Log:Saber Squadron: Brave Saber Squadron

Saber Squadron regroups, as they attempt to free a station from pirates.

OOC Date: December 1, 2021
Location: Kira System
Participants: Ax, Ewan Eroh, Jax Greystorm as Self/Combat GM, Nerys Greystorm, Vega, Zandra naMuriel as Self/Story GM

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel)

The last time they were here was really not that long ago. The Saber squad that responded to the distress call found the system overrun with pirates, so much so that they were outnumbered, outgunned and had to make a run for it to escape capture. They promptly called for backup. There were some plans made, some ideas floated, and then another message made it out to the Jedi and Saber Squadron, that many of the pirates were going to be landed at a particular time... a wonderful time to launch a surprise counter attack.

The information was deemed reliable enough for Saber Squadron to scramble and head back to Kira system intending to scout out and see if they can help free Tridek station from the pirates.

It has been a while, so who knows what shape the station and its inhabitants are in. There's a concern for their health and wellbeing, given pirates aren't exactly sweet and gentle types. This only increases the urgency of the mission, rather than anything else - there are innocent civilians to rescue.

So, a quick trip through hyper gives folks time to consider options and whether they wore the right clothing for the mission. Or not. As the squad flashes in system, all sensors are on high alert, trying to find the pirate ships and any defenses they may have set up.

<<"Saber Squad, report in, this is Trigger. All systems green, sensors are calibrating and scanning for any hostiles.">> Zandra says, her ship perhaps a bit in the lead to start with. Only because she's the one who remembers this place, having worked with the locals here before, so she's worried about them. <<"What do you all see? Anything?">>

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

Saber 10 (Greystorm, Nerys), had not been on the initial foray into the system, but when the call had come in for backup, she had wasted no time in heading to her fighter and scrambling with the rest of the squadron. The questions she had asked were few. But that was Nerys. So long as she knew the mission parameters, which, given the particular Greystorm in question, usually included some version of a 'no disintegrations' admonition from Saber Leader, Nerys had jumped into the system along with the squadron, and lost no time in forming up with her wingmate. <"On your right, Saber 09. Following your lead."> Also giving her surround and her systems a good looking over. <"Anyone else seeing this? I make one, possibly two flights of fighters on patrol around the station.">

Saber Leader (Jax Greystorm)

Jax was piloting Saber Leader as the the Aethersprite jumped into system and Saber 5 sent out the request for people to check. There's a quicky glance at his fighter's status and it's all green. Then he turns to look out at the space station, "Seventy, They're going to know we're here. We jumped in too loud. Tell me what you're seeing on scanners. Is this lining up with what I see out there?" Then he hits his channel, <<"Saber Leader here. I'm green. How we doing this Trigger? I'm seeing a Cloakshape away from the rest of the herd."> He says as he forms up with Saber 2.

Saber 03 (Ax)

<<"Saber Three here, read you five by five. All systems green,">> Ax says as he brings his tiny snub-fighter into formation. He reaches forward to grab his pink sippy cup and take a sip before he's adjusting his headset to get the optimal use out of his small fighter. Opening himself up to the force, he and the ship almost become one. He truly enjoyed flying this bird.

<<"Sensors are picking up a pair of fighter wings on patrol. Sending data to the squadron.">> Ax says. He puts his sippy cup back, the magnet glued to the bottom keeping it secure to the top of his flight console. "Buster, send the data," he says to his droid. <<"Awaiting orders, but it won't take them long to spot us.">>

Saber 09 (Ewan Eroh)

<<"Saber Nine, hyperspace-clear.">>

Ewan's check in came with his usual quiet calm. As the arrow-shaped A-wing steadied and fell into a flight path. Already, he was careening around in his cockpit, studying by sight what the sensor readout was telling him. He lacked a Droid to do much thinking for him.

<<"Roger Leader, confirmed sighting. What's he doing out there alone?">> Ewan considered the ship for a moment as he pulled the A-wing towards it, but not yet increasing speed to engage. Ewan reaches up and begins to flip a few switches, opening data transfers to the rest of the flight. Then his eyes were looking for Ten, Eleven and Twelve.

