[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Back in the fleet bivouac, Rage was immediately called away to a meeting of the brass.
He entered the room filled with familiar faces, Admiral Pinkett, Commandant O'Lear... and several others that he had met at one time or another. Immense respect shone in the eyes of all. Rage had earned it fair and as fair men they gave it freely. He saluted and sat down at the octagon table.
“Captain Menelas,” commenced Pinkett. “You and your raiders have done remarkable work. And I have decorations for you and your entire team. But, I hope you aren't in need of any immediate R&R.”
Rage's head snapped around and his attention focused like a laser beam. He easily recognized those as words precedent to a mission assignment. “My marines are always ready for a new fight sir,” he softly assured his commanding officer. That won a round of grim smiles from the high ranking officers flanking him.
“Good,” the admiral nodded, “fan-fricking-tastic, son because you are going to be the knife in the enemy's back on this one.”
“Sir?”
“An ancillary effect of the magnetar explosion that destroyed Siegreiche was that it took out two-thirds of the fleet protecting it in the process. Highly opportune for us... and we are looking to cash in on our good fortune. Many of the destroyers and gunboats in the Bounty Hunter fleet have been busy running down the rag-tag Hessian survivors. They've chased a substantial number to their secret system base, an underground bunker located on the sunny side of Planet Rugen, out of the line of fire of the Rheinland battleship on station at the Dresden jumphole. We believe the system commandant is there also... we want him.”
“Let me guess... Axle Blutauge.”
“That's right, Captain Menelas. The man that got you into this melee to begin with... First thing I shall do is thank him personally for that,” said the wizened leader with a grin and a wink.
“I'm your man sir.”
“I believe that.” He cuffed Rage's shoulder affectionately and went on. “I have recalled all elements of our fleet. Once mustered here we will reform and descend upon Rugen. We will stage an audacious frontal assault against the remaining naval forces the enemy has there, drawing off their fighters as well. You will command the latest in BH Raider technology, Captain Menelas. She's a beauty, you're going to really enjoy her.” He signaled a crewman who activated the hologram. "This is the Blade." Now a thin black, sharp-edged craft appeared roughly the size of a gunboat. She tapered to a severe point at the bows and slid aft in flattened surfaces to a heavy blunt stern. Two cockpit windows peered out from across her spine like the eyes of a demon creature. Rage was impressed. “She has twin gunboat forward cannons in her bows and quad torpedo tubes aft, to more effectively facilitate extractions. Her full complement is a raider company, however your team is all she needs for this trip.” Rage agreed absently with a curt nod, fascinated with the lethal beauty pirouetting slowly before him in mid-air.
Now, to Rage's utter dismay, the ship disappeared and an image of the planet took its place, showing the locations of several key landmarks. “You'll go in here,” the admiral continued, pointing to a position roughly adjacent to the planet's north pole. “Enter the atmosphere, dive to the deck... the Blade's sensory equipment will allow you to skim the surface of the planet with ease, her stealth technology making her damn near impossible to detect. Approach the pre-programmed LZ coordinates, just over the horizon from the base, dismount and prepare your infiltration assault.” Rage nodded his understanding. “Take out her shield generators, capture Blutauge... destroy the facility with torpedoes as you extract. Questions, captain?” Rage shook his head and the meeting concluded.