AWD #608: Airwing Aerilon Revisited
Airwing Aerilon Revisited
Summary: Airwing returns to Aerilon and this time the Colonial Fleet vipers have missiles. Bye bye Raiders and SAMs!
Date: 19/02/2017 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: Viper Missiles Sims and Ass Chewing.
Alejandro Niko Scott Pearson Elena Charlie Kris 
Aerilon
Farmland, river, town, railhway, Cylon camp, SAM's and Raiders.
Wed Sep 06 18:28:59 2006

Alejandro has given a quick briefing before they seal helmets and go to the hangar, "Listen up, People! We are heading to Aerilon. The APF has one last major labour camp they assisting the Cylon with maintaining and we are going to take out their air defences to soften them up for the Marines to go in after us. We have SAM's, we know their will be Raiders. We /do/ need to be careful where the Raptors drop their payloads. We do NOT want to hit the camp or the manufacturing facility, and ideally keep the rail line intact. Vipers, our concern will be trying to keep Raiders off of our Raptors and Preds as they do their bombing runs. If Raiders are light, we will give what ground support we can if we see Centurions. The terrain at this location is wide open, plains. Very few trees, some buildings but it's a fair sized town that is spread out. Easy access from the air. Let's saddle up people and if you have questions, throw'm at me as we launch."

Captain Salazar checks his watch, "I have got to get back here and head back out on another deployment right away, so let's get in, do our job well, and get back out clean. Let's move."

Coordinates are given. Flight will come in from the east as the sun is just coming up. Raptors and Preds have their target data outlined where the SAMS emplacements are expected and as soon as they are done with their preflight checks, the Orion has completed her jump and gives the all clear to launch.

Aerilon. There was a time when Kris called it home. Now? It just feels like some kind of orbiting mass grave thanks to what happened when the War started. When the debrief starts she's quiet, listening as Alejandro tells them what they need to know, her head nodded here and there while notes are taken down. Once they are off and eventually hit their destination she's got her head in the game, launching when they are given the green.

Charlie Hartmann was ready for the briefing at the appointed time and he stood through it with an attentiveness that likely reveals his excitement for getting out into actual combat rather than being stuck to just doing sims. Attention was paid to every detail, trying as best as he can to make sure that he doesn't screw anything up and get busted back down on his first mission and then finally as the call was given to suit up and get ready for launch, Charlie donned his helmet and ran toward his Viper to strap in. Launching alongside all the rest, he quickly fell into position on Pearson's wing, his hands gripping the flight yoke of his Viper tightly.

Taking a final walk around of her viper before she mounts up, Pearson eyes the missiles on the racks that are still so newly affixed to her viper that the wary/suspicious/hopeful look on her face doesn't quite seem to want to go away. That said, math never lies, so she gives the side of one missile a somewhat ginger pat with one gloved hand before climbs up into her viper, finishes the last of her pre-flight checklist and is in line with the rest to launch when it's her turn in the tube, forming up alongside Hartmann as they all take aim toward their target zone.

While Scott didn't call Aerilon home before he was shot down over there at the start of this war, he spent much of the time since then down there. He pauses as he hears what's said, nodding a bit as he prepares to get ready. Nothing is said, but he nods to the others as he starts preparing. When they're in place for the launch, he spins his Viper a little around as they get out there, moving into position with the others.

Niko is up front at the briefing, helmet under his arm, chewing gum as he listens to the squadron leader. Go to Aerilon, fly top cover, kill raiders. There's a quick thumbs up from the young viper jock, showing is ready to go. Then he heads for his ship to strap in and prep for launch. Waiting in the cockpit is the worst part, but then there is the rush down the tube and out into space above the target Colony. He angles his viper over to form up with the rest of the flight.

