RP [Orochi Squadron] Mission 1: Tentacled Tidings

[BloodyScarlet]

Armour Bay

Eizo sighed as he heard his basic load and knew that he wouldn't be getting that close to these creatures as he waited until everyone was away from the table letting him be the last to gather weapons and maybe sneak some other weapons into his load out, after the basics he looked over the weapons and smirked as he picked up a Ke-M2-W2904 Flamethrower and smiled looking over at the others on the squad.

He smiled at them and shouted to NCO "Ma'am do you mind if I take this with us, as I am very good at using this weaponry" he strapped it to the armour before anyone could say anything and moved back to the squad, He grinned at everyone that stared at him and then blurted out "did I just get hotter all of a sudden guys?"

 

[paladinrpg]

YSS Orochi, Armor Bay

Kim watched as the dozen or so other small squads that made up the Orochi's Power Armor wing were doing similar preparations, before she heard the questions inevitably starting up about the sensitive nature of this engagement. Her Mindy spun on it's heel as she gripped her own rifle, facing Mayu and Eisei, her voice projecting across the linkup.

"Check your tactical overlays when you can, and you'll see that we're assigned to board and disable one of the Pillager cruisers as our primary target and another as secondary target. We can't let them escape to open space. To avoid decompression dangers to the civilians, though, we'll do our best to penetrate their hulls closer to the command and engineering sections, rather than the rear cargo areas. This should be the best place to take out command and control or the main reactors... unfortunately, it also means we're striking the most heavily defended parts of the NMX vessels."

The leader then added with a shake of her head a couple of times, "Try not to get too far ahead and lose your focus. Maybe we can find out eventually why they've struck Jun specifically when we access their computers, but right now we've first got to stop them in their tracks."

The Heisho paused and gave Sigrid an approving nod, before putting a hand on her suited hip as Eizo reached for the flamethrower. Even though he couldn't see it, her fuzzy right ear was twitching as she remembered the time it got singed in that training accident and the fur never grew back quite right. "Ehhh.... well, if you want to make a Yuletide squiddie BBQ aboard that NMX ship, be my guest."

 

[Jace]

Jace was following them and listening to everyone as they walked over to the armor bay he had instinctively moved his hand to the katana at his side hoping he would be able to use it. As he looked at the weapons he then looked up at the leader "okay I have two questions about my weapon l load out may I take my katana and my robotic dog...i will use any other weapon also" he looked over at Ezio tilting his eyes at him but looked back at the leader waiting for a response.

 

[paladinrpg]

YSS Orochi, Flight Deck

"Thanks sweetie, you're a lifesaver. Bottoms up!" Giving the flaxen-haired Neko a thankful nod, Kishi snagged a steaming mug and downed it in a rapid chug, draining the beverage even before the junior pilot finished turning away. "Fwaaah~! That hit the spot!" she sighed in contentment as she patted her pleasantly warmed belly.

Calling up the interface on her flightsuit, the pilot looked over the details on her Flight and the Infantry Wing she was assigned to escort. Raising her voice to draw the attention of the assorted pilots milling round her, the Flight Lead turned to address the Flight. "Right, we've been assigned escort duty to the Infantry Wings," raising her voice slightly to be heard over the sudden dissatisfied murmurs, she cast them a disapproving gaze and continued. "as such, the twelve of us have the job of covering our marine contingents as they head towards Target Alpha." She raised a hand to indicate one of the 11 Pillager cruisers depicted on the volumetric display and their HUD's tactical map, helpfully blinking in red, "I'll be conferring with the infantry officers about our respective deployment strategies, all of you get to your ships and keep the engines warm. Let's make this quick, guys and girls!"

As Orochi's Oscar Flight dispersed to their respective duties, Kishi did a quick jog over to the Armor Bay section as she looked up a volumetric roster on her HUD. Picking out one of the faces highlighted on the list, she hurried over to an auburn-haired Neko with fuzzy ears. "Nito Heisho Kurosora, was it?" she called out to the currently suiting-up marine, waving to draw her attention. "Nito Heisho Raku, at your service. Your squad's listed as the first wave, I'd like to hash things over with you quickly before we jump out."

"Well, and kind of to get to know the people we'll be covering, I guess." Kishi concluded with a sheepish grin.

Kurosora was just about to put on her helmet when she gave a respectful salute in return to the pilot. The Neko seemed to be looking forward to the fight coming up. "That's right... my 2nd squad is right alongside 1st in the initial sortie fired out of the subspace catapult. Nothing like being the tip of the spear, is it? But the rest of these greenhorns behind me are going to need your help getting to the target in one piece."

