I've got this week off from work, though I'm actually leaving to go to the beach on Wednesday. So, a bit of a push to get the week done, but I have the feeling I'll be left wanting more.
Jotunheim 1:
Another reference to Blair's usual. I wonder if the Hell's Kitchen has been invented yet. Otherwise, things are getting quite depressing. Spirit's lost contact with her fiance and wants to try dodging around asteroids in a Raptor, and Knight's wondering about this being a suicide mission. I hope he doesn't go charging straight at some Jalthi again.
Damn, this was a tough mission. It looks like the Reavers took some big hits on this operation. Only one transport left out of how many penetrated the border. It's still around, though. Spirit got into trouble with the Fralthi, and I took massive damage making sure he got a head start on the way home before re-engaging. Landed my Raptor with no targeting system and acceleration absorbers, a damaged flight computer and missing a Mass Driver and a Neutron Gun. Trading the repair time against the time to make 17 Kilrathi fighters seems like a fair trade to me, though.
Jotunheim 2:
We pick up on Paladin's worries in the pre-mission chats, he's still thinking we're becoming like the Kilrathi. I wonder if he thought back to that worry during the whole Tolwyn business. The line about the new Dralthis made me think of all the ship version arguments we've had at the forums.
This mission was a nice, clean sweep. I'm pretty sure that's only because 3 Krants died to idiocy in the Asteroid field. 2 dodged asteroids into each other and a third clipped a wing while pulling up after an attack run on me. It probably would have survived if it hadn't already been torn up by my Raptor's guns. Why do Grathas seem so much better here than they did in UE?
Jotunheim 3:
Not much preulde for this mission, probably because it was the Johann. Bugger.
I sent Spirit home after the Jalthi, story-wise to join the group protecting that Claw. Game-wise because I knew she didn't have much of a chance. To be honest, neither did I. I drained a lot of fuel boom-n-zoom'ing against the Rapiers, it helped that they shot one of their own down due to sloppiness. Mission developers take note: Krants and Grathas against a ship almost empty of fuel and missiles is mean. I'm pretty sure my landing resembled the one from Hot Shots! I think I deserved more than a Bronze Star for this.
Bifrost 1:
The Claw's pilots are starting to fall apart, being deep in enemy territory without any idea where your prey is would rattle anyone. Good thing to know that Paladin and Hunter are keeping it together, though. Which is good, because he's on my wing.
For a little bit, anyway. Are there enough Jalthi in this system? I bagged 9 of the bastards before being forced to break off back for the Tiger's Claw. There was nothing working in my Raptor's cockpit when I landed.
Bifrost 2:
Another mention of Blair's usual. I'm really getting bugged not knowing what it is. Shotglass seems to be returning to form a bit, maybe the idea of Spirit drunk off her arse is as funny to him as it is to me.
Speaking of funny, 2 scimitars against a vital and well-defended Supply Depot? Ha Ha! Good one, Halcyon! How I made it through this one alive I'll never know. I actually had the eject alarm go off at me, then make a funny sound and stop working. Kind of irrelevant, though, since the eject system didn't survive the mission. That'll get those damned techs fixing fighters faster.
Bifrost 3/Valgard 1:
Bit of confusion here, the game guide and briefing say Bifrost, but the career status and Nav Map say Valgard. Either way, things are coming to a close, pilot morale is back up after taking out the supply depot,
In other good news, the techs have finally learned their lesson and prepared a Rapier for me. Hopefully, it'll never come to this again. The Rapier and I seem to share a special bond, I'm nearly invincible when I'm flying it. Jalthi and Gratha especially have gone from Worrying enemies to lumbering targets, and I like them like that. Iceman wasn't kidding about getting in his way, though, I've had to make sure I don't get in between him and a cat several times in this mission.