More clues to the Newsletter cover contest have been revealed on the Executive Office homepage at http://www.kawolski.com. Many people are getting close, but so far nobody has gotten the theme correct and nobody has been able to describe what the things/people that don't belong in NL covers #74, #75, and #76 are.

..is only allowed in case of a bug preventing the mission from being completed, which is extremely rare. From now on I will strictly apply the current cheating policy, and I will cancel any BSF with some mission skipped where 1/ there is no mention of a bug or 2/ for which no bug report has been submitted (which are to be submitted before submitting the pilot file), without any notification (until the database supports such a nice feature); the concerned battle or mission will be simply removed from your combat record. Furthermore, I am seriously considering forbidding skipping missions for ANY reason, as I have noticed too many abuses of this policy. If a mission has got a high score, maybe should you consider the possibility that someone did complete it and thus that the mission can be completed.

Just a quick update. The process of approving and rejecting uniforms on tiecorps.org is now the sole responsibility of the Operations Office. The process of approving and rejecting new banners on tiecorps.org is now the responsibility of the Flight Office.

If your banner won't load for some reason, please e-mail the Executive Officer Sector Admiral Kawolski a copy of the banner and a copy of the error message displayed. (If you get a generic 500 error, turn off "Show Friendly HTTP Error Messages" under Tools->Internet Options->Advanced->Browsing and try again)

There is a new competition running, "Design a bad guy". Basically the idea is to design an enemy for the EH. The best will be selected for use in future competitions. For details, go to http://www.imperialacademy.org/comps/badguy/.

327 Battles, 300 Free Missions, for a total of 2,000 missions online... check out the latest TAC report for the celebrations.

Clues to the Newsletter cover contest have been revealed on the Executive Office homepage at http://www.kawolski.com. So far, nobody has figured out the puzzle. The IS-GR can still be yours!

Congratulations to the following on their Flag Officer appointments today:

Rear Admiral Absolut Vodka - new Colossus Commodore
Lieutenant Colonel Drake - new VIII Wing Commander.

Due to unavoidable RL issues, Rear Admiral Smitrock has announced his decision to step down as Commodore of the ISD Subjugator and move to the Reserves. A new COM will be selected soon.

With the last two sniper courses on the verge of being released, I'd just like to lay down the rules of how these courses will work. For those of you that may not know, there is actually 4 other courses being written. To add a little bit of realism to the group, a TRP will only be allowed to hold Expert grade in ONE certification. You will be allowed to complete other courses (the exact amount will be determined when more courses are released) So have a think before you fire off the last two sniper courses :P Any questions, email me.

Membership: 72 active, 126 total

1) The subgroup wide AWOL check has been completed with much better results than most had hoped. We shed 39 members, or 23.6%, so the HF is still very healthy. Thanks to everyone who keeps this subgroup moving!

2) The first batch of the Hammer's Fist combat uniforms is finished! Now members from the freshest recruit through veteran platoon commanders can paste together a beautiful uniform. The uniforms show unit affiliation, rank, and position. The uniforms cover Vendetta and Vengeance platoons. Uniforms for other platoons and higher officers will arrive later. The combat uniform project was started in March of this year.

3) The Unreal Tournament: Emperor's Hammer and Star Wars: Unreal Tournament mods have now completed their merger. The new project is running under the latter name for the time being. The website is at http://www.unrealtournament.co.uk/starwars/

The new project is far larger than either singly, incorporating the full content of both. Surprisingly, there was very little overlap. If even half of the planned features get done, this mod will still be one of the largest around. The plan is to release it in three gamepacks called "Core", "Jedi", and "Mercs". Each can be stand-alone, although maps will require you have the appropriate gamepack(s).

4) The Hammer's Fist is reorganizing itself slightly. A new platoon has opened up just for recruits. Similar to the TIE Corps' Daedalus companies, the Orion Platoon is a place where new members get oriented before being placed in the other platoons. Members must take the SSBTC to be moved out of Orion.

Prefect of the Legion
Field Marshal Ares

The X-Wing Alliance Week of War starts today! Here is the URL to the war page:

http://www.battlestats.com/games/xwa/war/info/index.php4?wow249

For those of you that have flown in WoWs before, you should all know what to do :) For those that have not, check out the instructions for signing up in my COO Report #1.

