Log:Mandalorians: Strength is Life
Mandalorians: Strength is Life
OOC Date: April 6, 2020
Location: Japrael System - Over Onderon
Participants: Sar Yavok, Hadrix Kora, Narsai Ordo, Kirioth Kora, Karys, Jacali, Vandred, Evie Leven Clan Kora
<<"Rawl Four, I'm locked. Th-">> Comm signals were already filled with chatter. Contact confirmations, movements, warnings. Screams. Space over Onderon and its moons was not littered with ships, but those that were here, or were arriving, were at the jump points. A dangerous gamble for the Onderonian navy, intercepting the Mandalorian ships dropping out of hyperspace, unable to warn others as shields were being raised and evasive maneuvers were being taken.
Shrapnel was already filling the void. Flash melted durasteel freezing into streaks of metal and spheres. Bodies. Explosions. Absolute chaos. Much of what Onderon had in the field mixed with salvaged equipment from the Imperial rule. A squadron of R-41s, a quartet of old TIEs, and a small handful of refitted Y-Wings threatening.
There were also a pair of Guardian Light Cruisers approaching.
<<"Mandalorians! This is the Onderonian Navy, this is your third and final warning, if you turn back now or power down for surrender, we shall not destroy you!">>
A battered U-Wing marked with various clan sigils and refitted with laser and ion turrets bursts into realspace as the order over comms, sending out a broadcast of their own, trying to help cover other craft appearing in system <<"Get past the blockade! Reclaim and conquor! Oya Mando'ade! Kote bal'parjai!">>
<<Jaggalor to all, I don't think we're welcome here,>> Sar says, settling back into his pilot's chair. Seems the man's flying solo for this one, but the old Y-Wing commander honestly wouldn't have it any other way. "Reb, make sure everything's where it's supposed to be, eh? Wouldn't be proper for me to have to make any last minute adjustments now that I'm all buckled in and what-not," Sar instructs the little green astromech who chirps in response and begins wheeling around the cockpit.
"Reckon we oughta get this underway," then, he tells himself, sliding the trottle forward and kicking the big engines of his Raven-class Courier into action.
Karys is at one of the consoles on the Laar'Kote, doing what she can with her limited time working on ships. She however does have some expertise in the working of computers and their inputs and outputs - thankfully. Keying up what she has on screen she begins to assess their current sensor readings and inputing calculations that spits out an array of information quicker than the blink of an eye.
It takes her a moment to read through the output and she lifts her voice, a firm focus that calls out their the Laar'Kote. "Karys here of the Laar'Kote. I have readings that show that if we pick our way planetside past the first Light Guardian class we can find a weak spot to get through. Focus there to get our ships through."
Go fly this ship they said. It'll be fun they said. Roth wasn't laughing though. Definitely not. She was out of her armor and wondering what the hell she was doing here for a moment. <<Banshee here, I think that guy that was just talking is right.>> she states. She then shakes her head as she reluctantly reaches her hand out to push the throttle forward. Here goes nothing! Or everything really.
It's been some time since Jacali manned the turrets, but one can assume it's a little like riding a bike. She has settled in at one of the stations, her attentions shifting between readouts and the words that're coming over those open channels, skilled hands working to get the weapon prepped to her specifications. The Arkanian doctor is not exactly a talkative or social individual, and it's left to question why it is that she keeps appearing on these missions. Perhaps this endeavor promises some unique information, or maybe she just wants to drown in this exquisite chaos before being forced back into a world of logic and reason.
<<"Gunner prepared to support.">> She announces, the leather of her gloves giving a plaintiff creaking as she gets her grip. Her head turns slightly as Karys speaks, but she says nothing -- it does not impact her purpose here. There is the barest hint of a nod, however, that provides her wordless acknowledgement of the informations provided.
Vandred is aboard the Laar'Kote. This time, he's somehow managed to smooth talk -- read: he asked until someone said 'OK, shut up' -- to let him actually try out one of the fixed turrets. This would be the large double lasers that are fixed at the front of the vessel.
He gets himself comfortable, humming to himself as he taps at a few consoles. Something begins beeping loudly. He taps that button again, then doesn't look at that button again. Instead, he leans over the console and waits.. And waits..
Then his finger pushes on the 'FIRE' button. The Laar'kote fires off it's front lasers -- sending a 'warning shot' out into space. <<"I think I get this.">>
It's not a TIE. No, the Krayt Gunship that Tara donated to this particular mission was not quite as elegant in the void, but it definitely had a lot more guns than most the ships that the former First Order pilot has ever flown.
