Log:Rogue Squadron: A Friend in Need

Rogue Squadron: A Friend in Need

OOC Date: January 18, 2021
Location: Chandrila System
Participants: Ax, Jax Greystorm, Callax Dalso, Nova Korell, Zandra naMuriel, Karas Darkwing, Zul Gradnk, Tallie Lintra

A few hours earlier, Rogue Squadron had received a distress call, one that didn't go through regular channels as the Echani pilot had only managed to cobble power enough to fire off a single burst transmission. It was a short message, just some coordinates, a single word, HELP, followed by Ax's Rogue identification codes. Arriving at the coordinates sent, there's little to be seen. It's black, and there's a starfield background. A lone comet cruises through in the far distance, barely visible to the naked eye, but easily seen on sensors. If Ax was here in a ship, he wasn't here now. Likely, in the time it took to get mobilized and on location, his ship has drifted. This wasn't along any normal hyperspace lane, so without knowing what direction his ship was coming from, it was going to be finding a needle in a haystack.

The Squadron lights out of Chandrila with authorizations and planning being done on the wing. Rogue Leader is suspicious but unwilling to leave a distress call unanswered, especially when it is from someone who she knows is an ace pilot. The circumstances of the call, the short burst, the authorization codes have left questions unanswered. And, when they arrive at the coordinates without a sign of the missing pilot to be seen, the commander runs a scan that shows nothing of consequence. Frowning, Tallie fingers the white scarf at her throat, looking out into empty space, considering. "Rogue Leader to the Squadron, A-Wings I want you flying in advance but well within range for us to respond to you, give us your max sensor readings. Clock the comet even. Right now, we don't have any information to sneeze at, as they say on Pippip 3. Any ideas I'd like you all to share, don't be shy people. We need to find him."

Tonight it's Callax's turn to take the XO's ticket, something that they take with unusual solemnity - no 'la's' or 'darlings' when they take Rogue Ten's cockpit, just a flat, grim resolve that follows them into the cockpit as they follow Tallie at her wing. That comet, that gets the fair-skinned creature's attention as Tallie mentions it, but follows currently with their eyes tracking the telemetry streaming into Rogue Ten's tactical displays.

<< Rogue Leader, on your wing, >> Callax intones. << Boards green and guns hot. Leader, that comet could shelter a raiding force, could it not? In or around the tail, perhaps. I'm not an astronomer. >> That said, Callax considers. << Or it might just be window dressing for the show. Cancel that, Leader. >>

Babo whistles faintly. "Enough of that, Babo," Callax says over intercom to their droid partner, "We're wearing the medal today. Just keep an eye out and the shields hard."

Zul Gradnk is in the X-Wing she is currently assigned <<"Eleven, are you seeing anything?">> she asks, checking her own <<"I... see a ship over in the distance.">> she begins <<"How about you, Eleven?">> "Beepo, sensors out..."

A few hours is horrible response time, but it's the best anyone could've managed under the circumstances. It still grates on Nova Korell; she knows too well how long a few /minutes/ can be in combat, let alone a few hours. It's made worse by not knowing just what the Hell is going on. 'Help!' isn't much to go on... and it suggests that whatever happened is already over, and power is a concern. The possibilities chasing themselves through her mind are all awful.

They don't get any better as the streaks of gray resolve themselves into stars, and Rogue Eleven pops into Realspace. And there's /nothing/... not even an old ion trail to follow. Even the coordinates Axel sent are bare of anything, even wreckage. <Rogue Eleven here. We're in the right spot, but sensors are getting nothing. Boss, he could've flown to another spot, if he had power. If he didn't... well, dead ships tend to drift, and I'm not picking up any sign of an ion trail,> she says reluctantly. <If you've got something, I'm following, Twelve. Lead on.>

Zandra's in Rogue 5, as usual, her peppy A-wing keeping pace with the x-wings for the moment. << Rogue 5 here, Lead. I'm not seeing anything but will go ahead a bit, and see what bites. >> Also, see if she can see more that way. She throttles up and the A wing roars ahead. <<C'mon Corsair, let's go see what's out there. >> That's her wingman, that is, so she can be forgiven for singling him out. << Scanners at full and looking to see what we can find. Anybody got eyes on anything? >>

