AWD #199: Return to the 'Roids
Return to the 'Roids
Summary: The Viper pilots venture back to the Ouranos Asteroid Belt.
Date: 24/07/2013 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: Rocks and Roids
Agrippa Holtz Phin Taylor Warren 
Ouranos Asteroid Belt
Rocky with a chance of Cylons.
AWD #199

Second verse, same as the first. It wasn't so long ago that the pilots of the Lucky Strikes were transported out to the Ouranos Asteroid Belt in Helios Beta aboard the corvette Cornwall. The goal - like goal of so much of Orion's air wing right now - updated scouting reports. Or any proper scouting reports at all, in this case. The belt is vast, and between its size, the electronic inference and difficult flying conditions the rocks of the belt create, and the various Cylon patrols they've encountered on previous ventures into it, they've not even managed to explore a quarter of the thing yet.

And here they are again. Perhaps the second verse will be a more productive tune. The corvette has parked itself a short distance off from the belt, as the Viper flies, and given them clearance to launch. Pre-flights are complete, and it's go-time. Go, go, go!

Holtz's Viper blasts off, catapulting him into the field of silently floating rocks. All the lithic debris littering the area clutters his DRADIS display, but he's flown enough of these asteroid recons by now to get used to it. As soon as his fighter emerges from the bay, engines flashing as he accelerates, he twists around a nearby asteroid and falls onto the patrol's planned course.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Flight, Storm. Toast, Taylor, on me; let's see what's out here today, yeah?"

Agrippa had missed the first patrol into the Ouranos System, a system that he had used as the butt-end for jokes from time to time, no pun intended, and when the second opportunity came up, the young Viper Jock had no intentions on missing it again. He knew that the first go around was hot for those who attended so once the go signal was given, Punchdrunk is launched into space via catapult, ready for action.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Flight, Punchie. Launched and ready to rock."

Warren's Viper blasts out into the void of space. Pressing down on that thruster peddal as he moves off to form up on Holtz. Theres a glance out at the debris and back at the corvet as he vectors on into position.

Phin's plane goes shooting out into the black as his fellows do. While he's still got open space to work with he does a quick roll. Like he's enjoying the freedom of it while he can. There'll be little opportunity for that kind of thing in the belt. Not that he lingers long on playing, forming up with Agrippa once his plane's back on an Ouranos-ward trajectory.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Storm, Toast; Copy that. Launched and on your wing."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Flight, Dolly. I'm clear and away, course set for the belt. Check my six, Punchie. Let's rock and roll."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Dolly, Punchie. I copy, on your wing."

<FS3> Warren rolls Piloting: Great Success.
<FS3> Holtz rolls Piloting: Good Success.
<FS3> Agrippa rolls Piloting: Good Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Piloting: Success.
<FS3> Taylor rolls Piloting: Good Success.

Phin breaks off a little from the section Holtz is leading as they approach the belt, bracing himself as he enters the asteroid field. His navigation DRADIS instantly becomes fairly useless, so he's relying mostly on visuals. He checks over his shoulder for Agrippa, but apart from his wing, the formation of the space rocks soon becomes too thick for him to see the rest of the Strikes.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Flight, Dolly. Beginning scouting flight of section beta-five-one. What I can see of it. Hard to see anything in this mess until you're on top of it."

Doing a quick roll as well to shed a little speed, Agrippa falls in with his wingman for this mission, Phin, and matches speed. Once they enter the asteroid field, Punchdrunk's focus is no longer on the DRADIS but outside, eyes peeled on the canopy of his Viper. The young pilot would stay more or less in formation unless a smaller steroid zips too close, then he would break off to maneuver safely but not far, usually in line of sight with his wingman.

Holtz leads his three-fighter section into the thick of the asteroid field; it starts with just a few small rocks floating past here and there, but quickly gets more dense as they get further in. He, too, eschews his DRADIS in favor of the old Mark I eyeball, eyes twitching alertly from side to side as he navigates the field. He's able to catch a glance of his two wingmen here and there as they flit around the rocks, but Phin and Agrippa are much harder to keep track of as they fly on a slightly divergent course.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Dolly, Storm copies. All the more reason to keep eyes wide, yeah? Heads on a swivel, Flight. Never know what we'll find out here."

Warren follows Holtz into the asteroid belt. His eyes transition from the Dradis to the field of flying rocks before and around him. He keeps an eye on Holtz, and Taylor as he maneuvers amongst the rocks here and there as well as keeping an eye out there on the black.

