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Author Topic: Jokers Wild  (Read 19751 times)
Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #30 on: May 14, 2018, 11:11:36 PM »

You're not being benched, its a promotion.  Marine Jan with a Song steel rifle arm! That could came in "handy" she'll never be "unarmed"...I'll stop now...
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Taegin Roan
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Force Alignment: 2066
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Lord of the Force


« Reply #31 on: May 15, 2018, 06:30:24 AM »

You're not being benched, its a promotion.  Marine Jan with a Song steel rifle arm! That could came in "handy" she'll never be "unarmed"...I'll stop now...

haha.

The more I read of this, the more I like it. It definitely has a more realistic feel to it (besides the unbreakable arm). I do get more of a ST feel from it though. I guess that is probably because we have never seen anything from an actual military view point.
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

TheDutchman
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« Reply #32 on: May 15, 2018, 12:21:28 PM »

haha.

The more I read of this, the more I like it. It definitely has a more realistic feel to it (besides the unbreakable arm). I do get more of a ST feel from it though. I guess that is probably because we have never seen anything from an actual military view point.
Agreed!  I'm a sucker for all things "SciFi military" and this story is no exception!  But a Song-steel arm?!  Wish that I had thought of that!  Sure...the Vhal'Dan don't have Singers...and Karm already wrote about...ohlookoverthere!

Seriously, I really enjoy the various social- and agency-strata within the Mak'Tor military. Truly incredible details.  And I can't wait to see Jan leading jarheads  Wink

You're not being benched, its a promotion.  Marine Jan with a Song steel rifle arm! That could came in "handy" she'll never be "unarmed"...I'll stop now...
Please.  I LIVE for bad puns!  Pray continue LSG  Grin
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Sig courtesy of DarthScrub

Cataphract Triarch of the Vhal'Dan

My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
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« Reply #33 on: May 15, 2018, 12:59:27 PM »

haha.

The more I read of this, the more I like it. It definitely has a more realistic feel to it (besides the unbreakable arm). I do get more of a ST feel from it though. I guess that is probably because we have never seen anything from an actual military view point.

LOL

Who said it was unbreakable???  Tough, yeah, but not unbreakable!   Its not really any stronger than the song-steel plate most of the Mak'Tor Knights wear during combat ops.

The arm itself was actually inspired by the movie "I, Robot".  In that movie Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) has a robotic arm that extends into his torso.  We see a lot of lower limb prosthetics in Star Wars, many quite skeletal looking and clunky in nature.  I wanted to have one that was highly realistic ... but with some hidden surprises.  I mean, if you lose your natural arm and have to make due with metal and synthetics you should have SOMETHING extra as compensation, right?  :-)

As for the "ST" feel...  That's probably from the 'nuts and bolts' details.  I am personally fascinated by how things like this would work so I include lots of things, like docking maneuver commands, that you don't see in SW because for a SW plot they're just not important.  But I like them, so...  Here they are!  LOL

If I get to detail heavy call me out, guys.  I really can get carried away with this stuff.

So, back on patrol...   Next chapter will be ... 
Yeah.  You'll like it.  ;-)

Karm
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Taegin Roan
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« Reply #34 on: May 17, 2018, 07:47:38 PM »

There is no such thing as "too detail heavy" in my book. Ever read Lord or the Rings (or anything else by Tolkien)? Yeah, when you have a 20 page chapter where the first half is detailing how and where people were sitting, than you might can start worrying about being too detail heavy (book II chapter II of The Fellowship of the Ring for reference).  Wink Grin
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

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« Reply #35 on: May 22, 2018, 10:03:58 PM »

Chapter 9: Black Ops

A month of patrolling back and forth between Syvris and Teth had produced several close calls but no actual encounters.  The Jokers had on several occasions launched to intercept armed ships only to have the raiders turn and flee into hyperspace.  ON the three round trips they'd made they had accumulated a small gaggle of light freighters, with the numbers growing each time. 

This trip, their fourth since refitting, was no exception.  As they emerged from hyperspace between Dubrava and Barab space around them erupted in blue-white energy as eleven light freighters of various types emerged nearby, spread out slightly by calculation variables and safety rules.  As the informal convoy slowly gathered back together B'Lain pondered their orders once again.  "Jokers, prepare for launch."

The request had come in via courier from Syvris on a hand-delivered and encrypted data chip.  Glonar D'Kev has been as flamboyant in appearance as always, but his eyes had been serious as he'd relayed the request from Scrubber.

"Colonel Nath, Major Throwd, I greet you!  I am sending this request to you in the hand of one of my most trusted couriers.  It appears that Hammer Flight has encountered more resistance than expected on their current patrol and will not be available to screen a relief convoy we're expecting from one of our more ... sensitive allies.  This ally is very secretive and wish to maintain their anonymity.  Normally one of our task groups would escort them, providing a screen against prying eyes and sensors as well as raiders, but at this time none of our units are in a position to provide this escort.  We would therefore like to request your services."

You will meet the convoy at grid U.01242394 by 12.00204987.  Discretion is a must!  The convoy will have your transpoders and will fall in 5000 meters astern of the Hornet.  No communications are to be initiated with the convoy.  No scans are to be directed at the convoy.  No fighter should come within targeting scanner range of the convoy's ship.  And no records of the convoy of any kind are to be kept."

"If you cannot accept this mission, please respond in kind.  Your help and discretion in this matter are greatly appreciated.  Please accept in advance the thanks of both Scrubber and myself for your discretion and assistance in this matter.  D'Kev out."

The Captain, considering the help they'd received from Hammer flight earlier as well as the ongoing desire to build a friendly working relationship with the Sons of Kessel had decided to take the mission despite the obvious cloak-and-dagger aspects.  B'Lain didn't harbor the same misgivings - it was perfectly understandable to him how a rich benefactor of the Sons of Kessel would go to great lengths to keep their identity a secret - but he WAS worried about the curiousity of his own pilots ... and the gaggle of 'free traders' they'd picked up.   

At least they had a plan for one of them...

As he finished his pre-launch checklist he heard Major Mack on the general inter-ship frequency.  "Attention Imperial forces!  This convoy is under the protection of the M'Tzigon Republic!  Your stealth fields have failed!  Recall your fighters and stand down your Star Destroyers or we will be forced to fire on you and your ships!"

B'Lain chuckled as the message went out, followed almost immediately by Captain Nath on the scrambled convoy channel they'd set up before leaving Syvris.  "Attention Attention Attention!  Incoming Imperial forces, two Star Destroyers backed up by a pair of frigates!  Please make your jumps immediately!  We will occupy them here long enough for you to make your escapes.  Good luck.  Hornet out."

"Jokers, launch!" B'Lain said, adding his own punctuation to the deception.  The two active flights of Joker squadron leapt into space, turning and accellerating toward a common point.  B'Lain shook off the near-black-out of the launch and laughed out loud as one-by-one the privateer light freighters turned and leaped into hyperspace, leaving the Hornet all alone.

"There they go..." Jace said.  "I cannot believe that worked."

"Be glad it did.  The last thing we needed was for Scrubber's secretive benefactors jumping into a gaggle of semi-legitimate 'free traders'.  They'd have been all over them looking to make a buck." B'Lain shot back.  "Now, lets get formed up and remind your folks to keep their eyes - and their scanners - pointed outward."

