Transmission Detected....
Decoding...
Adjusting...
Up on Screen IV
A familliar face, hooded in shadow, springs into view.
"Hello Sirius. It's been a long time... too long. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you."
A terrible grin splits his image.
"I hate to say it, but the Illusion is off. We grow tired of watching you bumblers and fools tramp around the sector, and It's finally time to do what we set out to do, centuries ago."
Terrible, maniacal laughter splits the screen, and a wash of static comes through as he pounds the panel. His next words are squeeky with glee.
"We're going to kill you all!"
He pauses, as though scanning the innumerable faces for some sign, some missing meaning.
"Oh, not all at once. It's no fun that way. No, you'll be killed one by one, or, if you feel like bunching up, in lots of a dozen or so. The Alliance WILL be crushed,"
Red, flaming rage spreads through his features
" and we're the ones to do it. Now, if anyone wants to DO the crushing, rather than BE the crushiee, call me. Talk it over. Decide if you want your children to burn, your flesh to scream, and you mind to gibber like, well, some kind of madman!"
The surface of his face swims, like molten wax over running water. His had traces the long, jagged scar running along his face, and brushes over his moustache. His features smooth, then subside. A calm, somehow more terrifying that the flaming anger, crosses from left to right, skipping, then holding.
"So, Siruis, what say you? Will you Fight? Or will you Die? Only one choice here, and option number two is looming. Better get busy."
Transmission Ended...
Shutting down Screen IV.
OOC: Well, this was what the SCRA was supposed to be in the first place. Now that Aeon is gone, we're going to be just that. The Coalition Takes, and Gives, no quarter. Fight or Die.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
"I have long feared the day when this would happen...My dedication to Alliance will never falter even though I war with Liberty I cannot allow the treachery of the Coalition to come to its former strength...My advice Coalition avoid the Hellfire Legion... Stay away from Vespucci and I will leave you be but I am forced in this situation to set my forces on full alert....
Drake Thastus out...."
OOC: My RP dictates hatred for the Coalition so I have to set you as Hostile because of this...we are not KoS unless an SCRA ship fires on an HF ship.
Mcintosh sits in a massive bridge chair, converted to hold the emblems of the Coalition, and with several extra equipment consoles. His expression is unreadable. The muted hum of a well-tuned ship seems to sooth him, and his eyes close.
A small twitch, and a Comm channel is opened.
"Captain Frog, are your IFF and Transponders Current yet?"
"Yes Sir, just waiting on the techies. Bloody Bounty Hunters took out a section of the repair bay just before we got here, and most of the avalable personel are tasked to that."
A slight grin moves along the left side, but his eyes reamain closed
"Fine. As soon as you get it fixed, get down here. The Terra II is nearly complete, and I want to have someone standing by while I transfer the crew. Good thing most of the Dreadnought's crew were already with us or dead, or we'd have another revolt by now."
"Well, people tend to die when you start pounding on their ship during a maintenence cycle. I still can't get over the fact that the Old Man is gone."
The grin spreads wider, and the eyes open. Death dances in his eyes, his lips slit, and the tounge runs around, then back in.
"He's not gone quite yet, you know. He's in the brig, foaming at the mouth as we speak."
"Hah! Going to put him down the same way as Admiral Wright?"
Mcintosh's skin flushes with memory. He throws his head back and laughs, the veins in his neck standing out, the unnatural sound resounding from all corners of the great room. The bridge remains studiously and conspicuously busy, but attentions turn towards their commander, and a few brows sparkle with worry. He regains control, and speaks with something like affection in his voice.
"Yes, I'd intended to. I don't think I'm going to kill him first though, just leave him there and let him burn with the ship"
"Well then, I should get going. Just one more thing, why are you blowing up the Non-Damaged Flagship?"
He chukles again, but hix voice remains steady.
"The Dreadnough had extra command and control functions built into it. Plus, the Terra's engines are nearly shot, he got off a lucky salvo just before the marines came though the door, and my shields were down for boarding operations."