Taylor rockets from the launch tube, only a whisp of smoke following him from the tube as he makes a single tight barrel roll upon exit, getting the feel for his controls. He smiles softly inside his helmet, the forces of the roll reminding him of the joy of what he does for a living… or to keep living, depending on how you look at it. He thumbs his transmit button as he moves up towards Holtz's left wing.

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Storm, Taylor. Good copy, forming on your wing. Sticking tight."

<FS3> Holtz rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Warren rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Taylor rolls Alterness: Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Agrippa rolls Alertness: Good Success.

The Vipers encounter no immediate resistance as they nose into the asteroid belt, and they're able to at least start gathering map data and taking a look around without faceplanting into an asteroid. The two sections do grow farther apart as the recon fans out, but that was to be expected. It's unavoidable, given the terrain they're operating in, and the comms still seem as functional as one could hope for in this soup.

As they get a little deeper, in fact, the rock formations seem to become less pressing. There's a little more breathing room from bigger asteroid chunks, though the Vipers have to be on alert for smaller, broken pieces of asteroid that threaten to pepper their hulls. It's nothing the hull shielding can't deal with, though. So far.

Agrippa had expected larger rock formations and such to be floating around, ready to smear the unlucky pilot into paste but when they fly deeper into the field, he runs into smaller rocks instead. His eyes continues to scan for hostiles and asteroids, from time to time glancing at one that he flies past.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Dolly, Punchie. Something is a little… off. Did someone plow through this area with a ramship or something? The asteriods seem to have been shrunken down or broken apart."

Phin swears soft to himself, off-mic, as he has little choice but to fly through bits of space rock rather than dodge them. Dolly never exactly loves navigating this sort of territory, and today isn't anymore enjoyable. They bounce off his nose harmlessly, and he at least tries to weave in a way where they won't knock against his controls.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Was thinking the same thing. If someone did come through here with a frakkin' pile driver, I can tell you it wasn't us. Nothin' I was briefed on, anyway."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Punchie, Dolly. Don't think our last foray got even this far in. Definitely wasn't our last recon. And like Storm says, nothing I've read any reports on."

Holtz's eyes narrow as he calls out over the com, his own perception seeming to match Agrippa's. A few small bits of rock bounce off his armor, but other than that, the area he's flying through is remarkably clear; his grip on the controls relaxes ever so slightly. He fires his forward RCS thrusters in several short burts, burning off some speed so he can get a slightly longer look.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Well, the deckies won't be happy. These small rocks are definitely going to scratch up the paint."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Storm, Toast. Could be a trap sir. Clear area to see who's coming through it…easy target aquisition."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Punchie, Storm. Better a few scratches than bullet holes, yeah?"

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Roger that, Storm."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "I hear you, Toast… but ain't exactly many places to hide, neither. Keep an eye out anyway, though. Dunno about you, but I don't feel like goin' out the way poor dumb Dirk did."

Great…small rocks. Just what every pilot loves to have bumping into things like engines, and RCS thrusters. Nothing ever goes wrong with that. Warren mutters to himself a moment as he eases on the the thrusters, doing his best to smooth through the rocks as much as possible as he looks about, keeping his eyes on that other side of the rock divide, just in case.

Taylor grits his teeth, trying to ignore the annoying pelting of rocks on his windshield and hull. His eyes slide to the opening in the asteroid field, slowing his Viper in tandem with Holtz, but soon begins to search the outskirts of the clearing itself. Visions of his last patrol here still raced through his head.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Let's just get through the frakkin' clearing and hope we don't have to find out if you're right, yeah?"

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Copy that."

<FS3> Phin rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Agrippa rolls Alertness: Good Success.

As the continue through the asteroid field, Agrippa's gaze suddenly focus in one particular direction, eyes narrowing immediately as if that would give him a better view. For now, he keeps the same vector that his wingman is flying but quickly keys in the comm.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Dolly, Punchie. Possible contact, bearing one-three-three-niner. Didn't look like a floating rock."

Phin is doing more awkward bobbing and weaving than he usually traffics in, to try and keep the debris from knocking around anything vital. So his attention is more on that than the field ahead of him. Though when Agrippa speaks, his eyes lock forward, and narrow.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Punchie, Dolly. I see it. Flight, Dolly, there's a flash of…something up ahead of us. Like Grips said, possible contact. Relaying coordinates. Punchie, warm up guns. Just in case."

