Wing IX Report #16 From the desk of Lieutenant Colonel Rejili Holthaus...

FLEET NEWS
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1. WEEKLY NEWS ITEM OF THE WEEK THAT'S COMPLETELY INCONSEQUENTIAL AND UNIMPORTANT BUT IT HELPS FILL UP A REPORT
CA:FO has been nixed for good. Sucks to someone pawning for a do nothing admiral position. *Shifty Eyes*

2. TOKEN TACTICAL OFFICE NEWS ITEM OF THE WEEK TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE WE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEM
Someone impersonating Frodo harrassed me in an IRC PM, resulting in a very uncomfortable discussion when the real Frodo got on a few hours later :P

3. ELITE NEWS WHICH IS PROBABLY INNAPROPRIATE FOR THIS TYPE OF REPORT BUT IS INCLUDED ANYWAY
Apparently it's against the Avenger rules to gloat. Now we remember why no Wing IXers ever get invited :P


WING NEWS
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1. COM RESIGNS!
That's right, La'an has resigned as RelCOM. For anyone wishing to join me in the battle royale to attain the Rel's Top Cop spot, send your Apps to Bubba, addressing the criteria on the TC News page.

2. WING IX REORGANIZATION
It's almost official, and once the new COM is appointed, Dagger is going to close, and those pilots will be spread out to the other three squadrons. With our recent AWOL flurry, we just don't have the manpower to support four small squadrons.

3. CM FOX RETIRING
Due to some RL issues, CM Fox will once again be boozing on the MFRG Phoenix. No applications will be taken at this time.

4. 100th WING IX WWR CELEBRATION
Nice participation, better than I expected. Our winners our 1st place: MAJ Drachen. 2nd place: CPT Hermann. With the comp approved, their medals are on the way! Yay me (and them :P)!

5. FREE WEB HOSTING
Mell has agreed to give all our squadrons free hosting on tcbg.net. CMDRs who have not yet contacted me about this, please do so. Also, remember that you may have to bug Mell a little bit, he's been kinda slow to reply to things lately :P

6. RANT COMP
Submissions still being taken

7. **RECRUITMENT DRIVE** - #1 PRIORITY
Our numbers are lower than they have ben since our last recruitment drive, so it's about time for another. We realy need to get some new blood in here, go for rl and reservists, stay away from cadets. I will be VERY generously awarding everyone who brings in recruits. If we don't get some soon a squadron WILL close.

8. WEEKLY ACTIVITY
I want to see stuff I can submit to the EH newsletter to promote Wing IX. Each submission get's you a medal in and of itself, plus I'll offer ISM/PC if you send me enough stuff to merit it. This is something easy to do, the newsletter will publish just about anything, so let's get out there and make ourselves known.


9. ATTENTION FMs AND FLs!
I noticed on this round of MSEs that some pilots didn't have all their activity accounted for. Your CMDR keeps track of activity, but you can't expect them to know every little thing you do. When I start saying it's MSE time, I want you guys to send a report of your activity for the month to your CMDRs. This is more for you then for me, because if you tell us things that you've done which we haven't recorded, you're more likely to get better medals and rewards.

10. CHANGE OF EMAIL
I'm still getting some emails (mostly from the webgroup, which I'm unable to fix right now :P) to my hotmail account. Please update your records to my new address, NHolthaus@Gmail.com , not too much different, just where it counts ;P

11. NEW CADET!!
Welcome to LT Saul, newest member of Crossbow. You all know what comes next.

12. DRINK OF THE WEEK
Straight from the bar of the Stardrifter Lounge, and personally tested and approved by Lieutenant Colonel Rejili Holthaus, this week's serving suggestion ...

Prison Sex

1 part crown royal
1 part butterscotch schnopps



THE WING IX MORALE OFFICE
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A Rant from the Desk of Colonel Steve the Cricket Bat ...

