RP: 4th Fleet (NSN) [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the Enemy

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Even over her own gunfire, the comm link in Rita's helmet made it easily possible for her to hear the chatter around her. She almost laughed at Matteo's question, and responded on the squad's frequency. "If you get all sentimental on us now, Matteo, you're gonna leave all the squishy catgirls to me!"

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

"Sergeant Volkov," someone said deliberately over the squad radio, "What is this I am hearing about orders to gun down unarmed Nekos? Have you even confirmed their identity? I want them detained aboard the Destiny. Captain Ironside will have brigs designed to imprison NH-27s. That is an order. You and I will need to have a talk about Standard Operating Procedures after this. Admiral Valken out."

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In orbit, Admiral Valken fumed silently, looking for an outlet. Overall, the evacuation was going well enough. The squad of AIR2s had been annihilated by a Ravager ambush and one of the municipal space ports had been overrun. Six thousand civilians had evacuated before the Marines there had closed off the port. The move had left another four thousand civilians stranded along with the Marines and UOC defenders.

Those forces had tried to make a break out but Valken had watched helplessly as they were wiped out by the NMX. The continuous attack runs by Green Squadron only resulted in more FA4 losses, which Valken could ill afford. Already, the squadron was down to half strength with only 10 human crews left.

Over a hundred and fifty thousand civilians were already loaded into transports heading out. Each group of ten transports was ferried by a single escort towards a safe exit point and then the escorts would return to shepherd another group.

But there were reports of still another hundred thousand on the surface. Time was not being kind to him.

"Admiral, long range sensors report NMX vessels entering the system to our starboard. Gravimetrics indicate capital ships and escorts. Estimated time of arrival is one hour. I highly suggest we abort the operation and take what we have." Valken glared irritably at the speaker Drei had spoken from.

"Deploy the C2s, the Yellow Jacket, the Hornet, two of the Arashis and ten of the Oberons here," Valken tapped a spot on his chart between Tange IV and the NMX force's location. And deploy all but 200 of our F2 inventory there. Those ships must buy us time to evacuate more civilians!"

The move shifted more than half of his effective warships and the lamed C2s in a delaying effort. He needed the Destiny back in orbit. Its main weapons were capable of tremendous damage even if it was not a dedicated warship.

"Captain Ironside, expedite personnel embarkation. I want it done in fifteen minutes. The squids are back and they want to play," he commed the Destiny's skipper. "Drei, inform all transport captains, fill their ships to the brim in the next fifteen minutes. That's all the time I can promise them. Start getting UOC troops aboard."

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Laura was quietly checking the civilians to increase the flow of traffic when a Navy captain came up to her and the other medical personnel. "Forget the individual checks! Get them aboard now! The squids are back! You, Marine, tell your Sergeant to get those stupid cats over here and get the Peacies aboard. Our time's up."

Laura saluted automatically but looked towards Bernhard's stretcher. Two sailors were carrying him towards the Destiny. So he was safe and the flyboy seemed to be alright and since he wasn't her concern, that was fine.

"Sergeant. The ship's captain wants to leave soon; says the squids are back. We're almost done loading the civvies. She wants the cat-girls and UOC troops embarked!" Laura radioed to Phaedra.

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"Pointless," the doctor said to Jan, "We're leaving soon. Plus, we're going to need you in the operating room. Your uniform's melted into your skin." To emphasize the point, the doctor pulled Jan's sleeve up and only a portion of the shirt moved. The rest remained fastened to Jan like glue and caused extreme pain.

"Only reason it didn't hurt earlier was because you were already compressed inside the armor. Now you're out and expanded a little bit, it'll hurt like hell if you put the armor on again. Don't make me order you," the doctor added.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

"Sergeant Volkov, what is this I am hearing about orders to gun down unarmed Nekos? Have you even confirmed their identity? I want them detained aboard the Destiny. Captain Ironside will have brigs designed to imprison NH-27s. That is an order. You and I will need to have a talk about Standard Operating Procedures after this. Admiral Valken out."

"Yes sir, Admiral," replied Phaedra without hesitation. Despite feeling sufficiently slapped, no emotion was evident in her voice.

"Rita, Matteo! Cease fire! You heard the Admiral, Marines. Detain what Nekos remain and have them transported to the Destiny."

The more Phaedra thought about her decision, the more she was sure she had made the right one. But her opinions mattered not when a superior officer gave her a direct order. The time to discuss her actions would come later.

"Sergeant. The ship's captain wants to leave soon; says the squids are back. We're almost done loading the civvies. She wants the cat-girls and UOC troops embarked!" Laura radioed to Phaedra.

"Petty Officer Motoyama. Gather your men and embark aboard the NSS Destiny. Will be departing shortly."

