Sheila keep at the sensors, since there's not much else she can do.  She will scan the area, then the TIE's if she has time. And hope it does any good.

She is hopefully looking for anything that will help against the Tie's

Jamie considered climbing into the turret to personally remind Rann of the change in personnel positions.  Thinking better of it, he returned to his former post as co-pilot.  Picking up the comms again he braced the crew for combat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Five again; I'll be your commander for this skirmish.  Sensors, feed information to the gunners, please.  Gunners, begin firing a few seconds before those TIEs are in range.  Engineering, keep an eye on everything and inform me immediately of any damaged systems.  Keep those shields charged.  All stations, please verify that you are combat-ready."

"Sensors, ready>"

She made sure the sensors fed to the gunners and switched from scanning the surrounding to scanning the TIE's first and then the surroundings.  They were coming up fast.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Wed 09 Sept 2009.

"Understood Five" Exilim replied to Jamie's incoming orders.

He checked all his systems again including accessing the sensor data coming in from Sheila.He targeted the lead TIE and prepared to fire once it was just outside of maximum range.

"Four ready for action" he said over the internal comm. Concentrating intently on the lead TIE he said to himself Shoot straight, shoot true.

Jamie leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes.
"Whatever happens, Seven, get us to the jump point ASAP and get us out of here."
Jamie then leaned forward and looked at the sensor data for the surrounding area, furrowing his brow in concentration...

'Reaching the jump point will happen pretty definitly...' answered Devon as he hunched over the controls.
'I just dont know how many pieces we'll be in when we get there...'

(Yay for Firefly references!)

Flash muttered to himself in three distinct languages as he busied himself over repairs, some more hasty than he would have liked.  We'll sure as heck still be in one piece if I have anything to say about it!  He leaned around one corner, sliding his long fingers into a crack to connect a wire, then hoisted himself out and turned to the shields.  "Let's try not to knock anything loose this time."

“Sorry, what was that? asked Rann “Getting interference on the comms... I'm coming to you. he added as he unbuckled his harness and started to climb up the ladder.

Rann was unbuckling his harness and moving from the turret when he clearly heard Sheila call over the comm "TIE's in range in fifteen seconds."  Seeing nobody close by to take his spot, Rann strapped back in and powered up the turret.

Xil had already opened fire on the lead TIE.  The ship was still out of range but the goal was to get the ship to flinch, slow, do anything that bought them more time.

In the cockpit, Devon watched the numbers roll past.  Only a minute until they could jump.  One lousy minute!  Hearing the turrets firing, Devon gripped the controls tighter but made no evasive moves.  Every maneuver he pulled kept them in the gravity well longer.

"TIE's entering range." Sheila called.

This was apparent to the gunners as moments later, the space behind them filled with bright green lights.  At such long range, the fire was not the most accurate, but with Devon not maneuvering it didn't need to be.  Laser fire began pouring into the rear shields.

"Shields down to fifty percent, twenty percent.  Shields DOWN!" came the continual updates from Jamie.

Down in engineering Mark ran around yelling orders at Jace while he ripped circuit boards out, cross-wired power feeds and worked feverishly to route more powers to the shields.  Already he'd cut into half of the ships secondary systems and he knew Flash was doing his best to keep primary systems up.

"Try that!" he shouted to Jace as he cross wired another system.

"Shields up to ten percent" came the reply.

Not a moment too soon as another blast rocked the ship, stripping the shields away once more.

"That one creased the hull!" Jaime called.  "Doesn't look like we took damage."

In the turrets, realising the desperation of the situation, the pair poured more fire at the nimble TIEs.  Jace hit the leader with a near dead-on shot that had the ship breaking off from the fight.  The move confused the other two TIE's who followed their flight leader, buying the ship a few seconds.  The other two TIES continued to fire, but it was more erratic as they jinked heavily, unnerved by the strike to their leader.

The skittishness bought the engineers some time.  Time in which the shields rapidly climbed and the jump point came closer.  However the range between the TIEs and the ship rapidly closed.  Whilst the YT-2000 gunners were clearly better shots, the TIE's had the advantage of better weaponry, superior agility and ships that weren't being held together with little more than tape and hope.

In the commanders chair, Jamie calculated the numbers and knew they weren't going to make it.  The TIE's were too close.  Nothing short of a miracle could save them.

Then their miracle happened.

A cry from Devon over the comm made nearly everyone jump in their seats.

"Incoming cruiser, dead ahead!"  Devon reflexively ducked and put the ship into a spin to avoid the Corellian Cruiser and its two Z-95 Headhunter escorts that had jumped in practically on top of them, coming so close the shipjacker swore he'd crash.  In the turrets, Xil reflexively ducked as the cruiser flew overhead.

Rann and Xil watched in amazement as the cruiser opened fire on the TIEs, causing them to break off as the bigger threat plowed straight past them.  Devon quickly straightened out and aimed for the hyperspace point only a few hundred kilometres away.  The TIE's were still focused on the new arrivals when Devon pulled the hyperspace levels what seemed an eternity later, but was in actuality only about ten seconds.  The stars stretched out before them.

