THE RECON
20 Dec 2021Jav Marlo
THE RECON19 DEC 3307, Facece system.
Jav Marlo observing Cremona Penitentiary from afar
So, that is the place: Cremona Penitentiary.
COVAS ALIX: According to my database, Cremona Penitentiary is a maximum security facility for violent prisoners that have committed grave crimes against the Empire. The installation is managed by the Imperial Army. There are no records of any inmates ever escaping this places or prison break attempts. I would say the chances for liberating your partner Ayumi from this place are close to zero.
I don`t want to know about chances. Perhaps I should take a closer look to the defences.
Jav Marlo on the Mjolnir observing Cremona Penitentiary from afar
COVAS ALIX: Commander, it is my duty to remind you that you are a Duke of the Imperial Navy named by Admiral Denton Patreus and that, if you are identified as the perpetrator of an assault into an Imperial military installation, you will put on a compromise position to the senator. Not to mention that you are flying an Imperial Clipper with all the modifications and marks of senator Patreus especial agents. The senator specifically warned you about using this ship for any rescue attempts on your partner, and yet here we are.
Hey, we are not doing anything illegal. Nobody knows we are here. We are 7 klicks away, out of the non-trespass zone… (sighs) I need to take a closer look to those defences; to know what we are facing. Alix, get ready the scarab.
COVAS ALIX: I strongly advise against it.
Do not worry. I just want to take a closer look.
…
Jav Marlo taking his scarab towards Cremona Penitentiary
Alix, can you hear me?
COVAS ALIX: Loud and clear commander. I am using a low frequency coded channel.
Keep your sensors at maximum range and let me know if you get any signal. I am approaching the perimeter.
Jav Marlo driving his scarab
…
COVAS ALIX: Commander, my sensors are catching two moving echoes, could be small vessels, I recommend maximum precaution, you could be spotted.
Hey, thanks for the warning, I have visual contact. I think it is an Imperial Courier patrolling the air exclusion zone. I am switching off the lights.
Jav Marlo on his scarab observing a patrolling ship
COVAS ALIX: Commander, you should head back, there are high chances of you being scanned if coming closer to the perimeter.
I am switching off the shields, thrusters, weapons and everything apart from the vital system. It is freezing outside, and dark, there is no chance they can detect me from above, but they could detect you, take orbit above this position and wait there until I recall you. And don´t worry, I have this under control.
Jav Marlo`s scarab moving towards Cremona Penitentiary
I am closer now. A circle of detection pylons is marking a perimeter around the base. There is no chance I can pass through them with the scarab undetected. The first patrol ship just departed, that means it has not spotted me, but a second one just appeared and started flying circles above.
Jav Marlo on his scarab
There they are. I am parking the scarab behind one of those pylons. I can see some big weapons platforms from here. I need to know what they are.
Jav Marlo approaching Cremona Penitentiary perimeter with his scarab
It was good that I brought my sniper rifle with me. I can use its scope to sneak from here without violating the security perimeter.
Jav Marlo using his scope to spy on a military facility
Damn! I think those are some very big guns. I can see two anti-vessel defense turrets. These things can fire a continuous stream of kinetic slugs that can literally melt a ship on the air in seconds.
Jav Marlo spying on a defense turret
(Deep breath) What else do we have? I can see several smaller platforms scattered all around the perimeter, but no signs of movement, nor vehicles or guards. Strange.
Jav Marlo spying the defenses of Cremona Penitentiary
What are those smaller ones all around the perimeter? They are probably a mix of anti-air and anti-ground turrets, but I cannot see them properly on the dark.
Jav Marlo using his scope to spy on a military facility defense turrets
Something makes no sense here. The big guns can take any heavy cruiser approaching, but they are sluggish and not very effective against small ships; and I can see lots of rapid fire high accurate smaller anti-craft and anti-vehicle turrets all around the perimeter ready to take any small vessels or SRV, but those are not good against soldiers on foot. I do not see any anti-person systems. It makes no sense. How do they expect to hunt any escaping inmates on foot. Perhaps there is a chance there.
Jav Marlo studying the defenses of Cremona Penitentiary
I can see a big bunker in the middle of the installation. No windows, no doors, no visible access. That is probably where the inmates are. And the access must be on the opposite side of the base, where the tall administration tower is. They must have at least a dock for supply vehicles and a landing pad. That must be the only way in.
Jav Marlo spying on the cell block of the Cremona Penitentiary
Not good enough. I need to find how to render those turrets inoperative or a way inside from this face of the installation. Landing a ship here would be impossible. But there are no guards. I am going in. As long as I don´t shoot or activate my shields it should be OK.
