[h3]Collaboration between [color=0072bc]Kaitlyn[/color], [color=fff200]Iker[/color], Myron and [color=89f5ff]Hannie[/color]

Part 1/2[/h3]

[b]Blockade Runners, [i]HMAS Supply[/i] - 10/11/2022, 19:19 UTC+8[/b]

The floating ghost ship departing the premises, the deck's volume was eerily low. Some ensigns, fixated at their stations, relayed incoming reports. Others, lacking duties to perform, froze in place statuesque, starved for action. Waves murmured off the bow as ambience, punctuated by gunfire from leagues away. 

Lockwood pierced the silence. "Milkfish reports that Arms Masters currently board hostile bogeys; regulars moving to intercept."

Captain Rhiannon Kennedy glanced to Private Kaitlyn Price. "Your compatriots do stellar work, it appears." She inspected her bridge's crew. "Updates on the battle group?"

"They're beyond the earth's curvature. I can't establish contact," Maynard replied.

"Ditto on sonar," Tomlinson concurred.

"They lie directly north of us. Lotus Squadron reports that it maintains a present course due east, sir," Lockwood announced. "We can pinpoint their location. Do we intend to launch missiles?"

"And disclose our position and threat level?" Kennedy retorted. "They leave us alone for now. Let's return the favor. Our objective is to reach Mischief Reef, preferably unscathed."

Kaitlyn's radio sounded. [color=fff200]"Iker Orozco reporting. We rapidly approach the line of blockade ships Callie mentioned. Do you have particular orders?"[/color]

Kennedy overheard, then seized her ship's comms and addressed the [i]Yap[/i] directly. "Keep dialogue across main channels, please. The [i]Supply[/i] ought to receive new complications foremost; the Masters are secondary."

"We were about to inform you," the Philippine officer lamented. Apparently too hasty, Iker added to their grievances. "No visual confirmation of bogeys yet, but Pearl told us to anticipate lone hostiles on the horizon."

"[color=fff200]My powers function from roughly a kilometer,"[/color] Iker reminded Kaitlyn, ineffectually suppressing a yawn. [color=fff200]"I'm limited to hull repair if it's struck by projectiles. I await instructions."[/color]

The operation wasn't a total failure, or, rather, hadn't suffered complications in excess. Kaitlyn supposed conflict with Arms Masters was inevitable, but getting the [I]Supply[/I] and [I]Stalwart[/I] to their destination took priority.

[color=0072bc]"Private Price here, I read you,"[/color] she responded, employing the ship's comms.

[color=fff200]"Thanks for reading me,"[/color] replied Iker's voice from the [i]Yap's[/i] comms system. [color=fff200]"Standing by."[/color]

"Yes, awaiting orders," accompanied the Filipino seaman.

Transparency was key. Kaitlyn couldn't rely on Team B exclusively; this operation encompassed more than Masters. [color=0072bc]"You said we approached the blockade. Can you confirm that we'll encounter [I]lone[/I] hostiles?"[/color]

Captain Kennedy's stare at her subordinate demanded an answer from Lockwood, who responded accordingly. "We've been notified of a half dozen small craft, in contrast with heavier vessel groups. That's relayed from one of you, sorry, [i]your[/i] Arms Masters via Lingayen. If it isn't lone ships, perhaps it's a couple."

Kaitlyn addressed the commander. [color=0072bc]"Will enemy vessels detect and respond to our presence within a kilometer? Can we jam communications if spotted?"[/color]

Rhiannon continued, "This vessel isn't meant for stealth, or for electronic warfare, but for transporting supplies in hostile combat zones. Maynard?"

"We can whip up radio noise to jam communications," Maynard reported, "And the Philippine escort should have these capabilities as well. It's simple, but the Chinese would know something was up, just not what. A proper electronics warfare ship would have better equipment."

"Regardless, we'll approach that line within the half hour, if not sooner," Kennedy stated. "We'll fire back only when fired upon. Shouldn't be too hard to punch a hole in this thin perimeter; wouldn't you concur?"

Kaitlyn mulled over the information but deemed decisive action warranted in this situation. Pulling out her radio, she contacted Team B's only absent member. [color=0072bc]"Mister Myron, respond."[/color]

Myron's response was immediate: "What do you need teleported, Private Price?"

