History Main / IGotYouCovered

* ''FinalFantasyIX'' had one in a much bigger way. As the party approaches the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon final dungeon]] on the Invincible airship, a legion of dragons comes to meet them to stop them from landing. Unfortunately, the ornate piece of junk actually has no useful weapons. But wait! Straight from out of the clouds comes ''every airship in existence'' armed to the teeth, who clear a path so that the heroes can put an end to the BigBad once and for all.

** Another FinalFantasy example, this one from [[FinalFantasyIV IV]]: After returning from the Moon, Cecil and friends are horrified to see [[YouAreTooLate that they're too late to stop the awakening of the]] [[HumongousMecha Giant of Bab-Il]], a kilometers-tall monstrosity that starts devastating the countryside. As they gape in horror, they see a huge burst of artillery on the Giant's flank... and ''the entire armed forces of the world'' arrive to buy Cecil's party some time to enter the Giant, all with the [[ThemeMusicPowerUp Theme of the Red Wings]] rising in the background.

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* Happens in the TV series adaptation of RecordOfLodossWar. While trying to get to Castle Conquera on the Dark Island of Marmo before the Evil Wizard Wagnard can sacrifice their friend to revive the Goddess of Destruction, they're faced with fighting the ancient and powerful evil Black Dragon, Narse. Just as the heroes are losing time and seemingly going to lose the battle, an old friend from the previous season, Shiris, comes back leading a team of wyvern-riders, who tells them "We'll take care of it!" Happens again to Shiris when her corps are about to lose to Narse, when along comes the ancient and powerful (and more importantly, good) Gold Dragon-King, Mycen, who then duels with Narse in a Dragon-on-Dragon deathmatch.

A case of TruthInTelevision. USAF doctrine is that on an attack run, one pilot will be assigned as a "shooter" and his wingman as "cover", the wingman's job being to get hostile aircraft off of the shooter as he makes his run.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Starfox}}: Assault'', during the final mission Star Wolf ropes in ''all the bogeys'' so that Star Fox can make it to the Aparoid Queen.
** Also occurs in ''Starfox: Adventures'', during the final boss fight. When Fox gets lodged in between the villain's teeth, Falco, who had yet to appear in the ''entire'' game and was ''barely'' mentioned in passing, [[JustInTime flies in from outer space]] to lend a helping hand. With [[SmartBomb bombs]].
** ''VideoGame/{{Starfox}} 64'': "Great Fox will cover you!" [[FrickinLaserBeams *pew pew! BOOM!*]] (you don't have to answer when Rob contacts you to tell you this, but why would you not?)

'''Examples:'''

Generally, the main character, who is often an AcePilot, will be stuck in the fight of his life, being peppered with gunfire from [[DeathInAllDirections all sides]], have a "bogey" (or more) on his tail, and/or something similar, which are all keeping him from his almighty goal of SavingTheWorld/Nation/Galaxy/People by blowing up the enemy mothership/main headquarters. Then, [[ThemeMusicPowerUp it happens]]. The tune of the battle changes, and hopelessness becomes hope. Out of the smoke and into the fray comes some dependable ally (who often wasn't even supposed to be there in the first place) who will clear a path a like [[BigDamnHeroes a big damn hero]], say a [[OneLiner snappy one liner]] or [[RousingSpeech some inspirational words]], then assure the main character that [[IGotYouCovered they've got him covered]]. Cue the climactic finish.

* ''FinalFantasyIX'' had one in a much bigger way. As the party approaches the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon final dungeon]] on the Invincible airship, a legion of dragons comes to meet them to stop them from landing. Unfortunately, the ornate piece of junk [[OhCrap actually has no useful weapons]]. But wait! Straight from out of the clouds comes ''every airship in existence'' armed to the teeth, who clear a path so that the heroes can put an end to the BigBad once and for all.

This {{Trope}} is commonly found in air/space combat series, or even those in the [[MechaShow mecha genre]].

* Done in a slightly different way in ''IndependenceDay''. Instead of the ones doing the covering appearing out of nowhere to save the day, it's the ''one to be covered'' who flies in from the smoke to bail everyone else out. During the battle, all the other fighter pilots had used up their missiles, leaving them without any effective means to take out the alien mothership once it exposes its main weapon. Just when all hope is lost, Russell flies in with the [[OneBulletLeft last missile]] in tow. The [[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking badass president]] and his wingmen then keep the other alien fighters off his tail as he makes his HeroicSacrifice.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Starfox}}: Assault'', during the final mission Star Wolf ropes in ''all the bogeys'' so that Star Fox can make it to the Aparoid Queen.

* Happens ''all the time'' in JusticeLeague and JusticeLeagueUnlimited. Earliest being in ''In Blackest Night'' where Green Lantern plays shield for Flash (twice) in the middle of a battle against the Manhunters, and says this quote almost word for word.

