RP: 4th Fleet [Mission 1] The Battle of South Gate

Silic raised an eyebrow as some of his repair teams made beelines straight into the firezones, "Team status?" he asked, a message popped up next to those teams reading "Orders Overridden." Silic thought for a second and leaned closer "Are you sure we're only interfacing with the repair teams?" whispering conspiratorially, several green blips representing different teams snuffed out.

Mentally facepalming, Silic reshuffled the remaining blips, so much for not drawing attention. At least the unfortunate squad that had been sealing that conduit leak were done, “Yeah, make sure team three get first dibs on the showers if we survive this.” he ordered, imagining the scene. "Now they just need to tell me the weapons aren't working and my day will be complete." he thought sarcastically.

Arkase shifted uncomfortably. "Y-Yes. I read you. Until a repair team arrives, you handle it, Taylor-Juni."

He then sent a message to Silic about the autoloader.

He watched Kiyoshi maneuver herself back for her activities. The speech had thrown his game -- but he set to his job once more. She was right -- he needed to keep things together.

Honoka said:

"Attention gun squadrons. This is the YSS Nadare. You are to intercept the NMX attack group moving to flank our position."

Click to expand...

"Gunship Squadron leader to Nadare, moving to engage the enemy forces. Good to have you back online. Out." came a male voice over the come.

On the tactical display in the war room, the blips indicating the gunships began closing rapidly on the group of NMX vessels closing on the flank of the Flagship.

"Nadare this is Takumi-Class ship Yamakuzure glad you back on the network. Please relay the following information to command. The individuals we apprehended trying to sabotage our systems, all came from the same system. All of them were stationed at the Nataria depot prior to its destruction. We have taken heavy damage but are still capable of engaging the enemy. Request permission to break off from the main group and go after what our Intel Specialist thinks may be their flagship."

Kiyoshi after talking with Arkase returned to the situation station. She took a moment to assess the situation. The 4th was taking heavy damage and losses. Over a quarter of their forces were destroyed or dead in the water. It is as I feared, its like standing on a shore and trying to keep the tide from coming in. she thought. Akaaka shinsei is our only hope of keeping the NMX from passing through the gate. she keyed her command code and transmitted orders to Spirit City.

A string of cuss words from Silics native tongue streamed out of his mouth, relating mostly to doing unsavoury things with someone's mother. Remembering where he was Silics mouth snapped shut, he looked around the bridge for a second, hoping no one here knew to much Nepleslian before burying his face into his screen. His mood dark enough that it didn't take hologram to see the dark cloud boiling above his head.

Getting back to the autoloader, he sent the only team available to the scene, fresh from their last job the blood covered and dirty Team Three was on their way.

Team three arrived at the magazine and quickly surveyed the damage. Over Silic's comm channel, "Damage Control Team Three reporting, the autoloader control system is fairly trashed. We do not have time to repair it fully, so we are going to cobble it together so that someone here in the magazine can manually operate the systems. We should have it working at that level in 10 minutes.

Honoka meanwhile was starting to get casualty reports from through out the Nadare. Medical was going to be swamped in no time. On the chatter she could hear the medical staff advising the folks looking for casualties to follow proper triage protocols.

Meanwhile the Nadare and its escorts continued to close on a group of NMX warships. Weapons on both sides were blazing, but fortunately for the Nadare the newly restored shields were holding while the enemies shields were failing.

"Etto, Taisa. The gunship squadron is moving to intercept the flanking forces.

Also, the Yamakuzure reports that the traitors on board their ship were all from from the Nataria depot before it's destruction! It could be the same for us and other ships."

Honoka was clearly displeased and nervous with how this battle was going so far. There were far too many things going wrong. She swallowed as she pondered how this could get any worse, but then quickly dismissed such thoughts for they would only jinx the situation. Better to be careful of silly superstitions than to regret it later.

"In addition to this, Taisa, the medical staff on board the Nadare are recieving far too many casualties."

After she sent this last message, the aide realized that the ringing in her ears had subsided largely. She gingerly put the ear buds back in, though she held off on switching it back to audio as opposed to telepathy, for the moment.

The group of NMX ships that the Nadare and its escorts where engaged erupted into a ball of expanding plasma and debris.

Kiyoshi smiled for a moment, it felt good to see the enemy die before her, but sadly there were plenty more to take their place. This is madness, where did the Mishhu get so many ships, and worse some of them are older SAoY vessels. How the hell did SAINT not get wind of this. Madness got us into this fucking hairball, perhaps it will get us out. she thought. Deftly running her hands over the display console she located what she wanted. A pair of large blips, smaller than the Nadare but larger and heavier than the other NMX vessels.

