[OOC:  Spell checking is for those who plan thier posts rather then write the moment inspiration strikes.  /OOC]
[EDIT: Or those who take 5 seconds to run it through one after that moment of inspiration is over. -Japheth /EDIT]

Daishi made a sharp break to his left and began lining up a shot on an A-Wing harrasing some of the boarding craft.

Rewarded with a lock on tone a moment later Kuroishi fired off another pair of missles.  At this rate he'd be out of missles in no time but the rebel fighter screens were starting to show signs of thining out.

Between trying to cover thier own forces attacking the VE capital ships, stop boarders, and cover thier own capital ships they were becoming hard pressed with the sudden shift of having some of thier own guns that previously provided cover now shoot at them instead.

Then there was Kaph squadron.  They were well trained and having a rather noticable effect on enemy numbers.

Despite losses the VE still had the numerical edge but without something from Jester squad to bring down the shields that wouldn't do much good and obviously the New Republic was willing to devote a great deal of resources to defending this world and in a long term war they had more then enough to make this victory meaningless for the VE if they took too many losses here.

Another pass and Daishi locked on to an X-Wing trying it's hand at disrupting boarding operations.  This time it had some cover.

"This is going to be tight."  Daishi muttered as he locked on an instant after the lock on warning indicator in his cockpit began beeping.

The pair of advanced missles left thier modular launchers an instant after the lock on warning.  Unless the X-Wing pilot was some kind of uber jedi he would be dead in a moment unless he ejected before the missles hit.  At the same time Daishi heard the warning beep for incoming missles.

Pulling every erratic manuever he could think of to keep the incoming missles from impacting Daishi also saw another problem to contend with, the fighter that launched them.

With all the manuevers Daishi was forced to pull to lose the trailing missles he couldn't make the most of his speed and get away from the fighter that launched them at the same time.

Red bolts impacted against his shields and Daishi was becoming very concerned about how fast they were dropping.  The pilot was definately skilled and in a good firing position to take Daishi's shields down so quickly despite the manuevers he was pulling.

Time to call in the cavalry.

"Daishi to any available VE pilot I need some help to get this guy off me."  Daishi commed.
-----------------------
RA(U) Daishi COSOS
"If we had all knowladge then why would we seek what we already know and if we had no knowladge then how could we even ask the question?"  Plato
"Indeceant exposure is fun." Sonatina
"There are at least three sides to any situation." Me

    Denethor zoomed headlong towards an on coming X-Wing, red bolts flying past his cockpit as he poured green bolts from the nose of his gunboat. This deadly game of chicken could only end in one way, the X-Wing blown to bits, and Denethor was going to make sure of that.
    Reverting power from the engines to his forward shields, Denethor threw in some ion bolts to further deplete his enemy's shields. Glancing at the stats of the X-Wing, he noted that its shields were falling very quickly, which was extremely good. As the X-Wing got closer, Denethor flipped to missiles and fired four missiles at it, sealing its fiery fate. Just as the first set of missiles impacted the X-Wing, Denethor yanked the control stick towards him, pulling the Gunboat into as steep an incline as it could. Den could feel the floor heat up as the Gunboat skimmed the blaze, but was very relieved when the metal cooled down again.
    Regaining his bearings, Denethor checked on the status of his squadron, all were alive. Thank the Force
He then checked to see if Daishi was safe, Denethor had heard his distress call, but was unable to answer because of the dogfight with the X-Wing, and didn't catch who had responded to it. Daishi was fine, near one of the still enemy Golans, but oddly enough was accompanied by Kaph 3-2. Who the...? Denethor flipped on his comm. and spoke into his helmet mic.
    "Kaph 3-2," He asked, "May I inquire as to your identity?"

"Yes sir, Denethor, sir, I am LCRW Jayzon Jaerin, fresh out of the academy, and I just saved the Admiral."

      "This true Admiral?"

            "Very much so," Daishi responded, "I owe him my life."

      "Then welcome to Kaph, Jayzon, you're fitting in well already."

"Thank you sir."

      "You're welcome, now enough with the chatter, we've got Rebels to blast."

Denethor then cut off the comm. and chased after the Z-95 that just attempted to strafe him.

 
-----------------------
Kam "Denethor" Vox
Chief Warrant Officer
Vast Empire Navy
Kaph Squadron Squadron Commander
SC/CWO Denethor/Kaph 1-1/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/VEN/VE(=A=)(=SA=)[LoR]
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." -Plato

*Trying to post in here why'll I can...

