Flashes Among The Rocks
Flashes Among the Rocks
Arc: None
Summary: A patrol of Rapiers and a Stiletto observe find the results of a Sartha on Sartha brawl in a patch of the asteroids.
Date: 2659.241
Related Logs: None
Participants: Singh, Zorro, Phillip, Cyric

Another day, another patrol looking out for Kilrathi as the fleet preps for a push out of system. A handful of fighters are scouting along the edge of the ‘roids, looking for nasties. Clearly something is bouncing around in the system, and we need to find it, wax it and race on back to the frontline … our side of it.

Speaking of waxing, Zorro is planning a pampering evening for the ladies on the ship

Whelp… Julianna shudders…

Zorro is mentally thinking about what is needed as she conducts the scouting mission.

Cyric runs his scans and prays for enemy contacts. His kill list isn't growing any larger without enemy contacts.

«Alpha wing, this is Alpha 2… » radios Karen. «Scan 18 reveals…. wait for it… » After several seconds, she continues, «Iron, Silicon, Tungsten and no Kilrathi. But that ‘roid there… to port, it's quite rich in iridium… when the sun light hits it, it should be very pretty.»

«Alpha 2, this is Alpha Lead. If it's elements, it's not something that needs to be announced.»

«Another day, another fruitless 3-point patrol» Cyric laments. «I joined this Man’s space navy to fight cats, not survey asteroids. Does the Kilrathi Empire even exist anymore?»

«Well, it could be worse, could be lots of Kilrathi and no asteroids…. in an asteroid field.» Iceblade radios as he keeps an eye out - rockward.

Karen radios, «You know… if you want to see some Kilrathi, just fly to the Tingerhoff jump point. I prefer we keep our nook safe until support arrives.» The Stiletto flies straight canting slightly to avoid a ‘roid with minimal effort.

«At this point, I would welcome a diversion. Do you think the brass would mind if we went on a raid after we hit our patrol points, boss? The Cats have to be around here…somewhere»

«No raids. You come to my beauty night instead.» Zorro responds.

Karen radios, «We just got back from a raid. I would rather not be chased by an explosion in a 'swordthankyouverymuch. Next time, you fly the sword with Seelig.»

«I'll pass. Thanks.» Cyric sighs.

«I think I'll pass…And we just hit one hour into our flight route, just two more to go.» Iceblade radios…. «Wait, what was that?»

Random Alertness: Iceblade (5, 24): 9
Random Alertness: Cyric (5, 24): 8
Random Alertness: Zorro (6, 25): 25
Random Alertness: Singh (3, 22): 17

Cyric radios, «I see nothing, nothing, nothing out here»

«Not sure what that was, I don't see it anymore. Something in darkness of the belt.» Iceblade reports.

Karen radios, «Guys! I see something really cool! Hydrogen and Oxygen in that ‘roid. We may get non-sonic showers soon!»

Zorro radios, «Alpha Wing, we've got multiple flashes of light from the asteroids. Karen, you can shower later.»

Karen responds, «Wait… did I …»

Zorro comms, «All callsigns, get ready for trouble.»

Karen radios, «Checking friendly patrol routes… Nothing planned here.»

«Flashes… Alpha 1, this is Alpha 3, are there any patrols near this area?» Iceblade radios more alert and crisper than before.

Zorro responds, «No, just us.»

Cyric grins. «Let's check it out, boss. Got a vector on the unknown contact?»

Karen's tone dies down to a more monotonous one. «Let's get into the thicker ‘roid field, minimize our E-M signature.»

Zorro responds, «Let's stay out of it… if we're going to fight, I'd rather do it without rocks flying around. I did that once in an MMA event, and it wasn't fun»

Karen comms, «If we reduce our speed too, we can get a better scan and know what we're up against before they see us.»

As the flight continues along, the flashes intensify somewhere deeper into the belt. Whatever is happening, it must be a fierce fight.

«These flashes…» Karen radios, «You think there's a pirate jump point nearby?»

Cyric responds, «We won't know unless we get closer, boss. Let's check it out!»

«Don't know. Unless someone asks for help, we're staying out of it. Pirates killing Kilrathi or vice versa, everybody wins.» Zorro responds.

«We can mop up! Then WE WIN!» Cyric chimes in enthusiastically.

«I think we need to check it out… reduced power and speed. See what we see, the ‘roids should keep us masked.» Iceblade radios.

Karen smirks.

«Hail them, first.» Zorro orders.

Cyric replies, « I agree with Iceblade. We are out here to check out the enemy. We don't want to give up our element of surprise!»

«Captain, please repeat, do you want to hail them before seeing them?» Julianna asks with a shocked tone.

«Yes, that's correct.» Zorro clarifies.

«Let's not, Captain! Let's do a little recon with the element of surprise intact then kill them all!» Cyric replies.

«Cyric, you go do a bit of recon. We'll cover you.» Zorro radios. «If four of us show up, it is going to set them off.»

