Title: The Burning Season
Missions: 4
Game Platform: X Wing vs TIE Fighter
Author: FL/LT Caltin Doros/Cobra 3-1/Wing XIV/ISD Intrepid
cpsweeney@hotmail.com



Required patches
----------------
* EH Ship Patch for XvT
* TIE Guardian


Installation instructions
--------------------------
1] Make sure you have the EH Ship Patch for XvT installed
2] Download the TIE Guardian patch from the EH Patch archive (http://tc.emperorshammer.org/patcharchive.php)
3] Install the TIE Guardian patch by double clicking it in the EHSP installer
4] Double click the .EHM file, the EH Battle Launcher will install the battle
5] Check the Misc folder in your XvT one for additional material like patches, sounds etc.
6] Press the X-wing vs TIE Fighter button on the EHBL to start the game
7] Create a new pilot and fly the Imperial training missions
8] Uninstall the TIE Guardian patch by double clicking it in the EHSP installer



Backstory:

The Aurora System has been one of ours for several years, during that time the lone
planet in the system, Aurora Prime, has been made the capital of the Emperor's Hammer
Strike Fleet. While Aurora Prime's moon, Eos, has been made the homeworld of the Dark
Brotherhood. This two planetoids are some of the most important in the EH, simply due
to the key personnel located on both of them. While the sector does not contain
shipyards or other highly strategic targets it remains key because of these personnel.
The lone star of the Aurora System is a Red Dwarf, Solaria. About once every annum
Solaria gives off harmless sunstorms, however, recently the sunstorms have been 
increasing in magnitude and some are very severe. These sunstorms have been doing
everything from disrupting communication and hyperspace activity to disabling ships
investigating the sun with large EMP type blasts from the sun. No one has yet determined
why Solaria has increased in activity, but our best scientists continue to examine the
evidence.

The SSSD Sovereign is the flagship of the fleet, and as such often serves as home to GA
Ronin. However, Aurora Prime is the capital of the fleet and the Grand Admiral is now
returning to the planet after being on the Sovereign. The Grand Admiral has some affairs
he must tend to on the planet. Recent rebel incursions around the Phare and Setii systems
may indicate possible probing of our defenses, which would be in line with the first steps
in a new rebel offensive into our space. Due to these circumstances the SSSD Sovereign is
being deployed back to patrol those sectors and watch for Rebel activity.

GA Ronin will still be heading back to Aurora Prime but he shall be taking a heavily armored
and modified Escort Shuttle as well as being accompanied by the elite Omega Squadron. The
protection may seem overkill but we know rebels would lick their chops at a chance to get at
the Grand Admiral. While this is going on the Sovereign shall already be underway and heading
out on it's mission to patrol the Phare and Setii sectors.


Mission #1: Protect The GA!

Apparently the problems with the star Solaria were worse then we thought, a large solar-storm
erupted on the star and sent a large EMP/radiation surge through the system. Communications
are down on a wide scale. Prior to this blast GA Ronin had been entering the system, escorted
by Omega Squadron. We have received word that the squadron and the shuttle are all disabled
and dead in space. We found this highly odd since we have made many modifications to our craft
to withstand such radiation and blasts, this led us to run a diagnostic of several craft and
the SSSD Sovereign herself. It would appear we have been the victims of sabotage, the circuitry
handling the shielding of our crafts is non-functional. We have no idea when this occurred but
we had a slight refit several months ago so it's possible to have happened then. The problem we
have is that ALL of our crafts are compromised. We don't have the necessary components to repair
the large-scale circuitry of the SSSD Sovereign so we can't jump to the Aurora system. We've
discovered that almost all of our Tie Defenders, Missile Boats, and Assault Gunboats systems can
not be repaired to handle the EMP blasts that Solaria is currently giving off. Fortunately we 
have been able to modify several Tie Advanced, but it is a very time consuming task. We have 3
modified, and another 3 nearly done. We can't be sure how much more support we will get to you.
You will launch now with 2 wingmates and can expect another 3 shortly, after that...

