BSBxKc Chpt 20

==Blue Squadron (Battletech x KanColle(ish) crossover) - Chapter 20 -==
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===Deep Space Rendezvous===
System 2799, Deep Periphery
Swift Justice sighed happily and raised her hands over her head to stretch her entire frame. It felt good to move unimpeded without getting jolts of pain all the time.
 
With another contented sigh she dropped her arms again and rolled her shoulders. She had been stuck too long guarding Waystation 135, and was glad to take a more proactive role again.
 
She was not the only one. "We'll be done in no time." Brest's voice once more carried its usual enthusiasm, a stark contrast to the girl's somewhat subdued, and at times morose, demeanor while she had been immobile.
 
Swift glanced at the corvette next to her and smiled, glad to see those blue eyes without a shadow in them. When the brunette returned the Aegis' smile the flagship assured. "With the expertise we have at hand, certainly." The grey-haired woman shifted her gaze from Brest to follow the progress of half a dozen small craft, which were traversing the void and on their final approach to a Jumpship which hung dark and unmoving in front of space's black and star-sprinkled canvas.
 
"Don't expect too much. I can't perform miracles." Trelleborg replied, a hint of mock scolding in her voice. The auburn-haired woman's massive form flanked Swift's other side, a distant look in her usually warm brown eyes as she seemingly steered her shuttles personally during final approach to their destination. When those shuttles clamped onto the Jumpship and started deploying their crews onto it, Trelleborg's gaze went to Brest. "I'll have to take a good look at her, make sure she can support a crew."
 
Nodding vigorously, the girl in question agreed. "Keeping them save is the most important thing." Looking on for a moment Brest, ever helpful, added. "Can i do something to assist?"
 
The far-away look in Trelleborg's eyes had returned. "No, dear. You just keep your eyes out in case there's trouble." Gaze still vacant, the large woman sent a smile to Brest and returned her attention to the inactive Jumpship in front of them.
 
Following suit after her old comrade, Swift's pale eyes were unerringly drawn to the Jumpship's name painted on its side. Willemstad.
 
Blue Squadron were back where they had faced an unknown abyssal warship, back where they been too late to save a Jumpship's crew from their dark adversaries, a small voice in the back of Swift's mind helpfully supplied. Shoving those thoughts aside she instead turned her mind to the task at hand. "How long do you estimate this will take?"
 
"As i said, i need to do a once-over on everything, make necessary repairs and then pressure-test her hull. For now i can only tell you when its done." Trelleborg replied distractedly, gaze glued to Willemstad. 
 
Swift nodded in acknowledgement and remarked. "Be careful. The abyssals may have been back in the meantime and realized they cannot salvage her quickly. In that case they may have placed boobie-traps." 
 
"I'm aware." The Newgrange replied distractedly.
 
Much as Swift did not like having Trelleborg, who was arguably the most important fleetmaiden, this far out she recognized that the auburn-haired woman would get any necessary repairs done much faster than any of the other kanmusu could.
 
Seemingly able to read the flagship's expression, Brest spoke up. "I wouldn't worry. Signal-intelligence says things are quiet, so further attacks seem unlikely?" Despite the Fox' attempt to sound reassuring she ended her sentence on a questioning note.
 
"We have thought that before and it did not turn out to be the case." The Aegis reminded.
 
"True." The corners of her mouth drawing downwards unhappily, the brunette girl brought herself into a more defensive position within their formation.
 
Realizing her words had sounded berating, Swift added to soften her argument. "But that is why we are on sortie. So we can stop guessing and start knowing with reasonable certainty."
 
"Aha." Brest's eyes went to several tiny specks of light which were steadily moving away from the fleetmaidens' position at the zenith jump-point.
 
Swift followed the girl's gaze to the reflections of the system's primary's red rays, which were caused by two pairs of satellites bound for an equatorial orbit around said star. From there they would be able to listen for abyssal fax-messages, as well as keep tabs on both of the system's jump points.
 
"Once we have deployed those to all systems in the vicinity of Jan Mayen we should be able to rest a little easier. They should let us know if and when the enemy tries to approach again." Swift concluded.
 
"Assuming those satellites will be able to see the abyssals in the visible spectrum, considering the effect they have on electronics. As far as i know there's still no footage of them?"
 
"None made by mundane sensors or cameras." The Aegis felt a little odd using the word to describe what should be the only normal, but it was a fitting term nonetheless.
 
"Only one way to find out." A smile returned to Brest's face, the prospect of resolving that particular unknown speaking to her natural curiosity. "If the satellites are several astronomical units away from the jump points that will hopefully be enough to not be jammed by the abyssals' aura."
 
"That is the thought behind it. At this distance the satellites would see enemy Jumpships or warships as mere pixels, but that is all which is necessary." The flagship agreed.
 
