Defense of Scout Three: Difference between revisions

Defense of Scout Three
	An ill Regis Saroyan falls behind, becoming a target for pirates in an action that leads to the Defense of Scout Three (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls").
	An ill Regis Saroyan falls behind, becoming a target for pirates in an action that leads to the Defense of Scout Three (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls").
Summary
Conflict:
Date:	2491 CE
Related Episode(s):
Place:	Sol System, Near Sol's Stargate
Result:	Successful Earth defense.
Combatants
Earth Defense Directorate	Pirates
Commanders
Col. Wilma Deering	Unknown
Strength
Less than 10 Thunderfighters	2 Hatchet fighters
Materiel Losses
None	All Hatchet fighters
Casualties
None	At least 3 pirates
Battle Chronology

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 04:49, 9 May 2021

Scout Three to Leader, I'm under attack by pirates. Request assistance. Help me, please!
You should've kept your butt up with the rest of us, Three. Pull yourself together and take evasive action while we circle back for you.

— Cadet Regis Saroyan (Scout Three) and Major Duke Danton (Scout Leader), (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

After returning to Sol System following William "Buck" Rogers's acquaintance with the stargate system, Col. Wilma Deering and Rogers detect a distress signal from Scout Three (Regis Saroyan), who is besieged by pirates while under a training flight lead by his instructor, Maj. Duke Danton.

Background

In light of the ongoing threats against Earth in the 25th century, including those of the Draconian Realm, the Defense Directorate continually grows its pilots corps.

Unbeknownst to Dr. Elias Huer or any of his personnel, a poison has been added to their food discs by the Vistulan people under heel of the sorcerer slave-trader Kaleel, a process that ramped up three days prior. As a result, a majority of the Defense Directorate pilots, including cadets, become ill -- Regis Saroyan not being an exception.

In the meantime, Wilma Deering and William "Buck" Rogers return from Stargate 4 in Earth Recon One, just in time to intercept transmissions from the panicked and poison-stricken Saroyan (Scout Three). Three is under attack by a small contingent of Hatchet fighters (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls").

Battle

If you call that interference, there's something wrong with your Funk & Wagnalls.
I don't know what you mean by that, but how'd you like to repeat that in the flight hangar?
I'd love to.

— Captain William Rogers and Major Duke Danton, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Scout Leader (Maj. Duke Danton) receives Saroyan's distress call on the distress channel, and admonishes the cadet for lagging behind. Danton informs him that he and the rest of Scout squadron will loop back.

In Rogers voices his belief that the pirates would have picked off the cadet by that point in time, and Deering agrees. Rogers intercepts the attacker and Deering opens fire from the back-seat position, destroying one of Saroyan's would be attackers and forcing the others to scatter before Scout Leader's arrival.

Scout Leader admonishes Earth Recon One for interfering in a Directorate training mission, unawares that Col. Deering is aboard. She does not make her presence known until after they return to New Chicago (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls").

Aftermath

Scout Three sustains a hit on its starboard side, per Rogers' visual survey.
William "Buck" Rogers and Duke Danton are formally introduced, leading Danton being ordered to present Rogers to his cadets for a lecture in 20th century battle strategy. These strategies would later be used at the Battle of Vistula.
Regis Saroyan would be treated and recover, and he would be the "Trojan horse" that allows a quartet of Defense Directorate personnel to investigate the source of the poisoning, as well as uncover why it transpired in the first place.

