Transcript:Stepping Stone

Stepping Stone
Campaign Mission 09
Project Wingman
Given Order
Previous	Clear Skies
Alternate/Concurrent	N/A
Next	Pillars of Communications
Historical Data
Date	April 3, AC 432
Time	2200
Location	Wensleydale Range
Miscellaneous
Removed/Original dialogue	See here

This page includes a transcript of "Stepping Stone," the ninth campaign mission of Project Wingman.

Contract Details

CIF-36
Objectives:

• Secure a pathway to Solana Communications Facility

Briefing

CIF | Stardust: Monarch, this is an op just for you. You know I don't like admitting this, but mercenary pilots in this world are among some of the best; they get more air time, more time on target than any of us national pilots outside of the Periphery; in truth, you get the glamor we all thought fighter pilots were supposed to have when signing up for the Academy. That, and you're making five times what I make in a year. I wonder if that's why you went private, but...I don't think you're the type to give that answer, not to me anyway. What I'm trying to say is...you're capable, more capable than most getting this far in, and because of that, we need you on deck for a one-man mission.
Briefer: Cascadia's southeastern deserts host the Solana Communication Array, it was a Federation and Cascadian telecom venture meant to expand Cascadia's networking capability regardless of any thermal interference that traditionally plagues long-range communications. With that, communications between various Federation units are streamlined while limiting, jamming, and interrupting our own, nothing to say of the censorship abilities that are used to enforce the civilian information flow. This is one of the Independence Force's top targets; however, it's been outside our strike range until now. Due to its distance from our frontlines, no fuel can be wasted dodging or circumventing Federation anti-air systems en route. In short, we're sending you alone to clear up the most disruptive defense systems before we engage in a full-scale operation to knock out the facility. You will insert into the Chaohord Defense Region in the Raver Mountains and take out all critical defense systems under cover of night. The defense system is calibrated for mass aerial strikes, but a lone aircraft flying relatively level with the mountains should be able to slip through and take them out, dismissed.

Mission Splash

STEPPING STONE
LONE SORTIE
DAY 61 OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT
38°36’52" N, 105°55'36" W | WEATHER: INCLEMENT | 2200 LOCAL TIME
WENSLEYDALE RANGE | FEDERATION TERRITORY

Mission Dialogue

Mission Start

AWACS | Galaxy: Monarch, the radar defenses are pretty hidden away on the mountain range, but your pal Galaxy got them all marked out. After this mission, don’t tell me I never do anything for you.

• Hitman 1 WSO | Prez: He’s just pissed he ain’t sleeping tonight.
  • AWACS | Galaxy: No, I’m pissed because I have to spend it with you two, maintain radio silence, Hitman 1.
    • Hitman 1 WSO | Prez: Because Monarch needs to be told to be silent...

Long-range defenses have a much higher scan range and fire rate compared to standard defenses. Consider these factors into your approach.

Federation Air Defense: Shut off your TV, there’s nothing good on this late.
Federation Air Defense: What, you want to listen to the frickin’ snow instead?

Federation Air Defense: You hear that?
Federation Air Defense: Ah, it’s probably just one of our patrol squadrons.

Federation Air Defense: Bulletin from HQ, it had a section from Crimson Team themselves, something about taking the mercenaries the rebels hired seriously.
Federation Air Defense: Yeah? Why should I?
Federation Air Defense: So we don’t underestimate them.

After destroying first defense cluster

AWACS | Galaxy: Defense Cluster Alpha is down, from my scans, I read at least six other clusters in the area, designating them Bravo through Golf as we get them.

AWACS | Galaxy: You know, Monarch, I’ve heard a lot about why you three joined...Hitman, that is? Comic had her wings clipped, Dip was told he wasn’t good enough to fly out of the Academy, and you came in with them. My question, though, is what are you all looking for after all this time? You’ve made your fortunes and lost them so many times these last few years, so what else is there, huh? Nevermind, it ain’t like you’re gonna tell me tonight.

Federation Air Defense Command: [yawns] Okay, okay, I’m up, stay calm and recall all patrol squadrons within our grid, what’s the damage?
Federation Air Defense: They’re targeting our defenses and tertiary systems.
Federation Air Defense Command: How many?
Federation Air Defense: We’re not sure, we think it’s at least a flight.

Federation Air Defense Command: You hear that? The echoes...that’s only one fighter.
Federation Air Defense: A one-ship attack against an air defense facility? That's suicide!

AWACS | Galaxy: Got a message from 2 and 3, putting them through.
Hitman 2 | Diplomat: You lost without us yet, Monarch? Come on, we’re just a staticky radio call away, and hanging alone with Mick sucks.
Hitman 3 | Comic: I’ll frag Dip if he ends up as Hitman 1, straight-up, don’t take too long out there.
AWACS | Galaxy: Do you guys...actually like each other or what?

• Hitman 1 WSO | Prez: They do, trust me, even as Monarch’s backseater, it’s tough to break into their circle.
  • AWACS | Galaxy: Cute.

Federation Air Defense: It’s a single fighter, too dark to visually ID.

Federation Air Defense Command: It’s a mercenary.
Federation Air Defense: Huh, how can you tell?
Federation Air Defense Command: The mercs have been using fuel from out of country, cheaper for them and it burns in-engine differently, I can hear it.

Federation Air Defense: Why would the rebels send a single fighter?
Federation Air Defense: Maybe just for the hell of it? Don’t they get paid by target?

Federation Air Defense Command: Some Peacekeepers spoke about a pilot like this, it might be him up there...

Destroy all targets in the area

MISSION COMPLETE
Federation Air Defense Command: Evacuate the area and raise Regional HQ, tell them the mercs have one hell of a pilot around.
AWACS | Galaxy: Monarch, RTB, that’s one for the books.

Debriefing

Assassin 1 | Kaiser: I almost feel bad, Monarch, for making you come with us tomorrow to hit that communication facility, especially after what you pulled off tonight singlehandedly, though that was one hell of a thing you did and I got a feeling Operation Blackout will need you on point. We have a straight shot to Cascadia’s southeast and with any luck, we’ll have fuel to spare for the flight. Sicario is mobilizing en masse tomorrow morning, get some sleep, because this war isn’t going to win itself.