Log:Resistance: Familiar Faces
Familiar Faces
OOC Date: August 19, 2018
Location: Ord Mantell
Participants: The Resistance, David Ironside, Ektor, Elrych Cometburn, Jessika Pava, Karas Darkwing, Kare Kun, Poe Dameron, Rey
The Bright Jewel System. 1900 hours. Twelve Resistance starfighters drop out of hyperspace, and the junk world of Ord Mantell looms before them in the darkness of space, its hazy atmosphere cradling it in an embrace of impure air. The world, covered in water, is mostly made up of mountain chains. It's also famous for its junk fields. Even from here, the dark color of its continents give it a sickly feel right at home with most mental images of the place: images of rusted durasteel and a graveyard of technology impossible to date. Something is closer to the Resistance fighters than Ord Mantell, however. Moving through the darkness of space, a convoy of twelve stolen Republic T-70 X-Wings escort a bulk freighter towards the planet.
At the arrival of the Resistance, they immediately swing around to begin engaging, their fusial engines flaring brightly in the darkness of the void as they turn to answer what is obviously an attack. "Savrip One to all fighters," the sultry voice of Nyla Janson calls over their communications frequency. "Engage these kriffers immediately. Let's show them they picked the wrong day to show up to Ord Mantell. Ransom, keep heading for the planet. We have this. Get to the load off point and get that cargo home." The bulk freighter, King's Ransom, acknowledges, and continues its slower pace towards the planet in the distance.
---
Black Leader immediately engages engines, as is seen by the bright glow and subsequent contrails from flight. When Poe's voice comes over comms, his tone is confident and optimistic. "This is Black Leader, all callsigns check in and pair off. These guys are tough, but we're tougher. Lock S foils into attack position and engage your targets wisely. We're not losing this fight!" Poe reached out and engaged the spread of his crafts s foils and took the lead position in the formation. Reaching out, he brought his sensors online and triggered his targeting device. Droidspeak sounds as BB-8 indicates they're outnumbered, Poe laughs. "It wouldn't be a Resistance op if it was a fair fight, buddy." BB-8 does not understand the humor.
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The lone Y-wing among the Resistance squadron arrives in system and immediately flares its Ion engines to full with an orange glow. "I dunno who pirate queen is, but I wish more bogeys sounded like that. Oh, and uh.. Green Two accelerating to engage, yeah?" Ektor drawls with predictable professionalism. "Cannons live, keep tabs on that freighter for me, Tenner?"
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David chimes in "Gold Leader, reporting in." as his free hand flies over the controls, sliding open the craft's s-foils when the stolen T-70s break off to intercept the Resistance fleet. As the engines burn bright pink, he mutters some words of encouragement to himself and his droid, off comms. "Can't go down in space, Ones. And if we do, aim for the casinos." "Engaging hostile X-Wings." he reports with a slight frown. He's never had to engage X-Wings before.
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The dagger like shape of another X-Wing appears. Inside Kare begins to check her instruments and then scan outside "Gold 3 here. Wow, actually made it." she proclaims. She searches for Gold 1 and then angles off towards him as her S-Foils open and lock into position. "Brat, do a quick systems check," she commands the droid who beeps surly back to her. Brat.
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Rey's old X-wing glides in behind the rest of the Resistance craft that are far newer or in better working condition than hers... she still marvels at this craft being submerged in an ocean just a short span of months ago, and now here it is, back in action fighting to save the galaxy from oppression and an abundance of darkly hued clothing.
"Silver Leader is here." She says in her communication mic affixed to the side of her equally old X-wing helmet that has also been repaired after spending decades in a desert. Rey reaches forward and flips the switch on the T65's wings, causing them to part and the guns to be primed for action.
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Elrych blasts into realspace next to Rey his engines roaring to life. "Silver two here"
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Red Leader is a straggler, but the old T-65 X-Wing exits out of hyperspace and as he hears the command over the radio to call in, "Red Leader reporting in." he calls into the comms. Moving to form up with the other Resistance fighters.
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Exiting hyperspace with the rest of the Resistance task force near Ord Mantell, Jessika Pava makes adjustments to her throttle and to her vector as her R3 astromech, Case, identifies the location of the freighter and it's snubfighter escort. Glancing to her panel, Jessika's gloved hand reaches over to switch her s-foils into attack position, and the fighter's quad laser cannons separate from one another to create the classic shape her iconic craft is known for. "Red Two, reporting in." She identifies herself, and a chorus of other numbers from Red Squadron follow. They've brought all of Red Squadron's X-Wings out today, and they're ready to engage that targets. Briefly thumbing over to their Squadron tactical net, "Keep it tight, Red Squadron. Watch your wingmates." She switches back to the broader communication band they're operating on, and angles for the incoming fighters.
Facing the Resistance fighters down, a whole Squadron of T-70s open their own, and the race to meet each other is filled with a sudden fray of laser cannon fire closing the gap between the two in space. Savrip Squadron flies straight on to meet them, showing no fear whatsoever. This is their home turf, and any sign of fear would be a sign of weakness. They don't show weakness. The King's Ransom continues to angle towards the planet, intent on reaching its destination and foiling whatever plans the Resistance might have of making this an easy job.
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Poe engages, leading the Resistance forces into battle. Twisting his craft after Savrip 1, he notices that she's engaged her underslung turret and attempts to hit him. Those shots miss, as does Poe's initial counter, but his own underslung turret connects with her shields, making them flicker. Simultaneously, Poe picks up a tail, who at first is able to stay with him, but subsequently his shots miss their mark, leaving Black Leader unscathed. The fighter tailing Poe is Savrip 2.
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Green 2 veers toward Black Leader's wing as Poe draws two enemies in the opening tilt. "Coming in your nine, Bee El," he drawls sending a salvo of cannons sizzling across Savrip 2's bow. It has little effect, but does peel one of the enemies off Poe. A light splatter of blaster fire impacts his forward shields. "For real? What you gonna spit at me, next?"