"Oh heck, a greenie platoon as pointmen? They're really throwing you straight into the deep end, aren't they?" Looking over the marine Nito Heisho's shoulder at the gaggle of fresh-faced troopers loading up on weapon modules from the armory's racks, Kishi's sheepish grin ecame decidedly uncomfortable. Turning away for a bit, the pilot NCO frowned as she mulled things over for a minute or so, before abruptly perking up and adopted an expression of pleased enlightenment.

"Right! Normally doctrine states that we're supposed to focus on protecting the bulk of the battleforce," she chirped, clapping her hands onto Kim's shoulders, "but I suppose I can spare a Vic or two to chase off those Battlepods off of you all. We'll be going on torpedo runs the moment we close in on the target anyway, so no harm no foul."

Still grinning, Kishi offered a handshake to 2nd Squad's leader. "Orochi Flight at your service, stay behind us and we'll get through this in one piece. Let's get along well, neh~?"

Kim gave a smirk for a moment. "Well, it's not like you don't have your own 99'ers in the sqaudron, eh? Defense garrisons are always like this nowadays, ever since the War died down. The Empire thinks there's no way an attack like this could happen... and yet it just did. So we're all going to have to learn to work together really fast, once we're out in the black. At least you seem to have a good grip on things. The other ships I've heard are not so lucky in that department..."

The red haired NCO returned the handshake with a firm one of her own, and reached for her Aether Beam Saber Rifle. There was not much more time for chit chat as the launch klaxons would be blaring at any moment and her Mindy was sealed up. "Looking forward to fighting with you, Raku-heisho. We survive this, and I'll make a pot of my special holiday chili for your gang."

 

[Primitive Polygon]

YSS Orochi, Armour Bay

Eisei spent several more minutes shaking her head left and right, trying to force more pleasant thoughts into her head as the tension grew. Trying to reach back into her golden dreams, and grasp that figure of lovely grace that once seemed so easy to attain.

Grasping the Aether saber-rifle in both hands by the butt and barrel, she placed her helmet directly against the blade whilst making kissing motions towards it on the inside. It wasn't enough just to access the firmware and create a separate safety mechanism between the rifle and blade options, it was common knowledge that a righteous weapon also needed love to truly obey it's owner as a tool of holy retribution.

"I am a s-star s-soldier!... A star soldier, a c-champion of justice!" The resounding prayer was accompanied with a glimmering sheen of sparkles emanating from her Mindy's holographic system. Whether intentional or not, the audio system was indeed passing her weird sermon onto the ears of those around her, made all the more off putting by the fact that it started week and unsure, before quickly building into a crescendo of firebrand zeal. "On behalf of the flag! I will right misdeeds, and hideously puncture the forces of evil! And that means you!... Y-you d-disreputable invertebrates!"

On a dime, her stance had seemingly changed from being paralyzed by some existential dread, to being completely ready for combat.

Whether the Heisho appreciated that sort of zeal, well... That remained to be seen.

 

[Eistheid]

YSS Orochi, Armour Bay

"Hai Heisho." It was the only response that she could manage after the explanation and the knowledge that she couldn't plan ahead to eliminate the threats of the sortie ahead of them. She would just have to handle the threats as they came and hope that the Star Army's training was as effective as her instructors had boasted.

While the temptation was great to douse Scar-chan's fiery bout of passion before he went up in flames, Mayu instead found herself mulling over the nature of their mission as she finished attaching her teleportation pack, countermeasures, and capacitors. With a signal for her AIES to spool up the Mindy's aether generator to rapidly pre-charge her extra components, Mayu did her best not to think too much on the nature and goals of the mission instead trying to focus on the much simpler task of the combat itself. When they launched she would have little to worry about aside from firing on foes and making her way toward the target.

With her Aether Sabre Beam Rifle in hand Mayu found that she had little to do aside from wait, and ask her AIES inane and redundant questions in an effort to avoid over thinking.

Soon she would be in space.

Soon she would be in combat.

Soon she would discover what she had truly been made for.

