Open Invasion Thule For You

[Atuu Skirata]

Patched into the inter-fighter comms and aware of the coming formation changes Atuu adjusted his interceptors course with the Corvette he was using for physical and visual cover.

The hectic comms coming from the other pilots filled his headset, but one in particular cut through the noise. That of the Varsuuth. Queuing his comm he dryly responds <"Don't Care. Didn't Ask."> (@Hastur) and releases his transmitter. Rolling into the turn with the other fighter's Atuu would join in their barrage toward the oncoming manned fighters. Holding his sights on both the Excel-class Starfighter (@The Good Doctor) and the Tau-7 Arrowhead (@Mr. Teatime) each, waiting for a positive missile lock and firing one concussion missile at each of them.

Queuing his comm during this action to communicate with command and the other Mandalorian fighters
"Tally 8 Bandits, Inbound - Hot, Bullseye 090, Angels 10 Relative to Fleet." Breaking his stream of relayed information as the onboard system bleeped rapidly indicating his initial missile lock. Firing, acquiring the second missile lock and firing again.

The two concussion missiles would rocket off toward the enemy contacts, joining the volley of laser cannon fire.
"Two Nexu on the hunt, missiles away."

He reported beginning his turn with the remainder of his formation - returning to the interior of the shield bubble on the port side of the ship this time, towards the middle of the formation. Using the Corvette as bottom cover and staying tight to the deck.

 

[System Defense Force]

Admiral Blackthorne watched the battle unfold in front of him on a display. The Rancor Squadron corvettes were barrel rolling. It was... an odd sight to say the least. Blackthorne had never seen a tactic like that before, but it didn't matter at this range. "Cease battery fire. Fire two volleys of missiles every ten seconds," he ordered. The weapons coordinator got to work, issuing the orders through voice and through a console.

"Have the contractors halt their chase. Activate Protocol Zero on the swarming squadrons. Target the fronts of the corvettes. Keep the reserve squadrons in place." The orders went out. Rancor Squadron would find steady volleys of missiles hitting their rear shields. Once the order reached the swarming TIE/R fighters, Rancor Squadron would have an entirely new problem on their hands. As the droid fighters caught up to Apex and Rancor Squadron, they would begin to swarm in large numbers around the fleet.

Once committed, Rancor Squadron would find TIE/R fighters making cannon barrages along priority weapon hard points of the corvette fronts, namely, the missiles launchers and the ion cannons. When those would be gone, turbolasers would be targetted next. When a TIE would get clipped, or too much fire was put toward a TIE, they would bank into the corvettes themselves, turning themselves into makeshift missiles in the corvettes unprotected fronts. If the opportunity to hit a transport arose, a TIE would strafe it with cannon fire, focusing on the cargo area where the people would be.

(OOC: Overview: 5 TIE/R squadrons are now swarming RS fleet doing cannon barrages on hard points and kamikaze'ing the corvettes at the front since their shields are focused in the rear. Targets for the TIEs are Missile Launchers > Ion Cannons > Turbo lasers. The missiles are still coming and aimed at corvette engines. Everything else is unmoved)

 

[Aden Archer]

Aden saw the shifting movements of the corvette and he was ready to react accordingly. While he wouldn't have expected barrel rolling corvettes, he wouldn't just let Hauron and his men simply do as he pleases. As the corvettes started to 'barrel roll' (which really isn't fast) Aden pulled up to a higher plane and was now directly facing them, with the lead corvette in the center and on the same plane. Even with barrel rolling, the angled nature of the Raider's shape and placement of weapons is effectively mostly in a blind spot of their laser cannons no matter their barrel rolling of at least the lead corvette, which would be unable to get a mark on Aden & Co. at all for sure.

"Spread out. Evasive maneuvers" When cannon fire started breaking out. In the event laser cannon started ringing out. Aden would maneuver his craft, weaving through. Banking left and right, veering up and down .etc throughout. His movements would be erratic throughout, avoiding all cannon fire heading his way. His squadron would spread out doing while doing the same evasive maneuvers as their squadron leaders was. Apex would also spread out pretty wide, as to spread out the volume of fire and to better evade shots.

