Part 85: Blackmane System, Vega Sector, Mission 2 (Story)

Slander! They don't take anywhere near 20 minutes (edit: just tried the first one, it took 8). Thankfully - I'm not sure I could come up with 20 minutes of commentary about them. Also something kinda happens in the first one but it's not exactly unforgettable.

Blackmane System, Vega Sector
Barracks, TCS Victory
(also sort of Vespus System, Enigma Sector)

I'd better put this scene before the next conversation or that's not going to make any sense at all. As it is, it will still seem pretty out-of-the-blue, but that's to some extent a casualty of the medium - there doesn't seem to be enough video to develop all the plot threads the script tried to use. Two or three fewer would have worked much better. Anyway, this is the second of the scenes which play when you click on Blair's locker. It shows up at the start of disc 2 (that is, after the jump from Locanda to Blackmane).



As Blair runs his hand over a picture of Angel on his locker, the scene fades from the Victory's pilot barracks to a beach on Vespus's Mistral Coast



: Is this forever?
: Forever isn't long enough
[they kiss]

Flight Deck

Rachel interrupts checking over an Arrow's systems to perform some maintenance on any fighter's most important component. Do they give Confed mechanics psych training, or something? This is why my character bio of her started with the line "Apparently Chris Roberts liked the character of Sparks so much from WC2 that he decided to do it again."

(Also, gogogo me choosing screenshots for these where a) the video compression isn't as obvious and b) I don't have to stare at Ginger Lynn's grey eyes which are kind of disturbing for some reason)



: Colonel, ah, can we chat off the record?
: Don't we usually?
(hesitant): Yeah. That's one on the things that I like about you. And the fact that I like you is why I wanna say this. Um.
: Go ahead.
: You've got a look in your eyes that I've seen before. I had this fella, see? And he went out one day and saw his wingman get fried. He started to blame himself. And no matter what I said or anybody else, it didn't matter. A few days after that he took out a Thunderbolt and just kept going. He, ah, hit a jump point just as the Kilrathi were coming through. There were a lot of fireworks - he might still be out there as far as I know. They never found him; not even a trace - and that look in your eyes is the same look that he had just before he went out on that mission. Do you wanna talk about it?

Well, thread, do you? Does Blair think Rachel understands him? Or is it none of her business?

Rec Room

Here's the killboard. Once again, it's got ten more kills for me than I actually have on it, so the correct number is 79 fighters and 2 Aces (Bloodmist and Flash).



Barracks

Maniac is predictably sarcastic about our spending any amount of time talking to the Chief.


: Well, if it isn't lover-boy, himself. I saw you putting the... moves on everybody's favourite little grease monkey.
: Jealous?
: Aw, I don't think getting into her pants requires any high-risk manoeuvring.
: Well, just the fact that it takes manoeuvring leaves you breathing my engine exhaust, doesn't it? (he laughs and leaves)
[flipping through a Playboy after Blair walks off]: Awww, maan...I've dated all you girls!

This is actually a choice, but a) I'm pretty sure you'd vote this way if I gave you the choice b) the two choices this update aren't related, and the Rachel one is more important and c) the other line is kind of weak.

Mission Briefing
Briefing Room



: Listen up, Colonel. As usual, we have our work cut out for us.
: No doubt, sir.
: Now that we've broken the Kilrathi siege on the base, the supply ships can finally move in. We need to escort the incoming convoys, and get them to the base without any dents. That means a little housekeeping to clear the way. We're doing well: let's keep it up.
: Ready to go, sir.
: I like that enthusiasm! Dismissed!

Choose your own Blair!

The big choice is on the nature of Blair's relationship with Rachel - does he think she understands, like Sparks, or is his worrying about Angel none of her business? Additionally, now we've flown with each wingman once there's a full house to pick from there (Hobbes, Vagabond, Vaquero, Maniac, Cobra, Flash and Flint) and the usual three fighters to choose between.