Log:Resistance: Training Day

Training Day

OOC Date: February 25, 2019
Location: Naboo
Participants: Ektor, Elrych Cometburn, Merek, Nova Korell, Zonk, The Resistance

The quartermaster had managed quite a feat in the several days since this training exercise was ordered: a comically large custom flightsuit had been assembled and vacuum qualified to fit Cadet Zonk. Of course the minor details such as the flight harness straps, the chest control panel, and belt of signal flares are all of standard size, only making the orange flight suit seem larger by comparison. One of Captain Nien Nunb's double-wide flight helmets had been fitted with a longer chin strap to sit on the Houk's head without restricting airflow, though even now the chin cup is nowhere near large enough. For today, it will have to do.

The flight of three Gold Squadron Y-wings- flight leader Lieutenant Apollyon in Gold 1, Captain Darkwing in Gold 2, and Cadet Zonk flying in Gold 3- launched from the frigate Renegade amid discreet between the deck crew of how badly damaged they'd be upon return from this non-combat patrol. <<Arright, how we doing, yeah? Zonker, take right wing, Kar take left. Set course for the Royal Way buoy, and remember: nobody kill their droid, or.. Smash the control panels, yeah? I do NOT need Chief West trying to kill me when we get back, yeah? Not naming any names. MEKIL.>>

Numerous other allied craft are in the void at any given time, maintaining security around the Warhammer. One of which is Black 11. Traffic in the Naboo System today is active and bustling.

"Lissen here, you stupid, rustin' foul-smellin' framistat! If you make me look bad today I'm gunna... I'm gunna..."

There are a series of terrified and compliant sounding beeps and boops coming from the back of Zonk's Y-Wing fighter. The poor rusted-out R2 unit already looked like it had seen better days before it was given to the Resistance's most violent cadet.

The Resistance's Most Violent Cadet is busy fussing with the controls of his fighter, a bit less distracted than usual since he's not busy clearing the fog off of his helmet screen. But since he breathes through his mouth, it's only a matter of time.

"Huhhhh.... huhhhhh.... huhhhhhh..." Zonk's heavy mouth breathing can be heard across the channel every couple of seconds.

"This is uh... Gold Somethin'..." From behind him, somebody squeals in Gamorrean.

"Right! Gold Three. This is Gold Three. Do you want me to take yer right or my right?"

It's only a training mission, sure, but Sergeant Nova Korell is taking it seriously. "Copy, Gold Leader. Two is off your left wing, setting course for Royal Way buoy." She can't hide the faint excited bounce in her voice. The groundpounder has found her wings and is loving it, even in a Y-Wing. Even so, her flying is as precise as she can make it. She has to stifle a laugh, hearing Zonk's call. "I don't think you can take your own right, Three. I'd stick to Lead's right."

<<"Yes... you have to click your transponder on before you can talk. Just... just land at you designated area alright, crew cheif will help you out and make sure you're inspected once you land.">> Elrych says over the public comms to a Civilian Craft trying to make a landing to drop off some supplies on the Renegade. He had just taken off from the Yelsik as was already swamped by landing requests, his head spinning with all the different colored blips on his sensor report. He glances over to notice the Y-wing training group heading off to do more exciting things then he was doing. He groans and turns up his music, ignoring the next request until he gets yelled at for it by Connix.

<<Zonker, when we facing the same way like we are right now? Your right IS my right. It's the same side, yeah?>> Ektor returns on comm. <<Uh, copy that Gold Two. Keep.. you keep doing your thing.>>

The open, unencrypted comm frequency registers the occasional report like Elrych's of a freighter going into orbit, or breaking the gravity well and leaping into hyperspace, but on the whole, the training flight to the Royal Way buoy is smooth and quiet. Formation is achieved, and even maintained. Ahead of them, a few thousand kilometers distant, the sleek silver profile of a Naboo shuttle designated 'Spinnaker 3' arrives in system, with an honor guard of three Royal Naboo N1 starfighters. Within moments, the buoy serves as the arrival point for a less welcome set of craft: eight mismatched civilian fightercraft microjump in (4 Dunelizards, 2 Kimogila, and 2 Scyk) and promptly open fire on the Naboo craft, which broadcast an immediate distress signal. <<This is Royal Naboo Naval flight Victor, we are under attack and in need of help, all friendly craft, please respond!>>

Ektor's response is to kick the engines of Golld 1 to maximum with an orange glow, and facepalm audibly. "Never goes smooth, yeah?" His droid chirps, getting a harsh, "OBVIOUSLLY we gonna go help, Genius. Open comms again." Grumble grumble, <<Gold Squad, make sure your shields are up and set an intercept course, yeah? Gold One to Victor... whatever. We are three thousand kliks off and closing.>>

"Check. Moving and whatnot."

