ON: Tatiana System
Day one, fourth month, thirty-first year of the Empire…
The unrest that burst upon Yamatai’s expansive star empire only a few hours earlier had entirely missed the system and planet of Tatiana. Normally, this place would be defended by twenty-four of the Third Standard Fleet’s Irim-class gunships, but when it was obvious that the fleet overwhelming the nearby Nataria system was anything but friendly, all but two of those had vacated to help in the defense of the Star Army Fleet Depot there. Now all that remained in orbit above Tatiana, other than the token force left by the Third, was a handful of law enforcement vessels that were normally used to perform customs duties and the YSV Tsukuyomi, a battlecruiser operated by the Saiga family, who called the planet their home.
~*~YSV Tsukuyomi~*~
“Long range sensors are showing five unidentified contacts on the edge of the system, Kaneda-sama,” piped the Geshrin girl manning the Tsukuyomi’s sensors station, breaking the lingering silence that had persisted since word came of the attacks across the Empire. She was young and hopeful, and probably scared, but it didn’t show. “They match pattern with some older Ketsurui Fleet Yards Yui-class scouts, but aren’t answering any of our preliminary hails,” she said, turning in her seat so that her green eyes could see the captain behind her, her dark green hair falling behind her shoulder as she did so. “Orders?”
The man she spoke to remained silent in his seat, staring at the main screen as it flashed with activity when the approaching vessels came within range. “I’m sure that the Star Army Irim are aware of their presence. If they move in, so shall we,” he said.
“Aye, Kaneda-sama.”
~~~*~~~
Indeed, the Star Army ships had picked up the incoming vessels. Almost immediately, the captains of the YSS Takakazu and Masaki pushed their vessels to full speed, making their way towards the silent intruders. Unlike Saiga Kaneda and his crew, Abe and Michishita-taii both knew that these ships weren’t friendly. The communications from Star Army Command had been sparse, but the latest reports detailed that any ships transmitting identification codes associated with Uesu’s fleet, as these were, almost certainly held hostile intentions and should be destroyed. And as the two Irim closed with the Yui, the Tsukuyomi not far behind, they each launched the fighter squadron that had recently been assigned to their ship while holding their power armor platoons in reserve. This would doubtlessly be a sufficient baptism of fire for the newly-formed starfighter groups.
"Final check clear, all systems are go," the voice of the lead pilot for the Angel Squadron of the YSS Takakazu's 116th Strike Wing alerted the mission control. The launch bay's dazzling lights reflected sharply against the pristine Hayabusa's canopy. The squad lead reached back, waiting on her clearance, and the second she got it, flicked the switch and off she went along the catapult to join up with her group. "Sorry for the late launch guys; had to get my left wing rechecked. But it looks like we're good to go, all units stay in formation and approach with caution. Look lively guys, this is the real thing." The lead V6 with silver squadron command markings fell into her position and approached the ship waiting for engagement orders from the mission command. "This is Jôtô Heisho Shippou, Angel Squad is in the air and all birds accounted for—awaiting further orders."
As the five Yui closed in, Masaki and Takakazu opened fire with their Positron Accelerator cannons and Main Weapon Array, immediately obliterating one of the oncoming scout ships in a plume of spectacular fire and light that stretched out in a long streak for dozens of kilometers. But one among the silent enemy’s numbers pointed its prow at the Masaki, launching its own power armor to counter and hold off the Irim's units as the Yui made a beeline for the other vessel. Their intention was clear: they were going to ram the Masaki.
Point defense weapons came alive as the Yui sped in, firing its own weapons to soften its target. The Masaki’s fighter squadron fired as well, darting through their own ship’s blaze of fire. And as the small enemy ship closed, trailing streams of gas and flame from its numerous wounds, it veered upwards as if its death were imminent. Confident that it would be destroyed soon enough, the fighters broke off and the Masaki passed on to engaged with the others.
From the bridge of the Tsukuyomi, its crew would witness that same Yui, listing in its death throes, turn sharply back towards its target, smashing its main hull from the upper port side. The two conjoined vessels drifted with the force of the impact, gouts of ignited oxygen spouting from the twisted and mangled Irim-class gunship. Debris pattered against the Saiga ship’s hull as it moved through the point where the collision occurred. From his place at the command chair, Kaneda wondered with even more interest as to just who their enemy was, and why they would resort to such tactics so early in the battle.
