Post by undatedabyss on Jan 15, 2022 11:34:43 GMT
The pirate lord Trayith was in the middle of overseeing the final preparations of her master plan. A master plan which might finally get her recognised more widely as a pirate than raiding these backwater systems ever would. One fell swoop to take out her sworn rivals - also pirates, as it happened - and the people who would be the first responders in a pirate attack in the area, and even capture a very powerful weapon in the process. Of course, the beauty of this plan was making both opposition parties fight each other, which was why one of her best had just been sent out in a ship to send a communique inviting people to help out the 'Trayith Sinarium Refining Corporation' with a pirate problem at one of their refineries. The informant she had embedded in her rival's band of pirates had finally paid off, she thought. So her best henchman had better not screw this up.
Not too many systems away, a different pirate lord was also overseeing the final preparations of his master plan. This plan was less complicated but the one named as Haleran didn't think the sinarium gun that he had nearly finished building - well, that his minions and the inhabitants of the nearest town had - needed much finesse and complex planning to get the point across. These might be backwater systems, although perhaps less so than Lassero where this 'borrowed' refinery was, but they would certainly find stocks of wealth to hand over if they were threatened with such a weapon. He had seen a message about a sinarium corporation wanting help - annoyingly they didn't broadcast their name, but he doubted some company that he had stolen a refinery from would have much firepower available to take back the refinery. If they did then at least the defences would get some use. Maybe his Lieutenants would be able to get back to the fighting they enjoyed rather than entertaining themselves with various attrocities against the local town and anyone trying to leave the local starport.
Meanwhile, Veruq sat in his usual ship in the bridge, having been dispatched in a ship stripped of all the usual piratical items and replaced with various scavenged bits from prior victims to make it look like a vessel operated by a corporation. Much to his surprise when Trayith gave her orders, his job wasn't to be a trap for people who responded to the beacon. Of course they would still die horribly later, but for now his job - and his life depended on his success pleasing both his superior and the unknowing opposition that much he was certain of - was to con various groups that would respond to his transmission into helping them clear out a small section of Lassero, not even a whole planet, of dangerous evil pirates who had stolen a refinery from a helpless refining concern in exchange for whatever form of wealth they preferred.
Above Lassero itself, sharing a name with the system for some reason, the approaching task force was met with some immediately apparent opposition. Longer ranged sensors detected pirate vessels at range, appearing to be a destroyer and a trio of frigates. These pirate warships however, were obviously nowhere close to the capabilities of the professional military vessels that would doubtless soon engage them. If there had been any orbital structures above this backwater planet, there were none now.
The KanshoCorp drone however, was in a position to see more. As it fell toward the spaceport, the most alarming sign was a much larger pirate vessel which appeared to be finishing a refuelling cycle and preparing to depart, possibly their flagship even. This particular flagship obviously had a lot more going for it than the other vessels, as the drone was immediately beset by its very much active point defence weapons. The scan data from the subtleties of the spaceport was fragmentary at best, but there were plenty of humanoid signatures and indication of somewhat hastily assembled barricades in places in the sensor logs. Fortunately, there was no apparent indication of militarised vehicles, at least not sat in the open.
Pirate Lord Haleran had in the interim finally achieved some semblance of order to his Lieutenants who now dispatched themselves to their positions. Haleran had also given orders his ships were not to wait for their usual commanders to get on board, they would have to fight with what they had. The report of the professional looking drone wreck told him he didn't want to be in space if that did in fact indicate a proper military force was coming to put a stop to his plans.
SPACEPORT
The Marines turned to pursue, but a barked order from Shikawa checked them. With the robots available, there was no point throwing away Imperial lives in breaching doors and narrow corridors.
As the machines advanced after the fleeing pirate and began to encounter resistance, the marines followed up behind them, picking off pirates whenever they exposed themselves to attack the robots, sidestepping the occasional wreckage of their automated allies. One of the tiny Jade drones had been knocked out, shredded by shrapnel, but the other two remained acting as pickets for the Imperials, ensuring that no nasty surprises got past the robots ahead to further deplete their shrunken platoon.
In space
The Artifician frigate replied simply, 'Ermas' voice coming through.
"The spaceport and a crashed pirate cruiser are both secured, though we have troubling reports from the town. The refinery itself is contested, but going well."
Not too many systems away, a different pirate lord was also overseeing the final preparations of his master plan. This plan was less complicated but the one named as Haleran didn't think the sinarium gun that he had nearly finished building - well, that his minions and the inhabitants of the nearest town had - needed much finesse and complex planning to get the point across. These might be backwater systems, although perhaps less so than Lassero where this 'borrowed' refinery was, but they would certainly find stocks of wealth to hand over if they were threatened with such a weapon. He had seen a message about a sinarium corporation wanting help - annoyingly they didn't broadcast their name, but he doubted some company that he had stolen a refinery from would have much firepower available to take back the refinery. If they did then at least the defences would get some use. Maybe his Lieutenants would be able to get back to the fighting they enjoyed rather than entertaining themselves with various attrocities against the local town and anyone trying to leave the local starport.
Meanwhile, Veruq sat in his usual ship in the bridge, having been dispatched in a ship stripped of all the usual piratical items and replaced with various scavenged bits from prior victims to make it look like a vessel operated by a corporation. Much to his surprise when Trayith gave her orders, his job wasn't to be a trap for people who responded to the beacon. Of course they would still die horribly later, but for now his job - and his life depended on his success pleasing both his superior and the unknowing opposition that much he was certain of - was to con various groups that would respond to his transmission into helping them clear out a small section of Lassero, not even a whole planet, of dangerous evil pirates who had stolen a refinery from a helpless refining concern in exchange for whatever form of wealth they preferred.
And so, across various channels for communication including the ancnet, a message circulated: We are the Trayith Sinarium Refining Corporation. One of our refineries has been captured by pirates as we are requesting immediate military aid, we think they're trying to weaponize it. Those willing to lend help we request a meeting with at the coordinates attached to this message to discuss terms, please help us urgently, we cannot deal with them ourselves. The bait was set now, and Veruq waited for responders to arrive so he could inform them of what really was a legitimate pirate problem, even if it was only to substitute it unwittingly with another one.
IJN Tower of Dusk
The Tower of Dusk was a Misericorde-class frigate, a small but dependable warship captained by the small but dependable Captain Steiner. As the ship drifted lazily along one of its patrol routes, an incoming transmission rudely pulled Steiner away from the game of hnefetafl he was playing with a junior ensign. The ensign looked relieved, as Steiner's men were closing like a vice around her lonely-looking king.
Steiner listened, his deep-set gray-blue eyes staring into the distance, his mouth working unconsciously and waggling his impressive salt-and-pepper beard. After the message completed, he thought for a second before sweeping up his cap, nodding to the ensign and then hurrying from the rec room. With a relieved sigh, the ensign swept the playing pieces back into their box, before anyone else could see just how few blue figures were left on the board.
Arriving at the bridge moments later, Tower was already waiting for him. The RAI, with his newfangled physical body, looked for all the world like a medieval knight in dark steel armour, his helmet shaped like a crenellated tower. Steiner was still not quite used to his ship having a physical body, but it did make talking to it....to him....easier. Two solid blue eyes peeped through the raised visor, which was technically part of his body.
"Good morning sir. Information on the situation is available at your console. It appears that pirates have occupied a Trayith Sinarium Refining Corporation facility at Lassero, a backwater system. The Trayith Corporation has placed a call for help."
-
Tower having read most of the available information to him anyway, Steiner barely glanced at his screen. As an IJN patrolling captain, he was afforded significant latitude in his command. The Kokubusho could have no objections to his deviating from his course to exterminate a nest of pirates. Although his ship was not large, he doubted that a small pirate enclave could match his firepower. If they were powerful enough to threaten him, then the IJN could not afford to leave them be either and so it was his duty to investigate and call in reinforcements.
Either way, his course seemed clear.
"Helm, put us about. Lay in co-ordinates for the rendezvous and jump when ready."
The ship, trailing the turquoise foam of gravatic sublight travel, swung its prow around and made a regular hyperspace jump, conserving its precious Slipgate generator for emergency use as the destination was not too far.
A short while later, sidling up to the target destination like someone stepping past a funhouse mirror, the Tower of Dusk emerged at the rendezvous point, its angular form waiting patiently in the blank void of space.
The Tower of Dusk was a Misericorde-class frigate, a small but dependable warship captained by the small but dependable Captain Steiner. As the ship drifted lazily along one of its patrol routes, an incoming transmission rudely pulled Steiner away from the game of hnefetafl he was playing with a junior ensign. The ensign looked relieved, as Steiner's men were closing like a vice around her lonely-looking king.
Steiner listened, his deep-set gray-blue eyes staring into the distance, his mouth working unconsciously and waggling his impressive salt-and-pepper beard. After the message completed, he thought for a second before sweeping up his cap, nodding to the ensign and then hurrying from the rec room. With a relieved sigh, the ensign swept the playing pieces back into their box, before anyone else could see just how few blue figures were left on the board.
Arriving at the bridge moments later, Tower was already waiting for him. The RAI, with his newfangled physical body, looked for all the world like a medieval knight in dark steel armour, his helmet shaped like a crenellated tower. Steiner was still not quite used to his ship having a physical body, but it did make talking to it....to him....easier. Two solid blue eyes peeped through the raised visor, which was technically part of his body.
"Good morning sir. Information on the situation is available at your console. It appears that pirates have occupied a Trayith Sinarium Refining Corporation facility at Lassero, a backwater system. The Trayith Corporation has placed a call for help."
-
Tower having read most of the available information to him anyway, Steiner barely glanced at his screen. As an IJN patrolling captain, he was afforded significant latitude in his command. The Kokubusho could have no objections to his deviating from his course to exterminate a nest of pirates. Although his ship was not large, he doubted that a small pirate enclave could match his firepower. If they were powerful enough to threaten him, then the IJN could not afford to leave them be either and so it was his duty to investigate and call in reinforcements.
Either way, his course seemed clear.
"Helm, put us about. Lay in co-ordinates for the rendezvous and jump when ready."
The ship, trailing the turquoise foam of gravatic sublight travel, swung its prow around and made a regular hyperspace jump, conserving its precious Slipgate generator for emergency use as the destination was not too far.
A short while later, sidling up to the target destination like someone stepping past a funhouse mirror, the Tower of Dusk emerged at the rendezvous point, its angular form waiting patiently in the blank void of space.
Soon after the message was recieved by an outlying mining fleet, there was a fleet being sent out to investigate - and possibly assist, if there was enough of worth in doing so. Only a few ships would be sent at first - reinforcements would depend on the risk involved.
A few ground troops left their training rooms and entered the ships - casual for now, but they would be ready when they arrived.
A few specialist troops - of a species only recently added to their forces - where also preparing. They where barely sentiant, but large and strong - this would be their first live field test, if all went well. Their huge bodies packed like sardines in a tin, they entered the specially made ship, which joined the two already there - both gunships. The fleet was assembled, and could depart - and depart it did. All three ships entered transit - and within a few jumps, would arrive at their destination.
Emerging from their FTL portals, the ships [two destroyers and a modified cruiser] scanned the area they had arrived in - noting the presence of another recent arrival. All factors must be taken into account if they are to suceed in this venture - and the testing of the new soldier units was paramount, at least according to current information.
A few ground troops left their training rooms and entered the ships - casual for now, but they would be ready when they arrived.
A few specialist troops - of a species only recently added to their forces - where also preparing. They where barely sentiant, but large and strong - this would be their first live field test, if all went well. Their huge bodies packed like sardines in a tin, they entered the specially made ship, which joined the two already there - both gunships. The fleet was assembled, and could depart - and depart it did. All three ships entered transit - and within a few jumps, would arrive at their destination.
Emerging from their FTL portals, the ships [two destroyers and a modified cruiser] scanned the area they had arrived in - noting the presence of another recent arrival. All factors must be taken into account if they are to suceed in this venture - and the testing of the new soldier units was paramount, at least according to current information.
The third arrival to the call was one not many expected to respond to what was by all accounts a humanitarian mission, if an almost certainly violent and bloody one.
"So why're we here?" one of the central ship's--a modified Ahnia-class frigate--crew asked as the task force flew through FTL. Normally, an entire battlegroup with a fair handful of cruisers would react what with the Artifician paranoia and dislike of equal numbers, but the FTL signature of such a group was blindingly obvious, and a degree of subtlety was wanted.
Not that the Artificia would normally respond at all.
"We've never had any dealings with this Trayith lot, what does it matter to us if their corporate security is shit?"
"It doesn't." the task force's commander started, a touch of venom dripping from his voice. "At least as far as domestic matters are concerned. But, it's a convenient opportunity to test our...newfangled equipment." he explained. "Speaking of which, how are our power trio doing?"
"Finishing suiting up now, sir, they'll be ready in a few minutes." an officer called.
"Good." he nodded. "Pull FTL whenever we're ready."
In short order, the task force resumed normality. Two Vohla class destroyers and the Ahnia frigate in a backwards-pointed V formation exited FTL, drifting calmly. Defences were ready but weapons were down, the trio of ship's sensors sweeping out and making note of the others.
"This is Task Force Zeta, responding to the Trayith Corporation's request for assistance." was the simple message sent out.
"So why're we here?" one of the central ship's--a modified Ahnia-class frigate--crew asked as the task force flew through FTL. Normally, an entire battlegroup with a fair handful of cruisers would react what with the Artifician paranoia and dislike of equal numbers, but the FTL signature of such a group was blindingly obvious, and a degree of subtlety was wanted.
Not that the Artificia would normally respond at all.
"We've never had any dealings with this Trayith lot, what does it matter to us if their corporate security is shit?"
"It doesn't." the task force's commander started, a touch of venom dripping from his voice. "At least as far as domestic matters are concerned. But, it's a convenient opportunity to test our...newfangled equipment." he explained. "Speaking of which, how are our power trio doing?"
"Finishing suiting up now, sir, they'll be ready in a few minutes." an officer called.
"Good." he nodded. "Pull FTL whenever we're ready."
In short order, the task force resumed normality. Two Vohla class destroyers and the Ahnia frigate in a backwards-pointed V formation exited FTL, drifting calmly. Defences were ready but weapons were down, the trio of ship's sensors sweeping out and making note of the others.
"This is Task Force Zeta, responding to the Trayith Corporation's request for assistance." was the simple message sent out.
Veruq smiled. The next part of the plan was to brief them, and that would require communication. Greetings, and thank you all for agreeing to engage in a transaction of mutual benefit with our Corporation. I am Veruq and I am an executive representative of the Trayith Sinarium Refining Corporation here to meet with you. I do apologise for the subpar state of my vessel but we didn't want to wait to act on this. I've had the boardroom prepared for you all, so please do come on in and we can talk over the terms of your temporary employment with us, as well as providing information you might need if we can. He then used internal comms to tell his minions - the "company employees" - to prepare to receive guests and escort them nicely to the meeting room that had been prepared.
The "boardroom" as it happened was actually quite well furnished, with a few sculptures, some plants and a few refreshments in the middle of an ornate glass table that looked like it belonged in a luxury mansion. It did belong in a luxury mansion. It was stolen from one. Veruq took his seat in a chair made from some form of exotic hide, while he gave the holographic projector he intended to use to brief the victims on the situation a good hard kick so it would stop flickering annoyingly. Now he just needed to wait for them to take their seats as well.
Meanwhile, Trayith was getting up close and personal with a brilliant stroke of luck held in a dark room in her own ship. She had captured the real owner of the refinery as he fled from the pirate attack and was now in the process of driving spikes into bits of his flesh to cause him some pain - it was a good motivator to cooperate and it was only the non-vital external organs that were being pierced for the time being unless he got some funny ideas, ones that wouldnt be problematic if his face was needed to be shown. The only reason he wasn't dead was in case they needed an actual executive to convince their victims. Nobody heard him screaming because he was also being suffocated by Trayith - being allowed to breathe just often enough he was kept alive. "Now, just cooperate with me if we need you to lie to a few people about your refinery and I'll let you leave the ship after we're done. Otherwise you'll get a few more spikes in you." Trayith was done torturing the man for now and so she went back to the bridge so she could monitor how Veruq was doing, being pleased upon seeing the notification all was going to plan so far.
The "boardroom" as it happened was actually quite well furnished, with a few sculptures, some plants and a few refreshments in the middle of an ornate glass table that looked like it belonged in a luxury mansion. It did belong in a luxury mansion. It was stolen from one. Veruq took his seat in a chair made from some form of exotic hide, while he gave the holographic projector he intended to use to brief the victims on the situation a good hard kick so it would stop flickering annoyingly. Now he just needed to wait for them to take their seats as well.
Meanwhile, Trayith was getting up close and personal with a brilliant stroke of luck held in a dark room in her own ship. She had captured the real owner of the refinery as he fled from the pirate attack and was now in the process of driving spikes into bits of his flesh to cause him some pain - it was a good motivator to cooperate and it was only the non-vital external organs that were being pierced for the time being unless he got some funny ideas, ones that wouldnt be problematic if his face was needed to be shown. The only reason he wasn't dead was in case they needed an actual executive to convince their victims. Nobody heard him screaming because he was also being suffocated by Trayith - being allowed to breathe just often enough he was kept alive. "Now, just cooperate with me if we need you to lie to a few people about your refinery and I'll let you leave the ship after we're done. Otherwise you'll get a few more spikes in you." Trayith was done torturing the man for now and so she went back to the bridge so she could monitor how Veruq was doing, being pleased upon seeing the notification all was going to plan so far.
Steiner and his two aides, one ensign and one sergeant of marines, stepped heavily from the flank of the shuttle to the hangar deck and followed their hosts to the "boardroom". Steiner was a short man with a thick, spade-shaped grey beard, a balding head and tiny grey eyes that glinted from the midst of a mass of crow's feet and wrinkles. His lower jaw jutted as if he was permanently weighing something up in his mind, and he wore the old style naval uniform of a black jinbaori overcoat over crisp white fatigues, a black forage cap on his head. Rumour had it a change was in the works, part of Botas' reputed overhaul to the navy, but for now Steiner wore the conspicuously Ingenious styled uniform. His aide beside him was half a foot taller, with bright golden skin and bushy hair forced into a dutch braid, but she wore the same uniform. Behind them came an even taller figure, a blank visor above a snarling mempo mask. The horns of a GBUS-H armour system helmet added to the man's height, and his armour was a jet black, broken only by the silver of his horns and visor. He was a sergeant of the 77th Marine Regiment, known as the Midnights, an elite regiment that had earned its name after the Battle of Midnight's Tomb on Xcaret. All three carried what appeared to be swords at their hips, and the marine also carried a black spear with a white crystalline leaf blade at its head.
Entering the boardroom, they offered shallow bows to Veruq, before the captain took a seat at the elegant table. As a Neusattran his tastes were not offended by the sleek room, although he had no doubt Sergeant Hosugawa behind him was sneering behind his mask at the luxury aesthetic. Ensign Volund behind him was too absorbed in her holo to notice, still researching finer points of the Trayith Corporation.
"Good day. I am Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy," began Steiner, speaking as if by rote "and we are here to assist in anti-piracy efforts in the region."
Entering the boardroom, they offered shallow bows to Veruq, before the captain took a seat at the elegant table. As a Neusattran his tastes were not offended by the sleek room, although he had no doubt Sergeant Hosugawa behind him was sneering behind his mask at the luxury aesthetic. Ensign Volund behind him was too absorbed in her holo to notice, still researching finer points of the Trayith Corporation.
"Good day. I am Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy," began Steiner, speaking as if by rote "and we are here to assist in anti-piracy efforts in the region."
The next to arrive were the Artificia, though there was nothing to make this clear. Their ships bore no AUN IFFs or emblems, their hulls modified to change their silhouette and reduce their presence on sensors.
The two figures who stepped aboard, clad in armour which, while in reality was simply R4 AUPA, had its armour changed drastically to give it a clearly non-Artifician design, both carrying firearms of Carnaithian make. As they stepped into the room, one pulled out a disc-shaped device, tossing it into the air. The device hovered and lit up, projecting a hologram of the task force's CO. Namely, altering him to look human, with brown hair and hazel eyes. His utilitarian and simplistic uniform, grey with a hint of blue and white trim single-breasted jacket with a somewhat high collar, also carried no emblems, though it did bear a rank symbol. His forward-swept short hair and bold eyes was a starkly youthful, though no less stern contrast to Steiner, an observation he neither seemed to make or comment on.
The holographic man moved, taking a seat, though his motions indicated him moving a seat on his own end.
"Greetings. I am Commander Erma, Izaros Task Force Zeta." he started, giving a name and origin that both as equally false. Though his unit was, in fact, Task Force Zeta. "As he said," he gestured vaguely in Steiner's direction, "we are also here to assist in routing your pirate problem."
The two figures who stepped aboard, clad in armour which, while in reality was simply R4 AUPA, had its armour changed drastically to give it a clearly non-Artifician design, both carrying firearms of Carnaithian make. As they stepped into the room, one pulled out a disc-shaped device, tossing it into the air. The device hovered and lit up, projecting a hologram of the task force's CO. Namely, altering him to look human, with brown hair and hazel eyes. His utilitarian and simplistic uniform, grey with a hint of blue and white trim single-breasted jacket with a somewhat high collar, also carried no emblems, though it did bear a rank symbol. His forward-swept short hair and bold eyes was a starkly youthful, though no less stern contrast to Steiner, an observation he neither seemed to make or comment on.
The holographic man moved, taking a seat, though his motions indicated him moving a seat on his own end.
"Greetings. I am Commander Erma, Izaros Task Force Zeta." he started, giving a name and origin that both as equally false. Though his unit was, in fact, Task Force Zeta. "As he said," he gestured vaguely in Steiner's direction, "we are also here to assist in routing your pirate problem."
Stepping out of another newly arrived shuttle was an armoured soldier [armour styled to resemble a suit] - flanked by two smaller figures each about four feet in height. While the center one was human, the guards where scaled creatures, their glassy eyes shifting around the area they entered. They do not speak, merely shifting slightly behind him as the main figure steps forward. He removes his helm, showing his shiny head - and significant lack of eyebrows. He isnt visibly armed - although his guards have some weaponry. His eyes flicker similarly to his guards - never focusing on one thing for too long, attention shifting to anything of interest - or merely any distractions. A stiff smile is set on his face, as he steps into the boardroom. He nods to those currently in there, and strides up to the table.
"I am S-Commander Ingrin, and I heard you have some pirates as need dealing with" He has a smooth voice that defies his appearance. His eyes go from one person to another, asessing them.
"I am S-Commander Ingrin, and I heard you have some pirates as need dealing with" He has a smooth voice that defies his appearance. His eyes go from one person to another, asessing them.
Veruq welcomed them all in. "Well on behalf of the corporation I would like to thank you for coming to help with our problem. Now, I will tell you what we do know but I'm afraid we aren't a military recon team like you're used to and our information is a bit patchy at best so if you have any questions then please do ask those after I say my part. It would be rather inconvenient if I forgot something that might be important to however you plan on approaching this. Please do enjoy the refreshments provided."
With that the holoprojector projected an image above the table as Veruq clicked a remote, showing a planet. "So, as you know already some pirate group have taken over one of our refineries, on Lassero. Now it's a backwater system so we expect it's a fairly small pirate operation they have going there." He cleared his throat. "It is however a little more complex of a problem than just liberating a refinery alone. They appear to have left most of the rest of the planet alone, probably too sparsely populated that they'd have any use for it. They have however taken over not only the refinery, but the spaceport and a local town as well." The holomap zoomed in to show the section of the planet in question. "Now, the spaceport what they're using to ship in whatever materials they're using to modify the refinery into their... weapon of some kind. They'll have taken over the heavy duty cargo tracks connecting the spaceport to the refinery to ship it. Those tracks also branch into passenger lines for connecting the town to both of the other sites, its how the workforce is supposed to get to work when pirates haven't taken over. Obviously, the main thing we need you to do is clear the refinery but its no good leaving the pirates in position to retake it once you leave. Oh, and you can't use any heavy artillery on the refinery or the spaceport. We need them intact and the pirates have probably done enough damage already without you punching more holes into important things. Or the pirates trying to destroy them for that matter."
Veruq sipped some water from his cup. "If you have any questions, I'll give you a chance to ask them now. We might be able to provide more details on the sites if you need them, but we expect the pirates might not have left them in the state we have them recorded in."
With that the holoprojector projected an image above the table as Veruq clicked a remote, showing a planet. "So, as you know already some pirate group have taken over one of our refineries, on Lassero. Now it's a backwater system so we expect it's a fairly small pirate operation they have going there." He cleared his throat. "It is however a little more complex of a problem than just liberating a refinery alone. They appear to have left most of the rest of the planet alone, probably too sparsely populated that they'd have any use for it. They have however taken over not only the refinery, but the spaceport and a local town as well." The holomap zoomed in to show the section of the planet in question. "Now, the spaceport what they're using to ship in whatever materials they're using to modify the refinery into their... weapon of some kind. They'll have taken over the heavy duty cargo tracks connecting the spaceport to the refinery to ship it. Those tracks also branch into passenger lines for connecting the town to both of the other sites, its how the workforce is supposed to get to work when pirates haven't taken over. Obviously, the main thing we need you to do is clear the refinery but its no good leaving the pirates in position to retake it once you leave. Oh, and you can't use any heavy artillery on the refinery or the spaceport. We need them intact and the pirates have probably done enough damage already without you punching more holes into important things. Or the pirates trying to destroy them for that matter."
Veruq sipped some water from his cup. "If you have any questions, I'll give you a chance to ask them now. We might be able to provide more details on the sites if you need them, but we expect the pirates might not have left them in the state we have them recorded in."
Steiner said nothing, just working his jaw in thought as he listened, scrutinising the holoprojection. Behind him his Ensign tapped away furiously, while the Sergeant offered no reaction other than to turn his head slightly to watch the holoprojection.
Once it was done, Steiner twisted in his seat and glanced up at the sergeant, mumbling something in Ingenious. The sergeant simply nodded in agreement, hands still clasped firmly behind his back.
Steiner turned back to the others, leaning forwards on the desk. "I would recommend that we assault the town and spaceport first. This will cut off the pirates' escape routes and prevent them from receiving reinforcements. It also allows us to use the element of surprise to forestall any attempts by them to take civilian hostages. Once those two locations are secure, we can take our time dealing with the refinery. If they attempt to hold the refinery to ransom, they risk blowing themselves up."
He gestures to the marine behind him. "I have a platoon of the 77th Marine Regiment aboard, as well as shuttles and transorbital strike fighters for air support. I am willing to commit my forces to capturing the spaceport."
This was a faintly cynical offer on Steiner's part. Holding the spaceport would ensure that his forces could leave in a hurry in a worst-case scenario, and the likelihood of being responsible for civilian casualties was much lower. The Jade Empire had not been greatly active in Ancerious since its arrival, and other than the butchery at Dinok its only major action on the galactic scale had been the tragic misunderstanding at Sanrin which had left dozens of Imperials and UDS personnel dead. He did not want the next Ancnet newsreels to show Imperial marines standing over dead civilians...
Once it was done, Steiner twisted in his seat and glanced up at the sergeant, mumbling something in Ingenious. The sergeant simply nodded in agreement, hands still clasped firmly behind his back.
Steiner turned back to the others, leaning forwards on the desk. "I would recommend that we assault the town and spaceport first. This will cut off the pirates' escape routes and prevent them from receiving reinforcements. It also allows us to use the element of surprise to forestall any attempts by them to take civilian hostages. Once those two locations are secure, we can take our time dealing with the refinery. If they attempt to hold the refinery to ransom, they risk blowing themselves up."
He gestures to the marine behind him. "I have a platoon of the 77th Marine Regiment aboard, as well as shuttles and transorbital strike fighters for air support. I am willing to commit my forces to capturing the spaceport."
This was a faintly cynical offer on Steiner's part. Holding the spaceport would ensure that his forces could leave in a hurry in a worst-case scenario, and the likelihood of being responsible for civilian casualties was much lower. The Jade Empire had not been greatly active in Ancerious since its arrival, and other than the butchery at Dinok its only major action on the galactic scale had been the tragic misunderstanding at Sanrin which had left dozens of Imperials and UDS personnel dead. He did not want the next Ancnet newsreels to show Imperial marines standing over dead civilians...
"That's all well and good." 'Erma' started, a hand to his chin. "But I imagine a refinery is far easier to hold than a town or spaceport. They catch wind that you've stomped them out of both of those and they'll have time to prepare, dig in." he continued, gesturing to the site on the holographic map.
"Zeta doesn't have terribly much in the ways of ground forces, but what we do have may allow us to work with this. If you attack those two locales, it'll have them be prepared for a defence from there. While I can provide some robotic forces for this, I think my main force is better suited striking the refinery." he leaned back.
"Zeta will assist in taking the spaceport and the refinery. Your support in both will be appreciated." he finished, glancing at Steiner.
"Zeta doesn't have terribly much in the ways of ground forces, but what we do have may allow us to work with this. If you attack those two locales, it'll have them be prepared for a defence from there. While I can provide some robotic forces for this, I think my main force is better suited striking the refinery." he leaned back.
"Zeta will assist in taking the spaceport and the refinery. Your support in both will be appreciated." he finished, glancing at Steiner.
"Both the refinery and the spaceport we must avoid significant damage to - attacking another location without targeting both of those could risk issues with that goal" He indicated the town "We have enough men to deal with the town, and since neither of you-" He glances at the other two who had arrived to assist "-Seem particularly interested in the task we could take care of that. Hitting all three targets at the same time would be best, to prevent reinforcements or any of them escaping, in any case."
He looks back to the refinary and spaceport
"Since the town will likely be the least well defended, my stronger forces can assist with taking one of the other targets - the refinary would make the most sense, since the spaceport can be locked down by air support even if we cannot take it swiftly."
He looks back to the refinary and spaceport
"Since the town will likely be the least well defended, my stronger forces can assist with taking one of the other targets - the refinary would make the most sense, since the spaceport can be locked down by air support even if we cannot take it swiftly."
Steiner shrugged and leaned back. "Of course, if you feel we have enough forces to assault all three sites simultaneously, then it is your prerogative. I intend to smuggle a platoon to the surface to strike the spaceport, followed up by airstrikes and infantry drops to secure the facility. Our fighters will then have a local base from which to sortie if the situation becomes prolonged."
He made a smacking noise with his lips, the kind men of a certain age are prone to do, and drew in a harsh breath which hissed over his teeth, his lower jaw jutting out for a moment as he stretched his face. "That said, I will not commit Imperial infantry to the refinery until we have achieved total local air superiority and ensured the safety of the civilian population of the area. That refinery is a death trap and my General Sailing Instructions make it clear that bombarding it from range is the most prudent option, so rather than do that and upset our friends in the Trayith Corporation I will leave any assault on the refinery to your capable hands."
The length of this speech seemed to tire him, or perhaps annoy him, and he slumped back in his chair, his piece said, fishing in his pocket for a handful of nuts and dried fruits which he popped into his mouth and chewed noisily. Ensign Volund made a disgusted face for a mere second before regaining control of her expression. Clearly this was something that tormented her daily, but in the IJN a mere Ensign was not in a position to ask a Post Captain to kindly keep his mouth closed whilst eating...
He made a smacking noise with his lips, the kind men of a certain age are prone to do, and drew in a harsh breath which hissed over his teeth, his lower jaw jutting out for a moment as he stretched his face. "That said, I will not commit Imperial infantry to the refinery until we have achieved total local air superiority and ensured the safety of the civilian population of the area. That refinery is a death trap and my General Sailing Instructions make it clear that bombarding it from range is the most prudent option, so rather than do that and upset our friends in the Trayith Corporation I will leave any assault on the refinery to your capable hands."
The length of this speech seemed to tire him, or perhaps annoy him, and he slumped back in his chair, his piece said, fishing in his pocket for a handful of nuts and dried fruits which he popped into his mouth and chewed noisily. Ensign Volund made a disgusted face for a mere second before regaining control of her expression. Clearly this was something that tormented her daily, but in the IJN a mere Ensign was not in a position to ask a Post Captain to kindly keep his mouth closed whilst eating...
Veruq looked on at the group, furrowing his brow as he apparently tried to understand what they were planning. "I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice on how to approach it, but that doesn't matter as long as it happens. The corporation is more interested in the results than the methods. Though we would ask, Mr. Steiner, that you reserve airstrikes for any pirates finding themselves in the open rather than blowing up any parts of the sites or infrastructure connecting them. Pirates are stupid enough to rearrange important things into places they really shouldn't be, in my experience."
"Feel free to work out your strategies, but other than emphasising we like our infrastructure intact after it is liberated I am not sure I am of much help to you." Veruq paused for a moment. "Unless you have any questions or terms to negotiate, the sooner you get to deploying against those pirates, the better." A longer pause. "And, if possible, the civilians might appreciate some aid of a more humanitarian nature after the pirates have done who knows what to them, even if the corporation doesn't require it." Veruq did not feel right saying that, they of course wanted the civilians weak. But he hid his true feelings, because saying such a thing made the con appear more genuine.
"I do however, think you shouldn't expect free tickets for a landing, they might still have whatever ships brought them there sat around, maybe even landed at the spaceport. That's just speculation though, I doubt a few ramshackle pirate ships ought to concern a professional military either way. The planet doesn't have any of its own orbital defences, other than anything the pirates might have brought with them at least." Veruq sipped his water again and awaited either questions or more preparations from the assembled group.
"Feel free to work out your strategies, but other than emphasising we like our infrastructure intact after it is liberated I am not sure I am of much help to you." Veruq paused for a moment. "Unless you have any questions or terms to negotiate, the sooner you get to deploying against those pirates, the better." A longer pause. "And, if possible, the civilians might appreciate some aid of a more humanitarian nature after the pirates have done who knows what to them, even if the corporation doesn't require it." Veruq did not feel right saying that, they of course wanted the civilians weak. But he hid his true feelings, because saying such a thing made the con appear more genuine.
"I do however, think you shouldn't expect free tickets for a landing, they might still have whatever ships brought them there sat around, maybe even landed at the spaceport. That's just speculation though, I doubt a few ramshackle pirate ships ought to concern a professional military either way. The planet doesn't have any of its own orbital defences, other than anything the pirates might have brought with them at least." Veruq sipped his water again and awaited either questions or more preparations from the assembled group.
"Free entry is never expected." 'Erma' grunted, seeming disinterested in the prospect. "I'm sure our collective space forces should be enough to earn said entry. Well, unless we'd like to discuss gossip or minutiae that'll be forgotten or rendered pointless in minutes of attack, I think we would be best suited to getting back to our own ships and preparing ourselves. Every second we waste here is another second the pirates have." 'Erma' stated, standing up, pushing his own chair back in the process and causing his hologram to phase into the one in the room, the Marines making ready to collect the projector and make their leave. 'Erma' paused a slight moment, before speaking again.
"Shall we, then? We have pirates to be rid of."
"Shall we, then? We have pirates to be rid of."
Steiner nodded and also stood, offering a shallow bow and then leaving, followed by his nervous aide and then by the silent figure of his marine sergeant. Climbing into the shuttle's belly through the side doors, he slumped into a seat and waved for the shuttle to take off, lifting up with a buzzing roar of engine before turning to head back to the Tower of Dusk. Even as it glid across the gap, a faint wink of light betrayed the deployment of a KanshoCorp drone, which tumbled discretely into high orbit and began visual and IR scans of the spaceport to determine the size and capability of the enemy forces there, spurning any more intrusive methods to avoid warning the pirates they were under Imperial scrutiny.
Back aboard the Dusk was already a flurry of activity. Although his warship was an older model, it did boast a pair of Senjin Superiority Fighters alongside its two outdated Sai M2 Fighters, and these were being prepped for launch as a ground party of marines began to assemble next to a Soyokaze L3 gunship. Already Steiner was having second thoughts about the complexity of his plan. Perhaps a simple airstrike, followed closely by a troop landing, would work better, relying on surprise and technological superiority to carry the day. His frigate and fighters could remain on-station and use their powerful guns to stop any reinforcements, crush hardpoints and prevent enemy ships from taking off.
Back aboard the Dusk was already a flurry of activity. Although his warship was an older model, it did boast a pair of Senjin Superiority Fighters alongside its two outdated Sai M2 Fighters, and these were being prepped for launch as a ground party of marines began to assemble next to a Soyokaze L3 gunship. Already Steiner was having second thoughts about the complexity of his plan. Perhaps a simple airstrike, followed closely by a troop landing, would work better, relying on surprise and technological superiority to carry the day. His frigate and fighters could remain on-station and use their powerful guns to stop any reinforcements, crush hardpoints and prevent enemy ships from taking off.
As the trio of force leaders left Veruq's ship, he had a message passed to their respective ships. We are not equipped for combat, so please advise us once it is safe for our ship to join you, head office doesn't want to be kept waiting on a damage assessment. Good luck to you. Now he need only wait for things to unfold before he was needed again, so he allowed himself to relax a little, but never quite fully.
Lassero
Above Lassero itself, sharing a name with the system for some reason, the approaching task force was met with some immediately apparent opposition. Longer ranged sensors detected pirate vessels at range, appearing to be a destroyer and a trio of frigates. These pirate warships however, were obviously nowhere close to the capabilities of the professional military vessels that would doubtless soon engage them. If there had been any orbital structures above this backwater planet, there were none now.
The KanshoCorp drone however, was in a position to see more. As it fell toward the spaceport, the most alarming sign was a much larger pirate vessel which appeared to be finishing a refuelling cycle and preparing to depart, possibly their flagship even. This particular flagship obviously had a lot more going for it than the other vessels, as the drone was immediately beset by its very much active point defence weapons. The scan data from the subtleties of the spaceport was fragmentary at best, but there were plenty of humanoid signatures and indication of somewhat hastily assembled barricades in places in the sensor logs. Fortunately, there was no apparent indication of militarised vehicles, at least not sat in the open.
Pirate Lord Haleran had in the interim finally achieved some semblance of order to his Lieutenants who now dispatched themselves to their positions. Haleran had also given orders his ships were not to wait for their usual commanders to get on board, they would have to fight with what they had. The report of the professional looking drone wreck told him he didn't want to be in space if that did in fact indicate a proper military force was coming to put a stop to his plans.
The IJN Tower of Dusk blazed into the system almost on top of the planet, an emerald gate opening to spill forth the jagged prow of the older warship. To spinward of the Misericorde class frigate sat a destroyer and two other frigates, but of primary interest was the battlecruiser, at least twice the size of the Imperial warship, on the ground beneath them. As planned, his miniature strike force boosted out of the port side hangar, on the far side of the ship from the enemy, and began a long arcing loop towards the planet through the atmosphere. The two fighters and the gunship would stay out of range as they descended under cover of his bombardment, and then execute a rapid nape-of-earth approach to the spaceport. He knew that the other allied forces were arriving right behind him and was hoping they would be able to engage the destroyers and frigates, but that was a bridge best crossed when they got to it.
For now, he snapped a couple of revised orders to his bridge crew. Within moments, the two Arisaka Barrage Guns opened fire, followed immediately by the 912-LB Railguns aboard the spine of the ship. Bursts of supercritical fluid neon-helium, glaring red-orange in the darkness, screamed down into the atmosphere, whilst under the intense heat and speed the Hi-Grade 500 Railgun rounds deformed into dense clouds of fast-moving particulate, trailing an airburst behind them. Although the Tower of Dusk was moving, the continued volley was remarkably accurate, hammering towards the tail end of the cruiser in an attempt to disable or destroy its engine assemblies. Whilst the stream of flame and fire was pouring down, the torpedo systems at the waist of the ship began to gout brief jets of smoke, ejecting a half-dozen Micomitl ISM missiles. After briefly orienting, they received a final transmission from the BAT-1 Fire Control suite aboard the Tower and goosed their engines, before falling silent and tumbling through the atmosphere
Visible primarily through their heat emissions, which made them hard to distinguish amidst the flood of railgun and barrage gun fire, they would wait until they were less than a kilometre away from their target before reactivating their on-board guidance systems and accelerating to kill velocity, screaming towards the grounded cruiser to deliver their thorium-enhanced multi-stage fission-fusion warheads.
Aboard the Trashcan Soyokaze L3 Gunship
Sergeant Shikawa shifted in her seat, faintly in awe as she saw the vast display of orbital fire beating down through the atmosphere. Seeing the IJN at work from the ground was something completely different from watching a fleet action in space. It hit home just how large spaceships were, and how monumentally grand the powers they played with were. The shuttle rattled as it descended, the pilots occasionally muttering some functionary phrase to each other and their escort fighter pilots as they focused on making a safe descent. Around her were fourteen other marines of the 77th, in their black-and-silver armour, their mempo masks already attached and their visors blank. She knew the armour design was intentional, that the Jade Marine Corps encouraged its soldiers to think of themselves as unkillable beasts, not just scared men and women in suits. It kind of worked.
