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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:43:36 GMT -6
Brie As Brie continued with Amy towards the next planet she couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t right. Something about that “weird stuff” that Amy had mentioned. Although they continued towards the next planet, Brie ran one more check on Pangara planet Delta. She was sure that Amy’s initial scan had been wrong, probably the bright lights messing with Amy’s sensors. Besides, she had run a scan herself and it had come up empty. Still, you could never be too careful. She ran a rear scan and the results seemed the same. Just as she was about to complete the scan she noticed something. A blip, no, not even a blip, more like a ripple that last maybe one hundreth of a micron. If she hadn’t been staring directly at it she would have missed it. “Captain Amy,” Brie said over her comm, “you continue to the next planet. Stay within scanner range. I’m going back to planet Delta.”
“Why, Major, did you find something?” Amy asked.
“Probably not,” Brie said honestly, “but I’m going to check it out anyway. Major Brie out.” Brie turned around and headed back towards the planet they had just scanned to look for what she was sure wasn’t there. * * * As Brie circled back around Pangara planet Delta she kept a close eye on her scanner. She saw it again, another ripple. She began to think that there was something there, something that was hiding behind the planet. Because of Delta’s size she couldn’t get a fix on it. There was another ripple, then another. She didn’t know if they knew that she was there. She ran through her options. If she was able to get around the planet and whatever it was turned out to be unfriendly, she’d have no place to hide because of the brightness of the suns. If she stayed where she was she wouldn’t get any answers. She decided to go around the way Amy had just been. Maybe she could some answers without being spotted herself.
Brie flew around, staying as close as safely possible to the planet. It was her hope that the planet might help give her some sort of cover on the other ship’s radar, if there was indeed another ship and they had radar. She flew around, slowly, hoping to not attract any attention. She was somehow able to get behind the other ship. She didn’t even have to run another scan, she knew it was Cylon.
Luck was somewhat on Brie’s side, the Cylons hadn’t spotted her. Hiding behind the planet she sent a coded message to Amy on a frequency that the Cylons hopefully didn't know about. “Captain, it’s Cylons. I haven’t been spotted yet. I don’t think they know we’re here, but with these suns it won’t take them long. After you finish your scan come back the way you came.”
She then sent another coded message, this time to Skyler and Marcus. “There are Cylons in the area, I’ve located one of their patrols by planet Delta. They don’t seem to know we’re here. Continue with you mission, we need to find the jump point. Captain Amy and I can take care of this.” Thinking about how Skyler fancied himself her protector Brie added, “If we don’t find that jump point we might never find the fleet. Everyone on the Callisto is counting on you. Once you find the jump point and send the coordinates back to the Callisto, and only then, are you to join us here. Major Brie out.”
Brie considered sending a distress signal back to the Callisto, but that might alert the Cylons to her presence. Better to find the jump point before letting the Cylons know that they were in the area. She hoped that Skyler and Marcus wouldn’t take too long. * * * Amy My blood ran cold. I was right! Their WAS activity out here in an uninhabited system, and it was Cylon! Brie's message still rang in my ears. She had discovered the Cylons, but was safe for the moment. I felt a brief feeling of validation for having been proved right in the end, that it wasn't just that I had botched a scan to get those strange readings. But now I had to concentrate on finding that jump point.
A brief thought passed through me, that Cylons wouldn't have thought twice about my original findings. They would have taken them for what they were, and not factored in human emotions and doubts that had almost caused us to make a fatal mistake. For all their deadly coldness, the Cylons were pretty efficent.
I set my scanners on the planet ahead of me. Not much left of Beta sector to scan, and I had to get it done. It felt strange to be away from Brie, since I was assigned as her wingman, but she had given me new orders, and I had to follow. I took the steps carefully, to make sure the scan would be accurate the first time, and started the sweep of this next Pangara world.
I couldn't help thinking of Brie. I hoped she was okay. I couldn't risk a signal right now, so I stayed silent as the scan continued. Back near Pangara Delta planet, my commander and friend was right in the middle of a Cylon mess. * * * Lucian On the Bridge, Lieutenant Finky asked, “Major, have they found the jump point?”
“Lieutenant, we’re currently analyzing the first packet of data sent back by the Gold Survey Team after they completed their work at Pangara Major Alpha,” Major Lucian replied, “but in a word, no. And we haven't received anything from them since then. Then again, considering we’re going to the Krestania system, they won’t actually find the jump point we’ll be using.”
“Why not, Sir? I didn’t really follow Captain Lazant’s lecture on interstellar jumps when I was in the Training Academy. Something to do with a bunch of masses and finding ‘gravity nodes.’ Lazant was a snooze and I think that’s what I did in that one!”
Lucian gave her a stern look and said, “Lieutenant, I remind you that Captain Lazant is an officer in the Colonial Military.”
Finky grimaced. “Understood, Sir.”
“Unfortunately, many people might agree with your analysis of the Captain. That, however, is beside the point. Regarding the jump point, in most systems, the vast majority of the mass in a system is congregated in the star. Perhaps a few percentage points of the total is spread throughout the system in planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, et cetera. When we’re going toward a system, the mass, despite the fact it is spread over a good area, is always close enough together to allow us to enter the jump because it is so far away. When we’re trying to leave a system, however, we’ve got to take all that mass into account in the calculations. The instruments on the Callisto measure the mass, but the survey teams take local readings. When you’ve got two groupings of widespread readings, you can combine them with those by the Callisto, compute the centroid of all that mass, and then find the target line between the systems.”
“That’s that triangulation thingy?” she asked with brightening look easy the slightly glazed expression that had begun to cross her face.
“Exactly! While the survey teams may find ‘a’ jump point, it’s unlikely that they’ll find the one we’re seeking, especially since we haven’t given them the coordinates of where we’re seeking to go. That’s standard procedure in case they are captured by Cylons. The Cylons won’t be able to chase us to our destination, or worse yet, have a welcoming committee waiting for us at our jump point. We still haven’t received anything from Black Squadron’s team, so we’re calculating what we can with the limited data we’ve got so far.”
“Thanks for the explanation, Major. I’m just glad that I don’t have to deal with that stuff. It goes right over my head!”
“Lieutenant, you ARE a Bridge Officer, are you not?” Lucian asked with a smile.
“Uhm, yes, Sir. What do you mean?” she asked.
Lucian handed her a comp pad manual he’d pulled from a nearby console. “Lieutenant, Bridge Officers HAVE to know this information. You’ll find everything you need in here. If you have trouble, I’ll be glad to help.”
“You mean I have to study this?” she asked, looking at the images flashing on the screen of the pad manual.
“No, Lieutenant,” Lucian replied, “you don’t have to study it—” Finky started to relax—“You have to LEARN it!”
The resulting wail briefly turned heads across the Bridge…
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:44:58 GMT -6
Brie As long as the Cylons didn't know that she was there Brie knew that she was safe. She felt as if she was playing a weird sort of game with them, she had figured out that they were circling the planet and as long as she stayed ahead of them and at the same speed she shouldn't show up on their scanners. That is, if the Cylons Raiders stayed in formation. If any of them veered off of their present course, she’d be spotted.
Hoping to throw off any potential readings on her that the Cylons might get, Brie moved as close to the planet as she dared get. The light from the two suns was beginning to hurt her eyes, but she continued to stare at her scanner. Suddenly, the one thing that she had been dreading happened. The formation had split up, she couldn’t hide any longer. If they hadn’t seen her already it would only be a matter of microns.
