After a quick replay of the Kilrathi Saga this week, I've been pondering about Blair and his combat experience (or lack of) by the end of the Kilrathi war.
I was wondering, does anybody else think that it was a flaw to the story that he spent a decade of his career aboard Caernarvon station, seeing no combat against the Kilrathi? I mean, it's clear from the beginning that Blair was a naturally talented fighter pilot right from the outset, his exploits serving off the Tiger's Claw earned his reputation as humanity's best pilot - even the Emperor of Kilrah makes mention of him at the start of WC2, and Hobbes reflects that Blair's skill is well known amongst the Kilrathi.
But compared to some other flyers, he really didn't see all that action in the grand scheme of the war:
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2654: Rookie 2nd Lt. Blair serves aboard TCS Tigers Claw, quickly earns rep as ace fighter pilot, and plays a key role in the Vega campaign and Venice sorties. In 2656 the 'claw is destroyed and a court martial finds Blair guilty of negligence - he is assigned to spend the rest of his career aboard a space station under the ISS.
(Two years combat experience prior to this point)
2665 Nine years later, Blair finds himself, partially by fluke aboard the TCS Concordia having saved her from Kilrathi attack, his career finds a new lease of life as he flies alongside regular combat pilots. In 2669 The Concordia is destroyed, Blair survives and is reassigned to the TCS Victory where he remains until the end of the war, ultimately playing the pivotal role in the Kilrah bombing run.
So there's another four years, meaning a combined combat experience of six years.
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This doesn't seem very much for an ace of Blair's calibre, so what are everybody's thoughts on this? Did Origin get it wrong by putting most of Blair's career aboard the Caernarvon, would five years in purgatory have been more appropriate?
I think so, but I still wouldn't change a thing.
I was wondering, does anybody else think that it was a flaw to the story that he spent a decade of his career aboard Caernarvon station, seeing no combat against the Kilrathi? I mean, it's clear from the beginning that Blair was a naturally talented fighter pilot right from the outset, his exploits serving off the Tiger's Claw earned his reputation as humanity's best pilot - even the Emperor of Kilrah makes mention of him at the start of WC2, and Hobbes reflects that Blair's skill is well known amongst the Kilrathi.
But compared to some other flyers, he really didn't see all that action in the grand scheme of the war:
--------------------------------
2654: Rookie 2nd Lt. Blair serves aboard TCS Tigers Claw, quickly earns rep as ace fighter pilot, and plays a key role in the Vega campaign and Venice sorties. In 2656 the 'claw is destroyed and a court martial finds Blair guilty of negligence - he is assigned to spend the rest of his career aboard a space station under the ISS.
(Two years combat experience prior to this point)
2665 Nine years later, Blair finds himself, partially by fluke aboard the TCS Concordia having saved her from Kilrathi attack, his career finds a new lease of life as he flies alongside regular combat pilots. In 2669 The Concordia is destroyed, Blair survives and is reassigned to the TCS Victory where he remains until the end of the war, ultimately playing the pivotal role in the Kilrah bombing run.
So there's another four years, meaning a combined combat experience of six years.
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This doesn't seem very much for an ace of Blair's calibre, so what are everybody's thoughts on this? Did Origin get it wrong by putting most of Blair's career aboard the Caernarvon, would five years in purgatory have been more appropriate?
I think so, but I still wouldn't change a thing.