SWRPF Archive Podracer: Life in the Fast Line

IC: kavark
ROC Post #11

Kavark's move to the inside of Antilles had paid off ... partially. He didn't gain the lead as he'd hoped, but he did gain a few things. He gain a little bit of ground, putting himself and Antilles almost side-by-side again. And ... he'd gained the inside track. With the turns coming up, that could be used to his advantage to win the race, or take a lead in the last lap-and-a-half.

But it also put pressure onto Kavark. If he wasn't able to make a move between now and the next time they arrived at the split, Antilles could go inside on the right split and force Kavark to either slow in behind him, or take the unknown left.

And neither of those options sounded good.

So Kavark had one lap to make a move.

And he'd make it ... just not yet. They zoomed together down the straightaway, side-by-side, both racers pushing their pod as hard as they could to maximize the straight stretch and hope for a mistake by the other. Kavark offered no such relief for Antilles, and he didn't really expect such relief to come his way, either.

One-and-a-half laps ... and the winner would be immortalized.

Tag: Angus, Hammer

 

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (13)
- Kavark (11)

- Muurg Geafsit (3)
- Chad (2)
- Izen (1)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

 

IC Corbin Antillies
Race Post 14

Kavark and Corbin, locked in an epic battle for the first posistion since the race had kicked off. Antillies couldn't have predicted the race to turn out any other way. Himself and Kavark had been in close matches such as this since the beginning of the season, but this particular match had much more going for it.

The side-by-side Pods soared down the long straightaway. Corbin, with his Pod on the right, knew he would have to make an attempt of gaining the inside of the track sometime soon, or it could come back to hurt him. In a race this close, every little advantage and disadvantage could mean victory or just second place. Corbin would not settle with second place, not again.

Blazing through the open straightaway, Corbin had to slow down just a bit as the winding turns quickly approached. He let loose of the throttles slightly and allowed his momentum to take him through the sharp obstacles seen before the final straightaway of the lap. Kavark had the inside track, which proved to be a slight advantage, but Corbin didn't see it hurting him, yet. By this point on the next lap, Corbin would be preparing to activate his boost and blast towards the finish line. He just had to remain neck and neck with Kavark to do so.

TAG-Kavark, IMP

 

IC: Izen
Race Post #2

Coming out of the first turn Izen kept the output of his engines at the same slightly elevated level they had been at previously to gain on the two racers he could easily see ahead of him. He was determined to at least catch up to them or be a pain in their side by the end of this lap, with luck he might even be ahead of them but who knew it was the now that matted of of all. Having completed the first relatively easy turn Izen found himself in a small straight away before another curving turn. He could still see the other two racers ahead of him as he approached the second turn it seemed he was slowly gaining on the other two racers ahead of him which in his mind was a good thing.

Entering the second turn or maybe more accurately the fist true true since as he saw turn 1 was more of a shift in the track than an actual turn Izen kept the power output of both engines where they were elevating the right hand engine slightly above the left hand engine as he went around the turn. There was no need in his mind to cut the power to his engines for this turn since it seemed to be a relatively simple turn as well. As he came around the turn's bend Izen raised the height of his right hand engine a little more while pulling on the controls to navigate easily through the turn. Leveling his right hand engine as he came out of the turn Izen saw a small straight away ahead of him.

Knowing it might be foolish to boost so soon into the race Izen did so any ways, hitting the booster as soon as he was clear of the turn. His engines roared as the boost took effect and his small pod leaped forward under the power of the boosters. Quickly Izen gained quickly on the two racers he could see in front of him with his boost going full power. Upon reaching the two racers Izen cut out his boost noticing that one of the two racers was Murrg but unsure of who the other was, since he was closer to the second racer whom he could not identify Izen moved into a drafting position behind the racer as they approached another turn in the track.

TAG: Sephy, DVc

OOC: Sorry for the short post but DRL has been a rather large pain the last few days

 

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (14)
- Kavark (11)

- Muurg Geafsit (3)
- Izen (2)
- Chad (2)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

 

IC Corbin Antillies
Post 15

Corbin's Pod glided out of the winding turns and lined up perfectly with the long straightaway which fed into the starting grid. The black night sky provided a comforting breeze and the many lights of the surrounding buildings illuminated the track. Corbin accelerated onto the straightshot, his Pod gaining speed. The massive machine increased in momentum with every passing second as Corbin pushed forward on the throttles until it reached its climax.

