Operation Deep Execute/Transcript

== Retribution ==
==== Briefing ====
The profiles of three SDF officers are shown.
Reyes: STRATCOM has intel that an SDF leadership conference is scheduled in the Kuiper Belt.
Four SDF destroyers are shown, including the SDS Icarius.
Reyes: Four destroyers are meeting to transfer HVTs to the "Icarius." We'll get ourselves aboard and take out the HVTs. This one is just you and me, Salt. Full stealth.
Salter: Roger that. Let's do this.
==== Armory ====
Griff: Got a full inventory for you, Captain. I'll be givin' you suppressed weapons- for obvious reasons. And SetDef uses bots for security. Hacks and shock grenades should be useful.
Reyes chooses his loadout and places his hand on the weapon rack, setting his suit's camo to Urban. The rack raises and Reyes picks up his weapon.
Griff: Good huntin' you two.
==== Jackal Launch ====
Reyes climbs in his Jackal, puts on his helmet, and starts it up. The Jackal is prepared for launch.
Salter: Once we debark, we stash our Jacks, and wait for SetDef at their rally point. I looked at Icarius's layout. I'll guide you to climate control, you'll shut down life support - terminate the HVTs.
Reyes: Roger. Let's hit it.
ATC Mini Boss: SCAR-1s, tower advises limited movement on target for low radar profile.
Salter: Check.
Reyes: Copy.
ATC Mini Boss: SCARs, you are green to go.
Reyes: Roger- send it.
ATC Mini Boss: Launch in 3, 2, 1...
The Jackals launch and proceed to the target.
== Gameplay ==
Reyes breathes heavily. Reyes and Salter are in cover behind asteroids.
Reyes: Oxygen's at 36%.
Salter: They should've been here by now.
They emerge from behind the asteroids.
Salter: Got 30 more mikes on the comms blackout to Ret.
Reyes: We're still bingo on life support. Let's stay put.
Salter: Roger, standing by for enemy movm...
Suddenly the SDF ships jump in, with the Icarius jumping in directly above Reyes and Salter.
Reyes: There she is.
Salter: Copy, target confirmed. SDF Icarius is overhead.
Reyes: Dry dock hatchway's our ingress.
Salter: Rog. Keep tight to the hull.
They reach the ship's hatch.
Reyes: I'll get us in.
Salter: Copy.
Reyes places a hacking device on the hatch. The devices hacks the hatch and it opens. Reyes and Salter enter the hatch and it closes under them. Gravity and oxygen reengages once it closes. Reyes raises his visor once they reengage. They climb a ladder into a maintenance tunnel.
Salter: The keel relay is just ahead. I can guide you to the meeting from there.
Reyes: Check.
They climb another ladder and reach the keel relay.
Salter: Plant this in the vent system and we'll shut down the life support.
Salter gives Reyes a device.
Salter: So far we're undetected, let's keep it that way. This is it. I'll patch in and locate the meeting while you get the uniform.
Reyes: Copy. I'll check in from crew quarters.
Salter accesses the relay while Reyes moves towards the door.
Salter: Careful, you got a hostile nearby. Check your HUD for tracking data.
Reyes opens the door. An SDF engineer is seen on the other side working on something. Reyes takes him out. Reyes moves towards the crew quarters and reaches it.
Reyes: Salt, I'm at the checkpoint.
Salter: Copy. Alert level is normal. They've got no idea we're here.
Two SDF soldiers are conversing with each other in the crew quarters. Another soldier is standing next to a bunk packing his bag.
SDF Soldier 1: Have you seen the battle files from Geneva?
SDF Soldier 2: It was a battleground, yes. Severe destruction.
SDF Soldier 1: My carrier will be deployed in the next attack.
SDF Soldier 2: Have you been briefed?
SDF Soldier 1: The council has chosen our ship for today's conference. When they choose the targets, we'll be at the battle stations.
SDF Soldier 2: I've prepared my whole life for this moment. I've had remorse standing idle as our kindred died in honor on foreign ground.
SDF Soldier 1: Yes. Regrettable if the war was over before we have our chance to shed foul Earthborn blood.
SDF Soldier 2: Mars Aeternum.
Reyes kills the soldier by the bunk and hides his body by lying it in the bunk. Reyes then kills the remaining two soldiers.
Reyes: Barracks clear.
Salter: Enemy comms are quiet. No alerts. You're still dark.