When the two ships slammed together, creating an opening that bridged decks from both vessels, large monsters with hard shells and giant snapping claws burst through what remained of the shredded bulkhead as the vanguard of the assault on the Masaki. Behind them were infected Neko in their powered armor and bringing up the rear were the Mishhuvurthyar proper—the new advanced Neo-Mishhuvurthyar, to be certain, but Mishhuvurthyar nonetheless. Most of them utilized their stealth abilities to sneak around the Masaki and take it's crew by surprise as they fortified their defenses against the most visible threats.
The infected Neko gladly acted as a shield against the Masaki's defenses and let their power armor take the hits while the Advanced-types snuck around, floating as need be to get behind and drug any crewmembers that didn't happen to be protected in powered armor of their own. The huge Crab-types rushed any armored foes, head down, as their huge head crests protect them from fire and gave them something to slam with, trying to crack the armor and get to the squishy centers within. The infected and the crabs showed no preference in their targets, but the sneaking Advanced-types split thier victims into those to be used for food and eggs and those to be used for breeding.
Plasma and aether shot flashed between the gunship’s dazed crew and their Mishhuvurthyar attackers, the Neko and Yamataian soldiers defending themselves with little success. The shock of the impact combined with the unexpected face of the Masaki’s attackers left the ship’s crew as anything but the brave defenders they should have been. Rather, they became fodder for the demons that attacked them whether their fate would be destruction or a perverse, rapturous existence as a gestation container for Mishhuvurthyar eggs. Within eighty-six seconds, infected Neko, swarms of parasites, and Advanced-type monstrosities were poised to take the bridge.
Out in the void, the Takakazu opened fire again, destroying another of the Yui in concert with the two deployed fighter wings as the enemy came about for another pass. The continued communications silence from the Masaki enraged the pilots of its fighter wing, who began attacking with more and more brazen tactics, some of the pilots going so far as to barrel roll into their oncoming enemies with weapons armed, creating brilliant, effective impacts on the two remaining enemy ships until there was only one. Soon after a streaming broadside fusillade from the Takakau would obliterate the last enemy Yui.
“This is Michishita-taii on the Masaki,” crackled a voice over the communications lines. SMG and NSP fire could be heard loud in the background, as could horrific shrieks interlaced with some momentary, eerie moans of ecstasy. “They’ve got to the bridge. I don’t know how much longer we will be able to hold them,” he said, frightened as the sounds of battle came closer. “No! By the kami, no!” he sobbed violently. “Don’t let the Mishhuvurthyar kill us all! Save us bef—.” And with that, the communication stopped, dead silence reigning over the channel just as it did aboard the Tsukuyomi, Takakazu, and fightercraft. It would not last long, however, and erupted almost simultaneously with the tangled mass that was once an Irim and a Yui.
Surprise bellowed over the communications channel after a full volley exploded forth from the Tsukuyomi’s weapons batteries, destroying the crippled ships in one magnificent fusillade. “You were not authorized to do that!” spat Abe-taii from the Takakazu. “We could have sent armors to board and taken the ship back!”
“If you, the Star Army of Yamatai, are unwilling to do what is necessary to ensure the safety of this system and empire, we do not have any problems with doing so ourselves,” Kaneda replied with a cold serenity, activating a visual feed to reply more directly. “If you would like to argue the point, Captain, I would be happy to. Sending resources would only cause further loss of this force’s already meager defensive ability. Supplying the Mishhuvurthyar with more power would not be in the best interests of our great star empire.”
“You’re out of line! When this is ov—”
“But am I wrong?” the Saiga captain said, cutting off the Yamataian taii as he spoke. No other response followed; the channel was closed. With the enemy threat gone, the two remaining ships returned to a place closer to Tatiana, their combat controllers rather than captains handling any coordination that had to be done from that point forward.
~*~Three hours later~*~
The XSS Oubliette and it's nearly three-quarter-thousand ships warped into range of Tatiana with little fanfare or announcement and immediately opened fire, their initial volley decimating the Takakazu in a hail of aether fire and wounding the Tsukuyomi as well. Not content with merely blasting them to space dust, the head of this fleet, the Great General Carbleaudex broadcast a message to the remaining ship.
