Star Wars More Tales of the Black Sheep! A Starfighter Game --new players welcome

IC: Pudge

"Ahhhhh, smell that crisp warm air around ya" The Whiphid flipped over some of the bloody bantha burgers with one flip of his hamhock arms, he dug out some of his finest meats for this special occasion. Since the crew desired some nice r-n-r for a change, the old salt decided to surprise the youngsters with a few homeplanet cooking he learned while serving the clones. The meat crisped on the grill with smoke pouring into the air, taking one readily set patty off the plate; Pudge placed it on a bun and turned his attention to a waiting mechanic.

"Whaddaya want on the burg?" Pudge smiled.

The Rodian honked a few toppings as others were starting to pour outside far off.

"Kay, one burg with light sludge puppies and roof shingles" Pudge nodded as he squirted two blasts of mustard and gungan mayo on the patty, before finishing it with a lite finisher of Jablogian leek slices and Jogan fruit slices. Slapping the bun back on, the Whiphid slid the burger to the Rodian who honked in thanks. Warm air blew past the Whiphids apron, along with the tightened black/yellow speedo he brought for relaxation days like this, most of the other crewmates didn't bat an eye at him wearing this outside.

-0-
IC: Zero "The Beach Is That Way" Maderas

Zero smiled over the mentioning of the crews next mission, he was always happy to visit the old stomping grounds and stink pits he'd proudly call home, in comparison to how other spacers would be in aghast at. His chest took in the sun as the slicer wore only a pair of tropical trunks and a pair of beach shoes he "won" off a marine in a sabbacc game last month. Turning to his fellow pilots and personnel as they stood in attention with a golden smile. "Care for a little game of net-ball?" The slicer made a faux-flexing muscles and popped an air-bubble on his spindly frame. "Winner gets to be first in line for Pudge's rare "Bloody Otoh" drink at the lunch table, apparently it makes Savareen Brandy taste like Gigoran spit."

TAG: EVERYONE! (And yes, Pudge is wearing a speedo, he couldn't fit in a singlet.....)

 

IC: Kayn
Flame-broiled

Kayn scanned the area on several wavelengths. He wasn't picking up anything unexpected. This really did seem like a rustic vacation spot. It reminded him of childhood camping trips with the Junior Scouts. He wondered if his wilderness survival training badges were still in his bedroom back home on Devaron. The last time he'd breathed these kinds of wildlife scents had been during the fiasco on Serenity. Zara had hated that trek through the woods; she was a city girl through and through. He shook his head, determined put his lost wingmate out of his mind. At least here I'm not looking for her around the corner of every corridor in the ship.

With five days to kill, maybe he ought to get to know his new wingmate. He had scanned Rave's open file, but still hadn't exchanged more than a few cursory words with the woman. What the frack is a Royal Handmaiden anyway?

He caught a whiff of fresh meat and charcoal. The Whiphid was looking after the grill, so it would likely turn out tasty. The Sheep were definitely eating better since Pudge had showed up out of nowhere. Feeling nostalgic for the Junior Scout cookouts of his lost youth, he moved closer to the grills. Dancing flames were licking the freshly butchered game and then fire surged up in the TIE cockpit and the helmetless pilot's face was blistering and his lips peeling as his mouth stretched in an unheard agonized burning scream. Kayn turned abruptly to walk away from the firepits.


TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Sgt.Matt and all the other Sheep in the wilderness

 

Vortan listened to the Briefing and nodded when he got his assignment. "Ground based snoop and scute, gotcha, I can handle that. One question, any planetary limits on weapons? I don't want to run into trouble carrying a heavy blaster in the open."

As usual, He was wearing his full blaster belt. "Also, how about droids? My Astromech can help record a few things in things. keep good records. Even if I have to put a restraining bolt on him."
then a very rare smile crossed his face. "And C-flight, anyone who wants extra training on the Y-Wing, I will be happy to hold class on what a properly deployed Wishbone can do."

