Valiance Base, Brandenburg, Genon

Sunlight flooded the hangar, illuminating the shadowy craft stored within. Currently, the hangar served as the temporary home of Greywind squadron before it would be transferred to warship. The squadron had enjoyed their time on the tropical paradise; taking hikes through the lush mountains and enjoying the base’s recreational facilities. But after a week of rest, most of the squadron to get back into their craft. And Lieutenant Arensdale, leader of Greywind’s Third Flight, had been given to the chance against an unknown opponent.

He stepped around his craft, a Deathsaber Mk II, and ran his hand across its glossy black armor. Its fluid frame was the culmination of experience gained by the use of several Kashan starfighters and airspeeders designed for optimal atmospheric performance. He clambered up the craft’s side and into the cockpit. Taking a quick breath, the man donned his helmet and began his pre-flight checklist. Flipping several switches brought the craft’s three fusial engines up to full power and started the repulsorlifts. Four lasers in the green; six advanced concussion missiles on the racks. Good to go. The lieutenant keyed his comm..

“This is Greywind Five, requesting clearance to launch.”

“Five, you are cleared to launch. Please follow your designated flight path and wait for your opponent.”

“Acknowledged Control. Five out.”

The pilot tilted his stick forward to goose the Confederation starfighter across the hangar and into the sky above. He looked around the area chosen for the duel. We’re in the atmosphere above a chain of tropical mountains. This could get interesting…

Jalyne looked over the hanger, home of the Greywind Squadron, one of the finest fighter units in the New Coalition. It had suprised her that she made it this far. Soon, with a little luck, she would be flying with the best. With even more luck she would create her own squadron that would rivial or be even better than Greywind. Today she would get to prove her abillities by taking on the leader of three flight.

Jalyne walked over to the fighters. The fighters were a design she was unfamilier with, the Deathsaber Mk II. The sleek craft was an amazing design, stealthy but fast, and well armoured. She walked over and walked around one looking at it from all angles. After she was done examining it she walked over to another fighter, an older design, the X-wing. Lets see if I can take on the Deathsabers in one of these. She realized that the deathsabers had a definite advantage. Jalyne walked over the the cockpit and climbed up the ladder. As she sat down she pulled on her helmet and ran a hand over the familiar controls. She loosed a sigh and ran over the preflight. As soon as she finished the preflight she activated the engines and repulsorlifts. She began to ease out of the hanger and activated the comm system.

"Greywind Nine here, permission to launch?"

"Nine, you are cleared to launch. Please follow your designated flight path."

"Roger, Nine out"

Jalyne pushed on the throttle giving herself plenty of power to launch. Once she cleared the hanger she applied full throttle and headed for the dueling grounds. "Twitter prepare a list of options that we have fighting one of these things." A expression of grim determination masked her face. Here's to hoping that I at least am a challenge to him.

A blip appeared on the scope of his fighter. His helmet let out a slightly audible beep and enlarged the profile, which turned into a wire frame of his opponent’s craft. It’s a X-wing. Arensdale let out an exasperated sigh. It might be old, but that pilot has nearly the exact same armament that I do; nevermind that while the Deathsaber has pretty decent performance in the atmosphere, the X-wing’s is better because of the S-foils. Well, something I do have is radar stealth, but he’ll still be able to see me pretty easily; a black aircraft against white and gray clouds. The Confederation pilot eased his piloting yoke to his right, sending his starfighter in a gentle arc towards the X-wing. He tapped a few buttons; the first armed his simulated concussion missiles, while the latter taps put his shields full forward. I might be slower with some power diverted from the engines to boost up the shields, but I’ll be a bit harder to kill. He followed the radar signature blindly through several clouds; flying solely by the flight instruments of his fighter. Finally, he emerged through the clouds to see his opponent visually. Will she notice me? Or is she still oblivious to my presence?

Jalyne flew the X-wing to the combat grounds, searching for her opponet as she went. She arrived and looked at her sensors, looking for the ship, but it was all negative. Not that expected much else, after all he has a stealth fighter. She was pulled out of her thinking by the whistling of her droid. "What is it twitters?" The droid continued on its comment, and she read what it was saying. "WHAT! you actually saw him! where is he?" The droid kept twittering away, almost faster than she could read the text. She quickly hit the the left pedal full and took the fighter in a 180 degree turn. Once she had completed the turn she looked up and saw him coming twards her. Jalyne reached over and put the target lasers on quad shot, and armed the proton torpedoes. There's no way I can miss this shot. She triggered the firing stud and pushed her stick full forward into a dive. Don't think he was expecting that one.

