vs. X-Wing

Allow me to set the scene...

The mission isn't going entirely as planned. It sounded simple in the briefing, I was to scout an Imperial sector of space and report back on my findings. Admiral Akbar had been clear on only one thing; under no circumstances engage the enemy. Scan the ships only, and allow Rebel Intelligence to find out what their next move will be from the data I collect.

At first it had seemed easy, a lot of fire came from the capital ships once they realised I was there, but my nimble A-Wing fighter was fast enough to avoid their fire, and the measly two TIE Fighters they had escorting couldn't keep up with me and stick close to that big frigate at the same time.

But then everything changed. Three Corellian Corvettes dropped out of hyperspace, all Imperial, and I knew I had to scan them too or my mission would be a failure. The problem? They hadn't come alone. Five TIE Fighters and they'd spotted me instantly. I couldn't run, I had to scan those ships, so with them on my tail, I diverted everything I had to my rear shields. I couldn't fire a shot anyway, so I took my weapon systems offline and put everything that wasn't going to my shields in to my engines. If I couldn't shake them, maybe I could outrun them.

Three Corvettes put up a lot of fire themselves though, and those shots would do a lot more damage than TIE Fighter blasts. My world became green blaster fire, and I had to balance my shields, even as I saw my rear deflectors dropping like a stone. I manoeuvred for the rear end of the Corvettes, figuring that with that huge mass of engines they wouldn't be able to get a good shot at me. The fire lessened, but it was still a threat as I passed the first one.

I don't know what hit me. It might have been a TIE or it might have been a stray turbo laser from the Corvette, but in one hit, my rear shields were gone. I frantically tried to divert everything I had to them, but it was no use. They were shot out. Sacrificing speed for survival, I rerouted everything to getting the shields to recharge, but it was too slow. They didn't even flicker as fire came in around me.

I passed the second Corvette, my scanner reading it and filling my data screen with details. One more. I closed on it, knowing that I'd make it now by the skin of my teeth. Only, at the last second, I'm hit! The console in my cockpit explodes, the gauges showing my power read out shatter and spark, and for a moment, I think it's all over...

...but no! I'm still alive. My ship is crippled, my cockpit battered, but I'm still flying my crippled fighter. And I passed the Corvette! I glance down to see if I got the scan, only to see three words looking back at me.

'Targeting computer offline'.

That last hit took out the one vital system I needed. I dive in to damage control, looking at what I can do to get it back online. I start the repairs. Seven minutes. I have eleven minutes to complete the mission and get back to base. It's going to be close...

That is if I can survive. TIEs are all over me now, and I definitely can't take another hit. They're all behind me though, and with my rear shields offline, I realise I don't need power to my deflectors anymore. Instead, I divert it all to the engines. TIE Fighters are fast, but with everything available pumped to the engines, my A-Wing is faster. I just have to hope...

...and I'm right! The TIEs must have orders not to leave the Corvettes, because they break off. All but one. He must be determined. But if I can just keep out running him...

It's a tense few moments in space, green blaster shots flying by my cockpit as I try to outrun him, and then suddenly something unexpected happens. The targeting computer comes back online! The repairs must have gone better than estimated. I turn around and run head first at the TIE, my front deflectors still functioning. I zoom by it without taking a hit, and now fix myself on the Corvette. I have one shot at this, but with the other TIEs in front of me, I have a chance. They fire, of course, but I'm moving like lightning now. They can't stop me. I get the report! That's it! Time to get out of here.

I have to make the jump to hyperspace. The problem is I can't amongst all of this fire. Jumping to hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, it takes time, and it leaves me vulnerable. I have to get clear. At this pace, that should be fine.

And then out of nowhere a giant shape drops out of nowhere in front of me. An Imperial Star Destroyer. I divert course just in time, and now know that I don't have a choice. I'm in serious trouble. I engage the hyperdrive, and hang defensive for a moment, the TIEs and Star Destroyer closing in on me...

...and then I'm gone. Mission complete.

.......That was what happened in the second mission on X-Wing, a PC game from 1993. That's right, a twenty one year old PC game. And I haven't exaggerated anything, and nor were any of the events (bar the arrival of the ships at the correct times) scripted.

They really don't make games like that anymore.