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"Also your nine, Green 2." David replies casually, the T-85 swinging around the Y-wing carefully. "Main objective is the bulk freighter, right? Figure with only one Y-Wing on our side, I'd cover you a bit." He grins to himself. "You don't mind, right?" He opens fire on Savrip 2, the sound of blaster impacts tugging at his heart strings. "I'm sorry, good looking.." he mutters as he activates the craft's underslung blaster turret and adds a laser salvo to the one already emanating from his wing tips. "Their shields are still holding up. Barely, though."
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Seeing that the trailing X-wing that is on Poe's tail is engaged by two Kare remains on Gold 1's wing but swings her nose out slightly to give a snap shot at the lead X-wing. More in just a hope to force the bad guy into a mistake seeing how the angles are all wrong anyway and not to mention that she doesn't want to shoot Poe by mistake. He gets grumpy when you do that. With no clear shot she holds fire.
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Rey's eyes stare out past her orange-hued visor and through the canopy of her cockpit to the line of enemies coming their way... their silhouettes quite familiar on the blackness of space as the backdrop, it's a strange feeling really.
As the waging of war begins, the resulting flashes of light catch her attention and her eyelashes flutter behind that visor. Rey draws herself back into the moment and Artoo selects the target for her, the 12th fighter in the enemy squad. "Got it." Rey says to her co-pilot and droid friend.
With a maneuver she twists the X-wing around, but finds the enemy sweeping up behind her and blasting her ship with two shield-splashing shots. "They're fast!" Rey says and Artoo beeps loudly in affirmative, she looks right, then left and begins to evade!
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Elrych tally hoes into a barrel roll to come up on top of Silver Leader and back to the port side a bit, roughly just above nine o'clock and set back just a bit. "These T-70's are going to be tough in your old T-65... and more so in this old thing." He says over Flight comms. Of course he's right as Rey moves in to engage a flight. He smirks and pushes the engines as they flare and send him hurtling towards the enemy, his music blaring through the cockpit. He can see one coming in to bare down on her and attempts to move in himself but there's little room to maneuver as the two seem to fly well together. "Drek... can't get a shot, Lead. Sorry for such a poor SEcond Date so far." Wait, what?
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Moving into formation catching up to his squadron, he looks to Red 2. He gives a nod if she can see him, he is proud of Jess and he moves to her wing and as the fur ball commences, he sends power to the engines and rockets forward. His X-wing takes off, he quickly is moving fast and as he does, he sees where the others are engaging, seeing Savrip 3, he climbs and rolls up than down getting into good position, but as he does his laser fire misses completely, cursing, Karas is able to jink slightly as Savrip 4 now is engaging him.
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Jessika quickly adjusts to Red Leader's wing, and as he engages his target and handily outmaneuvers him, Jessika jukes into position behind the T-70 that attempts to find an angle to shoot Karas. Lining up her shot on the craft in front of her, Jessika waits until the craft is highlighted on the panel before her to squeeze the trigger on her flightstick, sending a salvo of red fire lancing from her laser cannons at the ship before her. Two smash into the shields while the others go wide, and a return sting from the T-70s underslung blaster cannon smacks against her shields. "On your hostile, Red Leader! Good hit, continuing to pursue." A quick message informs Karas of her status.
The rest of Red Squadron quickly gets into it with Savrip Squadron, filling the cold vacuum of space with superheated laser cannon fire that casts red light as it passes by fightercraft, or creating the more deadly ripple of shields whenever they impact. In the distance, though the bulk freighter is moving forwards, its quad laser cannon turrets are trained on the fray and attempting to support the Squadron that is its escort. A salvo of fire is launched at an X-Wing and an Aethersprite, and the desperate struggle for superiority in space continues.
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Poe is outmaneuvered at once, partly do to the attention S2 is receiving from Poe's small posse, and partly because they're trying to get away from Black Leader. Unable to level a shot initially, Poe's instinct tells him to evade. Twisting to his port hard and peeling away from both Green 2 and Gold Leader, Poe spirals expertly 'down' as fire from both S1 and S2 trail him, miraculously missing every shot. As they give chase, Poe angles backup passing by both S1 and S2, but he engages his underslung turret, reminding S1 he's coming back for her.
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"Yanno, I never knew it was an option to fight WITHOUT two or three chasing me around," Ektor snickers to Dave's unexpected cover. "Tenner, rebalance the shields? Think I'm gonna ditch the doorman and chase the big mark after this pass..." This time, seeing Poe's evasive spiral, and anticipating the movement of his pursuers. The Y-wing's nose cannons rip through Savrip 2's shields, shredding the aft fuselage. Severely damaged but still flying. "Hey, Gee One: mop that one up for me, yeah? I wanna take a run at the freighter."
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"Well, y'know. I got you, Green 2." David replies through the snickering on his comms as he keeps with the T-70 and the Y-Wing. "Mop incoming, give me some room." The targeting computer zigs and zags before indicating a full lock, and as David squeezes the trigger, several red bolts fly from all four corners of the fighter. A satisfied smile forms on David's face as he watches his turret blast go wide, though it's only because the T-70 spun out and exploded before it could be hit. "Shame really, I don't like shooting fighters that are traditionally on the right side of history. Like that one that just went down."
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Seeing that the two craft on Black Lead have three craft going after them, Kare swings Gold 3 over to take on unengaged bad guys. She never gets into position but takes hits to her shields while doing so.
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"Get the shields back up Artoo!" Rey says to her counterpart who beeps solidly back at her. He's hard at work inside his droid socket behind the cockpit and with a woosh the shields boost back up to 50% strength. Both the pilot and the droid express a moment of success, but its short lived. More enemy fire from two 'more modern' X-wings slam across their ship and shut the shields off. Sparks fly inside of her ship and Artoo wails a warning of the life support being deactivated.
Rey's right hand comes up and she lifts the mask on her suit up to cover her mouth and nose, it seals to her helmet and she shoves the control stick to the right on her fighter.
"Silver Leader, life support down. I'm under heavy fire. I can't shake them." She speaks over the comms, her voice somewhat frantic but she's trying to conceal it as best she can.