The instruments of Aden's Excel fighter alerted him to the sound a missile lock. It was coming. Bravebird was not your typical 'ace pilot'. He is the ace pilot of the new century. At just the right moment, he would brake his craft and then pull uphard on the controls, In the resulting maneuver, the missile would miss and dramatically overshoot harmlessly into the void, nulling it's threat.

Unfortunately, it just as it seems as things were getting started that Aden was just notified to disengage. Aden would then turn, executing a full half-loop, going full speed the opposite direction of where Rancor Squadron is advancing and he would order his squadron to do the same. Thus Aden and his elite Apex squadron would retreat, the automated TIES along with them. while still maintaining the erratic evasive maneuvers as they safely disengage.

In all, Aden and co have come out of the little warm-up without a scratch, having worked to evaded and are currently evading all sources of enemy fire thrown against them. Aden honestly doesn't like being played like he is a chess piece. This pay better be worth it. It's going to be a shame that instead of a glorious and heart-racing sortie, it's just going to be the TIE drones just overwhelming the Rancor Squadron flotilla.

Spoiler: Tl;dr

Aden and co. rise to the same plane as the RS Raiders to stay in better blind spots, take evasive maneuvers. Adeninc dodges dodging the missile, and then turn direction backwards to disengage

@Mr. Teatime @TheDudeMike @Darasuum @Rimrald @Hastur

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Kingfisher stayed with Bravebird's formation, his group's already loose, defensive web formation giving them plenty of room to evade the sporadic incoming fire. The Arrowhead wasn't the lead ship, but rather, one of many in an approximately equal group. Although not as good a pilot as Aden, unnatural reflexes and a smaller target profile allowed Nakoa to avoid cannon and laser hits. It all seemed more like discouraging evasive fire while Rancor Squadron gained distance in their straightaway: effective enough, but lacking great accuracy or volume.

The Mandalorian transports' static rear lasers weren't all that accurate in a straightaway but they were another obstacle to avoid, with some bolts skimming by squadron shields. Then there was the missile lock from- where? Sensors picked up the formerly-hidden Osprey interceptor and Nakoa made a face halfway between grin and snarl.

Kingfisher braked the Arrowhead and dipped up, twisted into a sudden downward spiral. At the same time, he retracted his S-foils, abruptly lowering the ship's energy signature. The combination caused the incoming concussion missile to fly past his canopy interceptor and lose the lock, spiraling dramatically before exploding harmlessly somewhere behind it. Kingfisher flared his S-foils again afterward.

Not as efficient a trick as Bravebird's skills, but good enough to dip a missile coming in from ahead. "One fighter. Lead ship's shadow," they reported over Apex comms. Singh didn't recognize the model but clearly, it includes concussion missiles.

A near-miss missile. Now Kingfisher had the Osprey on sensors. Singh clicked their tongue at the need to back off but didn't argue, interceptor and squadrons braking to loop around with Bravebird to retreat to an evasive distance out of cannon range. His leg started bouncing in the cockpit again even though he kept his eyes on the sensor readouts. Like Bravebird's they'd avoided damage from Rancor Squadron's evasive rearward fire, save the usual cosmetic-only carbon scoring from shots passing by.

Now they were back to waiting while the swarm of drone TIEs did their thing. Apex would stay close enough to be a potential threat but remain outside the three Corvettes' cannon range. It was like being circled by sharks, and there may about to be blood in the water.

@The Good Doctor @TheDudeMike @Darasuum @Rimrald @Hastur

 

[Hauron Solus]

Spoiler: Music

Song

Hauron’s gaze lifted from the tactical display and stared ahead at the gas giant Enenpa which was in the distance and growing nearer by the moment. Around the gas giant were no less than forty moons each of which could serve as suitable cover from future missiles among other defensive benefits. But first they would need to deal with the immediate dangers. <"Make for the nearest moon."> He shared with the rest of the mandalorian strike group.

The streaking missiles from the Thulian flagship would reach the rearmost mandalorian corvette and created an otherwise beautiful explosion that only grew with each subsequent warhead impact. The aft section of the corvette was covered in smoke from the explosion and its shield would hold strong as it flew free of the cloud. Then the second volley struck and the cloud bloomed again on the same corvette taking the rear to tank the missiles for the other two capital ships. The heavy deflector shields shimmered and as the corvette pulled clear its hull was still unscathed. However the heavy shields were at sixty percent and any subsequent attacks would undoubtedly make contact with the hull of the ship itself. “TIEs, closing Group Leader.”

