An old friend's revenge

[Jeremy Hunter]

Forge tapped his cane against the command chair. Final preparations were underway for the International, as well as it's escorts Barricade and Romanoff. It was a small battlegroup, but it would be needed. The Borodino was a fine vessel, and would not fall to a mere few ships.
"Sir, XKR Fighter Wing Striker and and XKR Bomber Wing Vanguard have entered formation with the battlegroup."
"Captain Villiers?"
"She borrowed Commissar-Major Kirov's Insugent."
"Excellent. That will do." Forge paused, weighing what could be there.
"Tell the Barricade and Romanoff we might be entering combat against multiple vessels of their class."
"Are you sure?"
"Would you rather me say we'll be entering combat against multiple hostile cruisers?"
The man shut up, returning to his work. Forge shook his head.
"This is Colonel Forge. All vessels, move out."

______________________________

The Battlegroup slipped through the Jump Hole Network, making excellent time to Coronado.
"Watch your fire; the Colonials have set up shop, so let's not make them angry." Forge ordered. "Move to the Borodino's last known location; Have half of Striker Wing scout ahead, the other half stay with us. They may still be lurking."

The group entered cruise, the fighters fanning out as the bombers stayed close to the International. Forge frowned as they detected nothing but the odd Colonial patrol.
"Sir, we have a Nyx patrol hailing us."
"Have Captain Villiers answer that - do not deviate course."

______________________________

Tori groaned. "Thanks Jake, leave me to do the diplomacy." She keyed the comm. "This is Coalition Fighter Wing Striker."
"This is Patrol Nu, what's with the warships?"
"The Storm-class vessel Borodino sent out a distress signal."
"The Olympia detected that. But is the cruiser necessary?"
"We lost a Storm; and not just any. So, where did it go down?"
"Yuma. But that's in our territory."
"You going to not let us rescue our people?"
"You wanna start a diplomatic incident?"
"I'm no diplomat, I just shoot people."
A tired sigh came from the man. "We'll escort you."
"Thank you."

_____________________________

"She didn't cause a diplomatic incident. Excellent."
"You had faith she wouldn't?"
"Well, she had to learn sometime."

The Battlgroup re-formed with Striker now flying cover. The Nyx wing took up a lead and flanking positions, leading the battlegroup to Yuma.
"Entering the Yuma Defense Perimeter. The Archer has been informed."
"Roger that." Forge leaned forward. "Vanguard, set up a perimeter around the geosynchronous coordinates of the crash site. Striker, patrol with the Romanoff[i]. [i]Barricade,lock airlocks and take on a Marine team. Priority is to evac Vitalievich and his surviving crew."
"Roger that." Forge dug a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. "Have Villiers and one of the Striker Wing head for the crash sight with the Marine teams." He took a puff of the cigarette. "If anything non-Colonial opens fire, take them down."

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May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.