Briefing texts (WiH)

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

BLUE PLANET 2: WAR IN HEAVEN MISSION INFORMATION

COMPILED BY: AdmiralRalwood

EMAIL: [email protected]

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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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Intro

Artemis Station

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No briefings or debriefings, although 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'

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Act 1: Chrysalis

The Cost of War

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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 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.

COMMAND BRIEFING 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.

COMMAND BRIEFING 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.

COMMAND BREIFING 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

COMMAND BREIFING 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 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

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Collateral Damage

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BRIEFING 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.

BREIFING 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.

BRIEFING 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 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?'

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 3 (Note: This is debriefing stage can never actually be seen.)

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.

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Post Meridian

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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 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.'

COMMAND BRIEFING 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

COMMAND BRIEFING 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 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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.

BRIEFING 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 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 5

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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

DEBRIEFING 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.

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