He traveled through the long straightaway as fast as his Pod could take him without the help of a boosting agent. The turbo, which was fully charged, would be used at this point on the next lap.

The wind gusted through Corbin's hair. He had decided against wearing any headgear save a pair of goggles this race. His logic being that a helmet wouldn't be so useful if his Pod were to veer off the track and collide into the side of a skyscraper. He couldn't have felt more free at this point. The crowd's chants grew louder as Corbin inched closer to the finish/start line. He could see the giant holoprojector once more which ranked himself and Kavark far, far ahead of the other racers on the track. Just one more lap until it was all over. Corbin's Pod whizzed by the starting line as he began his fourth lap. Lethrak, Trak, Murrg--none of them were of concern now. The only concern he had was the pilot right next to him, Kavark. At some point during this lap he would have to break away from him, and take the victory by himself.

TAG-Kavark, IMP

 

IC: Chad
ROC Post 3

Chad had said all he wanted to the diminuative being beside him, and focused not on the beings answers, but on the track ahead. Muurg tried to force him over, force him into the track divider. Chad didn't know what would happen if he hit it...he didn't want to find out...

He toggled a few switches, and spun a few knobs and dials with in thte extremely cluttered control consol, his left engine suddenly shooting skyward and to the right, placing his engines atop each other, and him sideways. It was the oldest trick in his play book, but by far the most effective.

The two entered the right fork of the track, pods nearly touching, Chad's X-wing canopy protected head so close to Muurgs cockpit he could see the little being, glaring at him as they sped through the fork, comming out on the otherside.

Chad's pod leveled out, and then shot forward as he gave it just a bit more gas.

Tag: Muurg

 

IC: Izen
Race Post #3

He continued to draft the pod he could not readily identify right up till they came to the turn, deciding to try and pass the other racer and get in behind Murrg if he could Izen moved out of the position he was drafting from to a position just off to the side of the other racer's pod. I hope that wasn't for nothing Izen thought to himself as he prepared for the turn they were entering. Quickly Izen cut power to his right hand engine while he raised his left hand engine slightly above the right hand one also increasing the repulsorlift' drives power on the right hand engine and pulled hard on his controls to slingshot him through the first turn.

Having no time to think as he saw another turn right in front of him Izen reversed the power flows from his engines, dropping the power out put on the left hand while brining up the power of the hand engine and once more pulling hard on the controls to once more slingshot him through another turn. Looking ahead of him Izen noticed he had not gotten past the other racer in the turn but he also saw there was a short curve which from the racer ahead of him Izen could tell ended with a straight away.

Pushing his engines output once more slightly above normal Izen sped his way towards and through the slight curve in the track. Coming out onto the straight away Izen once more hit the booster, again his engines roared and his pod leapt forward shooting through the straight away and to the split in the track. Seeing the pod he had been drafting take the right hand fork right behind Murrg, figuring he had nothing left to loose Izen followed in behind the other racer trying to get into another drafting position as they went through the fork.

TAG: DVc, Sephy

 

IC Corbin Antillies
Race Post 16

The Geonosian constructed Pod blasted through the starting grid, every member of the audience's head whipped from left to right to watch Corbin's Pod blow by. In a brief second, Corbin's fourth lap had begun.

The Tatooine native had piloted dozens of laps during his time with the GRPL and even more as an underground racer in Mos Espa and the Tatooine Wastelands, but no lap had been more significant to him then now. From the start the odds were against him. He was a human, and naturally humans were not good Pod Racers, he was sponsored by an illegal organazation, and there were a myriad of other extremely talented pilots in the league. But he had managed to make something of it, and all of that work boiled down to this one lap.

Too many times this racer had to settle with second or third place, and watch the other pilot soak in glory. This time Corbin would not allow that to happen. He would race for first or die trying. Corbin kept a close watch on the course and his surroundings. Kavark's Pod was roaring loudly near-by. He needed to wait for the right oppurtunity to pull away from his friend since the beginning of the season. Corbin looked to his auxillery next to his feet and saw a Green light indicating the boost was ready. He contemplated activating it, but decided to wait.

