Still dealing with backwash?

[The Gloaming]

Dubrillion hadn't offered much of a resistance to the Sith. Although the Empire had a great hold on Bastion, the level of influence they had on Dubrillion was surprisingly lax. It was sickening. Corporal Van Dutch, as it said on his new dossier, was staring out the viewport of the TIE Interceptor he would likely be flying for the duration of his deployment. At least until he was promoted.

That might happen if I can do something about the lack of discipline on this planet. The Emperor would be infuriated to see this.

The Interceptor was lighter than the common TIE Fighter, or any of the other variants, and faster. Aerron adored this vessel, though it did lack decisive firepower. That's okay. If I'm fast enough, I won't need the big guns.

He stared a long time at the planets surface, before deciding it wasn't the most beautiful planet in the Empire and bringing his ship around to face the stars. If anyone was looking, they would just see the stern faced Aerron. But there was a smile there, somewhere.

Other Imperial vessels of all shapes and sizes floated around the vast expanse around Dubrillion. The pilots were doing drills more frequently since the start of the war. It was a pleasing sight.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The great thing about the Tarkin-class TIE interceptor, in Istana's opinion, was its flexibility. Want to be able to raid an enemy planet without committing capital ships? Squeeze a hyperdrive into the TIE. Want ground-attack capability? Hang rockets or bombs under the wings. Want heavier firepower in fighter combat? Fit weapons to the chin mountings. As long as one knew what one wanted, there were ways to turn what most people thought of as being just a fast space fighter into something more - if that was what you wanted.

The blonde's fighter had the basic weapons loadout, meaning that slightly more power was available for the engines, a better setup for fighter combat. Not that much of that looked like being necessary on this planet, she thought. Still, they were being pressed harder in their drills now, a precursor to the war all knew was coming, and Istana's own flight were now going to engage another flight in mock combat. She was looking forward to it - the thrill of combat, the excitement of the hunt.

"Take up box formation, five clicks across, three deep and back."

 

[The Gloaming]

((Sorry, thought Dduron was gonna join in. Also, sorry if it's not so good, the writing. First time with a pilot and I don't know all the jargon.))

Aerron spotted another group of fighters taking box formation, and realized he was in the are of another drill. He decided to comm the captain and request involvement. "This is Corporal Van Dutch, requesting permission to join your exercise."

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana heard a stranger's callsign and message, and checked her instrumentation. Another TIE Interceptor. Oh well, if he wants to, why not? It might be a surprise for our targets. Now where best to put him to surprise the enemy? She toggled her comlink to contact the newcomer on a secure channel, to prevent their opponents in the exercise from hearing her response.

"Corporal Van Dutch, this is Lieutenant Janina, request accepted. Form up three clicks behind my position and three above, over."



(OOC : For information on fighter formations, try this link.
Manoeuvres can be found here.
'Clicks' is slang for kilometres, so the formation she ordered is a 3-D box, 5km wide, 3km deep and with the back two fighters 3km behind the front pair. Istana is in the top left corner of the box.)

 

[The Gloaming]

((Thanks! Sorry about the short post, they will lengthen as action ensues))

Aerron positioned his TIE/in where he was told to, and awaited orders. He actually had no idea which exercise was about to take place, but that was better for him. He liked being forced to adapt.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana checked the positioning of the newcomer, and nodded approval; he was exactly where she wanted him, in the perfect position to be a nasty surprise to any enemy who tried getting behind one of Istana's flight.

"Okay people, listen up; Maldar's flight is coming to play 'tag' with us, and you know how cocky that bastard is - I want to be able to take his attitude and shove it up his ass. So remember - wingman covers the pair-leader's rear, check your own six before diving in. Van Dutch, you're the 'Ace in the Hole'; they think there's only four of us, and with luck that'll make them careless and give you the opportunity to score. So hang back where you are, and screw their asses. Clear, everyone?"

A chorus of acknowledgements rang out from the rest of the flight.

 

[The Gloaming]

"Copy that."

Despite his feelings, there was no hint of excitement in Aerrons voice. He checked and re-checked all of his 'weapon systems'. He was more than ready for the engagement, though he longed for real action.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana led her flight in a band towards their rendezvous point, slowing the flight down a little; she didn't want to go tearing in and get caught by surprise. Dubrillion loomed large - the exercise was taking place in low orbit, which would make evasive actions ... interesting. She scanned the area for signs of 'hostiles', and grinned when she spotted a faint ion trail just over the horizon.