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Elrych is doing his damn hardest to get a lock on those pursuing Rey even as three turbo laser blasters from the Freighter splash hard into his ship. It rocks the entire thing, throwing the Corellian and his Jedi Starfighter into a bit of a spin and breaking him off from the initial pursuit. "Sithspit..." He says as the star-field spins around him and alarms star going off. He works to steady the ships flight first before turning back to the Frey. Baby whistles and moans, translation coming across the screen of his ship's consoles. "Right, well no kidding. Fix'em then, Baby!" The droid whistles an affirmation. He pushes the engines to full, hurdling back towards combat, the droid issuing a report. "Fine enough, as long as I got some shields I'm in this fight. Keep it up." He notices Rey in a bit of trouble and careens towards one of the craft pursuing her; Savrip Eleven. He gets a solution from his computer and opens up with his two cannons. They hit head on splashing heavily off their shields. "Got your back, Lead." He says to Rey over the coms. "I get another hit I think I got 'em... You hold in there, we'll make it out of this, I promise."
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The -65 X-Wing banks hard as the enemy fighter tries to lose him, Red Leader dogs his every move. Breathing calmly as his fighter rolls and dive, "Spark get our shields back up, it's too early for us to taken out." he says to his droid who is trying to get the shields back up. The shields aren't going up at all, as the Resistance X-Wing moves into a climb, the green reticle flashes and Karas presses the trigger down and fires, red lasers stitch up along the enemy T-70 winking out the shields. "Shields are about gone on Savrip 3, going on to finish him." he calls.
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The frantic combat unfolding is seeing heavy damage on both sides, and Jessika listens to a nervous callout from Silver Leader even as she rolls and banks her craft, guiding the snubfighter into a turn that keeps it on Savrip Four's tail as the light from blaster fire plays through her cockpit and highlights her features, though the yellow blast visor covering her eyes dims and colors it. Rapid flicks of her eyes from the target in front of her to the targeting console before her see the maneuvering craft before her swaying in and out of the central zone as the lights pulse slow and wait to flash rapidly. As soon as they begin to, Jessika squeezes the trigger on her flight stick and sends another rapid salvo of fire from her laser cannons into her prey's aft shields. They erase, and a solid impact on hull tells her that her target's shields are down. "Red Two, solid hit on Savrip Four. Target's shields are gone."
Red Squadron continues to engage the rest of Savrip, but the current spread of fighters leaves them mostly fighting a two to one battle. Red Three reports shields are almost failing, while Red Four reports his are holding strong. Red Five and Red Six are holding above fifty percent shields, but are finding it impossible to find a chance to get shots off as they are swarmed by the pairs of wingmates. Six of Savrip's craft are entirely undamaged. Once more, the bulk freighter fires into the fray. Gold Three is missed completely by the turret's shots, while the other peppers Gold One with two out of the four shots of the turret's salvo. The King's Ransom continues to approach the planet.
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Rey may have noticed the sleek black and orange craft cruise by her at close range, its fixed hardpoints engaging the targets at her six in a defiant run that put Black Leader rushing right at them. The result of his attack disabled the shields for S11 and damaged their hull, forcing them to break contact from Silver Leader. The wingman, S12, is unable to keep up with the T-85, and incapable of obtaining a lock because of the sudden shock attack. Regardless, S12 is now pursuing Black Leader. "Rey, that should buy you some time. See if you can bring everything back up now. I'll safeguard for as long as I'm able." Poe sounded focused as he re-entered Rey's field of view through the canopy, twisting away from his tailing opponent.
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As Gold 1 calls for room, Green 2 abruptly breaks off pursuit and drives at the slow moving bulk of the Ransom. "We're up one; Green Two making a pass at the big boat, fire control to torpedoes." The light bomber weaves and rolls through the volleys of defensive quad cannon fire with deceptive ease, settling into the big freighter's blind spot. "Acquiring target lock.."
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"Gold Leader, clear for more cleaning up. Kick that freighter's ass, Green." David communicates over the comms. The fighter lines up with another T-70, chasing it for a bit, unable to get a clean shot. "Ones, talk shields to me." Gold Leader requests in the meantime. The droid in turn communicates back that he's working on it, the shields having taken a massive hit from the bulk freighter's turrets before. However a few minutes later, Ones whistles triumphantly and a display shoots up to 90.
As the chase continues, David manages to anticipate one of the turns of the T-70 with the underslung blaster cannon, dealing a significant hit to the enemy's shields. It comes at a small cost of a tiny ding on his own shields, but the display indicates no real worrying is needed.
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It's a real fight between Kare and the other pilot as they jockey for position. Finally Kare is able to get somewhat of a shot on the other. A bit of glitter on it's shields. But that last a brief moment as her second shot strikes the engine and the ship becomes an expanding ball of debris. It is only then that Kare really notices the other craft coming after her. Well with Brat nearly screaming, if a droid could scree. "Brat, chill. I got this." she says as she evades the in coming fire.
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Rey listens to the comm chatter from the others and those supporting her, which does help her spirits and keep her calmer inside the cockpit and the chaos going on around it outside. "Thank you, Two." Rey says to Elrych while she guides her ship out of the fight, sparks flying out of the back of the ship that both she and Artoo are working on now.
When Black Leader zips past her she looks up in time to see him and his guns helping defend her as well. "Nice shooting, Poe. Its appreciated!" Rey says, though her voice is mildly distracted in tone because she's working on power shunting and... has even pulled a panel on her cockpit open beside her right thigh. Her hand is inside the panel now and she's ripping a power converter out of a spot and replacing it with another.
Her readout chimes and shows shield power restored, life support restored. Her hand then comes up to pull the mask off of her mouth and she takes a deep breath. "Life support back, I'm at fifty percent hull. Shields are established for the moment!"
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"Anything or you Rey Rey." Elrych says over comms before watching Poe take the heat from Silver Leader and thus himself. With a quick look at his sensors he can see the other enemies aren't on Rey, at least not immediately. No one has come to Black Leader's Aid and so the Corellian Jedi kicks it into overdrive and chases after Twelve. "On your six, Black Leader. Attempting a Solution, Bank to Three O'clock on my mark." He notices exactly what the t-70 pilot is attempting. He gets a tone, but just as he fires that tone ends and his shots go wide. "That's a hard miss..." At least he was putting the heat on the t-70 to give Poe a chance to take out 11.
