ABS FIESTA REDUX

[blockguy™]

As you approach the navigation point several minutes later, your comms pick up a rather heated debate between the Huit officers. Unfortunately, only Ralph is able to follow what is being said (unless one of the other PCs speaks huit, but i don't remember anyone but ralph knowing it).
: [...Soldiers deserting by the squad, mass dissent in every city, slave uprisings plaguing the Empire, morale across the continent has never been lower! And those of us who still wish to take the fight to the enemy's door are being held back by the bureaucrats who insist on playing it safe! Well I say to hell with them! The Empire needs a victory, now more than ever before, and I will be the one to achieve it, with or without their approval!]
: [Then you and I are in agreement, but this, this is NOT the way to do it! By deploying nuclear weapons on enemy soil, you will be breaking the terms of our treaty with the Zentragoths! They'll rescind all support and leave us to fend for ourselves!]
: [Bah, and where has following this treaty got us? Where are our illustrious allies in our time of need? Off on the other side of the world butting heads with the Aesthians, or wasting their time smothering their little protectorates! No help for us, their closest allies.]
: [They haven't abandoned us, two of my squadmates currently present are Zentragoths, and they-]
: [Two planes? Oh, how magnanimous of them! Where was the Imperial Navy when the GTO butchered my fleet? Or when enemy troops began landing on our soil? All they have given us in aid is a pittance of supplies and support crew. All the bullets and shells in the world won't do us any good when our forces are too cowed to even bring their guns to bear! If the Zentragoths won't honor their end of this MUTUAL Defense Pact, I don't see why we should! Tlacelel, you can either help the Empire or take your squadron and leave, but I am not turning back until my job is done!]
: [Your grievances are understandable, but this response is not. We cannot allow you to follow through with this course of action. Turn back and return to port at once, or you will be fired upon.]

A number of planes have been dispatched from a carrier currently outside radar range, and are flying directly at Tlacelel and his retinue. Neither faction seems to have noticed your presence yet, but you are in radar range of Tlacelel's flight.

"[W-What the forget?]"

[Ad Bot]

[Operator¹]

"Tourist, translate for us."

[blockguy™]

"Basically what's going on is the Admiral and the Sky Marshal are in a heated argument. The Admiral has nuclear weaponry on his ship, and the Sky Marshal is telling him to turn around and go back to port to prevent a nuclear war from breaking out, or him and his squad will kill him. If the large amount of rafales the Admiral dispatched doesn't get to them first."

[Lockebox]

"Let's try to remain undetected and see if they start blowing eachother to hell. It could save us a lot of work."

[Mr. Hurricane]

"If they're really loving talking about nukes, I'm going to bounce this conversation to the AWACS,"

[blockguy™]

"If they're really loving talking about nukes, I'm going to bounce this conversation to the AWACS,"

"They are really talking about nukes. The Empire will be breaking their treaty with the Zentragoths and they'll be left all alone, with no aid or support from any foreign nation, if they do get deployed."

[Mr. Hurricane]

"AWACS, are you hearing this? Or do I need to bounce this conversation back to you? It sounds- deathly important," Jaakko's voice trails off.

His stomach knots over and over, he fears he'll throw up into the breathing mask.

[Operator¹]

"This is going to be a loving mess, I'm going to help stop that nuke if command has nothing to say about it."

[Qwepir]

"AWACS, are you hearing this? Or do I need to bounce this conversation back to you? It sounds- deathly important," Jaakko's voice trails off.

His stomach knots over and over, he fears he'll throw up into the breathing mask.

: We hear you, go ahead.
: [What was that? I just picked up another transmission. Unidentified aircraft, state your intentions.]

[blockguy™]

"Bell, I could get patched into their comms and let them know we're gonna help them."

"Helping the enemy. Never thought I'd see the day."

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Tourist has translated for us a conversation between the Sky Marshal and a Huit naval commander. The naval commander is threatening use of nukes, I believe. The Sky Marshal and naval forces appear to be about to go at it- I can see some aggressive looking formations on radar.

-Tourist, would you say that is correct? You're our translator,"

Jaakko begins sweating profusely.

[blockguy™]

"That's correct."

[Gojira]

I find myself a small snack to eat.

[NoZoner]

The RWR siren goes off in the Sabre roosterpit. Richard looks at the display to find the Deltan AWACS symbol sitting along the outer edge of the second circle.

"Radar spike, 12 o'clock. They know we're here. We need to act, fast."

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko glances at his RWR panel, if only to confirm. Sure enough, search radar spike, AWACS band.