| Raptorball Match I |
| Summary: | The first ever game of Raptorball! |
| Date: | 11 Nov 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | Wargames Chit-chat |
| Players: |
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| Space |
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| Space is cold, very cold. Wear your booties. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #258 |
[Harrier-303: Andrea] The two teams fly out into space, DRADIS labelled with the various zones in which the game will be playing. Andrea, a bit to her dismay, is monitoring the situation from a Raptor. Well, first game off, she needs to be able to observe and make adjustments, right? It's RAPTORBALL! The newest form of space bound entertainment/war game fun, and the crews are lining up on either side, ready to go. Hopefully it'll be fun, or at the very least, not catastrophic.
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Captain Vakos' Viper just hangs quietly and without fanfare in space. Disciplined, this one is, despite watching Dizzy randomly barrel-roll for the past ten minutes. "I guess Areion pilots never puke," she mutters to herself off channel. Despite this just being an exercise, the Knights SL goes down her checklist once again, firing her directional thrusters in pretty patterns that have the net result of keeping her precisely in place. But one can never be too sure.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] The Raptor bearing the Cerberus' CAG, and the trusty ECO manning her backseat, touches off from the battlestar and onto the playing field. Such as it is in space. Cidra gets into position smoothly enough and waits for her people, and opponents, to form up and let the games begin.
[TAC3] "Hosedown" Andrea says, " Hosedown to all players, looks like we're good to go! Aerion Team will start with the ball in Zone 2. Whenever you're ready!"
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Areion and Cerberus Flights, Toast. In position. Cerberus Flight, sing out when you are likewise. We shall be ready when you are, Papa."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade jumped on his Viper and got the green for the launch tubes. It's time for some war games, which is interesting enough. He continues to check controls even when already out and then levels himself at Khloe's six.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. How do you want to spin this? Slow and steady? My wager is that Areion's crew is going to try to dazzle us with fancy piloting. I'm thinking slow and steady is going to win this one for us. Over."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] The Raptor bearing the Areion CAG moves into position, the 'ball' they are meant to be attempting to score with attached as directed by the rules. Despite the addition, the ship swoops into position and settles for a moment as the vipers form up around it, AWOL on one side and Dizzy on the other. "Areion flight, this is Papa," come the smooth tones of LCOL Baer, "All set?" They are given a moment to respond before he replies into the com.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. I am not easily dazzled. I will take it medium speed to begin. All things in moderation. We shall see what they can do."
[TAC3] Volans says, "All, this is Papa. Areion flight is ready to proceed. Beginning exercise in 3…2…1…begin."
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "All, Cerberus Flight likewise. We are off."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Cerberus Flight, Drips. Let's see what they have."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Cerberus Flight, Poppy. As Toast suggests. Stay frosty and loose. Support our Raptor. Don't lead with Vipers. We move as a team."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that, Captain."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] Despite all the loopty-loops and barrel rolls she'd been entertaining herself with as some manner of pre-game warm-up, Captain Lana "Dizzy" Drake comes to a smooth stop next to the Raptor commanded by her CAG. "Ready to rock 'n' roll, Big Daddy," she sunnily shares over Areion's private TAC line.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] The Areion has the ball first, so Cidra moves in to play some defense. Which is where she's at home. She plays it usually even when engaged with Cylons, so in a game it only comes out moreso. She flies easy for now, watching the Areion's form up almost curiously across the starfield. Interested to see how they'll play.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Copy that, Papa, in position," returns LT Allison "AWOL" Moran as she forms up on the other side of the Raptor. She doesn't seem inclined towards barrel rolls or loop-de-loops of any kind, at least not just now. "I assume the usual, sir?" she asks, like Dizzy sticking to the private Areion TAC line.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Drips, Poppy. With me, on Baer, over."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Alright, Evocati, let's go," Baer replies, "Yes, AWOL, usual strategy. Don't get overconfident at the start, let's see how things go. Keep it professional. That means you too, Dizzy." There is a hint of a smile in the CAG's voice even as he says it, and then the Raptor launches into gear, flown forward under the protection of its small flight.
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Wade with KEW - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Baer with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Baer with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Khloe with KEW - Light wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that, locking on Baer."
