Date: 21-08-2550. 11:00 AM
A door opened into the meeting room. General Brant stopped his conversation he was having with one of his staff. He turned his head around to look at the ones entering the meeting room. "Honor team you have made it. And I'm sorry for your loss." The General said. "Thank you, sir. Four, Marco will be missed. But we have to focus on the now." Mason said in a somber tone. "Indeed, Honor One." General Brant, agreed time was short as it is.
"So, as you have seen that supercarrier the Concords have slipped by our planetary defenses as become a serious issue. It has deployed millions of ground units and millions of those are Silvoths. They are overwhelming the western continent where your last deployment was. Millions have already been killed by the Concord. And not to mention the tens of thousands of Concord star fighters. The Concord supercarrier has also engaged in the orbital of Harvest destroying countless of our orbital defense platforms, And a hunderd of our smaller ships." Brant explained.
"We have to take it out, but weren't the 13 Phoenix-class supercarriers, in orbit not enough to take it out?" Mason asked general Brant. "No, there were dozens of other Concord ships arrived when the Concord supercarrier arrived. So the Phoenixs were already engaged along side a significant portion of our fleet. We have prevented most from reaching the planet but we cannot fire on those that did make it past our defenses. Except for the smaller of our ships that are equipped with the lower end of the MACs. So the Concord now are attacking across the entire planet Visagrad has already been invaded by them though the powerful Colossi are currently preventing the city from falling completely. The same will be for the capital of Harvest, New Amsterdam it won't belong until the fighting reaches here too in few days time maybe sooner." General Brant explained
"But where are the reinforcements?" George interjected into the conversation with his question. "They aren't coming." Brant said calmly. "WHAT!? why not?" George asked in shock. "Listen, it isn't worth reinforcing Harvest. Even if we're still building over three thousand warships currently on the planet. most of them aren't even near finishing their construction. So it isn't worth sending the last of our two thousand warships in to save them if they are all going to be destroyed. Concord reinforcements are heading this way. They already have destroyed half of the fleet with the few dozen ships already have. Now hunderds of Concord warships are arriving soon. We only have 451 warships left out of our defense fleet which was originally at 963 warships. The remaining ships have been ordered by central command to head for Earth. If we lose Earth we truly lose this War." General Brant explained.
"We still have to hit the carrier than, and destroy it." Amelia interjected into the conversation. "How, we can't get close to it it's to well guarded from a direct attack even from distance. And it's shielding is strong enough to Survive several direct hits from several Phoenixs Super MACs." General Brant said to Amelia. "What about a gigaton nuclear bomb delivered by us?" Amelia suggested. "Hmm, that could could work. And it currently is our only option." General Brant responded. "There's one problem though." Mason said to Brant. "Which is?" Brant asked. "Amelia and I don't Excalibur Armors anymore they got severely damaged by Concord plasma fire." Mason responded.
"That can be fixed. We currently have two Mark 4 Excalibur Armors here at base. Which both of you can have." General Brant offered them. "Thank you sir, we'll use them well." Mason thanked the general. "Ha, I guess I'll be stuck in my mark 2 than huh." Ivan jokingly said. "You can get a Mark 3. I know one of those is laying around in the armory like the two Mark 4s." Brant replied to Ivan.
"Well than, I'll glady take on. though I'll still be the worst protected our of all us Riftans in the team. Nothing against you at'aria." Ivan accepted the offer with his usual biy of sarcasm through it.
"That reminds me you were smart taking the Quorthian with you, Honor One. she has a vast amount of knowledge of Concord technology so she will be going with on this mission. So when you go to the armory arm her as well with a good weapon. " General Brant said. "Where the Quorthian?" The General asked.
"At'aria which is her name, is with Six. As she isn't allowed anywhere near you." Mason replied to Brant's question. "Alright. Though the question of how you'll deliver the bomb to the Concord supercarrier remains. It will shoot you down if you get close to it." Brant continued on.