[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Let's go farm us some Cylons."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Flight, Chiron. Kris, wingman to Pollux. Hartmann, wingman to Metis, and Niko you're my wingman but you are free to swing and roam as necessary. Heron, you have Raptor lead. Let's get in low and go in fast. Keep your heads on a swival for Raiders, weapons free, over."
[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Roger Chiron. Johnson will cover Pollux's ass."
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis, copy that. Hartmann, lets earn you a callsign today."
[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Roger that, Metis. That's the plan at least."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Flight, Phalanx. If we see any Ones, those frakkers are mine."

Kicking out in launch from the Orion, the stars are brilliant as ever. No sign of the Arpay Fleet or dry docks here, only Aerilon gleaming beautiful and ripe. They are already in close and once they are all launched, begin the descent through atmo.

Dawn over the western coast of Aerlion throws golden sunlight against the snow peaked high mountains. The rolling plains, the bread basket of the Colonies, rolls out below them as the first rays of light begin to break over the green and gold landscape below. Shadows are cast from structures upon the land, giving shape to the town below, the rail line that cuts like a scar across the earth. A magnifiscent river winds its way from the mountains to the south east, snaking slowly through the farms on it's way to the distant sea in the south. At first, there is no sign of raiders, but the ECO's are alert and start pinpointing the AA battery locations.

Kicking out in launch from the Orion, the stars are brilliant as ever. No sign of the Arpay Fleet or dry docks here, only Aerilon gleaming beautiful and ripe. They are already in close and once they are all launched, begin the descent through atmo.

Dawn over the western coast of Aerlion throws golden sunlight against the snow peaked high mountains. The rolling plains, the bread basket of the Colonies, rolls out below them as the first rays of light begin to break over the green and gold landscape below. Shadows are cast from structures upon the land, giving shape to the town below, the rail line that cuts like a scar across the earth. A magnifiscent river winds its way from the mountains to the south east, snaking slowly through the farms on it's way to the distant sea in the south. At first, there is no sign of raiders, but the ECO's are alert and start pinpointing the AA battery locations.'

[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Chiron, Scythe copies."

Niko rides his viper down into the atmosphere of Aerilon, sticking on Alejandro's wing. The view is beautiful, and he spares a few seconds to appreciate it, but there are more important things to be looking at. Like the DRADIS and the sky around them. All clear so far.

Aerodynamics don't mean squat in a vacuum, there's no drag, there's no wind resistance, and as Pearson had been asking after the difference in handling with the missile racks mounted, she's taking special note of the variables now that they're in atmosphere, where it will actually matter. All things considered, just seeing sunlight again and the spill of it along the landscape makes Pearson sigh. Why the frak they always end up shooting up places that look bucolic and downright pastoral, if not serene (save for the ugly rail line that snakes like a scar across the terrain, and the sure and certain knowledge that the train leads to one of the lower levels of hell) grates on her nerves. Pretty is as pretty does, and soon it won't be doing anything pretty at all.

Charlie takes a deep breath as he knifes down through the atmosphere and catches a glimpse of Aerilon. The last time he was here he was flying something far worse than the ship he is now piloting, and he takes a moment to consider how the fight would have gone prior to his joining up if he had the Viper he is now flying. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he refocuses on Pearson's rear jets and moves forward to keep her wing secure in case enemies should drop out of the blue.

Johnson keeps the missiles powered off for now, saving those for later. Right now she doesn't anticipate having to use them and would hate to misfire somehow and waste valuable resources. Riding on Pollux's ass, she remains quiet, her attention divided between what's going on outside her Viper and what's on her DRADIS.

Elena rides her position in the formation, eyes and instruments keeping watch. She calls back to her ECO, "Any assholes?"

Nodding a little as he listens, Scott looks around rather carefully, before he moves the Viper very slightly to adjust his course. One hand moving to drum lightly against something.

"Flight, Chipmunk." comes a deep rooted voice from a scrawny man sitting in the ECO station behind Elena, "Have multiple contacts on DRADIS. Lock and load, we're going into the furball." he says as he turns his attention to Elena. "I'll keep them off us best I can, Phalanx. You just bomb the tits off them."

