Most likely a scorch mark..ta1981 wrote:What an awesome ride. Am I ever going to leave my mark in this baby.
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131 - Pursuit
The latest positional report is in from 'Looky Looky' and it's not remarkably favourable. The Tyr is currently heading westwards which is putting it ever deeper into Terran space, far away from where I can reach. This leaves me with something of a choice to make then. I can either choose to hold position and wait for it to wander back within striking range, or I can choose to take a more proactive approach. With no established pattern to it's patrol route yet the current indications are that we could all be old and grey before it finally happens to stumble into an advantageous position.
So.. new plan. Terran forces, while liberally spread, do tend to concentrate around the inner planets and if that Tyr is heading out of system then there's the possibility, if it goes far enough, of picking it up around one of the outer planets where defences are considerably less concentrated. It's a bit of a gamble as with Terran jumpgates being incompatible with the jumpdrive I can't wait until I've discovered where it's finally headed and then simply jump in behind it. Nope, in order to ensure I'm within suitable striking range I'm going to have to move the fleet in pursuit all the while leaving suitable gap between us so as to be ready to go in case the Tyr suddenly decides to turn around.
It doesn't make for a particulalrly interesting flight managing the fleet maneuvers thru the gates but I suppose it's at least relaxing and I've requested continual updates from 'Looky Looky' now that we're on the move. So far the Tyr seems on a mission out of system and it's already moved past Neptune orbit and is heading out towards Pluto..
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.. It's unclear at present what it's doing out here, I've assumed up to now that it's patrols around the inner systems were a security thing so what could prompt an interest way out here is unclear. Rather pleasingly for me tho it's becoming noticeably thinner in military traffic the further out we progress and the Tyr seems currently to be going all the way. Pluto isn't its destination as it carries on right through that sector and into Oort Cloud where the latest report gives us a clue to what's going on..
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Pirates! Seems the Terrans have themselves a little nest of pirates operating out here someplace and now it all becomes clear. Looks like the Tyr is on an anti-piracy seek and destroy mission to root out their base of operations. The Tyr is continuing to head south further away from the inner system and we're following right along behind keeping a sectors gap between us but I'm quite liking the look of Oort Cloud as it happens. It's just about the right size to operate in and give some maneuvarability and it's presently devoid of military forces which suits me fine. I think this is going to be our stakeout zone as the Tyr very much has to come back this way in the near future in order to get back to the core planets.
With our location decided it's time to lay our trap and I've already been thinking that one through during our travel across Terran space. I've decided to split the fleet into four main forces for this whilst 'Preemptive Shrike' acts as command and control and further split Silver wing down into smaller elements to provide additional heavy torpedo support for those main forces. Mostly this is to give the capitals space to work as I don't want them getting in each others way.
Alpha squad will consist of 'Shorter Bus' backed up by Red wing and they'll be operating an interdiction role on anything that decides to poke it's nose in when we get going. So long as it's not too large Alpha squad will be tasked with hammering it back through the gate and with the limited ability to send ships through a gate en masse Alpha ought to be able to focus sufficient fire on anything coming through, especially with two of Silver wing to provide nuclear-tipped backup.
Beta squad will consist of 'Providence' and the fighters and their role will be shield supression and heavy fire support. For the benefit of simplicity of operation all individual wings have been disbanded for this op and reassigned under the collective banner of the infamous Blue wing. Loadout wise it's Wasps all around for everyone as with 27 Terran flak cannons to try not to get fragged by they're going to be attempting to blind the Tyrs targetting systems with an absolute blizzard of light warheads. Again, two of Silver wing will be providing heavy support to 'Providence' even tho it has a goodly supply of Hammers onboard. You can never have too much high explosive to hand.
Gamma squad consists of 'You Want It Where??' acting in a support capacity providing a base for resupplying anything that needs it and there's a substantial amount of spare warheads onboard, far more than I'll be needing I'd like to think. Additionally should any salvageable goods arise there's place to store them. 'You Want It Where??' will be accompanied by the new Vidar 'The Devestator' who's abilities I sincerely hope are on par with his ability to pick impressive sounding names as he's on bodyguarding duty tasked with protecting the TL unto death. The last two of Silver wing will be tagging along just in case tho.
Lastly, Delta squad consists of 'Bitter Wind' and the marines who'll be sat a suitably safe distance away and who has the unenviable responsibility of ensuring that this whole effort doesn't count for nothing as he has to sneak in the 20 man squad of ninjas through the 27 flak cannon defence umbrella of the Tyr, during the tiny gap when the shields are supressed to the right degree and quickly enough that blue wing can try and get away with a less than an 80% casualty rate. So no pressure then..
The squads are deployed, weapons locked and loaded, everyone knows what they're required to do and it's too damn late to try and run for it now. All we need do now is wait for a short time for the Tyr to make it's way back and then we pounce. the last thing we need then is for an Odin to suddenly decide to show up..
http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/131-3.gif
.. and it appears to be trailing four M7 Aegirs and a couple M6 Vali.. sorry, four Vali... sorry, seven.. er, twelve?... ... 22!!
Nuts..
Time: 11-05:50
Credits: 132,969,351
Teladianium: 32,714
Ore: 450,000
(oblivious to the rest of Terran Command I should add)
