Meeting the Enemy

"Enemy flagship identified commodore." The communications officer announced. Instead of the heavy cruiser, the enemy had decided to plant herself aboard one of the carriers. Not a bad choice all things considered. If the Wolfhound hadn't been on the feint mission rather than the main effort she might have done the same.

"Course change detected! All ships... no wait just most. One enemy carrier continuing on an intercept path." Tactical reported. It wasn't the flagship of course. Whoever was over there wanted to at least try to harry the feinting force. The enemy clearly thought she had enough of an advantage to handicap herself for the sake of safety. Not that she was necessarily wrong. It was time to start giving orders.

"Boarding Team you are a go. Engage the station and secure the precious cargo. Slaves are a tertiary objective so long as they don't interfere with getting the minerals." She'd been tempted to perhaps give them a few extra crew from either the Gallant Fury or the Divine Right to go along but decided against it. The boarding teams had been working and training together for the entire journey. Throwing in extra bodies would just cause confusion. Plus not sending them along left them free for something else.

"Captain Foxley, you have command of local maneuver elements." In other words, just her own ship and the Gallant Fury but the phrasing would be good for the noblewoman's ego. "Engage the enemy destroyer. Capture it if possible."

"With pleasure Commodore." Katla could feel the feral glee behind that statement before Foxley began giving outmaneuver orders. Most of them not spoken but transmitted mentally via her collar. Primarily reserving her voice for the opened channel to the Gallant Fury to coordinate her attack. Her local work appropriately delegated Katla returned her mind to the big picture. Sending out one more order at a far longer range.

"Night Song and Wolfhound good job. If that carrier is stupid enough to engage kill it. Otherwise, go ahead and retrieve the LAC and the tithe from the destroyed hostile. After that feel free to jump out." Katla ordered. Considering that it was a corvette there wouldn't be too many slaves gained from it's 'destroyed' hull. Only around 3, potentially up to 7 if they'd been on some kind of training work up.

Those few chosen ones chosen ones were obligated to stay near the extraction point, likely facing knowing looks from their comrades as they wondered whether or not they would be enslaved. In a normal battle the answer would of course be yes and the IAA would have them aboard a shuttle to meet up with Katla's ships. During a raid, however, it was the obligation of the attacker to collect their prizes. Any left behind being forfeited. That in mind could put the continued pursuit by the enemy carrier in a different light. They might simply have been trying to convince the Queendom to abandon their meager prizes from the engagement. In this case, it wouldn't work but it was a nice thought from the enemy commander if true.

"Commodore. We are receiving a hail from the enemy flagship. They say it's a matter of station resolution." The comms officer announced. Forwarding it to the Commodore directly. She quickly looked it over.

"Station resolution?" Jaclyn asked.

"It means we need to have a chat about something that's taking place on the station. Comms if you could cone me I'll get this done as quick as possible." Almost as soon as she said it the air shimmered slightly as her chair was surrounded by a noise-blocking field. A moment later an image only visible to her appeared. Projected via her collar to her mind.

Katla found herself face to face with a pretty IAA woman, the rank pips of a People's Flotilla Commander on her collar, the fact that they weren't sewn on meaning that the rank was only temporary. Hopefully, the anger on the face of their wearer was temporary as well. "Hello Commodore. I am Flotilla Commander Zui Yang of the Ever Victorious Fleet." She introduced, politely enough. Giving a dramatic pause afterward as if she was expecting some reaction to her name.

Katla just raised an eyebrow, causing the Commander to continue on with a sigh. "As your movements confirm your action is against the station and knowing you have copies of the schematics I am informing you of the following." As she spoke the schematics appeared, moving her up above them in Katla's 'vision'. "The medical facility has three patients due to an accident. While all three are transportable it would be better for their care to remain in place. As such I request the following area to be designated a non-combat zone." The map highlighted an area that was well away from anywhere Astid intended to be. Fairly standard request, not a problem.

"That is acceptable to the Queendom." Katla replied. Giving a nod. "Is that all?"

"No. The following areas." The map highlighted in red several locations close to the outer edge of the station. "Are to be designated as spaced." Implying that the Authority had opened them up to the outside for defensive purposes. Actually doing so would be stupid from a safety standpoint so instead it would just upload that data to the boarder's armor which would simulate the appropriate reactions if there were suit breaches. It also meant the artificial gravity in those areas would be shut down. That would lead to some interesting scenarios.

Katla quickly reviewed the schematics and found that it was possible for such a change to have reasonably taken place. She forwarded it along to the combat management system. It would take care of the details."Anything else?"

"No, the Ever Victorious Fleet will welcome your contributions to the Authorities prosperity. Commodore..." She was clearly inviting Katla to give her name. In some ways it could be considered polite, Zui had given her's and was clearly not as confident in her victory as she presumed. The Authority would find out quickly, they couldn't suffer a strike like this and not immediately look towards who was responsible. So it was all a matter of if Katla was willing to give them a slight head-start. Doing so would likely leave her on slightly friendlier terms despite the circumstances of the meeting. Of course. Where was the fun in that?