Part 47: Heating Up, Sol System, Sol Sector (Story)

Well, the reason that it was inappropriate was that it was a victory roll, done through the hangar bay of a mostly-wrecked carrier which had no part in the victory I was celebrating but which had, instead, just lost most/all of its escorts and taken two torpedo hits and which was not, therefore, probably feeling very victorious. Anyway, on with the show.

30th December 2668, Sol System, Sol Sector
Episode 5, Mission 3 - Heating Up

The Kilrathi attempt to finish off the crippled TCS Saratoga, while the Firekka-Grunwald task group intercepts.

Pre-mission cutscenes:

Bradshaw has a question for Cougar that has...worrying implications. Captain Obvious provides relationship advice which fits with his milieu:

Cutscene Video (YouTube)

: Hey look, it won't be easy but we'll get through it somehow.
: Huh?
: Well, you just looked worried, that's all.
: Oh, it's not that. It's...
: Hey, Cougar. What's it like, being married?
: Huh? Well... Oh, I get it. Sparrow.
: Complicated.
: Yeah, that's what Spoons said.
: I had no idea how right he was.
: Well, I hate to say this, but I can't help you. You need to figure this out on your own.
: And, you need to talk to her.

No time to read e-mails before the scramble, though. Which we'll be doing in a Rapier since that was a pretty overwhelming vote, 6-1 in favour of the correct choice. The thread has clearly mastered the art of picking ships in Standoff: unless you expect to need more than 3 torpedo hits in the mission, pick the Rapier, one of the outright most fun ships I've ever been able to fly in starfighter games as well as being powerful. I think the only fighter I enjoyed flying as much as the Standoff Rapier were the shielded TIE Interceptors from the Balance of Power expansion to X-Wing vs TIE Fighter. Update either tomorrow or Wed, depending on how competent I am. Have already beaten the mission and have most of the ancillary stuff done, shouldn't take more than a day but I'm pretty distractable right now.

edit: Only taking very slightly more than a day. Video and 33% of the commentary done, but not quite going to get it finished. Should show up tomorrow.