ITOD Home > RS Tour 3 (XvT Retro Tour) > XvT 312: Final Strike (RgF 111.3)

Choices

‘Emperor’s Black Bones!’ cursed Captain Mia StormChaser, as the TIE Interceptor’s lasers played happily across the battered hull of her venerable X-Wing, Wildcard One. From behind her she could hear an angry burst of invectives also issuing from her heavily modified R4 series droid, Warhog.
‘I know Warhog, I know, just hang in there!’ Mia shouted behind her, twisting Wildcard One away from yet more damaging bursts from the Interceptor. She didn’t need the translator to know that Warhog was telling her off for getting the X-Win’s paint scratched again.
‘Need a little help Captain?’ Colonel Naes Draw couldn’t quite hide the amusement in his voice, as he neatly bisected the TIE as he flew past, even getting a quick victory roll in as he speed past Mia.
‘Thanks Sir’ breathed Mia in relief, knowing that for some reason, she was having trouble getting on the sticks of the TIE, which to top it all, appeared to have been flown by a pretty average pilot. So average in fact they were now spread across this tiny patch of space.
‘Know problem. See you back at the fleet.’ Colonel Draw replied, already heading back to the main muster area.
Looking around, Mia was surprised to see that while she was making a poor job of getting rid of her opponent, the rest of the marks had been destroyed, and according to her viewscreen, the mission opjectives had been completed. Letting out a breath she realised she had been holding for far too long, she prepared the Wildcard One for hyperspace.

* * * * * *

‘What was going on out there Captain?’ Colonel Draw asked after they had meet for their regular debriefing. Mia had been spending more time of late reporting back to her squadron leader, as she had recently been promoted as second officer to Dagger Squadron.
‘I need to know your staying sharp out their Mia – we’re got lots of new rookies to look after, and I can’t be everywhere at once.’ Colonel Draw continued.
‘I know Sir, sorry.’ Mia didn’t really feel like talking about what was on her mind, even to her Colonel, who had a reputation as a fair and supportive squadron leader.
‘Well, I think perhaps some time in the simulators is in order. It will give you time to brush up on your skills, and perhaps catch up on some of that paperwork you also still owe me.’ Colonel Draw smiled.
‘Will do sir, I was thinking that some of our old Squadron missions might be worth reviewing?’ Mia replied, relieved that her Squadron leader still had a sense of humour about her recent lapses in attention.
‘Excellent idea Captain, dismissed.’ Colonel Draw replied, waving to this executive officer, Brigadier General Chapple, who had just entered the room to make his report.

* * * * * *

Mia completed the last simulation, and sat in the pod thinking. It had been a long day, and she had clocked up some much needed virtual flight time. Feeling more focused, and certainly even more in awe of what these pilots had achieved in the past, she felt ready to return to her quarters and think about the Intel she had been sent.
Pouring herself a drink, she scanned the datafile again – the product of her calling in some serious favours. It seems that her wayward cousin, Varik Kassal was doing well. Sadly though, it was with the remnants of the Empire as part of the Emperor’s Hammer Strike Fleet.
Knocking back the drink, she grimaced. She was going to have to tell her mother Kiki that she had heard that Varik was alive, but wasn’t looking forward to telling her what he was up to.

Some choices were hard to accept.