Log:Rogue Squadron: Codru: No I in Team

Codru:No I in Team

OOC Date: February 3, 2021
Location: Montu Codru
Participants: Jax Greystorm, Callax Dalso, Ax, Zandra naMuriel, Karas Darkwing, Zul Gradnk, Neander, Tallie Lintra, Miri Telula

A dour looking blue skinned male Duros in a New Republic Naval Uniform stood at the front of the briefing room, the holoprojector behind him displayed the Republic Phoenix behind him. The pilots of Rogue Squadron were seated in the briefing room. "I'm Lt. Commander Cad Yevos, and to put it simply things are going grim down there. The First Order has pushed us back to our last rally point in the Capital Spaceport. If the spaceport falls, we will not be able to land in the Capital. Terrain in and around the Capital is preventive of letting that happen. So we need to resupply troops below. We're sending in three transports to drop troops and equipment. You're to provide escort. It's an easy operation on paper and it's not a glorious job. If it was a glory job, I would be standing in front of Black Squadron. If it was a Blue Milk Run like it seems on paper, I would be talking to Echo Squadron. The latest reports indicate there are two full squadrons of Tie/SFs in the area. Marking indicates Veteran Squadrons. You have your assignments. You and the transports launch in Five. Nav computers and astromechs have coordinates already loaded. Good luck Rogues, May the Force be with you."

As soon as the squadron launches, the transports identifying as Jenth, Krill, and Leth make contact, the squadron takes the lead and forms into formation. The flight into atmosphere is quit and there's no sign of combat yet.

Being out here, away from Chandrila, meant more dangerous missions -- higher stakes -- and even Miri knew that. They all knew it. The services team had been working tirelessly in their new post on the Renegade, giving the highest level of care to every starfighter slated to go out. Miri Telula, resident busybody, felt it necessary to personally check each and every one herself after work had been completed. And so, each member of Rogue Squadron would find that their fighter is in the best shape it's been in a long while. Even minuscule details, such as the balancing of the port and starboard Tibanna gas tanks, had been handled with the utmost precision. Whatever untold dangers await them in the Outer Rim, Rogue Squadron would at least be well-equipped for them. Each cockpit received a fresh spritz of Miri's perfume.

Miri would be there, lingering at each cockpit ladder, watching and waiting, listening for anything that might suggest that the fighter wasn't meant to be taken out. Any excuse to rotate another one in. Each Rogue, prior to climbing their ladder, would get a kiss on the cheek -- if allowed -- and a wave.

Miri stands in the center of the hangar bay, squinting her eyes as the fighters begin to roar with energy. Miri sticks her hand in the air and waves them off with a greasy rag before starting a timer on her datapad. It's counting down -- a length of time she calculated that their fighters could maintain sublight travel before requiring a refuel.

"Good hunting…"

The sound of Miri's good hunting still ringing in her ears, Tallie releases from the Renegade's fighter rack, making straight for the planet. Behind her Fiver reruns checks, and, all is normal and green, thanks to the superlative work of Wing Support. In the near distance, the edge of space becomes a spectral violet where it kisses the atmosphere of the planet. The X-Wing judders as they angle in steeply in the most economical entry into the gravity well. Time, fuel and safety all weigh in on the trajectory.

Flipping on coms, Tallie's voice is a rough but audible crackle as they start the descent, <<"This is Rogue Leader. Keep sharp, keep alive and protect the transports. Good luck out there.”>>

Neander listens to the briefing and then is off to the hangar. As he goes he calls over to Zandra, "See you out there," and then he spots Miri near his ladder up to his ship. Which is a surprise. And then she kisses him on the cheek. Which stops him in his tracks for a moment as he looks at the mechanic, and then mutters quietly, "Thanks?" a little confused. He then quickly climbs up the ladder and starts to prepare his ship for liftoff.

Once in space, Neander settles in to his usual routine, checking his ship's systems, making sure he's all set with everything, and then flicks the switch to lock his S-foils into attack position, and then calls out, <<Rogue Six locked and loaded,>> before he rolls his ship around to come back to where he is set to escort the transports.

Rogue 12 runs towards her fighter, flipping the switches to turn it on <<"Rogue 12, ready!">> she announces as she flies out of the cruiser <<"Beepo, check the ship!">> she continues, flying towards the gravity well, looking at her fuel.