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Karas moves his hand slightly with his controls, going against the the T-70s is a battle, but Karas have flown these fighters longer then most of the other fighter craft. Seeing laser fire streaking pass him, and his shields are still not been recharged. "Spark, come on buddy, I need our shields back up." he says to his droid. "Keep on 'em Red 2." he says encouragingly. The X-Wing dives onwards and spirals around still keeping with the enemy fighter, Karas gets a lock but it's barely there when he fires and out of four shots one only hits. He shakes his head seeing it's not good, but when the smoke rises from the damaged fighter the dark skinned pilot smiles. "Shields out on my bogey." he calls out.
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As more of Savrip Squadron falls, Jessika peels off from her Squadron Leader's wing as he pursues a sole target. She turns towards the rest of Red Squadron and engages their targets. The rapid movements of the fighters leaves her unable to get a shot on any targets, but her own evasive movements keep the hostile pilots from getting her in their sights, too. "This is Red Two. The herds been thinned out a little. Someone back up Green Two!" She snaps a quick glance at her sensors and notices that Silver Leader is still in the fight, but darts her eyes immediately back to the T-70 she's trying to pursue and get into position behind.
Red Squadron is no longer so outnumbered by Savrip Squadron. Red Five reports shields below fifty percent, and the others report they are stable. Savrip Two and Four have been lost to the void, but the T-70 Squadron still has plenty of healthy craft compared to the Resistance. The King's Ransom continues to fire, but the farther it gets, the less it seems to find any marks, almost completely missing two volleys at Gold Three. Savrip One is screaming across their frequency channel about the loss of Savrip Four, her brother, and is promising revenge to the pilot that took him down. The bulk freighter begins to slow as it gets close to its destination, and it looks as if it might begin its offloading procedures at any time.
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Poe continues across the stretch of space where the battle is taking place, weaving right then turning at the mark given by Silver 2. He banks, diving in a slow rolling dive that puts S1 back in his sights. Fulfilling his unspoken promise, the raging pilot is hit hard, buckling her shields as he streaks by. BB-8 indicates the readings for her shields are low and close to failure. "Thanks, buddy. Let's see if we can take them out on another pass." Poe's craft continues on its path, the engines brighter than before as he looks for the next opportunity to hit again. "Stay in the fight, people. We're winning this. As you're able, break off and help Green 2."
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Ektor has positioned his Y-wing masterfully, right behind the engines in the dead zone where neither top nor bottom turrets can strike him. Fire control is locked, torpedoes are linked... and nothing. "What the kriffing drek- Tenner! Where's my Hutt-sucking fire control?? DREK," switching to comms, he shouts, "Green Two here, my piece of drek torpedoes aren't firing! Switching to ions, somebody lob a couple torpedoes at the freighter to knock out shields!"
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"Green 2, tell me if you need backup, I'm still out here on mop duty." David comms to the sole Y-wing in the engagement. The squadron leader is currently still engaging that T-70 designated Savrip 1, the two exchanging blaster fire but neither getting a hit. Until the T-85 does. One blast manages to short out the shields. The second and third rip through the rear hull, but the X-Wing keeps flying. David smiles. "That's quality right there, Ones. Any TIE would've been in pieces by now." He shakes his head. "And this one's gonna be just like them, soon." Sadly.
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Kare's shields glitter as she is struck "Brat, see if you can get me more shields," she says as she banks the craft just in time to see the shots going past her. But those shots cause her to jink to the right taking her sighting off her target. She stands the X-Wing on a wing as she banks back to try to get on the tail of S3.
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Rey's X-wing is brought back around with the nose facing the fight. She's ready to re-engage the enemy even through her ship is still shedding sparks. Her eyes go from the control board, to space, back to the controls and then back to space.
"My scopes are flickering on and off. I can't keep the targeting computer online. I'm going to have to bug out... Perhaps to a safe range. I might be able to get things functional again and return." Rey's covered eyes look out to where she sees Elrych's ship. "Protect the others and watch your six, Silver Two." She steers her craft out of the fight then, and preps a micro jump toward the moon of the other planet in-system. "If I can't get my systems back, I'll see you back at the fleet."
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Elrych notices Poe is out of the heat and can hear Green 2 call for assistance over the coms, "On it, Green Two." He maneuvers in the direction of the King's Ransom. As he waits for that yellow tone to turn green Baby gives report on the shields, "Yeah over fifty is fine but I want them all the way back... keep it up." That tone turns Red and his lets a volley of concussion missiles fly... up and away into the black void. "What the krif, how... Hold one while baby Calibrates the targeting computer."
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"Tighten it up Red Squadron, pair off and take on your targets." Karas didn't want his squadron slipping, noticing that the T-70 Squadron is healthy. They aren't going to go down nor will he lose his pilots. Still dogfighting with his enemy, but somehow this pilot is getting better or Karas is getting annoyed, but he isn't able to get a lock. "Krif....he's good." he says more to himself but he keeps on him.
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Hearing Green Two's call for help, Jessika breaks off from the engagement and brings up the targeting computer for her torpedos. Flipping the target housing protector on her flight stick up to reveal the button for the torpedos, she waits for the computer to finish inching forward so it can flip down in front of her. She peers through it, as a digital readout gives her distance from the freighter. Although there's tone, when she depresses the button and sends the two proton torpedos towards the bulk freighter, they miss, sailing off harmlessly into space. "Red Two, no effect. Unable to hit target. Continuing to make a run against it." Case warbles sadly just as an outcry comes over the comm channels, and her sensor report no longer reads Red Five's X-Wing. "No!"
Red Squadron is back to being outnumbered, just like a few of Savrip Squadron's fighters are. Except while Savrip One and Savrip Three continue to avoid attempts to kill them, Red Five's craft is not so lucky. Taking dramatic impacts along its hull, it violently explodes, and Ensign Fuze Rekstan lets out one last, vibrating battle cry over the comm channel before its cut short. The vacuum of space sucks him out of him fighter's cockpit, and the violent explosion of the craft sends him spiraling off, lost among the debris left behind from the X-Wing. The King's Ransom has come to a total halt, and the cargo bay opens as it prepares to release its bombers into the atmosphere. One is already taking off and streaking for the planet.
