Firekka System (Part 2)

Shotglass: Maverick, let me pour you a drink. I heard from Angel a lot of the pilots ran into Kilrathi ships yesterday… including some of those Drakhai, the Kilrathi Imperial Guard.

Maverick: The Bridge officers think it was part of a Kilrathi convoy.

Shotglass: Maybe. But I remember from when I was a pilot, those blasted cats don’t do anything without a good reason. And there’s no reason for them to fly through here. We’re in the middle of nowhere. There’s nothing here, nothing at all… except us, right?

Bossman: Maverick, I’m curious… what did you think of Firekka?

Maverick: It’s an interesting place. Took me a few days to get used to the lower gravity, though. Captain Larrhi was my guide downside – he was one of the first Firekka to leave their planet. He flies Confed transports now. I’m hoping he’ll transfer into combat pilot training.

Bossman: I’d like to meet him. Maybe when I get some real leave time, I’ll bring my wife and daughter here for a holiday.

Maverick: That sounds like a great idea, Kien.

Paladin: I’m glad you had a good shore leave, lad. I thought I’d be flying downside for a wee stay, but they’ve cancelled all shore leave. I like visitin’ planets. Maybe that’s what I’ll do, when I retire next month. Buy a small ship, an’ spend my days flying from planet to planet. I’ll have to hock my soul to do it, nae doubt of that… but at least I’d still be flyin’ a ship.

Maverick: I think it’s a good idea, James. It’s probably what I’ll do when I retire.

Paladin: Oh, but you’ve got a few years before that happens, Maverick. I’m wagering that you’ll have a long career ahead of you… a long, very distinguished career. Mark my words on that, lad. As for me, if piloting m’own ship isn’t enough for me, I’m sure I’ll find some other way to keep a wee bit of excitement in m’life.

Mission Briefing, 06:00 hours, 2655.244. Firekka System, Antares Sector.

Halcyon: Pilots, we have a dangerous situation developing here. Tactical has analysed the flight recorder data from your last missions, and we know that we aren’t dealing with a ‘stray convoy’ any more. There’s a Kilrathi battle fleet moving towards this planet. Tactical is guessing that it’s a small strike force, much smaller than the fleet that attacked the Goddard Colony, but we don’t know that for certain. And we don’t know why they’re coming here, either. There’s no strategic or logistic value to the Firekka system at all. The cats know something we don’t, and are doing something we don’t understand, and we’re going to send you out there to find out what it is. You will fly sweep patrols, and engage the enemy if possible. But back down from overwhelming opposition. And under no conditions are you to engage in combat in the planetary atmosphere. Our fighters aren’t equipped for planetary overpressure. One close call with an enemy missile, and the pressure differential will explode your ship. Okay, these are the wing assignments…

The Colonel gives specific orders to each wing, and then…

Halcyon: Epsilon Wing will be Maverick and Knight. Maverick is wingleader. You will follow your programmed nav-comp course. Patrol through Nav One and continue through the asteroids to Nav 2 and 3. Avoid overwhelming opposition, but engage the enemy if you can. Then return to the Tiger’s Claw. That’s all, pilots. Dismissed.

Mission Debriefing, 15:00 hours, 2655.244. Firekka System, Antares Sector.

Halcyon: Your report, Colonel?

Maverick: We ran into some kind of Kilrathi carrier at Nav 2. It’s history, sir.

Halcyon: Good. That was probably the new Snakeir carrier, Maverick. HQ reported encounters with them near Ardai. Some of our pilots also ran into another new Kilrathi ship, which HQ is calling the Hhriss Experimental Fighter.

Maverick: I think the Snakeir escorts were some of those Hhriss, sir. They’re very tough.

Halcyon: Maverick, you took down 7. Add Knight splashed 6 Kilrathi. Okay. Get some rest before your next mission, Colonel. Dismissed.

Hangar Deck. 18:00 hours, 2655.244.

Halcyon: For excellence in combat with the Kilrathi enemy on or about 2655.244, the Terran Confederation presents the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Blair. Your courage is an example to the Confederation’s finest defenders. Well done, Maverick. Congratulations.

Maverick: Thank you, sir.

Firekka 4

Shotglass: Hey, Maverick. I heard you had a rough flight.

Maverick: Nothing I couldn’t handle, Sam.

Shotglass: Glad to hear it. Listen, I was watching Jerry Rivers on the Galaxy Network News–

Maverick: Bad idea, Sam. That show will rot your brain.

Shotglass: Well, this was about the Deneb sector. Another Kilrathi fleet withdrawal. All the furball ships just pulled out and left, no reason at all. I’m a little worried about this… it just doesn’t make any sense, y’know?

Knight: Good morning, Maverick. I just got back from visiting Maniac in Sick-Bay. He wants to return to active duty, but the doctors won’t let him.