Jax was piloting an A-wing and serving as Zandra's wingmate. He adjust his sensors as Tallie's orders, Jax adjusts his sensors as the boss ordered, << Alright Violet. >> Jax finds himself falling to flank the other jedi flying the A-wing, << There's too much interference for me to make heads and tails of this lead. If you want I can try searching for him by more unconventional means. >>

Karas was tasked with flying one of the A-Wings on this op. He's got plenty of experience flying them so for Karas it wasn't much for him to help out in this area. He had to let Spark know he wasn't going on this run but to make sure their X-Wing is in top shape for the next mission. He didn't like hearing the sad bleeps from his astromech. Still they had a squad mate in need of help right now. With that, Karas launched in Rogue 2 though the A-Wing. Having forgotten how fast this ship was, it took him a moment to dance around the atmosphere and in space before he leapt into hyperspace with the others. The flight over wasn't that bad, he did have a little music playing but once they exited out of hyperspace, it was game time. <<Rogue 2 is here and copy that Rogue Leader.>> he says as he inputs the comets information and begins scanning the area using the RZ-2's impressive sensor array. <<A-Wing Group, make sure your jamming in on, so that we don't get jumped.>> he says. Having already done this one he came out of hyper space. Karas is scanning the area, leading a little of the A-Wing group, and as he does, a ping hits his sensor. <> he says into his comm.

<<I will send it back to you all>> he says as he transmit the information to the squadron. <<It looks like a disabled ship, and there is a fainter signal, something very old, I'm thinking old Imperial tech beacon maybe. It's not that far from the disable ship.>> he says.

Once found on sensors, it's not difficult to see why the message was so brief. A lone VCX-100, the Black Sands is drifting horizontally through space, its cargo bay door open. There are no lights coming from the ship, and its dark color scheme makes it difficult to detect with a visual observation until the Rogue pilots get much closer. A trail of debris, cargo crates and such, drift not far behind the vessel, the depressurization of the cargo bay likely the reason for the odd drift that the ship is exhibiting.

A single life sign can be picked up on focused scans, located in the cockpit of the ship, though the signs are barely visible. There are no electrical signatures present aboard the vessel, and to those experienced with such things, it looks like there was a major ionization that took place, likely from the cargo hold of the craft.

Far off, theres one flash of light followed by another. Likely a pair of ships exiting hyperspace, and even from the distance they are at, the energy signatures are showing up on sensors. These weren't fighters, but likely medium-sized freighters. Either Ax sent out a message to someone else, or they'd come with nefarious intentions, there was no other reason to be in this part of space. Shortly after their arrival, however, that entire region of space goes completely sensor dark and it was too distant to get a visual.

<<"Rogue Leader to Jax, if you mean scanning for life signs in an unorthodox manner? By all means,">> she responds. <<"I believe both you and Violet are in a position to do that. Right now, if we had to dance in Hutt slave clothing to find him, I wouldn't say no. Time is of the essence.">>

Tapping the yoke of the T-85, a habit she has when grappling with a problem, she speaks again, <<"Moonbeam, if he is adrift, any ideas on calculating trajectory?">>

Fiver whistles that likely he would drift toward the nearest star or planet and is running a search. Darkwing's voice interrupts the communication, <<"Copy your find Karas. Negative on jamming for the moment. Communications are vital.">>

The situation changes by the minute as signs of ships entering the system begin to show on scan. "I want one fighter to go to Black Sands, the rest of you spread out to set up a welcoming committee, weapons hot, for the incoming. We will assume guilt till proven innocent."

The arrival of Karas and the tossing of advice causes Callax's expression to harden somewhat, but they remain silent - eyes on the scopes, darling, eyes on the scopes. And the scopes only read out what the others find, because Callax is certainly not digging up anything extra on the scene. << Acknowledged, >> Callax replies to Tallie's orders. << Greystorm, get on it. Maintain telemetry throughout. >>

<Not necessary this time, Lead. Twelve was on the beam: We've found Axel's ship,> Nova replies, altering course for a flyby. <Going in for a closer look. Twelve, you should probably keep some distance. We're not alone out here. I'll form up with you after this pass.>

Rogue Eleven flits past the dark ship, making a wide circle to see if anything else is close. <Lot of cargo floating out here. No explosive damage or blast points... looks like something depressurized the cargo bay /from the inside/. There are no power signatures showing, so I can't tell what. Ship doesn't even have emergency power. I've got one life sign. It looks like it's in the cockpit. That's all I can see.>

Nova makes a sharp turn, heading for the squadron, and her wingmate. <On my way back, Twelve. No idea why hose other ships are there, so stay sharp.>

Zan can certainly tell when that area of space goes dark. <<They've got jammers over there,>> she reports, not like it's needed, but in case it's not as obvious to everyone else. Tallie's orders are listened to, and she nods. <<Roger, Lead. Moving to interecept. What about that other thing that Two was talking about? Seems there's something else out there with an emitter of sorts? Maybe that's what the other ships are looking for? >> She's just making sure that didn't get missed with the changing updates and information coming in.