"Aye sir!" Jace dropped off their private link, passing orders, as did B'Lain.  Throttled back now, the Jokers took about a half-hour to recover from the crash launch and get comfortably on-station in forward screening positions.  Once in place, they settled down for what they hoped would be a short patrol.

*******

"Emergence!" the tech in CIC called.  "Bridge, we have multiple emergence signals bearing one-seven-nine mark three-five-five."

Nath swivelled toward tactical.  "Confirm: How many ships?"

El'Lynn looked up from the tactical position.  "Seven, four in the mega-ton range and three smaller signatures out front."  El'Lynn's brow furrowed.  "That's odd...  I have a clear contact on the freighters, but the other three..."

Nath nodded.  "Tactical, secure scanning.  That's our target.  Shift scanning forward and to the flanks.  Make sure the Delta drones are beyond the convoy and relay their feed to cover the rear.  Lets not make our guests uncomfortable."

"Aye sir!" El'Lynn replied.  Nath turned to the helm.  "Helm, ahead standard speed."  Nath turned back to El'Lynn.  "Its a three hour flight to the next jump point.  We'll recover the Jokers ten minutes before we reach it."

El'Lynn nodded, passing orders to flight ops and on to B'Lain and his pilots.  Nath swivelled back forward and sat back with his fingers steepled.  "Only five jumps to Teth.  Piece of cake..."

********

They were twelve minutes away from the last jump when it all went sideways.  B'Lain was about to turn his flight back and prepare to dock when a blip appeared on his long-range sensors.  "Eagle, Joker One: I have an emergence signature!  Bearing zero-eight-two mark zero-eight-seven!" B'Lain looked up and over his right shoulder.  "Jokers, form on me!  Attack formation Delta!"

Behind them the Hornet swung around as well, angling up and to the right, moving to intercept.  "Jace, I count a dozen Skip-Rays and another dozen Dekard transports behind them."

"Confirm lead!  Looks like we're outnumbered again..."

"Always.  B'Lain to Eagle: We have a dozen Skip-Rays coming in, with assault transports behind them.  We'll thin them down but there's going to be leakers."

"Understood, Jokers.  We'll get the stragglers.  Jokers are Wild."

"Understood." B'Lain flipped frequencies again.  "One to all Jokers: Jokers are Wild.  Go for the Skip-Rays!"

********

The Jokers streaked through the Skip Ray formation, dodging and weaving as ion bolts and laser blasts filled space with energy.  Shields took hits but then it was the ARC-170's turn and the Jokers hammered back, concentrating their fire in pairs on four targets. Three of those targets disintegrated, blown apart, while a fourth tumbled on, intact but bleeding air and without drive power.

B'Lain led his Jokers around for a second pass, shifting from the extended diamond "Delta" formation to a a pair of extended columns in the "baker" formation.  Each flight of four singled out a pair of Skip Rays and again took them on two-to-one, this time also exploiting the much higher manueverability of the ARC-170s to avoid the bulk of the blast boat's fire.  This time two of the Jokers took enough damage to peel out of formation and head back toward the Hornet but all four of their targets were again destroyed.

"Joker One to Joker Five: Jace, stay on the Skip Rays!  Keep them harried and off-balance, and pick them off.  We're going after the Dekards."  As the fighters had engaged the Dekard transports had steadily closed on the convoy, swinging wide around the Hornet to avoid it's guns.  B'Lain broke off, leading Jokers 3 and 4 in a spread-V formation to engage these transports.  He was closing and almost in range when two more ships emerged from hyperspace and turned to attack.  "Joker Gold break break break!"

The Joker fighters scattered as the the two ships - both Interceptor IV class frigates - pulled up on either side of the gaggle of transports, covering them with their massed laser fire.  Gold flight made a few runs at the frigates, but they couldn't get enough heavy hits in to disable them and the massed return fire was to heavy.  On the second pass Joker 3 was disabled, his drive down, and B'Lain ordered Joker 4 to grapple and tow him back to the Hornet while he harrassed them with concussion missiles.  The Hornet was to far away to support, moving up fast but by the time she generated an intercept the transports would be on top of the convoy.  And then...

All fire suddenly ceased from both Frigates, as well as the constant jinxing they'd been doing.  Before B'Lain could come around and get a read on them a feminine voice came up on the general comm frequency: “Enemy Frigates have been pacified, you may send boarding parties, expect no resistance."  No ID, no close, no radio procedures.  Just the declaration - and silence.

B'Lain arched up over the near Frigate, noting that the turrets no longer tracked him.  "Eagle, Joker One.  Frigates appear to be neutralized.  Beginning attack run."  Apparently unaware that the ships on either flank were suddenly off the air the double column of RZ-52 Dekard transports plodded on, attempting to close with the convoy and board.  B'Lain throttled back and rolled in, taking his time.  "Like killing baby seals..."

He opened fire, starting at the rear of the column and working forward, swinging his fire back and forth, marching destruction from the tail of the colum to the head.  He made a single, slow pass leaving nothing but death and spreading debris in his wake.  As he pulled out he found himself pointed directly at the convoy.  He quickly turned away, remembering their orders, but he couldn't help but make a visual inspection as he turned away.

The four freighters were ... unique.  They were roughly triangular shaped, typical of both Chiss and the Empire's capital ship construction, but with the smooth lines of a Mon-Cal ships and Kuati drives.  The odd hybrid was both efficient looking and visually pleasing to the eye.  B'Lain also got what he thought must be the smaller escorts, but other than a vaguely wedge-shaped blackness he couldn't make out any details or localize them.  Before he could make a more detailed search the ships suddenly leaped into hyperspace, leaving the Hornet and her fighters behind as they made their final jump to Teth.

Eagle to all Jokers: Boarders are away, heading for the frigates.  Please provide cover."

B'Lain arced back around, picking up the two boarding shuttles moving away from the Hornet.  Jace, still with three fighters, had already swung around to provide top-cover, so B'Lain throttled back, matching velocities with the frigates and initiating a detailed scan of the target.

********

Jan rode the lead boarding shuttle, a hulking Marine in powered battle armor at her shoulder.  She'd begun training with the armor as well, but for this mission she'd decided to go with what she was familiar with and wore the song-steel armor of her Knighthood.  Her saber hung on her belt as well: She would lead the Marines, but she was and always would be a Knight.  Her primary weapon was a part of her and nothing would change that.  MAster Sgt. To'Mas'Crin was in total aggreement.  "We're one minute out, ma'am."

"Thank you, Sergent." Jan moved forward.  "Stations."

"Marines!  ON YOUR FEET!" To'Mas barked, standing the squad up.  Twelve marines, plus the Sergent and Jan, weren't much of a boarding party for a frigate, but it was all they could spare.  And if it really were disabled...  "Lock and load!  We're going in hot."

Jan approached the hatch only to feel a hand on her arm.  "Ma'am, let Corporal Jin take point, if you please." Corporal Al'An'Jin was probably the only person on the shuttle larger than Sgt. Crin himself, and he cradled a massive plasma rifle in his mechanically augmented arms. 

"By all means." Jan replied, stepping aside so the four man "point" team could crowd the hatch.  With a jerk and a clang that rang through the hull like a bell the shuttle hard-docked with the Frigate at an air-lock.  Standard schematics put them very near the ship's bridge.  A green light indicated a good seal and the hatch opened.  Corporal Jin followed his massive cannon through and into the space beyond, covered by the rest of his fire team.  Jan and Sgt. Crin followed, Jan igniting her saber as she stepped through the hatch.  "Any movement?"

