Log:Starving the Beast
Starving the Beast
OOC Date: November 6, 2015 (Optional)
Location: Tallie Lintra, Jax Greystorm, Crash Tommaz, David Ironside, Zandra naMuriel, Elrych Cometburn, Callax Dalso, Karas Darkwing
Participants: Anakin Skywalker, Palpatine, Luke Skywalker
The Blackness of space seemed infinite - with not even the stars to really guide you - one might be inclined to go mad with the vast nothingness. The Imperial Transport continued on it's Hyperspace route to Carida to reinforce Assassin Squad - a much needed fit. During the days of the Galactic Civil War - the Empire was very keen on using Interdictor technology and shutting down vessels - ripping them from Hyperspace. They would teach the Rebellion and ultimately Alliance that one could not rest on their laurels in order to get cargo ships where they needed to go. It was a lesson the Rebellion learned well.. Which it then Taught to the Resistance and New Republic.
As the First Order Ships continued forward, the bridges of the convoy flash a great white as well placed buoys rip them from Hyperspace - bringing them into Normal. It is seconds when scanners detect multiple anomalies around them. New Republic ships - fighters and a massive Nebulon arrive, surrounding the First Order Vessels. The Docked ships on both the Nebulon and Carrack vessels scream out looking for a fight.
For the moment, the plan was going right as it should. Squadrons from the Nebulon would engage the Fighters from the Carrack and Provide a Screen for Rogue Squadron to Bear down on the Transports and destroy them.
Rogue Squadron flashes into space behind the Nebulon, a bare sixty seconds out in a tight formation that only the best pilots can do. They plan to not give the Transports any leeway. <<"Report in, Rogue Squadron. We'll divide up between the Transports, supporting each other as needed. They can't be flying without support so keep a sharp eye out for Assassin Squadron. We have ships running screen for us. Good luck!">
"Fiver, we'll be targeting Transport 1, I want torps on them, see how we can soften them up." Opening the S-foils, Tallie angles the T-85 to come in high on her target. <"Targeting Transport 1."
S-Foils already deploying into attack formation, Crash says into comms <"Copy that Rogue Leader. On your wing. You go for torps and I'll be your anti-fighter escort."> Crash transmits on the squadron frequency. He waggles his wings (okay, S-Foils) in a bit of testing warmup of the controls... just getting the feel for them.
"Stupid clunky X-Wing." he mutters, having cut off his mic for comms. A warble comes to his ears and he says, "Yes Demo. We are here to blow the hell out of those ships. I'll try to get you a chance to blow one up yourself, okay buddy?" he asks. Then he says, "Also... start playlist Assault." And that begins a heavy and hard guitar riff in his cockpit.
<<"Rogue 8, reporting.">> David Ironside chimes in, flicking the s-foil release open casually. <<"And ready to kick ass.">> he adds, keeping his fighter near Rogue 9, simply because it's the next number over. <<"I'll provide cover for you, Nine, if you're going for the transport so readily.">> he offers, shimmying a little in his seat.
<<Rogue 5, reporting in.>> The lone a-wing on this mission, the others opting for slightly slower speed and a bit more protection. Zan however sticks with the first fighter she flew, whether it's a good idea or not. << Aiming at transport 2, with bombs, >> she says, deciding that seems like a good start to things? Maybe. At least that's how it seems. << And let me know if we need jamming, other than to music. >> Because after all, she knows a couple of her copilots are bound to be listening to the hottest mixes. No droid with Zan, not in an A wing. But - here's hoping, she's fast enough they won't need it.
Elrych is quiet in his E-Wing. No music, nothing. Just the quiet and peaceful consentration that a Jedi is expected to exhibit. <<"This is Four, I'm going to go for torp lock on the transports.">> He flips a few od his switches, the targeting computer and weapons mount switching over to the twin torpeado tubes.
And there in the back, unfolding like a jacknife after re-entering the void from hyperspace, is Callax's Rogue Ten - or a ship wearing that name, certainly. Callax has trained on many, many fighters, and a B-wing is certainly one that they were rated for...but this would be the first time one was flown directly in combat. Live combat, at least. Cradled by the bomber's armored cockpit, Callax checks over the instruments one last time before action, the heavy helmet practically keeping their head fixed forward thanks to its armor collar. Fly a titanium bathtub, you have to wear your safety gear. Guns, check, torpedoes, check, assault warheads, oh yes...
