Log:Rogue Squadron: Nebulous Freighters III
Rogue Squadron: Nebulous Freighters III
OOC Date: January 27, 2021
Location: Ringali Nebula
Participants: Ax, Jax Greystorm, Zandra naMuriel, Callax Dalso, Karas Darkwing, Nova Korell, Zul Gradnk, Tallie Lintra
Three freighters with false transponders blasted out of a sector of the Ringali Nebula at Rogue Squadron's first attempt to find the missing ships from Chandrila. Intel from pilots recovered during the second mission takes them back, looking for the smugglers' ring leaders.
The ring leaders have eluded the Squadron twice, though not without losing significant assets, namely a repair platform and over a dozen fighters. Time has come to cut off the head of the beast. Karas Darkwing took charge of collating the Squadron's scans and pointed them off into a hazardous section of the quadrant - a large asteroid field in a high radiation zone.
Now, Zandra naMuriel, in her intrepid A-Wing, leads the group in scanning ahead of the two Corvettes: "Phantom Knight and the Spirit Dodger." Each of the corvettes carries a mix of fighters, B-Wings, X-Wings, and Phantoms to give the Squadron an edge on the ships they are out to find. From the bridge of the Spirit Dodger, CMD. Lintra makes an all-ship broadcast. <<"To all pilots, go to your designated fighters, as soon as we have sensor data be ready to launch. Good luck and good hunting.">>
Having been informed of the nature of this mission a little earlier, Nova Korell is already climbing into Rogue 11, parked in the hangar of the /Spirit Dodger/. She glances up at the crane that's even now lowering Jammer into the ship's socket. "Just hang on back there. It's going to be a real mess outside this time."
Jammer hoots acknowledgingly. For a change, the droid seems less irritable. Maybe he's seen scans of this nebula before.
Zandra is in the A wing already, out there scanning away. She's on high alert, but calm, relaxed and doing her best to keep watch with all her own senses and the fighter's. Quietly feeding data back to the corvettes, as she has it, just letting the sensor feed provide all the input. "Here's hoping," she murmurs to herself, and then, << All systems green. Scanning for any anomalies or bogeys. Sensor feed looks good and strong. >>
Zul Gradnk runs over to Rogue 12, climbing into the cockpit as her droid gets lifted in behind here <<"Rogue 12 here... launching!">> she announces, starting to flip the appropriate switches
Karas was heading to the hangar bay, he was happy he was able to utilize the scans that was given to him and he was able to help get the squad at least here. Upon making it to the hangar bay, Karas smiles and he looks up hearing Tallie over the comms. Nodding his head he quickly makes it over to his X-Wing, he climbs up the ladder and jumps into the cockpit. Spark was already slotted in the droid socket of his fighter. He puts his helmet on, does a quick preflight check and everything is green. He gives a thumbs up to the flight crew and waits his turn to get ready to launch.
Flying in formation, Callax's Rogue Ten prepares to ply the gorgeous glow of colored space, filled with wonderfully lethal radiation. Why is everything lovely so dangerous out here in the great beyond? Quiet tonight, all business, the pilot's voice sings out amidst the other T-85s. << Launch control, this is Ten. All green, ready to launch when ready. >>
Jax was being Zandra's wingmate for the mission. He was quickly and quietly providing backup for Zandra. He mutters to himself, "Maybe the RZ-3 will have an astromech slot. I should contact somebody." Then raises an eyebrow, "Is that Four orbital laser plate forms?" He double checks his sensors, "Yup." Then opening up a channel to the Squad, << Rogue 9 here, Violet can you confirm the four orbital weapon platforms I'm reading on the scopes? >>
Ax was on the bridge of the Phantom Knight currently, his hangar filled with Rogue Fighters in case a pilot needed to change into something a bit more fitting. The Raider-class Corvette was a nastily modified gunship, set up for anti-starfighter and capital ship warfare. Why a smuggler had such a beast in his arsenal was anyone's guess.
