| Rocks and 'Roids |
| Summary: | Asteroid belt recon. In which the Vipers encounter quite a number of Cylons lurking in the Ouranos belt. |
| Date: | 05/07/2013 (OOC Date) |
| Related Logs: | None |
      |
| Ouranos Asteroid Belt |
| Space rocks. |
| AWD #180 |
Helios Beta. Before the destruction of Virgon, of Troy, it was once home to so many people. Millions. Billions. It was once home to the Seventh Fleet — to the Orion itself. It ought to be crowded with life. It ought to be a warm homecoming. Instead, it's like visiting a ghost town. When the Cornwall jumps into Helios Beta's airspace, there's absolutely nothing coming over the radios. It's silent around the Ouranos Asteroid Belt. Dead. The corvette has parked several clicks outside the asteroid field, both to avoid the interference with it's radio systems and to keep from colliding with all of that planetary debris. A voice from the CIC breaks over the radio. "DRADIS is showing clear." That may not be particularly reassuring, given how limited the DRADIS system is here. "Launch when ready."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Franklin's voice breaks over the radio. "Flight, Teatime. Keep your eyes peeled and your wingmen close. DRADIS is worthless here and the radios aren't much better. Taylor, since you're the new kid, you're flying with me. Storm, Dolly, pick up Big Mouth and Medusa.""
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Teatime, Storm. Copy. Bigmouth, form on my wing and heat 'em up."
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Storm, Bigmouth. Copy that. Coming over as we speak."
Phin's Viper shoots out of the corvette along with the others. He takes a second to indulge in a little rolling in the freedom of space. Won't have any room for it among the rocks. Before he swoops over to join Calanthia.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. On my six. Watch yourself when we get into the belt. It's seriously tight in the rocks."
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Teatime, Taylor. Copy, forming on your wing."
Holtz's Viper springs forth from the corvette's small hangar deck as the larger ship hangs just outside of the asteroid belt. He flies a tight holding pattern in front of the corvette as he waits for the others to emerge and form up by sections.
When Calanthia's Viper shoots out of the launch tube, it's all business from there. No rolls or spins or anything of the nature, just a lazy arching course to bring her nearer her section lead and to fall in formation.
Orders given, Franklin initiates her launch sequence and comes rocketing out of the tubes, thrown violently backwards in her seat as the g-forces kick in. It brings a grin to her face — one she'd probably never admit to once out of the box office. She slows down almost immediately, puttering up to the front of the formation and waiting for Taylor to catch up.
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. Copy. Forming up behind, starboard-side."
Taylor's Viper fires from the corvette, slamming him back into his seat. Clearing the tubes he takes his own moment to enjoy his first time back out into the emptiness of space, taking a couple rolls and grinning like a schoolboy into the Black. His fun over, he spots the Deputy CAG's Viper and maneuvers into position.
Luc shoots out and is quick to find himself and make a system check while moving to form on Holtz's wing. Glancing around and so forth. Humming a bit to himself. Seemingly quite calm and collected, though the wide grin on his lips does speak for him enjoying it all.
With Luc in tow, Holtz moves to join Atia in formation as the Vipers head towards the asteroids. For him, it's just another mission among many; there's no smile or excitement on his face as he maneuvers into place, only a calm detachment as he watches his displays and the empty space around them.
Phin's plane almost moves into a tailing pattern as he forms up with Calanthia, though it only takes him a second to stop himself. He's not used leading, but he manages to edge out ahead of her and get properly situated so she's watching his starboard side.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Flight, Teatime. We have a lot of ground to cover and only a few hours to do it, so fan out. It's going to be slow going, but that's okay. If you see a flash, sing out; I'd rather be safe than sorry on this one."
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Dolly, Storm. I saw that." Holtz's voice carries a muted but perceptible note of amusement. "Miss me already, do you?"
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Teatime, Storm copies. Stay on my wing, Bigmouth, we're goin' for a spin."
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Storm, Dolly. Don't pine for me over an open comm, man. It's not seemly."
[Into the Wireless] Holtz snorts audibly over the comm. "Dream on, Dollface."
Calanthia throttles back a little, as well, and drifts around off the starboard side of Phin's plane.
