Log:Rogue Squadron: Precious Cargo I & II

Rogue Squadron: Precious Cargo

OOC Date: June 16, 2021
Location: Corellia
Participants: Zandra naMuriel, Jax Greystorm, Zul Gradnk, Callax Dalso, Tallie Lintra

During the impromptu briefing in the hangar of the Pantheon, Commander Lintra walked up and down in front of two U-Wings. "As if you didn't know, the official term for the team that we will be taking down to the surface is advisors. Not soldiers or co-revolutionaries." The commander looked wryly amused before continuing.

Behind her, logistics personnel unload crates from a forklift. "The two UT-60D U-wing Troop Transports are going to be crammed between the advisors and equipment strapped down in the aisle on suspensor carriers. Kanaan Flinder and Wiatt Ender, the pilots on loan from Blue Squadron, both experienced combat veterans, will be flying the mission with us. They will be flying Transport Besh One and Besh Two. Our destination is between two fronts in the Denendre Valley. We'll get them down there, get them unloaded, and bug out. After that, it is up to the local ground forces to protect their advisors."

A glance at the datapad held in her left hand gives her the time for takeoff. "We are t-minus ten, pilots. If you have no questions, get to your X-Wings." A file of advisors walks up the ramp of one of the transports carrying heavy packs and heavier weapons.

Zul Gradnk nods, running up, wearing a horrible, golden pistol around her waist t "Got it, Leader!" she offers, quickly moving to climb into her cockpit and start the ship up

Zandra considers for a moment, understanding the mission. "So, we're protecting the advisors, covering fire, keeping any enemy fire off the transports, yes? Are there any other mission objectives?" she asks, watching Tallie quietly. She smiles as Zul rushes off, but isn't in a rush as yet. The Jedi Knight and ace pilot has grown up a bit over the time she's been with Rogue.

The last few minutes before boarding their fighters was spent answering questions. Nodding to acknowledge the Jedi pilot, Tallie replies, "Get them down, Violet, and release them into nature is the brief."

Not ten minutes later: The Squadron takes a steep dive down to the surface, flanking the advisors and their precious weapons. The U-Wings flare red as the atmosphere buffets their shields making for a quick grueling descent toward the Valley. Wiatt Ender, his voice breaking up, reports, <<" Transport Besh One, we're optimal...land...in fifteen minutes.">> The Ikkrukkian pilot, Flinder, copies the message.

<<"Keep your heads up, folks.">> Tallie's voice crackles over comms. No sooner spoken than Fiver beeps a warning. <<"Looks like we are going to have company. I guess they thought we were getting lonely.">> On scan, a wing of six TIE/sf fighters scream upward to cut off Rogue's descent.

Zul Gradnk looks over. DOn't hit the back, don't hit the back... she packed some of her own merchandise <<"They might not be trouble, LEader. We fought TIEs before, right?"

Zan nods her head to Tallie's instructions, and heads for her X wing. She's opted to stick with the fighter that has a droid and more shielding these days, even if it does impact her shooting. Survivability counts for a lot. Once ready, her X wing drops with the others, taking her position, ready to go. As they head down, she can hear Ono muttering his usual 'ono' call that she by now mostly just ignores. It's like a tic or bad habit. << Rogue 5 in position, and copy Rogue leader. Ready when you are. >> Protect the transports, draw away the fire. Right then, here we go again.

<<"They just want to give us a little more practice, Rogue 12.">> An extraneous thought hits Tallie that she shares with the others as the TIE/sfs close on them. <<"Someone needs a callsign.">> Rogue Squadron has height on the incoming fighters but flies a tight formation around the U-Wings, who aren't as agile in the air though heavily armed. Lasers color the clouds as they descend over the distant green valley?the TIEs set on harrying the U-Wings. Rogue Squadron holds its own against the menace.

Zul Gradnk laughs at that <<"I imagine, LEader.">> she begins, letting out a shot and hitting a TIE <<"Well, we shall respond to their kindess, shouldn't we? If they are being nice!">>

Given instructions and the obvious incoming, Zan flips her s foils to attack position, and splits off to hunt some TIE. << Roger. I'm targetting Zeta Three - goal is to pull them off the transports. >> Zan repeats, as even in atmosphere she makes the X wing zip. She has a selected target, and she heads at it, at breakneck speeds, feeling the gravity pulling at her as she concentrates briefly on the Force, muttering a soft mantra under her breath. And then her reticule glows green and she fires. Zan's shots are good, hitting with all cylinders as the startled TIE doesn't even have a chance to dodge. << Zeta 3 shields appear to be down, >> Zan reports as she spins and flips her X wing, pulling around for another run.

