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Enigma Sector Campaign: Tesla System (Losing Track)
Tesla (Losing Track) A
Two weeks later…
Tesla System, Enigma Sector.
Repair Deck, TCS Concordia.
Sparks: Hey, Captain! Haven’t seen you much since Spirit’s funeral…
Maverick: I’ve been busy…
Sparks: …with Angel?
Maverick: It’s not what you think…
Sparks: Of course it is. Nothing to be ashamed of… That is, as long as you aren’t using her to get ahead…
Maverick: I’d never do that! Doesn’t matter anyhow. I don’t have a career, not in the Navy.
Sparks: Well, the Admiral’s had plenty of chances to send you back. He hasn’t done it yet. You’re a good pilot, sir, even if the Admiral won’t admit it. We need you – Tolwyn needs you – here in the Enigma sector. Besides, I just heard the Confed Marines got shot up on Niffleheim. They were trying to retake the system. We’re gonna need every pilot we have, really soon…
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Pilots, let us get down to business. We have detected a small Kilrathi listening post. Using a pair of fighters, we will attack that outpost and destroy the Kilrathi’s ability to intercept transmissions. You will be flying Epees for this mission. Maverick, you and Amp will… wait, forgive me, mes amis, I was mistaken. Buckaroo, you and Amp will fly this mission. Maverick, I have another mission for you. You will conduct the morning patrol, touching all Nav points. You will be flying Rapiers for this mission.
Maverick: Colonel Devereaux, may I speak with you in private?
Angel: Of course. Pilots, you are dismissed.
Stingray: I’ll be waiting on the flight line, Maverick.
A few minutes later…
Maverick: Angel, why are you doing this to me? You know I can fly the mission against the listening post!
Angel: I know you can. But if I favour you with the more challenging missions, the others will talk. Already, I have heard them say uncomplimentary things about you and why you are still aboard the Concordia.
Maverick: Do you really care what people say about us?
Angel: Maverick, you must go to the Flight Deck now. Good luck on your mission. Captain, you are dismissed.
Paladin: Maverick, lad. It’s me, Paladin! I need you to escort me back to the Concordia, laddie!
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
Colonel Devereaux’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Angel: What exactly happened out there, Maverick?
Maverick: We were ambushed by Drakhri. Paladin’s Free Trader was under attack.
Angel: He was fleeing from the Kilrathi attack in Tesla. Please continue, Maverick.
Maverick: We finished off the Jalkehi and continued on our mission, escorting the freighter. I got 4. Stingray nailed 3.
Angel: This was a very difficult mission for you, mon cher. I’m glad you returned unharmed.
Maverick: I always land on my feet… well, most of the time! Angel, you look tired… you should get out of your office a while, maybe go up to the O-Deck? I’m sure Paladin would want to talk with you.
Angel: I can’t. I have too much work to do…
Maverick: Is something wrong?
Angel: Paladin told us… Tesla Station…
Maverick: What… What is it?
Angel: It has been destroyed… no survivors… Tactical thinks the strike force responsible may still be in-system.
Tesla (Losing Track) B
Barracks, TCS Concordia.
Paladin: …and so, without thrusters, I used my momentum to skirt the event horizon…
Hobbes: “…swinging around behind the Dorkir just as it fired on you.” You’ve told that tale a thousand times, and each time it gets a little taller, as you Humans say.
Paladin: Is that so? Why, ye scruffy, flea-bitten…
Downtown: Don’t mind them, Maverick. They always go on like this.
Maverick: I had no idea they got along so well.
Paladin: Your deal, Christopher.
Maverick: Five card draw, gentlemen.
Paladin: Let me tell you, lad, Ralgha and I have been friends for years. This sorry excuse for a dust mop saved my life, back at Ghorah Khar.
Hobbes: I had nothing better to do, at the time.
Downtown: Hobbes, wake up and get your cards.
Hobbes: Sorry. I open for fifteen.
Downtown: See that and raise ten.
Maverick: And ten more.
