The battle was raging on outside the mighty Imperial-II class Star Destroyer Challenge. From the cockpit of her TIE Advanced starfighter, LC Denys Elara watched as the grey hulk changed course and slowly moved away from the battle. She didn't like the sight of a retreating Star Destroyer, but she knew the Commodore liked it even less. And as such, there was most likely a good reason for the maneuver.

With no enemy fighters in her immediate vicinity, Elara took a few moments to consider the situation. She cycled through the targets and watch the display of the system. It didn't take her long to figure out what was going on. On her screen, she could see the enemy Victory-class Star Destroyer, along with one of the heavy cruisers, slowly move in on the Challenge. She flipped a switch and changed the channel on her comm system to that of Firebird.

'Firebird, new orders,' she spoke. There was no hint of agitation in her voice, despite how she felt. She knew that at a time like this, only those who were calm and decisive would prevail. There was no room for anything else. 'Flight III is to engage the enemy Vic, Flight II flies cover for them. Flight I is with me, we're going to pick off that suqdron of Supa's going for the Challenge.'

Less than a second later, Stryker's voice confirmed their new orders, and she listened as he dispateched them to his pilots. Almost as one, the X-wings, scattered among the enemy fighters, swooped off their targets and converged on a course towards the Star Destroyer's attackers. Elara flicked through the enemy fighters near them, and picked one that was starting its attack run on the X-wings. She selected her missile launchers, hit the acceleration on the twin ion engines, and felt herself pushed back in her seat as the fighter lunged forward. A beep from the targeting computer indicated a solid lock, and she fired two concussion missiles in quick succession. Expecting the warheads to do their job, she flipped through the targets and seleted her next victim. She frowned. For some reason, the nearest enemy fighter was an old Z-95 Headhunter. She flipped back to her quad laser cannons, not wanting to waste any missiles on that one. She watched as the distance indicator crept towards 1 click, and when she had a solid visual contact with the fighter, she pushed her tumb down on the firing button. The lasers, set to single fire mode, spewed green laserbolts one after the other. She watched as they struck the Headhunter, the first few splashing off its shields, but the remainder tearing through the starfighter as if through paper. The fighter exploded, but Elara didn't even see it, as she had already changed course to intercept another enemy fighter.

'Firebird Nine, entering firing range,' she heard over her comm. 'Firing torpedoes now.' In the next few moments, a number of yellow dots appeared on her screen. She doubted the torpedoes would do much direct damage to the enemy Star Destroyer, but it would take their attention away from the Challenge. And right now, that was the best they could do.
 

The month draws to an end. Soon, the March evaluations shall be upon us, so whoever wants to increase his/her activity for the month, you have about 10 days to go. I see several Silver Stars on the horizon. I like Silver Stars. And not just the ones I get, but also the ones we can gift upon other pilots on this ship. So go for it!

The first of the big TIE Corps wide competitions, Squadron (Re)mobilization is coming closer. For those who are new, this is a competition where you fight for your squadron's honor. You don't compete against the other squads in this one, the aim is to complete as many as the assigned tasks as you can. With increasing numbers of tasks completed come awards of increasing stature. Last year, one of the biggest prizes was awarded, and several squadrons were able to pick their new starfighters. It will be the ultimate test of a squadron's ability to work as a team. I can't wait to see what happens!

As you guessed, we are still awaiting the january Commendations of Lyalty to be awarded. To those who are surprised at this, don't be. It's always been like this :)

This week saw yet another Squadron XO be officially announced on this ship. This week, COL Marenta assumed the mantle of XO for Inferno. Good luck to you, sir!

Meanwhile, COL Blackheart has survived his first week as Squadron Commander without someone throwing him out of an airlock to usurp the position. So either he's doing a good job or someone is still waiting for abetter opportunity. I would have everyone know I don't allow spacings of officers on this ship.

Unless I get to push the button of course, so if you're really set on that path, let me know.

I would like to remind all members of the TC, but especially those on this ship, that your Commodore has a small little fiction competition going. See the Competitions section below for more information.

Once again we have seen some shifts in our personnel roster. Eagle has acquired a new Sub-lieutenant who was already promoted to full Lieutenant, and now has 2 open slots. Thunder did the same, except for the two open slots, which aren't there. Along with one open slot in Inferno, and one in Firebird, that means we still have room for 4 pilots, provided we don't do any spacings next week. Or have to AWOL people. With the Hammer and Warrior both with a single empty slot, we're getting ever closer to opening up another squadron. Well, when I say 'we', I mean the TIE Corps, as this ship won't be eligible for another new squadron at least until both our competitors are also at 5. That's roughly another 25 pilots away. So keep recruiting, I would like to see this ship be the first operational Star Destroyer with a full SIX active squadrons since, well, basically somewhere in the Stone Age.

Other new on the personnel front: we have three promotions to Lieutenant this week (kudos to you, LTs Akreseus, K Perkins and The Dice Goblin, and LT Honsou earned his Commendation of Bravery this week. MAJ Shadowclaw was commended for successfully completing a Tour of Duty as Squadron Commander, and my February MSE medal came in.
 

TRANSFERS

Challenge ship-wide competitions:

Dempsey's Weekly Screenshots

Every week, the report will have a screenshot. Not necessarily from a Star Wars movie. First Challenge pilot to send the correct answer to the mailing list wins. Each victory earns you an IS-BR. Unless it's a 5th victory, you then get a IS-SR. Unless it's a 10th victory, which gives you an IS-GR!
Remember - your answer has to go to the list.

Current screenshot:

Last week's winner:
COL Marenta for Dead Calm

Current standings:
5pt: CPT EvilGrin
3pt: COL Stryker, COL Mell Kerrigan
2pt: LCM Richlet, LC Phalk Sturm, LC Kadon Beir, GN Elwood the Brave
1pt: LT Dougal Cealleigh, CM TI-40026, CPT Kalve Ryder, MAJ Talon Jade, MAJ Tygra Shadowclaw, COL Silwar Naiilo, COL Marenta

I'm rather busy trying not to get this ship destroyed in a combined attack by several pirate groups, so little time to put something sensible here. I wonder if anyone gets this far down on my report anyway. We'll see....

COM-TACA-FSE/HA Anahorn Dempsey/ISD-II Challenge, signing off

MoH/ICx2/OoR/GOEx3/GSx21/SSx43/BSx39/PCx16/ISMx9/MoT-51rh-52gh-9bh/MoI/MoC-11doc-11poc-11goc-10soc-91boc/IS-12PW-192GW-443SW-408BW-4PR-18GR-
   21SR-89BR/LoC-PSx9-RSx2-IS-CSx2/LoS-PSx23-RS-IS-CSx3-Rx4/DFC-SW-Rx3/CoS/CoEx4/CoLx14/CoB/LoAx3/OV-14E [Imperator] [Tan] [TAR]
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    XWAC-ESET-ISET-TIE-SMA-AWAK-BWAK-XWAK-YWAK-SN4-SM/3/4/5}
{IU:C/TC,C/DB,C/DIR,S,UL,CRD,EJE,TD,REP,WM,FT,IO,INST,MI,BTL,LDR,COE,WD,AIM,ICQ,MS1,TLN,ASP,BX,CSS,CBX,DW,FLA,LIN,GFX,IBX,JS,WIKI,PHP,VBS,XML,
    MAN1,MAN2,WKS,INO,HIST,INTEL,PRER,GR,SPW,HAD,GHA,THR,OSS,M/1/2,IIC/1/2/3,IA,CA,ARG/1,STM}