Robotech - Southern Cross Adventure

[Purr]

"Why would you even say that?! I'm not trying to get myself killed!"

Gabi folded her arms and nodded to Lieutenant Conway. "Because, Ryuko-chan, you wanna go all Oscar De La Hoya on drones that mimic female power armors. Each one has over a 120 missiles to shoot at you the before you even get within melee range."

Gabi didn't hold back. "Think back, amiga. Who has the highest amount of battle damage in Third Heavy Recon? You do. Who almost died twice chasing glory? You have.

"And you wanna go this alone? I wanna keep my Ryuko, you know?" Gabi smiled. "You did so good on the last mission by sticking with us! LT gave you a job and you did it and you were great! So maybe instead of flying off alone so think you can shine alone, can't you stay with us so that we all shine together?"

Gabriela slowly held out her arms indicating the whole squad. "Isn't that what a team is all about?"

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan motions for the squad to fall in on her heels as she turns and heads for the door of the ready room. "We will stick together for now. Who knows what the situation will call for once we get inside the Factory? Lets get to the shuttle and see about these two Logan pilots that we have attached to us. Gabi, I like the way you operate. I want you to take them under your wing, so to speak, and I don't give a damn if they outrank you, and I plan to make that quite clear to them. Consider them your wingmen, and use them as you see fit to get the mission done."

She leads the rest of the Third Heavy and their Tactical Corps hanger-on, Lt. Costas to the shuttle at a quick jog. "Neo! I'll understand if we lose contact with the rest of the ASC forces, but do your best to keep us linked up with your comms. I know I can count on you." Once at the shuttle, she heads into the hangar bay and quickly loads up into her Spartas and immediately checks for the flash drive with the virus and the downloaded data about the other Factory that the RDF ran into.

"Heads up, team! We have a tough mission ahead of us, but I am certain we can pull it off. We have to hit this place fast to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Failure is not an option! Remember, you get hit out there, hit them back. You get killed, walk it off. I want everybody coming out of this in one piece. Now, who are my two TDY Logan pilots?"

 

[Purr]

"Gabi, I like the way you operate. I want you to take them under your wing, so to speak, and I don't give a damn if they outrank you, and I plan to make that quite clear to them. Consider them your wingmen, and use them as you see fit to get the mission done."

"Wilco, LT," Gabriela replied using the military terminology for "will comply" and looked for the answer to Lt. Conway's question.

 

[Psychie]

"Neo! I'll understand if we lose contact with the rest of the ASC forces, but do your best to keep us linked up with your comms. I know I can count on you."

The younger woman gives Deunan a thumbs-up and says, "Aw, shucks, LT! You're going to make me blush. You know I'll give you 110% out there."

"Heads up, team! We have a tough mission ahead of us, but I am certain we can pull it off. We have to hit this place fast to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Failure is not an option! Remember, you get hit out there, hit them back. You get killed, walk it off. I want everybody coming out of this in one piece. Now, who are my two TDY Logan pilots?"

Speaking of your two loaner pilots, you see a pair of fresh-faced TASC pilots heading your way, a man and a woman. They come up to Deunan and snap to attention and give you a salute. You see that they are both 3rd Lieutenants, indicating that they are very new to the cockpit. The man has the last name of O'Brien, and sports a bright shock of red hair. The woman is Cooper, and she is as dark skinned as O'Brien is white.

O'Brien speaks up for the two with, "Ma'am? Lieutenants O'Brien and Cooper reporting as ordered."

Gabi and Ryuko recognize the two. They are newly frocked officers that have been assigned to the Moon only three months ago, and the two greenies look to the two experienced pilots with more than a bit of awe and hero worship.

 

[Sherwood]

Returning the salute with one of her own, Deunan does her best to size up the two. "At ease, you two. I am assigning you to work with Sgt. De La Rosa, and be her shadows on this flight. You may outrank her, but if you give her any attitude, she has permission to shoot you herself. The members of the Third Heavy are more than just a team, we are a family, and I want to make sure you understand that Gabi knows her stuff. If she tells you that the Bioroids are going to shit soup, you'd better show up with your bowl and crackers. Am I clear?"

 

[Psychie]

Both Cooper and O'Brien trade a glance over at Gabi, then both nod to Deunan's question. As one, they say, "Yes, ma'am! Crystal clear!"

 

[Purr]

Gabriela studied O'Brien and Cooper for a moment. Then she attempted to quietly and unobtrusively bring Lt. Conway to a position where just the two of them could talk, if the lieutenant was up for it.

