"That's why I have to know how to fly - a bucket with no shields has to rely on something else than endurance to survive."

Arin grinned and set up a scenario, much like the supposed raid on the convoy and begun flying. It was apparent, he had skill in piloting a fighter despite the fact, the particular model was not one he was familiar with.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Sat 18 Aug 2012.

Arin powered up the sim and proceeded to start.  The Nightshrike and it's escorts had been flying in-system and now the convoy was coming into view.  It consisted of four Action VI freighters and it's TIE escort.  In the distance, the boarding vessel cruised along, posing as just another civilian vessel.


OOC: Arin, you'll need to let me know how many TIE's you added, wether the freighters are stock models or have any after-market additions (like weapons or shields) and anything else I should know.

If anyone wants to join in on the simulation, they can from several consoles around the ship.  You just have to choose which ship you take over (I'm assuming Arin is in a R-41 like he's been assigned for the mission so that's not available!

Since this is simulated combat I'll be moving through it quickly (posting 1/day minimum) so it doesn't get in the way of the story.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:27, Sun 19 Aug 2012.

"Sounds like a challenge," Flash grins, and jumps in the simulator nearby.  Son he's a-tappin' away and muttering a little under his breath.

Arin seta up Allen in the other pair of fighters than himself, as the mission plan stated, and starts the simulation.

OOC: Arin, you had already started the sim and buckled into your simulator, so you can't dictate which ship Allen takes.  In fact, unless he lets you know, you wont even know he's joined as the two simulators are fully enclosed!

Anyone else who wants to join will have to use one of the networked computer consoles (so it will be the equivalent of fluing with a keyboard and mouse/joystick while Flash and Arin have full simulators)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:32, Sun 19 Aug 2012.

Flash seems to have already jumped in a ship anyway, as he's muttering slightly about calibration, accelleration and firing arcs.

"This is Talon 5. Initiate jamming and close in for attack." Arin sets him up for a shot on the TIEs.

The four Talon ships fell into formation with Arin.  They accelerated away from the Nightshrike, closing at the Cloakshape's top speed.  He noted the computer had labelled them all by their fictitious pilot.  His R-41 was designated Talon 5, his wingmate was Talon 10.  The other wingpair consisted of Talons 1 & 2.

In the distance, the TIE half-squad was designated Flight Theta and labelled from 1 to 6.  The TIE's veered to intercept the incoming fighters leaving the freighters undefended.

At present speed they would pass head-to-head in fifteen seconds.




OOC:  Giving you a quick chance to make any last second orders Arin and for other Talons to 'join in'.  Just let me know what ship you want.

Arin's R-41 - 40/40SP 100/100HP
'Talon 10' (Z-95) - 30/30SP 120/120HP
'Talon 1' (Z-95) - 30/30SP 120/120HP
'Talon 2' (Cloakshape) - 140/140HP

Theta 1 - 6: Undamaged

Nightshrike - Undamaged

Freighters 1 - 4: Undamaged

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:41, Sun 19 Aug 2012.

Arin set shields double front and took a careful aim at the lead TIE-fighter. He might not have had the advantage in numbers and firepower, but he had shields and that was going to count. "Steady. Wait for it." Upon coming within range, Arin gently squeezed the trigger.

OOC: (6+3=)9 for initiative, (11+11=)22 for pilot, (20+7=)27 for attack on the lead TIE (and 16 for critical threat). I might not shoot first, but I shoot to kill. ;^)

The ships closed in a flurry of green and red laser fire.  Arin was nearly blinded by all the incoming fire but he kept his composure as he lined up the lead TIE and shredded it with a neat burst of laser fire.  However a moment later his own ship shook as it was stitched by the rear TIE.  Checking systems, Arin saw the TIE had struck him hard.  If not for his reinforced shields he would have taken some hull damage.

Some of his allies weren't so lucky.  His wingmate had also taken a hit from a TIE and had lost all shields and hull was down to 89%.  The ship was not reporting any systems damage.

Talon 1 had taken the worst of it.  Somehow in the melee the Z-95 had crashed headfirst into a TIE coming at it.  The TIE was destroyed but the Headhunter was not much better.  It showed severe engine damage, one of its wings had been torn off and hull integrity was down to 29%.


OOC:  Well the ships have just passed each other and are heading in opposite directions.



Arin's R-41 - 26 (double-fronted)/40SP 100/100HP
'Talon 10' (Z-95) - 0/30SP 106/120HP
'Talon 1' (Z-95) - 0/30SP 35/120HP - Port weapons destroyed, engine damage
'Talon 2' (Cloakshape) - 140/140HP

Theta 1 - Destroyed
Theta 2 - Undamaged
Theta 3 - Undamaged
Theta 4 - Destroyed
Theta 5 - Undamaged
Theta 6 - Undamaged

Nightshrike - Undamaged

Freighters 1 - 4: Undamaged

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:46, Mon 20 Aug 2012.

Flash lets out an excited whoop from the other simulator.  "WOO!  I have you now, Rebel scum!  Feel the power of the mighty Empire!  Bwaaahahahahahaaa!!"

"Talon One, disengage." The situation was now more balanced with only four TIEs remaining and Arin equalized the shields to cover all arcs again. "Let's get them."

Arin begun to maneuver for an angle at the next TIE but also to keep the nimble opponents from getting at his six. He cursed the more sluggish fighter in his mind, thinking of ways to adapt tactics for his advance against the Imperials, whose tactics he knew well.

