United Earth Government

ONI

Gaunt Okay. We can work with that. Just we can take you down to the planet if you follow us. The corvette launches a single shuttle, hoping the vanta coloured craft will follow. The shuttle breaks atmosphere and defends into a clearing in a jungle canopy. Whoever is piloting the black clock an see the buildings dug in as well as anti air guns. The shuttle lands and its passengers disembark. On the rain stricken landing platform awaits a few people dressed in a mix of old military gear. Armed with even older military weapons and equipment.

Gaunt

ONI
The ship lands soon after the shuttle. A moment later, the cargo door begins to open.
The first thing the insurgents see is flowing brown hair. Next, a face, an attractive one. Next thing to enter the insurgents' view is a classy black suit, with a matching bow-tie. Finally, what looks like some kind of pistol holstered at her waist, her hand resting on the handle.
She strides out onto the landing platform, piercing blue eyes scanning the assembled insurgents.
"Hm. For a group that managed to wrestle planetary control from the UEG, I would've expected tech that's more..." She gestures vaguely at the ancient equipment.
"No matter, that can be sorted out quickly. Speaking of which, is one of you here the leader of this fine establishment? If not, could you take me to whoever is?"

ONI

Gaunt ”Yeah. There’s someone we can take you to. Follow us.”

The lead rebel begins walking towards a raised trailer hidden beneath the forest canopy, a couple tarps are draped over the top to keep it even more sheltered. As they walk down the road and head into a trench network with the mud bubbling under the metal grates beneath their feet. The lead rebel says: “we would have better equipment, but the fascists blew up what remaining bases they had in a retreat.” Now they come to a fork in the trench and take a left. The path slowly inclines as they walk up towards the trailer. Climbing the steps the rebels stop by the door and open it. “This is our chief operations centre as of now. We used to have a bigger spot, but it got hit a while back.” As the group walks through the trailer, cramped computer terminal spots of been set up. With personnel monitoring the blue screens, the screens casting a glow in the darker trailer. As the group weaves through they come to the end and knock on a set of doors before opening. Before them at a desk quickly installed sits an older man. The man has a sense of military code to him in the way he presents himself. “I am Colonel Watts” he addresses them as.

Back in 2524, Watts was captured by a highly classified strike team and was taken into UEG custody. In 2559 he escaped after years of imprisonment thanks to the freedom fighters who he led. The man looks to be in his mid 60s when in reality he was pushing into his nineties. This was because of the results of cryo sleep and “kissing the admirals wife” as some UEG enlisted would call it.

Watts is anold UEG general who defected.

Gaunt

ONI
"Greetings, Colonel Watts. I have a few propositions I think you'll find very interesting. May we discuss in private?"

ONI

Gaunt Keeping quiet for a moment before shooing the others out of the room. “What do you want to discuss?” Watts says, curious to know what these people have to say.

Gaunt

ONI
She smiles at Watts.
"A deal, that's what. Like all deals, both sides have something to offer. Let's start with what I can do for you, shall we? I noticed your men are a little... lacking in the technology department. As it happens, I have quite a bit of cutting-edge tech, much of it proprietary, as well as a state-of-the-art research facility I'd be more than willing to put to work on any specific requests you might have. Interested so far?"

ONI

Gaunt ”Very. What kind of cutting edge stuffs are we talking?” Watts says as he leans forward.

Gaunt

ONI
"Oh, everything. Ships, weapons, hyperatomics, you name it. I have fingers in every pie and an eye in every corner."
(Just to clarify, this is a lie.)
"Everything you need to fight back against fascists, in short. And it can all be yours. All I ask in return..."
She reaches into her ear and pinches out a worm-like creature, about a foot long and extremely thin. It coils around her index finger, which she reaches out towards Watts.
She spoke in a hushed voice, almost a breathy whisper, but with authority nonetheless.
"Take it."

ONI

Gaunt ”Hyper atomics... well those can definitely knock a dent in their assets.” Watts takes the worm, letting it hang between his fingers in front of him. “What is this?” He remakes

Gaunt

ONI
"It's me. At least, everything that makes me me to any significant degree." Seeing the confused look on Watts' face, she elaborates. "It's a Narcrus worm, or at least a mutation of it. Not sure if its different enough genetically to count as a different species, I might have to look into giving it a new name. Anyway, it links you to the hivemind, which again, I may have to name. Narcrus-β? Narcrus 2.0? Narctwos? I digress. The point is, if you want your rebellion to survive the UEG, much less thrive, stick that in your ear. Prove that you're devoted to your cause."

