Public RRS Frontier's Hope: Maiden Voyage, Sullust to Susefvi (Space shenanigans, Outer Rim factions, open)

[Vera Tillian]

​

CAPTAIN'S LOG:
VERA TILLIAN, LT. COMMANDER, RANKING CAPTAIN
RRS FRONTIER'S HOPE
LEAGUE DATE 09.12.860ABY
SULLUST SYSTEM

"All set, Captain Tillian," The voice was that of her helm officer as he stood by the the engine and navigation controls of the ship. Her ship. Her first command.

"Roger that, helm," Vera replied from her post in the center of the bridge. "Comms, word from station control?" She settled herself further into thee seat and sealed the safety straps as the ship's sunlight engines powered up beneath her. The Frontier's Hope wasn't the biggest ship she'd served on, but it was the first one she commanded. And for that, she was grateful, both to have her own command and that it wasn't some monstrous Star Destroyer or Dreadnought with tens of thousands of crew members. It was already more than enough for her to keep track of.

"Affirmative. We are cleared for departure." The comms tech replied, pressing her headset as she spoke. Vera took a deep breath, restrained the impulse to check her gold-embroidered cufflinks, and nodded. She pressed the ship's comm.

"All stations, detach from station." Her voice broadcast through the small picket-ship as the crew attended their duties. All airlocks were sealed and all boarding tubes retracted. Maneuvering thrusters activated in unison, utilizing barely a fraction of their power to nudge the ship away from the station where it had been docked while the Rescue Service crew performed their inspections and tests.

"Detached from stations, Captain," the helm officer, commented, "And proceeding to preplanned route to jump point."

"Excellent, Lieutenant," Vera said as she leaned back in her chair. So far, nothing had gone wrong, and she fervently hoped it stayed that way. "Take us up to half-thrust. Navigation, recheck our course and check with any of the initial hyperspace buoys for calibration."

"Aye, captain." The navigator responded, hunched over his desk as the computer and his own mind raced through the equations. "Plotting course from Sullust to Dorvalla to Sluis Van to Praesitlyn to Sevarcos to Susefvi." Vera waited, watching the busy space of the Sullust system and its endless streams of traffic, carrying ore, mining ships, newly built SoroSuub vessels, older Sorosuub vessels. The last free chunk in the border of the behemoth CIS and still a decent powerhouse in its own right. She only hoped they'd be interested in joining the Trade League rather than the Confederacy. It was a fool's choice. Defiant and reckless, absolutely. It was the choice of the less strategic option, but still, there was potential here. Opportunity. A chance to build something new and almost unheard of. An opportunity for the betterment of the Outer Rim through its own people and its own willpower, not enforced on it by some military power or commercial juggernaut. But perhaps there was a chance. For now though, she was picking up the first of the vessels ordered from Starchaser Enterprises to give it a proper shakedown cruise in the neutral space beyond official League space.

It was they took the long route off the major hyperlanes, to avoid trespassing in the CIS space. While their ship, her ship as she reminded herself, was no threat to the powerhouse of the Confederacy fleet and it's super-star destroyers and droid armies in the millions, it would not do for her to cause a diplomatic incident on her first excursion as captain. And it was symbolic. It was a chance to prove that the League was a government in its own right and the Rescue Service existed for the entire Outer Rim. They may not have official law enforcement capacity out here, but they were still equipped and ready for search and rescue, emergency repairs, and other humanitarian objectives. And if there were pirates, well, acts of piracy made a ship fair game in the eyes of most Outer Rim worlds. Not that they had much firepower, but they could at least handle small pirate vessels. Gunships, fighters, maybe some corvettes if they were careful. Not that she had any desire for that.

Her role was to command this ship and its crew, keeping them from harm as much as possible, while representing the Rimward Trade League to the galaxy, and carry out the Rescue Service's primary goals of keeping the space-lanes safe from hazards, assisting spacers and people in need, and only then acting as law enforcement and deterrent in the wild spaces of the Outer Rim through her best judgement in applying the values, ideals, and laws established the League Charter. No big deal.