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] "They're good," Khloe mutters under her breath as she tries to get a clean shot off at Papa. Her computer registers a glancing shot, which prompts her to roll out of the way of the incoming fire.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Cerberus flight, Poppy. Keep it up. Don't let them rattle you. Toast, keep them off me, that was a close one. Over."
[Harrier-303: Andrea] The fleets fly together as the Aerion Raptor pushes forward into zone 4.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade has his orders now so he focuses his attention on the other team's Raptor. He also notices AWOL has placed her attention in him. He continues on that course for a moment until he levels his KEWs and fires. Sadly enough, AWOL decided to fire on him as well and Wade had to take a hard left to avoid the incoming fire "Damn they are fast." mutters Wade, seeing how his own shot missed, poorly.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. Doing my utmost. Just keep your volleys locked on Lieutenant Colonel Baer. Do not be afraid to kick it up a notch. We are not so new to games like this, either. Evocati or not."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] Baer slips easily past the attacks of the Cerberus pilots, with a little help from AWOL and Dizzy, who each get off shots that glance off their targets one way or another. "Good cover, Dizzy, AWOL," he offers over the com, though he's far from effusive, "Now let's see what they've really got, shall we?" And, having made it two squares, he suddenly increases speed rapidly, his Viper minders apparently well-prepared for this manuever.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra, for her part, pushes her Raptor up said notch as Baer increases speed. To keep pace with the Areion CAG. As best she can, at least. Her counterpart knows how to handle a bus.
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Halflife gives a whoop as the Raptor gets through the first part of this strange little game untouched. His hands fly over the controls as he punches in commands, continuing to harry the Cerberus pilots with ECM to keep them from getting a good lock.
[TAC3] (from "Bootstrap" Trask) In a voice like bubblegum and sunbeams, Drake comms over the shared comes, "Hi, Poppy. I'm Dizzy. Nice to meet you." As if shooting the other Viper Captain's wing were merely a friendly handshake.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] You can almost hear AWOL rolling her eyes at Dizzy's greeting, even without the other Areion pilot appearing on the comms. She sticks to the private channel, however, asking, "Trying to kill them with kindness, Diz?"
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Baer with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Khloe with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Baer with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Wade with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Khloe has been KO'd!
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] "Don't be silly, Wolly," Dizzy gently chides AWOL, probably grinning oh so brightly. "I kill with KEW. No need to be a grouch or big ol' meanie head about it, though."
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Khloe pounds her console with her gloved fist at the computer registering a lethal hit. "Oh, what the frak!" She yells, gracious enough not to express her anger over coms. Her Viper floats up and out of the combat zone, angling back towards their rear zone in preparation for the next round.
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Baer's Raptor remains untouched as it pushes forward into zone 7, now in spitting distance of the endzone.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Cerberus flight, Poppy. Frakking computer is worthless. I'm out. Drips, on Toast. Over."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "I guess you do," AWOL replies to Dizzy, not quite grudgingly. Not that she offers any additional words of congratulation as the BlackKnights SL is eliminated, however, other than a brief chuckle as the opposing Viper floats up and out of the way.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. Poor luck. We have got our work cut out for us, Drips. Stay on me, maintain target."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Again, Wade moves to attack Baer but still staying at Khloe's six. "Got Baer on my sight" informs the Viper Pilot. "AWOL has me on hers tho" And yes, the woman shoots at him again at the moment he fires, it's like she's timing the damn thing. "Damn it!" Yes, he avoids the attack but misses again and sees the SL being taken out. "Don't worry Captain, we'll get them"
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Toast, Drips. Copy that, leveling with you. Poppy, we'll get them."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] Baer dips and dodges and smoothly brings his Raptor into Zone 7 without so much as a scorch or a scratch. "Well done, Dizzy," he offers, "We're nearly there, girls, let's finish this quickly. A clean start should set a good tone moving forward."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] Preening in her goofy way, Drake delights in the praise, even though she knows she's hot stuff. "Awww. Thanks, guys. Bring it on home, Pop-pop."
