The rocky battlegrounds of Tau 23 are disturbingly silent, as if getting themselves ready for the storm approaching. IMG defender patrols are on the edge, keeping their eyes open for the often raids from their long hated enemies, the mighty nation of Maltese. Those who have fleets of great beasts under their commands and highly skillful soldiers who are superiour to your regular human, combined into a strength only a few power can stand against. Those Maltese say that, "We shall enslave, we will rob and steal, we will kill", but the Guild kept replying with their courageous voices everytime "We will survive despite what you are, you angry beast."
Suddenly the silence was broken with the alerts of the IMG patrol leader's scanners, a raiding party was approaching from the mist. Their marks on the screen barely visible, Outcasts were there, and they already took down a few helpless miners. He immediately alerted his wing and Java of their location. A dozen of sabres, and two light gunboats increased their speed, with the intention of setting the system on fire. IMG patrol of four Lhotses turned to face them, hoping to deter them long enough until reinforcements from Java can reach their position, and hopefully, rout the Outcasts. It was a tense fight for the IMG, while the Outcasts and their mercenary allies were actually having fun. IMG patrol were losing their ships rapidly. The last one of them was barely holding together as the reinforcements matching the Outcast forces rushed in. Java replied to Maltese with a force of 10 Lhotses, and four Roc bombers.
Sol was leaving Tau 23, for a meeting with an informant, as he caught the call from Java. He hastily turned his ship towards the battlefield, looking forward to pay back the kindness IMG showed him, and the pain Maltese caused him. It looked as though the Outcasts still had the upper hand as he reached there. The mercenary force in fact was something hard to contain, living their lives by the amount of ships they take down, they knew how to kill and nothing else. One of the mercenaries Sol recognized, Clarence Rowe with his unique sabre, awarded because of his "service" to the Maltese over years.
Appeared next to Sol four members of Lost Star, they took their places on the IMG side trying to keep bombers' tails safe from the enemy fighters while the experienced bombers were taking down the gunboats. Both sides were losing ships equally until the feared Tridentes were finally destroyed, afterwards the battle was in the favor of the IMG.
Sol shouted to Rowe, challenging him "Hey, old man, wanna take a few shots here?". Rowe didn't say anything but targeted Sol in return, his prized Krakens were now seeking to destroy his old friend. It was a fast paced fight, as if two wild animals were looking to tear each other apart, trying to get on the enemy's tail and throw them off balance. They matched each other perfectly, not able to land decisive shots on each others' sabres. After countless bouts they were both getting tired, lost the battling enemies around them and concentrated on each other.
The advantage of IMG was that their base was closer than the Maltese, more reinforcements appeared on each side. But the main point of the Outcasts raid was to strike fast and pillage what they can. They decided to retreat now because of the prolonging battle. Sol and Rowe were still looking to beat each other.
Rowe shook his head, "Not bad, pup,".
Sol knew Rowe very well, one of the decent guys around Malta he thought, and he couldn't understand why Rowe still chose to help the Maltese. Now that Rowe was willing to talk, Sol tried his luck. "Dude, ease up there. Why the-" Got a shot to his hull from Rowe that made a loud crashing sound, "Hell!..."
They realized now that the Outcasts turned around looking to retreat in order, without losing their forces, they were making their way towards the Tau 37 jumphole. Rowe disengaged suddenly, following the Outcasts. The IMG didn't give chase, fearful of an ambush, and already lost their morale because of the losses on their side.
Sol sighed, slowing his engines, staring after his old friend. "I know you are a good man. I know you would leave all of this if you were given a chance... Contact this link when you wanna."
