Biding Time

[Tallulah Sonne]

[Oh gods. Finally replying. XD;]

Tallulah simply 'hmm'ed, combing a set of claws through her bangs, pushing them out of her face. Her eyes never left the slideshow, but it was obvious she was considering Lefina's answer carefully. Almost as if she was dissecting every single syllable of the wolf's words. A glazed daze overcast her eyes for a short period of time before they snapped into focus suddenly.

"Even so... I have the distinct impression that it will not be long until they are after us again. Whilst we may only have three ships, they have lost one city, another damaged radically. We posed a heavy threat, one that probably will not go without continuously heavy repercussions. So, curtly said, I implore that perhaps it would be best to find a way to collect information from this doctor. No doubt he will not give it willingly. Not without a distinct trade in mind. But time feels short. Too short."

[Sarath Crescent]

Lefina gave a small nod and looked back at the screens for a moment. "I'm not convinced we can trust him but he may be able to give us some information...however, that would be for our Lord to decide, I can only council. The bigger question is what do do with that?"

Lefina pointed back at the ghostly looking red gem in the centre of the room. "I'm at a bit of a loss, none of the information we have been able to gather so far has given us any real ideas...and my own powers have yet to find an answer."

Lefina paused, staring at the gem for a moment and then frowning. "It's curious, it seems to hold elements of every type of magic I know of, yet its not specific to any of them."

[Tallulah Sonne]

Tallulah dropped a hand on the table ledge, letting her claws clatter rhythmically. She dared not get any closer to the energy though. It would be foolhardy to touch it without knowing the consequence. Her lip curled slightly.

"Perhaps it's would be beneficial to proceed with a controlled experiment and gather variables from there. All this information means nothing if it doesn't show us the true power of these chaos emeralds. In the meantime, the possibility of sending a negotiator to collect information from Robotnik might then become more meaningful. I understand though. That his lordship may not agree to this. But that is all I have to give at this time. I'll offer myself up as a test subject if need be."

[Sarath Crescent]

Lefina looked a little startled by the notion of Tallulah using herself as a test subject. She immediately shook her head, walking towards her as she did. "Absolutely not! I couldn't begin to..."

"Oh but I could my dear...and after all it is my decision."

Lefina's fur stood on end for a moment as she spun towards the door. Sarath stood in the doorway with a curious expression on his face. He stepped into the room, slowly walking towards Lefina who dropped her gaze.

"I must say my dear Lefina, I know you are precious about life but progress must be made. I thought you understood that..."

"Yes my Lord, I'm sorry..." Lefina's voice sounded odd, no longer filled with her smiling personality or curious tone. If anything she sounded a little fearful.

Sarath stopped next to her, gently raising her head and giving her a small nod. "You're forgiven this time my dear, just remember that in future." He looks up at Tallulah and then casts a glance at the glowing gem. "I was thinking of just selecting a subject at random but now that I think about it you're knowledge of magic may help in the analysis of this gem. You're application is accepted."

[GUN Command]

"Sir, we have confirmed contacts."

I spun around to the ensign manning the sonar station. We'd been tracking Sarath's fleet for the past three days now. Sarath and his remaining fleet had been lucky to have eluded us for so long. But now, the hunt was over. And now, GUN's revenge for the massacre of Capitol City could be exacted. "Is it them?"

"Confirmed, tracking three ships bearing 1-1-3. Sonar signature matches GUN data base."

"Good, break radio silence. Call in the strike package."

"Aye, Sir!"

"All hands to battle stations! Load the torpedo bays. Arm the new Sturgeons."

"Captain, all ships responding to hail. They're prepped for battle and are awaiting your signal."

All ships responded. It was a huge relief to hear that we wouldn't be in this alone. The Minister, wouldn't be alone it this. Now we would be joined by two other powerful GUN submarines. Each armed to the teeth and equipped with the most advanced underwater warships on the planet and now packing the new high-velocity Sturgeon super-sonic torpedo. And the best part is, the enemy's mighty space ships are far from stealthy underwater. Their engines, once we managed to pick it out, was about as obvious as a Roman candle in pitch black darkness.

"Listen up men, these aliens have murdered thousands of civilians without any provocation and with no remorse. And the air force showed them just what a mistake it was to mess the might of the GUN military!" I paused to wait for the raucous cheering and shouts of approval to subside before I continued. "But they're not fight a handful of air jockeys. Now, they're facing the GUN NAVY!!" Even greater cheers followed now.

"Ready all tubes. and FIRE!!"

