Log:Saber Squadron: Home Coming
Saber Squadron moves their base of operations away from Tattooine to Smuggler's Run. Not exactly the most welcoming home coming they have ever gotten...
OOC Date: May 12, 2022
Location: Earvana
Participants: Jax Greystorm himself/GM, Zandra naMuriel, Vhe Tenara, Bizz Bliptettjupp, Ax, Karas Darkwing, Zelo Parrai, Merek, Vega
Jax was sitting in the pilot seat of the Eravanna. His R2 unit jacked into the computer and providing him with data for the hyper space jump and monitoring the large ships sensors. The Corellian was carefully making adjustments as he begun the trip to move the Baleen Freighter out of orbit of Tatooine.
Outside Saber 5 and Saber 7 had drawn the short straws and were on escort duty. The rest of the squad? They had been brought along as back up in case anything had went wrong. The fighters were on the deck fueled and loaded. The pilots were on the hanger or in the crew rec room. Jax reaches over hitting the squadron Channel, "Eravanna to Trigger and Boss. We've begun our system exit. Keep your eyes on the sensors of any one getting bright ideas about us. I'll have Exine feed you our hyper space coordinates to your Astromechs." He looks at Exine, "If you would once you have them figured."
Then Jax opens up the ship wide com unit, "Saber Squadron, We're on the move."
Zandra aka Trigger in Saber 5 is listening to the comm from Jax. << Roger, Eravana. We are on high alert. Bubbles is waiting on Exine's feed. All sytems green and sensors extended to max. >> She's busy keeping an eye on things as the eta fighter keeps pace with the eravana, flying in escort position. She gives Bubbles a glance and the roly poly droid chirps something that has her chuckle and shake her head. "I hope not, Bubbles. I hope not." And then on the comm back to the Eravana,<< Make sure you all save some party snacks for us. >>
Tucked into Saber 4, the Ysanna in her colorful scarf has it tied down tightly to keep any of her mane from getting out to cause her visual problems. Jax' comes over the comms and she lifts her head to look down the line of ships, finding Zelo she lifts her hand and waves, the top of her cockpit open in that moment as she checks pre-flight measures.
She held in position as they are, she hums as she works, tapping her foot as she methodically continues to cycle through. "Clear, clear.....clear.."
She goes down the list only to glance up again as the ship shudders beneath them, ferrying them across a great distance to a new point of operations. Nomadic life at its best and it brings a smile to her lips. <"Zelo, this is ship is far bigger than my parent's but I think this is as close as I will get to having a family that cosntantly is on the move.">
Bizz is puttering along in his salvage ship, the VISCACHA, just in case ERAVANA needs a proper tow. His navicomputer is fed the coordinates and his R5 droid prepares to execute them, but Bizz stops him. "I don't trust you to plot a course, you arrogant automaton! Get your pincers away!" The droid-averse monk manually plugs in the coordinates and presses buttons, making his ship's astrogation computer go CHUNK-CHUNK-CHUNK as it processes.
Ax spent a lot of time in the Smuggler's Run system, and owned a bar on Skip One as well as a weapons shop. The Echani smuggler was pacing a bit. This ship was big and slow and not the best for navigating an asteroid field. "Hope you're not coming in on the Corellian Run, boss. It's the only exit point from hyper that's least likely to have rogue asteroids venturing in. Of course, that's also the highest likelihood of pirate attacks. I should have flown ahead and smoothed the waters so to speak," he says with a sigh.
Karas didn't mind being in the cockpit of his fighter, he's now flying a T-70 X-Wing having passed on his ETA-2c to the new member of their squadron Finn. Honestly, he's missed flying in an X-Wing so this was really a no brainer for him. Granted, he has ideas for something new to add to the X-Wing. Still escort duty wasn't bad, his fighter's s-foils are closed in cruise mode.
He glances to his side and sees Saber 4, "HOw're you doing over there Trigger?>> he asks as he moves into formation with the Ervanna. <<Copy that Saber Lead.>> he calls back. Karas settles in, sensors were already actively scanning the area.
