Part 9: Storming the Rock, Capella System, Gemini Sector (Story)
7th August 2668, Capella System, Gemini SectorEpisode 1, Mission 5 - Storming the Rock
I've decided to try a change of format in my updates. Instead of mail and mission, I'm going to switch to "story" and "gameplay" updates. This is partially motivated by the fact that there's no sensible order to put the updates around that gets the story in the right order this time. Let me know if this is a terrible idea.
Aanyway. This is the story update. Gameplay will happen once the mission video is done uploading/transcoding.
Between mission cutscenes:
Confed flight recorders remain are clearly made by the same contractor who does armour plating for Epees. You'd think they'd want it to be the most reliable part of the fighter really. Apparently not.
Cutscene video (Youtube)
: Err, this is odd, captain. I'm not getting any data from your flight recorder. 
: Um, er....yeah, it shorted out during the flight.: Hmm. That's strange. Flight recorders don't usually...: Exactly what I thought! Well, let me know if you figure out what happened. : OK, will do sir. I'm sure you were all enthusiastically awaiting another Bradshaw monologue, after the game's intro, well, wait no longer!
Cutscene video (Youtube)
And for those of you who prefer your Bradshaw in text form, here's the transcript of what he said. I'm sure you can guess which former Defiance pilot features most prominently:
That encounter with Squealer...I still don't know what to think about all this. I... can't believe he would join the pirates of his own free will. No, no, I do believe it. Hell, I was pretty tempted too. I shorted out my blackbox afterwards. I don't want anyone to know about this. What really scares me is Sparrow, but I know she's a hostage. She didn't join them, I just know it. Or at least, I'm going to keep telling myself that. I guess after everything we've gone through, she's still a mystery to me. And I just don't know what I'll do. If she's turned, I don't know if I could bring myself to kill her, I really don't. Computer, save journal entry. Double encryption, protect with retina and voiceprint scan. Shut down.
I'm pretty sure that Confed really ought to have blackboxes that can't be shorted out from the cockpit when the pilot feels like it. Though given their performance in Wing Commander II, I can't really say it's a plothole that it's possible.
Four messages before we head out to Storm the Rock.
Chief Henderson apparently doesn't know about the trick we used to short the flight recorder out. Or maybe she does but officially is pretending not to because she likes us. Which is probably just as well under the circumstances.
IES Message - Received at 1735 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: Chief Petty Officer Jean Henderson (TCN, TCS Lionheart)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Flight recorder
Hey there, Captain B.
Gotta say, that flight recorder damage is mighty peculiar. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was sabotage... but I don't see how that could be possible.
I can only guess that when you took a hit, the energy feedback from the shields briefly overloaded the power plant and fried the recorder. Tech manuals say there's a small chance of that, though I can't say I've ever seen it actually happen... until now, that is.
Anyway, I've replaced the flight recorder in your ship. I can't guarantee it won't happen again, but the probability of such feedback happening twice in such a short space of time is pretty negligible, so it's not something you'll need to worry about.
Jean
Spoons, on the other hand, isn't buying our bullshit.
IES Message - Received at 1738 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Fabian Schroeder (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: When boxes go boom...
You may have fooled the Captain, Marksman, but man, I've known you too long to buy that story. The last time you went out on a mission without checking your equipment was... shit, our first real flight at the Academy. And blackboxes don't just short out during a mission, we both know that.
That, as you can imagine, makes me very curious. What aren't you telling us? Man, I'd fly to Kilrah with you, but I don't like this shit at all. Next time I see you, you better have an explanation, and it better be good.
Look, I know this thing is pretty tough for you, Sparrow being a hostage and all. I mean, I think she's a nutcase, but I understand you don't see it that way. Just don't do anything stupid - that's my job, remember?
Spoons
He's really not buying it. Probably because he was the one who taught Bradshaw how to short a black box (I bet they're STILL orange) out in the first place. Kind of odd that a pilot would know this and a mechanic wouldn't, though I guess aforementioned mechanic is pretty inexperienced as these people go (that being why she's on a destroyer and not a carrier).
IES Message - Received at 1812 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Fabian Schroeder (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Re: Re: When boxes go boom...
> Spoons, the techs still don't know how it happened, but they
> say it could have happened to anyone.
Right, but it happened to you. Remember that Academy mission, when you and Squealer fucked up? You'd have both been washed out if I hadn't helped you fry your blackboxes. This last mission of yours - the blackbox damage looks the same as it was then.
> If there was another explanation, I'd tell you. But there
> isn't. Hey, it's me, Marksman, remember? Trust me, man.
I guess maybe it is just my overactive imagination. That's what I hope. Still, if something's going on - and I'm not saying there is - you're better off telling me now. These things always come out sooner or later.
Spoons
>
> Bradshaw
A friend who we used to serve on the TCS Valiant with drops us a line. Commodore Hans Reismann is an Origin character; he was originally introduced in Privateer. The TCS Firekka is an escort carrier - much smaller than the Concordia but bigger than the Lionheart.
SWES Message - Received at 1815 hours GST on 2668.120 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Robert Collins (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Lionheart)
Subject: Checking in...
Hey, Marksman.
I figured I should drop a line in case you thought I was dead or something. But would you believe, I just haven't been able to find ANY time for email since we left the Valiant? This assignment is hell!
The guy in charge here on the Firekka is Commodore Reismann. I'm sure you've heard of him, he's the most hardcore nutcase in the whole damn Navy. When I first got here, I was CONVINCED they forgot to tell him about the truce. But no, he knows about the truce. I know he knows, because he's given everyone specific orders to NEVER mention the "t word". You know what we've been doing? Drilling. It seems like we spend every waking moment conducting operations drills. He says we must be ready for the cats. On average, I spend 16 hours a day in my Gladius. I'd sure love to know how Reismann explains the flight wing's fuel expenditure to HQ - it's peacetime, there's only a dozen of us here, and yet we're using more fuel than an entire wing in wartime.
Look, this is nuts! If he keeps this up and the cats don't attack soon, we're all gonna burn out. On the up side, if the cats strike before the entire crew commits mass suicide, the Firekka's going to be the best ship in the Navy. Not just in Gemini, in the whole Navy - we'll make even the Concordia crew seem like a bunch of cadets. Gotta wonder, if Reismann's such a hardass in peacetime, how bad was he during the war? Probably ate catmeat for breakfast or something.
I hope that answers your question, though - DO NOT request reassignment to the Firekka. If they take that destroyer of yours offline, look for work in the Fariss Quadrant. You're a captain, if they put you on the Firekka, you'll be squadron commander, or even the wing commander. The workout Reismann puts you through will make my life seem like a fairy tale.
Crap - scramble alert. Must be another drill. Take care.
Saxman