The Pods made their way onto the first set of obstacles, the sharp S-Curve which forced Corbin to slow down to accomadate the tight turns. He released his grip on the throttles slightly and sped around the tight turns, as they straightend out, Corbin accelerated and the track re-shaped into a long straightaway.

TAG-Kavark, IMP

 

IC: Chad
ROC post 4

Muurg and Chad were still neck and neck. Barreling along the track with barely a centimeter between them. On one hand, they were dead even, and manuevering would soom become impossible...but, on the other ahnd, they were holding back the other racers, both those who were laping them, and the young racer still behind them.

Chad didn't want to lose. But if he couldn't have first, he'd settle for second.

He kicked on the turbo's, not for long, but long enough to clear Muurg, and to jump ahead a bit in the track. In a matter of a few seconds, he was making the final turn before the hard U-turn at the top of the track, and entering the straight away. He dropped back down to his 5th gear, and checked his pod's fuel gage. He had enough to finish the race...maybe.

To be honest, he wasn't sure what to do here. If he ran out of fuel, it would be a first for an official race...and the Team had never discussed the problem.

"Widowmaker, remind me to order a larger fuel tank..."

The droid signaled an affirmative as they rounded the U-turn with one of Chad's precise braking/accelerating manuevers that were another signature of his racing style. He drove like a street racer, flashy with high acceleration and power-sliding turns. He still had a shot at winning.

It was by chance he glanced up, his powerful eye sight spying far above the faintest outline of a New Republic Craft. Not just any New Republic Craft...Kellerman's Ship. He knew the Jawa was watching with earnest, and Cindy too.

If his eye sight was just a bit stronger, he believed he could see the two looking down on him, faces beaming.....

And, as he entered the S-curve, it dawned on him. He had an advantage the other racers didn't. He blinked twice, his eyes switching to the infra-red spectrum, the electrified track shining brightly before him. He knew the way now...and looking across the expanse of sky, he could see the other racers. The darkness around him cut by their pod's massive heat output. And, with renewed hope, he entered the final striaght away, nearing the finish of his first lap.

Tag: All

 

OOC: I'm also chopping the PML in this race to 15..... 20 is so.... excessive. Angus, you can wrap up your race any way you see fit. When DI gets to 15, this race will be complete...

So get postin' DI... unless someone else wants it...

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (16)
- Kavark (11)

- Chad (4)
- Izen (3)
- Muurg Geafsit (3)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

 

IC: Kellerman, Cindy, the Lucky Fire, sub-orbit, GPRL special licence.

The racer and his companion/ bodyguard had a birds eye view of the race-track and especially Chad's pod as he jostled for second place.

"Shootogawa," Kellerman said after a while of watching the race unfold in silence; "I swear that fragger is looking right back at me."

"No waaayy."

Tag: no-one

 

IC: Izen
Race Post #4

Blast! Izen thought as he came out of the split still behind Murrg and that other racer, an way past either of the racers had not opened itself yet he would just have to bide his time to pass the two if such was even possible in this race. It seemed that he would in the end have to just stay behind them for now until he could finally get past them some how, it was still early in the race and he would keep his eyes open for any slight openings.

Izen followed the two racers in front of him as closely as he could, boosting to keep right behind them as the came into a fairly straight portion of the track as they got closer to the starting line once more. Murrg and the other racer were far to close to allow Izen past and it seemed that such was intentional by at least one of the racers. I would not be surprised if it was Murgg doing this because of what has happened in the last two races, and getting by him at the end of a race Izen thought with a grin remembering the luck he had in the previous two races.

He continued to follow the racers closely as they approached another turn and from his displays the final series of turns before the straight away that led to the final straight away of the race and the next lap. There was little Izen could do other than stay close behind the other two racers and carefully navigate the turns behind them. The three of them were close but only two were in good standing, unfortunately for Izen he was not one of those two. Murrg and the other racer were just to close together for him to have any hope of passing them for now.

TAG: Sephy, Dvc, and Imp

 

(ooc: DRL's been a ****. I'll Post tommorrow after football)

 

IC: Chad
Race Post 5

Chad could hear the rumbles of engines behind him. Muurg he assumed, followed by Izen. His infra-red vision picked up heat sources littering the sky around him, pod engines sticking out like a sore ear in the nothingness of the dark sky.

