Robotech - Expedition Under Fire

“Activating launch sequence,” says the pleasant voice at Command over the general squadron channel. “Have a safe flight, Hydra.”

With that, there is a metallic CHUNK as you’re team is cycled and loaded into the catapult tubes. There’s no time to think before you’re slingshot from the decking and explode out into the void.

Cerberus and Red Devil are already orbiting the Vanguard in formation at a slow burn. The EW shuttle, “Big Eye”, is launched last and before long, you’re in formation providing escort.

Cerberus has taken the two o’clock position just ahead of the shuttle. On the other side, Red Devil holds the ten. Hydra brings up the rear at the six o’clock.

Tarsiss-23 looms ahead of you. Even being on the dark side of the planet, you can see the steel gray that makes up the color of the surface. Closer to you, the moon grows as your heading takes you toward it. Its surface is the color rust and has a strange diamond pattern. It’s like nothing you’ve seen before.

The sensor shuttle matches the moon’s orbit and uses it for cover. You and the other escort squadrons keep tight around it. Once they receive the green light, the shuttle begins its sensor sweeps of the planet.

Minutes into the first sweep, Command radios you Alyxis. “Hydra-1, Big Eye reports movement and heat coming from the moon surface below you. Can you confirm?’

Alyxis, sure enough, if you look at the moon’s surface, you can see the diamond shapes stirring. And a few red lights are lighting up. Something is happening down there.

What do you do?

"I can confirm that there is activity on the moon. Big Eye, be prepared. Looks like we are about to get some unwanted attention." Alyxis looks over her shoulder at Dorsey in her back seat. "Be ready to start jamming signals as much as you can. Tigger, can you pick up any signal activity from down there?" Her hands stay loose on the controls, ready to hit the control for the link-up to disengage from Hydra-2 at the first sign of trouble.

Psychie

L'n nods. "Acknowledged. I'll try checking frequencies. Stand by." As she works her controls, she keeps a close watch on the moon below them. "Are we going to head down to investigate closer?"

L'n, you check frequencies and you do pick up some form of signal. It's encrypted and comes through as garbage data. Whatever the signal is, it's being broadcast across the moon.

Alyxis, you can hear the fear in Dorsky's voice. "Lot of heat and movement, boss. Not getting much else. There's some signals I'm trying to get a read on, too."

"All veritech squadrons, be advised," Command comes back over the radio to you, Alyxis, "Big Eye reports a heat spike from Tarsiss-23's surface. We're--"

The connection goes to static. You don't have time to wonder why. A beam of red energy the width of a cruiser fills your vision as it spears the sensor shuttle and the Red Devils. There's nothing but bits and pieces left.

Below you all, the diamond shapes on the moon's surface unfold in to attack drones. You can see their red eyes and the mechanical shapes of their robotic bodies. They're about the size of an Alpha each. Hundreds of them begin lifting off the surface toward your squadron.

All of Cerberus squadron's Alphas and Betas unfold into battloid and begin firing.

Alyxis lets out a stream of curse words spanning both Zentraedi and English. "Tigger, call that in! Cerberus squad! Disengage and boost out of there! It's too many targets to take on! You'll be overwhelmed in no time!" She begins to accelerate out, going full evasive. "Hydra, on me. Only engage if you have to, but we are out of here!"

She hits the Beta's throttle forward to the stops, going to full Mach 8 speed as they claw for distance from that killer weapon and the hundreds of unknown targets from the moon.

L'n replies, "Yes, ma'am!" Then begins to broadcast on the radio, "Command, this is Hydra-2. Big Eye and the Red Devils were hit by some massive energy weapon from the surface, and they have been totaled, zero chance of survivors. The moon has hundreds of small interceptor style fighters launching up at us. I say again, hundreds of interceptors. I am going to uplink my radar telemetry so you can see in real time what we are up against. We are disengaging at top speed. Requesting reinforcements!"

"Hydra-1, message sent. I'm going to try and uplink my radar to the ship."

Aymeline replies to her commander's orders with a simple acknowledgement. She's otherwise silent as she spins her Veritech through space and reorients, kicking in the vessel's engines to burn out of there. With the Garudan working the radios, and their Zentraedi leader taking point, the Tirolian instead opens up her Alpha's limited sensor suite to full. With the shuttle gone, it's vital they record all the data they can. And this still largely unknown enemy will need all the analysis the REF's best and brightest can bring to bear on it.

Possibly including herself, at least in her off hours.

L’n, you dial in Command with ease. “Copy, Hydra-2,” Command says. “Break off and follow vector echo-two-three-three. I say again, break off and follow vector echo-two-three-three. The Vanguard is on intercept with fast movers for support. Stay frosty, Hydra.”

In front of you all, you can see the Ikazuchi class cruiser burning hard toward you. Like ants scrambling out of their hive for defense, you can see Veritech squadrons disembarking. They form a loose sphere around your ship.

The drones behind you have opened up on Cerberus. Their squadron is in deep before bugging out. Price hails all of you.

“Hydra, this is Mad Dog,” Price says. “We getting taken apart! Can you provide cover!? Say again, we need cover, damn it!”

The drones are burning hard for you all.

Aymeline, you're collecting valuable data and combat readings.

If you keep on course for the ship, roll a pilot check to out maneuver the drones on the way there.

