Tides of Change

[Rodent]

Eriksson was writing some formal paperwork on his desk in his office in Lisbon station. He was writing up on the recent events in Nomad space and his view of the situation for the rest of the Overwatch. Several reports from various agents layed on the coffee table in which those pilots described that they had witnessed the growing amounts of the creatures. He was getting concerned with the progress on the Thebes as it was lagging behind. He then heard a knock on his door.
" Come in."
Tigraine Mantear entered without preamble. She was an aging, slender woman, dressed in the severe black order uniform. It was unadorned.

"Mr. Ravenov. We need to talk."
Still writing his paperwork, and without looking at her he replied. "Yes? What is it, Ms. Mantear?"

Mantear noted the insult, and chose to ignore it. Taking a chair opposite, she pushed several files on the table.

"These are scout reports from the last five weeks, coupled with intelligence reports which are relevant. Can you note the pattern?"

Stopping for a second, he looked at her and said "I can't say I do. I hope it's something interesting though." He then continued to scribble again.

Mantear snorted irritably.

"Drop the paperwork for a moment. This is troubling. If you'll read them closely..."

She picked up one from the pile, and read out a portion.

"...And we lost four out of five pilots to a suprise nomad attack in the vicinity of the Iota Jump hole. Surprisingly, we spotted at least three Irra class cruisers in the group that chased us out. Suspecting a buildup."

She picked up another one.

"And these readings from the freeport eleven satellite, recieved yesterday."

"...Detecting energy fluctuations in the direction of Omicron Iota...don't match any known signatures...We're sending it to you in the hope you can figure it out..."
"Something's off with the nomads. I'm suspecting the worst."

Eriksson looked at her. "Ohh, that. Well, I guess it's obvious they're building up their fleet. And we can all guess what that is for." He continued. "I mean Nomads are logical beings, after all. They wouldn't do something without purpose."

Mantear nodded. "And if they're doing what we think they're doing...it couldn't be at a more inappropiate time. You're better versed than me in the state of our forces and how stretched they are."

"Quite, the Core and Navy have been giving us a hard time, even on our home ground. Not to mention all our outside operations. It all requires manpower."Eriksson rubbed at his beard. "If we would retreat from one front and reinforce the other we'd be gonners for sure."

"I've had the tacticians prepare an estimate. They've been chewing at the reports, and seem to agree that a well-timed nomad attack might cripple us. And it's up to us to find a way around that", Mantear said. "They've been building in their fortress system for a long time....an attack might be imminent. We'll have to assume that we have little time left."

Eriksson nodded. "Yes, we'll have to assume that we have a month at maximum. Do we have any evacuation plan ready?"

Mantear's face grew grim. "Not on the scales required to evacuate non-military assets from Toledo."

"Will it help if we discretely move them? We could move them to safety under the excuse that the bases on Toledo are going to get a renovation."

"We could do that...however, there are nearly two million people on Toledo in all capacities. There's no space for them all..."

She suddenly snapped her fingers.

"The Thebes might help."

Eriksson shook his head."The Thebes? Sure she can hold a couple of thousand people, but that doesn't help much..."

Mantear frowned. "It's still better than being caught completely off guard by the nomad attack. We need to survive and continue, Mr. Ravenov. That means contingency measures."

After a brief pause, she continued.

"What do you think of our evac capabilities in face of ground attack?"

"Well unless we can get those people out before the battle..I don't think we have much of getting even 20% out alive", Erik replied.

Mantear nodded. "Start running drills on Toledo for emergency evac procedures. A little organization might help us a little..."

Pulling up another document, she continued.

"What is the current Status of Thebes construction?"
"Well, I think you're more into that then me. Let me call the chief engineer at Evora."
Mantear interjected. "I've already done so. He says that the chassis is operational, but they need at least three months for final fits and testing. OSD would then require another month to tweak the experimental drive...so we need four months for that thing to work."
"How much space is required for all that? Within the chassis, of course."

She shrugged. "You'd have to ask the techs. I think you'll agree that time is the most valuable factor here. If we can keep the nomads off for four months or so, then Thebes can be brought into play."

"Yes, but we need manpower and morale. We can't have hald of their families dead and expect them to work at full capacity."

Mantear shrugged."We'll just have to defend the line somehow till then. What do you think of Minor's defensibility?"

Eriksson smiled faintly."Well, unless the Liberty Navy decides to attack us - pretty good actually.However, we'll need our full strength to hold them off at the Minor Jump Hole in Delta and then the Delta Jump Hole in Minor. Once they breach that there's no stopping them."

"I guess we'll have to reduce forward ops in Delta and beyond, and call back units. Reinforce the line. It's a waiting game now."

Eriksson held up a hand. "Wait, I just remembered a possibility.What is the status of the Inquisitor?"

She snorted. "It's functional, but not battle worthy. What are you getting at?"

"That thing is a moving Freeport.If we put it in 100, put several additional biodomes, we just might have enough space for the civilians on Toledo.Not to mention that we can unweld some of the combat systems to make more living space."

Mantear held up a hand. "There's no time to procure bio domes from the zoners. The Inquisitor in it's current state will have to do."

"We could ask them to lend us another Jinkutsu, for the time being. Maybe Doc Holliday would be kind enough to lend us a hand in a situation like this?"

Tigraine shook her head. "In all honesty, if we're attacked, we cannot really ask Holiday to risk the life of everyone on the Med.Force.One."
"
Hmm...then maybe a few convoys to Gran Canaria or to Omicron-74 filled with civilians?"

"That'll mean sending them away from the frontline...we cannot really send too many that way."