Arisnar Aethersprite (Vega)

Saber 02 <"Saber 2 reporting in."> Vega states over the comms and there's a warble behind her as RND-1 is left out of things. Drama Queen! "You quiet down back there." she tells him with a laugh at that. <"Green, but sensors are picking up an object off by itself, can't confirm what it is."> she states over the channel again. "<Anyone got any better visuals?>" she asks, sounding hopeful. Then people are talking about being spotted and she sighs, <"Ah beans."> she mutters.

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel)

Sensor data comes in, from all the ships and a picture starts to form. there are two patrols by the station itself, on different planes, one horizontal and one vertical. There are two ships off on their own, each by itself. As the sensor data comes in, ship identifications start to happen: there's the foursome of z-95s identified as Zeta1 through Zeta 4, horizontally circling the station. There's the foursome of dune lizards identified as dune1 through dune4, on the vertical plane circling the station. They're not tight circles, but they are patrolling. One might consider how fast they could get reinforcements from the station, if need be. And then, oh boy, there's the two cloakshapes - out in the system. One each out there on their own, sort of hiding. What are they doing? Good question!

<<"This is a lot fewer ships than last time. If we're going to try to take them out and get civilians off the station, or take the station back, this might be our opportunity to catch them landed? I think we should press an attack, before they know we're here.">> Zan sets her S foils, and hits her acceleration, punching her ship up to attack speed. "Shields on to full, Ono. It's pirate hunting time." Hopefully she's not going in alone.

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

There was a of Nerys was said, 'Just do a flyby, Nerys. Gather intel Nerys.' But the rest of her, the one that took precedence, said, 'Eliminate the threat, Nerys. Don't waste time lollygagging, Nerys.' As Saber 05 moved in on the attack on one axis, Nerys broke right, adjusting her flight to bring her in on the opposite axis, so that they could strike on two fronts, and at least 10 would not risk being caught in the crossfire. Perhaps a day would come when Nerys could count herself a pilot skilled enough to consider herself a fighter pilot, but it was not this day. She did, however, manage two good hits. <"Enemy engaged, keeping on target.">

Saber Leader (Jax Greystorm)

The Sensor data comes rolling in, <"Follow Trigger in on this one guys."> As they start move in to engage the two flights on patrol with no warning or announcement. Seventy spins it's head around and looks at the two cloak shaped fighters and what they're doing. Then takes over the controls of Jax's ship spinning it so the jedi can see what it's seeing. "Hey! I'm trying to lead the squadron... " Then a series of beeps and squawks feel the cockpit and in Jax's head up display. "Alright alright I see it. They're not supposed to be able to do that. I know they do stuff like that. Pirates." Then he opens up Channel, <<Seventy wants the squad to know the Cloakshapes are deploying seismic mines. I know they're not suppose to do that. But that's what it looks like.>>

Saber 03 (Ax)

Not having his usual wingman present, Ax was currently flying solo. <<"Not sure, but the Cloakshapes may be relays for comms, or there's at least something odd about them. Might go see if I can stir something up,">> he says before Jax says to follow Trigger in. Lining up on the Z-95 patrol, Ax guns Saber 3 forward to get within range to light them up with his rotary lasers.

Saber 09 (Ewan Eroh)

Saber Nine drops back, as Ten engages a target. The angle of the A-wing closes and offers a low percentage volley. He was split between studying the sensors. After the volley, Ewan dips low, coming beneath and around Saber Ten. <<"Gotta love the ingenuity of pirates,">> Ewan offers, before he reaches a gloved hand down to press a finger to a button, arming the rest of his hard payload.

Arisnar Aethersprite (Vega)

Saber 02 Vega's generally a quiet pilot, but she keeps on top of comms while she's with the squad. <<"Going after one of the Lizards.">> she reports as she maneuvers. Her shots aren't the star shooting of some, but they past muster. Three hitting in succession. "Got em', Roundy!" she celebrates a little early.

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel)

Zandra's decision might be right or wrong, but one thing it does is get Saber squadron initiative. The pirates are taken by surprise, though they react quickly enough, rounding on the attacking Saber Squadron with venomous action. The two cloakshapes way far away with their mines break off on laying mines and begin heading towards the fracas. Meanwhile, Vega shoots at one dune lizard enough that it goes dark, spiraling out of control into the outer reaches of the system. A few other hits but all the other fighters are still in the battle, and it shows from their return fire.

