by Neill "Ranger" Magill
Morning Star ToD II: Hearts and Minds
Background
The Morning Star has been assigned to diplomatic duty. We are to deliver the Ambassador Loveck to the Planet Duvall V (either a Purple or Yellow IFF signal). Loveck will attempt to negotiate a treaty with the Planetary officials that will ally Duvall V with the New Republic. Once the Morning Star has safely delivered the Ambassador it will remain in the sector to assist the Ambassador if she should need assistance.
01 The Ambassador (Red, X-W; Blue, B-W)
A flight element from both Red and Blue Squadron will fly as an honour guard for the Ambassador as she arrives on the Morning Star. The fighters must ensure the Ambassador's survival, and the secrecy of the mission. Some Imperial patrols show up, they must be destroyed completely.
NR Craft: Morning Star, Regis, 2 B-W Blue, 2 X-W Red, 1 SHU
Imp Craft: 2 CRV, Several GUNs
02 Reconnoitre (Red, A-W; Blue, Y-W)
Red Squadron has been ordered to reconnoitre the outer reaches of the Duvall System in advance of the Morning Star’s arrival. Any monitoring devices must be destroyed, all craft passing through the area are to be inspected. A probe must be destroyed, several ships passing between them must be inspected. A pirate raid must be stopped.
NR Craft: 4 A-W Red, 2 Y-W Blue (reinforcements), Morning Star, Regis (arrive after all other goals complete and deploy more fighters)
Pirate Craft: SHUs, Y-Ws, Z-95s, R-41s
03 The Arrival (Blue, X-W/B-W)
Blue Squadron has been assigned to escort the Ambassador's shuttle from the Morning Star to one of Duvall V’s outer defence platforms. During the trip a pirate force arrives in the system and starts a raid on some of the local shipping. The Ambassador orders Blue Squadron to assist the local militia in stopping the raid.
NR Craft: Morning Star (some distance from the PLT), 2 X-W Blue, 2 B-W Blue.
Duvall Craft: PLT, Z-95s
Pirate Craft: TRNs, Y-Ws, R-41s, T-Ws
04 Ambush! (Red, X-W)
During the initial negotiations with officials from Duvall V the Ambassador has learned that the planet has developed a serious pirate problem since Endor robbed it of Imperial protection. Red Squadron has been ordered to patrol the local hyperspace transit points to see if they can get a trace on the pirates. A patrol comes out of hyperspace into an area that is being mined by a pirate transport (ion mines). The patrol must destroy the mines and the pirate forces in the area before any can escape.
NR Craft: 2 X-W Red
Pirate Craft: TRN (laying mines), ion mines, 2 Z-95, 2 T-W, 2 Y-W.
05 Escort (Red, A-W; Blue, X-W)
Red and Blue Squadron will provide assistance to the local security forces who are escorting a convoy to Duvall V. We are to ensure that the pirate forces do not disrupt trade in this area.
NR Craft: 2 A-W Red, 2 X-W Blue
Duvall Craft: 2 System Patrol Craft, 4 Z-95
Pirate Craft: TRNs, Y-Ws, R-41s, T-Ws
06 Bite of the Sand Tick (Red, X-W; Blue Z-95/Y-W)
The pirate group seems to have clocked our presence in the area, they are not attacking the convoys we are escorting through the sector. While this is gaining us a great deal of good will with the officials of Duvall, it is felt that if we could remove the treat completely Duvall V officials would certainly sign the treaty. We will be sending a group of Z-95s to escort one of the convoys in the hope that they are mistaken for the local security forces. If the pirates take the bait we will ambush them, take prisoners and then get some answers.
NR Craft: 4 Z-95 Blue, 4 X-W Red, 4 Y-W Blue, TRNs, SHUs, Regis
Duvall Craft: 2 Z-95
Pirate Craft: 1 CRV (Capture), TRNs, Z-95s, T-Ws, R-41s, Y-Ws
07 Capture Informant (Blue, X-W/Y-W)
Recent interrogations of captured pirates have revealed that they have an informant within the Duvall V security forces. We believe we have discovered the location and time of his next meeting with the pirates. Blue Squadron will intercept this meeting and capture the official so he may be brought to justice for his crimes.
