Among the Stars

[Darth Kravos]

Darth Kravos stood aboard the bridge of the Decisive once again. The Deep Water-Class frigate had a full load of starfighters that were ready to swarm down upon the enemies of the Empire.

In this case, those enemies were the Verpine. The Sith Empire was coming down like a hammer against their enemies and he looked out at Roche as the Imperial starfighters poured out. Leading the assault were a pair of Sith Masters, both of whom the Dark Lord had worked with personally before. He had no doubt they would see their job done and done well. It would be a long day, but the battle would be theirs.

For now, the Dark Lord watched the holoprojection play out and studied each piece of the battle. There was a great deal yet to learn in fleet combat, and he was going to learn everything that he could before they faced down a real enemy like the Republic. @Exhilian

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Tavek wasn't known for his incredible dogfighting prowess, but most of his life had consisted of him diving into the deep end and either sinking or swimming. This was no exception and he climbed into the cockpit of his IS-3 starfighter, glancing over at Draco. He hadn't actually worked with the other Master before but he was familiar with him if by reputation only.

He slid into the pilot's seat, applying all those things he had learned in flight school and began checking over his functions. Everything was a go and he slipped the comlink into place. Draco, you good to go? he asked as he eased the starfighter up from the floor of the ship. The repulsor kicked in and within moments he was shooting out into the blackness of space.

It felt odd to be out here away from the larger ships but he didn't dwell on it. Within a moment he angled the fighter downwards a bit and got a feel for the controls. It was time to play, and play he would.

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would be suited up in his Pilot gear as he made his way to the hangar. A cigarra hanging from his lips as he approached his Empire Star Fighter. It was getting last check ups by the crew. Inhaling his last drag and giving it a flick as the grey eyes with yellow pieces scanned the Ship before climbing up the side to the cockpit. Glancing over to look at Sith Master Tavek. The Reputable Sith had joined in the cause to take care of these insects and bring them to their knees. Plopping himself down and sliding the Comlink over his head as he heard Tavek speak up. "Yeah, Let's farkin' smash em." His jovial sarcastic voice could be heard through the buzz of the Comlink. Strapping himself in he would flip the switches to start firing everything up and get it ready to go. Checking the last minute controls and making sure everything was in order. Shrugging his shoulders back as he rolled his neck ontop of that. It's been awhile since he was in one of these beauties so it was time to break them in.

Starting up he would let it lift up and push out behind Tavek with speed and. Repulsor was good, checks were good. Time to meet and greet these ugly shits. Draco eyed the blackness of space and distant stars as the yellow screen laid in front of him. Was a pleasure to know the two Sith Master's had Kravos watching over them on his frigate as the pair mvoed further from the frigate's comfort zone. Pushing on the sticks as his Starfighter would do a quick barrell roll as he landed upright in a shaky spin. "Kriff me..This is going to be lovely." It wouldn't be longer before their enemy was going to be upon them..They held the space dominance and these two were going to change that...Yeah, these two.

@Phoenix @Cazar

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Good, let's do it then, he muttered in response, a half-smile pulling at his face. Even if this wasn't something he normally did, the Force was with him and they would soon be in the thick of it. He wouldn't have time to contemplate a mistake if he made one.

I've got six coming in on my scopes, stay frosty, he said as a half dozen fighters screeched up from the surface. Something told him that more would be coming soon, but for now they had six to deal with.

Lasers streaked by his cockpit as they began to make their approach. He realized that the two Sith would be badly outnumbered if they didn't call in support, but they couldn't do that yet. That was no fun. Stick together, he said, recalling having been roughly berated for not sticking with his wingman in training. I'm on your wing, he said, indicating he was ready to let the other fighter take the lead if he wanted. @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would watch as multiple fighters began to enclose the gap between them. Streaks of lasers zipped past them as Draco grimaced for a second before hearing Tavek over the Com link.."Roger, follow my lead." Draco would push on the throttle in his starfighters cockpit as it began to blast forward. Pulling slightly on the throttle as it began to dive off to the right and make some of the fighters peel off and space out from one another. Draco would have them drawn out on his tail for Tavek to line them up from their flank and begin to pick them off as he pleases. Streaks of lasers ripping past the Sith Masters starfighter as his jovial big ass smile whipped right across his face. Hoping the Sith Master's aim was good as Draco would need to get these fighters off him and relied on the other member to finish them off.

