Her face devoid of expression, Aksa emits a slight grunt as the doomed enemy pilot tumbles off into the void. Used far to much ammo for that one....she grumbles inwardly.

"Tango Down." She calls out as she returns to her wing-pair's side, giving him a thumbs up for the assist. "All Reindeer's reform and say status." She calls out calmly.

---

After receiving new orders from the Macross to the various flight leads she acknowledges. "Reindeer Flight copies all." Then orders her birds to their new station. "All craft, return Waypoint Zero. Take up tight CAP station over Command Citadel." She instructs, relaying their orders. "302 Squadron is our partner, synch comms and uplinks with them."

She instructs her flight to recover any free Gunpod(s) they might find along the way back, also sending to land any of her birds rendered unfit to fight in the latest dust-up.

As they settle on station Aksa takes a look over the data-link to see how many fighters in 302 are joining them as well as what Destroid unit is assigned to protect the same point. She will have her team synch comms and uplinks with them as well.

"Vinyl, keep the music playing but de-conflict our EW with the Citidel." She says to her back-seater.

Feeling a relief wash over him once the target behind him is destroyed Jack form up behind Aksa once the order is given.

"Vermellion. Status is green and little ammo spent on pod"

---

"Copy that, leader. Right behind you" Jack shift his veritech towards the SDF-1 once they get their new orders and easily find his position on the citadel.

Once in position he transform into battleoid mode and aim his gunpod and head lasers towards where the missiles are coming.
'I will keep her safe!'
This message was last edited by the player at 06:32, Sat 09 Nov 2019.

Douglas responds to his commander's call over he radio.  Reindeer 9.  Minor damage to left wing and left side of nose, but we got our guy, over.
He acknowledges the order back to guard the tower of the SDF-1, wishing that he had a blade for his plane for when it's in  battloid mode.

In reply to Douglas Jennsen (msg # 58):

"Reindeer 4 reporting in. A few paint scratches, and still Winchester, with my GU's getting light, but that's all, Skipper. All systems check out 5x5..."

[Private to GM: Take it off both GU's, hand, both arms, and both legs, since I'm in gerwalk at the moment.]

Gangham transformed back into fighter mode and formed up on the skipper.  "You doing ok back there, Matlock?"

Aksa takes in the status from her pilots and comes to the conclusion that they are, for the most part, ill suited to prosecute anything resembling offensive action.

"Good copy 4, 9. Well done."

"Reindeer Actual, Gunsight, we're mostly defensive. We'll add our fire to 302 and the Dest's but be advised we are Winchester and all but Guns Dry." Aksa relays to the Citadel.

To her own pilots, and yet on an open freq so as to punctuate her call to 'leadership'; "Reindeer Actual to all birds, nothing fancy now, reserve your gunpods to enemy units and use your DEW's* for missiles." She instructs as she shifts to Battroid mode and places Reindeer 17 between the enemy fusillade and the Citadel.

She would have preferred Gerwalk mode but, Battroid offered a better field of fire for her passan...gunner. Will be a while before I come to terms with a p..back-seater. She mused, semi annoyed at herself. All the other birds, as well as 302's and the panssari** on the deck would be well within Phiri's jamming radii, hell, the entire fucking SDF-1 would be...but one bird alone wasn't going to protect the hunk of alien junk they now called home. In any case, she and hers were performing väijy*** on the Command Citadel; best not fuck that up.

Her hope was, that by syncing into the Destroids TacNet, along with the SDF-1's, her squadron would be able to tell what enemy unit(s), or munition(s), were targeted by others, and could focus her birds on any leaks.

"Reindeer Actual to all birds." She said on open freq to both her and 302's net. (The message was for her pilots but, she figured, couldn't hurt to 'blab' it out for her 'sister' squadron to hear as well.) "We still have full stores of chaff and flare. Use them. But be sure to place yourself to the sides and above the Citadel relative the enemy AOA when you do so." She adds. Be a right foolish thing to decoy enemy missiles into a path that might accidentally hit the SDF-1's bridge. What damn fool thought it would be a good idea to place the bridge and CIC in such a vulnerable position anyway... she groused to herself.