<<"Rogue Leader, this is Rogue 3 aboard Phantom Knight. If my crew needs to light something up, let me know. Over.">>
To his crew. "Prepare for combat," he says to the ragtag group of misfits he had aboard the ship. The ship lights turn red and shields go up.
In the soup of radiation, sensor scans begin to make sense of the asteroid field. The ring of rubble, beautiful and deadly to ships, has started to coalesce into new planets in some distant future.
The A-Wings did their work for the Squadron. Interspersed in the ring are laser platforms placed in such a way to give the incoming ships and fighters an area to concentrate their search. Four of them with dual lasers slaved to an unknown base have yet to pick up on the incoming fighters.
The fighters launch from each ship in successive waves. Voice crackling over coms from the ambient radiation, Tallie, in Rogue Leader, comments to the Squadron, <<"We have yet to pinpoint the freighters we are searching for. Weapons hot! Be on the lookout for incoming.">> As she speaks the laser platforms come alive.
Rogue Eleven is leaving the launch bay even as the early transmissions come in from the A-Wings. <Nice, Deadeye. /Knight/, /Dodger/, can either of you spare some sensor attention on the area Jax is talking about? We need a good look there... and maybe some firepower, too.>
It's rocky out there. Only Jammer's warning squall saves them from an incoming asteroid; Nova barely rolls and noses the ship down in time. "Black on white, that was close..."
And then her eyes fall on the platforms Jax just picked out. <This is Eleven, I confirm those platforms! I'm also picking up rising power levels! They know we're here! Eleven, I'm going in!>
Nova noses further down and shoves the throttle home, sending the X-Wing streaking in at the still-dozy weapon platform. Laser cannon fire tears into the platform's deflector screens, but they're still up. <First blood...> the blonde whispers, pulling away to set up another attack run.
'Toughies' must be her latest normal-person word.
Zandra continues to work on scanning, having a bit of trouble with the touchy a-wing's sensors. She is concentrating on them so much that she nearly hits an asteroid, skimming it as she catches it at the very last moment, and adjusts the throttle. It's a good thing her A wing is fast. She manages to not die, but continues to fuss with the scanners. There's a glare at them, as they continue to not show anything, and then she applies a tiny bit of percussive maintenance, which suddenly has the platforms come into view on her sensors. And as well, there's << Seeing something weird at the edge of the system. Not sure what it is, and I'm not sure I trust my sensors right now. Or my own ability to use them. Could someone confirm? >>
Zul Gradnk grins as she flies out of the carrier, cheering <"AIIIAIII! OPENING FIRE, ELEVEN!">> she yells before... promptly missing most of her shots, grumbles in Twi'Lek hearable over the coms.
Launched and punching ahead with the other ships, Callax scissors open Rogue Ten's wings, bringing the ship into position to begin an attack run once the others are beginning their own. << Leader, this is Ten, >> they intone over comms, << Targeting Platform Two. Firing... >>
The ship's guns flood with power, converting tibanna into brilliant red death. Streams of bloody light lance from the tips of the ship's guns, centering on the targeted platform; the shields flare and die in an instant, leaving it defenseless. << ...direct hit, all guns. Platform Two, shields down. I repeat, shields down. >>
Once Rogue Leader launches, Karas waits for his turn to launch and once he is given the go ahead from one of the flight deck crews, he launches. <Rogue 2 launched and weapons already primed and ready.>> Karas says into his comms. Once he is out, his sensors pick up the radiation and it does make it hard to pick out things, he is able to follow the others of the squadron. Moving around the asteroids, Karas doesn't slam into one yet though as he come into range of the weapons platforms, he settles himself back into his seat. He takes a breath, "Here we go." he says to himself. He maneuvers in quickly, flipping the switch to activate his strike foils. Upon getting a target lock on the first weapons platform he makes his run. Angry red energy bolts fly from the X-Wings cannons striking the shields, rocketing past it, he saw the blue sheen of the shields as he hit them. He doesn't let it shake him, those shields are strong. He saw the other pilots hit their marks as well. <<Going around for another pass on Platform 1.>> he says.
