Messages

181

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: November 10, 2017, 04:17:48 AM »

Ash watches his fellow pilots argue with each other. He eventually loses interest in the back-and-forth going on with his superiors and the defector, and tries to fixate on something else. A grumble in his stomach reminds him he hasn't eaten in hours. He pats down his flight suit and triumphantly produces a candy bar from his chest pocket.

"Hey, I've got some chocolate," Ash announces to the group, "Does anyone want a piece? It's some good stuff from Mercana," he holds up the bar to show off the wrapper, which reads "Grandma Alya's" in cursive Aesthian text, as well as in Mercanan in a smaller font underneath.

182

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: November 06, 2017, 07:17:06 PM »

"I'm ready to fight," Ash chimes, "I don't want us to come to nuclear warfare."

183

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: November 02, 2017, 09:53:34 PM »

Lorens' eyes dart back and forth between the white Wyvern and Bell's Su-57. He slumps over in his seat and stares blankly at the front console.

"What's on your mind, Snowman?," Ash calls out. Lorens lifts himself up and turns his head towards his brother's Tukreb. While the distance made it hard to see clearly, he could tell Ash was looking straight at him.

"A lot of things," Lorens ends with a sigh. Thoughts of his home and family race through his mind. He silently listens to the comms chatter, unsure of what else to say.

"... I'm going to join Raiden," Ash declares, breaking the silence between the two, "I think the prospect of saving the world from nuclear armageddon is a little more my speed."

Lorens urgently picks himself up. "I'll go wi-"

"Lorens," Ash cuts him off, "I want you to stay with the fleet. There's no telling if the Kintharians are actually right. Between the two of us, I think at least you should have a chance to make it back home-"

"Make it back home? Ash, dammit! What the hell am I supposed to do if there really is a dead man's switch? We're talking about the loving world ending-"

"What would you do if there isn't one? Where would you run if you were branded a traitor?"

The break in communications between the two is made evident with other voices flooding the channel.

"I know you'll make the right decision, Snowman," Ash finally speaks up, "Mom and dad would want to see you back safe."

The Tukreb gives a wingtip salute and pulls away from the flight. Lorens could only watch despondently as the afterburners fade into a twinkle against the evening sky.

"They'd want to see you back in one piece too, you know," Lorens croaks. He increases power and makes for the fleet.

184

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: October 30, 2017, 06:29:26 PM »

Ash bolts into the hangar bay, his running made crooked by the banking of the carrier. He comes to a sliding stop in front of the Tukreb and looks over the pylons in a rush before practically jumping and grasping the roosterpit ladder. Ash scurries up the rungs and drops into the seat.

A stone's throw away, Lorens fastens his oxygen mask, flips the battery switch and closes the Shiva's canopy. He turns on the comms radio in time to hear a repeat of the situation, and hails a tractor to take him to the elevator.

Within minutes, both fighters fall in line behind Bell's Su-57 on their way to the flight deck.

185

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 29, 2017, 08:01:43 PM »

Ash happens upon the crowd, fresh from the roosterpit. Out of curiosity, he listens to the radio chatter.

"Big fight, huh?," he guesses, "What's the target?"

186

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 25, 2017, 04:22:10 PM »

The Corsair makes a shaky approach to the carrier deck. Ash pulls the sweep lever back to straighten the wings out. Suddenly, a caution tone he's never heard before starts ringing in his ears, and the fighter slowly starts rolling left and yawing right. He looks over his shoulder to find the port wing stuck in full sweep.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday," Ash calls out, "Carrier, this is Blackeye, I have an in-flight emergency. One of my wings is still stuck in full sweep."

Ash manages to curb the Corsair's adverse behavior by opening the starboard spoiler partway. With the fighter more stable, he now has to deal with the increased stall speed.

Long before any sort of crash can occur, however, the Tordenskjold's tractor beams wrestle the Corsair under control and ensure a safe descent onto the deck. The wheels touch down with a loud chirp, and the fighter is immediately towed into the sky carrier's inner hangar bay.

187

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 19, 2017, 10:27:12 PM »

"Snowman, egressing," Lorens calls out. He intercepts the course leading to the carrier and increases power for maximum dry thrust.

188

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 19, 2017, 02:56:25 AM »

The Shiva enters formation alongside Jaakko's Tukreb. Lorens looks upon Bell's Terminator as she faces the harrowing task of flying into the tower and destroying it from the inside out.

189

Off Topic / Re: miracle whip or mayonnaise

« on: September 18, 2017, 01:56:12 AM »

mayonnaise for me. I used to be a huge mayo hater until I came to understand its true purpose in enhancing the flavor of the sandwich without adding excessive saltiness or sweetness

190

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 18, 2017, 12:07:07 AM »

"This is Snowman, I'm going for the Southern sink right now," Lorens replies. He turns the Shiva to face the Palisade and drags the reticle onto the building-sized unit at the base of the structure. With a squeeze of the trigger, Lorens sends a single slug from his port Gauss cannon downrange.

191

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 17, 2017, 12:54:06 PM »

"Gladiator! ... Dammit! We have an airman down! Pilot spotted 2 miles East Southeast from Bullseye!"

The Shiva swings around to make another pass, this time on the Defender tank. Lorens loads another two slugs into the Gauss cannons and brings the CCIP reticle to the HUD.

"Snowman, in hot!" The massive airbrake heaves open as Lorens dives down on the target. He puts the pipper on the Defender and pulls the trigger to fire both coilguns.

192

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 16, 2017, 08:49:07 PM »

"I'm turning back around!" The Shiva swings back towards the friendly ground position. Lorens fires his last JSM at the second Tiger.

193

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 16, 2017, 12:01:31 AM »

The Hyperion explodes before it ever reaches Lorens' solution marker. Dumbfounded at the sight, it takes a few seconds for him to register it was someone else's kill. He turns to engage the Sol.

"... Gladiator! Are you hit!?"

Lorens chambers the port Gauss cannon, brings the gun funnel over the bandit and gets a bead. "That forgeter's on my nose, I'm taking the shot!" He pulls the trigger and looses another two hypersonic slugs, "Guns!"

194

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 14, 2017, 10:47:41 PM »

Lorens becomes wary of the the Gauss cannons' temperatures. Bidding that he'll make the next shot, he arms only the starboard cannon, takes a deep breath and lines up on the Hyperion. "Come on." Although the movement across his sight picture is greater now that the drone fighter is in close, he manages to drag the solution marker out in front of the bandit's nose. The Hyperion approaches the dot at speed, and Lorens squeezes the trigger...

195

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: September 14, 2017, 05:06:06 PM »

"forget!" Having missed the last four shots, Lorens starts feeling frustrated. He chambers another two rounds, takes aim at the Hyperion and fires the coilguns before throwing out a set of flares and breaking to evade.