WCATV- Red & Blue Traitor

[frostytheplebe]

The Kilrathi in contact with the tech at the Academy seemed to think that the cadet pilots would overrun the traitor's ship before he could get to the Kilrathi carrier. Thus the traitor saw the need to mess with thier weapons systems.

The question is, why all the worry? We see the traitor hop into an Arrow fighter, which is credited as one of the fastest Confed fighters of its time. The cadets were flying the Scimitar, which if I'm not mistaken was said to maneuver like a Centurion mud pig.

 

[Wedge009]

If only to prove you are mistaken, I have to say that the Scimitar supposedly handles like a Centaurian mud-pig.

As for your question, it's been a while since I've seen the episode, but I can only guess the traitor was being cautious? The Arrow may be fast, but the initial escape could be quite hazardous.

 

[Mincemeat]

If I recall correctly, the traitor left the guns on full strength instead of the expected training mode, and spoofed the shielding readouts to read no damage.

The cadets' realisation that their ships have been sabotaged would buy the traitor some time. If anybody was accidentally shot down, buy more time for the recovery operation.

If the cadets were ordered to pursue the traitor and prevent the Kilrathi from escaping, they run a high risk of being shot down due to the dud shield readouts.

A great plan if you ask me, but of course with Maverick and Maniac on the case, you all know how it ended

 

[Bandit LOAF]

Space Point

It wasn't a matter of a simple chase - the cadets were conducting their training exercise exactly where the traitor was flying (near the nebula that's shaped like Great Britain.) He needed to pass very near where they were to escape (and presumably if he had tried to leave immediately rather than during the trianing flight then they could have pursued him in other fast ships...)