Tides of Change

[Jeremy Hunter]

Omicron Delta
Sector 5-D

"This is Patrol Epsilon-Seven, we are entering D5, over."
"Epsilon-Seven this is Apophis Actual, copy. Marking you on the list."
"Apophis Actual, we're seeing nothing here. I think they - wait. Contacts at extreme range Actual. Eight, Nine. Break off and check...wait, break off!"

His order was too late. As the Bastets turned and burned to check out the contacts, a trio of Mantas decloaked. The first Bastet yanked itself off track and barely grazed one, but the trio ripped apart Epsilon Nine, and shot the pod as it fled. As their wingman died in a fiery explosion, the other four Bastets turned to engage. "This is Epsilon Seven, Nine is KIA - Core Mantas decloaked! We are engaging!"
"Epsilon Seven be advised Gamma Twelve has been engaged by an Orca Patrol towards Nauru from your position. Take down the Mantas and assist."
"This is Seven, we'll try."

The four bastets were at first evenly matched, but they knew the outbound contact they had seen was the rest of the wing - and by that, another three Mantas.
"Actual, this is Epislon Seven. We have a total of six Mantas. We won't make it to Gamma Twelve, requesting assistance." The pilot threw the Bastet into a sharp turn, dropping a mine. The Manta's shield went down, but it managed to twist and avoid the incoming Reaper fire from Epsilon Ten. Cursing, Seven turned and burned hard, his Death's hands tearing down another shield and sheering off the wing of a Manta. The Core fighter turned as it unleashed a mini Razor - but these were Bastets. Faster then the Nepthys, the Bastet moved quick and dodged. The Manta had bet on the fighter being taken down, but they forgot - the MKII Bastets were even smaller. Eleven came around to fire, his Reapers tearing off the engine and sending the Manta into a spin. Seven didn't hear Actual's response, only a dim sound of voices as his focus dropped to the fighting.
"I'm hit!"
Epsilon Ten's main wing was hit, the explosion sending him in a gyroscopic spin. The Mantas peeled off and headed right for the out of control Bastet, when they were forced to break off.
"This is Lambda One, we're on-scene." Five Nephthys fighters roared in, already engaging. One manta was taken down from the fresh reinforcements, and the others began to go on the defensive. Despite the Nephthys being slower, the Mantas also had to contend with the heavier armor - the rugged frame and tried-and-true armor of a Nephthys had weathered storms unheard of, and right now was tanking their shots.
"Epsilon Seven, Gamma Twelve needs immediately reinforcements. We will handle this."
"Roger that Lambda One, breaking off." The remaining Bastets broke off and burned hard towards Gamma's last known location.

The Nephthys continued their assault. While outnumbered by a single fighter, the Mantas were damaged and worn down by Epsilon. Lambda Two planted a Mini Razor in the huill of one of the Core fighters, turning it into a ball of fire. The one with the missing wing had the rest of his ship shredded by Lambda Five, while Four and One turned and took on another. But Lambda Wing didn't do this unscathed. Lambda Two had taken a bad hit to the main body, the fighter venting it's cargohold. Lambda Three was disabled, trying to battle a shot maneuvering thruster as the Core began to focus. But even with one of them almost on a platter, Lambda Wing managed to keep Three alive, their battle a dance of death and blaze. Another Manta went down as Lambda Four was hit with a surprise mine, the cockpit vaporized. With them down a ship, the Core intensified their attack on Lambda Three, but with their regenerative backups dry and the remaining three Nephthys baying for blood, they were not long for the universe. Their ships detonated in brief fire, leaving the Nephthys alone.
"Lambda Five, escort Lambda Three to Dabadoru. Actual, this is Lambda One. We're heading to rendezvous with Epsilon Seven and Gamma Twelve."
"Negative Lambda One...there's no one left to rendezvous with."