"We'll have to capture a Concord vessel and use that to get to the supercarrier. Than place the bomb inside and detonate it once we reach safe distance from the blast radius." Amelia suggested. "That could work" General Brant said.
"Than it is decided we will go with this plan." Mason decided. "But what Concord vessel should we use to get on board of the Concord supercarrier?" Mason asked. "A Concord corvette would be a good option if we attack it signals, need to be blocked. Otherwise the entire Concord fleet will be alerted by our plan." Amelia answered.
"A good idea but it could go wrong especially if a Matriarch or other Elsari is there. We lost Four because of that. And than the hunderds of Concord inside. It will be just as difficult if not more so than the tower we last blew up in our last mission. And we barely made it out of that one. Besides we could take a troop transport instead to get to the supercarrier." Mason argued.
"Negative, that won't work. First it's not enough space because you're not going alone, nine other teams of Riftan-IIIs are coming along with you. Around 55 Riftan-IIIs which is half of all Riftan-IIIs there are on Harvest. And second it just so happens Concord corvette is docked on planet for which purpose we do not know. So you can attack this Concord corvette and take it over. Get the bomb inside and head for the supercarrier afterwards. Than get the bomb into the supercarrier and preferably in it's reactor core. Than get the hell out and detonate that bomb. Which will destroy the supercarrier from within. General Brant countered.
"Than the corvette it is. Well than we will prepare for the mission, head out and meet with the other Riftan-IIIs." Mason responded as he signaled to the others to get ready. Honor Two, Three, Five and Seven left the meeting room. Seven though stayed at the door waiting for Mason. "Good. But one more thing, Honor One. Commander Chief and his team of Riftan-IIs is coming with you." Brant said. Mason looked shocked. "Wait the chief?" He asked, shocked in suprise.
"But isn't he supposed to retreat? Especially if the planet is already lost. Why waste his skills on Harvest a doomed planet to the Concord?" Mason continued to ask. "First off all this supercarrier is to dangerous to be left standing. Especially if it too hits Earth, our last hope for winning this war. Second the Chief choose to go, it seemed very personal to him, when I spoke to him." General Brant responded to Mason's question. Mason saw Seven still waiting for him. "Seven you can go ahead to the armory I'll finish this talked with the general Brant" Mason said to Seven from across the room.
Seven gave a nod and walked away from the door that lead into the meeting room. She went down the hallways her boots echoing through them. She walked a few hunderd meters until she reached the armory. She opened the door to the armory and walked in. She looked at the others and at At'aria whom was fascinated by all the weapons here. She grabbed a shotgun from a weapons rack. $Huh going for the big guns are we?" George asked friendly. "Yeah, I guess?" She responded shyly back. "What is this weapon, though? At'aria asked shyly at George. *light chuckle* "That is a Shotgun, it shoots ballistic bullets that spreads out over a large area in front of you at short range." He responded to her. "You mind, I take it?" She At'aria asked George gently. "No I don't, you can use it for the upcoming mission." George responded.
Thank you, George. At'aria said with a little smile behind her helmet. George gave a gentle nod. And walked to a bench to sit on. He took off his helmet turned the helmet around so that the visor looked back at his face. His face reflected in the visor of his helmet. He moved his fingers over it. The realization that his homeworld was about to be truly lost. Hit him hard and that the League has begun it's full retreat from Harvest hit him even harder he wondered what was he even fighting for anymore.
To him it was pointless now he thought to himself. He gripped onto his helmet a little harder. The stress was eating him alive, 768 million people were about to die no evacuations for civilians because it might lead the Concord to Earth. A tear dropped onto his helmet. He shed a tear for the hunderds of millions about to die in the next few days. He face started to frowned.