Gold 3 gradually, and a bit shakily, moves into formation with everyone else. Completely unused to the Y-Wing, or... to any fighters, really, Zonk is still trying to get a feel for the controls. Meanwhile, his gunner is chatting his ears off about all the problems he's been having with his ex-wife. At least, Zonk is pretty sure that's what he's talking about, because he's getting pretty animated.

"Yeah, that's rough, man. My ex-wife poisoned me a couple of times. I just thought she couldn't cook."

The droid starts to beep frantically, and it's only then that Zonk realizes he's about to crash into the side of Gold Leader!

Swerving suddenly, he yells at both of them. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME, ASSHOLES?!"

They did.

"Hey, this might be a stupid question... but how do we know which one a them is the bad guys? It's the ones in them yellow ships, right?" Zonk begins preparing to attack the Naboobians.

<Copy, Lead... that sounds bad. Even if those opposing fighters are junk, the Naboo are outnumbered nearly three to one,> Nova chimes in. <If they're smart, these intruders will have their tougher ships after the Naboo escorts. The weaker Scyks can tackle a transport without much trouble. Suggest one of us with a gunner back up the escorts while the rest help out the transport... preferably before they get a missile lock!>

She alters course, bringing engines up to full power. <Three, the yellow ships are Naboo. We're /helping/ the yellow ships,> she adds, just to save time. The Naboo are in enough trouble as it is!

<<"Alright, alright, Connix. I'll get back to it. I just needed my union mandated break, you know. Had a sandwich to scarf down. Let me take you out tonight, herm? You know I do it just because I love to hear your vo-">> Elrych's smooth talking gets interupted with the report of bogies firing on a newly arrived craft. <<"Black Eleven, contact called and sighted. Moving in on oposition craft. See if you can't reroute othe patrols or launch some help...">> The Jedi pulls hard on his rudder then presses the engines to full burn. "Shields double front till we make our first pass, then even them out again, yeah?" Kid chirps and affirmative. "Yeah... I think Nova is out training with Gold today..."

Merek had decided to come in with Gold Squad when he hears about the assault that is coming in, and he moves to find his ship. He settles into the Warsong and takes a moment to prepare while he places on his flightsuit, nothing special it was one of the spares, and he takes a moment to prepare the CS9 for flight while he comms to the others, "Private Black reporting in, launching in the CS9 Warsong," he tells them. He will take a moment to get into flight while the others are in combat.

<<Zonk, look at your kriffing targeting computer: shoot the RED ones,>> Ektor adds on the heels of Nova's advice to the cadet. << I hear you, Gold Two. Good eye. Nova, you and Zonker go punch the Scyks, yeaha? Get them off the shuttle. Hey, Kid- uhh.. Black 11: pick one of the Dragons->> The computer identifies the two Kimogila heavy fighters as Dragon 1 and 2, <<And get them off the hatpins, yeah?>>

As the Y-wings are approaching eapons range, they can only watch as the outnumbered Naboo fighters take heavy fire, all three reporting hits, before one of the pirate Kimogila lands a punishing hit on one of the light craft, and destroys it. The lighter Scyk fighters each launch a proton torpedo which streak toward the sleek shuttle, smashing through the shields, and charring a section of the hull. <<Rekk. And make it fast, yeah?>> Ektor adds.

"The hell we helpin' them for? They don't look they got nuthin' on 'em that equals the worth of a turd."

Despite raising a perfectly valid point/complaint, Zonk does as he's instructed and fires on one of the Scyks that seems to be the most active threat at the moment. It's a subjective assessment, sure, but he's a creature of pure instinct, that Zonk.

As the cannons cut loose, one of Zonk's beady yellow eyes twitches inside his bloated purple head.

