Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 427: Emergency Comms
"Are you sure this will work? I do not see how sending just those numbers would allow them to communicate with us?" Captain Maxim pointed out from his seated position. He had woken up earlier but was still sluggish.
They were currently gathered in a tent that was located near the northern gate of the city. The ’they’ in this situation were Captain Maxim, Captain Uti, Major Jace, and General Ken. General Ken was here to assist with any local resources that they could hand over. Which were just pieces of electronics at the moment.
"Should we worry about-" General Ken stopped talking as a red portal began opening in the room. Jace only glanced at it before grabbing a grenade off a nearby pin. He clicked a button and it began beeping and he threw it into the portal right past a demon that stepped out.
Jace moved forward and kicked the red demon that stepped out right in the chest. They went flying back through and a second later the portal fizzled out. "The Oni? Nope. That is why all my people are required to carry grenades and explosives now."
"That..." General Ken stared at the spot the portal was located a moment ago and then looked at Jace. "I should administer the same idea with my own people."
"Be careful because you could run out of grenades quickly if we do not get some assistance soon. Speaking of... the communication device. How does it work?" Captain Maxim asked.
Jace prepared to answer when there was a crackle over the radio receiver. "Major Jace, this is Captain Solisa, are you receiving me?"
Jace pressed a button on the device. "Loud and clear Captain Solisa. What is your status?"
"The politicians are annoyed and the Admirals are being nice. Just as we expected. What is the plan or do you want to do a blind drop?" Captain Solisa asked.
Jace nodded his head as he explained their part in the plan. "Not a blind drop. We need to set up two different precision landing zones. The first will be roughly in the area of the first coordinate. That is where the Wolfsbane will arrive and drop its people, the amount of enemies on site is unknown. Assumed location of planetary weapon. Specific coordinates will be sent upon arrival. The Packhound and Argus will land at a structure roughly in the area of the second coordinates. The amount of enemies on site will be varying and numerous. Assumed location of Demons primary asset."
There was silence for a moment as Captain Maxim looked at Jace in confusion before understanding dawned on his face. General Ken seemed to realize what was going on but now what he was saying. While Captain Uti listened and nodded in understanding.
After a few seconds of silence it seems Captain Solisa understood as well because she continued. "What is our time table on this operation?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Jace thought about it and tapped his watch to pull up the time. He had to assume at least a day to get out there. His watch was currently set to the Princess’ Pride time. To be safe he should take two days’ time. That should be enough time. "Princess’ Pride time, Thursday at eighteen hundred."
"Understood. Full contingent?" Captain Solisa asked over the channel.
"Affirmative. But keep in mind, friendlies are at both sites. In addition, there is a strong possibility of enslaved unknown xeno species at both sites." Jace informed Solisa.
"Understood. Do you need a weapon drop? If we send one now it will arrive in the morning." Solisa offered.
"Negative, we can make do." Jace answered as he looked at the magazines he refilled. He had only three magazines for his Pyre, but he had a few boxes with extra bullets. As for his shotgun... it was just out of ammo. But he planned to leave that here and only go with the Pyre. "I am disconnecting the channel. Get ready for operation."
Jace then pulled the plug for the power source and the device went silent. He turned to the much more jerry-rigged device and sent out several numbers that were the rough coordinates of both. Once that was done he removed the power source from that one as well.
"I assume you were speaking code?" General Ken asked as the tent flapped and Sergeant K stepped in and saluted. Standing at attention until Jace waved and she relaxed but did not speak.
"That is correct. I was giving time, place, and a few other things that will be useful. All you need to do is keep up defending this city and holding this position. Your people should be able to get in contact with short range transmissions." Jace then turned to Sergeant K, "what is it?"
"We are ready to move. We have three dirtbikes and an all terrain vehicle ready. Doctor Foulm and Captain Uti will be on the ATV." Sergeant K explained. "Myself, you, and Corporal Quest will be on the dirtbikes."
"Get them ready, we will head out immediately." Jace declared and then turned to Captain Maxim. "Six hours after the mechs arrive you will set out and follow us to the canyons. We will leave thermal markers for you to follow. Any standard Infantry helmet should have what you need to see thermal markers. Make sure the mech pilots rest and their mechs get maintenance while they rest."
"Understood, we will use an armored transport and tank. We will likely move at the mech’s standard march pace. With that time table in mind." Captain Maxim closed his eyes and did the math in his head. The same math that Jace quickly did. "We will arrive an hour before the attack assuming another six hour break to rest."
Jace nodded. "Good. Then that is the plan. My team will be out of communication range for some time. So be careful. Now then. Let’s head out. I want to arrive at the edge of the fog before we get a rest for the night." Jace announced as he walked out of the tent. He was switching up his own team since Gorund could not move as stealthily as the rest of them could. So Gorund would stay with Captain Maxim and help with the maintenance of their heavy vehicles. A form of amusement was present since Captain Maxim, the Captain of the Light Infantry, was in charge of a heavy infantry column.
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"Contact the Admirals present in both the blockade and the escort details. Tell them Major Jace has made contact." Solisa told the bridge officers as she fluttered in the air. "I am sending out the orders for rest until it is time to move."
"Should we leave the bridge during your discussion with the Admirals?" One of the bridge offices asked.
"No need. The last time was because of the politicians. This time it is just a strategy discussion." Solisa answered as she pulled up the other Captains who were aboard the ship and sent out a simple message. Telling them to meet her on the bridge.
The three Admirals appeared in hologram form. "It feels like we were only talking a few minutes ago, Captain Solisa." The Victorium Admiral gave a slight bow. "I assume you have a plan or strategy? Or is Major Jace joining us?" The other Admirals from the Oda Empire looked from the Victorium Admiral to Solisa.
"Major Jace will not be joining us. Communication from the planet is not stable. We could only communicate for a short burst of time. We were able to discuss a basic strategy. I am sending a set of coordinates which will be the primary target for your fleet and ships. The other primary target will be handled by us and if you want you can take other locations around the planet. But Major Jace highlighted that location as a primary target." Solisa quickly explained as she sent them a message containing the coordinates along with the other basic information about it.
"We could just bomb the target and disintegrate it from orbit. It would cost less manpower." One of the Oda Empire Admirals suggested as they all received the data package from Solisa. "It may be less honorable, but we are facing unknowns."
"We cannot." Solisa shook her otter head. "There are several people on location. Some of them will be locals but I have also been warned that the Demons, or Oni as the Oda call them, brought in slaves from their own corner of space."
"So we have to tread carefully." The other Oda Empire Admiral answered with a grunt. "Very well. I will prepare troops to land and take back the planet. Is there anything else we need to know? Like the time of the attack?"
"The time of the attack is attached in the message I just sent. As for other information." Captain Solisa began organizing information on the Demons. "I will send a package about demons and what is known about them to you." Solisa looked at the door as the first of the Captains arrived. Now it was time to reorganize the landing party for the planet.