    Shazams eyelids closed as the hatch to the fighter was opened.  The smell of warm engine oil surrounded him as air rushed in.  He could feel arms pulling him out of the fighter as he came back to his senses, bleak dots of black rolled in the curves of his eyes.  Shazam had never felt quite so tired in his life, the lack of oxygen had made it hard for to hear for some reason as well...  So tired...
    Hours seemed like seconds to Shazam, as he went in and out of contiousness, dreams and nightmares occured.  Several flashbacks to that fatal night on Corrillia were sharp in his mind again.  There could be no worse nightmare than that of losing all you love because of a simple flight diagnostic. 
    He finally awoke, completely aware of his settings now.  He stared up at a white ceiling, plates lined up in down in the emergency station.  It would be a while until he could get back into a fighter.  He felt a deep loathing for space suddenly, as if it were out to get him.  Shazam had sucked up enough CO2, and had nearly reached below freezing in his cabin when he had arrived in the hanger bay.
      The blackness of space was still present in the luminessence of the bright white room.  He couldn't sort out his thoughts, it was a like one reoccuring nightmare that would simply not stop.  Thoughts flashed in and out of his head, like where did Blah go off to after I left?  Or why wasn't anyone around to answer his questions...  Man he was tired...  Shazam closed his eyes and waited for himself to come back...
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*
My Real Bebop: (=A=)

(OOC:Gah, wish I had more time! I'll leave it as is, I suppose...)

      Chip felt like someone had punched himin the stomach when he heard "This is Kaph 3-2, inbound." What the heck was going on? Eric had been 3-2, and Chip had watched Eric die, had seen his gunboat blasted apart by the Golan before his eyes. It took a moment for Chip to realize that this wasn't Eric; the Imperial Navy, efficient as ever, had already replaced him.

      So, this kid was fresh out of the Academy, eh? Well, this was certainly a heck of a place to get one's baptism of fire. Chip just hoped that Jayzon wouldn't freeze up from all the stress and get himself killed like all the other green pilots. Chip really couldn't remember much from his own time at the Academy, except for that one letter that Sarah had sent to him...

      Chip wished that he could touch the ring that he kept on a chain around his neck, but it was under his flight suit and he couldn't reach it. He remembered how it had looked in the display at the antique store, a simple, gold engagement ring with an amber-colored stone. He couldn't remember what the stone was called, some odd name. It wasn't all that flashy or fancy, but Chip had liked the simplicity and modesty of the thing. Besides, being an antique, it would be perfect for the history buffs that he and Sarah were. Chip also remembered the sound of it hitting the floor of his Academy quarters when it fell out of the envelope.

      He'd read the note from Sarah's mother, and the letter from Sarah herself. The ring had been taped to the top of the first page, but the scotch tape had lost its stickiness. It had sounded like a small, high-pitched bell when the ring had landed on the metal floor. Landed right by his bunk, then it rolled to his toe. She had been so very, very sorry that things couldn't have worked out. But she felt as though Chip had abandoned her when he joined the Navy. And right when she had needed him most, too. And so that was the end of it. The morning after she had written the letter, her mother had found her on the floor, the empty bottle of sleeping pills still in her hand.

      Chip had sat on his bunk, staring at the ring in his right hand while the letter shook in his left. He'd nearly followed her example, had thought about dropping out of the Naval Academy, buying a blaster, and...

      His gunboat rocked. Stang, shields were at 19%! He had to stop daydreaming!
 
-----------------------
(hits golf ball through the stargate) "So, how far away is Edura?"
"Several million light years, O'Niel."
"That's gotta be a record." (gets ready to swing golf club)
"Colonel O'Niel, what in God's name do you think you're doing?!"
"IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BACKSWING?!"

"People like you are the reason people like me take medication."  -Cool T-shirt

The Z-95 pilots were brave indeed but thier craft were no match for the more capable fighters the VE was arraying against them.

Daishi had chased three off earlier but now they were trying to make it impossible for him to maintain his runs on the corvette without getting shredded.

"Fine I'll deal with you lot now rather then later."  Daishi muttered as he switched to advanced missles.

Locking onto the lead fighter Daishi triggered a single missle then dived away from the three Z-95s and let the missle introduce the lead fighter to it's fate.

