Aeon Bridge in low orbit above Siren 2

The Aeon and its other squadron ships were coming into sensor range of Siren Mining Colony 7 after having orbited around the planet. The away team had been successfully deployed and would hopefully find survivors, or at least detailed information on what had happened to the Peacekeepers.

While they were on the other side of the planet, Katae had been in contact with the forces of the 4SF that were investigating the Akuma Asteriod Field. They were reporting periods of considerable resistance followed by erratic behavior. But it was apparent that the NMX was making a bid for the mining facility.

As the Gunship cleared the perimeter, Eternity started providing sensory data. On the main screen the image did not look exactly like the data they had on file. There was a massive structure near the mine that reached straight upward.

Trowa sat at the pilot station and scanned the data that was scrolling across his cybernetic eye. The newness of the enhancements had worn off and the Nepleslian was now very comfortable with them and knew what they could do. Trowa spend as much time as he could using them with the ship and in the proses had developed a deep love for the Aeon, more than he had before.

When he had first laid eyes on her the pilot had been taken in. The smooth lines and curve of her hold, the sharpness and power of her weapons, and the gentle purr of her engines. But as the pilot worked more and more with her he had grown more and more fond of her. The way she responded to his touch on the stick as they danced in-between enemy ships, the way her weapons screamed as they blasted their targets into space dust, and the way she shuttered when she was hit yet kept on fighting.

Trowa saw the huge structure near the mine, and the two NMX ships hovering near it. "What the heck is that?" the pilot said out loud.

The Aeon sensors showed that the structure was constructed of starship grade materials, which was not surprising given the size of it.

Then the sensors showed a massive energy surge in the structure, followed by a discharge spike and the structure ejected a projectile at high velocity.

A tuck her, a comb here and a bit of shifting here and she was ready to go. It had taken longer then she wanted, but she had finally landed a spot aboard a space ship and at a weapons station no less. She had mixed emotions about being there however. She longed to watch those power energy weapons rip through something, she didn't care what it was.

She took a moment to check her appearance again. She had to make sure that everything was as it should be when she appeared before the captain and other senior officers. She knew that they were moving towards a mining facility and that there was the chance that enemy ships were in the area. A small smile touched her full lips, half of her wished that a few would show themselves..just a few little ones. Something to test the weapon systems on. She cleared her throat and made her way out of her solitary quarters and towards the bridge at a sharp pace.

The Squadron's presence above the Logistics Engine did not go unnoticed, a series of surface to air missiles streaked up towards the them, but were destroyed by the anti-armor turrets long before they could damage the ships.

A group of four NMX Escorts rose above the horizon and fired upon the squadron from the starboard side.

Trowa's real eye widened in surprise then banked the ship hard to port. "Hang on!" He yelled, although it was too late to do anything about it since he was already halfway through the maneuver. Trowa glanced at his board and bit back a curse, he was trying to cut down on his languid. Four NMX ships, all firing at his beloved Aeon. Not for long he thought.

Flipping a few switches, the Nepleslian pilot armed the Aeon's main weapon and acquired a target lock on the one of the enemy ships. Though the Aeon had more powerful weapons and stronger shields she wouldn't be able to slug it out with four ships at once. She would have to rely on her far better speed and maneuverability to beat her enemy.

Trowa quickly did a few calculations in his head and checked different positions and vectors. He needed to hit the NMX hard and fast. Trowa got a firing solution on nearest ship and fired. The Aeon vibrated as the aether shock array beam flew strait at the enemy ship.

The other ships in the 7th squadron followed the course change right behind the Aeon. The NMX may have gotten the first volley, but the 7th was about to collect payback.

The Integrity followed the Aeon's lead and targeted the same ship firing its main array.

The other two ships selected the second NMX Escort and fired.

The sensors meanwhile showed multiple new targets on in the area as the NMX warships deployed their battlepods.

As the Aeon came around for another strike at big ships, Trowa tried to get a damage reading for the ship they had just hit. There was some interference. Glancing at his display screen he hissed through gritted eat. For a moment Trowa wasn't sure which made him madder, the sudden appearance of NMX battlepods or that he was making so much effort to not curse at them like the Nepleslian pilot he was.

Trowa brought the Aeon in line for another pass and acquired a target lock on the same ship he had hit before. He also set the ships Heavy Quad cannons and Heavy Duel turrets on auto lock to take out those annoying battlepods.

The sensors showed that the first ship they hit had sustained substantial damage, but it was still capable of fighting back. It returned fire at the Aeon, the shields ringing with the impact and the hull being damaged by that which passed through the shields.

The automated guns started firing at the closest battlepods. The battlepods immediately began targeting the turrets trying to take them out.

"Yamamoto-Nitô Heisho we need maneuvering space, take us out of orbit so we can make full advantage of our speed." Katae ordered

The Nepleslian pilot couldn't hold back any longer and swore as the Aeon's shields were breached and her hull was damaged. Damage reports began scrolling across his eye, most of which were minimal.

"Aye, Ma'am." Trowa acknowledge as he brought the Aeon out of orbit. Once out of orbit, the Aeon moved like a dancer on the dance floor, graceful and with ease. Trowa brought the ship's main weapons to bear on the wounded NMX and fired another blast of deadly energy.