>>5664821>>5664829>>5664830>>5664838>>5664839>>5664842>>5664844>>5664849>>5664864>>5664871>>5664887>>5664940>>5664980>>5664989>>5665001>>5665025>>5665037>>5665113>>5665182The <span class="mu-i">Albatross</span> hadn’t been anywhere near the asteroid, but Suzel isn’t taking any chances. The order had been to scatter, and he punches the ship as fast as it can, taking her away from the asteroid and beyond the range of any stray fire. His white-knuckled grip on the throttle and the stick doesn’t ease up until the ship’s at the absolute fringes of the sensor array.
But before the ship starts to decelerate, you’re already up and out of your chair, hurrying towards your fallen padwan. It doesn’t look like she’s moving, unresponsive in a little heap on the cockpit floor.
“Ceyla!” Gingerly turning her over, you recoil at the sight of a gash just right across her forehead. “Ceyla, can you hear me?”
First, an incoherent groan of pain. Then, a slow and steady stream of words exceedingly unbecoming of a young lady. She has enough strength to prop herself up, wincing at the screams and shouts of Jolt Squadron and Convoy-Lead on the comm line. “…not so loud, please, Master Gaelle...”
“Jolt-Nine has been lost,” reports B-33 with an eerie calm, sensors and photoreceptors spinning as it analyzes the changing battlefield. “Jolt-Three has ejected. Enemy ship is currently making an interception course with the closest freighter, with Jolt Squadron in hot pursuit.”
With a tight grimace, you reach for the first-aid kit, ripping it open for bandages and disinfectant. “B-33, analysis! What the hell was that?”
>>B-33 makes a Lore (Int) check...3 Int and 0 Ranks...>...fails.The tactical droid pauses, coming to a stop as it processes your request. “Unknown. The ship profile of the enemy matches nothing within this unit’s databanks. Similarly, its method of propulsion is inexplicable by any and all conventional sciences known to the late Republic.”
“Statement,” adds HK-82 with an all-too cheery inflection, “It appears that this is a First Contact scenario! Oh, how I have long wished to be part of the historical process facilitating diplomacy between unknown species and polities beyond the Republic’s edges.”
…squashing the urge to scream, you change the subject as you bandage Ceyla: “What about its weapons?”
>B-33 makes a Warfare (Int) check...3 Int and 2 Ranks...>Succeeds!“This unit detected ten vent-like structures across its hull,” supplies the tac-droid, “All of which bloomed on IR/thermal before projectiles were launched. They appear to be plasma-like thermal weapons, accelerating super-heated materials to inflict heat and kinetic damage.”
That explains the freighter <span class="mu-i">melting</span> apart at the seams. “Countermeasures?”
“…point-defense would be the most effective. If they can be intercepted before impact, even a light lasercannon would be able to destroy them.”
(cont.)
