Log:Saber Squadron: Maiden Voyage
Maiden Voyage
OOC Date: November 6, 2015 (Optional)
Location: Aurea System
Participants: Rey, Ax, Karas Darkwing, Vega, Ewan Eroh, Rune, Zandra naMuriel, Jax Greystorm
Saber Squadron was in the middle of a shake down flight for not only their ships but the squad itself. The nature of the ships in the squadron meant there was no good simulator programs to test the squad. So Jax had decided they would go on a maiden flight. Things had gone well enough in Chandrila's atmosphere and system. The squad had went on a short hyperspace journey to Aurea system.
The artistic member of the New Republic's system was well quite a bit quieter than Chandrila. The Guardian Class Light Cruiser, the Interceptor, hung over the planet doing the same job it had done since the time of Empire, serving as customs vehicle. A few light freighters made their way too and from the planet.
Saber Leader exited hyperspace at the coordinated point. Jax turns his head to take a deep breath, "So far so good." Exine sitting for the first time in front of Jax spun his head around to look at the Corellia. Then let out a string of beeps and squeals. "Yeah yeah. It's a good ship. We'll put it through it's paces." Then pulling back on the and the thruster Jax moves to where Exine had set the first rally point broadcasting it to the other ships in the squadron. <This is Saber Leader, Report in Saber Squadron. Everyone make it out of hyper space just fine?>
The Aethersprite was built with the intention of a cylindrical astromech in mind, so Ax had spent the previous day working with a tech to get an adapter installed so that his spherical BB-series droid could fly with him. Now, it was time for that maiden voyage to test how well it functions, hoping his droid's head doesn't fly off into the nethers.
Saber 3 exits hyperspace, so far so good. "Run diagnostics, Buster," he says to his droid. Keying up his comms, Ax says: <<"Saber 3 reporting in. All systems green so far.">>
Saber 02 Vega's still a bit new to being in the pilot's chair of a fighter, but she's got a good aim. Hopefully there is some balance in that! The female Echani of the squad comes out of hyperspace with in an Aethersprite with a bit of a nod of her head to something that her droid had beeped at her, "I know. I'm getting it." she reassured it. <<Saber 2 reporting in. Everything looks good on our end.>> she reports.
The sleek A-wing that would become known as Saber 04 didn't hesitate when it slipped from hyperspace. Already slipping into a nimble roll, Ewan aimed the ship to come and settle on Saber 03's wing. A quick back-and-forth in Ewan's hand caused the A-wing to offer a wobble in salutation. <<"Saber 04 reporting in. Anyone else feel those bumps on the way in?">> He takes a moment to twist in the cockpit, looking behind him. <<"Think I have a loose panel. Systems are Green, but, I'll flag it for diagnostics. Doesn't feel like it's going to break.">>
Zandra is in Saber 5, running the second wing. The young Jedi Knight is actually not all that used to being XO, CO or any O really, but she's trying. She comes into system, in her new fighter, checking things out. "Hang tight, Ono," she says to her R2 unit. "It's a shakedown flight, so hopefully not." That to whatever the skittish droid said to her in binary just before. <<This is Saber 5. In system, all green. Ono reports no glitches and he's excited to see how things pan out. >> She might be taking some huge liberties with what the droid actually said. << Second Flight, your turn now - report in. >> There's a pause and Zan adds, << We need a better name than Second Flight. How about Guardian Flight? >>
Rune had flown in the ETA's before but mainly to get from point A to point B when his freighter was too slow or otherwise preoccupied with cargo. But flying one in a formation, as a group, a squadron... this was wholly new. He had practiced some with the simulators, trying to get his bearings on what all the buttons and levers did, attempted some combat scenarios, the usual things one does when tinkering with a new piece of technology but nothing beats the real thing. And here, after the streak of stars and planets slide to a stop, the young Jedi was experiencing just that.
Wide eyed in his small cockpit, Rune looks out at the gorgeous planet of Aurea. Even from here the brilliant greens and blues strike a stark contrast against the pitch black of space. 'Ecksdee', his BB-unit, whirred and warbled in his housing... like Ax's ship, the ETAs were intended to have a more bulky droid in the compartment to the left of where the pilot sits. A few adjustments had to be made to allow the droid the ability to stay safe and secure in the hole.
