Used to the Darkness

[Valar Dohaeris]

What a weird trio they made.

There was Valar himself, Vian Windrider and Uhtred Wardruna. Valar himself was in a Crux starfighter he had managed to grab for this misadventure and he was currently flying alongside an Old Empire Sith and a Deucalian.

Was it weird? Yes - he had already decided that just before - but was it effective?

Well that had yet to be seen.

They were in formation to protect a convoy of freighters from the starfighter attack that literally everyone knew was coming. It was like a polite fiction that everyone would act surprised when the pirates showed up.

Just like it was a polite fiction that he and Vian 'did not know' that the other was from the 'wrong' type of Sith. They just didn't mention it because mentioning it would mean they'd have to actually do something about it and neither really wanted that.

Vian wouldn't get a reward if Valar was killed and Vallar honestly didn't care about the Old Empire and the Imperial Republica anymore - as far as he was concerned they were all Sith in the face of their true enemy.

The Jedi.

Dear Gods and the Force above he almost got stiff at the mere thought of fighting the damn Jedi. Time to calm down a little bit.

"Crescent One calling all wings." he spoke over the coms, "You guys good?"

@Korvo @Taz

 

[Vian Windrider]

How the kark did he get into this situation ?

Vian held his Crux starfighter at the rear of the formation, just under the belly of a freighter. It was in fact the ship he hoped to upgrade with the reward for this little job. And what a job it was turning into. His fellow pilots, a republic Sith and a Deucalian. Vian could work with Val, far as he was concerned they were both brothers in the dark side. Political poodoo aside. Time would tell about the other man.

As for the mission, well that was something special. Keep his fellow Sith alive to collect the reward of an upgraded power core. Kill some karking pirates in the process. Sounded simple enough. But few things ever went as planned. That thought made him run a full systems and weapons check. Again.

"Crescent Two, just admiring the view."

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

Having grown up in two different cultures had given Uhtred a certain perspective. The bore similarities and differences to each other, naturally, but what might have surprised some was how they reacted in identical circumstances. Broken families fight the most bitterly, especially when in their fighting, there was something to lose. Suffice to say, the current situation made Uhtred feel somewhat... uncomfortable.

"Crescent Three, standing by. Weapons primed and ready."

There were no quips this time, no witty banter from him. In all honesty, Uhtred was more concerned about his own vessel getting in-between some random crossfire between his two wing-mates. This was a broken family that was seemingly agreeing to fight together, and Uhtred had learned the hard way that grudges had a tendency to hold strong, even when it was in everyone's best interest to set them aside. He'd worked and partnered with Sith and soldiers from Imperial Republica before, but this was Uhtred's first interaction with a denizen of the Old Empire.

"As for 'good', well, that's contingent on whether you two refrain from turning on each other. Forgive my cynicism, it comes from the family."

@Nefieslab @Taz

 

[Valar Dohaeris]

Ah he knew the question would be raised! He was hoping that everyone would go along with the polite fiction that himself and Vian were supposed to be at war but leave it to some Deucalian man to decide that there needed to be some conflict eh? Well, Valar wasn't too concerned it had to be said.

"Don't worry about me - a brother Sith is a brother Sith." he reasoned easily with a grin, "And I hear Deucalians are almost as hungry for a fight as I am so I'm sure we'll get along famously!"

And then the enemy arrived, seven of them in total.

It was clear that they didn't suspect they would soon be under attack so Valar took the chance to highlight two of the fighters as his chosen targets, to link with the HUDs of his allies.

"Here we go!"

Diving straight on into combat, Valar cursed as his initial attack managed to break up the formation but otherwise did no good. Their return fire, at least, was ineffectual thanks to their lack of preparation. They scratched the paintwork in one spot but he would forgive them that.

@Korvo @Taz
DICE

 

[Vian Windrider]

"I could not agree more. Now then, seems we have company." Vian added to Valar's comment as the sensors on his ship alerted him to the approaching enemies. The half breed held his position for a few seconds as Val took charge and broke formation to attack the approaching group.

When the other Sith transmitted his chosen targets, Vian broke from the freighter he was hiding under and gave chase the the starfighter that broke right from Val's attack. The Sith's computer gave a target lock and Vian pulled the trigger on the flight stick. Without any warning the entire ship shut down, leaving the Sith floating and exposed in mid space.

"What in the force...." he exclaimed.

Seeing the Sith floatind dead in space, another pirate ship changed course from attacking a freighter to attacking Vian's fighter. The Sith quickly tried to restarted the engines and power core but not before the pirate struck the Sith in the wing.

"Kark, Kark, Kark" Vian screamed as his engines re-engaged.

DICE

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

"Hungry for battle?", Uhtred said, tickled by the words.

"No... this? We live-for it.