 

[OsakaMoose]

YSS Orochi, Armor Bay

While Nito Heisho Kurosora answered the squad's concerns over tactical details, Sigrid kept a watchful eye over the 50mm Gauss Cannon she got ready to mount on her right shoulder. Paying careful attention to properly load the helical magazine filled with 18 armor piercing rounds, the Neko smiled at how perfectly suited the weapon was to her fighting style. She savored the idea of violently bursting into the NMX ship, causing confusion and distress among its vile crew, and firing one of the first shots straight between the eyes of a Mishu. The Tungsten rounds should prove to not only cut through their thick shells like butter, but also prevent much brains and bodily fluids from spilling all over her Mindy in the process. With the cannon mounted, she set the fire rate to single shot to ensure quick, clean and ammo-efficient kills. This contrasted on every level with squadmate Eizo's weapon of choice, a flamethrower, which Sigrid thought to be too messy at best and potentially dangerous to friendlies and civilians at worst. But her Heisho seemed to approve, and she would not question her wisdom. Despite Eizo's cocky attitude, she returned his grin, gave him a thumb up, and hoped for the best.

Soon after, Sigrid noticed the Nito Heisho pilot of the 1st squad shake hands with Kurosora and engage in seemingly friendly introductions. Even though she was too far to hear any of the conversation clearly, all it took was one second for the Santo Hei to understand the pilot's brief expression of discomfort upon looking at the members of the 2nd squad. Sigrid understood that the fighters would take huge risks protecting her and her team for a mission that could easily fail due to their inexperience. It didn't appear as if the Heisho had much faith in the squad, and the idea suddenly made Sigrid feel insecure of her abilities as a soldier of the Star Army.

"I am a s-star s-soldier!... A star soldier, a c-champion of justice!"

Eisei? Wha...?

Sigrid glanced over to see her squadmate, seemingly nervous, utter words of encouragement, with her helmet's microphone broadcasting her speech for everyone in the team to hear. She couldn't tell whether this was intentional or not, but Eisei's words could not have been received at a better time. She reminded Sigrid of who she was, and of what needed to be done. She will go out to fight, and she will be victorious.

"On behalf of the flag! I will right misdeeds, and hideously puncture the forces of evil! And that means you!... Y-you d-disreputable invertebrates!"

"Hoorah!" she instinctively shouted, holding up her fist. However, quickly realizing that she might have drawn attention, she lowered it and looked elsewhere, somewhat glad that helmets could also conceal blushing cheeks. After a brief moment, she gently walked over to Eisei and layed her hand on her comrade's shoulder. "Thanks for that," Sigrid said, "I needed that. It's an honor to serve by you."

 

[Primitive Polygon]

YSS Orochi, Armour Bay

Eisei regarded the larger mindy with surprise at first, taking a minute to dial up their identification marker number on the squad's digital roster. It wasn't that she had forgotten everything about the fellow recruit, simply that she had always been completely useless with names.

"Fukuzawa? You feel it too?" An extremely upbeat and enthusiastic chirp, as she grasp the slender nekovalkyrja's hand in order to shake it thoroughly. The lithe thing seemed impressed with the choice of fitting a gauss cannon, angling her head sideways slightly to observe it with mirth. "May your divine weapon ring true, and bring down tremendous fell justice upon the heads of those abhorrent loathsome tyrants!"

Yes, this is a joyous day. I must remember that.

The sudden feeling of camaraderie steeled her uneasy mind. It was so easy to slip into negativity given what lay ahead of them, but the promise of what could be won was also great. Every swing of the sword was an innocent life extended. Every battlecry a prayer for retribution.

Yes, she could taste it now, the feeling of being exactly where her soul desired. All there was left to do was wait for her Heisho to make the call, and they would be out in the infinite starlight, eight hundred and ninety-six shining sentinels, carving out true love in perfect solidarity...

 

[paladinrpg]

♫ Samurai Collection - Rising Sun

Jun System

Coalescing against the red nebula's backdrop were eight distinct purple swirls, harbingers of yet more warships to arrive in a sleepy system that was now fast becoming anything but. Emerging from each aetheric bubble was the member vessels of Orochi Squadron, each Irim Gunship's imposing pronged shape lancing into being with purpose as they dropped out of fold at the boundary of the system, and immediately began to assess the battlespace before them.

Although sketchy, their intelligence proved correct as the expected NMX cruiser fleet were hovering menacingly over the lone habitable planet that contained the mining colony that had sent out the distress call. It seemed the last Pillager cruiser was at that very moment rising up into space from the planet's surface loaded up with its human cargo to join its other brethren, the lone Tivurthinth escort also spurring its engines into motion as the alarm was raised through the Mishhuvurthyar raiders. A Yamataian response force had arrived as expected... just according to plan...