The Nephthys pilot was stunned. "What?"
"Lambda One, Epsilon Seven's wing was ambushed five klicks from Gamma Twelve by a full wing of Mantas. They were cut off from you. We're pulling patrols back from the further areas but we can't send in reinforcements."
"They could still be alive!"
"Negative Lambda One. Tracker shows they're gone."
The pilot slammed his fist on the console. He had saved them once, only to be unable to rescue them again. "...Lambda Wing reports one KIA. Lambda Three has a disabled vessel and is going under escort to Dabadoru."
"Lambda One, we're sorry. Rendezvous at Dabadoru and link up with OCV-Sanakht and OCV-Sahure. From there, launch an assault and avenge Gamma and Epsilon's sub-wings."
"...Roger Actual." The pilot gripped the controls and burned with his wing back to base. They were quiet. The Nephthys was slowly being replaced by the Bastet MKII for a myriad of reasons, but many people still used the Nephthys. Jeremy Hunter, Kingsman Wing...but still, the aged vessel was being replaced, and to Lambda One, it was a great shame. He looked up to see the two hathors waiting by the Apophis, followed soon by a cruiser.
"This is CV-Neferkamin, we are linking up with Task Force Khonshu."
"This is Apophis Actual, Neferkamin - enemies number two Orca gunships, eight Manta Heavies. Possible Thresher-class destroyer present, unconfirmed before Gamma Fourteen was destroyed. Deploy and stay alert - hostiles are utilizing cloaking technoiogy."
"Copy Actual. Neferkamin will be taking over as AWACS-CIC for this assault."
"Roger that Neferkamin. Good hunting."

The Hathors slotted into position around the Resheph, as did the twenty or so fighters that joined. Lambda One slotted in what remained of his wing on the Sanakht. A repair ship went around, repairing any damage and restocking their emergency batteries and hull-repairing nanobots. Within minutes the force entered cruise, heading for Sector E-5 - the last known location of Gamma and Epsilon's engagements. The Onuris Wings, two in total, headed out first at full speed to scout, leaving the sixteen fighters with the heavies. And it turned into a silent wait, one that Lambda One wasn't going to enjoy.
"This is Iset Twenty Two, we are reading no hostiles. Moving Sectors."
"Iset Thirty Four, nothing to report."
Quiet. A quiet that made every pilot uneasy. With cloakers, it never was good...oh, it never was. No one liked it, and from what happened to Epsilon Seven...
"This is the Neferkamin, we are picking up a beacon belonging to Epsilon Seven. All ships divert."
Lambda One kept on the Sanakht's wing, but he felt uneasy. This didn't feel right - why did the pilot not wait? The Core were certaintly still in the area, and they'd pick up the E-Beacon soon. It didn't even burst - it stayed on. And that was what made Lambda One uneasy.
"Neferkamin, this is Lambda One. Something doesn't feel right."
"Lambda One, continue on course. All ships drop from cruise in ten seconds and resume approach on pulse. Watch for enemies and prepare for any cloaked warships."

The force dropped from cruise and continued on impulse, an approach that was their salvation. As soon as they entered the sector, decloaking before them was...a Bullhead.
"Mako confirmed, all ships go evasive!" The Neferkamin turned as it's main Cerberus turrets fired. Already entering on cruise was the gunships, including sixteen new Mantas. It was almost even - the Resheph was built for reconnaissance, and even though the Neferkamin was a combat refit, the ship was a light cruiser - the Bullhead was built and bred for war. Their only grace as it's energy reserves were depleted, giving them breather room.
"Apophis Actual, hostile Bullhead confirmed. I repeat, hostile Bullhead confirmed! Neferkamin has opened fire, Bullhead is not. Requesting bomber wings at our location with addition fighter support, we have sixteen mantas heading in. Interception wing has engaged them and has bought us one minute."
"This is Apophis Actual, scrambling reinforcements at once. Hang on - the cavalry is on the way."

