Roland’s Rise from Average Cadet

This thread follows Roland Horn from self-doubt about his ordinary record to a combat-tested pilot whose judgment and courage earn recognition.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Waiting Pilot

A Pilot in Waiting An Uneventful Record Roland Horn begins the story testing an old Panzerter III near Fredrick. He enjoys flying, but his assignment and routine leave him feeling that his career has not yet begun. A Grandfather’s Measure He carries Grandpa's combat wings and remembers a family legend of a pilot who achieved much in an older machine. That legacy inspires him but also gives him an intimidating standard against which to judge himself.

The Colony’s First Defender

Tested in Fredrick An Unexpected Attack When saboteurs strike Naval Air Station Richtoften, Roland is caught in an emergency with an old machine and incomplete weapons. He nevertheless launches to confront the attackers before they can inflict greater harm on the colony. Courage over Reputation He fights the larger Panthers through the colony’s confined airspace, improvising with a shield and whatever weapons remain. His decisions protect civilians and show that skill is not simply a matter of machine specifications or an impressive record.

Recognition Earned in Combat

Wings at Last A New Standard After repeated sorties, Roland has fought enemy landers, Panzerters, and ships while helping keep refugees alive. His performance is no longer theoretical or merely adequate: he has repeatedly taken responsibility when the force around him lacked options. The Ace’s Insignia Henri Marcell presents him with combat wings and names the enemies he has overcome, including the celebrated Rocco Swift. The recognition answers Roland’s fear of being forgettable, but also marks a new obligation to the people who depend on him.

Early on 2 November 2135 at Fredrick

Late afternoon on 2 November 2135 during the base attack

Night on 2 November 2135 aboard Blackwater