Hauron was not about to allow the Thulian navy to lay a finger on his ships if he could help it. The badger knew there was more where the missiles came from and their only hope was to jump to hyperspace or make for the moons. The mysterious mercenary starships turned back and relented in their chase. However the automated TIE fighters continued in their pursuit and were slowly getting closer. The Solus opened a channel with his Rancor Squadron pilots of the transports. <"Transports, parasite with the corvettes and brace.”> He had them train this maneuver a few times around Kashyyyk and Ploo but now it would be put into use.

As the Rally Master waited for the ships to rapidly move into position he was given a hurried alert. <“The Varsuuth Gauntlet hasn’t fired their weapons.”> One of the bridge officers observed. Hauron’s gloved hands both formed into fists and his jaw clenched. His temper rose and the mikkian’s patience was at an end for Cremek and his ilk. In an instant he had made up his mind. <“Spin dorsal sides to face the Varsuuth gauntlet. Target the Sith sympathizers' hyperdrives first and fire.”> He commanded with all the venom and none of the patience. Without hesitation the three corvettes rotated and fired its weapon batteries at the Varsuuth craft. (@Hastur )

The Varsuuth class pinnace had light shields that would not be strong enough to stand up to the numerous capital laser cannons for long. In the blink of an eye a single shot would allow any following shots to score direct hits and cripple the ship. His gunnery teams of Rancor Squadron were accurate and the Varsuuth would not expect to be fired in such a manner.

If the Varsuuth craft was not destroyed outright, it would be stuck in the solar system with numerous automated TIE fighter bearing down on the mandalorian battlegroup. The chance of its engines still working were slim but they would be limited to traveling towards one of the numerous moons or try its luck with Thule.

The six Rancor Squadron kom’rk transports swiftly moved close to the larger dagger shape corvettes like pod fish and activated their magnetic clamps, securing them to the hull of the larger ship. Once each vessel was secure, the captain of each corvette disabled the limiters and the fusial afterburners on a well disciplined synchronized execution. At once, all three corvettes accelerated up to and beyond the maximum speed of the droid TIE fighters. the nearest starfighter struggled to get close but the gap began to grow. They droid fighters would not get the chance to destroy themselves and remain trailing behind the warband at least for now.

The mandalorians sped away from Thule with the same speed as the Bravebird’s starfighter, 110 MGLT. This was only temporary and they would just as quickly deactivate the afterburner and disable the thrust de-limiters momentarily. It would however serve to put some distance between them and the TIEs, future missiles and get them closer to their destination sooner. After firing a considerate volley at the Varsuuth and likely leaving them for dead, the cannon teams of the Threebooters would begin firing at any TIE fighters if they overtake Cremek’s transport.

@Rimrald @The Good Doctor @TheDudeMike @Mr. Teatime

Spoiler: TL;DR

Rancor Squadron is heading to get behind one of Enenpa's many moons and use it as a shield against future missiles.
Missiles impact and reduce 1 corvette’s shields down to 66% future hits will have a chance of scoring a direct hit
6x kom’rk starfighter/transports dock/link/clamp onto the corvettes before they hit the thrust de-limiters and fusial afterburners, temporarily outrunning the TIE fighters for the time being. (80 MGLT + 10 + 20 = 110 MGLT)
3x corvettes each firing 2x medium dorsal laser cannons at Cremek and any TIEs that overtake him.
new batch of Thule missiles expected to be arriving next turn (again) >_< ouchie

 

[Atuu Skirata]

<"Make for the nearest moon, aye captain."> Atuu echoed back into his comm. Holding tight to the lead corvette, Atuu would crank his neck to look back over his shoulder and watch the kom'kr begin their attachment procedure.

But then there was laser fire... No not Thulian, and not the contractors, they had since vanished off of Atuu's radar. He was ready to queue his comm when he put two and two together. Remaining silent as he watched the Varsuuth kom'kr take more fire than its shields could withstand. Atuu would not be the one to question Hauron, not after that display.

Breaking off from the close cover of the corvette Atuu would accelerate his Osprey to match their max speed, jamming his throttle forward to 125 MGLT to clear the deck and avoid collision, and then bringing it back in to match their cruising speed of 110 MGLT.

