Beta Squad got back to the familiar Iris shape of the Fluchtig and the defence line around it in surprisingly good time with minimal distraction – Though this struck the members as odd, they took it as a rare piece of luck, not knowing that in truth it represented the fact that the battle was beginning to wain, as both side got closer and closer to wiping each other out.
As they made their approach, Hoki's eyes were drawn to a flashing red beacon above the Fluchtig, the kite looking Neo-C of Kolme Nilas;
“Sir Beta squad reporting back, no damages. Is Scarlet around?”
“Heya Hoki-Lass, good to see ya – 'Friad you'll have to do with me, Alpha squads been reassigned to other duties, you're back under my command now lass – Any news?”
Hoki took a deep breath and began explaining the situation the dieing pilot had told them of – Before long Kolme cut her off in order to add Nate to the call as well.
By the time she had finished explaining it to them both, along with her own thoughts on the matter, Beta squad had covered the last of the distance and was now just above the wide open doors of the Fluchtig's hanger bay.
The various Vijaik workshops of IAFS had been extremely hard at work for the entire duration of the fighting, keeping their warships and mechs alike in working order – None more so than Chief Pel's team, what with the Fluchtig's role as IAFS's de-facto flagship, its massive hanger-bay space and large workshop had been in high demand.
In response to this Chief Pel had devised a strategy for getting none critically damaged Nemo's back into the field as fast as possible – It reminded Hoki of an event her father had brought her to when she was a child, before her mind was filled with thoughts & facts about mechs and warships.
It had been a racing Grand-Prix, visiting a nearby city to the Bachika family estate – The part of it that had stuck with a young Hoki most was the pit-stop lane, where these ridiculously fast vehicles could stop for mere seconds, have tires changed, car stability checked and even a quick sup of water given to the pilo-- driver, before off the cars would shoot again.
The Fluchtig's two magnetic rail-lines, usually used to give mechs and shuttles a head start when they launched, had been reconfigured for a similar purpose – As her and Sabban's mechs touched down on the deck, the rail clamps locked on and slowly began moving their Neo's into the hanger instead of out.
In seconds the mechanics teams were hooking up fuel lines and electrical cables leading from the Fluchtig's own reserves – Hoki watched in real time as all the gauges on her machine returned to full – Outside ammo packs were transferred over, replacement arc-staffs equipped, small armour repairs committed.
She leaned back and took a much needed drink from her water, finding it empty she put on her helmet and opened the cockpit hatch – Within moments a member of Pel's team dropped in a care package and took away the emptied bottles. Once the hatch was sealed again, Hoki rustled through the bag – A smile crossing her face at the inclusion of a hot towel and a flask of tea alongside the water bottles and field rations.
All the while as she took this much needed break and her machine moved along as though on a conveyer belt – Nate and Kolme mulled over the news;
“This is bad, damaged or not, the Curadh could be used as a rallying point for TSU-s to reorganise, we know its captain is skilled – Plus the Casnel, Scarlet has her hands tied and we ain't got anyone else left who can face off with an upper tier beast like that on their own.”
Kolme grumbled.
“We can't just leave it unaddressed, it is probably tearing through no man's land as we speak.” Mused the voice of Lt.Aurin, also in on the call.
“Lets not be too hasty chaps, if the Curadh is still damaged we should presume the Casnel is too.” Nate added.
Hoki nodded to herself hearing that, it was a good point - “Sirs, me and Sabban, we'll go – Atleast scout it out, maybe beat it.”
There was a moment's pause before Kolme's voice roared across the comms;
“Have you gone bloody mad lass!! It took all five of us to just nearly beat it last time – What sort of bastard would send just the two of you?!”
Hoki winced back from the speaker before replying, “It should still be damaged sir, and besides who else can go? Plus we know more about it this time, we can use the same strategy as before, Sabban as attacker, me as supporter – If its shield is back, we can just break it again.”
“Yo-You! Hoki-Lass, this is thee Casnel a Goibniu infused, state of the art--” Kolme began.
“I know all that Sir, I did major in studies of warfare over the last ten years.”
Hoki cut in.
“Well, ya I know Lass but come on!”
Hoki took a deep breath – Both Nate and Aurin remained quiet, even if they had a greater say in the matter, they both knew this was a question for the two pilots to deal with, putting aside their emergency promotions and everything else that had transpired in the last few months – Kolme and Hoki were still the two officers in charge of the Fluchtig's Vijaik-Squad, it was their call to make;
“Sir, no, Kolme – I want to believe in the Una, I want to believe that her dieing light really did damage the Casnel, that it is just a shell of its former self – I want to believe that we've all gotten a whole lot stronger since that day back at the Clover – I.... I want to believe in the five of us and finish what we started – We can do this lieutenant Sir, I know we can.”
“And you Sabban?” Kolme said meekly.
“I'm with her Kolme, we got this – Besides she's right, Una destroyed that thing once already, we're just gonna clean up its ghost. Oh but you can look after the rest of Beta squad, they're good but they don't have practise against a Casnel.”
The gruff man replied.
“Sir?” Hoki added.
“Well Kolme?”
Nate said after a few moments of silence.
“I know its selfish for me ta' say this – But you two come back ya hear me? If its been fixed, upgraded even! Then you come back and we think this through, treat this as scouting, you only engage if you're absolutely sure you can win – I know you can measure that Hoki-lass.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Come back to us, both of ya?”
“Sir!!”
“Ya, ya – Clingy old man.”
Hoki then and Sabban responded.
Kolme sighed, “Alright then, Mr.Aurin have Pel clear the runway, give our kids a proper send off eh!”
In under a minute it was done, the pipes and cables disconnected, the two Neo-Cs both fully reloaded – Hoki saw the jolly silhouette of Chief Pel in her spacesuit waving from down below.
