A black clad Marlin quickly crossed a path through one of the many treacherous ice fields in Omega-49. Stopping and shutting off its engines and all non-essential systems every ten minutes, the pilot watched its scope and received the readings of several close by passive sensor buoys to make sure it was not being followed. Finally content that a trail was not given or followed, it finally cruised like a devil to its destination.
Through the ice and rocks, there it was, awaiting the order to finally be brought to bear. To finally be unleashed. Kaze Dagon looked at the piece of metal shaped into war form ages ago, eerily appearing, something it was very used to. The Hellbound, brought back to a functional status, was deemed unfit for front line duty against the Gallic onslaught back in New London. Its broadside weaponry panel quickly trailed her ship as she approached, finally validating the codes sent through the buoys and opening its bay doors.
Finally inside, and on 'solid' ground, she received the reports from her aide, an expedient man named Lieutenant Macy Whitmore, who accompanied her from the Ark Royal. Looking at the reports and the crew figures, while keeping one eye on the surroundings, she knew that the crew of the Hellbound was on high alert since the very beginning of this operation. Politics had failed as she predicted, so the decision to send large recon and infiltration groups ahead of the Stirling was not only an inspired move but also a tactically sound one. By now, three hundred of her men were infiltrated in the various layers of zoner society, sending intelligence whenever was deemed important, and the 2nd Anglian Regiment, under Captain Nathan Hughes had already secured seventeen drop-sites.
While some would argue such movements and decisions were unnecessary as opposed to wait for the outcome of the summit, she would only answer with her mother's motto. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse. And so she did. The infantry and recon operations were one thing, jumping apart from the Stirling and its group, the Hellbound was accompanied by a small detachment of Crecy's and Churchill's with their supporting wings. Small enough to hide itself in the clouds that dotted Omega-49 but big enough to cleave any kind of task force in surprise. The Stirling was not only the statement that everyone was looking at in the middle of the system, but also the main bait.
Handing the reports back to Whitmore, she arrived at the bridge, being saluted by the crew therein. Captain Alby, Richard Alby was the second in command and he was the one that tested and flown the Hellbound since it left the Southampton dry docks. Short, stocky but professional, he lost all of his family in Leeds apart from a sister that was now in Cambridge. He once again asked if there was any developments. Kaze shook her head and sat in the CO's chair.
"Stirling is moving on target, on time, unimpeded. Traffic report?"
Alby pointed to one of the secondary holo screens and a report of the detected vessels in system in the last twenty four hours appeared. Two smugglers with civilian grade weaponry were shot down after refusing to turn back. Three corsair transports destroyed. Five zoner evacuation ships. Several freelancers. Hessians snubs, Coalition and the likes. More of the same, she thought.
"Tell Anciliary-2 to place a ring of passive buoys around the Omega-47 jump-hole, and send a short burst comm check on all space born assets in system. I want it within the next ten minutes. And tell Captain Harlowe to keep an eye out for unknown contacts at max range. Turn them around or burn them to space dust."
Alby nodded and started to issue orders to the Radio officer. Kaze's jaw tensed. The wait for the Admiral was the same as the wait for the almost two million soldiers under her command. And she did not liked it. A blitz would have been better. Much much better, she thought. But alas, politics. The bane of the Armed Forces.
It was already the fifth consecutive set of push ups, and sweat dropped profusely from her body to the mat. Having bionics dictated so, and the human part had to be not only in top shape but also able handle the extra weight that was grafted into her.
"Baransu, Pawā, Supīdo, Seido."
Balance, power, speed and precision was the mantra her mind was singing with every push up from her human arm. Long were the days that she trained all day under the martial gaze of her grandmother, instilling a routine, a doctrine into herself. And ever since then, she never lost it, no matter the surroundings or the circumstances. A knock came to the door of her office that doubled also as personal quarters, and without care, she merely replied to enter.