Elena spends 1 luck points on Fancy flying and not dying.

[Into the Wireless] Chipmunk announced in a deep voice. "Multiple targets, 10 high, at 2000 meters. Wanted to test your missiles, here's your chance.""

And there are the Cylons, right one cue. Niko hears the ECO's warning, then picks up the contact on his own DRADIS. He thumbs the master arm and starts trying to lock up one of the raiders with an AAM. The seeker tone warbles … and then he gets a good lock. So far, so good. He hits the trigger and let's fly. "Scythe, Fox one!" The missile wings off across the sky, headed toward the Cylon craft. Shooting before they've even closed to guns range. It's a novel concept.

Dropping in low, Chiron leads the flight. One could easily imagine Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries playing in booming tones of upwelling eager anticipation of the incoming attack! The vipers rip out over the landscape, casting long shadows that race ahead of them over fields of grain, leaping buildings and fences as if they were nothing. The roar of their engines are like a thunderclap that comes after their passage. The Raptors are right behind at the altitude that best suits their initial fast bombing run. It is they that set the distance from the ground, else the vipers might go much lower.

Up ahead the town looms and towers with watching eyes flicker with lights in the rosy dawn. Almost as soon as the perceptive ECO begins to call out contacts, DRADIS on all of the ships begin to ping with AA emplacements and Raiders in the area. A long low building near the trainyard looks to be the internment camp, and other buildings in the immediate area are manufacturing or grain holding cylos. Almost at once a siren begins to wail below.

[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis. Holding missiles in reserve."

Charlie is sticking to formation at Pearson's wing and as the enemy ships come in, he is quick to note the enemy raider coming in on Pearson. He pulls back on the flight yoke in hand and jerking his Viper upward to attempt and circle in around the enemy ship and get his partner's back.

[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Metis, be advised you have one on your tail."
[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Flight, Johnson. I'm still on Pollux's six. Am targeting enemy contacts with KEW to save missiles."
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Hartmann, Metis, copy that. Keep 'em off me while I take on the one takin' a shine to your afterburners."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Flight, Chiron. I confirm contacts. AA batteries are live and already targeting the Raptors. Raiders inbound. Engage and fire at will. Scythe, I'm covering Phalanx, over.""
[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Chiron, Scythe copies. Be right with you."

Frowning momentarily as the enemies comes in, there's a bit of a laugh as well as Scott shakes his head a little. "Couldn't just stay away, could you…" Turning slightly to head for one of the Raiders going for the Raptor, he uses the KEW for now.

Seeing the enemy ships spooling up and angling toward their flight, Pearson bares her teeth in something resembling a smile but really any species that has teeth ought to recognize it for what it is. More of a snarl than anything else. With the DRADIS lighting up, she takes aim at the one that's taken a shine to her wingman while he handles the other one.

[Into the Wireless] Scott says, "Flight, Pollux. Looks like it's showtime…"
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Hartmann, Metis, keep it level, I'm going to get a bounce off of 'im first."

<COMBAT> Alejandro attacks Toaster1 with KEW - Moderate wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Charlie uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Raider-2938r - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2938r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Toaster2 - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Toaster2 - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Toaster2 - NEAR MISS!

<COMBAT> Toaster5 uses a Missile Aa!

<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - Moderate wound to ECM.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Scott attacks Toaster3 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kris attacks Toaster1 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Elena uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Aa Battery-2865s - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2865s - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2865s - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2865s - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2865s - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Toaster6 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Raptor-7419j - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raptor-7419j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Elena - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Elena - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Elena - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Toaster2 attacks Pearson with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Toaster1 attacks Elena with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Pearson takes careful aim at Toaster4.
<COMBAT> Niko uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Raider-4745y - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-4745y - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-4745y - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-4745y - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-4745y - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Chipmonk suppresses Toaster6 with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Toaster4 attacks Charlie with KEW - Critical wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Toaster3 attacks Elena with KEW - Moderate wound to Right Wing (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Elena has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raptor-7419j has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Elena has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Chipmonk has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-2938r has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-4745y has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster3 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Aa Battery-2865s has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster5 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Elena spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Alastair spends a luck point to keep fighting!

