Kalidor's Dark History:
The Tactical Officer's Tale of Kalidor and the Online Gaming Group  

by Scott (A'Kula) Schimmels
Kalidor 3
4/25/99

I'm sure there are a few people out there who are a bit confused as to what Kalidor is all about. I hope, in the following article, to give you a peak into the background of where the FRG Black Hawk, and Kalidor, came from - literally and figuratively.

How It All Began 
After the release of X-WingŪ in 1993, the first of a long series of Star WarsŪ Space Combat Simulators (refer to my last article) groups of Rebel pilots found on-line forums to discuss the game in every aspect. Very quickly, these pilots shared tactics and strategies for playing, and excelling at, the game. One forum that saw tremendous activity was CompuServe's (CIS) Flight Sim Forum (FSForum). Soon thereafter, one person, Peter Simmons, had a vision of forming a Rebel Alliance group. Out of this came seven squadrons, each having a particular role in the Alliance. They were: 

• Red Squadron onboard the Frigate Regis. Red became the Rebel Alliance's training squadron - to ensure new pilots had the basic skills needed to fly combat missions for the Alliance. Many of the famous CIS Leaders came from the Regis over the years. 

  Blue Squadron was stationed onboard the Alliance Star Destroyer Happy Jack (formerly known as the ISD Octavian when part of the Imperial fleet) and served as Rebel Fleet Reserves. They filled in the gaps of the Alliance's battles with the Empire, and soon became a storehouse for the Alliance's new assault bomber - the B-Wing. 

  Gray Squadron was stationed on the VSD WaveRunner and served primarily in the Outer Rim territories as a heavy assault squadron. They were the first in, striking hard with their captured Victory-Class WaveRunner, and stayed to cover the escape of the other squads when the raids were over. Many Alliance pilots owed their lives to the WaveRunner and the Gray Squadron. 

  Green Squadron was given the Frigate Rhez'nor and served as the initial R&D test center for the Alliance's new B-Wing bomber. 

  Gold Squadron eventually found their home on an old mercenary base. After capturing it, Gold renamed it the Lucky Strike but it was officially known as Comstock Base. Gold was the premier A-Wing pilots in the Alliance, and served as the Advanced Intercept and Armed Recon group. 

  Black Squadron was stationed aboard the Frigate Black Star and provided the Covert Operations for the Alliance. 

  Rogue Squadron was stationed aboard the Calamari Cruiser MC80a Liberty (recall the Return of the Jedi?) and were the elite organization. To meet Rogue requirements meant not only understanding X-WingŪ thoroughly, but winning it in all aspects. Making Rogue's roster could be considered almost the same as becoming a Navy Blue Angel or Air Force Thunderbird. 

For awhile the Rebel Alliance thrived and grew on CIS's FSForum. Gold and Green held the first-ever X-WingŪ intra-squadron competion (given the name Operation Fist). Several short stories, called point-of-views (POVs) were written telling each squadron's stories and their continuing effort to battle the tyranny of the Empire. Then, as the Internet came into being, and several squadron CO's and XO's changed hands, membership waned. Blue disbanded and Black's CO disappeared, effectively killing the squadron. It was a time for change.

Kalidor's Birth Pangs
The eight X-Wings and four Y-Wings exited from hyperspace exactly in the same formation when they had entered it, nearly four hours ago. The squadron CO quickly checked his CMD to ensure all pilots were where they belonged. He was keyed up as this mission had so much riding on it. After the debacle of Hoth, the remainder of the Rebel fleet had dispersed to minimize their losses to the pursuing Imperial forces. Most of the Rebel Alliance leadership has dispersed as well. Only Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, and General Crix Madine remained together, on Ackbar's flagship, the Independence.

Through a new spy network, General Madine discovered a captured mercenary frigate that was being converted for Imperial sector patrol at an old space platform on the fringes of the Sullust sector. The frigate would be the perfect home for one, even two, Rebel fighter squadrons. Desperate for ships, General Madine and Admiral Ackbar formulated a daring plan to raid the station and capture the frigate. The plan required a squadron, with a mix of X-Wings and Y-Wings, to hyper in and disable the platform and her defenses. They would be followed by three assault commando teams and one assault engineer squad. The commandoes would secure the platform and the frigate, the engineers would then bring the captured frigate to life, and return her to the Rebel Alliance fleet.