Whitmore arrived with a data-pad, and stood in attention as Kaze finished the set. Less than two minutes later, she rose and grabbed a nearby towel from the floor to clean her face from the sweat. Walking towards Whitmore, she asked.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
The silent officer, in his early twenties extended his hand with the data-pad and delivered it to Kaze, who took it without a word. More after action-reports from the front. With a nod, she relieved Whitmore to resume his duties. As the door closed, she sat on the edge of her desk, reviewing the latest death tolls and attacks that her people were suffering. Her eyes focused on the HMS-Shallow, a Churchill from the 107th of the Suffolk. All hands lost when it rammed a Triumph, cleaving it in half. She knew that boat, she served on it during her Capital Asset training course. 'Old man' Wickers, the gunnery officer, sixty seven by now would never return to Cambridge and spend his retirement days with his grandson that he was so proud of.
The black haired head shook in a small denial motion, feeling a pang of sorrow. It was close to her, since Hall tried to do the same in the end of the York. And his last words still were latched on her mind. Her eyes eventually looked at the mat and at the memories of her grandmother hitting her calfs whenever she was about to give up due to exhaustion.
"It will only end when it ends."
The whisper came in the back of her head, as she walked back to the mat. Bretonia needed her at her best, always. And always, she would be.
Kaze was leaning to the side of the ladar console, with Alby on the other side and Specialist Kell Cheswick sitting in the middle of them, pointing out the readings that the long range sensors had collected. Kaze leaned onto the holo and pointed at the yellow plume IRDV reading.
"The engine energy signature is all wrong."
Alby nodded in disagreement and pointed out that the same readings were in fact taken by three different buoys. So it was impossible for them to be wrong. Cheswick changed to the next analysis when Whitmore arrived running, not even bothering to salute and related the notice of a nuclear explosion in Gran Canaria. Both Alby and Cheswick turned to Whitmore, while Kaze kept leaning to the side of the console, with only one question in her mind and lips.
"Location?"
Whitmore delivered his data-pad, with an overview of Gran Canaria. Kaze zoomed in and smirked, fully expecting this outcome, one way or the other. She then handed the data-pad to Alby and looked at Whitmore.
"I want all traffic scans, HUMINT reports, long range analysis of everything with an engine in system for the past 48 hours. Contact the Admiralty Board and SIS that there has been an nuclear explosion at Tombstone Estate, no more data at the moment. BRS with the 4th Dragoons and tell them to break the radiation gear and move onto site, disguise. Full scan and analysis, they have two hours for that. Alby, Cherub status through-out the force, tell Locust and Anciliary groups to power up the scanner array, I want eyes and ears everywhere. Anything hitting level three danger, has to be reported with urgency. Cheswick."
She turned to the specialist.
"That's an Auxesian fighter with Bretonian engines. The output is ionized. Now bring up all analysis you've done in the last forty eight hours, alongside with the contact list."
Both Alby and Whitmore saluted and ran to their respective assignments, while Kaze perused all the contacts that the massive net, that she had placed over Omega-49, had picked up.
Sitting on the captain's chair in the bridge, Kaze was reviewing the contact list on a data-pad, swiping through names, ladar signatures, sensor readings and operational data. Suddenly the RO signaled an incoming transmission from Planet Gran Canaria. Marked urgent and colored black. Kaze waved to pass it to the main holo-console. At first the image was fuzzy, lacking power, something the RO started to fix the moment it came on. Less than ten seconds later, the image was steady, showing off a masked man, clearly using anti-radiation apparel.
"Major Wilson. Report? "
"A mess, Admiral. No contact insertion. But I'm looking at a nuclear crater. Definitively low yield, but its rads are bleeding all over the countryside. Whoever blew it up thought the shield would contain it, but forgot that they have a differ-"
"Summed up version, Major."
"Planetary shields don't contain as well as they push out, ma'am. We're looking at a potential poisoned ten thousand clicks area. Report is being uploaded."
Kaze pulled up the attachment to her data-pad and started reading.