"DIDJOO SEE THAT!? YER BOUT TA GET ZONKED!"

<Not good, Golds. I've got torpedo signatures... two direct hits on the transport! Their shields are down!> Nova's voice is sharp, but not tense. It's not like she's never been in a fight before, even if this is a new way to fight for her. <Let's see how they do against something that fights back!>

Gold Two angles for a tailing position, but Lieutenant Kym Lorr in the gunner's seat fires first, stitching the second Scyk's tail shields full of brilliant blue ion bolts. The antique shields promptly collapse!

And then Nova swoops in on her attack pass, both laser cannons hammering. Several laser blasts sink home, but it's the one that tags the fuel cells that counts. The Scyk becomes a cloud of incandescent gas, and Gold Two pulls off, maneuvering to try to assist Three, the wingman. <Good shooting, Kym! Gold Two, scratch one!>

<<"Copy, lead. Engaging Dragon One.">> Elrych comes racing in like his ship was his lightsaber slicing through bantha milk butter, A quad set of laser blasts rain scarlet terror down upon the Kimogila's lead fighter, Dragon One. Two of those bolts connect shredding away a good chunk of it's shielding. "Even shields out now, Kid..." The Jedi commands, looking through the canopy to get his bearings and see what the others are doing before a hard look at the sensor readout. He turns up his music, some sort of heard hitting electronic tune. <<"Eleven, coming about.">> He mentions off hand to kid, "Keep an eye on Nova's ship. Let me know if she gets in a tight spot?"

Merek pushes forward upon the controls of the cutlass that takes off from the ship he was on, while it banks towards the combat. The slate hull seems to have the underside painted in various tones, like a bird it seems to decorate the skies, while the man comms, "Frost here, checking for orders," he tells them, while the ship is rolled into the midst of the dogfights.

The light interceptors are chased off the damaged Naboo shuttle, before they can launch a second deadly volley of proton torpedoes. Both are hit and one doesn't survive the onslaught of Gold 2. While the Spinnaker 3 has been saved for the moment, its escorts are faring poorly against the pirate Dunelizards, with the second of the three elegant ships coming under concentrated fire, and exploding in a short-lived fireball. Only the flight leader Victor 3 remains of the Naboo starfighters. Two of the Dunelizard hunters remain on the besieged Victor flight, while a further two break off to make an attack run on the shuttle with their cannons

Merek's request for orders is met with a loud <<Shoot the bastards trying to blow up the shuttle, yeah?!>> from Gold One.

"The hell? These crudzos is tryin' ta kill me!"

The realization that combat works both ways dawns suddenly on Zonk, and his heavy mouth breathing gets a lot heavier over the comms.

"HUHHHH.... HUHHHHH... HUHHHHH..."

Behind him, the Gamorrean is squealing something in Gamorrean and the R2 Unit is beeping something in R2 Unitese.

"Shaddup, Poozes! I'm trynna do somethin' heroic here!"

Pulling back on the throttle, Zonk quickly changes direction and begins firing on the poor bastard that decided it was a good idea to get Zonk's attention. "Ya wanna little taste of Zonk, do ya? Well... EAT THIS, NUG BREATH!"

The cannons tear into the ship, and more specifically the part of the ship where the fragile little people bodies live. They get vented into space in a very brief shower of rapidly-freezing red mist.

<That transport can't stay out of trouble...> Nova shakes her head and rolls Gold Two in on the leading Dunelizard. <Gold Two here, we're going to help them out. Rolling in hot!>

The last attack run was a good trick against an unaware target. The Dunelizard seems fully aware of his peril, though. Kym rushes her shot as the fighter jinks, missing widely. Nova's shots are steadier, but the pirate manages to roll away, not even scraped. <No joy, Gold Leader. We'll stay on him. Maybe we can keep him too busy worrying about us to bother Spinnaker.>

Sticking with the Dunelizard like glue, Nova's in a good position to do exactly that.

Thankfully the Kimogila that attempts to vector in on him isn't overly lucky. Elrych was a Jedi after all and he saw the bolt vectoring in even before the pilot fired it. He simply tips his wing and lets it Zip past. He continues to come about, getting another good position in on Dragon One. He fires. The Kimogila dodges well enough but one of his linked bolts of scarlet death hit and collapse the shields. What energy is left slams into the hull leaving a black scortch mark. "Almost got him... how's Nova doing?" He looks over and blinks as Kid responds. "Right... she can take care of her self."

