Kell took in the scene in the room before him. Several dozen The Order personnel were gathered in the Fedayeen's Briefing room, barely containing everyone inside, in preparation for the coming assault. Taking the podium, Kell activated his comm-bead. Screen and additional holoprojector started displaying relevant information concerning outpost that has been chosen as their target of today.
“Gentlemen, we are about to begin Phase 3 of Operation Hammer of Dawn” Kell began. “Three days ago, Wedjat agents identified this station” he continued, pausing to display an image of a small repair facility on the room's holoprojector. “As a repair station belonging to the Red Talons' Syndicate, an Outcast drug smuggling organization” he finished.
Moving over next to the holoprojector, Kell adjusted the zoom on the holoprojector image to magnify two of the docking bays on the station. “As you can see, there is a group of 8 Dromedary Class Freighter's in those docking bays” he began. “Your objective is to capture them” he finished. Walking back to the podium, Kell spoke again“To facilitate this, we are committing the Resheph Class Destroyer Ptolemy and the Fedayeen Strike Group to the mission. Admiral Golanski will brief you on the main assault, I will brief you on the breaching plan” he finished, yielding the floor to the Admiral.
Admiral got into the position, beggining explaining tactical execution of mission for Fedayeen's air wing. As he made sure everyone is in attention to listen to the plan through moving his sight across the room he begun. On the main screen, map has appeared marking location of their fleet in relation to smuggler's hideout. First zooming on the fleet, consisting of Geb, Resheph, three Hathors and two transports were clearly visible.
"As of now, we are currently masked by low visibility of nebula and blanket put on us with Resheph cruiser. Thanks to that, our strike will come with total surprise to defenders. We will deploy our assets in two elements." Focus of screen moved to cruiser, transport and two groups of fighters. "Our two strikes will move in waves as our electronic warfare support cuts all long range comms. First strike will move in and secure perimeter as station goes dark to ensure nothing leaves it alive to warn anyone else." Screen animates sizeable strike groups spreading around the base, in positions to intercept everything inbound or outbound the station.
Second group starts moving towards the station itself, escorting transport to the outpost. "Our second strike will aim directly at the station to thin out any garrison left and ensure our soldiers will be safe to board. Transport will come in cloaked and will remain in stealth until called in to commence their part of the deal." Screen adjusts to the next phase, leaving out exact boarding procedure to Kell and his teams. "Rest of our fighters that do not take part in operation will remain in close escort of the fleet or in alert status onboard Fedayeen. They will not be commited until need arise. Our entire group will move into engagement area to begin last phase of operation." Finally, transport moves out of the dock and presents simulated destruction of base.
"Depending on tactical situation, after completing all objectives... our teams will try to destroy installation. If that proves too difficult, they will leave that job for our capital assets which will lay waste as last of our soldiers will get into safe distance. To ensure secrecy of our further operation... no one can be spared."
Golanski's serious expression says that there can be no exceptions to the rule. Failing at this point may jeopardize his further plans and waste The Order resources. After all he commited carrier group for entire series of op's until they achieve what he has planned for the near future."Director will finish briefing and instruct our boarding party. I will prepare the fleet." He stepped down, allowing Kell to finish it. Taking the podium once more, Kell activated the comm-bead. “Thank you Admiral” he said, nodding to Golanski.
“Prior to the first strike, Wedjat strike teams will be deployed to the station's hull via cloaked transport” he began. “Coinciding with the second strike, they will breach the station and take its engineering section and command section” he continued. “Simultaneously, Fleet Marines will deploy via shuttle to breach the docking bays, by this time, we should have their point defenses neutralized” he finished. “A portion of the marines will be tasked with securing and holding the freighters until Wedjat personnel from the Ptolemy arrive to retrieve them” he began again. “Those who are not assigned to guard duty will clear the station of all remaining hostiles” he finished.
“Questions should be addressed to your unit commanders, we move out in three hours. Dismissed.” he declared, leaving the podium. As people gathered are about to leave, one of the newer members of the Division 3 strike teams inquires his superior officer. "What if they surrender?" To which more senior officer answered briefly.
"No prisoners. They would starve this way or another..."
ATRANS Starry Ice Briefing Room, Magellan System, Holding Pattern above Red Talons' Station Two Hours before Phase 3 First Strike
Kell looked over the eight individuals gathered before him. Around him stood the members of Jade and Onyx Teams. Between them hovered a holographic image of the station below them. Looking at Jade Team, he locked eyes with its commander, William Beyer, callsign, 'Mercury' “You'll deploy to the station hull, at this airlock here” he said, gesturing to a point on the top of the image. “Scans indicate that the hallway it connects to grants direct access to the station's lift system” he continued. “From there you will be able to move on the Engineering and Command sections” he finished.
“Jade you will hit Command, Onyx will take engineering” he began again. “Take CQB loadouts, lethals only” he continued “We can't leave any survivors, lest the Outcasts learn what we're doing.”
He then glanced at the Onyx Team commander “Dismissed, gear up, you deploy in two hours” he finished.
