Gladian Imperium wrote:ICN Ark Royal, Hangar BayThe
Steel Coffin slid into the hangar, moving with the same paradoxical grace seen in similar Grav-Drive vehicles. Setting itself down on large legs, A hatch beneath the cockpit opened, lowering a ramp as first the two Centurions, followed by Lutherus and Trez'nav, disembarked, the Centurions swiftly taking position on both sides of the ramp. Grayson looked up as the shuttle descended, even as a Tomcat was carried overhead by some of the hangars systems, casting a minor shadow on the grouping below. His own two honor gaurd taking up a position next to him as he walked to a mid distance between the hangar door and the lowering shuttle ramp, waiting.
Lutherus and Trez'nav approached Grayson, the former's movements being somewhat ponderous, and the latter walking in a manner that was almost
too real for a hologram. As the Warmaster drew closer, engravings could be made out on the chestplate and gauntlets as he saluted the Captain, while the LA had only known the ISO for a small amount of time, it had rapidly analyzed cultural files sent their way, knowing gestures to use in what situations.
"Captain Grayson, it's a relief to know that the Alliance is not alone in this fight." Lutherus said, his voice sounding like the echoes of thunder in a stormy valley.
Grayson returned the salute, before dropping it. Noting the two companions, as he nods. "And it is good to know we have another set of allies besides the United Government." His voice, compared to the rolling thunder of the Warmaster, was refined. The smooth cadence of a business man, with the hints of an accent that spoke of a rather lavish upbringing. "But, as much as I do enjoy the art of carrier warfare, a hangar is not the place for a meeting. If you all would follow me, there has been a room prepared for this meeting."
The two followed him, the Centurions maintaining their vigil at the Shuttle's entrance. Humming, Trez'nav would pull out a manila "file" during the walk, reading through its contents, although anyone looking would only see a mess of fractals and garbled text, with vague images outlining Elephants, Warminds, the Starfury, and various other vessels involved in the conflict. They soon arrived to a forward observation room- A 'glass' floor seeming to seperate them from the void of space, but an adept eye could spot the seams of screens, which showed the burning planet below. A table had been organized for the meeting- Including a chair for the Warmaster, as Grayson took a seat marked with the ICN Eagle. "Please do take a seat. There are some things to talk about- And Bulwark sends his apologies he cannot join in person, but he is currently dealing with another issue, and shall be joining us via hologram in a few minutes."
"That is understandable, Captain. The Sentinel Arrays that observed his ship's skirmish with the unknowns said that it had sustained notable damage to the port hull." Trez'nav said, sitting down at one of the chairs. Lutherus settled on the stool that had apparently been designed for a species of Gladian make. "So, what is the largest elephant in the room right now, asides from this ship?" The Warmaster asked. Grayson laughed, lightly, even as he waved his hand over an interface that popped up. Inputting a few codes, as a holographic image of the galaxy appeared over the table. "Bulwark put together a strategy to deal with the grouped Octavian fleet as a whole- But we're currently trying to settle on a place to truly lay an ambush. We have a few problems, but none of them my four ships could have exploited alone... But now with the extra backing of the Alliance, Bulwark does believe... Ah, here's his alert now." An emitter in the room flicked on, as 'Bulwark' appeared at the table.
"I must apologize for my lateness, but I was dealing with issues... But, as the Good Captain was saying, with the backing of the Alliance, I believe we can lure the Octavian Fleet into a destructive confrontation, and undercut Octavian Expansion where it stands. The current is determining where the strike shall take place." Bulwark's voice was neither the rolling thunder of the Warmaster, nor the refined voice of Grayson, but it was something in between- A seemingly perfect blend of two different worlds...
"Indeed, location is everything. The wrong person in the right place can make all the difference, after all." Trez'nav remarked, pulling a "page" from their file and tossing it into the air, where it morphed from a barely-legible paper into a holographic diagram that split apart into various filters. "This is sensor data from our sensor stations above and below Octavian space. They've yet to notice them, so, for the time being, we'll have a reliable source of intel for quite some time. There's one particular location that is of interest to the LA for the purposes of heavily wounding Octavian morale."
The diagrams merged, beginning to overlap and zoom in before coming to rest at a large ring-shaped structure encircling a star.
"This megastructure seems to have only recently been completed, and the traffic indicates that it is a major civilian icon. Its destruction could severely harm Octavian morale, and also remove a valuable location for industrialization."