A rant from your local favourite, LT Greven Targaryen :
A little bit of black humor, considering the comming closure :P

Dire Situation -



The Relentless had been on the run for almost three weeks now, picking random hyperspace coordinates in order to jump to safety. After a surprise assault on thier own territory, she fled to regroup and reorganize, but the enemy, no doubt the New Republic, followed en masse, forcing them to stray off in another direction. All the jumps had undoubtably lead them out of EH space, and Lieutenant Colonel Rejili's fears were confirmed as he gazed at a starmap on a nearby terminal, reading them in the Ardani system, well outside of Hammer boundaries. The Ardani government seemed almost sympathetic to them, allowing them to enter orbit and draw supplies needed to repair the swath of damage done to the superstructure of the ship. Though, at the rate of repair, and the extent of the damage, it would takes months to refit the Relentless with her current crew. Sighing softly, Rejili went back to the holopads of damage reports.



Outside, in space, all seemed quiet, save for the occasional shipping transport flitting between the Relentless and the surface of Ardani IV. Most of the world's industrial center was actually on its distant moon, Rammista, along with its defense fleet and its 'police', which the locals called the QRF or the quick reaction force. The Relentless seemed to be coyed into a false sense of security, a sense that was soon to be shattered.



It first started with static aboard the comm frequencies; minor bursts here and there, though soon entire bands became inoperative. The lead system techs thought it to be interference from the local sun throwing off solar flares, which it often did, but Rejili thought differently. Sitting at his Command chair, he idly traced his finger over the battlestations alert button on the left arm rest, deep in thought. As he thought, he closed his eyes, trying to think of how long they could safely stay here, how many more jumps they could make without repairs, if they could reorient themselves towards EH space. He must have nodded off during his contemplations, as he never heard the shouted curses of the radar officers. A petty officer leapt up onto the deck near his chair, shaking his shoulder. Rejili woke slowly, looking over the officer and pondering what in the devil could have riled the boy so much. It took a moment for his hearing to return as he heard shrill cries from the radar loudspeaker, the petty officer almost screaming at him.

Finally, he heard.



"Sir! Incoming enemy missiles!" The radar officer bellowed over the younger man standing over Rejili. Immediately, Rejili snapped awake, taking a glance out the viewport as his fist slammed down on the battlestations alarm. The bridge turned a dull red as the klaxons blared to life, echoing throughout the ship. The nav officers turned the broadside of the ship towards the missiles and the craft firing them, allowing for maximum turrent coverage from the starboard side. As Rejili scanned a report on the radar screen, he silently swore to himself as he ordered the comm officer to request aid from the Ardani government, "En masse` indeed.." he thought to himself, watching the swarms of fights streak behind thier missiles towards them. Few of the projectiles made it through the barrage of turbolaser fire, but soon the enemy A-wings swarmed over the hull of the ship as it desperately tried to track them.



The call came late in the day at the control tower. All they could hear was static, despite which band they used. Finally, after the comm officer complained to his supervisor, they cranked more power into the system, running the transmission through a series of washes and filters to eliminate the white noise. After several attempts, they finally heard bits and pieces of it, the supervisor bolting for his office comlink. With that single call, the defense fleet began to shift from the far side of the moon towards the planet, and the ship it was protecting. After issuing the fleet orders, he had all available power routed to the communications system as he made his reply, "Imperial Star Destroyer Relentless, this is Rammisa control tower, we are coming to your aid."



The fight around the Relentless turned desperate the instant the A-wings came in close for straffing runs, skimming the hull of the ship to bombard the turrents with laser fire. Rejili looked out the veiwport and started issuing orders as he watched the battle unfold, somewhat relieved (or so he'd like to inwardly believe) that the Ardani government was sending thier defense forces. Soon, the radar officer again piped up, "Sir, multiple unidentified contacts, unknown configuration, unknown fighterclass heading this way." Rejili wrenched a comm-unit out of a terminal and keyed for a broadband transmission, "Incoming craft, indentify yourselves or be classed as the enemy." He waited several moments and was about to transmit again when the system squeeled softly, a familiar voice booming over the intercom, "ISD Relentless, this is Halo Flight Lead, we see you and are inbound hot. ETA 13 seconds." Rejili looked back towards the viewport in time to see the line of incoming fighters, variations of the Empire's Missile Boats, break off in unison and engage the enemy forces. The manuveurs they used, the style of flying...it all reminded him too much of when he was a pilot, feeling a swell of pride as he watched his attackers turn thier attention outwardly as thier craft blipped off the radar, one by one.



