Wing Commander III: Kilrah System

Thrakhath: How long?

Melek: The assault on the Terran home system commences in 48 hours.

Thrakhath: Victory, Melek… it smells sweet… Although combat is never predictable, I do hope for one last encounter with The Heart of the Tiger. It will make our triumph all the more complete…

Rollins: Colonel Blair, report to the briefing room. Colonel Blair, report to the briefing room.

Eisen: Colonel… I’d just like to take this opportunity to say… at first, I wasn’t so sure about your assignment to the Victory. But I’m glad you came on board. It’s been an honour and a privilege serving with you.

Maverick: That goes both ways, Captain.

Eisen: The Temblor Bomb still seems like a long shot. But from what I’ve seen, you’re the one man who can do what has to be done.

Maverick: I just hope I can justify that faith, sir.

Eisen: You will. Shall we?

Maverick: <nods> <sigh>

Eisen: Well, gentlemen, our goal is simple: Termination of the Kilrathi homeworld via the T-Bomb. And since we can’t jump the entire fleet into Kilrah, we’ve equipped your Excalibur with Confed’s first attempt at truly impenetrable cloaking technology. The shroud device seems effective at jamming their tracking monitors, but it causes severe drain on your ship’s systems. It’ll be useless after you deliver the payload – you’ll need all your power just to get out of there. Now, the first step is to assemble a quick-strike team – up to three wingmen – penetrate the Kilrah system, where you’ll stage at a clandestine refuelling depot set up by Covert Ops. Due to its mass, sensitive guidance suite, and the risk of flying with it, the T-Bomb has already been secreted into the system. Once you load it here, at your second stop, you’ll have just one target. Successful insertion will require the ultimate in navigational skills. As we’ve been told, Confed holds that destruction of the Kilrathi homeworld will badly cripple their war effort. And our timing may be just right, since Intel believes much of the enemy fleet is being outfitted in the shipyards surrounding their homeworld. Colonel, if all goes well – you will not return to the Victory until you’ve succeeded with the entire operation.

Maverick: This is my only briefing then, sir?

Eisen: An old comrade of yours will be taking over.

Paladin: Hello again, laddie. I know Captain Eisen has given you a thorough briefing, but you’ll find a few more messages from yours truly on the other side of the jump point. I may not be flying on your wing like times past, but I’m still with you – you can count on that.

Eisen: Colonel, good luck.

Maverick: Thank you, sir.

Depot: Excalibur, you are cleared to land.

Rollins: I suppose that’s a new definition of ‘disaster’, eh Colonel? I’ve got more bad news. Confed finally owned up to how badly the war’s going. I told you this was coming, didn’t I? A massive Kilrathi armada is threatening Earth and we’re jumping to Proxima to help hold them off. You’re clear to land.

Maverick: I read somewhere that the darkest of times supposedly brings out the best in men. All I know is this is what we’ve been waiting for since the very beginning – the opportunity to put the Kilrathi out of business permanently.

Stalker: I will gut you, Human!

Thrakhath: I have long held the belief that The Heart of the Tiger was as smart as he was noble. But now I discover you are foolhardy enough to invade the very airspace of my homeworld! Your courage vanished the last time we met, yet now you venture here alone. Nothing is more pathetic than a foolish warrior! Nevertheless, I will relish your demise. Welcome to my world, Heart of the Tiger… welcome to your death!

Emperor: What is this? Nooooooo!

Melek: The Heart of the Tiger… in my bones, I wish to kill you…

Maverick: Do it then. It won’t bring back your homeworld.

Melek: And a race without a homeworld? Unimaginable! The Kilrathi are a beaten race, and killing the one warrior great enough to bring about their end will bring me no honour. A new millennium lies ahead. We have become too corrupt, and too much slaves to our blood lust. And we have paid a heavy price. We are surrendering to you, Heart of the Tiger. It is an action unlike any we have ever taken – but it is time the Kilrathi find new ways. The Kilrathi must not die out as a race…

Maverick: So what do you want to do first?

Flint: I wanna lie in the sun, and watch the seagulls manoeuvre over the water.

Maverick: Sounds good to me.

Maverick: So what would you like to do first?

Coriolis: I wanna take a long walk along the seashore, I wanna feel the sand between my toes, and never see another bulkhead. <laughs>

Maverick: Sounds good to me.

Maverick: <sigh> <smiles>