Log:Resistance: Ordinary Training Flight
Resistance: Ordinary Training Flight
OOC Date: November 13, 2019
Location: Sea of Veruna, Naboo System
Participants: Ektor, Tallissan Lintra, Karé Kun, Ashlie, Karas Darkwing, Zonk, Zandra naMuriel, Elrych Cometburn, Merek, Poe Dameron
It had begun as a standard training flight: a handful of cadets and other aspiring pilots looking to log a few flight hours, with a veteran pilot in charge, just in case. Take off, fly to the Sea of Veruna beacon, and fly back. Execute a few basic maneuvers, keep formation, donâ??t run into anything, simple as that.
A handful of Red Squadron T-70 X-wings, and a Gold Squadron Y-wing were cruising blithely through the Naboo System toward the polychromatic nebula named on their computers as the Sea of Veruna, when a short-range distress call was picked up. A civilian harvesting ship in the gas cloud had unexpectedly run out of fuel.
With a groan, Ektor- in the cockpit of Gold 1- had mumbled to the Resistance Rookies, <<Great. Looks like you get even MORE flight time. The brass is sending the Free Blazer out to top these people off and get them moving, again. So, uh.. Just keep a perimeter, yeah? Fly in circles around the area, I guess? Sure, lets do that.>> No one said the veteran attached to the flight had to be competent.
Within moments, the GT-R Refueling Tanker *Free Blazer* had fired up its engines and begun cruising toward the Resistance patrol and the stranded harvester.
The tanker had nearly docked with the stranded Naboo ship, when the blocky profile of a Corellian Action V heavy transport streaks into real space, nearly on top of the harvester and rebel tanker. Tactical computers name it the *Long Wampa*.
Merek has placed his flightsuit on, while he takes a place in the gunner seat of one of the laser cannons of the Free Blazer. He comlinks to the Captain of the ship, "Alright, taking my position," he says. Then he's shifting the tactical computer while he looks to the incoming freighter, "Orders?" he asks.
"Why we always gotta do these crummy missions right before CHOW!? I'm tryna put on weight for the Plorjox!"
Zonk's comm channel is the most frequently muted channel in all of the Resistance, and he seems to already be in rare form today. Of course, any time that he's forced to put on a shirt he becomes extremely irritable, but he seems to have put on quite a bit of weight the past month or so, causing his flightsuit to be even more uncomfortable than ever. Fog is already starting to form on the helmet's visor, and his fat fingers are having trouble with the delicate human-sized controls.
Which is why he accidentally turns the comm back on when he meant to cycle the air conditioning.
Over the commlink, the gravelly, froglike voice of the Resistance's Strongest Pilot can be heard, attempting to carry a tune.
"Zonk's Gonna Getchoo.... BOMP BA BOMP! Yer gunna have a bad daaaaaay! BAMMA Na NA! Gunna get CRUUUUUUNCHED up!"
His voice cracks when he gets to 'crunched', trying to hit a note that's about three notes above his vocal range.
Ashlie ready for her first flight Training unnervous at all yah, that's a good thing right? She already has her flightsuit on and jumps into her X-wing. Really, looking over it all, she is just having this feeling of first time jitters but.. hey, she can do this. "Alright, taking my postion.. " She says over the comlink. She does mutter to her self (You have flown before.. just like your dad once told.. you just breathe. )
<<Eh, drek,>> Ektor mutters eloquently when the *Long Wampa* emerges from hyperspace and promptly launches a half dozen mismatched fightercraft from its hangar, immediately outgunning the rookie patrol. <<AGAIN, with these Hutt-suckers- Listen, don't wait for em to get comfy, SHOOT those drek-heels. Keep em off the Blazer until reinforcements get here.>> As he sharply banks the Y-wing toward the lead enemy ship, his R2 unit twitters at him with a pointed question. "...Well no, I haven't signaled for help yet, that sounds like a thing YOU SHOULD DO, Genius!"
"Better not... say nothin' smart... BERNA NUR NUR! Or... do nothin'.... FAH! Writin' songs is hard. Most words don't rhyme."
The Astromech droid sitting in Zonk's X-Wing socket (not a veiled reference...) says absolutely nothing the whole trip. But judging by the multiple Zonk Fist-Shaped dents in its head, it probably has learned its lesson by now.
But it DOES start beeping when the fighters get deployed.
"I see 'em, Puncho! And good for you, finally learnin' the appropriate time to interrupt my soliloquollies.... no punch fer you today, little buddy!"