"Rheinland origin plutonium?"
"It's two four one, ma'am. That stuff comes only from Rheinland. It can be obtained in the black market, but there's little room for doubt in where it came from. Also, this was a amateur job. It exploded at ground level, reducing its maximum destruction rate. Normally you trigger the explosion hundreds of meters away from the ground to increase the radius of destruction. None of that in here."
"What are these pictures of parts?"
"Six clicks out, we found pieces of what I believe to be a Bretonian made shuttle craft. There are serial numbers in those parts, vital to the investigation."
"Understood. If you are don-"
"Ma'am, five thousand live in the possible dead area. Your orders?"
"Clear out, leave no evidence of your presence. I will order the Fifth Anglic to move in and get those people to Port Jackson for treatment. You did a good job, Major. Give my thanks to your team, but get out before it becomes a poisoned gift."
"Copy that, Admiral. Wilson out."
Kaze sat back, and perused the report. Several readings, assessments and no bodies accounted in the blast. Her jaw tensed up and her hand made her return to the in-system contact list. Her eyes finally rose at Alby and only a sentence came out.
"Get me a secure line to the Board, Captain. Increase the alert status to Virtue through out the force. Tell the Second and Third to prepare. I want our setup to land the one point five million boots on command."
Alby nodded and his whole visage became solid, akin to marble. The time was almost upon them. The time for Bretonia to show that it did not came to play nice. It arrived to show the Omegas what a House was capable of.
Reviewing the intelligence gathered by the forces planet-side made Kaze shift on her seat. She was uncomfortable as always to be in the back seat of the action. Being an Admiral was something she did not aspire to or really wanted. Her past history involving the Crayterians displayed as much. Months after taking position as Consul alongside Paul Atreides, the office and responsibility was everything but what she wanted and yearned for, so her supposed escape to Liberty back then was a welcome one. Placing down the data-pad she leaned back and sighed, taking a mental note of the whole situation.
Over 200.000 dead in the span of a week on both sides in New London. The space where the fight is the thickest is now becoming a scrap field littered with frozen bodies and metal of the fallen. A nuclear detonation in Gran Canaria. Embrum sighted in Newcastle, no doubt vying to pin the Ark Royal. Hessians took control of Dresden.
Suddenly, a soft beep was heard. She leaned forward into the chair and locked the door remotely from a holo console in the desk, with the standard issue sound absorption panels coming down and closing it all. Such was the norm in command vessels due to the sensitive issues that could be communicated. Content with the security, she pushed a small mechanical button under the desk and an actual screen rose up. Hardwired communications were still the best kind when it came to secrets and security. A face appeared on the screen and Kaze looked at it like he had spilled tea over some biscuits.
"Hi there. Got what you're asking for."
The man on the screen spoke, visibly relaxed but with a devious smirk, as a shifty demon waiting to make business with an unwary soul.
"Excelent. Location?"
"Terra firma. Gran Can- Wait, you guys call it Sidney, yeah?"
Her eyebrow rose, clearly denoting her disgust over the chit chat and secondary intelligence gathering maneuver.
"Location?"
She asked again, this time with a low growl that meant she was not eager on wasting time.
"Easy.. Yikes. Sector HZ1564. It's a dead spot in the grid, the stuff you are looking for is there."
"How much?"
"I'll add it to your tab. You got a tab, right?"
"Right."
Closing the comm, she pressed the button again and every bit of paraphernalia that appeared for that specific communication disappeared into from where it came. Kaze sighed. Yet another variable. Yet another problem.
Kaze entered the bridge in her combat suit, the men quickly saluting and returning back to their duties. Not an uncommon sight seeing the Admiral in combat attire, since she did left on many occasions to not only combat operations as well overseeing situations. Finally sitting on the captain's chair, Alby saluted and stood at her side. Silently looking at the normal operations of the day to day, Kaze breathed in, awaiting for the outcome of her words.
"Captain Alby."
