64 light years away

[Omicron]

Valkyrie looks up to exotic looking rifle, put on the table against her by requisition officer. With her, several marines were preparing their weapons. Ridiculously big and heavy comparing to people handling cleaning and checks of said equipment, they handle it well. “So… do tell me exactly how is this working, if you can?” Kate asked, not entirely sure of her new weapon. “It is experimental energy blaster. Recoilless and personalized with ergonomic handles and compatible with all of the HR15’s attachments, including sights. Don’t ask me how it works but the people who brought it here for you gave me some characteristics for you…” He says, noticing she is not exactly capable of carrying this into battle. “You will carry this in your powered suit, do not bother. All those rifles were designed originally as heavy machine gun for supporting Liberty’s armed forces infantry...”

As preparations for the operation took place, captain received green light to begin from Overwatch. Belisarius was immerse way bigger capital ship than Geb-class carrier. Original Spyglass core did not left much else for ship’s interior, minimizing its potential combat capability. It is battleship nevertheless, relieving captain as he was spared dubious privilege of getting on wrong end of Belisarius guns. Setting direct course to the nebula, Konstantinov was little nervous of bringing Fedayeen into Liberty space. Previous encounter with Marduk on edge of New London system left not only roasted flesh of Nomad organic warship but significant damage to ship’s subsystems. What could not be repaired in the field was what worried commanding officer the most. While some weak points on the hull were temporarily abandoned and decompressed for the time being, sensor array proved defective beyond and subject to replace entirely. Their solution was wiring up recon variant of Sekhmet’s array as substitute until they could haul ship back to The Order space.

Vast hangars running along entire length of flight deck were depleted. Several snubcraft were given away under Atum’s care to replenish hardware losses before pulling Fedayeen out. Of the remaining fighter and bomber complement, six Sekhmet’s were cannibalized for spare parts and jury rigged solution for upcoming operation. Three freighters, according to specifications sent from Akabat were just optimal to safely activate and travel through the portal while carrying all manpower and supplies for duration of their stay on the other side. In space, at any time half squadron of O42D Bastet’s served to reinforce blind spots and overall reduced output of Geb’s coverage.

Knowing there is only one stable way out of the unnamed system beyond portal, captain further divided already diminished force to set up recovery plan in Pennsylvania, where returning operatives would emerge in once their job is done. Biggest concern was not passing through Liberty space itself but one particular system. Californian fleets were reinforced to counter Gallic advance and layout of the system itself left very little room for error. As previously, they would wait for the opportunity when another skirmish with either Royal Navy or local delusional warlords gives them a window to sneak through.

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