When Holtz hears the chatter from the other element, he frowns, eyes narrowing as he touches off his Viper's afterburners and accelerates once more. The fighter angles to the side as he homes in on the other section's com signal.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Dolly, Storm… we're on our way. Toast, Taylor… on me, fangs out."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Copy Dolly, guns hot and still on your wing."

Warren spots Holtz changing his vector and puches down on the accelerator himself, adjusting his vector to match. He keeps his eyes peeled watching, looking. Afterall where theres one there could be more contacts.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Storm, Toast. Copy that, on your six, fangs out."

Taylor pushes the throttle forwards, yanking his stick to angle after Holtz, then thumbs up the safety on his gun control.

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Storm, Taylor. Solid copy, on you. Weapos hot."

It's a Cylon, all right. The familiar chrome shape of the Raider edges around the asteroid. Almost as if it, too, is surprised by the Colonial presence, and is taking a look at what interrupted it. Though that surprise doesn't last long, or deter if from attacking.

As the pair of Vipers close in on the metallic oddity, it quickly becomes clear what the oddity is and where it is headed. Reaction comes immediately from Agrippa as he first checks to see if the Raider has any friends. Seeing none, he pulls back on his flightstick and does a half roll to orient his canopy in the toaster's direction to see if the Cylon picked him or Phin to attack. Seeing that he is free from KEW fire for the first pass, he pulls back on the flightstick and climbs inverted so he can dive down to intercept the Raider.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Dolly, Punchie, it's a toaster! Confirming Raider presence, one so far, and it's on intercept with you. Engaging!"

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Frak. Pour it on, you two, there may be more of 'em up there."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Punchie, Dolly. Confirmed and confirmed. I see him. Let's put him away quick. Last time there was a whole mess of these frakkers."

Phin arcs - as much as he can arc in the mess of the belt - toward the incoming Raider. He tries to adjust his angle so he can come at it from one side and Agrippa the other, but quarters are too tight for much in the way of refined tactics.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Frak. Copy that, full throttle."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Dolly, Storm. Still no joy on your contact. You just got the one?"

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Storm, Dolly. Just one we can see. My DRADIS is useless. Engaging now." His fingers briefly flick away from his guns, to relay their position over the comms. "Here's where we're at, if you can't see us yet."

Holtz spins and swoops wildly at full speed through the rocks, features hardened in concentration as he and his wingmen streak through the field to join the other section. He still can't make out the other Vipers, though — until suddenly he catches a glint of silver, which resolves itself into the shape of a wildly maneuvering Viper. Uttering a harsh, throaty growl under his breath, he changes course to intercept, but there's still several precious seconds between him and the target. The first exchange of fire will just have to proceed without him.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Dolly, Storm, am still blind your loca — wait, visual confirmed." A moment pauses. "I see that chrome frakker, too, but he's still out of my range."

Warren jams down on the accelerator pedal, holding it down as he streaks through the rocks off Holtz's wing. He adjusts his grip on the stick, loosening up a bit as he scans the field, looking for that glint of silver in the black. And there it is, spotting it just a moment after Holtz, "Tally ho" he says to himself as he adjusts his vector to intercept.

Taylor tucks his tongue between his teeth as he banks his Viper back and forth between the rocks, keeping close to Holtz. His eyes scan the rocks, futiley at first before he spots a glint.

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Phin with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Warren passes.
<COMBAT> Taylor passes.
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider1 with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Holtz passes.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider1 with KEW - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - Light wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider1 - Light wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Phin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Phin spends a luck point to keep fighting!

<COMBAT> Raider1 has been KO'd!

The Raider comes out firing, but he goes down hard as Agrippa's guns rip through his cockpit. The two Viper pilots apparently weren't the only ones with friends who could come to their aid, though. Out of the asteroid field, in a seeking pattern not dissimilar to what Holtz, Warren and Taylor are engaged in, come yet more Raiders. That one was not alone.

Phin is hit. It's a glancing shot, but he has to sweat to keep from bouncing directly into an asteroid. Always a risk when trying anything resembling evasives in the belt. After a mixture of a curse in the prayer - which he manages to at least keep off the comms - he rights himself.

