Mess Hall: Ashlyn, Christian, Jamie, Neeva, Nirro, Zenna

Zenna chuckled at Nirro's comment. "Right. At the end of the sim, the Grey squadron chased off the Imperials. Yeah, we did suffer some losses. But you did save all the civilians of both ships."

"So that's a success in my book. Even if I got shot out of my seat."

The young woman paused, "The captain had some strong opinions, but I'm more interested in what the Commander thought of our work."

Neeva looked interested in Zenna's last comment.  "You heard some of the captain's opinions?"

OOC:  I am in the mess hall too, I am just sitting off to the side eating my food in quiet.

Mess Hall: Ashlyn, Christian, Exilim, Jamie, Neeva, Nirro, Zenna

"Yes. She was clearly disappointed with some of the decisions that were made in the sim. Shall I elaborate?" The young woman looked around those gather and continued.

"She mentioned Lars and Webb. If they had gone after the wounded Gamma 4 instead of Gamma 6, the craft would have been destroyed. Then you'd only have one torpedo launched instead of two." Zenna looked at Jaime, "She made sure to point that out to us."

"She wants smart pilots and flight leaders. It didn't sound like she was impressed with Webb and Grimm. She figured that you were leading your flight wings during the engagement with the Tie Bombers."


Zenna looked over her shoulder to make sure that the Commander or the Captain hadn't walked in on their discussion. "The Captain also stated." She looked around at some of the eager faces. "Now don't quote me on this. She didn't want this bit of information to get back to the Commander."

"The two-pronged attack on the Blood Angel should have worked. It only failed because the Commander dumbed down your missiles and improved the Frigate's point defense lasers for thirty seconds." Zenna paused and let that last sentence sink in.

"The Commander was not testing our ability to shoot down Tie's, he was testing our ability to adapt to the situation. An impossible situation."

Zenna shook her head slowly. "Do you think the Commander intends for us to tackle the impossible? I wasn't told much when I was transferred to this unit. I'd love to fight against the Empire as much as the next guy. But the Empire is huge, spread across thousands of systems. Our resistance here is tiny in comparison."

FYI: There is no Alliance at the moment :)

Ashlyn stared at his fellow officer incredulously.  Was this guy for real?  Was he truly a halfwit or did he have habit of contradicting himself?




Ashlyn returned Christian's gaze, not in the least bit intimidated by the lanky halfwit.

"Lets get something straight meathead.  Your orders were stupid.  If you can't recognise that you don't deserve to wear that rank badge of yours.  You ran off alone and made choices that would get people killed.  Neeva over there showed tactical ability and experience.  You just showed an inability to lead."




Ashlyn turns to Nirro.  "It matters more than anything.  If we just say well we did our best and don't acknowledge our mistakes in this mission then we just set ourselves up to fail again.  Sweeping our failures under the rug does not make us better pilots.  I concede I didn't fly well enough to stay in the fight and I will work on that.  Our meathead friend over there is suggesting his tactical decisions were sound.  How has he learned from the experience?  Next time the TIE's may not be simulated."

Nirro sits through Ashlyn's tirade, Grey 4, That is true. But I wasn't implying that we should disregard our mistakes. I was merely stating that the sim was designed for us to lose. Well more than likely anyway, the point is we should celebrate our victory first. When we are in debreifing we can go over our mistakes. If you keep focusing on your failures there really is no point to anything.

Jamie sighed as he listened to Grey 4's tirade, and tried to find the words to keep the argument from continuing along the same path.
"I don't recall anyone claiming that their tactics were completely sound.  We were, however, massively outnumbered and outgunned.  The SIMs are all about seeing who is right, and who is dead.  He survived."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Tue 07 Mar 2006.

Xil chuckled out loud.  "I know I have to back up a fellow sniper, but he hit you from a klick out with that comment.  Anyways, we can work out who is inept with tactics later."

Ashlyn turns to Jamie.  "Grey 1 right?  So you are saying because I died and 10 did not that makes him right?  If his tactics had killed the crew of the Sarah and the Deepstar whilst he made it to hyperspace would make him right?  I think your reality thrusters need a slight realignment there."

"I admit I died because the TIE flew better than I did.  I recognise that many of our team survived and saved the two ships through teamwork and tactics, some of which you yourself derived.  It does not make everyone who survived automatically right."

Christian looks at Ashlyn sith a cold glare.  Was this guy for real! he thought.

"I admit, that some of the moves I pulled out there were risky, but they were by no means stupid.  And, just because I survived and you didn'tr means that I think your wrong and i'm right..I never said that."

"What I said that the sim was designed to test our teamwork skills in grave suituations, and an ability to think on our toes."