Deciding to see just how big of an enemy she faced, Brie sped up and flew forward. She could count 12 ships. Obvious that they now knew that she was there, the Cylons changed patterns, turned around and flew towards her. She was able to take out two raiders almost immediately. She had faced worse odds than ten-to-one before, but never when she was alone. She knew that they would probably try to surround her. Whether they were intent on killing or capture she didn’t know, but she wasn’t going to find out. She pulled away from the planet, trying to lead them away from the rest of her flight.
Two scenes flashed in Brie’s mind. The first one was the day her parents died. It was strange, she hadn’t remembered saying goodbye to them. The second one was the last time she had seen Turner. She briefly wondered what good it was to love someone if they were just going to die anyway. Ashamed of her thoughts, Brie decided to fight with everything she had. She destroyed a third Raider and disabled a fourth. The odds were improving slightly. * * * Charybdis Core Command wishes to announce that Buck Stanza has joined the Colonial Military and has been commissioned with the rank of Ensign.
He will serve under Major JustinB in Black squadron.
Welcome to our newest Warrior!!! <Chorus of voices> Welcome! * * * Droidarr Buck Stanza, Masonic and Droidarr…… Black Squadron, Day One
The three sleek vipers closed on the battlestar Callisto’s position, the dual stars of the Pangara system providing a bit too much light for them. “Yo!” Droidarr said over the comm, “Gotcha! There she is, bearing 210 mark 038.” “Nice work” Buck replied, “Looks like Masonic’s buying first round tonight.” “Hey! I was close!” Masonic tried to explain. “A few more microns and I’d have found her.” “A few more microns wander around and we’d need a refueling shuttle” Buck joked. “Or a roach coach” Droidarr added, “I’m starving.” “Omega lead to Callisto, request landing clearance” Buck said calmly, suddenly thinking about food. Roger Omega lead. Clear for direct approach to beta landing bay. Welcome to the Callisto gentlemen. “Lead copies, thanks” Buck told him. “Commander Sheba’s ship” Masonic said as the battlestar kept growing larger and larger. “Never though I’d be here.” “I really want to meet her” Buck said, checking his display. “She’s a legend!” “I don’t” Droidarr said with a smile. “The only time you meet commanding officers is when you screw the daggit buddy.” “Or when you do something good” Masonic told him, then looked at his friends, “Never mind.” “Keep the faith” Droidarr told him. “Just get that nose up or you’ll be decorating a large portion of your hero’s ship.” “Least she’ll notice me” Buck said, lining it up. “Talk about threading a needle, these bays look smaller to you?” “You’re just getting larger” Masonic told him with a laugh. “Looks okay from here” Droidarr said, taking his viper inverted between the two wingmen. “Maybe it’s just the angel you’re looking at it from.” “Will you cut that out” Buck told him. “You’re gonna get us all in trouble before we even land!” “Relax, I’m a professional” he said, rolling his viper upright. “A professional what?” Masonic asked him as the three vipers entered the bay and powered down.
“Hey!” a deck crewman yelled as the three walked away from their parked vipers. “You just gonna leave these things parked here? What am I supposed to do with them?” Droidarr flipped the man his helmet, “Give em a good wash chief.” * * * I looked around, trying to tell myself the medical staff was on our side and not the Cylons! “How is it we can have starships and ambrosia and medical still uses needles?” I muttered, wandering down the corridor and rubbing his arms. I jumped out of the way as an officer bolted through the corridor, yelling “Make a hole!” I just smiled as she disappeared in the distance, “At least this isn’t a dull ship” I told myself, heading for the Black Squadron ready room to meet the rest of the pilots I’d be flying with. * * * Now What? I thought to myself as I made my way towards the Ready Room. The red lights and alarms sounded as the gunnery crews ran to their posts and the feel of the catapults shooting the vipers out of the bay was unmistakable. “YO! Mas, what’s up?” “No idea” Masonic said as he came out of the berth. “I can’t find anyone.” “Frak” I cursed, thinking for a micron. “Well, I not getting killed inside this steel target” I told him, starting to run to the launch bay. “You coming?” “Right behind you buddy” Masonic said, but standing a head and a half taller than me he had some problems running through the knee-knockers as fast. “Seen Buck?” “Not since medical, probably sleeping somewhere.” The bay rocked a bit as we ran into the hanger, “Those launches came from our side, not Gold’s!” “Chief!” Mas yelled over the flurry of activity, getting the old man’s attention. “What in the name of the 5th Lord of Kobol is going on around here?” “No idea kid, only thing I know is I keep firing em out and they haven’t come back yet.” “Five-two and three ready?” I asked him. He checked his data pad, “Just got done fueling em, should be in the staging area by now.” He looked and smiled at the two newly assigned ensigns, “That way butter bars” he said, pointing towards the front of the hanger. I tossed him a half salute and ran towards the staging area, hoping to catch anyone from my squadron along the way.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:46:05 GMT -6
Droidarr
“That’s something you don’t see everyday” I mussed as a woman was bent over inside my viper’s cockpit. I came around the other side and hoped up on the platform, “Can I be of assistance?” “Huh?” she replied, looking up. “Frak! Sorry sir, just doing last minute checks on your bird.” “No sweat” I told her, “I noticed the door’s open, something wrong with the MC’s?” She leaned back and looked down towards the open access panel so I swung across the nose and came down on her side as she got down. “No sir” she said, reaching up and showing me the small datapad attached to the MC buss. “Just downloading the new software into your mission computers, another couple of centons and it’ll be finished sir.” “You’re my VC right?” I asked her. “Yes sir, that’s my name on your bird.” “Fine, then when it’s just us, lose the sir felgercarb.” “Yes s.. Roger that” she said smiling. “By the way, I applied some more adhesive to the holopic on your HUD, shouldn’t come off again.” “How’d you know it came off?” I asked her. She laughed, “Never ask a viper chief about their bird, we know everything.” “But we only just met” I told her with a smirk. “Nastassja?” she asked me, running her hand over the name painted o the nose of my ship. “Is she the one in the holopic?” “Along with my mom and dad” I told her, sitting down on the platform and watching the activity in the bay. Organized Chaos. “Well, she’s very beautiful and I’m sure she’s impressed with you naming the your ride after her.” “She’s also very dead” I said flatly, after all is there ever an easy way to put it? “Oh” she said sitting down next to me. “Very sorry.” “All of us have lost something or someone we love during this war” I told her, leaning back and reading her name on my nose gear door, “Rebekah. Anyway, at least she went down fighting on the Atlantia.” I saw the look in her eyes, “Don’t give me any Frak either, that ship went down swinging, is that clear?” “As a Nubian sun” she said with a smile and a half salute. “And by the way, the ambrosia you had tucked away in the forward landing bay is safely tucked away.” I looked at her, “How much?” She laughed, “Bribery? Not my style.” “Whoa” I said as some yelling came across the bay. “Gorman” she explained, “Masonic’s VC. Sounds like they are getting along great.”
