The Wait

[Kaze]

Omega-49 | Unknown Sector
12/12/825 AS, 4:35 AM

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A black clad Marlin quickly crossed a path through one of the many treacherous ice fields in Omega-49. Stopping and shutting off its engines and all non-essential systems every ten minutes, the pilot watched its scope and received the readings of several close by passive sensor buoys to make sure it was not being followed. Finally content that a trail was not given or followed, it finally cruised like a devil to its destination.

Through the ice and rocks, there it was, awaiting the order to finally be brought to bear. To finally be unleashed. Kaze Dagon looked at the piece of metal shaped into war form ages ago, eerily appearing, something it was very used to. The Hellbound, brought back to a functional status, was deemed unfit for front line duty against the Gallic onslaught back in New London. Its broadside weaponry panel quickly trailed her ship as she approached, finally validating the codes sent through the buoys and opening its bay doors.

Finally inside, and on 'solid' ground, she received the reports from her aide, an expedient man named Lieutenant Macy Whitmore, who accompanied her from the Ark Royal. Looking at the reports and the crew figures, while keeping one eye on the surroundings, she knew that the crew of the Hellbound was on high alert since the very beginning of this operation. Politics had failed as she predicted, so the decision to send large recon and infiltration groups ahead of the Stirling was not only an inspired move but also a tactically sound one. By now, three hundred of her men were infiltrated in the various layers of zoner society, sending intelligence whenever was deemed important, and the 2nd Anglian Regiment, under Captain Nathan Hughes had already secured seventeen drop-sites.

While some would argue such movements and decisions were unnecessary as opposed to wait for the outcome of the summit, she would only answer with her mother's motto. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse. And so she did. The infantry and recon operations were one thing, jumping apart from the Stirling and its group, the Hellbound was accompanied by a small detachment of Crecy's and Churchill's with their supporting wings. Small enough to hide itself in the clouds that dotted Omega-49 but big enough to cleave any kind of task force in surprise. The Stirling was not only the statement that everyone was looking at in the middle of the system, but also the main bait.

Handing the reports back to Whitmore, she arrived at the bridge, being saluted by the crew therein. Captain Alby, Richard Alby was the second in command and he was the one that tested and flown the Hellbound since it left the Southampton dry docks. Short, stocky but professional, he lost all of his family in Leeds apart from a sister that was now in Cambridge. He once again asked if there was any developments. Kaze shook her head and sat in the CO's chair.

"Stirling is moving on target, on time, unimpeded. Traffic report?"

Alby pointed to one of the secondary holo screens and a report of the detected vessels in system in the last twenty four hours appeared. Two smugglers with civilian grade weaponry were shot down after refusing to turn back. Three corsair transports destroyed. Five zoner evacuation ships. Several freelancers. Hessians snubs, Coalition and the likes. More of the same, she thought.

"Tell Anciliary-2 to place a ring of passive buoys around the Omega-47 jump-hole, and send a short burst comm check on all space born assets in system. I want it within the next ten minutes. And tell Captain Harlowe to keep an eye out for unknown contacts at max range. Turn them around or burn them to space dust."

Alby nodded and started to issue orders to the Radio officer. Kaze's jaw tensed. The wait for the Admiral was the same as the wait for the almost two million soldiers under her command. And she did not liked it. A blitz would have been better. Much much better, she thought. But alas, politics. The bane of the Armed Forces.

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[08:11 PM] Dusty Lens said: Well in that case. NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE & #SAVAGE & #STORIES