Zeta Wing (Gimle System)

Zeta Wing
Date	2654.124.0600
Fighter	Raptor
Wingmen	Jeannette Devereaux
Other Friendly Ships	2 Raptors at Tiger's Claw Nav Exeter-Class Destroyer at Nav 1
Medal	Gold Star
Objectives	Proceed to Nav 1 Escort the Exeter-Class Destroyer back to the Tiger's Claw
Notes	Proceed to Nav 1 Escort the Exeter-Class Destroyer back to the Tiger's Claw
Previous	Psi Wing (McAuliffe System)
Next	Omicron Wing (Gimle System)

Mission Layout

• At Launch from the Tiger's Claw
  • Wave 1
    • 2 Salthi
  • Wave 2
    • 2 Salthi
• Nav 1
  • Exeter to be escorted to the Tiger's Claw
  • 3 Jalthi

The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Carl T. LaFong

I'd come down with a case of Grinard's Virus and was grounded while we were in the Gimle System. I wanted to fly a Raptor, but the virus affects your equilibrium and Halcyon had me working communications. It gave me time to hit the high score on the Train-Sim and hang around and jaw with the returning pilots. I was sick the entire time we were in system.

The first night, after my shift, I found Mariko and Angel sitting at a table and trading jibes with Shotglass. I walked in on the tail end of their discussion, just in time to hear Spirit send a final retort to the former pilot.

"If all-women wings had been allowed back in '38," she snapped, "this war would already be over!"

I walked over and took a seat. "Must have been a rough one," I remarked. That's all it took.

"Rough doesn't begin to describe it, Lieutenant." Spirit took a sip of her Special and stared straight down at the table. "The four Salthi that attacked as we launched from the Claw didn't create any problems, but protecting the Exeter at Nav 1 was like taking a ride through hell, especially when the two Jalthi joined the action. Thank Research and Development for the new full-guns option on the Raptor. It saved our necks."

Angel chimed in. "The enemy ships were blasting away when we arrived, and our taunts worked in drawing out the wing of three Salthi. We had them down in minutes, but the six-gun Jalthi were wreaking havoc. Spirit told me to break and attack, and I remembered that the Jalthi were the most heavily shielded and armored ships in the Kilrathi fortress. I went to full guns. The blaster power they require is impressive."

"On my first pass, I circled behind the Exeter, rolled in on the first enemy ship I saw, and opened up. I assumed that since full-guns included a mass driver, it would be effective at longer range. The problem was, the neutron was not useful at that range, and by the time I was close enough to be effective, my blaster power was too low to even fire a single damaging shot. Lasers against a 16-cm fore shield are like shooting cotton balls to stop a charging 5-ton draptil."

"If there had been just one more Jalthi in the wing," Spirit concluded, " the Confederation Exeter would be history. Fortunately, we learned our lesson quickly enough. Use full guns and save your blaster power until you can see the pilot in the cockpit. Then open up."

Preflight Conversations

Talk to SHOTGLASS

Hey, there, Maverick. Welcome to the Gimle System...

...vacation spot of the Empire of Kilrah!

Gimle's habitable world is one huge forest...

Kilrathi nobles and officers come here to hunt with their bare claws.

I hear they bring human POWs here and turn them loose in the woods...

...just so those hairy brutes can get their kicks by huntin'em down!

Man, I'll be glad when we kick those fleabags outta the sector!

Talk to ICEMAN

Let me give you a tip, kid...

Never rush a Jalthi head on.

A Jalthi carries six front-mounted laser cannons...

First shot takes out your shields...

...next'll blow through the cockpit into the reactor.

Talk to ANGEL

Jeannette Devereaux

I have been reviewing our data on the Kilrathi starfighters.

Our information indicates that in all cases...

...their side armor is weaker than that to the front or rear.

Michael Casey

One more reason not to play chicken with a Jalthi.

Jeannette Devereaux

Indeed, monsieur. The best attack line would be from the flanks.

Mission Briefing

Mission Briefing. Gimle System, 06:00 hours, 2654.124.

Peter Halcyon

All right, boys and girls, listen up.

We've just jumped into the Gimle System, and we've got some work to do.

Gimle has been occupied by the Kilrathi for some time.

The Claw is not the first Terran ship to arrive...

...we've got a handful of battleships already in system.

Most of these ships are currently under attack by Kilrathi...

...so we'll be dispatching fighters to help in their defense.

The colonel quickly assigns the wings. Yours is the sixth assigned.

Peter Halcyon

Maverick, you'll lead Zeta Wing to assist an Exeter-class Destroyer.

Angel will fly on your wing.

Here's the scenario...

The Exeter is currently at Nav 1...

...her skipper reports at least three Kilrathi fighters in the area.

You'll head straight for the Exeter, and help in her defense.

When the Kilrathi have routed, come on back home.

Any questions?

Okay, then. Let's go burn those hairballs!

Squadron dismissed.

Mission Debriefing

Mission debriefing. 06:00 hours, 2654.124.

Peter Halcyon

I just got word from the skipper of the destroyer, Maverick.

Well done. Those Jalthi are the best the Kilrathi have.

Christopher Blair

They were pretty tough, sir. But we got the job done.

Jeannette Devereaux

Actually, mon colonel...

...the Confederate Raptor has only a 34 percent chance against the Jalthi.

Peter Halcyon

All the more reason to be proud of yourselves, Captain Devereaux.

Well, let's review the mission report.

You took out 7 Kilrathi, Maverick...

and Angel came up empty.

That's all, then.

Hangar Deck. 09:20 hours, 2654.135.

Peter Halcyon

For meritorious conduct in confronting the Kilrathi enemy, in the Gimle system,

on or about 2654.135, the Terran Confederation is proud to present the Gold Star to Captain Blair.

Your courage is exemplary of the Confederation’s finest defenders.

Good job, Maverick. Congratulations.

Christopher Blair

Thank you, sir.

Filled with pride, Maverick meets the applause of his fellows.