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The Raid at Ketaris
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| Admiral_Rullon | Date: Wednesday, 05 Aug 2015, 11:23 AM | Message # 1 |
 Ensign
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| The attack had been precisely timed to hit the Imperials at their most vulnerable. As the Imperial convoy was furthest from both the entry jump point near the system edge and the exit point near the planet Ketaris it would find hiding around the star itself the Liberty-type "Star of Dac" along with the Assault Frigate "Nubian Wonderer" and the Venerable Alderaanian War Frigate "Terror" closing on an intercept course as they shed the sensor cover of the solar corona and powered weapons to full approaching from Port. From the starboard there would be numerous inbound sub-capital ships detected inbound on the starboard.
Another capital ship was also to be detected emerging from the void at their exit point but too distant to detect for now, but with sensors indicating a bulk cruiser of some sort, providing yet another obstacle blocking their path.
Rullon would transmit an automated offer to surrender and be set down on the planet unharmed to all Imperial vessels, following the formalities of war with the capital ships bearing down to engage the largest escort, plotting targeting solutions and not expecting anything to come of their by the book pleasantries. The squadrons coming out of hyperspace next post on the right of the convoy were due to be incoming in three groups.
Sigius Rullon
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Vice Admiral, Rebel Alliance Fleet.
Officer in Command of The 7th Roving Line.
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| Jarec_Rissen | Date: Wednesday, 05 Aug 2015, 11:30 AM | Message # 2 |
 Ensign
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| "... And that's when I told him, Kurtz, you don't crawl inside the bantha!"
"Oh, come on, sir! It's only because I didn't understand the question!"
A chorus of laughter came over the squadron's comm channel as Officer Paolo Umeh, leader of Three Flight, completed his jest about one of the new cadets who'd been transferred to the squadron just prior to their departure for Ord Biniir. It had been a largely uneventful trip thus far, but for the 132nd's commander, that just meant trouble wouldn't be long in coming. As the saying went, there were good TIE pilots and old TIE pilots, but no old and good TIE pilots. Jarec Rissen planned to live to one-hundred and four, when he'd die in bed with a beautiful woman, shot down by her outraged husband, or so he liked to joke.
"Blackscars, at ease that comm chatter," he broke in on the squadron net. Glancing at his sensor board, he checked the positioning of the flights. "Blackscar Eleven, tighten up your formation a little bit."
"Good copy, sir." The feminine voice of Blackscar Eleven, Cadet Alina Juss, was crisp and accepting and Rissen was pleased to see her bring her fighter back into line. Broken up into four flights, led respectively by Rissen as One Flight, Flight Lieutenant Utasi as Two Flight, Officer Umeh as Three Flight and Officer Ven of Four Flight, each of the flights also contained a single cadet. The decision to take on brand-new personnel who hadn't established themselves outside the Prefsbelt IV simulators hadn't been taken well, at least behind closed doors and among the higher-ranking members of the squadron, but the matter was out of their hands. The Empire wanted bodies in TIEs, and the Empire got what the Empire wanted.
Switching over to a private channel with Blackscar Two, Lieutenant Utasi, he asked her, "So how is Cadet Resk working out? No issues with a female superior I hope?" It was intended to be good training, and a relatively easy mission. Escorting eight Mobquet medium transports to Ord Biniir, the Blackscars had shipped out on board their home vessel, Jormungander, the Nebulon-B2 that was flying 'above' relative to the midpoint of the convoy and some eight kilometers back. Now, alongside their old partner in crime, as Rissen liked to think of the Lancer-class frigate Snapjaw, currently 'below' relative to their position, they'd arrived in the Ketaris System and begun running basic patrols for practice. It wasn't going to be much longer before the convoy hand-off occurred; Rissen had been briefed that a Captain Shirnoq had last been in contact with Captain Dravis of the Jormungander, putting his position at Moltok. If the Captain wanted to take charge of the slugs, as Rissen referred to the Mobquet transports, early, then Captain Shirnoq was more than welcome to it.
While awaiting Lieutenant Utasi's reply, Rissen's primary comm, along with those of his squadron, suddenly burst into sound. "Blackscar Squadron, be advised: sensors show multiple large contacts approaching from sunward. Sensor profiles identify as a Home One-class, an Assault Frigate and an Alderranian-class cruiser. Additional signals read from starboard side and a single contact dead ahead, along our exit vector. Sensors list as a bulk cruiser variant. Prepare for incoming."
Grunting as he heard the news, Rissen snapped over to the squad channel. "Blackscar Flights, prepare for immediate hostilities. Protect those transports and watch your partners." It wasn't an ideal setup, having four flights. Normally Rissen ran three groups of four, but the current mission profile had allowed for dispensing the new cadets, so he'd broken down one cadet to each group to try and get them even training. Now it was time to see how they did. It was going to be an ugly slugfest, Rissen knew. If the Mon Cal ship decided to break ahead of its escorts, its superior speed would reach them in no time, even with the Mobquet transports driving in a line as hard as they could go for the exit vector, bulk cruiser or no in the way. At 30 MGLT speed, they were making best headway, but the Jormungander was beginning to pull ahead, making a push for the end-point even as the Snapjaw covered the convoy's rear.
