Outer Sectors Chapter 20

[Lanil Jast]

3 ~ Jansen
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Ensign Jast checked the seals on his life-support pack that hooked into his flight helment and its other elements. No use dying over a loose hose. What with the new concern over the ISD Chimaera's relaunching attempt number two, the higer-ups aren't taking any chances this time, and thus ordered that the life-support systems on the gunboats of Iota squadron be taken out to make room for more shield and gunnery equipment so that the 'boats can take more hits and deal out the same.

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Ah, space. Lanil's forgotten what it's like, his last non-simulated flight experience being back at the Academy during his qualification trials...of course those were in Interceptors, which makes the gunboats look like Hutts...but they can take a beating though, he must concede that.

Looking down at his datascreen, he tabs through his objectives, "Guard duty eh?" Hmmm...no harm in having a look at what's inside these containers here, could be some potentially volatile chemicals...or even Rebels...now that would be fun.

"Iota 2, Iota 3, form up. We've got some inspecting to take care of."
Everything seems to be going well, when suddenly, BLAM!! There's an explosion, and the Ensign's tactical readout lets him know what just happened: "Iota 2 has been destroyed."

"Spast! Why do I always get the farmboys?!" Keying his mic, he lets loose to nobody in particular...or perhaps the glowing remains of Iota 2 and her pilot, "FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, CRAFT INSPECTION INVOLVES CLOSE-QUARTERS FLYING. THAT MEANS IF YOU HAVE HALF A BRAIN, YOU'LL KEEP A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND YOUR TARGET, UNLESS YOU WANT TO END UP LIKE IOTA 2!!!" Sighing to himself, the Ensign wraps up his inspections and his comm channel chirps to life, "All pilots, return to the Chimaera...something strange is going on..."

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Something strange indeed. Half of the convoy didn't show! Long-range scanners picked up the reason, as the briefing officer explains, "Rebels. It seems a batch of Rebel starfighters and a gunship have ambushed the remainder of the convoy. Iota squadron and Zeta squadron are going to be hotdropped into the fight. Now save as much cargo as you can, gentlemen. There's bound to be SOME loss, but I want at least 50% recovered...any less and your ass is mine!"

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Seems the tugjocks can't save their own skin for nothing. Oh well...
Jast runs through his targets real quick, "A squadron of Y's and X's, and a gunship eh? Well, scratch that, it's probably a flight of Y's and X's, those Rebels are known for coming in in phases. Iota squadron, converge on the gunship. Leave those pilots to me!"

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Oy! What a fight. Took out a whole flight of X-Wings and Y-Wings, not to mention a gunship. Plus the entirety of one cargo group was recovered, hopefully that will garner points in somebody's book. Ensign Jast can't help but feel pleased with himself as his gunboat eases into the hangar.

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((OOC: And yes, that incident with Iota 2 really did happen...more than once. Stupid guy kept following me so closely, he didn't watch for the piece of cargo I was inspecting, and WHAM!))