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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 5, 2021 18:22:17 GMT -5
Aarav attempts to activate the appropriate controls for the sensor sweep on his console, then sends the output to the main bridge display. He also switches the Active Sensors and Targeting outputs from his console display to secondary bridge displays, so they're visible to Takheal and Charlie.
He continues to monitor the comms channel for a response to his interrogative.
Sensors come up and the sweep shows nothing along the path the ship is traveling. Then the comm comes to life, "Starport Control here! Stand down immediately and return to the port!"Charlie shook his head. “Figured. Not till we’re safe. And our enemies are not in a position to hurt us. We’re going up so we may get another shot at them. If not, then we go back.”
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Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
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Post by Aarav on Apr 5, 2021 18:51:29 GMT -5
Then the comm comes to life, "Starport Control here! Stand down immediately and return to the port!"Aarav looks over at Charlie, eyebrows raised.
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Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
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Post by Aarav on Apr 5, 2021 18:53:57 GMT -5
Then the comm comes to life, "Starport Control here! Stand down immediately and return to the port!"Charlie shook his head. “Figured. Not till we’re safe. And our enemies are not in a position to hurt us. We’re going up so we may get another shot at them. If not, then we go back.” Aarav nods and, turning back to the console, does not acknowledge receipt of the message from Starport Control.
He tries a quick scan of the starport to see if there are any other spacecraft preparing to lift.
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Post by joertexas on Apr 5, 2021 21:25:49 GMT -5
Charlie shook his head. “Figured. Not till we’re safe. And our enemies are not in a position to hurt us. We’re going up so we may get another shot at them. If not, then we go back.” "They are accelerating away from us," Takheal says. "I am pursuing them at our own best acceleration." He pilots the ship on a matching course in a bid to catch the pirates. If they stayed in the atmosphere, then they would be speed-limited, whereas the Clear Sails was able to keep accelerating as it reached a low orbit.
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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 5, 2021 21:31:00 GMT -5
Charlie shook his head. “Figured. Not till we’re safe. And our enemies are not in a position to hurt us. We’re going up so we may get another shot at them. If not, then we go back.” "They are accelerating away from us," Takheal says. "I am pursuing them at our own best acceleration." He pilots the ship on a matching course in a bid to catch the pirates. If they stayed in the atmosphere, then they would be speed-limited, whereas the Clear Sails was able to keep accelerating as it reached a low orbit. “That’s why I plotted a course up. They have more acceleration than us, but they have to boost up or they’ll be trapped down there. We will have the high ground.”
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ateno
Traveler
Posts: 111
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Post by ateno on Apr 6, 2021 14:33:23 GMT -5
To Ha'Penny on comm:
"Ha, you hit them, lets follow their blood, take the high ground and take the kill! Wing them, wing them again, my custom Laser Rifle is on that ship!"
Ekhunoz
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Post by erisred on Apr 6, 2021 15:06:51 GMT -5
Charlie shook his head. “Figured. Not till we’re safe. And our enemies are not in a position to hurt us. We’re going up so we may get another shot at them. If not, then we go back.” Aarav nods and, turning back to the console, does not acknowledge receipt of the message from Starport Control.
He tries a quick scan of the starport to see if there are any other spacecraft preparing to lift. Nope, no ships appear to be powering up and there aren't any Defense Boats in orbit around this planet either.
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Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
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Post by Aarav on Apr 6, 2021 17:33:44 GMT -5
He tries a quick scan of the starport to see if there are any other spacecraft preparing to lift. Nope, no ships appear to be powering up and there aren't any Defense Boats in orbit around this planet either. Aarav smiles reassuredly, checks his seat harness again, and returns to paying attention to how Takeal and Charlie are flying the ship.
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 6, 2021 23:57:20 GMT -5
Lasers pulse out and Ha'penny is sure he hit all three times. The pirate ship drops below the planet's limb and he can't pick it up, so he can't tell how hard it hit that ship, though. The sensors pick up a small spread of debris arcing out from where the pirate ship disappeared around the planet. It's too small to be a mission kill, but you clearly damaged it. Peng impatiently pounds his seat's armrest, willing the cannon capacitors to finish their recharge cycles with a chant of: "Come on! Come on! Come on!"Of course, this performance has no effect whatsoever on the physics involved. But it does make Peng feel marginally better . . .
