RP XSDF Roleplay Thread: Vanguard of Forseti

[DarkGemini24601]

XSDF Stellar Mission
Pirate Clash
Operation White Star

System: Sol System
Planet: Makemake
Location: Near the SS Superior
Date: January 24th, 2044
Time: 1200 Hours, Earth Standard Time (GMT)

Mission Details:

XSDF communications intercepted pirate signals originating within the Kuiper Belt. Using the Einherjar advanced radars, we discovered a pirate battleship near the dwarf planet Makemake. Their general compliment of a medium-sized battleship escorted by a pair of fighter-equipped transport ships suggests they were preparing for a raid. This incursion into the Sol System, the home of the Human Race will not be tolerated.

Our own compliment of fighters will engage the enemy to draw their fire and thin their numbers. Our top of the line fighters, piloted by excellent XSDF pilots, will take on their weaker compliment, while our superior battleship keeps them at bay. Once the fighters succeed in breaching the battleship’s hanger, two teams will be delivered by Skyranger and Peddler One. Anyone who refuses to surrender should be dealt with extreme prejudice.

We will not stand for this attack on the Sol System. The ships appear to belong to the pirate faction known as the Slipstream Hijackers, so expect Humans, Sectoids, Replitans, Balmadaar, and even BaƷir.

Pilot Compliment:

Pilot’s Names:

Phoenix Squadron

[Flight A1, “Gold”]
**SA sen Ehutimo, Ramep (Augmentations Unknown)
AFC Abrika, Bahija
AFC Oleastro, Consuela (Blackout)
AFC Kader, Sukhrab
[Flight A2, “Bone Arrow”]
*AFC Lindberg, Vincent
AFC Nelson, Hayden
AFC Jefferson (Mind-Merge, ESP)
AFC Laforge, Lawrence
[Flight A3, “Titanium”]
*AFC Horváth, Jakub
AFC Bogomolov, Gavriil
AFC Nyugen, Mary
AFC Harel, Yedidya

Manta Squadron

[Flight K, “Copper”]
**SA Minami, Yuuna
AFC White, Hudson
AFC Pranav, Madadeo
AFC Johnston, David
[Flight K2, “Vanadium”]
Redshirts
[Flight K3, “Gray Ghost”]
Blueshirts

***Wing Leader
**Squadron Leader
*Flight Leader
Italics are player characters.

Gear:
Weapons: Gauss or Pulse Cannon(s) for regular fighter craft; Plasma Cannon(s) for squadron leaders and destroyers
Items: Defensive Matrix, Tracking Cortex, Uplink Targeting, Elerium Afterburner Fuel

Enemies:

Deluge Squadron

[Flight D1]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Laser Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]
[Flight D2]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Laser Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]
[Flight D3]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Gauss Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]

Monsoon Squadron

[Flight M1]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Laser Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]
[Flight M2]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Laser Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]
[Flight M3]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Twister: 3 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator, Gauss Cannon, 6 Ballistic Missiles]

Horrormaw Squadron

[Stoneheart Flight]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Backblast Mk. 3: 4.5 in. Alloy Armor, L2 Shield Generator, Tri-Pulse Cannon, 12 Gauss Missiles]
[Woodlung Flight]
Four (4) Enemy Fighters [Backblast Mk. 3: 4.5 in. Alloy Armor, L2 Shield Generator, Tri-Pulse Cannon, 12 Gauss Missiles]
[Shatterskull Flight]
Four (4) Enemy Destroyers [Karos I: 6 in. Alloy Armor, L3 Shield Generator, Four Gauss Cannons, 18 Gauss Missiles]

Two (2) Enemy Starfighter Carriers [9 in. Alloy Armor, L1 Shield Generator x6, Two Pulse Cannons]

Mission Objectives:

1. Destruction or Surrender of all enemy spacecraft.
2. The Einherjar must survive.
3. The SS Superior must survive.

Civilians: None, though Phoenix and Manta are to remain advised that they should only blow a hole in the hangar, and then only disable the battleship’s weapons without opening breaches in the hull of the SS Superior. We have an infantry squad that needs to deploy within the ship, after all.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

XSDF Stellar Mission
Pirate Clash
Operation Black Star

System: Sol
Planet: Makemake
Location: Near the S.S. Superior
Date: January 24th, 2044
Time: 1200 Hours, Earth Standard Time

Mission Details:

XSDF communications intercepted pirate signals originating within the Kuiper Belt. Using the Einherjar advanced radars, we discovered a pirate battleship near the dwarf planet Makemake. Their general compliment of a medium-sized battleship escorted by a pair of fighter-equipped transport ships suggests they were preparing for a raid. This incursion into the Sol System, the home of the Human Race will not be tolerated.

Our own compliment of fighters will engage the enemy to draw their fire and thin their numbers. Our top of the line fighters, piloted by excellent XSDF pilots, will take on their weaker compliment, while our superior battleship keeps them at bay. Once the fighters succeed in breaching the battleship’s hanger, two teams will be delivered by Skyranger and Peddler One. Upon boarding the battleship, the teams will be responsible for reaching the bridge and forcing a surrender. Anyone who refuses to surrender should be dealt with extreme prejudice.

We will not stand for this attack on the Sol System. The ships appear to belong to the pirate faction known as the Slipstream Hijackers, so expect Humans, Sectoids, Replitans, Balmadaar, and even BaƷir.

Number of Soldiers for this Mission: One Team of Twelve (12) XSDF Troopers and One(1) 1 Mechanical assisted by Six (6) XSDF Troopers and One (1) Mechanical

Soldier’s Names:

Strike One (Dropped off by the Skyranger)

**LCPL O’Connor, Gilroy [Infantry] (T2 Cybernetic Right Eye)
SPC Ryan, Willow [Rocketeer]
PFC Le’talla, Tabitha (Telekinesis, Psi Lance, ESP)
PFC Roy, Chris
PFC Moon, Gi (Biokinesis)
PFC Tremblay, Charolette
PFC Cheung, Geming (T1 Cybernetic Eyes)
PFC Delanor, James
PFC Vizcarra, Kallpa
PFC Popa, Pavel
PFC Gelashivili, Varvara
PFC Sparks, Kelio [MEC-1] (Mind-Merge)
Alloy SHIV One

Defender One (Dropped off by Peddler One)

*SPC Tsukhai, Batbayar [Gunner] (Destructokinesis) (Nat. Adrenal Neurosympathy)
PFC Ortiz, Jesús (Adaptive Bone Marrow T)
PFC Alamieyeseigha, Onyekachukwu
PFC Gomez, Valentia (Mind-Merge)
XSDF Trooper [PFC]
XSDF Trooper [PFC]
Hover SHIV One

**Squad Leader
*Team Leader
Italics are player characters.

Gear: (link)

Terrain:

The ship as a moderate sized Battleship designed for efficiency. Rectangular in shape, you will be fighting your way from the back towards the forward bridge. Naturally, the most streamlined way to end the fight is to simply take out everyone on board, but this isn’t the most efficient way. Our best bet is to fight our way to the bridge, secure it, and take out the Captain. Hopefully, the pirates will take the hint once the ship is ours and surrender, though you’ll likely fight through most of the occupants on the way.

The fastest path upon leaving the hangar is to cut through the large engineering bay outside of it. Large equipment and building devices will provide excellent cover. Just be wary that this is where most of the pirate’s weapons and equipment is located, so they will be heavily armed and unlikely to run out of ammo.

Thermal scans indicate your best course of action is to take a right outside of the engineering bay, then a left, then another right, zig-zagging a bit through the halls. This will bring you to the ship’s mess hall. Tables and chairs will provide you with low, fairly weak cover, so watch your back and take out enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible. Be wary of enemies hiding in the kitchen area.

Exiting through the center door opposite where you enter, it will be a straight shot to the main bridge. Computer terminals of various size will provide both low and high cover, and you should use the doorways to your advantage. You should try to take the Captain alive, both because it will make convincing the rest of the ship to surrender easier, and for interrogation purposes, but it is not necessary, and should not be attempted if doing so is too big of a risk.

Enemies:

One group of four (4) Balmadaar Troopers [Carapace Armor, Gauss Weapons] and four (4) Human Troopers [Cleric Armor, Pulse Weapons]
One group of four (4) Replitan Troopers [Aegis Armor, Beam Weapons] and four (4) Human Troopers [Cleric Armor, Pulse Weapons]
One group of two (2) Sectoids [Pulse Pistols][Mind-Merge, Psi Panic, Mindfray, ESP], one (1) Mechtoid [Railguns], and two (2) Combat Droids [Phalanx Armor, Pulse Weapons]
One group of two (2) Drones, one (1) Cyberdisc [Gauss HMG], and two (2) Seekers [Laser Pistols]
Two groups of one (1) Replitan Sniper [Corsair Armor, Gauss Long Rifle][Depth Perception], one (1) Balmadaar Assault [Aegis Armor, Alloy Cannon][Adaptive Bone Marrow B], one (1) Human Support [Seraph Armor, Pulse Rifle][Aerobic Respiration Boost], and one (1) Sectoid Commander [Plasma Pistol][Mind-Merge, Psi Panic, Mind Control, Mindfray, ESP]
One group of two (2) Balmadaar Destroyers [Titan Armor, Alloy Cannon] and two (2) Robotic MEC Troopers [MEC-1, Laser Lance]
One group of two (2) Replitan Shadow Operatives [Shadow Armor, Pulse Carbine] and four (4) Human Troopers [Seraph Armor, Plasma Weapons][Hydrothermic Skin]
One elite group of four (4) Outsiders [Plasma Carbines], two (2) MeƷir [Pulse Weapons], and one (1) Captain Heather Sunderland [Plasma Rifle, Archangel Armor][Secondary Heart, Magnified Bicep Structure]

Conditions for Completing the Mission:

1. The Capture or Death of the Ship’s Captain
2. Securing the Bridge and the Surrender of the remaining pirates

Civilians: None

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and BMPixy:
“Operation White Star, Part 1”
The Einherjar

Addington Khumalo patrolled the bridge with a bored gait, keeping his hands in the pockets of his jacket. He occasionally asked for the status on the Einherjar’s progress, but, knowing it would likely take some time, didn’t really care all that much. The Commander and her first officer had busied themselves with other tasks, leaving him in charge of most of the bridge affairs.

This continued for awhile, until something broke the tedium. “Sir, there’s a message incoming for us. Relayed from one of the scout ships,” the communications officer announced.

“Oh? Put it through,” Addington ordered, looking up as the holographic screen lit up to display a middle-aged officer, a Russian man in his forties, probably. “What can I do for you?” the South African inquired, spinning a pen - one which was quite necessary unless you enjoy electrical fires - between his fingers.

“I heard you were in the area and I figured this would be in your job description…” The man brought up an image of a battleship escorted by two carriers.

Addington narrowed his eyes. “That’s not an XSDF ship… whose is it?”

The Russian stroked his beard. “The independent design and fighter carriers would suggest the Slipstream Hijackers, from what we’d been able to postulate.”

“In the Sol System? They usually stay on the fringes or avoid it entirely…”

The scout captain shrugged. “Beats me. Maybe they’re more gutsy or maybe they’re just stupid. But we’re not equipped to fight that sort of battle. You are.”

Addington huffed indignantly. “Of course we are. We’re more than ready to deal with some foolish pirates that are outclassed by our aerial and infantry forces by a landslide. Consider them eradicated.” The communication cut off, and Addington looked to the helmsman. “Once we get the Commander’s approval, let’s change course and give them a surprise visit once we drop out of FTL.”

1200 Hours, GMT

“Are we about done here?” Captain Heather Sunderland asked impatiently, tapping her foot as she looked over her command bridge. “I’d prefer not to sit around for repairs longer than I have to. We’re outside of the Starfield’s patrol range, but only just, and there’s no telling what we might encounter. I’d like to get back into FTL so we can find a nice place to raid supply convoys without being sitting ducks. Hiding in the shadow of Jupiter or Neptune sounds desirable to me.”

“We’re doing our best,” one of the engineers replied irritably. “Not our fault that you kept the gravimetric field generator running for over its standard time.”

“We would have tripped that sensor array if we hadn’t,” Heather responded icily. “Less complaining, more fixing. I should hope all the other systems are online.”

“They are, they are…”

The Slipstream captain sighed, shaking her head. Might need to get myself a better crew when we return to…

“Captain! We’re picking up a large battleship exiting subspace!”

