It's been a quiet day so far with her ships still in repair Sonya was forced to spend her time on Ouray. Roaming through the docking bays she spotted a very familiar shape covered by a huge tarp. She slowly walked toward the object and lifted its cover to reveal the silver wing of her former Upholder bomber.
'Do you still know me old buddy? Strange times we're in now, right?'
Her hand went towards the wing, she needed to feel the cold metal that saved her life more than once. Now her metal friend was doomed to spend the rest of his life in this hangar, hidden from strange looks by the tarp.
Maybe there was a way to get this brave ship back into space.
The alarm of the communicator on her wrist took her out of her thoughts, waving a last goodbye to the bomber in front of Mosby she put the tarp back on. Seconds later she pushed a button on the communicator.
"Yes, Sonya here, what's up," she asked toward the unknown opposite in this talk. "Lancehead here." The reply came fast and straight as always. "You know, there's been some interesting message, something is coming up soon. I want you to check it out and lemme know whatcha think about it. The data's on your terminal" "Alright, I'll check it as soon as I can," she replied while she started walking toward the hangar door. "Anything special I should know about or is this some kind of surprise?" "Just check your terminal, you'll see for yourself. Lancehead out."
Minutes later Mosby found herself back in her room. It wasn't much but basic quality, not what she was used to back on planet Manhattan but at least a lot of her gadgets have been brought here.
After she turned on the lights hew view fell straight on one of the displays. On it was a message notifier, Ronnie really was fast and that only could mean one thing, whatever this was about it was urgent.
With a couple of commands she became access to the files sent to her and what she was reading shocked her a little bit.
Both transmissions [#1] [#2] were intriguing but alarming as well, it seemed like the Navy had a new toy in the fleet, a toy that she hadn't seen before...
She spent the next hours starring at the screens in front of her checking databases she still had access to, trying to hack into those her access was void since she was kicked out of LSF and trying to reach some people who still had depts to pay.
"Yo Rink, you there?" Somebody tried to contacted her via intercon. "What is it? I'm pretty busy," she yelled as a reply. "Hey, just want to know if you're up for some action. I've heard there's some traders from Kusari incoming."
Finally she recognized the voice of Golden Tree but before Bock was able to continue his talk Mosby went back to talking. "Leave me the hell alone," she continued yelling. "I don't have time for little traders, got that?"
With her last word she closed the frequency and returned to her work. Usually she didn't used to yell at anybody unless it was necessary but this matter she had to deal with pinched her nerves a little more than she was used to.
It took another two hours to gather all the information she needed but now it was time to make up a plan.
- Like a game of chess (aka Part Two) -
Three hours of sleep, not much but barely enough to keep a human being running while under stress. Three hours Mosby spent in her bed knowing that the clock was ticking. The launch of the LNS Olympia wouldn't be delayed just because she wasn't able to figure out a plan to take that Dreadnought over.
Her muscles started to convulse while she was still asleep, her nerves relayed the pain to her head and finally she woke up.
Three hours, not a minute more or less, her chronometer showed three digits: 0:01
It took her a couple of seconds to focus back on the here and now, the dream she had vanished from her consciousness like the water in a sink going through the drain, spinning to avoid the process but fighting an already lost battle.
Yet not clear in mind she had the feeling that she was able to hear the seconds dropping one by one from a faucet. She had to get back to work, no delays, no breaks. Lancehead wanted her to do this task and with that he showed his trust even if she was brand new in the Xeno Alliance.
'I won't disappoint you. Not today, not on this matter. This Dreadnought will not make it into service for the Navy, she's a damn risk for us and the Order.'
Mosby rose from the bed and got back into her clothes as she activated the communicator establishing a link to the bar. "I need a pot of coffee to my room... No, make that two pots and bring a mug, will you?" "Well," the Inn keeper responded surprised. "No problem but whose room shall I bring it?" "Rinkhals', level 5, room 212. See you in five minutes, out."
She turned her chair back to the computer displays and started to enter data for some simulations.
The Olympia was about to be stationed in Pennsylvania which could become a major advantage for the upcoming mission as there were not many Navy vessels on a daily patrol route in this system. But still there was the chance that an increase in the amount of Xeno vessels operating in this system might make them suspicious. There was also the question how to board a warship that most likely would defend itself against enemy intruders.