"HU HU HU~," his booming voice came over the communications system on all channels. "I AM THE GREAT GENERAL CARBLEAUDEX AND YOU WILL SUBMIT TO MY WILL!" He let them see inside his command center from the Oubliette, which looked more akin to a throne room, with a massive seat built to accommodate his ten meter tall frame draped with a large black cape, the symbol of the Mishhuvurthyar on the back, which was draped over one of his massive claws to show it off to his prey. His head crest and the shell on his back were tattooed in vivid colors that swirled and contorted, forming eyes as big and as piercing as his own. All around his seat were the bodies of broken Neko and Yamataians that had been tortured and put to death in various methods—some by crushing, some cut in half by his giant crab-like claws. A couple of them were barely alive. Carbleaudex didn't ask any questions; he needed no battle tactics, he simply enjoyed crushing his enemies before them and the look in their eyes as they knew there would be escape, no mercy from his sadistic pleasures. There were SMX bodies there, too. Old types that the NMX General enjoyed rushing and eating, absorbing their power into his own. His massive back shell parted and thick, inky tentacles slithered there way out and put on a writhing display for the Tsukiyomi. "SUBMIT OR PERISH!
No response came from the armed vessels that remained. The Star Army fightercraft, power armor, and Takakazu were quick to come about, redirecting their course to confront the new Mishhuvurthyar force head on. Chaos reigned aboard all of the ships that surrounded the proud forest jewel of the Warmaster worlds as the arrival of Carbleaudex’s fleet proved the ultimate futility that their evacuation attempts would have.
“Operations—report. How long do we have to hold?” Abe-taii said as his gunship paced quickly towards the almost seven-hundred-and-fifty enemy craft. Aether and plasma raced past on the bridge’s viewscreen, most missing their mark while few brought a quick end to the power armored troopers and fighter pilots racing along beside their mothership.
“Kanchou, less tha—less than two percent of Tatiana’s population has been evacuated,” a shoi stuttered in a forsaken voice from the operations station. “MEGAMI advises that retreat is the most desirable option and, as your combat control officer, I—I concur, Abe-taii.”
The Takakazu’s captain swiveled in his command seat just enough to peer over his shoulder at the shoi. “Who the hell do you think we are, Aiko-shoi?” he asked rhetorically. “And show that bastard Kaneda that he’s right about us? We aren’t cowards in the Star Army!” Abe turned back so that he faced his vessel’s bow, punching in a command on a volumetric display that opened a channel to his ship, the Star Army warriors that followed it, and the other ships that still hung in orbit around Tatiana. “As the highest ranking representative of the Star Army currently present, I would advise that all vessels vacate the system immediately. The Takakazu will provide its services as a rearguard until such time as it is destroyed. Those Star Army personnel in this makeshift squadron who object to my decision and this course of action are free to take shuttlecraft, your fighter, or your power armor to a civilian ship and leave without fear that the Empire will think any less of you.”
Even as he spoke, many of the civilian ships winked out of existence. By the end of his address, only the Tsukuyomi and around five-dozen ships remained, all trying to squeeze what time they could to get more people off of the planet’s surface.
~~~*~~~
"Great General," one of eight the Advanced types that was working the large console at the font of the Oubliette's bridge informed Carbleaudex, "They're not responding, they're stalling—" but he didn't get to say anything else, the gigantic crab-like monster was quick to rush forward and clench the Mishhuvurthyar communications technician in his gigantic claw. "DESTROY THEM ALL!" he yelled, his voice booming throughout his bridge as he squeezed his subordinate so hard that he almost popped. "DESTROY THEM! CRUSH THEM! ALL OF THIS IS MINE!"
The Great General would not be cowed, he opened his jaws and took a large bite into the flesh of the Mishhu in his grasp, before tossing the increasingly bloody and gooey mess to the side. He seethed with anger as he slunk back onto his throne and the rest of the crew hurried about their tasks mobilizing the fleet.
~~~*~~~
“Quite commendable, Abe-taii,” Kaneda said over a communications channel after a few long minutes as the Takakazu sped towards the Mishhuvurthyar task group, the enemy shots growing increasingly more accurate as they were absorbed into the ship’s shields. “None of your people seem to be leaving,” his voice broadcast to the Irim’s silent bridge, all eyes only half watching their consoles as they witnessed the enemy growing large before them. The flashes of enemy fire lit up the darkened command center, brightening the crew’s brave, shaken faces. “I and my crew will pray for your success and assure you that your actions will grant you a place among honored ancestors,” he said in the Saiga family’s characteristically uncharacteristic sense of traditional spirituality. “The fortunes be with you and your crew. Dewa mata, Captain.”