With only two fighters lef Daishi began a series of manueveres that would wind up splitting the two aged fighters in thier attempts to keep Daishi pinned.

"Now there will be one."  Daishi said as he dumb fired a missle straight into the port wing of one of his persuers.

Switching back to guns to conserve what few missles he had left Daishi began to prey on the last Z-95  that had began as the hunter.

A prolonged left banking dive followed by a series of linked gun bursts blasted the last Z-95.
 
-----------------------
Kuroishi Wraith VEA
Daishi Raptor VEN
Assistant Writer Why Project Copyright Infringment
Ich bin hessliche amerikaner.
Nehmen mir zu dein frauen von vernunftig preis tugendhafte.
"And the sound of many heads hitting many solid objects was heard throughout the land." me

The young pilot juked left and the right, rolling tightly in a barrel to his right and then stopping abruptly, pulling back on his stick hard, and pushing it to the left slightly, engaging the right bank of engines slightly above the power of the left, it looked like he lost control. "Well, I'll have to thank JMac for that trick next time I see him," Chip said to himself, lining himself up on the A-wing that had been on his tail. "I'd better make this quick if I don't want him pulling some insane sithspit on me."

"Sir, incoming fighters, permission to engage?" Jayzon chimed in, watching his senior only in experience taking out an ugly.

"Permission granted, will be there in a few seconds."

Jayzon veered off straight towards the incoming X-wings, knowing that he could easily be picked off by any one of them. He shifted his shields to full front, and toggled the switch to his laser cannons to engage. Clicking the button on top of his stick, he let loose 2 missiles, and began evasive maneuvers.

Kaph 3-2, pull up on the left. "Where the hell did that come from?" he wondered, absentmindedly pulling up to the left. Red bolts of energy shot past his canopy and he suddenly knew why. Luckily he wasn't the only one in this fire fight, and a luckily misplaced Tie Bomber was there to help him take out the man that he couldn't shake. "Thanks Venom 2-3."

"Not a problem." The pilot veered off and was headed back to the corvette, and towards the capitol ships that were trying to get away. He might be able to make some sort of a difference in this fight, but he didn't know what. His mind went blank as he saw red bolts of energy crashing into his view port, and he froze for an instant. That instant was too much. His fighter became a ball of super-heated alloys and plasma, and suddenly winked out of existence.
 
-----------------------
Dark Jedi Knight of the Dark Jedi Order
First Lieutenant of the Vast Empire Navy

ph34red by many

are you man enough?

The republic fighters just kept on boiling out of the remaining enemy Golans as if there was a factory just behind the launch bays churning them out, and they were doing a good job of keeping the pilots from Kaph squadron clear of the remaining capital ships in orbit around Moorja. As Jayzon watched, another flight of X-Wings launched from the station on his port side and arced around, vectoring in on the furball. A jolt pulled the youth from Traivon IV back to his immediate predicament - the two X-Wings on his tail.

After being cleared by that poor bomber pilot from Venom, the X-Wings Jayzon had been playing chicken with had pulled around and closed on his tail.

Time to see if these swanky Cygnus gunboats are as good as the ones in the arcades back home, he thought, grimacing.

Jaering slowed his craft down, the rear shields taking massive abuse, dropping quickly toward the red. As the two X-Wings drew in for the kill, Jaerin dumped a flare out of his countermeasures which shot back into the shields of one of the republic fighters. The two X-Wing pilots were thrown into momentary confusion, giving the imperial pilot a moment to escape. Accelerating through ninety degrees, Jaerin threw his throttle to max.

"Kaph three-two to Kaph three-one. Chip, I could use a little help here," Jaerin said into the comm.


"Roger, en route, Jayzon," was the response, "On my command, drag right. Three...two...one...now!"

Jaerin went through the move, and Chip shot through the space he had occupied, dropping two pairs of missiles into the lead X-Wing at point blank range.

"Right on!" cried Jaerin, "let's turn the tables."

The now lone X-Wing was trying to run for one of the Golan stations, attempting to draw the imperial craft in range of its guns. Jayzon grinned as he opened fire with his laser cannons. Between the two of them, Chip and Jayzon were making short work of his shields. The X-Wing began to slow.

"Watch him," said Jaerin, "He might be trying my own trick against me."