Notes

The Hatchet fighters remain in active service as pirate attack craft, presumably to continue their harassment of Earth's space lanes.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Battle Data
-|image=BR25 - Awakening - Thunderfighters Attack Draconia.png
+|image=
-|description=[[Thunderfighter]]s attack ''[[Draconia]]'' during its attack on Earth.
+BR25 - Planet of the Slave Girls - Regis Saroyan - Defense of Scout Three .png
-|conflict=[[Draconian-Earth Cold War]]
+|description=An ill [[Regis Saroyan]] falls behind, becoming a target for pirates in an action that leads to the [[Defense of Scout Three]] {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}}.
+|conflict=
 |date=[[2491]] CE
-|place=[[Sol System]]
+|place=[[Sol System]], Near Sol's [[Stargate]]
-|result=Decisive Earth victory. Loss of ''[[Draconia]]'' and all [[Hatchet fighter|its fighters]].
+|result=Successful Earth defense.
-|combatant1=[[Third Force of the Earth Directorate]]
+|combatant1=[[Earth Defense Directorate]]
-|combatant2=[[Draconian Empire]]
+|combatant2=Pirates
-|co1=Col. [[Wilma Deering]], {{buck}}
+|co1=Col. [[Wilma Deering]]
-|co2=Princess [[Ardala]], [[Kane]]
+|co2=Unknown
-|strength1=Numerous [[Thunderfighter]]s
+|strength1=Less than 10 [[Thunderfighter]]s
-|strength2=''[[Draconia]]'' and its [[Hatchet fighter]]s
+|strength2=2 [[Hatchet fighter]]s
-|shiploss1=A few [[Thunderfighter]]s
+|shiploss1=None
-|shiploss2=Numerous [[Hatchet fighter]]s, ''[[Draconia]]''
+|shiploss2=All [[Hatchet fighter]]s
-|casualties1=A few Terran pilots
+|casualties1=None
-|casualties2=Thousands of Draconian personnel, sans Princess [[Ardala]], [[Kane]], and [[Tigerman]]
+|casualties2=At least 3 pirates
-|prev=[[Pirate Attack on Draconia|Pirate Attack on ''Draconia'']]
+|prev=[[Draconia's Attack on Earth|''Draconia''{{'|s}} Attack on Earth]]
-|next=[[Defense of Scout Three]]
+|next=[[Battle of Vistula]]
 |series=BR25
 }}
-<!--{{quote
+{{quote
-|Kane|So, this is how you bid us safe conduct? Fine escort, at least we will all perish together.
+|Regis Saroyan | Scout Three to Leader, I'm under attack by pirates. Request assistance. Help me, please!
-|attribution=[[Kane]]'s snide comment to Col. [[Wilma Deering]] before she runs to her [[Thunderfighter]] on ''[[Draconia]]'', {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
+|Duke Danton| You should've kept your butt up with the rest of us, Three. Pull yourself together and take evasive action while we circle back for you.
-}}-->
+|attribution= Cadet [[Regis Saroyan]] (Scout Three) and Major [[Duke Danton]] (Scout Leader), {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}} }}
-After being played by {{buck}}, who commits acts of sabotage aboard ''[[Draconia]]'', Princess [[Ardala]] attempts to save face by goading [[Kane]] into launching a pre-emptive strike against [[Earth]].
+After returning to [[Sol System]] following {{buck}}'s acquaintance with the [[stargate]] system, Col. [[Wilma Deering]] and Rogers detect a distress signal from [[Scout Three]] ([[Regis Saroyan]]), who is besieged by pirates while under a training flight lead by his instructor, Maj. [[Duke Danton]].
-<!--
 == Background ==
-{{quote
+In light of the ongoing threats against [[Earth]] in the 25th century, including those of the [[Draconian Realm]], the [[Defense Directorate]] continually grows its pilots corps.
-|Princess Ardala|Permission to come aboard, why?
-|Kane|For a special envoy. That's all I know.
-|Princess Ardala|It isn't according to protocol. What'd you think they have in mind?
-|Kane|I don't know, but they have given us plenty of warning, and there'll be nothing in evidence to betray us.
-|Princess Ardala|I'd be curious to know what they have in mind. Let's prepare a very special welcome for them.
-|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] and [[Kane]] discuss the incoming fighter squadron envoy from [[Earth]], {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
-}}
-As part of Emperor [[Draco]]'s cunning plan to conquer the [[Earth]], subjugating it in the [[Draconian realm]], Princess [[Ardala]] and [[Kane]] are dispatched on ''[[Draconia]]''. As one of Draco's many [[star fortress]]es, it claims to fly under a flag of truce (and thus unarmed) as part of a trade delegation to establish a mutual defense treaty against "pirates" that have devastated the spaceways, including disrupting vital food and water Earth needs from other planets.
-In order to determine the veracity of {{Buck}}'s story, Col. [[Wilma Deering]] convinces Dr. [[Elias Huer]] of the [[Earth Defense Directorate]] to fly a welcoming committee in the form of the [[Third Force of the Earth Directorate]]—a squadron of [[Thunderfighter]]s, including Rogers—to meet with ''Draconia''. In response, Ardala preemptively launches [[Hatchet fighter]]s in order to stage a "pirate ambush." It is her aim to convince the humans that the "pirates" are a mutual threat when, in reality, the pirates are Draconians themselves wishing to weaken the Earth for conquest.
+Unbeknownst to Dr. [[Elias Huer]] or any of his personnel, a poison has been added to their [[food disc]]s by the [[Vistula]]n people under heel of the sorcerer slave-trader [[Kaleel]], a process that ramped up three days prior. As a result, a majority of the Defense Directorate pilots, including cadets, become ill -- [[Regis Saroyan]] not being an exception.
-Upon the Third Force landing aboard ''Draconia'', Kane presents Ardala to Deering and Rogers. During the introductions, Ardala feigns ignorance on ever meeting Rogers, thus continuing to germinate the seeds of doubt as to Rogers' loyalties. Before being able to continue their investigation of ''Draconia''—prompted by Rogers' belief that the ship is not unarmed—the "pirates" engage ''Draconia'', placing the Third Force in harm's way.
