Of the Abyss and the mouse trap

Posted on Monday December 17th, 2018 @ 2:32am by Major Andrew Weaver & Captain Sumire "Remi" Rembrant & Fleet Admiral Rokk Astrovich

2,617 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Season 2; Mission 2: It's Only Fun Until Someone Gets Hurt
Location: TSS Onyx
Timeline: takes place after "Operational Overtures" and "Logistical Liasions and other conversations" on the forums but before "Assault on the Onyx"

As Remi arrived back at her office to finalize some paperwork before she and her team left to the Aloris Capital to meet with Naomi and her diplomats she got a notice from the Command Center about an incoming diplomatic transport from MSA.  She was not expecting anyone but she figured the appearance of a diplomatic envoy was something she would need to get use to especially with her father being back in her life. Making use of her father's men she summoned two of the royal guards to common with her as she headed for the docks.

She also used her VX to just summon her black trinity uniform that looked more like the ODM uniforms; a sort of approved custom variant of the official uniform for her; more or less specifically as she was one of the only people other than the commander of her father's forces whom were there to protect her; that had dual status in the ODM and Trinity.  She stood outside of the entry path from the docks into the cityship. The ODM royal guards saluted as soon as the MSA delegation exited the shuttle. Remi didn't expect to see someone she remembered though; it had been a good 15 years. It was also more that she knew of him as back when she was ten she didn't exactly do much politicking. She then drew herself into a royal bow; something she had been taught to do with foreign  dignitaries.

The transport from the Jenova had docked with the city-ship and a small escort of Presidential Guardsmen exited the ship followed by Doctor Drura Storm in her usual uniform/suit followed by the president of the Manticorian Systems Alliance himself, looking quite out of place as he motioned for Storm to lead on while the rest of the guard and he followed.

Once they reached the Trinity commander, Drura held out a hand and a guardsman placed a PADD into it which she then presented to Remi. "Our credentials, captain." she said in a polite tone to the younger woman.

Remi looked up exiting her bow as she took the documents. "Thank  you." She took a pass over them but then handed them to the royal guardsman to her left for verification while she spoke. "Welcome aboard the Onyx City-Ship and the Mobile Base of Operations for the Trinity Combined Service's Task Force One; Doctor; Mr. President... I'm Sumire Rembrant." She was at a pause for a moment vaguely remembering Rokk from his previous encounters with her father but unsure if he remembered her; especially with the adoptive last name... 

Though the combined Trinity/ODM uniform would give her dual status away as a soldier with both services and likely nobility as only nobles and above were allowed to serve as officers on both services.

Drura nodded, "You'll have to forgive the sudden appearance, captain. The alliance senate isn't even aware that he's offworld yet and he wanted to offer up a possible plan in person." she explained before a polite cough from Rokk caught her attention which made the redhead turn and regard her president for a moment before nodding. "And he wishes to hold any further conversation till we have a wee bit more privacy if you will?"

Remi nodded. "Indeed... he conference room in my office would be preferred as Internal Security Personnel constantly sweep the area for listening devices and its able to be secured for the utmost privacy." She signals for one of her guards to lead. "Please follow Mr. Kasher."

The guard nods. "Mr. President, Doctor, milady... this way." The guard then formally guides the group through the city to a lift that takes them to the command center but right before arriving there the door right next to the command center leads into an office section for Sumire, her assistants, the war operations department and a secured conference room likened to a Captain's Ready Room on a starship but specifically for meetings between members of the city's brass and fleet staff officers.

The two alliance officials followed Remi and her man with the guardsmen keep a respectful distance until they reach the conference room at which point Rokk looks around and nods approvingly. "Definitely a step up from you playing with cushions, captain." the former senator said with a wry smile on his face which brought a look of confusion from Drura. "My apologies for this, Sumire, but I felt time was of the essence and going through the usual channels would take too long." he offered up.

As they entered the room Kasher and saluted and then bowed leaving them to their business as he and his comrade guarded the door. There was a second entrance to the room but it was in the command center and as such guarded by the station's marines 24/7. In addition it was sealed unless the brass or Commander Godwhin the head of the city's war operations and command center duty officer needed whomever was inside.  

Remi waited to sit until the other two were comfortable. "I was wondering if you remembered me... I guess the answer to that is yes... it seems you have risen up in the world as well President Astrovich and  apologies Doctor...  I'm the Princess of Orteria but sort of estranged from my father after the death of my mother... We are on less than favorable terms but the President was in service with my father back when I was still in the court. As for usual channels... Well; I understand... it is just like my father and his delegates... even the Federation as a whole.... Sometimes these meetings happen. As long as I am here I have no problem with handling them especially with my superiors being less understanding of the political nuances that come with this sort of work... What sort of plan or idea do you have; I assume as you came to TF1's HQ and not Earth II...  it is something about the swarm... or did you just want to keep your delegates out of the possible hands of the corrupt senate?" She asked.

Rokk motioned for Drura to begin as she reached into a pocket and pull out a data chip and then inserted it into a terminal which brought up a planet. "This is Damasa, it was a mining world on the distant reaches of alliance space, slightly hollow, far enough away from any kind of traveled space lane." the redhead explained as she indicated the planet. "Commodore Bateman of the president's staff has formulated a possible plan to help thin the herd of the swarm but it is risky to put it politely."

"I see... Considering we are in Aloris territory as well if the higher ups approve this we might be able to get tactical support from Lady Naomi and her space fleet... Anyway I am just thinking aloud. Continue" Remi said as she crossed her legs and observed the planet before her.

Drura nodded, "The plan would involve the use of a bait to bring them to the planet which would be set up to present a tangible target for the swarm complete with a specialized alliance ground effect unit to help seal the deal.." she continued before inputting a couple of more commands to highlight on large deep area in particular within the planet. "Here is were we would put the bait as it were and a something extra."