As word of Platform 2 being down, << Rogue 9 here, I hear you Fancy. >> Jax says switching his weapons to missiles. He reaches out to the force letting it guide him as he goes speeding towards platform #2. As he draws close enough to fire securely he pulls the trigger firing a pair of missiles giving them just enough time to arm. << Firing missiles. >> The missiles strike causing a massive explosion and with the fire clears the laser platform gun is a twisted hunk of metal. Then Jax breaks off in a sharp bank to return to Rogue 5's wing.
"Fire for effect!" Ax calls out to the gunnery crew, each gunner in a separate seat. Each side of the wedge-shaped vessel lights up with turbolaser fire, ion cannons, quad-lasers, and heavy laser turrets. It was an impressive assortment of fire and many of the shots connect against their targets.
Ax is at the helm of the ship, piloting it and keeping it from impacting against asteroids and such, though there are a few that ping off of the heavy shields. Definitely, this was more challenging than flying a starfighter or light freighter.
<<"I softened them up for you, Rogue. My guys are good, but they're not Roque Squadron pilots. Show them how the professionals do it.">>
Ax looks over to his sensor officer. "Keep searching the stars, there's gotta be more out there we're not seeing yet." Of course, Ax has a huge grin upon his face. While this wasn't as fun as flying a crazy-fast starfighter, the Knight definitely showed an impressive amount of damage potential. Even with the shields taking fire, his crew was already running damage control.
The pilots dodge and weave among the asteroids, large and small, adding to the laser platforms' hazard. The first platform remains open to attack, its shields gone, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Platform Four still fires giving the pilots the possibility of using their sensors to triangulate on the asteroid hiding the freighters.
<<"Rogue Leader to the Squadron, I will swear in a court of law I just had a reading of something on the edge of the system. Now, it's gone. What kind of fix do we have on the hidden freighters?">>
Distantly, Nova notices the sensor contact of the second platform vanishing from her sensors. Moments later, a storm of energy obliterates the third. <Nice work, guys! That leaves two /really/ lively ones. But, give us a second...>
Those platforms seem to have generators on the undersides, and she's just noticed the central hub for the power transfer system. Pulling a quick kick-turn, she comes back in from underneath, her laser cannons spitting crimson destruction!
The resulting explosion is very, very satisfying, and a testament to what a True Gunner can do with a little time to work. <Scratch one, Rogues. One to go.>
Pulling away to set up an attack run on the last platform, she's distracted by a sudden, sharp whistle from Jammer. "What is..? Oh... /oh/! Rogues, sharing sensor data! Jammer just noticed these platforms have been sending and receiving a lot of signals, and much too fast for com chatter! They're remote-controlled! Which means we can follow their signals back to the source! Lead, I suggest we blow up that last one just yet! We can still knock out its weapons!>
Distantly, Nova notices the sensor contact of the second platform vanishing from her sensors. Moments later, a storm of energy obliterates the third. <Nice work, guys! That leaves two /really/ lively ones. But, give us a second...>
Those platforms seem to have generators on the undersides, and she's just noticed the central hub for the power transfer system. Pulling a quick kick-turn, she comes back in from underneath, her laser cannons spitting crimson destruction!
The resulting explosion is very, very satisfying, and a testament to what a True Gunner can do with a little time to work. <Scratch one, Rogues. One to go.>
Pulling away to set up an attack run on the last platform, she's distracted by a sudden, sharp whistle from Jammer. "What is..? Oh... /oh/! Good job!"
