SSSD SOVEREIGN NEWS, 4-15-03

COM/AD Proton reporting for the SSSD Sovereign, flagship of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet.

SOVEREIGN AND FLEET NEWS AND NOTES

-- Here I am going to attempt to do my part to help put to rest some of the chaos that has resulted in the fleet in recent days since numerous key figures in the Dark Brotherhood "went rogue" with the subgroup, seizing the database and declaring separation from control of the Emperor's Hammer.

All TIE Corps officers who are not active in the DB have an easy choice. You just have to keep flying and being active in the TC! I think this attitude was best summed up by COL Brian of Omega Squadron, who said he was reminded of the simple wisdom of some squadron's motto he remembered from the past: "We fly. We fight. That's all."

For those who are active members of both the TC and the DB, you have been lucky enough to experience two of the best gaming club experiences on the planet. But because of the current schism, it has also caused you to contemplate a decision: Stay with the renegade DB, renounce the renegade DB and stay with the TC; or do nothing and see what happens.

The EH Command Staff has moved swiftly to crush the DB revolt and has said that those who stand with the leaders of the revolt will no longer be welcome in the EH. This creates a dilemma for those of us "innocent parties" who simply want to continue our club experiences in both settings and can't believe we're in such a crossfire. It seems we are being forced to choose -- forced, by the unyielding stands of both leadership groups.

I've gone through that background for you so I could properly set up what I want and need to say about this issue. I have been a member of the Emperor's Hammer for seven years (this includes my clone, Gallows). The TIE Corps has been my home that entire time. I've also been a member of the Brotherhood for six years. It is also a very comfortable home. I have grown to love the SSSD Sovereign and Clan Tarentum. They are the homes of many, many friends and colleagues who have enriched my life. It is not a simple thing to say "to hell with it" and leave one group or another.

I'll put this in a somewhat crude way that I know everyone on the rockin' Sov will be able to understand (heh): It's like I've been going out with two extremely hot women for a long time, but it's decision time, and one of them has a little better personality fit for me. That, of course, is the Emperor's Hammer TIE Corps. And because the TIE Corps is part of the EH, that's where I am.

This does not mean I am forsaking those rank-and-file members who are choosing to remain in the DB and standing with the renegade leaders. On the contrary, I will be maintaining those ties in various, unofficial, ways, that have nothing to do with adhering to EH law or edicts or supporting outlaw movements. I urge Sovereign pilots with similar relationships to follow your own conscience. My way is one way, but not the only way.

Finally, I am addressing the issue of the loyalty oath we have been asked to sign, pledging our support to the Emperor's Hammer. Again, I urge you to follow your conscience, and if you feel like signing, please do so. I will not personally be signing the oath. However, this has nothing to do with the Dark Brotherhood fiasco or any imagined disagreement with the EH CS. As I told HA Priyum, my loyalty to the TIE Corps and EH speaks for itself. My personal opinion, though, is that loyalty oaths in any form are unsavory, well-intentioned or not. And in this case, I think it is unnecessary overkill. I believe the EH and TC are infused with vital strength and do not need everyone signing an oath to underline that. From a practical point of view, I believe the EH and its reconstituted "new EH DB" will gradually outgrow and overwhelm the renegade DB. I believe the renegade DB will blow away with the winds, sooner if not later.

Now that you have labored through my long-winded treatise, I have a final request: Go to the Battle Center, download an Emperor's Hammer battle of your choice, and fly it with a smile on your face.

Long live the TIE Corps!

-- Sovereign Squadron League second round three is under way. Flight assignments:
TIE Fighter Division: TIE Free #198, The Intrusion of Light;
X-Wing Alliance Division: XWA Free #73, Space Truck;
X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Division: XvT Free #137, Sector Neutral.
Deadline is April 25. For more details and rules, see the Sov Web site at http://sov.minos.net.

-- Operation Outrageous Fortune, uh ... this is the last time I'm going to mention this game in my report until something real happens.

-- Rat Pack wars: Wing III CMDRs get a reprieve because too many of them are on leave. So, next up it's the Wing IV CMDRs.

-- Wing III WC Aeishline on week's leave, LC Josh Popelka is A-WC.

-- LC Aeshline has a comp in Wing III: The idea is to make the funniest Fanta movie:
http://www.fanta.dk/default.htm

FORCE STRENGTH

-- Give a big Sovereign welcome to these new or returning pilots:
FM/LC Death/Hey 2-4
FM/LT Josepy Killrath/Theta 1-4
FM/LC Astin/Kaph 2-3
FM/LT Shion/Gimel

SSSD Sovereign [175]

Wing I [31]
Wing II [38]
Wing III [33]
Wing IV [43]
Wing V [29]

Omega Squadron [9]

SHIP COMPETITIONS

-- Sovereign Nighthawk Multiplayer Competition, each Friday night in
#ehcoc on IRC, 3 to 6 p.m. eastern time.
-- Sovereign Squadron League, round 3 under way. Pilots, fly free missions TIE Free 198, XvT Free 137 and-or XWA Free 73 and send the pilot file(s) to your CMDR by April 25.
-- SBOTM for April: There is none -- the SBOTM is on hiatus for the duration of the Squadron League season. Watch for the return of the SBOTM in September.

