Interlude 7
The Gathering Darkness
Terra
7th May, 3025
Terra;
The sounds of industrious labour were drowned out by the observation booths foot thick transparent viewing bay. Armoured against most expected munitions, the men behind it watched the cavernous bay below, and the testing underway. "I wonder if the mercenary scum even realised the significance and applications of the technology they had at their fingertips."
"I don't know," Myndo Waterly said as she moved to the window, "But there was nothing Star League about the design, it was a true new technology, we haven't even found records of attempts to create artificial gravity plating. Meaning either the Raven Guard developed the technology themselves, along with their heat sink technology, or they acquired it from someone else."
"An unsettling prospect, do we have any evidence they understand the possible applications?" The other man said as he sat down behind his desk and started accessing the research records.
"Evidence? No. But in several engagements mechs suffered uncharacteristic crushing damage. Possibly a gravity weapon." Myndo said.
"Unsurprising, we're working on several variations on that theme ourselves," The Man said studying his files, "I wonder if they've considered the applications of them for combat vehicles however. Gravity Repulsion for the production of tanks, with their heat sink technology, project Ogre might be more possible."
"What about their mechs?" Waterly asked turning to face him.
"All we have is anectdotal images and some illicit drone footage of the Armigers being tested by the NAIS. Without actual examples of the technology, the best we can do is make a best guess." He said shutting his files. "Yet, we think it would be unwise to move against them without at least some pretense."
"Oh we don't need to move against them. We don't need to move much at all. A black ops will be sufficient." Myndo said turning back to the window.
"A black ops against the Raven Guard would require a more significant effort, the sort that might be..." He was cut off.
"Not against the Raven Guard. But they trained and handed Lady Kamea Arano of the Aurigan Restoration one of their knights." Myndo said with a grin, "Why risk discovery attacking a bunch of mercenaries with multiple such machines when we can simply, and quietly, steal one from a lone noblewoman of a nowhere place?" Myndo smiled, an expression that contained no human warmth whatsoever, "Take a special tactics unit. And field test those for protection."
Below, the prototype Horatius 'Medium' tank moved through the simplified cityscape. Anti-gravity drives impelling it over obstacles as it's spinally mounted gun turned with the tank, the large laser had been amplified and modified with stolen energy cell technology from the NAIS as the turret rotated, the AC/5, Machinegun, SRM2 and prototype gravity gun engaging targets in turn. Following it two grav APCs followed, the Romulus APC had only a large laser and SRM six for protection in its turret, but it's role was to carry a squad of elite troops, and grips on the side allowed for six Djinn prototype battle armour to grip waiting for their opportunity.
The man frowned. "I am no..."
"I was giving you instructions. Not a request." Myndo said turning back to him with an icy stare.
"I understand, and the Lady Arano?"
"Let's just see where things go. If you can spirit away the mech in the dead of night with nobody the wiser, that is all well and good. If you have to butcher everyone in their precious palace to do it, that's fine too