"Weapons check," she barked, as a warning light indicating turbulence flicked on overhead. Her marines worked the trigger assemblies and hafts of their Dragon Spears, checked the power levels on their hikatana, checked the gauges on their T800's and tested the action on their compound bows. For a couple of them it was their first real combat, and she had made sure to spread them evenly across the three squads. Her veterans would keep them safe, but for now the automatic drill was giving them something to focus on. No Marine felt as helpless as they did whilst making a transorbital landing, just hoping AA wouldn't blow them out of the sky...
For now, he snapped a couple of revised orders to his bridge crew. Within moments, the two Arisaka Barrage Guns opened fire, followed immediately by the 912-LB Railguns aboard the spine of the ship. Bursts of supercritical fluid neon-helium, glaring red-orange in the darkness, screamed down into the atmosphere, whilst under the intense heat and speed the Hi-Grade 500 Railgun rounds deformed into dense clouds of fast-moving particulate, trailing an airburst behind them. Although the Tower of Dusk was moving, the continued volley was remarkably accurate, hammering towards the tail end of the cruiser in an attempt to disable or destroy its engine assemblies. Whilst the stream of flame and fire was pouring down, the torpedo systems at the waist of the ship began to gout brief jets of smoke, ejecting a half-dozen Micomitl ISM missiles. After briefly orienting, they received a final transmission from the BAT-1 Fire Control suite aboard the Tower and goosed their engines, before falling silent and tumbling through the atmosphere
Visible primarily through their heat emissions, which made them hard to distinguish amidst the flood of railgun and barrage gun fire, they would wait until they were less than a kilometre away from their target before reactivating their on-board guidance systems and accelerating to kill velocity, screaming towards the grounded cruiser to deliver their thorium-enhanced multi-stage fission-fusion warheads.
Aboard the Trashcan Soyokaze L3 Gunship
Sergeant Shikawa shifted in her seat, faintly in awe as she saw the vast display of orbital fire beating down through the atmosphere. Seeing the IJN at work from the ground was something completely different from watching a fleet action in space. It hit home just how large spaceships were, and how monumentally grand the powers they played with were. The shuttle rattled as it descended, the pilots occasionally muttering some functionary phrase to each other and their escort fighter pilots as they focused on making a safe descent. Around her were fourteen other marines of the 77th, in their black-and-silver armour, their mempo masks already attached and their visors blank. She knew the armour design was intentional, that the Jade Marine Corps encouraged its soldiers to think of themselves as unkillable beasts, not just scared men and women in suits. It kind of worked.
"Weapons check," she barked, as a warning light indicating turbulence flicked on overhead. Her marines worked the trigger assemblies and hafts of their Dragon Spears, checked the power levels on their hikatana, checked the gauges on their T800's and tested the action on their compound bows. For a couple of them it was their first real combat, and she had made sure to spread them evenly across the three squads. Her veterans would keep them safe, but for now the automatic drill was giving them something to focus on. No Marine felt as helpless as they did whilst making a transorbital landing, just hoping AA wouldn't blow them out of the sky...
The Scythan ships gated in shortly after, two large Cruisers being the muscle of the fleet, supported by a solitery destroyer, and a multitude of Frigates.
The leftmost Cruiser sent out its scans Opposing ships identified, allies appear to be headed for the planet
EV11CB Engage, EV12CB focus on landing troops. All other ships assist EV11CB
One of the cruisers peeled off and approached the planet, leaving the others to engage the opposing ships. Foot soldiers, packed into shuttles like sardines in a can, checked their gear one last time. Mistakes end badly when performing high velocity landings.
On EV12CB, the Rotary guns where starting to spin - the longer range guns already shooting at the Destroyer and Frigates opposing them. The smaller ships formed up around it, ready for when they got within range.
Two of the frigates prepared their smaller Drones, ready for Boarding, Perhaps they could capture a vessel?
One of the soldiers wavered for a second, unconvinced of the wisdom of this action: They quickly squashed those thoughts down, however - such things oppose Unity.
The leftmost Cruiser sent out its scans Opposing ships identified, allies appear to be headed for the planet
EV11CB Engage, EV12CB focus on landing troops. All other ships assist EV11CB
One of the cruisers peeled off and approached the planet, leaving the others to engage the opposing ships. Foot soldiers, packed into shuttles like sardines in a can, checked their gear one last time. Mistakes end badly when performing high velocity landings.
On EV12CB, the Rotary guns where starting to spin - the longer range guns already shooting at the Destroyer and Frigates opposing them. The smaller ships formed up around it, ready for when they got within range.
Two of the frigates prepared their smaller Drones, ready for Boarding, Perhaps they could capture a vessel?
One of the soldiers wavered for a second, unconvinced of the wisdom of this action: They quickly squashed those thoughts down, however - such things oppose Unity.
The last to arrive were the Artifician ships, the destroyers forming ahead of the Ahnia frigate. It was key to their coordination, after all. The ingenious were sniping the cruiser, and the Scythan ships were engaging ahead of them. That left the orbiting fleet.
The destroyers opened with a volley of missiles, trails of fire behind them as they rapidly gained speed. Laser batteries joined them, lastly met by the flash of the Ahnia's spinal laser, aiming its firepower at the destroyer. Those were typically key to firepower in such a small force.
"Alright ladies." 'Erma' sighed, his hands meeting behind his back as he came to a halt near the trio of armoured figures. "I hope you were all getting tired of this ship's interior, because you're about to go sightseeing."
"We finally dropping?" the leader of the trio raised an eyebrow, shouldering the massive, strangely shaped greatsword.
"That you are. Listen up, we'll be over the planet soon." The man sighed slightly, gesturing to a large holographic projector as it lit up. "The planet, Lassero, houses an exotic particle refinery, with accommodating infrastructure and spaceport for transit, cargo and staff. The entire complex has recently been overtaken by pirates, and we have volunteered to sweep them out." He explained as a projection of the groundside complex appeared. "Of course, we all know why we're actually here."
"Course. Didn't fuel up these suits for nothing." the one carrying a gargantuan hammer grinned. 'Erma' smirked.
"Indeed. Fortunately, we did not come alone and we do not have to sweep this entire locale ourselves. Our temporary allies are dividing and attacking the town and spaceport. Our sensors tell me the Ingen force is currently reducing the spaceport to a crater, but that doesn't concern us. We are acting as a leading strike force against the refinery itself. Get in, stir up chaos, thin the herd and draw attention away from our allies moving in from outside. Understood?"
"Indeed." the third, her blue armour reflecting well the shape of a much longer, narrower blade nodded as she looked over her weapon. "How are we inserting?"
"Hard and fast, from above. Like you will be to them, our allies will most likely distract our...targets, giving you a clearer opening to get inside directly. We'll also be dropping our new robots to support our allies, so that should make them think thats all from us. Any questions?"
"Rules of engagement?"
"Preferably, no civilian casualties but thats command, not me. Otherwise, aim to kill. We want them purged."
"Understood."
"Alright team. Mount up and be ready to drop."
The destroyers opened with a volley of missiles, trails of fire behind them as they rapidly gained speed. Laser batteries joined them, lastly met by the flash of the Ahnia's spinal laser, aiming its firepower at the destroyer. Those were typically key to firepower in such a small force.
"Alright ladies." 'Erma' sighed, his hands meeting behind his back as he came to a halt near the trio of armoured figures. "I hope you were all getting tired of this ship's interior, because you're about to go sightseeing."
"We finally dropping?" the leader of the trio raised an eyebrow, shouldering the massive, strangely shaped greatsword.
"That you are. Listen up, we'll be over the planet soon." The man sighed slightly, gesturing to a large holographic projector as it lit up. "The planet, Lassero, houses an exotic particle refinery, with accommodating infrastructure and spaceport for transit, cargo and staff. The entire complex has recently been overtaken by pirates, and we have volunteered to sweep them out." He explained as a projection of the groundside complex appeared. "Of course, we all know why we're actually here."
"Course. Didn't fuel up these suits for nothing." the one carrying a gargantuan hammer grinned. 'Erma' smirked.
"Indeed. Fortunately, we did not come alone and we do not have to sweep this entire locale ourselves. Our temporary allies are dividing and attacking the town and spaceport. Our sensors tell me the Ingen force is currently reducing the spaceport to a crater, but that doesn't concern us. We are acting as a leading strike force against the refinery itself. Get in, stir up chaos, thin the herd and draw attention away from our allies moving in from outside. Understood?"
"Indeed." the third, her blue armour reflecting well the shape of a much longer, narrower blade nodded as she looked over her weapon. "How are we inserting?"
"Hard and fast, from above. Like you will be to them, our allies will most likely distract our...targets, giving you a clearer opening to get inside directly. We'll also be dropping our new robots to support our allies, so that should make them think thats all from us. Any questions?"
"Rules of engagement?"
"Preferably, no civilian casualties but thats command, not me. Otherwise, aim to kill. We want them purged."
"Understood."
"Alright team. Mount up and be ready to drop."
Lassero Orbit
The orbital fight was short lived with the pirates up against such overwhelming technological and numerical superiority, and evidently the pirates knew it was coming as their opposition progressively arrived in front of them. All they could do was die in the name of their pirate lord, and while they could not make the flame burn long, they could make it burn brightly, so that was exactly what they did. The destroyer and the frigates immediately began dumping everything they had with a myriad of weapons ranging from nuclear missiles to ancient cannons from bygone ages. They were quite obviously keeping nothing in reserve, firing all they had, even to the point of dumping random chunks of metal, spare parts and even munitions that did not reach the weapons systems into orbital trajectories if somewhat ineffectually. The Scythan cruisers, being the largest and most powerful targets, were the sole targets of everything the pirates could throw at them.
The incoming from those same enemies they had just targeted, along with the rest of the allied fire was by far overkill against the hopelessly outmatched pirates. First having rounds punch into them from the Scythan onslaught and then without time to even check what damage they had taken were promptly turned into a debris field from the laser fire of the Artificians destroying the internals that the Scythan fire had exposed. The only threat left in orbit from the pirate ships was colliding with their wreckage.
The Spaceport
The flagship had received its orders and the signatures of the drone recon had jump-started proceedings, but now the incoming ship signatures forced it to depart unprepared, not wanting to be destroyed on the ground. This was much to the chargrin of the civilian ground crew the pirates were forcing to refuel it along with their guards as the back end of its thruster array turned them to ash as it engaged full engine burn with them still present, taking off regardless of the damage it had caused. As it flew through the air, the quick actions of the Ingen destroyer proved it was too little, too late as the initial barrage cut through the still-charging shields and knocked out part of its main engines, causing it to suddenly veer off to the side. The nuclear weapons thusly were a near miss, though still causing it to smash into the ground, the visible side still glowing red-hot from the detonations and the distorted forms of external systems now wholly unusable.
The "Trashcan" Gunship observed the skies above the spaceport darken from the mushroom cloud now arcing over the spaceport, various sub buildings having been destroyed although the main facilities had managed to withstand the explosion. Incidentally, the lighting shining from the buildings cut out, evidently the power lines damaged by the nuclear shockwave. With the skies dim and the power out, the scene was lit only by the dim glow of the fuelling trucks that had been set alight by the thruster flare of the departing ship, with burning fuel coating part of the runway. Either those defending the building had nothing to shoot at the gunship with, or the scene before them had them otherwise preoccupied. The main building had most of its windows covered in wooden or sheet metal plates, though the glass was now shattered across the whole complex leaving them open completely where they were not covered. From the air, the doors to the main terminal appeared, along with the rest of the outsides, to have nobody defending them or any positions situated to pick off anyone trying to approach them. This was a cargo terminal most definitely, however, so there was no glass foyer or atrium to allow for easy vision inside, instead being some utilitarian sets of metal double doors. A few service doors as were also present as potential entry options, as well as a cargo shutter where the heavy duty trainlines ran inside.
The orbital fight was short lived with the pirates up against such overwhelming technological and numerical superiority, and evidently the pirates knew it was coming as their opposition progressively arrived in front of them. All they could do was die in the name of their pirate lord, and while they could not make the flame burn long, they could make it burn brightly, so that was exactly what they did. The destroyer and the frigates immediately began dumping everything they had with a myriad of weapons ranging from nuclear missiles to ancient cannons from bygone ages. They were quite obviously keeping nothing in reserve, firing all they had, even to the point of dumping random chunks of metal, spare parts and even munitions that did not reach the weapons systems into orbital trajectories if somewhat ineffectually. The Scythan cruisers, being the largest and most powerful targets, were the sole targets of everything the pirates could throw at them.
The incoming from those same enemies they had just targeted, along with the rest of the allied fire was by far overkill against the hopelessly outmatched pirates. First having rounds punch into them from the Scythan onslaught and then without time to even check what damage they had taken were promptly turned into a debris field from the laser fire of the Artificians destroying the internals that the Scythan fire had exposed. The only threat left in orbit from the pirate ships was colliding with their wreckage.
The Spaceport
The flagship had received its orders and the signatures of the drone recon had jump-started proceedings, but now the incoming ship signatures forced it to depart unprepared, not wanting to be destroyed on the ground. This was much to the chargrin of the civilian ground crew the pirates were forcing to refuel it along with their guards as the back end of its thruster array turned them to ash as it engaged full engine burn with them still present, taking off regardless of the damage it had caused. As it flew through the air, the quick actions of the Ingen destroyer proved it was too little, too late as the initial barrage cut through the still-charging shields and knocked out part of its main engines, causing it to suddenly veer off to the side. The nuclear weapons thusly were a near miss, though still causing it to smash into the ground, the visible side still glowing red-hot from the detonations and the distorted forms of external systems now wholly unusable.
The "Trashcan" Gunship observed the skies above the spaceport darken from the mushroom cloud now arcing over the spaceport, various sub buildings having been destroyed although the main facilities had managed to withstand the explosion. Incidentally, the lighting shining from the buildings cut out, evidently the power lines damaged by the nuclear shockwave. With the skies dim and the power out, the scene was lit only by the dim glow of the fuelling trucks that had been set alight by the thruster flare of the departing ship, with burning fuel coating part of the runway. Either those defending the building had nothing to shoot at the gunship with, or the scene before them had them otherwise preoccupied. The main building had most of its windows covered in wooden or sheet metal plates, though the glass was now shattered across the whole complex leaving them open completely where they were not covered. From the air, the doors to the main terminal appeared, along with the rest of the outsides, to have nobody defending them or any positions situated to pick off anyone trying to approach them. This was a cargo terminal most definitely, however, so there was no glass foyer or atrium to allow for easy vision inside, instead being some utilitarian sets of metal double doors. A few service doors as were also present as potential entry options, as well as a cargo shutter where the heavy duty trainlines ran inside.
Aboard the Trashcan
Sergeant Shikawa grinned at the surprised murmurs from some of her greener troops as they watched the vast spectacle of the pirate destroyer make an abortive launch attempt, ploughing into the ground and tearing a huge furrow through the planet's surface. She could see the ground shaking beneath them as plumes of dirt and debris were flung into the air.
"Sarge, should we go after the destroyer?" asked one of her troops. Shikawa shook her head. "Son that thing is two kilometres long, easy. You want to trudge around the inside of a giant ship tipped on its ass and halfway towards meltdown?"
The marine was silent, abashed, and the pilot flew them past the wrecked destroyer and towards the spaceport. Circling around to give the marines a good view of the spaceport, half-shattered and still smouldering from the emergency takeoff. Shikawa designated the cargo shutter and the gunship opened fire with its twin Type 30 guns, pulses of bright orange-red energy thudding into the shutter to blast it open. The pilot eased the ship down to the ground, keeping the prow towards the building to minimise exposure for the dismounting marines, and then gently lifted back up as the platoon spread out, warily approaching the now-open cargo shutter.
Shikawa did not say anything to her marines as they approached - she wanted them keen and on the lookout for an ambush, not distracted by chatter. Her AA-DS was in rifle mode, the retractable handguard and trigger assembly out and firmly in her grip, but in an instant she could twist and shove and have the weapon extended by a metre into a pure melee weapon. Either side of her her marines moved swiftly, with short, precise steps, towards the entrance...
IJN Tower of Dusk
Steiner betrayed no outward reaction as the pirates dumped a massive volley of munitions, one that was far more than his single destroyer could survive. His self-control was rewarded a moment later as an excited voice called out that the missiles and shots were not aiming at them, but were focusing on the much bigger Scythan ships. At this range there was little he could do to help, with none of the advanced defensive systems available to newer warships, and so he simply turned his ship prow-on and moved into geosynchronous orbit over the spaceport. Even as he watched, the pirate vessels sank or exploded one-by-one, gutted by the incoming fire from their allies, leaving the Tower of Dusk somewhat on the sidelines...
Sergeant Shikawa grinned at the surprised murmurs from some of her greener troops as they watched the vast spectacle of the pirate destroyer make an abortive launch attempt, ploughing into the ground and tearing a huge furrow through the planet's surface. She could see the ground shaking beneath them as plumes of dirt and debris were flung into the air.
"Sarge, should we go after the destroyer?" asked one of her troops. Shikawa shook her head. "Son that thing is two kilometres long, easy. You want to trudge around the inside of a giant ship tipped on its ass and halfway towards meltdown?"
The marine was silent, abashed, and the pilot flew them past the wrecked destroyer and towards the spaceport. Circling around to give the marines a good view of the spaceport, half-shattered and still smouldering from the emergency takeoff. Shikawa designated the cargo shutter and the gunship opened fire with its twin Type 30 guns, pulses of bright orange-red energy thudding into the shutter to blast it open. The pilot eased the ship down to the ground, keeping the prow towards the building to minimise exposure for the dismounting marines, and then gently lifted back up as the platoon spread out, warily approaching the now-open cargo shutter.
Shikawa did not say anything to her marines as they approached - she wanted them keen and on the lookout for an ambush, not distracted by chatter. Her AA-DS was in rifle mode, the retractable handguard and trigger assembly out and firmly in her grip, but in an instant she could twist and shove and have the weapon extended by a metre into a pure melee weapon. Either side of her her marines moved swiftly, with short, precise steps, towards the entrance...
IJN Tower of Dusk
Steiner betrayed no outward reaction as the pirates dumped a massive volley of munitions, one that was far more than his single destroyer could survive. His self-control was rewarded a moment later as an excited voice called out that the missiles and shots were not aiming at them, but were focusing on the much bigger Scythan ships. At this range there was little he could do to help, with none of the advanced defensive systems available to newer warships, and so he simply turned his ship prow-on and moved into geosynchronous orbit over the spaceport. Even as he watched, the pirate vessels sank or exploded one-by-one, gutted by the incoming fire from their allies, leaving the Tower of Dusk somewhat on the sidelines...
'Erma' smiled as he watched the brief battle unfold. The sheer volume of munitions the pirates threw at the Scythans was about the only reason he considered it a skirmish and not an execution, and even then he was being generous about it. His sensors remained calm, now aware that nothing was headed for his fleet as his own trio of ships tore into the pirates.
Regardless, their PD arrays lit up, the Ahnia's especially bright as laser and autocannon fire howled silently on the fire sent their allies' way. For good impressions, if nothing else.
"Orbital defences cleared, sir." one of the station officers reported, 'Erma' blinking slowly. "Debris field still poses something of a hazard."
"Good thing we aren't here to get atmospheric samples. Are the robots ready? And what's going on groundside? I know our...allies decided to drop ahead of everyone else."
"All Autonomous Heavy Infantry are prepped and ready for drop, sir. The Ingen ship's strike has disabled the pirate cruiser and forced it to crash, but we're still getting biometric returns from inside."
"Understood. Hot-drop a section into the cruiser to sweep it. The rest will drop into the spaceport, back up our allies. As for the debris field, we don't need to make a hole for all of us. One tube should do it."
"Yes sir. Sending orders. Destroyer A is preparing to launch."
"Launch at will."
And, true enough, one missile tube on the destroyer to the frigate's left opened and fired, a single missile racing off ahead. A moment passed. Another. A bright flash, intended to vapourise anything too close and shove away anything too far as the solitary missile detonated.
The frigate reacted immediately, the refitted drop bay launching, all tubes but three firing, the volley of objects--easily mistaken at first for missiles themselves--racing to follow through the cloud of dispersing superheated gas and evaporated bits of debris, sure to reach atmosphere in short order.
A section of them, five pods carrying three robots each, veered off as the force reached atmosphere, steering for the cruiser, targeting equipment pointing them at weakpoints in the crippled cruiser's hull. The robots inside carried frag launchers on their shoulders, a mix of recoilless beehive guns and concussion rifles on their backs, eschewing anti-tank weaponry for guns suited to sweeping ship corridors and popping any heavy powered armour. This strike force was to sweep for surviving crew, and any data that could be of use to them.
The rest, aimed to disperse among the spaceport, carried a more diverse array, ATGMs and airburst launchers with smokes on the shoulders. Their first objective was, of course, to sweep the spaceport and eliminate any armed targets before forming up and advancing on the town.
Regardless, their PD arrays lit up, the Ahnia's especially bright as laser and autocannon fire howled silently on the fire sent their allies' way. For good impressions, if nothing else.
"Orbital defences cleared, sir." one of the station officers reported, 'Erma' blinking slowly. "Debris field still poses something of a hazard."
"Good thing we aren't here to get atmospheric samples. Are the robots ready? And what's going on groundside? I know our...allies decided to drop ahead of everyone else."
"All Autonomous Heavy Infantry are prepped and ready for drop, sir. The Ingen ship's strike has disabled the pirate cruiser and forced it to crash, but we're still getting biometric returns from inside."
"Understood. Hot-drop a section into the cruiser to sweep it. The rest will drop into the spaceport, back up our allies. As for the debris field, we don't need to make a hole for all of us. One tube should do it."
"Yes sir. Sending orders. Destroyer A is preparing to launch."
"Launch at will."
And, true enough, one missile tube on the destroyer to the frigate's left opened and fired, a single missile racing off ahead. A moment passed. Another. A bright flash, intended to vapourise anything too close and shove away anything too far as the solitary missile detonated.
The frigate reacted immediately, the refitted drop bay launching, all tubes but three firing, the volley of objects--easily mistaken at first for missiles themselves--racing to follow through the cloud of dispersing superheated gas and evaporated bits of debris, sure to reach atmosphere in short order.
A section of them, five pods carrying three robots each, veered off as the force reached atmosphere, steering for the cruiser, targeting equipment pointing them at weakpoints in the crippled cruiser's hull. The robots inside carried frag launchers on their shoulders, a mix of recoilless beehive guns and concussion rifles on their backs, eschewing anti-tank weaponry for guns suited to sweeping ship corridors and popping any heavy powered armour. This strike force was to sweep for surviving crew, and any data that could be of use to them.
The rest, aimed to disperse among the spaceport, carried a more diverse array, ATGMs and airburst launchers with smokes on the shoulders. Their first objective was, of course, to sweep the spaceport and eliminate any armed targets before forming up and advancing on the town.
The Frigates tried to move behind EV11CB after firing, to avoid the worst of the incoming munitions. One of them was too slow, and the lightly armoured ship was Destroyed, crashing into the side of the Cruiser after having its engines damaged.
Fire and repair crews rushed to the site of the collision from the cruiser, although the crew of the frigate was already lost. Sealant was sprayed at the damage, to prevent pressure loss. Seconds after, the oncoming ammunitions hit the Cruiser itself.
A Mechanic was just checking up on the engines when this happened, and was knocked off his feet before watching a round hit the engine itself. His face twisted, and he dashed forward to try and limit damage - before another went right through his chest. He barely had time to ascess the damage before he slumped to the floor, dead. Others where redirected to take care of it, but the engine itself would likely be lost.
This was a scene repeating itself in many places across the ship, as the sections closest to the edge where struck. The weapons had already rotated to a safer spot, but even if most of the shots got blocked by the armoured sections, the sheer number of munitions fired their way meant that some damage was unavoidable.
Back at the planet, two groups of transport ships where launched from EV12CB. The first, by far the more numberous of the two groups, was headed for a point at the edge of the town - and the second for a short distance outside the Refinary itself.
Landing at one side of the town, troops poured out of the transports, forming organised squads that began to advance on the town itself. Behind them, ground based vehicles began to trundle forward, ready to support any squads that enountered opposition.
The second group landed at the refinary, and larger vehicles started to emerge, this time with very little ground support. They hung back, ready to support the Glowies when they began their assult.
Fire and repair crews rushed to the site of the collision from the cruiser, although the crew of the frigate was already lost. Sealant was sprayed at the damage, to prevent pressure loss. Seconds after, the oncoming ammunitions hit the Cruiser itself.
A Mechanic was just checking up on the engines when this happened, and was knocked off his feet before watching a round hit the engine itself. His face twisted, and he dashed forward to try and limit damage - before another went right through his chest. He barely had time to ascess the damage before he slumped to the floor, dead. Others where redirected to take care of it, but the engine itself would likely be lost.
This was a scene repeating itself in many places across the ship, as the sections closest to the edge where struck. The weapons had already rotated to a safer spot, but even if most of the shots got blocked by the armoured sections, the sheer number of munitions fired their way meant that some damage was unavoidable.
Back at the planet, two groups of transport ships where launched from EV12CB. The first, by far the more numberous of the two groups, was headed for a point at the edge of the town - and the second for a short distance outside the Refinary itself.
Landing at one side of the town, troops poured out of the transports, forming organised squads that began to advance on the town itself. Behind them, ground based vehicles began to trundle forward, ready to support any squads that enountered opposition.
The second group landed at the refinary, and larger vehicles started to emerge, this time with very little ground support. They hung back, ready to support the Glowies when they began their assult.
The Crashed Flagship
The crew of the ship that had very rapidly gone from fully functional to upside down at a slight tilt with more damage reports than fit on screens at once. Needless to say, they were still in the process of gathering themselves back together when they assumed that they were still being shot at as the Artifician robots piled in through various weak points in the armour, the occasional one shattering as it failed to get through the hull. There was complete chaos as the robotic units emerged, the mostly unarmed crew fleeing from them with the occasional cornered man decided, unwisely, to shoot at the robots with their sidearm.
It was quite obvious the power systems onboard were damaged, various automated blast doors moving in a stepped motion as power fluctuated. One moment there was a burst of high velocity plasma bolt fire from the ship's high tech internal defences, the next the turret was still and without power, before yet again it began shooting back. Quite evidently many sections had been abandoned or were outright inaccessible with the screams of trapped crew still within. Any command structure there was could not be found, most likely struggling to re-establish effective control over the crew and the situation.
The Spaceport
The IJN marines seemed to meet no resistance as they advanced into the chamber, in an area of low ground between the platforms either side of the train tracks. These would of course provide cover if anything game for them, but left them at somewhat of a disadvantage with their high sides restricting vision and mobility. Heavy duty unloading cranes, apparently stopped mid operation, loomed overhead, though the platforms themselves only had a few containers on them, along with overhead gantries and conveyor belts. The conveyors led out of the room, very much crawlspaces to a humanoid, while a solitary access corridor lead further into the main terminal building.
A humanoid emerged from the corridor, only to quickly dive for cover under the instruction of hushed voices. An ambush clearly was set as the IJN saw various gun barrels raising over pieces of cover and begin spraying fire at them with all manner of automatic assault rifles, machine guns and even some heavy machine guns from everywhere around the room with total abandon for crossfires into the enemies' own comrades. The artifician backup robots that had come in with them found themselves targeted by some anti-tank launchers. Fortunately the rail platforms provided ample cover from this barrage of lead. What they did not provide cover from were the falling containers from above, clearly intentionally filled with concrete and other heavy substances as ad hoc crushing implements while others still shattered and filled the track area with slicks of oil. "Light them the fuck up, get them, kill them all!" came cries from some unseen commander of this whole escapade. The darkness also meant that the accuracy of the attackers suffered, clearly only the heavy weapons troopers having some form of night vision devices.
The artifician robots coming in from other approaches were met with various responses, from those going into the other doors finding elaborate booby traps, mines, but no actual defenders, to those coming in straight through walls finding themselves very much ambushing an ambush, to those coming in vertically, who went through the roof, all the floors, and found themselves in the basement with a very bemused set of engineers who had just been distracted from trying to get backup electricity generators running.
The Town
Those advancing on the town found themselves under sniper fire as soon as they opened the doors of their transports, clearly aiming for anyone seeming to be in a command position. Many of the outer buildings seemed to not support any of this nor indeed did they look like they were defended at all. These snipers posed little threat to the closed down vehicles, and as they emerged and the initial surprise effect was lost the sniper fire quickly stopped. That said, the occasional armoured vehicle found itself being the target of an anti tank launcher taking a pot-shot at it before the user either quickly ditech their disposable launcher and disappeared or was summarily gunned down. Many of the main streets into the town had been barricaded with barbed wire and tank obstacles, leaving smaller streets open to advance immediately or needing the main roads to be opened before an advance could be made down them effectively.
The Refinery
The transports outside the refinery seemed to meet little opposition, though recon teams saw what lay ahead of them, the refinery itself heavily fortified with its perimeter fence now an imposing wall that had been barricaded, with various gun positions opening up on recon teams that got too close with everything from automatic rifles to anti-tank guns and ATGM launchers. Most notably, the cargo trains that had been mentioned could be heard in their stations, possibly not anticipating of such an attack, along with the sound of armoured vehicle engines within the compound. What lay within the perimeter wall other than those, was not yet known.
The crew of the ship that had very rapidly gone from fully functional to upside down at a slight tilt with more damage reports than fit on screens at once. Needless to say, they were still in the process of gathering themselves back together when they assumed that they were still being shot at as the Artifician robots piled in through various weak points in the armour, the occasional one shattering as it failed to get through the hull. There was complete chaos as the robotic units emerged, the mostly unarmed crew fleeing from them with the occasional cornered man decided, unwisely, to shoot at the robots with their sidearm.
It was quite obvious the power systems onboard were damaged, various automated blast doors moving in a stepped motion as power fluctuated. One moment there was a burst of high velocity plasma bolt fire from the ship's high tech internal defences, the next the turret was still and without power, before yet again it began shooting back. Quite evidently many sections had been abandoned or were outright inaccessible with the screams of trapped crew still within. Any command structure there was could not be found, most likely struggling to re-establish effective control over the crew and the situation.
The Spaceport
The IJN marines seemed to meet no resistance as they advanced into the chamber, in an area of low ground between the platforms either side of the train tracks. These would of course provide cover if anything game for them, but left them at somewhat of a disadvantage with their high sides restricting vision and mobility. Heavy duty unloading cranes, apparently stopped mid operation, loomed overhead, though the platforms themselves only had a few containers on them, along with overhead gantries and conveyor belts. The conveyors led out of the room, very much crawlspaces to a humanoid, while a solitary access corridor lead further into the main terminal building.
A humanoid emerged from the corridor, only to quickly dive for cover under the instruction of hushed voices. An ambush clearly was set as the IJN saw various gun barrels raising over pieces of cover and begin spraying fire at them with all manner of automatic assault rifles, machine guns and even some heavy machine guns from everywhere around the room with total abandon for crossfires into the enemies' own comrades. The artifician backup robots that had come in with them found themselves targeted by some anti-tank launchers. Fortunately the rail platforms provided ample cover from this barrage of lead. What they did not provide cover from were the falling containers from above, clearly intentionally filled with concrete and other heavy substances as ad hoc crushing implements while others still shattered and filled the track area with slicks of oil. "Light them the fuck up, get them, kill them all!" came cries from some unseen commander of this whole escapade. The darkness also meant that the accuracy of the attackers suffered, clearly only the heavy weapons troopers having some form of night vision devices.
The artifician robots coming in from other approaches were met with various responses, from those going into the other doors finding elaborate booby traps, mines, but no actual defenders, to those coming in straight through walls finding themselves very much ambushing an ambush, to those coming in vertically, who went through the roof, all the floors, and found themselves in the basement with a very bemused set of engineers who had just been distracted from trying to get backup electricity generators running.
The Town
Those advancing on the town found themselves under sniper fire as soon as they opened the doors of their transports, clearly aiming for anyone seeming to be in a command position. Many of the outer buildings seemed to not support any of this nor indeed did they look like they were defended at all. These snipers posed little threat to the closed down vehicles, and as they emerged and the initial surprise effect was lost the sniper fire quickly stopped. That said, the occasional armoured vehicle found itself being the target of an anti tank launcher taking a pot-shot at it before the user either quickly ditech their disposable launcher and disappeared or was summarily gunned down. Many of the main streets into the town had been barricaded with barbed wire and tank obstacles, leaving smaller streets open to advance immediately or needing the main roads to be opened before an advance could be made down them effectively.
The Refinery
The transports outside the refinery seemed to meet little opposition, though recon teams saw what lay ahead of them, the refinery itself heavily fortified with its perimeter fence now an imposing wall that had been barricaded, with various gun positions opening up on recon teams that got too close with everything from automatic rifles to anti-tank guns and ATGM launchers. Most notably, the cargo trains that had been mentioned could be heard in their stations, possibly not anticipating of such an attack, along with the sound of armoured vehicle engines within the compound. What lay within the perimeter wall other than those, was not yet known.
THE SPACEPORT
Shikawa watched as, in what seemed like slow-motion, a heavy barrel tipped over the side of a platform and dropped onto one of her veteran soldiers, Corporal Shinji. His head snapped back at a horrible angle as the barrel bore him to the ground with a crunch, rolling away and leaving his body twisted on the floor. A scream from her right sounded as a youngster, Private Gaisuke, was peppered with conventional arms, collapsing to the ground and writhing in agony.
They had been ambushed, gunfire ahead and improvised projectiles above, but Shikawa was old in war. She was already ordering her troops to pull back, out of the kill zone, one of her men dragging Gaisuke despite his protests. She and several of the marines further back provided covering fire, short bursts of argent red-orange NeHe s-fluid punching into defenders as they exposed themselves, the night-vision capabilities of the G-BUS Heavy armour systems proving their worth. After each burst she moved backwards, along with her troops, fully aware that the AA-42's lightshow munitions made sitting troops an easy target in this kind of night-fight.
Pulling back towards the entrance, some of her soldiers turned to climb up onto the platforms, veterans bullying younger troops into place to cover them, pulling order out of chaos and preventing a panic. Climbing onto the left-hand platform herself, she took a moment and searched for the heaviest guns, the booming MG's she could hear drowning out other noises. Even as she listened, an anguished cry came over the comms, another marine down, but Shikawa had painted the enemy positions for her troops and now the survivors were behind cover and fighting back in earnest, First Marine Hasegawa wrestling to give Gaisuke medical attention as he bled onto the concrete beneath them.
"Pellew, you're up!" Shikawa barked, and the hulking native of Visby on Neusattar hefted the T800 Graviton Lance on his shoulder. Crouching beside her, he squinted for a moment as his HUD confirmed the targets, and then depressed the trigger. From the ornate dragon's mouth that was the weapon's barrel, an invisible beam sprang forward, sweeping the enemy MG positions. The beam was composed of graviton particles, calculted to exert intangible pressures on any matter they contacted. All they were designed to do was to increase the elasticity of the bonds in the target particles by a mere 5%. That seemingly innocuous 5%, however, was deadly. Enough to warp machinery and render its moving parts inoperable, it also led to near-instant protein death when striking biological matter. Those unfortunate enough to get in its way would feel their limbs and organs shut down. If they were lucky, it would strike the heart or the brain and they would barely feel a thing. Those hit in the stomach, in the limbs or the lungs, would suffer a far crueller fate.
Pellew's lethal burst only lasted perhaps ten seconds before he ejected the Graviton Cell with a loud thunk and pneumatic hiss and began to reload. The machine could be 'belt-fed' when emplaced, but when carried like this it ate through ammunition like the ravenous dragon it was decorated to look like.
Shikawa watched as, in what seemed like slow-motion, a heavy barrel tipped over the side of a platform and dropped onto one of her veteran soldiers, Corporal Shinji. His head snapped back at a horrible angle as the barrel bore him to the ground with a crunch, rolling away and leaving his body twisted on the floor. A scream from her right sounded as a youngster, Private Gaisuke, was peppered with conventional arms, collapsing to the ground and writhing in agony.
They had been ambushed, gunfire ahead and improvised projectiles above, but Shikawa was old in war. She was already ordering her troops to pull back, out of the kill zone, one of her men dragging Gaisuke despite his protests. She and several of the marines further back provided covering fire, short bursts of argent red-orange NeHe s-fluid punching into defenders as they exposed themselves, the night-vision capabilities of the G-BUS Heavy armour systems proving their worth. After each burst she moved backwards, along with her troops, fully aware that the AA-42's lightshow munitions made sitting troops an easy target in this kind of night-fight.
Pulling back towards the entrance, some of her soldiers turned to climb up onto the platforms, veterans bullying younger troops into place to cover them, pulling order out of chaos and preventing a panic. Climbing onto the left-hand platform herself, she took a moment and searched for the heaviest guns, the booming MG's she could hear drowning out other noises. Even as she listened, an anguished cry came over the comms, another marine down, but Shikawa had painted the enemy positions for her troops and now the survivors were behind cover and fighting back in earnest, First Marine Hasegawa wrestling to give Gaisuke medical attention as he bled onto the concrete beneath them.
"Pellew, you're up!" Shikawa barked, and the hulking native of Visby on Neusattar hefted the T800 Graviton Lance on his shoulder. Crouching beside her, he squinted for a moment as his HUD confirmed the targets, and then depressed the trigger. From the ornate dragon's mouth that was the weapon's barrel, an invisible beam sprang forward, sweeping the enemy MG positions. The beam was composed of graviton particles, calculted to exert intangible pressures on any matter they contacted. All they were designed to do was to increase the elasticity of the bonds in the target particles by a mere 5%. That seemingly innocuous 5%, however, was deadly. Enough to warp machinery and render its moving parts inoperable, it also led to near-instant protein death when striking biological matter. Those unfortunate enough to get in its way would feel their limbs and organs shut down. If they were lucky, it would strike the heart or the brain and they would barely feel a thing. Those hit in the stomach, in the limbs or the lungs, would suffer a far crueller fate.
Pellew's lethal burst only lasted perhaps ten seconds before he ejected the Graviton Cell with a loud thunk and pneumatic hiss and began to reload. The machine could be 'belt-fed' when emplaced, but when carried like this it ate through ammunition like the ravenous dragon it was decorated to look like.
Town
Those lost to the sniper fire where quickly trodden underfoot, a few stopping to return fire upon those positions. Most of the men continued toward the town itself - and a few larger vehicles going ahead of them, seemingly intending to simply ram their way though the barricades. Men followed behind them, taking cover - and diving out of the way when they where taken down. A few troops entered each house as they passed them - although far more toward any that seems to be more threaghtening or showed signs of enemy occupation. It would do them no good to leave enemies at their backs.
Refinary
Outside the refinary, troops seemed to be taking up positions and establishing temporary defences. They where happy to provide supporting fire while the glowies mounted their attack - and soften up the enemy to reduce casuelties on their side.
Near the back of their setup, some larger weapons where being setup. They could use nothing to directly damage the refinary, but its defences... those where another story entirely.
Those lost to the sniper fire where quickly trodden underfoot, a few stopping to return fire upon those positions. Most of the men continued toward the town itself - and a few larger vehicles going ahead of them, seemingly intending to simply ram their way though the barricades. Men followed behind them, taking cover - and diving out of the way when they where taken down. A few troops entered each house as they passed them - although far more toward any that seems to be more threaghtening or showed signs of enemy occupation. It would do them no good to leave enemies at their backs.
Refinary
Outside the refinary, troops seemed to be taking up positions and establishing temporary defences. They where happy to provide supporting fire while the glowies mounted their attack - and soften up the enemy to reduce casuelties on their side.
Near the back of their setup, some larger weapons where being setup. They could use nothing to directly damage the refinary, but its defences... those where another story entirely.
The Artifician machines continued their uncaring stride; while those damaged would step back to recover, their allies moving to cover them, those killed were evidently instantly forgotten about, happily kicked out of the way by those coming up behind them, laying into their killers with just as ruthless use of firepower. They did not move to force surrender, or even particularly suppress anyone. Instead, the marching machines fought simply to eradicate their target, unit by unit, as swiftly and mercilessly as possible. The engineers the machines dropped from above met were ignored, the vaguely humanoid hulks of armour and gun striding off with crashing footfalls to find their enemy. The machines coming in through doors found significant trouble; though lighter-weight small arms scratched and scorched their armour, leaving it a tattered but unyielding mess, heavy machine guns and anti-armour weapons found greater purchase piercing the armour and rending joints.
