Planets War: The Fight for Earth, Part 2

The humans in Moscow were starting to destroy Heret's forces. He turned towards a nearby Kazinite. "Captain. Order the retreat of the soldiers."
"I'm surprised sir. I didn't expect you to give up this easily," the captain said.
"You know me well then. I am not giving up. I have better soldiers than these scrawny Kazinites," Heret said.
"Where are they?" the captain asked.
Heret was an exact clone of Virolvv, despite his dull gray skin, and harder muscle tone. "You'll see as soon as you order the retreat," Heret said.
The captain hesitated, but called on the retreat. Soon, several Kazinite soldiers appeared. "You soldiers will head on a transport back to Kazin with Captain Wunot. I'll hold Moscow's soldiers off."
"By yourself?" a nearby soldier asked.
"No," Heret said. "I will have help by my own army."
"What army?" Wunot asked.
Several humanoid creatures wearing rock armor emerged from the ground behind Heret. "We'll hold them off. Now, leave."
The Kazinites obeyed as the rock creatures advanced on the city.

Masiyoshi's pilot landed the JT-1 in Moscow, where he was instantly greeted by Luksekii Takhan. "If you are here to help, the Kazinites have already retreated," Takhan said.
"The Kazinites don't retreat, Takhan. They're up to something."
Takhan sighed. "Do you see any Kazinites?"
Masiyoshi looked around, and almost said no, when the sound of rumbling was heard throughout the city. "An earthquake? We haven't had one in years!" Takhan shouted.
Masiyoshi shook his head. "I learned about the leader of this force. He possesses a power over rock and plants. Heret is most likely causing this."
"Well, if that is the case, I've decided I need your help. Where is your army?"
"They landed in the west."
"The west is where the rumbling is coming from," Takhan stated.

A rock creature approached Heret. "The Podzemny have reached the city," it said.
"Yes. I heard your species was quick. What is your name, Podzemny?"
"I am Ynoyk, leader of Gryazi Gorod. I presume you summoned us to the surface?"
"Yes. How long have the Podzemny inhabited the surface world?"
"We inhabited the surface of Rossiya thousands of years ago, until the humans forced us to retreat underground. We wish to conquer the surface yet again. We will help Kazin to destroy the humans."
Heret didn't mention that they were going to destroy Earth after its forces had been weakened. "Okay. But I am in charge of this battle," Heret said.
Ynoyk nodded. "I shall also be in charge of this battle, but will have to take orders from you."
"Okay then, Ynoyk. We'll advance towards the city.

