RP: YSS Aeon [Mission 4.1] Stars above and trouble below

[Nashoba]

Aeon Bridge in low orbit above Siren 2

The Aeon and its other squadron ships were coming into sensor range of Siren Mining Colony 7 after having orbited around the planet. The away team had been successfully deployed and would hopefully find survivors, or at least detailed information on what had happened to the Peacekeepers.

While they were on the other side of the planet, Katae had been in contact with the forces of the 4SF that were investigating the Akuma Asteriod Field. They were reporting periods of considerable resistance followed by erratic behavior. But it was apparent that the NMX was making a bid for the mining facility.

As the Gunship cleared the perimeter, Eternity started providing sensory data. On the main screen the image did not look exactly like the data they had on file. There was a massive structure near the mine that reached straight upward.

 

[Cowboy]

Trowa sat at the pilot station and scanned the data that was scrolling across his cybernetic eye. The newness of the enhancements had worn off and the Nepleslian was now very comfortable with them and knew what they could do. Trowa spend as much time as he could using them with the ship and in the proses had developed a deep love for the Aeon, more than he had before.

When he had first laid eyes on her the pilot had been taken in. The smooth lines and curve of her hold, the sharpness and power of her weapons, and the gentle purr of her engines. But as the pilot worked more and more with her he had grown more and more fond of her. The way she responded to his touch on the stick as they danced in-between enemy ships, the way her weapons screamed as they blasted their targets into space dust, and the way she shuttered when she was hit yet kept on fighting.

Trowa saw the huge structure near the mine, and the two NMX ships hovering near it. "What the heck is that?" the pilot said out loud.

 

[Nashoba]

The Aeon sensors showed that the structure was constructed of starship grade materials, which was not surprising given the size of it.

Then the sensors showed a massive energy surge in the structure, followed by a discharge spike and the structure ejected a projectile at high velocity.

 

[NeonPhoenix]

A tuck her, a comb here and a bit of shifting here and she was ready to go. It had taken longer then she wanted, but she had finally landed a spot aboard a space ship and at a weapons station no less. She had mixed emotions about being there however. She longed to watch those power energy weapons rip through something, she didn't care what it was.

She took a moment to check her appearance again. She had to make sure that everything was as it should be when she appeared before the captain and other senior officers. She knew that they were moving towards a mining facility and that there was the chance that enemy ships were in the area. A small smile touched her full lips, half of her wished that a few would show themselves..just a few little ones. Something to test the weapon systems on. She cleared her throat and made her way out of her solitary quarters and towards the bridge at a sharp pace.

 

[Nashoba]

The Squadron's presence above the Logistics Engine did not go unnoticed, a series of surface to air missiles streaked up towards the them, but were destroyed by the anti-armor turrets long before they could damage the ships.

A group of four NMX Escorts rose above the horizon and fired upon the squadron from the starboard side.

 

[Cowboy]

Trowa's real eye widened in surprise then banked the ship hard to port. "Hang on!" He yelled, although it was too late to do anything about it since he was already halfway through the maneuver. Trowa glanced at his board and bit back a curse, he was trying to cut down on his languid. Four NMX ships, all firing at his beloved Aeon. Not for long he thought.

Flipping a few switches, the Nepleslian pilot armed the Aeon's main weapon and acquired a target lock on the one of the enemy ships. Though the Aeon had more powerful weapons and stronger shields she wouldn't be able to slug it out with four ships at once. She would have to rely on her far better speed and maneuverability to beat her enemy.

Trowa quickly did a few calculations in his head and checked different positions and vectors. He needed to hit the NMX hard and fast. Trowa got a firing solution on nearest ship and fired. The Aeon vibrated as the aether shock array beam flew strait at the enemy ship.

 

[Nashoba]

The other ships in the 7th squadron followed the course change right behind the Aeon. The NMX may have gotten the first volley, but the 7th was about to collect payback.

The Integrity followed the Aeon's lead and targeted the same ship firing its main array.

The other two ships selected the second NMX Escort and fired.

The sensors meanwhile showed multiple new targets on in the area as the NMX warships deployed their battlepods.

 

[Cowboy]

As the Aeon came around for another strike at big ships, Trowa tried to get a damage reading for the ship they had just hit. There was some interference. Glancing at his display screen he hissed through gritted eat. For a moment Trowa wasn't sure which made him madder, the sudden appearance of NMX battlepods or that he was making so much effort to not curse at them like the Nepleslian pilot he was.

Trowa brought the Aeon in line for another pass and acquired a target lock on the same ship he had hit before. He also set the ships Heavy Quad cannons and Heavy Duel turrets on auto lock to take out those annoying battlepods.

 

[Nashoba]

The sensors showed that the first ship they hit had sustained substantial damage, but it was still capable of fighting back. It returned fire at the Aeon, the shields ringing with the impact and the hull being damaged by that which passed through the shields.

The automated guns started firing at the closest battlepods. The battlepods immediately began targeting the turrets trying to take them out.