Without being fired on and on stray asteroid interrupting, Agrippa is able to focus fully on leading the Raider and once the targeting reticule hovers over where he believes the KEW will meet with his target, he unleashes a full burst from his triple autocannons. They spit out rounds of lethal projections that smash through the Raider's cockpit, destroying it but not before it was able to get a burst off of his wingman. There isn't much time to celebrate or even worry as more Hostiles appear and Agrippa is already staying on Phin's wing, to keep his six clear.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Frak! I spot four new bandits inbound. Knew that frakker wasn't alone. Turn and burn."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Flight, Punchie, Raider down but we have multiple contacts inbound! Dolly, you okay? We've got incoming and you have another on your tail, trying to clear it."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Copy that. New bogies, committing."

Holtz sees the bobbing red eyes before anything else. The new contacts are flying in formation, their movements eerily coordinated before they enter range and break to engage their chosen targets. A pair of them come after Holtz himself, and the major heels his Viper over, trying to avoid the line of fire of their guns as he tries to get into position for a shot of his own.

Warren catches the glint of silver as he Agrippa blasts away the first Toaster. As Holtz is screaming out over the wireless he's already kicking his thrusters, and rolling to move to engage raiders comming in on him, confirming over coms he's committing to the fight as he bears down on them guns ready.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Dolly, Punchie. Nice splash. Heads up, guys. I spot…four incoming. I'm righted, Punchie, no worries. I'll take him dancing, and you can knock him down."

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Storm, Taylor. Toast is committing. Permission to cover him."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Taylor, Storm, don't frakkin' ask, just do it!"

Taylor growls as he turns his Viper to follow Warren in, muttering something about not going to be yelled at for not following the previous burn away order.

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Toast, Taylor. On your wing."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Taylor, Toast. Copy that. Light em up."

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Phin with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider4 attacks Holtz with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider2 attacks Holtz with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Warren with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider3 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider3 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider2 with KEW - Light wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider5 with KEW - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - Moderate wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Raider2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider5 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Warren has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Warren spends a luck point to keep fighting!

The shooting becomes trickier, but more deadly if one actually hits, while trying to dogfight in the belt. Two more Raiders fall to Colonial fire…only to be replaced as two more contacts zip in from deeper within the belt to join the fray.

Holtz's Viper twists and spins as both of his trailing Raiders spit blue fire at him, but somehow he manages not to take a single hit. He uses his thrusters to slow his speed while simultaneously throwing his ship up and around to face the Raiders. The Cylon fighters are only in his sights for a moment, but it's enough; his KEW bursts tear through one fighter's stabilizers and send it careening, and it smashes into an asteroid an explodes before it can right itself. There's still one on him, but suddenly Holtz's odds are much better.

THACK! THACK! The sounds of shells glancing off his hull cause Warren to growl a moment, his shots just missing the raider he was intercepting. He glances at the damage he can see, and checks his readouts as he pulls on the stick and rolls, banking and twisting around to bring himself around on his target again.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Scrag one. Comin' around on the other — Check six, Toast, that bastard's on you tight."

Another accurate salvo is fired at the second Raider that had decided to chase his wingman and this time Agrippa is able to shred the red visor before an accurate shot can be fired as the toaster explodes and debris joins the glittering mass of Cylon parts. No time to cheer over the wireless just yet as Punchdrunk moves into formation with Phin, spotting two more hostiles joining the party.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Dolly, Punchie. Your tail is clear, its spare parts now. But looks like we have two additional bogeys inbound, headed our way."

Phin manages to dodge this time, while Agrippa takes out the Raider that was on his tail. Not that he has much time to celebrate before picking up another. He swerves around, to try and shake it while covering the new piece of chrome that's taken an interest in Agrippa.

Taylor swears under his breath as the Raider screams by, his bullets whizzing by harmlessly while the Raider's slam into Warren. Slamming his throttle to zero he swings his nose back around, turning the throttle back to full.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Punch, Dolly. Copy that. You got a new friend, too. Coming about to engage. I'll clear yours if you clear mine."

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "You okay over there Toast?"

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Copy that, Dolly."

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Raider7 attacks Phin with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider6 attacks Agrippa with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider4 attacks Holtz with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Taylor with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider3 with KEW - Serious wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider3 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider6 with KEW - Serious wound to Engine.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider4 with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider7 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Raider3 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider4 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider6 has been KO'd!

