Wing Commander III: Locanda System

Thrakhath: Tell me this system continues to be worth raiding. I fail to see it.

Melek: The natural resources are utterly depleted. It remains a source of slave labour, but the population has never been particularly malleable.

Thrakhath: Slaves we have no shortage of. The Terrans want this system – they shall have it.

Melek: Nevertheless, my liege, I bristle at the thought of… they will call it… Oh, what is that strange word they have?

Thrakhath: ‘Surrender.’ No, it is not that. This system shall serve as a message to the apes. Since it is no longer of use to us, we shall render it useless to them as well…

Melek: As always, my liege… a wise choice.

Flash: I’ll be moving on to greener pastures, Colonel. I wish I could say it’s been fun.

Cobra: Colonel. You know the Kilrathi may be using bio-weapons here?

Maverick: First I’ve heard of it.

Cobra: Kilrathi’s been preparing these kinds of weapons for years. If they’re not deployed here, they will be somewhere else.

Maverick: Do you mind telling me how it is you know so much about the Kilrathi?

Maverick: Well, that’s where you’re wrong. It does matter. It’s just that someday I’d like to get the rest of the story.

Maverick: It’s hard for me to believe someone I know so little about.

Maverick: I flew here once. A lot of places to hide in this system. This your first time?

Flint: This is my home system. My father taught me everything he knew about flying here. He’d been planning to pass it all on to my brother, but… the Kilrathi had other plans.

Maverick: I’m sorry.

Flint: That’s all right. Everyone’s lost someone, right? They don’t give you medals for it.

Maverick: You haven’t been back since?

Flint: <shakes head>

Maverick: Which one was home?

Flint: That one.

Flint: It was a beautiful world. Dark purple nights and burnt moons that chased each other across the sky. The insects would sing – different serenades, depending on how close the moons were. My brother and I would stay up, listening… Do you remember the time before the war?

Maverick: I don’t let myself.

Flint: Sir, I have scores to settle here. I can’t be on the sidelines for these engagements. I need to be part of what goes down.

Maverick: Flint… when you fly, are you gonna be my wingman, or your brother’s wingman?

Maverick: Listen… I’m not sure I can afford to put you and your dead brother on my wing.

Flash: Colonel. I’d like to apologise for some of the things I said.

Maverick: Some?

Flash: Well… I still think I could have beat you two out of three.

Maverick: Care to go at it again?

Flash: No. From now on, I’ll prove it to you out there. That is if you think I’m good enough to be your wingman.

Maverick: You’re on the roster. You’ll get your shot, same as everyone.

Flash: Thank you.

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

Maverick: I’m ready, sir.

Eisen: The Kilrathi intentions in this area remain unclear. While we continue to gather intelligence, your task will be to corral the cats wherever possible. We wish, particularly, to shut off their access to the populated planets and this asteroid field. Let’s try to put these Kilrathi raiders out of business permanently.

Maverick: Ready to go, sir.

Eisen: I like that enthusiasm. Dismissed.

Fireclaw: You are worth less than the dung on Rikar 3!

Rollins: Ahh, feels great kicking some furry butt in this system! We’re moving on to Locanda IV – Intel says the Kilrathi presence there has increased. You’re clear to land. (Success)

Rollins: Ahh, feels great kicking some furry butt in this system! We’re moving on to Locanda IV – Intel says the Kilrathi presence there has increased. Hey, sir, I’m getting reports that Flint was a little wild out there. She been picking up pointers from ole Maniac, huh? <laughs> At any rate, you’re clear to land. (Mmm hmm…) (Success)

Vagabond: You’ve been in these parts before, right? Word is the Kilrathi have bled this system pretty dry over the years.

Maverick: Locanda’s always been hotly contested.

Maverick: Nothing the cats do surprises me any more. But if we do our job right, we won’t have to worry about that kind of thing.