Sure enough, the republic pilot launch a pair of flares from his countermeasure tube and vectored down, trying to escape, but the imperial's were ready for him and followed the move, ignoring the harmless flares. The X-Wing's shields went down, and the hull did not last long against the combined fire of two gunboats.

"Jaerin, check your sensors, we have another flight of X-Wings inbound," called Chip.

"Roger. Missiles?"

"Yeah, I've got the one on the left, you take the one on the right. We'll save the middle one for afters."

Jaerin picked out his target and began to acquire missile lock, at the same time hearing the alarm indicating the republic pilots were doing the same. As soon he the tone turned solid, Jaerin loosed a pair of missiles and dragged off to the left, turning his vector so that he left the front firing arc of the X-Wings. He swung around, and saw that Chip had done the same. They saw two of the republic fighters ahead, trying to evade the missiles. The third had looped around behind them and was taking pot shots at Chip's rear shields.

"Drop back and get this guy off me before those two shake those missiles," ordered Chip.

Jaerin cut his throttle and angled in for the X-Wing on Chip's tail.

      Chip yanked on the control stick the way he usually did when some rebel idiot was on his tail. Stupid, idiotic rebels. They reminded him of the brainless airheads who had clogged the hallways of his old high school, who had even stopped to make out and grope each other in the middle of the stair wells. Freshmen, some of whom hadn't even stopped believing in cooties yet, groping in front of the whole school. A disgusting sight, to be sure. Just like this rebel. Chip had been slightly pissed off when he saw the rebels targeting him and Jay, but it was to be expected. Chip had fired his missles a little early, they hadn't quite finished locking yet. This meant they would follow quite as well, but it gave Chip enough time to zip away before the reb's could fire their own.

      Chip pulled back around, saw his missles miss their target, and tried to move in without getting plastered by the freak on his tail. "Hey Jay, head straight for me, like we're playing chicken. I saw this in a war-holo once. When I tell you, bank and break to your right."

      "Roger."

      The two gunboats came straigh for each other, one rebel following Chip and the other two following Jay. When Chip yelled "Now," the republic boys had no idea that they were about to slam directly into each other. Two were obliterated outright, while the third was struck by wreckage and went careening off in some bizarre manner.

      "Hah! Alright, let's go give that interdictor some cover, shall we?"
 
-----------------------
(hits golf ball through the stargate) "So, how far away is Edura?"
"Several million light years, O'Niel."
"That's gotta be a record." (gets ready to swing golf club)
"Colonel O'Niel, what in God's name do you think you're doing?!"
"IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BACKSWING?!"

"People like you are the reason people like me take medication."  -Cool T-shirt

Daishi felt very alone as he dodged and weaved the return fire from the squadrons of fighters.

The flotila now seemed to be where it wanted to be to start making it's charge toward the Interdictor.

Daishi knew something was amiss about this situation from the get go and he really had never had the time to think about it.  All he had time to focus on were the dozens of fighters making sure he couldn't get any good shots in.

All Daishi could do was evade and hold out until help arrived from Kaph or elsewhere.
 
-----------------------
RA(U) Daishi COSOS
"If we had all knowladge then why would we seek what we already know and if we had no knowladge then how could we even ask the question?"  Plato
"Indeceant exposure is fun." Sonatina
"There are at least three sides to any situation." Me

Daishi's insane manuvere had worked so far using the Interdictor's gravity fields to drop him out of hyperspace right on top of the rebel task force.

A pair of pilots from Kaph squad were on thier way to help him out with the swarm of fighters jokeying for good shots on the TIE Horror.

As Daishi evaded another volly of fire the Kaph reinforcements began to pick off some of the weaker fighters.

Both sides broke away from each other.

"There are too many rebels left for just the three of us, but if we don't do something the Interdictor will be creamed in a couple minutes."  Daishi commed.

"All the other Kaph pilots look like they are caught in thier own furballs and can't get out without leaving themselves open to counter attack.  What are we going to do?"  Chipmunk replied.

"We got about two minutes before those fighters swarm the Vernitchung.  The nearest capital ship is the ISD Crusader.  Let's hope that the captain is open to the idea of saving the Vernitchung."  Daishi replied.

"This is Admiral Daishi to the ISD Crusader.  The Vernitchung requires your assistance."  Daishi prayed they were not too late.

"Rodger that Admiral, our fighters are inbound."  Responded the comm tech.