Tugging on the throttle in a few quick escapes from lasers as he would every now and then line himself up in a straight line to level out the enemy starfighters for Tavek to destroy. Draco would look down and watch his systems flicker and rise up and down as he quickly pushed his way around the battlefield. Knowing there was more bound to come as the other 3 that never peeled off were going to circle around and get behind Tavek if the pair didn't act soon to get rid of the ones on them and start working on the rest.

@Phoenix

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Tavek decelerated as Draco darted off, angling his starfighter so that he could follow in on the other Sith's tail. And there was going to be danger, he could already tell that. The fighters screeched in on Draco's tail and began to open fire. Tavek could see lasers streaking by and he dropped in behind them, evidently not opening fire quickly enough.

He squeezed the triggers and laser fire screeched out of his two canons but only for the fighter he was aiming at to already peel off. The canon fire hit nothing but empty space, but at least it pulled two of the three fighters off his trail.

On my mark, move to the right hard, he said. The increased coordination worked slightly better and his barrage struck home sending the ship into a swirl of fire and debris. Scratch one, he said.

The ships had fallen in on his rear now and lasers streaked by. Pull high and loop down behind them, he said. Draco flying upwards and then rolling in behind would put Tavek in front and allow the other Master to drop in behind his pursuers. @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would growl as Tavek apparently needed more work on his piloting skills. Though lacking for his initial bursts he did manage to make a few decide to push off and regroup. Listening to the Comlink as Draco smirked "Roger." On his mark Draco pushed off to the right hard and lined up the targets for Tavek as his second barrage sending a ship to catch and begin to spin out of control and ignite in space. The debris and pieces of the body floating in the vast void of space. Draco looked back as he spoke over the Comlink "Nice shootin'". Hearing Tavek open up again on the Comlink on to flank the fighters that just closed in on them as he nodded. Pulling high on the throttle he would begin to rise up with speed. Ascending past as he let Tavek fly right underhim followed by the fighters, Draco would push down to level himself out behind them. His grey eyes with yellows pieces scanning the yellow screen as he began to push forward and catch up to the three fighters that were getting close.

The target lined up as Draco pushed in on the stick and let multiple lasers sound off at the group behind them. His shots landed Dead On As the entire group ended up catching a shot from Draco. One by one they would begin to ignite and start spiraling out of control and blowing up to join their friend that was hit by Tavek's shot. Smirking with his jovial sarcastic ass like grin, Draco would follow behind Tavek before scanning around "We got two more, think you can finish them this time?" Teasing the Sith Master as he was doing what he did best. Be an ass but a jovial ass. The two fighters began to bare down across from them as streaks fired by. Zipping close to the cockpit of his Empire Starfighter. Draco growled as he looked around to watch them peel off and come behind the pair. Tavek would need to pull off some miracle shit if he wanted to keep the fight on them and hold dominance in the sky.

@Phoenix

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Tavek gunned by as Draco pulled up. Within moments, the other fighters seemed to be doing the same before they could pull off to follow Draco. The maneuver seemed to be working quite well and now the other Sith Master was behind the fighters. And he was apparently a better shot than Tavek....

He supposed in most ways that was good for him because it meant he wasn't going to explode form those fighters on his tail shooting him up. He heard Draco's quip and rolled his eyes. Probably not, he quipped back with a chuckle, seemingly unfazed by any comment about his performance thus far. He didn't want the Sith Master to expect too much, after all. Give him a saber or a sword and he was a master, but fighters were... not his strong suit. But that was why he was here: practice, practice, practice, and hopefully not die.

Tavek saw the laser fire zipping by and streaking near him. A shot nearly cracked his shields but the Sith Master could practically hear the Force screaming for him to dive. His starfighter dove underneath before tilting its nose back up and unleashing with both its laser canons on the enemy fighters. It seemed he had managed the miracle and both fighters detonated in a blaze of glory.

Skies are clear, he said as he glanced at his scopes, which showed no more fighters in their sector. Other regions still flashed with fire and explosions as the other squadrons engaged, and Tavek turned his attention to the ground controls and the spaceport. How about we clear out the ground emplacements? he said, pressing a button and seeing the the stationary heavy laser canons emplacements pop up on his screen. They would have to race to the planet's surface, but they could open the way for the rest of the Imperial forces. @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would watch as Tavek hit his marks. The two fighters blew up and finally joined the rest of their squad in the afterlife. Smirking Draco would look over his shoulders and down to his radar seeing it was clear around them. Looking over the side he would see explosions and a dogfight in the sky happening all over from both sides sending out fighters. Small puffs of fire and black smoke was down there as he stared for a bit. "Yeah, let's take it down." the buzz of the comlink as crackling over the pair. Draco would flip a couple switches and push down on the throttle. The nose of his starfighter aimed down as he let loose on the throttle and it began to pick up speed to the planets surface. Edging closer as they broke through the atmosphere heading down towards the ground. The Starfighter would shake a bit from the turbulence but hold fast as Draco began to ease off on the throttle and let his starfighter stabilize out.

