It's been a hectic week for me, both in real life and in the EH, and it has culminated in the resignation of General Drake, long time Wing IX WC, and one of the best wing commanders I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It's always hard when such a reliable figure as Drake steps aside, but I can assure you that he will be back, guys like him never really go away. Drake was a great asset to the Relentless, and I'm going to make sure the person who replaces him does at least half the job Drake did.Loosing Drake is a blow, but I'd like to think our ship is named the Relentless for a reason ;) So let's do what we always do...and maybe a little more, just for Drake.

**Situation Report**
-- The pirates that have been terrorizing our patrol area have been very inactive as of late. While I'd like to think we scared them off, analysts estimate that they are just preparing for a bigger strike...so stay sharp.
-- With things uncharacteristically quiet, a young turbolaser gunner decided to do a little target practice on some passing asteroids. One of them happened to be a camouflaged Rebel scoutship, and RA Kalar was forced to put "dumb luck" into a report back to Admiral Krax.

**Relentless News**
-- Biggest news, GN Drake has decided to hang up his WC insignia and once again become "that reserve guy". Drake was a great guy and a great officer, and he will be missed. Before he goes, I say we empty the Relentless booze supply one last time with him, I'm buying the first round.
-- WC applications aren't being accepted at the moment, so don't send 'em.
-- LC Gunman has been awarded a Bronze Star for excellent performance as CMDR and A-WC during the past month. Drinks are on him.
-- LCM Dukimar has been awarded a Bronze Star as well for being one heck of an active pilot. Drinks are on him as well.
-- In the recent BG competition, we managed to beat the Immortal for the title of best XWA ship in the BGs. Full results should be forthcoming from Krax sometime soon, but for now, congrats on making the first outside competition I've had with you guys a win. Now let's see what we can do about Wing III...
-- The Relentlss Caption Competition ends today, I'll release the results tomorrow so that everyone can get any last minute submissions in.
-- Also tomorrow we will start the Relentless Final Exams competition.
Ignore the datas on the official entry in the TC database, I goofed when I put them in. More information tomorrow.
-- Remember, we have a flying competition with Wing III going on right now as well, let's see if we can't beat them too. Details below.

For the next two weeks, fly any or all of the following battles.

XWA-TC #24
XvT-TC #55
TIE-TC #184

For all the details please check out the competition URL at
http://www.emperorshammer.net/competitions/details.asp?ID=517

The basic idea is fly any or all of these battles by May 22nd and submit your pilots files to me. It's simple scoring based competition, so, as usual, try for the best score possible. The official competition URL has one little mistake though. If we win I get to pick a new ship for LC Strathaven, and if they win, she picks my ship, not Drake's ship. There is also the usual IS-BWs and IS-SWs for the winner and runner-up for each platform.

-- The maximum rank a flight member can now hold is Commander. So you LCM flight members, stop loafing, you can now be promoted...or not promoted ;)

**Other Stuff**
"There's a great deal of talk about loyalty from the bottom to the top. Loyalty from the top down is even more necessary and is much less prevalent. One of the most frequently noted characteristics of great men who have remained great is loyalty to their subordinates."
- General George S. Patton, Jr

That's all for now...until next time, shoot straight and faster than they do.

Rear Admiral Jahan Kalar, Commodore of the ISD Relentless
COM/RA Jahan Kalar/ISD Relentless
GS/SS/BSx3/PCx3/ISMx2/MoI/IS-1BR-1SR/CoLx2/LoA/OV-3E
[GREN] {IWATS-AIM-ASP-CBX-IIC/1/2/3-M/1-SM/2-TT}