Righteous Fire + Wing Commander combined timeline
Acknowledgements
A merging of various sources including:
- [–WC] Wonder Chicken's exquisitely well written post BOA situation
- [–51] Area 51's handy timeline
- [–FT] To a great extent, Psych's finely detailed Fleet Tactics - Communications (site is off-line it seems…)
- [–ET] The CIC Encyclopedia's Timeline, of course, as well as
- [–TR] the Wing Commander -- The Revival's timeline; plus
- [–PA] some creative storytelling and flights of fancy based on our (deep) Privateer Analysis, and
- [–PT] our Privateer and Righteous Fire Timing analysis, and some
- [–PU] events leading to a background for a possible future PU project;
- [–HT] and, needless to say, Heart of the Tiger, by William Forstchen.
2669.126
Burrows arrives at Jolson to stay there for a badly needed vacation.
–PT
2669.127
Rear Admiral Richard David Terrell pleads for reinforcements again, citing that the TCS Winterrowd was lost to a “Kilrathi superweapon” (Steltek drone). Vice Admiral Rush Fletcher replies to Terrel: “Go ask Hancock. I am sure he has some CVEs to send you.”
–FT
2669.128
Hancock bests Terrel's request by suggesting using Perry as a secondary base of operations
but warns it may take a few weeks at best to organize the move.
–PU
2669.129
Agents for Menesch pay some serious bribes to Jolson Security, to have them take the Steltek gun from Burrows' ship.
–PA
2669.131
Cloaking technology breakthrough: Brigadier General Thomas “Shorty” Larson reports that cloning of Kat stealth device is complete. Suggests that a new fighter be “designed around it”. As per Tolwyn's subsequent suggestions, next day he agrees that this new fighter,
- must be able to outfly and outfight any Kilrathi fighter in service, including the Bloodfang
- must have the most devastating weaponry ever seen in a Confed fighter
- integrated addition of a jump drive and a cloaking device
- codenamed Excalibur
- will coordinate with General Taggart at Covert Ops, get his input also
–FT
2669.132 (Start of Righteous Fire)
- Steltek gun stolen.
–RF
"A Week Later..." ;-) Start of Privateer Righteous Fire; gun stolen. (A week should be enough?) NOTE: Needless to say, the "One Year Later" legend at the start of Righteous Fire is an error. Privateer happens in 2669, and a year later would put us at 2670, which would be peace time; but all indications are in Righteous Fire, that the war keeps heating up and getting worse. Kat superweapons, Terrel's missions, including one where you meet the Kilrathi 6th Fleet, Bar rumors of carrier losses... Now, it could be argued that going from a year to a week is "too much"; but IMO it isn't: An error is an error, big or small. 1+1=3 is not righter than 1+1=42. Both statements are equally wrong; and "a year later" is dead wrong.
See also the Year Later error.
2669.132
Grayson Burrows visits Masterson at Oxford.
–RF
2669.133
“Rare books” delivered by Burrows to Edom.
–RF
2669.137
President Dave Quinson informs:
- Rear Admiral Nicholai Ubarov, Confederation Weapons Division, found dead in his office, apparent suicide
- Tolwyn reassigned to take over Confederation Weapons Division
- Rear Admiral Pierre Cloureau will relieve Tolwyn as commander of the 14th Fleet.
- Tolwyn to reassess worthiness of 10 yr old, black-funded project Behemoth
- Permission granted to proceed with Excalibur design and production
–FT
2669.140
“Art collection” delivered by Burrows to Perry.
–RF/PT
2669.143
Burrows visits Tayla at Pentonville.
–RF/PT
2669.144
Excalibur work kicks into high gear at TCN R&D Starbase, in Vega sector.
–FT
2669.145
Rear Admiral David Whittaker arrives at Torgo III, wants to “play chess with Tolwyn and chat”; but in Tolwyn's recounting of that visit, he quickly moves to informing him of the existence of the Belisarius Group and “The Project”.
–FC
2669.146
Lynch retreats to Basque base, Humboldt quadrant; Tayla retreats to Tuck, Fariss quadrant.
Burrows delivers Tayla's “Personal Package” to Tuck, Sherwood.
–RF/PT
2669.153
Burrows finds Roman Lynch hiding at mining base Basque, Pyrenees (things got hot in New Det?)
–RF/PT
2669.156
One escort carrier from the 19th Fleet arrives in Perry as first in a series of reinforcements.