Good luck and good hunting everyone!

The new CSMA site is up! Currently it is missing the IOTC, and SSITC tests. They will be added soon. Also, the Sniper and Expert Sniper Courses will be up by the end of this weekend... need to get some more info for them, and then they'll be up.

I've finally made my decision on the new BGCOM...many congratulations to Vice Admiral Mell! Mell is a veteran of the Battlegroups and has all the command experience and skills I would require of any BGCOM. I'm sure that he'll not only carry on the good work of the previous BGCOMs, but also work to bring his own successes. Congrats Mell!

Send applications for the new Platoon Commander stop to Me! (jeffshelton@gru.net).

You need to have served as a SL, completed the SSITC and the IOTC in order to apply.

HC Vradin Jonusk

After takiing into consideration the top 3 fictions sent in by the flag officers of each ship, the scores fell as follows:

Participation
ISD Colossus 24/30 -- 80%
ISD Immortal 17/32 -- 53%
ISD Challenge 13/48 -- 27%

TOP 3:

1) LC Absolut Vodka: 15 points and IS-GR
2) RA MAnitsas: 10 Points and IS-SR
3) MAJ Calvin Numb: 5 Points and IS-SR

Overall:

1) ISD Colossus: 23 points
2) ISD Challenge: 17 points
3) ISD Immortal: 8 Points

The Tactical Office is finalising the Phase 2 scores. more when we get them in, until then, Colossus relish an early lead... will they hold it? Watch this space.

A new Commodore for the ISD Vanguard has finally been selected. Congratulations to Rear Admiral Bevel Leeson! Accordingly, a new Wing Commander for Wing XV has also been chosen. Congratulations to Colonel Garik Hizad! Both of these Officers are long-standing members of the Vanguard, and I'm sure they'll serve my old ship well :)

I'm also pleased to congratulate the Wing XIII WC, Lieutenant Colonel Azazel, on his promotion to Colonel today.

Vindictive Company Rosters have been updated.

Active: 65 members, 118 with the Homeguard

Platoon Commanders and Troopers please go check them for accuracy. Send all updates/changes/corrections to the Commander of Personnel, Me.

Over the weekend, Admiral Adrenaline announced her decision to resign as TC Battlegroups Commander due to increasing RL work. Adren was undoubtedly one of the hardest working members of the EH and held in high respect by all. I'm sorry to see her go, and we're definitely losing one of our finest Officers.

I will not be taking applications for a new BGCOM, so please don't send one. Adren's replacement will be selected in the next couple of days.

Many congratulations go out to Major Grail SoulChaser who has been appointed as the new Wing Commander for Wing XX!

From the WO, Vice Admiral Pel:

I'm pleased to announce that the Fleet Commander and Executive Officer have approved the new War Manual, and it can now be found in the War Office at http://www.tiecorps.org/wo/ (thanks to the XO for hosting). The WM contains all the information you'd need for playing wargames using XWA.

I've also started playing testing some new rules and modifications, and I'm looking for people to help out. If you're intestested, please email me at Palinathas@aol.com.

Newsletter #80 (7.80 mb) has been released and it's a big one! Inside you'll find many submissions, including the submitted entries for the Recon Office's banner pranks competition.

You can download it at:
http://thunder.prohosting.com/~surefire/hammer80.zip (N. America - Fast)

You can view it online at:
http://www.buffy75.freeserve.co.uk/

In case you haven't seen the third Episode II trailer yet, check it out at: http://starwars.apple.com/ep2/forbidden/

You must copy and paste this URL to your web browser for it to work.

Membership: 103 active, 157 total

1) The effects of our AWOL check is starting to be felt. Next week should see the real drop though as the losses are tallied. AWOL checks are a fact of the club, but nevertheless, they can be shocking.

2) Combat Uniforms. How long have these been in in deveopment? I would have to check (ie. too long). Fruit is finally being born. After a lot of prep work, the final renders of the uniforms are being done. They should become available, from lowest ranks to highest, over the next few weeks.

3) I was hoping to have HF gear readied by now, but you know me: gotta be perfect. I've been wrestling with making the text 3D like our logo for our T-shirts. Almost have that right.

