• 2669.216 New Reno, ND-57, were Burrows is staying, gets attacked by Kilrathi Khamekhs

Burrows loses his PDA with his credits, his ship is destroyed, finds a merchant at the bar looking for someone to man a turret on his galaxy to try and reach Tingerhoff.

Burrows takes the job in exchange for safe passage out of New Reno.

Fighting all the way to Perry.

The merchant’s Galaxy’s turrets are equipped with with target leading, autotracking and tachion guns, as well as FF and heatseeking missiles. And the pilot is an ace at maneuvering to avoid getting hit by bolts. However, Burrows’ job is not easy: He must switch between the top and bottom turrets to keep the persuing enemies in sight. He must avoid using the tachion guns continuously, or else he will cause the ship to slow down due to lack of energy for the afterburner. And the persuers will be launching missiles periodically, which he must target and shoot down before they hit.

Once past the jump from New Detroit to Perry, the are no more enemies, and the merchant invites you to sit next to him in the cockpit and has a chat with Burrows. On the fwd view, one can see a fleet of two Lexington class CVE’s and many smaller ships en route to Perry Naval Base.

Merchant:

You did a good job back there; wish I could afford to hire you permanently, but as it is, I will be selling my ship when I reach Tingerhoff. Can’t seem to turn a profit out of it for the life of me, when the cost of repairs and replacing missiles are counted... Anyways, what were you doing in New Reno, if I may be nosey...?

Burrows:

I was taking a little vacation... got cut pretty short...

Merchant:

Why ND-57 of all places?

Burrows:

Had a bad experience at Jolson, once; thought ND-57 might be a bit more out of the way...

Merchant:

Out of the way?! ND-57 is right IN the way! Kilrathi fleets have been using the hidden jump point there to gain entry to the New Detroit system since times immemorial... This is the first time they attack base New Reno itself, though. Thought they were much smarter than that... Must be a change in policy. Won’t be long before the Confeds change their policy, though...

Burrows:

A hidden jump point? Didn’t know about that... So, what were you doing in ND-57, if you knew the dangers?

Merchant:

Not much danger for me. ND-57 had a sort of neutrality deal with the kats, and I paid my dues to ND-57 for a piece of that neutrality. This was one of a handful of ships that could safely trade with New Reno. Was sort of my niche. Until today, that is...

The merchant’s Galaxy is now catching up with the Confed fleet. The commander of the fleet speaks to the merchant:

Confed:

TCS Okinawa to merchant vessel. Our records show you were stationed at base New Reno. We are trying to locate the whereabouts of a privateer that was staying in New Reno at the time of the attack. His name is Grayson Burrows...

Merchant:

He’s sitting next to me; safe and sound.

Confed:

Ah, good! His presence is sought at Perry Naval Base. Tell him to go to the bar there.

Merchant:

I’ll bring Mr. Burrows to the base; he’s already earned himself the price of transportation.

Confed:

Be careful when maneuvering near Perry Naval Base; there’s a fleet being assembled there.

The AUTO light flashes on, the merchant presses a button and his Galaxy autopilots to Perry. There are seven Lexington class escort carriers, a larger number of destroyers and frigates, as well as numerous shuttles coming and going. The 7 carriers don’t even include the two we crossed along the way, which are still coming, on the rearview mirror now.

Merchant (while maneuvering to avoid collisions):

Holly! One thing is seeing a fleet of carriers in a holo, and another is to see one up close! Look at the size of those ships! And of this fleet! Can it be that the Confed are finally getting serious about the war? Right about time they got their act together...

Allright, kid; I’ll be letting you off here and then on my way to Tingerhoff.

Thanks for the good work back there. It’s been a pleasure to meet you; and I wish you the best of lucks. I hear the Confeds are hiring privateers. Maybe they have a job offer for you.

With gunners of your skill level, and fleets of this size, we might yet have a chance of winning. Good luck!

Don’t forget to meet your contact at the bar.

The merchant docks at Perry Naval Base. Player is now at the base but there’s no ship at the dock. Merchant is gone. Only logical place to go is meet Goodin at the bar.

• 2669.217 Burrows meets Goodin at the bar, then with Terrel at his office:

Terrel:

Hello, Privateer, I’m really glad you made it here safe and sound.

Burrows:

The base I was at was attacked; my pda was stolen; my ship destroyed...

Terrel:

Goodin told me all about it. Very unfortunate. But luckily for you, we have currently an urgent need of skilled pilots, for a very special mission.

Burrows:

You don’t understand. My ship was destroyed...

Terrel:

I do. You’ll be flying OUR ships, this time.

Burrows:

Are you joking? I’d rather die of starvation, than trapped in one of your flying tin foil cans...

Terrel:

The ships you’ll be flying are the best and newest fighters in Confed fleet. Far better than any of their predecessors... Don’t confuse them with the old models that militias and confed patrols fly in-system. No comparison. If you like the Centurion, you’ll feel quite at home in our new fighters. Even faster and more maneuverable, not to speak of shields and firepower...

Burrows:

You mean I’d get to fly the Hellcat V?!

Terrel:

IF you do, it will be the latest F-86 revision 8 model. We have a fighter far more advanced, too, but it is so secret I’m not even allowed to mention its code-name. You’ll find out soon after you’re aboard your carrier.

Burrows:

CARRIER?! You expect me to go into Kilrah, and fly suicide missions OFF A CARRIER?

Terrel:

Normally I’d be allowed to discuss a mission in such general terms, but this particular mission is a top secret operation, so I can’t even answer your questions yes or no. It’s NO suicide mission, though; be assured of that much. On my word of honor: The mission involves retrieving something; and its success hinges on your getting back to Confed space.

