12-08-2018, 01:23 AM
Part I:
New London Blitz, 825 A.S.
New London Blitz, 825 A.S.
It was a foggy, yet bright afternoon in New London City. The city was on edge, and it showed. Traffic had been erratic for days and military traffic had picked up greatly. From the sky though, the city looked about the same as it always did. A black 'Waran' class bomber descended out of the sky and cut through the fog towards a BAF airbase on the edge of the city. It was a little more black than usual. Carbon scorring charred the hull all over. Residue from concussive explosions, and use of Hellfire Rockets that always left a black carbon shroud around the launchers.
Jonas Hudson was a little grimy after a long and active flight. He looked forward to stretching his legs again. Another successful sortie. He was returning from the repulsion of a wave of 'Obsinate' battlecruisers out in the New London defense zone. The last week had been a tough one. He had been flying repeated sorties against Gallic attackers, and scouting sweeps to get intel on enemy ships operating in the system. Both duties were tiring. Jonas hadn't been a front line soldier for some time. He had never intended on it. He had always been better behind the lines, hitting the soft underbelly of the Gallic beast.
But things had gotten bad, he thought. After touching down and allowing crews to service his ship, he hit the showers and mess hall. He had been making use of military accommodations since returning to New London, and was soldiering instead of just observing. He knew it called for it. Everyone who was able bodied was getting in the fight now.
Even from the base bar, personnel could see repeated flashes out high in the night sky. The battle was ongoing. Waves on enemy ships charge in to inflict damage and try to get back out quickly. The defenders' job was to see to it they didn't get home.
He had a drink and reviewed his personal communications. He checked the headlines and sat watching the telescreens above the bar while scanning the neural net. He was lucky. As an intelligence agent he was on detatched duty, and basically could set his own schedule. Every sortie resulted in coming back with more bumps and bruises...more scrapes. He hadn't been too seriously injured, but he hadn't managed to stay unscathed either. Taking the right amount of time between runs was important to making sure you would have it in you to make it back again. Every minute, every second was precious.
He'd been reporting back to HQ, but things were hectic and he could tell. Agents were deployed all over the place putting out fires wherever they were popping up. Now it was Omega-49. Oh yes, while the sky has been falling over New London, someone in the BAF Admiralty decided to send a ship into the system, and now there was a crisis developing there.
He sipped his drink. The usual wiskey on the rocks. He considered it a 'thinking' drink, although most would have thought the opposite. He hadn't been officially briefed about Omega-49, but knew someone from SIS would be out there. Probably Skirka he thought. No one knew what was going on. Or what the whole point was. The big picture was for anyone to figure out it seemed. He'll have his work cut out for him he mused to himself as he smirked reading the news on his pad. Already a serious diplomatic conference was underway, and threats of WMD's were already being levied. For Jonas it was simpler thankfully, he mostly did what he was told, what he had to do. It felt like a long way from New London, and most that were here were needed to contribute to the defenses. It seemed like the best place for him for the moment.
He looked at some maps for a while next. Leeds. There was the Leeds project. But something weird was happening there too. Strange satellites detected in orbit, and they don't look good. But, the Resistance base wasn't the only hope. He knew that in the event they get overrun in New London...there will always be millions on Leeds willing to fight. So it won't just be over. But he stared down at the chart, thinking it out. The lane and gate to Leeds was back open. If they could get some guys up the line, they could cut things off. But the lines at New London would have to break first. He had sent an emergency debrief about the project to the Admiralty. It was a bold move, he knew. But it also had to be done, and done right. Now, we at least had one more bargaining chip to add weight to our side. The rest would be up to higher powers. For now though, luckily or not, everyone' focus was New London Planet.
He contemplated it all. They were at a big crossroads. Within weeks, everyone would know how it was gonna go. Someone was gonna fold, at least a bit. It was at the point where he had to consider some worst case scenarios. If Bretonia is overrun, it would be easy. Go to ground, keep up the fight. If they surrender...that's even worse. Stand down? Follow orders? Or go rogue and be an enemy of both Gallia and Bretonia? He had signed up to fight the Gauls, and none were favorable situations. But if Bretonia holds out just long enough, the Gauls might be forced to call it quits finally. And if they tried to hold on to Leeds, they'd regret it one way or the other. For now though, he'd have to be prepared to flee. But he wouldn't head south, no. He'd be heading north. He downed the last of his drink as he slid out of his booth, popped outside to a designated area near the mess for quick smoke, and went to catch some rack time in his quarters.
* * * *
Solitary. That was his lifestyle. Family was far off, wherever they might be. His other family, the old crew of the Argo, were also scattered throughout the stars again. Antares disappears for months at a time. Rister was caught up in a lost cause in Bering a while back. Both were probably trying to stay in the shadows.
And women? Is there ever time? There's the wife. But he knows, he may never get back to her. If he does, it will be the long hard road out. For now, there was this war, this time.
He awoke in his cot to the sound of a loud boom overhead. He jumped up. No alarm sounding. But he went to the corridor. He could hear many army boots thumping down the deck. The hatch slid back and people were running towards the mess. When he got down there, a crowd had gathered in the large window looking out over the city. He pushed his way through.
Although there was no danger...well, no immediate danger, some of the ships re-entering after battle were exploding in the skies, now directly above the base.
"Looked like one of ours" someone said as they pointed to a large black cloud high above them. Jonas's brow was firm as he winced and looked at the debris cloud. Suddenly, another huge flash, followed by a loud boom. Everyone closed their eyes and looked away, but it was so fast everyone was lightly blinded for a moment.
"There goes another one"
"No real way to tell who's it was from this distance" Jonas said aloud. He backed out slowly, and after shaking off the blindness, grabbed some boiled eggs sitting in a basket near the kitchen, and pocketed them. He went back to his quarters and opened his main computer terminal and began going over his inventory. He'd had several ships delivered to New London for his use. A few of fighters, his bomber, and his own freighter. All were getting plenty of use now, in combat, or surveillance. There were plenty of other ships stashed out there in secret locations, for various purposes, but they were...unregistered. He brought up his bomber, and checked its status. All repaired, restocked, and ready to go. He held his watch up to his mouth and held a button, that connected him to the base docking master,
"This is SIS agent Hudson, ready my bomber craft to launch, I'm suiting up"