Those who found themselves in the enemies' more vulnerable points made full of use of it, launching beehive shells and explosives into positions entrenched in entirely the wrong way, machine guns and secondary airburst volleys lighting up to mop up anyone lucky enough to survive, aiming to thin the ranks and draw attention away from their beleaguered allies.
Those aboard the cruiser acted much the same. Automatic defences were attacked with heavy machine gun fire, or their industrial-grade claws if they opened too close to one of their machines, intending to rip the guns out of their mounts, though those still able to lash out left the machines with deep pits of scorched black in their armour. The crew, regardless of if they threw down their weapons or had none to begin with, were met with the merciless unempathetic report of gunfire, the machines evidently intending on total eradication.
"Ey, boss, when we dropping?" came one of the trio through comms, aboard the frigate.
"Soon." 'Erma' answered, watching the feeds of the battle groundside. "Some of our allies have reached the refinery and our own forces are currently testing the acoustics of the spaceport, and with some luck those inside the spaceport will react appropriately."
"Damn, that quick huh?"
"Indeed. Make sure you are ready. This is no time to be slacking."
Those who found themselves in the enemies' more vulnerable points made full of use of it, launching beehive shells and explosives into positions entrenched in entirely the wrong way, machine guns and secondary airburst volleys lighting up to mop up anyone lucky enough to survive, aiming to thin the ranks and draw attention away from their beleaguered allies.
Those aboard the cruiser acted much the same. Automatic defences were attacked with heavy machine gun fire, or their industrial-grade claws if they opened too close to one of their machines, intending to rip the guns out of their mounts, though those still able to lash out left the machines with deep pits of scorched black in their armour. The crew, regardless of if they threw down their weapons or had none to begin with, were met with the merciless unempathetic report of gunfire, the machines evidently intending on total eradication.
"Ey, boss, when we dropping?" came one of the trio through comms, aboard the frigate.
"Soon." 'Erma' answered, watching the feeds of the battle groundside. "Some of our allies have reached the refinery and our own forces are currently testing the acoustics of the spaceport, and with some luck those inside the spaceport will react appropriately."
"Damn, that quick huh?"
"Indeed. Make sure you are ready. This is no time to be slacking."
The Crashed Flagship
The brutality of the robots showed the crew that they were not going to escape, occasional bands of more coordinated resistance were there for the robots, with gunfire echoing down corridors from various primitive firearms, with the occasional lucky pirate finding himself launching a LAW at the robot while his compatriots covered him. Obviously some particularly well motivated engineers were working on restoring power to the ship, with some pirates managing to get blast doors closed to if not block then at least slow the advance of the robots, but it was quite obvious that they were still scared, many only attempting to fight if they got hold of heavy weaponry.
The Spaceport
"The hell, gun's jammed? And why do I feel so ill?" One unlucky pirate cried out. "Fuck knows, just whack the heavy weapon already will you" The pirates' ire towards Pellew, unfortunately for him, was not only with words. One of the surviving pirates fired their anti-tank missile at his position, seeking to avenge the horrible suffering of the now very dead comrades that had been hit by the graviton weapon. Not that those who had been hit by other gunfire were doing well for themselves either, with many corpses littering the room, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air. It seemed then that the pirates intended to retreat, with many running for the corridor out of the room under the cover of those who were still willing to fight. The room lit up once more, not with lightshow munitions from the Ingenious Marines, but from some improvised Molotov cocktails, blanketing the area with thick smoke and flame as well as setting alight to various containers in the room. Fortunately, the building itself wasn't flammable, so despite the conflagration it didn't seem likely to do much more than burn itself out.
Those pirates fighting in other areas fared about as well, many being shredded by various munitions though the element of surprise quickly wore off for those still living, sending everything from literally thrown sidearms to LAW rockets and anti-material rifle shells at the robots who were devastating their positions. The occasional pirate coming to investigate all the gunfire from whatever command structure the pirates did have found themselves rapidly running back to their commanders with but a glimpse of the mess unfolding across the spaceport. The engineers looked on, bewildered by the robot that had just come through the roof and promptly ignored them, but they knew far better than to look for a weapon to take it out with, and carried on trying to kickstart the backup generators in the still darkened halls of the building.
The Town
The advancing vehicles made remarkable progress pushing into the barricades until the anti-tank mines started going off. These were clearly improvised devices that probably were not a significant threat to the hull of the heavy vehicles, but their tracks would not be so lucky. The narrow streets and slow movement of the vehicles made them easy targets for anti-tank teams firing more rockets at the vehicles, while snipers gunned for their optics. Many of the outer buildings the on-foot troops pushed through were relatively empty, with many ragged looking civilians sheltering in the buildings trying to avoid being in the crossfire. Some of the buildings were booby trapped - irrespective of whether they had civilians in or not - with various devices to slow progress. Those that showed enemy occupation dwindled, with each successive barrage of gunfire coming from further down the street. The enemy were obviously retreating further into the town, seemingly not wishing to fight for long once the Scythans arrived at a position in force. The side-effect was that anti-tank fire against the vehicle advance became more limited as those troops too also retreated or were mowed down.
The Refinery
The Scythans continued to be molested by the occasional sniper, but as they kept their distance little else seemed to take interest. Vehicle movement intensified, or at least the sounds of their engines did. But still no vehicles came out of the refinery gates to do anything. The sniper harassment might not be enough to cause casualties, but it was obviously intended to slow down the Scythans own' operations and setting up of heavy weapons, rather than force them away. In orbit, 'Erma' saw various feeds of the refinery, ones that he probably wouldn't like. The pirates had a fair contingent of vehicles now moving out of the various buildings they had been stored in, artillery and MLRS systems though in small numbers perhaps posing the biggest threat to 'Erma's' groundside allies. The most direct threat to his own force, however, was likely the vehicles positioned for air defence, with some quite obviously stolen missiles aimed towards the sky.
The brutality of the robots showed the crew that they were not going to escape, occasional bands of more coordinated resistance were there for the robots, with gunfire echoing down corridors from various primitive firearms, with the occasional lucky pirate finding himself launching a LAW at the robot while his compatriots covered him. Obviously some particularly well motivated engineers were working on restoring power to the ship, with some pirates managing to get blast doors closed to if not block then at least slow the advance of the robots, but it was quite obvious that they were still scared, many only attempting to fight if they got hold of heavy weaponry.
The Spaceport
"The hell, gun's jammed? And why do I feel so ill?" One unlucky pirate cried out. "Fuck knows, just whack the heavy weapon already will you" The pirates' ire towards Pellew, unfortunately for him, was not only with words. One of the surviving pirates fired their anti-tank missile at his position, seeking to avenge the horrible suffering of the now very dead comrades that had been hit by the graviton weapon. Not that those who had been hit by other gunfire were doing well for themselves either, with many corpses littering the room, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air. It seemed then that the pirates intended to retreat, with many running for the corridor out of the room under the cover of those who were still willing to fight. The room lit up once more, not with lightshow munitions from the Ingenious Marines, but from some improvised Molotov cocktails, blanketing the area with thick smoke and flame as well as setting alight to various containers in the room. Fortunately, the building itself wasn't flammable, so despite the conflagration it didn't seem likely to do much more than burn itself out.
Those pirates fighting in other areas fared about as well, many being shredded by various munitions though the element of surprise quickly wore off for those still living, sending everything from literally thrown sidearms to LAW rockets and anti-material rifle shells at the robots who were devastating their positions. The occasional pirate coming to investigate all the gunfire from whatever command structure the pirates did have found themselves rapidly running back to their commanders with but a glimpse of the mess unfolding across the spaceport. The engineers looked on, bewildered by the robot that had just come through the roof and promptly ignored them, but they knew far better than to look for a weapon to take it out with, and carried on trying to kickstart the backup generators in the still darkened halls of the building.
The Town
The advancing vehicles made remarkable progress pushing into the barricades until the anti-tank mines started going off. These were clearly improvised devices that probably were not a significant threat to the hull of the heavy vehicles, but their tracks would not be so lucky. The narrow streets and slow movement of the vehicles made them easy targets for anti-tank teams firing more rockets at the vehicles, while snipers gunned for their optics. Many of the outer buildings the on-foot troops pushed through were relatively empty, with many ragged looking civilians sheltering in the buildings trying to avoid being in the crossfire. Some of the buildings were booby trapped - irrespective of whether they had civilians in or not - with various devices to slow progress. Those that showed enemy occupation dwindled, with each successive barrage of gunfire coming from further down the street. The enemy were obviously retreating further into the town, seemingly not wishing to fight for long once the Scythans arrived at a position in force. The side-effect was that anti-tank fire against the vehicle advance became more limited as those troops too also retreated or were mowed down.
The Refinery
The Scythans continued to be molested by the occasional sniper, but as they kept their distance little else seemed to take interest. Vehicle movement intensified, or at least the sounds of their engines did. But still no vehicles came out of the refinery gates to do anything. The sniper harassment might not be enough to cause casualties, but it was obviously intended to slow down the Scythans own' operations and setting up of heavy weapons, rather than force them away. In orbit, 'Erma' saw various feeds of the refinery, ones that he probably wouldn't like. The pirates had a fair contingent of vehicles now moving out of the various buildings they had been stored in, artillery and MLRS systems though in small numbers perhaps posing the biggest threat to 'Erma's' groundside allies. The most direct threat to his own force, however, was likely the vehicles positioned for air defence, with some quite obviously stolen missiles aimed towards the sky.
Spaceport interior
Shikawa watched with satisfaction as the heavy guns fell silent, the pirates beginning to fall back behind the cover of firebombs that choked the hallway with smoke and heat. She was glad they were wearing G-BUS Heavy variants, the cocky-looking tanuki masks of their helmets providing respiratory protection, although they would still have to steer clear of the actual flames.
Pellew was levelling his reloaded lance at the congested corridor when Shikawa spotted the spark and smoke of some kind of anti-tank weapon being fired at them. She grabbed Pellew and yanked him down behind the container they were using for cover with just a moment to spare. The explosion tore the container open, tumbling pieces backwards and hurling them to the ground, but when Shikawa found her feet she saw that Pellew was fine, if battered. He had missed his chance to mow down the enemy as they crowded down their escape route though, the marines having to settle for the last few defenders who fired desperately through the smoke and flames.
Shikawa took stock. Gaisuke had bled out, hit in too many places at once, and Shinji was confirmed KIA. Another youngster was WIA, a leg injury that would probably heal but that left her unable to carry on the mission. "Can you walk?" the sergeant barked, snapping the dazed marine to attention. She propped herself up on her spear and nodded gingerly. "Good. Get outside, Trashcan will pick you up."
Behind her Shikawa could hear the whine of engines as the gunship hovered low enough to scoop up the injured marine, whilst ahead of her the last few pirates struggled against the smoke, the heat and the punishing gunfire of her troops.
"Alethea, put a hole in that wall for me, now!" she barked, lasering the wall to the left of the corridor entrance. No way she was going to lead her troops into a second ambush, but nor could she remain among the mounting flames, so instead her marines readied themselves as the slender Mediolanii stepped forwards, nocking an arrow to her compound bow and loosing in one swift motion. The flight was so short the Kasen munition didn't even have time to ignite its rocket, the razor-sharp vitredeur arrowhead digging into the concrete wall for a split moment before the warhead ignited, a tustrite high explosive compound ripping into the concrete wall.
Waiting a moment to ensure the remains of the wall weren't going to collapse on them as they passed through, Shikawa led her troops through swiftly, guns raised, scanning for threats and cover and ready to mow down anyone in their path. Clad in black armour, with silver-white horns and a snarling mask stylised to look like a raccoon-dog, the marines looked like bizarre beasts bursting through the dust and chaos as if erupting from the ground itself.
Shikawa watched with satisfaction as the heavy guns fell silent, the pirates beginning to fall back behind the cover of firebombs that choked the hallway with smoke and heat. She was glad they were wearing G-BUS Heavy variants, the cocky-looking tanuki masks of their helmets providing respiratory protection, although they would still have to steer clear of the actual flames.
Pellew was levelling his reloaded lance at the congested corridor when Shikawa spotted the spark and smoke of some kind of anti-tank weapon being fired at them. She grabbed Pellew and yanked him down behind the container they were using for cover with just a moment to spare. The explosion tore the container open, tumbling pieces backwards and hurling them to the ground, but when Shikawa found her feet she saw that Pellew was fine, if battered. He had missed his chance to mow down the enemy as they crowded down their escape route though, the marines having to settle for the last few defenders who fired desperately through the smoke and flames.
Shikawa took stock. Gaisuke had bled out, hit in too many places at once, and Shinji was confirmed KIA. Another youngster was WIA, a leg injury that would probably heal but that left her unable to carry on the mission. "Can you walk?" the sergeant barked, snapping the dazed marine to attention. She propped herself up on her spear and nodded gingerly. "Good. Get outside, Trashcan will pick you up."
Behind her Shikawa could hear the whine of engines as the gunship hovered low enough to scoop up the injured marine, whilst ahead of her the last few pirates struggled against the smoke, the heat and the punishing gunfire of her troops.
"Alethea, put a hole in that wall for me, now!" she barked, lasering the wall to the left of the corridor entrance. No way she was going to lead her troops into a second ambush, but nor could she remain among the mounting flames, so instead her marines readied themselves as the slender Mediolanii stepped forwards, nocking an arrow to her compound bow and loosing in one swift motion. The flight was so short the Kasen munition didn't even have time to ignite its rocket, the razor-sharp vitredeur arrowhead digging into the concrete wall for a split moment before the warhead ignited, a tustrite high explosive compound ripping into the concrete wall.
Waiting a moment to ensure the remains of the wall weren't going to collapse on them as they passed through, Shikawa led her troops through swiftly, guns raised, scanning for threats and cover and ready to mow down anyone in their path. Clad in black armour, with silver-white horns and a snarling mask stylised to look like a raccoon-dog, the marines looked like bizarre beasts bursting through the dust and chaos as if erupting from the ground itself.
The Town
After the first few AT mines went off, and with the subsequant loss of those valuble assets, they began sending men in front of the tanks - scanning for mines. Many of them where blown up, or shot by opposing men, but they where far less valuble than the heavy vehicles. With this, although taking higher losses, the Scythan forces could continue their advance into the town.
Outside the town itself, a few larger artillery vehicles finished setting up, and began lauching shells at the defences near the centre of the town, to soften them up for the main advance. Foot soldiers lined up outside, setting up more defenseve positions to negate the possibility of a sucessful counter atack - from either within the town, or without.
The Refinary
The heavy weapons at the back of the Scythan defensive emplacements had fully set up now, and they began launching missiles and other asorted weapons at the opposing vehicles and defences - being very careful to avoid the refinary itself. They focused their fire on the AA defences, to allow their allies to mount their assult.
Scythan troops in front of those setup defences, hunch down behind cover. More troops left the transports - these ones joined by vehicle support, preparing for an assult.
After the first few AT mines went off, and with the subsequant loss of those valuble assets, they began sending men in front of the tanks - scanning for mines. Many of them where blown up, or shot by opposing men, but they where far less valuble than the heavy vehicles. With this, although taking higher losses, the Scythan forces could continue their advance into the town.
Outside the town itself, a few larger artillery vehicles finished setting up, and began lauching shells at the defences near the centre of the town, to soften them up for the main advance. Foot soldiers lined up outside, setting up more defenseve positions to negate the possibility of a sucessful counter atack - from either within the town, or without.
The Refinary
The heavy weapons at the back of the Scythan defensive emplacements had fully set up now, and they began launching missiles and other asorted weapons at the opposing vehicles and defences - being very careful to avoid the refinary itself. They focused their fire on the AA defences, to allow their allies to mount their assult.
Scythan troops in front of those setup defences, hunch down behind cover. More troops left the transports - these ones joined by vehicle support, preparing for an assult.
The Artifician machines continued their assault, though now they showed elements of awareness of damage and their slowly mounting losses, those more significantly so falling back to let their more intact allies to the fore. In addition they had noted the range of effectiveness of enemy fire was noted, those with small arms incapable of doing more than scratching the metal and ceramic virtually ignored until last, those with heavy weapons prioritised; a rocket wasn't wasted if the weapon was neutralised, even if only one man was killed. After all, they had machine guns and their claws for the rest. So unrelenting and ruthless was their assault, that the Jade troops could hear it now, the cacophonous echo of heavy machine guns and airburst fire.
The machines in the ship likewise continued, however now they merged into two separate groups, using their combined firepower to bury any resistance in fire. One pressed on, firing on anyone who stepped into their line of sight but ignoring anything else; hiding engineers and crew were now seemingly spared, the unsubtle machines pressing on in their hunt for the CIC. The other instead slowed down, hunting for the ship's main reactor, or what might've been left of it.
High above, 'Erma' rubbed his chin. The enemy were now reacting, for sure, and it seemed their Scythan allies were drawing the attention of the pirates guarding the refinery. Everything except their air defence, more or less, though he noted Scythan artillery making a...gap, in that.
"Let's make use of that distraction." he stated abruptly. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes sir, all tubes loaded and ready."
"Good. It's time to drop."
In moments, the order was sent, lights in the drop bay--and the drop pods that were closer to missiles in style--turning green.
"Drop order away, stand by for hot drop! Deploying in three, two, one! Drop, dro--!" came through, the sound blotted to the three soldiers in them as they screamed out in the cold expanse of space.
Initial boosters fired, burning their fuel in a reaction intended for maximum acceleration with little regard for efficiency, disengaging once they were dry. Nine missiles. Only three were necessary. The rest only carried bonuses if they made it down. It wasn't long before they hit atmosphere.
Once they did, their secondary engines fired, these ones built to more conventional standards mixing efficiency and power, driving them hard into atmosphere, the trio riding in the most important three slowing their breathing--or their approximation--as the rumbling mounted, their readouts only somewhat helpful for telling them what the hell was going on outside.
Plasma shells formed, air superheated beyond ignition by the pressure of its inability to get out of their flight path, blinding any radar pointed their way. Smaller, sleeker sabot-like spikes were ejected, burning their way ahead and cutting past the screaming fireball moving to pass over the Scythans and into the refinery, ejecting chaff as they went as long range ASMs raced past even them, the plasma wave fading as they closed, replaced by IR dazzlers flashing.
"Be advised," came over allied comms. "Friendly assets moving into refinery perimeter. Do not engage."
"Well." the leader of the trio muttered over the rumbling of her craft. "That's a blunt way to put it."
The machines in the ship likewise continued, however now they merged into two separate groups, using their combined firepower to bury any resistance in fire. One pressed on, firing on anyone who stepped into their line of sight but ignoring anything else; hiding engineers and crew were now seemingly spared, the unsubtle machines pressing on in their hunt for the CIC. The other instead slowed down, hunting for the ship's main reactor, or what might've been left of it.
High above, 'Erma' rubbed his chin. The enemy were now reacting, for sure, and it seemed their Scythan allies were drawing the attention of the pirates guarding the refinery. Everything except their air defence, more or less, though he noted Scythan artillery making a...gap, in that.
"Let's make use of that distraction." he stated abruptly. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes sir, all tubes loaded and ready."
"Good. It's time to drop."
In moments, the order was sent, lights in the drop bay--and the drop pods that were closer to missiles in style--turning green.
"Drop order away, stand by for hot drop! Deploying in three, two, one! Drop, dro--!" came through, the sound blotted to the three soldiers in them as they screamed out in the cold expanse of space.
Initial boosters fired, burning their fuel in a reaction intended for maximum acceleration with little regard for efficiency, disengaging once they were dry. Nine missiles. Only three were necessary. The rest only carried bonuses if they made it down. It wasn't long before they hit atmosphere.
Once they did, their secondary engines fired, these ones built to more conventional standards mixing efficiency and power, driving them hard into atmosphere, the trio riding in the most important three slowing their breathing--or their approximation--as the rumbling mounted, their readouts only somewhat helpful for telling them what the hell was going on outside.
Plasma shells formed, air superheated beyond ignition by the pressure of its inability to get out of their flight path, blinding any radar pointed their way. Smaller, sleeker sabot-like spikes were ejected, burning their way ahead and cutting past the screaming fireball moving to pass over the Scythans and into the refinery, ejecting chaff as they went as long range ASMs raced past even them, the plasma wave fading as they closed, replaced by IR dazzlers flashing.
"Be advised," came over allied comms. "Friendly assets moving into refinery perimeter. Do not engage."
"Well." the leader of the trio muttered over the rumbling of her craft. "That's a blunt way to put it."
The Crashed Flagship
Wherever the intended destination of the robots was, it was hard for them to navigate in a hostile, and upside down, maze of corridors. However, building resistance and the occasional anti-tank launcher shot indicated that they were at least getting close to something that the pirates though worth guarding.
The Spaceport
As the Trashcan Soyokaze Gunship came in and prepared to receive the WIA trooper, all seemed well. It was only when the gunship was practically stationary and at its most vulnerable that a salvo of MANPADS missiles came from various windows in the spaceport's upper levels. 2 missiles headed for the gunship, while a 3rd whether by mechanical failure or operator error blew out a hole in the building - a premature detonation.
Through the wall was not enemies, but a row of toilet cubicles and sinks. They had broken down the wall to a washroom, with a wooden door at it's far end. Sobbing could be heard from two of the cubicles nearest the door, ones which had chains and a padlock holding them shut from the outside, presumably with the sources of the sobbing inside each. Fortunately, it appeared the pirates had not realised what the explosion was amidst the sounds of battle, so it looked like the Ingenious troops had made their entry unbeknownst to the pirates outside the room or indeed the ones that had fled from them down the corridor. The wall was still standing as Shikawa passed through, not a load bearing one, but the building obviously was not designed to resist military grade explosives.
The Artifician robots in the spaceport had cleared the entire initial room by now, and were left with the option of going down the long corridor or going via the impromptu door courtesy of the Jade troops. Or of course, they could make their own yet again. Those robots in other areas than the initial breach were doing well, turning many pirates into sprays of gore with ease, but now many more anti-tank weapons were being fired, and teams with heavier full-on ATGM TOW missiles using higher power tandem warheads had set themselves up in the next sets of rooms, obviously having been deployed from other positions in an attempt to curtail the robots' advance.
The Town
The Scythan's rather suicidal mine clearing techniques were most definitely clearing both anti-tank and newly discovered anti-personnel mines, though whether the cost was worth it remained to be seen. With infantry having gone in already, the vehicles were unmolested by anti tank fire until they got closer to the forward limit of the infantry. The harassing fire against both kinds of troops continued on the front, and dwindled further still - though notably without much of an increase in the amount of pirates being killed. The setting up of defensive positions around the outer areas provided the troops with work, but for the moment not with combat. The effect of the artillery barrage on the town centre remained to be seen until forward elements could get visual on the area.
The Refinery
The heavy weapons of the Scythan position made effective fire and created a blind spot in the air defences of the refinery, but the caution and focus of the batteries meant the batteries themselves took heavy counter-battery fire along with a shitstorm of MLRS rockets upon their other positions, the indirect fire of these weapons coming in from above.
The drop-pods of the Artificians made their entry into the airspace with a bang, those air defences that had survived the Scythan bombardment throwing out volumes of gunfire, missiles and lasers with many fortunately missing due to the countermeasures. The ASMs themselves were intercepted by the myriad of anti air weapons - intentionally or caught in the crossfire of the wild spray of the pirate defences. What was perhaps more concerning was the high energy particle beam pulses being fired from one of the higher tech looking air defence vehicles - fortunately not properly calibrated for the deadly precision it absolutely should have had. The other more advanced air defence vehicles did not engage the drop pods but instead fired a barrage of advanced ASAT missiles at the ship that had dropped them, evidently not wanting more drop pods being sent its way.
Wherever the intended destination of the robots was, it was hard for them to navigate in a hostile, and upside down, maze of corridors. However, building resistance and the occasional anti-tank launcher shot indicated that they were at least getting close to something that the pirates though worth guarding.
The Spaceport
As the Trashcan Soyokaze Gunship came in and prepared to receive the WIA trooper, all seemed well. It was only when the gunship was practically stationary and at its most vulnerable that a salvo of MANPADS missiles came from various windows in the spaceport's upper levels. 2 missiles headed for the gunship, while a 3rd whether by mechanical failure or operator error blew out a hole in the building - a premature detonation.
Through the wall was not enemies, but a row of toilet cubicles and sinks. They had broken down the wall to a washroom, with a wooden door at it's far end. Sobbing could be heard from two of the cubicles nearest the door, ones which had chains and a padlock holding them shut from the outside, presumably with the sources of the sobbing inside each. Fortunately, it appeared the pirates had not realised what the explosion was amidst the sounds of battle, so it looked like the Ingenious troops had made their entry unbeknownst to the pirates outside the room or indeed the ones that had fled from them down the corridor. The wall was still standing as Shikawa passed through, not a load bearing one, but the building obviously was not designed to resist military grade explosives.
The Artifician robots in the spaceport had cleared the entire initial room by now, and were left with the option of going down the long corridor or going via the impromptu door courtesy of the Jade troops. Or of course, they could make their own yet again. Those robots in other areas than the initial breach were doing well, turning many pirates into sprays of gore with ease, but now many more anti-tank weapons were being fired, and teams with heavier full-on ATGM TOW missiles using higher power tandem warheads had set themselves up in the next sets of rooms, obviously having been deployed from other positions in an attempt to curtail the robots' advance.
The Town
The Scythan's rather suicidal mine clearing techniques were most definitely clearing both anti-tank and newly discovered anti-personnel mines, though whether the cost was worth it remained to be seen. With infantry having gone in already, the vehicles were unmolested by anti tank fire until they got closer to the forward limit of the infantry. The harassing fire against both kinds of troops continued on the front, and dwindled further still - though notably without much of an increase in the amount of pirates being killed. The setting up of defensive positions around the outer areas provided the troops with work, but for the moment not with combat. The effect of the artillery barrage on the town centre remained to be seen until forward elements could get visual on the area.
The Refinery
The heavy weapons of the Scythan position made effective fire and created a blind spot in the air defences of the refinery, but the caution and focus of the batteries meant the batteries themselves took heavy counter-battery fire along with a shitstorm of MLRS rockets upon their other positions, the indirect fire of these weapons coming in from above.
The drop-pods of the Artificians made their entry into the airspace with a bang, those air defences that had survived the Scythan bombardment throwing out volumes of gunfire, missiles and lasers with many fortunately missing due to the countermeasures. The ASMs themselves were intercepted by the myriad of anti air weapons - intentionally or caught in the crossfire of the wild spray of the pirate defences. What was perhaps more concerning was the high energy particle beam pulses being fired from one of the higher tech looking air defence vehicles - fortunately not properly calibrated for the deadly precision it absolutely should have had. The other more advanced air defence vehicles did not engage the drop pods but instead fired a barrage of advanced ASAT missiles at the ship that had dropped them, evidently not wanting more drop pods being sent its way.
GUNSHIP
Corporal Hattori, at the helm, barely even registered the warning alerts before the automated gyaku-ko beam defense mount opened fire. Swivelling rapidly in its mount, it acquired the target and fired, a fizzing beam of argent blue-white light that sliced the first missile out of the sky. The ship's onboard computer had already determined that the second missile was not a viable target and so further back on the ship, one of the SilverBrig countermeasure pods oriented and fired, booming out a sparking cloud of chaff and projectile that blared with radioactivity, light, heat and other distractions. The second missile spiralled crazily through the cloud, detonating as it was peppered with dense metallic shards, but the explosion was still close enough to hurl the shuttle to one side, its repulsor systems screaming in protest.
By the time Hattori's eyes had pivoted to the console, he could see a half-dozen warning lights had activated - the port-side flank of his shuttle had been hit badly and the engine was threatening to fail there. Not only that, but the connections to the three port Atlatl mounts was compromised. Even as he took all this in, his gunner had traversed her two Arisaka Type 30 Repeating Noroi Cannons and was hosing down the windows with high-powered orange-red NaHe supercritical fluid, pounding the structure apart.
The Trashcan was drifting alarmingly and Hattori hauled the nose up and away, powering away from the spaceport. "Golf One this is Trashcan, we've been hit. You'll be without air cover for 30 minimum."
INSIDE
Shikawa registered the information without showing any outward emotion. It was bad news, but being upset by it wouldn't help anything. Instead she gently launched her Local Recon Drone, a globe perhaps 3 inches in diameter, to peek into the two cubicles, scan for bombs and weapons, and then slowly ease open the door ahead and recon the area beyond.
Corporal Hattori, at the helm, barely even registered the warning alerts before the automated gyaku-ko beam defense mount opened fire. Swivelling rapidly in its mount, it acquired the target and fired, a fizzing beam of argent blue-white light that sliced the first missile out of the sky. The ship's onboard computer had already determined that the second missile was not a viable target and so further back on the ship, one of the SilverBrig countermeasure pods oriented and fired, booming out a sparking cloud of chaff and projectile that blared with radioactivity, light, heat and other distractions. The second missile spiralled crazily through the cloud, detonating as it was peppered with dense metallic shards, but the explosion was still close enough to hurl the shuttle to one side, its repulsor systems screaming in protest.
By the time Hattori's eyes had pivoted to the console, he could see a half-dozen warning lights had activated - the port-side flank of his shuttle had been hit badly and the engine was threatening to fail there. Not only that, but the connections to the three port Atlatl mounts was compromised. Even as he took all this in, his gunner had traversed her two Arisaka Type 30 Repeating Noroi Cannons and was hosing down the windows with high-powered orange-red NaHe supercritical fluid, pounding the structure apart.
The Trashcan was drifting alarmingly and Hattori hauled the nose up and away, powering away from the spaceport. "Golf One this is Trashcan, we've been hit. You'll be without air cover for 30 minimum."
INSIDE
Shikawa registered the information without showing any outward emotion. It was bad news, but being upset by it wouldn't help anything. Instead she gently launched her Local Recon Drone, a globe perhaps 3 inches in diameter, to peek into the two cubicles, scan for bombs and weapons, and then slowly ease open the door ahead and recon the area beyond.
The Town
As they got closer to the center of the town, scythan troops began holding the buildings that they cleared - setting up sniper positions on the rooves, to lay down better covering fire for their advancing troops. More men contined to march in colums down the cleared roads from the transports, reinforcing the large scale losses at the front - and to cover all the buildings being searched. The mortar and heavy weapons fire slowed as the main group got further in - the troops manning it not wanting to risk large-scale friendly fire issues.
The Refinary
The men at the Refinary also stopped firing - since their target had just been infested with drop pods from their allies, and most where highly damaged at this point anyway. They had served their purpose, though, and given said allies a chance to land their men inside the enemy ground defences.
Their men continued to prepare a defensive position, but also geared up for an offensive push. A larger vehicle was brought out of one of the transports - and it was sporting a far larger weapon on its front than any of the others. It was escorted by many troops, and screened by other vehicles as much as they could manage, but was, unfortunatly, still rather visible to the opposition inside the refinary.
Hopefully, this would be able to bust open the opposing ground defences, and let the veritable swarm of scythan troops enter the compound itself - if it survived long enough to do so.
As they got closer to the center of the town, scythan troops began holding the buildings that they cleared - setting up sniper positions on the rooves, to lay down better covering fire for their advancing troops. More men contined to march in colums down the cleared roads from the transports, reinforcing the large scale losses at the front - and to cover all the buildings being searched. The mortar and heavy weapons fire slowed as the main group got further in - the troops manning it not wanting to risk large-scale friendly fire issues.
The Refinary
The men at the Refinary also stopped firing - since their target had just been infested with drop pods from their allies, and most where highly damaged at this point anyway. They had served their purpose, though, and given said allies a chance to land their men inside the enemy ground defences.
Their men continued to prepare a defensive position, but also geared up for an offensive push. A larger vehicle was brought out of one of the transports - and it was sporting a far larger weapon on its front than any of the others. It was escorted by many troops, and screened by other vehicles as much as they could manage, but was, unfortunatly, still rather visible to the opposition inside the refinary.
Hopefully, this would be able to bust open the opposing ground defences, and let the veritable swarm of scythan troops enter the compound itself - if it survived long enough to do so.
The Spaceport
The machines, rather oddly for the pirates, paused now, anyone wandering into their line of sight by accident or purpose buried in a wall of fire, rooms outside peppered with airbursting munitions. They were not hesitating, in reality, but more figuring out where they all are. They decided on a rendezvous, a room they could all reach in a fairly small time gap, and all at once resumed, striding with their typical robotic confidence, firing with absolute impunity and synergy, though ATGMs continued to thin their numbers. The pirates in the room they had decided on now faced a difficult prospect; one of walking bricks of armour and guns closing on their location from almost every direction.
The Starship
The robots reacted to the intensifying of resistance, their advance slowing, if only to better coordinate formations and pick out traps and enemies before they strode too far into an attack. They had plenty of time, as far as they were concerned, and for now, numbers to spare. Unarmed crewmen were now almost totally ignored, the robots more pressingly concerned with their objectives than a sweep for survivors.
The Refinery
The drop pods weaved and dodged, those containing the disposable units going first.
As such, they were also the first to eat anti-air fire. Two were hit dead-on, one by a burst of shells and the other by a lucky particle lance, the first torn to ribbons and the second bursting like a superheated, bubbling pinata, a third struck by a stray rail shot and ripping it open, the pod spiraling off into the distance. Loosely on a collision course with one of the AA guns; silver linings. A fourth was similar only grazed, spiraling into the path of a particle lance that would have otherwise missed entirely, blown in half.
Unfortunately for the occupants of the refinery as rifle fire skidded and bounced off their light armour with sparks and dents, that was all, the remaining five landing with screaming last-second-burn retrorockets and the heavy thud of impact, dust storms kicking up.
"Alright girls, we clear?"
"Aye!"
"Ready, boss."
And with that, the detonation of LZ clearing frag charges and the bursting of explosive hatch bolts, they disgorged. Two of them each spat out about nine robots; much smaller than the ones tormenting the pirates' comrades in the spaceport, these waist-high machines were only armed with machine guns, a couple with grenade launchers. The other three only spat out single individuals, clad in strange armour bearing robotic wings and carrying large melee weapons in one hand and firearms in the other. One dressed in black and yellow, another in black and orange, and the third in black and blue.
"Alright, we're here! Dahya, stay with the robots, mop up this lot!" the leader, the one in orange, called as the robots opened fire on anyone still hanging around. "Yohta, you're with me! If they have a commander, we're gonna find em!"
"Understood, boss."
The one in yellow turned and joined the machines, a massive plasma-bladed axe igniting as she lunged to attack the defenders in a whirlwind of plasma, beehive shot and waist-fired grenades, two floating sword racing off to attack those attacking her. The other two turned, heading to enter the refinery itself.
The machines, rather oddly for the pirates, paused now, anyone wandering into their line of sight by accident or purpose buried in a wall of fire, rooms outside peppered with airbursting munitions. They were not hesitating, in reality, but more figuring out where they all are. They decided on a rendezvous, a room they could all reach in a fairly small time gap, and all at once resumed, striding with their typical robotic confidence, firing with absolute impunity and synergy, though ATGMs continued to thin their numbers. The pirates in the room they had decided on now faced a difficult prospect; one of walking bricks of armour and guns closing on their location from almost every direction.
The Starship
The robots reacted to the intensifying of resistance, their advance slowing, if only to better coordinate formations and pick out traps and enemies before they strode too far into an attack. They had plenty of time, as far as they were concerned, and for now, numbers to spare. Unarmed crewmen were now almost totally ignored, the robots more pressingly concerned with their objectives than a sweep for survivors.
The Refinery
The drop pods weaved and dodged, those containing the disposable units going first.
As such, they were also the first to eat anti-air fire. Two were hit dead-on, one by a burst of shells and the other by a lucky particle lance, the first torn to ribbons and the second bursting like a superheated, bubbling pinata, a third struck by a stray rail shot and ripping it open, the pod spiraling off into the distance. Loosely on a collision course with one of the AA guns; silver linings. A fourth was similar only grazed, spiraling into the path of a particle lance that would have otherwise missed entirely, blown in half.
Unfortunately for the occupants of the refinery as rifle fire skidded and bounced off their light armour with sparks and dents, that was all, the remaining five landing with screaming last-second-burn retrorockets and the heavy thud of impact, dust storms kicking up.
"Alright girls, we clear?"
"Aye!"
"Ready, boss."
And with that, the detonation of LZ clearing frag charges and the bursting of explosive hatch bolts, they disgorged. Two of them each spat out about nine robots; much smaller than the ones tormenting the pirates' comrades in the spaceport, these waist-high machines were only armed with machine guns, a couple with grenade launchers. The other three only spat out single individuals, clad in strange armour bearing robotic wings and carrying large melee weapons in one hand and firearms in the other. One dressed in black and yellow, another in black and orange, and the third in black and blue.
"Alright, we're here! Dahya, stay with the robots, mop up this lot!" the leader, the one in orange, called as the robots opened fire on anyone still hanging around. "Yohta, you're with me! If they have a commander, we're gonna find em!"
"Understood, boss."
The one in yellow turned and joined the machines, a massive plasma-bladed axe igniting as she lunged to attack the defenders in a whirlwind of plasma, beehive shot and waist-fired grenades, two floating sword racing off to attack those attacking her. The other two turned, heading to enter the refinery itself.
The Crashed Flagship
The robots were obviously getting close to something as resistance increased. Mostly more of the same, but the pirates had begun laying some nasty traps: shaped charges on the reverse side of the doorway from the robots, hidden from the nearside and intended to blast the robots in the back when they came through the door in question.
The Spaceport
The series of explosions from the Trashcan's guns shook the structure as Shikawa's recon drone moved in to the cubicles. There were no traps to be found, but instead a pair of fairly young looking civilians, chained up in the cubicles and stripped naked, showing signs of heavy abuse and violation by the pirates. A disgusting discovery, but pirates never had seemed to care for anyone other than themselves. The rest of the room was eerily silent as the sobbing stopped as the civilians noticed the drone.
Elsewhere in the spaceport's main building, heavy weapons teams pursued robots to their meeting location. Cautiously, but putting the occasional shot into the robots as at least to the pirates they seemed to be retreating. Except the pirates in the room that were the target of the rendezvous, who were busy throwing everything at the incoming robot advance from small demolition charges to literal rocks taken from rubble in a desperate attempt to stop them.
The Town
The sniper teams attempting to set up on the roofs found themselves as prime targets for pirate snipers themselves, the pirates seemingly firing a single shot against them from one direction, only for the shooter to disappear and another to take shots at them from somewhere completely different. The pirates were using an age-old hit-and-run tactic, engaging them to prevent them setting up before becoming a ghost in the maze of buildings they had just fired from. This focus on preventing the sniper teams setting up did however leave other forces advancing on the town centre unmolested by skirmishing attacks.
The town centre offered light resistance, almost none in fact. The central square itself had no resistance at all, instead being a sorry sight. Rubble was strewn all over the place from the bombardment of the area, most of the central buildings having been completely destroyed. There were small elements of destroyed pirate positions, but most of the casualties were civilians. The pirates had being holding civilians hostage in those buildings, and now they were very much dead. Disturbingly, the bombardment had also opened back up mass graves of the pirates doing, leaving a mix of fresh and rotten corpses scattered about the whole area. It seemed that the pirates that had all been retreating were either much smaller in number than first anticipated, or they had now vanished into the buildings to continue the fight elsewhere in the town.
The Refinery
Those artillery vehicles not immediately preoccupied with the Artifician drop pods continued to set themselves about mashing up the Scythan positions with explosive fire, and bringing the larger vehicle into their sights by keeping a constant stream of fire pouring onto its position. The rate of pirate artillery fire did pose the question of how long they had the munitions to keep this up.
The Artifician LZ was clear of infantry instantly with the detonation of frag charges, and the initial attacks had cleared out a sizeable chunk of force in that area but now the pirates became much more aware of what was going on as various tanks and infantry began showering the area with a slew of machine-gun and cannon fire of various kinds, with the lit-up nature of the Artificians' weapons drawing the attention of various gun teams and snipers light moths to a flame. Various vehicles and still the increasing pitch of the engines of the cargo trains indicated forces repositioning. Though, surely the pirates weren't planning to send out the cargo trains on a resupply run in the middle of a firefight?
