Log:Ringali First Strike

Ringali First Strike

OOC Date: February 28, 2021
Location: Ringali Nebula
Participants: Tamsin Cas, Flex'ka Vana, Chesille Sabrond and Shivan

The plan was fairly simple. A first strike was going to be delivered to the Nadiri Dockyards that rested within the Ringali Nebula. The delicate nature of the surrounding space was that the Ringali Nebula was a very hazardous place and filled with large chunks of the former moon that used to be in orbit here.

The Ringali Nebula is located in the Core Worlds region and contains a shipyard R&D facility that has been important to the New Republic for the past 30 years in the form of the Nadiri Dockyards.

The Merciless and its support ships had been dispatched to start a campaign to disable the dockyards. But there is care being taken to make sure that the ships and the TIE fighters do not run themselves into their own deaths by hitting asteroids. Naval personel from Reliquary, The Knights of Ren and the First Order were working together for this. Everyone had a part to play.

Aboard the Merciless, Tamsin Cas stood at the destroyer's main viewport, eyes fixed on the front ahead, ears turned to listening to the comm traffic which was allowing the desperate factions to communicate with each other. She was no pilot, alas, but she had no doubt that her skills would soon be needed, should the first sally of the campaign not go well in their favour. Still, she watched and she waited, some part of her attention in that place that was not quite a place as time and the events to come align themselves along the wheel that spun and turned and brought everything around again.

Flex'ka Vana, clad in a sleek TIE pilot suit for this occasion, has been assigned a TIE/sf fighter and a gunner of his choosing. His fighter takes off from the Ardex as one of many, the shapeshifter hadn't been so cocky as to assume the position of flight leader. He's accompanied by the Sith Trooper known as ST-1114 in the gunner position, feeling it's important to be stranded with someone you know to be competent in case you crash. Not that either of the pair is expecting to fail, today. <<"Terek Three, reporting.">> the TIE's pilot chimes in, waiting for orders.

The Derriphan is a symbol of an enduring struggle. It's a testament to cultist ingenuity as well as an important strategic asset. That's exactly why the technological terror isn't present for this engagement. It would be too much of a risk for such a meager reward. Until there is such a time that 'friendship' can't prevail, Sabrond will continue to withhold assets whenever possible.

The displaced Captain has gotten used to the title of 'Adviser'. It has been some time since she has had to endure the company of allies. Carida being the last front. Aboard the Merciless, she is nothing more than a vistor with a comlink. She stands alongside Tamsin, her escort for the day. The Sith silently tries to study Cas. She watches carefully as the woman gazes out the destroyer's main viewport.

There is an absence of at least one masked and robed figure this evening. Shivan's either on the Ardex or dealing with retrieving the Moff from a very cold place. No one really knows. But she's a ground fighter and not helpful in this engagement. The bridge on the Merciless is busy, with reports and targets coming across. Commands are given for the TIE's to head out and start the attack on the dockyard that has been targeted for this first battle. The hangar bays open and that is when the TIE's come screeching out. Each reporting as they do. Then everyone is speeding towards their intended target.

But they aren't going to just be able to fly by and hit. There is a group of New Republic fighters that seem to have come to greet the incoming TIE's.

It was unlikely that Tamsin did not note the regard she was being given by the Sith officer, but she made no remark on it. For the time being, her helmet remained on and her voice remained silent, her face hidden behind the helmet she wore along with her robes. Her hands lay hidden, easy, relaxed beneath the long, sweeping lengths of her sleeves as her eyes marked the deployment of the TIE fighters. When she did speak, it was in those helmet modulated tones, "Incoming, from the airspace at sector sigma, heading to engage the TIE fighters." Hw that was useful, that was for someone else to offer advice. She was only the receiver of potentially useful information. "Captain?"

"Support craft need to focus their fire on the enemy fighters instead of the shipyard's defenses." It's said as a suggestion. How polite. Her monotone delivery is flat and unexciting. She works to maintain her image, especially in front of 'allies'. "If the objective is to seize the factory, you will want to avoid excess damage. Turbolasers, although effective at destroying spacecraft, are not precision instruments." Sabrond tries to assert that her plan will work. "Once the fighter screens are dealt with, our pilots will be able to handle the static defenses."

And so it begins. The TIE's and the New Republic fighters start to clash. Bright flashes of red and green dot sting the eyes of those that might be looking on. The New Republic fighters don't slouch, but the TIE's are in the lead off of the starting line. Between the information that the pilots are getting from the bridge of the Merciless and the fire power they are coming out ahead on top already. Two of the NR fighters are blasted out of orbit and more than a few of them are lucky to even be limping along. The next volley will probably take them out entirely if they don't retreat back towards the station. Fighters aren't the only thing to watch out for though, there are the large chunks of moon that float in the Nebula that have to be dodged as well.

