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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Star Wars OPEN Star Wars: Black Sheep: Tales from the Squadron (Always Accepting New Players!)

Discussion in 'Role Playing Forum' started by Vehn, Oct 31, 2022.

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  1. Mira Grau

    Mira Grau Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2016
    IC: Ethan Malek, Livia Nascada, Alec Fenton

    "So they want us to share a tech?" Ethan asked as he approached this new pilot, he didn`t know much about Arkanian´s only that they often featured as over the top mad scientists in movies all over the galaxy. At first he had believed this was mostly and Eriaduan stick, but in chase of the Arkanian´s the stereotype seemed to be emulated all over the galaxy.

    "It seems so," Livia replied, of course she probably knew more about how to fix her ship than the pale young human assigned to her. But doing that herself was time consuming and she prefered working on her medical duties instead, at least until that young man made too much of a mess.

    Alec swallowed but said nothing, to shy to interfere on this talk. He wasn`t happy about the additional work given to him, and secretly wondered if there was another reason for it. Some higher ups in the Rebellion might not like his interviews and investigations and so had decided to drown him in work to get him to stop asking uncomofortable questions.

    "You think you can handle an Y-Wing?" Ethan asked Alec.

    The young man nodded, "yes, shouldn`t be a problem."

    Livia shook her head, why had she been assigned the two most boring people in the entire squadron... she hoped at least the people in her wing were more intresting than these two. She stepped closer to Ethan, "that you are still flying at your age... does the rebellion truly have no one else anymore?"

    Ethan looked at her for a moment, as he tried to determine wether she tried to insult him or was just blunt. Choosing to go with the latter he said, "two weeks away from retirment, you know what that means." He smiled.

    Livia didn`t even bother to hide her sigh, "it means that your jokes are even older than you, yourself."

    Ethan rolled his eyes, great, absolutley great...

    Tag: Anyone
     
  2. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Akiva "Wolf" Lurell
    Hanger, Intrepid

    She had rushed to the hanger when she had gotten the message relayed that a ship was inbound. With any luck it would be the resupply ship. . .that or else their commanding officers. Honestly after the last mission she was surprised they hadn't all been hauled in for a court marshal, but then again they already were the team being used as a suicide squad for the unwanted pilots that just refused to die.

    Getting to the hanger she popped a panel on her B-wing just in time to look busy when the shuttle came in through the mag-con field. Being called to attention she had assumed the position, she knew it well enough. The new commander came in and laid down the law and gave his dressing down of the squadron. She felt he went a little far, and probably could use some humility and alone time in his quarters from some 'food poisoning'.

    Luckily a shipment arrived and she was able to shift her four arms into a more relaxed position from this ridiculous parade standing. Once dismissed she headed toward the new pallets of supplies and began helping unload with an eye for a few small containers she had requested.

    TAG: Any
     
  3. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    OOC: Moving us right along here. Anyone that did not get a post in you can play catch up with your character as the action commences.

    GM Update: The Noose Tightens
    Intrepid Exterior

    A single blinking red light, housed on a non descript looking device, suddenly engaged sending a short burst message. If one were to listen the signal would sound something akin to static. The transmission bursts were random, there was no schedule, and yet every so often it would ping its location to a new area of deep space. Bread crumbs, they were called.

    The device shut down as quickly as it had activated.

    Its job was done.

    What happened next with the message was another matter entirely.





    [​IMG]
    Six Hours Later
    Twelve Klicks from the Intrepid
    Deep Space


    [​IMG]
    The Interdictor-class Star Destroyer Intransigent emerged from hyperspace twelve klicks in front of the Intrepid and immediately began powering up its gravity-well generators. It’s complement of TIE/ln fighters, 24 total, began to erupt in combat formation from the ventral hangar bay.

    [​IMG]

    To either side of the Star Destroyer were two Arquitens-class cruisers named the Scythe and the Reaper respectively. The faster cruisers began to advance towards the Intrepid, unloading their small quantity of TIE/ln fighters and TIE bombers, as a way to keep any retaliatory fighter strike from the Intrepid distracted.

    Rounding out the Imperial battle group was the Ton-Falk-escort carrier Acheron. Despite carrying nearly 72 TIE fighters not all of them deployed at once. Only two squadrons, nearly twenty four fighters total, erupted out of its cavernous hangar bays into the darkness of space.

    [​IMG]

    Captain Ido Lance, commander of the small Imperial battlegroup, stood on the bridge of the Intransigent with a smug look of confidence. He’d just gotten confirmation that the Quasar class cruiser caught in his trap was indeed the Intrepid. That annoying Rebel ship that Imperial intelligence had confirmed, via their mole embedded on the ship, was responsible for a number of covert Rebel attacks, both in the air and on the ground, against Imperial assets in the region.

    “Captain,” an aide asked, “shall we inform the Pulsar that we’ve caught them?”

    Captain Lance nodded his head sharply.

    He knew what the small Imperial battlegroup was up against. These were battle hardened Rebels with an innate will to survive built into their very core. He wasn’t going to take any chances. Besides, he wanted to reap all the glory when the Pulsar did show up and the crew and pilots of the Intrepid were firmly in Imperial custody.

    “Gravity well generators have finished powering up, Captain,”
    a junior officer from the starboard command pit, called out.

    “Very well,” Lance replied, “commence the attack.”




    IC: Commander Firmus Khairn
    Moments Earlier
    Pilot Ready Room
    Intrepid


    “You may have been grounded,” Commander Khairn said addressing the Sheep, “but we will still spend every waking moment going over the past few missions. Lessons learned. Tactics discovered and changes to be made. Now, the last mission to the forest-”

    Khairn was interrupted by the blaring sound of a klaxon alarm, an Imperial sounding alarm, and then the comm system activated.


    “Attention all pilots and crew,” a voice called out over the intercom, “this is Intrepid actual. A small Imperial task force has emerged from hyperspace with an Interdictor cruiser that’s preventing us from making the jump out of here. We are deploying all fighters and bombers to engage the enemy. Scramble at once!. I repeat, scramble at once! Intrepid, actual, out.”

    Khairn felt a shiver slip down his spine as he hesitated ever so briefly. They were in actual combat. Real, blood curdling, combat. He had fought against the Empire before but now he had a decision to make as he heard pilots and officers racing down the corridors outside the pilot ready room. He felt a stab of panic. The Sheep weren’t ready for this. They were grounded.

    I’m not ready Khairn privately mused.

    Khairn heard the comm unit buzz near his podium. He picked up the unit and immediately recognized the voice of Captain Husk, senior officer of the Intrepid.

    “Yes sir, I understand the situation perfectly,” Khairn stated over the alarm of the klaxon.

    “No sir,” Khairn replied shaking his head, “I don’t think that they’re----yes sir, I understand, sir.”

    Khairn quietly cursed to himself.

    “I’ll tell them myself, sir, Khairn out.”

    Khairn slammed the comm unit back into its receiver. He punched a nearby bulkhead in frustration bloodying his knuckles. He cursed as he pressed his smarting hand against his tunic. He was losing control before the fight had even begun. He turned to look at the assembled Sheep. He was losing them. Before the battle was even joined he was losing them.

    This wasn’t supposed to be this way Khairn fumed.

    “Captain Husk.” Khairn paused as he struggled to form his thoughts, “has given me permission to reactivate your squadron. Get to your ships at once, load any payload necessary, and launch as quickly as you’re able. We have an Imperial battle group bearing down on our position and the Intrepid is going to need all the help she can get. We’ll form up when we’re out in the void.”

    The room cleared out at once.

    Khairn slipped into his flight suit, grabbed his helmet, and raced down to the hangar. He felt that old fear, combat fear, slip into his mind. By the time he reached his plane, fueled and ready to go by the ground crew, he was in a downright sweat. A borderline panic.

    He fought off memories of his last squadron, the Green Hearts, as he clambered up the ladder and into the cockpit. How they’d all been wiped out in battle. How his squadron leader had led them right into the jaws of death. He could still hear their cries for help. Their screams before static cut them out of the universe together. It’d been one hell of a fight. The kind that broke a man’s soul.

    Khairn got the all clear from the ground crew to launch. Khairn gave a smart salute and then deftly guided his X-Wing out of the hangar bay and into the depths of space. He activated his S-Foils into attack position and glanced behind him to see if the rest of Able Flight was forming up as he began a lazy left hand turn around the Intrepid’s nose.

    Once Able Flight was in position Khairn checked his sensors. He could see that Viper squadron, A-Wings, had raced out on ahead and was already tangling with a squadron of TIE Interceptors, or squints, about three klicks from his current position. It wouldn’t be long before the Black Sheep took their first blood in a long time.

    “Attention Sheep,”
    Khairn called out on the squadron wide channel, “this is lead. Able and Baker will form the vanguard of our attack. Echelon left formation. We’ll hit them head on. Set your shields to double front initially until we merge. Charlie Flight, flank the main merge, and go ahead and hit that escort carrier. Take it down. The fewer fighters we face the better. Delta, you’ll cover Charlie up high, keep any fighters that break away from the main formation busy.”

    Khairn checked the range until the merge. Three klicks. He could already see the enemy closing in, almost hear that distinctive roar of the twin ion engines. He gulped as he juked and jinked to avoid the occasionally long range turbolaser blast from the distant cruisers. He watched as one squadron of TIE fighters broke off to intercept Charlie Flight.

    “Heads up, Charlie, bogeys inbound, twelve marks at 275,” Khairn called out.

    Two klicks.

    Khairn’s targeting computer was messing around. He cursed. Needed to have that fixed when he got back.

    One klick.

    He could see the solar panels of the enemy in the light of a distant star.

    He set his guns to dual fire mode.

    The Imperial squadron in front of him opened up in unique precision. In the Imperial way, at once, with killing intent. His shields took some hard hits as the two sides merged and passed through one another.

