[Wing Commander Saga] Fry those Furballs! [Video-AAR]

[Aikanár]

This is my first AAR since nearly three years, so please bear with me. This will be image- and videoheavy. I'm by all means a total beginner when it comes to videomaking and editing and had no experience with that whatsoever when I started. Therefor videoquality will be crappy in the first missions, but hopefully will improve as I get into these things.
That said, why Wing Commander Saga? The reason is plain simple, I was 12 when the original Wing Commander was released and instantly fell in love with it. It was so totally different from everything else I had played up until then, that I got imediatly caught and sucked right into the WC Universe. I have been following Wing Commander ever since and played each and every released title.
Since the last release of Wing Commander Secret Ops in 1998 four desperate years passed. But in 2002 there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel, a fan project was announced with the intent to develop a total conversion of the then open source declared engine of Freespace2: Wing Commander Saga
From the first announcement till the final release 10 years of desperation and inextinguishiable hope have passed until the 23rd of March this year, when WC Saga finally got released.
To share my joy with the communtiy I've convinced myself to dare the attempt of dedicating an AAR to this game featuring my first palytrough.
This will be a live AAR, which means that it starts today and will be updated everytime I will have finished a mission. Since I've a lot of obligations and only a certain amount of dedicatable time at hand, I hope you'll understand if this might not progress in a fast pace.

For those of us, who might not know the background of Wing Commander and Wing Commander Saga in particular, I think it's best to let the lead developer of WC Saga speak:

Background from the official readme

In an interview with TCN News, Colonel Christopher “Maverick” Blair said, “I have never felt comfortable with people calling me ‘The Savior of the Confederation.’ Sure, I was the wing leader in the raid on Kilrah, and I was the one who dropped the Temblor bomb. But I don’t want people to forget that I only got that far because of the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of others.”
This is their story.
The conflict between Earth and Kilrah is drawing to a close, and the Terran Confederation is not winning. Humanity’s only hope lies in a desperate plan that will require even idealistic young fighter pilots to stretch themselves beyond all imagination. It’s the end of the world, and you have a front row seat.
Raw emotion, realistic characters, a hard look at the devastation of war, and intense large-scale space combat action await you as you assume the role of 2nd Lt. David “Sandman” Markham. Twists of fate will throw you out of your dull backwater assignment and right into the hottest spots of the most devastating war in history.
Wing Commander is back. You know Blair’s story, now experience the rest of the Saga.

ABOUT THE DARKEST DAWN
The flagship campaign of Wing Commander Saga, "The Darkest Dawn" begins right before Wing Commander 3 and concludes with the ending of the Terran-Kilrathi War (whether or not the Terrans win depends on you).
It has been six months since the Battle of Earth, and in spite of new fighters, carriers, and technology joining the Fleet, the war effort is not going well. Every day, more news of fresh defeats and losses make their way around the Confederation Forward Fleet, who have to face the possibility that they will not be the ultimate victors.
You are based on the TCS Hermes, one of the handful of large carriers left on the front line. You play the role of Second Lieutenant David Markham, a pilot recently transferred to the Hermes.
Markham is no different from the other young idealistic rookies who are determined to make a name for themselves. Already having your mettle tested and your outlook hardened by your time on the Wellington, you still dream of flying heroic strike missions deep into the heart of the Kilrathi Empire, finally bringing this decades long conflict to an end.
But all hopes and dreams are squashed by the burden of reality. In every system, the Confederation forces are badly outnumbered and outgunned. For every Kilrathi fighter and warship destroyed, 10 others take their place. Comms from HQ order the abandonment of civilian colonies which the Confederation no longer has any strength to defend. The retreat is downward spiral leading to the final stand at Earth. It won't be very long untill Markham experiences what the true nature of war really is...

