The comings and goings, Of the LNS-Cincinnati

[Fuski]

Maverick assists BIS with a rescue operation in Drake system. Reader Warning: Long event

The bridge members of the Cincinnati board the deck one day, while sitting within the Barrier Nebula of Coronado system and head out to speak to Joshua Hunt as per request earlier that morning. Once the reach orbit of Barrier Gate Station, they notice Joshua Hunt is there along with a Bretonian Intelligence Service ship. The BIS, is the Bretonian varient of the Liberty Security Force, or the LSF. Maverick and company kept cautious, as they exchanged some words between each other along with introductions of Captain Brightwall and her XO Walter. Joshua Hunt sealed the deal about a future mission of some kind. Being as vague as usual, Hunt didn't brief O'Howell about anything of the mission. Just told him that Cincinnati will be needed soon and in due time. Close to the end of the Meeting sirens and alarms went off on the BIS Vessel...

BIS)HMS-Albion: The bridge: *A red alert light starts flashing and an alarm starts blaring shortly after*
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Whats that all about?
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: Apparantly we are getting an emergency signal, m'lady.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Whats it about?
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: It appears... Hmmm.
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: It appears that another BIS ship has gone mising close by.
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: Signal pinpoints the source to sector B7..
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Drake... For. Gods. Sake.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: E, how are the thermobaric cruise missiles?
BIS)HMS-Albion: E: Just fine.. we got a supply of 30.
The.Cincinnati: *Maverick returns with Sylus, coffee in hand* Mav: Why do I have a very bad feeling all of a sudden.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Right. W, the guns.
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: All locked and loaded. Should be ready to fire within seconds if necesary.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Right-o. Set course for Drake.. Lets find our missing pilot. Bloody hell...
The.Cincinnati: Mav: we'll head over with you.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Sylus, breing the crew to Underground yellow. Keep cautions.
The.Cincinnati: Sylus: Alright. I'll tell 'em.

Underground Yellow is a Ship status where the crew readies for attack, and cloaking procedures are at the ready should the Cincinatti need to get into the railroad and make an escape. Drake is a system linked to Coronado by a mysterious gate. An infrastructure related to nomadic entities and their thralls, the Wilde. Inside is their system...

Hornet-1: ?: Something about signals?
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Sylus wants to watch things go boom.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Bloody hell.. stupid damn infesting squid.. *mumbles violently under her breath*

They mobilise the small fleet they assembled of the Hornet, Cincinnati, The Artemis that usually accompanies the Cincinnati, the Albion, ANC-Jupiter and Warhammer who were nearby when the call came, and the Order vessel Talandar. Arriving at the gate the distress beacon emenates from, they pass through the jump, one by one.

BIS)HMS-Albion: ?: W, ready the access codes.. set them to jumphole calibrations.. remember the lessons from 99.
BIS)HMS-Albion: ?: Alright. Enter when ready.
BIS)HMS-Albion: W: Going in.
Hornet-1: ?: Move on in, boys.

On the other side, The Wilde have the gate guarded by a few weapons platforms. Such platforms are formidable. Indistructable to a degree. But they can be disabled for a time to secure an area. They notice on radars there are no patrols. The system is quiet...

BIS)HMS-Albion: ?: Looks like the welcoming party's still here.
BIS)HMS-Albion: ?: Right, disable the comms jammer W, the guests here already know who we are, name, surname, all that.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: One of them told everything about us.. an ex-crewmember we lost in Delta.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Radar center.. search for any active Bretonian transponder codes.
BIS)HMS-Albion: RO: On it, ma'am
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: The vessel in question should be a Challenger class..
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Seems the patrols are silent.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Indeed.. its unusually silent for Drake..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: All the more reason to be cautious.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: If theres one thing about Nomads, its that silence is /never/ good.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: I don't like this H'....as an ex-agent of these..things...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: This IS too damn quiet..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Ex agent of these foul mutations?
ANC.001-"Jupiter": *She sighs* A.S: Another time please, lets just say I have a bad history..
Hornet-1: Hunt: Long story.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Like i said earlier, i dont care about a persons past.. only about the present person.

They traverse the system. Not a single patrol is seen. Nothing but them. Followng the beam, they see other gates, glowing as they were. Hunt has the AWACS Artemis get a scan of at least one while they were there.