+In the meantime, [[Wilma Deering]] and {{buck}} return from [[Stargate 4]] in [[Earth Recon One]], just in time to intercept transmissions from the panicked and poison-stricken Saroyan (Scout Three). Three is under attack by a small contingent of [[Hatchet fighter]]s {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}}.
 == Battle ==
 {{quote
-|William "Buck" Rogers|Colonel, I'm switching to manual, see if I can start dishing out a little of what we've been taking.
+|Rogers | If you call that interference, there's something wrong with your [[Funk & Wagnalls]].
-|Col. Wilma Deering|Buck Rogers, I'm ordering you back to the base.
+|Danton | I don't know what you mean by that, but how'd you like to repeat that in the [[flight hangar]]?
-|William "Buck" Rogers|''[ignoring Deering, directing his efforts to their attackers]'' Now then, let's see how you like a little old-fashioned red dogging.
+|Rogers | I'd love to.
-|attribution={{buck}} and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] disagree on defense strategy, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
+|attribution= Captain [[William Rogers]] and Major [[Duke Danton]], {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}} }}
-}}
+Scout Leader (Maj. [[Duke Danton]]) receives Saroyan's distress call on the [[distress channel]], and admonishes the cadet for lagging behind. Danton informs him that he and the rest of Scout squadron will loop back.
+In Rogers voices his belief that the pirates would have picked off the cadet by that point in time, and Deering agrees. Rogers intercepts the attacker and Deering opens fire from the back-seat position, destroying one of Saroyan's would be attackers and forcing the others to scatter before Scout Leader's arrival.
-Following deployment, the [[Thunderfighter]]s from the Third Force engage against the Hatchet fighters, resulting in the decimation of the squadron due to the pilot's over-reliance on their [[combat computer]]s to properly handle the situation. Despite Deering's protestations, Rogers attempts to help his fellow pilots to no avail. Fed up, Rogers ignores Deering's order to return to base, taking manual control of his Thunderfighter and goes on the offensive, destroying the Hatchet fighters with great aplomb much to Deering's befuddlement and displeasure — and Ardala's pleasure.
+Scout Leader admonishes Earth Recon One for interfering in a Directorate training mission, unawares that Col. Deering is aboard. She does not make her presence known until after they return to [[New Chicago]] {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}}.
 ==Aftermath==
-{{quote
+* Scout Three sustains a hit on its starboard side, per Rogers' visual survey.
-|Dr. Theopolis|Our [[Computer Council|Council]] has had a formal request from her majesty, Princess [[Ardala]].
+* {{buck}} and [[Duke Danton]] are formally introduced, leading Danton being ordered to present Rogers to his cadets for a lecture in 20th century battle strategy. These strategies would later be used at the [[Battle of Vistula]].
-|Col. Wilma Deering|What has that got to do with the Captain?
+* [[Regis Saroyan]] would be treated and recover, and he would be the "Trojan horse" that allows a quartet of Defense Directorate personnel to investigate the source of the poisoning, as well as uncover why it transpired in the first place.
-|Dr. Theopolis|Well, the Princess feels he single-handedly saved their unarmed vessel from the renegade pirates, and wants to thank him personally.
-|Col. Wilma Deering|''[chagrined]'' "Single-handedly"?
-|Dr. Theopolis|Apparently, even your ship was nearly destroyed. Were it not for Captain Rogers' inordinate skills and quick thinking, the Princess feels that—
-|Col. Wilma Deering|''[angrily]'' I don't care what the Princess feels!
-|attribution=Dr. [[Theopolis]] (conveyed by [[Twiki]]) and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] discuss the aftermath, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
-}}
-* Princess Ardala is able to continue the charade of the Draconian's peaceful intentions, as well as obfuscate any connection to the so-called "pirates."
-* Draconian forces now have proof that Earth's forces, such as the [[Thunderfighter]]'s [[combat computer]], are easily dispatched. Another weakness is the human's blind-faith on the technology, removing the "human equation" from space combat.
-* The wild-card is {{buck}}, an accidental 20th century transplant from a "paranoid time," who is highly suspicious of Ardala and is able to dispatch the Hatchet fighters with great aplomb despite his lack of prior space combat experience. Further, he equates the peace envoy to the [[w:Trojan Horse|Trojan Horse]] from the historic defeat known as the [[w:Battle of Troy|Battle of Troy]].
-** The fact that Rogers is able to single-handedly defeat the Hatchet fighters further endears Ardala to Rogers, as she sees a man who can bring her great power—a weakness that Rogers [[Draconia's Attack on Earth|later exploits to great effect]].
-** Rogers piloting skills would be needed for Kane's upgraded experimental [[Hatchet fighter]] variant in {{BR25|Ardala Returns|prose=Y}}.
 ==Notes==
-* Earth is unaware of both the Hatchet fighter's capabilities and their inclusion in the Draconian arsenal, suggesting that the craft is new to the battlefield.
+* The [[Hatchet fighter]]s remain in active service as pirate attack craft, presumably to continue their harassment of Earth's space lanes.
-* The Hatchet fighters are able to render the [[combat computer]]s of [[Thunderfighter]]s useless by means unknown.
--->
-{{stub}}
-{{tabnav|Battles|episode1=Film|episode2=Awakening}}
+{{tabnav|Battles|episode1=Planet of the Slave Girls}}
 [[Category:A to Z]]
 [[Category:Battles]]
 [[Category: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]