Re: [Pre-Phase: Mission 3] Ghost on the Silent Line
ON, VSV Astarte
High Orbit Over Mazerin
Bukor 11, 936
16:24, Commonwealth Standard Time
Despite the attempts at interception by the enemy battleship's cruiser escorts, the 1st and 4th had succeeded in pushing into weapons range, skirting along the edge of the cruiser's point-defense arrays and into the blind spot that lay directly beyond the convex surfaces of the flower-shaped vessel. As Zalus had noticed during the orbital elevator, these vessels had an immense number of 'Soono' type automatons stored on its concave underside, easily numbering in the hundreds if not thousands. However, something seemed to be holding the enemy back, preventing them from deploying their full complement. There were not many major differences between the battle data being taken in at that point and what had been obtained over Maekardan... save that the ship's long stamen-like antennal projection appeared to have been lopped in half.
Perhaps because of this, the number of Soono defending the ship was proportional to the remaining humanoid types around it.
"Alright, 1st Squadron... if you can keep their escort off me and my unit, we'll be able to take out that cruiser before it deploys more Soono. Focus on the humanoid types... since they're the only ones that can engage in vector translations." The commander of the 4th communicated to Mu'Tasim and the runners under his command, his disdain having only dissolved a little since the battle had begun. "We've two ships to take down and only so many lives to spend."
Mu'Tasim's frame kept close to it's Fourth Squadron allies as the First Squadron had pushed into more hostile space. As he advanced, Mu'Tasim kept his weapons primed for any advancing units, particularly humanoids.
"First Squadron, you have your priorities, keep up the defensive line." Mu'Tasim communicated to his fellow wingmates. Then, with the orders given, he opened a line of communication to the VSV Astarte. "Astarte, what is the status of Point-Defense Fire Mission Support?"
Zus Idly watched as Malik did some crazy berserker move, and would have shaken her head had she the current ability. Seeing that he was sufficiently covered, however, Zus moved on to the next foe, which ended up being a Humanoid frame and its accompanying Soono. The Eyr Ranr woman targeted the Humanoid frame specifically, first launching a swarm of PASD missiles in an attempt to confuse her enemy, then firing her SCPA's in quick succession. after a few moments, she MASC jumped to the opposite side of her enemies, firing her LEMB array and RCPA Cannons at it.
Rather surprised at her opponent's method of retaliation, it took Isha a few moments longer than it should have to reorient herself mentally. Rather than try to close the gap a second time, she launched her VT Fangs at the humanoid that'd just given her a toss, then spun to face her nearest challenger and lashed out with her sword. "We've been engaged, sir," was the field physician's response to Mu'Tasim's command. "But we're on our way."
After the Astarte had fired the crippling salvo at the enemy battleship, things seemed to have been going as well as could be as the 1st, and 4th squadrons moved into position. Scans from the wrecked enemy battleship had revealed fissile material signatures on board that had put the captain on edge. None of the enemy capital ships had returned fire, and the enemy hadn't deployed their massive compliments of automated Soono, or all of their humanoid-type frames it seemed. It was all just a bit too suspicious.
"Vaytulri Osei, any changes to the enemy battleship?"
"Not," Mridula answered, "that I can see. Might want to watch for all those Soonos, though." She continued to pore over the information she had been sent by the chief sensor operator, her brow furrowing deeply.
"Already being done. Fifth and Sixth squadrons are on standby status in case they try another raid on the Astarte." the captain said as he then turned his gaze to the Vayshirin piloting the ship. "Be prepared to give me full combat thrust on my order. Adjutant Weapons Operator, re-acquire the main target with the laser arrays, and the portside enemy cruiser with the missile batteries."
"Yes sir," Lamya said. "Preparing for full thrust on your mark." She ran through the systems, preparing the ship. "Prepared. Can thrust when ready."
"We're currently tracking all targets within your area and providing fire support as we can, 1st squadron so you can get your payload safely to the target." a female voice spoke over Mu'Tasim's comm.
Mu'Tasim immediately noticed a dozen signatures erupt onto his sensors, within immediate weapons range, and many more further out. These were mostly Soono-types, with perhaps four or five humanoid types in total. Many of the Soono moved to intercept him and Zus, as they were firmly at the head of the formation. Meanwhile, Malik, who was still further back from his two wingmates, noticed that they were being flanked overhead, with a pair of humanoid-types controlling a sizeable number of Soono.
Isha managed to impale her target with a half-dozen VT Fangs, breaking its defenses long enough for her to make a clean swipe. The unit attempted a counter-hit, barely parrying the attack and losing its forearm in the process. The blade continued on through, grazing its torso and causing the armor over it to split and shatter. The enemy was critically damaged by the assault, but had managed to lever its arm over to Isha's head in the confusion and seemed to be rather adamant about attacking if it was attacked.
She was at a standstill.
Malik grinned at where his luck had thrown him. By sheer coincidence, he had been in the best location to see and intercept the NVR flanking maneuver. Two humanoid frames, and atleast ten times that number in Soono? Why, it was as if the Saints themselves were throwing a chance for glory at the Runner. Reaching out and grabbing the dropped VT Sword, Zulfiqar began charging on of its NeN Caps so it would have the burst it would need in the near future, and activating the Phantoma Sink System, trying to sneak close enough to the flanking forces to spring a suprise attack.