«Roger, Lead.» Cyric immediately rolls forward dancing around the rocks for sensor and visual cover as he approaches the source of those flashes.

Karen sighs. "OK Jules, keepittogether."

«Talon, be sure to turn off all active scanners and do not exceed 100 klicks in speed.» Phillip advises the rookie on the short-range comm channel.

«Please relay info stream directly to us,» Karen adds in tight beam.

«I remember. Will do. Wish me luck!» Cyric adjusts his speed accordingly.

Karen adds, «And remember a Rapier can outrun pretty much anything, bring them to us.»

As the flight approaches the flashes, the intensity dies down some.

«Roger.» Cyric is all concentration now as he pilots the controls like a Zen Master.

Random: Cyric Piloting: (5, 24): 14
Random: Singh: (2, 21): 3

Karen says to no one, "Huh, what does that button do."

Zorro looks to see if anyone is skedaddling out of the asteroids

Cyric’s limited field of observance picks up multiple chunks of debris, and a pair of damaged Sarthas.

The flashes have stopped.

«Two Sarthas, wings clipped. Easy prey. Permission to engage?» Cyric radios back to his wing, the eagerness palpable in his cool professional voice.

Karen asks, «What was the source of the flashes? do you see any debris?»

«Indeed. Karen, go in and join him. Ask if they want to surrender first. They'll likely refuse, but do it anyway.» Zorro orders.

Karen replies, «Zorro, acknowledged, while en-route, please investigate the flashes.»

Cyric responds, «Firefight. Debris present. All consistent with destroyed starfighters.»

Karen asks, «Human?» The stiletto coasts along at 98 klicks.

«Sensor readings of debris inconclusive on that point. Shall I engage the enemy?» Cyric responds.

Karen adjusts her shields down to 33% minimizing the E-M.

«I don't see any more flashes, and I suspect we will need to scan the debris when we get in there.» Iceblade radios the flight.

Karen re-charges them as she approaches visual range of Talon. «Alpha 4, I have you in my sights, eta 30 seconds.»

Zorro orders, «Call them up and see if they want to surrender. If they don't, put them to sleep»

«Talon, feel like being diplomatic?» Karen radios.

Cyric responds, «Alpha 4, rogers. I'll ask them after they are dead, Alpha 1. Diplomacy is overrated, anyway.»

Zorro responds, «Alpha 4, you ask them first. That's an order.»

Karen radios, «Alpha 4, let's get into position before knocking on the door.»

Cyric immediately broadcasts, «Cats, you have the right to remain dead. Surrender or die.»

Karen sighs again. «Attention unidentified craft, power down your engines and disable your weaponry. You are clearly outmatched and honor will wait for you in Confederation custody.»

The two Sarthas spot the Rapier, its profile significantly more visible now. There is a pause and they begin making a beeline right towards the Rapier at top speed, no dodging… no firing either.

Cyric powers weapons and shields as he runs his engines up to full burn. «Engaging enemy.»

Karen scans the ships for damage. Karen sighs hard.

Random Bot: Piloting Sartha: (5, 24): 20

Karen radios, «Attention Alpha 1 and 3, be advised enemy is engaging. Recommend you join.»

Zorro responds, «Recommendation accepted. Three, follow me.»

Random Bot: Piloting Cyric: (9, 28): 26

Zorro moves in as quick as she can to a firing position.

Karen still tries to scan the area, something is off.

Random Bot: Alertness Karen: (2, 21) 10

Karen sees that space is black.

As the two Sartha rush for a kamikaze, one runs right into an asteroid while the second tries and fails to turn missing Cyric’s fighter.

Karen scans the second one.

Cyric grins as he easily dodges the clumsy kamikaze attack and guns down the second one that is easy prey for his guns.

Karen radios, «Alpha Wing, I believe their maneuvering jets are shot.»

«GRRRRR… you will find my hrai at your throat, Terran.» the surviving kilrathi growls.

«They'll be a bit more shot in a minute» Zorro radios.

«Attention Sartha Pilot, you can't survive this by doing that. Come with us. We'll take care of you.» Karen radios.

The Kilrathi's speed drops to zero.

«No, don't say hello to Sivar, we have great security on our ships… come and join us, we treat our POWs with decency and respect.» Karen continues. «Last Tuesday we had a "legally blonde" marathon there. 8 hours straight!»

«Is it surrendering?» Iceblade wonders aloud.

Karen radios, «Guys, I think I negotiated him down!»

Cyric comms, «Cats don't even know the meaning of the word *surrender*! It’s a trick to draw us in before it blows itself up! Let me kill it!»

Zorro radios, «Or he just likes *Legally Blonde*»

Karen broadcasts, «Attention Kilrathi, please state your intention.»

«ITS A TRICK! DON'T FALL FOR IT!» Cyric radios the group.