Christian looks at the group there.  "I'm the first to admit that I didn't do the best, didn't use my best judgement, but thats because this suituation is a first for me, and i'm open to learning.  This exercise here has taught me something."

Some of the people here are excelent stragestists..I give credit where it's due."

Christian looked at Ashlyn in the eyes now, not flinching or backing down.

"But I, at least have the decency to reserve judgement on people, instead of calling them idiots and meatheads."

His gaze not flinching, the last words were in a low tone.

"And don't call me such again."

Neeva put down her fork and took a sip, still smiling and looking quite comfortable.  The attractive Twi'lek reached over and put a hand on Christain's shoulder.  "Easy Christian.  Laughing Boy here is just doing what any good commander would do: push our buttons to help us learn from our mistakes.  Think of it as a warm-up for the debriefing we're about to have with the commander.  Heck, for all we know Laughing Boy IS the commander."

Neeva turned to Ashlyn with a cat-like smile.  "We can all safely say that tact is not Laughing Boy's strong suit.  Personally, I'd like to shoot him and go back to my breakfast with new friends, but I'm guessing I'd get caught.

Neeva put down her cup of juice.  "So, let's do this right.  Laughing Boy clearly has some ideas about what went wrong and what we could have done instead, so lets hear what he's got to say."

Neeva finally directed her comments to the agitating pilot.  "You do have more to offer than name calling, I presume."

"I say we leave the judgement for the Commander and just focus on our own actions.  But hey, all I do is shoot people for a living..."

Nirro just sits quiet and watches Neeva try to calm down a volatile situation. If we can't even get along in the mess hall, how are we going to make it when we are out there fighting? He sighs deeply, shakes his head and goes back to his meal.

"If his tactics had killed a thousand souls, I'd let him be, as he'd be going through enough punishment already without me adding to it.  As I remember, though, the surviving pilots did a fine job, and the thousand souls survived."

OOC: Uh Christian you might want to go back and re-read my post.  The comment you are referring to was from a discussion between Ashlyn and Jamie.  So you're saying you never made a comment when nobody is even suggesting you did!  Need to keep an eye on who is saying what.  I know it gets confusing here.




Ashlyn spills his caf in suprise.  He nearly bursts into laughter, only the long training he'd had in patience and discipline kept him in check.  Even so a small smile began to etch its way onto his lips.

"By the Force, are you threatening me?   You want me to not call you methead and you try to enforce this through your glares and threatening tones?  Thank you for proving me right about you."




Ashlyn ignored Neeva's verbal barb and focused on her question.

"Firstly, let me introduce myself.  I am Flight Officer Ashlyn Bedix, formally a rifleman and sniper in the ground forces I recently transerred to Starfighters."

"I've been playing this simulation over in my mind since my 'death'.  Too many of us, myself included put too much faith in our flying skills and our craft.  We were too cocky.  I heard people cursing on the comm when they couldn't down a TIE fighter.  How arrogant is that of us?  The TIE fighter is new off the production line whilst we're flying craft whose heydey was back in the clone wars.  They are faster, more maneuvarable and better armed.  Whatsmore they are flown by rigourously trained Imperial pilots."

"We can't beat them one-on-one yet we tried.  The Y-Wings scored better than us on this I'll wager.  Not because they flew newer craft because they worked as a team and concentrated mass fire on single targets."

"Whilst meathead did get it right when he said teamwork was the goal, he failed to point out we failed miserably as a team.  We were thrown out there with only our wingpairs and a designation.  We didn't from flights and designate flight leaders or a squadron commander.  We didn't clearly determine our goal, we just started shooting at TIE's."

"Personally I think our victory, if you can call it that was more luck than skill."

Ashlyn sat back, more interested in a response from the Twi'lek and Grey 1 than from the verbal slugging match with the meathead.

Jamie pushed his food aside to listen to 'Laughing Boy'.
"You have no idea how perfectly Imperial pilots are trained; they don't lose to luck.  Starting off, everyone was their own leader.  We started losing.  When multiple pilots started working on the same plans, we started winning.  Teamwork is invaluable, but can't exist when your leaders argue.  It also can't exist when teammates don't get along."
Jamie stood up and addressed all the pilots.
"I suggest we drop the childish nicknames and accusations, learn each others real names, and consider it duty to get along.  I'm Jamie Webb, currently designated Grey 1."
Jamie chuckled as he sat down.
"That's gonna change...heh..."

Neeva listened with interest to Ashlyn and then Jamie.  The Twi'lek's eyes occasionally shifted to catch a reaction on the face of Zenna, Nirro, or one of the others.

