Orsini Mission 2 (ORS-2)

Orsini Mission 1 (ORS-1)
Date	2669.217
Fighter	Hellcat V
Wingmen	Ralgha nar Hhallas
Objectives	Make a three-area sweep and destroy any Kilrathi fighters you find.
Previous	Special Operations 2 Ayer's System - Series 4 - Mission D
Next	Orsini Mission 2 (ORS-2)

Mission Layout

PC

Nav Area	Enemies	Friendlies	Objective	Notes
			Take off	Cleared to launch
Sweep 1			Fly to way area	Destroy all enemy fighters
Sweep 2	2 Darket		Fly to way area	Destroy all enemy fighters
Sweep 3	2 Darket 1 Sha'kar (Transport)		Fly to way area	Destroy all enemy fighters
Victory		2 Southampton (Sheffield, Coventry) 1 Tallahassee (Ajax) 1 Yorktown (Victory)	Fly to way area	Return to the Victory
			Landing	Return to the Victory

3DO

Nav Area	Enemies	Friendlies	Objective
Sweep 1	3 Darket		Sweep for enemy activity
Sweep 2	2 Darket 1 Kamrani (Corvette)		Continue sweep
Sweep 3	2 Dralthi IV		Final leg of patrol
Victory		3 Southampton (Destroyer) 1 Yorktown (Victory)	Return to the Victory

Conversations

Flight Control - Hobbes

FLIGHT CONTROL - HOBBES -> A1FCTHB
BLAIR GRASPS HOBBES’ PAW AND THEY SHAKE HEARTILY. -> *

HOBBES
Welcome aboard, old friend.
You’re looking fine and fit.
Does this war agree with you?

BLAIR
-> (chuckles)
Yeah, like a pair of busted wing-flaps. But it’s great to see you, buddy.

HOBBES
Ah... and how is the fine pilot and comrade Angel?

BLAIR’S SMILE VANISHES.

BLAIR
I don’t have a clue. Haven’t heard from her in a while. She’s on some damn covert op for Tolwyn.
-> (changing subject)
But hey, I got good news for you. I put you back on the flight roster.

HOBBES
-> (beat)
But I requested - -

BLAIR
Never mind that. I want you with me on my first mission.

HOBBES
Colonel . . .
-> (beat)
There are many brave and noble pilots here.

BLAIR
Yeah, but when my life’s on the line, I want a wingman I can trust.

HOBBES BOWS SLIGHTLY.

HOBBES
I shall try not to disappoint you, old friend.

---

Lift - Rollins

LIFT - ROLLINS (SLIDING) -> A0LFTRLS
COLONEL BLAIR STEPS INTO THE LIFT AND FINDS LIEUTENANT TED ROLLINS, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER.

ROLLINS IS YOUNG: EARLY 20’S. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND SEASONING MAKES HIM MORE VULNERABLE TO THE VICISSITUDES OF THE WAR.

ROLLINS
Lieutenant Rollins, Comm Exec. Welcome aboard.
You get the pep talk from the Captain yet? -> *

BLAIR
Something like that.

ROLLINS
Well, the good news is it won’t take too long to shower off the bullshit around here.

BLAIR
-> (beat)
Captain Eisen seems to believe in his ship . . . and
his crew. That kind of attitude is good for morale. -> *

ROLLINS
Yeah, well you haven’t been monitoring transmissions like I have. If you did, you’d jump sector in a nano.

BLAIR LOOKS AT THE YOUNG MAN.

Group morale UP:	Group morale DOWN:
BLAIR Are you saying Command’s hiding something from us? ROLLINS I can’t say for sure, Colonel. But if you want the straight dope around here, you check in with Radio Rollins. (beat) Might even save your life.	BLAIR It must be a lot of work carrying all that paranoia around. I suggest you stow it. ROLLINS Oh, you’ll be asking for another dose of paranoia from Radio Rollins real soon. You want the straight dope around here, you come to me. (beat) Might even save your life.

---

Rec Room - Cobra, Hobbes, Vagabond

This midgame would be triggered upon Blair’s FIRST entrance to the Rec Room.
MIDGAME (SLIDING): REC ROOM - COBRA, HOBBES, VAGABOND A1RECCB

LIEUTENANT LAUREL BUCKLEY - - CALLSIGN: COBRA - - IS AT THE BAR IN THE BACKGROUND. SHE HAS A BROODING INTENSITY THAT UNNERVES A LOT OF PEOPLE. SHE SHOOTS BLAIR A COLD, DON’T-FUCK-WITH-ME LOOK.

