AWD #267: Deep Blue Sea
Deep Blue Sea
Summary: When two of the VF-777 are lost over Picon's waters, a flight of air wing personnel go to retrieve them. They find what they're looking for, if not how they hoped.
Date: 30/09/2013 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: Picon stuff in general, none specifically
Agrippa Bennett Jason Kale Maia Phin Warren Ygraine 
Deep Blue Sea — Picon
Water, sky
AWD #267

It's been a little under an hour since LT Eric "Hipshot" Haldor and ENS Tavin "Throwback" Whitcombe disappeared. They were out on patrol - last known coordinates over the expansive waters of Picon's Duelings Seas - when contact with them was lost. Signals gone on the DRADIS. No distress call. Just ghosted off the map. Worrisome, to put it mildly. And so, a handful of personnel - Raptors with a Viper escort - has been dispatched to find them. Or what became of them. You're in the air now, en route to their last position, flying in atmosphere over coastal Picon, toward the expanse of deep blue sea.

In her Raptor, Maia pilots along, her own com remaining silent most of the time, unless spoken to. She does speak with her ECO though, glancing back. "DRADIS still clear?" No hostiles at least. So Tavin was missing, she'd heard the name and did a double take. Someone she knew, apparently. "Look at the blue of that water. Gorgeous, isn't it?"

Warren glances down at the coast a moment as they start to cross over. He taps his coms a moment as he accelerates his viper to take the lead. He glances over his shoulder a bit, before looking down at dradis, then back out front, scanning infront of him.

"Y'know," Ygraine remarks conversationally to Bennett as she starts revving up her sensors, "The first time I met Hipshot? Me and him were gonna go through our Pred manuals together and try t'be th' go-to team. And go bang in that one shadowy corner of hangar bay two." She sighs. "We never got around t'either thing. Real shame, that."

Someone disappearing like that, not something fun to be a part of. And in a way, it's not quite fun to be part of the group flying into the same area to investigate, with the time to think while they're going there. So he's humming to himself, as he keeps the Raptor moving, one of those old jazz songs, kept rather low now.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Flight, Toast. Punchie and I will be the lead element. Butch, you and the raptors in the middle. Dolly, you're bringing up the rear. Keep your eyes peeled we likely won't be alone out here for long. Lets find our boys and bring em home."

It's likely no surprise that St. Clair was pulled for this mission, given its nature and the bulk of her flight experience. It's a role she falls easily into; though just now, she seems vaguely preoccupied as she pilots her bus at the starboard tip of the spread of raptors. Her gaze switches between the windscreen and her pull-out datapad with the coordinates and a few notes she'd taken during the briefing. "Hmm?" That's to Ygraine as the blonde shakes her out of her thoughts. "Yes, I do seem to recall the two of you doing some sim time together. Really?" She grins at Ygraine's last. "I rather assumed you were frakking each others' brains out."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Toast, Butch. I copy that."

Searching for missing brothers and sisters is always a top priority for Agrippa and when his number is called for this mission, the Viper Jock is determined to help get the pilots home safely. His eyes are peeled not only for glints in the horizon and sky, but also on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. He is currently flying in formation with Warren's Viper.

"Gorgeous is one word…" Kale offers up, leaning back in his chair, still watching the DRAIDS, "And yeah, all clear so far." He runs another sweep, just to be sure and hmms quietly, "You know either of them?"

Phin zips along in the three-Viper formation with Warren and Agrippa, taking the rear position as ordered. His own gaze can't help but travel out over the water. But he doesn't dwell on the scenery too much.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Toast, Dolly. Copy. Right behind you guys. Literal-like."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Flight, Punchie. If they went down without a call for help, think it could be jamming before they ran into trouble?"

<FS3> Kale rolls ECM: Good Success.
<FS3> Jason rolls 5: Failure.
<FS3> Ygraine rolls Ecm: Good Success.

"Yeah, Throwback. I know him. He was all about Mad Dog." Maia's lips twitch. Hearing the position over the com, she does reply back, not remaining intentionally silent, just having very little to say.

[Into the Wireless] Maia says, "Toast, Centerfold. Copy, keeping to the middle with the other Raptors."

Stopping his humming as he listens to what's said on the comms now, Jason moves his Raptor into position, before he answers.

[Into the Wireless] Jason says, "Punchie, Superstar. Could have been some kind of rare geographical phenomenon as well. Highly unlikely, but still. Whatever it is, we're heading for it, so we all better keep our eyes and ears open."