If she was, Gabriela whispered the following: "Hey, LT, I don't wanna sound ungrateful for the trust or nothin', but... Logans against FPAs?" Gabriela shook her head with serious doubt. "I know the Logan as good or better than the average T.A.S.C. pilot; she's a fine flyer but survivability is not her strong her point, you know? The fact that these two signed up at all says a lot for their cajones, and I know this is last-minute, but is there any way we can see if they can fly in an AJAX or even a Valkyrie? Or can they take my AJAX and I'll fly a Valkyrie?"

A second, more shadowy notion was not lost on Gabriela as her incredibly-intelligent brain made her aware of the fact that Ryuko was not her wingman on this mission, nor did Ryuko get assigned either one of these pilots as wingmen. Gabriela figured either Conway had special plans for Ryuko, she didn't trust Desperada with a wingman of her own, or it never dawned on Conway being as she was a treadhead and all. This, Gabriela kept to herself - it was far more important to her that Cooper and O'Brien come back alive and their chances in the flimsy and ill-armed Logans seemed pretty slim from where Gabi was standing.

 

[Rykon]

During the intermission and recovery on the moon base, Alan focused his efforts on sharing some of the software optimizations he worked with the squad on perfecting. In addition to reinforcing Gabi's assertion that they had put in long hours to enhance and maintain their equipment, Alan stressed the need to maintain one's physical capabilities. Where Deunan and Marlon would do field drills on using the equipment, Alan preferred the boxing ring. In his opening pitch, he'd state his case. "Anything that can sharpen your reflexes and invoke adrenaline responses will prepare you for what life or death feels like. The important thing to remember is, there are two kinds of ways you can respond. You can let the heightened senses, heart rate, and stress overwhelm you, or you can let it sharpen your focus and steel your resolve. The only way you're going to get mastery of your self is to practice. That is why we fight here in the ring, and this is why experience matters. Most of these opponents are just clones. Most of them won't be battle-hardened. Don't let that kind of opportunity pass you by. Stay diligent and the experience will pay off for sure."
***

In the recent debriefing, Alan seemed curious that the security system seemed to ignore or disregard mecha it didn't identify as a threat. "I don't mean to suggest we go suicidal, but I'd like to explore this question anyway just to get a better understanding of our opponent. It sounds like to me that if we hold back and don't start a fuss, we aren't seen as much of a threat, yes? How would it change things if someone was on foot or in lighter equipment like the Myrmidon for example? If the machines disregard smaller or 'weaker' mechs, would they just ignore an armored person? Would that not also change as soon as the fold space drive starts being disengaged or the virus loaded?"

 

[Sherwood]

If she was, Gabriela whispered the following: "Hey, LT, I don't wanna sound ungrateful for the trust or nothin', but... Logans against FPAs?" Gabriela shook her head with serious doubt. "I know the Logan as good or better than the average T.A.S.C. pilot; she's a fine flyer but survivability is not her strong her point, you know? The fact that these two signed up at all says a lot for their cajones, and I know this is last-minute, but is there any way we can see if they can fly in an AJAX or even a Valkyrie? Or can they take my AJAX and I'll fly a Valkyrie?"

Deunan looks pensive as she considers the reasonable comments from Gabi. "I do remember in the briefing that the Major was saying that the computer inside the Factory will be gauging its response to us based on our mecha's performance against the various drones, so that is one reason that the different style of Veritech was picked out to join us. But you are right in the fact that the Logan doesn't pack much of a punch. Let me see if we can't upgrade these two into Valkyries or Ajax mecha. Like I keep on saying, I want us all to make it out of this alive."

She turns to talk to the new pilots. "O'Brien! Cooper! Are the two of you qualified on the Valkyrie or Ajax? Your Logans are very maneuverable, but against opponents like the FPA, they are a little light in firepower. I want to try and swap you into something different before we leave."

 

[Psychie]

She turns to talk to the new pilots. "O'Brien! Cooper! Are the two of you qualified on the Valkyrie or Ajax? Your Logans are very maneuverable, but against opponents like the FPA, they are a little light in firepower. I want to try and swap you into something different before we leave."

Cooper says, "Yes, ma'am. We are both fully trained on both the Valkyrie and the Ajax. It is a part of the TASC pilot training for everyone." O'Brien nods in agreement with Cooper.

It doesn't take long to get a hold of the CAG once more and pose to him the question about switching mecha for your two recruits. He doesn't sound too thrilled at the delay in launching your mission, but at least he seems willing to listen. After posing your reasons for wanting the switch, he is silent for a bit. Finally, he says, "I do have a pair of trainer Valkyries up here that have not been assigned to other pilots. It will take a bit to get them both armed and flight ready, but we can do this. Before we get started, are there any other issues with your mecha that I need to be aware of? Keep in mind that every second in delaying your launch brings the Robotech Master forces even closer."