OOC: Mechanically speaking: 'Missiles are -10 to shoot down before strike bonuses are brought in to play if using lasers or non-high explosive ammunition.' So using your lasers, head or otherwise, is no different then using your Gunpod. Emphasis mine. (Although I would contend that lasers could enjoy a lesser negative as their 'strike' arrives at literally the speed of light.)

OOC:
* DEW: Directed Energy Weapon
** Armor (Tank, you get the idea)
*** Guard Duty
This message was last edited by the player at 05:46, Sat 16 Nov 2019.

"Copy that, Vixen. Changing priority now" Jack replied and quickly put in a few commands and shift his GU-11 more towards the enemy formation while his headlasers aim towards the missile storm that comes towards them.

Briefly he looked towards his former wingmen of the Skull squadron.
'I need to check in on them after this'

The UES Macross, and those vessels attached to it begin to launch missiles to counter the wave of incoming missiles. The wave of missiles dwindles, but only by about 500. As the missiles get within range, the destroids, now on the hull of the vessel fire off their own missiles. Joining them are four veritechs equipped with the experimental SUMO add on armor. The number of incoming missiles reduces by about 1000, still leaving 1500….

Electronic jamming causes a number of missiles to lose track, but are still a threat as they are still vectoring at the UES Macross’ hull.

The final act of protective fire comes from the UES Macross CIWS comprised of lasers, flack batteries, the destroids particle cannons, cannons, and gunpods, as well as the veritech own gunpods.

The inbound missiles begin to target specific mecha and weapons emplacements.

18:34, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 0 using 1d3-1 with rolls of 1.  missiles at Pak.
18:34, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 2 using 1d3-1 with rolls of 3.  missile at Jensen.
18:34, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 2 using 1d3-1 with rolls of 3.  missiles at Jack.
18:34, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 1 using 1d3-1 with rolls of 2.  missiles at Aksa.


[Private to Gun Ho Pak:
You have zero missiles targeting your Veritech]

[Private to Douglas Jennsen: You have two missiles targeting your Veritech
18:39, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 11,18.  HEAP missiles at Jensen infrared +2.

Missile 1: unat 13
Missile 2: unnat 20]

[Private to Jack O'Neil:
You have two missiles targeting your Veritech
18:40, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 33 using 2d20 with rolls of 17,16.  HEAP missiles at Jensen (I forget to change the name) infrared +2.

Missile 1: unat 19
Missile 2: unnat 18]

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
You have 1 missile targeting your Veritech
18:41, Today: Darkside Trooper rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  HEAP missiles at Aksa infrared +2.

Missile 1: MISS, but will still hit the command tower.]

OOC: You have one action to shoot down the missile(s) targeting you. If you decide to dodge, the missile will still hit the command tower.

Your remaining actions can be used to shoot down missiles not targeting you but will hit the command tower.

Aksa sees the shapes then calls out.

"Phiri, help Jack. Pak, help Jennsen."

While maneuvering to give the best angle she can for Phiri, and to generally be difficult to hit, she kicks out a spread's of flares up and away from the command citadel in order to draw the shot that missed her, and as many other missiles, away.

[Private to GM:
Let me know if you need any rolls]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Fri 17 Jan 2020.

NPC'd

"Copy, engaging!"

"Jack, taking Track 2." He calls out to let Jack know which missile he is shooting at.

Head Lasers Roll of: UNAT 19


Phiri continues his work on any other missiles in reach:

UNAT 24
NAT 20
UNAT 19
UNAT 27
UNAT 16MISS?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Tue 14 Jan 2020.

"That is a lot of missiles" he grunt to himself even as he adjust his position and release the flares as he begins to fire his head lasers with various degrees of success. "Thanks for the help Vinyl"

Free action: Fire CIWS Laser. unnat 20 DMG: 3

Action 1: Fire CIWS Laser. unnat 10 DMG: 6 MDC
Action 2:Dodge to release flares. unnat 27
Action 3: Fire CIWS Laser. unnat 8 DMG: 6 MDC
Action 4: Fire CIWS Laser. unnat 15 DMG: 6 MDC
Action 5: Fire CIWS Laser. unnat 5. DMG: 4


[Private to Darkside Trooper: 14:31, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 20 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 16.  fire CIWS LASERS.
14:33, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 3 using 2d4 ((2,1)).

14:38, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 10 using 1d20+4 ((6)).
14:39, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 6 using 2d4 ((2,4)).