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Wade with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Cidra with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Wade with KEW - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Baer with KEW and MISSES!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Baer's Raptor passes into the endzone with little difficulty, still completely untouched. Score, Aerion! The Score is now 6-0. All pilots are back online, and Cerberus team takes the ball in zone 9, attacking zone 1.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] At this point, Wade has two lovely ladies that want him dead. He still wants to hit the other team's Raptor but now he has to keep his eyes extra peeled. He fires a shot against Baer and he misses, then he haves to dodge AWOL's attack and gets hit by Dizzy's "Daaaamn she's good."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. Remind me to yell at Specialist Bannik about these computers. What's the plan? Over."
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Papa, Toast. Well-played. Poppy, Wade, form up. I have the ball."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Toast, Drips. Copy that Major, forming up. Let's take that baby home."
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Drips. Your plan is to watch my backside as best you are able. I shall be taking it 'downfield' at a quick clip. I do not think the Evocati are the only ones who know what to do in a Raptor."
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra gets the battle lasso'd with the Raptor towline. Just like any other SAR mission through hostile territory. She's pushing her ship rather faster now that she's on offense. The CAG may pretend mild manners, but she likes a good rush as much as any jock.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. I copy. Drips, get ready to follow that bus. Target will be Dizzy, over."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Toast, Papa," Baer replies, "Thank you. And now it's our turn to try to shoot you down, yes? All in good fun, of course. Best of luck.""
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips "Alright then, targeting Dizzy""
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] When Baer scores the touchdown, Dizzy squees over the Areion chan. "Yeeeeeah!" The pilots of the Cerberus might even catch a glimpse of her doing a quick, chair-dance of victory before rolling into some more barrel rolls.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] Baer slips through the attacks from Cerberus and into the endzone, jettisoning the barrel they drag and turning quickly about to move back into a defensive position. "Alright, alright, Dizzy," he says a shade dryly into the com, "We still have to make sure they don't accomplish an equal feat, let's not forget that. I rather like Major Hahn, but I would prefer she be stopped as quickly as possible here."
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Dizzy with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Dizzy with KEW - Light wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Cidra with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] "Nice shot, Drips," Khloe mutters off-coms as she darts in and manages to nick Dizzy's KEW. She's a bit more successful this time - maybe the computer heard her complaining? After her run, her Viper settles back in near Toast's Raptor.
[Harrier-303: Andrea] It all starts again, this time as Cidra takes the ball out of zone 9. She pushes forward quickly, and though she makes some ground, she takes some hits as she does so. The ball is now in zone 6.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] The main of Cidra's strategy appears to be to power across the 'zones' as quickly as possible, to give the Areion pilots fewer collective shots at her. This leaves her open to taking a few on the chin, but she doesn't seem deterred. Her barrle is dragged with perhaps less care than she would an ejected pilot. But it's all fun and games.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. Looks like you got cooked a little. You going to make it? We can support your FTL if you want to go for the 3. Over."
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. We shall see, will we not? Computer reads damage light. I am flying quite well."
[TAC3] (from "Bootstrap" Trask) A moderate hit to the body? Small price to pay to land a moderate hit on Toast's left wing. Oh, but then Dizzy gets hit by Poppy and that prompts a shaking of her head and a tsk-tsk. "I'm flattered, guys, but keep that up and AWOL will start feeling unloved."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Copy Toast. Drips, take Dizzy out. With me. Over."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade stays in position to protect Cidra's Raptor but this time, his aim goes directed to Dizzy. His attack is successful this time, he hits her Viper's body and a smile forms on his lips "Thanks Poppy, likewise. Let's knock her out."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Areion Flight, Papa," says…Papa, as his Raptor manuevers into position to provide suppression, "An improvement on earlier, but I would have expected better with such a large target. Concentrate, Dizzy, AWOL. We cannot allow that raptor to reach the last zone before it is eliminated."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] "Copy, Big Daddy. I'll take the heat, AWOL, and you make with the boom." In this, Drake sounds dead serious.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] AWOL scores a hit on Cidra, but you'd never know it, at least not in comparison to Dizzy. She doesn't celebrate audibly (or visibly, if one is watching for a dance), instead just replying, still sticking to private comms: "Don't remind them, Diz, if they want to forget I'm here, all the better for us."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that Captain, attacking Dizzy again."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Copy that, Dizzy," AWOL adds as their messages nearly cross. At least it seems they're on the same page.
