Briefing texts (WiH)

The following information has not been confirmed by Volition and is therefore not canon for the FreeSpace universe.

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WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the following storylines: Blue Planet: Age of Aquarius and Blue Planet: War in Heaven

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Blue Planet Briefing Texts
Blue Planet: Age of Aquarius Blue Planet: War in Heaven (Acts 1-2) Blue Planet: War in Heaven (Act 3)

Intro

Artemis Station

Mission filename: bp2-00.fs2

Fiction Viewer (Unused)

(There is a text file that looks like it may have been intended to be a fiction viewer entry read before this cutscene, at one point. Its contents are included below:)

In a time such as this, it is perhaps best if we start from the beginning.

So I shall begin.

It was never made clear who fired the first shot. Nor was it clear who declared war on whom. It does not matter now, for neither side is blameless. On one side was a nation on the brink of collapse, fighting for a symbol to bring its people together. On the other side, a federation fighting for the right to exist. Are these two sides so different from each other?

The biggest tragedy of the war was how preventable it was. Admiral Morian's pride called for our ships to stand down and surrender. Captain Leceister's pride required that his battle frigate respond to these calls with violence. Ego dictated that the loss of the Renjian must not go unpunished, and that these Galactic Terran aggressors would be forcibly ejected from our space.

Everything we had worked for as a society over the past fifty years, ignored and discarded at a time when it was needed the most. We traded words for violence, and reason for emotion.

Though we know how considerably the war changed GTVA society, it is less known how much of our own society had changed. The military had been steadily decreasing in funding and prestige ever since the socialist and humanist Council of Elders became the ruling party. At the start of war, the military underwent a boost in funding not seen since the beginning of the Terran-Vasudan war.

Little of human nature changes in fifty years, and the military soon grew proud. By the time we realised that we had become little better than the GTA, it was too late.

Martin Mandho
Excerpt from manuscript 'The Death of Ubuntu'

Act 1: Chrysalis

The Cost of War

Mission filename: bp2-01.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Entry Four

I feel a sudden and overwhelming need to write in this damn thing. I haven't touched it since the academy, but recent events are making it abundantly clear that I might not be around much longer. I want to leave something behind...something more tangible than the scraps Mom and Dad left when their time came.

We're hearing rumors that the 'raid' on Jupiter yesterday was something bigger. That the Tevs routed Calder's Third Fleet and landed on Ganymede, Callisto, and Io. It seems impossible. Calder is a rock, a titan. We thought he was unbreakable.

All the off-shift personnel are huddled around their feeds, waiting for updates, from the Elders, from Admiral Byrne, even from the Tevs. Someone in the Kingmakers' bunkroom is crying into his pillow. Half of me wants to go comfort him, and the other half just wants him to shut up.

The war felt so far away until now. I know it was real for the Jovians: eighteen months of bloody raids and frantic jumps as Third Fleet and the Tevs played subspace speed chess on the fringes of the system. But not two weeks ago Admiral Calder told us that the Tevs wanted a slow war of attrition, so they could capture our worlds with minimum loss of life. We all nodded and talked about how much sense it made, but I think we just wanted it to be true.

Admiral Byrne and the Elders want to keep First Fleet in Earth orbit as a 'strategic deterrent' but I think they'll have to deploy fighters to help the Jovian retreat. That means I'll see combat.

I guess I'm afraid. I keep flashing back to that damn coroner's report. The way Dad's lungs looked. Burnt tofu.

I was trained for this. Uncle Manuel and Kassim will keep me safe. And if I die, it'll be quick, and something will be waiting for me.

But what if I don't die? What if I go out there, and I kill a few Tevs, and then I go have a drink with Kassim and we laugh about it?

I was raised with Ubuntu. I'm no steely frontier Jovian like Calder, nor a hot-blooded Martian - I'm an Earther, as soft as fish-belly and taught to value the life of every damn roach in the ship's laundry. In the academy they taught us to treat the enemy as an object, a piece of machinery. But every time I do that, I'm giving up a piece of my soul.

I've thought about going to the combat psych about all this, but I'm not going to risk it. Getting cleared for flight was hard enough. Between my parents, my low aggression profile, and that one long-standing issue we don't talk about...I'm really kind of a basket case. This could put me over the edge.

And so I wonder...if I come back in one piece, am I really going to be in one piece?

Command Briefing

Stage 1

UED Solaris
UEF First Fleet
9/27/86

This is Admiral Byrne. Give me your ears.

I will be plain with you. The rumors you have heard are correct.

After an eighteen-month stand, Jupiter has fallen to the GTVA. The Jovian Systems Republic issued an unconditional surrender at 2330. Admiral Calder's Third Fleet has been routed.

Alliance marines are now landing on Ganymede. The Jovian government, under threat of orbital bombardment, has agreed to cooperate.

Stage 2

The details of the Fall of Jupiter are available for your inspection on FleetNet.

For now, know this. The GTVA has committed to total war.

At 0330 yesterday the front-line destroyers Atreus and Imperieuse, under Admiral Chiwetel Steele, transited the Delta Serpentis node. These ships and their battle groups carried out the attack on Jupiter at 0700. Steele himself personally captured Artemis Station, before scorched-earth protocols could be enacted.

By capturing Jupiter's gate network and civilian infrastructure intact, Steele has accomplished what Admiral Cyrus Severanti could not: he has given the GTVA the logistical footing for full-scale war.

Stage 3

I ask all of you to trust in the strategy set out by the Council of Elders. We will maintain our defensive posture until a diplomatic solution to the war can be achieved.

We have a more immediate task, however. Third Fleet's survivors need our help. At 2335, Fleet Admiral Calder issued the order for a full-scale retreat to Mars. Warships and strike craft from the Imperieuse and Atreus battle groups are pursuing these survivors, as well as any civilian convoys that have refused the no-fly order.

As Second Fleet Mars fends off raids from the Hood, Carthage, and Meridian, I will deploy our squadrons to cover the retreat of civilians and Third Fleet from Jupiter space.

Flight operations commence immediately.

Stage 4

Remember this. The GTVA wants our worlds and our infrastructure intact. They hope to break our fighting spirit, or to draw us into a foolish offensive.

We will remain implacable and unmoved, and so stymie them. Ubuntu gives us that strength.

Fleet Admiral Robert Byrne
Military Representative to the Council of Elders
UED Solaris

Stage 5

FLEETNET COMMUNIQUE
SENDER: Flight Lieutenant Manuel Brie

Noemi, it's Brie.

You know what's happening out there. You've been trained, you've flown patrols. You're ready.

I want you to trust yourself. Yes, your psych profile makes you look like a lamb, and Kassim has his discipline issues, but the two of you have aptitude scores better than most of First Fleet. There's a reason I asked for you two in my wing.

You can fly like no one I've seen. Our Uhlans can match any fighter the Tevs have. The two of you will survive. And I've got a few tricks up my sleeve myself.

Captain Telfer is about to pass on our frag orders. Get to the ready room. If you need to throw up, do it before we launch.

Briefing

Stage 1

Eyes up, pilots. If you're a newcomer or a reservist, welcome aboard. I'm Captain Telfer, squadron leader of the 170th Fighting Navajas.

I've been authorized to confirm that the Jovian capital at Ganymede has fallen. The Tevs have Artemis Station, the scorched earth program failed, and the gate system and the Jovian comm net are under their control.

Admiral Byrne has ordered the Solaris to deploy its squadrons to cover the Jovian retreat. Deck crews are running final prep on our Uhlans right now. We'll be airborne in twenty minutes.

Stage 2

Scattered tactical reports are still coming in from Jupiter. Admiral Calder's flagship Toutatis escaped Ganymede and is rallying all surviving Jovian fleet assets for a retreat to Mars. Hundreds of civilian ships are also fleeing the Tev advance.

Admiral Byrne has agreed to deploy Solaris fighter wings to cover this exodus, but major First and Second Fleet assets will remain at Earth and Mars.

These are our fragment orders. Gamma wing will escort the battered UEFg Rhineland. Cosoleto, your Beta wing is on standby. Brie, your Alpha wing will deploy to the asteroid belt to cover a civilian convoy that didn't make Calder's rendezvous.

Stage 3

This convoy of civilian sublight transports escaped the fall of Artemis Station. the UEC Ironhide and UEC Suffron are providing escort. Alpha, you will provide area defense against Tev strike wings. Hostile skirmishers have already engaged the convoy, and more firepower is likely on the way.

The civilian ships have no jump drives, so they're fleeing Jupiter space via the intrasystem gate network. Last transmission puts them between Belt Gate 42 and Mars-Belt Gate 3, on the inner curve of the asteroid belt.

Stage 4

Many of you have never seen combat. This is not drone practice and you are not shooting at objects. You will be tangling with ruthless, intelligent enemy pilots. The civilians in your care are husbands, wives, and children. Every ship you lose to the Tevs means more people who will never see their loved ones again.

This is a terrifying responsibility, but an honour afforded to few. Are you clear on this? Good. Bring those people home.

Stage 5

One minute, Ensign Laporte. It's Brie.

Before he died, your father asked me to give you his namkha to carry on your first proper sortie. He was never a spiritual person, unlike your mother, and my sister and your father came to odds enough times over it. But he believed in this article, and that was enough for him.

No more standing on the sidelines, Noemi. You're about to be thrown into the thick of this war. I hope you're ready for it.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Welcome back, Alpha wing. You brought both your rooks home, Brie. Good work.

Latest reports from Mars indicate that the Ironhide, Suffron and the rest of the convoy arrived safe and intact. Reports show significant losses of Jovian forces during the retreat and word's going round that Admiral Calder is furious with Admiral Byrne for not providing reinforcements during the GTVA attack.

All outbound communications from Jupiter have ceased following the GalTev occupation of Ganymede, and we've lost control of the regional intrasystem gate network. All scheduled civilian traffic to the area has been cancelled. All in all, it looks like we've lost the entire Jovian system to the GTVA.

Besides that, you all did well out there, pilots. Though things are looking grim for us, we all need to do our own little bit to help.

Take five to get some water and stims if you need them. There's a combat psych waiting to triage you. When you're done, get back to your birds. The remnants of the Jovian Rim Fleet are still trickling in, and we need to give them cover.

Expect another sortie inside the hour. We'll remember Gamma's pilots when we get the chance.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

It felt...good. Like I'd been doing it my whole life. Like I'd found the place I'm meant to be. The fact that that realization came at the moment when I first took a life is slightly horrifying.

Kassim talks tough, but he came out of his cockpit and threw up all over the deck. I don't think he knows I saw.

I don't understand why it felt so good.

Stage 2

Welcome back, Alpha wing. You brought both your rooks home, Brie. Good work.

Latest reports from Mars indicate that the surviving ships of the convoy arrived intact. Reports show significant losses of Jovian forces during the retreat and word's going round that Admiral Calder is furious with Admiral Byrne for not providing reinforcements during the GTVA attack.

All outbound communications from Jupiter have ceased following the GalTev occupation of Ganymede, and we've lost control of the regional intrasystem gate network. All scheduled civilian traffic to the area has been cancelled. All in all, it looks like we've lost the entire Jovian system to the GTVA.

Things are looking bad for us. We thought things were tough before, but everything's about to get a whole lot worse. This war has finally come home, and we need to prepare for it however we can.

Take five to get some water and stims if you need them. There's a combat psych waiting to triage you. When you're done, get back to your birds. The remnants of the Jovian Rim Fleet are still trickling in, and we need to give them cover.

Expect another sortie inside the hour. We'll remember Gamma's pilots when we get the chance.

Recommendation 2

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

We lost ships out there. People died. I killed people, too.

It felt...good. Like I'd been doing it my whole life. Like I'd found the place I'm meant to be. The fact that that realization came at the moment when I first took a life is slightly horrifying.

Kassim talks tough, but he came out of his cockpit and threw up all over the deck. I don't think he knows I saw.

I don't understand why I feel so good when so many people died.

Stage 3

What happened out there today was a tragedy of immeasurable scope. The Tevs butchered the convoy like lambs in a slaughterhouse. Hundreds of civilians are dead, and Admiral Calder has lodged an official complaint to Admiral Byrne regarding your wing's performance out there. Manuel Brie, as wing leader you must take responsibility for today's poor performance. The nature of your disciplinary action will be revealed later on. Consider this a warning that from now on, such a poor show will not be tolerated in this squadron.

Reports show significant losses of Jovian forces during the retreat and word's going round that Admiral Calder is furious with Admiral Byrne for not providing reinforcements during the GTVA attack.

All outbound communications from Jupiter have ceased following the GalTev occupation of Ganymede, and we've lost control of the regional intrasystem gate network. All scheduled civilian traffic to the area has been cancelled. All in all, it looks like we've lost the entire Jovian system to the GTVA.

Things are looking bad for us. We thought things were tough before, but everything's about to get a whole lot worse. This war has finally come home, and we need to prepare for it however we can.

Take five to get some water and stims if you need them. There's a combat psych waiting to triage you. When you're done, get back to your birds. The remnants of the Jovian Rim Fleet are still trickling in, and we need to give them cover.

Expect another sortie inside the hour. We'll remember Gamma's pilots when we get the chance.

Recommendation 3

Prioritize hostile bombers. Remember, you can use the last wave's predicted jump-in location to position yourself.

If your hull is low, call in a support ship for hull repairs and recharge.

Collateral Damage

Mission filename: bp2-02.fs2

Briefing

Stage 1

All right, Alpha, you've had your twenty minutes and you're up again.

Flight ops to cover Third Fleet's retreat from Jupiter are ongoing. The Saracens just brought in the cruisers Segura and Tripoli, but the Kingmakers lost six haulers to GTVA skirmishers. As for the Navajas, Cosoleto and Beta wing are launching as we speak to cover evac operations at the Jovian storm platforms.

Alpha, you'll be deployed to investigate a possible misjump site for two MIA warships, the frigate Akula and heavy frigate Ranvir. These are strategically critical assets. We need our artillery intact to deter a massive GTVA attack on Earth.

Stage 2

Seven minutes ago, the survivors of Third Fleet's FrigRon Charlie and TacArt Bravo made a crash jump away from Europa orbit under massive bomber attack. Recon vectored their transit along the ecliptic north, but failed to make an exact fix. We've received no signal from them since. It's possible they're running under EMCON while they compute new jump coordinates, or that they were disabled by the crash jump.

Deploy to their best-guess exit point and commence a sweep by short-range subspace hops. Find those warships before the Tevs do, and call for repair teams if need be. Bring them in intact.

Stage 3

Remote sensor platforms have vectored a corvette pack from the GTD Hood's battle group sweeping the area. It's possible, though unlikely, that they've found the two frigates.

Given the pressing need to cover dozens of Jovian convoys that the GTVA sees as military targets, we have limited forces available to engage these corvettes. The 12th Shuduhune will be standing by to strike GTVA warship targets, but it cannot be deployed unless absolutely critical.

Admiral Calder of Third Fleet wants us to cut convoy escort and focus on saving warship assets, but Admiral Byrne is committed to civilian safety. Do the best you can with what you have.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Welcome back from your second sortie, Alpha. You're home early. Flight Lieutenant Cosoleto and Beta wing are still aloft.

I understand your mission was unsuccessful. I've reviewed your wing leader's flight records - thank you for the precis, Brie - and it is my conclusion that there was nothing you could have done to save the Ranvir and Akula.

You faced a highly coordinated Tev attack that played to all their strengths. It would have taken a major force commitment to save those frigates, and, regrettably, those forces were unavailable.

We will remember the eight thousand crew of the Ranvir and the Akula at tonight's Ceremony of the Fallen.

The Jovian retreat is winding down, and the last stragglers of Third Fleet are either safe in Martian space or already dead. Given that flight operations are slowing down, I want each of you to see a combat psych before your next sortie.

I need my Alpha wing in good shape. Don't start second-guessing yourselves - you did everything right today. I'll certainly be relying on all of you to continue your good flying over the next few days. This war has finally come home, and we need to prepare for it however we can.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

That combat rush hasn't gone away. But I see the Ranvir coming apart every time I close my eyes.

Elation and horror, all at once. Feels like whiplash.

What am I going to tell the psych? 'Help me, I thought I was a good person, but I like to kill?'

Stage 2

I've also reviewed your report on the 12th Shuduhune's attack on Serkr Team. That squadron was held in reserve specifically for the chance to take out those corvettes, but it seems they weren't enough.

Serkr is a specially fitted combat team using sprint jump drives, sophisticated active armor, and modified weapons. They report directly to Admiral Steele, the man who took Jupiter. I'm sure the Admiralty will explore options on how to pin them down and nullify that threat, but at the moment, it's not our concern.

Stage 3

I'm off to a squadron leaders' briefing. The Tevs have been deploying a hunter-killer corvette team called Serkr - advanced warships with sprint drives, heavy beams, modified weapons and active armor. Be glad you didn't see them today. They wiped out most of the 12th Shuduhune in a failed gunship strike.

Post Meridian

Mission filename: bp2-03.fs2

Fiction Viewer

On sun-baked red clay, beside the serpentine trickle from the garden hose, the ants are making war. Little Noemi crouches, dirty-handed, scuffed and stained, and watches the red and black colonies do battle.

"I want them to stop fighting," she tells her friend.

*You could make that happen.*

Noemi scrunches up her brow in perturbed concentration. "They should all just go back to their hills and make things. There's plenty of room for all of them."

*If only. That's rarely the way of things, I've found.*

"Why do they hate each other?"

*Oh, child, if you knew how many times I've asked...*

Noemi fingers the halved husk of a dead ant. "It's a waste that he died. He could have gone back to his hill and made...made...a bowling alley out of caterpillar teeth."

*It's a she. And I don't know if caterpillars have teeth...*

After a moment's more thought, the girl stands, her face resolute. "They have to stop fighting. It's pointless. What do I do to stop it, Ken?"

*Who do you want to win?*

She frowns. "I want them both to win."

*That can't happen.*

Her lip trembles, perhaps with anger, perhaps with imminent tears. "Why?"

*It is the way of things. You must choose.*

"Well. that's not fair!" she snaps. "I like them both! The red ones and the black ones!"

*Noemi, this is something you must learn if you are to be like me: sometimes we must destroy in order to preserve.*

She stands there for a long while in silence. She does not cry. The sun crawls lower and draws her shadow across the line of the garden hose and the skirmishes of the ants, like a veil of powdered onyx.

"Noemi!" her mother calls from the house. "It's dinner! Your father made sashila!"

*The time to choose, then. I made this choice once. Yours will be harder than mine.*

"Noemi!"

"The red ants are my favorite," little Noemi says, and she lifts one foot. When she is done at the battlefield she follows the stream of black ants back to their hill, the garden hose trailing behind her and making little nooses in the grass.

The sashila is good, but over dinner, her parents cannot make her say one word.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

*** Intercepted Transmission ***
Decryption Code: 4433-ssd212-64lo960
Broadcast Timestamp: 2386-9-27 1947 GST

GTVA forces today drove Federation forces from Jupiter, gaining control of the system capital at Ganymede. Admiral Severanti, the military commander of the battlegroup currently stationed in Sol, described this outcome as 'an important victory for our forces, and a step towards the final liberation of Earth.' Earlier, Secretary-General Toqueville gave a speech to the General Assembly, citing this recent action as the beginning of the closing stages of the civil war:

'The illegitimate ruling power in Sol has entered its twilight. Our forces have worked hard, and at great cost, to win back Earth, but we will never falter in our struggle now that our goal is finally in sight.'