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 7, 2021 0:09:28 GMT -5
"Ha, you hit them, lets follow their blood, take the high ground and take the kill! Wing them, wing them again, my custom Laser Rifle is on that ship!" Peng to Ekhunoz on the turret circuit: "Yeah. I wan' 'em in one piece, too. That crate is much better than this lumbering merchie, for a small group like us."
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Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
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Post by Tophocles on Apr 7, 2021 2:16:15 GMT -5
An internal comm crackles on the bridge over the speakers.
"Bridge, this is, um, Engineering. We've entered the ionosphere, so we're shutting the intake manifolds. Should give you an extra kick, if you need it."
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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 7, 2021 10:35:56 GMT -5
An internal comm crackles on the bridge over the speakers. "Bridge, this is, um, Engineering. We've entered the ionosphere, so we're shutting the intake manifolds. Should give you an extra kick, if you need it." “Copy that.” Charlie is focusing on plotting the best course to give the gunners another shot.
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oscar
Prospector
Posts: 97
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Post by oscar on Apr 7, 2021 22:11:15 GMT -5
Cyril offers a silent prayer. "Lord, It's hard to give advice to the omniscient, but if my thoughts have any weight to You, Raven deserves honor in Heaven, if only for never spacing Peng."
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Post by joertexas on Apr 7, 2021 22:26:21 GMT -5
Charlie is focusing on plotting the best course to give the gunners another shot. Takheal follows his steering cue, and angles the nose down to within a few degrees of the horizon to enter a low orbit that would hopefully outpace the pirate ship as it reached it's maximum atmospheric velocity. Superior accel or no, she would have to climb out of the atmosphere to go faster, or be overhauled. "Our hull is starting to heat," he warns Charlie. "We may not be able to stay this low for long."
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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 8, 2021 9:34:57 GMT -5
Charlie is focusing on plotting the best course to give the gunners another shot. Takheal follows his steering cue, and angles the nose down to within a few degrees of the horizon to enter a low orbit that would hopefully outpace the pirate ship as it reached it's maximum atmospheric velocity. Superior accel or no, she would have to climb out of the atmosphere to go faster, or be overhauled. "Our hull is starting to heat," he warns Charlie. "We may not be able to stay this low for long." “Understood. With any luck at all, they’ll make a break for orbit and give the gunners a perfect shot. If not, well, they might get away. It’s in their hands now. Give us a warning if you have to break off.”
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Post by joertexas on Apr 8, 2021 11:08:36 GMT -5
“Understood. With any luck at all, they’ll make a break for orbit and give the gunners a perfect shot. If not, well, they might get away. It’s in their hands now. Give us a warning if you have to break off.” "That is my hope, as well," the Aslan replies.
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Post by erisred on Apr 8, 2021 15:11:36 GMT -5
Only minutes pass, but it feels like hours to those on Clear Sails as it crawls around the planet rising much more slowly than you normally would. The skin is starting to overheat, you can't take much more of this.
Finally, you make it far enough around the planet to catch sight of the Pirate Ship on the sensors, then it disappears as a cloud of sand blossoms in front of you. When you plow through the sand cloud you see the pirates have ducked behind one this planet's two small moons. Another cloud of sand blossoms to the side of the small moon giving the pirates extended cover. They could be running for the Jump Limit at 10 diameters or they could be using the moon and sand to hide them trying to loop around to get a shot at you...
Either way you are going to need to gain altitude fast now to get an angle on them if they are running or to get up to the moon's orbit to cut off their shot if they are trying to loop around it.
The alternative is to break off pursuit and dive back down into the atmosphere and bleed off velocity and then land back at the Starport. Of course, you could come down somewhere out back on this mostly empty and mostly covered with water world...