Than he felt something being placed on his left shoulder. George turned his head to his left to look at his left shoulder He saw a hand on his shoulder. Ge looked up and saw Elena standing behind him in her new Mark 3 Excalibur Armor, she had her new mark 3 helmet in her left arm placed up against her hip. She looked at him concerned she than opened her mouth and spoke. "George, are you alright? you act calm and that you are trying to stay strong for us, but I know how the League not sending any reinforcements is hurting you. " she said in a calm comforting voice. George looked back down to his helmet. Taking a deep breath. He sighed and responded to her
"Yes it is. A lot I fight for decades than the world I was born and trained on for all my childhood. Gets cast aside what a joke my homeworld, our most important industrial planet left to fend for itself." George said frustrated. "I knew. But I understand why central command made that choice. Harvest is going to fall no matter what George. Retreating it's defense fleet to Earth will give Earth a slight better chance to fend off the Concord." Amelia answered George.
*Sigh* "I know but I still don't like it." George answered back. As he continued to look at his helmet's visor before putting it back on. He stood up and turned around. "I'm going to prepare for the upcoming mission now, some new ammunition for my RA minigun will be need." George said in a heavy tone trying to focus not on the fate of his homeworld. He began walking but was stopped when Amelia placed her hand on his chest. "Please try to brush me off George. You talk to me there's still something isn't there?" Amelia said softly.
He looked at Amelia his eyes heavy behind his visor. "I know, it's my mother I haven't seen her in a very long time. And didn't leave things on terms" George said with a hint of regret. "I'm sorry to hear that George. I didn't know." Amelia responded in a soft tone. "I know. Don't worry about it. George finished and walked past her.
Seven walked past racks and racks of weapons. She looked at each one. All for normal troops she noted to herself. She stopped at a ammunitions crate. She bend down unlocked the lock on it and open the crate, she grabbed multiple magazines.
Seven reloaded her own weapons checking they were still in working order. They were still in excellent condition. Seven strapped the weapons back onto her. Seven reloaded her ammo straps as well on her Excaliber armor. She closed the crate, and walked upto a wall with RA weapons for Riftans only. She grabbed one of them a RA shotgun. She looked at it than she attached it to her back like her RA rifle. She was ready her Excalibur Armor Mark 4 also had been repaired of its damage that was taken on their last mission.
The Armory's door opened, Mason finally arrived. He walked in, he observed the others. Seven looked back at him he noticed. Seven gave a nod to single she was ready. Mason nodded back. He walked through the armory. Passing some soldiers whom were very unhappy with At'aria a Concord or former Concord. Still they seemed very eager to shoot her dead. When they noticed Mason they hailed him and walked off.
Mason walked past dozens of weapon racks filled with all sorts of guns. And crates filled with ammunition. He passed George. "Sir" George said to Mason as he passed him by. " Five Mason responded back to George.
Mason walked a few more tens of meters when he finally stopped. He stood infront of his new mark 4, Excalibur Armor. He inspected the Armor moving his hand over it. Not scratches no slightest of dents. It was in new pristine condition for him to wear. He smiled to himself he took of the mark 4's helmet the visor of it facing Mason as he did. His face glanced back at him, through the reflection of his face on the visor of the mark 4 helmet. He placed the helmet back on the mark 4. Mason Took a few steps and stepped infront of a 2.6 meter circular ring like machine. He placed his hand against the console of the machine, it scanned Mason's hand and it immediately came to life. It began unlocking the mark 4's plating from each other moving each part on the ring of the machine.
Mason stepped into the center of the machine. His feet entered the boots of the Excalibur Armor the machine secured the boots of the armor. The arm's of the machine got to work, they moved around grabbing several Excalibur Armor plates. Mason lifted up his arms to allow the machine to attach the torso plates to the new Excalibur Undersuit mark 2 he wore. The torso plates got attached to his torso they automatically secured themselves to each other and onto the Excalibur Undersuit.