Looking down at his sensors, Rissen estimated some ten to twelve thousand kilometers between themselves and the Home One-class. There was no way they were going to make the exist without trading some shots. Fortunately, Captain Dravis reported getting a comm message through to Captain Shirnoq, who'd replied he was going to hyperspace at soon as possible. Would it be in time, though?
"Lieutenant Utasi, Officer Ven, group together and hold the starboard flank. Three Flight, you're with me."
[OOC Note: Please give Selaria Utasi's typist a chance to post in here]
Jarec 'Ironside' Rissen
Colonel, Imperial Starfighter Corps
Flight Leader, 132nd TIE Interceptor Squadron 'The Blackscars'
Message edited by Jarec_Rissen - Thursday, 06 Aug 2015, 2:57 AM |
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| Kanzad_Shirnoq | Date: Thursday, 06 Aug 2015, 3:03 AM | Message # 3 |
 Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 18
Status: Offline
| [OOC: Don't mind me squeezing in here, please. This is more of a setup post than anything. Establishing and such.]
The 148th Force Escort had departed ahead of schedule at Ord Biniir, favoring the initiative of meeting the convoy ahead of schedule before returning to Ord Biniir for finalized refits; ideally, it would give Shirnoq's pilots a chance to test out the new TIE Interceptors. For that reason, he'd taken his squadron to Moltok, where the transfer of authority would occur. His ship was sans ground crews and attack walkers, such things having been shipped off of the Stalwart days prior; the incoming convoy would be picking them up soon enough.
He'd expected things to go smoothly, especially after his talk with Admiral Jensen. It was for that reason that he was most surprised at hearing the comm from Captain Dravis stating that the convoy was under attack by a vastly superior force. It was going to take time to get his vessels underway; time to get from Moltok to Ketaris. Time that the convoy didn't have. In what felt like too much time, the 148th jumped to hyperspace, leaving Shirnoq pacing the bridge of his vessel, wondering what he would find when he arrived.
Kanzad Shirnoq
Line Captain, 148th Force Escort Squadron
Victory-II-class Star Destroyer Stalwart
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| Selaria_Utasi | Date: Thursday, 06 Aug 2015, 10:16 PM | Message # 4 |
 Ensign
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| There was something about flying that made her feel alive. It always had, and it likely always would. It wasn't necessarily combat, no, just flying. Although the thrill of combat was an entirely different feeling. It wasn't something that she expressed freely, but it was there, none the less. Selaria knew her TIE advanced better than anyone, and she swore she could handle it better than she could walk sometimes. It was her and the ship and nothing else mattered.
Selaria grinned as Jerric’s voice crackled across the comm. “No, Sir. No issue at all. A bit….enthusiastic is all.” Not that enthusiasm was an issue, after all, she had been an over enthusiastic rookie at one point. It was difficult for women to hold a position on an elite squadron like she did, but not unheard of. Sometimes the new kids, fresh out of academy were surprised, or didn't like it, however.
When she heard the ruckus on the primary comm, she took a glance down at the monitor. “Oh what fresh hell is this?” She muttered to herself, glancing out the front viewport briefly. Still too far to see, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be pretty.
“You heard him kids…it'll be just like your flight sims.” She said before she muted her communications. “Only….not.” Selaria banked the TIE to the right slightly to fall into a formation.
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| Admiral_Rullon | Date: Friday, 07 Aug 2015, 1:21 AM | Message # 5 |
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Ensign
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| The rebel fighter strike force emerged from hyperspace and powered to full as it closed to weapons range. Fourty eight A-wings emerged simultaniously from the belly of the Home-One-type Cruiser and speeding off as 12 Y-wings follwed but instead of speeding off as the A-wings did they remained close among the formation of the three assaulting capital ships. The A-Wings splitting with half moving into an attack on the freighters which going at 30 MGLT were already leaving the Lancer (maximum speed 20MGLT) in thieir dust, as such they simply obscured their targeting angles as they assaulted the Imperial freighters by six engaging each closely with each of the 24 attackers firing a pair of concussion concussion missiles at a freighter. The other squadrons streaked directly for the escorts, breaking down into pairs to assault the escorting fighters with torpedoes and lasers, each finding themselves the target of two A-Wings using Concussion mieeilesand laser and zipping in to get on the tail and slashing when they were tailed in order to eliminate these inferior squints.
The other three rebel fighter strike groups emerged. Each of the three was 36 T-65 X-Wing fighters and 12 B-Wings strong. Similarly gifting the Imperials some Proton Torpedoes, one a piece. Distributed across the convoy this was 18 Proton Torpedos fired to strike the port sides of the freighters. Firing then skirmishing away from the sluggish Lancer's ineffectual barrages. The A-Wings after launching the initial initial Missile raid against the convoy looped up towards the launching interceptors.
