| Sim Thumping Part 2 |
| Arc: | Sim Thumping |
| Summary: | Several pilots return for round 2 of simulated kitty slaughter. |
| Date: | 2659.203 |
| Related Logs: | Sim Thumping |
| Participants: | Cyric Phillip Singh Zorro, |
Later that day, Zorro and Iceblade are in the simulator room. This particular sim run having been called upon and set up by Captain Espinosa.
Zorro walks into the simulator room and starts the initiation sequence for two of the cockpits. She then takes a helmet down from the rack and passes it to Iceblade.
"I wear a helmet in the sim whenever possible," Zorro says. "When the others arrive, I'll start their systems up. I've picked a scenario at random. Things can get pretty varied out there."
"That is actually a good idea," Iceblade responds. "Keeps it more realistic." Phillip then grabs the helmet and looks to the pods. "Which pod is set for a Rapier?"
“One and Two," Zorro replies.
2nd Lt. Cyric "Talon" Karde marches into the simulator pod-bay and notes that a woman wearing a Captain's insignia is standing next to Iceblade. He marches forward and salutes his superior officer.
Iceblade heads to pod 2 and gives Talon a quick wave.
Zorro casually returns his salute. "Evening Talon,” she says and moves over to initiate the sequence for Pod 3.
"2nd Lt. Cyric Karde. Callsign: Talon. An honor to make your acquaintance, ma'am." He lowers his salute and nods to Iceblade.
"Captain Nina Espinosa. Zorro,” she responds.
"A pleasure, Captain," Cyric replies.
"Yep, three minuteman, three rapiers. Should be a bash up time for this round." Iceblade says as he settles into the pod.
Zorro notes, "OK, so three Rapiers it is. I think that's everyone, so if we all get in, I'll tell Anya to start the sim in 90 seconds."
Nina moves to get into the pod. "I always jump in the pool as soon as I arrive at the villa."
"Understood, Captain," Cyric walks to the indicated open sim pod and straps himself in as he walks through the sequence.
Zorro straps herself in and indicates that she is ready to go. "Here we go and here we go."
As the simulation activates, three Rapiers find themselves facing 4 Kilrathi craft - 2 pair as it were. Sarthas and Dralthi, and the battle is already joined.
"Cyric, Iceblade, take the Dralthi. I'll got after the Sartha," Zorro orders.
«Understood, Captain.» Cyric comments as he accelerates his Rapier II to target Dralthi 2 head-on.
Iceblade quickly finds himself beset by two enemies immediately. "What the hell, no fair." Phillip goes evasive and lops an FF at one of his attackers.
«Engaging Sartha,» Zorro radios as he goes for an attack on the Lead Sartha.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro scored multiple weapon hits on Sartha1 with Full Guns.
Sartha1 lost their aft shields and took crippling damage to their craft's missile launchers.
COMBAT BOT: Talon scored several hits on Dralthi2 with Full Guns.
Dralthi2 lost their front shields and took crippling damage to their craft's cockpit.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade's Friend or Foe Missile was unable to maintain lock and hit Dralthi1.
COMBAT BOT: Dralthi1's Dumbfire Missile almost hit Iceblade.
COMBAT BOT: Dralthi2 scored a glancing hit on Talon with a Dumbfire Missile.
Talon lost their aft shields and their left armor absorbed the hit.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2's shots missed Iceblade completely.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha1 scored several hits on Talon with Neutron Guns.
Talon lost their aft shields and took severe damage to their craft's left wing.
The chaos of jumping into the middle of a combat is not pleasant. Iceblade's FF missile is dodged while neutrons and a dumbfire missile scar Talon's left side. «Disintegration is too good for you,» comes from the Lead Dralthi leading to a blood in the water situation with all four craft focusing on the wounded Rapier flown by Talon. The Confed ships did manage some nice hits on the Kilrathi at least.
"Nice!" Zorro calls out, "This is why I prefer guns." Zorro taunts back to the Kilrathi, «It's perfectly fine for you then.»
Iceblade quickly picks up the redirection in targets and comes about finding his partner under heavy attack. "Time for a dumbfire to face." Phillip says as he lines up on the second Dralthi who is pretty off already. «Iceblade, Fox 4. Watch yourself Talon.»
«Time to split your atoms from here to Kilrah, kitty,» Cyric promises grimly noting the damage to his left wing as he switches tactics and launches an FF missile at his tormenter.
