Skirmish Battle for Beskar (Invite Only)

[Vulcan Krayt]

Vulcan had released a volley at the Jaster, not aiming to damage but to direct the attention away from the current target and that seemed to work and the plasma ribbon fizzled out, good that's one less thing to worry about, although now he has to worry about being a moving target himself.

He frowned as he swung round to face oncoming fighters, he couldn't afford to be scared or be distracted so he left repairs to R2 to deal with as they cropped up which left him with more bandwidth to work with while dogfighting. So he had to keep thinking fast as he dodged a few volleys before returning fire right back at them.

A gasp of horror escaped him as a fellow squadmate got shot into a flaming meteor by an enemy fighter. This means he is now an easy target and this is what he ended up being as he noticed on his periphery that he is being followed. Not a good thing because he could end up fried or bloated by deep space if he was shot to bits.

Vulcan began to wonder if staying and manning the Turbos would have been a far better idea than this, well there is no risk of trampling or being utterly lost when someone uses a metaphor. So he was more useful out here.

Vulcan quickly came back from his momentary musings as turbulence from a shot rocked his fighter, so far he wasn't hit but he had no idea for how long. So he returned fire, which seemed to be working until he was hit, fortunately, he wasn't fried but judging by the frantic hysterical beeping in his ears, his hyperdrive was knocked offline.

<"Well get it working again and do something about that plasma jam in the weaponry!"> Vulcan shouts at his Astromech, his voice tinged with panic.

 

[Val Tessalisk]

Val juggled with his helmet from all the shaking the space battle was causing. He finally managed to secure the helmet on his head, the armor piece making a distinct hiss as it auto-pressurized and sealed. Val outstretched his huge arms to grab onto whatever he could to keep himself steady as the Jaster's Delight pulled an evasive maneuver to evade a gunship. The ensuing peppering by Vulcan Krayt 's ship made Val tighten his grip, crumpling the metal supports he was holding on to.

"Hoooooooo boy, this is going to be a rough freaking ride, isn't it?" Val said out loud as he listened to Loreena Arenais-Valhoun issue orders to her co-pilot.

Val wished that he could contribute, but his expertise was in the realm of boots-on-the-ground grunt work, and as such he felt like a third wheel. He did have some knowledge in ship repair he'd accumulated over his long life and he wagered he could probably jury rig some systems to working order again even under pressure.

"I know I can't exactly contribute to the fighting, but I'm handy with a wrench. Want me to post up in the engine room for any repairs we might need?" Val addressed Lori directly.

 

[Cord Starfall]

OBJECTIVE: Mission Abort
TAGS: Loreena Arenais-Valhoun | Hyara Hemstagon | Cathryn Stellaris | Vulcan Krayt | Derix Tirall | Marlon Sularen | Eric Vales | König Kryze | Adenn Kyramud | Grand Shepherd Burtch | Val Tessalisk
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: Sith Swords (Fiend & Solar) | Sith Armor | Battle Skirt | Sith Mask | Green Midnight Duster with Hood | x2 DL-44 | Daggers | Rebreather | Magboots
FORCES:
x3 CR90 CR90 corvette
x9 Nssis-class Clawcraft

---

Cord looked to her slicer Dax Tarkin looking for an update on him and his teams progress on trying to slice into Elysium systems. Dax shook his head. "The long range sensors read the convoy is preparing for jump. I could get in place a tracker but there just isn't enough time Captain." Cord frowned as he said that. She started to look towards other crew mates fora bit of guidance or ideas. Her sights landed on an old 3PO unit one of the crew had bought on Tatooine.

"By my calculations given the size of there fleet and the ships we have brought with us we have ten percent chance." The silver droid seemed so smug as he said that to the point Cord want punch it in the face. It actually more that he was looking to be right that she wanted to punch it in the face to be more exact. "Ten Percent chance of getting the beskar?" Cord asked hopeful.

"No that is more like a point one percent chance, I was talking our chances of survival." Cord took in a deep breath as the droid said that and then looked to one of her people maning the weapons. "We could always do the void maneuver, I mean would have to do it quick like." Cord shook her head she didn't like the thought that and it would cost her one of the three ships she brought with her. Most of the other Pirates and Mercs in the area that had been here at the start had already hightailed it out of the area.

