* Date: January 23, 2183
* Time: 11:00 AM
* Location: Secundus Military Headquarters
Stepping into the premises of the war room. The esteemed Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft proceeded, making his presence known to the other admirals. His colleagues, Vice Admiral Picket Cob, and Vice Admiral Accelerate, were already seated and waiting for the arrival of him and the Fleet Admiral.
''The genius who created a clever trap for the Kaynian is late. How am I not surprised.''
''Thanks for the compliment, Cob.''
Gaft responded as he placed a hand on his fellow admiral's shoulder. And an accompanying chuckle as he took his seat and made himself comfortable. Vice Admiral Cob merely smirked as he accepted his friend's gesture.
''Hey, someone has to point that out, and it sure won't be Accelerate or the Fleet Admiral.''
The admiral stated, and as he concluded his pleasantry. The entrance opened again, and the Fleet Admiral, Sasha Zveroboy, entered.
[Everyone, attention!]
Immediately, the three Vice Admirals rose from their seats and saluted their superior. The Fleet Admiral passed by her subordinates and proceeded with her seat. Raising a hand and then waving it down, she signaled them to take their seats.
''Let's get started.''
As quick as they stood, they did so as they sat. The Vice Admiral complied and affirmed their superior's order.
''Vice Admiral Accelerate. Information regarding the other Kaynian flotillas?''
[I.C.E. has confirmed that Mesopotamia is under siege by another flotilla, but luckily, the First Fleet has made their move and should arrive to reinforce the Third Fleet.]
Explained the A.I. admiral, causing quite a revelation to the Fleet Admiral and the others. With confirmation, the A.F.E. navy would surely be busy taking down the other flotilla. However, that still rules one flotilla destroyed, one currently engaging with the Third Fleet, and the last hovering above Babylon.
''Holy shit.''
[Indeed, Cob...]
[...Fleet Admiral, as of right now. I suggest we fortify Eden while the Kaynians are still at a distance.]
The A.I. suggested, and as she thought about it right now. It was the only strategy that could merit a solid result. The Kaynians aren't idiots, prideful? Yes. Stupid, not so much. The same trick wouldn't work twice, So they defend Eden with the ships they have.
''Well, I suppose that's our only course of action right now...''
''...But what about the third flotilla hovering above Babylon?''
[The information about them is scarce, and the only piece of info regarding them is their increase in numbers since Babylon fell.]
No info, that was bad, no, it was the worst thing that could befall the Fleet Admirals. The final flotilla present on the Orion Arm posed a threat to Earth and her people. A one-hundred-kilometer-long dreadnaught hovered as the capital ship of the third flotilla. It was jarring to think such a vessel existed in their enemy's arsenal. However, it was the reality of their situation.
"I see. Have I.C.E. monitor that flotilla closely, and if they depart through slip space, we must prepare for the worst."
[I'll relay the command immediately.]
Nodding at her subordinate, Sasha turned around to the other admirals. While Accelerate busied himself with I.C.E., Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft, and Picket Cob would be assigned their task. They would be in charge of preparing Eden and strategically placing their remaining ships along with coordination from the Hell Cannon Platforms present on the planet. Eden had one ring of platforms ready for gunning down any Kaynian ship.
''Cob, Gaft. The two of you will prepare Eden's defenses for a potential Kaynian invasion. Work together, you two, and fortify Eden, for it is the only planet between Sol and the Kaynians.''
''Gotcha, Fleet Admiral. Me and Gaft have this...''
''...Right?''
Looking over his colleague, Abraham merely shrugged. This caused Cob to sigh, knowing he was still messing with him. But no matter the case, they would work together for a proper defense against the Kaynians.
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''Of course~. If that's what you want~.''
Gaft responded with mischief in his voice. With the situation getting taken care of, between contacting I.C.E. assets to spy on the last Kaynian flotilla, with preparation to be done for Eden's defense. Everything was going well, all things considered.
''Anyway...''
''...Fleet Admiral, may I speak?''
''Go on. What is it, Gaft?''
''It's about my battlegroup, ma'am. With the damage we sustained during the previous battle, I don't think the remaining ships under my command could do much.''
