Part 18: First Engagement, Mastif System, Sol Sector (Story)
22nd December 2668, Mastif System, Sol SectorEpisode 2, Mission 3 - First Engagement
The TCS Firekka launches a light strike to clear her jump point of what is likely to be the vanguard for much heavier Kilrathi forces.
Pre-mission cutscenes:
I guess you can only avoid Spoons for so long on an escort carrier. If only we were on a fleet carrier, or maybe we should steal a Hakaga...
Cutscene Video (Youtube)
:Hey, hero. So what's the word? Do we have a full complement now, or have we got a few more traitors invited?
:If you think I arranged for her transfer, Spoons...:I don't even care man, you've covered for her, that's enough.[under his breath]: I don't need this. [to Spoons] She did not deserve to die.: Oh, don't bother.[angry]: Fine. But Spoons, you will be flying with her sooner or later. I know you won't be happy about it and I'll try and keep the two of you apart as much as I can. :But sooner or later...promise me you won't make trouble if I ask you to fly with her. : Just keep her away from me. And Squealer, too. I want nothing to do with them. The pre-mission scene suggests you can also talk to Sparrow, but if you click on her:
Bradshaw will say "I'm not ready to talk to Sparrow. Not yet." and nothing further happens. I'm sure your brains can probably supply the requisite Bradshaw VA without me needing to add it here. The voice (especially in "moping about Sparrow" mode) tends to stay with you, I'll say that for it.
Two e-mail messages this time. Firstly, Sparrow, while apparently ready to e-mail us, is not quite stupid enough to actually write down what it is that Bradshaw did. This is notable as an instance of a Firekka pilot showing a certain amount of intelligence.
IES Message - Received at 0857 hours GST on 2668.357 posted:
From: Capt. Marie LeBlanc (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Well...
So, I guess they didn't let you know I'd be coming onboard, huh?
If it makes you feel any better, I didn't know you'd be here either. Though I guess I should've figured... the only ship in Gemini that's gonna see any action, so where else would you be?
I never had the opportunity to thank you for... you know. I hope you can find a moment to talk things over. It's gonna be pretty awkward, I know... but I really want to be in on the action, and I hope we'll get to work together again.
Sparrow
And we've got our usual fighter inventory. The loss of a only single Rapier in the previous mission leaves the Firekka still in pretty good shape.
IES Message - Received at 1023 hours GST on 2668.357 posted:
From: Chief Petty Officer Jean Henderson (TCN, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Latest flight deck status
Hey, Captain B.
Here's the latest data about the ships you've got available.
Stilettos: 12
Gladii: 12
Rapiers: 15
Jean
What the hell's going on?
Since we did the Confederation fleet deployment last time, let's have the Kilrathi deployment, featuring rather more carriers, for this update. Actually, first, let's have some first-class gloating from the Kilrathi Emperor:
Fleet Action posted:
"Magnificent, simply magnificent," he growled, turning back to look out the forward view port of the cruiser that now served as the Imperial ship. Less than a kilometer away, the Kilrathi Fifth Fleet of the Claw passed by in review. The light frigates, corvettes and three destroyer groups had already passed. The last of the heavy cruisers was just passing to port and now the first of the new carriers, Hagku'ka, came into view. Every fighter had been launched and moved in formation ahead of the carrier, three and a half eighties of fighters arrayed in eight V formations.
[...]
The first carrier passed, followed by four more and the Emperor watched, speechless. So this was the culmination of years of secret planning and the stripping of the best resources of the Empire. All for this, a fleet of ships unlike anything ever before seen in this sector of the universe. When the war with the humans was done, such ships could even stand against the Mantu, if they should dare to return.
"Grandson, with this fleet victory is ours."
"Remember, my Emperor, the fleet is but half the size we planned," Thrakhath said cautiously. "Victory should not be counted until the blood of the prey is in one's mouth."
The Emperor nodded, realizing that his enthusiasm had taken hold too deeply. He was still shaken by the murder attempt. It had been his dream to see at least one ceremony of Sivar in the burned ruins of Earth, for he knew that it would not be much longer before his ancestors finally called.
"Bring me victory," the Emperor finally said, "that is all I ask. You should take Earth in time for Sivar, we will celebrate it there. Be sure that it is ready for my arrival."
"Yes, my Emperor."
This is where you can tell that Forstchen is a historian rather than...well, than someone with an education in mathematics or logic. The Kilrathi have four fingers, so they count in base eight. Fair enough. Humans count in base ten, usually, so we count in terms of units, tens, (ten squared)s, (ten cubed)s, and so on. The Kilrathi would therefore be expected to cont in terms of units, eights, sixty-fours, 512s, etc. So "three and a half eighties" is just jarring enough to be irritating.
On a less pedantic note, those of you who were paying attention during Secret Missions 2 ought to remember that the Sivar is a Kilrathi religious festival. It seems to involve a large amount of slaughter.
Now, I did promise the Kilrathi deployment. Also, I absolutely have to include the first line here just to illustrate how terrible Forstchen really is (not that we've not had a few previous examples of clumsy writing, but they were ballerina-like compared to this one). Yes, this is exactly how it is in the book.
Fleet Action posted:
The Emperor turned away back to his grandson.
"Your plan is set, then?"
"Yes, my Emperor. The fleet will head towards the frontier at flank speed. Refueling tankers will accompany them so that we may move swiftly without need of deploying fuel scoops. The Second Fleet of the Claw, with four of our older carriers, will join us before we reach the frontier and make the first penetration, thus shielding our main fleet as long as possible. The Fourth Fleet of the Claw, with three carriers, will sortie towards the Landreich to pin down any forces they might have there, preventing them from shifting against our flank. The First Fleet of the Claw, with three carriers, will make up the reserve. The other carriers have been stripped of their crews and pilots for the Fifth Fleet and will be
held in reserve."
"That is ten carriers," the Emperor said quietly.
"You know the shortage of trained pilots has become serious. Either our best pilots went with our new carriers or else the new fleet would be manned by pilots with no combat experience. It will be a year before we have enough fully trained pilots and fighters to bring the older reserve carriers back to operational strength."
The Emperor nodded grimly.
"So let it be," he said, turning away. "Now bring me victory."
In some ways I feel these updates need more Jukaga. Not sure what I'll do about that. He's definitely going to get into the first update of Episode 3 though. Him and the Rapier, it's going to be a whole trove of stuff I really like.