<< Rogue 9 to Rogue 2, I'll take it under advisement. I believe we need the sensors at the moment. >> Then the word contact comes up, << I will try to do what I can Rogue 10. I, uhm, am more skillful at detection than communication. I do know that ship usually carries a fighter in the piggy back section of his ship. He often has a tailring with him. >> Rogue 9 finds himself coming to a complete stop not far from the cockpit. He closes his eyes and reaches out with the force to see if he can hear Ax. << It's Rogue 3 alright. He's stable and in a trance. >>

Finding that signal jamming isn't needed right now and honestly it was a good call. Karas doesn't have a wingman currently but that was due to the A-Wings needing to scout, still Rogue 2 moves into an overwatch position as those Rogues move to scout the Black Sands, he does focuses his sensors on the cargo. <<It looks like the old Imperial Beacon is what is in the cargo.>> he comms to the others. <<Sorry about that 9.>> he says. <<Yeah, it's been a while since I've been in a A-Wing.>> he says over the comms. Karas let's out a breath and he shakes his head a little bit.

The overwatch is still going, he drifts back over towards teh rest of the squadron. <<I'm not pickingg anythiing else up so far, but like Zan said, there is other sensor jamming from them.>> Rogue 2 is moving at a slow speed, listening to the comm chatter from the others, Karas keeps an eye on his sensor board while they get on with the rescue.

While sensors were being jammed where the incoming ships were, there's another energy signal that pops out of that dead-zone. A very small and very fast probe has been launched, its sensors doing sweeps the moment it clears the field, broadcasting its findings into the field. Likely, whoever these people are, they've found a cache of old Imperial hardware on the black market and are making good use of it.

Soon, communications are coming from the sensor void. <<"Republic starfighters. This is a legitimate bounty claim, stand down and leave system. This is your one and only warning.">> The voice has been put through a scrambler, making it difficult to determine whether it was male, female, human, or otherwise speaking, and while they were sensor blind, they were able to use the incoming communications from their probes to see what was out ahead of them.

As those Rogues are drawing nearer the sensor void, visuals can just barely make out the hull-shapes of an old YZ-775 and an even older GS-100 Salvage Ship that looks to have been heavily modified, at least according to the silhouette.

<<"Roger that, Violet, good thinking. I want you to keep an eye on them. Weapons hot, pilots - they are not jamming for the fun of it.">> The Commander's fingers rap the yoke hard as her afterburners burn golden in a push toward the incoming freighters. She taps a button deploying the S-foils into attack position.

<<"Two pieces of good news, we found him, and he is alive. I'm taking bets on what he will say about his cargo being spread over half a parsec.">>

The scrambled voice interrupts Tallie's moment of levity. Responding immediately, all traces of humor absent, <<"This is Commander Tallissan Lintra of the New Republic Civil Defense Force. We advise you to stand down. The ship in question belongs to the New Republic. This is a rescue mission of a CDF pilot. We were first on the scene. I repeat: Stand down.">>

"Ah, yes, our one warning," Callax murmurs to themselves. "Some fellows are always trying to repulsorskate uphill." As Tallie rushes forward, so does Callax, staying on her wing. << Might do right to lock target now, Leader, >> Callax advises her over direct circuit, away from other ears. << Put a torpedo in each boat and they'll turn fast enough. >>

Zul Gradnk keeps her hand above the switch for the S-Foils <<"Eleven, waiting on your order.">> she offers <<"Staying sharp, watching you.">>

<Right with you, Twelve. Looks like our company isn't friendly... and I'm beginning to get an idea of what might've happened on the /Black Sands/,> Nova coms, setting her own intercept course.

