Terran Dawn: The Day of Their Disaster
04 May 2018Damian "Devil" Blaide
02/05/3304 Beagle 2 Landing in the Asellus Primus system“Sir!” Danae Park was shouting into the comms excitedly “Sir! It’s gone through!”. She was in her quarters, where she had been for days now, monitoring the comms traffic of the Etain Jet Power Group in Etain.
“For the love of the abyss, Park, don’t yell! I can hear you perfectly fine.” Commander Blaide’s irritable voice came through. He was currently in the Asellus Primus hangar deck, sitting in his Fer-de-Lance checking its systems.
“Sorry, sir…I didn’t realise I was shouting.” Park said embarrassedly thinking she must’ve sounded like a little girl on Christmas morning. Shaking off the feeling she continued “But it’s gone through. The order…”
“Slow down, Park, what has gone through where?”
Park took a deep breath. The Terran Colonial Forces 315th Squadron had – with the help of Commander Matthew Horner – installed a worm into the Federal comms network some time ago, and programmed it to monitor communications between the Etain Jet Power group and an unknown party, via the help of their respective comms carrier signal IDs – the former acquired with the help of the Ross 93 Silver Brothers pirates and the latter by downloading it from the black box of a destroyed ship that had been in contact with them.
Blaide had also siphoned money and resources to the Silver Brothers’ way and asked them to leak information of a pending large-scale TCF attack on Shepherd’s Vision with the goal of releasing commander James Barrett from his illegal imprisonment. He hoped these rumours would cause the Power Group to decide to relocate Barrett from the facility, so that such an attack would not become necessary. A planetary assault would be bound to cause casualties and possibly also a diplomatic incident.
“The Etain Jet Power Group, sir. The worm we had commander Horner install into the Federal network? I’ve been monitoring the comms of the Power Group, like you ordered, and it just came through. The order I mean. They contacted the unknown party and ordered a ‘relocation of a detained VIP’. You think it’s him?”
There was a slight pause on the other end and then Blaide’s voice came through “Get to the hangar, Park. Put your flight gear on, we’re moving.”
...
Park sat in the co-pilot’s seat of Blaide’s Fer-de-Lance “Red Horse”. This was the first time she’d been allowed inside the fighter – Blaide valued this ship above all the rest. For the past months, the Horse had been in drydock or with several of the Engineers, as Blaide was retrofitting the ship for some specified purpose. Now, though, he had opted to fly the fighter unfinished though it may have been.
“I will contact commander Goodwin to brief him of the situation, Park. You run through the checklist.”
“Yes sir.” Park answered and started scanning through the systems as her boss opened a comms channel to commander Malcolm Goodwin. Checking through the systems Park whistled quietly under her breath – there was scarcely a system in the ship that had not been modified. This, of course, made the readings anything but standard. Going through her checklist, she stopped at power distribution systems. They were off the nominal values by several factors. Glancing at her boss, she could see he was still talking with Goodwin, but this seemed like a serious fault, so she decided that she’d risk disturbing him.
“Umm…sir? I think these power distribution readings might indicate a serious flaw in the systems.” Blaide raised his right hand at the holo-screen and turned to Park.
“So, I think that these readings either indicate a malfunction within power transfer itself, or a serious power-overcharge in the systems that might result in some systems shorting out or circuits blowing, if the power distribution was pushed to the limit.” Park explained.
Her boss nodded, and said “Yes, Park. The retrofits are not complete yet and some of the power readings may look askew. The Horse has always been temperamental – those readings are within parameters, just keep an eye on them.” He turned away, but then added “And just to be safe, keep the fire extinguisher within reach.”
Great. Park thought. What a relief. Finishing the checklist, she gave the green light just as Blaide finished the call with Goodwin.
“All good?” Park asked him.
“All good. Raise Matthew Horner and General Crashbx on the comms. They’ll be wanting to join in on the fun.” Blaide requested departure clearance from the tower and laid in a course.
“We’ll rendezvous in Ross 93 and await the signal from Mr. Goodwin that we can proceed. Connect to the worm in the network, Park. We’ll need it for one final thing.”
“Yes sir.”
The Fer-de-Lance lifted from the landing platform.
...
Virts Dock in the Ross 93 system
“Ping received, sir.” Park said as Malcolm Goodwin’s signal registered on her instruments.
“Engage the worm. Raise the transport and redirect the call to Mr. Goodwin’s location.”
“Won’t they detect it, sir?”
“Not if we’re quick. They’ll know something is up, soon enough, but they won’t realise what until it’s too late. Instruct the worm to self-purge after the call is made.”
“Yes sir.”
After a few minutes of waiting, Park broke the silence.
“Communications terminated. Initiating self-purge protocols.”
“That’s it then…” Blaide said “…no more hide & seek.” He opened communications to General Crashbx “Do you want to lead, General?” He asked out of courtesy.
“Negative, commander, your mission. You lead. However, be advised that TCF HQ relayed a message to me. The Winters Wolves request custody of James Barrett once we’ve liberated him.”
“What?” Blaide sputtered “We’re to turn him over to another Federal faction after we’ve liberated him from one?”
“No, apparently they are on our side on this one. They were contacted by Mr. Goodwin, and they say that they will protect Mr. Barrett during the time it takes for his name to be cleared.”
Blaide thought for a second and then nodded to himself “It would be good, if he was in the custody of a Federal faction during that process. Otherwise inconvenient questions might be raised. What is your verdict?”