The robots were obviously getting close to something as resistance increased. Mostly more of the same, but the pirates had begun laying some nasty traps: shaped charges on the reverse side of the doorway from the robots, hidden from the nearside and intended to blast the robots in the back when they came through the door in question.
The Spaceport
The series of explosions from the Trashcan's guns shook the structure as Shikawa's recon drone moved in to the cubicles. There were no traps to be found, but instead a pair of fairly young looking civilians, chained up in the cubicles and stripped naked, showing signs of heavy abuse and violation by the pirates. A disgusting discovery, but pirates never had seemed to care for anyone other than themselves. The rest of the room was eerily silent as the sobbing stopped as the civilians noticed the drone.
Elsewhere in the spaceport's main building, heavy weapons teams pursued robots to their meeting location. Cautiously, but putting the occasional shot into the robots as at least to the pirates they seemed to be retreating. Except the pirates in the room that were the target of the rendezvous, who were busy throwing everything at the incoming robot advance from small demolition charges to literal rocks taken from rubble in a desperate attempt to stop them.
The Town
The sniper teams attempting to set up on the roofs found themselves as prime targets for pirate snipers themselves, the pirates seemingly firing a single shot against them from one direction, only for the shooter to disappear and another to take shots at them from somewhere completely different. The pirates were using an age-old hit-and-run tactic, engaging them to prevent them setting up before becoming a ghost in the maze of buildings they had just fired from. This focus on preventing the sniper teams setting up did however leave other forces advancing on the town centre unmolested by skirmishing attacks.
The town centre offered light resistance, almost none in fact. The central square itself had no resistance at all, instead being a sorry sight. Rubble was strewn all over the place from the bombardment of the area, most of the central buildings having been completely destroyed. There were small elements of destroyed pirate positions, but most of the casualties were civilians. The pirates had being holding civilians hostage in those buildings, and now they were very much dead. Disturbingly, the bombardment had also opened back up mass graves of the pirates doing, leaving a mix of fresh and rotten corpses scattered about the whole area. It seemed that the pirates that had all been retreating were either much smaller in number than first anticipated, or they had now vanished into the buildings to continue the fight elsewhere in the town.
The Refinery
Those artillery vehicles not immediately preoccupied with the Artifician drop pods continued to set themselves about mashing up the Scythan positions with explosive fire, and bringing the larger vehicle into their sights by keeping a constant stream of fire pouring onto its position. The rate of pirate artillery fire did pose the question of how long they had the munitions to keep this up.
The Artifician LZ was clear of infantry instantly with the detonation of frag charges, and the initial attacks had cleared out a sizeable chunk of force in that area but now the pirates became much more aware of what was going on as various tanks and infantry began showering the area with a slew of machine-gun and cannon fire of various kinds, with the lit-up nature of the Artificians' weapons drawing the attention of various gun teams and snipers light moths to a flame. Various vehicles and still the increasing pitch of the engines of the cargo trains indicated forces repositioning. Though, surely the pirates weren't planning to send out the cargo trains on a resupply run in the middle of a firefight?
SPACEPORT
"Shit," cursed the sergeant, turning to gesture to the platoon medic, "check them over." She stood and thought for a moment. With the Trashcan temporarily away with battle damage they had no effective exfil. The frigate above did have a THERR suite and a corvette lander, but the THERR suite was vulnerable to interference whilst the enemy were still kicking and the corvette was too large a target to land until they were sure the enemy heavy weapons were out of action.
The medic moved forwards, detatching his mempo mask to reveal a worn face and narrow eyes above a trim moustache. Speaking in accented Galactic Common, he checked over their injuries and began to free them from their bonds. "I am here to help you. I am a doctor. My name is Corporal Oyomi." he said in slow, simple sentences, speaking more to calm their nerves with the sound of his voice, and to steady himself a little. As a soldier, he had seen some gruesome things, but mistreated civilians were never easy to stomach.
Shikawa moved forwards, her drone reporting back from the corridor outside.
"Looks like the merc robots are converging on something and the pirates are following them. We'll wait for them to gather and then fuck them in the ass." reported the sergeant to her marines, giving them a moment to ready up and check their equipment.
"Simmons, you stay here with the doc. The rest of you, on me."
Followed by eight marines, Shikawa slipped silently out of the door. The depleted platoon stalked forwards with their weapons raised, two additional drones ranging ahead and to their flanks as they moved towards the center of the commotion.
"Shit," cursed the sergeant, turning to gesture to the platoon medic, "check them over." She stood and thought for a moment. With the Trashcan temporarily away with battle damage they had no effective exfil. The frigate above did have a THERR suite and a corvette lander, but the THERR suite was vulnerable to interference whilst the enemy were still kicking and the corvette was too large a target to land until they were sure the enemy heavy weapons were out of action.
The medic moved forwards, detatching his mempo mask to reveal a worn face and narrow eyes above a trim moustache. Speaking in accented Galactic Common, he checked over their injuries and began to free them from their bonds. "I am here to help you. I am a doctor. My name is Corporal Oyomi." he said in slow, simple sentences, speaking more to calm their nerves with the sound of his voice, and to steady himself a little. As a soldier, he had seen some gruesome things, but mistreated civilians were never easy to stomach.
Shikawa moved forwards, her drone reporting back from the corridor outside.
"Looks like the merc robots are converging on something and the pirates are following them. We'll wait for them to gather and then fuck them in the ass." reported the sergeant to her marines, giving them a moment to ready up and check their equipment.
"Simmons, you stay here with the doc. The rest of you, on me."
Followed by eight marines, Shikawa slipped silently out of the door. The depleted platoon stalked forwards with their weapons raised, two additional drones ranging ahead and to their flanks as they moved towards the center of the commotion.
The Town
Upon the center of the town coming into vision, the marching stopped, and only a few men where sent into it to secure it.
Not worth large losses, they might be trying to trick us
The main groups of troops began to send more into the buildings, to setup positions and clear out enemies, while the rest stayed on the streets, splitting into two main groups marching in opposing directions around the town, creating a spreading cone of cleared areas.
With the ongoing losses to their snipers, they began sending only token forces onto most roofes, and focusing on a few taller ones to set up temporary fortifications.
The troops in the center shot a few times into each corpse they passed, vehicles setting up in the centre in preperation to attempt to clear more of the town.
The Refinery
A few of the scythan Tanks turned their main guns upon the railway tracks, shooting to obliterate them. Whatever the pirates planned to do with the cargo trains, it was a threat.
The large vehicle managed to survive, barely, with the sacrifice of many of its supporting vehicles. It was now close enough to fire, and the turret on the front began to spin. The remaining vehicles in front of it moved to the sides slightly, but focused on trying to prevent opposing fire from destroying it. If a few of them where destroyed by the shot, that was a price they where willing to pay for entry to the compound.
Upon the center of the town coming into vision, the marching stopped, and only a few men where sent into it to secure it.
Not worth large losses, they might be trying to trick us
The main groups of troops began to send more into the buildings, to setup positions and clear out enemies, while the rest stayed on the streets, splitting into two main groups marching in opposing directions around the town, creating a spreading cone of cleared areas.
With the ongoing losses to their snipers, they began sending only token forces onto most roofes, and focusing on a few taller ones to set up temporary fortifications.
The troops in the center shot a few times into each corpse they passed, vehicles setting up in the centre in preperation to attempt to clear more of the town.
The Refinery
A few of the scythan Tanks turned their main guns upon the railway tracks, shooting to obliterate them. Whatever the pirates planned to do with the cargo trains, it was a threat.
The large vehicle managed to survive, barely, with the sacrifice of many of its supporting vehicles. It was now close enough to fire, and the turret on the front began to spin. The remaining vehicles in front of it moved to the sides slightly, but focused on trying to prevent opposing fire from destroying it. If a few of them where destroyed by the shot, that was a price they where willing to pay for entry to the compound.
The Spaceport
Only a couple of the machines seemed to pay any mind to those following them, letting off machine gun bursts and sporadic airbursts to keep them back and kill anyone who stepped too far into the open. For those in their targeted room, however, the majority formed up, becoming a virtual wall of heat and fire from the flaming gouts of ceaseless gunfire, the cacophony echoing all about, striding headlong towards the haphazardous position, aiming to null any sense of cover as fast as possible. They most certainly wouldn't come out of it in good shape, already demo charges were blowing off armour at best and limbs at worst, but in all likelihood it would go worse for those in their target locks.
Cut the head off the snake, and the body goes with it. With some luck, victory here would see the spaceport all but defeated.
The Flagship
For a scant few minutes, the defenders earned some reprieve. The machines caught on to the trick, but rather than simply push through and soak the losses, they halted; they didn't have the numbers left for that to be reliable.
Their processors worked in unison, information bounced about the members of the robotic assault team as potential solutions were concocted. Ultimately, they came to one they agreed as the most workable.
Dead members of their own force were grabbed and hucked unceremoniously through the large doorways they were using, setting off any traps waiting, then slowly pushing through any resistance on the far side. It would, until the bodies became too blown apart to be useful, work, but it slowed down progress considerably.
Only a couple of the machines seemed to pay any mind to those following them, letting off machine gun bursts and sporadic airbursts to keep them back and kill anyone who stepped too far into the open. For those in their targeted room, however, the majority formed up, becoming a virtual wall of heat and fire from the flaming gouts of ceaseless gunfire, the cacophony echoing all about, striding headlong towards the haphazardous position, aiming to null any sense of cover as fast as possible. They most certainly wouldn't come out of it in good shape, already demo charges were blowing off armour at best and limbs at worst, but in all likelihood it would go worse for those in their target locks.
Cut the head off the snake, and the body goes with it. With some luck, victory here would see the spaceport all but defeated.
The Flagship
For a scant few minutes, the defenders earned some reprieve. The machines caught on to the trick, but rather than simply push through and soak the losses, they halted; they didn't have the numbers left for that to be reliable.
Their processors worked in unison, information bounced about the members of the robotic assault team as potential solutions were concocted. Ultimately, they came to one they agreed as the most workable.
Dead members of their own force were grabbed and hucked unceremoniously through the large doorways they were using, setting off any traps waiting, then slowly pushing through any resistance on the far side. It would, until the bodies became too blown apart to be useful, work, but it slowed down progress considerably.
The Refinery
Dahya and the robots immediately returned in kind, snipers buried in .60 cal fire, mortars returned by lorentz-assisted grenade launchrs. Still, with their lack of dedicated anti-tank armaments, the robots couldn't be expected to deal with an assortment of heavy armoured vehicles, though they regardless attacked sensors and secondary weapons with bursts of fire, if only to lessen the immediate threat to themselves.
Putting the armour out of the fight was where Dahya came in. She'd told the two others that she'd cover their backs while they investigated elsewhere, and she wasn't going to get that done standing around taking potshots.
"Time to see what this suit can do, eh?" the Artificia concealed within grinned, as the thrusters adorning it fired. In the blink of an eye Dahya fired off, dodging and weaving in erratic zigzags both side to side and up and down, her hip-mounted launchers and her shotgun letting off shots at anything that came close to getting a bead as the Artificia closed at breakneck speeds. Her UAV swords zipped around like supersonic weapons of their own, aiming to slash off remote weapons, optics, and sever any tracks that came their way.
The first tank that had entered the fray, and the unfortunately closest one to Dahya, found its turret sheared clean off, Dahya severing it with the swing of her axe, a wave of roiling plasma venting forth mid-swing. She did not hang around to admire her work, however, rocketing on into the vehicles following, to throw confusion into their ranks.
Dahya and the robots immediately returned in kind, snipers buried in .60 cal fire, mortars returned by lorentz-assisted grenade launchrs. Still, with their lack of dedicated anti-tank armaments, the robots couldn't be expected to deal with an assortment of heavy armoured vehicles, though they regardless attacked sensors and secondary weapons with bursts of fire, if only to lessen the immediate threat to themselves.
Putting the armour out of the fight was where Dahya came in. She'd told the two others that she'd cover their backs while they investigated elsewhere, and she wasn't going to get that done standing around taking potshots.
"Time to see what this suit can do, eh?" the Artificia concealed within grinned, as the thrusters adorning it fired. In the blink of an eye Dahya fired off, dodging and weaving in erratic zigzags both side to side and up and down, her hip-mounted launchers and her shotgun letting off shots at anything that came close to getting a bead as the Artificia closed at breakneck speeds. Her UAV swords zipped around like supersonic weapons of their own, aiming to slash off remote weapons, optics, and sever any tracks that came their way.
The first tank that had entered the fray, and the unfortunately closest one to Dahya, found its turret sheared clean off, Dahya severing it with the swing of her axe, a wave of roiling plasma venting forth mid-swing. She did not hang around to admire her work, however, rocketing on into the vehicles following, to throw confusion into their ranks.
The Crashed Flagship
The defenders it seemed were running out of ways to defend themselves, resorting to the same charges as before but using the time that they had bought to rig them up for manual detonation rather than a simple proximity trigger, so it would not be fooled by a robot that was already disabled. Heavy blast door mountings that could not be sealed due to the damage along with various signage on the walls indicated that the robots were closing in on some form of command station as they advanced.
The Spaceport
The minimal resistance by the robots only served to draw the Pirates in further as those that were cornered in the gathering point rapidly gave way, leaving the room repainted in blood red, despite all their efforts they did not have the numbers or the supplies to hold out. The rest closed in with various heavy weapons to strike down the robots. The Ingen troops came past practically abandoned positions where there was much wreckage but it seemed all the surviving defenders had gone after the robots. Only when they came in behind the Pirates did they hear a brief exchange: "Didn't you say you killed those guys?" "Which ones? Oh, fuck!" As some of the Pirates began to notice the advancing marines, though much too late to make any organised response, with many not even aware of the threat from behind.
The civilians did not even seem to know much in the way of Galactic common, but they did seem to at least take this gist of the message and calmed somewhat. They did not appear to have any serious or traumatic injuries, just indications of long term abuse by various members of the Pirate garrison, even some crude tattoos that those who had used them had applied.
The Town
Those civilians that were observing the commotion now that it had calmed had begun to come outside their houses to stare at the forces that had newly arrived at the centre of the town. The shooting of the already dead pirates confirmed that they were, in fact, dead. The continued attempts to set up positions in various vantage points continued to be sniped, and the particularly prominent buildings that were tall showed signs that they had previously been occupied by Pirates - notably, the demolition charges within them that were doubtless rigged to explode by some method.
The clearance of buildings was going to take some time with the civilians now being much more active, the ground level fighting having mostly died down. The clearance was not opposed, but it did seem that previously cleared buildings would occasionally open fire on troops passing by them before going silent once more. The Pirates obviously had some method of concealing themselves, and that was very telling of how the harassing fire would spring up and the shooter would seemingly disappear after they took their shots.
The Refinery Gates
The railway tracks seemingly were heavily build enough not to be completely destroyed, but no train could run over them at high speed now at least. The vehicle had very much become the centre of attention for the forces defending the outside of the refinery and fire continued to pour into it's direction, even riflemen taking shots at exposed targeting systems to try and knock out its ability to deal damage.
Immediately inside the wall Dahya and her robot companions were decidedly losing the battle of weight of fire even as Dahya cleaved one of the tank's turrets off much to the surprise of the crew. With Dahya being a hard target the Pirates made an effort to knock out her assisting companion robots while they seemingly could not do a lot to stop her rampage through the vehicles which now approached much more apprehensively by hosing the area down with automatic weapons fire in anticipation of a plasma blade coming their way. Of course, the Pirates were taking losses themselves as the area was becoming more and more dense with flying projectiles and debris.
The Refinery Interior
The other Artifician pair found themselves passing by what at least appeared to be a more office like building, with the windows welded shut and covered in armour plate with firing slots cut into it. Antennae and cables sat on the building's roof, and it looked far more built for people than the towering scaffolds of refining chambers, cooling systems and other refining systems did. Further down the road into the refinery was a side-view of some sort of large hut with conveyors leading to and from it - presumably some sort of cargo handling facility where trains or trucks were stored - that showed heavy signs of militarisation and defence. With battle now raging on one of the refinery sides, it seemed surprising that either of these two buildings still maintained a heavy garrison; the cargo facility looking the more defended of the pair. Obviously news of battle had reached whichever Pirate was in charge, as now sirens blared throughout, obviously ones that were originally put in place to warn of a dangerous failure in the sinarium refining process much like ones that might sound for a nuclear power plant meltdown.
The defenders it seemed were running out of ways to defend themselves, resorting to the same charges as before but using the time that they had bought to rig them up for manual detonation rather than a simple proximity trigger, so it would not be fooled by a robot that was already disabled. Heavy blast door mountings that could not be sealed due to the damage along with various signage on the walls indicated that the robots were closing in on some form of command station as they advanced.
The Spaceport
The minimal resistance by the robots only served to draw the Pirates in further as those that were cornered in the gathering point rapidly gave way, leaving the room repainted in blood red, despite all their efforts they did not have the numbers or the supplies to hold out. The rest closed in with various heavy weapons to strike down the robots. The Ingen troops came past practically abandoned positions where there was much wreckage but it seemed all the surviving defenders had gone after the robots. Only when they came in behind the Pirates did they hear a brief exchange: "Didn't you say you killed those guys?" "Which ones? Oh, fuck!" As some of the Pirates began to notice the advancing marines, though much too late to make any organised response, with many not even aware of the threat from behind.
The civilians did not even seem to know much in the way of Galactic common, but they did seem to at least take this gist of the message and calmed somewhat. They did not appear to have any serious or traumatic injuries, just indications of long term abuse by various members of the Pirate garrison, even some crude tattoos that those who had used them had applied.
The Town
Those civilians that were observing the commotion now that it had calmed had begun to come outside their houses to stare at the forces that had newly arrived at the centre of the town. The shooting of the already dead pirates confirmed that they were, in fact, dead. The continued attempts to set up positions in various vantage points continued to be sniped, and the particularly prominent buildings that were tall showed signs that they had previously been occupied by Pirates - notably, the demolition charges within them that were doubtless rigged to explode by some method.
The clearance of buildings was going to take some time with the civilians now being much more active, the ground level fighting having mostly died down. The clearance was not opposed, but it did seem that previously cleared buildings would occasionally open fire on troops passing by them before going silent once more. The Pirates obviously had some method of concealing themselves, and that was very telling of how the harassing fire would spring up and the shooter would seemingly disappear after they took their shots.
The Refinery Gates
The railway tracks seemingly were heavily build enough not to be completely destroyed, but no train could run over them at high speed now at least. The vehicle had very much become the centre of attention for the forces defending the outside of the refinery and fire continued to pour into it's direction, even riflemen taking shots at exposed targeting systems to try and knock out its ability to deal damage.
Immediately inside the wall Dahya and her robot companions were decidedly losing the battle of weight of fire even as Dahya cleaved one of the tank's turrets off much to the surprise of the crew. With Dahya being a hard target the Pirates made an effort to knock out her assisting companion robots while they seemingly could not do a lot to stop her rampage through the vehicles which now approached much more apprehensively by hosing the area down with automatic weapons fire in anticipation of a plasma blade coming their way. Of course, the Pirates were taking losses themselves as the area was becoming more and more dense with flying projectiles and debris.
The Refinery Interior
The other Artifician pair found themselves passing by what at least appeared to be a more office like building, with the windows welded shut and covered in armour plate with firing slots cut into it. Antennae and cables sat on the building's roof, and it looked far more built for people than the towering scaffolds of refining chambers, cooling systems and other refining systems did. Further down the road into the refinery was a side-view of some sort of large hut with conveyors leading to and from it - presumably some sort of cargo handling facility where trains or trucks were stored - that showed heavy signs of militarisation and defence. With battle now raging on one of the refinery sides, it seemed surprising that either of these two buildings still maintained a heavy garrison; the cargo facility looking the more defended of the pair. Obviously news of battle had reached whichever Pirate was in charge, as now sirens blared throughout, obviously ones that were originally put in place to warn of a dangerous failure in the sinarium refining process much like ones that might sound for a nuclear power plant meltdown.
SPACEPORT
Shikawa and her marines emerged behind a large cluster of pirates who were stacking up, firing at the robots through a couple of doors along one side of the room the 'droids had chosen to fortify. Even as the pirates turned, realising their danger, the marines opened fire, starting with a firefly grenade lobbed underhand by the sergeant which detonated in a blast of smoke and burning filaments, temporarily scrambling electrical signals across a wide frequency.
The drones had painted the enemy with thin red outlines on the marines' HUDs, and many of the soldiers chose to switch firing modes on their AA-42s, sending high-volume bursts of lower intensity rounds into the smoke, hosing down the crowd with an intense barrage of fire as outline after outline winked out. Shikawa left a marine on either flank to watch their sides and rear in case any stragglers surprised them.
Further back, Corporal Oyomi and Private Simmons listened to the sounds of gunfire in the distance. "They're in good shape, but we need to get them off the surface," Oyomi said, turning on his comms and calling back to the Tower of Dusk.
Moments later, a request came out from the Tower of Dusk to the allied ships in orbit, requesting medevac for the two civilians as the IJN's shuttle was temporarily out of action.
Shikawa and her marines emerged behind a large cluster of pirates who were stacking up, firing at the robots through a couple of doors along one side of the room the 'droids had chosen to fortify. Even as the pirates turned, realising their danger, the marines opened fire, starting with a firefly grenade lobbed underhand by the sergeant which detonated in a blast of smoke and burning filaments, temporarily scrambling electrical signals across a wide frequency.
The drones had painted the enemy with thin red outlines on the marines' HUDs, and many of the soldiers chose to switch firing modes on their AA-42s, sending high-volume bursts of lower intensity rounds into the smoke, hosing down the crowd with an intense barrage of fire as outline after outline winked out. Shikawa left a marine on either flank to watch their sides and rear in case any stragglers surprised them.
Further back, Corporal Oyomi and Private Simmons listened to the sounds of gunfire in the distance. "They're in good shape, but we need to get them off the surface," Oyomi said, turning on his comms and calling back to the Tower of Dusk.
Moments later, a request came out from the Tower of Dusk to the allied ships in orbit, requesting medevac for the two civilians as the IJN's shuttle was temporarily out of action.
The Town
Either they have a tunnel system, or some of the civilians are combatant. Requesting permission to employ destructive countermeasures
Town preservation not an objective
A few units exited one of the tanks in the centre of the town, and began to fire explosive weapons at buildings that they thought where rigged to blow, after getting their own men out of the way. The same thing was done to a few of the buildings that the enemy had seemingly dissapeared into - and troops went in to search for any tunnel entrances or similar things to that effect.
Surviving civilians where now being rounded up, searched, and sent - at gunpoint if required - into some vehicles specially brought into the town area fror this purpose. Having civilians out of the way would hopefully benefit them more than the pirates.
Some kind of strangely shaped vehicle started to set up in the middle of the town square, although it didnt seem like a weapon. It planted feet down, partially drillinng themselves into the ground, and the vehicle itself was shifting.
The Refinary
The large weapon didnt seem to be non-functional quite yet, as began its fiering sequence, but as it span faster and faster it started to lurch to the side slightly each rotation, something in its balancing circits gone terribly wrong. It did manage to open fire - at the groung about halfway in between itself and the town - and getting closer to itself the more it fired. The immense projectiles being launbched, looking as if they wouldent look to out of place being launched from a ship instead, where wasted tearing grreat furrows in the ground. The troops manning it quickly disabled its fiering, and shut iot down, but it seemed this would not allow them easy entry.
With their initial gambit meeting an abrupt end, the regular artillery units switched targets - this time aiming only at the defences directly in front of them - the shorter ranged vehicles even joining in the barrage. This would be far less efficant, and likely take longer - plus freeing up the rest of the enemy forces from the surpression, but it would be required if they where to enter the refinary.
Either they have a tunnel system, or some of the civilians are combatant. Requesting permission to employ destructive countermeasures
Town preservation not an objective
A few units exited one of the tanks in the centre of the town, and began to fire explosive weapons at buildings that they thought where rigged to blow, after getting their own men out of the way. The same thing was done to a few of the buildings that the enemy had seemingly dissapeared into - and troops went in to search for any tunnel entrances or similar things to that effect.
Surviving civilians where now being rounded up, searched, and sent - at gunpoint if required - into some vehicles specially brought into the town area fror this purpose. Having civilians out of the way would hopefully benefit them more than the pirates.
Some kind of strangely shaped vehicle started to set up in the middle of the town square, although it didnt seem like a weapon. It planted feet down, partially drillinng themselves into the ground, and the vehicle itself was shifting.
The Refinary
The large weapon didnt seem to be non-functional quite yet, as began its fiering sequence, but as it span faster and faster it started to lurch to the side slightly each rotation, something in its balancing circits gone terribly wrong. It did manage to open fire - at the groung about halfway in between itself and the town - and getting closer to itself the more it fired. The immense projectiles being launbched, looking as if they wouldent look to out of place being launched from a ship instead, where wasted tearing grreat furrows in the ground. The troops manning it quickly disabled its fiering, and shut iot down, but it seemed this would not allow them easy entry.
With their initial gambit meeting an abrupt end, the regular artillery units switched targets - this time aiming only at the defences directly in front of them - the shorter ranged vehicles even joining in the barrage. This would be far less efficant, and likely take longer - plus freeing up the rest of the enemy forces from the surpression, but it would be required if they where to enter the refinary.
The Flagship
The robots were running out of bodies, but they were making progress. A tossed body flew through the bulkhead, crashing unceremoniously to the floor.
Nothing. Clear. The robots advanced, B-226 taking the front, keeping its beehive cannons trained on approaching corn--
A head poking around the corner.
A ball of fire, the shaking of the hull. B-226's signal flashed red.
Ah. They had adapted in turn. The robots responded immediately, a trio of airbursts detonating near the corner. They otherwise froze, however, as they again sought an answer.
A moment. Another. Then, one, A-142 broke off, digging its fat-clawed hands into the walling of the ship, tearing out a panel with the scream of bending metal. Silently, it moved off. Agreeing with the idea, more panels were torn as the machines advanced, intending to slam the makeshift shields down by any potential bomb sites. They were moving no faster, but moving they still were.
The robots were running out of bodies, but they were making progress. A tossed body flew through the bulkhead, crashing unceremoniously to the floor.
Nothing. Clear. The robots advanced, B-226 taking the front, keeping its beehive cannons trained on approaching corn--
A head poking around the corner.
A ball of fire, the shaking of the hull. B-226's signal flashed red.
Ah. They had adapted in turn. The robots responded immediately, a trio of airbursts detonating near the corner. They otherwise froze, however, as they again sought an answer.
A moment. Another. Then, one, A-142 broke off, digging its fat-clawed hands into the walling of the ship, tearing out a panel with the scream of bending metal. Silently, it moved off. Agreeing with the idea, more panels were torn as the machines advanced, intending to slam the makeshift shields down by any potential bomb sites. They were moving no faster, but moving they still were.
The Spaceport
Their main holding was clear. The pirates, the robots believed, could now do nothing but break.
Of course, they still had to mop up survivors, as they were harshly reminded as several of their number collapsed as rockets and other heavy weapons hit them in their vulnerable back. Now, the robots turned in unison, their cold yellow-eyes gaze locking onto the defenders, guns hot but loaded. The gunfire from the Ingenious troops only signalled them to do the same.
Their main holding was clear. The pirates, the robots believed, could now do nothing but break.
Of course, they still had to mop up survivors, as they were harshly reminded as several of their number collapsed as rockets and other heavy weapons hit them in their vulnerable back. Now, the robots turned in unison, their cold yellow-eyes gaze locking onto the defenders, guns hot but loaded. The gunfire from the Ingenious troops only signalled them to do the same.
The Refinery
The robots fought back, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers thundering. They were unlikely to leave this fight intact and they knew it, so there was no issue in running their weapons hot and burning through their ammunition. Still, their weapons were no match for tanks, so the robots instead did what they could to support Dahya. Soldiers and light armour were peppered, grenades used to kill troops in cover, the secondary weapons of vehicles targeted with precision bursts. They would not last long, already they were losing number, but they would give as good as they got.
Dahya herself continued her rampage, her UAV swords screaming about the field, slashing tracks and pintle weapons and any poor man standing too far in the open, shotgun thundering away as she continued cleaving into armour with swings of her axe, rocketing about with uncanny disregard for forces that would at best knock out and at worst kill a human. Most unnerving to anyone that could hear, however, was that Dahya was laughing.
The robots fought back, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers thundering. They were unlikely to leave this fight intact and they knew it, so there was no issue in running their weapons hot and burning through their ammunition. Still, their weapons were no match for tanks, so the robots instead did what they could to support Dahya. Soldiers and light armour were peppered, grenades used to kill troops in cover, the secondary weapons of vehicles targeted with precision bursts. They would not last long, already they were losing number, but they would give as good as they got.
Dahya herself continued her rampage, her UAV swords screaming about the field, slashing tracks and pintle weapons and any poor man standing too far in the open, shotgun thundering away as she continued cleaving into armour with swings of her axe, rocketing about with uncanny disregard for forces that would at best knock out and at worst kill a human. Most unnerving to anyone that could hear, however, was that Dahya was laughing.
The Refinery Interior
"Yohta, what do you think?"
"It is a fortified tower, ma'am." Yohta stated, her tone deadpan and clinical.
"You think there's anything worthwhile at the top?"
"Either that, or it is simply a lure to tie up resources."
"Well. It makes sense that anything of value would be at the top, no?"
"Are you suggesting we fight through it, ma'am?"
"Ha! No." the leader smiled, the grav wings on her armour flaring out. "I'm suggesting we skip the line. Flank opposite. We'll blow through the armour and see what's hiding up there."
"Yes, ma'am."
Anx with that, they were off, grav wings howling as they soared straight up the tower walls, gun barrels they passed slashed with swings of melee weapons, bounding off from the walls as, with twirls in their, their hip launchers fired into the wall armouring followed by a lancing thrust from their UAV swords, followed lastly by the Artificia themselves, swords swinging.
"Yohta, what do you think?"
"It is a fortified tower, ma'am." Yohta stated, her tone deadpan and clinical.
"You think there's anything worthwhile at the top?"
"Either that, or it is simply a lure to tie up resources."
"Well. It makes sense that anything of value would be at the top, no?"
"Are you suggesting we fight through it, ma'am?"
"Ha! No." the leader smiled, the grav wings on her armour flaring out. "I'm suggesting we skip the line. Flank opposite. We'll blow through the armour and see what's hiding up there."
"Yes, ma'am."
Anx with that, they were off, grav wings howling as they soared straight up the tower walls, gun barrels they passed slashed with swings of melee weapons, bounding off from the walls as, with twirls in their, their hip launchers fired into the wall armouring followed by a lancing thrust from their UAV swords, followed lastly by the Artificia themselves, swords swinging.
The Crashed Flagship
The defenders were seemingly running out of options now, the slow progress of the robots struggling to be stopped. It seemed they had reached some sort of command room, with various pirates shooting at them from behind computer consoles that had broken off from the now-ceiling as well as the apparent commander in the area yelling for reinforcements. The explosives were few and far between with stocks seeming to have run out, and the main defence now was Pirates on opposite sides of the command room being able to catch them in a crossfire if they advanced.
The Spaceport
The Pirates caught in the crossfire did not last long despite their efforts. Silence came now - apart from a radio one of the dead had dropped - the angry individual on the far end practically screaming into it: "Did you get them fucken robots? Respond! Respond before I come down there and make you!... What do you mean they might have died?! Listen here you'd better not have fucked this up... Oi, you who said they might be dead, thanks for volunteering to go find out where the entire garrison fucked off to!" Not too long after, a lone pirate walked around the corner, saw the mess of troops, and bolted - unwittingly telling the combined forces the direction where any surviving Pirates in the building were...
The Town
Shooting into the rigged buildings set off the explosives within, various tops of buildings collapsing into clouds of dust when hit. To the observing civilians who knew not of the Pirate explosives within, however, it seemed that the Scythan troops had started blowing up parts of the town for the sake of it. The collapsed buildings did not have any tunnel entrances, or at least not any that had survived the building collapsing on top of them. Attempting to round up the civilians did not go well - no civilian would ordinarily be happy with being rounded up and searched at gunpoint, but the destruction the Scythan troops had wrought only compounded the issue. There was much discontent within the rapidly assembling civilians, who seemed to peacefully protest by collectively refusing to yield; only making the obstruction the civilians caused to operations worse.
Of course, the Pirates had not gone away, though the civilians there were able to be searched seemed to be ordinary - and very annoyed - citizens of the town. The overt pirate attacks died down almost completely apart from the opportune ambushing of non-combat units - supplies and HQ units that had left themselves without protection, if any showed themselves. Some of the less involved civilians had begun scavenging various equipment from combat wreckage as well, these people were poor and it seemed that the scrap would be valuable to them. Apparently, the Pirates had cottoned on to the idea, as various "Scythan" soldiers in slightly bloody uniforms appeared around assembled crowds - easily noticeable to the real troops, but the civilians could tell no difference. Of course, to be so bold and open was part of their plan this time, as they took upon spraying gunfire into the civilians as soon as they realised the real Scythans wouldn't buy the disguise. It seemed they expected to be caught and killed rather than making any attempt to retreat - but were gambling they could do enough damage to make the sacrifice worthwhile.
The Refinery Gates
The Pirates could not block every small vehicle from firing at once, as the somewhat reinforced walls of the refinery began to give way - the Pirates taking to plugging gaps by ramming their own wrecked or abandoned vehicles into place, it seemed that the improvised defences would not be able to hold them back, despite the return fire. The pirates on the inside of the wall continued to try and pick off Dahya's robots as she continued to cut her way through the various vehicles, much to their annoyance. Dayha herself also found that various tank crews had taken to abandoning their vehicles before she even got to them - an enterprising few arming their ammunition racks so they could blow them up and get at Dayha that way, even if it would only slow her down.
The Refinery Interior
It did not seem that the Pirates were expecting an aerial assault as the artificians crashed into a room of flying sparks and broken electronics - that was originally an office - along with a large amount of shredded body parts. The rest of the pirates in the building sounded like they were coming to investigate the commotion and explosions.
The defenders were seemingly running out of options now, the slow progress of the robots struggling to be stopped. It seemed they had reached some sort of command room, with various pirates shooting at them from behind computer consoles that had broken off from the now-ceiling as well as the apparent commander in the area yelling for reinforcements. The explosives were few and far between with stocks seeming to have run out, and the main defence now was Pirates on opposite sides of the command room being able to catch them in a crossfire if they advanced.
The Spaceport
The Pirates caught in the crossfire did not last long despite their efforts. Silence came now - apart from a radio one of the dead had dropped - the angry individual on the far end practically screaming into it: "Did you get them fucken robots? Respond! Respond before I come down there and make you!... What do you mean they might have died?! Listen here you'd better not have fucked this up... Oi, you who said they might be dead, thanks for volunteering to go find out where the entire garrison fucked off to!" Not too long after, a lone pirate walked around the corner, saw the mess of troops, and bolted - unwittingly telling the combined forces the direction where any surviving Pirates in the building were...
The Town
Shooting into the rigged buildings set off the explosives within, various tops of buildings collapsing into clouds of dust when hit. To the observing civilians who knew not of the Pirate explosives within, however, it seemed that the Scythan troops had started blowing up parts of the town for the sake of it. The collapsed buildings did not have any tunnel entrances, or at least not any that had survived the building collapsing on top of them. Attempting to round up the civilians did not go well - no civilian would ordinarily be happy with being rounded up and searched at gunpoint, but the destruction the Scythan troops had wrought only compounded the issue. There was much discontent within the rapidly assembling civilians, who seemed to peacefully protest by collectively refusing to yield; only making the obstruction the civilians caused to operations worse.
Of course, the Pirates had not gone away, though the civilians there were able to be searched seemed to be ordinary - and very annoyed - citizens of the town. The overt pirate attacks died down almost completely apart from the opportune ambushing of non-combat units - supplies and HQ units that had left themselves without protection, if any showed themselves. Some of the less involved civilians had begun scavenging various equipment from combat wreckage as well, these people were poor and it seemed that the scrap would be valuable to them. Apparently, the Pirates had cottoned on to the idea, as various "Scythan" soldiers in slightly bloody uniforms appeared around assembled crowds - easily noticeable to the real troops, but the civilians could tell no difference. Of course, to be so bold and open was part of their plan this time, as they took upon spraying gunfire into the civilians as soon as they realised the real Scythans wouldn't buy the disguise. It seemed they expected to be caught and killed rather than making any attempt to retreat - but were gambling they could do enough damage to make the sacrifice worthwhile.
The Refinery Gates
The Pirates could not block every small vehicle from firing at once, as the somewhat reinforced walls of the refinery began to give way - the Pirates taking to plugging gaps by ramming their own wrecked or abandoned vehicles into place, it seemed that the improvised defences would not be able to hold them back, despite the return fire. The pirates on the inside of the wall continued to try and pick off Dahya's robots as she continued to cut her way through the various vehicles, much to their annoyance. Dayha herself also found that various tank crews had taken to abandoning their vehicles before she even got to them - an enterprising few arming their ammunition racks so they could blow them up and get at Dayha that way, even if it would only slow her down.
The Refinery Interior
It did not seem that the Pirates were expecting an aerial assault as the artificians crashed into a room of flying sparks and broken electronics - that was originally an office - along with a large amount of shredded body parts. The rest of the pirates in the building sounded like they were coming to investigate the commotion and explosions.
SPACEPORT
The Marines turned to pursue, but a barked order from Shikawa checked them. With the robots available, there was no point throwing away Imperial lives in breaching doors and narrow corridors.
As the machines advanced after the fleeing pirate and began to encounter resistance, the marines followed up behind them, picking off pirates whenever they exposed themselves to attack the robots, sidestepping the occasional wreckage of their automated allies. One of the tiny Jade drones had been knocked out, shredded by shrapnel, but the other two remained acting as pickets for the Imperials, ensuring that no nasty surprises got past the robots ahead to further deplete their shrunken platoon.
The Town
The Scythan troops continued their current methods of dealing with suspicious buildings - that being shooting explosives into them - irregardless of the civilian obstruction.
The removal of the civilians from the area, however, would need some new measures if it was to suceed - and new measures where provided:
The scythan troops all took out facemasks from their kit, and put them on - before a select few of the vehicles that the scythan where trying to herd the civilians into began emitting a colourless - but having a distinct earthy small - gas into the air. It wouldnt travel far, but with the scythan troops preventing the civilians from moving away from the emitters, it would be able to knock them out in short order for transport - as well as serving other purposes, later on.
The regular troops continued their rounding up of more civilians - vareful to prevent those not yet found from seeing the knocking out of their fellow townsmen.
The vehicle that has set itself up in the centre had finished its morphing by this point, and was stationary - no troops entered or left it.
The scythan troops shot the fakes on sight - seemingly knowing which ones they where upon sight, even from a long distance. They practically ignored any civilian casuelties caused by this impersination, simply placing small trays of basic medical supplies (pretty much just some bandages, nothing advanced at all) nearby them and leaving the civilians to do it.
The Refinary
With the artillery continuing their assult on the walls of the refinary, most of the main battle vehicles began to make their way forward towards the bombarded point - the ones at the front being the larger, more armoured ones. Hopefully by the time they arrived it would be weak enough that they could simply bust their way through.
The Scythan troops continued their current methods of dealing with suspicious buildings - that being shooting explosives into them - irregardless of the civilian obstruction.
The removal of the civilians from the area, however, would need some new measures if it was to suceed - and new measures where provided:
The scythan troops all took out facemasks from their kit, and put them on - before a select few of the vehicles that the scythan where trying to herd the civilians into began emitting a colourless - but having a distinct earthy small - gas into the air. It wouldnt travel far, but with the scythan troops preventing the civilians from moving away from the emitters, it would be able to knock them out in short order for transport - as well as serving other purposes, later on.
The regular troops continued their rounding up of more civilians - vareful to prevent those not yet found from seeing the knocking out of their fellow townsmen.
The vehicle that has set itself up in the centre had finished its morphing by this point, and was stationary - no troops entered or left it.
The scythan troops shot the fakes on sight - seemingly knowing which ones they where upon sight, even from a long distance. They practically ignored any civilian casuelties caused by this impersination, simply placing small trays of basic medical supplies (pretty much just some bandages, nothing advanced at all) nearby them and leaving the civilians to do it.
The Refinary
With the artillery continuing their assult on the walls of the refinary, most of the main battle vehicles began to make their way forward towards the bombarded point - the ones at the front being the larger, more armoured ones. Hopefully by the time they arrived it would be weak enough that they could simply bust their way through.