14:37, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 27 using 1d20+11 ((16)).

14:41, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 8 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 4.  fire CIWS LASERS.
14:43, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 6 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,3.  CIWS LASERS dmg.

14:41, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 15 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 11.  fire CIWS LASERS.
14:43, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 6 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,3.  CIWS LASERS dmg.

14:42, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 5 using 1d20+4 ((1)).
14:43, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 4 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,1.  CIWS LASERS dmg.]

In reply to Jack O'Neil (msg # 65):

"Aye aye, Skipper... Helping Jensen!" Back in fighter mode, he targeted inbound missiles aiming for the other VT using his linked head lasers, firing at will to knock down as many as possible, or those targeting the battle fortress.

Rolls to strike: 19, 22, 23, 24, 23

Damages: 5,3,5,6,6

From within his cockpit, Douglas spots the missiles coming at him.  A pair of powerfully focussed beams of light Lance from beneath the fuselage of his plane at each of the missiles in the hope of destroying each before they can collide into him.  As a precaution, he fires off two flares as well.
20:23, Today: Douglas Jennsen rolled 3 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,1.  MD.
20:23, Today: Douglas Jennsen rolled 15 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 2.  Head lasers.

20:18, Today: Douglas Jennsen rolled 6 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,3.  MD.
20:12, Today: Douglas Jennsen rolled 30 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 17.  Head lasers.

Aksa in Reindeer 17 drops flares and chaff in attempt to get some missiles in her vicinity from hitting the command tower. A total of four missiles veer off and pass by the UES Macross’ command tower. A pair of missiles continue on and slam into the command tower.

Phiri in the backseat of Reindeer 17, fires at one of the missiles tracking Vermillion 7 and misses. Luckily Vermillion 7’s pilot also fires at the same missile and takes it out. Phiri then fires on five other incoming missiles and manages to shoot down three missiles. The remaining two missiles strike the command tower.

Jack in Vermillion 7 drops flares and chaff and evades the second missile tracking him. He then focuses on missiles heading towards the command tower, but fails to his any. Jack watches a trio of missiles hit the command tower in close proximity of each other creating an explosive decompression roughly where the CIC (combat information center) is located.

Pak in Reindeer 4 fires on those missile tracking Jensen first before focusing on others in the vicinity. He manages to get both missiles, which is good since Jensen fails to hi either missile. Of the other missiles in the vicinity, Pak manages to gets shots off at three missiles, and takes out all three.

Jensen in Reindeer 9 tries to fire on the two missiles tracking him. Both of his shots miss, but are then taken out by Reindeer 4. Jensen then tries to shoot down a pair of missiles and manages to get one of them.

---

Despite the final protective fire from the UES Macross, her weapons emplacements, and embarked mecha a little over 200 missiles get through. The starboard side and dorsal areas of both the UES Macross and the Daedalus takes the brunt of the damage. Instead of the expectation of fire there is the venting of the vessel’s atmosphere, some debris and human bodies out into space.

The command tower of the UES Macross is hit by 15 missiles causing at least three explosive decompression's. One of the decompression areas is roughly where the vessels CIC (combat information center) is located.

OOC: I need everyone to make a dodge roll. Fail and your veritech is struck by a body being ejected from the command tower. Also before you think about it, there is nothing you can do for those people

BTW the CIC is not the bridge..

Aksa does some quick math on the butchers bill. Her team had managed to swat down or divert away a hair over 2/3's the missiles they had shots on. None of her birds had taken any hits, but, the citadel hadn't been so lucky.

"Paska." She bites.

And says it again as a body tumbles towards her VF. With deft handling of the controls, she nimbly avoids the poor sod.

NAT 20 Dodge

"Gunsight, say status." She calls to the citadel then, turns her attention outwards. The bastards that fired those missiles were still out there.

To her squadron. "Good effort. Return to your defensive positions ASAP. Plenty of enemy out there."

She does a quick 'Buddy Check' of the citadel, specifically to see if the CIC itself was breached, or just the outer corridors and other spaces.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Tue 21 Jan 2020.

"Shit" Jack grumble as he watch the missiles hit the tower and see the damage done to it.

