Wing Commander III: Caliban System

Thrakhath: Explain to me how, even with their jump point masked, the Terran carrier escaped our grasp.

Melek: To my deepest regrets, my liege, they managed to find another jump point outside the nebula where our masking techniques cannot function…

Thrakhath: There’s more?

Melek: We learned… only after it was too late… The Heart of the Tiger was one of the carrier’s protectors…

Thrakhath: The Emperor must not know of the success of this Terran incursion.

Melek: My thoughts exactly, my liege. The Emperor, of course, must stay focused on the larger picture: our ultimate triumph.

Thrakhath: Which, The Heart of the Tiger continues to jeopardise. I have waited many, many years, and now it is time… The trigger…

Melek: An excellent plan, my liege…

Thrakhath: Prepare to send The Message.

Cobra: Why didn’t you warn us that your kind could close jump points?

Hobbes: Lieutenant, I do not believe our shared enemy closed the jump point.

Cobra: Hey, I wasn’t hallucinating when it went off my screen.

Hobbes: Our esteemed Captain has theorised that the enemy cloaked the jump point. The characteristics of the nebula undoubtedly made this possible – and explains why the Ariel system had been used for so long as a convoy passage.

Cobra: You know the Ariel system like the back of your paw. And you claim you had no clue of what was waiting for us?

Hobbes: No more than you, Lieutenant.

Cobra: You’re a liar.

Maverick: Lieutenant! Excuse me. Colonel Hobbes’ loyalty is not to be questioned again. Is that understood?!

Maverick: Excuse me! Lieutenant, if you have any hard evidence, I’d like to hear it in private. All right?

Cobra: Yes, sir.

Hobbes: You have doubts about my loyalty, old friend?

Maverick: Oh, come on, pal – of course not. Cobra’s a good pilot. Hatred fuels that talent. It’s something we can’t afford to lose right now.

Rollins: Colonel Blair – report to the bridge on the double.

Maverick: What’s going on?

Flint: All our comm systems have been jammed, and guess who’s behind it?

Eisen: C’mon, Lieutenant! Don’t tell me you can’t do anything!

Rollins: I’m trying, sir. But it’s like some kind of video-virus – or should I say, ‘worm’? Ah, this looks like a major debug–

Thrakhath: I have read your Terran Bible, with its predictions that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is about to be fulfilled. We will tear your tongues out, we will scoop out your brains.

Cobra: That ain’t all they’ll do, if they ever get their paws on us.

Thrakhath: You will be prime examples to the other races in the galaxy, and clownish baboons for our amusement…

Vaquero: For baboons, we sure have been gettin’ our shots in, Señor Gato.

Thrakhath: Your race will suffer a thousand torments and more. Do not be emboldened by the presence of The Heart of the Tiger among you. Colonel Blair will be reduced to a pile of entrails. I will see to it personally that you pay for every noble Kilrathi who has died at your hands in combat. I leave you and your miserable comrades to contemplate your ignoble futures…

Flint: I didn’t know you and he had a history.

Maverick: Yeah, Thrakhath and I have gone a few rounds…

Eisen: He seems to have a special nickname for you.

Maverick: That’s news to me, Captain. An ‘honour’ I could do without.

Vagabond: You ask me, the cats are running a little scared.

Eisen: Well, perhaps our incursion into Ariel had something to do with that. Hobbes!

Hobbes: Kilrathi believe always that war is psychological. It is a contest of wills as much as weapons.

Vaquero: Talkin’ garbage, is all I call it.

Hobbes: It is the politics of superiority. Not, perhaps, one of my race’s more admirable social constructs.

Cobra: “Social constructs.” A pack of animals with “admirable social constructs”.

Rollins: Captain, we have a Kilrathi force heading our way – I think they came through that last jump point… and it doesn’t look like they’re runnin’ scared, sir.

Eisen: I’ll see you in the briefing room.

Maniac: Ain’t we the lucky ones? Just jump from one nebula to another. Seems we’ve just signed on to the whole galactic nebula tour package.

Maverick: Well, look on the bright side, Maniac.

Maniac: Which is?

Maverick: At least you’ll be able to find something to hide behind.

Maniac: That’s funny.

Maverick: It ain’t any easier on the Kilrathi. They gotta navigate through it too.

Maniac: I dunno. Sometimes I think they got eyes in the back of their heads. Weird cat thing.

Flash: They can close the jump points! What’s next?! I– I mean, they got us between their paws. It’s just a question of time now.

Maverick: We don’t know they can close the jump points. Theory has it that they just cloaked one.

Flash: And to think… the only reason I’m here is ’cause I lost a stupid bet.

Maverick: See where shootin’ off your mouth gets you?

Eisen: Ah, Colonel. I hope you’re not putting much stock in all that hot air Thrakhath decided to blow our way.

Maverick: No, sir.

Eisen: Good. Headquarters is pretty sure the Kilrathi has a special device in Ariel that enabled them to use nebular gasses to throw a ‘curtain’ over that jump point. Now, Confed thinks Ariel is the only system where they have this capability, since that’s where they carried on so much of their convoy traffic.

Maverick: Well, that’s good news. I don’t feel like running into many more closed doors.

Eisen: Well, obviously the Prince’s transmission was a good indication they’re coming after us, hot and heavy. So we’re going to split from our escorts once we enter this nebula, and you’re going to protect these two destroyers. Navigation has located a new jump point inside the nebula which we can use for our retreat once we’ve taken out enough of our pursuers. Give it your best, Colonel! Dismissed!

Rollins: That’ll teach Thrakhath to crash-vid us. You’re clear to land, Colonel.

Rollins: Colonel, we’re heading for the nearest jump point – Confed’s got other plans for us. You’re clear to land.

Flint: You know, my father holds very definite ideas about flying under these conditions. He feels you can always find a way to fling the obstacles back in the enemy’s face. I got a holo-mail trans from him after Rollins got communications back up.

Maverick: What’s your father flying these days?

Flint: Oh, only a desk, unfortunately.

Maverick: Oh. I bet he wishes he was behind the ’stick.

Flint: Oh, you better believe it. It’s like an addiction, isn’t it? I mean, once you get hooked…

Maverick: You know, I’d like to meet him someday. It’s guys like him who really wrote the book on how to fight this war.

Flint: Yeah, well, he’d like to meet you. I told him I was flying with you and he was very impressed.

Maverick: Really? Thanks.

Maverick: Yeah, well… he’ll probably outlive all of us.

Eisen: Listen up, Colonel. As usual, we have our work cut out for us.

Maverick: No doubt, sir.

Eisen: You see these Kilrathi fighters that have suddenly left the main flock? I think they worked out where the jump point is, and they plan on getting out of the nebula radio shroud to sound off about it to their main fleet command. You are to stop every last one of them from getting out and being able to send a clear trans. Good luck, Colonel!

Rollins: You just mowed those cats down, sir. Suppose the rest of the litter ain’t gonna find out about our new jump point. Captain says it’s time to get out of here. You are cleared to land.

Rollins: Colonel, we’re heading for the nearest jump point – Confed’s got other plans for us. You’re clear to land.

Eisen: Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Maverick: I’m ready, sir.

Eisen: Get us to the new jump point, Colonel. Word is Confed has got some other plans for us, it’d be a shame to disappoint them. But since we’re moving such a large force, you can bet the Kilrathi will want to give us one of their noisy send-offs. Good luck, Colonel!

Rollins: You’re cleared, Colonel. Captain says to inform you we’ve got company coming. Oh, I sure hope it’s young, female, and pretty. (Success)