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Post by LucianG on Feb 22, 2006 5:53:02 GMT -6
"Here goes," said Lucian, as he activated the device. The thrumming on the roof of the shuttle could be felt throughout the ship, building rapidly....
On top of the ship, the now fully charged mega-capacitors discharged their energy to the diodic-magnetron device at the same time all of the ship's energy was fed to it. As this burst of energy was fed to the device, it discharged its energy as an extremely high-energy microwave in a very confined cone across space.
And then, the thrumming subsiding as the shuttle's lights dimmed and failed. Other ship systems suddenly stopped working as well.
"Lucian," said Fallel in the darkness, "I believe I told you this would happen. The power demand was just too great for a ship of this size-"
"And I believe I remember telling you I knew it would happen," replied Lucian as the emergency power activated, casting a faint glow, exposing his grin, "but that it might still work. Now we get to see who was right."
"Yes, we'll get to see IF we get the power back on before that Cylon you just sent that calling card comes to blow us into a great many tiny little pieces," said Fallel, also with a grin, though his was one of concern rather than humor. Both men were activating switches furiously, trying to restart their ship's engines and ship's systems....
* * *
On the Raider, the ship's sensors immediately picked up the energy blast. Since the ship and Cylons themselves were hardened against waves of this type, the command Cylon was not concerned until he realized the frequency and intensity of the blast. He said to his companions, "The Colonials could not have launched an attack of such intensity from a Viper. It would be too small to carry the equipment or generate the power for such an attack. Another ship must be nearby. Scan sector epsilon for ship traffic and report as soon as the pursued Viper is destroyed."
The pilot Centurion was continuing to adjust the ship's course to bring it into firing position on Dolet's Viper. Suddenly, as the pilot made what should have been the final corrections, the ship moved off course. The pilot reported, "Controls are sluggish."
The communications and controls Centurion scanned the control panel, and explained, "It appears that the energy blast has damaged our external hydraulic system controlling our engine dampers and some of the more exposed lines controlling our directional jets. The portions damaged appear to be just those lines with exterior segments not protected by our hull. Venting is causing us to move off our planned course. I am shutting down the affected hydraulic system lines and am engaging a backup system that will be available shortly. The other lines cannot be repaired until we return to a base ship or otherwise land, so I am shutting them down as well. Our maneuverability will be somewhat reduced. I recommend disengaging."
"Make it so. We must report the presence of Colonials and this weapon to our base ship." The Raider veered off at what could be considered a somewhat awkward angle....
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Post by LucianG on Feb 22, 2006 6:14:04 GMT -6
With shuttle power slowly being restored, Lucian could only hope that the blast had at least partially disabled the Raider, and that Ensign Dolet had detected the problem, which, according to Lucian's research over the past couple of yahrens, he believed would relate to maneuvering. If his theory was wrong, OR if the blast had not been strong enough, OR if Ensign Dolet didn't realize the Cylon's problem in time, it was quite likely that Ensign Dolet would soon be dead, and that he and Fallel join Dolet soon thereafter. Lucian silently shook his head at the number of possible "ORs" that could get them all killed. In addition, since the shuttle was not capable of jamming transmissions at the moment, either of the remaining Cylon ships might be sending a message to their Base Ship at any moment....
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 22, 2006 10:19:14 GMT -6
Dolet watched with disbelieving eyes as the raider stopped it's chase and changed course. "He's leaving?" Dolet muttered to himself. "Well, I can't let that happen, can I?"
He put his viper into a tight turn, enjoying having his turn as the hunter as he began closing in on the cylon ship. "He's flying a little funny" Dolet observed. "But, that's his problem. And not for long." The raider grew closer and closer as the cylon was no match in it's present condition.
"Frack! He's sending a transmission!" Dolet locked on, firing as fast as he could. The raider erupted into a glowing fireball that started where it was hit, spread over the top of the ship, and then there was nothing left.
"Woooo!" Dolet screamed out in triumph and relief. He banked the viper, came around and headed back toward Stadia and the shuttle.
He hit the close range ship to ship com. "R3 to R1. The raider is history, but I think it got off a message."
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 23, 2006 9:19:10 GMT -6
Dolet closed the com, shifted in his seat, and realized that he was dripping with sweat. He vaguely began to wonder what he's gotten himself into in becoming a warrior, but pushed the thought away before it could take hold. He adjusted his grip on the joystick and pressed onward.
He'd been scared, scared to death. And that cylon had him. Should have killed him. He wondered just how many lives he had to spare before they ran out. But he'd also been pumped up, way up, as he'd closed in on the fleeing cylon and turned him into space dust.
I'll have grey hair in a secton if this keeps up, he thought. Up ahead, the shuttle loomed closer.
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 24, 2006 7:38:55 GMT -6
(tongue in cheek on this post...)
For the raider that Dolet had been chasing, they'd realized their mistake quickly...
"Commander" one cylon spoke, "the viper we were persuing has turned around and is closing fast."
"Perhaps we should have finished him off first" the second said.
"Silence" the commanding cylon thundered, his audio box turned up full. "Pilot, put your foot in that turbo. Get us some distance."
"Controls are still sluggish" came the reply. "I think it may conk out."
"These 6th millenium Raiders are no good" the second pilot commented. "They don't have the raw robopower that the 5th millenium ones did."
"Agreed. The 5th series was a classic."