–PU
2669.157
TCS Roosvelt lost
Vice Admiral Jack Rumley reports on Task Force 56 in the Munro System:
- TCS Roosvelt, under Brigadier General DuVall, engaged by 2 Kat heavy carriers, disabled and on fire
- ordering her crew and all forces to withdraw from the system
- will torpedo what's left of the Roosvelt to prevent her being taken over
–FT
The TCS Roosevelt went down during the failed Confed offensive in the Munro System.
–WC
(Hey, wasn't DuVall one of the Belisarius guys Tolwyn mentioned?)
2669.158
New Castle and New Detroit blockades
- Someone's laying siege to Corcoran Corporation in Liverpool, New Castle (Lynch's territory?)
- Someone's laying siege to Bronte Corporation HQ in New Detroit (Lynch's territory for sure)
2669.164
TCS Kinney lost
A bartender in Perry mentions the TCS Kinney was destroyed; its location had been leaked out…
–RF/PT
2669.165
Retro and Kilrathi forces prepare for showdown at Tuck:
Kilrathi and Retro forces arrive to Caledonia and Regallis to cut Tayla's escape routes from
Sherwood, while a larger force is assembled at Capella for an attack on Tuck pirate base
–PA
2669.166 -- Angel's mission accomplished
Colonel Devereaux's team in Kilrah sends coded message:
“The tripwire is set waiting for the horses to cross at the foxhole”
Soon after, her team are captured by the Kilrathi
–ET
2669.167
Sandra Goodin sends Burrows to clear Kilrathi forces at Caledonia and Regallis.
Confed task force to take care of J900 and Telar.
–PA
2669.169 -- Blockade of Tuck, Sherwood foiled by Burrows
Burrows clears Kilrathi and Retro forces at Capella, Caledonia and Regallis; while supposedly a Confed task force clears J900 and Telar; throughly breaking the blockade of Tuck.
–PA
General James Taggart urges Tolwyn not to tell Blair about Angel's execution.
–FT
2669.173
Two more escort carriers from the 19th Fleet arrive in Perry as reinforcements.
–PU
2669.174 -- TCS Concordia lost
Captain Henry Henderson reports loss of the the Concordia:
- Hit by a single torpedo that disabled her engines and forced her crash in Vespus III, off the Mistral Coast.
- Admiral Cloureau and the majority of the Concordia's crew lost.
- A few survivors picked up, includig Captain Kevin Tolwyn (Geoff's nephew), who ejected from his Hellcat.
–ET
“But the most staggering loss occured when the TCS Concordia, the pride of the Confed Fleet,
fell prey to a Kilrathi ambush in the rear-echelon Vespus system. The Concordia was mopping
up raiders when a lucky torpedo hit crippled her engines and forced her to crash just off the
Mistral Coast on Vespus IV. There were no survivors on board.”
–WC
(Okay, was it Vespus III or Vespus IV?)
2669.177
Doctor Frederick Whitmore declares Blair fully recovered; certified for active duty.
–FT
2669.179
Captain Kevin Tolwyn promoted to Major by Rumley; transferred to staff position at Torgo III –ET
2669.180 -- TCS Invincible victorious at Morpheus
Rear Admiral Duke Leonard, Commander of TCS Invincible, reports victory:
- “Morpheus is ours”
- destroyed one heavy carrier, one light cruiser, three destroyers, and two corvettes
- one heavy cruiser and two remaining destroyers fled the system
- landed onto the Kilrathi outpost; overran Kilrathi resistance
–FT
Burrows meets Monte at Macabee, Nexus
–RF/PT
2669.181
Admiral Vance Richards warns:
- tactic of using escort carriers to harrass the Kilrathi rear-echelon sectors no longer works,
( now that Snakier II carriers are being pulled back to guard rear echelons by the Kilrathi )
- Most of the Recon-In-Force groups Admiral Hancock sent to penetrate the Empire have not reported back
- had to withdraw from failed assault in Munro with the loss of the Roosevelt
- losing ground in Port Hedland, Chang-Du, and Gimle
- losses: Illustrious, Quinson, Valiant, Winterrowd, Roosevelt, Concordia; down to 6 fleet carriers on front, from 17
- Most CVEs either gone or severely damaged like the Tarawa
- Kilrathi beating Confed two-to-one in cruiser and destroyer production, plus an edge in fighter production
- commissioning more fleet carriers online in their Navy, mostly Bhantkara-class
- Intell reports also show the presence of two more H'varkann-class dreadnoughts
- Confed only building the new Eagle-class light carriers
–FT
2669.183
Blair requests transfer to the TCS Bradshaw
–FT
2669.184
Burrows meets informant at Drake, Capella
–RF/PT
2669.192: Burrows kills Menesch
Burrows kills former governor Menesch
–RF/PT
2669.194
Menesch's right hand man, Salman Kroiz, who survived a fight with burrows thanks to his stealth ejection capsule, takes charge of Menesch's business
–PU
2669.197: Burrows kills Kahl
and helps Uhler wipe out the Kilrathi 6th Fleet
–RF/PT
2669.201
Three escort carriers arrive in Perry as an advanced team, to prepair the ground at a Perry, for it to serve as base of operations for the 19th Fleet.