    [​IMG]

    Battle had been joined.​



    OOC: Go ahead and launch out of the Intrepid and form up with your assigned flights. Since we are scrambling and under attack its going to feel a bit disorganized, a bit jumbled. Keep in mind the Sheep haven’t flown active combat in some time. We’re a bit rusty.

    Here is where the mission stands currently.

    Viper Squadron, 12 NPC A-Wings, is engaging two squadrons of squints a few klicks from the Intrepid.

    Intruder Squadron, 12 NPC X-Wings, are forming a protective screen around the Intrepid.

    Raider Flight, NPC bombers, are hanging back at this point with the Intrepid in the hangar.

    Able and Baker flights are currently merging with sixteen TIE fighters roughly two klicks from the Intrepid. No kills have been recorded yet. Feel free to damage and destroy these TIEs as necessary.

    Charlie and Delta flights, having gone around the main furball, are now about to be intercepted by twelve TIE fighters. Again feel free to engage and destroy as necessary. Hold off on the capital ships for now.

    The following ships are beyond our range. The Interdictor Star Destroyer and the two Arquiten-class cruisers.

    Have fun and happy hunting.

    Any questions or confusion you know where to find me...
    Tag: @Sarge; @Mistress_Renata; @Adalia-Durron; @Mitth_Fisto; @Sgt.Matt; @Rebecca_Daniels; @TheAdmiral; @darthbernael; @Sinrebirth; @Mira Grau; @adaml83
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2022
  4. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    IC Kayn

    The instant he heard Actual say scramble Kayn was on his feet and headed to the door. He paused in the open hatch, looking back to make eye contact with Zara and the B flight newbs. He seethed as Khairn wasted precious seconds before giving the only order that made the least bit of sense. Then he was sprinting for the hangar and devil take the hindmost.

    Tag @Rebecca_Daniels @Sgt.Matt
     
  5. Sgt.Matt

    Sgt.Matt Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    May 12, 2018
    OC: Zero Maderas
    Rushing to Hangar

    It was only a few moments before the meeting broke off at the word "Scramble!", everyone was fleeing out to meet the oncoming enemy forces and Zero barely had the period to talk with his new partners. Baker Flight, the team he was attached to, didn't get a glance at the man as he aided the crews in unloading parts from the supply sleds. I hope this devaronian and twi'lek are friendly pilots, didn't get to talk to them much Zero zipped up his flight suit, clipped on his custom helmet, and ran after the crimson-skinned pilot. Wiry legs sped close to his flying teammate, Maderas was proud of his flighty speed from years of running away from slice targets and angry husbands of his attempted flings. Maybe some breaking the ice by destroying imps, the two scrambled into the hangar and into the section holding the A-Wings; the sonic-fast fighters that made most regular pirates make brown fortresses.

    "Hey! sorry for not introducing myself earlier, the name's Zero Maderas," Zero hopped into his A-Wing, clipping on the various straps and belts on his cockpit chair. "My past rebel buddies called me Spyguy, what's yours?"

    TAG: @Sarge , @Rebecca_Daniels
     
  6. darthbernael

    darthbernael EU Community Mod, Fuego, Pyrofuego! star 5 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    IC: Captain Finnefrael “Feral” Ordwgal
    Intrepid pilot ready room and hangar

    The chat with Traer had gone about as Feral expected, when the Seppie had joined him by their new Recon X’s. Knowing the man had no love for Incom products it was going to be interesting when they actually got to use them as intended. When they were done, he’d gone back to his quarters to review the data files he had on their new ships so he could get the best out of the bird.

    The next morning he’d had to chuckle as his crew chief boldly strode into the pilot’s mess, right up to his table, ashes from her nic stick falling onto the table as she told him all the upgrades and paint scheme he’d requested had been done, including what she thought was a prank of having his flight helmet painted all black, as well as finding black flightsuits and having his patches placed on them. He’d merely grinned at her, telling her she’d somehow read his mind.

    She’d stomped back out of the mess, in a grumpy mood that she’d not upset him with what she’d done, as he finished his meal. Before the briefing had been called, he’d spent some time on the observation deck enjoying the starscape.

    When Khairn had called the Sheep to the briefing room, he’d returned to his sparse quarters, donned the new suits and grabbed his helmet bag. They may be grounded but one never knew when they’d be needed. He arrived and found a spot at the back of the room, against the bulkhead. The briefing seemed to be a continuation of what Khairn had begun when he arrived so he tuned out until the warning klaxon sounded.

    His head snapped up and his attention focused on the new CO, the launch all command of the ship CO had caught his attention and he wondered if Khairn would go so far as to disobey that order. It seemed the man was trying to argue but the way he slammed the comm back down told him the man had lost that battle. He turned his head to catch Traer’s eye, with a mouthed ”Looks like we’re going to work. Meet you at the birds”

    With that, he turned, helmet bag in hand, eyes sweeping across the rest of the Sheep as he did. They were all bolting for the door as well but his placement meant he spun and was out the door before most of them had moved. He raced to the hangar, dodging crew and equipment until he arrived. Bones was already in the mech receptacle as he approached the night black Recon X.

    Wyrock snorted as she saw him, his olive skin almost a mahogany with the suit’s color. ”Don’t get this thing dinged up…Sir.” she growled. ”Just got it and I don’t want to spend the next four days putting it back together.”

    He chuckled as he pulled his helmet out of the bag, settling it onto his head before he swarmed up the boarding ramp. Another chuckle as Bones whistled and tweeted to ask if they could space Wyrock yet, that she’d tried to fool with his settings. ”No, she’s rough but knows her stuff.” he told his droid as he dropped the canopy, giving the woman an ironic salute.

    Harness done up and suit connections made, he waited a few moments for Bones to get the systems online before he lifted, retracting the landing pads. Hitting the comm button, ”Delta One up.”

    He turned the nose to let the sensors face out of the hangar as he waited for Traer to get to his bird and get off the deck. What he saw had him whistle, at least 48 TIEs as well as an Interdictor SD and two Arquitens in the distance. The SD had to be why they couldn’t escape but first they had to get there.

    Glancing out of the cockpit plasteel, ”Well, this should be fun, all Traer and I have are our quadlasers and our speed.” he muttered, fingers tapping on the screen, ready to get out and do whatever they’d been assigned.

    TAGS: @Vehn, @Sarge, @Adalia-Durron, @Mistress_Renata, @adaml83, @TheAdmiral, @Mitth_Fisto, @Rebecca_Daniels, @Mira Grau, @Sgt.Matt, @Sinrebirth (Mentioned)
     
  7. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    IC: Jocelyn "Joy" Sunwalker, Tala “Merc” Ashe
    Location: hangar of the Intrepid


    Jocelyn cocked an eyebrow at the sleds coming in the hangar. What was going on? She wanted to ask, but their new commander seemed equally confused. Surprises rarely were good in their line of business. Hopefully it was not something they would regret. Which, in fact, was quite frequent (the regret part) in what they were doing.

    ’That’s a first…’ Jocelyn thought bemused as she saw the goods being delivered. She was glad that she was wrong about this surprise. Somebody loved them! She tried not to grin, but her face remained still.

    The replacement pilots were to be expected, given their recent losses. Good to see there will be another Y-wing pilot. If only Iana was still with them… Joy pushed those thoughts away.

    Once dismissed she decided to check the new roster. Able Flight was going to have some fun times indeed, noting who was in it. She was to be in Charlie Flight with Lou and the new woman. Uh-oh, Harley, she was with them as well. That would be problematic as they would have to deal with her erratic behavior.

    Feral was to be a scout, a potentially dangerous job (which one wasn’t?), especially given that Seppie was to be his wingman. Joy still did not trust the man, so now she was going to keep an eye on him.

    ’You do realize you are turning insane…’ her inner voice whispered bemused and was right, sorta kinda… But would not go and see Harley about it, even if she had the qualifications!

    ********************************

    Six hours later

    The new CO surely loved making speeches. Maybe he used to be an Imperial like her and Lou? That would explain a lot. Good thing that her old habits had not died out.

    Suddenly the alarm went off. It did not seem like a drill. The Empire had found them! Well, there goes the grounding. Joy jumped to her feet and followed her squadron mates. It was good to be in combat again, there would be no time to think about such pesky things like feelings.

    Her droid was already next to her Y-wing and was waiting to be lifted and inserted into the socket. Thorn, the Togorian, was barking orders and helping with the refueling and rearming of the craft.

    The preflight checks did not take long, the hose was removed, her astromech in position, all systems green. She was strapped in and ready to launch.

    Once in space she joined the formation, taking Lou’s lead and listening to the comm. Good thing there was some sort of a capital ship to fight. She hated dogfights in such a slow craft like hers.

    As soon as she thought that there were at least a dozen TIEs coming their way! Jocelyn grimaced and activated the auto-fire mode of her topside turret. It was not precise, but at least would keep the enemy at bay for a while. “Orders, Lou!” she said over the comm. They would have to fight, there was no way they would make it to the target without a scuffle with the TIEs.

    Another problem was that she would have to save the proton torpedoes for the target, so concussion only.

    TAG: @Vehn @Mira Grau @Mitth_Fisto @darthbernael @Sinrebirth
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
  8. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    IC: Lieutenant Louise “Lou” Vehn/Airen Vehn/Lawrence “Law” Clark
    Intrepid Briefing Room

    Louise fought off a yawn as Khairn pontificated from his podium. The discussion today was a full review of the past. Previous Sheep operations. Some had done better than others. All had been with a great cost in life and material.

    She sat up straight once the klaxon alarm sounded. An Imperial alarm. It was in that moment that she remembered that the Evil Eye, the Intrepid had been an Imperial ship. Then Intrepid Actual announced that an Imperial battlegroup had emerged from hyperspace. This was it. This was the moment they’d all been waiting around to experience. Like so many things, like so many circumstances, the war waited for no one.