Jammer's smug whistle is only mildly grating this time, coming as it does from that sudden feeling of elation. They've got a target now! <Rogues, sharing sensor data! Jammer just noticed these platforms have been sending and receiving a lot of signals, and much too fast for com chatter! They're remote-controlled! Which means we can follow their signals back to the source! Lead, I suggest we blow up that last one just yet! We can still knock out its weapons!>
Zul Gradnk yells out as she turns towards the fourth platform, opening fire audibly and.... leaving a scratch in the paint of her platform as her shots go straight past it
Zan continues with the scanners, though of course, she's dodging the asteroids as need be. She mumbles and begs and prays, but her scanners aren't showing anything more than what Tallie called out. << Roger Lead. I saw something similar earlier, >> she says. And then Moonbeam comes up with her information and it's like a little lightbulb goes off in Zan's head. Her zippy A wing is on the move, in a figure eight and her fingers speedily adjust sensor targets as she promptly works to triangulate on the chatter, the platform and ... << I've got something, >> she calls out, the urgency in her voice loud and clear. << Coordinates incoming, along with the scanner data. >>
The flashing of platforms being destroyed causes Karas to smile, checking his sensor boards they are scrambled a little but he does see one of them being taken out. Hearing Nova, <<I'm moving in on Platform Four.>> he says as Rogue 2 rolls into a tight turn to bring him around going after the fourth platform. He doesn't push his engines, he didn't need to, focusing on the task at hand. Spark alerts him to the Platforms again and tuning his sensors more onto the Platform he's locking onto, he notices something and as he gets it, he hears Nova's comment about the Platforms, <<I can confirm that. I know where the freighters are.>> he says as he fires on the fourth platform. Red energy lances streak out at the weapon platform, destroying it.
Nova's voice comes through loud and clear, and Callax moves to take advantage of their flight leader's excellent idea. << Acknowledge, Leader, >> Callax calls over squadron comms, tightening the convergence distance of the guns with a turn of a knob on the flight yoke. << Approaching target platform. >> Squinting down the nose of the ship, Callax seeks the linkages between the platform body and the turrets - odd pupils twist into odder shapes, and a squeeze of the triggers throws down a hail of fire into the platform. The converging streams of light strike it almost dead center, and shearing away armor and understructure alike; the linkages of the turrets are hit, one entirely torn free from its mounting while the other suffers a major malfunction and one of the cannons blow. << Not quite destroyed, Lead, >> Callax reports dully, a flash of frustration sparking inside of them. << But three out of four guns disabled. >>
Jax running information through his A-wing computer, "Really Really need an astromech slot on the RZ-3." Jax says as he dodges astroids and laser fire. Then computer comes up with information confirming Zandra's intel. << This is Rogue 9, Violet's finding confirmed. Transmitting location of Assroid to the squadron.>>
With the platforms all but destroyed, and Zandra sending telemetry data to the Knight, Ax instructs his crew to fire a full salvo of fire from the upgunned warship. Meanwhile, he was advancing the vessel forward to get a target lock on the enemy base.
"Open broad comms to our new friends," Ax says to his comms officer. When comms are opened, Ax says in his deepest and most intimidating voice, <<"I meant to miss, the next salvo will not. Power down or perish.">>
Of course, intimidation goes a long way when you rapidly wipe out their primary defense while taking no casualties, and have an obvious fix on their base of operations. Of course, getting a target lock never hurts either.
<<"This is Commander Tallissan Lintra of New Republic. Your defensive measures are down. You are surrounded. Prepare to surrender or face the consequences.">>Even through the crackle of ambient radiation, Tallie's voice is as hard as the metal-encased asteroid that the freighters are hiding in.
After the last salvos from the Squadron, the final platform is nearly silent, a broken stream of telemetry trickling towards the discovered base.
A voice sounds, cold and disdainful even through the distortion, <<"So certain, Commander?">> The voice breaks up. <<"You'll have to...get...Never....">>
Lintra smiles to herself, imagining the roar of the turbolasers if the asteroid had atmosphere. <<"The next shots will not miss.">> On tac comms to the 'Phantom Knight', <<"Open fire.">>
Callax Dalso (Cax) pages: I think there should be some serious structural flaws in the asteroid at this point. It's large and dense, but that was a hell of a salvo. I'd pose chunks of it cleaving free, and frankly let scanning people know that fractures are starting to form throughout the asteroid. They're going to break it into gravel at this rate if they continue on.
<<"Roger that, Rogue Leader.">> Ax says over the comms to his unit. "You heard the lady. Full volley fire on enemy base. Fire for effect!" And the gunners onboard the Knight begin to unleash hell upon the base while Ax is syncing up the volley of assault concussion missiles from the launchers on the belly of the Knight.