"Clearing gravity well in thirty minutes, Captain," the helm officer said, looking up. "Any further orders before jump?"

She considered.

"No, that will be all for now," Vera said after a moment. "I want to get a feel for how the ship handles at sublight speed."

She stood and paced to the front of the bridge, gazing out the viewport at the system around them and the stars beyond. "The stars my destination," she murmured softly. "Whither shall they take us?"

"What's that, captain?" That was the first officer, attending their own station.

"Nothing," Vera said, "Just lines from the poem that made me want to go to space. And here we are- fulfilling dreams, of each of ours, undoubtedly, and of a better future for the Outer Rim. Mark this moment, friends and comrades. We are embarking on a brave new journey for us and for all the people we represent and defend. Let's make it a good one shall we?"

A moment's pause. "Play the League anthem across the ship's comm. Let's show the rest of the galaxy we are proud of who we are, no matter how small we might be."

There a cheer along the bridge and across the decks as the stirring anthem of the Rimward Rescue Service broadcast. And for a ship barely larger than a light freighter, they flew proudly out of Sullust's gravity well.

Spoiler

This is a public, space-based thread that will be set in hyperspace and the systems listed in the route. It's completely open to anyone and all Outer Rim minor factions in particular are invited. While the Rimward Trade League/Rescue Service will the main plotline I'm focusing on, y'all're more than welcome to pursue your own within the thread if you want to cross paths in the same space. Pirates, smugglers, ship wrecks, emergencies, you name it, all invited

 

[Sird-Gri-Shali]

Sird had tapped the buttons on his console with his scaly claws to play the anthem. Back home they went, their route crossing several mining worlds. "It's time for our maiden voyage. Cheers everyone." Another comms officer who was in front of Sird turned his chair around and replied "Yeah, this is so exciting!" Sird sat down in his chair and set his claws on the console.

Time to start the journey.

 

[Ardon]

Aboard: Ardons-angel
Objective: Escort
Tags: Vera Tillian Sird-Gri-Shali

Ardon sat sideways in his captains chair, looking out the viewport. Primarily controlling the ship through his cybernetics as it took off, keeping within sight of Vera Tillian 's ship. He was here mainly as an escort. As a result there was also a bit more crew on board, two gunners and a co-pilot. He was pretty neutral about whether or not he thought they'd actually run into pirates or not, but better safe than sorry right? As they started preparing for light jump he stopped 'talking' to his ship using his cybernetics and actually put his hands to work making sure they were going to be out of the planets gravity well and ready to go when Vera was.

He heard the League's anthem play and smiled looking over at the co-pilot, "Ardon = thinking this will go well." he said. Not shockingly, the co-pilot was still not quite over the way he spoke and furrowed his brow chuckling quietly.

"I'm sure." He said simply. Avoiding mocking the captain. More out of kindness than anything else. While Ardon was technically the captain he was younger, and he was also not too likely to try and get someone in trouble just for making fun of the way he spoke.

 

[Ravenous]

Aboard: The Abysmal
Objective: Extort any ships within the vicinity
Support: None
Tags: Ardon | Sird-Gri-Shali | Vera Tillian

Golden eyes peered into an empty abyss devoid of any life or color the white dots scattered sparsely across this space providing an odd sense of comfort to any fortunate enough to gaze upon them. His hands clasped behind his back and his cloak wrapped tightly around his body Ravenous paced endlessly from one end of his bridge to the other his impatience persisting after about sixty rounds of this. He thought repetition could curve his boredom but Ravenous found his attempts to be futile as he subconsciously documented the redundant flashing and beeping of the Abysmal's controls. Four seconds until the next bleep.

He and his men had been wandering this frontier for days now and have yet to find any meaningful battles or lucrative quarry, Mainly off-world merchants looking to deliver goods or unarmed mining vessels extracting ore. Ravenous had thought getting of Kriselist would do him some good but all it did was solidify his apathy for the stars and all they contain.

"Sir...You might want to see this..."