“No flyboy” the huge man was saying, although just as tall as Masonic, he was clearly packing more muscle. “Let’s get this straight, this is my bird and I’m letting you use it” he said, poking Masonic in the chest. “When you get back, you see me first to let me know what your sorry butt did to my bird.” Masonic just looked at the man, “I don’t give a frak as long as you keep this thing flying tough guy.” And this time he put his finger in the man’s chest, “And even the 9th Lord of Kobol won’t help you if I suffer a mechanical malfunction out there, got it?” “My birds don’t suffer mechanical malfunctions” he told the young pilot, walking off towards the crew room. Masonic rubbed his chin and looked at the hanger bay overhead, “What did I do to deserve this?” “What did I miss?” Buck asked, still putting on his uniform. Masonic just looked at him. “What?” “Where in Hades have you been?” “Turbo flush.” “For three centares?” “Maybe” Buck said, looking around. “Which one is mine?” Masonic pointed, “Five-Four. The one with your name on it.” He dropped down on the platform and just relaxed, watching Buck walk over to his ship, obviously in no hurry. “How does one man sleep so much?”
“Sir, ship’s prepped and ready to fly” the kid told Buck as he approached it. “Thanks” Buck groaned, climbing into the cockpit. “Sir? You haven’t gotten clearance to launch.” “Not going anywhere kid, just going to close the canopy to get some peace and quiet” he said, giving the kid a wink as the tinted canopy closed. He rolled his neck to get out the kinks from sleeping in the turbo flush and tried to get comfortable, after all, it could. * * * Amy Finishing my sweeps of the remainder of Beta sector, I poured through the data, then sent it through the auto-sift. There were five or six promising peaks and spikes in the readout, indicating the type of jump point information the Callisto was looking for. Satisfied, I hit my comlink in order to send the information to the ship.
"Captain Amy to Callisto" I announced, "Stand by to receive data." I swallowed, knowing the risk involved in sending while there were Cylons nearby, but the information had to get back there. I hit the transmit button, and sent the information on it's way. I hoped the interference caused by the light and other factors wouldn't pollute the data too much. But there was nothing I could do about that.
I could do something about the trouble Major Brie was in. I fired the turbos and brought my viper around, heading back toward Delta planet. "Hang on Major, I'm coming!" * * * Brie Fortunately for the other members of Brie’s flight, Cylons couldn’t think. It didn’t dawn on them that she was trying to lead them away from three other vipers, still off their scanners, so they still had time to search for the jump point. Unfortunately for Brie, leading the Cylons away meant that she had to be in front of them. She had been fighting Cylons long enough to be able to anticipate most of their moves. Knowing that the light from the suns would reflect off of her viper from certain angles, she flew erratically, trying to “blind” the Cylons eye sensor, even if just for a micron. Although there were now only eight Raider pursuing her, with them behind her they had the definite advantage. A few of the shots came close, too close. Brie was actually relieved that they were trying to kill her, the last thing that she would ever want was to be captured by the Cylons.
Brie’s viper shook, she knew that she had been hit. She ran a check, there didn’t seem to be any major systems damaged. She knew that she was lucky, the next one could be worse. She noticed on her scanner another ship approaching from behind, another viper. The Cylons must have noticed too, half of the group turned to head in the direction of the incoming ship. Brie made a wide loop and ended up turned around, facing the Cylons. She was back in control, and unless her ship was more badly damaged than she thought she just might make it out of this alive.
Since they no longer needed to hide from the Cylons, Brie radioed the viper pilot. “Amy, is that you?” she asked.
“Yes, Major,” came the reply.
“Took you long enough. Keep them busy, I’ll contact Skyler and Marcus.” Brie contacted them, letting them know of her position and of the eight, make that seven, Raiders that were still in the area. She then contacted Amy again. “Captain, did you locate a jump point?”
“There were some possibilities,” Amy replied. Another Raider exploded. Six left. “I sent the information to the Callisto.”
“Good,” Brie replied, cutting it down to five. “The standby flight should probably be launching any micron, then. Even though we’ve got this under control, these Cylons didn’t just appear. I’m sure they’ve contacted their basestar, soon there will be a whole lot more Cylons looking for us.” Amy remained strangely silent. “Um, Captain,” Brie continued as another Raider was no more, “when you sent the information you did send a distress signal, didn’t you?”
Amy’s voice sounded weak. “Distress signal?” * * * Amy Brie had asked about me sending a distress signal. "Frack" I spat out in disgust. "No I didn't." I swung my viper around and got off three volleys of fire that missed an elusive Cylon fighter. "Really think this is more than a random patrol?"
"We can't afford to assume anything" Brie replied. She blew right past me, passing underneath my viper and bearing down on a Cylon ship coming in from my right.
I looped around and changed course, not seeing the result of Brie's attack. I lined up a Cylon of my own and scored a glancing hit to it's right wing. It seemed surprised at being hit and spun off evasively. I banked, lined him up again and took him out cleanly. I had no more than a moment's satisfaction before fire erupted all around me. I dropped my viper into a downward path to avoid the incoming fire as my ship rocked and shook from the near misses.
I could hear Brie over the comlink, sending out the distress call. Being this close, the Cylons would overhear the call and know the Callisto wasn't far away.
Banking left and ending up alongside Brie for a brief micron, I spoke into the link. "Seems like I'm making one mistake after another on this mission. Sorry again Major." How did I forget to add the distress call?
We peeled off onto different paths, working the lasers and blasting away at the remaining Cylons. I wondered if the distress call wouldn't be garbled past the point of the Callisto making it out. As it was, help would be some time in coming, even if the message was understood.
A blip on my screen made my heart sink. "Uh, Major? I'm picking up what looks like Cylon backup."
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:47:01 GMT -6
Skyler Skyler and Marcus had just finished the last sensor sweep of their sector. The data scrolled across the screen showing several low gravametrical feilds that would make for good jump points. Skyler just hoped one of them was one they needed or they would have to spend alot more time squinting from the light while looking.
A message from Major Brie broke the silence.
<<There are Cylons in the area, I ve located one of their patrols by planet Delta. They don t seem to know we re here. Continue with you mission, we need to find the jump point. Captain Amy and I can take care of this. Thinking about how Skyler fancied himself her protector Brie added, If we don t find that jump point we might never find the fleet. Everyone on the Callisto is counting on you. Once you find the jump point and send the coordinates back to the Callisto, and only then, are you to join us here. Major Brie out. >>
"Captain, what should we do?"
"Marcus, I am going to relay all of my scanner data to you, compile it with yours and send it to the Callisto, along with the message Brie sent, just to be sure. While you are doing that, kick in your turbos, at full battle thrusters we might just be in time to help."
Marcus compiled the data and sent it on a special coded channel the Callisto. Thinking to himself, 'this would be alot easier if I didn't have to do it at max thrusters.' * * * Marcus I asked "Captain, what should we do?"
Skyler said "Marcus, I am going to relay all of my scanner data to you, compile it with yours and send it to the Callisto, along with the message Brie sent, just to be sure. While you are doing that, kick in your turbos, at full battle thrusters we might just be in time to help."
I compiled the data and sent it on a special coded channel to the Callisto. Thinking to myself 'this would be allot easier if I didn't have to do it at max thrusters.'
I had managed to get that done and out of the way and could get down to the business of helping out Major Brie and watching Skyler’s wing. I thought to myself 'One heck of a mission to be on especially just after being sealed with Stadia.' Well need to get my mind back to the job at hand. I just could not get her face out of my mind but that was a good thing to me. * * * Amy Another check of my scanner confirmed that more Cylons were closing in on our position. "Major" I said into the link, "Cylon backup confirmed. Unknown number of fighters closing in." After a moment, I asked, "Should we run?"