And with that, the remaining civilian craft departed, the Tsukuyomi jumping only moments after the last of its shuttles crept into its holds. It pained Kaneda and his Saiga House Guard to be so selfish as to only get the family and its vassals off of Tatiana, but their service was honored, and much more would come on the day that they returned to re-take their home.
~~~*~~~
The intensity of the Mishhuvurthyar bombardment intensified tenfold with each passing second, shedding the myriad of fighters and power armor around the Takakazu like debris from a comet. Closer and closer to the Oubilette they went, dodging fire and taking hits when they could not as the Irim-class swept through the dense flotilla and towards its flagship.
“Cut all life support systems to compartments twenty-five though eighty-nine and continue rerouting power to forward shields!” Abe bellowed, flushing useless ship systems and power to areas that had been destroyed. “Why is the science compartment draining resources? Fix it now!”
They continued to approach under heavy fire, coming within dozens of meters to the Oubliette's hull. The Takakazu’s weapons fired non-stop, twinkling across the ever-decreasing blackness of space between the two ships. That the Star Army gunship had made it this far was amazing, and fortunate—none of the ships in the Mishhuvurthyar fleet could fire without risking hitting their own at this point. This would be their revenge for the Masaki; the Oubliette would receive the same treatment that their comrades had only hours before. And as the weapons fire between the two ships became so close that the eruptions splashed back and forth in massive eddies of flame and aether, Abe-taii and his crew no longer felt the fear that had ensued since the battle’s onset.
The Oubliette didn't waste any time firing its own weapons into the Takakazu as it approached. Carbleaudex stopped his yelling and just sat there on his throne, staring coldly at the volumetric display before him. The Great General's ship took precious little damage in response as its own weaponry tore the Irim apart before its burning hulk bounced off of his ship’s hull.
"SEND IN THE TROOPS," the crab general commanded, "FIND ME EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT PLANET! GET ME MORE! I WANT TO SEE THE LUXURIES AFFORDED TO THEIR PEOPLE STRIPPED AWAY." He paused for a second, then added, "MY PEOPLE. HU HU HU."
END
Day one, fourth month, thirty-first year of the Empire…
The unrest that burst upon Yamatai’s expansive star empire only a few hours earlier had entirely missed the system and planet of Tatiana. Normally, this place would be defended by twenty-four of the Third Standard Fleet’s Irim-class gunships, but when it was obvious that the fleet overwhelming the nearby Nataria system was anything but friendly, all but two of those had vacated to help in the defense of the Star Army Fleet Depot there. Now all that remained in orbit above Tatiana, other than the token force left by the Third, was a handful of law enforcement vessels that were normally used to perform customs duties and the YSV Tsukuyomi, a battlecruiser operated by the Saiga family, who called the planet their home.
~*~YSV Tsukuyomi~*~
“Long range sensors are showing five unidentified contacts on the edge of the system, Kaneda-sama,” piped the Geshrin girl manning the Tsukuyomi’s sensors station, breaking the lingering silence that had persisted since word came of the attacks across the Empire. She was young and hopeful, and probably scared, but it didn’t show. “They match pattern with some older Ketsurui Fleet Yards Yui-class scouts, but aren’t answering any of our preliminary hails,” she said, turning in her seat so that her green eyes could see the captain behind her, her dark green hair falling behind her shoulder as she did so. “Orders?”
The man she spoke to remained silent in his seat, staring at the main screen as it flashed with activity when the approaching vessels came within range. “I’m sure that the Star Army Irim are aware of their presence. If they move in, so shall we,” he said.
“Aye, Kaneda-sama.”
~~~*~~~
Indeed, the Star Army ships had picked up the incoming vessels. Almost immediately, the captains of the YSS Takakazu and Masaki pushed their vessels to full speed, making their way towards the silent intruders. Unlike Saiga Kaneda and his crew, Abe and Michishita-taii both knew that these ships weren’t friendly. The communications from Star Army Command had been sparse, but the latest reports detailed that any ships transmitting identification codes associated with Uesu’s fleet, as these were, almost certainly held hostile intentions and should be destroyed. And as the two Irim closed with the Yui, the Tsukuyomi not far behind, they each launched the fighter squadron that had recently been assigned to their ship while holding their power armor platoons in reserve. This would doubtlessly be a sufficient baptism of fire for the newly-formed starfighter groups.
