FILEVERSION 2

SETBG "fleetcommunique"

PLAY music "anironlite"
SHOWICON lau file="portrait_lau" text=" " color="none" x=50 y=23
"MESSAGE INBOX" "KATHERINE LAU - HOPEWELL"  ""
"LAU" "Ross. Don't mind me. Just thought I'd vent for a bit." "18a-01"
"LAU" "I'm going to fly out there with you and Meiks today. We're short on pilots. I know how to handle myself if it came to a fight, so don't worry about me." "18a-02"
"LAU" "Erikson's a capable crewman. I know she'll take good care of the Hoshikuzu but this still rubs me wrong." "18a-03"
"LAU" "It's annoying. I should be there on the bridge when the fight comes. I want to, I mean. But Erikson's capable, she knows what she's doing. I know I'm needed more in the cockpit." "18a-04"
"LAU" "Reverend Lightowler assures me everything will be fine. I wish I had his serenity. But then I don't have the luxury of having the Lord on my side." "18a-05"
"LAU" "Feels like one of these days I'll run out of luck. You push Fate for long enough, her debtors'll come knocking." "18a-06"
"LAU" "I suppose we've got some good people with us. Navo will be running ops on the Nassau. Kaur is itching to try out the Hoshi's weapons upgrades. And we've still got you and Meiks out there to save the day." "18a-07"
"LAU" "If there's anyone that can get through the storm that's about to hit, I suppose it'll be us right? We've been through some rough spots before this. If we're still here it means we're doing something right." "18a-08"
"LAU" "If our time comes maybe the karma we'll earn for helping these refugees might even count for something." "18a-09"
"LAU" "Sorry Ross. Been feeling philosophical nowadays what with everything. I wasn't expecting any of this when I decided to go into merc work." "18a-10"
"LAU" "I suppose I'm procrastinating having to confront my cousin again. I've decided to hand her over to the Commonwealth, have her answer for what she did at Kotus Anchorage." "18a-11"
"LAU" "Once we deliver these refugees to the Children of Renewal, we'll find the nearest Commonwealth port and give Kendra to the Albans. It's the right thing to do." "18a-12"
"LAU" "Do you think I'm being too optimistic, planning too far ahead? Sometimes it's hard to look ahead what with all the things going on right now." "18a-13"
"LAU" "But we've got to somehow, don't we? Life goes on around us even when everything seems overwhelming." "18a-14"
"LAU" "Well, looks like work calls. The waystation sensor reports have arrived. I'll send the word when we're ready to launch." "18a-15"


ACTION fadeout 1

hide lau
SETBG "fleetcommunique2.jpg"
PLAY music "Music_CW_OpeningTheme2"

ACTION FADEIN 0.5
SHOWICON navo file="portrait_navo" text=" " color="none" x=20 y=30
"NAVO" "Looks like everyone's tuned in. Okay, let's start. Here's the situation." "18a-16"

HIDE navo
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 bring these refugees to safety." "18a-25"
ACTION FADEOUT 2
ACTION ENDMISSION