Between her skills and its firepower? The Prudii'kad would be a force to be reckoned with in the Void.
Laughing to herself, she starts the telltale swaying of her ship, easing the throttle to and fro in order to prepare her to swing in one direction or another... and almost taunting the enemy with her lazy maneuver. << "Roger that, Lady Kay. Following your lead." >> Inside the cockpit, she grins to herself. The fun's about to begin.
Krayt and Kimogila craft with a half dozen Razorcrest move in on the flanks of the Jaggalor and the Laar'Kote in the wake of Karys's flight path data. Small in number, but the sudden jank in movements throw off the TIE and Y-Wing craft for the moment, but three quarters of the R-41 squadron manage to break off, chasing after the craft moving for the gap in the wall formation that the Onderonian ships are attempting to maintain.
<<"Jaggalor, Laar'Kote, on your lead. Victory or death!">>
<<"Jaggalor, Oona-Squadron has your six. Strill Squadron on the Kote">>
Aboard the Laar'Kote, Hadrix was in the ceiling suspended command seat, rotating around holo-displays and the sub-command section manned by Karys, doing his best to assist though the ship cannot maneuver like the smaller craft,
<<"Vandred, Jacali - keep your eyes out and fire at will.">> head turning now to look to Karys, <"Karys you can direct Heiyuu as needed as well, keep that travel path data coming">>
The Guardians open up, unexpecting the sudden push, massive turret blasts flying clear of the larger craft.
<<Copy that,>> Sar comms back over, reaching up to begin warming his weapon systems up. <<Dump some fuel and get in close to those Guardians. We're sitting ducks in open space, but if we can use one for cover and avoid its turret fire, we'll have a heck of a lot better chance,>> he offers, one hand gripping the yoke and jerking it to the side as the other feathers the trottle back to allow for a tighter turn out of enemy fire.
Readouts begin coming in from the Laar'Kote and Sar punches some commands into his chairs computer, the on-board systems preparing their new firing solutions for the missiles he's got rearing to go.
Trajectories keep changing as they draw closer and position themselves, even as the other ships shift and move in space to accomodate their inbound path. This keeps Karys busy and she is quickly adjusting their course and calling out for the rest of the ships to hear. <<"Karys on the Laar'Kote, same trajectory but we are adjusting slightly. New coordinates are being uploaded. Keep the fighters off of us and punch through., Further adjustments will be sent in." Using as much cover as they can get she brings the contingent of ships around.
"Hey you," yep that is how she says the droid's name. "I need you watching our shields. Be ready to repair and pull from other systems. Its going to get a little tight out there." There is a registering beep and bip from the R2 unit as it plugs into the console and begins reading the shields and in affect trying to attune them.
Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a push on the 'FIRE' button.
The added data does make it more accurate, but sadly for Karys, accurate isn't in Vandred's volcab.
The shot goes by. But barely.
<<"Oh. Close.">>
Little is offered verbally from the good doctor Jacali. She's listening, she's responding via action, but her voice has little place here. It is time for her to do her job, and so she does. As Vandred fires, and misses, for a second time, her helmetted head turns in a slow swivel toward him. Her expression cannot be seen, but those golden fly-like eyes hold nothing but judgment for the poor fellow. She heaves out a sigh that causes her rebreather to whine softly, before her attentions drift back to her station where her own shot is loosed.
Thankfully, she is not quite so useless.
Evie's pretty content to go with the flow, even in her own domain. She's no rogue, she's a team player, and confident enough in her skills to let the burden of leadership rest on the shoulders of another, following Karys' path and Sar's suggestions.
Though, that doesn't mean that she doesn't have her own ideas to contribute.
<< "Put enough of a hurt on those Guardians and they'll be too busy trying to stay afloat to bother with us." >> She agrees, tapping a few buttons on her control panel to acquire target lock. It was about time to see w hat this beauty could do.
Roth gives a bit of an uncertain laugh when one of the lasers come too close to the Banshee, "I just got this, quit scoring the paint!" she yells inside the cockpit. Not over comms. There was a moment taken to drop behind the Kimo's and the Krayts, because...Roth wasn't a fighter pilot. She preferred to have both feet on the ground.
Meanwhile, there's some back and forth talk on the comms of the other fighters. <<Erny! Erny you stupid...what are you aiming for?!>> someone from the Kimo ships sounds angry. <<Keep shooting like that and we're all going to think your shooting for the wrong team!>> the voice cuts off after that.