However, even the General Madine's spy network was not thorough in those early years. The spies failed to learn that a TIE Interceptor squadron was ferried to the station, to eventually be stationed on the frigate. Also, several high ranking officials from Thyferria were meeting at the station with the local Moff, to discuss new rates for Bacta deliveries. As the X-Wings and Y-Wings approached the station, two flights of TIE Interceptors (known by Rebel pilots as Squints) were on patrol. They promptly engaged the incoming Rebels. The X-Wings managed to vaporize the two two-man flights, but the station was alerted and its defenses were powered up. In addition, two companies of recently arrived stormtroopers were put on alert and took up defensive positions on both the station and the frigate.

The following space battle was fast and furious. One X-Wing pilot lost control and crashed into a passenger liner near the station, killing one of the leading members of the Xuchra family - who provided much of the Bacta needed by both the Empire and the Rebels. Because of the communications silence, the Rebel assault transports carrying the commandoes and engineers arrived without realizing the current situation. The initial commando team landing in the frigate was nearly decimated by the waiting stormtroopers. Heavy damage was inflicted to the frigate's landing bay and associated decks, wiping out several power conduits. The other assault teams landing at the platform faired better, but met stiff resistance. The final transport, carrying the engineers, landed amid the carnage in the frigate. The engineers, led by an old general of the Clone Wars (Pierce Dey), aided the remnants of the assault team in driving back the stormtroopers into the frigate. The engineers made their way to power up the frigate while the commandoes, now teamed up with members from the platform assault group, began mopping up the remaining stormtroopes on the frigate.

Meanwhile, the remaining commando team on the space platform was unable to reach the control center for the frigate's power, tether couplings, and most importantly the tractor beams holding the frigate in place. Desperate, the X-Wing CO and a Y-Wing made a run on the tractor beam generators. The CO delivered his torpedoes on target but the Y-Wing missed and was heavily damaged by a turbolaser battery, smashing into the platform itself. The CO, realizing their time is running out, and was out of torpedoes. He rammed his X-Wing into the final tractor beam generator, freeing the frigate. The heavily damaged frigate limpedaway, escorted by the remaining X-Wings and Y-Wings, now led by the XO, Lt. Commander Slingshot.

Appalled by the carnage of the botched mission, and sensitive to the Xuchra's family outrage, Mon Mothma directed Admiral Ackbar to disband the squadron, and the remaining pilots were blackballed from the Rebel Alliance, never to be allowed to return to active rolls. The Rebels continued to rebuild their fleet, leaving the damaged frigate and banned pilots to their own resources deep in Imperial space. While Pierce Dey's engineers strove to repair the damage to the frigate, the remaining pilots, under Slingshot's leadership, launched a raid on a prison planet. Several of the prisoners (Wookies and other non-human species) signed onboard the frigate as crew to repay their debt for their freedom. Finally, enough repairs were accomplished to allow the frigate to become semi-operational. However, with minimal crewing and no supplies, the future looked bleak. Surprisingly, a communique arrived from an intelligence source known only as Fire Wire. If the pilots, and the frigate's crew, agree to perform certain hazardous and critical missions in Imperial controlled sectors, Fire Wire promised to supply them with the all they needed, including new fighters, additional crew and pilots. Fire Wire hinted that if they were successful, eventually they could be restored to the Alliance as an active unit. But there's no guarantee. A meeting was held and after some discussion, a vote was taken. The crew and pilots agreed to become the unofficial covert unit for the Rebel Alliance. The new ship is christened the Black Hawk and a squadron name is chosen. Kalidor is born.

The Dark Years
Shortly after Blue and Black disbanded, two more squadrons were created:

Praying Mantis Squadron was formed, first on the Cruiser Liberty, but then they were given the Frigate Joan d'Arc. This was an all-female squadron (a first!) and their role was Heavy Assault and Escort.

Two pilots, members of Centris squadron on board of the Frigate Ohron, elected to leave and form their own squadron. Slingshot and RedDog wanted a squadron with active participation, focused on monthly custom missions being flown. Since Black Squadron had disappeared, the two pilots chose to continue the Covert Operations mission statement, but with a focus of operating deep in Imperial space, and the condition that this new squadron was never officially recognized by the Rebel Alliance. So Kalidor Squadron was given the Frigate Black Hawk and operated alone, deep behind Imperial lines. They soon drew four more advanced pilots that formed the initial core: Saar, FourSpeed, Elixir and Brick. Others soon followed to join this unique unit where real names were never used: Sage, Baldrick, Diablo (Brick's brother), Oxotnik and Lightning. A training unit was created, called Striker Tactical Wing (STW), to ensure new pilots were capable of meeting Kalidor's stringent requirements for earning a "K#". Soon, the squadron had nearly ten active pilots, with four to six more training in Striker Wing under Brick and FourSpeed's tutelage. Slingshot was the CO with RedDog as XO. Brick was the TrnO and FourSpeed was the TacO. Saar took over website duties at Benthic and became CommO.

