Jace quickly scans his boards.  "No system damage.  Diverting power to shields."

Jace and Xil kept up their fire at the TIE.  Whilst damaged and some distance off, this did not seem to deter the pilot.  Another set of laser blasts slammed into the rear shields, stripping away most of their power.

"Another hit like that and our shields are gone." Mark called.

Down in engineering, Jace was using every trick in the book to try and divert power into the shields.  He slowly watched the numbers begin to rise but he needed some time without the TIE trying to blast them to scrap.

His wish was granted as Rann finally clipped the TIE with a glancing shot.  Whilst not a direct hit, it was enough to shred the already damaged wing from the TIE.  Xil's next shot destroyed the other section but the TIE was already out of it.

No longer needing to feed sensor data to the turrets, Sheila switched her sensor feed back to the larger tactical picture.  The four TIE's were still closing.  At current rate of closure they had maybe one minute before they were in combat once more.



OOC:

Both TIE's are down and you've got a little breathing room.

You are heading away from the planet at maximum speed which means you are heading towards the four TIE's at maximum speed.  With maximum rate of closure you have 60 seconds before you have to play again!  Too bad the owners of this crate didn't splash out on some missile launchers!  Too bad your Z-95's and the Nightshrike are safe back at base!

Great work all around by the way.  Rann and Xil may be scoring the kills but Sheila's sensor data has provided hits you wouldn't otherwise had.  Devon's flying is keeping some lasers from connecting and Jace is feverishly repairing the skills.  It's a team effort so please keep contributing.



YT-2000:  Shields 40% (and climbing) Hull: 65% <No system damage>

"Great work everyone." Mark said over the comm.  "But don't get too excited, round two is coming up fast.  Engineering, we need our shields back up.  Five, come to the bridge.  Two needs to go back to sickbay it seems, out."

He turns back to his console.  "I've plotted you the fastest course out of the gravity well." he said to Devon.   "Catch is we'll have to go straight through those fighters.  If you want another course let me know and I'll plot it.  They'll be in max weapons range in just under a minute."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Thu 30 July 2009.

Hearing Mark's comment Xil takes a moment to refocus, and then swings his turret towards the oncoming TIE's.

Taking a few deep breaths, he looks at the targeting data in front of him and prepares for round two of the Talons latest hostile encounter.

"Plot another course," said Jamie, stepping onto the bridge.  He leaned over Flash, checking to make sure the Duro was not in an emergency condition.  "We need to get out of here quickly, but this junkheap cannot take four TIEs at the moment.  Keep us away from them a little longer so we can regroup and recharge our shields."
Jamie took a hard look at the sensor data.
"Give me a moment; I'll figure something out."

'I'll buy you as much time as I can - but think fast' Devon told Jamie as he swung the freighter round onto a new heading.

Devon glanced quickly at his displays. 'We cant take much more of this...'

Seeing Jamie looking over his shoulder, he quickly ceded his seat.  "Five, take over here.  If Two recovers enough, give him something to do.  I'm going to head to engineering."

He points tot hte screen.  "Ten has only just updated the sensor data so this is what we're working with.  Keep us alive.  I'll try to get us more speed and shields."

Mark then heads for engineering.

Devon threw the ship in a ninety degree turn, taking the ship in the general direction of the planet's only moon.  The TIE's quickly adjusted their course to pursue.  Looking at his nav screen, Devon noticed the ships were still closing but now they wouldn't reach weapons for three minutes instead of one.  It didn't get them out of the gravity well any faster but it gave them time to think.  Besides, as they flew towards the moon it gave Devon some time to think about a crazy plan that was forming in his mind.



OOC:  It's been awfully quiet of late.  Only a few people have been responding to the last few posts.  It's probably (unless the dice really like you!) gonna take more then fancy gunnery to get you out of this.



YT-2000:  Shields 45% (and climbing) Hull: 65% <No system damage>

"That works," Jamie muttered.  "You can land us on the backside of that moon.  We can try to hide there and regroup a little.  Unless you had something else in mind?"

OOC: sorry for taking so long.  Actually the moon is what I would have suggested :P

Sheila will scan the surroundings,   NOw that they were heading toward the moon, she will scan that.  Hate to get around there and find something waiting for them.  Of course now it looked like the Talon left on the planet would likely be stuck there for a while.

Devon barely glanced up from his controls
'Who said anything about landing?  We're going to do a gravity slingshot.' he began punching numbers in, mumbling to himself as he hurridly tried to plot the course he had in mind.
'Now help me with the maths - we got three minutes to plot a flyable course and decide if this is suicide or not...'