He kep the throttle down on his pod, shooting towards, then through the finishline with ease, and entering the next lap in his race.

Ahead he could see Kavark, the distance great...but not great enough. He could pass him...if he really massed on it.

"SIR! You can't possibly think you're going to pass Kavark?!" Sometimes he thought that droid could read his mind.
"It won't be hard. Projected fuel levels?"
"Not nearly enough to pass him and keep the lead AND finish."
"Odds" Chad asked as they rounded the small S-curve.
"Ha. I'm Correllian...we're programmed to NEVER give the odds. Unless your playing cards, then I'll gladly gi--"
"ODDS!" Chad demanded, he could see Kavark inching closer and closer, yet still so far away.
"1,542 to 1 against."
"Pfft. I've seen worse. Ever heard of Han Solo?"
"Correllian." Widowmaker stated matter-of-factly, the point lost on Chad. "And I think you watched too many of Master Kellerman's holos. That golden-Nimrod over exagerates."
"And you don't?"
"Correllian." He said again in the same tone. Chad made a mental note to ask Kellerman about this later...

They neared the fork in the track again. Chad ever determined to take Kavark.

Tag: All

 

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (16)
- Kavark (11)

- Chad (5)
- Izen (4)
- Muurg Geafsit (3)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

 

IC: Kavark
ROC Post #12

Kavark and Antilles' moved quickly through much of the end of the third lap, finding themselves battling neck-and-neck for first a as they came to the final straightaway. Kavark pulled his pod alongside Antilles', taking advantage of the wide straightaway to get a position.

He made a snap decision to try to use his boost, to try to get an edge on Antilles. He thrusted down, but the boost failed, and kicked off the enigne for about two seconds. Kavark's pod decelerated slightly, and he watched Antilles pull away. His engines finally kicked back on, and he blasted away, but he had lost precious seconds to Antilles. Seconds that were unlikely to be made up without a miracle.

He zoomed his pod across the line to start the final lap of the season in a semi-distant second place ... and had no idea why his engines had malfunctioned like that. He tried to put it out of his mind and focus on keeping second place down pat and trying for a miracle comeback ... but it was hard to get that out of his head.

Tag: Hammer, Angus

 

IC Corbin Antillies
Post 17

Corbin's Pod was quickly approaching the break in the track where he had attempted a daring stunt by breaking through the middle and going airborne the first time. He had taken the left the second, and the right side of the track the third time. Corbin looked behind him and noticed he had secured a slight lead over Kavark. To maintain his lead, Corbin took the safest route and went onto the left side of the course. There was less of a turn involved and less of a risk.

Corbin knew he couldn't play it safe for too long. Racing too conservative would cost him the title. As the track re-shaped into one long stretch, Corbin did not hesitate to activate his turbo which was locked and loaded. With a hard yank of the lever towards him, the Pod's three engines eruppted with flames and sent the Pod soaring to new speeds never seen in this race thus far.

As Corbin's Pod quickly increased in speed, he stuck to the back of his Bantha Fur seats. There was no way he could resist the awe-inspiring G-Forces, no way he could fight them as the Pod accelerated with every passing second.

The blazing machine flew down the open straightaway as the twilight of the race and season approached. The final obstacle, a double S-Curve was still remaining. Corbin de-activated his boost and allowed himself to run on the momentum around the tight quick turns. He hoped that sudden activation of his turbo was enough to pull him ahead of Kavark and place him solely in first place.

TAG-Kavark, IMP

 

IC: Murrg Geafsit
Race Post #4

Murrg continued to follow Chad after the little guilt-mongering rodent had pushed ahead of him. He was right: The Chadra'fan was trying to guilt Murrg into a lapse of concentration, and Murrg had lapsed.

Maybe Chad was right; Kellerman did deserve some credit. If not for him, Pops woulda been dead, or worse...

Murrg shook his eyes and blinked. The bastiche had done it again! Probably not even trying this time. Chad was now gaining on the leaders, with Geafsit cruising contentedly in fourth or fifth. Nice try, rat, Murrg thought, fingering his booster button a few moments, deciding whether or not he wanted to use 'em now. No time like the present.

The flames bruned painfully white as Murrg screamed towards Chad on the shimmering track. He keyed that same comm frequency Chad had contacted him on before and sort of repeated his earlier response. "Frag you, Chad. I'll send Kellerman a fruit basket from the Winners' Circle."