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Flight, Milkshake. I'm getting some faint readings but the signatures are difficult to confirm. No lifesigns, no ejection confirmations, viper bits at the bottom of ocean. Can anyone verify my readings?"

At the mention of viper bits and pieces down at the bottom of the ocean, Warrens grip tightens on his stick. He watches the skies, and his DRADIS, scanning between the two as he hits the wireless button again.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Milkshake, Toast. Can you tell if it is recent debris or has it been there a while? Flight, keep your eyes peeled. If those bits belong to our vipers we're probably about to have uninvited company."

Bennett's amusement falters, and then disappears completely when she hears her backseater's voice come over the radio. This very likely just became a search and recovery mission. "See if you can get a lock on the transponders," she calls over her shoulder to Ygraine. "If so, we might be able to id them positively, at the very least."

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Toast, Milkshake. The reading's too faint. That's why I'm asking if anyone can verify."

"Will do, Boss." Ygraine replies, trying to clean up the signals. "I might get a better read if we go a little closer to the surface."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Toast, Butch. Recommend we drop in closer; I'm not sure how much we'll be able to pick up from out here."

Phin keeps in formation with the other Vipers, letting out a long breath as news of the signals, under water, comes over the comms. He tries to scan the horizon, squinting against the blue. When that doesn't yield anything useful, he checks his instruments again. But mostly, he just listens as the Raptors relay info.

Inside her Raptor, Maia calls back to her ECO. "Echo, Can you confirm Viper bits on the bottom of the ocean?" Curious, worried… sad. She continues in formation, listening to the calls over the coms.

[Into the Wireless] Kale says, "Milkshake, Echo. I've got them too. Sorry about the delay, had a comm blip. I've got two on my sensors, too faint to make out."

Frowning as he hears what's being said, Jason glances back towards his ECO, who doesn't seem to have too much to add now. So the pilot looks to the front again, waiting to hear the next order here.

"Yeah, yeah, got it Centerfold. We had a comm blip, I've got it sorted." Kale replies after tapping a few keyes and stuff. "Everything else is clear, just those two faint sensor readings, way down deep."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Butch, Toast. Copy that. Flight, Toast. Alright we're going to circle out, then come in lower from the same direction. ECO's watch those reading, but keep an eye on DRADIS. I don't want any surprises. Vipers eyes peeled, warm up those guns."

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Copy that, Echo."

On the viewports of the Colonial ships, droplets of water begin to fall. The skies have been gray for hours in this area. Now, it seems, the rain is finally coming.

As soon as Echo confirms and Maia hears Toast over the com, she follows Bennett, remaining in formation as they circle around to come back from the same direction. "Glad you could get it fixed." Glad that everything else is clear, but that's not exactly voiced yet, so not to jinx them.
[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Copy, Toast. Coming around for a second pass."

Warren shifts in his seat watching the sky, before working the pedals and his stick, starting the roll and bank. Its a slow turn, working back towards where the readings were first called out as well as down lower, not too low, but it should be low enough to get a better fix on just what they're dealing with. He keeps scanning the sky, and his DRADIS. "Ah well, good to know the weather hasn't changed much" he says to himself.

<FS3> Ygraine rolls Ecm +3: Great Success.
<FS3> Kale rolls Ecm +3: Great Success.
<FS3> Jason rolls 8: Good Success.
<FS3> Maia rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Warren rolls Alertness: Amazing Success.
<FS3> Jason rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Bennett rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Agrippa rolls Alertness: Success.

Bennett eases up on the flight yoke and feeds their bus a little more tylium as she bring the raptor out of its holding pattern and back up. Rain begns pelting the windscreen harder with the increase in speed, abruptly tapering off then starting again as they skim through cumulus and take on a deeper trajectory.

As you get closer to the water, closer to the source of those signals, the wreckage is evident. Floating in the sea, tossed by the waves and current, are some of the remains of at least one Colonial Viper. If not two. They're shot to many, many pieces.

When the wreckage pieces come into visual sight, Agrippa tightens his grip on his flightstick, obviously not liking what he sees. He was hoping that the ECOs got their readings wrong but in the back of his mind, he knew that they were good at their jobs and wouldn't be wrong. Question is, what jumped them so fast that they couldn't even get off a 'Mayday'. Now, Punchdrunk's eyes are scanning the skies, trying to be a bit more alert, letting the Raptors search for survivors.

