Best laid plans

Posted on Tue Mar 23rd, 2021 @ 4:23am by Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: Season 5: Episode 1: No Exit
Location: Deck 32; Tactical Operations Centre
Timeline: MD 1; 1230 Hours
1228 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

In the heart of Marine Country, sat the Tactical Operations Centre. The medium-sized, dimly lit room had monitors along every bulkhead with a large octagon shaped table with holo-emitters and in the center of that table was a holo projection of Quell'ish with the shield and orbiting alien fleet. Naxea entered, still dressed in her Assault Armor with her rifle magnetized across her back and carrying her helmet under one arm, placing it down on the edge of the table off to her right. She crossed her arms, studying the layout as she waited for the Lia to arrive.

Lia arrived at the TOC, as she entered she glanced around. "Talk about a black hole, so Azhul, any idea's about how we get round through or over these bloody aliens? No offence intended". She took a seat opposite the Marine Colonel, "I for one can't see a way in, do you?"

Naxea sighed, shaking her head. "Not yet, but every defense has a weak spot. We just have to find it. We'll need a small fleet to take those ships on head to head."

"Exocomp's!!" Lia shouted as she looked at Naxea, "Not a small fleet, just a small collection of Exocomp's". Lia moved her hands over the alien fleet, "If we program say two Exocomp's per vessel, to infiltrate and put the weapons and shields out of action. We would be able to simply beam our team out, what do you think?"

"How would we deploy them?" Naxea asked. "Any ship that gets anywhere close to those ships won't last long and that's hoping they don't detect the Exocomps. We can still try it but I want an ace up our sleeve as you humans like to say, if it fails." Her eyes went to the planetary shields. "What if we can get a shuttle to deploy the Exocomps with one or two going for those planetary emitters? Just enough to get one section out..." An idea was forming in her mind, albeit a very risky one.


Gary had entered the center unnoticed as Lia and Naxea talked. His attention was on the chart, studying it for ant weakness that they could use to their advantage. "We'll need more than two exocomps to make any dent in their shield." Gary observed but we can still use the comps to our advantage." He said building on Naxea's start. "We use four or five comps to attack a section of the shield and overload it. Then under the cover of an anti-matter spread a shuttle is launched, not to penetrate the shield but for something else...." A gleam in his eyes, hoping Naxea and Lia were following him.

Naxea grinned as she believed where the XO was going. "Orbital HALO Jump," she concluded. "I agree. But a jump under these circumstances is going to be dangerous to say the very least. We'll need to move fast and hit the ground ASAP before they realize what is happening and try to shoot us down or ambush us on the ground. Hopefully enough exocomps can at least disable one of their ships as well as a shield generator."

Gary nodded, please that Naxea had picked up on his idea so quickly. "Yes, a HALO jump. I'll settle for the exocomps blindly their sensors long enough for the jump to be made."

Lia looked at the other two, "Are you pair nuts??? A HALO jump in front of that lot?" She shook her head in disbelieve, "That would have to be volunteers only, because even I would refuse to obey that order". Lia now looked at the enemy fleet, "I still say two Exocomps per ship, programed to disable their shields and weapons is the way to go. We could get say four to attack the shield, it would be a good diversion and if the pair on the ships fail it becomes plan B".

Gary chuckled at Lia's reaction. "Not nuts at all Lia. We're not sure the exocomps will even work on the ships or the shield. Not to mention a HALO jump would be the last thing they would be expecting." Gary replied. He looked to Naxea, "Agreed, we hit the ground running. We can admire the scenery later."

Shaking her head again, Lia turned to face Gary. "And just which hot shot pilot have you penciled in to fly the shuttle?" She knew it wouldn't be her, she wasn't trained as a pilot. But they had fighter pilots and that Ojnas sitting on the helm right now. "Further to that, who the hell is going to make that HALO jump? Because this girl sure as hell ain't, and that's a fact you can take to the Captain!"

"I will," Naxea spoke up. "I'm qualified and have done them before--not under these extreme conditions however. First Platoon are all qualified as well since they're my Special Operations Platoon. We can ask the Ojnas Officer if she wants to pilot."

"Easy Lia. I've got you down as a no." Gary said to his wife. He glanced at Naxea. "Alright, we'll use First Platoon and we'll ask Imik to pilot the shuttle. I think she will be agreeable to that."

"If anyone else wants to join, they can, but I need those who know what they're doing. Security is more than welcome," Naxea nodded at Lia. "I have a feeling we're going to have our hands full once we hit the surface."

"The best Security people suited for this adventure, are already down on the planet. S'hib is the guy you need, its just a shame we can't contact him. He could secure the LZ, ensure it wasn't hot". Lia thought about other Security personnel who might wish to join or bring abilities to the plan, even though she wasn't a fan she would do all she could to ensure the recovery of the away team. "You may have to ask Phoenix if you can have that Ojnas Diplomat, as she's being used as the ships pilot right now".

"We will," Naxea agreed before turning to the XO. "Any other suggestions or additions to the team, Sir?"

"At the moment no however that may change. I'll speak to Phoenix about Imik piloting the shuttle." Gary answered already thinking on contingency plans.

The AI shimmered into view suddenly. "Sorry to interrupt. The captain has requested an update. May I deliver it for you?"

Naxea looked at the AI that appeared out of thin air. The program still unnerved her that it could appear out of air anywhere on the ship. Hell, AIs in general made her uneasy. "Yes. Tell Captain Lalor that we have a plan devised. Commander Taylor can fill her in on the details. I will need to get my Marines ready for deployment."

The AI nodded "Of Course Colonel. I shall do that. Anything else?"

"We will also need some exocomps so they will need to be readied as well," Naxea commented before looking at Lia and Gary for anything further.

"I'll plot a course for the shuttle, try and avoid any contact with the enemy ships until the last moment". Lia already had given up with her idea for the Exocomps attacking the ships weapons and shields, it appeared this HALO jump was now the plan.

The AI nodded and vanished with "I shall see to it"

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