Log:Rebellion: Hit and Run

A Smuggler Outpost is liberated!

OOC Date: December 20, 2024
Location: One of Ottega System's Moons
Participants: Yer'ok'omam NPCing Lt Che'dag'to, Rieve Selki NPCing Lt Lazlo Rask, Wil Larolia NPCing Lt Lania Camore, Karas Darkwing, Dailo Fett

This unnamed moon was forested, and from space it appeared as a shimmering emerald with swirls of blue where rivers twisted naturally across the landscape. The fighter squadron named 'Wraith' arrived in real space via the Cruiser Ascendancy. Launching from the bay, their impulse engines shifted and ignited with bright red, leaving small contrails as they angled toward the moon. Waypoints from an allied smuggler beacon appeared on their sensors.

<<"This is Wraith Leader, comms check..">>

Wraith Leader is Commander Dailo Fett, and she takes the lead toward the planet setting up their approach vector. Their estimated time of arrival (ETA) was pushing two minutes if they rode in hot at max engines.

Down below, a remote smuggler outpost was being raided by Imperial Forces. Ground forces occupied much of the surrounding forests, and air assets like Upsilon shuttles and a TIE Squadron were moving about in the airspace. The Rebel mission was to liberate the smuggler outpost, and in the process, earn the trust of several smuggler contacts. In order to do that, they had to lift the occupation by blowing up TIEs, and ground assets in order to allow smugglers to not only fight back, but run away. This had to be quick, but effective, and they only had so many people to spare to make this run..

Che'dah'to was on loan to Wraith Squadron from ECHO and teh blue skinned alien sat ready in the cockpit of the X-Wing fighter he'd grown rather comfortable with over the last few weeks. The controls were a little different to the Chiss Fighters he was used to, but brass tacts, it wasn't difficult to figure out. Pedal go brrrr, stike go woosh.

A baby could do it.

Until his counterparts, Che'da was chill. He didn't get all up in the high faluttery of other Chiss because he was a fighter pilot first and there's a natural relaxed respect extended to anyone who willing flies around in space in a 3 inch durasteel coffin.

<"Wraith four reads you Wraith Leader.">

His voice is still accented, but it lacks all the stuffiness usually accompanying it. <"So, what's the food situation like on this planet?"> As the flight roared in towards their AO.

<<"Roger. This is Wraith Three, check.">>

With the red contrails leaving their mark behind, Lazlo gazed ahead and surveyed the surroundings, dipping his gaze to take in the occasional flicker of a light or reading. The sight beyond the canopy would have been something to appreciate any other time, but here and now? It was just with a very narrow field of vision seeking out those little TIE-shaped interlopers in the distance and every closer upon the radar. Lazlo's R2 unit beeped sporadically, no doubt issuing some measure of annoyance and wariness as to the nature of the Y-Wings rather old provenance. But it was a workhorse for a reason. It did it's job. More often than not. Glancing back beyond the canopy, Lazlo eyed his fellow pilots in formation, offering a likely unseen nod to the sight of them, and then back ahead as his thumb grazed the firing button in a gentle act of reverence and faint heart-thrumming nervousness.

<<"Food? Bad rations, bad meat, bad booze, bad caff. SO much the same as back on the Organa.">>

Lieutenant Lania Camore, callsign Sage, is on loan from the Adept Hammer. One of, if not the, finest pilots in her squadron, she's seeing this as a little break from the clearly smouldering romantic tension between herself and the dashing captain of the Hammer.

Okay, it's not smouldering. He winks at her now and again and she rolls her eyes. ... Maybe that's as smouldering as it gets.

REGARDLESS, in her E-Wing, she pulls into formation, checking instrument panels with her trusty R7 unit Shank handling some heavy lifting.

<<Wraith Two, online and ready,>> she replies, her accent crisp and her tone no nonsense.

