Pilot Archive

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mclouj wrote:

Argh! I sense impending doom...

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QFEIMOBBQ.

I think somebody is going to die.

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scooterjes wrote:
I think Halyn is purposly leaving us on cliffhangars should we start getting our angry villagers ready and armed .

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Of course I am! It's the best way I know to get readers to come back--never leave 'em with a sense of conclusion.

(Old writers' trick)

And I thought Leaph was in charge of the angry villagers...

Halyn Lance -- Rara Avis Flight School
Common sense is highly uncommon.
...has mastered the Pilot profession.
"I'll type this slowly so even Imperials can understand..."--Michael Stackpole, RS IRC

Halyn watched idly as the Z-95 formation split into wingpairs, heading towards their respective destinations. A sense of foreboding still hung heavily on his mind. I still don't see this going well. The Zynt'aia are baiting us, I'm sure--but towards what end? Are they going to spring a group of IRDs on us again? The Zabrak shook his head, guiding the Mark I Headhunter into the cluster of asteroids that was the group's rally point.

He listened with half an ear to the comm chatter, stewing over the operation.

"I got him, Lead!"

"Two, stay with me--there's another pair coming in."

"Six, break port!"

"Breaking, Five."

"Got him!"

"Nice shot, Eight."

"Three and Four reporting in, our point's clear."

"Negative, more contacts headed your way, Three."

"Bro, watch out! Two coming in behind you!"

"Get them off me!"

"This is Lead, we're coming your way. Pull them towards us."

"My shields are taking hits!"

"Stay calm, Seven. We're almost there."

"Shields down!"

"Dive, Seven!"

"Eight, help me!"

"I'm on them."

"Break outside, Eight. We've got them."

"This is Five, we're clear here."

"Maintain position, Five. Seven, pull up!"

"I'm trying!"

"This is Three, we're clear again. On our way to help you."

"Negative, Three. You and Four stay where you are."

"Roger, Lead."

"Eight, you're clear."

"Thanks, Two."

"We've got another pair coming in on us, Six. Look sharp."

"You've got lead, Five."

"Nice shot, Seven."

"Nice setup, Eight."

"Cut the chatter. Another flight coming in. Halyn, what's long-range look like?"

Halyn jolted, eyes scanning his scopes. "Looks like...four more contacts coming in on long-range besides what you're engaged with, then nothing past that."

"Roger, Nine. Hold your position." Relief was evident in A'Lerris's voice. "We're almost done, nobody screw up now!"

"Watch it, that new flight's coming in high on your position, Lead!"

"All fighters, pull it up and let's finish these guys! Nine, stay in high guard."

"I'm on him, Three."

"You've got lead."

"Three, Four, watch those two Y-wings."

"Split and return, Four. On two. One, two."

"They're both on you, Three."

"I see that...scrape 'em off."

"You two always this slow?"

"Guess I'll owe you one when we get home, Five."

"Yes, yesyou do, Elle."

"Cut the chatter," A'Lerris ordered again. "Well done, everyone, we're clear."

Halyn finally allowed himself to smile. I guess I was wrong. "This is Nine, requesting permission to join formation."

"Bring it in, Nine."

Halyn's Headhunter zipped out of the asteroids, dropping into a high guard position over A'Lerris's formation. He inverted the snubfighter, looking downat the security pilots. "Thank the gods that worked," he murmured, matching speed. "It's good to be wrong sometimes."

"Let's take it home," the security chief ordered. "And drinks are on me," she added as an afterthought.

Cheering filled the comm, and Halyn's smile widened. It's just like back on the Wraith, he thought. Pilots are the same everywhere.

He dropped from his high guard position into trailing off Eight's wing, opening a private comm to A'Lerris as he did so. "I guess I was wrong," he admitted.

"Is that an apology, Nine?"

"I guess so, Lead." He hesitated for a moment. "I thought this was a set up by the Zynt'aia."

"A set up?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I--" he caught himself. "It just seemed like the kind of thing they would do. I mean, we've done similar things in the Alliance--not outright sacrifice pilots, but to let the Imperials think they were on the offensive, at the advantage, and then springing some kind of trap on them or hitting a target they left to weak to defend itself."

"It's alright, Nine. I forgive you."

"Thanks, Lead," Hal said, a bit of sarcasm slipping into his tone. "I still think this was pretty reckless, but I guess it worked."

Halyn Lance -- Rara Avis Flight School
Common sense is highly uncommon.
...has mastered the Pilot profession.
"I'll type this slowly so even Imperials can understand..."--Michael Stackpole, RS IRC

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AideonOfAesir wrote:
How sad, no friendly explosions or big ships jumping in.

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