Soon after Kalidor became active, Gray and Green switched roles with Green taking Heavy Assault and Gray becoming the R&D unit for the Alliance. With the finding of Internet things changed. It became clear that this new form of media would be the future of the squadrons. Unfortunately it did not go as smooth as would have been hoped, instead activity fell and pilots dropped out. From 1996-1997, Kalidor lost nine combat pilots, and countless Striker cadets. Shortly after X-WingŪ vs TIE FighterŪ came out, the game severely disappointed many enthusiasts, causing furhter apathy for online squadrons. Kalidor, along with most of the Rebel Alliance squadrons, had hit rock bottom.

FRG Black Hawk: Operational!
Captain Dey reports on the FRG Black Hawk's status
After Fire Wire's initial resupply to the Black Hawk, the crew and pilots worked diligantly on upgrading and refurbishing the damaged frigate. Many discussions were held regarding the identity of Fire Wire. Some rumored it to be General Crix Madine, others claimed it had to be Mon Mothma. Still some believed Fire Wire to be a collection of key figures involved, to include Jedi Skywalker and his sister. No one knew for sure, but all came to rely on Fire Wire's ability to provide critical supplies and data for their continued survival (and eventual success as a Covert Ops unit). Captain Dey's assault engineers changed the basic layout of the Black Hawk's hangar bay, giving entrances on both starboard and port of the main hull. Due to the extensive damage during the raid and capture of the frigate, the engineers decided against rebuilding the hangar bay to original specifications. Instead, due to the reduced crew numbers, they expanded the hangar deck through the damaged forward bulkhead. They engineered a hydraulic lift in the center of the hangar bay floor to lower craft and supplies to a converted and signficantly expanded storage and maintenance nerve center. This allowed a greater number and variety of ships to be housed on the frigate. Instead of a normal complement of 24 star fighters, the Black Hawk now carried 28 fighters, two shuttles, and four assault tranpsorts, with room for at least another 4 fighters. This gave Kalidor the means to conduct a variety of "Black Ops" using a variety of Rebel and Imperial craft, as needed.

Kalidor's initial operations were simply intelligence gathering and convoy raids, deep in Imperial territory. These raids served several purposes: to improve squadron cohesiveness and give the unit combat experience, to resupply Kalidor and the Black Hawk without taxing the Alliance's strained resources, and to inflict some damage on the Imperial fleet's capability to wage battle with the Alliance's fleet. In addition, the intelligence gathering provided the Rebels with key Imperial fleet movements and locations, allowing them to avoid contact with the Imperials while rebuilding from the debacle of Hoth. Soon, the Empire had two of its fleets searching for this mysterious rogue band of "mercenaries" as the ImpCommNet referred to them. Kalidor's raids became more daring and more devastating to the Empire. They managed to raid and capture several of the latest Imperial fighters and return them to Rebel Alliance scientists for study. But these raids were not without cost. Of the original ten pilots that formed the squadron after the disaster at Sullust, only Slingshot and Red Dog were left. Fire Wire kept his/her/its promise and resupplied the Black Hawk with critical spare parts, and the latest technological enhancements and breakthroughs of the Alliance. Also, a steady stream of pilots were shuttled to the Black Hawk. Many were exceptional combat pilots - but unruly and unwilling to comply with Rebel Alliance starfighter standards. They were ruthless in combat - perfect for most of Kalidor's "Black Ops".

New Pilots reporting aboard the Black Hawk
Soon, both Director Isard and Admiral Thrawn, independently came to the conclusion there was more to this group than simply a band of "mercenaries". Thrawn cleverly deduced this was a military unit, either operating covertly for the Rebels, or as a rogue Imperial unit, striking vengence at key Imperial targets. Director Isard also assumed the group was a military unit, but more likely either ex-Rebel or mercenaries waging a personal vendetta against the Empire. Thrawn attempted to engage and destroy the unit, with the hopes of discrediting Isard, thereby consolidating his power in the Empire (covered in the Black Widow & One True Goal POV series). Thrawn did indeed destroy the Frigate Black Hawk ... well, at least one bearing the IFF of the Black Hawk. [BG]

Kalidor is still roaming the Imperial space lanes, preying on their hapless convoys and conducting hazardous intelligence and covert missions, as directed by Fire Wire. Eventually, the Kalidor and Black Hawk command staff hope to repatriat the stain of their honor, and rejoin the Rebel Alliance/New Republic someday. Until then, they are willing to risk everything, including their lives to thwart the Empire's plans to crush the Rebel Alliance, and continue their tyranny in the galaxy.