Paladin: My hand’s a wee bit lackin’. I’m out.
Downtown: Anyone beat a jack-high straight? Didn’t think so…
Paladin: Maverick, you look a bit troubled.
Maverick: It’s Angel… she seems a little distracted.
Paladin: Maverick, dinna worry about that lass. Her head’s on straight for sure.
Maverick: Some people say I’m using her…
Paladin: Hush, lad! Anyone who knows you, knows better. Angel’s a fine pilot and a bonny lass. And any lad who’d let her get away is as fur-brained as Ralgha!
Hobbes: Again, I wonder why I bothered to save this scoundrel’s life…
Paladin: Because ye’re an impeccable judge of character, Ralgha. And you are too, lad. Follow ye’re heart and talk be damned.
Concordia: Captain Blair, report to the Flight Deck for immediate launch!
Concordia: Captain Blair, this is the Concordia. Do you copy?
Maverick: Roger, Concordia, loud and clear.
Concordia: Your flight path has been programmed into your Nav computer.
Maverick: Affirmative, Concordia.
Stingray: Angel assigned me as your wingman for this run, Christopher.
Maverick: Glad to have you with me again, Stingray.
Concordia: Maverick, we’ve detected a destroyer in your designated strike zone.
Concordia: We don’t know why that ship is still in system, but we’re not going to let them rejoin the Strike Force. That destroyer is a target of opportunity and maybe we can start the pay-back for what happened on Tesla. We expect they’ll have a fighter escort, so be careful. You will escort the William Tell to the attack zone. The Concordia will continue on her current course and we will rendezvous after your mission. Good luck. Concordia out.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
Colonel Devereaux’s Office, TCS Concordia.
Angel: How did it go, mon cher?
Maverick: We were ambushed along the way by a wing of light fighters. We took care of them, and continued on to the enemy Task Force. We engaged the enemy. We nailed the destroyer, Colonel. We nailed those furballs. I shot down 5 and Stingray took out 4. It was a tough mission, but I made it back alive.
Angel: Non. I should not have sent you on this mission. It was too difficult.
Maverick: We came back, Angel. That’s all that matters.
Angel: But what about next time? Every time I assign a mission to you… I feel like I am sending you out to die.
Tesla (Losing Track) C
Observation Deck, TCS Concordia.
Stingray: Maverick, I’ve been a fool all this time, calling Hobbes an enemy agent.
Maverick: You had your reasons. We all have reasons to hate the Kilrathi.
Stingray: But Hobbes isn’t the enemy! Hobbes gave us probable Kilrathi tactics for the attack on Olympus. Without that intelligence, the cats would have their claws on Olympus right now! I wonder if there are other Kilrathi like Hobbes…
Maverick: When they wasted Goddard Colony, all I could think was that they’re evil. That we should roast every single one of them. But after flying with Hobbes… maybe I’m not so sure any more.
Stingray: Maybe we’ll have peace with them someday, Maverick.
Maverick: Maybe so, Stingray. But right now, we’re still at war.
Kilrathi Battle Command.
Hhallas System, M’shrak Sector.
Emperor: I did not summon you, grandson, but I know what you want. You wish to fight the Humans.
Thrakhath: My lord, you have ordered me to remain here… but how can I prove myself, if I do not lead warriors into battle? Khasra and my cousins shame me with their glory and honours!
Emperor: Khasra! I have heard enough of Khasra! Your father sought glory, as Khasra does. His ambitions led to his fatal… accident.
Thrakhath: Such… accidents… are very common in our family.
Emperor: Your father destroyed the Humans at Goddard… but his quest for glory cost us an entire strike fleet! Such failures are unacceptable, in an Admiral or an Heir. You may go to war, grandson. And as for Khasra… He shall face the Concordia pilots, where he may find the glory that he seeks. But if you fail me, as I expect Khasra will… one of your fifteen cousins shall be the Heir to Kilrah!
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: …the other wings will fly patrols around the Concordia. Maverick and Stingray… I have a specific mission for you. Paladin needs an escort out-system. Would you two like to volunteer?
