The Pathfinder groaned as yet another volley of fire hit and arced around its hull. While a good ship, the Argus didn't have the longevity most of it's class boasted of. Although having a fleet targeting uplink system similar to those found in house navy capitals, it was all based off of civilian hardware. Every time an EMP blast hit the Pathfinder's bare hull, the fragile and unsheilded circuitry of the target uplink was fried, bringing the whole system offline until nanobots could replace fuses, repair chips and bridge connections. What this made was a very unpredicatble battle, with IMG ships killing left and right with swift precision one moment, and then being confused and getting slaughtered the next.
Nickolas Hargreaves surveyed the outside battle through the bridge's holodisplay. Never in his career as Guildmaster had he been in such a vicious battle, let alone one in the Outcasts' home system. His advisors had warned that an outright confrontation with the Maltese navy would end with an IMG loss, and from what he could see they would be correct. With the current forces onfeild, ship computers estimated a 15% chance of an IMG/Order victory should both side fight to the last man, and long range scanners suggested much more Outcast reinforcements entering the battle in a few hours, guaranteeing the win to their side. A swift retreat was neccessary to ensure the IMG fleet would survive another day, yet the main objective for the sorte was still not fully completed.
Hargreaves turned to the Captain, who waited patiently for new tact other than shooting everything.
"Your orders Guildmaster?"
"Get the last of your interceptor reserves to make a clear path to that fighter marked as being Syana's craft. We have to get her aboard and jump out of here before those maltese bring more firepower"
"Yes sir."
As the captain turned to relay orders down the ship, Nickolas was left to his own thoughts. What would be the ramifications if Syana came back to her position as Director.. That is of course if she accepts the offer. I'm sure the majority of guild members wouldn't mind, though those more extremist, IMG affiliated groups that are strictly anti-cardimine wouldn't stomach us having a director dependant on the sustance. How long has she been exposed I wonder.. Has anyone tried slowly weening themselves off of cardimine before? Hmm, I guess we'll just cross this bridge when we get to it - IF we get to it..
//Sorry about the super late join to this Seth.. I think nothing that I could say here would really be satisafactory for it but awell, At least I'm here now for the time being