Zandra listens quietly to the briefing, and just nods her head. "Seems a good thing to be doing, but not exactly safe. Go figure." She smiles at Miri, offers her a "Thanks, Miri," and boards the A wing. Sorry, it's not an X. She launches along with the others, taking her position. << Rogue 5 ready, >> she says. << 6 and I are watching out for each other. >> She keeps the A wing at the same speeds as the X'es to start with, as they move into escort formation.

Deploying at Tallie's wing, Callax and Black Ten follows their squadron leader smoothly, the X-wing raking the atmosphere upon entry to leave trails of sparks and flame flickering at the edges of the fighter's open wings. Below, the landscape spans vast and glorious, barring the columns of smoke drifting out of the battered towers of the capital. << Rogue Ten, on your wing, Leader, >> Callax intones over comms, flat and choppy with encryption. << Boards green, guns hot. >>

Karas sits quietly as he listens to the briefing. This wasn't his first time nor would this be his last, but as the briefing continues, he looks around at the other pilots. He's flown with them a lot and now back into another war with the First Order, though to him this has been a continuing war since they've started, they were just in a lul he thought. Once they are dismissed, again he goes back over the information that was provided, though now it's on his datapad.

Leaving and heading towards the Renegades fighter bay, Karas thinks on what they have to do and knows he will do his absolute best, as he ascends up to the fighter bay, he hears the beep from Spark. He smiles to his droid and climbs into his cockpit of his fighter. He looks at all the lights being green and he's amazed the fighter is purring. "Thanks Miri." he says as he puts his helmet on and as the canopy closes, he settles himself in his seat and straps in. Taxing to the launch area, when it's his turn, <<Rogue 2 launching.>> Rogue 2 launches from the hanger of the Renegade.

Jax gives Miri a Roguish wink at the kiss on the cheek. "See you around kid." Then he climbs into the cockpit of Rogue 9. He reaches into the pocket and pulls out a holocapture of the Sesti and the kids. He makes sure it wedged the lip of sensor reading. "One more time." Then he launches with the rest of the squadron.

As the squadron and the transports make atmosphere outside the capital on course for their destination, the sensor pop up with hostiles identified as Aurek and Besh Squadrons. Besh Squadron is further away but coming in fast. It's at that time the quadron learn that Jenth's pilot is a talker, and young. Despite the encryption on the com, << This is Jenth here. Looks like a whole mess of mynocks coming this way. It true you guys that good? Isn't the A-wing pilot a jedi and part of you flew with Black Squadron in the Resistance days? Cause I hope so. >>

<<"Rogue 3 engaging,">> Ax says as he pushes his E-wing forward and lights the skies up with his heavy lasers. Of course, flying in atmosphere was a bit different than flying in space, and he overcorrected a bit. "Damn," he mutters as his enemy easily dodges his attacks.

Rogue Squadron flanks the ships in a spiral arranged around the transports, strung out in a line, first Krill, then Leth, then Jenth with the talker on coms. Smiling to herself, Tallie answers, <<"Copy that Jenth! Are you going over our CVs for the incoming TIEs. Nice of you. Hope it puts the wind up their backs.">> Coming in from below them, the first wing of TIEs blip on her targeting reticle.

<<"Maintain the screen for the transports, work in wings one out one next to our precious cargo.”>>

Rogue 12 Zul growls as she opens up <<"Rogue 12 engaging too!">> she yells, letting out hershots towards the closest TIE, hitting twice.

As the transports call out incoming, Rogue 6 turns quickly towards the threat. He looks over his shoulder to make sure his wingmate is with him as he calls out <<Rogue Six, engaging,>> and then he fires a pair of linked blasts at one of the incoming ships. They spash against the shields of the fighter, and then he pulls back his throttle and starts to turn around to re-engage. <<With me Five?>> he asks.

Zan arches a brow at the words from the freighter captain, letting Tallie deal with those communications. On the private comm for Rogue, she says, << Chaff and jammers at your say so, Lead. >> And then Neander is off on a target, and she peels off to shadow him, the Zippy A wing pretending its an X for the moment, more or less. << Right with you, Six. Let's go get 'em. Keep in mind we're on escort - we need to stay between them and our cargo. >> Cause sure the freighter folk will love being called cargo.

