SSSD SOVEREIGN NEWS, 9-16-01

Welcome to another installment of the Sovereign Report, RA Proton reporting.

-- MAJ Jesseb Skyrauch has been promoted to LC, and he knows it is not a reward but a pledge of continued service. Also, he knows that the refreshments are on him, to be provided by The New Guys (2+1).

-- New guys 2+1? Yes, COLs SickMan and Firebird, and the other newest WC, MAJ Jahan Kalar of Wing III! Jahan replaces LC Sequoh Marden, who stepped down this week after a great run in the wing. It's good news that Sequoh will remain aboard as an FM. So, congrats to Jesseb and Jahan and a big thanks to Sequoh! ... New Guys, what are you gawking at, where's my Yukon Jack?
(p.s. from LC Reaper: Woohoo!!!!!, no longer the new boy, hehehe, make mine a large Jack Daniels on the Rocks and a nice Cuban cigar ;) )

-- New pilots, active pilots. In the past week I have seen a constant flow of BSF reports across my desk, and many of them were due to the flying of some of our newest pilots. Plus, there are some Flying Flags like LC Reaper. Good job, pilots!

-- Force strength:
SSSD Sovereign [253]
Wing I [43]
Wing II [44]
Wing III [50]
Wing IV [37]
Wing V [40]
Wing VI [38]

Omega Squadron [12]

III has the most pilots and IV the least. Please persist in your recruiting, and above all, continue to create a fun environment in your wings so we become even more of a cadet magnet. Also, WCs, work with your CMDRs to get those unsightly vacant FL positions filled!

-- Reminder of ship home page design competition. See the temporary Sov home page at sov.imperialmight.com for the details. IS-GR, -SR and -BR up for grabs for the top three finishers.

-- Speaking of more comps, COL Ford is putting the finishing touches on a shipwide competition. The Mascot Power Battles will pit the mascots of each wing against one another (with our pilots doing the real fighting, of course). WCs, if your wing does not have a mascot(s), get one selected asap. For instance, COL Sickman has a comp going right now to choose the new mascot for V. The Sov competition will run in various phases, including flight, fiction, graphics, etc. And, knowing of some of the mascots we already have on the ship, this is going to be one exciting event!

- Two more ship comps are in the planning stages as well and will unfold over the coming months, but details will be withheld until later so as not to detract from the MPB.

- Quote of the Week: "Hunter's Wise Words of the Week........ "Beware the Wookie who is Shaven, and has a bad temper." " -- CM Jason Hunter, Sadhe Squadron

-- I've posted a couple of images for Americans that seem appropriate in this time of challenge for our country. One is an image of the U.S. flag and the other is a "We Love N.Y." expression of support for our brave countrymen in New York City:
http://torps.20m.com/flag.gif
http://torps.20m.com/weloveny.gif

**
Dude the Tusken raider finished sweeping the last piles of shed scorpion skins out of the corners of The Pit. Leroy the jawa followed, inspecting the raider's work, his nose twitching at the remaining scent of the former Commodore Kramer's scorpion enforcers.

They jumped in shock at the blaring electronic noises that suddenly emanated from the third member of Rear Admiral Proton's Team LSD, Snippy the probe droid. Snippy flew down into The Pit, robotic appendages flailing and bumping into Dude, who dropped his broom in surprise.

Leroy and Dude went pale, which is hard to do for a Tusken and a jawa, as the import sunk in from Snippy's excited report.

Ballista had arrived.

...

Commodore Proton clambered down into The Pit, accompanied by the Beautiful and Deadly Ballista, a stunning and terrifying figure who had been the scourge of Wing II in bygone days and had waged combat with various other loyalty troops across the Sovereign. In recent months, Ballista had been in semi-retirement, assisting Colonel Gallows of Omega Squadron, an ex-Wing II WC. But Gallows just transferred to the Reserves, and had agreed to hire over Ballista's services to his colleague, Proton.

Ballista was back, and Proton had some explaining to do, for the sanity of his Team LSD.

"Calm down, boys, Ballista is on your side ..." Proton said. " ... unless you cross her."

Proton's stare riveted the three loyal but terrified assistants.

"Here's the deal. Ballista is my fourth assistant, on an equal footing with you. So I expect you to work with her. This is a big ship, and I will need a lot of help keeping the pilots in line. There are a lot of wild pilots on this ship, which is one of the things that makes us great but which at times can be a threat to the flagship.

"One more thing: Let me be very clear -- Ballista is a politically correct character, not intended to offend any person. Just ignore the attack chain attached to her belt and the serrated whip she's always carrying. It's totally PC. Ignore the leather outfits too, and that amazing shock of blond hair."

Proton pointed to a large stack of beverage crates in the massive storage area that adjoined The Pit.

"Team, get that stuff shipped to the Reserve frigate asap. COM Kramer forgot some of his Sprite. But keep a couple of cases here so we can properly entertain CCK when he takes some R&R aboard the Sov."

The commodore turned to Ballista, whose hard stare unnerved him. Gallows had warned him about that brutal gaze, but it was still hard to handle.

"All right, Ballista, it's time for your initial assignments. First, unload that Assault Transport that just docked -- it has my personal supplies of Yukon Jack.

"Then ... yes, it is time: Prepare The Pit. For the SSSD Sovereign Mascot Power Battles."

In a lightning move, Ballista lashed her whip into the deck and screamed in pleasure, then quickly began her work assignments. Team LSD stood transfixed in terror, until Proton shouted at them to snap out of it.

Proton laughed, then climbed the ladder, secretly overjoyed to be leaving The Pit.

**

COM/RA Proton/SSSD Sovereign
SS/BS/IS-SW/PC/ISMx2/OV [FUSL] {IWATS-SM/2, Rebellion}
SBM (Sith)/QUA/Tridens of Tarentum
www.imperialmight.com