Reyes: Let's keep it that way.
Reyes grabs an SDF uniform and puts it on.
Reyes: Uniform acquired. What's the sitrep?
Salter: Three HVTs have transferred to the Icaria. Meeting's about to start. (Subtitles say "Three HVTs have transferred to the Icarius. Meeting's about to start.")
Salter: You'll need credentials to get near the conference. I've marked a target you can pull an ID from.
Reyes: Copy. Send it.
An image of a tech officer, Negrete, appears on Reyes' HUD. Reyes leaves the crew quarters. The next room is full of SDF soldiers, but they don't recognize Reyes because of his uniform, unless he gets too close.
Salter: Don't shoot. The uniform will keep you hidden.
Two SDF soldiers can be heard talking.
SDF Soldier 3: I heard we're moving into the AO soon.
SDF Soldier 4: Sounds like it. I went to prep ordnance control last night.
SDF Soldier 3: Any idea where we're being tasked?
SDF Soldier 4: I don't think they know yet. That's what the meeting's about. There's multiple operations underway. We'll be sent to support at least one of them.
SDF Soldier 3: There's no way the UNSA will be able to cover all of them. I hope they pick ours. After all this preparation, tensions are running high.
SDF Soldier 4: No shit. I heard what happened last night in the med.
SDF Soldier 3: Just legion guards blowing off steam. We need to see some action soon.
SDF Soldier 4: I'm hoping we get to hit a civilian target. Nothing will strike more fear into the UNSA. Geneva was just the start for those people.
SDF Soldier 3: Let's make sure we're ready when the call comes in. Send the diagnostics for fire control to the bridge. Then we can spend time in the firing range after our patrols.
Three soldiers are discussing the meeting.
SDF Soldier 5: Has the meeting started?
SDF Soldier 6: I don't think so. I saw them leading the council to the war room. Do you know the conference agenda?
SDF Soldier 7: Yes. Kashek(?) said they've doubled since the first reports. The UNSA may only have a few capital ships left. The Geneva attack was more effective than forecast.
SDF Soldier 5: Why have we not finished them off? What are we waiting for? We should hunt them like fawn, give them no rest!
SDF Soldier 7: After the conference, further attacks will be ordered on blue targets.
SDF Soldier 5: But why meet here? Surely high command on Mars should have been the most secure location.
SDF Soldier 7: There could be reconnaissance forces threatening the Mars HQ. The council knows best, we should not question their methods. 
SDF Soldier 5: There have been counter attacks in multiple locations.
SDF Soldier 7: Lower ranking guardsmen wanting to bolster their valor are responsible for propagating these action reports.
SDF Soldier 5: The Earthborn have little to boast off. Their extensive media operations are the origin of centuries of propaganda.
SDF Soldier 7: Many in the legions do not understand why it would be safer to meet in a luminal gulf, board our ship, and harbor here. There may be truth to UNSA reprisals on Mars.
SDF Soldier 5: You're claiming the council is afraid of a UNSA attack on high command, so they crawled here to hide from them? Perhaps you should have been first on the line in the attacks on Earth so I wouldn't need to listen to this.
SDF Soldier 7: I didn't say they were afraid. I just said that strategically there must be good reason for it.
SDF Soldier 5: You can finish the good check by yourself. If questioned, I will recount the irreverence you have shown here.
Reyes starts moving towards Negrete's location. 
Salter: Good stealth. Chatter's clean.
Reyes enters the armory. He spots Negrete.
Reyes: I'm in. Target visual.
Salter: Copy. Try and isolate. If you go loud, I'll jam comms 'til you're clear.
Two SDF Soldiers can be heard talking while working.
SDF Soldier 8: Nothing's showing on my system. Did you cross check with the entry board?
SDF Soldier 9: What's the status here?
SDF Soldier 8: Starboard deck control reports a possible access violation in the keel's auxiliary control.
SDF Soldier 9: Want me to check it?
SDF Soldier 8: Stand by. They're patching it through. Confirmed. See the report, there's just a level 1 route switch. Could be any of the systems trying to access the main board.
SDF Soldier 9: We saw the exact same thing last week when they switched the 88s over.
SDF Soldier 8: We saw it last week too. Hitting the switch over. Comply, resetting it now at your authorization. Out.
SDF Soldier 9: Tech control team has been deployed extensively with no procreation permit.
SDF Soldier 8: Procreation permits will be halted during battle maneuvers.