YSS Orochi, Bridge

Hachimitsu-Taisa departed the lower decks soon after giving her rousing speech, leaving the actual organizing to the various squad-level NCO's. Her place was on the bridge in command after all, and she wanted to be there the very minute they arrived in system. Yuuki dutifully followed her as well, as the Captain plopped her Nekovalkyrja rump into the red velvet chair that was to be her chariot of battle and called out, "Report!"

A vermillion-haired sprite named Miyoga, seated at the sensors station near Fuji-shoi, piped up. "Hai, Taisa! Sensors confirming presence of NMX assets in system. Fleet composition is 11 Pillagers and 1 Tivurthinth-class patrol vessel. They appear to be leaving orbit, and engaging their STL drives and are on course to the opposite edge of the star's hill sphere. Preliminary life signs aboard are much higher than expected... they must have a significant amount of prisoners held on those ships."

By this point the Ketsurui Samurai had adjusted her daisho's scabbards in her obi, and walked to the large planning table, bringing up a volumetric projection of where all the ships were in relation to each other for the Taisa to see. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "It appears they are going to flee into FTL range, Mikoto-sama. We are at a speed disadvantage, and can't risk firing our main weapons due to prisoners being mainly contained in the rear sections of such vessels. It seems we will have to go with the infantry assault plan to have a chance..."

Mikoto grumbled a bit at the fact she couldn't do this the quick and easy way she would have preferred. Going in aether cannons blazing was not going to work in this delicate situation, and time was of the essence. The veteran Neko considered all the variables in that split second of deep thought and soon made her decision, standing up from her chair and speaking with that air of a dramatic general in command of the situation.

"All stations, to Readiness Condition 2! Subspace catapults begin charging, and prepare to launch on my signal." She paused only to draw breath as the klaxons blared once, before laying her amber eyes on the members of the lower bridge over the railing. "Helm, set course to chase, maximum speed... weapons, load tubes with subspace detonating torpedoes and fire when ready." The silver-haired Taisa then hit a button to open a line to engineering.. "Tachibana-heisho, give the CFS all you can, we need as much speed as possible... draw down some of the shield energy if you must. We've got to catch them before they escape. That's an order!" An orange-haired and rusty skinned Neko tried to put up an argument to Mikoto's demands, but eventually gave in and started seeing what they could jury rig on the old warhorse to get it running more like a young stallion again.

The tactical orders were sent to all of the gunships, their STL engines simultaneously blasting to life with a roar of zero-point energy coming into being.

YSS Orochi, Armor Bay

The arrival in system was able to be seen by the assembled infantry and pilots through viewports, as the purple glow outside within the FTL bubble was quickly replaced by the gaseous crimson of the nearby space. A shake went though the vessel as it's power levels rose to maximum in a hurry, the anticipation of the moment ending now with a call to action.

"ATTENTION: Readiness Condition is now 2. All hands, prepare for combat. This is not a drill," announced the MEGAMI in a pleasant yet somewhat insistent voice that was not entirely unlike her mistress. "Mindy Infantry squads 1 and 2, please proceed to catapults for EVA launch wave 1... Oscar Squadron fightercraft begin taxiing into launch queue..."

 

[Primitive Polygon]

YSS Orochi, Armour Bay

Eisei had to resist the urge to make aeroplane arms as she skipped back into formation, making a quick glance over to the first squad's formation that was already making movements to begin loading into the launch catapult. Standing to attention with so many kindred spirits felt fantastic. The sound of clunking boots alone was invigorating. There wouldn't be long to wait until they unite with destiny now...

A hissing sound. The catapult access elevator was returning. It was time to go.

 

[Eistheid]

YSS Orochi, Armour Bay

It was becoming clear that Santo Hei Seo Mayu was a little out of place beside her peers. She lacked the precombat nervousness that some of her peers were charged with, yet at the same time she was not swept up in the giddy courageous thrill that had been bred by Eisei in some of the PA squad. Were she asked while wandering along aside her sisters, Mayu might have responded with a casually catty pun, or perhaps she'd be honest and admit that she was a little bored. The anticipation she envied in the others around her seemed to have skipped her entirely. Instead she couldn't take her mind out of the future.

As she shuffled to get ready for the catapult launch she found that her mind was already ahead, in the void of space. She could already see the flash of aether in the void, the swirling mist of the nebula in her passage, and the suddenly silenced screams of her peers. Where the others were dealing with coming to terms with the prospect of combat, Mayu was disappointed that they weren't already engaged. For her peace of mind would only come once they were in the thick of things and she could focus on simply doing rather than thinking.