Stage 2

*** FORWARDED COMMUNIQUE ***

To the officers and crew of the Home Fleet,

I thank you for your hard work and dedication over the past few days. I know that it has not been easy dealing with the current influx of refugees, wounded and traffic in the aftermath of the GTVA invasion of the Jovian System Republic. Your continued dedication to the service of humanity will be both counted upon and gratefully appreciated in the next few days. All I ask is for each of you to continue the fight on the Jovians' behalf, so that we may prevail against the enemy.

The remnants of the Jovian Rim Fleet have taken up shelter in Mars orbit, where they will be repaired and their crews rested. The Jovian System Republic has fought bravely ever since this war started, and now they continue to fight alongside us against those who wish to undo all the good we have achieved over the past fifty years.

Our hearts and minds are with the people of the Jovian Republic.

Admiral Byrne
Commanding Officer, UED Solaris, Home Fleet

Stage 3

*** Video comms received. Sender: Enabran Kassim. Receive? Y/N

Hey Laporte, are you there? Those Tev bastards bombed Luna! Switch on your feed as soon as you get this. They say that a bunch of domes have been hit hard. Casualties are running into the tens of thousands and civil emergency systems have been overwhelmed. Damn them all to hell! There was no reason for them to bomb the domes, none at all! They say the attack was aimed at industrial plants, broadcast centers, Ubuntu headquarters...they must have known how many people they'd kill.

Look, I don't know if you knew anyone at Luna or not. It doesn't matter. They've gone too far: it was different when it was the Jovians getting their noses bled. Luna is one of the biggest colonies we've got outside Earth. This is just...wrong.

Beeper from Brie. Captain Telfer wants to give us our orders. I'll see you in the briefing room.

Briefing

Stage 1

Early this morning the GTVA launched simultaneous bomber attacks against targets on Luna and Mars. Nuclear detonations have been reported at several Lunar domes as well as Bradbury and Pavonis Mons Spaceport on Mars. Sixteen Belt mining operations have dropped out of contact. Attacks are still ongoing, and casualties number in the tens of thousands.

These attacks on civilians violate normal Tev rules of engagement. Intel believes that the General Terran Assembly has activated the Total War contingency of the Beta Aquilae Convention. Any civilian target involved in the war effort is now fair game.

So far there have been no attacks on Earth itself. That could change.

Stage 2

Subspace tracking has vectored the attacking squadrons to the GTD Meridian, flagship of Admiral Cyrus Severanti. Admiral Byrne has made her our next prime target. The 170th Navajas will take a key role in operations against this destroyer. We will strike while she is still recovering her squadrons.

Stage 3

Ideally we'd deploy a destroyer for a direct engagement, but sending in the Solaris or the Eris would leave Earth or Mars wide open. The Toutatis is still undergoing repairs at Mars.

Admiral Byrne has therefore committed a frigate strike group to take out the destroyer. The Navajas will provide primary fighter cover for the attack.

Because First Fleet's strength must be conserved, Byrne has expressed reluctance to deploy more than one frigate on this op. Admiral Netreba of Second Fleet has loaned us his prize frigate, the Indus, in exchange for tactical command. This is therefore a joint op with the Martians.

Stage 4

Alpha and Beta will provide space superiority so that Delta wing from the 271st Gunship Squadron can disable the Meridian's beam cannons. The Meridian is launching and recovering fighters at a rapid pace, so its screen should be stretched thin.

Captain Sorensen will be calling the shots on the UEFg Indus, accompanied by Captain Harwood's UEFg Churchill from First Fleet.

Admiral Byrne has tagged a number of assets to support this operation, including the cruiser Vilnius and a pair of Durga bombers. They'll be called in if the situation warrants.

Stage 5

The Meridian's battle group is not a front-line GTVA formation. The Hecate is an aging carrier design, ill-suited to direct combat against warships, and her escorts also lack the killing power of newer Tev warships. Nonetheless, their beam weapons are more than adequate to neutralize two frigates. We will have to rely on good fighter tactics to cripple their weapons.

Keep those gunships safe until they deliver their payload.

Stage 6

Intel is curious as to why the normally cautious Severanti has extended himself so far. Perhaps he's trying to match Steele's recent gains and regain some favor in the eyes of his political masters.

But Severanti is not a fool, and he will have anticipated retaliation against his ship. Hit those fighters with the force of a three-ton hammerblow and his squadrons shouldn't be able to recover from the shock, let alone return to their home ship in time to defend it. Morale here is low: we need this victory. You do this right, and you'll be the envy of all other fighter squadrons in the Home Fleet.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Our attempted strike against the Meridian was a failure. Admiral Byrne has expressed personal regret that he did not commit more forces to this attack. We had a chance to drive a Tev destroyer out of the theater for at least several weeks, and possibly even destroy it. However, the opposition was too stiff.

The loss of the Indus is a tragedy. That frigate was both an icon and a valuable asset. Captain Sorenson was one of Two Fleet's best, a seasoned veteran always ready for risky assignment. He will be missed.

You cannot be held responsible for the failure of the strike. The Tev forces you faced were well-coordinated, well-supplied, and skilled. However, Captain Lorna Simms, formerly of the Indus, has been agitating for disciplinary action against your wing, and I'm afraid she is being listened to. You will be transferred to rear-area duty, flying depot patrols from the Solaris.

Your wingmate Kassim has been placed on psychological leave. He wished to pass on a personal message, which I have forwarded to you.

Good luck on your next assignment, pilot. Be glad you won't be on the front lines again. The war is going poorly, and with the Meridian still out there launching strikes on Luna, the Elders are considering surrender in order to save civilian lives.

Recommendation 1

If you're having trouble surviving the initial dogfight, simply attack the Meridian's forward beams. You should be able to destroy them on your own.

Destroy Aquarius wing before it Trebuchets your gunships.

Stage 2

Our attempted strike against the Meridian was a failure. Admiral Byrne has expressed personal regret that he did not commit more forces to this attack. We had a chance to drive a Tev destroyer out of the theater for at least several weeks, and possibly even destroy it. However, the opposition was too stiff.

The loss of the Churchill is a tragedy. The Churchill made up a significant part of the First Fleet's best and brightest. Captain Harwood died at the helm of his ship, fighting to save his crew. He will be remembered as a hero.

You cannot be held responsible for the failure of the strike. The Tev forces you faced were well-coordinated, well-supplied, and skilled. However, Captain Lorna Simms of the Indus has been agitating for disciplinary action against your wing, and I'm afraid she is being listened to. You will be transferred to rear-area duty, flying depot patrols from the Solaris.

Your wingmate Kassim has been placed on psychological leave. He wished to pass on a personal message, which I have forwarded to you.

Good luck on your next assignment, pilot. Be glad you won't be on the front lines again. The war is going poorly, and with the Meridian still out there launching strikes on Luna, the Elders are considering surrender in order to save civilian lives.

Recommendation 2

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

If you're having trouble surviving the initial dogfight, simply attack the Meridian's forward beams. You should be able to destroy them on your own.

Destroy Aquarius wing before it Trebuchets your gunships.

Stage 3

Our attempted strike against the Meridian turned into a massacre. The Fleet Admirals are currently in emergency session in an attempt to respond to this loss. The destruction of a significant portion of the First Fleet's frigate assets reduces not only our firepower but our ability to deploy and recover fighters from multiple locations.

The loss of the Churchill and Indus is a human tragedy. Captain Harwood and Captain Sorenson died at the helms of their ships, fighting to save their crews. They will be remembered as heroes.

You cannot be held responsible for the failure of the strike. The Tev forces you faced were well-coordinated, well-supplied, and skilled. However, Captain Lorna Simms, formerly of the Indus, has been agitating for disciplinary action against your wing, and I'm afraid she is being listened to. You will be transferred to rear-area duty, flying depot patrols from the Solaris.

Your wingmate Kassim has been placed on psychological leave. He wished to pass on a personal message, which I have forwarded to you.

Good luck on your next assignment, pilot. Be glad you won't be on the front lines again. The war is going poorly, and with the Meridian still out there launching strikes on Luna, the Elders are considering surrender in order to save civilian lives.

Recommendation 3

(Note: This is identical to Recommendations 1 and 2, above.)

If you're having trouble surviving the initial dogfight, simply attack the Meridian's forward beams. You should be able to destroy them on your own.

Destroy Aquarius wing before it Trebuchets your gunships.

Stage 4

Welcome back to the Solaris, pilots. I apologize for the enthusiasm of the deck crews. I'll make this briefing quick so you can wash the champagne off your flightsuits.

You should all be very proud. While we were unable to destroy the Meridian, our strike succeeded in forcing the destroyer to withdraw. Intelligence tells us that the Meridian has pulled back to Delta Serpentis. Better yet, the General Assembly is so displeased with Admiral Severanti's blunder here that they've relieved him of command and placed Steele in control of the Sol theatre.

This victory has important strategic ramifications. The GTVA is unlikely to take such bold action in the future without ensuring that additional destroyers are available for reinforcement. The more forces the GTVA holds back to reinforce endangered destroyers, the fewer ships they'll have attacking on the front line.

Incidentally, Admiral Calder of the Jovian Rim Fleet happens to disagree with this assessment. Now that Admiral Severanti is no longer in the Terran theater, Calder contends that Admiral Steele of the GTD Atreus will have free reign to use more aggressive tactics. If the Jovian's right, we should all brace for worse to come.

Of course, Murphy had his way with our battle plan. As most of you know, the UEC Vilnius mis-jumped during its attack on the GTCv Juarez and was lost with all hands. This is a war. People die. What's important is that we made those deaths worth it. But that doesn't always make it easy to cope. We will remember our lost at tonight's Ceremony of the Fallen.

Those of you on the Meridian attack should take the next few days to rest. Make sure your sleep cycles are good, and see a combat psych or an Ubuntu spiritualist if you need counseling. I expect to see all of you at the Ceremony of the Fallen tonight, where we will honor our dead and, in the spirit of Ubuntu, those GTVA pilots and crewpeople who died fighting against us.

Recommendation 4

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte:

It horrifies me to admit it, but that was the most fun I've had since the last sparring tournament on the Solaris. Vilnius and all.

Everything I knew about myself was wrong. I'm a stone-cold killer. I seem to like it.

I'm trying not to dwell on this. But, on a more cheerful note, I looked up the file of one Captain Lorna Simms. She's a Martian ace, a good officer, and, uh...let's say she lives up to the quality of her voice.

I think Kassim's rubbing off on me.

Stage 5

(Note: This debriefing stage can never actually be seen.)

Welcome back to the Solaris, pilots. I apologize for the enthusiasm of the deck crews. I'll make this briefing quick so you can wash the champagne off your flightsuits.

You should all be very proud. This is a significant victory for the Federation. The loss of the Meridian is a terrible blow to the Tevs, and we've earned at least a few weeks of peace from her raids. Millions of civilian lives have been saved.

This victory also has important strategic ramifications. The GTVA is unlikely to take such bold action in the future without ensuring that additional destroyers are available for reinforcement. The more forces the GTVA holds back to reinforce endangered destroyers, the fewer ships they'll have attacking on the front line.

Incidentally, Admiral Calder of the Jovian Rim Fleet happens to disagree with this assessment. Now that Admiral Severanti is dead, Calder contends that Admiral Steele of the GTD Atreus will have free reign to use more aggressive tactics. If the Jovian is right, we should all brace for worse to come.

Of course, Murphy had his way with our battle plan. As most of you know, the UEC Vilnius mis-jumped during its attack on the GTCv Juarez and was lost with all hands. This is a war. People die. What's important is that we made those deaths worth it. But that doesn't always make it easy to cope. We will remember our lost at tonight's Ceremony of the Fallen.

Those of you on the Meridian attack should take the next few days to rest. Make sure your sleep cycles are good, and see a combat psych or an Ubuntu spiritualist if you need counseling. I expect to see all of you at the Ceremony of the Fallen tonight, where we will honor our dead and, in the spirit of Ubuntu, those GTVA pilots and crewpeople who died fighting against us.

Recommendation 5

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 4, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte:

It horrifies me to admit it, but that was the most fun I've had since the last sparring tournament on the Solaris. Vilnius and all.

Everything I knew about myself was wrong. I'm a stone-cold killer. I seem to like it.

I'm trying not to dwell on this. But, on a more cheerful note, I looked up the file of one Captain Lorna Simms. She's a Martian ace, a good officer, and, uh...let's say she lives up to the quality of her voice.

I think Kassim's rubbing off on me.

Stage 6

Additionally, it is my sad duty to report the deaths of Flight Lieutenant Javier Cosoleto, Sublieutenant Ambiro Gapar, and Ensign Tyra 'Crash' Ymir. These pilots served the Solaris well and died protecting Earth. Their deaths are doubly bitter because, like so many of the First Fleet's pilots, they were reservists. If any of you would like to add to their remembrances during the Ceremony of the Fallen, please inform me.

Recommendation 6

There was nothing you could have done to save Beta wing.

Stage 7

Noemi Laporte perished during the attack on the GTD Meridian.

This is not a friendly environment for an unsupported Uhlan. To safeguard your life, stay near the Delta Wing gunships. Shoot down Aquarius Wing, allow the gunships to destroy the Meridian's beams, and then rapidly pull back to the frigates. Use the frigates as cover against Libra wing, and don't forget that Gamma wing is under your command.

Once the Maxim strike arrives, use Epsilon Wing gunships to destroy it.

If you allow yourself to be drawn into a dogfight near a cruiser or the Meridian itself, you will probably die. Focus on your mission, and don't go anywhere near GTVA capital ships.

This is the first major engagement you have participated in, so don't expect to be a hero. Survival is half the battle.

Ken

Mission filename: bp2-04.fs2

Fiction Viewer

FleetNet Document Service
USER: Laporte, Noemi, O-1, 170Navajas/DD01Solaris
Your document request:
Filed: 3 (three) days ago
Distribution: U/NFORN
Stated Reason: Personal inquiry re: health of unit member
has been GRANTED

Document follows.

Fleet Medical Advisories
MD0549-Psychosocial Issues

2-3. TYPES OF STRESS IN COMBAT
a. Physical/psychological strain.

b. Fear/anxiety of pain, mutilation, death.

c. Fear of failure/disgrace.

d. Grief, rage (loss of friends, hatred of enemy, incompetent leadership, and so forth).

e. Ethical limits (killing, firing at noncombatants, leaving patients to die, and so forth). The soldier may feel guilty of his own rage or acts.

f. Internal conflict (survival vs. mission, loyalty, and ideals [leaving wounded friend behind, short timer, and so forth])

USER COMMAND: move to section 2.4C, SYMPTOMS OF BATTLE FATIGUE
(1) "Thousand-yard-stare" (normal and common after heavy combat, improves with 1 to 2 days rest).

(2) Hyperalertness.

3) Tension, startle response, fine tremors (becomes selective in veterans, but increases again with sleep loss and cumulative combat).

(4) Psychological symptoms (normal and very common).
(a) Headaches.
(b) Back pain.
(c) Nausea, vomiting.
(d) Bowel and urinary symptoms.

(5) Irritability (warning signs--silent, withdrawn, or "vicious" in own group).

(6) Inability to concentrate.

(7) Insomnia, terror dreams (afraid to sleep; therefore, symptoms worsen).

(8) Inertia, indecision, fatigue (can lead to mistakes and increased stress).

(9) Depression (motor retardation, crying, survivor guilt).

(10) Anxiety reactions (gross tremors, extreme startle).

(11) Memory loss (amnesia, complete or partial; "fugue" flight)

NOTE:"Fugue" flight individuals perform acts of which they appear to be conscious but, upon recovery, have no recollections of the acts

Briefing

Stage 1

Sorry to call you in unexpectedly, Ensign Laporte. I'm Lieutenant Vicmouth, First Fleet PsyOps.

Random screening of combat pilots has selected you for a psychological evaluation. In order to maximize the diagnostic efficiency of the evaluation, it will occur during a live sortie. You will patrol a navigation point near Earth for enemy scout wings.

I will fly your wing, interview you during your downtime, and monitor transmissions from your flightsuit's Diagnostic Neural Interface. To avoid distractions, your weapons systems will be locked unless enemy contact occurs.

Suit up. We launch in ten.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Personal log, Noemi Laporte

They cleared me. I have no idea why, or how, but they cleared me. The report makes it sounds like I'm the sanest woman on this side of the Council of Elders.

What the hell is going on here?

I listened to the flight transcript. I listened to my own cockpit voice records.

The things I said were utterly normal. They are not the things I remember saying. Lieutenant Vicmouth interviewed me, we completed our patrol, and then we jumped home to the Solaris. No one ever mentioned my purpose, or my childhood...not me, and not him.

I must have been blacked out the whole time. I woke up in my cockpit on the hangar deck soaked in sweat and convinced that I had finally cracked.

Who was speaking to me? More importantly...who was speaking to Lieutenant Vicmouth while I was inside my own head, having a conversation with an imaginary friend from my childhood?

What happened out there today makes me fear for my sanity. I'm going to write to Elder Mandho.

He'll know what to do.

In the meantime, I'm just going to do my best to put it out of my mind, write it off as combat stress, and hope it doesn't happen again.

Recommendation 1

remember the ants

For the Wrong Reasons

Mission filename: bp2-05.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Noemi Laporte
UED Solaris

I can barely remember the dream. I remember it was terrifying, and somehow exhilarating too. I remember...him.

They cleared me for flight. They cleared me. I can't be schizophrenic. They wouldn't have missed it.

And yet there's no question that this war has awakened parts of me I never knew were there.

I'm a combat junkie. Who would have believed it? Meek and mild-mannered Noemi, a killer of men. The aura of danger might stick better if I didn't turn into a gibbering, undisciplined wreck after every sortie. When I was on the com with that Martian captain after the Meridian attack, I felt...drunk with power. Almost maniacally so. So many dead at my hands, and I loved it. I loved it.

The assault on the Meridian wasn't the biggest fight of the war. But with the flak cooking off and the big bruisers tangling, it felt like Hell itself. We expended more megatonnage of ordinance out there than every war on Earth up to the twentieth century combined. The GTVA warships are grim and gritty, ships built to kill and fully expecting to die. What the Shivans did to these peoples' psyche astounds me. Every time we lose a frigate, we get cut to the bone, but the Tevs can bleed corvettes left and right and still stand strong. They expect it. They know how to die.

We hurt them out there. And yet, as good as it felt when we heard the Meridian was pulling out, it means nothing. In a week or a month a new destroyer will come in, just like when Third Fleet ambushed the Requiem last year. The Tev war machine has contingencies for everything.

Looking around me, at the other pilots and crew aboard the Solaris, even at the rest of First Fleet, I feel as if that sense of futility has started to pervade everything here. Admiral Byrne tells us again and again that this war will not be won by force of arms. That we must stand by the values of Ubuntu.

Apparently that means we simply sit in Earth orbit and play Gandhi, parrying their strikes but never hitting back.

I don't know what I'm fighting for. In spite of Uncle Manuel's war cries, you can't 'fight for Ubuntu'. That's like euthanising for longevity! I think the ennui on the Solaris comes from the belief that our beautiful, ascendant culture has given us nothing to fight this war...that every time we pull the trigger, we are destroying ourselves just as surely as the GTVA might.