It took her several attempts to figure out possible strategies, many of them ended in the death of everybody involved, some had only a few casualties but none of them seemed to be perfect.
Disturbed by the door bell she made a few steps toward the door. "Who's there?" "Avery," was the response from behind the door. "I got your coffee, Rink." "Alright, bring it in," she said while unlocking the door mechanism.
The man, more a boy than a grown up, entered her room searching for a place to set the tablet on. "Just put it on the bed, I won't need it soon." "Sure, anything else you need?" Avery placed the items on the bad as told and was ready to leave again. "Na, that'll be all for now. If there's anything I'm gonna give you guys a call." "Alright, but don't lose track of the time," they boy said smiling while the door closed in front of him.
There still were three digits on the clock: 0:08
"Alright, back to those simulations. I've gotta find a way to bring as much people aboard that Dreadnought within a couple of minutes," she mumbled to herself filling the mug with coffee.
Seconds later Sonya was back on her chair facing the displays.
Sonya still was facing the displays in her room going from one simulation to another with no end in sight. Avery - tired of bringing one pot of coffee after another - borrowed a whole coffee machine from the bar and brought it to Rinhals' room so he finally could get some sleep.
While she tried to grab the mug in front of her without looking the mug fell over and the hot black liquid splattered all over her desk. Cursing because of what just happened she noticed something.
The coffee entered all the small holes, scratches and dents in the desk.
"Why haven't I thought about this," she asked herself as nobody else was in the room. "That's just what I needed to get us aboard this bloody Dreadnought. Damn, sometimes you really can be stupid, girl."
3:12
With the mess cleaned up, the desk being dry again and another mug of coffee she began slamming her fingers on the keyboard again. New variables and options had to be implemented to start a new simulation and this time - at least in Sonya's feelings - it should work with minor to no casualties at all.
While the computers started to show her the possible outcome her face became occupied by a smile. Not a simple one but nearly from ear to ear. This simulation was just what she wanted to see and furthermore, just what she wanted to show Death Adder and Lancehead.
3:25
Sonya ran the simulation over and over again, minor changes in the opponents strength, maneuvering abilities and man power always showed up the same result: A soon to be captured Dreadnought. "Holy moly, you really did it," she commented her own action while loading the data onto a data disk.
It was now either the time to wake Adder and Lance or to get them as sober as possible to make them understand there was a good way to enter this Navy vessel.
Seconds later she had her voice on every speaker on Ouray.
"Death Adder and Lancehead, you better come down to the briefing room now. There's something important I need to show you. Whatever you're doing right now, forget about it and be there. I don't like to play Nanny and get you boys off the playground in front of your buddies eyes."
3:32
Rinkhals was sitting in one of the comfortable chairs usually reserved for Royals and above waiting for her two guests to show up. The data disk spinning between her fingers and still a big smile on her face she noticed the chronometer on the wall. It's not been long since she was sleeping the last time but it sure wasn't enough.
Her finger went towards a button on the desk, marked to be the intercom. "Death Adder, Lancehead? Where ever you are... Well, let's hope you're about to enter the briefing room... One of you should make sure to bring me a mug of coffee. Rinkhals out."
Jonathon is woken up with a start as his intercom blares: "Death Adder and Lancehead, you better come down to the briefing room now. There's something important I need to show you. Whatever you're doing right now, forget about it and be there. I don't like to play Nanny and get you boys off the playground in front of your buddies eyes."
3:27
His first reaction is who the hell does she think she is? His second reaction was "Who the Hell does SHE think she is?"
3:33
Jonathon gets up with a grumble and makes his way down to the Briefing Room. She better have the coffee ready, because he sure ain't getting it.
3:40
With a scowl on his face, Jonathon enters the briefing room and sees Sonya sitting at the table spinning a data disc between her fingers. And no coffee.
He says, "Look Sunshine, I don't know who the hell you think you are, ordering me to report to the briefing room. And, I might add, demanding that I bring YOU coffee. You ain't an Officer in the LSF anymore. Where you can order the lower ranks to do YOUR bidding. HERE, you are one of MY pilots. I don't care what news you have."