[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Pollux, Johnson. I suggest switching to missiles if you're not using them. Got to get these frakkers down as soon as possible."

Everything happens quicktly. The vipers split off to deal with the Raiders and try to keep them off of the Raptors. Everyone starts exchanging fire rapidly as the aerial dogfighting ensues. Things heat up right away as SAMs are fired from the AA batteries, concentrating fire on the Fleet buses with their bomb racks. But it isn't enough as Phalanx and others succeed in taking out the first AA battery. More than one Raider is hit, trailing smoke through the morning sky as they veer off, impacting the ground and exploding into clouds of debris. One of them plows into the town itself and at once buildings are demolished.

Kris switches over to missiles as she says that, her HUD read out changing to indicate that. She targets the same toaster, hoping to finish it off, hopefully with Pollux.

Holes in the ship. Holes in the pilot. Emergency sealant on the ship. Emergency sealant on the pilot. Elena sees that there's still one of the AA batteries up. She goes in for another pass.

[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Flight, Chiron. Save your missiles for Heavy Raiders, or if someone's going after our most badly hit. Over."

*Boom* goes the warhead on Niko's missile and down goes one raider. It's just like the sims, only better, The thrill of victory is short lived, however, as he sees the storm of fire and missiles going off around their raptor escort. And then his own RWR goes crazy, letting him know he's the next target for that AA battery. "Frak!" Scythe breaks hard, looking for the SAM that's already headed his way.

[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis, switching to Missiles. Hartmann, hold it steady, I've got a lock on him."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Phalanx, status, over!"

As the combat begins to get fully under way, Charlie toggles the controls for his weaponry to bring up his missiles and launches an attack on the Raider that is aiming to take Pearson down. So focused is he on his attack that he can't quite shake the attacks from the raider behind him. He growls as his Viper takes heavy damage and alert warnings begin to sound off. Reaching forward, Charlie flips the switch to toggle the alerts into silence and glances around, trying to get an eye on the heavy raider behind him.

[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Metis, Hartmann. I got the one on your tail, but took heavy damage."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Flight, Phalanx, I'm hit but I've got tape. Let the elves worry about it when we get home."

Frowning as his first move for the enemy doesn't hit home, Scott looks about to say something, but keeps it back after hearing Alejandro's words over the com. He switches for a more aggressive approach, as he goes for the newest arrival now.

[Into the Wireless] Alastair Chipmunk says something about making sure he has a full clip as Elena commits to the attack.:

As he fights to bring fire suppression and damage panels under control, Chipmunk glances up at Elena. They're.. okay, he's probably going to die. But he frowns at the panels, trying to get the DRADIS suppression back in play. "One more hit like that, and we're going to need to RTB, sir." he offers quickly to her.

"Don't tell me how to fly, Chip. I always get you home safe," Ellie grunts.

Alejandro went after a Raider that was trying to heat up the Raptors and he manages to hit it but not well enough to keep it from firing on Elena. The Captain winces as he sees the damage the Raptor takes but it's still flying. Without using his com, Salazar mutters to himself, "Come on, let's not loose more people today, Gods damn it." So many dead in Airwing, they die like flies and Alejandro has had to watch them die. Names and faces blur together. He shakes his head to stay focused on here and now, flipping his viper hard to port and pulling around at full throttle. He stays on that Raider's six, but his HUD shows him picking up a tail of his own. The firing stud is depressed, Chiron's dark eyes intent on his hoped for kill.