Thankfully that moment was rapidly approaching.

 

[OsakaMoose]

YSS Orochi, Armor Bay

Sigrid's smile reached high up to her ears upon seeing her squad mate's enthusiasm for the upcoming battle. Looks like we have a poet in the team, she thought, amused.

In a swift dash, the slender Neko headed towards the catapult elevator the Mindy squad had already started entering. With her suit's systems and weaponry ready, she gave one more salute to Heisho Kurusora and the Oscar Squadron's leader.

It's time to answer the Yamatai Empire's call.

 

[paladinrpg]

YSS Orochi, Armor Bay

Kurosora-heisho looked through her helmet as the elevators that led up to the catapult system loaded with the first 10 Mindy-clad infantry of Orochi's 1st squad that disappeared from their view all in a neat formation. They were considered the best of the ship's training compliment, a model for all the others to follow. In truth Kim was a little bit envious, always having to follow in their wake. But even if her squad was a little ragtag and disorganized in comparison, seeing the re-educated NMX Neko Eguchi trembling with such excitement and speaking of justice gave her a glimmer that maybe they could be the ones on top this time. The only way to know for sure was to step on the platform that locked into place on the glossy black floor with a loud CLICK, awaiting it's next load... the catapult fired in waves of 20, and it needed their presence to advance to wave 2.

It was a wild ride they had just finished previously, their power armors turned into subspace-encased living bullets at speeds approaching FTL. Some newbies had humorously lost their lunch that first time they did the run-through, the butt of jokes throughout the squad as a result. But nevertheless they and all their detractors had to face the dizzying rollercoaster once more... this time fired at a much faster operational speed at their targets, which were now going to be shooting at them. The subspace coils could only do part of the work though, and once the boost was expended it was up to their thrusters and their mettle to make the last leg of the way to their Primary Target.

"Whether you're a champion of justice, or just want to fry some squids, let's load up!" the red striped leader called out, setting the example for the rest to follow suit as her Mindy stepped onto the lift. The missing Yamato-hei ran up from behind at the last minute and so did a few others of their group who were less well-practiced. She gave an impatient nod to Jace who was the only one left still fiddling with some equipment at the last minute. "Coven-hei -- I don't care if you take your pet hamster and a scullery knife, just grab it and get moving... or else this party leaves without you."

Meanwhile, the 12 assigned Hyabusa's, now loaded for their mission, were spooling up their engines and beginning to pull out of their parking zones to form a line behind their Raku-heisho's lead starfighter. They would launch in pairs in tandem with the 5 waves of infantry, covering them as they penetrated the enemy's screen. The blonde Miyoshi was of course the last of Oscar Flight to get underway to the runway, fumbling with the controls as her nerves got the better of her.

As all this action and anticipation was taking place, the ships of Orochi Squadron mirrored their flagship, preparing their own infantry salvos with practiced synchronicity.

 

[paladinrpg]

♫ Infinite Strength

YSS Orochi, Subspace Catapult

The loading elevator soon separated from the Armor Bay floor with its load of infantry upon it, and went up a short distance to catapult system where it again locked into place to debark 2nd squad into the small, thin room that was the launching chamber. All the way down the runway's walls were mounted a massive array of subspace coils, now steadily humming as the ship's power flowed through their circuits. Ahead of them laid a forcefield protected exit that opened into space with the Irim's trademark forward spikes visible, with the planet Jun a small sphere in the distance that was rapidly getting closer.

A glance to one's left could see also through the maintenance scaffolding 1st squad lined up on a similar short runway, the first Mindy's beginning to fire up their power systems and hover above the floor. The Heisho gave the circular signal with her hand for 2nd squad to do likewise, the aether reactors onboard everyone's Mindy's flaring to life as the CFS came up to green status. This thrum matched that of the now fully powered coil array, as the air within the chamber took on a certain charged quality to it they could feel even through their armor's shields, causing the tiny sensitive hairs of their Neko ears to briefly stand on end.

The MEGAMI seemed to embody their rising anticipation as it counted down. "Subspace catapult charged. Firing in 3....2....1...."


YSS Orochi, Bridge

The large volumetric map on the table before the samurai suddenly was filled with a peppering of red as sensors detected the aether energy signatures that indicated the enemy fleet had begun to launch its battlepods. The pings continued at a breakneck speed, like a cloud of angry insects disgorged by a hive that was struck. Yuuki looked up towards the Taisa. "Mikoto-sama, the enemy has raised shields and multiple battlepod launches have been detected. At least 200 confirmed contacts."