** To a lesser extent, also happened in the first episode of the original OVA adaptation of RecordOfLodossWar. When Parn and Deedlit get separated from the group and are about to get burnt by a dragon's breath, they find a barrier blocking the fire: the other heroes have arrived and Slayn, the sorcerer of the group, cast an abjuration spell to save them.

<<|CombatTropes|>>

A subtrope of BigDamnHeroes and AFriendInNeed. May be uttered by the WingMan. Can often lead to a HellYesMoment.

* Spoofed ''again'' in ''TrasnformersAnimated'', Sari asks Wreck-Gar to "Cover Me!". So he throws a blanket on her, nice work there pal.

* In ''{{Starfox}}: Assault'', during the final mission Star Wolf ropes in ''all the bogeys'' so that Star Fox can make it to the Aparoid Queen.

** ''{{Starfox}} 64'': "Great Fox will cover you!" [[FrickinLaserBeams *pew pew! BOOM!*]] (you don't have to answer when Rob contacts you to tell you this, but why would you not?)

-->'''Han Solo:''' You're all clear, kid! Now let's blow this thing and go home!
-->-- StarWars

* TwoWords: Han Solo. The ever pessimistic smuggler had initially abandoned the Rebel Alliance before the Battle of Yavin, reasoning that it'd be a SuicideMission. Then, when Luke is being tailed by ''three'' TIE Fighters, one of them piloted by Lord Vader himself, and most certainly doomed to be shot down, Han Solo and his Millennium Falcon ''come out of the sun'' and rain down hell on them, taking one out, causes the other to panic and ram Darth Vader's ship, sending it careening into space. This gives Luke all the freedom he needs to take down the Death Star with a few proton torpedoes.

A subtrope of BigDamnHeroes and AFriendInNeed. May be uttered by the WingMan.

* TwoWords: Han Solo. The ever pessimistic smuggler had initially abandoned the Rebel Alliance before the Battle of Yavin, reasoning that it'd be a suicide mission. Then, when Luke is being tailed by ''three'' TIE Fighters, one of them piloted by Lord Vader himself, and most certainly doomed to be shot down, Han Solo and his Millennium Falcon ''come out of the sun'' and rain down hell on them, taking one out, causes the other to panic and ram Darth Vader's ship, sending it careening into space. This gives Luke all the freedom he needs to take down the Death Star with a few proton torpedoes.

* TwoWords: Han Solo. The ever pessimistic smuggler had initially abandoned the Rebel Alliance before the Battle of Yavin, reasoning that it'd be a suicide mission. Then, when Luke is being tailed by ''three'' TIE Fighters, one of them piloted by Lord Vader himself, and most certainly doomed to be shot down, Han Solo and his Millennium Falcon ''come out of nowhere'' and rain down hell on them, taking one out, causes the other to panic and ram Darth Vader's ship, sending it careening into space. This gives Luke all the freedom he needs to take down the Death Star with a few proton torpedoes.

* TwoWords: Han Solo. The ever pessimistic smuggler had initially abandoned the Rebel Alliance before the Battle of Yavin, reasoning that it'd be a suicide mission. Then, when Luke is being tailed by ''three'' TIE Fighters and most certainly doomed to be shot down, Han Solo and his Millennium Falcon ''come out of nowhere'' and rain down hell on them, taking one out, causes the other to panic and ram Darth Vader's ship, sending it careening into space. This gives Luke all the freedom he needs to take down the Death Star with a few proton torpedoes.

This trope can also occur outside of vehicles, but those situations generally double as YouShallNotPass moments.

* Appears in Ace Combat 6 during mission twelve, when Shamrock and Talisman are being chased by Estovakia's entire airforce after having destroyed a Weapon of Mass Destruction, the situation looks hopeless until all the pilots you've been helping during other mission's show up to lend a helping hand. Cue ass kicking.

** Kotarou also bought time for Negi during the fight with Rakan. His new badass spell takes way too long to cast to really be practical yet.

* Done in a slightly different way in ''IndependenceDay''. Instead of the ones doing the covering appearing out of nowhere to save the day, it's the ''one to be covered'' who flies in from the smoke to bail everyone else out. During the battle, all the other fighter pilots had used up their missiles, leaving them without any effective means to take out the alien mothership once it exposes its main weapon. Just when all hope is lost, Russell flies in with the last missile tow. The [[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking badass president]] and his wingmen then keep the other alien fighters off his tail as he makes his HeroicSacrifice.

** ''I'm Baaaaaaaaaack''!

* While not a literal enactment of this trope, in ''One Piece'' Sanji always has the crew covered, as he occasionally ducks out of the action (without anyone noticing) for an inordinate amount of time only to reappear just when hope seems lost to enact a plan he’s spent the last umpteen chapters concocting unbeknownst to his crew and the readers - resulting in a narrow escape.