As the inertia took hold and the safety harness tightened, the feeling of euphoria took hold of Uhtred's senses. Diverting auxiliary power from the rear shield deflectors and rerouting it into the primary weapons array, Uhtred accelerated his starfighter to attack speed, firing a volley to disrupt the formation of two starfighters that were flying his way. That was always protocol though, once an enemy was identified. Close, engage, and in the case of a failed attack or attack run, maneuver. It was logical, of course, but it also made an enemy predictable.

As the first fighter broke away, Uhtred closed in with his approach, accelerating while flying his starfighter down, below the enemy fighter. Engaging his port thrusters, Uhtred forced his fighter into a side-ways drift, passing beneath the vector of the enemy fighter as Uhtred then changed his own approach vector so that he was aiming at the enemy ship from below, right in a blind spot. Unleashing a barrage of laser fire, the enemy fighter's wing exploded, before spinning out of control and detonating from the damage.

By now, the other fighter would have recovered, but that too was to have been expected. After all, even if an ally was attacked and killed, the enemy's attack run forced them to place another enemy at their back; exposed and ripe for a counter-attack. It's what Uhtred himself would do, in their situation. However, it was all assuming the enemy pilot was behaving conventionally... a gamble that Uhtred was willing to take. Cutting power to his sublight engines, Uhtred allowed his sustained velocity to continue carrying him forward as he engaged the bow starboard thrusters and stern port thrusters. Uhtred's ship both entered into a barrel roll, spinning in place, and also turned sharply to face 180-degrees from where he was before. At once, Uhtred's starfighter had turned around, directly facing the second enemy fighter, as he'd predicted. Unleashing another barrage of laser fire, the second fighter exploded in a ruby-gold blast, scatter burning debris into the void.

"Two down", Uhtred said simply, turning his attention to his allies. Uhtred let out a sharp wisp of air, as he slightly clinched his teeth. He should have been fighting with them. When outnumbered, coordinate and work together. That was a basic. "Hold tight. Changing approach vector, on my way to back you up."

@Nefieslab @Taz

DICE

 

[Valar Dohaeris]

Did... did Vian's ship just die?

Oh kark.

Well this was off to a great start now wasn't it? Kark! Valar knew that this was not a good sign but it was a bit too late for them to go back and redo their starting attack run now, wasn't it? He just hoped that Vian wasn't going to get shot in the back because of this. As much as he was supposed to hate the Old Empire, he couldn't resist admitting the fact that he still did kind of like the guy. Uhtred seemed to be doing well but they were going to need to work together to actually walk away from this one.

Spinning his own fighter around, Valar rocketed back towards his allies as the enemy formed back up to attack. Valar squeezed the trigger, blasting one of the fighters apart and getting the remaining four enemy fighters to follow him as he led them away from the vulnerable Vian.

"I'm taking the heat off - would appreciate you two returning the favour before the rest of their squadron turns up!"

@Korvo @Taz
DICE

 

[Vian Windrider]

His ship was moving again. He could feel a little vibration the controls, but otherwise he was still able to fight. Vian pushed his ship to full speed and took up a position to assist the other Sith who was kind enough to pull the rest of the pirate wing off of Vian's tail. The Old Empire Sith wasted no time slipping in behind the two who were previously using Vian for target practice.

Vian adjusted his attack vector to lineup a shot on the two. Val was kind enough to take she heat off but was not interested in keeping it on himself for any length of time. Vian took his shot as Val requested the assistance of the other two. The duel laser trimmed the wing of one fighter, and the engine of another. Causing the two to collide and explode.

"Consider it returned, now lets clean this up. First round is on me."

DICE

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

The vibrations from the starfighter's sublight engines shook Uhtred's entire cockpit, a rattling that would have probably otherwise disconcerted another pilot. But he knew his own ship well enough; it could take whatever strain it was designed to. Now wasn't the time for anything else.

With reckless abandon, Uhtred flew into the fray at top speed, not slowing down to what most would call a sensible, if not simply sane., attack speed. His ship wasn't an interceptor, but with the enemy fighters tailing Valar, it might as well have been. Darting across the battle-scene, Uhtred fired out a volley of laser fire, crashing it into the first of the enemy fighters he managed to detect on his targeting computer, blowing him up as he zipped past the other remaining enemy fighter.

With the second enemy fighter now alerted, it broke off from its attack run and proceeded to follow Uhtred's own fighter. Uhtred had ideally hoped the former enemy fighter's detonation would cause at least a momentary panic in his wingman, giving Uhtred the time he needed to break and maneuver for another attack run, but if nothing else, his last opponent was a professional... at least, to this extent.