"Looks like it has begun..." Hachimitsu-Taisa replied, with a widening smile to her first officer. The zesuiaum tessen in her hand gleamed in the lights of the bridge as the silver-haired Captain thrust it out before her towards the fleeing NMX on the forward viewscreen, her ample chest bouncing once in her tight white paneled uniform as she did so. The hemosynthetic blood tingled in her veins, as her voice boomed from deep within her soul to her fellow sisters of battle: "Orochi Squadron... HASSHIN!!"

YSS Orochi, Subspace Catapult

...Launch." ended the countdown. There was a boom from somewhere behind the assembled team as the next thing the hovering soldiers saw was the opening racing towards them within nanoseconds, simultaneously pushed and pulled violently into the vastness of space. Technicians aboard the Orochi monitored the 20 Infantry members' successful acceleration to 12,000 times the speed of light, before readying the next salvo of infantry to follow only several seconds later.

 

[Primitive Polygon]

YSS Orochi -> Open Space, Approaching Battlepod Formation

"Just let the fighters take care of the pods-zee..." Eisei played back her recording of the Taisa's briefing on the way down, making sure she didn't miss anything. She made sure to turn off her audio transmissions this time, too, as her voice was reverting back to an squeaky inarticulate mess, the kind of faux-casual tone that only someone trying to act normal whilst terrified could make. No more time for concentrating on fancy speeches. One mistake here, and she would be dead meat. "Then they drop the torpedoes, sheildies go down, 'an we follow 'em in to knife the hulls..."

Staring straight ahead resolutely, both hands still gripping her saber rifle by the butt and barrel, a quaking anticipation took over her limbs as they came within view of the catapult's projectors. Watching the first squad disappear... In all honesty, it reminded her a little too much of stepping into a meat grinder. Being prepared for a sword fight was one thing, but this was really something else. Organised deployment of violence on an unthinkably huge level...

"They t-think the s-s-starlight b-belongs to them..." The helmet was struggling to compensate for her heavy breathing, fogging slightly in the corners. Tremors rippled around her body as a silent prayer was uttered, desperately attempting to remind herself why she had chosen this path and what she was trying to prove. "I w-won't f-forgive them. This is it. I'll s-strike t-them down..."

The launch timer reached zero. Immediately, they were... Just, somewhere else.

The trained bracing stance was not nearly enough to prepare Eisei for what immediately followed. The feeling of acceleration, and then subspace transition, was gut-wrenching in the extreme. For a few deranged moments, she might as well have lost all her senses at once, overcome by a massive slew of flashing lights, screeching noises, and harrowing g-forces all overwhelming her in unison.

Space? It was black. With white bits?

The diminutive soldier shut her eyes, turned on her weapon's blade, and followed the virtual telemetry information from her comrades.

She could do this. She had to do this.

 

[Eistheid]

YSS Orochi -> Open Space, Approaching Battlepod Formation

Shuffling with the others onto the catapult had been an effort in agony. Moments that should have been brief had stretched into small eternities, and waiting for her entire squad to lock into place felt longer than her entire life. Sudeenly, and without any sort of mementos occasion Mayu was liberated. In contrast to the agonizing eternity between preparing for launch and launching, the relief was instant. All worry, anxiety, and dismay was torn from her accelerating form leaving her pure clarity. In this instant Mayu was content.

Immediately Mayu set her AIES to begin actively scanning on all bands, she wanted as much intel as her Mindy could provide. She wanted to know if one of the battlepods even looked her way let alone fired at her. Her best defence was to see the enemy coming first. At the same time she patiently watched the distance rapidly drop, approaching the sweet spot of just under 480,000 km. At this point she would no longer be a Mindy flung through space, she would be a soldier firing on her enemy. Fire she would, she had no intention of leaving her defence in the hands of the fighter squadron and would cut down any who dared turn their weapons on her fragile squad.


Soon the Mishhuvurthyar would learn again why it was the YSE that had prevailed and not the NMX. Soon they would taste aetheric death. Soon Seo Mayu would live what she had been made to do.

 

[Grey Library]

YSS Orochi, Subspace Catapult

"Sit tight everyone, we're going for one hell of a ride! Stick together and watch each other's backs, I'll see you all on the other side!"

