Sunglasses at Night [Republic vs. Republic Sim Training]

[Beowoof]

Angel Leader was not Angel Leader today. No, she was a ruthless Imperial pilot by the designation of Gray Leader, screaming through the dingy lithosphere of Imperial-occupied Balosar in the infamous TIE Interceptor. A squadron of other 'Gray' fighters accompanied her on this escort run, traveling alongside the frigate Insipid (of the EF76 Nebulon-B variety) on its way to an orbital space station recently established by the Imperial Navy. All was well so far, but this was the sort of mission that inevitably would get interrupted by Rebel scum seeking out another of their favorite ships to hijack.

Of course, Sressechka was not really an Imperial, nor was she truly piloting a 'squint'. No, she was actually in a training simulator that was networked with the rest of the simulators occupied by various Republic starfighter pilots--mostly flyboys and flygirls of the Blazing Angels Squadron. But, for this mission, this is what they would be doing. Never underestimate the value of clocked training hours, even if they are not real flight hours.

For one thing, no one ever died in a simulated dogfight. Except that one guy who had a heart attack inside one, but he really was past his prime. That was what the Starfighter Corps had said.

"Grays, who's in?" she called, hoping to get a decent idea of who she had been partnered with on this exercise. "This is Blue the R2, hugging that Neb tight." The twi'lek buzzed her zippy black fighter by the command bridge of the ship they were guiding into dock with the space station, eliciting an annoyed curse over the comms from the frigate's captain. They could mess around for the first few moments of the simulation, but the 'Rebels' would be arriving soon to get the party started.

"Go Imps," she cheered over the public comms, teasing her TIE squadron's competition while they waited for the Red Squadron pilots to arrive and let the battle commence.

Red Squadron (Rebels):
Flying T-65 X-Wings
[member="Keanu Shan"], [member="Jamie El-Eison"], [member="Roth Tillian"], [member="Aqulia Audax"], [member="Larana Holst"], [member="Dair Cotarin"], [member="Tadel Perris"]
Objectives:

• Destroy station shield generators
• Destroy Nebulon-B frigate Insipid's engines
• Destroy Gray Squadron

Gray Squadron (Imperials):
Flying TIE/IN Interceptors
[member="Sressechka"], [member="Braha Saca"], [member="Ric Ardellian"], [member="Tela Uolmi"], [member="Victoria Undomiél"], [member="Nefertari Sovint"], [member="Lugus Porkins"]
Objectives:

• Defend station shield generators
• Defend Nebulon-B frigate Insipid's engines
• Destroy Red Squadron

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

Flying an X-Wing in the sims would never, ever compare with the real thing, and he was missing the real thing already. His R2, Elsie, had no real role now, and was sent back to assist his father for the time being - a man with whom the faithful R2 unit had flown for a great many years in starfighter craft that were none too dissimilar from the Incom birds that the Republic had recently lost its contract for. It made him feel a bit at a loss to be flying such a bird in the simulators, but it was what it was. Soon enough the simulators would be switched over to a new primary bird as well, and that would be the end of it, 'Alright, Reds. Ten to realspace,' and he never thought that such a day would come.

'Enjoy this sim while it lasts, Reds. This may be the last time we fly T-65s,' and that hurt to say. He glanced at the whirl of hyperspace, the streak of stars, his simulated instrument panel, 'Keep sharp. Be sure to call your targets. Reversion in five... four... three... two... one...' and the stars shifted to stable points in the deep, black nothing, putting them a handful of klicks away from the station and their other targets. . He'd already gotten stock of who was on his side for this exercise prior to the final ten seconds to reversion, and knew that his winger was one of them... and had deduced that Trix and Glitz were together on the other side. There was some small amusement in how it all worked out, 'Now, let's get to work.'

Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]​

Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member="Sressechka"] | [member="Braha Saca"] | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | [member="Lugus Porkins"]​

 

[Aqulia Audax]

It was odd. She’d spent so long in the simulators learning this new ship that after only a few real missions she was back inside the virtual cockpit. And she’d heard the rumours – that the supplier of the ships was ‘taking them back.’ She didn’t understand how that could happen – and to be truthful, didn’t truly care. For now she was flying one – and as the technology was now, what…six years old at least, she knew the Republic would provide her with something better.

But for now, she focused on the job in hand – team-work. What was immediately around her mattered little – it was who was around her that counted in a real battle.