"Seven moving back to position. Let the bastards come"

Dodge: unnat 16
[Private to Darkside Trooper: 08:17, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 16 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 7.  Dodge]

There is a solid thump against the starboard side of Jennsen's plane, causing him to glance over.  Mierda!.
His exclamation, in Spanish, is heard over the radio as he comes face to face with the charred and torn upper-half of a victim of the explosion of the ship's castle, as it slides up and over his canopy and leaves a trail of blood to flash-freeze onto the metal and glass.
He tries to push the view of the face smudged against the cockpit from his mind, turning back to what he knew would soon be more incoming death.  Damn.  His battles were supposed to be fought in a courtroom, before a judge.  Not out here, on the edge of the solar system against a giant, alien enemy.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

In reply to Douglas Jennsen (msg # 71):

Pak saw the bodies and juked out of the way flying near enough to see the uniformed personnel from the bridge of SDF-1. Silently, he prayed that it wasn't a friend, and for the souls lost in the missile attack.

"Reindeer Four checking in. We're alright back here. Falling back to defensive position."

And he fell back on the assigned position, checking that his two guns were ready and changing into Gerwalk mode.

"How you doing backthere, Sunshine?"

Dodge: Passed=27

The UES Macross begins to 'roll' so that the 'underside' of the vessel is facing the enemy. A number of defensive batteries continue to fire at inbound targets. But about a third of the batteries firing from the dorsal hull, and half of the batteries starboard side are no longer firing.

As the ventral hull begins to 'face' the enemy, the defensive batteries, and mecha on the hull begin to fire at inbound targets.

Data feeds from the Cats Eye's AWAC no longer show inbound missiles, just hundreds of the enemy headless ostrich type mecha.

---

Those taking a good look at the command citadel can see individuals moving around the bridge. But compartments on the next two decks below it are exposed to space. These are the same compartments in which the CIC (Combat Information Center) and CDC (Combat Direction center) are located. There is no more venting from the command citadel, indicating that compartments have been sealed or completely exposed to the vacuum of space.

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen: Yeah you won't be talking to 'Gunsight' anymore]

"Be advised Oggy Twelve and Akula Nine took missiles. Oggy Twelve's pilot is EVA, I don't see Akula Nine's pilot."

"Forming up with Espada Ten."

"Actual, Archer, Good copy." She replies then keys over to the SAR channel direct, now that the CIC and CDC were out of commission.

"Reindeer actual, SAR, Flying Dutchman* IFF Ident: Oggy 12, I say again Oscar Golf Golf Yankee One Two"

"All birds, ship is rolling, maintain station keeping on the Citadel."

Since the ship is rolling, she and hers will have to maneuver with it to keep 'on-station'. This also meant a bit of immediate good news. With the ship rolling they were no longer in direct line of sight, or fire, of the incoming enemy. However, that meant that when the enemy did arrive, they would be coming 'up' from the sides.

Anything coming 'up' from the Daedalus side would have an easier time of it, with it's reduced defenses; conversely, anything coming 'up' from the Prometheus side would run into a buzz-saw of fresh defense batteries with full ammo bins.

"All birds watch for enemy spill over from beneath us. Call your targets, engage at your discretion, watch your ammo."

* Friendly Pilot/Crew EVA (Un-tethered) 'Man Overboard' (I stole the term from the Honor Harrington novels :P )
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Mon 27 Jan 2020.

It takes a moment for Douglas to clear his head, unable to respon immediately to Pak's question, as he moves back into position.
He scans the battlefield in front of him, the depth darkness soon to filled with flashes of light and blossoms of fire.  Eyes scanning, he knows this is going to turn into a close-quarters battle, not just a dog-fight.  What he would do for a sword and a dagger for use in battloid mode.
Um, he stammers, I'm okay.  Just come, um, face-to-face with mortality is all.  I think I'm going to need a fifth if I make it back.
Luckily, or smartly, he had made out a will and a final letter to his parents back when he first enlisted, at his father's suggestion, sitting in his personal belongings back in his locker.  Just in case.

"Copy Vixen, adjusting position" Jack reply even as his eyes follow the body that almost hit his ship, after he shook his head and cleared his mind he quickly adjusted his position so he still guard the citadel.

"Hopefully they have not learned much from the last battle on Earth" he mumble mostly to himself as he aim his gunpod towards the storm of enemies.