The rebel capital ships would simply steam directly for the Nebulon B, the bombers remaining in-close to the Calamari cruiser to deploy Proton Bombs on the Imperial warships next post. The Home-One type would open up with all batteries on the Nebulon B2 Escort frigate, targeting it's wea spine. The Turbolasers of the Assault frigate begining to score hits also aiming it's heavy batteries on the Nebulon B's spine likewise. Feeling like bullying a fellow frigate as the Lancer was left behind in the dirt, the Alderaanian War Frigate would right turn as they approached the formation and open up with its Batteries on the Lancer-class. Chattering the empty space between them full of of bright red turbolaser fire as if shouting "Remember Alderaan!" as it, although smaller stood obstructing the Lancer and raining fire down upon it. As it skimmed into this position it would've closely passed the freighters which would've tastd it's Turbolasers and Ion cannons too.
The bulk cruiser, way off, way out of the range of anyone for now just skimmed in a holding pattern waiting to intercept or act in it's carrier function if and when it was required.
As the Home-One type approached between the levels of freighters and Nebulon-B2 it activated its tractor beams to lock a half dozen TIE Interceptors as soon as they remotely came within range, unshielded and at the mercy of huge capital ship tractor beams they were facing a falcon caught by the death star situation. Dragging them in as it casually hit them with a couple of Ion Cannon blasters each.
Rebel Targeting solutions unless otherwise stated were as follows. (Blown up version of below image)
Sigius Rullon
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Vice Admiral, Rebel Alliance Fleet.
Officer in Command of The 7th Roving Line.
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| Jarec_Rissen | Date: Friday, 07 Aug 2015, 3:04 AM | Message # 6 |
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| The moment the massed force of snubfighters emerged from hyperspace, Rissen knew the convoy was lost. Even at maximum speed, there was no humanly way possible that they could win. It seemed the best they'd be able to do would be to give a good accounting of themselves. From Captain Dravis' reaction, as the enemy fleet closed, to turn the Jormungander at a ninety-degree heading for the convoy and break for open space, presumably to make the best of a blind jump, he was clearly abandoning the convoy. Despite regulations and rules, Rissen couldn't blame the man. The Jormungander was far too outmatched.
Despite the speed of the battle at which the capital vessel commanders were feeling, such space combat was quite large and ponderous, even with smaller capital vessels. It took time to cross the gulf of space, and as the Rebel vessels did not break speed, the fastest they moved as a group was limited by the 40 MGLT top speed of the Assault Frigate; more than enough, of course, to overtake the convoy or the Snapjaw.
Blasts of laser fire snapped out towards the A-wings from the convoy, less to hit than to fill open space with some form of flak to attempt to shoot down the missiles. Alas, there were but eight cannons total cannons amongst eight ships, and while perhaps an eighth of the concussion missiles were destroyed, the remaining warheads impacted upon the Mobquet's shields, flaring up as they wore them away. Two of the transports suffered harder strikes than the others, explosions damaging communications and sensor arrays. However, even under such circumstances, the brave Imperials fought back: each of the transports loosed at least half of its compliment of concussion missiles in return, targeting a wide spread, as they could not aim accurately, but were still capable of firing and, with the speed and size of the oncoming enemy fleet, it was practically guaranteed that all ships would be engaged, including the snubfighters buzzing about the larger capital vessels, though those would only run the risk of being struck by bad luck and bad timing. A half salvo of one hundred and twenty-eight concussion missiles, all aimed to spread against the Home One-class and its escorting assault frigate; an act of covering fire. Nonetheless, the actions of the lead Mobquet were evident as, bare minutes afterwards, the escape pods shot away, leaving the ship without crew. Standing orders, however, were evident as the ship was wracked by internal explosions as the remaining warheads went off; the Rebels would not easily seize vessels that had been ordered to scuttle themselves, rather than risk the valuable cargo falling into enemy hands.
Any of the Rebel snubfighters closing on the Snapjaw, though, slow as it was as it broke to port of the convoy, would find its massed one hundred and eighty cannon assaulting return fire, concentrated in twenty quad laser cannons, anything but sluggish, despite its speed; any missiles shot at it were easily intercepted by the sheer amounts of firepower it could spit into space, and equally, any fighter that came within range was likely pummeled and destroyed, or driven off with damage. Due to the turn the Snapjaw made, though, the impacts of the turbolasers struck just aft of the bridge. It was a slugging match the Snapjaw could never win, but with the Rebel fighters leaving it alone, it turned all its cannon against the war frigate, bleeding energy against its shields even as its own shields began to drop.
The Jormungander enjoyed a speed advantage over the assault frigate, though it was outmatched in speed by the Home One-class. However, the turn that it began had the fortunate effect of increased armor and shielding along its connecting spar, though with the downside of putting its engines towards the attackers, though shields were lessened by a quarter in the bow to provide additional shielding to the rear, while its turbolaser turrets spat fire back at the assault cruiser's bow, returning as best as Captain Dravis did his best to affect return fire. Likewise, any rebel snubfighter approaching too close would find a concussion missile loosed at it.