Listening to the targeting system as it acquires a bead on the toaster that's already shooting Hartmann's viper full of holes, Pearson speaks into the com for a moment while calling up the missile release command and fires the first of her two missiles off, watching as they slice through the atmo.

<COMBAT> Niko attacks Toaster7 with Kew - Critical wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Kris uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Raider-2134n - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2134n - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2134n - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2134n - Moderate wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2134n - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-2134n - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Alastair suppresses Toaster6 with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Toaster6 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Very Far From Viper-8140t - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Toaster1 attacks Alejandro with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Scott attacks Toaster7 with KEW - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Pearson uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Heavy Raider-9353g - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - Serious wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-9353g - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Elena uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Far From Aa Battery-2468v - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Charlie attacks Toaster4 with Kew and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Toaster7 attacks Charlie with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Alejandro attacks Toaster1 with KEW - Light wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Toaster4 attacks Pearson with KEW and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Viper-3718x has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Charlie has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Heavy Raider-9353g has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster4 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-3623g has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster7 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Charlie spends a luck point to keep fighting!

Chipmunk curses as his ECO panel is shorting out. "Switching to bombs, Phalanx, you keep us up, I'll target the battery!" he calls out to the pilot as he toggles the weapons switch.

Niko turns hard to evade the SAM, and the incoming missile goes off far behind his twisting Viper. Not far enough, as he's still peppered with a few fragments that lodge in the body of his ship. No bitching or warning lights, so he keeps flying. And there's a raider turning ahead of him, so Scythe takes a quick snap shot. His KEW rounds score good hits, but he's turning hard again before he even sees the stricken Cylon going down.

Watching the raider get blown into it's respective atomic parts just makes Pearson smile. That's right, smile. That is until she sees Hartmann getting slugged to shit and back and banks around, angling so that she can get a look at his damage while keeping an eye on the DRADIS. Seeing another raider coming around for more pot-shots, she switches weapons again and prepares to light up the Raider with bad language and the idea of heavy weaponry.

The hell. Kris hit her target and it's still flying. Growling, she switches back to KEW and tries again. Because frak this fraking piece of shit.

Charlie growls as he takes more hits and shakes his head as he tries and fails to get away from the attacks coming in on his ass. "Come on," he growls as he zigs and zags through the air attempting to throw the one coming in on him again.

"Chip, talk less. Kill more." Blood is starting to seep from the makeshift bandages on Elena's neck and chest. It's gross.

[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Hartmann, Chiron here. Sing me your status, over."

"Were you hit??" Chipmunk sees the blood and looks at her, and then realizes.. she's bandaged. And flying. "What type of fraknuts are you to fly without medical clearance, SIR!" he screams out at Elena.

[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Flight, Johnson. This is getting a little more furry than I like!"

Frowning as he rolls away from exploding raider, then realizes he has a few raiders on him. "Okay… If I end up getting shot down over this frakking planet once more…" he mutters to himself, as he moves to face one of them, a bit more carefully than before.

[Into the Wireless] Scott says, "Flight, Pollux. Should I make the Viper do a little dance for these guys?"
[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Roger that Chiron, Hartmann here. Taken heavy damage but still fighting on."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Flight, cover Pollux and Hartmann. Raptor's clear and coming around for another pass, over."
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis, copy that. Hartmann, you've got one lighting up on you."

Things are a little bit of a hairball, Kris nailed that on the head. Chiron is busy keeping his own ass from being blown while /trying/ to nail the Raider he's been chasing. Salazar gives up on it and let's it go. He's less concerned about making a kill for the board than he is about trying to keep his pilots alive. So he throttles hard and changes direction to wheel around and come up behing the Heavy Raider that's trying to play tag with Charlie's chewed up backside. "Not you don't, you mother frakker. He's mine, and I'm keeping him." His gloved thumb flips the cover off his missiles to activate them and try to get a lock. And as soon as he can obtain, the tone sounding in his headset, he fires.