As one, the Minister's four torpedo tubes opened and four powerful torpedo's erupted from the launch tubes. The torpedo's lanced through the water at a little better then Mach 1 through the water, aimed straight for the nearest alien warship. Four seconds later, the sonar screen of the Minister identified launches from the other two GUN submarines; forming a loose horseshoe around the three enemy contacts. There would be no escape for the enemy this time.

[Sarath Crescent]

[Allow me to provide some suitable music... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PR2v62mfdX4 ]

The three ships, resting peacefully on the ocean sea bed, had not been expecting any sort of attack. Indeed they had been running in silent mode, energy usage reduced to as little as possible apart from systems required for the repair. As such the oncoming onslaught was well timed and seemingly well placed.

The Monoceros sat in the middle, the Silver Wind to her port and the Astoria to her starboard. The Silver Wind was currently rigged up with connection struts to the Monoceros for the easy transfer of parts and supplies. The first torpedo to strike her hit the forward section, cracking a section of armour plating...the second got lucky.

With a sickening sound of metal crumpling, the torpedo detonated on one of the connection tubes. The connection tube ruptured, splintering away from the hull and tearing a giant hole in her side. Water quickly began to fill her hole, several of the forward compartments imploding on themselves as the internal pressure was released.

The Monoceros suffered slightly better. Rocked violently be the detonation, several torpedoes narrowly missed their mark and slid part her hull. Even so the force of the nearby detonation was enough to almost rock her of her landing struts.

The Astoria was hit side on but due to the absence of any connection struts the initial damage wasn't as bad as the Silver Wind. She rocked herself, her port landing gear collapsing and causing a section of the lower hull to slam into the ocean bedrock.

Inside the Monoceros, Sarath had just stepped forwards to observe the glowing energy as the torpedoes hit. The Monoceros shook violently, listing to one side with enough force to throw him and Lefina completely off her feet. The column holding the gem was also ripped from the floor as Sarath fell against it. There was only a brief yelp from the fox as he slammed into the energy and was then flung away to the side.

Clattering to the floor the smell of lightly singed fur was evident in the air, Sarath glancing down to find his hands and the exposed fur on his neck was tipped with black burn marks.

"My Lord! Are you alright? Please let me..." Lefina seemed completely uninterested in her own injuries. The wolf had been flung against the wall, her right eye and cheek bruised and a small trail of blood leaking from the corner of her mouth where her face had hit the floor. She also seemed to be cradling her left hand as if it was strained or broken.

Sarath seemed uninterested in Lefina at the time though. His eyes wide with immediate anger he looked up from his position on the floor, "Mother! Report!"

There was brief pause before before a computer voice replied, "Attack of unknown origin detected. Activating scanners...six vessels detected, configuration unknown."

Sarath looked ready to kill something, Lefina seemingly shrinking back a little. "My Lord, please don't..."

Sarath shot a glance at her that made the wolf instantly go quiet. Pulling himself to his feet slowly he turned towards the door, ignoring both Lefina and Tallulah. "Mother, activate all weapon and defense systems. Deploy shield grid and cast off all ties to the Silver Wind."

Outside the ship the Monoceros seemed to come alive. Distortions in the water formed around it as the shield grid formed around the ship. For the moment it didn't move, seemingly waiting for orders. The Astoria began to move though, slowly starting to ascend in the water although she was listing slightly.

[Tallulah Sonne]

Tallulah hadn't even been given a chance to react to Sarath's conclusion. Before she knew it, the tigress found herself lain on the floor on the opposite side of the room. Her body felt battered and it took a moment to even register the thought that they had come under attack. She attempted to rise to her feet only to collapse again. Her body felt almost dizzied from the impact, she realized. Sitting on her haunches instead in a most unladylike manner, she surveyed what was happening as she took a few more recovering breaths.

Then, she was up on her feet, limping slightly. If she felt the blood streaming from her right calf, she didn't show it. Her thoughts were on the incoming attack. Tallulah had been so caught up in her latest project, it hadn't really occurred to her that this world would retaliate so soon.

"My Magnifitcestry, what would you have me do?"

[Magnifitcestry - a high word of royal praise used on Tallulah's homeworld. Often used in context of Sarath when he is very irritable.]

[GUN Command]

[Lynx, as per what I mentioned before, I've edited my last post so that there are only three ships, not six to make things a little more fair.]

"Sir! Two of the four torpedo's struck their mark. Our second two torpedo's missed the center ship but it looks like the concussions have caused some minor damage. The Fallout reports torpedo impacts on the right most vessel and Warlock reports all torpedo's struck the left-most target.

Target 1 (Silver Wind) appears to have suffered heavy damage. Target 2 appears to have taken minimal damage but I'd definately say we rattled their teeth. But they appear to be rising off the sea-floor to engage us. Target 3 appears to also be rising to engage but it seems to be moderately damaged. Target 1 looks like it might be out of the fight.

