Reviving the Phoenix (Short Story)

TNU Presents: Reviving a phoenix

Written by J. L. Galloway and Josh Hina

Written on 09/15/2017

DFS Lavie
Control Flight Operations Center
August 20, 4566

"What is this" called out Dom, he was reviewing the flight data information from Sukara and Kiyoko. He was not very pleased. Two of his best pilots, and the numbers were still coming up short. He looked around the room. He was frustrated and very angry.

"Even with the modifications to this ship, the simulations still show us being blown up within 6 minutes" yelled out Dom. He wanted to strangle the corps of engineers and the developers that backed them.

 "There is no way we can fend off a small carrier with only five mechs" proclaimed Dom. "We need a new plan" called out Dom.

"It takes us 6 minutes launch the mechs, I was told we had five mech pilots not one full time pilot and a backup and three on reserve" said Dom as he looked at Sukara walking over towards him.

Sakura came over to Dom reviewing a list on a pad she had. "We were supposed to get some other pilots from the EHU... Even then... it is sort of meaningless as you say... yeah one pilot is powerful but against all this... Any suggestions?"

"And the additional 4 fighters, can be launched in two minutes, but they are not designed to target drones and mechs, all simulated tests show the Lavie being blown up before we can launch all mechs" said Dom, he was really frustrated.

"So... ideas?" She looks from Dom to the flight duty officer and launch control officer

 The two also just stare at Dom seemingly in agreement.

"six minutes, there is no way we can hold off a carrier for six minutes, let alone defeat it, you want an idea, I got one, we need more ships, more drones and more mechs, and a few hundred fighters wouldn't hurt either" said Dom.

His frustration was open for his staff to see. He had spent the past 12 hours running his crew ragged. Every test, every scenario was the same.

"Okay... So... How will we get these ships... I can request more pilots from Rigal SOD but we need SPACE to store the units... How would we deal with that... I don't think you understand we can't just keep asking for more stuff unless we show results... That is unless you want our heads being handed to some pissed off Admiral on a silver platter."

"The technology is sound, but we need the numbers to support it" said Dom, as he shifted through the data pads. "If we can not make more room on the Lavie, perhaps we need to think more old school" said Dom as he shifted through another data pad. "Back in the 20th century, flight carriers use to travel with support vessels, but for the past few centuries we steered away from that, but now thanks to Maximus new ships, we need to find creative solutions to taking down his new advanced carriers" said Dom. He continued to shuffle through data pads.

"So support vessels... That will take convincing higher ups... I doubt my pull alone would get us that." Sakura replied.

He had a proposal that was shot down. But maybe if he tweaked it, he could present it to Yuka, and she could present it to the admiralty. "I called it, Project Runway, it's refitting older mothball ships, with drones, a Skelton crew and cramming them with drones, they are small and very manuervable, the Phoenix was being test piloted when Admiral Bara cancelled the program, saying he was not seeing any results, we were so close for test trails" said Dom, as he showed a picture of Jim Olend's old ship being gutted and retrofitted.

"Such a ship could even have space for another storage bay for the reserve pilots mechs... So our primary ship could hold active pilots."

"The admiral was never keen on me using the Phoenix in this matter, but no one wanted to command her, because of the lunacy that is Jim Olend. I managed to get two hundred drones to fit on the ship with a crew of 35" said Dom with a grin.

"Or the fighter wing..."

"The added space would be helpful"

"I would have to re run the numbers with the modifications, the ships could handle a crew of 35, but adding pilots to the roster, will require more resources" said Dom. He wanted to have his plan down before he presented it to his captain.

"If the idea is sound it would even be worth bringing to Jake."

(The Chief of Staff)

"It took us 12 hours to prove those bonehead admirals plan was never going to work, before we bring up any plans, we need to finalize the plan, I have been working on three plans but the model for this plan is to re create a task group full of support vessels, command ship and a carrier or two" said Dom.

"Oh... So like the Lavie and two basically frigates in a way." Kiyoko said coming in inserting herself into their conversation. "You have your aircraft carrier and then two destroyers or PT boats supporting it... Then some kind of light assault ship." She began to run off recalling her 21st century naval reading. Sakura glanced over at her.

