Chapter Seventy-One: Preparations

Chapter Seventy-One: Preparations

Kentares IV, Draconis March, Federated Suns January 3rd, 3016

"The Manassas and Age of Discovery are hidden in the shadow of one of the moons in the system." Sheppard reported to me. "Jewel sent Rook with the Snowden over to start repairs to the Texas Class Battleship."

"Peterson is a month or so out." Packer told me. "We have the 2nd Marksman up to a combined arms force that should be able to handle a force its equal at the very least."

"Our Warship crews are still green." I said, "but I think Comstar's will be green as well, and with the automated systems on the Manassas we should have a slight advantage. Jewel is returning with some of the Sting refits we commissioned and will be present by February."

"We move in March." I told them, "we're going to make a statement to Comstar by taking their naval Bases out of commission."

"Paige's Marines are chomping at the bit," Sheppard reported. "We gave them the upgraded Mithril 15(B) suits, and they are ready for any boarding actions we need them to try."

"Good," I said. "I want as much of the infrastructures and ships taken intact as possible."

"Based on the thrust ratios we calculated for that Warship that attacked you in the Versailles system we are going to be at a disadvantage in regards to speed." Commodore Frye spoke up. "The sensor data that the King Henry V reported was able to give us a calculated glimpse of what it might be armed with, and we think we might have the edge in firepower, but if we aren't accurate then it will be a very close battle."

"We'll have all of our Sting's loaded for bear and ready to attempt boarding, and Wardog and Strider Squadrons are prepping for anti Warship runs." I said. "They're going to be coordinating in space and we need to be absolutely ready to make fast decisions."

"I'm leaving overall tactics and planning to the people most likely to know what will happen." I said. "Lieutenant Colonel Paige, you're in charge of the Marine Forces that we have, and Commodore Frye, you're in command of both the dropships and Warships. I want an operational plan in three days for both systems, we're hitting them hard, and we're hitting them fast."

"Are Ian and Hanse briefed on this?" Sheppard asked me before I had the chance to dismiss everyone.

"I'll send a courier with a message when we leave." I told him. "I left hints that we would be retaliating, and there's a reason that I'm using the Marksman instead of the Kentares Guard."

Ross 248, March 14th, 3016

"Have the Age of Discovery detach her escorts." Commodore Frye ordered, "And have the Messenger engage in broad spectrum jamming. We don't want them to signal to any reinforcements that we are here."

"Ma'am." The sensor officer said. "We're detecting one Warship, and two Yardships."

"Send Paige and her marines to board the Yardships, and have Hull's Colossus move down to the Space station."

"Yes ma'am,'' the Communications officer replied. "Sending orders."

"That Frigate is coming in fast, Commodore." The sensor officer said.

"Have our drone's target the rear." Frye replied, "And have Blaze coordinate with the Strikers, we're not sure how well our modifications will work."

"We're in range Ma'am." The gunnery officer told her.

"Fire as you see fit." She told him.

The Manassas shuddered around them as they took Naval Autocannon fire on some of their armor.

Then, the Manassas answered with their own NAC's, their superior concentration of firepower and better targeting systems allowing them to put rounds on the enemy Warship. Causing armor to shatter and/or be melted off as Naval Lasers began to join in.

"This is Blaze," The Aerospace commander of the Marksman said. "Wardog and Strider, we are going to need to be extremely careful on this one, the enemy Warship seems to have extremely good anti fighter systems as was proven by the Drone's we sent out first."

"Roger that Lead." Chopper said. "I don't see any escort fighters for it though."

"We have nothing on our scopes." Blaze replied. "Edge, I'm assigning your squadron to escort the boarding craft to the Yardships, everyone else, pair up with a Sting. Let's make them bleed."

"Copy that Lead." Came back. "Moving to escort positions now."

"Marines!" Colonel Paige said over her dropship's command line. "This is what we've been training for, while the Navy gets to use their big guns for the first time outside of training, we get to go and do what we do best."

"Loot then Burn!" The marines responded.

"Damn straight!" Paige said. "Run checks on your Atmo seals, If anything manages to wreck that you'll be SOL."

The Sting dropship they were on maneuvered to avoid the fire that was directed at them. "We're coming in fast, Prep to drop and use jets to finish reaching the Yardship." The pilot told the Marines on board.

"You heard the man!" Paige yelled as the bay doors opened. "Get onto the ship and find an airlock, if you can't then we'll make rescue efforts as soon as we are able." The company of Marines "Dropped" out of the bay, using jump jets to navigate to the hull of the Yardship.

"Ma'am, I've got an escape pod here!" One of her marines said over their laser comms.

"Copy, drop a Nav point on it so that way we can have the others navigate here." Paige told him as she navigated over there.

"Set Breaching charges." She told him. "This should be a good entry point." She assisted in getting the shaped charges ready. "Rook, I want you close by, we need to get into the computer systems and to be able to turn this ship against them."

"Yes Ma'am." Lieutenant Rook replied. "Hanging on your six." While there wereother computer specialists in the Marksman and Kentares Guard, none were as capable as Rook and so she had requested him to be with her unit.

"Breaching." The marine called, detonating the charges. "Hole's clear, moving in." They moved into the now defunct escape pod and slapped a temporary seal over the hole they had made.

"Opening door." Rook called as he used the pods controls to open the hatch in front of them. "We're in, let's do this."