Firekka System (Part 3)

Paladin: Sit down, lad. I want you to talk to Jeannette–

Angel: There is nothing that any of you can say to me now. Bossman is dead, and it is my fault.

Paladin: Listen to me, lass. We all know the risks when we’re flyin’ out there. Believe me, there was nothing you could do. You an’ him, against all those Kilrathi? We’re lucky we only lost Bossman, an’ not the both of you.

Angel: I am sorry, my friend, but I do not believe you.

Maverick: Angel, you’re one of the best pilots in the Confederation. But Paladin’s right. Sometimes you just can’t win.

Angel: But I should have saved him, and I did not. I have tried not to care about Bossman, and you, and the others in this squadron – knowing that any of you could be killed at any moment – but we all know that it is impossible not to care. Please, I wish to be alone now.

Mission Briefing, 12:00 hours, 2655.271. Firekka System, Antares Sector.

Halcyon: Pilots, we’ve had an unusual new development. Confed HQ has received a coded vid-link transmission from a Kilrathi commander in the approaching battle fleet. Captain Ralgha and his top officers are requesting asylum from the Confederation. And they’re bringing a Fralthi and twenty Kilrathi fighterships with them. Your assignment is simple. Make sure those officers and ships arrive here intact. The TCS Austin pilots have already rendezvoused with the stolen Fralthi. So there’s a Human crew aboard as well, just in case those cats change their minds. Most of you will be escorting the individual Kilrathi starfighters, but I need someone to bring in the Fralthi.

Maverick: I know I can do it, Colonel.

Halcyon: All right, Maverick. You and Spirit will fly this one as Omicron Wing. This is your flight plan. Head to the rendezvous point at Nav 1, checking your route for enemy fighters. The Kilrathi don’t know that Ralgha is defecting, but we can’t take any chances. You’ll meet the Fralthi at Nav 1, and escort him home.

The Colonel quickly assigns the other pilots.

Halcyon: Good luck, pilots. Dismissed.

Mission Debriefing – 15:00 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: Glad to see you back, both of you. All right, Maverick, let’s hear your report.

Maverick: I headed out to the captured Fralthi. The Kilrathi must’ve known what Ralgha was planning because there was a reception committee waiting for him. But I brought the Fralthi in, sir. They should be docking with us now.

Halcyon: Excellent! We’ll transmit a message on a coded frequency that we know the cats have cracked saying that the Fralthi was destroyed in a minefield. With any luck, they won’t try to recapture it. I see from your flight recorder that you iced an enemy Fralthi. Not bad, Colonel. Maverick, your log shows you splashed 13 Kilrathi. And Spirit didn’t kill any cats this trip.

Spirit: I apologise for my failure, Colonel.

Halcyon: You have a few hours before your next mission, Maverick. Get some rest, son. Dismissed.

Hangar Deck. 17:00 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: For excellence in combat with the Kilrathi enemy on or about 2655.271, the Terran Confederation presents the Gold 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 6

Shotglass: Let me pour your usual, Maverick. Listen, we had a couple Bridge officers in here – they’re talkin’ about how we may have to retreat from the Firekka system. I think they’re right… tanglin’ with an entire battle fleet would be tough, even for the Tiger’s Claw. And those officers were also talking ’bout who’ll be transferred off the Claw, and who’ll be stayin’ here. And the biggest rumour of ’em all is that Colonel Halcyon may be promoted and transferred to Tactical. I wonder who’ll be in charge of our fighter squadron then? Well, let me get that drink for you now, Maverick.

Angel: Hello, Maverick. I have been writing a letter to Bossman’s wife. I want her to understand what happened.

Maverick: Angel… it wasn’t your fault. You have to understand that.

Angel: Je comprends, mon ami. But it is a very hard truth to face. I have always thought of myself as different from you and the others – that if I did not care about anything but myself, and perfecting my skills – I could never be hurt, never feel pain or fear. But I was so very wrong, non? If you would, Maverick… just sit with me for a while. I think I need your company right now.