Without haste, Uhtred diverted power from the forward shields and mitigated it to the rear deflectors. Weaving his starfighter in a corkscrew sequenced trajectory, Uhtred did what he could to prevent his enemy from establishing a target-lock, but even then, it would only be a temporary respite; eventually, any fighter pilot worth his helmet would start firing by line of sight rather than wait for a slip up for the targeting computer to catch. And sure enough, Uhtred's cockpit lit up with a scattered screen of laser fire streaking past his transparisteel window, as the enemy fighter managed to score a solid hit, rocking the ship and depleting his shield's energy reserves.

"Við skulum ekki gera það aftur, eigum við það?", the Deucalian reaver said, punching his engines. As predicted, the enemy fighter followed, attempting to match Uhtred's speed. Abruptly however, Uhtred cut the power to his sublight engines and engaged his forward guidance thrusters, forcefully numbing his forward inertia. Almost at once, the enemy fighter flew right past Uhtred, who again fired his laser cannons at the enemy ship's unguarded rear, blasting him apart.

"You might want to reconsider that; Deucalians drink very largely at their first rounds", Uhtred said, grinning in satisfaction. At least partially; he did take some enemy fire, after all. "Anyone read an approach vector of other hostile fighters in the vicinity?"

@Nefieslab @Taz

DICE

 

[Valar Dohaeris]

5 remaining

It looked like they had survived the first wave but the rest of the enemy squadron arrived at this point, the remaining 5 fighters coming at the Sith and their Deucalian ally. Valar was, by this stage, completely devoid of any enemies on his tail and his allies were exactly the same so it was time to get back into the fray now wasn't it?

Grinning, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright - we're pretty good gentlemen but we've got the remaining five on their way here and here they come!" he grinned, "Maybe don't stall your Force-damned fighter this time Vian?"

Laughing, he spun his fighter around.

"Time to go about our bloody work boys! I'll race you!"

Charging in as quickly as his engines would allow him, Valar weaved between the laser fire of the enemies with seeming ease as he pulled the trigger while spinning. The first fighter he had targeted exploded as he shredded straight through the cockpit. The second fighter he targeted? He seemingly over-shot and went straight past... before swinging his fighter around 180 degrees in a move that shook his fighter - but gave him the perfect shot to blast the second ship from behind until it disappeared in an explosion.

"I LOVE THIS!"

It was safe to say that Valar was having fun.

@Korvo @Taz

DICE

 

[Vian Windrider]

"You've apparently never drank with a Pureblood, my former Master once drank a Hutt under the speeder." he said with some pride.

As the space berserker was entertaining if nothing else, and the Sith found himself amused by the comradery. It was something that was missing among his fellow Sith in the Old Empire. Strange that he found it here in open space among even stranger allies.

Returning his attention the the fight she checked his own sensors as Uhtred questioned. Vian confirmed for himself as Valar gave sound to thought. Five remaining, and coming on quickly. The half breed Sith went to full burn and chased down the other Sith.

"The pretty boy has jokes now...."

Sadly for Vian the joke was soon not so funny. The Sith was nearly caught up to his companion went everything went sideways. Val destroyed the first fighter and Vian attempted to follow his lead. When the Sith missed his second shot the pirate opened fire, missing Valar's ship but unleashing fire over Vian.

He attempted to spin, still at full speed but the damage to his wing cause the ship to turn sluggishly. Laser fire torch the wing once again and this time sheered it free of Vian's ship. Sending the Sith in an uncontrolled spin. He was once again easy pickings for the enemy, and more importantly showing grave weakness in battle before a fellow Sith.

DICE

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

"Crescent Two, cut all power to your sublight engines and engage your starboard guidance thrusters!"

Crossfire was a schutta, and Uhtred knew it. He was practically raised in dogfighting, and he'd been hit by it more times than he could dare to count. In truth, Uhtred didn't know if Vian already knew what to do, he'd interjected more out of instinct than anything else. Cutting the sublight engines would prevent further acceleration, and his guidance thrusters, although designed for landing purposes, would help hasten canceling out his spinning inertia, leveling him out eventually.

Tuning everything else out, Uhtred fired a volley of laser fire blind, producing a screen of fire between Vian and two enemy fighters that had begun pursuing him. One in particular was ahead of his couterpart fighter, a wingman. A blantant rookie mistake if Uhtred had ever seen one, when two fighters were clearly in a singular formation only moments ago. Luckily, Uhtred's tactic proved successful, as the enemy fighter broke off his attack run haphazardly, no doubt startled by the screen of laser fire, but in the process made himself a ripe target for Uhtred to pick off. And pick him off, Uhtred did, as a volley of fire crashed into the first enemy fighter, igniting it until it exploded.