–PU
2669.203 (Start of WC3 and Heart of the Tiger)
Since the building of the Hakaga fleet strained the Kilrathi's resources to the outmost.
They are out of money so the Emperor orders the deployment of their new bioweapons.
–ET : Heart of the Tiger
2669.207: Burrows kills Jones
Burrows kills Retro leader Mordecai Jones
–RF/PT
2667.209
The “Retro Informant” becomes the new leader of the Church of Man
–PA
2669.213: (End of Righteous Fire)
Burrows arrives in pleasure base New Reno, ND-57, for a well deserved vacation…
–PU
2669.215
Admiral Price Hancock arrives in Perry Naval Base with a fleet of four escort carriers; two more to follow.
–PU
NOTE: From here on down there's a lot of stuff that still is as was in the CIC's Timeline; it's marked "--ET : <cited source>" for now. Just temporarily; reasons are historical. I'm presently working on marking up Heart of the Tiger for relevant facts and quotable excerpts; then I have to redo my wc3 timing analysis, and only then I'll be able to finish up this timeline properly. In any case, the important parts are above this note; --i.e.: the integration of RF and WC timelines. The stuff below here is more like notes to myself for later work.
2669.217
Platolum is a laser and durasteel shard -proof alloy discovered on Ghorah Khar during excavations of the
old Kilrathi base. Bryce Alloys found it when they found argonized platinum containers storing Xanius Moloride.
The Xanius Molaride emitted above-infrared rays that contacted nickel-cadmium generators. The rays plus nickel
made a new alloy. We're not sure if the platinum containers were involved, but the name seems to imply it.
In the month of 2669.217, the alloys made an appearance on the UNXhange market.
–ET
2669.221
Christopher Blair's personalized Victory Streak Shipboard Orientation Kit was compiled by the
Quanntum 3 Artificial Publisher and the Electronics Cretive Services aboard the TCS Victory.
This issue of Victory Streak is dated 2669.221.
–ET
2669.221
Massacre aboard La Belle Dame Sans Merci.
–ET : Calendar
2669.225: TCS Victory victory at Tamayo
The Kilrathi carrier Sar'Hrai is ordered to destroy or at least cripple the TCS Victory,
which is located in the neighbouring system of Tamayo. Outnumbered, and forced to think fast, Christopher Blair comes up with a plan to fake retreat and lure the kilrathi within gun-range on the Victory, then switch back to attack. The strategy works.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.227
A patrol from the TCS Victory spots the KIS Sar'Hrai and the KIS Hvar'Kann.
According to Intelligence, the ships are carrying Skipper missiles armed with biological warheads,
and they intend to fire them at Locanda Four.
……………..
Five skipper missiles carrying biological warheads hit Locanda IV.
They were set for high airbursts, ensuring a quick spread.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.229: Biological attack wipes out Locanda
Biochemical destruction of Trafalgar, Locanda and Delius by Kilrathi forces.
–ET : KS Calendar
2669.230
The TCS Victory jumps into the Blackmane System.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.238
Locanda IV is considered lost after the Kilrathi hit the planet with bioweapons.
The Confederation quarantines the entire Locanda System.
Confederation forces begin to withdraw from secondary territories.
Blackmane Base is closed down. Its resources are transferred to Torgo and Vespus.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.242: Confed liberates Cabrea
The Confederation liberates the Cabrea system.