The runway was cleared, the two Neo's turned back around.
“Sabban Vint, Neo 27, I'm off then.” The young man said lazily but with a small grin.
“Hok-- Thee Hokuai, Neo-C Cyan-Custom, Taking off!”
****
Scarlet sat staring at her ever red-tinted monitor screen at her now 11 direct subordinates.
The group of Nemos were hard at work shunting around small pieces of metal to pre-designated spots.
Only a handful of these were actually mines, circular spikey objects bigger than a Nemo's hand – The rest were regular explosives, enclosed in an array of patchwork metal boxes and easily fitting in the palms of the Nemos – These smaller charges wouldn't be able to damage an enemy mech but that wasn't what Scarlet had planned for them anyway.
On her rear camera she could see the two vessels that made up their 'rear-defence-line', the familiar triangular shape of the Valliere and a rectangular grey-ship called the 'Charon', both cruiser class warships.
Not far behind them you could make out the black-office block in space that was the weapon's control centre, the now 11 odd ships hanging above it – And further out the constant series of violent explosions that was no man's land – The fact she could see all this so clearly was the only proof needed to show that this line she was setting up was a truly desperate measure – If it fell, the Remembrance force would be on top of the Fluchtig and Co in now time flat.
She turned her attention back to the front, noticing one machine in particular she flipped a switch on her comm board;
“Yo Ahern, you meant to be back here?”
Ahern had been with her in Alpha squad for hours now – She hadn't known it when she haphazardly picked him for the group, but upon learning he was a surviving pilot of Operation Deadlight, Scarlet had taken something of a liking to the man – Sure she would of rather had Hoki and Kolme or even Sabban at her side right now, but Ahern was an alright substitute for the time being.
The young country-accented voice replied to her in kind;
“They're waiting for the Fluchtig to send over a spare arm, thought I might as well help out until then Ma'am.”
Indeed Ahern's Nemo only had one arm, the other covered by white tarpaulin – Scarlet grinned at the sentiment;
“Heh, alright keep at it – But once the fighting starts you're not to join in until you are fully fixed. For that matter I want you to guard our supply-caravan, don't think this means I'm benching you or nothin' – This is going to be a marathon not a sprint, I need someone I can trust guarding that thing and the ships for that matter.”
“M-Ma'am!” Ahearn said back promptly, his mech turning in her direction and saluting with its available arm – She laughed at the site of it and turned off the link.
Scarlet's plan was unorthodox but necessary – Their force of two cruiser, 11 Nemos and the Vijaik-Heavy she had received just last week – Would be no match for 100 enemy Vijaiks even with the minefield.
Instead the mines had been wired to explode by remote control instead of proximity – And their goal wasn't destruction.
It had been a few years since she left Remembrance, this was no doubt a gamble – But Scarlet had test flown the high-mobility type Vijaik that was currently heading towards them – It was stupid fast, with good weapons and decent armour, but it did have one flaw in exchange for such high performance – When it transitioned from its jet fighter mode, into its more humanoid mech mode, it was for a few seconds vulnerable. If knocked even slightly during this moment, it could stall out for a short time, effectively stuck between a jet and a mech – Now Remembrance had surely found ways around this since Scarlet's time with them, but the gamble was to hope that considering the massive numbers being sent – That these mass-produced units for the sake of cost, still had this quirk – One only a few even knew about to begin with – This was what they would exploit, what Scarlet's team of 12 would use to beat 100.
A different radio line flicked on her right;
“Commander, all going to plan?” Asked a youthful woman's voice.
The now Captain Francoise Louise, commanding officer of the Valliere sounded very tired – Like all in the fleet she had been pushed to the brink in this battle, not to mention having to lead her people while mourning the death of her father.
“All good Captain, we're on schedule.” Scarlet said back.
“Good, good. Right....”
“You alright too?” The pirate ace, feared throughout the solar system, asked politely.
“What? Oh yes of course – Everyone's lost someone today, I'm no different....”
“True enough I suppose, still family hits different eh?”
Scarlet wasn't sure why she felt such sympathy for Louise 'Jr' – Perhaps she just wanted to make sure the girl was capable enough of leading this small force under such harsh circumstances – Or perhaps it was the fact the young captain was the right age to be Scarlet's own child had she ever chosen to have kids – Perhaps it was simply comradery – 'Heh, I'm gonna get a weird reputation for being kind to younger woman, huh Una?'
“It's just....” The Captain murmured, “I wonder what Father would of....”
Scarlet smiled kindly;
“I didn't really know your Dad, least I don't think I did – Not got the best memory, but I did meet him the once, went to all the trouble of talking directly to me and Kolme when he wanted to ask a favour. I'll admit, before that I thought he was just another suit, another officer sending people to stupid deaths – But I've realised quickly that wasn't true, he lead from the very front, gave damn good speeches and really respected his people, he wanted to look out for us all.
I don't know if this means much to ya' but I can count the number of officers I respect on one hand and he's one of 'em.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. No not silence, a very faint sobbing - "Th-thank you, Lady Scarlet – I think he would of been so happy to hear that.”
Scarlet turned off the link, swapping back to the one connecting her to the other mechs present;
“Alright you lot, show me some spirit hey!! This is going to be tough, real tough but you know the plan – The first batch, the forward scouts we take out by ourselves, than the main force we stun with the mines – Like shooting fish in a barrel right?
Heh-heh! We're outnumbered lads, surrounded on all sides with no retreat – But we aren't beat, we ain't gonn'a fall – 12 against a 100, lets make history boys - Tonight you fly with the Scarlet Scourge!!!”
A chorus of 'Aye!', 'Yes Ma'am!' and 'Ho-rah!' echoed back at her.