In the distance Dempsey could see the flaming remains of the enemy cruisers. One by one the flames died away as all the oxygen from the ships was consumed. A striking victory without a single loss. As expected. A few of the enemy had managed to escape into hyperspace, but this was of no interest to the Admiral. She turned her gaze towards the grey planet below her. Transports were leaving the spaceport carryuing the stormtroopers and the team she had sent to make contact with the locals. The locals had rejected the Empire's offer. Which was not completely unexpected. Nor should the Empire's reaction be unecpected.

'We're ready, Admiral,' came the voice of her tactical expert. Dempsey nodded. A few moments later, the might Star Destroyer's turbo laser batteries started sending burning hot plasma towards the surface of the planets, and dozens of proton torpedoes were ejected from their launch tubes. Soon, the planet would be burning.
 

Well, February has begun. Unfortunately, the first AWOL requests for Challenge pilots passed my desk earlier this week. Fortunately, some people I feared for have shown that they are still hanging around. Still, it's not the way you wish to say farewell to your pilots. Perhaps they shall find their way back one day.

I've not flown a whole lot this week as I would like to have done, but I've been busy testing some stuff for the TAC and working on some new missions as well. I've reported before on two XvT TC battles submitted to the TAC office for reviewing, and as of today a 3rd has been added to that list. This one features Firebird squadron. And yes, that means I have another 4 battles to go.

January MSEs are nearly completed, we're just awaiting the last few details to be added. It looks like the SOO is going to have to hire an extra transport crew to bring us our medals,. Well done, pilots!

On the fleet side of things, the new Flight Wings system for dress uniforms was implemented in the database this week. These wings combine your achievements in SP, PvP and PvE flying, and there are 21 Echelons to reach, the top one being available to any pilot who completes a total of 5,000 missions combined over all three disciplines. A small number of pilots have already received their 21st Echelon Wings, and I am proud to be one of them. Amongst the 11 is also our very own General Elwood the Brave, as well as the Tactical Officer, 5 of our (former) TC Command Staffers and legendary pilots COL Brucmack and VA Zésite Kónstyte Styles. And illustrious collection of names indeed!

The SOO apparently also went through a backlog of Medals of Communication as a small food of them was received this week. Nice to see so many of us keeping in touch!

At the time I write this, the ISD-II Challenge stands proud at 58 assigned officers, including your Commodore and Wing Commander. We have 4 open Flight Member spots to be filled. I wonder if we can get this ship filled up before another squadron opens. Which unfortunately will likely not be on this ship.... Get recruiting!

Kudos are in order for LT Cupcake who has found the way into MP flying this week, earning his first of many LoCs. Is that another 21st Echelon I see in the future?

Lastly this week, another little competition has ended, which was called Let not the Challenge be left behind. It was brough to my attention that the Challenge was the only unit not to have its own patch. We don't use it much, but it shows up on the TC news website. I've had 3 submissions. An IS-GR was up for grabs. I don't like picking winners in competitions like these because it's always so dang hard. After some though, I've opted to go with the submission of COL Silwar Naiilo.
 

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:
LCM Richlet for Space Battleship Yamato

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

February is on. Competitions for all. Participate. That will be all.

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

MoH/OoR/ICx2/GOEx3/GSx21/SSx39/BSx38/PCx16/ISMx9/IS-12PW-188GW-442SW-408BW-4PR-18GR-20SR-88BR/MoI/MoT-51rh-52gh-9bh/LoC-PSx9-RSx2-IS-CS-Rx1
   LoS-PSx23-RS-CSx2/DFC-SW-Rx3/MoC-10doc-11poc-11goc-10soc-89boc/CoLx14/CoEx4/CoS/CoB/LoAx3/OV-13E [IMPR] [Tan] [TAR]
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    XWAC-ESET-ISET-TIE-SMA-AWAK-BWAK-XWAK-YWAK-SN4-SM/3/4}
{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}