As silent alarms paged pilots to the airbase, the Ghost suited up in his WWII coveralls, the faded green suit flapped in the wind as he put his googles on.
"Flight coveralls on everyone, it's gonna be a windy ride." said the Ghost as he climbed into the cockpit of a B-25 renamed Ottawa Escort.
"Fuel pumps are primed and ready to rip Ghost." radioed Logan and the other ground crew.
"Good, make sure to have a fire truck on standby, I don't know if any of our new friends will make it home in one piece."
The Ghost engaged the starters of engines, the loud spool-up whine was met by the low spin of the propellers. Suddenly the engine started, rumbling the ground, as if tanks were rolling out. The Wright twin Cyclone engines were ready for a long flight, and with the munitions Logan and the others had stocked them with, they were ready for a fight as well. As the Ottawa Escort taxied to the runway, the Ghost and the other preformed radio checks, then awaited the launch light. As the light turned green, the B-25s left the runway and entered the skies. As they did, Jasper the Star Spangled Conductor got The Freedom Express whistling and chugging towards California. As the planes raced out of Illinois, the Ghost radioed in.
"All bombers listen up, we have no idea what the hell will happen when we arrive at the meet up spot. According to Barbara, the Japanese will signal us once we arrive there. There pilots are like most of us, remnants of an anti-nwo sector. Be ready for anything, we have no idea what we're flying into. Not even the New World Order knows we are alive. Gunners man your turrets, things are about to get interesting."
Back in New Ottawa, Archie, Barbara and those who stayed behind began setting up housing for the incoming refugees.
"How bout that! Those planes are something ain't they?"
"Yes they are Archie."
"I just hope everyone comes out of this okay."
"All we can do is pray and have faith. Stop by Reverend Everett's church. It'll calm those nerves.
Meanwhile, Jasper and the Freedom Express were steaming along.
"Are we on schedule?"
"Perfectly, have the soldiers suited up in the next four hours. No idea what we might run into."
Back with the Ghost and the B-25s, they had entered the Prairie states, and effects of the warming of the earth had shown themselves, in the form of the largest tornado every seen by man kind.
"Uh, Ghost? How are we dealing with that?"
"Evasive maneuvers! Get high and keep that throttle wide open!"
As the old bombers began their climb, ruins of civilization were thrown at them. Houses, car, bricks and branches were flung at the climbing bomber, however, they were still fast enough to get above the storm.
"Someone radio the Freedom Express, tell them about what the fuck we just saw."
As the bombers continued their journey with all the pilots on oxygen tanks, they finally left the Prairie states and entered the ruins of California.
"Alright everyone, time to get serious, guns at the ready, we are heading off of the coastline. The Japanese haven't signaled but we can assume that things aren't going well for them. H and Daws are going to get ahead of us and relay their position to us. Watch those fuel gauges, if they drop below half a tank, be sure to turn back."
As the E-3 breaks away from the bombers, it begins its radar sweep, hoping to find the Japanese pilots. The E-3 was followed by the PBY-Catalina the team had brought form the Quad Cities Airport. As they got about 15-miles of the coast, the radar began picking up not just aircraft, but an air battle.
"Ghost have your B-25s' hall ass, air battle dead ahead of you."
"Roger that! GUNNERS! AT THE READY! We got ourselves a dogfight."
As the B-25s' broke through the clouds, the Japanese were in an all out war. New World Order Fan-Jet aircraft were engaging them.
"All B-25s' switch to channel 3-2 then engage the enemy."
As the bombers dove, the Japanese breathed a sigh of relief as the American bombers swooped down and light up the sky with tracer rounds. The Ottawa Escort dove on a group of Fan-Jets. They stood no chance against the multitude of bombers.
"All forces retreat, we must get this to the New World Order."
"DON'T LET A SINGLE ONE LEAVE! OPEN FIRE ALL ROCKET PODS!"
As a barrage of rockets took down the majority of the New World Order Fighters, one tried to run, only to met by the PBY Catalina.
The Catalina opened fire chasing after the aircraft. As they sped along the water, the Catalina flew over top of the fighter. Pushing it closer and closer to the water until ramming it as top speed into the water. The fans trying to pull the aircraft up but the weight of the PBY was making it impossible for the plane to lift into the sky, and for the pilot to bail out. The Overlord, using one of the landing gears, shoved it into the fan, breaking off the landing gear, and jamming the fan. The plane exploded killing the pilot freeing the Japanese pilots from pursuit.
"He's splashed, returning to formation."
As the PBY return to formation, the Ghost signaled for the lead Japanese pilot to switch communication channels to close range.
"Thanks for the save!"
"We're not out of it yet, we need to get back, and we need to see how much fuel you all have."
"We're running on fumes, but we'll make it over land."
"Good to know. All pilots begin your run to shore, Japanese pilots, the should be a train awaiting your arrival once you set down. It is carrying fuel and plenty of munitions for you to restock and make your run to Ottawa, if your plane is compromised, the train will take you home."
With a roger that, the planes began their journey to shore. On the rails, the Freedom Express was awaiting them.
"Alright everyone, we've got Japanese pilots running on fumes, just like we practiced, they attempt to land, anyone who can still flies rejoins the Ghost and those who can't join us."
"Understood! We're ready for intercept."