"There's a few other smaller targets, as well," Lutherus remarked. "Several minor industrial worlds, trade routes, the like." He continued, as the LA hologram shifted to show several of said worlds and trade routes, numbers below them indicating possible population, production capacity, and damage to the Octavian economy with their destruction. Bulwark and Grayson both took a moment to study the information- Bulwark speaking first, at a nod from Grayson.
"I can see viability in both options, and a combination of two strategies I had previously could exploit all of the above. Grayson's fleet was outfitted for raiding, so he could easily pull fleets along by burning a path up and down the Octavian trade-lanes, into a battle at the Ringworld.""Aye, combining two strategies for the best option of devastation." Grayson agreed- "But would you still be able to pull off Chariot?"
Bulwark nodded.
"Easily. But, overall, I believe the viable option is to focus our combined fleets into a massed ambush of Octavian, and allied, forces that will be pulled towards the ring. Morale is a factor here, and such a devastating blow against such an icon could easily do harm to it- Alongside the devastation, the Good Captain could cause along the industrial worlds.""If you don't mind me asking, what is Chariot?" Trez'nav inquired, pulling a pen from nowhere and turning to a new page in the file.
"So we lure them to the Ringworld. How exactly will we manage to pull that off, is another beast to tame." The Warmaster said, adjusting his position slightly.
Bulwark paused,
"Ah, sorry. I have grown used to operating with the MSGA Combined Military. 'Chariot' is a catch-all term for hit and run operations undertaken by a joint task-force. In this case, it is the action of our fleets drawing the Octavian and allied fleets into a prolonged, running, confrontation, and dragging them to a preset ambush point. Or creating a scene so large that Octavia has to scramble a large fleet to respond to it." The holograph of Bulwark than turned to the Warmaster.
"The battle at the ringworld itself should be fairly easy. My array operators recently completed a re-certification in shell manipulation. They can easily drop a multi-gigaton shell in the middle of a ship's engine bay. I also do agree luring them will be an issue, but my Cruiser has already proven to be of a certain degree of caution. If my cruiser were to take 'damage' and then 'retreat'... We could lure them into a confrontation, as they tried to pursue it to 'finish' off my cruiser."The Warmaster rested his head on an armored arm for a second, processing Bulwark's words. The kind of feats the United Government could pull off were vaguely known, and well beyond Gladian technological capacity. However, a "grin", if you could call it that, began to show on his face. "I believe I understand what you're suggesting. It sounds daring, and if it fails we won't have another shot at it, but should it succeed, we'll be able to lure them right into the equivalent of a Gravlev derailment. What can the 800th Armada do to aid in this tactic?" He inquired, eyeing the two commanders as Trez'nav quickly jotted down the notes regarding Chariot. Bulwarked smirked.
"We have the hammer, but we need the anvil. We have the ship, but we need the anchor. The five ships with I had planned for this operation would, originally, been enough to ensure a majority of the fleet that engaged was destroyed. Now I believe it can be entirely destroyed. Anything you can contribute will be appreciated. My cruiser can hold them in the system. It will be up to the combined mights of our fleets to ensure they are destroyed.""Hmmm, well, I know a few ships in the fleet who would be willing to aid in raids with the Elephants, and the 89th and 700th Support Fleets have full reserves ready for logistical support." The Warmaster said before Trez'nav jumped in. "And the Warminds can assist your vessel in luring them to the Ringworld. They are, after all, the exact same ship, have one jump in, get in a scrap, and jump out, have another one jump in, continue the cycle until we lure them to the target system."
"Good." Bulwark said, as he gestured to Grayson.
"Ah, right." He turned, as the holograph on the table updated to include the information from the LA dossier. "I plan to go full Lancaster on the Octavian Industrial Basis. I will pick a trade-lane, and run down it burning every world that stands between here and the end of it. From there, my plan is to repeat it. Again and again. Until the Octavians send a fleet to meet me in battle- Then I shall engage that fleet, and draw them back to the ringworld. If you can spare ships, Warmaster, they would be greatly appreciated. As confident as I am in four Elephants, some backing firepower would be very nice." Grayson finished- A brutal smirk now spread across his face, almost entirely unfitting of his 'upper-class' demeanor...
"I happen to have just the ships for the job, Captain. While I did say the Warminds could back the cruiser, they'd be doing so one at a time. Their avatars can patch into this very meeting room right now if you'd like to meet them face to face." Trez'nav suggested, a very mild smile beginning to tug at the corners of his mouth. Grayson took a curious demeanor- While Bulwark simply took on a bemused one. "I believe that would be rather useful, to the operation. If you wouldn't mind brining them in, that would be rather helpful."