BLAIR FINDS A FRIENDLIER LOOK IN THE SMILING FACE OF LIEUTENANT WINSTON CHANG - - CALLSIGN: VAGABOND - - WHO’S AT A TABLE, SHUFFLING A DECK OF CARDS. VAGABOND IS A LAID-BACK, EASY-GOING CHINES PILOT, 30-45. HE’S A VETERAN WHO’S KNOCKED AROUND THE STAR SYSTEMS FOR YEARS, NEVER PUTTING DOWN ROOTS WITH ANY PARTICULAR SQUADRON.

HOBBES ENTERS FROM THE BARRACKS AND MOVES TO THE BAR. COBRA ABRUPTLY STANDS AND STORMS OUT, SHOOTING ANOTHER LOOK AT BLAIR AS SHE GOES.

HOBBES LOOKS EMBARRASSED.

VAGABOND
Hey, Hobbes, how ‘bout goin’ a round with me? Bet you a week’s pay on one hand.

HOBBES
Thank you, no.

HOBBES EXITS TO THE LIFT.

---

Rec Room - Vagabond

Screen continues , but moves from “cinematic to “full-screen” interactive format.
REC ROOM - VAGABOND (SLIDING) -> A0RECVAS
TURNING AGAIN TO BLAIR, VAGABOND SALUTES CASUALLY AND FLASHES HIS TRADEMARK GRIN.

VAGABOND
Welcome aboard, sir. -> *
-> (riffling the cards)
Wanna play a hand? Since you’re the rookie on this boat, I’ll let you call the game.

BLAIR
Not much for protocol, are you?

VAGABOND
-> (shrugs)
Formalities tend to be forgotten when you spend -> *
most of your time just tryin’ to survive. -> *

VAGABOND LIFTS HIS DRINK, SMILES.

VAGABOND
What little spare time we do have . . .
-> (takes a sip)
. . . we fill up with other things besides practicing our salutes.

BLAIR
Well, I guess you have to adapt to your surroundings.

VAGABOND
-> (smiles sadly)
Don’t I know that . . . it's an art, really.

BLAIR
No wonder they call you Vagabond.

VAGABOND
Been doing your homework, I see . . . Yeah, I’ve knocked around some.

BLAIR
Yet your combat file’s surprisingly brief. What’s with the big gaps in your bio?
VAGABOND STIFFENS. THE SMILE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS. HIS EYES DARKEN WITH ANGER AND A TINGE OF REMORSE.

VAGABOND
Can I help it if Confed decides to blank my data?

Vagabond’s morale UP:	Vagabond’s morale DOWN:
BLAIR BACKS OFF, REALIZING HE’S HIT A SORE POINT BLAIR Sometimes HQ is as big a mystery to me as the enemy. VAGABOND’S SMILE RETURNS . . . BUT IT’S A LITTLE FORCED. VAGABOND We got a lot of good people here, Colonel. Even those of us with incomplete bios. Just give us a chance.	BLAIR They must’ve had their reasons. * VAGABOND They don’t seem interested in sharing them, do they?

---

Barracks - "Holo-Mail" from Angel

BARRACKS - “HOLO-MAIL” FROM ANGEL (SLIDING - SERIES A/B/C/)
A0BARAG
Blair’s LOCKER in the BARRACKS will be used as a “gump” more than once in the story. Aside from his gear, clothing, and medals, there should be a photo of ANGEL hanging in there (which will become a “hot gump” later). When there is something in the locker that we want the Player to click on, the LOCKER DOOR SHOULD BE OPEN when he enters the BARRACKS. After he plays the item, the locker door will be closed whenever he returns to the Barracks (until there’s something new there for him to click on). But in most cases like the one below, he should be able to open the locker and replay the item as often as he wants. The item in this particular scene is a “HOLO-MAIL CASSETTE” which he can click on to play. And it should be available for play and replay throughout Series A, B, and C.

BLAIR ENTERS THE BARRACKS AND SEES THAT HIS LOCKER IS OPEN. INSIDE HE FINDS A HOLO-MAIL CASSETTE LABELED: “MESSAGE FOR COL. C. BLAIR.”

