The Betty swoops in behind the enemy ship with unbelievable speed. And with that, Burlap opens fire, dropping her rear shields completely and damaging the hull further.
Unfortunately, the damage done once the shields drop is not sufficient to set up the chain reaction on the engines Vaëlorin had hoped for.
The Station pivots once more, launching a third missile. Unfortunately it fails at its target lock, launching the missile off by 10 degrees or more. What's worse, the second missile now loses tracking and heads off the wrong way as well. Not going to be fun explaining to the CEO how three expensive missiles managed to miss something that size, the gunner reflects.
The enemy missile finally reaches the Station, and explodes spectacularly. Though the Station remains mostly intact, the missile tube (one of four) is damaged, making it even less accurate.
The vessel moves forward and turns toward the station (ending at H15), and as it does fires a missile from it's aft arc at The Betty. This missile completely misses Betty, and flies off into space with the Station's wayward missiles.
Teamwork makes the dream work, people!
That includes you, Captain! Some unsung heroes in Science and Engineering... and some game done shooting, LT.
Hope I can keep up, folks! Joyride seems quite pleased.
Initiative, Round 4
AgroCorp Station:
Hostile Vessel:
The ysoki resists any urge to celebrate until the Sathar ship is either dead or fled. And he seriously has to wonder if the gunner aboard the station is near-sighted or they bought discount missiles.
He silently prays that the station's next missile finds the target.
LT, think of we invite AgroStation to open fire on us... they'd hit the Sathar ship?
Maybe we're too close... He quickly checks open channels and see that thankfully, outside channels were closed.
James looks behind him at Garlus, making sure the man is strapped in. You OK, back there?
Vaëlorin again attempts to lock in their weapons on the enemy's engines.
Cherry lets her fingers walk. In doing so, she moves the energy back to Weapons.
The AgroCorp Station chooses to act first, pivoting to it's fourth missile tube and firing. Unfortunately, once again the seemingly incompetent gunners aboard the station launch the missile so far off course it goes off wild.
Cherry's divert isn't going well this time around; she'll have to make another attempt in a few seconds (aka next Round).
LT... Light'em up!
Burlap fires both guns again. Unfortunately, he doesn’t accurately compensate for the Sathar ship’s movement across the distance. The beams only graze the enemy vessel.
In an out-of-character move, Alzura uses the carrot rather than the stick.
Diplo
"Like Joyride says, Burlap! This is our sky—show 'em why they never should’ve picked this fight!"
Burlap's attack rocks the enemy vessel, obviously doing some serious additional hull damage.
It's obvious to Vaëlorin the enemy's engines were damaged, just not critically. It should maneuver even worse until repaired.
Vaëlorin tilts his head, watching the sensor readout flicker. "Their engines are sparking like a drunken plasma eel," he announces. "Confirmed—glitching. We may have clipped their wings."
"Ooo Not fun, I bet they were already leaking Plasma, I swear they are holding it together with Ducktape and baling twine." Cherry Says as she checks the engine outputs.
"Was my former Sergeants' favorite method of slap chop rigging. It oddly works if you know what you are doing, Though rebuilding your engines...Sign me up!!"
Burlap was hoping to see the Sathar ship's atmo vent into space but watching the engine sputter provided a certain satisfaction.
"Vaelorin, can we get an update on her shield status? Joy, see if you can get us in sight of any soft spots Vael ids. We do this right... girls'll be lining up for you boys."
"Burlap, try not to destroy them too much. Would be nice to get some salvage..." She sighs, wondering why she bothered buckling in. "These guys are losers... are they even trying?"
The enemy holds steady, firing two close-range shots at The Betty.
Plasma Cannon:
Missile:
Despite Joyride's attempts to evade, both of the weapons slam into The Betty, rocking the entire vessel. On the bridge, sparks fly as systems get overloaded.
Burlap looks at his weapons system readout. The coilguns are still good, but it appears there is minor damage to the light particle beam. It will be less accurate (-2) until repaired (glitching).
Likewise, Joyride's heart sinks as a section of lights on the Pilot's console goes dark. He can compensate manually, but the ship will not be as maneuverable (-2 Piloting) until repaired (glitching).
Top of Round 5
Initiative (Piloting)
AgroCorp Station:
Hostile Vessel:
Frantically turning knobs, flipping levers and toggling switches.