Masiyoshi and Takhan arrived at the west side of Moscow, where the human forces were fighting, and losing, to several rock warriors. "What are these?" Masiyoshi asked.
"I didn't know that they were real," Takhan said, slowly.
"You didn't know what were real?" Masiyoshi demanded.
"The Podzemny were supposed to be a myth."
"A myth?"
"Yes. Tens of thousands of years ago, a race of advanced people were said to live in the north. When people arrived in Russia, the Podzemny retreated underground to their grand city, Gryazi Gorod."
"Why would they help the Kazinites?"
"You don't understand, Masiyoshi. We kicked them out of their land, and they want it back."
"Maybe later we can reach a compromise with them, but now is time for action!"
Masiyoshi pulled out his pistol, and fired at a nearby Podzemny, but the shot dissolved into its rock armor. It walked up to Masiyoshi, with a rock sword raised. Masiyoshi ducked as it swung at his head, and pulled out his sword, and entered a swordlock with his assailant. The swordlock was broken when Masiyoshi was kicked to the ground.
The creature would have killed him, had it not been distracted by Takhan, who was firing rapidly at it with a machine gun. Masiyoshi got to his feet, and fired at the creature's back. The Podzemny held the rock sword over its head, and threw it at Takhan's head. Takhan barely dodged, and continued shooting at the defenseless Podzemny. After several shots, the armor cracked, and the bullets hit the Podzemny's skin, thus killing it.
"That took too long. I hypothesize that 1 of these creatures is worth maybe 10 of our men," Masiyoshi stated.
"We don't have that much men. There are about 200 Podzemny, and 300 of our men. If you are correct Masiyoshi, we need another 1700 men," Takhan said.
"Then we may have to negotiate with the leader."
"You won't be negotiating with anybody, Masiyoshi," someone said.
A Kazinite wearing a black and brown-colored cloak, with brown skin stepped in front of both the men. "I take it you are Heret?" Masiyoshi asked.
Heret said nothing as he surrounded his entire body with rock. "You were a fool to come here. Are you ready to die?"
Masiyoshi jumped out of the way as Heret ran up to him, but was a little too slow, and was slammed up against a nearby building. Masiyoshi tried to get up, but was hit to the ground by Heret.
"I'm unimpressed, Masiyoshi. I figured after defeating Towo and Eon, you would be more of a challenge," Heret said, as he sharpened the rock around his arm. "But now, you will finally die!"
Takhan fired at Heret from behind, but didn't succeed in anything. After the failed attack, Heret extended his arm in the direction of Takhan, and several vines emerged from his hand, which clung onto the startled human. "Now you will both die," Heret said, lifting his sharpened arm.
Masiyoshi closed his eyes, and waited until he got impaled by the rock, but this never happened. He opened his eyes, and saw Kazinite fighters in the sky, dropping bombs on the city. Heret, who was still gripping to Takhan and Masiyoshi looked into the sky. "I told those fools to retreat!"
"Those aren't your men, Heret," Masiyoshi said. "They're mine."
Heret glared at Masiyoshi. "Call them off or you'll pay."
"How will I pay?" Masiyoshi asked.
Heret hardened his grip on Takhan's vine. "If you refuse, I'll kill him."
Masiyoshi activated his comm device. "Hynos. Engage Retreat Code 252."
"Are you sure? his comm asked.
"Yes," Masiyoshi said.
The fighters flew away from Moscow. Heret glared in the sky, then back at Masiyoshi. "Too bad for you, Kozumi. I spare your friend, but I'm going to kill you!"
Masiyoshi grinned. "You seriously underestimate the forces of Earth."
Many Podzemny and humans circled around Heret, who was shocked. "How did you get the Podzemny to betray me?"
"Pete Dokchov," Takhan replied. "He knows how to go through a battlefield undetected."
"Somebody informed Ynoyk about Virolvv's master plan?" Heret asked.
"Yes. Now release Masiyoshi, or you will die!" Takhan demanded.
Heret released Masiyoshi. "Surrender, Heret," Masiyoshi demanded.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a small Kazinite transport ship appeared in the sky. When it lowered over the city, Heret jumped onto it. "Not this time, Kozumi."
Masiyoshi contacted Hynos. "Ready for part two of Retreat Code 252?" Masiyoshi said.
"Ready when you are, General.."
"Head back to Moscow."
"Roger that."

Hynos and his men turned their fighters around, and flew back to Moscow, where a small Kazinite transport was in sight. "Irlef. Sellinat. Go after the transport. I'll pick Masiyoshi up."
"Roger that."
The two fighters flew towards the transport, while Hynos lowered to the city. Masiyoshi arrived soon after. "It took you guys long enough," Masiyoshi joked.
"Hop on," Hynos said.
"Don't you mean, 'hop in'?"
"No room in here. You'll have to jump on if you want to catch Heret."
Masiyoshi hesitated, but jumped onto the fighter. Hynos started the engine, and within minutes, the fighter was flying in the air, zooming towards the Kazinite transport with immense speed.

The pilot looked at the monitors. "Three small fighters closing in fast, sir."
Heret glared at the monitors, then at the pilot. "Can't this thing go any faster?"
"This is the fastest it will go."
Heret opened a door. "If we can't get out of here, I'll just have to destroy the fighters on my own!"

