NEVID-1

[Trigger]

1

[Talvieno]

This is very cool and reads like the opening cutscene of a space game. Reminds me of WH40k actually And that's a good thing.

[cuisinart8]

Yeah, I could easily see these being mission briefing slides right before I get my entire command vaporized in some hypothetical space combat tactics game lol. Very cool stuff! There's something oddly satisfying about seeing cool briefing infographics/plans.

[Trigger]

PLUTO CATAPULT - OUTBOUND CONVOY - TMU TRENCHER - BRIDGE BUNKER

CMND (TRENCHER COMMAND): Observe?
OBS (TRENCHER OBSERVE): No anomalies other than the slow field buildup. Whatever Catapult control is changing, I can't see it.
CMND: Right.

NAV (TRENCHER NAVIGAT): Field peaking, 10 seconds.
CMND: [ All hands, brace. All hands, brace. Warp imminent. Warp imminent. ]
NAV: Field folding. We're in warp. Calculating time.
CMND: Observe?
OBS: No anomalies. I can tell what they were aiming for with this field. Nothing outright wild, just a harmonic matching. Brains are saying we're on the very low end of subjective time estimate. Unsure if it's coincidence or if Pluto's attempt this time is onto something.
OBS: Brains and computers agree. 3 days subjective time, 40 days objective.
CMND: [ All hands, we're in warp. Subjective time estimated to be 3 days. Objective time at 40 days. We won't have time for training. Schedule will be extended rest, with drills tomorrow. ]
OBS: Laser link from the Unlikely Density. Acting convoy command wants to verify calculations.
CMND: Do it. Everyone, drill planning 0600 tomorrow, here. WAR, head out, drills tomorrow.
WEPS (TRENCHER WARFARE): Aye.
CMND: NAV, verify we're not drifting, get a stand-in, and head out for rest.
NAV: Aye.
CMND: OBS, remain to monitor everything until end of shift.
OBS: Remain, aye.
CMND: OBS, you have the bridge.
OBS: I have the bridge, aye.

[Trigger]

NAV: Field crash. We're out.
OBS: No proximity alert. I see the star, estimating 800 million kilometers away. We're out of the system's bounds.
CMND: [ All hands, stand down from brace.]
CMND: Call convoy command, tell them to maneuver without us.
OBS: Aye.
CMND: As planned, when they light up, start warming us up. Give me telescope views on A-b, A-c, then B-a. Keep a count of everything you spot.
OBS: Aye. Navigat?
NAV: Cold thrust decanting, drive ready for warming, no noise.
CMND: Warfare?
WAR: Nothing in our vicinity on passives, as far as I can see past the freigthers we're with.
OBS: Convoy command is signing off, drives going live now. We're 760 Mkm from A-b, 780 Mkm from A-star. 20 day trip for the freighters.
NAV: Ready to turn on cold thrust. Navigat, heading control is yours.
OBS: Heading control is mine, aye. Rotating on A-b, warming the telescope.

[Trigger]

OBS: I had to cheat with finding 8 gunvettes - they're too small for the telescope to spot when they're cold. Other than that, all significant Territorial assets spotted and counted. This telescope is a marvel.
CMND: Good. Are we clear to begin?
OBS: Command, if I may?
CMND: Go.
OBS: Let's try the Transponder.
CMND: Here?
OBS: Yes, Sir. At the very least, we'll have another control data set on its behavior.
CMND: It'll take a day to decant it.
OBS: I believe it's worth it, especially given that now is the most secure we'll be for a long while.
CMND: Alright.
CMND: [ Command to Master. ]
MAST (Trencher Crew Master): [ Go for Master. ]
CMND: [ Arnold, we want to decant the Transponder for a reading. Any concerns? ]
MAST: [ We think something's in Centauri? ]
CMND: [ No reason to think that, but we need data on its behavior. ]
MAST: [ Affirmative. No issue on my end, I'll assemble the control crew. Start giving power now, it'll only come alive tomorrow. ]
CMND: [ Thank you Master, Command out. ]
CMND: [ Command to Major. ]
MJR (Trencher Marine Major): [ Go for Major. ]
CMND: [ Geslana, we're going to use the Transponder. Please provide lockdown. ]
MJR: [ Lockdown, aye. ]
CMND: [ Thank you. ]
CMND: Observe, you're clear to route power to the Transponder.
OBS: Minimal decant power to the Transponder, aye. Drive to scatter, minimal thrust.

[Trigger]

OBS: WOAH.
CMND: REPORT.
OBS: Transponder's reacting.
MAST: [ MASTER TO COMMAND. ]
CMND: [ Go for Command. ]
MAST: [ Transponder's acting up in here. Should we cut power? ]
CMND: [ Is the bunker sealed? ]
MAST: [ Affirmative. ]
CMND: [ If it tries to transmit, cut power. Hold one. ]
CMND: Observe, report.
OBS: It's definitely reacting to something. I'm reading a bearing. Very poor accuracy but I have a direction on something. I suggest we cut power.
CMND: Cut power.
OBS: Anciliary router off, power winding down. Processing bearing now.
CMND: [ Master, power should be cut. Make sure that thing discharges and goes to sleep without issue. ]
MAST: [ Aye sir. ]
CMND: Observe, show me the bearing.
OBS: On screen, sir.