Maniac: Hey, Maverick! They finally let me out of Sick-Bay! I was hoping that we’d fly a mission together, but I have to be back in Sick-Bay in another hour. But I’m sure they’ll send me back to active duty soon, and we’ll fly a mission together then, right? I know how much you always want to be my wingman, Maverick, and I know that we’re going to do something important. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m sure we’ll wipe out a lot of the furballs before they kill us. Won’t that be great? Well, I suppose I’ll have one more drink before I go back to Sick-Bay.

Mission Briefing, 18:00 hours, 2655.271. Firekka System, Antares Sector.

Halcyon: All right, everyone. I think you realise just how serious our situation is here – and it’s just become a lot worse. We’ve received reports of two additional Kilrathi battle fleets that have crossed the border at Tau Ceti and are on their way here. And I have something here to read to you. It’s a transcript of a vid-link message we received from the approaching Kilrathi fleet two hours ago.

“Warriors of the Human ships, hear me now. You are trespassing on the holy ground of Lord Sivar. If you remain, the Sons of Kilrah will destroy you. We must prepare the Way of Lord Sivar, and no unbelievers may remain here alive. But because you are brave warriors, I shall grant you this: You have one planetary rotation to leave this system. Leave here now, and no harm will come to you until we meet again in honourable combat. Thus speaks Prince Thrakhath, Firstborn of the Firstborn, Heir to Kilrah.”

Halcyon: We know that this Prince Thrakhath is the grandson of the Kilrathi emperor, and possibly their best fighter pilot. And we know that Sivar is a Kilrathi war god… that’s why we used that codename for the dreadnought that attacked Goddard. But we don’t know is what this ‘Way of Lord Sivar’ could be. Pilots, we’re going to stay here, even though it’s obvious that there’s not much we can do against a massed enemy fleet of this size. Our first step will be to ‘retreat’ to a nearby star system. With luck, the Kilrathi will believe that we’ve left the Antares sector. And then we’ll wait for new orders from Confed HQ. Your mission is to clear our flight path. I don’t want any heroics out there. Just good, competent flying. Odds are good that you’ll encounter the first Kilrathi strike fleet moving into this system. If you do, then engage and destroy. The Austin is already leaving this area. We’ll rendezvous with her later. With luck, we’ll be able to inflict some serious damage on this Prince Thrakhath and his fleet.

Maverick: What about the Firekka, sir?

Halcyon: We’re going to start a major evacuation, Maverick, as soon as other Confed ships arrive. These are your wing assignments… Paladin and Hunter are Alpha Wing. Follow your Nav course, pilots. Maverick, you and Spirit are Beta Wing. Maverick is wingleader.

The commander assigns other wings, then reads Beta’s mission:

Halcyon: We’ve detected several Firekka evacuation transports leaving the system, led by Captain Larrhi. One transport is headed for the jump point at Nav 3. Protect that ship. And then patrol the rest of your Nav points for enemy ships. We don’t know what Kilrathi ships are out there, pilots, so be careful. Dismissed.

Mission Debriefing – 21:00 hours, 2655.271.

Halcyon: Welcome back, Colonel. Do you have anything to report?

Maverick: Yes, sir. One of the Firekka transports was under attack at Nav 2 – the Kilrathi tried to intercept, but they didn’t have a chance. The transport made the jump out-system, sir. A wing of Gratha was attacking the Austin on her way out-system, sir. But she jumped out-system before the Kilrathi could inflict any real damage.

Halcyon: From the flight recorder, I see that you took out 9 Kilrathi ships, Maverick. And Spirit iced 8. Maverick, I’ll need to see you in my office later. Dismissed.

Colonel Halcyon’s Office. 22:00 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. You’ll be flying a special ship on an undercover mission. I’m afraid I can’t say more than that right now.

Maverick: I’m curious, sir… why?

Halcyon: Each of our ships is designed for a specific kind of combat mission. That’s the main factor in assigning pilots to fighterships for different missions.

Maverick: I understand, sir. I’ll do the best I can, no matter what ship I’m assigned to.

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

Firekkan Crusade: Firekka System – Part 3

Firekka 5

Firekka 6