    Lou watched with amusement as Khairn was forced to face his own demons. To confront his own belief systems about the Sheep as Captain Husk essentially forced Khairn’s hand. She knew you couldn’t keep a combat unit grounded forever. Not one with the experience, the tenacity, the drive to succeed despite the high risk/high reward operations that the Sheep ran.

    The order for the Sheep to be reactivated and scramble fell right out of Khairn’s mouth. Within seconds the room had emptied as the Intrepid rose up to fight for its very survival.

    Lou snagged her flight helmet on the wall, she was already in her flight suit, and clambered on down to the hangar. The ladder was already deployed next to the cockpit of her replacement Y-Wing. Her new droid, still unnamed, was being loaded into its socket warbling and whistling as Able and Baker flight shot out of the hangar burning fuel like no tomorrow.

    Lou clambered up the ladder and noticed, for the first time, that her Y-Wing was actually a two-seater. She cursed. How had she missed that detail? How had she overlooked that she needed someone manning the turret on top of the cockpit?

    “Something wrong, Lou?” Airen asked as he pulled the chocks away from the landing skids.

    “Yeah, I need a gunner,” Lou sharply replied as she slipped into the cockpit and began to power up her systems.

    “We don’t have the mechanic staff available for me to go,” Airen pointed out as he disconnected several hoses leading to the Y-Wing’s fuselage.

    “Get Clark up here, now!” Lou barked. It was all she could do in the moment.

    Lou finished her pre-flight checks. Everything was in the green as all her systems finally booted up. She touched the throttle ever so slightly feeling the enormous rumble of the Y-Wings massive engines spool faster in excitement. She gently set the throttle back down to idle and heard a figure, cursing, clambering up the ladder in helmet and matching orange flight suit.

    “The looey is gonna kill me,” Clark groaned as he buckled himself into the gunner seat.

    “I'm gonna kill you if you don't get in here. I’ll make sure your transfer is official, Marine,” Lou grunted, “comm check.”

    “Check,” Clark replied.

    Lou felt a gentle hand on her gloved wrist. She looked up to see Airen peering down from his perch near the ladder. The look in his eyes showed love but also concern.

    “Lou-” Airen started to say.

    “I’ll be fine,” Lou replied.

    “Yeah-” Airen said over the roar of other craft taking off, “you’ve got torpedoes all loaded. You’re good to go.”

    “Guide me into the void, Airen,” Lou said as she gently brushed a gloved finger across his cheek, “I’ll come back. I promise.”

    “You better,” Airen said as he clambered down the ladder and detached it from the cockpit housing.

    Lou hit the switch that sealed the canopy all around them. A high pitched hiss indicating that pressurization was complete greeted her. She double checked that her systems were in working order as she allowed herself a glance forward.

    In the distance she saw the Imperial battlegroup. It surprised her how undermanned they were. Typically Interdictors rolled into battle with more than light cruisers at their disposal. In her experience the gravity well generating craft ran with the larger Imperial class Star Destroyer as a matter of course.

    Where are they and how was the Intrepid tracked? Lou wondered as she saw the signal to launch from Airen.

    Lou gave a salute and pushed the throttle to maximum. She shot right out of the hangar and into the void. A few minutes later she glanced around and counted all of Charlie flight around her. Joy was to her left, then the new Y-Wing pilot, followed by Harle and the B-Wings to her right. They were quite the element.

    “Avoid the main furball,” Lou called out as she could see Able and Baker flight merge with the Imperials, “our target is that escort carrier.”

    Lou deftly guided Charlie flight on a circuitous route toward the closest capital ship, the escort carrier. She heard Khairn squawking about a squadron of TIEs that were now bearing down on their position from somewhere off to her nine o’clock.

    “Clark,” Lou called out, “get ready. Things are about to get hot.”

    “Ready as always, Lou,” Clark responded.

    “Orders, Lou!” Joy called out over the comm.

    “Attention Charlie Flight, you probably heard, we’ve got a squadron of TIEs coming in on us from bearing 275. We’ve got Delta covering to some degree up high. We’ll split up into two elements. Y-Wings go left, B-Wings go right, maintain combat spread and cover one another,” Lou ordered.

    Lou turned the heavy bomber to the left and pulled hard on the stick as she heard the distinctive roar of a TIE fighter shoot right by her. Splashes of green flashed briefly on her shields as the Imperial pilots scored a few light hits. Her droid shot off an alert as Clark opened up with his turret splaying red lasers everywhere.

    Here we go...Lou thought as the targeting lock on her Y-Wing screamed at her as a TIE fighter overshot and fell right into her sights.

    Tag: @TheAdmiral; @Mira Grau; @Mitth_Fisto; et al...
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
  9. adaml83

    adaml83 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Dec 8, 2004
    IC: Baniss Vermillion
    Intrepid

    The ship was now under attack and it seemed to be, at least to Baniss’s mind, the classic trap. The question was how such a trap was created. Baniss ruled a few things out, though an immediate thought was whether there was a signal sent out. Since he didn’t trust Intrepid’s computers, he brought out his field analysis computer which allowed him to check for signals and compare general data. It would also allow him to scan holos in order to check the hull for abnormalities.

    Baniss first set the computer to check previous signals to see if anything was out of the ordinary. More than likely the most straightforward thing would be to send the coordinates of Intrepid. While looking that up, he ran a search on personnel, particularly newer bridge officers. After that, he started coming up with a request to have an external cam view sent to his quarters. If it was something like that, maybe it could be reprogrammed to create a trap for the Imperials. It was worth some thinking, but they had to survive this first.

    TAG: @Vehn
     
  10. Rebecca_Daniels

    Rebecca_Daniels Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Sep 3, 2006
    IC: Zara Yaren & Kayn Balzroth
    Sometime after the new boss showed up...

    Intrepid's shooting range was nearly full, mostly bored marines honing their marksmanship and killing time. Kayn got himself assigned to one of the few empty lanes and double-checked that his blaster was charged for target practice mode. The previous op on Serenity Moon had showcased his lack of practice with sidearms, and he was determined to do something about that. His Relby pistol's macroscope was wirelessly linked to his cybernetic implants, allowing him to align crosshairs on targets while looking in the other direction, but his accuracy had left a lot to be desired. He could see what he was shooting at just fine, but his hands needed a lot more practice to develop the muscle memory required to aim the pistol with precision.

    Safety lights along the bulkheads turned off and the range safety NCO's bored voice came over the loudspeakers. "The range is clear. Fire at will." Low-powered blaster shots ionized the air. Kayn took a moment, holding his pistol in both hands, checking his firing stance, breathe in, half a breath out and hold it there, don't yank the trigger, just squeeze until it surprises you when it goes off. The basics drilled into him on Yavin IV echoed in his mind as he slowly fired several shots over open sights, achieving an acceptable grouping around the bullseye. Aiming through the scope, he fired a few more, with marginally better accuracy. He closed his eyes, relying on the macroscope link to his cybernetic sensory inputs and fired again with similar results. Feeling sufficiently warmed up, he turned around, facing directly away from the target while keeping the pistol pointed downrange behind his head, and fired again. The awkward positioning of arms and hands threw him off a bit; the last grouping was wider than the others. And that's why I'm practicing.

    Still facing away from the target, he opened his eyes. Zara was just walking through the entrance right in front of him. Caught in a fairly ridiculous looking pose, he grimaced in embarrassment and said, "It's a cyborg thing. You wouldn't understand."

    Zara stopped short as the door opened. Not because of the odd way Kayn was standing at the range-- well, maybe a bit-- but because he was there at all. Normally she went here to avoid the rest of the Sheep, who usually liked to hog the sims in their downtime rather than the range. Pistols weren't exactly her preference, but it was a little difficult to set up targets at kilometre distances on a starship, even if she did want the practice. Need the practice. She was rusty, that much had been made clear over the last few months, and the last person she wanted to know that was Kayn. Not when trusting her to be sharp could be the difference between half the Sheep making it back.

    "What are you doing here?" she asked, glancing down the row of marines. The only empty lanes were near Kayn, so she couldn't easily escape.

    "Practicing. I'm too fracking rusty with a pistol." Looking straight into her eyes, he squeezed off two more shots downrange, one grazed the edge of the target, one landed halfway between the edge and the bullseye. "This is not as easy as I thought it would be." He changed his stance, switching to a one-handed grip on his pistol and pointing it behind him under his left armpit. Three more shots, on target, but still no bullseye. "One of these days you ought to teach me about rifles and sniping. We can climb up to the B Flight office and throw tin cans out the hangar door for long range practice."

    "That's not long range," she mumbled to herself, then shook her head. Louder this time, to be heard over the string of laser blasts: "With all of that," she waved a hand towards his head stuffed with cybernetics, "you probably don't need the help. Just download some rifle manuals, 'how to blast targets for dummies'."

    The bored range chief waved her into the free lane next to Kayn. "You'd probably hit more if you actually looked at the target though. Tends to help."

    Kayn took her advice and faced the target in the military-approved two-handed shooting stance. He peppered the target with several shots, landing them in a decent grouping around the bullseye. "Sure, that's more accurate, but I can't see what's happening behind me. I've got tunnel vision this way and I have a desperate need to check my six." He safed his weapon, holstered it, faced her, and said drily, "As for Shooting For Dummies, I'll try not to take that personally. The thing about manuals is, they can't watch me or critique what I'm doing wrong." In a slightly quieter voice, he added, "They don't know me."

    "I don't know if you've noticed but those of us without tech replacing our few functioning braincells can't actually see behind us." Zara lowered the detachable visor on her headband, and the interface lit up... and then promptly shut off. Annoyed, she tapped on the lens a few times but the device remained stubbornly powered off. It had been a while since she'd last used it, maybe it needed charging-- and it wasn't like she relied on it. It was handy for picking out a single target in a group, or calculating distances and angles faster than she ever could, but the same tech was built into her sniper's scope, where she really needed it. At short range, it was a tool but not a crutch.