Tamsin, still partially in that place that was not a place, did not move from where she had set herself, her mien, what could be seen of it, relaxed, showing no sense of care or concern for the lives that were being lost, or the danger in which the pilots were placing themselves. This was war, and war had casualties, as well as consequences, "Thank you, Captain." The crew that manned the bridge knew their business, and the Adviser's advice was put to good use, the TIEs from the Merciless working in concert with those which had come from the Ardex as they fought their common enemy. For now, the war that waged between the 'darker factions' could wait. Tamsin spoke again, tones clipped, as her voice was sent out to the fighters, "The damaged fighters are attempting to regroup. It would be unwise to allow them to escape to return to battle another day."

Flex'ka taps on the control panel a few times, taking some power off of non-essential systems to put into deflector shields. <<"That should take care of the asteroid field.">> he informs ST-1114, who's facing the other direction. <<"Keep that fighter in your crosshairs, 1114, I'm staying on it until it's gone.">> After a few minutes of jockeying for position through space, with the TIE able to freely take potshots at the Republic pilot, finally Flex'ka's companion scores a row of decisive hits, tearing into the hull with emerald laser fire and sending the craft into an uncontrollable death spin. <<Command, scratch one fighter.">> Flex'ka reports dutifully.

Chesille Sabrond says, "Your positioning is 'proficient' but there is room for improvement." Sabrond seems to both compliment and berate the bridge crew. It's a strange selection of descriptors. "Although you may catch those damaged fighters, you are not using these 'obstacles' to their fullest benefit." She points at the mass of asteroids that clouds the war zone. "Firing at larger asteroids will create additional debris. You can use this to hinder their escape." Her expressionless face starts to bend into an impish smile. "I suggest caution though. Breaking up the wrong ones may make a future advance difficult.""

Maybe this far out the New Republic fighters are out of practice? It's hard to say. With the tacticians and early warning that the First Order allies are recieving and giving they are dominating the fight so far. The TIE's scream closer to the New Republic fighter craft, using the asteroids and the debris to their advantage. Four of the New Republic fighters are claimed in this passing. Leaving blaster parts floating through the blackness of space. It was getting close to the endgame for this particular fight. It wasn't that hard to tell.

"Hinder their escape...and hinder the movements of our own fighters, should they prove less than capable of operating within the increased debris field," Tamsin replied. Whether she agreed with the solutions that were being chosen by the command staff in the command deck, did not seem to matter. They had their orders as she had hers and she offered what assistance she could. "There is an asteroid cluster in Delta quadrant, immediately above the yard. They will attempt to bottleneck you there." It was an odd sort of prescience, and it changed from moment to moment, but as the feelings came, Tamsin relayed them.

Flex'ka is certainly a capable pilot, having served in similar fighters for decades before being reassigned to Navy. The TIE Fighter especially hasn't seen much change in how it's operated, other than the shields and hyperdrive. The craft moves like a refined version of the old TIE Interceptor, dodging asteroids, the debris of prolonged battle and other such obstacles in the hunt for its next victim. The added rubble does nothing for the gunner's ability to find a target, though, several shots just dissipating into rock and durasteel plating.

The Sith Captain steps towards Tamsin. Her smirk having disappeared by this point. "You should have more faith in the fighter pilots." She attempts to bestow the compliment onto the First Order and Knights of Ren. It's said at a low volume as to not disturb anyone else. "They are skilled combatants. If they are unable to handle the additional debris, your fighter corp will be stronger after their passing." The praise starts to slide into the typical competition. "Sith pilots relish the challenge. The culling of ineffective soldiers is the natural order of things. The weak die. The strong survive."

One of the New Republic fighters strafe's out ahead of the rest of the pack and levels it's sights on one TIE pilot that is taking a risk by moving out of the planned attack. There is a flash of green and then there is a bright ball of light as the TIE explodes into itty bitty pieces. It would be pretty if it wasn't one of their compatriots getting blown to hell and back. The NR fighter pilots manage to make a comeback, but that is not to be when the TIE's come back with a vengeance. They manage to take out the rest of the New Republic fighters. All but one.

There is one fighter trying its best to get back to the orbit of the planet. But while the pilot is focused on getting back, they aren't focused on the area around them. One of the large asteroids that the TIE's had been avoiding with the help of their bridge crew completely pulverizes the limping fighter.

And all goes quiet on the fighting side for now.

Tamsin, who did not look away from the viewport, nevertheless, tipped her helmeted head towards the Sith officer as she made to step closer, "And if we were simply concerned with the 'natural order' of things, this would not be at issue. But, as you said yourself, our goal is to maximize successful acquisition of the republic manufacturing facility. Culling the weak before we are absolutely certain that we have wrung every bit of usefulness out of them is a waste of resources." As the battle played itself out, Tamsin finally stepped back from where she had been standing, calling back to the crew, "Ready the landing bay for the returning fighters. I will oversee triage and medical myself." Her helmet turned towards the Sith Officer, "I will escort you back to your transport."

There was clearly a difference in opinion! This is to be expected. Some of her people might even encourage that they lay into the conflict. For now though, Sabrond stands silently as Tamsin expresses herself. Her inner politician doesn't want anything to boil over too soon. She lets the tension die down as much as possible by choosing not to respond. The woman gives the doctor a respectful nod of the head before falling in behind her escort. It appears that she has worn out her welcome.