Alyxis slams her fist down on the arm rest. Shit! Fucking idiots got themselves in too deep, and are now calling for us to save their asses! I should let them burn, but I'm better than that. "Hydra, time to earn our pay. Cerberus needs our fire support. Lets show them how its done. Tigger, bring us around on three! One, two, three! Lets boost!"

"Use your missiles. Remember, we aren't getting charged for each one we shoot, but make them count!"

L'n cringes inside as she gets the order to go save the other pilots. The safe thing to do is to keep on going to rendezvous with the ship and let Cerberus hang. But I didn't join the UEEF to be doing safe things. I guess its time to get busy. With a crisp, "Roger, Ghost. Initiating banking maneuver on your mark. Lets get 'em, Hydra!"

"Hydra-4, acknowledge."

Obeying the order, Aymeline banks her Veritech with the rest of her squad and kicks in the boost to dive back into the fray. Her heart beats hard in her chest. She was a scientist, damnit! She'd signed up for this but it didn't mean this came naturally to her. Practice had made a difference, though, and experience would make more. She could do this. She would do this!

As the chaos unfolds, only two responses interrupt the silence on Nora's end - at first a sharp one as they turn to escape, then a similar one as the order is reversed: "Understood - turning around, prepared to offer fire support." Not much more to add there, really - and when things go downhill within the blink of an eye, the last things one needs are irrelevant words adding to the confusion.

That does not mean a lack of second thoughts, throwing yourself into the fray - but those have to wait, for now, because Hydra can't wait if they want to keep someone alive. Avoid the drones. Avoid the huge blasts, whatever caused them. Do what you came for - don't think about the Devils, and certainly don't think about the doggies or safety. Don't think at all, act. It's no different from the practise, just push the right buttons. Don't think - do what you trained for. May She shield us. Panic is a fighter's worst nightmare - discipline and repetition eat it alive, though. Those movements - familair enough to not screw up right now. Her mind - focused, because this is what Praxians are born for.

"Taking position to your left, Ghost."

You all turn to face the enemy. The odds are overwhelming, but knowing the Vanguard is burning hard with your fellow Veritech squadrons is something.

Cerberus have been enveloped by the drones. A deadly space battle has begun. From the outside, it seems a dance with each pilot moving between enemy partners.

There are mere moments before you yourselves engage.

Everyone roll initiative.

One last, deep breath before her Beta becomes part of the deadly counter ahead - one last, ensuring look at the lights around her, claiming that everything is in order for now. That's it. No more time for preparations, or for reinforcements to arrive. Just honor to be earnt, and lives to be lost.

Initiative roll for L'n

Total of 17

Initiative roll for Alyxis

Total of 19

Initiative roll for Aymeline

Turned back towards the fighting, you can see the mass number of drones. Some swarming Cerberus. Some pressing toward you. Price’s squadron is holding their own, but vastly outnumbered.

Alyxis, you are starting the combat off.

Initiative order:
Alyxis 19 <————
L'n 17
Aymeline 17
Nora 5
Drones 4

Alyxis calls out, "Hydra Squad, get ready to separate into elements and take the fight to the enemy! Lets keep them from being able to focus fire on us. Hydra-2, disengaging link-up!" As she speaks, the Zentraedi pilot flips the toggle for the conjoined fighters to split apart, letting the more maneuverable L'n in the Alpha engage on her own while Alyxis punches through the bad guys at higher speed.

Given that they have no idea just how much hurt that these Haydonite drones can take, Alyxis decides to err on the side of kicking their asses, and she attempts to lock onto one with a Multi Warhead Missile as she powers into the fray from near max range. When the red lights come on indicating a misfire, she begins to swear. "Goddamnit! My first war shot and its a fucking dud!"

Alyxis, you rocket into the fray, ready for a fight. You get acknowledgement from Pixie (Fisk) and Tank (Nodren) on your orders.

And then a misfire.

The battle rages around you and your squadron.

L'n, you’re up.

Initiative order:
Alyxis 19
L'n 17 <————
Aymeline 17
Nora 5
Drones 4

Flying forward, Tigger reacts quickly when Alyxis gives the order to split. She throttles forward to close into short range, and as she does so, she targets one of the drones with three of her HEAP missiles. "Missiles away! Lets see how much they can take!"

Boom!

L’n, you missiles strike and the drone is disintegrated. If not for the vacuum of space, the explosion would have been a gout of flame and destruction.

Aymeline, it’s your turn!

Initiative order:
Alyxis 19 (melee 5/6)
L'n 17 (melee 5/6)
Aymeline 17 (melee 5/5) <————
Nora 5 (melee 5/5)
Drones 4

Missiles seem to be the popular tool of the day and Aymeline is only too happy to oblige. "Missiles away!" she calls out, echoing Lieutenant L'N, aiming three of her own HEAP missiles at another drone.

Aymeline, your three missiles slam into your target and the drone explodes in a fireball of destruction. There’s nothing left but dust.

Another drone down.

Nora, it’s your turn.

Initiative order:
Alyxis 19 (melee 5/6)
L'n 17 (melee 5/6)
Aymeline 17 (melee 4/5)
Nora 5 (melee 5/5) <————
Drones 4

L'n calmly observes, "These things don't seem to have very much armor on them. They are going to try to use their numbers to wear us down."