    She closed one eye, then opened it and closed the other again, checking her eyesight. A range, a proper range like this, would never feel quite right with the even lighting and separated lanes in place of blinking holosigns and junk for targets in back alleys, practicing with low powered blasts until stormtroopers investigated.

    "You'd get better training from one of these guys," Zara commented, then took and released a breath. Too stiff. She put one hand in a pocket and tried to force her stance to relax. "I didn't exactly go to school for this." Or for anything, for that matter. She fired six shots into the target, the blasts veering up and towards the centre of the target, dashing a line across the board. Awful.

    "Are you shooting like that to make me feel better?" Kayn asked suspiciously. "That would be nearly unprecedented. You must want something from me." His tone was light and his face was twisted into a comic parody of skepticism.

    "Shut up," she said through gritted teeth. This wasn't helping. "Normally I don't have an irritating Devaronian in my ear." She placed the pistol down in front of her and leaned against the edge, waiting until the sudden seething cloud of anger cleared her vision.

    Kayn didn't need any fancy scanners to show him he had somehow set her off. At least she had enough self-awareness to put the pistol down. "Sorry, Zara, I didn't mean anything by that." He hoped she could hear the sincerity of his apology. "Are you all right?"

    She shook her head. "If this piece of bantha poodoo they call a CO doesn't let us fight soon I'm going to steal a ship and start blasting imps at random." Here they were, defanged by an idiot who didn't know what was going on, instead of taking the fight where it belonged. The rebellion was going to turn into an Empire if they kept fighting among themselves, if they kept prioritising military order over actual progress.

    "The man is in dire need of attitude adjustment and re-education, obviously. The Sheep can help him with that, but first we have to show him we're the people to do it, and he's going to take a lot of convincing." He continued in a softer voice, "Now do you want to tell me what's really eating at you?"

    She took a breath to keep the anger down. Would it be better to bring someone in now? She'd told Max some of it, but not all. But now, when she'd been so close?

    "No," she said finally. Not where anyone could overhear. Maybe never. "I'm just sick of this kriffing war."

    Kayn noticed the pause before she answered, and suddenly noticed their conversation was taking place in easy earshot of a lot of people. He waved at the other shooters who were enthusiastically blasting away at their targets. "We could go someplace quiet enough to converse and complain about the war like civilized people."

    "What would that accomplish?" Zara picked up the blaster again. "Whining about it isn't going to get us any closer to the end of this. A blasted ton of dead imps will." It was easier this time to squeeze the trigger this time, six shots ringing out again. This time, when her vision cleared, the shots were grouped much closer to the centre of the target. Better, always better.

    "When was the last time you vented about anything? It can help to talk about things. I won’t do this for just anybody, but for my favorite wingy I can shut up and just listen."

    "There isn't anything to say."
    She clenched her jaw and has to force it to relax again. "The Empire takes and takes and the rebellion is so shoved up its own--"

    Zara shook her head. "There's work to do and they have us grounded. It's wrong and the rebellion will die if they keep this up."

    “There, that was something to say. It feels better to say it out loud. What else do you want to get off your chest?”

    "Just that I'm going to shoot you if you keep asking me that."

    “Eh, I’ve been shot before. It’s better than a vibroshiv in the eye.” He winked at her to emphasize his mismatched eyeballs.

    "You want another green eye? Because I can arrange that."
    She kept the blaster pointed down the lane, but the threat wasn't serious anyway.

    Kayn grinned. “See, that’s why you’re my best friend on this whole stupid ship, nobody else makes me an offer like that. And, you don’t get weirded out at my fangs the way humans do.”

    You're my best friend on this entire stupid ship. Zara had to turn it over in her head for a moment, ignoring the joke tacked onto the end. It had been a while since she'd been stationed in one place, with one person... She'd had a lot of time to think since the last disastrous mission, about what she'd do, what she'd be willing to sacrifice if she got the chance, what consequences she would face; if the time came, Kayn might be the only one here who had her back.

    "Hey," she said after a moment, dropping her arms and looking over to meet his mismatched eyes. "Thanks."

    TAG: @Sarge
     
  11. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    IC: Kayn "Mean Streak" Balzroth [face_devil]
    Back in Action

    A skinny little human was chattering at Kayn. "Hey! sorry for not introducing myself earlier, the name's Zero Maderas. My past rebel buddies called me Spyguy, what's yours?"

    "Mean Streak, or Bravo Lead, or Black Fi- no, Black Six now. You're Mermaid's wingman, so stick with her. Your first priority is to keep her alive, second is blast TIEs. We'll get better acquainted later. Got it? Good."

    Kayn was already in the cockpit and Lughdyt was helping him strap in. He grinned at the all-black A-wing parked next to his and called to its purple pilot, "Just like old times!" He gave her a thumbs-up and closed the canopy. Lughdyt barely snatched his hands clear as it closed. The Ugnaught had already fired up the main reactor and the overpowered little fighter was quivering with contained power. Kayn focused on his cybernetic implants and began linking to the ship's computer systems. Rebel Rouser's sensors synced to his aural and optic nerves, displaying spectrums of data in his mind. Flight controls responded to his nervous system, and he was one with his ship. Lifting from the deck, he had to restrain himself from ripping out of the hangar at full power, throttling way back to avoid colliding with the X-wing ahead of him.

    Khairn was calling for echelon left formation. That's a good formation... for a parade flyby. Well, at least we can jink up and down for evasive action.

    Sensory inputs were blinking red and ringing alarms in his mind, warnings of multiple hostile tracking sensors and targeting locks. Kayn activated the A-wing's jammer, adjusting the frequency to match the most dangerous locks. Just before the TIEs reached their firing range, he loosed a couple of homing missiles to give the Imps something else to think about than lining up their shots.

    Emerald-green plasma bolts reached out for him, seeming to move slowly in the distance before tearing past with blinding speed. Kayn jinked, rolled left, and skidded, slipping past the shots and looking over his shoulder for Zara. As usual, her all-black ship was a dark shadow in a dark void. Overeager, he shot back at the TIEs, opening fire before his short-range heavy blasters could reach the enemy. Less than a second later he fired again and a flaming TIE tumbled out of control with one wing panel ripped off. Then the formations merged and dissolved as pilots broke toward targets and away from hostile fire.


    TAG: @Sgt.Matt @Rebecca_Daniels and all the aces, hot dogs, and stick jockeys turning and burning, yanking and banking
     
  12. Sgt.Matt

    Sgt.Matt Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    May 12, 2018
    IC: Zero "Spyguy" Maderas
    ON THE DEFENSE

    "Fair enough! See you on the other side then," Zero's cockpit closed on him and he switched on a few different buttons, the fighter's engines purred as he rose above the deck, flying into the void with the other flyers in Baker group. Keep an eye on Mermaid and blow Imps outta orbit, got it Zero grinned at the sight around him, a dozen TIE units were scrambling all around the chaos of fighters while their big carriers laid bare behind the swarm coming in; this was going to be a blue cake walk. "Let's keep this casual boys" Zero followed another A-Wing into the fray, the one called "Mermaid", he didn't quite get a look at her as she started to swerve away from plasma fire. Doing the same, his craft swerved left as a TIE soared by quick, system sensors and systems were flaring up fast. Then as he followed the other flyer into the horde, Zero adjusted his right hand from operating the control yoke and shield computers; he adjusted the targeting computer on an eyeball jerking to their left with a smoking wing.

    Too late my imperial friend, have a taste of Shaddaa's finest targeting computer eased in on the target after a few shakey blips on the screen, Zero held his breath as his partner fired a concussive missile into the swarming void, his thumb clicked the trigger. Erupting into shards of metal, the TIE's wing blew apart and it soared downward, before colliding into a rushing eyeball below. "And there's more to come from yours truly-EEP!" Zero cut-off as he and his partner diverted apart from a charging TIE-Bomber, Zero's side was scratched from a stray blast as his shielding flashed green in a millisecond. Checking the system, he found that the shielding on the front and back had to be shared, front was good but the A-Wings back was almost compromised; he adjusted as he jutted over two X-Wings chasing an Imps tail. Caressing the comm-unit, he paged it to the Baker Flight number for Mermaid that was inscribed to his roster datasheet.

    "Black Eight this is Spyguy! What's your location?" Zero adjusted himself as a TIE collided with another grey ball, he held in his disturbed feeling as the sight of Imperial pilot flew into the void grasping his broken armored throat until being shot by another stray plasma blast; the young criminal was now trying his best to dodge and weave to his partner for safety as the others cleared some the grey runts charging them. "Black Eight are you there!"

    TAG: @Sarge , @Rebecca_Daniels , and anyone who's playing as Mermaid or other Imps/Flight Units
     
  13. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Maxime “Max” Pallas
    Ready Room, Black Sheep Squadron


    Khairn had been ranting for at least 15 minutes. Max had already tuned him out and was pondering the future of the Sheep. She was still grieving the last mission, and the loss of their friends. Skipper and the Kid were still alive, but there was no knowing when or if they would be returning to the group. They had a few new people, who she hadn’t had a chance to meet. There was a guy in B flight who supposedly claimed to be a slicer. She wondered if he was any good. She’d met a lot of people who boasted about being slicers, but most of them only had rudimentary skills. Changing an Imp banner to put some snarky comment on it didn’t count as slicing in her book. Perhaps she could come up with a test for him.