Zorro fires a smart missile at her current target. Knock the shields out, blow it with a missile. Rinse and repeat.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro's Image Recognition Missile hit Sartha1 dead-on.
Sartha1 lost their aft shields and took severe damage to their craft's power core.
Sartha1's ship was destroyed by severe damage across the ship in addition to instability in the power core.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade scored a glancing hit on Dralthi2 with a Dumbfire Missile.
Dralthi2 lost their front shields had their cockpit blown out.
Dralthi2 is out of the fight due to a destroyed cockpit.
COMBAT BOT: Talon's Friend or Foe Missile only land a glancing blow on Dralthi2.
Dralthi2 had their aft shields weakened.
COMBAT BOT: Dralthi1's Dumbfire Missile almost hit Talon.
Dralthi1's missile launcher clicks empty for Dumbfire Missiles.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2's shots missed Talon completely.
As the Kilrathi focus fire on Talon, they leave themselves vulnerable… too vulnerable. Zorro plants an IR up the rear of the damaged Sartha, deep-frying the power core, which sends the craft into a destructive meltdown of scraps. Iceblade's shot is also perfection splashing the Dralthi in the cockpit, its fighter now sailing off in a straight line with an FF missile by Talon still hitting it the rear shields. The Kilrathi seem to be having some processor issues however and fight in a bizarre manner.
«Iceblade, Cyric, take out the other Dralthi,» Zorro radios an order.
«Understood, Lead. » Cyric acknowledges the order as he adds into his comm «Ah, my little foe-kittens; why are you so eager to die?» Cyric grins as he notes that he had become the target of all the cats in the vicinity.
Iceblade lines up the pitch and the Dralthi strikes out. «One more for the funeral pyre of Kilrah.» Iceblade comms before turning his attention to the lead Dralthi. «Acknowledged Sim Lead.»
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade's Dumbfire Missile was easily evaded by Dralthi1.
Iceblade's missile launcher clicks empty for Dumbfire Missiles.
COMBAT BOT: Talon's Friend or Foe Missile hit Dralthi1 dead-on.
Talon's missile launcher clicks empty for Friend or Foe Missiles.
Dralthi1 lost their aft shields and their aft armor absorbed the hit.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro's shots missed Sartha2 completely.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2's Dumbfire Missile almost hit Talon.
COMBAT BOT: Dralthi1's Heat Seeker Missile failed to lock onto Talon and is flying off into the distance.
And the missiles fly aaannnnnddd… miss completely… Well it is in the name.
Zorro swore. Time to go again.
Iceblade grumbles. «Time for some pepper too. Iceblade Guns» Iceblade keeps on the Dralthi's rear.
Cyric burns past the Dralthi and comes around for a dumbfire attack on the Dralthi's aft shields where Talon's FF missile detonated queueing up a Dumb-fire dart as he swung around for another run against the lead Dralthi element.
COMBAT BOT: Talon's Dumbfire Missile scored a critical hit on Dralthi1.
Dralthi1 lost their aft shields and took crippling damage to their craft's guns.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro scored several hits on Sartha2 with Full Guns.
Sartha2 lost their aft shields and had their craft's left wing torn off.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade scored several hits on Dralthi1 with Full Guns.
Dralthi1 lost their front shields and took severe damage to their craft's nose.
COMBAT BOT: Dralthi1's Heat Seeker Missile failed to lock onto Talon and is flying off into the distance.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2's Dumbfire Missile almost hit Talon.
Sartha2's missile launcher clicks empty for Dumbfire Missiles.
Zorro radios, «Rinse and repeat. Let's finish them off!»
And Confed again proves the tougher foe as missile, laser and neutron hit their marks with no damage in return. Dralthi1, in particular, is scored hard with gun damage and a runny nose of sorts. «You will not survive this battle ape scum,» says some Kilrathi somewhere.
USER: Iceblade : !r 1 20
USER: Iceblade : 5
Cyric chuckles as his dart slices through the lead Dralthi's aft shields and starts damaging its internal systems juking and managing to evade the missiles targeting him mere seconds later.
USER: Dread Lord : !r 1 20
USER: Dread Lord : 15
«Hhriss approaching, flight. Orders?» Cyric reports instantly as his sensors detect a Hhriss coming in fast from the edge of his sensor's range.
