|
Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on May 11, 2005 19:53:33 GMT -5
Those honorless fools! Do they not know what happens when you kill civilians with outlawed weapons?! They have already failed because the people will no bend to such...
My thoughts were interrupted by the talk of searching for survivors. I knew that I should, but looking at the surface and judging by the carnage, there was nothing that could have survived.
Captain Maxwell, as much as I hold onto the hope that there are survivors, you and I both know all too well that these Blakist barbarians have left no survivors.
It is my belief that perhaps your MRBC friends should conduct a search while we head towards friendly space and assess our options. There are several bases that would be free for your use.
I awaited the Captain's response while I conferred with one of my officers about possible locations to head towards.
|
|
|
Post by General John "Aegis" Murlance on May 12, 2005 10:05:30 GMT -5
"...it is my belief that perhaps your MRBC friends should conduct a search while we head towards friendly space and assess our options. There are several bases that would be free for your use."
"With all due respect, Commander - the amount of radiation on the surface of this rock would be instantaneously lethal to anyone foolish enough to try and land on it! Sending humans down to conduct a search is out of the question.
"There are several automated drones, however, that were designed specifically for rescue and salvage operations. If anything survived, we'll know about it. I intend to have the techs set them to scour the area around the Legionnaires' compound only, however - we're not equipped or prepared for a mercy mission to the entire planet."
I barked several orders into my comm unit, and moments later, the Liberty released several drop pods, containing a series of search and rescue drones as well as a remotely-operated salvage rig with a lift rating of nearly 200 tons. I was confident there wouldn't be any survivors...but hopefully, we could at least pluck a 'Mech or two from the carnage.
Commander Dillinger gave me a steely glare. I had questioned his judgement on the bridge of his own vessel - an act of taboo in any situation - but I was not about to risk losing yet another life to this wretched war.
|
|
|
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 12, 2005 10:34:30 GMT -5
Deep SpaceTen hours later The pictures the drones broadcast back were horrific. The Legionnaires' complex had been completely obliterated...even the tarmac outside the main hanger was blown away. Very little salvage could be found - a couple of 'Mechs, some base components, but overall, the facilities had been a total loss. The Quartermaster had been found, hunkered in a reclaimation pit below the main bay, suffering from extensive burn trauma and radiation poisoning, but alive. He had been ferried back to the Samurai's Destiny by the automated salvage rig, and was undergoing decontamination and extensive medical treatment.
His rescue sparked hope that more survivors would be found. Even General Murlance, who had remained devoid of emotion till now, expressed his heartfelt desire that this prospect might come to fruitition.
But unfortunately, no further signs of life were to be found.
Eventually, in our eighth hour, an armada of ComStar frigates arrived in orbit, accompanied by the battlecruiser Excalibur and the hospital ship Curie, and began their own rescue operation. The Samurai's Destiny was politely asked to leave the sector as the ComStar Guard cordoned off the area to all non-aligned vessels. Using his credentials once again, General Murlance negotiated a two-hour stay to allow our salvage operations to conclude, and in the tenth hour, we broke orbit. Commander Dillenger had persuaded the remnants of our unit to accompany the Ghosts to their homeworld until we were able to find an alternative base of operations, and begin the process of rebuilding.
Having no real alternatives, Captain Gunman and I obliged.
I buckled into my jump seat on the bridge of the Samurai's Destiny. To either side of me were Captain Gunman, General Murlance, Commander Black Mamba, MechWarrior Kintaru, and Yeoman Hobson.Five survivors...out of nearly one hundred and fifty.I wanted to mourn the dead. To lose myself in contemplation and shed tears of sorrow at their loss, to grieve over the fact that yet another world had fallen to the Jihad.
But there would be no time to grieve. Not yet.
We had a war to fight.
Commander Dillenger eased into his command chair, and pivoted to face the bridge's navigator."Helmsman...take us home."- TO BE CONTINUED -
|
|