Celebration, Day Three: The Podrace

[Dunames Lopez]

With [member="Desmond C'artyom"] being neck-and-neck on her at the top of the staircase, Dunames saw that there was a gentle curve before a hard 90-degree right-hand turn occurred. That was where she could be jamming the accelerator so long as she was within safe distance of said right-hand turn. But she found out that it wasn't a hard 90-degree right-hand turn, but a hairpin, followed by a hard 90-degree left turn. Marianne may have won the Grabvine Gateway for the First Order but which pod did she use? The Grabvine Gateway is a circuit known to favor the highly maneuverable. Now I know what it feels to be racing on that universally-hated circuit. After the hard 90-degree turn has been made, then she engaged the boost, hoping to finally overtake Desmond. Clearly Desmond and Dunames were the two in the lead by now, and [member="Stardust Raxis"] was biting the stardust behind Dunames.

"Second lap!" Karine announced, from the First Order's media booth.

"Dunames has shown here what made her a podracer well-loved in First Order space, and what allowed her to win on Lanteeb five years ago" Althea commented from said booth.

[member="Lily Kilia"] [member="Desmond C'artyom"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay continued to watch the race below. It was thrilling. With the leaders changing so often and so quickly, it was hard to guess who would come out the victor. Regardless, it's tight turns and short straightaways made it a challenge to even the best of podracers. At least everyone would be rewarded.

It was hard for her to pick out who she wanted to win. More than likely she'd want her sister [member="Stardust Raxis"] to win, but even in this, she couldn't play favourites.

Spoiler

For the interest of time, you all are welcome to skip to the 9th lap after everyone has posted for the 2nd lap. Your choice

[member="Dunames Lopez"] [member="Lily Kilia"] [member="Desmond C'artyom"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She wasn't shooting to win, more less the fun of the race had her going nonetheless she held third place currently as she went up the stairs, she was tailing behind [member="Dunames Lopez"] as she started coming besides her taking the inside 90 degree turn and look over at her, she gave a small salute keeping up with her as she looked forward taking a breath in as she was in the straight way, thus reminded her if old times when she was younger...when she raced for money and to improve her skil....to which she did...now she had grown so far from it all...from pods to full blown fighters

[member="Desmond C'artyom"]
[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Lily Kilia]

LIly's podracer clambered up the stairs after [member="Stardust Raxis"], the purring engine endlessly working to pass the other and claim the spot for third. She pushed the accelerator as hard as she could as she approached the end of the stair case, the speeding piece of metal jolting as it fell to the ground, barely grazing it from the small leap it had made exiting the upward incline. Lily took the next turn tight, squeezing her pod in between the wall and Raxis' own racer, the occasional spark coming off either side of her racer. She was slowly inching forward taking the lead slowly. The next turn Lily found herself on the outside, beginngin to lose the advantage she'd just earned. Yet on the next two turns her racer again kissed the inside of the track, finally pushing her past the Twi'lek racer, earning her third place, just barely as the two racers finished the first lap.

[member="Dunames Lopez"]
[member="Desmond C'artyom"]
[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Dunames Lopez]

Now Dunames was looking to take [member="Desmond C'artyom"] in the inside of the hard 90-degree turn, and off they go in the sequence of three hairpins, where they make attempts to fend off each other. With Dunames temporarily in the lead, Desmond doesn't realize that the First Order used one of its reserve podracer pilots for this race, while the Mandalorian Clans (it's actually the Crusaders that are a force in the Mandalorian podracing circuit) are deploying a pilot higher up their food chain. The sequence of three hairpins must not be driven at full speed, and she knew it. Meanwhile, many in the First Order expect Dunames to place or show, and even has a chance to win over Desmond, and Taking Off on a Star Tour has been broadcasting the race in First Order space. The two longtime podracing journalism experts in First Order space watch the crowd go wild, from the First Order's podcaster box, seeing that the lead of the race was close:

"This circuit has been compared to a mini-Grabvine Gateway within the Baroonda Tri-Circuit in Silver Jedi space, while the real Grabvine Gateway was won this year by our very own Marianne Kwyjibo!" Karine commented.

"Ouch, three hairpins in quick succession, and the last three turns, are the reasons why this comparison holds"

[member="Lily Kilia"] [member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay found herself watching [member="Lily Kilia"] now. Taking the inside was such a gamble. Her pod could be crushed, but instead she squeezed her way through with barely a scratch. It was enough to cause her to hold her breath at times. Of course Kay had never tried podracing herself, and now that she was President, she wouldn't be allowed as it was much too dangerous of a sport. All the more reasons that these racers deserve high praise for their skill and be rewarded. She hoped that all of them would come out of this difficult race unharmed.

[member="Dunames Lopez"] [member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Desmond C'artyom"]