"You vandals." An annoyed mutter from Trelleborg drew both warships' attention to the large woman. She was apparently finished repairing Willemstad's jumpsail, because it was in the process of being raised.
 
"Problems? Anything i can do to help?" Brest was once more quick to offer.
 
"No dear, thanks." Turning towards Brest the large woman blinked repeatedly to clear her vision, while the brunette girl's genuine willingness to help seemed to wipe the aggravation from the large woman's features.
 
Swift could not tell if Brest knew what she was doing and what effect she could have on other fleetmaidens, especially the adults, or if the Fox was genuinely and naturally a ray of sunshine. Either way, Swift was glad for it. Brest was good for morale.
 
"What is causing trouble?" Swift was eager to know what that would mean for the operation's timetable.
 
"I have to jury-rig the navigation-computer to Willemstad's systems." An exhale. "That makes it all take longer than would be necessary. Otherwise I'd be all but finished."
 
True enough, when Swift looked closely she could see light in some parts of the Merchant-class Jumpship, as well as sparks in front of the black background of space, which emanated from welding-work being done on some parts of Willemstad's outer hull. Most prominent of those areas was the work being done on the latter's small craft bay. The flagship looked on with undisguised interest as one of Trelleborg's Elephants Tugboat dropships was magnetically holding a large steel-plate in place over the blown open hangar-doors, while work-crew in EVA suits were busily welding to seal the ship from the vacuum of space again.
 
"That's so cool! None of us could've done that." Brest had also noticed, and Swift agreed with the girl. There was something to be said about having the means and the ability to do things properly and quickly. Any of Blue Squadron's warships could have repaired Willemstad, but they would have needed to leave parts of the hull open to vacuum. Not to mention that it would have taken longer.
 
"It's what i do." Trelleborg answered the corvette's praise nonchalantly, then tilted her head slightly. "Actually." Her eyes got that far-away look again, which let the other two know she was seeing through one of her crew. "The jury-rig is done, quicker than i thought, and works on the first try." She blinked several times and locked eyes with Swift. "As good as done."
 
The latter inclined her head. "Call them in."
 
A moment later Swift felt the powerful electromagnetic waves on her hull, almost like a caress, as Trelleborg was using her HPG.
 
"Done." A moment's pause. "I got confirmation."
 
It was not long after that, while Trelleborg was in the process of ferrying her work-crews back from Willemstad, when three emergence-signatures started forming near Blue Squadron's position. Not a minute later three ships popped into existence. It was most of the unit's other half.
The newly arrived La Plata and Silver Merlin launched their fighter-screen right after translation and started positioning their assets to defend themselves, as well as their charge. Said charge was a Scout-class jumpship with the name Acuity prominently on her side.
 
Brest turned towards the new arrivals and raised her hand in a salute, smile enthusiastic. "Welcome to System 2799."
 
"Glad to be back. Everything in order here?" Returning the salute and smile the dark-haired cruiser replied. Brilliant green eyes glanced at Willemstad, the Jumpship's position-lights now on and her insides lit, then to Swift.
 
"Yes, thanks to Trelleborg's magic." The grey-haired woman in question spared a brief look at Willemstad as well. Silver Merlin gave her a brief nod when she swept her gaze over the girl before her eyes came to rest on the newly arrived JumpShip. "How are our VIPs holding up?"
 
Following Swift's gaze for a moment the dark-haired woman made a so-so gesture with her hand. "Mostly fine, if easily distracted by us." She chuckled and added. "Not that they had anything important to do."
 
La Plata's words made Swift smile. The concept of her and the others' presence causing soothing feelings in people was pleasant to think of. Though idle time was about to end for some of them.
 
"Swift Justice to Acuity. Please deploy the VIPs."
 
"Copy that. Preparations for launch are already underway." Came a man's voice in reply, one of two who were at Acuity's comms in shifts.
 
True enough, warning-lights could be seen flashing around the Acuity's docking collar, as well as on the dropship connected to it. It was in the process of detaching from the Scout-class.
 
Trelleborg positioned herself between La Plata and Swift while all fleetmaidens' eyes were on the launching Kaiyuh, as the Gazelle-class was called. As though via unspoken command they raised their jump-sails as one to begin recharging their drives.
 
After a moment La Plata spoke up, expression contemplative. "It's a little strange to think that we're here because of Light Commodore Emmet."
 
Mention of the man's name brought a bad taste to her mouth, and Swift scolded herself for it. The officer from the Federated Suns Navy did not deserve her dislike. She now knew that his staring at Blue's members, mostly Brest really, while they were in states of partial undress was due to the effect their kind had on people and not borne from any unsavory reason. Yet she was stuck with her initial opinion of the man, and had to remind herself every time his name was mentioned that he was not a bad one. She blamed her age for being set in her ways, yet also vowed to work on this issue, as well as others that set her off more than they truly should.
 