SHIP COMMUNICATIONS

IRC channel: #SSSD_Sovereign
Message board:
http://boards.minos.net
The SSSD Sovereign Cantina Song:
http://www.minos.net/~proton/drink.html

EMPEROR'S HAMMER EXPLUSION ORDER OF THE WEEK

"I got your retribution right here ... you're gone, DV ..." -GA Ronin

COMBAT DEBRIEFING OF THE WEEK

"Yeah, see? When you fly this in TIE 95, you're basically flying in a T/I with a frickin' beam weapon. That seems to be the only difference in the patch. Not much of an "advantage" at all." -GN Compton

"I don't know what ship schematics the Tie Phantom has but this mission/patch
is screwed up enough, I just flew the darn thing and went looking for beer
and asprin :P " -MAJ Brandon

"Unfortunately, I ain't got any tips. I was flying this under antibiotics
and a flu, so my main and only priority was to finish it because any score
is better than no score at all. I flew it twice, first time I got fragged
by an Adv. missile from an X-Wing; the second time I called for
reinforcements as soon as I did primary goals and fragged the M/CRV ASAP
with Proton Torps which got me rid of those pesky X-Wings. Then I fooled
around with Y and T-Wings and I completely forgot about shooting up the
convoy so that one of the bastards got away and I failed the secondary
goals. I was too tired to fly it a third time and I just sent the whole
thing off to Sas." -MAJ Manijak

CANTINA COMMENTS

"As long as you put those girls in your reports everything is fine with me :p " -MAJ Mayk Wolverine

"/me dishes out the anti-hangover pills
Okay, these are a new recipe, but the theory is, we take them, get drunk, and don't get hungover. :P I'm gonna make a fortune if the poison does kill anyone-I mean, poison? What? Who said that?? :P " -LCM HicRic

"I DIDN'T STEAL THAT BOURBON--!!! Oh, sorry, it was Mike ordering one.
My mistake.... *cough*...
(*slinks away*) " -LC Freelancer

"*Aeishline got into the briefing room and watched all the gathered with a pain in her eyes
'Take those cats out of the Sov.. don't let them stamp so loud...
What? They're in Wing II Briefing room? a few clicks away?'
*
I have only a small hangover :P " -LC Aeishline Strathaven

" I'll have a vodka and a match ::grins evilly:: " -MAJ Argon Viper

"Ayep, I've seen footage of that particular beasty on the TV and the 'beak' they talk about is similar to a parrots beat, but it's about 10 times the size!
As for the hooks on the tentacles, well, let's just say if that baby got her arms around you and pulled, there would no be much left of you. The hooks look a heck of a lot like the thorns on a rose bush and there are plenty of them!" -LC Mickk Emrys

"Lakers, Kings, Mavs... Who cares...? ;) I say grandpas from Utah will win
the title anyway! ;)
Tod (perhaps the only Utah fan from outside the state of Utah ;)) " -LC Todbringer

"What about Cocaine?
Besides, don't mixed anything with beer, coz It would taste like
shit (For everyone who wish to make a joke about it - No I have
NEVER tasted shit):P " -MAJ Wolvie

"No, its Kokanee. Its a Canadian beer. :P " -MAJ Nurel Turr

"Kokanee ... so does it taste like fish?" -AD Proton

"I dunno, we are fortunate to not have it shipped down
to us in the states. :P " -MAJ Nurel Turr

"Thanks, Turr. If it tastes like kokanee salmon, count me out :) " -AD Proton

"ph33r ME! for : I HAVE THE POWAH!!!
*COL Jon Sheaths his big Broadsword.*
*COL Jon Morphs and is no longer there, all that is left is the Mighty A/WC* " -COL Jon

" What's that, Battle Lemming? Skeletor is attacking the squadron? Time to
call upon the power of Greyskull ... erm, I mean, the power of Acting Wing
Commanderness!!!
(*Lightning flashes everywhere*)
Zzzzzzzzt ... ZZZZzzzzzttt ... ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzttTTTT!
BY THE POWER OF ACTING WING COMMANDERNESS!!!
I HAVE THE POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWER!!!
Just be careful where you point that sword Jon, that's all that I ask
;-) " -COL Sasquatch

"isn't it IIIIII HAAAVVVVEEE THE POWAH!
/me gives his Sword a few experimental slashes.... Oops sorry Sas didn't
see you there.
*Sas looks down at his shredded tunic.* " -COL Jon

"Hey! This is better than watching it on TV! Oh rats,
I said that outloud, didn't I? :P " -MAJ Nurel Turr

" (*Sas starts doing his best Skeletor voice -- old Skeletor, who sounded
much cooler IMHO*)
He-Jon, you muscle-bound buffoon! You and your meddlesome battle lemming
have shredded my Tunic of Darkness! Now I can never use it's magic to take
over the Wing II Cantina ... curses! Curses, you fools! But listen well ...
you have not seen the last of me, He-Jon!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
(*Sas tries to disappear in a cloud of smoke, but somehow just ends up
setting himself on fire*)
That always looks so easy when you watch the pros do it!" -COL Sasquatch