The Spaceport
The robots all but ignored the Jade infantry, focused on mopping up what was left of the pirates. Still, they did seem to notice their supporting fire, near-instantly dismissing pirates slain by their precision fire and seemingly accounted for the marines watching their flanks.
With the support of the soldiers following them, this allowed the machines to turn their full attention on the body of the survivors. They marched in unison, spreading out into a virtual wall of armoured apathetic slaughter, providing ample cover for the soldiers following them and gaps to fire through both.
The Flagship
The machines halted.
This was their objective, as far as they could tell. Only a scant few defended it now, a man screaming for support.
Support they could not allow. The machines acted with remarkable caution, single shots or controlled bursts, aiming to make use of their weapons' power to punch through thinner walls to kill defending soldiers, aiming to avoid hitting the computers. Even if they couldn't get everyone through the doorway, anyone they could would be one less pirate to threaten them.
Eventually, however, they did advance, striding in a sternly advancing line, aiming to fill the room fast and give the defenders no room to hide or reposition.
The Refinery
The robots maintained their focus, returning fire on pirate snipers, constantly circling about each other to evade explosives launched their way, though a couple turned their attention to spitting bursts at fleeing vehicle crews, though only a few now remained. Whether or not is was to dissuade them from doing so or simply out of a priority to inflict casualties was unclear.
For Dahya, however, their plan became evident when her attack aimed for a SPAAG resulted in the entire thing turning into a fireball, launching the Artificia through the air and a wall. She felt lucky blunt force wasn't much of a danger to her people, though it nonetheless took a moment for her to right herself.
Armour cooked and breached in a few places. Some of the thrusters cooked, though none outright incapacitated. A couple sensors fried. One of her hip launchers was disabled, and she had no idea where her gun had gone.
Fuck. Well, she wasn't dead, at least, the artificia chuckling as she picked her axe back up, the blade reigniting.
'Well, if they're gonna try and screw me over like that, I may as well make them do it where they won't like.'
Rather than explode back out into the open, the Artificia exploded out a different wall of the building, engines blazing on full to circle behind the advancing armour, her UAV swords racing off to attack any weapons turning to fire on her. Her intent was to give them two options; abandon everything and run, or try and distance themselves and advance, straight into the mess of abandoned and destroyed armour.
The Refinery Tower
The two Artificia were, in all honesty, a touch surprised. They had expected their grenades to blow them an entry, not obliterate every poor sod in the room. That armour wasn't as strong as they had thought, evidently.
"Hm. Nothing up here. Troubling." Yohta observed.
"Yeah. Maybe we guessed wrong. Is there anything up here at all?" the leader raised an eyebrow.
Yohta strolled to the other end of the floor, spotting some worn old signage next to the stairwell the calls of alarmed pirates were echoing up.
"Two basement floors. The bottom one has...something. It may be of interest."
"Right. Well, our little stunt there certainly drew their attention. Yohta, you think you can tie them up for me? I'm sending you command of my UAVs." the leader spoke, tapping a small screen on her arm, her two UAV swords floating over to Yohta.
"Of course, ma'am. Indoors environs lend themselves well to melee combat."
"See you down there. Don't wait around too long, hmm?" the leader chuckled, before rocketing back outside. She flew back down, swinging to explode through the tower's front door.
As for Yohta, she rolled her shoulders, readying for combat. When the sounds of pirates came near, all four UAV swords raced down, aiming to slash through as many of the defenders as possible, followed shortly by the combatant herself, plasma-edged nodachi leading the way.
The robots all but ignored the Jade infantry, focused on mopping up what was left of the pirates. Still, they did seem to notice their supporting fire, near-instantly dismissing pirates slain by their precision fire and seemingly accounted for the marines watching their flanks.
With the support of the soldiers following them, this allowed the machines to turn their full attention on the body of the survivors. They marched in unison, spreading out into a virtual wall of armoured apathetic slaughter, providing ample cover for the soldiers following them and gaps to fire through both.
The Flagship
The machines halted.
This was their objective, as far as they could tell. Only a scant few defended it now, a man screaming for support.
Support they could not allow. The machines acted with remarkable caution, single shots or controlled bursts, aiming to make use of their weapons' power to punch through thinner walls to kill defending soldiers, aiming to avoid hitting the computers. Even if they couldn't get everyone through the doorway, anyone they could would be one less pirate to threaten them.
Eventually, however, they did advance, striding in a sternly advancing line, aiming to fill the room fast and give the defenders no room to hide or reposition.
The Refinery
The robots maintained their focus, returning fire on pirate snipers, constantly circling about each other to evade explosives launched their way, though a couple turned their attention to spitting bursts at fleeing vehicle crews, though only a few now remained. Whether or not is was to dissuade them from doing so or simply out of a priority to inflict casualties was unclear.
For Dahya, however, their plan became evident when her attack aimed for a SPAAG resulted in the entire thing turning into a fireball, launching the Artificia through the air and a wall. She felt lucky blunt force wasn't much of a danger to her people, though it nonetheless took a moment for her to right herself.
Armour cooked and breached in a few places. Some of the thrusters cooked, though none outright incapacitated. A couple sensors fried. One of her hip launchers was disabled, and she had no idea where her gun had gone.
Fuck. Well, she wasn't dead, at least, the artificia chuckling as she picked her axe back up, the blade reigniting.
'Well, if they're gonna try and screw me over like that, I may as well make them do it where they won't like.'
Rather than explode back out into the open, the Artificia exploded out a different wall of the building, engines blazing on full to circle behind the advancing armour, her UAV swords racing off to attack any weapons turning to fire on her. Her intent was to give them two options; abandon everything and run, or try and distance themselves and advance, straight into the mess of abandoned and destroyed armour.
The Refinery Tower
The two Artificia were, in all honesty, a touch surprised. They had expected their grenades to blow them an entry, not obliterate every poor sod in the room. That armour wasn't as strong as they had thought, evidently.
"Hm. Nothing up here. Troubling." Yohta observed.
"Yeah. Maybe we guessed wrong. Is there anything up here at all?" the leader raised an eyebrow.
Yohta strolled to the other end of the floor, spotting some worn old signage next to the stairwell the calls of alarmed pirates were echoing up.
"Two basement floors. The bottom one has...something. It may be of interest."
"Right. Well, our little stunt there certainly drew their attention. Yohta, you think you can tie them up for me? I'm sending you command of my UAVs." the leader spoke, tapping a small screen on her arm, her two UAV swords floating over to Yohta.
"Of course, ma'am. Indoors environs lend themselves well to melee combat."
"See you down there. Don't wait around too long, hmm?" the leader chuckled, before rocketing back outside. She flew back down, swinging to explode through the tower's front door.
As for Yohta, she rolled her shoulders, readying for combat. When the sounds of pirates came near, all four UAV swords raced down, aiming to slash through as many of the defenders as possible, followed shortly by the combatant herself, plasma-edged nodachi leading the way.
The Crashed Flagship
The exchange of gunfire was brief. Silence. The commander had given up shouting, and simply rose up slowly from behind his console. He was holding an unpinned grenade in one hand, and some sort of remote device in the other, with the button already held down. Evidently he had decided to opt for a dead man's switch. "You won't be getting anything out of me, I'm afraid. I'm sure you robots are expendable, so it's hardly worth threatening your death, but unless you let me and my crew go free, there's no information coming from us."
The Spaceport
"Now listen!" barked a voice down the final corridors to the control tower to the spaceport. "We can be reasonable about this! We'll surrender rather than fight to the death. Our lives are more important to us than loyalty to the Pirate lord." The shouter was the same voice as has been heard on the radio before - evidently realising that the robots and marines had won the day, and trying to negotiate a surrender, apparently.
The Town
Chaos. The failure to do much of anything to defuse the situation had led to a riot. The civilians were unarmed, but there were a lot of them, and they were completely incensed by the Scythans who seemed to be doing more damage than Pirates at this point in time. The wave of bodies started attacking Scythans with whatever they had to hand, pushing through troops and ripping drivers out of vehicles if they could get to them - while the gas had been deployed and knocked out civilians near it, those veihlces were simply attacked out of consequence, and the population of the town spanned far beyond the small areas of gas a select few vehicles could output, and as it became apparent the gas had been deployed the civilians had improvised masks out of wrapped clothing. A few unlucky scythans had the pleasure of horribly burning to death inside their vehicles as the ubiquitous molotov cocktail found its way into an enclosed vehicle or two. A few more enterprising civilians who were broadcasting from somewhere in the town with short-ranged radios were broadcasting distress messages across the small area of the planet they could reach, advising anyone it reached that they were being attacked not by the pirates, but by the so called liberating military. Perhaps the signal could even reach the high-power recievers of the allied ships in orbit, if they were looking for signals.
All of this was good news for the Pirates, who seemed to have stopped almost completely, though the occasional explosion blowing up tanks or other Scythan equipment indicated they were using the rioting civilians to blend in and cover themselves from detection as they snuck explosives around. The vehicle in the centre was the subject of the only overt pirate action, being the target of indirect mortar fire - lobbed over the buildings with little care for collateral damage - as well as anti tank weapons fired from building windows. None of the Pirate attackers stuck around, seemingly shooting their shot or blowing up a target vehicle, before removing themselves from their firing position with haste - either into the civilian crowd or to some unknown hiding spaces.
The Refinery Gates
The assaulting Scythan vehicles took fire from Pirates on the walls from a few anti tank launchers, but it seemed that most of the Pirates in this section had tunnel visioned on Dayha. Said artifician was being shot at by 'every god damned gun we have so we can waste that bitch already' to try and finally get rid of the very annoying artifician or at least force their retreat, with anti tank and anti air launchers being fired to try and rid themselves of her. The tangle of armour attempted to turn around but without much coordination ended up stalling their position completely, with only turret-top RCWS machine guns able to do much of anything while the vehicles tried to get enough free space to turn around and fight.
The Refinery Interior
The stairwell had become a gore-well after a burst of pained screaming and sounds of metal running through flesh. Blood was sprayed on the walls, and the pile of partially dismembered corpses sat on the landing and bottom few steps. The squad of investigating pirates were very, very dead. From the sounds of shuffling below, it seemed more were ready, but dared not advance after seeing their comrades be cut down. Instead they had taken to covering the doorway from a distance, using the length of the corridor - and some proximity explosives that they hoped would disable the UAV swords as they came through - with a great deal of shotguns and SMGs trained on the area from opposite ends of the corridor it opened out into.
The leader coming in through the front door as well didn't immediately come across any pirates, most of them apparently having directed their attention upstairs, though a few automated sentry turrets could be seen covering the stairwells, placed haphazardly by the pirates rather than an installation of the building.
The exchange of gunfire was brief. Silence. The commander had given up shouting, and simply rose up slowly from behind his console. He was holding an unpinned grenade in one hand, and some sort of remote device in the other, with the button already held down. Evidently he had decided to opt for a dead man's switch. "You won't be getting anything out of me, I'm afraid. I'm sure you robots are expendable, so it's hardly worth threatening your death, but unless you let me and my crew go free, there's no information coming from us."
The Spaceport
"Now listen!" barked a voice down the final corridors to the control tower to the spaceport. "We can be reasonable about this! We'll surrender rather than fight to the death. Our lives are more important to us than loyalty to the Pirate lord." The shouter was the same voice as has been heard on the radio before - evidently realising that the robots and marines had won the day, and trying to negotiate a surrender, apparently.
The Town
Chaos. The failure to do much of anything to defuse the situation had led to a riot. The civilians were unarmed, but there were a lot of them, and they were completely incensed by the Scythans who seemed to be doing more damage than Pirates at this point in time. The wave of bodies started attacking Scythans with whatever they had to hand, pushing through troops and ripping drivers out of vehicles if they could get to them - while the gas had been deployed and knocked out civilians near it, those veihlces were simply attacked out of consequence, and the population of the town spanned far beyond the small areas of gas a select few vehicles could output, and as it became apparent the gas had been deployed the civilians had improvised masks out of wrapped clothing. A few unlucky scythans had the pleasure of horribly burning to death inside their vehicles as the ubiquitous molotov cocktail found its way into an enclosed vehicle or two. A few more enterprising civilians who were broadcasting from somewhere in the town with short-ranged radios were broadcasting distress messages across the small area of the planet they could reach, advising anyone it reached that they were being attacked not by the pirates, but by the so called liberating military. Perhaps the signal could even reach the high-power recievers of the allied ships in orbit, if they were looking for signals.
All of this was good news for the Pirates, who seemed to have stopped almost completely, though the occasional explosion blowing up tanks or other Scythan equipment indicated they were using the rioting civilians to blend in and cover themselves from detection as they snuck explosives around. The vehicle in the centre was the subject of the only overt pirate action, being the target of indirect mortar fire - lobbed over the buildings with little care for collateral damage - as well as anti tank weapons fired from building windows. None of the Pirate attackers stuck around, seemingly shooting their shot or blowing up a target vehicle, before removing themselves from their firing position with haste - either into the civilian crowd or to some unknown hiding spaces.
The Refinery Gates
The assaulting Scythan vehicles took fire from Pirates on the walls from a few anti tank launchers, but it seemed that most of the Pirates in this section had tunnel visioned on Dayha. Said artifician was being shot at by 'every god damned gun we have so we can waste that bitch already' to try and finally get rid of the very annoying artifician or at least force their retreat, with anti tank and anti air launchers being fired to try and rid themselves of her. The tangle of armour attempted to turn around but without much coordination ended up stalling their position completely, with only turret-top RCWS machine guns able to do much of anything while the vehicles tried to get enough free space to turn around and fight.
The Refinery Interior
The stairwell had become a gore-well after a burst of pained screaming and sounds of metal running through flesh. Blood was sprayed on the walls, and the pile of partially dismembered corpses sat on the landing and bottom few steps. The squad of investigating pirates were very, very dead. From the sounds of shuffling below, it seemed more were ready, but dared not advance after seeing their comrades be cut down. Instead they had taken to covering the doorway from a distance, using the length of the corridor - and some proximity explosives that they hoped would disable the UAV swords as they came through - with a great deal of shotguns and SMGs trained on the area from opposite ends of the corridor it opened out into.
The leader coming in through the front door as well didn't immediately come across any pirates, most of them apparently having directed their attention upstairs, though a few automated sentry turrets could be seen covering the stairwells, placed haphazardly by the pirates rather than an installation of the building.
THE SPACEPORT
The marines glanced at one another. Sergeant Shikawa hesitated a moment. She had no idea whether the robots would accept such a surrender, or allow her to take control of the situation, but they had little choice. She turned to one of her Marines. "Get on the horn, see if you can't make sure whichever merc is controlling these robots plays along."
She flicked open her left index finger and thumb, summoning her Holo, and issued a quick command to one of their drones. It skimmed ahead, zipping towards the control tower, and her voice was projected from the little sphere.
"This is Sergeant Shikawa of the Jade 77th Marine Regiment. Lay down your weapons and assemble in the building forecourt and you will be considered prisoners of, and under the protection and jurisdiction of, the Jade Empire of Ingen."
She shrugged as if to say "worth a shot" as Hasegawa turned a quizzical gaze on her, his face hidden by the stylized tanuki mask that made his cocked head almost funny.
The marines glanced at one another. Sergeant Shikawa hesitated a moment. She had no idea whether the robots would accept such a surrender, or allow her to take control of the situation, but they had little choice. She turned to one of her Marines. "Get on the horn, see if you can't make sure whichever merc is controlling these robots plays along."
She flicked open her left index finger and thumb, summoning her Holo, and issued a quick command to one of their drones. It skimmed ahead, zipping towards the control tower, and her voice was projected from the little sphere.
"This is Sergeant Shikawa of the Jade 77th Marine Regiment. Lay down your weapons and assemble in the building forecourt and you will be considered prisoners of, and under the protection and jurisdiction of, the Jade Empire of Ingen."
She shrugged as if to say "worth a shot" as Hasegawa turned a quizzical gaze on her, his face hidden by the stylized tanuki mask that made his cocked head almost funny.
The Town
The Scythan troops responded to the violance from the civilians in a similar way - but they had far better weaponry. They abandoned attempts to be subtle, and simply fired fully automatic weapons at any group of civilians that damaged Scythan assets, until said group stopped with their resistance or died, whichever came first.
They seemed to ignore the broudcasts from the independant civilians, although behind the scenes they where tracking them and sending troops to deal with those areas - not simply to stop the broudcasts, but because it gave away their location - and people tend to gather in groups.
The main groups of scythan troops, however, began a slow withdraw to the center of the town, and began to set up some of their artillery vehicles there - in addition to defensive lines to keep anyone from reaching them.
They also sent a short transmission to the ships of the group that sent them here:
Civilians in town are fighting us and damaging our assets, we are responding with force
This was, in no small part, incentivised by the messages being sent out by the civilians themselves - This way they had plausable deniability, however fragile it was.
The Scythan troops responded to the violance from the civilians in a similar way - but they had far better weaponry. They abandoned attempts to be subtle, and simply fired fully automatic weapons at any group of civilians that damaged Scythan assets, until said group stopped with their resistance or died, whichever came first.
They seemed to ignore the broudcasts from the independant civilians, although behind the scenes they where tracking them and sending troops to deal with those areas - not simply to stop the broudcasts, but because it gave away their location - and people tend to gather in groups.
The main groups of scythan troops, however, began a slow withdraw to the center of the town, and began to set up some of their artillery vehicles there - in addition to defensive lines to keep anyone from reaching them.
They also sent a short transmission to the ships of the group that sent them here:
Civilians in town are fighting us and damaging our assets, we are responding with force
This was, in no small part, incentivised by the messages being sent out by the civilians themselves - This way they had plausable deniability, however fragile it was.
The Refinary
The chargine vehicles at the refinary didnt stop, or slow, simply avoiding those who got taken out along the way, as they approached the heavily damaged wall area - indeed, they rammed into it and busted the remaining wall areas out of the way. Irregardless of the wreckages of those vehicles that didne make it through, the rest of the vehicles followed - abit significantly slower than the first group.
The artillery vehicles still outside of the refinary redirected their fire - aiming at the gates that connected to the now damaged railway area. A smaller group of main conbat vehicles also began moving over there - a group not large enough to stage a full assult, but significant enough to cause additional stress and distractions for the defenders.
The vehicles actually inside the refinary focused their fire on the enemies around the Artifician - although their entrance itself was likely to take pressure off. One of the vehicles that had just burst in, that had far less reaponry than its counterparts - had its sides flap down, and troops - unfolding from being packed tightly in the vehicle - emerged. They went for two goals - one being assisting their ally, but the main one being the taking over of the walls to the left and right of the breach.
The chargine vehicles at the refinary didnt stop, or slow, simply avoiding those who got taken out along the way, as they approached the heavily damaged wall area - indeed, they rammed into it and busted the remaining wall areas out of the way. Irregardless of the wreckages of those vehicles that didne make it through, the rest of the vehicles followed - abit significantly slower than the first group.
The artillery vehicles still outside of the refinary redirected their fire - aiming at the gates that connected to the now damaged railway area. A smaller group of main conbat vehicles also began moving over there - a group not large enough to stage a full assult, but significant enough to cause additional stress and distractions for the defenders.
The vehicles actually inside the refinary focused their fire on the enemies around the Artifician - although their entrance itself was likely to take pressure off. One of the vehicles that had just burst in, that had far less reaponry than its counterparts - had its sides flap down, and troops - unfolding from being packed tightly in the vehicle - emerged. They went for two goals - one being assisting their ally, but the main one being the taking over of the walls to the left and right of the breach.
The machines in the spaceport and the flagship both reacted similarly.
Namely, by not doing a great deal. The machines in the spaceport formed into the room the pirates held in, forming a semicircle facing inwards, but then they ceased. Guns remained trained and most certainly armed, but otherwise remained silent. They evidently recognised the call for surrender, and as non-sapient as they were, the ammo efficiency of not butchering a pile of surrendering pirates wasn't lost on them. They seemed content with keeping an eye on them while the Ingen troops did whatever they intended to.
The machines aboard the flagship were similar, a dozen or so cold, soulless eyes watching the survivors as their armoured hulking frames loomed over them. The machines weren't capable of speech but did know a threat when they saw one, and also a bargain.
So, the machine at the front, towering over the commander, stared at him silently for a moment, optic aperture narrowing and widening sporadically.
Then, its head turned, looking at the main bridge console, eye narrowing.
Its intent was evidently clear.
Dayha's day wasn't...well, going tremendously, spinning to avoid an anti-tank missile only for a light SAM to explode off the hull of a nearby tank, tossing the hardlight-skinned woman back, her armour soaking the explosive shrapnel but groaning in protest as she slammed into a vehicle.
"Fuck!" she swore, popping out momentarily to snap off the only two grenades remaining in her launcher, fumbling to try and reload it as she crashed behind a vehicle now serving as cover. Well. She'd taken out a lot of them, and it sounded like help had arrived. All she could hope was it was enough.
Yohta hadn't even looked at the butchered pirates as she stepped over their corpses, watching her UAV swords whip about looking for stragglers.
She got the impression that they were better-prepared than she thought when something exploded in the far hallway, one of the now-damaged swords sparked its way back to her, the Artificia sighing as the weapon clicked to her back.
Well. Her orders were to tie up the occupants, not advance all the way down. If that meant a deadlock, she was happy with that. The three UAV swords floated to sit out of sight of the far corridor, as she backed up, dropping to one knee by the stairwell back up, rifle shouldered.
Similarly, the commander got her message when something beeped and lit up as she turned a corner, several bullets embedding themselves in her armour as she swore, some thrusters launching her back out of range.
Well. They weren't totally inept, she supposed. Sighing, she checked her rifle. Intact and working. Good. She linked the digital gunsight to her helmet, poking it around the corner and letting off a burst.
This was going to slow her down. Still, Yohta seemed to be making good progress, so she had time. Probably.
Namely, by not doing a great deal. The machines in the spaceport formed into the room the pirates held in, forming a semicircle facing inwards, but then they ceased. Guns remained trained and most certainly armed, but otherwise remained silent. They evidently recognised the call for surrender, and as non-sapient as they were, the ammo efficiency of not butchering a pile of surrendering pirates wasn't lost on them. They seemed content with keeping an eye on them while the Ingen troops did whatever they intended to.
The machines aboard the flagship were similar, a dozen or so cold, soulless eyes watching the survivors as their armoured hulking frames loomed over them. The machines weren't capable of speech but did know a threat when they saw one, and also a bargain.
So, the machine at the front, towering over the commander, stared at him silently for a moment, optic aperture narrowing and widening sporadically.
Then, its head turned, looking at the main bridge console, eye narrowing.
Its intent was evidently clear.
Dayha's day wasn't...well, going tremendously, spinning to avoid an anti-tank missile only for a light SAM to explode off the hull of a nearby tank, tossing the hardlight-skinned woman back, her armour soaking the explosive shrapnel but groaning in protest as she slammed into a vehicle.
"Fuck!" she swore, popping out momentarily to snap off the only two grenades remaining in her launcher, fumbling to try and reload it as she crashed behind a vehicle now serving as cover. Well. She'd taken out a lot of them, and it sounded like help had arrived. All she could hope was it was enough.
Yohta hadn't even looked at the butchered pirates as she stepped over their corpses, watching her UAV swords whip about looking for stragglers.
She got the impression that they were better-prepared than she thought when something exploded in the far hallway, one of the now-damaged swords sparked its way back to her, the Artificia sighing as the weapon clicked to her back.
Well. Her orders were to tie up the occupants, not advance all the way down. If that meant a deadlock, she was happy with that. The three UAV swords floated to sit out of sight of the far corridor, as she backed up, dropping to one knee by the stairwell back up, rifle shouldered.
Similarly, the commander got her message when something beeped and lit up as she turned a corner, several bullets embedding themselves in her armour as she swore, some thrusters launching her back out of range.
Well. They weren't totally inept, she supposed. Sighing, she checked her rifle. Intact and working. Good. She linked the digital gunsight to her helmet, poking it around the corner and letting off a burst.
This was going to slow her down. Still, Yohta seemed to be making good progress, so she had time. Probably.
The Crashed Flagship
"I'm no expert at operating upside down." The commander indicated the computer which was still attached to the now-roof. He fidgeted in a pocket momentarily, safely putting down the grenade after reinserting the pin, and then fidgeted again before producing a piece of plastic. "This is the access key, but I wouldn't be surprised if that console is proper fucked without repairs." He slowly moved towards the door, holding the plastic key out for the robot to take, while the other hand still held a dead man's switch for something.
The Spaceport
"We were hoping for freedom rather than rotting in prison, but I suppose we don't have much of a choice here. Are the... uhm... killbots you got here onboard with this deal?" The small remaining group had placed their weapons on the floor, but didn't dare push past the robots to get to the forecourt. "And I don't know if you've seen this, but the control tower comms terminal is picking up unregistered transmissions from the local town. Seems like our forces aren't even involved... Oh, and someone also throwing video files up. I haven't got a clue what's going on over there but seems like a right clusterfuck."
The Town
The riots continued, civilians being gunned down only serving to fuel the fire. The absolute massacre the Scythans were inflicting meant that the civilians did not dare go after the large groups of them, but still congregated to attack groups that were falling back. The Pirate activity seemed to have taken much the same approach after the volley of fire at the large vehicle had been undertaken. The Pirate activity was back to almost nothing, at least not that the Scythans could see. The only much of anything in the town centre other than bloody corpses was the occasional skitter of people running past window frames - but no pirate nor civilian in the surrounding buildings was attacking, perhaps just using them for shelter if they were not involved in the fighting.
As for the radio broadcasts, it seemed there were no obvious clusters of people around those that were found, just scared civilians operating fairly primitive radio gear. Perhaps that had changed though: a single strong broadcast signal had just started being transmitted from a plaza near the outskirts on the far side of the town from the side the Scythans had initially advanced from. It would not be hard to track down, but it did not take long before the messages of distress from it were going everywhere on this area of the planet - including video of the town invasion from the start up until very recently - though nobody was stupid enough to video live. It seemed to focus mainly on interaction between civilians and the Scythans, though Pirate attacks had not been cut out. Video and images from multiple angles, even. No individual had done this; so it must be an organised transmission. And given the lack of a tall antenna, it was being broadcast by a military grade radio - the broadcast even had ECCM and anti-jamming so it wasn't even something dragged from a wreck. Whoever was broadcasting, they sook to undermine any sense of Scythan deniability with their evidence. Either they had a strong conviction, or they were stupid - but they kept broadcasting on loop, even if they knew the Scythans would come for them.
The Refinery Main Gates
Dayha had plenty of time for a reprieve or a retreat as heavy fighting and gunfire erupted across the frontage between the Scythan assault forces and the defending pirates and vehicles. Pirate forces concentrated on the breach to try and get the Scythans back out, with anti tank launchers and machine guns trying to snuff the advance in it's tracks.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The rail gate assault force found themselves engaged by a Pirate force that had been advancing to flank the Scythans itself, leading to an engagement that was a surprise for both sides while Pirate supporting forces around and crossing the railtracks rushed to reinforce their own flanking force that was ahead of them. The Scythan artillery fired away, with the engaged forces hearing a very loud BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTT-T-T ring out from inside the refinery as some of the artillery shells that had come too close to the refinery exploded midair as they were shot down. The rest of the shells blossomed explosions across the ground where the fight was taking place, but the defence system within the refinery had protected the gates.
The Refinery Interior
Yohta and the commander could also hear the gunfire of an APS inside the refinery as they continued their fight. Yohta could hear shuffling from the Pirates in the corridor - it seemed they did not care to advance much either, but there was an unshakeable feeling they might be planning something. Whatever they were doing, Yohta could not see other than a brief glimpse of movement as small metal ball was tossed into the corridor. It was evidently not a grenade, as it did not explode.
The sentries were easy for the commander to deal with once the surprise factor had worn off, and the stairway down to the first basement level was open to proceed down after a magazine or two worth of shooting around-corner guns. Down there seemed bereft of pirates. There was a blast door that was heavily scarred and burned with discarded cutting gear around it, and a heavily jury-rigged control panel for it. A sign erected by the pirates stood next to it indicated not to mess with the rigged control panel, says if anyone breaks this and locks it up again, the boss will kill them personally, apparently.
"I'm no expert at operating upside down." The commander indicated the computer which was still attached to the now-roof. He fidgeted in a pocket momentarily, safely putting down the grenade after reinserting the pin, and then fidgeted again before producing a piece of plastic. "This is the access key, but I wouldn't be surprised if that console is proper fucked without repairs." He slowly moved towards the door, holding the plastic key out for the robot to take, while the other hand still held a dead man's switch for something.
The Spaceport
"We were hoping for freedom rather than rotting in prison, but I suppose we don't have much of a choice here. Are the... uhm... killbots you got here onboard with this deal?" The small remaining group had placed their weapons on the floor, but didn't dare push past the robots to get to the forecourt. "And I don't know if you've seen this, but the control tower comms terminal is picking up unregistered transmissions from the local town. Seems like our forces aren't even involved... Oh, and someone also throwing video files up. I haven't got a clue what's going on over there but seems like a right clusterfuck."
The Town
The riots continued, civilians being gunned down only serving to fuel the fire. The absolute massacre the Scythans were inflicting meant that the civilians did not dare go after the large groups of them, but still congregated to attack groups that were falling back. The Pirate activity seemed to have taken much the same approach after the volley of fire at the large vehicle had been undertaken. The Pirate activity was back to almost nothing, at least not that the Scythans could see. The only much of anything in the town centre other than bloody corpses was the occasional skitter of people running past window frames - but no pirate nor civilian in the surrounding buildings was attacking, perhaps just using them for shelter if they were not involved in the fighting.
As for the radio broadcasts, it seemed there were no obvious clusters of people around those that were found, just scared civilians operating fairly primitive radio gear. Perhaps that had changed though: a single strong broadcast signal had just started being transmitted from a plaza near the outskirts on the far side of the town from the side the Scythans had initially advanced from. It would not be hard to track down, but it did not take long before the messages of distress from it were going everywhere on this area of the planet - including video of the town invasion from the start up until very recently - though nobody was stupid enough to video live. It seemed to focus mainly on interaction between civilians and the Scythans, though Pirate attacks had not been cut out. Video and images from multiple angles, even. No individual had done this; so it must be an organised transmission. And given the lack of a tall antenna, it was being broadcast by a military grade radio - the broadcast even had ECCM and anti-jamming so it wasn't even something dragged from a wreck. Whoever was broadcasting, they sook to undermine any sense of Scythan deniability with their evidence. Either they had a strong conviction, or they were stupid - but they kept broadcasting on loop, even if they knew the Scythans would come for them.
The Refinery Main Gates
Dayha had plenty of time for a reprieve or a retreat as heavy fighting and gunfire erupted across the frontage between the Scythan assault forces and the defending pirates and vehicles. Pirate forces concentrated on the breach to try and get the Scythans back out, with anti tank launchers and machine guns trying to snuff the advance in it's tracks.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The rail gate assault force found themselves engaged by a Pirate force that had been advancing to flank the Scythans itself, leading to an engagement that was a surprise for both sides while Pirate supporting forces around and crossing the railtracks rushed to reinforce their own flanking force that was ahead of them. The Scythan artillery fired away, with the engaged forces hearing a very loud BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTT-T-T ring out from inside the refinery as some of the artillery shells that had come too close to the refinery exploded midair as they were shot down. The rest of the shells blossomed explosions across the ground where the fight was taking place, but the defence system within the refinery had protected the gates.
The Refinery Interior
Yohta and the commander could also hear the gunfire of an APS inside the refinery as they continued their fight. Yohta could hear shuffling from the Pirates in the corridor - it seemed they did not care to advance much either, but there was an unshakeable feeling they might be planning something. Whatever they were doing, Yohta could not see other than a brief glimpse of movement as small metal ball was tossed into the corridor. It was evidently not a grenade, as it did not explode.
The sentries were easy for the commander to deal with once the surprise factor had worn off, and the stairway down to the first basement level was open to proceed down after a magazine or two worth of shooting around-corner guns. Down there seemed bereft of pirates. There was a blast door that was heavily scarred and burned with discarded cutting gear around it, and a heavily jury-rigged control panel for it. A sign erected by the pirates stood next to it indicated not to mess with the rigged control panel, says if anyone breaks this and locks it up again, the boss will kill them personally, apparently.
SPACEPORT
Shikawa raised an eyebrow. "We don't always get what we wish for, huh?"
Her marines hustled forwards, the glittering points of their spear-guns menacing the pirates as they corralled them and moved them back through the ruins. Trashcan had finally completed repairs and was already making its first run to evacuate the two rescued prisoners, whilst the surviving marines held the pirates in the shadow of a half-stripped freighter that had clearly been being taken down for parts.
"Those two poor sods we found in the toilets. Did you have any part in that?" Shikawa asked the talkative pirate, her tone suggesting she already knew the answer.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
"Sir, we're picking up some concerning transmissions from the surface." reported one of Steiner's bridge crew. She linked him the files and he pulled them up on his monitor. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her upturned face watching him anxiously.
The video showed Scythan troops mowing down civilians, first using tear gas and indiscriminately destroying buildings before turning fully-automatic weapons on the largely unarmed crowds.
He turned his baleful gaze to the system situational view. Although the Scythans had lost a frigate and one of the cruisers had been badly damaged in the initial fighting, they still had a second cruiser, a destroyer and other assets in-system against his solitary frigate. As for ground assets, he had very little to work with compared to their flood of infantry and vehicles - his single platoon of marines had already taken losses storming the spaceport, and was in the process of exfiltrating with prisoners and rescued civilians. He sighed, and placed a quiet call to the Kokubusho, before straightening his cap and activating a videocall to the Scythans.
"This is Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy. I must formally protest at your treatment of the civilians below and demand you withdraw your forces immediately."
Shikawa raised an eyebrow. "We don't always get what we wish for, huh?"
Her marines hustled forwards, the glittering points of their spear-guns menacing the pirates as they corralled them and moved them back through the ruins. Trashcan had finally completed repairs and was already making its first run to evacuate the two rescued prisoners, whilst the surviving marines held the pirates in the shadow of a half-stripped freighter that had clearly been being taken down for parts.
"Those two poor sods we found in the toilets. Did you have any part in that?" Shikawa asked the talkative pirate, her tone suggesting she already knew the answer.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
"Sir, we're picking up some concerning transmissions from the surface." reported one of Steiner's bridge crew. She linked him the files and he pulled them up on his monitor. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her upturned face watching him anxiously.
The video showed Scythan troops mowing down civilians, first using tear gas and indiscriminately destroying buildings before turning fully-automatic weapons on the largely unarmed crowds.
He turned his baleful gaze to the system situational view. Although the Scythans had lost a frigate and one of the cruisers had been badly damaged in the initial fighting, they still had a second cruiser, a destroyer and other assets in-system against his solitary frigate. As for ground assets, he had very little to work with compared to their flood of infantry and vehicles - his single platoon of marines had already taken losses storming the spaceport, and was in the process of exfiltrating with prisoners and rescued civilians. He sighed, and placed a quiet call to the Kokubusho, before straightening his cap and activating a videocall to the Scythans.
"This is Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy. I must formally protest at your treatment of the civilians below and demand you withdraw your forces immediately."
The Refinery
At the Refinery, the troops at the main breach had at this point stopped their advance - and instead focused on setting up some more defensive positions inside the walls of the refinery itself. Some of their vehicles stopped moving altogether, setting down supports into the ground, anchoring themselves to bombard the enemy.
They don't stop sending troops in, however, even if it is slowed. THe infantry troops continued their efforts to take over the walls - and the aforementioned bombardment vehicles focused their fire on the areas to the sides, instead of firing further into the Refinery.
The flanking team, even after taking not insignificant losses from the surprise meeting, quickly also stopped their advance. They began to fire upon the approaching enemies, although they didn't yet send reinforcements - they would only do so if they started to lose, this army was fighting a defensive action, not an offensive one.
The artillery bombardment on the town gates slowed, but did not stop.
At the Refinery, the troops at the main breach had at this point stopped their advance - and instead focused on setting up some more defensive positions inside the walls of the refinery itself. Some of their vehicles stopped moving altogether, setting down supports into the ground, anchoring themselves to bombard the enemy.
They don't stop sending troops in, however, even if it is slowed. THe infantry troops continued their efforts to take over the walls - and the aforementioned bombardment vehicles focused their fire on the areas to the sides, instead of firing further into the Refinery.
The flanking team, even after taking not insignificant losses from the surprise meeting, quickly also stopped their advance. They began to fire upon the approaching enemies, although they didn't yet send reinforcements - they would only do so if they started to lose, this army was fighting a defensive action, not an offensive one.
The artillery bombardment on the town gates slowed, but did not stop.
The Town
The Scythan forces had, by this point, almost all withdrawn to the center of the town, except for a few teams that were straggling behind - although a decent amount of those fell to the human wave of civilians. They - in a reflection of almost all their other positions at this time - began to set up defensive positions, shooting around at approaching enemies.
They also began to clear a large space in the middle of the formation, even destroying a few buildings to make more room. This area was fully emptied of any Scythan troops or vehicles, although was still defended well.
The artillery vehicles both inside and outside of the town restarted their bombardment, aiming for known groups of “enemies”, as well as for where the higher quality transmissions were coming from.
The Scythan forces had, by this point, almost all withdrawn to the center of the town, except for a few teams that were straggling behind - although a decent amount of those fell to the human wave of civilians. They - in a reflection of almost all their other positions at this time - began to set up defensive positions, shooting around at approaching enemies.
They also began to clear a large space in the middle of the formation, even destroying a few buildings to make more room. This area was fully emptied of any Scythan troops or vehicles, although was still defended well.
The artillery vehicles both inside and outside of the town restarted their bombardment, aiming for known groups of “enemies”, as well as for where the higher quality transmissions were coming from.
In Space
The commander of the Scythan forces replied to the Ingen transmission from his command vessel. He appeared unperturbed by the actions of his soldiers:
“If they had surrendered, they would have been released after a three day holding period for processing. As it is, we would still be pleased with this outcome, but we will not allow our forces to be overrun by the common civilians without active response.”
He stood in silence, waiting for a reply.
As he says this, a small object (small for a ship based object, still of significant size) disconnects from the cruiser and starts heading down towards the planet - heading for the town.
The commander of the Scythan forces replied to the Ingen transmission from his command vessel. He appeared unperturbed by the actions of his soldiers:
“If they had surrendered, they would have been released after a three day holding period for processing. As it is, we would still be pleased with this outcome, but we will not allow our forces to be overrun by the common civilians without active response.”
He stood in silence, waiting for a reply.
As he says this, a small object (small for a ship based object, still of significant size) disconnects from the cruiser and starts heading down towards the planet - heading for the town.
SPACEPORT
With the pirates being corralled, only a couple robots remained to watch them and make sure they didn't try anything on the Jade troops. The rest pressed on, looking to inspect what the situation beyond the spaceport was like.
THE STARSHIP
The robot reached out, and for a moment it looked like it was lining up the heavy machine gun mounted on its arm. That was, before a fat-fingered claw clamped with remarkable tenderness onto the key card.
Sure enough though, the machines otherwise didn't seem to obstruct the pirates, though they did watch them closely. The machine that had taken the access card and another turned their attention to the console, working together to reach it.
With the pirates being corralled, only a couple robots remained to watch them and make sure they didn't try anything on the Jade troops. The rest pressed on, looking to inspect what the situation beyond the spaceport was like.
THE STARSHIP
The robot reached out, and for a moment it looked like it was lining up the heavy machine gun mounted on its arm. That was, before a fat-fingered claw clamped with remarkable tenderness onto the key card.
Sure enough though, the machines otherwise didn't seem to obstruct the pirates, though they did watch them closely. The machine that had taken the access card and another turned their attention to the console, working together to reach it.
IN SPACE
High above, 'Erma' was watching everything unfold with a mild sense of annoyance. His robots had helped secure the spaceport and had virtually handled everything on the starship, but the town was an absolute mess. He ultimately didn't care for the lives of the civilians; at the end of the day his objective was still the field testing of the prototype suits and their new Robotic heavy infantry, but he was still pretending to care.
He made an exasperated sigh, before opening comms.
"This is Erma, Task Force Zeta. Unless you'd like to make this situation worse than it already is, I suggest you call off your attack immediately. This is already problematic enough."
THE REFINERY GATES
"Well, things are fuckin well picking up now." Dahya grumbled, doing her best to fix her suit as much as she could. She wasn't exactly an engineer, and was regretting sleeping through the instruction on system bypasses. When it came to her hip launchers, she'd reloaded the empty one, and resorted to hammering the damaged one with her fist.
