X-WING

　A few days after I got back from my solo mission, I began to suspect that something big was about to happen. We weren't told anything at first, but the senior officers seemed agitated, and I couldn't help but notice that many senior staff meetings were taking place. Nobody was talking about it, but there was a strong feeling of anticipation onboard. I asked Hamo whether he knew anything. He had made captain after his last mission, and his irrepressible confidence seemed to have gone up a notch, if that was possible.
　"I figure we'll find out soon enough," he said. "After they plan what has to be done, you know who'll do it, don't ya!" He grinned. "Stop worrying, Farlander. Me, I can't wait to get back into the action."
　The suspense ended the next day. We were called into Briefing Room 1 with several other squadrons. This time it was General Dodonna himself who led the meeting. He stood at the podium and watched the room as we settled into our seats. His face appeared calm, but I thought that I detected some worry in his expression. When we were all settled, the general began.
　"Operation Strike Fear," he said quietly. "This is the Imperial response we have been anticipating.
　"Some of you already know that we have planned to evacuate the Briggia base and move to a new location. However, recent events have forced us to take action sooner than expected: We have learned that the first target of Operation Strike Fear is Briggia itself."
　The general paused again, stroking his gray beard, as a murmur went through the crowd of pilots. Finally, he consulted his personal holo-player, then activated the master holo display.
　Immediately a small blue planet appeared in the center of the display, and several ships were launched from its surface. The general motioned to someone behind him, and the entire display was magnified several times until the planet filled about a quarter of the holo sphere and the ships were recognizable as various Rebel shuttles and transports.
　"In a matter of hours, we will hyperspace to the Briggia area and mount a series of operations designed to protect the evacuation. Red Squadron, you'll be responsible for protecting the senior staff shuttles. Gold Squadron, I want you to lend one Y-wing in support of Red Squadron's X-wings."
　As the general described the mission, more ships appeared in the display. I knew that the entire briefing was being recorded and would be handed out when we disbanded.
　"Blue Squadron, you'll prepare for a separate mission to protect our base equipment transports," the general continued. "Now here is where the mission will begin."

　OP 3: Fly Point During Evacuation

　File Name: wxrgard1
　Mission Briefing
　The Imperial Fleet is ready to attack Briggia. You must protect key Rebel officers evacuating the planet in shuttles. Protect the shuttles until they reach their hyperspace jump points and are safely away.
　Farlander's After-Action Report
　I took the wingman position in my X-wing, teamed up with a flight leader I had never flown with before. I began with my standard mission-start sequence, but cut throttle to two-thirds, following X-wing Red 1. I cycled through the targets until shuttle Arroyo 1 appeared in the CMD, and I assigned it and the next two shuttles to memory locations in the targeting computer. Since these were the ships I had to protect, I wanted to be able to find them quickly.
　About the time we reached the shuttles, the Star Destroyer Invincible dropped out of hyperspace. I queried the CMD to target the nearest TIE fighter, Alpha 1, communicated to Red 1 that he should attack it, and then cycled forward to target T/F Alpha 2. If any of T/F Alpha or Beta were to get by me, I knew that I could use torpedoes on them, just as long as they didn't escape. After all three shuttles entered hyperspace, the mission was complete.
　C.O.'s Analysis
　Lagrane was in a hurry. "Look, lieutenant, there's no time for a thorough debriefing. We've got to get you spaceborne again. Here are some notes about the mission."
　Debriefing (Win Conditions)
　All three shuttles must escape.
　Mission Note: TIE fighter groups Alpha and Beta turn out to be the keys to this mission, because they target the shuttles. Don't let them get by you, and if they do, chase them down. T/F Alpha are Veterans, and are succeeded by two waves. T/F Beta are Aces, and have nine succeeding waves, although the shuttles should escape before the third or fourth wave. The survival of Rebel FRG Fugazi was also necessary to the success of the mission, but because it jumps right at the start, you don't have to worry about it. TRN group Rhoon and CRV Mahan begin the mission with their shields down, so they are killed relatively easily.