Log:Free Enterprise: Separated from the Herd
The pirate ships Heartbreaker and Tempest lie in wait for a convoy of unsuspecting Tanaab pilgrims...
OOC Date: March 28, 2018
Location: Space over Jedha
Participants: Aliraet, Grishk, Asiir Cuul, Emma Starflare, Vido Nurn, Free Enterprise
The Heartbreaker is hunting today.
First, lurking over Tanaab, waiting and watching as a pilgrim convoy launched from the planet, formed up, and moved out of the gravity well. Five convoy ships...an ancient YT-1200 called the Seeker, a newer Novaflare 3-Z, the Mendicant, and Peoplemover transport, the Penitent. All three are dwarfed by the two larger ships...a Gthroc Cargo Empress, the Pilgrim's Pride, and the main cargo ship, a Xiytiar bulk freighter, the Bare Necessities. Accompaning them is a flight of aging Cloakshape fighters, mercenaries hired as protection. The convoy goes into hyper....but with the Necessities barely able to make x3 hyper, the Heartbreaker easily beats the ships to the Jedha system to lie in wait along the hyperlane for their re-emergence into normal space.
Aliraet, now dressed in her helmeted combat armor, has gathered her small crew in the cockpit while they wait, save for the pair of Hunter droids, One-Eyed Willy and Poppet, who wait near the boarding airlock. "Alright...." she says, raising a brow. "This'll be simple. None of these ships are particularly well armed...and the Cloakshapes don't even have working shields at the moment. There are two ships we want, if we can get them. The Mendicant is carrying tons of medical supplies and luxury goods for sale on Jedha. The Necessities, the big bastard, is carrying a wide variety of goods...starships parts, fuel, refined ore, and of course..." She grins big. "A selection of fine goods and jewelry donated by the eager pilgrims involved to be donated for the reconstruction of one of the old Jedi ruins they're going to.
She rests a hand on the hilt of her vibrosword. "All we have to do is disable the ones we want, and give the rest a bloody nose, enough that they'll be more worried about covered the Pride and the Penitent with all the pilgrims aboard...that's who they'll want to protect. Any questions?"
Emma was paid and thus she was here, her custom-molded armor and immaculately cleaned weapons might lead one to wonder if the woman was a high-class mercenary as she claimed or merely a newcomer with some shiny toys. One would find out soon enough! Resting braced against the stock of her sniper rifle, the woman listens to the briefing with a light nod. The mission was straightforward enough, a clear prize and an equally clear approach. She shifts her weight a little, tilting her head with one hip slightly cocked. "Straightforward enough. Are one of us flying each ship we take, or is that being left to the droids?"
Grishk looms in silence as Aliraet gives the briefing. Then looks over at the familar armor of the mercenary brought a long as her question is asked. "Nah, those droids can’t fly for shit. Made for combat. Would be an interesting upgrade, maybe." the Trandoshan says, though this time he is helmeted, unlike the prior night at the bar. "If that smaller ship has the same cargo space as us, Maybe we can knock that one out and bring the cargo aboard, try to save the other one to limp it back to base, the ions may help with that."
Vido is standing over by Grishk this evening, one hand wrapped around an ancient, obsidian spear, the other cluthching a datapad streaming information on ship models involved in today's job. He's quiet at the moment, taking in the data through cybernetic goggles that betray no hint of the being's thoughts oremotions. That's saved for the other features on his face. Currently, it's his scarred mouth, which twitches on it's left side in uneven intervals.
Not on the Heartbreaker, but aboard the Tempest, is Asiir Cuul. The dark colored Cathar is resting in the captain's chair of the Ultra Light freighter, and he listens quietly to the briefing that is no doubt being broadcast across channels toward him as well. His hood is cast back, allowing him a full range of vision as he stares out into space, awaiting for the mission to kick off. He adds nothing to the conversation, nor does he ask any questions as his thumbs rub across the controls of his ship, foot beginning to tap idly.