For Rissen, the emergence of the enemy fighters demanded a quick shift of priorities. The transports were lost; even he could see that. It was evidenced later in the fight when one of the panicked captains, after firing off his concussion missiles, cried into the open channel: "Rebel ships, we surrender! We surren-" The voice crackled off as the IFF on Rissen's radar blinked out. Weakened by concussion missiles, ion cannons and turbolasers, then struck by the proton torpedoes, broke apart into flame and debris. A second freighter soon followed. For the 132nd, however, it mattered little. Minutes before, Rissen had issued a withdrawal order, calling the squadron back to defend the fleeing Jormungander. As the A-wings commenced their dance, they'd find their hastily-fired concussion missiles confused by clouds of chaff launched from the Interceptors, or simply outsped. The result, however, put the squadron out in front of the Nebulon-B2's bow.
"Enemy on your six, Three." Despite the heat of the fight, Officer Lom Davis' voice was cool and collected as he dropped in behind an A-wing attempting to bracket Three Flight's leader, Officer Umeh. Davis' lasers cycled at maximum speed, the L-s9.3 laser cannons, capable of destroying small asteroids in a single shot streaming bolts of green destruction at the smaller fighter.
"I got one on my tail! I can't shake him! I can't-" Blackscar Twelve, Cadet Dushak's fighter, winked out on Rissen's display as she was overwhelmed, cut off and destroyed. Protecting the remaining three cadets as best they could, the squadron's fight boiled back and forth. The A-wings might have been superior in terms of armament, speed and shields, but with the exception of the cadets all the members of the 132nd were veterans of combat and were well-versed in what they faced. A fortunate side-effect of the change of position of the squadron, of course, meant that it was temporarily out of range of the Star of Dac's tractor beams, not to mention the nearly impossible task of attempting to lock onto such a small-profile target at high speeds, an issue shown before when the Imperial fleet attempted to tractor rebel snubfighters in a debris-rich environment.
Rissen himself had scored a killing blow on two A-wings and was setting up in a vicious dogfight with a third. "Two, One," he commed Lieutenant Utasi, using the abbreviated call of, 'Two this is One.' "Prepare to break contact and head on vector two-two-six on my mark." The best he could hope for was to break for open space and use the Jormungander as a cover for as long as it lasted. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't honorable. It came down to survival; something that was growing less likely by the minute as a second freighter exploded and a third, venting atmosphere, began an uncontrolled spin close to the Home One-class.
"Mark! Break by wing pairs and keep each other covered!" Rissen called out to squad. "Turn and burn on my mark!"
Jarec 'Ironside' Rissen
Colonel, Imperial Starfighter Corps
Flight Leader, 132nd TIE Interceptor Squadron 'The Blackscars'
Message edited by Jarec_Rissen - Saturday, 08 Aug 2015, 0:58 AM |
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| Selaria_Utasi | Date: Friday, 07 Aug 2015, 10:38 PM | Message # 7 |
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Ensign
Group: Users
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| "What the actual f...." It was widely known that Selaria Utasi was not a delicate flower, and at times her language was worse than an over-spiced Hutt. Luckily though, she usually kept her end of the comm muted, so those sort of comments were kept to herself. Most of the time.
Opening fire on A-wings was easy enough, although they were zippy and difficult to hit at times. "I copy, One. Two-Two-Six." She repeated, confirming that she did hear him correctly, as she took a second to glance at the monitor. Two-Two-Six. Open Space. It was a fairly smart move, rather than sticking close to the exploding transports that were beyond lost.
Selaria un-muted the comm between the two who were supposed to be sticking with her. "You heard him. Two-two-six. Take out as many of the a-wings as you can as you go." And on the mark, she headed towards the designated vector as fast as she could push it, making sure the other two were with her, as she evades fire as best she could.
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| Jarec_Rissen | Date: Wednesday, 12 Aug 2015, 11:53 AM | Message # 8 |
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Ensign
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| (( OOC: Hope you don't mind, but I'm continuing the thread so we don't sit on it for too long. ))
The concussion missile spread was more than could have been hoped for, but less than Captain Dravis might have wanted, from a force-projection standpoint. One hundred twenty-eight concussion missiles was nothing to sneeze at; a barrage that size could do damage even to a Star Destroyer, or completely level a good-sized city. Spread blindly as they were, in the onrushing path of the vessels, there was little the Rebel ships could do but fully reverse thrusters, intensify forward shields and direct all batteries towards the purpose of cutting the swarm down to size in which damage would be greatly lessened. This plan, too, worked in part.