"Yamamoto-Nitô Heisho we need maneuvering space, take us out of orbit so we can make full advantage of our speed." Katae ordered

 

[Cowboy]

The Nepleslian pilot couldn't hold back any longer and swore as the Aeon's shields were breached and her hull was damaged. Damage reports began scrolling across his eye, most of which were minimal.

"Aye, Ma'am." Trowa acknowledge as he brought the Aeon out of orbit. Once out of orbit, the Aeon moved like a dancer on the dance floor, graceful and with ease. Trowa brought the ship's main weapons to bear on the wounded NMX and fired another blast of deadly energy.

 

[Nashoba]

The Aeon with the Integrity on its tail both fired at the wounded NMX vessel, their weapons wreaking havoc on the craft leaving it a tumbling burning hulk. The other ships of the NMX unit started firing at the Aeon in an attempt to cripple the ship, they focused on the aft of the gunship.

 

[Cowboy]

Trowa put the Aeon into a tight roll then looped up sharply in an attempt to avoid the NMX return fire. They seemed to be trying to take out their engines. Clever buggers. Thought Trowa as he flew.

Trowa began another pass at the enemy ships. But this time in a line where the ship he was targeting acted as a shield against the other two ships out there. They could either try to move around to get a clear field of fire or they could stay where they were and let the Aeon blast away at its target without fear of being shot at by 3 ships. Trowa got a lock and again fired the heavy weapons at the enemy ship in a beautiful display of deadly energy.

 

[Nashoba]

The Aeon shuddered as a couple of missiles detonated far enough away that the shields stopped them. One of the pursuing craft exploded as the other two ships of the 7th squadron caught it with their main arrays.

 

[Cowboy]

Damage reports and data flashed across Trowa's cybernetic eye. The shields had held back most of the damage from the NMX missiles, but were temporarily weaken. Trowa shifted power around so that the shields would recharge quicker as he put distance between himself and the remaining NMX ships. The Nepleslian looked at the massive structure in the asteroid field again as he turned the Aeon to bear on the next ship they were to attack. He frowned. Having been so focused on flying, Trowa still had no idea what the heck that thing was. He wanted to be aware of any threats to his beloved Aeon. “Eternity,” the pilot asked. “You detecting any energy readings from that structure?”

 

[Nashoba]

"The structure on the surface seems to be a delivery system for shooting resources from the surface of the planet to ships in orbit." Eternity replied.

"Yamamoto-Hei, break off our attack on the NMX ship, the Integrity can handle it prepare for planetary bombardment. That's an important resource for the enemy." Katae ordered.

 

[Cowboy]

Trowa breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t some big super weapon that was going to shoot them down. He turned around in his seat and looked at the Taisa in confusion for a moment. “Planetary Bombardment?” Then a smile crept onto his face as realization struck home. “Aye, aye ma’am!” The pilot yelled as he disengaged the Aeon and from its attack run. “Charging up weapons for Planetary Bombardment. Loading torpedoes,” said Trowa, more to himself than to anyone in particular. “Acquiring target solution… target locked.” The pilot double checked his calculations and smiled as they were right on the money. “Ma’am, I have firing solutions; we will be in range in 20 seconds.” Reported Trowa to the Taisa. “Awaiting your order to begin Planetary Bombardment.”

 

[Nashoba]

"Once we are in range, fire for effect." Katae replied as she monitored the status of the squadron.

 

[Cowboy]

Trowa did a final systems check once the Aeon was in position. At the Taisa’s command, the Nepleslian began firing. “Heavy weapons firing in bombardment pattern, launching torpedoes now.” The ship lurched slightly as the torpedoes were fired. The trajectory of the torpedoes appeared on one of the view screens with a time-to-impact counter. Space outside the ship lit up as the heavy weapons shot bright laces of destructive light towards the structure. Trowa kept an eye on the missiles counter. “Torpedoes will strike in 3… 2… 1.” A huge explosion suddenly blossomed at the base of the structure like a giant flower. Trowa couldn’t see what kind of damage was done so he loaded another set of torpedoes incase more were needed. “Continuing heavy bombardment, scanning for initial damage done to structure…” Trowa glanced at the overall battle screen. He needed to stay on his guard since there were still enemy ships about.

 

[Nashoba]

From their position in orbit there was a bit of a delay from the firing of the weapons to seeing the results. After the third volley, the massive structure on the ground started to topple over, it broke into several pieces as its structure failed crushing vehicles and personnel working around it.

Above the Aeon, the remaining ships in the squadron were finishing off a pair of NMX warships.

 

[Cowboy]

The Nepleslian smiled as he watched the tower begin to break apart as secondary explosions blew chunks out of the tower to rain down on the infantry and vehicles below it. He did a quick scan of the ship to make sure that there had been no misfires and that they were still combat ready before making his report to the Taisa. “Structure destroyed, ma’am. No damage to us.” He paused to read a message that had just received. “Integrity reports the other two NMX ships have taken massive damage and are venting atmosphere. Integrity says that they should have two confirmed kills in another five minutes, ma’am.” Trowa turned in his seat to face the Taisa. “Orders ma’am?”