Aliraet cocks her head. "We could take the Necessities, we'll need at least two crew, but the Medicant will only need one pilot. It's the newest ship and the most heavily armored...has at least one set of quads. We can also just take the cargo though if the ship is too trashed and load it on the Heartbreaker and the Tempest, especially the shinies. THe object is to loot, THEN burn. So try not to blow them up before we disable them." She grins toothily, then nods to Emma. "You follow Grishk's orders for this. I'll be on the Hearbreaker. Vido, you get to tell us if the junk we find is worth taking...some of it's art, and I got no frellin' clue what that'll go for." She looks at the assembled group. "Any of you have turret gunning experience?"
"Understood," the blonde woman in her figure-hugging armor comments. Lifting her rifle, she slings it over her shoulder before checking her blaster pistol. The last thing she needed was to be caught with a half-charged weapon in the field. The talk of gunning? It has her nodding. "I have some experience, I can pilot in a pinch but I am more comfortable in... traditional combat rather than spacecraft." The human woman's eyes move over the trio gathered, committing their faces to mind. "I assume there are no issues with lethal force, but I would rather be aware than...have complaint against me later."
Grishk says "I'm set to kill, so have at it. Who knows, maybe they will give up, we tie em up and take them with us and sell them to the Hutts, I ain't relying on it though so will shoot first unless they come out begging to live." He nudges Vido. "I know this guy is set to kill too." Grinning a toothy grin behind his helmet And, I got some turret skills as you know, Captain, unless anyone is better than me. They can have at it."
Vido seems to be pleased with the information he's been able to absorb from the datapad, and so he powers it off and tucks it away somewhere in the recesses of his combat armor. His goggle eyepieces pivot to Aliraet and his head follows the gaze. "Put me in front of the goods and I will happily pick out the shiniest bits. And should any necks get in the way?" He lifts and then taps the stick-end of his spear on the ground, making it known to those who are new to him that violence is not out of the question. As the turret gun skills, he simply shakes his head Aliraet's way.
Asiir reaches forward with a hand to toggle the comms of his ship, "The cargo hold on the Tempest isn't near as big as that of the Heartbreaker. But we can throw whatever we need to in here. It's just me in here, so I don't have to save a lot of space." This is not the command you're looking for. (Try "help" or "+help" for help.)
The Devaronian hehs. "I'll take the pilot's chair. Grishk, you take the ion, Starflare, you take one of the forward quads then." she directs. "Vido,look pretty and have a seat in the auxiliary station until we're ready to board then." She cocks her head as Asiir comments through the small holo of the Cathar pilot. "If we can shove whoever surrenders in an escape pod and take the ships, we will...if they're too wrecked, we'll grab what we can and leave 'em." she agrees. "We've got our IFFs off so they won't be able to read who we are, but it'll depend if we can get them sold quickly enough. I know a place on Nar Shadda that'll take 'em, no questions asked." She checks a wrist datapad. "...they'll be arriving any moment. Get to your stations. Don't kriff this up. Asiir, you focus on the fighters. They're being paid to guard the ships, not to go off dogfighting, so if we break up the convoy, they likely run with the Pride and whatever other ships can keep up. It's the slowest, so it'll take a bit for them to move far enough for it to matter. The Mendicant is the fastest of the ships...she'll be hard to catch if she tries to run."
A nod, a tilt of her head, then Emma is moving towards the seating of the gun turrets. There wasn't more to say from the woman and she was quick to fall into her role. Even so...it had been a little while, so her gloved hands roll over the controls of the Forward Quads before she exhales a breath. It was just another gun, a bigger and meaner gun.
Grishk nods and moves up to the controls for the Ion Turret. "We'll send the 2 droids out first Vido, then Starflare and I will exit, stick behind me. I think I can pretty much fully cover you. If we end up getting close somehow, maybe you can reach out and touch someone with that spear from around my side." The Trandoshan says as he settles in. Thinking how plans always start well, but tend to change. Oh well, here we go. "Ill deploy the retractable Ion as soon as we exit."