The fighters dance their deadly pirouettes in the clouds above the planet. Red and green lasers shred the air. Even with the difference in numbers, it looks like the transports will make it to their rendezvous intact despite a lucky shot getting through the screening fighters. BESH ONE's shields glow green for an instant, then the pilot returns fire, missing his adversary during the deep descent.

<<"Excellent work everyone. Good shooting Violet. We are ten minutes out to the drop zone.">> Inside Besh One, one of the advisors, turns a peculiar shade of green. Their shields hold as they race to the surface. <<"These fellow," the Ikrukkian pilot, Flinder, smugly calling, "no shoot straight."

Zul Gradnk aiiyaaays as she lets out her fire, laughing <<"Good! Who funds the drinks?">> she decides to joke... oh Zul, you are jinxing it!

Of course as she comes around for another pass, the TIEs fire back, and Zan is aware of the lasers zigzagging across the sky, though at the moment, she's not needing to dodge much. "Be ready, Ono. Keep those shields at their best, >> she offers to the R2 unit in the droidspot. Ono doesn't respond as such, the R2 just continuing his nervous 'ono ono ono' sound. Zan evens out her flight, but does remember that they are being shot at, so she keeps a reasonably evasive profile as she chases that Zeta 3 fighter again, firing once she gets the opportunity to do so. This time, the pilot of Zeta 3 appears to have woken up, and he dodges Zan's incoming shots. "Hah," Zan says, with a bit of a smile. "Guess that pilot is in there after all."

The ride is rough inside the Troop Transports. The military advisors hold on grimly as they are shaken in their restraints by more laser fire. Both Blue Squadron pilots prove their worth as they return fire under attack, the shields holding.

To the west of the dogfight, a phalanx of fighters show up on scan. Six more TIE/sfs join the first group harrying the Transports. The fight for Corellia has been a steady back and forth, the New Republic troops entrenched on the surface, experts at guerilla fighting tactics, have maintained the ground take but with heavy losses.

<<"Rogue, Besh One and Two, this is Rogue Leader, we have more incoming. We are five minutes to our objective. I estimate they will be on us before the Transport touch down.">>

The sky over the valley is a serene blue with soft puffs of white clouds streaked with the green and red of lasers. A second TIE/sf group, designated Cresh squadron, bears down on the Rogue fighters protecting the U-Wings. The enemy fighters ignore the X-Wings darting around the transports, concentrating their fire on the two well-shielded U-Wings.

The pilot of one of the transports reports hastily in accented Basic, <"Besh One, we got damage on aft shields. We repair as can. Landing maybe not so okay.>>

Only four TIES remain of the initial six TIEs from Zeta that had attacked them, one of them already shieldless. The Jedi pilot, known affectionately by the Squadron as Violet, had single-handedly taken one out of action. Their Twi'lek pilot and the squadron commander had driven off another, leaving ten TIE/sfs intent on stopping the troop transport vehicles from reaching the ground intact.

<<"We copy you Besh One. They must think we are hot stuff to have so many fighters on us. Let's show them they're right.">> Fiver thrills a series of whistles over coms at the same time the watch officer on the Pantheon signals her, Tallie relays the message to the rest of the group, <<"Rogue 12, Violet, we have three more from Rogue Squadron joining the party. Think the FO will send more after us?">>

Not a moment later, a heavy trail of oily smoke erupts from Besh One. <<"Lucky bastard, hit rear engine. We go in too fast.">> is radioed from the U-Wing that lists to one side in an angle too steep to make for light landing even with suspensors.

Zul Gradnk frowns <> she offers, for once a bit less cheerful than usual <<"But... it isn't as if we couldn't beat them so... time to look forward!">> he continues in sing-song <<"It will jst go well!">>

<<Incoming help is always welcome," >> Zan says, the violet crown of hair on her head not visible. But definitely worth the callsign. << Meanwhile, let's keep these bogeys busy - they're somewhat irritating, don't you think? >> In the background, the sound effects from her R2 are somewhat monotonous, with that ono ono ono sound. At least he doesn't use a high pitched squeal. Zan brings her X wing around to take another run at the TIEs, intent on doing her best to protect those transports.