ONI

Gaunt Watts stares in disbelief. He releases the worm and uses a pen to push it towards the woman. “I’m devout enough to my cause. Whatever fucking thing that is I don’t want it near me.”

Gaunt

ONI
She decides that she does need a new name, and decides that Sayla is nice. I'll be calling her Sayla from now on.

Sayla sighs.
"A shame. Well, if you won't be a mouthpiece the least you can do is be a warning."
In a single swift movement, she draws her gun and fires, shooting Watts in the gut with a proprietary Uitreed-cased bullet. The crystal embeds itself deep in his stomach and immediately begins spreading too slowly for the eye to see, feeding off the electricity in Watts' nervous system. He is debilitated by the pain.
Sayla stands up and dusts off her suit.
"That was a Uitreed bullet. It'll spread over the next few days, slowly and agonisingly crystalising your nervous system until it reaches your brain and kills you. Enjoy that, its your reward for refusing my offer."
With that, she leaves, retracing her steps through the trenches and back to her ship. As the thrusters warm up, she stands in the open cargo hold and makes an announcement to the soldiers on the landing platform.
"Take this as a warning, insurgents! Your Colonel Watts refused my offer, and so he will spend the next few days in agony, before his inevitable death. Go to anyone you care about and tell them this: Now, and for all eternity, the name to fear is Sayla. Good day."
And with that, Sayla turns and walks deeper into the hold as the door folds up behind her and the ship takes off.

ONI

Gaunt The two rebels take a second to register what she says. The silence is broken as someone begins shouting Watts is dead Watts is dead. The two rebels try and open up on the craft but are out of range with their small arms. The Vulcan AA guns open up too but the craft is out of range and gone.

Gao Liberation Force Operations Centre Charlie 1900 hours.

Special Field Operative Michael Smith types away at his keypad. He is here on a deep undercover mission behind enemy lines. Provide the UNSC with Intel on rebel movements and in return provide some somewhat fake Intel back to the rebels. He hears of Watts supposed death and hastily informs the UNSC about his death, as well as where new defences have sprung up on Gao. AA placements, troop, positions, fallback, points, and safe houses. You name it. All of it was sent in an encrypted package to the UNSC.

and so the UNSC will respond with

OPERATION TREBUCHET

ONI

Gao|2100 hours| Battlegroup Victory

Battlegoup Victory comes into range of Gao after exiting slipspace.

Bridge of UNSC Epoch-Class Heavy Carrier "Part of the Plan"

_Rear Admiral James Kirkland watched the main bridge viewscreen. Thousands of firing solutions were all displayed. MAC vectors, missile flight paths, and where ships were moving. The carriers main exterior camera showed Gao Liberation Force ships in near outer orbit of the planet. The ships had not noticed the UNSC response. Addressing the battlegroup, Rear Admiral Kirkland says: "Well it looks like we caught them with their pants down. Frigate groups one and two. Break off for firing support. The rest of you select your targets." He opens a communications link to the Part of the Plans "fighter squadrons." Twenty four in total. "Squadrons get your men into the black. Engage enemy interceptors and punch a whole through to their capital ships."

From the front facing hangar the first fighter squadron out is Stalker Squadron.
//CHANNEL-ENCRYPTED. SQUAD_COMMUNICATIONS. 1DR4-24TG//

Stalker Leader: Form up on me. Sixty seconds till we engage hostiles
Stalker Two: Stalker Two Checking in.
Stalker Three: Stalker Three Checking in.
Stalker Four: Stalker Four All clear.
Stalker Five: Stalker Five Right behind you sir
Stalker Six: Stalker Six Calling in.
Stalker Seven: Stalker Seven Checking in. Right behind you Sir.
Stalker Eight: Stalker Eight Checking in.
Stalker Nine: Stalker Nine Checking in.
Stalker Ten: Stalker Ten Checking in.
Stalker Eleven: Stalker Eleven Checking in.

Stalker Leader: Lets all get home tonight boys.