Zan zooms in with her finger on the trigger, laser cannons firing and hits the Z95 she's targeting. It does not go boom, but it feels it, by far, her two hits taking the hull into the red. Stealth attack? Well, it might work to get the area free. she hopes. <<"Pirate 1 has bee hit, continuing to attack.">> She aileron curves, and manages to dodge return fire from the pirate ship she hit, but another one breaks off to fire at her, zinging her shields in turn. "ono ono!" can be heard from her droid. "Get those shields, Ono!" Zan yelps. "That was too close." She hesitates a mere heartbeat before she turns her attention back to the first ship she already hit. <<"Keep an eye on each other - we are a team,">> Zan calls and then she says, <<"and watch your sensors if you can. In case they call in reinforcements.">>

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

The fighter Nerys had targeted was damaged, but not out, and that was simply not the way things were supposed to work. Saber 10 wheeled around, flying wide to avoid a strafe of cannon fire aimed in her direction, before coming back for a second run at the target, but her second attack, which had not been an attack of opportunity went amiss, and her opposite number managed to evade the attack handily. Ah well, there was always third time. Perhaps it would be the charm.

Saber Leader (Jax Greystorm)

Jax has the ship back under his control and it's turned into a regular hair ball of a space fight, <<"Saber if we're going to do this. We need to do this quick. I hope they don't have reinforcements in route.">> Then the jedi takes a shot at the Z-95 that had been harassing him and he pulls back on the trigger 3 rotary cannons coming to life and they all miss. Seventy piping up, 'You missed.' Jax nodding his head, "Yes I missed."

Saber 03 (Ax)

With Zan getting peppered, Ax moves to finish off his opponent so he can join her. A barrage of rapid-fire laser bolts from the rotary cannon brought a smile to the Echani's face as Ax took down the Z-95 that he'd targeted earlier, and who had targeted him in return. Maybe he shouldn't get pleasure out of winning a fight, but the alternative was far from satisfying.

Saber 09 (Ewan Eroh)

Ewan alternated positions with Nerys as she drove her wrath towards the offending defender, as they half-turn in unison. <<"Watch the crossfire,">> He calls out, towards Ten, as he evasively corkscrews to avoid a hit. He came to rest just behind her, again, before he punched the throttle foward to return acceleration to maximum. <<"Defensive split, call your mark. Break to follow your target and I'll break opposite to try and draw fire.">> Ewan calls into the comms again, communicating openly, but to Nerys.

Arisnar Aethersprite (Vega)

Saber 02 Vega hears a warble behind her and there's a shocked look on her face, "LANGUAGE!" she gasps out as she acquires her target. Mister Eight was getting on her nerves and Jax said they needed to end this quick. <"On it, Saber Leader."> she states as she fixes her cannons on the other fighter and then opens fire. Another successful hit. "Alright, lets not get cocky, we've got squad mates to look after as well." she tells her BB unit.

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel)

The cloakshapes arrive in time to start shooting at the heroes of Saber squad, mixing up the battle, and perhaps mangling the tactics and strategies in use. Their arrival is too late for a couple more pirate ships, knocked out of the fight by Zandra and Ax. Laser fire is now filling the area outside the space station, and there's no doubt those on board the station are aware by now. There is a buzz of aborted communication from the station, then it goes quiet, and dark.

Zandra continues her attack single-mindedly on that z95, slipping behind it and firing enough to stop it in its tracks. She then zigs over out of the way of the next Z95's attack, scowling at it. "You're next, buddy," is her comment, just as her shields get singed again, this time by one of the cloakships finally getting into the dogfight. << Shields took another hit, Ono is on it. Going after P2 target. >> Just to try to keep that crossfire to a minimum.

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

<"Copy 9."> Look. This wingmate relationship was still a work in progress, okay, you guys? Nerys //thought// she knew what Ewan wanted her to do, and so, she went with it. As the dunelizard opened fire on her, she banked hard, avoiding the blaster fire, before she flipped the A-wing back around, hitting her thrusters to try to skip ahead just a bit (which worked better on a swoop than in a fighter, this was facts, Nerys), <"Break!"> And...her shot wonder of wonders, hit home, obliterating the dunelizard and leaving her clear to engage the next target. Still too many to go home just yet, much less celebrate.