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Rita stopped firing when her CO ordered her too, giving a frown. "Bummer. Sarge, I'll keep my rifle trained on them if you start leading them in. I think this could be a really bad idea, so I'm gonna cover you just in case." Rita kept her weapon steadied against the debris, although her finger was no longer inside the trigger guard. She was looking for any excuse to fire again; one false move in their dealings with Matteo, and the offending nekovalkyrja would be blown into a steaming heap of bloody giblets.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Matteo had taken cover and leveled his rifle at the oncoming horde of unarmed nekos, but didn't fire as he waited for...'order confirmation'. As he did so, he could see through his optics as some dropped like nine pins while others dove for cover. When the order came though, he didn't feel what others would have expected. Yes, he started to panic and worry as he balked at the orders...but it wasn't the catgirls that he was worried about. 'What's going to happen to Phaedra? And Rita?' He gritted his teeth.

"I'll take over from here Rita." The Hostile burst from cover several meters away from the female marine before jetting straight up into the air before smashing back down into the concrete on his two feet. Craters were left where he landed, and he was going to feel that one! But he needed to look tough!

"Nepleslian marines! Don't move!" Matteo shouted over the suit's loudspeakers. "You all are to be detained and moved aboard the NSS Destiny." He paused briefly to lick his dry lips. "Pick up your dead and wounded and move! Double time it!" He continued to yell, sounding impatient and angry.

'Damn it...what shit's going to happen next?'

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Rita's accuracy had been horribly effective in the first few seconds of her attack. More than half of the nekos were cut down or grievously wounded before the survivors managed to find some cover.

Just as suddenly, Matteo's shouts brought them out of cover as they sullenly collected their dead and wounded. Not a word was said but they slowly ambled towards the Destiny.

Armed sailors herded them into the detention facilities where they piled the dead into one cell, the wounded into two others and the remainder squeezed into another two cells. They were locked off by a forcefield and watched by armed guards.

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Captain Ironside noted the flow of UOC civilians had ceased and now the Peacekeepers were scrambling to get aboard. Time to call in the troops. "Marine," she spoke to Laura again, "Get your unit aboard my ship. We leave in five."

She walked briskly back towards the Destiny, still flanked by her personal guards. Laura saw her say something over the radio but it must have been for the Navy crewmen. But its effect was obvious.

The medical personnel started packing their things and the perimeter security began falling back from the breaches in the wall. "Sergeant... better get moving. Captain says we leave in five... they're all packing up here."

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Petty Officer Motoyama grabbed the child from the burnt out ruins. That ship was leaving soon. The clock was ticking and there were no more ships. But he'd be damned if he knowingly left a child behind!

He had sent his squad, or rather the two survivors from his squad, ahead to the Destiny. Motoyama had been about to follow when he had heard a cry for help nearby. It had been a little girl, who'd broken her leg. How she had survived, Motoyama didn't know but he had scooped her up immediately.

There was no way he'd get to the Nepleslian ship without boosters but the effect on the little girl... To hell with it, if he didn't get there, they were both as good as dead. He activated his thrusters and sped towards one of the open ramps. Much to his horror, the ramp began to lift! Motoyama strained and willed his suit to go faster.

"Come on, Motoyama-san! You can make it!" That was odd, he reflected surreally. "You can make it before the ramp closes, Motoyama-san!" That really sounded like the two idiots from his squad.

And then, Motoyama realized that he had just shot into the loading area and slammed into the troopers from his squad, who'd been looking for him. Behind him, the ramp closed.

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"Sergeant Volkov, Captain Ironside informs me that the ship is loaded and waiting for your squad. She hopes you make haste," Drei said to Phaedra.

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In space, the delaying force assembled and waited to meet the NMX advance. Valken now knew what he faced. Sixteen line battleships, eight carriers, and over forty cruisers and destroyers. It was not a force that would be terribly hindered by his fleet, even with the thousand odd F2 drones.

"Drei, take command of the delaying force. When the Destiny reaches orbit, inform Captain Ironside that I am transferring my flag to her ship. Order the junkers to clear out the Marines' personal belongings and load them into the shuttles. We may need the Asp to give her life in this fight as well if we're going to get our slowest ships out of here."

Valken sighed. He really hated sending ships and crews on suicide missions. It was a waste of money, resources and lives. But sometimes, one had to sacrifice a few dozen to save a few thousand. Sadly, this was one of those times and he dared not try to imagine how the crews aboard the doomed escorts felt.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Hearing that there was only five minutes left and not wanting to get left behind Sawyer took off running towards the spaceport and kicked on his boosters to get a bit more speed and hoped he'd make it there before the ship took off.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

"Sergeant... better get moving. Captain says we leave in five... they're all packing up here," said Laura.

"Sergeant Volkov, Captain Ironside informs me that the ship is loaded and waiting for your squad. She hopes you make haste," said Drei.

