Rebel Squadrons

PSG Newsletter – February 11, 2009

By FA Tyrell "Spokes" Borran
Unit: Patriot Starfighter Group
Fleet NL, Feb 11, 2009
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PSG Newsletter – February 11, 2009

There is a variety of information here, so please read the whole thing. There may be something in here that you don’t want to miss!

Launching the PSG ITOD:

Castor’s PSG Tour Notes:

This is not the Long Awaited Grey Tour 6. However, this is the beginning, and first submission of the PSG X-Wing Tour that Spokes and I are going to run concurrently with the RS-Wide ITOD. For this first “mission” there is no flying. Responses should be in character, and include your POV as to the decision, circumstances and actions taken to arrive at the bridge on the Calamari Cruiser Odin. We are all on a different Capital Ship and on a different timeline than the RS-Wide TOD. You may, if you are feeling adventurous, create a “new” persona for the PSG ITOD. For some, this may be necessary depending on how old your character is during this timeline.

This tour will be a lot more fun for all (and the story will be far longer, I might add) with the more fiction/narratives that we get from our pilots. The two tours (X-Wing and TIE) will run concurrently, and will be along different timelines, which will, in turn be along a different timeline/reality from the rest of the RS.

Therefore, most ranks, offices and RS history do not apply, and probably shouldn’t be referenced. For the sake of the reality of the story, please choose carefully among any of these “facts” that you wish to reference.

As opposed to the way fiction is handled in the overall RS Tour, I always try to ratify The PSG Pilot’s fiction and participation by incorporating your fiction into the main storyline. The length is not important, but keeping with the “reality” of the story and the premises of the Rebel Squadrons and the Star Wars Universe is extremely vital to how well the story ends up. The story, taken as a whole, is my priority because I believe that is what draws the most and best activity from the participants and your narratives are critical to how much fun we have.

The main idea that I’m shooting for is that not everyone is Luke Skywalker, and not everyone is God’s gift to marksmanship, women and song. We’re all human, and very often it’s the imperfections that make for the best drama. …and drama, fictional anyway, is exactly what we’re after here.

I will be writing for my additional characters, which I always have, in case the Pilots of the PSG have not kept the tour moving in the direction I need it to go, and these characters may be used by any Pilot at any time, but please keep them In Character.

In this tour all submissions from PSG Command will include the Official Reports – the reports that will become part of the story – the next part of the fictional story and will include a mission more times than not. If the submission does not include a mission, then each Pilot can write their POV keeping current with the story. The Pilot may introduce fiction that is consequential/personal to their Character, but it should also be germane to the PSG tour storyline.

If fiction wanders too far away from what were doing, or is too outside the lines, then it may be disregarded (not Official) after discussion with the Pilot. That does not mean your narrative won’t “count” for activity, just that it may not be used in the main story.
I am also going to be using this, along with the PSG TIE Tour, as a little bit of an experiment. I want to try out an idea that I want to use for Grey’s T6 (which will be entirely run in the TIE game).
The fiction of the X-Wing tour will be shorter than the TIE tour, as I didn’t have a clue I’d be doing this. However… I hope to make lengthen the X-Wing tour fiction substantially as we go.

Warning:

As I always must do, I find it fair to give fair warning that the missions at the beginning of the tour may be slow and dull, but they will not remain that way. If this Tour flows in the direction I hope, then I also have to warn you I have the base storyline and missions complete, but I will be rewriting much of the fiction as we go. This story takes place sometime after Obi Wan Kenobi dies, but before Emperor Palpatine is dead.

Be prepared for a wild ride.

With that said, we start the first PSG ITOD. Narratives are due on March 1, 2009.


PSG XA.00 Mission Narrative:

Bulletin:

Pilots of the Rebel Squadrons…

We have been informed of a threat to the Rebellion. And, since the Rebellion Leadership finds this information to be so distasteful and outlandish so as to disregard its importance and validity, it has come down through the channels to us. The Rebel Squadrons Leadership feels the information to be exaggerated, as well, so we have taken it upon ourselves to investigate and pursue this issue ourselves.
To that end, we’re requesting volunteers to aid us on this quest – we’ve been given that much rein. We’ve also been given leave to requisition the craft we feel we need to complete any action we judge necessary to complete this investigation successfully.

Please contact Vice Admiral Tyrell “Spokes” Borran or Admiral Castor Efrata-Landis as soon as possible.

PSG XO, Admiral Castor Efrata-Landis

****************
-=Aboard the MC80a Star Cruiser Odin, location classified=-

Spokes rocked back and forth as he kept his eyes on his companion. “You outrank me, so I can’t exactly do anything about what you’ve done. But, I sure would like you to give me an explanation. You could have blown the whole thing sky high.”
Castor stood facing forward, more or less at attention. “I’m sorry. I figured that I could shake the trees a little bit and see what falls out.”