Frak.. flying over the wreckage, Maia remains silent, a sort of ominous silence. Dragging her gaze from the parts and pieces, she checks the sky for unfriendlies, not wanting to be caught unaware.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "CONTACT! Looks like multiple tallies coming in from above. Can't count numbers but it doesn't look good. Vipers guns hot. Protect the Raptors. Defensive formations."

"Yeah…those transponders match up." Kale offers at first, then he blinks, "I've got four new contacts on DRADIS, Centerfold. You better get ready to make this thing move, because those aren't friendlies comin' by for a drink." And then he switches to the comm.

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Flight, Milkshake." Her tone is subdued. "Confirming ship and suit transponders. They're both under the water. Way deep. No one's coming up from - DRADIS contact inbound! Coming in on five eight seven carom nine!"

[Into the Wireless] Kale says, "Flight, Echo, confirming four, I repeat, four Raiders coming in hot."

Jason pauses for a few moments at something his ECO said. Lowering his head for a few seconds, he mutters something, before he nods at the mention of the Raiders, turning to bring the Raptor where the ECO can do most magic now.

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Raptors, defensive formation foxtrot-niner. Toast, what are your orders? Crew recovery or abort the mission?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Butch, Toast. Do you have visual on the bodies? If not look. We'll keep you guys clear as long as possible, but the window may be closing. Milkshake, Toast. Save that bearing they're comming in from. Command'll want to know where they're comming from. Vipers, lets give our raptors some cover"

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Butch, Toast, Milkshake. Those bodies are too far down to recover based on readings. I hate t'say it, but it's a waste of time. They're in Poseidon's hands now."

Phin releases that breath he was holding as all the chatter about his squadronmates - now far under the sea - comes over the comms. Not that he has much time to worry about that, with Raiders incoming. He goes into evasives with the practiced instinct of one who spends a lot of time doing evasive manuevers.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Milkshake, Toast. Copy that, save their locations for when we can get out here with the proper gear. Flight, lets clear our friends, this mission is a abort."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Copy that, Toast. Raptors, spool up FTL and prepare for a jump to emergency coordinates when ready."

Hearing the fate told so very undeniably, Maia offers a moment of silence for their fallen comrades. She says little else at the moment, but she does look back to Echo again, making sure that he heard the order to spool up, just in case.

With the raiders spotted and called out he glances over his shoulder towards his wingmen before back out at the raiders. Warren shifts his angle, moving in on one of the group thats diving straight towards the raptors. getting ready to thumb the trigger once they're in close.

<COMBAT> Bennett passes.
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Raider3 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Jason passes.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider4 with KEW - Light wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider3 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider1 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Redshirteco suppresses Raider4 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Raider4 attacks Jason with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Bennett with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider2 attacks Phin with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Phin with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Raider2 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<FS3> Jason rolls 5: Failure.
<FS3> Kale rolls Ecm: Great Success.
<FS3> Ygraine rolls Ecm: Good Success.

Bennett spots a raider with a bead on her, and maneuvers the bus into a somewhat ungainly lateral roll. Ungainly or not though, the juke is enough to shake the bogey on their tail, and its kew slices harmlessly past the raptor's flank. "ETA on that FTL drive?" she enquires of her backseater, her tone even if a bit taut with the news of their wingmates.

Rain, wind, atmo. All do wonderful things to someone lining up a shot on a incoming raider. It certainly doesn't do Warren any favors, either, though his shots may have made the raider pull his shots too. Either way, Warren pulls the stick, banking his fighter before hitting the pedals, turning, working his way around to get a better deflection shot this time.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, sing out. I count two on you."

"Plugging 'em in now." Ygraine reports, her fingers flying over her console. Running the sensors, countermeasures, inputting the jump coords, being an ECO requires some serious multi-tasking mastery.

Well, Kale was going to mourn, but he didn't actually know them, and there is impending doom, "Cylcing FTL spooling. I've got ECM's locked onto one of those raiders, just keep us movin and keep me alive, Centerfold and we'll be five by five." And then there's a beat pause, "I've got two more contacts, Centerfold…On the water, let's get cautious, I'm gonna get verification."

Once the call goes out of contacts, Agrippa quickly scans the skies and spots the Raider patrol that is heading their way. There is no hesitation when he immediately banks towards the Cylon force. Seeing that none of them are interested in him at the moment, he climbs and then loops back around so he can begin diving down on one of the toasters that is bearing down on Jason's Raptor. Letting go a burst, he strikes a glancing blow with some of his autocannon shots, staying focused on taking down the hostiles.