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Poe breaks away from the main fray when he witnesses the big ship open its hatches to release bombers. The fight is overwhelming for the Resistance, but they cannot let those bombers go. He dives into a twisting spiral and increases his speed until its maxed, his destination set to intercept the bomber. He opens fire, missing initially, but his underslung turret catches its shields in the first pass. Black Leader streaks by, angling back around for another pass.
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"FINALLY," Ektor shouts as Tenner warbles the report that fire control to the torpedoes is back online. He fires off a linked salvo so quickly that only one detonates on the Ransom's shields. "Arright, shields still up, but I'm switching to ion cannons. If anybody else is bored, one more torpedo oughta bring the rest of this Hutt-sucker's shell down..."
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"Copy that, Green 2." David replies to the report on the Ransom. He keeps on his target, the badly damaged "Savrip 1", which is weakly trying to shake him with erratic maneuvers and blaster fire from the underslung turret. David manages easily to dodge the blasts, returning fire promptly to start a small explosion in the astromech socket. Soon after, the S-Foils tear off and the enemy X-Wing explodes in a high speed rain of fire. "Target down, will intercept any bombers exiting the freighter. Show them it's a bad idea to launch."
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Kare continues to fly after S3 but totally screws that up and finds herself in the crosshairs of the bad guy. Her shields drop as they sparkle "Brat, see about fixing those, would you!" she calls over the internal comms. As Brat goes to fix the ship, he is getting quiet good at it, Kare continues to fly trying to get the advantage on an obviously weaker pilot.
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When Silver Leader re-emerges from hyperspace the pilot announces herself returning to the battle even though her X-wing is clearly damaged across its hull in several places. But the shields on the fighter have been restored and are continuing to climb as Artoo toils away at the energy systems inside the old craft.
The T65 sweeps back into the fight and comes right in behind that of Sav-12. Rey's nimble piloting skills line her up for a great shot and all of her cannons come to life, but sadly the T70 is just too nimble, and even scores a splash against her shields with a belly-laser, but it does nothing to her shields... and mildly annoys the pilot inside Silver Leader!
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Elrych, coming off a failed run on the freighter sees his wingman, Rey, getting back into the fight after having just gotten Life Support back under control. He pushes down hard on the rudder to port and jockeys the stick hard that way as well swinging the agile craft around a break neck speed. "Hold on Baby!" He says as the small Jedi Starfighter banks around wide but turns inward at it's adjusted heading sharply. Then the engines flare to life and the arrow headed fighter rockets forward faster than a number of craft fielded today on the battlefield. As Silver Leader engages 12, Elrych comes in to assist, his reticle finding 11 who had no idea he was coming. The linked laser cannons rip into the Hull. Pow having damaged the ship in a previous engagement. The thing explodes and comes apart. "Splash one, Lead... Welcome back Rey Rey, I thought you ditched me on our second Date. It was just getting good." Baby beeps that shields are back to full strength.
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Karas wasn't letting go of his target, seeing that Gold 3 came in as well, Savip 3 making Red Leader work for this fight. The T-65 X-Wing rolls right, but Savrip 3 is able to bank away causing Karas to lose sight of him. "Krif." he grumples as he has lost sight of him, now out of position, Karas quickly tracks the target and tries to go back in to help Gold 3 if he can.
---
Continuing her bombing run on the King's Ransom, Jessika regards the medium bulk freighter through the targeting computer she straightens in her seat to see through. The range to the target rapidly ticks down, and the targeting computer on her snubfighter goes from rapid beeps to one solid tone. "Torpedoes away!" The pair of Krupx MG7's launch from the underside of her craft and sail through space. Both smash into the medium bulk freighter, and in a violent shuddering of its shields, it weathers the storm. The shields have reached a state where they are almost too weak to see. "Red Two to Green Two. Those shields are weak! Shouldn't take too much to bring them down." The quick relay of information is just as quick as a shot from one of the quad turret's salvos strikes against her shields. Jessika banks her fighter around and drops the torpedo firing button's guard with a flick of her thumb.
Aboard the King's Ransom, the turret gunners rapidly swing around and attempt to engage the X-Wing launching proton torpedoes at their freighter. They land one shot of eight, while the proton torpedoes find their mark and make the freighter shudder violently. That doesn't stop another bomber, Beta, from launching from its bay and vectoring towards the planet, meaning two of its six prizes have left into open space and are attempting to reach the surface. The rest of Savrip Squadron and Red Squadron fight for superiority, but Savrip Squadron clearly has the upper hand. In a barrage of fire from Savrip Five, Red Three and Ensign Hanna Cafzhoth are both consigned to the void, marking two Killed in Action for Red Squadron as the rest of the Resistance task force strives to achieve their objective.
---
Poe stays on the tail of Alpha Bomber, but their flight pattern is so erratic that Poe cannot get a firing solution with his torpedoes. He stays on target, pushing himself to stay with them for as long as he can in the hopes he'll score a lucky hit and have them out of the sky before they can complete their run.
---
Ektor drawls lazily after Red 2 makes her attack run on the Ransom, "Thanks, Jess.. love you, killer." Clicking off comms, he sees Cafzhoth's X-wing vanish from the scopes. R2-T10 warbles mournfully and Ektor answers, "I know that was Hanna. And I know you like her more than you like me, thanks for the reminder. Tenner, shift auxiliary power from engines to ion control. Wanna put everything into em we can, yeah?" as the firing studs are depressed and the stream of ionized blue energy streaks through space toward the bulk freighter. "Eh, drek. Knocked out the shields for a tick, but they got em back up. Maintaining fire."
---
Passing harmlessly through the debris of Savrip 1, David turns his attention, along with his ship, to the bombers headed towards Ord Mantell. "None of them hits atmos, hear me" David grumbles through his comms. None of them should've even launched. Gold Leader passes by the freighter, dodges by Black Leader and opens fire on his target, Bravo 1. The shield lights up where his blasts hit, but they seem to hold. "Direct hit, shields are holding. Maintaining distance for a second run." he comms. "Gold 3, how are you holding up?"