As her squadron reforms she looks back over at the stricken Command Citadel. After a second or two of thought...

Into the AWACS and command net via the up-link she had with the Cat's Eye and Rabbit. "Reindeer Actual to Net, be advised. Gunsight is bent, repeat Gunsight is bent. SDF CIC and CDC has been hit." She relays. Maybe the bridge knows, probably not, they're probably still trying to figure out what the scope of damage is. Well, they know now...and now that the information is out there, the bridge can act accordingly, as can the AWACS craft.

Speaking of which...

Into her Local Command Net (and Bridge) to the 302nd and the Destroids.

"Reindeer Actual to Eagle*, Mike One, and Mike Two Actual, Gunsight is bent. Eagle actual, recommend we dial everyone into our C&C Links. We can pick up nine orphans and still have a channel left open for the bridge to coordinate thru my back-seater."

Since she'd had Phiri uplink with their command elements already, what she was about to propose shouldn't be all that difficult.

Into her cockpit feed...

"Sorry Vinyl, you're about to get real busy." She apologizes. Her tone is genuine, but it is what it is.

---

OOC
*I went with Eagle as the call-sign for the 302nd since the insignia for the Real World 302nd TFS is a White Tailed Eagle...Mike One & Mike Two are the two ADR-04 Defender Platoons the roster has on 'Dorsal Duty'
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

There is a respite for several minutes as the UES Macross’ defensive batteries fire on the incoming swarm of mecha. This gives Major Aksa Tikkanen (UN SPACY) time to organize the two veritech squadrons and two destroid platoons assigned to defend the command citadel of the UES Macross.

The UES Macross halts its roll once the ventral side (i.e. the bottom of the ship) is facing the in coming swarm of alien mecha. A number of veritech squadrons are positioned to cover the dorsal of the ship.

The leaves the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF), and Hävittäjälentolaivue 11 (FAF) to wait for any ‘leakers’ that come ‘up’ from the bottom of the UES Macross.

---

With fifteen remaining veritechs, the squadron commander of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF) chops a pair of his squadron’s pilots to Hävittäjälentolaivue 11. Both veritechs are FRS.1J’s that were formerly assigned to Hävittäjälentolaivue 11 and currently being flown by JASDF pilots.

The thirteen veritechs of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron cover the starboard side of the command citadel along with Mike 1, a platoon of four US Army ADR-04 Defender destroids. They are joined by a pair of VF-1 Veritechs encased in a prototype of the SUMO armor. The ADR-04 Defender’s and SUMO veritech’s ‘walk’ up the side of the command citadel and spread out.

These 19 mecha are tied into Eagle 1’s C3 system.

---

The eleven remaining veritechs of Hävittäjälentolaivue 11 (FAF) covers the port side of the command citadel along with Mike 2, a platoon of four US Army ADR-04 Defender destroids. They are joined by a pair of VF-1 Veritechs encased in a prototype of the SUMO armor. Ironically one of the SUMO veritech pilots is 2nd Lt Ethan Ambrose, who apparently manned one of the SUMO’s after returning the UES Macross when his veritech was damaged. The ADR-04 Defender’s and SUMO veritech’s ‘walk’ up the side of the command citadel and spread out.

With the additions from the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 19 mecha are tied into Reindeer 17’s C3 system.

OOC: Gonna let everyone get a post in before we move on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:03, Sat 14 Mar 2020.

"Don't forget, we're in their element now." Aksa says in reply to Jack.

We're ALL going to need a fifth...she muses wryly.


With the Citadel defense reorganized Aksa settles into her position.

"Good to see you back Ethan." She notes.

"Phiri, keep playing the music." She says despite knowing he would anyway.

When the SDF halts it's roll she sighs slightly in relief, that meant the bridge had control, and moreover, that the bridge was still functioning.

"Alright everyone, the enemy will be upon us soon: stay calm, call your shots, back each other up, watch your ammo." She says, repeating her mantra once again.

She (re)establishes comms with the bridge and updates them with their status.

---

OOC: Everyone, since you are all linked into a C&C net, please don't forget the following:

Bonuses to linked in Mecha:

• +2 initiative
• +1 to Perception rolls
• +1 to Strike, +3 to Dodge
• +10% to RSE/RSI and Weapon Systems rolls

This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Mon 03 Feb 2020.