Subspace catapult charged. Firing in 3....2....1....

...LAUNCH."

Klendathu Drop - Starship Troopers Theme

"Oscar Actual, launching!" A resounding boom rattled the pilot pod as the catapult's subspace coils seized the Hayabusa V6D and hurled it bodily out of the YSS Orochi, accelerating the craft briefly past the speed of light. Assorted whoops, cheers, battlecries and screams erupted over the tac-net as the Irim-class Gunship spat out its attached fighter complements towards the NMX fleet, a swarm of purple arrowheads backed by a veritable sea of infantry specks stretching as far as Kishi's eyes could see. Already her radar display was lit up like Yuletide trees as transponders all across the strikeforce came online, burying the readouts in countless blips and dots.

Even as soon as they were launched, the infantry companies began clustering into well-drilled formations behind the protective screens of the Hayabusa fighter Vics, the Oscar pilots segueing into three-ship elements with practised ease. Suppressing a tiny smirk as she saw that they were (yet again) the first ones out, the Nito Heisho cracked her knuckles and got to work. "Blue and Yellow Elements, you're our space superiority! Give 'em hell for the rest of us!" The azure-haired Neko barked as she pushed her Hayabusa forward, accelerating to pole position in front of the PA wave. "Red and Green Elements, form up on me! Stick with the squishies and focus on covering fire, we're in charge of cracking open the squiddie ship for the infantry!" As a chorus of assents sounded oer the comms, the Flight Lead spared a glance at the craft of her left wingman. "Oscar 3," she called in a softer tone as addressed Miyoshi-hei, the resident moeblob of the squadron. "stay close to me, you hear? I'll make sure you'll survive this mess just fine."

YSS Orochi -> Open Space, Approaching Battlepod Formation

Silence began to descend over the tac-net as the assorted units slid into position, the comms only sounding off with terse chatter every so often. As the strikeforce burned towards the shaded silhouettes just above the horizon of Jun II, it almost seemed as if space itself washolding its breath in anticipation of the oncoming clash. Holding position at the forefront, Kishi cast a glance at the buzzing crowd of Mindys trailing behind them, bright puffs of thrusters flaring as the suited troopers made best speed to keep up with them. "2nd Squad, you receiving?" she called over the comms as she remembered the face of one Kurosora-heisho. "This is Oscar Actual speaking, stick close to my boys and girls and we'll get you through this in one piece. Good luck, and good hunting!"

 

[OsakaMoose]

YSS Orochi, Subspace Catapult

This was it. No turning back now.

Sigrid took advantage of the last few seconds before launch to tune into her surroundings. She gazed at the deep, open space beyond the force field at the end of the catapult. She listened to the overwhelming but gentle hum of the powered coil array. She focused on her slow, rhythmic breaths. Even though she has done this several times before during training, this launch was going to be completely different. This launch was going to throw her in the middle of a real, chaotic combat zone. While she tried to suppress any fear from taking over her mind, or at least becoming apparent to her squad, the young Neko could not help but feel anguish at the thought of "dying" - because even if she could be re-manufactured, she would have to undergo training and socialization once more. She would have to work with strangers and forget those with whom she just started to develop some sort of bond. Worst of all, she would fail her Heisho and the Star Army. Paying attention to her surroundings was the only thing that could really calm her at this time.

But... What if I...?

"Subspace catapult charged. Firing in 3....2....1...."

No. I won't.

The MEGAMI's voice resounded and broke through the fear that clouded her mind. The language, neutral and certain, reminded her to stay focused and do what she was born to do. Like the voice, there would be no doubt, there would be no hesitation. Sigrid Fukuzawa had one mission: fight the NMX and rescue the prisoners - her personal concerns will have no more importance.

She positioned herself and braced for ...

"...Launch."

Open Space

With barely enough time to fully assess feeling shot out at FTL speeds, Sigrid found herself surrounded by the wide expanse of space. The mere vastness, compared to the enclosed and sometimes cramped environment of the ship, was enough to make her feel somewhat lightheaded. But the Neko managed to regain her senses as her helmet's monitors lit up and traced her trajectory to the NMX targets.

Remembering Heisho Kurosora's orders, Sigrid turned on her rifle's blade and ensured her countermeasures were ready for anything the enemy would dish out. She also kept a close eye for any possible alerts indicating approaching targets or projectiles. Oscar Squadron seemed confident in its abilities to cover her and her squad, so she trusted them. Hopefully, they would reciprocate the feeling.