"Ah. Well, I'll be there, don't you worry. If you need some more marines, I've got a company sitting around."
"I have lots, but make sure yours are ready for null-g combat. You might need them."
"Roger. Frog out."
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OOC: Okay, I think I'm keeping this thread as a RP Bio thread, I may invite others to post at some point, but for now its a one-man show.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Brig, RACS-Terra II (fmr. RAFC-Dreadnought)
Siruis Sector
Tau-31
Mcintosh stalked down the central walkway, peering into cells. Most were occupied by former crew members of the Dreadnought, or other loyalist forces from within the SCRA's organization. A cell full of Marines from Major General Idiosius' Personal Guard glared menacingly as he passed, but made no overt moves. Mcintosh's own Marines followed him at an indiscreet distance, weapons ready.
The Major General had attempted a counter-coup, but without fleet support, his troops were slaughtered before they could board, and nearly a third of his force had come over to Mcintosh's side. Out of the entire Marine Corps' twelve battalions, eight had joined in the coup from the beggining, another during the fighting, and the survivors of the remaining two battalions were now ensconsed here. Five thousand marines were avalable for combat duities, another two thousand were deployed on various ships through the Sector, and three hundred were dedicated as his own personal guard.
Those who'd been with him for the last decade knew him, his moods, and his temper as well as he did, and by now they were nearly an extension of his will. His personal guard were denoted by the red piping on thir black dress uniforms, rather than the normal gold of the marines, and silver of the commandos.
As he approached the final cell, a trio of Guards snapped to Attention. The Corporal, a scarred man whom Mcintosh had stormed the final bunker with on Geioon IV. He could never remember this fellow's name but when Mcintosh had needed loyal men, he'd been one of the first selected.
"Sir! He's the same as before, ate a little of the food, drank exactly..."
The Corporal examined the readout beside him.
"... 783 millilitres of water, sir."
"Excellent. Open 'er up."
He stood back as the heavy battlesteel doors ground away on carefully oiled tracks. Several Marines took up position near the door, and the remainder preceeded him into the room, stationing themselves around the walls. The cell's lone occupant rose to meet them, dressed in the rags of his glory.
------------------------------
OOC: five cookies for the first person to guess who this is gonna be, via PM:D
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Bridge, RACS Terra III (Zoner Juggernaught)
Sirius Sector
Omicron Theta
Mcintosh walked along the new, pristine dacks of his new flagship, listening to his XO's report on the magnificent hardware.
"Well, the basic statistics are basically the same, although we've had to shift the battlerazor batteries somewhat in position. Two of the engines seem reluctant to fire, our engineers are working on that now. There are a couple of notable features however, there are dorsal and ventral spars allowing for excellent positioning of the new batteries, one battery in each. And the wings allow for large spacing between mounts, the only worry is that if a wing breaks off, we've lost 2 turrets. The Gunnery officer is requesting that we mount flack cannons above the Bridge, as insurance against fighters."
"Sounds good, did the corsairs give any trouble refunding us?"
"Well, after the second wing of titans blew up... they were just about ready for a full refund."
A Feral Grin splits both their faces, and a passing pair of Marines share a nervous glance.
"Perfect. Good to show them what'll happen if those new fighters they sold us don't work out."
"Well, those should be fine, the Titan is a proven piece of work, and the pilots we have in them are top notch. Plus, after the paces Totenkopt put his though, I'd be willing to bet we'll never need to replace one."
"Well, good. By the way, is Totenkopt here yet?"
"Yessir, he landed about five minutes ago."
"Right. Take me to the landing bay, I need to ask him about the Events at Tau-31"
"I thought you were there Sir?"
"I was, but I wasn't paying much attention to the battle."
"Ah, I see Sir. Right this way"
They descended a lift to the flight deck, where a thin man, clad in a blak pilots jumpsuit, stood beside a heavily modified Titan VHF.