    Khairn was still haranguing them. Max couldn’t believe that they were catching flak for their “off the books” missions—as if they’d had any choice in the missions they undertook! And the ranting about their tactics and planning…with the lack of any type of decent intel about their targets, then small wonder they were making it up as they went along. It wasn’t like the group on Sharan. Lots of observation, lots of gathering of information about enemy strengths and movements, then a carefully planned strike. And yet…

    …And yet the Sheep had managed to achieve some remarkable successes in spite of themselves. The rescue of the prisoners from SonTay, Serenity… perhaps that was why they were getting so much criticism? They were behaving like the old Rebellion cells, not like the new, more militarized Alliance. And they were getting successes, when other Rebel efforts weren’t.

    She was still not paying much attention –Khairn had gone on to something about reviewing tactics—when the blare of the attack klaxon caused her to jump out of her seat, heart racing. A few of the others were on their feet, but no one had moved for the door yet. Impatiently, she looked to Khairn. He was staring at them in shock, but at least he’d shut up. The comm on the podium buzzed. Khairn answered it, spoke briefly, then looked at all of them and took a deep breath. And then they scrambled.

    Max was close to the door, but she wasn’t the first one out. Kayn was the first out. He’d actually headed to the door, but checked himself, waiting for Khairn to give the order. Feral nearly ran him over when they actually had the ‘go’, and the rest pounded out after them.

    She pulled on her flightsuit, putting on the harness, flares, the various bits of kit, settling it all into place, and grabbed her helmet and the special datapad she kept for missions before racing to the hangar. Koko and Jakko were finishing up the final preparations. Jakko had Digger and was carefully lowering him into his socket, while Koko was loading in a rack of torpedoes. First time in a long time she’d be flying with a full load-out, that was a good feeling. Sparky was doing a quick flight check, unhooking cables and closing access panels. There wouldn’t be time for a full walk-around, but Sparky was on it. Max licked her finger, smeared the saliva on the hull outside the cockpit, and jumped in, getting her helmet on while powering the systems up.

    As everything came online, she took a quick look around. Diva and Vet were getting into their craft. Max could see Hollymander sliding into another X-wing on the other side of Malek. It was a surprise to her that he was joining A flight, but then he’d been flying with Skipper and manning the guns of the Valkyria. He’d never presume to take the old freighter into battle, and he’d be able to do plenty of damage in an X-wing. She hoped.

    Khairn was climbing into the cockpit. Stars help her, she was still Sheep Two and flying as his wingman. It would be so tempting to let one of the TIEs get a shot through at him, but she did have professional pride. She couldn’t let that happen, even if her squadmates would probably thank her. No. No, they wouldn’t. As much as they hated Khairn, they would never give her credit for looking out for them. Max touched the corley wreath in her pocket and waited for the signal.

    Khairn was struts up and headed out. Zayn, the Gamorrean air marshaller, was rattled by the klaxon, and waving his arms so enthusiastically that it was nearly impossible to figure out what he was trying to say. A certain amount of interpretation was required when following his directions anyway. But Max was right behind Khairn, bringing her S-foils to attack position as soon as they were clear of the hangar. She fell into her usual position behind him and off his wing, while the rest of A-flight went into their positions as well. Khairn called out their attack formation, she switched her shields, pulled her weapons online and took a deep breath.

    “Digs, see if you can identify any of those squadrons or capital ships,” she said. The names Intransigent, Scythe, Reaper and Acheron scrolled across her screen almost instantly. “Grav well projectors, great.” A memory of the Grappler flashed through her mind, Kendless and the Rebels drawn up as if on parade…No. Can’t think about that now. Avenge them.

    Flashes showed that the cruisers were firing at them, but it was easily enough avoided. Echelon left formation. Wait, what, is he serious? Okay, if that's what he wants... She banked, sliding into the slot behind Khairn and to his left. A glance over her shoulder showed that Amber and the others were falling in. He couldn’t complain about this.

    And now the TIEs were on them. Max ran her eye over the formation of ships bearing down on them and jinked as they opened fire. It was hard to hit those suckers head on. But the initial formations would never hold, they would break after contact. Instinctively she glanced up to the left and right; an echelon formation was always a temptation. A single fighter could take out the whole flight, if approached at the correct angle. Khairn’s order didn’t make any sense. What was he thinking? But at least the Imps were thinking like Imps, thank the stars, and holding their own formation.

    She banked slightly, juking and opened on the TIE as they came into range. Her shields shuddered and flashed as they absorbed the impact of the attack, and she saw a flare on the TIE from her own attack. Not a kill, but she’d done some damage. Digger hooted and she glanced down.

    //SHIELDS AT 83%.

    Okay. They were breaking now, first pass done. The instinct would be to loop up and over for a second attack, but she went up and to the left, keeping an eye on her position in regard to the others, particularly Khairn, and took a hard look at the situation.

    A thought crossed her mind. “Digger, if the Skulls pop in, tell me immediately! Even if they’re out of range.” He chirped to confirm, and she took another look. The target was the Intrepid, no doubt about it. How had they found her?

    The mole? Max had thought that he or she was relaying info about the Sheep in particular, but Intrepid and her crew were deserters. That could have been the target all along. She and Hollymander had talked about the mole*, but they hadn’t much chance to look for him.

    She’d sliced the comms, carefully, finding no indication of transmissions from within, even buried in the subroutines. And she remembered that she’d wanted to get Digger to enlist the help of the other astromechs to search the hull of the Intrepid.* Only she’d thought of it on the flight out to BacYang and hadn’t remembered to follow up. That’s on me. She spotted two TIEs going in after Khairn, and lined up behind them, with a boost from Sparky’s enhanced engines to get her in place to protect the Leader, even if he was shaping up to be a pain in the backside.

    “Digs,” she said. “Remind me, when we get back to the ship. I want you to organize a hull search of Intrepid, to see if there is a transmitter that isn’t part of the usual array.”

    //QUERY: REMINDER ON LANDING?

    “No, after debrief.” She lined up the TIE, weaving slightly to his right so that she had a broader view of the target, and took her shot. Smoke one. Quick glances to left and right, she was okay so far, the rest of A-flight were hard at work, and now the TIE was breaking away from Khairn to shake her off.

    Now maybe they’ll believe me when I say there’s a mole.

    TAG: Anyone

    * See post 1429, which refuses to link for me
    ** See post 1259, which also refuses to link
     
  14. Adalia-Durron

    Adalia-Durron WNU/Costume/Props/EUC Mod. star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jun 3, 2003
    IC Amber Tehanis
    Hangar Deck



    Amber had slumped into her seat listening to the new CO go on about their apparent failures, ok, ships had been lost and even some lives, but in her eyes, none had been failures, maybe she was being optimistic?

    Then around them alarms began to sound and as she sat up, she overheard the CO take a call, then in seconds, he reactivated them. She knew what that meant, the attack was big and they were needed. That was all most needed, within seconds she’d leapt to her feet and was running to the lockers to suit up. Once that was done only minutes later, she ran to her new ship, where Jeen stood beside the machine, her helmet in his hand.

    “You’re kriffin’ lucky I’m as good as I am.” He quipped as she reached him and took the helmet.

    “Never doubted you for a second Jeen, you know it!” Her eyes scanned the ship, “and I love the purple stripe!!”

    “Keep it in one piece this time!” Jeen yelled up to her as she climbed the ladder, “getting sick of sitting about without a ship!”

    Dropping into the seat she grinned down at him, “I promised, remember?”

    Jeen shook his head as he removed the ladder, he’d believe it when he saw it, but the truth was as long as she came back that was all that mattered. Standing back, he watched as the cockpit sealed and the craft lifted off the deck, turning slowly to face the magfield.



    TAG ANYONE, EVERYONE.
     
  15. Adalia-Durron

    Adalia-Durron WNU/Costume/Props/EUC Mod. star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jun 3, 2003
    IC MacKenzie Hollymander
    Hangar


    He’d been leaning forward, pretending to listen and care, but he wasn’t. His eyes moved to look to the side and he could see her. She wasn’t listening either, that caused him to smile slightly, somehow, he knew she wouldn’t be. Then the Klaxons began to ring and sitting up he looked around then to the man in charge. Surely, he’d not keep them grounded if the Intrepid was under attack? Could he be that stupid? Then he showed he wasn’t, or at least those above him weren’t. Standing as others around him began to run, MacKenzie hesitated, he’d spent as much time as he could in the SIM's, a total of 7 or so hours, but was it enough? He hoped so as he was the last to leave the room, breaking into a run toward the lockers to change.

    Once changed he reached his ship to find his droid, that he’d since named ‘Sposi’, for no other reason than he’d heard the name somewhere before and thought it amusing, sitting in its position. Climbing the ladder having grabbed his helmet from the ground and for a brief moment wondering how it got there, he jumped into the cockpit. “You set Sposi?” He asked jamming his helmet on. The droid warbled an ‘affirmative’, “good, looks like we’re about to risk our necks.” Scanning his panel, he made sure everything was set, “ok, lets do this, I think I’ve learned all I can.” His perfect memory was a huge assistance, but this was going to be a test of his ability to adapt, and very quickly.


    TAG Anyone, everyone
     
  16. Mira Grau

    Mira Grau Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2016
    IC: Ethan Malek
    Hangar Deck

    Ethan tried his best to get used to the feeling of sitting in a cockpit again. It had only been a few weeks but probably the longest time he hadn`t piloted a ship since he had been sixteen. And, now back at the position that had been part of his life for so long he felt... unused to it. If such a thing was actually possible for a ace pilot. He knew every move and every bit of the equipment, but today his age weighted on him more than before, and the sense of possible loss. For so long he had been aimless, had excepted the possibility of his death, knowing there wasn`t much he would leave behind, and even less that depended on him... but now, as he was becoming the rebellions liaison with Eriadu he had a greater purpose than just blowing up Tie Fighters. There was a reason for him to survive, a reason to seek a life beyond the cockpit.

    Taking a deep breath he leaned back and opened a com channel to his wing mate, hoping that her voice would get him back to where his mind needed to be. "Veteran ready to go, how are you doing Vixen?"