Vido nods and heads off to his station, settling down to ready himself for the boarding. He's considered the plan at hand and has nothing to add to it for now. So, he simply grips his spear tight and "eyeballs" anyone he can see from his position. Grishk gets a solid nod of agreement. One foot taps anxiously against the floor. It appears the archaeologist is eager to get his hands on other people's stuff. This is not the command you're looking for. (Try "help" or "+help" for help.)
"Got it," Asiir answers over the comms, the Cathar's voice measured and completely even, missing any sort of inflection that would denote nerves or fear of the coming conflict. He glances around toward the astromech hovering near the back of the small cockpit. "Be ready to fix any damages," he says to the droid before turning back to view the space ahead, waiting for their enemies to arrive.
Neither ship has long to wait, before with a flash of blue light, the convoy emerges...but not quite on the heading Aliraet has put the two ships at. In fact, it's almost out of arc for the quads, but it's less of a problem for the ions and the turret on the Tempest. The cargo ships are fat and happy...they haven't even raised their shields yet, and don't immediately react to the Heartbreaker or Tempest being so close.
On board the lead Cloakshape, the pilot frowns. "Pilgrim flight, I'm getting no IFF from that Sentinel and the Gambit there....are you picking something up?" "Nossir, nothing here either." "Hmmm..."
Aliraet lets out a curse. "Frell, of course they dropped out farther, they're kriffin' merchant pilots..." she says, grabbing the stick and slamming the throttle forward as the Heartbreaker accelerates, starting to heel around to put the convoy more in the arc of the guns. "We'll take the Mendicant first, just keep those fighters off us Tempest!" she snaps quickly over coms as she snaps off a missile shot...which the Mendicant handily evades as it punches its engines, its laser cannon snapping off a shot that blows it out of space. Alert gunner there.
Neither ship has long to wait, before with a flash of blue light, the convoy emerges...but not quite on the heading Aliraet has put the two ships at. In fact, it's almost out of arc for the quads, but it's less of a problem for the ions and the turret on the Tempest. The cargo ships are fat and happy...they haven't even raised their shields yet, and don't immediately react to the Heartbreaker or Tempest being so close.
On board the lead Cloakshape, the pilot frowns. "Pilgrim flight, I'm getting no IFF from that Sentinel and the Gambit there....are you picking something up?" "Nossir, nothing here either." "Hmmm..."
Aliraet lets out a curse. "Frell, of course they dropped out farther, they're kriffin' merchant pilots..." she says, grabbing the stick and slamming the throttle forward as the Heartbreaker accelerates, starting to heel around to put the convoy more in the arc of the guns. "We'll take the Mendicant first, just keep those fighters off us Tempest!" she snaps quickly over coms as she snaps off a missile shot...which the Mendicant tries to evade, but is too slow to accelerate out of the way as the hail of fire slams into it.
It was a hit, if only just. Emma can't help but frown despite the little victory. She'd need to practice once more it seems. Tightening her grip on the controls, she nods at Grishk's words and slings her blaster rifle before patting the carbine she'd been lent. "Ready to move when you are."
Grishk smiles as he aims and fires on the designated ship almost as quickly as they exit hyperspace. The blue bolts etching out and spreading across the Mendicant in electrical lines with a solid hit as Asiir blasts it from the Tempest. "We Improvise, can’t fully predict them. Another volley!"
Vido strikes a hideous grin at the sight of the convoy. His free hand lifts up to wrap around a grip that keeps him from sliding around too much and knocking into things, which is great because there's sudden movement and fighting in the blink of an eye. Or the swivel of a cyber-tic, whatever. "Tear them apart," he whispers to himself, the words accented with a bit of a hiss.
Asiir grits his teeth as the ships leap out of hyperspace, the Cathar jerking his ship forward and attempting to get a lock on one of the enemy fighters before they begin to scramble. He fires on one, scoring a good hit before he says into the comms, "I'm workin on it. Just be fast and be efficient."
