2069-02-09-Sat. (17:00–17:30): Elpis Faction Border, 5 Sisters (deep space between the Irmuska and Caterina Systems)
Who names their kid Putrid?”"That's
Putri," the Major grumbles back. "And she can fly rings around you. So watch what you say!"
Ignoring their relative skill levels for a moment, Kaumirran can appreciate the logic behind his statement—as far as she knows, Putri's Quadoran-Rō is fully repaired and operational, and her VF-11 can be described as run-down and well-used at best. Humans just don't make their machines to last, totally unlike Zentrādi equipment, which can operate for decades, if not centuries, with almost no maintenance!
1.
Before any of the Steel Valkyries can react, the mystery flight of purple Valkyries disengage their jamming. 8 large missiles launch out of the engine nacelles of the lead purple Valkyrie—they rapidly accelerate toward the Zentrādi transferring the cargo containers into the Hamekahame.
The second, third and fourth enemy Valkyries all also launches 8 large missiles each at the same target area. If they weren't enemies firing at friendlies, it would be a pretty impressive scene!
Kaumirran deploys her Valkyries legs, and space in the direction of the mystery VFs is lit up by the flare of her engines as she puts the brakes on.
Mr. D jinks to avoid smacking into the rear of Kaumirran. "Hey! Watch it!" he cries in protest. He regains alignment, and fires off a 10r burst. Being Mr. D, his shots are mostly off the mark, and his target easily—and gracefully—does a barrel-roll through his incoming shots.
Bah also fires a 10r burst. Despite being out in front and not having anyone block his path AND firing at his target's center mass, his target also avoids the shots (nothing as slick or as fancy as Mr. D's target, of course.)
The Major barks at Kaumirran, "What are you doing!?! Match our velocity!" He also fires a 10r burst. Unlike his subordinates, his shots hit. And unlike the VF-11's 30 mm gun pod, the VF-1's 55 mm GU-11 has some serious bite!
2.
About this time, data from Mr. D's radome pack, as well as visual sensor reading confirm that the enemy Valkyries are the same purple VA-14's that the squadron tangled with in the rings of the gas giant!
The lead enemy VF transforms and returns fire at Mr. D. Mr. D struggles, but just barely avoids the incoming bullets. They're close enough that some scrape off bits of paints as they ricochet off his armour.
Kaumirran transforms, and fires a 50 r spray in a circular pattern. She ends up hitting all 4 enemy Valkyries! However, the damage is negligible...
The second enemy VF also transforms, and returns fire at Bah—and hits! Bah incurs major damage.
Mr. D seems to have found his fight as he comes out of his dodge screaming a war cry, and neatly fires a 20r burst that catches his target's center mass—dishing out a lot of damage. That VA-14 begins streaming smoke and sparks, and doesn't move as well thereafter.
Bah looks over his damage displays as he lines up a shot. He depresses the trigger and... there's nothing other than the clicking sound. "Crap!" he curses. He puts on the brakes—just like Kaumirran moments before—and yells over the radio channel, "gun pod jam!"
The third purple VA-14 fires a 10r burst at Kaumirran—and hits! She takes significant damage, but still has approximately 3/4 of her armour remaining.
The Major yells at Kaumirran, "conserve ammo!" as he lets loose a 10 r burst—and hits! His target fires haphazardly, something that even Mr. D could easily dodge. However, perhaps because the Major is distracted by Bah's predicament, he practically walks right into the burst! His VF-1 is now in as bad a shape as the VA-14 that Mr. D just pummelled.
3.
The lead VA-14 fires 8 micro-missiles at Mr. D before turning sharply and accelerating back the way it came (toward the "?" on the map).
Kaumirran transforms back to fighter and has to accelerate to catch up to the rear of the Steel Valkyries.
The second VA-14 does the same as the lead VA-14, with the third VA-14 copying, and launching 8 micro-missiles at Kaumirran. The last enemy Valkyrie does the same as the other 3, and begins its strategic retreat, too.
Mr. D tries to take advantage of the lead VA-14 turning tail, but his 10r burst is easily avoided.
Bah—taking advantage of the lack of jamming—opts to fight fire with fire, and launches 10 micro-missiles at his target. The Major copies Bah, and also launches 10 micro-missiles.
4.
The lead VA-14 accelerates even faster, and concurrently fires it's head lasers at Bah's missiles—he hits, and destroys the entire volley.
Kaumirran almost catches up with the others. She begins slowing so she doesn't overtake them and accidentally put herself in the front. She initially attempts to avoid the missiles with jinks and flares, but that doesn't work. So, she opts to shoot at them with the head laser-—she hits, and destroys them all!
The second VA-14 attempts to copy the first and help the one that the Major lobbed his missiles at. However, his head laser shots go wide.
Mr. D also shoots at the micro-missiles with the head lasers—hitting and destroying them. Bah does the same, with the same results.
The third VA-14 successfully shoots down the Major's missiles, while the Major returns the favour.
The last VA-14 also accelerates quickly away, but it also starts emitting that strange jamming again. Missiles are once more ineffective.
5.
The Major shouts, "bastards!" as he fire a parting 20 r burst at the last VA-14—hitting it! It hammers the VA-14 so hard, that not only is it trailing smoke and sparks (like it's squad-mate), but that strange jamming is interrupted in a stuttering form while the Major's shots are hitting the fuselage. Even afterwards, the jamming doesn't return completely to it's former strength (missiles are still ineffective).
"Let 'em go!" the Major grumbles.
He overhears Amina:
"/z/ The convoy line! Quickly! /z/" With alarm, the Major looks toward the supply line, and cries: "the missiles!"
OOC: full description of the Quadoran Battlesuit and QF-4000 battle below the blurb.
Map/visualization aid:
Click on Eps. 2.2: Milk Run Map.
Green triangle: Quadoran-Rō team
2 bluish-purple triangles: Fighter Pod teams
Light pinky-purple triangle: QF-4000 team
Purple triangle: mystery group
4x 8 MRM at supply line