Ravenous rolled his eyes as he began pacing over towards the technician most likely bothering him with a maintenance report or alternative mundane task. Usually Ravenous hated it when people filled silence with meaningless conversation but...If it breaks this silence then I'm all for it.

"Elaborate." The technician spun around in his chair and brought up the Abysmal's radar system two red dots closing in on Sulust's egress point. "Travelers." Ravenous stroked his masked chin for a moment lost in thought. "Arizelva. Wake up, I need you." Shaken a Togruta with red skin and a stream of slobber running down her mouth fell out of her chair and onto the floor with a loud THUD. "Unnnn that hurt like a....S-Sorry. You needed me for...somethin?"

Ravenous sighed his arms folded and his toned somber. "Yes actually, I did need you for somethin." Ravenous pointed towards a monitor behind him. 'I need you and your people to run a sensory scan on those vessels. Tell the pilots and gunners to be on standby in case things go to hell." Her head was spinning and her vision was blurred, still, Arizelva managed to give Ravenous a thumbs up her face groggy and splattered with drool. "And while you're at it. Get yourself cleaned up...and sober."

Pulling his hood tightly over his head Ravenous opened a voice-only transmission eager to meet his latest quarry.

"Attention RRS Frontiers Hope: A toll has recently been added to this intersection that must be paid in order to ensure safe and legal passage. Your ship has not been registered with Intrepid Inc and must do so in order to be allowed passage. You will lower your shields and transfer credits immediately standby."

Lies. All lies. There was no toll and there was no registration process this was all simply an attempt by Ravenous extort those who traveled through this intersection. Most times he would either drain someone dry before letting them leave but this time was different. He got an eerie dangerous feeling from these people and intended to take no chances when dealing with them

 

[Sird-Gri-Shali]

"Uuhhh." Sird flipped a few switches to get on the right comms channel. "Th-This is Lieutenant Sird-Gri-Shali. I assure you that this must be a misunderstanding. Perhaps if you let me check my records I could find the Intrepid Inc registry?" Sird hoped this bluff would work as he did a quick search for registry. Wait... Intrepid Inc was based in Kriselist and were a manufacturing company. "You're a long way from home though and your company appears to have nothing to do with tolls. Is this an attempt to extort us or something?" Sird clicked the comms button and waited for a response.

Ravenous Ardon Vera Tillian

 

[Vera Tillian]

Sird-Gri-Shali Ardon Tera Highwind
Ravenous
RRS Frontier's Hope
======================
As the notes of the anthem faded from the speakers and the quiet busyness of a starship filled the corridors, Vera squinted and adjusted the viewer next to her station, zooming in on a ship far ahead of them, looming ominously on their approach vector, without moving very much. As she started to shift through the contacts and IFF tags, she heard the broadcast answered by Lieutenant Sird-Gri-Shali.

She frowned and stood, hands clasped behind her back. Her stomach churned at the sight of the warship and its demands. She wrinkled her eyebrows as she tried to sort out what those demands meant. That of course meant the first response. Not to lower shields. "Battle stations, full red alert. Shields to full, double front."

"Good response, Lieutenant," Vera said, in response. "Put them off guard and keep stalling. We need to buy some time." Her mind raced. "I need you to send messages to Coren Starchaser of Starchaser Enterprises, the Sullustan Civil Government, and the Sullust Home Guard. Tightbeam only. Full military encryption. Transmit the following: Captain Vera Tillian. Rimward Rescue Service. Corporate ship identified as belonging to Intrepid Incorporated claiming it manages tolls for this vector. Authorized by Sullust governing authority?"

That was finished and she turned to the bridge weapons officer. "Lieutenant Highwind, what's your tactical analysis of a ship that big? I want full scans and a total tactical breakdown based on what information we can identify. Helm, take us on adjusted vector that will keep us out of range of their guns."

She pulled up her own station's transmitter and adjusted to speak to their accompanying freighter. "Ardons-Angel, adjust your course to keep us between you and that warship. We'll hold them off, but if it goes bad, full burn back to Sullust or make a jump to Eriadu. I doubt this ship will risk an encounter with a Confederacy fleet."

