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Special Operations 1: Pembroke System
Pembroke A
Thrakhath: I will return, Humans!
Khasra: What are your plans for my squadron, Prince?
Thrakhath: You will lead our glorious assault on the rebels at Ghorah Khar!
Khasra: If we are the first squadron to attack Ghorah Khar… that will be suicide!
Thrakhath: You… question my orders, Khasra?
Khasra: Yes! And I question why you are still in command of our battle fleet!
Thrakhath: You dare to insult me?
Khasra: You were responsible for the failure at K’Tithrak Mang! You should have died for that!
Thrakhath: Perhaps the Emperor still favours me because I have not tried to murder him. You will carry out my orders, Khasra. And if you do not… then you will die a traitor.
Pembroke System, Enigma Sector.
Admiral Tolwyn’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Tolwyn: Good morning. I have some good news for you. Confed High Command has confirmed your field promotion to Colonel. They want to transfer you temporarily to the Special Operations division. Special Operations is quite an interesting unit. They routinely take on assignments that everyone considers impossible, and usually succeed. I told them that you’d fit right in, Colonel.
Maverick: Thank you, Admiral.
Tolwyn: In the meantime, we still have some Kilrathi forces left in the Enigma sector. After we deal with them here, Paladin will give you instructions about your new assignment – if you decide to join the Special Operations division.
Maverick: Paladin, sir?
Tolwyn: Of course. Colonel Taggart is the Chief Field Officer of Intelligence and Special Operations in the Enigma sector. And I expect you to obey his orders better than you’ve obeyed mine!
Maverick: Of course, sir.
Tolwyn: Colonel, no one transfers ‘officially’ to Special Ops. Everyone on this ship but myself, Colonel Ralgha, and Angel will be told that you are leaving on an extended R&R. That is all, Colonel. Dismissed.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: With the collapse of the enemy forces at K’Tithrak Mang, the Confederation now controls the Enigma sector. However, we cannot stop our vigilance now, even with this victory. Pembroke system is the jump nexus between the Enigma and Vega sectors. The only chance for any Kilrathi success in this sector is if they can take Pembroke Station and block our troop movements. Therefore, we will begin a thorough rotation of patrols in this system. Maverick and Stingray will fly the lead patrol. Just touch your Nav points and return. If you encounter Kilrathi, use your best judgement, but do not be too cocky. We cannot afford any more casualties among our pilots.
Stingray: Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll bring him back in one piece.
Angel: You will be flying the new P-64D Super Ferret fighters for this mission. They have new control systems, and have been refitted with heat-seeking missiles.
Maverick listens as Angel assigns the remaining patrols.
Angel: Any questions? Then prepare for launch. Dismissed.
Sparks: Colonel Devereaux wants to see you in her office, sir!
Colonel Devereaux’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Welcome back, gentlemen. Your report?
Maverick: Looks like we may have a lot of clean-up work to do here, Jeannette. We encountered a number of enemy ships on our patrol.
Angel: Ce mal, what kind of enemy forces?
Maverick: We ran into Sartha at both Nav 1 and Nav 2. But the real show was at Nav 3. A Kamekh corvette, escorted by a wing of those Strakha stealth fighters.
Angel: Did you inflict any casualties?
Maverick: I took down 5 Kilrathi. Stingray scored 5 himself.
Stingray: We’re a hot team, Colonel!
Angel: Thank you for this report, gentlemen. I must take this to Tactical immediately. It seems we still have a great deal of work to do here. Dismissed.
Pembroke B
Repair Deck, TCS Concordia.
Sparks: Afternoon, Colonel! Hey, have I told you that those silver birds look really fine on your shoulders?
Maverick: Thanks, Sparks. I like the way they look, too.
Sparks: Looks like everything’s going to be kinda calm here for a while. Me, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. And the chance to work on these new P-64D Super Ferrets. By the way, did you hear that we lost another ship out in the Rigel system? The TCS Tsiolkovsky, a scientific research ship. Been missing for several days.
Maverick: I haven’t heard anything about that.
Sparks: I hope you’re still with the Concordia if we go to Rigel, sir. Jumping into an unknown situation… we’ll need every hot pilot we have. Have they told you what your new assignment is going to be yet? I can just see you as the commander of a carrier’s fighter squadron!
Maverick: I’m sure they’ll think of something to keep me busy, Janet.