There has to be something we can fight for. Some reason to continue. Some way we can hit back without giving up what we are. I just have to find it.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

Message Received. Sender: Elder Martin Mandho (authenticated pyr3p8tt656)
View? y/n

Dear Noemi,

I was overjoyed to receive your letter and to hear that you are well. By an old man's count of years, it was only yesterday that you were a little girl playing in the sand as I talked politics with your parents. Those memories are dear to me, especially in days as dark as these. You are everything your mother and father would have wished you to be.

Unfortunately, I am unsure if I can be of any help with your current problem. Perhaps you truly are schizophrenic. If it is so, you should make peace with your fear and seek a doctor's advice. Ubuntu is a philosophy of reality, not of mysticism, and if science can give you your answer, then by all means, press the question.

Stage 2

But Ubuntu also recognizes that which we perceive but which science has yet to explain. It is true that some amongst the Elders receive visions. We are not all in agreement as to what weight to give them, or as to what they mean. But we strive to see this gift in the way that our distant ancestors saw the stars: though we cannot explain the wonder, nor touch it, nor even ascribe to it the most basic traits, we nonetheless agree that it is beautiful.

I have certainly never heard of this gift assuming the form of an 'invisible friend' with a personality. However, things we have learned recently - since this war began, in fact - tell me that your gift may not be unique. If you have, in truth, heard these voices since childhood, and if your heart tells you they can be trusted, then perhaps you should heed them? At least one other with the same gift reached peace by following his own dreams.

I have known you since childhood, and knew your mother far longer. If you are as good as she, then the things you hear must be good as well. I trust you to do what is right.

Blessings and fortune to you, Noemi.

Martin Mandho

Briefing

Stage 1

A moment before we start this briefing. Look at the empty chairs next to you. They are a harsh lesson, maybe the harshest, that we must not forget this is a war. In war, people from the winning side still die. In war, you do not have to carry a weapon to be a target. Finally, in a war, it is never clear who is our enemy and who is not. Like it or not, war has arrived on our doorstep, and we either roll with it or we give up and die.

We're not going to receive any replacements to our squadron for a few days, so until then these seats will serve as a reminder of our lost comrades and the sacrifice they made in the line of duty. Remember this lesson, so that their deaths will not be in vain. Now, listen up, for our work doesn't stop here.

Stage 2

We did well yesterday in ending the civilian bombings, but the situation remains grim. Our infrastructure has been hit hard by the Tevs. We're still holding on - barely. We've had some success at decentralising our supply chain, so we're going to continue our coordinated freighter traffic with Mars.

A short time ago, the heavy freighter Nauticus departed from the Mars gate farm with supplies for Rheza Station as well as some classified cargo. I don't know what the hell those lumberheads were thinking - it's possible they were deceived, or paid off - but the Nauticus left Mars without her fighter escort.

Stage 3

As soon as she left the main traffic lanes she came under attack by a Gaian Effort wing looking to plunder her cargo. We lost communications with the freighter about five minutes ago. However, her automated distress beacon continues to transmit, so it's likely that the ship remains intact.

Gaian Effort activity has been on the rise for the past few months. Without Third Fleet raids to suppress their Kuiper habitats, they've built up their strength, and in spite of the war they're still committed to their radical ecoterrorist agenda. This raid is typical nuisance behavior.

Stage 4

Command has shut down the local gates to prevent the Gefs from escaping with the Nauticus: they'll have to drag the ship into subspace manually, which will take time. We're sending you three to the freighter's last known position: with luck the Gefs will still be preoccupied with securing the Nauticus' cargo.

The Gefs are little more than a paramilitary force. Still, be careful out there. More than one pilot has learned the hard way not to underestimate these terrorists. Your Uhlans should be more than a match for whatever the Gefs throw at you, so I expect that freighter to make it to the station intact. The Second Fleet frigate Yangtze is on patrol nearby, and its gunships will track and respond to any signs of Gef jump signatures.

Stage 5

Send those Gefs packing back to the Kuiper Belt, and bring that freighter home.

Debriefing

Stage 1

This is a private debriefing, Ensign Laporte, because I believe you are a gifted pilot, and I think you deserve the courtesy of a personal hearing regarding your actions.

You murdered a prisoner of war. While the Gef terrorists certainly have a history of prisoner abuse and degradation, we are not Gefs. If we are to maintain the moral high ground in this war then we must not stoop to the same level as our enemies.

Your wingman, Enabran Kassim, has testified that the prisoner verbally harassed you. While he appears to view this as justification for your action, I do not. You are expected to remain calm and clear-headed even in the face of hate and rage.

Certainly the term 'warrior of Ubuntu' is something of an oxymoron. But, nonetheless, there are standards of enlightenment and conduct that we must uphold. And you have violated these standards.

In spite of the testimony of your wingmen, I must relieve of your flight status and recommend your transfer to a rear-area posting. While I am sure you'll be called up again as the war grows more desperate, this is the end of our professional acquaintance.

I'm sorry it had to be this way, Laporte.

Stage 2

Congratulations on your successful recovery of the Nauticus transport, Alpha Wing. Major Prathanya's EOD team found the majority of the crew locked in a hull compartment, where they'd been gassed with an anesthetic.

The success of this mission was a team effort, but I think a few elements deserve particular notice. Major Prathanya's team will receive a commendation and possibly even a medal for their heroic defusal of the comet-cracker warhead. Without their efforts, the Gefs would have destroyed the transport and most likely all of you with it.

In addition, I'd like to single out Noemi Laporte's conduct as worthy of admiration and emulation. With her commanding officer busy and an overwhelming enemy force threatening mission-critical assets, Laporte took control of the situation and maintained fire discipline. Thanks to her courage, the Gefs were unable to chase Alpha wing away from the transport, and the situation was successfully resolved. Excellent work, Laporte.

The Nauticus' classified cargo has been transferred to the Solaris and is now being escorted under heavy guard to its final destination. The Nauticus' captain is still in recovery, but once he's fully conscious, Admiral Byrne is going to grill him about his decision to leave Mars without a proper escort. I expect that by the time Byrne is done that captain will wish he had died at the hands of the Gefs.

Lastly, the Gef prisoner you recovered has been transferred to Fleet Intelligence for debriefing. Under normal circumstances we'd allow the Hostile Combatants Advocacy Branch access to the prisoner, but the Fleet Admirals have issued an executive order mandating closed interrogation. Extraordinary times, ladies and gentlemen.

A moment, Laporte? Your wing leader, Manuel Brie, passed me some of the mission logs. I'd just like to commend your conduct, both in the tangle with the Gefs and with respect to your cooperation with the EOD team. We need leadership like that. I may give you more responsibility in the months to come.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

That was tense. I came close to firing on the Gefs more than once...I can only imagine how Kassim must've struggled. But, in the end, I guess they didn't want to risk starting a firefight around the transport.

Uncle Manuel has been beaming at me all day. I think I impressed him.

Stage 3

Congratulations on your successful recovery of the Nauticus transport, Alpha Wing. Major Prathanya's EOD team found the majority of the crew locked in a hull compartment, where they'd been gassed with an anesthetic.

The success of this mission was a team effort, but I think a few elements deserve particular notice. Major Prathanya's team will receive a commendation and possibly even a medal for their heroic defusal of the comet-cracker warhead. Without their efforts, the Gefs would have destroyed the transport and most likely all of you with it.

Your tangle with the Gef squadron was a tense, charged situation, and I'm not surprised you elected to open fire. In fact, I'm going to guess you lured the Gefs in range of their own bomb before engaging so they couldn't detonate it. Well done, Laporte

The Nauticus' classified cargo has been transferred to the Solaris and is now being escorted under heavy guard to its final destination. The Nauticus' captain is still in recovery, but once he's fully conscious, Admiral Byrne is going to grill him about his decision to leave Mars without a proper escort. I expect that by the time Byrne is done that captain will wish he had died at the hands of the Gefs.

Lastly, the Gef prisoner you recovered has been transferred to Fleet Intelligence for debriefing. Under normal circumstances we'd allow the Hostile Combatants Advocacy Branch access to the prisoner, but the Fleet Admirals have issued an executive order mandating closed interrogation. Extraordinary times, ladies and gentlemen.

A moment, Laporte? Your wing leader, Manuel Brie, passed me some of the mission logs. I'd just like to commend your conduct, both in the tangle with the Gefs and with respect to your cooperation with the EOD team. We need leadership like that. I may give you more responsibility in the months to come.

Recommendation 2

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

That was tense. I'm not sure firing was the right decision...we were pretty seriously outnumbered. But if I hadn't shot, the Gefs would've. And in the end we survived. I guess that's what counts.

Kassim's nerves are looking more and more frayed. He's been acting strangely. I think I'd better try to find him and calm him down.

Stage 4

Congratulations on your successful recovery of the Nauticus transport, Alpha Wing. Major Prathanya's EOD team found the majority of the crew locked in a hull compartment, where they'd been gassed with an anesthetic.

The success of this mission was a team effort, but I think a few elements deserve particular notice. Major Prathanya's team will receive a commendation and possibly even a medal for their heroic defusal of the comet-cracker warhead. Without their efforts, the Gefs would have destroyed the transport and most likely all of you with it.

Noemi Laporte did a difficult thing out there today. We've all been trained to treat prisoners with the utmost respect. But Laporte recognized a critical situation and acted to resolve it. By threatening that hostage, you may have crossed some ethical boundaries, but you also ensured the success of your mission. Some might question, Laporte, but I think that was a fine piece of leadership.

The Nauticus' classified cargo has been transferred to the Solaris and is now being escorted under heavy guard to its final destination. The Nauticus' captain is still in recovery, but once he's fully conscious, Admiral Byrne is going to grill him about his decision to leave Mars without a proper escort. I expect that by the time Byrne is done that captain will wish he had died at the hands of the Gefs.

Lastly, the Gef prisoner you recovered has been transferred to Fleet Intelligence for debriefing. Under normal circumstances we'd allow the Hostile Combatants Advocacy Branch access to the prisoner, but the Fleet Admirals have issued an executive order mandating closed interrogation. Extraordinary times, ladies and gentlemen.

A moment, Laporte? Your wing leader, Manuel Brie, passed me some of the mission logs. I'd just like to commend your conduct with respect to your cooperation with the EOD team. We need leadership like that. I may give you more responsibility in the months to come.

Recommendation 3

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

I wonder if I would have been able to kill her. I'm glad I didn't have to find out.

Kassim is looking really frayed. I'm going to try to find him and calm him down.

Stage 5

Congratulations on your successful recovery of the Nauticus transport, Alpha Wing. Major Prathanya's EOD team found the majority of the crew locked in a hull compartment, where they'd been gassed with an anesthetic.

The success of this mission was a team effort, but I think a few elements deserve particular notice. Major Prathanya's team will receive a commendation and possibly even a medal for their heroic defusal of the comet-cracker warhead. Without their efforts, the Gefs would have destroyed the transport and most likely all of you with it.

Noemi Laporte did a difficult thing out there today. We've all been trained to treat prisoners with the utmost respect. But Laporte recognized a critical situation and acted to resolve it. I don't know if I can officially endorse Laporte's actions, but...in times like this, sometimes we have to do hard things in order to win.

The Nauticus' classified cargo has been transferred to the Solaris and is now being escorted under heavy guard to its final destination. The Nauticus' captain is still in recovery, but once he's fully conscious, Admiral Byrne is going to grill him about his decision to leave Mars without a proper escort. I expect that by the time Byrne is done that captain will wish he had died at the hands of the Gefs.

The death of the Gef prisoner has drawn some attention from the Hostile Combatants Advocacy Branch of Fleet Intelligence. However, the Fleet Admirals have issued an order suspending HCAB operations for the durations of hostilities. Extraordinary times, ladies and gentlemen.

A moment, Laporte? Your wing leader, Manuel Brie, passed me some of the mission logs. I'd just like to commend your conduct with respect to your cooperation with the EOD team. We need leadership like that. I may give you more responsibility in the months to come.

Recommendation 4

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

I killed her. She begged when she died. I can't stop hearing her voice. I keep meaning to go see one of the combat shrinks but I never do. Ken's going to have a field day with this next time I manage to fall asleep. I need to see a shrink, just in case this psychosis is going to get more serious.

Kassim won't look at me.

Stage 6

Congratulations on your successful recovery of the Nauticus transport, Alpha Wing. Major Prathanya's EOD team found the majority of the crew locked in a hull compartment, where they'd been gassed with an anesthetic.

The success of this mission was a team effort, but I think a few elements deserve particular notice. Major Prathanya's team will receive a commendation and possibly even a medal for their heroic defusal of the comet-cracker warhead. Without their efforts, the Gefs would have destroyed the transport and most likely all of you with it.

There are pilots, and then there are warriors. Noemi Laporte proved herself a warrior today. Laporte, your decision to assault the Gef force while outnumbered and threatened by a live bomb was, arguably, insane. But it paid off, and that is a testament to your piloting skills and your judgment. I wouldn't have made the same call, but in times like this, gambles are sometimes what we need.

The Nauticus' classified cargo has been transferred to the Solaris and is now being escorted under heavy guard to its final destination. The Nauticus' captain is still in recovery, but once he's fully conscious, Admiral Byrne is going to grill him about his decision to leave Mars without a proper escort. I expect that by the time Byrne is done that captain will wish he had died at the hands of the Gefs.

A moment, Laporte? Your wing leader, Manuel Brie, passed me some of the mission logs. I'd just like to commend your conduct with respect to your cooperation with the EOD team. We need leadership like that. I may give you more responsibility in the months to come.

Recommendation 5

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

I can't believe we survived that firefight. Fifteen to three...it was madness. I don't know what I did. Ken's going to have a field day with this next time I manage to fall asleep. I need to see a shrink, just in case this psychosis is going to get more serious.

Kassim had something of a breakdown after we landed. I think he's...very afraid, under there. I should talk to him.

Stage 7

Somehow you managed to bungle this operation completely. You lost the Nauticus, its crew, and the vital cargo. I can't say too much, but from what I know, the loss of that cargo just set back a critical project by months and may have lost us our one chance at delaying Earth's fall.

I know you're good pilots, which makes it doubly difficult to understand how this mission could've gone so poorly. The Gefs are untrained rabble!

I'd like to keep you, but I'm afraid Admiral Byrne is furious. You three are being shipped Earth-side for transfer to a support ship squadron. Check over your rearm training modules and get your affairs in order - the life expectancy for front-line support ship pilots is less than three missions.

Recommendation 6

Do not fire on the Nauticus. Even if the warhead is disarmed, shock will set it off.

Darkest Hour

Mission filename: bp2-06.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Ensign Noemi Laporte
UED Solaris

Kassim's bravado peaked in a singularly pitiful combustion of alcohol and ego last night. When the shouting and the vomiting was done, he cried into my flight suit while I dragged him back to his bunk.

We had been debriefed and given a few hours of downtime after the Nauticus incident. He drank to Major Prathanya and the bomb crew, he drank to the Nauticus' blundering captain, he drank to the Gefs and 'killing for what we believe in', and then he went off like a magazine breach. There was a lot of yelling. It never got very close to making sense.

He swaggers and brags but inside he is helpless. He has seen death on a scale he never expected - thousands of lives snuffed out in an instant aboard the Akula, the Ranvir. I think, in the end, that all his bravado over the past few days was only a shield against something inside him, some terrible unanswered question that has been tearing him apart. 'What's the point?', maybe, or 'why does this hurt so much?'

He tried to tell himself that he didn't need a reason to fight, but when all his sound and fury was burnt away, he had nothing left to keep him going, and no way to justify the daily necessity of murder. You could see it in him - he talked big before every fight, but afterwards, he was the one fraying at the seams.

They detoxed him in sickbay and he's still on the roster as a backup pilot if we need to go all out. But somehow I don't think he'll ever sit in a cockpit again.

I wish I could say that I understand his collapse, but somehow I feel nothing but...scorn.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

Red Alert! All officers and crew of the UED Solaris, this is Admiral Byrne declaring an emergency.

A Galactic Terran attack is in progress on our Earth and Lunar space-based assets. Repeat, a massive enemy assault on major installations in Earth and Lunar orbit is in progress. Galactic Terran forces of the GTD Imperieuse battlegroup have overwhelmed our defences at several key positions. Our garrison at Luna has fallen, and we've lost contact with our battle line at Kansas Station. Our forces have rallied around Home Fleet HQ, and reinforcements from the Second Fleet are incoming.

All squadrons are to prepare for launch, effective immediately. All pilots, report to your squadron leaders for briefing and await further orders. Solaris crew, report to battle stations. Deck personnel, refer to launch rotation schedules which will be posted at all info terminals.

I want reports of battle-readiness from all stations in five minutes. It's time for everyone to give their all for our homes, and our planet. Earth's darkest hour has finally arrived.

Briefing

Stage 1

Ok pilots, listen up! Admiral Byrne wants us all out in space, and that means everyone.

You're being deployed to Rheza Station, a critical regional hub and dockyard for the Home Fleet. She's come under attack by Tev forces and her garrison just made the call for reinforcements. Latest reports from the station indicate the Deimos corvette Redoubtable bombarding the station with beam fire under cover from a squadron of fighters. However, be advised that the situation is highly fluid. If the Tevs start taking losses, expect the Imperieuse to deploy additional fighters and bombers. They'll put as many craft into the attack as they can without depleting their own reserves and leaving their destroyers vulnerable.

Stage 2

Because there is no Tev AWACS in the area to relay coordinates, expect bombers to jump in at a safe distance of at least 4000 meters.

What we know of the Tev OrBat suggests that you will be facing the 908th Trailblazers in an assault role, the 909th in space superiority, and the 11th Strategic Assault squadron as the heavy hitters.

Athens and Malta Stations share an orbital slot with Rheza. These installations handle active armor and munitions logistics for nearby dockyards. These are important assets, but compared to Rheza, they're expendable. Ignore them, pilots. There's nothing you can do for them.

Stage 3

Admiral Byrne plans to launch everything we've got that can fly, and we're shoving trainees into fighters as fast as we can find flightsuits. This is it, people. This is the fight for our Federation. We lose this one, then it's game over.

Our replacement pilots arrived only yesterday and I imagine you haven't had a chance to meet them. Too late now. They'll be filling out your wings. Brie, you'll be leading Alpha wing and handling coordination with the Solaris. Laporte, you have command of Beta wing and any other wings that arrive. Sorry to put you in tactical command, Ensign, but there's no one else to do the job. Try to keep our new pilots alive.

Your launch window is in seven minutes. Get to your ships and get to them now!

Stage 4

Laporte. Listen up.

Those rooks you're taking out have just barely finished their ACM training. I need you to keep them together and keep them safe. Instead of letting them engage on their own, or giving them a target to defend, tell them to attack one enemy at a time, engaging as a group.

Think of them as another weapon, one you aim with your orders.

If Rheza launches any of its own rookie wings later in the battle, feel free to give them orders as well. Your command software should autoconfigure.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Welcome back to the Solaris, Navajas...those of you who survived.

Today was a massacre. The GTD Imperieuse's squadrons blitzed the entire Sol Sector in a single, massive coordinated strike. We lost five warships, including a frigate, and nearly sixty orbital installations. Our shipyards, munitions depots, orbital foundries, rally points, workup stations, fuel and reactor booms, and navigational infrastructure have been decimated. Analysts suggest it'll take five years to fully repair the damage.