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Storm, Bigmouth. Right behind you, big boy. I'm with you. Dolly and Storm, you two need to find more private time when we get back."
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Storm…Dolly, Medusa. Do you boys need someone to hold your hand? Or can this lover's quarrel wait?"
As ordered, Holtz angles off from the other two sections, their Vipers receding as he opens the distance between them. By the time he straightens out and resumes course, the silvery hulls of the other ships are barely visible among the dull, pitted rocks of the asteroid field. With DRADIS barely effective, he's relying on the old Mark I eyeball to keep a vigil as his and Luc's Vipers fly in close formation through the rocks.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Nah, he's not really my type anyway."
[Into the Wireless] Phin chuckles over the comms. "Bigmouth, Medusa, we'll leave our love unspoken. Wouldn't want anyone to get jealous." Clearing his throat, he seems to remember that the DCAG can also hear this. "Copy that, Teatime. Eyes sharp, and we'll sing out if we spot anything that looks like a Raider.
There's a soft sigh and an eyeroll from Franklin; not that they'd hear anything but a bit of static over the comms. She breaks apart from the formation, heading for the asteroid fields with a burst of orange from her thrusters. She disappears among the rocks, showing up as nothing more than another piece of space debris on the DRADIS screens; her signature's basically gone cold.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Teatime, Storm… visual scanning, aye." A pause and a low snort. "At least if anyone else is out here their screens're as mucked up as ours are, yeah?"
Taylor rolls his Viper after Franklin, taking care to stay close. He has to suppress only a slight heating of his face as the DRADIS beeps contacts disappearing from it. His eyeballs scan back and forth, while making sure he's still got the DCAG in view ahead of him and to his right. He rolls as shoulder as they glide along, trying to stop himself from feeling so tense in the.. routine.. flight.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "We can hope."
Phin sticks close to Calanthia as he noses further into the belt, but he quickly loses visual on the other Vipers. Frowning as they blink off his instruments as well. He tries to fix his attention on what space he can see around him. And what might be found there.
<FS3> Holtz rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Calanthia rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Taylor rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Atalanta rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Luc rolls Alertness: Failure.
Luc is flying along and grinning to what the others offer over the wireless. Being amused and flying on Holtz wing. Although it does seem that he is being distracted. Just trusting in Holtz.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Teatime, Storm. Got somethin', maybe." There's a pause as he tries to put what he's thinking into words. "The light comin' off those ice crystals look a little funny to you?"
Calanthia follows Phin, staying loose on the stick and calm, even as the flight breaks and each section peels away to recon different areas. Maneuvering easily through the leading edge of the belt, she looks once as DRADIS starts to flicker and go tits up in all that metal, and puts her head on a swivel instead.
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Teatime, Medusa. I'm seeing the same thing. This ice don't look quite right."
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. I see it, too. Something reflecting. Kind of like sunlight only…blueish. Wish our sensors worked worth a damn in this soup."
Phin veers just a little away from Calanthia. Not breaking off from her, but trying to give them both a little more room to move should those ice crystals come to life and start shooting at them. Or should other enemies emerge from the rocks.
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Teatime, Taylor. That light doesn't look right to me either, from the FNG view."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Flight, Teatime. Yeah, I see it. Group in close. Is anyone on their way to popping their head up?"
At the command from Atalanta, Holtz swerves back in towards the other ships, his Viper ducking and weaving through the rocks as he alters course. His earlier detachment is replaced with a look of frowning concentration as his eyes flick back and forth, looking for movement among the floating rocks.
Luc blinks and tries to follow, not having any clue what they might mean. Just sticking with Holtz and hopefully he'll find out what is going on. Keeping a suitable distance but still on his wing, for now.
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Teatime, Medusa. I'll pop my head up and take a peek."
<FS3> Calanthia rolls Alertness: Great Success.
A twist on the stick and a bit of rudder, and Calanthia takes an upward, looping arch up and out of the plane of the belt. The direction takes her towards the forming group of pilots, but not so far up and out that she loses visual with Dolly. DRADIS stutters back to life enough to get a few sweeps outside the belt, but cuts off rapidly as she tightens that turn up and dips back into the plane of the belt.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Teatime. Copy that, Medusa."
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Teatime, Medusa. Four DRADIS contacts topside. Raiders. They're looking. Spread search pattern. Don't seem to know we're here."