---
Kare continues to go after S3 as they both fight for position. Finally she gets the better of him and she fires. But his outstanding piloting skills evade her fire while Kare also evades the fire that is returned back at her. "Brat, keep working on those shields," she commands as she puts the nimble X-Wing through its paces. "Doing well, Gold Lead" she replies.
---
"Haven't bailed out on you yet, Two." Rey replies to Silver Two over the comms while her main focus is on her nemesis in this ongoing affair. "Good shooting!" She adds when she catches sight of her wingman in the mission dissolve a threat in the form of S-11.
Artoo continues to toil away at the shields of their own craft while its pilot works the ship in behind S-12 and starts to unload a barrage of laser blasts into the T70's shields. "Come on..." Rey quietly says with her teeth gritted. These buggers are hard to fight! No wonder the Empire is angry all the time!
---
Elrych watches Rey maneuver on 12 and turns in on the next flight. The force is flowing through him and he can see things just before they happen. He bobs and weaves with the movements of Savrip 10 as if predicting where he would be. He triggers his laser cannons, linked, blasting away his shields and hitting his hull. Ten's wingmate, Nine attempts to get a solution on Elrych but he pulls a -- sort of -- Crazy Ivan and zooms right back around to come back at Ten for another pass. "Lead, sweetheart? Once your done playing with your food... got one on my tail."
---
Karas is able to re-engage, though as he finds Gold 3 and Savrip 3 still going at it, he quickly pushes the throttle up and takes off, weaving through laser fire and rolling his fighter and as Gold 3 misses he comes in beneath the T-80 X-Wing and gets a lock. Not hesitating he quickly fires only to have Savrip 3 break away at the last damn minute, "Alright Gold 3, let's try to box 'em in." he calls to her. He than checks on his squadron, always outnumbered but always battling back, this made Karas smile, "HOw's it going Red 2?" he calls to Jess.
---
Lining another shot up on the freighter, Jessika follows Ektor's route in towards its blind spot and lines up her reticle across the freighter. A squeeze of the flight stick's trigger unleashes bright lances of red from her four laser cannons, and they pepper the freighter's restored shields into another weak state. Not quite as weak as last time, but weak again. "Fighting against it's shields again, Green Two. Think they're close to being down again, but not sure how close." The long run leaves her zipping towards it, and Case informs her that Red Squadron is down to four of its six fighters. Gritting her teeth, Jessika says nothing about the revealed information, but remains focused on the task ahead of her and keeps her strafing run in line rather than breaking off. "Red Three and Red Five are gone, Red Leader. Red Four and Six are still fighting an outnumbered fight, and this freighter has launched two bombers and its shields are still holding."
The King's Ransom deploys its third bomber. Its turret gunners struggle to attack the two fighters swarming around it, but two dorsal turrets leave them vulnerable to plenty of attack angles. Bomber Charlie turns towards the planet and engages its engines, so it's heading for the planet. Red Squadron and Savrip weave around each other, but aside from a few glancing shots, none of the fighters are able to deal much in the way of damage to each other as the battle over Ord Mantell continues to rage. Savrip Squadron is injured, but it's doing a damn fine job of providing it's freighter with the escort it needs to give the Ransom the time to deploy its cargo.
---
Poe finally obtains the lock after matching with the crazed bomber pilot. "This guy is determined." BB-8 calls out a lock, and Poe hears the tone. He squeezes the firing mechanism and the torpedo rockets out from beneath his craft. It crushes through the shields and plants itself into the fuselage immediately causing an extraordinary engine failure that escalates until the craft has caught on fire. With the breech and the start of the atmospheric heat building up, Alpha Bomber has no chance. The fire consumes the craft and it enters atmosphere split into dozens of pieces as its payload is consumed in the resulting explosion. Poe angles back around, screaming victoriously. "Nice job, buddy! Let's get back to the others." Poe shoves the throttle forward and angles back toward the main fight. "This is Black Leader, first bomber has been taken out. Coming back now!"
---
"Once you get through the shields, try to disable its bay doors." David comms, still following his target. "That way, they might not be able to launch more, and we might get something out of this still." He keeps his fighter on the tail of the bomber, swerving to get a shot, but the pilot is in full evasion mode, definitely trying to get to the surface rather than shake its tail. "Continuing pursuit."
---
Still Kare continues to chase after the S3 and still she can't get a shot. But the good thing this time Brat was able to repair the shields a bit more. "Thanks, Brat, appreciate it," she calls back to him as she still chases after S3.
---
"Call me a 'sweetheart' again and I might change my target to your tail, instead, Two." Rey teases her wingman in response to his comment. She pilots her X-wing right after S-12 and tries hard to keep on his tail, more shots fired at the enemy starfighter that looks like a friendly starfighter... but isn't... and quite frustratingly they all just blaze right on by the nimble Republic craft.
"Blast!" Rey says in frustrating while her droid beeps happily about their own ship's shields being restored to 100. "Good job, Artoo, you're the best." She tells her little metal friend.
---
"Not a problem Sugar Lips." Elrych fires back with a smirk. He's breaking a bit of a sweat keeping nine off his rear and trying to get a bead on Ten to finish him off. He grumbles as the Pilot has wised up and his surprise factor is no longer working. He looks out his Canopy towards the bombers launching, "IF all those bombers launch and we don't get this mopped up before the Army can come in there's just no point in continuing the operation." He says more to himself than anyone else. "Come on Rey, burn that suckah." It's said like a prayer more than a statement.
---
"Copy that Red 2, going to assist." he says to his XO. Breaking from the engagement with Savrip 3, "Gold 3, I will leave him to you. two of my pilots need help." he calls to her. "I will be back." he says to Kare. The T-65 engines glowed bright pink as they are throttled up. Racing to where Red 4 and 6 are, Karas sees the trouble they are in, two on one, this isn't good. "Red 4 break hard left, I will take on one of the two, you circle around and take on the other." he calls to his pilot.