Maverick: Rollins has been running off at the mouth again, hasn’t he? A Kilrathi bio-weapon? It’s a fairy tale.

Hobbes: I used to raid these planets.

Maverick: Yeah, I know.

Eisen: Let’s get started, Colonel.

Maverick: Yes, sir.

Eisen: We’ve still got more questions than answers on Kilrathi operations here. Some of the Kilrathi forces are pulling out, though other elements are closing in on Locanda IV. Intel thinks they’ve got warheads tipped with a new kind of bio-weapon, capable of spreading a pandemic over the whole planet within minutes. If Intel’s correct, the half-life of this virus is over 500 years. Colonel… we can’t let a single warhead slip through and strike the planet. If the warhead’s bio, the civilians on Locanda IV will… well, they’ll die slow deaths from a ravaging disease, and all we’ll be able to do is pull out of here as fast as we can. Good luck, son.

Rollins: Sir, they’re gonna be naming babies after you on Locanda IV! While you were out there, Intel did confirm that the Kilrathi warhead load-outs were bio-haz in nature. You’re cleared– oh, wait a minute, sir: Captain Eisen’s on the comm–

Eisen: Colonel, we got a situation in the lunar outreaches of Locanda IV… Lieutenant Robin Peters has ignored our return-to-ship orders. She’s gone renegade. Appears to be pursuing her own private war. Can you risk bringing her back?

Rollins: Colonel, we’re still waiting for confirmation on the spread of the pandemic. All I know is we better bug outta here before we’re all infected. You’re cleared– oh, wait a minute: Captain’s on the comm–

Eisen: Colonel, we don’t have the luxury of mourning Locanda IV just now. Lieutenant Robin Peters has ignored our return-to-ship orders. She’s gone renegade. Appears to be pursuing her own private war. Can you risk bringing her back?

Maverick: I’m going after her, Captain.

Maverick: I can’t. I’ll be lucky to land this thing.

Eisen: Well, then don’t delay, Colonel, you have clearance.

All biological warheads destroyed: Blackmane System

Locanda IV lost: Blackmane System (Losing Track)

Rollins: <applauds> Congratulations on roping her in, sir. First a whole planet, and then a pilot. I’d give you a promotion if I could. You’re cleared, Colonel. (Locanda 2 success)

Rollins: You’re not going to believe this, sir, Cobra was able to reel Flint in. Nevertheless, Captain Eisen expresses his appreciation for your attempt. You’re clear to land. (Locanda 2 success)

Flint: You might have died out there, chasing after me.

Maverick: I might have.

Flint: I suppose the Captain ordered you–

Maverick: No. That was my call to make.

Flint: Well, I suppose I should be impressed. <sigh> I’m not very good at saying thank you.

Maverick: Hey, you’re welcome.

Flint: I want you to understand–

Cobra: You sure you’re okay?

Flint: Yeah. I’m sorry you had to come after me…

Cobra: Oh, forget it. Sometimes I feel the same way. I’d like to kill every one of those Kilrathi my own self. Take care of yourself, girl.

Maverick: Cobra’s a heck of a fighter…

Flint: She risked too much.

Maverick: We don’t fly suicide missions. We fight this war to live, not to die. You’ve got to fly with your head, Flint. Not your heart.

Flint: You’ve never done that, sir? Fly with your heart?

Maverick: The day I do that, I expect a stiff dressing-down, mister. That’s an order.

Flint: Sir? My father didn’t read his children bedtime stories. He read to us from the regs manuals. I know there are certain actions necessary…

Maverick: Book regs are not war regs. If this was peacetime I’d ground you faster than a tachyon. Now that’s an indulgence we can’t afford. But don’t make one of us come after you again.

Flint: That, sir, would be an indulgence…

Maverick: If every pilot pursues a private war, the Kilrathi triumph. Until further notice, you’re grounded.

All biological warheads destroyed: Blackmane System

Locanda IV lost: Blackmane System (Losing Track)