"Stick to the Weave, Sparky!" Flash yells suddenly as Arin's message comes through.  "You don't and we're dead!"

Zyra sniffed her caf and took a tentative sip.  "Cerean Five Spice." she exclaimed to Mika.  "How did he know I like a little Five Spice in my caf?  Oh he's good."

Hearing Arin's comm call she looked at the sensors and sighed.  "Negative Five.  We can offer no assistance."

She felt those familiar butterflies everytime he went into battle.  She wanted nothing more than to turn the ship and help out.  But Mark had given her clear instructions and she would follow them.  Besides, Mark could look after himself.

"Keep up the speed girls.  Let's take the fight to them.  Any progress on the shields?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:26, Mon 05 Nov 2012.

Mika glances up at Zyra's comment and remembers the refreshments.  She didn't really want them, nervous energy at the battle is already causing her a bit of discomfort, but she had to make sure she didn't have any problems with low blood sugar.  Besides, for now, all they're doing is blazing full speed ahead, she could take 10 seconds to take a nibble and a swallow.

"Don't ask me, but he seems to keep a pretty close eye on us female types."    She grins, but she found the attention a little creepy.  Her own coffee was simpler, straight out of the spigot, no tweaking required.

Since Cor was handling the engines and the jammer, they were blazing on a straight line, Mika puts her primary thoughts to the sensors.  Nothing like a surprise visit from a enemy battle group to put the command folks into a foul mood.

"He's a Zeltron." Zyra responded.  "Zeltrons seek pleasure in any form, they're pure hedonists.  Why you might even see him checking out a few of the male crew.  What's special about him though is clearly he enjoys giving pleasure as well as receiving it.  I doubt he brought us coffee because he thought it would woo us."

She checked her course, saw it was aligned and looked back at Mika.

"It's also possible he uses these wiles as a shield.  Remember what his been through recently.  He lived in a small close-knit community on an Imperial world for years.  Now in the past few days a large portion of them were killed, killed by Arin's former team no less.  Many more are in bacta tanks and the rest have been forcibly relocated and he has no idea if they're safe.  He's clearly protective of them and likely feels responsible for so many deaths.  This could be his way of dealing with the grief."

She sipped her drink.  "Either way he makes a great cup of caf and he has a really nice bum!"

Grayrhynn continued to pilot as ordered, listening to and viewing the battle as it happens.

Seeing that they were beyond is planned seperation from the Nightshrike, Mark called into his comm "Two, initiate 180 degree turn into next weave.  Head back towards Raider Prime."  The strain in his voice was apparent as he jinked and weaved, providing as difficult a target as he could for the far more nimble TIEs.

Arin continued to fire on the TIEs.  He had fired a missile which had missed and was now chasing and now he was firing his lasers while Sheila shot at the damaged TIE, not bothering to continue with the Weave.  Arin had always known his beloved TIEs were nimble but he hadn't appreciated how much until he tried to shoot one in much less agile craft.  Shot after shot flew harmlessly wide.

Gritting his teeth and focusing, Arin timed his next shot perfectly and hit the rear TIE dead center of its aft hull.  The ship was not destroyed but it was a near thing.  Like a true Imperial though, neither TIE wavered, continuing to shoot at Mark and Flash.

In the Nightshrike, Cor and Mika watched the numbers rapidly close.  Mika noted that they were just entering weapons range of the convoy.  Finally realising the danger, the freighters had turned and were fleeing but the rear two were now in range.  They were still not in jammer range, but it wouldn't take more than about half a minute Cor estimated.

The freighters turning and fleeing worked in favour of CC9's transport which started to close at a much faster rate.  At the current rate of closure they would reach the convoy in roughly three minutes.

---

OOC:  The Nightshrike has reached extreme weapons range (10km) of the rear two ships in the convoy (they're flying two abreast).  The freighters are fleeing from the cruiser but the 'shrike is faster.  The jammer isn't going to work until they're less than 5km away.  The fighters can boost the range if they can get close enough.

The Nightshrike is closing on the convoy at 2 squares/round (3 squares/round while they maintain power to engines though once battle starts they'll need the power elsewhere.)

The transport is approximately 75km away and closing.  If the freighters keep fleeing towards it, they should reach the convoy in around 3 minutes.

The fighters are now 15km behind the Nightshrike.  Mark and Flash still have two (badly damaged) TIE's on their six.  Arin and Sheila continue to weave with Mark and Flash.

---

Battle status

Nightshrike 150/180SP 220/220HP
Arin (R41) - 30/30SP 100/100HP (missiles depleted)
Sheila (Z95) - 30/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Mark (Z95) - 0/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Flash (C/S)- 140/140HP


TIE 1 - Serious hull damage *Stabiliser damage*
TIE 2 - Destroyed
TIE 3 - Destroyed
TIE 4 - Critical Hull Damage *Sensor Damage*

Missile (chasing TIE 4) 3 rounds remaining.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:54, Mon 15 Apr 2013.

