Sheila looked at the captain, "We may want to prepare for boarding, sir."

'Right' stuttered Devon, a little dazed that he had made it through his head to head run with the enemy - what had he been thinking??

'Lets see  them back onto the Cloakshapes guns.'  Devon pulled a tight turn to link up with his wingman. 'We're going to have to get past them again though, so watch yourself - all its going to take for either of us is one good hit... lets try to stay out of range.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:48, Wed 17 Nov 2010.

Rann and Devon group up again quickly.  After a quick discussion they make the decision they need to regroup with the Cloakshapes as quickly as possible, even if that means risking enemy fire.  Putting what remained of their shields to double front and diverting all other power to engines, the pair made a sharp turn and hurtled at the Starchasers at maximum speed.

A flurry of laserfire shot out at them but none of it came close to hitting.  The trio of R-41's turned to continue shooting at the Z-95's but they quickly moved out of weapons range.  A few shots caught Rann's shields, which were now set to double rear, but failed to do more then make them glow slightly.

The Z-95's however truly had the last laugh as Devon's missile locked on to one of the distracted R-41's and smashed into the rear, collapsing its shields and weakening the hull.  The ship held together but the trio broke off in shock, giving Rann and Devon time to regroup with the Cloakshapes.  The R-41's were continuing to pursue at slower speeds while they recharged their shields.


OOC:  The four ships have now regrouped.  The R-41's are now 50 squares away and closing.  They are using the time to regenerate their shields.

<Ships>
Jamie: 140/140 HP
Flash: 140/140 HP
Devon: 16/30 SP, 116/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Rann: 6/30 SP, 88/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Tanker 1-3: No Damage

R-41s (3): Moderate Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (4): Full Shields, No Damage
R-41s (6): Severe Shield Damage, Moderate Hull Damage
Lambda Shuttle: Full Shields, No Damage

R-41s (1): Destroyed
R-41s (2): Destroyed
R-41s (5): Destroyed

“ Ok, guys” said Rann over the Talons comm channel “ If me and seven keep pace with you, we can take them on together”
Also gives me chance to recharge my shields he thought.

'Right.' agreed Devon  'And me and Six should try for missile lock again - we're out of ammo but they don't know that - lets see if we can panic them into doing something stupid.'

Jamie stopped tapping his foot and perked up, seeing that the enemy ships had turned around.  He hated being the slow fighter.
"Throw whatever we have at them.  If we have any missiles left, use 'em.  Otherwise just light 'em up.  Two and I will go right in just ahead of you Z-95's; you two will be just behind.  Fly cover for us; if they get behind us, be behind them.  We're almost done here, people.  Don't get reckless and we can all go home later."

Jamie and Flash feel a surge of anticipation as the battle finally comes to them.  Rann and Devon are only too happy to drop in behind the pair while their shields recharge.  As the R-41's close they take on a similar tact, taking on a classic delta formation, with the undamaged ship taking point.  As the groups close, they all opened fire.

Jamie and Flash didn't waste their first taste of combat in several minutes, pouring fire into the lead fighter and overloading his shields.  The Z-95's were unable to fire as the Cloakshapes agrresively maneuvered to take their shots, blocking them.

Moments later the ships passed each other with none of the Talons having been hit.

---

OOC:  Just passed head to head.  I need to know your plans.  Working as a 4-flight element?  Wingpairs?  Solos?  Any specific targets.  At present the R-41's are working as a 3-flight element.


<Ships>
Jamie: 140/140 HP
Flash: 140/140 HP
Devon: 24/30 SP, 116/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Rann: 14/30 SP, 88/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Tanker 1-3: No Damage

R-41s (3): Moderate Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (4): No Shields, Mild Hull Damage
R-41s (6): Severe Shield Damage, Moderate Hull Damage
Lambda Shuttle: Full Shields, No Damage

R-41s (1): Destroyed
R-41s (2): Destroyed
R-41s (5): Destroyed

The Talons executed a formation turn to port, but the R-41's were faster, cutting a sharper turn and falling in behind them.  The Starchasers opened fire, but the Z-95's in the rear managed to evade the shots.



OOC:  No response in 3 days so I've continued with the assumption you remain a 4-ship element.

The fighters have managed to outmaneuver you and have fallen in behind you.  They are 3 squares behind (short range) and closing

<Ships>
Jamie: 140/140 HP
Flash: 140/140 HP
Devon: 24/30 SP, 116/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Rann: 14/30 SP, 88/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Tanker 1-3: No Damage

R-41s (3): Moderate Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (4): No Shields, Mild Hull Damage
R-41s (6): Severe Shield Damage, Moderate Hull Damage
Lambda Shuttle: Full Shields, No Damage

R-41s (1): Destroyed
R-41s (2): Destroyed
R-41s (5): Destroyed

Arrgh!  we all sorta dropped the ball there :(

Cursing at getting out manouvered, Devon snapped into his comm.
'Starburst! Break formation and take individual headings.  They can only chase three of us - the fourth guy can get behind them and light them up.

Whilst he waited for the others to confirm or disagree, Devon concentrated on dodging incoming fire...

"Excellent idea.  Let's do that.  I'm taking high port..."  Jamie quickly assigned breaking directions to each pilot.
"On my mark...three, two, one, mark!"
Jamie whipped his craft in the direction he'd chosen.  A moment later he glanced at the scanners to see if any of the enemy fighters were pursuing him.

The Talons peel off on four seperate vectors.  The Starchasers stay together and continue to pursue Rann who finds himself jinking madly to avoid laserfire from three ships.

