Velinkar didn't particularly like the odds much... But on the other hand, the Aotrs was nothing if it was to not trust the opinion on experts. A longer, drawn-out conflict seemed unwise, as the longer it dragged on the more resources the Aotrs would be using, and the Azura clearly had overall much more expend. Getting into a way of attrition with a superior enemy was not something they were going to attempt.

He made preparations. He aides would form the diplomatic delegation (to be met with a rather more senior diplomat (Lady Axea) enroute via a dispatch vessel).

The anti-magic strike force would spearhead the engagement, opting to Gate directly to strike at one of the larger, more pivotal Azura ships (in the hopes of disupting both what command and control they had as well as damaging their power transfer system). That ought to give them some element of surprise.

The ground force would be sent in force, via every Murder left in the fleet, Gating right into the atmosphere. A secondary, distrating force (with the fleet's Dirges, Fallen Souls and fighter top-cover) would be hitting another point, and primarily disgorging expendable war droid troops. The specialists would follow via Killstorm's own Gates once the location was secure enough (relatively speaking) to begin the operation; with Boldness is necessary. 

[i]Subterfuge[/i] scoutship [i]Lich-Black[/i] was specifically designated to be on stand=by to attempt to retreve and deploy (via personal gates and a marine team) the oratus and/or toxicrene to attempt to further disrupt the Azura's response to the ground attack or to support Boldness' part of the operation.



Win or lose, however, the Aotrs still had one, very final card up their sleeve.



The [i]Doomskrieg[/i] (under Lord Foul Skream's personal direction) and the Harbinger Spacial Splinter Cannon it carried was now within a single Gate jump of the Tanshin system...