<< Rogue Ten here, >> Callax announces over squadron channels, voice as always made flat and choppy thanks to the crypto box. << Preparing for attack run. >> And all the magical attention a Blade usually gets on the field, nevermind a solo.
Rogue 2 launches along with the rest of Rogue Squadron, the T-85 painted in the colors of the Original Rogue Squadron. Karas looked back to get a visual on his astromech Spark. He's been having problems with his friend and honestly he's had him for quiite some time but there has been a lot going on he was hoping the little astromech could hold out a bit longer. "Let's get this done Spark." he says. Spark tootles at him. Karas smiles a little and he focuses forward.
The battle begins almost immediately as Red, Green, Missiles, and Torpedos light the blackness of space up. It is hard to do much with all of the chaos that is having in such a small amount of time. The Nebulon B moves to its side as the Carrack moves to counter. Blue, green, and Yellow Squadrons meet the tie fighters head on as Rogue Squadron comes from under - able to get past the Chaos. However, this does come at a cost as it allows Assassin squadron to move in on them - and strike them as they make their way for the Transports. The Three Transports - to their credit - begin to try in get as much distance between them and Rogue Squadron as they can..%R%RThe Two enemies engage each other.. This was not going to be the easiest operation the Rogues had.
The TIEs come screaming in on them like so many ravenous Mynocks, interposing themselves between Rogue Squadron and their targets. Green flares brilliant against Rogue Leader's shields as Tallie angles them in for a precision lock on Transport 1. <<"Target locking now. We've already polished their behinds for them once, let's do it again!">>
Fiver whistles and beeps as he sets to repairing damage. "Good job on that, Fiver! I knew there was a reason to keep you."
<Send in the clowns! We got a tie fighter screen to punch through. I'm going to do what the name of my fighter suggests and Escort, Rogue 10.> Jax hits the toggel going to his heavy cannons. THe throttle is pulled back and the innertial dampner pushes Jax further back into the chair. He goes roaring pass the Assassin trying to target him. Then in a tight talon roll he out flys the First Order fighter. Then coming in from a dive he targets the Defender going after Rogue 10, he pulsl the triggers and hitting that Tie hard. <Rogue 10, I should have gotten one off of you or at least regreating some life choices.>
<"I gotcha cov..."> begins Crash as the TIE's ambush the Rogues. <"Blast. Come to fourteen point seven Commander and I'll cover you."> Not that he feels comfortable giving commands. It's more of a suggestion. You don't just -command- Rogue Leader when you are a nugget. But he rolls his X-Wing and fires his thrusters to move into position to place himself between Rogue Leader, and the oncoming TIE's. "Yeah. You got me. Just a fat juicy target here. I'm even cooked medium for you." he says absently as he looks out of his canopy. "Demo. Get those shields back up if you don't mind." he suggests... And the droid trills a warbling affirmative as he goes to work.
David raises an eyebrow when Jax breaks off from his intended run at the transport in favor of running at the TIEs and escorting something himself, leaving David with nobody to escort. "Alright then.." he mutters, breaking off slightly to engage a stealth tech TIE, which may or may not be Silencers? Apparently catching the pilot by surprise, likely entirely reliant on their stealth functions, a single strafe of laser fire cuts one of the wings clean off, sending the center area and the other wing spiraling out of control. They're not coming back from that. <<"Scratch one Stealthy." David reports.
Zan had called her target, and so she heads that way. With the jump lost, she hits the a wing to full throttle, the peppy little fighter jumping ahead, just as one of the attacking fighters fires right where she used to be. There is a very calm expression on Zan's face though, she's likely reached out to the Force, and at the moment, she's flipping switches and getting a lock on Transport 3. << Targt acquired,>> she murmurs. And here she goes.