 

Maxime Pallas
D’Qar

Max couldn’t remember when she’d had a better burger. Truthfully, she’d probably had better at some point. But having been stuck on the Intrepid for the better part of the year, eating captured Imperial rations and whatever else the Rebel Alliance could scrounge, to be sitting here on the grass, in the sunshine, watching a fierce game of netball, somehow it all combined to make the humble patty seem like a truly gourmet experience. She licked the juice off her thumb as Zayn, the Gamorrean air marshal, spiked a fierce shot towards Zero, nearly taking his head off, and celebrating with a joyful ululation and a remarkably graceful backflip. The rest of the Rebel personnel were relaxing, for the most part. The one Imperial sensory beacon in orbit had been neutralized with a very neat feedback loop, and they’d placed a few of their own.

The engineers from the Patchwork Queen were turning the small bunkers into a neat and functional base, putting living quarters below ground and tunneling from the bunkers into the jungles nearby, to provide escape routes if needed. There, in the forests, there were clearings which were being planted with vegetables and fruits to supply the troops there, and on the other side of the plains, in the foothills of the mountains, there was the possibility to establish a settlement for refugees, people displaced from their own worlds by Imperial violence, including the now homeless Alderaanians.

“I got it, I got it!” Harley shrieked as she leaped for the ball, slamming her fist against it and sending it across towards Zayn, who leaped up and blocked it with his massive belly, sending it back over the net. Max shook her head. She’d been toying with the idea of joining in, but the battle was cutthroat. She was physically cleared for duty, but she was in no way back to her usual form. She knew her stamina was diminished, and her flexibility wasn’t what it should be. Her uniforms were hanging on her.

She glanced back towards the lunch table, wondering if there was any dessert left and spotted Kayn abruptly cutting out of line and ducking away towards the flightline. His usually vivid skin tone was grayed and dull. He wasn’t looking so well either.

She wiped her hands on the small paper square and headed towards him, tossing her trash in the receptacle as she went by. He was walking quickly, and she jogged a little, trying to catch up, succeeding only as he paused, to stare out to space. “Hey,” she gasped, “on your wing. You okay?”

TAG: @Sarge

 

Ravenna “Rave” DeWeir
D’Qar

Ravenna had survived the first netball game, but the second one was too close to warfare for her taste. She went and got some lunch and paused, looking around. There were several of the Sheep that she recognized, some seated at tables, some relaxing on the grass. She hadn’t really had a chance to get to know any of them. A man was sitting a little apart, watching the game, but he seemed to be abstracted, lost in thought. A member of B-flight, she remembered, and the only one she hadn’t been introduced to. Kayn’s wingman, who didn’t say much, and a Clone War veteran.

She walked up and sat beside him. “Do you mind if I join you?” she asked. “Ravenna DeWeir, but I go by Rave. I’m new to Besh flight. I’ve met Kayn and Zero, but I hadn’t met you yet.”

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Baniss Vermillion
D'Qar

Baniss had moved everything from his office down to the planet as he couldn't stay on the ship, despite his protests. Something about being exposed to vacuum. They didn't know vacuum, vacuum was when Elara was especially angry at him.

He got back to the old problem, all of this material going... somewhere. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't compare the materials with the Death Star as such intelligence was classified higher than Baniss currently had access to. Perhaps this was above his pay grade as well. What he needed was a person, a victim, for a thought exercise.

TAG: Everyone

 

IC: Zero "Playing With the Boys" Maderas

The spiked shot made Zero's head bounce than a blob in a blob-racing multi-course, eyes went blurry as the slicer laid in the sand, sky started to blacken until a beeping of an astromech referee. "Yeah yeah, I'm getting up" Zero shook his head from the blow with a grin, raising a thumb towards any worried teammates or onlookers. "Who's up for another shot at the champ! Moi! The Cassanova of 17 Systems!!"

Jumping back into the playing field, the exuberant pilot took stand next to Quinn and struck a goading pose to the opposing team. "I'm ready for who shoots first! even Greedo couldn't outdraw my speed!" Zero boasted with confidence.

-0-

IC: Pudge

"One sloppy asteroid with triple sludge and pregnancy cravings! NEXT!" The Whiphid slid a triple-cheese burger to an aging Nautolan, who thanked him in some gurgly tongue he'd seen in his traveling days. Another pilot came in line, racked up an order that beguiled the Whiphid's concentration and made him grin in acceptance of the challenge. "So you want the 'Veteran's Discount'? Are ya sure that's what you want?"