"I know Kiyoko, you must be exhausted, sorry to put you through that" said Dom, who was trying to be a little more sympathetic. "But I need you and the Commander, if we are going to present any plans to the Chief of Staff or the Captain" said Dom. He hated doing that to her. He looked at the smaller defiant vessels the two ladies were pointing out to him. "We do not have enough crew, let alone trained crews to operate those vessels, but they would be helpful" said Dom. He liked the fact she spoke up.

"Patrolling is no problem; I just read in between managing instruments and looking a look out; combat simulations are a little more involved... It is fine though... It keeps my mind off things... We do have two ships attached to Lavie don't we... but yeah; no flight crews... We still need some kind of light assault ship... I assume that is what you meant with the Phoenix?" Kiyoko asked having more tactical knowledge from her reading. She did command one of the flight groups on the Arvonus at one point so Sakura and Kiyoko were on par but Sakura just had more linelight being the President's cousin.

"We can offer a crash course, but it will still take time to train officers and crew, yes the my thoughts for the Phoenix would be an light raider style carrier, 200 drones at our disposal" said Dom.

"Okay... Draw up the plan then... Propose it to Captain Layton though I am sure she would differ to our judgement... We are the war veterans on the ship aside from the Lt. Col. and Mr. Ross."

Sakura said.

"We need ships were we can get in, get out in hurry, or provide tactical support on larger missions" said Dom. He hated giving up the project, he really resented Admiral Bara for placing him on this test pilot program, it was a good idea in concept, but I was doomed to fail" He nodded in agreement with Sukara.

"The Lavie is quick ship, but she can not take on a FSF Carrier on her own, that Darius guy really crippled us by developing this technology in secret, we need time to combat it, right now we need ships to keep parr with him" said Dom.

"Well; all of this together will be good; assigning fighters and AMC units to a mid level cruiser is a good move BUT it in essence becomes a carrier at which point it needs support; 20th century tacticians were not idiots... Lead by their example the work is already done for us... Use their concepts..." Kiyoko said. Sakura then said "Darius is an ass and he cares about rubbing his smug ego that is why he makes ships with advanced tech to prove how he is better than we are... outsmart him."

He began to think about the Phoenix and about his old plan. 'Project Runaway', he still felt that was the best temporary solution. Now he had two capable officers aiding him. Maybe they can create a plan based off it, but make it better!

"They keep targeting our shipyard production facilities, luckily the mothball fleet is considered obsolete to him, so he is leaving them alone, we will outsmart him but thinking a little outside of the box" suggested Dom. The Phoenix was only the first step.

"Rigal is at least holding the line on that front." Kiyoko said referring to the defense of the shipyards.

"Any more thoughts?" Sakura asked; at this point it was more about writing it up; a formal plan that is.

"We need to outsmart him, with tactical strategies and technological advancements, we could try these things" said Dom as the scene starts to fade.

The End.

Appendix 1: Thought process behind this short story.

Hina: So our other post was on the morning of the 20th or night of the 19th so basically a day

Galloway: We are backdating a little. will skip forward.

Hina: well I am just rtrying to make sure for continuity sake it makes sense.

Hina: She is in to history. (Referring to Kiyoko)

Galloway: So do we want to make this one off story? Or a back post?

Hina: One off probably that way we can kind of prepare for Dom's departure. And move to the Phoenix.

Galloway: I like it

. Now we need a title

Hina: Reviving the phoenix.

Galloway: I like it

Hina: and it gives a clue as to what is going to happen.

Appendix 2: The Lingo definitions.

Hina: EHU is the elite hunting unit; baslically AMC's termination squad; the best of the best mech pilots.

Hina: Security Operations Detachment; another name for the Tactical Unit of AMC's Rigal Task Force; Kiyoko came from there... It is agiant base full of mechs for war and security.

Appendix 3: Outsmarting Darius

Hina: ... he built his ships to prove how much better he was; so yeah Sakura is right... Beat him at his own game; be better than he is he wont expect it.

Appendix 4: Shifting crew

Hina: If no other comments we can end this one and then move to him proposing the idea; this does show why Sakura made Kiyoko XO of the Lavie's mech unit though.

Hina: So it fills that in makes it look less like she just handed her the job... explains that the reason she got the job is shes good.