Sitting in one of the newer T-85s, and having this one set as Echo Leader, Karas smiles slightly. Launching and following Wraith Lead, Karas easily guides his fighter in formation with Wraith Lead. The S-Foils of the well known X-Wing are closed currently, system checks and flight prep was done and the fighter is moving at a clipped speed. Feeling the thrum of the engines, Karas looks back slightly to check on his droid, happy that Spark his R2 astromech droid likes the fighter, he smirks. Flying down towards the forest moon, still in formation with Wraith Lead.

<<"It is probably all Corellian rations.">> Piped back Dailo as the view ahead of her began to glow with their entry into the atmosphere. The moment the squadron broke threw atmosphere, Dailo's voice sounded over comms. <<"We must get close to ground. Fly as low as you can manage and follow the river to our objective. I have marked the river. If we exceed a particular altitude, the Imperials will pick our signatures on approach.">>

As Wraith manages to get into position and follow the river, they encounter choppy air streams, something Lt. Che'dah'to has to readjust to correct in their flight pattern. At max-speed, however, they close in toward the AO. From the squadron's perspective, it looks like nothing more than a dot, but from their sensors they could see a number of air assets in the area. A total of seven (7) TIE/fo swarm around the outpost, random blasts of green hitting the terra-firma in random intervals and causing distant explosions. This squadron of seven are marked as Beta Squadron, and assigned numbers to help pilots distinguish them apart in order to divvy up the 'work load'.

From the perspective of the outpost, smugglers are being ushered out of underground bunkers, caches, and hideaways and brought out to the rubble of the once glorious 'holes-in-the-walls' where all smuggler business was conducted. Arrested and arranged into Imperial lines, because they loved their lines, they began the process of getting booked for illegal activities.

That is until the Stormtroopers began to talk amongst their units about a contact fast approaching (according to visual sensors , i.e. someone saw them with their own eyes). What appeared as an approaching storm cloud upon the long, shimmering riverbed, was closing quickly. Just then, one of the smugglers spoke up among the others stating, "SEE, I TOLD YOU. IT'S THE REBELS!"

Beta squadron began to organize itself to attack, and stormtroopers broke off from arresting the smugglers to get into defensive positions.

"OH! OOOOH!" Chill says these things in his cockpit as the descent gets a little choppy, cutting through some, particularly aggressive looking, cumulonimbus that play jolly havok on systems he's still getting familiar with, "What are you DOING back there R4?" Chide the Droid, this is absolutely the droids fault. A droid what is not at all pleased by being blamed for what is obviously user error and says so in very aggressive sounding binary.

"Uh huh, yeah, I bet you're going to tell me that's a tree on my sens- OH SHIF! Why wouldn't you tell me about the tree?!"

There are quick course corrections made and very little in the way of danger aside from to the paint job of his X-Wing when tree limbs smack across the canopy. Actionable interjection upon a Smuggler Camp already being arrested? <"Wraith 4 going in for attack."> He says, X-Wing cutting right to skim the surface of the river they were traversing where he can come up and over a wide angle that directs the snub-nosed fighter inline with Beta 5. Who jerks out of the way of the quad beams erupting from the spread x-foils.

Both Beta and Chill cut right respective to their direction and skim bellies with a wooooosh in their passing. "Get a lock on him for me R4." Twist a knob, the x-wing is coming back around in a wide aerial loop.

<<"Wraith Three, target locked. Beta One.">>

Lazlo barked into his comms as he tilted those twin beam like engines for an instant, testing his ship for a second as he sought to lock on. "R2, you got this..." R2 beeped in reply, a swift series of beeps that acknowledged all and also spoke of some minor annoyance with the locale. Lining up the sights, Lazlo let rip with a short burst and it almos tlooked too good to be true! Yet the ship weaved and dodged, and Lazlo flew ever closer.

"Rekt!" The word uttered harshly beneath his breath as he sought to maintain lock for the next bout of fire to be shot forth! The Y-Wing sped fast, kicking up leaves in its wake.

Lania is cool as a Space Cucumber as orders are given. She's a natural in the pilot's seat, hands sliding across the controls and handling the yoke like she was born with it in her hands.