Franklin twists in her seat, looking back over her shoulder for Taylor. She's squinting, trying to differentiate between the reflection of the ice and the reflection of their hulls. She can't see a damned thing in this. Where'd the kid go?
Phin angles his Viper around, and awkwardly with its nose pointing slightly up, to try and keep as much of a bead on Calanthia as he can. He has little luck. So mostly he tries to stay pointed in the general direction of her course, in case whatever's up there proves in need of shooting.
Taylor angles his Viper slightly, squinting at the glare. He even tries the old trick of putting his thumb up to the sunlight before he hears the radio comm and swears lightly under his breath, being careful not to trasmit it.
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Teatime, Taylor. Following your lead anywhere. I'll stay stuck like glue."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Flight, Teatime. Fangs out. Keep your heads down. If we wait until they're right on top of us, we might get lucky."
[Into the Wireless] Holtz grimaces, as if remembering something. An earlier tangle, perhaps. "Storm copies. Head down, fangs out."
Phin goes weapon hot and sticks his head up above the rock space shores. Where he can at least see some of his flight again. Along with the Cylon patrol they seem to have acquired. He tries to keep his flying as loose as possible in the terrain.
Calanthia's got the right of it. The Raiders aren't hunting — at least, not for them. They creep slowly towards the flight of Vipers, showing up as nothing more than flickers and flashes that cut in and out on the static mess of their DRADIS screens. Their angry red eyes sweep left, then right, then left again. Scanning. Scanning. Totally oblivious as they inch closer to the waiting Lucky Strikes.
Unlike the confrontation back in Helios Alpha, this time Holtz doesn't immediately go haring off hell-bent for leather as soon as he hears of the inbound Raiders. No, this time he nudges his Viper into the cover of a largish nearby asteroid, waiting for the hopefully unsuspecting Cylon fighters to wander into the kill zone.
<COMBAT> Raider4 attacks Calanthia with KEW - Serious wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Phin with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider attacks Holtz with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Holtz - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Raider2 attacks Atalanta with KEW - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider2 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider4 with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider with KEW - Serious wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider - Critical wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider3 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider2 with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider4 has been KO'd!
Well, it seems that Calanthia poking her head out of the belt didn't go /entirely/ unnoticed. At least one Raider seems to draw a bead on her and follow her flight path back into the belt. That would explain why her bursts of fire miss the incoming target, and how it manages to put more than a few rounds through the left wing of her Viper. She breaks immediately from attack to evade mode.
Floating alongside one of the larger asteroids, Franklin is largely concelead by its bulk. Only the tip of her nose hangs past the rock; it must've been enough to draw the attention of one of the Raiders once their presence is known. A blast of cannonfire sparks across her hull. So much for the element of surprise. There's no more point in waiting now. She punches down on her throttle, spiralling up out of the plan of the asteroid belt to chase that bandit down.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Go! Go, go, go!"
Phin gets lightly strafed across his hull, but it doesn't scratch the Viper's paint too badly. He just tries to stay ahead of the Raider targeting him, fixing his attention on Calanthia's tail. He can't hit it before it hits her, but he does get in a shot on its wing. It wouldn't be too damaging a shot in other terrain, but it's enough to send the Raider off balance and careening down into the asteroids. Where it collides with a rock, and does not come up again.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. You OK? Gimme a song. Your six should be clear, but it's hard to tell with all this interference where the frak these things might be coming from."
The Raiders aren't entirely caught unawares, apparently. They spring into motion almost as soon as the Vipers spring their trap, one heading for Holtz in particular, its red eye bobbing malevolently as it spits a volley of KEW fire in his direction. The Raider is hit along the wing, but not before its fire spears Holtz's Viper. Storm shouts in surprise and pain as his console sparks and shrapnel cuts through the thick glove on his right hand to slice into the skin, blood already bubbling up from underneath the torn fabric. It takes all of his experience and self control to keep his wounded hand on the stick; with a snarl of anger, he lines up his sights and cuts loose, the Raider exploding in a sheet of flame and shards of metal.
Luc does spot the enemy thanks to Holtz. Flying in and getting in some shots to the weaponry, which does open up to allow Holtz to finish him off. Grinning a bit now. Flying along and keeping along as well as he can. Following behind Holtz still.