"Copy that, Gold Leader," Merek speaks to the comms, while he maneuvers the Warsong into place with a shift of stick, then he checks his solutions while he moves up to take the tail of the dunelizard still on the shuttle. He takes both his thumbs then presses the cannon fire controls while he brings the shields of his opponent to half, then he opens the comm channel, "You're in Naboo Royal Space, surrender," he tells them.

The man shifts the controls back as he tries to follow the dunelizard. It would seem that he is actually a skilled pilot, and it looks like the cutlass follows up to that name as a ship. "Solution on Dune 4." He watches as the Naboo are shot up, then he finds that the foe is turning around to shoot at him. He does an aileron roll to the side to move away from the cannon fire, then he shifts his ship back, "Taking defensive maneuvers on the shuttle, I will keep them dancing in it."

Naboo starfighters are nimble and aesthetically pleasing, but they do not hold up well in the hands of inexperienced pilots who are heavily outnumbered. The last of the three Victor flight starfighters is gunned down by a triumphant Dunelizard, freeing up another set of cannons to be directed against the embattled shuttle.

The heavy Kimogila fighters are stubbornly occupying Elrych and Ektor, as the four Dunelizards continue trying to swarm past the trio of Nova, Zonk, and Merek. Three are tied up, but a fourth slips the screen and strafes the Spinnaker with its cannons, further damaging the once-elegant shuttle. Ektor complains, <<How are they not putting shields back up, yet? COME ON.>> Off comms, "That wrecks it- hang onto something," he growls at his gunner.

"Hang on, fellas! Zonk'll save yas!"

Bringing the Y-Wing about, Zonk fires at the Dunelizard to try to save his newfound pals. Unfortunately though, he misses pretty terribly.

And so does his gunner.

"Dammit! You only got one job!"

Behind him, the R2 unit chimes in reprovingly.

"Stop boopin' at me, Crudzo, or yer gonna get it again!"

<The Naboo fighters are all gone, Kym! Hang on, we'll have to get this one off the transport. Try and keep our tail clear!> Nova dives as she speaks, trying for a tailing position on the Dunelizard now attacking the shuttle. She can't bring the guns to bear on it without hitting the shuttle, though, and her fire misses high.

Kym has better luck, as the eager Dunelizard 3 presses its attack. Blue ion shots lance into the body of the sturdy fighter, nearly depleting its shields. <Hurry and nail that 'Lizard!> she calls to Nova, and the formation in general. <Have you got jitter powder in your bloomers, or something?>

<Your mic's transmitting, Lieutenant,> Nova points out... not that it lessens the embarrassment any. Pity these fighters don't work as easily as blast-rifles!

Elrych didn't see that other bolt comming but the lock was noticed by Kid who chirped at him. He began evasive maneuvers and was able to avoid getting hit. "Close one..." Says the Jedi before vectoring in on the Kimogila once more, "Why won't you just flee already." He growls as a bolt connects but doesn't blow the thing up. "Either he's thick or brave. Maybe both..."

Merek shifts back on the controls while he comes towards Dune 4 and takes another shot. It is a good shot, but the other is better with his dodging. He then shifts his cutlass towards the shuttle when he sees two dunelizards taking cannon fire towards it. "Warsong intercepting!" he tells Gold Squadron, and he rolls up the stick and does a sommersault through the airs. He rolls from above the foe and interposes between them just as cannons then hit his ship.

The shields fall upon the Warsong while the pilot checks on the other flight members, "Got a shot at this, we can do it!"

Ektor abruptly breaks off the Kimogila which had occupied him, and attacks the same Dunelizard Gold 2's gunner had just taged, annihilating the pirate snubfighter in a barrage of cannonfire. His jilted dance partner expressed firm displeasure by hammering the Y-wing's rear shields with its heavy lasers, "I know, I know!" Ektor barks at his warbling droid. "Then shift power to the shields, Genius!" <<One Hunter down, that shuttle looks like drek- Get 'em off it a bit longer, yeah?>> He winces as the Cutlass interposes itself and is hammered with cannonfire as a result.

