Mission 3.15 - This week's mission is called "Ram on Loan".

::Castor stands, beginning to look as if he's getting back to being 
his formerly animated self.  He starts to speak before all have filed 
in, and well before all are seated.  He hears remarks about some of 
the Cadets being missing::

I need Grey Flight 1 to scamble in about a minute and a half - we've 
got an Imperial Star Destroyer which has just entered the area.  The 
Ram's Head 2 is going to be here quite shortly, and it is imperative 
that it rendezvous with us.  Our B-Wings are still under repair, so 
the few Y-Wings that are left are what you get.  Coordinates on where 
to catch up with the Odin are being fed to your R2 units.  Remember, 
we want that Star Destroyer if at all possible.  I'll meet you all 
back here for the debrief.  Now, GIT!!

::Four of the Grey pilots jump to their feet, and pilots, both Grey 
and Cadet fall over themselves to get out of the way.  After the 
sound of pounding flight boots fades, Castor continues::


I want Grey Flights 2 and 3 on standby in X-Wings.  ComCentral is 
sending out word to Flight 1, as we speak, that the Ram's Head 2 is 
coming in, and it's being escorted by a Flight of X-Wings manned by 
the Cadets that are absent.  Yes, that's why they're not here, and 
yes, I heard th questions regarding them.  I'll se EVERYone back here 
when this is over - I've got some information for you in the debrief.  
Stations!!

::And the battle ensues.  A few of the Cadet and Grey pilots have to 
be recovered by the Rescue and Salvage Team, but everyone makes it 
back on board safely.  After the few non-serious wounds have been 
seen to, Castor meets all the Grey and Cadet pilots in the "Bar and 
Grill".  It has long been custom for all the combat pilots to meet 
there after any mission - whether they flew or not - to collect their 
thoughts and await debrief.  Befitting, and in respect of, this 
custom the rest of the crew always avoids the "Bar and Grill" for the 
rest of the evening.  Once all combat pilots are present, the doors 
are normally closed and do not open again until the pilots disperse.  
This being the case, when the doors started to slide open, most heads, 
and complete attention, immediately turned toward them - the room 
became suddenly still, and tension filled the air::

::As Castor started talking even before he entered the "Bar and 
Grill", and some of the pilots slumped to lay their upper torsoes on 
the tables::

At ease!  ::Castor said, expecting some of the newer Cadets to jump 
to their feet and pretend to be statues - which they did.  He then 
sat up on the back of the nearest chair with his feet on the seat.  
From this elevated position, he began::

I didn't mean to startle you - I just figured it would be better for 
me to come to you, than the other way around.

Congratulations Flight 1!  Excellent work!

Now, if everyone will relax, I'll tell you what I didn't have time to 
before.

::At this point, Commander Torin Qel Droma, who's feet never, even 
slightly began to twitch from their spot on the table he sat at (with 
his back to the wall - old habits die hard) called out::  Hey, 
bossman!  If I relax any more, I'm gonna be dead!

::Lieutenant Commander Qixx Dragoon called out from a few tables 
away::  Yo, Tor!  I thought you already WERE - I was 'bout to go 
through your pockets lookin' for loose change!

::As the following laughter died down, including Castor's, he 
continued::

General Greedo believe's that he has the coordinates of the main 
force of the armada belonging to those who are in charge of the Star 
Hammer project.  His familiarity with Imperial procedure has prompted 
him to request the use of the Ram's Head 2, which he has received.

As you may, or may not, know, the Ram's Head 2 is one of the first 
Corvette's developed by the Alliance using the "super-shield" 
technology which we "borrowed" from the Emperor sometime before the 
first Death star was destroyed.  The General, knowing the Imperial 
mind lock in regimentation, anticipates that the Ram's Head 2 will 
be extremely useful in the near future.

In any case, largely due to your diligence, we have already gained 
two names; Opaline Celestra, and Emerald Stellarin.  The General 
believes these are two members of Palpatine's personal force, the 
Emperor's Hand.  If this is so, and I have no reason, whatsoever, to 
doubt his memory, then the Star Hammer project was likely initiated 
and funded by Palpatine, himself.  Since Palpatine's death, we are 
assuming that the project has been subsidized by whatever means 
available.  Knowing Kedrin, and the company he's been keeping lately, 
we assume that slavery has carried much of the funding load.

We also have found that, from notations in the computers we have 
captured, standing orders to eliminate all "hinderances" to the 
project.  From this we infer that research is behind schedule, and 
over budget.  We draw the further conclusion that we are going to 
become the center of attention for Opaline and Emerald - and then 
they'll have us right where we want them.  Up close and personal.

So, now we have a pretty good idea of "Who?" (Palpatine, by way of 
two of the members of the Emperor's Hand), fairly scary idea of 
"What?" (the Star Hammer - a Doom's Day weapon of such incredible 
strength that it can destroy a star without entering the system), 
a concept of "How?" (a research station dedicated to the building 
of this weapon), a fairly solid idea of "why?" (because Palpatine 
was, and his followers are, insane - no rational mind could conceive 
an idea such as snuffing an entire solar system just to eradicate a 
relatively few people who strongly disagree with a moral cast) - the 
only critical question that remains is "where".  There after, the 
only question that matters for us is "when?" - and I assure you, 
then when will be shortly.

That's the story.

I'm glad you all made it back safely.  I get no indication from the 
General that our services will be required for at least the next 36, 
or so, hours.  Gentlepersons, I bid you good evening.

::Castor stood and threw the crowd an easy salute, turned and quietly 
left.  Shortly after the doors closed the bar became quite busy::

::Torin Qel Droma and Qixx Dragoon traded scowls.  A quick look 
passed quickly between the all members of Grey, as if it were an 
item thrown from one to the next, each in turn, as if each 
instinctively knew the location of the next in line.  None of the 
Cadets seemed to notice when the Grey members all started drinking 
the same drink as the person sitting next to them.  Nor did they 
notice when the Grey pilot switch his mostly full glass for the 
Cadets mostly empty one.  After a time, none noticed when the Grey 
pilots started to trickle out one by one, but all of a sudden the 
Cadets were left alone.  One of them remembered Torin muttering, 
early on, something to the effect of::

Thirty six...... maybe.......... just in case........... 

