Asteroid Blues

Vir'Tak was very angry. He should have never agreed to Za'Chara plan. Now they were neck deep in trouble. He had to report their encounter with Tohaa forces to high command, as they were not fully aware of the size of their involvement in this sector. Of course, one question that was immediately asked was" "What were You doing there?". He managed to spin this around that there was an emergency and their informant was in trouble, but only by the skin of his teeth. What is worse, is that they will be under a lot of scrutiny from now on, so bye-bye to Magic: The Conference Fridays. And what is really horrible, Za'Chara was fussing about the base because Kraal only managed to get him only part of the latest Arachnoman issue. The last couple of pages were missing and Za'Chara was really dissapointed.
- Commander? - a soft voice snatched him out of his thoughts. He looked up. It was the lead Med-Tech, affectionately called Doc by the rest of the unit. She had her hands full because the casualties from the last mission,
- What up, Doc? - He asked, biting the orange Kar'rot root, his favourite snack
- I see you eat your veggies. Thats good - Doc smiled - I came to report that we managed to repair all Drone units and all the wounded have recuperated. Our troops can go back to work.
- Thanks Doc. You and your team are a real lifesavers - Vir'Tak smiled back. He liked that Med-Tech and her support team.
- No problem. Just be aware that putting some of them together was very hard. I wouldn't want to grow another organs for them in near future, the facility is overworked as it is.
- I will try Doc, but I can't promise anything. It is combat we are talking about.
- I am aware of the situation, but thank you for considering my position. And, commander...?
- Yes?
- Try to be safe yourself, ok? - Doc face went serious
- Thank you for the concern, but I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Why the sudden interest in my health anyways?
- Because - Doc pointed at the entrance to the mess hall - your friend is here. And he looks like he has an urgent bussiness with you...
Vir'Tak looked at the door and sure enough, Za'Chara was storming through the hall with serious look on his face.
- Oh boy... - Muttered Vir'Tak, taking the last bite of his Kar'rot and downing the glass of Hrix wine - Not again...

Some time later...

- So you say we can stop the information about Onyx involvement on the last mission if we discrupt this transmission matrix? - Vir'Tak asked, while looking through the plans of this sector.
- Yup. If we do that, humans will blame Tohaa for the whole mess and leave us alone - Za'Chara said, while searching for something on his data pad - Also, this would please high command, since it will shift humans focus towards them and maybe shake their alliance a little.
- Sounds good - Vir'Tak agreed, while looking intensly at Za'Chara - Almost too good. And what is the real reason?
Za'Chara looked back at him suprised - What do you mean?
- I know you since Academy, don't give me that. You still want that Arachnoman issue right?
Za'Chara shook his shoulders.
- Alright, alright. Yes, there is a chance it could be downloaded that way. Hey, maybe even we could find something for you too?
Vir'Tak sighted.
- Well, this time we have high command permission, so...
- Great! I have a team ready. Just give the word.
- Just don't make me regret it this time... I don't know how long I can cover us, you know?
Za'Chara smiled and clapped his hands together.
- It will be fine. What is the worst that could happen?

Kraal looked again at his data pad chronometer. Their informant was late. AGAIN. They have been stalking the transmission area for a few hours now. For now, humans guarding the place were not aware of their presence. But this could change. He instinctively reached for his hacking device, only to remember he had to leave it before mission.
- Damn, I'm feeling like I lost an arm...
- Old habits? - Kerr-Nau asked over his shoulder.
Kraal flinched and looked back.
- Don't do that.
- Sorry - Kerr-Nau began to scan the buildings again - There is a lot of devices that act like repeaters. This way it is safer for you.
Kraal grudgingly confirmed. He was worried for the rest of his force. All those remotes, juicy target for enemy hackers.
- Don't worry - Kerr-Nau said, almost like reading his mind - I'll cover them
- Yeah, or die trying
- Let's not be that pessimistic.
They stood there for a moment. Then Kraal commlink went active. He looked up the data.
- The target transmission is about to start. The informant is on site, finally. Its time to go.
Kerr-Nau nodded and rushed towards his Unidrone bodyguards.
- Ladies - he exlaimed - It's time to make some noise...

This time Onyx forces got the initiative, so they would be going first. Onyx deployed conservatively, trying to avoid hacking area from antennas with Unidrones and Kerr-Nau. Also Nexus, Ikadron on the right side and Malignos in TO were deployed to contest the antennas right away. Nomads bunkered up behind lots of camo and 4 koalas in difficult spots. It looked like a tough nut to crack, when...

Onyx turn 1
... i just happen to see that Transductor and Zondnautica clumped together on the right side. So first order both are brough down with missile fire. Second order, another missiles aimed at the Salyut and second Transductor near the middle. Again, both gone. Link moves a little, with Kerr-Nau as leader and take some better shooting position. Kerr-Nau attacks first Interwentor then Moderator Spec-Ops using antennas as a repeater. After a few orders, Interwentor is unfazed but Spec-Ops starts bleeding from his ears and falls unconscious. Rodok link moves toward the right side, anticipating attack from that flank.