This immediately snapped Heather out of her thoughts. “Prepare to return fire! I didn’t ask for any assistance besides the carriers!”

Sure enough, the larger battleship opened fire with its triple fusion cannon, the potent blast soaring into the SS Superior’s shielding and creating violent ripples along its length as the L7 shield struggled to hold itself together. Two plasma shots arced into other points on the shield, but had a more mitigated effect.

“We can’t hold against another shot like that!” one of the engineers reported.

“Then tell the carriers to release the fighters, dammit!” Heather shouted in return. “They’re already doing the same, I assume!”

***

Addington brought up his command console, which gave him the status of all the fighters currently in play. In one column was symbols representing the Stingrays of Manta Squadron, flight leaders marked with a star and the squadron leader, Yuuna Minami, marked with a double-star. The majority of the ships were armed with pulse weaponry, more effective at penetrating shields than gauss weapons, even if the latter could tear up unshielded craft in a manner unmatched by even plasma.

“On the ground plasma might be king, but up here Newton begs to differ,” the fleet coordinator muttered to himself, checking to make sure all hull integrity was functional and there was nothing wrong with the pilots. He sighed in frustration, not a fan of the fact that the vital signs for the alien pilots were marked differently due to their physiology. “Going to have to ask someone to change that later.” He briefly went over the Firestorms of Phoenix Squadron in the second column, though he was confident the updated starfighters would do their job under Ramep sen Ehutimo.

“Everything checks out. Phoenix, deploy in a finger-four squadron formation first, followed by Manta in a similar fashion. Let’s show these pirates how big of a mistake they made coming to the Sol System. And remember, your first objective is to blow the hangar on the bottom of the enemy battleship open. Then you can focus on the enemy fighter craft.”

“Wilco, SkyEye,” Ramep replied, flipping to the intra-squadron comm channel. “Gold, we’re lead! Bone Arrow, to the left, Titanium to the right!” With the order confirmed, the various flights maneuvered into position; Manta followed suit behind the Firestorms, Copper in the lead with Vanadium and Grey Ghost to each side. “Remember to check your reference point; the Einherjar is up,” the squadron lead added.

“Confirmed reference point,” Lindberg replied, tilting his Firestorm side to side out of habit. “The enemy battleship is below us.” With that, the assembled Firestorms gunned their engines, diving ‘down’ towards the enemy vessels, though they were careful to not let their superior acceleration to leave the trailing Stingrays in the dust.

“Picking up signs of activity from the carriers,” Jakub reported, as the smaller capital vessels hastily fired their thrusters to orient their hangars correctly to give good launch vectors to the craft within. “Might want to make this first run hurt.”

“Phoenix, you’re quicker and generally stronger. Split up and keep the enemy fighters busy while Manta dives under the enemy battleship. Manta, the Einherjar will hit their shields again so you can break the shield around their bottom hangar and deliver a payload of missiles to blow it open,” Addington ordered, crossing his arms. “Phoenix should be fine on their own against whatever crappy starfighters Slipstream brought with them.”

“Orders confirmed,” the lead plane of Phoenix replied. “Gold 2 and Bone Arrow, you’re with me; Gold 3 and 4, assist Titanium in assaulting the carrier at bearing 025.”

“Understood Ozzy, changing vectors,” Olestra said, her and her partner adjusting their craft to follow
Titanium towards the carrier on the right, as the rest of Gold flight banked to the left, pursued closely by Bone Arrow. As the Firestorms reached the edge of their effective range, the carriers finally managed to deploy their craft, a squadron of interceptors a piece.

“Preparing for initial pass,” Vincent reported, more out of habit than necessity as his pulse lasers locked onto the enemy fighters.

“Gonna be a turkey shoot,” Hayden muttered, as the enemy fighters managed to maneuver themselves into position.

“Confirm target locks, ripple fire on my mark.” A short moment passed before Ramep barked, “Mark!” With that, the black night of space was briefly cut in twain as a hail of pulse lances rained down from the Firestorms, striking the enemy craft, the hail of fire crippling and shattering the enemy’s weak shielding.

As the fight began, Manta reached the correct Z, diving underneath the bow of the Superior as the fusion guns of the Einherjar ripped through the front turrets and damaged the shield. The target hangar quickly coming up, Minami’s wing opted to open fire with their pulse weapons, putting a hole in the weakened shield.

“Hudson, fire off your rockets!” Yuuna instructed.

“Gotcha, Crane.” Six rail-accelerated missiles leapt off their rack, sailing into the hull of the enemy battleship and blowing a hole in it, shredding the area around it with shrapnel. “Direct hit! Though I do miss actually getting a big accompanying explosion.”

“That’s your tradeoff for getting rid of sound most of the time,” Madaheo noted.

“Cut the chatter. Let’s go help out Phoenix,” Minami cut in.

 

[Adrammalech]

DarkGemini24601, Adrammalech, and Frostlich1228:
“Operation Black Star, Part 1”
Einherjar, Hangar E

As the XSDF Starfighters neared completion of their objective, the ground crew in Hangar E of the XSDF battleship was busy loading up the Skyranger and Peddler One. The soldiers were grouped up outside of the ships by which dropship they would take while the two SHIVs entered the dropships. Standing before the two groups was a Chinese woman in an officer’s uniform, Special Lieutenant Sarah Wong. She cleared her throat, concluding their briefing.

“And while the Commander may have forgotten to emphasize this, understand that this is not an enemy that will fight us to the death. If they start taking heavy losses they may be inclined to fall back or even surrender, and we should take full advantage of that. No need to kill all of them if we don’t have to,” the Lieutenant made clear. “Is that understood?”

“Yes ma’am,” Gilroy O’Connor saluted, “we will capture any who surrender.”

“Should we be expecting the same mercy?” Tess said, holding her heavy rifle on her shoulder.

“Well, if you really want to surrender that bad, I guess you can go ahead.” James answered her question, smirking as he looked over to Tess.

“I honestly doubt they are as well equipped as us,” Sarah replied confidently, shaking her head. “If we need to send in reinforcements you can count on myself and my team coming in to assist, but I doubt that will be necessary.”

“I’m just saying, we’re soldiers, not cops. They wouldn’t stop shooting, so we shouldn’t either,” Tess explained.

“If we’re to capture people, then those are our orders,” O’Connor said with a scowl.

“Sir, yes sir,” Tess rolled her eyes.

“I think you put too much faith into the resolve of criminals used to fighting people with ballistic or beam weapons in kevlar, or just fighting from their battleship,” Sarah surmised. “We should waste any more time. Get in those dropships, and show them that coming to the Sol System for raids was a terrible plan.”

The two squads complied, quickly piling into their respective transports and taking off into the void of space. The battle between Slipstream Hijacker starfighters and that of the XSDF raged outside, but was kept far enough away from them as to not constitute a threat. Unmolested, the craft entered a breached hangar, setting down in what was left of the floor. “Remember to wear your helmets ladies and gentlemen, and have a nice flight,” the Skyranger pilot announced, opening up his bay doors as the Peddler One did the same.

Tess readied her recoilless gauss launcher and checked her anti-armor ammo, going through a mental checklist she had maintained for a while. Looking over to Tabitha doing the same with her pulse carbine, she called out to her.

“Ready for some action, elf girl?”

Tabitha glared at her with red-rimmed eyes, marching towards her intimidatingly. “Call me ‘elf’ again, and I’ll-”

“Whoa, whoa, I was just kidding,” Tess said, quickly raising her hands. “Sorry, I’m a nicknamer, if you couldn’t tell.”

“...It’s fine,” Tabitha sighed, going back and picking up her psi grenade and pulse pistol.

James checked his weapons, having wiped them down of all dirt with a piece of cloth on the trip over. He looked over to the girls as he readied his rifle, “You two should really just kiss and make up already, would really raise everyone else’s morale before the fight.”

“I think we have more pressing concerns,” Kallpa announced, lifting his gauss rifle as a door hissed open. “Sparks, could use that launcher of yours!”

The Mechtoid spun in the direction of the door as it opened completely and four Balmadaar troopers in carapace armor marched in and opened fired with gauss weapons, forcing the XSDF forces to take cover. From behind them, there was the hiss of antigrav rockets, and four humans in cleric armor jettisoned into the damaged hangar with pulse weaponry in hand.

“Breaking their cover,” Kelio said, his grenade launcher flipping out and taking aim. The pupil of his cybernetic eye narrowed as it linked up to the targeting system, and a plasma grenade spat out of the barrel of the weapon. The two Balmadaar on the right and left realized what was coming and moved to the side as fast as they could in their bulky armor, but the two in the middle had no chance to dodge. Their cover was blown and their armor was damaged. Realizing they had no chance to move to other cover before shots would come in, they roared a blood call before taking aim to try to take down their enemy with them.

James grabbed cover behind the most solid thing he could see, blindfiring around the cover towards the enemy Balmadaar. The shots connected with its legs, bringing the leftmost one to its knees and allowing the blind spray to hit its torso, bringing it to the ground. A few rail-accelerated rounds to the damaged portions of the right Muton’s armor was enough to finish it off, earning a grim smile from Pavel.

Batbayar hefted his gauss machine gun seemingly effortlessly, and the Balmadaar pinned down a third grounded opponent with suppressing fire. “Focus on the fliers, they’re too slow to be much of a threat,” the gunner growled.

His words did ring true, for two of the human troopers fired down at Kelio. The Mechtoid managed to sidestep one shot, but the other pulse rifle damaged his armor, throwing up a spray of sparks as his left arm temporarily refused to respond. Kelio paled if a Sectoid could, and lifted his right arm, firing off a pulse lance that missed but at least bought him a few more seconds as the rest of the squad moved to cover the mech.

Fancypants pulled his drone of his side, activating it and using the remote control on his wrist to direct the drone towards Kelio’s Mec, commanding it to make repairs to the damaged plating.

Focusing intently on her targets, Tabitha stood up for a moment out of her cover and held two psi lances in her hand, the lances taking on a sleek and scarlet appearance, with serrated edges along its curves. As she threw them towards one of the humans, they easily drilled into their chest and head, toppling them over with ease. A series of gauss shots fired out from the Balmadaars on the ground, forcing her back into cover.

With an excited giggle, Tess loaded in her anti-armor rocket and jumped up herself, firing the launcher towards the remaining Balmadaar and blasting their cover and bodies into pieces around the hangar.

“You should have saved that, Ryan,” O’Connor said over the comm.

“Hey, they’re big, it was worth it,” she scowled.

“Vizcarra, see if you can blast some of those bastards out of the sky, please,” O’Connor sighed, as if to punctuate again that Tess had chosen the wrong targets.

“Got it,” the Incan replied, lifting his rifle to the air and taking some shots. His shoots cut through the air like butter, but unfortunately weren’t enough to land a solid hit on anyone. Damn it, looks like I still need more hours with heavier weaponry. But if you can’t hit them precisely… Kallpa chose instead to fire in a spread, and a few of the troops in the hangar followed suit, managing to injure one ‘cleric’ and kill another.

The last one had clearly had enough of the overwhelming odds, and launched himself backwards, the automatic door sliding open and allowing him to flee into the engineering bay. The other door opened as well, and two combat droids stepped in, lifting their gauss rifles to fire. They didn’t get the chance, Defender One’s guns blasted one apart. The second was hit by debris and stumbled back, before its chest was blown open by a small sphere of destructive force.

“Head to the bridge as planned,” Batbayar spoke, lowering his hand as the red glow faded from his eyes. “We’ll guard this door.” He took up a position behind a large crate while the rest of his squad set up a perimeter around the left door, making sure that any reinforcements coming in that way would be trapped in a killbox.

“Sounds good, just radio if you need back-up from our squad,” Gilroy responded, turning towards his team. “Strike One, let’s move out, we have a ship to secure.”

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and BMPixy:
“Operation White Star, Part 2”
Kuiper Belt

“Dropship confirmed landed,” Ramep reported, firing his maneuvering thrusters to dodge a pair of ballistic missiles, deploying countermeasures to throw their targeting systems off track. The missiles fell for the bait, turning to fly into the cluster of chaff and flares before their proximity detonators triggered, the missiles vanishing in a flash of white light and shrapnel.

