Part 5: Finding the Rock, Capella System, Gemini Sector (Story)
Between missions 2 and 3 Bradshaw recieves three e-mails; one of which depends on your performance in the second mission. If the Lionheart sustains no damage (as in the video), you get this:
IES Message - Received at 1015 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: Captain Charles Graham (TCN, TCS Lionheart)
To: Captain William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Flight Wing performance
Captain Bradshaw,
Considering the odds your wing faced during the last battle, I must say your performance has been exemplary. As the Lionheart is alone out here, the ship absolutely cannot afford to sustain any damage. We are all extremely grateful that your pilots have been able to keep us safe.
I will be sure to commend you in my next report.
Cpt. Charles Graham
If it gets hit, you get this:
IES Message - Received at 1015 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: Captain Charles Graham (TCN, TCS Lionheart)
To: Captain William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Flight Wing performance
Captain Bradshaw,
I must say, your performance so far has been somewhat wanting, especially considering the faith Admiral Terell seems to have in your abilities.
It goes without saying that, by allowing the Lionheart to sustain damage, you endanger us all. I am fully aware that combat is never predictable and pilots can hardly be blamed for everything that goes wrong during their missions. Nonetheless, it doesn't take that much firepower to overcome a destroyer, even one as powerful as the Lionheart. You and your pilots simply must fight harder.
I will be sure to mention this disappointing performance in my next report.
Cpt. Charles Graham
However, you have to pretty much willfully ignore the Sabres for that to happen.
Apparently we did actually get around to sending Cougar an e-mail as promised in the cutscene, since he replied:
IES Message - Received at 1020 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: Capt. Theodore Murphy (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Re: Hostages
Marksman,
Man, what can I say? I can only imagine what you're going through. If I had to rescue my wife... well, you know, I haven't even seen her since she got that desk job with the exploratory services a year ago, but suddenly I'm damned glad she went. Still, try not to worry. Over the years, I've participated in a few of these rescue ops. They all went off without a hitch, and that was against the cats, not any of this pirate rabble. Trust me - it'll be no sweat.
Cougar
> It's a long story, Cougar, and I can't say it's something I'm happy
> to discuss. Still, I suppose you do need to know the gist of it.
> Spoons, Squealer and I, we've known Sparrow since the Academy. Us
> three were in the same class, and Sparrow was two years ahead of us.
> We ended up all serving on the Defiance together.
>
> With Squealer, it's a simple story. He's saved my ass more than a few
> times, and the same for Spoons. We've every intention of returning
> the favour. Sparrow is a different story, though. Spoons never liked
> her. He actually thought she was dangerous. It's not something we saw
> eye to eye on, though. I liked her. We had a relationship. It didn't
> end well - let's please leave it at that.
>
> > about anything that might affect our pilots' performance out there,
> > including yours.
>
> You don't need to worry about me or Spoons, I can tell you that. We
> both know how high the stakes are, and if those hostages can be
> saved, they will be.
>
> Bradshaw
Finally, like any good military command, Gemini Sector has its own newsletter:
SWES Message - Received at 1023 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: Gemini Weekly Staff
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Gemini Weekly Newsletter
Clawmark murders solved! A breath of relief has been released in a widespread notion upon Perry Naval Base as the renowned 'ClawMark' murders drew to a breath-taking conclusion. As it has been reported for the last four weeks, a series of brutally mutilated bodies had been found in the base. The bodies all had deep, savage gashes in them in three-mark consecutive swipes, giving the impression that the bodies were killed by 'claws', suggesting that it was somehow done by a Kilrathi. Even though it would be impossible for a single Kilrathi to penetrate the base's defences to land, and it couldn't be fathomed how it could possibly remain unwitnessed upon the base's premises, tourism plummeted greatly, and trade activity dropped well below average. After a long, focused investigation, it was discovered that a local pilot in the base's line of defence was behind the murders, a solid tungsten hand-made claw being the instrument used to emulate the Kilrathi attacks.
Upon questioning, the local pilot stated, "If I don't bring awareness to the real killers out there, they'll get us while we sleep. We have to kill them all." The pilot remains in custody awaiting trial.
In other news, the truce agreement recently signed with the Empire of Kilrah has allowed Confed to let off some of the pressure that the last decade of war has placed on the federal budget. This has been demonstrated in the Gemini sector, where many war-capable capital ships have been deactivated and placed in reserve. A number of other vessels, including the escort carrier TCS Guadalcanal, are currently in the process of deactivation.
The Gemini Weekly would also like to extend our heart-felt congratulations to the crew of the TCS Francis Begbie, a Gilgamesh-class destroyer who have shown that peacetime definitely doesn't make them soft. The heroic efforts of the valiant crew saved a military installation along the rim of the Gemini sector from a concentrated Retro attack. The Begbie's quick response has saved many lives, and has shown decisively that arms reductions have not affected sector security in the slightest.
It's true, folks. Arms reductions have not affected sector security at all. Certainly no pirate bands have made off with Confederation hardware from mothballed carriers, that'd just be ridiculous.