The salvo of missiles cut towards and through the defenders; one, two three, four Y-wings exploded as they circled around the Star of Dac, either by accidental hits or, in the case of one heroic rebel pilot, diving in front of a missile to save the larger vessel. However, efforts made were also in vain. While some of the warheads streaked harmlessly through space, passing between the pair, others, far more others, struck. The Home One-class' shields glowed blue as they were impacted, draining energy from reserves, yet they stood firm despite the pounding, even as they were weakened. The Nubian Wonderer, with its shorter-ranged defenses, fared with less luck. Impacts along its bow tested even its powerful shields, flaring like a veritable halo around them. By sheer luck they held, or perhaps by design, but the assault frigate was rendered with dangerously depleted shields.
The Snapjaw's battle was going as could be expected, of course. Three A-wings had fallen to its massed fire, as well as a pair of X-wings that had come too close in an attempt to pick it off with proton torpedoes. However, it was slowly losing its battle against the Terror, the war frigate that was, despite being the exact same size, far more heavily weaponized and much faster. Fires had broken out along the dorsal portion of the Snapjaw, and atmospheric venting was evident as the frigate attempted to limp away. It was the salvo of warheads that saved the Snapjaw, for the captain of the Terror apparently thought that pulling back to reinforce its sister ships was more important than trying to finish off a wounded Lancer. It didn't prevent a final, vindictive salvo of turbolaser fire from being shot out, impacting the Snapjaw's stern and damaging its engines, reducing it to half speed. The Snapjaw, still trailing flame as crewmen on board attempted to valiantly fix the breaches and seal off decks, began limping as quickly as it could for Ketaris, desperately calling for help from the planet and doing all it could to prepare for a possible starfighter rush.
For the Jormungander, luck had greatly held out, despite some superficial damage. Its shields, though weakened, had held, and with the enemy attack party falling back and apparently deciding to pick through the wreckage, Captain Dravis made the split second decision to also 'dive' for Ketaris, allowing its gravity well to help accelerate the ship's progress. Thankfully, it hadn't required another wide turn to reach it and minor course corrections. Ashen-faced, Dravis realized, watching the final destruction of the convoy, that eight Mobquet transports had gone up on his watch; some with their entire crews on board but, more importantly, their valuable cargoes of TIE Interceptors were so much shattered parts and space dust. More than that, he'd ran from the battle, as best he could. Well, there wasn't time now to think about how he'd explain it to his superiors. The Jormungander's gunners were still spraying fire out towards the A-wings that were attacking; one gunner actually got in a kill that was more luck than skill, especially at tracking such agile craft. Seeing that his ship, assisted by the gravity well, would be clear of the battle shortly, Dravis had the comm officer sound the 'all retreat' order to the 132nd, recalling them to the frigate's hangars in preparation for leaving the battle and full retreat to Ketaris.
In space, in the furball going on between the rebel A-wings and the 132nd, Rissen had just splashed his fourth A-wing. He'd seen the pilot go EV, eject out of the craft moments before it exploded and, for a brief, split second, considered taking a shot that would incinerate his opponent. Instead, he veered off. That pilot might end up coming back to vape him one day, but today, he'd be the better man, rather certain that if their positions had been reversed, the rebel wouldn't have done him the same courtesy. A glance at his sensor board told the cost of the turn-and-burn. At his order, the fleeing Interceptors had cut power, spun about one-eighty with a tap of their rudders and cut loose with quad-linked blasts. True, it had netted them no less than six dead A-wings, caught by surprise and firepower as they chased their enemy, but in unshielded craft it did not work as well as it could have; Blackscar Eight, Officer Gudder's craft, was now missing. He'd taken two lasers directly through his cockpit and exploded, and Blackscar Five, Officer Marrus, was missing the lower half of his starboard solar panel. The rebels had been thinned, yes, but not beaten. At that time, however, the comm officer's voice came over all the remaining Blackscar's channels, an almost welcome sound.
"132nd, recall, recall, recall."
Clicking his mic twice in confirmation, he broadcast over the squad net, "All Blackscars, form up. Three Flight leads the way in. Blackscar Two and Lead will hang in the rear for cover." He nudged his Interceptor closer towards Lieutenant Utasi's, giving her ship a once-over. A bit of carbon scoring on the wings from near misses, but she'd pulled through, as had her flight. "Good flying out there today, Two," he commed her. "I'm pretty sure you made ace today."
Easily catching up to the Jormungander under the cover of its turbolasers and concussion missiles, which were being used to keep any snubfighters off their retreat path, the remains of the 132nd entered the hangar in short order, allowing the relative safety of their parent craft to carry them to Ketaris... and out of the fight.
Jarec 'Ironside' Rissen
Colonel, Imperial Starfighter Corps
Flight Leader, 132nd TIE Interceptor Squadron 'The Blackscars'
Message edited by Jarec_Rissen - Wednesday, 12 Aug 2015, 12:01 PM |
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| Selaria_Utasi | Date: Wednesday, 12 Aug 2015, 1:07 PM | Message # 9 |
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Ensign
Group: Users
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| Two A wings. Two pathetic A wings were all she had taken out, though she was relatively pleased with the damage caused to others. Her rookie, while he had flown well, had some damage to one of the wings of his TIE, but other than that, they were fairly well unscathed. Unfortunately, from what she had seen, the frigate was not so lucky.
