"Not sure I agree sir."  Daniel said suddenly.

He worried momentarily he'd spoken out of place but the captain has asked for an opinion.  "I'm just a grunt sir so I can't speak for your flying but I think your boys need some training on the ground.  From what little I saw, at least a few of your men are trigger happy with no sense of tactics.  Bigger guns do not make you a better soldier sir."

"With all due respect, I think they were lucky they were not fighting a disciplined military unit.  A squad of stormtroopers would have killed a lot more.  I am more than happy to help drill your men into a fighting force.  Its what I did for the Empire before I. . .left.  Maybe in return you can teach me how to fly."

Daron sat by quietly as he listened to the others debrief. He seemed to be the most recent person to join them, and all he had done thus far was to pilot a shuttle craft and rescue one of theirs. Daron let the others do their talking, conversing about what went well and what went badly in their mission.

Zyra swept her eyes over the entire group, hoping for a little more feedback.  "So far you've told me we need better gear and more training in ground combat techniques.  Anyone care to agree or disagree?"

"As for the better weaponry, that is always ideal but we currently have to use whatever equipment we are supplied with by the Alliance.  Whilst there are some more specialised pieces in service they are likely to reserve those for their elite commando units.  The Black Talons are still only seen as a starfighter squadron by the powers that be.  Mind you, I imagine our latest 'endeavours' will cause a few of the higher-ups to change their attitudes."

Darak said nothing as they talked about Nirro.  He'd done what he'd been trained to do.  When Zyra asked for questions he spoke up.

"I have a question Captain.  What happens to people like Jek and myself?  I am not a member of your Black Talons or even the Alliance.  I'm an out-of-work medical officer.  My pilotting training involves a handful of hours in a simulator.  I'm certainly not a commando."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Sat 09 Feb 2008.

Daniel felt his hopes plummet somewhat as Zyra spoke.  He had held hopes of joining the Black Talon Squadron.  He hadn't considered the fact they were a starfighter squadron and would have little need for a grunt.  All he knew is that they were doing the kind of thing he'd left the Empire to do.  He wanted to fight opression and slavery.

But like the trained soldier he was, he kept his personal thoughts to himself and waited to be told what was happening.

"That will be a question for the commander.  We are indeed a starfighter squadron but we are trying to be so much more.  Unfortunately we must work within the parameters set by the PHA.  At worst I am sure we can find you work within the alliance, even if it is not with us.  We need all the help we can get."

"Well I know exactly what I'm going to do." Jek piped in.  "I'm still a final-year medical student.  I only stopped studying because I learned of the slaves whilst on a holiday and was determined what I could to care for them.  Now that the slave ring is broken and the prisoners freed I'm going back to med school.  I think I can help more people as a doctor then a commando."

After listening silently for a while, Flash spoke up.  "I have experience flying fighters and transports, but not capital ships.  After that little slip-up back there, I think it would be a good idea if I at least become familiar with them."

"Ground training, yes, and more simulator time," Jamie confirmed.
"Also...I think the best thing we could do is spend some "quality time" together.  We barely know each other.  We should all go to the mess hall together and talk it out over dinner sometime."

Listening to what was being said around him, Exilim let it digest for a moment before speaking up.

"Well I can't disagree that some better equipment would be nice, but I have to agree with Daniel that it's not everything. We need training on the ground and in flight." He paused for a second before continuing. "You'll have to agree that some of the choices we made out there were not the best. Studying tatics and training for a range of different scenarios is what we need. Then hopefully when we need it, the practice will make our lives a lot easier."

"Here's lesson number one."  a voice boomed from the back of the room, just as Exilim finished.  "Never leave your wingman.  I thought they taught that one to recruits before they ever got near a starfighter."

Mark stood in the doorway looking resplendent in his full dress uniform.  Even his rank badge had been polished to a shine.  The only thing ruining the effect was Mark's face.  He was clearly tired and irritable.  He moved into the room and waved for the guards to wait outside.


"Well ladies and gentleman.  I had a dream to create a new type of unit.  A group of specialists who were not only skilled pilots, but able to take on a number of ground roles as well.  Not just pilots, not just commandos, but versatile soldiers who could think on their feet and readily adapt.  I think we proved that without a doubt on Hydia four."

"What started as simple reconnaissance turned into a covert raid, coupled with the rescue of several dozen hostages, the destruction of a major slave ring and the commandeering of several vessels, including the in-space boarding and capture of a military cruiser.  Added to which, nobody can link our work to the PHA.  Rumours abound that it was a group of freedom fighters, others say a rival slave group.  The Hydian military are denying it ever happened.  They don't exactly want to admit a group of pirates stole a fully crewed capital ship and chased off the rescue team."

"It wasn't the smoothest operation, such situations rarely are.  However if the Alliance wanted to perform the same operation they would have needed the intelligence branch to perform the recon, an army commando unit to perform the raid, a starfighter squadron to extract the prisoners and a zero-g space trooper unit to board the cruiser.  Four different units from different branches of the military.  Four separate chains of command that would have agreed on nothing.  You have all far exceeded my expectations of you.  In my books you proved my dream a success."