Twenty minutes into the assault, the Martian Second Fleet responded en masse, striking against the Imperieuse's deployed forces as well as Tev rear areas around Jupiter. Thanks to Admiral Netreba's swift intervention, we were able to preserve our truly critical installations and retain our basic warfighting abilities. We will fight on.

Your defense of Rheza was a key element of that resilience. The Tevs never sent a truly crushing force, but thanks to your skill and careful deployment of the Third Fleet's two surviving artillery ships, you held Rheza. It will keep our ships armed, fueled, and repaired for months to come.

The loss of the Vatican is a tragedy, but we can rest easy knowing that her crew gave their lives to preserve our Federation and way of life.

The Imperieuse has withdrawn to Delta Serpentis to restock its squadrons. We have earned ourselves some breathing room...but at a price.

As you can see from the empty seats, the Navajas took 70% casualties today. The squadron is being disbanded, and our surviving pilots transferred. It has truly been an honor to serve as your commander.

We will fly our final sortie tomorrow.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

We died by the tens of thousands today. At least we killed some of them back.

There's a layer of soot on my ship, vaporized effluvia from the death of the Valerie. Some significant fraction of it is made of dead GTVA crewmen. When I climbed out of the cockpit I got it on my hands and my face and all over my flightsuit.

I haven't washed.

Stage 2

Welcome back to the Solaris, Navajas.

Today was a massacre. The GTD Imperieuse's squadrons blitzed the entire Sol Sector in a single, massive coordinated strike. We lost nine warships, including three frigates, and nearly sixty orbital installations. Our shipyards, munitions depots, orbital foundries, rally points, workup stations, fuel and reactor booms, and navigational infrastructure have been decimated. Analysts suggest it'll take five years to fully repair the damage.

Twenty minutes into the blitz, the Martian Second Fleet responded en masse, striking against the Imperieuse's deployed forces as well as Tev rear areas around Jupiter. In spite of our losses it seemed we might hold the truly critical installations and preserve our fleet and basic warfighting abilities.

But the loss of Rheza Station pushed us past our combat loss grouping as a military. We've lost a key subspace trajectory tracer, retrograde repair point, and dockyard for the First Fleet. Even as we speak, Tev bombers from Steele's own squadrons are jumping in through the blind spot and entering Earth's atmosphere. We could've lost Rheza and fought on, but combined with our other losses...

The Elders made the decision to surrender ten minutes after Rheza fell. Don't blame yourselves. There was nothing you could've done. We lost this war before it ever started.

For the last time, Navajas...dismissed.

Recommendation 2

Use your wingmen as a weapon. Use C-3-1 to order them all to gang up on a single target, and take enemies out one by one. Scorpio Wing should be your first target.

Keep the Vatican alive. Disarm the Redoubtable's main beams.

When the final attack comes, take out the bomber escort fighters first, then the bombers, and finally the AWACS. With their escorts gone, the bombers are easy pickings.

Once the Valerie arrives, be sure to shoot down its three bombers. The Indus and its fighters can handle themselves against the Valerie.

Stage 3

Welcome back to the Solaris, Navajas...those of you who survived.

Today was a massacre. The GTD Imperieuse's squadrons blitzed the entire Sol Sector in a single, massive coordinated strike. We lost five warships, including a frigate, and nearly sixty orbital installations. Our shipyards, munitions depots, orbital foundries, rally points, workup stations, fuel and reactor booms, and navigational infrastructure have been decimated. Analysts suggest it'll take five years to fully repair the damage.

Twenty minutes into the assault, the Martian Second Fleet responded en masse, striking against the Imperieuse's deployed forces as well as Tev rear areas around Jupiter. Thanks to Admiral Netreba's swift intervention, we were able to preserve our truly critical installations and retain our basic warfighting abilities. We will fight on.

Your defense of Rheza was a key element of that resilience. The Tevs never sent a truly crushing force, but thanks to your skill and careful deployment of the Third Fleet's two surviving artillery ships, you held Rheza. It will keep our ships armed, fueled, and repaired for months to come. The UEC Vatican is already moored at Rheza, undergoing a workover.

The Imperieuse has withdrawn to Delta Serpentis to restock its squadrons. We have earned ourselves some breathing room...but at a price.

As you can see from the empty seats, the Navajas took 70% casualties today. The squadron is being disbanded, and our surviving pilots transferred. It has truly been an honor to serve as your commander.

We will fly our final sortie tomorrow.

Recommendation 3

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

We died by the tens of thousands today. At least we killed some of them back.

There's a layer of soot on my ship, vaporized effluvia from the death of the Valerie. Some significant fraction of it is made of dead GTVA crewmen. When I climbed out of the cockpit I got it on my hands and my face and all over my flightsuit.

I haven't washed.

Stage 4

The loss of the Indus to the GTCv Valerie represents an unacceptable failure. The frigate arrived in an advantageous tactical position, and your support could have guaranteed its victory in that duel.

You have failed your comrades in a critical moment.

Recommendation 4

Destroy the Valerie's two port beam cannons to guarantee the Indus' survival.

Stage 5

Congratulations on bringing all your rookies home alive, Laporte. It was a bloodbath out there, but you kept them safe.

Stage 6

Good work bringing some of your rooks home, Laporte. Try not to blame yourself for your losses. It was a bloodbath out there.

My Brother, My Enemy

Mission filename: bp2-07.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Ensign Noemi Laporte
UED Solaris

Debris from yesterday's blitz is still coming down all over Earth. The pictures from groundside are gorgeous, until you realize that a lot of those shootings stars are probably bodies.

The orbitals are in ruins. I don't think anyone expected the Blitz. Someone in the Admiralty - Byrne, maybe? - must have assumed the Tevs wanted to capture everything intact. So much for that notion! Now here we are...our spaceborne infrastructure shot out from under us, our fleet facing a six-month operational window before fuel and ammo start becoming a serious problem.

And what does Byrne do? He announces that we're going to cut flight operations and restrict combat deployments in order to 'preserve our assets for the long war ahead.' What 'long war'? The Tevs smashed the Luna garrison and nearly put troops down on the surface. They could probably hit Earth with shoulder-launched rockets from there!

Rumor has it that Admiral Steele is pulling his ships back to Europa and gathering his strength for a decisive push in the next few months. Anyone can see that we're ready to lose this war.

Kassim wasn't on the flight roster for the Rheza mission. In fact, I haven't seen him since his breakdown. I want to feel bad for him but instead I'm furious. Everyone is just giving up...where the hell is our backbone? We should be returning the favor, pushing back, hitting Jupiter or the node!

I keep thinking of Lorna Simms, charging into the fray at Rheza. Her voice on the comm, so casually fierce, almost joyous in its savagery. I feel more akin to her than to anyone here...even dear, tired Uncle Manuel.

He's being transferred out. I'll miss him, but not as much as I would have a month ago.

I'm not the same as these people any more. I want to kill Tevs. I crave that rush so hard it frightens me.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

<heads up, Fleetrats: this message has been leaked - read at your own risk!>

*** FleetNet Admiralty Communique ***
FROM: Admiral Calder, CINC3JRF
TO: Admiral Byrne, CINC1EHF, Admiral Netreba CINC2MF

How the hell did this happen?

I have been warning you since before the fall of Europa that Steele is the most dangerous commander the Tevs have. He is not going to dicker around conserving resources and fighting an 'inexorable attritive war' like Severanti. He wants this war over. He hates the waste of life almost as much as he loves the chance to fight.

I told you he'd go for the throat. Now we're looking at logistical collapse within the year unless we cut our fleet in half - if that doesn't happen on its own. On top of that Byrne continues to insist on diverting critical supplies to his damn 'priority operation'.

You should've given me your ships when I needed them, Byrne. Not squandered the Home Fleet defending the Elders' mysterious 'project'.

If we do not break out of our defensive rut, within three months we are all going to answer for it at the gallows.

-Admiral Calder, Commander
Jovian Rim Fleet (In Exile)

Stage 2

To the Officers and Crew of the UED Solaris,

InSec has recently become aware that a document was posted publicly on FleetNet labeled as a compartmentalized Admiralty communique.

Although the source claims to be a disgruntled Jovian comms officer, I am sure none of you are naive enough to believe this obvious fabrication. GTVI continues its PsyOps in an effort to wear down our morale and cohesion.

If you hear scuttlebutt about this message, defeat it as you would any other enemy.

-Major Ran Gia, Internal Security

Stage 3

*** Intercepted Transmission ***
Decryption Code: 4433-ssd212-64lo960
Broadcast Timestamp: 2386-10-4 0147 GST

This is Paula Hunter, Alliance Embedded News, reporting in the field on board Artemis Station in the Sol system. Several days ago GTVA forces launched a truly enormous coordinated attack against UEF naval infrastructure in the space around Earth itself. This is a huge, a really huge - am I getting through, Chen? - all right, sorry, yes, this is an enormous change in strategy from what we saw under Admiral Severanti.

In an interview yesterday Admiral Steele told us that he wants this war over by the end of the year and he's willing to take risks to do it.

"I want one thing to be clear: we will suffer losses. I'm not going to grind away five hundred thousand lives on both sides when we could spend a few thousand now and achieve victory. We need to show the UEF the rules of the game: there are no rules. These people are fragile. They haven't seen what we've seen, or fought our battles. Push them and they will break."

Now, a lot of pundits have criticized this change in strategy as an unnecessary risk, and I know there's been a lot of footage of damaged ships coming home, or news about lost squadrons. But let me tell you, the damage inflicted by Steele's attacks is just so much more -

USER COMMAND: feed off

USER COMMAND: meditation widget

MEDITATION WIDGET! YOUR BIOMETRICS SHOW INCREASED HEARTRATE, NOEMI. WOULD YOU LIKE A KITTEN PICTURE?

Stage 4

KITTEN PICTURE DELIVERED. REMEMBER, SERENITY PRECEDES SUCCESS

Stage 5

Message Received - Sender: Manuel Brie

For the attention of Sub-Lieutenant Laporte,

Hello Noemi. I ran into Kassim last night. He was in his civies at the Rec room. I asked him where he had been the past couple of days. He said he was heading back to Earth, and wasn't going to take any more part in this war. It turns out he missed the squadron briefing when the Tevs attacked Earth. Captain Telfer eventually found him in his bunk, up to his ears in rocket fuel. He got an immediate court-martial, and was determined psychologically unfit to continue in the Navy. He leaves for Earth tomorrow, and they're setting him up in a Government centre for some spiritual therapy.

It's sad that the Navajas are being broken up, but to lose Kassim as well makes it all that much more difficult. He had the manners of a hog in heat and half the charm, but he was a good pilot, a reliable friend. Like Captain Telfer said though: this is war. War doesn't stop for anyone. It is a machine that carries on without us, and we either continue on with it or we die.

Stage 6

Let me tell you something that I always told your parents: No matter what life throws at us, we always have a choice in how we choose to receive it. Most of us aren't born great. It's a conscious decision that we make at some point in our lives that propels us to do great things. You're still at the beginning of your adult life, but the choices you've made in this war have shown me that you are quite capable of determining your own destiny. It is therefore with no fear that I let you go into the unknown by yourself without me to guide you.

I'm going to Rheza Station to help out with the training of new pilots. I've been flying Navy birds for more than twenty years, and this is probably the most useful thing I can do in this war. My reactions aren't what they were fifteen, twenty years ago and the front is no place for a person like me. Who would have thought, Laporte, that out of the three of us you'd be the only one of us moving forward, not back.

I'll send you a message when I get a spare moment.

With love, your Uncle Manuel.

Briefing

Stage 1

Morning, Fighting Navajas. This will be your last sortie before everyone goes to their new postings, so let's make this a good one, all right?

Here's the situation. About fifteen minutes ago, we received an automated distress call from one of our cruisers, the Dea Icaunis. She was transferring some non-essential materials from Mars to Earth and serving as a base and rally point for local patrols. We can't establish communications with the cruiser, so we've assumed that she must have fallen under some distress. Admiral Byrne has ordered us to send a wing to investigate the fate of the Icaunis.

Stage 2

This is not a recon mission. We suspect enemy action to be the cause of the cruiser's distress. GTVA forces have withdrawn from regional space after the Second Fleet's maneuvers, but we've detected some remnants that haven't joined up with the Tev fleet at Europa. This could be a retaliatory action. We need you to proceed with caution, and be ready for a fight as soon as you enter the area.

Beta wing will serve as backup. Because of Brie's departure, you'll be taking Alpha wing, Laporte. Your recent action at Rheza Station has proven that you've got the capability for field leadership. I've already made a statement in your FleetNet record for your next squadron leader. Do us proud, Sub-Lieutenant.

Stage 3

Hey! Hey, Laporte! It's Vineto. Camerone's checking something with the deck crew.

When we get back, let's take a few minutes to remember the Navajas, all right? Captain Telfer could use a little cheering up.

Congratulations on your promotion, too. You deserve it. You're handling all this better than most of us.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Camerone, Laporte, welcome back to the Solaris. We don't have a briefing room any more so we're going to do this over coffee. Cream, Sublieutenant?

I'm sorry about Vineto. He went down fighting the best. His parents are gonna be real torn up, but real proud.

Okay. I have no more idea than you do why the Tevs were so eager to board the Dea Icaunis. Their strike was under-supported and desperate. The ships you engaged were from the 64th Bengals, off the GTD Imperieuse - they should've been in Delta Serpentis with their base ship.

Our best theory at the moment concerns one of the prisoners the Dea Icaunis was transporting. Captain Esmar Al'Fadil of the 64th Bengals surrendered himself to UEF custody during a failed attack on the Jakarta Station dockyards. So far as we can tell, members of his squadron went rogue in order to rescue him from what they perceived as a fate worse than death.

It's...hard for me to think about, I'll admit. Ubuntu taught us all to never treat a human being as a thing. But if we're going to go out there and kill them, we...can't know things like this. Things like how much these pilots loved their commander. I know I couldn't pull the trigger if I had to think about that.

Ah, never mind. Laporte, you look shaky as hell. You should get some rack time.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Xinny. Zero. Rabbit. Dishes. Camel. Bonk. Eyes. Chavel.

Who were they? How long had they known each other?

Why did they have to go after their Captain? Why did they have to make me kill them?

Usually I can handle it. But this time...somehow it just doesn't feel fair.

Stage 2

It's good to have you back, Noemi.

I know it's odd to be debriefed in a sickbay bunk. Beta Wing found you in your cockpit with a shrapnel wound and a paucity of blood. It looks like you passed out after taking a pretty serious hit.

We're not completely certain what happened out there. Neither Vineto nor Camerone made it home to report, and the Dea Icaunis was boarded by GTVA marines. According to your flight data recorders, you engaged a wing of elite GTVA pilots. However, these ships were from the Imperieuse battle group and should have been in Delta Serpentis...not engaging in an unsupported boarding operation within our space.

Our best theory at the moment concerns one of the prisoners the Dea Icaunis was transporting. Captain Esmar Al'Fadil of the 64th Bengals surrendered himself to UEF custody during a failed attack on the Jakarta Station dockyards. So far as we can tell, members of his squadron went rogue in order to rescue him from what they perceived as a fate worse than death.

According to forensics, the fighting aboard the UEC Dea Icaunis grew fierce, and the Tev marines deployed a thermobaric weapon after freeing their prisoners. There were no survivors. But don't blame yourself, Laporte...those Tev pilots were ruthless and experienced in a way even I can't understand. And you were outnumbered, at that.

Heal up. You're being shipped out in a week.

I'll miss you, Sub-Lieutenant.

Recommendation 2

I can barely remember getting hit. I don't know if I was afraid. Getting that close to death doesn't seem real. I wonder...why did they spare me?

(You may replay this mission to achieve a different ending. If you want to defeat the SOC wings, try the following strategy: swap your Vulcans for Mauls, hang back near your starting point to draw them out, and pick off one ship at a time using wingman commands.)

Stage 3

Laporte, Vineto, Camerone, welcome back to the Solaris. We don't have a briefing room any more so we're going to do this over coffee. Cream, Sublieutenant?

I'm glad you all came home intact. The Tevs you ran into today were genuine badasses, some of them former SOC.

Okay. I have no more idea than you do why the Tevs were so eager to board the Dea Icaunis. Their strike was under-supported and desperate. The ships you engaged were from the 64th Bengals, off the GTD Imperieuse - they should've been in Delta Serpentis with their base ship.

Our best theory at the moment concerns one of the prisoners the Dea Icaunis was transporting. Captain Esmar Al'Fadil of the 64th Bengals surrendered himself to UEF custody during a failed attack on the Jakarta Station dockyards. So far as we can tell, members of his squadron went rogue in order to rescue him from what they perceived as a fate worse than death.

It's...hard for me to think about, I'll admit. Ubuntu taught us all to never treat a human being as a thing. But if we're going to go out there and kill them, we...can't know things like this. Things like how much these pilots loved their commander. I know I couldn't pull the trigger if I had to think about that.

Ah, never mind. Laporte, you look shaky as hell. You should get some rack time.

Recommendation 3

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Xinny. Zero. Rabbit. Dishes. Camel. Bonk. Eyes. Chavel.

Who were they? How long had they known each other?

Why did they have to go after their Captain? Why did they have to make me kill them?

Usually I can handle it. But this time...somehow it just doesn't feel fair.

Stage 4

Welcome back to the Solaris, Laporte. We don't have a briefing room any more so we're going to do this over coffee. Cream, Sublieutenant?

I'm sorry about your wingmen. Those are going to be tough letters to write. The Tevs you ran into today were genuine badasses, some of them former SOC.

Okay. I have no more idea than you do why the Tevs were so eager to board the Dea Icaunis. Their strike was under-supported and desperate. The ships you engaged were from the 64th Bengals, off the GTD Imperieuse - they should've been in Delta Serpentis with their base ship.

Our best theory at the moment concerns one of the prisoners the Dea Icaunis was transporting. Captain Esmar Al'Fadil of the 64th Bengals surrendered himself to UEF custody during a failed attack on the Jakarta Station dockyards. So far as we can tell, members of his squadron went rogue in order to rescue him from what they perceived as a fate worse than death.

It's...hard for me to think about, I'll admit. Ubuntu taught us all to never treat a human being as a thing. But if we're going to go out there and kill them, we...can't know things like this. Things like how much these pilots loved their commander. I know I couldn't pull the trigger if I had to think about that.

Ah, never mind. Laporte, you look shaky as hell. You should get some rack time.

Recommendation 4

(Note: This is identical to Recommendations 1 and 3, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Xinny. Zero. Rabbit. Dishes. Camel. Bonk. Eyes. Chavel.

Who were they? How long had they known each other?

Why did they have to go after their Captain? Why did they have to make me kill them?

Usually I can handle it. But this time...somehow it just doesn't feel fair.

Stage 5

Vineto, Laporte, welcome back to the Solaris. We don't have a briefing room any more so we're going to do this over coffee. Cream, Sublieutenant?

I'm sorry about Camerone. He went down fighting the best. His parents are gonna be real torn up, but real proud.

Okay. I have no more idea than you do why the Tevs were so eager to board the Dea Icaunis. Their strike was under-supported and desperate. The ships you engaged were from the 64th Bengals, off the GTD Imperieuse - they should've been in Delta Serpentis with their base ship.

Our best theory at the moment concerns one of the prisoners the Dea Icaunis was transporting. Captain Esmar Al'Fadil of the 64th Bengals surrendered himself to UEF custody during a failed attack on the Jakarta Station dockyards. So far as we can tell, members of his squadron went rogue in order to rescue him from what they perceived as a fate worse than death.

