Rebel Squadrons

PBF 7.07 Narrative

By FA Joshua Hawkins
Unit: Patriot Starfighter Group
Fleet NL, Jan 31, 2007
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44:2:31:11:00
-=Grand Ballroom on the Windstorm=-
Some of the people gathered still haven't heard all the details from the battle of Blerthmore, so this meeting will not sit well. As people from all over the ship filter in, there are still some that must watch from holofeed, as some station still need to be manned. There are some droids that took over the less important positions so people could attend this. Joshua Hawkins also arranged for similar meetings on the other ships as well. Everyone will here this announcement at the same time. The realization that we were attacked has sunk in, but no one but the command staff knows the complete details.
Josh leans over to Macman to make sure that the communications link is open to all the ships in the task force. Josh nods, having been assured that they are, and stands to take the podium. "I'd like your attention please. What you are about to see is the memorial service broadcast from the flagship Redemption. It will be broadcast over all ships once I'm finished here. I want you to know the final details of the battle of Blerthmore, our home. Over 40,000 personnel gave their lives to defend our home. 16 Capital-class starships were lost, including the Valour, Shay's Honour, and the Rebel Vengeance." Josh pauses to compose himself and give a traditional moment of silence. "Ladies and gentleman, our brothers and sisters died so that we could be free. It is now up to us to carry that torch of freedom wherever we go. We were ambushed on our way to defend our home, so we couldn't be there to help. No one feels that burden more than I, but I assure you, we will strike at those that stopped us. Their sacrifice will not be in vein, as we set to free ourselves and this galaxy of the Imperial threat. To begin on that, the Vigilance Starfighter group has been created from the remnant of the Renegade and Intrepid groups. Though I do not know the details, I know that they will enact justice upon those that attacked our home. We will have our revenge."
Josh pauses another moment to let everything sink in, "I'm sorry for the delay in the broadcast, we're too far from home to get it live." A light blinks on the podium panel indicating the signal is here and broadcasting will begin. "Lights please." Once the lights are dim, Josh hits a button on the podium and memorial begins.
When the service is over and the lights come back on, it's clear that there is a new resolve in everyone on board. Michael "Macman" McEwen stands and takes the podium. "Attention!" he shouts and everyone on boards stands. "I've seen many battles, and have seen death many times, but at this moment I have felt no greater loss. Our home, our sanctuary, was taken from us by those that seek to to corrupt and destroy us. I will not let that happen. Those forces there at home, had to have been working with the forces here to prevent us from making a difference. The souls of our fallen friends and family do not lie in peace at this time. The flame of their lives were dimmed by the evil that plagues our galaxy. Forget not, that they died protecting our home, and carry their torch with you into battle." With that, Mac steps back and salutes everyone in front of him and remains there more a moment longer before letting the salute end. "Company! Dismissed!" With that, no one filters out of the room in a hurry, some just sit and weep openly, while others just stare at the holoprojector hoping it was a lie. Though, one thing is certain. No one will forget that day their home was attacked.

44:3:19:9:00 Local time

If one was standing outside of the door of this particular office, they would think that someone was fighting a rancor in there. If this was the case, one would feel bad for the rancor, for this was the office of Joshua Hawkins, the Commander of the Patriot Battle Fleet. Most people have learned to ignore Josh's tirades and rants over the past few months, but this one has frightened anyone who has passed by his office. For inside, is Josh ranting to no one and throwing various objects around the room. His explanation is that he's 'cleaning'. For the office isn't in a disarray, but it doesn't look like it's clean either. Finally coming to his senses, Josh has decided to throw out the empty bottles of various alcohols that have collected around his office. It seems what was once an escape is now a trap. "Kriffing impies! Damn them! Preventing us from helping our home. We should have been there! We could have made a difference!" Josh throws an empty bottle towards the waste receptacle and watches it smash as he missed and hit the wall next to it. "They attacked my home again! I let it happen this time though. Those deaths our on my hands because I couldn't get us there in time. DAMN THEM!" Josh paces in his office and looks at the report of all the death and injured from the attack on Blerthmore.
Sighing and moving to his chair to sit down, he reads over the reports from the past weeks worth of reconns hoping to find some trace of the imperials that prevented their return home. "We should have been home to help them, now it's too late. We'll extract our own revenge now." Looking at one datapad he sees that a usual stop for a convoy is near Corva Yag. "This should prove interesting. I wonder what's there." Josh suddenly thinks and pushes a button on the communications panel for the bridge. "Bridge here, Sir!" "Send out a reconn to Corva Yag, there's a convoy there that is holding my attention. Soon as you get the report send it to me. Josh out" Josh closes the line before the response was given. "Stupid Impies, you've woken us up now. We're going to be gunning for you." His moment of sanity broken again by the sight of one more bottle on his desk. This bottle is not completely empty however, but has one last mouthful on the bottom. Not one to commit the liquid to waste, Josh drinks the last of it and throws the bottle to the waste, this time hitting his mark.
After what seems like an eternity in his office he finally decides to take a walk to clear his mind, but in doing so, decides to take a few corridors that not many others take. Cursing and swearing to thin air, and completely ignoring everyone in the hallways, Josh appears to everyone that he has indeed, lost his mind. Josh suddenly stops in his tracks and has a clear thought in his head of where he needs to be. Walking with a purpose, and just short of running, Josh makes his way to one of the many libraries on the ship. There he finds the nearest computer and punches up any information on Derra IV he can find. Of course there is nothing in there about the ambush, or at least nothing that isn't already widely known. However, he looks through the deaths of those during that fateful ambush that put Derra IV on the map. Finding what he was was looking for he stops at one name, and just stares. The world silenced around him there is nothing but the memories of a long forgotten childhood. The sound of her voice rings clear in his mind as memories of countless hours of childhood games with his brother and family plays in his mind. The adult in him knows it's foolish to dwell on the past, but sometimes one must remember where you come from, in order to figure out where you're going.
Suddenly his thoughts are interrupted by a beep on his personal communicator. "By all the Force.. " Josh activates the communicator, ".. What?" "Sorry to interrupt Sir, we have the info on the reconn mission to Corva Yag. You were right, there is a convoy there that looks very interesting." "Very good, I'll be on the bridge shortly, Thank you." "You're welcome, Sir. Bridge out." Josh puts the communicator away and just stares once more at the screen and sighs, "I could not save you during that attack, but I can try and save these people here." Josh shuts down the computer and looks at his chronometer and can't believe that it's been 5 hours since he sent the order for the reconn mission. Shaking his head he puts the communicator back in his pocket and leaves the library for the bridge.

