Long Live

[Decker Willo]

Quite the accomplishment. Surviving for so long against other flyers in the vacuum of space, or the skies. Dodging scorched wreckage and taking on some of the worst and best pilots in the galaxy. Decker Willo viewed it as a major accomplishment to have ever survived for this long.

TIE fighters were his livelihood. He started with the L/N Starlighter, followed by the TIE Interceptor class. He stuck with that for a while, now and then experimenting in flying others depending on what was needed for any operation. Bombers he didn't feel right in, and anything larger felt much too slow for his style.

The Correllian pilot sat by at a table in the cafeteria. Taking a bit of food from his plate, observing a hologram of the Interceptor he had flown for such a time. Fast, devastating. He had a goal in mind; to obtain a TIE Defender. One day he would get there.

[Professor Mors]

***Abregado-rae, Southern Core, Grid Coordinates K-13***

***Anza Municipal Starport***

It should have been just another boring day. Flight groups would go out on patrol, at most, run a drill, business as usual. On this particular occasion, the soup of the day was a seafood bisque imported from Glee Anselm. It was pretty good for what it was- until some unseen force shook the floating dockyard to its core and sent the hot entree splattering onto Decker Willo’s uniform.

Whatever the crisis was, it had spoiled a perfectly fine lunch. Decker would have little time to mourn however as a booming male voice blustered out from the wall-mounted comm, “The facility is under attack! All pilots to your ships!”. Another far-flung blast shook the dining hall once more, which prompted those present to flee to their respect stations with extra haste.

To make matters more complicated, Flight Officer Willo’s wrist module suddenly blared and lit up. In his digital inbox there were two messages. One had to deal with a shipment of some sort, and was far too long to read under the circumstances. The second was more brief, and more telling. He was to report to the Avenger launch decks, immediately.

(Sorry for keeping you waiting so long! I am trying to retire for logistical reasons- I apologize you’re getting only what I can provide on the fly! Pun intended!)

[Decker Willo]

Decker Willo had his fork raised to his lips, his eyes scanning over the holographic fighter. Such a sleek design. Quick lethality, deadly accuracy. If he had his way with the fighter, to have all the modifications he could, there would have been additions to the thrusters and cannons. Up the lethality and performance among the stars. Additional armor would only just slow his fighter down. But all that thought process had to wait, of course.

Alarms set off across the dockyard. It shook, and he nearly dropped his fork. Looking about to see others running about. But Decker had another matter, seeing messages on his wrist module. The Avenger launch decks? That certainly was a surprise. Decker would have to read that other message at some time later down the line.

He got running for where he had his gear stored. Donning a flight outfit and TIE pilot helmet. A sidearm pistol in holster as well, with all his gear he set off to the docking bay of the Avenger-class TIE's.

[Professor Mors]

Despite the panicked throng of personnel scattering to their designated areas, Decker arrived at the auxiliary hangar in record time. As this was his first time handling the Avenger chassis, the young Corellian was quickly waved down by a familiar face. AD-8 was one of the older RA-7 protocol units that ran diagnostics and other functions on the fighter systems. Having been in service since the Palpatine era, its programming was notably sarcastic with a hint of what might be considered senility. “Oh good, you’re here”, the droid announced in a tired voice as it thrust a miniaturized datapad into Decker’s hands, “Pay attention because we don’t have all day”.

Waddling off to one side to allow Flight Officer Willo access to the pristine TIE that hung suspended some few feet off the ground, the AD-8 continued to prattle on while handling a docking terminal, “Luckily for you, the interface is more or less what you’re used to- but the power output is dramatically different to account for the hyperdrive and shields''. The sizable durasteel clamps groaned and quickly disengaged at the droid’s command as the Avenger’s twin ion blared to life and fired its basic repulsorlifts. “If you attach the dataslate I’ve given you it should compensate for the energy flow to and from the reactor”, the protocol unit added, “Even you won’t be able to blow it that way”.

Jerking its mechanoid head from side to side, the automaton cleared the last of the preflight programs on its console before offering an unenthusiastic thumbs-up to the eager pilot, “Seems a group of Balosar merchants got snubbed on some deal with the local governor, small wonder we have to handle clean-up. Captain Tensa has already begun the counterattack, you’d best get moving”.

[Decker Willo]

Decker Willo observed the hangar. Avenger fighters were awaiting their pilots, ready to fly out and engage whatever was attacking. A protocol droid was signalling him over, he headed to them. With one hand grasping his pilot helmet, he took the datapad into his other hand. Looking back and forth between the datapad and AD-8, Decker followed around to the side of the fighter. Shields and hyperdrive...this would take some getting used to. Interceptors had neither. And power difference may affect speed as well. But if this was where he was needed...