The convoy jerks into motion, engines firing as the flicker of shields come up around the larger ships as they start to run for Jedha. On the largest, the Pride, a ion cannon turret pops up, starting to send blue bolts of energy towards the Heartbreaker, as smaller laser cannons open up from the YT-1200 and the PeopleMover. However, the PRide is definitely the slowest ship....barely 20 MGLT...it'll take a bit for it to get anywhere.
The convoy guardians, on the other hand, split off, with two Cloakshapes flying at Asiir, and two for the Heartbreaker, as laser cannon fire streaks past them. One of those on the Tempest suddenly has a flash of orange and red in its cockpit and spins out of control, flying off into the void as its pilots screams, flames shooting up all around him and igniting his flightsuit as he frantically tries to slam out the fire. The other misses clean, as does the lean ship on the Heartbreaker.
The last, however, gets a clear lock on the transport and fires a missile, which drops from its wing rack and streaks into the side of the Heartbreaker, shaking the whole ship as it punches easily through the shields at the same time as the quad on the Mendicant opens up, sending a blaze of fire towards the Hearbreaker that slams into its shields. Harmlessly for now. The sudden impacts are enough to just barely throw off the concussion missile that streaks back towards the light transport, as one of the quad bolts catches it through sheer luck and detonates it short of impact as Aliraet accelerates to close.
Emma's firing, engaging as ordered, but that frown never leaves her lips even as she manages to score solid hits on her target. It was ironic that someone would feel more vulnerable behind shields and hull plating than on the ground, but that was definately were the blonde woman felt a the moment.
Grishk misses his shot and he curses loudly, enough to be heard around the ship. "Line me up for another!" He rages. He was hoping to get the ship Ionized by now to have the engines down, which is where he was aiming for with his last shot. "Line me up on the engines, we disable those and it ain’t going anywhere for now!"
When the missile tears into the Heartbreaker, Vido slams against the side of his station, hard. "They're tearing /us/ apart," he shouts (in his best Wiseau). Unclipping himself from his seat, he finds a secure corner to stow his spear, then shuffles over to the unoccupied quad gun. Though he's not overly familiar with this kind of weaponry, he did operate a war museum at one point and catches the gist of it quickly. Sitting down and powering up takes only a moment, then he's shooting off blasts of despair at his enemies, looking comically unaware of the gun's kickback as he scores a lucky hit.
Asiir watches as both of the fighters begin heading his way. He urges the Tempest forward, as if in some desire to play a mismatched game of chicken with the two fighters. He rushes toward them, lips pulled back into a snarl that is not silent within the cockpit of his ship. His astromech begins to beep and whistle in alarm as he rushes toward them, near enough to collide. One fighter shoots as it jerks away, narrowly missing Asiir, and as that attempted shot blazes past, Asiir's rage boils over. His eyes lock on the remaining fighter and he make a slashing movement toward it, flames bursting inside of that cockpit as the pilot himself is set on fire.
The Heartbreaker closes, weaving back and forth as the incoming fire from the Cloakshapes flicks past it on all sides, but fails to connect, Aliraet bobbing the ship in a quick roll through the blaze of fire from the freighters as well. The remaining Cloakshape on the Tempest jerks at the last possible moment, the fire from the Gambit barely missing it before it flips over, coming around in an arc to rake the ultralight's hull as the Tempest's shields flare, taking the hits.
The Mendicant is not so lucky. Yet another missile fires from the Heartbreaker punches through its shielding, blowing a good-sized hole in one of its engines as it sputters out, before Grishk's ion bolt slams into its neighbor, that engine shorting out in a shower of sparks and shutting down. Immediately the transport slows to half speed, limping along on two engines, before the dual quad laser barrage smashes through the remains of its shield. A shower of sparks comes from the turret on top as the ship starts to yaw, its lights flickering fitfully as it starts to spin out of control, disabled.
