LUU Chpt 11

==Let Us Unite - Chapter XI -==
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
===Waiting For the Moment===
Date: January 6th, 2767
Location: Star System 12.17686 Classified system known as Echo 
"System scans show some debris, but other than that, it seems we're in the clear." Savage briefed the now somewhat capable Colonel Schmitt and the rest of the Black Watch officers. "Now, what's the plan? I've got scared civilians on the other two dropships, and they've been hailing me with questions since we jumped out of Bryant."
 
"We have to wait," Schmitt said softly, her body still recovering from the injuries. "There are multiple locations that they could have gone to, and if we spent time looking through each one we would be moving around for the greater part of a year."
 
"So, how long do we wait before you decide to just be done?" the captain of the Euphrates sighed.
 
"Give us until the end of the month," Hazen glanced at the Colonel, receiving a nod. "Then we'll give you coordinates and begin going through each of the systems that we have documented."
 
"I… Should be able to talk them into that," Joanna sagged. "But if there's nothing, I'm going to have to drop them off somewhere safe before I'd be able to carry you to wherever it is that you need to go."
 
"Just give us a month," Hazen replied. "that should be all we need."
 
"I hope that you're right," Savage crossed her arms. "Because if you're not, then we're about to potentially waste our lives on a wild goose chase."
 
"We sent out transmissions to all of the Bolthole locations within range," Capell stated. "We'll get a response."
 
"So what do I tell the other captains?" Savage asked. "They've trusted me this far, but they don't know what's actually going on."
 
"The truth," Schmitt's voice cut through the noise. "You tell them that we're waiting for the right message that where we're going is safe."
 
"Alright," Savage raised a bulb of whiskey and drained the entire thing. "I'll get it done."
 
The Tri-Vid winked out as the Black Watch members turned and looked at eachother.
 
"There's more than one Bolthole?" Southorn asked. "I only knew that they existed, not where they were or that there was more than one."
 
"And if not for the emergency situation, you would never have known any more than what you already did," Capell replied. "Each of the senior officers is given information on one location. Barring Major Hazen and Colonel Schmitt, who likely have more information than the rest of us."
 
"And that's all that you're going to speak on this subject," Elizabeth glared at the other officer. "It's kept compartmentalized for a goddamned reason."
 
"Yes, Ma'am." Bryn jerked back into proper bearing.
 
"And everyone else who just heard that, I want this moment forgotten. Am I clear?" Hazen's eyes met every single officer barring the Colonel's.
 
"Yes, Ma'am!"
----
===Naval Engagement===
Date: January 21st, 2767
Location: Liberty zenith point.
"Captain, sensors just finished recognition, we have Rim Worlds Naval vessels moving into range," the sensors officer reported, her face a mask of calm.
 
"Dump the L-F battery!" Captain Little ordered. "Get us out of here!"
 
"Dumping battery and spinning up K-F Drive, Aye sir!" the Astonavigator's hands flew across the controls. "Where do you want us?"
 
"Closer to the Periphery," Little stated. "And get to ready stations, I want the gun crews ready to go when we reach the next system."
 
A klaxon sounded as people began sealing their suits and preparing for combat, the SLS Tripitz winking out of existence in the Liberty system, only to reappear 'Above' Hall.
 
"Two enemy Corvettes in system," The sensors officer highlighted the position. "They'll be within firing range in twenty mikes."
 
"Get us in range," Little ordered. "And have the engineers start hot-loading. We'll need every chance we can get if we're going to make it to Kerensky in time."
----
The Tripitz guns were soundless in space, but the recoil was felt all the same as a pair of Pinto-class corvettes began attempting to flank the Battlecruiser.
"Enemy's long range armaments are firing, minor hits,"
 
We don't have the ammo to burn in a prolonged engagement," Little stroked his chin. "Gun crews are to wait until they're certain of a hit before firing."
 
"Wait until we see the whites of their eyes. Aye, sir."
 
"Show the projected course," Little looked at the screen that showed the current data and projected courses for the enemy corvettes.
 
Looking at the data, he grabbed a noteputer and began running some quick calculations.
 
"Change course to this heading, and prepare the port maneuvering thrusters," Little sent the information over.
 
"But sir, we'll be exposing our flank!" the navigation officer protested.
 
"I'm aware of that , Ensign. Follow the order," Little glared from the captain's chair.
 
"Aye sir," the ensign begrudgingly acknowledged the order. "Shifting to your course now."
 
The Tripitz seemed to rotate as if to run away from the twin corvettes, the Rim Worlds vessels higher speed giving them the ability to overcome the larger battlecruiser's speed as well as dodge and shots that were fired from the rear of the vessel.
 
"Sir, they're chipping away, that shot was close to our engines."
 
"Just hold for one more minute." Little ordered as he watched the screen.
 
"Signal to both broadsides to prepare to fire. Engage the thrusters now!"
 
The ship spun around suddenly while still maintaining its momentum, the broadside guns gutting the corvettes as the battlecruiser's main guns and missiles were now in a solid range, the highly capable Star League crew members and gun crews capable of executing both commands nigh simultaneously.
 
One corvette took a massive autocannon round that carved away what little armor it had before a nuclear tipped missile impacted on the guts within, the Pinto cracking open and spilling both atmosphere and personnel into the void of space.
 
The other Corvette was more lucky, but not by much, it took a nuclear tipped missile and seemed to stop entirely, the only thing carrying the vessel forward being the sheer momentum it had maintained.
 