---------------------------------------------
OOC: so, I decided that the events at Tau-31 will come out peice by piece over the next two sections, they should be fairly to the point. thanks to Ultra and 'gato for showing up, and 'gato also wins the cookie for guessing who it was in that cell, he was the first to reply.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Hanger, RACS-Terra III
Sirius Sector
Dublin System
Totenkopt, Mcintosh, and Captain V'Kosh (XO) entered the FDC (Fighter Direction Center). Several off-duty pilots quickly vacated, after dropping hurried salutes. As they took their seats, Mcintosh's jackboots squeeked gently, a harp comparison to the quick, efficent silence of Totenkopt's blank helmet and thin spacesuit.
"So, Commander, what happened after I lost the feed?"
The voice that emerged from the helmet was flat, nearly emotionless, with a slight accent, and a gravelly age that belied the apparent grace of its owner.
"About what you'd expect from those planetform pukes sir. About a dozen fighters scrambled on us, and nearly twice that headed over to the Terra's crash site, not quite sure why."
Although the helmet remained on, a hint of a grin crept into the voice.
"It's not like they could do much for the old man anyways. The southern site was completely crushed, and theres probably quite a large dent in the crust of that continent. Hopefully, with the faults previously identified, the resulting turmoil should put a stop to terraforming operations for at least a couple years."
"Roger That, soldier!"
Joy filled Mcintosh's face, and he leaned forward excitedly.
"I wasn't quite sure the Autopilot had gotten the coordinates right, we had to vent the atmosphere just before the rest of the fleet showed up. Apparently, some of the old crew had realised what was going on, and decided to make a break for it. That attempt didn't end so well..."
Laughter rebounded all three men, and a pair of passing techs scurried away, leaving only their echoing footfalls. Captain V'Kosh's comm. beeped, interruptiong their levity, and as he raised it to his lips a high, panicked voice spilt out.
"Captain, for Christ's sake get to the Bridge! We've got multiple hostiles, looks to be a heavy BAF patrol, and the heavy batteries are offline! Jesus sir, Weapons say's it'll be at least ten minutes before we can use either battery!"
"Aww, Shet! Launch any fighters you can, and send a General Distress Signal, Priority One! What're the nearest fleet units?"
"Aaah, looks to be Bomber Squadron #7 in South Leeds, and an Intelligence Gunboat in New London, sir. Sending Signal now... got it. I'll tell you as soon as they respond sir."
"Roger, on my way to the bridge now."
All three men stood and swiftly departed, Mcintosh and V'Kosh dashing to the central elevator conduit, and Totenkopt to his fighter.
Bridge, RACS-Terra III
"Commander (N), report!"
As Mcintosh and K'Vosh swept into the spacious bridge, the Navigation Officer jumped out of the Command Console, and blathered a hurried report.
"Sirs, four BAF battleships on scope, along with assorted escorts and about a wing of Templars. Both Primary batteries are down for another eight minutes, but the secondary armament is prepped. Missle bays One and Two are prepared for continious fire."
Mcintosh slid into the Command Chair, V'Kosh standing behind and slightly to the right. As the duty watch shifted to accomodate the newcomers, Mcintosh stared greedily into the screens, absorbing, and plotting. Four BAF Battleships would be far too much for him to handle normally, even with the primary batteries offline for another... seven minutes.
"How many fighters can we muster?"
"Eleven Sir, counting Totenkopt. Six Titans, two Spatials, and three Eagles."
"Support Ships?"
"The Intrepid (RH Pirate Cruiser) and The M'zav'koh (Albatross) are in formation, but The Intrepid's Hull is heavily damaged, their radiation shielding failed four hours ago."
"Shet! Get me the Intrepid!"
"Right away, Sir."