She's not the greatest pilot in the galaxy, but she's real good.

Banking into a roll as hostiles come onto the scene, her finger pulls the trigger and blaster bolts rocket out into space, tagging the second of the Beta Squadron. She doesn't even smile, but she nods grimly as Karas blows a dude straight to hell in one shot.

She must be fun at parties.

<<"It is initial joust.. where we set tone. Make it hurt,">> Dailo comments as they come within attack range of Beta squadron. Breaking super-sonic speed, the E-Wing springs into action and 3 heavy cannons release a torrent of red lances that find their mark upon one TIE/fo marked Beta 3.

Meanwhile, Wraith is making a name for themselves as the pilots angle and fire, giving chase to chosen targets. One kill sees a TIE/fo explode, the result of an inexperienced fighter pilot crossing swords with a venerable veteran, Commander Karas Darkwing. The debris from the destroyed fighter rain down above the river, leaving contrails of black smoke before disappearing beneath the sapphire depths.

Beta squadron is not without its teeth, and they begin to move for retaliation, circling in a mad-dash to get a bead on the rebel fighters. MEANWHILE, upon the ground, DISTINCT ground assets move into place making it difficult for smugglers to move the way they need to. TWO (2) hover tanks, within close proximity, have arrived from the tree line and automatic blaster fire pelts the area around the outpost, cutting smugglers off from their moored ships.

"Oh, that's how we're going to play is it?" Chill says, TIE Fighter stuck to his backside like a bantha tick. The X-Wing is twisting everytime a blaster comes his way, the indicator on the console letting him know when firing solution has been achieved from the enemy behind him. A glance back, eyeballing the distance to the fighter pulling up trailer duty. With a wicked grin starting to curl his dark blue lips, "Yeah, follow me... R4 move everything to the engines and get ready to shift to weapons on my mark."

In seconds the X-Wing LEAPS forward as more power is drawn into the quad engines, widening the distance betwixt himself and the TIE by a large enough margine that he can pull some insanity out of his Chiss hat. "Cut power to dorsal engines ... now!" The droid makes the corrections and the shift in propulsion coupled with the sudden jerk of the control yolk flip the X-Wing very nearly in place. "Power up engines and weapons!"

The X-Wing rolls over end-to-end and drops back into the lane behind the TIE Fighter, with the quad-lasors barking 'ark ark ark ark' across the aft shields.

Now the chase is on.

<<"Wraith Three peeling off for bombing run.>>

The change of pace, the shift in course, buttons are pressed, switches are clicked and flipped, the R2 unit beeps and calculates. Lazlo exhales a breath, he is one of the Rebellion's newer pilots, more suited to cargo transport and dropping supplies than bombs. But when all is said and done, there's not much difference and the training has been... fun.

<<"Three. Two.>> The Y-Wing sped towards two Imperial tanks, peeling off from the group. <<"One.">> A switch was flicked and clasps relinquished their hold upon the payload. <<"Bombs away.">> And a single bomb fell heavily from the Y-Wing.

Lazlo sped onwards, his calculations were good enough. Behind him the bomb hit the centre spot perfect. It erupted in a huge gout of flame and pressure. The two tanks shuddered and jolted, one exploding a short second later, the other likewise following in a huge conflagration that sent a shockwave across the ground. Two tanks left smouldering in Lazlo's wake.

Sensors informing him of the incoming threat and following Wraith Leads command, letting out a small breath. "IT's that time again Spark." he says to his astromech droid who whistles at him. Flipping the switch for the S-Foils to move into attack position. The hum of the activators in the wings engages and the wings seperate into the classic X formation that the fighter is famed for.

