System Kyushu - Kusari
Misaki's systems were scanning for signs of hostile ships nearby, but the Seiran dust cloud limited her scanner range. She spoke into her comm:
"This is alpha-1, we are about to leave the Seiran cloud. Prepare weapons for possible hostiles."
"Copy that, alpha-1"
The Chrysanthemums came into full view after they left the dense cloud behind them. Leading them from the front was Yunoki Misaki in her orchid bomber. Tailing her were 2 blossoms and 2 orchids. Misaki focussed her eyes on her scanners.
"Delta wing, do we have eyes on target yet?"
"Negative alpha-1"
"Passing planet Aso, No hostiles on scanners."
She looked to the right and saw the purple planet slowly pass by. Infront of her the trade lanes were coming into view.
"Keep out of Tsushima's scanner range. We do not want to risk detection."
The magnetic clasps smoothly released from the Akegata transport's hull. The ship's autopilot activated the strafing controls to ensure the Kishiro ship's safe departure from Tsushima's mooring dock's clasps. Once the ship was safely floating a meter or two away from them its hulking engines woke up from their slumber and the transport began slowly and carefully moving out of the station's docking fixture.
"This is captain Nakamoto of the Kishiro transport KT-407 to Tsushima, we are ready to head out. Notify the escorts we are ready to head for the Kyushu lane."
There was a hint of satisfaction in his otherwise cold voice. Captain Nakamoto was a loyal employee to Kishiro Technologies for over 15 years and by now was used to being on edge when dealing with Samura Heavy Industries. The two companies held an old rivalry over dominance of Kusari's vast markets for centuries and their employees never felt truly easy when interacting with each other. There were always company secrets and profits at stake, but sometimes the two Kusari market giants were forced to work together regardless of that. This was one of such cases, the KT-407 transport, christened as Kyokusei Maru by it's crew was to deliver Polymers to Shinagawa Station in New Tokyo that Tsushima was the main supplier of.
"Roger that, KT-407, hangar crew reports your escorts are passing final checks and will be spaceborne shortly."
The station's reply came soon after. Samura had the credits for the cargo transferred in advance, like with most other deals between the two companies and were likely just as anxious to have their guests leave. The Akegata transport arced to port, slowly aligning it's massive body with the trade lane a click or so to it's side. The ship's engines soon powered down to zero with the inertia dampeners putting the massive transport slowly into halt in front of the trade lane's ring.
The captain looked at the digital clock on his control screen. They were running close to schedule and the trade lane to Kyushu was reserved for their entry for the next 30 minutes. His focus turned to his first watch officer who was a man much younger than him. With captain Nakamoto closing to his retirement age, first watch officer Tashima was the likely one to inherit the duty of being the captain of the Kyokusei Maru.
"Once our escorts are out and about I want secure comm frequency established, number one. Instruct them to form and prepare for trade lane docking sequence."
"Wakarimasu, captain!"
The young watch officer was a fairly fresh graduate from the Honshu Spaceflight Academy and was still much more eager than experienced. His enthusiasm in even mundane orders was something that contrasted the captain's calm nature.
It did not take long for the first escort to undock from the Samura facility - an CTE-6000 "Eagle" Civilian Very Heavy Fighter, bearing Kishiro identifications and the callsign of Aoi-Prime. Once out it quickly made it's way above the Akegata transport. Soon after the second and third escorts followed - a pair of CTE-3000 "Falcon" Civilian Heavy Fighters bearing the IFF of Aoi-2 and Aoi-3 and each taking a side of the Kyokusei Maru in a V-like formation with their leader. The first watch officer turned to the captain.
"Captain, we are ready to enter the trade lane. Aoi Prime to three are formed on us and ready."
The captain's attention stayed on the holo-screen of his console as he muttered his orders.
"Set to half impulse and get us into the lane. We are almost behind schedule."
The squadron arrived at the tradelane, cutting their cruise engines. Misaki started giving her orders and her voice was transmitted to the other ships.
"Impulse speed. Pentagon formation. gamma-1 left. Gamma-2 right. Delta-1 bottom left. Delta-2 bottom right. I take the top. When the target arrives on scanners, open fire on the lane."
The squadron assumed a pentagon formation and resumed their way along the trade lane with the lanes in their centre.
"Akahana-san I know this is your first operation in the field. Just follow my commands and you will survive.
Everyone listen up. The target is a Kishiro affiliated Akegata. According to our sources it will pass through these tradelanes shortly. Our objective is to secure it. When it arrives we will disable it and board the vessel. We need to do this in a limited time window before the navy catches our scent. This will be a hit and run mission. Bring honor to the title of 'ghost'."
It was quiet for a minute while the squadron moved along the lane like a bolt over a screw. Misaki was busy checking her systems when she heard the voice of delta-1.
"Alpha-1, I received confirmation that the target is moving. Operation Yamakuzure is a go."
Misaki looked into the direction of Tsushima depot and ran her fingers through her long black hair. She mused to herself.
"And so begins the dance of metal and blood."
Akahane listens quitely to Misaki and nods then.
"Wakarimasu Alpha-1, I will give my best."
She positioned her blossom fighter next to Misaki. She felt a bit nervous, due to being this her first operation in the field. She looked at her console, checking her systems
"Gamma-1 all systems green, awaiting your orders. Let us show theese corporation dogs their mistakes, i will make them pay with their blood."
Akahane tied her brown hair to a single braid and took a long, deep breath. With a tight grip she closed her hands around the control sticks.
"Trade lane disrupted."
