Part 25: Rearguard Action, Warsaw System, Vega Sector (Story)
^^^Have you seen Arena? You may not know you're pretty much already right.Gamerofthegame posted:
How the hell did all the Broadswords, the fairly beefy ship all in all, die rather rapidly (With many screamers) while the Gladius and Epee seem to have gotten off relatively unscathed, or at least I think they did.
Weird.
I also find it kind of amusing, in retrospect, that all the nameless people seem to always die on ship destruction while all of your's eject... Very nonchalantly.
I should probably talk about wingman death in Standoff. In Prophecy you had two types of wingmen, plot-important ones who couldn't die unless the script said so and redshirts who could die at any point though they could also eject and most of them usually would. EA had a script that would search the living redshirt wingmen and assign them to fighters before each mission. For whatever reason, Standoff's programmers couldn't get that to work and therefore they had to assign wingmen by hand, which means that the Firekka's pilots are all unkillable under normal circumstances. Of course, this doesn't apply to the final mission they're assigned to in the game in which they're all entirely mortal.
Anyway, on with the storyline update. Mission might happen today, I'm off to record it now.
24th December 2668, Warsaw System, Vega Sector
Episode 3, Mission 3 - Rearguard Action
The Confederation Third Fleet retreats from Warsaw as the Kilrathi supercarriers arrive, laying mines behind it to delay the enemy advance.
Pre-mission cutscenes:
Three cutscenes this time. Firstly, Bradshaw chews Cougar out for being a terrible drunk (this is the one you get instead of the mission debrief), with one of his best lines of the game.
Cutscene Video (Youtube)
: Well, what do you have to say for yourself?: It's one of consequences of stupidity!: Cougar, I would have expected this kind of behaviour from a rookie, but you? : You! We just can't afford this right now! What the hell got into you, anyway?: Where is your wife, Cougar? On the Concordia? The Saratoga? On the ground in Warsaw, maybe? : She's safe, Cougar. There's people on this ship with families in Vega. Warsaw, Earth, all those places in the path of the cat fleet. : They're not spending Christmas with their families either, they're watching them die. And it's not them getting drunk, it's you. : Don't let it happen again. Earth isn't in Vega, Bradshaw. But you're at least sounding less mopey and developing a character now, so I'll let it pass (this conversation is pretty much where I stopped hating Bradshaw).
Saxman indulges in some slightly morbid discussion about a Very Kilrathi Christmas.
Cutscene Video (Youtube)
: A toast. May we have the best Christmas ever!
: You said it, man. Did anyone see the vids of those new cat carriers? Unbelievable. What a sight. : [sings] On the first day of Christmas the Kilrathi gave to me...: Please don't finish that sentence, Saxman. It's just not funny. : I know, Bill, I know. I'm just trying to hold on to my sanity, that's all. : I don't want to think about what the Cats are gonna do with the people we're leaving behind.
: Or what they already did in Hanover. : We'll pay them back, though. No matter what happens now. Next year, in Kilrah!: Oh yeah, I'll drink to that. You'll drink to that? DAMMIT PEOPLE, WHO BROUGHT OUT THE BOOZE?
Trigger is pissed off about the fact that we're retreating. And also thinks everyone else on board is distracted.
Cutscene Video (Youtube)
: Captain?: So let me guess. You're going to complain about Christmas with the cats too. : Christmas? What?: Huh? You didn't notice? : Well, uh, I did wonder what was up with everyone, but, y'know, I was busy with the cats.: Trigger, you're a freak. I'm sure glad someone's focused on the job though. : Maybe if everyone else stayed focused, we wouldn't be preparing to retreat.: Yeah, Maybe. The cats do have us outnumbered though. : Doesn't make me feel any better about abandoning this place.
Saxman provides an accurate assessment of the Gladius's functionality. Also, apparently Psion used to serve with Saxman, didn't know about that.
IES Message - Received at 0507 hours GST on 2668.359 posted:
From: 1st Lt. Robert Collins (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: Capt. William Bradshaw (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
Subject: Whoa.
Oh, man, so many times I've heard newbie pilots whining about the Gladius being an... and I'm quoting here... "an obsolete piece of shit good enough only for incompetent militia units stuck out in the asshole of the universe."
...Never thought I'd actually agree!
All right, I don't agree entirely. Our Gladii may be a little outdated, but they're more than good enough for the occasional fleet action in Gemini. Gotta admit it, though, never seen a fleet action like this. Not in Gemini.
Marksman, that mission was a nightmare, and that was just the cats introducing themselves! When we go up against the supercarriers, there just won't be any point sending out Gladii. They'll be shot down like flies.