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Storm, Bigmouth. Nice shooting."
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. Got one bastard on me, far as I can tell. I'm dancing, I'm dancing. Be my partner?"
Taylor pushes his throttle, maneuvering to keep up with the Deputy CAG. A Raider flashes across their view and spits fire at Franklin. Taylor mashes his fire button in response, but either he's too worked up and surprised over it, or he's concentrating too much on trying to keep in formation; either way his fire skips wide and his thumbs his transmitter.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. I'll take you for a spin, but I think the one left has got his eye on me. I'm quicker than he is, though. No worries."
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Teatime, Taylor. You took some fire on your fore. You ok?"
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Scrag one." He grits his teeth in pain, though there's a note of triumph in his voice as well. "Thanks, Bigmouth. One frakker left. Let's nail the bastard."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Taylor, Teatime. I'm still in one piece. What's one little nose-job between us girls, yeah?"
Awww. Poor little Raider. One shot, and he's left out here all alone. It'd almost be easy to feel bad for him, really…
<COMBAT> Raider3 attacks Phin with KEW - Moderate wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider3 with KEW - Serious wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Phin tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider3 with KEW - Moderate wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider3 with KEW - Light wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider3 with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider3 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider3 - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider3 - Critical wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> Phin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Phin spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Raider3 has been KO'd!
<FS3> Holtz rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Calanthia rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Atalanta rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Taylor rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Luc rolls Alertness: Great Success.
As Holtz skirts around the cloud of debris left by the last Raider, he catches a flash of movement out of his peripheral vision. He turns his head to get a better look, cursing as he catches sight of another clutch of bobbing red eyes bearing down on the formation of Vipers.
Luc flies along with Holtz, shaking his head a bit at the sight they seem to pick up, turning to the wireless, leaning to stick with Holtz. And be able to do as ordered.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Frak. Flight, Storm. Six more inbound, CBDR."
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Flight, Bigmouth. Seem we got company. Don't think they took too kindly to what we did to their friends."
Phin spoke too soon, about his mad evasive skills. As the Cylon aiming for him gets a telling shot off on his nose, before it's blown away by his fellow. "Frak…" he mutters as he hastily corrects. Trying to avoid spinning off into the same rocks he'd sent a Raider into earlier. He does. No crashing today. So far. He pulls up just in time to see his DRADIS light up with new friends.
Taylor grins and lets out one small grunt of satisfaction as he lands some fire on the second Raider. Turning his head to scan again, though, he frowns.
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Flight, Taylor. Confirm six more coming. And they look pissed."
Focused. That's the only word for it. She's riding that Raider's six so close, she's practically tapping against his tail end. A blast of orange KEW comes firing out of her cannons, slicing into its core. There's a hiss of triumph as it bursts into pieces that she flies through, chunks of metal pinging down on her like hail. No wonder she spots the incoming flight late. No wonder they can hear, in a rather uncharacteristic manner, her voice coming over the radio to say…
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Frak me."
Leading the last Raider on a goose chase to give the others clean shots, Calanthia manages to get the new little red blips fade in and out on her DRADIS screen. Already gimping along, it takes some effort to regroup with the others.
<COMBAT> Raider6 attacks Atalanta with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Phin with KEW - Moderate wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider9 passes.
<COMBAT> Raider8 attacks Calanthia with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider7 attacks Atalanta with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider10 passes.
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider6 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider8 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider9 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider8 with KEW - Light wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider8 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider7 with KEW - Light wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider7 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider9 has been KO'd!
Quick and precise. That seems to be the case for the raider that has to face Luc. Sending shots to the body that are nicely placed and enough to get it to crash and burn. Spinning and moving between rocks and debris. Heading his next target, though keeping an eye on his wingmate as well.
Taylor growls as he misses the Raider, swinging his Viper around to fire again.
Calanthia seems to be too busy dancing and evading to get a good shot at the Raider bearing down on her, but she fires nonetheless. Her burst misses; the Raider's burst misses. With both their Vipers a bit banged up, she loops around to do her best in keeping his six clear, even if the another Raider is still pursuing her.
