Date: Unknown
Time: 10:02 PM
Place: A Dying World
Under a black, starless sky, the forms of three large, Trilobyte Class carriers rested amongst the devastation that had once been their world. Nothing but ruin extended in all directions, a barren cityscape that had by now been picked clean by their operatives for anything of use. But... there was a reason they had chosen this as their last stand, even as the dark enveloped the Earth in a blanket of silence and stillness: It was the ideal location to wage a battle that one did not intend to win...
Yet more importantly, and at the same time, not to lose.
"All teams, report on the status of Operation Typhon."
Within the confines of the rearmost vessel, activity was rampant as the final adjustments were made. On the ship's bridge, its makeshift command center, field officers and operators viewed a monitor - map of sorts featuring a trio of lines that trailed out from their location, one in each direction of a triangle.
What they were about to attempt had never been done before... A true dimensional leap, one that would allow them to survive the destruction that had hung over their head for years now, as it slowly choked the life out of the last traces of life in the galaxy. It sounded almost too good to be true...
But they knew it was, for Prometheus said so. They put their faith in him, as he had in they, and now they were on the cusp of accomplishing their goal... If, and only if, they could outwit their persistent hunters...
Just one... last... time.
The radio crackled, and several images appeared on the monitor. A small video clip played of what appeared to be a massive apartment building. A set of explosions erupted about its base, and it fell - as if in slow motion - crashing into... Something. A voice came into being over the recording, and a set of Gespents could be seen darting away.
"This is Group Eins. We've successfully stalled "Mask". Plan went off without a hitch... We won't be seeing her for a while. Moving to Rendezvous point A."
The screen brought up a second visual, this one of several Gespensts high-tailing it across open waters. In the distance, something... lumbering was giving chase, skimming across the water... Slowly closing the gap in such a way that suggested it was taking its time.
"Zwei here! We've engaged "Owl" - a little later than we would have liked, but it's here alright! No fatalities yet... Currently luring it towards the refinery. Wish us luck!"
"Roger that. Drei team, what's your status?"
"We've got trouble!"
A cavalcade of murmurs filled the room as the operator assisting the team leaned in, listening for more details. A visual appeared of something... Dark blue, multi-limbed, and... feathered... darting clear over a group of Gespensts, leaping daintily over their heads, as though they were invisible, even as colorful explosions popped in the air all around it.
""Idol" didn't take the bait. It saw the flares, just kept going-"
"Can you intercept?"
"Negative, it's too fast! We're on our way, but we won't make it in time!"
The operator lowered her headset, turning fearfully back towards the assembled group, only to find her expression mirrored in each of their own faces.
"They're onto us." She breathed; pulling up the map once more.
"Let the Commander know."
Time: 10:02 PM
Place: A Dying World
Under a black, starless sky, the forms of three large, Trilobyte Class carriers rested amongst the devastation that had once been their world. Nothing but ruin extended in all directions, a barren cityscape that had by now been picked clean by their operatives for anything of use. But... there was a reason they had chosen this as their last stand, even as the dark enveloped the Earth in a blanket of silence and stillness: It was the ideal location to wage a battle that one did not intend to win...
Yet more importantly, and at the same time, not to lose.
"All teams, report on the status of Operation Typhon."
Within the confines of the rearmost vessel, activity was rampant as the final adjustments were made. On the ship's bridge, its makeshift command center, field officers and operators viewed a monitor - map of sorts featuring a trio of lines that trailed out from their location, one in each direction of a triangle.
What they were about to attempt had never been done before... A true dimensional leap, one that would allow them to survive the destruction that had hung over their head for years now, as it slowly choked the life out of the last traces of life in the galaxy. It sounded almost too good to be true...
But they knew it was, for Prometheus said so. They put their faith in him, as he had in they, and now they were on the cusp of accomplishing their goal... If, and only if, they could outwit their persistent hunters...
Just one... last... time.
The radio crackled, and several images appeared on the monitor. A small video clip played of what appeared to be a massive apartment building. A set of explosions erupted about its base, and it fell - as if in slow motion - crashing into... Something. A voice came into being over the recording, and a set of Gespents could be seen darting away.
"This is Group Eins. We've successfully stalled "Mask". Plan went off without a hitch... We won't be seeing her for a while. Moving to Rendezvous point A."
The screen brought up a second visual, this one of several Gespensts high-tailing it across open waters. In the distance, something... lumbering was giving chase, skimming across the water... Slowly closing the gap in such a way that suggested it was taking its time.
"Zwei here! We've engaged "Owl" - a little later than we would have liked, but it's here alright! No fatalities yet... Currently luring it towards the refinery. Wish us luck!"
"Roger that. Drei team, what's your status?"
"We've got trouble!"
A cavalcade of murmurs filled the room as the operator assisting the team leaned in, listening for more details. A visual appeared of something... Dark blue, multi-limbed, and... feathered... darting clear over a group of Gespensts, leaping daintily over their heads, as though they were invisible, even as colorful explosions popped in the air all around it.
""Idol" didn't take the bait. It saw the flares, just kept going-"
"Can you intercept?"
"Negative, it's too fast! We're on our way, but we won't make it in time!"
The operator lowered her headset, turning fearfully back towards the assembled group, only to find her expression mirrored in each of their own faces.
"They're onto us." She breathed; pulling up the map once more.
"Let the Commander know."