With that, doing a reverse roll, the X-Wing rolls to the right and swings in on Savrip 6 and the four laser cannons on the wing tips of his X-Wing fire into the Savrip 6, hits score upon the T-70, and he can see the shields wink and flicker. "You're mine." he says to himself.
---
With the freighter's shields down, Jessika turns towards the continuing fight. Picking up Savrip Seven on her sensors, she weaves through the debris and the laser cannon fire filling the void in space to attack him in a strafing run from above. A rapid spit of fire from her cannons pelt against his shields, and his wingmate, who tries to sweep up to answer, is unable to get into a sharp enough angle to return fire. "Engaging hostiles. Red Four, you're on Leader's wing. Red Six, on me." Speaking quick orders over their tactical net, she sets the remaining Red Squadron fighters into wingmate pairs. The dizzying pace of the fight sees the two fighters unable to find openings of their own, but they form up on their Commanding and Executive officers, ready for payback for the rest.
The King's Ransom launches a fourth bomber, even as one explodes in a bright flare as its ordinance is set off by the destructive impact of Black Leader's proton torpedoes against it. Bomber Alpha makes it to the planet, but only because its debris is busy being caught by Ord Mantell's gravity and turned into bright, shooting star streaks across the junk planet's atmosphere. It's the only proof from the surface that something is happening in the night sky above.
---
Poe displays excellent flying capability as he obtains the Charlie Bomber coming down toward the planet as he's emerging. By this point, Poe has already passed Gold Leader and his intended, so he leaves the capable pilot to his charge while Poe tries to get a lock onto this descending bomber. Poe doesn't hear BB-8 this time, but he launches a torpedo on a guy feeling. It's a miss, but Poe keeps his cool. "Alright pal, same game plan.. Let's get this guy!" Poe adjusts his angle to chase the bomber now, flying back down toward the planet again.
---
Ektor mutters back through grinding teeth to Dave's advice, "Working on it, Paperflanks..." Under his breath, as streams of ion pour into the freighter, "Come on, come on, come on..." There. Finally. "Freighter is dead in the water, repeat: freighter is dead in the.. space. Now, somebody holler who needs help." Engines roar back to full as he scans for an ally in need.
---
Flashes in the distance. Alpha Bomber is burning in the atmosphere. "Cutting it close here, aren't we?" David comms as he opens fire on Bravo. None of the shots seem to hit or do damage, though. David shakes his head. "Just for that I'm gonna do something right out of your playbook, Green 2." He pushes the throttle forward, overtaking the bomber as his underslung turret lets loose from above to test the shields. Several bright flashes ding on the bomber, still doing so as David has to pull the fighter out of the way before getting shot himself.
---
As the S3 crosses up, right into Kare's sights she fires. A mistake was bound to happen and it just did. S3 goes up in a fireball and expanding debris field. Kare's fighter zips right on past already she is looking for another target.
---
Rey mostly chooses to ignore the 'sugar lips' bit because she's focused on the intensity of this fight. Her X-wing is still battered and still shooting periodic spouts of sparks off into space behind it while she pilots it about, frantically sticking to the tail of S-12.
When her tone signals a solid lock she fires again and this time her lasers tear into the stolen X-wing's hull and cause its power systems to overload and detonate... killing whomever was flying that vessel. It's not something she likes to do, kill others, but it's a necessity when they're trying to kill HER.
"That got him." She says quietly. "... or her." muttering these words while swinging her own ship around to rejoin the fight with the others.
---
Elrych is in a spin as he follows Ten down through a complicated maneuver. "Come on you bantha kriffer..." HE lets a Volly loose when he gets a tone for a second but it goes right between the s-foils. He keeps on his Target, mindful of nince behind him or the rear gun Ten has on him. He easily evades any shots aimed at him. "Green, Disable or destroy those launched bombers. If we can't have them, no-one can." He might as well suggest it as Poe was busy with doing that himself. "Silver, Gold, and Red got this..." He hopes. Noticing Rey gets her target he yelps in eulation a bit, "That certainly did a little help Rey Rey?" Elrych is still being pursued by 9 while he hunts down Ten.
---
Hearing Jess issue commands to 4 and 6 he grins, "Alright, let's make sure our losses don't go in vain." he says as he pushes his fighter harder now. Allowing for the inertia compensators to dial back the force of the G's, but Karas hands manipulate the controls of his fighter as he continues to engage Savrip 6. Keeping on the enemy fighter, not allowing it to out fly him, though when he has a lock, the laser blast misses, though as he keeps on the enemy fighter, the underslung blaster cannon from the T-70 fires back at him. He tries to weave out of the way but isn't quick enough and the shields take a hit. Spark is on it though or so Karas thought.
---
"This is Red Two, target hit. Still in pursuit. Watch yourselves!" Case reports two more of Savrip Squadron have gone down and the freighter has become disabled. "We've got five targets left and the bombers heading for the planet, Red Leader." Informing Lieutenant Darkwing of the situation, Jessika's hands and feet are a constant presence of pedal depression and speed adjustment, while her X-Wing continues to spit fire from its laser cannons that pepper her target's shields. Red Six is unable to get an angle on her target, just as Red Four is also unable to aid Red Leader with his own. The numbers have more than dipped in their favor, especially with the King's Ransom disabled and no longer letting any of its cargo go.
Listing slightly to the left in space, the King's Ransom looks dead from the outside. Aboard, crew members try to repair their freighter's systems, but the docking clamps that keep the bombers secured in their racks refuse to release, keeping two of the six Scurrg H-7 bombers from making a break for it. Despite Gold One's efforts, Bomber Bravo reaches the atmosphere and begins entry, rapidly streaking towards the base and effectively escaping from the battlefield and the fight for space superiority. Both Charlie and Delta are in pursuit, prepared for evasive maneuvers to avoid the guns of the X-Wings pursuing them.
---
Poe fires another unsuccessful torpedo and shakes his head. "He must have some sort of sensor defense. These things just aren't locking on. We'll have to do it the old fashion way, buddy." Poe switches the targeting computer and tries to stay with the bomber.
