Re: [Mission 10] Finding Freedom
Somewhere Near The HX-23 System
In the area of the HX systems, NMX ships were a common sight... though, there was something peculiar as a group of NMX ships, consisting of a flight of battlepods along with the Tivurthinth that they launched from dropped out from faster-than-light travel. What made them peculiar was the fact that the Tivurthinth was marred and pitted with battle damage, while the battlepods swirled about the ship as if looking for something specific. Though, the peculiar became downright abnormal as a Raptor-Class LSDF ship came out of FTL just behind them, the once pristine hull was scorched and gouged with what seemed to be NMX weapon damage. It seemed, the two ships were exchanging fire with one another while chasing after... 'something'.
That 'something' they were looking for was a lone Okii-neko aeroshuttle which skimmed along the hull of the Tivurthinth, hugging close enough to catch a ride upon its CDD, and close enough to baffle the ship's turrets and the battlepods which swarmed about trying to find the little stealth shuttle, which would have certainly been destroyed if not for the ECM and active camouflage features which kept being put into play. Though... that luck was fading as one of the battle-pods caught sight of the ripple of the star-scape which gave the shuttle away...
“Damn it.” Cursed the shuttle's pilot, a lone purple-haired NH-27 that had come a long way, and did not intend to die to a miserable battlepod in the middle of an Empress forsaken system. Quickly she threw the shuttle into a sharp deceleration, dropping out from behind the Tivurthinth, and now sitting between the Raptor-Class, and the NMX patrol ship. She knew her options were limited... she had to rely on the two still having an ambition to kill each other, instead of to merely capture or kill her first. That hope glimmered a bit as the Raptor-Class unleashed a blistering spray of railgun fire which seemed to be directed at the Tivurthinth... but... it also seemed to be intended for the shuttle. Evasive maneuvers came into play as the shuttle weaved between the hailstorm of weapons fire, only to have her shuttle be hit by one of the rounds which burst into an antimatter explosion that flung her shuttle a few kilometers off course as a group of Cardinal-Class fighters streaked from the Raptor-Class in the direction of her shuttle, which was now very visible, and vulnerable as the battlepods went to intercept her as well.
Her options were dwindled down to nothing as the Cardinal-Class fighters and the NMX Battlepods began to dogfight one another around her shuttle. She only had to worry about the Cardinal-Class ships mostly, as they aimed to shoot her out of the sky, only to have the battlepods interrupt their efforts... they seemed to be aiming to capture her and the shuttle. “Well...” the pilot mused to herself as she weighed her choices... finding only one desperate option available to her at that point, and it made her frown before she carried it out.
”This is Taii Helen Klein of Star Army Intelligence, any ships in the area, please respond, I am under attack by NMX and Lorath Matriarchy forces... my shuttle is damaged, I require immediate assistance. Any friendly ships, please respond.”
That was it, that was her grand emergency plan, to call for help... it was pathetic, she figured, but it was better than being raped by the NMX, or incinerated by the Lorath. For the moment though, she had a chance of being saved as the NMX and the Lorath fought it out for the opportunity to have at her, as she hoped for some sort of miracle.