Resurgence: Into the Light!

Current squadrons in the Rebel Alliance
           

Praying Mantis Squadron lost half of their pilots to a disasterous operation, and reformed into a cross-gender and cross-race squadron known as White Squadron, still aboard the Frigate Joan d'Arc. This lasted for a year until White was disbanded and the Joan d'Arc mothballed. Those pilots still active from White Squadron formed the core nucleus of Wolfshead aboard the Frigate Wolf's Den. Wolfshead recently moved to the Strike Carrier Wolf's Lair. Gold Squadron became Gold Legion and is still located at Comstock Base. Gray Squadron, idle for nearly a year, was revitalized aboard the Strike Cruiser WaveRunner II. CRS Liberty saw the formation of two more squadrons. In addition to Rogue Squadron, Buccaneer and Corsair Squadrons were formed. Buccaneer was the heavy assault unit onboard the "Lib" and Corsair was the interceptor aces. Soon, the command structure was reorganized to form Renegade Wing to reflect the presence of three independent squadrons on one capital ship. Blue Squadron was reactivated aboard the Frigate Loyalty. However, Alliance HQ reassigned the Alliance Star Destroyer Happy Jack back to Blue. Red Squadron has remained strong onboard the Frigate Regis. Green Squadron is still aboard the Frigate Rhez'nor. The latest addition to the Rebel Alliance was the CRS Independence. As the flagship of the Alliance, the Independence holds a special place.

After the disappointment of X-WingŪ vs TIE FighterŪ, and some real-life (RL™) issues: Elixir, Baldrick, Taoist, Saar, and Oxotnik all left the Black Hawk. However, new pilots joined the ranks: Ehawk, A'Kula, Z-Man, Banzai, Sunwolfe, Maverick, and Broadsword. FourSpeed took over XO duties and A'Kula became the new TacO. Red Dog, who had disappeared during the Fury Debacle, resurfaced and had taken over his old Kalidor 2 slot. Recently, Sunwolfe has stepped in as IntelO - completing the Flag Officer (FlagO) ranks. With the loss of Saar, Kalidor needed to leave Benthic and find a new home. Slingshot corresponded with Dave Phillips, webmaster of the fast and upcoming Echo Station on-line Star WarsŪ magazine. We were welcomed with open arms. Shortly thereafter, Kalidor, and the Black Hawk, found a new home and sported a new look. Because Kalidor emphasized active pilots (i.e. flying new missions on a monthly basis in either X-WingŪ or X-WingŪ vs TIE FighterŪ), we've kept abreast of current trends and developments in the software. This includes new mission editors (like Troy Dangerfield's XwED and XvTED, new ships (like those at Datamaster's OPT Project, and best of all, new games (like X-WingŪ Alliance™). The website has undergone some major changes, with a new medals program initiated, and regular Black Ops missions being flown and scored. In addition, several new pilots have written short stories (known as POVs) which are now posted in the ship's library. Also, in gratitude to our hosts, we have been posting articles on Echo Station's Electronic Magazine and copies are maintained in the Black Hole, the official name of our pilot's lounge. Though we may not be "officially" part of the Alliance, we keep abreast of current events through every means available.

If you're interested in joining us, follow the link below to our website, and then find the recruitment page on the Bridge of the Frigate Black Hawk. We are always interested in pilots who want to fly new, hazardous missions, earn nifty medals and ribbons, and share stories. We meet weekly on the Starlink IRC network, in the #kalidor channel. Here we discuss squadron activities, tactics and strategy for playing the X-WingŪ series of games, and anything else related to the Star WarsŪ community. If you're interested, contact the XO, Colonel FourSpeed or the TacO, Colonel A'Kula. As always, "May the Force Be With You" and "Good Luck and Good Hunting!

(Scott (A'Kula) Schimmels is a research engineer (nonlinear composite structures) in real life. As Kalidor Squadron's Tactical Officer, he runs the TacOps and Sim Centers, and is currently working his way through X-WingŪ Alliance™.)

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