Lawrence pushed his Firestorm up, rotating so that his pulse cannons had line of sight on the bogey that was pursuing the Seikron’s craft. A quick flash of light finished off the Twister’s shields, and it hastily fired its thrusters to avoid the follow-up gauss rounds, but Lawrence was quicker on the draw, his wing-tip cannons tracking the maneuver and firing a short spray of projectiles in the bogey’s predicted path. A second later, they perforated the fighter, white puffs of smoke indicated that the craft was venting oxygen as it descended into an uncontrolled tumble from the shock of the hits.

“Confirmed kill for Bone Arrow 3,” Abrika reported, her own craft falling into line beside Ramep’s as the two rotated to rejoin the small furball.

“Good one, LaLa,” Vincent intoned, grunting as his Firestorm pulled a particularly high-G maneuver to get a lock on another of the Twisters, finishing it off with the one-two punch of pulse followed by gauss. “We’re making plenty of work for the salvage crews today!”

“Bogey squadron Alpha at 50%,” Ramep said, banking his craft to circle around a Twister that Abrika had allowed on her tail. “Gold 3, report.”

“Bogey squadron Beta at 33%, Gold 1,” Olestra replied. “Getting a bit slow there, eh Ozzy?” The Seikronyr did not deign the remark with a reply, instead letting the wing-tip plasma cannons on his craft finish off his target.

Addington smirked from his console. “Everything’s going perfectly. Keep it up.” He noted an intake of breath from one of the bridge staff. “What is it?”

“Picking up a ship coming out of FTL,” the monitor reported. “Another carrier!”

“Dammit. Phoenix, Manta,” Addington warned as the two squadrons were starting to work together now. “You’ve got another carrier coming in. Not sure what they’ve got with them, but be on your guard. I suggest Manta be on cleanup while Phoenix moves to engage the new contact.”

“Understood, handing off clean-up to Manta,” Ramep reported, as another pair of hostile craft were torn apart by the efforts of Bone Arrow. “Phoenix, regroup at grid coordinate 2-5-7, let’s see whom these newcomers bring.”

A chorus of assent followed from the flight leads, as they broke off from their respective engagements and gunned their engines, leaving the enemy fighters helpless in the dust as they tried to pursue. Thus exposed, Manta fell upon their exposed six o’clocks like wolves on helpless deer, taking down a few Twisters. With this, the Firestorms regrouped and assembled into formation, taking a cautious approach vector towards the new carrier.

Initial confirmation revealed that it was larger than the other two, having two sets of hangars. The first opened up to deploy a wave of eight fighter craft, having large, bulky-looking engines and a jagged-looking frame for the rest of their length. They were accompanied by four destroyers from the back of the carrier, designed somewhat like the Humiliata variant in their rectangular form. The destroyers had a gauss gun on each side with missile ports on top and bottom, while the fighters had missiles and a tri-pulse cannon each.

Addington analyzed the images for a moment before coming to a conclusion. “Backblast Fighters, possibly the Mark Three, and Karos Destroyers. Be mindful, the fighters will try to shatter your shields so the destroyers have free reign to rip your craft apart!”

“Right, Titanium, Bone Arrow: Beam Defense Position, Gold will take the middle!” Ramep barked. “Target priority is the fighters!” On cue, the flights banked towards each other, crossing back and forth as they approached the Backblasts, trying to present the visage of an easy target as the Firestorms began to begin the process of locking onto the enemy. Meanwhile, Gold trailed behind, waiting for the moment to leap into action.

The destroyers moved in behind the Backblasts to support them, but remained behind despite their heavier shielding, not wanting to obstruct the fighters’ aim. The enemy fighters themselves fired off their cannons in a spread, a few going for targets while the others aiming where they guessed the Firestorms would try to dodge.

The pulse lances struck home on a handful of the targets, but the Firestorms held strong under the assault, The XSDF fighters took this as their opportunity to fire, a barrage of pulse beams arcing back and forth between the two sets of interceptors as they dove towards each other. While the enemy’s scattered firing was effective in catching the Firestorms as they tried to maneuver through the firestorm, the more coordinated fire of the Firestorms was effective in breaking the some of enemy’s shields, the openings quickly exploited with quick bursts of gauss fire to detonate one craft in a suppressed splash of fire and severely damage another, forcing it to peel off and escape. However, the regimented attacks fell off as the two squadrons of craft crashed into each other, quickly devolving into individual dogfights.

Lawrence did a quick click over his mic, signalling to Hayden to break off her assault on one of the enemy fighters. A burst of pulse beams slammed into her shield, draining them severely, and advising her that Lawrence’s advice was for the best as she pulled a high-G turn to escape the enemy’s line of fire. Lawrence quickly fell on Hayden’s pursuer’s tail, and he fired off a pair of rail-accelerated missiles, followed up by a short burst from his pulse cannons to weaken the enemy shields. The Backblast banked and deployed countermeasures, and one of the missiles fell for the trap, but the other stayed steady, slamming into the bogey’s rear and detonating in a barrage of shrapnel, killing the engines. Now unable to control their momentum, the fighter sailed off into the black, away from the escalating furball. Meanwhile, Nguyen and Harel snagged another enemy kill, and Jefferson finished off a craft that was pursuing Lindberg.

However, the Firestorms were not all unscatched. Kader was forced to disengage after a lucky shot overloaded his shields, and a not-entirely-dodged missile disabled his weapons. A few craft, their shields depleted, were forced to try to avoid the destroyer’s line of fire, as well as whatever missiles were sent their way. Bogomolov’s craft was struck by a hail of gauss rounds, and his craft tumbled out of control, oxygen slowly venting from the fighter.

“Thrice-cursed destroyers,” Ramep muttered, jinking his craft to preemptively avoid a short stream of laser fire. “Bone Arrow, eliminate those destroyers. Now.”

“Will do,” Vincent replied, damaging his target enough to force it to withdraw and then damaging it some more, the Backblast splitting in twain from the gauss fire. “Edge, LaLa, Don, on me! We’re going big game hunting!”

With that, the flight merged together, beelining for a destroyer that was pursuing Jakub, now without his wingman to protect him. Pulse fire hammered into the destroyer’s shields, but held firm under the stress long enough to adjust their vector out of the Firestorm’s barrage. Hayden reflexively fired off two pairs of missiles, and the proximity detonated shrapnel hammered into the shielding, the destroyer’s countermeasures too late to dissuade the projectiles.

Their shields now nearly depleted, the destroyer pilot panicked from the sudden hostile attention, and tried to kill the velocity on their craft to force the Firestorms to overshoot. However, this maneuver had the opposite effect as intended, giving Bone Arrow a steady target to pour gauss fire into. Under the barrage, the craft first began to vent oxygen before something vital was struck, causing the destroyer to erupt in a cloud of debris.

“Nice reaction with the missiles, Don,” Vincent congratulated as the Firestorms accelerated off to find their next target. “Few more kills like that, and you’re set for ace.”

SkyEye’s voice came in over the comms. “Bone Arrow, what the hell are you doing? If you concentrate on the fighters you’ll eliminate any real chance of them penetrating your shields and force a surrender of the destroyers. Targeting them is a waste of time.”

“SkyEye, this is Bone Arrow 1,” Vincent absentmindedly replied as his flight engaged the next destroyer. “Advise you cool your jets, several of our Firestorms have low to no shields, and are thus at risk from the destroyers. I’m certain you saw what happened to Titanium 2.”

Addington growled. “I advise you watch what you say to me. Anyone in Phoenix with low or no shields, pull back. Any Mantas from the first carrier, you’re done with cleanup so head over and pursue the destroyers. Bone Arrow, once you finish with the second one I expect you to join what remains of Phoenix in the area and take down those Backblasts.”

 

[Adrammalech]

DarkGemini24601, Adrammalech, and Frostlich1228:
“Operation Black Star, Part 2”
SS Superior Engineering Bay

Upon entering the engineering bay, strike one scarcely had time to take cover before being seen by the force the remaining Slipstream trooper had retreated to. A Mechtoid armed with twin railguns turned to face them, choosing to hold its fire to give its two smaller brethren time to bolster it with a telekinetic shield provided by a mind merge. Two combat droids bearing pulse rifles dived into cover on either side of it, opening fire at about the same time the XSDF soldiers did.

“Friend of yours?” Kallpa shouted over the gunfire to Kelio, ducking behind a mechanical assembly platform.

The XSDF Mechtoid shook his head. “If he was why would he be shooting at me?” he countered, finding a support pillar in which to conceal his frame while James’ drone completed repairs to his arm.

Chris Roy and Gi Moon found a bit of luck in their counterfire, managing to score a hit each on the left droid, blowing off his arm and taking the pulse rifle with it. “That’s one for me,” the former stated triumphantly.

“One for both of us, you mean,” the latter corrected.

“If this squad fought as well as it chatted maybe we’d be further along,” Charlotte Tremblay muttered, taking a potshot at one of the Sectoids that just whizzed over its head, but convinced it to keep that bulbous head down.

O’Connor carefully aimed his plasma rifle at the remaining droid, firing a concentrated barrage straight into the center of it, blasting it out from behind cover.

“Hey, not half bad.” James said, looking over at O’Connor.

Kallpa lifted his rifle up again, firing another barrage to keep the remaining flier from before busy. “Stop… being… so… dodgy!” He grimaced when he heard the click of his weapon being empty, ducking back behind cover to reload as one Sectoid was blasted into oblivion by Charlotte.

The Slipstream trooper had clearly had quite enough, however. He cut the power to his jets, landing and waving at the Mechtoid on his side. “Fuck, man, it isn’t worth it! No one told us we’d be fighting the fucking XSDF! We surrender, goddammit!” After a brief hesitation, the Slipstream Mechtoid seemed to agree, lowering its weapons.

While the others kept their guns raised, Cheung and Varvara stepped forward to disarm the Sectoid and Human, while the Alloy SHIV went infront of the Mechtoid, menacingly rotating its turret until the pilot ejected out and let the suit topple over backwards while he lay on the floor unable to move without limbs. Varvara strapping the weapons to the back of AS1, Geming gave a thumbs up. “They’re disarmed. Pretty easy so far.”

James took a few steps closer to them, “Wow, intelligent pirates? Never thought I’d see the day, hopefully your buddies won’t be as stupid as the guys we had to fill with lead.”

While the pirates just glared at James, Kallpa shook his head. “Can you stop chatting with the pirates? We’ve got better things to do.”

“Entrepreneurs,” the human Slipstream trooper growled.

“Whatever.” Kallpa shrugged, motioning for James to come back over as the Hover SHIV from the defensive team rolled up to guard the prisoners, Pavel laying the immobile Mechtoid on it.

“Enough gawking everyone,” O’Connor said, making sure the SHIV was squared away and turning his head towards the comm. “Defender One, we’ve got three prisoners headed your way. Any funny business and you’re clear to get rid of them.”

N-None from us, the Sectoid assured the lance corporal.

O’Connor nodded and the SHIV began marching the pirates back towards the transports, leaving the squad to prepare for the next room.

“See, told you I wouldn’t need that rocket,” Tess smirked. “If you save everything all the time, you’ll just wind up not using it ever.”

“And that would save XSDF money…” Gilroy replied.

Tess scoffed. “Then I’ll just wait for your signal, shall I?”

“That would probably be best.”

Stiffer than a- Kallpa’s thoughts were cut short as a hail of gauss machine gun fire slammed into Strike One’s Alloy SHIV, punching more than halfway into its armor in multiple places. Turning to see where it had come from, his eyes widened as he glimpsed a cyberdisc unfolded and surrounded by two drones. “Why couldn’t we bring one of ours in the Skyranger…” he mumbled to himself, before ducking as the machine turned his way and sheared away some of his cover with a second volley of fire.

Kelio fired off his twin pulse lances, the half-strength blasts damaging the armor of the cyberdisc but not nearly enough to penetrate it. “Can someone with gauss try?” he asked apprehensively, taking a step back as the cyberdisc turned to point its gun at him while it cooled down for a third volley.

As if seeming to anticipate this, two Seekers suddenly uncloaked around Varvara and James, grabbing them with their metallic appendages and squeezing.

“Auhh- Fuck…” James said, managing to squeeze out a few words as the seeker wrapped its limbs around him. As the robot began to crush, James moved his hand up, struggling to reach the drone control panel on his wrist. The others took aim to free Varvara first; James just barely managed to reach the activation for his drone’s automatic defense mode before passing out. The drone ceased repairing the damaged drone and quickly charged towards the Seeker, ramming into it and blasting it with a point blank barrage from the compact stuttergun underneath. The Seeker wreck shattered and fell to the ground as James struggled to catch his breath. “F-Fucking… Stealth… Shit…” He said as he glared towards the rest of his team.