Cord was smart she knew she could take on the military force the convoy had with it with in the time limit that was open to her anyway even if she had more time she wasn't willing to sacrifice a ship to make it work. She let out a heavy sign and then opened a comm to her other two ships. "Abort, there is easier cargo in the sea. This one will cost us more then it will make us in the end. We aren't prepared to take on a small armada."

With their was not retort over the comms and one by one Cord and her crews jumped out of the system.

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

ON BOARD: Jaster's Delight (in sig)

Direct hit.

Vulcan Krayt 's hyperdrive was knocked offline, but for how long that'll be, she had no idea. Especially with that astromech droid on board. Lori had a little fondness for those units, and just frying it was out of the question. They were handy at the best of times and destroying it would be a waste.

The shouts from Val Tessalisk were heard, and she was glad that so far it seemed as though everyone on board had strong stomachs. The last thing that she needed was for them to throw up and for her to have an ugly mess to mop up. Plus puke was really slippery!

"Sounds good, Val! I'm gonna snag us some prey! Arla, man the tow cable! I've got an idea!"

In theory her plan would work. In theory.

Comm chatter from Grand Shepherd Burtch indicated that the convoy fleet was making it's first jump outta there, and so that was what she was going to do too. As she fired more of her lasers at Vulcan's fighter while she neared him, she sent Burtch a message. ~Have one of the Longnecks leave a hanger open after the jump! I'm going to be coming in hot!~ And she wouldn't be coming in alone.

Once she piloted the Jaster's Delight close enough, Arla fired the tow cable and snagged it right on top of the bottem left foil where it connects to the ship. "Got 'em, Captain!"

Lori banked the Jaster's Delight to the left and kept an eye out at Vulcan's ship to see if it followed. And sure enough it did! "Wicked," she spoke under her breath. The fighter was hers now. So she dipped the two vessels away from the combat and after Arla punched in the co-ordinates, they jumped into hyperspace. Hopefully Burtch got her message and one of the Longnecks would be waiting for her and her 'guest' to arrive.

 

[Grand Shepherd Burtch]

Burtch had been ordering his squadrons to cycle back and forth between the screening force and the picket force that was being led by Loreena Arenais-Valhoun this whole time. It kept his combatants fresh and made sure that all of his pilots got combat experience. Given how badly they outnumbered the enemy, it was beneficial to use this opportunity to bloody his own fighter squadrons and give them a chance to learn. The enemy was good, but given the disparity of numbers, it was hard for them to get any decent footing and Burtch could tell from the way they were flying that they were getting tired. Since Burtch was able to cycle his own squadrons in and out of combat, the end result of the battle was going to be clear if this battle became protracted.

Burtch watched as the last of the convoy jumped with an assigned escort of Ferrum class light bombers and the Longneck began collecting fighters from the screening force. Burtch ordered his Makashi turbolazers to begin covering the retreat of his own fighter squadrons and his hangars began snagging X-class Starfighters out of space with their efficient racking system. Any Ferrum class light bombers that were damaged were also collected, but those that weren’t jumped to hyperspace on their own. The Moon class interceptors were sequestered away on the Longneck and once all of the fighters that couldn’t jump on their own were secure, all ships jumped to light speed to their next waypoint, following the Jasters Delight.

Burtch furrowed his brow as he watched the Jasters Delight jump, noticing a small object dragging behind, “what the heck is that woman doing?”

The stars around them turned into streaks and the fleet jumped into hyperspace.

 

[Vulcan Krayt]

Diving and weaving, Vulcan picked off a few enemy fighters, child's play really. Especially since distracting them from using that plasma ribbon again. Although, he didn't seem to notice a tow cable shoot out towards his craft until the tow cable found its mark. He felt it give his Fighter a jolt as it was pulled along, he's been captured and in space, you can't simply escape by conventional means via ejector seat.

<"Ah, feth."> He complained to no one in particular, no one can actually hear him through the cockpit glass. R2 beeped in admonishment though, guess he's not a fan of swearing. Go figures.