"Final check clear, all systems are go," the voice of the lead pilot for the Angel Squadron of the YSS Takakazu's 116th Strike Wing alerted the mission control. The launch bay's dazzling lights reflected sharply against the pristine Hayabusa's canopy. The squad lead reached back, waiting on her clearance, and the second she got it, flicked the switch and off she went along the catapult to join up with her group. "Sorry for the late launch guys; had to get my left wing rechecked. But it looks like we're good to go, all units stay in formation and approach with caution. Look lively guys, this is the real thing." The lead V6 with silver squadron command markings fell into her position and approached the ship waiting for engagement orders from the mission command. "This is Jôtô Heisho Shippou, Angel Squad is in the air and all birds accounted for—awaiting further orders."
As the five Yui closed in, Masaki and Takakazu opened fire with their Positron Accelerator cannons and Main Weapon Array, immediately obliterating one of the oncoming scout ships in a plume of spectacular fire and light that stretched out in a long streak for dozens of kilometers. But one among the silent enemy’s numbers pointed its prow at the Masaki, launching its own power armor to counter and hold off the Irim's units as the Yui made a beeline for the other vessel. Their intention was clear: they were going to ram the Masaki.
Point defense weapons came alive as the Yui sped in, firing its own weapons to soften its target. The Masaki’s fighter squadron fired as well, darting through their own ship’s blaze of fire. And as the small enemy ship closed, trailing streams of gas and flame from its numerous wounds, it veered upwards as if its death were imminent. Confident that it would be destroyed soon enough, the fighters broke off and the Masaki passed on to engaged with the others.
From the bridge of the Tsukuyomi, its crew would witness that same Yui, listing in its death throes, turn sharply back towards its target, smashing its main hull from the upper port side. The two conjoined vessels drifted with the force of the impact, gouts of ignited oxygen spouting from the twisted and mangled Irim-class gunship. Debris pattered against the Saiga ship’s hull as it moved through the point where the collision occurred. From his place at the command chair, Kaneda wondered with even more interest as to just who their enemy was, and why they would resort to such tactics so early in the battle.
When the two ships slammed together, creating an opening that bridged decks from both vessels, large monsters with hard shells and giant snapping claws burst through what remained of the shredded bulkhead as the vanguard of the assault on the Masaki. Behind them were infected Neko in their powered armor and bringing up the rear were the Mishhuvurthyar proper—the new advanced Neo-Mishhuvurthyar, to be certain, but Mishhuvurthyar nonetheless. Most of them utilized their stealth abilities to sneak around the Masaki and take it's crew by surprise as they fortified their defenses against the most visible threats.
The infected Neko gladly acted as a shield against the Masaki's defenses and let their power armor take the hits while the Advanced-types snuck around, floating as need be to get behind and drug any crewmembers that didn't happen to be protected in powered armor of their own. The huge Crab-types rushed any armored foes, head down, as their huge head crests protect them from fire and gave them something to slam with, trying to crack the armor and get to the squishy centers within. The infected and the crabs showed no preference in their targets, but the sneaking Advanced-types split thier victims into those to be used for food and eggs and those to be used for breeding.
Plasma and aether shot flashed between the gunship’s dazed crew and their Mishhuvurthyar attackers, the Neko and Yamataian soldiers defending themselves with little success. The shock of the impact combined with the unexpected face of the Masaki’s attackers left the ship’s crew as anything but the brave defenders they should have been. Rather, they became fodder for the demons that attacked them whether their fate would be destruction or a perverse, rapturous existence as a gestation container for Mishhuvurthyar eggs. Within eighty-six seconds, infected Neko, swarms of parasites, and Advanced-type monstrosities were poised to take the bridge.
Out in the void, the Takakazu opened fire again, destroying another of the Yui in concert with the two deployed fighter wings as the enemy came about for another pass. The continued communications silence from the Masaki enraged the pilots of its fighter wing, who began attacking with more and more brazen tactics, some of the pilots going so far as to barrel roll into their oncoming enemies with weapons armed, creating brilliant, effective impacts on the two remaining enemy ships until there was only one. Soon after a streaming broadside fusillade from the Takakau would obliterate the last enemy Yui.