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Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
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Post by Aarav on Apr 8, 2021 19:00:23 GMT -5
Finally, you make it far enough around the planet to catch sight of the Pirate Ship on the sensors, then it disappears as a cloud of sand blossoms in front of you. When you plow through the sand cloud you see the pirates have ducked behind one this planet's two small moons. Another cloud of sand blossoms to the side of the small moon giving the pirates extended cover. They could be running for the Jump Limit at 10 diameters or they could be using the moon and sand to hide them trying to loop around to get a shot at you... Aarav continues to watch Takheal and Charlie fly the ship. He's never flown in ship in combat but he begins to think to himself that the . . . pirates are going to get away. . . .
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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 8, 2021 23:14:50 GMT -5
Only minutes pass, but it feels like hours to those on Clear Sails as it crawls around the planet rising much more slowly than you normally would. The skin is starting to overheat, you can't take much more of this. Finally, you make it far enough around the planet to catch sight of the Pirate Ship on the sensors, then it disappears as a cloud of sand blossoms in front of you. When you plow through the sand cloud you see the pirates have ducked behind one this planet's two small moons. Another cloud of sand blossoms to the side of the small moon giving the pirates extended cover. They could be running for the Jump Limit at 10 diameters or they could be using the moon and sand to hide them trying to loop around to get a shot at you... Either way you are going to need to gain altitude fast now to get an angle on them if they are running or to get up to the moon's orbit to cut off their shot if they are trying to loop around it. The alternative is to break off pursuit and dive back down into the atmosphere and bleed off velocity and then land back at the Starport. Of course, you could come down somewhere out back on this mostly empty and mostly covered with water world... Charlie will set the course to loathe moon. Until the pilot or gunner says there isn’t any chance, he’ll do what he can to give them the chance to get them. “He’s making a run for it or looking to circle around the moon and come at us. I’m plotting a course to give you a shot but we’re running out of chances.”
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Post by joertexas on Apr 8, 2021 23:48:12 GMT -5
Charlie will set the course to loathe moon. Until the pilot or gunner says there isn’t any chance, he’ll do what he can to give them the chance to get them. “He’s making a run for it or looking to circle around the moon and come at us. I’m plotting a course to give you a shot but we’re running out of chances.” "We will pursue them until they jump out, or come back," Takheal says. "If we break off, they could try to ambush us, since they are faster."
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 11, 2021 22:37:21 GMT -5
OOC: " . . . if only for never spacing Peng."
LOL!
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 11, 2021 22:47:28 GMT -5
Charlie will set the course to loathe moon. Until the pilot or gunner says there isn’t any chance, he’ll do what he can to give them the chance to get them. “He’s making a run for it or looking to circle around the moon and come at us. I’m plotting a course to give you a shot but we’re running out of chances.” "We will pursue them until they jump out, or come back," Takheal says. "If we break off, they could try to ambush us, since they are faster." Peng stabs the general comm connection and snarls: "Yeah, let's not leave a wounded snake behind. I know I got a couple of hits on the bastids but they don't seem hurt. Although . . ."
Peng's tone suddenly turns pensive: " . . . they ain't shot back yet, neither. Maybe I took out their cannon?"
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Post by erisred on Apr 13, 2021 15:26:27 GMT -5
"We will pursue them until they jump out, or come back," Takheal says. "If we break off, they could try to ambush us, since they are faster." Peng stabs the general comm connection and snarls: "Yeah, let's not leave a wounded snake behind. I know I got a couple of hits on the bastids but they don't seem hurt. Although . . ."
Peng's tone suddenly turns pensive: " . . . they ain't shot back yet, neither. Maybe I took out their cannon?"As Tak brings the ship around the small moon and breaks through the sand cloud you pick up the Pirate ship on the sensors. The ship is trailing debris and is well within the 10 diameter limit, but it is also clearly about to jump! The comm buzzes. It's a message from the pirates, "You bastards! We'll get even with you for this!" And with that the ship flashes out of normal space leaving behind nothing but a flash of light...and a small cloud of debris that quickly disperses and is gone.