LT, as his flight called him, grinned softly as he secured his breathmask over his helmet, allowing for easy comminucations with his team as well as enhanced oxygen flow. His craft had its inertial dampers removed to add more speed, and he'd never regretted it. "Alright, Halo, you heard the man. Light 'em up. Save your guns for close range engangements, these have fairly thick skins," LT said calmly, waiting his flight on either flank. The comm echoed with all copies from the eight other craft with him. He turned his attention back to the battle, watching an A-wing trying to jink left and right as he made a strafe across the Relentless' hull. With a brief smile, he flicked his thumb over his joystick, knocking the selector lever from "Safe" to "Missile" and awaiting the tone to count down. After a few seconds, it became a resonating solid as he depressed his forefinger, feeling his craft lurch a moment as the missile streaked towards its target. The A-wing really did try to get away, but in its attempts to fake out the missile with a power slide, the missile started to glide towards the left, ahead of the craft in its vector of escape. The resulting explosion left nothing but a few glowing chunks of metal floating in space.



The skill and determination of the enemy A-wings proved extremely lacking once a sizable, organized force met it in combat. The advantage they used, thier numbers, became useless as the Ardani defense fleet surrounded the battle from all sides, peppering the vaccuum with missiles and turbolaser fire. The Relentless had enough breathing room to disengage from the battle and pull to the otherside of the planet, safe for the time being. Damage reports started flooding in by that time, stacks of datapads mounding on top of Rejili's desk in his office. A petty officer, the same one who tried to rouse him he thought, walked in and handed him another one, before snapping to attention and dismissing himself. Rejili sighed, knowing he had a long night ahead of him, as he moved to toss the pad in with the rest. His eyes glanced over the screen, and noticed the message was so small, it couldnt possibly be a damage report. Intrigued, and hoping to put off the reports for another few minutes, he read it more carefully. It was a simple memo, telling of a waiting communique from the QRF flying security on the perimeter of the Relentless. Keying in the proper channel, Rejili reclined in his office chair, resting his chin on his knuckle, "Colonel Rejili here."

An image of a pilots helmet and mask appeared before him, a sweeping set of angel wings painted upon the dull grey. "Good evening, Colonel. This is Halo Flight lead, area secure, sir," LT said over the intercom. Rejili smiled, then it seemed to drift into a frown. The voice was naggingly familiar. "Pilot," he said in a calm voice, waving his hand idly at the image, "identify yourself." Over the comm-unit came a faint grunt of laughter as the pilot reached up to the clip on his mask, unhinging it, before lifting his helmet away. There, with short cropped black hair, was a familiar face indeed. Greven Targaryen looked a bit older than when Rejili had last seen him, and he had gained himself a nasty scar over his left eye, which was covered with an eyepatch. Greven rendered a salute to his superior, who, after several moments of staring, saluted in return.



They talked for several hours afterwards; a while on the comm-unit, then face to face. During the chat, Rejili managed to slip enough drink into Greven to get him to sign reinstatement papers. The next morning, Greven woke up with a hangover pounding in his head. Grumbling as he splashed some water on his face, he heard a loud knock on his bay door. "Enter," he grunted, going back to the mirror to shave.

Lieutenant Colonel Mosh poked his head in, to his surprise, with a smile as wide as the horizon on his lips. "Pack your shit GT," he said with a smirk, "in two hours, you report for duty to Commander Shinobi."



Ahh hell...


Col. Steve the Cricket Bat
c/o LT Greven Targaryen

ACTIVITY
--------------
38 mission(s) flown
2 IWAT(S) passed
4 WSR's issued
4 MSEs Issued - :)
2 Competitions Processed

Slow week, because Fahrer had a slow week :P With Dagger closing, hopefully we'll be able to consolidate some activity. Other than that, we're just waiting on the new COM appointment. Let's make March more like January than February :P

POSTINGS AND PROMOTIONS
------------------------------------------
RA La'an to Thunder Squadron, Wing X
LCM Splot to MFRG Phoenix/RSV
SL Saul to Crossbow 1-2
SL Saul promoted to LT

AWARDS
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Squadron of the Week: Hammer - 57 missions flown
Pilot of the Week: Once again, LCM Fahrer
IS-BW to LCM Fahrer

COMPETITIONS
------------------------
RANT COMP - see above
Relentless Runon - See MB thread for details
Hammer Squadron Trivia/Landmarks - Talk to Moshy



STANDING ORDERS
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-ALL MEMBERS-