"Run where?" Brie asked, "we can't lead them back to the ship. Keep slugging away and hope our backup is coming." She punctuated her orders by laying down thick fire at a pair of Cylons who'd completed a firing run and were perparing to loop around for another pass. Fire exploded all around the duo, but when the explosions died away the ships were still there. "Frack!" Brie exclaimed.
Coming around on the same general course, I joined in, firing at the same pair as they continued their course. I managed to hit one, a glacing shot that still caused the ship to waver slightly. Brie jumped on the second chance and fired away at the wobbling fighter, scoring a direct hit that took out the second ship as chunks burst out in all directions. We both peeled up and away as the area was suddenly littered with debris.
"Now I didn't mean 'run' as a cowardly thing" I said to Brie as I opened fire on another Cylon. "Just as a delay tactic, until the odds are more even." My lasers tore scorch marks across the skin of the enemy ship, but failed to puncture it. I backed off as my laser sensors began to flicker red. "Frack, I'm nearly overheating my laser banks!" I sent several volleys out into open space to test them as I turned my viper away, and was thankful when the heat sensor stayed off. "Think I'm okay though" I added.
I rejoined the fight, mindful of the Cylon reinforcements closing rapidly. * * * Kris Kris stood in the cooridor, shell shocked from Najinn's kiss. Her senses reeled and she realized where she was. Her head snapped around to the door she was not too far from and ran in there. She closed her eyes for a moment and knew what this meant. "Frack, what now?" she looked around but she already knew the answer. It was the same answer every time...cylons and they found them again. And she didn't stray too far from the room. Najinn said it right, the timing stunk. She walked over and sat down next to JustinB. She expected to get reamed for leaving the room. She saw in his hands a new listing of ensigns. She looked up at him. "New ensigns?" "Yes, 3 of them. I expect you will stay in here now and the only time you are leaving is if you are called to launch or when this thing is over is that clear!" It wasn't a question. Kris nodded. She knew he was very disappointed in her and her actions. But she wouldn't have changed it for the world. She just hoped it wasn't a a fling, that something was really there for her and Najinn. But she pushed that thought to the back of her mind, duty was what mattered now. "I guess saying I am sorry would not do much in this case." She couldn't look at him directly anymore. She could feel his disappointment in her. She didn't wait for an answer, "with your permission, I am asking to put them on the third wing...with me. If that is ok with you." She sat there, waiting for his answer. Whether it be him scolding her even more or would he agree to her request. She hoped he would grant her that request so she could prove she was flight worthy again and that she still had duty in her heart first, then it came who ever she was involved with. She just hoped Najinn returned the sentiment. * * * JustinB After considering Kris's request, I had grave misgivings about it. I had not even met the new warriors, let alone know if they had done checked in with the Med-Lab. But theses were tense times so certain risks were acceptable.
"Kris, your request is approved. If you should have to launch take good care of them." Turning to Jaz, Stargazor and Killjoy, I motioned to them to get into their vipers. I had a feeling we would be launching soon. As I was about to leave the ready room, I turned to Kris and said, "Good Luck Captain."
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:48:00 GMT -6
Lucian “Data stream received from Black Squadron is degraded to the point of being useless, Commander,” said the Tech. “We’re trying to clean it up, but it will take a while, IF it works at all…”
“Do your, best,” she replied. She turned back to reading another report that had arrived in front of her only moments earlier. Moments later, she walked over to Major Lucian where he was speaking with Geenie.
“Major, there is a report that has just arrived that there is a problem with Gold Squadron’s backup team. One of the members is missing. What is the status?” she asked.
“Commander, there was a delay earlier, but the missing parties arrived and everything is a GO. I’ve dealt with the situation and made sure it won’t happen again,” Lucian replied.
“Parties?” she queried. “I thought only Lieutenant Najinn was missing.”
Lucian furrowed his brow as he asked, “Lieutenant Najinn? He was not involved.”
“Well, according to this report, he is NOW, Major. Get on this and get him to that Ready Room on the double. And if something else is going on, you better make sure it is handled, because if you can’t handle the responsibility of keeping flight related operations in line, I’ll find someone who WILL.”
In shock, Lucian contacted Gold’s Mission Specialist Fenmarnis. “Fenny, what is this about Najinn not being in the Ready Room? If he’s not, I want him found at once and returned to his duty station. Who knows when the back-up team might be called to launch at a moment’s notice?”
“Major, I was about to contact you about tha—”
Suddenly, Geenie cried out, “Incoming distress message from Gold Team. They’ve encountered Cylons near Pangara Major Delta!”
Commander Sheba almost glared at Lucian as she said to Colonel Charybdis, "Gold back-up is to launch immediately. If any members of the team are not in place at once, replace them." * * * Charybdis "Aye Commander" I responded. Sheba had gone into major action mode and it seemed as if Major Lucian had caught the brunt of it.
I turned to Geenie, "Geenie, get Gold back-up to their ships, launch immediately. Red Alert!"
I turned to Commander Sheba, "Commander, may I suggest putting the ship on Red Alert since Cylons have been confirmed?"
"Do it now.!" was the reply.
The ship was immediately bathed in red light and sirens wailed...how the frack do the Cylons keep finding us??? * * * Hawke The klaxon rang in Gold squadron's ready room. I took a head count."Mission's up. Everyone to their vipers NOW!" I yelled. Everyone's here except..."Where the hell is Najinn?" I asked. I got a few "Haven't seen him,boss's." "Everyone get to their vipers. I have a lost sheep to look for." I told everyone. I come to the Gold Squadron ready Room com unit and call upto the bridge. "Bridge, this is Hawke. We have a missing squadron member. Have you seen Najinn?" "No,Hawke we haven't. He was your responsibility. You better find him quick. Major Brie has run into Cylons. Find him or not,you launch in 10 centons!" Frack! "Understood bridge,Hawke out." I run down to the Black Squadron ready room. Best place to start I guess. The pilots were down there doing various things. "Have any of you seen Najinn?" I ask. "Yeah,they went down that corridor about 2 centons ago." He points the way. "They?" I ask. "Yeah. Kris was with him." "Ok, thanks." I started running down the pointed to corridor. I grumbled to myself "If you get me in trouble because of a woman, I'll personally bust you down to Ensign..." * * * Agelastus Hawke's reaction when the alert sounded was effectively instantaneous.
But, like the good player he had shown himself to be, he managed to avoid dropping his cards or upsetting the cubits piled on the table.
As Hawke dashed back down the cross tube we had only recently rushed up together, looking for the errant member of our team, I grabbed my helmet and hurried towards my Viper.
We left the cards and cubits where they were. Hawke because of his haste, myself........well, it gave you something unfinished to come back for. Just a little Sagittaran superstition.
Already, the ground crew were moving away from my Viper. As I raced up the steps to my cockpit, I heard the muttered "lucks" of a number of people. In a way, more to the Viper than to me. I knew a number of the techs in this bay regarded Warriors as an unneccessary evil around their precious fighters. Well, mostly.
I lacked a certain grace as I tumbled into my seat and ran through a hurried pre-launch checklist. Completing it in microns, I signalled ready to Core Systems, and gripped the stick as I waited for the word to launch.