SDF Soldier 9: For every legion? Officers, council, and high command permits are still in use.
SDF Soldier 8: The procreate submission should increase caution grants now.
SDF Soldier 9: I know how you can get one.
SDF Soldier 8: Tell me.
SDF Soldier 9: That information will cost you.
SDF Soldier 8: I got credits to spare. I can think of no better way to spend them.
SDF Soldier 9: Confirmed. We'll speak in the barracks on the period shift.
SDF Soldier 8: Pledged.
In one of the rooms in the armory, two SDF soldiers are discussing the destruction of the Ares Vallis.
SDF Soldier 10: It was recounted to me by Vishiv(?) and Kartan(?). Ares was in a weapons malfunction after negating two UNSA ships over the gateway port. Our destroyer was defenseless and a ship the group call Tigris struck it down.
SDF Soldier 11: That's not what is being spoken of in the legions. The facts are being concealed.
SDF Soldier 10: If you have information, declare it. What really happened at the moon gateway with our destroyer?
SDF Soldier 11: The UNSA mounted a counter attack. The AATIS guns were restored, but their fleet was decimated.
SDF Soldier 10: This is well known. Where is the account of the Ares? We do not have time for trifle.
SDF Soldier 11: A small SCAR team boarding party assaulted the Ares directly.
SDF Soldier 10: Impossible! That cannot be done! Airspace infiltration is not achievable! The tactic isn't viable!
SDF Soldier 11: It is recorded that the SCARs attacked with Jackals and ejected directly onto Ares. They breached the bridge.
SDF Soldier 10: There were fire teams and guardsman legions all over that ship!
SDF Soldier 11: They fell. All slain.
SDF Soldier 10: You believe this tale?!
SDF Soldier 11: I'm recounting what has been said. There is no official report. We are not permitted to speak of it on authorized channels.
SDF Soldier 10: You are speaking of it now! Putting us both at risk!
SDF Soldier 11: Forgive but you inquired. Doubt and suspicion will not win battles.
SDF Soldier 10: Concur. What about this SCAR boarding party? Was it a suicide mission? Did they scuttle ship and die amongst our own?
SDF Soldier 11: They left the vessel after disabling weapons control. That is when Tigris destroyed them.
SDF Soldier 10: This intelligence is disreputable! But if it is accurate, the council will construct procedure to prevent it from happening again.
SDF Soldier 11: Whatever inborn fool was leading that assault was a lone wolf amongst the gutless SCAR teams. They will not have victory. Admiral Kotch will see to their end.
SDF Soldier 10: Enough! Return to your work. We can be marshalled for discussing this.
Reyes gets Negrete in a room on his own and kills Negrete silently.
Reyes: Target down.
Salter: Find his credentials and take 'em.
Reyes picks up Negrete's ID.
Reyes: Got the ID. Override live-scan for class 2 officer Negrete. (Subtitles say :Got the ID. Override live-scan for class 2 guard officer Negrete.")
Salter: On it. meeting's underway in the war room. Time to hustle.
Reyes moves on and starts heading to the war room.
Salter: So far so good. You're under the radar. Tempting to go hot isn't it?
Reyes: Affirmative.
Salter: Don't do it.
In the next room, two more SDF soldiers are discussing the SDS Ares Vallis.
SDF Soldier 12: I just read the Captain's report on the SDF Vallis.
SDF Soldier 13: That's the second time I've heard talk about the Vallis report. What does the report say?
SDF Soldier 12: The report testifies that high command picked up an emergency message from the Vallis about finding an early Earth space probe that was still transmitting.
SDF Soldier 13: Early Earth? How early?
SDF Soldier 12: Old enough that it was transmitting on registered military or science channels. The signal wasn't even encrypted. It was just transmitting high and dry for anyone to pick up.
SDF Soldier 13: Could have been one of those exploratory probes?
SDF Soldier 12: They ran the signal through the back century Earth logs. It came back as over 200 years old.
SDF Soldier 13: What the hell happened to the Vallis? Why did this require an emergency transmission?
SDF Soldier 12: the emergency transmission from Vallis says they picked up the probe, brought it into the ship. And the content was blue cultural doctrine.
SDF Soldier 13: What did they do with it?
SDF Soldier 12: Played it. Music, speeches of liberty, historical accounts, science, technology.
SDF Soldier 13: The legions heard the music and speeches?