Contact
All members are expected to remain active. Firstly, all members of the Wing will make contact with their direct superior whenever possible. However, a period of longer than a fortnight without contact and a declared LoA will result in the start of the AWOL timer. A further 3 weeks without contact will lead to transfer to the RSV’s. All such contact must be made by e-mail, to allow easy tracking of contact. This is the very bare minimum to be considered active in Wing IX. This contact should be made regardless of whether a pilot flies every day, or merely checks his/her e-mails every week



If you intend to be off of the internet for more then (5) days, email your Commander and let him or her know as a common courtesy. If you are taking a Leave of Abscense more then ten (10) days, notify your Commander -AND- the Wing Commander via email.



Activity

I view activity as essential to the continued wellbeing of this ship, and a requirement of every one of you. Forms of official activity are listed below.



Flying – This is an XWA Vessel, but all platforms constitute flight activity

MP – Freeworlds, and other MP Platforms will be recognised as long as evidence is provided

MB – All posts count as activity, as long as they are made on official EH boards

E-Mail – Contact with CMDR’s on a daily-fortnightly basis is a prerequisite, and the minimum activity required

Uniform Update – Not frequent, but clearly shows a pilot has been active in editing their uniform

Competitions – Expected from every pilot, participation in competitions is essential

IRC/MSN – Counts as contact with CMDR and upwards

IWATS – Obviously activity

Miscellaneous – Graphics, fictions, newsletter submissions etc. All count as activity



All these cover a wide range of activities, each with its own time and skill requirements. However, they all count toward activity – the more of these you are involved in, the more active you are – reflected in MSE’s and the continued existence of the ISD Relentless.


-SQUADRON COMMANDERS-

Weekly Squadron Reports (WSRs)
WSEs will be submitted NLT 12.00PM each Thursday by email to the Wing Commander, Your Squadron, and the Wing IX Email List. Also, each report must contain statistics for Total missions flown, and IWATS passed. Late reports with no viable excuse are not acceptable. If this is repeated 2 weeks in a row, a formal reprimand will be publicly given. A third or fourth week with late reports, or no report being made, without reason, will result in a CMDR losing his position.

Monthly Squadron Evaluations (MSEs)
MSEs will be submitted to the Wing Commander at any point in the last 3 days of the month. It should cover activity throughout the whole month, to the previous MSE.

AWOLs / MIAs / Reserve Requests
If you have found a pilot to be AWOL (no contact in 30 days), or MIA (bad email address), or a pilot has requested to go the reserves, you WILL NOT make the database request yourself. Forward the relevant information to the Wing Commander, who will verify the information, and make one last effort to 'save' the pilot before he or she is removed from the wing. This is NOT to take authority away from the CMDRs, but to allow the flags to ensure that a pilot really wants to leave. A good example is a pilot whos pissed off at his CMDR and has requested the reserves, when it's entirely possible the pilot would be happy in another squadron.

Flight Leaders
EVERY Flight Leader position in the Wing will ALWAYS be filled. If your Flight Leader leaves the squadron for whatever reason, you will appoint a new Flight Leader immediately. The Flight Office requires that all three flights have a leader in order for new pilots to be placed in that Squadron. We will not miss any opportunity for new pilots!

Designated XO
Every Squadron will have a designated XO. This person will know what he or she needs to do in the event that you are unable to come online, specifically in the area of filing a report for you. This is now a requirement aboard the Rel, and i expect XO’s to fill in as required without prompting from the WC or myself.




QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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"Yeah, well... remember that lady I was telling you about? And the 'joke' about the cease and disist order?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, not so much of a joke now..."
~Fox's personal life :P



In service of the Empire,

Lieutenant Colonel Rejili Holthaus
NHolthaus@Hotmail.com - "Baron de Menari"
WC/LC Rejili Holthaus/Wing IX/ISD Relentless
PCx4/ISMx3/MoI/MoT-1gh/IS-2BR-2SR-1GR/CoL/CoB/LoA/OV-4E [KNGT]
{IWATS-AIM-BOT-CBX-CSS-FZ-GFX-IBX-ICQ-IIC/1/2/3-JS-LIN-M/1/2-MP-MS-RT-SM/2/3-SWGB-TLN-TM/1-TT-VBS-WM-WPN-XAM}