"Roger," Flash replies, upholding his reputation of being tight-lipped, especially in combat.  Following the directions of Jamie, he breaks high starboard, pulling in a lazy loop back to face the other direction, bringing him far enough out to break away from the others.

That achieved, he confirms that none of them are on his tail, and pulls into a tighter loop to come back around behind them, pushing power to his engines to make sure he doesn't get left behind.

'Right - lets chew them up before they can do the same to Six.' said Devon to no-one in particular as he chased after the enemy ships, already lining his shot up.

Swearing profoundly, Rann checked his rear sensors“Sithspit, they're on to me!” Forcing himself to take a deep breath “Ok, lets see if they can keep up with me.”

"Hang tight, Six.  You just fly evasively; we'll take care of the rest.  All hands chase down those fighters.  Fire at will...keep an eye on Six and each other."
Jamie brought his ship about to pursue the enemies once more.  He would take any decent shot he could get lined up, even at range.

"Roger," Flash replied.  As soon as he got back in range and lined up, he would take the first decent shot that presented itself.

Rann went fully evasive, but it wasn't enough as the trio of Starchasers opened up with their ion cannons and pelted Rann's ship with fire.  The shield generators shorted, quickly followed by all other ship systems, including life support.  Rann was monetarily stunned as all the energy surged through his systems.  When he checked his boards, everything was dark.  He was now a powerless lump of durasteel hurtling through space.

The Talons came on hard, firing as fast as their lasers would cycle in indignation at the damage to their colleague.  Devon managed to score a hit on one craft while Flash hit another.  Both lost shields and took some moderate hull damage but all were still flying.  Almost on cue, the trio split into a starburst pattern and flew in seperate directions.


OOC:  Just so you know, if you guys don't designate a target, I choose one at random for you using the dice roller.

Rann, you've suffered major ionisation and are out of combat until you can repair the damage. 



<Ships>
Jamie: 140/140 HP
Flash: 140/140 HP
Devon: 24/30 SP, 116/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Rann:  88/120 HP - All systems offline
Tanker 1-3: No Damage

R-41s (3): Moderate Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (4): No Shields, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (6): No Shields, Severe Hull Damage
Lambda Shuttle: Full Shields, No Damage

R-41s (1): Destroyed
R-41s (2): Destroyed
R-41s (5): Destroyed

"Die, you son of a marakka!" Flash yelled at the blasted(at least, soon to be blasted) fighters.  With an wordless cry of triumph, he pulls his sluggish cloakshape off to follow the fighter he had managed to hit, trying his darnedest to finish it off.

'Sithspit!  Someone make a note of Six's heading!' snarled Devon and did it himself, just to be sure.

Hauling his fighter through a tight turn, Devon closed in on his chosen target and opend fire again.

“Frakking hell!” swore Rann, as he tried to restore power to his stricken fighter. <orange>Rann rolled a 22 (D20+7) on a repair check to get systems back up.

The Talons peel off in three seperate directions, chasing the three Starchasers.  Flash quickly drops in behind his chosen target.  Having already struck the ship once, the Duros now had the feel of his prey.  A few moments later his target lined up in the centre of his crosshairs.  Flash pulled his trigger and watched as his lasers intersected with the ship's hull, blowing it apart.

Devon also managed to slide in behind his target and began firing at the pirate.  However, the R-41 pilot was proving quite nimble in his evasions.

Jamie was having a harder time.  Less comfortable in a Cloakshape then the more nimble Headhunters he was used to, he turned to slowly, overcompensated and allowed the R-41 to slip in behind him.  The pirate immediately began firing but failed to hit.


OOC:  And Flash adds another notch to. . .well whatever he adds notches too!  Two enemies left.  One is being pursued by Devon and the other is on Jamie's tail.  Both are heading in opposite directions and moving away.  It will take at least one round for Flash to catch either person up at present.

Everyone regains 1 shield point.  Wow, has this fight been going for 6 minutes?  Feels like months!


<Ships>
Jamie: 140/140 HP
Flash: 140/140 HP
Devon: 25/30 SP, 116/120 HP (Missiles: 0)
Rann:  88/120 HP - All systems offline
Tanker 1-3: No Damage

R-41s (3): Moderate Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
R-41s (6): Severe Shield Damage, Severe Hull Damage
Lambda Shuttle: Full Shields, No Damage

R-41s (1): Destroyed
R-41s (2): Destroyed
R-41s (4): Destroyed
R-41s (5): Destroyed

"What the...oh no you did not."  Jamie looked at his scanners.  Sure enough, the blasts had come from directly behind him.  "You don't mess with me, son."
A jink to the left, jink to the right, and Jamie whipped the controls around in a practiced maneuver from home that a few pilots would recognize, hoping the pilot behind him would not recognize the Corellian Slip until it was too late.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Thu 23 Dec 2010.

'Two, go back Five up - I can take this guy!'. Called Devon into his comms as he contined his pursuit of the Cloakshape.

“Yes!” shouted Rann as all his instrument lights suddenly came back on. “ Yes, You beauty!” And banged his fist on the console in triumph.  All the lights went out again. “No!” he screamed “Come on baby, work with me here...” he  muttered as he tried to get the systems back up again.
Rann rolled a “21 (D20+7) on a repair check to get the systems back up.

"On it," was Flash's brief response, as he pulled tight and turned around before reaching the cloud of debris from the R-41.  He put engines to the max in a brief burst of speed, trying to catch up and tail the fighter that was tailing Five.