It would be nice to say that the X-wing technically the Confederated Free Systems Fleet designated them as SF-3(H) Jaegers but only pencil pushers called them that handled like a dream. Actually, Jack noted, it was a balky brute of a fighter that needed all the spacing of the four engines to turn as sharply as it needed to.
No offense, he mentioned as the training squadron of twelve X-Wings came out of the steep vertical climb that had lifted them out of the atmosphere of Angrezi, But Ive flown Death Gliders and in a dogfight those crates will be all over the six of an X-Wing in nothing flat.
Six? asked the instructor pilot, who was flying as Green One.
Behind, outside the gun arcs, Sam clarified.
Ah, Green One nodded. Yes, thats pretty much what happened the one time that Death Gliders and X-Wings did mix it up for real. Didnt do them very much good though.
Didnt do much good? Jack asked in surprise.
X-Wings arent supposed to mix it up with Death Gliders, Colonel, Green One explained. Think about it, youre piloting a craft equipped with four energy cannon at least three times as large as those of a Death Glider as well as an internal munitions bay. Does that description sound like an interceptor?
No, Jack agreed. I understand that the main role of the X-Wings is targeting warships that wont be able to out manuever them, but theyll still need to get past Death Gliders to do so. And someone has to keep the Goauld from using their Alkesh to swarm over your own captial ships.
I believe that that is my cue, another voice said, breaking onto the squadron channel. It took Jack a moment to recognise the voice as belonging to Captain Knaak, the commander of one of the Confederacy warships presumably the nearest of the six ships since it was angling towards them.
I believe that it is, Green One agreed. Ladies and gentlemen, for todays training well be running a simulated attack on the carrier Sparta. In order to keep things somewhat fair, she will only be protected by her interceptor wing, who should be launching right about now.
The moment that he said now, the side of the Sparta seemed to explode like a broadside from one of the old sailing warships that Jack had seen in old swashbuckler movies line after line of fire blazing away from the flank and it took Jack a moment to realise that what had been launched werent missiles, they were more fighters smaller than the X-Wings although with a similar long nose and three engines behind the cockpit and three short stubby wings, one rising as a dorsal fin, the other two angled downwards and were launching on full afterburners. No, not afterburners, he realised as he recognised the design. Turbo boost.
Vipers? Jack exclaimed. From a Star Destroyer?
Ah, I have a message from Lord Nekhrun for Colonel ONeill, Captain Knaak advised. He said to tell you, Dont be a canon-nazi, Colonel. I hope that that means something to you?
That hes got a smart mouth, Jack groused.
You hadnt already noticed that, sir? Sam asked innocently.
More properly, Green One said in a lecturing tone, What are approaching us are referred to as I-2(E) Sternhunds, the Confederacys current model of interceptor. But as Colonel ONeill has pointed out, anyone who doesnt have ink running through their bloodstream knows to call them Vipers. The standard practise is for the Vipers to clear the sky of Death Gliders and Alkesh while X-Wings deal with larger targets. For today, however, theyll be working to keep us from attacking the Sparta. Are there any questions?
Rules of engagement? Jack asked.
No close passes, Green One advised. Your systems are set to simulate weapons fire as in the previous runs, but a collision would seriously damage an X-Wing and more than likely kill the pilot of a Viper. All your proximity sensors are set to fire retros automatically if you pass within ten metres of someone but that wont do more than moderate a collision if youre moving too fast so stay aware. If the simulation programme logs you as disabled or destroyed then it wont register any shots you take, but it will unlock any restrictions caused by simulated damage and you should immediately withdraw and form up more or less where we are now. Alright, check in in descending order.
Green Twelve, weapons safe, all systems green, the first pilot confirmed.
Jack listened to the repetition of the phrases, checking his own boards. All the LEDs on his primary status panel were green but he had the damage control computer run a separate check before snapping the weapons controls to active and back to safe, seeing the reports confirm that the locks had functioned smoothly. Green Seven, weapons are safe and all systems are in the green.
Sam, who was flying as Green Six, repeated the words again and the ritual confirmation went on down the line until the instructor reported that Green One had his own weapons safed and all systems were green.
Right then, the man said with a smile. Since our valiant opponents confirm that they are also ready, lets go score ourselves a Carrier.