44:3:28:14:12
-=Bridge of the Windstorm =-

"Very good Captain, very good indeed. Let us pass word to the hangar to get the Y-wings ready, and send word to Max to get some Gunboats ready." Josh smiles as he looks over the datapad of information from the reconn mission to Corva Yag. "Aye Sir, it'll be done." Captain Moori says as he walks off to carry out his orders.
Suddenly a voice calls out, "Admiral on the bridge!" and instinctively everyone, including Josh Salute. FA Michael "Macman" McEwen walks onto the Bridge and winces as it's announced, but returns the salute to everyone. "What news, Josh?"
"We've got an interesting convoy near Corva Yag. I've sent word to get some wishbones and Gunboats ready for the next mission. We're going to capture us a convoy, and maybe, if the pilots are as good as they think they are, maybe we can capture us a corvette." Josh smiles and hands over the datapad to Mac who just nods.
"Sounds good, when do we brief the pilots?"
"I figure once you and I look over all the details and come up with a plan, figure a couple hours we can tell the fleet."
"Good, I'll get started in the briefing room."
"I'll be there in a minute, I have to get some more information from my office."
"Right, see you then." Mac salutes and walks out to head towards the main briefing room where he can look over the information in comfort. Josh smiles and returns the salute and walks off to his office to get a special list of names.

44:3:28:16:30
-=Main briefing room on the Windstorm=-

Josh hits a button on the wall mounted communications panel, sounding a small alarm that alerts the pilots to a briefing. He also hits another button to link the communications channel to the McGrath, and the Prometheus. This way, everyone will be informed all at once.
After a few moments and getting a signal from both ships that all pilots were accounted for, Josh steps up to the podium and begins the briefing. "Pilots, we've found a small imperial convoy near Corva Yag. We're sending some of you in flying wishbones and gunboats. Your mission will be to capture the convoy. There's a special treat for some of you. A bonus mission has a team of commando's standing by for your signal. You're to capture the corvette that has the most weapons on board. We need those weapons if we're going to take our revenge on these imperials. Plus adding a corvette to our ranks will be pretty good as well. Any questions?"
A hologram from the McGrath shows up with the image of General Gavin Phalon, "Yes sir, just one. Will we still be able to blow stuff up?" Laughter suddenly fills the room as the pilots all wondered the same thing.
"Aye you will, the impies have a satellite that will relay information about the area. So if you take that out quickly there will surely be some 'guests' appearing. Remember to disable the Corvette with the most weapons on board. If there are others, then inspect them and decide whether or not to pop them or not. Just be warned, we're not completely sure what else is out there. Any other questions?"
As the pilots converse to themselves Josh nods and shuts down the holoprojector. "I have one other thing to mention while you are all gathered. Captain Starseeker, please stand forward." Josh waits for the image of Gavin to appear before continuing. "For your actions in the recent battle, and for everything you have done to further the Rebel Squadrons, it is my honor to promote you to the rank of Major. Congratulations Gavin!" Josh salutes as someone on the McGrath hands him a certificate and his new rank pins. The pilots that can be heard cheer, and someone in the background on the McGrath mentioned something about free drinks on his tab, but Josh couldn't tell who it was. "There is another promotion I have today. Hernan10, please step forward. For not having missed a mission since your arrival here in the PBF, and for being a constant support to your squad, I here by promote you to Captain. Congrats!" Josh Salutes and hands him a certificate and his new rank pins. Once the cheers die down Josh continues, "There is one other promotion that is long overdue and has been well deserved, "Gavin Phalon, front and center!" Josh waits for Gavin to show up on the screen before continuing, "For drinking mass amounts of PM's beer while he's away commanding Phalcun Squadron in the VSG, and for leading Gold through it's paces time and time again, and also for past and future help both with the PBF and the RS as a whole, Should you wish it, it will be my honor to promote you to Major General. Congrats Gavin!" The cheers on board the McGrath can heard very clearly now along with someone saying "PM's gonna be pissed when he finds out you've been in his stash!"
Once all the cheers and comments die down, Josh begins again, "Alright pilots, you're get further orders when you reach your ship. Dismissed." Josh salutes everyone and moves to pick up the datapads and paperwork on the podium. With luck, there will be a new ship in the ranks of the PBF. If anything, we'll strip the computer core and get whatever information we can from it.

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