As the increasing roar of my Viper's turbos became the only sound in the cockpit, straining as they were to slip their leash, the only question in my mind was whether they would order us to launch before the rest of the team was ready. The fears of actual combat I had mostly conquered long ago.
Cimtar had been a fast learning curve. * * * Najinn Najinn was stood in the corridor with Kris as the klaxon sounded and the rest of Gold Squadron came running past heading towards the launch bay.
He looked at her and the only thing he could say;
"nuts timing as always." He grabbed her by the shoulders pulled her close, kissed her passionately and ran off down the corridor to join his squadron.
He hadn't been in his Viper for a long time, but there she was in the launch bay, sitting majestically on her launch tube.
He climbed in the cockpit and sat prepping, it was like it flooded back into mind, the feeling of flying this machine to its limits. Once was enough, you were hooked for life, and here he was again launching to fly to the rescue of his crewmates.
"This is Najinn, Gold ten, ready to launch." * * * Charybdis The calls came in from Alpha launch bay to the bridge. Gold flight was just about ready to go.
Geenie keyed the comm unit. "Gold Backup flight. Transferring control. Launch when ready." * * * Hawke The klaxon for Gold backup to launch came up. No doubt Najinn was at his viper by now. I headed to mine & did a quick pre-flight check. I brought my viper to life. "Gold backup One, transfering system controls from Callisto. You may launch when ready." "Ok, let's show these guys how a mission is supposed to be run." I said. I hit my turbos and go down the launch tubes. It's been so long, I almost forgot how great it felt. "Callisto, all vipers launched." I said. "Ok, your mission specs are in your nav comps. Good luck and for Kobol's sakes,be careful." Callisto control said. "Agelastus, your on my wing. Najinn, when we get back, I want a word with you! everyone else, stick to your assigned wingmen. And good luck!" I said.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:48:57 GMT -6
Agelastus My turbos fired within maybe a micron of Hawke's. Our Vipers catapulted out of the launch tubes virtually neck and neck.
I eased up slightly to move below and to the side of Hawke, into one of the traditional "cover position" stations that's a wingman's role. Even as I did this, his voice crackled on my com.
"Agelastus, you're on my wing. Najinn, when we get back, I want a word with you! Everyone else, stick to your assigned wingmen. And good luck!"
I acknowledged Hawke's orders with a virtually non-verbal grunt. Not exactly protocol, but the strange quality of the local light, its vibrant intensity, was already bothering me slightly.
Fighting in this environment would be even more of a "shoot first, live" lottery than any of my past engagements.... * * * Artus It felt good to finally be in a viper. Artus had done so many simulations in these things he would sometimes even forget that his only space mission so far had been in a shuttle. A felgercarb piece of a shuttle at that. And it would also take his mind off the other things that had been bothering him. Amy hadn't even looked his way at the briefing earlier, so he had better take it from there...
But now there were more important things at hand. Yessir, Artus was back in space. And this time he was even sober....
Through no fault of his own. * * * Amy Cylon fighters seemed to be replicating themselves. No sooner had Major Brie and I taken out a few; more seemed to appear on our screens. Ironicly we were nearly flying blind in spite of all the light, relying on our scanners except for closer encounters with the enemy.
"Did you find any jump point data?" Brie asked while firing away. It was amazing how a conversation could be carried out in the midst of a life and death struggle.
"Yeah, I think so" I replied as my viper shook from several nearby explosions of Cylon fire. "I sent it back, but lords only know if they'd be able to make it out with all this interference".
"Let's hope the distress call got through" Brie said. "We could hold out indefinately, but our fuel won't."
"Or our lasers" I added. "Mine are dancing around at the overheating temperature. I have to keep backing off or I'll cook them."
"Just don't lose them. Turning your viper into a recon ship will make you a dead daggit out here."
"I know, I know" I said with a weak chuckle. "Care to remind me why I ever gave up a life of farming on the agro ship again?"
"I think it had something to do with Najinn, didn't it? Puberty and a thirst for adventure is one tough combo to ignore!" Brie laughed.
I winced. I had forgotten about how much Najinn had inspired my career as a warrior. And here I'd gotten so immersed in that career that I'd turned him away. I shook my head to shake the thoughts, and the nearly instant depression that seemed to sweep over me. Though we'd never be lovers, Najinn and I could still be friends. I owed him too much to have come down so hard on him. Yet, he'd almost asked for it with all the disrespectful ways he'd addressed me on an open channel.
Nearby explosions jarred me back to attention. "Hey, you still with me?" Brie asked. "Yeah" I replied. "Just trying to check some systems". Sure, MY systems! I brought my viper through the errupting fireballs and let fly a series of shots that brought an attacking Cylon down in a shower of debris. "Yeah" I said, "I'm still with you!"
My thoughts turned to Artus and Charybdis, back on the Callisto. I still had a choice to make, and I resolved to show a little more care in what I did than in how I addressed Najinn that fateful morning. An ironic thought hit me: what if when I decided to announce my choice, the both of THEM had already decided differently? I couldn't say I didn't ask for it, that was for sure.
My viper tight with Brie's, we opened fire in a spread pattern that scored a bunch of glancing hits, as well as two direct ones, on a tight Cylon formation of fighters. "I love it when they fly in groups!" Brie laughed.
"Yeah, me too!" I grinned. My grin fell as my scanner showed more Cylon's closing. "Brie, I swear there's a baseship very close. Where are all these fighters coming from?"
My scanner also showed some good news: two vipers had appeared on the edge of my screen. My heart told me it was Skyler and Marcus. * * * Hawke "Five centons until target boundries." I say. "Lieutenant,I have multiple three passenger vehicles ahead." Agelastus said. "Number?" I asked. "Dear lord! Over seventy five!" he says. "Good. Enough that you don't miss. So don't. Gold flight, let's bring our bretheren home safely. Remember, stay close to your wingmen. Three centons until target boundries. Agelastus,how many vipers total do you make out?" I ask. "Four vipers confirmed. All surrounded by raiders!" he says. 'Everyone switch to combat frequency." I switch my com to the frequency. "Brie, I swear there's a baseship very close. Where are all these fighters coming from?" was what I heard. That was Amy. The battle was engaged! I took the one that was on Amy and reduced it to slag. "Thank you whoever you are!" Amy said. "Someone around here call for some help?" I asked. "Hawke! Thank the lords!" Major Brie said. "Major,switch to com freq One." I switch my com again. "I'm here." Brie said. "What's the situation?" I asked. * * * Randrius Randrius watched his scanners carefully, everyone in the group had picked up the reading that Anubis had first noticed and now they were tracking them. "Closing on the source," Anubis' dead-pan voice came over the comms, all-business as usual. Suddenely a laser flashed across his view, and Randrius put his fighter into a quick bank out of reflex. "Blacks, looks like we've got company." He saw three Cylon Raiders come tearing out of the gloom, hot on the tail of a Viper. He broke to port and dived, aiming on an intercepting course. The right Raider, obviously spotting him, broke into a steep dive, the other didn't react so fast, and this proved to be there deaths, four sets of lasers flashed turning the pair into space debris. "Break by pairs, Blacks, lets help these guys." * * * Agelastus "Dear Lord"? I'd not been in combat for far to long, obviously, if I'd let that come out. Regardless of rank I was still a veteran, after all; one was supposed to cultivate a more blase image. I'd seen a swarming Cylon squadron or two before, after all.