Hornet-1: Hunt: Artemis actual, get a readout on the gate while we're here.
The.Artemis: Yeah, got it.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: That's odd....
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: The gate is glowing..last time I heard, it was depleted..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: it has been glowing for the past 3 years.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Its charging up again..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: God knows what its trying to connect to.
Hornet-1: Hunt: Dark space.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: *She starts to look around slowly* Thats simple...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: It used to be for linking to deep space, reinforcement caller...now, I'm not sure, its to far away..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Captain.. we are not reading any bretonian signatures.. in the entire system..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Could this be a trap?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Always expect a trap Walter, you taught me that yourself.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Suppose there may be a wreckage on the planet?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Wait, we are picking up something.. on the surface of Hof.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Careful...
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Could have landed somewhere large to improve survival rate.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: As an ex-agent, these planets are known for Wilde ground forces...usually covered..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: It's.. it's...
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: It crash landed on the surface.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Its in no state to get spaceborne.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Energy discharge states the planet was outer...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Drawn closer by the warp.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Somethings off...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: I can't get get a reading on its details..its size. or...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: What the hell, my scans can't pierce the planet.

Unphased by the lack of info gained off the planetary scan, they set up operations in Orbit. Several ships together get into formation and proceed to begin the mission.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Alright, get closer, and scan for life signatures.
BIS)HMS-Albion: RO: We are picking up 2 human signatures on the surface.. no way to tell if dead or alive..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: We could send in a small squad with the shuttles..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Hmmmm...
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Alright... arm the squads... stay away from that trash APM stuff, use bretonian rounds. Send them down with the shuttles. Give them a beacon so we can provide orbital fire support.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: On it...

Hornet-1: Hunt: Maverick, send a recon team down for support. Arm up some A-1's.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Alright. I can do that.
The.Cincinnati: Sylus: Let me go! I want something to shoot.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: If you're feeling like a Gallic, knock youreslf out. Grab a suit.

ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: H'..something feels off....
Hornet-1: Hunt: Indeed.
Hornet-1: Hunt: A patrol would've found us by now.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Thats not it either...I've gotten no pings...
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Usually by now, I would of.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: And even so, close to the gate itself without spotting a single infected warship..
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Wait, there we go, I'm reading a lower stratosphere, meaning she has some form of gas containment on her.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: *distant yelling* Potter, Peterson, Taylor.. on me, we are going down.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: *IY* Assemble 5 men each and meet in the shuttle bay, full equipment.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Right, rotate the ship, rear facing the planet.. so the shuttle bay isnt obstructed from view.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Ready Walter?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: *Over intercom muffled by his gear* Ready.

The.Cincinnati: Sylus: Deck 6, ready shuttles for deployment. 4 men at pick, I'm joining.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Crew, Pitch ship PB's.
The.Cincinnati: *aye*

Hornet-1: Hunt: I'll go get some support. Ivan, keep an eye on your scanners. We'll need AWAC up and running.
The.Artemis: Ivan: Roger that.
Order|SD-"Talandar": Vi: I'll keep orbital support... This harpoon will give us enough precision to deal with medium level threats...

ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Good news, it seems to be nothing lethal to human's

The.Cincinnati: *Cincinnati's 5 man team get ready. Containment space suits, rifles, and several clips of ammunition and head off to the drop bay.*

They scanned the planet. They secured a location. Everything perfoming like it was a standard military operation. It went through like water in a creek. Effortless and to the numbers.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: shuttles in 3.
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: 2
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: 1
BIS)HMS-Albion: B: Deploying.

The.Cincinnati: Sylus: Crew is in. Strapped. Deploy in 5.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Drop shields, open bays.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Deploy.


BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Comms, how is our link with the team?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Comms: All clear ma'am.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Kole, roll us about, if they need support, we'll provid orbital strike defense
ANC.001-"Jupiter": Kole: Copy that..
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: We're clear of the bay.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Comms: Should recieve standard update on touchdown.. nothing blocking the signal.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Sheilds online. CLose bay.

