Captain Eric Howler watched the last few seconds run out as the ship emerged from Slipspace above Virgons only moon Prytaneum. And was beheld the massive ring of death around the planet. Hundreds if not thousands of destroyed ships both Colonial and Cylon littered the space between Virgon and its moon.
However as he looked at Virgon something seemed… off
"Sir. " called lieutenant Conners holding one hand to her headset "picking up signals their week but its on a UNSC FLEETCOM channel" as Eric raised his eyebrows in shock and confusion,
Lieutenant Jacob Cole Spoke up "Friendly sighted sir." he said pointing to his screen and the three blips that appeared coming around the planet's edge.
Stepping closer to lean over the lieutenants shoulder Eric looked for himself at the small text that appeared next to each ship
UNSC Deimos Mako-class corvette FS486
UNSC Nightfall Mako-class corvette FS331
UNSC Colossus Charon-class frigate FFG016
"What are they doing here?" Eric wondered "Conners send a hail encryption code zeta"
A few anxious minutes passed before a man in the ill fitting uniform of UNSC Commander "this is Commander Robert Hills of the Colossus." the man said his eyes blinking seemingly at random "boy is it a surprise to see you Colonel. Where are we?"
Using his celebreal implant to send Conners a text message run his blinks through a morse code cipher outloud like nothing was wrong. "I don't know Sir, I was hoping you could tell me one moment we were in slipspace the next we were here." the text reply came back from Conners Jackals pirates beware covenant augmentation to ships, hostiles 200 prisoners 50
"Are you ok Sir" you seem short of supplies i can practically hear your stomach here." he said in a overly joyful tone while blinking in morse back Understood- dock- Marines Board
With a slight look off screen he nodded "we have been on short rations for a while. If you have a pelican's worth, my crew would be grateful." his eyes sharp.
"Of course sir and the other ships? We stocked up right before we were forced to flee Sigma lV."
The "Commanders" eyes flashed a look off screen and allowed a momentary flash of a grin before returning to normal "yes all three ships are on starvation rations" he said blinking code again knowing for sure what it was this time howler didn't have to wait for a translation corvettes hostiles 50 prisoners 15.
Howler saluted "three pelicans of food and supplies will be on their way within the hour sir lunch is on us."
The "Commander" Salute was as rigid as a Marines "we will be ready." the link died.
Commander Wheeler was the first to speak "Jackals? Pirates? What the hell,"
"I'm not sure Commander but notify the Marines they are going to be fighting some alien Pirates load all four of our pelicans one to each corvette and two for the frigate."
Yes sir" she saluted and started passing out orders.
Just then the colonial fleet dropped out "pass the word commander for them to begin SAR and salvage ops we have this under control and ensure they understand not to approach those three ships at all.." she nodded and started typing.
Captain Howler met with the commanding Marine aboard the Midway, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone who would be leading the boarding party of the Colossus in the hangar along with the rest of the sixty marines chosen to participate.
"Remember Marines." Captain Howler said stepping onto munition dolly so the Marines could see him "those Jackal fucks have taken UNSC prisoners be they Civilains or Military we have a duty to rescue them we have some preliminary intel based on the help of one of the captured men." he played the video of the "Commander" blinking morse letting the marines read his blinks too and then when he saluted only way a Marine can their chest puffed out in pride for their fellow marine jerking these alien screwups around like puppets.
One of the Marines stepped forward snapping to attention drawing the attention of the Gunnery Sergeant " Specialist Robin Mendendez you have something to add Marine?
The Marine didn't hesitate as she spoke up "Aye,Aye Gunnery Sergeant. This "Commander" blinked something about Covenant Augmentations. Sir, is there any idea what he is referring to Sir?"
Captain Howler shook his head no "Sorry marine no details so keep all your heads on a swivel it could have anything from covenant air or ground vehicles to recessed weapons tucked in somewhere." that seemed to answer the marines question as she stepped backwards into formation and Eric continued.
"Now the Colossus will be easy, the pelicans will just land in the hanger bay and exterminate anything that's not human." Howler paused as the marines started stamping their feet in unison. "The Corvettes will be more difficult; you'll have to board through an airlock." he looked the assembled men over with a proud look on his face "now as you approach take a good look at those ships if you see anything out of place notify us on a secure channel. NOW let's do this marines." he shouted hopping down to more boot stopping
"Get your asses on those Pelicans marines! let's move ladies." screamed the Basilone as he led by example being the first to board the pelican enticing the others to follow his lead.
As Captain Howler stepped back on the bridge the four pelicans launched from the hangar heading towards the captured ships. Elsewhere the Colonial ships proceeded with their own mission focused on the job of saving as many Virgonese people as they could with no combat looming; the Colonial warships assisted the freighter Wanderer as they picked through the wreckage.
Howler watched as the Pelicans neared the former UNSC ships a encrypted message arriving from the pelican heading for the Nightfall Covenant modification 2x Pulse lasers where ventral Rampart used to be.
Another chime this time from the Deimos Covenant modification Plasma torpedo launcher where Archer pods were.
A third chime as the last messages arrived Colossus Heavy Plasma cannon has replaced five archer missile pods.
They watched in bated breath as the pelicans hovered close to the airlock of the corvettes and the first few marines unloaded a a box and knocked on the airlock the moment the airlock opened the marines drew their M6C pistols behind their backs the ones opening the door were humans with a wink the marines slid them their pistols as they helped maneuver the box inside their airlock.
Just as the pair of pelicans entered the Charon's hanger.
Every officer waited wanting to do more but couldn't risk it.
The situation with the frigate could only wait. The Corvettes; however, within a minute of the first group going in, the marines started cycling into the airlock six at a four minutes the Nightfalls navigational lights turned on followed a few seconds later by the Deimos signaling the marines were corvette turned toward the frigate and began heading in that direction to render aid or put the first few shot into the Colossus's engines to keep her from the corvettes hovered like the sharks they were named after the navigational lights turned on. Followed by a message from Gunnery Sergeant Basilone;
Objective completed
Hey guys just a quick note from me Stardude how's everyone liking it so far i have a question for the next part who wants to see the boarding operation and if so which one? I'll wait 2 days for a yes or no if not i'll just continue with the straight us SAR and Salvage