“This is Michishita-taii on the Masaki,” crackled a voice over the communications lines. SMG and NSP fire could be heard loud in the background, as could horrific shrieks interlaced with some momentary, eerie moans of ecstasy. “They’ve got to the bridge. I don’t know how much longer we will be able to hold them,” he said, frightened as the sounds of battle came closer. “No! By the kami, no!” he sobbed violently. “Don’t let the Mishhuvurthyar kill us all! Save us bef—.” And with that, the communication stopped, dead silence reigning over the channel just as it did aboard the Tsukuyomi, Takakazu, and fightercraft. It would not last long, however, and erupted almost simultaneously with the tangled mass that was once an Irim and a Yui.
Surprise bellowed over the communications channel after a full volley exploded forth from the Tsukuyomi’s weapons batteries, destroying the crippled ships in one magnificent fusillade. “You were not authorized to do that!” spat Abe-taii from the Takakazu. “We could have sent armors to board and taken the ship back!”
“If you, the Star Army of Yamatai, are unwilling to do what is necessary to ensure the safety of this system and empire, we do not have any problems with doing so ourselves,” Kaneda replied with a cold serenity, activating a visual feed to reply more directly. “If you would like to argue the point, Captain, I would be happy to. Sending resources would only cause further loss of this force’s already meager defensive ability. Supplying the Mishhuvurthyar with more power would not be in the best interests of our great star empire.”
“You’re out of line! When this is ov—”
“But am I wrong?” the Saiga captain said, cutting off the Yamataian taii as he spoke. No other response followed; the channel was closed. With the enemy threat gone, the two remaining ships returned to a place closer to Tatiana, their combat controllers rather than captains handling any coordination that had to be done from that point forward.
~*~Three hours later~*~
The XSS Oubliette and it's nearly three-quarter-thousand ships warped into range of Tatiana with little fanfare or announcement and immediately opened fire, their initial volley decimating the Takakazu in a hail of aether fire and wounding the Tsukuyomi as well. Not content with merely blasting them to space dust, the head of this fleet, the Great General Carbleaudex broadcast a message to the remaining ship.
"HU HU HU~," his booming voice came over the communications system on all channels. "I AM THE GREAT GENERAL CARBLEAUDEX AND YOU WILL SUBMIT TO MY WILL!" He let them see inside his command center from the Oubliette, which looked more akin to a throne room, with a massive seat built to accommodate his ten meter tall frame draped with a large black cape, the symbol of the Mishhuvurthyar on the back, which was draped over one of his massive claws to show it off to his prey. His head crest and the shell on his back were tattooed in vivid colors that swirled and contorted, forming eyes as big and as piercing as his own. All around his seat were the bodies of broken Neko and Yamataians that had been tortured and put to death in various methods—some by crushing, some cut in half by his giant crab-like claws. A couple of them were barely alive. Carbleaudex didn't ask any questions; he needed no battle tactics, he simply enjoyed crushing his enemies before them and the look in their eyes as they knew there would be escape, no mercy from his sadistic pleasures. There were SMX bodies there, too. Old types that the NMX General enjoyed rushing and eating, absorbing their power into his own. His massive back shell parted and thick, inky tentacles slithered there way out and put on a writhing display for the Tsukiyomi. "SUBMIT OR PERISH!
No response came from the armed vessels that remained. The Star Army fightercraft, power armor, and Takakazu were quick to come about, redirecting their course to confront the new Mishhuvurthyar force head on. Chaos reigned aboard all of the ships that surrounded the proud forest jewel of the Warmaster worlds as the arrival of Carbleaudex’s fleet proved the ultimate futility that their evacuation attempts would have.
“Operations—report. How long do we have to hold?” Abe-taii said as his gunship paced quickly towards the almost seven-hundred-and-fifty enemy craft. Aether and plasma raced past on the bridge’s viewscreen, most missing their mark while few brought a quick end to the power armored troopers and fighter pilots racing along beside their mothership.
“Kanchou, less tha—less than two percent of Tatiana’s population has been evacuated,” a shoi stuttered in a forsaken voice from the operations station. “MEGAMI advises that retreat is the most desirable option and, as your combat control officer, I—I concur, Abe-taii.”