Ohhh... Not looking good at all. We got a little too cocky and they rocked us. Systems flippin' out, I'll compensate.
We going in for the kill?
Opening a channel to the station. We drew fire and took some direct hits... hoping you guys are alright. But, can we get one of those missiles to ummm... you know. Joyride out.
Vaëlorin’s fingers dance across the console with precision, though his tone is tight. “I do not care for the sound of our hull protesting its existence. Rebalancing the shield matrix now—rerouting coverage to our wounded flanks.” He exhales slowly. “Let us not make a habit of absorbing fire.”
Vaëlorin’s fingers dance across the console with precision, though his tone is tight. “I do not care for the sound of our hull protesting its existence. Rebalancing the shield matrix now—rerouting coverage to our wounded flanks.” He exhales slowly. “Let us not make a habit of absorbing fire.”
The Station pivots once again, launching a missile from the first tube.
Vaëlorin watches on the scanner as the missile flies forth from the station. With a spectacular explosion so strong it actually shakes The Betty ever-so-slightly, the missile slams into the weakened front shields of the enemy!
The hit seems to have done some moderate amount of damage to their power core, making rerouting of power more difficult.
Betty may act. Their front shields are at 0 and they've had proportionately about as much Hull damage as you have.
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Off-mic, Burlap curses at the red lights on his status board. He quickly retasks the computer to aim assist the glitching particle beam trying to compensate for the tweak in the weapon’s alignment. He keys on the mic. ”LPB is gonna need repair but I’m still hot and ready on both weapons. Joy, find me a ripe target.”
When the station’s missile slams into the nose of the vessel, Burlap’s target is picked. Burlap fires another duet of hyperspeed particles and metallic slugs. They deliver another hammer blow to the enemy ship.
Station boys finally hit... follow that missile in.
Are we buggin' out?
Opening the channel to AgroCorp Station, Sweet shot, boys and girls! Thank you, kindly.
Burlap's shot gets another solid engine hit; they're now just one step away from going offline.
Additionally, Vaëlorin is reading significantly weakened structural integrity on the vessel.
The enemy ship now seems to be rethinking this encounter. It attempts to run away, but its awkward movement due to both engine damage and its normal poor maneuverability causes it to have not moved far from The Betty at the end of its turn. (Enemy ship is now at L-13).
It does not fire any weapons, but nor does it signal surrender.
Orders, Captain?
"I can try zeroing in on their engines, if desired."
Alzura stretches, arms over head, arching her back. "Mmmhhhmmm." She purrs. "Yeah, disable them so we can board. Then we can figure out who we're dealing with. "
Cherry waits her fingers hovering as she uses her tail to bring some tea to her lips.
Joyride makes to catch up with the departing enemy vessel.
Top of Round 6
Enemy Vessel:
Station:
Betty may act, or may choose to let the Enemy act first.
Captain wants them disabled. I'm gonna shadow them, you guys do your thing...
Burlap wishes he could take all the credit for the shooting… but Betty seems to be an angry goddess when wounded. Her weapons slam into the enemy vessel with near-pinpoint accuracy. The gunner pats the gun and whispers, ”You get’em Betty.”
Burlap's shots penetrate the poorly protective rear shields and, with a large explosion, the ship begins to list and float away with the physics of the coilgun's shots. The enemy ship is fully disabled.
Joyride tries his best to dodge flying hull fragments, though there are many and a few hits are unavoidable.
Combat over.
"Captain, enemy ship is disabled. Warning, Agrocorp Station is targeting the enemy vessel with an additional missile; reduction of salvage value is likely."
Opening a channel, Sathar vessel... Incoming missile from AgroCorp Station. You sensors may not show that, in their current condition.
Consider abandoning ship and entering our custody, peacefully. Choose life.
"Starship Betty, this is Sub-boss Slrrg of the Malthar Syndicate. We'll surrender, but the Syndicate is gonna be pretty peeved you've destroyed one of their ships and taken soldiers hostage."
If the missile doesn't destroy the ship... you're welcome to go back. What's up with that key anyway... what's the big deal?
Maybe we could help. Better than killing each other.
"Prepare to be boarded, idiots! Tell the station to stop firing, I claim salvage rights!"
"Station acknowledging, Captain. All missile tubs going to standby."