Twenty minutes later…
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Stingray: Hey, Maverick! That was a hot mission this morning, wasn’t it? Yeah, things are getting better here every day. We’ve got the furballs on the run, HQ is court-martialling Jazz next week, and you’re a lot more fun to be around, now that you’re not so tense. Say, I heard that you’re going to be taking some R&R. Going anywhere exciting?
Maverick: Just back to Earth for a few weeks. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home. I need some time to relax, after everything that’s happened here.
Stingray: That’s probably a good idea. It must be tough for an older guy like you, flying all of these combat missions. You should leave the action to the younger pilots.
Maverick: Yes, I think I’ll let you have all the fun for a while, Stingray.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: As you know, nearly all the patrols encountered enemy squadrons yesterday. It is obvious that there are more Kilrathi in this area than we had expected. Major Edmond detected communications from an enemy patrol that we believe was transmitting jump co-ordinates to a larger strike force. Because of this, we are sending you to patrol all jump points in this area.
Maverick waits as Angel calls out the assignments.
Angel: Maverick and Stingray, you will investigate your Nav points for enemy presence. If any enemy ships are approaching from the main Pembroke jump point, your route via Nav 1 will bring you in on their flank. Any questions? Bon chance, and fly well! Dismissed.
Maverick: Concordia, this is Colonel Blair, requesting priority communications.
Concordia: Roger, Maverick. All comm traffic closed for priority communications. What is your situation?
Maverick: We have encountered two Fralthra cruisers at our Nav Two. The bogeys are heading to Pembroke Station at top speed.
Concordia: Did I copy that correctly, Maverick… two heavy cruisers?
Maverick: Affirmative, Major. Two Fralthra.
Concordia: Hold on this comm frequency, Maverick… All hands, battle stations! This is not a drill! Maverick, transmit your camera data now. We’ll clear you to land shortly. Do you have anything else to report?
Maverick: I took down 4 of the fighters, but didn’t have torpedoes to attack the cruisers. Stingray accounted for 4 Kilrathi.
Concordia: You are cleared to land, Maverick.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir!
Pembroke C
Flight Deck, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: You okay, Stingray?
Stingray: I’m fine. I just never expected to run into half the blasted Kilrathi fleet out there.
Maverick: After eleven years of service, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.
Concordia: All pilots, report to the Briefing Room immediately!
Maverick: Why am I not surprised?
Stingray: Five credits says we’re not finished flying for the day, Colonel.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Listen closely, because we do not have much time. Maverick and Stingray encountered a large strike fleet en route to Pembroke Station. The Concordia is now manoeuvring into attack position. Your mission is to concentrate on the enemy fighters. The Concordia will handle those two Fralthra. After you clear the area around the Concordia, go immediately to Pembroke Station. Tactical is certain that the Kilrathi will send another squadron to attack the station. Proceed to the Flight Deck for immediate launch! Dismissed!
Maverick: Concordia, this is Colonel Blair, do you read?
Angel: Christopher, this is Jeannette. I wanted to tell you… sois prudent, mon amour.
Maverick: Je t’aime. I’ll be careful, love.
Concordia: Concordia pilots, we have visual sighting on those two Fralthra! Your primary objective… defend the Concordia!
Sparks: Welcome back, sir!
Colonel Devereaux’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Welcome back, gentlemen. Your report, Colonel Blair?
Maverick: We successfully defeated all of the fighters attacking the Concordia, and then continued on our mission to Pembroke Station. We defeated the Grikath wing attacking the station, and we kept the cats from destroying Pembroke Station.
Angel: Good work, Christopher!
Maverick: It was one heck of a fight. I took down 4 enemy fighters. And we fought against some new kind of Kilrathi fighter…
Angel: Tactical says those were the new Gothri heavy fighters, Maverick. You are dismissed, gentlemen.
Pembroke D
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Stingray: All right, the game is five-card stud. Ante up, guys.
Doomsday: Please deal me some decent cards this time, Dirk.
Stingray: So, Maverick, when do you leave for R&R?
Maverick: As soon as we jump to the Rigel system.
Doomsday: Hobbes, aren’t you going on leave too?
Hobbes: No, I am not. The Admiral requires my presence here. He wishes to consult with me on the recent developments in the Kilrathi Empire.