She flips her com system to open channel. <This is Rogue Eleven, we'll consider ourselves duly warned. Now, here's /your/ warning: We're part of a squadron that killed both Death Stars, and plenty of other people who were much better pilots you are. We were here first, and we'll be here after you're gone... /one way or another/.> She pauses to let the message sink in. <Now, I'm sure you can find hyperspace from here, and I suggest you do. Quickly.>

Zan frowns. << Leaving that one in your hands, 2, >> she comms, and then she says, << Hey, Corsair, going after that probe. >> She hits high speed in her zippy A wing and lets out a blast of laser fire at the annoyingly fast and small thing. << if we don't have sensors, they shouldn't either. Blast it! >> The last of course because she missed.

Jax regroups with the A-wing element and forms up seemlessly. He's flying wing for Violet as she goes to take out of the probe providing jammers for our bounty hunting friends. Though when Zandra misses the target. Jax opens fires with a precision shot that showed his skills with a ships blaster, << Well they don't either now. >>

Continuing to fly overwatch Rogue 2s sensors like the others are being jammed and well that doesn't help two ships emerge and issuing threats. The probe droid that was zipping around the air space did catch his attention but between Rogue 6 and 9, Karas catches the small explosion from the tiny droid. Checking his sensor board, he could see that nothing was coming up, fighting like this would be bad. Flipping a few switches and accessing the RZ-2's computer, Karas begins back feeding through the senors and signals, and is able to find the cause of the jamming.

<<Rogue Leader, I found the source of the jamming, it's coming from the GS-100, if I can hit the ship hard enough, I may be able to knock out the jammers they are using. I'm going to go for it.>> he says into his comms. Pushing his fighter forward, he smirks a little at Callax comment about 'nerfherders always trying to repulsorskate uphill.' The RZ-2 Awing Rogue 2 is closing the distance quickly, Karas can feel the ship all around him. "Krif, it's been a while since I've danced in one of these." he chuckles, <<I'm almost in range.>> he calls into his comm and once he is within range, <<Firing!>> he fires a concussion missile. Breaking away and high tailing it out of there. The concussion missile streaks off into space aimed true at the GS-100. It HITS!!!

<<"Republic Fighters, we repeat, this is a legitimate bounty claim on a Smuggling Vessel transporting stolen goods from Kuat.">> With their sensor probe destroyed, however, the newcomers are flying as blind as their opponents, but they're not dropping the jamming. They've also slowed their forward momentum. In fact, the GS-100 has actually stopped, and with it, the jamming field. If the YZ-775 didn't stop, it would soon be out of the jamming field generated by the salvage vessel.

Then, Karas fires his concussion missile, and even without the assistance of a targetting computer, the missile sails true. It impacts the top of the hull, shattering the linkages that held on it's salvage retrieval arms. The ship shudders, and the hull begins to crack, all power being redirected to damage control.

With their sensor jamming down and proving to be ineffective thanks to that well-placed missile launch, the captain of the YZ-775 gets back on comms. <<"This will be reported to the guild. The Republic will be paying for the lost bounty.">> The two medium freighters are turning about and raising shields. The GS-100 would have to limp away, but if there was a fight, it was kicked out of them already. There was still, however, a crippled freighter with no life support to contend with, however.

Tallie chuckles grimly to herself, <<"Give them hell, Moonbeam. I was the official voice. You just scared them.">> Scans show Zandra shooting at the probe that continues on course untouched until her wingmate blasts it out of existence. Rogue Squadron is hot. Karas shoots a speck out of the sky at maximum range.

<<"Great shooting, Jax, Darkwing.">>

The results are immediate. The salvage hunters rapidly reconsider their position. <<"Rogue Leader to outgoing vessels. It's your call. Still. Take my advice and save your time and effort.">>

Bringing her ship around, Tallie zeros in on the 'Black Sands' and soon to be pilot in distress. <<"Unless someone has a better idea, I'm calling in reinforcements to get a shuttle out here with Miri on it. We get him off and see if we can get his ship back up and running. I'll listen to your ideas. Has anyone been able to raise Ax on com?">>

<Don't forget to write!> Nova coms mock-cheerily as the bounty hunters slink back off to whatever rock they crawled out from under. Probably one on Kuat. You'd think people who build /Star Destroyers/ would have better security.