After Jarec commed, she took a few minutes to respond. "Thank you. Could have done better though." She was always hard on herself, and she was her own worst critic. It was the only way she could push herself to do better, and force herself to work harder at a job she already loved. Still, the compliment was welcome. "See you in there." Selaria finally said before she clicked the comm off and landed her TIE advanced in the rack before she removed her helmet, climbed out, before heading off to her quarters.
Message edited by Selaria_Utasi - Wednesday, 12 Aug 2015, 6:50 PM |
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| Kanzad_Shirnoq | Date: Wednesday, 12 Aug 2015, 3:52 PM | Message # 10 |
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Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 18
Status: Offline
| "Reversion to realspace in three... two... one... mark."
From the long walkway above the crew pits, Kanzad Shirnoq watched the stars return to their normal points of light as the Stalwart dropped out of hyperspace at the point of the 148th Escort Squadron. Gazing around, catching sight from his peripherals of the arrival of the other ships in his lineup. The EF76 Nebulon-B Icewind was already in position; truly, Captain Drak was an excellent subordinate. On his starboard side, the twin visuals of the Steadfast and Ravager, his Assassin-class and VT-49, respectively. Bare moments had passed, but he could already hear the clamor of voices announcing the varied necessities of hyperspace reversion.
"Shields raised to maximum."
"All batteries online."
"Ravager, Icewind and Steadfast reporting all systems normal."
"Fighters standing by for launch."
"Long range sensor readings estimate three capital vessels and numerous smaller craft."
"Captain! Single sensor contact bearing dead ahead of us! Range at six kilometers! Sensor profile indicates a Quasar Fire-class bulk cruiser!"
A small smile spread over Shirnoq's face. The convoy, it would seem, was likely under heavy attack, or destroyed by now. He couldn't do much for it at the moment, either way. However, having a lone rebel vessel directly ahead was a boon of its own. There was no reason that these rebels, these gnats, should simply have the wherewithal to destroy Imperial property; take Imperial lives, without paying for a bit of it in return. "All ships launch fighters and fire at will on the cruiser. Designate it 'Target One' and give the gunners free reign."
Within moments of the arrival, the orders were carried out. TIEs began to launch from the Icewind and the Stalwart; an insignificant number of TIEs overall; just enough to field four squadrons, but the quartet of Lambda-class shuttles that had launched as well might add a bit to the firepower. Designed for comfort and travel safety, there was nothing to say they couldn't also be used for attack and defense, and Shirnoq was smart enough to utilize every advantage he had. The starfighters, however, were little more than a screen in the off chance that the Quasar Fire-class had any defensive fighters of its own. Even before the first fighter screamed from its bay, the ships themselves had set to firing.
Having come out behind and just the smallest bit 'below,' relative to the Quasar Fire-class, the Stalwart's gunners had a perfect field of aim, and six kilometers was not enough of a distance at all when it came to the heavy cannons. All ten heavy ion cannons opened the salvo, along with ten of the turbolasers, targeting the engine strip on the vessel's rear, while three, then four of the tractor beam operators slapped their own weapons of a sort into the fray, attempting to hold fast the smaller craft, should it try to escape. Shirnoq wanted to capture this, evident when the next set of ten turbolasers began pouring fire in the bulk cruiser's stern shields. If they collapsed, of course, the turbolasers would quit their fire, allowing the ion cannons to do their work.
To the port and slightly offset, the Steadfast had maneuvered forwards at an angle, jockeying for a shot with its proton torpedo launcher and turbolasers, should it be needed.
Kanzad Shirnoq
Line Captain, 148th Force Escort Squadron
Victory-II-class Star Destroyer Stalwart
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| Admiral_Rullon | Date: Sunday, 16 Aug 2015, 8:05 AM | Message # 11 |
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Group: Users
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| The magical concussion wave did not, as suggested simply plunge toward the nearest vessels. As the Concussion Missile is generally equipped with an AI core that could at least tell 1. Target enemy IFFed ships. 2. Target no friendly IFFed craft. 3. Detonate if becoming dangerous. In fact as the nearest extant craft in the direction the Nebulon B frigate and the TIE Interceptors would've been first and foremost. The TIE Interceptors had made their point reasonably well against the A-Wings although the astronavigational errors they were having issues with would surely provide certain misinformed data to the Empire later on. As stated, rebel fighters had seen to staying clear of the effective range of the Quad lasers on the lancer with the debris of freighters and the War Frigate quickly providing obstruction too.
As the Imperials retreated the A-wings would dart, specifically four aiming to gun at Selaria, each ditching a pair of missiles behind her, she was going to be left with the incredibly awful choice, be left in the Hangar or be stuck in space.. With, yes, some unpredicted astronavigational phenomena having crippled their sensors, they had struggled and this would be one to chalk up to the records.. Either way, rebel pilots knew to bail and as the Imperial ships disengaged there were a number of small rescue shuttles flitting about, literally taking less than a minute to scour for living pilots.
