Talk:AFOH/@comment-32153776-20160805222109/@comment-14850713-20160814074527

IC:

Commodore Jean "Johnny" De Castries stands on the bridge of his flagship Desecration looking at the command screen, as the muted flashes of the ongoing space battle grow bigger and bigger, and outlines of ships, some firing, some crippled and just floating, begin to take shape.

"Coming into range of Protoss weapons", the XO barks. Somewhere on the other side the AIF fleet is battling fiercely. Some of his Cobras, Durandals and Paladins are still in the fight, keeping the Protoss fighters from the AIF battleships. TF 11 needs to relieve the pressure if they hope to win.

"Get ready to fire main guns", De Castries' voice booms.

"Sir, Voodoos and Hexes incoming", says the Comms Officer.

De Castries smiles, as a group of Dark Wolf and Excalibur fighters warp in, wiggle their wings and warp out again, towards the enemy. Bouexic had said everything will be done to support his attack. The Dark Wolves are AFOH's best fighters and because they're rarely seen (due to their limited numbers) they're called Voodoos in the fleet. The Excaliburs (called Hexes due to their wings), lugging their Shadow drones, are a bit more common. Both are normally kept in reserve for special missions and to defend sovereign territory. With their appearance and the arrival of the 2 other 1AF task forces now trailing behind, it seems the old man has kept his word.

"Sir, Tiger Arc is detecting multiple warp signatures in the middle of the Protoss formation", the Comms Officer suddenly interrupts. "Must be reinforcements."

Damn these aliens, De Castries thinks to himself. What do they really want?

"Firing solutions plotted, Sir," the XO announces. "Awaiting orders to fire." By this time, multiple weapons systems, including those of TF 12 and TF 13 would've zeroed in on where the incoming ships are about to emerge.

Then the familiar ping of UAC ships is heard. De Castries instinctively grabs his comm. "Hold your fire!"

The bridge erupts in cheers as the UAC battleships exit warp and tear into the Protoss fleet. De Castries can feel a tear welling in his eye, but keeps his composure. He again picks up the comm.

"All battleships are to engage the smaller Protoss vessels. Revanches are to stay back and provide Mk 16 covering fire for TF 11 and the UAC units. Happy hunting, gentlemen."

Still looking intently at the screen, he barely notices as hypersonic missiles from TF 12 and TF 13 streak past his ships towards the beleaguered Protoss. Briefly, he allows himself one comforting thought. This is not going to be a suicide mission after all.