Battlestar Valkyrie: Operation Bifrost - Episode 1 - En Garde

[SalmonMax]

Callisto turns around from where she's staring moodily at a security screen showing Everette sitting calm as you please at a small table in a holding cell.

"Bedrock," she says, taken aback. "Take a breath and tell me this is something that ties into the Everette case."

[Callsign Bedrock]

"I got into the computer," says Simon, after getting his breath back. "I got the destination, and the flight manifest. The Prophet was set to rendezvous with the Battlestar Valiant in about..." He checks the wall clock. "Momentarily."

"The Valiant is supposed to be in drydock on Scorpia for maintenance. You might not be aware, but Scorpia and Gemenon are on the brink of inter-colonial civil war. And Captain? I'm absolutely convinced that this data was scrambled by either someone very familiar with Cylon hacking techniques, or... well. You can guess."

[SalmonMax]

"So you're saying...a ship from Gemenon is supposed to be meeting a ship out of Scorpia, two powers close to war, and that information was encrypted using Cylon techniques. And the ships themselves were apparently intercepted, sabotaged and set adrift near the Armistice Line."

Callisto frowned. There was a pattern here, but she couldn't quite see it yet.

"Where's the rendezvous supposed to take place?"

[z-Agrippina Solas]

Agrippina was pissed. She'd done as Callisto has asked, she'd stilled her vengeance and played by her rules. And they had gotten nowhere. Worse, there was this bullshit with Cylon codes and ships was just distracting from the matter at hand.

"What the frak does this have to do with Everette?" she growled. "Aren't we dealing with him right now?"

[Rorx]

"Forget about Everette, we got him here and we aren't going to be letting him go until we get to the bottom of it, even if he has to stay there for the whole fracking tour. I'd have thought that even you Chief could have appreciated that what was going on that ended up causing severe damage to a number of ships of the fleet was worth some attention, I know the Admiral thinks so."

"If you can't see that, then maybe you should go over with me everything that occured about the Lorenzo incident. Start from the last time you saw Lorenzo before you discovered him, where were you, what was happening, what was said and don't stop until you got back to the Flight Deck. Especially anything Everette did, said, implied. Where he was standing, what was he looking at, was he carrying anything, what did he move."

[SalmonMax]

"Ease up there," Callisto says. She nods at the Chief. "She's on our side."

"And she's right. So far I don't see much linking the incident with these ships to Everette. He's definitely up to something, and Lorenzo's the key to that, but the ships so far seem separate."

"Bedrock, summarize what you've found so far in a report and submit it to the Admiral, with a copy for me as well. We'll see if orders change, but right now lets stay focused on Everette."

Callisto looks back at Agrippina. "Is there anything you remember about what he said when he was talking to you? Anything that might give us a clue about what he wanted with you?"

[Celestial Centurion]

The Doc enters the room and takes a seat, "My apologies, I was checking up on Lorenzo. So far so good for the young man, though I'm afraid I still cannot judge if he'll ever wake up." The doc shook his head sadly as he settled in to listen to the others.

[Callsign Bedrock]

"The rendezvous is scheduled to happen any minute now. Five minutes at the latest. Unless you can type five pages a minute I can't get a report together in time. We need to speak to the Admiral."

[z-Agrippina Solas]

Scarface earned himself a fat black mark in the Chief's book with his harsh assesment. Frak you! she thought at the officer angrily. I'm a fraking grease monkey, and what you're talking about is none of my business.

"Hey, Doc, thanks... just keep me informed, ok?" she said, nodding at the man. "I'm very concerned about him."

The Chief started to reply to Callisto, but nodded instead at Bedrock's earnest point. "That sounds more serious. You should probably deal with it."

[CIC BS: Valkyrie]

The alarms went off – “All pilots to flight deck, man your planes. CAG needed in CIC. We’re under attack, this is not a drill. All pilots to flight deck, man your planes. CAG needed in CIC. We’re under attack, this is not a drill”.

Just after the announcement finished something hit the Valkyrie rocking it wildly to the side. Those still sitting at the table stumbled and fell to the hard floor but no damage was done.

Click to reveal..

Everyone roll Initiative – and post their action. Once we enter real combat we go by group initiative (i. e. highest roll). Until then post free until I say we enter combat.

[Rorx]

Scarface quickly gets up and starts heading for the door, throwing a comment as he goes, "well it looks like someone has arrived. See you on the flight deck."

At the door he passes and turns to the Chief, "Sorry if I came on too strong, I'm just pissed at the lack of progress with Everette as well." Then he runs off for the flight deck.

[Callsign Bedrock]

Click to reveal..

1d4+1d8=6 for init.

Bedrock rocks on his feet, and then bolts for the flight deck. "Callisto! Tell the admiral, quickly!"

He scrambles for his Raptor, already going over ECM drills in his head.

