Quote from VitusW >>

"Same end result. But my fleet will have a practice run before engaging the Bellona fleet." says Garagas. He signals for nukes to start being fired at the damaged ship. "It's a practice war so I can understand your mindset. Perhaps I would do the same in your position." He gives a friendly chuckle, "Though in a true fight it would be a poor waste of the crew's lives."

 "You plan to take on the Bellona fleet? Haven't you heard the news?"

"I was given to understand this practice war would be between fleets from houses Augustus, Acros, and Bellona." says Garagas. "Has that situation been modified?"

"No, nothing's changed."  She suddenly seems a lot more confident, amused even. "You are a lot easier to trick then I thought, Gathakanathi.   I guess not everyone can guess when I'm time wasting. My brother always could."

"Sir, we just lost all communications with Phobos's gift and both the blockades."  

"Sir! Phobos's gift is taking heavy fire, and our orders won't go through. Gift integrity: 80%."

"Should have been more careful. Step number one of being outnumbered: Cause disarray amongst your enemies."  The com link cuts out.

[[Don't say I didn't warn you. Should have opened that com link on a secure channel like I suggested. It all makes for a better story though lol, this should be exciting :)]]

[[ OOC: To be honest I would've figured "open a channel" would mean doing it the secure way by default given the lack of any downsides of  using a secure channel over an unsecure one and the severe downsides to unsecure instead of secure combined with only secured channels having been specifically mentioned. ]]

Garagas holds back from cursing the coms-link guy. In a sense it was natural a soldier bred to follow orders would carry out exact wording like a mindless drone even if it was just one single word off of something far better. It would be a conversation he'd have to have with the crew at a later point, but for now other matters were more urgent. "Work on re-establishing coms. In the meantime send shuttles as couriers to alert those out of communication as to the battle plans." He pauses, "Continue bombardment of the damaged one." he orders. "Roque and Lazaren, prepare to board the other two. The Logjams are also now under orders to send nukes at those two, not enough to get through as I want us to capture them, but enough to demand the full attention of their flank guns as cover for the leeches. If we need to close distance to make such boarding more feasible, then order an advance prior to launching the leeches. Antonia and Tacticus, board your leeches too but stay in reserve until Roque and Lazaren indicate where backup is necessary."

He turns to the remaining Golds, "I need acting officers." he says, "If coms are being messed with then I need golds to command on each ship. Step forward if you wish to be considered."

[[You're completely right, if this was a normal fight then a secure channel would be set as default, and the crew would check with you before opening up a com link that could be hacked. But as this is a practice war, its meant to make you learn, and sometimes mistakes are the only way to do that.]]

All your orders are followed, as nukes fire, shuttles are launched and Lancers run off to get ready.

Cassius steps forward, almost reluctantly, as he would prefer to win command rather than be gifted it.

Quinn steps forward, a look of determination on her face.

[[OOC: Oh gosh. ]] 

Lazaren sprints, and I mean sprints, off to make sure everyone in his boarding party is ready. He has Pax and Mave make sure they're prepared, too. (I assume all of the soldiers would be ready, in a ship or something?) 

"Only two? Was hoping for more." mutters Garagas to himself. "Victra was already sent to Phobos' Gift. It is natural for her to lead the Blockades. Cassius, gather up a retinue and head to the Logjams. The optimum goal is to capture those two ships. But if needs be, destroy her fleet. Quinn, we'll finish up this stray ship here. I want your primary focus on keeping these four ships on task." [[OOC: figuring that while Garagas can command the flag ship from the bridge, better to be able to devote attention to the fleet as needs be]]

Cassius runs off towards the shuttle dock. 

"As I am to stay here, what would it be best I do?"

[[OOC: I'm assuming this is Quinn asking.]]

"If you need to assemble a group of your own to handle the management of this segment of the fleet, now would be the time to do so. My intent is to be able to focus on the fleet as a whole as needs be." says Garagas,. "What's the status on that ship we've been bombarding?" he asks.

[[OOC: Yes, its Quinn. Sorry I didn't say, I forgot that you haven't really spoken with her before and wouldn't know orange is her colour.]]

"Yes sir."  Quinn brings together a few golds, and starts ordering them to spread out amongst the nearby ships. 

"The two strong ships are taking minimal damage. They are still taking some damage though, as a large proportion of their flank is shielding the highly damaged ship."

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: Oh gosh. ]] 

Lazaren sprints, and I mean sprints, off to make sure everyone in his boarding party is ready. He has Pax and Mave make sure they're prepared, too. (I assume all of the soldiers would be ready, in a ship or something?) 

 [[So basically Lazaren and Roque would go off in their two smaller ships when they board?]] 