Time to make Yamatai proud.

 

[paladinrpg]

♫ Ghost Blade - Stage 1 Theme / Rock

Space, Near NMX Fleet

Colorful streaks zipped against the sanguine nebula towards their target, trails left by the hundreds of hyper-accelerated Mindy's that poured out of the barrels of the eight Irim gunships. Hyabusa squadrons formed up and kicked in their afterburners to lead the way. Though there was noticeable stragglers who deployed unevenly, it seemed the urgency of this real mission had caused most of the jitters before in the exercise to melt away like a distant memory. For the soldiers cast into the black at their foes, all that seemed to matter was this moment, what every one of them deep down knew what they were born to do.

A moment of peace in the dark. Calmness as the subspace bubbles around them cracked and faded away, their energies spent and real space intruded once again.

As senses fully returned to the warriors of Orochi squadron, AIES indicators suddenly were awash with red enemy targets, as swarms of snakeskin-patterned NMX Type 33 Battlepods screeched past their sudden appearances and banked, splitting into groups of 4 and darting back at the detachment's position. Visuals confirmed that these bogey's were not loaded out with heavy starship killing torpedoes, but rather heavy shield generators and homing missiles, which gleamed from their bellies in the light of Jun's star. The Mishhuvurthyar masterminds behind the attack were obviously well-prepared to take on exactly the superior numbers tactic that was being utilized against them, as a brain-slave piloted battlepod that favored endurance could keep the SAoY forces at bay long enough for the Pillagers to escape.

The battlepod screen wasn't the only thing they had to worry about, as the NMX fleet's Pillager group began opening up with their Anti-Smallcraft Turrets, locking onto the legion of PA's and strafing back and forth with pulses of aetheric energy. One good hit from these was enough to cause critical damage to a Mindy if it was not dodged in time, though they were lucky that the light cruiser's Furious forward-facing main cannons were pointed away. The lone Tivurthinth patrol cruiser leading the retreat to the system edge also could not use it's Aether Beam Cannon to devastate entire swaths of the battlefield, but that did not stop it from choosing instead to train it's two dozen anti-starship turrets onto the squadrons of covering fighters, lances of yellow energy striking to the left and right flanks trying to pen them in and reduce their mobility. Whoever was in command of this fleet, knew exactly what they were doing.

Kurosora Kim gripped the blade of her beam saber rifle and blasted ahead to form up with her escort. "I receive, Oscar Actual. Looks like the squids are playing keep away. Everyone, just as we practiced! Pair up, loose formation in range of our fighters! Don't forget your anti-missile countermeasures, and keep moving!"

What was darkness before now was filled with the light of battle. Somewhere in the din, the first scream of a Nekovalkyrja's infantry woman's life being ended in a flash of aether reactor overload echoed through the void. First blood had been spilled... there was no going back now.

(more coming)

 

[paladinrpg]

Meanwhile...

NMX Pillager Cruiser 'XSS Krampus', Prisoner Containment Area

The row of prisoner cells on Deck 4 shook with a rumble that could be felt from the deck above as battlepods launched into space and the light cruiser's guns began firing. This sudden bustle of activity jarred the occupants of one of these cells back to awareness, dim red light the only thing that the three scaled aliens could see by. By the door a familiar face of their captor lurked not far away, attached to the tall and shapely form of a Nightmare Type they vaguely recalled being named Perchta.

There was some shouting going on as the Prisoner Handling Specialist barked orders at her various thralls down the corridor connecting to the cargo bay that was stuffed to the brim with hundreds of extra bodies instead of equipment, the tentacles on her hair and back writhing at the prospect of their suffering. They had apparently chosen to leave their vehicles behind on the planet's surface and instead force as many captured Yamataian colonists as possible into the cramped space for their hasty escape back to their base. Most were still in a state of despair and shock, and this allowed the overseers such as Perchta to keep them in line well enough. But the ones in the cells she had caught before were meant to be kept a closer eye on.

The Nightmare Mishhu soon returned to walk the line of cells and peered in at her scaled guests through the square window in the door. Her voice was sweet, yet tainted with a sadistic edge as she spoke in Trade. "These colonists are all cattle, fit for the slave pits... but you three... Vekimen, was it? Ohh yes... the Master will reward me handsomely for delivering such rare specimens to him as a Yuletide gift." The lock on the door clicked as it creaked open. "Yes, a little inspection should relieve my boredom while everyone else enjoys killing those Star Army fools... fuhuhuh."