The ground check can be as important as the pre-flight check in the cockpit, and - when the luxury can be afforded - Zelo is not one to cut corners. Every inch is gone over, the hull secure and whole after more than a couple close calls, both over Thyferra and locally with a rogue pirate swarm. Fuel is full, and... Well, ship things. Saber 12 is in great condition, and that's enough said. Zelo, to err on the side of caution, is securing Befour in the Astromech socket, the lift carrying her up where she sits, briefly taller than the Nautolan. His helmet clipped to his belt, the cobalt-skinned Zelo has to glance at the datapad on his wrist to translate.
"It should be fine. We're just shifting systems." Twee-wooroop. "I know you don't know this one, but I've been there a few times. It's... Mostly just asteroids." Whirrrr? "That's why it's the ideal spot." He climbs up to the cockpit, spying Vhe's wave and returning it with a smile as he takes a seat on the edge - legs dangling over the side.
<"It's bigger than any I've flown. A squadron's pretty close to a family, isn't it Vhe?"> The Nautolan replies over the comm channel, leaning back to rest against Saber 12, relaxing.
Merek is settled back into the cockpit of Saber 08, even if they were only on the fuel deck. He seems to be listening to music while he takes the time to watch the control panel. He leans back, taking a drink of water from the flask with him, while he nods to his R2 unit and relaxes a bit while watching.
Vega's not on escort duty. Thank god, because she'd probably mess that up as well! The ebony cloaked Jedi is present in Saber 2, but quiet just like every other time anyone has seen her. She's never been to Smuggler's Run. As she isn't a smuggler or anything. So it's been stayed away from. She gives a look over the sensors and things. Making sure coordinates are correct.
Jax chuckles at Ax looking back, "I know I've never been the smuggler you are but I do alright. I'm bring us in on a pirate jump. It's not the safets but I ran the numbers, had Exine run the numbers, and then had Seventy run the numbers. We'll be fine.. Trust me." Exine beeps to Jax that he's got the coordinates transferred to the other ships flying escort. "Including the Viscacha?" Jax double checks everything, "Don't reroute Bizz to the Maw. I know you think it's funny but his R5 deserves better than that, "Viscacha, we're sending you updated data now. There was an issue. Everyone else is fine." Once the Salvage ship is updated, Jax reaches up to the hyper drive lever, Then ship wide channel and on Squadron channel, "Alright, going to hyper space in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Then Jax pulls back on the lever sending the small convoy of ships rocketing into hyper space, the stars streaking past them.
In what seems like an eternity but a relatively short time for Hyper Space. The Convoy exits into real space. Relatively safe no asteroids collisions but the proximity alarm is going off. There's 6 E-wings, and 6 Y-wings harassing a Yt-2000, as a BFF hangs back. Though at the sight of the fat target, the fighters hang off and start barreling towards the Eravana. Jax looks at Ax, "Tell me so later." Jax hits the alarm, "We got incoming! This went to kriff fast! Trigger's the boss on this one." Then he opens com to Zan, "I've got you enforcements coming. I can't leave the bridge, you got command Trigger! May the force be with you!"
Of course, Zan's ... sigh. <<Roger, Crab. We hear you. Boss, we're on the nearest fighter, copy? Let's keep these folks off our ship, and off that other freighter too. >> She then opens up her s-foils into fighting mode, along with a broadcast to the ships in the vicinity. << Incoming fighters, this is Saber Squad, please disengage and leave us be, or face the consequences. >> They can't say they weren't warned. Well. Still, it's fairly obvious they're harassing the freighter, and now heading for the Eravana, and Zan doesn't waste time, turning back to the private secure comm. << Saber Squad, the Bogeys are easily in range, and data is coming through. When you all get launched, form up, buddy up, and stick with your wing mate. >>
Unexpected. That much is for sure. The warning goes off and Vhe lifts her head up only to hit the button for her canopy. <<"This is Saber 4, I have preflight done and am ready to launch.">> She waits to gain clearance and as the ship stirs out of its holding bay she hits the launch track. <<"Saber 4 launching. Coming out to join you Boss and Trigger.">> She calls out to them.
The Aethersprite's engines roar as the ship shoots forward and out of the Earvana into the open void of space. Taking control, she angles sharply and lines up her first shot - which goes too wide. "Kriff..." she remarks to the cabin at large.
She comes back around to get another shot of the less agile ship. "Hold still."