Elrych is somehow spared an hard hittin onslaught from any of the First Order forces. He's just there, flying in a strait line towards Transport One... There's an awkward pause, "Alright then... freaking morons..." The Tracking computer comes fully online with a few beeps of affirmation from Eggsy in the droid socket behind his seat. <<"Lock established... waiting for Joy tone...">> Just a few more Kilometers…
The wonderful thing about the B-wing is that is cockpit is like an owl's head; whilst the enemy starts spewing laser fire their way, Callax centers themself, and their cockpit, allowing the hull to revolve around that axis and avoiding all that onslaught. It also allows them to keep sufficient stability to lock onto one of the transports.
<< Rogue Ten, >> they intone over the comms. << Targeting second transport. Torpedoes loading. >>
The furball has begun, hearing all of the targets being called out and seeing friendlies going after their targets. <> he calls inot his comms. Seeing fighters move formation to cover others not within their flight wings doesn't bother him but it's slightly a concern.
Quickly adjusting at the same time taking fire from two TIEs of both squadron, weaving and rolling. The T-85 is an all around fighter and it is able to move well, not as fast as the A-Wing 2, still it has speed and it's being shown as Rogue 2 never open it's S-Foils. Suffering a few glancing blows which his shields take hits, still the vetran Black 4 responds in kind as he climbs and rolls bringing it'self back around. Rogue 2 is able to catch sight of the lead fighter of Assassin squadron and he fires. But the nimble fighter is able to evade Rogue 2. <<I'm on Assassin Lead.>>
The ambush was a success.. sort of. The Loss of one Stealth Fighter and one damaged Tie Fighter was concerning - but the squadron continued to push forward. However, as locks begin to occur - this seems to cause a change in the squadron - as many of the Assassin squad move off of targets to double up on those who are attempting a lock on. All, except for one.. When it looks like tallie would have two on her tail - the fany flying from Crash pulls them off so that he can focus on them. The attempted lock on also has a respond from the Transports as they turn and move to fire on their would be attackers. While all of this is occuring, the Defenders try to take up the slack and attack those who are left in the dust.
While all of this is happening, in the distance - the Nebulon B and Carrack are going toe to toe. However, it doesn't appear to be going as well as it could as the Nebulon B takes several hard hits from the turbolasers. The weapons glance off the shields - but as each hit appears to be more powerful than the last - the shielding continues to light up but is taking a devestating toll. The return volleys have a few hits, but for the moment, it doesn't appear like the Nebulon is doing to well in this fight.
TIE fighters fly at the squadron from all angles and altitudes. One runs directly at Rogue Leader on the azimuth as she locks on the first Transport, depending on Crash, who is flying cover for her. Lintra knows that not sticking to flights in the heat of the moment can appear chaotic. The excellent pilots in the Squadron have never let each other down yet.
The bleep bleep of the targeting computer fills her ears as the blinking reticle stutters toward lock on. It's pure sound in the cockpit as Lintra delicately touches controls to line them up and then triggers the torpedoes towards Transport One. The Heavy Transport's shields fluoresce as the torpedoes impact. Pulling them up for another run, Rogue Leader watches the rest of the squadron's progress in this heated fight.
Exine complains as he can't get a proper target lock on the Assassin that was causing Rogue 10 to have some problems. Jax inhales, "I know buddy, Sensor readings are making them hard to find. It's annoying." He closes his eyes letting the force flow through him. He pulls the trigger and then opens his eyes just in time for him to score a solid hit on the target. <Ten, I'm trying to give you as much help as I can. I know that things like a flying brick. Make that transport regret it.>
Toying with. Yes indeed. Crash says, "Good work with those shields. Don't let up Demo.." And then he snaps a few shots in the general direction of Assassin-1. "Yeah. That's right. I'm right over here. You should totally come kill me and leave her alone." he mutters under his breath as he jukes and jinks to evade fire from the rear almost without thinking about it. It's like his movements are to the time of a heavy guitar riff. One might hear from his cockpit, 'aa-aaaah... savior of the universe!' but.. that would be weird.
Zandra stays on target, though thre are lasers flying every which way. She concentrates, stays focused and lets her bombs fly at that transport, tracking down and firing at the last minute, making sure she hits a solid shot. That done, she throttles back, nearly sseming to stop on a tenthcred, and then slides into an aileron before she is back heading on her next attack run.
