Handful of Hope

[Eisa Swan]

​

“Afternoon Star Eight and Thirteen" A shimering image of a slight framed figure spoke out over the holocom console in each of the two pilot's cockpits. "Apologies that I cannot brief you about this mission in person, as you can imagine, things on this carrier are a little.... Hectic" The figure continued before her gaze moved away off camera as a series off sparks rained down in the background. Not that the carrier was under any form of attack, it was more simply to the fact that the person addressing them and giving their mission briefing whilst in the middle of the carrier's maintenance hanger.

"Would say this mission is going to be a routine, but as you would have no doubt figured by now... routine missions with Star Squadron have the nasty habit of going all blue milk run in no time!" The figure resumed as her attention moved towards the photo receptor she was addressing. "The Falleen government have requested our assistance within their sector, they have had several shipments fall pray to a band of pirates. Star Squadron have been assigned with the vital task of patrolling the sector, lend assistance to any ship that may need it, be it close escort or repelling any attacks" Eisa continued before a frown formed on her features before she reached for the side of the receptor then turning her attention off the side, and having a muted conversation with someone off of the screen.

Shaking her head as she returned her attention back towards the screen and reached back to the side of the receptor. "Sorry guys, yeah so we've got to make sure that we have as big of a presence here as possible, make it clear to the Pirates that they will no longer be able to prey upon the Falleen.... But, if you see anything out of the ordinary, or if it gets too hot, I want you to pull back immediately. I do not want either of you to risk your own lives doing any thing reckless, if you need to regroup with the Fleet and we'll launch a concentrated offensive.”

Crossing her arms and with a warm reassuring smile over her pale features, the ashen haired Jedi master took a step back away from the camera and, with a dutiful nod, she added, “Happy hunting Star Squadron, and may the Force be with you.” before the encrypted transmission cut away, leaving the pilots with the countdown until thier crafts would drop out of hyperspace.

 

[Jarrefre Tresti]

"Well I'll start this one off on the bright side." Jarrefre leaned over slightly in his cockpit as he made last-second checks to his systems. "From the sound of it, they don't know we are coming." Jarrefre chuckled as he got himself ready for whatever they were flying into. The padawan was hoping they would catch the pirates in the act and off guard, they could hopefully use the shock and panic to their advantage. Jarrefre clinched the flight stick in his hand, this would be his first sortie but it would not be his last.

Things had moved fast after the galactic alliance, only six months ago he was on his own in the wilderness hunting, but in that time he had joined the Jedi in support of the Galactic Alliance, and began to train as both a Jedi and a pilot. The days were long and the nights were short but it was good training that helped Jarrefre feel comfortable in a cockpit. Jarrefre was primed and ready he had not felt this much excitement before since his first hunt, this time however he would not be alone, they had to hunt as a pack.

"We should stick close, no need to let them split us up unless we absolutely have to," If they could get them to play on their terms Jarrefre felt they could control the engagement.

@Omnis Waszylla

 

[Omnis Waszylla]

"It's good to be back on the prowl! That Omnis had been allowed back in to Star Squadron had been a blessing he hadn't expected to ever receive. He felt he had let them down having left so soon after joining so long ago, yet they'd forgiven him. For that, they would have his loyalty to his dying breath. Which was hopefully many, MANY years away. There was too much good he had to do in the galaxy in the now. He flew in formation with his wingman, still getting used to all the new faces and the missing ones. Regardless, he would try to be as bright and optimistic as he could. They were there to protect people, after all, it wouldn't do to seem depressed when they were supposed to be bringing hope, not taking it.

"10-4, partner. I've got your back if you've got mine. You want to lead off?" He smiled as he spoke, priming his weapons and shields for the upcoming fight. He didn't mind if he led the charge or his wingman did. What was important was that they were the heroes that were needed.

 

[Jarrefre Tresti]

"With pleasure, let us introduce these vultures to Star Squadron," Jarrefre replied with a smirk on his face. "Leaving hyperspace in three two mark." As soon as the pair dropped out of the hyper lane they had front row seats to what would have been a very successful ambush. "There there it is, they have the transport pinned against that asteroid belt," Jarrefre said looking down to check his comms. "03-K64 transport this is Star Eight, adjust your bearing to 024 mark 200." Jarrefre waited for a response and after he did not receive one he repeated himself, this time forcefully. "Falleen transport Falleen transport, this Star Eight. adjust your bearing to 024 mark 200." Still, there was no reply other than erratic static. "Star Thirteen they can't hear us target the ships closest to us, they have the ship pinned to the belt like a game trail, we have to give them some breathing room."

Jarrefre pushed his flight stick forward and dropped into a short dive, once he leveled out he was a rough two hundred meters below the transport and its attackers. he pushed his throttle stick forward and pushed his fighter into attack speed. At this point, the pirates had not noticed Jarrefre or his partner bearing down on him. Jarrefre targeted the fighter farthest from the group, it a swung out wide to get into attack position again, but all he got for his trouble was a backside full of blaster bolts. The pirate ignited in a flash of flame and debris. "I think they see us now, get ready stay close."


@Insalius

 

[Omnis Waszylla]

The freighter, had the two members of Star Squadron not dropped in to play, would have been dead to rights. Outgunned and outmaneuvered, it would have fallen in short order. However, THEY were here, now. Jarrefre was a good pilot with a solid head on his shoulders, making it easy to follow him into combat. Of the foes they faced, one fell quickly to the Jedi's barrage. Omnis knew that he couldn't afford to fall behind. He sprayed a volley of his own lasers at the other ships, intending more to draw their attention to an actually dangerous target instead of the freighter. The good news was that this was effective in drawing their attention. The bad news was...it was VERY effective at drawing their attention.