Spokes rolled up to Castor. If he got any closer, Castor would have bruises on his shins. Castor knew that Spokes was allergic to bacta, along with “replacement parts”, while Castor had a good number of replacement parts already, whose grafts and healing had been fully augmented by bacta. Castor felt uncomfortable being face to face with the realization of Spokes’ particular challenges. Spokes. Even the handle had to do with his difficulties. The wheelchair was an antique; the kind with wheels, as Admiral Tyrell Borran found gravlift chairs more of a liability than not. So, he settled for the wheeled variety which hadn’t been in use since artificial gravity had been discovered.

Spokes did not break eye contact with Castor. He wasn’t happy. And his displeasure had absolutely nothing to do with his disability, although he may have been of a mind to remove a few of Castor’s replacement parts. …with his teeth, if need be. In fact he already had started. Castor’s butt was original equipment, but Castor could feel the teeth marks vividly, even though Spokes was in front of him. His eyes narrowed. “Are you having a problem with having me as your CO?”

Castor squinched his eyebrows together. “You, Sir. No. It’s more a matter of having anyone other than Greedo. He’s the only officer I’ve served directly under, since General Aj Loki left. But, no, Sir, I have no such difficulties.”

“Greedo 96…” Spokes pondered. “Rumor has it that he’s something like the ninety sixth sequential clone of the original Greedo.”
“Something like that, yes.” Castor replied. “He worked for the Emperor, until he finally was able to rebel and get away. It’s one of the reasons that the Rebel Squadrons is having more problems than you’d expect for an outer rim Rebellion group. I’ve been working with him for a good while, and I probably know him better than anyone at this point. When he escaped the Emperor, it didn’t just close a chapter in his history, it closed a whole number of lifetimes for him. You’ll never hear him say it, or anything even remotely hinting at it, but his life wasn’t worth a plugged credit as long as the Emperor could kill him and start over with a new clone any time he wanted to. And he had; ninety four times previously, in fact. Now his life is his own, to squander if he wants, but he chooses to use it to fight against the Empire. And Palpatine. And in doing so he finds his self worth.”

Spokes leaned back. “Understood.” He looked at Castor. “You’re a bit of a mystery yourself, Admiral.”

“Yes, Sir.” Castor nodded, “I am.” Castor wasn’t very helpful.

“Why are you here?” Spokes asked.

“Sir?”

“It is my understanding that you have no memory from before sometime during your incarceration on Kessel.”

“That’s true, Sir,” Castor responded. “The saturation of spice… and the constant dark… My master of the tunnel helped me keep my eyesight, and trained me in the ways of the force… kind of… But the cost was my long term memory. Everything I carried of my past before sometime – I have now idea when – in the tunnels is gone. I have no memories of what I did to get there, or almost all of what I did while I was there. I left only with my name, but I don’t know that it’s my original name. I’ve had my neural pathways searched, and there are exceedingly few memories before I left Kessel.”

“So what does anyone really know of you?” Spokes asked.

“I’m sure there are plenty of people who know more about me than I do, Sir.” Castor answered, “Although finding them may take some time.” Castor considered for a short time, and then said, “I guess the real question is if you can trust me.”

“Agreed, that would be the question.” It was Spokes’ turn to consider for a moment. “What assurances do I have, considering that you’ve already acted without my authorization, that you can be trusted?”
“Sir, I understand your reservations. And I have no unimpeachable reassurances. My rank is real, I’ve worked hard to achieve it, and probably harder than most, excepting what you’ve had to overcome. But, even still, I can’t prove I’m not a Mole.” Castor thought for a moment. “My work in the Academy should speak for my intentions, but, again, that doesn’t disprove that I could be a Mole. Anything I might claim, from your point of view is still only my word, which, again, doesn’t actually prove anything.”

“So what prevents me from replacing you as my XO?”

“Well, Sir,” Castor though for a moment. “Nothing. And it’s certainly your choice.” He hesitated. “The only thing I can do will likely ensure that you trust me even less.”

That statement made Spokes cock an eyebrow.

“There isn’t any way to prepare you for this. So…” Castor stepped backward one step and disappeared. Spokes startled and his hand instinctively reached for his blaster, ready for an attack. “I’m here,” Castor said, and reappeared one step to the right of where he had been standing. “It’s a mind trick that I learned on Kessel,” he said apologetically. “I rearrange the priorities in your mind, lowering me in your perception priorities, and raising everything else. Effectively, it gives me the ability to turn invisible. It doesn’t work with wookiees or observation equipment. There’s no way to fool wookiees, but the observation equipment is fairly easy to get around. That being said… I could, at any time, commit many atrocities with near impunity.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Spokes said as he eased his hand off the blaster.