"None." Jin replied. 

"Move on, Corp.  Ares, with me.  Jin move to the bridge, we'll provide cover and support.  Leeds, overwatch for the El Tee."

Jan smiled at the big Sergent, who grinned back and moved up to support Jin's crew, already moving on the bridge.  Jan waited a second for Corporal Ez'Ra'Leeds to form and deploy his fire team before moving over to a control station where three bodies lay.

"What in the blazes..." One of Leed's riflemen hissed.  Corp, there's two more over here.  They're headless, Corp."

Jan knelt next to the bodies before her.  The deck was covered in a thick pool of congealing blood, and again, there were no heads. 

The heads were just ... gone.  "Maker ... what happened here?"

Her radio crackled.  "El Tee, Crin.  The bridge is secure.  It looks like the ship is fully functional, ma'am, but..." he paused for a second before continuing.  "Ma'am, its a mess up here.  Bodies everywhere, blood by the bucket full, but..."

"No heads." Jan replied.  "We found the same thing here."  Jan stood up.  "Have Ares get the ship under control and prepare a flight plan back to Sylvis.  Take Jin and secure engineering.  We're heading for the docking bay."

"Understood.  Crin out."

Jan suppressed a shudder and looked over at the lifts.  She looked at her troopers, noting their stares at the blood.  These were young troops, first time in combat...  "Leeds, fall in.  We're heading to the flight bays.  Two junctions in, then down three flights.  Take point."

"Aye ma'am." The corporal said, loudly.  "You heard her, Marines!  Two-by-two, El-Tee in the middle.  Lets move!"

The barked commands snapped the young squad out of their reverie and they moved swiftly through the ship.  No one stopped to stare again, but they all went out of their way to avoid walking through the puddles of sticky, red blood.

And there were a lot of puddles...

********

Two hours later B'Lain was back on board the Hornet sitting at the briefing table with Captain Nath and Major Mack.  "We had five birds with damage, two serious, but they'll all be flight-ready again by tomorrow.  Fortunately only one pilot was injured and that was minor.  Master Healer K'Lain has a bacta patch on him, should be ready to fly before his bird is repaired."

Nath sighed and sat back.  "That's good news.  Scrubber sent word confirming that the convoy arrived safely.  No mention of their involvement with the fight but he was effervescent in his praise for our efforts."  Nath looked at his CAG and XO.  "Anyone else a little ... uneasy about the capabilities of these folks?"

"More than a little." El'Lynn replied.  "I know we weren't supposed to scan or pry, but after that radio call I tried to reach out and get some kind of sense of them in the force.  All I hit was a black hole.  I'd heard stories, rumors mostly but some tidbits were confirmed by Jan, that the Mak'Tor had a knight with the Sons under cover recently and he encountered a ... body guard, I guess, with extraordinary capabilities as well as small, arrow-shaped ships that were nearly invisible and seemed to be highly advanced."

"I've heard similar things." B'Lain injected.  "Though it might be from the same source."

"No, I've also heard rumors, mainly about the invisible ships." Nath sighed again.  "But stealth tech is one thing.  We've had to fight enemies with superior tech before, and we've always managed to find a way to win.  But how do you fight someone who can make your head just ... disappear?"

B'Lain and El'Lynn exchanged looks with each other then looked back at the Captain.  No one spoke: there was nothing to say. 

Finally Nath drained his coffee and rose.  "Well.  Prize crews are on board.  We'll escort the frigates back to Syvris, then figure out what to do with them.  I'll be on the bridge."
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #36 on: May 23, 2018, 12:21:51 AM »

Probably not the first boarding Jan expected in command of the Marines…all the power armour and plasma weapons only to arrive late to the party.  As bad as it was finding that, I suspect it would’ve been worse if she ran into whoever did it…

Curious the collection of followers they were gathering...

Ummm B’lain - "Like killing baby seals..." how many baby seals has he killed to know that? What did the Seals ever do to him? Why isn’t M’Tzigon Wildlife and Environment Department onto this guy?
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Karmack
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« Reply #37 on: May 23, 2018, 12:26:56 AM »

Probably not the first boarding Jan expected in command of the Marines…all the power armour and plasma weapons only to arrive late to the party.  As bad as it was finding that, I suspect it would’ve been worse if she ran into whoever did it…

Curious the collection of followers they were gathering...

Ummm B’lain - "Like killing baby seals..." how many baby seals has he killed to know that? What did the Seals ever do to him? Why isn’t M’Tzigon Wildlife and Environment Department onto this guy?


LOL

Sorry, I slipped a term from the Air Force into the narrative.  In the USAF, when fighter pilots are under AWACS control they can acquire targets on radar and fire at maximum range, out like 50 miles with AIM-120s.  Often in today's world the opponent doesn't even know the fighters are there, because they're not using their own radars and are getting vectors from the AWACS.  The pilots refer to it as 'killing baby seals' after an Inuit practice of clubbing baby seals for their extraordinary fur.  The baby seals can barely move and are essentially helpless.  Like the enemy fighters.

Or the transports in the story.

Now ... does M'Tzigon have seals?  Yeah.  But they're not quite a docile as those from Earth, nor is killing their babies necessarily a bad idea if you're trying to keep them from overrunning a village...
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

TheDutchman
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« Reply #38 on: May 23, 2018, 11:49:18 AM »

Interesting: our Jokers get their first glimpse of the Aethans and their capabilities.  NOT a pretty picture at all; worse as it is an enigma...

Love the dogfighting Karm. I've said it before but I think you do incredible space battles  Wink. Plus Scrubber is always a welcome addition to the story!

Oh, and inserting Jan with the Marines: brilliant!  I feel that this would be a perfect POV perspective for future chapters as well (look what they did for this one  Wink).

BTW: I wish that I could write as fast as you.  Two great installments within hours of one another?!  Wink
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Cataphract Triarch of the Vhal'Dan

My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
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Light side points please.


« Reply #39 on: May 23, 2018, 01:14:53 PM »

LOL    Well, "The Invitation" first appeared in February.  LSG and I have been going back-and-forth for quite a while on that one, so it wasn't written in the last few days.  :-)  If I've learned anything in the last few months working with you and LSG its that slowing down and thinking these things through better is a good thing.  If I'd gone with my original script for Jokers and just churned it out, I'd be done by now ... and the story wouldn't be nearly as good. 

And I have other irons in the fire as well.  :-)  PM incoming...
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Taegin Roan
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« Reply #40 on: May 24, 2018, 06:49:18 PM »

LOL

Sorry, I slipped a term from the Air Force into the narrative.  In the USAF, when fighter pilots are under AWACS control they can acquire targets on radar and fire at maximum range, out like 50 miles with AIM-120s.  Often in today's world the opponent doesn't even know the fighters are there, because they're not using their own radars and are getting vectors from the AWACS.  The pilots refer to it as 'killing baby seals' after an Inuit practice of clubbing baby seals for their extraordinary fur.  The baby seals can barely move and are essentially helpless.  Like the enemy fighters.

Or the transports in the story.

Now ... does M'Tzigon have seals?  Yeah.  But they're not quite a docile as those from Earth, nor is killing their babies necessarily a bad idea if you're trying to keep them from overrunning a village...

