The briefing room was packed. But then again, it was going to be a massive convoy with more than fifty pilots. The block of regulation issue light blue jumpsuits was the 38 Behemoth, Centaur and Atlas pilots from TPG to the front and left. To their right was the six pilots from TGFT in their green suits. Right behind them were six Vipers pilots, their yellow and purple suits adorned with a large viper, fangs ready, on the left shoulder and flight badge on the right. In front of the large screen was another Viper with the nametag Strat on his right side chest pocket.
"So, we are finally here, except for one TGFT pilot?" he asked. The leader of the TGFT group nodded. "Right, you have the route plan on your memsticks, with timings and jumpsequence. Anybody missing one, come see me afterwards. Hmm, let me see," he looked through his notes, "Oh yeah, last minute change. Pilot Hortan will lead the supply convoy, as Mr. Estenk will be flying escort duty on Tangerine flight. I will still lead Purple flight. Green leaders callsign will be unchanged, Green Alfa."
Hortan knew all this, but he, Strat and Ecka were probably the only ones. If anyone had any objections, it would be too late now, hence the secrecy.
"Right, Hortan, lead your flight out and form up at the vector given. Go signal to be issued on the encrypted SSCU from Tangerine alfa." Strat acknowledged that Ecka was the more experienced of them, and so should give the go. "Vipers in Purple, launch in five, form on my ship, formation delta-33."
"Lads, lets get these supplies to Remley Station in time, and without pirate intervention. Be careful out there." Strat stalked out of the room, closely followed by his fellow Vipers.
Hortan stood and looked at the TPG group. "Ehm...lets move out." He tried to sound a bit like Strat, but only a vague croaking came out instead.
"All elements of Green, move out as ordered. Be at assembly the point in fifteen minutes." Surbius's voice cut through, and stuff happened. He leant towards Hortan, "You can do it, I have faith in you. And so has The Boss. Go show them, ok?"
Hortan stood and walked with the TPG group to the launch bays. His trusty Behemoth XC, the "Certain Death XXII" was painted in standard TGFT green. He entered the cockpit, made sure the EAPRS was active, went through launch procedure and flew to the assembly point. The XC was not at all sluggish for once. The weight of the medicinal supplies was negligible in comparison to the Heliocene ore that was normally freighted. He felt like a buck out on grass at spring. Not that he knew what a buck was, let alone spring, but he had read about it in one of those Itani education holo's, and it felt right.
The SSCU activated with Strats voice "Space is clear all the way to Latos wormhole interface. Route is GO." Ecka came online, "Tangerine is ready in Latos H-2. All clear. We have GO on convoy, repeat, GO on convoy. Purple initiate block of B-6, Tangerine will initiate on O-12. Acknowledge."
All combat flights called WILCO, and so did Hortan. The only one in Green flight with the coded SSCU, he further informed the TPG group and gave the order to jump. He initiated his own jump sequence. They were committed .
Ecka jumped first into Latos O-12, followed immediately by Surbius, Mor Isil, John Eldritch, Waldoze and Vardonx. The radar picture he received left him with only one thing to say. "Shait. Buddy pairs and engage." It seemed like all of CLM was out on one of their blockade operations. Talk about bad timing. He ticked the pie rats off, yoda, LNH, ferskingen, Azumi, Wittman, Swag Man, tramshed. And MysticRogue. He punched the SSCU, "What is the activity at your place Strat? I could use some fighters over here. All of CLM is here for the party."
"Roger, all quiet here, I'll leave one pair and come to your location. Inbound in 4 minutes. Out." Ecka smiled, he knew that if CLM was around, Strat would be here in less than that. He targeted LNH, knowing that Surbius would get the information and do the same. He sent a happy thought to Lambin and engaged local hail. "On tin hats..". If it wasn't for Lambins ill fated stunt with that cutlass, he would have missed the fun.
Hortan jumped into Latos H-2 with his nerves on the outside of his suit. Immediately pressing the sector list after entering, he came up empty. The remaining transport ships of the convoys jumped in as well.
"All clear to the station so far. Purple and Tangerine has engaged pie rats around Latos O-12, and so far we are doing well. The pie rats thinks that we are going that way, thus leaving a clear path to us. Stand-by for further update and order for GO." Somehow it was easier for Hortan to give orders when he couldn't see the others. He texted Ecka and requested permission for go. The reply was almost instantaneous, GO. Hortan initiated jump sequence and jumped towards sector M-9 with the rest of the convoy right after him. The slight detour was intended to avoid any ion-storms, and form the convoy up before jumping out.
Ardon received the message. "Forwarded message from Ferrin Galders: Right on, all of TGFT and VPR are here at the wormhole. CLM owes you one. End"
His hand trembled as he typed a message on his secure SSCU. MIRAGE. There, it was done. The order to initiate was sent, nothing to do now but wait. Wait and worry. He drank the remaining absinthe in his tumbler, leant back and closed his eyes.