The two ships wait for their teams to reach the surface of the planet. It seems like an eternity sending down your own men into a hostile section of a planet, in a hostile system, full of hostile entities.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Come on Walter... Come on...
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: *Static*
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: We've reached the *static* surface.. Proceeding to waypoint. *Static* Over.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Brightwall, S+R team is on it's way down. Standby.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Roger. Walter, hold position and wait for the Cincinnati's men to join up.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: *static*y down here. cap.
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: We -ee the shuttle an--- rouping.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: We see the Libertonian patrol.. holding.

The.Cincinnati: Mav: Keep comms open. Relay everything. Stevens, take Comms, record all on blackbox.
The.Cincinnati: Stevens: Sir.

ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Dropping green light for extraction zoning. Confirmed.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: We got the extraction zone fully scanned and on grid, the Jupiter can provid orbitral strike during retreat if required

While the ships gather and land down they set up an extraction zone nearby. They scan for layouts. Silo's. Bases. The whole 9 yards.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*:Touching down next to the ship. We're** own.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: They've joined up. Its 6 micro-klicks towards the shuttle.. will take us about 10 minutes to get there.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Maverick, just to be sure, have your men engaged Wilde ground forces before?
The.Cincinnati: Mav: A time or twelve.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Very good.
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Nomadic war, remember? Had Wilde everywhere.

ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "Angel of death here. What's the deal."
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Linking to Warhammer, we got grid by grid scan complete Warhammer, uploading ground mapping we got thus far.
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: Gravity he** low. Team off the ship.
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Cromwell: "Don't go getting your infested down there. You hear me Sylus, you stupid bastard."

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Proceed to the waypoint Walter, weapons free.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Picking up non-friendly movement behind the ridge.. 5 people, possibly armed.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Alright Walter, you know the deal. Aim for the spine, or the head.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: No prisoners, kill them all.

In orbit. The ships wait and co-ordinate. Planetside. The teams seperated a little bit, Sylus taking his team a bit behind to ensure all secure.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: Teams are *ching. Moving to ****IS agents.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Holding for the Cincinnati's crew to join up.. then we move to engage.

They hold momentarily. Sylus meets Walter face to face, but only catching a small rundown of facial features through the glass of their suits. They kneel in position, aiming down to the ridge.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: So. You're Walter. *aims the gun amongs the ridge*
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: So.. you must be Sylus..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Lets focus on those 5 bastards down there.
The.Cincinnati: *3*: Confirmed, minimal 2 targets on ridge. Clear shot.
The.Cincinnati: *4*: Sweeping left flank. Confirmed 3 more. Clear shot.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: I take it you know how to obliterate those squids?

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: 2, take head of first. 4 of second, shoot on command. I'll take the third. Yes, we know how. We like headshots...
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: What fancy. Alright you teapots, switch to piercing, we like to do this 1 shot, 1 kill.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: On my go.. I'll take fourth. *Tapping one of his men on the shoulder* You take fifth.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: 3, 2, 1..
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Fire at will.
The.Cincinnati: *Gunfire is heard over the radio.*
The.Cincinnati: *Sounds of 5 rounds. Seemingly in unison, maybe it was only one.*

BIS)HMS-Albion: Comms: Picking up gunfire on the surface
The.Cincinnati: Stevens: Definite gunfire.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: 5 down. Kills confirmed.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Nice shot there, Sy. Clean through the head.
The.Cincinnati: Sy*: Thanks. You too.

ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Pings detected, hostile grids coming to life. They're mobilising.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Comms: Detecting alien life signatures coming online all across the surface.

ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: We got comfirned visual on a possible nearby jamming encampment, if we take it out, it will clear up more grid scanning.
The.Sovereign: Hunt: Sylus, Hunt here. Lase important relays and we'll slam 'em from orbit with a pulse.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Walter, if you see anything strategic.. point it out and we will fire a plasma round at it.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: We got five payloads at the ready, tactical orbital strike rockets, emcampent hitters, four missiles for large buildings and one Sucher for anything that needs removing.
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "State target coordinates."