Maybe it was the light. Or maybe Killjoy. Both were still bothering me as I flew towards the furball ahead.
Keeping half an eye on my scanner, I could see the Cylons were making their usual mistake, in my opinion. Relying on numbers rather than skill they were gradually forcing the opposing Vipers apart out of mutual support range. But that was causing them both to separate themselves so that when we arrived, for a few microns, our odds would be more even than raw numbers suggested, and also their groups were clumping up, making it easier to hit multiple raiders in the initial flashing pass.
I toggled one of my screens to show the aft readings from my scanners. That was partly my job after all. Half an eye on my leader, half an eye behind, and only one eye for the enemy.
The adrenaline was flowing well now.
Only microns to go..........................
And then in, Hawke slagging the first raider he fired upon, my own shots catching another as it veered away from danger. It seemed I still had at least some of what it takes.....
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:49:42 GMT -6
Brie "What's the situation?" Hawke asked.
"The situation?" Brie repeated. She tried hard not to let her recently developed dislike for Hawke to show. "I think that's pretty obvious. They found us again, Lieutenant. And just for the record, don't act like we needed saving. Your orders were to fly backup, and that's exactly was expected. What took you so long to get here?"
"A slight problem back on the Callisto," Hawke replied. "Nothing that couldn't be handled."
"I want full details when we get back," Brie said. "I need to get Amy and Marcus back home, they've got vital information. Skyler and I will stay here with your flight, working on this problem. I'm switching back to the main frequency now." A micron later Brie continued so the rest of the group could hear, "Change of plans, flight one. Amy, Marcus, you head back to the Callisto, see that they have all the info on the jumps points. And Captain, see if you can get them to have the rest of Gold Squadron launch. We need someone to locate this baseship. Skyler, you're now my wing, we're staying here. Major Brie out." Brie realized that the hit she had taken earlier had done more damage than she originally thought as her high engine started to whine. * * * Charybdis "Dear lord! Over seventy ...!" someone says. "Good. Enough that you don't... So don't. Gold flight, let's bring ... safely. Remember, stay ...to your wingmen. Three centons until targ... boundries. Agelast...,how many vipers total do you make out?" "Four vipe... confirmed. All surrounded by raid...!"
Bits and pieces was all we could pick up. The garbling of the transmissions was hectic, trying to make out who was saying what. Sheba, Joey, myself and everyone else on the bridge were listening to our warriors out there. One thing's for sure, they were engaged with many cylon fighters.
It didn't look good. Sheba barked, "Major Joey, activate all turbo laster batteries on the Callisto. We must be ready in case they break through. Have Silver Spar squadron fan out just a bit more around us just in case."
"Aye, commander."
We could pick up a few blips onscreen, but not enough to tell us what was going on out there. In moments like these, being the pilot that I was, I wished I was out there with them. I'm sure all of us did. Joey, Lucian, even Sheba. They were all first-rate pilots. Everyone also knew that if the predicament became so bad, we could be called to fly at a micron's notice. I had faith in our Warriors that that would not be necessary... * * * Hawke As I got another raider I came up with a plan. When that happens, usually it's bad. But this one might work. I light a fumarello. A habit I picked up from Starbuck. "Major, I have an idea." I told Brie. "What is it Hawke? I'm a little busy here." she said. "By my estimation, when the rest of Gold Squadron arrives, the Cylons will put up somewhat of a fight. Eventually they'll retreat, when they do,they have to go somewhere. Couldn't 2 vipers follow out of thier sensor range and find that basestar? And if you ok it, I volunteer to do it." I awaited her answer. * * * Brie "Lieutenant," Brie said to Hawke, "that's fine, just make sure you wait until the rest of Gold Squadron is here. Take..." she thought for a moment. She needed an experienced pilot who would have no problem going on a high risk mission..."Lieutenant Najinn with you. Be careful, and stay back. You don't want to risk capture. Good luck." * * * Amy I heard Brie's voice over the comlink, but I grew sullen at the orders as I heard them. "Change of plans, flight one" the Major announced. "Amy, Marcus, you head back to the Callisto, see that they have all the info on the jumps points. And Captain, see if you can get them to have the rest of Gold Squadron launch. We need someone to locate this baseship. Skyler, you're now my wing, we're staying here. Major Brie out."
I shook my head. "Major, you need all the help you can get out here! I don't want to leave you until more back up arrives!" An incoming Cylon missile exploded close by, illustrating my point. Maybe I shouldn't have blurted that out, but changing wingmen mid-mission was a little radical, and I didn't want to go. * * * Brie "Major, you need all the help you can get out here! I don't want to leave you until more back up arrives!"
Brie didn't like what she had just heard. "Captain Amy," she said sternly, "you and Marcus are to head back to the Callisto immediately. That is an order. They won't send back-up until you tell them that we need it, so by staying here arguing you're actually delaying them. So go, now. And keep an eye on your rear scan, make sure that you're not being followed." * * * Amy Brie's voice rang loud and clear through my comlink as my viper flew through another exploding Cylon ship. "Captain Amy," she said sternly, "you and Marcus are to head back to the Callisto immediately. That is an order. They won't send back-up until you tell them that we need it, so by staying here arguing you're actually delaying them. So go, now. And keep an eye on your rear scan, make sure that you're not being followed."
My anger bubbled over. "Frackin' fine" I hissed, then into the comlink I said, "Returning to base" and flicked it back off again. I wasn't arguing anyway, just pointing out what I thought was a flaw in my orders. My lasers flashed red suddenly, and I knew as I backed off on my firing that they were gone for good this time. "Frack!" I said again. I was out of this fight anyway. The best thing I could do was to prove Brie's faith in me as a Captain, and carry out her orders. I knew that in any case, I just didn't like leaving her in danger. She was as low on fuel and laser power as I was.
I swatted my hanging dice in disgust. They were handy for moments like these. "Frack!" I said again as I steered clear of the battle. * * * Agelastus It was proving to be a frantic fight. Cylons everywhere, and perhaps even more suicidal than most. My weapons were heating so much that I decided to switch from simultaneous to the rarely used alternate firing mode in my lasers.
Rarely used because Cylon Raiders are tough ships - cycling between the lasers really puts a premium on your targeting skills
I nearly lost contact with Hawke's Viper when an impossibly gyrating Raider shot between us, perhaps trying to evade a fellow Viper pilot.
With both of us madly veering in divergent directions, neither of us got it.
But overlying it all was a feeling of slight discontent. I was catching fragments of the transmissions between Hawke, the Major and the Captain, and I was no happier than the Captain seemed to be at changing wingmen. It just didn't feel right, swapping assignments on the fly in the middle of combat like this.
Still, veteran as I was, I was a new face among this group. It was only logical that Major Brie would pick someone she knew and trusted to go with Hawke - or at least, someone she felt she could rely on. Besides, orders were orders, after all.
As I tried to line up on yet another Cylon, I realised that logic wasn't enough in this situation. I was angry, and that was not good.
A few yahrens earlier, it would have made me do something really reckless.
I wondered how far I'd grown up, as the Cylon flared into a satisfying ball of yellowish-orange flame, yet another miniature sun shining briefly among the stars. I guess I'll soon find out.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:50:24 GMT -6
Brie To make sure everyone was clear, Brie reminded everyone of the reassignments. With Amy and Marcus on the way back to the Callisto, it was six vipers against something less than 75 raiders.