The X-Wings peeled off, Jack holding his position on Sams wing. Any idea on how to get past that crowd? Jack asked, refering to the Vipers, which had split into three squadrons but otherwise seemed content to just stay between the X-Wings and their target.
Lets try a straight run through them, she proposed.
Sounds good, agreed Jack. The major turrets are either side of the command tower. You go along the starboard side and Ill take port.
Understood. Sam brought her X-Wing into line for the proposed run, Jack moving out a little to leave enough space. On three?
Three, Jack said promptly, shifting his thumb from the trigger on his control stick to the turbo and accelerating rapidly ahead of Sam, engines blazing.
Jack! she shouted in annoyance and followed suit, blazing after him towards the Vipers and the mass of the Sparta behind them.
The Vipers, it would appear, had a plan in place for this exact contingency and at least six brought their noses around and opened fire with the cannon that were mounted at their wingroots. The damn things fired a lot faster than the heavier models on the wingtips of Jacks ride and he had to throw a little weave into his course just to evade them. Unfortunately, this slowed him down just a bit more than he really wanted too
And the next minute the X-Wing was at the centre of a shooting gallery as the Vipers adjusted for the his reduced speed and hammered his shields viciously low by bombarding them from what felt like every angle and try as he could he couldnt get loose from more than one or two at a time.
And that, my fellow pilots, Green One noted idly from where his own X-Wing was casually staying a good distance back, Is classic mistake number one for a green X-Wing pilot.
Jacks sensor board went red as his shields failed and the computer advised him that the cocpkit had been struck by three simulated plasma bolts that would, if real, have reduced his body to its component atoms in roughly a microsecond. With a humph, he pulled up and headed back to the rendevous point.
Never, Green One commented, never, try to break another fighters lock by manuever in an X-Wing. Would anyone care to guess what the real solution here is?
The Vipers scattered as Sam blazed forwards, hammering one of them with her own cannon when it didnt get far enough out of the way for her liking. The dart-like little craft died in a (simulated) explosion as she bored in on the Star Destroyer and the return fire from the Vipers failed to break down her shields before she was clear of them. Rather than try for a sternchase they backed off to watch the rest of the X-Wings, leaving her to the tender mercies of the Viper squadron closest to the Sparta, which were moving to intercept.
The Vipers can generate one hell of a lot of flack, Green One commented to anyone who was listening. However, unless they are right on your tail they will have a lot of trouble keeping that flack on you when youre moving fast and if they cant keep you under constant pressure then the shields on an X-Wing can take the beating for quite a while. A minute, at least. And when youre on turbo you can cross a lot of ground in a minute.
Sams X-Wing all but lit up on the scopes as almost every single component on the damage board went red. As as she could tell, something had just simulated punching straight from the nose of the fighter to the rear end with a diameter of effect large enough to have taken out all four engines.
Which wont help you if the ship youre heading for has a golden BB loaded in its main turrets, Green One said after a moment, his voice slightly betraying his surprise. Try not to get into the main arc, Green Six. You just took a square hit from a gun that outmasses your entire fighter.
.oOo.
Did you have fun? Daniel asked the two Air Force officers as they emerged from the air base locker rooms, freshly showered and back in comfortable BDUs.
Apart from the number of times we got blasted out of the sky, Jack said, yes, tons of fun. You should have come along, Daniel.
Im not a pilot, Jack. I think I can live without flying an X-Wing.
Your loss, Jack said with a shrug. Hey, Tealc, buddy. How are you doing.
I am well, ONeill, the Jaffa said, frowning down at the book he was reading, the same book that Nekhrun had presented him with two days before. This book is from Earth?
Yeah, I think the guy who did it wrote some of the Batman comics, Jack told him. Why, you like it?
Tealcs eyes were lit with something almost like religious fervor. I must obtain more of these books, ONeill.
More? asked Jack. I guess the guys written some more books.
No, more of this book, Tealc insisted. Many copies.
How many copies of the same book will you read, Tealc? Sam asked.
For the other Jaffa? Daniel asked, a step or two ahead of the others. Then again, he had spent a fair bit of the afternoon clarifying the historical background to the Battle of the Hot Gates to Tealc so he had a little more in the way of an idea where the big Jaffa was going.