Sylus and Walter hear the ordinance everyone brought to the Party. A BYOB if you will. Bring your own Bomb party. The vessels ready up armament, waiting for the signal lock.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: Oh that's a dandy. You hear that Walter?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Yeah, we heard it.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: 2 more micro-klicks to the downed shuttle. *points into the distance where there's strange buildings.*
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: That must be the encampment. May as well dust it while we're here.
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: You got a lase? Seem to have left mine.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Here, have it. *Hands a target designator to Sy*
The.Cincinnati: *Sy* this is quite the piece. Different from Liberty standard. 1-4, set up perimiter while I bead this bad boy.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Yeah.. its also heavier, but more accurate.
The.Cincinnati: *Sylus lays down on the ridge, aiming the laser at the Minor defense grid*
BIS)HMS-Albion: *Walter Observers Sylus locking the signal, beaming the laser at the grid before them*

(In Orbit)
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "Confirming incoming lock of laser guidance."
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Grid Foxtrot, Nine, confirming jamming encampment, minor defense grid.
The.Sovereign: Hunt: Stand by. :: Inaudible chatter ::
The.Cincinnati: Mav: We're tracing it now. Nixie, any other scans?
The.Sovereign: Hunt: Right, Jupiter's and the Artemis' targetting systems have been linked to the network.
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "Target of opportunity. Due east of thier beacon. Looks like a building of some description."
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Right.. 12 plasma rounds, rapid fire. Everyone Ready?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Gunners: Ready.
The.Cincinnati: 2* Pulse locked to signal of the network. Ready and hot.
The.Sovereign: Hunt: Signal is locked. Awaiting the go.
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "Dropping rounds on the TOO."

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Fire at will!

The fleet drop ordinance down, bombing their located position with precision. The Warhammer takes care of the target due east. Making sure they clear the path and any hostilities nearby. the rounds scream to planetside, looking like a meteor shower in broad day as the dozens of rounds land on the shell of Hof.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy's comms are heard with orbital bombardment blasting into the planets surface.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: *Heavy plasma impacts can be heard in the distance*

The dust from the blasts kick up, watching Wilde and shrapnel of buildings, dishes, and all matter of things within the lazed zone sling up and away.

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Confirmed substantial damage.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": Confirm: Detecting confirmed hits.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: 8 impacts confirmed straight on target, 4 missed but not wasted.
The.Cincinnat: Ganes: She's gone.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Nice shooting.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: And... she's going down, time placement says she'll be down for a while
BIS)HMS-Albion: RO: Captain, large troop movements behind the troops near the shuttle..

As the command centers of the ships scan the layout of the grid more, Maverick and Brightwall try to confirm that their units are still alive.

The.Cincinnati: Mav: Are you okay, Sy? Walter?
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: We're fine.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Watching the fireworks.
The.Cincinnati: *Comms for Sylus stay silent for a second*
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: -chuckles- Yeah we're good.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Walter, there are a massive amount of ground forces converging on your position.
The.Cincinnati: Sy* Can't see anything. So much dust.
The.Cincinnati: Ganes: Radar can confirm. Multiple units inbound
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "I see them too. Thier communications are scattered. They don't seem to have any coordination."
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Look for those pilots quickly, or you will be outnumbered 12 to 1.. and thats only our units.
The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: Walter, we best get moving!
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Alright, teaparty's over, MOVE!
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Hunt, we can provid a distraction, but we'll need a target away from them on the ground.
The.Sovereign: Hunt: Which direction they heading in from? Mark it, and we'll hammer the ridge with what we have to buy you some time.

The units planetside push along. In that time The infested forces converge to a central point, forming a massive centralized group. They start heading to the ground forces at a rapid rate.

The.Cincinnati: *Sy*: Walter! 2 O-clock on the cliff! Look at those numbers!
BIS)HMS-Albion: Walter: Jesus christ, triple time!
The.Cincinnati: *Sy sits prone Aiming the laser guidance*
The.Cincinnati: *3*: Sy! GEt up!
The.Cincinnati: Sy*: Let me do this!
ANC.001-"Warhammer": Nixie: "Bah. You have a ten second window before they'll be in gun range."

BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Maverick, let's thin them out a bit, shall we?
The.Cincinnati: Mav: Sounds like a plan. 2, bead on the laser, and drive the nail.
BIS)HMS-Albion: Brightwall: Gunners, Lock on and fire at will!!!!
Order|SD-"Talandar": Vi: I'll give them something to think about to the North. 6 plasma rounds inbound.
ANC.001-"Jupiter": A.S: Dropping ordinance, heads down!
The.Sovereign: Hunt: All stations, fire!