"Enemy corvettes are down, armor status is still in the green for the most part, even if we are missing a bit on the flanks."
 
"Get the K-F drive and the L-F battery charged. We need to get out of here before someone decides to come check and make sure that everything's on the up and up here," Little ordered. "And reload our magazines. This is only the first fight of many."
----
===Sanctuary===
Date: January 23th, 2767
Location: Bolthole, Terran Hegemony
"Major!" a voice called out from where the officer was assisting in unloading and cataloging various supplies. "HPG is ready for transmit!"
 
"I'll be right there," MacIntosh finished setting down the crate before dusting off his working uniform, passing his clipboard over to the other man, and following the technician to the HPG.
"We've got it set to transmit to the system that was reported in the message," the Tech briefed the Black Watch member. "And have now shifted to ensuring the rest of the surrounding infrastructure was maintained properly."
 
"Good work," Ian nodded. "Start working with the generators. We've already got some people on them, but I want everyone checking them over just in case of power failures."
 
"Yessir," the tech shifted his direction to a different portion of the HPG complex. "If you'll follow Nick, he'll take you right to the room where you need to go.
 
"Major," a grease and dirt covered man with a faded 'Nick' scrawled on his jumpsuit greeted Ian. "Sorry for the mess, follow me."
 
Leading the man further in, they came to a room setup with a recording device and Nick began to give instructions.
 
"Hit this button here to start recording the message, and after you're done, hit this one. Then let me know when you're ready and we'll begin transmitting."
----
"Transmitting message in the next fifteen," Nick said as he plugged the Noteputer with the message into the HPG's computer. "If we're expecting them to jump in, then you might want to let our friends in the void know."
 
"Already taken care of," Ian replied. "Thank you for your help. Let Max know that I'm assisting with inventory if he needs me."
 
"Wilco," Nick yawned. "I'll keep manning the HPG, and I'll send a messenger if we get any responses or messages."
-----
===Reunion in a deep space haven===
Date: January 24, 2767
Location: Echo
 
"HPG is active," Capell reported, the device buried deep within the Messenger receiving a burst of data through the folds of reality for a brief moment.
 
"It's MacIntosh," he grinned. "That magnificent bastard did it! They've sent the coordinates for their location."
 
"Transmit the location to the Euphrates," Schmitt ordered, her voice sounding better now that she'd had a month of recovery. "I'll need to be on the bridge before we jump, or we'll end up shot out of the sky."
 
"Yes, ma'am," Hazen grabbed the datapad and began to transmit the coordinates to the Jumpship. "Capell, McFadden, compose and send a response. We're leaving."
-----
The Euphrates appeared in Bolthole, a Caspar Duo and the SDS systems targeting the Jumpship and Dropships for a brief moment before the authorization codes were transmitted by the Messenger.
 
<<"SLS Messenger, It's damned good to see that more people made it out!">> Captain Daksha's voice echoed through the bridge. <<"We've cleared a path for you and the other two dropships to follow down to the surface. For both your safety, and the safety of everyone else, do not deviate from that course or you will be destroyed.">>
 
"Copy that, Spicer," Elizabeth replied. "We'll follow it on down."
The trio of aerodynes detached from the Euphrates, even as a Titan class Dropship began heading for the Invader class Jumpship.
 
"Tecumseh, Timepiece, follow the course we transmit." Hazen relayed. "We're safe here, just stick to it and we'll see you down on the ground."
-----
===Status of the Charges===
"Colonel Schmitt, Major Hazen," MacIntosh stood at attention along with the remnants of his lance and the Marines with him, barring the group still guarding the twins and Richard's sisters. "Welcome to Bolthole. She might not look like much at the moment, but she's home."
 
"Major," Hanni hobbled down the ramp. "Bolthole stands secure. Now, where are the Camerons? I need to see them."
 
"You did good work," Hazen whispered to MacIntosh as Sergeant McLeod began leading them to the compound where the Camerons were kept secured. "
 
"The girls are traumatized," McLeod explained. "The twins on the other hand, are too young to understand what is going on, and shouldn't have as many issues. At least not any that are evident at the moment."
 
"We managed to rescue their wet nurse," MacIntosh continued. "But we're going to have to ask Richard's sisters how they want the children raised. They're technically the ones who would be stepping in as Regent."
 
"That's problems for later, Major." Hanni said as she entered the building. "Right now, our job is to ensure that they're alive to return to Terra. We can sort out the rest after the SLDF has dealt with the Fat bastard."
 
----
===Pleading for liberation of Hegemony===
"Can I help you?" Joanna asked as a lone SLDF soldier entered her bridge.
 
"We want you to go back to collect intelligence," a man bearing the rank pins of a Lieutenant said as he ran his hands through his close cropped hair. "We can't guarantee that Kerensky will get the intel from the Tripitz."
 
"Let me talk it over with my family," Joanna replied. "I'm willing to lay my life down for the Hegemony and the Star League, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my entire family for it."
 
"I understand," the Lieutenant replied. "We'll give you a week or two to decide while we make offers to the Dropship captains and their crews."
 
"I'll have an answer by then," Joanna glanced at her husband, who nodded in agreement. "I can't promise anything sooner, though."
 
"We've still got work to do if we were going to refit the Dropships and you ship for the intel runs," the Lieutenant replied. "Take your time."
----
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 11