"Aha. Was pretty nice of him to lend us his DropShip." Brest's voice drew Swift back to the present.
 
"We could've managed without. What's impressive is that they managed to recruit enough people from 135 with the know-how to steer Willemstad back home." Trelleborg remarked with noticeable pride in her voice.
 
"True. I guess it's Zheng's doing, seeing as he actually belongs to Comstar and has connections." La Plata picked up on what Trelleborg had implied.
 
"Not ideal that we need to risk human crew for this, but no way around it i suppose." Trelleborg said what they were all thinking. The fleetmaidens had discussed this among themselves and reached the conclusion that human assets needed human crews. It turned out that each of them instinctively seemed to know that their own crews would disappear if they were to make a jump on Willemstad. Nobody volunteered to test that thesis, nevermind the concerns about what might happen to Willemstad herself in that case. The supernatural element to their being was a large unknown factor.
 
"Still a good idea to recover Willemstad quickly." Brest retorted in favor of Emmet.
 
It brought a frown to Swift's face. She was irrationally bothered by the fact that the brunette was arguing in the officer's favour, innocuous as it might have been. The reason was likely patriotism, since Emmet was one of Brest's people, so to say. Yet the Aegis struggled to keep her voice even. "Others have had that idea. It is the arrival of Trelleborg which allowed us to even think of recovering Willemstad."
 
"That's true i guess." Brest tilted her head slightly.
 
"Will they be alright?" Silver Merlin spoke up for the first time. The Peregrine had her eyes fastened on Kaiyuh as it maneuvered to clear Acuity and get going towards Willemstad.
 
"Hm?" La Plata glanced at the green-haired girl, expression questioning.
 
"Are the dropship's pilots fine or are they under our influence and busy staring at us?" Silver elaborated.
 
"Oh, that's a good point."
 
Swift emphasized with La Plata's words and concerned frown. It was an oversight on her own part. "Kaiyuh, come in."
 
<<"We read you.">> What was presumably the DropShip's captain answered the hail, the man's voice even.
 
"Kaiyuh, please make sure you have your bridge's windows veiled and fly by instruments only." Swift made the command sound like a suggestion as much as she could.
 
<<"Copy, we have been doing that.">>
 
Tension left the fleetmaidens at those words.
 
"Good. Seems they are aware of things and thinking for themselves." Brest smiled in approval.
 
Swift chalked it up more to Zheng doing his homework and briefing everyone involved properly. She still sent a a grateful look to the green-haired girl for her presence of mind, who returned the glance and gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.
 
"Yes. Would've been embarrassing had i repaired Willemstad, only for a hypnotized pilot to crash a three-thousand ton dropship into her." Trelleborg clearly found the scenario amusing. Despite her humor the woman had done everything she could to clear the remaining abyssal-wreckage at the jump-point left from their previous battle here, to make the current operation safe for the human participants. She had been successful, ovbiously.
 
"Stop it." La Plata demanded while she watched the Kaiyuh maneuver and dock with Willemstad.
 
The large woman merely chuckled. After a few moments of watching life return to Willemstad, the provisional crew occasionally visible as they took their positions on the ship, Trelleborg turned back towards La Plata.
 
"I've got to say, you did quite a number on that nav-computer." Mischief was sparkling in the large woman's brown eyes.
 
"I wasn't the one to take out that computer-core. Amber did. I never touched it." La Plata bantered back, hands raised in front of her in a defensive gesture.
 
"Uh huh. Blame the girl who isn't here." Trelleborg teased some more and made a show of looking at Willemstad's rising jump-sail instead of La Plata.
 
"Wasn't me!" Chuckling now, the Dart insisted on her innocence.
 
Mention of the Inazuma's name made Swift recall the small argument there had been about the former's assignment. When they had decided on this mission Amber had been as eager to go as always, yet was not thrilled when she had been ordered to remain behind as a defense for Waystation 135. Swift understood. She would not want to remain behind while her comrades went into the field either, had not wanted to when she was too damaged to join the previous sortie. Yet there had been no other choice. Brest had spent so much time sitting next to the station, the girl had been in dire need of a change of scenery. And the other option was not truly an option.
 
The Aegis' gaze was drawn to the option in question. Silver was as taciturn as ever, yet the green-haired girl's gaze was swerving about attentively. Swift saw it as a marked improvement over the corvette glaring at Trelleborg all the time. It seemed the large woman repairing Silver had been a step in the right direction, maybe, but Swift could not in good conscience leave Silver to defend 135 on her own. Not yet.
 