Now the question would be waiting. Around them, the klaxons echoed through the starship as the churning settled into a tight knot of resolve and determination. Whoever this was, whatever Intrepid Inc actually did, they thought they were a weak, east target. And on a ship-board combat level, that was true. But it was about more than that.

They needed to win on a psychological level. Force them to recognize the consequence of their actions and what it would cost them in the long term. She put together a coded captain's message and sent it on a tightbeam to Susefvi, to the Service command center so that whatever happened, they would know about the events. They were too far for any form of reinforcements to arrive, but at least the League would know what was happening. They could summon an armada of the Defense Fleets and appoint a Captain-General for the combined forces to avenge them. They just needed to make sure this pirate corporation would pay so dearly by accosting any of their vessels that nobody else would dare try it, even if their retaliation was only a threat for now.

 

[Ardon]

Aboard: Ardons-angel
Objective: Escort
Tags: Vera Tillian Sird-Gri-Shali Ravenous

Things went from perfectly fine, to very much not. Ravenous gave them a message about a tollway. Ardon assumed he'd have heard of such a thing by now but he hadn't, he furrowed his brow looking at The Abysmal and it's code. However, he'd only have to wait so long before orders were given from Vera Tillian on what to do. He pulled behind Vera's ship as he responded, "Ardon's Angel = Obeying." he responded.

He didn't like the idea of running and leaving people behind, let alone family. But his ship probably couldn't do a whole lot against a ship that big. So it did make more sense to go and get help if things turned out for the worst. There was the option of just paying, but that meant losing credits. And that was bad business when it wasn't necessary.

 

[Ravenous]

A ghastly smile spanned across Ravenous's face a ripple in the Force notifying him of his adversary's intentions. He could feel their resolve and it amused him to a stark degree. he watched on ominously as Frontiers Hope blasted away from his Ship their intent apparent to the Dark Jedi. "Fire on their engines." He commanded as his orders were immediately addressed by one of the gunners. "I'm sorry sir but they've already dipped outside the range of our heavy weapons." Ravenous clenched his fists somewhat annoyed at his enemy's quick retreat.

Ravenous shut his eyes locking himself in his thoughts. Multiple options came to mind though only one seemed like a viable option at the moment. Ravenous shifted to address his crew his burning gaze grabbing their attention away from their work. "Jam their transmissions! I don't want word getting out just yet! Then I want you to launch a squadron of fighters and mining vessels after them, make sure they are well protected." Ravenous's senior officer seemed perplexed as he approached the Dark Jedi clutching a clipboard against his chest. "M-Mining vessels sir?" Ravenous peered into the Duro's crimson eyes his own scarlet globes paling in comparison. "R-Right away sir..." The Duro's set off somewhat affected by Ravenous's subtle but harsh treatment. "Mining ships? I knew you were dumb but this is a new low even for you." Pain surged through Ravenous his psyche in turmoil as Arizelva approached with yet another alcoholic beverage. "Ari, you're on thin ice. I am not ignorant for this is all a planned out move. I have a special objective in mind one you clearly fail to recognize." As expected Arizelva scoffed at his comment intent on working his nerves.

"The only thing I fail to recognize is how you can be so cold towards people just stating facts. I mean really it's not like-" Ravenous knew where this was going and he didn't like it and in a fit of anger he used Force Velocity to ram Arizelva into a wall the reverberation of metal ringing in his head. "Sorry...there was a fly." Her nose bloodied Arizelva grimaced at the Dark Lord. "The only pest here is you."

Meanwhile...

Engines roaring intensely Six Arrowhead Superiority Fighters closed in on Frontiers Hope their targeting computers bringing up data on the ship's subsystems. "Alright, boys tighten up! Were not supposed to destroy that ship were here to disable it. But first, we have to protect the mining vessels so they can overtake the enemy."

In tight formation, the fighters moved in two Mining freighters flying close behind them loaded with cargo.