"Marines, we are out of here. Fall back towards the Destiny immediately," said Phaedra. She increased her speed and boosted towards the ship, landing near one of the few landing ramps still down. The NIGHT's wings folded neatly onto her back, and Phaedra waited there at the ramp for the rest of the squad before she would allow herself to board.

"Come on Marines! Move it!" she barked into the comm.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Laura stepped aboard, constantly looking back to see where the others were. Jan and his battered power armor had been taken aboard and his burns were being treated.

The nekos were aboard, the UOC was aboard, just the Marines left. Who was going to be the last one off this rock? she wondered. Probably Phaedra, she seemed to be the kind of OCD leader who refused to leave before all her squad was loaded.

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

"Acknowledged, Lieutenant. On the way." Rita said through the comm as she stood up and slung her HPAR over her shoulder. She jogged back over to the Destiny and entered, taking the nearest seat immediately. Now that she began to rest, she could feel the effects of her exhaustion, and began breathing heavily. "This is Private Rita Stenton, I'm on board the Destiny now. My legs are pretty shot up and I think I'm leaking mechanical coolant into my suit. I could use some medical attention when it's available."

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

"This is Matteo. Order acknowledged and on the bounce." he replied. The Hostile rapidly bounded across large stretches of land, using it's thrusters to leap long distances and speed towards the transports. Once at the pad, he cut down to a normal run and quickly entered the final one before taking his place beside Rita.

"Matteo here, I'm aboard." The marine looked over Rita as she sounded off again as well before speaking. "You're Looking pretty bad marine. Anything can do?"

Re: [Mission 3.2] When a Plan Makes First Contact With the E

Sawyer was making for the Destiny when he was blown out of the sky. The blast caused him to crash right in front of the Destiny's landing ramp and Phaedra. Just three hundred meters away, the damaged Ravager was back on its feet.

The blast from the Ravager's missiles had eaten right through the shield and done damage to the Aggressor. A huge piece of metal had wedged itself in the armor's right shoulder. This piece dug right into Sawyer's flesh, pinning it against the armor. Despite this, he got to his feet and started blasting away at the Ravager as he walked backwards up the ramp.

Laura Romero swiftly descended the ramp and with Phaedra, added fire as the Marines went aboard. "I take back what I said to Cedric! You're the most stupid Marine I've ever met! What took you so long?" she yelled playfully at Sawyer. With all the Marines aboard, the sailors raised the ramp and signaled the Captain.

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"Kill that ugly pox," Captain Ironside ordered. The gunnery officer smiled viciously as he targeted the Ravager with the Destiny's Gravitic Weapons System.

Outside, the Ravager shrank, folding into itself, as gravity was manipulated to crush it like a man crushing a grain of steamed rice.

"Take us out of here." Captain Ironside did not bother to consider whether there were still more trapped civilians who were watching the Destiny's departure. The world was doomed and she would not see her vessel doomed with it.

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"Green Beans, we are OUT of here! Rendezvous at the Asp for rearmament and refueling! We're going to be walking the omnibuses out. No rest for the best, boys and girls! Green Leader out." The thirty FA4s of 4th Fleet rose from the planet like hawks gaining altitude before a dive. Except there would be no return to the surface, no final dive. Their business with the planet and its new masters was over. Now their mission was to ensure that the transports had a one way ticket out of the Tange system.

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In orbit, the NMX battlepods were swarming around the delaying force that Valken had placed. Two of the Oberons were dead and the rest were badly damaged. All of the C2s were gone. F2 drones were killing dozens battlepods before expending themselves on the larger line battleships.

Drei's control of the delaying force had been superb thus far. Three line battleships were dead or crippled along six cruisers and nine destroyers out of action. A full third of the NMX force powerless and the rest were blocked by the sizeable picket.

As soon as the Destiny was in orbit and headed out system, the shuttles from the Asp linked up with it. Junker drones moved the equipment and storage lockers while Rear Admiral Dominic Valken marched through the bulkheads towards the bridge. He could not help feeling slightly relieved at the number of civilians they had rescued. But Valken would be damned if he allowed civilians to see his emotions. Standards, and appearances, must be maintained. All of the thanks and gratitude were waved off without so much as a smile.

He entered the Destiny's bridge and was greeted immediately. "Rear Admiral Valken, sir! Welcome aboard the Destiny!" So this was the infamous Valencia Ironside he had heard of. The so-called Iron Lady.

"Thank you, Captain. Signal all transports, head to Rally Point Delta. The Asp and the remaining Oberons will escort us out. We will not stop for lamed ships. You may consider that last to be an order for all ships," Valken strode to the three dimensional holographic display. The remaining transports were all making full speed out. The Asp, two Arashis and ten Oberons lagged behind to form a protective wall between them and the NMX battlepods which were now streaking past the delaying force.

The survivors from the delaying force would be dealt with by the warships. It was up to the battlepods to slow down the transports. "Deploy the remaining drones and FA4s from the Asp. Not one battlepod goes through."