"It is therefore with a degree of surprise and anger that I inform you that the Black Talons are being disbanded by the Perlemian Hydian Alliance, effective immediately."

Mark held his hands up requesting silence as the gasps and inevitable protests ensued.

"It is all a matter of perspective.  Whilst I think we performed admirably, each service seems to have its own narrow view.  The lawyers are screaming we had no right rescuing slaves from a planet where slavery is legal, the politicians are scared we will force the Hydians into bed with the Empire.  Each branch of the military is afraid we're overstepping our bounds and circumventing the chain of command.  Our only support was from the intelligence division who see the value of what we can do.  A few senior officer also see our value but they have little say in the scheme of things."

"As such, the Black Talons are to be disbanded, their memory erased.  All its members will be rotated back to regular starfighter units.  Nothing ever happened."

He bowed his head for a moment or two.  "I fought and I challenged them.  I took it to every General and Admiral with clearance.  In the end I lost and the Alliance see this as another failed experiment."

"I believe in the Talons.  I believe in its ability to take the fight to the Empire in a way the Alliance can't.  I believe it so strongly that one hour ago I submitted my resignation as Commander in the Perlemian Hydian Alliance Starfighter command.  As of now I'm a civilian.  I plan to take the Talons as an individual mercenary unit.  It will receive no support from the Alliance but I also hope they will not hinder me either.  I have a Corellian Cruiser, a couple of starfighters and a cache of plundered weapons to my name.  All military supplies will be returned to the alliance but all captured weapons will remain with me."

"Before I joined the alliance the local defense force I served had a tradition of paying a credit reward for any captured ships.  They called it 'prize money'.  I intend to award you with prize money for your capture, based on my systems rules.  The Alliance will give you nothing, but as a civilian I can do with my funds as I please."

"I know ask all of you to make a choice.  You will all be rotated back to units, your assignments will be sent to you presently.  Anyone who believes in the Talons as I do is welcome to join me in my fight.  I need all the support I can get.  Take the time to think on this decision.  It is not one to take lightly.  I will think no less of any person who remains with the Alliance.  It is very possible you will do more good here then with a rogue paramilitary group."




OOC:  This is an 'exit point' for the game.  The Talons are going rogue and leaving the Alliance.  Anyone who wants to rotate out may do so now.  I shall then determine if we need extra players.

Jamie's was the first jaw to drop open when the Commander...when Mark Sheppard informed them that the Black Talons were being disbanded.  But he just closed it again and listened, thinking hard.
In the short time he had served under Mark, he had come to respect the man and his command ability.  He thought to speak with Mark privately, but then an open dedication sounded better, for the benefit of those present.
"Sir," he began after Mark had finished, "Time to think won't change my position.  I'm not so much loyal to the Alliance as opposing the Empire; I believe I can reach my full potential under your command.  You have my support; I will file my official resignation as soon as possible."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Wed 13 Feb 2008.

Zenna sat in the back during the debriefing. She was not an offical part of the unit nor had she participated in whatever operation the unit had just finished. But it did give her an opportunity to watch the others.

The Commander didn't notice her sitting in the back when he made his announcement. She was not surprised that there were so many challenges. She had her own share of challenges too.

First her handler went silent. Zenna didn't know if the Empire silenced him or if he just went underground. But in light of Mark's announcement, she wondered if this situation was being played out elsewhere.

As she mused about her position, Zenna understood that she won't have to worry about not wearing a uniform. It was never her practice.

"Sheppard. I'll go with you." Zenna stated from the rear of the room. "At least I won't have to fill out any paperwork to rejoin your unit."

Daron listened as Mark explained everything that was happening and honestly he wasn't suprised. It reminded him of the bureacractic mess back home, when he still had a home.

Daron had nothing to go back to. He wasn't a member of the PHA military. His home world had been devastated. He had volunteered to help out the Black Talons once.

Daron stood up to talk. "Sir, if you'll have me, I'd be more than willing to work with the Black Talons again."

Disbelief was the first thing that flashed through Exilims' mind as Mark told them that their unit no longer existed. After what they had done and achieved he thought they deserved better treatment.

As he contemplated what was being said he realised that the bureaucracy would never see the benefit of what was envisioned by the Black Talons. With that insight, his decision was made.

"Count me in" his voiced piped up. "I can't see the point of hanging around here. I think under your command we'll be able to get more done. I'll be one step behind Jamie handing in that resignation thing."

Zyra was far less surprised at Mark's news than the others.  Having got back two days earlier she had known about the disbanding of the Talons before the others.  She had also known Mark long enough to realise how stubborn he could be when he wanted.

What did suprise her was the offer of prize money for the capture of the ships.  Whilst she too was familiar with the tradition, she wondered where the commander planned to get the money from.  He was not a wealthy man.  He owned a house he never visited and earned a Commanders pay, which was not much.  Where was he going to pull the money from.