Indeed, DanielJackson, Tealc agreed. This is a most inspirational story. I shall read it it Ryac soon. Master Bratac will also wish to hear it.
Its that good? Jack asked dubiously.
It is the story of a King who fancied himself a God and possessed a large and powerful army, Tealc explained. And of how a few brave men defied him and inspired an army to rise up and defeat him.
I guess I can see how that would be relevant, Sam agreed. Interesting that Nekhrun would give it to you.
Tealc frowned. He is Goauld, he said almost uncertainly. But he does not behave as a Goauld he. Then he broke off and leafed through the book. Does this mean what I believe that it means, DanielJackson.
Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory, Daniel read the words of Xerxes. I could almost hear Apophis saying something like that.
And Leonidas response? Tealc asked.
And I would die for any of mine, Daniel read. You think?
What, you think Nekhrun, a Goauld who admits himself that the Confederacy is a powerplay on his part, is making some sort of heroic sacrifice here? Jack asked.
Tealc didnt reply but Daniel did. Dont underestimate the power of a myth, Jack. This story obviously carries a lot of weight with the Confederacy for that matter, see what an impact its having on Tealc - and Nekhrun seems to think about it a lot. Look at the names of his ships: Leonidas, Sparta and the parallels here. A narrow place, the one planet where the System Lords can strike at him. Hes outnumbered, his enemies consider themselves Gods and encourage superstition. Its not impossible that he really does buy into this.
That would be insane, Jack disagreed. Hes a Goauld, you know how powerful that ancestral memory of theirs is.
Powerful enough to override eight thousand years of life, Jack? Most of the Goauld have spent eons pretty much doing the same things, Nekhruns been doing things that they probably cant even imagine. Im no psychologist but I dont think anyone could predict how complicated that must make the insides of his head.
Oh great, you think hes insane? Jack asked.
Maybe not insane, Daniel temporised, But certainly more than a little obsessive, and believe me as an archeologist Ive seen that happen more than once. If hes latching onto this then who knows where it could lead him to?
Okay, so theres a serious unbalanced Goauld with a fleet right out of Star Wars, Jack said and shook his head. Great, and I thought I was joking about the Darth Vader costume. I think that would be an improvement over the possibility that hell try to face off against the Goauld wearing a loincloth and a cape.
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
No offense, he mentioned as the training squadron of twelve X-Wings came out of the steep vertical climb that had lifted them out of the atmosphere of Angrezi, But Ive flown Death Gliders and in a dogfight those crates will be all over the six of an X-Wing in nothing flat.
Six? asked the instructor pilot, who was flying as Green One.
Behind, outside the gun arcs, Sam clarified.
Ah, Green One nodded. Yes, thats pretty much what happened the one time that Death Gliders and X-Wings did mix it up for real. Didnt do them very much good though.
Didnt do much good? Jack asked in surprise.
X-Wings arent supposed to mix it up with Death Gliders, Colonel, Green One explained. Think about it, youre piloting a craft equipped with four energy cannon at least three times as large as those of a Death Glider as well as an internal munitions bay. Does that description sound like an interceptor?
No, Jack agreed. I understand that the main role of the X-Wings is targeting warships that wont be able to out manuever them, but theyll still need to get past Death Gliders to do so. And someone has to keep the Goauld from using their Alkesh to swarm over your own captial ships.
I believe that that is my cue, another voice said, breaking onto the squadron channel. It took Jack a moment to recognise the voice as belonging to Captain Knaak, the commander of one of the Confederacy warships presumably the nearest of the six ships since it was angling towards them.
I believe that it is, Green One agreed. Ladies and gentlemen, for todays training well be running a simulated attack on the carrier Sparta. In order to keep things somewhat fair, she will only be protected by her interceptor wing, who should be launching right about now.
The moment that he said now, the side of the Sparta seemed to explode like a broadside from one of the old sailing warships that Jack had seen in old swashbuckler movies line after line of fire blazing away from the flank and it took Jack a moment to realise that what had been launched werent missiles, they were more fighters smaller than the X-Wings although with a similar long nose and three engines behind the cockpit and three short stubby wings, one rising as a dorsal fin, the other two angled downwards and were launching on full afterburners. No, not afterburners, he realised as he recognised the design. Turbo boost.