Far in the rear, Callax has been lagging in the watch - and dealing with TIEs in the background, keeping up pressure. But now, with one of the transports hit and coming in hard, the pale pilot takes a deep breath and pushes in to spray the TIEs of Zeta with an off-target curtain of laser fire to keep their attention away from the wounded U-wing. Suppressive fire works on the ground, right?

<< I'm coming in fast, >> Callax calls over comms. << Point me in a direction, Leader. >>

Rogue 9 goes flashing across the sky as Jax and Exine push the engines of the T-85 to it's limits. << Rogue leader, Rogue 9 reporting in. I'm coming in fast.>> He was on Rogue 10's wing. Exine blares over the com at Jax about the engines. << It'll be fine! I trust in you.>> Jax says to himself, "Let's hope he's as good as I think he is. Meanwhile Exine is adjusting engine coolant, fuel mix ratios, and cursing the day that Echani devil that bought him on Nar Shaddaa and then introduce him to the mad man he's been saddled with.

Only when his X-wing enters the fray Jax does let off on the engines and pulls the lever on his s-foils to go in attack position. His X-wing targetting one of the Tie/Sf.

Ten TIE's have the two U-Wings as their sole target despite the fire rained on them by Rogue Squadron. In the damaged U-Wing, eight advisors grip their restraints as laser cannons paint the shields green, shaking them hard. Unseen turbulence makes their teeth chatter, while in the cockpit, the pilot fights hard to bring them in in one piece. Besh Two is largely intact. It carries the special weapons that Corellian Resistance has negociated for. TIE/sfs, Zeta Four thru Six, are determined that they won't reach their target and are joined by Cresh One thru Six.

Rogue Leader radios as she zeros in on the nearest TIE, <<"Give them everything, you've got pilots.">>

Zul Gradnk hrmphs as she fires towards her old enemy, Zeta Four <<"Right. I think I jinxed it!">> she claims <<"But we can still make it!">> she offers with a grin <<"10, could you help me? We are getting them down safe in no time!">>

With Jax and Callax arriving, Zan grins, and she takes off, on Zul's wing for the moment, flashing in to fire on the target as soon as Zul is clear. << On your Six, Rogue 12,>> Zan calls. Her target reticule goes green and she fires, her lasers sizzling across Zeta 4, finishing off the shields that Zul nearly destroyed, and scorching the hull. << Looks like Zeta four is retreating from the fight, >> she reports. One down - so many more to go.

They are, in fact, the pilots -- but coming in from the back, with a ridiculous amount of enemy TIEs and friendly ships ahead, Callax cannot be quite as aggressive as they're used to being, especially in atmosphere. << Targeting Besh Five, >> Callax announces, stitching a salvo of bright red light across the sky, a salvo that the target very narrowly dodges. Callax's white teeth grit faintly behind their lips, and they angle the ship to open up again on the dodging fighter.

As Callax goes after Five the wounded Tie/SF, Jax goes after the Tie's wingmate. His cannons firing and it's a sold shot bue the pilot is good and only shields are lost. << You ever get the feeling they've stepped up their training program?>> Jax says as he reamins on Callax'swing. He stays in formation as they set up their next lance, <<Any ideas on helping those U-wings? These guys don't wanna play any more than they have too.>>

The two U-Wings are being hammered, neither return fire, too intent on bringing the troops in safely. The tops of the tall trees come into focus as Rogue dogfights to the last moment. Eight TIE fighters remain, firing without stop at the limping transports. BESH One, trailing smoke, disappears between two majestic trees and is out of sight. The last words the Squadron hears are, <<"We got bad. Bad, Rogue. Fire...">> Not one hundred meters away, Besh Two takes the top off of a huge tree and skips like a rock over shorter trees in its descent to the ground.

<<"Change of plans, pilots. Deadeye, Violet, and Rogue 12, follow them down, make sure they meet up with the Corellian Rangers. Fabulous and Sunshine are staying up in the air to give the TIEs something to think about. Questions?">>

The eastern valley is heavily forested, the second-growth timber still used in traditional country homes for the wealthy. It is ideal for covering troop movements, less suitable for a U-Wing coming in hot and heavy. The original landing target had been on the edge of the forest in a bantha pasture. Above the beauty of the rolling valley land, the two transports carrying military advisors rush toward their landing, <<"Besh One, we are tracking you.">> Rogue Leader sends in a voice tight from G-forces.

