G'wriss System, Mission 3b (211.5)

Scene - Rec Room (Movie Filename -- 0510.WVE)
{Click on "Talk to Zero"}

Zero: Can't a man commune quietly with his drink?
Casey: I didn't see the "Do Not Disturb" sign, sorry.
Zero: What was it like?
Casey: What was what like?
Zero: Being the Iceman's son. You must have had a free ride straight through the Academy.
Casey: I never had a 'free ride.' Not to the Academy. Not anywhere.
Zero: Get off it, Casey! Your old man was a great war hero.
Casey: Yeah, he was a hero all right! One of the most decorated pilots of the Confederation. So good they named a flight maneuver after him. Only problem is he died when I was just a kid. I think my mother got his last medal when I was in diapers. No, having a hero for a father was no help to me, if anything I spent my career trying to live up to the reputation of a man I never knew. Every time I fly, I feel like I'm flying against him.
Zero: You're probably better off. My Father was alive but you never would've known it. He was a cultural anthropologist. Then Confed Intel got ahold of him and put him to work in the Kilrathi war. He spent years studying the Kilrathi-- their history, their technology-- 'to get an edge,' he used to say. And then, he couldn't even talk about it. Funny, I wanted to be just like him.
Casey: Well, maybe you are. So, what do you think we're up against here, Zero? What about the Kn'thrak?
Zero: Well, my father was the real expert. I heard the word Kn'thrak once or twice before and it was in relation to some ancient Terran biblical text and a race called "Nephilem." I thought it was a fairy tale really. I can remember being so scared that I had to sleep with the light on for days. Ah, what the hell. It doesn't matter anyway.
Casey: You know, we're alike, you and I. We both fly to outrun our father's shadows.

Briefing Intro: Generic Opening #4

ICIS Text: The enemy cruiser has regrouped with its escorts and is closing on the Midway's position at top speed. Hawk's Charlie Wing will be deployed to act as a fighter screen for the Midway. Meanwhile, your Alpha Wing will provide an escort for Bravo Wing, under Maniac, as they attempt to destroy the approaching cruiser and its escort. Upon completion of your objective, you will fall back to assist in Midway's defense if necessary. This force may have been responsible for the destruction of an entire Kilrathi fleet. Success in this mission is imperative.

Briefing Exit:

Generic Opening #4
{if you *didn't* speak to Dallas earlier}

(Movie Filename -- 0540.WVE)
{If you *did* speak to Dallas earlier, this scene plays}

Anderson: [loudspeaker] Flight crew, please report to cargo bay #3.
Dallas: Looks like I'm your wingman.
Casey: One hundred and fifty percent!
Dallas: I'm there, Frosty. Two hundred percent! See you on deck!
Casey: Okay.

[Fly Mission, G'wriss 3b - Hydra Fleet Assault]

[Midway Nav] - {Upon Takeoff}
<Midway> No time to lose, Casey. You've got to clear out all of the fighter craft so the Shrikes in Bravo can take out that cruiser.
<Midway> We need you to get that bomber cluster before it gets within range. Air patrol will take the fighters. You handle those big guns.
<Bug> Death is awaiting you!
<Stiletto> Looks like these boys learned our language quick enough.
<Maestro> I think I liked it better when I didn't understand them.

[Midway Nav] - {When Cruiser is Destroyed}
<Midway>Looks like that cruiser got off more bombers before it went down. You and the rest of Alpha had better get back before they're within range.
<Bug> Your test is at hand!
<Maestro> Test? Nobody said anything about a test. I didn't study.

[Win]
<Midway> Congratulations on a job well done. For a while there, it looked like the Captain was going to pull the plug, but you saved the day.

[Lose]
<Midway> All ships return to base. Your mission has been scrubbed. Repeat: return to base immediately. We are evac-ing this system on the double!

(Movie Filename -- 0560.WVE)
{If you didn't talk to Dallas}

(Movie Filename -- 0570.WVE)
{If you did talk to Dallas}

[Check Terminal]

Landing Scene 2:

(Movie Filename -- 0566.WVE)
{If you didn't talk to Dallas and you won G'wriss 3b}

Maestro: Case.
Casey: Hey, guys. What's wrong?
Maestro: You don't know, do ya?
Stiletto: Dallas didn't come home.
Casey: Oh, no. We're not going to make it, are we?
Stiletto: Not if we don't stick together. This is for real.
Maestro: C'mon, man.
Stiletto: Damn!

Maestro: Case.
Casey: Hey, guys. What's wrong?
Maestro: You don't know, do ya?
Stiletto: Dallas didn't come home.
Casey: Oh, no. We're not going to make it, are we?
Stiletto: Not if we don't stick together. This is for real.
Maestro: C'mon, man.
Stiletto: Damn!

Maestro: Casey. Dallas didn't make it. It happens.
Stiletto: He's right. Dallas' number was up.
Maestro: Casey!
Stiletto: Damn!

Maestro: Casey. Dallas didn't make it. It happens.
Stiletto: He's right. Dallas' number was up.
Maestro: Casey!
Stiletto: Damn!

Scene - Space
Wilford: We are gathered here today to pay our last respects to our honored dead, those who have fallen to protect that which we hold dear. We mourn their loss and vow that they have not died in vain. They now return to the stars from which they came. May those stars serve to remind us of their sacrifice and of our duty. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Amen.

Scene - Rec Room
Casey: We lost some good pilots out there today. Good people.
Zero: Welcome to the wonderful world of armed aggression.
Maniac: So then I come up on six, right, just like this. Boom! SPLAT on the windshield. Bug spray! Hawk: Give it a rest, Maniac! Well, I'd like to, Hot Shot but then, I rest too long one of you might accidentally catch up to me on the kill board. You'd like that, wouldn't you?
Casey: How about some good old fashioned respect for the dead, Sir.
Maniac: Look who talks it's my little Plebe friend. Hey, I sit on my butt for too long just cause some cherry can't hack it and gets killed, my... Hey! Come on!

Scene - Casey's Quarters
Blair: Can I come in? I heard about your little struggle today. You know, I've known Maniac for a long time. He's very good at hiding his emotions behind a lot of hot air but his heart's basically in the right place. You can't let him get to you.
Casey: Are you here to arrest me, Sir?
Blair: Me? No. I had a word with the CAG. I think she's prepared to chalk this one up to severe stress and anxiety. I wouldn't try it again though. Don't thank me all at once.
Casey: I'm sorry, Sir. It's just that I thought all this would be different.
Blair: What?
Casey: This. Everything!
Blair: You know, when I was on the flight line, flying with everyone else taking chances, risks, it all didn't seem to matter that much. Then it became clear. We fly with death every day. That's what we do. We fight. We struggle. We even lose friends. That became clear to me when I lost someone that I really cared for.
Casey: When was that?
Blair: Oh, about 4,000 years ago. What you do is important out there, Casey. It is damn important. It's important to these men, to this ship, to our home. Don't let anyone stand in the way of what you need to do.
Casey: You sound almost envious?
Blair: Maybe I am, Casey. Maybe I am.

If you win G'wriss 3b perfectly, go to H'hrass 1.

If you win G'wriss 3b with some losses, go to H'hrass Losing 1.

If you lose G'wriss 3b, go to Losing Endgame 7.