"Cmon--you--son of--a---bitch!" she grunted, before the device hummed, a light in her HUD turning green.
"Aha! Got you!" she laughed, grinning. Deciding she'd let the distraction give her enough breathing room, Dahya's rockets reignited, launching herself off in a weaving assault, opening with a grenade volley as she screamed to cut down the pirates with machine guns and AT weapons. The Scythans had helped her, it was only fitting she help them in turn.
THE COMMAND TOWER
Yohta watched the ball with a look of curiosity. She had no idea what it was. She likely didn't have a need for staying here much longer anyway. Still, that meant someone was nearby.
Sighing, one of her launchers tilted, firing a grenade down the hallway.
The commander took a moment to register all this, snorting with a smirk at the warning, moving to the jury rigged control panel, looking for any particularly clear open button or an access port to get into the computers guts directly.
High above, 'Erma' was watching everything unfold with a mild sense of annoyance. His robots had helped secure the spaceport and had virtually handled everything on the starship, but the town was an absolute mess. He ultimately didn't care for the lives of the civilians; at the end of the day his objective was still the field testing of the prototype suits and their new Robotic heavy infantry, but he was still pretending to care.
He made an exasperated sigh, before opening comms.
"This is Erma, Task Force Zeta. Unless you'd like to make this situation worse than it already is, I suggest you call off your attack immediately. This is already problematic enough."
THE REFINERY GATES
"Well, things are fuckin well picking up now." Dahya grumbled, doing her best to fix her suit as much as she could. She wasn't exactly an engineer, and was regretting sleeping through the instruction on system bypasses. When it came to her hip launchers, she'd reloaded the empty one, and resorted to hammering the damaged one with her fist.
"Cmon--you--son of--a---bitch!" she grunted, before the device hummed, a light in her HUD turning green.
"Aha! Got you!" she laughed, grinning. Deciding she'd let the distraction give her enough breathing room, Dahya's rockets reignited, launching herself off in a weaving assault, opening with a grenade volley as she screamed to cut down the pirates with machine guns and AT weapons. The Scythans had helped her, it was only fitting she help them in turn.
THE COMMAND TOWER
Yohta watched the ball with a look of curiosity. She had no idea what it was. She likely didn't have a need for staying here much longer anyway. Still, that meant someone was nearby.
Sighing, one of her launchers tilted, firing a grenade down the hallway.
The commander took a moment to register all this, snorting with a smirk at the warning, moving to the jury rigged control panel, looking for any particularly clear open button or an access port to get into the computers guts directly.
The Crashed Flagship
The Pirates had started taking their leave, those who were still alive, anyway. The console was upside down and had obviously suffered some damage, but it seemed that the access card was genuine as the terminal tried to flicker to life. It seemed that it was struggling from the damaged electrics throughout the ship.
The Spaceport
"Now, I didn't have any personal involvement - those who did are probably decorating the walls now. I'm not stupid enough to fake ignorance, we all knew about the prisoners there. Guys who brought them here said they took them from the town." The pirates stood in nervous silence for a moment. "Look, we want to go free and we'll sell out the the Pirate Lord over yonder for it."
The robots that made it outside could see the charred remains of the previously burning fuel trucks, as well as the wreckage of many smaller buildings. It seemed the larger hangars had survived the nuclear detonation that the Ingen had inflicted upon the area, but there was no activity around them.
The Town
A final transmission indicated that the broadcasters were being bombarded, citing the Scythans trying to excuse war crimes, before it cut to static. Either the position had been hit or it had been abandoned. The civilian riots continued, and could be heard protesting at the Scythans, but they had grown wary of charging into the gun lines.
The question of Pirate activity, however, was answered. Several missiles struck out from among various buildings. The pirates had obviously been using the chaos to their advantage, using areas that the civilians had involuntarily cleared out for them to set up launchers. They were not weapons of attack, but rather hypersonic anti-missiles to take out the incoming object.
The Refinery Gates
It seemed the pirate perimeter was struggling with a combined assault, but the pause had allowed them to take the initiative and they struck back at various vehicles that were now anchored and unable to move with antitank weapons, and paying particular attention to the returning Dahya. The local commander obviously had a particular dislike for her, an order intercepted on communications reading "Kill her, and do it quickly before I kill you and do it myself."
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The fighting on the flank slowed as both sides seemed content with stalling the other for now, the occasional firing from the APS inside the refinery punctuated the air as it continued intercepting artillery shells that came too close. It seemed that the pirates had their own reasons for being content with a dead heat - they were protecting repairs to the tracks, though it now seemed that it might well be a retreat corridor they were fighting to keep open than a method of attack.
The Refinery Interior
The Pirates waiting for Yohta seemed forewarned of the grenade as those near it dove aside to avoid the blast. Yohta however, found herself under attack as the stairwell wall exploded in a shower of concrete as pirates with combat shotguns shredded into it, having known which section of wall they could shoot to get her.
There was button that the pirates had nailgunned into the console by force with 'OPEN DOOR' marked on it crudely. Whether or not it was actually functional in doing this was for the commander to determine.
The Pirates had started taking their leave, those who were still alive, anyway. The console was upside down and had obviously suffered some damage, but it seemed that the access card was genuine as the terminal tried to flicker to life. It seemed that it was struggling from the damaged electrics throughout the ship.
The Spaceport
"Now, I didn't have any personal involvement - those who did are probably decorating the walls now. I'm not stupid enough to fake ignorance, we all knew about the prisoners there. Guys who brought them here said they took them from the town." The pirates stood in nervous silence for a moment. "Look, we want to go free and we'll sell out the the Pirate Lord over yonder for it."
The robots that made it outside could see the charred remains of the previously burning fuel trucks, as well as the wreckage of many smaller buildings. It seemed the larger hangars had survived the nuclear detonation that the Ingen had inflicted upon the area, but there was no activity around them.
The Town
A final transmission indicated that the broadcasters were being bombarded, citing the Scythans trying to excuse war crimes, before it cut to static. Either the position had been hit or it had been abandoned. The civilian riots continued, and could be heard protesting at the Scythans, but they had grown wary of charging into the gun lines.
The question of Pirate activity, however, was answered. Several missiles struck out from among various buildings. The pirates had obviously been using the chaos to their advantage, using areas that the civilians had involuntarily cleared out for them to set up launchers. They were not weapons of attack, but rather hypersonic anti-missiles to take out the incoming object.
The Refinery Gates
It seemed the pirate perimeter was struggling with a combined assault, but the pause had allowed them to take the initiative and they struck back at various vehicles that were now anchored and unable to move with antitank weapons, and paying particular attention to the returning Dahya. The local commander obviously had a particular dislike for her, an order intercepted on communications reading "Kill her, and do it quickly before I kill you and do it myself."
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The fighting on the flank slowed as both sides seemed content with stalling the other for now, the occasional firing from the APS inside the refinery punctuated the air as it continued intercepting artillery shells that came too close. It seemed that the pirates had their own reasons for being content with a dead heat - they were protecting repairs to the tracks, though it now seemed that it might well be a retreat corridor they were fighting to keep open than a method of attack.
The Refinery Interior
The Pirates waiting for Yohta seemed forewarned of the grenade as those near it dove aside to avoid the blast. Yohta however, found herself under attack as the stairwell wall exploded in a shower of concrete as pirates with combat shotguns shredded into it, having known which section of wall they could shoot to get her.
There was button that the pirates had nailgunned into the console by force with 'OPEN DOOR' marked on it crudely. Whether or not it was actually functional in doing this was for the commander to determine.
SPACEPORT
Shikawa raised an eyebrow, though the pirates were unable to see it. After staring towards the town for a moment, she glanced upward at the sound of the shuttle's return.
"Sorry friend, but there's no deals to be made today. We're all getting out of here, right now. I think things are going to get messier planetside before they get better."
As the Trashcan settled to a hover, Shikawa and her marines bustled the pirates and rescued prisoners aboard, the pirates cuffed and menaced with weapons still. The doors sliding shut, the shuttle began to lift off again, heading back for the Tower of Dusk
IN ORBIT
Steiner chewed his lip. He did not want to sit idly by and do nothing, but at the same time it was no small thing to confront another nation's military over civilians he was not legally bound to defend.
"This is Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy. I say again; withdraw your forces immediately. You are endangering the mission objectives and committing murder."
He opened a short-range communication to 'Erma'.
"This is Captain Steiner. The Scythans do not appear to be relenting. Are you willing to intervene?"
Between them, they had two frigates and two destroyers against the Scythan cruiser and destroyer. Relatively even odds, but not fantastic, and certainly not enough to guarantee success.
Shikawa raised an eyebrow, though the pirates were unable to see it. After staring towards the town for a moment, she glanced upward at the sound of the shuttle's return.
"Sorry friend, but there's no deals to be made today. We're all getting out of here, right now. I think things are going to get messier planetside before they get better."
As the Trashcan settled to a hover, Shikawa and her marines bustled the pirates and rescued prisoners aboard, the pirates cuffed and menaced with weapons still. The doors sliding shut, the shuttle began to lift off again, heading back for the Tower of Dusk
IN ORBIT
Steiner chewed his lip. He did not want to sit idly by and do nothing, but at the same time it was no small thing to confront another nation's military over civilians he was not legally bound to defend.
"This is Captain Steiner of the Imperial Jade Navy. I say again; withdraw your forces immediately. You are endangering the mission objectives and committing murder."
He opened a short-range communication to 'Erma'.
"This is Captain Steiner. The Scythans do not appear to be relenting. Are you willing to intervene?"
Between them, they had two frigates and two destroyers against the Scythan cruiser and destroyer. Relatively even odds, but not fantastic, and certainly not enough to guarantee success.
Space
The Scythan response to the Ingen is more accommodating this time - seeing the mass opinion is against them:
A nonlethal solution is in process, that should allow us to incapacitate both the civilians and pirates for processing. Please delay any undue reaction until its completion.
Town
Inside the town reinforcement of position continues in the center of the town - and at the border where they initially landed. Their forces in said center are splitting into five groups - one large one and four sub groups.
The large mass that came from the ship takes a significant amount of fire from the missiles on its way in - although said positions swiftly came under fire from the scythan artillery. It managed to lang in the middle of their formation, although somewhat damaged and listing to the side a little.
It unwrapped into four segments, which each had their own independent movement systems. One of them simply lay there, smoking, its movement systems seemingly not working - and it had likely taken further damage as well.
The other three, however, began to move out towards three points equidistant from each other towards the edge of the town. One of the smaller - although still significantly large - escort forces moved with them, with tanks in front, behind, and to the sides - not to mention some AA forces - two vehicles for each formation - near the segment itself.
The main group and the damaged segment stayed stationary, with the extra escort remicing into the main defenses. THey redirected some of their mortar fire towards positions that looked to be the destinations of the moving groups - right at the edge of the town.
Refinery Gates
They continued to centralise their positions - losing vehicles to the oncoming AT fire, but replacing those that they could - and just positioning more ground troops where they could not.
Most of the ground troops, however, instead made it their goal to take over the wall even further - spreading out along it en mass, and taking positions where they count. THey focused on heading towards the entrance where the tracks were - possibly trying to prevent whatever was happening there, from happening.
Refinery Flank
They began to try and push forwards - seemingly accenting the additional losses to try and reach the tracks area. Their bombardment remained focused there - even if they were almost all shot down, if some of them got through that would delay their opponent for at least a while - longer for their forces to reach them.
The scythan troops took heavy fire as they advanced to try and push back the enemy flank - seemingly not using much strategy at all, and merely moving forward in heavy vehicles and relying on their armour and numbers to gain an advantage.
The Scythan response to the Ingen is more accommodating this time - seeing the mass opinion is against them:
A nonlethal solution is in process, that should allow us to incapacitate both the civilians and pirates for processing. Please delay any undue reaction until its completion.
Town
Inside the town reinforcement of position continues in the center of the town - and at the border where they initially landed. Their forces in said center are splitting into five groups - one large one and four sub groups.
The large mass that came from the ship takes a significant amount of fire from the missiles on its way in - although said positions swiftly came under fire from the scythan artillery. It managed to lang in the middle of their formation, although somewhat damaged and listing to the side a little.
It unwrapped into four segments, which each had their own independent movement systems. One of them simply lay there, smoking, its movement systems seemingly not working - and it had likely taken further damage as well.
The other three, however, began to move out towards three points equidistant from each other towards the edge of the town. One of the smaller - although still significantly large - escort forces moved with them, with tanks in front, behind, and to the sides - not to mention some AA forces - two vehicles for each formation - near the segment itself.
The main group and the damaged segment stayed stationary, with the extra escort remicing into the main defenses. THey redirected some of their mortar fire towards positions that looked to be the destinations of the moving groups - right at the edge of the town.
Refinery Gates
They continued to centralise their positions - losing vehicles to the oncoming AT fire, but replacing those that they could - and just positioning more ground troops where they could not.
Most of the ground troops, however, instead made it their goal to take over the wall even further - spreading out along it en mass, and taking positions where they count. THey focused on heading towards the entrance where the tracks were - possibly trying to prevent whatever was happening there, from happening.
Refinery Flank
They began to try and push forwards - seemingly accenting the additional losses to try and reach the tracks area. Their bombardment remained focused there - even if they were almost all shot down, if some of them got through that would delay their opponent for at least a while - longer for their forces to reach them.
The scythan troops took heavy fire as they advanced to try and push back the enemy flank - seemingly not using much strategy at all, and merely moving forward in heavy vehicles and relying on their armour and numbers to gain an advantage.
Aboard the crashed flagship, the robots watched, though a couple tailed the pirates to keep an eye on them. Unfortunately for those watching the console, waiting for it to come online enough to draw anything of use from it, none of them were engineers.
The lead robot promptly gave it a sharp whack to the side. Percussive maintenance, as it were.
With the pirates in the spaceport dealt with, the remaining robots gathered at the way to the town, pausing for a minute before, as one in a dispersed formation, advancing towards the town. No rest for the robotic.
High above, 'Erma' grunted, unsure how to react to the Scythan response. The Tower of Dusk, meanwhile, was tightbeamed a response.
"If needs must. I don't want to endanger my crew more than necessary and I don't want to risk the stranding of my ground team, but I will intervene if I have to."
The lead robot promptly gave it a sharp whack to the side. Percussive maintenance, as it were.
With the pirates in the spaceport dealt with, the remaining robots gathered at the way to the town, pausing for a minute before, as one in a dispersed formation, advancing towards the town. No rest for the robotic.
High above, 'Erma' grunted, unsure how to react to the Scythan response. The Tower of Dusk, meanwhile, was tightbeamed a response.
"If needs must. I don't want to endanger my crew more than necessary and I don't want to risk the stranding of my ground team, but I will intervene if I have to."
At the gates, Dahya continued her weaving attack, dodging between vehicles and buildings, her UAV swords now doubling as ADS, as the pirates would learn as a TOW fired at the woman was shorn clean in half by the whipping blue form of a plasma edge, the blade zipping back around to attack the actual weapon next. Grenades and rifle shots cracked out, Dahya continuing to harry and harass. Between her and the Scythans, an opening to get close would have to come eventually.
Yohta, for the first time, swore since arrival, her thrusters erupting in a wild mass of rocket flame as her suit warned her of buckshot ripping rents into the armour, her helmet left with a crack that exposed a blue light from underneath. The shotguns were returned by the low, heavy thuds of a heavy marksman rifle as Yohta cracked fire in return, launching a grenade through the steadily disintegrating wall before she rocketed back to the top floor, her UAV swords following suit and clicking back onto her armour.
Shit. That didn't go too well. Well, she'd drawn their attention for a while. Yohta decided to regroup.
"Commander, this is Yohta. I'm coming back. Should I go to you or Dahya?"
"Hmm... Gimme a moment, and I'll have an answer for you."
Underground, the Commander was still wary of pirate tricks. Rocketing back to the stairwell, the Artifician woman backed up just out of sight, before one of her UAV swords flew over, pressing the button with its hilt end.
Yohta, for the first time, swore since arrival, her thrusters erupting in a wild mass of rocket flame as her suit warned her of buckshot ripping rents into the armour, her helmet left with a crack that exposed a blue light from underneath. The shotguns were returned by the low, heavy thuds of a heavy marksman rifle as Yohta cracked fire in return, launching a grenade through the steadily disintegrating wall before she rocketed back to the top floor, her UAV swords following suit and clicking back onto her armour.
Shit. That didn't go too well. Well, she'd drawn their attention for a while. Yohta decided to regroup.
"Commander, this is Yohta. I'm coming back. Should I go to you or Dahya?"
"Hmm... Gimme a moment, and I'll have an answer for you."
Underground, the Commander was still wary of pirate tricks. Rocketing back to the stairwell, the Artifician woman backed up just out of sight, before one of her UAV swords flew over, pressing the button with its hilt end.
The Crashed Flagship
The pirates were confusedly finding their way out. The console sparked when hit, before a 'low power mode ' light lit on the side of it and a basic interface showed up.
The Town
The protesting civilians would certainly slow down progress for the escorted columns, but that was not the main issue they would have to contend with, as they neared the further edges of their route the leading tanks started hitting anti tank mines that had been hastily placed in their path, but obscured by civilian crowds protesting until it would be too late. There was an unshakeable feeling in the air that something worse was to come.
The Refinery Gates
The heavy fighting continued with the pirates slowly losing ground and starting to retreat back into the refinery itself, but for now at least a tactical fallback rather than a full scale rout. Dahya would have little trouble with fire being directed less densely as the pirates began to thin. Until, however, a railgun shot whizzed by and punched through the wall behind her followed by the sonic boom of the high velocity weapon being fired. A pirate with a piece of more advanced technology seemed to have decided to try and take her out.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The Pirates were more wise to the artillery with another APS lighting up the sky, this time a laser one from nearby the railtracks themselves. The Pirates were meeting the reinforcements with their own, determined to keep the Scythans away, even supplemented partially by some of the retreated forces from the main front.
The Refinery Interior
The pirates were not able to take advantage from Yohta's retreat as they scrambled to avoid the grenade, and Yohta would have ample time to get herself clear as long as she wasn't too slow about it.
The door controls sparked. Following this was a sound like someone hitting the door with a wrench along with muffled swearing, before it opened to show an 'engineer' on the far side who had quite literally being hitting it with a wrench, which she dropped as she saw the commander. They were otherwise unarmed and stood there in a somewhat shocked state.
The pirates were confusedly finding their way out. The console sparked when hit, before a 'low power mode ' light lit on the side of it and a basic interface showed up.
The Town
The protesting civilians would certainly slow down progress for the escorted columns, but that was not the main issue they would have to contend with, as they neared the further edges of their route the leading tanks started hitting anti tank mines that had been hastily placed in their path, but obscured by civilian crowds protesting until it would be too late. There was an unshakeable feeling in the air that something worse was to come.
The Refinery Gates
The heavy fighting continued with the pirates slowly losing ground and starting to retreat back into the refinery itself, but for now at least a tactical fallback rather than a full scale rout. Dahya would have little trouble with fire being directed less densely as the pirates began to thin. Until, however, a railgun shot whizzed by and punched through the wall behind her followed by the sonic boom of the high velocity weapon being fired. A pirate with a piece of more advanced technology seemed to have decided to try and take her out.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The Pirates were more wise to the artillery with another APS lighting up the sky, this time a laser one from nearby the railtracks themselves. The Pirates were meeting the reinforcements with their own, determined to keep the Scythans away, even supplemented partially by some of the retreated forces from the main front.
The Refinery Interior
The pirates were not able to take advantage from Yohta's retreat as they scrambled to avoid the grenade, and Yohta would have ample time to get herself clear as long as she wasn't too slow about it.
The door controls sparked. Following this was a sound like someone hitting the door with a wrench along with muffled swearing, before it opened to show an 'engineer' on the far side who had quite literally being hitting it with a wrench, which she dropped as she saw the commander. They were otherwise unarmed and stood there in a somewhat shocked state.
The Town
The escort groups started sending almost empty troop transports instead of the main convoys to soak up the mines, and shooting anyone who approached said convoys, but otherwise simply continued on as before, almost having reached the edge of the town - where they would stop, and setup, facing back into the town, surrounded by their escorts - this, of course, being dependant on their arrival there.
In the center, the ground around the area shook a little - as a scythan vehicle started drilling down into the ground about a dozen feet. Said vehicle seemed specialised to do this task, although it was amost identical in general appearance to the regular tanks - apart from its lack of weapons.
The Refinary Gates
The scythan soldiers at the flank merely faught harder - although taking heavy losses. Seeing the enemy reinforcements, they called for backup from the main scythan group attacking the Refinary.
The Refinary Interior
And some of said group responded, moving to reinforce. The main group, however, continued to hold their ground for a small while longer before pushing on - and began to setup artillery on the walls themselves, seemingly intending to use such to push further when they decided to attack
In Space
The less damaged scythan cruiser was now positioned over the town - not close over, pretty far away, still in space. A large dish was emerging from the underside, pointing towards said town. It matched up to similar ones on the segmants now in the town, although those where far smaller. It didnt act, simply waiting.
The escort groups started sending almost empty troop transports instead of the main convoys to soak up the mines, and shooting anyone who approached said convoys, but otherwise simply continued on as before, almost having reached the edge of the town - where they would stop, and setup, facing back into the town, surrounded by their escorts - this, of course, being dependant on their arrival there.
In the center, the ground around the area shook a little - as a scythan vehicle started drilling down into the ground about a dozen feet. Said vehicle seemed specialised to do this task, although it was amost identical in general appearance to the regular tanks - apart from its lack of weapons.
The Refinary Gates
The scythan soldiers at the flank merely faught harder - although taking heavy losses. Seeing the enemy reinforcements, they called for backup from the main scythan group attacking the Refinary.
The Refinary Interior
And some of said group responded, moving to reinforce. The main group, however, continued to hold their ground for a small while longer before pushing on - and began to setup artillery on the walls themselves, seemingly intending to use such to push further when they decided to attack
In Space
The less damaged scythan cruiser was now positioned over the town - not close over, pretty far away, still in space. A large dish was emerging from the underside, pointing towards said town. It matched up to similar ones on the segmants now in the town, although those where far smaller. It didnt act, simply waiting.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
Steiner weighed up his options as the Trashcan glid smoothly into the hangar bay. He still had Micomitl missiles in his launch tubes, and he could always attempt the same maneuver he had employed when first arriving in-system. His frigate could accelerate, unleash a punishing volley against the enemy cruiser that was currently vulnerable in orbit, and then leave before its escorts could overwhelm him.
It was tempting, but a moment's consideration decided him against the action. Even if he could pull it off perfectly, all it would achieve would be to start a war against these Scythans. The enemy infantry would almost certainly become more aggressive and panicked in their actions, taking that out on the civilians, and the falling debris from the cruiser could do untold damage to the town below.
He sighed and gave the order for the ship to begin moving away from the planet, out of the zone of hostilities. He did, however, dump a KanshoCorp probe behind the frigate as it began to exfiltrate
Steiner weighed up his options as the Trashcan glid smoothly into the hangar bay. He still had Micomitl missiles in his launch tubes, and he could always attempt the same maneuver he had employed when first arriving in-system. His frigate could accelerate, unleash a punishing volley against the enemy cruiser that was currently vulnerable in orbit, and then leave before its escorts could overwhelm him.
It was tempting, but a moment's consideration decided him against the action. Even if he could pull it off perfectly, all it would achieve would be to start a war against these Scythans. The enemy infantry would almost certainly become more aggressive and panicked in their actions, taking that out on the civilians, and the falling debris from the cruiser could do untold damage to the town below.
He sighed and gave the order for the ship to begin moving away from the planet, out of the zone of hostilities. He did, however, dump a KanshoCorp probe behind the frigate as it began to exfiltrate
The Flagship and Spaceport
The machines continued to keep an eye on the pirate. The one working with the console, seeing it respond, reached a hand up, jamming an access plug into a port, attempting to search for info of value.
The machines continued their way into the town, marching in a V formation. While they marched in perfect lockstep, there was plenty enough room for people to walk between them, evidently not to come across as some impassable wall hemming civilians in.
The machines continued to keep an eye on the pirate. The one working with the console, seeing it respond, reached a hand up, jamming an access plug into a port, attempting to search for info of value.
The machines continued their way into the town, marching in a V formation. While they marched in perfect lockstep, there was plenty enough room for people to walk between them, evidently not to come across as some impassable wall hemming civilians in.
The Gates
"Shit!" Dahya swore, becoming a ball of thruster fire as the shot whizzed past, spinning to a halt in a kick of dust out of sight. "Fuck me, what was that? An anti-materiel? Balls." she hissed, shaking her head.
This was taking too long. With all the back and forth spray of bullets and the chaos, it was giving the defenders too much time to shift and respond. They needed to knock a front off this fight.
Fortunately, Dahya's armour was perfectly suited for just that. Erupting again into a streak of fire, Dahya roared up to the wall, blasting up with it a scream of thruster fire and whistling air, sailing above the battleground before burning back down, landing on the wall with a twirl of flames and thick dust, her armoured boots grinding to a halt as she now stood in the way of the pirates retreating along the wall.
"G'day, ladies and gentlemen! You all like to party?" she grinned invisibly as she rose, bringing her axe up as her UAV sword crossed in front of it. Two cylinders on her back came to life, glowing brightly as they spun slowly, retracting slightly into the armour. Energy flowed in excess into the suit, lines on the arms lighting up bright as the plasma axe flared with redoubled fury.
"Then let's dance!" she declared, her thrusters blasting as she fired into their ranks, aiming to trap them between her axe and the Scythan advance, axe leading with wild abandon.
"Shit!" Dahya swore, becoming a ball of thruster fire as the shot whizzed past, spinning to a halt in a kick of dust out of sight. "Fuck me, what was that? An anti-materiel? Balls." she hissed, shaking her head.
This was taking too long. With all the back and forth spray of bullets and the chaos, it was giving the defenders too much time to shift and respond. They needed to knock a front off this fight.
Fortunately, Dahya's armour was perfectly suited for just that. Erupting again into a streak of fire, Dahya roared up to the wall, blasting up with it a scream of thruster fire and whistling air, sailing above the battleground before burning back down, landing on the wall with a twirl of flames and thick dust, her armoured boots grinding to a halt as she now stood in the way of the pirates retreating along the wall.
"G'day, ladies and gentlemen! You all like to party?" she grinned invisibly as she rose, bringing her axe up as her UAV sword crossed in front of it. Two cylinders on her back came to life, glowing brightly as they spun slowly, retracting slightly into the armour. Energy flowed in excess into the suit, lines on the arms lighting up bright as the plasma axe flared with redoubled fury.
"Then let's dance!" she declared, her thrusters blasting as she fired into their ranks, aiming to trap them between her axe and the Scythan advance, axe leading with wild abandon.
The Tower
Sure enough, Yohta didn't hang about. The pirates were still following her--cautiously, she hoped, and they were still on the top floor. She backed up to the hole she and the commander had made, stepping up onto the misshapen metal.
"Ta-ra," she said simply, toppling backwards and out of the tower. Yohta allowed herself to fall, graciously, before her thrusters ignited, slowing the woman to a speed she and her suit would survive as she landed, following now at a quickened pace in the trail of the commander.
Said commander poked back into view, hands still on weapons and UAV swords still floating.
"G'day there buddy." she started. "You a local? Why were you stuck behind that door?"
Sure enough, Yohta didn't hang about. The pirates were still following her--cautiously, she hoped, and they were still on the top floor. She backed up to the hole she and the commander had made, stepping up onto the misshapen metal.
"Ta-ra," she said simply, toppling backwards and out of the tower. Yohta allowed herself to fall, graciously, before her thrusters ignited, slowing the woman to a speed she and her suit would survive as she landed, following now at a quickened pace in the trail of the commander.
Said commander poked back into view, hands still on weapons and UAV swords still floating.
"G'day there buddy." she started. "You a local? Why were you stuck behind that door?"
The Crashed Flagship
The most immediately accessible data were the logs - the ship's 'black box' device - the most recent one indicated the very short trip that had just taken place. Beyond that, some basic information and communication was available, though the actual transmitters and receivers themselves had been melted into slag by the nuclear detonations.
The Town
The Artifician-deployed robots could see fleeing civilians from the town - those who had not wanted to fight - come into view as well as the shattered skyline of the town itself, though the civilians themselves kept well clear as the robots approached.
As the convoys neared the edge of the town, having ablated the mines, it looked as though they were in the clear before they were ambushed - demolition charges collapsing the buildings at both ends of the convoys, as well as across side streets, and in some cases buildings even came down on top of the convoy vehicles themselves. The ambushes were uncannily synchronised between all of the convoys with the detonation of the explosives, followed by a brief moment of silence while dust settled. The pause was short lived before anti-tank rockets came from the remaining buildings on either side of the narrow streets, almost exclusively aimed at the special vehicles while automatic gunfire raked anyone trying to disembark their vehicles. The attackers did not stay long, as soon as they destroyed their target or the Scythans began effectively responding, the forces made a retreat into the streets.
As for the vehicle in the centre, the ground was dug into with relative ease, though it had managed to cut into buried utility pipes - buried shallow into the ground. The water pipes themselves were empty - cut elsewhere from the artillery, and the electricity likewise. The gas however, could be smelt. Whether or not the gas pipe had gotten lucky or the someone had purposely repaired it was a different question. Fortunately, with the breach near the centre, the improvised explosives and molotov cocktails that the civilians were using against outwardly venturing Scythan forces posed no danger of getting near it. Beyond that, the drilling had gone smoothly.
The Refinery Gates/Interior
With the Pirate defence faltering, some of the Scythans diverting to the flank was the opportunity they needed to halt their retreat before it became a full-on rout, and the force was able to begin to hold firm once again, with mortar fire from further into the refinery coming down onto the area they had lost, and ferocious gunfire coming from some of the refinery buildings they were retreating into. Dahya had cut off some of the Pirates and they were rapidly redistributed into a sticky coat of red paint on that section of wall as they lacked much of anything to do about her attack, though again came the sonic boom of the railgun being fired. Dayha was not hit, but the hole clean through the wall just in front of her just as she landed from her jetpack indicated that the shot would have run clean through her if she had made the landing moments later.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The Pirates lost some ground to the coming Scythan reinforcements before more of their own came to prevent a complete loss. With this many reinforcements coming to defend this area, they had surely drained their defenses elsewhere of their garrison force. The sounds of a train were once again roaring from inside the refinery - it seemed that if escape was their plan, presumably the pirate leaders planned on escaping without bothering to wait for their currently engaged forces.
The Refinery Interior
"The boss told you not to fuck with the door, read the goddamn sign!" The 'engineer' however also scribbled something in large text on a piece of paper 'Can't talk, Pirates down there.' gestured to behind them. 'Local. Door fucked - Pirates broke. Tried to fix.' Yohta also had the opportunity to see the sign as they joined the commander without much interruption.
In Space
A familiar sight of the ship that had met them appeared, with interdiction raised as well once it had settled in-system.How goes the reclamation? Those damn pirates disposed of yet? The transmission was only a text entry, broadcast on wideband, as the ship stayed safely away from orbit of the planet itself but seemed to be monitoring the situation.
The most immediately accessible data were the logs - the ship's 'black box' device - the most recent one indicated the very short trip that had just taken place. Beyond that, some basic information and communication was available, though the actual transmitters and receivers themselves had been melted into slag by the nuclear detonations.
The Town
The Artifician-deployed robots could see fleeing civilians from the town - those who had not wanted to fight - come into view as well as the shattered skyline of the town itself, though the civilians themselves kept well clear as the robots approached.
As the convoys neared the edge of the town, having ablated the mines, it looked as though they were in the clear before they were ambushed - demolition charges collapsing the buildings at both ends of the convoys, as well as across side streets, and in some cases buildings even came down on top of the convoy vehicles themselves. The ambushes were uncannily synchronised between all of the convoys with the detonation of the explosives, followed by a brief moment of silence while dust settled. The pause was short lived before anti-tank rockets came from the remaining buildings on either side of the narrow streets, almost exclusively aimed at the special vehicles while automatic gunfire raked anyone trying to disembark their vehicles. The attackers did not stay long, as soon as they destroyed their target or the Scythans began effectively responding, the forces made a retreat into the streets.
As for the vehicle in the centre, the ground was dug into with relative ease, though it had managed to cut into buried utility pipes - buried shallow into the ground. The water pipes themselves were empty - cut elsewhere from the artillery, and the electricity likewise. The gas however, could be smelt. Whether or not the gas pipe had gotten lucky or the someone had purposely repaired it was a different question. Fortunately, with the breach near the centre, the improvised explosives and molotov cocktails that the civilians were using against outwardly venturing Scythan forces posed no danger of getting near it. Beyond that, the drilling had gone smoothly.
The Refinery Gates/Interior
With the Pirate defence faltering, some of the Scythans diverting to the flank was the opportunity they needed to halt their retreat before it became a full-on rout, and the force was able to begin to hold firm once again, with mortar fire from further into the refinery coming down onto the area they had lost, and ferocious gunfire coming from some of the refinery buildings they were retreating into. Dahya had cut off some of the Pirates and they were rapidly redistributed into a sticky coat of red paint on that section of wall as they lacked much of anything to do about her attack, though again came the sonic boom of the railgun being fired. Dayha was not hit, but the hole clean through the wall just in front of her just as she landed from her jetpack indicated that the shot would have run clean through her if she had made the landing moments later.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
The Pirates lost some ground to the coming Scythan reinforcements before more of their own came to prevent a complete loss. With this many reinforcements coming to defend this area, they had surely drained their defenses elsewhere of their garrison force. The sounds of a train were once again roaring from inside the refinery - it seemed that if escape was their plan, presumably the pirate leaders planned on escaping without bothering to wait for their currently engaged forces.
The Refinery Interior
"The boss told you not to fuck with the door, read the goddamn sign!" The 'engineer' however also scribbled something in large text on a piece of paper 'Can't talk, Pirates down there.' gestured to behind them. 'Local. Door fucked - Pirates broke. Tried to fix.' Yohta also had the opportunity to see the sign as they joined the commander without much interruption.
In Space
A familiar sight of the ship that had met them appeared, with interdiction raised as well once it had settled in-system.How goes the reclamation? Those damn pirates disposed of yet? The transmission was only a text entry, broadcast on wideband, as the ship stayed safely away from orbit of the planet itself but seemed to be monitoring the situation.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
Steiner responded rapidly to the hail, his exhausted visage betraying his weariness at the situation.
"Captain Steiner, IJN. We have two prisoners rescued from the pirates aboard and would like to transfer them to your custody. The spaceport and enemy naval assets have been captured with minimal collateral damage. The operations at the population center and refinery, led by the Scythans, are a different matter."
As he spoke, Tower transmitted a packet containing all the previous distress calls from the civilians as well as the IJN's own records on the matter. A shuttle prepared itself, readying to transfer the two traumatised prisoners, both of whom had been fed, showered and provided with clean, loose-fitting yellow clothing.
Steiner responded rapidly to the hail, his exhausted visage betraying his weariness at the situation.
"Captain Steiner, IJN. We have two prisoners rescued from the pirates aboard and would like to transfer them to your custody. The spaceport and enemy naval assets have been captured with minimal collateral damage. The operations at the population center and refinery, led by the Scythans, are a different matter."
As he spoke, Tower transmitted a packet containing all the previous distress calls from the civilians as well as the IJN's own records on the matter. A shuttle prepared itself, readying to transfer the two traumatised prisoners, both of whom had been fed, showered and provided with clean, loose-fitting yellow clothing.
Town Center
The troops in the center continued standing guard - the machine drilling in the center, however, stopped its digging after a good few meters, and sent something down the hole. A few troops where also sent down to fix up the gas leaks, although it was not performed with any real urgency.
Town edges
One of the large contraptions was simply blown up - whether by the failier of its defenders, or simply bad luck, not to be known. Its defenders retreated back to the center after seeing it was damaged beyond repair. Of the others, one of them was sifficiantly damaged enough to require towing to the edge of the Town, where it setup - and the other managed to make it through with merely superficial damage.
ALthough one of them was damaged, the two at the edge of the town where eventually turned around to face the main group at the center - and began to send waves from one to the other. All those within the radius - which unfortunately was now limited to about a third of the town, due to fallen transports and machinery - began feeling tired, and lethargic, likely to fall asleep within a few minues - although a strong willed specimin could very well last a good deal longer, with an hour not being unheard of.
Refinary Gates
At the refinary gates, they mostly switched to a holding action once it was clear that an advantage was not being gained - instead trying to setup more long range weapons pointing at the tracks in front of the gates - waiting for the train to emerge.
Refinary interior
The Scythan troops in the refinary itself also delayed - seemingly waiting for the results of the outer conflict before deciding upon which course of action to take. They continued setting up their smaller artillery on the walls, and laying down surpressing fire upon the Pirates.
In space
The object in space over the town was interacting with the ones on the gorund in much the same way, although larger and longer range.
Their transmission back to the ship was simple:
Refinary and Town still in progress
The troops in the center continued standing guard - the machine drilling in the center, however, stopped its digging after a good few meters, and sent something down the hole. A few troops where also sent down to fix up the gas leaks, although it was not performed with any real urgency.
Town edges
One of the large contraptions was simply blown up - whether by the failier of its defenders, or simply bad luck, not to be known. Its defenders retreated back to the center after seeing it was damaged beyond repair. Of the others, one of them was sifficiantly damaged enough to require towing to the edge of the Town, where it setup - and the other managed to make it through with merely superficial damage.
ALthough one of them was damaged, the two at the edge of the town where eventually turned around to face the main group at the center - and began to send waves from one to the other. All those within the radius - which unfortunately was now limited to about a third of the town, due to fallen transports and machinery - began feeling tired, and lethargic, likely to fall asleep within a few minues - although a strong willed specimin could very well last a good deal longer, with an hour not being unheard of.
Refinary Gates
At the refinary gates, they mostly switched to a holding action once it was clear that an advantage was not being gained - instead trying to setup more long range weapons pointing at the tracks in front of the gates - waiting for the train to emerge.
Refinary interior
The Scythan troops in the refinary itself also delayed - seemingly waiting for the results of the outer conflict before deciding upon which course of action to take. They continued setting up their smaller artillery on the walls, and laying down surpressing fire upon the Pirates.
In space
The object in space over the town was interacting with the ones on the gorund in much the same way, although larger and longer range.
Their transmission back to the ship was simple:
Refinary and Town still in progress
The machine accessing communications immediately begun reviewing and downloading the logs; if critical information was anywhere on this battered computer, it was likely there.
As for those entering the town, they made no particular gesture to the civilians, only slightly slowing down as they neared crowds of fleeing people. The gaps between the machines was more than enough to let at least two people abreast pass through them, allowing people to escape past the robotic line if they so wished.
The Refinery Gates
"Fuck!" Dayha swore as the shot exploded through, scrambling away from where the shot had narrowly made mincemeat of her. Well, the wall was no longer a priority, and seeing as they were the ones currently fighting alongside her, the armoured Artificia sent a comms ping to the Scythans indicating that the wall was now clear. That left whoever the fuck had a problem with her.
The Artificia approached the hole, her helmet figuring out roughly if not with pinpoint precision the direction the bullet had been flying before she rocketed skyward, making some loose blasts in random directions to throw off the aim of anyone trying their hand at improvised AA. The woman followed after the path her helmet told her the shot had taken, looking for where a sniper might hide, snapping a couple grenades at the pirates trying to rebuild their defence as she went.
As for those entering the town, they made no particular gesture to the civilians, only slightly slowing down as they neared crowds of fleeing people. The gaps between the machines was more than enough to let at least two people abreast pass through them, allowing people to escape past the robotic line if they so wished.
The Refinery Gates
"Fuck!" Dayha swore as the shot exploded through, scrambling away from where the shot had narrowly made mincemeat of her. Well, the wall was no longer a priority, and seeing as they were the ones currently fighting alongside her, the armoured Artificia sent a comms ping to the Scythans indicating that the wall was now clear. That left whoever the fuck had a problem with her.
The Artificia approached the hole, her helmet figuring out roughly if not with pinpoint precision the direction the bullet had been flying before she rocketed skyward, making some loose blasts in random directions to throw off the aim of anyone trying their hand at improvised AA. The woman followed after the path her helmet told her the shot had taken, looking for where a sniper might hide, snapping a couple grenades at the pirates trying to rebuild their defence as she went.
The Interior
The Commander made note of this, approaching slowly and making sure not to make too much noise. She did her best to put on a voice, her helmet thankfully concealing the synthesised edge to her voice, Yohta keeping watch on their exit.