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Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 13, 2021 16:55:01 GMT -5
Peng stabs the general comm connection and snarls: "Yeah, let's not leave a wounded snake behind. I know I got a couple of hits on the bastids but they don't seem hurt. Although . . ."
Peng's tone suddenly turns pensive: " . . . they ain't shot back yet, neither. Maybe I took out their cannon?"As Tak brings the ship around the small moon and breaks through the sand cloud you pick up the Pirate ship on the sensors. The ship is trailing debris and is well within the 10 diameter limit, but it is also clearly about to jump! The comm buzzes. It's a message from the pirates, "You bastards! We'll get even with you for this!" And with that the ship flashes out of normal space leaving behind nothing but a flash of light...and a small cloud of debris that quickly disperses and is gone. “Dammit. Well, with any luck that misjump will put them off ion deep space. Time to face the music.” He plots a more sedate course back to the port. “Might as well tell them we’re coming back. Wouldn’t want hem to finally get trigger happy.”
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Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
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Post by Aarav on Apr 13, 2021 19:08:23 GMT -5
“Might as well tell them we’re coming back. Wouldn’t want hem to finally get trigger happy.” Aarav nods and activates the transmit control.
"Starport Control," he says. "This is Clear Sails. Returning to the port now."
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Post by joertexas on Apr 13, 2021 19:26:46 GMT -5
“Might as well tell them we’re coming back. Wouldn’t want hem to finally get trigger happy.” Aarav nods and activates the transmit control.
"Starport Control," he says. "This is Clear Sails. Returning to the port now."
Takheal growls as their prey slips through their claws. Perhaps there would be another opportunity, as they said. He kills the accel and flips the merchantman end-for-end, following Charlie's steering cues. Their orbit would bring them around the planet to a landing trajectory from planetary west.
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Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
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Post by Tophocles on Apr 13, 2021 23:10:41 GMT -5
When the bridge signals that the ship is re-entering the atmosphere, Blackjack signals to Vhar and the two of them open the manifolds again, to prevent overheating. The levers are looser than what he is used to, but it has been a while since he's been in the engine room of a jump-capable ship. "Maintaining external temps," Vhar confirms as he checks a dial.
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ateno
Traveler
Posts: 111
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Post by ateno on Apr 14, 2021 5:50:19 GMT -5
Ekhunoz has a much lower tone to Peng now "Chief Gunner, Gunner 2 standing down, do we have any info on the name of the ship or anything?"
Ekhunoz disengages the targeting system as well as he can, but sit in the chair with the comm unit on.
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Post by erisred on Apr 14, 2021 13:52:22 GMT -5
When the bridge signals that the ship is re-entering the atmosphere, Blackjack signals to Vhar and the two of them open the manifolds again, to prevent overheating. The levers are looser than what he is used to, but it has been a while since he's been in the engine room of a jump-capable ship. "Maintaining external temps," Vhar confirms as he checks a dial. "Thanks. It looks like you know what you're doing." says Blackjack, "So, if you can deal with this, I'm going to Sickbay. I really want to see Cho." If Blackjack gets agreement from Vhar, he leaves Engineering quickly and Vhar is in charge of the Engineering of this ship.
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Post by erisred on Apr 14, 2021 14:09:17 GMT -5
“Might as well tell them we’re coming back. Wouldn’t want hem to finally get trigger happy.” Aarav nods and activates the transmit control.
"Starport Control," he says. "This is Clear Sails. Returning to the port now."
"It's about time you answered, Clear Sails!" is the reply, "You and Taggart left a lot of damage down here that you are going to have to pay for!" Another voice comes on line, from the voice someone very angry, "Do you realize how much damage you did down here? There are dead people on the tarmac, a warehouse blown to bits, a wreaked ATV, stolen grav vehicle, and who knows what else! If we had any System Defense Boats, we'd have probably blown you and that other ship out of space!!""Where is Taggart? Did those bastards blow it up? If they did, Sails is going to be on the hook for All of this! By the time we're done with them they probably won't still have that starship!" the voice continues. It sounds like whoever was speaking forgot to turn off their mic because there is suddenly a click ending the transmission.
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