I'm not scared, you know - but unless we get some better ships, I just don't think sending us out against the cat fleet will achieve anything other than getting us killed. A Sabre would be nice. Whatever happened to those Sabres they had back on the Guadalcanal, anyway? Why didn't the Firekka get those?
Saxman
Cougar lacks a sense of humour about certain events. Dammit people, who gave him even more booze?
IES Message - Received at 1747 hours GST on 2668.359 posted:
From: Capt. Theodore Murphy (TCSF, TCS Firekka)
To: All pilots, TCS Firekka
Subject: Not funny!
To whomever you are.
It's not funny.
No, I don't appreciate your bottle of suk'har mayya, "compliments of Prince Thrakhath, Santa Claws, and the Empire of Kilrah". In spite of what recent events may have erroneously led you to believe, I'm not prone to getting drunk at every opportunity!
And no, my anonymous friend, don't bother coming forth and admitting responsibility. Joke's on you, buddy - however much money you spent getting that INCREDIBLY expensive drink, it's wasted money to you now, cause you're never seeing that bottle again.
But your sacrifice won't be in vain... when this is all over and I'm emptying that bottle with my wife, I'll be sure to toast your anonymous health!
Cougar
And, of course, the flight deck update. Relatively minor losses compared to what the Concordia took on that mission. The Broadsword's not flyable in Standoff, but my guess is that the Vision engine, which is very speed-oriented, makes it something of a deathtrap.
IES Message - Received at 1120 hours GST on 2668.359 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.
Well, that last mission must've been really something. I sure hope you're not planning too many such parties, though, because our Gladii really can't take this kind of punishment! Anyway, here's what we've got ready for your next mission.
Stilettos: 12
Gladii: 11
Rapiers: 8
Jean
What the hell is going on?
Prince Thrakhath has arrived with the five Hakagas of the Kilrathi Fifth Fleet, and Tolwyn is falling back to Sirius.
Fleet Action posted:
But now there was no longer a question as to Prince Thrakhath's strategy. He was indeed coming straight on.
For the last hour, the jump point covered by the carriers had disgorged destroyers, frigates, fuel tankers, and supply ships. And now at last the first of the new carriers had emerged.
[...]
A fourth carrier appeared and then a fifth, each of them identical, each of them terrifying.
"Sir, we are receiving a hailing from the Kilrathi fleet."
"What?"
The communications officer looked back at his console for a moment and then turned again to Tolwyn.
"Confirmed, sir. It's an in the clear translight signal from their fleet."
"I'll take it in my office."
[...]
The image of Baron Jukaga appeared.
"Ah, Admiral Tolwyn, our intelligence reports said that you were in command of Third Fleet My congratulations on your promotion. We have always admired you as perhaps the best of the fighting admirals of the Confederation."
"What do you want, Baron?" Geoff replied coldly.
"Your surrender."
"I'm a military man, not a diplomat, Baron. Direct your inquiry to President Quinson. I'm sure he will tell you to go perform a certain impossible anatomical act."
The Baron chuckled.
"You humans and your sexual obsession. So strange, we must discuss the differences some time. But I am asking a military question, Admiral. I'm not demanding the surrender of your Confederation, merely your fleet."
Geoff replied with what he assumed the President would have said.
And here's why Tolwyn has reason to believe that everyone in the outer colonies hit by the Kilrathi fleet is dead - but as I said, this only happens as the Terrans are withdrawing from Warsaw, not at the start of the battle.
Fleet Action posted:
"We don't have much time to talk, Admiral. I want to give you a warning. I was supposed to do this anyhow but I want you to understand that my concern in this is genuine."
"Go on then."
"If you do not surrender your fleet, Prince Thrakhath has declared that this shall be a war of gatagak'vu. How do you say, a war of total
eradication."
Geoff felt a cold chill.
"Has it not always been thus?" he finally ventured.
"No. This is different He will not only slaughter everyone -man, woman and child, but he will also slaughter the very worlds you live on through the use of high radiation doses. Nothing will be left, nothing. Your home, your Earth, with all its long history, will be dead, uninhabitable, lifeless."
His words trailed off and Geoff was startled to realize that Jukaga's voice was filled with remorse.
"You wanted us destroyed, enslaved, why your concern now?" Geoff asked.
Jukaga smiled and shook his head.
"That is not your concern, Admiral Tolwyn, only my own. I therefore implore you. Surrender. If you do, I will ensure that you and your warriors
are treated with honor, that your Earth will continue to live."
"Better to die as free men then live as slaves," Geoff replied coldly.
Jukaga nodded, a smile lighting his features.
"As any true warrior would reply," he said quietly, "as I knew you would reply."