I don't actually mind seals. It's the Sea Lions and Walruses that scare me. Anyways, that was one of the highlights for me from that chapter. Grin


BTW: I wish that I could write as fast as you.  Two great installments within hours of one another?!  Wink

So do I. I've been on the same story while Karm has finished 6(?). Plus right now my computer is having problems and wont let me on to google docs, so I cant finish chapter 10 (which is almost done). Angry
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

Karmack
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Master of Ceremonies
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Light side points please.


« Reply #41 on: June 19, 2018, 06:23:41 PM »

Sorry for the delay!  This one took a while....


Chapter 10: Wilberforce
  Part 1

Electronics Tech Si'Mone'Kel sat back and rubbed her eyes.  A quick glance at the chrono confirmed what her gritty eyes were telling her: She'd been at this for nearly 14 hours straight.  She sat back and rubbed her eyes for a moment before standing.  "Coffee...  I need coffee..."

Ten minutes later, properly caffinated and invigorated by some vigorous movement she was back at her station.  Sipping on the triple-espresso-shot latte the mid-watch cook had prepared for her Simone returned to her work, sifting through the computer logs and records recovered from the Interceptor frigates.  The two ships were riding in orbit now, with minimal crews aboard, not far from the Hornet itself.  Rumor was that...

She shook herself away from the wool-gathering as something caught her eye.  That's odd...  She was deep into the ship's logistics logs, pouring through spare parts and consummables looking for "anything unusual".  When she'd started the assignment Lt. Naith hadn't been able to give her anything more specific, just to keep her eyes open for anomolies and that she 'had a feeling' something important would present itself.  She'd been skeptical - it sounded like a load of mystical mumbo-jumbo to her - but this was certainly unusual...

"Computer, cross-reference record AN-224-272 through -287 with navigation logs." she said, noting the spike in consummable usage at the ends of several runs, particularly in oxygen.  They'd pushed the limits of their storage capacity in both food and air ... but the trips hadn't been very long...

A chime indicated her search results were back and Simone pulled up the navigation logs.  "Four round trips, none longer than a week ... but they used up a month's worth of food, water and air on each trip..."  She scanned the origination and destinations for each trip.  "And eighty percent of that was on each of these outbound legs.  The return trips are right on the normal curve for the crew.  So what were they hauling?"

She closed the navigational logs and opened the cargo manifest.  She scanned down the list, looking for the corresponding mission records.  "Maker..."  her hand was trembling when she keyed the comm.  "Lieutenant?  Simone.  I found something..."

******

"...we traced the shipments back to this location." Jan said, highlighting a small dot on the holographic map.  "Its in the Magatesso System, but well out from the inhabited worlds.  There's a complex system of transshippment habitats there.  It looks like the Hutts are running the slaves in and the Black Suns are using smaller transports to break the shipments into smaller consignments and move them out to various locations across their network.  The platforms themselves are operated by the Zann corporation, but these outlying habitats are the only ones being utilized in this ... venture ... and the personnel appear to be drawn exclusively from the Black Sun organization, with a few liasons from the Hutt cartel as well."

B'Lain sat back, frowning.  "Why use the Interceptors as transports?  Even considering they were transporting slaves cramming thirty into quarters designed for five had to be taxing in the extreme on the ship's environmental systems."

"It was, which is actually why we found it.  I had ET-4 Kel looking for anomolies in the records of the ships.  Something told me there was something there, so I had her go over them with a fine-toothed comb.  She found a spike in their logistics that didn't make sense and followed up."

"That was good work." B'Lain replied. 

"So I told her.  She's still digging, but we've been able to confirm that the passengers were pleasure slaves being transported to different Black Sun establishments across the Outer Rim, as well as consignments destined for ... private owners."  Jan's face locked down, but her voice wavered with emotion as she continued.  "We have logged evidence of at least one consigment that was ... spaced ... when the buyers reniged on the deal.  Seems the ship didn't have enough air, food or water to bring them home, and the site was to remote for alternative buyers to be arranged so..." 

El'Lynn blanched.  "Spaced???  Just like that?"

Jan nodded, her eyes dangerous.  "Yes.  Just like that.  And Captain, according to the last entries we found, another large consignment is coming in from the Hutts in two weeks."

Captain Nath's face hardened.  "Two weeks..."  His eyes turned to his XO.  "El'Lynn, reach out to Glonar D'Kev.  I need to talk to him."

******

"Captain, thank you for agreeing to see me in person." The Besalisk was as gregarious and flambouyant as El'Lynn's report had indicated.  He had responded to the Captain's request for a meeting with an offer to see him aboard the Hornet.  Nath wondered if the man was marginally gifted in the force, as his very demeanor seemed to indicate that he had some kind of insider information about Nath's request.  His words seemed to confirm that.  "I assumed, from the urgent tone of Ms. Mack's voice, that your desire for consultation might conern topics of a ... delicate nature, shall we say?  It seemed prudent to conduct such a conversation away from prying eyes and ears."

"Mr. D'Kev, I appreciate your discretion and candor." Nath replied, noting how the Besalisk's smile broadened at the word "discretion".

"It is no bother, Captain.  I needed to get off-planet for a bit anyway.  It was about time for one of my ... excursions ... and your ship is far more comfortable and convenient than my normal conveyance."

Nath found himself returning D'Kev's grin.  "Indeed.  Well, Mr. D'Kev, I have a request for your associates.  My team have uncovered evidence of a significant slave trafficing hub in a nearby system.  I intend to attack this hub and destroy it, but our intelligence indicates that a large consignment of slaves will likely be present at the time of our attack.  My command does not have the transport capacity to recover these people, and we would be hard-pressed to supply the boarding parties to take the platforms and take them off."

"I see.  What do you require from us, Captain?" D'Kev's face was uncommonly thoughtful as Nath continued.

"Transports for the liberated slaves, with sufficient escorts for their security, and any assault troops or fighter support you can spare."

D'Kev nodded and his face was grave.  "I will pass your request on ... but while I expect Scrubber will be able to send transports with a small - a VERY small - security escort, our current exposure in ongoing operations precludes troops or significant military assets."

Nath nodded.  "I understand.  Whatever you can manage, then.  We will just have to adapt our plan to what is available."

"Your flexibility is greatly appreciated, Captain!" D'Kev replied, his smile returning.  "Now ... I have a communication to send.  Looks like I get to spend part of my trip in that less-than-desirable venue after all!"  He rose and bowed, sweeping his feathered hat off in a flourish before sweeping out of the room.

Nath, rising, called after him.  "Let me know ASAP, D'Kev!"

"Of course!" the Besalisk replied over his shoulder, already well down the hallway.

Nath chuckled and sat back down.  "Thespian..."

******

Three days later Nath had D'Kev's answer when no less than six Sentinel class transport shuttles dropped out of hyperspace, escorted by a flight of TIE Avenger fighters.  The group had sent a brief message before settling into a parking orbit around the system primary, well away from Syvris and its prying eyes. 

The briefing room was full when he entered.  "Attention on deck!"  officers sprang to their feet, snapping to attention as he came to the lecturn.

"As you were." Nath said, waving them back into their seats.  Present were El'Lynn and B'Lain, his two primary subordinates, as well as Jace'N'Cam, the Joker's XO and Jan'A'Naith in her capacity as commander of his Marines.  In addition two Sons of Kessel - Captain Joran Flyd, the senior commander of the transport contingent, and Lieutenant Slee, the Gran pilot in command of the Sons' escorts. 