It's...hard for me to think about, I'll admit. Ubuntu taught us all to never treat a human being as a thing. But if we're going to go out there and kill them, we...can't know things like this. Things like how much these pilots loved their commander. I know I couldn't pull the trigger if I had to think about that.

Ah, never mind. Laporte, you look shaky as hell. You should get some rack time.

Recommendation 5

(Note: This is identical to Recommendations 1, 3, and 4, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Xinny. Zero. Rabbit. Dishes. Camel. Bonk. Eyes. Chavel.

Who were they? How long had they known each other?

Why did they have to go after their Captain? Why did they have to make me kill them?

Usually I can handle it. But this time...somehow it just doesn't feel fair.

Act 2: Apotheosis

The Intervention

Mission filename: bp2-08.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Sublieutenant Noemi Laporte
UED Solaris

I need to get away from this ship. With Manuel and Kassim gone, the Navajas disbanded, and everyone's spirits down, it feels like a tomb. It wasn't like this before the Blitz.

More and more of First Fleet is being retained for classified defensive operations. Whole ships have dropped off FleetNet, swallowed up by Admiral Byrne's project. I'm not going to be part of that. Defense is just another word for sitting and waiting for defeat.

I have a glowing letter here from Captain Telfer. I'm going to pull strings and request a transfer out of the First Fleet entirely. The Jovians and Martians are still trying to hit back.

I have an idea where I'd like to serve, and if I pull the right strings...

I feel like something inside me is changing. I don't know what, or how. I'm not really sure where I am right now.

Personal Log Addendum - 1330

I got the transfer. I'm going to Second Fleet.

I'm going to serve with Lorna Simms on the Indus. I liked what I saw of her at the Meridian battle and at Rheza...her fire, her grit.

I was told the Indus was the finest frigate in Two Fleet. But I've also heard that the Indus is a death ship, a black hole for rookies, a suicide posting.

I shuttle out to Mars tonight at 2240. I guess I'll find out.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

For the attention of Sublieutenant Laporte,

Welcome to your new home, Sublieutenant Laporte. I'm Captain Sorensen, and I'm proud to call the Indus mine. I'm glad that you made the decision to join up with my ship and crew. I'm also aware that you come with high commendations from Captain Telfer, so I know that you will serve this ship with distinction and valour.

In the wake of Steele's massive raid against Earth, GTVA forces have largely withdrawn to Jupiter sector to resupply and regroup. Raids against Earth Sector continue, but for the most part, Second Fleet is under only limited strategic pressure. Fleet Admiral Netreba is in conference with Fleet Admiral Calder of the Jovian Rim Fleet survivors, and by all indications it looks like some major operation is about to commence.

I'll leave you under the care of your squadron leader. I believe you two have met.

Captain Lloyd Sorensen
UEFg Indus
Second Fleet

Stage 2

For the attention of Sublieutenant Laporte,

Simms here. We've been introduced before. Welcome to the Indus. I'm sorry I wasn't on deck to see you in. I read over your jacket. You're clearly a skilled pilot, if still a little green. I need that talent to rebuild this squadron.

I want to make it clear that things operate differently here in Second Fleet. The Martian military has a reputation for rowdiness and 'vivacious behavior'. This reputation is well-earned, but it doesn't mean you can be insubordinate without consequence. It's esprit de corps, not poor discipline, that keeps Two Fleet running.

There are only a few veteran pilots left on the Indus, so don't worry if we don't go crazy over the arrival of you and your fellow replacements. We're at the front lines. We've seen a lot of faces come and go. Don't expect a shiny badge or a badass squadron name; we're out here to do our jobs, not to fly air shows.

Welcome aboard.

Lorna Simms

Stage 3

FLEETNET Personal - Flight Lieutenant Karen Ng'Mei

Hey Laporte. I just got word of your transfer to the Indus. You may remember me from the Nauticus incident. I'm de facto squadron leader aboard the Yangtze, since our CAG is a psychological casualty. Lorna Simms and I go way back.

Admiral Netreba is about to select forces for a big joint operation against the GTVA. Two months ago the Indus was the best frigate in Two Fleet, and Lorna Simms was a rising star. She got that job because five officers before her couldn't hack it.

But the last few weeks have really wrecked her. The Indus air wing has been running a 400% casualty rate. Simms and Flight Lieutenant Levi are about the only two left from the original squadron. Replacements show up and die almost daily.

Word has it that Lorna doesn't give her pilots callsigns any more, just numbers. The crew chief says that she's banned the flight deck from painting names on their ships. I think all the new pilots have turned into one long red blur for her. Worse, I think she prefers it that way. And all those rooks can tell. It's killing morale.

Stage 4

I want the Indus flying alongside the Yangtze if we do go for a big strike, and I want her pilots eager to follow their Captain. But Admiral Netreba will never choose a sick ship for his new task force.

Do me a favor. See if you can shake Simms up. I've attached a personality profile that might help you out - I hope you get a chance to review it.

Cordially yours,
Karen Ng'Mei

Stage 5

Federation Pilot's Reference
Kentauroi Interceptor

Ultra-high performance interceptor and precision strike craft. Massively variable hull geometry. High afterburner velocity with good sustainability. Capable of reverse thrust.

Mounts Rapier cannon for anti-fighter attack and precision Paveway bombs on external racks for strikes against heavily defended targets at long range.

Survivability inside beam and flak envelopes is low.

Pilots transitioning to the Kentauroi from the Uhlan space superiority fighter are advised to practise with simulator modules and attain hands-on experience before combat.

Be advised that simulator modules have a known discrepancy with control layout in the latest Block 2 Kentaurois.

Briefing

Stage 1

Yo. Laporte. Out of the bunk, into the hall, let's go, let's go!

I hear you and the other new transfers have been bitching about the lack of training sorties. I get that. I mean, if I didn't know this ship flew a couple dozen sorties a day off a slot deck, overworking a deck crew that gets four-hour sleep shifts and hasn't had a leave day in almost nine weeks, I'd be bitching for more flight time too. And I just assume you don't know all that.

Anyway, today's your lucky day, Laporte. I'm taking you out for some hands-on time with your Kentauroi. Get used to the cockpit, the new avionics, all that. Sound good?

Stage 2

I already had the deck fit out your Kentauroi with weapons packages. We'll jump out to the deep Belt, putter around, and come back. It'll give you a chance to get a feel for the interceptor and its weapons. The Yangtze is handling Jump Five alert for this sector, so if anything goes wrong, expect Flight Lieutenant Ng'Mei and her irrepressible wingman to come charging to the rescue, as usual.

I know you've had a couple discipline problems in the past. Your record says your last wing leader was your uncle, of all people. Consider this a chance to impress me with those Earthborn manners of yours, all right?

Let's go.

Stage 3

Retrieving Personal Communique
Sender: Karen Ng'Mei

Your goal is to jolt Captain Simms out of her guilt-fueled death spiral.

In my experience, Simms responds well to confidence and plain talk, but if you're too by-the-book she'll just ignore you. If you can demonstrate intelligence or experience, she'll listen. But failing that, she does some of her best thinking when angry.

Just don't patronize or disrespect her or her abilities. And while she responds to honest emotion, don't get too empathic. She hates that. If you criticize her, criticize her professionally, not personally.

The worst thing you can do is convince her you're an idiot. She'll tolerate a surprising amount of insurbordination as long as it's going somewhere.

Once you've raised the topic, don't back down.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Laporte! Get your skinny ass out of that cockpit, I'm =====Stage in the locker room!

Yeah, okay. I'm not gonna close down our briefing closet for a two-pilot debrief. Lieutenant Levi's in there showing off his ACM footage anyway.

Get that zipper for me? ...thanks. Okay, we did good out there. Didn't lose anyone. Burnt some fuel, rattled some Tev raiders, good for morale. You can fly. I like that. Need good fliers for our next big op.

Look, uh. I appreciate the pointers about my command attitude. You're getting the hang of the Martian style, and what's more, you're probably right. I'm sick of making new friends and then losing them, but these new guys need a leader.

But keep in mind - rank matters, even in Two Fleet. One more outburst like that, whether Karen's behind it or not, and you'll be in the brig for insubordination. Granted, it'll only last ten minutes because I'll need you to fill out the roster, but...yeah, okay, you get it.

You like the Kentauroi? Hahah, yeah, thought so. That afterburner - wham! Beautiful kick.

Beta wing chased off an Aurora shadowing us. He must've traced our jump out and passed it to those Nyx. Steele puts the pressure on every damn inch of the Fleet, and we're not even his primary goal.

Right. Look. One more thing. I'm, uh, I'm pretty flattered by your attentions, but we've got to sort something out. Don't get me wrong, I'll tumble a pilot off another ship fast as the next woman, but in the same squadron, that's a no-go. So I'm afraid you're getting shot down at least once today, Laporte. No more schoolgirl flirt after missions.

Towel? Nice. Okay, Laporte, you keep all that shit straight, I'll get in real tight with the new pilots, we got ourselves a squadron and a ship. Nice doin' business.

Stage 2

Listen up, Laporte.

You pissed me off out there. You were insubordinate, presumptuous and downright stupid. I have no patience for this kind of behavior in a front-line combat unit.

Your shuttle back to First Fleet leaves at 0300 tomorrow. Pack your gear. Your transfer was a mistake.

Recommendation 1

Any of the four approaches can lead to success. If you can convince her you're worth listening (by discussing either her experience or yours), you simply need to identify the problem. If you make her angry, you're still in good shape - stand your ground when pressed and remind her of your own experience.

Don't resort to personal attacks and mockery or claims that you understand how she feels.

Stage 3

Good work out there, Laporte. You kept your cool and followed orders. That's better than most manage under fire.

I understand Flight Lieutenant Ng'Mei put you up to some kind of...psychological intervention. I appreciate that you didn't push it on me, because if you had, I would have you in the brig for insubordination in a heartbeat.

This ship and its pilots are both in dire need of rest and regeneration. The last thing we want is to get sucked into some kind of hare-brained strategic gamble...no matter how much Karen wants us along.

I'll see you around, Laporte.

Recommendation 2

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Any of the four approaches can lead to success. If you can convince her you're worth listening (by discussing either her experience or yours), you simply need to identify the problem. If you make her angry, you're still in good shape - stand your ground when pressed and remind her of your own experience.

Don't resort to personal attacks and mockery or claims that you understand how she feels.

Stage 4

Noemi Laporte was killed in combat with elements of the 60th Bloodletters, GTD Atreus.

The wolfpack pilots are talented, and they outnumber you two to one. Focus on evading their fire rather than maneuvering to attack them. If necessary, you can outrun the Nyxes until backup arrives.

Calling Simms for help will give you a temporary reprieve if you are in serious danger.

The Plunder

Mission filename: bp2-09.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Aboard UEFg Indus

There is something in the air.

The Indus has a crew of three thousand. Weeks of unrelenting raids, Jump Five deployments, and pitched battles have taken a toll. They are filthy, exhausted, and afraid, running on the acid biochemical dregs of endorphins and bad Fleet coffee.

But they do their jobs with dogged competence, like a living callus: deadened, numb, but still intact.

Now, though - now something new is creeping through the crew. Officers mutter at their stations. Deck gangs gather around terminals, sneaking a few moments of gossip between maintenance squawks.

The word has spread, down from the Admiralty, leaking through the bureaucracy and FleetNet to combat ships and pilots. A Big Op is about to go down.

Admiral Netreba is going to make a move.

With the taste of a brewing storm under her tongue, Captain Lorna Simms peels away the scabs of her command's 400% casualty rate and starts building some honest-to-Mars esprit de corps, praying that these rooks will not die screaming like the rest.

She does it the Martian way: card games in the bunks, basketball and football, rowdy back-and-forth during briefs, one-on-one training flights that piss off the deck crew and burn precious fuel but might save her people.

And, most importantly of all, in the ring: the chalk circle she and long-locked Lieutenant Levi put down together in the big storage closet behind her office. She lets her people spar, no holds barred, no concessions for size or sex (women get no mercy, men get no cups). There is one rule: when you leave the ring, you need to be flight-ready, or you will pay.

And it is during one of these sparring matches, as the squadron cheers Ogre and Glance, that Simms explains to her new wingman how they might just win the war.

"The Tevs are lords of all they survey on the other side of the node," she explains, straddling a plastic-backed stool like an egret perching on a lectern. "But that node has limited throughput. It takes time and energy to move a battle group through. They can't move all their ships to Delta Serpentis to resupply - so the supplies have to come to them."

She scratches at the roots of dirty blonde hair hacked off at chin height. "They've got a base at Neptune. That could keep one destroyer group fueled and armed. They've got Jupiter, but they haven't whipped it into submission yet. They're still bottlenecked at the node. But, Tevs being Tevs, they've prepared for that and deployed two backup plans. Those two Anemoi logistics ships are more valuable than any destroyer. They are the reason we can shoot one of their corvettes to hell and find it back on the lines a week later."

"Take those two ships, retake the node...checkmate. They starve."

She thinks about it for a second, and then laughs. "Until they jump their reserves through. Then we're fucked."

"Maybe," her audience says. "Maybe not."

Simms arches an eyebrow. "What, are you in a rush to win the war or something?"

The woman watching her makes a grin that is half-predatory and half the manic terror of a condemned prisoner. "Yes. God, yes."

Simms shakes her head. "You've got discipline issues, Laporte," she says.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

To the officers and crew of the UEFg Indus,

At 0750 today Admiral Netreba passed a coded directive to elements of Second Fleet. In a break from Byrne's doctrine of defensive war, Calder and Netreba have finalized their plans for the creation of an elite strategic unit. The objective of this task force will be to undertake risky offensive operations against the GTVA war machine. The Admirals hope to derail Admiral Steele's plan for a crushing attack on Earth by year's end.

The Altan Orde and Katana, two surviving frigates of Calder's Third Fleet, will join this task force. From Second Fleet, Netreba has selected the Yangtze ... and the Indus.

I am proud of each and every one of you. Our ship has earned this honor, and she will continue to do so with every mission she and her pilots complete. Hope lives on.

I will provide details of our first mission, the oft-rumored 'Big Op', in the days to come. For now, stand to your duties with the utmost vigilance.

Captain Lloyd Sorenson

Stage 2

For the attention of Sublieutenant Laporte,

Hey, Laporte. Maybe you should pick better war cries to make fun of. Apparently the Yangtze pilots are calling our task force the 'Wargods', after a certain Indus captain's morale-boosting battle shout par excellence.

I'll bet you a Jump Five shift that it's going to catch on.

Captain Lorna Simms

Stage 3

Second Fleet Strategic Update
Cleared for Limited Dissemination

From the Admiral's Desk

To the officers of Second Fleet Mars, this is a monthly high-level update.

The strategic situation is this. The GTD Imperieuse has withdrawn to Delta Serpentis to replenish its squadrons after spearheading the Blitz against Earth.

This leaves the GTD Atreus, the GTD Carthage, and the GTD Hood in-system conducting flight operations. In spite of his public statements, Steele is currently building up assets for his planned coup de main.

In order to prevent our three Fleets from striking, he has deployed the GTD Hood's squadrons to conduct constant raids against military targets in Earth Sector. The pressure is intense and First Fleet refuses to give up any assets for non-defensive operations.

Stage 4

Steele has also launched a series of aggressive attacks against Second and Third Fleet assets in Mars sector. In the past few days, we have lost two training squadrons and six supply depots, including forty-eight uncrewed Izra'il assault fighters awaiting deployment. We cannot regain any strategic momentum under these conditions.

Unlike the attacks on Earth, we are unable to determine the origin of these raids. Subspace vectoring is inconclusive and we have yet to detect a consistent origin point.

Operations are under way to counter this threat and put us back on the attack. In spite of the stance of our honored Elders and Admiral Byrne, Calder and I have concluded that some offensive operations are necessary to prevent our total defeat.

Thank you all for your loyalty and steadfast devotion. We will persevere.

Admiral Netreba
UED Eris

Briefing

Stage 1

Eyes and ears, people. We've finally received the go-ahead for the Big Op. We're going to strike a major blow at the GTVA.

Our strategic objective is to gain the Second and Third Fleets a respite from constant raids so they can hit back and take some pressure off Earth.

Our tactical objective is the capture and retrieval of the Agincourt, an Anemoi class logistics vessel. There are only two of these ships in-system. Designed as mobile resupply platforms capable of field-repairing a destroyer or servicing an entire battle group for months, these ships are packed with sophisticated technology - and therefore incredibly valuable.

Stage 2

The Agincourt is the key to the constant, unpredictable Tev raids on Mars. Instead of jumping back to Jupiter to rearm and refuel, GTVA strike craft and warships rendezvous with the Agincourt as it jumps around the system, moving above and below the plane of the ecliptic. The Agincourt tops ships off with fresh armor, subsystem repairs, and ordinance, then sends them back in.

Now, as those of you who got through Tactical know, the Agincourt is just as close as Jupiter - five minutes away by subspace. The advantage to a mobile rally point is that we can't easily predict the source of the raids and track them to their target via subspace vectoring. This is how they keep blindsiding us. We can't tell when they're coming, and we can't hit back.

That ends now.

Stage 3

The Agincourt travels under total comms silence, escorted by the cruisers Elissa and Utica and the corvette Siren. All of these ships are front-line combatants armed with pulse weapons and multiple AAA beams. They're supplemented by a well-rested, well-supplied fighter squadron.

We have obtained the Agincourt's jump schedule from a source inside the GTVA. In three hours, the Altan Orde and Katana will raid Tev assets around Jupiter, drawing off their forces and attention.

Our strike package inserts ten minutes later. The Yangtze and Indus will jump to the Agincourt as it completes a scheduled hop, blanket the area in jamming so it can't send a distress call, and neutralize the escort. We will provide fighter cover and precision strike support for the frigates.

Stage 4

Once the escort has been neutralized, we will disable the Agincourt, then sortie the Gloire with an elite CQB/HVBO assault team aboard. This team will capture the Agincourt, killing the crew if necessary. We will have ten minutes to carry this out before the Agincourt recharges her drive, plots a fix for Artemis Station, and jumps out. Additionally, if either the Indus or Yangtze is lost, our jamming will be compromised, and we will immediately abort.

We will then extract the captured Agincourt and all its supplies directly to Earth. If the drives are too badly damaged for a field repair, we will move the ship out via a nearby intrasystem gate about a week's travel away. As long as we get the logistics ship clear of the engagement area quickly, the Tevs should have trouble locating it if we're running dark.

Stage 5

We will fly alongside our fellow Yangtze Wargods. Alpha wing, under me, will fly Kentauroi interceptors. Laporte, you'll take my wing. Beta wing, off the Yangtze and under Flight Lieutenant Ng'Mei, will also fly Kents. We'll handle beam disarmament and the destruction of the GTVA escort. I strongly suggest that some of you pack Paveway bombs and Scalpel disruptors.

Gamma wing will pilot gunships and perform heavy suppression and torpedo attacks on the cruisers.

One more thing. We are jamming transmissions out of this area, but if the Tevs see a huge amount of subspace traffic towards the Agincourt - and one of their wandering Auroras may vector us - then we'll be tumbled. So no reinforcements, no frigates jumping in to back us up. We do this alone.

Stage 6

Right, Wargods. We are an experiment without much political support amongst the Elders or First Fleet. If we prove our worth here, that's the first step towards bigger things...maybe even victory.

