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Post by Amy81 on Feb 27, 2006 10:00:42 GMT -6
Dolet temporarily lost track of Stadia as he chased after the cylon. He backed off the turbos, had the cylon lined up for a brief micron, and fired. But this cylon wasn't as easy as the last one. It dipped, seemingly knowing when Dolet was going to shoot, then dropped safely under and out of sight as Dolet over ran the target.
"Frack" Dolet muttered. Was it inexperience on his part, or was Cylon that much better? His scanner not picking up anything, Dolet kicked in the turbos again, trying to gain some distance from where he thought the Raider might be.
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Post by Amy81 on Feb 28, 2006 11:04:40 GMT -6
Dolet knew right where the raider was a split-micron later. It was behind him, guns blazing. The explosions lit Dolet's viper up from all sides.
Dolet poured everything into the turbos, hitting his com at the same time. "R1, R2! I need help!" Something made a clunking sound, and Dolet thought the end was near, but the viper hung together and he continued evasive tactics. How long he could keep it up, he wasn't sure...
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 2, 2006 7:14:29 GMT -6
Not going to make it showing him my back, Dolet thought as another explosion thundered nearby. Using the blast as a distraction he cut his turbos and put his viper into a tight roll. He concentrated as best he could but was disoriented as he came out of the spin. If he figured it right, he'd be facing the other way now, the cylon bearing right in on him.
With not enough time to using the targeting computer, Dolet fired rapidly, laying down a wave of fire into where he hoped the raider would be.
"Frack!" he shouted out. Looking up, he could see the raider pass over the top of him. It'd been a good move, but he'd come out of it a little low and his fire had passed harmlessly below his target. Maybe if he'd been more experienced...
He slammed the console with disgust. It should have worked! But he'd bought a little time at least, and with those few microns of breathing room he kicked in his turbos and got away before the cylon could loop around.
Where was Stadia? The shuttle? I really am disoriented, he thought. He checked his scanner to see which direction he was facing, and where the others were.
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 3, 2006 7:31:30 GMT -6
Fuel was beginning to be a problem. Dolet had been using his turbos to make up for his shortcomings and lack of experience, but he couldn't keep using them like he had been. If he didn't get this cylon soon, he'd have to face the raider on equal terms, without the advantages of the turbos, and the thought terrified him.
He'd never been in an extended battle before. He tried to think like he'd been taught in the sims, but the sims didn't teach the true feelings of fear he was experiencing now. He'd always known in the back of his mind that the sims weren't real. He'd taken them seriously, but the fact that he was aware that he could make a mistake and not die was always close by in his thoughts.
He checked his scanner, had a brief idea of just staying on the turbo until he was safely far away, but then he picked up the raider again. He did another tight roll, and set his viper on a course to put him back in the action. The time to back out was long ago, when he was still in the academy. He had to stick with it now, even if it meant the end...
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 5, 2006 9:30:39 GMT -6
Inside the raider...
"That viper is too far away" the pilot said.
"Agreed. It flies in a pattern not encountered before" said the co-pilot.
"Could be some new strategy by the humans" said the command cylon. "They may have improved their vipers. This one has used turbo power in excess. They must have improved their engine design."
"Unlike our 6th millenium Raiders." the pilot said.
"I am familiar with the complaints with the 6th series" said the commanding cylon. "Look. As we speak the viper has turned around and is engaging turbos. It is true then. We cannot defeat him with his superior engine power. We cannot outrun him either. Prepare for a suicide run against the shuttle."
"Must we?" asked the pilot. "Perhaps if we just disengage he may leave us alone."
"Like he did to the other raider? No, we must try to take out the shuttle. Full power, now."
"I'd have liked to get a look at those engines" the pilot said, a tinge of regret in his computerized voice.
"You'll have a close up look in a micron if you don't engage full power. Look, the viper is gaining on us." The commander looked out the window at the approaching viper. "Whoever that pilot is has nerves of steel."
"No" the second pilot stated flatly. "We have nerves of steel. He is made of flesh and tissue."
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 5, 2006 9:38:52 GMT -6
Dolet wiped his sweaty hand on his uniform jacket. His heart pounding, he could not believe that the raider was turning away from him. He'd kicked in turbos to get closer quicker, even if it meant nearly running out of fuel, but soon after he did so the raider pulled out of an intercept course and now seemed to be heading for the shuttle.
"What are you up to?" Dolet wondered aloud. One more tussle with this raider and he wouldn't have the fuel to continue, and yet the raider now turned away...
"Where are you..." Dolet said, then realized what the raider was planning. Dolet maintained turbos, engaging and locking onto the raider with his attack computer. Why the cylon had stopped fighting was a mystery. Maybe the lords were riding with him today, but whatever the reason, Dolet wasn't going to argue.