"Heads up, they're opening up on us." Draco would watch as black puffs of smoke started going off in the air around him spread out like a buckshot. Fighters raced around him as some got hit by the ground emplacements and were sent swirling on fire to the ground imploding. Draco would aim in on a couple ground emplacements grouped together and fire off a couple rockets. Missed. The rockets would veer off from their targets as Draco had shelling land all around him and explode. Their laser cannons were heavy and quick. Grimacing abit he would speak over the Comlink as the static buzzed. "Can't get them, to rough, i'll try going in for another pass." He pushed off on his stick to the right as he made a sharp turn and began to do a wide U-turn to come back for another run on the guns firing in the sky.

@Phoenix

 

[Tavek Aldir]

It was good news all around. They had cleared the skies and had a straight shot at the other defenses. He tilted the nose down and raced to the surface of the planet, pressing through the atmosphere as the ship shook. It was similar to re-entry of the dozens of other times he had hopped planets, but this time it was at much higher speeds than he normally took. It was becoming more and more obvious to him that he needed to adjust himself to being a fighter pilot sooner than later.

Only a few moments more and he had broken through the atmosphere, flying downward as heavy canon fire began to fly up from the surface. Heavy, green lasers streaked across the sky and threatened to obliterate his fighter by itself in one shot. He jerked the stick to the left, pulling his fighter out of the line of one of the canon shots that only narrowly missed him.

Draco was just ahead of him and fired off his torpedos, narrowly missing. Tavek cursed quietly, knowing that he now had to make his count. He opened fire and one of his torpedos hurtled down, striking the dirt at the base of the canon. Several of the locals exploded in a smear, but there was little damage to the gun itself. He squeezed the trigger and unleashed a stream of laser fire on its tail, tearing into the ground, shredding several members of the gun crew and scoring a few shots on the canon itself, though it didn't carry the damage of a torpedo.

More cursing.

I'm going to move around for another pass. I still have one more torpedo. Try to distract them with a laser strafe, he said, knowing he had only fired one of his fighter's two torpedoes. Perhaps there was still a chance to take this thing out without having to call in reinforcements. @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would come in from a wide angle as he began to close in on his target. The sights closing in as Draco glared down at his target as Starfighters zipped past him inches away. Exploding and chasing one another in a relentless battle as Draco remained focused. Letting his thumbs press down as his lasers began to start leading up to his tagret. Rounds hitting into the ground as some ground forces were hit and got completely destroyed into pieces as they ran for cover. The shots lead up as they managed to hit just before the emplacements which really caught their attention. They shifted their fire back over to Draco as he started to take multiple laser rounds around him. He'd shift his head to look as he seen Tavek about to approach "Now's your chance, take it." He said through the comlink. Turning his head back he would see starfighters come in on Tavek's six in an attempt to stop the Sith Master.

"You got two, on your six. I'll try to shake them off."

Draco rolled on his throttle as he begun to spin around in another U-turn. Pushing his fighter forward he would get behind the two fighters enclosing on Tavek. Letting his breathing relax as he pulled off on the button and his lasers began to light up the fighters. Boom. He managed to shake one of them off with his hits as it began to catch fire and spin out of control. The preassure from loosing a fighter and Draco closing in would cause the remaining fighter to veer off as Draco began the chase. "All yours." He said through the Comlink as he pushed on his throttle to catch the last fighter.

@Phoenix

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Tavek yanked his stick to the side, rapidly decelerating his engines until he pulled against his restraints. He swung around in no time, turning his sights onto the canons below. It felt as though the Force were guiding his movements and for a moment it felt almost like when he held a saber in his hand: it just felt right.

The fighters streaking in on his tail weren't an issue. Draco would deal with them and everything else seemed to melt away in a hurry. His targeting computer narrowed in on the heavy canon and he squeezed the trigger. Both canons opened up and his final torpedo fired away. Bingo. The detonation as laser fire tore into the armor plating and a torpedo exploded was spectacular and every bit as satisfying as he had hoped.

