The Commander’s Log – A Journey Through ‘Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock’ – Part 3

Written by Scott Murray

Colonial Fleet Intelligence Committee Exercise Report:

Further to the initial combat experiences with the new Mark II Variant of our Viper fighter, an exercise was conducted between opposing Colonial forces to more fully ascertain the limits of the Viper Mk. II’s combat capabilities.

Colonial Fleet ships acting as the Opposing Force (OpFor) were marked in Yellow, and flew a traditional Fleet Composition while deploying Viper Mk. I Fighters.
 
The Mk. I Vipers and our Mk. II Vipers met between the fleets and engaged in a fighter-on-fighter engagement. The Viper Mk. IIs quickly won the dogfight, devastating the OpFor craft. While marginally less durable than the Mk. I, the Mk. II’s superior speed and maneuverability allowed them to dictate the terms of the engagement, stay out of the firing zones of the OpFor fighters, and in some cases literally fly circles around their enemies. The OpFor Mk. I Viper squadrons were as effective as unarmed target drones, and the Mk. II squadrons quickly secured total fighter supremacy in the battlespace.

To further test their capabilities, the Mk. II squadrons were instructed to attack the enemy capital ships, with no support from their own fleet. The Mk. II squadrons were able to efficiently pick apart and destroy the OpFor’s Adamant-Class frigates and even their Ranger-Class Missile Cruiser without the loss of a single Mk. II fighter.
 
With the data from this wargame exercise, and the past combat experience reported by Commander Murray, the Colonial Fleet Intelligence Committee revises their previous recommendation to a mandatory order: All fighter squadrons must be equipped with the new Viper Mk. II Variant or be classified Combat Ineffective by the end of the month.

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