One ship out of the fight already? I could only hope that is true. However one ship badly damaged/possibly disabled and one damaged was better then the Captain of the Minister could have hoped for. If they could fire off another volley with a similar results they could possibly knock out target 3 in short order and then focus all three submarine's firepower against the flagship.

"Contact the Warlock. Tell them to remain where they are behind the enemy center ship. Have them to target the ships engines. Fallout on the right flank is to continue to target the right most vessel. I want that ship out of the fight. Fire control," I said, addressing my own crew now. "Reload torpedos. I want firing solutions for two torpedo's into the side of target 1, and the second pair for target two. Fire our shots then move us to put us out off the enemy flag ship's bow. I don't want us to face this things broadside."

As ordered, the GUN ships fired another salvo of the high-speed Sturgeon torpedo's at Sarath's remaining fleet.

[Sarath Crescent]

[Sorry for the wait guys, been busy.]

Sarath rounded on Tallulah, ready to tear her head from her shoulders. It wasn't anything personal, Sarath just had a tendency to fly off the handle when shocked. Still he bit his own lip, knowing that arguements at this time would not help the situation nor provide a solution. He glanced at Lefina, the wolf still looking a little nervous, finally noticing her injuries and giving a momentarily concerned look at her.

"You can take her to the medical bay and treat her," he said finally, turning back to Tallulah, "And prepare for casualties...and there will be!"

He turned and started to walk out of the room, heading towards the bridge. As he went his hand clasped at his singed neck, his claws extending slightly and digging into his neck. He paused momentarily, cringing slightly...although if it was from the burn or his claws neither of the two would be able to tell if they noticed.

On the bridge, Sarath's second, a battle scarred lemur was barking orders in his lords absense. "Get us off the seabed now or you'll be the next torpedo we fire, mark my words!" The crew seemed all too eager to comply, various furs scrambling round the bridge as they initiated the ships start up procedure.

As the Monoceros began to rise from the seabed, the torpedoes fired from the Warlock reached the ship. Two explosions followed shortly afterwards, yet as the bubbles settled the ship was unharmed...not a scratch. In the water between the two ships the blue shimmer now looked lighter in colour when compared to the rest of it.

Sarath's second smiled, "It seems someone didn't brief these fools...this planet's entire airforce couldn't break this shield on a first try...and they used more fire power. Ready aft tubes, load the Class III proximity warheads and fire!"

From the aft of the Monoceros, in a square shape around the engine, four streams of water shot towards the Warlock.

The Astoria continued to ascend in the water, narrowly avoiding the shots fired from the Fallout. It began to turn in the water, its three nose mounted cannons coming to bare on the GUN submarine. Pressure shockwaves spread out through the water as the ships cannons fired thrice, the giant cannons firing their shells in quick succession. The range was limited and not quite as potent under the water but that didn't seem to deter them.

A new explosion then rung out as one of the Minister's torpedoes found its mark, slamming into the Astorias lower hull as it turned. The detonation shattered the main cargo bay, the armour plating weaker and thinner around the opening. Water began to pour in as debris started to pour from the ships innards. Still, it seemed that the compartment was water tight as the ship continued to remain active, although seemingly stuck in a right.

The Silver Wind didn't know what hit her as a second wave or torpedoes headed her way. Half her forward hull was already flooded and a giant chasm gaped in her side where the connection struts had been sheered off. Luckily for her the torpedoes hit on her other side, detonating against her remaining good armour. The ship wasn't going anywhere in its current condition and the second set of torpedoes made sure of it. She was now a sitting duck...but that didn't mean she couldn't still fire. Like the Astoria, three consecutive pressure waves rung out as her forward guns fired at the Minister as she started to cross in front of the Monoceros.

[Celes Islay]

Cell had been positioned close to the bars of her cage with her hands stretched through the bar when the first explosion had rocked the Monoceros. She had been trying to figure out the lock on the door but was nowhere nearer coming up with a solution. The explosion though tossed her against the bars...something she had been trying to avoid.

She yelped like someone was sticking pins her as a static jolt shot through her body, slamming her back against the bars in the opposite direction. Because her arms were extended through the bars she went back and forth like a tennis ball a few times before eventually staggering backwards and falling to a heap on the floor.

For a moment she just lay there, mewing in a dizzy way as she tried to regain control of her body. Eventually she sat up and shook her head. "That was an explosion, Cell's too smart not to know that. We must be under attack...don't those idiots know there's prisoners in here, Cell's not expendable! ...Although, if we're under attack the crew will be occupied...nyahahahahahaha! The time for Cell's escape has come! Now, let's see what she can do about this lock..."