    Tag: @Adalia-Durron
     
  17. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009


    Mini GM Update:

    IC: Commander Firmus Khairn
    Able Lead

    Furball

    She’s as good as all the reports said she was....Khairn thought as he watched Max, his wingmate, obliterate a TIE that had crept onto his six.

    Khairn brought his X-Wing around, switched his shields to encompass the entire fighter, and flicked his lasers to quad fire. A targeting lock on an errant TIE fighter that’d gotten separated from its flight was confimed. Khairn depressed the trigger and blinked hard as the explosive flash that followed filled his cockpit. He shot through the debris, snap rolled right, and re-entered the explosive fray.

    Red lasers, green lasers, and all the carnage in between as the Rebellion and the Empire’s pilots clashed for supremacy in the darkened void. Still that old fear lingered in his mind. The old doubt. The creeping, gnawing, sensation that death was waiting for him after every wrong turn, every wrong decision.

    A flash of green lasers shot past his nose. He pivoted in his seat and saw he’d acquired another tail. He juked, jinked, anything to throw off the Imperial pilot’s aim. Nothing was working. Grunting, Khairn decided to carry out a Split-S maneuver.

    He inverted his X-Wing, pulled the stick toward him, as his craft began a tight descent. Within seconds he’d reversed course and was below the TIE pilot who’d begun a banking curve to the left and was now at his high one o’clock.

    Khairn knew he had an opportunity to score another kill. He cut his throttle so the TIE remained ahead and above him as he pointed his nose at the port solar panel. With the TIE gaining ground Khairn accelerated and began to close the distance. The targeting computer went from yellow to green.

    Lock acquired.

    Khairn slipped into a daze as he looked beyond the TIE fighter to see the escort carrier Acheron bearing down upon his position. Her small number of turbolasers were active and searching out Charlie flight who had to be around somewhere.

    When he returned his gaze the TIE fighter he’d been pursuing was gone.

    Where was that fighter? Where was he? Khairn wondered as he checked his low six and high six, weaving his X-Wing back and forth, struggling to maintain situational awareness. Khairn felt a stab of panic. He frantically looked around as a cold sweat broke out across his body.

    He swiveled his head back to twelve o’clock and his heart nearly stopped. Four TIEs were bearing down at point blank range on his position. A few were already opening up with their twin cannons scoring hits. His shields buckled and began to lose their strength. His astromech screamed as errant lasers nearly blew its little domed head into oblivion.

    Khairn passed through the formation but his X-Wing was nearly roasted. He felt an uncontrollable shake come over him as his nerves were shot. His hand went slack and the X-Wing began to drift further away from the battle into deep space. It was all he could do to check his rear sensors and discover the small element of TIE fighters had moved deeper into the fray and had decided not to pursue.

    Intrepid actual to Able Lead,” the comm officer on the Intrepid called out, “you’re drifting away from the fight. Is something wrong?”

    Khairn was unresponsive. His mind was gone, shaken, too rattled from the fight to even respond. He had, for all intents and purposes, checked out.

    “Able lead, I repeat, are you all right?” Intrepid actual asked again.

    "I can't do it! I can't do it! Frak, I just-....it's too much!" Khairn cried out in panic as he hyperventilated in his cockpit, "We need help out here! For frak's sake get us some reinforcements!"

    With their commander losing his wits the Black Sheep were on their own....

    OOC: Consider this a little Black Friday surprise....please continue with the battle until a bigger update rolls out around the 6th or 7th. For those of you in Able Flight.....get creative.

    Tag: @TheAdmiral; @Mira Grau; @Mistress_Renata; @darthbernael; @Sarge; @Rebecca_Daniels; @Mitth_Fisto; @adaml83; @Sgt.Matt; @Adalia-Durron; @Sinrebirth
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2022
  18. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Maxime “Max” Pallas
    They are not paying her enough to put up with this


    “I can't do it! I can't do it! Frak, I just-....it's too much! We need help out here! For frak's sake get us some reinforcements!"

    Max listened in disbelief to the panicked call of Black Sheep’s new squadron leader. Where had this come from? Khairn had been doing well, picked off a TIE fighter, then did a neat S-turn and took another in his sights. And then he choked. He didn’t fire, and the TIE quickly banked and got away. Max turned to chase it off, managing to get a hit in although she didn’t actually destroy it, and then came back to find a formation of TIEs bearing down on him. She boosted her speed, but they were firing and through. Khairn was intact, as near as she could tell; they hadn’t fired until he was almost within their firing arc, suggesting that they were fairly inexperienced. And they were gone, and he was moving away. Away from the battle, away from Intrepid, away from the Sheep and into space. She asked Digger to see what damage he might have, if he needed a rescue. It wouldn’t be easy, with the Valkyria grounded. And then his panicked voice came over the Sheep’s comms. They all heard it.

    Every pilot in the Sheep was there because each of them was regarded as having some flaw that made them undesirable in any other squadron. They’d thought that Khairn was there to whip them all into shape. But apparently that wasn’t the reason he’d actually been assigned to the Sheep.

    If everyone heard that, there could be a panic. Max exhaled. In a calm voice, she flagged the squadron comms. “A-flight, form up on me. Raptor claw formation, loose.” Now how to get Khairn’s head back in the game?

    Kayn’s voice went through her head. You're never going to amount to anything if you don't develop some people skills. People skills. Right. She took a deep breath, and spoke in a low, soothing voice over A-flight’s comm, so the rest could hear her. “Leader. Yes, there are a lot of them. It’s what we on Corellia call a ‘target-rich environment.’ It means no matter what you’re shooting at, you’re bound to hit something. A-flight is intact. We are ready for your orders. We’re all right here.”

    TAG: @Vehn, @Adalia-Durron, @Mira Grau
     
  19. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Akiva "Wolf" Lurell - Black Thirteen Charlie Flight
    Skirting the Conflict

    What had turned into a situation of being grounded and attending meetings had soon devolved into being let out to fly once more. Perhaps her double air fist pumps and high pitched 'YES!' was out of place, as even if others couldn't hear her supersonic joy - it was plain to see. Also not the correct response to the situation. Trying to look contrite she raced out of the meeting and to her ship.

    It didn't take her long to get her ghost wrangler space born again. She always kept it ready, for combat, for enemies, for any crazy situation. She did have to double check the label she had affixed to the top of her comms before she called in though, having your number change was always weird. "This is. . .Black-Charlie-13." She had to bite her tongue from the revulsion that she was now a part of Charlie flight instead of Delta. Lumping her and any other B-wings in with the Wishbones was *shudder* just not right. Not that she would say anything lest somebody got the bright idea to make her fly one to make things more uniform.

    Still she did her best to stay at the right side and keep slower to stay on the formation that her new lead had called out. She was there to be the mobile gun platform that her craft could excel at being. Actually she had some ideas to that end, but she doubted she would ever get to try them out. Considering that space was big she popped in a new music piece to listen to during the coming battle.



    Charging shields and weapons she waited, simply enjoying the vibrations and bouncing motion that her vessels offset cockpit vibrate like a kid at the end of a diving board. As the TIEs came roaring in she opened up her own reply. Grinning fiercely at the fact that her ship could dance in the firestorm, shrug off glancing blows with shields, and theirs. . . well the TIEs burned better, there was no arguing that!

    Keeping focused on the flight and music she idly began to hum along with the music as she dealt death and focused on the part that was given to her.

    TAG: @Vehn , @TheAdmiral ; @Mira Grau ; et all
     
    Adalia-Durron , Sarge, Vehn and 4 others like this.
  20. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    IC: Louise “Lou” Vehn/Lawrence Clark (Rear Seat Gunner)
    Charlie Flight Lead
    Deep Space


    “Got another!” Clark whooped from the back seat as Lou barrel rolled the Y-Wing through another formation of TIE fighters.

    “Great,” Lou muttered as she readjusted power from the lasers to the shields, “keep it to yourself.”

    Lou’s eyes darted to where the escort carrier Acheron slowly churned through the void. The TIEs were going to continue to be an ever present problem but as more explosions erupted around her, presumably from Delta Flight engaging, the way forward became clear. The escort carrier had to be taken out.

    She was about to open her comm to the rest of Charlie Flight when Khairn’s voice broke through the entire squad wide channel loud and clear. He was breaking down right in front of the entire squadron. Losing absolute control of the situation. On the verge of killing them all. Lou couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Khairn had been so hardcore when he’d arrived. So sure of himself, dangerously so, and now he was out to lunch. A basket case. A liability. A threat.

    I’d kill you myself if it wasn’t against rules and regulations Lou thought as she switched Khairn’s voice off. She’d heard enough.

    “What was that?” Clark asked.

    “A small problem becoming a big problem,” Lou replied as she locked another TIE and depressed the trigger sending it into the abyss into a thousand tiny pieces.

    Tag: @TheAdmiral; @Mitth_Fisto; @Mira Grau; et al...
     
  21. Adalia-Durron

    Adalia-Durron WNU/Costume/Props/EUC Mod. star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jun 3, 2003
    IC Ethan, Amber, MacKenzie
    Battlefield.



    As she exited the magfield, Ethan's voice came through, "ready as I will ever be Vet, but worried about our 'third wing mate'." She reported honestly. She'd watched a few of his SIM runs, unbeknownst to him, and knew he was far from up to what they were facing. "Gonna keep me eye on him." Closing she opened to MacKenzie, a callsign not having been assigned other than his 'spy' code, which may well have been thrown back into the system so possibly not viable, so she went with what she knew. "You set for this Fox?"

    Could he say no? "Its not getting better, let's say that." He responded, unsure of her use of the name she'd called him as a teen, but now wasn't the time to address it. "Sticking close."