NR Craft: 2 X-W Blue, 2 Y-W Blue, 1 SHU, Morning Star (arrives after capture)
Duvall Craft: 1 SHU (containing the Head of the Duvall V security force, he is the traitor)
Pirate Craft: 1 SHU, CRV, Z-95s, R-41s
08 Patrol (Red, X-W)
Red Squadron is performing a routine patrol of the outer reaches of the Duvall System, for pirates, when an Imperial patrol force jumps in. Red Squadron must destroy them so they cannot report the presence of NR forces in the system.
NR Craft: 4 X-W Red
Imp Craft: 3 CRV, GUNs
09 Raid Pirate Base (Red, X-W; Blue, Y-W)
The former head of the Duvall Security Force has given out plenty of information about the pirates in return for a much lighter prison sentence. We are now in a position to raid the pirates main base and wipe their threat out.
NR Craft: X-W Red, Y-W Blue, Regis
Pirate Craft: 3 Asteroid Laser Batteries, Several Containers, 3 CRVs (called <insert_easter_egg_names>, assorted fighters (incl. 2 X-W) and SHU that escaped in mission 7 (should escape again.)
10 A New Ally (Red, X-W; Blue, B-W)
Duvall V has agreed to join sign a treaty to ally itself with the NR because of our help in stopping the pirate raids on their commerce. All that now remains is the official signing. Red and Blue Squadrons will provide the honour guard for our Ambassador during the ceremony.
NR Craft: Morning Star, SHU, 2 X-W Red, 2 B-W Blue
Duvall Craft: FRG, TRN, 4 Z-95
Imp Craft: VSD, T/F, T/B
11 Where has all the Intelligence gone? (Red, A-W)
Red Squadron will be making reconnaissance runs to several possible staging points for the VSD that disrupted the treaty signing. All craft in these areas must be inspected before you with draw.
NR Craft: 2 A-W Red
Imp Craft: Factory, 4 CRVs, M/FRG, STRCK, VSD, ISD, T/F and T/I
Neutral Craft: SHU from mission 7 and 9 (bonus points for destroying?), several other craft that arrive an leave.
12 Base Defence (Blue, X-W/B-W)
Analysis of the data collected by Red Squadron leads us to believe that the Imperials will strike at one of two locations. Blue Squadron and the Morning Star will defend what we consider to be the least viable of these options. Red Squadron and the Regis will guard the other.
NR Craft: 2 X-W Blue, 2 B-W Blue and other Blues, Morning Star.
Duvall Craft: PLT from mission 3, Z-95s
Imp Craft: M/FRG, 4 CRV, T/I, T/B and GUN. ATRs for capturing station.
13 Regroup (RTS, Z-95)
While Blue Squadron managed to hold off the Imperial forces that attacked it, Red Squadron were not so lucky. The Regis was able to escape and Red Squadron should be arriving at our rendezvous soon. Captain Daly has ordered the Training Section to scramble to cover the tired Reds as they return for a quick rest as their fighters are rearmed.
NR Craft: 4 Z-95 RTS, Regis, returning X-W and A-W Red.
Imp Craft: GUNs
14 Resupply (Blue, Y-W)
Intel has learned the route of one of the Imperial task forces resupply convoys. Blue Squadron are to ambush them. Our recent operations have left us low on certain essential supplies, if you see anything we need you must disable the craft so it may be captured.
NR Craft: 4 Y-W Blue, (2 Blue X-W as non-player craft), TRNs (to capture FRTs)
Imp Craft: FRG, T/F, FRT (+ other unarmed freighters) 2 should probably contain useful supplies.
15 S.O.S. from Duvall Command (Red, X-W; Blue, B-W)
The Imperial Taskforce is attacking the Fleet Headquarters of the Duvall Security Force, we must respond with all speed to stop this attack.
NR Craft: X-W Red, B-W Blue. Morning Star (arrives when battle over).
Duvall Craft: PLT (+ CONs), FRG, Z-95s. SPC (badly damaged and under guns of VSD at start of mission)
Imp Craft: VSD, STRCK, T/I, T/B. GUNs?
16 Gunfight for Duvall V (Red, X-W/A-W; Blue, Y-W)
It is now or never. If we don’t defeat this Imperial taskforce we will loose Duvall V mere days after it signed a treaty with the New Republic. If this were to happen the consequences would be disastrous. No one would be willing to join us, some may even leave if we cannot show that we can protect our interests.
NR Craft: Morning Star, X-W Red, A-W Red, Y-W Blue.
Duvall Craft: Z-95. SHU. SPC
Imp Craft: ISD, T/F, T/I, 2 waves of 3 T/A, GUNs.