The droid doesn't beep its thanks. It just does what its told.
"Time for a little Houk Diplomacy! Let's blast these turd burglars outta the sky!"
Zonk activates his turbolaser battery, and begins blasting at the nearest fighter, an old Preybird.
Merek looks to the fighters being launched, firing upon the preybird. It strikes up into space instead of the target, while he begins to adjust the weapon.
Ashlie says, "Damn I'm good.. yes, I know they evaded.. " She speaks to her droid as she fires that first shot at the Preybird heck, at least she was going to go for the same target. Though as the droid beeps at the fighters some more she shakes her head. "Yes.. I know... I missed them. "
The outnumbered Resistance fighters lay a few hits on the pirate fighters, but a trio of heavy Kimogilas slips through and Carrie's out a devastating strafing run on the rebel fuel tanker, collapsing its shields in a volley of heavy laser cannons. Alarm claxons blare throughout the ship.
Ektor had gone head to head with an enemy ace and come out better than the other guy, as his bomber takes a minor hit to forward shields, but it's the run on the Free Blazer that prompts an, <<OH, DREK. Listen- rookies, don't stack up fire on one ship, yeah? Spread the love, we gotta keep em off the slugs, yeah?"
The Long Wampa has made use of the distraction to fix a tractor beam onto the motionless Naboo Harvester ship, drawing it slowly closer.
Merek looks to the incoming cannons striking the Free Blazer, while he looks to the computer's panel. He takes a moment to begin working into it to shift power into the shields, bringing them back up online and nodding a bit.
"That's right, Pudzos! Eat Zonk's Swollen Fury! HAR HAR HAR!!!!"
Blaster bolts fire from Zonk's X-Wing, far more precisely than one would expect if they could see the cackling fat guy in the cockpit who is doing the firing. But even with his head thrown back in uproarious Battle Laughter, Zonk is still able to hit his targets.
And dodge the incoming fire.
His X-Wing spins out of the way of the incoming blaster bolts, weaving his way between them and setting himself up for another shot at the Preybird. Sweat drips from his face, joining the sweat that's already pooling up inside his X-Wing and fogging up the windows. But then he notices that the kimogilas are all attacking the Free Blazer.
The Free Blazer is a supply ship.
Supply ships help the beans get to Zonk.
"These pudzos is gonna steal our beans! Somebody sacrifice yourself to take them out!"
Mumbling under his breath, Zonk makes some general commentary about having to always be the one the save the day while everyone else loafs around and drinks all the good booze.
As he fires off shots at the Preybird, Zonk is reminded of a funny human joke, and calls it out over the radio.
"Hey Ektor! See that ship that's got a tractor beam on one of ours?"
"DAT'S YER MUDDER!"
A sudden flash of a Corellian Bunkerbuster Corvette appears some 2000Ls from the present engagement. As her sublight engines come to life, the Corvette's cannons cycle into position with soundless locking noises. Flashing into existence in front of this massive vessel are the iconic black and yellow streaked T-85 X-Wings. Poe Dameron is in the leading one.
Reaching forward with a gloved hand, Poe flips a switch to activate his encrypted comms to address all surrounding fighters. <<"Black Squadron, this is Black Leader. Check in and form on my wing. We're starting our attack run. Break -- Break, Gold Leader, thanks for keeping them warm for us.">> Poe grins, then reaches up to pull the lever to open his s-foils. Red sublight engines come to life and Poe's planted firmly against his seat as a result. "Yeah, I know, pal. Another day in the office." Poe answers the warbling droid BB-8, who is stationed in the droid socket behind Poe's canopy.
The call for the ships to scramble is hurt and boots ring clear on the walkways. Rev is in place when Kare pulls free of the pylons the canopy slides closed and clocks into place of her ship. She checks systems and when they are given the clear she breaks free out into the void of space. "<Black Four, ready to go.>" She says over comms and positions herself into formation. Systems are green insofar as she is concerned but already Rev has his opinions. Ignoring him for the moment Kare keeps herself focused on the group ahead so that when they launch into hyperspace she is tight and information "<Engaging hyper jump.>" With a blink and a screaming starfield past her cockpit she soars out of hyper and into real space with a quick jolt of the X-Wing. Foils remain closed so they can get closer faster. "<Black Four here. On you Black Leader.>"
When the scramble alert sounds in the barracks, Tallie is in her robe leaned over a basin brushing her teeth. She sheds clothes where she stands and runs for her flight suit, threading it on and stamping into her boots within three minutes of hearing the alarm. Fiver trundles behind her as they run for the launch deck. The flight crews are rolling the launch racks with professional alacrity, the clank of the well oiled machinery loud in the small space.
