Dear X-Wing Community,
There is little I can express in words what you all have done for me. I recently received a package while I was underway on a Submarine doing my work for the defense of the country. While I cannot say where I was or what I was doing I can tell you that all of you have reached me and moved me in ways that I did not think was possible. You, as amazing men and women, banded together to send me a package that included every single model present in the X-Wing line. I am not an emotional person or a man that expresses his feeling freely and openly. I am also a person who will be the first to step up to those that say they “support the troops” to ask exactly what you have done. For those that donated to this amazing program I can say that I salute and tip my humble hat to you. You are the Americans that I am working to defend and you are the Americans that I am more than proud to lay my life down for. There are names I can provide to you, but, that’s not what I am going to do. What I am going to do is tell you a tale. One of myself and of a titanic struggle that took place countless fathoms under the sea (or out in space) that you will have never known of.
I am a single father of two beautiful children. That being said I live my life on a budget that is completely dedicated to their upbringing and comfort. While I am also an avid gamer and huge Star Wars fan I was not able to gather the forces to take part in the Galactic struggle of the X-Wing game. I often found myself borrowing many models from my friends to play a game I had completely fallen in love with. In my free time I invited over my friends who had models so that I could satiate my addiction. What you have done is give me the models where I can host games, arrange campaigns and be independent to a degree I did not think was possible. You, as a community, came together for me. I never though this kind of thing would happen to me but you all have made it so. Unfortunately I cannot post pictures of the games we played underway with these models because of OpSec. I did manage to get a few pictures out (not many Bothans were killed acquiring this data, just the slow ones) Know that you have given me a gift of joy and happiness that I can never repay. You may say that my service is payment enough, but I do not agree. You brought me something that I don’t associate with my service. Personal happiness and joy. For this, a lone sailor stands and salutes you, he is on the wall for you and he always will be. You will be safe and I will give my life to make sure that you stay that way. Now on to the fun stuff!!
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the Rebel Alliance was conducting a mission that even to this day remains deeply entrenched in secret. The Galactic Empire had recently finished conducting experimental testing on a new Torpedo Sphere that would make the Death Star seem obsolete. Instead of a Super Laser that would take quite some time to recharge, fire and reposition to take out multiple planets the Empire had developed long range planet killer missiles. Worse yet, this Torpedo Sphere was retrofitted with a advanced cloaking device making it undetectable and capable of lying in wait to annihilate an entire system in a matter of minutes. General Arian Cracken would lead a group of the most advanced, brave and well…crazy… pilots in the galaxy to strike a the heart of this mission in an effort to subvert the deployment of this horrific weapon. Several missions were flown to locate this weapon.
Weapons research stations were attacked. Rebel supply points where cut off. Intelligence agents where captured. Defectors were escorted and sometimes lost during this ongoing game of cat and mouse between the Empire and the Alliance. It wasn’t until the Battle of Trandosha that there was significant headway made by the Rebel Alliance. It was there that they were able to acquire the Chief of Engineering for the “Obliterator”. Unfortunately the Rebel Base on the small planet of Cortrosha was whipped out of existence by an “Eraser Missile”. Hardened by their losses and by what they knew they had to stop the Rebel forces launched a ferocious assault against the Obliterator. The final battle took place in open space where no soul would know or ever know of the sacrifice both sides would suffer. A lone HWK “The Black Crow” (Moldy Crow proxy) would land onboard the Obliterator and insert a team of Infiltrators to destroy the platform of mass destruction. While the operatives did not make it off of the Obliterator they assured that the galaxy would be safe from a weapon that would have sewn fear for ages to come.
The bravery and dedication of those Rebel operatives is the same spirit that you as a community reflect. Keep up the good work and the spirit of freedom that these brave Rebels have shown. We are a county of misfits and a country of diversity. Support those that fall for you and you will never forget who you are. Where you come from and where you are going. Stay strong and in the words of a World Champion. Fly Casual.
STS1(SS) Patrick Wedding.