He pulled up on the throttle and streaked through the smoke from the flames, laughing into his coms. Take down that last one and lets clear up the skies, he said to Draco. It was perfect and their mission was almost done. He pulled around, falling in behind Draco to cover him while he chased down the remaining fighter. @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

Draco Virtus would still be on the last Fighters tail. It seemed the Sith fighters had hard fought the control of the Space and Skys of their insect enemy. Watching the fighter dodge and weave like crazy as Draco closed in behind it and lined it up. Looking at the screen as it locked he'd let his cannons connect to the fighter and let it go ablaze. Spinning out of control in a ploom of smoke as he spoke over the Comlink "Done and Done, we're cleaning them up pretty good." he beckoned as he looked around and watched small pockets of fights mingle about was work was still needed but the Sith were going strong. Tilting on his stick as he pulled right and lined alongside Tavek to catch up to him. "Been awhile since i've been ina fighter, feels good to emplode these pieces of shit." His jovial laugh was heard through the Comlink. Letting Tavek take the lead as the Sith followed insuit to their final destination. The black smoke puffing into the sky from multiple locations as debris from crashed starfighters and bodies on the ground were everywhere.

Draco scanned the radar on his screen and back down as he looked at the yellow pannel control in front of him as he shifted his head down and looked below at the carnage. His smile bright as he seen some stragglers try to run off for their lives. The insects were being pushed back and carrying the wounded and dying as Draco came in for a passs. The open ground was nothing for the Sith master as he opened up and let the lasers guide to the target and group by group he'd watch the lasers send the Insect enemies into pieces and falling down as limbs were coming off and the wounded/dying dropped or wiped out from the Siths cannons. Coming back in with a wide u-turn as he met back up with Tavek and didn't bother to look back as he cared less for their lives and knew anyone who rebelled against them would face the same fate.

@Phoenix

 

[Tavek Aldir]

Tavek had a wide smile as well as he checked his scopes. They were clear and the two had claimed the area for the Empire. The rest of the fighters and the frigate could move in and finish things off for themselves. Roger that, he said. The two of them had cleaned up quite nicely and at least Tavek was getting his feet under him with piloting.

He glanced down at the locals who were obliterated by laser fire, but barely batted an eye. He tilted the stick back and shot his way back up, out of the atmosphere, and into space. Let's take her home, he said, as he tore back through the atmosphere. The flames licked at his cockpit and he was pulled back into his seat before he finally escaped the tore free from the bulk of the planet's atmosphere.

It was only a light pull of the stick before he arced toward the frigate, yanking back at the last moment so that he came in - rather recklessly - into the hangar to set his fighter down. Others were just beginning to come back and more still were protecting the frigate from further assault. But his job was done, and so was Draco's. Good flying out there, he said, giving the other man a two-finger salute. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again. Now it was time for a drink and some R&R. He'd earned it.

//Exit @Exhilian

 

[Draco Virtus]

.
Draco Virtus would hear Tavek over the com link as he smirked and took a last good look at the carnage below as he knew they did their part in this attack. Veering off as he pulled on his stick and decided to stay on Taveks six just in case as he followed him through the atmosphere. Shaking as he looked at his yellow screen and checking the radar for any stragglers. As he lifted through the sky and the small explosions and puffs of black smoke started to become small dots in the distance from the pair. The carnage for the two was over and they made quick work in their enemy star fighters who tried engaging them. A jovial grin on Draco’s face as he spoke over the com link to Tavek “Yeah we smashed the shit out of them, nice shootin’” he chuckled as he entered orbit and the blackness of space was vast with distant stars. Making his way to the Frigate Kravos controlled and prepared to come in for a landing.


Draco’s Landing was smooth as he de-accelerated his fighter and landed it down. A crew rushing to fuel and do inspections as he landed. Other fighters were just taking off and patrolling around the frigate as much work was still needed to be done. Sliding out of the cockpit as a crew member immediately gave him a cigarra and lit it for home. Taking a long drag as he mumbled “fuck it’s been to long to have one of these” he exhaled through his nose and glanced over to Tavek. “Good firing, and thanks for keeping them

Off me.” With that Draco would walk off enjoying his cigarra. Not moving out of his way for anyone as crew members ran by him in all directions and pilots ran to prep for take off. His figure disappearing with a small trail of smoking trailing from his path in the frigate.

**OOC: phone posted. My speech does not have colour**
*Draco Exits Thread*

@Phoenix