Arin literally glued his fighter at the TIEs tail, taking shots of opportunity every time the fighter passed in front of his firing arc. The dogfight, though short, had lagged on long enough. He kept checking his own six, his head moving all around like that of a Dantooninite Rat-Owl. Come on, he thought to himself, You are a good pilot, but I'm better.

"Alright six, fire at will.  Port and starboard gunners may also fire once in range.  Remember we're trying to disable the ships, not destroy them.  Try not to do anything too. . .permanent."

"Eleven, where do we stand on the jamming?  Can you also tell A9 to work on the shields when he can?  For now we still need speed."

Zyra tightened her grip on the controls and looked over at Mika.  "Here we go!"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 11:08, Tue 06 Nov 2012.

Mika, realizing what a fool she'd been, starts working to restore some shield power.  Sure, they shouldn't need too much against a bunch of freighters and a few snubs, but anyone could get a lucky shot.

Still, something in the way she'd cross-wired the ships systems had to be wrong.  She was only able to restore a slight amount of shield energy.

As they draw closer in range, Mika finds her nervousness growing.  "Yeah, here's hoping we don't get any bad surprises."

08:17, Today: Mika Trake rolled 17 using 1d20+13. Computer Use - restore shields.
08:18, Today: Mika Trake rolled 4 using 2d10. Shield points restored.

"Jamming ready; I will activate as soon as we hit jamming range.  A9, work on the shields when you can."  Cor keeps working on the speed for now, as per Zyra's orders.

Mark and Flash continue to madly jink and avoid fire, Arin and Sheila continued to be unable to hit the nimble TIE's.  Arin used every Imperial trick and tactic he knew, but the TIEs were just so maneuverable.

It came as a suprise to everyone when the more seriously damaged TIE exploded in a cloud of superheated gas, courtesy of the missile Arin had fired and almost forgotten about.  The TIE's death left only one TIE who doggedly clung to Flash and Mark.


On the bridge of the Nightshrike, Mika and Zyra watched as Rann opened fire with the ion cannon.  The rear two freighters returned fire but at such extreme range, nobody was coming even close to hitting.

Mika and A9 worked at their respective stations and quickly brought the Nightshrike's shields up to full power once again.  So far the freighter's gunners weren't coming close, but that was bound to change.

After a few more seconds and futile volley fire, Cor saw the numbers on her screen roll down.  Not only were the rear freighters now in jamming range, they were also in range of the port and starboard guns.  Additionally the ion cannon could now hit any of the four freighters.  It would take a little longer to get the last two freighters in jamming range.

Further off, the transport continued to close in.

---

OOC:  Fighters now only have 1 TIE to deal with.

Nightshrike status:
* Jamming - rear 2 ships only
* Ion cannon - any of the 4 freighters
* Port turbolaser - rear left freighter only
* Starboard turbolaser - rear right freighter only



Battle status

Nightshrike - 180/180SP 220/220HP
Arin (R41) - 30/30SP 100/100HP (missiles depleted)
Sheila (Z95) - 30/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Mark (Z95) - 1/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Flash (C/S)- 140/140HP


TIE 1 - Serious hull damage *Stabiliser damage*
TIE 2 - Destroyed
TIE 3 - Destroyed
TIE 4 - Destroyed

Mark switched on his comm.

"Five.  Take three and help Raider Prime.  Two and I will finish off our friend here."

"Affirmative, Lead. Three, on my wing, tight formation." Arin swooped towards the Nightshrike. It would take them a moment to catch it, which would give them time to plan for a strategyfor taking down the freighters. He didn't say it out loud, but he would have preferred to take out the TIE first, just to be sure - with it being far more agile than the two fighters it was now left to tumble with, there was still a chance of things going wrong. Wouldn't be a good start for co-operation, if one let his CO get shot down, but insubordination against a direct order was neither.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:13, Wed 07 Nov 2012.

Mark saw Arin shoot off and nodded to himself.  He'd been worried Arin wouldn't obey him.

"Okay two.  Continue with the weave, just the two of us.  You start starboard.  Break!"

Mark flicks his fighter out to port.

"Three, accelerate to full speed. Once we reach the enemy, concentrate your fire on the same enemy with me and once their shields fail, break off and start pounding the next one. We concentrate on the same targets as Prime. And watch out for their anti-fighter guns." Arin wasn't sure if he was being overtly comprehensive in giving the order, but he wanted to make sure.

"Prime, Three and I are coming to assist you. Should be there shortly."

"That's lovely five." Zyra purred on the comm.  "Would you be kind enough to take out the freighter's communications while you're there?  We'd appreciate it."

Zyra tried to maneuver the Nightshrike so it was central to all the ships so Cor's jammer would affect all of them.