Vipers? Jack exclaimed. From a Star Destroyer?
Ah, I have a message from Lord Nekhrun for Colonel ONeill, Captain Knaak advised. He said to tell you, Dont be a canon-nazi, Colonel. I hope that that means something to you?
That hes got a smart mouth, Jack groused.
You hadnt already noticed that, sir? Sam asked innocently.
More properly, Green One said in a lecturing tone, What are approaching us are referred to as I-2(E) Sternhunds, the Confederacys current model of interceptor. But as Colonel ONeill has pointed out, anyone who doesnt have ink running through their bloodstream knows to call them Vipers. The standard practise is for the Vipers to clear the sky of Death Gliders and Alkesh while X-Wings deal with larger targets. For today, however, theyll be working to keep us from attacking the Sparta. Are there any questions?
Rules of engagement? Jack asked.
No close passes, Green One advised. Your systems are set to simulate weapons fire as in the previous runs, but a collision would seriously damage an X-Wing and more than likely kill the pilot of a Viper. All your proximity sensors are set to fire retros automatically if you pass within ten metres of someone but that wont do more than moderate a collision if youre moving too fast so stay aware. If the simulation programme logs you as disabled or destroyed then it wont register any shots you take, but it will unlock any restrictions caused by simulated damage and you should immediately withdraw and form up more or less where we are now. Alright, check in in descending order.
Green Twelve, weapons safe, all systems green, the first pilot confirmed.
Jack listened to the repetition of the phrases, checking his own boards. All the LEDs on his primary status panel were green but he had the damage control computer run a separate check before snapping the weapons controls to active and back to safe, seeing the reports confirm that the locks had functioned smoothly. Green Seven, weapons are safe and all systems are in the green.
Sam, who was flying as Green Six, repeated the words again and the ritual confirmation went on down the line until the instructor reported that Green One had his own weapons safed and all systems were green.
Right then, the man said with a smile. Since our valiant opponents confirm that they are also ready, lets go score ourselves a Carrier.
The X-Wings peeled off, Jack holding his position on Sams wing. Any idea on how to get past that crowd? Jack asked, refering to the Vipers, which had split into three squadrons but otherwise seemed content to just stay between the X-Wings and their target.
Lets try a straight run through them, she proposed.
Sounds good, agreed Jack. The major turrets are either side of the command tower. You go along the starboard side and Ill take port.
Understood. Sam brought her X-Wing into line for the proposed run, Jack moving out a little to leave enough space. On three?
Three, Jack said promptly, shifting his thumb from the trigger on his control stick to the turbo and accelerating rapidly ahead of Sam, engines blazing.
Jack! she shouted in annoyance and followed suit, blazing after him towards the Vipers and the mass of the Sparta behind them.
The Vipers, it would appear, had a plan in place for this exact contingency and at least six brought their noses around and opened fire with the cannon that were mounted at their wingroots. The damn things fired a lot faster than the heavier models on the wingtips of Jacks ride and he had to throw a little weave into his course just to evade them. Unfortunately, this slowed him down just a bit more than he really wanted too
And the next minute the X-Wing was at the centre of a shooting gallery as the Vipers adjusted for the his reduced speed and hammered his shields viciously low by bombarding them from what felt like every angle and try as he could he couldnt get loose from more than one or two at a time.
And that, my fellow pilots, Green One noted idly from where his own X-Wing was casually staying a good distance back, Is classic mistake number one for a green X-Wing pilot.
Jacks sensor board went red as his shields failed and the computer advised him that the cocpkit had been struck by three simulated plasma bolts that would, if real, have reduced his body to its component atoms in roughly a microsecond. With a humph, he pulled up and headed back to the rendevous point.
Never, Green One commented, never, try to break another fighters lock by manuever in an X-Wing. Would anyone care to guess what the real solution here is?
The Vipers scattered as Sam blazed forwards, hammering one of them with her own cannon when it didnt get far enough out of the way for her liking. The dart-like little craft died in a (simulated) explosion as she bored in on the Star Destroyer and the return fire from the Vipers failed to break down her shields before she was clear of them. Rather than try for a sternchase they backed off to watch the rest of the X-Wings, leaving her to the tender mercies of the Viper squadron closest to the Sparta, which were moving to intercept.