She heard Stryker’s voice and saw, synchronised on her own virtual screen, the ship drop out of hyperspace and felt the simulator do an excellent job of recreating the feeling in your stomach.

“Diamond checking in. Let’s fry us some Imps.”

She nodded to her R2 unit, before remembering he wasn’t there. So she manually set her music to the play mode and waited to hear what song the random generator would choose first. Her choice in music had nothing to do with themes, or even the situation, she just liked flying whilst listening.

They were still a handful of virtual klicks away from their target and as the music kicked in, she focused on the objective and waited for her colleagues to join in the party.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6-_UKLSln4

 

[Nefertari Sovint]

How long had it been since Nefertari flew something other than her modified N-1? Well, she had piloted her and her boyfriend out of a meteor storm not too long ago. But as for starfighters and interceptors...the Jedi Knight quickly brought her thoughts away from the time she'd banged up her mother's V-wing. The simulator was cool, Nef hadn't seen anything like it.
The voice of her team's leader came over the comm.
"Grays, who's in? This is Blue the R2, hugging that Neb tight."
Oh jeez, it had been years since Nefertari had used a callsign. No time to come up with a new one now, what was her callsign as a child? Oh right, the others simply referred to her as "Blossom"
She replied "Blossom checking in. On your five, Gray Leader."
It may be a simulation Nef thought "Still, let's show them what we can do"
Nefertari had said that out loud. She was somewhat disappointed when the familiar astromech noises of R3-M9 were nowhere to be heard. It was her and the force on this one.

​

Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]​

Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member="Sressechka"] | [member="Braha Saca"] | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | [member="Lugus Porkins"]​

 

[Braha Saca]

"Gray lead, Golden Crusher Checking in on your seven." Braha said as he had made up the callsign. This was the first time he had used it in a mission. He hadn't ever flown a tie interceptor before, so he wasn't very familiar with the weapons layout or maneuverability. Wiggling the control stick, he tested his manueverability, almost slipping out of formation. adjusting appropriately, he got back into the formation. He had flown enough fighters, to be able to get an approximate speed from looking at an object at a particular distance. he found that he was flying around the normal patrol speed of fighters. That made sense as they were in fact patrolling, but looking down at his throttle, it wasn't but a forth of the maximum acceletation. He grinned excitedly, because this was going to be one heck of a fun drill.


Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]
Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member="Sressechka"] | @Braha Saca | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | [member="Lugus Porkins"]

 

[H3xle]

Dair spent a few moments familiarizing himself with the controls. He had flown some trainers at the Academy on Ossus, but nothing as complex as the X-Wing he was currently piloting. He felt a giddy rush as his mind went over the lessons in Jedi history that Master Raaf had told him.

“Diamond checking in. Let’s fry us some Imps.”

Dair blinked for a moment, slowly moving the fighter into position in the formation. He got to have a callsign, he hadn't thought of that before.

"Guardian checking in. I am at your port wing..erm, 7 o'clock I think, Diamond. Ready to fry some Imps with you." His deep voice spoke through the com system. It was obvious that he was unsure of the protocol, but he was trying.

Reds: [member="jamie el-eison"] | [member="roth tillian"] | [member="aqulia audax"] | [member="larana holst"] | [member="tadel perris"]
Grays: [member="tela uolmi"] | [member="ric ardellian"] | [member="sressechka"] | [member="braha saca"] | [member="victoria undomi[/COLOR]él"] | [member="nefertari sovint"] | [member="lugus porkins"]

 

[Lugus Porkins]

Lugus cracked his neck first. His eyes shut as he got into the zone rolling his shoulders and then shaking his hands out. He switched over to the public comms hearing a little bit of chatter he cleared his throat, "Good morning, rebel scum! This is your host Porkchop McGee here telling you don't forget to floss those chompers! Brushing your teeth alone won't get rid of that bantha breath! For todays forecast, it's going to be raining T-65 X-Wings so if you look down and see that little handle between you knees what that is is a emergency release. Let's test that right now go ahead and pull that little red handle..." Porkins laughed, "Alright in all seriousness, I can't wait to have you guys and gals in my sights. If any of you ladies over there have the cojones to shoot me down, I will cook you a lovely dinner of crab rotoven, the crab fresh from Bestine by the way, and for the drink of choice we have fairly aged bottle of Ithorian Mist... Yes, NAGS. Yes, I have been spending WAY to much time with Trix. Unlike Trix, however I promise great food, casual small talk, lots of laughs, and leaving before tomorrow morning! ... Like any of you could actually shoot me down though... Later!" He snickered before switching over to Imperial communications. He hope that last little bit would get him a good dogfight out of one of them even if it weren't one of the gals.

