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Enigma Sector Campaign: Novaya Kiev System
Novaya Kiev A
Novaya Kiev System, Enigma Sector.
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: Paladin! Glad to see you’re still on board. Suppose you’ve heard how Hobbes saved Olympus Station…
Paladin: Aye, laddie, that I have. I dinna believe it, though. You’re not the kind to sit on the sidelines…
Maverick: Might as well have… No matter what I do, his Lordship the Admiral will twist it around to make me look bad.
Paladin: So ye’re flyin’ ta make a hero of yourself, then?
Maverick: No, James. I’m flying to stop the blasted furballs from conquering our whole race!
Paladin: Then what does it matter what Tolwyn thinks of you? Or anyone else?
Maverick: Because if Tolwyn gets his wish, I’ll never fly against the Kilrathi again!
Paladin: An’ if that happens, me offer stands.
Maverick: Thanks, James, but I can do more good here, as long as I can keep flying.
Paladin: Perhaps, lad. But there’s more than one way ta fight a war…
Maverick: What are you talking about, James? Just what are you into?
Paladin: I canna tell ye, lad… unless you’re willin’ ta sign on. But in the meantime, Christopher, you watch yourself. I hear the Kilrathi called off their attack on Ghorah Khar, which left the Concordia free to check out Novaya Kiev. But it makes no sense for the Kilrathi to pull back now. The cats are preparin’ for something big, I’m sure of it.
Flight Deck, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Suited up and ready for launch, Maverick?
Maverick: Soon as you tell me what’s up, Angel.
Angel: The Kilrathi have fallen back from Ghorah Khar, and we’ve followed them here to Novaya Kiev. They’ve retreated from this system as well, allowing us to retake it. Even so, we’ve detected a few enemy vessels and stations left behind. You’ll be going after a supply depot on the far side of Novaya Kiev. We think the Kilrathi plan to use it as a refuelling station on their next advance. You’ll fly a Broadsword. Doomsday will be on your wing.
Maverick: Wonderful.
Angel: I can give this assignment to Jazz if you prefer, Maverick.
Maverick: I’ll fly it, Angel.
Angel: First, you’ll proceed to the jump point on your Nav map and jump across the system. There, you’ll rendezvous with one of our tankers and refuel. From there, continue to the supply depot. It should be undefended, an easy target. Your Nav computer will have complete data.
Maverick: Got it, Angel.
Angel: Doomsday and your gunnery crew are waiting on the Flight Deck. Bon chance, mon ami!
Sparks: Welcome back, sir. Angel wants to see you in her office.
Colonel Devereaux’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Welcome back, messieurs, please give me your report.
Maverick: Ran into a couple of Kilrathi tankers. They’re both history. Then we moved on to the depot. It wasn’t much of a challenge.
Angel: I see you destroyed 6 of those enemy fighters, Maverick, and Doomsday got 5 of them.
Doomsday: I’m surprised we survived this, ma’am.
Angel: You were very lucky, Doomsday. We lost one of the younger pilots today… Stingray’s wingman, Dallas, didn’t make it home. I know you feel you have something to prove, Maverick, but I do not wish to lose any more pilots. You are dismissed, gentlemen.
Novaya Kiev B
Observation Deck, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: Stingray… I’m sorry about Dallas.
Stingray: I’ve never lost a wingman before… It was horrible. I saw him on the VDU… He said his targeting computer was down. I ordered him out of there… then his thrusters went haywire. He was flying in circles, out of control… He lost all power just as the Kilrathi closed for the kill. I saw his face on my screen as he died…
Spirit: We’ve all lost friends, Stingray. Friends and lovers…
Hobbes: That seems an unlikely series of malfunctions, Captain.
Stingray: Those weren’t malfunctions… It had to be sabotage!
Hobbes: Sabotage? Dallas was just another young pilot. Why would he be a target for a saboteur? His death is no great loss to the Confederation.
Stingray: No great loss? You furry son of a– Listen to this cold-blooded hairball! Every day it gets more obvious. Hobbes is the spy! He’s a Kilrathi double agent!
Spirit: Stop it! We have enough problems without fighting each other.
Stingray: Maybe you’re right, Spirit… We’ll talk about Dallas later, Ralgha.
Hobbes: I think you’ve said enough already, Captain. Most of us are flying again tomorrow, so I suggest we all get some sleep.