Daishi couldn't help but marvel at how fast six squadrons of fighters could be launched from an ISD.

Daishi looped in formation with Jazon and Chipmunk to line up shots on the rear gaurd of the rebel fighters.

"Time to see what else doesn't work."  Daishi muttered to himself as he tried to engage the multi targeting function of the targeting computer.

Unsuprisingly it did not engage.  For a shakedown flight things could have been a lot worse.

"Right to left.  Top to bottom.  I got one."  Chipmunk commed.

"I'll take two."  Jazon added.

"Leaves me number three.  Aight let's do this."  Daishi replied.

As soon as he had a missle lock Daishi fired and quickly selected his next target.  Only eight advanced missles left.  That meant four more targets.

The attention of the rebel fighters were now split between the incoming TIEs and the trio of fighters harrasing thier rear flank.

Daishi locked missles as fast as he could as fighters broke off toward him and his companions in this fight.  He'd be lucky if he could blast two before they got in firing range.

Another pair of missles streaked away.

Selecting another A-Wing Daishi lined tracked his arcing path toward the three pilots and locked just as he began to spray fire.

"Take this."  Daishi said as he nudged the stick forward and pulled the trigger.

Pulling back up the pilot didn't realise there were missles heading his way about to turn him into floating junk.

A burst of fire impacted the TIE Horror from the doomed A-wing before he was turned into space debris.

Daishi checked his systems and found that the damage had been minor but caused several major computer errors.

Daishi pushed the stick over and the TIE Horror responded slowly.  Daishi pointed his craft at the nearest rebel capital ship.  Swithing to guns and pulling the trigger each one had a different auto-convergance setting.  This was bad, it would mean having to dock to get it fixed.

"Sorry guys, no way around it the TIE Horror needs some repairs before she can fight again."  Daishi said as he made the trip back toward the Devastator.

Fortunately the fighters from the Crusader were enough of a distraction for Daishi to make his get away.

"Daishi to Devastator I'm coming in for repairs."  Daishi commed as he approached the Devastator after several minutes of flight at top speed.

"Sir there is a message waiting for you from Gunnery Seargant Kuroishi, Wraith Squad VEA."  A tech reported to Daishi.

"Fine.  I'll be in my quarters."  Daishi said as he marched away.

As Daishi worked his way through the hallways and elevators to his quarters he had a fair idea of what the message was about.  After all they were both pretty much the same man to a point.

As Daishi accessed his computer to retrieve the message he began to formulate an idea.  Perhaps he could get the Vast Empire to initiate the last phase of Project Death's Nest for him under his command.

"Comm tech I need an interstellar communication access."  Daishi said as he had confirmed what was on Kuroishi's mind.

"Yes sir."  The Comm Tech's reply came over the speaker.

Daishi punched in an encryption code and a frequency to transmit on.

"Captain Greyscuttle I need a check on all known engagements involving Imperial remnants for the last year.  I also need you to check GUESSWORK's archives for troop deployments to Moorja as far back as we have them.  We have a few mysteries on our hands.  Transmit using security code zeta when you have the information."  Daishi said.

"Yes sir."  Reginold Greyscuttle replied.

Daishi had a bad feeling about what was going to be found but he knew it had to be done.
 
-----------------------
RA(U) Daishi COSOS
"If we had all knowladge then why would we seek what we already know and if we had no knowladge then how could we even ask the question?"  Plato
"Indeceant exposure is fun." Sonatina
"There are at least three sides to any situation." Me

Daishi stared at his fighter for a moment before he started to move toward it again.

Just as he reached the ladder to climb into his fighter a tech ran up to him.

"Sir we've just started recieving a large transmission for you."  The tech said not realizing the full implication of what he had just said.

"Very well.  The battle outside is well in hand so I shall go back to my quarters and recieve this transmission."  Daishi had taken advantage of his Admiral's porogitive once more.

As he returned to his quarters and began to sift through all the information in front of him he knew he had a choice now and he had made up his mind quickly.

It was time to submit the paper work to see if the VE would help him undertake Project Death's Nest.

The biggest gap needed to be filled was the pilot gap.

If the project was turned down he'd just be patient until he could pull off the project himself.

With a few presses of buttons he had forwarded the information to his other self.

There would be some interesting times ahead for the New Republic.
 
