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Vega Sector Campaign: Port Hedland System
Port Hedland 1
Shotglass: Welcome back, Maverick. Heard about the TCSO show? I hear the Bob Hope holo’s a riot. I love ol’ Ski-nose. Retired almost five centuries ago, but you can’t keep a good comic down. But seriously, I hear the show may not make it. Too many kitties nearby. Young punks mostly, but in Grathas – top-of-the-line bad news. The furballs must think their kittens’re better than our vets. And they might be right, if you’re talking about a kitten in a Gratha. Even an amateur’s dangerous in one of them…
Hunter: C’mere, mate. Maniac’s teachin’ me ’ow to fly. Can you believe it?
Maniac: Someone better – you’re dangerous, and not just to the Kilrathi.
Hunter: I’m dangerous? I’m dangerous! This from the guy who goes to afterburners the instant ’e smells a target!
Maniac: Well, at least I go after ’em. Some of you old guys don’t always do that.
Hunter: I ’ate to admit it, mate, but you’re right about some of the ‘old guys’. Knight, Paladin, some others, they must be cat lovers… or pacifists. But don’t lump me with that lot, mate. The more Kilrah blood I smell, the nastier I get.
Maniac: Hey, Maverick? I feel like griping about wingmen. Care to join in? Take Knight, for example. He flies like an old lady. No vision, and he couldn’t find a target if his wingman’s life depended on it.
Hunter: Which it usually does…
Maniac: Yeah. And Angel… always studying, planning. Just fly, I say.
Hunter: Anybody on the Claw you don’t mind flyin’ with, squirt?
Maniac: First off, let’s watch the squirt cracks. And second… ’course there’re a couple of pilots I don’t mind flying with. You’re not too bad, Hunter – almost as good as me. And there’s Iceman… Ice is scary, man. I mean, I’m in this for the flying. He’s in it for the killing, I think.
Mission Briefing. Port Hedland System, 06:00 hours, 2654.139.
Halcyon: I know you’re all excited about tomorrow’s TCSO show, but…
Maniac: Yeah – bring on the babes!
Halcyon: That’ll be enough, Maniac. We’ve got work to do. Alpha Wing’s up first.
Maverick waits for the commander to come to Eta Wing and his mission. Then…
Halcyon: Maverick, Knight, you’re on escort duty today. There’s a Drayman coming, carrying vital supplies…
Maniac: And some vital babes!
Halcyon: Bring it home safely. This is your flight plan. You’ll head straight for Nav 1 – the Drayman’s jump point. Wait for her there, but be careful, we’ve had reports of heavy enemy activity in the area. The ’sport has orders to make a beeline for the Tiger’s Claw. Stay with her. Simple as that. Questions?
Maverick: Yes, sir. You said there’s heavy enemy activity. Any details?
Halcyon: The Kilrathi have been moving heavy fighters into this sector, Maverick. I expect you’ll be running into Gratha, maybe Jalthi. The pilots all seem to be rookies, but there are lots of them. Anything else? Good. That’s all then. Be careful and remember – I want everyone back for the TCSO show! Squadron dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 15:00 hours, 2654.139.
Halcyon: That was an impressive display of teamwork, gentlemen. With the supplies on that ’sport we can kick Kilrah tail in this system. And the TCSO show will go on as scheduled. Good job all around.
Maverick: It was dicey there on the way back, sir, but we did the best we could.
Halcyon: Dicey’s an understatement, Maverick, and your best was pretty darn good. Word is you took on several Gratha! Let’s look at the mission report. You took out 7, Maverick. Knight… no kills. Fine work. Dismissed.
Hangar Deck. 17:00 hours, 2654.139.
Halcyon: For meritorious conduct in confronting the Kilrathi enemy, in the Port Hedland system, on or about 2654.139, 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.
Port Hedland 2
Shotglass: Maverick! How’s it goin’? Heard you had to take out some Gratha tryin’ to bring that Drayman in. Glad to see you made it back in one piece. Those babies can be tough…, but I hear the Jalthi’s even tougher. One of those six-shooters on your tail, you can kiss it goodbye. But I’ll bet if you get low an’ behind a Jalthi, you’d toast it. She’s got no rear visibility, and big ol’ bullseye exhausts. Bad design no matter how many guns she’s got up front. Just jam a missile up those rear pipes and – BOOM! No more kitty.
Knight: Hey, Maverick. Have a seat. I’ve heard some talk lately that burns me up. Someone’s saying I’m unsafe to fly with… and that I’m a cat-lover. Well, I won’t stand for that kind of slander. It’s not true. I may not be as high-flying as Hunter, but I get the job done… in one piece. But hey, you’re not the guy to complain to… after all, we’ve flown together now. You know you can count on me. It’s just a matter of trust. Thanks for the shoulder, Maverick.
Spirit: Join me, Maverick. Knight is poor company and I feel the need to talk. I have been studying the history and progress of the war, and I fear things do not go well for us. We are in grave danger, and must be ever diligent, ever alert. We must fight as if there were no tomorrow, for in truth, that is the case. Every day, the Kilrathi bring up more troops. They penetrate deeper into Human space each time we fly. The very future of Humanity rests with us. A heavy burden, but one we must bear. For if we don’t, who will?
Mission Briefing. Port Hedland System, 06:05 hours, 2654.140. Five minutes into the briefing…
Halcyon: …next, Xi Wing. That’ll be Maverick and Knight.
Maverick: Yes, sir.
Halcyon: Today’s mission is a four-point patrol route. Computer, display Xi. You’ll pass through each Nav Point, checking for enemy activity. There’s a field of what looks like asteroids around Nav 2, and another at Nav 4. Now, remember, you ran into heavy fighters last time, and you can expect more of the same this time out. In fact, intelligence reports that enemy traffic is heavier than ever. And our people on McLaren think they’ve spotted a new capital ship class. We’re calling it ‘Fralthi’. If you see it, observe as closely as you can. Any questions?