[color=0072bc]"Lifeboats, possibly. If I recall correctly, you can only teleport materials you make direct contact with?"[/color]

"Yes. Thankfully, I have a lifeboat or two converted into data - there are two minutes for each to be converted back to matter. Is that time limit too fatal?"

[color=0072bc][i]Why[/i] lifeboats [i]in his inventory?[/i][/color] Kaitlyn briefly imagined him scrolling through an RPG item list, then focused on something weightier. These waters must be freezing. If her plan worked, dozens of sailors would plunge into the drink. However, they [i]were[/i] sailors, and military. [color=0072bc]"Captain, what's the crew capacity for the [i]Yap[/i] and [i]Supply?[/i] Would it be feasible for us to take POW's?"[/color]

Kennedy blinked as she attempted to calculate. The [i]Supply[/i] maintained a complement of “122, now 124” (she informed), and she expected at minimum half that aboard the enemy vessel. “The [i]Yap[/i] has roughly as many, if I recall. A moment, please.” The scope of the implied request overwhelmed the operation's current scope.

Kaitlyn manned the comms. [color=0072bc]"Mister Orozco, could your powers disable an enemy vessel if it comes within one kilometer? Say, turning their ship into lead."[/color]

Iker explained, [color=fff200]“I can’t turn their ship into lead, but I can manipulate their steel. I suppose cracking open a gash in their hull would suffice. Worked for the [i]Titanic[/i]. I’ve located a proper spot.”[/color] There was little rush in his voice. He murmured off to the commander, [color=fff200]“Would you mind if I lodged my axe into that section of wall?”[/color] The Philippine corvette’s background conversation diverged into a jumble of confused noises, but the receiving Filipino ensign remained resolute. “Standing by.” It would calm down shortly.

Kennedy shook her head. One prisoner or two was acceptable; protocol existed for that. Several dozen was another matter entirely. Still: “We’ll make do. Our urgent mission prevents us from decelerating our engines, but I’m certain Arms Masters can circumvent that complication.” Where would she stow them? The mess hall? Herberts could stare them into submission, she (jokingly) mused.

“Estimated ten minutes until visual,” Lockwood commented. Ten minutes to prepare, four minutes to get [i]two[/i] rafts ready. But Iker could do it.

[color=0072bc]"Myron, teleport to the [i]Supply.[/i]"[/color] Kaitlyn ordered her thoughts, then: [color=0072bc]"We'll cycle lifeboats. When in range, Mister Orozco will incapacitate the enemy vessel. Maynard,"[/color] she hailed the crew member in question, [color=0072bc]"Whip up some static when we attack. Unless asking them to surrender and hoping they don't raise an alarm is an option."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"We'll rescue as many people as we can. If they resist,"[/color] she swallowed, [color=0072bc]"I'm sure there's protocol."[/color]

“Protocol indeed,” Herberts grinned.

Tick, tick, tick.

[color=0072bc]"Captain, approximately how many men can a lifeboat safely transport?"[/color] She'd have Myron cycle teleport. Drop in, take passengers, return, rinse and repeat. She'd rather elaborate to Myron in person. Either ship's lifeboats sufficed.

Kennedy threw her hands up, rather resigned to this new situation. “[i]A[/i] lifeboat?” she scoffed. “I don’t know. Depends on size and shape. [i]Our[/i] boats can fit twenty comfortably, fifty uncomfortably.”

“Permission to prepare jamming, sir?” Maynard asked, hoping he didn’t accidentally subvert the chain of command.

“Granted,” Kennedy replied, “But nothing until [i]my[/i] signal. Clear?”

“Yessir.” The radar station commenced.

Kennedy manned the communications. “Battle stations. Ready two lifeboats. All unoccupied personnel, man small firearms and await further instructions.”

The conversation aboard the [i]Yap[/i] had settled, and Iker returned to inter-ship dialogue. [color=fff200]“I’m allowed usage of the ship’s hull to channel my ability. Should we break formation and push ahead? Distance might mitigate risk of damage to the [i]Supply[/i].”[/color]

Myron walked through Qingshe's portal, knowing that the female Arms Master was sincere about giving him a chance, no matter how slight, before saying to Kaitlyn, "Private Pierce, I presume you need me for a plan?"

