Wing Commander: Eagle Rising Takes Off

Sylvester is heading up a new fan project for the FreeSpace 2 engine, using software tools developed by the Saga team to kick-start the effort. Eagle Rising will explore events between Wing Commander and Wing Commander II and will cover the destruction of the Tiger's Claw. Sylvester has a small group of contributors lined up, but he could use a few more artists and people with coding experience. Head to the Forums if you have input or would like to help out!

Wing Commander: Eagle Rising will be a modification of the Freespace 2 Engine with the assistance of tools and coding developed by the Wing Commander: Saga team. The story will begin in 2656, shortly after the original Wing Commander. The primary setting for the game will be on-board the TCS Eagle's Talon (CV-09), a Bengal-class Strike Carrier and sister-ship to the TCS Tiger's Claw.

The story will follow the Eagle's Talon and her pilots as they launch strikes deep into Kilrathi territory in preparation for the Confederation's first attempt to subdue the Enigma sector. During the course of the campaign, the Tiger's Claw is destroyed attempting to attack K'Tithrak Mang, and now the Eagle's Talon is stuck behind enemy lines with her small escort group, cut off from the Confederation forces retreating in the wake of the Claw's destruction.

Following the Eagle's Talon's escape from Kilrathi territory, the campaign will conclude with the Talon fighting valiantly to defend several defecting Kilrathi planets from a counter-attack by Prince Thrakhath. The purpose of this campaign is to serve as a bridge of sorts between when the Tiger's Claw was destroyed and the beginning of Wing Commander II. The campaign will take place between early 2656 and late 2657/early 2658, roughly the same time-span as Wing Commander II.

The player will have the opportunity to fly most of the Wing Commander 1 fighters, plus others that appeared in the TV series Wing Commander: Academy. A unique aspect of the game is that it will be the first Wing Commander game to feature a female protagonist as the player character.