The water washed around the prow of the vessel. A heavy armored warship with autocannons where dreadnaughts of old had single loading guns. The Marques as the ship was called was a ship built to patrol the waters under the control of the Regis Mining company.
The Planet Ardent was a larger planet, rich in minerals. Yet, she was aquatic. 90 percent of the planet was water, the remaining percent was either large islands, in the tens of miles, or chains up to ten miles in total with the islands all added.
2 Major companies had set up shop here. Regis, favoring large and powerful operations, pulled the most resources for off-world shipping. Arkue favored smaller setups, as well as in its fleet of defense ships. not that it didn't have large ships, they were fewer and arguably less armed than Regis.
The past few years had seen Regis pushing weight around. They had landed on several islands belonging to smaller less defended companies, whose fleets were more for anti-piracy missions. With so many islands it was impossible to survey them all in a reasonable time, so the companies directed funds towards warships, which could be sold later to planet militias at a huge discount.
Regis had either forced confrontation or threatened to destroy the bases and fleets if they were sold for little to nothing. Arkue had responded by building an "alliance of companies" to halt Regis. While no war had been declared, there were skirmishes from time to time. Fighters brawling, ships exchanging shells and plasma. The Problem, Regis was more than willing to rebuild destroyed mining operations if need be, and was willing to do it soon.
So, the cruiser set up offshore of an island used by Thala, an Alliance company. As sunrise broke, so did the silence of the calm. Shells rained down unto the small airbase on the island. Careful shots cratering the runways, while quick work was made of hangers. In less than 5 minutes the base was a smoldering wreck. Aircrews scrambling to save what few planes remained.
As the shells rained down, 2 pilots started up two VTOLS. Armed with bombs, they would at least bloody the cruisers nose.
"Let's move it." Liam said to Buck.
"I'm moving I'm moving" Buck replied frantically.
Buck, a young man of 20 had taken this posting since it paid well, and was on a tropical scene. Away from any threats, he thought. At least that of the houses. They lacked the ability to really invade such a planet.
Explosions rocked the ground as an ammo bunker went up. Sirens blaring. In the distance, he saw the barrels of 2 fortified long-toms raise up. Hidden from the eyes of spies and recon, they were loaded before being unearthed from the retractable platforms.
Two thuds went off as the cannons fired away. One shot each but they were a hell of a weapon if they hit.
The two pilots hurried through the checks on the planes, Light aircraft that carried 2 500lb bombs. Not much but enough to ward off a ship. Hopefully.
Both pilots awaited fate as the lifted off into the sky. Both had reasons for being here, money, company loyalty. At the time, the reason was to help those they had lived with for the past year. For some this planet was home now. A better prospect than where the lived before. For some it wasn't a paycheck, but for sons and daughters now.
Feel free to comment. Use to rp alot so getting into it again here.