However, by this point in time, the first fighter's wingman would have been able to catch up, and Uhtred had been counting on it. Carefully having been watching the second fighter's approach vector, Uhtred had flown his ship close to the first fighter as it had exploded, focusing all shield strength to the forward deflectors, and all the while using the detonation as a cover. Flying through the ever-brief flames as they promptly suffocated in the vacuum of space, Uhtred appeared on a direct and linear course with the second enemy fighter, successfully surprising him. Before the second enemy fighter could promptly reach, Uhtred unleashed a spray of laser fire, ripping the second enemy fighter apart as it exploded.

"Einn horunge fór!"

@Nefieslab @Taz

DICE
DICE

 

[Valar Dohaeris]

By the Force.

He wasn't sure what Vian had done to earn the ire of the Force itself but he was damned sure that he was going to make sure the man was no longer cursed before he worked with him on another mission. The man was a nice enough guy but so far he'd stalled his fighter and now lost his wing!

Valar wasn't going to make any jokes about it however - he really didn't want to tempt fate considering there was still a single fighter left. Focusing on the fighter that could still take Vian out if it got half the chance, he pushed his fighter onto an interception vector and readied himself for the fray.

Pushing his fighter, Valar opened fire at the same time the enemy did. Valar winced as the enemy fire raked across his ship, blasting one of his cannons to pieces. But in the end? Valar was the victory - one of his shots hit the cockpit dead center and the other pilot was dead in an instant and the mission was over.

He sat back in his seat slightly, letting out a sigh of relief as he turned off the warning alarms that told him about the loss of one of his cannons.

"Vian... you dead yet?"

@Korvo @Taz
DICE

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

As Uhtred saw the last enemy fighter detonate in a fiery expanse, he could not help but appreciate the beauty of its flicker as the vacuum of space choked it into oblivion. To most people, explosions in space were always representative of something bad, and to their credit, they were probably right. Given how unforgiving the void was, explosions were typically the last thing one wanted. But to Uhtred, at least in combat, it was almost visually seductive, seeing things explode, then snuffed out. Or perhaps that was just a bit of Deucalian insanity for his part.

"Taking the last for yourself! Well claimed!", Uhtred exclaimed, grinning in the aftermath of Valar taking out the final enemy fighter.

"How's your friend?", Uhtred said to Valar, turning check the system status of Vian's fighter "His com system go down?"

@Taz @Nefieslab

 

[Vian Windrider]

Vian's anger was seething. At his fighter, his luck, and the lacking effectiveness of this fight. His anger fed to his fear which fed his the darkness welling within him. He would tap the buttons the two buttons on the console that would cut all power but life support. Then he focused, willing the force to bend to his will. To halt this roller coaster ride. The force obeyed and within a few short moments, righted the craft to a resting floating mass. Just as Valar destroyed the last pirate fighter.

Powering minimal systems once more he heard the two men question his status among the living, and the Sith could only grit his teeth at reply. "I will live, no thanks to this karking ship."

DICE

 

[Valar Dohaeris]

Well that was that then wasn't it?

Vian wasn't dead, Uhtred wasn't dead, Valar wasn't dead and their enemies? Well their enemies were all dead.

As far as Sith were concerned, this had been a very successful venture and he would have to agree! He had managed to achieve his objective and none of his allies, or himself, were too worse off for it. Relaxing in the cockpit of his ship for a moment, he thought about what was left to do for this mission of his and there was actually, thankfully, not all that much left that needed doing which he appreciated.

But still.

Time to get a move on.

"Alright boys - time we left." he told his allies as he keyed in the jump co-ordinates, "Drinking time!"

He was a man of simple tastes.

/Exit Thread
@Korvo @Taz

 

[Uhtred Wardruna]

Uhtred sighed and sat back, satisfied and thrilled, but now with the anxiety he once had in a previous dogfight. Ironically, he was actually aiding the enemies of his current allies, but that was often the case for one who had no real stakes in either side of a war that had nothing to do with them.

"Come Vian, we'll get your fighter looked at once we get back", Uhtred said, knowing the feeling of having a less-than-reliable craft in battle. "I've actually been in a situation like yours before, and all things considered, you should still consider yourself lucky. Let's just say a stalling sublight engine is the least terrible thing that can happen with a faulty starfighter."

Uhtred had known fellow Deucalians that had their starfighters blow up due to a rupture in their internal power conduits, causing a power overload to the ship's engines. It was like a make-shift self-destruct mechanism. Then there were ships that had faulty guidance stabilizers, forcing their fighters to fly around aimlessly until they crashed, navigation computers that froze or displayed erroneous information... there were even targeting computers that misread IFF frequencies, causing a fighter's ordnance to lock-on to allied ships.

A stalling engine in a fight was bad, no doubt about it... but things could have always gone much, much worse. And in retrospect, maybe that really wasn't much of a comfort after all.

/Exit Thread
@Nefieslab @Taz