I will play through both campaigns "The Prologue" and "The Darkest Dawn".
I'll start with medium difficulty and will see where it takes me
Please feel free to leave comments, criticism, actually everything you like to

The Prologue

• Intro
• Oberan 01
• Oberan 02
• Oberan 03
• Oberan 04
• Oberan 05

The Darkest Dawn

• Intro

Chapter I - Brimstone

• Brimstone 01
• Brimstone 02
• Brimstone 03
• Brimstone 04

Chapter II - Vega

• Vega 01
• Vega 02
• Vega 03
• Vega 04
• Vega 05

Chapter III - Proxima

• Proxima 01
• Proxima 02
• Proxima 03
• Proxima 04

Chapter IV - Loki

• Loki 01
• Loki 02
• Loki 03

Chapter V - Nifelheim

• Nifelheim 01
• Nifelheim 02

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Intro

The Prologue - Intro So this is how everything started, how I, David "Sandman" Markham, got into the over three decades lasting war between us, mankind, and the Furballs: This is it, the TCS Wellington, home sweet home! Lets go attend mission briefing

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Oberan 01

The Prologue - Oberan 01 As I entered the mission briefing room, all other pilots sat in their seats already, the briefing was about to start. "Late, darn it, no good start." I said to myself and took a few quick steps and sat down. Lucky me. nobody seemed to take further notice of my late appearance. The briefing began: My first real mission! I don't care whether or not this is just a rehearsal of basic simulator training in space, it's LIFE and that's amazing! Ok, it is a rehearsal and it is kind of boring in theory, but man it's a real fighter! Lets cycle the Nav-points ... A simulated fight, hu? As if we ever encounter a single Kilrathi corvette without fightercover, immobile and only using it's guns... ... still you get an impression of how to fight ships like the General Custer, well I just hope I never run out of rockets in the first place. Sure thing this was just a training mission, but being out there is what I feel I was made for! But back to business, let's see whether or not I'll feel joyful after the debriefing: Very nice! I should get myself a descent hangover for successful graduation.

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Oberan 02

The Prologue - Oberan 02 "The first mission was exciting, this will be even more so, I heared rumors that it might be the first mission with a real assignment. That would be so awesome!" These where my thoughts when I entered the briefing room. This time I was on time, not that someone had noticed if not so. But I really wanted to make sure to attend to the briefing on time. "Go, go, go, go! Out of my way! GO!" my voice echoed through the corridors while I was running to the hangars. What an exciting mission, escorts can sure be dangerous! I hope this one will... Wow, Battle of Earth Vets! What Escort runs really are about ... Asteroids, boy I should stay off of these rocks! Pirates? Pirates! What a rush! Man was I shivering. The adrenaline pumped in my veins and all I could think about was the dogfights with those pirates. God have mercy on their souls, but darn did I nail them, ha! And here are the official stats It's official, I did it: ACE! Man!

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Oberan 03

The Prologue - Oberan 03 Advanced combat training, that's about it. There we go, picking up some Asteroids. Beaches and anger management make up for a hilarious combination. Pretty impressive firepower on the one hand, pretty stupid fellow rookie action on the other ... Man, even though I hated Champ, watching him die from afar was the most shocking thing I've ever experienced, well up until now that is ... I so totally wasted my first capital ship! Yeah man! Rough man, rough ...

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Oberan 04

The Prologue - Oberan 04 Three weeks of quite training, well intense training, but without real contact; a backwater system after all. Our heavy Bombers are gone ... I wonder if we won't miss them badly sometime... Ghosts in the machine? No way man, those bogies are out there and whatever they may be, I bet they have something to hide. Cats in the system! Jeez have we taught those Furballs a lesson! Now hurry back to the Wellington. I lost Panzer ...

[Aikanár]

The Prologue - Oberan 05

The Prologue - Oberan 05 Outnumbered and outgunned, but not without a last hope ... Let's get the hell out of here! Hopefully we've managed to prevent them from transmitting our position. Cap-ship Missiles, my God, what will be next? That was damn close! Now hurry to the jump point. ... Die you freaking Furballs! We'll make you pay with our dying breath! Revenge! Was it worth it? Was it all worth it? Where have my friends gone? Where have all the nameless crewmen of the Wellington gone to?

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Intro

The Darkest Dawn - Intro After I lost nearly all my friends in the Wellington incident, I'm now on my way to my new assignment, the heavy carrier TCS Hermes. But first I'll stay on Fort Jackson for a few days. What a jerk. Anyways, so this is it, my new home, as long as it ain't blown up by those damned Cats, the TCS Hermes: Let's check my dossier... (2nd Lieutenant; Ribbons top row from left to right: Ace of Aces, Ace; bottom row from left to right: Combat Action Medal, Fighter Training, OCS Graduate) I wonder what the current situation of the battlegroup might be like. At least one common face!

[Maximinus Thrax]

Such an awesome AAR and not even one comment yet?