Saber 09 (Ewan Eroh)

"Wait for it," The words came from Ewan's lips as he see's the enemy hose of fire trailing behind him. Though his periphery was trained to watch the flow of those attacks, he was focused on Nerys' call. In a flash, she called the break and executed her target swiftly, leaving one thing for Ewan to do.

"Break," He mirrors, before cutting throttle to draw his attacker in closer. He's gonna do what?? Once the Dunelizard drew in close, Ewan bled more of his speed by dipping the nose of his craft low into a slice, allowing the Dunelizard to make a few whimsical attacks but ultimately fail. Immediately, now the defender, the Dunelizard begins a break itself--Exactly as predicted. Throttling up, Ewan rises high and begins to maneuver the A-wing around, dropping into a Pure Pursuit. The weapons of the A-wing don't hesitate at that point, and the guns shred through the helpless Dunelizard, which explodes into a flash of orange light. Diving through the wake of the explosion, Saber Nine rises and settles back on Ten's wing, like a delicate flower on the wind.

<<"Solid shooting, 'Break'. Lets help the others.">>

Arisnar Aethersprite (Vega) Saber 02 Vega's focused on taking care of the one that she has been squaring off against, "This is taking too much time." she tells Roundy. She finally manages to get a good lock on the opponent and then blasts them out of the sky. <"Got rid of that one. Moving onto the next. How are we doing out there?"> she asks over the comms. Hopefully everyone was still doing alright.

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel)

Now the pirates are good fighters, top notch. They are taking names and shooting, even if they're maybe only hitting Zan so far. And Ono's keeping up with their attacks, repairing her shields in between. But Saber Squadron is top notch, and it begins to show up as they start to obliterate the pirate squad. Jax, Nerys, Ewan, Vega ... everyone is getting in on the attack work as time goes on, and it shows. The number of pirate fighters drops down until they no longer outnumber Saber squad.

It's about this point that the cloakshapes get a little panicked. They drop whatever seismic mines they have left right there in the middle of the dogfight, turn tail and run. Rather like they're literally dropping all weight and heading for the cap ship that seems to not be in system today as fast as they can.

Yes, that's seismic mines, and they detonate. The resulting kerboom obliterates the two remaining z-95s and rips the shields off everyone else, sending shudders through all the fighters and maybe the station too. Warning Klaxons go off as hull damage is reported by every fighter, and the droids doing repairs are not at all happy.

It looks like a certain mechanic has a lot of ship repair to do!

Zandra is taken by surprise by the sudden departure, but even more so by the kaboom. <<"Wait, what?">> is her initial reaction. As she sorts out what's going on and rights her ship back on course, her gaze goes to sensors. <<"Well, there are currently no bogeys showing on my sensors. Assuming they're still working after that - that - crazy maneuver. And I thought we had crazy moves!">>

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

"I think," Nerys piped up on comms, <"I know why they stuck you with me, 9. You're the most likely to come in Clutch when I need you."> Which, being one of the handful non-force sensitives in the squadron, was often. Who better to keep the crazy meatdroid alive, am I right? Not that Nerys said //that// aloud, but she thought it really hard, as She flew clear of her target's now debris, and Ewan took care of one more. <"Coming in beside you."> Nerys flew to form up with Saber 09, and she had just begun to sight her next target when the bombs detonated, blowing her back out of her approach and forcing her to fight to level the fighter. The damage she would just have to deal with. There was only one droid in this ship.

Saber Leader (Jax Greystorm)

Jax gets a bad feeling about this moments before it happens and the Cloakshapes start deploying the seismic charges. Seventy is squalling at the sight of them, <<Seismic Charges! Evasive maneuvers!>> It's too late as the cluster of charges go off and blue waves of energy silent until the waves hit your ship and a deafening tone rolls through the ship. It shakes his ship as he trusts in the force and rides out the waves of the attack. Moments later he finds his shields down and Seventy reporting minor damage along the entire of the fighter. <<Saber Squadron, status report! >>

Saber 03 (Ax)

Saber 3 gets absolutely rocked by the seismic charges going off. Being linked with the ship via the headset didn't help matters. Ax's head was ringing and he could barely see through the tears in his eyes. "Buster... report!" he says. The droid beeps in response. Ax keys up the comms to report in. <<"Saber 3 is flying, but got some serious damage. Buster's doing what he can.">>