The A-Wings outperformed the TIE Interceptor in every simulation, they were faster, slicker and while they had their missiles much more deadly, she was a fool if she thought otherwise and this is perhaps why the poetic justice of eight concussion missiles being targeted up her wazoo a she attempted to land. Do not underestimate the A-wing would be a wise lesson, for the A-wing was pound for pound the better craft except in sheer guns, it even had stock jamming systems etc, a masterpiece..
The point having been debated elsewhere, the Tractor beams were more than capable of capturing Un-shielded TIE vessels dog fighting or not, even Lord Vader had fallen victim of such a vice-like grasp in a shielded fighter before and this was much worse. As such a trio of severely damaged (ranging from pieces fo just holding together) TIE interceptors two lightly damaged and one relatively pristine. The crewmen would be simply tossed out the side of a pressure shield after having anything useful they had upon them rifled. It'd also have dragged up a fair few decent sized containers of freighter goodies into it's slower companion, the assault frigate.
As Blackscar squadrons esteemed leader retreated he himself would find himself under a severely punishing volley of hundreds of A-wing blasts filling the hangar he was trying to enter and the space around it with living death. The B-Wings with the X-Wings would likewise each launch off a pair (72 Proton Torpedoes total) of Torpedoes toward (no matter how reinforced it might be) the ship's spar in a vicious parting kiss before turning about and zipping away from both Ketaris and it's sun. The A-Wings which were not at at least 66% combat readiness by their pilots estimations withdrew with the B-Wings, leaving 32, 12 detaching themselves to the Y-Wings the rest massing into the wall of fighters now opposing the incoming Escort Force of Shirnoq.. The final gift for the unpopular anti-fighter ship as it continued to be pursued with literally hundreds of turbo lasers and ion cannon blasts raining down all over its rear quarters smashing off weapons and the ship would be lucky if it was mobile much longer.
The Lancer would find the Y-wings move away from their fire supporting Mon-Cal ship and lock targets with proton bombs.. Under an intense and concentrated volley including ion cannons targeting the ships sensors while light tuabolasers slashed turret after turret off the boat's frame, the remaining ten Y-wings would cruise down and at the very closest of ranges, just inside safe perameters drop a single proton bomb each onto the engine and reactor block, using the lancer's rearward blind-spot to prprevent guns stopping it, in addition to the fire from the friendly War Frigate. The Y-wings would then break away in different directions and make for hyperspace, but keeping their distance and using their high speed as an advantage, the War Frigate and 12 A-wings actually pursued the "elite" fighter group, occasionally dropping a concussion missile up the tail pipe of the Nebulon B if it was still retreating with the lancer.
The War Frigate in company of the two ships it was whipping (really by now something had to give with these ships, the rebels wouldn't be trying to pursue utter destruction but it's only fair they'd start to feel crippled.
So just under a hundred X-wings and twenty A-wings lined up themselves on a target with the inbound ships, staying well out of range for now, highly secure the enemy ships were another post out of even long range, but did begin to gun their engines. The Assault Frigate moved up behind them powering shields and engines and taking a full scan of the situation, it's nose pointed to take it on a direct course to seemingly bypass the Stalwart... or was this to be.. Ramming Speed?
The fighters awaited their next move daunting the Imperials and waiting for the inferior TIEs to either come in and try to harass them, or slow shuttles and petty patrol boats to be send to do fighters work. Each had two missiles or torpedoes in the pipe. The reason for the stillness was logical. While the A-wings were about to launch their attack on any TIEs.. the X-wings would unless closely engaged make for the Stalwart.. There they would pass around it's sides and move over it launching a single torpedo each at close range meaning the both of the deflector shield projectors were going to be inevitably in a lot of pain. Six of the X-wings held back from this tactic... each setting their remaining missiles to chain launch on command... they were going to break the new escort fleet as had there not been electromagnetic storms earlier they would've done more comprehensively.
The Assault Frigate, a cheeky chap, began to open fire after turning, even at this extreme range where it's fire would do little good, slash slash slash went the red fire across the void, the escort force was all targeted.. but unbeknown to the Imperials, the Stalwart was unlikely to be standing...
Unexpectedly from what you'd think, the Star of Dac actually joined it's War Frigate escort in a pursuit, quickly catching up with the fleeing craft, brutally raining fire down on them (esp escort frigates engines and critical systems and appearing to abandon the battle with the new escorts, skimming past the War Frigate which was running at lancer speed but which powered up its engines to top and went in for a position between the Nebulon B of the Blackscars and lancers, firing broadsides either way as the Calamarian ship was just a cone of light, seemingly, as it targeted its foes.. -if- the battle line of rebels was not what the former escort ships were fleeing towards (it'd come in for Assault frigatage if so)
If the Blackscar escorts had fled -toward- the incoming Imperial vessels they'd find their courses blocked by the assault frigate and also a pair of X-wing squadrons would break off their attack formation and begin too raining down fire on the Imperial escort frigate. If they did happen to be facing the Imperials main force the War Frigate would using it's superior speed and fire-power, next rocket off after the Assassin-class Corvettes, yummy!
