Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 21:42:33 +0000
From: "Leszek Karlik, aka Mike" <trrkt@FRIKO.ONET.PL>
Subject: [SW-RPG] FLUFF: Raid on Fara's Belt
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Reply-to: "Leszek Karlik, aka Mike" <trrkt@FRIKO.ONET.PL>
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Organization: Alien Devil-worshipping Pinko Commie Illumi
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Comments: Authenticated sender is <trrkt@friko.onet.pl>

This is a short story I wrote about a year ago, and which I found
today while doing order on my HD. Anyway, I thought I'll share it
with everybody, so, you'll have to suffer... <evil grin>

---

The raid on Fara's Belt

- Gold Four, Gold Four, respond! - I shouted in the throatmike.
- Gold Three, I'm OK. Watch your back, two squints on your tail! I'll
blow th... - Varul's voice suddenly got lost in a crackle of static.
- GOLD FOUR!
Nothing.
- Damn - I muttered under my nose.

This was definitively not my day. My wingman was blown to pieces just
a few seconds ago, my shields were getting dangerously low, and I've
already lost six shield generators and one of my three laser cannons.
The ion cannon and autoblaster were totally out of order, and my
power generator was overheating.

- This is Red One to all Rebel craft. Retreat, I repeat, retreat.
If this only would be so easy. The overall damage was not fatal and
my Artoo unit could fix it - given enough time. Unfortunately - time
was one thing I didn't have.

The Raid on Fara's Belt was becoming a failure, the first failure of
a new Rebel Alliance heavy starfighter - B-Wing. We popped out of
hyperspace according to schedule - and fell straight into an
Imperial trap.
Damn two or even three wings of Imperial TIEs with fire support from
two new Lancer-class anti-starfighter warfare frigates and a few
additional GAT-7 Skipray Blastboats. The Imperial Security Bureau had
discovered our plans. They knew when and where we were going to
strike.

- We're not making any progress, Artoo... - I shouted through
my clenched teeth while frantically dodging enemy fire. We were in
trouble.
Rebel Alliance tactics are a guerilla warfare tactics - hit and run.

And we could not run.

- Red Five, there's one on your tail! I'll take him! - I pulled the
trigger on my control yoke and blew up a TIE who was stupid enough
not to pay attention to his six o'clock.
- Thanks, Gold Three. We're gonna die here, you know. - As to accent
Iiel's words, Red Four blew up in a spectacular shower of light and
debris.
- I know.

I had to save my ship - and it was getting laser-fried by two TIE
Interceptors. My B-Wing is really not designed as a dogfight
starfighter - it's not an A- or X-Wing. It is supposed to blow those
mean, big capital ships away. Of course, it can do nothing about
cruisers, but anyway it's our Mon Cals who are supposed to take out
Imperial- and Victory-class Star Destroyers. And the B-Wing is
supposed to fight medium and small capital ships - like Nebulon-B
escort frigates, Lancers, Carrack-class cruisers and smaller vessels.
And it does it's job very well - it can destroy medium ships-sized
and do real damage to any cruiser that chooses to ignore it.
Unfortunately, in spite of it's powerful weaponry and shields -  or
should I say "because"? - it is slow and not very manoeuvrable.

It is not a problem in an attack against even-slower capital ships,
but cripples B-Wing in starfighter combat - especially against new
Imperial TIE Interceptor. And there were lots of those here.

- Artoo, get me more power to the engines. No, I don't care about
your feelings, we're gonna get spaced here! - I had to get more
speed, or those TIEs on my tail would blow me up.

To the moment, I was able to dodge their shots, but the space around
me was getting crowded with laser bolts. And I couldn't hyperspace
out!

- Deflector shields damaged and inoperative - Frag! I started to
hate my on-board computer. I quickly switched repair priority for my
Artoo. Without deflector shields, I was a sitting duck. I had to get
the hell out of dod...

***

- Alpha Nine to Command Group. Request for reinforcements cancelled.
Last of the enemy starfighters dispatched.
- Good job, Thomas. What do you think, what were these Rebel scum
looking for in here?
- I don't know, but they found us instead. I think we'll be able to
get a few days off now.
- Yes, it's a good idea. I want to see my kids at last.
- They'll sure be proud of their dad. One of the defenders of the
galaxy.
- Yeah, I know. Returning to base. Alpha Nine out.

---

Opinions, flames, hate mail, mailbombs, black-garbed ninjas and large
cash donations will all be accepted. ;>


Leszek Karlik, aka Mike - trrkt@friko.onet.pl; http://www.wlkp.top.pl/~bear/mike;
Amber fan and Star Wars junkie; UIN 6947998; WTF TKD; FIAWOL; YMMV; IMAO; SNAFU; TANJ
  Geek Code v3.1 GL/O d- s+: a19 C+++ W-(++) N+++ K? w(---) O@ M- PS+(+++) PE Y+
  PGP- !t--- 5+(-) X- R*+++>$ tv-- b++++ D+ G-- e h--*! !r-- !y-*
    Not tonight, dear.  I have a modem.