The pilot said yes in Chandrilan trade language.

"Okay, be ready for a hearty meal then" Pudge said in further acceptance, cracking his gnarled knobbed knuckles in a loud air pop. Digging in the freezer plugged into the grills side table; he rummaged through smaller or medium patties until he found an enormous meat slab, pure bloody Colo-Clawfish mixed beef. Stripping it of plastic wrap, the chef slapped the slab onto the steaming grill and began to cook it until it browned. Tender, sweet meat scents filled the air as the cook's work began to finish in clockwork. Though as it went from raw subzero red to brownish freshness, Pudge pulled up a few mysterious condiments on his side table.

"The 'Veteran's Discount"! On the double!" Pudge exclaimed, as he slammed the now cooked slab onto a opened bun. Following the hulking patty on a big bun was two dollops of Gungan Mayonnaise, a dash of Hutt "Triple-Strength" hot sauce, three spurts of Mon Cala spicy pepper, and a light coating of green bacon grease. Garnishing was minute, orange cheese slices and garlic sprinkles, blanketed by a single enveloping cut of Naboo lettuce. Pudge slapped another bun to close his dish and handed it to the pilot who gazed curiously at it. "Here's your burger! NEXT!"

TAG: ANYONE!!!!

 

IC: Jocelyn "Joy" Sunwalker
D'Qar - FLASH BACK

Jocelyn sat under the shadow of a tree and closed her eyes enjoying the moment. She was glad that the Alliance Command picked this place. There was a certain sense of pride in knowing that she was part of that, even if she just flew around took the readings, along with Hollymander.

It was good being on solid ground again. Most of her adult years were spent on board of some vessel or another. The longest time she had spent on a planet was her time on Yavin 4. Hoth was, thankfully brief, Joy hated the cold and the snow, so she did not weep for ditching the place.

D'Qar seemed perfect, she hoped that the Empire would not find them, or at least that they would take their time.

For now, she was going to enjoy the nice weather and the shadow of the tree...

TAG: Anyone

 

IC: Max & Kayn
Picnic on D'quar

“Hey, on your wing. You okay?”

Kayn's head snapped around; he hadn't noticed Max moving in on him. HIs situational awareness was definitely below par. A quick scan with his implanted sensors confirmed that she was reasonably healthy for someone just out of the bacta tank. Still, that was enough to deflect her question.

"You sure you're all right to walk around down here? You've never been a heavyweight, but you're looking kinda scrawny right now."

He tried to give her his usual rakish grin, but he sensed that he probably looked more like a death's head, and he gave up the smile as a bad job.

Max smiled. "Pushing through PT and," she gestured with her plate "I'm working on building up again. I am cleared to fly, but we don't have new ships yet, so grounded anyway. But you don't seem yourself. Not hungry?"

"Naw, I've lost my appetite for flame-broiling. It's not as much fun as it used to be to throw another Imp on the barby." He stopped talking abruptly. Where had those words come from? He had no intention of getting into this again. That's what Doc Raynor's therapy sessions were for. Not that they were doing much good.

Max cocked her head. "An IMP on the barby?" she said, looking nervously at her burger. "Is...there something I should know?"

Kayn chuckled at her concern, then his head was spinning, he stumbled to his hands and knees and puked onto the ground.

Max dropped the burger, and went to her squadron mate, placing her arms on his shoulders. "All right," she said soothingly, to cover her own alarm. "Better out than in, as my grandad used to say." She eyed the mess, trying to figure out what he could have ingested to make him sick.

Kayn spat, cleared his throat, and spat again. "Sorry," he mumbled. Blinking his eyes clear, he noticed her burger on the ground. "Wasn't the food. I didn't eat any."

Max was getting alarmed. "Maybe we should get you to the medics? I mean, sorry to be blunt, but you've been looking off for days." She gently pulled him away to a clear patch of grass a distance from the mess. "What's going on? Do you have any pain anywhere?"