Masiyoshi watched as an unprotected Heret jumped out of the transport, onto one of the fighters. The pilot of the fighter jumped out of the cockpit, and began firing at Heret, who couldn't create his rock armor, or the fighter would sink to the ground.
Heret was agile, dodging all of the shots like it was nothing. He then slammed the pilot off the fighter, who was plummeting to the ground.
Hynos lowered his fighter, and the pilot landed onto the fighter. "You okay, Sellinat?"
"No time to talk! Shoot Heret before he gets onto Irlef's fighter!"
Masiyoshi fired at Heret, but he was too agile, and jumped onto Irlef's fighter. Irlef quickly jumped up from the cockpit, but instead of fighting, jumped straight onto Hynos's fighter.
Heret looked down. "Its time to kill 4 enemies in one blow!"
He transformed his arms into a giant stalactite with several smaller stalactites on it. "Now die!"
Several of the smaller stalactites were fired in their direction. The three on top of the fighter narrowly dodged, and were running out of space to dodge with. Masiyoshi tried to figure out a way to stop Heret, and finally came up with one. The two fighters on autopilot would be of assistance.
"Is there a self destruct for the fighters?" Masiyoshi asked.
"Yes," Irlef said. "But I left my self destruct switch in the cockpit."
Sellinat lifted a small metallic box. "I've still got my self destruct switch."
"Hand it here!"
Sellinat handed Masiyoshi the device, which he chucked at Irlef's fighter. Heret didn't move as he caught the device. "The detonation box to a Kazinite fighter. Why would Kozumi give me this?"
Heret lifted the detonation box from the fighter he was standing on. It was at that moment, that Masiyoshi threw another detonation box at Heret, who was not paying attention. He dropped all the boxes onto the fighter. "So I have three fighters, and three detonation boxes. Let's see what goes down when I press this one."
Heret pressed one of the detonation boxes. Sellinat's fighter exploded, and plummeted to the ground. Sellinat glared at Masiyoshi. "Don't you realize we only have a 50 percent chance of not dying!"
"Heret knows that too, but he doesn't know which of the boxes is the one for this fighter, yet I do."
Heret was about to press a detonation box, but Masiyoshi shouted out. "No. Don't press that one!"
Heret laughed. "End of the line, Kozumi!"
He pressed the box, but to his surprise, the fighter from beneath him exploded, but he had enough time to form his rock armor. As he fell to the ground, Heret shouted. "I promise you Kozumi! The next time we meet each other, it won't be very pretty for you!"

Hynos dropped Masiyoshi off at Moscow Kremlin. "Why did you drop me off at the Kremlin?" Masiyoshi asked.
"It is demanded by Takhan," Hynos stated.
Masiyoshi walked into the building, where he was instantly confronted by Takhan. "Follow. We will be signing two important documents."
"What documents?"
"Just follow."
Takhan led Masiyoshi into a large room, with a large table in the center. On the table were two pieces of paper. One was titled, Россия / Япония Договора, and the other was titled, Человека / Подземные соглашение.
"What are these documents?" Masiyoshi asked.
Takhan pointed to the Россия / Япония Договора document. "This says 'Russia/Japan Treaty'. You will sign it if we have any hope of ending our cold war against Japan and Russia."
Masiyoshi signed his name in Japanese. "What is the other document?"
"It is the Human/Podzemny Agreement. I hope to get every nation to sign this."
"What is it about?" Masiyoshi asked.
"It declares that the Podzemny are allowed in any nation's surface as long as the current leader signs."
There were already two signatures, Takhan's, and another signature, "Инойк".
"I can't read Russian, but I assume that is the leader of the Podzemny?"
"Yes. In order for this document to work, we need approval from the Podzemny leader."
"I'll bring this treaty up to the United Nations," Masiyoshi suggested.
"No. It is my handwriting, and I shall bring it up."
"Good luck then."

Heret slowly got up, and activated his comm device. "Wunot. Pick me up at the coordinates of this message."
"Roger that."
Now Heret sent a message to Virolvv. "The mission was a failure. I assume you want me to return to the KZD-01 to be destroyed?"
"No. You are still of use to me. Free Eon from prison, and find Towo. We'll continue holding off Earth forces without you."
"Roger that."

_________________________________________________________________

Why purpose does Virolvv have for his imprisoned and presumably dead clones?
What powers does the final member of Project ETHF possess?
What is happening on Kazin?
How many of the U.N. will sign the Podzemny document?

All of these answers will be revealed in Retreat.