Keying in coordinates of the closest moon to his class 1 hyperdrive he would somberly open his comm once more <"Captain, Bird of Prey making ready to jump."> offering a glance over his shoulder at the likely incapacitated and or stranded Varsuuth kom'kr in the distance. A swarm of gnats closing in, at least thats what the TIEs looked like in his minds eye.

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

just a little bit closer... cmon... cmon.... those tie droids we're gonna be mincemeat, he wanted to be sure he didn't miss his mark!

"you know what, skirata, I can respect that, someone who doesn't let threats get to them makes a fine warrior indeed..I hope we can get alon-"


It was now cremek sensed it, bah! Traitors! All of them! They had no choice, very little could be done as the pilot tried and failed to evade the shots, completely ruining Cremeks line of sight on the tie driods. He swiftly left the gunner seat. Pushing the pilot off, it was risky but it needed to be done, they needed to land and make repairs, and he needed to do it himself, the engine was running, thank the force.. it was going to be one hell of a crash landing.. but it was better than getting blown out of the sky. With that, his ship plummeted into the surface of Thule, catching fire, the varsuuth paint job Melting, burning, but the insides held firm, well, until it hit some unsettled land in a canyon, damn what a crash, wam! the wings were clipped by the walls, the last thing cremek remembers is being thrown into the ceiling, before slamming face first into the side, CRACK! the lines arced like a web across his vision, when cremek can tell whats what, he notices a rod sticking into his arm, pinning him down, he gives off a mirthless chuckle, blacking out.

---

ooc: added details forgot to ping, silly me!

@Rimrald @The Good Doctor @TheDudeMike @Mr. Teatime @Darasuum

 

[System Defense Force]

They were running for the moons. A fair strategy, given the circumstances. The part that surprised Admiral Blackthorne, and drew the corner of his lips into a smirk, was when Rancor Squadron fired on their own. A single shuttle disabled by capital ship fire, plummeting toward the arid surface of Thule. The Mandalorians aboard would find no sanctuary there.

“Send the tracking data of that transport to General Zhukov,” he ordered. “Cease fire with all batteries. Call the contractors and any remaining starfighters back to the fleet.” The bridge officers got to work, sending signals, issuing orders, carrying out Blackthorne’s will as if he were a god himself.

The swarm of TIE/R starfighters that had survived the brief encounter with the Mandalorian fleet turned and began to return. Even the two squadrons assigned to the Apex contractors would leave their posts and return to the fleet’s fold. The missiles would cease firing, though there would still be eight screaming through the void of space toward Rancor Squadron. A parting gift, from the Thulian Navy with love.

---

General Zhukov read the report printing out on his holo-display. The moment the call to arms had come from the beginning of the battle, he had began organizing regiments of troops and battle droids to cover both major cities, and patrol the arid wastes around them. The artillery was prepped, the AA turrets manned and searching. And all they got out of it was a single shuttle that was already crashing and burning.

“Have the 8th send a company out to retrieve the bodies,” he ordered to his aide. “And fix all artillery batteries on the crash zone.” A regiment of 1000 Thulian infantry would pick a company of 200 to board transports and gunships to clear and retrieve the crashed shuttle. Every gun battery in a 50km radius from the crash sight sighted their guns in on the crash sight. If even the slightest hint of battle began, the grid square would be wiped off the face of the planet within moments.

The company of Thulian soldiers would arrive at the crash sight to find all of the occupants dead, dying, or knocked out. Every body, dead or otherwise, was retrieved, de-helmeted, stripped, cuffed, and transported to a high security prison to await interrogation.

Spoiler: tl;dr

Cremek (@Hastur ) and some of the Vursuuth warriors are now captured and awaiting interrogation in a high security prison on Thule. There are 8 more missiles coming for that Rancor Squadron booty (@Darasuum ) but no more after that. Thulian Navy is being recalled to low orbit.

@Darasuum @Rimrald @Hastur @Mr. Teatime @The Good Doctor @Altaris

 

[System Defense Force]

Across all communications channels across Thule, and even to the secret channels the Sith used to communicate across all of their worlds, the word "Victory" would be broadcast. The military of Thule had risen to the call of their queen and masters.

@Altaris @Darasuum @Rimrald @Hastur @Mr. Teatime @The Good Doctor