HE TURNS IT ON AND WORDS PROJECT OUT OF IT ONTO THE WALL BEFORE HIM:

PRIVATE CODED COMM RELAY TO:
COLONEL CHRISTOPHER BLAIR
TERRAN CONFED ARMED FORCES
T.C.S. CONCORDIA
- - RE-ROUTED BY CONFED HQ TO - -
T.C.S. VICTORY

Scene A10

THE WORDS DISSOLVE INTO A 3-D HOLOGRAM OF ANGEL, STANDING THERE IN FRONT OF HIM.

ANGEL
Hello, mon ami. I hope the flight goes well for you and all the others on the Concordia. I am about to set out for a covert operation with Admiral Tolwyn. So I’m afraid we might be apart a little longer. But always remember: je t’aime, . . I love you . . .

HER IMAGE FLICKERS, THEN DISINTEGRATES INTO THIN AIR.

BLAIR SIGHS WITH SADNESS AND STARES AT THE SPOT WHERE SHE WAS JUST STANDING - - FOR A MOMENT REACHING OUT A HAND AS IF TO TOUCH HER CHEEK . . .

---

Bridge - Maniac

BRIDGE - MANIAC (SLIDING) -> A0BRIMAS
COLONEL BLAIR ENTERS THE BRIDGE AND SEES MAJOR TODD MARSHALL - - CALLSIGN: MANIAC - - SHOOTING THE BREEZE WITH A FEMALE COMM OFFICER. MANIAC IS AN IMPULSIVE, RECKLESS FLYER . . . AND EGOCENTRIC TO BOOT.

MANIAC
-> (to comm officer)
No, I don’t have anything better to do. . .
. . . Ok, so I pulled a tight loop, locked on to that cat’s tail, fired off a heat seeker... boom, turned him into kitty litter - -

BLAIR AND MANIAC GO WAY BACK AND RIGHT NOW, BLAIR WOULD RATHER NOT DEAL WITH HIM. HE MOVES TO LEAVE - - BUT NOT QUICK ENOUGH: MANIAC SPOTS HIM.

MANIAC
Well, well, if it isn’t the “Colonel”. Uh, I’m sorry I couldn’t make your welcoming party.

BLAIR GLANCES OVER AT THE FEMALE COMM OFFICER, WHO SEEMS RELIEVED TO BE RID OF MANIAC.

BLAIR
Why, I guess you had more pressing maneuvers to undertake . . . Maniac?

MANIAC
-> (grins)
When duty calls . . . I’m there. Women like the smell of success.

BLAIR
You know, I’m surprised you haven’t been blown out of the sky by now, Maniac. . .
. . . by friendly fire.

MANIAC’S GRIN DISAPPEARS

MANIAC
Some people appreciate my flying style. I do what’s necessary to win, ok? I suppose you still fly with one eye on the regs manual?

BLAIR
I don’t take stupid risks.

MANIAC
Speaking of stupid, I also heard you put Hobbes back on the flight roster.

BLAIR
My, my, . . . word travels fast on this tub.

MANIAC
Never understood what you saw in that cat.

BLAIR
Simple. I need a wingman I can count on.

MANIAC
-> (snorts)
You can’t trust someone who’ll kill their own kind.

BLAIR
Who I choose as my wingman is my prerogative.
It’s a . . . privilege of rank.

MANIAC
-> (bitter)
I’ll bet you stay up late nights just polishing it.

BLAIR
No, as a matter of fact, I have “majors” who do that for me.

MANIAC
The difference in our rank is a formality. We both know who’s better in the cockpit.

BLAIR
Yeah. We do.

BLAIR’S CONFIDENCE UNNERVES MANIAC, WHO TURNS BACK TO FEMALE COMM OFFICER.

MANIAC
Let me tell you that story again.

---

Gunnery - Flint

This “conversation” can be triggered by the Player simply entering the room OR it cam be triggered by clicking on Fling. If it is triggered by entering the room, we should still cut to CLOSEUPS (as in normal conversation) so that we can get a good look at Flint and be able to read what her face reveals.
BLAIR ENTERS WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EMPTY ROOM AT FIRST GLANCE

BUT FAR ON THE OTHER SIDE, LIEUTENANT ROBIN PETERS - - CALLSIGN: FLINT - - STANDS VERY STILL, GAZING OUT INTO THE STARFIELD BEYOND THE GLASS. SHE IS JUST ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OF 30. THE WAR HAS YET TO TURN HER FACE HARD, BUT HER EYES WILL MEET ANYBODY’S GAZE AND KEEP IT: ALERT, WATCHFUL, ATTENTIVE TO THE SLIGHTEST CHANGES IN HER ENVIRONMENT.

