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Operation Liberty
Times Past, 1942
Fall '42
FALL '42: Part 1
Agent Liberty paced back and forth in his quarters on board the submarine. Having grown up in the Colorado Rockies, he found the sub very confining. He wondered if he had claustrophobia. That would sure put a damper on his work. He took a deep breath and stopped for a moment. No sweats, no shakes. Nah, not afraid of enclosed places.
"Must just be nervous," he muttered to himself.
Then he heard someone call in from the hall, "Ye might be watching yerself, people are likely to think yer nuts talkin to yerself like that."
Liberty glanced out the door, to see his teammate, codenamed Torch. Real names weren't allowed here, but Torch didn't seem to care. Torch was really Michael "Matches" Malone, proud Irish-American, former two-bit hood, former murderer. Given a choice between prison and the army, Malone took the army.
Not a great choice, seeing as he had a real problem with authority. Ended up killing his Lieutenant, and was sentenced to death. But the lucky bastard caught another break. A research agency called Project M was looking for volunteers, and he was selected.
They were looking for ways to improve the ability of soldiers to withstand poisonous gases, so he was subjected to various chemicals and gases. Turned out that they had screwed up.
When a fire was lit around Malone, he'd light up in a blue flame. Didn't hurt him any, but he could hover off the ground and burn things. Made him just the man for Project Liberty.
Following Torch down the hall was the other American on the team, codenamed Neptune. He too felt no need to keep his identity a secret. His name was Neptune Perkins, and had a sodium deficit. Required him to stay in constant contact with sea water. The red suit with trident he wore was designed by his parents, so he could survive away from the water.
Turned out Neptune could also live underwater for periods of time, and was an excellent swimmer. No wonder, seeing as his hands and feet were webbed like a duck. Rumor had it he could talk to the underwater mammals, but Liberty didn't ask, and he didn't volunteer.
"Where you guys headed?" asked Liberty, walking towards his door.
"Our Brit friend says we're almost there, so we thought we'd check it out," replied Torch. Being an Irishman on board a British sub, there was no love lost between him and the sailors.
"Captain Mercer?" asked Liberty.
"No, our captain," replied Neptune.
"Ahh."
Liberty then reflected on their Australian teammate. Picked him up when their transport touched down in Canberra. His codename was Captain Boomerang, and he was a weapons expert, especially with that ancient weapon. He even had some special ones gimmicked up. Said he got the idea from reading about the yank Green Arrow in the States.
It was no wonder he was good with that throwing stick; he looked to have aborigine blood. Stood as tall as a white man, with blue eyes, but his coloring was dark, and bone structure matched the Aussie natives, too. He at least respected the requirements of keeping to himself, and hadn't given us any additional info.
FALL '42: Part 2
Once they had arrived in Australia, they were taken to a waiting British sub, and they set out for their rendevous.
"Wait up, I'm coming too," replied Liberty.
Boomerang had an uncanny sense of time and direction, but was checked out and verified it was not magical in nature. Couldn't have any magic around where they were headed.
As they got to the bridge, Captain Mercer was standing and talking with Boomerang, who sounded quite educated; Liberty would not have been surprised if he had been educated in England.
"Ah, Liberty; I was just going to call your people to the bridge. We've reached the arranged coordinates." Liberty smiled at Boomerang, and Torch just grumbled.
"Up periscope," called the Captain, and the metallic tube rose out of the floor. The Captain turned his cap around, and began walking in a circular pattern around the deck. "There he is."
The orders were given to surface, and once the all clear was given, they all exited the sub on to the deck.
"Ahoy," called a voice not twenty feet from the submarine.
"Ahoy," called Captain Mercer. "Captain, we have orders here to take your crew off your boat. You are to captain it with project Liberty as your crew."
"That wasn't part of my orders," called the PT boat Captain.
"Bring your boat in, and we can do the transfer. I can give you your orders then. Once we're away, you and your new crew can open your sealed orders."
"Aye aye," called the voice.
A few minutes later a small PT boat pulled close to the sub, and a makeshift ramp was set up between the two. Crossing had to be done carefully so no one ended up in the drink. Soon the crews were transferred and the plank hauled back in.
