Chapter 03: The Tidal Breach

-15 December 2485-

"This is High Admiral Lazaris of the UNC Bloody Spring. All Union vessels are to obey the following orders and proceed as such. Fleet Decimus and Ilirox, proceed to Pluto and Charon. Fleet Argenvin to Europa. Fleet Unves to Luna. Fleet Tygrin rally with Fleet Mariah, set interception course for Mars." The voice of a confident woman spoke out from the bridge of the supercarrier, barking out orders which carried authority.

Spread out across Union-held worlds, would be the largest deployment of naval vessels in more than eight decades. Pluto, Charon, Neptune, Uranus, Mercury and the many Union enclaves broadcasted their encrypted and impenetrable transmissions across the system.

"Percy, I need a sit-rep of our agents. Inform them to move onto Phase Beta as planned afterwards." Her most trusted naval officer, Percy, looked up at her. He was practically just as efficient as droid, able to relay information necessary to the High Admiral.

"Affirmative, High Admiral. All our agents are reporting green, transmissions are being kept to the bare minimum and our satellites are reading positive at scrambling enemy transmissions. Clear to go dark."

The High Admiral smirked with pride, a century of hate and injustice against the Union would be returned accordingly. In tenfold. Their history was that of needless wars and deaths. They have been behind every war crime committed. But what was so commonly known by the other nations, what they always love to forget was that they committed crimes of equal destruction, hate and inhumanity.

The High Admiral gripped the armrest of her chairs tightly, staring at the holographic projection of Mars. However it wasn't the planet that interested here, it was who was on it. Hate fuelled her anger as anyone who personally knew her history, would understand just as clearly as she did. The scars on her face paled in comparison to the ones underneath her uniform. Burn marks and and skin disfigurements speaking out words of her suffering.

This was the man responsible for the utter glassing of her colonial sector on Triton, the largest moon of Neptune. He caused her so much grief at such a young age, having to watch a literal hellscape. Her military career was kickstarted by this hate, her dream to watch him bleed. And soon the rest of the Admiralty of the Coalition, Federation and the Commonwealth. Earth was best left out for now in her campaign which was to be. Still, she was going to be the better person. Civilians casualties must be limited.

"You're mine.....Zhang. I'll personally see you hanged..."

"High Admiral, Fleet Tygrin has received our transmission. Solar Winds are on a clear pathway. Estimated 5 day trip via Chrolun drive blocks. You have the con."

The High Admiral looked up towards the screens which projected the view from the outside, seeing the supercarrier's escort fleet. They held formation right above the fleetyard of Triton. She could feel the crowds cheering as they saw their mighty fleets take off, awed by their sheer power. Straightening her sitting posture, she posed in a professional manner, proceeding with the launch checks.

"Engineering, clear. Hangar, clear. Reactors, clear. Defences, clear. Comms, clear. Supply depot, clear. Helm, clear. We have an all clear. Fleet Mariah, go flight."

It was gradual at first, however the sudden ignition to the thrusters was immense. A stream of fusion shot out from the whole fleet, starting to instantaneously accelerate. It would be only the first thirty seconds and the fleet was already in orbit. They would then began to break into Neptune's orbit, planning to utilize the gas giant for a slingshot boost. Fleet Tygrin would be intercepting into their formation midway through the Uranus slingshot. The combined fleet designated to Mars would be massive. "Percy, give me fleet status. Our numbers to be precise."

"Current fleet power has been perceived, Fleet Admiral. Our numbers stand at 298 vessels. A supercarrier, a battleship, 9 assault cruisers, 14 missile cruisers, 36 transport carriers, 90 destroyers, 66 frigates, 81 Corvettes. Coalition and Federal forces on Mars are perceived at 190."

-20 December 2485-

A heavy punch was thrown, getting blocked afterwards by and equally swift reaction. Cheers roared out from both sides as troops gathered around the indoor ring. Today's fight would be between Ramiel and a another opponent. She cracked her knuckles, then feeling a little sore after the punches she dealt to him earlier.

"That hurt, didn't it? I'm gonna pummel you down Bitch!"

Ramiel brushed off the threat from the enormous man, ignoring it completely, distractions make or break a victory. She was forced into a bet, one made by Sabre Squad that she could beat up everyone from Mace Squad. Currently, she's fighting their last member, Arnold. What could've enticed her enough to such a bet, the lucrative prize of a six-pack beer. Native only to Venus, Al'Yorker Rise. Though it was considered basic on the planet, the rest of the system was hooked on it, and poor Ramiel needed something to remember home with.

"What's the matter? Afraid aren't you, you little fu-"

The man staggered back while holding his face firmly. His pained groans told everyone that the mean kick Ramiel dealt, did a number on him. Too bad it gave her shin a sprain. He turned to the side, coughing out a drops of blood onto the ground before spitting out a tooth. He growled back at Ramiel's reaction, charging blindly at her. The following seconds were seemed slow, Ramiel keeping her ground while the madman ran at her, her speed keeping distance.

She felt like Matador, ready to take down the bull's charge. She dodged out of the way, everyone gasping as they couldn't even see her rapid reflex. While everyone was in shock and awe, she used her elbows to land a heavy blow, having exhausted her fists and legs. She swung it around and impacted the man's ribs. A slight crack could be heard which echoed throughout the ring. The man stood there with wide eyes and an opened jaw, looking rather pale in comparison to his pinkish skin tone. Blood came dripping off his nose before falling back with a loud thud.

"We have a winner!" Kasey yelled, Sabre Squad rushing into the ring to celebrate the with the victor.