4) Our new Commander, Personnel HC Vradin has moved into his post easily enough, having held the post before.

5) A competition has begun run by our Paymaster LT Astix. Another competition is lined up after this one so we should be pretty active. The Commander, Operations COL Darkheart is going to try building up a library of SW:Battlegrounds scenarios after the game comes out.

6) The Commander, Internet Affairs HC Zsinj has been offline due to a dead PC. He's back to everyone's relief.

7) Company Commander HC Ironfist has drummed up activity in the company. There is a working mailing list for each platoon, and a company website at http://www25.brinkster.com/vindictive/

Prefect of the Legion
Field Marshal Ares

Submitted by VA Proton:

Sept. 10-Nov. 15, 2001
First place: Iron Star-Gold Ribbon: CM John Doe
Second place: Iron Star-Silver Ribbon: LCM Alex Foley
Third place: Iron Star-Bronze Ribbon: LCM Tim

VA Proton now will use some or all of the elements of the medal winners' work to fashion the new Sov home page. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks for the participation!

If you happen to have created a battle, which is not listed on your profile (and if you're its only creator), please contact me with your PIN so I can update the particular battle profile. I am especially thinking of old TIE Battles, which are often not linked to a creator profile.

The file system of the Compendium has been changed, file names are now (Platform)(Subgroup)(Number).zip ; for example, TIE-TC Battle 11 file is named TIETC11.zip . All 600+ entries of the database have been updated, but there may be some dead links, report me any of these at striker@tiecorps.org.

In a joint effort from SCO and TAC Offices, here is something to celebrate the ten thousands graduates of the IWATS Academy since High Admiral Astatine is Dean. Fly his personal Astatine-class Tug in the newest XWA Battle, "The Tug Menace" !

Without wasting any time, the ATF BGCOM has selected the new Commodore for the ISD Subjugator: Congratulations to Rear Admiral Smitrock!

Another Episode II trailer called Mystery can be found at:
http://www.fileplanet.com/index.asp?section=1360&file=81580

or access via The Phantom Menace DVD at:
http://dvd.starwars.com

I'm willing to host an XWA wargame, similar to Imperial Storm II, for 3 individuals. It will consist of a free for all wargame which will last about 30 wargame days. (A little over one month, depending on how fast a wargame is done.)

Requirements are that you have XWA, a stable internet connection to play the game online for battles between fleets, willing to send reports/orders for your fleet everyother day and willing to have fun! There are no medals involved, just fun.

This is a first come first serve basis so contact me, LC Stele Pellaeon, at tieknt@juno.com ASAP.

I hosted a game last month between two pilots and it went quite well. The wargame site is at http://www.sinsquadron.50megs.com/maingame.htm

With the recent resignation of Rear Admiral Zippy Hawk as Commodore of the ISD Vanguard, the position is now open for applications.

All applicants should be able to demonstrate motivation for the position, as well as any ideas they have for the ship. In addition, command experience at Wing Commander level (or equivalent) is a big plus. For more information on the position of Commodore, please see the Training Manual entry located here.

A reminder that the ISD Vanguard is a multiplayer ship (XWA). All applications should be sent to Admiral Cyric and Fleet Admiral Priyum.

Congratulations to the following two Officers on recent their promotions:

Vice Admiral Jeff 'Tiger' Loruss - Avenger Task Force Battlegroup Commander

Lieutenant Colonel Aylius Khan - VI Wing Commander

Both came highly recommended for the positions, and I'm sure they'll enjoy every success.

The competition ended earlier today, and overall I am happy with the outcome, despite the fact that we came up a bit short of winning it. Well fought though!

Here is a breakdown of how we did overall:

X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
Game W/L: 43/50 (0.86)
Player W/L: 111/126 (0.88)

X-Wing Alliance
Game W/L: 2/3 (0.67)
Player W/L: 2/3 (0.67)

As you can see, we were close but slightly overmatched. However, there were 20 pilots participating over both platforms, with a higher number of games than we've had in most Weeks of War. I hope this trend will continue!

Our most active and winningest pilot through this war was CM Sharp (A.K.A. Darkmage), who played 17 games and won 11 of them. Great work!