I'm old enough to remember these magnificent space games from the golden '90s, back when the developers used to put a lot of thought into their creations.

Please carry on!

[Aikanár]

Thank you very much Maximinus Thrax
I will
And congrats for winning the Silver Medalion in the SWC

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter I - Brimstone 01

The Darkest Dawn - Brimstone 01 I could not but smile while I was studying the details of the fighter all pilots of the Blood Hound squadron are assigned. This is it, the F-86C Hellcat V: Up until now, I only flew it in simulations and heared Ninja and Assassin complaining about it. Ah I miss those two. The primary armament of my baby consists out a pair of Neutron guns ... ... and a pair of Ion guns. The standard secondary weapon is the Spiculum IR ... ... of wich it carries three in each of the two rocket bays. All in all an impressive amount of firepower compared with the Arrow that I just got used to. I'm really keen to take it into action and find out about how it feels to fly her. Standard patrol on the front lines, I'm a little edgy I've to admit. Nice ride! I think I come to love the Hellcat! My official report is not bad after all.

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter I - Brimstone 02

The Darkest Dawn - Brimstone 02 In the short hours between missions I found myself gazing at the intel repot about the Oberan system and sighed. All the men and women we lost their really gave me the creeps. And now I'm here, in Brimstone, at the front lines... While I was contemplating intel, Greywolf passed me by, not without leaving a remark: "About time to attend mission briefing Dorothy." I sighed again, loged off of the console and followed Greywolf without answering, this time. Let's go then, this light carrier will be toast! Fighters for a little appetizer, yummi! We'll play that one by the book: take out the escorts first, finish off the cap-ships at the end. A god damn new battle group! This is trouble! Somehow cold numbers never get the impression of the mission across... What I learned in this battle was that I should do more research on the enemy. I shall make studying the intel a habbit!

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter I - Brimstone 03

The Darkest Dawn - Brimstone 03 While I was studying the latest intel files concerning the most common light fighter ... ... and heavy bomber of the Cats ... ... the general ship alert echoed through all rooms of the T.C.S Hermes, calling all pilots to the briefings immediately: Point defending our battle group, may god be with us today! Man we can't let those darn Fleebags take down our cap-ships! Jeez! These Paktahns can absorb some blows ... That was ... close! Not a real warm welcome, but alas, he's right.

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter I - Brimstone 04

The Darkest Dawn - Brimstone 04 The point defense mission was really close. We got to get out of this place! Wow, a Longbow bomber! This is going to be huge! Just half an hour left till take off, thus about time to check out the data files... I bet it's slow as hell, but it's firepower is just beyond imagination! A pair of Neutron guns ... ... and a pair of Plasma guns make up the primary weapon system of the Longbow. Furthermore it has a rear laser turret. While it's primary weaponary is impressive, it's selection of secondary weapons consisting of two rocket bays carrying four Pilum FFs each ... ..., two more bays of four Javelin HS each ... ... and finally two times tow Lance MK III Torpedos ... ... make this Baby a real threat to each and every capital ship it faces. Buckle up and go! There's the Blockade, we need to get through! Clear off some fighters first while emptying the rocket bays and then go for the real deal, the cap-ships. The Vaillancourt is down ... Badabum, mighty badabum! We made it to Vega! The Bronze Star! Well I guess it does not happen every day that a rookie called Dorothy takes down four of these: Now that we're in Vega, let's see what the global situation might be like:

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter II - Vega 01

The Darkest Dawn - Vega 01 Boy that was close, really close! May the souls of our comrades of the Vaillancourt rest in peace! So this is Vega, I've never been here before. There is ducking out here, we have to make a stand in this system, let's attend mission briefing. Well on then to Fort Crocket... ... picking up those Strike Sabres, I guess we'll find out what their abilities might be very soon. Uhm, not really impressed. Boy are they lucky that we keep their butts off of Cats Tough beasts they are, those Corvettes, but once you figured it out how to crack those nutts not that big of a deal anymore. Kilrathi Ace? What a coward! The cold numbers... Fireclaw huh? So not impressed at all!