Phin is nudged again on the nose, which sends him spinning. Though thankfully not toward the asteroids this time. His maneuverability is definitely getting downgraded, and he makes some hasty moves to try and correct, attempting some on-the-fly repairs to his systems that he probably isn't strictly qualified to be making.
Holtz, for his part, goes untouched through the last exchange of fire. Which is probably a good thing, as his wounded hand screams when he tries to maneuver. Storm's made of pretty stern stuff, though; his face is pale, his features taut, but he's able to power through the pain and swing around to reacquire his madly twisting target.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, DollBZZTontrols are frakked*compensating*"
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. Copy. Keep it flying and I'll keep your ass clear best I can."
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa*Dolly*my***ass thanks you."
It's easy, in all this mess, for the flight to turn into a furball. Raiders swerving that way, Vipers banking this way, and in the midst of it all, KEW firing every which way. Franklin grits her teeth as Betty starts screaming in her ear about being locked on and dives back down into the asteroid field, trying to ditch the Cylons on her tail. Seems their sensors aren't much better in all the mess, as she loops back around a rock just in time to catch one of them unaware, her shot slicing across its cannons and sending the explosive force back up into its body.
<COMBAT> Raider8 attacks Calanthia with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider10 attacks Taylor with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider6 attacks Atalanta with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Luc with KEW - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Luc - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider6 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin treats Viper-5298q:
< Body (Light): unsuccessful
< Nose (Moderate): successful
< Nose (Moderate): unsuccessful
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider10 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider8 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider8 - Light wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider8 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider8 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Luc has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Luc spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Raider8 has been KO'd!
Luc flies and tries to get a shot at the one hunting Taylor. Due to the glitches in the systems due to the area does make him unaware of the one getting a shot at him, hitting him in the abdomen, giving out a roar as he is hit. Trying his best to get the ship under control.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Scrag two… Bigmouth, Storm! You all right over there?""
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "<static> Mouth. <bzzzz> hit. <static> hanging on."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Flight, Teatime. Status! Who took that—-"
Taylor rolls his Viper through space, breathing in easily as he trains on the Raider. Yeah, this is what he was born to do all right. As sense of calm begins to flood over him… which is quickly ruined as the bullet ripping next to his canopy and in involuntarily ducks at the sight, ruining his shot on his Raider, missing wide again.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Bigmouth, Storm. You keep your ass on my six and sing out if you see anything behind you.""
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Frak! These toasters.. Teatime, Taylor. Gonna try and walk this tin can into your fire, if you can smoke him."
Phin does not electrocute himself on his own control panel. He also, sort of, gets his handling back under control. Or at least enough to do until the mechanics can really dig into it.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. Think I got it leveled. Syncing up with your target. Let's light it."
With her six clear, Calanthia can finally stop dancing all around and finally settle in on a target. When Phin calls out the target, Calanthia just settles in and tracks the two of them across her field of vision, trying to sweep in from over Phin's port side.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Taylor, Teatime. Keep your eyes on your six. They're not playing nice tonight. Let's get this done."
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. Copy. Time to recycle this tin can."
Holtz snarls in triumph as a second burst from his guns intersect with fire from the DCAG and rip his target to shreds. He winces a moment later, though, when he sees his wingman's fighter speared by a Cylon salvo and the accompanying roar of pain coming over the radio in Luc's voice. Another Cylon swoops in towards his section, obviously going for his stricken wingman, and Holtz moves to intercept.
<COMBAT> Raider6 attacks Calanthia with KEW - Light wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Phin with KEW - Serious wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raider10 attacks Luc with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider6 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider10 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider5 with KEW - Light wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Atalanta tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Calanthia has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Calanthia spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Luc has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Luc spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Raider10 has been KO'd!
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Bigmouth, Storm. You've got another trailer. String 'im along and I'll take 'im down."
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Storm, Bigmouth. *cough* Doing my best. I'm bleeding. But systems seem a bit steadier. I'll try my best as bait. Leave it to me."
Luc does continue to take fire, trying to keep himself flying. Not able to get a clean shot though, but at least he isn't crashing. Focusing on flying and if needed he will shoot. Or rather, when he can try to shoot he will.
