CLCG-01 ABYSS was commissioned as part of the STEEL-HIVE fleet upgrade initiative. Vessel was constructed aboard Mito Shipyards in Tau-63 following NovaPG approval for use of that facility. Basic Talarca class hull structure was used, with fully customised hardware and internal layout built in. Primary armarments were designed for engagement of enemy warships with dual-purpose missile launcher turrets for use against strikecraft and frigates.
Inital assignment was protection of AINU hardpoint and surrounding region from Commerce Interdiction Farmers and non-permitted entities. Secondary assignment is general fleet support duty and strategic reconnisence. CLCG-01 has sucessfully conducted combat trials and claimed one enemy destroyer (target's engines were disabled and the vessel was entrapped by Kyushu's gravity well). Recent tasking has included reconnisence of Colonial facilities in the Tau-44 region and protection of Chugoku sector from hostile mercenary activity.
Eventual refit is scheduled to replace the ABYSS' defense cannons and missile turrets with SOLARIS and DRAGONFLY weapons respectively, and upgrade it's armor overlay, heat exchangers, and power distribution arrays. CLCG-01 is currently on assignment to protect AINU hardpoint.
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The two Cybernetically upgraded men stood facing each other, the higher ranking one apparently extremely upset at his subordinate's apparent failing.
"Umm... I'm sorry sir... I should have put more thought into it..."
"Damn right you should have. You had a confrimed malignant, attacking GC patrols, in plain sight. Yet you refused to open fire...?"
The higher ranking of the two, identified as 'Ironwatsas' by a patch on the outside of his exoskeleton, was quite cross after being informed that the commander of the Cruiser Abyss, arbitrarily referred to as 'Steve', had deliberately failed to open fire on a Kusarian freelancer which had violated airspace claimed by the Consortium, and furthermore engaged GC vessels which were under Consortium juristiction.
The apparent reason being that the Freelancer turned out to be female, and had taken advantage of Steve's vestigal reproductive instincts to avoid destruction.
"Well... let me explain..." Steve replied, apparently as scared as he could be given his fear-inhibiting cybernetic implants. "The biotic was apparently outnumbered and outgunned... but was holding her own... right? And because of the close proximity, I didn't want to risk hitting any of our own pilots, right? And besides... if we were to augment this freelancer in the future, she may prove to be an exellent pilot... right?"
Watsas facepalmed. Despite the apparent severity of this incedent, he knew that Steve would not have made the decision based purely on biological impulses. Not by his farmiliarity of Steve's personality, but because Watsas knew the exact specifications of Steve's cybernetic conditioning implants. He, like any other Consortium soldier, would find it physically impossible to make descisions based purely on impulse.
As much as Steve's desire to mate was a factor, it was only one part of the complex process he had made his descision with.
"*sigh* Understandable... and seeing as none of the GC pilots sustained life-threatening injuries, and all were recovered safely... it is a better solution then had you not been there at all. However... the fact that AFTER this incedent, you stayed around and used the Enforcer Body to flirt with and try to impress the female in question..."
"Ummm... I was trying to gather intelligence on the biotic's psyche... and make sure I got all the GC escape pods back. Which I did by the way..."
"Still... that is not the only reason I have made my next descision on. You and your crew are to be temporarily removed from command of the Abyss for the next two weeks."
"Umm... well... sorry..." Steve appeared disheartened at this remark. Apparently emotion still showed amongst post-humans to some degree...
"Your failings are not the only reason you are being removed. I need the Abyss for a long-range reconnisence mission, but I need you and your personell to remain here. We are beginning phase two of Project Olympus. And we will need you to help co-ordinate things. Your apparent Ineptitude makes you a bit more... presentable... then others." Watsas replied coldly.
"Okay... sir..." Steve did not like the sound of this.
"Dismissed." Watsas emotionlessly stated, before turning and walking out of a corridor, deeper into the Consortium-operated section of Takada Shipyards.
Steve stood for a few moments, contelplating his next tasks. He looked out at the Abyss, berthed in the newly completed drydock, apparently being prepped for a long-range deployment. While sentimentality was a largely irrelevent concept to a group like the Consortium, Steve had grown rather fond of his assigned toy, and wasn't exactly trusting of letting it into the hands of another.
However, Steve could do nothing about it. And simply went off into the base to do whatever it is that needed to be done.