The M'zav'koh was an ancient ship, taken from an IMG scrapyard months before. He was still unsure whether or not they'd missed it, buts its firepower was seriously lacking, and with recent events there hadn't been time to refit. Its Captain and Crew were reliable however, and it's weapons were fast firing. It had been his dedicated Anti-Fighter Ship through the coup, and would continue to serve. The Intrepid, on the other hand, was a ship crewed mostly be former junkers who, although not lacking in courage, seemed to take it for granted that things were going to fall off, and made no efforts to fix it.
"Captain Usilite, of The Intrepid, Sir."
"Captain, are you functional?"
"Yessir, just need to avoid taking hits on the Port side, or abaft the scanners topside Sir."
"Right. Here's the plan..."
--------------------------------------
OOC: okay, theres a few things I need to explain here.
Normally, The Terra III would be a Captain's command, and Mcintosh would merely "fly his flag" from it, so to speak. IE, Command the fleet from it, while K'Vosh deals with the normal command of the ship. However, Mcintosh has such an immense Ego, that he both commands the fleet AND the ship, thus putting K'Vosh into the XO's slot. However, you'll soon see that he really does still command the ship, if not in name.
Totenkopt, although a LT-Commander, will be habitually refered to as commander, due to 95% of everyone in the navy being too lazy to say such a long rank.
Aboard ship, there can ony be ONE captain, thusly, marine personell of the rank 'captain', which is actually equivilat to a naval Leiutenant, are reffered to aboard ship as 'Major'. Similarily, any Naval Captains Aboard Ship that are not the commanding officer are feffered to either as 'Commodore', or, in the case of a section chief, by their section, IE 'Engineering'. In this story, 'Weapons' is reffered to, meaning the captain commanding weapons section.
Also in that vein, a commander will usually have their branch abbreviation in brackets next to their name, this is not spoken, but is placed in writing to denote the subject. IE, Commander (N) is the navigator, and Commander (E) is the commander of Engineering.
'Abaft' - "to the aft of" - Naval terminology, much qucker and easier to say.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Bridge, RACS-Terra III
Sirius Sector
Dublin System
The M'zav'koh swung up and above Terra III, hugging the topside forward of the Inferno battery. Sheilding the movement, Intrepid sped forward, sheilding the larger ships movements. As the opening BAF salvo swept towards them, lifepods erupted from the far side, leaving the cruiser, now crewless, to complete the turn on autopilot. The BAF flack batteries tore through the lightly armoured cruiser, gutting the interior, and spraying molten metal out the other side. The hulk of The Intrepid carried forwards however, and the second salvo merely blew the wreckage into dusty ruin.
The Gunners of M'zav'koh and Terra III hadn't been idle in their respite, and as the wreckage cleared a massive slavo of flack shells, missles, and energy weapons decimated the Bretonian lines. Terra III had focussed all its power upon the bridge of BNS-Desnoyer, and as the command deck exploded into ruin, M'vaz'koh's missles shredded the smaller craft of the attacking squadron.
"Three Minutes until the batteries come online Sir!"
"Right. Weapons, knock the cannons off those battlewagons, and pass the same to the fighters. I don't want any offensive capability left within one minute!"
"Sir, what about the Desnoyer? She's ceased fire, and is falling out of formation."
"Ignore it for now, we'll need to hold the other ones off for the moment. She can be finished later, or taken as a prize."
M'zav'koh was equipped with half a dozen out-of-date missle turrets, two small flack cannons, and a set of light chainguns. The rig was workable, but seriously innefficient, and drew far more power than it was worth. Also, the frigate's shield was closer to cruiser class then it shouldn've been, and the armour was about half the thickness it should've been. Terra III on the other hand sported state of the art Razor and Inferno batteries, paired flack cannons, and assorted secondary weapons. The fighters were armed with a motley mix of weapons, depending on both the former affiliation of the pilot, and the ship being flown. The Spatials sported Nova Cannons and extenvie shielbusting capability, they were frequently used as auxiliary bombers, and the others covered them expertly as they made their runs. Cannon after cannon erupted into gobs of slagged iron, but losses mounted. Three Titans, one Spatial and one Eagle were disintegrated before the ad-hoc unit withdrew to the comforting support of the capital ships.