What was it that his boss kept saying when things go wrong? No, they never made sense to him even though he was given a handy guide to Piratey Slang. So now he had to come up with a plan to get free or at least not get into a situation that got him shot at by unfriendly people.

The stars began to lengthen and distort as the Jaster's Delight jumped into Hyperspace, even he knew that trying to detach himself while in transit would be very bad news for him. So, he had no choice but to trail behind the other ship. R2 started peeping diagnostics on both the weapon jam and the offline Hyperdrive and it would take hours to get going again.

R2 continued to get systems that were offlined during the abortive raid back to functionality, which left Vulcan to sit in his cockpit and wait and see what exactly awaited him on the other side of that Hyper jump. If an escape could be done, he will make a sudden break for it.

<"Once we leave Hyperspace, see to it that that cable is dislodged."> Vulcan briefed the Astromech.

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

What was she doing, indeed? Her methods at times were a bit unorthidox and weird, but that's usually what made them work! She didn't tend to follow any playbook but her own. Her mom shared a lot in that too, with all of her different ways of freeing slaves from the Hutt Cartel. Yet in this case she was fighting pirates trying to steal her beskar. Can't have that happen!

Once Grand Shepherd Burtch and the others left hyperspace after completing the first jump, Lori and Arla noticed that a Longneck was waiting for them as soon as they had arrived. And a hanger was open! Of course she wasn't planning on getting the Jaster's Delight to squeeze in there. That'd be silly!

"Slamming the brakes, Arla! You know what to do!"

"Of course, Captain."

Lori grinned as she brought the Jaster's Delight to a nearly screeching halt. With Vulcan Krayt 's systems being virtually offline, the little X-Wing was shot forward. Arla detached the cable and like a slingshot, the momentum carried the little fighter straight into the Longneck's hanger for a crash landing. Even before it came to a complete stop, a unit of soldiers poured into the hanger with blaster rifles raised while the hanger doors closed.

She opened a channel to Burtch. ~Got a pirate for ya to take to the brig! I'm betting that he could tell us a bit of info on just how these pirates and others stumbled upon our little mission.~

 

[Vulcan Krayt]

R2 went to do the same thing, but Loreena Arenais-Valhoun beat the Astromech to the unhooking of the tow line and just like that Vulcan was flung like a javelin across the hangar, a badly thrown one mind you. He had been fortunate not to suffer motion sickness because vomit is difficult to remove from confined spaces. Yet the momentum spun him around so the back end of his fighter rammed into the far wall. After all that Vulcan felt dizzy and wished his head will stop swimming.

As far as sudden stops go Vulcan would get a frightful headache from it. Which wasn't a nice outcome, but not the worst that could have happened. He could have been blasted out of the sky. What a terrible way to go; killed at 15.

R2 beeped in damage reports, unluckily the engines were crumpled, luckily the Astromech came out of this unscathed. After much jiggling, the canopy opened and the cool environment of the hangar is welcomed after being inside for the duration of the dogfighting.

He climbed out carefully looking for a safe landing when he jumped down, his relief turned to a mixture of shock and wary resignation, which is a very good call as he spotted what looked like soldiers surrounding him and blasters raised. He's been captured and because he was outnumbered he wisely put down his own blaster in front of him.

He's stubborn, petulant and can be petty but he's never stupid because stupidity gets you killed.

 

[Grand Shepherd Burtch]

Beskar Convoy Escort Force (Elysium division)

Fighter classes are as follows

• Moon-class interceptors
• X-class elysium Starfighters
• Ferrum class light bombers
• Freestar transports

2 Makashi class light cruisers

• HMS Shi-Cho - modules loaded with 2 shadow cat smoke generators, and 2 minefield launchers
  • 1 squadron of Ferrum class light bombers
  • 1 squadron of X-class elysium Starfighters
  • 4 freestar transports
• HMS Makashi - modules loaded with 2 shadow cat smoke generators, and 2 ION minefield launchers
  • 1 squadron of Ferrum class light bombers
  • 1 squadron X-class elysium Starfighters
  • 4 freestar transports