Nomads turn 1
Morlocks use their impetous move and the left one runs into LoS of the Unidron Missile Launcher. So he dies. Nomads try to advance, but the Unidron ARO game is too strong. Kriza moves toward middle and tries to kill Unidron PSR. After intense firefight Kriza takes out the Imetron, Unidron goes into Dogged, but Kriza loses 1 wound, falls back and goes into suppression. One of the camo markers near the middle antenna reveals himself to be Zero KHD and attacks Kerr-Nau. Even with sixth sense and Tin Bot it looked bad. But luck shined upon Kerr-Nau and he managed to not only win, but also to put brave Zeros lights out. Interventor decides that using cybermask insde the repeater area would be a great idea, eats crit on Skullbuster on ARO and goes out as well.

Kerr-Nau tried to issue some commands to his unidrone team while simultaneously trying to keep all human hackers on check, but their comm channel was to cluttered with messages like "OwO", "( ´ ▽ ` )b", "d(>_< )" or "(￣∇￣人￣∇￣)" and various pictograms that they reffered as "emotikons" that he couldn't focus. He never really understood the meaning and purpouse of those messages. He tolerated them as long as they where not discrupting. But now they were. - Would you mind calming down? I'm in the middle of hacking... - Kerr-Nau worked furiously with his hands, trying to clear all the chat windows. Something blinked red behind one of them, but he just swiped everything aside. Just then one of the unidrones messaged him. - Kerr-Nau-san, my Tin Bot reports that you are being attacked by human hacking program... Oh, it stopped. Are you all right? Kerr-Nau stopped for a brief moment to check his defences. - Well, nothing is happening right now... Wait a sec - he browsed recent system history. And there it was. It seems he really was attacked, but when he closed all those chat windows at once some strange system feedback send all those messages to enemy hacker, knocking him out. - Well, it seems I was under attack... -Kerr-Nau was really suprised with this outcome. He should be unconscious by now if that attack was not stopped. - You are not hurt I hope Kerr-Nau-san? - Nah, it's ok. Something strange happened. Let's continue. And ease on the chat, ok?

Onyx turn 2
Its time to try to dismantle the Nomads defences. First, Rodok HMG jumps up, catches Kriza just out of suppresion range and shoots him down. Then brave Slave drone runs into the mid field and lures two koalas out. He dies in the process, but the road is more or less clear. Rodoks shift to the left side behind the big building, ready to kill HVT on the next turn. Rodok with Boarding Shotgun jumps on the roof (risky move, as he will learn soon).

Nomads turn 2
Nomads start in LoL, since Interventor was the lieutenant and he was down. Camo marker in the building on the right side moves towards the middle antenna and reveals himself while trying to perform HVT:Espionage. He failed and so Morlock runs toward Onyx HVT, uses smoke, climb the cargo container and kills the HVT, dying in proces from combined ARO of half of the Kerr-Nau fireteam. But still, HVT is gone. Camo on the left side, guarding HVT moves toward Rodok on the roof and tries to Jammer him, only to discover it was and 1/4 inch short. Lucky Rodok...

The mission looked good. The transmission has been jammed, human forces were in disarray. Only that irritiating informant was barking orders like he was in charge. Kraal finally told him to shut the hell up.
- I'm just making sure that you perform your job. Unlike last time - smirked the informant.
- I am perfectly capable of doing that, you are not commanding officer. Clear this channel!
- You MAYBE are. But those freaks of yours - he was refering to unidrones - that I'm not sure.
Kraal could see the angry emotes being thrown back and forth on the unidrone communication channel. And he knew it was bad.
- Ladies, please - he started to calm them down - Leave that idiot to himself, let's focus on...
- Movement! - Unidrones spun towards lone humans figure charging the field.
- As I assumed, those "experiments" of yours are not very capable... - Informant started his rant when suddently the charging human jumped on the cargo container, over the Shasvastii informant and sprayed him with hot shrapnel. Shasvastii fell to the ground in the middle of his sentence, suprised look all over his face. Second later, human was showered in plasma fire, combined with K1 rounds.
- What the hell happened? - asked Kraal, when vitals of the informant dissapeared from his HUD.
- I had to make sure my aim is correct - calmy explained Kerr-Nau, while all Unidrones noded vigorously.
- Yeeeah... - Kraal scratched his head - You didn't hold your fire on purpose, right?
- Of course not, we are all professionals - Kerr-Nau laughted, while Unidrone shook their heads even more vigorously.
- Ok then. So he was cought in the crossfire. It happens. Lets continue the mission
He wasn't really convinced, especially since the unidrone comms channel exploded with some strange converations and emotikons. But he was't really concerned either. He didn't like that guy either.

Malignos finaly moves from his spot, runs toward fallen Kriza and performs Coup De Grace, fulfiling Classified Objective. On return to his position he guns down Zeros AHD. Rodok with Boarding shotgun jumps up to kill HVT, while facing ARO from last camo on the building near the center. Camo reacts with shooting - Heckler with Red Fury. He misses, but Rodok puts some shots into HVT and kills him. Fraacta with Boarding shotgun flies down to kill Heckler, misses the landing spot and lands down on Onyx side of the table, performing completely nothing this game. Kerr-Nau team piles up on the middle antenna.

Nomads turn 3
With no options to do anything meaningful, Nomads yield the game.