He leaned onto, expecting a quick word or command. Kaze delivered a small paper card, with several letters and numbers. A validation code.
"Snowfall is a go. Get me all the XO's of the operation on screen."
Alby stood still for a second and gulped. It was on. It was then and there. He slowly retrieved the card and issued the orders to the comm operator, and delivered the validation code. Less than a minute later, several faces filled the main holo screen of the bridge. Kaze pulled up the operational data and looked at it again, not only to confirm that it was prepared but also as an insurance to herself. Finally looking back at the dozen of faces looking at her, she breathed in and finally spoke.
"Gentlemen. By now, you all have received the authorization code. Snowfall."
She allowed the news to sink in to the commanders and looked at each face for their reaction. After some very long couple of seconds she resumed her speech.
"Commander Francis. The 43rd and 58th of the Merchant Navy, alongside the 4th Calvary as fire support is to begin the drop of the 2nd IAF. Colonel Ralston, I want the 2nd IAF is to land and secure Los Dragos, Las Palmas, the spaceport and to reinforce the security of Port Jackson. Keep the 6th Anglian back as drop-shock if you need the shock and awe. Any kind of resistance, if armed, is to be put away cleanly and an expedient manner. Any non-com is to be apprehended and their credentials checked out. Agent Sinclair, SIS can execute Moonlight and take over the necessary infrastructures. 2nd Anglian of the 2nd IAF is under your command for the meantime. Commander Williams, the 27th, 34th and 56th are now under your command and are to be ready to drop-shock the 3rd IAF on the seventeen secured drop-sites. Colonel Nelson, the 3rd IAF is to split and use the intelligence garnered by Recon, and force drop-shock on all the dropsites. CS target types are to be pacified promptly. The Government will issue its statement shortly, and the population are to follow them to the letter. If not, apprehend. If not possible, eliminate. Captain Sanders, I want the 1st Dragoons out of their cover and providing fire support to the 3rd IAF. Bombing, scouting, you got your work cut out. You will receive the command of the 15th Calv to support those actions. Captain Hawthorne, unleash Hell and bring the Stirling to bear. I want the whole AO secure, space and planet-side. All traffic is suspended until further order."
Her voice grew silent as to let the orders sink in into the minds of her commanders.
"Every specific order is now being received by each and every one of you. Pass it down the chain and execute as soon as possible. I will drop with the 45th 7-3 to oversee the situation at CS-01."
Alby turned, his face slightly shocked and not really knowing what to say, alongside half of the XO's in the screen. Kaze expected as much and almost displayed a grin. It was however not the moment for it.
"Gentlemen. ROE follows. Zoners have three choices. Kneel to Bretonia or leave the planet in twenty four hours or dead and turned to ash. Corsairs have two. Apprehended and remanded or dead and turned to ash. Anything else that is not Bretonian have two. Leave the planet in twenty four hours or apprehended and remanded. If they shoot us, we will destroy the very floor where they stand and burn the very air they breathe. Understood?"
A chorus of ayes was the only answer with their eyes focused on Kaze.
"We are at the edge. and here we stand. For far too long the Omegas as looked at Bretonia as a complacent being, that could be nibbled at will. No more. We are showing the Gauls what we are capable of. And by Carina, the Corsairs, the Zoners and anyone else with the will to hurt us will learn the penalty of killing and cheating our brethren for profit and greed of power. We will show them the reality of pissing off a whole House and our people. Today, 1.8 million Bretonians armed to wage war and destruction will land in Gran Canaria. And in that moment, it will become Sidney. Our Sidney. Carina, Regina, Imperatrix. Dagon out."
The screen grew cold and empty as the bridge was silent, all eyes on Kaze. She turned around and looked at each and everyone of them.
"Carina, Regina, Imperatrix."
Her voice spoke the words and were replied in unison by the bridge crew that quickly resumed their work. Her eyes finally trailed Alby and spoke.
"Alby, get me a shuttle to the 45th 7-3. I got a planet to drop into."