<COMBAT> Elena uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Close To Aa Battery-2468v - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Alejandro uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Heavy Raider-8124 - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Pearson attacks Toaster1 with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Niko uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Alastair (Chipmonk) uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Aa Battery-2468v - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Weapon stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-2468v - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Toaster9 attacks Charlie with KEW - Moderate wound to Tail (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Toaster8 attacks Scott with KEW - Light wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Toaster6 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Viper-6531g - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-6531g - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-6531g - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-6531g - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-6531g - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Toaster10 attacks Scott with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Scott attacks Toaster10 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kris attacks Toaster1 with Kew - Serious wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Toaster1 attacks Pearson with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Charlie takes careful aim at Toaster9.

<COMBAT> Viper-3718x has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Charlie has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-2134n has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> AA Battery-2468V has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster6 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Charlie spends a luck point to keep fighting!

Niko banks around and tries to pry the Heavy Raider off Hartmann. Well, Captain did says to use the AAMs on heavies, so he switches back to missiles. Good tone and a good angle, so he takes the shot. "Scythe, Fox one!" His second and last is away, and it tracks true. The he sees the second contrail streaking after the heavy and realizes Chiron has done the same. *Double boom* Oh well, can't put them back on the pylon. He's assuming a kill, but boggles when the heavy raider comes flying out of the smoke, limping but still in the air. "Frak me…"

[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Flight, Johnson. Another Raider bit the dust. Changing targets."

Johnson finds what appears to be the biggest threat and targets it next. "Got a present for you, mother fraker." And with that, she goes back to missiles. Present for it indeed.

[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Chiron, Lanx. I'm chewed up and the flak is gone, permission to RTB?"

The second AA battery goes up in a bloom of black smoke and red fireball. The Heavy Raider is still flying but it's trailing smoke and clearly having trouble manuevering.

Charlie is doing all that he can to make himself skinny as weaponfire races in at him, but his bird has taken heavy hits and just is not responding like it should. He has already turned the warning alerts off inside the cockpit of his Viper, though the black smoke trailing from his ship is a sign enough that he is in a bad situation. He forces his viper to curve around and he takes aim on the heavy Raider that had been coming for him.

[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Metis, be advised you have a heavy raider on your tail. Going to try and put it down."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Raptor Flight, Chiron. Permission to RTB. We'll cover you, then GTFO ourselves. Hartmann, RTB and cover the Raptors. Over.""

"Yeah yeah, I see it," Pearson mutters as she tries to dance and weave her way out of the sights of the heavy raider that seems all sorts of way to interested in her flight path.

Frowning as he misses once more, Scott moves for one of the other Raiders, switching to the missiles now. "Now you go boom," he mutters, before he fires off the missile.

[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis. Roger that. I'll keep it occupied. Break off and RTB."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "tac1 Flight, Lanx. Roger that, see you on the other side."
[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Chiron, Hartmann. Negative. With your leave, I'd like to pay this bastard back for trying to take my wings."

Alejandro has fired his first missile and like Niko, is rather surprised that the Heavy Raider didn't go down in a blaze to impact the ground. That son of a bitch is still flying! Leaving a thick trail of black smoke out behind it as it limps along but… his attention shifts, leaving off of it to go and give the Raptor's support. The Captain targets the other undamaged raider that tries to harry Elena and he pushes up the throttle to engage.

[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Hartmann, Lanx. Don't be a frakking idiot like me. Listen to him."

There's a second spent in a hesitation as Alejandro has to try and see if anyone is on Hartmann's ass as they give the Raptor's cover. No, he looks clear, though the Captain grimaces at the unncessary distraction.

[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Hartmann, you are smoking worse than the Heavy. You'll be lucky if you can RTB at all. Go while you still can, over."