They'd made it!

---

OOC:  I am deeply sorry for my tardiness.  Who knew writing 10 combat rounds could be so damn annoying!  Anyway you've survived the battle and thus the adventure.  I will write an epilogue shortly, but for now, take a moment to talk amongst yourselves, celebrate do whatever you will!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Thu 01 Oct 2009.

Feeling the ship make the transition to hyperspace and determining that the engines were running smoothly, Mark activated the comm.

"Secure systems then meet in the longue.  I think we've earned a drink."

Looking around the mess of what used to be a pristine engine room, Mark grimaced as he turned to Jace.  "We'll help you put this back in order and help make her as spaceworthy as we can."

After making some semblence of order out of the engine room, Mark moved into the main lounge area, found a cold drink and waited for the others.

Xil took a few deep breaths and tried to slow his racing heart. It was one thing to get blown to bits, but having a cruiser fly by that close was a dimension he didn't need.

"Understood One, will be there shortly" he replied to Mark. Xil started powering down his systems checking that they were still in working order as he did With our luck you never know when we'll need them next he thought to himself.

Once his turret was secure he headed down to the lounge, grabbed a cold drink and then turned to Mark "We really need to stop cutting our escapes so close."

"I second that motion," Jamie added as he stepped into the lounge.
"Cold drinks, no thank you.  Who's up for some hot caf?"
Without waiting for an answer Jamie grinned and began to fix some of the beverage.
"Good work everyone.  Not just any crew can pull through a situation like that.  Of course, I think we're getting entirely too much practice."
Destiny was on our side today.
Sitting down with a mug of hot caf, Jamie raised his hand.
"I'd like to review the visuals and other information on the last thirty seconds or so of the battle.  Does this ship maintain those records?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Fri 02 Oct 2009.

Flash followed Mark, and tried to scrub some of the grease off his hands.  Giving that up as a lost cause, he seconded Jaime's suggestion for hot caf.  After nearly melting his insides back into place, he cleared his throat.  "I think the real question is, did that system manage to survive our scrounging back in engineering?"

'Your talking about that cruiser, right?' asked Devon whilst he gravitated towards the jug of fresh caf.  'No idea about records... but I'm pretty sure about what I saw.'  he raised one hand to forestall questions.  'I know this is going to sound crazy given that last time we saw her I was drawing up a maintenance schedule about 3 years long... but I'm pretty sure that cruiser was Nightshrike.  Plus she was escorted by a pair of Z-95s... anyone tell me what ships we left back at Talons Nest when we started this mission?  The Nightshrike and a pair of Z-95s.'

Devon plonked himself down on the nearest available flat surface.
'Even if that wasnt Nightshrike... they knew exactly when and where to jump to save our hides - and that was a dangerous jump they made, well inside the gravity well.  Plus they started shooting within moments of arrival - but only at the TIEs.  They knew exactly where to jump to, when to do it and what to do when they arrived...' 

Sheila send to sensor date to the teminal in the lounge, the set  up the sensors to warn them of anything coming in.

She came in to hear jamie ask about the cruisers.


"There was no sensor data, so either they weren't working, but they saw the TIE's just fine, you guys are hallucinating, or someone's got a cloak.  And what are we going to do about your missing man?"

She pours a cup of the caf.

As Flash spoke, Mark winced.  The ship certainly wasn't in the greatest of shape.  "Jace is down in engineering putting as much of this back together as he can.  I offered to take the ship back to Talon Nest and do more extensive repairs but he refused.  I guess he's eager to get away from us, can't say I blame him.  So we'll do as much as we can in the time we're on this ship to patch her up.  Then we'll let Jace be on his merry way.  This ship is a little too well-known for my tastes now."

Mark turned his attention to the sensor data Sheila had transferred.  "She's right.  There's nothing in these sensor logs about a cruiser or starfighters.  You can see the TIE's chasing us here, but no other ship came closer than a few thousand kilometres.  Are you sure of what you saw?"

Devons mouth opened and closed a few times as he stared at his commanding officer.

'Your telling me there was no cruiser out there?  Then what the hell did I dodge?  I had to pull a nasty turn to avoid crashing into that thing head on and getting us all killed!  Ask the guys in the turrets - they were probably close enough to read her hull markings!'
Devon paused for a few moments, calming down. 
'Ok, if that cruiser WAS there - even if it doesnt show on sensors... and it DID fire on the TIEs, then we should have sensor footage of those TIEs going evasive.'
This message was last edited by the player at 09:10, Sat 03 Oct 2009.

"There was definitely something out there" Exilim said looking around the lounge "and it looked like a cruiser to me. I don't know what the problem with the sensor data is but my eyes saw what they saw." he finished saying before nodding in Devon's direction and taking another drink.

Sheila replayed the sensor data.  She pointed out a point 15 seconds before the jump when the ties reacted to something besides the freighter.

