Interlude 147 - 148: Ulsop
NorCal CBT
Interlude 147 - 148: Ulsop
Date/Location:
July 22, 3065 / Muphrid, Lyran Alliance (Class B)
New Calenaton Spaceport, 06:50 local time
Everett Thames glanced up from the book he was reading to check the feeds from the recovery team sent out to retrieve the missing pilots lost in the previous day’s operations against the criminals from the Draconis Combine. The view from the two Karnovs was the same—a green sea of mostly flat forests as far as the eye could see.
“How goes the rescue op, Thames?” he heard from behind him. Thames didn’t bother looking up as he replied. “Boring. As it should be.” A soft thunk on the table in front of him drew his gaze to a steaming cup of coffee. “Much appreciated, Miss Black,” he said as she sat down beside him and took in the view from the monitors. As he took a delicate sip, Miss Black spoke.
“There’s something I don’t understand, Thames. Why did the Allies decide to assign us here of all places? There are no active conflicts happening here and this world doesn’t hold strategic importance to either side of the conflict.”
Thames set his book aside. “I’ve given some thought to that myself. I didn’t see anything in New Dublin that would warrant the presence of the 23rd Arcturan Guards. When I made my own inquiries I was told we were here to ‘intercept any units fleeing nearby conflicts’, but Alcor seems like a far more likely place for the Loyalists to regroup from conflicts in this theater. I don’t know the reason we’re here, but I do know this: There’s something our employers aren’t telling us.”
After a long pause, Miss Black said, “I think you’re right, Thames. I just wish I knew what it was. I don’t want us to end up being the fall guys if things go sideways because we weren’t properly briefed…”
Just then the audio feed from the rescue team sprang to life as Ghazanfar Khan’s voice came through the radio. “XO, we are nearing the recovery site. I’m seeing some kind of facility nearby.”
Thames and Miss Black turned their attention to the monitors. Just ahead of the recovery team, the sea of trees was parting to reveal a group of buildings varying in height between one and five stories. The scrub brush and overgrowth across some suggested they were abandoned, but the active lighting and lack of decay suggested otherwise. The buildings appeared to be a mix of offices and manufacturing facilities. An enormous logo was emblazoned across the side of the largest.
Thames flipped the mute switch of his audio feed into the off position. “Somebody zoom in on that logo,” he ordered. “On it,” replied Chandrakala Sutar. The feed from her Karnov zoomed in on the logo to give them a clear view. It consisted of a single word: ULSOP.
“XO, I’m seeing something at the edge of the facility,” Sutar said. “It’s difficult to make it out through the overgrowth, but I think it’s a downed mech.” Khan’s feed moved to a vaguely human-shaped mound of bushes and vines near a road at the perimeter of the facility. “Can either of you ID it?” Thames asked. “Negative, XO,” they both responded.
As they neared the edge of the facility Khan said, “XO, I’m picking up multiple sensor contacts.” “Mechs?” asked Thames. “Negative, XO, contacts appear to be vehicles,” Khan replied. “I’m detecting incoming LRM fire. Taking evasive action,” Sutar said.
“Give me some names, pilots. What’s firing at you?” Thames asked. “Sorry sir,” Sutar responded, “but I’ve never seen whatever these are before.” “Same, sir,” Khan added. “Incoming PPC and autocannon fire. It’s getting pretty hot here, sir.”
“Abort. I repeat. Abort and return to base. I’m not risking you two against unknown OpFor by yourselves,” Thames said.
“Roger that, XO, returning to base,” Khan replied.
Thames flipped the mute switch of his audio feed back into the on position and gave a groan as he slumped back into his chair. “Looks like rescuing Heinlein, Parker, and Pippin won’t be so easy after all,” Thames said to Miss Black. “I’ll get a briefing put together for the cavalry while you look into this Ulsop outfit,” she replied.