"Jamming operational.  Raider comms should remain unaffected."  Cor activates the jamming array and an envelope of Really Not Helpful slaps the foe.  "Suggest Ten and I focus on feeding the gunners sensor data; A9 can handle the shields."

"Boarding team Alpha, prepare for assault."  The droid watches the sensory data come in through the transport screens with absolute attention.  "We may need to attack the hindmost freighter instead of the foremost," he notes.

"Affirmative, Prime. I'll target them with my ion cannon." Arin switched to the ion cannon, though it reduced his overall firepower slightly - but on the plus side, the freighters would remain unharmed. "Three, once we reach the freighters, break formation on my mark. Let's give them more targets to divide their fire between."

Seeing that Zyra had taken over the piloting duties, Mika turns back to the sensors.  Pulling data, she feeds it to the starboard gunner.

12:27, Today: Mika Trake rolled 32 using 1d20+13. Computer Use - Sensor Operator.

Mark and Flash broke into a single ship Tallon weave.  The TIE hung doggedly with Mark but the Commander continued to evade.  Flash missed on his first pass, snarled and focused hard, not willing to be beaten by Arin or an unknown TIE pilot.  His second pass was dead on the mark and the TIE disintegrated under his cannon fire.

Arin and Sheila closed rapidly with the freighters.  Space was awash with laser fire.  The four freighters fired lasers at the Nightshrike continuously but only one managed to score a hit that barely damaged the shields.  The turbolaser turrets fired back, the port gunner stripping the shields off one freighter and then the starboard gunner, aided by Mika's sensor feed fired a volley that not only stripped the shields but almost blew the freighter in half, it's hull no match for the turbolaser fire.  The pilots watched as Rann swung the heavy ion cannon to port and raked the unshielded freighter with ion cannon fire.  The freighter's systems went dead.

Arin returned his attention to his instruments as his weapons began getting faint target locks on the rear two freighters.

---

OOC:  TIE's are all destroyed.  No new toys for Flash and Devon to play with there!

The rear two freighters have been hit.  Freighter 3 has no hull damage but has been disabled (for now) by ion cannon fire.  Freighter 4 is so badly damaged it probably couldn't survive another turbolaser attack.

The port and starboard turbolasers can still only hit Freighters 3 & 4, the forward freighters aren't in their firing arc yet.  The ion cannon can hit all 4 ships.

Arin and Sheila will be within weapons range of Freighters 3 & 4 next round.

Mark and Flash are further 7km behind Arin and Sheila.

The transport is 45km away from the closest freighter (Freighter 2), 50km from Freighter 3

A reminder that ion cannon damage can be repaired so Freighter 3 is only temporarily disabled.  You can be sure the crew will be repairing the ship.

The Nightshrike is now in jamming range of all 4 ships.

---

Nightshrike status:
* Jamming - all 4 ships
* Ion cannon - any of the 4 freighters
* Port turbolaser - rear left freighter only
* Starboard turbolaser - rear right freighter only



Battle status

Nightshrike - 175/180SP 220/220HP
Arin (R41) - 30/30SP 100/100HP (missiles depleted)
Sheila (Z95) - 30/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Mark (Z95) - 1/30SP 120/120HP (1 missile remaining)
Flash (C/S)- 140/140HP

Freighter 1 - Undamaged
Freighter 2 - Undamaged
Freighter 3 - No shields, Undamaged *Disabled*
Freighter 4 - Critical Hull Damage

TIE Escort x 4 - All destroyed
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:43, Sat 10 Nov 2012.

Slight change in plans Xil thought to himself when he heard CC9 mention attacking the rear freighter first. He allowed himself to remain relaxed as he knew it would still be a short while before entering the action, after all they still had to drop off team alpha first.

Mika, still focused on the sensors, says to Zyra, "Freighter 4's about had it.  I don't know if it's worth boarding it when we got three perfectly good freighters about.  I'd send the boarding team to Freighter 3 first.  I'll get sensor data to the ion cannon, start on one of the other two freighters.  Keep an eye on three though, they're just ionized, they'll be back to fighting if the crew's any good at all."


07:41, Today: Mika Trake rolled 20 using 1d20+13. Computer Use - Sensor Operator.

Zyra nodded.  "I'm going to turn towards Freighter 2.  That way our port gunner will be able to fire at Freighter 1.  I'm hoping Freighter 4 will surrender, but if she keeps firing at us we may have no choice.  Unless. . ."

She switches to external comms.  "Five, could you please pull Freighter 4's teeth?  Maybe you can take care of their weapons while you deal with their communications.  Oh, and if you can get them to surrender that would be great!"

Zyra chuckled and looked at Mika.  "Well we can't have the flyboys getting bored can we?"

Mika shrugs.  "What with no more TIE's to play with, it's good for them to have something to do."  Mika dosn't feel anywhere as relaxed as her words indicate, but she at least wanted to appear to be a season veteran.