Captain Mercer called out, "Good luck," and his sub moved off, to ready itself to submerge.
The PT Captain turned to his new crew and said, "Well, we might as well get acquainted. My name is Storm."
FALL '42: Part 3
Liberty leaned over and shook Storm's hand. "William Storm, we've heard a lot about you and your harassing enemy shipping throughout the Phillipines. Quite an accomplishment."
"Thanks, but just doing my duty," replied Storm. He then looked at their orders and said, "Well, let's get these opened to we can see what you boys are up to."
Storm then walked over to the doorway to the interior of the PT boat, and tore into the envelope. He started reading a sheet to his attention, and handed another to Liberty.
After reading the orders, Liberty said, "Well, looks like we're headed to Manilla. Says here the Japs and the Nazis are parading their mystery men around the occupied territories to show that resistance is futile. Our job is twofold. First, we take out as many of the mystery men as we can. Second, one of the mystery men wants to come over to our side. We are to rendezvous with him during the battle, and bring him back to the States."
"Ah, Christ, is that all?" said Matches sarcastically. "Why don't we just capture the Emperor while we're here? Would be just as tough."
"I have to agree with him, Liberty, this sounds impossible. Do we even know what kind of abilities we'd be facing?" Neptune added.
"Well let's see..." Liberty scanned the orders, and found, "...one's named Overman, another pair are Great Horned Owl and Batboy, there's an archer named Usil... someone called Gudra." Scanned some more. "Sea Wolf, Kamikaze, and Tsunami. It doesn't say which one will be joining us, but we have to take them all out, if possible."
Matches said, "So, when one of them switches sides, it's seven against five, in their favor, and they're playing at home. I wouldn't take that bet."
"Well we are taking that bet." Then he said to Storm: "Captain, the gathering is in Manila in two days, can we make it?"
"I need to stop at my base and re-supply my boat; I didn't expect the need for action so soon. But I expect we'll keep your date."
Neptune then asked, "Captain, where exactly are we? Captain Mercer wouldn't tell us anything about where we were headed."
"Neptune, is it?" Neptune nodded. "We're in the middle of the Sulu Sea, about an hour from my base located near Puerto Princesa on Palawan island. My crew and I had found a little grotto there we have been provisioning."
"Thanks," replied Neptune.
"Well, Captain, let's head out, we have a long way to go, and not a lot of time to do it in," said Liberty.
FALL '42: Part 4
It was almost dawn when the PT boat pulled within sight of the grotto. Captain Storm peered through his binoculars, and exclaimed, "Damn!"
"What's the problem, Cap?" asked Liberty, straining to see the shore himself.
"The Japs, that's the problem. They've been hunting for us for months, and looks like they found my base while I was out. No way I can drive them out of there with one boat."
"Can we just go on without stopping in?" asked Neptune.
"I need to refuel. I don't want to take a run up through the islands without a full tank, and arming this boat with as much munition as she'll carry."
"Well then, let's go take it back," said the usually silent Boomerang.
"Excuse me?" asked Storm.
"Captain, we have a tight schedule, you said so yourself. The rendezvous sub will be out here again in seven days. That gives us just enough time to complete this assignment. We can't take the chance of missing it," said Liberty. Then to his team: "Torch, take the high road, Neptune, take the low road. Boomerang, the main gun is yours."
"Well then, time to light up," said Matches, who then took his signature match out of his mouth and snapped it against his finger, lighting a flame. He burst into a bright blue flame, then lifted off of the deck into the air. "Let's go torch some Japs," he screamed as he flew off in the direction of the grotto.
Neptune at the same time dove into the water, and began swimming toward the shore, outpacing the PT boat. Boomerang took his place at the forward deck gun, Liberty helping him load it up.
"Well I'll be damned," was all Storm could say, as he watched the mystery men move into action.
The PT moved nearer, and Boomerang opened fire on the soldiers on the cliff above the grotto, killing scores of men before they took cover and returned fire. Matches then flew above them, and let out a stream of fire from his hands, killing the soldiers in their cover.