Stalker Six:: Thirty seconds till target.

Stalker Six: Twenty seconds till target

Stalker Six: Ten seconds till target

Stalker Leader: Break. Engage targets.

//CHANNEL-ENCRYPTED. SQUAD_COMMUNICATIONS. 1DR4-24TG//
:Channel Closed:

The fighters defending Gao meet the oncoming longsword interceptors. Missiles and autocannons fire. Within seconds the long swords break through the fighter blockade and punch straight for the capital ships to start a bombing run. Evading point defences as best as they can they bomb the sole Gao cruiser present. landing several strikes to its rear engines. Disabling it.

//CHANNEL-ENCRYPTED. SQUAD_COMMUNICATIONS. 1DR4-24TG//

Stalker Three: Repeat. Repeat my wing is hit. I can't hold her much longer. Going dow- [Inaudible]

//CHANNEL-ENCRYPTED. SQUAD_COMMUNICATIONS. 1DR4-24TG//
:Channel Closed:

As the fighter squadrons loopback the frigates and destroyers engage the remaining ships.

UNSC Highlander-Class Destroyer Bayonne DD-111 |21:22: Hours|

//Channel-Encrypted. Bridge_Audio_Recording. HJ45-C768|//

Get me firing solutions on that oncoming corvette. Launch Archer silos A-F. Whats the status on the MAC?"

"Missile targets authorized. Missiles away Sir. MAC capaciitors at 95% charged. 35 seconds to go."

ONI

The corvette tries to evade but is slammed with missile fire, its point defences unable to shoot down all the missiles in time. The ship detonated as its fusion reactor explodes.

On the Bayonne the ship shudders and the decks vibrate as its MAC gun fires as an enemy frigate is targeted. The slug hits the ships side "arm" like sections. The round tunnels into the ship and moments after impact the ship is mostly vaporized due to the amount of force behind the MAC round.

The Bayonne targets another enemy ship with its missiles. Taking them and clipping them. The feet defending Gao was ill prepared for an attack at this magnitude.

As the final Gao ships are mopped up and defeated, the takeover of the planet can now begin.

Terket

ONI

suddenly, a medium-small ship appeared on the borders, it was clearly a black ship of the Akyratés, though without any signal light on. It was likely a Nightwing class corvette, though that may just be a ship similar in appearance to that.

ONI

Terket The ship is intercepted outside the Colony of Harvest by a destroyer.

//Transmission//Non Encrypted Channel//FG78=CV567//
[Begin]
You have entered United Earth Government Territory unauthorized. Move back and state your business or we will use lethal force

//Transmission//Non Encrypted Channel//FG78=CV567//
[End]

The destroyer preps one of its missile pods and targets the craft.

Terket

ONI

the ship immediately had a limegreen glow bordering it (like below image) when the message was recieved

below was the message in reply
We should be more careful, just scouting through space. If you mind giving us map information, I (and us) won't call over reinforcements.
its shields were up quite high, and from the looks of it the only weapons powered were its heavily clustered defence arrays

ONI

Terket The destroyer does not give them an answer. It simply says turn back. It will fire a warning shot if you continue on.

Terket

ONI
there was reply
Turn back, what's that mean? You want us to leave the thrusters exposed for a railgun? (*slight giggle in background before audio cut off*)
reconnected
sorry about that.

ONI

Gao |0300 hours| Boomerang Company

The droppods hung in the bay of the cruiser Hit Your Limit. Over the comms systems officers gave final commands to their fire teams.

In each of the drop pods a triple burst beep sounded as the pods all in rows were dropped. As they fell through the brink of orbit and into the planets atmosphere, heat began to lick at the pods as friction grew from the speed they were gaining on re entry. At 7000m to go the pods all pop chutes which begin to slow the decent of the pods until they break off at a stable speed for the pods to land at.

The entire company lands in the jungle under the cover of darkness. A series of rebel outposts are supposed to be in the area, as well as a sets of old anti air missiles that could stop bombing runs when they come all together. The company landed clustered with their designated fire teams which all split up to go take out their respective targets.

Gao |0400 hours| Fire Team Charlie 4 | Boomerang Company |1 hour after drop|

ONI

Terket The destroyer fires a single missile that flies past the ship. You are now deemed as hostile for not complying. Leave the area now