Hands light on the controls and breaking with the rest of Wraith Squadron, Karas is fully in his element as his dark blue and gray X-Wing races off. <<Echo Lead engaging.>> he calls into the tac comm. Seeing one of the Wraiths miss Beta 2, Karas rolls his fighter into position and as he does his targeting reticle and mid-way through the roll, Karas fires and red energy lances streak off towards the TIE destroying it completely. <<Splash 1.>> he calls into his comm, <<Engaging Beta 3.>> he calls into his comm as he pulls up hard doing a tight loop as Beta 3 streaks under him and he rolls his fighter out bringing the targeting reticle over the fighter and firing again, but the shot is off slightly and his cannon shots splash off the sheilds of the fighter. Not letting the TIE eascape, Karas rolls in on it's six staying with him.

Two hover tanks live short lives as Wraith 3 delivers a destructive bomb between them. From above, the ground is suddenly swarmed by displaced dirt, shaking the trees back with a wave of kinetic energy that releases from the single explosion. Two more explosions from the tanks follow, consumed by the original only to join in. From the ground, the spectacular display of firepower was overshadowed by the deafening noise of the explosion and the disorientation of the dust. Criss-crossing blaster fire cut through this dirty fog as smugglers fight stormtroopers in a chaotic battle below to reach their ships. Emboldened by the Rebel presence and attentive view of the battlefield, the smugglers take ground quick, and rebel sensors begin to pick up signatures from crafts powering up.

Meanwhile, another fighter is brought out of the sky when Wraith Leader's E-wing obliterates the TIE/fo's hull, dissecting it in air until the fuselage explodes and debris rains down over the forest. <<"Splash one,">> Dailo calls out, slamming her hand against the lever controlling her afterburner to put her back into super sonic speed. The Mandalorian is planted firmly against her seat, only the tracking device on her helmet lowering over one eye.

Beta Squadron is down two fighters and firmly locked in battle still. It's looking to favor rebels and smugglers alike, but the tides could change at any minute.

Oh how the turns have tabled.

With such fancy flying comes the inevitable shoe dropping of BETA 5 proving he aint to be triffled with. "Okay, calm down.." Chill says with a little uptick of his voice as he weaves the X-Wing around obstacles. A tree explodes, then a shower of rocks are sent flying into the sky when BETA 5 intends to do bodily harm to the bodiless X-Wing.. Until finally, with a ripple of shields, the green energy hits across the starboard section of the snub-nose.

Sending a tremble through the pedals even if those shields hold.

Enough tremble that the return fire cuts out wide and does horrible things to the tree off to Beta 5's port. "Come back here.." He growls in his cockpit, barrel roll back into position in a cat and mouse chase. "I aint hear no bell."

Lazlo's workhorse of a Y-Wing manages to pivot, dodge, roll, and flow with the wind, like a proverbial leaf as incoming las fire is spewed in his direction. Picking up those smuggler vessels powering themselves up, Lazo seeks out a new target and nods towards the incoming platoon. "R2... we got this." With one bomb released and those smouldering tanks taken out of the equation, Lazlo soars towards the specks of white on the treeline. A treeline that ceases to exist a short few moments later. Barks. Leaves. Twigs. Branches. Dirt. Stormtroopers. Parts of. They are obliterated and sent flying. Scattered to the winds as the explosions leave their ragged marks in the earth and the old Y-Wing weaves its way away from the destruction and the obliterated platoon.

Swinging the old vessel about in an arc, Lazlo seeks to rejoin the fight, bringing his target sensors to bear upon one of the enemy ships.

Lania continues her chase, sending her E-Wing through tight rolls, tighter turns and nearly physics defying changes in direction. You see, she is very mad at this particular TIE Fighter for evading her. If she has her way, they won't evade much longer.

She wheels the fighter around, drifting it through the void of space like some kind of Nar Kanji drift racer, sliding along in a flat plane, almost seeming like she's trying to orbit the TIE. Blaster bolts race out, leading and trailing the enemy fighter, somehow seeming to box it in all on her own.

The impact, and explosion, are satisfying, and Lania pulls hard on the controls to escape an incoming solar panel wing-thing.