Bizz was just settling down to have a relaxing beer when the radar klaxons begin sounding. He splutters. "Get the shields up, you Pusillanimous Pinhead!" The fat monk stows his beer and pulls down the periscope-like turret control for his dorsal laser cannons. The left and right training handles deploy while Bizz's R5 astromech gets the shields up and takes over navigation. "<<Combine attacks on those Y-bones! FIRE!>>" His dual laser turret goes KA-CHOOOOM-KA-CHOOOOM but just hits shields. "Those things are tough!"
Ax just shakes his head, glad that he had Buster keeping Saber 3 warmed up. The Echani is running towards the snub fighter and jumping in, the canopy already starting to close. <<"Saber 3 taking off... Oh, and I told ya, boss.">>
Once the canopy is down, Ax is punching the throttle to bolt out of the hangar bay of the Eravana to join the fray. Keying up broad-band communications, Ax speaks into the comms to the pirate threat. <<"Fellas, I know this whale looks like a fat, juicy target, but this is Jedi fighter squadron, designation Saber. I highly recommend you cease and desist immediately. Should you choose to do so, I'll personally buy enough rounds at the pub on Skip One to get everyone tanked. If you don't, I assure you that if you have any survivors, they will need lifelong therapy sessions to deal with the horrific demise of their fellow wingmen. We've fired a few warning shots, and now you've gotten a verbal warning. Take it or leave it.">>
Saber 3 does a quick barrel roll, as Ax callibrates the headset and gets ready for a rather substantial fight.
Upon coming out of Hyperspace, Spark scanned the area first but it was Saber leader who warns them. NOdding his head as Zan speaks up. <<Copy that Trigger>> he says as his sensors pick up the incoming enemy fighter. He frowns, <<Can't we go anywhere nice?>> he chuckles a little bit and Karas quickly flips the switch and his X-Wings s-foils lock into attack position. He tracks both his wingmates, <<Let's do this.>> he says to Trigger and Saber 4.
Rolling his fighter and pushing power to the engines of his X-Wing, Saber 7 streaks forward, locking onto E-Wing 1, he adds his firepower and watches as the enemy fighter is destroyed. <<Splash 1.>> he calls.
The alarm sounds and Zelo's lounge immediately drops him into the cockpit with a clatter of durasteel and beskar. Dropping his tendrils into the basket behind, his helm is pulled quickly into place as his other hand starts the ignition sequence. Clipping in, he drops the canopy and syncs his helm with the X-wing's HUD. <<"Saber 12, launching.">> S-foils drop open moments after clearing the Eravana's bay.
A dozen ships is more than he's seen in this system on previous visits. Of course, the others were just keeping the noses down and going about their business. These? Not so much. He's quick to follow Saber 04's lead, falling in behind the Viscacha as ship after ship harries the lead Y-wing. <<"Saber 12, falling in on Y-1.">> Thank you, HUD display. The Nautolan lines up and laser cannons fire, putting even more hurt on shields likely close to giving out. <<"Good hit, shields are barely holding.">> He drops 'down' and maneuvers about, preparing to back up the next attack run and provide cover as the engagement begins in earnest.
Merek listens to that radio when he hears that they are coming under attack. <<"08 fielding and going for the next lead Y-Wing.">> The man takes the time to fly out of the docking bay, while he charges up weapons with the shields, before he takes a shot at the Y-Wing. The shields finished off the lasers strike then into the hull, while he takes a defensive position next to the Eravana. <<"Direct strike.">>
Vega gives a bit of a frown as threats pop up, but she fires off to help out. <<Why can't people let us move in peace.>> she mutters over the comms. Then she's targetting one of the E-Wings. Hoping that they can make short work of this...or at least get out of it without her having to rebuilding another ship. She damages her target, but just a grazing.
The pirates respond to Ax's threat, "Jedi here? Kriff you! There's nothing that special in that old Freighter! But what ever is in there is going to be ours!" The pirates were not expecting the cargo of the Eravana to be the fighter that come boiling out at it like a locus of angry insects with stingers. The lead E-wing was not expecting to die either. The E-wings try to take out the members of Saber Squadron and so do some of the Y-wings. The others Y-wings line up on targeting runs on the Eravana and Bizz's salvage ship.
