H'hrass System, Mission 1 (314.1)

Scene - Space
(Movie Filename -- 0650.WVE)
{Plays automatically}

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 - Ready Room
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.

Briefing Intro: Generic

ICIS Text: The communication relay station in this system is our only hope of warning Confed HQ about our current situation. Your Alpha Wing will escort a Marine Landing Craft to this station, which is located just outside the perimiter of the H'hrass asteroid field. There, the LC will dock and a shock team led by Colonel Dekker will secure the station. Enemy forces in the area are moderate to strong, and some of the Midway's fighter complement has begun quick hit-and-run strikes to keep them away from the relay station. With the Midway's fighters harassing them and the Midway herself as a decoy, the enemy forces should leave the station alone, making resistance fairly light. When Dekker's team has the station back on line, he will send a message to Confed command via the main relay transmitter, and return to the landing craft. Your team will then escort the Marines back to the Midway.

Briefing Exit: (Movie Filename -- 0710.WVE)

CAG: Lieutenant Casey, this is a critical mission for us. After going over the roster, I have decided your wingman will be...
Blair: Me! I'll be Casey's wingman.
CAG: I'm not sure this is such a good idea.
Blair: You need a seasoned pilot out there. Now, these kids are good, but I'm the best you've got.
CAG: Mr. Casey, you will recap the mission specs with your new wingman. The rest of you are dismissed. Good luck... to you all.
Casey: Congratulations, Sir.
Blair: Don't congratulate me yet, Lieutenant. It's been years since I flew my last mission.
Casey: Are you kidding, you'll be fine. Besides, it's not every day that a guy gets to fly with a legend.
Blair: You know Casey the problem with being a legend is they always expect you to win.
Casey: Oh, you don't have to win this time, Sir, you just have to try to keep up!

Takeoff Scene: Tigershark (Movie Filename -- 2545.WVE)

[Fly Mission, H'hrass 1 - Relay Station Insertion]

[Midway Navpoint] {Upon Takeoff}
<Midway> Take good care of Casey for us, Blair. He's still a little green around the gills.
<Blair> Roger that, Midway. I'll make sure he doesn't break his training wheels.

[At Relay Station] {Upon Arrival}
<Midway> Alpha Wing: we've received a distress call from the SWACS. Communications are being interrupted by the opposition. Watch for...
<Blair> Looks like we're on our own for now, Lieutenant. Let's clear that comm station and see if Dekker and the marine engineers can hail the Midway from inside.

[At Relay Station] {Upon Marine LC Docking}
<Marine LC> We're docking now.
<Dekker> Marine One is docked, Alpha Wing. We're going in. Watch our backs.
<Dekker> Blair, we need you down here on the station. I think you should see this yourself.
<Blair> I'm going to land, Casey. You wait out here in case we get more hostiles.
<Blair> Well now we know why the Midway couldn't transmit a distress comm through the Relay Station. It looks like a slaughterhouse down here.

[If Redeemer still alive]
<Dekker> Lieutenant, we've got the EWR on line. Looks like we've got friendly inbound.
<TCS Redeemer> This is the Redeemer. After losing contact with the Midway, we thought you might need a hand.
<Blair> Any word on what's happened to them?
<TCS Redeemer> The Midway is on the run. Refuel your ships here and get back to them as soon as possible.
<Dekker> We can get the station on line in an hour, with a lot of luck. Right now we've got another problem: incoming enemy fighters.
<Blair> Hang on, Casey. I'll be in the air in three minutes. Keep 'em busy until I get there.
<Dekker> Casey, play cat and mouse with them until Blair gets there.
<Blair> Dekker, are any of your men on the landing bay level?
<Dekker> No, sir. They're all present and accounted for.
<Blair> There's something else down here. I don't know what it is.
<Dekker> Hold on... We have a launch from the station's primary quad: some kind of an alien ship, but we scanned a human life sign on board. Oh God... they've got Blair!

[Devil Ray launches]
<Dekker> Casey, we have more bogies inbound. We're trapped here. Want you to break off your pursuit and return to the station ASAP.

[Devil Ray jumps out]
<Dekker> Don't worry, Casey. We'll get Blair later. But for now, we've got more bugs inbound. Keep us clear.

[Mission Complete]
<Dekker> Coast is clear, fly boy. Time to land on the relay station's hangar and take a breather.

[Check Terminal]

Landing Scene 2: None.

If you win H'hrass 1, go to H'hrass 2.

If you lose H'hrass 2, go to Losing Endgame 2.