OOC: Pilot roll 15, Tactics roll 14

As the fighters passed, Arin slammed his R-41 into the sharpest turn he could but as he knew from long experience, the TIE's were more agile.  To his surpise, rather than stay together and hunt down one enemy at a time, a standard Imperial tactic, the TIE's split and went after one enemy each.

Knowing Talon 1 was terribly vulnerable, Arin dropped in behind the TIE tailing him.  Arin quickly got tone and fired, just as the TIE fired.  Arin's shot scored a hit down the port side of the TIE scoring significant damage however the TIE's shot also hit the damaged Z-95, causing more systems to fail.

Arin's ship rocked as his rear was raked with laser fire.  The shots penetrated his shields and struck his starboard wing.  No systems had been damaged, but he knew that wouldn't last if that TIE kept shooting him.

Sparing a quick glance at his sensors he saw the Cloakshape also had a TIE on its tail but had so far managed to evade it's fire.  Talon 10 also had a TIE on it's tail and had taken another hit.

In the distance, the Nightshrike continued to close on the freighters.




A note for the other Talons.  You can still jump in on any unused ship or you can watch on one of many monitors.

Okay.  So it's broken down into a series of dogfights.

Theta 2 is behind Talon 10.
Theta 3 has overshot Talon 1 and is turning for another strafing run on the hapless fighter
Arin is behind Theta 3.
Theta 6 is behind Arin.
Theta 5 is behind Talon 2.


Arin's R-41 - 0/40SP 67/100HP
'Talon 10' (Z-95) - 0/30SP 78/120HP
'Talon 1' (Z-95) - 0/30SP 21/120HP - Port weapons destroyed, engine damage, damaged stabiliser
'Talon 2' (Cloakshape) - 140/140HP

Theta 1 - Destroyed
Theta 2 - Undamaged
Theta 3 - Hull 33%
Theta 4 - Destroyed
Theta 5 - Undamaged
Theta 6 - Undamaged

Nightshrike - Undamaged

Freighters 1 - 4: Undamaged

Arin cursed, set shields double aft and did his best to clear Talon 1's tail. "We need to use a more suitable tactic and cull their numbers before we get within cannon range. Do we have any missiles in store?"

OOC: 23 for Pilot, 12 for attack.

Arin focused in on the TIE hounding Talon 1.  As he fired, the TIE veered off suddenly, causing him to miss.  Before he could respond in any way, the TIe on his tail fired again, rocking the simulator and causing all his screens to go black.  His status indicator showed that Theta 6 had destroyed his R-41.  The simulator canopy opened allowing light and fresh air into the simulator.





Arin just been destroyed by Theta 6.  The simulation has ended.

Flash lets out a whoop of victory and climbs from his own simulator.  "Woo!  Fun!  Yeah, that's gonna take some thinkin'.  If we take 'em head to head they'll shred us like a pack of ice cats on a baby tauntaun."  He makes a thoughtful sound.  "Can't rely on jammin' makin' th'difference either.  Imps're prob'ly trained to fly on viuals in case their sensors get jammed, yeah?"  Seems like he might have missed Arin's question about the missiles.

Arin nods slightly. "Missiles would probably go a long way towards winning this fight and getting back alive, I think. Would level the playingfield pretty nicely. I think I saw missiles in the manifest the commander dealt out. You want another try with the missiles?

Flash looks dubious as he leans up against Arin's sim cockpit.  "Five concussion missiles, yeah.  Not enough for one Imp each.  Might as well try, though.  We need a new strat too, cos head-to-head I ripped your ass up without you ever gettin' a shot at me.  Nice flyin', by the way.  Tryin' a new bird for th'first time's never easy."

Arin nodded with a serious look on his face. "We'll need a decoy, I believe. Simply luring a couple of them off and taking them out with missiles would balance the things a bit, but the problem is, we can not even dream about matching their speed. Of course, if we could detonate some kind of ion charges on the flight route of the convoy, we might get a couple of them off before the whole thing begins, but as was already said in the briefing, they are hard to come by."

He thought for a moment. "It might be pushing our luck, but if we threatened them from two directions, that would force them to split forces and if both pairs of our fighters were carrying at least one missile per fighter, we'd possibly get one or two of them knocked out before they get in to firing position. And even if the missiles didn't hit straight away, they should keep the TIE pilots preoccupied for us to pick out their wingmen."

SHeila shows up after the meeting with Mark to join in the simulators,  "YOu want to try out that scenario?"  after hearing arin's ideas.

"We tried out the scenario, turns out running head-to-head's gonna get us crushed.  I'm no strategist but I say we need t'get everyone familiar with what a TIE can do," Flash suggests.  "You two know," he adds, nodding to Sheila, "but first time I tried out a TIE was just then.  I reckon we need everyone who's gonna be flyin' t'get in the sims an' feel it from both sides.  One-on-one, two-on-one, both sides of it.  Not just sim pilots, either," he adds, waving his hand at his sim pod dismissively.  "Everyone should feel what it's like t'fly a TIE and to fly against one.  Strategy is gonna be a lot easier t'plan if nobody's underestimatin' the dangers."

Arin nodded. "To know one's enemy is good. I suggest we hone this tactic by repeating it times enough and try different variations to see how different tactics work out."

OOC: Just a quick note to point out this conversation is happening 4 hours in the past.  I have no problem with that but just be aware the main thread is much further ahead.  Arin for example is chatting to Heigran in the present tense.

Sheila will join in this practice until the meeting four hours in the future.

"Let's have another round - Sheila or I shall fly the TIEs with the typical Imperial tactics and the rest of us should try to form out the tactics against those. This time, let's add the missiles in to the combat."