"Sir, this is Totenkopt. We've given it the best we'll get, and the rest of us won't be able to do any damage for awhile."
"Alright Commander, and extend my thanks to your pilots."
"Totenkopt out."
Nearly all of the BAF ships had been disarmed, and only one still appeared to be fully under power, and was moving to escape the killzone. Flack shells and missles sprinted through the wreckage, seeking living guns with a vengance. The Templars, however, had moved out of missle range and were massing for the attack. With his pilots spent, Mcintosh would have to turn to his valiant Frigate one more time.
"Captain Breddly, can you stop them?"
"We'll sure as Hell try sir."
Bridge, RACS-M'zav'koh
"Yessir, out."
"Weapons, try for the flight leaders first. I want a screen of shells in their way at all times, and guns picking off any wounded ones. Jump to it!"
As the Templars swooped in, a magnificent storm of projectiles sprayed from the Frigate. Fighter after fighter blossomed into fire, killing the luckier pilots immedialtey, leaving the rest to spin in the graveyard of space. Not one reached the SCRA ships, the two rearguards peeled off at cruise, leaving their comrades to die.
As the ships drifted through the battlefield, the Desnoyer, assumed guttet, sputtered to life and emitted a final shell. Straight it swept, zipping over the hull of the Terra III, and right through the bridge windows of the M'zav'koh. Flames erupted, and the ship veered violently upwards, the engines dimming, beggining to slow, to stop.
Bridge, RACS-Terra III
"Feck! XO, get recovery crews over there NOW!"
Mcintosh's face, although slightly flushed, had remained calm throught the battle. Now though, veins pulsed in his temple and spittle dotted his display.
"Yessir, they're on their way!"
The Comms officer, who'd sat silent throught the destruction, twitched upright and uttered:
"Sir! Sir, I think I have something... yes, its from the Frigate! Amplifying now!"
"...Commander Kohlman he... ...aken command from the... ...requesting immediate assistance, we're lo... ...rimary engine functions, control fee... ...please Si..."
"Commander Kohlman! Can you hear me? We're sending recovery crews now. Just hold on for a few more minutes son!"
Mcintosh was gripping the edge of his console with white knuckes, glaring intentely at the full-spectrum analysis of the Frigates condition. Red markers highlighted the engine feeds and control bays, spreadiong throught the ship, but centered on the bridge.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Engineering, RACS-M'zav'koh
Sirius Sector
Dublin System
"Commander! I don't think this will hold much longer! We've lost 87% of all shipboard control, and I think most of the hull is depressurised, I've only got positive readings from four compartments!"
"Christ... did they get our transmission? I couldn't hear anything."
Commander Kohlman was a product of the SCRA naval academy, was particularily known for his violent opposition to the 'Colonization' efforts of Chancellor Aeon, and had been instrumental on convincing the Captain of his frigate to join Mcintosh in his coup. At 6'2", dark blonde hair, grey eyes, and a massive build seperated him from most of the 'pureblood' coalition descendants, and had compelled him to transfer out of the academy and into the marines in his third year. After a tour with Major Bigeard's Raiders, and another aboard Mcintosh's original Terra, he'd completed his academy training and moved into Third Fleet, just in time for the infamous 'phony war'. After the subsequent desertions, he'd briefly commanded a light cruiser before being transferred to the M'zav'koh as Executive Officer.
During the battle, he'd been enroute to Engineering when the Bridge and forward section had been hit.
"Commander," reported the acting-comm offier, "I'm looping your message, hopefully we'll get a reply soon."
"Thanks Lieutenant, keep it up. Commander (E), will you be able to restore any systems without aid?"
"Negative sir, even if they board and attempt recovery asap, we still might shake ourselves apart."
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