A field of Colonial gunfire tears through the incoming Raiders, nearly decimating them. But it seems that no sooner are they shot down than they're reinforced, as three more Cylon contacts fly out of the depths of the belt into what's become the battlefield.

Touching off his 'burners to open some space between him and his target, Holtz dashes behind a rock just as the Raider opens fire, its shot spanging harmlessly against the floating asteroid. He turns over in a tight loop, his maneuver giving him a perfect shot at the Cylon, and he doesn't waste the opportunity. A red burst of fire from his cannons shreds the Raider's wing, and it spins out of control before going up in a sheet of flame.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Taylor, Storm, you all right over there — " He cuts off as the new flight of Raiders streaks into view. "Frak, do these bastards stop comin'? Go evasive, Dolly, I mark two on your six!"

Phin scores a nice, square hit to the engine of the Raider he's targeting. It does the job, and that one is gone. And for his trouble, he picks up two more follows. "Frak…" he mutters, but it's with a hint of exhilaration as he hits his evasives harder.

Warren touches the triger, a burst coming from his guns and tearing through the raider infront of him. He grins to himself for just a moment before glancing over his shoulder at the raider coming from him and the two streaking in towards Dolly. He shifts, adjusting his angle, coming in on one of the two for Phin even with the knowledge one is coming in on him.

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Storm, Dolly. Copy that. Not planning on being easy to catch. Punchie, you picked up another one, too. No frakking end to these things."

This time the head on approach between himself and Phin against the two Raiders shakes the young Viper jock's aim as it doesn't find its mark. But he was jinking around so that he doesn't get smacked in the nose with hostile KEW fire either. Once the Raider he was engaging blows by, Punchdrunk triggers the maneuvering jets and flips his Viper around in a one-eighty and kicks the afterburners to kill the backwards inertia and go on the chase, knowing that another is on his tail.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Copy that Dolly, still engaging the one on your six. And they keep coming, do they have an airbase out here or something?"

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Taylor, Storm. See if you can give Dolly a hand, I'll cover Toast."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, Toast. Got your six. Storm, Toast. Not going to say I told you so sir."

Taylor jerks involuntarily as bullets from the Raider shread his wing, and he yells and shakes a fist at the passing fighter. Feeling foolish, he again swings his fighter around, before hearing Holtz's transmission and swinging to his new target.

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Copy, Storm. Dolly, Taylor. Turning to cover you. Keep in one piece over there."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Taylor, Dolly. Do my best. I'll try and lead him around for you."

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Raider10 attacks Agrippa with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider7 attacks Phin with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider9 attacks Phin with KEW - Moderate wound to Controls (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider8 attacks Warren with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider9 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider7 with KEW - Moderate wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider10 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider8 with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider7 with KEW - Moderate wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Agrippa has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Agrippa spends a luck point to keep fighting!

<COMBAT> Raider7 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider8 has been KO'd!

The exchange in Ouranos remains bloody for the Raiders, but they're starting to do more damage to the Colonials now, too. As the field thins again, no new contacts appear. One Cylon continues to engage the Vipers, but the other turns, to try and flit back into the cover of the deeper belt.

Warren hits hard on the thrusters as he sees another burst come toward him which throws his own shot off. He growls a bit to himself pissed that he didn't take out the raider on Phin because of that. He hits the stick hard angling himself in, doing the vectors in his head for his attackrun as he thumbs over the trasmit.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, Toast. Still got one on your six. Tally ho. Goin' hot."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Flight, Storm. This last canner thinks he's gettin' away, I'm gonna disabuse him of the notion. Taylor, watch my six… Toast, Punchie, cover Dolly."

[Into the Wireless] Phin "Toast, DolBZZT…" There is heavy static from Phin's comms, and they finally just lapse into distorted feedback before he cuts them out in frustration. His Viper still seems to be flying level and continues to navigate the asteroids without faceplanting into anything. So there's that.

Phin levels off as best he can, still trying to stay ahead of the Raider who continues to dog him.

Another Raider goes up under the fury of Holtz's guns. He breaks away when he sees the last Raider abruptly come about and make for deeper in the belt; his Viper hums as Holtz floors the throttle, lining the fleeing Cylon fighter up in his sights.