David focuses on his breathing for a moment, the piloting is pretty much second-nature at this point, and he's still trying to fight the inner excitement from coming out before he's landed and out of the cockpit. There's a time and a place for that stuff, of course. The very next time there's a TIE in his sights, he hesitates. He took one of these out initially, maybe taking it by surprise, and there's no way it'll happen twice, right? Especially in a row! So when David squeezes the trigger, his eyes go wide when the whole TIE just kind of.. evaporates. <<"Scratch that one too. I thought they were supposed to be aces!">> he comms, that excitement leaking out finally.
Elrych maneuvers into an extended barrel roll, the arch of his travel also becoming a loop as he spins the axis of his craft around at 0 degrees. He levels the pitch and yaw after some green drek spits past him... not hitting his ship. He's quiet, his cockpit silent as well. Nothing but the roar of his E-Wing engines. Then the tone cuts through. He lets the torps fly, the purplish blue flame carrying it along before it smashes into the transports hull. Secondary explosions plume from the limping transport. El, turns, mobing to come around for another pass. <<"Really... it's still up?">> Not by much.
Spinning this way, spinning that - Rogue Ten's shields are battered several times by the flare of enemy laser fire, but considering the bomber is practically made of armor and deflector generators where weapons aren't sandwiched this is as of yet to be a bother. << This is Ten, >> Callax announces over comms. << Lining up my attack run. >>
And so they lower the hull into the form of a tall crucifix, cockpit at the twelve, looking down over the oncoming slab of besieged armor and keel that is their target. Gloved thumbs squeeze the triggers for the launchers, and midway down the cross of doom spits twin cones of blue-sheathed death, which lance across space too quickly for their quarry's comfort and add explosively to its woes. << Solid impact, >> they intone, made dispassionate through encryption - or perhaps it is just them. << Lining up the finishing run. Please keep those fighters off me if you can. >>
Breaking away as there was Crash and Tallie on Assassin 1, and with Crash helping her by distracting it, Rogue 2 rolls and banks left as he sensors picked up Assassin 2 trying to sneak in on Crash. "Not today." he says more to himself as Spark his R2 astromech began repairing the sheilds to Rogue 2. Adjusing the interia compensators a bit, the S-Foils of Rogue open for business giving the X-Wing it's trademark name.
Quickly and not really thinking, as the HUD locks onto the enemy TIE, angry red energy bolts erupted from the quad laser canons of the X-Wing striking the Assassin 2. Seeeing it's shields flare up, Rogue 2 stays on it's target. <<Tighten up Rogues.>> he calls into the comms.
The Missiles swarm away in dual fashion towards the Transports.. The first two missiles of each volley lighting up the shields like the fourth of july and causing them to sizzle hard, the next two hit the reinforced armor of the troop transports - again, shearing it off like it was nothing. Both Transport 1 and Transport 2 continue away - trying to get out of the gravity fields. Their hulls bright red from the impacts as metal melts in space and they try to desperately repair. Ofcourse, the two aren't with out their problems and sensors show that the second transport's shields generator have been completely destroyed.
BWOOP BWOOP The Computers of Tallie, El, and Zan light up as Assassin Squadron tries to return the favor and begins lock ons of their fighters.. Assassins 1 and 2 backed up by DEfenders 1-4 begin their attack.
Through all of this, The Nebulon-B has apparently gotten its footing back a bit as its weapons fire blasts across the space into the Carrack..stopping the moment. At the moment, it appears to be anyones game.
One holoprojection is focused on the Nebulon going head to head with the Carrack. Lintra imagines how high the tension runs on the bridge as the Nebulon rallies and begins to even the odds.
<<"Switching targets, Squadron. We are going to get us a few Stealth Eyeballs.">> Meanwhile, vicious dogfights break out with pilots dodging double TIES on them.
Feet dancing on the rudders, Tallie pulls back the throttle to charge Assassin 5, who has dogged her for the last ten minutes while she fired on the Transport. Time for a little payback. Lasers streak across the distance to her target, ablating shields and bleeding alloys from the fighter.