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Dizzy with KEW - Moderate wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Dizzy with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Cidra with KEW - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Hit her all you want to, Cidra keeps pushing forward! The Ball is now in Zone 3.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade follows Khloe's orders on this one and continues to make Dizzy his target. He is trying to aim for her cockpit and get her out once and for all, but he misses. Still, he hits her wing and that does some damage, right? "That's one lucky Viper" says Wade, shaking his head at that. Yes, Dizzy does have some mad skills tho.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra turns her Raptor's body so the more heavily-armored undercarriage absorbs the bulk of the 'enemy' hits. Which seems to work for her. On she powers, trusting her Viper escorts to harry the Evocati.
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Areion has some skilled pilots, no doubt about it. Khloe gives it her all, and Dizzy somehow manages to avoid hit after hit. "Frakking Bannik, your ass is mine," she grumbles to herself, her Viper darting in and out, trying to find a good attack angle.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] Baer says nothing, this time around. He does not feel the need to tell the Viper pilots what to do, it seems; they know. For his part, he continues to maintain position, shadowing Cidra and the Cerberus Vipers for maximum ECM effectiveness.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. You still powering through? I'm thinking this round we take shots at AWOL just to take them off guard. Over."
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. You must nearly have that babbly one by now, yes? But, do as you think most prudent. I shall take care of my end."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. "Don't you want to split Fifty-Fifty?""
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] AWOL also says nothing, though there might be a faint grumble as her shot clangs off the armor Cidra presents as she flies. "Not good enough," she says, taking Baer's role for the moment, it seems, or at least just in agreement.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Let's not make this personal. Spread the love, Drips. Focus fire on AWOL. Over."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] If actual Bubbles were here, she just might have an aneurysm over how 'Bizarro Bubbles' is dominating the playing field. Dizzy takes a moderate blow to her left wing and yet another blow to the body of her Viper, but she somehow manages to shake it off and keep her bird flying. Maybe there /is/ something to all those loopty-loops, because she even manages to get a connecting shot on Cidra's Raptor, although the big bird's armor plating negated any damage.
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that."
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra is close enough to the 'endzone' now that she can fly a *little* less aggressively. Though she doesn't bob and weave too much. She tries to get as straight a shot as she can past the Areion's Viper talons.
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Awol with KEW - Light wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Awol with KEW - Light wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Cidra with KEW - Light wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW - Serious wound to Engine.
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Cidra has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Skeeter has been KO'd!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Cidra is almost there… but not quite, and her Raptor reads as dead in Zone 2. All birds are brought back on-line, and Aerion team retakes possession in zone 2. Score remains 6-0, Aerion.
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] "When the oracle's daughter tells you something, pay attemtion," Khloe grumbles as she flips her Viper nose-to-end and retreats back to where the appropriate starting mark is for the next round.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade changes targets this time, moving to attack AWOL. He fires, and he hits, but he doesn't hit hard enough. "Damn it!" exclaims the man inside the cockpit and then just watches how Dizzy gets a killer hit on Cidra's Raptor. "For frak sakes…." He takes a deep breath and shakes his head, returning to his start point.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra has completely tuned out the Areion's Vipers. To her peril. Before she can get into the zone, their KEWs descend on her Raptor with simulated fire. She's dead in the water. For a second she is silent. With no small measure of surprise. Toast is not an easy target when behind the stick of her Raptor. Not that she mourns openly, of course. Still. It takes her a second to get back on the comms.
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Papa, Toast. The ball is yours again. Your sticks know their business passing well."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Much better," Baer intones calmly as he watches AWOL and Dizzy combine to shoot Cidra's raptor down with their lasers before she can make it to the end. He moves in to take over the barrel in zone 3 as he gets back on the coms.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. Let's give it another try. ECM on the Vipers. Drips, focus on the bus. Over."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Toast, Papa. They ought to, by this point. Your own are giving them a fair bit of exercise, as it is. We'll see how we fare now that everyone's had a chance to get the hang of things."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that Poppy, focusing fire on Papa."
[TAC3] (from "Bootstrap" Trask) This time, there is no in-the-chair butt-dance of victory. Barrel rolls, sure, but that's par for the course. "If you're gonna go hard, Toast, you don't ease up." It's meant as friendly advice — they're all friends here, right? — but it might not come across that way. Especially after the serious blow Dizzy just delivered to Cidra's Raptor. Without a doubt, the Areion's pilots don't ease up.