At sea, the boat that the Japanese used to find the grotto started to violently sway back and forth in the surf, then men began jumping off the boat. As they hit the water, Neptune would strike them, until they could no longer remain on the surface, and they would drown.
"I'll check out the inside of the grotto," said Liberty as he removed his combat fatigues, and revealed his red white and blue uniform. He then hunched and took a leap that carried him from Storm's PT boat through the deck of the Japanese boat. He then swam from the bottom of the sea, into the grotto.
FALL '42: Part 5
Liberty jumped up onto the ledge in the grotto, surveying the interior. He saw about a half dozen men, going through the communication logs, and personal effects. "Hey," he callled out, and the Japs turned toward him.
Looking around the grotto, he spied a spare deck gun, and a string of ammunition. He loaded it up and lifted it toward the approaching soldiers. They suddenly stopped in amazement, given the size and weight of the gun.
A command was given from the rear, and the men advanced again. Must be the officer, Liberty guessed. He opened fire on the approaching soldiers, taking care not to hit anything vital, such as the fuel stores. The men hit the ground, leaving only the commanding officer of the squad. The man walked toward Liberty, hands held in the air.
Liberty put down the gun, and asked, "You speak English?"
"Yes, very well. I was educated in America," replied the officer. "You realize there is no escape; this cave is surrounded."
"I'm sorry, but those troops are dead, your boat has been sunk, and you are the only survivor. Problem is, I don't have the resources to take care of a prisoner. And I certainly can't let you go."
"No, of course not," replied the soldier. "And I cannot be a prisoner." With that, the officer pulled a dagger from his boot, and threw it at Liberty. It hit his chest, and bounced off.
"How is that possible?" asked the Japanese officer.
"They grow 'em tough in my part of the States," replied Liberty.
Then from the opening, another voice was heard. "Liberty, we don't have time for this. Kill the bastard and let's be done with it," was heard from Matches, flying into the grotto.
"Torch, he surrendered; the Geneva articles of war prohibit me from killing a man who surrendered."
"Aw, forget that, Liberty, you forget Pearl Harbor, these boys don't play by the rules," said Matches, and with that, he turned his flame on the soldier, incinerating him.
"That wasn't necessary, Matches," shouted Liberty.
"It sure was; were you gonna stay and keep an eye on him, or did you think we would bring him along? He was a problem waiting to happen. I just eliminated it."
"You're nothing but a cold-blooded killer, Matches," screamed Liberty.
"It's war, kid, we're all killers. I just have a better nose for it than you do. Part of why I'm here. You are supposed to idealize America, I represent the actuality."
"You're far from the truth, Matches, but this isn't the place to argue it. Douse your flame, and let's get ready to load up the PT boat."
Matches landed and willed his flame off. The two men then started moving boxes of ammo to the dock to ready them for loading. Neptune then surfaced and joined them, with Storm and Boomerang bringing in the boat last.
"What are you boys, some of those new mystery men I read about?"
"Sorta, Captain Storm. The real mystery men run free under the supervision of the President. We belong to the Army, so we're not really here. Top secret stuff."
"Well, I gotta say, if we could get a few more like you behind lines, this war would be over in no time," said Captain Storm.
Liberty glanced over at Matches, and sort of grunted. Storm then docked and handled the refueling as the members of Project Liberty loaded up the boat. After about an hour, they pulled out.
After they traveled for about thirty minutes, a massive explosion was heard, and Storm looked at his new shipmates.
"Sorry, Captain, the Japs found it. They may have radioed its position. There's no going back there. You'll have to find another base once the mission is done."
"I hate the loss of all those supplies, but don't worry, I can always get more."
Liberty nodded, and the boat continued on its way... to Manila.
FALL '42: Part 6
Manila.
The boat slipped into the bay during the black of night, with Neptune swimming ahead navigating the mines. They found the boat hanger arranged in advance by the OSS, and hid the PT boat there.
"Captain Storm, you stay with the boat, and have it ready to move out at a moment's notice. Our host, Mr. Ferrer will help you if need be," said Liberty.
"I will. I want the Japanese gone, so we can get our promised independence from the USA," replied Ferrer.