18 hours later…
Repair Deck, TCS Concordia.
Sparks: I heard you’re flying a patrol today, Christopher…
Maverick: Launch in thirty minutes. I wish they’d give me something more exciting, though.
Sparks: Life has been a little too exciting for me lately… the explosion, the tech that was murdered–
Maverick: And now Stingray is saying someone sabotaged Dallas’ ship.
Sparks: I can’t believe they sent Stingray out again this morning, after Dallas…
Maverick: Best thing for him. Keep him flying, and he won’t have time to think about it.
Sparks: By the way, they’re saying the Flight Deck explosion was caused by a broken fuel line… only there aren’t any fuel lines in that area of the Flight Deck. All of this makes me just a little nervous…
Maverick: I’ll be glad to get back out into space and away from all this.
Sparks: Just watch your six, pilot. Good luck.
Maverick: Maverick to Concordia. All systems go for autopilot to Nav 1.
Concordia: Belay that, Maverick. We’ve got a Search and Rescue for you. Stingray ran into heavy resistance and bailed.
Maverick: Doomsday and I will get him. You got co-ordinates, Concordia?
Concordia: Sending to your Nav computer now. There’s still enemy in his area, so watch out.
Maverick: Roger that, Concordia. Maverick out.
Concordia: Maverick, this is the Concordia, do you read? We show a wing of Drakhri and a Kamekh closing on the pilot’s position… You can’t win against those odds. Return immediately to the Concordia.
Maverick: Not a chance, Major! I won’t leave Stingray here!
Concordia: Maverick, you will return immediately! That’s a direct order!
Maverick: Concordia, did not copy that! I’m losing your signal, Concordia… too much interference… <silence> Are you up for this, Doomsday?
Doomsday: Why not, Maverick? I’ve never been court-martialled before.
Maverick: I survived one of those already! Let’s nail those fleabags!
Maverick: Concordia, this is Maverick. Do you copy?
Concordia: What did you think you were doing, mister?
Maverick: Saving a pilot’s life, Major.
Concordia: Land immediately, Captain, and report to the Bridge.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
The Bridge, TCS Concordia.
Tolwyn: You disobeyed a direct order from a superior officer, Captain.
Maverick: Yes, sir.
Tolwyn: Do you have anything to say for yourself?
Maverick: No, sir. Except… if I had it to do again, I would.
Tolwyn: Yes, I believe you would. Very well, Captain. Consider yourself reprimanded. Dismissed.
Novaya Kiev C
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Stingray: Hey, Maverick, thanks for the pick-up out there. I know you went against–
Maverick: Just doing my job, Stingray.
Stingray: Yeah, but you saved my butt. I appreciate that.
Maverick: Is this what I have to do to earn people’s respect around here? I should’ve stayed on Caernarvon.
Stingray: Okay, so everyone’s been giving you a hard time here, but it’s not my fault you choked back on the Tiger’s Claw! I was just trying to say ‘thanks’ for saving my life!
Maverick: Save it for someone who’ll appreciate it, punk.
Stingray: Fine. I will.
Ten minutes later…
Spirit: Hello, Christopher. It is beautiful here, isn’t it? I’ve always loved star-gazing. Sometimes I wonder if Philip is out there, watching these stars from a Kilrathi planet.
Maverick: Mariko, the Kilrathi captured your fiancé ten years ago. There’s no chance he’s still alive by now.
Spirit: Oh, Maverick, I used to dream of rescuing him… I’d fly in, guns blazing, and steal him from the Kilrathi. But it never happened. We should not talk of such things… You seem angry, Christopher. Is something wrong?
Maverick: Nothing. Nothing at all.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Before I assign the wings, I have something to say. We cannot afford to fight among ourselves. I don’t want to hear my people speaking ill of one another any more. I have had enough of this! Especially from you, Jazz, and you, Stingray. The two of you will escort the garbage shuttle to the asteroids.
Stingray: Colonel!
Angel: That’s your assignment. And remember, Stingray… we run garbage shuttles from this ship daily! As for the rest of you, be on your toes. We have reports of attacks all across the sector. They have hit our colonies in the Fiddler’s Green, Niffleheim, and Midian systems. We do not yet have casualty reports.
Angel assigns the other pilots to their duties.