Burrows:

Admiral. I’m sorry but my name is Burrows, not Blair; and I’m not about to put my life on the line to help the Confed slap a few cats for dirt pay.

Terrel:

If you happen to meet Commodore Blair, please do not tell him how much we are paying you. He’d probably defect to Kilrah, and with good reason: This time, I am allowed to offer you 350,000 credits plus a daily cash allowance. Weapons, fuel, munitions and ship repairs are covered. And the nature of the mission being what it is, you might not even have to fire a single shot... But I’m already speaking too much...

Burrows:

What’s the catch, then?

Terrel:

It IS risky; I’d be lying if I said otherwise; but not more risky than most. And when you return, besides the 350,000 credits, you’ll be a full reservist, and thus elligible to access military equipment which civilians are denied. Estimated mission time is 2 to 3 months. And after your return, you’ll have enough money to get back on your feet, and then some. A bargain if you ask me. Not that I’m ignoring the fact that having a pilot of your skills, those 350,000 credits might be buying us the 35 MILLION price tag of an entire carrier... A bargain for both of us, I’m ready to admit. And yet, note that 350,000 credits is the historically highest sum the Confed ever offered to a privateer. What do you say?

[Accept] [Reject]

Reject:

Burrows:

As I’ve told you before, Admiral, I’m not cut out for the military. I’d rather starve to death than die in a Confed tin can. I could make 350,000 credits in three months as a privateer, I’m sure.

Terrel:

Even without a ship?

Burrows:

I’ll flip hamburgers until I can afford another one.

Terrel;

You’d need 75,000 credits for a cheap ship, and another 25,000 for minimal equipment. At one credit per flip, that’s 100,000 hamburgers! Flipping 100,000 hamburgers takes longer than 3 months, I’m afraid...

Burrows:

Maybe I could just borrow some cash...

Terrel:

Better not be looking at me... I’m not even sure Geoffrey Tolwyn might have that much in the bank. High Officers are expected to willingly reduce or renounce their pay when the military is dire straits ... By the way, how much cash do you have?

Burrows:

At the moment, none ...

Terrel:

You’re in a bit of a situation, I’m afraid. Let me explain: Without a ship, and without credits to pay for transport off Perry, you are essentially stuck here. But as a civilian you cannot be stuck at a military ship or base. No one ever even conceived of such a special situation. According to the military rules I must follow, I would have to consider you a stowaway.

Burrows:

And what’s the fine for that?

Terrel:

There is none, That’s the problem. A stowaway in a military facility must automatically be considered a spy and kept in high security detention pending a fact-finding investigation, at which point, if you’re lucky you may be able to return home pending a full investigation, and that’s assuming your next of kin pays bail. In simple terms, you’re looking at 6 months to a year locked up in a cell, only to get kicked out without a pressure suit in the end. I’d take the 3 months and 350,000 credits, if I were you; but it’s a choice you must make...

[Accept] [Reject]

Reject:

Burrows:

I don’t like threats, Admiral.

Terrel:

But it’s not a threat. Nor am I bluffing. I am merely explaining to you what rules I must follow, or risk court martial. I could just pay for your ticket to leave Perry out of my pocket and forget that you were ever here. But suppose you were indeed a Mandarin spy. Or someone framed you, and there was a fact finding investigation that traced your movements and found you had been here today. I’d be automatically suspected to be a spy, myself, and an accomplice... I am terribly sorry if this sounds like a threat. It isn’t, and I’ll be the first to vouch for your innocence when it comes to calling witnesses... I will mention to them how much the Confederation owes you ... But, honestly, I hope you’ll choose wisely, and do what you’ve shown you’re among the very best at: Fly. I will ask you now one last time: Will you enlist with us for this mission?

[Accept] [Reject]

Accept:

Burrows:

You got a deal, Admiral, as long as I get to keep my pirate hat.

Terrel:

You drive a high bargain. But if a pirate hat is what makes you fly so well, then I’ll see to it that you get to keep it. I’m very glad you’ve made the right descision. With your help, we might yet have a chance to win this war. But hurry now; a shuttle is waiting for you at the docks. And I wish you the best of lucks, a successful mission, and a safe return.

Reject:

BACKGROUND CHANGES TO THAT OF A JAIL CELL. THERE IS A SCREEN ON THE WALL DISPLAYING THE NEWS. ONCE IN A WHILE A NEW NEWS ITEM COMES IN, AND THE LIST SCROLLS A BIT. IF YOU WAIT THERE LONG ENOUGH, EVENTUALLY THE NEWS READS “PLANET EARTH FALLS TO THE KILRATHI”. SOON AFTER YOU HEAR EXPLOSIONS AND THE JAIL CELL SHAKES. AND AFTER A LONG WHILE THE STATION EXPLODES, YOU SEE A FLEET OF ABOUT A DOZEN KHAMEKHS, 4 KAT CARRIERS AND A KAT DREADNOUGHT... AND YOU’RE DEAD.

Spiritplumber wrote:

I don’t like the “you’re dead” thing... you should launch into space in a fighter that has no jump drive, facing all that (a la WC3 losing path). Programming wise it would take, like, 10 minutes extra...

Chuck_starchaser wrote:

I don’t like it much either; I’m just not sure how else to do it, like if he has no money, where does the ship come from, –jump drive or not?

Spiritplumber wrote:

Eh, someone like Burrows can probably steal something in the middle of an attack. We could draw a few comic-style panels that look somewhat like Blair’s Black Lance incursion. The game is still over, but whatever else, Burrows should get to die in a cockpit...

Chuck_starchaser wrote:

I’ll keep trying to think of something... –CS