The Vipers can generate one hell of a lot of flack, Green One commented to anyone who was listening. However, unless they are right on your tail they will have a lot of trouble keeping that flack on you when youre moving fast and if they cant keep you under constant pressure then the shields on an X-Wing can take the beating for quite a while. A minute, at least. And when youre on turbo you can cross a lot of ground in a minute.
Sams X-Wing all but lit up on the scopes as almost every single component on the damage board went red. As as she could tell, something had just simulated punching straight from the nose of the fighter to the rear end with a diameter of effect large enough to have taken out all four engines.
Which wont help you if the ship youre heading for has a golden BB loaded in its main turrets, Green One said after a moment, his voice slightly betraying his surprise. Try not to get into the main arc, Green Six. You just took a square hit from a gun that outmasses your entire fighter.
.oOo.
Did you have fun? Daniel asked the two Air Force officers as they emerged from the air base locker rooms, freshly showered and back in comfortable BDUs.
Apart from the number of times we got blasted out of the sky, Jack said, yes, tons of fun. You should have come along, Daniel.
Im not a pilot, Jack. I think I can live without flying an X-Wing.
Your loss, Jack said with a shrug. Hey, Tealc, buddy. How are you doing.
I am well, ONeill, the Jaffa said, frowning down at the book he was reading, the same book that Nekhrun had presented him with two days before. This book is from Earth?
Yeah, I think the guy who did it wrote some of the Batman comics, Jack told him. Why, you like it?
Tealcs eyes were lit with something almost like religious fervor. I must obtain more of these books, ONeill.
More? asked Jack. I guess the guys written some more books.
No, more of this book, Tealc insisted. Many copies.
How many copies of the same book will you read, Tealc? Sam asked.
For the other Jaffa? Daniel asked, a step or two ahead of the others. Then again, he had spent a fair bit of the afternoon clarifying the historical background to the Battle of the Hot Gates to Tealc so he had a little more in the way of an idea where the big Jaffa was going.
Indeed, DanielJackson, Tealc agreed. This is a most inspirational story. I shall read it it Ryac soon. Master Bratac will also wish to hear it.
Its that good? Jack asked dubiously.
It is the story of a King who fancied himself a God and possessed a large and powerful army, Tealc explained. And of how a few brave men defied him and inspired an army to rise up and defeat him.
I guess I can see how that would be relevant, Sam agreed. Interesting that Nekhrun would give it to you.
Tealc frowned. He is Goauld, he said almost uncertainly. But he does not behave as a Goauld he. Then he broke off and leafed through the book. Does this mean what I believe that it means, DanielJackson.
Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory, Daniel read the words of Xerxes. I could almost hear Apophis saying something like that.
And Leonidas response? Tealc asked.
And I would die for any of mine, Daniel read. You think?
What, you think Nekhrun, a Goauld who admits himself that the Confederacy is a powerplay on his part, is making some sort of heroic sacrifice here? Jack asked.
Tealc didnt reply but Daniel did. Dont underestimate the power of a myth, Jack. This story obviously carries a lot of weight with the Confederacy for that matter, see what an impact its having on Tealc - and Nekhrun seems to think about it a lot. Look at the names of his ships: Leonidas, Sparta and the parallels here. A narrow place, the one planet where the System Lords can strike at him. Hes outnumbered, his enemies consider themselves Gods and encourage superstition. Its not impossible that he really does buy into this.
That would be insane, Jack disagreed. Hes a Goauld, you know how powerful that ancestral memory of theirs is.
Powerful enough to override eight thousand years of life, Jack? Most of the Goauld have spent eons pretty much doing the same things, Nekhruns been doing things that they probably cant even imagine. Im no psychologist but I dont think anyone could predict how complicated that must make the insides of his head.
Oh great, you think hes insane? Jack asked.
Maybe not insane, Daniel temporised, But certainly more than a little obsessive, and believe me as an archeologist Ive seen that happen more than once. If hes latching onto this then who knows where it could lead him to?
Okay, so theres a serious unbalanced Goauld with a fleet right out of Star Wars, Jack said and shook his head. Great, and I thought I was joking about the Darth Vader costume. I think that would be an improvement over the possibility that hell try to face off against the Goauld wearing a loincloth and a cape.
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.