The shattered edge

[Rodent]

You got it Hermano Captain Santorini said hastily. The Drones posed no danger now, Alvarez was attracting their attention. Someday that fool is going to make a mistake and get himself killed She thought. Still, Her Odin turned and she plotted course for the BAAL, Commander Brooks following.

Soon Alvarez was a dim blip in the distance, and Santorini sighed. From one hornest's nest to another... she thought. Aloud, she said Si, Comrade Brooks, we must head to BAAL as directed. Let's see how that AI is doing, shall we?

BAAL was not far, and quite busy. As they drew near, it pulverized a drone with a pinpoint razor burst. The AI had several key advantages over humans, Aim being one.However, it was taking damage, it's shields were nearly at 20%.

Looks like you could use a hand Tin-can said Santorini, and, not dropping out of cruise, swam circles around the Drones. A few beelined for her, and that was their undoing. Snipe them out of the air AI! She shouted.

[Jayce]

Jayce jinked and rolled through the cloud of drones pummeling the AI-controlled Storm. "Bastards... Sending drones against us? How much more cowardly do you get?" He said, as he fired off a burst of Dragunovs, disabling a missile so it could be destroyed with a quick burst from his Kalashnikovs. The close proximity of the drones to one another was their undoing, as the explosion consumed a pair of the missiles. Brooks felt the shockwave from the explosions in the cockpit of his Odin. "Holy crap!" He shouted, not realizing he was still on the comms channels. The heat signature from the explosion caught the attention of another one of the drones, however, which soon began following the Odin. "Well great. Umm..." He said, not so sure what to do. It had been a while since he had flown a fighter like the Odin. "Let's try... this..." Jayce killed the engines of the fighter, and spun around 180 degrees. While he was doing this, he fired a round from his Cruise Disruptor, mucking up the guidance systems of the drone. A moment later, he thrusted towards the drone, laying a trail of Cutter mines in his wake. When the guidance systems of the drone came back online, it locked onto the signature of the mines, and made a beeline for it.

The numbers of drones began to thin, the Storm's shields soon began regenerating. With more of the drones out of action, the AI aboard seemed to have less trouble targeting the incoming warheads than before. "I'm breaking off, I'm going to check on Lead. The AI seems to be set for a while." Jayce punched the cruise controls as he spoke. "Hey boss, how's it going out there?..."

---

[Pacific]

Wile Sitting on Zhukovski bar in Omega-52 Petko was working on some data pads,drinking calmly his class of rakia. When two officer's arrived and told him to report to the bridge of the Botev. Petko Nods and went to the Botev he Saw 30 Coalition marine's in full gear that are making their way to the Botev cargo bay. Petko raise'd his eye braw thinking they are going to invade a station. The two officer's give Petko a data disk, Petko went to his ready room and played the disk. it was an automated Voice briefing. It sead that the Botev received new Orders sence it's not assign in the Omega-50 operation. The New order were to take the Marine detachment of 30 marines and help Ambassador Razin in the Omicron-64 system. Petko wonder'd: What are they doing there in this god forsaken place !! But he nods and get's up from his chair and he enter's the bridge of the Botev giving orders. Tacticall Ready all battle system, helm set course to the Omicron-64 system. When the Botev was 15 k From Zhukovski update of the Orders arrive'd. They were sending the CPW-Kiev and CPW-Yestavy along side the Botev. The Tree gunboat's disembark from the Omega-52. By the Time they reach'd the Omicron Beta system the Detected a Damaged outcast Battleship. On the bridge of the Botev:

Sensor Officer: Comrade Commondir I am picking up a large number of craft. They are evacuating a heavyly damaged outcast Battleship.

Petko think's: This is a Golden chance. But we cant abandon the mission

Dimitrov: Rat's leaving a sinking ship. Instruct the Yeastavy and Kiev to hunt it down the Battle ship and destroy it while we continue to the Omicron-64. How long untill we are at the JH?

Helm: ETA 15 min's!

The Yestavy and Kiev broke formation and went to finish off the outcast BS. The Botev reach'd the Jump Hole to the Omicron-64 but the Kiev and Yestavy didn't reporte'd back. So the Petko heil'd them.