We need to launch this rescue mission to GA Ronin's shuttle, but it appears that many of our 
ships currently in the Aurora system have undergone sabotage similar to the Sovereign and her
fighters. This operation must have been in the works for a year or possibly even greater, placing
circuitry in fighters and ships which would fail when faced with the EMP radiation signature given
off by the Red Dwarf star Solaria. Aurora Prime is putting all of their resources into modifying
an assault transport to dock with GA Ronin. However, Aurora is even worse off then we are. Many
of their computer and diagnostic systems are off-line following that huge EMP blast and they are
working nearly blind. They're working as fast as they can with whatever crude instruments and
tools are still working, you'll have to cover the shuttle and protect them while until the Transport
gets there and gets out of system to the Sovereign.

Pilots, please take notice that the shield system has been modified to protect you from the EMP
emissions from Solaria. Your shield system and your hyperdrive are being used to power the EMP-shield,
this means you'll have no protective shields, and no hyperdrive once you enter the system.


Pilots, a severe EMP blast from Solaria in the Aurora sector has disabled many key systems, and 
ships in the sector. GA Ronin was travelling to Aurora Prime in an Escort Shuttle and being 
accompanied by Omega Squadron. Currently all of those ships are disabled and dead in space. 
You will jump into the system and defend GA Ronin should any attacks occur until an ATR can 
rescue him. You'll have limited support but you MUST accomplish your mission and protect the GA.


Mission #2: Omega's Payback

Pilots, we must all remember the situation we were left in while escorting GA Ronin to Aurora
Prime. We are charged with the highest duty in the fleet, we protect GA Ronin and carry-out
missions vital to the success of the fleet. To be put in a situation where we were all just dead
in space and forced to watch forces advance against us while we were helpless is something we
should always keep in mind. Let this drive you, force you to expand and go beyond your training
and abilities. Luckily Psi squadron was able to hyper in and engage the hostile forces, GA Ronin
has awarded them the Gold Star of the Empire for their services.

The unfortunate word is this, our Tie Guardians can not be used in the Aurora system, in fact
most of the second generation and advanced craft can not. We believe that rebel spies have been
planning this for years and so much of our new craft have sabotaged components in them that we
can't find enough without the EMP shielding specific to Aurora's sun. The only fighter capable of
guaranteed(well almost) functionality in the system is the Tie Advanced. We have many systems and
components still in our inventory from many years before the Rebel saboteurs so we are testing
to find out what works and put them in the crafts. 

We have also found a work-around in which we can modify the Tie Advanced's shield generator and
hyperdrive system to create an EMP-shield. Unfortunately this results in having no shields and
apparently having a hyperdrive short out after one jump. The good news is we're not operating
in the Aurora system right now. We're being dispatched to aid in the capture of a Rebel base
from which the forces which assaulted us and GA Ronin were deployed. The Rebel base is located
within an asteroid field in a nearby system and we plan to capture it as part of our future
plans.

Omega squadron will lead the designated assault and be the first squadron to launch from the SSSD
Sovereign. You shall engage hostile fighters and protect our gunboats while they disable the Rebel
base. We expect the Rebels to have a few capital ships in the sector or nearby, and our best intel
points at two or more Nebulon-B frigates in system, with several lesser ships spotted. Be aware
that they may have reinforcements nearby. The enemy has an assortment of fighters so expect heavy
resistance. Taking this base is the key to a plan we're putting into action, accord yourselves and
get some revenge for the treachery that led to your disabling in the Aurora System.


Pilots, thanks to some quick work by Psi squadron GA Ronin and yourselves were saved in the Aurora
Sector. Now is your chance for some payback. We've located a nearby Rebel base hidden among some
asteroids, we shall be attacking the base and capturing it. You will need to engage rebel starfighter
forces.

Mission #3: Baiting the Hook

Excellent, you and your squadron once again demonstrated your superior flying ability and managed
to help us in capturing the Rebel base. GA Ronin is most pleased and has now seen fit to inform
you of the plans we have in store for the rebels. We expect rebel reinforcements to come into
the system within a few hours to try and retake the base and rescue any survivors, we plan to let
them do just that... Now, now, don't jump to conclusions as this will lead to us severely crippling
a large chunk of their fleet. We shall be leaving data behind at the platform which indicates that
the Aurora system is very disabled from the EMP blasts from it's sun, and that we have no idea how
to protect our ships. We shall let them obtain the information in re-capturing the platform, and
anticipate them sending a large rebel task force to try and take the Aurora Sector. This is exactly
what we want. We want them to acquire this information and decide to launch an offensive against
the Aurora System.