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Baer with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Baer with KEW - Serious wound to Controls.
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Khloe with KEW - Moderate wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Khloe with KEW - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Khloe has been KO'd!
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Those who can see into Khloe's cockpit just see her with both hands in the air, yelling obscenities at her instrument panel. Before she can collide with anything she flips again and retreats back to the endzone. Her comms are strangely silent.
[Harrier-303: Andrea] The firefight is a bit rougher on this possession, and there is finally a mark on Baer's Raptor. Ball is in Zone 5.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade looks to his right, and nods to Khloe from his cockpit. If she saw that or not, he doesn't know. "Alright Papa…let's dance a little" And with that, he pushes on his thrusters a little bit and starts firing at Baer. He hits, and he hits him hard. However, the pilot immediately does a barrel roll to his left and redirects his Viper, positioning himself next to Cidra again.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Yessss," is the low response from AWOL's cockpit, the stony Areion LT permitting herself a bit of a brief, toothy grin as her shot absolutely nails the Black Knights SL. That smile remains only until she registers that Baer took a hit this time as well, and then it is back to a neutral sort of frown. "We got the one, Dizzy, but so much for Papa's clean slate. Let's make that the only hit today."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Toast, Drips. On your wing Major."
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra's ECO is working the jammers hard, but you wouldn't know it from the way the Areion's birds raze over Khloe's Viper. Toast winces.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "We shall get them next round, Poppy. Drips, Toast, copy. You dinged their man once. Just have to do it a few more times. I shall cover you as best I can."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] Baer was, perhaps, distracted watching his Vipers tear Khloe apart when Wade hits him, or maybe he just forgot himself for a moment and dipped when he should have dove or ducked when he should have dodged, or something to that effect. In any case, hit he is, and it does not seem to please him, though neither does he sound rattled. "AWOL, Dizzy, better coverage this time, please. No excuses now that you're down to one target between you."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] "Sorry about that, Pop-pop," Dizzy conveys, actually sounding like someone just suffocated her favorite goldfish — and she loves her goldfish. Poor Lana does not like disappointing Papa. "We'll get… uh, Drips, is it?" No love for Wade, apparently. Then, bouncing, she beams, "Sweet shot, Wolly!"
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Baer with KEW - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Wade with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Cidra passes.
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Wade with KEW - Moderate wound to Controls (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Wade has been KO'd!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] With both Cerberus Vipers "destroyed," there is nothing to stop Baer, who flies easily into the end-zone. The Score is now 12-0, Aerion.
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade narrows his eyes, firing again at Baer, only to realize the cold truth, that his armor won over his pew pew's. And not only that, he gets hit by both ladies in with at first, doesn't seem to be something that bad but his Viper decides to go bonkers and die "Frak!" shouts the pilot.
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Drips. Collect yourselves. Let us make ready for another run. Papa…good shooting. Hope you can keep it up."
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Frustrations may be running a bit high, but its time to roll again. All pilots are restored, and Cerberus team takes the ball in sector 9.
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] Over the Aerion TAC, Dizzy is positively beaming. "You forgive us, Pop-pop?" she wheedles of Baer, zooming back to starting position.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. Copy that."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Toast, Drips. Sure thing Major. Poppy, I suggest we take one each."
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Is Cidra starting to sound just a *hint* more competitive than usual? Perhaps. Likely due to the fact that the Areion CAG is doing so well in a Raptor. Her craft of choice, no less. She lassos that barrel once more and gets back in it. Taking a *slightly* less aggressive course to start with this time, though she doesn't shrink from the Areion pilots.
[Harrier-303: Andrea] HalfLife is just laughing. "Easy as an Aerlionian Daughter on R and R, guys." Back to his screens, then. Time to keep jamming, after all!
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "They seem to have some edge I'm not seeing, Cerberus flight. Maybe the creep-and-evade approach? Only option we haven't tried. Over."
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "We know they have…souped up is the phrase? Their planes. For personalized flying. Appears to do some tricks."