<<Oh Burt if you used half your brain for making up stupid stuff to say at me over the comms we'd be ace pilots by now.>> Erny gives a odd sounding chuckle before the pilot blows one of the enemy ships to pieces. <<Like that, see. You can do it too Burt!>> the high pitched voice states.
"Sir that old Raven has target lock on us! Shrike 2 is reporting lock as well!" "Sir we're suffering fighter losses, we're still seeing ships coming out of hyperspace!" The Guardian craft shakes as it tries to maneuver, only two small cruisers able to deal with the major transports and the fighters currently stand tied up. "Just open fire! Open fire and destroy them! They're not going to relent!" Laser and turbo laser batteries opening up on the incoming transport craft now.
<<"Incoming fire! Brace">> Hadrix's voice roars over ships comms even as the Laar'kote shakes and shimmies, battered by standard laser fire, muttering, <"Heiyuu, get to work. We're lucky the turbo lasers didn't hit us!">
<<Jaggalor to all; beginning attack run,>> Sar comms, a few opposing bolts smacking off of his shields. "Time to get to work, Reb," he offers down to his trusty droid. Reb warbles and beeps sarcastically in affirmation, rolling to a panel near the exit to the body of the ship and setting in on his task.
Pulling down his targeting computer for a moment, Sar does some quick-like calculations in his smart-guy brain and stows it, thumb resting on his firing nub for just a moment before it's depressed and a duo of concussion missiles go sailing from beneath his ship, ripping into the shields of one of the cruisers. <<Solid hit.>>
Karys might have opinions of Vandred's abilities -if- she was looking anywhere but the sensors and the computer readouts. Her gaze narrows as the trajectories change quickly and she is once more sending out updated movements to accomodate for the shifting space battle. <"New readouts coming to all ships. Follow trajectories and have them fed to your droids if you need to adjust.">
This is said as the ship rocks when they are hit and told to brace. Karys' grip at her station tightens, knuckles growing white as she as she keeps hold to stop from pitching out of her seat. The screen flickers with the surge and she lets out a long breath to try to keep the adrenaline from spiking too quickly through her system. Her feet spread and plant heavily into the floor now braced and ready for the next hit.
There are many mysteries that lurk below the unusual, oft unnerving exterior of Jacali. One of which would be her extensive history as a ship gunner, not that so much is said as much as it is shown in the rather expertly placed shot that burns through the shielded defense of one of those dastardly NPCs. Some adjustments are made to the turret's calibrations in the immediate aftermath, before her voice comes over comms to inform, <<"Target's shields disabled, tactical advantage.">> Her target is revealed on the HUDs of those linked in to allow for such transmitions, flashing bold orange in display.
Vandred is having too much fun firing a giant set of fixed lasers. Maybe he should do his utmost to aim and shoot better -- you'd think that'd be a priority -- but to be honest he's just not that great of a shot when it comes to spaceships and lasers. Normally he'd avoid space warfare entirely, but sometimes you have to make attempts.
Vandred really shouldn't be making attempts using two of the heavy fixed lasers on the Laar'Kote. He should be making attempts at a training session. But someone let him sit in the chair. He's here now. He's probably bitey. He doesn't bring up the comms. Someone might ask what he's doing. The mere thought of it makes his forehead ripple and purse in displeasure. No. Wait. His lips. His forehead thins itself back down.
The dizzying lights of hyperspace break with a sudden surge, catapulting the chromium streak that is the Thunderheart into the fray. She might have taken a moment longer, but the Ordo Alor wasn't wasting any time! Heavy quad cannons blast out, ripping through the void towards the target chasing after one of the Mandalorian ships. Even if she didn't take him out, it was probably a little suprising!
<<"Oya Mando'ade. Sorry I'm late!">>
Everyone has their fortes. Some are gifted politicians, able to craft honeyed words to soothe the angriest tempers. Others are ferocious fighters, the terror of any man, woman or child that they face on the battlefield.
Evie? She's the Empress of the Void. Few dare question her superiority among the stars.
<< "Good shot!" >> the Kuati-born woman crows over the comms, turning her attention to her own targetted Guardian. Tara had told her there were a /lot/ of weapons on this craft... it was time to find out just how many. She drifts to the far side of her intended target, and then hooks back in hard towards it, giving her a small window of opportunity with to go one on one with that Guardian. Itchy trigger finger gets to action, sending one, two, and three missiles soaring through the void. Each one finds purchase against the cruiser, severely weakening the ship's shields. It wasn't a one-punch knockout, sure, but that particular Guardian is definitely on the ropes.
