USH'S GAME EPISODE III- 'ARTIFACT'. Light Side Area

Lance pulls the Freelancer out of hyperspace and does a quick scan.

He gets on the ship to ship comm, "Xeth I have the coordinates, just follow me."

Lance then takes his ship towards the Corucant Star.

"I've found them," says Xeth. "What the hell are pirates doing in Republic space? If I were a pirate I wouldn't be caught out here in the space lanes between Coruscant and Malastare!" Xeth puts the pedal to the metal and the starfighter shoots forwards, towards the Coruscant Star. "Coruscant Star, we'll be there in a moment," he says over the comlink. The Star comes into view.

The Coruscant Star is a large, silvery ship that is a smooth, boomerang shape, with the point facing forwards. It flies vertically. It's a civilan luxury liner and so not well armed.

The blocky form of the far less beautiful, but more deadly, pirate ship is attached to the side. The pirate ship is well-shielded and could prove impossible to engage directly, and certainly impossible to baord. Boarding the liner would be more practical, though it would be a surprise if the docking bays were not defended.

There are also escorting pirate fighters. Speed is of the essence.

"Lance, I'll take the fighters, you board the Coruscant Star," Xeth says. He hits full throttle and zooms towards the fighters. He aims at one pirate starfighter, and opens fire. The purple lasers fly at the enemy ship.

"Lets hope the pirates haven't reached the bridge yet," Gundark told Lance. She spoke into the com again. "Coruscant Star, this is Jedi Master Kellan Gundark. Do you copy ?"

You're getting no response there, Gundy.

Xeth, these fighters are DAMN nippy, though without much punch.

The com answered her with static. Thats not good.... she thought. Gundark switched channels. "Xeth, we need to get rid of those fighters," she told him with growing urgency. "Lance, manuever to that portside docking bay there," she said, pointing out the viewport.

Lance zoomed in and manuevered with great speed, knowing time was of the essence, but also with great care. Lance then pulled right into the docking bay.

Whoa! Looks like the pirates have a couple of field pieces in the docking bay, Lance! Heavy shots thud into your shields as the emplaced cannons fire.

Lance yells behind his back to anyone in earshot.

"Get to the laser cannons! We're going to take those things out."

Lance then pulls out of the docking bay and begins a backwards turn to get the laser cannons into a direct line for them to fire.

Man I'm glad I installed those cannons. Otherwise we'd be sitting ducks.

"Xeth, anytime you're finished chasing those fighters...we've got heavy artillery placements in the starboard bay."

Your rear deflector screens are buckling there, Lance...

"Swing her around, Lance. Divert power to the forward shields," Gundark told him, taking over the weapons control and firing at one of the laser cannons, hoping to disable it and not the Coruscant Star.....

You might wreck the landing bay, which would not be good, but disabling the Coruscant Star would take a whole lot more than one laser cannon!

Your bolts zoom out and explode inside the bay, the explosion obscuring the view...

You aren't sure what you are hitting. It's been a while since you had any gunnery practice, Gundy. It's not something Matsers are expected to keep sharp at...

Gundark squinted past the blast. "Dammit, Xeth, where are you ?"

Xeth spins around and fires at some more pirate ships. BOOM! He hits one and his collides with another. FZZT!!! A pirate ship is hit by his lasers and disabled. He fires lasers rapidly, destroying the fighters.

You're not THAT good a pilot, Xeth! You're a Freelancer, not a Ronin... and that collision has put your systems out of whack! You are currently in a bit of a spin.

Xeth starts fiddling with the controls quickly, trying to get the ship out of it's spin. He then heads for the Coruscant Star.

Gundark flicked the com switch again, irritably. "Coruscant Star, this is Jedi Master Kellan Gundark, do you copy ?" Static. "Please acknowledge."

Nothing. Seems the bridge is dead as a dodo, Gundy.

You are clear for your run, Xeth.