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: Oh gosh. ]] 

Lazaren sprints, and I mean sprints, off to make sure everyone in his boarding party is ready. He has Pax and Mave make sure they're prepared, too. (I assume all of the soldiers would be ready, in a ship or something?) 

 [[So basically Lazaren and Roque would go off in their two smaller ships when they board?]] 

 [[Sorry, I forgot to reply to this. All of your boarding party are ready, crammed up into about 150 leach craft. You have a choice: You can take a more heavily armored vessel to travel in, and risk getting more attention from flank, or you can go in a random leach craft and have less armor, but be less easily spotted. All you need to do is give the order and Mave and Pax will get your boarding party flying.]]

Quote from Drummer_the_Dragon_Slayer >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: Oh gosh. ]] 

Lazaren sprints, and I mean sprints, off to make sure everyone in his boarding party is ready. He has Pax and Mave make sure they're prepared, too. (I assume all of the soldiers would be ready, in a ship or something?) 

 [[So basically Lazaren and Roque would go off in their two smaller ships when they board?]] 

 [[Sorry, I forgot to reply to this. All of your boarding party are ready, crammed up into about 150 leach craft. You have a choice: You can take a more heavily armored vessel to travel in, and risk getting more attention from flank, or you can go in a random leach craft and have less armor, but be less easily spotted. All you need to do is give the order and Mave and Pax will get your boarding party flying.]]

 [[OOC: You're good. ]] 

Lazaren weighs his options, and decides to go in a random leach craft, betting that he will be safer, and will most likely make it to the enemy. "Pax and Mave, tell your troops that we're goin in! Pax will clear the way, and Mave and I will follow from behind, getting rid of any stragglers of the enemy. Yes, a short recap, but I think we need to act fast. If there's no questions, let's get right to it." 

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

Quote from Drummer_the_Dragon_Slayer >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: Oh gosh. ]] 

Lazaren sprints, and I mean sprints, off to make sure everyone in his boarding party is ready. He has Pax and Mave make sure they're prepared, too. (I assume all of the soldiers would be ready, in a ship or something?) 

 [[So basically Lazaren and Roque would go off in their two smaller ships when they board?]] 

 [[Sorry, I forgot to reply to this. All of your boarding party are ready, crammed up into about 150 leach craft. You have a choice: You can take a more heavily armored vessel to travel in, and risk getting more attention from flank, or you can go in a random leach craft and have less armor, but be less easily spotted. All you need to do is give the order and Mave and Pax will get your boarding party flying.]]

 [[OOC: You're good. ]] 

Lazaren weighs his options, and decides to go in a random leach craft, betting that he will be safer, and will most likely make it to the enemy. "Pax and Mave, tell your troops that we're goin in! Pax will clear the way, and Mave and I will follow from behind, getting rid of any stragglers of the enemy. Yes, a short recap, but I think we need to act fast. If there's no questions, let's get right to it." 

 "Yes sir! Which ship are we heading f- oh wait, no questions." The leach craft begin to take off.

"Are we in range to divert some of our flank to protecting Phobos' Gift?" asks Garagas, "I also want an update on when leeches arrive. If the Acroses are diverting some of their flank guns to protecting this damaged ship for the time being, then its existence is a boon to enhancing the survival of the leechcraft. But once its continued serviceability is no longer tactically advantageous for us, I want us to be able to send a decisive blow."

"Phobos's gift is in range of our long range flank support, but not our high intensity short range yet. Commander Roque's leech squad is fighting against flank, but is doing well, with 16 confirmed infiltrations so far and a 40 percent latch rate. Commander Lazaren's squad is now departing, heading for the other high integrity Acros ship."

"Sir, our nukes are so far ineffective, as enemy flank shots per second are higher than average. If you want a decisive blow on the weakened ship, then blockade 2 would have to risk enemy close range HBR's to bombard the damaged ship with MEP's from its broadside cannons." [[MEP stands for magnetic explosive payload]] 

"Sir, we have regained coms with the rest of the fleet, but the Acros ships are making fast progress at blasting their way through the blockades and Phobos's gift."

Lazaren is tense as he sits in his leach craft, but proceeds with the plan. 

[[I'm not ignoring this, don't worry, I've just had a pretty busy christmas. I'll get back to you ASAP]]

Quote from Drummer_the_Dragon_Slayer >>

[[I'm not ignoring this, don't worry, I've just had a pretty busy christmas. I'll get back to you ASAP]]

 *No you're good. I get it, no need to rush. I'm usually the one slowing things down around here anyways :)* 

[[Real sorry, I would have got back to this today, but the Tavern got in the way. I've got nothing to do after I've eaten breakfast tomorrow, so I'll do it then :)]]