Eriksson nodded. "Well, all non-essential personnel could go that way like women and children and everyone that isn't involved in fighting, developing or otherwise.The engineers, scientists, agents and alike could be evacuated to the Inquisitor."

She nodded. "That might be the best we can put up. Can you run it through Golanski?"
Eriksson activated a communications link. "Very well. Nice having a conversation with you, Ms.Mantear."

"Good day to you." She left the room.

Eriksson waited until she had departed, then he burrowed his face in his hands. Events were coming to a head, and they were one step behind. He rolled his shoulders, it was going to be a couple of very long weeks.

***

Golanski is reading through reports of operations outside Omicron space, drinking coffee. Obviously he had not slept well in recent days.

Eriksson knocked on the door of Golanski's office.
'Come in' Golanski took a look at the newcomer.

Eriksson opened the door and greetd Golanski with "Hello Mike."

Golanski noticed the friendly face. "Welcome. Had not expected you."

"Well, Ms.Mantear and I have been discussing something of great importance and we both thought you might want to know about it."

"Mantear's matters were always important so I am listening." Golanski leaned back in chair expecting significant news.

Eriksson sat down in one of the chairs in Golanski's office "Well, we've been discussing our defensive and evacuation capabilities. I hope you know they're grim to say at least."

He sighed. "I know... we bassicaly bolster our planetary defense systems only to buy more time. And we do not have enough ships to take everyone out if required."

"Well not exactly..." Eriksson said in relief.
"Thebes and Inquisitor are not enough to move everyone to safety in time when Core makes the final push. And for the current time both ships are still in shipyard." Golanski left report on the table and put hands together. "But well, tell me what you got."

"Well instead of having either the Thebes or the Inquisitor move the evacutees. We've decided to move the Thebes and Inquisitor to a more practical spot in 100, preferably nearer to the jump hole. And gradually start moving the civilians now rather then in the middle of the battle. We though of using a base renovation as a excuse. Though it will all need your permission."

Golanski fell more relaxed but still stressed. "I have tried to forge place for The Order beyond that piece of ice. My plans concerning Miura takes longer than expected. If you can start it... I am waiting to hear your destination proposition."

"We'll have that sorted out till the meeting next week Mike." Eriksson saw all the paperwork on Golanski's desk. "How about we take a break from all this paperwork, eh? I've got a bottle of Scotch waiting to be opened in my office?"

"Order's work is never done but the paperwork will not run away. Lead the way" Golanski stands up and takes his coat,preparing to leave.

"Alright." Eriksson left Golanski's office and lead him into his office. He went over to the cabinet and took the Scotch bottle and 2 glasses.

"You think we can survive this, old friend?"

"Listen. I signed up to send Nomads to oblivion and if I die in meantime it will be due to old age which is not imminent for myself." As he looked around. "Since you joined us I see you settled on Lisbon very well."

"Well, Lisbon has always been a quiet place. And it's pretty decent considering the circumstances. You can't really be Overwatch on Gran Canaria in a castle now can you?"

"I fulfil my duty regardless of my location. Be it Tau's or Omegas I am always in capability to command Order directly. Practically I am here only for paperwork duty..."

"Well, I could do my duties everywhere, but it's easiest to do them here where everyone is."

"Well, you completely forgot about that bottle. Pour that in..."

"Ohh, quite." Eriksson poured the Scotch into the two glasses and gave one to Golanski. "Cheers."

He Takes a sip and continues. "Well, back to business... do you have any idea where to relocate all those people? Gran Canaria is half of Sirius away from this place. Core always seeks for oppurtunity while I know as well Nomads prepare for something..."


"As I said our best bet is either the Inquisitor and Thebes or Omicron-74."

"Both can act as colony ships but will those be able to take everyone off at once? We need to have alternative for Toledo."

"I already told you, Mike. We can't get those people off at once. We have to do it gradually starting now."

" location location location Erik. Where are you going to take them? Gran Canaria is on opposite end of Sirius and it will drag attention of everyone on our way."

"What about Freeport 9 or 15 or Livadia? Or even the Blood Dragon bases?"

"They're all within 4 jumps and until the Nomads attack they can have armed escorts."

"Biggest Freeport does have only five thousand population. It's not enough. Blood Dragons surely have place but it's still not enough."

"Makeshift installations on asteroids? They're only temporary so I don't believe anyone will mind as long as they get out alive?" "I'm brainstorming here Mike, trying to save as many as possible, but there's no way we can move enough people."

"We need a planet... but I have my doubts I will manage to get things done with Miura... Braga project failed. I am thinking as well..."

"Maybe....scatter them around Sirius? Have a big zoner convoy drop little amounts of people everywhere around Sirius?"

"Like dropping some as Kusari refugees in Bretonia or Rheinland refugees in Liberty?"

"We could consider it...but let's talk to our friends first. They'd be more likely to help quickly."
"Then it is settled. We will ask the Zoners and Blood Dragons if they could help."

"I'll start sending the communications right away if you agree."

"we might want to give more thought to the Rhienland connection.... Zoners, particulary TAZ and Omicroners should be more than willingly to assist."

"Right. I'll tell them...damn what should I tell them? We can't bring thousands of people and say they're all agents to help you kill off the Wilde..."

"Discuss with them temporary refuge camps for people evacuating from increased Nomad activity? They dont need to know they're all Order."

"Sounds good to me" Eriksson then refills his glass with Scotch lifts in up in the air and says "To the Order and it's survival." And drinks it all in one shot. They had made their decisions. Now it was time to see who would be right.