Flying First Class

[Talos Barrenfist]

​

A Republic convoy of four vessels carrying supplies continued their passage through the Randon Run. They were under escort by four ST-9 Starfighters along with a Jedi piloted craft. They forged a protective ring around the transport. Their mission to assure the convoy makes to the Republic post on Randon safely. None was more aware of this fact than Lt. Talos Barrenfist who piloted the leading starfighter in front.

He softly uttered a sigh to himself, thinking. Here am I again playing flyboy. Ever so often I wonder if our forces are stretched thin when it comes to available officers. Well no use thinking about it now. Hopefully when this supply run is over, the garrison will give us some decent beer in exchange.

Barrenfist examined his sensor to see if there anything suspicious but saw nothing other than the blue dots that symbolize their collection of ships. According to reports pirates with Hutt, blessings have become more aggressive against Republic shipping even before the declaration of war. So far on this journey they have not suffer any attacks...yet.

If there is to be trouble, it pays to be prepared. Where their party lacked in numbers, they will make up with quality along with a Jedi in support. The dossier he read on Lucien Volante made it clear to Talos the peacekeeper used to be a fellow brother in arms before entering the Order.

A more skilled pilot than me that’s for sure and he’s a solid tactician. Of course those gentleman types from the academies puzzle me at times.

Turning on the comms among the small fighter squadron, the dark whiskered man called in to Lucien.

“Hanging in there Volante? I imagine it’s good to be flying with the Republic’s finest again...even as a glowstick-wielding monk. Out of curiosity are ya a eunuch now too?”

Talos smiled at his good-natured jest and it grew wider as he heard the other pilots snicker to themselves. Humor or even the attempt at it does wonders for morale.

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

Ah... nothing beat flying.

As far as he was concerned it was the best way to travel and by far one of the best ways to combat any enemies. Flying was so much more detached than combat on the ground and that meant it was so much better for the Jedi. Lightsabers forced them to see the pain they caused and that was supposed to teach them to be more sparing with their use of the blade.

But that hesitation would get them killed in combat.

No, flying was the best way to do it. You had to choose when and how to pull the trigger but the space between you and your target allowed Jedi yo practice true detachment from emotion. That was needed in battle he felt.

Plus, he thought as he looked around one of the transports, it was an awful lot of fun.

"Something to be said for flying with my own kind again." He joked lightly, "I still think of myself as an officer first and a Jedi second. And if I recall my flyboy training the correct response is..."

He smirked a little,

"Why don't you ask your mother, Talos?"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Lucian’s comeback caused a moment of silence before Talos hollowed with laughter and the rest of the squadron joined in. It seems this Jedi remembered his roots very well. Regaining control of himself Talos answered back. “It’s official you’re still one of us, Volanate. Of course when we reach Randon I’ll have to challenge you a duel of honor for my dear mother’s name...through a drinking game.”

“That’s going to be fun to watch.” A pilot on Talos’ left wing named Danell San commented. Suddnely everyone’s sensors let out alarms, warning of an object coming out of hyperspace. Another moment later a large freighter with mounted turrets on its top and both wings appeared in front of the convoy. Soon a dozen Whirlbat Starfighters poured out from its launch bay underneath and flying in arrow shaped attack formation toward the Republic supply party.

They were under attack!

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

There was a moment where Lucian thought he had gone a step too far... and that was the exact right amount of time for Talos to wait before he reacted appropriately apparently because the large man burst out laughing very quickly after that. Ah that was exactly what he expected from soldiers and officers of the Republic. A jokey banter in the face of boredom, fear and the unknown. It was something he was proud to have kept since his time serving.

"If you insist on losing your own honour in the treacherous field of the bar...? I shall buy the first round."

Not like he was going to use his Jedi expense account for much else on this mission after all.

And then the battle was suddenly upon them!

Lucian felt his focus narrow in on the fighters and the freighter of the enemy... the fighters were going to be the biggest issue as far as he could tell.

"Lieutenant - take your men and engage the fighters." he recommended as he banked hard, "I'm going to engage the freighter and will break off once significant damage is done to re-engage with the enemy fighters from another angle."

The freighter, annoyingly enough, looked like it was almost brand new!

Cursing his luck, Lucian flew high above the fighters, twirling out of the way of some sporadic fire from the freighter and it's escort before launching his own attack - firing off two missiles at the freighter from almost on top of it. The missile flew true, slamming into the freighter and exploding violently, weakening the freighter severely.

As he was peeling away from the successful attack run, Lucian grimaced as a blaster bolt scraped along the side of his ship but otherwise did very little.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Talos was about to banter back at the Jedi when the pirate frieghter suddenly appeared via lightspeed. Surprise gave way to training as he watched an entire squadron come from the large vessel and he heard Luician giving his recommendation. “Copy that Volante. Blue squadron on me for interception. Let’s smoke these nerf frakkers!”

Outnumbered, blue squadron nevertheless obeyed the command. Thrusters ingited, the Republic starfighters flew at high speed in a finger tip formation. Moments later they came within range of each other and laserfire was exchanged. A dogfight ensue them all while the Jedi went after the freighter. Talos banked to the left when a pirate tried to come at him in the rear. With gritted teeth he turned around back toward the pursuer, pulling down on the trigger. A furious volley struck the Whirlbat fighter’s center mass and exploded within seconds.