SDF Soldier 12: they were broadcast ship wide, with no authorization. It led to revolt, mutiny. The emergency transmission followed.
SDF Soldier 13: What did high command do?
SDF Soldier 12: The Vallis was ordered to a luminal gulf for inspection and full suspension, pending execution of the officers and the agitators.
SDF Soldier 13: As a matter of course.
SDF Soldier 12: Vallis never arrived at the gulf coordinates. Scouts were sent to their last known position and found nothing. There's been no signature or transmission. They couldn't hail them.
SDF Soldier 13: They must have defected.
SDF Soldier 12: That's the point of this story, you idiot!
SDF Soldier 13: You're an imbecile for telling the story in such an interminably long verse!
SDF Soldier 12: I am careful to tell you what I know in detail when it comes to such matters!
SDF Soldier 13: When it comes to defection or conspiracy committed, tell me at the beginning!
SDF Soldier 12: You do not decide how I recount intelligence, and you are of no rank to give me orders! Get your work done, you witless moron!
Reyes moves up the stairs. At the top, a soldier is asking another soldier about Negrete.
SDF Soldier 14: Has Negrete checked in? He was tasked with a weapons count.
SDF Soldier 15: No. I sent a request to him 30 minutes ago.
SDF Soldier 14: I'm looking it up now. His last check was in the armory.
SDF Soldier 15: Send Havel's team to deal with it. I'll transfer the authorization to you.
SDF Soldier 14: Copy that. 4-2 out.
Reyes goes through the door and is almost at the war room.
Salter: ID override's good to go. Almost there, Raider.
Reyes places his hand on the hand scanner outside the war room. As Negrete's ID is used, he is granted access. Reyes enters and sees the targets in a room with see through walls.
Salter: Reyes, forces have been dispatched to the barracks. They may have found your kills.
Reyes: Copy.
Reyes climbs into the vent system above the war room. He can hear the targets' discussion from above.
Salter: Ready when you are, Reyes. Let's shut down their life support.
SDF Leader 1: Looking at the latest reports, the enemy is greatly outnumbered. They do not have the equipment to win this war. The numbers here, support my strategy.
SDF Leader 2: These figures do lend credence to our kindred's position and that of the Admiral. We proceed with a full scale invasion.
SDF Leader 1: Out objective is planet Earth but I caution the council to allow the effects of today's attack on Geneva to take hold while we destroy the remaining warships.
SDF Leader 2: We have intelligence that a SATO Navy SCAR team boarded and apprehended our fleet data from the Ares in the Gateway battle.
SDF Leader 1: Now it is I who questions your judgement. SATO SCARs do not have that capability. Those reports are false.
SDF Leader 3: Our fleet data is fully encrypted but we must assume the remote possibility that the data was compromised. They are likely planning counter-attacks at this moment.
SDF Leader 1: We should investigate immediately. We cannot be caught off guard.
SDF Leader 2: To the contrary, we will locate the SCAR team and nullify it with impunity.
SDF Leader 1: Concur. We cannot allow SATO to track our airships. The Front must vanquish this threat.
SDF Leader 2: I rule we send this report to the Olympus Mons for the Admiral's determination on direct action.
Reyes places the device Salter gave him into the life support system and arms it.
Reyes: Atmosphere and gravity controls prepped.
Salter: Copy. Get out clean.
Reyes climbs back down from the vents.
Reyes: I'm down. Cut off life support.
Salter: Venting now.
The device activates, and the meeting room the targets are in is vented of oxygen and gravity.
SDF Leader: What was that?
SDF Leader: Is that the air system?
SDF Leader: What the blue death is happening?
SDF Soldier 1: I don't know!
SDF Leader: We're locked in!
SDF Leader: Get us out of here!
SDF Soldier 2: They're sealed! I can't!
SDF Leader: I can't breathe!
SDF Leader: Try and break the glass!
SDF Leader: Environmental controls are down!
SDF Leader: Help! Open the doors!
The SDF leaders try to pound on the glass desperately, but it is no use. They suffocate and die. Outside the meeting room, SDF soldiers are scrambling in confusion.
SDF Soldier 1: They're suffocating.
SDF Soldier 2: There's no oxygen. Call engineering.
SDF Soldier 3: The council is in there! Rescue them!
SDF Soldier 2: Should we shoot the glass?
SDF Soldier 3: It might decompress the whole room!
SDF Soldier 2: Contact the bridge!