<<"Phantom Knight to Rogue Leader, I did what I could, weapons are recycling power. I recommend a liberal dose of proton torpedoes.">> Ax is smiling. "You guys deserve a raise. Drinks are on me when we get back to port. Plenty of R&R after this," he says to the bridge crew and gunners on the Knight.
No matter how many of them you fight, it's never dull watching a pocket warship unleash pure Hell on a target, especially one that's on the other side of the board. <You play a lovely tune, /Knight/. Eleven is making a flyby to ascertain damage. That had to hurt!> A shove of the throttle and a quick roll and turn send the swift X-Wing on a near-collision course with the station. There's a lot of twisted metal, but the rock itself is the thing that gets her attention the fastest. "Whoa..."
She makes the course change for the return trip, cueing up the mic. <Rogues, that asteroid's got a fissure starting on the surface. We hit that very much more, there won't be a station here anymore. And they have to know that, too.>
With the data he has and then listening to Ax issue a threat and Tallie trying to make this pirate group listen to reason, he shakes his head at the stupidity of the pirates. Hearing their CO tell them to light'em up. <<Copy that Rogue Leader.>> he says as he watches as the Knight opens up and he sees the lethality of the frigate, and he shakes his head, "You guys should've given up. That's all you had to do." he says. Spark comments and he shakes his head, "People don't listen at times buddy." he says to his droid. Pushing the throttle forward, the T-85 rockets forward, <<Copy that Rogue 11.>> he says. Selecting to fire proton torpedos at the fissure that's been pointed out. Not waiting for a lock Rogue 2 fires, and even as he does he cringes, <<Kriff, my shot is off.>> he says as the torps miss their mark.
Jax watches the firework and he adjusts his throttle to zero and just floats in space. He reaches out with the force feeling how close the astroids are coming to his A-wing and ready to dodge them. There's a quick scan of the astroid that is being pummeled into nothingness. Then he opens his channel, << Enemy forces, this is Rogue 9. I am transmitting the structural integrity of your base. There is a fissure forming in your base. For your health and well being, I humbly suggest that you evacuate and surrender. Another Salvo of that magnitude and your base will break up. >>
But so many choose the hard way. Oh, horrible hard way! Callax squeezes a salvo of their own torpedoes, but they soar clear. No joy for the redhead tonight.
Inside the landing cavern, a delicate drizzle of metallic dust filters down on the three freighters caught like Banthas at rest. The woman with the cold voice, a Rodian, stands pointing a gun at her crew, "Prepare to escape at maximum velocity," she commands, repeating it on open coms to the other freighters. A large nugget raps the exterior, another larger one which becomes a veritable cascade of boulders. "SHIELD, SHIELD," she yells. Overhead the asteroid begins to crack like an egg. Without consulting the other crew; her First Mate takes out a blaster from under his jacket and fires. The Rodian's head smokes from the blast.
A panicked male voice with an Outer Rim accent, screams, <<"New Republic command, we surrender. We surrender. We are powering down now.">>
The crack on the surface of the asteroid deepens. A chunk breaks off slowly pulled by the rotational forces of the asteroid's spin, opening the cavern to space.
<<"Stand by for our troops. Any resistance will not be tolerated.">> Tallie replies. To Rogue Squadron, <<"This is Rogue Leader, we got them. Excellent work, all of you. Intelligence is going to have fun with this one. Patrol formation while the Corvettes move in with the tractor beams, ladies and gentlemen.">>
The Phantom Knight moves in closer, its tractor beams going to work to keep enemy freighters from escaping, and pulling in any escape pods that launch from the asteroid base. A crew of security forces, including a squad of B1 battle droids and a Droideka are waiting to greet any newcomers. <<"Maybe I'll start bringing this bird along more often. It's amazing how fun it can be. Though, someone else needs to command it, because I kind of enjoy being in a smaller and more agile vessel,">> Ax says with a bit of a chuckle. <<"Who's leading the boarding party, anyway?">> he asks.