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter II - Vega 02

The Darkest Dawn - Vega 02 I was just about to get myself wasted in the gym, as the general ship alert echoed through all areas of the T.C.S Hermes. Darn it, I thought while I ran to the briefing room, hopefully the cat's don't take my desire to waste me too litteraly.. To Fort Crocket! Easy prey, those fleebags never stood a chance, ha! We nailed'em! Guess who's wasted now! Christ! They've blown up Fort Crocket ... all the effort, in vain ... Just not enough ...

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter II - Vega 03

The Darkest Dawn - Vega 03 I thought seeing the Wellington explode and knowning that nearly all my friends have perrished would be the worst thing I could ever possibly experience, but having to stand by and watch fort Crocked explode and all those humans die was just ... We have to win this freaking war, we just have to! These and thoughts alike in mind I entered the briefing room and sat down in silence. Let's take these troop transports out! No stinking cat of this invasion force shall live to see another day! Eat that and that and that as well! Ha, they don't stand a chance! Dawn ... boy stupidity kills ... First we'll take down the escorts ... ... then we take down those troop transports! You won't see Kilrah again! Very well, very well! Vega prime should be a little safer now. Here're the numbers... Those frighters are easy targets, when their escorts are taken down and when you know what you're doing. And I guess by now I know a little.

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter II - Vega 04

The Darkest Dawn - Vega 04 The Kilrathi seem to be pretty stubborn when it comes to invading planets. Flying joint missions with elite units is always fun and educational ... sort of, I guess. Cap-ship anti-matter missiles, we've to stop at least most of'em before they reach the ground. I doubt we'll reach them all, I just hope we've done enough! Into the atmosphere and head on the landingships! We've to take out their fighter escorts first. What the hell? I guess I've to research the holo-vids for this old movie she's talking about. Massmurder, hm, never thought about it that way, but I'd rather be a cat massmurder than allowing those Furballs to set their hairy palms on human soil! We made it! Vega prime is secure! Hooah! One hundred officially fryed Furballs! (2nd Lieutenant; Medals awarded: Bronze Star; Ribbons top row from left to right: Century Award, Ace of Aces, Ace; bottom row from left to right: Combat Action Medal, Fighter Training, OCS Graduate)

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter II - Vega 05

The Darkest Dawn - Vega 05 Ah, I'm very keen for the next few missions. Since we've cooked the invasion force, I guess we're going to take out the two carrier groups with alpha strikes. Let's attend mission briefing ... To hell with those Cats! Four heavy carriers... there goes the momentum. I've to stay focused nevertheless! We've found the convoy enroute out of the next jump point out of Vega. We've to make sure those civilians get out alive! Heavy bombers and all those fighter wings just to nail some random civilian targets? Very strange ... The Governour of the entire Vega sector, what a god damn coward! Hiding amongst civilian refugees, what a ... *unintelligible* Hooah, the Bradshaw helped us out! Don't you even dare to touch the Hermes with your stinking and hairy paws you freaking Fleebags! We made it, we got the refugees out of Vega ... The numbers don't show everything, but, well.

[Aikanár]

The Darkest Dawn - Chapter III - Proxima 01

The Darkest Dawn - Proxima 01 Vega lost ... I still can't believe this all happend. But I guess that's what war is really all about: loosing masses of people you'll never get to know and feeling terribly about falling short of rescuing'em. Let's see where we've jumped into ... Right, we're on the retreat... again ... Besides, I'm assigned off of the Blood Hounds to join the Hell's Archers. (2nd Lieutenant; Medals awarded: Bronze Star; Ribbons top row from left to right: Vega Evacuation; middle row from left to right: Century Award, Ace of Aces, Ace; bottom row from left to right: Combat Action Medal, Fighter Training, OCS Graduate) Back in the Arrow, I love this machine! A pair of Laser cannons ... ... and two Ioun guns make up the primary weapon system of my baby. While two of the four missile bays harbour a pair of Javelins HS' each ... ... the other two are sheltering a couple of Spiculum IRs. I just love this bird, it's the epitome of manoeuvrability. We've to make sure this convoy stay's intact. Convoy reached and Cats fryed! They don't stand a chance against the Hell's Archers, hooah! I must not forget, that although I love the agility of the Arrow, this agility is due to nearly no armor whatsoever ... Furtunately taking down Corvettes follows the same old pattern; blow up her launcher, finish her turrets off and after that, fry them in a pan! Take this, and that and this as well! What a fun of a ride, close, very close but boy what an adrenaline rush I nearly got myself shot up ... nearly hehe.