[color=0072bc]"I leave that to Captain Kennedy,"[/color] Kaitlyn replied. She'd flexed her dubious authority, and she'd rather not gamble with the lives of both ships herself. Beyond what she already had, at least. [color=0072bc]"Myron,"[/color] she turned to face him– and couldn't suppress a frown. Admittedly, he merely followed orders. [color=0072bc]"We'll scuttle the incoming enemy vessel using Mister Orozco's powers, then jam their radio–"[/color] or that'd be the simplified way to explain it, at least. [color=0072bc]"You will teleport the lifeboats to their position."[/color]

She paused, and frowned further– in thought, this time. [color=0072bc]"I'd prefer a stabler method, but loading soldiers onto the boats would be redundant, and loading you..."[/color] She studied him for a moment, and got the distinct impression he wasn't very bulletproof. No, sending [i]anybody[/i] with those boats was almost a guaranteed bucket load of casualties. They lacked options for optimal life and minimal risk, she surmised.

[color=0072bc]"Captain, would their ship sinking force them to accept 'rescue'? We, you, could send men with the boats to make demands personally, but we couldn't guarantee their safety."[/color]

If they attempted escape, the [i]Supply[/i] would waste two lifeboats on mercy. She felt her heart beat faster. Had she made the right choice? What options had a higher degree of success? They– she risked lives and resources on something completely unnecessary, but... 

Feigning calmness, she scoured her belt pouches, nervously fumbling with a chocolate bar. [i]Don't think about it. The operation will be a success, you'll see.[/i]

Myron cautioned, "Fair warning: [i]them[/i] jamming or physically breaking their own communications devices can interrupt the teleportation. You and the ship's captain should hail them first; they'd pull out their own comms out of instinct." [i]Follow orders. Ignore how, after all these years, you're unworthy of forgiveness.[/i] He followed, "Even if they escape with the lifeboats, they won't be useful battlefield assets for the mission's duration. I'll teleport them at your signal, Private Price." Myron closed his mouth and waited.

Kaitlyn blinked. That was a critical oversight. [color=0072bc][i]You're slipping, Kaitlyn. Your machinations were stillborn.[/i][/color] Kaitlyn's ears rang with mocking laughter, and she shivered. [color=0072bc][i]No, this was a learning lesson. Better to be informed now than during operation.[/i] "Thank you for informing me. Now, go prepare, I'm sure someone will direct you."[/color]

That came off as both rude and flippant, didn't it? [color=0072bc][i]Was this really Captain Kennedy's ship, or Captain Kaitlyn's? Maybe she should ask for a tricorn hat, next.[/i][/color] She broodingly bit her chocolate bar, briefly focusing on the sweetness. Mmmh... Stress begone, stress begone–

[color=0072bc]"Captain, you're more experienced on these matters. I've never ridden anything larger than a paddle board, heh."[/color] She glanced around the room. [color=0072bc]"Have you ever done anything like this before?"[/color]

"Myron, you are an Arms Master, so you submit to Kaitlyn's purview, just as this vessel's functions fall under mine: comms, radar, armaments," Kennedy denoted. "We can coordinate, so long as the chains of command are kept tight. Gordon."

Kaitlyn recognized the gentleman with the bullhorn who called down her and Hannie, if merely from his accent. "Yes."

"Assist Myron with preparations."

"Yessir." The man stood by Myron, expectant of another move.

"The [i]Supply[/i] has never faced active combat, only logistics excursions." Kennedy elaborated. "The Tongan tsunami, for instance. But we have simulations and protocol, and we've trained for encounters like these. If that qualifies as experience, then the whole crew has it.

"That said, this skirmish will guide future manuals for generations to come, especially with superpowers involved. No pressure," Kennedy smiled. "Off record, the whole world is woefully unprepared." She shrugged. "But we manage. I can't guarantee Chinese morale, whether they'd rather drown or escape with us. They might have their own lifeboats. If you desire some gum after that chocolate, I keep a pack in my coat pocket. Calms the nerves."

[color=fff200]"Halloo?"[/color] Iker hailed Kaitlyn's radio. [color=fff200]"I lack permission to advance."[/color]

Rhiannon sighed. "The [i]Yap[/i] shall not break formation. Mister Orozco lies within a completely different purview." She turned to Kaitlyn, expectantly.