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan lets out a silent sigh of relief. She wasn't even aware of how tense she was until the CAG okay'ed the two kids to be put into some stronger mecha. The odds of them getting out of this alive just skyrocketed. She shakes her head. "No, sir. I believe that we will be set now. I just want to make sure that these two come out of the mission in one piece, and the Valks will help them to do that."

Once the CAG is done speaking with them, Deunan turns to Gabi and Ryuko. "There you go. Gabi, you are now in charge of the Third Heavy's air wing, but I fully expect the two of you to work together with these kids and make sure we all get through this. Make it happen."

 

[Purr]

"You got it, LT!" Gabi saluted Conway, waved at Ryuko and the T.A.S.C. pilots to follow her and took off into a fast jog toward the hangar bay. "Come on, you lazy burros! We don' have much time!"

(The following takes place only with Psychie's O.K.. Let me know if I need to rewrite any of this!)

If they had to use Valkyries instead of Ajaxes, armed Trainer Valkyries were just about perfect! On their way there, Gabi quizzed Cooper, "Valkyrie dogfighting in space! What's the minimum safe speed for an Immelman?" Then O'Brien. "Valkyrie jet-mode maneuvering! With the wings all the way in, how large of a corridor can you fit in?" Gabi wanted their heads in the Valkyries long before they got there.

Once they got there, Gabi quickly told the team. "Remember, these aircraft belong to the Crew Chief until we're given the go to take off!" But, with typical Recon Patrol thinking, she proceeded to take the air team to the maintenance area and make her own rules.

Here, she tried to find all of the emergency yellow tape she could get her hands on (think "Do Not Cross This Line" law enforcement tape minus the lettering if possible). Then she grabbed four devices that could adhere strips of the tape, 10 foot strips minimum. Perhaps she could glue them on, bolt them on, whatever - but as an experienced genius and engineer, she was going to find a quick possible solution to what the brass had said earlier about the Robotech Factory identifying known targets - and hopefully change the cosmetic profile of these Valkyries!

She threw rolls of yellow tape and adhesive guns to the whole team. "Wings, nose, guns, everything that doesn't have any flame coming out of it! 10 foot tassles minimum! Go!"

Her strategy was this - if the Robotech Factory knew about Valkyries, it likely only knew about Super (space combat) Valkyries. A VF-1D Trainer, especially armed, would resemble a VF-1S Super Valkyrie to a degree, but what about when kept in jet mode with its wings fully retracted while trailing dozens of S.D.C.-made tassles? Robotech Masters did not decorate their Bioroids - everything had a purpose. The tassles could look like they had a purpose while not interfering with flight or transformation.

It might be enough to alter the VF's profile and look like something new. Perhaps the Robotech Factory's computers would see the tassles as "feelers" or antennae or something else - anything besides something it might identify as a familiar enemy.

Before they finished, Gabi saw to it personally that the Logans were emptied of their virus data and she put it in the hands of O'Brien and Cooper. Once the Crew Chief gave the O.K., Gabi did her own pre-flight of the Ajax she was assigned to. Once everyone had reported green, Gabriela, breathing heavily by now, reported in to Conway. "LT, Third Heavy Recon Air Wing is ready for take-off!"

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan raises an eyebrow at the sight of the two pilots going to town with the hazard tape all over the trainer Valkyries. Hell, if it works, its not stupid. Once the ordnance is loaded on the Valks, and the virus program is in hand for the two of them, she gives the order for them to finally deploy. "Alright, Third Heavy. Lets get a move on. They aren't paying us by the hour."

OOC So we have the hover tanks in the shuttle with the Myrmidon, but what about the four Veritechs? Are they in the shuttle or flying outside and escorting it?

 

[Psychie]

OOC So we have the hover tanks in the shuttle with the Myrmidon, but what about the four Veritechs? Are they in the shuttle or flying outside and escorting it?

All four of the spaceflight-capable Veritechs are currently outside the shuttle, with only the Spartas' and the one Myrmidon with your space booster packs hooked on the outside to give you some flight time, especially since you are being deployed out at least ten miles from the Factory's central core to keep the shuttle out of range of the guns of the place.

A quick final check on the status of the two VF-1D Trainers show you that they each have on their wings a total of six medium range missiles and thirty mini missiles in the MLOP launch pods, giving Cooper and O'Brien some flexibility when it comes to what they fire, and while the Trainer is capable of being outfitted with the Super Veritech rocket backpack, they do not have those additional weapon systems available on such short notice.

Once everyone is safely strapped into their cockpits, the order is given to open the main hangar bay doors to allow the four Veritechs and the larger shuttle out into open space. At this point, the limit to your top speed is set by the Ajax of Mach 3.1, and both Cooper and O'Brien fall into position on either side of the shuttle, keeping their eyes open for any sign of trouble.