"Hakumei-Nitô Juni inform our group and the 2nd and 3 groups to concentrate on the first of these two targets. We will engage from the front while the 2nd and 3rd catch in a pincher move." Kiyhoshi said transferring the coordinates to the Aide. Battleship

Kiyoshi then turned to Vas, "Silic-Hei, what is the status of the torpedo loader, we are going to need all tubes ready on my command in five minutes. If they can't use the autoloader, then get some bodies in their to move them by hand if needed."

About then Oshiro's from his comm line the sound of heavy weapon fire could be heard. "Zeta-team to Command, we just had a group of Kylie power armors that just flew into the power armor bay and opened fire. We need damage control, and some extra firepower ASAP."

"Damn!" Arkase cursed off the comm.

Then, on the Comm, "Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Teams, move into the Power Armor Bay and eliminate the Kylie Power Armors. Echo, take up positions by the corridor -- you're in reserve."

The remaining Security-Teams (what few they were) he shuffled around to minimize the gaps -- he was playing it close, Engineering was left undefended, with Charlie now hauling ass to the PA Bay, but things could have been worse.

"I just need to contain them in the Bay, and eliminate them." He growled under his breath.

"Hai!" Honoka replied verbally. She quickly made a note to the computer to, since she was deciding, apparently, to use her mouth and ears now as opposed to telepathy, resume using sound.

"Second and Third groups. You have been ordered to focus your attack the battleship at these coordinates in a pincher maneuver. The Nadare will engage from the front." She forwarded the location to the two groups.

Kiyoshi watched as the groups moved into position for their attack. She transmitted an encrypted message to Spirit City to get ready to enact Akaaka shinsei. “Today we draw a line in the sand; we are saying you may go no further to the NMX. We will make them pay dearly for attempting to enter the Gate.” The Iori-Class Star Fortress was moving slowly to the designated position. It was charging its weapon systems.

“Hakumei-Juni order our power armor to provide close in support, keep the NMX fighters off us while we engage the heavy. Also evacuate all hands forward of bulkhead 27C, tell them to secure their stations and fall back to alternate locations. The forward section is going to take a beating. Once you get the all clear, seal off those sections and deploy and lock all blast shutters there.” Kiyoshi ordered. If I have to I’ll shove the Nadare right down the bastard’s throat if necessary. She thought.

Security team Gamma reported, “Then hostile power armors have brought some sort of device with them. Suspect it’s an explosive device. Where are those backups?” The sound of battle could be heard in the background. “Alpha and Bravo team on the scene Command.” Came from the Alpha Team leader. “We are backing up Gamma team. Instruct Charlie Team to come in through the port side entrance, it will give them the best field of fire to catch the hostiles in crossfire.”

“Commander, the weight of those torpedoes means it's going to take more than a wing and a prayer to...” replied Silic, turning towards Kiyoshi, before he could complete the move however his head jerked as an idea smacked into his brain at a million miles per hour. He snapped to attention, banging his knees into the console as he stood up but ignoring the pain, “Ma'am,” he snapped “permission to leave the bridge.” he coloured glasses twinkling from the numerous screens around the room “I have an idea.”

Kiyoshi looked at the status screen showing the projected path of the Nadare to the NMX battleship. She then looked back at Silic "If it will get the torpedoes online, granted, just be quick about it." Kiyoshi said.

At that moment an explosion from deep in the Nadare rocked the ship, the lights on the command bridge went off for a few seconds then returned. On Silic's displays a new series of red flashing signals were added.

Over Arkase's comm line, "Alpha team to command, the intruders detonated the device. The bastards suicided, we have heavy damage to the power armor bay. Bravo Team is attempting damage control. We have casualties, performing triage, will take the critical ones to the medical bay. "

"Power Armor wings. You are to fall back and provide close-range support against enemy fighters while we attack the battleship

Attention all personnel in the forward sections aboard the YSS Nadare, ahead of bulkhead 27C. Secure your stations and fall back. Be sure to take anything necessary for these sections will be sealed off. You might not get anything back you leave behind. But make haste."

Honoka was getting more and more nervous. The removal of people from the front sections and an expected beating? She didn't want to die.... But it seemed more and more likely as the day advanced.

Damnit! Arkase cursed silently.

It took him a moment to compose himself before he said anything. "Copy that."

He switched channels to Charlie team -- they might have taken casualties, but Arkase was too sick to look. "Charlie, move in and help secure the fore sections before it's too late. Anyone stuck in there might not be coming back. Keep that in mind as well."

“ 'two flicks of a Loraths wings, ma'am.” replied Silic, suddenly in his element. He glanced over at his screen one last time and pursed his lips “That can't be good.” Silic gave his final orders as he ran to the exit, “KAMI, you take over damage control, but leave team three where they are, tell them to expect company.” as the door opened he looked back at the room “Good luck.” before stepping out and the door closed behind him. With the Taishos lockdown order the door could not be opened from the outside, there was no turning back now.