Rune nods to the droid as he adjusts the ship to slide over on Zandra's wing. There's a wide smile on his face when he activates comms to report in, <<"I like it... Guardian Flight sounds perfect for what we do. And all appears to be normal here.">> He intones through the microphone at his cheek, blinking a few times when he realizes he forgot, <<"Eeer... Saber Six, that is. Reporting in, I mean.">>
The lone X-wing of the group pops out of hyperspace and moves at minimal speeds as the pilot adjusts to sub light reality again. Inside the cockpit Rey's eyes are down on her scopes as the comm chatter starts up. Behind her the silver dome of R2 D2 swivels as he scans the ship systems on the X-wing he's been maintaining for nearly fourty years...
"Yeah. I fixed that power junction, Artoo." Rey says to her co-pilot while she adjusts the sloped nose of the T65 toward the others. She looks over to find her wingmate for this mission and gives Karas a thumbs up from canopy to canopy.
<"This is Rey. I'm here and ready."> She says over coms.
Karas was flying in the Eta-2c and honestly he had to admit he likes the speedy craft, it reminds him of an A-Wing but he likes this better. Spark tootles at him and he laughs, "Yeah I know, I like it honestly. It's not an X-Wing but hey I'm just glad we got asked to join the squadron." he says to his friend. As Saber comes out of hyperspace, he checks his tactical display and as the other pilots call in, <<Saber 7 checking in, all green on my end.>> he says, there can be heard some music in the background.
Jax chuckles as Zandra renames her flight, << Guardian Flight, huh, Not bad Saber 5. If you're playing that card. First Flight will be know as Sentinel Flight. Saber 02, Exine is documenting any of the squadron's mechanical concerns for you to review later. >> Then Exine chirps at him as Jax pulls into the lead of the formation. << Sentinel Flight form up in Echelon Formation on me. Guardian Flight form up in Echelon Formation on Saber 05 .>> The Echelon formation the formation with the leader in the middle front and the wings staggered to the side. It was about that time that Exine started to read a series of contacts on the other side of the system and a transport. He starts squawking to Jax and it pulls the flight leader out of his concentration. << Exine's reporting a number of contacts and energy discharges. He's also reporting a communication jamming. Let's move in to investigate. If they're no showing New Republic markings. We engage if they engage. Watch your wingmate for cues. If you get a chance take out the jammer. Do it. We need to be able to talk to each other and them. May the force be with you.> >
As the squadron moves closer their communications go out as they enter the bubble of ships jammers. There's a large force of fighters swarming a GR-75. A pair of Z-95 Headhunter move to engage the squadron.
Saber 02 Vega frowns at the mention of loose plates on Ewan's ship. "Wonder what he did to it?" she looks back to the droid that's with her. <<I'll go everything thoroughly when we get back.>> she tells Jax. Then they are getting hits on the scanner and her frown stays put. "Welp, here we go little buddy." she tells her tiny co-pilot as she gets into formation and goes to work!
<<"Roger, Saber Leader,">> Ax says as he moves his ship into formation. As comms go down, he's relying on his sensors and his own vision to see what's going on. When he spots what's going on, he's quick to engage and the Echani is gunning his ship forward, spinning up the rotary lasers on his Aethersprite, launching a plethora of bolts from his little ship towards an enemy Y-wing.
<< Roger, Lead, >> Zandra says. <<Alright Guardian Flight. Stick with your wingmate, and let's go. I'm looking for that jammer. >> She freely admits that, because well, it was the orders. Of course as she gets in there, her communications go down, and she can no longer talk to her team. "Just you and me, Ono, for company," she tells the droid. "ono ono ono" is the response, which gets an eyeroll from Zan. "How you can make that warble sound like you're speaking something other than binary I will never know." Then Zan spies it - an odd shape strapped to Z-95 Aubesh 01. "Aha, there you are!" she murmurs, engaging the thruster, and hitting max speed as she gets a good reading on that target. "Keep us on target, Ono," And then the reticule lights up green and Zan fires, watching her lasers bounce off shields.
As commanded, Rune maneuvers his ship to line up to the back and left of Zandra's ETA, the Ysannan pilot eyeing the distance and coming in to form a triangle with one of the rest of Guardian Flight to his immediate right. The notice of ships jamming comms and causing havoc has the Jedi swiveling his head to try and find the targets. Spotted, Rune twists his ship to follow Zan and tries to spot who is who. <<"Roger, engaging.">> He states, straightening out the ship to line up his attack. Triggers depressed, bolts of plasma shoot from his mounted turrets and streak through space... and continue streaking through space, sliding past his intended foe to disappear into the distance. "I need more practice..." he remarks to himself as he pulls back on the yoke and goes around for another strike.
