[center][h2][color=orange][b]Adam Gilford[/b][/color][/h2][/center]

[i][color=red]WARNING: Signal bypass detected in Comm array.
Combat Network Module Insecure: Comm Array Functions Terminated.
Internal Runtime Security:[/color] [color=lime]cleared.[/color]
[color=8F8F8F]Switching to Semi-Autonomous Mode.
Verifying Communications Integrity...[/color][/i]

The alien machines had woke up in a hurry, going from dormant to active aggression in a few minutes. Adam's mind was catching up with his body and the [i]Starstrike[/i]. The pair of unknown machines had turned their eyes skyward and his Orbital had reported some kind of ECM attack, blocking out the entire comms suite. Even with his radio dead, he and his Orbital recognized beam weapons well enough to drop countermeasures and evade. Rocketing sideways, the [i]Starstrike[/i] spun to minimize it's profile while dispersing nano-chaff in an attempt to disrupt or weaken the intensity of the beams. Thoughts continued catching up, and even without network access, his HUD had the [i]Explorer One[/i] marked as a defensive objective. Descending, Adam barked orders to the pilot-assist system and aimed for a trajectory perpendicular to the hostile's advance.

"[color=orange]Designate unknowns as hostile. Mark physical abnormalities on hostiles as Object.[/color]" Text scrolled across every sub-screen as Adam locked his target and loosed a missile, guidance designating the intersection of alien armor and the crystal structure "Object" as it's target.  The radio buzzed with life again as systems slowly cleared a security check. Slightly later than would have been appropriate, Adam calls over the radio. <<[color=orange]Starstrike, missile away![/color]>> before banking to race towards the Shuttle.

<<[color=#239C89]This is Castle Two-One to Explorer One. I'll cover your retreat as you go-- don't stay too long.[/color]>>

<<[color=orange]I'll take Escort position if you can provide cover-fire, Castle. If even half of the spots is a hostile crawling out of the dirt, we're in hot water.[/color]>>

The [i]Starstrike[/i] rapidly gained on the [i]Ajax[/i], thruster-wash kicking up a trail of dust. with a chime, it's Comm array came back online, reconnecting to the network once again. A stray thought formed at the back of Adam's mind, gone as quickly as it had arrived.

[i][color=orange]I dropped off the network pretty suddenly right before an attack... Here's hoping it didn't look like I died, or I'm going to have to apologize to Communications for the scare.[/color][/i]