«Keeping a standoffish distance.» Karen responds. «Running a full scan»

Cyric again radios, «LET'S JUST KILL IT!»

Zorro moves herself closer as this continues. «Kilrathi vessel, you have 30 seconds to make your intentions clear or you will be fired upon»

Random Bot: Alertness Karen: (2, 21): 20

Karens eyes widen, «His reactor is shot, We don't need to kill him, the radiation probably will if he didn't already.» Karen adds, «Recommend defensive positions.»

The Sartha inches up to the asteroid, barely touching it.

«No, radiation death may be inevitable but it's horrible. Let's put him out of his misery.» Zorro radios. «15 seconds.»

Cyric radios, «Negative. Let's either kill him or demand he eject to enjoy the tender mercy of our Marines!»

Karen comms, « Call in a 'sword»

Zorro continues to count down, «10 seconds»

The ship detonates with a massive and partially directed explosion. The asteroid shatters nearby the sight and rocks come flying outward.

«See?» Cyric radios. «There is no surrender when it comes to the Kilrathi. They would die first and take us out with them.»

USER: Iceblade : !r 8 27

USER: Poll++ :

Zorro sighs. «Just once I'd like to take a prisoner»

Iceblade was not finding this unexpected and easily dodges behind another asteroid, taking no damage.

Random Bot Piloting:
Cyric (9, 28): 9
Iceblade (8, 27): 27
Karen (7, 26): 26

Karen was too far away to actually be in the danger zone.

Talon's rapier is buffeted by the smaller rocks and takes some damage to the armor. A less skilled pilot might have had a cracked or crushed windowshield right now.

«Just what in the hell happened around here?» Iceblade radios and he begins to scan the debris.

Random Bot Alertness: Iceblade (5, 24): 9

"Next time, let's shoot first and ask questions AFTER they are dead?" Cyric is cursing to himself as he runs his scans for more contacts.

Random Bot Alertness: Cyric (5, 24): 17

Karen sighs over her sigh.

«Sartha, sartha, mixed up sarthas…. I can't even tell how many there were… what a Dralthi?» Iceblade reports.

Karen radios, «Joining in the scan»

Random Bot Alertness: Karen (2, 21): 6/8 (has advantage)

Karen reports, «Alpha 3, did you see that there were some asteroids?»

«The amount of Debris is consistent with the wreckage of 5 to 8 enemy Sarthas here.» Cyric radios his report. «There is strange material present in the debris field here.»

«Define strange» Zorro says.

«All Sarthas… So they must have been swarming someone or something.» Karen radios. «What kind of burns do you see? Conventional weapons?»

Cyric radios, «It would indicate that its chunks of debris that is not consistent with a Sartha but not enough of it to make out another starfighter here. It’s a very small amount of anomalous material not present in the Sartha or part of the surrounding asteroid field. It’s like 3 % of the total debris field mass required for a Sartha starfighter. It’s definitely not a Sartha though. The sensor reads are quite clear on that point.»

«Zorro, suggest we should log the location and have a 'sword pick up some of the debris.» Iceblade asks.

Karen comms, «I suggest we scan and move on… they probably have friends coming.»

Zorro responds, «Agreed. Scan, tag and leave»

«Sounds good to me…. Say Karen, could you do one more scan?» Iceblade asks.

Karen responds, «Shunting power to sensors. Performing a full bandwidth and spectrum scan.»

Random Bot Alertness: Karen (2, 21): 5/10 (has advantage)

«Abhaav, nothing.» Karen reports. «Wait… there is something… a kind of extra hard metal thing… scanners can't figure it out…»

Random Bot Technical: Karen (4, 23): 20

Karen uses her basic technical knowledge to reboot the scanner. «There's something. I have no idea what it is, but I'm sending the coordinates.»

Zorro continues to watch the situation in case anyone else turns up.

Karen transmits the coordinates of one crumpled panel devoid of copper to the team. «Focusing a scan on that object, designated whiskey»

Random Bot Alertness: Karen (2, 21): 9
Karen's shortness of breath is obvious…

Cyric prays that War stops having a mid-aeon identity crisis and let's slip its cats of war!

The flight returns to their patrol, not sure what to make of the debris field. Best they could tell, Sartha on Sartha fight… maybe.

Cyric comments, «Hey guys, these are not nanites are they? Plug them in to a power source and kill us all nanites?»

The flight returns to the ship… no further incidents, but Intel is confident that nanites are not the reason for the weird reading.

We return home kill-less again. Cyric is sad. Only one pair of cat wannabe-murder-suicides. Tragic, a tragic waste of my skills.

After the debriefing, Singh scurries off to medical.

Zorro agrees to allocate the Sartha who crashes into the rock as a kill for Cyric.

Cyric waves her off. It’s not right to keep what you don't kill. "It just wouldn't be right but thanks for trying to cheer me up, boss."

Then she goes to find some beauty supplies.

Iceblade heads off to the sims for a little simulated Convoy strike mission.