Three Dunelizards and both Kimogila heavy fighters remain around the crippled but still intact Naboo shuttle.

"My bad... I wasn't ready..." Zonk tries to line up a shot again, his Y-Wing swerving relatively delicately for such a clunky ship. Perhaps he's getting a little more comfortable in the pilot seat? He'll need to get comfortable a lot faster if he's the best the Resistance could scrounge up...

He lines up his shot, and...

Direct hit! The shields warp for a second, and then disperse completely. This is not exactly the satisfying result that Zonk was hoping for...

"Dammit! These crudzos fight like poozes! Turn yer shields off and fight like Houks!"

The R2 Unit in the back starts beeping furiously, hoping that Zonk isn't planning to take his own advice.

That stubborn Dunelizard tries again for the shuttle... and through it all, Nova manages to stay on its tail. Close enough to fire, Kym rakes the tough fighter's tail with stinging darts of ion cannon fire, collapsing the shields and lacing the hull with ripples of ionic lightning. <Opened the can for you, Nova! If you don't get him this time, I swear I'll have you do an underpants and socks check when we touch down!>

Whether the threat has any effect on Nova or not can't be told from outside the cockpit, but at any rate her shooting does improve: Several laser blasts track across the Dunelizard's lower hull, one lucky shot punching through the cockpit! The fighter doesn't explode, but it goes into a spin and maintains throttle, a sure sign of a dead pilot. <Gold Two, scratch another...>

The Force doesn't let down this Corellian Jedi for long. He's honed his skills to detect any threat to him or his surrounding area. It was one of the first things he learned how to do. Could he tell the future? Not yet, but maybe some day. Yoda always said visions of the furuter should not be trusted. They were images that were always in flux, always changing. This though, this was a certainty that blaster bolts were going to come flying into his ships shields and likely to collapse them. "Not today, Drek licker..." Elrych pushes the stick down, the lasers shooting past him right where his X-Wing hand been. With a twist of the yoke and a push of the rudder foot peddle, the Jedi swings the ship upwards again while still sort of 'drifting' in his previous direction side ways. It was space, you could do crap like this. He takes a shot at Dragon one, finally all four bolts connecting. It explodes in firey death. <<"Splash One, Lead. Dragon One is off the screens.">>

Merek still has to check his solutions as he was still maneuvering. Gadget checks up on the ship, he nods to him a bit, "Right, you are on the shields... I am going to open comms," he speaks to them and announces, "Fire at something that moves, is all you can hit a stationary target?" he asks. The Warsong keeps that position.

Ektor wheels the heavy Y-wing around abruptly, firing thrusters to aid the spin and returns cannonfire to the Kimogila bearing down on his tail. Though the sudden maneuver spoils his gunner's shot on the fourth Dunelizard, the Tionese pilot does land repeated laser blasts on the second dragon, blasting one wing wholly off and sending the remains of the pirate fighter drifting dead through space. <<What's still up? I'm reading two, is it only two?>> The R2 reports shields at 30 percent, as Ektor looks around the canopy for a visual verification.

It is indeed down to only two Dunelizards, the pirates looking to have stretched their luck just a few moments too long in the effort to destroy the target shuttle. But now heavily outnumbered, the last two Dunelizards break off of the engagement, seeking enough distance to flee into hyperspace.

"BLASTO! YER SCRAP!"

Zonk fires off another volley of blasts at one of the Dunelizard's, his eye twitching furiously as his thick purple lips break into an extremely wide grin. It looks more like he's having a stroke than having an emotion, but whatever emotion is that caused that smile is probably something best left not being described too explicitly.

"WOOHOO! Try ta keep up, scuzzbags! Zonk's about ta beat the whole Galaxy all on his own!"

The Gamorrean grunts something in the back.

"Er... that's what I meant. Zonk and his buddy. What was yer name again?"

