VotK's "scramble" sequence is somewhat less thrilling than those of its predecessors, but it does manage to stay upbeat with a slightly adapted version of the scramble music from the previous three games.
But the "Launch" scene is pretty sweet!
The Ferret-class light fighter: You could do better, but it'll get you by out on the space lanes.
Of course, fate intervenes (otherwise, there'd be no point to the game) at just the right moment, as you and Shadow come across a couple of wings of Kilrathi fighters while out on a routine patrol. The narrative continues with the following, just before the player lands at home base; this is Wing Commander's first "in flight movie."
This comes as a pretty big surprise, seeing as how the last ten years have been quiet as the grave. What are those things that the pilots are wearing on their backs? Boom boxes?
Shadow is a little rattled.
During this exchange between you and Shadow, VotK adds an interesting element into the mix that drew upon a random conversation with "Iceman" from Crusade:
Yep, the Society of Mandarins is back. Not only are they back, but VotK expanded upon the concept by adding these human traitors as an actual problem encountered by the player character during the game. This brought the element of treason and treachery much closer to home later on in the game.
Shortly after this exchange takes place, you receive a distress call from the TCS Concordia, the Terran Confederation's only Confederation-class dreadnought. Under attack by Kilrathi fighters and its fighter bays crippled due to severe damage, you and Shadow scramble to the Concordia's defense.
As the player character, you and Shadow then get to put the good, old-fashioned beat down on the Kilrathi ships attacking the Concordia. With two enemy encounters in the span of one day, things are definitely starting to heat up on far-flung Caernavron Station! Having helped the ship and her crew out of a serious jam, you are invited to land aboard the Concordia.
As a kid, it was quite refreshing and relieving to see some familiar faces amidship!
Sweet! Spirit and Doomsday also survived. Jazz has survived, as well, albeit to a lesser degree of sweetness because of his attitude. Of the several new wingmen we meet over the course of the game, one is none other than Ralgha Nar Hhallas, the Kilrathi "defector" from Crusade! Again, this gives us yet a more in depth look at the Kilrathi.
As an interesting aside, Hobbes is not named after the beloved comic strip character of "Calvin and Hobbes" fame, but instead after writer and philosopher Thomas Hobbes.
