Things were not ideal, right now. They weren't BAD, but they could be better. As of right now, they'd engaged and were successful in repelling Phoenix Inferno and Titan Breaker, though the order to disengage was a bit strange. Perhaps they were overloading and out of action for the day. Perhaps they were taking a few field repairs and would be back to fight again after a brief pit-stop. We don't know. Additionally, there was no further action from the Kitsune, Mako's mech. Where it was right now, we're not sure, but it might have also decided to leave, based upon Terra's broadcasted threat, or the fact that the now-free Grand Sword Star had a multi-spec scanner that might pick him up. Either way, the situation insofar as direct NC confrontation appeared to be over, for now. That left their current problem: Id was okay, maybe a scratch from [i]nearly[/i] getting stabbed by Mako, but Sahaquiel was damaged and [i]still[/i] wasn't any good in water. Hisako came over in GSS to check on Id and Terra within. [color=00a651]"Terra, are you alright? I didn't see him. I was suppose to be watching you-"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"I'm alright, Hisako. Things are complicated right now, but it's okay."[/color] [color=00a651]"So, what happened?"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"The plan that Kxeyun and I hatched up worked, for the most part. Osamu took the bait to go after her in her NC and I had access to connect to her system. Hibiki's safe in her cockpit now, and Osamu is... Osamu's just another example of how Red-Star utterly [i]ruins[/i] people. They've made people from the ground up under completely controlled conditions and they [i]still[/i] can't do anything right."[/color] Osamu seemed to turn against his masters, or that seemed to be the case, though he was still a piece of shit with the way he acted. Terra didn't want to think about it. One third of their team was still a land-bound and damaged NC. With a little field work from Chelsea or someone, Sahaquiel's arm would probably work again, at least. What Terra [i]really[/i] hoped was that if Hibiki recovered while inside the clawing slasher-mech that he didn't freak out on Kxeyun. IN THE MEANTIME, it looked as though the rest of their forces had taxed the missle cruiser's non-NC combatant reserves. What was once a tide was more a trickle now, with many retreating to regroup to a better defensible position, namely the cruiser itself. This was good because it took the pressure off of they who stood at this sadly-abused beachline. It ummm...lasted for [i]maybe[/i] a couple minutes before you could see problems on the horizon. Fresh gunships, powerarmored troops, drones... [color=ed1c24]"Hisako, how's your ammo?"[/color] [color=00a651]"Holding, for now, but I've been taking out opponents at close range to stretch it out."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"My gun stays charged, but cooling system needs to kick in every now and again, so it isn't constant."[/color] As soon as the new tide hit, destroyers included, Terra ordered everyone to move, as their position would probably become a new bunch of sandy/watery craters from sheer volume of attack. She then added [color=ed1c24]"Kxeyun, get yourself fixed up, quick as you can. We'll bring back that cruiser."[/color]. Because without an NC opponent, this was just a [i]little[/i] easier for them now. [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYjTRIDkD_c[/youtube][/center] Id and Grand Sword Star took off, both flying in an arcing path to head in the direction of the two rail-gun destroyers. [color=ed1c24]"Carrier Khalid-ibn-Walid, if you can still give us all covering fire, it'll make this push alot easier!"[/color] High-speed evasive flying, keeping the two destroyers between them and the missle cruiser to prevent any direct attacks from IT while slicing through or shooting apart gunships, or at least staying that [i]just ahead[/i] of rail-gun and laser fire so their tracking gets the wrong targets. Once the two mechs were in position, it was time. Terra activated the Overclock Engine, Hisako activated the Overbooster. Both NCs dramatically-improved in speed and maneuverability to suddenly attack the rail-gun destroyers directly. Now right up-close-and-personal, Terra worked on clawing up the structure, weapons, and engines of her destroyer, and Hisako did same with GSS' sword. What they wanted was for these things to crash, but [i]ideally[/i]...they would like them to plummet somewhere in the neighborhood of the missle cruiser, so that they had if not a [i]direct[/i] impact...then enough cover to jump to THAT ship and disable everything on deck. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This wait was too fucking long. He hated it almost as much as he hated the contemptable people around him. Dread sat waiting inside of Ursa, watching the battle unfold on remote uplink. This was irritating as hell. Why did Phoenix and Titan disengage? What the fuck was Osamu [i]doing?