Across the back a third group was also assembled.  Koawan Cam had sent her personal regrets, but had allowed six Mak'Tor Knights - a quarter of her recently bolstered security force - to join Jan'A and her Marines as part of the boarding party.  The knights were wearing their armor and were ready for battle, grim-faced with purpose.  I guess even Mistress Cam doesn't like the idea of over a hundred 'pleasure slaves' being shipped through space so near M'Tzigon...  Nath was suddenly very glad that El'Lynn had pushed for and gotten permission to read Koawan Cam in on Wilberforce.

"We will be moving out in 12 hours in what has been designated Operation Neptune. The target is a series of deep-space habitats and assembled transports gathered in the Magatesso System.  Intelligence confirms that there will be a new consignment of slaves shipped to this distribution node out of Hutt space within the week.  We believe that most if not all of these slaves will still be present when we arrive.  Records recovered from captured Black Sun ships show that the platforms have a local defensive garrision of twelve Supa fighters, backed up by defensive satellites mounting a pair of heavy lasers and a targeting array.  There may be multiple light ships on station as well, including Interceptor frigates.  To compensate for this, we will be employing our pair of captured frigates as well.  One will be under the command of Major Mack, the other will be commanded by Commander Lo'Ryn'Xir."  Er'Wyn'Nath nodded to his XO and Chief Engineer in turn.  Lo'Ryn had spent two days equipping both frigates with an extensive automation system which would allow each ship to be fought by a five-man skeleton crew.  Their extra firepower would make this incursion possible.

Nath turned his attention to B'Lain.  "Major Throwd will lead his Joker squadron in, clearing the enemy fighters and destroying any defensive satellites in the area.  The Hornet and the captured Interceptor frigates will engage any defending frigates.  We will attempt to force any transports to surrender, but any ship that will not heave to will be destroyed."

"when the defenders are cleared away our Marines will board.  This effort will be augmented by Koawan Xandir and his band, who will board in conjunction with Lt. Naith and our company of marines.  We will use our transports for this boarding action."

"Once the platforms are secured the Sons of Kessel will move forward and dock, taking off the liberated slaves and any prisoners we take.  Once they are clear, we will withdraw, blowing the platforms as we go.  Are there any questions on this overview?"

The room was quiet and Nath nodded.  "Very well.  Major Mack will begin going over the nuts and bolts of the operation."  Nath sat and as the XO began breaking down the details he relaxed slightly as he read the mood of the room.  He was no Mak'Tor, but he could feel the confidence and competence in the room.  Soon Wilberforce would strike another blow for freedom - and further cement good relations with the Sons of Kessel.
Logged

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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Karmack
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« Reply #42 on: June 19, 2018, 06:28:20 PM »

Chapter 10: Wilberforce
   Part 2

Space erupted with blue lightning as a trio of ships dropped from hyperspace, emerging from the visual stretch of psuedo-motion in tight formation.  In front the pair of captured Interceptor IV frigates were in tight formation, cloe enough that the emergence was dangerous.  And immediately behind, tucked in the shadow of the two, rode the Hornet

"Hail the station." El'Lynn said from her command chair.  She was doubling up as her frigate's tac officer, but her hands were idle for the moment. 

"Hailing." from the communications console the engineer sent the recognition codes they'd extracted from the ship's computer.  They wanted to get as close as possible before opening hostilities, both to maximize the shock value of the attack and to minimize the likelyhood of a rash action on the part of the platform crew.  Like spacing the slaves...

They waited through two tense minutes or a response before finally getting the expected automated IFF response.  The two dozen yellow dots representing the station's orbital defenses went green on her display and the two fighters on standing patrol peeled off from their intercept course.  "We've been cleared through to mooring stations, sir."

El'Lynn released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.  "Very good.  All ahead one third.  No reason to hurry."  They moved in, maintaining the tight formation, the frigates continuing to screen the Hornet from the station's sensors.  "Now, lets hope they stay fat, dumb and happy long enough..."

******

Nath was having similar thoughts on the bridge of his ship.  "Tactical, keep a sharp eye.  I want the turbolaser batteries laid on any capital ships that turn up.  Passive only!  Lets not give the game away..."

"Aye, sir." The tactical officer replied, updating his plot from passives after verifying that his active systems were locked in standby mode.  "Three Interceptor class frigates, seven transports, and one Nebulon-B cruiser identified.  All are in standby mode except two of the transports, which appear to be loading and preparing to depart."

"Understood" Nath replied.  He keyed open his com.  "Joker One, Eagle.  Be advised we have a Nebulon-B parked out here.  I'd be grateful if your boys could take her out quickly."

"Will do.  Jokers are wild, sir.  We'll make the Nebbie a priority when we launch." B'Lain replied.  His pilots were primed and ready.  The launch would be a half-power launch, allowing them to form up and manuever much faster while still allowing them to clear the formation quickly.  "Jokers standing by to launch on your command, Eagle."

"Stand by, Jokers.  The target is still asleep.  I want to get as close as possible before waking them up."

******

The tight formation continued to close at a leisurely pace, moving ever closer to its objective.  Jan'a used a calming motif, allowing the motif to cover herself and her squads of marines.  They were loaded into two boarding shuttles, twenty-four troops in each shuttle, arrayed in unpowered armor.  A third shuttle, smaller and faster, contained the Mak'Tor knights and would launch with them immediately after the fighters launched.  The objective was to get aboard the platform as quickly as possible and take it over, hopefully in time to prevent any atrocities from being committed.  Jan'a rolled her head, loosening her shoulders, and checked her gear.  All of her marines and the Mak'Tor Knights has gear that would give them up to a half-hour of life support and protect them from the ravages of vacuum exposure in the case of a loss of atmosphere on the station.  She didn't want to think about what would happen to the slaves, who undoubtedly did not have such gear, if such a breach occurred. 

Check complete, she sat back, unable to relax despite the motif.  She could hear the melody of the song becoming more lively, the rhythm and harmony increasing in tempo and complexity.  Any time now...

******

"Comm request from the station, ma'am!"

El'Lynn sat up straight and turned toward the communications station.  "Is it automated or live?"

"Live, ma'am.  Someone named Jrouk is asking for 'Commander Jung', ma'am."

El'Lynn tensed.  Jung had been in command of this ship, according to the records.  If someone was asking for him in person...  She looked over her board.  The station was in range of their weapons now...  She and Captain Nath had talked aobut this contigency before jumping in, and they agreed to launch pre-emptively in the face of imminent discovery.  She turned back to the communications station.  "Ignore him.  Send the execution signal to Hornet.  Firing in ten seconds."

******

Jan'a tenses as the launch warning sounded.  For a moment she felt an intense longing to be back in her fighter, heading out with the Jokers...   She sighed and squared her shoulders.  Yes, she missed flying ... but she had a job to do.  Focus on the job.  She looked around the cramped interior of the lander, meeting the eyes of her marines...

My Marines...

"We're about to launch folks.  Get ready to dance..."  She called, leaning back and crossing her arms over her shock harness.

The Marine's answer echoed in the compartment:  "HOO-RAH!"

******

B'Lain grunted and shook off the near-blackout of launch.  He turned his fighter toward the massive Nebulon-B, gold flight forming around him.  "OK, Jokers, just like we sketched this out.  Gold and Silver flights hammer the Nebulon-B until enemy fighters appear, then we switch to space superiority.  Jokers, sound off!"