Regarding the Peregrine for a moment longer, Swift impulsively joined the banter. "How was your stay in the previous system, Silver? I trust La Plata did not tease you too much while you were waiting?"
 
"It was terrible. Her attempts were uninspired." While Silver's voice was deadpan and her expression flat, Swift was certain it was a joke, dry as the desert as it may have been.
 
"Oh really?" La Plata actually sounded offended.
 
"Can confirm." Brest did not manage to hold back a broad smile for more than a moment.
 
"Why is everyone ganging up on me?" The Dart was outright laughing now.
 
"Because you're an easy target." Trelleborg's words rang true.
 
"Fine. Whatever." Still chuckling, the dark-haired cruiser shook her head.
 
A comfortable silence followed, the fleetmaidens keeping an eye out for trouble while they charged their K-F drives.
 
"Swift Justice to Willemstad. Status of jump drive?"
 
<<"Charge is at 60%, rate nominal.">> The reply, another man's voice, was curt and precise. Things were going as planned.
 
Until they did not.
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===Urgent Messaging===
 
"I'm getting something!" Brest exclaimed excitedly, and all other fleetmaidens also heard the fax message.
 
//"Abyssal movement confirmed. Impending attack on system 3196. Locals in jeopardy. Recommend intercept. Expedite. Expedite."\\All jolliness having left Swift, the woman was as serious as one who commanded a squadron of warships should be.
 
"Again with the coded messages in the right cipher, and this time obviously directed at us." La Plata was pensive while she was listening to the message's appendage. "Those are jump-coordinates again."
 
"Do we respond?" Brest's tone was uncertain.
 
"If by respond you mean doing something about the abyssals, then yes." There was resolve in the Dart's voice.
 
"I will caution once more against taking what may well be bait." Silver warned, though did not argue as vehemently as last time.
 
Green met violet as La Plata and Silver shared a long look, then turned as one to regard Swift.
 
The Aegis, for her part, was conflicted. La Plata seemed to believe the message was authentic, and it mentioned people in danger. Yet she could not ignore the possibility of a trap. Not to mention that if they were to respond, she would leave two jumpships with people on them to themselves.
 
"Go." Trelleborg drew everyone's gazes. The large woman's brown eyes were on Swift, expression resolute. "The message seems genuine, and this time the destination is at least on our star-charts."
 
"That's a point for it being credible. And it's only one jump away too." Brest added her opinion.
 
"I have run the numbers. The coordinates are not for the standard jump points." Silver supported her own position.
 
It was moments like these that made the burden of command so heavy.
 
"I cannot abandon you, our most valuable asset, and two Jumpships in what we have to assume is enemy territory."
 
"I'm well capable of defending myself and the Jumpships. Whoever is in system 3196 isn't. You have to go there." Trelleborg's argument ended on an almost beseeching note, eyes pleading.
 
Swift held the auburn-haired woman's gaze for long moments, pondering. With an exhale the Aegis made her decision. "Alright. We will trust that message. La Plata, status?"
 
"Thank you." Sending her old friend a grateful look, the Dart responded to the question. "Almost at full charge."
 
"Good. We will wait until then. Let me know the moment you are at a hundred percent." La Plata not having an L-F battery made Swift feel the time-pressure that much more keenly. But some things just could not be sped up without incurring unacceptable risk.
 
"You could go ahead without me." The Dart carefully hedged.
 
"No. I will not split the squadron before going into battle again. Not after what happened last time." Grimacing with remembered pain, the grey-haired woman shook her head. "I would like to think i am capable of learning from my mistakes."
 
Silver nodded at her flagship once while Brest gave a thumbs up and a smile. They would go together or not at all.
 
"Trelleborg, as soon as you reach Waystation 135 send Amber to our destination. If this upcoming battle turns fierce and drawn-out she might get there in time to make a difference." Swift gave her last instructions to the auburn-haired woman.
 
"Got it."
 
"Swift Justice to substitute crew on Willemstad. SLS Trelleborg will take command of the operation. Report to her."
 
<<"Roger that.">> The man was audibly confused but did not ask questions.
 
"Rats. Had this message been a few hours earlier it would have reached us in the last system, and we could have at least triangulated where it came from." A slightly frustrated La Plata remarked.
 
"Leave that to me. The satellites in the other systems should've received it."
 
Swift agreed with a nod. If there was someone qualified to find out details about the mysterious message it was Trelleborg.
 
A tense silence fell. The fleetmaidens did not need to be told what to do, and made their preparations for the expected battle.
 
Eventually La Plata spoke the words they had all been waiting for. "K-F drive fully charged."
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==Chapter Notes==
*; Chapter Note from the Author : Third time is the charm? Revised chapter 20 is done. As much as it took on a life of its own again, i ultimately enjoyed writing it.
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