Meanwhile two pirates were destroyed similarly as the space duel raged. To Barrenfist’s horror he spotted four hostiles eixiting away from the dogfight and going after the supply ships. Full power thrusters he flew toward that same direction the attack run.

Spoiler: NPCs’ numbers and causalities

12 Pirate fighters(three destroyed) and one frigether(severely damaged.)

 

[Lucian Volante]

Time for the second attack run.

Talos and his fighters were engaged and he would need to hurry up and destroy this freight and assist them... but equally if he left the freighter alone it would be within range to hit the convoy ships with stronger blaster fire and missiles. He resolved to take down the freighter before moving on.

He would just have to make sure he struck true.

Coming in from the side on another attack run, Lucian let fly with another two missiles, one from each launcher. This would leave him with only one missile left in each launcher and that wasn't good - but what was good? The two missiles he had launched hit and hit well. The rear end of the freighter exploded violently and, although the ship's integrity was still holding, the engine was gone and the ship seemed to have lost power.

It was functionally dead in the water.

As he was pulling away, he did take another glancing hit from a blaster cannon that shook his ship but little else. He was free to engage with the fighters.

"Point me Lieutenant - should I target the main group or those attacking the supply ships?"

He trust Talos to know more about the fighter battle than he could tell at a glance.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Just as the four enemy fighters reached the freighter in the center trying to turn Talos intervened. Locking on target to the closest starcraft from the rear he fired two bursts of laser volleys, first hitting the the left hand wing then the center by the latter. The Whirlbat exploded seconds later but the the other three scattered, twisting back toward Barrenfist. Swearing in his native tongue the lieutenant made a hard right turn to avoid swift death that could’ve came. Even so several shots struck, threatening the shield strength.

As his fighter danced with the trio of pirates he overheard Volante’s question. “They’re on my ass now get them off me first!” He called back, ashamed he had to.

Spoiler: Enemy causalities

One destroyed starfighter

@Nefieslab

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian was an officer and as an officer, it had been drilled into him that the mission came first. The mission was to defend the cargo and that was it. If he followed the mission to the absolute letter then he would use Talos' flight as a distraction and get the cargo moving off into hyperspace. It would strand the Republic fighters in the middle of nowhere space but it would have the cargo safely away.

However, as an officer, you were taught to realise that the mission as it was written - was often nothing but fancily worded garbage.

There was no reason that was ever good enough to abandon your allies and men like that. Battles could be lost by doing so but entire wars could be lost by abandoning good men and women.

"Roger Talos - watch out on your right!" he responded over the coms as his ship came screaming in from the right of Talos', allowing him to fly alongside Talos in opposition directions for a split second as he attacked Talos' pursuers head on, his blasters wiping one of them out instantly, "Scratch one!"

Breaking off, Lucian swung his ship around, blasting away as one of the other pirates didn't react fast enough and flew into the stream of blaster bolts.

"Scratch two!"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Jedi always confused Talos. They are trained for combat yet do not embrace it whole heartily. It was a strange concept to someone of his background. Right now though as two of the pursuing fighters were destroyed by Lucian, the lieutenant can put that confusion aside and be grateful. The last fighter ceased his chase, making a hard left for a retreat but Talos was already on him from behind. With two short volleys the whirlbat exploded.

Turning around he called Lucian. “Appreciate the assist monk, but I’m still going to drink ya under the table when this is over.” Bantering Barrenfist flew toward the main dogfight. On the monitor, he saw there were only two of his squadron left but have taken same number of hostiles in the process. Three brigands were what remained.

The oppposing starfighters continued their dance of death with one another while Talos entered the fray. Diving above he unleashed a stream of laser shots at one pirate craft but only damaged before twisting away. “Skít!” He murmured in the old tongue to himself.

 

[Lucian Volante]

There it was again!

Monk.

He was no monk and the flyboy knew it - but it seemed that he had picked it up as a nickname despite his aversion to it. Or, likely, because of his aversion to it. Tutting a little bit, he rolled his eyes in his cockpit as he banked towards the ongoing dogfight,

"I'll tell you what - if this Monk gets more kills than you, you're buying the first two rounds of drinks yeah?"

Seemed reasonable to him.

Rolling as he banked hard, Lucian came in from one side of the dogfight with his ships cannons blasting away. Catching the enemy off guard, he blasted one of them away before they could realise before quickly dispatching another two while they attempted to evade both him and Talos' squadron.

"... I like prefer brandy to whiskey. For when you're buying my drinks!"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Just like that it was all over. The pirate fighters were nothing but dust and wreckage with the main frieghter dead in the water and surviving crew will be taken into custody soon. Of course two of their own died in the effort but the convoy was safe because of them. Talos sat in his cockpit with his fighter now stopped, taking a moment to collected himself.

Really need to work on my flying skills.

Hearing Lucian’s next words and realizing the Jedi did win their little contest he nodded in acceptance. Scratching his black beard with a gloved hand Talos replied with a toothy grin. “Fair enough Volante ya earned it. Still going to kick your ass when game is over.”

Spoiler: OOC

The End