Maverick: Of course. I wouldn’t want to see him risk his life in that old junker!
Paladin: The Bonnie Heather is a fine ship, lad! If you only knew how many times…
Tolwyn: Attention all hands! Red Alert! Incoming waves of enemy fighters!
Angel: All other pilots, scramble to your fighters to intercept the approaching wings! Maverick and Stingray, you’ll launch last – stay close and defend the Concordia!
Maverick: Concordia, this is Captain Blair, do you read?
Concordia: Roger, Blair. What’s going on out there, Maverick?
Maverick: Things were touch and go, Major. As soon as we repelled the Jalkehi, the Kilrathi launched Grikath at us!
Concordia: Since Concordia is still here, I assume the assault force was deterred. How many did you take down, Captain?
Maverick: By my count, I nailed 5 enemy fighters.
Concordia: Good work, Maverick! That’s a few less Kilrathi to worry about. How did your wingman do?
Maverick: Stingray accounted for 5 Kilrathi, Major.
Concordia: Land immediately, Captain.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
Tesla (Losing Track) D
Observation Deck, TCS Concordia.
Jazz: With those enemy carriers moving into this system, it’s getting so you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Jalkehi. No offence, Hobbes.
Hobbes: Do not apologise, Major. I rarely listen to what you have to say.
Downtown: It’s a rotten analogy, but Jazz is right. We’re seriously outnumbered and outgunned in this system.
Maverick: I’ve been in worse spots. Like back in the Firekka system…
Jazz: I haven’t thought about that operation in years… That was back before the Tiger’s Claw was blown up… wasn’t it, Christopher?
Maverick: Yes, it was.
Downtown: With all due respect, guys… that’s ancient history to me. I’m worried about the here and now. We’re up against two Kilrathi carriers, both of which are defended by heavy fighters.
Jazz: You’d better be on your toes, Captain, or you won’t be flying home from this one.
Briefing Room, TCS Concordia.
Angel: Today you will fly standard patrols. Jazz, you and Doomsday are Alpha Wing, and will fly the forward patrol. Maverick and Stingray are Bravo Wing, and will fly the rear patr… excuse me, mes amis…
The room grows quiet as Angel listens to an emergency communication.
Angel: Pilots, a Kilrathi strike fleet is heading for this position at top speed. The Concordia must retreat, and quickly. The following pilots report to the Flight Deck for immediate launch: Maverick, you and Stingray will fly point, intercepting the advance fighters from that strike fleet. You will then rendezvous with Paladin’s Free Trader and escort him to the jump point. When that is completed, rendezvous with the Concordia, which will be underway for the jump point.
Stingray: Wouldn’t we do better to sit at the jump point and await Concordia’s arrival?
Angel: Non, Stingray. Concordia may need your assistance en route. All other wings stay close to the Concordia to ward off attack. After this mission, the William Tell will jump out-system to draw enemy pursuit away from the Concordia. Pilots, I do not need to tell you that we are in great danger. Fly well, and be prepared for the out-system jump. Dismissed.
Maverick: Concordia, this Captain Blair, on final landing approach.
Concordia: Maverick, this is Major Edmond. New orders: Do not, repeat, do not attempt to land. The ACLS was damaged, but should have it back on-line in another few minutes. Remain in a circular patrol pattern. You’ll be down in no time, copy?
Maverick: Roger, Concordia.
Concordia: What happened on your flight, Blair?
Maverick: We won’t have to worry about those Grikath any more. They’re out of commission for good.
Concordia: Good work, Captain!
Maverick: We rendezvoused with the Free Trader, and proceeded to the jump point. There were Jalkehi-class heavy fighters patrolling the jump point. Paladin’s freighter jumped out safely, Major.
Concordia: How many enemy ships were you able to take out?
Maverick: By my best count, I nailed 4 targets.
Concordia: Not bad. Maverick, the ACLS is back on-line. You are clear to make your approach. Concordia out.
Sparks: Welcome back, sir.