Kayn shook his head weakly. "No... no medics. It's just... that barbecue rack. Flames and meat. Last mission, I got a good look at an Imp with his helmet off in a burning TIE. I never knew humans burned like that. You know that Devaronians don't burn like humans, right? He was flying and burning and I could see the pain. Agony. I wanted to laugh at him cuz he's an Imp and that's what he deserved... but..." His voice trailed off and he cleared his throat and spat again, trying to rid himself of vomit and bile.

Max was quiet for a moment. "It is a horrible way to die," she agreed. "It's not natural, you know, for humans. Killing other beings. Some people come to enjoy it, which is...horrible. And yeah, he probably deserved it but..." She moved away and sat on the grass. "Pilots are fortunate, you know. Our kills are usually 'clean.' We usually don't see them when they die, and it's easier to pretend they aren't people. We can mark them on the side of the ship as 'trophies,' a record of our prowess. Because if you can't see them, it doesn't count. When you're on the ground, you have to see them, you watch them fall. Or hand to hand...feeling them struggle, feeling their blood on your hands, listening to them gasping for air as you're strangling them. It's hard..." She sighed. "Hard to make yourself not remember. Because at the back of you're mind, they're still there."

"Yeah, I know all about getting up close, and blood on my hands." He flicked his wrist and a small, wickedly curved dagger appeared in his hand. Another quick gesture, and it was gone again. "Too many back alleys and gang turf wars when I was a dumb young punk. That's how I lost my eye, you know." He raised his head and looked at the barbecue flames. "Never saw anybody burning alive, though. Funny how one thing, you can just brush off, but another, another just... gets inside your head." He grimaced and spat again. "And inside your guts, apparently."

Max sighed. "Probably because you know that it could happen to any one of us." She glanced at him. "Make sure you drink water. Puking your guts out is a surefire way to dehydration. Maybe eat something bland? Bread, crackers, try to settle things? Or...a change of topic? What the hell is up with Tehanis? Is she still ticked off that I took her lightsaber off her?" Max shook her head. "I'm gonna start calling her Frosty, if she keeps it up."

"Maxie, that's her fracking lightsaber!" Kayn rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Jedi - even wannabe Jedi - are all about the lightsaber. And scuttlebutt says it's a family heirloom too. I mean, how would you react if she took... I don't know... your droid? Or your favorite family keepsake? Just apologize and promise not to do it again."

Max frowned. "I did apologize..." she said slowly. Hadn't she? She still felt justified in protecting the mission, still thought that Amber was an idiot bringing a lightsaber on a clandestine mission. The one sure way to draw the attention of not just the Empire, but the Emperor himself. But then, perhaps she could have found a different way to get Amber to put the thing away. "I can apologize again, if I can find her." She stared at her toes. "We're not...the Squadron isn't clicking. And I don't know if it's because there are so many different personalities, or if it was just designed to fail. I want us to work. I think we can do a lot of good, if we can be a real team. But..." She made a face. "I know there are things I need to change, and I guess I need to start with her."

Kayn paused, considering his own interactions with Amber. "For what it's worth, I got off to an even worse start with Vixen than you did. But now... well, now she's one of us original Sheep and I'd miss her if she went home. I think we started to get on better when I just assumed she knew everything I was thinking and there was no point in trying to hide anything from her. Worked for me, anyway."

Max made a face. She usually thought Amber was spoiled, self-centered, and something of an idiot. "I'll have to try harder." She smiled crookedly at Kayne. "You're right. Us old herd have to stick together. And I guess..." she glanced back towards the game, "I guess we have to work with the new folks, too, to help them integrate. Guess I'll start over there. I'm not up for playing right now, but I can cheer on the sidelines. And how about you? You feeling better? There are salads and cold things; I'm sure Pudge would whip you up something if you're not up for burgers. He and Foodie are cut from the same cloth; they really love to feed people."

Kayn cleared his throat and spat again. "Guess I could use something to wash out the taste in the back of my throat. Let's go mingle at the buffet."

Max pushed herself to her feet, and thumped Kayne on the arm affectionately. She'd learned a lot from him.


TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Adalia-Durron