FIREBIRD SQUADRON WSR #20 (20-FEB-29 ABY) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FROM: Colonel Stryker, Squadron Commander |
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FROM
STRYKER'S DESK |
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Chapter 3 – The
Next Day Stryker brooded while he watched the
Astromechs and
mechanics aboard the Hermes perform
repairs on the damaged or disabled craft of Firebird Squadron; Shadow
Squadron’s ambush had set them back by hours, perhaps days, and with
every
passing minute the renegades were getting further away. Without knowing
their
objective, they couldn’t even plan a daring intercept that would take
them to
the edge of their endurance – like in the holos. It was probably for
the best… One of the Hermes’
communications officers approached
from just outside Stryker’s peripheral vision with a datapad in her
hand, she
coughed gently to attract his attention and handed it to him before
departing.
A quick glance at the screen told him that they had intercepted a
transmission
from the Y-Wings as they departed; recordings of a Star Destroyer
opening fire
on civilian vessels, of the Audacity and Retribution
snagging the Deliverance
out of Hyperspace and
crippling her with pinpoint salvoes of weapons fire designed to disable
her.
Confused, Stryker checked to see if the files were genuine and the
validator
confirmed that the data had not been tampered with. Confused now more
than
ever, Stryker assembled the pilots and revealed what he had discovered
– some
reacted with shock, some with anger, while others seemed less than
surprised
that something like this had happened. The Strike Fleet was still full
of
die-hard Imperials who ascribed to the old ways, and the more
moderately-minded
members of the Infiltrator Wing were seen at best as weak, at worst as
traitors
to the Emperor – apparently someone in the Kawolski
battlegroup, probably the Commodore themselves, had decided to cull the
weak
themselves… If the Deliverance had
been attacked without provocation and the Kawolski
had ambushed and destroyed civilian freighters without warning, then
their
mission would need to be modified, but it did not change the fact that
Shadow
Squadron had gone off-mission, ceased communicating with their
superiors, and
fired upon TIE Corps vessels. They would need to be brought to heel as
much as
those they apparently tracked, but for now there were bigger fish to
fry. The squadron’s next mission was a dud, as
was the mission
after that – neither the Kawolski or
the Deliverance were in a position to
be tracked, it was as if both ships had simply disappeared from space
simultaneously – hiding an Imperial-II-class
Star Destroyer wasn’t something just anyone could do, even within the
space
controlled by the Emperor’s Hammer. Meanwhile the Security Office
demanded
updates; the Kawolski was now under
investigation as well, but Shadow Squadron was not off the hook and the
Admiralty Board was not impressed with the constant delays – they
wanted
progress, and they wanted it sooner rather than later. Deep down,
Stryker
wondered how long it would be before Firebird Squadron was recalled and
a less understanding
unit was sent in its place – Praetorian Squadron, for example – they’d
show up
and simply gun down anyone who they considered complicit in the crimes
that had
been reported, submit a report with minimal detail, and get a
chest-full of
medals for their time. There had been a time when Praetorian had been
honourable,
but gone were the days of Ric Hunter and Abel Malik, replaced with
pro-Imperial
fanatics who would gladly sell their lives and souls in the name of a
monster
long dead. Maybe Shadow Squadron’s pilots had a point
after all; was
the corruption limited to the Kawolski,
or had it spread so far throughout the fleet that it was impossible to
tell who
was fighting for law and order and who was simply in it for the power? For the first time since returning, Stryker
began to wonder
if it might have been better if he’d not rejoined… |
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SQUADRON
NEWS |
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This
is my twentieth report as Firebird CMDR, which is insane! The five
months have just flown by, and though we've seen a few roster changes
in that time, you're still the same awesome pilots that opened the
squadron back in October last year! MSEs remain with The Powers That Be, hopefully I'll have comments and be able to make recommendations sooner rather than later! Flight of the Firebirds: Shadowhunters, aka the February narrative campaign, is entering its final stage! A much slower week this week, which is unfortunate; only four of you participated, with Colonel NiksaVel taking first place in the Single Player and Other categories, and Commander Cook clinching the Multiplayer. Major Jedgar remains in first place overall going into the final week, with NiksaVel and Travis following close behind! Your final challenges are as follows: SP: XWA-Free 33 - Highest Score MP: Closest score to 1500pts in Squadrons Dogfight or Star Conflict PvP Other: Star Wars Hyperspace Dash - Highest Score Team Foghorn Leghorn (aka Firebird 1) has slid back into first place in the Chalquilla Cup after facing Rho and Lambda squadron (though we are tied with Theta's 'Operating Thetans' on wins and kills) - we have this weekend off and are pencilled in to play Theta on the 27th at 4pm Eastern time, which gives us plenty of time to practice. Team Chickenhawk (Firebird 2) defeated the representatives from Beta Squadron, and are due to face Eagle Squadron for their round 4 game (whenever that can be arranged). Finally, there have been a whole host of medals awarded for FCHG rank increases, well done everyone! |
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SQUADRON
ACTIVITY |
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SQUADRON EVENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Firebird Squadron Training:
Every two weeks, Firebird will assemble for Multiplayer Training! Star
Wars Squadrons, EA Battlefront 2, and others; let's try to get full
flights working together! Flight of the Firebirds (Shadowhunters): Narrative campaign starring Firebird Squadron, story progresses each week. Challenges issued to squadron every Saturday in report, with rounds concluding every Friday. Chalquilla Cup: 3v3 Multiplayer event using Star Wars Squadrons. Match pairings and results can be found here. TIE Corps in Battle (TCiB): The TCCOM's High Score Hunt, one battle each from TIE, XvT, and XWA will be assigned monthly. |
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CLOSING COMMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COL Stryker |