Rokk looked at the young woman, "Due to the type of ore that was on the planet, it cannot sustain life other then a breathable atmosphere, Sumire."

She nodded and then spoke. "So... Warren one of our scientists has been working to build a psionic device that could attract or scare away the swarm. If we could make multiple of this device just put one on this world... So no bases or personnel are on the world at all... the goal would be no loss of life; with the bugs taking Earth already we have already taken more than the justifiably number of losses in this war." She said as the screens contents nearly reflected off her blue eyes as she examined the screen.

Rokk actually looked a little bit troubled before motioning to Drura. "No there is no bases on this planet, however the ground effect unit is willing is a unique one as they are volunteering to remain on the planet to ensure that the other half of the plan goes off without a hitch." the woman explained as she highlighted an area and switched it to a real time feed.

Several people in specialized suits were moving crates around a large platform that was once used for ore smelting and preparing it for another use. "In order to ensure a thinning of the herd, captain, we're also setting up a explosive device that will take out the planet as well."

"Since the loss of Earth, our best minds have been working around the clock to try and find a way to buy time for the rest of the universe to prepare, this is the only plan that has borne any fruit worthy of being shared with our allies." Drura then finished.

"Sacrifice the few to save the many... I am not exactly keen on that idea... but; in the end it is not my choice... I would prefer it if it were some of the marine clone troopers but they are so general purpose that i doubt they would be useful in this sense..."

She then thought. "Have copies of their details and medical scans been sent to ITC for them to be cloned and revived after the skirmish... Like I said there has already been too much loss of life... I get the point but sacrificing more good people... I was opposed to war before the bugs attacked and even refused my father's offer of commanding the military before the Swarm attacked Earth... I don't want to see more lives lost... If we can revive them I would prefer that but even if they are willing to die for the cause." Sumire seemed as troubled as Rokk did with the concept.

Rokk nodded, "I'm not sure about having them cloned, being at the heart of what they're being asked to do might be a bit much on their minds, Sumire." he explained as he motioned at the device. "That particular device is basically going to shatter the planet, our best minds have theorized that it will wipe out a good chunk of the swarm...but that's when were Commodore Bateman's plan has run into two problems."

"Even Trinity's science team could help with getting them out so cloning isn't nessecary... but what are the problems that are apparent?" She asked.

"Well one would be the bait, if we could mate two of these devices that you mentioned and put it through an MSA psionic amplifier then we could really draw them in.." Drura explained before she kind of actually got a troubled look which completely looked alien on her face. "The other problem would be we'd need a space element to make the trap look good."

Rokk nodded in agreement, "Any elements used for a space force for this plan would have to hang around just long enough to draw them in and then bug out when the trap is ready...to pardon a phrase."

Drura nodded, "We have five ships available that we can use for this plan which includes the Jenova itself in case you were curious."

"The other parts I can help with but authorizing forces to basically be there to draw them in is something I'd need to get orders from General Thornton to do." Remi replied "Unless you want me to send some of my father's forces..."

"Ironically they would happily die in service of me...." She seemed not to keen on the idea of sending people she was begrudgingly given in the first place dying at her order.

Rokk shook his head, his graying hair swaying slightly. "No, the forces used for the space element would be volunteer, Commodore Bateman himself has offered to lead the charge if that helps to explain anything, Sumire?"

"I know my father's people would volunteer... to them its about proving their loyalty to the Princess... Even though I dislike my father giving his men the option to die for me would only have one result...."

She shook her head as if the idea of people "dying in the name of the empire in honor of her" was a fallacy.

Rokk nodded, "Hence why I'm not including them from this, it's volunteer only for the space element." he said simply, trying to be reassuring.

Drura nodded, "Of course we're also requesting that Major Weaver not to be apart of the ground element. We'd prefer not to have him know about that part at all actually."

"So basically Trinity only... I can talk to Aidan about that." She said letting his first name slip accidentially as her mind was kind of wandering at the moment due ot thoughts of her father and her people.

Rokk nodded, choosing to avoid noticing the slip of the tongue there.

"Basically, we also suggest that no one tamper with the explosive device that we are sitting up there." Drura explained. "It's being keyed to a specific set of genetic details that will include a kind of deadman switch...so messing with it would be a bad thing."

"Okay... Send further details to me onthe specifics and I will talk with the General and forward those details to him."

Drura nodded, "Actually we can do one better." she said before she extracted the data chip and then handed it over. "Your copy with all of the details mentioned plus a few extra."

She took the chip and seemed to just stare at the data chip. She then was pulled back to reality. "Do you need quarters or an office to conduct any work  here?"

"If you're offering then maybe for a day or two at the most, Sumire." Rokk said with a polite bow of the head to her. "Plus we can stay on hand if you have anymore questions about what's what with the plan."

Sumire nods. "That way if the General has questions I can direct him to  you." She said still pre-occupied with the disc in her hand.

Drura noticed the look and was about to say something but she was stopped when Rokk said "Not used to being handed that kind of thing, are you?"

She shook her head no. "Did you guys have anything else... kind of my first duty as a TFXO... heh... Guess being my father's next of kin... I am going to be doing this a lot."

"You should ask Andrew about his first day of being apart of the MACO command, Sumire, the horror stories that he could tell you." Rokk teased lightly before saying "No, we were prepared for the worse when we got here so those quarters do sound lovely...personally I do with a gallon or two of actual water."

Sumire sends for an attendant and then a person comes to take them to their quarters and show them around the city; she still had a mission to get ready for. There would be a lot of meetings in her future and a lot of lives in her hands from here on out it seemed.

 

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