Angel: The next mission will be difficult… a strike against an enemy destroyer. Maverick and Doomsday, you will jump out to assist the TCS Hector in the attack against the Fralthra cruiser. Once you defeat the Fralthra, escort the Hector to the Concordia. That is all, pilots. Dismissed.
Maverick: Concordia, this is Maverick. Do you copy?
Concordia: Affirmative, Maverick. Your report?
Maverick: That Fralthra is history, Concordia. And we brought the Hector back intact.
Concordia: Good work, Maverick!
Maverick: Doomsday toasted 4 of the fuzzballs. I took down 5 enemy ships myself.
Concordia: Maverick, you are to land immediately. Concordia out.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
Novaya Kiev D
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Angel: I’m glad you could join us, Maverick. Admiral Tolwyn spoke to me about your mission against the Fralthra yesterday–
Maverick: I can imagine what he said…
Angel: He was not very impressed, mon ami… He does not plan to assign you to any other combat missions.
Doomsday: You’ll have plenty of chances to die, Maverick, when we jump to Heaven’s Gate. We’ll need every pilot when we launch a suicide attack to recapture our space station there.
Maverick: We’d need more than just the Concordia for that kind of mission.
Spirit: Do you think we’re going to Heaven’s Gate alone, Jeannette?
Angel: You know I cannot comment on that, Mariko.
Doomsday: I’ll bet fifteen. Though I’m sure I’ll lose it all…
Maverick: Call. Anyone beat two pair? Jacks over tens?
Spirit: Sorry, Christopher. Full house, aces over eights. Lucky in cards, unlucky in love… Deal me out, I have patrol duty in half an hour.
Two hours later…
Maverick: Mariko, can we talk?
Spirit: About what, Christopher?
Maverick: You’ve been awfully quiet lately… Is anything wrong?
Spirit: Thanks, Christopher, but everything is fine… really…
Maverick: What is it, Mariko?
Spirit: You know me too well, Christopher… I received a message in e-mail… from whoever killed Specialist McGuffin.
Maverick: Who was it?
Spirit: I don’t know. There was no name on the message and I couldn’t trace it.
Maverick: What are you going to do?
Spirit: I don’t know, Maverick. Eventually, the comp techs in Intelligence are going to find it…
Maverick: Mariko… why would the traitor send e-mail to you? What are you involved in?
Spirit: NO! Christopher, I could never betray the Confederation!
Maverick: Then you have to report this!
Spirit: I know… Please, just give me some time…
Maverick: Mariko, you know I can’t keep quiet about this!
Spirit: I swear I’ll speak to Angel soon… But not yet… I can’t do it now…
Concordia: Captain Blair, report to the Flight Deck for immediate launch!
Concordia: Maverick, this is Concordia. We’ve got a change in your orders.
Concordia: Doomsday will fly your scheduled patrol by himself while you jump to the Talbot system for an emergency mission. We’ve lost contact with a courier at Talbot, and she may be under attack. Locate that ship and escort her back to the Concordia. She’s carrying vital communications data, don’t come back without her.
Maverick: Roger, Concordia. You got a course for me?
Concordia: We’re broadcasting your course directly to your Nav computer on a secured channel. Just follow that route and watch your six, Maverick.
Maverick: Roger, Concordia.
Courier: Concordia pilot, we’ve lost shields… decompressing fast – I’m ejecting a data capsule… get it to the Admiral at all costs!
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
The Bridge, TCS Concordia.
Tolwyn: Your report, Maverick.
Maverick: I flew to the jump point as instructed, and encountered Drakhri. I jumped out and began my search for the missing courier.
Angel: Were there any enemy in the vicinity?
Maverick: Sartha and a Ralatha capital ship, unfortunately. I was too late… they iced the courier. But the courier ejected a data pod just before they were destroyed. I was able to recover the data pod, sir.
Tolwyn: I suppose it’s too much to ask, but did you inflict any casualties?
Maverick: Of course. I killed 6.
Tolwyn: Finally decided to earn your pay, eh? Good. Now that we have the data pod with those messages that the courier intercepted, we can proceed. Colonel, you’d better call Spirit in here immediately.
Angel: Sir, I request that I be allowed to deal with this matter personally…
Tolwyn: Request denied. Maverick, you’re dismissed.