"I MAY have made them angry. I'll try to get them in a good position for you to take them out!" His panels lit up as a stray shot or two hit his shields, threatening to take them down as he dove and spun with the enemies on his tail. It wasn't the best place to be but definitely better for the freighter than they had been originally. Wasn't this exactly what heroes were for, after all?

@Darius

 

[Jarrefre Tresti]

Jarrefre turned his head as fast as he could as the two pirates passed him at full speed to chase down Omnis. While the two young pilots had made the most of their ambush, they had made the mistake of separating themselves almost instantly, this misstep was on Jarrefre who should have communicated that he was going to increase speed. "Hang tight Thirteen coming around now to put them to rest." Jarrefre slammed on his landing break as he rotated his flight stick to the right, drifting at the same he turned almost on a dime; but overshooting his turning point he sunk into the asteroid belt. As Jarrefre reincreased speed he found himself looking down the barrel of a medium-sized asteroid. Begrudgingly Jarrefre would have to waste a missile to clear his path of certain death, firing off his payload he darted through the smaller debris of the asteroid cracking as it bounced off the front of his ship.

Jarrefre attempted to make up the distance, but his maneuver put him way out of position, but he made up as much of it as he could and fired a volley at the attackers. Jarrefre was too far away to do any meaningful damage, he watched as his blaster flew off and to the right into the vastness of space. "Im too far out Thirteen, bring them back this way and I will make another pass." Jarrefre yelled as he prepared to take another shot. The padawan looked over his shoulder at the transport and he could see that it was still on the move, it was clear that they had got the message one way or another.

@Insalius

 

[Omnis Waszylla]

The Forgotten Powers of the BADASS

It happened in a split second, though exactly what it was Omnis wasn't sure. A memory from his family's history lessons? An ancestor reaching through time and the Force? It could very well be a hallucination, yet out of the corner of his eye he could swear that he saw a man wearing a floral-themed shirt and shorts put his hand on his, giving a wide grin on his mustached face and a twinkle in his eyes. At that moment Omnis could feel his mind expand, taking in everything around him from the freighter to his wingman to the enemies. He knew he had all of their attention. Well, he had better not disappoint. Channeling not just the Force but the power of the BADASS, he gunned the throttle while laying into the stick with the skill of a seasoned ace. This was the make or break moment.

While Omnis was never able to get into a position to fire he WAS able to lead all the enemies on a merry chase through the asteroid field. Dodging just in time to avoid being dashed against the rocks in space, flying through hollow asteroids, even giving a grinning thumbs up to what must have been a Star Weird dressed as a clown dancing on one of the bigger ones, the Waszylla led the pirates in a way that was not only dangerous to them but also gave his companion the best shots he could line up. He trusted in his wingman and would keep up this incredible feat of flying for as long as he could. He was a BADASS, after all. Dennys would be proud.

@Darius

 

[Jarrefre Tresti]

Jarrefre watched as Omnis led the pirates through the asteroid belt, there were a few moments that he actually lost sight of him Jarrefre had his ship come to a full stop, he would not overshoot or be caught out of position again. "Come on Thirteen, send them off the cliff, you can do it." While it was truly only moments time seemed to slow as he waited to see any sign of the fighters. The hunt was on, Jarrefre realized he was in the open so he pushed forward and placed himself behind the cover of a large asteroid, he on sight picture was the canopy of his vessel. Jarrefre still could not see fighters, he closed his eyes and reached out as far as he could, and even with the force he could feel nothing, he was this point not strong enough. Just before he dropped his search he felt the presence of life push into his spere of detection, he would have to time this perfectly to not shoot his own wingman out fo the stars.

Jarrefre used the asteroids ahead of him as a kind of marker as he prepared for his killing blow, the trio passe done after another Omnis in front, and once the time was right Jarrefre sent his ship into a loop, over the asteroid. Once he completed his maneuver he fired at the first ship off Star Thirteen's right then pushed his left thrusters to the max to create a bouncing effect, the sent him in a new but smaller loop over Omnis by inches; he ended the last loop as he pressed the trigger on his flight stick tearing through the fighter on Star Thirteens left. Jarrefre turned past the glorious fireball and returned to his proper place next to Omnis. "Had to take a little off the top." he smiled looking over to his partner. "let's get back to the transport, it would have taken more than three fighters to take out a transport that big, but hopefully you scared them away with your fancy flying."

@Insalius

 

[Omnis Waszylla]

"One can only hope-" Omnis' scanners detected six more ships incoming for the freighter. Every time. "...Well, looks like we have some more friends to entertain. I'm gonna give them a heaping helping of JUSTICE!!!" Hitting his afterburners, the Padawan shot forward as he cycled his weapons to his missiles. When he saw their incoming trajectory he had gotten an idea, though he'd have to time it right. One of the asteroids he'd flown by had some strong geysers of gas coming from it, the color being something he'd read about before. He had to wait until just the right time...A little longer...There! He fired the explosive, the incoming pirates seemingly ignoring it as it wasn't aimed at any of them...Just as planned.

The missile hit, causing the volatile gasses inside the asteroid to explode and send shrapnel flying through the flight paths of the pirates. Unprepared, a full half of the six were shredded metal before any of their companions even knew it. All of this was done before they were even in maximum range of firing on the freighter. Now things would be more even for the defense as he knew Jarrefre and himself would be back in formation to defend the freighter. "That was a lucky shot, I don't think I'd ever be able to do that again. You got the next dance, though!"

@Darius