[Into the Wireless] Kale says, "Flight, Echo. I'm picking up two contacts on the water. Movement speed is consistent with waterbound vehicles, but these bad boys are packing too much heat for commercial cruises. Lookin' for some verficiation, over here."

Phin does some serious dodging, which mostly works. Mostly. He gets nicked, but not seriously. Once he's stabilized some, he gets back on the comms.

Jason nods a bit as he hears the order to spool up, glancing around and managing to bring the Raptor out of the way of incoming fire now. Keeping the craft moving, in case they'll be targeted again. "Good job with the ECM," he offers to the ECO.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Toast, Dolly. Two is right. Trying to shake them, but it's tricky flying this low. Weather's not super-helpful to visibility."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Copy, Echo. Raptors, increase altitude and warm up a couple of javelins as a precaution."

No time for mourning further. Tavin was a good kid, but that's all she pauses to consider. Maia calls back to Kale. "Sure thing, Echo. My very intentions are keeping you alive and well." The remainder of his words though capture her attention and she nods. "Alright, here goes, let me know what you see."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, Toast. Copy that. Echo, Toast. Say again. Waterbound vehicles? Flight, lets drag these boys up. Whatever's down there I don't want it right ontop of us when it comes up."

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Echo, Milkshake. I copy on your sigs. They're Picon civilian vessels, I think. What th'Hades are they even doin' out?"

"Butch, I got the jump spooled, but we may wanna go protect these civvies, see if they need help?" Ygraine calls out to her pilot.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Flight, Punchie. If it's civilian, could be friendlies. Think they may have picked up our friends?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Milkshake, Toast. Confirm they're civies first. Just cause they read that way doesn't mean that isn't how the canners shot our boys down. Radio them, and make sure to scan for sams. Last thing I want is to get complacent and get nailed by a missile because we assume they're friendly."

Bennett frowns slightly at this newest development, then turns and gives Ygraine a quick nod. "Do it. All colonial bands. But get those missiles prepped regardless; they may be on the run from something unfriendly."

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Bennett passes.
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider1 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Raider3 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Jason passes.
<COMBAT> Redshirteco suppresses Raider4 with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Bennett with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider2 attacks Phin with KEW - Light wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Raider2 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider4 with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider3 with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Raider4 attacks Jason with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Phin with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Raider4 has been KO'd!

Maia doesn't really have any opinion on the civilians, so while the others talk about it, she remains silent, just listening to the back and forth banter while trying to keep herself from being a target from any of the Raiders.
[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Toast, Milkshake. Re-confirmed the signatures are reading Colonial. Not close enough for readings on SAMs yet. Do you want me to hail?"

Well certainly coming around like that gave Warren a perfect deflection shot, and he didn't miss the opertunity, pouring fire straight into the mid section of the Raider. Sadly it doesn't go down, it keeps flying. He keeps on it as they pull the raiders a bit higher in the sky. He keeps glancing out the cockpit keeping an eye on the flight as well as the raptors through the rain.

Jason shakes his head a bit as he listens to what's being said now. Keeping the Raptor moving on to make it a harder target to shoot down. As the Raider that was hunting him goes up in flames, he keeps the Raptor moving so he could possibly be trying to draw the attention of one of the Raiders, to give the Vipers a good shot at them.

Phin's attention is on the Raiders, for his part. He has little time to worry about civilian craft, between trying to follow the movements of his flightmates and the Cylon ships in the rain.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Nice shooting Punchie. Milkshake, Toast. Hail them, find out their intentions, keep scanning. We're still working on the raiders. Dolly, Toast. How you doing there?"

Sticking on the Raider's tail, Agrippa is able to see where Jason is leading his chaser to and lines up a rather solid angle of attack before triggering the firing stub on his flightstick. The triple autocannon roars as the Viper's weaponry fires off more projectiles, this time punching deeper into the visored cockpit, causing it to shutdown and spiral down to its death.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Superstar, Punchie. Your six is clear. Dolly, engaging the one that is still on you."

Still keeping his ECM's focused on defending the Vipers, Kale is so far letting Ygraine deal with the hailing as per orders, "Just keep holding out guys, not too much longer." A glance is spared towards Maia, "You ever heard of an armed civvie ship? Something is squirmy about this." Yes, squirmy.

