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Vega Sector Campaign: Brimstone System
Brimstone 1
Shotglass: Hey, Maverick. Get you something? Been awfully quiet ’round here since we jumped into Brimstone. Scuttlebutt is that there are four Kilrathi bases on Brimstone II, an’ we’re lookin’ at some serious action, really soon.
Hunter: G’day, Maverick, pull up a chair. Maniac an’ I ’ave just been tradin’ war stories, trying to come up with some clues on ’ow the Kilrathi think.
Maniac: That is, when they think.
Hunter: Oh, they’ll surprise you, sometimes, mate. Their favourite trick is to set up a good ambush, so if you see a lone furball with a broke wing, watch y’self. ’e’s got mates right around the corner.
Maniac: Have a seat, Maverick. Hope we see some action soon, I’m looking forward to scoring some more kills. By the way, I hear we’ll be flying together. They say you’re almost as good as me.
Mission Briefing. Brimstone System, 06:00 hours, 2654.135.
Halcyon: Good morning, boys and girls. Welcome to the Brimstone system. As you know, there are several Kilrathi military bases on the second planet. We are here to scout the system before a possible Confederation invasion.
Maniac: Way to go, Chief! Finally, we get some real action!
Halcyon: That will mean a heavy patrol schedule…
Maniac: Patrol schedule? Aw, heck, that’s no fun!
Halcyon: …as we gather intelligence on the strength of local Kilrathi forces. You’re first in the rotation, Maverick. For your wing, I want you to take… Maniac, I think. He seems to be anxious for an assignment.
Maniac: Oh, sure. Send me. I wouldn’t want you to trouble Iceman or Hunter with a routine patrol.
Halcyon: Stow it, Marshall. There’s always lavatories to scrub, if you’d rather.
Maniac: <speechless>
Halcyon: I thought so. Now, let’s look at your patrol plan, Maverick. It’s a simple three-point route, with a few asteroids near Nav 2. Keep alert. We really don’t know what to expect out there, but we know we’re in hairball territory. Just fly your route and get back with a report… and if Maniac gives you any static… you have my permission to shoot him to pieces.
Maverick: Should I use missiles, sir, or ship’s guns?
Halcyon: Guns, Maverick. Save your missiles for important targets.
Maniac: What?
Halcyon: Squadron dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 15:00 hours, 2654.135.
Halcyon: Nice work out there, Maverick. You both handled a dangerous situation well.
Maniac: Thanks, Chief. We were just too much for ’em.
Maverick: It got pretty rough, but we came through it.
Halcyon: Let’s go over the report from your recorder. You toasted 3 of their ships, Maverick, and Maniac got 3 of the hairballs. Dismissed.
Brimstone 2
Shotglass: Hey there, Maverick. Get you something? How’d you like flyin’ with Maniac? I wouldn’t trust the kid myself… too darn reckless. He’s lookin’ to be famous, an’ it’s gonna get him killed. I just hope he don’t take anybody with him when he goes…
Bossman: Ah, Maverick. Sit down. The Colonel told me we’ll fly escort for several incoming ships soon. Since you are still new to the Tiger’s Claw, let me give you a few pointers on escort missions. First, it is better to strike a course parallel to the larger vessel, than to try to circle it as it moves towards the destination. Manoeuvre a little behind and to one side of the larger ship…
Paladin: …so you can see it as you fly alongside it.
Bossman: Then set your speed to match its pace – usually 100 or 150 klicks.
Paladin: But speed back up to 200 or 250 if you meet Kilrathi, lad. It’s easy to forget to hit the juice when you first see the hairballs.
Paladin: Chen here ’as got some clever things to say about flying escort, lad, but I’ve got a bit to add myself. The most important thing is to keep your eye on your scanner.
Bossman: Major Taggart is correct, Captain. Pay special attention to your scanner.
Paladin: When you’re flyin’ up close to a big ship like a transport, she can block out half the sky! Your scanner’ll show enemies on the other side of ’er.
Mission Briefing. Brimstone System, 06:00 hours, 2654.136.
Halcyon: All right, boys and girls. We’re gearing up for a major assault on the Kilrathi bases on Brimstone II. Headquarters has dispatched several more warships to this system, they’ll be coming in over the next few hours. Here are the assignments for rendezvous and escorts…
The Colonel makes the assignments for the wings. Maverick’s is the last…
Halcyon: Maverick and Maniac will take the last run. Here’s the flight plan. You’ll meet an Exeter-class destroyer at Nav 1, right here. You’ll fly straight to Nav 1, to make the rendezvous on schedule, but you’ll bring the destroyer back via Nav 2. This will keep the Exeter clear of the asteroids between here and Nav 1. Be sure to stay close to the destroyer. If you run into enemy fighters, they’ll try to draw you off, so their wingmen can get a clean shot at the Exeter.