"Hehe, congratulations, you damn hairfooted lucky Hobbit :P " -MAJ Wolvie

"While the entire EH is a volunteer organisation, taking these sorts of positions slaps you with a level of responsibility. I guess it's like if you volunteered to coach a children's soccer team or something. If you screw up, there's gonna be some psycho "soccer mom" in the grandstand waiting to kick your ***... " -SA Astatine

"The Semi naked muscle rippling A/WC walks into the Psi squadron Briefing
office followed shortly by an armoured Lemming.
For COL Jon and Fluffy lead a double life, When he calls on the powah! COL
Jon Becomes the A/WC and Fluffy become tiger, the armoured lemming." -COL Jon

"You've Forgot about the most important thing:
1.) Must like drinking Beer
2.) Must like bikini
3.) Must like girls
4.) Must love girls in bikinis" -MAJ Mayk Wolverine

"Yeah, I'm going with Tycho here. Hot chicks and Star Wars, now that's a winning combination. Like beer and pizza. Or burgers and cheese. Or Star Destroyers and whiskey...hehe, good times..." -RA Jahan Kalar

"Get the Captain off my ship. I'd advise her new CMDR to be watchful of
someone that transfers to a squad and leaves with in 12 hours, with out any
reason." -LC Samuel Shadd III

"Hey guys, I need your submissions for the SSL round two. So far I only have
Proton's, and that ain't gonna help us very much. Get them to me
ASAP." -LC Mike Chistu

" **Eyebrows shoot up**
... "And that ain't gonna help us very much." ... !?!
Chistu, do you have a death wish? >:)
** Team L.S.D. cackles in unison. Ballista cracks her whip in
anticipation. ** " -AD Proton

"Aw, come on, I didn't mean it that way I only meant it as 1/6 people
really isn't enough to help us very much. I am very appreciative that the
COM took time out of his busy schedule to fly a mission on easy with
invulnerability on... :P " -LC Mike Chistu

"I'll refrain from further comment.
I think I saw on a TIE Corps banner somewhere. "We fly. We fight. That's
all." I prefer that simplicity myself." -COL Brian

"Oh dear. After a month of complaining, finally someone likes SL2003 mission!
;) Unbelivable! Manijak - I love you! I'm really touched! Here, give me a
hug...! ;) " -LC Todbringer

"You might not be getting too many hugs after the rest of the squadron fly this thing!
Actually, it's not too bad ... nothing several buckets of WD-40 can't loosen up.
Get it? ...T/I ... rust bucket ... buckets of WD-40 ... loosen up ... Grue made a funny ... why are you not laughting ... damit ... Grue made a funny ... Grrrrrrr " -CPT Night Grue

"Scorch, huh?" Talons mumbles softly. He then fingers his small, round, red
and white ball with a little button on the front. Fingering the button,
causing the sphere to triple in size, he throws it up into the air and cries
out in a loud voice, "Charlotte, Flamethrower attack!"
The ball opens with a distinct pop and a nebulous, redish vapour pours out
forming a large, winged, flame-red lizard. The lizard immediately blasts the
new Sub-lieutenant, scorching him with flames.
"Scorch now is..." Talons says absently as he retrieves his Charizard and
walks away chuckling.
Welcom to the Wing, Scorch! We are all insane here, so get used to it. You
are buying the first round of drinks. Make mine Chai Tea..." -MAJ Talons Pryde

"So I have a question, is this what the remains of a Grue snack might look like?" -COL Brian

"Don't answer that folks, it's a trick question!
There are no remains after Grue snacks :-)
:: been in the DB for 2 months and look what happens :: " -CPT Night "Bringing death and destruction wherever he goes" Grue

"Wing IV CMDRs are next in line to give the "Rat Pack" a beating." -LC Philo

"I know I should stand up for Rat Pack, but, GO WING IV CMDRs!!!
* Wolvie predicts some serious WC's ass beating :P " -MAJ Mayk Wolverine

"This will go without question if more Rats don't get out of their
La-Z-Boys and their fat carcasses into the cockpit >:( " -AD Proton

"Desks are so much harder to fly these days :P" -LCM Halcyon

" *Looks up from the PPB* "Business as usual? Oh, yeah, that's already
taken care of." *leaves PPB with booze at a dead run, fleeing from L
(S and D being nowhere around) " -LC Freelancer

"beers are on the guy who created the stupid damn mission in the first place. :P " -MAJ Brandon

"When you say "beers are on him" ... I hope you meant that we can THROW
our beers AT him ;-) " -COL Sasquatch

LYNYRD SKYNYRD LYRICS OF THE WEEK

Two feets they come a creepin'
Like a black cat do
And two bodies are lyin' naked
Creeper think he got nothin' to lose
So he creeps into this house, yeah
And unlocks the door
And while a man reaching for his trousers
Shoots him full of .38 holes

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COM/AD Proton/SSSD Sovereign
SSx4/BS/PC/ISMx2/IS-1BW-1SW/CoL/OV-3E [KNGT] {IWATS-FLA-RT-SM/2}