Kallpa glanced over at James after managing to score a hit on the cyberdisc, even if it didn’t bring the artillery robot down. “You okay?” he asked, daring to rise a bit from his cover. He had a split second to regret that decision as he heard the charge of the enemy’s HMG, and then a spray of bullets punched through his armor, creating numerous shallow wounds while the sheer force knocked him onto his face. Gi Moon quickly ran over, looking over him for any wounds that would require biokinesis.

“O fearless leader,” Tess whistled, holding onto her rocket launcher again, “may I?”

“Yes, yes, just do it!” O’Connor shouted.

Tess held the launcher steady as she stood up, firing the gauss round with surprising precision into the Cyberdisc’s center. Burrowing deep into the more fragile innards of the machine, the explosion tore the disc in half, the silver plates that made up its recognizable facade being blasted in opposite directions.

Comfortable knowing Moon was tending to Kallpa, Charlotte Tremblay followed up with a barrage of bullets that destroyed one of the floating drones trying to revive the wreck. Tabitha offered a brief hand gesture before tossing the other drone’s lightweight frame into the ground with her telekinesis, the small machine whining as it scooted helplessly across the ground before shutting down.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and BMPixy:
“Operation White Star, Part 3”
Kuiper Belt

“Wh-” Vincent began to say, but Lawrence interrupted him.

“Understood, SkyEye. Bone Arrow out,” he said, his replying punctuated with the destroyer they were targeting failing under the stress of fire, oxygen venting rapidly and the craft spiraling out of control. Vincent shook his head annoyedly, quickly scanning his radar to see four of the Firestorms break off the engagement, leaving six friendly craft to deal with the two remaining destroyers and their three fighter escorts.

With a quick click of the mic, Vincent ordered Bone Arrow back into formation, diving back into the remnants of the dogfight as Ramep and Abrika desperately tried to avoid the enemy that now outnumbered the remaining Gold pilots two and a half to one. Pulse fire tore at one of the fighter’s shields, and it quickly dove away to avoid the follow-up. Hayden, seeing the opportunity for an easy kill, doved after the craft, and Lawrence quickly accelerated after her, keeping his distance so one enemy couldn’t slip up on the both of them.

Meanwhile, Jefferson and Vincent dove after the pair of fighters on Ramep and Abrika’s tails, forcing the bogeys to break off their assault to avoid being exposed to the void. Lasers flashed outward, and subsequent gauss fire struck one of the Backblasts down. However, the other expertly avoid the fire, twisting his craft around and using his maneuvering thrusters to line-up a shot on the pursuing fighters while still retaining his previous vector. Below them, Hayden took down the other remaining fighter, and ascended to distract the destroyers along with Lawrence, Ramep, and Abrika.

“Blast, this guy’s good,” Jefferson said, as the enemy pilot dodged and weaved while flying backwards and peppering the Firestorms with the occasional pulse beam.

“Right, then it’s time we do the thing!” Vincent barked, pushing his craft closer to the enemy Backblast.

“What thi- Oh, that thing!” Edge exclaimed, falling in close beside Vincent. Focusing briefly, the Sectoid reached out with his mental powers, a faint yellow light connecting the two fighters. All at once, the two pilots felt their minds connect, and they gunned forward, their craft seemingly moving as if part of one organism as they twisted and maneuvered.

Jefferson’s craft rotated and fired off six missiles, while Vincent peppered the area around the enemy fighter with a mixture of pulse and gauss fire, forcing the enemy to choose between certain death or potentially certain death. In response, the craft desperately tried shunting to the right, pulling an extremely high-G turn - narrowly dodging the missiles in the process - to avoid the line of fire until suddenly the craft seized up, and quit turning. A few gauss rounds struck hull, and the bogey began slowly venting oxygen, no longer responding.

As if on cue, the eight remaining Manta fighters soared into range. Seeing the futility of their plight, the sole surviving destroyer powered down their weapons, shields, and engines, sending out the universal surrender message in the process. With that, the various fighters powered down their weapons.

“SkyEye, this is Phoenix,” Ramep reported, his voice showing signs of exhaustion. “Radar’s clear: all bogeys disabled or destroyed. Requesting pick-up teams for disabled craft.”

“Granted, I’ll notify the salvage crews now. Well done, despite a questionable tactic towards the end,” Addington responded, nodding to one of the bridge crew members. “Infantry team has nearly secured the ship and its weapons are mostly disabled. You’re free to return to the hangars once we get the all-clear.”

“Understood. Phoenix out,” the Seikron pilot said, switching over to intra-squadron comms. “Phoenix, Manta, good work out there. I believe the Terran custom is to have drinks be on me?”

“Eh, they’re free for us anyways,” Vincent replied. “Though the thought is appreciated.”

“So, Hayden, how’s your first taste of a real dogfight?” Lawrence asked, his voice already more relaxed.

“Hell,” she replied simply. “But hey, least it’s all over for the moment. All I can hope is that I don’t have to pull those kinds of G’s again.”

 

[Adrammalech]

DarkGemini24601, Adrammalech, and Frostlich1228:
“Operation Black Star, Part 3”
SS Superior Engineering Bay

After being healed by Gi, Kallpa slowly got to his feet. “You know, next time you’ve got a seeker coiled around you, I’m just gonna trust you to deal with it,” he grumbled, rubbing his back and not being happy about the fact that there was no armor there anymore.

“Yeah… Thanks… That’s what you did... Anyway…” James panted, standing up slowly.

The squad continued through the large portion of the building, getting close to the right exit they were going to take into the hallway. Before they could quite get there, a door opened, prompting a similar situation to the one they encountered upon entering the ship itself. Four Replitan troopers leapt out and quickly took over in the back of the room, having only beam weapons but tough Aegis Armor. They were accompanied by four more humans in cleric armor armed with the bigger brother of beam lasers.

However, this time the XSDF troopers were more on guard. They opened fire as the enemy tried to get into cover, Kelio and Chris managing to take out two of the fliers while gauss rounds leapt through three of the Replitans from the weapons of Willow, Kallpa, and James’ drone. Upon seeing their friends slaughtered, the surviving three Slipstream members threw down their weapons, wanting to fight no longer, and were disarmed quickly.

“I’d say we’re making progress,” Kallpa decided, feeling a little better about himself after making up for his failure to do much against the cyberdisc. With this enemy squad dealt with, Strike One moved into the halls, taking a right and then a left. Upon the second turn they came into contact with another enemy force, this one a bit more intimidating.

The hallway, being somewhat narrow, only had room for about eight abreast, and even that made them a bit easy to target, so the XSDF squad had gone in lines of six. The first six were the first to see the two Balmadaar in titan armor wielding alloy cannons, but the others quickly caught sight of them and their two M.E.S.H.A. equivalents armed with laser lances too.

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” James exclaimed as he jumped behind cover, “I don’t suppose any of you large gentlemen would like to surrender, right?”

A challenging roar from one of the Balmadaar provided a suitable response, and the two Muton destroyers charged forward, lifting their powerful weapons and firing. The alloy cannons blasted apart good chunks of cover, nearly putting James and Kallpa out in the open. The laser lances managed to connect with Cheung and Pavel, damaging the former’s armor and outright breaking the latter’s, even if neither suffered injuries just yet.

With space and cover quickly being limited, Tess turned to Gilroy. “Any plans here, fearless leader?”

“Well, with some-bo-dy out of rockets, just gun them down before they get here!” Gilroy responded.

The XSDF troops opened fire, slowly damaging the armor of the Balamadaar and robotic mechs, though it wasn’t quite enough to stop the forward two from closing the distance with frightening speed. As they were within about 8 feet, Kelio fired off a proximity mine between them and the two MESHAs, stopping all four from moving.

“The Sectoid thinks we have to move to kill them at this range,” one of the Balmadaar chuckled tauntingly, aiming her alloy cannon at Kelio’s head. “What were you thinking?”

A different grenade fired out of a different barrel, this one explode-on-contact. The two destroyers had a moment to realize what Kelio had done before the plasma grenade went off, detonating the two explosives simultaneously and blowing them up. The MESHAs survived, but took enough damage and force to throw off their aim and make them stumble backwards.

“Shit! Remind me never to underestimate you, Sparks!” Kallpa exclaimed, stepping back a few paces himself while firing off his rifle into one of the MESHAs heads, toppling it over.

“Damn fine trick,” Tabitha nodded towards the cockpit of the Mechtoid.

Fancypants aimed his gauss rifle towards the damaged MEC variant, taking out its legs first and bringing it to the ground. James took a few steps forward, aiming towards the MEC’s helmet, “You should’ve taken my offer, pal.”

“Um… you realize you’re talking to a robot, right Mr. Delanor?” Kelio interjected.

“Wait, what?” He chuckled, slowly becoming a laugh. “These are MESHAs, aren’t they? Oh well…” James replied as he blasted its head off.

Shaking his head, Gilroy ordered the squad onward, their final walk through the hallways taking them into the ship’s cafeteria. It was seemingly deserted, no enemies making themselves known immediately, and Strike One advanced cautiously in.

“Le’talla, I don’t like the feel of this place. You have ESP, right?” Gilroy said.

“Umm...it doesn’t really work that way,” Tabitha replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, ESP is blue, and…” she pointed to her eyes, the irises clearly red.

“So then...why is ESP in your file?”

“It’s complicated, maybe I shouldn’t explain it all now,” Tabitha said, diverting her eyes.

James carefully looked around the rather plain looking cafeteria, “You know, I’ve always wondered what pirates eat… I thought that maybe it’d be like the Fallout series and we’d find a tray full of baby heads or something... Sort of disappointed…”

“James, I’m pretty sure they eat the same shit as…” Kallpa felt something cold tap his back for a moment, and he spun around, slamming his metallic fist where he felt the contact. Glass shattered and a Replitan collapsed to the ground in a daze. “You were saying stealth bullshit? Of course they went for the guy with his armor shredded.”

The other shadow operative fired off a shot from his pulse carbine, decloaking as he did, and managed to land a hit on Moon’s armor but not penetrate it. He wasn’t alone, though, the door the squad was heading to opening to reveal four human troopers in seraph armor armed with plasma rifles.

James quickly hovered his drone to the door behind them, placing it in overwatch mode to prevent any kind of stealth sneak attack. With that finished, James quickly peeked his gun around the corner of his cover, trying to spot the Reptilan, but when he didn’t see anything, he figured it had already re-cloaked.

“Another great rocket target,” Charlotte offered helpfully, pulling out a plasma grenade and nodding to Kelio. The XSDF Trooper rolled to the side as plasma rifles ate through her cover like it was nothing, but this distraction gave Kelio the chance to fire off a proximity mine. The flying Slipstream troopers couldn’t hit the brakes in time, and it blew up, breaking most of their armor apart and sending them down to Earth injured, their weapons damaged.

“And batter up.” Tremblay lifted her grenade, but the Slipstream soldiers threw down their weapons, realizing their imminent death.

“N-no, we give up! Come out of hiding, Hytar!”

There was an audible mix of a sneer and a sigh, and the other Replitan decloaked, releasing the weapon from his grasp. “Had a perfect bead on the annoying one too.”

“Sure you did, but so did I.” Fancypants replied arrogantly, revealing his hidden drone, “Too bad though, would’ve been pretty funny.”

 

[Adrammalech]

DarkGemini24601, Adrammalech, and Frostlich1228:
“Operation Black Star, Part 4”
SS Superior Engineering Bay

As the SHIV from the other team arrived and brought the two Replitans back with it, Tess shook her head and turned back towards Gilroy.

“Another set of prisoners? Their whole crew is practically on board at this point. Are we looking to stop the pirates or adopt them?” she asked angrily.

“If they’re surrendering, what can we do?” Gilroy replied.

“Um, shoot them? Just because they stopped shooting doesn’t mean they never were shooting.”

“It’s not our job to be judge, jury, and executioner.”

“If you say so,” Tess sighed, seeing no one else stepping up like her. “I guess I’m supposed to like the idea of riding with a dozen pirates crazy enough to try to attack Earth.”

“And they thought Delanor was the annoying one,” he muttered.

Tabitha brought Tess back into formation. “Let’s just get this over with, please?”