Exine complains to Jax, "What do you mean Evasive action? Has you droid brain forgot what we're flying?"
Zandra thinks, and thinks hard, as she flips her eta around. << Team, going to try to jam the heck out of these bombers, >> she calls. << Looking to help the Eravana. Merek, you might want to try jamming as well. >> She concentrates, her fingers flying across the controls as she hits the eta's jammer. She's flying like a mad woman, trying to keep up with the two bombers targetting tthat ship. << You can't say you weren't warned, pirates, >> she calls out again. << Primary target the Y wings. >>
Vhe is not having any such luck and her ability to help the rest of the wing is leaving her a little irritated as she narrows her gaze on the Y-Wing as it wobbles its course enough to be missed...or maybe her aim had been off. "We need to try recalibrating the weapons...." said to her droid. That is if they make it out of this.
She's come through unscathed so far but Earvana is about to get hit hard if they can not do anything about ALL of the Y-Wings. Vhe pulls back to come around for a better trajectory on the targets.
Bizz is skittering around in a circle looking for targets. Alarms begin sounding. "<<Those pirates are locking on to my ship!>>" He targets one of them and fires! KA-CHOOOOM KA-CHOOOOM go the laser turrets.
"Well, I tried," Ax says with a shrug as he puts his nimble little Aethersprite into a pursuit course for one of the Y-wings, dodging incoming laser fire in the process. <<"Saber 3 engaging hostiles attacking the whale. We really gotta come up with a callsign for that beast, Eravana has too many syllables, Crab.">>
Seeing the Y-Wing bombers moving in to intercept Bizz's ship, he shakes his head, <<Moving in on 5>> he calls as he breaks from his engagments with the E-Wings. His fighter faster then the Y-Wing Bombers, he is quickly able to catch up, getting within range, "Spark get me a lock." he says to his droid as he rolls left and as he does he gets a target lock, and fires. Red energy bolts fire from the quad cannons of the X-Wing, though he only scores a few hits, he watches as a blue shimmer cascade over the bomber.
Zelo pulls up, falling into line up for more fire on the slower Y-wings as they try to lock on the Squadron's larger ships. Another pass has Saber 12 following Saber 4. The erratic flight patterns of the Y-wings show them evading unseen attacks, and it's clear that the Jammers are doing their work. He peels off at the last moment, the Mandalorian finding one of the Y-wings advancing on the Viscacha. He scores a couple of follow-up hits after Karas.
<<"Good hits. Y-5 shields are down. They're wide open.">> He wheels back around, always keeping an eye on the Squadron, never moving too far out of the fight to line up his next run.
"What do these things have welded to their hull?" Vega asks as she maneuvers her Aethersprite back around to go after the E-Wing that she was squaring off against. She fires off another shot, doing a bit more damage than she did last time. "Seriously Roundy, we need one of those." she chuckles to herself as she waits for the return fire.
Ships exploding and getting damage. The pirates are showing a surprising amount of tactics and survival. Though they're not talking as much since Zan and Merek were jamming them.
Exine squawks at Jax, "What they're trying to get target locks again? Let's get some gravel between us and them. Guardian Flight will protect us." Then Jax starts to correct his course.
With one of the bombers jammed, Zan promptly opens fire on that one Y wing, and her trigger finger is on point. Target acquired, reticule flashes green and Zan hits the trigger. That Y wing goes rolling off harmlessly, before it combusts in a little fireball. Not that anyone can hear her, but Zan automatically says, << Splash one. >>
Then there's someone on her tail firing at her, and she's flying evasively. Failing somewhat as her shields get all lit up. "Okay, Bubbles, you're up. Get us our shields back!" she says encouragingly. This new astromech gets to work cheerily, and at least there's not the usual moaning as previously.
While Bubbles works on that, Zan goes to work jamming again. Because keeping them from firing on the Eravana or Bizz is a good thing. Zan flies like less of a maniac now, but stays close enough to those Y wings to jam all three. Because she's tailing them so closely, she gets a great target of opportunity and that means she hits the trigger at the Y wing in front of her. << Splash one Y wing. >>
Evening out her flight path, she slips back into the fray with her intentions on helping to weaken Zelo's target. Vhe presses forward as her engines open up. As the range clears and it pings loudly in her cockpit she listens to the comms chatter she takes a breath.