–ET
2669.243
The TCS Behemoth meets TCS Victory in Torgo
–KS calendar
Admiral Tolwyn arrives on the Victory. The carrier is to be the flagship for the Behemoth task force.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.249: Behemoth test successful
The Confederation field-tests Behemoth; it successfully destroys planet Loki IV
–KS Calendar
The TCS Behemoth is tested on Loki VI. The test successfully destroys the planet.
–WC3
2669.250: (Destroyer) TCS Coventry nearly lost; Behemoth lost
”…The Coventry, flagship of his [Jason Bondarevsky's] beloved destroyer squadron [sic], had been heavily engaged
in the fighting and nearly torn apart before the whole thing was through” (quoting False Colors verbatim).
Well, there's no such thing as a “destroyer squadron”, so this is open to creative interpretation, I guess…
Jason Bondarevsky is wounded when the TCS Coventry hits a mine on approach to Loki VI, escorting the Behemoth.
The bridge has been hulled and is decompressing. Jason is the only survivor on the bridge.
Janet [Sparks] McCullough leads the team that rescues him. Bondarevsky ended up losing his right arm.
–Heart of the Tiger
The TCS Coventry is severely damaged in the fighting. A missile hits the flag bridge, killing six officers.
Capt. Bondarevsky’s arm is crushed. He suffers from blood loss, decompression and oxygen deprivation.
Lt. McCullough leads a party to rescue him from the crippled bridge. Another hit destroys Officer’s Country.
(The Coventry jumps to Torgo, then…)'
Capt. Bondarevsky is ordered to Moonbase Tycho, where he is given a bionic arm and begins to undergo physical therapy.
Sparks accompanies him
–False Colors
2667.250
The Behemoth's shielding over a weak area goes down when debris from Graldak nar Sutaghi's fighter crashes into it.
Other Kilrathi fighters finish the Behemoth off. The crew ejected with lifepods.
Tolwyn is forced to order the fleet to withdraw.
–Heart of the Tiger
TCS Victory jumps to Alcor in WC3, Blackmane in Heart of the Tiger… oops!
Bonus 40: Why did the Victory proceed to the Alcor System after the destruction of the Behemoth in 2669?
Answers must have included mention of the Temblor Bomb and/or Dr. Philip Severin.
–from CIC Trivia questions and answers
(Note: Alcor is connected to Freya, which had a secret jump to Kilrah, or so I heard; yet, both
in the game and the novel the TCS Victory goes to Hyperion for the final attack on Kilrah…
)
2669.251
Eisen arrives on the Victory.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.253
General Taggart arrives on the Victory.
“Four days had passed since Tolwyn's departure…“
–Heart of the Tiger, pp.311
NOTE, pushed it up to two days after Tolwyn's departure, to give Taggart a chance to be on the
Victory when we go to Alcor V.
2669.255: Dr. Severin rescued; Hobbes killed
Dr. Severin is rescued from a prison facility on Alcor V.
–WC3
Question 63: Who is someone who contributed to the design of the Temblor Bomb?
Acceptable Answers: James Taggart and Philip Severin
–CIC Trivia questions and answers
2669.256
The Empire of Kilrah launches an offensive, capturing the System.
–False Colors
2669.257: Tolwyn court-marshaled
RAdm. Tolwyn is court marshaled for his handling of the TCS Behemoth operation.
The proceedings draw a large audience, much of which is shocked when he is finally acquitted.
–False Colors
2669.260: Temblor bomb test successful
2669.260 Confederation's tests of the Temblor Bomb are successful.
A prototype of the Temblor bomb is tested on an uninhabited planet in the Hyperion system.
The bomb detonates successfully, destroying the planet.
–WC3
2669.261: Tolwyn acquitted
RAdm. Tolwyn returns from his final court martial appearance.
He finds a voice message from agents of the Belisarius Group, claiming that they are responsible for his acquittal.
Tolwyn takes that as a signal that he must strengthen the Free Republic of the Landreich position in order to ensure the success of The Project.
Tolwyn contacts his nephew, Maj. Tolwyn, and asks him to resign his commission to serve with the Free Republic of the Landreich Navy.
–ET : False Colors
Question 18: What type of depots were crafted into asteroids in the Kilrah System for use during the mission involving Temblor Bombs in 2669?
Hint: Check the terminal.
Answer: Theta II
–CIC Trivia questions and answers
2669.267: Kilrah destroyed; armistice
Flying Excaliburs from the TCS Victory: Blair, Maniac, Vagabond and Flint descend on Kilrah.
