Engagement at Bipera

Byr rammed the throttle to the firewall, coxing as much speed as he could out of his Python. Not pretty, not fast, and not nimble it was none the less a nearly indestructible and hard hitting gunship. In that sense, she was perfect for a sustained fight like this resistance pocket engagement.

If he could just get past the three Imperial Clippers filled his view screen, deadly weapons blazing…

Fortunately, they were his wing mates and fellow White Templars, Callsigns Undermoose, Crown and Mack. The Kumo Crew Anaconda was lanced with railgun and laser fire alike, internal explosions signaling her death throws.

They had been in the furious battle for more than an hour at this point, but all three ships were largely unscathed. Indeed, the most deadly threat to the Clippers were each other. Byr heard muttered curses as the graceful Clippers tangled nacelles again as they swooped away from the dying Anaconda. How nameless scrubs like these system defense jockeys got their hands on such a powerful ship he would never know. Probably destined for the scrapyard and hastily pressed into service with a gang pressed crew. Whatever, it was still worth the same bounty as any other pirate and far less dangerous than a registered Commander.

Running like a well oiled machine, Wing Commander Mack called out the next target for the Wing. Byr glanced down to check his scanner and saw a purple contact in a sea of red and green. Purple contact? How could a there be a purple contact here in the Resistance Pocket?
Then it hit him, and he slammed his fist down on the Comm button.

“We have a Commander, repeat, we have a Commander!” Byr locked onto the ship and his Python’s powerful scanners identified the ship instantly.

“Confirmed Archon Delaine Commander, stolen Imperial Courier. Tracking.” Byr hit the afterburner, closing gap with the other ship steadily as the radio chatter increased. “Engage.” Mack commanded with his usual efficiency. He could not see them directly, but his radar showed all three Clippers thundering towards the unsuspecting Pirate Courier. Byr opened fire at extreme range, his three lasers reaching out with unerring accuracy, while his multi-cannons pelted the other ship with steady fire.

The Pirate Commander immediately realized his danger and started to spin up his Frame Shift Drive as his shields failed under the onslaught of the Templar ships. But it was too late, Crown and Undermoose had closed the gap and mass locked the smaller ship. In a few short bursts of fire from all four ships and the Pirate exploded in bright, but brief, artificial star.

“Return to the Resistance pocket Commanders, I will inform High Command of the victory. Anyone made a positive ID on the Commander?”

In his excitement, Byr realized he had failed to turn on his gun camera…

(From the first US evening event)