<> Karas said. <<You're the XO, we will take your lead.>> he chuckles over the comms. Making a few adjustments, Karas moves his fighter into formation and pairing up wit his wingman. <<Hey Silver Leader, looks like I will be flying your wing.>> he says to Rey.
It's not soon after that they are getting incoming contacts and the reports of jamming. <<Copy that Guardian Lead.>> Karas grins and looks to Spark as he reads teh info coming in, "Yeah time to punch that time card. Let's go." He says and pushing the throttle to max, Karas is pushed back in his seat as the Eta-2c accelerates, "WHOA!!!!!!" He says excitedly as he moves at high speeds. He sees the Z-95's and watching for which one Zan is firing on, he rolls in quickly and he fires at that Z-95 as well. He doesn't stray too far from Rey so to keep with his wingman. He sees teh fisher go up and the incoming data fills his tact-net, <<Splash 1.>> he calls as he quickly push his fighter to catch up with Silver Leader.
Rey observes the situation unfolding outside and it makes her frown when the comms go static. "Right. Friendly already..." She bemuses to herself and Artoo. A hand goes up to adjust the ship systems above her head to center the scopes forward and Rey pushes the throttle up then opens her S-Foils in to attack position. She eyes Karas and lets him take the lead on this as his nimble craft maneuvers and blasts the enemy jammer out of the sky. <"Nice shot."> Rey says to her wingmate as she takes an wild attempt that misses another target by quite a lot!
Ax and Ewan go swooping in and one of the Y-wings attacking the GR-75 explodes in a ball of fire from Ax's cannons. Ewan's target fares a bit better but still takes some shield damage. The heavy shields of the y-wing absorbing the shot. Then Zan and Karas open up on one of the Z-95s moving to engage the squadron. Zandra hits first and Karas attacks second and the Z-95 explodes. Then the sound comes flooding across the speakers. The droids and targeting computer of Saber 04 start working hard to update with the information. Aurebesh Squad is the designation given to the Z-95s and Y-wings are identified as Besh squadron. The sound of the Aqulish captain of the GR-75 comes droning across the channel. << Unidentified New Republic Squadron. Please provide assistance. These pirates are trying to steal my car...>> Then there's static as the Y-wings continue to ionize the Gr-75 finishing the job the ship goes dark. The Z-95s come pouring toward the squadron like an angry hornets nest. << New Republic Squadron, You just paid with your lives. YOu dare interfere with the Null Squadrons?>>
Jax presses the trigger on his flight stick and the rotary blasters flare to life and put out large amounts of shots. He scores a hit on one of the Z-95s. <<Null Squadron, this is jedi Knight Jax Greystorm, and CO of Saber Squadron. I recommend you surrender.>> Jax whistles to exine. "That's a lot of firepower." There's a crackle from the Null Squadron leader, << Jedi's don't exist. Die.>>
Ax wasn't used to being on the receiving end of a jamming wave, but he was no stranger to jammers in general. <<"That's one down,">> he says, thankful to get comms back. <<"Four, targeting Besh Two,">> Ax says, clicking the button on his stick to transmit his target to his wingmate. The A-wing was faster than his Aethersprite and likely just as maneuverable.
"Seems like these guys don't believe in Jedi, Buster. Guess this event might change that, of course they'd have to survive this engagement."
Ewan was throttled down, easily avoiding the incoming blaster fire with a dip of his nose that brings him into a sweeping motion to get back to Saber 03's wing. Another wobble, and the A-wing begins to drift a bit. <<"Three,">> Ewan begins, before he glances sidelong to assess the others. <<"I'm going to drift. If they engage to follow you, throttle out and draw them. Wait for my Under Split and push it.">>
The A-wings green blasts don't manage to land a hit on the incoming fighters. But, reaching down, Ewan shunts his shields to reinforce the forward facing, while the fighters run intercept.
Zan knows she's damaged shields, but the jammer is still up. Her danger sense twinges and she rolls her fighter to the side, so that the lasers fired her way go wide. And then Splash makes his entrance, taking out the Jammer and one of the Null fighters. << Good job, Splash! >> she comments. << Now let's live up to our new name. We have a freighter to protect. >> Zan's attack moves towards the Y wings, because that's her next target priority. << Violet here. Moving to attack Besh 3.>> Some habits are hard to break. She gets an opportunity and fires her lasers, pushing the shields on the heavier ship. She is keeping an eye on her wingmate, and on the rest of her wing.