Let's go prove that there's still some hope for our Federation.

Debriefing

Stage 1

We lost the Indus. Captain Sorenson, everyone I knew...it was a blood-soaked ship, maybe, but she didn't deserve to go out like this.

We made our best shot at the Agincourt, but the Tevs were ready, and the operation failed. We're not going to get a chance like that again. Admiral Netreba is disbanding the Wargods and returning us to front-line duty. We may never go on the offensive again during the remainder of the war.

With the Indus gone, I'm transferring to Third Fleet, where I am going to kill Tevs until they kill me. How and where the rest of you sorry lot die is up to Netreba.

For a few days I thought the Wargods were going to be something special, pilots, but it looks like my faith was misplaced.

Recommendation 1

Destroying Tev beam cannons with your Paveways may help the frigates survive.

You can always press Alt-G to call for Simms' help. This will make you temporarily resistant to damage as Simms' fighter passes you tactical information and ECM support.

Stage 2

We lost the Yangtze. Captain Kyrematen and her entire crew are dead. Captain Sorenson is taking it hard. He hasn't come out of his quarters since the attack. As for Flight Lieutenant Karen Ng'Mei, well...she was a mother figure to a lot of us, but she's cracked.

We made our best shot at the Agincourt, but the Tevs were ready, and the operation failed. We're not going to get a chance like that again. Admiral Netreba is disbanding the Wargods and returning us to front-line duty. We may never go on the offensive again during the remainder of the war.

With the Yangtze gone, and the Indus moved to patrol and Jump Five duty for the rest of its career, I'm transferring to Third Fleet, where I am going to kill Tevs until they kill me. How and where the rest of you sorry lot die is up to Netreba.

For a few days I thought the Wargods were going to be something special, pilots, but it looks like my faith was misplaced.

Recommendation 2

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Destroying Tev beam cannons with your Paveways may help the frigates survive.

You can always press Alt-G to call for Simms' help. This will make you temporarily resistant to damage as Simms' fighter passes you tactical information and ECM support.

Stage 3

We lost the Gloire and its entire marine detachment. That was the best CQB/HVBO team in Two Fleet, and we wasted their lives. We should've covered that cruiser better.

We made our best shot at the Agincourt, but the Tevs were ready, and the operation failed. We're not going to get a chance like that again. Admiral Netreba is disbanding the Wargods and returning us to front-line duty. We may never go on the offensive again during the remainder of the war.

With the Indus moved to patrol and Jump Five duty for the rest of its career, I'm transferring to Third Fleet, where I am going to kill Tevs until they kill me. How and where the rest of you sorry lot die is up to Netreba.

For a few days I thought the Wargods were going to be something special, pilots, but it looks like my faith was misplaced.

Recommendation 3

Try to get to the Tev bombers early in order to preserve the Gloire. Order Gamma Wing to attack the bombers in order to provide Slammer suppression.

Stage 4

All right, Wargods, take a seat!

I have some bad news. We're out of the war for six days. Due to engine damage sustained during the assault, we're moving the Agincourt to a nearby intrasystem gate via fusion drive. Because we can't give away our position to the Tevs, there will be no subspace traffic in or out of our position: that means no reinforcements, no jumps home, and absolute comms silence.

The GTVA is hunting for the Agincourt. We've detected Aurora scouts making hops throughout the area. Fortunately, it appears we've moved the Agincourt far enough from its scheduled coordinates that the Tevs are having trouble finding it - space is huge and very empty. Better yet, Admiral Calder has deployed three escorted ECM decoy ships to further confuse matters.

Now for the good news. That was an excellent mission, Wargods. We successfully coordinated gunship fire, interception, and precision strikes, and achieved a difficult and strategically critical objective. I'm very proud of every one of you.

The Indus and Yangtze took damage during the assault. They'll be escorting the Agincourt out, performing active-armor repairs via polymer injection and doing systems and turret run-ups.

The Agincourt is fully under the control of our marines, and I've convinced a contact to 'liberate' some of the Agincourt's stocks for us. We'll have fresh water, mattresses instead of pallets, and a lot of entertainment during the next few quiet days. I'll draw up a patrol schedule, but my goal is to get all of you rested and ready for what's to come.

Recommendation 4

Sublieutenant! Laporte, over here!

Good to see you still in one piece. Look, Lieutenant Levi and I were thinking - we have all this stuff off the Agincourt to work with, and they're spinning down the grav deck for repairs tomorrow.

I think we need to hold a little camaraderie-building session for the squadron.

Stage 5

That was a blunder of cosmic proportions. Truly execrable flying.

Our failure to prevent the Tevs from slipping away was unforgivable. We had the Tev escort beat, but we let that cow of a ship compromise our mission.

We made our best shot at the Agincourt, but you borked it up, and the operation failed. We're not going to get a chance like that again. Admiral Netreba is disbanding the Wargods and returning us to front-line duty. We may never go on the offensive again during the remainder of the war.

With the Indus moved to patrol and Jump Five duty for the rest of its career, I'm transferring to Third Fleet, where I am going to kill Tevs until they kill me. How and where the rest of you sorry lot die is up to Netreba.

For a few days I thought the Wargods were going to be something special, pilots, but it looks like my faith was misplaced.

Aristeia

Mission filename: bp2-10.fs2

Fiction Viewer

UEFg Indus
Agincourt Extraction, Day 1

Two days' mandatory rest.

It is enough to drive some of the pilots to guilt. The crews of the Indus and Yangtze will spend those days on frantic repairs, press-ganging GTVA crew and equipment into the effort under the watchful eyes of Federation Marines. The Gloire is already gone, thrusting out on a separate vector as a decoy.

But the Wargods' pilots are on mandatory rest. Time enough to realize that they have done what was once thought impossible: they have thrown a shoe into the gears of the Alliance war machine. They are heroes.

They gather, Indus and Yangtze fliers alike, in the Indus' starboard wardroom. The chalk goes down, the drinks go out (pure cometary water from the Agincourt), and their pent-up fear and anger dissolves in a groundswell of euphoria. They spar and laugh together, drunk on testosterone and relief.

When the affair dissolves, the pilots scatter to their bunks, and the lights go down for ship's night, Lorna Simms and her wingman are left, circling each other warily around the perimeter of one of the chalked rings as if they are marking out territory.

"Nice flying out there, rook," Simms says. She steps into the ring, lean and long-limbed, her motions laconic.

Across the ring, Laporte matches her. In the shadows of ship's night she is a dusky fey shape, quick and precise, like a raven. "Thanks, boss," she says.

They fight, sparring at first, until the inevitable tangle and fall into a grapple. Simms locks her wingman's right arm into a triangle hold, and Laporte taps out. They roll free, panting. The bruises left by Laporte's fingers mark her captain's neck.

They lie side-by-side in silence for a moment, tense but still.

"So do you want to tell me what's eating you?" Simms says.

"Sir?"

"Why you spend half your sleep cycle muttering like a curbside prophet?"

"Hey," Laporte says, indignant. "My dad was a curbside prophet."

That gets a laugh from Simms. "Your dad was a pilot, and he's dead. He doesn't care."

"Yeah. You read that in my jacket?"

"It's in there. Deck accident followed by a bad fire a few years back, right? Inhaled superheated air, lungs burnt to hell. Ugly."

"Yeah. And my mom, you read that too?"

"Died of a respiratory infection last year, right? Couldn't get the meds she needed because of the Tev strikes."

"Yeah." Laporte shrugs eloquently, as if to say: it happened to someone else.

Simms rolls on to her side and eyes her wingman like a surgeon sizing up a wound. "So are you out for revenge? Is that what's chewing at you?"

Laporte gets to her feet. "Maybe I'm just crazy. Get up, sir. You're up one, but the night's still young."

Briefing

Stage 1

Vacation's over. We're back to the war.

I'm just back from a conference with Captain Sorenson and Captain Kyrematen. The good news is that the last six days have done wonders for our combat readiness. The Indus and Yangtze have both used the Agincourt's capabilities to maximize their combat efficiency.

Our own fighters have been repaired, rearmed, and in some cases patched up with Tev equipment. Laporte, your ship had a faulty com unit, so you now have a Tev receiver/decrypter installed. Don't let your Earther side get the better of you - I don't want any attempts to 'understand how they feel'.

Stage 2

The bad news is that traffic with the Agincourt - which remains under the control of our prize party - has had unintended consequences. Our entire backup pilot roster is sick with some kind of influenza variant they picked up from the Tev crew. Worse yet, someone in the press-ganged GTVA deck crew sabotaged several of our fighters while they were being tuned up on the Agincourt.

Between the Indus and Yangtze, we have seven flight-ready pilots, two gunships, and five Kentaurois. And, as I'm sure you've all anticipated, the GTVA is finally on to us.

Stage 3

Our destination gate is thirty minutes away on sublight. However, Lieutenant Levi's last recon run spotted the GTD Hood blockading the gate. It must have arrived within the last few hours and remained under sensor silence.

Five minutes ago, the hunter-killer corvette team Serkr jumped in to reinforce the Hood. Hey! Discipline! I know many of you have heard of Serkr. The Marcus Glaive, Pilum, and Hydra specialize in short-range subspace shock attacks, jumping in and eliminating warships.

We believe the Tevs plan to destroy the Indus and Yangtze, then recapture the Agincourt.

Stage 4

We've obviously been detected, so we've signaled Admirals Netreba and Calder for backup. Judging by the terse replies we've received, they were ready for this contingency. Netreba is going to take the Eris and some artillery, along with our Wargod companions Katana and Altan Orde, and wreak havoc at the GTVA's Neptune fortifications. That should draw off Steele and the Atreus.

Admiral Calder is sending the jamming ship Anjaneya to help us fend off the Serkr corvettes. The Anjaneya has Jupiter's very best electronics aboard - if all goes well, she'll stymie their beam weapons entirely. Once their targeting is jammed, our frigates will engage with torpedoes, and hopefully destroy the Serkr threat once and for all.

Stage 5

If the Carthage remains in reserve to defend Artemis Station, then Admiral Calder will send us a torpedo strike division to help mop up. We get the Agincourt through the gate, and go home heroes.

Our role in all this is, as usual, to kill Tev fighters. There are only a few of us, so we all need to be in top form. We're rested and ready, and if we stay close to the Indus and Yangtze, our teamwork and point defenses should give us the upper hand against GTVA fighter sweeps. The Agincourt's guns will add to our fire pocket.

We will face skilled pilots in great numbers. It's the seven of us against the Hood's fighters. We must hold.

Stage 6

Laporte, you're on my wing - after how many card games you've lost to me in the last couple days, I wouldn't have it any other way. Levi, you perpetual malcontent, you'll fly our three.

Karen Ng'Mei and Olefumi off the Yangtze will fly Beta. Gamma is our gunship support.

Stage 7

Look, if you people want my opinion, I think something big is happening. The Agincourt alone is a huge target, but it's drawn out a Tev destroyer and other vital assets. I think Calder and Netreba are using the Agincourt as a catalyst for their own strategic plans.

I mean, think about it. The Hood is here, ready for the taking. The Atreus is occupied, the Carthage is probably going to play defense. The Imperieuse is out of the system. We have a golden opportunity here.

If we do our jobs here today, then maybe the Wargods will go down in history as the ones who turned the war around.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Six weeks ago we, as a people, were coasting towards defeat. Today, we put the Federation back into contention.

With the capture of the Agincourt logistics ship, we've done nearly as much damage to GTVA infrastructure in this system as their Blitz did to us. Without the Agincourt, they can't pressure us to the same degree. Without pressure, we can hit back. And if we can hit back, that means Steele's plan for a decisive stroke at Earth is off.

Better yet, we dealt significant damage to GTVA tactical assets. Serkr Team and the GTD Hood will be repairing at Artemis Station for several days, possibly weeks. Without those hunter-killers in the field, we can deploy our own warships more aggressively.

Admiral Netreba and Admiral Calder are in conference with Admiral Byrne and several Elders right now. I imagine the defecation has really hit the ventilation. Byrne wanted the Agincourt very badly, but my impression is that Calder and Netreba plan to use it to support a new offensive to retake Jupiter. The Agincourt has as much logistical capacity as three of our standard dockyards, and it's mobile.

The bad news from today was our own losses. The Tevs are reeling strategically, but tactically they were as strong as ever. Torpedo Two was murdered trying to assist us. In the Neptune fight, Admiral Steele gave Netreba's artillery a sound thrashing, and came near to catching the Eris itself. That man remains a menace.

The Indus and Yangtze will be in dock for several days, working back up after today's beating. We have been given exemption from Jump Five duties.

While I ordinarily stay away from all-squadron social activities, I think the Wargods deserve some quality bonding time! Karen Ng'Mei has a place in Candor Chasma and the hiking is fabulous. I'll send a communique after the briefing, people.

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

You can rest easy, Ken.

I think we might win this one after all.

Stage 2

With the failure of the Agincourt extraction, we're facing a total strategic collapse. The Tevs are launching punitive raids against Earth and Martian space, and they've discovered some real weaknesses in our force readiness. If Steele plays his cards right, the Atreus could be over Earth in less than forty-eight hours.

The Wargods are being disbanded as a failed experiment. We didn't have the skill or the courage to make our operation work. I wish it could've been different, pilots, but none of us should have even begun to nurse hope. This war's outcome has been written from day one, and we'll just have to play our parts to the bitter end.

So much for your bravado, huh, Laporte? Good luck on your next assignment. I doubt we'll live to see each other again.

Recommendation 2

Make sure to keep the Anjaneya jamming ship alive. When the Medea arrives, call in a bomber-heavy strike package as soon as possible.

If you're overwhelmed with fighters, send Beta Wing to guard the Anjaneya. If you lose the Anjaneya, send them to disarm the Hood's main beam.

Try to keep Gamma Wing alive through the opening dogfight so you can use their firepower later to guard the Anjaneya. You can even send them to disarm the Medea's beams.

Stage 3

Six weeks ago we, as a people, were coasting towards defeat. Today, we put the Federation back into contention.

With the capture of the Agincourt logistics ship, we've done nearly as much damage to GTVA infrastructure in this system as their Blitz did to us. Without the Agincourt, they can't pressure us to the same degree. Without pressure, we can hit back. And if we can hit back, that means Steele's plan for a decisive stroke at Earth is off.

Better yet, we dealt significant damage to GTVA tactical assets. Serkr Team and the GTD Hood will be repairing at Artemis Station for several days, possibly weeks. Without those hunter-killers in the field, we can deploy our own warships more aggressively.

Admiral Netreba and Admiral Calder are in conference with Admiral Byrne and several Elders right now. I imagine the defecation has really hit the ventilation. Byrne wanted the Agincourt very badly, but my impression is that Calder and Netreba plan to use it to support a new offensive to retake Jupiter. The Agincourt has as much logistical capacity as three of our standard dockyards, and it's mobile.

We did manage to limit our own losses as well. The cruiser Auxerre will survive to fight again. In the Neptune fight, Admiral Steele gave Netreba's artillery a sound thrashing, and came near to catching the Eris itself. That man remains a menace.

The Indus and Yangtze will be in dock for several days, working back up after today's beating. We have been given exemption from Jump Five duties.

While I ordinarily stay away from all-squadron social activities, I think the Wargods deserve some quality bonding time! Karen Ng'Mei has a place in Candor Chasma and the hiking is fabulous. I'll send a communique after the briefing, people.

Recommendation 3

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

You can rest easy, Ken.

I think we might win this one after all.

Stage 4

Six weeks ago we, as a people, were coasting towards defeat. Today, we put the Federation back into contention.

With the capture of the Agincourt logistics ship, we've done nearly as much damage to GTVA infrastructure in this system as their Blitz did to us. Without the Agincourt, they can't pressure us to the same degree. Without pressure, we can hit back. And if we can hit back, that means Steele's plan for a decisive stroke at Earth is off.

Better yet, we dealt significant damage to GTVA tactical assets. Serkr Team and the GTD Hood will be repairing at Artemis Station for several days, possibly weeks. Without those hunter-killers in the field, we can deploy our own warships more aggressively.

Admiral Netreba and Admiral Calder are in conference with Admiral Byrne and several Elders right now. I imagine the defecation has really hit the ventilation. Byrne wanted the Agincourt very badly, but my impression is that Calder and Netreba plan to use it to support a new offensive to retake Jupiter. The Agincourt has as much logistical capacity as three of our standard dockyards, and it's mobile.

Last in our string of extraordinary successes, we kept our own forces intact. Rapid action on Laporte's part saved the Torpedo Two cruisers. In the Neptune fight, Admiral Steele gave Netreba's artillery a sound thrashing, and came near to catching the Eris itself. That man remains a menace.

The Indus and Yangtze will be in dock for several days, working back up after today's beating. We have been given exemption from Jump Five duties.

While I ordinarily stay away from all-squadron social activities, I think the Wargods deserve some quality bonding time! Karen Ng'Mei has a place in Candor Chasma and the hiking is fabulous. I'll send a communique after the briefing, people.

Recommendation 4

(Note: This is identical to Recommendations 1 and 3, above.)

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

You can rest easy, Ken.

I think we might win this one after all.

What Binds Us

Mission filename: bp2-11.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Mars
Tharsis National Park

After so many months in the gunmetal steerage of a frigate's underbelly, the man-made paradise of Mars is almost too much to bear. When the Wargods throw down their bags on the doorstep of Karen Ng'Mei's cabin, Flight Lieutenant Levi looks out at the landscape of Candor Chasma - terraformed Eden nestled in a valley seven times as deep and broad as the Grand Canyon - and shakes his head.

"This was a terrible idea," he says. "We're never going to be able to go back."

Schooner pushes him into the pond.

They have three days. They use them. Paragliding in Martian gravity is intoxicating: all the joy of flight without the need to strap on tons of angry metal. They fly to the Tharsis Bulge, where Olympus Mons' nearest flank broods on the horizon. The six-kilometer escarpment juts like the lip of a battered pugilist, but the mountain is so enormous that its peak is well past the horizon line and nearly above the atmosphere.

On the second day they eat barbeque on the shore of Valles Marineris Lake, layered against the Martian cold. The water is crystal-pure, melted from the ice of impacted comets. They miss the maglev home.

When they finally make it back to the cabin, hours later, Simms collapses in exhaustion on an upper bunk. Karen, Olefumi, Levi and Laporte play a bluffing game with bottle caps on the kitchen table as the other Wargods build a fire.

"My parents were friends with an Elder," Laporte offers.

"Bullshit!"

Laporte grins up at Olefumi. "No bullshit. Gimme a cap."

"No wonder Simms calls you a society girl." Karen Ng'Mei tucks her legs under her and thinks. "I was a graphic designer before I went Fleet."

"I'll buy it." Levi scratches at his scalp, shaved bare after he lost a bet with Simms. "So, the Indus deck crew and I once tested the shock clamps on the hangar deck by strapping my Kent in and firing the afterburners."

Karen, Olefumi and Laporte gasp in shock. "You did not. Simms must have killed you!"

"Oh, she was furious." Levi glances up at the sleeping Simms. "I can prove it. The Captain talks in her sleep, and she's on a hair trigger. Behold."