Jamie smacked his forehead.  "Of course.  Let's do work."
Jamie took a look at the maneuver Devon was planning, then helped him with the navigation calculations for said course.  Planning a gravity slingshot wasn't the easiest thing in the galaxy, but it would be easier with two people.

Recieving Jamie's flight data, Devon flies towards the moon at best possible speed.  With little to do before reaching the moon, Devon flicks between the range data on the moon and the TIE's off his flank.  Both set of numbers scroll down rapidly, the TIE's a little too rapidly for his taste.

Sensor data on the moon begins to scroll up, courtesy of Sheila.  The moon appears to be uninhabited.  It has no atmosphere and is littered with impact craters from meteorites.  No sensor stations or weapons emplacements appear visible.

Working rapidly down in engineering, Jace and Mark managed to restore full power to the shields.  Repairs to the hull would require a spacedock and since no systems have been compromised, the pair focus on trying to improve shield and engine performance.

In the turrets, Xil and Rann can do little but watch and wait.  They had no role at present, but soon their skill may determine the success of this venture.

In the co-pilot's chair Jamie frantically ran the navigation plot again and again.  His numbers had to be perfect.

"Thirty seconds." he called to Devon.

The only problem was the TIE's were just closing in to maximum weapons range.



OOC:  The TIE's are slowly closing on you.  They will be at maximum weapons range (20 squares) next round.  You have about 4 rounds before you can attempt your slingshot.

Back into combat rounds.


YT-2000:  Shields 100% Hull: 65% <No system damage>
TIE 1: Undamaged
TIE 2: Undamaged
TIE 3: Undamaged
TIE 4: Undamaged

Jamie ran the numbers one last time and decided he was satisfied.  He passed the information to Devon and flicked on the comms.
"Lady and gentlemen, we're about to dance with the Imperials again.  Engineering, keep an eye on our shields and the hyperdrive.  If you can get us any more speed I'd appreciate it.  Sensors, scan the moon and it's vicinity as we slingshot around it.  If there are any surprises I want to know about it immediately.  Gunners, there are four TIEs coming up behind us...fire at will."

Devon cast a quick eye over the information Jamie had passed him and nodded.

'Looks good' he murmured.'You take care of running this boat so I can focus on flying her... and maybe we'll get through this intact; but if we DO all die... I'm blaiming your numbers.'
Devon gave Jamie a weak grin, then took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself before he began the manouvere.

Xil didn't bother responding to Jamie's instructions, he knew the score if they couldn't keep the TIE's at bay long enough to pull off whatever they were about to attempt.

Concentrating, he fixed his attention to the lead TIE. Making sure that he had it targeted he opened fire.

Sheila ran the sensors. Jamie had told her to run the moon and the vicinity instead of the TIEs, so she sent the info to navigation rather than the guns.

The TIE's closed oppressively fast and soon their laserfire was filling Devon's view with near misses.  To make things worse, he couldn't really maneuver, his entry point for the slingshot had to be perfect.

The sounds of heavy guns opened up as the TIE's entered extreme range.  Xil showed his marksmanship skill as he clipped the lead TIE sending it spinning wildly until the sniper finished off with a second well-aimed blast.

Unfortunately the TIE's were also showing their skill.  Unable to dodge, the YT-2000 made an easy target and soon laser blasts were hitting the shields.

"Shields down to five percent" came Mark's call.  Then the whole ship rocked, nearly throwing people from their stations.  "Correct that, shields are gone!"

"Ten seconds to insertion point." came Jamie's call.

"Sensors are clear." Sheila called from her station.

Devon gripped the controls with sweaty palms.  He'd only get one shot at this.  Another blast slammed into the unshielded hull.

"Hull integrity falling." came Mark's call.

The gunners continued to fire, both scoring hits on seperate TIE's, but not enough to slow them down.  Another pair of blasts struck the aft section, causing several small fires in engineering.  Sheila's screens all blacked out, with one exploding off to the sides.  When they power came back on she noticed her sensors were operational, but numerous malfunctions were creeping in.

"Hull integrity down to eight percent!" Mark called.  "One more hit and we're walking home."

Devon didn't even hear the warning as his concentration was solely on the gravity wave he'd just hit.  Riding a gravity eddy was tough enough, but when running from TIE's with all shields gone and the aft section being held on by little more then spit and string, it was near impossible.  Still, he held on firm, knowing to miss was to die.

"Range is increasing," Jamie cried.  "It's working!"

In the turret, Xil had a great view of the situation.  One of the TIE's had tried to match thier trajectory but the stress of the gravity pull had flicked him sideways.  The other two TIEs were circumventing the planet at a much higher altitude.