[SalmonMax]

Init: 9

(06:48:52) ChatBot: (Max) rolls 1d10 and gets 8.

(06:48:57) ChatBot: (Max) rolls 1d8 and gets 1.

At the sound of the klaxxons, Callisto was automatically up and starting to head for the flight deck to get suited up and into her Viper. It took her a second for the full order to register, and a second longer for her to get up off the floor.

She barely registers Bedrock's admonition as she overrides every instinct she has and pelts through the corridors not to her squadron, but to the command center of the Valkyrie.

At CIC she burst through the doors looking harried and frazzled.

"CAG reporting as ordered!" she blurted.

[CIC BS: Valkyrie]

CIC, Battlestar Valkyrie

„Good“, Admiral Kerrington briefly acknowledged. The CIC was in full alert mode. People were reporting from their stations and the DRADIS was constantly updating their situation. From the short impression she got, Callisto could tell that the IFF-Transponders showed Colonial markers which meant they were under attack by their own people.

“The Battlestar Valiant just jumped into the system and opened fire on us without a warning. They caught us by surprise with our pants down – I need you to coordinate our defence and get a team of Marines on board the Valiant and take the CIC. Make sure that Raptor makes it to the Valiant, Captain.”, the Admiral was studying the map and was considering his next move. He didn’t dismiss her which left her with the option to just leave or ask questions. Time was running out, though.

Starboard Flightdeck, Battlestar Valkyrie

At the flight deck Scarface and Bedrock found themselves in the middle of scrambling Pilots and Marines. The XO waved them over as soon as he saw them, behind him a Colonial Marines Captain with his Platoon ready in full montage.

“Lt. Bedrock – I need you to take this boarding team over to the Valiant – we need to capture that ship.”, the XO flatly stated. Looking at Scarface he just nodded towards the planes. “Make sure he makes it in one piece. The CAG should be here any minute. She has the final say in how you pull off this stunt. May the Gods of Kobol be with us.”

“So say we all!”, the Marines answered in unison.

Medbay Battlestar Valkyrie

Chief Solas and Doc Hamal were outside Lorenzo’s room. One of the Nurses just left the room and put both up to date on his condition. He was still stable but dependent on the machines to keep him alive. If the ship got crucially damaged this could change of course in the matter of seconds – but then they would have other trouble to take care of.

The Marines looked nervously at each other obviously being on their first mission and now under fire. “Sir?”, one of the young men addressed the Major. “Are the Cylons attacking?”

[Rorx]

With a nod to the XO Scarface runs off to suit up and climb into his Viper. Once there all he can do is await the orders of the CAG and pray they can get the job done without too much loss of life.

[Callsign Bedrock]

"As ordered. Into the bucket, everyone! Double time!" Bedrock slaps his helmet on and jumps in the cockpit, running through the pre-flight checklist as fast as he dares.

[Celestial Centurion]

Originally Posted By: CIC BS: Valkyrie

Medbay Battlestar Valkyrie
“Sir?”, one of the young men addressed the Major. “Are the Cylons attacking?”

"Frak if I know!" the Doc spat angrily. "Nurse! Prep for casualties." Terry stormed to his desk and pulled a lollypop out of one of the drawers. He ripped the wrapping away and popped it into his mouth even as he strode on steady legs back to Lorenzo's room. "Chief, you got a spare genny? I think its in your best interest to help me make sure this kid doesn't die, and die he will if these machines lose power."

[SalmonMax]

Callisto hesitated only a second. There were a thousand questions to ask. What was the Valiant doing out here? Why were they attacking? Had they tried to communicate? Were there nukes in this slugfest?

A thousand questions, and time enough to ask exactly none.

She saluted. "Yes, sir!"

The way back to the flight deck was one long sprinting marathon for Callisto. As she got her helmet on she commed to the Raptor.

"Bedrock, this is Callisto. You're going to be flying a squad of marines over to try to take Valiant's CIC. Is there any chance you can use that Raptor to hack the IFF codes Valiant's using and make us green on their board? Otherwise we'll have to cut you a path through their guns, and that'll mean more casualties on both sides. Think fast too, we're leaving as as soon as I get in my Viper."

[z-Agrippina Solas]

Agrippina walked to the wall phone and called down. "Get me a portable generator up to the MedBay, right now." As she heard her order relayed, she added, "What's the status of the deck?"

[Callsign Bedrock]

Bedrock frown. "There is a chance, Callisto, but the other Raptor pilots will be as good as I am. I'm not sure if it'll succeed. But if you think it'd our best shot, then that's what I'll do."

[SalmonMax]

"Do it. Worst place scenario, it doesn't work and we're back to the same square we'd be in if we didn't try. How long do you need?"

She climbed up the ladder alongside the sleek gunmetal side of her Viper and deftly vaulted into the cockpit, sealing the canopy shut over and around her.