<They're breaking off! We could really use one of these rats alive to question,> Nova realizes, trying to cut one of the fleeing fighters off. It looks like Zonk's taken care of the other one just fine on his own. <They don't come into civilized space just for the heck of it!>

She gets into a good tailing position, but the retreating fighter isn't sitting still for a second. Her shots miss low. <Frell!> Kym's miss high, and the Lieutenant's no happier than Nova about it. She has a convenient target for her ire, though. </That/ was an attack pass? I'm scheduling some sim time for you once we get back, Korell... right after I inspect your socks and bloomers!>

Nova's weary sigh is easily audible over the comm. <Anybody else got a clear shot at that one?>

<<"Agreed, Gold 2...">> Says Elrych over the comms as he throttles the engines and starts to head in towards the fleeing dune lizard. He's able to get a tone and his canoncs hit, taking down the Dunelizard's shields but he gets too close and has to vector off. <<"I got his shields down... He'll be out of the well before I can come about. Up to you guys... Dragon 2 Might still have a live pilot inside. Send out the SAR and take a look.">>

"Is... Is that what you call the Force?" Merek asks as just about all shots save the Jedi's manages to hit the escaping dunelizard. He settles back a bit into the cockpit and makes sure to check the shields, "Alright, Gadget. Let's get these shields back up, we probably still have to patrol after this to escort the shuttle," he tells him. The droid makes a few sounds while it moves to work. "Right you are, it is a nice ship."

The man comms to the others, "I hope that the Warsong was an asset. I just wish we could've managed to save the fighters." He then comms to Nova, "I don't know, the pirates will take any jobs, could be on the Order's payroll, you know, mercenaries to work at defenses. Could also be the Hutt who has control of some space here also."

Ektor wings a last pair of shots after the fleeing Dunelizard, but the greater speed of the smaller fighter quickly puts it outside his effective fire. <<Nah, it's running faster than this bird can follow, Moonbeam,>> he answers Nova. Streaking into a microjump that places it safely beyond the targeting computers of the Resistance craft, the sudden skirmish is over. Answering Elrych, next: <<Good call, kid. Will signal Renegade to see to see about picking up the scrap and grabbing any pilot left alive, inside.>>

Scopes read a fresh six N1-C Naboo starfighters on approach from the planet, responding too late to the distress call. In a broad transmission, <<This is the Spinnaker Three, all systems functioning. Thank you for the swift response, Resistance.>>

Gold Leader responds, <<You got it, Spinnaker. Uh, this means drinks are on you back on the world, yeah?>> Switching to the encrypted channel, he adds to the other SFC craft, <<So.. that'll do it for today's boring training mission. Lets turn these birds around and head back for Big Ren, yeah?>>

"Big Ren? Ain't he the one we wanna stay away from?"

From back behind him, the R2 Unit pipes up, drawing a scowl from Zonk.

"Yeah, I knew that. I was only funnin'..."

He didn't know that.

"This is Gold 3. I uh... check. Roger, over. I'm gunna hang back here where I was before them crudzos showed up. Uh... over."

<That was my point, Merek: Pirates don't like coming into civilized space without good reason,> Nova replies patiently. <They usually prefer the targets to come to them. If this bunch did, there has to be a reason for it.> She glances at the sensors. <Hopefully that junked Kimogila has somebody we can ask in it.> In the back, Lieutenant Lorr rolls her eyes. <Cut the chatter and head home, Korell. You've got an appointment, remember?> Nova sighs. <Right. Copy, Gold Leader. Two is heading back to the barn. Glad to help, Spinnaker Three. See you in the world.> And the Y-Wing turns for home, drives flaring hot as Nova hits the throttle. Maybe she can get back and get that over with before everyone else lands...

<<"Good work, Golds. Think they're ready for an actual mission, Xer.">> Elrych vectors in back to his previous position and calls the Renegade, <<"Black 11, back in service. Continuing normal patrol pattern.">>

Merek manages his shields back up, though it seems that one of the wings has been hit, and he takes a moment to shift his position and so that he can work on panels, "I like Big Ren, it sounds like we're taking the power from the name," he tells them. He moves to an escort pattern next to the shuttle also.

Ektor lets out a long, lazy breath, before switching the comms back on. <<Nice work, Moonbeam. Eleven, you gonna finish off your patrol, before heading in?>> he wonders of Elrych anwered with a nod, before reporting in, <<Gold Leader to Renegade: training flight incoming. Say, you wanna send a recovery shuttle to coordinates.. uh, that my droid is about to transmit? Got a hostile taking a nap who we might want words with, yeah?>> As Gold 2 draws near the frigate's hangar, the recovery shuttle is already launching. The training flight-turned system defense patrol is concluded.