Once Fiver is fitted in behind her, she double checks controls waiting to be released into the void on her turn. <<Black Five, launching on your six, Black Leader.>> A touch to her chin strap, a finger to her white scarf knotted at the throat of her suit and a final look at her boards before she is slammed back into her seat as they are released and then go weightless. She opens the T-85's foils dropping into formation.
The on standby pilots are of course quick to race to their fighters, ready to go at a moment's notice. Zan - is even ready along with the rest of them, taking a moment as she sits in her cockpit to meditate. Because doesn't everyone? No? Oh well. The lone Black Squad A Wing hits the black, and she easily pushes the throttle forward, as her fighter goes screaming off the Valor, headed for Poe's wing as instructed. <Black 10, all green,> Zan announces. <Let me know if you want me to shut 'em down.>
Already in his flight suit and up for duty rotation on the Valor, Elrych made his way quickly to his X-Wing and started the pre flight takeoff cycle even before the Valor had a course plotted for the sea of Veruna. Eggsy, his R2 Unit wasn't far behind and let out a few whirs and whistles as it was placed into the T-85's astromech socket. "Playlist B5? No, no... play list Orange 12... That's some strait fire. Deep cuts Yoda gave me." Music starts to play as soon as Eggsy is secure in his socket, "No-no... not this one... wait." The Jedi gives it a moment, the music slowly building up. "Oh if we get there just as it gets good... you know what... leave it." The Cockpit starts to close and the engines wine to life on the X-Wing. Elrych puts his helmet on. The X-Wing launches into space and plots it's own course and jumps into hyper as the command is given.
Black 12 reverts into real space with the other members of Black Squadron, gloved hands reaching out to push the throttle full. <<"Black 12... let's rock.">> His music can bea heard in the background when he comes in over comms. The Jedi Ace takes a deep breath and focuses, searching through bogies.
Having been called in, Karas was ready to go have some fun. Launching as the others do, Karas rolls his fighter as they streak off in attack formation. He glances behind him at his astromech, "Alright, you know hat to do." he says to Spark who toodles at him. Looking forward, <<Black 6 ready to rock.>> he calls into his comms as he flicks the switch setting his fighter into attack position as his T-85s wings move into attack position.
Someone sacrifice themself? <<Zonker, the trick is to get THEM to sacrifice themselfs, yeah? Still, I'm going one on three against a bunch a heavies so maybe I ain't so smart.>> He does laugh sharply at the Houk's 'your mother' joke. Nacelles flaring orange, the Y-wing drives with reckless aggression at the trio of pirate heavy fighters, annihilating one outright, and forcing the remaining two off their attack run, and buying the Free Blazer a bit more life. He avoids the heavy cannons fired in return with bared teeth. <<Oh, and uh- don't die, yeah? I forgot to say that, before.>>
The weight of numbers behind to tell. Zonk is hammered by the Preybird, and Ashlie has taken fire from the modified V-wing. All the while, engineers aboard the tanker scramble to restore lost shields, floating nearly defenseless, and the Long Wampa reels in its prize.
The battle looks dark.. until it turns Black. <<What took you so long??>>
"Are you kidding me?? why can't you repair it.. we are gonna have issues. " She looks to the front now.. and just knows that this isn't a good thing she gets hit for more damage and the shields aren't doing very good. "I'm gonna need you to heal us try harder this time.. please. " She isn't going to punch her droid but.. she is close to giving him a talking or two. Then, thats when she see's black forming <<Oh, thank goodeness>>
As blaster bolts collapse the shield of Zonk's X-Wing, and begin tearing his ship up, Zonk manages to use his highly-developed Houk Sphincter Control to avoid making the cockpit smell any worse than it already does.
But just barely...
<<Gack! This rickety tub ain't worth spit! FLY BETTER!>>
Zonk balls up his fist, preparing to bash his own flight console in, but remembers a lesson he learned a long time ago.
A LONG TIME AGO...
Sitting in a ruined simulator, covered in sweat and bits of ruined electronics, Zonk hangs his head in shame as the flight instructor scolds him for a solid hour and a half.
BACK IN THE PRESENT...