Donning his helmet, Decker climbed up into his fighter, getting himself comfortable with the flight controls within. A few extra things, for the added functions of hyperdrive and shielding. It disengaged from the clamps, floating there for the moment as all the checks were made by the droid. He attached the datapad.

Giving a nod and a thumbs up in return, Decker pushed forth the yoke of the fighter, beginning his departure from the hangar. It was time to get out there into the fight.

[Professor Mors]

The interior of the Avenger whirred and growled with increasing volume as Decker steadily funneled power to the twin engines, until the entire chassis suddenly burst forward with a harsh ionic whoop. Flying free of the hangar without issue, Flight Officer Willo’s scanner displays flashed to life as bursts of laserfire flared across his canopy. Every so often, a friendly TIE could be spotted darting past, or swinging roughly into a tight turn. But for every ship belonging to Her Majesty, three or more hostiles were waiting to punish their every maneuver.

Clearly, the station reserves were outnumbered. While he was still attempting to get his bearings, one of the amorphous enemy vessels swerved near Decker’s fightercraft in a near collision. At this distance he finally got a proper look at his foe. An Ugly, a juicecan, a buzzer- those horrible chimeras born of wrecks and spare parts. The young Imperial hardly had time to guess what components came from where. Regardless, it seemed some of these half-baked deathtraps were capable of giving the local interceptors a run for their money.But an Avenger was a very different matter.

And as an indicator light blinked at an anxious pace, Decker was quickly informed that a bogey was lining up behind him. At last, it was time to go to work.

[Decker Willo]

Decker pushed the throttle on full to get out into the engagement, as quickly as possible without crashing into anything inside the hangar. The fight seemed rather hectic out there. Multiple TIE's were fighting Ugly's. Combinations of ships. They were as effective, while they may carry firepower and speed of some of the best fighters, those put together were never for the best outcome. Energy output fluctuated oddly, pieces fell off regularly, sometimes it would shake apart. If this was in atmosphere they would be made short work of.

Gunning it, Decker began to make for the combat. Only to find one of his tail. He quickly glanced over what systems he had, before directing shields to the rear. He engaged into a series of evasive maneuvers, trying to throw his tail off. All the while firing a few bursts ahead, just to catch any Ugly's that did a pass by off guard, get them off their fighting game so his allies had a clearer shot.

[Professor Mors]

The advantage of Decker’s speed simply could not be ignored. As he blazed ahead at full throttle, the bogey on his scanner display buzzed about from side to side as it attempted to get an angle on the young pilot. Ultimately, the Avenger’s maneuverability proved too much. Crimson bolts lanced on either side of Willo’s vessel, careening safely away from his main chassis as if his opponent intended to miss from the start. And soon, it would become clear that Decker gave as well as he received.

As the Imperial sent a volley hurtling toward another Ugly vectoring toward him, the cobbled-together fighter lurched suddenly at the unexpected threat and angled to fly over the TIE. Decker had only to continue his evasive motions for the two hostile ships to speed into an unavoidable collision course. Willo then got a taste of the Avenger’s dampers as sparks and fire erupted just beyond the crest of his canopy. Two less problems to deal with. Willo could hardly rest east. Already he eyed a fellow wingsman with another two interlopers hot on their tail.

[Decker Willo]

Decker had no time to let out a whoop or hurrah as the Ugly's above of him detonated from a collision course. Certainly a surprise from those pilots, but a welcome one to be sure. But he had no time to celebrate on the good will of luck that fate handed his way, spotting a fellow TIE being chased by two other Ugly's. The Avenger didn't handle like his usual fighter, it still took some getting used to. His turn was slower than he had hoped.

Facing toward the two, he set course to follow on their trail. Peppering some blasts their way, trying to head the blasts ahead of their fighters as if to throw them off course, or lead the targets. So far he had spied no markings on the Ugly's. Probably just some unfortunate pirates that believed they could take on the Empire.

[Neive Undant]

(OOC: taking over for Doren)

The two uglies broke from their pursuit after one took a laser bolt to the wing, smoke trailing from the wounded ship as both of the former attackers disengaged, realizing they were the only ones left of the attack group.

“All units, prepare to return to base. The attackers are fleeing.”

The Uglies made a jump to hyperspace, zooming out of sight as those who engaged in the counterattack moved to return to the hangars.

“All forces, nice shooting.” A voice came through the comms. “Especially you, Willo.”

The TIE’s made their hangar runs, setting down to be picked up and returned to their stations for any repairs and maintenance needed.