She banks and turns, changing what had been a charge into battle into a wide, circling patrol pattern, switching coms back to the squadron tac net. <Nice shooting, Jax, Karas. First round's on me when we get back.>

Tallie's question is a good one; admittedly, she'd been a little too busy to think about that earlier. <Um, negative, Lead. Sensors picked up zero power readings on the /Black Sands/. I figured that meant no coms, either. Could've missed something as small as a handheld, though if he's in a trance, I don't know if he's capable of answering.>

<< Nice shooting, Corsair! >> Zan says, pride in her voice. Also, she's fiercely glad that the stupid little probe has been shot out of the black. << Darkwing, great shot, >> she adds. Feeling a bit like a broken record, but still. She takes a moment to try to reach Ax via the Force. Jax's idea, right, but Zan too reaches for the Force, to see what she might. << I think he's on his second flightsuit and he has the tailring with him. Who probably does not have a flightsuit. >> Pause. <<He's worried about the tailring, and about his own oxygen, that's about all I can give you at this point. >>

Jax chuckles as he's offered all these round of drinks, << Thank you. You know since I stopped drinking booze, I get a whole bunch more drinks offered to me. >> Jax shrugs, << He's probably got a flight suit with internal air and probably only has a hour or two left. Between him and Adder probably the best thing to do is get him in the landing bay of a larger craft to get him pressured back up. >>

Karas shakes his head a little bit as he hears the comments, <<Thanks everyone.>> he says as he regroups with the others. A yawn escapes him as he hears the so called guild threaten them, and he nearly laughs over the comms at Nova, <<You tell'em Moonbeam.>> he laughs. Once he regroups with the others, he listens to whats going on. <<I hope Ax is alright. Our ship should be here in a hour or less.>> he says.

The two bounty hunting ships vacate the system. Meanwhile, the Black Sands is still dead in space and Rogue's corvette is still an hour away.

<<"The Corvette is still at least an hour out. We have to get the man oxygen!">> On internal coms, Tallie starts a conversation with Fiver, the R2. "How would you feel about taking a short trip with an oxygen cell?" A whistled negotiation ensues, leaving Tallie time to begin lining up with the drifting ship while she talks to the Squadron.

<<"Whatever is sending out a beacon needs to be taken care of. Do I have a volunteer? We don't want to invite more visitors.">>

The T-85 lines up with the cargo bay, jockeying with jets to match the drift of the freighter. <<"I'm sending Fiver with a present to Jax. He can slice to get into the cockpit and drop him an oxygen cell. In the meantime, 'Splash,'" a smile can be heard in her voice, "that's Rogue Two and Deadeye Jax will be keeping a lookout on the zenith for any more incoming.">>

<< Acknowledged, Leader. Momentary deviation to destroy that pulse beacon. Out. >> Callax banks away from the ship and the orbiting fighters, turning the convergence of the guns far out - and shreds it with a single salvo of laser fire. The crate pops, and the beacon is reduced to dust...and now there's a scattering of droid limbs and components out there like the guts of a chaff mine. "Ah," Callax says with a sigh, "I suppose I'll have to owe him one." Then it's back toward the ship.

<< Beacon destroyed. Returning. >>

Zan flies below everyone, keeping a watch on things, on the other side from the overwatch guys. << Sensors at max, keeping watch, >> is her comment. In an A-wing, no droid to help out, so instead she watches for any further incursions.

Jax throttles down his A-wing letting Callax and Tallie do their work. He closes his eyes and takes the moment to meditate, reaching out with his sense. Tallie had wanted him on look out. So he was on look out.

Fiver jettisons from Tallie's X-wing carrying a narrow yellow cylinder of compressed breathable air. With Rogue's support vessel only an hour away, that left Tallie with more than enough oxygen to finish out the mission and probably another if she wanted to push it. However, it does generate a warning light on her cockpit's HUD.

Fiver connects with the metallic deck of the cargo bay and begins doing its thing. Without power, opening the blast doors is impossible for the droid, so it resorts to using maintenance hatches to move through the ship towards the cockpit. Fortunately, the droid made sure to seal each passage behind it in the process, but it would be a slow movement. Knowing help was on the way, however, Ax was up and moving about.

Through the cockpit window can be seen a black helmet, to veterans and historians, it's very obviously the type worn by Imperial TIE fighter pilots. Ax had apparently dug into his stash of gear to pull this one out, giving him at least a few hours of oxygen until help could arrive. Gloved hands give the two-thumbs up sign to anyone that can see through the cockpit's viewport.