Vera Tillian | Ardon | Sird-Gri-Shali

 

[Vera Tillian]

Sird-Gri-Shali Ardon Tera Highwind
Ravenous
RRS Frontier's Hope
==================================

"New sensor contacts, Captain!" The sensor officer called from the station, looking towards Vera's position. "Sullust Home Guard marks. Three vessels- recognized as Dauntless-class cruisers. IFF sync request received."

"Sync with them," Vera said. Her fingers dug into the armrests of the captain's chair. The approaching fighters and mining vessels were just coming into visual range for their size, but were still far enough away to consider plans. "Full engine burn. Bring us around and set course to meet with the Sullustun vessels. Those fighters can't match our speed at full engine-power." Silently, she thanked the Force her first command was the Sparrow-class. They had impressed the Rescue Service with their very high speed and maneuverability, matching even customized freighters that her family flew. The ship easily outran most of their fighters and other small-craft, especially those with heavier weapons and mass.

"And we're picking up jamming signals from the Abysmal." There was panic in the young officer's voice now and Vera had to sympathize. This wasn't what she imagined or hoped for. But that's what it was.

"Unfortunately, it's too late," Vera replied grimly, forcing confidence in her voice with a predatory smile. "The League and Sullust already know. Pretty soon the whole Outer Rim will know."

Beneath her feet, she felt the engines as they powered up to maximum, displays hitting the red line of maximum power and the ship leaped forward with the surge of power.

"Ardons-Angel, if you can read this," Vera said, recording a message to try and tightbeam through the electronic chaff and chaos cluttering up communications channels. "We're falling back to the Sullustan Home Guard ships. If you can jump, you are cleared to do so. If not, get ahead of us and try to get to the safety of the planet. If we don't meet up again, well, may the Force go with you." She wasn't Force-sensitive herself, though she knew it ran in the family, although she was fuzzy on where they actually learned how to use it or sense it, whatever it was they did. The old GA NJO was her best guess. Worry filled her as she cut off the recording, picturing her cousin at the helm. Eccentric, sure, after his shipwreck injuries, but still family, and nice in a way many spacers weren't.

"Weapons," Vera said after a moment, returning her focus to the situation at hand. "All turrets aft-ward. Fire if the ships close within ten kilometers. Targeting solutions on the mining vessels. They might have the engine power to keep up with us. Stay ahead out of range of the fighters."

As the ship's velocity increased exponentially, the acceleration pushed her back in her chair, while the sensors focused on the approaching vessels and mining vessels. As the seconds ticked by, the gap between them grew longer with each passing second. Ahead, she could just make out the dots of the three heavy cruisers.

"Somebody remind me to order a crate of the best whiskey for each of their captains," Vera said after a moment as she forced herself to not bite her lip. Nervous chuckles rippled across the bridge as they all stared at their command posts, waiting for what would come next.

 

[Ardon]

Aboard: Ardons-angel
Objective: Bring word
Tags: Vera Tillian Sird-Gri-Shali Ravenous

Well this hadn't gone well. He could hear the crew speaking as the battlecruiser released fighters and comms started getting screwy. He managed to get parts of what Vera Tillian was saying. He gritted his teeth and his chest shook a little. He didn't like leaving family. He didn't like the risk it posed to people's lives. It was one thing when it was just him in danger. It was another when it was family. He tried to get a response back, but his communications were jammed.

But there wasn't much he could accomplish by staying either. His ship shot off, it was faster than the fighters and more maneuverable. He heard his co-pilot say something, Ardon only had one response, "We = Tell anyone who listens. We = Release his ships image and code to everyone." his face was stern and the ship jumped.

The instant they left hyperspace he sent an emergency alert to Susefvi and the Headquarters. "This = Ardon's Angel. Sending image and Transponder code of: pirate ship battlecruiser. Battlecruiser = Attacked us claiming to be toll ship. Family = still behind. We = Want help. Ardon = Sending coordinates." the moment he was done the coordinates of the location were released. They'd have the appearance of the ship, it's transponder code, and now could be marked a pirate ship. Ardon started setting up again to return. "Anyone = want off? Ardon = Heading back."