The XSDF troops stacked up on the door, preparing to breach on Gilroy’s order. The order was given, and they opened it, revealing a bridge that had an upper level towards the front. Getting to the cover on the slightly lower level didn’t seem like it would be easy, however, as they were faced with a Replitan Sniper, Balmadaar Assault, Human Support, and Sectoid Commander in that section. Beyond them were four sentry Outsiders armed with plasma carbines taking cover, two mechanised BaƷir, and a woman in archangel armor.

“Let’s see, eleven of us and about a dozen of you. Except one side isn’t injured.” Captain Sunderland shook her head and lifted her rifle. “Seems fair enough. Open fire!”

A spray of plasma, pulse, and gauss pinned the XSDF soldiers down where they were for the moment. Kallpa turned to Gilroy, shaking his head. “How the hell are we supposed to advance and actually get more than two people shooting at them? Sparks has one more proximity mine but we wouldn’t be able to get a grenade in to blow it up.”

“Maybe if we damage their leader’s armor enough we can force her to surrender since if she moved with ruined armor she’d die,” Charolette suggested a little coldly.

“Who says we can’t get a grenade in, though?” Tabitha chimed in, presenting her psi grenade and hovering it in her hand.

Kallpa grinned. “I do have a flashbang if we need more ways to blind them.”

“Heheh… Why even take the risk? I can attach the grenade pins to the bottom of my drone using this carrying hook. Then, with the press of a button I can retract the hook back into the body of the drone, pushing the grenade off the pin and sending it falling down on top of their heads…” James looked over and saw a small vent leading into the room from the outside, “Just have to pop that off, send the drone in and keep them distracted while it comes out the other side. Simple as that.”

“‘Simple’ might not be the way to describe it…and we do have a safe delivery system, provided you can actually use Telekinesis, Tabitha,” O’Connor replied.

“That one I can do,” she confirmed.

“Simple enough for me…” James muttered, sighing.

Kallpa readied his flashbang. “Whenever you’re ready,” he told Tabitha, inching towards the opening of the door.

Tabitha closed her eyes as she tried to remember the layout of the room beyond the cover, and waved her arms towards the spot where the grenade would impact the most pirates. The grenade itself was encapsulated in a faint red glow and slung itself out of cover, faster than most humans could throw, and thumped directly into the spot she imagined. A second later, it blasted open with a small flash, and several of the streams of fire stopped flowing towards the XSDF soldiers’ cover.

Kelio took this opportunity to step out from behind concealment and fire off his proximity mine. The Sectoid Commander reached out to try and mind control him, unaffected by the psi grenade, but its concentration was spoiled by Kallpa throwing a flashbang in its eyes. It writhed on the ground and the proximity mine hit home, landing near the captain.

The XSDF troopers took the last few seconds they had to sent a barrage of fire the captain’s way, some of them hitting the Outsiders that were only moderately disrupted by the two distractions, but enough shots hit home to heavily damage Heather’s armor.

“Lay down your guns and surrender now,” Gilroy shouted across the room. “That mine will tear you and your men apart, and you won’t get another chance!”

As Heather’s sight returned she briefly considered her situation, glancing down at the mine with irritation. “Always hated those things… I’ll comply, but…” Sunderland carefully turned off her gun, the light fading from it as the safety was on and the power was cut. “If I drop it the mine’s going to go off. Everyone else, put down your weapons.” Her soldiers did comply, if hesitantly.

“Kelio, do you have a way to turn those off?” O’Connor asked the mechtoid.

“I don’t.” The Mechtoid deactivated the mine’s sensors. “Really would like a way to remotely detonate them them.”

Kallpa groaned. “We’re gonna need a bomb squad now…”

“I can always help you with that sometime Sparky, we are roommates after all.” James offered, smiling at the Sectoid.

The Sectoid nodded while Heather looked up to the ceiling in frustration. I’m going to be standing here for hours, aren’t I?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

Mission Report:
10 Mechanicals Destroyed
15 Enemies Slain
19 Enemies Captured
2 Combat Droids and 1 M.E.S.H.A. Recovered for XSDF Use

 

[Zain Shah]

Zain Shah and Taxor_the_First

Alexandros and Samantha’s Room
1850 hours

Alexandros stepped into the small room where he would spend the rest of his time at X-COM. He let out a deep sigh and said to himself “Still better than before.” Alex had only brought a small backpack with him with a change of clothes and some undisclosed items that he managed to sneak through. He threw his bag onto the bed he had claimed and began to unpack, carefully taking out his clothes and hiding the bag under his pillow.

Without knocking, a tall, blonde-haired woman opened the door and stepped inside, jumping slightly when she noticed the man already there. “Oh, sorry,” she said, noting that she had luckily not walked in while he was changing clothes. “I should have knocked. I didn’t realise someone would already be in here.”

Alexandros, startled by the woman’s sudden entrance, started stammering “I uh...umm… It’s fine, It’s fine.” He tried to slyly hide his bag further under the pillow while talking “So, what’s your name? I didn’t know I had roommate...Then again, I didn’t know it about aliens either so nothing’s really a surprise anymore.”

She laughed, and extended a hand. “Samantha Steele,” she said. “Corporal, technically, but I’m not going to insist you salute me or anything every time you walk in here.”

“My name is Alexandros, no last name, but you can call me Alex.” Alex finished hiding his bag and stepped away from his bed to avoid drawing attention “Sorry but I already picked my bed.”

Samantha shrugged, wheeling her own bag over to the other side of the room, where the other bunk was located. “First come, first served,” she said, beginning her unpacking. “No last name you say? What’s that about, don’t know it or just don’t have a use for one?”

“Never knew my parents but Sun told me that my mother was a prostitute so it’s probably best I avoid a last name.” Once he had finished his sentence, Alex once again realised he had given out too much information and clenched his fist in his pocket.

“Someone called your mother a prostitute, and you just accepted it?” She shook her head, and continued unpacking. “Guy sounds like he was just trying to get under your skin. I mean, she wasn’t actually a…” Glancing up, she saw the expression on Alex’s face and her own smile dropped. “Oh. Well shit. Rough luck. No desire at all to find out who your father was then?"

Alex immediately started to anger slightly due to the comment about Sun. “Sun was the best man I ever knew and there shall never live a man greater and with more honour than him.” Alex calmed down after his outburst “Sun didn’t deserve what happened.” Alex then finally answered her question. “My father and mother involved themselves with prostitution and the great Lord can never forgive that. Their eyes shall burn gazing at the light for all eternity so it’s best I avoid associating myself with such sinful people.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow, though Alex couldn’t see if from the direction she was facing. “Prostitution’s bad, but there are worse things someone can do. Slaving, stealing… pirating.” She grimaced briefly before continuing. “I can understand your stance though, especially if you’re as religious as you sound. What school of thought are we talking here? Christian, Muslim, Buddhist?”

“Those people shall suffer far worse. As for my religion, you may not have heard of it but we are called... or we were called the Vassals of the Light.” Alex showed the unique burn marks on his right and left arm that looked like dragon tattoos.

Having turned around by now to face her roommate, she tilted her head. “You’re right, can’t say I have heard of it.” She glanced at the burns and resisted the urge to wince. “You’re clearly devoted. So long as it doesn’t involve blood sacrifices, we’ll get along well.”

Alex, not realising the sarcasm, responded seriously. “We must not harm our own kind unless they deserve retribution. The Light is kind to those who realise it’s power.” Alex’s became restless all of a sudden, tapping his feet rapidly and playing with his hair.

Samantha raised an eyebrow. “You alright there? Itch on that one spot on your back you can never quite reach or something?”

“I just need to get some fresh air.” Alex quickly snatched his bag off his bed, dropping one of his “special” cigars on the floor. He clumsily picked it up and put it back in his bag. He quickly went out the door without shutting it behind him.

“Where’s he going to get fresh air on a space vessel?” Samantha muttered to herself, standing and briefly considering following him. Reasoning that he could take care of himself, she returned to unpacking, though she resolved to ask Isaac about his behaviour when she got the chance.

 

[MarineAvenger]

"A Melody of Pain; The Light of Hope"

January 25th, 2044
Nick's Workshop
3:24 P.M.

Nick sat on his stool, rolling a pencil with his finger, Glitch floating around the shop taking note of where everything was, the teenage engineer having finally gotten many of his files organized and the office looking better than usual. Nick took a small sigh, looking at his bandaged hand where his healing burns were. He had gone to the infirmary right after his guest had left, Irina unfortunately having ended her shift by the time he got there but no less got a scolding from an older woman who had reminded him a lot of his mother.

When Nick first arrived at the ship, he thought he wouldn’t have a lot of feelings of being homesick for at least a while but he quickly found that wasn’t the truth. He missed his mother and father, their home on Venus and the apartment in England. He hated to admit it but he missed the annoying girl who pushed him to do things he wasn't comfortable with.

The engineer got up from his seat and he walked over to the drone that laid in the middle of the room, Clunker still being far from a complete success. He pressed his hand against a panel on the left side of the drone’s frame and he ran his hand over it, soon pulling it open and taking out the contents he hid in it.

The security people would have never noticed it on the scanners and the panel was well hidden, making it the one place that was truly secret to only him. Reaching inside, he pulled out the first item, an elongated, gray box that made Nick smile slightly. It was the portable piano his parents had gotten for him on his birthday the year before. The holographic instrument always brought him joy, the way he could use music to transport him into another world where the notes were the only words he needed to convey a message. To a world where the freedom of the music made him think he could fly, that Nick could reach out and touch someone’s heart.

Giving a final sad look at the device, he placed it to the side and took another item out of it, this time a picture. On the right was him, wearing his normal attire as usual, the scene a bright day in front of his apartment. The look made him chuckle as he knew the feeling of being uncomfortable all to well reflected him in the still photo. On the left, a girl with fiery red hair and punk rocker clothes, looking almost the complete opposite to him. The girl held out two fingers and her smile was large, her other elbow on top of Nick’s head, the main reason why he looked so uncomfortable. Allowing himself a brief smile, he set the picture aside and reached back in.

This time, Nick pulled out a ring, something so small that meant so much to him. It was a pure gold band, looking like nothing special on the outside. Inscribed on the inside of the ring however, was some small writing. ‘Friends forever. Let the music carry on.’-N M K T D

Nick ran his finger over the small inscription, remembering the day he first received the ring. It was a surprise for sure when one of his band mates had come to practice one day. It was to be a memento for them all, to make sure that no matter where they went, they would always be together for all time. Nick allowed himself a few tears, rubbing his eyes furiously.

Glitch seemed to notice and he floated down next to Nick, observing the ring. “Mr. Cauthon…”

“It’s fine Glitch...I’m...fine.” Nick turned the ring over in his hand and he slowly slipped it on his right ring finger, turning it around when it was finally on.

“There was a reason you wanted to return to London...wasn’t there.” Glitch asked in a sympathetic voice.

“I...I couldn’t just leave again without a goodbye. I needed to see her before...before…” Nick covered his eyes and he began to cry again.

Glitch was silent, looking at Nick with both curiosity and sadness. “What was she to you?”

“Probably...the best to thing to ever happen to me.” He stated, looking at the ring.

You know what this means right? Now you have to marry me!

W-What!? T-That isn’t why we have these...you...you know better than to tease me like that Melinda!

Oh come on...you know you have a crush on me.

I do not…

It’s alright...with these...we will always be together now. All of us…

Y-Yeah. We will always be friends...no matter what.

Maybe more than friends.

Don’t make it weird Melinda…

*Giggle* You’re cute when you’re embarrassed, Gearhead.

The tears rolled down Nick’s cheeks like a torrent, gripping onto his finger hard. “We were all outcasts...we all had nowhere to go to in our darkest times. And yet...we all found each other. We had music...and friendship...and nothing could quite break us apart…” Nick said absently, not really realizing he was thinking out loud.

“I just...it wasn’t in my control to leave. I just had to go back, though...for just...one last time with her before…” Nick looked at the picture he had set aside.

We were all outcasts. We all felt like we had no one. We found one another and maybe for a while, we had all felt happy. I hope so at least. I hope in their hearts...they remembered the friendship we shared.

Glitch was at a loss for words, not really equipped to handle the situation in front of him. “Do you miss her Mr. Cauthon?” The A.I. asked.

“Yeah, Glitch...I miss her. I just hope...she stays strong. She was always the one to keep us together. It was her light...that allowed me to carry on.”

“Did you say goodbye?”

Nick looked up, closing his eyes. “No...’cause it wouldn’t be a true goodbye. It just hurts...why is it that the brightest lights...are always the ones to burn out the quickest…?”

