Part 12: Unresolved Issues (A), New Detroit System, Gemini Sector (Story)
Looks like pick her up wins by eight votes to one. As it happens, that's what I did when I actually played the mission, so most of the videos are already recorded, I just have to Avisynth something up...hoping to get something out tonight, though busy applying for jobs, so might not happen until tomorrow.Tarquinn posted:
Moral high ground and all that jazz.
I think I can reasonably state that there will be no moral high ground occupied. At least not by Bradshaw anyway.
Meanwhile, have one thing that I accidentally left out of the last update and one that I deliberately left out.
The time between this mission and the previous one is how long it took to top that Sabre's fuel off and do the preflight. Strangely there are not any cutscenes. There is, however, an e-mail. Presumably Spoons' ejector seat comes with wi-fi since that's pretty much the only way he could have sent this message, given he ejected in the previous mission.
IES Message - Received at 1918 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...
Funny how you didn't seem all that surprised by the Guadalcanal pilots. So nice of you to warn me. Or have you forgotten that I was in the same class as you, Squealer and Sparrow? Telling me that I'd have to fight Squealer would've helped.
I'll talk to you after you get back. And this time, you try any bullshit and I'll beat the shit out of ya, ok?
Spoons
> Spoons, the techs still don't know how it happened, but they
> say it could have happened to anyone.
>
> If there was another explanation, I'd tell you. But there
> isn't. Hey, it's me, Marksman, remember? Trust me, man.
>
> Bradshaw
New characters:
Captain Marie Leblanc ("Sparrow")
Two years ahead of Bradshaw, Spoons and Squealer at the Academy, Marie Leblanc graduated in 2661, top of her class. A good pilot but with a huge ego, Sparrow made little progress until her career nearly ended over an insubordination incident in mid-2662. That was, however, enough to shock her into putting some effort into her demeanour as well as her piloting, and two promotions followed over the next four years. Along the way she dated and broke up with William Bradshaw; neither of them have talked much about why they broke up but everyone on the Defiance blamed Sparrow, something which she resented. After the loss of the Defiance in Operation Nightshade Sparrow was assigned to the TCS Guadacanal as squadron commander of that escort carrier's Sabres, where she has excelled. However, her Wing Commander has expressed a concern she's turning her squadron into a personal fan club.
You didn't think she'd remain offscreen, did you? In some ways Standoff's storyline is dominated by Sparrow - in the terms of the melodramas which Standoff borrows from, she's the Dame - but in most respects it's her shadow rather than her presence. Sparrow (I'm impressed by her VA, for what that's worth) is mostly a mirror used to reflect Bradshaw (mostly in regards to how he goes to extremes of stupidity for the sake of his friends) rather than a clear personality in herself, though you can see flickers of her being a manipulative bitch like the reputation she seems to have. I don't think you're supposed to like Sparrow, though I found myself doing so after a while. The conflict between her and Spoons makes up a lot of the character-driven plot; you get the feeling she probably started it, but Spoons is probably responsible for it still going on.