True to his word, a well-aimed shot from Holtz reduces a third Raider to scrap. However, he's not able to kill it before it can score a hit on Luc's already torn-up Viper. Somehow, however, Luc's ship stays in one piece, and Holtz's shot ensures the toaster won't get another chance at the kill. He flips his Viper and jets off in the opposite direction, looking for a fresh target.
Franklin is still navigating the mess of Ouranos; a fist pounds down on her DRADIS screen in frustration. When her nose finally pops back up, she's too late to catch Taylor's leading fire. All she's got time to spot is another bandit bearing down on the already wounded Vipers and a low hiss of air escapes through clenched teeth, fogging her helmet.
Right about the time Calanthia swings in to get a shot on the Raider bearing down on Phin, a few more shots from another Raider manages to rake some shots across the already-damaged wing and gun mount. The result is that her RCS starts to go haywire. She's left making erractic and entirely unintentional evasive maneuvers as she tries to hit the screen and kick around inside the cockpit enough to set things to rights.
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. My turn to lose control of this bucket. Keep'em off me while I try and do something to fix this!"
Whatever patching Phin had managed with his controls is negated as his plane comes under fire again. He's not hammered quite as badly as his wingman, though. So there's that. "Thick as frakking flies out here…" he mutters, wheeling around to try and stick with Calanthia as she goes through those mad patterns.
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. Will do. Just worry about how you're flying, I'll try and keep your six clear."
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Holtz with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider6 with KEW - Serious wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider6 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider5 with KEW - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Raider5 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Calanthia treats Viper-4953s:
< Weapon (Light): unsuccessful
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider6 with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider6 has been KO'd!
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Nice shot, Taylor!"
Taylor lets out a whoop as the Raider in his sights explodes in shards of metal, banking his Viper as he slides alongside the explosion. He turns his attention to the last remaining Raider, the one smoking but somehow carrying on.
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Whoop! Scratch one metal head! Turning on the last one."
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "…Taylor?" It takes Phin a second to remember the ensign's callsign. Or lack thereof. Though that's not the important part just now. "Nice shot, man. Saved my tail." Though he's now acquired another. "Coming about to engage remaining target. Damn, that thing's a frakking zombie."
Holtz's features are twisted in a rictus of pain, determination, and fury as he and one of the last remaining Raiders bear down upon each other. He's able to dance around the Raider's fire while inflicting a grievous blow on the Cylon ship; the crescent-shaped fighter spins out of control for a moment, miraculously missing a collision with a nearby asteroid before somehow managing to right itself and come back around.
Phin looks down at his controls, but doesn't try anymore jury-rigging. He probably would electrocute himself, with them in their current state, and pretty much all his energy is fixed in trying to maintain evasives. And get whatever might be left out of his guns.
<COMBAT> Raider5 attacks Phin with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Taylor attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Luc attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Raider5 with KEW - Light wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Calanthia attacks Raider5 with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Atalanta attacks Raider5 with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Atalanta has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider-4664c has been **KO'd
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Bigmouth, Teatime. Bug out. We got this. RTB, as fast as your bird will carry you."
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Teatime, Bigmouth. Copy that."
Luc does try and shoot but misses, then he does hear the message from Atalanta. Being quick to try and do as she says. Bledding quite a bit and just trying to stay conscious. The adrenaline holding him together for now.
That Raider doesn't have a prayer. It's not talent. It's not even luck. It's simple stastics. Smoking furiously, cracking slowly apart, it was only a matter of time before someone put the frakking thing out of its misery. The Raider's eye blinks one last time before the constant barrage of KEW sends it spiralling into an asteroid, sending up a spray of sparks as its metal hull scraps against the rocks. It drags along the surface before finally, one last shot sends up in a wave of angry yellow-and-red flame.
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Flight, Teatime. Back to the barn. I don't want to run into any more of their friends."
Holtz's eyes are full of hate as the last Raider finally dies. With the danger gone, however, his voice holds only weariness as he flicks the comm switch with his uninjured hand.
Phin's dodging is not so impressive given that he's doing it against a half-dead Raider. Still, he breathes a sigh of relief as he sees it go up in debris on his periphery. He does a quick scan of the space field, in search of more of those things. Trusting his eyes more than his instruments. On Atalanta's orders, he turns and flies back toward the Colonial ship. Slowing to make sure Calanthia's still with him. And just because his craft isn't at top speed at the moment.