Iker thought briefly, then spoke up: [color=fff200]"If the [i]Yap's[/i] lifeboat is tempered steel, perhaps I could take that forward and crack the enemy there. A rescue option would already be present when the patrol sinks."[/color]

"Is it, [i]Yap?[/i]"

The Filipino ensign responded, "I believe so? It's that orange boat you lent us, correct?"

"Affirmative," Kennedy smiled. "Penny for your thoughts, Price?"

Myron interjected, "I've also stored a large amount of supplies in my Shield, including live ammunition. I have mundane small arms, including rocket launchers and Anti-Materiel Rifles, and spare ammo for them. Just to outline my offerings." He withdrew a stick of chewing gum from his shield, before presenting it to Kaitlyn. "Here; don't worry, it's not poisoned."

Kaitlyn regarded the offered gum uneasily. [color=0072bc]"No, thank you, Myron."[/color] She paused and considered what else he said. Rocket launchers and their ammunition. Live ammunition. [i]Explosives.[/i] Explosives that could be targeted. Myron had a high degree of accuracy, or she at least assumed as much.

"Six minutes," Lockwood announced.

[color=0072bc]"Live ammunition."[/color] She brought a hand to her chin. [color=0072bc]"We could target the enemy vessel's lifeboats. Captain, I have a layman's understanding of ships, but they usually follow patterns, right? We [i]must[/i] have some estimate to locate their lifeboats."[/color] It was sick, cruel, and ruthlessly efficient. And it was Kaitlyn's idea. She wasn't sure how much she liked that.

"On the vessel's sides, likely at the middle or rear," Kennedy guessed. "That's standard procedure, at least. I doubt Chinese design deviates strongly."

[color=0072bc]"As for Mister Orozco's idea,"[/color] she glanced towards the comms, [color=0072bc]"We can't secure his safety through that option. He'd alone be at the mercy of an entire ship of angry Chinese with guns. There must be safer options."[/color]

[color=fff200]"Don't worry about my safety, Kaitlyn,"[/color] Iker assured, [color=fff200]"One life is worth the gambit to save hundreds, right?"[/color]

"Oh," Kennedy stated. "I operated under the assumption that you could handle personal gunfire as an Arms Master."

[color=fff200]"No. Well, yes, potentially, but individually. Who'd be insane enough to shoot an unarmed lifeboat, anyways?"[/color]

"The PLA," Kennedy retorted. "Also, it's technically well armed with you aboard. I would cite the Geneva Conventions, but the People's Republic have broken it several times already. I'm not bothered. If you risk yourself, Mister Orozco, I won't stop you, so long as the [i]Yap[/i] allows you to use their boat."

"We'd be happy to be rid of, apologies, to let him go," the [i]Yap's[/i] captain corrected.

[color=fff200]"Well,"[/color] Iker mused, [color=fff200]"Are there safer options to consider before I depart? Don't want to waste myself for nothing."[/color]

Myron responded, "Depending on the state of Chinese communications, I can beam in sleeping gas bombs from my storage or the sleeping gas itself." Regarding Iker, he sighed, saying, "The receiving end of Anti-Arms Master sentiment: tch, how foolhardy. I'm reminded of my younger self; that is [i]not[/i] a compliment."

Kaitlyn considered for a moment, then sighed and shook her head. No matter which way the cake was sliced, Iker's portion would be dangerously slim. He could erect a shield of sorts, but bullets easily punched through steel, especially if fifty angry Chinese fired on one position. They couldn't send soldiers or they'd be outnumbered. [color=0072bc]"No, not without risking further lives."[/color]

[color=0072bc][i]Aren't you missing something, Kaitlyn?[/i][/color] The realization didn't comfort her; it only made her feel worse. [color=0072bc]"Does anyone here speak Chinese?"[/color] She considered a promising new angle of approach: a bluff, plain and simple.

Kennedy looked around. "We have Murray, who's usually at his post."

Gordon intervened. "I sent Murray to caretake that minor I mentioned earlier."