It appears that the Z-95 approaching him has just as bad of aim as Rune does, the return fire streaking past his ship to join his own attack among the stars. The novice pilot spins his ship to bring it around on Saber Five's wing, making sure that he's available to drop back and protect her if needed. <<"I think you may be surprised to find that we do!">> Rune replies to the Null Leader, <<"Though I do not know how we might convince him of this. Can anyone levitate something in his cockpit?">> A reasonable question he feels... regardless, it's business time now and the Ysannan lines up his shot. <<"Engaging Aurebesh Three!">> Hopefully this time he'll be a bit more accurate as he takes aim through the windshield and lets go with the blasters. His hopes proved true and he splashes the shield of the Z-95 with strafing fire, the energy surrounding the ship lighting up as it dissipates his attack.
Karas grinned as he took out the Z-95, but as he banks and starts after his wingmate, he is fired upon. The ETA-2c is fast but not as fast as the A-Wing and he tries to juke the shots but a few of the enemy lasers score hits on the shields. A frown shows on his face, but as he starts to speak to Spark, the astromech droid is already working on the repairs but right now it doesn't look like the little droid is having much success. <<On your wing Silver Lead. Going to take a shot and see if I can steer them to you.>> he says working with Rey to take out their target, but he sees Saber 3 maneuver and shot, <<Nice hit 3.>> Karas says to Ax and tries to follow up. The jade colored energy blast fire rapidly at the fighter but goes wide as the enemy craft evades him. "Kriff!"
The com traffic has Rey smirking for a very brief moment when their enemies speak of the lack of Jedi. They'll likely think otherwise here soon... or so she believes! With the other Jedi fighters all engaging and the sights of combat unfolding outside her canopy, Rey lines up her fighter's cannons and unleashes another salvo of laser fire! She pulls her ship around then to gain speed and distance while trying to keep with Karas and be support for any tails that might track him through the black of space!
With the GR-75 ionized and the Y-wings taking a pounding the lumbering fighter/bombers of the Clone war turn towards the nimble fighters of the jedi and start to open fire. The members of Saber Squadron getting a swift lesson or two that they are not indestructible in their new ships and sometimes pirates are good shots. As they tumble back and forth, <<Violet, keep an eye on Saber 07. If it's getting too hot have him pull out..>> Jax says on channel. He says as he tries to target the Z-95 giving him the slip. He opens up a channel directly to Vega, << Saber 2, you're doing good over there. Keep an eye on your shields. We weren't planning on this.>> Then he shakes his head, << Alright Sabers, They may not believe in jedi. So let's make 'em. Focus on the Y-wings and lets see if we can run them off. >>
<<"Roger that, Four,">> Ax says. He's an aggressive pilot, and spent decades flying solo as a smuggler before joining a Republic fighter wing with Rogue. He scores a hit on another Y-wing target, but picks up a tail. With his aggressive style, getting hit happenned, and his droid was working on refreshing the shields.
<<"Bringing one in, Four">> he says, trying to evade in such a fashion as to give himself a shot. "This thing is quick and agile, but I think we could do more good bringing a small freighter on some of these runs," he says to himself. "Hard to scoop up escape pods in a single-seat fighter."
Saber 02 There is a cacophony of clicking, beeping and shrieking from the BB unit on board with Vega. He is NOT happy. "Yeah...I know!" she mutters to him as she tries to get her brain in order. The hit makes her a little shaky, but she has to shake it off for the team. She singles in on the target that's in her sights and fires off a shot, but doesn't do much but give the other craft a little tickle. "Damn it." she breathes out.
Saber 04 gave a bit of a feint, seeming like he was going to break from Saber 03's wing. The incoming attacks were easy to avoid in the A-Wing, nimble as she was. When it seemed as though he was finally going to break, Ewan slammed forward on the throttle and brought the nose of A-wing upwards to reengage the target that bit onto Ax. Suddenly, a piece of plating buckles near the rear of the A-wing. It buckles and eventually gives, coming loose to expose a small engine section. No smoke. No sparks.