<< "...but /that's/ the way you do it." >> she adds, brimming with confidence.
Roth is keeping close to the Kimo's as they seem to be doing a better job at...well...everything space related than she ever will! The Arkanian's got a death grip on the throttle and if she wasn't already so pale you'd be able to see how white her knuckles were.
Meanwhile our intrepid Krayt and Kimogila pilots are doing their job of keeping their Mandalorian bretheren in one piece. Burt and Erny are still having it out over the comms, commenting on every shot the other takes.
It sounds like a married couple bickering over the comms.
"Ordinance inbound! Shrike one as been hit! Report shrike one is hit!" Alarm klaxons are blaring when the triple impact from the triple missile attack opaques the shields and nearly breaks them.
"Contact Onderon! Tell them that we're suffering major damage. They've hit us far harder than those ship classes normally can!" "Sir there's another craft, full custom! It's joining the fray!" "We need support!" People are pulling themselves off of the deck and getting back into their operator seats, the red lights remain on in Shrike 2, the normal operation lights remaining offline. "Contact the Heart of Iziz, let them know we have a potential breech."
<<"Jacali, Vandred, focus fire on the Cruiser Evie just tagged, it's shield are low.">>
The Laar suddenly lurches and sparks explode from consoles as outside, other craft can see hull plates ablating, or being slagged by the turbo-laser fire after the guardian cruiser's lighter lasers take out the turrets.
Within Heiyuu shrieks and spins his dome head as Hadrix's voice comes on the line, <<"Laar'Kote, shields down, working on getting them back up, heavy damage.">>
<<Good hit,>> Sar comms back to Evie. He's spent a lot of time around the Resistance Starfighter Corps, so cocky pilots hogging up the airwaves. Some more bolts crash into the Jaggalor and his shields flicker off, making him look back over his shoulder at his droid, who's still working away. Unfortunately for Reb, a power surge sends him flying backwards with a characteristic "WEEEEEOOOOOOWWW!"
"Aw hell, that ain't good," Sar notes, looking down at the smoldering bot. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, Sar throttles down and angles the freighter back in toward the Cruiser, letting a flurry of bolts loose.
As the ships get ever closer to that one sweet spot that waits for them, Karys has to adjust their path once more. New coordinates are given to the group at large as her voice lifts up over the com chatter. <"Adjusted coordinates inbound for best approach, we are nearly there."> The weakest point in the blockade tracked and held onto, the computer spits out continued changes to optimize their approach. Karys continues to quickly adjust their heading as she glances to Heiyuu, "Focus. Come on." She's most definitely not used to working with droids and as the ex vanguard grabs at her station she is prepping for the worst now that their shields are down.
The battle rages; the void opens wide and within its yawning divide the chaos swells like turbulent tides, and Jacali is all too intrigued by what madness it's inspiring. The sounds of battle raging, the voices of what can currently be considered her team mates giving calculated direction or vague accolades amidst the din of the spaceborne fray she finds herself in. It is, undoubtedly, one of the more exciting things she's found herself wading through as of late. Fighting the Jedi? One supposes on some level that could have been terrifying. In fact, it should have been terrifying. What it was ... well, it just didn't live up to the hype, now did it? She continues to watch the informations that come pouring in, allowing it to guide her tactical decisions. When Evie unleashes her fury and nearly cuts through the shields on her own, she knows what must be done. <<"Assisting the Empress,">> Yes, she's heard the title. It's seconds after that her shot is fired, not nearly so devestating as what the Empress herself has laid upon it, but precise all the same. The turret's round pounds into the opposing ship's shields, boring through to score the hull, a clear signal that the next shots fired will not meet the resistance it had previous. <<"Shields disabled. Fire at your leisure.">>
You know what they say about third time's the charm? Vandred kind of lost count of how many times he's pulled the trigger. So he's running from the assumption that this is his 'third' actual shot -- considering he takes the time to feed in the targeting data that Karys has sent to him, and he stops fiddling with one of the switches long enough to get it to properly sync up and overlay with his display.
A pull of the trigger, and the front fixed lasers of the Laar'Kote finally hit their mark, scoring a direct hit on their shields. The cheer from Vandred is partially joy at being able to be useful, partially joy because he's gotten the 'WARNING' flashing red light to finally go away. By flicking that switch a few times.
<<"Shield hit. Continuing to fire.">> Because obviously if you can hit it once, you can hit it again. Sound logic. Thinks Vandred.