"Status of the persuing viper" the commander snapped, his voice nearly causing feedback.
"Still closing."
"Send a message to the base ship. Inform them of..."
"Your incompetence?" the second cylon asked.
"OF THE PRESENSE OF THESE COLONIAL SHIPS" the commander shouted.
"Sending trans... oh no. Incoming..."
Microns later Dolet flew through the spacedust remains of the raider as he banked and flew back toward the shuttle.
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Post by LucianG on Feb 24, 2006 20:23:36 GMT -6
It seemingly took ages for power to be restored in the shuttle, though Lucian knew from a quick glance at his chrono that it was actually less than a centon. In the midst of a battle with Cylons, that could well have been an eternity, though. With power back on, Lucian said to Fallel, "Hit that short range scanner. They now know we're here anyway, so we'll be better off knowing their location before they get here."
"Yes, so we can discover them just before they blast us," said Fallel sarcastically.
"Unfortunately, that's always a possibility," agreed Lucian. "Our job is to make that as difficult as we can."
"Definitely!" said Fallel, who added with great seriousness just a moment later, "Lucian, scanner shows one ship approaching on intercept vector. It is closing to firing range! Our IFF is still rebooting, and I cannot get the warbook file to open!"
Lucian immediately threw the shuttle on into a curve toward the intercepting ship, and hit the throttle to close the distance as quickly as possible. He also started jinking the shuttlecraft to the maximum extent possible that a shuttlecraft could be maneuvered. To Fallel he said, "Hold on tight. If that's a Cylon, we might make it through the first pass so Stadia can help us on the second, if we can get close enough to her and not get slammed by the other one." He continued to shake the ship, which seemed like it might break apart at any moment.
"Short range comm is coming up," said Fallel with glee. "Talk at will."
"R1 to R3, come in!" ordered Lucian. "R1 to R3, is that you?"
A long moment passed as the two ships closed. As Lucian steeled himself to use the shuttle as a last ditch weapon if necessary against their killers, the comm unit cracked, "R3 to R1, trying to get us both killed, Sir? And did you get my message? I think that Raider may have gotten off a message before I toasted him."
Lucian immediately stabilized his flight pattern and replied, "Congratulations on that victory, R3. We get to live a little longer as a result, but don't get cocky or we could all be dead in a hurry anyway. Let's go help R2 and then get on with this mission. If it did get off a message, this whole sector of space may soon be crawling with tinheads! We probably don't have much time." A moment later, he saw Dolet's Viper flash by back by heading toward Stadia and the last Cylon. Though it was tough to see even with his corrective lenses in place, Lucian could have sworn he saw a huge grin on Dolet's face in the glow of his helmet....
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 25, 2006 9:51:16 GMT -6
Dolet flew past the shuttle, closing in on where Stadia and the remaining raider were toying with each other. Actually, Dolet could see that Stadia didn't really need any help.
If I could fly half as well as she can, he thought. The fight is going to be over before I get there!
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CaptStadia
Viper Pilot
Here me roar! Watch me bounce!
Posts: 112
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Post by CaptStadia on Feb 25, 2006 14:52:31 GMT -6
Dolet flew past the shuttle, closing in on where Stadia and the remaining raider were toying with each other. Actually, Dolet could see that Stadia didn't really need any help.
If I could fly half as well as she can, he thought. The fight is going to be over before I get there! _______________________________________________________________________
Stadia tried to launch her ship into a barrel roll to get behind the fighter but to no avail. The raider followed her into a tight curve.
"Frak!" She turned her viper right and left trying to get away. She headed in the direction of Dolet in the hopes of him getting the raider.
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 25, 2006 23:51:48 GMT -6
Dolet saw Stadia head his way, the raider tight on her tail.
"Hang on captain" Dolet said into his com. He let go several shots though the raider wasn't yet in his sights. It worked though; the raider fell back a little, knowing it was 2 on 1 now. "Whoever doesn't get him buys the first round!" Dolet shouted excitedly.
He fired off a battery of shots, but the raider went into evasive mode, getting away. At least he's off Stadia, he thought, hitting his turbos to give chase.
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Post by LucianG on Feb 26, 2006 10:20:18 GMT -6
Time....
Lucian knew they didn't have a lot, so he accessed the scanning computers that were now fully back on line. Tying in the predicted navigation information for JustinB's flight based on closure with the comet, Lucian adjusted for a long range sweep of that sector of space. Fallel, on seeing Lucian's actions, said, "If we make that sweep, all the Cylons in the entire sector will know we're here. If there are Cylons out in front of us, we will not have much time to rescue your friend and have hopes he'll get away. With our shuttle's speed, there will not be a chance in the 12 worlds of us escaping."
Lucian adjusted the search pattern to a cone encompassing the sector. He replied, "If that Raider got off the message as Dolet believes, they'll already know we're here and we'll have even less time. By doing the conical scan instead of a broad area sweep, they may not pick up on it--"
"Unless they are in the cone, and then they will track it back to us even quicker," finished Fallel.
"Such is the danger of service in the Colonial military," said Lucian, "and I guess that's why the pay us the big credits."
Both men laughed, and Fallel shrugged, "If it did get off a message, then we are wasting valuable time not doing the search."
"Exactly!" replied Lucian, beginning the sweep. Within a centon, an unidentified blip was seen near the limit of the scan, as on short range, it appeared that Stadia and Dolet were getting the upper hand on the last remaining Raider....
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