberg pilot about to take off!" Tom suddenly realized his mistake, if everyone went after Max, they would be shot to hell by the other enemies. "I retract that order! Everyone resume fighting, I'll go after the elite one!"

A sense of duty had always been known by the rebels. It seemed as if every single soldier involved in the war knew the eternal hatred between elite enemy pilots--Max and Tom--a single note sprung from the communicator: 'Yes sir!'

Max had taken off and was heading west, probably so that he could flee the country and take political refuge in other countries. Tom switched his communicator to a different frequency. "Where do you think you're going Max?" His voice was casual, like he was talking to an old friend.

"Getting the hell out of this wretched country, what do you care anyway, Tom?"

"I just can't let you end it this way. Not an elite military man like yourself. This is just like David and Goliath, and there's no way I'm letting the giant retreat! I challenge you to a duel. Face me now or I'll hunt you down to the last...." Tom's communicator failed to transmit the rest of his words. It was obvious that Max accepted the challenge by turning around.

The com link briefly came back. "I'm going to destroy you Tom!"

The two circled eachother. First Tom was chasing Max, then Max was chasing Tom. "Your fortress is destroyed, your homeland has revolted, and now you will pay for the 87 trophies you carry!!" Tom looped upside down, came behind Max and fired his machine guns. Max was out of the way before the bullets came at him.

"I really admire you, Tom." Max said, this astonished Tom. "I am truly sorry for your comrades deaths. But you must understand that as much as you believe in your rebellion, that I also believe in our government. This is why we can never coexist in peace."

Tom, taken aback, thought about what he was saying. It truly made sense, which is why Max had to die. The monoplane circled around and landed next to Tom's. Tom looked over.