"Two is Wild"
"Three is Wild"
"Four is Wild"
"Five is Wild!"
"Six is Wild."
"Seven is Wild."
"Eight is Wild."

"Jokers are wild!  Lets dance..." B'Lain slammed his throttle to 100% and rolled in on the Nebulon B as fire erupted from the frigates behind him, hammering away at the defensive sattelites which were just coming to life.

******

Jan'a felt the last Joker fighter launch, as slight shudder from the catapult as it was thrown into space. She counted to ten and it was their turn.

The boarding shuttle was an NL-42 "Battle Taxi", basically an armored sphere with a boarding hatch in the nose, an engine in the rear, and a pair of heavy blaster turrets port and starboard.  The interior was cramped and the pilot sat uncharacteristically in the rear, in what could only be charitably called "engineering" and used a full VR helmet system to fly the ship.  His companion was the shuttle's system engineer and gunner, and used a similar helmet to point the guns.

The troop compartment was also cramped, with just enough room for a full 24-man platoon, if you squeezed.  Normally the taxi would take a squad - 12 men plus an officer - for nomral boarding operations, but todayw was far from normal and Jan'a had squeezed in as many of her Marines as she could manage.  Fortunately, the ride was short...

The taxi lurched as it was launched, its initial accelleration far less than the Jokers in their fighters, and the pair of NL-42s turned toward their objective, going to full throttle as they did so.  Jan'a had her helmet's HUD connected to the taxi's sensor array, allowing her to see 'outside' using the same inputs as the crew.  She looked around, spotted the second NL-42 forming on her, its platoon under the command of MAster Sgt. To'Mas'Crin.  She suddenly missed having the hulking sergent at her side, but she shook it off.  Another, smaller shuttle closed on them as well: the Mak'Tor contigent.

The question washed through Jan'a's mind: would the Knights be able to mesh smoothly with her Marines?  She'd only had a brief conversation with their senior knigth, Koawan Jas'Xhon'Xir.  The six knights were all dedicated to the mission and were individually capable, but they had no experience in small-unit tactics...

Jan'a caught herself and chuckled quietly.  Here I am, a junior Koawan, questioning the competence of six knights, two of whom are eligible for promotion to Meanowan!  Talk about being captured by the system...  Jan'a had been immersed in the Marine culture for several months now, learning their ways, their tactics, and absorbing their attitudes.  Despite her armor and her saber, she suddenly realized that she thought of herself not as a Knight or a fighter pilot, but as a Marine.

And that was a good thing...

"Something funny, ma'am?"  Her platoon Sgt, a grizzled veteran named Ram'Ond'Blake aka "Blackie", regarded her with his characteristicly inscrutable gaze. 

"No, Blackie, I was just wondering if the Mak'Tor will be able to keep up with us."

Blackie turned his head, looking at the Knight's landing craft through his own HUD.  "I'm sure they will do their best, ma'am."

"I'm sure.  They're best is pretty good, you know."

Blackie gave her another look.  "As the Lieutenant says."

Jan'a chuckled again and looked back at the station, sheathed now in the firey death of its supporting satellites.  "Ninety seconds to contact, then I guess we'll find out."

"Yes ma'am."

******

B'Lain ignored the boarding parties.  His focus was on the Nebulon-B.  "Jokers, attack in line astern.  Sequenced attacks.  Designating target ... now."  He locked his system on the point where the long, thin middle hull met the forward section and transmitted his target to the entire squadron.  "Beginning run now..."

The eight Joker fighters extended in a line, each taking their targeting informaion from B'Lain's targeting system.  B'Lain streaked in, hammering his chosen target with his lasers while he relased a proton torpedo.  The torpedo streaked in and detonated, shattering armor and scattering debris but not penetrating the hull.

One by one the Jokers each made their passes, stripping away the Nebulon's armor and weakening the structure.  as Joker seven strafed the ship it suddenly let go, coming apart in a shower of sparks, debris and escaping air.  Joker eight held his fire as the frigate came apart, the halves spinning away from each other spilling air ... and bodies.

"Splash one frigate!" B'Lain reported.  He noted a new rash of icons on his HUD.  "Jokers, tally ho!  Fighters coming up from the platform.  Break and attack."

******

"Bogey two is disabled, shifting fire to bogey three." Tactical reported.  On the screen two of the icons representing Interceptor IV frigates were now drifting, their red icons ringed with flashing blue rings indicating targets disabled by ion cannon fire. 

"Very well.  Status on the Nebulon-B?" Nash replied, turning toward the tactical station. 

"Nebulon-B is destroyed."

"Very good.  Transports?"

"Six transports have surrendered and are powered down.  The seventh is making a run for it, Major Mack is in pursuit."

"Excellent.  Fighters?"

"There are a dozen Supa fighters launching from the station's outer platform.  Jokers are moving to intercept."

"Boarding parties?"

"Ten seconds from hull contact."

Very well.  Carry on."  Nash turned back toward the main display, his chin in his hands.  Things were going very well.  So why do I feel like the other shoe is about to drop?

******

"Impact in five ... four ... three ..."  Jan'a braced herself at the pilot's warning.  "... two ... one ..."  With a clang the battle taxi made contact with the hull of the platform.  Magnetic grapples activated, binding the hull to the side of the station and foam sealant created an air-tight seal around the forward lock.  Before the clang of the hull impact died Jan'a was moving, unlocking her harness and springing forward.  Normal SOP was for the ship's inner lock to open and the marines to place breaching chord on the hull, a directed thermite reaction that could cut through over a meter of battle steel.  It was also very dangerous and more than one taxi full of marines had taken casualties from it.   The thermite strip was effective but only used if no better option existed.

Fortunately, Jan'a had a better option.  With the characteristic snap-hiss of its kind her lightsaber ignited and she plunged it through the hull of the station, opening the portal in a matter of seconds.  "Let's go Marines!"
Logged

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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Karmack
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« Reply #43 on: June 19, 2018, 06:33:48 PM »

Chapter 10: Wilberforce
   Part 3

The hole was still shedding droplets of molten metal as the Marines charged through it.  To'Mas led his platoon through it, his first squad spreading out left and right to cover the breach while the second squad formed on him and prepared to move into the station.  "Mamba Two, on me.  Mamba One, seal the plug and follow along."

To'Mas led second squad forward into the corridors, headed for the station's engineering section, as the first squad lifted the circular metal plug back into place and re-sealed the breach behind them.  The NL-42 completed the patch by coating the exterior with a quick-hardening resin before releasing its grapples and backing away from the station's hull.

******

Jan'a carefully lifted the metal plug back into place and held it while the marines covered the scar with the breaching patch.  "Sealed.  The taxi is pulling away."

"Very well.  Where are the..."  A nudge in the force drew her attention.  "Ah, speak of the devil, and he appears!"

Koawan Xandir grinned, his Knights spreading out behind him.  "Ma'am." he replied, using his lit vermillion blade to salute with a flourish.  Jan'a returned the salute with a grin of her own: her 'date of rank' in the Order was four years earlier than Xandir's, but her position put her in command of both the Marines and the senior Knights.  Normally the Mak'Tor would have expected to assume command of the operation, with the Men-At-Arms in support of them, but with Jan'a's unique position command was squarely in the hands of the Marines ... for a change.