[Trigger]

OBS: Nothing, sir.
CMND: You can spot our gunvettes from a light hour out, correct?
OBS: Aye, sir.
CMND: The beasts are big, bigger than our cruisers. And they usually run very hot. So is this one different, or far away?
OBS: It could be cold, or it could be a different breed. Maybe some sort of scout sub-species we haven't seen before. Or, yes, it could be further away than I expect. I did a fast glance to a light day, and a thorough look out to ten light hours.
CMND: We need to displace and triangualte, do you agree?
OBS: Aye, sir. Ideally to the opposite side of the star, but close enough to A-c centauri to talk to them easily.
CMND: Warfare, thoughts?
WAR: Yes, Command. Permission to present a plan?
CMND: Go.
WAR: One, we contact and warn the convoys, A-b, and A-c. Two, we ask A-c to warm up their Catapult and put together a kill team with a logistics convoy so they can make it back. Three, we use the Ripdrive to displace to the opposite side of the star, double the distance we're at now. Four, we triagulate and locate the hostile. Five, we deliver the coordinates to the A-c Catapult, and they strike the target with a warp-launched kill team.
CMND: If the Ripdrive works.
WAR: If the Ripdrive works.
CMND: Discharge, safe, and freeze the Transponder. Boot and unfold the Ripdive. I'll make some calls so the convoys don't panic, and so the garrisons don't start saturating our area with nukes when they see a rip. Begin.

1) Developing the location of an XS-1 contact, current most accurate bearing attached;
1a) Requesting all A/B Centauir observation assets to assist in passively scanning suspect region. Recommending no active scanning to avoid spooking the hostile;
2) Planning to use our onboard Ripdrive to displace for triangulation;
2a) Requesting defense batteries not target our Rips;
2b) Requesting aid in locating our inbound Rip to verify arrival location before we commit to transit; Rip target coordinates attached;
3) Upon successful spotting of enemy unit, will transmit location to A-c command;
4) Reqesting A-c command to assemble a strike force for a Catapult-deployed attack on enemy unit, when located;

CMND: Start Rip buildup.
OBS: Starting. ETA until initial Rip - 25 hours. ETA until safe passage is possible - 40 hours.
CMND: Deploy one of the scout drones to observe from afar, with our data backups. If something goes wrong, have it send the backups to A-c and A-b, along with record of the failure.
OBS: Launching drone.

[Trigger]

[Trigger]

(( Since it was asked - I do NOT mind any comentary/discussion posts in between the story posts! It's not an interuption! The story posts will always be distinctly and obviously such, so there should be no accidental mixing/confusing of the story with any discussion. ))

(( I hope you guys are liking the style so far. ))

CMND: Cut power to ripdrive.
OBS: Power cut.
CMND: Fold the drive, maximum speed.
OBS: Folding arrays.
OBS: Arrays folded and secured. Rip is still stable.
CMND: Navigat, take us through, full speed.
NAV: [ ALL HANDS, PREPARE FOR FLANK ACCELERATION. THRUST IN THREE, TWO, ONE. ]
OBS: 60 seconds to transit.
OBS: 30 seconds, rip stable.
OBS: 10 seconds to transit.
OBS: 5 seconds to transit.
OBS: Tr---

CMND: Report.
CMND: REPORT.
UNIDENTIFIED: (Sound of restraints being undone. Append: Command is leaving his acceleration couch.)
UNIDENTIFIED: (Sound of slapping. Append: Command is slapping his Navigat, Warfare, and Observe in turn.)
CMND: WAKE UP.
UNIDENTIFIED: (Sound of restraints clicking. Append: Command is back in his acceleration couch.)
CMND: [ All hands, brace for acceleration. ]

NAV: Who... WHO'S DRIVING?
CMND: Wakey wakey.
NAV: Oh shit. What's happening?
CMND: I'm 'driving' us clear of the rip before it collapses. You've been out for 3 minutes.
NAV: I can take over.
CMND: Unlikely. I can handle this, just watch the Rip.

CMND: Now that everyone's back among the responsibly awake. Observe, talk to the Master and the Major and get a second transponder bearing. Warfare, clear near space with passives. Navigat, cool us off into maximum stealth, and help Observe with transponder power. I'm going to check on the crew. Begin.

OBS: [ Observe to Command. ]
CMND: [ Go for Command. ]
OBS: [ I have a bearing, and it intercepts with the first bearing. It's also tighter. Rotating us to point the telescope and starting sweep. ]
CMND: [ Where is it? ]
OBS: [ 1.3 billion kilometers from us. Roughly the same from A-b. ]
CMND: [ That's close. That's within the Rip sensor network. It's inside A Centauri's perimiter. Navigat, find it. ]