1 Longneck hangar ship

• Even split between the following fighters (12 squadrons)
  • Moon-class interceptors
  • X-class elysium Starfighters
  • Ferrum class light bombers
• 8 freestar transports

1 Deliverance class star destroyer

• 1 squadron of Ferrum class light bombers
• 1 squadron X-class elysium Starfighters
• 4ish freestar transports

Force Commander Burtch rolled his eyes in irritation as the tiny X-wing shot into the wide hangar bay of the Longneck Hangar Ship. He expected Loreena Arenais-Valhoun to try stupid stunts like this - her reputation was always factored in - but for the captain of the Longneck, it was appalling that he would approve of such a stunt. Burtch turned to his bridge talker, Lieutenant Silverstrike, “Inform the Captain of the Longneck that he is to send a bill of damages sustained to the captain of the Jasters Delight.”

Lieutenant Silverstrike looked at Burtch with an expression of confusion and nervousness, as it was clear that this was to punish the captain of the Longneck, “Sir, the Longneck has just now reported that no damages were sustained,”

“That is very good, Lieutenant,” Burtch replied calmly, “he is to compose of a list of damages anyways and send it to her.” He then added, “She can certainly afford it and such shenanigans are not to be tolerated in the imperial navy.”

Burtch turned to his flight control officer, “We are passing through this gravity well to our next jump point. Order the convoy into a defensible formation and the fleet into a six-point box defence formation around the convoy. The Longneck is on point. HMS Shi-Cho will cover the right flank. HMS Makashi will cover the left flank. I also respectfully ask for Aegis Eternum to cover the dorsal flank while Shadowspear covers the ventral flank. The Deliverance Star Destroyer will bring up the rear. Recover all of the bombers and have two squadrons of X-class Elysium Fighters performing patrols in shifts around the fleet. All ships will be at readiness level three for the duration of this leg of our journey. That is all.”

“Sir,” Lieutenant Silverstrike called out as he covered the mouthpiece of his headset, “the captain of the Longneck just sent us a copy of the list of damages that he sent to the Jasters Delight.”

Burtch furrowed his brow in a mixture of confusion and irritation, “Why are you telling me this? At best, this is Lieutenant Commander Dobson’s problem, not mine?”

“You should read it, sir” with a flick from Silverstrike’s finger, a file icon flew from his own display and Burtch’s own datapad chimed as it received the file. Burtch opened the file and sighed in a mixture of amusement and irritation.

Damage report from “receiving our guest”
-Minor paint scratches on the floor C400.00
-Slightly dented back hangar wall C2000.00
-Therapy for traumatized hanger crew staff C10,000.00
-Replacement of stained underwear of said hanger crew staff C100.00
-The Force Commander’s Face PRICELESS​

Burtch shook his head and slipped his datapad back into his pocket, “Lieutenant Silverstrike, please patch me through to the leader of the marine contingent on the Longneck Hangar Ship on the number two comm station.” When the young lieutenant looked at his captain in horror, Burtch said calmly, “no one is getting arrested, Lieutenant. Just patch me through please.”

He strode to the number two comm station and the face of a female Mirialan came right up. Burtch attempted to contain his grin “Colonel, the Captain’s section of the Longneck bridgespace is of critical importance at this time. I assume you have a contingency of roughly one thousand troops under your current command?”

The Miriallan Colonel nodded, “Yes sir”

“Very good. As the commander of this task force, I command you to have two hundred of your finest troops sent to protect the command bridge.”

“Sir” her brow furrowed in confusion, “that space is only rated to support 75 defenders maximum.”

“Ah,” Burtch mused, “I thought it was closer to 30. My mistake. Very well then, send four hundred and await my further orders. No one is to override my command, is that understood?”

With that, the Miriallan female’s face spread into a wide gap-toothed grin as realization struck her. She was then dismissed and the holographic image disappeared.

Loreena Arenais-Valhoun | Val Tessalisk | König Kryze | | Cord Starfall | Adenn Kyramud | Vulcan Krayt | Cathryn Stellaris | Hyara Hemstagon