The arm and leg pieces were attached to him simultaneously. They secured to him tight but not to tight. Mason looked up seeing his new helmet lower to him. He lowered his head as the helmet came down. The mark 4 helmet connected to the rest of the armor. Head display in the helmet activated, showing Mason a full 3d version of his armor which showed the armor integrity on the right side of his vision. It also showed a motion detector on a small circle in the left side of his vision.
The machine stopped and returned to its rest mode it's job was done. Mason Took his first step in his new Excalibur Armor Mark 4. He took a few more steps and than stopped testing the mobility and and new strength of the armor. The artificial Tritanium A2 nanofiber muscles of his new undersuit made the bit heavier mark 4 Excalibur Armor feel even lighter than his old mark 2. The it increased his already augmented strength even more than his old mark 1 Excalibur Undersuit.
"Working great, huh?" Amelia, remarked with a smile at Mason testing his new armor. Mason turned around to face her. Amelia handed him, his RA rifle. Mason grabbed his weapon from Amelia's hand "Yes, indeed it's working great and it's in pristine condition, well at least it is for now." Mason replied back. "But it's time we start moving and join up with the other Riftan-IIIs and Commander Chief." Mason continued.
"I Yeah it is. The sooner we take the damn supercarrier out the better." Amelia responded. "Get the others. I'll head to the landing pads and get us a Osprey dropship to fly us to the meeting zone with the other Riftans." Mason said to Amelia. "Yes sir, I'll get everyone than." Amelia responded to Mason.
Mason than walked away from Amelia and headed to the door of the armory. He pressed the side panel of the heavy door, as he stopped in front of the door. The door open up and Mason stepped through the door. The door than closed behind him as he walked through it. Amelia shouted, "Honor team!" Through the armory everyone's attention went to Amelia.
"Everyone, I hope you all reloaded and restocked your ammunition and got your repaired or replaced!" Amelia shouted to Honor Team. Because we are now going to the meeting zone with the other Riftan teams and head for the Concord corvette." Amelia continued. Everyone got ready and equipped the weapons they had chosen. Ivan walked up to Amelia. "So we finally get to do something finally that took long enough the Connies had a break to long from boot up their." Ivan remarked to Amelia.
"Haha, Ivan. Your new mark 3 Excalibur Armor fits well?" Amelia asked him. "Ha! new good one. It's old at least in design unlike yours. But I make do with what ever old shit I get. Haha." Ivan joked. "Ha, being smart ass huh?" Amelia jokingly replied" What me, a smart ass? No I wouldn't think of it. After all being a smart ass is your job." Ivan joked back. "Anyway let's get going before the boss gets inpatient." Ivan said. "Ha, your right let's go." Amelia answered back. The others of Honor team got behind Amelia and Ivan as they opened the heavy door of the armory and walked through it.
They walked through the hallway their presence getting significant respect as soldiers solute them as they pass the soldiers. From soldiers they walk past. They walk 2 kilometers before reaching the landing pads. They saw Mason near a Osprey. They walked past a few soldiers as they approach Mason. Mason turned his head and saw his team arriving. "Alright everyone got on we are going immediately." Mason said. Seven stepped on the back ramp to get in the Osprey as Mason just finished his sentence.
"Amelia you get to fly this thing you're the best one of us to fly this thing" Mason said to Amelia. "Alright" Amelia nodded. She was stepping on the back ramp to get in. Amelia continued psst everyone Mason. Mason sad down last of everyone in the back. next to the back ramp that was now closing. Amelia walked into the small cockpit, and sat down on the pilot seat.
She grabbed the controls. She started the Osprey and moved the controls backwards to get it to take off. The Osprey's jet engines turned to live and took off. The Osprey fly upwards in a straight line. And flew into the direction of the meeting zone. "Alright everyone we are now heading towards the meeting zone, so I hope you are all ready for this mission." Mason said to everyone. Everyone gave a nod. "Good, because I hope we all it out of this alive." Mason said as he was thinking about, Marco's gruesome fate.