Hobbes: Then I will be reassigned back to Ghorah Khar…
Stingray: Yeah, I heard that three more Kilrathi planets are rebelling against the Empire, just like Ghorah Khar. If they keep going like this, we won’t have anybody left to fight.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: We have received some very disturbing reports from the Rigel system. We’ve lost communications with the Rigel Supply Depot and several Free Traders that were en route to that Depot. The Concordia’s new mission is to jump in, evaluate the situation, and take any necessary action. The first step of this is to safely jump into the system. Maverick, you’ll fly the first jump point patrol, solo in a Broadsword. You’ll jump out to Rigel, clear the immediate area, fly to your Nav 1, and then return to the Concordia. At the same time, other Broadswords will launch to escort the Concordia to the jump point. Because of the losses taken during the last campaign, we have a shortage of top gunnery officers for bomber missions. The gunnery stations will be manned by a pilot in addition to the gunnery teams. Maverick, I will be your Chief Gunnery Officer for this mission, along with Loubet and Miller.
Maverick listens as Angel assigns the other pilots to their patrols.
Angel: Colonel Blair, I will meet you on the Flight Deck in five minutes. Dismissed.
Maverick: Angel, this is Maverick, do you read?
Angel: Gunnery station reporting all systems normal, Maverick.
Maverick: Acknowledged. Proceeding to jump point.
Maverick: This is Colonel Blair, reporting the jump area secured. I encountered an enemy force comprised of Human pilots flying Ferrets.
Concordia: Acknowledged, Blair. Report to the Admiral immediately after landing.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir!
The Bridge, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: Admiral, I have an unusual encounter to report. While patrolling the jump area, I was attacked by an enemy squadron comprised entirely of Human pilots, flying Confederation Ferrets.
Tolwyn: I’m not too surprised, Maverick. We had a report several weeks ago that the pilots of the TCS Gettysburg staged a mutiny near N’Tanya. When we lost communications with the Rigel Supply Depot, I thought they might’ve jumped to this system.
Maverick: N’Tanya… isn’t that one of the three Kilrathi planets that are rebelling against the Empire?
Tolwyn: Correct, Colonel. N’Tanya, K’arakh, and Shariha are fighting to join the Confederation. We’ve been trying to locate the Gettysburg since that incident at N’Tanya.
Maverick: Mutiny aboard a Confederation cruiser… I’m surprised I never heard about this, sir.
Tolwyn: If you had, Christopher, that would’ve been a serious breach of our security. Do not discuss this matter with anyone except Colonel Devereaux. The Concordia is jumping into the Rigel system and then we’ll have to take care of these Confederation mutineers. Dismissed.
Rigel System, Enigma Sector.
Pembroke (Losing Track)
Repair Deck, TCS Concordia.
Sparks: I heard you ran into some real trouble on your last mission, Colonel. The second patrol didn’t come back. There’s definitely something unfriendly out there.
Maverick: Who was on the patrol?
Sparks: Lieutenant Henderson, with Rickmann on his wing.
Maverick: Blast. Just when I thought we’d get a break… We lost so many people in the fight for this sector, I was hoping that we wouldn’t have any more casualties for a while. Do they have any idea what killed Henderson and Rickmann?
Sparks: Not that I’ve heard. They apparently didn’t make it out to the jump point.
Maverick: But the bogeys I fought were in the Rigel system – that means there’s some enemy ships here in Pembroke!
Sparks: It sure sounds like that, Colonel.
Concordia: All hands, battle stations! The Concordia is under attack! Repeat, battle stations! This is not a drill!
Sparks: Welcome back, sir!
The Bridge, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: Admiral, that assault wing is history. And the Kamekh is toasted. No problems, sir.
Tolwyn: Good work, Colonel! Major Edmond, signal Jump Alert throughout the ship.
Edmond: All stations reporting ready for jump, sir.
Tolwyn: Good. We’re needed in the Rigel system immediately. Dismissed, Colonel.
Rigel System, Enigma Sector.
The Bridge, TCS Concordia.
Maverick: Admiral, we couldn’t take out the entire assault wing.
Tolwyn: That’s not good enough, Colonel! We’re needed immediately in the Rigel system, and we can’t jump out until this area is clear. Major Edmond, signal all stations to stand down from Jump Alert.
Edmond: Affirmative, sir.
Tolwyn: Dismissed, Colonel.