As the pilots do the flying, it leaves Deunan free to look over the information on the layout of the Factory provided to you by the Intel people. According to them, the bottom third of the Factory is dedicated to storage of raw materials used to construct the large ships of the Zentraedi and Robotech Master fleet. The upper third of the Factory is mostly empty, used to construct Zentraedi Flagships and the Motherships of the Robotech Masters, leaving the middle third of the Factory available for the personnel of the various ships being repaired, along with construction and storage lines for the mecha used by the two races, so the best place to make your landing would be there. That is where the Command Center and Fold Engines are located.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan shares what she sees about the layout with the others. "Alright, listen up! We are going to be heading for the central core of the station, right in the middle of the place. It is in this area that the main command center is located. Lets not mess around. We get in, and get the job done."

 

[Psychie]

The five spacecraft (four Veritechs and the shuttle) fly along towards the station. On the forward screens, you can see the massive Factory getting larger and larger. Finally, those in the cargo bay of the shuttle call out, "Attention Third Heavy. We are approaching your disembarkation point, just over ten miles away from the central hull. Stand by for deployment."

Soon, the large hangar bay doors open wide, giving the hover tanks free access to the open sky above. Even at this range, the Factory looks huge, its massive docking pods extending out several miles from the main body of the central hull. You are now ten miles out, and ready to approach.

 

[Purr]

Gabriela instructed Cooper and O'Brien. "No matter what, you two stay on my wings. Remember, stay with me and keep my six clear. Depending on how things go, I may switch formation positions with you and see if you can get some kills. But above all - remain in our V-formation." She glanced over at Ryuko's Ajax and smiled confidently. "Ryuko, you know what to do here. Nobody needs to school you, amiga."

 

[Sherwood]

Before getting free of the cargo hold, Deunan will try to interlink everyone together with the electronics of her command tank. Assuming she is successful, she kicks in the jets of the booster packs and begins to fly her Spartas towards the main Factory core. Assuming that there is nothing shooting at them, Deunan searches for an airlock that is large enough to fit the mecha of the team.

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

Gabriela instructed Cooper and O'Brien. "No matter what, you two stay on my wings. Remember, stay with me and keep my six clear. Depending on how things go, I may switch formation positions with you and see if you can get some kills. But above all - remain in our V-formation." She glanced over at Ryuko's Ajax and smiled confidently. "Ryuko, you know what to do here. Nobody needs to school you, amiga."

"Right."

 

[Psychie]

Deunan's efforts to link the squad by using her command and control systems of the tank is not quite successful; you are a bit distracted by the sight of the Factory as you approach. You can try again at a -10% to the roll.

Flying towards the main body of the station, you quickly lose contact outside the short distance of the squad. Even the close range communications of the team are static-y, but you can at least understand each other. With your zoom optics, you can spot several airlocks that are big enough to fit your mecha; some are larger than others, and at a guess, the larger ones are designed to be able to sortie out large numbers of mecha to space quickly. Which one do you go to? A smaller lock, or one of the larger ones?

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

Sherwood Purr Psychie Rykon D. Rex

Ryuko would contact her allies.
"You want me to scout ahead?"
Ryuko asked, while thinking about what they learned during the mission briefing. She still couldn't help but think she could have the ability to combat the second machine they heard about with no problem. Of course, there's always the chance they had some unexpected abilities, but Ryuko had always been a gambler.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan shakes her head. "Lets stick together, and head to one of the larger airlocks to gain access to the interior of the station. Right now, I don't want any of us to get separated. Move in at low speed of under 500 miles per hour. Lets keep our full capabilities under our vest for a bit."

 

[Rykon]

Alan falls into formation with the team, maintaining his course to their first objective. "Understood boss."

 

[Psychie]

As the squad flies in, Neo calls out, "Boss! We are being tracked by active radar from the station. I am not seeing any targeting signals, but we are most assuredly on the screens of the place. Also, the jamming field is getting worse. Also, all long range communications except for direct laser signals are out, and even our short range signals are going to be hashed up quite a bit."

Getting closer, you can see that there are several spots of hull damage on the main body of the Factory. From here, you can't tell if it is due to weapon fire or something else entirely, but you do see that there are a handful of repair drones out and about, welding replacement armor plates on the breached sections of hull.

You can also see that there are multiple weapon turrets visible on the hull, some of them small - obviously intended on point defense, while others are quite large, meant for anti-ship warfare. Some of the smaller turrets are tracking on you, but they are not firing - yet.

At the hull, the airlock door is easily large enough to be able to launch scores of mecha at once. There is a control panel on the side. If you wish to try to bypass the security on the lock and open it without blowing a hole in the door, you'll need to give me a Boarding Spaceships roll.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan slips forward in batltoid mode, and steers her tank to the control panel. "Lets see if I can open this up. Stand by."

EDIT Using Computer Hacking at a 98% instead.