Chapter 18: Front 10.75; Operation Deadlight – Part 3/3

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"That footage is the largest amount of information we have been able to receive from any encounter with the Curadh thus far." Nate said in a sombre tone that seemed unfitting to his square heady goffy visage.

 He beckoned to a series of photos that now appeared in place of the video footage;
 "Aside from the video we also have these, sent from another, smaller escort vessel."

The images were true stills, portraying for the most part empty space, almost.

 In the centre of the images was an almost wave like effect, a water ripple where the black of space receded and in its place was a silver surface.

 "The footage was found wrapped in a reinforced container that was than ejected from the escort cruiser's waste shoot, which seemingly allowed it to escape unnoticed. The images came from a destroyer class ship that managed to calculate and fire a shot back at its attacker before it was sunk, which in turn revealed this strange phenomena."

Nate looked over the room sternly - Everyone sat at attention now.
 It was realising this that Hoki couldn't help but admire the audacity of this whole display.
 It had been against every relevant regulation she could imagine, surely it had been classified information and further far too graphic for a briefing like this one, people might well need counselling after witnessing such scenes, soldiers or not - And yet it had turned a crap-show meeting into an enthralled and quite possibly dedicated audience.

It was one thing to tell an army to go fight some over-whelming threat, another entirely to show them one of their own. A nameless crewmember or captain of the ship, it didn't matter.
 'John Smith' and the nameless cameraman's death made the whole mission feel real, made it become important in everyone's minds, personal even.
  
Hoki wasn't sure what to think.
 Had Nate intentionally planned this, knowing Batty and Louise would try to undermine his authority?
If so it was masterstroke but...'..It could just as easily of been a spur of the moment thing?'

"As you were pre-informed we believe the enemy vessel to be a 'Troy' class assault-carrier using a version of the 'chameleon principal'. This in large part was discovered thanks to our very own Ensign.Bachika. If you wouldn't mind?"
 Nate gestured at Hoki as he finished speaking.

Hoki blinked. She froze in her chair, all possible admiration she had briefly gained for Commander Novel fleetingly draining from her in a matter of seconds.
 'He really did forget to send me any memo!'

Hoki liked to think she was good at giving a strong outwards appearance, that to the likes of Sabban and Una she came across as 'level-headed' and reliable but right now that couldn't be further from how she felt.
 She was knowledgeable sure, but not omnipresent.
 Her composure had been breed into her from birth, a whole family lineage of preparedness and leadership.
 Leaders of men, warriors and more lately soldiers - But she knew that came from prep and hard work.
Right now, as all eyes in that suddenly attentive room turned to look at her she could feel herself shying away.
 Wanting to run from the room, or better yet slap Nate across the face and give him what-for.

A moment or two passed like this until she felt a gentle nudge to her side. Glancing across she saw that silly knowing face of Kolme's, mounting the words "Roll With It."

Hoki swallowed hard, took a deep breath and then stood.
 She had read them all of course, her Father's files. They had been stolen from TSU's Eastern headquarters when 'Thee Hokuai' had first tried to abandon Bhaile to join up with IAFS.
 In the end only Hoki, a couple retainers and the files had successfully made that trip.
So of course she had read all of her father's legacy over the last few years but still...

"Ahem, yes the Chameleon Principal is the, process, that was in production about.. two years ago".
 She had turned to face the rest of the room at this point, taking another deep breath before continuing any further, reaching deep into the recesses of all her accumulated knowledge to find the correct answer to the prying eyes all around;
 "Chameleon ES4 was active around the time IAFS formed but had at the time remained incomplete.
 The principal stated that the right reflective material should be able to cloak a vessel by allowing it to blend and bend light.
 The vehicle would not actually turn invisible, but rather would be unseen. This was to be coupled with the A10 jammer program, also incomplete at the time.
 All told if completed it would of made for a new in-detectable ship, however with the caveat that any damage to the outer coating would reveal its location and along with the energy requirement for the A10 would all require a large capacity vessel.
 In fact a Troy class would make alot of sense in that regard."

She finished by indicating at the image of the partially revealed ship before nodding at Nate, whom seemed ready to clap in response. Her body language and deliverance had been as perfect as she could of hoped for (excluding her first sentence reluctance).
 She had done her best to keep it brief with the necessary details. Now she could only hope her short lecture had been on the right information and not completely the wrong topic...
 Hoki took her spot back on her chair, sparing only a brief look at the beaming Kolme. Ultimately even she'd been surprized, whether it was the pressure of the situation or the feeling of being back in her dress uniform -
 The information had seemingly flowed through her despite her earlier panic.

