Rotten to the Core

[Implosion]

Chapter 9: Same crap, different day
825 A.S.

-Jack, it's been almost a month now, there's no sign of her. Maybe we should end this and focus on more important things? - Scarlet said. -I don't think it's healty for you to be focusing so badly on your old boss. She'll most likely OD sometime soon anyways, don't worry man.

-Yeah, good point. We still need to prepare for the coming days, though. My days in the Core are limited if I keep my current course of action. What's the status on the Anath?
-Fully functional, sir. I've already forwarded the full technical report to your inbox. -Scarlet smiled- And hey, thanks for not nuking her, it means a lot to me.
-Yeah yeah, no sweat. I've helped another order defector. That's what, three now? If I keep this up I mi...what the hell?! Is that...where are we?
-What do you mean where are we, we're in 55, hoss.
-Yeah? Since when are there Ish'tars roaming around here, Scarlet?! Action stations! Full power to the front shields, overcharge the drive! Comms! Call for backup! And Scarlet, spool up those PDCs! The small frakkers will be on us within the minu...

Daniels was interrupted by a deafening explosion that shook the ship and knocked him out. After what felt for a brief moment, he began to come back to his senses. Albeit blurred, he could see the Ish'tar through the illuminator. The monstrous biological machine was relentlessly unleashing it's payload. Daniels realized the Perditrix was no longer the target. He painfully leaned against the nearest console and extracted a piece of metal that had found it's way to his shoulder.

-Mothe...AAAAW. SCARLET! What the hell is going on?!
-Battlegroup Ehrgeiz, sir! They rushed to our aid! The Nomad tore through our shields and hull like they were nothing! We need to retreat!

-No! Turn this bloody ship around at the blue frakker and hit it with every single gun we have. I'm not loosing another bloody battlegroup! I've got a little something for them! Open a comm to Gabby on the Ehrgeiz!
-Done, we're transmitting.
-Gabbs, it's pops. I want you to turn one eighty degrees and draw that mean mother into the asteroids.

You got it! PRICE! Turn this boat around! Head for the rocks over there, Simm... - As Gabrielle was barking orders, Jack closed the channel.
-Scarlet! What's the status on the Warpig and Volition wings?
-Combat ready, sir!
-Good, I want you on Warpig one and and I'll hop into Volition one. Get Ehrgeiz's Punisher squadron to launch and keep the fast movers away from our asses. -

Daniels didn't even wait for an answer before he rushed out of the bridge. He took the nearest lift and headed for the launch tubes. HIs newest investment, namely two pairs of superheavy bombers were waiting two decks below. Two minutes later, he was already strapped in tight in the Waran. Gabrielle had done exactly as she was told and the massive alien warship was slowly falling behind the much nimbler Mako.

-It's show time, you big bastard. All units, release the payload. Target the closest thing to an engine you can see. FIRE!

The four bombers launched two torpedoes each, followed by a flurry of dumbfire rockets.

-Do not let up, let's make another run!

As they circled around one of the bigger asteroids and commenced their second bombing run. Another devastating salvo was unleashed and a few seconds later the immediate area was flooded with blinding white light. When things became clear again, the Ish'tar was gone. No sign of it and no debris either.

-Scarlet?! Did we get it? Did we implode the bastard?
-I...I think we didn't. It went into hyperspace, sorry hoss.
-Ah, figures. Patch me up to the rest of the fleet.- He took a deep breath and addressed his people over the comms -Good. But not good enough.This was a wake up call. We need to get our asses out of here and back to the front lines in Delta. Prep for hyperspace in five.

-Hmm, about time, Danny boy. I knew you would eventually run back home with your tail between your legs.

-I ain't running no more.

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