[[OOC: Here we go, lots to respond to.]]

Phobos Space control cuts the com link, but still has it's guns trained on your fleet. 

Phobos's gift begins to fall back slowly, following your orders. Two other ships, named blockade 1 and blockade 2 [[They're called this as you said they might be blocking the escape route]] Power up their thrusters, ready to fly off and aid Phobos's gift if needed.

Victra's shuttle zooms off towards Phobos's gift.

Roque sticks by Garagases side, seemingly already having his boarding party ready to go. He leans over to the head pilots admin screen, taking a look at the three Acros ships coming towards the fleet. "Oh, its Acros," He mutters. "That means we're up against Mustang. I'm surprised she made the decision to take on her brother like that. She's obviously regretting it now."

"Sir, we have new info. One of the incoming Acros ships seems highly damaged, whilst the other two seem stronger, at at least 70% integrity."

[[OOC: Boarding is a tricky task. The boarding craft, called leach craft because of how they board, are strong but not invincible. This means that you must navigate the webs of flank fire around the enemy ships without getting hit too much. Once you are close enough, the flank can't hit you anymore, as it risks hitting the cruiser itself. The Leach craft then latches onto the enemy ship, and starts to drill into it, hoping to get the troops inside it into the enemy vessel before enemy shuttles come to shoot it off. If that is successful, then it's up to the boarding party to follow orders and do the rest.]]

"Time for us to advance." says Garagas, "While Blockades 1&2 and Phobos' Gift focus on preventing retreat, I want three ships [[OOC: Logjam 1,2,3?]] to engage those with higher hull integrity. The goal is to prevent them from coming to the damaged one's aid while the rest of our fleet focuses fire on it." He turns to Roque, "If you have familiarity with Mustang, what kind of tactics would you expect from her? Would she keep all her combat personnel on one ship or split them up for example?"

[[ OOC: 

@Yondor, from the boarding description, seems logical to have that course of action to wait until there's more support for a boarding. Although could also have arguments for sending a boarding leach while engaging the damaged one. Maybe breaking off 1 from the 4 and sending nukes that the flank guns are more inclined to deal with as immediate threats to provide cover for leaches? (Runs a risk of losing the ship we want to capture, but that risk is low from long-distance.) Curious what you/Lazaren thinks there.

self reminder of removed text from dialogue: After the damaged one is out of commission we will send leaches to board the remaining two with support from us to counter their flank guns

(figured that made sense to remove prior to having your input)

]]

"Yes Sir, Logjam 1, 2 and 3 heading forward to engage high integrity enemy ships. Our other ships are also heading towards the enemy, but holding back slightly, ready to bombard the weakened ship. The Blockade ships and Phobos's gift are now in position."

"I don't know how Mustang will react to our attack. She is Augustus's daughter, so she might see that she's lost and join us voluntarily, wanting to fight for her father. She's in the Acros fleet as a sort of peace marker from Augustus, to show this is about the Lancers and not Augustus VS the other houses. It's the same reason the son of Bellona, Cassius, is here with us. I knew Mustang quite well when we were little, and so still have some connections with her. Her brother, however, I'm not so sure about. He might be on the Across fleet with Mustang, or he might be on the Bellona fleet."

[[OOC:

So Vitus, we're saying that we could possibly try to board one of the higher integrity ships, or wait a bit longer before boarding, to be safe? Also, as for Lazaren, he definitely would be patient enough to wait until a perfect opportunity to board, but  he will get restless moderately quickly, and might decide to take a risk and launch a boarding attack. 

And let me know if I'm interpreting anything wrong, I'm tryin to understand this as best I can :)

]] 

[[OOC: Sorry for delay. And yep, Yondor, understanding what I'm saying fairly well.]]

"Thank you for your assessment, Roque." says Garagas and ponders for a moment on any words to add.

[[OOC: for communication channels between ships, is that an easy option (I'm guessing not due to the separation of a captured ship)? Or would it be a "get on board and negotiate" thing?]]

"My pleasure."

[[OOC: As long as you tell your pilot's to open coms on a secure channel (In this case, a secure channel is one that is not directly connected to the flag ship, instead it's a seperate communications device carried on the bridge. This prevents the enemy from hijacking the coms of your entire fleet.) then communicating with the enemy over radio shouldn't be a problem.]]

"Sir, the Blockade ships and Phobos's gift can no longer retreat without giving up their positional advantage. Unless you wish them to join back up with the main fleet, the enemy will detect them in under 3 minutes."

"Advance." says Garagas, "It's time for us to engage." he pauses, "But also open a channel with her fleet. If she expresses a desire to join us then that is a desirable outcome. However, if her placement in the Acros fleet is to show this isn't about Augustus vs the other houses, then there is a chance she may feel an obligation to fight us to the end."

"And assuming that is the case," he turns to Lazaren and Roque, "Of the two ships with more integrity, I want you to choose which one each of you will board. Once you engage with the enemy I want you to radio back your tactical situation so that Antonia can reinforce you as needed."

"Yes sir, ships are engaging. Com link is being established."

Roque nods, then turns to Lazaren. "You take the one on the left, I'll take the one on the right?"