Jonathon sits down and says with a growl, "This had better be damn good"
Ronnie enters the room with a jug of coffee in one hand and a bottle of Mother's Finest in the other.
It looks it's not the first bottle he had tonight. "Wht's th's fkin' furball dyin 'ere?" He points at the cat with the bottle. He sits on the bed heavily, spilling some coffee from the jug on the floor. For a moment, he observes his hands trying to decide something. "This one's far ya, me drling" he gives the jar to Death Adder. "For ye both"
He leans back trying to find some support behind. Finding none, he tosses back on the bed. "'nd th's one's fer uncl' L'nc'ead"
Not surprised by Adder's reaction she stared right into his face before answering. "I know that this ain't the LSF and for you to know, I wasn't an officer. That's the Navy folks, we're called agents but well..." The chat was interrupted by Lancehead entering the room, instantly the smell of alcohol touched their noses. "You left any of mother's finest in the bar or did you drank all by yourself?"
After all three sat down Sonya entered the data disk into the terminal and seconds later a lot of schematics appeared on the large display behind her. Many details indicated that this were the blueprints of a Liberty Dreadnought. "Our little boozehound here asked me to look into something that might give us more than just a little advantage over the Navy. I guess he informed you about his intentions, Adder? If not you'd better talk to him when he's back in order."
Her fingers entered some commands into the terminal after which the display information changed to show the transmissions Lancehead sent her earlier. After a short time Mosby changed the display content again, a guncam shot of a Dreadnought appeared with the added information LNS Olympia beneath it.
"As far as I understand the captain of this Dreadnought wants to defect towards the Order so they can analyze the new technology aboard. What I've learned so far we're talking about cloaking devices and enhanced snubs. Golanski seems to be very interested in this vessel and if we're willing to assist there might be some goodies for us. Boozie," she pointed at Lancehead, "asked me to figure out a plan how we can board the Dread without triggering the security systems which would lead into sealing of each section aboard. It took me some time to get through this madness but I'm done and that's why you're here. Can't hurt to have a former spook around with some intel, he?"
A new image filled the display on the wall.
"The basic hangar bay, usually the point of entry for every operation but in this case not the best one. In case we would attempt to enter here it would be easy for the Navy folks to open the bay doors and we'd die within seconds in space. Not the way I planned my end and I guess you don't like the idea either, right?
Anyway, forget about the hangar bay. That's where the enemy snubs will come from and a one way passage. What we need is some place that won't be guarded by men or security systems so we can enter without raising any attention. But before we can do so we've got to create a distraction and luckily the Navy is going to do us a favor here. There's a subroutine which we can trigger quite easy by large amounts of EMP charges on the engines."
She stopped her talk for a second to grab a bottle of water standing on the table. After she drank some sips and had a look on Adder and Lancehead Sonya continued the briefing. "First of all we need to get the shields of the Dreadnought down so we can the EMPs. Once we reached a critical amount of shots the engines will trigger the core overload alert causing the internal systems to seal the engineering section from the rest of the ship. General orders in this case will cause the technicians to abandon ship with escape pods which are located right next to the engineering section."
"That's where a small boarding party of ours will come in place. After the pods have been launched we're able to get a foothold on the vessel. The boarding team will have to enter through the pod launch tunnels, seal the door towards space and enter into the Dread. After that we have to override the sealing of the engineering from where we're gonna unlock the airlock right under the main bridge."
"Here we can dock a larger vessel deploying the major boarding party, secure the point of entry and make our run on the bridge. Once we've got control of the bridge there's two stations we have to secure immediately after arrival to assure that nobody can call for backup, relay the vessels position or to trigger the self-destruct mechanism."
"Once we're in control of the main bridge the rest will be a piece of cake. We can operate every system of the vessel from here, shutting down the guns, sealing whole decks, publish false informations to be sure there's no Navy squad following us and things like that. Every simulation I ran with this data resulted in a captured Liberty Dreadnought we can 'gift' to the Order once we're done. The chances for casualties on our side are slim to none and if we use lethal force only when necessary there'll be a lot of Navy folks for interrogation after this. Consider this a little bonus for the Order and us, you can't have enough fresh intel on what's happening in Liberty, right?"