Steeles slammed the now blank console on board the Krazni Oktober. He knew he only had a limited amount of time to get Life Support back online before he perished. Everything was down, from weapons, all the way up to the emergency lighting.
He immediately rushed down to Engineering to see what could be done. The news was, as expected, not good at all. "Everything's down sir, I'm trying to get the most critical systems online but so far, no luck."
Steeles was not happy, to make matters worse his co-pilot called Steeles back to the cockpit.
"What is it?
"Look." His Co-Pilot pointed to a section of space. It was black with drones preparing to strike.
"This isn't going to be pretty." muttered Steeles under his breath.
The Botev Reaches the CPW-Kremikov. Petko see's that they are outnubmber'd. and he say's.
Petko: OK I want solution's and way's to how we get out with this mess.
Engineer: I got a Plan sir!
Petko: Lets hear it !
Engineer: Let the drone's taste their own medication. We are gonna use a little pulse technology. We make a EMP missle.
Petko: How are we going to take em out with only several missile's ?
Engineer: Comrade I will adjust the missile so it can be like a chain reaction for em. Once the Missie hit the EMP burst will spread like a plague among them disabling em all.
Petko: Alright do it.
Engineer: I am gonna need 3 min's.
Petko: We will be dead in 2 you have one minute then we will be dead !
Engineer: Da comrade I will do my best !!!
The Engineer started to work hard on the missile and in 50 sec's the missile was ready.
The Botev turned so its missile turret may Face the Drone's. Petko Say's
All Coalition unit's stay back from the drone swarm.
The XKR sat silent, its reactor thrumming quietly in the background as the Captain studied the sensor data that was flowing across the Coalition TAC-net.
Whenever Coalition vessels operated in unison, their sensor data was automatically updated and relayed, feeding real time battle data into the CnC network, shared by every vessel assigned to it. Simultaneous tactical feeds, communications, and situational analysis from command.
With the Kerimov out of action, it was Alvarez who now commanded the field.
The Botev's plan was a risky one, it depended on the fact that alien emp weapons weren't, themselves, shielded from emp damage. If Alvarez were to use a weapon like the drones, it would be the first question he would have asked. The last thing he would have wanted were missiles that could knock out other missiles in their pack.
'Botev, this is El-Coyote,' he said with some reluctance. 'Hold your fire, hermano. I do not think it will work, and it may provoke the drones, si?'
He ran a check of their weapon systems. The AK-2s on his fighter, the same on Santorini's Odin'¦ Drags on Brooks'¦ Pulse/Razors on both gunboats. They simply didn't have the rapid fire gun support they needed. The Social Credit, the only gunboat outfitted for the task, being down for the count.
Time was ticking away, and El Coyote needed a plan.
Razin stood beside Levesque, staring at the message.
One of the technicians onboard the ship was frantically trying to set up a field radio, turning the parabolic dish outwards as they quickly swapped out some fried circuitry. It was desperate, but considering the fact that they had only a few hours of air left, and the heat onboard the ship was rapidly dropping due to the non-functional life-support… they had little choice.
Razin had thrown on a heavy leather jacket to ward against the cold, as he stared at the flashing message on the screen.
“We can’t, seriously, be considering this,” he whispered.
Commissar Khan, the missions senior Commissar, was standing on the far side of the console. His tattooed face twisted into an ugly look, one that showed that, despite his abhorrence of what was being demanded of them, that he was considering how it could be done.
“No,” Razin said, his voice firmer.
“You don’t get a say in this, ambassador,” Khan stated, his eyes locked on Levesque. “Captain, if you do not comply, we are all going to die. I suggest you take action, or I will order the marines to do it for you, on behalf of the Commissariat.”
Razin shook his head, “Captain, we have other options, give Alvarez and the others some more time… maybe they have a plan… Comrade-Captain… we can’t…”
Pasha didn't give a crap that the life support wasn't working, he was having a cigarette.
He sat in the cockpit of the Social Credit offering up his usual choice string of Russian swear words that described, quite accurately, how he felt about alien drones, the fact that the Skipper, Jayce Brooks wasn't there, and the usual incompetence of Engineering Specialist Invanov to actually get anything done.
The weapons console was open infront of him as he rapidly swapped control circuits out.
"Screw the shields!" he yelled back at the crewman who was opening the wrong panel. "Guns, fix the guns... our shields are going to do us no good once those drones decide to attack..."
"I can get you power," Ivanov called through the length of the tightly packed starship, "but it's engines or weapons..."
"Liquid-fueled thrusters," Byk yelled back. "Give me the damn guns! Where's the XO gone?"
Ivanov shook his head, "The illustrious Sub-Lieutenant is crying in the ships head, again. Useless like lady bits on bull..."
"Da?" Pasha commented subbing his cigarette out on the top of the console, slamming home the last modular replacement circuit board. "Tell our fearless leader to get off the can, and get up here, before I use my knife to gut him! I never thought I'd say this, but I wish the Skipper were here..."
Ivanov through a series of circuit breakers, the jerry rigged panel lighting up like a Christmas tree as power was fed to the rapid firing Red Hessian Rote Flammes turrets.
The targeting scopes lit up on the panel in front of Byk, and the grumpy Pole grinned to himself. "That's it, we got guns... jack all else, but we can shoot these buggers."
A crewman rushed forward with a shortwave TAC-link, used by field marines. Byk nodded as he slipped it on. "This is Master Chief Byk on the Social Credit, we've got guns!"
He patted the console of the Social Credit lovingly, the old girl wasn't about to give up that easily, alien threats or not... and worse case scenario, they could always stuff the useless XO out the airlock and do everyone a favour.