A pair of A-wings also took a wide route skirting the planet Ketaris and it's sun and all combat currently engaged in, carrying a specially dangerous and for the Imperials, vastly more deadly than anything seen yet, surprise for their interests in the Ketaris system.
Either way, the rebels maintain disciplined comms silence with no chatter. And either way, both the fleeing escorts and the new were going to be in a whole lot of hurt. "It might be time to call for more of your wetnurses, cowardly! mammalian! slow witted! bigoted! Imperials!" Rullon exclaimed with pleasure. Imperials if they were looking carefully would notice (perhaps from some of the current craft engaging) that rather than colour ships squadron by squadron Rullon clearly was doing something else.. organising them by colour but not by class etc.. for what purpose? The colours were plain, unadorned (unlike many rebel units) and disciplined. Y-Wings similarly so. The B-wings had an interesting oilslick effect coating the effects of which and their meanings would remain unknown. The first large scale engagement, capture and sensor data on the TIE/IN would mean Rullon was the officer after the battle who would go on to compose the first official Rebel identification for it. Calling it the "Squint" (with all S-Mon calamarian designations in the military signifying superiority fighter and Squint being a comment on it's ugliness. With an unjammed local comms net, little to stop them and plenty of spare computer capacity, the Assault Frigate and Star of Dac would fill Ketaris with rebel propaganda across the airwaves for a few seconds, less than a minute, but as a result the image of rebellion had been seen by most locals in a thousand posters and images soon to go viral locally.. blocking steams of holonet from the highest University lectures to children's broadcasts.. The Empire was at last on the decline and just from the propaganda small drinking parties and crowds emerged in the student Drinking Dens and esteemed faculty buildings of the Planet's University!
(Clarification in a IM would be appreciated as to your movements so my post doest need to be so contingent on x y or z)
"Aw Hell Naw" thought the Bulk Cruiser's pilot as he detected the incoming Imperial ships jumps, springing a quick hyper jump in the way of a tactical manouvre to skirt around the planet Ketaris and be behind them on arrival but also heading around the planet and generally away from the dangerous combat zone, it's engines gunned out to 50 MGLT and glowing fiercely. It'd take a turn or two for fighters to catch up without microjumping and considering it'd just planned a close to well microjump the last few hours it doubted the Imperials were upto it in less than half an hour.
Sigius Rullon
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Vice Admiral, Rebel Alliance Fleet.
Officer in Command of The 7th Roving Line.
Message edited by Admiral_Rullon - Sunday, 16 Aug 2015, 8:08 AM |
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| Management | Date: Wednesday, 19 Aug 2015, 0:42 AM | Message # 12 |
 Gold Leader
Group: Administrators
Messages: 152
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- Management reserves the right to auto the conclusion of any thread that becomes persistently disputatious. Based on consultations with the principal participants, this thread is auto'd as follows:
Quote In the initial engagement, all 8 Imperial freighters were destroyed, along with most of their cargo. The 132nd suffered significant casualties; 1 TIE Interceptor destroyed, with the loss of a cadet. 2 TIE Interceptors captured, one significantly damaged and its pilot having ejected, and another intact, along with the capture of its pilot, an experienced officer of the 132nd. Jarec's TIE is badly-damaged in the torpedo barrage on the Nebulon B2, and Selaria's is destroyed completely (she ejects safely and is later recovered). The 132nd's Lancer-class frigate is destroyed under heavy fire, and the Nebulon B2 is blown in half (though it falls into a slow-decaying orbit of Ketaris that allows it to be salvaged once reinforcements from the Oplovis Sector Fleet arrive.
The Rebels do not come out of the initial engagement unscathed, however; the defeat of the 132nd comes at the cost of 4 Y-wings, 2 X-wings, and 13 A-wings, three of them lost to mid-air collisions in the enormous cloud of rebel fighters deployed. With the Imperial convoy destroyed and a TIE Interceptor captured, the Rebels make a fighting retreat directly past Shirnoq's forces (the Rebel bulk cruiser effecting a series of microjumps to make good its escape). A cloud of over 90 X-wings, supported by the Alderaanian war frigate, distract Shirnoq's Victory-class Star Destroyer with a concerted attack on its engines, leaving them badly-damaged. 9 X-wings are lost in this attack run and the Alderaanian war frigate sustains superficial damage, losing several starboard gun emplacements before jumping to hyperspace with the rest of the Rebel ships.
The Imperial Governor of Ketaris scrambles a pair of Tartan patrol cruisers too late to participate in the skirmish, which only lasts approximately 10 minutes. They succeed only in chasing away the pair of A-wings that had successfully leafleted the planet. Reinforcements from the Oplovis Sector Fleet arrive thereafter and conduct sweeps of the hyperspace routes throughout the Sector in an unsuccessful attempt to find the Rebels. Neighboring sector fleets are also put on alert. |
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