<<It's yer lucky day... tub. 'Stead of punchin' you, I'm gonna punch this phukkin pirate scumbag PUDZO! With BLASTERS!>>
He proceeds to do exactly that, while the astromech droid tries frantically to repair the damage that's nearly made the ship inoperable. And his Theme Music begins again, as croaky and froglike as ever...
<<ZONK'S GUNNA GETCHOO! BOMP BA BOMP!>>
It's extremely gratifying to him to see the Preybird explode in a shower of... explosive stuff. Zonk's fighter passes through the explosive cloud, rather than crunching up on impact.
Merek lines up with a Kimogila, and takes a clean shot, though he can't quite maneuver it properly. He does take a moment to adjust the sights on the weapon. With Black Squadron with the team, it looks like they can manage easier also.
Poe Dameron glances left, then right.. resulting in an ear-to-ear grin at seeing his squadron formed. <<"I'm handling this Long Wampa's tractor beam. The rest of you keep those fighters off our new nuggets.-- Zan, stand by for that jammer.">>
Poe starts his approach toward the Action V, increasing his speed and closing his S-foils. <<"Going innn, hold onnnn!">> The X-Wing performs the risky feat, flying beneath the shields and now coasts over the exterior of the large vessel's hull. "Priority targeting, BB-8.. mark it for me!" Poe growls, fighting the slight G-force of having deployed his S-foils again. BB-8 marks the source of the tractor beam and Poe's eyes narrow, his craft twisting until the exact moment. Two shots hit it, and he angles away. <<"Tractor beam disrupted! Zan, jam it now! Jam it now!">>
Kare watches Poe go straight for the big one and she breaks off. <"<Black Four. I am tagging the V-Wing.">> She pulls hard on the stick and directs her ship in a full barrel turn. As she pulls some heavy G'sin the cockpit, she catches her breath and brings about the V-Wing into her sights but squeezes off too soon, giving her target plenty of room to move. She narrows her gaze and levels out to keep up with her target in order to buy the rookie some time. <<"No good!>>
They drop in out of the blue, the white streaks of stars steadying into the diamonds of real space. The race is on for the tanker that is being swarmed on like a herd animal cut from the pack. Captain Lintra watches Ektor charge three Kimogilias with reckless abandon, shaking her head. Behind her Fiver whistles a long comment on those willing to die young.
"Not this time around. Okay, Fiver?" Targeting the Kimogilia designated two, she opens foils into attack position, flips the T-85 into a roll and goes in with lasers flaring red across the void. First run and the unfortunate pilot didn't have time to eject. <<Splash Kimogilia 2>> she announces tersely as she reorients the X-Wing for the next run.
Zan takes in the battle scene as they fly in on their approach. She thoughtfully preps the jammer, expecting that will be coming, but first, she accelerates to attack velocity, and screams her A Wing in. <Black 10 on the Starchaser,> she calls on the comms, so that poor Zonk knows there's incoming assistance and doesn't mess up the fighter any more than it is already. She concentrates, and lets the blasters fly just in time to hear Poe tell her to jam now. Famous last words those, literally, as Zan promptly hits the jammer, fingers flying on the touch screen, as she circles back to prepare for another attack run.
<< Jamming in three, two - now,>> Zan says - and then there's the sweet sound of ... static.
Elrych bears to port as he comes in on the frequent flyer of the enemy flight. He gets a good tone and lets his linked lasers roar as he gets in close, three of them smashing through the heavy fighters shields as the T-85 rockets past and moves to come about for another pass... Though that's when Karas comes in to finish what he started. "Alright then..." He's about to say something on channel about the fighters all being taken out at once but that's when Zandra innitiates the Jamming and the Jedi is just left with his music. "This was underwhelming... Let's blow up the freighter..." He turns to angle in on the 'Long Wampa'.
Grinning to himself and watching as his allies streak in towards their intended targets, <<Alright Gold-1, coming to help you out. AGAIN!>> Black 6 calls into his comms as Karas brings his fighter in towards Ektors. Seeing as Black 5 is going after one of the other Kimos. The T-85s engines glow red as more power is pushed into them, swinging wide to his left, Black 6 angles in and gets a target lock, and as he does red streaks of energy plow into the enemy fighter as Karas rollws through the fireball as Tallie fires on her target, <<Nice shooting Black 5.>>
Between Tallie, Elrych, and Karas, the pair of remaining heavy fighters on Ektor's tail are blown apart in a torrent of angry ruby energy. A dumb chuckle greets his squadron mates. <<Drinks are on me when we get back, yeah? Hang on->> the light bomber veers hard toward the modified V-wing. The sensor jamming cuts in, so the Tionese pilot isn't heard by anyone else as he zeroes in on the light interceptor that evades Kare, but is chased right into his sights: "Stop shooting my rookie!" The Y-wing nose cannons tear through the sleek hull, completing the avalanche of destruction dropped onto what was once an elite squadron of pirates.