ATRANS Starry Ice Drop Bay Armory 1, Magellan System, Holding Pattern Above Red Talons' Station One Hour before Phase 3 First Strike
William “Mercury” Beyer looked at his team, taking note of each of them in the small armory. To his left was Lucius Bradley, callsign 'Viper', the teams' heavy weapons specialist. Mercury locked eyes with Viper, thrusting a STRIKER Plasma cannon into his grip, giving him a “just in case” look. Viper grinned at Mercury, behind him he heard a low chuckle. Turning around, he gazed at the woman behind him, Anastasia McKenzie, callsign 'Athena', his team medic and close quarters specialist. She flashed him a grin, rolling her eyes simultaneously, sending the message “Men and their weapons” while turning to check her AR-3 Breaker CQC rifle. Mercury shifted his gaze to the last member of his team, Declan Schaefer, callsign 'Titan' the team pilot and demolitions specialist. Titan looked up from the box explosives he was going through and nodded silently to Mercury.
Turning away from his team, he walked over to the weapons rack, grabbing an AR-7 Lancer DMR and STRIKER Plasma Cannon. Attaching the STRIKER to his armor, he turned back to gaze at his team. I only hope we all come back from this he thought, activating his comm-bead “Director, Jade is go.”
last wing of fighters deployed from Fedayeen joined with rest of the strike package. Mantaining ussual yet always uncomfortable silence except the most important transmissions, all squadrons commited are waiting. First group solely consist of The Order's Onuris light fighters, matching their assigned role to intercept anything that is not one of theirs. Second group however is a mix of Nephthys and Bastets, heavy package to remove any opposition left.
"To all units, total communication and sensor blackout over engagement area is in effect... now." Cruiser's command reported, marking end of preparations as it came to execution of the plan itself. Admiral Golanski monitored everything from Fedayeen's command room as The Order were the only aware of what right now happens within this segment of nebula. Connected now to the fleet, he addresses assembled strike teams. "Strike team 1, move and take your positions. Strike team 2, commence the attack run now."
As intended, speed of Onurises allowed them to take strategical points around installation for interception duty well before Red Talons could even notice assault outfit heading their way. Admiral's only matter to handle was to give an order to proceed with next part of their operation. "Commander Konstantinov, set direct course for the base. All escort remain in formation. Get me a secure link to Starry Ice now."
Having established link with the cloaked transport, contacting director Tainer. "Operation is a go and package has been sent, ETA 2 minutes before area goes hot. Wait until fighters arrive to supress garrison and outposts defenses." Now reaching point of no return, Michal could finally rest in his chair, bringing up reports of other Magellan developments on one of his screens for the last momenths before the storm. "Here goes the thunder..." He says to himself as symbolic fighters achieve firing range on tactical real-time map of the battlefield in center of the command room.
ATRANS Starry Ice Bridge, Magellan System, Holding Pattern Above Red Talons' Station Minutes Before Phase 3 First Strike
Kell watched the station orbit beneath the Starry Ice from the ship's command chair. Hearing a beep from a nearby console, he turned to his helmsman, Jack "Ghost" Wilson. "Who's contacting us Ghost?" he asked.
"Director it's an incoming transmission from the Admiral, patching it through to your comm-bead" Ghost replied.
Moments later, the voice of Admiral Golanski came through on Kell's comm-bead "Operation is a go and package has been sent, ETA 2 minutes before area goes hot. Wait until fighters arrive to suppress garrison and outposts defenses."
"Copy that Admiral, Jade and Onyx are in position, breaching operation will commence once the garrison is engaged" he replied.
Cutting the link, Kell turned to face Ghost, "Ghost, the moment those fighters get here, signal Jade and Onyx to commence breaching" he ordered.
Ghost nodded in recognition and turned back to his console.
Godspeed gentlemenKell thought, staring out at the battle taking shape before him.
"Wing commander here, we've got base and hostiles on visual. All ships break and engage." arrival of Fedayeen's assault craft took smugglers by the complete surprise as planned. The only patrol on the guard duty composed of just two Switchblades and leading Sabre, swiftly put against a wall by twelve fighters. In desperation, base launched two Roc class bombers and another Switchblade that just happened to be on stand by. Being totally outmatched, it is what Starry Ice's crew was waiting for.
Mercury looked around the interior of the Remora Class breaching pod. Seated upon two shock-couches in the compartment were the four members of Jade team. Looking down, he checked his restraints and the rifle mag-locked to his greaves. Satisfied, he keyed in a private channel to the Starry Ice bridge on his helmet commlink. “Director, whats the situation?” he asked the recipient.
“Golanski's fighters are reaching the base now, the garrison is moving to engage, launch on my mark” came back the voice of Director Kell Tainer.