"Very well, patching them in," Trez'nav said.
In the next instant, a variety of...eccentric beings made themselves known. While they maintained the same looks as their usual avatars, the Warminds had switched to "combat mode", meaning that some changes were made. The Avatars were, in order from most to least noticeable, a cartoonish Jester wielding a scythe, a Knight Templar actively loading a double-barreled shotgun, a bright red lens flare coming from within its helmet, A Gunslinger, loading their revolver while a lit cigar hung in their mouth, a large cloud of some kind of aerosol gas, an alarmingly buff frog, and finally, a hamster that very strongly smelled of elderberries.
"Pardon their...eccentric appearances. Warminds aren't particularly serious with their names and Avatars." Trez'nav said as the Warmaster maintained a neutral expression.
Bulwark easily kept nothing but the faint smirk on his face. Grayson, however, spluttered for a second before composing himself. Taking the second to straighten his cap, and compose his words, before he said something rather rash... "I have been told of that in the past. I did not expect it to be quite so... Literal, with all options considered."
"You better hawp we're eccentric. Ah ken someone wha manifests thair avatar as a grandfather timepiece 'n' speaks in ticks 'n' chimes." The Hamster started squeaking, in a
very harsh Scottish accent before being cut off by the Jester, who proceeded to speak in an equally confusing Shakespearean tone. "What mine own colleague intends to sayeth, is 'greetings, we art the warminds assign'd to the 800th armada, at thy s'rvice.
Trez'nav seemed unfazed by the unusual dialects. "Apologies, Captain. I should've warned you before I patched them in." Grayson simply smirked, leaning back in his chair as he recovers from the shock. "Ah, no worries. It is very entertaining to have a break from the usual pomp and ceremony of the Combined Armadas, as ironic as that might sound coming from someone of my decorum. There is a reason I enjoy working with the United Government, after-all." He simply said, nodding to Bulwark as he said that, who simply smirks in agreement.
"Very well, the relevant information regarding our tactics has been forwarded to the Warminds, and-" Trez'nav was cut off by a gesture from Lutherus. "My apologies, Apparently there's some captains that need to speak to me." He said, putting a hand to the side of his head, causing a geodesic, holographic "mask" to form across his face. After a few wordless minutes, the mask dissipated, and the Gladian's hand returned to his side. "I've just received word that your ships will have some assisted firepower, Captain." He said, "The Arsenal Barges
Blazing Heavens and
Steel Vengeance have both volunteered to accompany your vessels on fire support, and another one,
Blind Prophet has volunteered to accompany the Starfury."
Grayson smiled, again. "Oh, I always did love a fireworks show, and this promises to be one of the biggest since the Trafaxxian Scuffle!" He claps his hands once in delight, before re-composing himself with a cough. "Ahem, sorry... I tend to get carried away at times. But, I do believe, unless any of you have something to add, that this is everything?" Yes, this does conclude our meeting, I believe. Good hunting, Captain." Trez'nav said, standing up and putting the Folder away. A small file would be transmitted to Ark Royal, showing the rotation of Warminds that'd support Mossflower in the raidings, as well as the loadouts of the three Arsenal Barges that would be accompanying them and the Starfury. Lutherus stood up as well, taking a brief moment to straighten the folds on his kilt, before saluting. "Farewell, Captain Grayson. Enjoy your Arson spree."
Grayson stood to salute as well, as his crew handles the download and transfer of the file. "I shall, War-master. Fair hunting, and may we all return alive."
Mossflower Task-Force, former Target IIISoon after the Warmaster and Trez'nav's departure, two vessels departed from the Gladian Fleet and began moving into formation with the ICN vessels. Both were around the same size as a Super-Rhino, if not somewhat stockier. Their IFF signals would read as
Arsenal Barge, Steel Vengeance and
Arsenal Barge, Blazing Heavens. Both ships sent their greetings to the Ark Royal as the five Warminds also moved into position, taking up a position near the rear of the fleet as they reported their drives were primed for the first jump. Another Arsenal Barge,
Blind Prophetand the sixth Warmind,
T'Was But A Jest moved away from the formation as well, preparing to rendezvous with the Starfury when it showed up. It didn't take long for orders to be transmitted along the ling of the ICN fleet- And up to the two arsenal barges, as FTL coordinates were synced across the entire fleet.
It was time to prepare for the raid down Jugular 1- Something which Grayson was now rather enthusiastic for, with the backing of the Warminds and dual arsenal barges. This campaign was shaping up to be far more fun than he'd ever thought it would end up being.