Gray Skies
Posts: 184
  • Posted On: Apr 9 2010 4:24pm
T-65E-BD2 X-Wing Merlin Nine, simulated attack on Thyferran Bacta Refinery

“They’re coming in way too hot…those have to be upgraded,” mumbled Lieutenant Kessid.

As if the original Tie fighters don’t outpace us already. Kessid rolled his eyes. The tiny holo projector that displayed the Tactical Combat Network’s suggested through a combination of words and images to attack the Tie Fighter in a head-on attack. No really…who would’ve thunk that? He attempted to align the X-wing’s sights on the nimble starfighter, but the Tie abruptly leapt upward into the clouds and out of the less nimble X-wing’s fire vector. The TCN almost immediately suggested that he attack one of the nearby refinery buildings. But what about that Tie? He spared a quick glance upwards, noticing that the TCN had already positioned his wingman higher up to intercept the Tie for a diving attack. Merlin Ten promptly vaped the Tie fighter as it escaped Nine’s weapons. It’s like it’s playing chess…and we’re the pieces…that is, assuming that we listen to it…The man shrugged and sent his X-wing in a slow descent for a strafing run. A large number of ground emplacements fired upon him, attempting to rip apart his ship’s strong defences. Several missiles popped up from the infantry, which he promptly dealt with by using the craft’s countermeasure launcher. He switched to firing his laser cannons at the opposing ground forces, haphazardly scattering and disrupting their defence of the facility. But only half paid attention to him.

“Well, R6, what have we got for our loadout today? Three torps in the first, four magpulse in the second…and four heavy rockets in the last…Well, the rockets are useless against the fighters…might as well use them…”

He quickly targeted several large tanks and pulled the trigger for his third MG7 launcher. A quartet of four fiery-orange blobs slowly spilled out of the ship’s underside launcher and dispersed to slam into the cylindrical containers. Fireballs dotted the structures, sending dust flooding through the battlefield like a gray tsunami. Nothing seemed to escape it. And it seemed to flood and confuse everything, save the TCN, which promptly suggested that he head straight up. Ten shrugged. It’s odd that the device knows my style of extreme flying…His X-wing abruptly halted and surged up through the clouds of gray dust. Around him, the rest of Merlin Squadron intricately weaved and dueled with the enemy starfighters; he didn’t think he’d ever seen as many Corellian slips being performed at once before. While not all of the counterattacks were entirely successful, the squadron’s coordinated maneuvers were certainly keeping the X-wings from being completely outmaneuvered by the Tie fighters. The TCN flashed bright read with the words DIVE. He abruptly sent his starfighter in a rapid dive. A flaming Tie fighter flashed through the space which his craft had occupied mere seconds before. That’s nice. Almost like some sort of pre-cognition…too bad it wasn’t right the first time it suggested that…though I guess one can’t expect a machine to be able to completely be able to predict everything correctly…too many variables.

“Looks like Nine got it kids, let’s get the hell out of here before Imp reinforcements show up,” stated Merlin Leader.

Let’s head home…The X-wings surged out of the skies into deep space, followed closely by the enemy Tie Fighters…but with shields doubled back and the X-wing’s thick hull, the Tie Fighters had little luck in actually damaging the retreating Alliance craft.

“Well, R6, take us home.”

The little droid whistled before executing the hyperjump which sent Merlin squadron away from the scene of the battle…