SHE CATCHES BLAIR’S REFLECTION IN THE GLASS, TURNS TO LOOK AT HIM. HER EYES QUICKLY MOVE OVER HIS BODY, ALMOST EXAMINING HIM. SHE’S NOT ONE TO SHOW HER EMOTIONS BUT HERE SEEMS TO BE A GLINT OF APPROVAL IN HER LOOK.

BUT BEFORE SHE CAN SAY ANYTHING, CAPTAIN EISEN’S VOICE IS HEARD OVER THE SHIP’S PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM:

EISEN (V.O.)
Colonel Blair. Report to the Briefing Room -> *
immediately, please.

WITH A SLIGHT SHRUG, FLINT TURNS BACK TO THE WINDOW.

The EISEN VOICEOVER should continue to play as the Player moves back through the various rooms on his way to the Briefing Room. No other conversations will be available (even though he may see other characters) between this scene and the Briefing for Mission A1.

LOADOUT (FLIGHT CONTROL) - RACHEL -> A1FCTRA*
COLONEL BLAIR, PREPARING FOR HIS FIRST MISSION, SPOTS THE VICTORY’S CHIEF TECH, RACHEL CORIOLIS. SHE’S A BRASSY, SEXY, PUNKED-OUT MECHANIC IN HER LATE 20’S, DRESSED IN GREASY FUTURISTIC GRUNGE. SHE LIKES PILOTS WHO KNOW WHAT THEIR DOING . . . AND BLAIR CARRIES HIMSELF LIKE HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING.

RACHEL
Chief Tech Rachel Coriolis. -> *
Welcome the to Victory, Colonel.
Heard you’re flying with Hobbes on this one.

BLAIR
-> (snaps)
You got a problem with that, Chief?

RACHEL
No, sir, not at all. I think it’s about time. That cat’s one hell of a pilot

SHE USES A REMOTE CLICKER TO FIRE UP SEVERAL VIDSCREENS, AND GESTURES TO A VIDEO IMAGE OF BLAIR’S FIGHTER.

RACHEL
Here she is: one Hellcat V. She’s prepped, primed, -> *
loaded, locked - - and ready to kick some ass.

BLAIR
Thanks. What about ordnance?

RACHEL
It’s all taken care of. The Captain downloads mission specs to me - - I dope out the weapons requirements. So you’re set to go.

BLAIR
-> (hesitant)
Oh yeah?

RACHEL’S SHARP. SHE KNOWS WHEN SHE’S BEING TESTED.
RACHEL
In the future, sir, you’ll have the option of choosing your own weapons . . .
-> (beat)
Or you can trust my judgment and fly with my default loadout.
-> (sly smile)
I promise, Colonel, never to disappoint.

Mission Briefing

BRIEFING A1 - EISEN -> A1BRFEI
BLAIR ENTERS THE BRIEFING ROOM TO FIND EISEN STANDING OVER THE MAP TABLE, HIS FACE LIT FROM THE GLOWING DISPLAY.

EISEN
Come in, Colonel. It’s time to put that reputation of yours to the test.
*
HE GESTURES TO THE MAP TABLE.

EISEN (V.O.)
Confed Intelligence tells us that the Kilrathi presence is growing here in the Orsini System. You and your wingman are to fly a routine patrol of these three zones and sweep the areas of any hostiles you may encounter.

EISEN LOOKS UP FROM THE DISPLAY TO BLAIR.

EISEN
Understood?

BLAIR
Completely, sir.

EISEN
Very good. You leave immediately.

Wingman choices for Mission A1: Hobbes.

Mission Debriefing

Success	Failure
DEBRIEFING A1 - SUCCESS - EISEN -> A1SPFEI1 Unless otherwise noted, all Debriefings will be over the radio as Blair flies back to the Victory. EISEN (V.O.) Excellent work, Colonel. I can see now that your reputation is well deserved. ROLLINS (V.O.) You’re cleared for landing, Colonel. Go to A2.	Scene A15 DEBRIEFING A1 - FAILURE - EISEN -> A1SPFEI2 EISEN (V.O.) Colonel, if that was any indication of your abilities, I must say that I wonder how you got your reputation. ROLLINS (V.O.) You’re cleared to land, Colonel. Go to A2.