The scent of Miri's perfume is fresh in Callax's nostrils as they check the guns, ensuring that convergence is right and the cannons are synchronized. << On your target, Leader, >> Callax informs Tallie, bringing the nose of the ship down a bit to better meet the incoming eyebats. As the leader comes into view, Callax angles hard for it, loosing a hard volley of red light into the ship, stripping its deflectors and sending a thin plume of smoke streaming from a breach in the wing. "Hold still when someon's trying to kill you, darling," Callax mutters to themself. "Have you no manners?”

Flying in formation with the rest of Rogue Squadron, Karas keeps his eyes on the scopes as he flies and as Aurek Squadron comes into sensor range Rogue two forms up with Rogue three. <<Rogue 3, on your wing.>> he says. Seeing the target they were going after, Rogue two lines up his shot, as he fires he shakes his head watching as the red energy lances misses their target, <<Sorry, missed that one.>> he says.

The Tie/SF slam into the squadron and their wards. The pilots choosing to let their gunners engage the fighters of Rogue Squadron as they concentrate on the lead freighter. The first pass is devastating. The freighters shields are stripped away and it's beginning to smoke as it battles to remain up right. Jenth's pilots on the channel again, << I'm scared guys. She's holding together but just maybe. They do that again and I'm not going to make it. >>

Rogue 9 is on the Wing of Rogue 12. So as Zul engages A3. Jax follows up with a shoot stripping off shield and leaving the hull darkened. << A3 engaged light damage. >> He sighs to Exine, "This isn't going well."

In the commander's voice, laughter can be heard as she coms, <<"Keep them in line, Fabulous.">> Maintaining screen for the fighters, the ascent of incoming TIE's puts them at a disadvantage. The first shot damages shields on Aurek 1 but no more, softening him up for Callax.

<<Copy that Violet, drop chaff, jamming is a two-way street.">>

Green shading off into the full spectrum of the rainbow radiate from the transports as they begin taking hits. As she begins to throttle back toward the transports, the canopy of the T-85 flares a brilliant green when they take a hit from a heavy cannon. <<"Fabulous, I'm good here. We've got to thin them out, Rogue.">> Tallie makes good on her wish and fires at Aurek One. The pilot flies superbly but buckles under the concerted fire, bugging out. The TIE plummets toward the ground in a trail of fire and smoke. The orange of a canopy is the last sight of the fighter as the pilot ejects.

<<"Jenth, we've got you. Hold tight. You'll be landing hot in another ten.”>>

<<"Rogue 3, I'm gonna run defense for a bit. Hope this ship has good shields,">> he mutters as he gooses his bird towards the Jenth, to try and take enemy fire instead of the nearly crippled freighter. <<"Jenth, I suggest you punch it hard and try to get to a landing somewhere, I can't keep this up for long.”>>

Rogue Six zips around after the fighter he's chasing. He's not the best escort, as the TIE fires a couple of blasts into his shields. He rolls, and then comes around to return the favor, nearly knocking out Alpha 5's shields. "Just a little more and we might get him running," he says to Twofie in his cockpit, before he glances at the transports.

Zandra might not even have noticed the lasers fired at her, from the bad guys' turret. She concentrates a bit, as much as she can, reaching for the Force. << Chaff probably not needed yet,>> is her comment. << Going to try a missile. >> She gets her lock and when the reticule hits green she fires, but alas the missile doesn't quite find the ship it's aimed at. She mutters under her breath, and then slides her A wing around to try another run. << We need to pile on and take them out, maybe. >>

With the first departure of the enemy, Callax squares up on Three and sends a salvo into its hull dead center, obliterating it utterly. << Wings, focus your firepower and strip them down. We need to keep them interested in us, not our transports. >> Hopefully Tallie will forgive them for taking the mic for the moment, but that's what an XO is for...

<<Copy that Rogue 3, I will keep you and Jenth covered.>> Karas says into his comms. He scans his sensors and see how well the rest of the squadron is doing. Karas sees one of the fighters who fired on Jenth, he quickly banks hard right and comes around. "I gotta make sure Ax and the Jenth stays safe." he says to Spark. Beeping comes from Spark, and as Rogue 2 comes around, he targets Aurek 5, pressing the triggers on his control stick, angry red energy lances erupts from the wingtip laser but Aurek 5 is a good pilot and is able to evade the shot.

