Guardians of the Stars

Tea hurried her dash to the Firefly. While she disliked the idea of being lied to about their sneak attack, she could respect the decision. A fast end to the war would be better for everyone, especially if the fighting was confined in area.

A short time later, she was finishing up her checks of the Firefly. Ah, being in the cockpit, all the shiny organized controls laid out with not a bit of clutter or dust in sight. It was almost relaxing when you somehow forgot what the context was - which was never. "Quantum catalyst, started. Power, full. All armament active, all weapons free. System operating at combat status," she quietly recorded, before turning on her comms. "Imbrium, ready to go."

Seth got into his Hive Frame. Although he never thought of a preemptive sneak attack, he could see how it would end the inevitable war with minimal casualties to either side. He started up his frame before opening his comm "This is Tank, I'm ready to go."

"Sounds good to me, that's using your head, Snowman," Earl replied to Miles as he got into his AMF.

He inspected his systems as he started up the launch sequence, glancing at the diagnostic readouts. "No leaks, pipes look clean, don't got any blockage, no problems hooking up to the main line, looks like this thing is ready to go." He said to no on in particular as the robot's six limbs released from the clamps and began to make its way out of the station.

"You ready to roll, Smokey?"

Spencer sat impatiently as he ran through his system checks, subconsciously tapping his foot. After several seconds of running through the Cobalt's many components, the light finally flashed green. "Alright, all systems are go." Spencer whispered to himself with a smile.

With the Cobalt ready to go, it slowly made its way out of the station. "I'm all set, Royal Flush. Let's have a blast."

Merikan Shipyards

"You know that plan would be awesome if we actually had any idea what we were up against. For all we know there's a battleship with it's big ass guns pointed right at the hanger entrance." Abbie joined the conversation after turning on her Magellan's radio. "Save the strategizing for after we stop flying blind."

Abbie listened as one by one her comrades give themselves the all clear. Her own operating system came to life, tactical screens and internal system monitors displaying all the current information. The rumble of thrusters coming to life settled down to a quiet hum in the back of her robot.

"Skydive, reporting in. All clear. Ready for launch!" the Ace squirmed slightly in her cockpit, the lust for battle getting into her blood already.

The all clear was sounded. Pilots from other squadrons began taking off. Two pilots ahead, one pilots ahead, Abbie's catapult was a go for launch.

"Skydive, taking off!"

Abbie's head was pushed back as the frame was thrown out of the station. She flew upwards to give those behind her more space and clearer vision. Darkness from the hanger interior was replaced by the darkness of space, illuminated by unfiltered sunlight. It would have made for a breathtaking view of the planet and the space stations orbiting it, if Abbie hadn't seen the same sight for over a month now. In any event, there was no time to chew the scenery. Alarms began blaring almost as soon as she had exited the hanger.

Abbie swore more out of surprise than anything else as she immediately maneuvered back in the opposite direction. Missiles shot passed her head, streaking silently towards the frame hanger. If they were trying to get the pilots before they had gotten to the AMF's then for the most part they had failed; Abbie saw all her squad mates icons on the screen to her right.

But their squad leader had still been in the base.

The missiles struck the still open hanger. Some went off on the outside, others penetrated the interior. Explosion after explosion rocked the small asteroid. Chunks were torn off, others disintegrated entirely. Anyone who had been in that part of the base was dead.

"Incoming Synth frames! They're trying to finish us off!" someone shouted over the radio.

The words jerked Abbie out of her horror. "Damn vat-spawn" she snarled. Despite her earlier dismissal of Miles plan, she did begin looking about for her friend's frame. The mess of frames just from their own side made it hard to pinpoint any single robot.

"Jabberwock, you read me? I'm coming to watch your back, stay with me!"

INCOMING ENEMIES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY

10 Piercer

2 Invokes

2 Hives

OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES

Merikan Shipyards - SPESS BATTLE
"Alright Smokey, let's give 'em hell," Earl said as he readied his guns. For now, he'd have to lay down fire for Spencer's Cobalt until the battle changed.

"Alright, Hothead. Let's get after the hives," Miles called.

Part of him wanted to spray his machine guns at the thickest part of the enemy formations, but his cooler, more logical side quieted that idea. For the plan to work, he needed to draw as little attention as possible. And scoring glancing hits on multiple targets was a good way to get noticed.

Carter smirked, and his hot-blooded passion even carried through the frame-to-frame transmission.

"ROGER THAT! Wanna go for a Hot Blooded Combo Attack, or use the old one-two 'Imma attack one head-on and let you take him out with a sneak attack from the side' trick?"

GM SIGNAL! How, exactly, are fights like this to be conducted, as far as determining unit destruction/defeat whatever and such? Do you have a system in mind, or do we just go wild? Sorry if this is a newb question, never done one of these things before.

Spencer gave a smirk. "You got it, Royal Flush. And I know just how to kick this thing off."

With the push of a lever, Spencer's Cobalt raised its plasma cannon high and fired into the enemy lines. His objective being to draw attention, he was barely aiming his shots. He was only taking care to not hit his own teammates.