Grabbing his piano, Nick split the boxes apart and a holographic display came to life, the keys all lined up perfectly like a real piano. Nick set his fingers on the hologram and a sound came out, soft and sweet, just as a real piano. Nick began to play a soft tune, a sad one that reflected his state of mind.

Hang in there. You will always be that annoying neighbor who pushed me to do things I was never comfortable with. I just hope...one day...you can keep being that neighbor…

Nick continued on with his sad song, allowing himself to be swept up in the music. The song growing into a melody that was truly alive. His fingers flew across the keys and he played his heart out, his emotion flowing alongside the music, fusing into a melody that was like no other. At the center of it all was a light, one that burned strong and one that would refuse to go out.

 

[Alzdude28]

January 25th 2044.

Einherjar firing range

1630 GMT


Al exhaled slowly and pulled back gently on the trigger of his Gauss rifle. After a moment’s pause, he breathed in again and slowly relaxed his finger. He glanced down at the weapon going through the procedures. Chamber empty. Magazine clear. Bolt forward. Fire off the action. Apply safety catch. Satisfied that the weapon was safe he laid it down, stood up and walked up to collect his targets. After wealing the 200 meters to the end of the range he pulled down the squares of cardboard and inspected them closely. All the rounds had landed within a few centimeters of each other. Not bad. A little high, but a good grouping. Returning to his rifle he pulled out a tool and lowered the sights a fraction. He then glanced up at the clock on the wall. Time for a few more mags. He quickly loaded two ten-round clips and put them down next to the rifle. Lets make things a little interesting. Walking over to a terminal at the side of the room he programmed in what he needed Ten exposures. Two seconds per exposure. and started the programme. He picked up his rifle once more and readied himself. Soon after, a loud beep signalled the start of the exercise and one of the targets was rotated into sight. He squeezed of two rounds, then waited as that target disappeared from sight and a new one replaced it for the next two seconds. This carried as Al shot the rest of the magazine. When it was empty he reloaded as fast as he could and then carried on shooting. Unknown to him, the sixth round in his second magazine had a dodgy detonator. As he pulled the trigger there was a quiet click instead of the usual explosion. Without thinking, Al dropped the rifle and rolled aside, drawing a pistol and firing the remaining five rounds from that.



1658 GMT


Al finished reassembling the rifle and packed up his cleaning kit. He pushed the targets he had used into a pocket and closed up the case of ammunition he had. Slinging the rifle over a shoulder he gathered everything and ducked through the door walking into the armoury next door. He placed the rifle back on its rack and scrawled the number of rounds he had used, and how many he had returned into the log on the table, followed by his signature. The ammo tin he handed over to the armourer that was on duty, then he headed back to his room. As he walked he took out the targets again and looked them over again. His accuracy had improved a lot over the past few weeks. He’d been getting restless cooped up in the Einherjar, and so had been booking time on the range most days. The practice was beginning to have a very noticeable effect. With a small smile he put back the targets back into his pocket, lit a cigarette and went back to his quarters.

 

[PrismaCube]

Space Walk
January 9th 2044
Einherjar

I just arrived at my destination, and although I found the trip to here rather a disapointment the arrival was the best part. The massand size of this ship was gigantig compared to what I have seen back on earth. When we landed I was gretted by a rather nice fella who showed me around. At the end of the day I was brought to my room where I would spend the rest of my days sleeping in this ship. I request a room for me alone so I can do some work on my android unit while I got some free time. The first day I did not have to work at all which was nice, gave me enough time to explore the ship and getting used to my environment. I met a couple of enginners too, but the talk was rather plain and boring since I'm still new around here. My workplace also looks really nice, I can see the people there and I will be working close together. Being the Chief Engineer I also got my own office in the workshop, so I can do some paperwork such as buying new parts and checking designs or making sure everything still works and everybody is happy. I acctually only qualify for building things not paper work. Paper work is not my thing, although I have experince in it and I'm a very orginzied person I hate it. Is is a bother that has to be done, no excuse or procrastination to stop you.

Late at night I arrived at my room. Was it at night? or day? I'm not sure, have not figured out this time thing yet in space. Anyway I got to my room and set down my metal android bag. In my room was a small bed for a singel person, a desk to write stuff on and a small whiteboard. Also connected to the room was a bathroom with a toilet and a shower. Can't complain, I've never lived the luxirious life, probably never will.

After taking the heavy weight off of my shoulder I leaned it against the tabel, although I was worried about the android unit I just had to take a rest for a minute. I took off my right arm and leaned it against the android unit. Finaly some rest. Lying in my bed just feelt like I was floating on a cloud. After that long trip it was the best feeling yet.

A couple minutes of resting time passed and I then proceeded to unpack my android unit and got my laptop out. Synchronyzing the android to my laptop and then getting to work. The unit seemed to be alright nothing changed and nothing was damaged. A stone feel off of my heart. Everything is fine, but that does not explain the weird noise it made when we got into space. I unpacked AECU and turned him on. A small excited beeping came from him and then he floated about examing the room. "Silly Cube."

The atmosphere sure is diffrent here in space I even feel a little more lighter and while walking you do feel the occasional hop, almost like you were taking a space walk.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Alzdude28 and DarkGemini24601: “A Change of Scene, Part 1”

Somewhere in Subspace (January 28th, 2044)
The Einherjar (8:46 A.M., Earth Standard)
Room 002-F [Beaumont]

Irina sat on the side of her bed, looking over some medical information on her tablet. Filling in the last of the information and filing the other work away for later, she took a moment to look around her room. It was nice, if fairly simple. Black floor and gray walls made up its structure like the majority of the ship, and there was a bed on either side of the room, each with the back end on the far wall from the door. At the foot of each bed was a supply cabinet and dresser, and in the center of the room was a table with two chairs and a lamp. A door opposite the entrance marked a simple bathroom beyond.

The doctor, either too busy with her work or just uninterested, hadn’t bothered to decorate it. The temperature in the room was stable like the rest of the ship, but Irina still opted to wear her gray coat over a black shirt and gray pants like usual, perhaps too used to colder temperatures.

A timid knock at the door broke the silence. I wonder who that could be? Irina carefully laid down her tablet on the end of the bed and stood up, going to open the door slightly ajar. “Hello?” Outside a nervous looking woman was standing in the corridor, clutching a small slip of paper. “Doctor Beaumont?”

Irina simply nodded. “Do you need something?” she asked.

“My quarters have been reassigned, I was told that I should be sharing a room with you now.”

“Oh… um…” There goes complete privacy. “Alright. There is a spare bed on the right side of the room.” Opening the door more fully, Irina took two steps back to allow the woman in.

Brienne took a few tentative paces into the room, and stood, slightly awkwardly in the middle of the floor. “I’m Brienne by the way… Brienne Martinsson. I work in the engineering department.”

“Irina Beaumont,” the Frenchwoman returned, sitting back down on the side of her bed with an equal lack of tact.

“Er… one of the water pipes in my room burst, so I was told to come here for the next few days… It shouldn’t be too long before I can go back…”

“Your expertise is not in repairing that, I assume…” Irina acquired a pensive look. Wait, who does the plumbing on this ship? Do we actually have a plumber, or is it up to the machines?

Brienne chuckled a little. “No, I have a Master’s degree in astronautical engineering but I can’t fix a broken pipe!”

Irina raised an eyebrow. “But wouldn’t constructing or at least planning spacecraft require you to know how its systems work? Is it just a lack of hands-on ability?”

“I know how the complex systems work, but for some reason the syllabus at Uni never covered spaceship plumbing. Apparently thrust vectors were more important.”

“Where did you go?” Irina inquired, being unintentionally lured outside of her metaphorical ‘antisocial sphere’.

“University of Novum, I left in ‘43.”

The Frenchwoman’s eyes lit up a bit. “Really? You must have been in Stella City then… I worked there up until joining the XSDF in a medical clinic.”

“Yeah, I lived in the University Halls in the north of the city. Which bit of the city were you in?”

“More towards the east, since Green Spiral hospital was that way. Closer to the hills leading up to the vast plains,” Irina explained, remembering the area fondly.

“I could hardly believe it when I got the place there, I loved being out at the frontiers of humanity… And now we’re going even further! What do you think Forseti will be like?”

Irina thought for a moment, recalling what she had heard. “I believe there are actually several towns out there… it may not be a population of two million like Novum, but apparently its comparable to a sort of gold rush right now. Any jobs there are surely high-paying. And the climate is Earth-like, more so than any other planet we’ve found.”

“And… how much of the population is human?”

“Most of it, I would imagine…” Irina responded with a shrug. “There might be some aliens assisting us there, like Sectoids or Balmadaar, but it belongs to the XSDF and thus humanity directly. The Humiliata and other grounded races have their own Elerium supplies so I doubt they’re interested in Forseti.”

Brienne looked slightly disappointed. “Were there no native species? I was wondering if I’d get to meet anyone from a species I didn’t know about…” She brightened up suddenly. “Still, there was one of the soldiers who was like that. I transferred aboard on the same shuttle as him. I’d never even heard of Dreaconians before I met him!”

The doctor tilted her head slightly. “Are those like… dragons? I may have to speak with him if he’s not within the XSDF files… the same as I will have to have a talk with the Volomi onboard.” To clarify why she needed to speak with them, Irina added, “I don’t have proper biological information that would be necessary to treat severe wounds.”

“He was… big. Much taller than a human, reddish skin, white spines on his head. I can’t quite remember his name. He shouldn’t be too hard to spot though…” Brienne hesitated for a second. “Ah… how much fighting are we expecting to see… I assumed that the pirates we ran into were a one-off thing… and how well equipped could our enemies be?”

 

[Alzdude28]

Alzdude28 and DarkGemini24601: “A Change of Scene, Part 2”

Irina blinked for a moment. “That’d be a question for an officer… I don’t know really. I know we’ll be stopping by Novum and then Progressus… the latter’s space is a little less secure, but other than that there… shouldn’t be too much fighting, right?”

Brienne paled slightly. “I hope not…”

“Most of our soldiers seem talented anyway. One of them is a friend of mine, and I trust her ability,” Irina reassured her.

“Oh really? How long have you known each other?”

Irina rubbed the back of her neck nervously. “Since… fifth grade. I lost touch with her after high school but I ran into her when she came aboard the Einherjar. Apparently she’s been in the Russian military for the past six years.”

“Just goes to show… it’s a small world.”

“We’re in space though.”

“And space is big, really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is!” Brienne said, laughing. “Sorry… I couldn’t resist using that quote…” She sheepishly grinned.


Irina shrugged. “I wouldn’t know enough famous people to quote… at least ones that are no longer living. It’d be weird to quote someone who is still alive. Only she would do something like that.”

“Who?”

“Not sure if you would know her. Maybe her sister, though. Lily Exalt,” Irina answered as casually as only she could manage unintentionally.

“Any connection to Vindicta Exalt? The head of psionics?”

Irina nodded. “Lily is the sister of the corporation’s head, Elene Exalt. Vindicta is her daughter, though I only met her once, and that was before she had the Reflections that I’ve heard someone talking about.”

“I think I heard something about those in the mess the other day… It sounds dangerous to me… I heard that they were almost pure energy.”

“I’d have to clarify what exactly they were…” Irina shifted uneasily. “Though I’m… not really interested in seeing them up close. Psionics fall outside my range of knowledge…” And they can be somewhat frightening.

“I’ve been considering visiting the Psi labs when I get some time off… I’ve never really looked into the facts about psionics. All I really know is what some of them can do… I think I should try to learn more, especially considering how many psionically active people there are on board.”

“Perhaps I will… too. It might alleviate some of my fears, and I… trust I can trust Lily’s niece.” Too many ‘trusts’. “Even if she does seem to have something of a temper… and is odd. All Exalts are the latter, though, in their own way.”

“I can’t think of many people I’ve met who aren’t odd in their own way…” Brienne said with a grin.

Irina stared at her blankly for a moment, the joke seeming to take awhile to process. “Do you mean… us?”

“I consider myself to be completely normal.” Brienne managed to hold a straight face for a few seconds before collapsing into laughter. The Frenchwoman seemed confused for a moment, but eventually couldn’t help but smile a little. Brienne smiled with her, and then glanced back towards the door. “I guess I should go and get my stuff, don’t worry, I won’t take up too much room.”

