No, the idea for an intro to this was Halcyon, Angel, Hunter, Maniac, and the Player are talking on the flight deck of the 'Claw. Hunter and the player are heading to the Orszaga to flight and combat evaluate the Firrekan's first space fighter, Angel's leaving for the Austin to take command of the flight wing, and Maniac's being an ass.
Due to the jump-timing involved, You and Hunter are flying stripped-down Hornets - No HS missile and a dump tank of jump fuel; needed to catch up and rendezvous with the Orszaga.
That'd be the last you'd see of the old crew besides Hunter until the last set of missions, where you Scramble-respond in a Broadsword to fly in ahead of the Orszaga assisting the Austin in retrieving stranded 'Claw pilots after the ambush at K'tithrak Mang. Angel's on your wing, one of the pilots you snag is Maniac.