This is Lieutenant-Commander Petko Dimitrov of the Botev to the Gunboat's Yestavy and Kiev what is going on?

We are fine and moving back to Omega-52 Mission was a sucsess. I am sorry Botev your on your own from now.

Petko was a little surprised but sense thay were ok and heading back he didn't give a damm. He turn on the Outcast Radio and it was Screaming that the Coalition has destroyed one of their BS's. The Botev Jump't to the Omicron-64 system. Once they Jumped'd In the Bridge

Petko: Sensor Officer begin scanning for our people. Comm Officer begin lisening to any transmission.

Sensor officer: Da Comrade !

Comm Officer: Da sir !

After 15 Minutes

Sensor Officer: Sir I dont detect out people!

Comm officer: Radio Traffic is quiet.

Petko: I knew this was a godforsaken system !!!

Petko: Open a channel all system, coalition frequency, high encryption !!

Petko over system Comm's: This is Lieutenant-Commander Petko Dimitrov of the Coalition ship Botev is any coalition ship receiving this transmission !!!!

The Entire crew sit's and listens for amy response in the Radio

---

<3 Omicron <3

<3 Chuba<3

[Tabris]

BAAL was in a fix, while it's AI ability had much more potential and a more 'human-like' response, it still was just an AI with organic parts, as such it was trying to fend off the large group of drones that were slowly overwhelming the advanced AI.

BAAL itself was mildly annoyed, these...Lesser constructs dared to oppose an AI of superior make through sheer numbers, as he received backup his ire was still focused on the drones which he was trying to shoot down, yet for every one he shot down two more seemed to take it's place.

BAAL kept his turrets firing, trying to overcome the rate of drones joining in the fight, Razor shots as well as regular cannon fire shot out from the Storm in a frenzy of fire, destroying drones all around it yet not managing to obliterate the group...

[Clavius]

Ship not that small, uncomfortable pilot's seat and, ermm, painful back, but in the other hand mighty ship in the battle. That was going through Moreau head while Svetlana, with her silky fingers, slowly massaged Moreau's stift back in the small dusty cabin called "Recreation centre" in Zvezdny Gorodok. As reborned he jumped in his KSD-C9902 "Revolution". Engines didn't get warm yet when scanner showed red spot, the AI Drone. Well, it deserve closer look. He plotted intercepting route. AI pilot didn't respond to his calls if anything live aboard. Looks like thing didnt see his ship at all. Drone went away quickly as it appeared.
He thought it was over.
Ahh, Svetlana, she was in his minds while he was hurriedly typing route back in navigation computer.
He was already heading towards Zvezdny Gorodok, when comms howled "Commissar speaking, sending coordinates, move your red ass over there Moreau".
Moreau turned ship and went towards determinet route. Do Svidaniya silky Svetlana, it's just wasn't ment to be.
Approached warily, AI Drones again. He retained positon behind asteroid and waited. Drone moved towards Moreau's ship, fired snac but missed. Placed himself again, AI Drone approached once more, fired, remissed, but what, Drone blasted all his ship's shields. Cold sweat flooded, fear's bite. That damn thing moved very quickly, his head was spinning round. Then deeply in mind Moreau heard Commissar's voice "practicing means staying alive, use your senses, instict and revolution's faith". Apace he switched from automatic to manual targeting, coalesced ship with asteroid and seted ambush. AI Drone was closing, fast, too fast and opened fire. He strafed left and fired snac at the same time. In front of his eyes flaming ball exploded. Moreau couldnt take eyes from that spectakle. Watched bluntly pile of remains, caught himself mumling "damn Commissar was right, damn Commissar was ......."
Dozen AI Drones already besieged his position, mathematicly precise closing all wayouts.

[Yuveraj Khan]

Lt. Colonel Razin hit the TAC.

"All units, you're getting overwhelmed, you're ordered to fall back to the Kerimov and..." the ship rocked from an impact the lights flickering and failing as the emp burst shorted out the ships electrical systems, leaving it dead in space.

Alongside, the CPW-Social Credit and the CPW-Krazni-Oktober were similarly stricken.

"We're dead in the water!" Razin commented as he tossed the useless growler receiver back to the console, standing up to watch the drones peeling around for what was to be the final fury.