He raises his voice slightly. "Captain, about the incident with the shock clamps. I - "

In the top bunk at the end of the room, Simms starts yelling in her sleep, muffled by the pillow under her face. "FLIGHT LIEUTENANT LEVI, I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN YOU FOR A SECOND-RATE ITEM OF HELMHOLTZ TRASH, QUALIFIED AS A PILOT ONLY INASMUCH AS YOU CAN YANK YOUR FLIGHT STICK LIKE A LONELY TEENAGER, ALIVE ONLY BECAUSE YOUR ANCESTORS WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO SETTLE A PLANET SO HOSTILE THAT COWARDICE WAS THE ONLY VALID SURVIVAL STRATEGY! AND NOW I FIND THAT OPINION WAS A CONSIDERABLE OVERESTIMATION! SO IF YOU EVER - "

She flails her arms, gets tangled in the sheets, and falls off the bunk. A moment before her impact with the floor, she wakes up and says "Fuck!"

They do not stop laughing until she pulls rank.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

*** FORWARDED COMMUNIQUE ***
FleetNet Admiralty Communique
FROM: Admiral Netreba, CINC2MF
TO: 2nd Fleet Wargods, JTFW2/3

To the serving officers and crew of the 'Wargods' Elite Task Force,

Find attached the transcript of the meeting between the Fleet Admirals and the High Council of Elders at Jiuhua Shan, Anhui Province.

The points of contention involved the declaration of autonomy by Second Fleet and the Third Fleet exiles. You can read the subsequent ruling of the Council regarding this matter, but it will be sufficient to note that the First Fleet Admiralty no longer dictates our military policy. However, we will still obey the will of the Council in non-military matters, and the Martian government still acknowledges Federation authority.

Stage 2

The second, imperative point of contention concerned the fate of the GTL Agincourt. It was my intention to recommission the Agincourt into the registry of the Second Fleet as a support vessel, using the precedent of the GTL Solace when she defected to Federation authority last year. She now serves as part of the Home Fleet in a classified capacity. Admiral Calder supported my proposition. The motion was denied by the Council, and an order handed down for the immediate transport of the vessel to Earth. In their words, the Agincourt is no longer a military asset, and is now the property of the Federation Science Institute.

My official position on this matter is the same as Admiral Calder's: we will support the Elders in this and have thus relinquished control of the Agincourt. Despite this setback, I expect each of you to do your duty to the best of your ability, and I have every confidence that we will prevail in this conflict.

Admiral Kyle Netreba
UED Eris
Second Fleet Mars

Stage 3

*** FORWARDED COMMUNIQUE ***
FleetNet Admiralty Communique
FROM: Admiral Byrne, CINC1EHF
TO: Admiral Netreba, CINC2MF, Admiral Calder, CINC3JRF

Netreba, Calder.

What in the devil's name are you two playing at? Autonomy? I've given you autonomy enough these past eighteen months, to the near ruin of us all. Given, your Wargods did well in securing the Agincourt, but Admiral Calder's fixation with the destruction of Serkr Team threw two cruisers and an ECM asset right into Tev hands. Admiral Netreba's stunt at Neptune damaged his artillery ships and nearly cost us the Eris. A single reactionary artillery strike at the Hood would have saved lives, and secured the Agincourt sooner.

Stage 4

If you two insist on continuing these frontier antics, then there is little I can do. I've told you enough times that these are only temporary victories against a determined and highly adaptable enemy. The Tevs can afford destroyer casualties: we're barely getting by on cruiser and strikecraft attrition.

Your faith in your fleets is admirable, but we won't win this conflict through force of arms. It is not who we are. Would that your faith in the Elders be stronger, in the times when we must rely on it the most.

Admiral Byrne
UED Solaris
Home Fleet

Briefing

Stage 1

Ok, people. Leave ended twelve hours ago, so quiet down! As you've probably seen, the Indus' time in dock came with some extra perks. We're now one of the very few frigates in Two Fleet with functioning hot showers. My momma always said that heroism paid big dividends.

While we were cavorting around on leave, some very disturbing political developments have occurred. These events are a direct result of our capture of the GTL Agincourt. Unfortunately, it appears that Admiral Steele had a contingency plan for the loss of one or both of his logistics ships. That plan may now be in its first stages, and with luck, we can disrupt it.

Stage 2

Six minutes ago, recon elements picked up a distress call from an unregistered freighter outside the asteroid belt, under attack by the Gaian Effort. The recon wing moved in to check out the situation and possibly confiscate the freighter's cargo.

It turns out the ship wasn't Tev, but Vasudan. Yes, it seems the Imperium has finally decided to pay us a visit, and we've been chosen to be part of their welcoming committee.

Stage 3

The Pesedjet is a Vasudan logistics ship in the vein of the GTL Anemoi, and from what Intel's gathered about these ships, they seem pretty similar to their Tev counterparts: big, slow and poorly armed. A prime target for pretty much any hostile force in this system.

The Vasudan ship was ambushed during a navigational adjustment between intrasystem hops. Somehow the Gefs knew where this adjustment would occur...which seems impossible, as jump schedules are tightly classified. But that's a job for Netreba's intel personnel.

Stage 4

Now, technically we're not at war with the Vasudans, but they are still allies with the General Terran Assembly. Admiral Netreba wants us to secure control of the freighter, assist their crew, and get some answers from the Captain regarding their standing orders. We need to know where the Vasudans stand in this war, and whether or not Emperor Khonsu II has decided to throw his weight behind the Tev push into our system. Our fear is that Khonsu has elected to support Steele logistically.

Laporte, you'll be my second. Levi, you're Alpha 3. Courtney and McManus, take up Beta wing.

Debriefing

Stage 1

Ok, pilots. First, I want everyone to know that I'm proud of the way you handled yourselves out there today. It was a stressful situation you were under, yet all of you managed to hold the ceasefire long enough for the Pesedjet to receive assistance. What happened to the Arethusa afterwards was regrettable, considering the conduct of the Tevs throughout the operation, but this is a war.

The crew of the Pesedjet are grateful for our assistance. We're in the process of interrogating Captain Apries regarding the Pesedjet's operations in the system. Latest word is that he's been cooperative and civil so far. You can expect to hear the results of that soon, but for now it looks like there's no danger of a Vasudan battlegroup coming to make life difficult for us. In fact, by saving the Pesedjet, we may have given ourselves the diplomatic edge we need to keep the Vasudans out of the war.

What is worrying, however is the increasing abilities of the Gaian Effort. The Pesedjet was ambushed at a navigational point that should have been secret and secure. Somehow, the Gefs knew the Vasudans would be there, which suggests both abilities and motivations unknown to us. Intelligence is revising what we know about the terrorist group. We're not a police force, but you can expect Netreba to divert assets into combating this terrorist threat to secure our own freight assets.

What I want to know is this: if the Gefs are working for the Tevs - and Laporte, you've seen Tev transports in Gef hands - why would they provoke the Vasudans? Have they gone rogue, or just nuts?

Recommendation 1

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

I need to look at the transmission from the Pesedjet next time I get a chance. I wonder what it could be...and why I didn't report it. Just one of those feelings...

Stage 2

That humanitarian mission turned into more than a disaster. We were lucky to come out of there in one piece. I don't know what the hell happened, but the Vasudans are furious, and they've pledged official support for the Galactic Terrans.

With the Vasudans now giving logistical support to the Terrans, we face an iimpossible strategic conundrum. We can't allow the Tevs to gain an uncontested logistical train. But we can't attack the Vasudans without provoking them further.

Our conduct out there today was unacceptable. We may have just lost the war.

Recommendation 2

Do not fire on the Tev fighters until ordered to.

One Perfect Moment

Mission filename: bp2-12.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Noemi Laporte
UEFg Indus

As elite units go, the Wargods should be a farce.

The Indus is a good ship, sure. Captain Kyrematen's Yangtze worked with Sorensen for years before the war, battling Gef raids. And Captain Genady's Katana and Captain Albani's Altan Orde have a history of their own. They fought their way out of Jupiter space during the Fall, blowing through two full bomber squadrons and a trio of corvettes. And then they jumped back in to escort civilian convoys...three times.

I'm not saying we're a bad bunch, as warriors go. But we are by no means elite. Even with Simms' last-minute training, the Indus' pilots were rookies when we went after the Agincourt. And hell, some of us have died like rookies. A lot of us didn't make it to that ejection handle.

So why are we still here? Why are we the tip of the spear, the ones making a difference, while the White Guard shuttle Elders about and the Fedayeen do...whatever it is the Fedayeen do, if they even exist? How did a bunch of Second and Third Fleet rooks spit in the face of the greatest war machine in human space and live to brag about it?

In the big picture I think it's because the Wargods aren't special at all. We are the Federation unleashed. We are what ordinary Ubuntu citizens can become, given a mission and the means to achieve it. What happened here in Sol didn't breed a race of pampered weaklings - it made a generation of smart, tough, versatile men and women. If our leaders ever took to the taste of blood, we could be a nightmare.

I suppose it's possible that anyone could have done what the Wargods have done. But I don't believe that, for one very specific reason.

We have Lorna Simms.

She is a dynamo. She eats up fear and grief and alloys them into rage and purpose. She beats us into the deck with her drills, mocks the dead - throwing out pictures of lost pilots, shouting their mistakes, ripping the pictures in half, demanding that we do better - and drives us all to the edge of sanity with her relentless demands. All in all, Simms is only fractionally more merciful than the enemy.

And we love her for it. I don't think there's a pilot in the squadron who would not dive into a beam just to earn a posthumous word of praise.

In battle she is a hellion, poised in some kind of zen state between manic glee and all-out fury. It's beautiful, and it makes me very happy, because it's so different from the nihilistic anger that used to drive her. Her people haven't stopped dying. She loses friends every mission. So what drew her back from the abyss she was flirting with when I showed up?

I think that she has found the thing that Kassim lacked. The belief that all this death, no matter how painful, has a purpose.

I hope that we can win this damn war soon, and not just because of the dreams. I'm tired of reminding myself that she's my Captain. Sometimes I catch a glance behind the armor of her eyes and think that she feels the same way. But Dad always said I was too full of myself.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

*** FLEET WIDE COMMUNIQUE ***
General Distribution, Priority Urgent
FROM: Council of Elders
TO: All Serving Military Personnel

This is a priority message.

At 1420 hours yesterday, elements of Second Fleet Mars encountered and assisted the stricken logistics vessel Pesedjet of the Imperial Vasudan Medjai. It is now clear that Emperor Khonsu II's stance of neutrality has been abandoned, and that the Vasudans have now entered the war on the side of the Galactic Terran Assembly.

This is dire news for our fortunes in this war, and for our survival as a Federation.

So far Medjai support seems to be limited to logistics and freight only, but it has increased pressure on what was already a precarious situation. Vasudan vessels are not to be targeted, else we risk provoking the Emperor into providing direct military assistance to his Terran allies.

Diplomatic sessions are now underway between the Federation and the Imperium. If we can persuade Emperor Khonsu to deny the Assembly support, we will be one step closer to victory. Until then, we urge our military leaders to halt any activity that might provoke the Vasudans into catastrophic intervention.

For humanity, children of Ubuntu.

Briefing

Stage 1

Okay, Laporte, take a seat. Don't look so surprised - Admiral Netreba just passed down a special assignment. It's just the two of us on this one.

As per yesterday's declassified memo, the Council of Elders is sending a delegation to Khonsu's representative in Sol, Admiral Recamai. Recamai's ship, the GVD Shepseskaf, is currently holding station in neutral territory near Charon. Since the Wargods were present during the Pesedjet operation, Command has asked me to send two fighter pilots to join up with the delegation's escort wing.

Our presence should help give some extra leverage with the Vasudans, who are likely to react to us positively.

Stage 2

In fact, someone from the Pesedjet's crew requested you specifically. I have no idea why that might be, and Netreba didn't tell me. I can't help but question the good sense of the Vasudan species as a whole.

We'll meet up with the transport Reshadiye at Luna City, which was spared by the Tev bombardment in a humanitarian gesture. Two members of the White Guard are already on station as part of the Elder's security detail.

From there, we'll jump to a classified meeting location in the Kuiper Belt, where Admiral Recamai will meet us on a transport - bringing a destroyer along would draw Tev attention.

Stage 3

Elder Svetlana Henriksson was the obvious choice for this mission, as she worked with Vasudan physicists during the Great War and maintains close ties with Admiral Netreba. Unfortunately, she's in no physical condition for high-stress negotiation at the moment and had to decline.

The delegation will instead be led by Elder Lin Taudigani, who I am told is one of our finest political scientists and xenocultural specialists. She allegedly speaks Vasudan in both the sitting and standing forms. Very smart lady.

Remember, we're escorting an Elder to meet another species. If you can manage to act like a proper flight officer for just one day, make it today!

Deals in Shadows

Mission filename: bp2-13.fs2

Debriefing

Stage 1

The mission was compromised from the start. Someone in the Federation leaked the details of the secret negotiations to Admiral Steele. He was ready.

I heard you crack when they splashed the Elder, Laporte. There was nothing you could have done to save her. The Tevs wanted her dead, and if there's one thing they excel at, it's getting their way by force.

But keep that anger close. It'll keep you alive.

The Vasudans are in a fury. The Imperium has formally severed diplomatic ties with the Federation pending a full investigation into today's events and the alleged 'falsified assassination of Elder Taudigani.' That bastard Steele's SOC thugs manufactured evidence framing us for the attack on the Pesedjet and the attempted capture of the destroyer Shepseskaf. I bet they leaked the Pesedjet's jump schedule to their Gef pets, too. I think it's safe to say that we won't be earning any Vasudan support.

I've received the following statement from Admiral Netreba:

"The death of Elder Taudigani is not only a tragedy, but a turning point. It marks the total failure of Admiral Byrne's commitment to defensive action and a diplomatic resolution to the war.

Admiral Calder and I have concluded that immediate, aggressive reprisals are necessary. We have prepared a two-pronged plan to strike a shattering blow to the Tev presence in Sol and effect a military resolution to the war.

While Admiral Calder regenerates his Fleet's fighter assets, I will commit the resources of Second Fleet and the Wargods to a short-term plan to wipe out a Tev destroyer.

The GTD Carthage is our target. Prepare your pilots for the first op."

So that's the word from Netreba. The blood's in the water, and we're in for some major fleet action.

Look, you seem ready to puke. Let's hit the gym and spar - you need to work some of that off.

Recommendation 1

There was nothing you could have done to save Elder Taudigani.

Stage 2

The UET Reshadiye was lost before the negotiations could proceed. Admiral Netreba's review of our escort operation has...not been favorable.

We're being transferred out of the Wargods. Looks like the war's over for us, Laporte.

Recommendation 2

Prioritize Sagittarius wing; they carry Warhammer bombs.

Stage 3

The loss of the UET Reshadiye was regrettable, but - and I quote - 'no vital personnel were aboard at the time the ship lost hull integrity.'

I guess that's supposed to help us sleep at night, right, Laporte?

Pawns on a Board of Bone

Mission filename: bp2-14.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Noemi Laporte
UEFg Indus

Okay. Okay.

Karen Ng'Mei gave me this, uh, this herbal tea. It's really relaxing. Smoke and Grim told me that the other Yangtze pilots call her 'mom'.

Karen's been trying to calm me down. Her efforts haven't helped as much as Olefumi's. He let me beat the crap out of him in the gym. I needed it.

They killed an Elder. They shot her ship right out from under her and then pinned the blame on us. And the Vasudans bought it. They fucking BOUGHT IT.

Fuck me. Pause log.

• paused*

• log resumed*

The curse of Ubuntu - obsession with what my father called satya, the truth. At last it's working for me.

Like Kassim, I started this war believing that we had no claim to the moral high ground, that the General Terran Assembly was as genuinely concerned for the fate of mankind as we are, and that this war was a product of human imperfection and miscommunication. I believed in the fundamental humanity of our enemy. I believed I could fight a war without hate.

Their fundamental humanity. What a joke. The Shivans stole it from them. I know this because it would take a monster to order the assassination of Elder Taudigani. What Steele ordered was not satya. It was not the truth. It was an atrocity. Her single life was not worth more than any other, but what she stood for - peace, diplomacy, the rule of law...those were ideals that should have been invincible.

I'm almost ready to hate them. My darkest dreams asked me to burn the Tevs from the face of the cosmos. It would be so easy to give in to that.

But no. Not yet. I won't let myself hate them, no matter how much Simms might want me to.

Somehow we're going to save the Federation. And we're not going to do it by turning into the Tevs.

Puck, Logos, and Fade are outside. They want to ask me what happened. I'm going to tell them what I saw.

Command Briefing

Stage 1

*** INDUS INTERNAL COMMUNIQUE ***
Restricted Distribution, Priority Urgent, Compartmentalized Information
FROM: Captain Sorensen
TO: Captain Lorna Simms, Sublieutenant Noemi Laporte, Flight Lieutenant Ehud Levi
CC: Flight Lieutenant Karen Ng'Mei, UEFg Yangtze

I've just returned from a conference with Admiral Netreba and the other Wargods captains. The situation is grim. Deep-range recon reports that the Vasudan logistical train is gearing up, and supplies are pouring through the node and into Steele's Jovian depots. We can't attack the Vasudan supply convoys without escalating the war further. Without pressure on his logistics, Steele's final attack on Earth could happen within weeks instead of months.

All our gains are in danger of slipping away. Admiral Calder and Admiral Netreba have decided to take aggressive direct action. We believe that if we can eliminate a Terran destroyer, we will deal a critical blow to Tev morale and political support.

Our target is the GTD Carthage.

Stage 2

The Carthage is an Orion-class destroyer that saw service during the Second Shivan Incursion. Although her spaceframe is obsolete, she has been refitted as a Combat Evaluation Unit destroyer. We believe the Carthage mounts a prototype tactical subspace drive that allows it to make rapid sequential short-range jumps, akin to the capabilities of the GTD Atreus. Additionally, her weapons systems have been upgraded to modern standards, and her hull has been reinforced with molybdenum plating and experimental reactive armor that grants her enhanced resilience against our artillery weapons and torpedoes.

Admiral Steele employs the Carthage as a raider and a base for aggressive fighter and bomber deployments. The destroyer's impressive firepower makes it a difficult target. Projections indicate that we will need to engage with at least four frigates to guarantee a kill without warship losses. We must carry out this operation without significant casualties in order to maintain our momentum.

Fortunately, we have a critical edge: a source inside the GTVA who has provided us with tactical information on the Carthage's upcoming operations and a psychological profile of the Carthage's commander. This is the same source that gave us the Agincourt, and he or she has come through again. We know exactly how to hit them.

Stage 3

Information on Admiral Anita Lopez has been added to your techroom database. I will summarize the salient points. Admiral Lopez is a veteran GTVA officer, decorated for heroism during the Second Shivan Incursion due to her actions as acting CO of the Carthage. She commands a remarkable degree of respect and loyalty from her crew and the crews of her battlegroup's ships. Psychological analysts suggests she displays a 'transformational leadership' profile, characterized by intense personal bonds between herself and her subordinates.

We plan to exploit this mutual loyalty to draw Lopez into a trap.

Our source inside the GTVA tells us that the Carthage battle group will disperse to attack targets throughout the Asteroid Belt tomorrow. The Carthage itself will remain in reserve along with the corvettes Iolanthe and Deianira, as the Leander, Legionary, Joketsu, Systema, Grissom, Antenor, Norfolk and Voronezh, along with multiple squadrons, devastate Belt mining, manufacturing, and processing platforms. Loss of these facilities will cut our shipyard output in half.