"Lieutenant Hawke, contact Najinn on a private channel, let him know what's going on. Any you're to WAIT until backup arrives. Ensign Agelastus, you're now Lt. Artus' wing. Captain Skyler is with me. If anyone has a problem with this you can vote for a new CO the next election." * * * Skyler Skyler fell into formation behind Brie. He looked over the blackened area of her Viper and opened a private channel to her.
"Major, you look like you took a close one.. How bad is it?"
Brie considered telling him it was superficial, but she knew him well enough to know he wouldn't buy it.
"Skyler, my high engine is starting to whine a little. Other than that, everything is working fine."
"Major, keep and eye on those read outs, the micron you see something starting to go, you need to pull out. I will cover your six as much as I can."
As if he was emphasizing his point, Skyler's laser's dance across the bright sky and vaped a raider that was moving in on Brie.
Thinking to herself, 'Skyler, just don't get yourself in trouble watching out for me.' * * * Artus As the melee was going on all around him Artus tried his best to focus as much as he could on the battle. Like it wasn't frantic enough without Major Brie making him switch wingmen in the middle of the fight.
At least it kept his mind off Amy. The wonderfull, gorgeous...
Focus! Focus Now!
Right, so he'd better get aquainted with his new wingman. Artus decided to make contact while he was barrel rolling in between two Cylon raiders.
Then he realised he couldn't remember his new wingman's name. How embarassing can a situation get. He made a quick left bank and fired at one of the raiders, causing it to explode into a million tiny stars.
Where did major Brie get off making him SIC anyway. He supposed it had someting to do with his sense of humor.
"OH, well" he thought to himself; "at least Amy is getting out of this felgercarb.."
He opened his comm line whilst dodging the missiles from a fourth Raider.
"This is lieutenant Artus, I'm sorry I'm getting a little confused at the moment..."
Artus had to pause there because he needed all his concentration to jank back his stick to avoid a collision with one of the Cylons.
"Anyway, " he continued; "I would really like to know who is currently on my wing?" * * * JustinB I had just finished talking to Captain Kris and was heading to my viper when Kris yelled there was a message for me. When I arrived at the comm panel, I found out it was Major Lucian.
"Major, we have lost all communications with the survey team and they are well over due. Your Standby flight is to launch immediately and proceed to the Delta sector and find the missing patrol. May the Lords of Kobol be with You."
As I headed to my viper, Jaz, Stargazor and Killjoy asked me what was going on. After giving them a quick briefing, I told them to saddle up and launch.
Jumping in the cockpit, I slammed my helmet on. Doing the fastest pre-flight procedures ever, I hit my turbo button and was catapulted down the launch tube.
Hitting the last of the buttons, the course to the Delta sector and last known position of the survey team was set. Now all we had to do was find the survey team. * * * Stargazor Ensign Stargazor
"requesting launch control".
Launch Control gave the ensign permition. Stargazor made the necesary procedures and launched. As he made his way into the tube he was thinking about his latest actions and the promise he made to Major Justin.
"Time to make my name with honor again"!
He formed up with the major and waited for the rest. * * * Charybdis Flt. Spec. Geenie turned to Commander Sheba and said, "Commander, Black flight two has just launched!"
"Good. May the Lords be with them...and us." * * * Stadia Stadia heads to the bridge to check on the status of the mission. The anxiety of not being out there added to marcus being out there was becoming to much. * * * Lucian Lucian confirmed that the Black back-up team had launched. Commander Sheba looked stoic, but her concern for the missing Black survey team had been evident when Lucian had asked and been given permission for the back-up team to launch. With the transmission problems in Gamma Sector, it could be nothing, but on the other hand.... * * * JustinB We had been searching the Delta sector for thirty centons and there was no sign of the survey team. Since we still had nominal communications I punched in the secured channel and informed the Callisto.
"Callisto, this is Black Alpha. Preliminary scans of Delta Sector show no signs of the survey team. We will continue further into this sector. Black Alpha out." I reported.
A few centons later, Ensign Jaz's nervous voice cam over the comm. "Sir, what are we going to do if we do not find them? We cannot stay out here forever."
"Ensign, we will stay as long as I say we have to stay. I am not going to declare them lost, especially since I have just taken command of the Squadron. Plus we owe it to them not to mention it is our job."
Some small feelings of despair started to crawl into my mind. Rose had volunteered for this mission and now she was missing. I shook those thoughts out of my head, as there were three other lives hanging in the balance. If only they left some clues of what had happened. I decided to copy the path they would have taken to scan this region of space.
"Flight this is Black Alpha. We are going to take the route the survey team would have. Hopefully we can catch up with them. Set co-ordinates to pass by Pangara Major Zeta."
After the co-ordinates were set we kicked in our turbos to find our friends.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 29, 2005 20:51:19 GMT -6
Stargazor Stargazor was flying in formation when he suddenly felt weared, he started to feel disorientated, and could hardly stay awake. When he looked at his airsuply console everything marked clear yet, it was clear to him something was wrong. He couldn't keep the tight formation as his concentration fel away.
Stagazor quickly opend his com. channel: "Ensign Stargazor....., i ....im in trouble"!
(breathing)
"Someting is wrong with my air suply"!
Stargazor cut his engines as he was growing weaker from the lak of air.
"Help"....... * * * Charybdis Lt. Aegina, sitting at her console, quickly blurted out, "Colonel, we have a viper in trouble. Viper 4's life signs are fading. Malfunction in oxygen controls."
Before anything else could be said, I immediately yelled out, "Launch CORA drone unit, now! Get that viper back in before it's too late!"
THe small drone flew out of it's hatch located beneatht he launch bays and began its search for the wayward viper... * * * Stargazor Stargazor was in a bad situation, his conciousnes was kept only by will power. But his body motion was at a minimum. The last thing he could see was a shiny object coming closer to him. He finaly gave in and everything went black. * * * JustinB With Stargazor experiencing problems, I was sought of in a bind. There was nothing much I could do for him. Knowing that more than likely the CORA drone unit was on its way I made a decision.
"Black Bravo this is Black Alpha. You are too make your way onto Black Charlies wing. Black Charlie, I am going to orbit Pangara Major Zeta. You are too hold position with Black Bravo until I return. Until then, do what you can for Black Delta." I ordered.
"Copy Black Alpha." came Killjoys reply.
I kicked in my turbos and began my orbit of Pangara Major Zeta. I set my scanners for the widest possible scan without compromising the accuracy. I thought to myself about what was happening. First my survey patrol disappears, and then Stargazor's viper packs up on him. What else can go wrong? I was half way through my circumnavigation; I still picked up no signs of the survey patrol. What in the FRACK is going on? * * * Charybdis The small cylindrical CORA drone slowly approched and fired its rockets to match the vector of the slow drifting viper. Once in position, it manoured underneath the viper and closed in. As it made contact with the hull, it's auto-lock mechanism engaged and adhered itself with grasping claws.
A small probe inserted into a socket on the underside of the viper to relay technical information about the ship. The transmission beamed back to the Callisto as the CORA's engines fired once again and began the trek back to the Battlestar.
On the bridge, Lt. Aegina monitored the incoming transmission. "Sir, CORA transmission is incoming, but a bit garbled."