To Hoki's utmost relief the rest of the meeting went far more smoothly than what had proceeded it, with no more surprise lectures.
 Lt.Sunglasses was next up to speak explaining a new system fitted to the vessels of the Tristan group that would allow them to track the Curadh within a certain range, so long as they could first get a lock on it.
 This was to be the true goal of operation Deadlight.

There was of-course a few more spats of bickering between the three captains, along with plenty more technical details but eventually Nate retook the stage and what was helpfully marked as 'Last' appeared on the screen behind him.
 This last slide was a return of the map from what felt like a short life-time ago. With his still only half-drawn pointer, Commander Nate Novel final dove into the ending statement of the meeting;

"----In summary the Tristan Group will head to the far side of Abhaile where presently lies the Bayley-Mechanic's Repair Vessel 'Clover'. Once there we will send a number of our machines undercover to the ship as insurance, while our main fleet hangs out of scanner range."

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Dots appeared on the screen to indicate where the newformed flotilla would position itself.
 The purpose of the 'undercover' Vijaiks (rather than just sending a regular escort) was to prevent giving TSU an incriminating direct-link between IAFS and Bayley-Mechanics (The organisation's largest 'anonymous' financial backer).
 "And we are sure the enemy will go for the Clover next?" - This question had come from the tall well built team leader from the Rinie, Lt.Tomo - Whom had spoken little throughout the meeting and now asked the question in a respectful but probing tone of voice.

Nate nodded to the man, "Indeed command believe the pattern fits, at first the Curadh hit only supply lines, then escorts vessels. The next move would be to publicly assault Bayley and the course the ship's presumed to be moving on matches."

Tomo nodded back acceptingly, only for his second in command, Lt.Erfu to pipe up with a question in Nilas'es direction. She two had reminded mostly silent during the course of events but more-so out of having nothing to add, rather then etiquette.
 Her voice was soft but playful;

"Me and Tomo can do that job then, yes?"
 The way she spoke made Hoki feel like it was less of a question and more a statement, although not in a menacing way.

Kolme seemed to contemplate this a moment.
 Unlike when he had intervened between the Captain's prior, now he seemed more than happy to sit proper and face those he spoke to;
 "I guess so lass, My mob stand out too much and, well, ah..." - He beckoned loosely with one hand at the two block headed pilots from the Valliere, at the far side of the room.

As thought his gesture had in itself been a question, Lt. Commander Louise sighed deeply before answering the unspoken statement in a lackadaisical tone, "I suppose my boys will sit this one out and wait in reserve then."
 The two gorilla men on her right showed some disappointment but remained silent at this dismissal.

Erfu turned her attention back to Kolme who in turn finished his earlier line of though,
 "Alrigth then. Tomo's team take the break-in 'bit, while we get to go shoot at a Casnel. Oh joy..."

From his place at the top of the room Nate turned his view now to the last authority in the room left to comment.  Tentatively, as though poking a tiger, he petitioned Commander Batty;
 "I-is, ahem, That alright with you Commander Batty, Sir?"

'Why's he talking like she's in charge all of a sudden?'

 Batty's imposing figure sat unstirring for a few moments, eyes shut and arms folded, before making her decision;
 "I think it best my team handles the Clover security detail and y- The Fluchtig's handle the other job."

Several eye's rolled around the room at this superfluous statement but for the most part Nate simply seemed glad to of made some movement.

 "...And besides, we can hardly allow this affront to ourselves. This supposed 'Casnel' will get quiet the shock when facing an opponent its own size I should think. Ha! We shant be so easily bested as cargo vessels and space bus's!" Batty finished after a brief pause.

"Oh...Right then, yes good, glad that's sorted. Umm right - So team B, which under Kolme's command will move to the very edge of the detection zone for Vijaik's and hit the enemy before they can attack. Then they will hold off the Casnel until the fleet moves back into effective range. Once we have the lock we can all fall back and what-not."
 Nate finished.

'Easier said than done.' Hoki bemoaned to herself as Nate ended his speech of sorts.

 In-essence they would use the long-range energy rifle and the smaller detection rate of a Vijaik in order to ambush the enemy submarine before it could reach the Clover.

This would unfortunately leave the Vijaik that used the rifle with no warship support for some minutes until the rest of the fleet reclosed the distance. If the fleet waited too close it could be detected by the enemy giving the whole thing away.

 Further too many Vijaik's lying in wait would be easier to get accidentally detected.
This was one thing but it meant another to Hoki, she was after all the one only qualified to use the rifle - There was no question of her deployment on this mission, that much atleast was certain.

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