Below, a blanket of leaves cushions the footsteps of the troopers surrounding the AT-AT that moves with ponderous grace through the tall trees, shaking the ground with each round metal footstep.

Zul Gradnk winces, as she gets hit <<"Got it, leader!">> she offers. Good she smuggled those grenades on <<"Do you think it will be a long distance, leader?">> she continues, heading down <<"Also, thank you for helping me... Violet.">>

Zul Gradnk lifts up a brightly glowing spherical Gungan Boomer and looks as though she about to throw it! Look out!

Zan's eyes widen at the instructions. She hesitates for a split second, while dodging laser fire. << Roger that, Rogue leader. STay safe up here. I don't want to have to haunt either one of you. >> She turns her direction, attack foils folding as she preps to land. <<Let's try to land together, near the freighters. >> She aims her X wing that way, mentally thumbing her nose at the TIES they are leaving behind.

With fighters lcrash-landing and their people at risk, Callax attempts to put new pressure on the fighters swarming in the air; the bulk of the AT-AT gets their attention, but then the Jedi are on the case. << Targeting Six, >> Callax announces, pouring fire onto the wily fighter, but /this/ time, at least, the Force is with the ace; their fire, though still not their best, lands squarely across the back quarter of the TIE, tearing into its shields.

As Tallie gives the order to land, Exine starts chattering about a AT-AT walking through the trees toward the landing site. <<I see it, Exine.>> Then Jax catchs the AT-At as it crosses between two trees. His laser canons firing at the lumbering metal beast. There's a quick press of the trigger as he sends five blasts into the machine. << We got a new playmate down there. I recommend shooting it with your X-wings over engaging it on foot.>> Then the jedi comes in for a landing. He comes crawling out of his cockpit and dropping his helmet in the seat. He drops down to the ground and his hand goes to his saber as he takes off running to provide support.

Below them, a platoon of Stormtroopers sighting the smoke from the disastrous landing coordinate their actions, splitting into groups to attack the two transports, secure in their superior strength. Deadeye has another idea. He sends debilitating fire that the other pilots try to match, Rogue Twelve hitting it along with Violet.

The huge machine staggers, taking a few drunken steps, swaying in place. It crashes into a tree which sends it careening into another. It falls with a noise that sends hundreds of birds up into the air.

The Stormtrooper Captain radios for support. Unbeknownst to him, the Corellian Rangers have a column of fighters moving in from the north and south, flanking the Stormtroopers while three Rogue pilots try to protect the downed transports.

Inside the transports, hot metal pings, and the smell of burned exotic materials and greenery blend. There is radio silence from Besh One. The pilot hangs in his restraints, unconscious or dead. Besh Two radios. <<"We down. Maybe got injured. Need help. Where Rangers?">>

Meanwhile, in the air, Rogue Leader and Fabulous show the TIEs their dance moves.

AT-AT! ATTACK! EXTERMINATE! FIRE! <<12 landed!">> she yells, before leaping from her cockpit, grabbing her boomer balls, ready to throw and drawing her perhaps worst weapon.... a golden pistol... who even makes those travesties?

On the way down, Zan also fires at the AT-AT, because it's a big golden target of opportunity. She then lands safely, and scrams out of the xwing as fast as she can. "Ono, guard the ship!" She takes a moment while doing so to reach for the Force. And then she takes off running, nearly tripping, which has her grumble and reach for the force more. Her speed increases, as does her balance as he runs like the wind. When she gets close enough, she finds a likely tree, not too big, not too small, and sends it flying at the first stormtrooper she sees. Incoming wood, buddy. try and figure that one out. meanwhile, Zan pulls her lightsaber into hand, ready for action.

Whilst the Jedi and Zul perform acts of daring-do upon the forested hills of Corellia, Callax is now, finally, getting up to snuff. "Right," Callax murmurs, taking the convergence knob with one hand and cranking it back to a much closer degree -- deadly close quarters fighting in space, but in atmosphere it's much more what the doctor ordered. The doctor has also ordered Callax to put four bolts through Besh Six's control cabin, which also means the coil of black smoke boiling out of the now obliterated back half and its out-of-control spin into oblivion amongst the trees is also medically recommended. Science is on their side.

