The Victory-class Star Destroyer was casting a shadow over the tiny fighters buzzing about it like flies around a cake. The turbo laser fire was spewed in all directions, but the large tube lasers batteries weren't designed for point defense against the agile starfighters. That's why a Star Destroyer was equipped with starfighters. Occasionally one of the gunners got lucky and one of the laser bolts fired would strike an enemy starfighter. Fortunately for the pilot of that starfighter, the X-wings and TIE Defenders were all equipped with energy shields of their own, so most of the impact energy would be dissipated.

'I'm hit! I'm hit!' LT Araske's voice screamed over the comm system. 'Systems compromised, shields down, engine failure in 2 and 3.'

At least you're still alive after that hit, COL Blackheart thought as he adjusted his comm set. 'Get your ass out of here,' he yelled over the chatter. 'Get back to the hangar now!' He glanced over at the X-wing in the distance, trailing smoke coming from several places on the battered fighter. It swerved around, and limped back to the Challenge. This would not end well. Blackheart pulled on his flight stick and raced towards his squadron member, just as he noticed an enemy TIE Interceptor doing the same. It would appear the pilot had spotted himself an easy kill. 'Not today you don't,' Blackheart muttered to himself as he linked up his laser cannons. He shifted power from shields and weapons systems to his engines, knowing his shields would last until he reached Araske, and he could quickly boost his weapons with them as well. Seconds crept by as the distance decreased, and Blackheart realized the Interceptor was slightly faster than he was. Not really wanting to waste torpedoes as they were needed against the big ships, he cursed and switched his weapons over to the torpedoes. He had a few left, so one could be wasted. It took his targeting computer a few moments to lock on to the Interceptor, and he fired two torpedoes at it, knowing the odds of them actually hitting their target were negligible. Still, that wasn't the objective. The TIE would have to actually evade the torpedoes or they would hit and destroy the unshielded craft. And evading the torpedoes would require some quick maneuvering on the pilot's side. Nothing he wouldn't be able to handle, but it would distract his focus from Araske's damaged fighter, not to mention end the attack run.

As expected, the TIE Interceptor started frantically moving about as both torpedoes were homing in, and the distance between the crippled X-wing and its pursuer quickly grew. At the same time, the distance between the TIE and Blackheart's X-wing was getting smaller by the heartbeat, and it didn't take long before the TIE was in firing range. Blackheart patiently waited for his target to stop playing around with his torpedoes, and as one after the other the torpedoes ran out of fuel and started drifting, the TIE pilot refocussed his attention on his target.

'Situational awareness,' Blackheart whispered to himself. 'Either you have it and live...' He punched the firing button on his flight stick, and red energy bolts erupted from the wingtip mounted laser cannons on his X-wing. As one, the four bolts converged on the TIE, and as one they shattered the left solar panel and pierced the ball cockpit, frying the pilot inside and killing him long before the TIE exploded. '... or forget about it and die.' Blackheart finished his murmuring. 'You're cleared, Araske,' he said. 'move it!'

Before an answer reached him, he turned his X-wing around and headed back for the Vic in the distance. He switched back to his warhead launchers, and didn't bother waiting for a target lock. The target was large enough that he could dumb-fire them at it, even from this distance, with only a minimal chance of them missing their target. His warheads expended, his switched back to lasers and cycled through the enormous list of enemy targets in the area. He settled on a flight group of TIE Bombers that had left the Vic's hangar and were slowly making their way for the Challenge. He accelerated to the X-wings maximim velocity. He'd reach the Bombers long before they could launch their ordnance. He smiled. He had one kill today, but he had his mind set on a nice even dozen. One down, eleven to go.
 

Things are going great for the Challenge folks. We're almost 2 weeks into Squadron (Re)Mobilisation 3. We have one squadron that has completed 11 tasks and therefore won themselves IS-GWs. Since they're also the second squadron to do so, they will also receive the coveted and brand-spanking new Meritous Unit Award. Unfortunately the medal for first place slipped us by, but we will get there next time.

As participating member of Avenger Squadron, beaten to 11 tasks completed by mere hours by Tempest, I will also be receiving this medal as Avenger was the third squadron to hit 11 tasks. Yay me and yay my fellow participating Admirals! I even managed to squeeze out a few High Scores, and still ym FCHG count went way down instead of way up. I could cry... Stop stealing my High Scores!

Meanwhile, that means Tempest can start thinking about what they want to change about their squadron. The only thing off the table is a new squadron name, but the rest is up for grabs: a new Objective, and new fighters. With 11 tasks completed, you can pick any the TC COM/FC have allowed to be chosen.

The other squadrons: nothing is lost as this is not a race against the clock but against yourself. Any squadron has the ability to reach the 11 tasks completed mark, so get going. At last list I have seen, Firebird is getting close with 8 done already. Eagle, Inferno and Thunder need to get a move on. Remember, I don't expect you all to hit 11, but not even getting 5 done is unacceptable. So every pilot: plan on what you like to do. If you like SP: go get some SP tasks done. If you're into MP, focus on the MP tasks. And everyone should do some IU Courses (except me since the site won't let me). Make your squadron proud!

With that out of the way, on to other news. March is done and April has started. that means it's MSE time. By the time you read this, all but one squadron are done and shipped off to the brass to look at. A short delay has been granted the fifth Commander since he was kind enough to notify me beforehand of this delay, so no issue there.

That said, these MSEs are not what I'd call a brilliant showing. There's a number of pilots who excel, which is great. There's a far too great number of pilots who will not be receiving an award for their activity. Or should I say, their lack of activity. In most cases, there's little a Commander can do about that, so that's not a concern, but it actually is a wee bit depressing.

There's also some bad news. I ran a fiction competition the past 2 weeks or so. I have 3 submissions, and I'm having a very hard time picking a winner as each story has bits I really like and bits I'm not so sure about. I'm gonna give myself an extra week to work that one out.

The good news this week: COL Stryker becomes the first Challenge pilot to see one of the new medals appear on his record, as he was awarded a Iron Star with Copper Ribbon for his Trivia Grand Tour run of 50 answers correct. Enjoy it! Also, we welcome a new pilot to Firebird, SL AlienC, and a kudos to SL Orren Brimarch who earned his first promotion. May many more follow!
 

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:
MAJ Tygra Shadowclaw for The Exorcist

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

ReMob 3 is going strong. Standing squadron orders until the middle of May: get your asses into gear and complete at least 5 tasks set to you by the TCCOM!

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]
{IWATS:MCBS-XAM-XMD-TM/1/2/TM/3-XTM/1-MP/2-AMP-XWAI-BFM-TT-XTT-SFT-CTW-AT-SU-CM2-MD1-DT3-ARTY1-VS4-ST-SC-SEA-SD-SZ-SR-AIR-CC-SFW-WPN-
    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}