She is about to cross paths angled over Zelo so while the Y-Wing is more concerned with him releases her volley, catching the top of the ship, a heavy breath released at the sight.
She pulls back and turns so that as she passes over Zelo they are able to see each other, her head tilting back to get a glance at her fellow saber member.
As if he was just on a stroll, Ax evades another onslaught of laser fire while getting a target on the Y-wing he'd shot at previously. Rotary laser winds up and delivers a deluge of pain upon the enemy vessel. <<"Like I said, survivors are gonna need therapy after this.">> he says, chuckling at the end. He was a pretty decent pilot, fair gunner, and a mediocre Jedi. Well, if you can't be good, be good at it, right?
Karas watches as another ship explode, he grunts as he is pushed back hard into the pilot's couch. He grins, "Been a while." he laughs as Spark chirps at him. "Yeah I know right." he says as he pushes the control stick forward as his X-Wing dives and with a smooth motion and banking right, the T-70 sensors lock onto one of the Y-Wings and with a quick press of the trigger and a torrent of red energy lances come slicing through space, all striking the Y-Wing destorying the enemy bomber, <<Splash 2>> he calls into the comms.
Zelo Parrai
Saber 12 comes about, the Mandalorian at the controls having skated through this dogfight unscathed thus far. He pulls up the idents of all squadron members and falls quickly back in line with Vhe, rolling lazily over the plasma cannonfire that had been meant for him but never had a chance of landing. <"They're too tightly wound, Befour,"> Zelo explains to the twooodle-rooo from behind him. <"You clench up on the firing controls, and... Well, that happens."> Zelo's in great position this time, and as he pulls in front of the enemy, Vhe cuts across and drops plasma on the Y-wing, shaking the shields loose.
Zelo spins about - a maneuver that might be nearly lethal in atmo - and pulls the trigger at just the right time, when his instincts tell him to. As the Y-wing goes up, he's not watching. For that brief moment, his head is turned up as Vhe's ship crosses back over. Befour's tweereeep of debris is his confirmation, and Zelo glances back down, pulling his X-wing around to fall back in formation. <<"Saber 12, splash one. Perfect set-up, Saber 4.">>
Merek keeps on with the shooting of his lasers towards the Y-Wing that is still about, though his ship takes a few strikes. Eventually, the shields get back up a bit with the assistance of the droid. It looks like he's waiting to see what he can do with the party.
Vega brings Saber 2 back around for another round of 'try to send the E-Wing to it's grave' and this time she wins! The Aethersprite gives a shot that finally sinks the ship and Vega smacks the roof of Saber 2, "Got em! Now lets move on to see if we can help with the others!" she tells her bb unit.
The pirates are beginning to believe the original message and there are alot less of them then there once were. So it doesn't take much for them to to bug out. But it did make for a massive light show in the asteroids.
Jax lets out a breath, "Alright Saber Squadron. Back to base. Good hunting." Exine wobbles at Jax and he turns, "What do you mean you want to do a micro jump to the edge of the system?"
Zandra finally lets the jamming stop, given all the fun seems to be over. << Well, >> she says, finally coming across the comms. << That will either get every pirate in the system mad at us or they'll leave us alone. Not sure which. We'll return into the hangar, unless you want Boss and me to keep flying escort until we finalize our position? >> she offers. Bubbles warbles again, and Zan laughs. "Good job, Bubbles. I'm sure Vega will never know we got hit at all."
"And behold a pale dewback, it's rider's name is Death," Ax mutters, likely quoting some old Socorran proverb or something. <<"Saber 3 heading back to the shop. If anyone wishes, drinks are on me on Skip 1. I own a cantina on the rock. I recommend flying a personal ship though, or hitching a ride. You bring in a fancy starfighter and the locals might jack it. I don't have a private hangar there anymore.">>
Watching as the pirates begin to bug out, Saber 7 doesn't return just yet, watching and having his astromech track the pirates to make sure they are leaving. <<Saber Leader, resuming escort.>> he calls back as the fighter pulls up and does a half loop and roll to fly back towards the Ervanna and once over the large ship the X-Wing banks and moves back into escort position.