The Takakazu’s captain swiveled in his command seat just enough to peer over his shoulder at the shoi. “Who the hell do you think we are, Aiko-shoi?” he asked rhetorically. “And show that bastard Kaneda that he’s right about us? We aren’t cowards in the Star Army!” Abe turned back so that he faced his vessel’s bow, punching in a command on a volumetric display that opened a channel to his ship, the Star Army warriors that followed it, and the other ships that still hung in orbit around Tatiana. “As the highest ranking representative of the Star Army currently present, I would advise that all vessels vacate the system immediately. The Takakazu will provide its services as a rearguard until such time as it is destroyed. Those Star Army personnel in this makeshift squadron who object to my decision and this course of action are free to take shuttlecraft, your fighter, or your power armor to a civilian ship and leave without fear that the Empire will think any less of you.”
Even as he spoke, many of the civilian ships winked out of existence. By the end of his address, only the Tsukuyomi and around five-dozen ships remained, all trying to squeeze what time they could to get more people off of the planet’s surface.
~~~*~~~
"Great General," one of eight the Advanced types that was working the large console at the font of the Oubliette's bridge informed Carbleaudex, "They're not responding, they're stalling—" but he didn't get to say anything else, the gigantic crab-like monster was quick to rush forward and clench the Mishhuvurthyar communications technician in his gigantic claw. "DESTROY THEM ALL!" he yelled, his voice booming throughout his bridge as he squeezed his subordinate so hard that he almost popped. "DESTROY THEM! CRUSH THEM! ALL OF THIS IS MINE!"
The Great General would not be cowed, he opened his jaws and took a large bite into the flesh of the Mishhu in his grasp, before tossing the increasingly bloody and gooey mess to the side. He seethed with anger as he slunk back onto his throne and the rest of the crew hurried about their tasks mobilizing the fleet.
~~~*~~~
“Quite commendable, Abe-taii,” Kaneda said over a communications channel after a few long minutes as the Takakazu sped towards the Mishhuvurthyar task group, the enemy shots growing increasingly more accurate as they were absorbed into the ship’s shields. “None of your people seem to be leaving,” his voice broadcast to the Irim’s silent bridge, all eyes only half watching their consoles as they witnessed the enemy growing large before them. The flashes of enemy fire lit up the darkened command center, brightening the crew’s brave, shaken faces. “I and my crew will pray for your success and assure you that your actions will grant you a place among honored ancestors,” he said in the Saiga family’s characteristically uncharacteristic sense of traditional spirituality. “The fortunes be with you and your crew. Dewa mata, Captain.”
And with that, the remaining civilian craft departed, the Tsukuyomi jumping only moments after the last of its shuttles crept into its holds. It pained Kaneda and his Saiga House Guard to be so selfish as to only get the family and its vassals off of Tatiana, but their service was honored, and much more would come on the day that they returned to re-take their home.
~~~*~~~
The intensity of the Mishhuvurthyar bombardment intensified tenfold with each passing second, shedding the myriad of fighters and power armor around the Takakazu like debris from a comet. Closer and closer to the Oubilette they went, dodging fire and taking hits when they could not as the Irim-class swept through the dense flotilla and towards its flagship.
“Cut all life support systems to compartments twenty-five though eighty-nine and continue rerouting power to forward shields!” Abe bellowed, flushing useless ship systems and power to areas that had been destroyed. “Why is the science compartment draining resources? Fix it now!”
They continued to approach under heavy fire, coming within dozens of meters to the Oubliette's hull. The Takakazu’s weapons fired non-stop, twinkling across the ever-decreasing blackness of space between the two ships. That the Star Army gunship had made it this far was amazing, and fortunate—none of the ships in the Mishhuvurthyar fleet could fire without risking hitting their own at this point. This would be their revenge for the Masaki; the Oubliette would receive the same treatment that their comrades had only hours before. And as the weapons fire between the two ships became so close that the eruptions splashed back and forth in massive eddies of flame and aether, Abe-taii and his crew no longer felt the fear that had ensued since the battle’s onset.
The Oubliette didn't waste any time firing its own weapons into the Takakazu as it approached. Carbleaudex stopped his yelling and just sat there on his throne, staring coldly at the volumetric display before him. The Great General's ship took precious little damage in response as its own weaponry tore the Irim apart before its burning hulk bounced off of his ship’s hull.
"SEND IN THE TROOPS," the crab general commanded, "FIND ME EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT PLANET! GET ME MORE! I WANT TO SEE THE LUXURIES AFFORDED TO THEIR PEOPLE STRIPPED AWAY." He paused for a second, then added, "MY PEOPLE. HU HU HU."
END
