FILEVERSION 2

SETBG "fleetcommunique"

PLAY music "anironlite"
"MESSAGE INBOX" "KATHERINE LAU - HOPEWELL"  ""
SHOWICON lau file="portrait_lau" text=" " color="none" x=17 y=78
"Lau" "Ross. Don't mind me. Just thought I'd vent for a bit." "18a-01"
"Lau" "It's been a rough few days. One crisis after another, it's all getting too much. Feeling like I'm just hanging on by a thread." "18a-02"
"Lau" "I'm still not sure I did the right thing by Kendra. Maybe I should have tried harder to get through to her. All I wanted was to move on and make things better between us. Instead I've made things worse." "18a-03"
"Lau" "And if that wasn't enough, Gadaria ambushed us. God, I still get cold sweats at night thinking how close we came to losing it all. Just sheer dumb luck that got us out in the end." "18a-04"
"Lau" "Feels like one of these days I'll push Fate too hard, and her debtors'll come knocking." "18a-05"
"Lau" "Anyway, I've decided I'm going to fly with you and Meiks today. We're short on pilots. Erikson will look after the Hoshi while I'm out there." "18a-06"
"Lau" "We've got a good crew. If there's anyone that can get through these rough times, I suppose it'll be us. If we're still here it means we're doing something right." "18a-07"
"Lau" "Maybe we work so well because we're all so different. Everyone brings something new to the table. No weaknesses, no blind spots." "18a-08"
"Lau" "Maybe I should stop doing so much myself and let you all have a bit more autonomy. I'm just worried the Hoshikuzu's going to fall apart just because Katherine Lau decided to take a break." "18a-09"
"Lau" "Phew, sorry about that Ross. Must've been carrying a lot on my chest. I wasn't expecting any of this when I decided to go into merc work." "18a-10"
"Lau" "One thing at a time, in order of importance. We get this refugee convoy out. That's the number one priority." "18a-11"
"Lau" "Once the refugees are safe, we find the nearest Commonwealth port and give Kendra to the Albans. After that, I can finally sit down and work out where we go from there." "18a-12"
"Lau" "Do you think I'm being too optimistic, planning too far ahead? The future seems so muddy with all the things going on right now." "18a-13"
"Lau" "But I suppose I've got to. That's how we survive. Life goes on around us even when everything seems overwhelming." "18a-14"
"Lau" "Well, looks like work calls. The waystation sensor reports have arrived. Thanks for listening, Ross. I really needed it." "18a-15"
hide lau

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SETBG "fleetcommunique.jpg"
PLAY music "Music_CW_OpeningTheme2"

ACTION FADEIN 0.5
SHOWICON navo file="portrait_navo" text=" " color="none" x=17 y=78
"Navo" "Looks like everyone's tuned in. Okay, let's start. Here's the situation." "18a-16"

SETBG "briefingscreen.jpg"
SHOWICON vicare file="icon_station3" text="Vicare Station" color="none" x=70 y=40
SHOWICON unknown file="icon_unknown" text=" " color="none" x=40 y=38
SHOWICON combine file="icon_cruiser2" text=" " color="none" x=40 y=50

"Navo" "Latona Waystation has reported Combine warships heading directly for Vicare station. They will arrive within the half-hour. We've run out of time." "18a-17"
"Navo" "The composition of the attacking force is hard to pin down, but the strength of their impeller signals suggest a battlecruiser task group at least." "18a-18"

HIDE unknown
HIDE combine

SHOWICON thanatos file="icon_cruiser" text="Thanatos Task Force" color="none" x=40 y=25
SHOWICON frigate1 file="icon_frigate" text=" " color="none" x=35 y=40
SHOWICON frigate2 file="icon_frigate" text=" " color="none" x=45 y=40

"Navo" "Captain Oberthur has placed the Thanatos and her escorts at full combat alertness. The Atlantean Federation warships will occupy the Combine task force while the refugee transports clear Vicare station." "18a-19"

HIDE thanatos
HIDE frigate1
HIDE frigate2

SHOWICON gogoltha file="icon_civtransport1" text="Convoy" color="none" x=40 y=20
SHOWICON transport1 file="icon_transportold" text=" " color="none" x=35 y=40
SHOWICON transport2 file="icon_transportold" text=" " color="none" x=48 y=40
SHOWICON nassau file="icon_destroyerold" text="Nassau" color="none" x=25 y=50
SHOWICON hoshi file="icon_corvetteold" text="Hoshikuzu" color="none" x=42 y=52

"Navo" "The Nassau and Hoshikuzu are not expected to fight the Combine ships, but are to stay with the convoy to screen against skirmishers." "18a-20"
"Navo" "I'm pretty damned glad. I don't fancy my chances against a Combine battlecruiser. Let the Federation fight the war, that's supposed to be what they do best right?" "18a-21"
"Navo" "While the Thanatos and her ships keep the Combine busy, the convoy will move to clear Vicare Station. Once at safe distance, the transports will jump out to rendezvous with the Renewal congregation." "18a-22"
"Navo" "For our pilots who haven't met Meiks and Ross, they're the two gunship pros from the Hoshikuzu. They'll be Alfa wing. Captain Lau is Bravo 1. Keep an ear out for her instructions and follow her target calls." "18a-23"
"Navo" "Everyone else will be distributed among Bravo and Charlie wings." "18a-24"
"Navo" "Okay. Captain Lau, Master Badami. Anything else to add? Good. Everyone has their role. Let's get out there and protect these refugees." "18a-25"
hide navo
ACTION FADEOUT 2
ACTION ENDMISSION