"Good," said Liberty, then to his team: "We have a map to take us to an old Spanish fort. That's where the rally is being held. We have to be in place for the attack before sun-up."
"Why the sneaking around, Liberty?" asked Matches. "Let's just hit them at their hotel, and be done with it. We have a better chance of getting out alive with a sneak attack. Even the Japs know that."
"Because our mission isn't just a 'hit'. We -- I -- am here as a symbol of America. To show the Phillippines, and the other occupied territories that America hasn't forgotten them, and we can match anything the Axis can come up with."
"Well, mate, let's be off. I'm looking forward to finishing up this business and heading home. I could use some kangaroo stew about now," said Boomerang. He then noticed his teammates staring at him, then replied, "I'm kidding. Don't you boys know a joke when you hear it?"
"Not from you," Matches said. "You're the quiet one. And I think I like you better that way."
Boomerang just smiled at Matches, and then Liberty said, "Fun time over?" He paused to see his teammates standing there quietly, then continued, "Good. Let's move out."
After the team had moved out, Ferrer went back to his house, and Storm started going over his boat. He checked the oil, and went over the engine. He also made sure his deck gun was loaded and ready. Even though he had been harassing enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea, he had never felt so alone, so behind the lines as he did right then.
He heard a sound in the brush outside the boat. Then heard, "American, come out. I have a surprise for you."
FALL '42: Part 7
As the sun crept over the horizon, Liberty waited for the festivities. He and his squad had hidden themselves throughout Fort Santiago. An old Spanish garrison, these days it was being used by the Japanese as a staging ground for their most unruly Filipino prisoners. But today it would be more than that.
The Axis planned a rally for the politicians of the Phillippines, to show the people how futile resistance would be. The super humans born and created by the axis powers would show them they were nothing.
Liberty smiled to himself, able to keep still and quiet himself; he knew this hiding was driving Matches crazy. The man had a tendency to always be talking or moving. Liberty hoped that he would be moving when the time came.
The guests had been assembled, and then shortly after their arrival, the super humans arrived. Some very powerful and scary people. He knew that it was very likely that he could lose his entire team here. Battling normal men was one thing. His squad couldn't be stopped. But other superhumans? This could be lethal.
But necessary. Not only was his team to pick up the defector, but to give a lesson to the Phillippine people, and all the conquered peoples, that the Allies had not forgotten them, and they would one day be free.
Liberty pulled himself out of his wandering thoughts, to pay attention, because the speaking had begun. In their arrogance, the Germans and Japanese spoke their own tongue, and had a Spanish translator working overtime.
At that moment Arn Munro, the man known as Agent Liberty, wished he had taken Spanish in school. He'd thought French was cooler. Besides, it was a great come-on to the girls.
His squad was waiting for his attack, and it was agreed that he would not begin until the speaking began. His intent was to catch them off guard when leaving the stage.
However, that plan was quickly dashed by the sounds behind the stage. Liberty's first thought was that Matches' impatience got the best of him. However, that was not it. Liberty saw a man screaming and charging the stage. And as he charged, he was changing. He grew in size, and took on a rocky appearance, not unlike the walls of the fortress itself. Liberty didn't know what the man was capable of, but he couldn't let his attack happen alone. Liberty leapt up and screamed, "Attack!!!" and he landed promptly on the stage.
Matches struck a match, and leapt into the air. The first thing he noticed was the rock-thing charging the stage. Matches decided not to attack that one, and left him alone.
He also noticed there was a body or two more on the stage than anticipated. But no time to quibble about Allied intelligence. Time to do his job. He saw the Horned Owl and his kid on the stage, preparing to throw something at him. Probably a grenade, thought Matches, as he launched a pillar of flames at them, incinerating them in their place. Then Matches heard the sound of machine gun fire, and saw the Japanese soldiers were firing at him. He turned in mid air, and launched an attack against them.
Neptune Perkins approached close to the stage, and leapt up at the Sea Wolf, striking him hard. The Wolf staggered but was not dropped to the floor. The Wolf then hit Perkins, and knocked him a few steps back, almost to the point of losing his balance. Wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth, Neptune charged at the Wolf.