"Stick to the plan. We move in fast and punch hard," Miles replied, falling behind his wingmate.

edited 21st Jun '13 10:12:51 AM by Dragon573

Carrier Promised Land
RISA Fleet Headquarters - Palermo System

"All frames accounted for, sir."

Admiral Dulon gave a curt nod in response. For a brief moment, silence reigned on the bridge. The air was thick with the weight of the choices. In a single action, the world would be turned upside down. It was now or never.

"Commence the operation."

Inside the catapults the green go ahead light came to life. "Operation is a go. Operation is a go. Begin your attack runs."

Clenching his teeth and tightening his grip on the giant robot's control, Sam waited expectantly for his turn to be shot into open space. He did not have to wait long. Out from the Promised Land the frames went, like a swarm of angry bees pouring out of their hive. Ten, twenty, forty, with minutes, over a hundred of the giant war machines were zooming about the fleet, moving ahead of the front line ships and taking formation.

Ahead was the sprawling structure of the human fleet headquarters. It had been a hastily built thing, cobbled together from several unfinished space habitats abandon during the last war. Since then more had been added and updated, but the basic skeleton remained, giving Palermo Station a unique appearance in all of human space. If the Synthoids had their way however, it would soon look like any other collection of floating wreckage that littered the galaxy.

"Guardian Squadrons, after the initial bombardment from the fleet the light frame squadrons from the Ararat and Sinai will proceed directly to Palermo Station to destroy their communication arrays and any enemy out in the open. You are to follow and eliminate all on board weapon systems and enemy fighting crafts. The third wave of frames will follow once you have established space superiority and will attack the base directly. Defend them from any remaining enemies once they get into combat range. Godspeed, Guardians."

The operator ended the transmission once each squad leader gave the appropriate response. Ahead of the Guardians, the Firefly squadrons increased velocity, speeding past their brothers and sisters. The pilots wasted no time in conducting their mission. Opening fire on startled patrols, who were only just now beginning to realize a Synthoid fleet was upon them, they followed in the wake of the barrage from the carrier's escort on the base. Almost as soon as they were there, they scattered, each diving for their individual targets. Belatedly the human frames emerged from the station, organizing quickly and hunting Synthoid frames.

"That's our cue! Guardians, lets go!"

The elite of the Synthoid nation met the enemy head on. Space had become the stage for a deadly dance in the stars.

INCOMING ENEMIES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY

10 Magellans

5 Cobalts

OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES

edited 21st Jun '13 1:34:25 PM by Parable

"Time to root these guys out," Earl said, firing his four lasers in the general area of the enemy Piercers in front of them.

"I read you, Skydive," the human sniper rumbled in affirmation over the comm and kicked his thrusters into reverse to put some more distance between himself and the enemy's formation. He'd effectively be using his teammates as shields this way, but... that was the way it was. The least he could do in return for such a service was cover them as best he could.

Particularly using his knowledge of engineering, and particularly from the Synth Invoke aiming right for Carter's frame. A well-timed shot from Edgar's own particle rifle seared straight through its cockpit before the other's gun could finish building up its charge, soon followed by a series of explosions as the enemy's weapon overloaded and ruptured violently, completely annihilating the rest of the frame. Overkill? Maybe, but at least that was one Synthoid who wouldn't be picking off Edgar's fellow Aces ever again.

Merikan Star System

Screens to her left and right displayed another incoming missile barrage. The cockpit flashed red on and off. Sirens screeched like a fire drill alarm going off right next to Abbie's ears.

"I know! I know! Shut up already!" the ace shouted uselessly at the warning computer even as she increased thrust. A quick glance identified the projectiles as heat seekers. No doubt the mythril was jamming anything with a more advanced targeting system. Not that it mattered much, anything going that fast did not need a super fancy computer to hit her, it just needed to go fast enough.

Abbie gritted her teeth as perspiration rolled down her forehead. There was no way she was going to outrun or outmaneuver them. She turned the frame around right before killing the thrust. The giant robot continued to fly backwards on momentum, while Abbie aimed her beam rifle at the oncoming missiles. A pulled trigger brought forth one lance of light after another, each striking one of the incoming missiles. A burst of light erupted some of the warheads detonated anyway, and Abbie flew up to avoid high speed shrapnel still coming in her direction, but she was now safe for the moment.

"Jabberwock, where are you?" Abbie yelled. A green blip on her radar actually had the word Jabberwock written above it. "Never mind, I got you." She arrived just as the shot from Edgar's weapon penetrated the other Invoke's cockpit and turned the Synth's robot into a ball of fire.

It did not take much to attract the attention of the Sythoid frames. Barely had a few of Earl and Spencer's shots rushed through the enemy squadrons did several of them adjust their course and fire right at the large Cobalt. Particle beams from the Piercers dissipated harmlessly on the Cobalt's armor, while the smaller human frames swerved about to avoid the same fire.

The Hives bringing up the rear rushed forward and fired a volley of rockets at the Ace squadron. The Piercers swarmed in close as they commenced their firing run.