Delta Wing (Gateway System)

Delta Wing
Fighter	Hornet
Wingmen	James Taggart
Objectives	Proceed to Nav Point 1 Proceed to Nav Point 2 Proceed to Nav Point 3
Notes	Proceed to Nav Point 1 Proceed to Nav Point 2 Proceed to Nav Point 3
Previous	Epsilon Wing (Enyo System)
Next	Kappa Wing (Gateway System)

Mission Layout

• Nav 1
  • Asteroid Field
• Nav 2
  • 4 Salthi
• Between Nav 2 and Nav 3
  • 2 Gratha
• Nav 3
  • Empty

The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Carl T. LaFong

I didn't fly the missions in the Gateway System, but due to that great 20th-century legislation, the Freedom of Information Act, I was able to obtain transcripts of the debriefing sessions as recorded automatically on the Tiger's Claw.

Halcyon: "All right, Major, let's hear your report."

Iceman: "Paladin and I patrolled all three Nav points, Colonel, and I'm happy to report they're clear now. The debris near the Claw was an asteroid belt, not the minefield you were worried about. We circled Nav 1 and couldn't find any bogies. Negative electronic scans confirmed our visuals."

Halcyon: "Intel wants to know where you encountered resistance - it will help in mapping our strategy for Gateway. Any surprises?"

Iceman: "Nothing we couldn't handle, sir. Four Salthi hit us about 10,000 kilometers from Nav 2, but the standard strategy of keeping them on the defensive seemed to work. We burned a lot of fuel using our afterburners to crowed them, but the laser cannons on our Hornets are dynamite against their thin side and rear armor. I don't think we've met their best pilots, though. They didn't use their better speed and turning radius very effectively."

Halcyon: "According to the flight recorder data, you ran into some Gratha out there. This is our first encounter with them. What's the scoop?"

Iceman: "They're as tough an opponent as I've faced, colonel. They carry lasers, mass drivers, image-recognition and heat-seeking missiles, and some Porcupines. I'm glad there were only two of them near Nav 3 or you might be listening to our flight recorders instead of holding a personal debriefing. A frontal attack is foolhardy. It's obvious that their shields and armor are heaviest there. We had the best sucess when both of us would concentrate our fire on the side panels of one ship as it turned away."

Halcyon: "That's a solid report, Major. Those observations could make a big difference. I'll pass it along to Command Intel. Great flying out there ... you too, Paladin. Dismissed."

Preflight Conversations

Talk to SHOTGLASS

That’s Iceman and Knight over there.

Knight’s a darned reliable pilot, a solid shot, a steady flier.

Not flashy at all. He’s sort of a craftsman. Gets the job done, though.

Iceman, though, now he’s an artist. Best pilot on the Tiger’s Claw.

Lives to fly and to fight. He’s totally ruthless, and completely deadly.

Some of the pilots say he’s got freon for blood… at least, that’s where he got the call sign.

Talk to KNIGHT

Maverick, right? I’m Knight. Welcome to the Welcome to the Killer Bees.

You’re flying a Hornet right now, right? Ever flown a Scimitar?

It isn’t quite as fast or nimble as a Hornet, but she’s got twice the armour, as well as heavier guns.

Michael Casey

And she handles like a Centaurian mud pig.

Joseph Khumalo

Iceman here’ll try to tell you speed and handling’ll save your butt,

but I’ll take an extra three centimetres of durasteel plating any day!

Talk to ICEMAN

Maverick. They call me Iceman.

Don’t let Knight fool you. The Scim’s a gun-heavy slug.

Forget finesse, just head straight in, guns blaring.

Give me a ship that takes skill.

A Raptor, even a Hornet… or one of those new Rapiers.

If half of what they say is true, the Rapier’s a true artist’s ship!

Mission Briefing

Mission Briefing. Gateway System, 06:00 hours, 2654.133.

Peter Halcyon

Welcome to the Gateway System, boys and girls.

These are the assignments for preliminary patrols...

The commander quickly makes the assignments for Alpha, Beta, and Gamma wings.

Peter Halcyon

Delta wing. That'll be you flying lead, Maverick.

Paladin, you'll be flying wingman.

James Taggart

An' a pleasure it'll be, colonel.

Peter Halcyon

Right. Computer, display Delta.

You'll follow a simple three-point route, gentlemen.

Just fly to the Nav Points, and make sure they're clear.

We're picking up some debris around Nav Point 1.

Probably just asteroids, but it could be a Kilrathi mine field...

...so be especially careful in that area.

Questions?

Alright, then. Epsilon wing is Iceman and Angel...

You listen as the colonel completes the mission assignments.

Peter Halcyon

That's everyone. Last questions?

No hands are raised.

Peter Halcyon

Good. Let's get to work.

Squadron dismissed.