CTF6

Ramstein, Germany - UNSF Fleet Simulator Training Center
Stealthlon - 21st Battle Group Team
17:33 SET

   Blackbird was betting on his scramble-style organizing to keep him well ahead of the Explorer teams, as he thought, somewhat laxed approach to war planning. Blackbird liked idea of planning while deploying, but pre-planing for major logistical efforts could not be avoided or areas of critical importance like having his fleet in the right place at the right time. He would have to somehow leave his enemy with no alternative but to go to the area where Blackbird would lead the enemy into. But the enemy would have to mislead to the point that the "safe-zone" would be a do or die without thinking it through. Mansel would' however' think it through. Blackbird had to play the game of attrition with Mansel and his ship if he was to push Mansel into his traps. But many times before in real engagements against Imperials, Blackbird lured them and their ships into his traps. The first trap never worked and so Blackbird came up with the "Backing-out Trap." Blackbird walked into a auditorium reserved for the Stealthlon - 21st Battle Group team. He now walked into a briefing no longer, atleast for the duration of the wargame, thinking of Mansel as a personal acquaintance, but merely as the captain of one of his targets, the Explorer-B. He stepped up to a podium and explained the potential impact of the wargame.

   "...and on the other hand, TASK FORCOM might get more administrative powers in wartime then UNSF CENTCOM. If TASK FORCOM gets this one... you people will see less of your families left planet bound at home. If UNSF CENTCOM gets this one..." Blackbird paused to laugh to himself abit before explaining CENTCOM's complaint, "...They might screw up again with deployment of people and personell and we may see another attack on home soil again." Blackbird referring to the Imperials' K'Tesh destroyer fleet attack on the UNSF HQ some years back. He then told the people of the exploits and achievements of Explorer Teams people and how after the wargame, no matter the outcome, they would and will always be good friends and allies. He finished up with telling his, as he put it, fellow teammates, of how proud he is of them. "...people on this team have given, do give, and will continue to give nothing but their best to this team. Good Luck and Good hunting." Blackbird did a half smile and walked out of the auditorium. Kain walked up to the podium.

   "Captains ready your crews!!" Kain said with an emotionless face, already in his wartime frame of mind. And one by one, the commanders of Foch-D and Black Sea their ships and Kain himself issued orders to Stealthlon's crew to man the ship. Kain walked into simulator door onto a simulated USS Stealthlon and thought to himself, hope they got the bathrooms right.

At the same time Admiral Blackbird was giving his prep talk, Mansel and his crew were doing the same, near the simulators on the other side of the building.

"Of all the UNSF starbases, spacedocks, and outposts there are, that blue flag is out there somewhere," Mansel said in their mocked up briefing room. "We just have to find it.

"I know all of you will try your hardest and give your one hundred percent. That's all I ask of you. We've worked with these guys before; we know a little about them and how they think. Anything from anyone else?"

"Let's get to some rump kickin'!" exclaimed Commander Vaughn, followed by a hearty cheer from Lieutenant Jeron and the rest of the Explorer-A crew, Kondesh included. Mansel walked off the podium.

"Okay people," called Captain Vaughn, taking over. "The far left simulator is for the original Explorer crew, the middle one is for my people, and the right one is for the new guys. The show starts in fifteen minutes, so file in and get ready."

"Let's go!" yelled Commander Vaughn, psyched about being in command of the original Explorer. He was he first one into the the simulators, already itching to scope out the authenticity of the replicated bridge. Strolling in, his only thought was man, I hope they remembered to put bathrooms in these things.
                                                                       ***
The simulators were not as bad as Captain Vaughn thought they would be. His command chiar didn't have that one coffee stain on it, but everything else measured up to par.

From Engineering, Lieutenant Commander Jerry Hoffman reported that he was pleased to day that everything down there was simulated prefectly, and the 'engines' were on standby. Vaughn gave him the order to warm them up and cut communications.

Similar things were happening on every ship. The Foch-D was not happy to report that due to some programmer's overzelousness to make things interesting, their engines were running only at 80%.

On the bridge of the Stealthlon, Admiral Blackbird glanced up as the lights snapped on overhead and the ship's systems started to come online , which would mean only one thing.

It was time to begin.

Hours earlier, the teams had each decided where to hide their flag. Team Explorer had decided on stashing theirs at the starbase over Palla; Admiral Blackbird's group had thiers in the Omicron Nebula, the site of the first meeting between him and Marauder.

The event as being telecast to the whole UNSF force, or at least those who wanted to watch. For however long it took, the UNSF was essentially useless.