He fired, and the raider errupted just short of the shuttle. Dolet ran out of fuel microns later.
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Post by LucianG on Mar 5, 2006 20:54:19 GMT -6
Glancing over at Fallel's white knuckles, Lucian gave him a quick grin and said calmly, "See, I told you the kid could do it."
Fallel nodded and replied, "I hope I am not around when you are wrong about something like that."
"Me, too, my friend," responded Lucian. "Me, too." Seeing Dolet's engine output drop out entirely, he added, "Ping the Ensign's ship's computer. Let's find out his status."
"Downloading now," said the Frodarian Outlander. "Lucian, this does not look good. How he kept up with that Raider I really do not understand. His engines are shot, both literally and figuratively. He will not be able to make it home without repairs. And if we have to tow that ship back to the Fleet, the likelihood of saving Major JustinB is minimal."
"Agreed," said Lucian. "Prepare to blow that emitter off our roof."
Fallel's eyes widened and said, "I will not mention that is a very valuable piece of equipment, even if it now needs repairs, but I will tell you I think you are quite, quite crazy if you are planning what I think you are planning." Still, his fingers played over the controls, and moments later, he nodded.
"Boom!" Lucian exclaimed as released the magnetic clamps. With a whip of the control stick, the device sailed clear off the shuttle roof. He swung the ship around and started to match Dolet's course and quickly accelerated to match his speed. Though Dolet was out of fuel, in the frictionless environment of space, his Viper still had the momentum it had had when the engines flared out.
"R1 to R2," called Lucian over short-range ship to ship, "can you slag that little package for us. We're picking up a more valuable one." In reply, Lucian heard an affirmative "Click, click." from Captain Stadia's comm. Glancing at the scanner, he confirmed that she was closing on the device and would reach it before too long.
Then, he called, "R1 to R--Dolet. Good shooting, son. My friend and I thank you for that intercept. It was starting to get a 'lit-tle' uncomfortable in here before you helped us out. Now it's our turn. Just stay steady, and don't hit any directional thrusters. If you do, it could be a really bad cycle for both of us. For now, don't even think about that. Just extend your landing gear, lock it in place, and then you might want to struggle into your enviro-suit. If all goes well, you're going to need it. We'll be there shortly." Looking out the front windows, Lucian could see the damaged Viper drifting along just ahead and slightly above them as he slowly closed the distance....
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CaptStadia
Viper Pilot
Here me roar! Watch me bounce!
Posts: 112
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Post by CaptStadia on Mar 6, 2006 16:09:56 GMT -6
Stadia turned and formed up on the side of Ensign Dolet, waiting to see what Lucian was going to do. As she waited, she assessed her damage which turned out to be very minimal.
"Dolet good job saving the shuttle. Remind me when we get back to the Callisto to take you into the similator and teach you some moves that dont use so much fuel."
Stadia shut off her radio and chuckled to herself thinking that Dolet may have finally earned his call sign. "The guzzler"
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 7, 2006 7:03:21 GMT -6
Dolet was still elated from shooting down his second cylon in a matter of microns. He was struggling into his envirosuit when Stadia called him.
"Thank you sir" he replied. "M'am, I mean... Captain."
Who'd have thought? He'd faced down the enemy, and scored two kills! And now a Captain was offering to give him some one on one instruction...
With a huge feeling of accomplishment and sense of belonging he finished zipping into his suit. "Dolet to shuttle. I'm in the suit and ready."
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Post by LucianG on Mar 7, 2006 7:36:45 GMT -6
"I'm in the suit and ready," said Dolet's voice over the comm.
"Hang on, Dolet," replied Lucian, "we're closing on your position now." Turning toward Fallel, Lucian asked, "How's our picture?"
Fallel gave a grimace and pointed, "Not very good. The rear vid-cam facing forward is out of order, and the front one looking rearward is very, very grainy. I suspect that is not optimal."
"No, not optimal, but I've got to make it work," said Lucian determinedly, as he started manipulating the vid-cam control. "Hmmm, what's going on with this thing?" he groused to himself.
Dolet followed up, "Then there is the issue of the magnetic clamps. They do not match the spacing of the landing gear struts. How are you going to catch them?"
Lucian sighed, "Oh, that's not such a problem. I only have to catch one. The problem," he added as he continued to work the vid-cam control that failed to respond, "is that I can't get the vid-cam to lower a bit so I can actually see any of the clamps. If I try to go in blind and bump his strut, it could send him spinning and we'd never recover him." Lucian glanced at the vid-cam control once more then finally gave up. He said, "Fallel, let's suit up. We're running out of time for Dolet and JustinB, so we're going to have to pop one of the top hatches and have you be my eyes for this little mating procedure."
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