Its tractor beam projector offline, its sensors jammed, and its fighters suddenly smashed, and staring down a corvette's heavy guns, the commander of the *Long Wampa* makes the easiest decision to flee in their life. Sublight engines go dark, and the hyperdrive spools up, leaving its would-be prize behind.
Merek looks like he is about to fire, when it looks like the fight is finished. A nod offered while he begins to work on repairs, "Alright, I will get these shields back up," he comlinks to the bridge.
<<HEY! One you pudzos wanna help Zonk out? Get this guy OFF MY TAIL!>>
Turning around in his seat, Zonk balls up his fist and waves it menacingly at the Starchaser that's getting dangerously close behind him.
<<GET OFF MY ASS, PUDZO! I AIN'T EKTOR'S MUDDER!>>
And suddenly... it's gone! Leaving Zonk all manner of relieved.
His Houk Sphincter Control allows him to avoid getting tooo relieved though.
The droid continues to try and repair the badly damaged fighter, as Zonk falls into formation with the rest of the group and prepares to go home.
Ashlie notices Kare come in and saves her just in the nick of time.. but before she can the Vwing has room to move.. but Ashlie seems to get out of it's eyesight just in the nick of time.. " Yes, repair.. you know the drill. " She speaks to Buddy once more.. She would figure he would know to repair already.. maybe not this is his first time out. But.. as the Ving is taken out.. soon she gets ready to head home with the other's once the it's time. She speaks over the comlink <<Good shot!!>>
Poe was preparing another attack run on the freighter when it made the wise choice to jump to safety. A quick visual scan and Poe closes his S-foils and flies back toward the Valor. When the jammer is deactivated, Poe's voice emits over the channel. <<"Good run, everyone. Let's head back home and lick our wounds. Tion, ensure your flight team checks those crafts into maintenance. I see some carbon scoring.">>
<"Just here for an assist, Rookie, worry not. I think the rest of the squad mopped up.>" She brings her bird around to help escort the Rookies and make sure they are safely seen onto the Valor. Kare checks with Rev. "Make sure our targeting system is calibrated. Felt like I was overcompensating." She moves then, falling into place to return to base.
The "Long Wompa" takes the long view and lights out into sub-space for a vector that will take it out of the fight.
<<Roger, that Black Leader>> Smiling to herself, <<Hey Tion, way to go initiating the nuggets.>> She flips into formation for hyper jump and they flash out of real space.
Once turned around, Zan discovers the enemy fighters are somehow space debris. The long wampa, she can see visually is hightailling it out, so she waits a moment, until there's that tell tale flash, and then she deactivates the jammers. <<Black 10, jamming disabled,>> she says, and then there's Poe's instructions, which have her fall into her position, and head back with everyone else.
"Awwww, Krif it." Elrych says is disappointment as the Long Wampa gets away... AGAIN. Eggsy beeps something at him, echoing the Jedi's sentiments. "Yeah, I know... damn sneaky bastards. We'll get 'em one of these days Eggsy, don't you worry." As Poe comes in over the comms, Elrych has already reformed into formation and headed back towards the valor. <<"Wounds? What wounds? Did I hit some space debris again?">>
Coming around, Black 6 gives a wing tilt to Gold-1. <<You still looking good big bro.>> he calls to Ektor. A laugh escapes him, and the T-85 streaks towards teh others. <<Good going everyone.>> he calls over the channel at everyone. The S-foils close and he settles back and takes on a guard position.
The Y-wing comes back around, and falls in with the pair of Red Squadron X-wings. << I hear you, Pretty Boy. Nothing bad, rookies all in one piece. Mostly. Hey, rookies, you both in the same number a pieces we started in? And hey, surprise combat patrol! Day wasn't a total waste, after all. And we didn't even get our tanker blown up! This was one of them win-win kinda things, yeah?>> The transmissions from Tallie and Karas gets a chuckle, and the patrol heads back to the fleet along with the damaged tanker, and rescued Naboo Harvester.