Maverick: Good. I hope I’ll never fly another mission with him again.

Knight: You and every other pilot on this ship, Maverick! Did I tell you that Colonel Halcyon called me into his office yesterday? Turns out that Confed HQ thinks I’d be a good flight instructor. But I can’t see myself leaving combat duty to run a training squadron. This is what’s important, Maverick – what we’re doing right here on the Tiger’s Claw.

Maverick: But training the next generation of fighter pilots… that’s important, Joseph.

Knight: I know. I have a few days to think about this. I’ll let you know what I decide.

Spirit: Good morning, Maverick. I hope you had a good flight. I just returned from escorting that research ship, the TCS Tsiolkovsky, to their jump out-system. And I’ve received the final report from Epsilon Station. They confirmed that my fiancé was captured by the Kilrathi.

Knight: I’m sorry, Mariko. I wish there was something we could do.

Spirit: I thought that he could be rescued, that there was a chance of it – but I cannot lie to myself any longer. I have never truly hated the Kilrathi, even though they caused my father’s death… not until now.

Mission Briefing, 06:00 hours, 2655.271. Firekka System, Antares Sector.

Halcyon: Pilots, we have some very bad news. We’ve received confirmation from the Confed High Command that the Kilrathi are withdrawing their strike fleets from other sectors… and all of those ships are on their way here. The Confed is already scrambling reinforcements to send to us. But that’ll take time, and time is the one thing we do not have now. Our first priority is the safety of the diplomats on Firekka. We have to evacuate them from the planet. So I’m sending you to protect their ships as they jump out-system. These are your individual wing assignments…

He gives the orders for each wing, then…

Halcyon: Maverick and Knight are Epsilon Wing. Fly directly to your rendezvous points with the Diplomatic Corps ships. Your top priority is those diplomatic ships. You’ll protect the TCS U Thant as it jumps out at Nav 2 and the TCS Trygvie Lie as it mini-jumps at Nav 3. If you’re attacked by any Kilrathi, return fire and destroy them. Once we have the Diplomatic Corps officers safe, we’ll consider our other options. Dismissed, pilots.

Mission Debriefing – 09:00 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: I’m glad you both made it back. I have some bad news for you, pilots… we lost Bossman today. He and Angel were ambushed by several wings of Kilrathi Imperial Guards. They didn’t have a chance.

Maverick: Is Angel okay, sir?

Halcyon: She wasn’t badly hurt. They’ll let her out of Sick-Bay in a few hours. We’ll postpone the funeral until she and Boss’s wife can attend. And I just finished a vid-link conference with the TCS Austin. They’re withdrawing to a more defensible position. But we’ll be borrowing a couple of their combat pilots for the next few days. All right, Maverick, let’s hear your report.

Maverick: We headed out to meet the Diplomatic Corps ships at the rendezvous points.

Knight: The Kilrathi were waiting to intercept us, Colonel.

Maverick: Both ships survived, sir. They’re on their way to Confed HQ now.

Halcyon: Good work, Maverick! I knew you wouldn’t fail us. For the record, Maverick, you killed 15. Knight didn’t kill any cats on this mission. Maverick, I’ll need to see you in my office as soon as possible. Dismissed.

Colonel Halcyon’s Office. 10:50 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: Blair. Come in. I need to speak with you.

Maverick: Yes, sir?

Halcyon: We’re having to change some pilot assignments. Effective immediately, you’ll be reassigned. I need you in Star Slayer Squadron, flying a Raptor-class heavy fighter.

Maverick: I see, sir. I’ll do my best.

Halcyon: I’m glad to hear it, pilot. That’s all, Colonel. Dismissed.

Hangar Deck. 11:00 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: For excellence in combat with the Kilrathi enemy, on or about 2655.239, the Terran Confederation is proud to present the Bronze Star to Major Blair. Your courage is an example to the Confederation’s finest defenders. Well done, Maverick. Congratulations.

Maverick: Thank you, sir.

Filled with pride, Maverick meets the applause of his fellows.

Bossman’s Funeral

Halcyon: We are gathered here to pay our last respects to a good friend, and one of the Terran Confederation’s boldest defenders. The Terran Confederation has lost a seasoned veteran, and one of its best leaders, Major Kien Chen, whom we all knew as Bossman. Many of us, myself included, turned to Major Chen for advice. In our time of uncertainty, Major Chen was always ready to lend himself to anyone who needed guidance. Now we must find our own answers. He will be missed. Company… Atten-shun! Prepare arms…

Maverick: I hope someday I’ll make you proud, Bossman. I’ll try to follow your example of leadership. Goodbye.

Halcyon: Fire!

Firekkan Crusade: Firekka System – Part 2

Firekka 3

Firekka 4