TO: Guild/Defence master Nickolas Hargreaves
FROM: Adam Spire, Defense division
RE: Tau 23 engagement
I wished to relay the events of the TAU 23 system last night. Gene Starwind asked me for assistance in the TAU 37. Events forced us to return to the TAU 23 system where we encountered a lone SOB VHF. Within a few moments we both engaged, hoping to combine out efforts in order to overwhelm the crafts better maneuverability. As always, I was having a difficult time keeping him in front of me while his focus was on Gene. I tried a few SNAC shots but no where near as close and switched to main guns and scored a few hits but nothing significant. About 2 minutes into the fight we were attacked by a small group of 4 escort Outcast HF (drones) that would not let up. Gene was handling the SOB pilot better than I was so I turned to engage the four escorts. After a while I dispatched them then turned to help Gene still fighting with the SOB pilot. I ran a quick scan and found the SOB had two mines left he had affectively used against me when I first tried to engage him. He wouldnt use them so liberally this time so I again tried to engage. A few moments later five veteran Outcast Escorts (drones) came out from the nearby base or just from hiding and engaged. I would have tried the same tactics but a second SOB VHF came and entered the engagement. Hoping the confusion would actually cause some form of cover, I tried to engage the second SOB fighter to the same tactical disadvantage I had with my bomber. I spend the next three to five minutes simply evading fire and trying to mine the area with my nukes in order to clear up some of the swarming fighters. With Gene and the first SOB fighter some 2k away, I tried to thruster towards them, hoping with the majority of the enemy behind me, the mined may score a hit.
It simply didnt work and none of my mines seemed to land a hit. Typical. Taking a look at my targeting scanner the entire left side was red with ships. Apparently five to seven more veteran Outcast Escorts (drones) entered the fight. This was unbelievable! I couldnt risk bringing that kind of firepower down on Gene when he was taking care of the first SOB fighter and it seemed the second SOB was indeed getting confused by all the friendly fire. I opened a point to point comm. With Gene and asked him if he could make it to the Java station. Hopefully its guns would shake off some of these escorts and we could again focus on the SOB fighters. He didn't respond and I couldn't blame him. I pulled the stick back and shot right into the heart of the Outcast fighters only to find five more showed up, veteran class. Inwardly I was cursing as if the entire universe had decided now was a good time to open a can of pain on us.
The maneuver worked and I was able to spiral within the hornets nest and that second SOB fighter and charge up my thrusters. Finally making it back to Java, the guns gave me time to recharge my shields and take out a few Outcast escorts but that second SOB fighter was still in the mess of it all. A short moment later I heard a general call over the Comms from a bounty hunter who opened fire on the other Outcast Escorts. Gene was still about 3-4 k away when I saw a huge explosion in space. The next moment I heard a "Wooh hoo, got him!" He had scored a SNAC hit against the edge of an asteroid the first SOB fighter seemed to hide behind, but he didn't count on the shockwave it could make. The first SOB fighter, after nearly thirty minutes of fighting was finally taken out.
Gene stated rushing back to Java and that second SOB pilot started bugging out. Slowly, the remaining Escort fighters were ended. Only near the end did some IMG escort fighters (drones) show up. A bit late. I was so trilled to see those guns of the Bounty Hunter's ship stream through the blackness of space, I paid him what I could and thanked him. I stayed outside of Java, Gene was worse off than I was but managed to land his Pythos. I sat there for a moment under the shadow of Java and that Bounty hunter and just hovered there. Gene and I were beat. He had taken out a key component in the battle and I didnt have to eject for the first time. I'm sure the IMG engineers will be happy about that. I dont know what can be given to Gene but I recommend a promotion or something for what he pulled out there. He really turned the tide of that fight and never gave up.
Also, here is a manifest report of my cargo hold after the battle. I really dont think that was all of them either.
Adam Spire
*****GuildComm Deactivated*****
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.