Irina looked down at her thin frame. “Make that two of us.” With a final giggle, Brienne left the room and began the walk back to Wing B to collect her sodden belongings.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

BMPixy and DarkGemini24601: “Acid Rain, Part 1”

Somewhere in Subspace (January 28th, 2044)
The Einherjar (12:32 P.M., Earth Standard)
Mess Hall

“So, anyways, back to what I was saying: ‘Like a Virgin’ is ab-”

“Goddammit Vincent, will you stop with the Tarantino references?” Nelson asked with an exasperated expression. “Seriously, it’s 2044, you can reference newer movies.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault the man’s a fucking cinematic genius!” Lindberg shot back, pointing a fork at his fellow pilot. “Besides, not my fault I was nicknamed after one of his most likeable characters.”

“No, you got that nickname because you used to wear your hair like him,” Lawrence corrected. “Didn’t have anything to do with likeability.”

“You wound me, LaLa,” Vincent replied, placing a hand over his heart in mock pain. “Though at least my callsign isn’t as embarrassing as you guys’s.”

We could always fix that, Jefferson said, leaning back as he finished his nutrient pack.

“Certainly sounds like a good idea to me,” Lawrence added. “All in favor of Vega’s new callsign to be ‘Drizzle’?”

“Wait, why ‘Drizzle’?” Hayden asked between bites of her meal.

“Because we’re raining on his parade,” the Luxembourger replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Eh, sounds good to me,” she said.

I’ll throw my vote in as well, Jefferson added. A gentle thump echoed from Vincent, as he laid his forehead down on the table.

“You guys are literally the worst,” he groaned.

“Hey, that’s why you should never get cocky about a cool callsign,” Lawrence explained with a shrug, setting down his utensils as he finished his meal. A moment of silence passed between the group as Vincent adjusted to his new callsign, before Jefferson finally spoke up.

Hey, don’t say anything, but the Big Cheese is headed our way, he whispered, making sure to keep his telepathy out of the approacher’s ‘earshot’.

“Really? What could he want with us?” Hayden whispered.

I literally just said don’t say anything, Jefferson angrily intoned. I’d ask if you were deaf, but I’m a telepath.

Walking over with his overconfident stride, Addington swung himself into a nearby table, putting down his plate. “Ah, Bone Arrow… good to see you. I wanted to congratulate you on the successful mission, White Star was certainly a sign of good things to come.”

“Not in my book,” Vincent replied with a quick shake of his head. “Nearly lost Bogo, and from what I’ve heard a couple of the Stingray pilots are still in the ICU.”

Hayden quickly inserted her elbow into Lindberg’s ribs to prevent him from going further, and said, “Sorry about him sir, he’s a bit bitter after we took away his old callsign. Don’t mind his comments.”

“So, what brings you to our neck of the woods, sir?” Lawrence asked, leaning back slightly with an eyebrow cocked.

“As I said, the aforementioned reason, and to get to know my pilots better. I figure I can’t use my talents to lead you if I don’t know you well enough,” Khumalo responded, taking a moment to take a bite out of his steak.

“Ah, walking among the unwashed masses, eh?” Lawrence asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “What is it you’d like to know about our little cadre here?”

Perhaps he didn’t catch the sarcasm or he was too arrogant to respond to it, but Addington continued on unphased. “Personalities, fighting styles, that sort of thing.” The South African folded his hands together. “I already know Vega doesn’t deal with contradicting orders that well, but that’s plenty fixable.” A sharp clack echoed from the pilot in question, as he stabbed his potatoes with a bit too much force, Vincent’s expression vaguely indicating that Addington was the next thing to be stabbed.

Hayden ignored this, and replied, “Well, for one, he’s Drizzle now, not Vega. Overall we’re still each trying to find our niche in the flight, though I’m fairly certain these guys have singled me out for bait duty.”

Hey, you practically volunteer for that role. Never have I seen anyone dive into a dogfight with more abandon than you, Jefferson countered.

“Well that’s because somebody’s gotta initiate the fight, monsieur ‘why-are-we-in-visual-range’,” she shot back. “This guy would love nothing more than to just hang back and fire away at helpless targets. No sense of adventure.”

Addington shrugged, smiling although he eyed Vincent with contempt. “Well, Edge does have ESP, correct? So he can engage from slightly further distances than your average pilot. I see no problem with that, it probably helped prevent him from letting his shields be torn through like a good portion of Phoenix did.”

“But that just isn’t in the spirit of being a fighter jock!” Hayden exclaimed. “It’s all about daring maneuvers, brave pilots, and close brushes with death! No offense Edge, but the way he flies is…”

“Duller than a piece of old metal?” Lawrence offered.

“Eh, I was just gonna say boring, but that works as well,” Don replied.

“Perhaps, and a good deal of daring is needed for trying situations,” Addington mused. “Though just as long as it's not inspiring someone to defy orders. That would just be unfortunate.”

“Alright, listen here,” Vincent said, leaning towards Addington. “There’s this little thing, I’m not sure if you know it exists, called personal initiative. Us fighter pilots tend to have quite a bit of it, especially as we need to oft times adapt to situations on the fly, no pun intended. Y’know, it’s one thing to flagrantly disobey orders, it’s another to insist on following them to your doom.”

Addington sighed. “Dear Drizzle…” a small grin formed on his face as he said the new callsign, quickly taking a liking to it. “Do you not trust me? If we’re both honest here, I have a better chance of coming up with something tactically sound from the Einherjar’s bridge. In the heat of battle you could make a mistake, and that’s why I’m here. The impartial voice of reason.”

 

[BMPixy]

BMPixy and DarkGemini24601: “Acid Rain, Part 2”

“Vince-” Lawrence began, but Lindberg cut him off.

“Don’t call me ‘Drizzle’,” he said. “Only these assholes can call me Drizzle. Second of all, you’re not even goddamn twenty, so don’t give me that ‘impartial voice of reason’ and ‘I’m a better tactician than you’ song and dance, because I have quite literally been flying planes longer than you’ve been alive. I know how these birds go, and I know how to read the tide of battle. It’s one thing to look at a fight from a monitor, it’s another thing to be in it.”

Khumalo scoffed for a moment, narrowing his eyes. “Do you honestly think the Commander didn’t select me for a reason?” The fleet coordinator crossed his arms. “I know more about overall strategy and tactics than you probably do, not to mention that while you may be adept with atmospheric planes… if you’re an AFC your skills with stellar craft probably need work. And while you can work with fighters, you don’t have the knowledge it would take to fight along destroyers and battleships.” He chuckled. “I imagine Penguin probably knows more about combat with and against battleships in any event. The seraphs are designed for that purpose.”

Oh dear, you’ve done it now… Jefferson said, as Vincent looked about ready to pop a vein in his forehead.

“Alright, if you’re so skilled with tactics, then how about you answer this little question,” Vincent said, his calm voice at contrast with his heated expression. “You’re in a Firestorm, at elevation 3.5 klicks, standard air-to-air loadout. Three bogeys Firestorms within two klicks of you, one at bearing 000, another at 056, and the third at 165, all at your elevation. How do you get out?”

Addington raised an eyebrow. “Well, first of all, I’d ask myself how and why the enemy would bother using XSDF fighters,” he intoned sarcastically, “And then I’d kick in my elerium boosters and go up. Once I was far enough I’d just turn around and hit them with a missile spread, deal with any of theirs with countermeasures, and use my guns for whatever remains before their shields come back online from the shift from air to space combat.”

“And while you’re trying to make the break for orbit, they paste your ass with missiles,” Vincent countered. “After all, with your afterburners on, you’re brighter than your flares, and it’s hard to make tight maneuvers with them on. Try again.”

“Hole two in your scenario,” Addington continued, his irritation rising but remaining undaunted. “Why would I be stupid enough to engage 3 equal strength fighters on my own? That sounds like something you would do, not myself or Edge.”

“Your wingmates are shot down, you’re trying to return to base, and then these guys show up,” Vincent countered. “Now, are you gonna try to make it out, or not?”

Addington grinned. “It sounds like whoever was in charge of the preceding operation must have been much less talented than myself to let this hypothetical flight be all but wiped out.” The fleet coordinator got up from his seat. “You know, I never liked hypotheticals like this one. Too many reasons why it wouldn’t happen, and they’re always designed to appease the questioner, not the solver.”

“I dunno, under your pompous ass I see it in our very near future,” Vincent growled, standing up from his seat as well. “And since you’ve seemed to have given up on the question, the answer is simple: eject. The mission’s already FUBAR, you’re surrounded by enemies on all sides, and three Firestorms are already going to have to be replaced. What’s one more?”

“Several hundred million dollars,” Addington spat. “Considering you could easily be gunned down ejecting with three Firestorms around you, probably better to at least take one or two with you than be such a coward. I believe that same thinking is to account for why you didn’t focus on the immediate threat of the fighters in the Kuiper belt… you were too busy worrying that the enemy was braver than you were.”

Vincent lunged forward, but quickly Hayden and Lawrence stood up to hold him back before he could throw a strike. “Says the asshole who sits behind a desk all day rather than risk his own neck,” Lindberg shot back. “It’s one thing to look death in the face as part of your job, and decide that it isn’t for you. It’s a whole other thing to scurry from its presence, not unlike the rat you are.”

Addington narrowed his eyes. “If you’re thinking of trying to incite me into fighting you like a barroom brawler you must severely underestimate my intelligence to lower than even yours. For the love of all that is holy, Drizzle, do not make me seek out a way to introduce the flat rank of “Airman” into the Einherjar’s computers in order to appropriately evaluate you.”

“Dude, it isn’t worth it,” Lawrence muttered into Vincent’s ear. “You’ll get your chance later.”

Vincent slackened with a regretful sigh. “Alright, fine, I’ll quit it,” he said. “But if you ever show your ugly maw around my flight again…” He left the threat unspoken, as he shook Hayden and Vincent off of him.

“Oh, believe me, I’ll find a flight that has a much more presentable leader,” Addington sneered. “Just remember who has the final say in battle,” he said, obviously wanting to have the final word, before turning around and starting to walk off with his food.

“Ugh, fuck that guy,” Vincent muttered, sitting down once again, clutching his head in his hands. “Dude needs to go through a postgraduate course on humility.”

Lawrence silently shook his head, and replied, “Hey, some people are just natural assholes. Nothing can be done except grin and hope he gets fired.”

“Yeah… just wish there was something I could do besides that,” Lindberg said, poking at his food idly.

 

[MarineAvenger]

"Diploma-cy" Part One (MarineAvenger and Taxor_The_First)

Somewhere in Subspace (January 28th, 2044)
The Einherjar (12:23 P.M., Earth Standard)
Cafeteria

Mark quickly made his way through the hallways of the Einherjar with a bit of haste, not wanting to return to the lab anytime soon. “How can anyone misplace an entire vial of an alien bacterial virus and give an answer of, ‘I don’t know!’ as a reasonable solution. I swear...how I let myself be dragged into this is beyond me!” It is all your fault sister...I swear if I didn’t love you… Shaking his head, he walked into the cafeteria, still all dressed up in his work attire, probably looking more sophisticated than was probably necessary for a simple outing for food. Getting in the rather long line, the scientist crossed his arms in annoyance.

Not long afterwards, the doors opened again and a male dressed in lab clothes ushered a woman similarly dressed through, ignoring her mildly irritated look. “At least you don’t smack your head this way,” the man said, closing the door behind them. They stopped briefly when they spotted the size of the line, but reasoned waiting for it to die down would only take more time, and so joined the end.

Penny tapped the person before them on the shoulder. “This line move very quick, or are we crawling?”

Mark looked over his shoulder and he shrugged. “I don’t know. The line size would suggest crawling.”

“Dammit.” She turned to Charles. “I told you we should have come earlier.”

He held up his hands. “You were on a roll. I wasn’t about to stop that.”

“Lunch is priority one. Besides, it went nowhere.”

Mark shook his head slightly, keeping his gaze forward. Figures I get stuck with these too. Really unlucky day. “And what were you working on?” He asked in an attempt to keep his sanity.

Penny massaged her head. “Trying to make supercooling systems that aren’t the size of fridges.”

Her husband shook his head. “That’s enough thinking. It’s lunchtime, we didn’t come here to work. What about you?” he asked, turning to Mark. “What’s your name, what do you do here?”

“Mark Exalt.” He said plainly, his look completely neutral. “I head the cybernetics and biology labs.”
“Mark what?” Penny’s expression changed into one of someone suddenly trying not to panic. Leaning to Charles, she whispered. “Bosses’ son? Are you shitting me?”