Waggling her wings to order the rest of the flight to follow, she swung around and dropped lower, to the top of the atmosphere, and led the fight on a curving path round behind the other fighters. As she did so, her eyes widened - there were not one, but two flights waiting for them! It seemed Maldar had prepared a surprise as well ...

Still, Istana's own fight was behind both enemy forces, and now was the ideal time to strike. Aiming for the rear of the two enemy flights, she opened her engines wide and raced towards them, the rest of the flight following suit.

 

[The Gloaming]

Aerron followed the lieutenant half heartedly. Not out of reluctance, but caution. Just because there were two 'enemy' flights directly ahead, didn't mean there weren't any other nasty surprises.

The corporal couldn't even count how many times the same thing had happened to him during his smuggling sojourn. His engines lit up, and he continued to arc across the top of the atmosphere, following right behind his squadron. If the 'enemy' hadn't spotted him yet, they would be in for a nasty surprise.

Aerron gripped the control yoke, waiting patiently for the green light to open fire.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana checked her instruments again; no sign of any ambush. Of course they could wait and see if there were any enemy forces waiting for them, just out of line of sight, but they had to do something eventually, they couldn't wait forever. Time to commit to action.

"Go in fast, full thrust hit them hard, then go through them without slowing. Hit the back flight first, then the front one. Van Dutch, come in behind and mop up any that survive. Weapons live ... now! Let's go!"

Opening up full thrust from the engine, she felt the fighter leap forward, hyperdrive howling behind her as the flight rapidly closed the gap on the as-yet unresponsive enemy fighters.

 

[The Gloaming]

Aerron could feel a nagging pull at the back of his mind, and suspected the 'enemy' was well aware of their position. He leapt on the throttle and banked the TIE/in downward at a forty five degree angle. He stayed on the path until he was about a click beneath the Lieutenant, and shot upward again, waiting to see signs of engagement.

The TIE/in did not move, even as the assault began. He wanted to fire, but his orders were to 'mop up'. He would wait then, still hovering a click below the action, until the perfect moment to dive through the stragglers and give them a nasty surprise.

((One question about the drill. Are our fighters equipped with low powered laser that actually manifest in space but don't do damage, or is it more like laser tag?))

 

[Vayna Akhara]

As the TIEs hammered towards the enemy, Istana fully expected them to break formation at any moment, but still nothing; either they were actually caught unawares, or they were laying a trap. Which was precisely why they were going in at full speed; if the enemy flight did try to ambush them in turn, then Istana's flight would be going faster than them, and be able to get away.

"Well, people, let's see what they do now. Take them."

Moving flat out, she took aim at the last enemy fighter and opened fire. A split second later, the enemy broke formation, scattering in all directions, swinging round to get behind Istana's flight. Without slowing at all, the blonde altered course slightly and fired ahead of one of the enemy fighters, a wide spread of fire that the enemy ran straight into. The instruments flashed blue - one confirmed kill.

Both enemy flights were trying to get on their tails, but they were no faster than Istana's fighters when flat out, and moving at maximum speed already, Istana's flight could get through and away - if they didn't hang around.



((OOC: the lasers are set to minimum power, so they don't cause any damage.))

 

[The Gloaming]

Aerron watched the firs shot ring out, and then others, and a confirmed kill. The opposing flights seemed not to notice him still, sitting underneath.

Aerron brought the nose of his TIE/in Interceptor to aim at the engagement, and pushed the throttle forward all the way. Careening through an engagement was unusual, even for a stiff like himself. But it was smart.

Aerron took aim at a TIE heading toward the Lieutenenant and opened fire. He watched as the low power beam of light collided with the TIE, he watched as his sensor board showed a confirmed kill, and he watched as the panic escalated above.

Aerrons interceptor barreled through the engagement and looped backward before leveling off with the Lieutenenants own fighter. He saw two fighters on a convergance path with Istana. They're so disorganized! Now I know I'll need a talk with superiors.

Aerron banked to port and hammered down on the fighter a moment too early. The lasers passed right in front of the enemy starfighter who subsequently banked downward and away. The other fighter approach the Lieutenant from the stern and began firing. Aerron was not surprised, but somewhat amazed at Istanas capability to dodge and outmaneuver.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana smiled at the enemy pilot's eagerness to make a kill; he was so caught up in what he thought would be an easy victory that he'd gotten careless; he was already close behind her and getting closer every second. So now to spring the trap!