The Twi'lek looked down at her tray, realizing that she'd eaten too quickly, and probably too much.

She spoke in a more sober, less playful tone.  "Jamie's right, Ashlyn: the disrespect has to stop.  You're not doing yourself any favors by making enemies of your squadmates--and you're not helping the squad either.  You're overall assessment of the SIM is not far off the mark; but nobody is going to listen if you make it personal, they're just going to dig further into their positions."

"You can get mad at me, you can complain in my face all you want, you can even lose your cool every now and then and say things we'll both regret; but this calm, calculated disrespect is not going to last long--one way or the other."

Neeva raised a hand to halt any interruption.  "That's not meant as a threat.  It's not my job to teach you respect for your squadmates.  You'll either learn it from the Captain and Commander or you'll be gone.  So, it's more of a prediction than a threat."

Neeva picked up her cup and finished her juice.

"Now, you've outlined what went wrong.  Can you tell us what you'd have done if you were in charge of the Squad from the get go?"  Neeva's question seemed genuine, she was clearly interested in Ashlyn's ideas.

<OOC: Sorry.  It sertainly is a bit confusing who is talking to who.  I'll try and keep better track of things though.>

Christian looked at Ashlyn, the contept clearly showing on his face.  He looked at Jamie and Neeva, and his demeanor softened slightly.  Ne nods at Jaime's and Neeva's comments.

"My name is Christian Grimm.  I was a soldier and a weapons specialist..mainly hand-to-hand combat and weapons.  I was on my way in training for infiltration, special ops, but my piloting skills got me here.  I learnt to fly from my father and brother.  My brother was a pilot for the republic, but has flown for the seperatist movement.  He now flies against the Galactic empire, and last i heard, was connected with commander organa.  My Father is.." Christian's face shows a hint of sadness for a second, which fades in a split second, then he continues.  "..was a mechanic and pilot."

Christian sits again, and takes a drink.  He looks at Ashlyn.  "And, if I was threatening you, you'd know about it."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Thu 09 Mar 2006.

Ashlyn ignored Christian's purile attempt to get in the last word.  The man was clearly a meathead wether he knew it or not.  He instead refocused on Jamie and Neeva.

"I am glad you are not making threats.  I for one have no time for threats.  My training allows for none.  I issue no threats, fire no warning shots.  I eliminate the enemy with my first shot, for I will likely not get a second."

"I am unsure of the best way to have handled this sim.  I am a junior officer and novice pilot.  My strategic skill is even worse.  I can plan an assassination and bullseye a mark and five klicks with a strong crosswind with poor light.  Planning strategies at the squadron level is beyond my skill.  That's probably why I'm not a Commander, that and my lack of time in the service."

"I do know that once we began to work together, we improved.  I watched how Green Squadron fought with precision and skill and they were just a computer simulation, at least I assume they were."

"This simulation showed me why we need the Commander and the Captain.  We are not ready to make the big decisions yet.  But that's to be expected.  We will learn with time."

"That you will Flight Officer." says a familiar voice causing everyone to jump.

A Zabrak female dressed in the uniform of a captain appears behind Ashlyn, almost as if by magic.  None had noticed the approach of the woman whose voice was familiar to all at the table as the squadron's executive officer Captain Zyra Jax.  She waves the pilots down who stand to salute her.

"At ease pilots.  In the mess we dispense with formalities in this squadron.  I have come to inform you to report for debreifing at 1130 sharp in uniform.  Those of you still in your flight suits you'd better change quickly as you've only got ten minutes.  The commander does not appreciate tardiness."

"Dismissed."  Without another word she saunters off.

Zenna set down her fork and slid her plate to the side. "Very true. But there will be times when we'll have to work without their orders. They may not be in communications with us at all time."

"When that happens we'll have to work together and take cues from those of us that are more skilled in one area or another." The young woman looked at Ashlyn, "If we're ever called to assassinate someone, I'm sure I'll defer to your leadership. But I really hope that, that won't be necessary."

"I know that the Imperials have taken citizens at the dead of the night, and killed outspoken critics. But I hope that our group of freedom fighters won't resort to that kind of action, including assassinations."

PM

This message was deleted by the player at 02:28, Fri 10 Mar 2006.

Nirro groans. He takes one last bite of food and one last drink of water and says Well guys, guess I'll see you in debriefing. with thats said Nirro takes his plate to the counter and doubletimes it to his room making sure that he trakes the time to put on his dress uniform properly and that he is looking presentable. He then walks quicly to the turbolift and heads to the correct floor and enters the debriefing room.

"And I just changed..."
Jamie jumped up and left the mess hall immediately to change into his uniform.