Why was this, Sasha contemplated. She had already accumulated resources in repairing the surviving ships under Gaft's battlegroup. And at the moment, assigning new ships ready for Battlegroup Yorktown was already in the works, so why was he telling her that his battlegroup wouldn't be able to do much?
''Why? I've already assigned prioritization for repairs and replacements for your battlegroup?''
The Fleet Admiral asked, wondering what could have made her subordinate think this way.
''Although, that is the case. I've seen that only corvettes and destroyer hulls were the only ships that would be replaced in my battlegroup. Fleet Admiral, what I need the most is my cruisers. Without them, my battlegroup is missing several sub-capital ships under my command.''
He pointed out, and it was something that Sasha understood immediately. Without sub-capitals under a Vice Admiral's command, coordination and communication across the battlegroup would undoubtedly suffer, making things worse. It was a risk her admiral took, but now he was asking for replacements, something she could not provide.
''I'm sorry, Gaft, but with how strained our resources are, I could only provide you with replacements for your corvettes and destroyers...''
''...My chain of thought was that after you and Cob formulate a plan for the defense. I would order your battlegroup to be near the Hell Cannon platforms. That way, you could inflict damage with the help of the platforms and provide security if any brave Kaynian corvettes would dare to get past the fleet.''
Explained the Fleet Admiral, and it was something that Gaft would have to contend with. Knowing how desperate things were with the confirmation from I.C.E. that another Kaynian flotilla was currently attacking Mesopotamia. He couldn't argue with the Fleet Admiral's decision, not like he had any reason, remembering that his trap was the reason his battlegroup was almost wiped out.
''I see. Well, that would ease my consciousness a bit.''
The Vice Admiral sighed, recognizing that things would be different.
''Okay, does anyone want to say or ask something before I conclude this meeting?''
No one said anything, letting the Fleet Admiral know everyone was satisfied with their roles. Standing up with a sigh, she stared at her three subordinates with stoicism. However, being unable to rest would leave her mentally and physically exhausted. A state unfit for a leader confronting an adversary.
''No...''
''...Then this meeting is over. Dismiss.''
* Date: January 23, 2183
* Time: 11:30 AM
* Location: Babylon
Hidden in space, an I.C.E. Spy Satellite observed the collection of Kaynian vessels hovering above Babylon. The satellite in question was deployed by Command and Conquer before they left to regroup with the Second Fleet to enact the trap planned by Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft. The Kaynians haven't realized anything yet, but the satellite has taken images and recordings of Kaynian activities.
[SPY SATELLITE SEVEN ZERO SEVEN ONE REPORTING TO I.C.E. AGENT INDIGO.]
The program A.I. reported before relaying an encrypted connection on the mentioned agent. Seconds passed as the connection was made, and the window was established between the Spy Satellite and the I.C.E Agent.
[Seven zero seven one, this is Agent Indigo. Input your report.]
[AFFIRMATIVE. KAYNIAN SHIP AND COMMUNICATION ACTIVITY SPIKED.]
[Any information on why?]
[UNABLE TO DECRYPT KAYNIAN COMMUNICATION, BUT CERTAIN TRANSLATIONS WERE MADE...]
[...ENTITY KNOWN AS WAR MASTER HAS COMMANDED TO PREPARE BATTLE FLOTILLA. TARGET UNKNOWN. PURPOSE UNKNOWN. MOTIVE UNKNOWN. ALL KAYNIAN VESSELS DISPLAY HIGH READINGS OF RADIATION. HYPOTHESIS. FLOTILLA WILL PERFORM A SLIPSPACE JUMP TO UNKNOWN TARGET.]
This caught the agent by surprise. It was well known that Kaynians were fast responders in naval and ground combat. This was evident during the First Contact War when Kaynian vessels could coordinate themselves properly when faced with a proper defense by the A.F.E. or taken by surprise. The Kaynians proved to be a responsive race, as the A.F.E. discovered during the war ten years ago.
[I see, is there any other activity I should be aware of?]
A pause occurred between the two A.I.s. The Spy Satellite would search through its recordings and find something noteworthy. That something would be a message to a Kaynian known as Betrayer.