No response, he smiled. Well, he might not know them well. But they seemed like good people. They'd start their way back soon. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too late. And hopefully, help could arrive soon enough. If it didn't, he hoped that whoever was really in the battlecruiser would regret trying to do what they had.

 

[Torc Valhorn]

Torc paced purposefully across the engineering deck stepping aside to allow teams of his staff to reach their designated station, ahead of him secured behind transparisteel sat the beating heart of the RRS Frontiers Hope used to power everything from the shields to the class 1 hyper-drive he was blessed to serve. Even beyond the protective and shielding layers, he experienced minute static tingling over his arm and the plates beneath his feet beginning to gently vibrate.

"Capacitors are running hot Lieutenant." An engineer helpfully stated as he reached the primary console, "That is scarcely half the story." He replied keying in a few commands until the command logs had been retrieved. "We should not have yet cleared the gravity well, and the bridge is directing additional power to engines and thrusters." He spoke aloud as additional requests began feeding in. Weapon systems being bought online.

"A Baptism by fire then." Torc sighed pushing away, he glanced momentarily at the power plant. "Keep an eye on heat sinks and keep me advised if anything changes, we're drawing a vast quantity of power and I rather us not disappoint the Captain by stalling her engines."

While they focused on that Torc attempted to establish a line to the bridge, " Sird-Gri-Shali we are operating engines at the maximum and I see turrets have been brought online, can you please advise. Are we under attack?"

Ardon Vera Tillian

 

[Ravenous]

"Tch, They're starting to get a lead on us. Guess they are faster than we anticipated." The Comms lit up to the frenzied squealing of a pilot his voice indicating he was still in his teens. "One hostile just left the sector!" Aboard the Abysmal Ravenous now seated atop an obsidian throne in the middle of his bridge contemplated his current situation wondering if he should simply destroy these targets and leave the system because with the Ardon's angel gone Reinforcements are sure to follow. Ultimately he decided against it as he was not yet ready to return to his boredom and self-imposed isolation back home.

"Dagger Squadron, Do not allow those ships to get outside your range activate your Plasma batteries if you have to." "This is Dagger Squadron we read you, proceeding." Smiling to themselves the pilots of the fighters and transports alike began vigorously prodding to their controls a meter high Condensed Plasma Battery injecting neon fluid into their engines and fuel injectors. An intense burst of fire shot out from the engines of the ships sending them flying at incredible speeds far greater than that of their quarry. Ravenous designed these batteries to be the ultimate in ship enhancements and for the most part, he was successful in creating a module that can increase the productivity of any ship no matter what it may be. Her back pushed against her seat the flight commander dodged projectiles whizzing past her vessel. "So they want a fight, do they? Take out their cannons we're not about to let them pelt us with laster fire!"

Four fighters broke off from the rest of the group their Laser cannons bathing Frontier's Hope in a shower of green light their ships targeting the enemy's rear weapons. The Mining vessels came up beside Frontiers Hope Their bay doors open and their minimal shielding about to give. "FIRE!" Hastily a large projectile dropped a few meters from the bay doors and began to fly forward gaining a bit of distance before detonating revealing a cloud of rocks and other trash effectively creating a barrier of Frontiers Hope would have to navigate.

Back on the Abysmal, their sensors lit up with new information informing the Dark Jedi that his plan was coming to fruition. "Transports return to base. Dagger Squadron, stay on them, and make sure you lay just outside their weapons range." Ravenous closed the channel The Plasma batteries on the Abysmal launching it forward at greater speeds than before. "If we maintain this speed our long-range weapons will be in range within 45 seconds." A large clump of paper towel shoved up her nostril Arizelva approached Ravenous his golden gaze chilling as always. "Geez! You don' have to glare at me! Sure my nose is bleeding like a river but that's your fault!" Ignoring her whining Ravenous stared longingly into the void barely acknowledging Arizelva as at all. "You loaded the explosives, RIGHT?"