"I'm sure you know that I'll follow you wherever you go sir.  In fact, I might know a few people who can help us.  I might, with a little cajoling and a lot of palm-greasing even be able to arrange a home base of sorts."

Darak shifted awkwardly.  "I'm not cut out for the mercenary lifestyle.  I've already had an offer of work with the Alliance.  Seems the infirmary here is short on medical officers and so I'm going to stay on with them."

"I'm in.  Or out, depending on how you look at it.  I was never very big on the whole large military organization thing in the first place."  Having had his say, Allen sits back in his seat, watching the others with his overly large eyes.

Mark held his hands up for silence once again.  He was surprised the support he had received from his team.  They'd only been together a week, two at most and already they would follow him out of the Alliance.

"I know this is a lot to think about.  You all have 48 hours leave to think it over and relax.  If at that time you still wish to join me then meet me here at 0800 in two days.  For those who don't come I wish you all the best in your endeavours."

Mark snapped a sharp salute and then left the room.




OOC:  Basically this is a chance for you to 'get to know each other' as Jamie put it while I wait for the last few stragglers to post their intentions (plus I have 1 or 2 people in the wings, asking to join.  Its all well and good to go rogue and stick it to the Empire.  The question is, how do you go about it?

Zyra watched the Commander leave.  She then turned to the others.  "Okay all, lets brainstorm.  If we're going to meet in a few days, lets make sure we have something to present.  If this is going to work we all need to pull our weight."

Moving to the buffet she piled up a load of pastries and grabbed a pot of caf with a cup.  "Must have the essentials', she mused.

Sitting at the table, she took a large bite of a pastry and a swig of her caf before starting.  "Now I've st up a few rebellion cells in the past and its not as easy as it looks.  You need plans, supplies, allies, a steady of flow credits and so on.  The alliance is not going to let us take our gear so all we have is our captured gear.  That consists at the moment of a single headhunter, a cloakshape that needs serious repairs, a cruiser that needs heavy modification and a cache of weaponry.  I don't personally have millions stashed away in hidden accounts.  We're going to need money and a lot of it."

"Another important thing is we need some staff for some of the more menial roles.  After all, if we're busy shooting and flying and the like, who's going to cook the food, launder the linen and fix the fighters.  We need a team of staff to handle day-to-day operations, wherever we set up."

"Ideas anyone?"  Zyra helped herself to another pastry while she waited.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:55, Fri 15 Feb 2008.

Daniel thought long and hard about his decision but no matter how he looked at it he could not change his mind.  He was a soldier, not a mercenary.  He had left the Empire and joined the Alliance because he believed in their ideals.  He did not know this Commander Sheppard well enough to trust his ideas to the same level.

Without a word to the others, Daniel stood, gave each a brief nod or handshake and then moved swiftly out of the room.

"Well I just left a cell that fell apart. But I might have a few contacts that I may be able to call up if necessary. But they won't risk open support so we're still going to have to figure out the basics."

Zenna paused allowed her to gather herself. "What about the slaves you were able to free? I understand that they're already being transports to a free colony. Would it be possible to speak with them before they leave? You might be able to rally a few to join you. They don't have to be fighting men. Just men willing to work for the same cause."

"Excellent idea," Jamie commented, stroking his chin.
"Unfortunately I've never set up anything like this before.  I don't know many people, either; I've been pretty isolated from the galaxy for the past few years.  We should keep our extra hands to a minimum, I think, because the more people we take on the more likely we are to get an information leak or a rat.  I'd also strongly advise against attaching ourselves to any particular place.  The more self-sufficient we are, the more we can move around.  The more we move around, the harder we are to find."

Daron took a seat again so that he could contribute to the conversation at hand.

"I don't really have much to offer in the way of what we are looking for aside from my skills. My home planet was decimated by disease and I was only barely able to escape the interdiction of the planet that the Empire had put upon it to keep the planet isolated from the rest of the galaxy."

He thought about what Jamie had to say about a small group. "On top of the increased chances of an informant, it's easier to move around the galaxy with only a few people. It draws less attention. If we require more people, we could come up with a cover for the need for a cruiser and a large crew."

Zyra listened and nodded as the ideas were thrown around.  "A lot of sound ideas.  However lets not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Firstly, take the Sarratoga.  She's going to need a lot of work before she flies again.  We have to make a whole new false identification for her, adjust her ion signature,  change her profile, and that's just so she isn't recognised as a Hydian IV vessel.  The commander wants to rip out the diplomatic pod and replace it with a mini-hanger so we can take our fighters with us in storage.  All this is going to take weeks of work and tens of thousands of credits."

"I already have a lead on where we will initially fly out of.  Its secure, has facilities big enough to handle us, our gear and the Sarratoga.  In fact, you should all start thinking about a new name for the cruiser.  When the slicers make a false history we might as well choose her new name together."