"The boss can kiss my ass with his crappy door, we're getting the shit kicked out of us out there!" she called back, making sure to sound like someone was answering but not so loud that her voice could readily be understood from beyond the room, before leaning in close.
"How many?"
The Commander made note of this, approaching slowly and making sure not to make too much noise. She did her best to put on a voice, her helmet thankfully concealing the synthesised edge to her voice, Yohta keeping watch on their exit.
"The boss can kiss my ass with his crappy door, we're getting the shit kicked out of us out there!" she called back, making sure to sound like someone was answering but not so loud that her voice could readily be understood from beyond the room, before leaning in close.
"How many?"
In space
The Artifician frigate replied simply, 'Ermas' voice coming through.
"The spaceport and a crashed pirate cruiser are both secured, though we have troubling reports from the town. The refinery itself is contested, but going well."
The Crashed Flagship
There were a few logs on communications with timestamps between the ship going down and a few hours before the allied fleets arrived, apparently between the captain of this ship and other high-rank sounding pirates.
The Town
The robots entered the town and the civilians were rioting as the communications had foretold those receiving them. The civilians did not seem to engage directly though, evidently out of fear of being gunned down as their gestures indicated.
Those remaining 2 beacons were operational but it seemed that they had not escaped being attacked as mortar shells landed amidst their position. The mortars came in bursts, evidently indicating they were either firing and moving or that there were multiple groups taking turns to fire. After a few bursts of fire the fire stopped completely, evidently in anticipation of the results. The civilians who felt lethargic were evidently starting to calm or end up taking themselves out of the area of effect simply by virtue of looking for somewhere to take a rest.
At the center, however, there was an issue. The gas was quite strongly pressurised - either a main gas line or it was being pressurised either by malice or by lines being blocked elsewhere.
The Refinery Gates
The offensive at the refinery gates had turned into a defensive as Pirates began to counterattack the Scythan positions with their gathered strength, firing machine guns and some light mortar fire over buildings onto the scythans, as well as anti tank missiles at the walls they were standing on, trying to demolish them under the Scythans. As for Dayha, it seemed likely that a sniper would be hiding in a particular building, when another shot came from the direction of a different building, pointedly aimed at Dayha's flight assistance systems, but it would be a difficult shot with her in midair.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
It was quiet for now, but the engines of the train seemed like they had spun up and it would emerge soon as Pirate forces made an aggressive move forwards at the Scythans and their position. They attacked with the entire strength of their flank while the sound of movement came from inside the refinery. It picked up into a crescendo as a train that was picking up significant speed smashed the gates themselves off their mountings as it came forth. This train was certainly no longer a mere heavy duty cargo train as the pirates had festooned it with a great many weapons systems with everything for rotary machine guns to those that looked like they had a chance of hitting low orbit spacecraft.
Refinery Interior
"Six." Came the whispered reply, before the much louder one. "Your funeral, go down there and say it to his lieutenant, I dare ya!" A louder, booming voice came from within. "Say WHAT to me? Come down 'ere so I can make it real clear who's in charge."
In Space
Captain Steiner, I shall have to check with the company legal team about the prisoners you rescued. Annoying bureaucracy, I know. In the meantime perhaps you can show your friends in the town how to operate without me having to look up the penalties for warcrimes in local law. The tone of the next message was a lot less polite. Yes, 'in progress' puts it rather lightly. Kill. The. Pirates. And. Avoid. Civilian. Casualties. Can't be that hard to pull off if pirates in other areas have already been dispatched. The last group was then addressed. Good. Did the cruiser have anything useful inside? Don't want them stealing our company secrets now, do we?
There were a few logs on communications with timestamps between the ship going down and a few hours before the allied fleets arrived, apparently between the captain of this ship and other high-rank sounding pirates.
The Town
The robots entered the town and the civilians were rioting as the communications had foretold those receiving them. The civilians did not seem to engage directly though, evidently out of fear of being gunned down as their gestures indicated.
Those remaining 2 beacons were operational but it seemed that they had not escaped being attacked as mortar shells landed amidst their position. The mortars came in bursts, evidently indicating they were either firing and moving or that there were multiple groups taking turns to fire. After a few bursts of fire the fire stopped completely, evidently in anticipation of the results. The civilians who felt lethargic were evidently starting to calm or end up taking themselves out of the area of effect simply by virtue of looking for somewhere to take a rest.
At the center, however, there was an issue. The gas was quite strongly pressurised - either a main gas line or it was being pressurised either by malice or by lines being blocked elsewhere.
The Refinery Gates
The offensive at the refinery gates had turned into a defensive as Pirates began to counterattack the Scythan positions with their gathered strength, firing machine guns and some light mortar fire over buildings onto the scythans, as well as anti tank missiles at the walls they were standing on, trying to demolish them under the Scythans. As for Dayha, it seemed likely that a sniper would be hiding in a particular building, when another shot came from the direction of a different building, pointedly aimed at Dayha's flight assistance systems, but it would be a difficult shot with her in midair.
The Refinery Railside Gates Flank
It was quiet for now, but the engines of the train seemed like they had spun up and it would emerge soon as Pirate forces made an aggressive move forwards at the Scythans and their position. They attacked with the entire strength of their flank while the sound of movement came from inside the refinery. It picked up into a crescendo as a train that was picking up significant speed smashed the gates themselves off their mountings as it came forth. This train was certainly no longer a mere heavy duty cargo train as the pirates had festooned it with a great many weapons systems with everything for rotary machine guns to those that looked like they had a chance of hitting low orbit spacecraft.
Refinery Interior
"Six." Came the whispered reply, before the much louder one. "Your funeral, go down there and say it to his lieutenant, I dare ya!" A louder, booming voice came from within. "Say WHAT to me? Come down 'ere so I can make it real clear who's in charge."
In Space
Captain Steiner, I shall have to check with the company legal team about the prisoners you rescued. Annoying bureaucracy, I know. In the meantime perhaps you can show your friends in the town how to operate without me having to look up the penalties for warcrimes in local law. The tone of the next message was a lot less polite. Yes, 'in progress' puts it rather lightly. Kill. The. Pirates. And. Avoid. Civilian. Casualties. Can't be that hard to pull off if pirates in other areas have already been dispatched. The last group was then addressed. Good. Did the cruiser have anything useful inside? Don't want them stealing our company secrets now, do we?
IN SPACE
The IJN Tower of Dusk came to a stop, the glow of its engines fading slightly.
"That's a negative, I am afraid. My away team is no longer mission effective; unless you want us to deliver an orbital strike to the planet surface there is not much we can do."
From its belly a shuttle launched, heading for the company vessel with the two rescued POWs.
The IJN Tower of Dusk came to a stop, the glow of its engines fading slightly.
"That's a negative, I am afraid. My away team is no longer mission effective; unless you want us to deliver an orbital strike to the planet surface there is not much we can do."
From its belly a shuttle launched, heading for the company vessel with the two rescued POWs.
The Town
Those who fell asleep within the radius wouldent wake up - even if removed from said radius. The setups themselves, however, had started to take damage from the mortar fire - not enough to take either of them out of commision, at least not yet, but the damage was accumilating.
The troops at the center began to send their own mortar fire at those who revealed their position by shooting at the outer emplacements.
At the leak, the withdrew the forces from around it, although leaving the troops trying to block it - who doubled down their efforts - also leaving the thing that they lowered into the ground.
One vehicle from around the area starterd to move towards the leak, one with a large tank on its back. It was unloading a gas of its own into another similar vehicle, to empty its tanks.
Refinary Gates
At the gates, while they lose men to the enemy assult, they respond in kind - returning mortar fire upon the enemies upon them - although less the before, due to their losses. They also begin massing troops behind buildings and the like for another attempt at an assult.
Refinary Flank
Only placeholder shots are sent against the armoured train itself - seemingly waiting for something else to take action against it. Instead, they focus their efforts on dealing with the enemy troops that had just attacked them - instead of trying to push forward, they focus on dealing as many casuelties as possible.
In Space
They dont respond to the further missive from the ship - instead moving two of their frigates toward the train that had just departed from the Refinary. They would have the range advantage, and there where only so many destinations the train could go to - it was, after all, on tracks.
Those who fell asleep within the radius wouldent wake up - even if removed from said radius. The setups themselves, however, had started to take damage from the mortar fire - not enough to take either of them out of commision, at least not yet, but the damage was accumilating.
The troops at the center began to send their own mortar fire at those who revealed their position by shooting at the outer emplacements.
At the leak, the withdrew the forces from around it, although leaving the troops trying to block it - who doubled down their efforts - also leaving the thing that they lowered into the ground.
One vehicle from around the area starterd to move towards the leak, one with a large tank on its back. It was unloading a gas of its own into another similar vehicle, to empty its tanks.
Refinary Gates
At the gates, while they lose men to the enemy assult, they respond in kind - returning mortar fire upon the enemies upon them - although less the before, due to their losses. They also begin massing troops behind buildings and the like for another attempt at an assult.
Refinary Flank
Only placeholder shots are sent against the armoured train itself - seemingly waiting for something else to take action against it. Instead, they focus their efforts on dealing with the enemy troops that had just attacked them - instead of trying to push forward, they focus on dealing as many casuelties as possible.
In Space
They dont respond to the further missive from the ship - instead moving two of their frigates toward the train that had just departed from the Refinary. They would have the range advantage, and there where only so many destinations the train could go to - it was, after all, on tracks.
Aboard the flagship, the logs were downloaded immediately, beamed to Erma's vessel high above, the ship beginning to decrypt them with an AI transcribing them and feeding that to his tablet.
"Nothing of the sort, from what we can find. Mostly just status logs, distribution of orders to lesser subordinates, things like that. The ship must have taken a beating in its crash, my troops have found heavy damage to its mainframe. I suspect anything of real value to you or them was lost in either that or a system purge. If we find anything, I'll let you know." Erma replied.
He had no exact reason to distrust the people who had called for his very aid, but the more silent freedom he and his troops had in their operations, the better. Less distrust, he supposed, and more a unwillingness to engage in likely civilian beauracracy. He didn't need people breathing down his neck.
The commander smirked invisibly under her helmet, the angular head of armour leaning towards the engineer.
"I think me and my companion can handle six pirates." she whispered, confidence in her tone, as she strode past towards the other voice, UAV swords readied as she levelled her rifle. Yohta, following, gave the engineer a polite nod as she walked by.
As for Dahya, she swore again, becoming a spiralling blur of rocket flare as the sniper round tore a rent in her armour, spall scattering off into the distance.
"Fucker!" she spat, her UAV sword flying to her hand, her armoured glove closing around the flight ring as, with a swing of her arm and a blast of rocket exhaust, she flung it at the window the latest shot had come from, a couple shots from her shotgun racing off ahead of it. As for her, gripping her axe tightly, she flew towards her original target, racing in in a blaze of plasma and fury.
The machines entering the town were not blind to the civilians they had come across, nor were they blind to their apparent distress.
Reports of what the Scythans were doing had reached them, and they knew it wasn't because of them, exactly.
Still. Marching through a crowd of upset people wouldn't likely go well for them.
The machines came to a halt, singular eyes scanning the locals in front of them.
At once, they lowered some, drooping and tilting their armoured heads down, lowering their arm weapons, an effort to display non-hostility.
"Nothing of the sort, from what we can find. Mostly just status logs, distribution of orders to lesser subordinates, things like that. The ship must have taken a beating in its crash, my troops have found heavy damage to its mainframe. I suspect anything of real value to you or them was lost in either that or a system purge. If we find anything, I'll let you know." Erma replied.
He had no exact reason to distrust the people who had called for his very aid, but the more silent freedom he and his troops had in their operations, the better. Less distrust, he supposed, and more a unwillingness to engage in likely civilian beauracracy. He didn't need people breathing down his neck.
The commander smirked invisibly under her helmet, the angular head of armour leaning towards the engineer.
"I think me and my companion can handle six pirates." she whispered, confidence in her tone, as she strode past towards the other voice, UAV swords readied as she levelled her rifle. Yohta, following, gave the engineer a polite nod as she walked by.
As for Dahya, she swore again, becoming a spiralling blur of rocket flare as the sniper round tore a rent in her armour, spall scattering off into the distance.
"Fucker!" she spat, her UAV sword flying to her hand, her armoured glove closing around the flight ring as, with a swing of her arm and a blast of rocket exhaust, she flung it at the window the latest shot had come from, a couple shots from her shotgun racing off ahead of it. As for her, gripping her axe tightly, she flew towards her original target, racing in in a blaze of plasma and fury.
The machines entering the town were not blind to the civilians they had come across, nor were they blind to their apparent distress.
Reports of what the Scythans were doing had reached them, and they knew it wasn't because of them, exactly.
Still. Marching through a crowd of upset people wouldn't likely go well for them.
The machines came to a halt, singular eyes scanning the locals in front of them.
At once, they lowered some, drooping and tilting their armoured heads down, lowering their arm weapons, an effort to display non-hostility.
The Town
The fleeing civilians whilst still wary of the robots were gradually starting to avoid them less as they fled, some glaring at them confusedly, not having seen robots much before.
The accumulating damage obviously spurred the pirates to continue skirmishing with indirect fire despite the losses they were likely taking, not bothering to counterbattery but keeping their focus on the objects the Scythans had brought. Civilians whether by noticing lethargy or by the fighting in the area had started to filter out of it. At the central area, the gas continued to build in pressure and was becoming hotter - a sign that gas somewhere in the pipes had caught fire and was burning.
The Refinery
At the frontal gates the pirates were taking losses in kind as their counterattack began to run out of steam while at the flank the pirates continued to push with parting shots from the armoured train supported them as it began to build speed, but noticeably was very long - the pirates had got multiple normal trains worth of cars attached onto it, everything from fairly 'normal' cars to cars that had been stripped down almost completely to mount heavy weapons. As the cars passed everything from machine-gun fire to artillery fired off at the Scythan positions on the flank. It was certainly something to behold - a vehicle of warfare outdated by centuries or even millennia modified with modern technology. Well, maybe less modern since it was stolen.
The UAV sword Dahya had deployed saw a figure seemingly melt away running through the building as it approached, while Dahya herself could see a remote controlled railgun turret as she charged the original position. An individual or a team had got themselves some stolen stealth suits to fight with, and some remote installations they could manipulate.
The Refinery Interior
The commander and Yohta could indeed probably defeat six pirates who had guns pointed at the doorway, though it was only a half-effort to intimidate the pirates they were expecting to be able to beat up so they hadn't even taken cover. The only complication was that this seemed like some sort of control room with a lot of expensive electronics in it. The kind that wouldn't react well to being hit with weapons fire.
The Armoured Train
The train continued to increase in speed at the front while its rear cars gave their parting shots to the Scythan positions. The Pirate Lord Haleran was quite proud of it, but he suspected it would only delay his defeat now - they had expected to use it to smite any militia that tried causing problems rather than military units. Nevertheless, he watched systems light up - a mismatch of high tech systems they had looted and some they had built themselves. They were not as ready as he would have liked but his hand had been rather forced. No failures, but they were taking time to be brought to readiness...
...But what he did need in the near term was completely ready to dish out a rather nasty surprise to 'those bastards in orbit', thankfully for him. A pair of cars there were entirely stripped down to their chassis and had large railguns on them strained their hydraulics as they rose to point skyward, ammunition feeds clicking as the first slug came into place. "Destroy them!" was the command given as they began to rapid fire rocket assisted munitions into orbit against the frigates heading to make an intercept, leaving streaks of flash heated burning sky as the shots plasmised the atmosphere around them from sheer speed alone. It seemed that out of whatever arsenal had 'donated' these to the pirates, they were the top of the pile.
In Space
That shall be noted. I can start filling the paperwork on your efforts. I am able to recieve the prisoners and detain them until they can be returned to their intended purpose once those other pirates have been dealt with. Your trigger happy friends seem rather silent so that may be a while... A brief pause before another communique was sent to 'Erma': Yes, I suppose that is to be expected. Unfortunately anything they stole the only copies of might not be recoverable. Carry on.
The fleeing civilians whilst still wary of the robots were gradually starting to avoid them less as they fled, some glaring at them confusedly, not having seen robots much before.
The accumulating damage obviously spurred the pirates to continue skirmishing with indirect fire despite the losses they were likely taking, not bothering to counterbattery but keeping their focus on the objects the Scythans had brought. Civilians whether by noticing lethargy or by the fighting in the area had started to filter out of it. At the central area, the gas continued to build in pressure and was becoming hotter - a sign that gas somewhere in the pipes had caught fire and was burning.
The Refinery
At the frontal gates the pirates were taking losses in kind as their counterattack began to run out of steam while at the flank the pirates continued to push with parting shots from the armoured train supported them as it began to build speed, but noticeably was very long - the pirates had got multiple normal trains worth of cars attached onto it, everything from fairly 'normal' cars to cars that had been stripped down almost completely to mount heavy weapons. As the cars passed everything from machine-gun fire to artillery fired off at the Scythan positions on the flank. It was certainly something to behold - a vehicle of warfare outdated by centuries or even millennia modified with modern technology. Well, maybe less modern since it was stolen.
The UAV sword Dahya had deployed saw a figure seemingly melt away running through the building as it approached, while Dahya herself could see a remote controlled railgun turret as she charged the original position. An individual or a team had got themselves some stolen stealth suits to fight with, and some remote installations they could manipulate.
The Refinery Interior
The commander and Yohta could indeed probably defeat six pirates who had guns pointed at the doorway, though it was only a half-effort to intimidate the pirates they were expecting to be able to beat up so they hadn't even taken cover. The only complication was that this seemed like some sort of control room with a lot of expensive electronics in it. The kind that wouldn't react well to being hit with weapons fire.
The Armoured Train
The train continued to increase in speed at the front while its rear cars gave their parting shots to the Scythan positions. The Pirate Lord Haleran was quite proud of it, but he suspected it would only delay his defeat now - they had expected to use it to smite any militia that tried causing problems rather than military units. Nevertheless, he watched systems light up - a mismatch of high tech systems they had looted and some they had built themselves. They were not as ready as he would have liked but his hand had been rather forced. No failures, but they were taking time to be brought to readiness...
...But what he did need in the near term was completely ready to dish out a rather nasty surprise to 'those bastards in orbit', thankfully for him. A pair of cars there were entirely stripped down to their chassis and had large railguns on them strained their hydraulics as they rose to point skyward, ammunition feeds clicking as the first slug came into place. "Destroy them!" was the command given as they began to rapid fire rocket assisted munitions into orbit against the frigates heading to make an intercept, leaving streaks of flash heated burning sky as the shots plasmised the atmosphere around them from sheer speed alone. It seemed that out of whatever arsenal had 'donated' these to the pirates, they were the top of the pile.
In Space
That shall be noted. I can start filling the paperwork on your efforts. I am able to recieve the prisoners and detain them until they can be returned to their intended purpose once those other pirates have been dealt with. Your trigger happy friends seem rather silent so that may be a while... A brief pause before another communique was sent to 'Erma': Yes, I suppose that is to be expected. Unfortunately anything they stole the only copies of might not be recoverable. Carry on.
Aboard the 'Trayith' ship, the marines did not even debark from the shuttle, gently handing the two prisoners down to the crew before the shuttle dusted off again. The Tower of Dusk began to gently drift forwards even as the shuttle made its way back into a ventral hangar, spooling up its Slipgate generator
The Ingenious, having crippling the pirate fleet and liberated the spaceport, were clearly keen to distance themselves from what was happening elsewhere on the planet...
The Ingenious, having crippling the pirate fleet and liberated the spaceport, were clearly keen to distance themselves from what was happening elsewhere on the planet...
The robots in the town pressed on, slowly, making to cut through the town towards the refinery, though not circling the town by any means. They left more than enough room for people to pass them by, otherwise paying the people little mind.
Dahya grunted, slashing the turret in half as she skidded to a halt in the room, twirling her axe once in her hand.
That was going to be a problem. The UAV sword was recalled, flying back onto her suit. Any one of these buildings could have one of these turrets, let alone their controller, and she wasn't sure she had the time or energy to keep dodging rail rounds and hunting down turrets.
She was starting to regret not letting Yohta handle this. Yohta was smart. Dahya just liked hitting things with an axe. What would Yohta do?
...
Well, maybe they were controlled like her UAV swords? Dahya inspected the remains of the gun, looking for something like a radio receiver. Maybe she could find a signal frequency, pinpoint any more of these things, or whatever was controlling them.
"Yohta." the Commander leaned over to her subordinate.
"Yes, Commander?"
"I'll go in first. Draw their attention. You follow in when they turn their backs. We cut em down quick before anyone fires off too many rounds."
"Understood." Yohta nodded, rolling the wrist holding the length of her nodachi-like sword.
"Right. Right after me. No rockets for you." the Commander explained, before in a blast of thrusters, fired for the pirates' position, aiming to blast straight through and get behind them. Yohta waited a moment, before sprinting behind, aiming to catch the pirates in a pincer.
In space, Erma simply sent a signal of acknowledgement, while he himself continued to observe the transcribed logs. His ships moved away from the planet at the detection of ground-to-orbit weapons, though not so far as to fall out of signal range from his operatives.
They seemed to be doing decently. He didn't know why they had left Dahya to fend for herself, but he supposed he would ask when they weren't busy.
Dahya grunted, slashing the turret in half as she skidded to a halt in the room, twirling her axe once in her hand.
That was going to be a problem. The UAV sword was recalled, flying back onto her suit. Any one of these buildings could have one of these turrets, let alone their controller, and she wasn't sure she had the time or energy to keep dodging rail rounds and hunting down turrets.
She was starting to regret not letting Yohta handle this. Yohta was smart. Dahya just liked hitting things with an axe. What would Yohta do?
...
Well, maybe they were controlled like her UAV swords? Dahya inspected the remains of the gun, looking for something like a radio receiver. Maybe she could find a signal frequency, pinpoint any more of these things, or whatever was controlling them.
"Yohta." the Commander leaned over to her subordinate.
"Yes, Commander?"
"I'll go in first. Draw their attention. You follow in when they turn their backs. We cut em down quick before anyone fires off too many rounds."
"Understood." Yohta nodded, rolling the wrist holding the length of her nodachi-like sword.
"Right. Right after me. No rockets for you." the Commander explained, before in a blast of thrusters, fired for the pirates' position, aiming to blast straight through and get behind them. Yohta waited a moment, before sprinting behind, aiming to catch the pirates in a pincer.
In space, Erma simply sent a signal of acknowledgement, while he himself continued to observe the transcribed logs. His ships moved away from the planet at the detection of ground-to-orbit weapons, though not so far as to fall out of signal range from his operatives.
They seemed to be doing decently. He didn't know why they had left Dahya to fend for herself, but he supposed he would ask when they weren't busy.
The Town
The construction that the Scythan had placed at the edges of the town suddenly seem to pulse, and those still within the area all fell unconcious at once. This also effected any within a significant distance of the borders - the effect was seemingly smaller than needed to try and trap any keeping just outside the area. After this they started to move the sections on the outside around, trying to catch more people in the effect. Damage was taken from the incoming fire, but they seemed to mope that their moving would slow the damage, and allow it to knock out as many people as possible.
At the center of the town they cleared a significant distance ffrom the hole and pipes - indeed, moving their entire collection of people and vehicles towards the section of the town containing unconcious people, and starting to put them in some of the vehicles.
The Refinary
The forces in the refinary start to push forward, in an actual attempt to get to the central area - assuming it would be simpler now some of the enemy forces had left on a train.
Outside the Refinary
The troops fighting outside the refinary gates started playing on the defensive, intil the train was taken care of - or at least out of effective range to kill thhem. THey could probably properly deal with the ground troops after that with far less issue.
In Space
The frigates took some significant shots from the artillery - one of them stopping its outgoing fire to deal with internal issues - but this was not the only force the scythan could bring to bear - they sent four or five more frigates over, now seeing that there was a larger resistance than expected. They would have sent some alrger ships, but their munitions and weapons where not designed to deal with ground bombardment - and would probably deal a lot more collateral damage thanb preferable - still, if required, they could do it.
The construction that the Scythan had placed at the edges of the town suddenly seem to pulse, and those still within the area all fell unconcious at once. This also effected any within a significant distance of the borders - the effect was seemingly smaller than needed to try and trap any keeping just outside the area. After this they started to move the sections on the outside around, trying to catch more people in the effect. Damage was taken from the incoming fire, but they seemed to mope that their moving would slow the damage, and allow it to knock out as many people as possible.
At the center of the town they cleared a significant distance ffrom the hole and pipes - indeed, moving their entire collection of people and vehicles towards the section of the town containing unconcious people, and starting to put them in some of the vehicles.
The Refinary
The forces in the refinary start to push forward, in an actual attempt to get to the central area - assuming it would be simpler now some of the enemy forces had left on a train.
Outside the Refinary
The troops fighting outside the refinary gates started playing on the defensive, intil the train was taken care of - or at least out of effective range to kill thhem. THey could probably properly deal with the ground troops after that with far less issue.
In Space
The frigates took some significant shots from the artillery - one of them stopping its outgoing fire to deal with internal issues - but this was not the only force the scythan could bring to bear - they sent four or five more frigates over, now seeing that there was a larger resistance than expected. They would have sent some alrger ships, but their munitions and weapons where not designed to deal with ground bombardment - and would probably deal a lot more collateral damage thanb preferable - still, if required, they could do it.
The Town
The civilians slowly started falling unconscious around the area, with those who had not yet succumbed starting to panic and flee with a dying flare of violence, much like they were trying to escape a room from which they had been trapped. The pirate attacks on the devices continued but notably were waning in intensity either as the device got the better of them or they took the hint and retreated. If they were still trying something it was much less direct.
A gas explosion rocked the central area of the town, the Sythans having only just made a controlled evacuation but various rubble and buildings around the area had started to catch fire from the ends of destroyed gas pipes that were still burning off or had been freshly ruptured by the explosion.
The robots saw much of this unfolding as they continued their pass-through, but little of it would effect them as they did.
The Refinery
The pirate defenses were falling back though admittedly slowly and with ferocity, having realised their way out had just left without them. The fighting was now very much into the refinery buildings themselves with the outward perimeter abandoned, but the urban warfare had the complication of all the refinery equipment inside that controlled various important things.
Dayha found two halves of a radio receiver inside the turret while another shot skimmed past her and out through the far wall of the building.
The Refinery Interior
The pirates did not react particularly well and were cut down in short order, firing off a few poorly aimed sporadic shots without a great deal of efficacy before they were cut down. It seemed no serious damage had occured to the consoles, but there was now a distinct lack of anyone monitoring them, with the indications only really clearly saying that the refinery was active. The pirates hadn't attempted to shut it down despite the firefight going on around them.
The Armoured Train
The train continued a withering barrage of anti-orbit fire as it exchanged with the orbiting frigates, the shots exhibiting guided properties as they focussed on particular frigates while the train itself was deploying a series of much more rudimentary interceptor missiles to protect itself at long range while CIWS sprayed clouds of tracer into the air at those the missiles failed to destroy. It was at the very least giving itself good close protection as it continued to roll along the rails. The rails in question only lead to the spaceport and the town, and those to the town were not the heavy duty kind, so it was a question of which route it would take for the Scythans to decide if they wished to blow out the rails in front of it.
In Space
The Trayith ship engaged a targeted interdict which very clearly blocked the Tower of Dusk from leaving, along with a comms to them. Our apologies, Captain Steiner, but company policy does not allow contractors to leave until the task is complete. We'll have to ask that you stay even if it is only to watch. The ship also sent another message at the same time out of the system with attempted discretion that was very well encrypted... unfortunately, the fact that they were using military grade encryption might have been an oversight that would come back to haunt them.
The civilians slowly started falling unconscious around the area, with those who had not yet succumbed starting to panic and flee with a dying flare of violence, much like they were trying to escape a room from which they had been trapped. The pirate attacks on the devices continued but notably were waning in intensity either as the device got the better of them or they took the hint and retreated. If they were still trying something it was much less direct.
A gas explosion rocked the central area of the town, the Sythans having only just made a controlled evacuation but various rubble and buildings around the area had started to catch fire from the ends of destroyed gas pipes that were still burning off or had been freshly ruptured by the explosion.
The robots saw much of this unfolding as they continued their pass-through, but little of it would effect them as they did.
The Refinery
The pirate defenses were falling back though admittedly slowly and with ferocity, having realised their way out had just left without them. The fighting was now very much into the refinery buildings themselves with the outward perimeter abandoned, but the urban warfare had the complication of all the refinery equipment inside that controlled various important things.
Dayha found two halves of a radio receiver inside the turret while another shot skimmed past her and out through the far wall of the building.
The Refinery Interior
The pirates did not react particularly well and were cut down in short order, firing off a few poorly aimed sporadic shots without a great deal of efficacy before they were cut down. It seemed no serious damage had occured to the consoles, but there was now a distinct lack of anyone monitoring them, with the indications only really clearly saying that the refinery was active. The pirates hadn't attempted to shut it down despite the firefight going on around them.
The Armoured Train
The train continued a withering barrage of anti-orbit fire as it exchanged with the orbiting frigates, the shots exhibiting guided properties as they focussed on particular frigates while the train itself was deploying a series of much more rudimentary interceptor missiles to protect itself at long range while CIWS sprayed clouds of tracer into the air at those the missiles failed to destroy. It was at the very least giving itself good close protection as it continued to roll along the rails. The rails in question only lead to the spaceport and the town, and those to the town were not the heavy duty kind, so it was a question of which route it would take for the Scythans to decide if they wished to blow out the rails in front of it.
In Space
The Trayith ship engaged a targeted interdict which very clearly blocked the Tower of Dusk from leaving, along with a comms to them. Our apologies, Captain Steiner, but company policy does not allow contractors to leave until the task is complete. We'll have to ask that you stay even if it is only to watch. The ship also sent another message at the same time out of the system with attempted discretion that was very well encrypted... unfortunately, the fact that they were using military grade encryption might have been an oversight that would come back to haunt them.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
Captain Steiner raised an incredulous eyebrow as his nav officer reported the interdiction. Combined with the departure of a military grade encryption, that was enough to set off big red alarm bells for the captain, and he took a moment to fire off a request for reinforcments via the HoloNet before opening a line to the Trayith ship.
"You have fired on a vessel of the Imperial Jade Navy. Stand down or I will fire into you." he said, matter-of-factly, as the 600m warship looped around and began to accelerate on an attack run. Although an older model, with barrage lasers instead of the newer barrage guns, but the Na-He supercritical fluid was still potent without casing and the Tower was also armed with full torpedo tubes and railgun turrets.
Beside him, Tower was motionless as he began providing targeting solutions and combat data to the rest of the bridge crew.
Captain Steiner raised an incredulous eyebrow as his nav officer reported the interdiction. Combined with the departure of a military grade encryption, that was enough to set off big red alarm bells for the captain, and he took a moment to fire off a request for reinforcments via the HoloNet before opening a line to the Trayith ship.
"You have fired on a vessel of the Imperial Jade Navy. Stand down or I will fire into you." he said, matter-of-factly, as the 600m warship looped around and began to accelerate on an attack run. Although an older model, with barrage lasers instead of the newer barrage guns, but the Na-He supercritical fluid was still potent without casing and the Tower was also armed with full torpedo tubes and railgun turrets.
Beside him, Tower was motionless as he began providing targeting solutions and combat data to the rest of the bridge crew.
The Town
The outer machines continued their march around the edge, attempting to get as much of the town within their field as possible.
They contined placing civilians into the vehicles, simply avoiding the fire filled area - indeed, some of the civilians awoke, and where docile and went with the scythan vehicles and troops.
The Refinary
The scythan troops at this point had given up on leaving all of the refinary equipment entirely endamaged, and where accepting a decent amount of destruction along with their passing. They continued their push into the ferinary, although the vehicles had started to fall behind at this point.
Outside the Refinary
The troops tried to finish mopping up the old flanking action, in an attempt to free themselves up for further action.
In Space
The frigates, although taking damage, at this point had a significant amount of reinforcement. They redirected a small amount of firepower to destroying the branched tracks leading to the town, in an attempt to force the train towards the spaceport. They they continued their curpressing fire on the train, aining for the defensive batteries instead of the orbital ones - although at that distance accuracy is somewhat wanting.
The outer machines continued their march around the edge, attempting to get as much of the town within their field as possible.
They contined placing civilians into the vehicles, simply avoiding the fire filled area - indeed, some of the civilians awoke, and where docile and went with the scythan vehicles and troops.
The Refinary
The scythan troops at this point had given up on leaving all of the refinary equipment entirely endamaged, and where accepting a decent amount of destruction along with their passing. They continued their push into the ferinary, although the vehicles had started to fall behind at this point.
Outside the Refinary
The troops tried to finish mopping up the old flanking action, in an attempt to free themselves up for further action.
In Space
The frigates, although taking damage, at this point had a significant amount of reinforcement. They redirected a small amount of firepower to destroying the branched tracks leading to the town, in an attempt to force the train towards the spaceport. They they continued their curpressing fire on the train, aining for the defensive batteries instead of the orbital ones - although at that distance accuracy is somewhat wanting.
In Space
Erma continued to watch with a look of deep thought, only passively listening to the calls of his crew.
His head, however, shot up at the mention of an encoded message.
"Ensign!" he called. "Say that again."
"The Trayith ship sent out a signal...military-grade encryption, weirdly enough."
"Encryption? Can we break it?"
"It'd take a damn long time, but maybe."
"Hm...Wait, we got decryption keys from the cruiser. Do they work?"
"Inputting keys...running program...it...it works, sir. But, uh, you might wanna see this." the officer called. Erma's brow furrowing, he strode across the bridge, leaning down to look at the screen.
If Erma had blood, it would've run cold.
"Laserline the Ingen and Scythan fleets. And prepare a signal for home."
"Aye, sir."
The three vessels begun silent preparations. Damage control teams were put on alert, missile tubes loaded and backup capacitor banks charged and slid into position. At the same time, shortly following a tightbeam signal sent home using his people's own encryption, laserline messages were beamed out from obscured-aperture emitters, first to the Tower of Dusk, and then to the largest Scythan vessel.
It was the contents of the Trayith message, accompanied by one from Erma.
'THIS IS A TRAP'
Refinery Interior
The Commander almost wanted to laugh at how easily her idea had worked.
"Yohta, heh, watch my back." she gestured at the other Artificia as she approached the controls, looking to see if there was anything she could control from here. The refinery itself, anything the pirates were using, transport control, anything.
As for Yohta, she approached the exit again, looking at the engineer.
"They have been dealt with. Unless there are others, you should be safe down here. Do you have colleagues down here?"
The Refinery
Dahya lowered her head, swearing under her breath as she shot flew past.
Fuck. The radio was useless. Her head turned, the computer in her suit projecting a calculated flight trajectory, pointing to another building.
An idea occurred to the Artificia.
"Comp, can you show me the flight paths of the past few shots?"
Sure enough, one after the other appeared. Some came from different directions, sure, but some were clumped in a particular one. Or, at least, thats what it looked like to Dahya.
Grunting, the Artificia exploded back into the open, thrusters blazing on full as she rocketed towards where she guessed they would be next. If her idea was right.
Erma continued to watch with a look of deep thought, only passively listening to the calls of his crew.
His head, however, shot up at the mention of an encoded message.
"Ensign!" he called. "Say that again."
"The Trayith ship sent out a signal...military-grade encryption, weirdly enough."
"Encryption? Can we break it?"
"It'd take a damn long time, but maybe."
"Hm...Wait, we got decryption keys from the cruiser. Do they work?"
"Inputting keys...running program...it...it works, sir. But, uh, you might wanna see this." the officer called. Erma's brow furrowing, he strode across the bridge, leaning down to look at the screen.
If Erma had blood, it would've run cold.
"Laserline the Ingen and Scythan fleets. And prepare a signal for home."
"Aye, sir."
The three vessels begun silent preparations. Damage control teams were put on alert, missile tubes loaded and backup capacitor banks charged and slid into position. At the same time, shortly following a tightbeam signal sent home using his people's own encryption, laserline messages were beamed out from obscured-aperture emitters, first to the Tower of Dusk, and then to the largest Scythan vessel.
It was the contents of the Trayith message, accompanied by one from Erma.
'THIS IS A TRAP'
Refinery Interior
The Commander almost wanted to laugh at how easily her idea had worked.
"Yohta, heh, watch my back." she gestured at the other Artificia as she approached the controls, looking to see if there was anything she could control from here. The refinery itself, anything the pirates were using, transport control, anything.
As for Yohta, she approached the exit again, looking at the engineer.
"They have been dealt with. Unless there are others, you should be safe down here. Do you have colleagues down here?"
The Refinery
Dahya lowered her head, swearing under her breath as she shot flew past.
Fuck. The radio was useless. Her head turned, the computer in her suit projecting a calculated flight trajectory, pointing to another building.
An idea occurred to the Artificia.
"Comp, can you show me the flight paths of the past few shots?"
Sure enough, one after the other appeared. Some came from different directions, sure, but some were clumped in a particular one. Or, at least, thats what it looked like to Dahya.
Grunting, the Artificia exploded back into the open, thrusters blazing on full as she rocketed towards where she guessed they would be next. If her idea was right.
The Town
Things were seeming to quiet down for now though it seemed some civilians that were falling unconcious were not waking up quickly enough to escape the spreading fire as they day drew on and the unnatural lighting in the sky was beginning to become more obvious and cause panic as dusk approached. It was starting to cause panic again much like the fighting had before, while it seemed to the operators of the signal machines that they were being watched.
The Refinery
The fighting continued into the refinery buildings with the pirates making ambushes from across offices or through machinery and storage areas. While this was no city, the large buildings made the fighting uncomfortably close quarters while the pirates on the flank collapsed their position back into the refinery. The vehicles trying to move through access roads within the refinery were now especially vulnerable to anti-tank attacks from buildings and it seemed that they would indeed be falling behind.
Dayha saw a shot streak toward her from almost directly ahead before a small puff of dust shortly after indicated and individual making a fast move away from her.
The Refinery Interior
This looked like a refinery control centre of some kind though the terminals were not in a common language. Amber warnings had started flashing up, and if Yohta was reading the feed right the warnings seemed to be coming from buildings that the main force was currently fighting through. Thse warnings seemed to indicate that other measures or backups were still keeping the systems fully operational. There were also some fairly critical looking red errors on another terminal that the pirates had surpressed - those presumably a result of whatever modifications they had tried to pull off.
"Nah , I ran the whole thing myself!" Said the engineer with very thick sarcasm. "... I don't know what the pirates did with the other facility staff, but I heard something about them digging a pit for a gun. I don't think sinarium refineries make assault rifles all that well, so I haven't got a clue what they were trying to do beyond breaking things. Either that or the pirates killed them... I wouldn't be surprised if they kept others around to run things. With all this 'under attack' nonsense they've probably turned into hostages. At least we weren't stuck in the town I suppose."
The Armoured Train
The tracks were very much knocked out in terms of forcing the train's path but the frigates certainly weren't in a position to aim for specific sectionsof a train from orbit with much efficacy as it continued pummelling them back, though it was running out of interceptor missiles and the CIWS guns struggled with the increased incoming fire. Either the train had gotten very lucky or it had some other defensive measures, that much wasn't clear from orbit but the lack of damage to the train itself was.
In Space - Inner System
We have made no such firing Mr. Steiner, as you can see we are an unarmed civilian vessel... We have not stood up to even stand down in the first place. Of course, the reality of the situation that couldn't be seen from the outside was that the crew were preparing to abandon the ship in escape pods while a frantic burst repeating the previous transmission several times went out.
In Space - Outer System
A few other vessels had made FTL jumps into the system but as yet were out of the reach of any detailed sensor arrays, but they appeared to be civilian ships of some kind.
Things were seeming to quiet down for now though it seemed some civilians that were falling unconcious were not waking up quickly enough to escape the spreading fire as they day drew on and the unnatural lighting in the sky was beginning to become more obvious and cause panic as dusk approached. It was starting to cause panic again much like the fighting had before, while it seemed to the operators of the signal machines that they were being watched.
The Refinery
The fighting continued into the refinery buildings with the pirates making ambushes from across offices or through machinery and storage areas. While this was no city, the large buildings made the fighting uncomfortably close quarters while the pirates on the flank collapsed their position back into the refinery. The vehicles trying to move through access roads within the refinery were now especially vulnerable to anti-tank attacks from buildings and it seemed that they would indeed be falling behind.
Dayha saw a shot streak toward her from almost directly ahead before a small puff of dust shortly after indicated and individual making a fast move away from her.