They lifted her up in the air as the crowd went absolutely insane. They all witnessed Ramiel singlehandedly take down the entirety of Mace Squad. Note that Mace Squad was prized for its heavy attack strategies and CQC. Zayed had already prepared in advance, handing out a bottle to the rest of his squad. Ramiel stared at it as if it were a holy relic, a finest of Venusian alcohol. She raised Al'Yorker Rise up in the air before yelling out a blood curdling war cry.

Mace Squad on the other hand came to retrieve their injured comrade. Though some, well most, of them were badly injured, it was nothing the cell therapy couldn't handle. They wandered off from the ring as fast as they could, not that they needed to get into an infirmary. They were simply embarrassed.

"I'm telling you, Admiral. They defy impossible odds. Everyone one of them." Captain Daniels says, folding his arms after the recording of the fight ended.

"How much do you want to rub them in my face, Captain? I've already placed them as a Tier-2 strike force. Yes they work well but if I move them to Tier-1 in such a short time....I'm going to need to answer to the Council. That and the....I can't disclose their name. The current holders of the Tier-1 title wouldn't be happy having extra competition."

Admiral Zhang explained to Daniels, giving a slightly sour face when he heard that Sabre couldn't be utilized to their full potential. Before the Admiral could continue on to other pressing matters, he received a transmission from his datapad. He took it out and answered, hearing a traumatised junior officer on the other line.

"I don't understand.....yes yes. What? How many? 4 dead... Lockdown the compound, I'm coming over immediately. Captain, you're coming with me."

Zhang gestured to Daniels, following the order. It was only about a 3 minute walk through the massive complex before he reached the room of the relay network. Outside were a group of soldiers, being the first responders to the situation.

"Admiral, the incident's been taken care of. But...we were caught by surprise. When we heard gunfire, we rushed over and saw the officers firing on their own. We managed to neutralize a few of 'em. But we got a fella here still alive."

"So it would seem.... Contact the General, he needs to know of this. Maintain Def-Con 2."

Zhang issued the orders to them, soon moving past them to examine the bloodbath. Inside were what was surviving of the communications officers, the remaining captive, along with the deceased bodies on the floor. The Admiral walked around and examined all the bodies. Something caught his eyes however, the pistols which some dead officers carried. They were standard issue by the Coalition but something was off. He quickly unloaded the magazine clip and ejected out a bullet. Zhang's eyes lit up the moment he realised what he was staring at. These were Union rounds.

"Captain, take the captive into the cell and prep for interrogation. Someone get me CAF Command now!"

The Admiral was interrupted by the choked laughter of the man bound by cuffs. He looked up at Zhang with a determined stare and an unrelenting smile to back him up with it. Zhang simply stared back but approached the captive, kneeling down on one knee to listen to what this traitor had to say. The way the man spoke was enough to give Zhang the terrifying nostalgia of his past, hearing this phrase a thousand times over.

"We...Will have our revenge. Mark my.....our words. Unión Eterna."

"Get this cocksuker out of my sight."

The Admiral growled out at the man, the two military police officers grabbing him by the arms and started dragging him off. The Admiral turned around before looking at the map of mars on the largest holo-display within the room. He folded his arms while his eyes darted and traced from colony to colony, sector to sector. He soon looked over at the massive console, hesitating for a moment before finally accessing it. Shocked filled his eyes, starting to see that the transmissions were filtered and so were their satellites.

"My god... They're aiming throughout the system. What is...There's a fleet incoming. Union, approximately 298 vessels...They're right above us." The Admiral's eyes widened, gritting his teeth, it's ruined.

"Admiral what do you mean?" Daniels interjected, joining beside the Admiral.

"What I mean is that they broke the armistice. This was their way of declaring war. All remaining communictions officers, get hold of Mars fleet and inform the Federation immediately."

The entirety of the Mars Coalition Zone would be on high alert over the next half an hour. All soldiers would be separated, into their own companies. Most were sent off to bunkered garrisons, needing to maximise the survivability of their military. The air force and fleets were already deployed out, most defending the space elevator. Sabre Squad would be in an APC, sharing it with Spear Squad. All Specialist Response Units were assigned accordingly to a garrison.

"Uh....Kasey, do you hear that?"

Zayed asked him curiously. Kasey gave him a confused stare before hearing it for himself. It felt loud, as in he could feel the intense bass of it. Both quickly looked out of their view ports, seeing that the railgun networks around Highfall District were aiming towards a certain direction in the sky. There were about thirty around the perimeter.

"This isn't right.....they all shouldn't be operating at the same time."

Someone from Spear Squad added in, looking out their own view port. As soon as all within their sights, the railguns paused momentarily, there was a tense moment of silence. The massive barrels of the guns stared up to space for a solid minute. Then began the barrage, streams of light were seem shooting off the tip of the guns.

Thirty-tonne slugs were shot out with precise accuracy. The recoil of each blast from the railguns were more than enough to set off a miniature dust storm around their area. It seemed like magic at first, but a railgun was destroyed. Shots rained down from heavens, being from the Union fleet.

"This is insane. Those guns were designed to survive nuclear blasts... when in the hell did the Union get their own railguns?!"

Kasey yelled out in confusion and dread. Soon more shots came shooting down, taking out railgun by railgun. Eventually the firing from the sky ceased, from thirty railguns to a pathetic fourteen. Up in orbit was the Bloody Spring including here sister battleship, Melancholic Autumn. Both had their ship-mounted railcannons pointed towards the planet below.

"Percy, contact Fleet Admiral Helixil. Tell him to not fire upon Highfall dome. Collateral damage is unacceptable... I'll be the better person Zhang... My mercy will be your undoing."