Weaving through the chaos with the fire of space battle above Dxun, Narsai's Thunderheart twists and banks as she gives chase to her targets, but the Onderon forces are a slippery bunch! Her first shots might not have found purchase, but spotting Tara's Gunship with Evie at the controls sweeping by, pummeling the shields of the fighter. When Jacali's salvo drops the last of the shielding? Narsai's quick to pounce!
The Thunderheart sweeps by, twisting on its axis as she looses a trio of bolts from the locked quad lasercannons. Chunks of hull scatter, components flying as the vessel is hammered and its engines go dark. Not destroyed but...
<<"That one's out of the fight, good work!">
<< "A good team can take down the mightiest of foes, and we've got a great one here. Keep up the pressure!" >> Evie calls over the comms as Narsai reports her initial target as being quite down and out of this fight. She'd figured on potentially taking the cruiser out of the fight herself, but it being irrelevant to the fight works well enough for her!
Swinging the flight stick back around, she turns her attention to the Guardian that Sar has been working on, firing a quick blast from her lasers; one cannon hits, the second goes oh-so-slightly wide, but every bit helps!
'Why can't we use are jetpacks in space? Are there jetpacks rated for space?' These are questions that go through the mind of one Kirioth Kora as she resembles a bit of a winged insect with the erratic moves her ship makes. Flight of the Bumblebee? More like flight of the stumblebee.
Burt and Erny have quieted down though as they are doing their shooting. But there is the occasionally grunt or sharp word that can be heard. <<OH SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!>> comes the shrill command over the comms. Oops. Someone's Captain is mad. <<Focus your fire and lets get home so I can see my husband!>> she barks.
As the Onderonian fighter numbers thin, a third of a squadron, two thirds lost to the heavier weapons and shields of the Mandalorian craft that simply soaked up fire before mounting their own return volleys to wipe them out,
"Sir..." "I know." Both deck officers of the Shrike 1 could see that only the battery lights were on. Consoles were dark. Emergency Power systems operating, but it was minimal at best. Comms were quiet, but hand-links worked and the casualty reports were flowing in, "- lost turbo laser power!" "Atmosphere! Repeat! Decks 2 and 5 venting atmosphere!" "Bulk-heads sealed, Thirteen hands lost!"
Tired eyes, one blinded by blood dribbling from a cut above her brow looks to the man nursing his broken wrist standing besides her, "Commander launch emergency beacon." "And then what?!" "And hope they don't keep firing on us!"
An alert tone comes on his console, <"Heiyuu has shields up, thirty percent of maximum."> Hadrix speaks over system comms, <"Jacali, Vandred - if either of you are a dab hand at fixing things - we could use some strengthening, I'm diverting weapon power to engines. Punching through for Dxun.">
<<"Oya Mandos! Kote! Dasaruum Kote!">> shouted then over the comms as the Laar surges ahead and the remaining Guardian cruiser attempts to turn and follow, getting only one shot off - going wide of the Thunderheart.
<
The Jaggalor's engines work overtime as they send the overly-pointy ship on its way.
A gap was all they needed, the ships were disabled and the shot headed for her goes wide. With the other ships making their bolt for the planetside? Narsai's quick to twist the Thunderheart into formation. A sharp push of the throttle and the heavily modified freighter surges down towards the coordiantes.
In the isolation of the cockpit, the redhead smirks. "Lets see them keep up with this!"
Roth manages to squeak through when the others go that way, they gave great cover for people who were not too good at flying. She gives a cheer to the others from her seat, but doesn't get in the way of the other ships.
Meanwhile, the Kimo's and Krayts are also punching through and trying to make sure the others are covered and escorted safely.
<< "Acknowledged, Jaggalor. On your seven and following your lead." >> Evie chimes back, moving the stick with deft precision to get into position behind said pointy ship and continue on. The primary objective awaited the group, and there was no glory to be found in finishing off a helpless foe. At least, not in her book.
The Mandalorian ships were beginning to move through. The pickets with holes rent in them. Transport craft aimed for Dxun. Many were downed, some held in tractor beams with the risk consideration of trying to board Mandalorian carriers.
Shrike 1 was trying to turn still, but the transport craft and the fighter leader were already well and gone. Pursuit would leave a greater gap.
"Inform The Heart of Iziz - the Madalorians are making for Dxun. Have them alert the ground command forces they will have to watch the skies and the jungles." The Guardian captain snarled and his assistant snapped into action, barking orders to comm crews, to get the word out.
War was coming to Dxun.