---
" I hear you, Green Two on intercept course for the bombers.." Ektor shifts auxiliary power back to engines and streams after the fleeing enemy bombers. Alas, the Y-Wing makes for a poor interceptor, and he doesn't yet draw within range. "Approaching weapons range.."
---
David watches as Bravo 1 disappears in atmosphere, letting out a curse as he pulls up and away from the planet. "One of them broke into atmosphere." he reports curtly, swinging the craft around to intercept the other one. "Black Leader, on your wing to take down the next one. Disable or destroy, it's your call."
---
As S3 gets all blowed up, Kare quickly switches over to the next in line. She seems to have caught the pilot unawares and takes the easy shot as she climbs up the bad guy's six. Lasers go out and connect but only causes the shields to sparkle. She throws the X-Wing into a quick roll avoiding S5's wingman's fire.
---
Rey keeps her X-wing on the tail of S-9 now, tracking it with her scanners and her targeting systems. She launches a salvo of laser blasts at it that rattle its shields and cause them to almost entirely fall. "I'm on him, two!" She says to her wingmate, hoping to instill some reassurance in her fellow Silver Squadron member.
---
Elrych is trying his hardest to get a bead on ten but it's just not working, Nine is still on his rear and he's not sure how much longer he can keep dodging shots. "Come on, come on..." He steadies his breathing and reaches out to the force, hoping it will get him through this.
---
The pilot of Savrip 6 tries to do a split S, but Red Leader follows him through the maneuver, dropping speed so he doesn't pass him. The T-65, has another T-65 Red 6 who is flying with him. "Let's mop up these guys, quickly and get to those bombers." he calls onto the tact net. "If anyone is closer to the bombers, take 'em out." he calls as he gets a target lock and fire on the enemy T-70 and at the same time he does a wing up and lets the blaster turret fire past him. Though Karas does see his shots hit along the enemy fighters engine.
---
The pursuit of her target through the chaos of close quarters dog fighting leads to Savrip Seven getting the better of her. Her evasive maneuvers proof effortless, and three of the T-70's laser cannons land shots against her weakened shields. Case and warning lights on her console immediately warn her of the loss of those shields, and a shudder throughout the frame of the snubfighter leads her to rapidly glance at one of the panel's before her. "Red Two's hit! My shields are pretty weak." Despite the calmness in her voice, the rapid hammering of her heart inside her chest feels as if its trying to beat its way out of her rib cage. She focuses on flying, and flying alone, by rolling her fighter and then banking so sharply the inertial dampeners leave her vision swimming around the edges.
Bomber Charlie enters the atmosphere after Bravo, and quickly streaks towards the location that it's meant for, leaving Bomber Delta alone in space to run the gauntlet of Black Leader and Gold One. The King's Ransom is still a non-factor, and Savrip Squadron, who had gone unscathed for most of the fight, is rapidly filling their communication frequency with wide reports of damage and inability to land any more decisive hits against the Resistance fighters they are tangling with.
---
"See if you can get him, Gold Leader. I'm not able to adjust course in time to get him." Poe says, sounding slightly annoyed. He angles back for high orbit, rejoining the fight with everyone else. He increases the output of his engines and sighs. "I know buddy, we tried. There's still some fighting up here. Let's help our friends out!" BB-8 agrees with the plan and Black Leader closes the distance. "This is Black Leader, who needs help?"
---
"Drek, I ain't gonna make firing range before Delta makes atmosphere. Three of the kriffers got away," Ektor mutters. "Green Two, coming back around." The Y-wing banks back toward the dogfight, engine nacelles glowing orange.
---
Kare is in another bad fight with lower class pilots. Though she never gets to get a shot off, the two bad guys miss and can't shoot either. She swings her fighter still heading after the S5.
---
Silver Leader slips down behind S-9 and she rolls her fighter wings over wings, then catches her enemy on its next predicted turn! She squeezes the trigger on her flightstick and causes her X-wing's cannons to light up, sending sizzling lasers of death at the enemy X-wing and its suddenly explodes in a ball of molten gasses and melting metals!
"One more down..." Rey says over the comms and then speaks off of them. "I have got to stop doing this slow-warm-up stuff in these battles." Which gets an affirmative little comment from her backseat driver in the form of Artoo.
---
"Thanks, Lead... you're beautiful!" Elrych says to Rey over the comms as he can now get a bit of breathing room to take down Ten "God I love that woman, Baby. I swear to you, put it on record." He puts all his concentration in it now and lets a volly fly. It hits the X-wing, crippling it... it's a miracle the ship is even still flying. Somehow itis. "The hell.."
---
Jessika quickly reverses the tables on Savrip Seven, but her shots are unable to find any kind of mark, sending the red lances of fire zipping off into space. Savrip Eight sweeps in behind her X-Wing, and in a sudden salvo of fire from its Taim & Bak KX12 Laser Cannons, her shields are completely downed and the hull of her fighter is riddled with carbon scoring. Almost all of the screens on her instrument panel go dark, her flight stick becomes loose, and the pedals no longer respond to her commands. "This is Red Two, I've been severely hit! No flight control! Engines are out! Systems are out!" It's a lucky the fighter doesn't explode around her. There's not even any warbling from her astromech. The cockpit is rapidly filling with smoke, the and Jessika scrambles to grab the face mask tucked into the cargo pocket of her flight suit.
Rapidly attaching it to her face and into internal hooks on the inside of her helmet, Jessika slaps the switch on the panel on her chest, which activates her emergency beacon, and then quickly drops both hands between her thighs. "Ejecting!" Yanking on the ejection mechanism, the canopy of Red Two is thrown off and boosters on the underside of her seat fire. Her pilot's seat rapidly thrusts away from the snubfighter which explodes seconds later, removing Red Two from all sensors. Harshly clenching her eyes shut, the unimaginable cold of the void of space makes her cry out in pain.
As Bomber Delta reaches the atmosphere and escapes with the others, the remainder of Savrip Squadron turns tail and runs. They've all got preprogrammed jumps in their navi-computers, and Savrip Five, Savrip Seven, Savrip Eight, and Savrip Ten rapidly make the jump to hyperspace, abandoning the King's Ransom.