Instead they flared away, jumping into cruise, streaking on an intercept course for where the Botev and the Revolution Bomber had just jumped into the system.

"We're still alive..." one of the crew members murmured in shock.

"Yeah?" Razin bit back. "No power means no life support, dumbass... get down below and help the engineers replace all these fried electrics... and someone find me a radio that works!"

---

[arvg]

"Hey boss, how's it going out there?..."

"What's the matter, amigos? You meess me, ha?" Alvarez called, he really was having the time of his life.

The XKR danced around picking up more drones, each hell bent on catching the rapidly moving, hypnotically fast VHF-interceptor with it's massive heat signature.

Onboard the heat gauges from the reactor were climbing, and Alvarez was actually beginning to sweat inside his flightsuit. He still had plenty of fuel, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that he'd probably boil alive long before then.

He slammed the fighter over again, as behind him a drone clipped one of its fellows, sending the crippled missile spiraling off to explode in the void.

"AAAAAwwww! Poor Pablo! Unfortunato!" Alvarez cast it a side long glance.

"Hey Brooks, if you are not to busy playing by yourself, I could use a date to zee prom, if you get my meaning, si?"

It was at that moment the TAC link warbled the warning about the Kerimov being crippled.

"Aww son of a..." Alvarez murmured, trying to get a look at the situation. "We're all kinds of screwed now..."

---

[Tabris]

As the EMP Hit BAAL he suffered a forced shut-down to preserve his AI Core and the ship's electronics automatically, A second after the EMP hit BAAL started to 'reboot' so to speak, it's systems slowly comming back online, however the Drones were starting to prepare for another attack run, if BAAL could reactivate his shield-grid in time was a question for the ages.

As the AI Core came online BAAL let out a small growl of annoyance, almost as if somebody woke him from a nice peaceful nap. As the drones made it's run BAAL recalled that they were in a firefight and managed to raise the shields just as missiles struck him, the shields managed to hold it off, however they were now down to 10%, another attack run would likely drain his shields entirely and than he would have to rely upon the Storm's Armour.

As BAAL attempted to activate the Weapons Array it was shocked, suprisingly for an AI, because the electronics that controlled the Razors and Primary Turrets were partially fried by the EMP burst. It would have to bypass the damaged circuits...Annoyed and mildly concerned with it's own 'mortality' it began to run a bypass of the damaged sections, racing to get the weapons back online so it would be able to be better able to defend itself.

Meanwhile the Drones were 1/2 to the range required to open up once more upon BAAL...

[Pacific]

Wile the Botev was near the JH. Unknown contact's were detected on scanner's.

Sensor officer: Comrade Dimitrov we are detecting vast number of smaller craft heading our way !!!

Petko: Red Alert hail the unknown contact's.

Comm officer: This is the Gunboat Botev Identify yourself ! No response sir

Petko: Raise shield's combat alert beta I repeat combat alert beta !!

Petko: How much time until they Intercept us ?

Helm officer: 3 min sir

Wile the Officer's din't know what to do the Drone's move'd closer and swarm'd the Botev: 4 of them Hiting the Botev and draining it's shield's to 34%.

Tacticall officer: We have taken direct hit's sir shield's down to 34% !!

Petko: Crap evasive manuver's Launch cuter measures and Fire all weapons !!

Tacticall : Da comrade

The Botev started evading the drone's and its weapons open'd fire taking down a drone every single time they fire.

---

<3 Omicron <3

<3 Chuba<3

[arvg]

And all at once, the drones broke off their attacks.

Alvarez cocked his head back as his fighter slowed out of Cruise.

They'd just vanished... He checked his scopes.

The Kerimov and the flotilla were still without power. The Botev and the bomber were only just limping into range, and BAAL was looking worse for wear.

"Eh, che? What the hell?" Alvarez asked, looking about him for the enemy drones.

It was then that he saw them, arrayed like a hundred daggers over their heads, high off of the plane. The Drones were moving into position, each occupying its own space, like a net.

"Oh... crap..." Alvarez breathed, looking at the sheer numbers hanging over them. They would sweep down, maintaining formation, and sure they'd be able to shoot them... some of them. But in those numbers they would get through any kind of flak barrier the remaining ships could muster.

This was going to hurt... a lot.

---