“I can hear you.” Mark told the two, keeping his eyes trained on Penny. “Do not presume I think my name gives me any special needs or privileges. Unlike my sister, the Exalt name is not so much a badge of honor for me as just any other name.”

She cleared her throat. “I’m glad you want to work for your glory, but forgive me for being a little nervous. Your mother kinda employs both of us, after all.”

Mark squinted his eyes a bit, leaning in to get a slight closer look at Penny. “Ah, Mrs. Hu. I remember your name coming up a few times in some files back at home. I had not learned you transferred to the XSDF. You were a valuable asset along with your husband, who I assume…?” He looked at Charles.

“That illustrious title belongs to me, yes.” He said, inclining his head.

Penny shot him a look, and returned to face Mark. “We didn’t transfer. You of all people should know your mother likes working with the XSDF. We’re here as part of a collaborative effort to make our little section of the galaxy safer.”

“By providing it with better firearms,” Charles added.

“Hm...seems like the ever growing paradox of our ever advancing race. The more we succeed, the more we are doomed to fail horribly. I don’t remember who said that quote but I believe it applies aptly. It is the Second Cold War, with the our own system and others all holding their breath to see who makes the next big thing.” Mark’s orange eyes seemed to glow, of whether for anger or intrigue unknown.

“Which is why we need to get to it first,” Penny said. “The galaxy is a dangerous place, apparently.” She shook her head. “I remember the days all we had to worry about were Ethereals busting our doors down. Now we’ve got more doors, and more enemies.”

“Ah yes, you were apart of the XCOM initiative weren’t you? I have heard stories but if anything is to be believed, it seems we have it easier than you.” Mark spoke with barely a hint of emotion, as he was just talking for the convenience of passing time.

“It was more stressful than anything else for the civvie staff,” she replied, shrugging. “The soldiers took the brunt of the danger. Mind you, I’m not sure that this will actually be easier,” she added, a worried expression crossing her face. “We’re taking an awful lot of equipment and firepower just to take out some pirates. You saw how easy that last mission was, right?”

“Be that as it may, there is always a bigger enemy to fight. These pirates may just be a nuisance now but we have seen how just an outcast group of terrorists on Earth were able to stay around for so long. If people try hard enough, they can do anything. That is why we must continue to grow.” Closing his eyes and sighing, Mark added, “But what do I know, I am just a glorified doctor.”

“If you’re here, I wouldn’t say that,” Penny said. “What’re you working on at the moment?”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Currently...very little. I am currently testing multiple alien diseases to make sure none of the soldiers or staff on board are susceptible to the more obscure illnesses floating around and I help oversee the development of our cybernetic limbs for both injured soldiers and those looking to become Mecs. If it is a slow day...I maintain those limbs on people who currently have them. Meanwhile my sister is developing her psionics and others are developing more tech that we need.”

Charles coughed lightly to clear his throat. “I wouldn’t say that isn’t essential work. What if it turns out some of those illnesses do present a danger? Then you’ll have saved the entire ship.”

“Because nearly all those illnesses have cures already. I just want to double check as I do not trust my more greener subordinates.”

Penny shook her head. “You need to find value in what you do. If you don’t, what’s the point in continuing doing it?”

“Because I need to know I am able to do it!” Mark said irritated, though he said it between his teeth so he didn’t have to raise his voice. Clearing his throat, he said, “Sorry.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Diploma-cy (part 2)
MarineAvenger and Taxor the First


“No, you’re fine. No need to apologise for showing you want to improve your knowledge.” Penny looked at the ground, a little sheepish. “When I was younger I was a little like you. Even during the X-COM project, I got hung up on trying to improve the one set of weapons more out of a matter of personal pride than any real desire to see the results. It’s… surprisingly easy to get caught on a personal project.”

“Yes, well your family was not mine. My family expects the best and especially after…” Mark choked and he looked down. “It’s not important, but I have more than pride on the line.”

“I’m honestly not sure whether you’d prefer my family,” Penny said dryly, before shaking her head. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get there. Your mother is a hard taskmaster, but I think she’d forgive you for not saving the universe.” Glancing to the side, she pointed behind him. “Line’s almost done.”

Mark nodded, waiting the rest of the time in silence before getting his tray and going to sit at a table that was empty, not really wanting to sit with anyone else he saw. She wouldn’t understand...none of them would understand. Mark thought to himself.

Penny obtained her own food, and made off in the Exalt’s direction, but was stopped by a firm grip on her shoulder. “What?” she asked, as Charles brought his hand back.

“He’s not going to feel any better, no matter what you say. You’ll just piss him off.”

She glanced at the lonely scientist and considered. Turning back to her husband, she said “You’re not a psychiatrist,” and took off, seating herself across from Mark. “Clearly, something’s bothering you. Out with it.”

Mark looked up, a little surprised she followed him and he looked away. “I...I can’t. It’s embarrassing and if my sister caught wind, she would never...look at me the same way again.”

“My lips are sealed,” Penny said, making a motion across her mouth to prove it. “Come on. Which of her friends did you screw?”

“W-What?” Mark asked with a weirded out look, shaking his head. “It isn’t that...besides...Vindicta doesn’t really make friends easily. No...its just...I went to Harvard to try and get the best teaching possible away from home like Vindicta did but…” Mark looked reluctant to say it.

Penny frowned. I think I know where he’s going with this. But just to be sure… “You can whisper it if you’re really that embarrassed.”

“Why are you dead set that it has to deal with sex?” Mark shook his head and he finally said, “I...dropped out of Harvard early. I told my family that it was because it was too easy but…” Mark scratched his head. “I failed. It’s just that...even though I know my mother loves both me and my sister, I always felt like I lived in her shadow. If she ever found out, I would never be able to live it down because I failed and she passed with flying colors. I just…” Taking a deep breath he said, “I don’t hate her, I love her to death but she always acts so superior around me, and I always have to prove that I am just as good.”

Penny was silent for a moment. “In my experience,” she said slowly, “a person can have all the degrees and pass with all the colors, and be completely useless in a lab. The one thing education doesn’t teach you is life skills. And without those, you’re not worth the time.” She tilted her head. “I think if you stopped trying to prove - to yourself as much as to everyone else - that you were ‘worthy’ of your family name, you’d find that it isn’t the end of the world. Like I said earlier, if you’re here, you’ve clearly got at least a large amount of skill and intelligence. What more do you need? A piece of paper that says exactly the same thing I just told you?”

“Maybe it would be a decent reminder…” He said as an attempt at a joke, just putting his forehead in his hand. “I just can’t tell her...not yet. Last thing I need is for that.”

“Then don’t. Do it, yes. But when you feel ready. I think you’ll be surprised how supportive your family will be when you do.” She smiled. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“You meet my sister and try saying that again.” He mumbled taking a bite of his food. “Though not a word,” He told her nonchalantly, “because you have to remember you work for my mother.” Mark smiled, showing he wasn’t serious, a needed change from before.

 

[MarineAvenger]

"Bad Influences" Part One (MarineAvenger and Frostlich1228)

Somewhere in Subspace (January 28th, 2044)
The Einherjar (2:45 P.M., Earth Standard)
Outside Engineering

“I just need some more parts! Surely there are more things you can spare!” James moved his hand out out as he raised his voice at the dark skinned engineer.

“Of course we have more, but we need it for our own research. We’re not going to get anywhere if we keep handing you all our shit.” He replied, clearly tired of the conversation.

“I just need some more alloy scraps for my drone’s armor!” James repeated something the engineer had already heard him say.

“Then get the commander’s permission to have unlimited access to our shit! Because I’m not giving a damn thing unless I see something with the commander’s seal on it!” The engineer responded before turning around and locking the door to engineering behind him.

“You can be an asshole about it all you like! Because I’m getting those parts one way or another, even if I have to line my pockets with them during the battle!” James added, trying to scream through the closed door.

“Having troubles?” A voice said from behind James, a younger man approaching with a small object floating next to him.

“What do you think!?” James exclaimed before turning around to face the man.

As it turned out, it wasn’t a man at all but a teenager, with dark blue hair and a blue winter jacket, glasses adorning his face. He seemed to be shocked at his reaction, taking a step back and holding up his hands. “Was just asking.”

“I… “ James said as he saw the boy’s reaction, “Look, sorry. That guy’s just been a pain in my ass all day.”

“Well...why...exactly are you here? You’re not an engineer.” Nick asked cautiously, still a little wary.

“I am, but I’m not, you could say.” James replied, “I’m an engineer class soldier, I do everything an engineer does, but I do it where it matters most, on the front line.”

“Oh...well, why are you here then?” Nick shifted himself on the balls of his feet, a little curious about why he was here yelling at one of his colleagues.

“I’ve been trying to get the parts to supe up one of my combat drones, and of course, make more. They’ve been giving me some things up until now, but then this guy caught wind of his buddies giving me supplies without ‘written permission from the Commander’ and cut me off.” Fancypants explained, calming down.

“Well...that is sort of the protocol here. It’s not really like we can just hand this stuff out.” Nick scratched the back of his head and asked, “S-So you build...drones?”

James smirked, nodding his head and pulling the compact drone off the back of his belt, activating it and tossing it into the air as it unfolded its components, becoming it’s full size. “Made him all by myself with nothing but some scraps I found of Luna one day, then just kept upgrading him until today. Planning on continuing that trend.”

“How...do you operate him?” Nick asked, getting a closer look at it and Glitch running a scanner over it.

“It appears to be structurally intact...if not a little simpler than what we are used to.” The A.I. noted, mostly to himself.

James glared at the robot, “Simple? I crafted this thing out of spare parts. No shit it’s simple I worked with what I had! I enjoyed the challenge!”

Glitch just got close to James, blinking a few times with it’s one blue preceptor and stating, “I noted it was more simple than what I am used to. It was not an assault on your intellect or skill.”

Nick cleared his throat to get their attention and he asked, “Uh...so...how does it work?” He asked again to try and diffuse the situation.

“I operate it with a control panel on my wrist. I have a number of modes I can set it too as well as being able to take manual control… I opted out of creating an AI for it because I’d rather be in charge of the machine that watches my back personally and not entrust it to a computer intellect that might break its shackles and deep-six me if it figures out how to get loose.” He looked back over at Nick’s drone, “They’re also really obnoxious and annoying. Not worth the effort if you ask me.”

Glitch shook his body to represent him shaking his head and floated away back over to Nick.

“Well...not everyone has to be the same. I just...need Glitch, so I sort of have to keep him around. Besides, he is a work in progress and he keeps me company. As for your drone…” Nick reached over his shoulder and pulled off a rectangular shaped object with two sets of propellers on the top and bottom, equalling four in total. Tapping a few things on the computer on his wrist, the drone came out and began to fly, going around without any input from Nick at all. “Ratchet here doesn’t have an A.I. either, and he is just one of three I have developed.”

James looked over the drone, “Not bad… Seems like you’re pretty good… How old are you?”

“Sixteen.” Nick said with pride, letting Ratchet just come back over and fly next to him. “I control him with my head. I don’t need any remote or A.I. to work him, just my own brain signals.”

“With your head? Are you some sort of psion? Or… Implants?” James asked casually.

Nick nodded. “Yeah, it is a prototype implant that is a completely original design. It takes signals going from my brain through my spinal cord and transmits them from the implant to my drone. It is pretty cool but...it has a lot of bugs to iron out...bad ones.”

“Yeah… Sounds like that put a hell of a lot of stress on your brain… Operating it with your mind would certainly be useful, but I’m not sure the risk would be worth it.”

“I am continuing to work on it, but it may be a while till then. I have asked for some help with it from someone who knows more about cybernetics than I do but until then...you know, one step at a time. Anyways...if you are truly hurting for parts I could...maybe give you some of my excess?”

“And in exchange, I could share my wealth of engineering knowledge and experience with you. Maybe find a way to delete that AI of yours, you don’t even have to pay me, I’ll do it free of charge!”

“L-Look...I know you probably know a lot but you don’t understand...I really do need him! He...keeps me alive…” Nick said embarrassed, not liking to admit that he was vulnerable like that. “Besides...I...I could never just delete something I worked so hard to make…” He stated sadly.

James scrunched his face up slightly, “You do know I was kidding, right… I sort of pieced it together when you said you needed him earlier and then explained the stress your implants caused…” He smiled, “Don’t worry, I can install a mute button for you if you’d like.”

“I could offer the same advice.” Glitch said.