Em's frown...might be fading a little as she's able to lay down the fire on the Cloakshape fighters harassing their craft with the quadlasers. They didn't need the fighters intact after all, so the disabling of their prey had been left to the Ion-wielding Grishk while the blonde Merc continued her firing on the more active threat. "We need to get these fighters off us," she finally speaks up. "Otherwise the loss of our craft will leave the boarding party stranded."
Grishk grins yet again as one of their targets is disabled. "Ahh, its down, Aiming for the the next on the list. Keep it up everyone, let’s get it down and board. Perhaps Asiir can keep watch on the downed one, or dock and handle it while we get to this larger one. I think we all are ready for a bit of boarding at this point. Great Flying Captain, keep it up!"
Although Vido seems to be getting a hang of the quad gun, he isn't about to jump into firing on the smaller craft. Instead, he focuses his firepower on the Mendicant. Something easier to hit. Through gritted teeth borne within a maniacally-wide smile, the archaeologist-pirate pummels his prey alongside ion blasts and missile fire. As he does, he makes audible pew-pew pop-pop sounds like a teenager playing a holo-arcade game might. At Em's suggestion, and with a bit more confidence behind him, he swivels to target the fighters next.
Asiir grunts as the shields flash a warning when the fighter gets a hit in on the Tempest's hull. Shaking his head as he says toward his astromech, "I should have brought the TIE. I would have if it wasn't for there being so damn many of them..." He fires and misses and then glances toward the derelict freighter. Toggling the comms he says, "Do you want me to stay with the fighters or go after the freighter?" - Your "NPC: Mercenary (Cheap) (9565)" was saved from destruction by being near you.
Aliraet swears a bit at the fighters as she bucks and weaves, nodding curtly to Emma. "She's right. Tempest, if you're up for it, take that transport..we'll let you have all the fun for the -little- one...." she notes with a grin, pulling the Heartbreaker around to face the oncoming fighters, lining up on the damaged Cloakshape harrowing the Tempest. "We'll play clean up on the fighters."
The unsuspecting Cloakshape is too focused on the Tempest as the ultralight maneuvers towards docking with the stricken light transport....too focused up on lining up that missile shot, right before threat warning blare, the pilot jerking as he glances at his sensors, right before the ion bolt streaks in and slams into the center of the fighter, sending it spinning slightly, before the double quads rip apart the ship as explodes in a fiery death. The remaining two fighters snap off a few more shots at the Heartbreaker as it closes on the Mendicant, then flip and accelerate back towards the convoy still attempting to reach the safety of Jedha. Aliraet brings the ship around. "Cowards...probably weren't paid to do more than play security cop..." she mutters, starting to close on the pair as they flee, the transport shuttle jumping forward as she punches the engines in pursuit, closing on the Xiytiar freighter burning its way towards the planet.
Meanwhile...the Tempest locks docking ports with the Mendicant, the airlock pressurizing as several crewmembers run towards the sound, pulling blaster pistols in slightly trembling hands as they take cover, pointing them towards the airlock.
Grishk fires yet again, disabling it enough for the quads to do their job "Awesome shot!" he shouts as he lines up on Necessities next. "Lets get this one down so we can board and clear em out, shouldn't be many on board. 12 at most, we can clear them fast. Great piloting again, you're lining us up perfectly. Tell those cloaks to get their friends out or we will finish them all off once the rest of us arrive!" He cackles.
As the airlock seals on the Tempest, Asiir is already there waiting. He takes the time to pull the hood up over his head, shadow covering his face as he reaches within the long length of his coat to pull free the lightsaber hidden away. When the door opens, Asiir steps forward into the dimly lit interior of the transport, the blue emergency lights casting an ominous glow upon him that is made sinister as the red light of his lightsaber comes to life, and then the green. There is a feral snarl from the Cathar as he gives in to the anger welling within him, loosening his hold on the control he normally forces upon himself, his blades lashing out.
Emma's fire remains on the fighters to cover their ships, but Asiir's solo approach on the other craft? She doesn't even bat an eye. One wouldn't send a single person for such a task if they couldn't handle it, right? She'd managed similar before, although the woman had certainly had to work quite a bit harder and came out a little worse for wear not being one with a lightsaber of force powers. As her bolts continue to blast at the fighters, but she leans over to glance at Grishk's instructions. "I'll be ready to move."