[CIC BS: Valkyrie]

Armistice Line

They say no one hears you scream in space and every one dies alone. Today both sayings didn’t seem to apply. Vipers and Raptors were chasing in deadly dogfights while the Valiant pressured on with the attack. Space was literally on fire and communications were difficult to maintain. Fate was dependent on quick decisions…

Bedrock instinctively ducked with each explosion that rocked the Raptor while Wade tried to dodge most of the flak directed at them. “How much longer?”, Callisto barked through the comms as she gave off another deadly salvo of rounds that tore a Viper into shreds.

“On it…”, Bedrock answered still hacking his way into the Valiants network while he quietly prayed to the gods.

Scarface was flying close escort and concentrated mainly on keeping missiles away from the Raptor and its strikeforce.

The Valiant was slowly turning around facing the Valkyrie from its bow preparing to launch its nuke to settle this conflict once and for all.

“The frakkers are arming their nukes!”, Callisto bellowed into the tactical frequency. “Bedrock – we need the codes!”

For a moment the battle raged and no side got an advantage to turn the tides but then the Valiant had managed to get into a perfect firing position and launched 2 of its nukes.

On board the Valkyrie the alarms went off. “Tactical warheads detected, eta 2 minutes – they are armed!”

The Comm-Officer removed his headset and yelled over the CIC – “Someone removed the save mechanism – those warheads can’t be disarmed, Sir!”

Admiral Kerrington sighed briefly and ordered the Valkryie to turn presenting the Warheads their most armoured side and hoped the ship would hold – which was a foolish thought. A single Warhead was sufficient to destroy the Battlestar – everbody knew that.

“Got it!”, Bedrock cheered successfully and instantly relayed the information to his taskforce. All enemie blips turned friendly and Callisto issued the order to close into the Valiant. Their pointdefense turrets shouldn’t open fire on them and with some luck they could try to make a dry landing on one of the flightdecks.

The timer on board the Valkyrie reached the 60 seconds mark and Admiral Kerrington still had no better options presented to him when suddenly the Hercules manoeuvred dangerously close to them. The Vipers and Raptors could see how the crew of the Hercules made emergency drops using their escape pods – the Hercules was on direct interception course with the Warheads!

A bright flash blinded Callisto just before Bedrock managed to touchdown on the Valiants flightdeck. The Hangars were empty except for the deckhands who wordlessly stared at the new arrivals.

Callisto and Scarface hit the afterburners re-entering the combat zone in one fluid motion leaving Bedrock and the Marines behind to accomplish their mission.

--

Battlestar Valkyrie, Medbay

“Affirmative”, answered Hudson over the phone. “One portable Gennie – I’ll take care of it personally, Chief.”

The ship got rocked by another salvo of missiles. Alarms went off on all stations and people started to get nervous. The Nurse who assisted Doc Hamal looked worried to the Chief but said nothing. Everyone knew that these could be their last minutes.

“Attention all crewmembers – Nuclear Warheads detected. Prepare for impact. Attention all crewmembers – Nuclear Warheads detected. Prepare for impact.”

They were supposed to follow their training which ordered them to very specific evacuation points on board the Valkyrie in case of immediate destruction but no one moved in Lorenzo’s room – they just stared at eachother in disbelief.

(ooc:I’d like to keep this mass-combat in Story-mode and not switch to combat rounds. I’m ok with you guys editing as you wish when detailing how many ships you take down – just keep it real . Should you try to pull off any stunts remember to use Plotpoints to your favour. I’ll get back to you if I think a roll is necessary.)

[SalmonMax]

"Admiral," Callisto reported as she gunned it out of the enemy flight deck, "Boarding party's been inserted. What's our status?"

She was trying to keep it together, but that flash had unnerved her. It'd been too early to be the Valkyrie though...hadn't it?

[CIC BS: Valkyrie]

There was only static over the com followed by a sickening silence as Callisto saw what happened. The Hercules got hit by both Warheads and broke apart in the middle like it was made of paper Mache. She could see escape pods and Raptors floating out of control through space and for a moment the firing ceased altogether as Pilots from both sides had to adjust to the blinding flash.

A beeping sound brought her back to reality and she looked down at her console. A message was relayed on her screen.

“Voice-Communication impossible atm – proceed with your mission – Hercules got destroyed – Emergency Rescue enroute”

This was madness…

[Callsign Bedrock]

I can't believe that worked. Thank the Lords of Kobol. Bedrock checked for seals on his crew's vacuum suits, and then opened the door.

"Off we go, then."

[Rorx]

Scarface paused in his firing as they re-entered the combat zone, waiting briefly to see if they resumed combat in the face of the destruction of the Hercules. However, it didn't stop him moving into position to open up on a ragged group of their Vipers that had already taken damage as they had escorted the Raptor across.