Kennedy exhaled. "Can we radio him to the bridge?"

~~~~

With whatever happened in the galley now behind her, Hannie half followed and half led Murray around the [i]Supply's[/i] lower decks. Neither had strict destinations in mind and so spent the past few minutes wandering around halls, occasionally ducking out of the way of rushing sailors, occasionally getting sleeve pulled away from interesting doors, and obligingly finding other forbidden places.

The toast was fine. She wasn't hungry, but it was fine. She wondered if she was supposed to bring up songs again.

Murray held onto his hat as he wandered around the deck. The sailors' cadence wasn't nearly so hurried now in anticipation as it was a few moments ago in urgency. A passing man and pointed at the girl. "What is, isn't she supposed to-"

"Captain's business," Murray explained, curtly dismissing him. He racked his mind for safe harbors by which the the pellmell roaming might temporarily cease. "Hey, what say we peruse the engine room? Or, if you'd prefer, we could check out the helicopters!" Those were still aboard, right? He didn't hear whirring; they had to be.

Murray handled Hannie as best he could, that was to say, ineffectively. It was almost a relief to him when the captain herself messaged him. "Present yourself at the bridge, promptly."

He didn't want to abandon Hannie, as a matter both of duty and of morals. He regarded it as much more ethical to sling Hannie over his shoulder again like a sack of potatoes and speedily trot to the bridge. He set the child down. "Yessir?"

Kennedy saluted. "I lease you to Private Price; she requests your translation skills. I hope you've been practicing."

Murray turned to Kaitlyn. "Duì wǒ yǒuyòng! Wǒ néng tígōng shénme bāngzhù ma?"

Kennedy pointed to Hannie. "The minor: what are her capabilities, if any?"

Myron stayed silent, making a point not to blab or to snitch about Hannie's powers lest he draw Kaitlyn's wrath.

Kaitlyn gaped at Hannie's blatant mishandling, then stared blankly as Murray said, something? in what she presumed to be Chinese.

[color=0072bc]"She possesses the power to generate extreme cold,"[/color] she stated, slowly shifting her attention back onto the captain. She'd have preferred to lie and omit Hannie's power, but Rhiannon would shortly realize the truth. You don't take ordinary children to the battlefield, after all.

[color=0072bc]"Mister Murray, you will accompany Mister Orozco when he deploys. Myron will transport you to the [i]Yap[/i] when we're ready."[/color] She half heartedly gestured towards the man in question without looking directly at him. [color=0072bc]"After crippling their ship and destroying their lifeboats, you'll deliver an ultimatum to the enemy vessel's crew. They can surrender and come aboard peacefully or attempt to escape and face our guns."[/color]

She looked between Murray and Kennedy, suddenly feeling a spike of anxiety. [color=0072bc]"As a bluff, of course,"[/color] she added with a nervous laugh. [color=0072bc]"A warning shot should suffice if they don't think we're serious."[/color] She distinctly felt Kennedy would fire more than a warning shot otherwise.

"This is an active combat situation," Kennedy stated, standing at ease. "Firing upon enemy combatants to neutralize them is expected, if not preferred. My only concern is that it'd give away our presence, or that we'd have insufficient firepower for retaliation. Any warning shot we send will be directed towards the patrol boat." She smiled, the underlying implications readily apparent. Solution A's termination would beget a prompt Solution B.

[color=0072bc][i]That smile.[/i] "Can you do that, Mister Murray?"[/color] Kaitlyn confirmed.

Murray blinked. "Oh, um, dāngrán, I mean, certainly," he stated. He clearly wasn't accustomed to teleportation, in conjunction with the explicit risk of being jammed out of existence. His voice's timid nervousness peaked through his resolute sense of duty. "Tell me when."

The non-ordinary child scanned the conversation from her placement, her impassive expression suggesting the possibility that she had been shoulder slung and dragged into the presence of a naval officer where being lead by the hand would have sufficed multiple times before. She nodded to Kaitlyn's partial explanation of her capabilities, adding nothing to it, stuffing her hands in her coat pockets as if she could possibly be cold here.

"Hm," the captain acknowledged Hannie. The minor was at minimum aware of the situation, and recognized the applicability of silence. A decorated soldier's career awaited her, should she elect that future.

Iker piped up over the comms, [color=fff200]"I'm beside the lifeboats, ready to commence."[/color]

"Two minutes," Lockwood heralded. "If you commence operations, you may engage at anytime between now and visual contact."

Kennedy adjusted her cap. "I'll give the go ahead to my people once you give it to yours."

Kaitlyn nodded, relieved to finally put her plan to action.

[color=0072bc]"Commence the operation."[/color]