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Yes, Dizzy," Baer replies with a deep chuckle, "That was much more like it. Let's do that again, yes?" He leaves the barrel in the endzone after he has sped his way there, not pulling anything flashy despite the open space left by Cerberus's downed vipers. Then it's back into position for the next round. "Remain focused, flight," he instructs into the comm, "This is not over yet."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Thank you, Toast," Papa replies, "We will see shortly."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "If they can't hit us, their enhanced guns mean frak-all. Let's try it. Evasive maneuvers, Drips. Focus on AWOL; Dizzy's too good a dodger. Over."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. They are gunning for Cidra, are you sure you want to take evasive maneuvers to engage?"
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Correction: Raptor should go Evasive. Drips, you're with me on Awol. Over."
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy, Toast. The more turns this drags out, the less chance I have of getting through. Do not worry about me. Just concentrate on keeping those Vipers off of me."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Aye… Toast. Copy that. Poppy out."
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW - Moderate wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Awol with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Awol with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Awol with KEW - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Awol attacks Cidra with KEW - Moderate wound to Engine.
<COMBAT> Volans has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Awol has been KO'd!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Cidra has taken some damage, but she is still moving forward. The Ball is now in zone 7.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra also has one less Viper to contend with now. Bonus. And with that she *does* start flying a little lighter, weaving her sim-'damaged' craft down the zones with a touch more guile. And less deliberate speed.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Drips, Toast. Fine kill."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] Baer has bestowed his forgiveness. All is now right with the world. Apart from the whole holocaust of humanity and Cylons hubbaloo. "They have no way of winning," she points out. "Don't wanna even let them have a feel good touchdown?" It's mildly chiding. Even so, Drake still registers a solid hit to the body of Cidra's Raptor. "Oh, see! That's not at all nice, knockin' out Wolly like that. And here I was wanting to be a good sport." The game face? It is now on. Except, well, she still sounds a bit bubbly when she calls out to her fellow Spectre, "I'll avenge you!"
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Khloe doesn't seem to celebrate when Awol goes down, as it wasn't likely her hit that caused the Viper to register a cockpit hit. She turns her attention towards the remaining gun: Dizzy.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Drips, Poppy. Focus on Dizzy. Let's show them some Cerberus pride and not get shut out. Over."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade doesn't celebrate either, he makes a hard turn and pushes the thrusters, moving at high speed towards Dizzy.
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Sorry, sir," AWOL offers over the comms as she is knocked out of commission. She rights her Viper and moves off out of the field of play to observe. Dizzy draws a snort. "Wonderful, just what I've always dreamt would happen when I die," she retorts.
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Dizzy with KEW - Serious wound to Controls (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW - Serious wound to Engine.
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Dizzy with KEW - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
[Harrier-303: Andrea] Slowing down in order to take some evasive action, the Cidra only manages to evade a little while still getting hit. The ball is now in zone 6.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Toast, Poppy. Hold off just a little more. Dizzy's going to suck vacuum with just another hit. Over."
[BlackKnight-650: Trask] Lightly scoffing, Dizzy retorts, "Quit being such a drama queen." This coming from the woman who had just promised to avenge AWOL. "It's not like you're really dead." At which point, the buoyant blonde gets smacked with a heavy hit from Wade and counters with an equally serious blow to Toast's engine. Unruffled, she carries on, "Or taken out by their pet nugget." Which reminds her…
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] Poppy's Viper makes direct strafing runs now, apparently fixed on Dizzy's tail with all the vengeance and fury of a twice-killed pilot. "Maybe this is what the Toasters feel like," she mutters off-comms, biting her lip and trying to get a bead on the dodging Areion pilot.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Toast is limping after Dizzy plants a nasty hit on her engines. But she *does* continue limping. Doing her best to dodge Areion fire in an increasingly battered Raptor.
[TAC2] "Toast" Cidra says, "Drips, Toast. Good shooting. Keep it up. Matter of whether she gets to me before you get to her now. And I always bet on my Knights."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] And after Dizzy, Wade goes. "Now, let's see…" says Wade with a neutral tone of voice. He takes a moment but finally fires a heavy duty shot, making contact with her controls. It's not enough to take her out but it's something.
[TAC3] (from "Bootstrap" Trask) Cheery as ever — even in light of taking yet another serious hit — Dizzy asks of the Cerberus crew, "Hey… where's Pupcake?" As if everyone will somehow know that she speaks of Alexis Devlin. "He not allowed to play with the big dogs this time?"