The ship's VI notified in a cold and emotionless manner that KT-407's voyage towards planet Kyushu was encountering complications. With the lane ahead down, the freight ship and its escorts quickly dropped down to impulse speed a klick or so in front of the downed trade lane. With their now much lower speed the ship's scanners quickly picked up the culprits responsible for the lane's malfunction. Kyokusei Maru and her escorts were outnumbered and outgunned. The captain quickly dispatched the distress signal.
"This is captain Nakamoto of the Kishiro KT-407 transport, we are under attack by Golden Chrysanthemums on the lane to planet Kyushu D/E-3, I repeat we're under attack, D/E-3! Send help immediately!"
It was unlikely that the Chrysanthemums had not intercepted his distress message. What was left now was to do all in his power to hold out as long as he could until hopefully the State Police reinforcements arrived. The three escorts around the KT-407 quickly broke formation and prepared their defensive approach on the Chrysanthemum ships. Protocols for such encounters were simple - the the escorts were to provide covering fire for the transport as they attempt to reach the next trade lane.
"All hands get to your battle-stations. Tashima - divert power core to the Dulzian weapon systems, keep your eyes on front shield integrity and be ready for evasive maneuvers on my mark!"
The ship's emergency red lights quickly began flashing, signaling all of the crew of the emergency situation they were in. In a situation such as this even the rival corporation's Tsushima depot sounded like a nice place to be at. In fact anywhere away from here sounded like a better place to be at.
Misaki fired up her thrusters and moved towards the Kishiro convoy
"Konnichiwa, We are the Gen'an Chrysanthemums. Our demand is simple.
Your fighter escorts will leave at this moment and you will evacuate the transport. It will save us the trouble of repairing the damage that we will do to it. You have one minute to decide your next move. After that, we will leave no one alive."
Misaki cut off the communication to the Akegata. She then turned her attention back to her squadron.
"Gamma wing, you will take care of the fighters. Delta-2 you will support gamma and sneak up behind them to hit them with torpedoes from the rear. Delta-1 is with me. We will destroy the engines of the Akegata. It will not leave here."
She looked back to the Kishiro vessels infront of her.
"It really is pretty, isn't it?"
Akahane turned her attention towards the escort fighters. There were 3 of them against the 3 of them.
"Gamma-1 target locked. Cleared hot and power up,got sight on bandit-1. Gamma-2 you take on bandit-2. Delta-2 get in position. And Gamma-2 watch out for blue on blue"
She threw a quick look to the transport.
„Indeed a beauty.It will be in good use for us“
"Let's hit them hard and fast. I'm ready to kill"
Akahane was nervous but proud at the same time to show off her fighting skills.
"Orders, captain?"
The first watch turned to the captain of the Kyokusei Maru with a worried eyes and an unsure look questioning if they should accept the good will of their attackers. He was not the only one in the command room having doubts about the situation and being tempted by the offer of peaceful vacancy of the ship. This put captain Nakamoto in a tough position - he had to remain unnerved to boost the morale of his men. The escorts were trained pilots, but in space one could never be sure how a fight might really end.
"Turn off engines and continue drift towards Kyushu. Use the secure comms to notify our escorts to feint evacuation procedures."
Seeing that this answer did not answer the young man's true question, the captain continued with a rather harsh tone. The least he wanted right now was anyone to consider deserting on this plan.
"They're terrorists, as soon as we leave in the pods they'll likely either capture us or shoot us dead. The more ships and guns we have on our disposal, the higher the chance of our survival."
The escorts catching on the planned ruse quickly ceased their approach on the hostile fighters and instead slowly turned towards the sides of the transport on impulse as if to prepare to tractor any escape pods that might come from the Kyokusei Maru. Every single klick closer to the planet was a klick closer to the safety of the State Police patrols and both the captain of KT-407 and the ship's escorts knew that every second of delay increased their odds of success in surviving the situation. Nakamoto leaned forward on his seat and slowly stroked his chin.
"Let's see how far this minute will last. Tashima, keep your eyes on our shield capacitor and be ready to activate thrusters on full throttle."
The captain's stoic behavior proved invigorating for the troubled crew's morale who now looked much more confident in their survival.
Misaki opened a bottle of sake and took a big sip from it before puting it back. Misaki noticed the vessel was still drifting to the next lane.
"Alpha-1, this is Delta-2, target is moving to next lane."
"Copy that delta-2. Lets throw the breaks on that first. Reform pentagon formation and divert power to tractor beams."
The squadron reformed the pentagon formation and quickly flew towards the Kishiro convoy.
"Target acquired. On my mark. Now"
The squadron passed around the convoy before they could react and at Misaki's call, all 5 ships activated their tractor beam, targeting the rear of the Akegata. And without the Akegata's engines It was enough of a pull to make the ship stop dead in its tracks.
"Ship stopped moving. Break formation and regroup."
Misaki re-opened communications with the Akegata.
"Continue your evacuation, captain."
The Chrysanthemums had caught his tactic. Realizing that the ship was put to a relative halt, the captain quickly turned to the first watch with new orders prepared for the crew of the Kishiro KT-407 Akegata transport.
"All thrusters on maximum, divert power to the weapons grid and get the gunner officer to focus on the nearest hostiles, now!"
Without even a nod that would waste time, Tashima quickly began executing the orders of his captain. The Kyokusei Maru quickly sprung back into motion, the sudden output of the thrusters almost sending its crew flying from the surprise momentum that was gained. And not a moment later the ship's turrets quickly sprung to life as well, rotating their cannons to target the nearest Chrysanthemum vessel.
Because this new order was not relayed to the ship's escorts, their reaction followed with some delay. Nevertheless once the escort leader had noticed the Dulzian fire coming from the KT-407, he quickly began his attack run on the Chrysanthemums to provide covering fire as well.