FALL '42: Part 8
Gudra, the Valkyrie warrior readied her spear, taking aim at the flaming man attacking her allies. But before she could launch its magical energy, she heard the word "Now!" and was struck in the head from a two pronged assault. Staggering, she turned and saw two of the people she had believed as allies challenging her.
"Again," called Tsunami, and she and her Mongolian companion stuck Gudra again and again, until the Norsewoman collapsed.
Knowing she only had moments, Tsunami launched herself at the Sea Wolf, while her companion turned and swung his powerful sword, glowing with an unearthly energy at the man known as Kamikaze, just as he was lifting off the stage. The sword cleanly severed his legs at the knees, and Khan reached out and grabbed the man's rocket boots, complete with severed feet.
"I have them, Tsunami," called out the Mongolian giant. But Tsunami was herself occupied. Khan then turned toward his fallen foe, and neatly severed his head.
"I believe that is the penalty for failure in your society, if I'm wrong, please forgive me."
Boomerang got into a duel with the Italian archer, trading weapon after weapon. Boomerang noted the archer was skillful in his weapon, but he doubted he had the versatility to use others effectively. Boomerang tried a two pronged attack, throwing boomerangs with each hand. The Archer shot down one headed directly at him, as the second sent flying far to the right of him.
Usil taunted Boomerang. "Is that the best you have? I have bested you with my skills, and you cannot even throw straight."
"Fool, your ignorance is your death," screamed Boomerang, as Usil loaded another arrow into his bow. Taking aim, Usil stopped abruptly, as Boomerang continued, "My weapon doesn't need to fly straight. Your limited knowledge dooms you."
Usil began to sag to the floor, but first let his last arrow fly. The gloating Boomerang was struck by it and hit the ground, just as Usil dropped, bleeding from the back caused by a razor sharp boomerang.
Khan kicked Gudra's spear out of reach, and held his sword at her neck. When he prepared to decapitate her, she jumped up with super-human speed, and knocked his legs out from under him. She took his sword, and received a shock.
He said to her as she fell again, "My blade only works for me. Its power is mine and mine alone." As she fell again, he held his hand out toward the blade, and it left her hand and returned to his. He approached her once again.
Tsunami and Perkins continued their battle with the Sea Wolf, until Perkins managed to get the Wolf into a head lock. His fighting away from water weakened him, and he began to lose consciousness. Tsunami then pulled a syringe out of her costume, and removed a sample of his blood. She told Perkins, "A communique informed me Project M needs this."
Gudra once again eluded Khan, using a swift kick to his privates. He went down, and she called out to her winged horse. She climbed atop her steed, and flew towards Sea Wolf, grabbing him and throwing him over the horse's backside. She called out to Overman to join her, but he was deep in the throws of battle, and could not hear her.
FALL '42: Part 9
The rock-like being was smashed by Ubermensch again and again, and went flying backwards. Liberty got there and stopped Ubermensch from smashing him by grabbing his forearm. Stunned and immobile, Ubermensch turned toward Liberty.
"Your strength? It matches my own."
"Let's see how well," replied Liberty, as he threw a punch into Ubermensch that sent him flying several feet.
Getting up and holding his jaw, Ubermensch said, "Not bad, Amerikaner, not bad. But let us see if you can handle my punch."
Ubermensch then charged at Liberty like an angry rhino, and Liberty leapt away from his lunge at the last moment and landed to see Ubermensch crash through the wall of the fort. Liberty then went to aid the rock creature, only finding it had changed into a man.
"You alright?" asked Munro, as he leaned over the injured man. He was a small Filipino man, blood dripping from the side of his mouth.
"I will live, Senor. I have survived worse," replied the man.
Liberty then heard a sound moving behind him, and and stood to confront his attacker. The tall German was charging him, then stopped in his tracks by a blast of blue flame. His uniform was singed and burned, and obvious hatred shined from his face.
Behind Liberty, Tsunami, Perkins and Khan stood, Perkins caring for the fallen Filipino. Beside Ubermensch landed Gurda with the SeaWolf laid across her horse.
"You win this time, Amerikaner, but there will be another meeting. And at that time, I will be the one to walk away."