The Coms buzz, and then Mustangs voice comms through. "Who commands my fathers fleet?" She inquires in a voice of authority, even though she's vastly outnumbered. Then, in a quieter voice, as if she's speaking to someone else, she says, "If it's Cassius or Roque, then they both know our memorised drill for negotiating and this conversation will be a swift one. If not, then we can have a little fun."   You hear a subtle sipping noise, as if she's drinking something.

"Then let's have a little fun," says Garagas with a chuckle. He gestures at Roque and Cassius to come over. "You are speaking with Garagas au Gathakanathi."

[[OOC: I'm trying to think of ways to involve Lazaren in the action but I'm coming up blank at the moment. Yondor, you got any ideas?]]

"Well then, let's- "  She pauses, as if interrupted, then continues. "Lets have some fun. Why have you called? Do wish to negotiate a peace, surrender, or to boast about your fleet?"

Roque and Cassius arrive at you side, but Cassius doesn't exactly rush to get to you. He takes his time, as if he's choosing to go to you instead of being ordered to.

[[OOC: It's a good idea to try and get Lazaren involved, but don't feel like Lazaren is being left out. I have lots of plans for his boarding party, and a few other, more... political things that might shake things up for both of you.]]

[[OOC: I say this a lot, but sorry for not being too active. End of the semester for me, I'm always kinda busy.

As for Lazaren being involved, don't worry about it. And what Drummer said is enough for me :) ]] 

"Sounds good. I'm ready when you are." Lazaren says to Roque. He alerts Pax and Mave, too. He grabs a pulse spear, and tries to find some armor, if he doesn't already have something. 

Garagas takes moment to cast a quick minor illusion of a sign for Roque and Cassius to read. On it is a brief expression of desiring counsel as to what protocols they had arranged. There are also two options for them to point at as recommendations for the next step in the negotiation: peace or surrender.

[[OOC: goal to have a quiet counsel]]

[[OOC: Alrighty, Yondor. :) ]]

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: I say this a lot, but sorry for not being too active. End of the semester for me, I'm always kinda busy.

As for Lazaren being involved, don't worry about it. And what Drummer said is enough for me :) ]] 

"Sounds good. I'm ready when you are." Lazaren says to Roque. He alerts Pax and Mave, too. He grabs a pulse spear, and tries to find some armor, if he doesn't already have something. 

 Pax and Mave stick by your side, ready with coms to bring the rest of the boarding party in to action.

[[OOC: Unless you want to be heavy slowed down by juggernaut armor (used for breaking through walls) Then your scrab skin is probably best suited for fighting.]]

Quote from VitusW >>

Garagas takes moment to cast a quick minor illusion of a sign for Roque and Cassius to read. On it is a brief expression of desiring counsel as to what protocols they had arranged. There are also two options for them to point at as recommendations for the next step in the negotiation: peace or surrender.

[[OOC: goal to have a quiet counsel]]

[[OOC: Alrighty, Yondor. :) ]]

 Roque seems to want to try to make Mustang surrender first, but if not he thinks you should take her out whilst you still can. Cassius is saying no to both options, instead thinking you should just go all out with the nukes and leach craft.

Quote from Drummer_the_Dragon_Slayer >>

Quote from Yondor_The_Fantastic >>

[[OOC: I say this a lot, but sorry for not being too active. End of the semester for me, I'm always kinda busy.

As for Lazaren being involved, don't worry about it. And what Drummer said is enough for me :) ]] 

"Sounds good. I'm ready when you are." Lazaren says to Roque. He alerts Pax and Mave, too. He grabs a pulse spear, and tries to find some armor, if he doesn't already have something. 

 Pax and Mave stick by your side, ready with coms to bring the rest of the boarding party in to action.

[[OOC: Unless you want to be heavy slowed down by juggernaut armor (used for breaking through walls) Then your scrab skin is probably best suited for fighting.]]

 [[OOC: Juggernaut armor sounds pretty freakin fun, but I'll stick with scrab skin. It's more Lazaren's style.]] 

As Lazaren waits, he studies the golds around him, his face a calm image, but whether this calmness reflects his emotions or not is still undetermined. 

Garagas ponders the counsel for a moment. Keeping coms on so Mustang can hear him, though not adding any 'performance' to his words, he orders the crew, "Lay suppressive fire for the time being to hinder any potential escape attempts." To Roque and Lazaren he says, "Board the leech craft and stand by." He then turns his attention back to Mustang, "I am here to negotiate your surrender. The ships of your fleet have utility in hunting down the remaining Bellona ships. I wish to add them to my fleet."

"And why should I surrender? Give me a good reason Gathakanathi, I'm listening."

Suppressive HBR's are fired, slowly cutting into the healthy Acros ships and just adding insult to injury when they hit the heavily damaged one.

Everyone runs off to follow your orders, getting ready for the possible battle coming up. [[When I say everyone, I mean everyone except Lazaren, Pax and Mave, as I don't control Lazaren and Pax and Mave are sticking with him.]]

He signals for the crew to ready nukes on the damaged one in case Mustang doesn't surrender. To Mustang he replies, "You are outnumbered and surrounded. Of your remaining fleet, a third of it is heavily damaged. Surrender is the logical course of action."

The crew begin to prepare the nukes.

"Okay then, it might be logical to surrendered. But what if I attack you, just to weaken you in one last attempt before I lose?"

"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."