Pilots you must engage the incoming rebel reinforcements and inflict damages to make them think
they are earning the re-capture of the platform. Once the rebels have secured the platform we
shall hyperspace out "in retreat" and let them think they've won the engagement.


Pilots, we will now lay a trap for the Rebels. We have left information in their base which will 
lead them to launch an offensive against the Aurora System, an offensive we shall be prepared for. 
You must make the Rebels think they've earned the victory, and engage their starfighters. We are 
counting on you to inflict enough damage to make it appear as if we are actually trying to defend 
the base. Good Luck pilots.


Mission #4: Bye, Bye, Miss Aurorian Pie

We've discovered that Solaria's EMP blasts were instigated by a rebel probe that avoided our sensors,
and managed to cause the red dwarf to speed up it's normal process and cause severe solar storms
at a magnitude and time different from the normal activities of the star. This is causing Solaria
to proceed towards going supernova, a fact the Rebels do not know. We estimate that within 10 years
Solaria will go supernova and destroy Aurora Prime & Eos in the process. We plan to speed up that
process. Shortly after you rescued GA Ronin, mass evacuations began in the Aurora system and we have
managed to evacuate all Imperial forces and some of the native Aurora Prime population. We have no
chance of rescuing everyone so the rest shall give their lives to the noble cause of the Empire.
We have managed to speed up the process. Solaria will now go Supernova within 3 months, but it will
be much sooner then that. We've developed a probe to cause Solaria to go immediately supernova, the
probe will launch automatically as soon as the Rebel fleet enters the system.

Our best intelligence points to this being a Rebel intelligence run operation for the most part. They
were the ones involved with disrupting Solaria and in the extended sabotage that went into making the
circuitry in our ships and systems fail based with the EMP-radiation signature from the sun's flares.
This means we'll likely encounter the best pilots that Rebel intel can put out and that means Wraith
squadron. Since they're likely to be one of the first to scramble into action we shall use them as
a means of showing a pretense to the Rebels that we're fighting back. To do this you shall engage
and destroy at least 1/4 of their forces.

Pilots, you shall remain on patrol in the Aurora sector in the modified Tie Advanced fighters you
flew in protecting GA Ronin. These fighters have no shields and no hyperdrive, remember that. You 
will fly patrol until the Rebel fleet enters the sector, at that point the probe will begin it's trip 
to the Sun. It will take approximately 8 minutes from the probes launch until it manages to impact on 
the Sun and cause it to go nova. 6 minutes after it's launch we will send in the EMP-Shield modified
ESC Venom to pick you up. You will have to board it within 1 minutes of it's arrival if you want any
chance of leaving the Aurora system alive. The Venom will leave 30 seconds before the sun will go nova,
with OR without you onboard. Good Luck pilots.


Pilots, the culmination of our plan has arrived. We will be sending Solaria supernova and in doing so
destroy a large Rebel task force, you will be in sector and engage Rebel fighters so they do not
get suspicious and flee. We will send in the EMP-Shielded ESC Venom to retrieve you, but it is of 
crucial urgency that you board it before the Supernova as the Venom will leave 30 seconds before the
sun goes nova...With OR without you.


Epilogue
Omega squadron, you've done a great service to the Emperor's Hammer and an even greater service in
continuing to fulfill GA Ronin's wishes as the FCHG squadron. You faced extremely adverse conditions
and flew in missions that were not only difficult, but went against every form of training you've ever
had. We could not preserve the Aurora System and we lost two fine planets in Aurora and Eol. The Rebels
forced our hand but they bit off more then they could chew.

They've lost a large number of capital ships and starfighters, we're estimating their losses at 140,000+
people and that's just from the fleet lost during their foray into the Aurora System prior to supernova.
These are crippling losses to the Rebels and will teach them to think twice about launching battles to
try and enter our space. As they are now rebuilding their forces we can push further into THEIR space and
begin to crush them once and for all...

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FL/LT Caltin Doros/Cobra 3-1/Wing XIV/ISD Intrepid LoC-ISx12/CoB [KNGT] 
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