Green blasts fire from the A-wing, even as he pushes forward in speed. With a bit of articulation, the A-wing's weapons accomodate for the angle changes, following Ewan's target. Behind Saber 03, a sudden explosion colors the rear of his ship in an orange-yellow glow, before the blue-painted A-wing nose knifes through the destroyed ship, victoriously. <<"Scratch one. Tail's clear, Three.">> That's when Ewan turned sharply to look behind him, to look at the missing plate. "Damnit. Vega's going to blame me for that..." He mutters.
Zandra is keeping an eye on her wingmate, and Jax's reminder doesn't hurt. << C'mon, Saber 6, >> she says, as she changes targets with an aileron roll out of the way of the shots aimed her way. << Saber 7, it looks like you need to pull back and get some repairs going. >> yeah, Ono's babbling about hull damage and shields gone and Zan's concern can be heard. Of course, she might be a bit late with that recommendation, but she did try. And as she rolls her fighter yet again, she catches a great shot of opportunity on the fighter that had been targetting Rune, so she pays that one back with a good shot across its flanks that knock it out of commission. Zan's fighter zips nearly fast as an A-Wing but without the finicky falling parts. She spins and turns to come back around for another pass.
Rune senses the attack before it happens, spinning his ship to try to evade the attack that comes his way. It's mostly successful as the attack damages his shields, rocking the ETA with the force of the blow. Rune grits his teeth as he steers about, peering back behind him when the Z-95 blasts over his head. He turns and comes about keeping the foe in his sight. "Alright then..." Rune remarks, narrowing his eyes at the target while he adjusts. "Ecksdee, can you take care of these shields for me? See if you can get them back near where they were to start?" he requests, the BB-unit whirring his acknowledgement before he gets to work.
Suddenly the Z-95 he was targeting explodes in a blaze and spins off into the distance, Rune looking to his wingmate with a thumbs up as she zooms by. His target taken care of, a spin finds him facing down on the one she had been fighting. "Let us see if we can pay her back in kind." Triggers depressed, blasters launched, and more laser fire is sent into the black of space, connecting with nothing until they disappear from sight.
Karas is keeping up with the chatter on the tac-net, at the same time Karas finds himself missing his target yet again and now being fired upon. This is not goign well for him. As he tries to roll away, laser stitch along the underside of his fighter. Spark squeels at him, "I KNOW, I KNOW how about you fix the kriffing ship instead of hollaring at me!" Karas shouts at his droi.
Banking left, he sees Silver Leader, <<I'm going to try to press him and leave you open for a shot.>> he calls to Silver Leader. With that, Karas pushes teh throttle forward, <<Guardian Lead and Saber Lead, I've flown with you both for a long time, you know I got this!>> he says to them as he drifts his fighter in behind the enemy Z-95. Pressing the trigger, jade green energy bolts fire rapidly at the fighter, missing on the first run. The enemy fighter dives and rolls, but Karas isn't some damn rookie, he's a multiple Ace fighter pilot and is able to keep up, and cutting power just slightly, allows the Z-95 to swing right and he left lining up a good shot. "You've messed up." he fires and he watches as the green energy lances take out the shields.
The old grimy X-wing keeps up with the Jedi fighter SOMEhow but with the pressure being put on to Karas by the enemies, Rey has to adjust her plans to try and keep up with them in return. Ultimately her laser cannons light up in trails after Karas' own and streak across the Z-95s hull causing a detonation of the fighter's core! The seconds go by way too fast for the pirate inside and the old Headhunter is blown apart by Silver Leader!
Rey's X-wing comes about as inside it she looks around to the scopes to track whats left. "I think we've frightened them good and properly." She says to Artoo who beeps affirmatively. <"If only there were Jedi left."> Rey quickly quips over comms.
In the thick of it, the mettle of Saber Squad began to appear. The squadron got punched in the nose and they came back swinging. Somewhere in the back of his head Jax hears his mothers words, "You need killers in the thick of it boy." Jax says as he pulls the trigger on his flight stick and pours down on the Y-wing that Saber 02 had engaged. << Good work Saber 02. We'll call that an assist. You need more time in the cockpit. It'll come.>> Then he sighs, "Got to make sure I keep'em jedi too." He murmurs to himself. The pirates break and run, with out admission that they believe in jedi, that they'll be back, or anything than silence.
Jax sighs, "Good work, Saber Squadron. We weren't ready for that but we made it through. Nice job 3 & 4. 7, we know you got it. Just don't push it. We're still in shake down mode. Lets get this Gr-75 some help and back to base. We have a lot of work to do."