Bolts of energy splashed onto Arensdale’s shields. He blinked reflexively, jerked his yoke to his left, and pushed a pedal with his left foot. The Greywind fighter careened to the side in a sporadic barrel roll back into the cover of the clouds. Whoever it is is at least paying attention. And their reflexes are good. Can’t fool around. Hm…shields should be a little down. Good thing they were full forward. He glanced at his shield strength indicator, noting that the damaged shields were slowly beginning to recover. On his left, the rear radar plot noted Jalyne’s position. He arced his fighter through the clouds back towards his opponent. This time we will go head-to-head.

Jalyne gritted her teeth as the g-forces threatened to knock her out, as she pulled up from her dive. As the black cleared from her vision, she look out over her shoulder and barely saw the Deathsaber disapear into the clouds. "Twitters your going to have to be my eyes back there." As the droid twittered away she nosed the X-wing to the right and headed to the last position that she saw the other fighter. I hate it that he can just disappear like that. Jalyne reached over and put the lasers on duel link. Well I have my own tricks up my sleeve. And with that she dove into the cloud.

Jalyne flew through the clouds and kept and eye out for her oppenent. "Well twitters doesn't look like we'll find him in here. Let's head out of here and see if he'll folow... What! you don't like that idea well I don't care... I do have a plan!" Jalyne rolled her eyes and rolled her ship out of the clouds. As she finished the roll, she cut throttle 25% and went into a slow dive. She worked with the shield system and put full rear. Can't be getting sloppy now. Suddenly and idea came to her. "Twitters, hail the other fighter. No I don't care if you break through the coding, just open a channel...Hello other fighter, this is Jalyne Yrn, do you copy?"

Arensdale viewed the other ship’s telemetry via a miniaturized holoprojector as it soared through the clouds. The wire-frame X-wing darted through black-drop. The Confederation Lieutenant silently noted the opposing pilot’s habits. It was a practice that many Confederation pilots had done. It enabled them to predicate an opponent’s reaction in the cat-and-mouse game that was dogfighting. He bided his time, waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. But when the X-wing started its slow dive, he frowned. Diving? That will increase the ship’s speed as gravity helps pull it down. What the frak? He mentally reviewed any moments if the opposing starfighter had been damaged. Recalling none, he pushed the acceleration pedal forward; his Deathsaber surged forward towards the X-wing. Then a feminine voice broke through the silence of his cockpit.

“Hello other fighter, this is Jalyne Yrn, do you copy?”

Arensdale fiddled with his headset comlink. “This is Greywind Five. Is everything all right?”

Jalyne attempted to keep her speed even, even though it was nearly impossible. At least keep myself from crashing into the ground. As the X-wing dove, she heard the comlink come to life, finally revealing the voice of her oppenent. “This is Greywind Five. Is everything all right?” She blinked realizing that he thought she was in trouble. Now what? do I keep up the illusion? Well "all's fair in love and war". Jalyne switched back to a secure channel. "What do you think Twitters?..Ok thanks for your advice, but we still do my plan...What is it? Fake a comm. malfunction. When I push this button here, inturrupt whatever I'm saying with static, until I push it again." As she did that, she put the engines on standby, began to put the ship into a slow spiral, and flipped the comm. back to public. Knowing that Twitters had prepared her ruse she began. "Graywin(Static)...Do you co(Static)...Engines are not(Static)...Shields are a(Static)...Request an en(Static).................opy?" Than she smiled to herself, and kept her hand poised ready to activate the engines, and repulsors. Lets see how he takes the bait, and hey I never even lied.

“Graywin(Static)...Do you co(Static)...Engines are not(Static)...Shields are a(Static)...Request an en(Static).................opy?"

“I don’t copy that all the way pilot,” replied the Lieutenant, lining his sights up on the X-wing.

The onboard computer of Greywind Five brought up the statistical data on the X-wing. This could be hard to tell. It’s an old craft. I wouldn’t doubt it if something went wrong. He glanced at the readout. So, the engines aren’t working. Shields are still up. That might help the ship’s impact. It could be a trap. Hard to say. I guess it’s time we found out. He thumbed his comlink.

“Recommend you eject. That could a messy landing.”