<< Besh Six is down, >> Callax announces, a slight smirk tugging at their lip. << Moving on to Cresh flight... >>

Jax takes off at a run towards the platoon of stormtroopers. His blue saber igniting as he goes with a hmmm. "Provide escort to the teams. I'm going to cause a bigger target for the troopers. Then when a tree goes flying past him, Jax calls out, "Not fair using the local Flora against them. Then launching himself up in the air and comes to land in a clump of storm troopers and his saber slashes around in a whirlwind of slashs, dropping the troopers and junior officer. "Hello there. I recommend surrendering or going the opposite direction."

Smoke rises from both transports. In Besh One, the pilot is dead. The military advisors unbuckle, groggy from the crash landing; most are silent while they go about dragging equipment out into the forest. Their Captain stands in the doorway, seeing a flash of violet to one side of a clearing, then a double flash of blue. "Trouble in coming. Let's double-time it out of here. Sanders check on the pilot, and then we move."

Overhead, Rogue Leader, and Fabulous remind the FO that they are dealing with aces, keeping them too busy to strafe the ground. One of the TIEs, Zeta Six, loses a horizontal wing and plummets like a rock straight down.

The three Rogue pilots on the ground prove themselves formidable. Half the troop of Stormies lay in the leaf litter under the gently swaying boughs of the majestic trees. The other half hunker down, unsure of which direction to go

Zul is at 1st base.... wave the arm with the ball, get it whirling, let go and.... can the storm trooper hit it? Can he return it? Catch it? No! He can't! STRIKE! He's OUT! "Watch out, Violet!" she requests,r aising the gold pistol as her hand reaches for another ball to throw in the future potentially

Keeping up the pressure, Callax turns to the next target, streaming death from their fighter's wingtip guns - but with Zeta's destruction Cresh is stepping up its game, and Callax's chosen target in the secondary wingleader is far to numble to be caught in the net. "Ah, but you just keep your attention on me, darling," Callax murmurs as they pull the fighter into a steep climb and wingover to get back into firing position, as easily as if it were yesterday's news. "Keep your attention up here..."

Zan's lightsaber is out and as she hears Zul call to her to watch out, she does just that, getting out of the way of incoming grenade? Alrighty then! There's a smile, but Zan's quickly back to business, heading after those stormtroopers. They're now surrounded by Lookout!, Deadeye and Violet, with grenades and lightsabers lighting up the area. Zan disengages one from the fight, but the others manage to use the foliage for cover and she misses. That's okay, for now. "Tag, Deadeye," she calls out, working in tandem with the other Jedi knight. Once done, she heads for the transports to make sure they're okay over there. Or at least, mostly okay.

Stormtrooper shooting all around him and he quickly dodges ones shot. Then in the middle of the fight Jax lashes out with his saber dropping the last two of the platoon. He lowers his saber. "I wish more of you would choose peace." He opens up his comlink, << Rogue leader, this is Rogue 9. Immendiate hostile ground forces are dealt with. Rogue 5 and Rogue 12 are moving to assist with team extraction. I am staying vigialant.>> Then he calsl out to Violet, << Tag, why am I getting tagged?>>

The Stormtroopers face a formidable enemy after years of dealing with a populace cowering under the strength of the FO. Two Jedi and a Rogue pilot, unarmored, take down the platoon, one by one. The Corellian Rangers arrive in pairs, going from body to body. One of them launches a grenade at the AT-AT, leaving nothing to scavenge for the FO, part of their war of attrition. In a clearing full of light, the Rangers meet the Advisors carrying the precious cargo - a top-secret weapon packed in eight heavy boxes.

Above the treetops, Sunshine, and Fabulous zig-zag, looping in tight turns to keep the TIEs from firing on the ground troops.

Tallie radios, Violet and Deadeye, <<"Copy your update, Deadeye.">> A smile can be heard in her voice. <"We are being called upstairs. Command says the Rangers have arrived and are calling us back. We still have six on us. Nobody said we can't fight them as we bug out of here. Sadly, the pilot of Besh One died. The Rangers will recover both transports.">>