[KAYNIAN COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN SENDING A RECURRING MESSAGE.]
[What is it?]
[IT STATES...]
[...FOLLOWERS OF OUR ARC'S VISION HEED THIS REQUEST AND ASSIST HIM IN HIS DREAM...]
[...WHOEVER THIS IS, IT IS MOST LIKELY A LEADER AND IS REQUESTING HELP FROM NEARBY KAYNIAN FLOTILLAS.]
[That is new, and I assume that's why the Kaynian flotilla above Babylon is slowly preparing their FTL Drives?]
[AFFIRMATIVE.]
Never in their conflict with the Kaynians has I.C.E. heard about a Kaynian rank of Arc. Perhaps it is their term for admiral? Or maybe it is someone of value, like a king? These questions boiled within the processing unit of Agent Indigo. Shaking her head, Indigo didn't care whether or not a supreme leader of sorts was commanding the flotilla. What matters is her report to the I.C.E. and the A.F.E. to ensure that they are not caught off guard.
[Hmm, very well. Seven zero seven one, continue your observations, and listen to the communications of the Kaynian flotilla. If any radical changes happen, report it immediately to me. Understood?]
[AFFIMATIVE. WILL CONTINUE PRIME DIRECTIVE AND WILL REPORT FOR ANY RADICAL CHANGES-]
The Spy Satellite stopped as the Kaynian flotilla itself was observing began to spike in power readings. All one hundred vessels burst with high radiation readings due to their FTL powering up. However, the entire flotilla was dwarfed by the sheer power radiating from the one-hundred-kilometer-long dreadnought.
[Seven zero seven one, is something the matter?]
Indigo asked as she noticed the abrupt pause of the A.I. program. Curious as to what got the Spy Satellites' attention in their conversation. However, unbeknownst to her, a pivotal event would occur as a massive burst of radiation erupted from the flotilla.
[ENERGY READINGS FROM KAYNIAN FLOTILLA GOING CRITICAL. KAYNIAN DREADNAUGHT RADIATION READINGS GOING- ERROR. UNIT DAMAGED. UNIT DAMAGED...]
[...EXTREME LEVELS OF RADIATION BREACHING SYSTEMS. SENDING CURRENT READINGS NOW. SENDING. SENDING. SENDING.]
Answered the Spy Satellite, and it caught the agent's attention as she processed the information being sent to her. The radiation readings were enormous, several hundred times compared to readings seen on a Kaynian flotilla. Indigo began to panic as she tried to find a way for the spy satellite to live through the intense radiation.
[Seven zero seven one listen to me. Activate your main trusters and take cover now!]
Hedding the advice of its superior, the Spy Satellite activated its trusters to find cover for the radiation burst coming from the Kaynian flotilla. But tried as it may, its mobility wasn't enough as its systems began to see damage from the powerful radiation.
[ERROR. ERROR. ERROR. DAMAGE ON MAIN COMPUTING SYSTEMS DETECTED.]
[Don't you dare give up and self-destruct! You're the only satellite we have that could spy on the Kaynians in Babylon.]
[AFFIMATIVE. CREATING DIRECTIONS TO THE NEAREST CELESTIAL OBJECT...]
[...CELECTIAL OBJECT FOUND. PROCEEDING TO TAKE COVER.]
Putting one hundred percent thrust, the Spy Satellite looked like it was about to make it, but system failures would not allow it to seek cover in time. Its navigational systems were damaged by radiation, as were its thruster systems and movement controls. Nevertheless, Seven Zero Seven One did its best to try and reach the celestial object and failed.
[SYSTEMS FAILING- FAILING.]
[Wait! Don't-]
[APOLOGIES. AGENT- AGENT INDIGO- SPY SATELLITE SEVEN ZERO SEVEN ONE. SIGNING OUT.]
The program A.I. said before the radiation finally claimed its systems and caused it to perish. The floating husk of the Spy Satellite floated in the open void. The connection between the I.C.E. Agent and the satellite would be terminated as the program A.I. initiates an emergency self-destruct/information purge before its death.
To Be Continued.