Tag: DVC, e_j

 

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (17)
- Kavark (12)

- Chad (5)
- Muurg Geafsit (4)
- Izen (4)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

 

IC: Kavark
ROC Post #13

Furiously, Kavark rushed around the start of lap four. He engaged every turn and curve as fast as he could, hit every straight path as hard as he could, and took every chance that was possible for him.

The improvements done to his pod helped out a little bit here ... his pod was still running as smoothly as it was when the race started. It was as if almost no wear was done to his engine.

That was one glimmer of hope among the bad luck on the end of lap three.

That no wear was going to get the test now. Kavark continued to push his pod harder and faster, and soon saw the split in the track in front of him ... he knew he could gain a little ground there and maybe ... just maybe ... get a mistake out of Antilles and make it a close finish.

Tag: Hammer, Angus

 

IC: Chad
ROC Post 6

"Frag you, Chad. I'll send Kellerman a fruit basket from the Winners' Circle."

Behind him, Chad's bat-ears heard the familiar roar of boosters. A quick look back showed Muurg right on his tail, and flying fast.

"~No one said you wouldn't be in the circle...you'll just have to stay behind me that's all. Maybe I'll send Pops a basket as well. We did quite a bit of bonding while Kellerman ferried him around the galaxy...you know protecting him from thugs and what not. Didn't hear you mention that either..." The droid's voice trailed just as Chad's had when he was releying the message. This all as he grasped the shift nob, waiting from Muurg to be right on his tail.

Then he kicked the boosters in again, his engines sending out brilliant red-oragne flames as they adjusted to the fuel intake, and Chad shot ahead, through the right fork and onward. Relying on his infra-red to view the track, and his ears to make sure he kep Muurg behind him, he quickly made it through the hard S-curves, and only cut his engines on the straight away towards the hard turn...knowing even Muurg wouldn't risk taking that curve at booster-speeds. It was insane.

Suicidal even. Chad didn't expect to do it well into the final laps.

He slammed a fist against the gas gage...a little less that a half a tank. Still good.

Tag: Muurg

 

***ROC Race Standings***

- Corbin Antilles (17)
- Kavark (13)

- Chad (6)
- Muurg Geafsit (4)
- Izen (4)

- Lethrak
- Trak Delson

---

[color=#dd0000][b]OOC:[/b][/color] Again a reminder - I'll only be waiting for first and second to declare race completion before I declare this race complete....

Certainly a marvellous race gents! :)

-I_H

 

OOC: Certainly a marvellous race gents!

I agree. A splendid race, gentlemen. It was a pleasure racing against all of you.
Also, nice how Kellerman's legacy is being continued in his absence.

 

IC Corbin Antillies
Post 18

Corbin's Pod straightend out as the final curves in the track ended. One long split of track was between himself and the finish line. Corbin accelerated out of the curves, his Pod increasing in speed quickly. The tri-engined racer sliced through the night sky as the engines burst flames as bright as the stars surrounding them. Corbin focused solely on the track ahead, but it wasn't long before his mind began to wander.

This whole journey seemingly happend so fast. He did not hesitate to leave his Homestead to join Grado's team. He left behind everything in Mos Espa, all for the pursuit of glory. He began to think of his father who Corbin had left behind. He wondered if he was watching.

Corbin shook his head and focused on the course as the finish line was quickly approaching. The lights from the speeders and the surrounding skyscrapers were overwhelming, the collective roar of the engines and the crowd made the whole event and amazing scene. It was impossible to describe in words how spectacular the ROC was. Corbin's Pod was accelerating accross the straightaway, his whole season coming down to this one moment. This one blast through an open straightshot, and then it was over. Corbin had manuevered through straight Tatooine canyons hundreds of times with ease. All his hardwork was helping him now.

The Hutt-Sponsored racer kept on course as the cheers of the crowd echoed loudly throughout the dark nightsky. He pushed on the throttles as hard as he could, going the maximum speed that his powerful machine would allow. The giant holo-projector was in sight, as was the checkered finish line. Corbin leaned back in his seat as his racer majestically soared accross the finish line. It was over.

TAG-Kavark, IMP

Submittal for Race Completion