-----------------------
Kuroishi Wraith VEA
Daishi Raptor VEN
Assistant Writer Why Project Copyright Infringment
Ich bin hessliche amerikaner.
Nehmen mir zu dein frauen von vernunftig preis tugendhafte.
"And the sound of many heads hitting many solid objects was heard throughout the land." me

Shazam took one long look at the hospital room...  After a few moments, he turned to his left and saw his flight clothes in shambles...  Apparently they decided to cut off his clothes instead off unzip them.  That's what the scissors, he thought to himself. 

Shazam was still dressed in his skibbys, but he sat up and walked out of the vacant room.  He stopped in the hall.  He realized he didn't know what exactly he was doing or where he was going.  A natural human reaction, he figured.  Shazam felt fine now, and just wanted to get out and fight some people.  Nothing to epic, just going off and blowing some people off.  Lack of oxygen will do that to you...

Shazam walked to the hanger from the nursing station, striding along a series of dark blue tanks.  People hung weightless in the bacta.  As he passed, he noticed one of them smiling, a really big smile.  What the hell...  Shazam dismissed it without another thought. 

He reached the hanger, a few people rushed up to greet him.  The thing was really a blur, like he was on the verge of sleeping, but before he knew it...  He was fully dressed and back in a new figher.  What type of fighter was it?  I dunno...  He didn't care...  Pushing a few buttons, he felt the engines rumble the machine he was driving...  Whatever it was.

Flying out of the hanger bay, he didn't bother to try to pick up a wingman, he was feeling especially lazy for that type of stuff lately.  The cold vacume of space surrounded the ship reached the deep blackness.  Stars glinted in the distance, explosions rumbled nearyby. 

Turning his attention to the nearest pair of fighters, Shazam took the fighter towards them.  Really really fast...  The fighters were coming towards him from an angle.  Basically, if you had a T, and took the top of it, and tilted it until it was completly diagnal, you'd have the angle...  Yep. 

Anyways, Shazam still wasn't actually thinking at the moment, and didn't realize the throttle was at maximum.  By some interesting tip of fate, Shazam managed to get to the point of arival before the pair did.  Thus, when he shot the missles he had with him, at them...  They went directly through thier cockpits.  Anhilated him.  He heard a few encouraging shouts through the intercom. 

Shazam had forgotten he was carrying a walkman, so it was a surprise when he felt the cool plastic in his pocket.  Shazam took out the MP3 cd and put it in the console infront of him.  Used for Coodirnates, but also good for MP3 players... 

Shazam cranked the music and chased some of  the other enemy fighters around.  No one really seemed to have a heart in the battle anymore. Most of the fighting was going on planet side.  There were just a few stragglers left out in space so they could try to take down a few imps before they got slaughtered.  Shazam couldn't really make sense out of his thoughts anymore.  He decided he'd just listen to the music and let everything go... 

(I'm really tired...)
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*
My Real Bebop: (=A=)

"This fleet has suffered enough technical delays.  Let's get underway."  Daishi said as he stepped onto the bridge of the Devastator.

What Daishi was currently doing could be construed as about half a dozen court marshalable offenses plus about a dozen or so minor offenses.  There were no orders from anyone higher on the chain of command to do what Daishi was doing.  Time for that later though.

"Sir what course should we set?"  The navigation officer questioned.

"Bestine IV.  I want us in close.  We're already behind schedule and the Army ships are already there and in need of our support.  While in transit have all ships prepared for atmospheric support.  Kaph squadron will be assigned Gunboats once more for this mission."  Daishi barked as the Offensive Fleet of the Vast Empire Navy formed up for hyperspace travel.

Even if Daishi had to do it by himself he would bring the Vast Empire Navy back into this campaign.  His essentialy hijacking the fleet was but the first step.

As the time passed in the monotonay of hyperspace travel Daishi found plenty of time to contemplate the consequences of what he had done.  If Japheth took offense his career would be over.  If not he suspected he'd still catch hell if the fleet took too many loses from this endevour.

As real space faded back in Daishi saw the fleet was indeed late.

"I want all available fighters out now to clear out those mines and mine layers.  Get the mine sweepers in there as soon as possible.  We must get the Dominion out of there in one piece.  Have the Crusader and it's battle group form up to watch our backs.  Drake, Punisher, and Compton battle groups are to take charge of eliminating any enemy resistance already in system.  Devastator, Greenwood, Tikonov, Barbarian, and Wolfhound battle groups will provide planetary support.  All other vessels are to stand by to reinforce battle groups as needed."  Daishi nearly shouted his orders.

