- GM’s note: This session follows straight on from Session 212 and covers part of the last two weeks of their time at Starfighter Academy. Hop 4 which is detailed in Session 213 will be part of the Session 215 narrative.
- “Chance” wakes up in medbay. It seems like it’s all been a dream – he has a vague memory of chatting up a pretty nurse but thinks that it didn’t go very well. The pain in his back reminds him that he was actually shot. The pretty nurse is nowhere in sight.
- It is not long before “Chance” returns to duty. He is practically pushed out of medbay as soon as he recovers consciousness. They check his bandages, feed him and discharge him as they need the bed for ‘real patients’. “Chance” is a little disappointed that “Deadeye” and “Woody” aren’t back and he joins Academy classes like nothing has happened. There are some raised eyebrows and “Fuzz” asks him where he’s been, but nothing else is said.
- That evening, “Chance” doesn’t feel like a quiet drink. He is sore but feeling a bit cocky. He has a drink with “Ajax” and “Loser” and convinces them to have a game of pool. To “Chance”s surprise, “Loser” beats him. Her mood brightens considerably at this, but “Proton” takes this opportunity to insult “Chance”, pointing out that if he’s been by “Loser”, what does this make him?
- “Chance” bristles and then laughs loudly. He throws it back in “Proton”s face that “Loser” is no loser and he’d take her as his wingman anytime. “Loser” is astonished but then she beams at this. (GM’s note – I got a +4 reaction to this via a FATE Card) “Proton” calls “Chance” an idiot and stalks off.
- “Chance” does better in the next game but “Ajax” is ultimately successful in being ‘king of the table’ for the evening although “Iceman” tries hard to dislodge him. “Loser” thanks “Chance” for standing up for her. She initially mistakes that “Chance” is making a pass at her but is even more pleased when “Chance” assures her that he was being honest. He suggests that the callsign shouldn’t bother her – whoever gave her the name was clearly just being a D*ck. She shouldn’t feel the need to prove herself. “Loser” smiles at this but says that she’s still got to graduate. “Chance” tells her that she’ll make it. He considers making a real pass at her but decides against it, figuring that it’d ruin whatever encouragement he’s given her. He leaves for the night, heads to the G-Spot with the intention of seeing one of the ladies and then changes his mind at the last minute and heads home.
- The next morning “Deadeye” and “Woody” still aren’t back. “Chance” is sore but he still completes the P.T. comfortably. For simulator training he is paired up with “Proton” and “Fuzz”. That afternoon, “Judge” comes to see “Chance” – she knows what he has done on the Arcosolari Kalamos and can see that he’s made a full recovery. She’s keen to know what he has in mind after graduating from the Academy. “Chance” admits that he’d like a few days off before tackling the next challenge but he’s open to options. He presumed that he would be joining one of the active squadrons, unless the Department of Homeland Security has other ideas. “Judge” offers some constructive suggestions and then “Chance” is dismissed.
- “Chance” heads to the gym that evening. He doesn’t feel like running. “Loser” is also working out and she notes that he is struggling on one side. “Chance” admits that he was recently shot when he was fighting on the Arco. “Loser” asks what happened and “Chance” tells her some of what happened. She asks about “Deadeye” and “Woody” – “Chance” says that he has no idea where they are. The last time he saw “Woody” was on the Arco.
- Returning to his bunk, “Chance” finds another letter from Nicole. She is looking forward to visiting him on the station. “Chance” wonders if he should invite her to the graduation – it would be nice to have someone there even though he doesn’t know her that well. There is also a letter from the Department of Defence, allocating a room in a shared apartment on Draconis Station to him, contingent upon his graduation. It also sets expectations as to what will happen after graduation – that successful graduates will be promoted to Pilot Officer and receive orders for next posting but some shore leave is likely to be granted.
- The next morning, “Deadeye” and “Woody” have returned. “Deadeye” looks tired. He reads through a similar letter giving him information about what happens after graduation. “Deadeye” can’t easily tell “Chance” or “Woody” what he has been doing, but “Woody” and “Chance” readily catch up and “Deadeye” gets the gist of what has happened. The rest of the day goes as normal, but word quickly gets around that “Woody” and “Chance” have seen action on the Arco. “Woody” openly touts that it was “Chance”s idea that saw a Dominion destroyer captured, and “Chance” admits that he wasn’t just piloting a ‘Pug’ – he was part of the boarding party that took the Merciless.
- In the Spacer’s Bar that evening, “Woody” is continuing to tell her story about the battle of Arcosolari Kalamos from her point of view. The rest of the cadets can hardly believe their ears but her story is compelling. “Chance” admits that he was shot on the bridge of the Merciless, and he ‘got ahead’ of the rest of the boarding party. “Mayhem” seems a bit jealous of all of the attention – he wants to know how ‘this idiot’ (referring to “Chance”) got shot in the back and where was “Deadeye” all of this time. He even suggests that maybe “Deadeye” was the one that shot “Chance” in the back, but “Deadeye” gently deflects and says that he wasn’t there. He had a different assignment. He lets “Woody” and “Chance” have the glory of the moment with the many cadets and members of Tachyon Squadron listening in.