Moreau was sitting stiff in uncomfortable pilot's seat. Al Drones were scaning his ship over and over again. He turned off the engine and weapons.
Revolutionery march unhumpered filled cockpit. Slowely he pulled himself together and his thoughts wandered to past events.
His mind placed him in the Vierlande prison, in time conflict with Corsairs. Alvarez needed informations and informations is he going to get.
Moreau was sure of that. He knew the prison and guard very well.
With caution Moreau walked through a narrow corridor of Vierlande prison, while the flashes of horror obsess his thoughts with a full ferocity.
In gloomy he even recognised his cell. It was Moreau's residence for months.
Finaly, security guard took Moreau to Corsair's ward. Inside Corsair set and grined.
Without a word Moreau grabed him by the neck and casted into the wall.
The room echoed the blunt sound of breaking bones. Corsair's face cringed at the painful grimace.
He began to speak before any question asked and spoke without pause about theirs operationes, war with Zoners, about his tasks and..... Moreau was now certain that he also mentinoned AI. It was only for a brief moment becouse Corsairs pilot neutralised AI drone somehow, no need for further explantion then.
Blood rushed into his head and brought him out from contemplation. Moreau turned on his computer and frantically began to search for information about the position of Corsair's wreck. He knew that there was the solution.
Quote:I never thought I'd say this, but I wish the Skipper were here...
The sound of spacesuit-clad footsteps was heard in the rear of the Credit's bridge. "And I never thought I'd hear that from you, Pavel." Jayce said in a rather humorous voice. He was shivering from his recent spacewalk from his Odin to the damaged Credit. "Pavel, where's the XO?" Jayce mumbled, unzipping the suit's outer layers.
"Crying, in the head." Pavel replied.
"Hold on." Jayce said, finally stepping all the way out of the spacesuit. "Ill be back in a minute." Jayce reached into his jacket pocket, and withdrew a set of knuckle dusters. He slammed the door behind him as he walked into the small restroom of the Credit. A loud crack was heard a few seconds later, followed by the distinctive sound of the toilet flushing. Twice. Three times. Finally, Jayce opened the door again, closely followed by the XO, his head soaking wet, and bleeding rather profusely from the jaw.
"One XO, out of the john. Dunno how useful he'll be, but, he's here. And judging by what went on earlier, I don't think there will be much use for him anyway. And for the love of god, cut off that rear turret, Pavel. It's useless anyway. I would've thought you knew that." Jayce said, leaning against his command chair.
On Board the Botev Petko thought "This is sick , how dare they demand a thing like that'¦" He looked over at his crew and asked "So any Volunteer's?"
The Crew remained silent.
"I knew this was supposed to happen.' Petko said to himself "So Alvarez is ordering me not to fire the missile'¦ ok'¦ So Captain what do we do ?"
Alvarez remained quiet on the radio and Petko turned around and started looking at his crew.
The radio started to make noise. Commisar Khan on the channel, it seemed that the Kerimov had managed to establish some kind of radio connection. Khan Spoke. "Attention all vessels, you have all read the demands. You will comply by selecting non-essential personnel and moving them towards the airlocks'¦ "
Petko was shocked at the cold brutality of Khan's orders, and he heard the chorus of protests going up across the TAC-NET. His own voice amongst them, "Comrade Khan this is not acceptable I wont let any of my crew members die, for love's sake these are our people."
Khan was dealing with a host of similar complaints, but his voice was iron hard. "Commanders, this is a situation that calls for extreme care, we cannot risk a whole flotilla of Coalition vessels for the sakes of a few crewmembers. Take lots, make selections'¦ what ever must be done to ease your collective consciences. We are, will, and must do our duty!'
Petko raised his voice, "Comrade Khan this is unacceptable! Killing our own people, don't be a puppet of those things there is a better way I know it !! .
Khan's voice never rose, it stayed at the same, cold, and determined level. 'Comrades, aboard each of your ship is a Commissariat operative charged with ensuring the will of the people. Each GRU agent is armed'¦ They have orders to shoot any ship commander that fails to comply with this directive. That includes you, Comrade Dimitrov, or has that young woman, Winters, shaken your loyalty to the people?'
Petko got angry "How dare you !! How do you even know abut Winters?'
Khan's reply was ruthless, 'His Watchful Eye sees all!'
Petko's shocked Response did nothing to shake the Commissars resolve, "But most of my crew members are still young and live is in front of them!!'
Khan's voice went cold, 'follow your orders, Commanders, or I will have them carried out on your behalf. I will not loose an entire fleet because you cannot follow simple instructions!' Khan cut the transmission.
Razin's head swung back and forth, standing with his hands atop his head where a group of marines were keeping him and Captain Levesque covered under Khan's direct orders.
"The safety of this ship, and the concerns of the People's Government take priority," Khan stated, motioning to the two men under guard. "And unless someone has a better idea on how we can buy more time, I would like to hear it..."
"You are going to kill them," Razin insisted.
"Do you take me for a complete monster?" Khan rolled his eyes. "Honestly, have all of your brains leaked out of your ears? We have space suits aboard starships. Each with enough air to supply the crew long enough for us to find a counter to the alien swarm, and recover them. But this is why I am a commissar and you are mere fleet apes..." he tapped his forehead. "We actually think."
Razin felt his hands sink to his sides, "you're not just ordering them to die?"
Khan stared at Razin levelly. "Would you prefer it if I did? Captain Levesque, now that the little mutiny is rendered pointless, get a third of the crew rounded up, into eva gear and out the hatches, quick as you can now... and someone get me Captain Alvarez on the horn, I'd like to know what his brilliant idea is, because unless it's the miracle of prayer, I don't see how it's better than mine!"
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