As he did that, Malik sent Mu'Tasim a short message in Haidasari through the laser-com that, when translated back to Saalsari essentially said: "NVR Flanking force. Ignore it. Ambushing them alone." Sneak attacks had gotten him a lot of mileage over the Capital, and the runner didn't think it'd be a good thing to break through a solid shell of Soono, so attacking them from stealth, up close and personal had to be the best option.
Akjit's alpha strike tore the humanoid-type he had targeted to pieces, blasted apart by a combined bombardment of laser and particle blasts. The unit had tried to counterattack in the intermittent seconds before it was destroyed, but missed every shot because of the Phantoma Shroud concealing his maneuvers. As enemy reinforcements were en route, they would notice a large detonation between themselves and Akjit, and the remains of their compatriot scattered all around.
If he could, Akjit would have smiled, however, the sensations coming from his NI completely killed the mood; the Ivouri realized he had just fallen for the goads the nightmare of a core had flung at him. His 'eyes' looked about at the strewn mess that he created, recalling how he tried to pick off the limbs like a child pulling the legs off a bug in the backyard. If he could, he would have shuddered, and if he still could, he would have thrown up. 'You're not done yet you know.' It spoke, mocking him.
Several targets were highlighted by the NI, as well as Malik's EVII; the thing was giving him an option. Take on the reinforcements, or back up the other frame runner. Akjit was tired, on the verge of tears, and desperate to finish the battle. A single word echoed across his mind in the place of speech, easily heard by his NI. "Nightmare." It was all like a nightmare. His Erla VANDR II sped off towards the group Malik was engaging and launched a flurry of missiles at the group of enemies, his movements soon turning into a random series of zig-zags as he worked his way closer.
'I like this.' the NI replied. 'Nightmare....ha.' Akjit and Nightmare sped off towards the enemy group, firing the LEMBs and Shocksword to follow up the missiles and get their attention, the three passive NEn Capacitors feeding into his reactor and thrusters.
One of the 4th continued to speed towards her target. The moment she was in range, she released the MACD heavy laser pod, and send the single mental command to find it's target and fire. Charging to firing capacity, the unit released, sending a large blast into the side of the cruiser. 'Now I just gotta hold off long enough to get another shot or two off, or until recalled.' Chanda thought to herself, hoping that the 1st held the enemy's attention just a little longer.
As he advanced through the wreckage, Akjit was able to immediately knock a trio of Soono away with his initial volley of missiles, disabling them with his follow up laser and particle attack, but failed to get a shot off on the humanoid-types behind them.
Meanwhile, the joint laser bombardment by the 4th Squadron had a clear effect on the enemy vessel - it had managed to cut through the cruiser's shields and raked across the inner hull. Soono unit were destroyed by the dozens as the combined laser barrage cut through them in their loading docks, and the beams eventually penetrated through the hull and into the internal sections. Seconds after the initial volley ended, areas inside the ship began to fail and rupture, and a cascading series of detonations burst throughout its interior.
Mridula had gone thoroughly over the sensor data she had been forwarded, and she felt a distinct sinking feeling in her stomach. "Guys," she said to First Squadron. "I don't know if this is right, or what, or if I'm just being paranoid, but it looks like there are a bunch of cobalt bombs in that cruiser. If they go off, they'll seed anything they hit with lethal radiation." She turned her attention to the bridge and addressed the sensors crew. "Can you get me more readings on that cruiser? Specifically on the bombs, and any kind of launch mechanism they might use to... launch them."
"Uh... yeah. Let me try to get some higher resolution scans." The sensors operator replied, immediately going to work. As the scans went underway, the data being fed back to Mridula was increasingly worrisome. The exact design and signature of the warheads matched data stored on the Astarte's bridge... in the exact pattern of cobalt bombs that had been developed by the Saal in antiquity to destroy hostile biospheres. "Va-va-VAYTULRI! It's..."
"Assault on the humanoid units!" Mu'Tasim ordered, firing forward in his Erla II, Famasir picking up it's MCPA and firing on one of the humanoid units, his RCPA's focusing in on the target point where his NCPA shots would hit. He fired up beacon flares to tie up the firing systems of his opponent. "Tie up the supporting Soono by hiting their humanoid protectorate!"
Mridula gestured expansively in her immersion sim, and the connection to the runners opened again, the volume of her voice dialing up to make sure every last one of them heard her. "They're Saal bombs," she barked. "To carpet the planet and wipe everything out. They're headed for Mazerin! The Soonos are just a distraction!"
Isha's cannons lit up, poised to blast the humanoid at point-blank. In the midst of this was Mridula's news, quite simply stunning her into a silence after the attack. "Are... we sure?... Ma'am?" To bomb the planet was one thing, but cobalt bombs? That was just ridiculous.
The captain looked up from his readings, and dead at Mridula in that instant before looking to the weapons operator. "Target that enemy ship with every forward facing battery and missile array we have now!"