The Refinery Interior
This looked like a refinery control centre of some kind though the terminals were not in a common language. Amber warnings had started flashing up, and if Yohta was reading the feed right the warnings seemed to be coming from buildings that the main force was currently fighting through. Thse warnings seemed to indicate that other measures or backups were still keeping the systems fully operational. There were also some fairly critical looking red errors on another terminal that the pirates had surpressed - those presumably a result of whatever modifications they had tried to pull off.
"Nah , I ran the whole thing myself!" Said the engineer with very thick sarcasm. "... I don't know what the pirates did with the other facility staff, but I heard something about them digging a pit for a gun. I don't think sinarium refineries make assault rifles all that well, so I haven't got a clue what they were trying to do beyond breaking things. Either that or the pirates killed them... I wouldn't be surprised if they kept others around to run things. With all this 'under attack' nonsense they've probably turned into hostages. At least we weren't stuck in the town I suppose."
The Armoured Train
The tracks were very much knocked out in terms of forcing the train's path but the frigates certainly weren't in a position to aim for specific sectionsof a train from orbit with much efficacy as it continued pummelling them back, though it was running out of interceptor missiles and the CIWS guns struggled with the increased incoming fire. Either the train had gotten very lucky or it had some other defensive measures, that much wasn't clear from orbit but the lack of damage to the train itself was.
In Space - Inner System
We have made no such firing Mr. Steiner, as you can see we are an unarmed civilian vessel... We have not stood up to even stand down in the first place. Of course, the reality of the situation that couldn't be seen from the outside was that the crew were preparing to abandon the ship in escape pods while a frantic burst repeating the previous transmission several times went out.
In Space - Outer System
A few other vessels had made FTL jumps into the system but as yet were out of the reach of any detailed sensor arrays, but they appeared to be civilian ships of some kind.
ABOARD THE IJN TOWER OF DUSK
"Have they de-activated the interdiction field?" asked Steiner quietly, scratching his jaw, not deigning to check his own console.
"No sir." came the reply.
"Very well. Carry on, gunnery."
As the Tower Of Dusk approached, it lined up its two spinal cannons for a volley. Firing huge bursts of supercritical neon-helium fluid mixture that sparkled an orange-red in the darkness of space, it hammered the 'Trayith' ship before veering to one side to unleash a stream of slugs from its 912-LB railgun turrets as it passed. In the midst of the volley, it dropped four more Micomitl torpedoes, which hissed towards the interdiction generator, aiming to knock it out.
Once past, the Tower continued to accelerate away.
"Have they de-activated the interdiction field?" asked Steiner quietly, scratching his jaw, not deigning to check his own console.
"No sir." came the reply.
"Very well. Carry on, gunnery."
As the Tower Of Dusk approached, it lined up its two spinal cannons for a volley. Firing huge bursts of supercritical neon-helium fluid mixture that sparkled an orange-red in the darkness of space, it hammered the 'Trayith' ship before veering to one side to unleash a stream of slugs from its 912-LB railgun turrets as it passed. In the midst of the volley, it dropped four more Micomitl torpedoes, which hissed towards the interdiction generator, aiming to knock it out.
Once past, the Tower continued to accelerate away.
The Town
The scythan troops began to withdraw from the town, and to setup outside of it - taking out as many of the unconcious people as they could: seemingly giving up on taking it over now that they knew they had been betrayed.
The Refinary
The troops in the Refinary ceased their advance, waiting for the vehicles to catch up - clearing out the areas they had been through at the same time. They could afford to take longer if it means that they took less losses - and especially they needed to keep the vehicles alive.
In Space
The frigates continued attacking the armoured train - although more carefully now that they knew there might be more enemies approaching. Their shots continued to target the defensive systems of the Train, leaving the offensive ones for later bombardment.
The main force of ships moves together, and sets up ready to defend against anything that might ambush them. THey tried to send a message to their main Fleet back at the base about the situation - and requesting that possible backup be prepared, since they didnt know what they would be up against.
A single frigate was sent to orbit over the town.
They sent a simple
Thank you.
back to the Artifician fleet - and didnt send anything to the Trayith.
The scythan troops began to withdraw from the town, and to setup outside of it - taking out as many of the unconcious people as they could: seemingly giving up on taking it over now that they knew they had been betrayed.
The Refinary
The troops in the Refinary ceased their advance, waiting for the vehicles to catch up - clearing out the areas they had been through at the same time. They could afford to take longer if it means that they took less losses - and especially they needed to keep the vehicles alive.
In Space
The frigates continued attacking the armoured train - although more carefully now that they knew there might be more enemies approaching. Their shots continued to target the defensive systems of the Train, leaving the offensive ones for later bombardment.
The main force of ships moves together, and sets up ready to defend against anything that might ambush them. THey tried to send a message to their main Fleet back at the base about the situation - and requesting that possible backup be prepared, since they didnt know what they would be up against.
A single frigate was sent to orbit over the town.
They sent a simple
Thank you.
back to the Artifician fleet - and didnt send anything to the Trayith.
The Refinery
Dahya noted the movement, grinning.
She had been right.
"Oh, no you don't!" she yelled, her thrusters returning to full burn almost as soon as she landed, rearing her axe as her UAV sword detached and flew off, whizzing to cut off her prey.
"You've been bothering me plenty enough!" she cried, rocketing downwards to, between her axe and UAV, catch the marksman in a pincer movement.
Refinery Interior
The Commander furrowed her brow at this, trying to see if she could find more detailed diagnostics from here, figure out just what was broken, and what the pirates might be trying to do.
Yohta, for her part, simply stared off down another tunnel, her helmet obscuring any expression she may have held.
"...Show me. If they're doing something dangerous down there, I don't think either of us want this entire complex going off like fireworks."
In Space
Erma had only become more restless since the realisation of the situation--if only in part. Someone was coming to make life hell for all of them, and if the fact they were fighting pirates was any indication, it was a solid guess that they were more pirates. He wanted to pull his operatives off the surface and leave, but that wouldn't be a good image and Erma wasn't totally blind to PR. Pirate trap or not, the civilian presence was legitimate, as suspicious as he was to the lack of rescue from whoever colonised the planet in the first place.
No, his goal for now was to wait for reinforcements. His cover would be blown, but getting their assets and data home was more important than secrecy in this regard.
A dropship was readied for the trio on the ground, meanwhile the ships burned, swinging to put themselves behind the planet. Obfuscation of his strength, if nothing else.
Dahya noted the movement, grinning.
She had been right.
"Oh, no you don't!" she yelled, her thrusters returning to full burn almost as soon as she landed, rearing her axe as her UAV sword detached and flew off, whizzing to cut off her prey.
"You've been bothering me plenty enough!" she cried, rocketing downwards to, between her axe and UAV, catch the marksman in a pincer movement.
Refinery Interior
The Commander furrowed her brow at this, trying to see if she could find more detailed diagnostics from here, figure out just what was broken, and what the pirates might be trying to do.
Yohta, for her part, simply stared off down another tunnel, her helmet obscuring any expression she may have held.
"...Show me. If they're doing something dangerous down there, I don't think either of us want this entire complex going off like fireworks."
In Space
Erma had only become more restless since the realisation of the situation--if only in part. Someone was coming to make life hell for all of them, and if the fact they were fighting pirates was any indication, it was a solid guess that they were more pirates. He wanted to pull his operatives off the surface and leave, but that wouldn't be a good image and Erma wasn't totally blind to PR. Pirate trap or not, the civilian presence was legitimate, as suspicious as he was to the lack of rescue from whoever colonised the planet in the first place.
No, his goal for now was to wait for reinforcements. His cover would be blown, but getting their assets and data home was more important than secrecy in this regard.
A dropship was readied for the trio on the ground, meanwhile the ships burned, swinging to put themselves behind the planet. Obfuscation of his strength, if nothing else.
The Town
The sky continued to darken around the town while the town itself stayed bright from the fire that was completely uncontained as the Scythans abandoned it and the civilians began to try and salvage what they could but with little infrastructure were helpless to the pirates remaining in the town as well as the spread of the fire. Occasional screams of pain kept the town loud even though the fighting had stopped.
The Refinery
Very much urbanlike warfare continued as the Pirates had cut mouseholes throughout the buildings to try and keep their fighting edge though now a conservative defense with little in the way of a counterattack. Even if the vehicles could catch up the access tracks were narrow and between wrecks and rubble it would be slow going with their advance.
Sparks lit as the marksman phased into view having been luckily caught by one of the UAV swords and his stealth field failed. He tossed his weapon to the side and gestured to surrender now that the angry artifician had caught up with him.
The Refinery Interior
"Uh, I think it's away from the direction those fresh warnings are lighting up from... Let me see" The engineer gingerly pushed the artificians aside so she could clearly see the console. "So these storage tanks..." She tapped at the screen. "They've cut holes in them for their own piping, and if you see this office block here on the diagram that's lit up like a christmas tree..." She indicated on a different screen "It wasn't important, but I reckon the fact they've practically demolished it with all these warnings might be where you want to look, especialy seeing as they've cut holes in the basement floor. Either they've been digging for something or it's a mass grave." She looked the commander in the eye. "Nobody wants this complex to go off, not unless they've got a convienently parked escape shuttle like the one the big cheese took when the pirates first arrived."
The console continued to show more warnings on the buildings that were being fought over, much to the concern of the engineer. "If that's your guys trying to clear the pirates out they might not want to keep breaking things. Well, assuming the pirates don't plan to just blow this joint if they're gonna lose, anyway."
The Armoured Train
As the Train continued to exchange fire with the frigates it was clear that the anti-missile and CIWS systems it had were becoming overstretched in a fight they weren't going to win, but bizzarely shots continued to miss or prematurely explode around the train. No streak of bad luck was that long, so certainly it had some other method of defense that wasn't showing up clearly.
In Space - Inner System
Escape pods jettisoned from the ship shortly before the missiles hit along with many other weapons that completely obliterated it. The interdiction generator was now very much permanently inactive and scattered across several kilometres worth of space, but the interdiction continued. With the strong presence of the local ship's interdiction gone, it was clear the ships loitering in the outer system were also carrying some much more sneakily. However, the Tower and others were about to have bigger concerns.
In Space - Outer System
A pirate fleet totalling some 30 ships flashed out of FTL. "Fucking useless bastards, couldn't even coordinate a simple jump." proclaimed Pirate Lord Trayith as another 20 ships trickled in behind the vanguard in a disorganised fashion. "Now Mr Refinery Owner, why don't you tell our friends to leave?" Another pirate whispered to Trayith. "Ah, fucked up the ruse did he... well it seems you're free to leave Mr Owner." A pair of burly pirates picked up the refinery owner and hefted him to the airlock despite his struggles. "Actually... Keep him, he'll be a useful bargaining chip."
The fleet broadcast a message despite its distant position. Well, clearly you know we're pirates, so I'll waste as little breath as possible on you. Submit to MY authority, or die. If you want to fight, the real owner of this refinery is going to have himself a nice spacewalk.
The sky continued to darken around the town while the town itself stayed bright from the fire that was completely uncontained as the Scythans abandoned it and the civilians began to try and salvage what they could but with little infrastructure were helpless to the pirates remaining in the town as well as the spread of the fire. Occasional screams of pain kept the town loud even though the fighting had stopped.
The Refinery
Very much urbanlike warfare continued as the Pirates had cut mouseholes throughout the buildings to try and keep their fighting edge though now a conservative defense with little in the way of a counterattack. Even if the vehicles could catch up the access tracks were narrow and between wrecks and rubble it would be slow going with their advance.
Sparks lit as the marksman phased into view having been luckily caught by one of the UAV swords and his stealth field failed. He tossed his weapon to the side and gestured to surrender now that the angry artifician had caught up with him.
The Refinery Interior
"Uh, I think it's away from the direction those fresh warnings are lighting up from... Let me see" The engineer gingerly pushed the artificians aside so she could clearly see the console. "So these storage tanks..." She tapped at the screen. "They've cut holes in them for their own piping, and if you see this office block here on the diagram that's lit up like a christmas tree..." She indicated on a different screen "It wasn't important, but I reckon the fact they've practically demolished it with all these warnings might be where you want to look, especialy seeing as they've cut holes in the basement floor. Either they've been digging for something or it's a mass grave." She looked the commander in the eye. "Nobody wants this complex to go off, not unless they've got a convienently parked escape shuttle like the one the big cheese took when the pirates first arrived."
The console continued to show more warnings on the buildings that were being fought over, much to the concern of the engineer. "If that's your guys trying to clear the pirates out they might not want to keep breaking things. Well, assuming the pirates don't plan to just blow this joint if they're gonna lose, anyway."
The Armoured Train
As the Train continued to exchange fire with the frigates it was clear that the anti-missile and CIWS systems it had were becoming overstretched in a fight they weren't going to win, but bizzarely shots continued to miss or prematurely explode around the train. No streak of bad luck was that long, so certainly it had some other method of defense that wasn't showing up clearly.
In Space - Inner System
Escape pods jettisoned from the ship shortly before the missiles hit along with many other weapons that completely obliterated it. The interdiction generator was now very much permanently inactive and scattered across several kilometres worth of space, but the interdiction continued. With the strong presence of the local ship's interdiction gone, it was clear the ships loitering in the outer system were also carrying some much more sneakily. However, the Tower and others were about to have bigger concerns.
In Space - Outer System
A pirate fleet totalling some 30 ships flashed out of FTL. "Fucking useless bastards, couldn't even coordinate a simple jump." proclaimed Pirate Lord Trayith as another 20 ships trickled in behind the vanguard in a disorganised fashion. "Now Mr Refinery Owner, why don't you tell our friends to leave?" Another pirate whispered to Trayith. "Ah, fucked up the ruse did he... well it seems you're free to leave Mr Owner." A pair of burly pirates picked up the refinery owner and hefted him to the airlock despite his struggles. "Actually... Keep him, he'll be a useful bargaining chip."
The fleet broadcast a message despite its distant position. Well, clearly you know we're pirates, so I'll waste as little breath as possible on you. Submit to MY authority, or die. If you want to fight, the real owner of this refinery is going to have himself a nice spacewalk.
INNER SYSTEM
"Sir, new contacts! Fifty-something FTL signatures at the edge of the system." reported Steiner's sensors officer. He sighed, glancing at the console where the new inbounds were displayed as red blips.
"They are still dozens of AU away. Adjust helm 105 to port, pitch negative 15 and accelerate to maximum sublight. I want our fighters flying CAP. Open comms."
He leaned on his console as the ship shifted, turning its prow towards its new course.
"This is the IJN Tower Of Dusk. The last pirate to get in our way is now dust, and we have plenty more missiles racked."
He killed the transmission. At this distance, any bigger vessels would find it hard to make up the distance and anything smaller could be dealt with in the same manner as the first ship, but he almost hoped that some of the pirates would turn towards him and split their forces. That said, he was not impressed by the Scythans and had no desire to go back and help them continue their butchery.
"Sir, new contacts! Fifty-something FTL signatures at the edge of the system." reported Steiner's sensors officer. He sighed, glancing at the console where the new inbounds were displayed as red blips.
"They are still dozens of AU away. Adjust helm 105 to port, pitch negative 15 and accelerate to maximum sublight. I want our fighters flying CAP. Open comms."
He leaned on his console as the ship shifted, turning its prow towards its new course.
"This is the IJN Tower Of Dusk. The last pirate to get in our way is now dust, and we have plenty more missiles racked."
He killed the transmission. At this distance, any bigger vessels would find it hard to make up the distance and anything smaller could be dealt with in the same manner as the first ship, but he almost hoped that some of the pirates would turn towards him and split their forces. That said, he was not impressed by the Scythans and had no desire to go back and help them continue their butchery.
The Refinery
It seemed as though the pirates had a stronger advantage from their defensive positions as had been anticipated, causing heavy casualties and halting the vehiclular advance by collapsing sections of buildings to block access roads entirely. They were also seemingly fighting without much care for the refinery equipment itself.
The Refinery Interior
More warnings continued to flash up on the screens while the engineer and the artificians tried to plan out their next moves, but time might be getting away from them.
The Armoured Train
Clearly the train's luck was holding as one of the Scythan frigates it was engaging detonated after a shot found an ammunition magazine while the others continued to be battered by its weapons. It still seemed as though it's combined defenses were holding, somehow.
In Space - Inner system
It seemed as though the pirate fleet had very much taken the initiative as it made surprisingly fast speed toward the planet, with some of the heavy weapons already making marks among those still trying to position themselves around the planet as they advanced.
Oh, the unarmed undefended pirate is dead alright, but that's quite the bold statement considering you're heading away from us, now isn't it? It seemed the pirates had detached some ships to try and persue the Tower but they were only gaining on it slowly.
It seemed as though the pirates had a stronger advantage from their defensive positions as had been anticipated, causing heavy casualties and halting the vehiclular advance by collapsing sections of buildings to block access roads entirely. They were also seemingly fighting without much care for the refinery equipment itself.
The Refinery Interior
More warnings continued to flash up on the screens while the engineer and the artificians tried to plan out their next moves, but time might be getting away from them.
The Armoured Train
Clearly the train's luck was holding as one of the Scythan frigates it was engaging detonated after a shot found an ammunition magazine while the others continued to be battered by its weapons. It still seemed as though it's combined defenses were holding, somehow.
In Space - Inner system
It seemed as though the pirate fleet had very much taken the initiative as it made surprisingly fast speed toward the planet, with some of the heavy weapons already making marks among those still trying to position themselves around the planet as they advanced.
Oh, the unarmed undefended pirate is dead alright, but that's quite the bold statement considering you're heading away from us, now isn't it? It seemed the pirates had detached some ships to try and persue the Tower but they were only gaining on it slowly.
IJN TOWER OF DUSK
Steiner studied the console for a moment. Five pirate ships had detached to chase him, splitting their main fleet. As he suspected, some were larger than him but were slowly losing ground, whilst several smaller vessels were gradually catching up. That was fine by him, as it spread out the enemy forces further. They were still some time off maximum weapon range, and with his crew already at action stations there was little more to do but wait.
He declined to answer the pirate lord's angry taunt, having achieved his goal. He glanced at the HoloNet report and allowed himself a taut smile.
"Carry on, helm. Prepare dorsal and port thrusters."
Steiner studied the console for a moment. Five pirate ships had detached to chase him, splitting their main fleet. As he suspected, some were larger than him but were slowly losing ground, whilst several smaller vessels were gradually catching up. That was fine by him, as it spread out the enemy forces further. They were still some time off maximum weapon range, and with his crew already at action stations there was little more to do but wait.
He declined to answer the pirate lord's angry taunt, having achieved his goal. He glanced at the HoloNet report and allowed himself a taut smile.
"Carry on, helm. Prepare dorsal and port thrusters."
The Refinery Interior
Yohta and the Commander observed the readouts, trying to make sense of whatever the pirates had been trying to do. Admittedly, while a quick-thinking leader, environmental observation on 'what were the three-braincell brainlets trying to jury-rig now' wasnt one of the commander's strong suits.
"Whaddyou think, Yohta?"
"I suspect it to be a botched accelerator bypass. I don't know what they were doing, but the warnings and red sections line up with one of the surfaceside warehouses."
A moment. The Commander lifted a hand to the side of her helmet.
"Dahya."
"Yo."
"I have somewhere I need you to investigate, at your earliest convenience." she ordered, sending the other operative a nav coordinate.
"Well I just knocked out some schmuck with a railrifle, so that's now. I'll get on it." Came back the other Artificia's reply, before she ended the signal.
"Whatever it is, we'll hopefully find out shortly."
The Surface
The comparably dim-witted operative immediately set off, reaffirming her grip on her freshly looted rifle and firing her rockets, taking off through the refinery. The place was rapidly becoming a pockmarked hellhole with a train and a fleet exchanging fire, the wall had a hole in it still being fought over, and the smoke of fires dotted the place.
Still, this was none of her concern.
Arcing towards the warehouse she had been directed to, Dahya blasted towards a ceiling railing, spinning into a wheeling cannonball as she reached it with her axe leading, aiming to cut clean through and surprise any poor schmuck on guard duty.
In Space
Erma watched their situation, his brow furrowed.
"...Should we reply, sir?"
"...No."
"No?"
"Challenging them will just draw the ire of their guns. Surrendering, for real or not, gets them moving close. I don't especially want either of those. Our objective right now is to delay them until help arrives. Get us moving, helm. Put the planet between us and them. And get all ships loading missile tubes. Cold launch. We're establishing a minefield, get any curious vanguard runners off the map and make them hesitant to close."
"Aye aye!"
Sure enough, the engines of the three black-painted vessels lit, pushing to move behind the planet. As they did so, the viewscreen markers of other ships disappearing, missile tubes launched though no engines fired, missiles in number drifting off about the trio of ships. Now, they would wait.
Yohta and the Commander observed the readouts, trying to make sense of whatever the pirates had been trying to do. Admittedly, while a quick-thinking leader, environmental observation on 'what were the three-braincell brainlets trying to jury-rig now' wasnt one of the commander's strong suits.
"Whaddyou think, Yohta?"
"I suspect it to be a botched accelerator bypass. I don't know what they were doing, but the warnings and red sections line up with one of the surfaceside warehouses."
A moment. The Commander lifted a hand to the side of her helmet.
"Dahya."
"Yo."
"I have somewhere I need you to investigate, at your earliest convenience." she ordered, sending the other operative a nav coordinate.
"Well I just knocked out some schmuck with a railrifle, so that's now. I'll get on it." Came back the other Artificia's reply, before she ended the signal.
"Whatever it is, we'll hopefully find out shortly."
The Surface
The comparably dim-witted operative immediately set off, reaffirming her grip on her freshly looted rifle and firing her rockets, taking off through the refinery. The place was rapidly becoming a pockmarked hellhole with a train and a fleet exchanging fire, the wall had a hole in it still being fought over, and the smoke of fires dotted the place.
Still, this was none of her concern.
Arcing towards the warehouse she had been directed to, Dahya blasted towards a ceiling railing, spinning into a wheeling cannonball as she reached it with her axe leading, aiming to cut clean through and surprise any poor schmuck on guard duty.
In Space
Erma watched their situation, his brow furrowed.
"...Should we reply, sir?"
"...No."
"No?"
"Challenging them will just draw the ire of their guns. Surrendering, for real or not, gets them moving close. I don't especially want either of those. Our objective right now is to delay them until help arrives. Get us moving, helm. Put the planet between us and them. And get all ships loading missile tubes. Cold launch. We're establishing a minefield, get any curious vanguard runners off the map and make them hesitant to close."
"Aye aye!"
Sure enough, the engines of the three black-painted vessels lit, pushing to move behind the planet. As they did so, the viewscreen markers of other ships disappearing, missile tubes launched though no engines fired, missiles in number drifting off about the trio of ships. Now, they would wait.
The Refinery
It seemed likely that the pirates were likely to stall the advance in the buildings without some major new tactic as squads continued to enter the deathtrap of the building and lose contact as they tried to make headway with corridors being lined with corpses, wounded, or pinned down soldiers as they tried to breach their way in. Perhaps more concerningly it seemed that the pirates were using the delays to reinforce their positions with fresh ammunition as well as further choking up the access roads to block off vehicles.
The Refinery Interior
The commander and Yohta would have to watch and wait, though the increase in warnings being triggered in the outlying buildings from the main advance had slowed down, presumably due to the fighting being over the same areas where things had already been broken.
Dayha didn't see any guard on the the roof as she came in overhead, but saw a hole that had been blasted out of the roof of the warehouse with explosives, with some vague level of attempted precision, and the hole continued down and was cut into the floor of the warehouse, with the warehouse interior itself a mess of construction equipment and storage tanks that looked like they had been mishandled quite severely by the various loading equipment in the warehouse, which she had ended up landing amongst. It didn't seem like the warehouse interior was guarded at all, either.
The Armoured Train
The Scythan lost another of their frigates to a fireball as the others were forced back by both the train itself which was still holding on and by the need to prepare for the oncoming pirate fleet.
In Space
The pirates continued to come after the Tower slowly, some of the more trigger happy captains loosing some long range guided missiles at a rather extreme range.
It seemed the Scythans were to bear the front of the main pirate assault, however, as the pirates loosed spinal weapons while continuing to close the gap, hoping to catch the most powerful of the Scythan vessels while they were still positining themselves and in orbit.
It seemed likely that the pirates were likely to stall the advance in the buildings without some major new tactic as squads continued to enter the deathtrap of the building and lose contact as they tried to make headway with corridors being lined with corpses, wounded, or pinned down soldiers as they tried to breach their way in. Perhaps more concerningly it seemed that the pirates were using the delays to reinforce their positions with fresh ammunition as well as further choking up the access roads to block off vehicles.
The Refinery Interior
The commander and Yohta would have to watch and wait, though the increase in warnings being triggered in the outlying buildings from the main advance had slowed down, presumably due to the fighting being over the same areas where things had already been broken.
Dayha didn't see any guard on the the roof as she came in overhead, but saw a hole that had been blasted out of the roof of the warehouse with explosives, with some vague level of attempted precision, and the hole continued down and was cut into the floor of the warehouse, with the warehouse interior itself a mess of construction equipment and storage tanks that looked like they had been mishandled quite severely by the various loading equipment in the warehouse, which she had ended up landing amongst. It didn't seem like the warehouse interior was guarded at all, either.
The Armoured Train
The Scythan lost another of their frigates to a fireball as the others were forced back by both the train itself which was still holding on and by the need to prepare for the oncoming pirate fleet.
In Space
The pirates continued to come after the Tower slowly, some of the more trigger happy captains loosing some long range guided missiles at a rather extreme range.
It seemed the Scythans were to bear the front of the main pirate assault, however, as the pirates loosed spinal weapons while continuing to close the gap, hoping to catch the most powerful of the Scythan vessels while they were still positining themselves and in orbit.
Steiner's small CAP served to fend off the long-range missiles, the fighters looping lazily to pick them off with guns, unleashing atlatl interceptor missiles if the target eluded them, but nevertheless the fire seemed to give the frigate pause. Dorsal and port thrusters fired, their burn visible in space, as the warship's prow came down and to the right, the ship spinning even as it continued its forward momentum so that its prow was now facing back towards the pursuing enemy.
The strange maneuver was justified a moment later when a dozen Slipgate signatures flared into life, a mixture of older and newer IJN warships slipping into reality at the edge of the interdiction bubble put up by the chasing ships. They immediately began accelerating towards the Tower, only a few moments away, reinforcing it with their own weaponry as the Tower fired its rear thrusters, slowing itself down and building momentum in the opposite direction, back towards the pirates as it fell smoothly into formation.
Leading the charge was an old, hulking Kaminari cruiser, 6 kilometres long with aging, if effective, supercritical fluid barrage laser batteries alongside smaller railgun and missile bay armaments. Beside it were a pair of Katana destroyers, half the size, and a quartet of Tanto light destroyers, half the size again, along with a pair of newer model Minowara carrier frigates and three more Misericorde frigates, the same model as the Tower.
The older warships were still in the distinctive ruby-red of the pre-reform fleet, whilst the two newer ships were in the sleek, dark bottle-green of the modern navy, but they moved with a unified purpose.
"This is Commodore Marelis of the IJN Herakles, surrender or be destroyed." came the broadcast from the newly-arrived battlecruiser, much to Steiner's relief
The strange maneuver was justified a moment later when a dozen Slipgate signatures flared into life, a mixture of older and newer IJN warships slipping into reality at the edge of the interdiction bubble put up by the chasing ships. They immediately began accelerating towards the Tower, only a few moments away, reinforcing it with their own weaponry as the Tower fired its rear thrusters, slowing itself down and building momentum in the opposite direction, back towards the pirates as it fell smoothly into formation.
Leading the charge was an old, hulking Kaminari cruiser, 6 kilometres long with aging, if effective, supercritical fluid barrage laser batteries alongside smaller railgun and missile bay armaments. Beside it were a pair of Katana destroyers, half the size, and a quartet of Tanto light destroyers, half the size again, along with a pair of newer model Minowara carrier frigates and three more Misericorde frigates, the same model as the Tower.
The older warships were still in the distinctive ruby-red of the pre-reform fleet, whilst the two newer ships were in the sleek, dark bottle-green of the modern navy, but they moved with a unified purpose.
"This is Commodore Marelis of the IJN Herakles, surrender or be destroyed." came the broadcast from the newly-arrived battlecruiser, much to Steiner's relief
The Warehouse
"Ey boss!" Dahya called on her comm, teetering over the edge of the hole.
"What?" she heard the commander answer.
"There supposed to be a giant hole in the floor? Right below a hole in the ceiling too?"
"I...maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Yeah. See where it goes, Dahya, but be careful."
"Uh...alright, boss. If this gets me killed I'm coming back to haunt your ass." Dahya grunted, stepping off the edge, slowing her descent with her thrusters.
The Refinery Interior
"Giant hole all the way down below, huh? Whaddyou think it is?" the Commander muttered.
"An access seems unlikely, they wouldn't need a hole in the ceiling for that."
"Yeah...orbital debris? Kinetic rod?"
"I suspect that would have, at the very least, leveled the warehouse."
"Yeah. Hmm."
"Try a low-level power feed, commander. Just enough to get the lights on. It might help Dahya figure out what we're dealing with."
"Aye, good thought." she nodded, tapping away at the keyboards.
"Ey boss!" Dahya called on her comm, teetering over the edge of the hole.
"What?" she heard the commander answer.
"There supposed to be a giant hole in the floor? Right below a hole in the ceiling too?"
"I...maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Yeah. See where it goes, Dahya, but be careful."
"Uh...alright, boss. If this gets me killed I'm coming back to haunt your ass." Dahya grunted, stepping off the edge, slowing her descent with her thrusters.
The Refinery Interior
"Giant hole all the way down below, huh? Whaddyou think it is?" the Commander muttered.
"An access seems unlikely, they wouldn't need a hole in the ceiling for that."
"Yeah...orbital debris? Kinetic rod?"
"I suspect that would have, at the very least, leveled the warehouse."
"Yeah. Hmm."
"Try a low-level power feed, commander. Just enough to get the lights on. It might help Dahya figure out what we're dealing with."
"Aye, good thought." she nodded, tapping away at the keyboards.
Space
'Erma' continued to watch, his fleet unmoving from its position behind the planet. His allies, as temporary as they were, were both under heavy attack, though more Jade ships had arrived.
They were not his concern. The survival of his fleet and assets, however, were.
Fortunately, it seemed his benefactors had been snappier than he had imagined. Thirty FTL signatures appeared, streaks of golden light signalling their arrival as they formed the shapes of AUN warships. Fifteen cruisers, five heavy cruisers, nine frigates and one battleship at the fleet's core. After exiting FTL, they immediately turned into formation, gun batteries turning to point at the pirate fleet, an array of massive laser cannons. A female, artificial voice came over the comms, one Erma recognised as that of Admiral Evnah. He groaned, even as he was filled with relief.
"Ah, lovelies, lovelies. Someone had to go and disrupt my day and I'd much like to get back to it. Turn and leave, and you'll have no trouble from me; I'm not on vagabond hunting duty today. If you want this to be your grave, though, by all means!"
'Erma' continued to watch, his fleet unmoving from its position behind the planet. His allies, as temporary as they were, were both under heavy attack, though more Jade ships had arrived.
They were not his concern. The survival of his fleet and assets, however, were.
Fortunately, it seemed his benefactors had been snappier than he had imagined. Thirty FTL signatures appeared, streaks of golden light signalling their arrival as they formed the shapes of AUN warships. Fifteen cruisers, five heavy cruisers, nine frigates and one battleship at the fleet's core. After exiting FTL, they immediately turned into formation, gun batteries turning to point at the pirate fleet, an array of massive laser cannons. A female, artificial voice came over the comms, one Erma recognised as that of Admiral Evnah. He groaned, even as he was filled with relief.
"Ah, lovelies, lovelies. Someone had to go and disrupt my day and I'd much like to get back to it. Turn and leave, and you'll have no trouble from me; I'm not on vagabond hunting duty today. If you want this to be your grave, though, by all means!"
The Refinery
Fighting was continuing in the buildings but the advance had practically stalled out in the face of well-entrenched pirate positions, with Scythan commanders considering their options on how to break though in the wake of such casualties.
Refinery Interior
Lighting of the basement level into which Dayha plunged flickered slightly, revealing a mess of jury-rigged electrical cables, accelerating components and tangled piping that led to a more sturdy pipe below that was marked with a great many hazard symbols and was clearly compromised by the workings, spilling out radiation into the level - clearly, this was refinery sinarium piping that had been tapped into.
The commander noted that as the power cycled to provide lighting for Dayha the control panel started lighting up with various warnings as monitoring instruments also came back on line - ones that should have already been functioning without external power. They noted much what Dayha was experiencing - extreme radiation warning and a contained piping failure.
Space
The small pirate detachment that has been persuing the tower was quick to turn themselves about rather than face down the newly-arrived Herakles and it's force, perhaps hoping they could get themselves clear before they were engaged.
The main pirate force paused for a moment, with a short but brief argment between bridge crew onboard their flagship that ended with a single gunshot to the insubordinate individual. "If we're going to retreat, that'll be my decision, not his." Trayith declared to the rest of the crew as the pirates ceased their advance but fanned out into combat formation rather than one for transit.
I have the actual rightful owner of the refinery on the ground there in my posession. For the right price, we won't need to do any fighting here at all, and we'll save all of us some effort.
It seemed that Evnah and Marelis would be alone in their endeavour for now, as the Scythans continued to be pinned between providing ground support and getting themselves into combat and were not yet ready to be effective in space combat.
Fighting was continuing in the buildings but the advance had practically stalled out in the face of well-entrenched pirate positions, with Scythan commanders considering their options on how to break though in the wake of such casualties.
Refinery Interior
Lighting of the basement level into which Dayha plunged flickered slightly, revealing a mess of jury-rigged electrical cables, accelerating components and tangled piping that led to a more sturdy pipe below that was marked with a great many hazard symbols and was clearly compromised by the workings, spilling out radiation into the level - clearly, this was refinery sinarium piping that had been tapped into.
The commander noted that as the power cycled to provide lighting for Dayha the control panel started lighting up with various warnings as monitoring instruments also came back on line - ones that should have already been functioning without external power. They noted much what Dayha was experiencing - extreme radiation warning and a contained piping failure.
Space
The small pirate detachment that has been persuing the tower was quick to turn themselves about rather than face down the newly-arrived Herakles and it's force, perhaps hoping they could get themselves clear before they were engaged.
The main pirate force paused for a moment, with a short but brief argment between bridge crew onboard their flagship that ended with a single gunshot to the insubordinate individual. "If we're going to retreat, that'll be my decision, not his." Trayith declared to the rest of the crew as the pirates ceased their advance but fanned out into combat formation rather than one for transit.
I have the actual rightful owner of the refinery on the ground there in my posession. For the right price, we won't need to do any fighting here at all, and we'll save all of us some effort.
It seemed that Evnah and Marelis would be alone in their endeavour for now, as the Scythans continued to be pinned between providing ground support and getting themselves into combat and were not yet ready to be effective in space combat.
Marelis did not bother responding to Trayith's offer, instead directing his warships to attack. The formation powered ahead at full speed, the six frigates now racing to catch up to the straggling pirate detachment that had been chasing the Tower, whilst behind them came the six destroyers arrayed around the cruiser.
From the frigates, several squadrons of fighters boiled out, forming up and chasing the pirates, harassing them with long-range fire and strafing their engines from behind, hoping to force the enemy to stop and fight.
From the frigates, several squadrons of fighters boiled out, forming up and chasing the pirates, harassing them with long-range fire and strafing their engines from behind, hoping to force the enemy to stop and fight.
Space
The fleeing squadron were quite happy to let the slower among their number die to sate the oncoming Ingenious warships, while point defense and return fire sprayed out from those that had been abandoned as they were forced to turn, fight and die as the far superior formation quickly overwhelmed them.
The pirate main force were clearly preparing to engage themselves as they begun to move toward the ingen forces, while the Scythan and Artifician forces were being left alone for now - whether some cunning defeat in detail strategy or merely a byproduct of the Ingenious being the only ones to open fire so far, Marelis had the entire pirate fleet coming at his own force.
The fleeing squadron were quite happy to let the slower among their number die to sate the oncoming Ingenious warships, while point defense and return fire sprayed out from those that had been abandoned as they were forced to turn, fight and die as the far superior formation quickly overwhelmed them.
The pirate main force were clearly preparing to engage themselves as they begun to move toward the ingen forces, while the Scythan and Artifician forces were being left alone for now - whether some cunning defeat in detail strategy or merely a byproduct of the Ingenious being the only ones to open fire so far, Marelis had the entire pirate fleet coming at his own force.
With the fleeing squadron on its heels, several of its number reduced to rapidly-expanding clouds of particulate, Marelis took in the tactical situation. By all accounts the planet was already a lost cause, the Scythan and pirate forces combining to turn it into a hellscape, whilst the unknown fleet over the planet seemed to have no interest in assisting them in fighting this pirate horde.
"We're done here. Spin up," he ordered, stroking his spade-shaped beard as the order relayed through the fleet. The bulk of the enemy force ahead of them was still a good 5 or 6 AU out, beyond the range of any interdiction field, and so with the field over the planet destroyed there was nothing keeping them in place.
Shimmering emerald gates opened in front of the Jade warships and they slipped through quietly, disappearing as quickly as they had arrived and taking the Tower Of Dusk with them.
"We're done here. Spin up," he ordered, stroking his spade-shaped beard as the order relayed through the fleet. The bulk of the enemy force ahead of them was still a good 5 or 6 AU out, beyond the range of any interdiction field, and so with the field over the planet destroyed there was nothing keeping them in place.
Shimmering emerald gates opened in front of the Jade warships and they slipped through quietly, disappearing as quickly as they had arrived and taking the Tower Of Dusk with them.
The Refinery
The situation wasn't good, and it seemed the Scythans were being forced to withdraw - partly a decision by their forces in orbit. Amidst much wreckage and carnage the pirates groundside had been badly bloodied, but it was the more pressing concern of new pirate reinforcements arriving that finally broke the allied assault on the refinery. Dayha and the other Artificia in the refinery itself would evidently have to pull back themselves, but not before Dayha and the commander tried firing the sinarium weapons the pirates had part constructed. The weapon itself managed to avoid completely destroying itself during the firing - surprisingly enough - but the damage it had done to itself and the nearby Dayha would certainly leave a lasting mark.
Space
With the Scythans extracting as much of their ground forces as they could while finally opening fire upon the pirates, the Artificia doing much likewise and those of Ingen having already done so, the one saving grace they had to cover them was the bright flash of the sinarium gun cutting a swath through both allied and pirate ships alike. Barely contained beams streaked wildly with total reckless abandon up from the planet, before spluttering out as the emitters finally failed and the weapon turned upon itself for a brief moment. With such total chaos, and such total destruction, the combined forces above the planets had the opportunity to get themselves clear while the pirates were left to fight it out with each other. Neither side had been truly victorious this day - Trayith and her band of marauders had not destroyed local relief forces, those planetside had lost much of their strength in the fighting, and the relief group had been forced into flight. The true loser, however, was Lassero and her people - they still had much to endure despite their struggles.
The situation wasn't good, and it seemed the Scythans were being forced to withdraw - partly a decision by their forces in orbit. Amidst much wreckage and carnage the pirates groundside had been badly bloodied, but it was the more pressing concern of new pirate reinforcements arriving that finally broke the allied assault on the refinery. Dayha and the other Artificia in the refinery itself would evidently have to pull back themselves, but not before Dayha and the commander tried firing the sinarium weapons the pirates had part constructed. The weapon itself managed to avoid completely destroying itself during the firing - surprisingly enough - but the damage it had done to itself and the nearby Dayha would certainly leave a lasting mark.
Space
With the Scythans extracting as much of their ground forces as they could while finally opening fire upon the pirates, the Artificia doing much likewise and those of Ingen having already done so, the one saving grace they had to cover them was the bright flash of the sinarium gun cutting a swath through both allied and pirate ships alike. Barely contained beams streaked wildly with total reckless abandon up from the planet, before spluttering out as the emitters finally failed and the weapon turned upon itself for a brief moment. With such total chaos, and such total destruction, the combined forces above the planets had the opportunity to get themselves clear while the pirates were left to fight it out with each other. Neither side had been truly victorious this day - Trayith and her band of marauders had not destroyed local relief forces, those planetside had lost much of their strength in the fighting, and the relief group had been forced into flight. The true loser, however, was Lassero and her people - they still had much to endure despite their struggles.