    "Your friend knows what he´s doing?" Ethan asked, carefully as to not let Fox listen in on their conversation, but having a look at his star fighter and how he handled it gave Ethan doubts that he was well versed with this part of warfare.

    Amber noted the question in his voice and the flash of a light told her both were listening, "sure, Fox has this in hand." She lied as all three of them accelerated to attack speed, she glanced over her shoulder toward the man in question, stabbing at her comm to bring it direct to MacKenzie, "S Foils!! Lock 'em!"

    "Kriff." He cursed as he flicked the switch and his wings opened.

    "Stay close Fox." Amber added, he was not ready for this, clearly. Looking out she noted Max and the new Lead were already engaging and she needed to catch up, re opening to both she as 3 said, "Vet hard Port engage and make a mess, Fox, with me down hard."

    "I was making messes before you were even born," Ethan muttered as he prepared for the fight to begin. He knew Amber wasn‘t half as certain of Fox‘s skills as she claimed, but for now they needed to deal with other issues.

    He fired several quick, barely aimed salvos at the enemy to break their formation and make them easier targets for his allies.

    Diving downward she was able to spy a trio of TIE's clearly sticking together, "five o'clock, trio, see them Fox?"

    He was on her six, and keeping up, he knew she'd go in hard, it was her signature move and often got her into trouble, but not this time, he was going to not only make sure she didn't lose another ship, but land beside him. Being assigned to her had been a struggle personally for him, knowing if push came to shove, he'd be throwing himself in harms way to protect her. "Copy Vixen, got them."

    "Then let's break them up." Amber accelerated switching her shields double front. "Shields to the rear Fox, try and keep up."

    Instantly he saw what she was doing, he was her rear shields, "done, try an lose me."

    It was then they all heard the panic attack over the comms, it was their new lead.

    "So now the idiot got himself in trouble, huh?" Ethan muttered through the com. "It´s truly tempting is it not?" He asked Amber as he threw a glance at their struggling lead. This whole situation was silly, and something that could have never happened in the ORSF were incompetent bigheads like Khairn would have never passed the harsh training or, if some powerful noble family tried to push them through, were moved to prestigious sounding but utterly inconsequential posts were they could cause no damage to the military.

    Having heard their new lead fall apart as they listened, then hearing Ethan, she sighed loudly. "He grounded us!?!? Listen to him!?!?"

    "Stay on target Vixen." MacKenzie needed to focus, he'd heard and knew it would be addressed, the fear of knowing he was next in command washed over him as he was no leader, not in battle at least. "We have a job to do."

    Amber sighed dramatically, "on it."



    TAG Anyone. @Vehn
     
  22. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    IC: Kayn/Mean Streak, Zero/Spyguy, Zara/Zero
    New and Improved (?) B Flight



    Kayn wasn't sure why a mass dogfight in open space would confine itself to such a tight volume, probably just the random vagaries of combat, but this furball seemed like one of the closest and tightest he'd ever been in. Targets flickered in and out of his sights too fast to target, even with cybernetic reflexes. There were so many hostile and friendly fighters moving on different vectors that he couldn't keep track of everyone; the neural link from his brain to his ship's sensors was overwhelmed with data. He felt like he was in a knife fight in a closet. And panicky transmissions from the new CO did nothing to help the situation.

    Stabilizing his course for a moment, he tried to get oriented to the battle. Green lasers grazed his aft shields; flying straight and level for more than a second or two was obviously a good way to make himself a target. He spotted an A-wing to his right and broke hard toward it, recognizing his new second element leader. "Mermaid, break left and clear my six! Bravo Flight, defensive weave!"

    The A-wings turned toward each other, taking turns at blasting hostiles off each others' tails. Kayn turned the serpentine course to follow Black 1. If Max's words didn't snap the man out of his funk, maybe a near miss would wake him up.


    OH FRAK THIS!
    Zero swerved his A-Wing hard as he dodged and weaved around the swarm that was slowly culling, the comm-panic of the CO made the situation all the more intense as other TIE's started joining the fight, some fighters and other weaker types were busting in on the action, if only his partner were around to see this. Clicking off his comm-channel for the moment, Zero kept a steady distance from the fighters as he cornered a stray bomber in the chaos, Okay there little guy...let's see if you're as tough as this, caressing his targeting computer and taking steady aim as he flew past debris and floating corpses of pilots. He pressed the firing button as did the TIE-Bomber opened its hatch for a proton bomb; SCORE! the bomber erupted into a heavy explosion as two concussive missiles ejected from his launcher and connected to the slow bombers shell, mixed with the bombers ejected cargo, the opponent was now a fiery wreck.

    "And the crowd goes wil-AGH!"
    A green shot seared past Zero, the azure shielding flared for a second as he jerked the ship downward from another stray blast; apparently, the bomber had family watching him. Whipping his head back and flooring it, Zero began to beat a hasty retreat as seven TIE-Fighters and three TIE-Bombers were now chasing his tail with fervent speed. "Okay, maybe it's time that I introduce these guys to my crew and pick em off with a full class" Zero muttered as weaved again from another wreck and a few scattered rebel starfighters, some of which may or may not have seen the slicer walk in. Then something caught his glance; a few other A-Wings picking fighters off their backs and maneuvering towards the CO's crew, a plasma bulb lit up in the slicer's mind, it's showtime! Maderas pushed his fighter to the limit as he zoomed behind what appeared to be "Mermaids" A-Wing.

    Pressing the comm channel in tandem to the fighter closest to him, he made a quick call. "Mermaid to Spyguy, mind if I let an Imp swarm on the CO?" He adjusted his targeting computer again to meet a sliding, sparking TIE creeping behind Mermaid and another A-Wing, firing a stray shot from his laser cannons, the imperial ship exploded behind the serpentine moving ships. A few other loud explosions buffeted behind, the slicer didn't heed any attention as he followed the others and adjusted his scratched shields on both sides.


    New people, always new people causing problems. Zara would just as soon keep B-flight to just Kayn and herself, but apparently some idiot assigned two other A-wing pilots to the squadron. And on top of that, another idiot to leading the clown parade; there were more than a few names in the squadron that would be better than Commander Panic. An arranged "accident" couldn't happen soon enough.

    She turned cleanly as Kayn's orders barked across the garbled comms, watching a TIE line up neatly in her targeting computer's crosshairs. One linked blast shredded the cockpit, and she dove to avoid the shrapnel. One kill, only dozens to go- and not likely to be nearly that easy.

    "So are we winging this or do you have a brilliant plan?"

    "Brilliant Flight, I like it. Since the boss doesn't want to go to the action, we'll bring the action to him. Imminent certainty of death will snap him out of his funk. Keep weaving and close in on him."
    Kayn hoped his amateur psychology sounded more convincing than it felt to himself.

    Hostile target lock warning flashed and warbled in his brain. He dipped suddenly down as he popped chaff, simultaneously pivoting his blasters full aft and firing a wild shot into the TIEs on his tail. Too late, he noticed his plasma bolts skim alarmingly close to a shadowy black A-wing behind him. "Damn! Sorry Zara, I didn't see you there."


    Zero clicked off the comm-unit once again in frustration as he tried to outmaneuver and skid by shots flying around, the swarm was still heating up behind and he was starting to get nervous, then it got worse as the TIE-Bombers that were following him from earlier were encircling around them. Almost attempting a cutting maneuver to cut down the serpent line his A-Wing squad was committing to and then came the sight of his commanding officer's group trying to keep it calm in their little battle while Imp Destroyers were unloading everything. "Aw for Frak's sake....welp time for what a criminal may call a 'Pro-Wizard Move'" Zero mumbled as he adjusted his cannons sight at the far encircling bombers and his eyes on the shielding as the A-Wings continued their flight path, Hope my leader has something in mind. Taking aim without his targeting computer, the slicer rapidly pressed his trigger button and unloaded a few shots of blaster fire into the void; it was not exactly successful. For one thing, he ended up attracting more attention to him from all the other pilots and now had two Interceptors joining the bombers, both matching sparked wings.

    "DANK FERRIK!! SONNNUVA-"
    Zero went into a tirade of cussing that would make a zeltron turn pink, before then turning his focus back on the flight for a second, swerving with his fly partner as they dodged the floating wrecks of TIES sinking down. Peeking once more, he saw the Interceptors and Bombers were now converging into the already big horde surrounding the CO, Maderas cussed in huttese at this. Clicking back on his channel, not really caring about who it reached in the rebel outfit, Zero made a quick messge.

    "Spyguy to whomever, I got sight of a few IMP speedy's going to the CO, what's the plan?..."



    Snap him out or just make him a target? Well, it wasn't like he could do much worse, Zara supposed. Maybe turning him into a fireball by way of imps would warm up his disposition.

    Lasers rattled the outer edges of her shields and she rolled instinctively, looking for whatever imp was on her this time before she got turned into a fireball herself. Instead, the lasers had come from the front, and Kayn's call clarified the situation.

    "If you're going to shoot at me, at least have the decency not to miss. It's bad for our repu-"
    The other half of B-flight spoke up, and Zara cut herself off as they asked for direction.


    Kayn winced at Zara's sarcasm. No time to respond to it now. He led the flight in an arc that turned into a head-on pass straight at Black Leader's nose, still weaving wildly to keep the TIEs behind them off balance. "We'll split on my mark. I'll go up, Zara go left, Mermaid go down, Spyguy go right. Everybody make the tightest 360 circle you can and rejoin. Black Leader, we need your firepower, pull the trigger when we break. Stand by." A solid hit on his ship's tail nearly shorted out Rebel Rouser's aft shields. B Flight was almost nose-to-nose with the Sheep CO's X-wing when Kayn called, "Three, two, one, mark! Break! Black Leader, shoot!" Kayn grunted against the G-forces as his A-wing yanked upward into a tight loop.


