Ageira Exposed

[Edge]

***Onboard the OPCC***


Aethulu here. OPCC, please advise on the situation.

We are still observing. The battered Liberty battlegroup carrying Frost was severely damaged. It won't reach any base. They seem to approach the old Naval Depots. Haven't been used in a while. They're going at 70% impulse speed. Another ship is approaching the depots from WP. It's a repair ship, with a few escorts. Please advise.

Send your Rogue escort, and harass them. We need to know for sure where are they going.

Understood. Escort dispatched.

Prepare your engines, OPCC. You will have to stay close, and rescue Frost. In the meantime, patch me with Ward.

OPCC*** connection engaged


Ward! What's going on at your end?

We're overwhelmed! We won't survive for another two hours.

I have instructed the OPCC to send unmanned drones to aid you. You let them fight, and use the distraction to withdraw to the OPCC. There, you will escort it, and recharge your shields. Understood?

Yes sir.

In the mean time, use your spare processing....

OPCC*** connection disengaged


Sorry sir, Flight Control here. We have established contact and hacked our way in the NIN. LSF Director Copeland is in charge of this operation.

What the... are you sure?

Yes sir, we've decrypted their messages. We have their plans. They wish to meet, repair the capital ships, and then spread in all directions.

Probably they will transfer Frost too, we'll lose his trace! To what ship is he going to be transferred?

We don't know sir, the NIN haves no such informations going on. Trying to find out on the LSF network.

Alright, do that. In the mean time, move towards that depot yourselves. Prepare to open fire on the Naval Convoy. Take out the Gunboat, the engage the enemy bombers. Then disable the engines of the Cruiser. And it's weaponry. More instructions later.

Yes sir. After a pause: Sir this is the OPCC again, we have searched for valid information about the possible transfers which the Navy might do to make us lose Frost's trace sir.

And? shouted Aethulu.

Sir, both of the NIN and LSF intelligence networks are containing no such informations. They appear to be out of date, sir.

You were blocked? Or looped?

No sir, they just don't update this thing. They never do that. It's a naval operation, the NIN network should be.... wait we have confirmation. Yes, they're moving towards the old depots sir. Still no intelligence about any possible transfers.

Understood. What's the state of the RA-4 Gunboat?

Sir, the escort was engaged by the enemy battlegroup. It destroyed the battered gunboat, further damaged the engine of the cruiser, and took out the main gun. The escorts can go cruise, but the cruisers won't go faster than 25 m/s.

Alright... now, about its status?

It suffers critical damage sir. It will be blown up. We are not going to get there in time. Maybe we'll pick up the survivors.

Do that.

Yes sir. OPCC out.



Hopefully, I'll get out of here, Frost thought. Suddenly, he felt how heavy weapon fire is hitting the cruiser he's in. All hopes of rescue were lost. What if his friends will blow up the ship? He doesn't haves a space suit, he'll be dead in less than 5 seconds.

He was in a state of dream... he was dreaming with his eyes wide open.

He was hearing the huge blasts, screams of pain...

Oh no! We've lost navigation! We're adrift!!! Fleet Command, where's that support?

FC here. What's going on? The support is less than 5 minutes away.

We won't live 5 more minutes! A Lane Hacker Spyglass is gunning us down!!!

What?!? You can't be serious!

Unfortunately sir, that's as real as it gets! Oh no! Hull breach in section seven, decks A to G!

We're losing hull integrity!

Your escorts, tell them to engage the Spyglass! You commence an immediate evacuation!

Evacuation underway sir! Our escorts are long gone, the Battleship took care of them first, they knew we're dead in the water!!!

Sir? Are you reading us? This is Convoy Leader AC-1! Please don't abandon us!

...battlegroup.... 3 and 4..... 2 liberty.... dreadnoughts.... sweep....

The cruiser lost main communications. It's hull was so damaged, it was on fire. The Scuttle device was disabled, ripped off the ship. It was decaying, losing components. The whole compartment with Frost's cell was adrift, in space.

His new battleship, the Scythe, picked him up.

Capt. Frost, are you alright?

Yes... what's the status of Ward and her gunboat?

They've lost their escort, and she's under attack. She won't make it sir. We should be on our way.

No! We're going to save her. Now, set a course, maximum speed.


Aethulu was hailing the OPCC. Frost saw that he's trying to open a channel, he blocked him. He thought:First we save our people, then we have time to chat...


Frost opened a channel to Ward.

This is the OPCC Scythe. Status?

We're not ****ing dead yet! We picked up the survivors from the other GS, and we won't make in time to you. If you get here fast, you might actually save us. 10 minutes tops we'll survive, or atleast that's what the engineering guy says. I don't give us 5 minutes.

Frost laughed.

Relax dear, we're above you, start evacuating. That ship of yours is in a such a bad shape, it'll hold us back in our attempt to run from this hell hole. When you're all onboard the OPCC Scythe, scuttle your ship. We'll use that shock and awe effect to take out the remaining escorts. Good luck, Frost out.

Oh, thank you. See you on the bridge...


In the next moment, the former OPCC was scuttled, and the escorts were destroyed. The image of the burning wreckage was terrific, but the image of the Scythe plowing through the still exploding debris was impressive...