Lorenzo nodded when Mai finished speaking, his eyes looking at the distance. [color=f26522]"Yes...that must be the same specimen, then. Fascinating that they are attempting to contact us, even if it's a failure on their part."[/color] The old man lined up the papers. [color=f26522]"Still, they are but bloodthirsty xenos, and we will wipe them away from the galaxy if we must; even if they are negotiating for peace, I'll never yield."[/color] He paused to stuff the papers into his suitcase while listening to Mai some more. [color=f26522]"Yes, those are definitely all possibilities. Shame that your vision couldn't go into any details about the exact context of the Cruxi attempting oral transferring of information."[/color] Lorenzo was about to add more to his comment when the device in his pocket rang. He took the call.

[color=f26522]"Lorenzo here. Why are you-"[/color] He managed to say before the pupils in his eyes widened. [color=f26522]"I see. Send Ritsu the details. She knows these brats better than I do. You'll get your child soldiers, Cain."[/color] He put the phone in his pocket, picked up his suitcase, and took a couple of steps away. However, before he left to his office, he turned back at Mai and stared with cold eyes.

[color=f26522]"Judgement Day is upon you."[/color]
[hr]
A couple of hours later, the Framewerk pilots were called to the briefing hall by Lieutenant Ritsu and report to her for duty; it was clear in her strict voice over the loudspeakers that this wasn't a drill.

Once the pilots were gathered, Ritsu activated the hologram and began talking. It showed a planet with its outer edges surrounded by green blips and a lot more red blips.

[color=0054a6]"Lord Commander Cain has issued an order of deployment for Squad Sigma. The Cruxi have set their sights on Leviticus IX, a colony planet of about ten billion population and one of the most important sources of human industry, and a splinter fleet has headed it's way."[/color] 
The hologram zoomed in on one of the colonies. 
[color=0054a6]"The Cruxi have a pattern to their invasion in that they always target the largest colonies first, regardless of the amount of resistance. This means their most likely targets will be these two colonies. Joppa, which has a population of 700 million, is located on the northern hemisphere of the planet, while Troas, with a population of one billion and two hundred million, is located on the southern hemisphere. Squad Sigma has been ordered to protect these two colonies and to eliminate any Cruxi invaders on sight. To succeed in this mission, you must split into two units. Officer Reynolds, you have the responsibility of picking the correct pilots for the units together with Junior Officer Shinkai. Both units require specialists in long-range warfare and close-range specialists to support them, since our reports indicate that the Cruxi's newest war machine, code-named Mist, is believed to be in the splinter fleet's arsenal and possibly deployed in one of the two colonies."[/color]

Ritsu changed the hologram what seemed to be a representation of a [url=http://i.imgur.com/5ehpaQO.png]gas giant[/url]. 
[color=0054a6]"Mist is reported to be capable of attacking in a 360-degree radius in both vertical and horizontal axis, emitting some kind of radiation-based wave that bypasses Framewerk armor and liquefies the pilot inside when placed under any kind of threat or danger. However, thanks to Squad Beta's honorable sacrifice, we have found out two weaknesses to this weapon; it doesn't differentiate between ally and enemy, and that it's limited to a maximum of medium-range in Framewerk weapon ranges. In addition to Mist, there are also believed to be a large number of regular Cruxi war machines. Their numbers dwindled since their assault on Gomorrah VI, but they still hold an advantage in numbers, so extreme caution is mandatory. NOAH will arrive to pick you up in a couple of days, but it won't leave orbit, so you will have to fly your Framewerks beyond the planet's atmosphere and dock in. It'll go just like we practiced a hundred times in VR; dock in, wait for the signal, and then jump and perform the orbital landing. However,"[/color] Ritsu suddenly turned even more tense.
[color=0054a6]"This mission won't be anything like we have trained in simulations. This will be a real invasion of real Cruxi, and they will really try to kill you. But we won't let them. Look alive, and stay frosty, soldiers, cause we're going to give those alien sons of bitches hell![/color]

Ritsu changed the hologram back to Leviticus IX.
[color=0054a6]"Any questions?"[/color]