[Into the Wireless] Taylor says, "Teatime, Taylor. Copy. On your wing."
[Into the Wireless] Phin says, "Medusa, Dolly. You heard the Major. Let's head home."
Taylor doesn't quite relax as the Raider finally explodes into a shower of sparks, taking the time to scan the field agai
[Into the Wireless] Calanthia says, "Dolly, Medusa. Copy. I'm going to point this bucket back the way we came and let it ride."
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Teatime, Storm. No arguments from me. RTB confirmed. Bigmouth, you still hangin' in over there?"
Taylor doesn't quite relax as the Raider finally explodes into a shower of sparks, taking the time to scan the field again for any more 'friends'. Satisfied that he sees nothing, however, he spins his Viper to form back closer to the Deputy CAG's, his body still shaking with the adrenaline rush.
Franklin aims for a high arc over the asteroid field; there's not a chance in Hades she's about to lead a flight so badly wounded back through all that mess, oncoming Raiders be damned. Her eyes are torn between scanning the space around them and keeping an eye on Luc as he makes his way back to the Cornwall, her cheek twitching slightly every now and again.
[Into the Wireless] Luc says, "Storm, Bigmouth. Of course. Doing my best. Having a bit of pressure on it. Hopefully I'll get back in time."
[Into the Wireless] Atalanta says, "Teatime to Actual. Get medical on deck."
The adrenaline is still coursing through Holtz's veins as well, the resulting sense of euphoria warring with the dull pain in his still-bleeding hand. He's still tense even as he slumps into his seat; he's not entirely out of the woods yet, as it's his responsibility to see that his wingman makes it to the deck. As such, his cold grey eyes are fixated on the sight of Luc's battered Viper as the flight makes its way back to the Cornwall.
Though her Viper is shot to shit, at least Calanthia is in one piece! When the DCAG takes them up and out of the asteroid field, Calanthia takes a lazy path behind, gimping along home after Phin. Just flying outside the confines of the asteroid field is a relief, and means it's not a constant stuggle to keep the Viper flying straight and headed back to the corvette.
[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Good work out there, people. Dunno about the rest of you, but my fun meter's pegged for one day."
Phin is pretty gimped himself, but between inertia and his remaining controls, he manages to get himself back to the Cornwall.
<FS3> Luc rolls Piloting: Good Success.
Luc does come in hot as he makes to land. It will be a hard one though he is doing his best. At least he doesn't crash and burn. The adrenaline keeping him awake but after he opens to leave he does feel his vision blurring and starting to fade. If anyone is around they'll need to catch him. The cockpit being full of blood from a larger wound to his abdomen. His flightsuit also drenched in the blood.
Looks like the deckhands are going to have a few divets to pound out. Franklin's more concerned about getting into the bay fast than she is getting into the bay pretty, given the current state of half the pilots that are still in the air. One hand bangs on her canopy; it's shorthand for the deckies to hurry their asses up and see to Luc, who she's pointing at furiously. She seems to be screaming something at them, though it's not like they can understand a word through multiple layers of glass.
Phin gets out of his Viper as soon as it's come to a complete stop and been towed somewhere with air he can breath. "Frak…" he murmurs to himself, as he gets a look at Luc's Viper. And Luc himself as the pilot emerges from it.
Taylor is comparatively calm, though he doesn't know it. A bead a sweat forms on his forehead as he places his Viper on the deck for the first time since his injury, but the process is relatively painless, and that's not because of his knee. Setting down, though, he begins to realize the beating his squadronmates took as he looks around at the other Vipers setting down.
Holtz touches down a few moments after Atia, and that's when his adrenaline finally fails him; he slumps back into his seat, motionless except to clutch at his wounded hand with a pained grimace, his chest fluttering as he breathes raggedly. It's a long moment before he reaches out to open his canopy and ease himself out of the cockpit.
Phin is, apart from being sweaty and rattled from the battering his Viper took, unscathed. A glance in Calanthia's direction, once she's down on the deck, tells him she's more or less the same. Not so much for many of his other squadmates. He stays out of the way of the deckhands and any incoming medics as best he can, running a hand through his sweaty hair.