Part 40: Tactical Withdrawal, Sirius System, Sol Sector (Story)
Right, back around and doing LP stuff. Have a story update; mission update tomorrow is kind of unlikely given how much other stuff I have on, but not impossible. Tuesday is more likely.29th December 2668, Sirius System, Sol Sector
Episode 4, Mission 6 - Tactical Withdrawal
The Firekka and the Leyte Gulf make their way to the jump point to the Sol System, to take part in the final defense of Earth (aka Episode 5).
Pre-mission cutscenes:
After last time, I think most of you will be glad to learn that there are no cutscenes before the next mission.
Three e-mail messages for us, though. Saxman gently enquires as to what the hell Bradshaw thought he was doing back in "Skinning Cats":
IES Message - Received at 0143 hours GST on 2668.365 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Robert Collins (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Uhh...
Look... I know. I mean, you're not the only one who's lost friends. What you did just now... there was a couple of times I felt like doing that.
...But damn it, you're in command out here! If you can't control yourself, maestro, how the hell do you plan on getting the job done?
Saxman
Squealer, on the other hand, thinks what we did was a great idea (he was of course on our wing in that mission, and also is bad at making correct decisions, so his opinion is probably not surprising):
IES Message - Received at 0147 hours GST on 2668.365 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Jason Beverly (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Screw 'em!
I guess you must be getting a lot of crap just now, Captain. Times like this, I'm pretty damned glad everybody's still keeping as far away as possible from my "traitorous" self - at least, I can take risks without people whining to me about the consequences.
...But as for you, I got two words of advice - screw 'em!
We made the cats pay for Spoons, and that's all that matters. And any time you feel like bagging a few more cats, I got your wing, man.
Squealer
Chief Henderson may be slightly taking advantage of the fact that we don't have time to fill in reports bringing anyone in our command up on insubordination charges right now. Also, she's pretty damn pissed off (alternatively, this is just how NCOs talk to officers in the TCSF):
IES Message - Received at 0151 hours GST on 2668.365 posted:
From: Chief Petty Officer Jean Henderson (TCN, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Latest flight deck status
Here's your damned ship data, you dumbass idiot son-of-a-bitch.
Rapiers: 14
Sabres: 7
Crossbows: 5
Stilettos: 9
Gladii: 11
Jean
What's going on now?
The Terran fleet is retreating from Sirius, the Kilrathi have obliterated it, something which is causing Baron Jukaga nar Ki'ra, Kilrathi intelligence chief and probably the most "royal" noble of the Kilrathi bloodline rather substantial cause for concern, whereas Prince Thrakhath is too pissed off with humanity to care:
Fleet Action posted:
"Recall those cruisers now!"
Prince Thrakhath turned to gaze coldly at Baron Jukaga.
"Growing soft, my good Baron?"
"Your senseless barbarism will only arouse them further. You've made your point, now spare the second planet. Show mercy and it still might weaken their will."
"Terror breeds terror, Baron."
"Terror can also breed fanaticism and hatred. Your demonstration at Warsaw did not intimidate the humans, instead it caused them to stop their internal bickering and unite. You know nothing of humans. Senseless bombardments of their civilian populations have always tended to unite them. The deliberate destruction of entire worlds with radiation will cause them to fight us tooth and nail to the death rather than surrender."
"And that's what you wanted, wasn't it, surrender?"
The Baron attempted to control his loathing and rage.
"You are a barbarian," he snapped. "We could have undermined them, let their natural weaknesses play into our hands. You have gone on a rampage and destroyed eleven of their worlds so far, and their fleet is still intact."
"We just crippled it, or weren't you watching?"
"They still have fight left in them. Remember, Prince Thrakhath, the new fleet is to serve two purposes: one to win this war, and second to prepare us for the Mantu if they should ever return. You are now gambling that fleet in your drive for vengeance on the humans."
"Not vengeance, extinction."
Sickened, the Baron turned away. He knew now that the accusations were right. Study one's enemy for too long and in the end you might come to admire them. He did not admire the humans, the very essence of his nature prevented that, but he could acknowledge them as something more than mere prey to be slaughtered. His plan, if it had been allowed to be played out, might very well have resulted in a near bloodless victory, a Confederation completely divided, lulled by peace, and then psychologically overwhelmed when the dozen new carriers appeared. It all suddenly became very clear.
"You allowed that recon ship of the humans to slip into Hari space and then allowed it to escape. You wanted the peace ended, didn't you?"
"In spite of your claims of intellect, Baron, you are often rather slow at figuring things out."
"You wanted this war to end in a blood bath. You were the one who triggered the bomb in the human headquarters."
Prince Thrakhath smiled.
"You were never a prisoner of the humans. I was. You have not lost comrades to them, I have. I shall rise to the Imperial Throne, hailed as the conqueror of the humans and winner of this war, while as for you..." and he leaned over, touching a button on his console.
The doors to his wardroom were flung open and four Imperial Marine guards stepped in.