“Gak me! That was a close one.”
Ibram wiggled and jinxed his fighter, frantically trying to keep himself from being atomised by the nearest Dreadnought.
“Language Pilot.” The Admiral said calmly. For reasons Ibram probably wouldn’t be able to fathom, the Admiral was flying through the maelstrom with ease, only making slight adjustments to his course to avoid the Turbolaser Batteries.
Viper Squadron had already managed to deal some damage to other Dreadnoughts, making hit-and-run strikes against key points whilst the Task Force kept them busy. That was five minutes ago, and as life had taught Ibram on many occasions – Time tended to make things run out.
Now the Squadron was buzzing about the Dreadnoughts like dra’hk bees, trying to sting the bigger foe to death.
“Why does the
Thantos have to be right in the thick of things!?” Aleia cursed as she too dodged to avoid a near miss.
Ibram could see the Strike Cruiser up ahead. It was going toe-to-toe with one of a Dreadnought, whilst the Corvettes
Nemhain and
Cerberus were flanking it. Lances of light, each easily as big as the cockpit of his TIE, stuck out from one ship to the other, impacting on shields and deck alike.
Ibram started as he saw something tumbled by his view port. And then another. And another. Looking over, he saw that the nearest Dreadnought has a hole in it’s side. The wound was venting wreckage, atmosphere….and people.
What a gakked up way to die.Ibram, Aleia and the Admiral had jus cleared the first Dreadnought a huge explosion lit up the area. Ibram was blinded, and nearly hit someone from Devil Squadron.
He could here someone’s voice break over the coms…It sounded like Mira.
“…. me!” “What the- “ “was that!?” “It was probably Nazgul….” “….the Admirals ship.”Ibram could indeed see several new blips on the radar, the IFF identifying them as Nazgul….Nazgul 1 was conspicuously absent however.
Oh Gods no…“Vipers, Devil’s this is the Commodore. Nazgul is inbound. Cover them whilst they dock, and then get the hell out of there yourselves. Emergency Landings are authorised.” Darkhawk’s voice cut across the coms chatter that had sprung up after the explosion.
“You heard the man, let’s haul ass you two.” The Admiral gunned his defender towards the
Thantos.Up ahead, Ibram saw Nazgul Squadron making high-speed landings into the hanger bay. On his Radar, he saw the rest of the fighters break off and race towards the
Thantos.Ibram was thankful that they had reconfigured the Strike Cruiser so that it could take the extra squadrons, otherwise it would start to get crowded.
“Control, this is Vipers Eight and Two, we’ve got the Admiral and we’re bringing him in.” “Roger that Vipers, you might want to speed it up. Your buddies are coming in Hot.”
Ibram gave his bird a kick of speed, and brought it down in an expert landing next to one of the Nazgul’s Interceptor. Aleia came down next to him, and the Admiral was caught by a docking clamp in the Ceiling.
Ibram was climbing out of his cockpit when the rest of Viper and Devil landed in the Hanger. Even with the configuration, it was still crowded. Ibram couldn’t help but laugh at the Irony.
“What the Frak you laughing at?” One of the Nazgul pilots was glaring at him. “You think this is funny, puke?”
“I think Life if funny, what’s it to you, slime?” Inter-Squadron rivalry, whilst never actively encouraged, was never put down either. Even when it got ugly.
“You have fun on your stroll down on the planet? Have fun picking locks whilst we lost friends!? Our CO!?”
Ibram didn’t often lose his cool, but people had a knack of going one step too far.
“You think you know what it is like to lose someone close to you? To find yourself helpless? To Watch that loved-one die in your arms? Don’t try my patience my friend.”
The Pilot started walking towards him. Ibram could now see his tag.
G’shlecc.
“Is there a problem?” Ibram turned to see the skipper walking calmly towards the pair, helmet in hand.
G’shlecc’s eye’s narrowed, but he didn’t stand his ground. “No sir.”
“Off you go then, I think Nazgul are being debriefed soon.” G’shlecc turned on his heel, and strode off to find his fellow pilots.
The Co watched him go. “You okay Ibram?”
“Sir, yes sir. I don’t blame him. This battle has cost everyone.”
“War costs everyone. Well done today. I’m going to put in a recommendation for both you and Aleia for your work.”
“Thank you sir….What about Anden and Phineus?”
“That freighter they hijacked has its own hyperdrive, they’re going to ride in our wake. Get yourself off to the rec room. You’ve earned it.”
Ibram started walking off slowly towards the hangar bay door, gear in tow. Around him, the deck hands and chiefs swarmed around the fighters, bring tools, fuel lines….for them, life was returning to normal, but Ibram had a feeling that nothing would quite be the same again.
=====Mission Complete=========- OOC:
- That’s it for Search and Rescue guys. Well done. Tomas is away for the weekend, so I’ll be I charge for the moment. I might put up a C/D story tomorrow, to pass the time. Consider this topic closed – so no more posts.
Tomas may want to post up an official debrief, but apart from that consider this a job well done.