- Eventually “Woody” runs out of story to tell and “Chance” is asked to fill in what happened from his point of view. Meanwhile, “Deadeye” goes for a drink and finds himself shoulder to shoulder with “Loser”. She offers to buy him a drink and he accepts. “Loser” asks “Deadeye” where he has been and he says that he can’t say, but it was on another mission. She then proceeds to chat “Deadeye” up, admitting that she admires him. She is nervous about the upcoming Hop 4. She doesn’t know if she will graduate, but she is doing her best. “Deadeye” reassures her and promises to help her. She brightens at this.
- The next day, the cadets are formally told about the Battle of Arcosolari Kalamos and the role of cadets “Woody” and “Chance” in that battle. They are asked to give an account in front of their fellow cadets and some of the senior instructors so that the battle and the tactics used can be studied. “Woody”s account is first. “Chance”s account leaves them astonished. He refrains from mentioning the use of his Warden of the Stair abilities but the account is nonetheless impressive. The cadets applaud “Woody” and “Chance” at the conclusion of the briefing.
- From that point on, “Woody” and “Chance” become celebrities of a sort within the Draconis Volunteer Group (DVG). Most expect them to be given medals to acknowledge their achievements. Even “Woody”s father is impressed with her story.
- Maki visits “Chance” to check on him. She says that he did well and asks if he’d be prepared to consider careers other than with the DVG. “Chance” plays it casually and says that he’s happy to help but he points out that luck is a fickle thing and that he wouldn’t like to be in too many firefights lest his luck run out. Maki tells him that she’s going to recruit a mercenary group called Broadsword and persuade them to move to 26 Draconis. She asks if “Chance” would like to come with her and he politely points out that he still has to graduate. Shaking her head, Maki indicates to him that the people in charge of the Academy would have him graduate tomorrow if she asked. She asks him how much he remembers of the return flight from the Arco, and he admits that it’s all a jumble. Maki smiles thinly at this and “Chance” is left wondering if he blabbed things that he shouldn’t have said.
- Meanwhile, “Deadeye” spends time with “Loser” trying to coach her. She is a nervous pilot and her confidence is very low. She knows how to fly but clearly, she is a bit beaten down. “Loser” isn’t from a noble family. She is a ‘nobody’ like “Deadeye” who got lucky and has a place in the Starfighter Academy. She is doing her best not to stuff it up but she finds it a bit overwhelming.
- “Deadeye” offers her encouragement and assures her that “we’ll show ‘em”.
- “Deadeye” is pulled out of classes and asked to report to the main hangar bay. Three Goblin fighters arrive, piloted by “Dagger”, “Steel” and “Butcher”. “Dagger” has specifically asked for “Deadeye” to be present along with the senior officers from Tachyon Squadron. “Dagger” introduces “Steel” and “Butcher” and asks “Skipper” (Tachyon Squadron’s C.O.) to take good care of both of them.
- “Steel” is a rigid fellow with a strong jaw. “Butcher” doesn’t look like a typical fighter pilot. He is nerdish in appearance, young and has wire-framed glasses. There is a glint in his eye that suggests that he’s seen combat before.
- After the introductions, “Dagger” moves to depart but she asks for a moment with “Deadeye”. “Deadeye” notices that Danika Arlen now has a Captain’s rank insignia. She tells him that she’s taking the Dauntless out. She hears that there is trouble in the Beta Atria and the 18th Strike Fleet has been withdrawn to deal with it. She believes that the 18th Strike Fleet has some sort of base beyond the Kripka Cluster in the Kuiper Belt – she aims to find it and asks if “Deadeye” would be prepared to assist. “Deadeye” thinks for a moment and says that he would like to help once he’s graduated. “Dagger” takes his response as an acceptance and she says that she’ll make the appropriate request.
- The next day, “Rabbit” (the C.O. of Starfighter Academy) tells “Deadeye” that he’s been requested to lead an escort flight for the Harmony. The Captain (Marty C) asked personally for him. (GM’s note – the cadets have previously protected the Harmony from raiders and Marty C made a special effort to thank the cadets in person) “Deadeye” agrees and decides to take “Chance”, “Loser” and “Butcher” with him.
- They follow the Harmony in close escort formation. “Chance” is almost certain that Maki is onboard, heading into Republic space to negotiate with Broadsword. Then, in the distance, “Deadeye” picks up enemy contact. With the Dominion supposed to be out of the system, they can only be raiders….
- “Butcher” appears keen to intercept, but “Deadeye” orders them to maintain formation and protect the Harmony. It appears that the raiders are ghosting them, weighing up whether to attack or not. At last, they move in …..
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