Saber 09 (Ewan Eroh)

He couldn't help but have a bit of a smirk as Nerys spoke, and he was even about to respond when something spoke to him. <<"Pitch!">> Ewan calls, just as he saw the slowly forming explosions. In the next moment, the A-wing was rising to shield the cockpit glass by placing steel between the cockpit and explosions. Shields were stripped instantly. Warning klaxons began to fire in the cockpit as systems began reporting damage all at once, and Ewan began the quick work of shunting systems to account for the damaged compartments. When the A-wing settles, he limps to Nerys' wing, signaling her from his cockpit that communications were shot.

Arisnar Aethersprite

Saber 02 Vega gives a shriek when the charges slam into her ship. Noooooo! She just fixed these! <"Saber 2 here, minor damage Saber Leader. Anyone unable to fly?"> she asks over the comms. Towing someone in hyper might be a new thing if it needed to happen. Or they could land and fix the ship before heading home!

Saber 05 (Zandra naMuriel) Zandra's ears are also ringing, but she manages to add in, << Saber 5 here. Still functioning. Barely. Ow. >>

While Saber squad recovers, it seems there is other action ongoing. As they sort themselves out, a bright light shines from the station, and then an open comm can be heard. << To the brave fighters that rescued us, this is Lady Redfire of Trident station. We have regained control from the miscreants who were holding us captive. The station is now ours again, at least for the moment.>> There's a pause and then the lady's voice continues, << We've taken a fair bit of damage and lost good people. We will need some additional supplies and repair crews if you can send them our way. Please no rancor babies though. They are still illegal here. >> A bit of amusement there, dark though it might be. << We have no space support, so when their capital ship comes back we are in for it. But I don't think that will be for a while. We might have put some soap in their fuel. >> The satisfaction in that last bit is nearly gloating.

Zandra smiles to hear the familiar voice. << Lady Redfire, it's good to hear your voice. This is Zandra na'Muriel of Saber Squadron and we're glad to have been able to assist. We'll head for home now but will see if we can't come back and help with repairs. Saber Squadron out. >> She turns to the internal comms and says, << Good job, team. Well done. Let's get back to base and put our mechanic to work! >>

Saber 10 (Nerys Greystorm)

"Oh, shut it," Nerys commanded her ship, as she started hitting random buttons and levers, turning off the warning alarms that were going of in her ship. <"I'm alright, still in one piece."> The fly by by Saber 09 brought her attention up, and she signaled her understanding, and moved into a defensive position on Ewan's ship. Whether she could protect him from any sudden an inevitable pirate betray-- sorry, wrong franchise -- remained to be seen, but she certainly kept a weather eye on her wingman, as the squadron rallied together, <"We still need to get that station secure, yes?">

Saber 03 (Ax)

<<"I'll have some of my people fly the Knight over, Saber Leader. It can get here quickly and at least give them some protection until we can get real backup,">> Ax says over comms, referring to the Phantom Knight, a small warship that was at his disposal. Buster is meanwhile chirping and beeping up a storm, enough that Ax cuts off the link between the droid and the speaker inside. Thank the gods for the vacuum of space.

Ax's vision was clearing, but there was still the ringing in his ears as he looked over the ship's damage control readouts. <<"That seismic charge did a number for sure. I've got hull breaches. Nothing into the cockpit, but might be better if this boat was ferried rather than flown through hyper.">> Ax says. <<"I can land on the station and provide some added security or something until we can get some support craft here. That is if Lady Redfire doesn't mind.">> Mostly, Ax just worried about Buster telling his wife about 'how close they came to death' that Ax wanted to delay long enough to maybe get the droid's memory wiped, or at least convince him to keep his buzzers silent.

Saber Leader (Jax Greystorm)

Jax looks out at the Space station, << The person that requested help says they've got it covered. Squint's beat up, Kriff we're all beat up. Let's get back to Chandrila. It sounds like we got some time. I don't want to take half the squadron and beat up into combat. Might be time for an infultration mssion. Lets get back to base. May the force be with you. Squint, that things got alot of tech that we don't want falling into anybody's hand. Bring in the Knight and then we'll pull it back when we can help these people.>>