“I subscribe to H.I.E.R., however, and although this also doesn’t really do anything to reassure you, you, the PSG, the Rebel Squadrons and the Rebellion have nothing to fear from me. …directly, anyway. I do have plenty of enemies, I understand, in the Empire.”
“Don’t we all.” Spokes chuckled.

“However,” Castor continued. “I’ve shown you what might be my greatest strength, and my greatest weakness countering it. You can now keep track of me with greater confidence, if you so desire. I would, however, appreciate it if you kept this particular bit of information to yourself.”

“Understood,” Spokes said, and finally was mostly reassured. He wouldn’t likely track Castor, as the Admiral had suggested he could, but he would verify the accuracy of what he’d just been told by replaying the recording of the last few minutes. “Let’s hope you didn’t shake more out of the trees than we can handle.”

“Agreed, Sir.” Castor saluted, turned and left Spokes’ office.
Spokes rolled over behind his desk, flicked a switch, and replayed the recording. It happened as Castor had said. Spokes knew when the Admiral had disappeared by his own recorded reaction. Castor had taken one step to the right. No flash. No fancy stepping. No wave at the recording devices that he had to know were there.

Spokes leaned back in his chair until his back gave a comforting “pop.” This is not going to be fun.

****************

PSG News:

There you have it. At long last, the beginning of our new ITOD. Like I said earlier, participation for this step is to draft up who you are, why you’ve “volunteered” and how you make your way to the Odin and settle in. Use your current character or start a new one. The goal here is to have as much fun as possible! Narratives are due March 1, 2009.

Former Members of the PBF, as well as any Member of the RS is welcome to join us for what promises to be a very eventful ITOD. Just contact us and we will get you placed in a Squadron!!!

Merits & Awards for all Missions to date.

I want to thank everyone who stepped up and flew the extra missions before RS 2.01X was released. Aside from Top Gun, Top Squadron and the MRMs, there are three pilots that have earned recognition: Licah Fox, Damon Lightwind and Chris Earthkeeper. It is my privilege to award you a Merit Commendation ( =*= ) for reporting on all 3 missions (2 sims & RS 2.01) in the past two months. The PBF CS called for extra participation in November and you fully responded. Licah already took care of this award for Fireclaw, so I urge each Squadron CO to use RS Medal to acknowledge outstanding activity and participation by your Pilots.

PSG 2.01X Sim

The PBF Medal of Victory for X-Wing [<|=(V)=|>] goes to Colonel Ste T. Where it with pride!

The PBF Mission Report Medal ([<|=(PBF*MRM)=|>]) goes to MGN Damon Lightwind, again!

Top Squadron is Fireclaw. Well done!

PSG 2.01T

The PBF Medal of Victory for Tie [<|=(VT)=|>] goes to Colonel Dev Azzameen Where it with pride!

Top Squadron is Fireclaw.

RS 2.01X

The PBF Medal of Victory for X-Wing [<|=(V)=|>] goes to RA Licah Fox. Where it with pride!

The PBF Mission Report Medal ([<|=(PBF*MRM)=|>]) goes to MGN Damon Lightwind, again!

Top Squadron, and earning the PBF Medal of Activity {[-PBFMoA-]}, is Fireclaw!

RS 2.02X

The PBF Medal of Victory for X-Wing [<|=(V)=|>] goes to MGN Damon Lightwind. Where it with pride!

The PBF Mission Report Medal ([<|=(PBF*MRM)=|>]) goes to MAJ Etain Valen Gaas!

Top Squadron, and earning the PBF Medal of Activity {[-PBFMoA-]}, is Fireclaw!

For Fireclaw’s consistent level of activity through the Tour so far, you are hereby awarded the Valorous Unit Commendation ~*VUC*~. Congratulations and keep setting the standard high.

Congratulations to these Pilots and to Fireclaw. As you may be able to tell, Fireclaw is the Squadron to beat, so dust off those joysticks and show some Squadron Pride!

Merits will be updated in the next few days.

RS 2.04X Update

The mission is in the final stages and should be released this weekend.

Closing:

As always, if you have any ideas that you think would improve the PSG, feel free to send them along. If you believe a Pilot has been overlooked and deserves recognition by an award or promotion, let me know. My door is open, but I cannot guarantee your safety should you choose to enter….

";^)>
Vice Admiral Tyrell "Spokes" Borran
PSG CO

|=/(:"
Admiral Castor Efrata-Landis
PSG XO

“:)
BGN Gavin Starseeker
PSG SO

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