"Until then, Ubermensch, let me leave you my name to dwell upon. Remember it as the name of the leader of free men who defeated you today. It's Agent Liberty."
Ubermensch again started to take steps towards Liberty, but Gudra raised her spear in his path. "Now is not the time, Ubermensch," she said.
He looked at her, then at the heroes assembled against him, and climbed upon her horse, and they flew off.
Outside the hole created by Ubermensch, Liberty heard gunfire, and he charged toward the waterfront. "Matches, with me. Perkins, care for our friend there, and try and find Boomerang."
Liberty sprinted toward the opening, and Matches flew over the wall, to see the PT boat approaching, being fired at by Japanese soldiers. Liberty leapt into the air into the midst of the firing Japanese, and Matches fried the gun emplacement. In no time, the Japanese had stopped fighting.
Captain Storm called out to Liberty, "You better get aboard, all the Nips in the Phillipines will be on our backside soon." Just then, Liberty noticed that Storm had a small crew with him.
Storm noticed his glance, and replied, "Ferrer had these boys hidden. Gunner and Sarge here were cut off from their unit while covering the withdrawal to Bataan. Johnny Cloud here had his B-17 shot out from under him when evacuating Hicks.
The other soldiers waved as they were mentioned, and Liberty called out, "Captain, between your crew and the extras we picked up, your PT is too small.
"If you can get us to Hicks, I can fly anything the Japs have on the ground," said Johnny Cloud.
"Better yet, there's a sea plane. Pilot, how far south can you get us?"
"I'd be better off flying that to Hicks, and getting us a troop plane or cargo carrier."
"Deal, pilot." Then to Matches: "Get the squad over here, we need to pull out right away. Our wounded will need attention."
Matches looked at him, and instead of fighting, just did as ordered.
"Captain Cloud, if you could get that plane started up so we can take off, I'd appreciate it."
FALL '42: Finale
The plane landed at Hicks, and everyone filed out. Boomerang was in bad shape, and the Filipino was not doing well either. After the soldiers loaded the wounded into a liberated troop carrier, Munro looked across the airfield.
"I know this was a US field, but it's a shame to leave it in Jap hands. I would love to just level this place."
"But that would just make it easier for them to land planes," replied Matches Malone. Munro just glared at him.
Just then, another troop carrier took off, with a fighter escort. "Are they coming for us?" asked Khan. Big and burly, the Mongolian seemed to be itching for another fight.
"No, it appears they are getting that plane out of here." He paused, then called out for Tsunami. After she appeared at his side, he asked, "Any idea what that is all about?"
"That would be one of the designers of the Axis project making super-humans. I never met him, but have heard plenty about him. He was coming here to witness the show. Guess he was called home abruptly."
"He have a name?" asked Malone.
"He's German, I think. Hugo something. Danker, or Damler."
"Danner?" asked Munro.
"That's the name. Why, you know him?"
"We never met, but my mother told me about him. He's my father, and responsible for me being the way I am."
Munro thought for a minute, thought about how much damage Danner could cause if he got away. He had an above average intelligence, but had his father's research. Research directly responsible for what Arn Munro was.
"We've got to stop that plane," screamed Munro. He then looked at his squad and no one moved.
"We've got wounded, Liberty. The team has to come first," said Neptune.
"You've haven't completed your mission, Liberty. We still need to get Tsunami and Khan here out of the Phillippines," said Captain Storm.
Arn looked at them, shocked that he wasn't being listened to. Then he turned to Malone.
"And you?" he said.
"Liberty, you know I love a good fight, but this isn't the time. You gave me a fair shake even when others wouldn't, and if you really want to go, I'm with you. But think. You yourself have said no one stays behind. If we don't go, no one gets away. They need me to fly air cover, and you to give the command codes so we aren't killed by our own boys."
Arn Munro turned and punched a wall, leaving a gaping hole in it, then turned to Matches and said "Dammit, you're right. Everyone on the plane."
Then he turned his eyes skyward toward the escaping plane, and said softly, "You got lucky this time 'father'. Next time, you're mine."
They all got into the plane, and headed south, toward Australia and their next assignment.