“Copy that Director” Mercury replied. Turning to his teammates, he switched to the squad channel “We move out on the Director's mark, safety's off, the moment we pressurize to the station's atmo, we move in” he stated. His order was met with nods of affirmation from the three armor-clad soldiers. Looking to the opposite wall, he imagined the situation outside. Right across from them, in the Starry Ice's drop bay was a second Remora breaching pod containing Onyx Team. Once the order was given, both pods would descend upon the station below and chew through its hull with plasma cutters. Once they had breached, the pods would be pressurize to match the atmosphere within the station. Then they would begin their part of the assault.
Moments later Mercury was shocked out of his reverie by the sound of the Director's voice over his commlink “The garrison is engaged, commence breaching operation.” Reflexively, Mercury hit a series of commands into the console next to him. He was greeted by the sound of machinery as the pod began its descent to the station hull. This was swiftly followed by the sound of the plasma cutters roaring to life as the pod burrowed its way into the station. After what seemed like an eternity, the pod's lighting flashed red and their restraints snapped free.
Mustering his team, they took up positions around the exit door. Meanwhile only meters away from them in void of space, assault group continues to eradicate defenses. "Admiral, base's clear. I pressume they are preparing actual counter attack instead of sending out bits and pieces.". The only fighting chance Red Talons had was to deploy every single fighter onboard they have left. As last enemy fighter splashed, admiral congratulated his people.
"Good job, Jones. Be alert and give some fighter cover on Starry Ice until it resets its cloaking device. Strike team 1 report your current status." He said, feeling Tainer will need support once whatever is inside spews out on the battlefield. "Darrow here, we've sanitized the area. Of five fighters, three tried to run. They were unable to breach through jamming. We are holding until given new orders." Confident about total victory here, suddenly an alarm sounded. Two Raven Talon's in escort of civilian transport unknowingly of assault try making a run to the besieged base. "Kate, break off from Fedayeen and neutralize new contacts. Ptolemy command, extend jamming to that vector as well. Darrow, spare four interceptors... no witnesses."
Magellan System, Remora Breaching Pod attached to Red Talons Station Upper Levels, Seconds after the start of Phase 3
Standing behind the door, Mercury keyed the squad comm channel “Open in three, flash & clear” he ordered. Three seconds later, Titan opened the door, followed suit by Viper tossing a flashbang through the gap. After hearing the trademark noise of a flashbang detonation, Mercury and Athena stormed through the door, running into a 5-man Outcast patrol that had been caught in the blast. Moments later the squad had been dispatched by a round of gunfire from the squad.
Down the hall, Mercury could hear the report of gunfire, Onyx had just completed its breaching action.
Taking note of his surroundings, he consulted the station schematics via his HUD. Directing his team to a corridor to their left, they made their way to a set of turbolifts that would take them to the command areas of the station.
Onyx Team, cloaked by the stations hull. Just over the stations engineering.
'Charges are in place Commander.'
'Very well Night,' Commander Moreton took his attention off his first officer, they had no idea what to expect, nether of them were trained marines but Overwatch wanted a pair of fleet officers on the ground.
'Right men, we've been over this a dozen times already, breech, shoot advance. Don't give them cardi-heads a chance to react. They'll be unprepared and taken by surprise, the faster we move the less chance there is they'll get organised.'
'No prisoners' Sargent Stevens added, to which the marines cheered. 'They enjoy their work far too much,' Moreton whispered. 'Yes sir, but they'll get the job done'. Night was once a pilot, one of the best in the fleet, until a complete disregard of orders got him stuck as a crewman on a Respheh. Now he enjoyed working under his old friend. Yet standing in front of the door of the unknown brought back many old feelings of flying into uncharted space, to reek havoc on the enemy where a seconds hesitation or one wrong move could bring death. Now he was doing it all again behind an assault rifle instead of a cockpits panel controls.
'The green light will be any second, so remember, it'll be close gruesome work, keep your sidearms close and watch your spacing! I don't want to see one proton grenade wipe out half my squad.'
'Somethings wrong' Night whispered, 'we should've got the green light by now.'
The first fighting was quick, before the stations crew knew what had happened most were already dead, and those that weren't were shot in the back running away.
'Right, the station's power-core should be 50 meters down that hall way, Sargent leave some men here to cover our backsides, pop anything that tries to get behind us. The rest of you, we'll secure the stations power-core clearing all resistance on the way.'
'Move out!'
Moreton hoped that the enemy would run rather then face his marines, the last thing he wanted was to control a firefight by the power-core.
McRoy watches as Moreton leaves with the remaining squad,having suddenly given a small temporary fireteam of his own,he looks at the standing men,ready to give orders
"Okay men,this is gonna get rough,we're expecting the whole cardi-sniffin' party to come rolling down on us,so we'd get ready before they get here."
He moves his head around the large area,and then speaks
"Take defensive positions here,there,and behind those crates,and hey you!,pick up that rifle and get to the platform,stay behind cover until i give the signal."
He goes and takes cover behind some more crates,he orders another soldier to use the machine gun.
"Hold your fire,weapon's ready!"
McRoy knew the fight was suicidal,but was better than nothing,he reloads his assault rifle,with a smirk on his face as he spots a Maltese soldier far on the other side