This presents us with a golden oppportunity.

Stage 4

Captain Simms, I have forwarded our tactical plan for the destruction of the GTD Carthage for your inspection. You will lead the Wargods' fighter elements in a critical role before the main attack.

This will be our riskiest operation yet, but it may destroy the GTVA's political will. This could be our Tet Offensive, our Siege of Yorktown or Battle of Algiers.

Bear in mind that our source in the GTVA will probably be found and executed once it becomes clear the Carthage's battle plan was leaked. We have a responsibility to this unknown hero to pull this off.

As the Elders would say: for humanity. And for all the people we've lost. Let's do this.

Captain Lloyd Sorensen
UEFg Indus, Federation Wargods

Stage 5

Federation Pilot's Reference
Uriel Gunship

Heavily armed and armored strike craft designed for anti-warship assault and heavy fighter suppression. Reverse thrust and reverse afterburner capability.

Three primary banks w/o firelink option. First bank has two firepoints for a specialist weapon such as the Scalpel disruptor or Gattler long-range mass driver. Second bank has six firepoints for a dogfight weapon such as the Rapier. Third bank mounts the Archer gauss cannon for long-range anti-turret attack.

Automatic fast-tracking independently targeting Vulcan turret provides light anti-fighter defense.

Three secondary weapon stations provide tactical flexibility. Slammer suppression warheads recommended for anti-bomber and anti-fighter tasking. Paveway bombs recommended for anti-warship duty. Dart heat-seeking missiles provide rapid acquisition dogfight engagement ability.

Briefing

Stage 1

Eyes up!

All of you know what Laporte and I saw. An Elder gunned down as part of a political ploy. The Tevs playing their own allies for fools.

But now we're going to turn the tables on them. Now we're going to show them just what kind of punishment we can dish out.

Is that clear? Damn straight it is!

Stage 2

At 0450 tomorrow the GTCv Antenor will jump in to attack Sopron and Tatabanya stations, a fuel storage site for Belt mining ships. Nonessential personnel were evacuated months ago, but the stations still maintain a crew of 700 civilian workers each.

We are going to jump in a small force and disable the Antenor. We will not destroy it. We will not present an overwhelming threat. We will not take out her comms system. We're just going to slip in and leave the Antenor helpless, using a small enough force that we don't seem much of a threat.

Then we're going to let the Antenor start crying for assistance.

Stage 3

When the Antenor has called for help, we'll disable her comms and bring in more Wargods, including a special asset contributed by Admiral Calder's Jovians.

Admiral Lopez of the Carthage, a woman who cares deeply for those under her command, will scramble a Jump Five team and a warship to assist the Antenor. They'll walk into our trap.

Since any good trick is worth pulling twice, we'll take out the Jump Five fighters and disable the response warship too. Neither warship should be destroyed; we want to take prisoners if we can.

Stage 4

Once the Jump Five warship has been added to our little ship graveyard, we'll use the capabilities of that special asset I mentioned: the Hanuman, an AWACS like the Anjaneya that saved us from Serkr Team back during the Agincourt extraction.

The Hanuman will jam outbound distress calls from the disabled GTVA warships - who will doubtless warn the Carthage away - and replace them with edited versions that beg Admiral Lopez for help.

The Hanuman will also be able to intercept incoming transmissions and even anticipate the arrival of hostile warships. It will allow us the forewarning we need to pull off the last stage of our plan.

Stage 5

Faced with the capture or death of so many of her beloved subordinates, all pleading for her help, Admiral Lopez will bring the Carthage in to conduct a gallant rescue.

Unfortunately for her, the Katana and Altan Orde, the Jovian half of the Wargods' frigate forces, will be waiting in the wings to jump in and blow the hell out of the Carthage. If the Carthage withdraws using its tactical drive, the Hanuman will track its exit vector, and the Yangtze and Indus will pursue it.

One way or another, that ship is going down.

Stage 6

This is a delicate and complex plan. 'Delicate' and 'complex' is perhaps not exactly our style, but we can do finesse when we must, can't we, Wargods?

Laporte! You'll be leading the initial disarm operation on the Antenor. I recommend Uriel gunships. Use your Archers and Paveways for precision strikes. Karen and Beta Wing will give you escort. I know you two trust each other.

Your strike package will use the callsign 'Ozone'. I'll roll in my own gunships once you've disarmed and disabled the Antenor. Be quick, or she'll slip away.

One last note. Saving the crews of Tatabanya and Sopron Stations is not a priority. I'm afraid those civilians are expendable.

Debriefing

Stage 1

We failed to set the bait for our trap. The Antenor never sent off a distress signal to lure warships in, and as a result, our whole plan disintegrated.

Look, I understand it was a high-pressure situation, but you had four frigates and an elite squadron counting on you to do your jobs. I can't accept that kind of failure, and neither can Admiral Netreba.

I expected better of you.

Recommendation 1

Use Scalpels, Paveways, and Archer fire to disable the Antenor. Once it is disabled, fall back, get hull repairs, and disarm it at your leisure.

Don't take out the ship's comm system until explicitly told to do so.

Stage 2

We failed to set the bait for our trap. The Norfolk never sent off a distress signal to lure the Carthage in, and as a result, our whole plan disintegrated.

Look, I understand it was a high-pressure situation, but you had four frigates and an elite squadron counting on you to do your jobs. I can't accept that kind of failure, and neither can Admiral Netreba.

I expected better of you.

Recommendation 2

Use Scalpels, Paveways, and Archer fire to disable the Norfolk. Stay at long range to avoid its flak and beams. Once it is disabled, fall back, get hull repairs, and disarm it at your leisure.

Don't take out the ship's comm system until explicitly told to do so.

Stage 3

We're rolling! We'll hit the Carthage at Saturn in five minutes. If you want to alter your loadouts or ship choice, tell the deck crew right now.

I'll brief you on the hangar deck. Then we launch and jump after the Carthage.

Recommendation 3

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

Here we go. Here we go.

Delenda Est

Mission filename: bp2-15.fs2

Fiction Viewer

Personal Log
Noemi Laporte
UEFg Indus

Tomorrow the war could be over. If we bloody the Tevs badly enough, if we take down the Carthage and kill ten or twenty thousand in a single day...we might shatter their political will. Their people will turn against the war.

And yet, in a sense, I will not be one of the survivors. I am not the person I once was. The Noemi Laporte who first wrote in this journal is dead.

I have heard nothing from Kassim since he was shipped home, as much a casualty as the people I have killed. I know that he never found a reason to fight, and it destroyed him.

He had a lot of options.

People fight for their beliefs, but in a war like this, only the blind could pretend that we hold the entire moral high ground. That way lies fanaticism.

Some people fight because they are told to. I...well, I have discipline issues. The relief of blind loyalty was never an option for me.

Some people fight because they love it. I am desperately afraid that if things had gone a different way this might have been my reason. I kill too easily for my own comfort.

And yet, ultimately, my reason to fight is the one that I think drives most soldiers.

I fight not for my nation or my beliefs or my own sick thrills, but for the people by my side. The Wargods. My comrades.

Briefing

Stage 1

Right, Wargods, take a knee and keep out of the deck crew's way.

Gather round and listen close! The Carthage's jump trajectory was captured by Saturn's gravity well. We estimate she won't be able to jump again for at least twenty minutes. The Carthage's battle group has rallied to her position and set up a defensive screen.

The Indus and Yangzte are standing by to attack, and the Katana and Altan Orde will form a second strike package only minutes behind once their drives recharge. Admiral Netreba has placed the cruisers Kyoto and Insuperable at the Wargods' disposal. We're going in.

Stage 2

The Indus will take point. Captain Sorensen will jump in at long range along with the cruiser Insuperable and attempt to draw away some of the Carthage's escorts. The Tevs will doubtless sortie warships to drive the Indus away in case she's relaying coordinates to artillery or bombers, at which point the Yangtze will make a precision jump to join the battle and destroy these vessels.

Our plan from that point forward depends on Lopez's response. If she sorties her entire screen to engage, we will go for contingency CARTWHEEL: the Katana, Altan Orde and Kyoto will jump in on the opposite side of the battle and attack the Carthage's unguarded flank. If she holds her screen close, we will go with JACKKNIFE, and the second strike package will join up with the Indus and Yangtze and make a single concentrated thrust.

Stage 3

The linchpin of our plan is the Hanuman, which will jam the Carthage's heavy direct-fire beams, leaving her and her escorts with only their slash-type beams. If the Hanuman goes down, we will see heavy losses. Let's not let that happen.

We will face down the entire surviving Carthage air wing, at least seven squadrons of fighters and bombers. The hangar deck has prepped Uriel gunships for heavy escort and fighter suppression. With Slammer missiles and Archer railguns, we will have the firepower we need to annihilate whole bomber wings and disarm warships at range. Stay close to the frigates, and work with their guns. The Tevs will fly into a hurricane.

Stage 4

I'll take Alpha wing in with the Indus. Laporte, you'll fly my wing, and Levi, I want you on our three. Karen is briefing her Beta wing on the Yangtze; she'll join us at the rally point and jump in with us. Gamma wing off the Katana will jump in with the Yangtze, and our Delta wing will arrive with the second strike package to aid in beam disarmament.

Make no mistake: this will be a full fleet action. You are going to see a terrifying amount of firepower on display.

Stage 5

We're not fighting alone. Our attack on the Carthage is the centerpiece of a huge strategic push. Admiral Calder and Admiral Netreba are posturing their artillery near Jupiter to keep the Atreus and its battle group tied down. The Hood is still undergoing repairs from the thrashing we gave it, and our source says the Imperieuse is still in Delta Serpentis resupplying from the Blitz.

The Tevs have nothing to send to the Carthage's rescue. They have made a terrible mistake, and they are going to pay a terrible price. If we bring down the Carthage, we will send the Tevs reeling, and maybe even turn public opinion so far against the war that they sue for peace. Admiral Steele will be relieved of command, and we - we will all be legends.

Stage 6

Get to your ships!

Hey, Laporte. Check my suit, I'll check yours.

Good. You're sealed and ready to rock.

When we're out there, I'll probably be busy coordinating with Tactical. If you see an opportunity, don't hesitate to yell out, the others will listen to you.

We're going to take a beating out there today, Two. When the bruisers start hammering at each other, we're just going to be ants underfoot. A lot of us aren't going to make it back. So, look, just take care of yourself, okay?

Debriefing

Stage 1

The UEFg Indus was lost with all hands. This outcome is unacceptable, especially at such a critical moment.

You have failed your fellow Wargods and the entire Federation.

Recommendation 1

Use Slammers to destroy incoming bomber wings at range.

Stage 2

A strong defense could have saved the Yangtze. Her loss was preventable. This represents an unacceptable failure at a critical moment in the war.

Recommendation 2

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 1, above.)

Use Slammers to destroy incoming bomber wings at range.

Stage 3

The Katana's destruction occurred under preventable circumstances. Her loss represents an unacceptable failure on your part.

Recommendation 3

Target warship beam weapons with your Archer cannons. Remember, you can press V to target turrets under your reticle. The Deimos class has four beam cannons: two on each side, one at the bow, one at the stern. The Deianira will only overload its two bow beam cannons, but the Iolanthe will overload bow and stern cannons; once it rolls, you will need to disarm the cannons on the toher side.

Stage 4

The Altan Orde perished in circumstances that were well within your control. You bear responsibility for her destruction.

Recommendation 4

Target warship beam weapons with your Archer cannons to ensure the Altan Orde survives. Remember, you can press V to target turrets under your reticle. The Deimos class has four beam cannons: two on each side, one at the bow, one at the stern. The Deianira will only overload its two bow beam cannons, but the Iolanthe will overload bow and stern cannons; once it rolls, you will need to disarm the cannons on the toher side.

Stage 5

You have unlocked a checkpoint at the beginning of the Carthage's fighter sweep. Activate it with the reinforcements menu.

Stage 6

You have also unlocked a checkpoint after the unexpected arrival. Use your reinforcements menu to activate it.

Stage 7

Noemi Laporte was killed during the opening stages of the attack upon the Carthage.

Recommendation 5

Take out enemy fighters with your Slammers and Rapier, watch out for bomb shockwaves, and steer clear of beam fire. Remember, if flying a Kentauroi or Uriel, you have reverse thrust and reverse afterburners.

Stage 8

Noemi Laporte was killed during the rout following the failed attack on the Carthage.

Captain Lorna Simms was the sole survivor of the engagement. After filing a comprehensive after-action report, she committed suicide aboard the UED Eris.

Recommendation 6

(Note: This is identical to Recommendation 5, above (or it would be if not for the period missing at the end).)

Take out enemy fighters with your Slammers and Rapier, watch out for bomb shockwaves, and steer clear of beam fire. Remember, if flying a Kentauroi or Uriel, you have reverse thrust and reverse afterburners

Stage 9

Personal Log, Noemi Laporte

The Wargods are dead.

The informant. The source that gave us the Agincourt...he must have been turned. Steele threw the Carthage out as bait, gave us a scent, and waited until we bit hard.

And all the while the Imperieuse was waiting, probably somewhere out in the Kuiper Belt, listening for the signal to strike.

It must have been planned weeks in advance...months, maybe. When we thought she'd returned to Delta Serpentis, she'd really just gone to ground.

Which means we never had a chance.

They all died for nothing.

Recommendation 7

There is only one chance left, Miss Laporte.

Only one way to avert the apocalypse.

You must be ready.

Stage 10

Good work, Wargods. With the destruction of the Carthage, the GTVA has retreated to Delta Serpentis and relieved Admiral Steele of command.

We have time to rebuild our armed forces, prepare for new threats, and hopefully negotiate an end to this war.

You are all heroes.

Recommendation 8

Now go read a book.

Stage 11

All rise. United Earth Federation General Court Martial session 1149, regarding the failed assault on the GTF Carthage and her battle group, final statement.

Sublieutenant Noemi Laporte, the tribunal has found you guilty of disobeying a direct order in combat situation, as well as fraternization with a superior officer in same chain of command. The tribunal also notes that your insubordination was critical in the chain of bad decisions that led to the loss of the UEF frigate Indus with all hands save you and Captain Simms. You are hereby formally reprimanded and this incident will be marked on your record. You will receive your transfer orders tomorrow morning. Any questions?

Captain Lorna Simms, the tribunal has found you guilty of fraternization with an immediate subordinate in a way that affected your judgement. As a result, your decision to stay with said subordinate when she refused to obey a direct order further affected Captain Sorenson's decision to stay and defend the crititically damaged frigate Yangtze. The tribunal notes that in normal circumstances these actions would only warrant official reprimand. However, due to the grave consequences of your actions, we find ourselves unable to let this pass with just that. Therefore... the tribunal hereby relieves you of all duties associated with Federation military as part of Bad Conduct Discharge protocols specified in the Federation Military Legislation. You will check in your equipment tomorrow morning at 0800 hours and receive your limited severance package. Any questions?

Very well. The tribunal concludes that the ultimate fault in loss of Indus lies with its commanding officer, Lloyd Sorensen, and that the behaviour of Sublieutenant Laporte and Captain Simms has apparently been part of lax command structure. Dismissed.

Recommendation 9

Your superior officers knew there was no way to rescue Yangtze. Your disobedience, while based on honourable intentions, resulted in the loss of Indus with all hands. Consider the consequences of your actions carefully and report to duty tomorrow morning at 0800 hours, when you will be handed your transferrence orders. Dismissed!

Sunglare

Mission filename: bp2-16.fs2

Command Briefing

Stage 1

To the officers and crew of the Indus: this is an emergency status update. Stay at your stations.

Our crash jump was partially successful. We have evaded GTVA forces, but at a high price. Our jump trajectory took us into deep solar orbit. The shock of the jump destroyed our subspace drives and navigational systems, wrecked our hangar deck, and left our escape pods useless. Radiation shielding is badly compromised.

We are falling into the sun. With our drives crippled and our long-range communications down, we can only pray that someone detects our distress calls against the solar radiation and sends help.

Check your radiation badges every five minutes. We have less than two hours before we reach lethal intensities. Shortly thereafter, thermal pressure will exceed hull tolerances and the Indus will disintegrate.

God help us all.

Captain Lloyd Sorensen,
UEFg Indus

Stage 2

For the attention of Sublieutenant Laporte,

Two, I assume you'll be done with postflight and medical by the time you've read this. I want to make a few things clear before I ever speak to you face-to-face again.

I will not discuss what happened back at Saturn. I will not talk about Karen, Olefumi, Levi or anyone else. I do not want to hear their names, or to see them written down, or to think about them. Not even once.

When I took you out on that training sortie a million years ago, you convinced me that the death of my pilots wasn't inevitable.

You were wrong.

Which brings me to my second point.

Stage 3

I will not watch another...another beloved friend die on my watch. I cannot allow that degree of attachment to compromise my command.

If we survive the next few hours, I am transferring you to the UED Eris. Your talents will be sorely needed as the war moves into its final stages, and I believe that Admiral Netreba can find a use for you. I will remain on the Indus to train up new pilots. Someone has to teach them how to die usefully.

You have a gift, Laporte. It frightens me almost as much as it impresses me. When I met you, you were an Ubuntu flower girl, but you killed like a psycho, like a dancer on angel dust.

Something is deeply wrong with you. It's why you're still alive. But you were a reliable wingman and a peerless warrior. And...you were a friend.

Godspeed, and check your six.

Captain Lorna Simms
UEFg Indus

Stage 4

*** FleetNet Personal - Lorna Simms ***

I hope you got my message. It looks like it won't matter.

The number one drive just failed. Captain Sorensen says we'll lose main power within an hour and cook to death shortly afterwards.

Come to the briefing room. I've got a pack of cards and some bottle caps. Forget your radiation badge - there's nothing we can do about it anyway.

We're the last of the Wargods. Let's...make something of it. Somehow.

-Lorna Simms

Briefing

Stage 1

Hey, Simms.

Hey, Laporte. Take a a seat.

Thanks, boss. What do you think our dosage is by now?

Don't know. Left my badge in my bunk. Cards or bottlecaps?

Caps. You start.

Stage 2

Right. One in. I think Captain Sorensen was tearing up over a picture of Captain Kyrematen.

I thought you didn't want to talk about it.

I don't want to talk about not talking about it either. Call me.

True.

Yeah. Take it. Your go.

Stage 3

I saw a whole DC party asleep in the corridor on the way over. Radiation fatigue.

Hell, really? So fast...that's bad.

Is that a call?

No. You're lying.

Yeah. They're too scared or too busy to sleep. Your go.

This is the grimmest goddamn game of caps I've ever played.

Stage 4

Give me something, Simms.

I'm not afraid to die.

Bullshit.

No. Give me one. Go.

Boss, are you okay? You're barely vertical.

I said go.

Stage 5

Okay. Uh...

Stop staring at me like I'm about to ghost. Just close your eyes and think of something for me to call.

Okay.

I think I love you.

Stage 6

...

Stage 7

Boss...

Boss?

Oh my god. Simms? Simms!

Medical to the briefing room! Radiation casualty! She's coughing up blood and hemorrhaging from her nose and mouth!

I think she's bleeding into her lungs!

Stage 8

Hang on, boss. Hang on. Plenty of hemoglobin in a Martian, right? All that rusty sand in the diet....

Simms. Simms, breathe. They're coming for you.

God damn you, Lorna. Breathe.

Just stay with me. Please. I need you here.

I need you to stop me.