Lugus took a spare moment to admire the simulation how he actually felt like he was in space. He didn't like the simulation cockpit however. The belt and harness that was suppose to go over his body didn't quite reach unless he sucked in. Clearly a manufacturing problem and had nothing to do with his weight. Nothing whatsoever to do with his weight. Didn't matter in simulation however. The sim let you think you were upside down in a barrel roll but you never were. He didn't mention the belt to anyone. That would be his little secret.

"Porkchop standing by on your 7 as well, grey leader," Lugus had a calmer tone than he had with his joke before. He went through his music as well finding a nice song to help him really get in the zone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjD8PDh-3c4

Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]

Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member=Sressechka] | [member="Braha Saca"] | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | Lugus Porkins

 

[Roth Tillian]

Roth grimaced as he tested the responsiveness of the simulated T-65. Even with his own droid plugged in keeping things in shape, it was still several steps back behind what he'd been used to flying. It was almost as bad as his freighter. Those Protectorate fighters though... hmm, they were smart ships, especially the Paladin class. Granted, he really wanted one of those Rassilons once he had the funds set aside.

He snorted at the idea of never flying T-65s again, "Watch your words, Stryker, one time in a T-65 this old is two times too many, even if I did I actually fly with the current Rebel Alliance. I was even Rogue Leader for a time ." He leaned forward and adjusted the scanners as they dropped out of hyperspace with the station off in the distance.

"Interceptors are faster and more maneuverable than we are. Stay in pairs and make sure you can lure them through wingmate's fields of fire since we don't have the turn radius to cut in on them."

He gave an amused smirk at Porkin's little tirade. A well cooked meal certainly didn't sound like a bad thing. But that wasn't the objective.

"And the frigate is well armed for anti-fighter operations. Weakest location..." He ran a quick scan through the ship's databanks, with M1 adding some extra processing power, "The central spine. We don't have enough heavy weaponry to total it, but we can use it as cover from the station's guns. for the attack run on the engines."

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Hey, porkchop... I promise good food and good times," he jumped in without even bothering to check in.

He was a bit disappointed he was flying a TIE and playing the bad guy, but any chance to cause problems for Jamie and Tadel was well worth it. Feeling a bit ornery, Ric took over the com frequency and was his typical self.

"Alright ladies I have a special song dedication goin out to all of you. One my fave's at karaoke night. Here's the stakes... Losers are buyin the next round of drinks at Red Baron's. Of course Porkchop, Glitz, and myself can take out any of you so, looks like Reds will be buying."

With that Ric fired up his own sim and got into formation. He checked in with Grey leader giving a thumbs up and a wink. He was constantly flirting. Never new when it would actually get him somewhere. Then again there was a certain cropped cut redhead on he team that Ric was just gaga over. The woman was full of spunk and actually kept up with the cocky Corellian. Oh well... This was all about fun, and Ric new how to have that. Pressing the com, he started the song he had cued with a wide grin.

PRESS PLAY


Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]
Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member=Sressechka] | [member="Braha Saca"] | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | [member="Lugus Porkins"]

 

[Aqulia Audax]

The banter was good but Aqulia was eager to engage something. The One Sith hadn't exactly tested them since...well, ever, so she thought that being up against some of her fellow pilots might actually push her to her limits.

In fact the chatter had got so quiet, she might be forgiven for thinking she was fighting the One Sith - it was like Kashyyk all over again.

"I can't hear you guys," she said over the comms-link and took the lull as an opportunity to put another song on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfFJ2mmA6bE

Reds: [member="Jamie El-Eison"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Aqulia Audax"] | [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Larana Holst"] | [member="Dair Cotarin"] | [member="Tadel Perris"]
Grays: [member="Tela Uolmi"] | [member="Ric Ardellian"] | [member="Sressechka"] | [member="Braha Saca"] | [member="Victoria Undomiél"] | | [member="Nefertari Sovint"] | [member="Lugus Porkins"]