Rapidly diverting power from the engine to the rear shields and forward weapons, she slammed the engine into full reverse throttle, slowing her fighter down suddenly and severely. Travelling too fast to correct, the enemy pilot flew straight in front of her guns, and a quick deflection burst from her laser cannon hit his engine even as she transferred power from her rear shields to her engine to close the gap on him. Another burst, this time at close range into his engine, and another blue 'kill' signal flashed up.

She rolled away towards the fighter that had accompanied the one she'd just 'shot down' fired a burst across his bows to make him turn more and slow in the process, setting him up for Van Dutch to finish off.

 

[The Gloaming]

Although Aerron was well behind the Lieutenant, he overshot her as she decelerated. He did it on purpose though, and the moment he passed her, Aerron pulled the throttle back for a moment, dipping the nose of his starfighter, and pushed forward again, lining himself up with the target he had recently missed.

Istana hammered on the enemy's wings a bit, slowing it down. Aerron lined up the shot, and then it happened again. He felt a slight tremor in his spine, and watched as his target dove downward. The next instant, the target was exactly where it had been, in Aerrons crosshairs. He juked downward and let his cannons loose, only an instant before the enemy dipped down. Multiple hits across the hull, confirmed kill.

Why does that keep happening? Like Deja Vu, but much more convenient... Probably a combination of intuition and nerves.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana smiled as she saw Van Dutch get the other hostile fighter, and checked her instruments. According to her sensors there were only three hostiles left, and all five friendlies. The remaining hostiles had turned tail and were heading for safety at full thrust.

Cowards; couldn't even stay behind and make a fight of it. Oh well, I doubt High Command is going to be too impressed by that performance. We'd better pursue them until they reach the 'safe' zone and become off-limits, just in case they try turning round and surprising us.

The tall blonde toggled her flight comlink. "All pilots, reform box formation and let's escort them out of the exercise area."

 

[The Gloaming]

"Copy that."

Aerron rolled his TIE/in Interceptor to port, alligning himself behind Istana. Then he floated upward, resting in transit one click behind and above the Lieutenant.

What cowards. Three to five is still a fight. They call themselves Imperials...

As Aerron checked his instruments, something tickled the lower half of his spine. It wasn't like the Deja Vu he'd had earlier, but something more sinister. He stared out the viewport and saw only an expanse of space.

Nerves again.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana slowed down a little more and gazed hard at her instruments. The flight path the enemy fighters were taking was wrong; it led them out of the combat area, yes, but by a long way round. It was as if ...

As if we're being led into a trap. There's more of them waiting out here for us, somewhere, even if we can't see them.

She felt a chill run down her spine, one she'd come to know meant trouble looming, and she hit her comlink. "All units, break to port, full thrust, watch your sixes!" She'd already begun banking her fighter even as she spoke, and it was as she stared out of the windscreen that she was it; a Star Destroyer, closing from starboard.

What the hell? No Capital ships were supposed to be taking - screw it, just outrun the damn thing, worry about the rules of engagement later!

She slammed the throttle wide open and ran.

 

[The Gloaming]

Against regulations for sure.

That's what Aerron would normally say. He simply stared forward as his body blankly performed actions. He juked to port and pushed forward.

Like ice in my stomach, I know something is going on. Why do I know that?

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Istana stared at her instrumentation; the Star Destroyer was falling behind, unable to keep up with the fleeter fighters. There's no way we can fight that; none of us is carrying heavy ordnance like proton bombs or torpedoes, or ion weapons or something specialised like that. Who the hell authorised that thing being here? This is a fighter exercise!

She toggled her comlink. "Janina to Base; who the hell gave permission for a Capital ship to take part?! Over!"

Her comlink fell silent for a few moments, then; "Base to Janina, there are no Capital ships cleared for operations in the area! Over."

"Well, one's damn well here! Over!"

A few more seconds, then they all heard over their coms; "Base to Flight, abort, abort! Return to Base immediately, repeat, immediately!"

Istana turned her head to stare back at the Star Destroyer; what the hell was going on?! She hit her comlink. "Roger, aborting and returning to Base. Out."

Checking to see the rest of the Flight, plus Van Dutch, were forming up on her, she turned the Flight back towards sanctuary. "Let's get the hell out of here!" She didn't care anymore what was going on; she just wanted out of there.

Bad enough fighting the enemy, but I'd like to think we don't have to worry about our own side shooting at us ...