The Neferkamin unleashed it's guns, but by the time the shield was close to failing, the Bullhead returned fire tenfold. Built to tear apart cruisers, the Bullhead began to rip apart the Neferkamin's shields, of which the Resheph's superior maneuverability was it's only saving grace. But even then, the Core's gunners weren't amateurs - they managed to pin the Neferkamin away, leaving the gunships at the mercy -
"Thresher spotted!"
The Core had baited more then fighers from the Order, and now Lambda One was in a fight for his life. Already two Onuris were taken down, leaving them even more outnumbered. And with the Neferkamin fighting the Bullhead, the Sanakt and Sahure were going to be contending with a Thresher and two Orcas, something no Hathor duo could feasibly due with no bomber support. Lambda One could only curse and engage with renewed vigor, his Death's Hands stitching blue lines across the dark skies of Delta. His wing wasn't the main targets, mostly because of their older ships - the Mantas were focusing on the newer Bastet MKIIs, of which half the current fighter force was. It was a breather that Lambda Wing took full advantage of, managing to take out two Mantas in short order. They turned to engage an Orca, only to find themselves contending with three Mantas.
"They didn't like that I guess!" Two said, jinking to the left and dropping a mine. "One, we're not going to be doing this well alone."
"Focus on the Orca, get it off the Sahure. If we lose those gunships, the Neferkamin is not going to see drydock."
"Roger that." Was all he got, but it wasn't going to be enough. The Onuris fighters were slowly losing ground, the Bastets being shot at from all sides. The Nephthys present were able to dish out the most damage, but soon they'd lose that advantage - the Sanakht was taking heavy fire, and it wasn't going to last long.
"Actual, Sanakht is not going to last! We need those reinforcements now."
"They are almost there, hang on." And Lambda knew that was all they could offer. "Hang on." Not exactly comforting...not when it was too late. The Thresher planted a mortar in the Sanakht, and the Hathor was torn asunder. Cursing, he jerked the ship into a "climb" as an Orca turned and fired.
"Lambda Five is down!"
He had lost most of his wing today. With only Lambda Two beside him, they tangoed the Orca with a wanton ferocity, drawing it's ire from the Sahure...but it too joined it's sister ship, the superstructure twisting and breaking apart under the combined fire. The ambush was working, as half the Order fighters were gone. Lambda One knew it was lost, and reached to order an retreat.
"Neferkamin to all ships - Retreat at once. We'll cover you."
"You can't, Commander!" Lambda One was confused. How could the cruiser do that? It'd g..."Comma-"

"There is enough dead heroes."
Uncloaking between the falling Neferkamin and the Bullhead, was the Svizra. One of the few Osirises still kicking, it's Avatar of Death main guns unleashed the fires of the Underworld upon the Bullhead, downing what little shield remained and crashing into the hull. The twin mortars spat fire into it's side, but it was not alone.
"This is Beta Leader to remaining Fighters. Link up with Delta Lead and commence fighter screen."
Lambda One breathed a sigh of relief. Of course the Svizra would arrive with full reinforcements - Jericho Forge had a thing about overkill. If you're going to save anyone, do it with superior numbers. And Lambda One would never complain, especially when they just saved his ass.
"Commencing bombing run." A wave of Novas erupted, filliing space with imminent death. The Thresher was already moving towards the Bullhead, trying to get to it's flak coverage. But even if it would succeed, the Svizra, and the now unpinned Neferkamin came in with twice the vengeance, tearing asunder the Bullhead's Flak emplacements. As time slowed for everyone, Lambda One had a flashback to a flight, years ago, where this day was switched - where the overwhelmed Order carrier Anuket was fired upon by a bullhead, where the Order would end up losing ninety percent of the ships sent. This time...this time, Lambda One watched as the Bullhead exploded into scrap, the Thresher and what remained of it's forces now trapped between a fresh wave of fighters and bombers, the Svizra, the heavily damaged Neferkamin, and the rage of every pilot there.
"This is Svizra. Burn 'em,"

Dabadoru Station, One Hour Later

The Neferkamin was being preppared for out of system transport. It's superstructure heavily damaged, they might have to scrap it for parts. The Svizra, untouched, moored for resupply as the battered fighters began to land. One by one they'd go, most damaged, few unscathed. The Core had managed to get a fresh wave of Mantas out, but they were nothing but pests ultimately. The Svizra saw to that...but even then, as Lambda One climbed from his Nephthys and looked down the rows of ships, he felt no sense of victory. Three was hospitalized, Four didn't have a body to bury. Five, at least, was recovered and already loaded for transport. He lost two friends today, and one might not make it. And so, he fell to his knees and cradled his helmet, then let it roll away. He couldn't take it anymore...these Pyrrhic victories, the death and sorrow that would follow him every time. He was exhausted and unable to take it. Epsilon Seven could have been saved...but he hadn't been quick enough. He stood slowly, and pulled out his sidearm. He looked at it for a good, long time.
"Derek."
He looked up to see Lambda Two there. The man took his helmet off. "Amigo."
Derek holstered his sidearm. "I know, Jose. I know."
It wasn't worth it. Dying for others...that was.


"This is Patrol Omicron Ten. We're starting our rounds."
"This is Apophis Actual. Core battlegroup was taken out earlier, expect retaliation. Good luck."

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May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.