Maverick: Sir, if we spot this ‘Fralthi’, should we engage?
Halcyon: There’s no need for heroics, Maverick. Just come back to tell us about it. Anything else? All right, then. I’ll expect a full report when you get back. Dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 15:00 hours, 2654.140.
Halcyon: Welcome back, Maverick. What’s the word on the debris at Navs 2 and 4?
Maverick: Nav 4 was nothing – just an asteroid field, easily bypassed. Nav 2 was a Kilrathi minefield – tricky flying getting through there.
Halcyon: Okay, now let’s cut to the chase – any sign of the Fralthi?.
Maverick: Yes, sir, and she’s something to see. A large, heavily armed cruiser. And she has launch capabilities. She’s like a smaller, faster Claw, sir. Or, I suppose I should say, she was something to see… and she had launch capability. We got her, sir! We got her!
Halcyon: Well, gentlemen, I am impressed. That’s one for the record books. The brass will be very happy to hear this. Congratulations! Anything else before we turn to the mission report? No? Good. A scan of your recorder shows you killed 7 Kilrathi, Maverick, and Knight took care of 1 himself. Dismissed.
Hangar Deck. 17:00 hours, 2654.140.
Halcyon: For meritorious conduct in confronting the Kilrathi enemy, in the Port Hedland system, on or about 2654.140, the Terran Confederation is proud to present the Silver 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.
Port Hedland 3
Shotglass: Hello, my boy. How’s about a cool drink and a tall tale? Word is, we’re pulling out soon, maybe for the Rostov system. Remind me to tell you about a little place I know, when we get there. I heard that one of the Kilrathi aces is flying around these parts. Go and ask Paladin, I think he’s tangled with him before. Take care of yourself, Maverick.
Bossman: Ah, Maverick. Join our party. There is little time remaining to turn this war in our favour. Should we fail now, I fear that we will be pushed back to the Homeworlds. But there is always hope. You, myself, all of us can affect that outcome. Think about that when next you fly. It will guide your actions.
Paladin: Well now, lad. ’tis good to see you again. Have a seat and tilt a glass. I hear ol’ Shotglass rumblin’ on about one o’ the Kilrathi aces. Last I ’eard, laddie, the only ace around these parts was Bakhtosh Redclaw. t’was back a few years when I had a tussle with him. He’s one o’ their nobles, so it’s said. While most Kilrathi look at Humans as animals, he thinks that we’re not even that high or mighty. Anyhow, lad, I was servin’ on a cruiser when he led a Jalthi attack on our ship. He’s easily the deadest aim that Kilrah’s got to offer. He took out four o’ me mates before we knew what hit us. Keep an eye out for him, lad. He’s a tough warrior.
Mission Briefing. Port Hedland System, 06:00 hours, 2654.141.
Halcyon: We’ve got a Code Red out there, people. Every Confederation ship in the system is under attack. The rest of our fighters have been deployed, you Blue Devils will defend the Claw. Maverick and Knight, you two will form the final wing. Maverick will lead. Listen close, boys, there’s a complication. One of our destroyers has sighted another Fralthi-class cruiser. You’ll need to move to assist the Exeter against several fighters, before you can continue on to attack this new Fralthi. Computer, display Sigma. First, you’ll need to assist in the defence of the Tiger’s Claw. We’ll have two more Scims in space before you, but there are four Jalthi closing with the Claw, so it won’t be easy. When you’ve cleaned up the Jalthi, move on to Nav 1, where you’ll help defend one of our Exeters against a wing of Gratha. If you’re still in good enough shape after turning the Gratha away, I want you to fly on to Nav 2, the last known fix on this Fralthi. Take a crack at her, if you can, but try not to get yourself killed. That Fralthi has to be where all these fighters are coming from. If we can take her out, we won’t have so many furballs to worry about. Very well. Good luck, boys. Dismissed.
Mission Debriefing. 16:40 hours, 2654.141.
Halcyon: Glad you’re back, Maverick. Let’s have your report.
Maverick: The Exeter’s safe and sound, sir.
Halcyon: Well done. She’s too valuable a piece of hardware to lose.
Maverick: It was quite a scrap, sir, but the Fralthi is history!
Halcyon: Congratulations to both of you. According to your flight recorder, you did get 10 of the fuzzballs, Maverick, and Knight shot down 3. Captain, I need to see you in my office, now. Dismissed.
Colonel Halcyon’s Office. 16:50 hours, 2654.141.
Halcyon: Blair. Come in. I need to speak with you.
Maverick: Yes, sir?
Halcyon: I’ve been speaking with sector command. The brass have been reviewing your record, and I have good news. The order came in this morning, I’ve been authorised to promote you. Congratulations, Major Blair. Keep up the good work.
Maverick: Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best.
Halcyon: Glad to hear it. We’ll be leaving Port Hedland 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, Major. Dismissed.
Hangar Deck. 17:00 hours, 2654.141.
Halcyon: For meritorious conduct in confronting the Kilrathi enemy, in the Port Hedland system, on or about 2654.141, the Terran Confederation is proud to present the Gold Star to Major 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…
Human Colony on the water planet, Hurricane, Port Hedland System.
After the Terran fleet has defeated the Kilrathi at Port Hedland, Hurricane’s planetary defences head off a last-ditch Kilrathi assault.
Human Colony on the water planet, Hurricane, Port Hedland System.
While Kilrathi vessels over Hurricane gain control of Port Hedland space, a wing of Dralthi fighters descend to attack settlements on the surface. The defeat of Hurricane’s colonists is swift and complete.
Secret Missions 2: Crusade