There you go thinking like a Marine again... "Xandir, To'Mas is headed for the station's engineering spaces.  We need to find the hostages and get them to the exfil points. Can your Knights act as scouts for my Marines?"

"Yes, ma'am." Xandir turned to his Knights.  "Jo, Els, fan left.  Sam, Kyss, right.  Scan and overwatch.  Mike, you're with me." the Knights fanned out, moving silently and nearly invisible within their force cloaks.  Jan'a nodded and turned to her second.  "Well, Blackie, lets move out."

"Yes ma'am!  Viper team, left with Koawan Jo, Cobra team, right with Sam.  Python team, form on the El-Tee.  Move Marines!"  The non-com bellowed and the two fire squads split into their previously briefed combat teams.  Each team had four members of the 1st platoon's heavy weapons group armed with heavy blasters and grenade launchers and four of second platoon's standard riflemen.  All of the Men-At-Arms were also carrying their song-steel energy pikes, in case close-quarters combat was needed.

Jan'a waited for half of her team to move forward before stepping into the gap and allowing the other four troopers to fill in behind them.  Like Koawan Xir out ahead she opened herself to the force, readhing out, sensing and searching while also listening to the guiding motifs of the ever-present song...

The sudden eruption of a frantic tempo and erratic melody gave her a few seconds warning.  "Contact Left!"

The Black Sun security troops charged down a side corridor, firing as they came.  The Marines went to cover and returned fire.  Jan'a's saber ignited and formed a pink wall in front of her.  Red bolts deflected from it and back up the corridor, driving Black Sun warriors into cover.  Additional noises of combat told her that other security details had also engaged her Marines as well as the Knights scouting for them.  "Blackie, report!"

"Ambush suppressed, we're almost ready to ..."  The non-com paused for a moment.  "Correction.  Counter-fire going out now."

At the intersection two grenade launchers, quiet to this point, opened up, filling the corridor with clouds of anti-energy aerosols and deadly fragments.  Explosions marched down the corridor and Jan'a felt the security teams die under the hammer of the advancing grenades...

"Cease fire, Blackie!  Enemy is down."  She called, simultaneously slapping the Grenadier immediately in front of her on the top of the helmet. "Koawan Xandir, status?"

"We're through.  Ambush repulsed, no casualties.  You might want to swing left, Jo has a sniff."

"Copy." Jan'a replied, extending her own senses in that direction.  Where...  There! She suddenly had them, a mass of scared minds in a transfer module labeled "livestock" on the maps.  "Got 'em!  Viper is on point, Python in support.  Cobra, break off and secure our exfil pathway.  Viper will secure the bay.  Pyton will escort the hostages out while Cobra secures the our exit.  Move!"

Without hesitation the Marines with Jan'a plunged into the corridor they'd just filled with gas and shrapnel, charging over the bodies of their foes as they moved to support Team Viper, about to make contact with their objective.

******

"Transport is heaving to, ma'am.  They've agreed to slave their controls to our station here and return to the station."

El'Lynn grinned.  "Good!  And it only took  reducing their shields to 8% to get them to comply!  Well done, guns!"  she could feel the pride and satisfaction of the skeleton crew around them as they ran down the last transport.  The ship was a GR-75 and could carry 40 passengers ... or twice as many slaves.  Likely it wasn't fully loaded however, and it had run until El'Lynn's Interceptor IV had been in position to destroy it.  Now they turned back, flying in tight formation, the transport's controls slaved to the helm on the Interceptor IV.  "Comm, notify Eagle One that we're on our way back."

"Yes ma'am."

******

With a blaze of blue glory and stretching pseudomotion the Sons of Kessel transports emerged from hyperspace with their small fighter escort.  After conducting a quick electronic hand-shake with the M'Tzigon forces the transports headed directly for the livestock handling modules of the mostly-pacified station at full thrust.

******

"Joker Seven, you have one on your tail.  Prepare to break left on my command."  B'Lain called, lining himself up behind the jinxing pair of fighters.  "One, he's all over me!  I can't shake him!" Jo'Nas had a slight edge of panic in his voice as he replied.  He was dancing his fighter all over the place, and mostly generating misses, but the pilot of this particular Supa was several cuts above his fellows.  He clung doggedly to Joker Seven, never quite lining the Joker fighter up ... but never quite missing, either. 

Joker Seven's rear shields were in the red as B'Lain finally lined up his shot.  "Seven, break now!"

Seven gave up his mongoose jinxing and pulled hard left.  The Supa turned to follow ... and ran right into B'Lain's fire.  Heavy energy bolts hammered the Supa and it exploded, scattering debris and vomiting atmosphere as it blew violently apart.

"Splash one Supa." B'Lain called.  "Jokers, form up and..."

He was cut off by a priority alarm from the Hornet.  "Eagle One to Jokers!  Enemy fighters incoming, bearing 227 mark 22!  Two squadrons of heavies coming in from the neighboring platform! Turn and engage!"

B'Lain pulled his fighter onto the designated heading and his sensor screen filled with targets.  He checked his fuel state - good - and his weapons state - one torpedo left - and slammed his throttle forward.  "OK, Jokers, you heard the man!  Jokers are wild!"

******

The enemy fighters launched from another, near-by platform.  during the planning phase they'd hoped that the Black Suns activity would be limited to the one platform, but apparently they had fighters stationed on neighboring Zann Cosortium platforms as well.  Or the Zann Consortium wasn't just leasing the platform to the Black Sun - they were in fact business partners.

Which could be very, very bad...

Captain Nath leaned forward, studying the plot intently.  Everything inside him screamed that he needed to do something ... but experience taught him that just doing something without at least taking a little time to think was the course to serious blunders.  There may not be a lot of time, but there was always at least a little time to thing.

Even if it were only a few seconds.

Nath noted the launch position, the enemy fighters splitting into two groups.  One group of 12 was headed for the Jokers, intent on engaging them.  They outnumbered B'Lain's group 3 to 2 and they were fresh, while B'Lain's fighters had depleted most of their missiles against the Nebulon-B.  The other group was headed toward the Sons of Kessel ships - transports, slow, fat and weak, with only a single flight of TIEs to keep the attackers away.  But if he came about, pushed his ship...

"Helm, set heading 191 mark 8 and come to full emergency thrust.  Gunners, stand by for long-range suppression fire." 

The Hornet turned, breaking formation with the remaining Interceptor IV frigate, and leaped ahead with all the speed of her class.  "El'Lynn, Er'Wyn.  Return to station as planned and form up with Lo'Ryn.  Support the evacuation and protect the Sons of Kessel transports as they reach you.  We're going to help out their fighter screen."

The radio crackled with her reply.  "Aye, sir.  Be ... careful."

Nath grinned.  "Oh, I have NO intention of being careful, Commander.  None whatsoever..."

******

B'Lain had time to form the Jokers into pairs before they clashed head-on with the first group of fighters.  "StarVipers!  Watch out for buzz droids!" 

Energy criss-crossed space and missiles flew, but it soon became apparent that none of the dreaded Pistoeka Sabotage Droids, also known as "buzz" droids, were being launched.  "Probably means these are Black Sun boys after all.  Zann would have deployed the little buggers by now..."

"If its all the same, I'll just count my blessings and pass up on analysis." Jace interjected.  "These StarVipers are ...  Splash one!"