Christopher Blair drops the Temblor Bomb on Kilrah, destroying the planet.
Much of the Grand Fleet, still in orbit, is destroyed along with it.
–Heart of the Tiger
The Kilrathi home planet Kilrah is destroyed in an attack consisting of four Excalibur fighters,
equiped with Confed's newest Stealth technology and the Temblor bomb. As a result the Kilrathi spokesman
Melek surrenders to Colonel Christopher Blair who led the attack on Kilrah.
The Terran-Kilrathi Armistice is signed.
–KS Calendar
2669.268?
Kal Shintahr Jhorrad of the KIS Vorghath refuses to submit to Melek’s surrender. His dreadnought
breaks orbit and spends the next year fighting off attacks from forces loyal to Melek.
–False Colors
2669.27x?
Melek declares himself Chancellor and forms a caretaker government in order to negotiate with the Terran
Confederation. Peace talks drag on, but the Treaty of Torgo is eventually signed in the Torgo System.
–False Colors
“The Kilrathi Assembly Of Clans was formed from the ashes of the old Kilrathi Empire, following the
destruction of Kilrah at the end of the Terran-Kilrathi War. It was organised by Shintahr Melek, who
later became its Head of State. While a few groups of Kilrathi rejected the Clan Assembly, and Melek's
presumption at taking on its leadership, most of the present Kilrathi population cooperated with the new
government, and are presently working together to rebuild their lives and their society. The new home
planet of the Kilrathi was established on Pasqual X in 2672.”
–http://hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu/~drake/govtscr.html
2669.297: Treaty of Torgo
In the large auditorium of Sector HQ, a Kilrathi delegation signs the Treaty of Torgo, officially ending the war.
The treaty converted the initial cease-fire into a lasting peace.
Present for the signing are James Taggart, William Eisen, Geoffrey Tolwyn, Kevin Tolwyn and Melek.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.298: (End of WC3/Heart of the Tiger)
Blair and Rachel land in Buenos Aires for a vacation.
–Heart of the Tiger
2669.300?
Governor Kal Shintahr Ukar dai Ragark lak Haka begins a propaganda campaign, claiming that the loss of Kilrah was
the fault of the Emperor and Prince Thrakhath nar Kiranka.
The campaign takes on religious overtones, claiming that in following Thrakhath Kilrathi have gone against the Word of the Codices.
–False Colors
2669.305?
The Belisarius Group plans to support an invasion of the Free Republic of the Landreich by Kal Shintahr
Ukar dai Ragark lak Haka, by politically impeding Kruger's military buildup and dismissing his claims about kilrathi incursions. After Landreich is taken by Ragark, they plan to use that for propaganda to renew the war with
the Kilrathi, while blaming the civilian government for failing to protect the Landreich, giving themselves a second chance for a military takeover of the government.
–False Colors
2669.310?
The TCS Lexington undergoes a partial refit, having her drives tuned and her air replaced.
She's given an entire compliment of replacement fighters.
Capt. Paulson is assigned to perform R&D liaison work.
Tolwyn personally awards Capt. Eisen the Lexington’s commissioning pennant.
Jesse Dunlevy is promoted to Lt. Col. and made Wing Commander of the newly rebuilt TCS Lexington.
Col. Seether soon arrives onboard the carrier with orders from Tolwyn to test Kilrathi hardware.
Seether’s personnel build their own communications array and begin monitoring the Lexington’s standard comm traffic.
2669.313: KIS Karga attacks Landreich
A Kilrathi battlegroup built around the KIS Karga makes it to planet Landreich. The operation is revenge for their assistance at the Battle of Earth. They launch a long-range orbital bombardment before Landreich forces chase them off.
2669.315: KIS Karga chased by two cruisers
The KIS Karga is under heavy attack from the TCS Dover and the TCS Juneau.
Focusing on the Dover, it manages to destroy it.
With just the Juneau left, the Karga's systems are all failing, fighters can't be launched due to obstructions on both of its two launch bays. Admiral Largka Cakg dai Nokhtak, a cousin of the Emporer, orders his nephew and others to abandon ship, then tries to blow up the Karga but all power goes down before the countdown completes, but not before managing to destroy what's left of the Juneau with its turrets. Largka and what's left of the Karga's crew commit ritual suicide. Kilrathi and terran survivors land on a frozen moon of Vaku VII and decide to cooperate.
–False Colors