"Oh, the TIEs went evasive all right.  But there's nothing there for them to be evasive of.  I think someone's got a cloak.  At least that's my opinion.  And again, what about your missing man?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Sat 03 Oct 2009.

Unbuckling his harness once again, Rann finally managed to get out of the turret and followed his nose to the lounge.”Ok, that escape was too close - did I smell caf?'
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Sat 03 Oct 2009.

Jamie smirked at hearing the conversation and sipped his caf.
"Nine will have to find a way out alone.  What if those ships weren't real?  They could have been an elaborate hologram...or something like that.  When the ships in question and the TIEs engaged, was any ship actually damaged?"

Mark smiled warmly at Rann.  "Please, help yourself then join us."

While Rann acquired a beverage, Mark quickly checked the status on his datapad.

"Now that we're all here, I think its time we finally had formal introductions.  Jace should be busy in engineering for hours and I've rigged the doors so they wont open.  Just another system failure we need to repair.  Even if he does get them open, I've set the sensors to warn me."

"My name is Sheppard, Mark Sheppard, and I command the Black Talons.  We're a mercenary group with strong anti-Empire loyalties.  How we came to be working for Imperials will need to wait for another time.  For now, I'd like to thank our newcomers for risking their lives to help someone you've never met.  Sheila, to answer your question, our 'man' is actually a Zabrak and a she.  I have no idea if she will make it out, but we've done what we could by transmitting a warning.  Even that nearly got us all killed.  We'll have to hope it was enough."

"Now getting back to this mystery cruiser.  Seeing how both Devon and Xil saw it I'm assuming its not a hallucination or battle stress.  Rann, Jamie, did you both see it too?  If so that means its either got some sort of sensor dampening, which I have never heard of, or our sensor have failed somehow.  Since we'd taken battle damage this is a possibility."

"Of equal concern is how did they know the right place and time to appear in ships that according to those who saw them resemble our own?  When we left Talon Nest all we left behind were droids who were repairing the ships and maintaining the base.  The only possible person who could have got the ship going is Zyra but that's impossible.  At top speed it would take two days minimum to get there and back and we saw Zyra less than 6 hours ago."

"If it was not the Nightshrike we saw then someone is operating a similar looking cruiser with an identical escort in Imperial territory where we happen to be operation.  Not only that, they're picking fights with TIE's who are harrassing us.

"So either that cruiser's arrival is somehow connected to us or the galaxy's biggest coincidence.  I for one to not believe in coincidence."

"I saw it," Jamie said.  As soon as he had access to a public databank he would research it further.
"They didn't collide with anything.  They never actually shot anyone or got shot.  They didn't appear on the sensors...they could have jammed our sensors, but then we wouldn't have had feed on the TIEs either.  They were obviously there for our benefit, yet they never hailed us...not so much as a beep."
Jamie leaned forward before continuing.
"Sir...a shared hallucination is possible.  It has happened before, to trained Imperial soldiers.  I don't know all the medical jargon, but maybe something to do with battle stress...I for one will admit I am exhausted...and a desired salvation of sorts, shared by the crew...but I'm not a shrink either.  As for the TIE pilots...maybe the flight leader had a stingfly in his flight suit.  We may learn more when we get back to the Nest...but then again, we may never know."

"The Ties reacted to it alright, but I can't prove it was there by hits.  I was concentrating on the TIes, so the scans of the cruiser are not detailed enough to tell.  They didn't hit the tie's, but the TIE's saw them too.  And for all of us to share that hallucination.. . . . .  If it wasn't a cloaked ship, then could it have been a hologram or something similar?  Although how that would be done, I'm not sure. "

"Hmmm.  It's something I'd normally put Zyra on, but I get the feeling she'll have other things on her mind right now, like getting out alive.  Hopefully the confusion generated by our departure and these mysterious ships of yours will give her an advantage."

"Another thing of note.  I asked Jace about the cargo we're carrying and apparently it's some sort of hallucinogen.  Doesn't have the strength or benefits of glitterstim but apparently the pirates bragged it was cheaper and easier to mass produce and far more addictive.  Turns out the pirates had approached Jace's employer, Zorbo the Hutt in order to work out a trade deal; the pirates produce and the Hutt distributes through his crime network and supplies the funds to let them expand.  Jace was supposed to tour the facility, collect a shipment of the drug as a 'goodwill gesture' and report back to his boss on the feasibility of the operation."

"What this means is we've put an illicit drug lab out of operation.  Clearly the Imperials knew about it since they sent us so I guess it wasn't much of a business after all!  It also means we've got a cargo hold full of contraband meaning we can't land at a legitimate spaceport.  Makes it a little more problematic getting home.  We might have to fly this baby to Talon Nest and pick up the Nightshrike before taking this ship into deep space and erasing the navicomp history.  Don't need a Hutt learning our home base."

"We also need to determine if any of Zenna's team survived the petrochem plant explosion.  Whilst its unlikely they realised the charges were rigged as nobody on the team was a demolitions expert, I'm not giving up on the chance that they may have got clear in time."