The Authorized Combat Guide to Wing Commander III

A Word From Colonel Hart

This is your first mission onboard "Tin Can Sally." She's old, but she still has a lot of spirit. More importantly, because this is your first flight with a new Wing Commander, there's no need to toss you into the middle of the Kilrah system. We'll start this one nice andeasy, a milk run.

{Picture: Eisen} Welcome aboard the Victory

Colonel Hart's Tactical Analysis

You will have three conversations in this mission: Hobbes in Flight Control, Rachel in Flight Control, and Maniac on the Bridge.

This is the easiest mission in the entire game. The best tactic is to order Hobbes to break and attack, and then clean up any ships that he misses

Use your missiles accordingly. If you need practice with the game, have Hobbes form on your wing and try to take out the Darkets alone.

{Picture: Hobbes) Make sure you chat with your old friend.

Objective for Success

Destroy at least 3 Darkets.

Colonel Hart's Counsel

The Hellcat is your only choice for this mission, and you can't change your missile loads. I recommend you take Hobbes as your wingman.

Origin's Official Guide to Wing Commander III

Orsini Sector

The war is going badly, and you're assigned to an older carrier, the TCS Victory, under the command of Captain William Eisen Now that you're in command of a fighter group, you're responsible for assigning routine patrol and cargo escort missions to your pilots. Aboard the Victory, you meet new pilots and several old acquaintances, including Hobbes. Your first assignment as a CFG (Commander Fighter Group) on the Victory is to assign your pilots and fighters to a patrol sweep of Orsini Sector.

Gameflow

Conversations Hobbes (FC), Maniac (BG), Rachel (FC)*, Rollins (LF), Vagabond (RR)

New Morale Conversations

Rollins (LF)	Play along with him.	+1 (Ship)
	This guy's a loon.	-1 (Ship)
Vagabond (PR)	He's got a point.	+1
	What's he hiding?	-1

Other New Movies

Hobbes (FC)	ORS-1 through ORS-2
Maniac (BG)	ORS-1 through ORS-3
Rachel (FC)	ORS-1 through ORS-4*

* After every mission briefing, Rachel appears by the Loadout Terminal in Flight Control. Also, practically every time you land, Rachel will have something to say on the Flight Deck. These conversations won't be listed in later missions.

Mission

Briefing Make a three-area sweep and destroy any Kilrathi fighters you find.

Wingmen Hobbes (only choice)

Ships Hellcat (only choice)

Takeoff

• Autopilot.

(A) Nav 1

• 2 Darket.

(B) Nav 2

• Clear

(C) Nav 3

• 2 Darket.

Success

• Destroy at least 3 Darket. Go to Mission ORS-2.

Failure

• Go to Mission ORS-2.

Analysis

• Before you autopilot from the Victory, redistribute your power. If you've got good aim, allocate the majority of power to your weapons and lower engines, damage repair and shields. If you're new to the game, increase your shield and damage settings and decrease engines and weapons.

• At Nav 1, set Hobbes free to Break and attack, then take out the Darket with full guns, or by wearing out their shields with the guns and popping them with an IR missile. (HS missiles will also work, especially if you've already tagged the rear shields.)

• If you're having trouble staying with the Darket, use [Y] and occasionally afterburn. Take them on head-on if you want to--your shields are better than theirs.

TNC Newsbrief Text Feed

In one of the more macabre touches to an already brutal war, the Hispania freighter Loa recovered a Confederation fighter adrift in the Veronica sector, its pilot ritually executed by the Kilrathi before being strapped into the cockpit and cast into space The fighter was immediately confiscated by the Confederation Intelligence Department, but crewmembers reported that Kilrathi symbols had been painted across the fighter's hull in its pilot's own blood, while those who saw the body indicated that it had been literally ripped to shreds

Linquistics specialists at the University of Hawaii on Earth have made progress in deciphering the intricacies of the Kilrathi language and have begun publishing their reearch in leading journals. While Confederation Intelligence is rumored to be adept at both the decryption and translation of Kilrathi signals, civilian reearch has been sharply restricted.

We'll have further reports as they become available. Information is the blood of free society. Good evening.

Continuity

The Authorized Combat Guide to Wing Commander III incorrectly lists two Darkets at Nav 2 in the PC version of the game.