I looked at the readout diagnostic. Low life support system. Almost no oxygen. Stargazor was in trouble. THe signal was sent back to the CORA to run system checks to see if it could get the life support running again. It would be more crucial centons before we would know if it worked... * * * Randrius 'Damn it, where the frack are we?' Randrius wondered. Randrius keyed his comm, "Any luck reestablishing comms with Callisto, Anubis." "No, sir," came the dead-pan reply. "OK, well, keep trying," Randrius said. Suddenly his sensor board lit up, "Got incoming ships, team." Anubis' voice came back over his comm, "Ship profile unknown as of yet." "OK, let go check it out, but keep your lasers warm, this could be trouble." * * * Stargazor Meanwhile the Cora drone tried to re activate the life support systems from Stargazor's viper.
Captain Killjoy flew to the other side and came in closer for a look into the cockpit. as he came closer he could see that the hull of the viper was damaged just under the cockpit section where the life support console is. As the drone tried to activate the panel again he could see smoke coming out of it and electrical malfaction's. Stargazor wasn't moving.
Captain Killjoy opend a com. channel to the Callisto. "I can see damage to the left side of the viper"!
"The entry point is just at the life support unit, and as the drone tries to re activate the unit smoke starts to fill the cockpit"!
"He must have launched straight into some space-ial debrie, witch caused a delayed malfuction"!
When the drone send back data of Stargazor's condition the reedings wore strange. He was almost flatline , yet his heart kept going on a very slow beating as if it would not give up. * * * JustinB As the survey team approached Pangara Major Gamma, the readings they had taken began to clear up a little. To the left of the Major Gamma they detected objects moving towards them.
"Black One this is Black Four," It was Rose. "I am picking up incoming ships. I cannot verify as the IFF is inoperable. Closer scans seem to indicate vipers Sir, but that cannot be possible cause we don't have any patrols out this far. Let’s just hope we are getting some scrambled info because they are similar to the readings we had at Blassanic." * * * Charybdis Core Command wishes to announce that Phoenix has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Colonial Military.
Congratulations! <Chorus of voices> “CONGRATULATIONS!”
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Post by LucianG on Apr 30, 2005 6:55:34 GMT -6
Amy Flying an evasive return path to the Callisto, Marcus and I flew in relative silence. I tried once to ask him a question. "So, tell me Marcus, how is the new married life?" But it got garbled into something like ".......Ma..c........ ..........the n.........ife?" or something similar. After that, I concentrated on my instruments. The laser system on my viper, which had overheated, had gone back down finally to normal levels, but I really couldn't test them as we approached the ship.
The Callisto was a spectacular sight, hanging there amidst all the light from Pangara. I signaled our approach, and got something that sounded like confirmation as we steered into the bay reserved for Gold Squadron. We set down lightly. Popping the canopy, I hopped down, stretching while I watched Marcus do the same.
"Marcus" I said, "transmit the information from both our vipers directly to the bridge's computers". As he nodded, I turned to the approaching flight deck crewmen. "Refuel and get these two vipers in launch position. Oh, and check the laser generator on my viper. It was overheating pretty bad."
"Yes Captain" came the reply.
As the tasks were being carried out, I trotted over to the nearest vid-com, and punched up the bridge. In a moment, the screen came on, and I was looking at the commander, with Lucian at her side. Between and behind them stood Charybdis, and I instinctively gave him a little wave before I remembered that all three could see me.
"Captain Amy reporting" I said. "Resending all survey information from Gold team directly to the bridge." I paused. "There's a lot of Cylon activity out there. Major Brie needs the rest of Gold Squadron launched right away. Marcus and I are preparing to lead the flight back to contact coordinates."
I continued to give information, and answer questions as they came up. Marcus came over at one point to whisper that the vipers were refueled and being moved into launch tubes. I asked about my lasers, and he said he didn't know. I stood by the vid-com, waiting for any further questions, and to be dismissed to re-launch. * * * Brie By Brie's estimation, Amy and Marcus should have made it back to the Callisto. She hoped that backup would arrive soon. She was running low on fuel, she knew that Skyler would be too. And her high engine was starting to worry her. The readings were all still normal, but the noise it was making was really getting on her nerves. She tried to ignore it, until more vipers arrived she was staying where she was. * * * Charybdis 75 Cylon Raiders against just six of ours!!! Major Brie was good, but she was going to need all the help she could.
After hearing Cpt. Amy's report, the call went out: "Attention Gold Squadron...launch all fighters!! Repeat, launch all fighters!!!" * * * Stadia Stadia's heart leaped into her throat. A fear suddenly took over when she heard the order given. She hoped Marcus was ok. She wished she could be out there but her arm prevented that.
She offered a prayer to the gods that Marcus would come back to her. * * * Agelastus "Anyway, I would really like to know who is currently on my wing?"
Artus' voice crackled in my ears, as the battle near Pangara Major Delta raged on.
I wish I could have said I was on his wing. After all, that's where I was supposed to be. Unfortunately, that would also have been a flat out blatant lie.
Judging by the increasingly erratic scanner on my Viper, struggling as it was to punch through the radiation of local space, exacerbated by the explosions and wreckage, the detritus of battle, Artus was on the far side of the engagement from me.
As well as switching to alternate fire mode, I'd been trying to limit the use of my turbos as well. Full battle turbos are notorious fuel hogs, and I had no idea when help would reach us from the Callisto. In small ship engagements it's sometimes not the last man standing, or even the last man with a working laser - it's the last man with fuel.
However, maybe that hadn't been such a good idea, as the gradual drift of the battle across Delta's orbital plane had left me on the edge of the main fight, virtually within throwing distance of the upper reaches of Delta's partially known atmosphere. Not to mention that my scanner showed at least a dozen Raiders, perhaps more, who all suddenly seemed to have decided that I was a blot on their horizon that must be erased.................
I opened a channel.
"Lieutenant Artus, this is Ensign Agelastus," I said, trying to be as concise as possible. "The major's assigned me as your wing. Got a little trouble over here, though. Will try and shake them and hook up with you shortly."
Then, as an afterthought. "Sorry."
Looking around, I groped for an idea. * * * Brie Although they were drastically outnumbered, the Gold Squadron vipers were holding their own. Brie's fuel readout was beginning to worry her, her high engine as well. She hoped that Amy and Marcus had made it back safely, if not....she wouldn't let her thoughts go there.
Switching to rear scan for a micron, Brie noticed approaching ships. After their last encounter with the Cylons all vipers had been equipped with a special red marker, so she knew that this was their backup. “Thank the lords,” she said out loud. She turned on her comm. “Okay, Gold Squadron, I’m only going to say this once. Hawke, Najinn, wait until you see what we were talking about, then go for it. Don’t do anything stupid, and keep an eye on your fuel. Make sure you have enough to get back. Captain Skyler and I will be heading back in a couple of centons, we need to refuel as well. Artus, you and...” she thought for a moment. What was the name of Artus’ wing? “...our newest ensign will continue working here, but don’t let your fuel get too low either. When Skyler and I leave Hawke will be in charge, and when he’s gone it will be Artus. This is for the entire group here, not just the standby flight. Any questions?” There was no reply. “Good luck.”
Brie swung around, firing at another raider. As she did so the sound in her high engine changed from a whine to a high-pitched wail. Even though her instruments didn’t show it, she knew something was terribly wrong.
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