"Civilian sea crafts, this is Colonial Raptor One Two Five Three Mike. Do you copy? I say again, Colonial Civilian sea crafts this is Colonial Raptor One Two Five Three Mike. What is your status?" Her fingers are doing one thing, her mouth another as Ygraine keeps manipulating her suppression codes while hailing the sea going vessels.

"Not I, Echo. Sounds wrong to me." Though Maia doesn't elaborate, she does keep doing what she's been doing, awaiting a particular order. "So, all spooled and ready." She hears Punchie over the com and can't help but be relieved. He'd cleared one from Superstar.

[Into the Wireless] Jason says, "Punchie, Superstar. Much appreciated. Nice shooting too."

"Civilian sea crafts, this is Colonial Raptor One Two Five Three Mike. Do you copy? I say again, Colonial Civilian sea crafts this is Colonial Raptor One Two Five Three Mike. What is your status?" Her fingers are doing one thing, her mouth another as Ygraine keeps manipulating her suppression codes while hailing the sea going vessels.

"Not I, Echo. Sounds wrong to me." Though Maia doesn't elaborate, she does keep doing what she's been doing, awaiting a particular order. "So, all spooled and ready." She hears Punchie over the com and can't help but be relieved. He'd cleared one from Superstar.

Into the Wireless Jason says, "Punchie, Superstar. Much appreciated. Nice shooting too."

<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Jason passes.
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Raider3 with Ecm. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Bennett with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Agrippa with KEW - Light wound to Right Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider1 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Raider2 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider2 with KEW - Serious wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider3 with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Redshirteco suppresses Raider1 with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Raider2 attacks Phin with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Bennett passes.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Raider2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider3 has been KO'd!

Ygraine is not getting any responses to her hail. She almost absently re-targets her countermeasure system before returning to her sensors when suddenly she curses in Leonese, not so much surprised as annoyed before speaking into the comm.

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Flight, Milkshake. Those 'civilian vessels' have SAMs. I suggest we avoid. If they're ours, they can clearly take care of themselves, and they haven't returned my hails."

Warren gets another good deflection shot, raking more fire into the raider still diving at the Raptors. This time he goes down hard. Theres almost a grin on his face as it goes down. It disapears just as quickly as it almost just formed, and he's turning again, watching targets, his flight and turns in on that last raider.

The Raiders continue their assault on the Colonial ships, apparently paying little heed to whatever else is out there. The swish and zip across the increasingly rain-soaked skies with some of the same difficulty that's plaguing the human pilots, however. Robotics doesn't compensate for everything. And it hurts them, as Warren and Agrippa tear through a couple of them.

Meanwhile, those civilians ships are finally coming into view. One looks vaguely like a cruise ship, the other a larger merchant hauler. If one pay attention to such things.

Bennett does, in fact, try to catch a glimpse of what they're dealing with down there. And takes a few hurried notes with one hand, even as she's piloting the raptor with the other and dodging raider fire. "Frak me," she mutters to herself, off the coms.

Despite taking a grazing hit on his right wing, Agrippa's focus and aim is not affected much as he manages to nail a second Raider, this time the autocannons slam into the area behind the red visor, frying its controls. With the air targets decreasing, Punchdrunk is now looking in the direction of the boats, another worried though coming in.

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Raptors, Butch. What is your ETA to FTL spool up?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Frak. Milkshake, Toast. Copy that. Flight, lets finish this and get the hell out of there. Raptors, record those ID's, and get the frak out of here while ready.

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Toast, Butch. I copy, grabbing transponder ids. I.. *there's a pause* ..I don't feel right about attacking these vessels, Toast. Suggest we get out of range and report back to Command."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Butch, Toast. Copy that. Once your FTL's are spun up, get out of here. They've already dropped two vipers out here. Not giving them the chance to add raptors to that score."

Phin winces, bringing his Viper about abruptly now that the air is a little clearer. Momentarily. He spares a glance down at the water, then forms up with Warren and Agrippa again for another run.

Frowning a bit as he hears what's being said over the channels, Jason glances back to the ECO. "Probably best to give that large ship down there one of the missiles on the way out, at least?" he suggests, before he hears the words on the comms again. "Really? Making sure they can take out unsupecting pilots again later on?" It's carefully kept off the comms, though.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Flight, the priority is the raider. Repeat the raider. Once we've got him down we are out. Raptors, what is the status of your FTLs? Are you jump ready?"

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Flight, Milkshake. Spool is running, we should be ready to jump shortly."