[JudgeShip-316: Volans] "Thank gods," AWOL replies to Dizzy, "I'd hope if I were actually dead I'd rate Birdie avenging me, at least, or Twistoff." There is a pause, after which she concedes, "But better you than Fiasco, at least."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Toast, Drips. Thank you Major, I'll keep fire focused on Dizzy."
<COMBAT> Khloe attacks Dizzy with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Khloe with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Halflife suppresses Wade with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Wade attacks Dizzy with KEW - Serious wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Dizzy attacks Cidra with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Skeeter suppresses Dizzy with ECM. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Volans has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Dizzy has been KO'd!
[Harrier-303: Andrea] The dodging seems to work, for once, and once again, with no more attacking Vipers to cause any problems, the way is clear for the Raptor to limp into the endzone. Cerberus scores, bringing it up to 12-6.
[Harrier-651: Cidra] Cidra scores one for Cerberus, at least, as Khloe and Wade take out Dizzy. It's still a loss, but she manages to drag her Raptor's near-carcass through the last of Dizzy's fire to give it some dignity.
[BlackKnight-853: Khloe] "That's my Nugget, bitch!" Khloe raises her voice when Dizzy goes down in a simulated ball of fire, which may or may not have carried across the Cerberus flight com channel. Hopefully it was just some static. Then, in proper form, Khloe flips nose-to-end again and retreats to neutral territory, waiting to see if there'll be another round.
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Good shooting, Drips. Way to survive, Toast. Well done, all, no shut-out here. Over."
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Poppy. Drips. Good hunting there. I thank you for the defense." There's audible pride for her pilots in her tone. And relief. "Papa, one for us but if I tally the score correctly, the day is yours. That was…invigorating. I must say."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Toast, Papa. Nice flying, there. Your resilience is impressive."
[TAC3] "Hosedown" Andrea says, " "All birds, this is Hosedown. Contest was scheduled for 2 rounds this time, so we can do some fine tuning for later. Great flying, everyone. Cerberus Actual says to come on home."
[BlackKnight-662: Wade] Wade shows a wide smile after Dizzy goes down, and he knows he hit her /hard/. He also knows that she hits hard so, payback's a bitch. He moves back to neutral his own zone and comes to a complete stop.
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Papa, Toast. I have not seen many Viper jocks by training who can handle a Raptor so deftly. We should discuss future exercises after we are through."
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Thank you, Poppy. I can very well say the same. Toast, good flying out there. Over."
[TAC3] (from "Bootstrap" Trask) Hit as she is, Dizzy rolls with the blows… and rolls and rolls and rolls… Aerial acrobatics is just her thing. Missing her shot and getting knocked out of commission for the round doesn't change that. When she finally comes over the comms, the bubbly blonde is laughing. Merrily so, even. "If I knew asking about your nugget would bring out the fight in you guys, I'd've inquired about Pupcake a lot sooner. Good game, kids."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Yes, I believe the tally came out in our favor in the end," Papa goes on, "But your squad flew well." He chuckles then, replying, "I am not sure I would quite call myself a Viper jock by training. Has someone been peeking in my file?" He sounds amused, chuckling warmly to himself again before agreeing, "Yes, I would like that as well. I hear your techs would like a look at one of our Raptors? Why don't I leave this one here on your deck, if you would not mind giving me a lift home later?"
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "Papa, Toast. I think I can manage to deliver you home in one piece. Let us get ourselves landed."
[TAC3] "Drips" Wade says, "Flight, Drips. Nice shooting, good game. Looking forward for some more."
[TAC3] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Good game, Areion. You're certainly teaching us much."
[TAC3] Volans says, "Always happy to be of help… Poppy, was it?" Baer replies to Khloe, "This is what training exercises are for, after all. We look forward to the next one. Shall, we Toast?" he tacks on the end, turning his Raptor towards Cerberus."
[TAC3] "Toast" Cidra says, "We shall, Papa."
[TAC2] "Poppy" Khloe says, "Drips, Toast, Poppy. Let's head back to the barn. Over."
[Harrier-651: Cidra] That said, Cidra docks her Raptor.
[TAC2] "Drips" Wade says, "Poppy, Drips. Copy that, over and out."