Aurek 1 and 5 are running like scaled Kath Hounds. Aurek 3 is just gone. The rest of Aurek Squad aren't breaking from this fight. Their gunners targeting Rogue Squadron, the pilots are hunting the wounded prey of the transport Jenth. Every Tie fires and every Tie should hit. Jenth's pilot is heard over the channel. << I think this is it it Rogue... I'm not going to make it. Tell Miri that I always wanted to ask her out... Wait, I'm still here?! That's a good idea Rogue 3. >>

Jax and Zul had been helping with Aurek 5. Jax lines up a shot and pulls the trigger << Sent one packing. It's still got teeth. It's engines are a different story.>>

Ax, aboard Rogue 3 goes for broke. Laser blast after blast rocks his E-wing, but none get through to the damaged ship. "Prepare to eject!" he says as every warning light on his flight console flares to life, a cacaphony of alarms are deafening him before he can punch out. The fighter's ejection seat was designed to spit him out in space, a small shield surrounding him to keep him from suffocating or succumbing to the vacuum of space. How it would work in atmosphere, hell he had no idea.

"EJECT!" Ax calls out, too rushed to hit his comms to broadcast out. A downed fighter, or even a downed pilot was better than losing an entire frieghter with full crew and the necessary cargo it held. It's a good thing he packed his survival duffle under his seat. As long as he survived the ejection, he'd be good, at least for a while.

The dogfights spiral out from the three transports racing for the ground. Smoke blooms around them, the atmosphere ripe with red and green laser fire. Cannily the TIEs concentrate their fire on the first transport, Jenth, crippling its shields. <<"Rogue 3 , report your status. Just don't get lost someplace on the planet or in a bar.">> To the others in the Squadron, <<"Hammer the TIEs. We can't all be like Burnt Offering.">>

Shields still barely holding, Rogue Leader peels off of the middle of the group to fire on Aurek 12 which cannily zips out from under her lasers.

The TIE he's been tangling with seems to have gotten the better of him. Neander growls to himself, and then says over the comms, <<Could use a little help here,>> before he tries to do a snaproll and fire at the ship attacking him. He misses, and calls out to Twofie, "Hang on back there, it's about to get rough," as the droid brings up the fighter's shields a little bit.

Zandra rolls into a dodge as she's fired at, and she sticks with Neandar, letting him pick the targets as his wingmate. Once done, and he's moved a bit out of the way, << Six, remember to repair, and I'm with you, >> she calls, so he knows he's not alone. She hits the throttle, zooming in, peppering a7 with her lasers in retribution for his shooting at Neander, and then barrel rolls to come around again.

The sight of Ax's fighter going up in flames causes Callax's blue eyes to widen - and then narrow into slits. "All right, you bastards," they hiss to themselves, away from the comms, "If that's how you want it -- Babo! Shields to full, darling, we're going in hard!”%R%RBut as they do go in hard, tracking Tallie's wing to stream fire into Twelve, the TIE pilot is too wily; the salvo misses the ship entirely, though Babo whistles and chirrups to indicate that the shields are back at full. << Pull together, >> Callax calls over comms, their voice hardened into iron. << That's one of ours they've taken down - make them pay for it with their lives! >>%R%RBecause that's the Chiga--er, Dalso way.

Seeing his wing man Rogue 3 blasted by heavy laser fire, <<ROGUE 3!!!>> he calls out his eyes narrow as he checks his position, he screwed up. He's too far out, shaking his head and quickly pushing the throttles to max. The T-85 pushes Karas back into the pilots couch as he makes his way towards Rogue 3 who is now extra vehiceluar. Karas has lost too many friends those who remain are right here.

Breaking right and coming around to circle Jenth, Karas looks to his HUD and sees oen of the fighters that fired. The T-85 maneuvers and dives and rolls through laser fire. It's as if Rogue 2 is blazing comet at how quickly it moves. Upon getting a firing solution, red bolts of energy are fired at Aurek 4, the pilot was able to escape him. Gritting his teeth a little, <<I'm going back to cover both Rogue 3 and Jenth.>> he says into his comms.

