ABS FIESTA REDUX

[Qwepir]

: They don't want us to succeed with the strike, so they're keeping us from meeting up with the rest of the fleet. They believe that the command center is constantly broadcasting a signal to their missile silos so that when the signal is cut off, the Imperials will launch a missile strike against every allied country on the planet. They've said that the KZG has forwarded some intel to the Mercanans and our intelligence agency, but obviously I can't verify that.

: I haven't heard any of this. Tarkirov should be informed.

The comm line goes silent for a while, and when it opens up again you are met with a very displeased Tarkirov.
: Those spineless rats have been trying to leave the war without actually leaving the war for months now, this talk of Gothic doomsday devices is just their latest attempt at getting everyone else to pack up and go home. It's already worked on the Mercanans, but it's not going to work on us. Colonel, I am ordering you to destroy the offending planes immediately. I don't care if they're Kintharians, Mercanans, or your own goddamn countrymen, you get your asses down here and don't let anyone get in your way. Have I made myself clear?

"Elu, stay close, and don't attack anyone unless I tell you to. If we can get out of here without any more blood on our hands, I'm all for it," she says, turning and breaking into a sprint down the halls, leading the way to the closest escape pods. Cualli has done enough drills to know where the escape pods are by heart; at this point it's all a matter of getting through whatever resistance they may encounter.

You take off at full sprint but barely make it down a second hallway before you notice that Elu is having difficulty keeping up.

[Ad Bot]

[carolcat]

Cualli looks over at her shoulder at Elu, hearing that he's fallen behind. "Elu? Are you alright?" she asks, concern clear in her voice. She slows down to let him catch up.

[Operator¹]

: What now, Yamashiro? Those orders are probably going to make it to Crash and Kommandmant regardless of what I do here.

Bell pauses.

: And I doubt the rest of your squadron can take them all on, anyway.

[Badger]

"If a former ally has reason to declare war on an existing ally, That's some strong evidence pointing to truth."

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko sits quietly as he becomes increasing frustrated. Collusion with the Imperials is unthinkable! But it is balanced against the growing weight of the consequences if the Kintharians are right. He attempts to reason.

If he colludes with the Kintharians, and the Kintharians are right, the world does not end, should not end, but he is a traitor to his country, and the war continues.

If he colludes and the Kintharians are wrong, the world does not end but he is a traitor.

If he resists the Kintharians, and they are right, the world could easily end.

If he resists, and they are wrong, the world doesn't end.

Jaakko smashes the roosterpit wall in anger.

The only situation the world cannot end today no matter if the Kintharians are right or wrong, lying or not is if he goes on with the Kintharians.

Could another million people die, and that would be better than tossing a coin to see if few died or the world ended? Would it mean Imperial dominion?

If he collaborates, he wouldn't die today, at least maybe not.
If he resists, he could die now, or in the aftermath of the nuclear attack.
But it was his responsibility do give up his life for his country and comrades if need be.

Jaakko, indecisive as ever, forced into having to answer an impossible question, becomes torn.

He looks to Ellie, who is trapped in her aircraft, with no means of control or communication, with his visor masking his face contorted with contemplation and anger.

[Operator¹]

-dleet

[Qwepir]

Cualli looks over at her shoulder at Elu, hearing that he's fallen behind. "Elu? Are you alright?" she asks, concern clear in her voice. She slows down to let him catch up.

: My leg is not working. I cannot run like that.

: What now, Yamashiro? Those orders are probably going to make it to Crash and Kommandmant regardless of what I do here.

Bell pauses.
: And I doubt the rest of your squadron can take them all on, anyway.

: You tell me. The others are still being jammed, so the only people that heard Tarkirov just now are you and me.

[Operator¹]

Bell has Yamashiro's communications relayed to the Tordenskjold, and she starts looking for any place on her current course that she can use as cover to throw off Yamashiro's bead on her plane, clouds or carrier.

: Are you going to let me land on the carrier, Yamashiro?

[carolcat]

Cualli stops running and looks at Elu. "Alright," she says. "Get on my back and I'll carry you." She stands in front of Elu and turns around, then grabs his legs when he hops onto her back. She takes a moment to adjust Elu's weight so that it's more comfortable for her to hold him piggyback-style. "Hang on tight but don't choke me," she tells him before resuming her sprint, although she's slower than before due to her robot son's added weight.

She looks over at the Kintharian engineer. "You've got a gun, right? If you don't, take mine."

[Qwepir]

Bell has Yamashiro's communications relayed to the Tordenskjold, and she starts looking for any place on her current course that she can use as cover to throw off Yamashiro's bead on her plane, clouds or carrier.

: Are you going to let me land on the carrier, Yamashiro?

: No. You got your message out, you heard your response. Go back to the formation and tell them what you heard.

Cualli stops running and looks at Elu. "Alright," she says. "Get on my back and I'll carry you." She stands in front of Elu and turns around, then grabs his legs when he hops onto her back. She takes a moment to adjust Elu's weight so that it's more comfortable for her to hold him piggyback-style. "Hang on tight but don't choke me," she tells him before resuming her sprint, although she's slower than before due to her robot son's added weight.

: Thank you.

She looks over at the Kintharian engineer. "You've got a gun, right? If you don't, take mine."

: It's fine, I have a gun.

[Operator¹]

Bell returns to the formation.

: Here's the rundown, the orders from the Sky Marshal are to make it to the fleet rendezvous at any cost. Now, I'll leave it up to your discretion as to how you want to act here. Either way, the strike is happening with or without us.


Ellie still doesn't know what the hell is going on because the Wyvern's comms have been blacked out the entire time.

[Tayasaurus]

"...I believe Raiden." Tippy says, letting her thoughts spill. "I didn't join the service to risk everyones skin. Just my own. If its true then we will have condemned millions because of what? Pride?"

[carolcat]

: Thank you.

Cualli allows herself a slight smile despite her nervousness about the uncertainties that lie ahead. "I'm not about to leave my son behind, you know," she tells Elu, shifting his weight again. "You're all I've got."

: It's fine, I have a gun.

She gives the engineer a nod and keeps up her sprint, hoping that they're close to the escape pods. She sends a silent prayer up to the gods, thanking them for the fact that they've yet to encounter any resistance.

[Badger]

"...I believe Raiden." Tippy says, letting her thoughts spill. "I didn't join the service to risk everyones skin. Just my own. If its true then we will have condemned millions because of what? Pride?"

"Damned if I do and Damned if I don't. I'm afraid I have to agree with Tippy, I rather be remembered as defying orders than enabling nuclear war."

Walter looks out his canopy again to see if Virvel is still close by

[Qwepir]

"Damned if I do and Damned if I don't. I'm afraid I have to agree with Tippy, I rather be remembered as defying orders than enabling nuclear war."
Walter looks out his canopy again to see if Virvel is still close by

She is, and shoots you a thumbs up.