Iceblade lines up the shot and the Dralthi turns rapidly as is there want. The shots still ring into the craft ripping into its nose while the Dralthi tries to trudge on from a dumbfire to its side. Iceblade barely acknowledges the new presence until Talon mentions it…too late to act.
«Deal with these two guys, and then everyone turn on the new arrival,» Zorro says.
«Acknowledged, Wing Leader.» Cyric switches over to full guns and unloads every ounce of their firepower in the direction of his foe.
COMBAT BOT: Talon barely hit Dralthi1 with Full Guns.
Dralthi1 had their front shields weakened.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade only scored glancing hits on Dralthi1 with Full Guns.
Dralthi1 lost their front shields and took crippling damage to their craft's controls.
Dralthi1's ship exploded due to a critical failure of ship's integrity.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro's Image Recognition Missile hit Sartha2 dead-on.
Zorro's missile launcher clicks empty for Image Recognition Missiles.
Sartha2 lost their aft shields and took crippling damage to their craft's right wing.
COMBAT BOT: Hhriss passes this round.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2 scored several hits on Talon with Neutron Guns.
Talon lost their aft shields and their aft armor absorbed the hit.
The Hhriss focuses on the Sim Leader, going for a Banzai Strike against Zorro while the lead Dralthi quickly finds itself a collapsing mess of metal and explosive reactor. The other Sartha just limps on.
Zorro sees that the Sartha is still flying. But he's pretty much dead now… and the Hhriss wasn't.
Iceblade follows onto that Dralthi and nails it in the ventral chin, tearing the controls. Unfortunately, the tight turn maneuver the Dralthi was in put strain on the frame, which without control circuits kept it under that strain… until… well CRACK BOOM. «One more down, going for the baddy.» Iceblade lines up for a frontal assault with a beep beep Bing. « Fox Three!»
After witnessing the destruction of the lead Dralthi under his and Iceblade's assault, Cyric guns his afterburners and twists his control stick around to line up his shot on the Hhriss with a Dumb-fire missile
COMBAT BOT: Talon's Dumbfire Missile scored a critical hit on Hhriss.
Talon's missile launcher clicks empty for Dumbfire Missiles.
Hhriss lost their front shields and their front armor absorbed the hit.
COMBAT BOT: Hhriss's Image Recognition Missile was unable to maintain lock and hit Zorro.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade's Image Recognition Missile only land a glancing blow on Hhriss.
Hhriss lost their front shields and took severe damage to their craft's controls.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro barely hit Hhriss with Full Guns.
Hhriss had their aft shields flared.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2 barely hit Talon with Neutron Guns.
Talon had their front shields flared.
And the Kilrathi prove a tender foe as two missiles land into the front of the Hhriss leaving its flying ability in not great shape with damaged control circuits. In return, the Kilrathi fail to do more than flash some shields.
«Hhriss front shields cleared, Wing. Armor scorched. Switching to full guns.» Cyric grins as he watches the vaunted star-fighter of the Kilrahthi Empire take the full damage of his dumb-fire missile along with Iceblade's missile.
«Missile coming as well, Cyric» Zorro comments.
«Ouch, take that you kitten. Thanks for the tag team effort, Talon.» Iceblade then spins around, bursting forth at full speed to get ahead of the Hhriss for another front facing shot… this time with guns.. "Here goes nothing," «Iceblade GUNS!»
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade scored multiple weapon hits on Hhriss with Full Guns.
Hhriss lost their front shields and had their craft's nose chewed off.
COMBAT BOT: Talon scored several hits on Hhriss with Full Guns.
Hhriss lost their front shields and had their craft's nose chewed off.
COMBAT BOT: Sartha2 scored several hits on Talon with Neutron Guns.
Talon lost their aft shields and their right armor absorbed the hit.
COMBAT BOT: Hhriss's Image Recognition Missile was unable to maintain lock and hit Zorro.
Hhriss's missile launcher clicks empty for Image Recognition Missiles.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro's Dumbfire Missile hit Hhriss dead-on.
Hhriss lost their aft shields and their right armor absorbed the hit.
And the hits keep coming, Talon and Iceblade tear off the Hhriss's nose leaving the ship in even worse shape. While the Sartha tries to eat into some Talon armor. The Hhriss tries to hit with a missile, but Zorro just sends it off with some adept dodging and countermeasures.