Maverick: How close do you want us to stay, Colonel?
Halcyon: Within 5000 klicks, in a dogfight. Closer when you’re just cruising.
Maverick: Understood, sir.
Halcyon: Good. That’s it for today, then. Let’s get to work. Squadron dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 15:00 hours, 2654.136.
Halcyon: Good job, men. The Exeter’s pulled into formation with the Tiger’s Claw.
Maverick: I’m glad to hear it, sir. We ran into a little trouble out there.
Maniac: Yeah, the fleabags were all over that jump point like a cheap suit…
Maverick: Nothing we couldn’t handle, though.
Halcyon: You seem to have dealt with it adequately. Enough of that, though. Let’s review the mission. You took out 4 of them, Maverick, and Maniac wasted 4 of the hairballs. Dismissed.
Brimstone 3
Shotglass: Hey, Maverick. Y’know, a couple of boys from Tactical were in here earlier. They were sayin’ it was gettin’ ugly in on the planet, Brimstone II. The Kilrathi bases planetside are startin’ to get desperate. Looks like the furballs’re ready to try just about anything. One fellow said it’d all come down to supplies. If they can get enough supply ships past us to the planet, their bases on Brimstone II might throw off our blockade.
Knight: Hello, Maverick. I was just trying to draw Casey here into a conversation. We’re expecting to strike a number of Kilrathi supply convoys soon. I was hoping to get some advice from our quiet comrade.
Iceman: Shoot ’em from behind. Their armour is weak around the engines. Couple of good shots in the pipes, and she blows. Boom. Game over.
Iceman: Maverick. Colonel says we’ll be going after transports soon. Just one thing to remember with big ships. Missiles. Save your missiles for the mother ship. Your guns won’t even scratch their paint, so when you’re out of missiles, it’s time to head home.
Mission Briefing. Brimstone System, 06:00 hours, 2654.138.
Halcyon: As you know, people, several warships have arrived in the last 48 hours. Most of these have headed in to besiege Kilrathi bases on Brimstone II. Under this blockade, the planet is desperate for munitions and supplies. The Empire has dispatched dozens of Dorkir ’sports, hoping at least a few of them will get past us and in to Brimstone II. Our mission is to make sure they don’t get there. Maverick, you and Maniac are first up. Computer, display Rho. We’ve got a large bogie near Nav 1. Tactical is pretty sure this is one of those inbound Dorkir. We’ve detected at least four smaller bogies nearby, so watch out for fairly strong fighter escort.
The Colonel quickly assigns the rest of the wings, sending them to intercept other transports headed for Brimstone.
Halcyon: Every transport that gets past us drags the siege out another week, so look sharp and don’t let your target get past you. Squadron dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 16:00 hours, 2654.138.
Halcyon: Nicely done, gentlemen. Tactical believes that ’sport was carrying ground-to-space missiles. If they’d got to the planet, our losses would have been devastating.
Maniac: I thought it was some sorta missiles, chief. You should have seen the explosion! It was like a supernova!
Halcyon: Well, let’s go over the mission report from your flight recorder. Recorder credits you with 8 kills, Maverick, and Maniac gets 1 kill. And Maverick… I want to see you in my office in an hour. That’s all. Dismissed.
Colonel Halcyon’s Office. 16:50 hours, 2654.138.
Halcyon: Blair. Come in. I need to speak with you.
Maverick: Yes, sir?
Halcyon: We’ll be leaving Brimstone soon, and I need to make some personnel changes. Effective immediately following the jump, you’ll be reassigned. I need you in Star Slayer Squadron, flying a Raptor-class heavy fighter.
Maverick: Yes, sir. You won’t be sorry.
Halcyon: Good. I’m glad to hear it. That’s all, then, Captain. Dismissed.
Hangar Deck. 17:00 hours, 2654.138.
Halcyon: For meritorious conduct in confronting the Kilrathi enemy, in the Brimstone system, on or about 2654.138, the Terran Confederation is proud to present the Bronze Star to Captain Blair. Your courage is exemplary of the Confederation’s finest defenders. Good job, Maverick. Congratulations.
Maverick: Thank you, sir.
Filled with pride, Maverick meets the applause of his fellows.
Meanwhile…
Outside a Kilrathi Military Installation, Brimstone System.
As Terran starfighters gain control in space at Brimstone, a daring band of Human saboteurs strikes a major Kilrathi base. With the destruction of this installation, the Kilrathi hold on the strategic Brimstone system is broken.
Outside a Kilrathi Military Installation, Brimstone System.
As Kilrathi starships defeat the Terran Confederate fleet in space, Human commandos make a daring raid to sabotage the Kilrathi base. But their desperate mission fails when they are discovered by a patrol of Kilrathi soldiers!
Secret Missions 2: Crusade
