- The conflict between Earth and Kilrah is drawing to a close, and in spite of new fighters, carriers, and technology joining the Fleet, the war effort is not going well. Every day, more news of fresh defeats and losses make their way around the fleet. As mighty as the Confed forces are, they face a foe which seems invincible, for every Kilrathi fighter and warship destroyed, 10 others take their place. Humanity's only hope lies in a desperate plan, the last ditch effort to bring this decades long conflict to an end.—Tolwyn
- The first episode of Wing Commander Saga begins after David Sandman Markham (Sean Crisden) has already suffered the loss of his first home-base carrier. As a still green Lieutenant on board the Hermes, he meets new squad mates and learns some hard lessons about what humanity is up against in this war, and war war can do to the people who fight in it.
Major events in this episode include the Hermes coming under attack and later making a dramatic run through a Kilrathi jump point blockade. The Hermes is also assigned to defend the star base Fort Crockett and puts up a valiant fight, but the Kilrathi opposition is too intense and Confed fails in spite of some truly heroic efforts. Along the way, Sandman has his first run in with a Kilrathi ace. The Hermes pilots succeed in destroying several Kilrathi transports and dropships with an invasion force, but heavy Kilrathi reinforcements arrive and the Confed fleet is forced to withdraw. As they fall back, the Hermes pilots defend Confed convoys as they evacuate the system. Sandman begins to get the feeling that humanity may be in over its head.
Episode 2
The Kilrathi, in a bold stroke, show that their intentions are to make their war with Confed a war of extinction by using biological weapons on Locanda. Confed makes a large scale evacuation and retreat. With the Hermes and other carries tasked to protect the evacuation convoys. Sandman and his wingmates have their first encounter with the Kilrathi's new heavy fighter, the Sorthak. The Hermes receives a resupply of fighters, but the meager offerings show how thin Confed is being stretched. It becomes increasingly clear that Confed is getting weaker, while the Kilrathi are getting stronger.
In the midst of all this, the Hermes is assigned to take part in a strike into Kilrathi territory. This seems odd, because Confed is doing all it can to evacuate it's civilians and fight a defensive war. The full reasons for this offensive are not revealed to the Hermes pilots, they are merely told it is part of a bigger plan. In this raid, Sandman has his first experience cooperating with some special forces units and raids Kilrathi convoys. Sandman also helps recover data from a doomed courier ship and tangles with the Kilrathi's new asteroid fighters. The raid culminates in the destruction of a Kilrathi base. Victory quickly turns to defeat, though, when the Kilrathi destroy one of Confed's fleet carriers. This was a loss Confed could not afford.
Episode 3
As the Hermes pulls back from its offensive after the loss of a fleet carrier, it uses a nebula to try to shake the aggressive Kilrathi pursuers, rescuing a few Confed stragglers along the way. The Kilrathi use a masking technology to seal off the jump point, but the Hermes fighters successfully take out the ship generating the masking field and jump out to safety.
The Hermes is stationed at Torgo Base for repairs, and the Hermes pilots take part in patrolling the station. Several fighters go mysteriously missing, and Sandman and his wingmates find themselves fighting the fearsome Kilrathi stealth ace, Stalker. There is a fierce duel, and in the end Sandman can't tell whether Stalker survived or not. The Hermes fighters fend off a raid on Torgo, and then come face to face with Confed's greatest hope for winning the war, the Behemoth.
Episode 4
The action in this episode takes place in two systems. First, in Nephele, Confed begins operation Behemoth, it's "ace in the hole" strategy to win the war outright by using the Behemoth superweapon the Kilrathi homeworld. With a renewed sense of hope, the Hermes pilots undertake a series of operations designed to support the advance of the Behemoth task force and divert the Kilrathi away from them, including an operation to take back Bluepoint station. The Hermes is tasked with diverting and jamming Kilrathi forces to keep them from discovering and interceptin the Behemoth. A test of the Behemoth is successful, and it looks like Confed may yet win the war. The pendulum is quick to swing back, however. The Hermes fleet is ambushed and suffers heavy losses, but also makes inflicts heavy damage on the Kilrathi. Ultimately, the Kilrathi are successful in destroying the Behemoth.
Episode 5
Just when it seems that all is lost, Confed begins to rally for its second and last special plan for winning the war. It is even a longer shot than the Behemoth was. The Hermes and other Confed forces begin to regroup to support this last desperate attempt at survival. The Hermes fighters strike back against the Kilrathi in a major way, taking out several major targets and taking on another Kilrathi ace. The strike is successful, but is still just a drop in the bucket compared to what the Kilrathi have available.
Episode 6
Sandman in inducted into an elite squadron, flying the new Excalibur fighter. Confed launches a full out offensive to give itself a staging point for their final effort to win the war. Confed isn't holding anything back. This episode includes incredible battles as elite Confed pilots take on Kilrathi elite pilots, huge capital ship fleets clash in epic battles, and Confed engages in a major planetary assault and orbital bombardment. Confed establishes its base of operations, but not without paying a price.
Episode 7
The final attempt to save humanity is here, and all cards are on the table. All Confed forces are committed, and ultimately everyone is expendable as long as Confed's special operation to take out Kilrah is protected. The Hermes pilots assist many Confed forces in offensive and defensive operations. Sandman flies with some famous Confed pilots, and in some spectacular battles several major Kilrathi aces who have plagued Sandman and his wingmates throughout the game are finally eliminated. As mighty as the Confed forces are, they face a foe which seems invincible, including an immense Kilrathi dreadnaught. But the Confed battle fleet was never intended to win the battle, just keep the Kilrathi busy while the special ops team made their strike. As the battle draws to an end under the endless crushing countersrike by the Kilrathi many Confed ships are destroyed. Sandman can only hope they were able to buy enough time for Blair and Lancelot flight in their special ops mission. Ultimately, the Confed special operation to destroy Kilrah is successful and the Kilrathi surrender. The war has been won, but so many friends and dreams have been lost in the process. While there is a promise of a brighter future, of reconstruction and a return to peace, Sandman is left to contemplate the price of life and freedom.
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