One holoprojection is focused on the Nebulon going head to head with the Carrack. Lintra imagines how high the tension runs on the bridge as the Nebulon rallies and begins to even the odds.
<<"Switching targets, Squadron. We are going to get us a few Stealth Eyeballs.">> Meanwhile, vicious dogfights break out with pilots dodging double TIES on them.
Feet dancing on the rudders, Tallie pulls back the throttle to charge Assassin 5, who has dogged her for the last ten minutes while she fired on the Transport. Time for a little payback. Lasers streak across the distance to her target, ablating shields and bleeding alloys from the fighter.
Seeing and hearing Tallie, Crash just grins. "You hear that you chuckleheads?" he asks nobody.. okay maybe his droid. "It is officially on now." he adds as he slams on his retrothruster controls, twists his control stick.. and then slams the right foot down into the forward thruster control.
The X-Wing performs a ballet maneuver in essence... it almost twists on one spot in space... strafing laser fire over Assassin One before he slams both thruster pedals to the floor and accelerates away.
Jax barrel rolls in the fast and nimble E-wing, <Alright, Rogue 10. I'll be back. Hold tight.Rogue 9 out> Jax hits the throttle, Exine getting excited as Jax targets F01. He pulls the trigger striking the transport just above the location of the shield genrator where the transport should break up. <I hear you Rogue Leader. Changing targets.>
<<"Switching? I've taken down a bunch already!">> David comms in, still excited about that fact. So excited, in fact, that he almost smashes his fighter into a third Assassin stealth fighter, only just letting it off with a bunch of warning shots. Yeah, that'll do nicely. Warning shots. "Whoa, that was close." David mutters to himself, pondering what just happened. <<"How's everyone doing?">> he asks, deciding to deflect attention away from himself.
Seeing and hearing Tallie, Crash just grins. "You hear that you chuckleheads?" he asks nobody.. okay maybe his droid. "It is officially on now." he adds as he slams on his retrothruster controls, twists his control stick.. and then slams the right foot down into the forward thruster control.
The X-Wing performs a ballet maneuver in essence... it almost twists on one spot in space... strafing laser fire over Assassin One before he slams both thruster pedals to the floor and accelerates away.
Zan takes a moment to survey the scene. She's got the Force with her, whispering to her. and so, given the current scenario, she takes a short spiral, and an attack run at the last of the transports. That's the mission, right? Destroy the transports? << Firing at the third transport, >> she says, letting folks know, and she targets, taking a deep breath, waiting for just the right moment and firing her concussion missiles at it. << Shields are still up, but they're damaged.>> She lets her ship tail away, making her way back for another pass.
Elrych was a pilot before he was a Jedi. Any snuff smelling drunken spacer who ever said that all Jedi could fly and cheated in a fight could go piss on them selves after they passed out from too much Port in A Storm. He didn't even have to sense the turret on FO-2 aim and fire at him, he saw it coming with his skill and trained eyes. He had fought for over two years now. He's had more missions on books than a lot of people. Yet people always, always underestimated him. The quiet of his cockpit was filled by the werbling of his droid as he pulled a rather tight maneuver, his fighter tipping end on end as it tumbled across space.
Eventually, Elrych rights the snubfighter. It's long beak points towards the limping transport once more. He shoves the throttle forward as far as it'll go. Purple engines roar, streaking across the cold black vaccum of space. thick red bolts lance from his three heavy canons, ripping more into the Y-4's hull. It buckles, secondary explosions rising in plooms. Suddendly the ship erupts into a massive fireball and completely breaks apart. <<"Target Destroyed.">>
Prepared to fire once more upon their chosen target, Callax suddenly finds themselves short two targets - and so brings the doom-cross's sensors upon the third transport, trying to escape. << This is Ten, >> they inform Tallie who's out there flying around like a bloody fury. << Targeting remaining transport. >>
B-wings are nice, they've decided as they line up the next assault, but really, a wishbone can do a better job.
Rogue 2 keeps it's target in sight even with all that's going on, the X-Wing weeaves through blaster fire and as it does, Spark is able to regain most of the shields on the fighter. As Ass2 tries ot evade, Rogue 2 rolls through enemy fire and let's loose it's own volley and all it's lasers strike home destroying A2. <<Splash 1.>>
The Carrack and nebulon continue duking it out with both being brutally hit. It isn't clear which is actually winning as the shields light up and nearly fail for both. This is a knife fight for sure.