SDF Soldier 3: We can't save them!
Reyes silently moves to exit the room.
Salter: Reyes, I've got company. Primary exfil is burned, moving to secondary exfil.
Reyes: Copy, moving to secondary.
Static is heard from Salter.
Reyes: Fever? Raider to Fever. How copy?
He only hears static again.
Captain Varric: Combat personnel ordered to guard stations for sector sweeps. Report to your command officers for deployment charges.
Reyes leaves the room and starts heading towards the exfil point. On the way, he encounters an SDF officer.
SDF Soldier: -to intercept them. (To Reyes) You come with me. We've got one cornered.
Reyes follows the officer.
SDF Soldier: Move it, we can't let them get away!
Reyes: Comply!
They hop a railing and run through a hallway towards Salter.
Reyes: Coming to ya, Salt. I got hostiles with me.
They reach a hallway where SDF soldiers are firing at Salter.
SDF Soldier: Weapons ready!
Reyes: Salter, I'm behind them!
Reyes kills the soldiers firing on Salter, including the officer.
Reyes: Salt, you're clear. It's me!
Salter: I hate that uniform. I set the beacon for the Ret.
Reyes: Let's get to the exfil.
Salter: On you.
Reyes and Salter start heading towards the exfil point. They encounter and engage more SDF soldiers.
Reyes: Retribution, this is Actual. Do you copy?
Salter: Comms are still in blackout. No response on the beacon either.
They continue moving towards exfil.
Salter: I got a green light on the beacon; Retribution's inbound!
Reyes: We gotta push out now!
They reach an airlock and open it.
Gator: Actual, this is Retribution. We've locked on your signal. Sending SCAR-2 to your position. how copy?
Reyes: Copy, Gator. Get birds in here!
They exit the ship. The Retribution jumps in.
Gator: Multiple hostiles headed your way!
Salter: I see them. Engaging!
Reyes and Salter engage the enemies.
Gator: Jacks approaching now, sir.
Reyes, and Salter's Jackals arrive.
Gator: Captain, your Jackals are on station.
Reyes: Copy visual.
Salter: Wing up, Reyes.
Reyes and Salter enter their Jackals.
Salter: We need those Skelters cleared off the Retribution.
Reyes: Gator, spool up for drop. SCARs will clean up the AO.
Salter: SCAR-2s, you heard the Captain. You are free to engage.
They engage enemy Skelters and Aces. Reyes takes down an Ace.
Salter: Nice shooting! Two more inbound. Check low!
Reyes shoots down another Ace.
Reyes: Almost clear, Gator!
Reyes eliminates the last Ace.
Reyes: Tower, this is 1-1. We're on approach. SCAR-2, RTB. We're out.
Salter: Let's go wheels down, Reyes.
Reyes: Roger.
If Reyes delays:
Gator: Sir, we need you on the Retribution. Switch is set for jump! | Captain, we can't hold this position much longer. We need all jacks in the net.
Reyes approaches the Retribution's runway.
ATC Mini Boss: Line up for drone assist, Captain.
Reyes: Gears out for baton.
The drone attaches to Reyes' Jackal and slows it down.
ATC Mini Boss: Lock is good, 1-1. Welcome back.
The Jackals are recovered by Retribution.
== Aftermath ==
Reyes ascends the elevator to the bridge deck.
Crewman: Cutting off the head of the snake. Stuff of legends, sir.
==== Crew Discussion ====
Crewman 1: I heard that he killed them all. By himself.
Crewman 2: The whole command structure?
Crewman 1: Yeah. SetDef must be shitting their pants.
==== News ====
SDF Leadership Neutralized
Reporter: Continuing coverage following today's horrific attack on Geneva. Reports are now coming in about a targeted strike by SATO forces on a secret SetDef leadership conference. According to sources, high-ranking SetDef officials were targeted and eliminated by an elite SCAR team. In related news, SetDef fleet movements continue to impede the flow of off-world resources back to Earth. Without those resources, chances severely dwindle for damaged SATO warships to be repaired. For IW News, this is Gerome Davies.
Crewman 1: Peace? After what they did to us?
Crewman 2: Dude's out of his damn mind.
Crewman 1: We should be turning Mars to glass . To hell with all of them.
Crewman 2: Nah, just ship his ass there. See how diplomacy works out for him.
==== Bridge ====
Gator: Welcome back, sir.
Salter: Everyone's briefed up. Let's get back to it.