Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:10 am by Solar Pilot
Nathan Edwards/Patriot/Magellan System/Liberty Police
Edwards figured this would happen. A convoy this large couldn't go undetected, even two sectors away from Mactan. However, he hadn't ancitipated they'd bring this large of a fleet to intercept them, much less mostly Liberty Rogue vessels. Things had officially gone to hell.
He took a moment to reassess the situation. All of Orbital Spa and Cruise's fighter escorts were demolished in nearly a single phalanx of missile fire. The Hawks and Armored Transports' turrets had managed to take out about six of the 20 Bloodhounds and one of the Daggers before the Hawks were destroyed. Another Dagger among their raiding party suddenly had turned on them, now transmitting a Bretonia Armed Forces ID tag after destroying two of the Rhinos. And he'd just transmitted a distress call on an open channel. No doubt a BAF task force would be here soon. And as if that weren't odd enough, a Bounty Hunter Barracuda was now engaging in the foray. He didn't mind the extra firepower. As for the convoy itself, Edwards counted ten of the 20 Armored Transports had been nailed by cruise disruptors and were struggling to restart their cruise engines in the midst of defending themselves. As for the other ten, they sped away unhindered for the last leg of their journey towards Freeport 4.
Dodging another stream of laser fire, Edwards keyed his comm. "Al, what's your status?" He targeted another Bloodhound as he waited for a reply.
"Taken a few hits, nothing the shields can't handle," Grey replied, the sound of his Skyrails pounding away at another Bloodhound evident in the background. "Apparently there's a BAF operative that came among the raiding party."
"Yeah, I noticed. Any chance he radioed for help?"
Grey gave a small cheer across the channel as he vaped the Bloodhound he was attacking. "BPA and BAF channels don't run in tandem, but they're close in frequency. I'm pretty sure I heard enough bits and pieces of his transmission to know he contacted a battleship for assistance."
"Wonderful," Edwards thought grimly. Not that he wouldn't mind the help dealing with the pirate attackers, but he hadn't hoped this thing would turn out primarily in Bretonia's favor. The last thing Magellan needed right now was a capital ship from either side breaching the Independent Systems line once more.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Nate," Grey said as he pressed the attack on another Bloodhound, easily ravaging it to spare parts. "I'm sure the big guns would-" Grey was cut off as an alarm sounded in his cockpit over the channel. "BLOODY HELL!"
Edwards turned his fighter just in time to see a pair of Javelin Missiles streak past Grey's Cavalier. Grey had dropped enough countermeasure flares to throw off the missiles, but he was disoriented, trying to figure out who fired the missiles at him. Edwards was equally confused and looked up, checking his scopes as well. Then he saw it. A flight of three Liberty Navy Defenders. And they were bearing down on Grey. Just great. Angrily, he keyed his comm to an open Liberty frequency.
"Attention Liberty Navy Defenders! This is Liberty Police Blue 1-1, Captain Nathan Edwards speaking. Disengage your attack on the Bretonian Cavalier! He is an ally, I repeat, he's helping defend the convoy. If you want to help us out, feel free to attack the Rogue raiding party but do not attack that Cavalier!" He keyed his comm back to the convoy channel. "Al, break off your attack and give yourself some distance between the Defenders before you reengage. I've told them to hold off, but I'm not taking any chances with you."
"Understood." Grey's Cavalier immediately turned about and sped towards a farther target above the remaining transports.
"Orbital convoy, this is Liberty Police Blue 1-1. Keep firing your turrets! Engage cruise engines as soon as you can!" The Armored Transports complied, sending pulses of energy out from various points on the hull. The raiders had gotten a bit more selective though as they now began to target individual turrets on the transports, or attempted to blow open the underside cargo hatches and tractor in whatever loot might have come out. Fortunately, the transports had enough clear time to enable six more of the ten remaining to engage their cruise engines and streak away from the foray.