Assassin squadron continues moving forward on Rogue Squadron though. As all this fighting occurs, the damaged Transport 3 begins moving with in range to escape the Gravity well and make it to Carida.. albeit with no transport.
Lintra slaps the toggle to silence the shield alarms. "Fiver, do your thing, repair but concentrate them forward. I want to have a talk with the Transport trying to break into hyper. Afterburners flare golden as she goes full tilt after the Transport. It blooms with red as she paints it with lasers repeatedly leaving it vulnerable for the others in Rogue to bring it down.
"Okay. Engaging." says Crash as he spins and rolls, narrowly evading the worst of the damage coming from his pursuer. But he turns his nose towards the heavy freighter and says, "Demo. Let's get those shields up." he says as he flips a switch with his thumb and engages the Torpedo launcher.
Demo gives a brief questioning whistle. "Yes, I am firing a torpedo." says Crash. The droid almost vibrates in its socket as the torpedo fires and misses, and then just sulks. Entirely forgetting to fix the shields.
Jax was outflying anything with an eyeball with a cockpit. The E-wing known as Rogue 9 formes up on Tallie as she goes full agro mod on teh transport. Then Exine chirps at Jax, "Hey the Boss lady does good work." Then Jax pulls on the equivelant of hold my Corellian Ale flying up the transport his heavy cannons stripping the shields and leaving the transport a smoking mess. "5 credits buddy, that Janitor lives up to his name." The little droid chirping there was no way he's taking that bet.
<<"Engaging the transport.">> David chimes in when he realizes their mission objective is about to get out of space-Dodge. All business-like, he focuses on the transport, making a bee-line to intercept exactly where he's looking to shoot, that being just ahead of the engine block. <<"Torpedo.. away.">> David announces, sending two purple-hued projectiles towards the transport, keeping his trajectory until he can confirm impact and result. <<"That's a hit!">> he calls out, adding moments later, <<"And that ship isn't going anywhere in a hurry.">> as he jukes the stick to the side and flies away from the ensuing explosion. Because he's a cool guy. He also made Jax five credits.
Zandra got the first hit in on the third transport, and she leaves it to the others, now banking and targetting one of those stealth ties. She misses but at least she'll hopefully keep them off everyone else's tail as they take out that transport. << Good shooting, >> she simply says. She banks to come hard about, juking to the right, and up, as she flies a bit defensively, looking for where he next best shot it.
Elrych makes a wide turn as he comes about, watching the last freighter explode. There is a small smirk on his lips. The Snubfighter levels out as it sores towards the Lead Assasin who is coming in at a cross. His retical lines up. The Jedi knew better than to trust the sensors. He had the force. Taking a deep breath, he waits... and waits. Then, squeezing the trigger on his stick, all three of his deadly heavy canons lance out. The crimson death smashes into the craft, obliterating it into an unrecognizable mess. It's unlikely the pilot was able to eject. <<"Splash one...">>
A B-wing is like a fortress, full of guns. But the Assassins have stealth gear, and Callax isn't quite at their prime in the ship - and so, the last salvo of the evening lands juuuuust shy. Alas! They'll go bomb a surface installation or something later.
Having had a few near misses as he re-situated himself. Rogue 2 re-engages and speeds off intercepting Assassin 5, but haviing to get him through going into a Talon Roll, as Rogue 2 completes the roll, red energy lances streak through hitting multiple points on the fighter, detonating the enemy fighter, <<Splash 2. Who needs help?>> Karas calls through his comm.
The Three Transports explode - the valuable materials and electronics now just floating in disarray. Both the Nebulon and Carrack are starting to take wear - with the Nebulon only being slightly more damaged. The mission succesful and neither side willing to commit to the fight with nothing to gain left.. The two capital ships along with Rogue Squadron break off - the Crippled Carrack limping to Carida space and the Nebulon-B returning to get weeks of damage. Rogue Squadron had one the day, and had saved more lives then they probably even knew.