Daishi knew full well that if he waited for the mine sweepers to get in close enough to the Dominion it would likely be too late.  He'd have to trust the fighters would be able to clear a large enough path.

Soon he would find out if he was a hero or doomed.
 
-----------------------
RA(U) Daishi COSOS
"If we had all knowladge then why would we seek what we already know and if we had no knowladge then how could we even ask the question?"  Plato
"Indeceant exposure is fun." Sonatina
"There are at least three sides to any situation." Me

[OOC:  The fleet is here so unless for some unkown reason the pilots were off loaded on some station or planet you're with us.  The order was for all available fighters to clear mines.  /OOC]
 
-----------------------
Kuroishi Wraith VEA
Daishi Raptor VEN
Assistant Writer Why Project Copyright Infringment
Ich bin hessliche amerikaner.
Nehmen mir zu dein frauen von vernunftig preis tugendhafte.
"And the sound of many heads hitting many solid objects was heard throughout the land." me

Running full tilt through the docking bay Gene tried desparately to finish zipping up his flight suit. The zipper kept getting caught on the material, and he ended up stopping to finish dressing himself.

The alarms had caught him off guard, and in the fresher. His first engagement was already off to a bad start, and he hadn't even gotten off the ground yet.

Pulling on his left glove over his artificial hand as he reached the ladder to the cockpit, Gene nodded at his flight leader Chip. He scrambled up the ladder into the Assault Gunboat, and plopped himself down on the flight couch. After strapping himself in with the flight harness, Gene put on his helmet and flicked the switch to lower the canopy.

Wish I had spent more time in the simultors in these badboys Gene lamented Well at least I know how to use this thing anyways.

Taking a quick second to locate and mentally log the locations of the weapon selector, laser cycling toggler, targeting computer controls and shield recharger, Gene fired up the repulsor lifts.

Just then Denethor's voice crackled over the com. "Alright Kaph, were cleared to launch, check 'em off"

"Kaph 1-2, ready and waiting." Arturus said.

"Kaph 1-3, hot and ready." came Hammerman's reply.

On down the list it went until it was Gene's turn "Kaph 3-3, all green and ready for launch"

"Roger that. Good luck out there boys. Watch your shields and stay with your flights. Launch in 3...2...1... LAUNCH!"

The twelve gunboats of Kaph Squadron rocketed out of the docking bay...and right into a massive shite storm.

Mines were flying every which way, and explosions sent shock waves through the upper atmosphere of Bestine, rocking the ships.

"All flights, switch to your designated frequencies and enage."  That voice belonged to Admiral Daishi, the new "captain' of the Dauntless.

"3-flight on me" came Chip's voice as Gene switched frequencies.  Jazon, you take lead with me, Gene, you close up the back door."

Gene and Jazon double clicked their comlinks in acknowledgement.

Alignined shields equally front and back, Gene linked his lasers and activated the HUD of the cockpit. His targeting computer sprang to life as Chip fed him targeting data. Nudging the rudder to the left a little, Gene lined up the shot on the mine and released a double blast of green energy. the lasers pierced the mine and it exploded, taking with it a few dozen others as Chip's and Jazon's laser exploded ones right next to it.

Throttling back, Gene acquired another target and destroyed it. Mine clearing had been a mid numbing task at the academy, and the real thing wasn't much better. As his flight banked towards the surface to enange a newly releaseed wave of mines, Gene caught his first look at the VSD Dominion.

She wasin bad shape. Atmosphere was venting from all sides and small fires, barely lit in the vented gasses from the ship and the thin upper atmoshere dotted the surface of the immense ship. Close by, Navy picket ships protected the Dominion from as many of the mines as they could.

A huge explosion filled the viewscreen as a Carrack-Class light cruiser took an entire mine swarm in the side, ripping it in half.

"Quit your gawking Three, we have work to do." Chip said over the comm. Punnching his throttle and shifting the foot rudder, Gene turned way from the horrifying scene and went back to his job.
 
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Leading Crewman Gene Starwind
Three Flight: Kaph Squadron
Defensive Fleet

FM/LCRW Gene Starwind/Kaph 3-3/Phoenix Wing/m-SSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=)

"Dont Worry Jim" - Gene Starwind