The unfortunate spacehands on the Mendicant, Tanaab pilgrims all, aren't really skilled in combat...but it doesn't matter at all. A few wild shots and screams, and Asiir is the only one left standing and alive, the flickering hum of the lightsaber blades casting green and shadows amid the emergency lightning, as blood drips down through the grating near the airlock.
Aliraet gets a wilder grin as Grishk makes the suggesting. "Let's see their mettle, shall we?" she purrs, then flips on the ship to ship com, broadcasting in the clear. "That's two down boys...are they really paying you enough to stay and die when the rest of my friends get here?" She locks the next missile on the plodding Xiytiar freighter, accelerating to close on it. "Knock out those engines...once she's slowed I can dock us and put up with the little plinking shots from the others." she say simply, launching another missile...
The next shots that come from Em's gunning? They don't quite manage to hit their target, but hopefully they were threatening enough. Pulling the triggers on the controls, the woman's accented tones make a noise of frustration but she continues her firing none the less. Either they'd flee or they'd die, but she was completing her job either way.
Grishk fires at the other freighter's engines. Squeezing the forward-facing ion's trigger as blue bolts fire forward and slam through into its engines with a solid and direct hit. Another instance of electrical charging spiderwebbing from its hit location, spreading across the aft section where the engines lay. "Direct hit" The Trandoshan says loudly.
Vido is letting loose a volley of vaguely-controlled fire at the fighters. Each jolt sends him thumping against the back of the quad gun's seat. Even so, he smiles when he sees one of the shots hit home on a retreating fighter. Whatever everyone else is doing? Well, the Advozse is sort of zoning all that out, focusing instead on the task at hand, though he's sure everyone is doing a bang-up job.
As the crew of the freighter are slain, Asiir closes his eyes and forces a leash over his range once more, forcing a lid on the anger that threatens to rule him. His lightsaber powers down and he looks through the door to call his Astromech out. "Get the ship running and set a course for Kessel. We're getting out of here before anyone can come and attempt to steal this ship back," he instructs, then begins making his way for the cockpit.
The fighter slightly behind the other takes a barrage of quad shots, its hull exploding as pieces are blown out of it, vapors starting to trail from it as fires can be seen burning from within, one of its engines sputtering a bit. It breaks off and accelerates on its remaining speed, moving ahead of the convoy, its companion likewise accelerating to break off from their protective run. Either the damage or the intimidation or the bluff worked; they're not interested in fighting to the death.
The missile from the Sentinel spirals in...and...bounces. It actually bounces off the ship rather than connecting as the huge freighter heels around, so hard you can practically hear its keel groaning from here. It doesn't save it, however, from the ion bolt that slams into its engines, several in the array sparking and flickering before fading out as the massive ship drops in speed noticeably, starting to fall behind the other ships as it grows larger and larger in the cockpit viewport. The rest of the convoy fairly futilely shoots back, but are more worried about protecting the pilgrims aboard than coming back for a fight. With the big bulk freighter dropping behind, it comes under sustained fire with no way of shooting back, the stricken vessel slowing.
The Bare Necessities has no choice...it has no weapons...it has no chance of evading. After some sustained fire, its engines and shields are down, and the ship is adrift. After a frantic signal to surrender, the crew takes to the escape pods, abandoning ship rather than trying to fight it out. The Heartbreaker pulls up next to it, then locks in place over the airlock as it seals. " Aliraet mmms, then hits the coms. "We've got this ship Asiir...we'll meet you back at base shortly."
As the pirates storm the ship, there’s no resistance remaining…and soon the Heartbreaker undocks, the massive freighter turning with it as the first planetary defense fighters launch in response to the panicked convoy’s distress calls. But not in time to intercept either ship as they follow the captured Mendicant into hyperspace, along with its valuable cargos.
It’s been a good day for pirating.