Outside Silic walked briskly, putting his plans in order, straightening his uniform out of habit “Okay Silic, what now?” he muttered to himself, before saying louder “KAMI?”
A small holographic screen appeared near Silics face, showing the same image of FREYA that the computer used as it's avatar “Yes, Vas-hei?”
“I need a route to the nearest cargo bay or storage area containing a vehicle..” Silic looked around at the corridor “...less than two meters wide, preferably with some sort of winch.”
“Understood.” said the holograph as a series of volumetric arrows appeared down the corridor.
Silic smiled and whispered in his native language “Lets do this.” as he picked up speed to a run down to the cargo bay.

"Charlie team to command, we're okay, we got bounced around a bit but no serious injuries. We found that one of the bay doors had been tampered with, signaling that it had been closed and secured when in fact it was wide open. We've manually closed and secured it. Moving forward to secure those sections. Over"

Silic ran full tilt down the passageways, sliding around corners fast enough to heat up the soles of his boots, following the series of arrows pointing the way. Taking a corner too fast, he slammed against the opposite wall, rubbing against the wall for a second before recovering, stumbling slightly as he rushed ahead, gasping for breath. “Definitely going to have get in shape after this.” he thought, wiping sweat from his brow as he slowed in front of the large sliding door that marked his destination.

Leaning against his knees to catch his breath “Kami...”pausing to pant for a second “...tell Arkase-hei to open the doors to the cargobay...” taking the time to pant some more “...which ever one this is.” In one motion, Silic turned around, and leaned against the door with his knees bent, gulping down oxygen like it was going out of style, and with the way the day was going it just might.

All Arkase caught from the surprising message from KAMI was 'Silic-Hei requests permission to enter the Cargobay.'

Double-checking the scans, he unlocked the door there. Silic was going to get what he needed.

Silic looked around, a confused expression on his face as the door behind him grumbled, before suddenly it shifted open, swinging up into the ceiling, leaving Silic to fall backwards onto his back. Groaning and rubbing the back of his head he hauled himself up and surveyed the cargo bay, his eyes scanning over the unmoving stacks of boxes and crates until his face lit up at the sight of what he saw after “Ah, you beauty.” he murmured to himself, walking forwards.

Before him, its basic design unchanged for hundreds of years, was parked a forklift, but this wasn't your ordinary industrial forklift, this was the road train of all forklifts. This was the product of a single minded determination to build the best in everything, its twenty-four-inch tires made for all terrain carried a slim just under two meter long body with the operator cabin riding high on top, a set of inset stairs allowing access on the side. The adjustable forks on the front were hydrologically powered and could be widened, raised, lowered or narrowed by the operator, able to lift almost any load.

“Oh this is perfect!” cried Silic, a smile blooming across his face as he pulled the latch and the door sprung open, climbing up he quickly looked over the controls “Ah, just like back on the floor.” he commented, remembering his years on the factory production line as he hit the starter button. There was a small whirr as the electric engine started, and then a dim hum as the machine idled, just as Silic was about to hit the accelerator he stopped for a second “Seatbelts.” he muttered to himself, strapping himself in. Safety procedures done with he put put the pedal to the floor, and was thrown back into his seat as the machine shot out towards the cargo bay doors, the lack of torque time giving the electric engine incredible acceleration.

Just as the machine was approaching the doors Silic realised the cargo door, still up in the roof, was slightly lower than the rest of the ceiling, just low enough to...”Oh Sha...!!” he screamed, not finishing as he kicked in the brakes, throwing him forward against the steering wheel and cutting him off in a choked garble. Too late, as the machine screeched out of the cargo bay the door on the ceiling caught on the roof of the forklift cab and sheared it completely off it a scream of tortured metal. As the now roofless vehicle came to a stop in the passage way Silic pushed himself up from against the steering wheel, looked around for the missing roof and quickly patted his head and face to make sure it was still attached, one arm and both eyes were enough to lose in his book.

Safely assured that his head was indeed where it was supposed to be, Silic pushed down on the accelerator a little more cautiously this time, wincing as he took a second to look back at the skid marks left on the floor “Yup, never getting that out.” he sighed.

Kiyoshi looked around the Flag Bridge, "Hakumei-Juni, what is the status of the evacuation of the forward section?" Honoka's display showed the gunships successfully engaging the NMX flanking force.

She turned her attention back to the tactical display. It took her a moment to see review all the ship positions in the pincer movement. Damn it why is it taking so long. We get holed in one of those forward compartments we are looking at explosive decompression, and personnel needlessly lost.

Kiyoshi activated the shipwide intercom, "Vas-Hei, what is the status on those torpedoes? We will be in optimum firing range shortly and I want maximum fire power when we engage."

"Arkase-Hei, instruct your teams to sweep the areas around the power armor bay. Just in case that bomb was meant to divert our attention or to let someone slip past our lines."