    TAG: @Rebecca_Daniels @Sgt.Matt
     
  23. adaml83

    adaml83 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Dec 8, 2004
    IC: Baniss Vermillion
    Intrepid

    Baniss was already bored of looking for the tiny bit of extra data in the outgoing logs from Intrepid. It was partially why he had a program scanning the messages. It didn't help that his wife was in Communications in the Alliance Navy and that she taught him some details. It took three tries before he stopped falling asleep during the lesson, and by some miracle in the Force, it stuck.

    It didn't mean that he liked it. In better news, Baniss found a couple of young officers who had the clearances necessary to do what he needed to be done. One of them was having the ship's computer do a visual scan for abnormalities when he heard a panicked tone from one of the pilots. He sent a message to one of the people in communications that he had picked.

    Where did that panicked signal come from?

    Black Sheep CO

    Can you get me a monitor that the CAG and only CAG can see?

    Affirm

    Baniss took a second to compose his thoughts,

    CAG,


    TAG: @Vehn
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2022
  24. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    GM Update Part One:

    Intrepid Bridge
    The Battle

    “What the frak is going on out there with the Sheep?” Captain Adama Husk, commanding officer of the Intrepid, thundered as he towered over the holographic display of the battle in front of him. He frantically looked out the bridge windows hoping to see anything but all he could make out, besides the flashes of battle, was the looming Imperial battle group getting closer and closer.\

    “Commander Khairn, sir,” Communications Officer Dea Iela replied, “he’s…”

    “He’s what?” Husk asked growing more irritated by the moment.

    “Lost his mind, sir,” Dela replied, “multiple Sheep have tried reaching him. We even reached out. He’s unresponsive.”

    “Maybe he was killed,” Husk pointed out, “those things do happen.”

    “His life signs are still in the green,” Dela replied.

    “Frakking High Command,” Husk growled, “assigning me damaged goods. They never run things by me.”

    “Captain,” Dela said, “with Khairn out of commission who is in charge of Able Flight and the Sheep?”

    Husk cursed. Dela’s question was legitimate. Dangerously so. He racked his brain. Technically Major Hollymander would command the squadon as next in command. He was inexperienced and was barely holding his own out there. Not a good choice. The next option was Captain Finnefrael of Delta Flight. He was too new and Husk didn't know him well enough. Besides, Delta had their hands full. That left Lieutenants Louise Vehn and Kayn Balzroth. Both were knee deep in keeping their flights alive and operational.

    A sinking feeling settled in the pit of Husk’s stomach. He didn’t have time to micromanage this thing. It wasn’t his style. Wasn’t his strength. Still, someone had to step forward and make the calls. Someone had to make sure the Sheep, rough around the edges though they were, survived.

    “Inform the Sheep that I will be assuming squadron command. I’ll need to rely heavily on the information they relay from the field. As for Able Flight I believe that Flight Officer Maxime Pallas has the experience to lead. She's shown herself to maintain a level head in combat operations. I'm promoting her to acting lieutenant. Able Flight is hers.”

    “Understood sir,” Dela replied, “relaying now. Attention Able Flight this is Intrepid Actual temporary command of Able Flight will go to acting Lieutenant Maxime Pallas. Captain Husk will direct the entirety Sheep for the duration of the battle."

    Husk walked over to the holographic readout of the battle. Imperial ships in red and Rebel ships in blue flew around one another, some winking out of existence, as the battle raged. So far the Rebel fighters had proven their space superiority over their Imperial counterparts driving back the first two waves of TIE fighters. Still the Imperial battlegroup drew closer and closer undeterred by the fierce Rebel defense.

    “How long until the Intransigent engages us with her turbolasers?” Husk asked his executive officer, or XO, Paul Teague.

    “Ten minutes, thereabouts,” Teague replied, “if you have a plan, Captain, now is the time to hear it.”

    “The escort carrier is launching several squadrons of TIE bombers and TIE Interceptors,” Dela interrupted, “they’re heading for us.”

    Here we go Husk thought as he weighed the tactical options available to him. Charlie Flight was closest, and the Raiders weren’t far behind. It wouldn’t take much for Able and Baker to hit hard against the latest Imperial squadrons to launch from the Acheron.

    “Order the Raiders to hit the escort carrier. Merge them with Charlie Flight. I want that vessel brought down,” Husk ordered, “pull Viper squadron back to form a cordon around the Intrepid. Tell Able to intercept the bombers and Baker to intercept those squints. I don’t want anything getting through."

    Husk fought off a disconcerting feeling as he watched the Intransigent slow to a stop. Why was she hanging back? Why wasn't she pressing the attack and going in for the kill? What was going on here?

    Tag: @Adalia-Durron; @Sarge; @Mistress_Renata; @Sgt.Matt; @Rebecca_Daniels; @Mitth_Fisto; @Mira Grau; @TheAdmiral

    OOC: Charlie Flight will go ahead and engage the escort carrier. Weapons Hot. Destroy the Acheron at will. Delta you will get an update here in part two....

    Able will engage the TIE Bombers and Baker will engage the Interceptors. Destroy at will.

    As far as Commander Khairn, for story purposes, go on ahead. I've got a few things planned there...





    IC: Commander Firmus Khairn
    Drifting toward the Intrepid


    Khairn stared into the void as Max’s voice erupted in his ear. They were words of support, encouragement, even patience if one could have such a thing in the middle of a dogfight. Slowly, cautiously, he began to come back to himself. What was left of his mind, that is.

    Then someone else’s voice came over the comms. It was Balzroth. That red skinned, horned, devil. He was dragging Baker Flight right toward him along with an element of TIE fighters. The merge happened quickly. Khairn panicked, froze unable to fire, then reflexively jerked his X-Wing out of the way reorientating his position to face the Intrepid as the TIE fighters passed right on through. Within minutes the TIEs were obliterated by Baker’s aggressive flying.

    There was more squad chatter. Intrepid Actual was calling out assignments. Khairn watched as the battle shifted away from his position. Could make out the Y-Wings and Raiders squadron pushing hard toward the escort carrier Acheron lining up their bombing runs. Specks of light sparkled across the vast abyss and he could even see TIE Bombers and TIE Interceptors forming up for an attack run on the Intrepid as both sides struggled to strike the killing blow that would resolve the fight.

    Either way, Khairn surmised, he wouldn’t be partaking. His job was over. His mind had been broken and everyone heard what happened. He was sure that he was now liability number one. His authority was shattered. His impeccable flight career gone. If and when he even made it back to the Intrepid he would be arrested for cowardice. Possibly even desertion.

    He reached down toward his thigh and felt his service pistol strapped to his right leg. Yes, maybe he could still save face. Maybe he could still control how this act in his life play would end. The Sheep would be fine without him. They would go on as they had before. Being rogues, being borderline criminals, being daring Rebel pilots without a care for proper order and discipline.

    Khairn pulled his service pistol out. What a beautiful weapon. A tool of war. He unstrapped his helmet and placed it up on the dash. He wasn’t going to need this any longer. He wasn’t going to need any of the worries or stresses. Those were all gone. All in the past.

    He placed his service pistol against his temple. Felt the cool metal against his skin. The finality of the situation hit him hard in the gut. Echoes of regret filled his mind. Guilt. Shame.

    “I failed you all,” Khairn whispered to nothing and no one.

    More importantly, he had failed himself.



    Simulators
    Intrepid


    Commander of the Air Group, or CAG, Cort Spence walked down the row of simulators flight helmet tucked under his arm. He had been about to scramble when an urgent message had appeared on his datapad. It’d been a mad scramble from the hangar to the simulators but he’d made the trek in record time. Slightly out of breath, and irritated, Spence focused his energy on the man standing before him.

    Agent Baniss Vermillion.

    “This better be good,” Spence growled as he looked at the Intrepid’s intelligence officer, “what do you have for me?”


    Tag: @adaml83
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
  25. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    GM Update Part Two:
    ISD Intransigent
    Bridge


    Captain Ido Lance watched as the battle unfolded before him. As expected, the Rebel defense was stout and the command crew of the Intrepid were matching every blow that was dealt their way with remarkable courage. Where one side would attack the other would parry and back and forth. This was a dejarik game for the ages.

    “All TIE bombers have launched and have formed up with their escorts,” a junior officer stated, “I believe, sir, that we’ve got them right where we want them.”

    “Let’s not get too overconfident,” Ido reminded his subordinate, “there’s still much at play.”

    Ido looked at the chrono on a nearby bulkhead. They would be here any second. When they arrived, the entire battle would change in their favor. Although Ido wasn’t one to favor the holding action today, he was more than willing to play the part if it meant the destruction of the Sheep and the further establishment of Imperial control in the sector.

    “Hyperspace contact,” Ido’s communications officer said, “two klicks out.”

    Ido casually made his way to the bridge windows and peered out into the void. What he saw brought a sharp smile to his face. A sense of relief. A sense that everything in the galaxy was about to be put right. Order was on the verge of being restored.

    He grinned as a squadron of TIE Defenders roared past his bow on their way to entering the fray.

    The Skulls had arrived.

    [​IMG]






    IC: Commander Dietryk Gray
    282nd Death’s Head Squadron
    TIE Defenders
    “The Skulls”


    “We’ll provide overwatch for the bombers,” Commander Dietryk Gray casually said as he adjusted his targeting computer, “hold off on attacking for now.”

    The squadron of TIE Defenders climbed above the battle and lazily circled like birds of prey. It would only be a matter of time before they swooped down to pick apart the remnants of the Rebel force.

    Little did they know their entry into the battle and subsequent movements and systems were being constantly monitored by two Recon X’s.

    Tag: @darthbernael; @Sinrebirth

    OOC: You may engage the TIE Defenders if you so desire or you may hang back and relay pertinent information. Feel free to be creative about what your Recon X's may uncover about them to the others and Intrepid Actual. Your call. Please do not damage them…..yet.

     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
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