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Post by Shard on Apr 27, 2010 22:40:00 GMT
"...and the Seer said nothing of this outpost?"
"No, Fireheart-Shaper."
The Destroying Angel that made up the flagship of the Fireheart Spire cruised forward, looking at the Valii stations with its sensors.
"Standing orders are to avoid engaging enemies in Republic space, Shaper," the Soulcaller reminded him.
Fireheart-shaper Zullat ignored her, calculating in his mind. Firehearts had a reputation for impetuosity, but Zullat was no fool. He was carefully weighing up the situation.
On the one hand, it could break the relations with the Republic, reignite war with the Valii and strain relations with their allies.
On the other, it would be disobeying Council orders.
He chuckled to himself, and shook his head. "Inform Brokka to take her fleet and proceed to Arrakis to prepare the assault on Hive territory. To our fleet, move into attack formation. And if we're going to break the treaty... we might as well do it thoroughly. Order Soulcaller Vaerye to return to Omega Ceti, and destroy the Hive ship there. Let's see if the Republic has the guts to face up to us."
The Soulcaller nodded. "And if the Seer or the Council should demand our retreat?"
"They won't."
"How can you be sure, Shaper?"
The Shaper laughed coolly. "Because you will be dropping a pulsar beacon to jam the Valii scum's internodal transmissions, which will unfortunately block our own as well. By the time everyone realises what has happened, it will be over and events will be in motion."
"If the Council unites against us..."
"It won't." The Fireheart rested a gauntlet on the Soulcaller's shoulder. "It won't. Now carry out your orders."
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Post by Shard on Apr 29, 2010 15:37:37 GMT
"...sections twelve through twenty nine on decks three through six are completely in their hands. That means they have a gamma pulse battery and secondary engine complex. Nothing severe yet, but they're pushing hard. If they gain the main reactor, we're in very real danger of losing the Inevitable."
Pahra grunted, looking over the titanic holographic schematic, two metres long and with sections flashing assorted colours. It was the only light present. Most of the power was out, to prevent the Hive from tapping into communications or corrupting the computers. "Where's Nehmaz?"
The soldier points a purple section near the base of the neck. "She's holding the override controls for the cannon. She's pushing at them, but not too hard, she doesn't want to overextend."
"Good. Last thing we need is the Hive gaining access to the type-P. The fleet is holding its distance?"
"Yes, Seer. The Hive took a few salvos with the batteries they control, but no serious damage. Nehmaz said that the planet here is ash. Unless the Hive counterattacks, we've got all the time we need to weed out this infestation."
The hull rumbled quietly. "Currently they're still trying to get control of the ship, but we need to consider the possibility that they'll just begin trying to destroy it. I think-"
"The reactor. Of course, of course. I remember what the Incarnate did when its reactor went critical. Even if it doesn't harm the rest of the fleet, it'll very definitely destroy us."
"Exactly, Seer. We're planning to move into flanking positions here, here and here, and then push to occupy this choke point here."
"That holds them. It doesn't get us closer to wiping them out and retaking the ship. What are the estimates on remaining drones?"
The soldier grunts. "Based on the initial estimates and teleporter attacks, we've killed around a thousand drones, with another seven fifty remaining. But those are holed up and united, so it'll be far harder."
"Don't lecture me," the Seer rebuked mildly, still analysing the ship. "What about a full encirclement? Hit them on every side. We take this point, encircle and annihilate this pocket at the weapons battery - get one of the dreads to burn it down if necessary - and take hold of the power routers here. That gives us coverage on three sides. Above are the secondary generators for the port nova cannons, below is an area damaged during the battle - which can easily be purged by external fire."
The Child facing her nods, the prospect of blasting holes in their own ship leaving him unfazed. "That still lets them get their back to the hull, and if we try and blast them from there, we could set off chain reactions."
"Which is why we bring one of our ships to dock at the airlocks here."
He looks at her sharply. "Seer, that's risking simply pushing them onto another ship. And there's enough of them to pose a threat to even an Angel."
"Sure it's a risk. But it's also our best bet to exterminate these scum."
He nods. "I'll pass the word. Where will you be?"
"With the assault on subsection 29D. I've sat back for too long. I want to get some nanotech blood on my claws."
He hesitates. "It is your right."
"And my duty. Just because these freaks are proving to be hard to kill doesn't mean I shouldn't be on the front line."
He nods, and then leaves. The Ghost-seer sighs gently, then tightens her armour seals, her palms glowing. The hologram flickers and vanishes.
The drone came from nowhere. It had probably been damaged and forgotten in an earlier skirmish, quietly self-repairing. When she came into view... it attacked.
The cannon on its arm blazes, punching into her thick armour, and she spins. An incandescent bolt screams out, melting into the weapon.
Then they were up close and personal, its cybernetically enhanced strength knocking her back. "Resistence is futile," it rasped.
She swung back, wiry power armour strength knocking the machine back a pace. She reversed her swing, claws biting into armour and crackling gently as they slip through the shielding. "Tell that to your fleet. I know you can all hear me, freak. What one knows, all know. So have a good long think about your place in the universe. We tore you apart, and we'll keep coming. You don't fear death, do you?"
It didn't answer, jabbing a fist forward to grasp her by the shoulder, assimilation tubes jamming towards her neck seal. She flinches away, the injectors glancing off the tough metal, before she pounces, the solid weight of the armour pinning the drone against the wall.
"Well look in my eyes, abomination." She tore away her helmet, her beady eyes staring into the unfeeling, blank ones. "Look in my eyes. Look and see your death. The death of every drone, every machine. Look and see the annihilation of your very identity."
It tried to push her off, and she clasped a clawed hand over its head, squeezing. "Look, and know your doom."
The drone's head melted as the palm blaster fired. She dropped the corpse in disgust, melted metal and bone and brain spattered over the gauntlet.
She was grinning as she affixed her helmet again.
This was what they were made for.
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