[/i] Throwing out the kid pilot like that was amusing, but where was the follow-up, you fool? Where was the carnage? Even that supposed assassin, Mako, was a failure. They were all completely useless. And no sooner had he completed this thought...then a new display sprang to life. He was being contacted. The source, however... [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERzMpZYufIQ[/youtube][/center] [center][color=fff200][i][b]"Well now... Mr. Dread. I see I've caught you at a good time. That is, I take it you're not busy."[/b][/i][/color][/center] Dread scowled. He knew this man. He hated him as much as the rest of the smug overlords of Red-Star. This one in particular was a behind-the-scenes man with his hands in many projects and places, smaller influences without being a particularly-strong figure within the organization. Nevertheless, he could move mountains with an avalanche caused by a single pebble. He knew how to apply proper stresses and motivations, gain trusts and allegiances, and was no slouch when it came to understanding the various technologies of the world. Much as everybody knew Dread ONLY as Dread, he knew this man as Director Phalanx. [color=0054a6][b]"You know very well what's going on down here, why I'm not busy [i]yet[/i]."[/b][/color] [center][color=fff200][i][b]"Hmmm. Yes, I do. Between the reports I hear specifically about you, my personal link, and those of my employ reporting in, I get a complete enough picture when I want it."[/b][/i][/color][/center] He frowned. [center][color=fff200][i][b]"I don't like the direction things have been taking lately, either. How ironic that the loosest cannon of all talks the most sense. That smug arrogance among command, that sycophantic loyalty in the lower ranks, and that quiet desperation which leads to treachery all-too-quickly if offered a juicy bone to gnaw upon... This cannot continue, Mr. Dread. WE must do something about that. After all, I didn't recruit you to sit around in a hangar bay, twiddling your thumbs."[/b][/i][/color][/center] [b][color=0054a6]"What makes you think I want to take [i]your[/i] errands anymore than I want to do [i]theirs?[/i]"[/color][/b] Now, the man smiled, and it was genuine...in that it was quite pleased with what he was about to say...which in Dread's mind was good news. [center][color=fff200][i][b]"Because you get to make martyrs of them, every last person on that ship. Here's what I want you to do..."[/b][/i][/color][/center] He outlined the tale, and the more he said...the deeper Dread began to smile. The Director was calling because one of his subbordinates aboard the Kuei-Ren sent out a quick message: 'Osamu actions erratic. Orders requested'. So, with the machine-controlling artificial behaving less than predictably, it was time to cleansweep this entire thing. Dread was to take charge, illegally, using Ursa Nova as leverage to force compliance. The Director had assured others on the vessel prior to all of this mess that Dread was kept compliant via threatening the one thing he valued: His own life. So, with him in the one place that was safe from even perhaps decent NC snipers, he was now in a position to do whatever he wanted. Mainly, keeping him [i]happy[/i] was the clincher, influencing him towards better behavior by letting him indulge himself harmlessly. So now, he was being asked to do something pleasant...and he would do it, not because Phalanx wanted it...but because ramming this carrier into Haven's shield while the engines go into critical meltdown would be FUN. Would it crack the barrier wide open from the stresses of checking such a physical and thermonuclear impact? No idea. Would the fallout create endless trouble for those living there? Hell yeah. Would they take out a load of traitors, rebels, and the frankly [i]useless[/i] chaff that is Red-Star staff? Definitely. Dread liked this plan, and he liked it more when his on-board computer stated that all he had to do to [i]survive[/i] the blast was drop to the bottom of the water and WALK home. [center][color=fff200][i][b]"If any of the staff argue, remember that at least my own spies are loyal enough, and remind them that they could very well be reduced to meat puppets like Miss Laedo's parents on-deck, they and anyone they've ever associated with. So, there will be no turning back home or surrender for them. Naturally, you can kill anyone at your own discretion. I wouldn't dream of inhibiting you at this crucial moment."[/b][/i][/color][/center] [b][color=0054a6]"You know I don't actually [i]take[/i] orders from you, right? I was already thinking of something like this from the start. I even worked the math out in my spare time."[/color][/b] Director Phalanx's smile broadened. [center][color=fff200][i][b]"I know you did. And that's why it's all yours... Enjoy yourself. I'll be watching."[/b][/i][/color][/center] Transmission ended. Dread smirked as he began to power Ursa Nova up in earnest. Today was a good day...