[Into the Wireless] Jason says, "Those things quite obviously are hostile, given that they are aiming at us. And I know we're getting there, when it comes to jump readiness. I'd suggest firing in that short moment before readiness. If we do nothing, and those ships take out some other patrol over the oceans somewhere, won't we indirectly have their blood on our hands?"

[Into the Wireless] Kale says, "Flight, Echo. FTL is spooling, we'll be blowing this pickle wagon in no time. I've got missiles trained on that boat that has us in target lock. Requesting permission to fire."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Flight, Butch. It is up to Toast. My recommendations are merely that."

[Into the Wireless] Maia says, "Toast, Centerfold. We're being aimed at. Clearly we're targets. Do we fire or do we wait and jump when ready?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Superstar, Toast. Priority is the Raider. If you have a shot on those boats, use your discression on if you're going to pull the trigger, there may or may not be civilians on those boats. We don't know for sure. I do know for sure that iff I see all three raptors shooting those boats there is going to be hell to pay when we get back to the ship."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Flight, Punchie. I suggest we do not fire, we do not know if they picked up our pilots if they ejected."

[Into the Wireless] Ygraine says, "Toast, Milkshake. Readings confirm Centurions on board, no life signs! Spool ready in seconds, but I say we get a volley off."

Phin just listens to the channel chatter, but he keeps his own focus on the Raider. For so long as he's able to.

Maia inputs nothing further either, but when Toast mentions all three Raptors firing there would be hell to pay, she glances uneasily back at Kale.

Bennett focuses on burning through the clouds and up into the atmosphere, as far away from those missile locks the boats have on them, as possible. While she thinks of it, she reaches across to one of the control panels nearby and takes a couple of pictures. They'll turn out grainy and unfocused, but they're something.

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Milkshake, Butch. I copy. You and Centerfold see if you can get a shot off on the bigger boat. Superstar, please focus on suppression for our vipers."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "And I don't want to hear another word about this."

Listening carefully to what's being said, Jason grimaces for a few moments. Taking a few deep breaths, he nods momentarily as he hears the part about using discression. Glancing back to the ECO briefly, he nods a bit as he hears the rest of the words. "Better do it…" he replies, one hand leaving his controls to clench his fist. Muttering something under his breath now.

<COMBAT> Jason passes.
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider1 with KEW - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - Serious wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Redshirteco suppresses Raider1 with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Cruiseship takes careful aim at Warren.
<COMBAT> Bennett passes.
<COMBAT> Ygraine attacks Cruiseship with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Agrippa with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider1 with KEW - Serious wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Largeboat takes careful aim at Maia.
<COMBAT> Kale attacks Largeboat with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider1 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Aa Battery-5841w has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cruiseship has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Aa Battery-4372b has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Largeboat has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider1 has been KO'd!

Those ships may be warming their weapons, but they don't get a chance to fire them. They go up in a fiery explosion as the Raptors loose their missiles. And the Vipers take care of the Raider. The DRADIS, for the moment, reads clear again.

The order was that the Raider was a priority, and Warren certainly makes it so. He angles in, nudging the stick, tapping the thruster pedals, lining up that shot, before he taps the firing nub, sending fire straight through the red slit of the raider, just before more fire comes in from the other Vipers. He glances down at the DRADIS as the two blips that represented the ships wink out. He glances out his cockpit to the plumes of smoke now rising from the sea as he taps the coms.

Ygraine lets out a satisfied little growl from the back of her raptor as the ships blow up, calling out to Butch, "Ready for jump, Captain."

The missiles fire.. the ships blip off the radar and Maia stiffens, awaiting the words from the Captain while she glances back. "We about ready to jump out Echo?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Flight, Toast. Scratch the last raider. Looks like you did a number on those ships. Nice shooting. Alright RTB. Need to get this to command before they surprise any one else."

Phin veers in on an attack run with Warren and Agrippa on that now-loan Raider. His fire just adds to their more punishing bursts, but it all gets the job done.

As soon as the missile makes contact, Kale looks over to Maia, "Scratch another one for Echo. I'll start making Viper kill boards at this rate." No, no…really not. But an ECO can dream! "FTL spooled, ready for jump. Let's hit the road."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Toast, Dolly. Copy. RTB."

[Into the Wireless] Bennett says, "Copy, Toast. I read no missile locks; we are RTB."

Bennett tap-taps something more on her datapad, then turns and gives Ygraine a short nod to her status update. "Good work," she tells the blonde with a small smile, then prepares for the FTL drives to engage with a resounding crack as they break the sound barrier.

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