Ground Attack
| Naval Ancillary Skill | |
| Ground Attack | |
| Passing achieves: | |
| Bombing/Strafing skills | {GrAt} |
| Prerequisite for: | |
| Top Gun, Tier 1 (TIE Bomber pilot) | |
The Skill[edit]
Before your character may pilot ground attack craft with the Vast Empire's Navy (in other words, before you may use ground attack skills like strafing or bombing in any story posts), and before you start the Top Gun certification track, you must demonstrate that your character has the basic knowledge necessary to attack planetside targets. This knowledge (and its practical application) is known as the "Ground Attack" Basic Ancillary Skill, in VEN role-playing parlance. You demonstrate this knowledge (and thereby earn the "Ground Attack" Ancillary Skill for your character's Bio) by completing the following mission.
The Mission : "Stay on Target. Stay on Target."[edit]
Write a short story (500 words, minimum) in which your character must pilot a VE-standard TIE Interceptor through "The Trench" on Abrae (a long but very narrow fissure on the icy moon's surface, iced-over into a tunnel in some places, with many twists and turns along its length), strafing and bombing a series of marksmanship targets. Your choices of targets should be many and varied: the wreck of an open-air skiff, a dummy New Republic tank, a mock turbolaser tower, and a series of prepared infantry positions dug into the cliffsides all require different approaches, and therefore make for a more interesting mission when juxtaposed. The climax of the run will be a hardened bunker-like target, ringed by anti-aircraft turrets; the only way to take out this final target will be to fire proton torpedoes at a precise ballistic angle from outside the range of the defenses. Essentially, you will be bombing a ground target without the luxury of piloting a bomber. Research the vehicle(s) and structures depicted in your story, and use the information you uncover to detail the problem(s) your character must confront, and to explain your character's solution(s). Be sure to describe the tools and techniques your character employs to strafe/bomb the targets, and finish the story with your character attacking the hardened, protected bunker (note: IC, you do not have to succeed in destroying this final target to satisfy the requirements of this skill mission; the point is that your PC gains an appreciation for purpose-built bombers). A description of strafing (how it is different from ship-to-ship gunnery) is expected. A description of bombing (it is difficult to balance speed, judge distance, and account for windage) is expected. When complete, post your short story to a new thread in the Navy ComNet (making sure to mark it as a Mission for the Ground Attack Ancillary Skill), and wait for review. If a VENA staff member deems that you have satisfied all the mission parameters, you will have earned the Ancillary Skill "Ground Attack" for your character, and that character may then use the associated knowledge in future story posts.
Good luck.
Links and Resources[edit]
Here is a comprehensive list of links to resources rich with useful information for Imperial bomber pilots. Read. Learn. Details make for great stories.
More links forthcoming. PM recommendations to Stormz or Drac.
- Note : The Vast Empire claims no credit for external sites and resources; all information provided is for fictional use only.