<COMBAT> Scott uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Serious wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Serious wound to Right Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Alejandro uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Serious wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Serious wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Raider-6810l - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Pearson uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kris uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Charlie uses a Missile Aa!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Heavy Raider-8124 - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Toaster9 attacks Pearson with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Toaster10 attacks Niko with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Niko attacks Toaster8 with Kew - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Alastair suppresses Toaster8 with Bomb Racks. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Toaster8 attacks Elena with KEW and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Raider-6810l has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster8 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Heavy Raider-8124 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Toaster9 has been KO'd!

Charlie presses the toggle to fire his last round of missiles at the Heavy Raider, watching as it connects alongside a multitude of others and then promptly twists the flight yokes of his Viper and moves to flank the departing Raptors.

Niko goes after a raider that's trying to get to their raptor, only to find a Cylon on his own tail. He takes a quick shot before breaking off to maneuver. The Cylon's tracers fly around his ship, but he's not hit this time, thankfully. And then he cranes his neck, seeing a series of explosions as multiple AAMs detonate around the remaining raiders.

<FS3> Kris rolls Piloting: Good Success.

[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Flight, Hartmann escorting Raptors as we RTB."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Hartmann, Lanx. When we get back, Imma punch you in the mouth."
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Flight, Metis. There will be a line."

Pearson speaks into the com, angles her viper again after watching the slight over-kill and possible excessive use of armaments as she banks away from the explosion to form up again on Hartmann's wing.

[Into the Wireless] Kris says, "Flight, Johnson. I'm ready to return to base whenever the command's given."

Breathing slowly to try and keep present with the blood loss, Lanx calls back to Chipmunk, "Vipers, man." Her voice is strained and low.

Kris took aim at the Heavy Raider that decided to join the party as did just about everyone else who shot at it. Needless to say, if it survived it'll be a miracle. "Alas, poor Raider…" Rolling her eyes, she waits for the command to RTB before doing so.

There's a number of missiles fired and the heavy Raider goes down, plowing a wheat field and setting the ground afire imediately around it. It is strewn over a quarter mile of wreckage. The Orion wing begins to RTB in earnest, the last Raider is onthe far side circling. Alejandro watches his people, frowning at Charlie disobeying orders. He too circles his viper around to make sure they are /all/ disengaging and pulling out to head out of atmo.

[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Flight, Scythe. Be there as soon as I ditch this raider …"
[Into the Wireless] Pearson says, "Hartmann, Metis, need us to call a tow truck?"
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Flight, Chiron. Let's get out of here, people. Give it your throttle and loose it, Scythe. Over."

Another hard turn and Niko is headed back towards the rest of the Orion craft, and he hits the burners to pick up speed and altitude. Either he timed it well, or the raider decided six to one wasn't the sort of odds it wanted to face today. Scythe continues to angle skyward, sparing only a glance back to confirm he's clear.

[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "This is Scythe. Last bandit isn't chasing. Forming up now."
[Into the Wireless] Alejandro says, "Chiron copies."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Got a callsign for Hartmann. So eager to leap to his death. Lemming."

Elena isn't sure if she is being clever or if it's just the blood loss. Frak.

[Into the Wireless] Pearson laughs and counters, "Leapfrog, or just frog."

Behind them the town smolders in the morning light. There is the glint of a few Centurions in the streets but mostly just people on foot. Aerilons, or APF more likely. Despite a raider having hit the town, the labour camp and railine are undamaged and the AA batteries are in flames. Not a bad morning's work. Salazar lets out a sigh, glad not to be leaving pilots behind, this time. He directs his viper up into the sky, riding drag behind the rest of the flight to make sure everyone gets back. It's like riding herd on a bunch of cats.

[Into the Wireless] Charlie says, "Eager to leap to his death, or willing to risk for the sake of his wingman? That Raider was targeting Metis. Knock it off."
[Into the Wireless] Elena says, "Never gonna knock it off, Froggie. Oh man. That's a lot of blood."

Alejandro doesn't even tell then to knock off the chatter. His silence might be telling of his own mood.

(Chipmonk NPC ECO played by Alastair with many thanks!)

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