“The HQ has made its wish clear – James should be delivered to the Winters Wolves in good faith.”
“Understood.”
Blaide requested take off clearance and opened comms to the wing “Ghost Wing, this is Ghost Leader, perform systems checks and simulated weapons tests. Lock nav-systems to my beacon and prepare for take off.”
...
High orbit of Etain 4 C in the Etain system
“Ghost Wing, this is Ghost Leader. Target signal found, lock on and follow.” Blaide called and turned the Red Horse to face the signal source. After a few seconds the Horse dropped out of supercruise, followed by the Corvette of General Crashbx and the Viper MkIII fighter of Horner. Before them, another Corvette – escorted by six fighters – was waiting.
“Well hello there.” Blaide said with a grin and opened communications on an open frequency. “Attention illegal prisoner transport. Stand down and prepare to be boarded, or we will open fire.”
“Enemy is deploying hardpoints, sir.” Park called.
“Your choice.” Blaide shrugged. “Let’s walk in the shadows.” With that, the space became alight with fire fury.
The enemy corvette – Shadow – turned to face its assailants but was met with a steady barrage from Crashbx and the two big warships were quickly tied down in a deadly duel, batteries spitting hot death at each other. Horner and Blaide broke off and attacked the escorts. Letting out a barrage of multicannon fire at an Eagle – sending it boosting away – Blaide realigned and locked onto the Shadow.
“Does no good if we blow that thing to high heaven, we need to extract Barrett from there.” He waited until his torpedo launchers had gained a target lock and boosted towards the big ship.
“Ghost One, Ghost Leader.” Blaide called to Crashbx “Keep that thing occupied a few more seconds, I have a surprise for it.”
“Trust me, it’s not going anywhere.” Crashbx replied.
When within 1 click of the enemy ship, Blaide launched a full salvo from both launchers and four engineered torpedoes sped towards the Shadow. Blaide veered away from the big ship before impact, so he couldn’t see the torpedoes hit, but his instruments told him all four found their mark.
“Full hit!” Park called. “Enemy shields are down, and its shield generator is toast!”
“Now then. How about standing down?” Blaide muttered, but that was not what the captain of the Shadow had in mind.
“They’ve dumped something.” Park said, then cried out “Sir! It’s a cryopod, lifesigns registering! That thing is not an escape pod, it can’t stand long in space, Barrett will die if we don’t get him in soon!”
Blaide cursed.
“Ghost Wing, Ghost Leader. They dumped Barrett in a cryopod, we need to pacify the AO quick, or he’s dead. Shoot to kill, I repeat shoot to kill.”
“Burn you bastards!” Horner called as his Viper vaporised and enemy Eagle. At the same time the General’s Corvette was unleashing a merciless salvo after merciless salvo on the Shadow, Blaide turned his ship to face the enemy corvette and made a strafing pass, his multicannons raking the hull, blasting pieces of armour plating off. The Shadow went into a spin just as the General launched a missile salvo at it. Multiple explosions racked the hull and the big ship vanished in a ball of fire and flame.
“Should’ve stood down.” Blaide mused.
...
The enemy Fer-de-Lance broke into pieces before the combined fire of the Ghost Wing. All enemies had met their end. Whether Barrett had too, would remain to be seen.
“Hostiles neutralised.” Blaide called to his wing.
“Confirm.” Crashbx’s voice came in “Scope is clean.”
“Scanning for the cryopod.” Horner called.
“I have it sir.” Park said “Bearing 135 by 42. Point five clicks. Life signs are weak.”
Blaide turned the ship and locked on to the pod. After a few seconds, it was secured within the Horse’s hold.
“Go check it out Park.” He commanded his co-pilot.
“Yes sir.”
After a couple of minutes, she called back in “He’s alive. Not exactly in a good condition. Needs immediate medical attention, but he’s alive.”
“Copy that Park, return to the bridge.”
“Did you get him?” Horner called out anxiously.
“Affirmative. VIP secured.” Blaide answered and continued “Will transport to Winters Wolves HQ. All TCF affiliates should vacate the area just in case the local sys aut comes investigating. We don’t want to answer inconvenient questions.”
“I’ll handle them.” Horner said confidently. “Thank you for your help, both.”
“No need to thank us.” The General replied “The Terran Colonial Forces always help their own.”
...
Yurchikhin Ring in the 41 Lambda Hydrae system
Blaide was sitting on his pilot’s seat in thought while Winters Wolves personnel were taking Barrett out of the Horse’s hold and getting him medical attention. Park was overseeing the transfer with two Wolves operatives who had introduced themselves as Crosby and Pearson. Once Barrett was out of his hold, his part in this mission was done.
He observed his surroundings. The unfinished modifications of the Horse were showing even on the bridge. It was a reminder that in his pursuit of his duties as the leader of the 315th, he had forgotten his other obligations. He made up his mind.
“He’s taken to a secure location where he’ll be looked after.” Park said, returning to the bridge. “Will we be heading back to TCF space?”
“No. We will part ways here for a time. You will stay here until you can ascertain that the Wolves’ intentions are not harmful to our interests. And then you will book passage back to Eranin. Here.” He handed her a credit chip “This will cover your stay here plus any expenses and transport.”
“Umm…” Park said, taking the chip. “Where will you be going?”
“First, I’ll return to Fullerene.” He paused for a moment in thought before continued “And then, I’ll seek out someone I really want to have a chat with.”
“And where are they?” Park asked inquisitively.
“At the Guardian ruins.”