Zorro looked around at the Sartha, which was still in the fight. «Talon, take out that Sartha»
«Understood, Wing Commander.» Cyric disengages reluctantly from the Hhriss to pull that annoying kitty insect off his tail as quickly as possible.
Iceblade shoots and keeps scoring. The Hhriss to starting to look really funny. «Iceblade here, anybody find a nose, return to one H Hriss.» Iceblade comes about flies up and around and lines up for a cockpit finisher on the Hhriss.
COMBAT BOT: Talon scored multiple weapon hits on Sartha2 with Full Guns.
Sartha2 lost their aft shields and took crippling damage to their craft's power core.
Sartha2's ship exploded due to a critical failure of ship's integrity in addition to the loss of structural elements and instability in the power core.
COMBAT BOT: Iceblade scored multiple weapon hits on Hhriss with Full Guns.
Hhriss lost their front shields and had their craft's nose chewed off.
Hhriss is shredded to pieces and explodes as its ship's core detonates from shrapnel.
COMBAT BOT: Zorro is unable to complete their attack as Hhriss has been taken out.
A faint whoo could be heard from outside the sims… uttered by Karen.
And so the fight goes, the Hhriss finds its front section completely destabilized leaving it to shred and pop into an explosive cloud. The Sartha fairs little better and Talon outmaneuvers the damaged ship and blasts it right in the power core.
Zorro radios, «Great job everyone. Five-nil to us!»
«Victory!» Cyric shouts into his comm only to find that the Hhriss was already no more as Iceblade had already destroyed it! «Well done, Iceblade!»
Iceblade gives a whoop from his pod. «Hhriss thrice chewed off stubby nose.» Iceblade comms as his shots do the finisher. «This is fun, who else wants some!»
And with that, the Simulation ends.
Phillip pops out of his pod with a smile visible through the visor of the helmet.
As the pods open, Karen is facing a wall with the VR headset still on, "Excellent job guys!"
Zorro clambers out of the cockpit and removes her helmet, her brow glistening with sweat. "Right. Quick debrief. What went well and what didn't?"
Cyric leaves the pod with a smile. "Maybe next time, it will be the real thing, eh Lt.?" Cyric jokes.
Iceblade nods and as he takes off his helmet, he says, "I think the takeaway, is this simulator is going easy on us."
"Yes, I'll see if I can't get something tougher next time,” Zorro comments.
Cyric just smiles, "At least, once we can strap some torps to our Rapier II's, eh?"
Karen removes the headset and spins around. “Can't wait for them to fix my Stiletto pod, maybe next time I'll try a working rapier if that network issue isn't fixed.
"Let's debrief in the bar in thirty minutes. I need a shower," Zorro says.
"Yep, sounds like a good idea, see you at the lounge," Phillip responds before he heads out.
"Understood, Captain. See you in 30, everyone!" Cyric snaps off a final salute to the Captain before leaving the simulator pod-bay.
Karen comments, "I have a shuttle run in 20, I gotta suit up. I guess I'll see you around later."
Zorro waves and walks out.
Karen walks out…
Seelig walks in with a clipboard. And looks at the stiletto pod. "Son of a diddly, someone wedged the network cable under the simulator's foot, I'll just swap this out and for safe measures… I'll get some mc cable. This will be skookum as frigg."
__
Shortly afterward….
Among the bays of the Repair Deck
Seelig is scrambling on the deck: "come on kids, we need another three rapiers ready for 1500. That includes QC. You can't let the pilots see the built-in defects."
Seelig returns to a stiletto and lowers the artificial gravity around the ship. Putting a line of bright yellow tape showing the gravity shift. "A little extra young stain around the reactors can't hurt. Maybe it'll even save the pilot in this."
The Pilot Lounge
Juliana walks into the bar… Bartender, whiskey. Straight. With ice and lemonade, a cherry, a slice of lemon and a sugared rim.
He serves it up. "Rough day?"
She tries to take a sip. Her eyes well with tears, the bitterness is too much she grimaces, and coughs out the whiskey, it starts to dribble down her nose and onto her jumpsuit.
She freezes mortified and slowly walks out of the bar and runs straight to her bunk.
Transfer Barracks #2
Karen scurries to her bunkers and starts looking up the enrollment officer.