Another explosion rattles the outpost as the Y-Wing SCREAMS by overhead, releasing a bright, blinding blue bomb from its belly to impact the ground a second later. Its target a platoon of some sixty (60) stormtroopers running out to engage smugglers and cut them off from their ships. They made it out of the treeline, but disappeared in the blast of the bomb. All that remain of their existence was a crater charred into the earth and ravaged trees shaved of their leaves and steaming from the heat of the bomb's blast.

Above, another fighter meets their end, its debris raining down upon the ground, the TIE/fo fuselage rolling into the treeline to disappear, pilot inside no longer alive. In the air, Four (4) Beta Squadron remain, giving their all against the Rebel fighters. Below, smugglers begin to take off, following a flight vector marked by a friendly cruiser (Ascendancy) that is in low orbit. Some ten ships are already taxiing out, with nine more following.

Dailo's voice is heard over comms. <<"Once those last ships are away, we will break contact and return to base. Keep up the fight!">>

"Why are you so hard to hit!"

"R4 do something about this, huh? I'm just tickling this eyeballs back."

Beta 5 and Wraith 4 are doing the dance that never ends out here in the weeds. They've chased each other so far away that Chill doesn't even hear the explosion of ground forces beneath the Y-Wing bombers. All he sees is rivers and mountains and the occasional splinter of a tree when one or the other of X-Wing/TIE fighter hits it rather than the other pilot.

"I don't think I'm in Csilla anymore."

Not far enough away that he can't hear the comms from Wraith Leader, however. <"Copy that Wraith, just give me the okay and I'll head home."> The long way, probably, with a TIE fighter on his ass. ARK ARK ARK... ARK ARK... REEEEE The two fighters tip and dive, twist, and pass in a twirling aerial cone headed into the sky.

Oh Lazlo sought to shake one of the fighters as he returned to the fray. One of the fighters he'd picked up on his tail, and while he managed to stay ahead, he didn't manage to shake his pesky little addition to his flying experience. He'd left carnage in his wake, but was this it?

<<"Oh come on...">> Lazlo snarled as his Y-Wing shuddered under the hits that scorched his hull and made the old vessel judder as he weaved through the air. <<"... we got this...">> Yeah. Lazlo's hold upon the yoke saw that vessel pitch and pull, anything to try and shake loose his little trouble. <<"Got one on my tail...>>" No panic. No worry. Just fact. Muttered over the comms as he glanced back at the plumes of smoke billowing behind him. He smiled. He loved bombs.

Wraith 2 exalts in her elimination of the TIE, but the fight isn't over yet. She wheels through the sky, arcing over and staying upside down, taking a few shots at Beta 7. The TIE swerves, sliding in midair in a verrrry similar way that she just did.

She doesn't like that.

<<Who knew the Imps could learn fancy tricks?>>

Watching as Beta Leader was able to break from Echo Leader, and as it does Karas immediately went on the defensive. Quickly climbing, pulling back on the stick and putting some distance between him and his enemy. Hearing warning tone of an enemy craft behind him, Karas jinks from side to side. Then hearing a locking tone, Karas flips the switch for the S-Foils to close. As they close the green energy lances flies past them.

Cutting the power from the engines and letting the X-Wing fall and drop, using vector enegines, he turns his fighter as it falls, and quickly opening the S-Foils. Karas saw the enemy pilot try to dodge but it was already over as he got tone lock and fired. Red energy bolts blow through the TIE's cannopy, two slice through the struts of the TIE, teh pilot was instantly vaporized and it explodes. Rolling through the debris, <<Splash 2. Echo Lead inbound, and copy that Wraith Lead.>> he calls.

Beta Squadron is reduced to a measly pair of crafts limping back to their base with tales of the Rebellion fresh on their mind. The remaining nine (9) smuggler vessels are in the air, and Wraith Squadron bring up the rear following the smugglers back toward the Ascendancy and freedom. <<"Ascendancy, this is Wraith Leader. Be advised.. mission accomplished. We are returning to friendly lines, over."-- "Good job, everyone.">>

In their wake, the smuggler outpost may not survive, but the smugglers did and in the shallow graves and craters of a fresh war zone, Imperials were left for the avians! A victory for the Rebellion!