"I'm hit.  Mayday ma...skkkt"

B'Lain glanced down at his board and saw Joker 3 ringed in solid red.  "Eagle this is Joker One, declaring Dutchman Dutchman Dutchman!  Deploy SAR."

"Unable" came the terse reply.  "We'll get the rescue craft out of the bays as soon as we can, but we're heavily engaged."

B'Lain didn't answer, he just swung around and hammered his own target with energy, blowing it apart.  "Jokers, heads up!  Three is Dutchman ... anyone have a trace?"

Silence replied.

******

The Hornet slammed into the enemy fighter formation behind a flurry of energy.  The enemy appeared to be taken totally by surprise, intent on their target and not keeping up good situational awareness.  Target fixation ... I'll take it ... Nath thought to himself as his gunners destroyed half the enemy targets in the first ten seconds of the engagement.  The remaining fighters broke off in six diffent directions.  Nath's helmsman, on his own initiative, swung the ship up and around, selecting a course that kept two of the fleeing fighters in their range.  The guns hammered again, and both fighters died.  "Good shooting, Guns! 

Helm, come around and intercept the Sons of Kessel transports.  We'll escort them in."

"Aye, sir!" The Hornet swung around again, moving more like an oversized fighter than a carrier, returning to hover protectively over the Son's transports while Lt. Slee led his fighters out to destroy the remaining attackers.

Nath noted the final destruction of the attack force and sighed.  "Flight, launch the ready pinnace.  Its probably to late, but maybe we can still track down that Dutchman..."

******

Jan'a felt ... on edge.  There was tension in the Song, an edge to the melody that wouldn't allow her to relax.  A quick glance at Koawan Xandir showed the same unease on his own face.  His apprentice, "Mike", seemed oblivious to it, but he was taking his queue from his master, staying alert and keeping his attention focused outward.  Probably not all that easy for the young man...

The rescued slaves were moving in column down the corridor, and they were indeed 'pleasure' slaves.  Mostly female, all gorgeous ... and very lacking in modest covering.  Jan'a had already made a call to the incoming transports to have blankets and clothing available for them, but for now they just needed to get them to the exfil...

"That's the last of them." Koawan Sam said, following the last slaves down the corridor.  He had his partner, Knight Kyss, in a fireman's carry.  The Knight's face was a mask of pain, her left arm and leg displaying severe blaster burns.  When they'd arrived the two Knights had broken in and disabled the guards, quickly and efficienty, destroying the "special security measures" - a hatch that could be blown, ejecting everyone in the compartment into space - in the process.  Knight Kyss had taken hits, however.  Sam was wounded as well, but the hits were less critical and he was able to squelch the pain with a strong healing song, at least for the moment. 

"Good." Jan'a looked down the corridor.  "Python, continue overwatch of the hostages.  Viper, begin falling back.  Lets get off this station..."

******

To'Mas extracted from the engineering section of the station, satisified with their work.  The stations controls would remain locked for twelve hours, the weapons systems and sensors off-line, the reactors at minimal power outputs, giving them plenty of time to clear the station.  The slicer program was elegant and effective: He really needed to make a point of sitting down with the El-Tee and finding out where she'd acquired it...

The blaster bolt that slammed into his temple was the first of many as a fresh security force hit the withdrawing marines.  Within seconds several were down and an intense firefight was building.

******

Screaming in the corridor ahead erupted in time to the sudden, furious melody that spiked though the song.  Jan'a shook it off and pressed her earpiece deeper into her ear as firing erupted in addition to the building screams.  "Python, report!"

"Security force hitting us from a side corridor.  Jewels and Cole were out there on the flank, they just went off the air and then we were being engaged..."

Jan'a was sprinting now, Xandir running with her.  "Python, coil on my position!  Viper, Cobra - get these people on those transports!"  The Sons transports had docked and loading was beginning.  "To'Mas, what's your status?"  Jan'a waited a moment, then repeated.  "To'Mas, status!" 

Nothing.  "Any Mamba units, respond!  Status!"

"We are under heavy fire!  Sgt. Crin is down.  I have a half-dozen dead and twice as many wounded."

Jan'a blanched.  To'mas dead?  "Corporal, can you make the exfil?"

"Yes ma'am.  We've consolidated our position and we're beating the attack off.  We'll be moving again in a few seconds."

"Very well.  Prioritize on the wounded and get to the exfil, Marine."

"Can Do, Ma'am."

Jan'a brought her attention back to the present.  Three members of her Team Python were firing now, suppressing the attack, but blaster bolts continued to hammer through the junction.  The fleeing slaves could not pass, and every second they delayed made it more likey another group of security troops would hit them somewhere else.  Jan'a looked at Xandir and Mike.  "You boys up for some saber work?"

Xandir grinned.  "After you, ma'am."

Jan'a grinned back.  "Python, Viper - hold and cover.  Follow the hostages out to the exfil.  Koawan Xandir, Teidowan M'Ike and I will meet you there."  Jan'a sang her battle song, wrapping herself in force enegy, and with a war cry leaped into the corridor, the two Knights on her heals.

******

Nath felt himself relax slightly as Captain Flyd broke away from the station and headed out.  His own transports had picked up his Marines and returned them to the Hornet, and the Jokers were docking even as they moved away from the station and headed toward their jump coordinates.  Initial reports indicated that they'd liberated 163 slaves, mostly young women.  An additional thirty-seven heavy labor slaves had been on the fleeing transport, which was now under the control of a Sons of Kessel prize crew.  In exchange the cost had been low but painful: two of the Jokers lost in the counter-attack and over a dozen Marines and two Knights killed.  Three more Knights and a further dozen Marines had been killed, including Jan'a and Xandir, who's counter-attack had allowed for the final clearing of the slaves through the exfiltration points.

As the Hornet accellerated away from the station, the transports loaded with former slaves, he sighed again.  Yes, it had cost them.  But it was worth it.

Freedom always was.

******

Jace poked his head into sickbay, a grin splitting his face.  "I heard you were back in the body-and-fender shop."

Jan'a made a face at him from her bed.  "Yeah.  No replacement parts this time, but Doc says the leg is going to require a couple of days in the bacta tank." 

Jan'a grimaced.  "I hate the bacta tank..."

Jace laughed.  "Well, that's better than waking up to find out you're suddenly more machine than human."  He patted her shoulder.  "You jarheads did good in there, kid.  Real good."

"Thanks."  Jan'a looked around dramatically.  "Jace, can you do something for me?"

Jace leaned back easily.  "Um, sure.  What do you need?"

Jan'a smiled.  "Can you have a pizza waiting for me when they pull me out of the bacta?  I get so hungry in there..."
Logged

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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Lord_S_Gray
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Force Alignment: 428
Posts: 1903



« Reply #44 on: June 20, 2018, 06:29:41 AM »

On the Offensive!  Liked the little bit that set it all off the analysis of the Frigates records - all that back room work that often goes unappreciated but it so essential, and as well the multiple view points from different members of the overall team in addition to the regular joker like To'mas (however shortly we knew him!). 

They should be proud that was a big score for freedom carried out with a lot of precision, even excepting the last minute fire fights with the Marines, Nath secured 'air' superiority very effectively...but they are likely putting themselves more on the radar of all three crime syndicates by doing so - 163 slaves, plus the loss in men and vehicles...someone's gonna be pretty annoyed at that.
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

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