The Raider had some tricks up its sleeves as it does a one-eighty spin, a surprise move that is usually pulled off by Agrippa. However, there is no shying away from the young Viper jock as he exchanges a lethal barrage with the Toaster, both scoring nasty hits. The difference is that the Raider's systems gows up in an explosion while the Viper shorts out for a moment, forcing the pilot to hit the restart switch a few times. After the third time, the power plant roars to life again and once more Agrippa is on the move, this time going after the Raider who is instent on killing his wingman.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, Toast. Repeat last, didn't copy. We're comin in, I've got you."

[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "*BZZT*SCREEEECHBZZT***…"

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Copy Storm, turning to cover you."

<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Raider10 passes.
<COMBAT> Raider9 attacks Phin with KEW - Light wound to Right Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Warren attacks Raider9 with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider10 with KEW - Light wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider9 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider10 with KEW - Serious wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider10 - Moderate wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider10 - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Raider9 with KEW - Moderate wound to Engine.
<COMBAT> Phin has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Phin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Phin spends a luck point to keep fighting!

<COMBAT> Raider10 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider9 has been KO'd!

There's a flare from the fleeing Raider's engines, as if it's trying to jump. But it doesn't quite make it before Colonial KEW fire sends it blasting into pieces. The other remaining Raider fares no better, though it does get in a parting shot before it's blown away.

Well, so much for the running idea. The fleeing Raider attracts a pair of Vipers on its tail; Holtz and his wingman both clear their guns at the Cylon, and their combined fire tears the enemy craft into pieces before it's able to trip its FTL drive.

Warren's guns burst out tearing through the wing of the raider he had in his sights, but not before Agrippa blasts away its engines. He looks out to Phin to see if the raider got any piece of him and winces a moment. He glances up to see if thers any more targets before he shifts vectoring to the side of Phin rocking back and forth to see if Phin's still air worth and responding. He glances over watching the other man's Viper to see if he maneuvers at all to acknowledge the maneuver.

Phin takes one more hit, and for a moment his Viper seems to jerk to an abrupt stop. And so it stays like that for one…two…three…before he finally there's a flicker from his engines. And his external lights, since he's finally apparently given up on his comms entirely. It's very rudimentary light signal code. Just the letters: "O-K"

With two different bursts of KEW converging on the Raider, it had no chance, especially when Agrippa's autocannons punch through the engine casing of the Cylon. This sets off a pretty explosion that shreds the tin can into bits and pieces, flickering when it catches the stray rays of light that pierces the asteroid field. Finally, the young Viper jock can relax as it seems that the field has been cleared.

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Dolly, Toast. Copy that. Storm, Toast. I'm seeing no bogies. Dolly's wireless seems to be down. Seems to be ok."

Taylor squeezes his trigger one last time, his Viper screaming past the disintigrating Raider. Wheeling back around, he catches sight of Dolly's Viper hanging lifeless in space except for the blinking external light. He eyes the asteroids as he takes up a protective orbit.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Same here, Toast, looks like we're clear."

[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Storm, Taylor. No eyes on any more hostiles, but Dolly's Viper is INOP. Seems ok, though, I've got flashing lights on his externals."

Phin sort of limps his plane to form up with Agrippa again. It's not in good shape, but it's moving under its own power.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Copy, Taylor. All right, Flight, I think we've had our fill today, I'm callin' RTB. Taylor, you and Punchie form on Toast, I'll keep an eye on Dolly."

[Into the Wireless] Warren says, "Storm, Toast. Coppy that. Punchie, Taylor Form on me we're heading back to the barn."

With the space around them seemingly clear, Holtz slows his Viper to a speed that's downright leisurely compared to combat velocities. He breaks out of the three ship formation he'd been leading, allowing Warren to take point instead as he arcs around; his eyes sweep over the damage to Phin's Viper, and then he spells out ON YR WNG, RTB using his blinkers before turning over to settle in next to Dolly.

Warren hits his RCS thrusters, shifting his vector back towards the corvet. He glances over his shoulder either way, waiting for the other two to form up or at least start vectoring in before he starts his burn towards home. He does pause a moment to glance towards Phin just to make sure he's able to vector over towards Holtz. He does make sure to push towards the barn but not too fast, not wanting to leave Holtz without cover if he needs it.

Phin looks up, grinning slight when he spots Holtz. 'ON YRG 6, DUDE.' He takes the time to spell his slang out all proper. And then sputters after the senior Viper.

The Cornwall will be there waiting for them, and won't be keen to linger in an area that seems so popular with Raider patrols. Second verse, same as first in the Ouranos Belt.

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