Colonel Kessler Commanding
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A lot of changes this week. Most importantly, Major Kronn stepped down as CMDR and assumed a FM position. I've already spoken to the Squad about my feelings on this, and there's no need to force the rest of the Wing to listen to me ranting at you again, so we'll just say congratulations to Major Kronn on his shiny Bronze Star and thank him for the effort he made when he was CMDR, then move on to more useful business.
Okay, I'm the new Sherrif in town, again. There's a new Squadron Webpage up at http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/square/xtc56/tornado.htm , I've told you all what I expect of Deathwinders and there's no room for argument. As a consequence of this, Commander Spaceboy has decided he can't meet the standards expected of a member of Tornado Squadron and I've applied for his transfer to the reserves. To be fair on him, his current problems meant he couldn't meet up with the activity requirements of any active squadron, so losing him isn't going to make any difference. Nevertheless, he was a good and useful pilot in the past, and he'll always have my thanks for his previous service. Once a member of Tornado, always a member of Tornado.
So where do we go from here? Tornado's now down to six members with the prospect of Major Kronn leaving us in a few weeks' time too, which means we're going to be in an even worse state. That's the bad news. The good news is that the officers we have left are keen, mean and eager to prove that Torando Squadron takes second place to nobody. We've ditched our baggage, ladies, everyone left is here because they want to be, not because they think it sounds cool to have a Tornado Squadron ID Line.
I've already laid down my priorities to the Squad in a private email, but I'll repeat them here for the benefit of the rest of the Wing.
We are going to win the Squadron League.
That's it. Everything else can go take a long jump off a short pier for all I care. Any member of Tornado who fails to submit a score for any Squadron League Combat Run had better have a damn good reason why not or be prepared to take a walk to the Flight Office with a transfer request in hand. Now I don't think that's too much to ask, and by the responses I've received from my Squad, they all seem to be in agreement with me. Winning the Squadron League is our long-term objective, I may set additional short-term objectives from time to time, but everything takes second place to winning the Squadron League.
Speaking of short term objectives, that bum Colonel "Buttnugget" Ricaud is now in command of Sword Squadron and he seems to think his losers can actually learn one end of a joystick from the other to the degree necessary to beat us. Sword Squadron have a long and proud tradition of coming second to Tornado, and if they want to continue this tradition, I'm more than happy to help them. However we're in a delicate state right now, and I'm not going to accept this challenge without hearing from each Squad member if they want to take the opportunity to show Sword who's the Daddy (for about the 4th time running if memory serves me correct). Any contest would most likely be an average score from a free mission, since Sword outnumber us badly. Let me hear your thoughts.
Finally, a big "Welcome back" to Major TopDawg, whom I managed to convince to come home today on IRC. Welcome back where you belong you old bum! :) TopDawg assumes the Tornado 1-2 position on my wing, at his request. Speaking of recruitment, Commander Kou-Taiki is working on a couple of possible leads, and we just got the news that the Mighty CoHo WILL be coming back. Sooner rather than later, and hopefully in time to help us rub Sword Squadron's noses into the dirt :)
That's it for my first week back in the HotSeat. Activity Report follows.
CMDR/COL Kyle Kessler/Tornado Squadron/Wing X/ISD Challenge
MoH/IC/OoR/GOE/GSx2/SSx4/BSx8/PCx2/ISMx10/MoI-DC/ISx3/LoC-PSx34/OV-2E [KNGT]
[IWATS][IIC/3][M/2][SM/1][TT][XTT][XA-A][GFX]
Activity Report for Tornado Squadron 11th August 2000
Colonel Kessler
Took over as CMDR from Major Kronn 10th August
Flew TC-TIE 77
Flew TC-TIE 156
Flew TC-TIE 11
Flew TC-TIE 12
Flew TC-TIE 7
Flew TC-TIE 132
Designed new Squadron webpage
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/square/xtc56/tornado.htm
Promoted to FCHG Rank of Knight
Major TopDawg
Rejoined the Squadron today! Welcome back home Teedy!
Captain Steele
Checked in.
Captain Rea
Checked in.
Commander Kou-Taiki
Flew TC-TIE 159
Flew TC-TIE 77
Designed an ISD Challenge Banner
Submitted a bunch of (good) suggestions and a LOT of artwork and writing.
Lieutenant Commander Veers
Checked in.
Major Aven Kronn
Stepped down as CMDR
Awarded Bronze Star at COL Kessler's recommendation for service to the
Squadron.
Flew TC-TIE 77
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