The space port and the landing zone is just in sight. Another of the Tie/SF of Aurek squadron peels off the fight knocked out of them. The scream of more Ties entering the fight in the form of Besh Squadron is disheartening. That is until the anti-air guns at the Republic hold out open fire at the ties of Besh Squadron sending them scrambling and going up higher in the atmosphere. It seems Besh Squadron is content to let Aurek and Rogue duke it out.

As Rogue Squad rallies around Jenth and Ax's sacrifice play. The remains of Aurek Squadron see a hole and go after Krill transport. Like a pack of wolves they rip into the transport. The voice of Krill's pilot coming across the channel. << Krill requesting protection. We're taking heavy Damag-- There's the sound of an explosion* >> Then static before a new voice comes on to the channel, << This is Krill, Captain Down. Engineer Rorak taking command. >>

Jax frowns as he sends another Tie/sf packing. << Look like it just us and Aurek. Though They seem enough. Looks like home is close. >>

Who knew that ejection seats had micro-repulsors in them to slow decent down to survivable speeds? Ax just found that out, and it was a good thing his duffel was under his seat because his flightsuit was ruined. Buster was still screaming and screeching in his binary tones. Using his headset comms, Ax calls out. <<"Rogue 3... ship is gone. I just landed. A bit bruised and banged up, but nothing I haven't dealt with before. Be safe out there. Get the bastards that shot me down.">> Now, he was working to get himself free of the chair. His injuries were minor, mostly some scrapes and contusions.

Mouth set into a grim line, Tallie watches Ax's E-Wing disappear off of scan and then Ax. The transponder on his ejection seat is the only reassurance that he will be picked up by friendlies.

<<"The second transport is taking heavy damage. We've got to keep the TIEs from hammering it. Show them your teeth, pilots.">>

Tallie attempts to live up to her own exhortation, hammering Aurek 11 with three hits, nearly knocking out its shields.

More shooting, more dodging, more shield repairing for Rogue Six. "Yes, I know I haven't landed hardly a hit all night, you can stop calling me 'Ace' sarcastically Twofie." Neander shouts at his droid as he dodges the latest assault. As the Transports report he frowns, and says a few different curses under his breath.

Zan uses her meditation skills to keep her emotions in check, as she is well aware that Ax's fighter just went up in smoke. She succeeds well enough that she dodges the lasers fired her way, flying like she's a ghost almost. Her lasers are a little more real, as they start to pound on the shields of Auresh 4. <<Getting there, >> she says. A smile crosses her face as the anti aircraft weapons kick in, aiming at the fighters that are still higher up. It's a moment of thankfulness, as they do have some relief. At least there's only one squad, not two. This is - a difficult mission indeed. As Ax speaks up, Zan relaxes infinitesimally.

With the fear of the Maker put into it by Tallie, Callax's follow-up strike on Eleven falls short as the pilot wheels and banks through the stream of laser fire. "Not good enough," they hiss through gritted teeth, unheard of by any but Babo. "Just not /good enough/." But the time for self-criticism is way later in the night; these transports have to land, and they have to do so in one piece. Callax moves with Tallie, cycling faithfully to her next garget, but wishing like Hell that they were faster.

Rogue 9 and Rogue 12 are helping out the Boss lady and Boss Callax. As Tallie hits Aurek 11 with three devastating hits stripping it shield. Jax is on a tight bank his cross hairs lined up on the target. He pulls the trigger on his flight stick. The Tie exploding. His voice crackling across the com, << This is 9, I got your back 10, any time you need it. >> Then he kept on flying on. He glances to the picture of Sesti. "Ax, we'll get you back. I can't go back to Chandrila cause Kadi will kill me and you'll help her. " He means Sesti.

As the landing zone draws closer, Jenth and Leth hang back, letting Krill land first. It was probably the most dangerous part of the missions for the transports. Once Krill is landed, then Jenth lands. Jenth's pilot calling across the com, << Thanks Rogue Squadron. I hope you find Rogue 3. I owe him a bottle of booze. >> It's as Jenth signs off and that Leth starts to make it's approach Aurek Squadron down to half strength strikes. They strike hard and fast. The transport's shields crackle and collapse. The shots hit hard on the engines with precise shots. The transport just falls from the sky with rumble. When the dust clears there's a dead transport laying crashed outside the safety of the Republic's stronghold in no mans land. WIth the scream of ties, Aurek Squadron streaks upward, wobbling solar panels in mocking salute to Rogue Squadron.