After what seemed an eternity, but was less than thirty seconds, Devon eased up on the controls.  He'd succeeded; the ship was a quarter of the way around the moon with the TIE's out of line of sight.  He'd bought them a few extra minutes.

The victory was bittersweer however.  Smoke could be smelt from the main cabin and alarms were going off all over the ship.  The shields were drained but operational and the hull integrity was almost gone.  Another good hit and it was over.


OOC:  I don't even need to invent dramatic moments!  I just roll the dice and you guys make your own!  10% hull integrity on the last round before the slingshot!

Well you've bought yourself a little breathing space.  Maybe 3 minutes at most.  At present the TIE's are off sensors (as they're on the other side of the moon)

You've taken sensor damage.  All sensor rolls take a -4 penalty



YT-2000:  Shields 0% Hull 10% Sensors damaged
TIE 1: Destroyed
TIE 2: Undamaged
TIE 3: Hull 70%
TIE 4: Hull 67%

Flash coughed, and opened his eyes.  "What happened?" he asked, trying to sit up.  "Is that smoke?  What did you guys do?"  He shook his head, pulled himself up straight, and reached for his waist, feeling for his repair kit.  He sniffed at the air again, and left that off.  "Smells like the secondary grav boot's shot.  Someone give me a hand getting to it!"

Jamie clapped Devon on the shoulder as they finished the slingshot.  "Good work," he said simply.  He then turned and stared at Flash.  "How can you know that just by the smell?  I can't.  I guess it's a Duro thing."
He turned back to his console again.
"Bridge to all crew.  We've made it, for now, but we've taken heavy damage.  Engineering, see what you can do.  We've got...maybe three minutes of breathing room.  I want us to be spaceworthy and combat-ready by then."
He then looked over Devon's shoulder.  "Take us straight to the jump point, please."
He turned to Sheila at the sensor station.  "Ten, keep on those sensors.  I want at least a one-minute warning before we get in another fight."
Jamie then returned to the comms.  "Bridge to gunners; the one of you that is not Four, whatever your name is...please come help Two make his way down to Engineering.  Make yourself as useful as possible down there.  I'll take your place in the turret."
Jamie breathed deep, feeling very tired.  It had been a long day of one excitement after another.  He helped the Duro to his feet and over to the gunwell; from there Rann could take Flash to Engineering and Jamie would take his station in the turret.

"yes sir." sheila will keep running the sensors desperately, looking for anything that isn't supposed to be there, especially ties.

Rann checked his console to see if it was working
(rolled a 13 on repair check to check the console).

'Already on it'  muttered Devon, rechecking the course he was flying.
By the Force - that was to close! he thought to himself
Better hit that jump point first time, don't want to have to come round for another pass.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Wed 26 Aug 2009.

"Understood Five" Exilim said in reply to Jamie's orders.

He set about doing a complete check of his systems as he sat in his turret, preparing himself for the next hostile engagement.

We really need to stop cutting things so close he thought to himself as he worked

A collective sigh of relief went up amongst the crew as they gained some distance on their pusuers.  Wether it was enough to make it to hyperdrive.  People scrambled to their emergency stations and began repairs.

<Two minutes later>

The YT-2000 continued to fly straight and true.  Over the past few minutes, several repairs had been effected.  Everyone was glad of this for the incessant wailing of alarms was getting on everyone's nerves.  Still, the shields were rapidly being repaired by Mark and Jace.  They'd also worked to coax a little more speed out of the engines.

Flash had been busy too, completing a few repairs on secondary systems.  He'd also managed to bypass the damaged circuits in the sensor system, giving Sheila full system control once more.

In the cockpit, Devon could do little but point for the closest edge of the gravity shadow and watch the TIE's approach.  The undamaged TIE was slightly ahead of his damaged counterparts.  Devon repeatedly did the numbers in his head, checking time to safety versus time to weapons range of the TIE's.  No matter how many times he did the math the result was the same.  The TIE's would get there first.  It would be close, probably less than a minute in range, but that was still enough to turn them to scrap.

Moments later Sheila's voice came over the comm.  "One minute until TIE's in range."


OOC:  SOrry its been a little slow.  Okay, Xil and Rann are still in the turrets (since Rann seems to have ignored Jamie's orders).  Flash has completed repairs on the sensors and Mark/Jace have brought the shields back up to full.


YT-2000:  Shields 100% Hull 10% No system damage
TIE 2: Hull: 100%
TIE 3: Hull: 70%
TIE 4: Hull: 67%