Jav Marlo crossing the non-trespass zone of Cremona Penitentiary on foot
… (Heavy breath) There. So far so good. 300 meters inside the perimeter and I have not been detected.
Jav Marlo sneaking on a non-trespass zone
And from here I can see much better the installation. Let´s look for a weak spot on those turrets. There must be a way of disabling them.
Jav Marlo looking for a weak spot on a defense turret
Damn! What the hell! Just coming from behind the turret. A skimmer. A sentry skimmer. Where did it come from?... (Deep breath) No need to panic. It is just one. It has not seen me. Probably just patrolling. There is the anti-person security system. They do not need guards. They have skimmers. Those things are killer machines. I need to take cover.
Jav Marlo taking cover on a non-trespass zone
There. That could be it. Possible back door. But where did the skimmer go? Nasty little bugs.
Jav Marlo finding a back door in the Cremona Penitentiary
There you are. I see you! Are you looking for me? You little piece of junk.
(ALARM!, ALARM!, You are on a non-trespass zone. Intruders will not be tolerated. Use of lethal fire has been authorized)
Jav Marlo sneaking on a Skimmer
What?... How? It has not detected me. Where?... Damn! There are more, one, two,… three, four, five of them. I am doomed. SHIELDS!
Jav Marlo being hit by several Skimmers
Take this you…
Jav Marlo destroying a skimmer
One down, four incoming. I have no chance. I need to run. (Heavy breath)
Jav Marlo running away from four skimmers
(Heavy breath) They are closing. I am not going to make it. There… some cover… maybe…
Jav Marlo taking cover from skimmer fire
Perhaps if I can take one or two, I would be able to make it to the scarab.
Take this you… YES!
Jav Marlo destroying another skimmer
Almost there… almost there. If I can get inside the scarab I am safe. Its shields will hold the skimmer fire for a while as I run.
Jav Marlo running towards his scarab
Whoooaaa! What the hell was that? That was not skimmer fire.
An explosion close to Jav Marlo´s scarab
The patrol ship! It has seen me. It´s pursuing me. It´s firing lasers and railguns. The shield will not hold another direct impact. I need to find some…
A patrol ship pursuing Jav Marlo´s scarab
Cover… Here. In the shadow of this crater. This should do it. The ship will not be able to lock target on me. Night is coming to this rock. It is getting darker. Switching off all systems. Let´s wait and hope they do not come looking for me by the ground.
Jav Marlo hiding his scarab in the shadow of a crater
…
Alix, do you copy me?
COVAS ALIX: Yes commander. I am in orbit over your position.
Well. Come down here and pick me up. Lights off and watch out. There are patrol ships. I was detected but I think I was not scanned.
COVAS ALIX: I said it was dangerous…
Shut up and land the damn ship.
Jav Marlo on his scarab waiting for the Mjolnir to land
…
COVAS ALIX: Commander I am detecting patrol ships approaching.
Let´s get out of here.
The Mjolnir departing Cremona Penitentiary
COVAS ALIX: Commander, I must say that this recon operation was too risky. I hope that at least you were able to find a way to break into the prison.
It was indeed. I see no way to assault the prison from the air with those turrets guarding the place and the perimeter is patrolled by lots of sentry skimmers. (Sighs) I barely made it out there alive. The twilight saved me. On the fading light those things cannot aim properly, but I would not risk to assault that place in the dark… There must be a way and I am going to find it. How much until the next dawn on that moon?
COVAS ALIX: The moon is tidally lock to the planet. Next dawn will take place in 6 days, 13 hours and 22 minutes.
I see. Let´s head back to Lubbock market.
Jav Marlo on the cockpit of the Mojlnir
…
20 DEC 3307, HIP 118311, Lubbock Market
This is commander Jav Marlo. I think I might have found a way to break into Cremona Penitentiary.
Alix, do you copy me?
COVAS ALIX: Yes commander.
I was thinking, Admiral Patreus said that I should not take the Mjolnir into any illegal operation on Facece, but he did not say anything about you.
COVAS ALIX: I do not understand.
I was wondering, can you be installed into another ship?
Commander Jav Marlo observing a ship on the docks of Lubbock Market
COVAS ALIX: I can transfer myself into another vessel central computer, but I just can be installed into one vessel at a time.
Will all your functions be operative, I mean, would you be able to fly the ship, land yourself and fire the weapons?
COVAS ALIX: Affirmative, all my functions will be operational.
I have one last question for you. How would you feel if I put you on a Federal ship?
COVAS ALIX: Commander, I do not have feelings of any kind.
That it is good to know, because I am putting together a plan to rescue Ayumi and I am going to need you.
Jav Marlo signing out.
Jav Marlo inspecting a Federal Gunship at Lubbock Market