Ravenous clenched his fist his ire boiling at the surface. Instinctively Ari backed outside the range of Ravenous having already suffered one injury. "Chill out! I did it! I sweat when you're in a bad mood you're an nerf herder." Jokingly Ravenous shifted in his chair causing Ari to sprint out the bridge fleeing a threat that wasn't there.

Vera Tillian | Ardon | Sird-Gri-Shali | Torc Valhorn

 

[Vera Tillian]

Sird-Gri-Shali Ardon Tera Highwind Torc Valhorn
Ravenous
RRS Frontier's Hope
========================

Vera's knuckles were white now with how tightly she gripped her chair, and the skin around her lips was tightened to the breaking point. She stopped herself from continuing to bite her lips and forced herself to stop.

The sensors were chaotic now as the ships deployed some sort of advanced propulsion system that seemed to stretch all bounds of credibility. But there was no time to contemplate that. They found themselves nearly surrounded by the fighters and mining vessels, whose purpose was now revealed. It was a clever trick, for sure, but one that would more-so affect smaller vessels with less powerful shielding. But still, running through that debris head-on would be unwise.

Her mind raced with possibilities. Chimes from engineering that she picked up on to the side added to that. She hit the reply button.

"Captain to Engineering, aye, we're under attack from a pirate battlecruiser," she spoke quickly, her mind still racing and assessing her options. There were too few. And with the impossible acceleration from the battlecruiser, they'd have even fewer if those turbolasers got in range. Already, the shield and alarms were ringing as the lasers from the fighters hammered the hull. So far, the shield tech was working admirably in redirecting and hardening the shield to meet the incoming fire. "Get the hyperdrive spooled up and be prepared to give the engines everything you've got."

Plans were beginning to fall into place. She couldn't rely on her military training here. It had no counter to this situation but to strike the colors or keep running, but with that engine tech, that wasn't an option. So, it was time to fall back to her early days. Her family had smuggling in the blood, as much as she tried to hide or ignore the fact from her more legitimate colleagues. Not that it was a bad thing. Susefvi captains were all at least partially smuggler and so were pretty much all spacers, even those who had gone legit in the government services.

When faced with this situation, her family would just outfly them. Harder to do in a ship of this size, but the Sparrow-class was advertised as being far more nimble and maneuverable than other ships in her class.

Time to put that to the test. Around her, the fire continued to hit the ship and she could feel it beginning to shudder under the impact.

"All hands, prepare for emergency evasive maneuvering." She spoke calmly. Helm, redirect commands to my console on my command. Weapons, load two concussion missiles, detonation range two-thousand meters, aimed straight ahead at the largest pieces of debris."

The tension was gone now and she could see her course charted before her with the decision. Hopefully, the ship could hold up to what she was envisioning. "Navigation, get me a hyperspace jump to anywhere in a reverse vector. No set destination. Just enough to get us out without running into anything."

The ship rocked from the detonation of a nearby branch of debris and the fragments hammered against the particle shields. This would have to be fast.

 

[Ardon]

Aboard: Ardons-angel
Objective: Bring word
Tags: Vera Tillian Sird-Gri-Shali Ravenous Torc Valhorn

The Angel would return momentarily to see the RRS Frontier's Hope being chased by the fighters and the cruiser which both seemed to have gained much more speed than they had moments ago. He could feel his heart racing. He was busy 'speaking' to his ships systems. Hearing their words and warnings through the sensors.

The turrets on top and bottom began to fire on the fighters that Ravenous had released. Meanwhile Ardon's entire ship seemed to move with an absurd amount of grace. A combination of his slight force sensitivity, familiarity with ships, and ability to 'speak' to his ship using cybernetics, allowed him to put it's maneuverability onto another level staying well out of the way of the enemies fighters as he fired using the ION cannons and front laser cannons and his two gunners focused on taking down whatever fighters they could keep on while he darted around. His ship might be bigger than the fighters, but it wasn't by all that much. And it's upgrades meant it was considerably more difficult to hit just on terms of statistical grounds. Once skill and abilities were added in things got even better.

He knew full well he couldn't take on the battlecruiser. But he could make it torture for the fighters chasing the Frontiers hope in the meantime.