The most active group was Wing XIII with 34 games, and the most deadly group was Tau Squadron with a win/loss ratio of 2.33. Well done to both these groups and all others who participated as well!

Now, there is a week's rest before the next XvT Week of War begins... I hope to see everyone out for it too! There will be no complaining about lack of opponents then, either :)

AusComp has been cancelled due to a severe storm warning that was reported to be hanging around my area tonight. Both CPT Carren and myself live in the same area and so there is no host for it.

I apologise for any inconvenience.

GA Ronin and myself would like to extend our congratulations to Combat Operations Officer Brucmack for his excellent performance and being promoted to Vice Admiral! Now go embarrass him on the message board. :P

Vice Admiral Firefox, Battlegroup Commander of the Avenger Task Force, has resigned from his position to become the new Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood. We wish him luck in his new position! Congratulations!

If you haven't seen it yet, you can check out the new Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones teaser on apple.com.

To view it, open a NEW browser window and copy-and-paste this URL: http://starwars.apple.com/ep2/breathing/

Membership: 116 active, 165 total

1) Unreal Tournament: Emperor's Hammer, the UT Star Wars mod I have been slaving over, has joined up with another mod team called Star Wars: Final Battle. With our combined resources, the new project will be better and will be completed sooner. The site is at:
http://www.unrealtournament.co.uk/starwars/

2) The Commander, Personnel post is vacant. Only HF members are eligible. Applications go to PRF Ares and CD Vladkov. Deadline is Nov. 8 midnight PST. Applicants:
Must be able to guarantee 3 months of service.
Must have completed the IOTC.
Must have enough time to update the roster 2/week.
Must write a weekly report.

3) The Hammer's Fist site now allows unit leaders to edit the look of their unit listing in the roster with a banner, unit motto and nickname, and the unit's own URL.

4) SGT Madon has resurrected an old total conversion project for us. The game started out as a modification of the venerable Quake engine, but has grown to accomodated content from the whole range of Quake games. The game also supports Half Life models and levels.

5) Below are the awardees for this month's awards ceremony (held first meeting of every month)

AWARDS
Official Letter of Commendation (LoC)
SSG Dron
PTE Cypher

Cross of Obedience (CoO)
SPL Tacky

Hammer's Cross (HC)
LT Astix
HC Zsinj

Master Stormtrooper Certification (=MS=)
Howlader

PROMOTIONS
Private First Class (PFC)
PTE Delek Krennel

Specialist (SPL)
LCP Tacky
LCP Taskeen

Staff Sergeant (SSG)
SGT Haztix Vel
SGT Mordred

Second Lieutenant (2LT)
SGT Kano

ADVANCEMENTS
Vradin is now APRF
Hemi is now ACD
Kano is now Vengeance PC
Tacky is now SL of Vengeance 1
Taskeen is now Sl of Vengeance 4

Prefect of the Legion
Field Marshal Ares

Lieutenant Colonel Jesseb has announced his decision to step down as Wing Commander for Wing VI, and take up a FM's position in Zeta. This means that the position is now vacant and Rear Admiral Proton is now accepting applications for a new WC. He requests that all applicants should have a sense of fair play, a good work ethic and a creative streak that will lead to constant activity and fun throughout the Wing.

For the listed duties and online requirements of a Wing Commander, please click here. All applications should be sent to the SovCOM without delay.

The Commander, Personnel post is open to applications through November 8th midnight PST. Requirements for the job:

Must be able to guarantee 3 months of service
Must have completed the IOTC.
Must have enough time to update the roster 2/week (decide how long it'd take you and double it).
Write a weekly report

Send all applications to PRF Ares and CD Vladkov.

Unreal Tournament: Emperor's Hammer, or long-running Star Wars conversion project, has merged with another Star Wars project called "Star Wars: Final Battle." The new name for the merged conversion has not been determined.

The combined conversion will be even bigger and better than either before. The new homepage is:
http://www.unrealtournament.co.uk/starwars/

If you don't know what it's about, drop by and see what you've been missing.

Version 1.6 of the Tactical Manual has been uploaded. Updates are about Combined Arms Battles, Medals of Tactics, length of TIE Battles, and the Cheating Policy concerning unlimited weapons in XWA and reflying XvT missions.

The second round of EH vs. UPA competition starts tomorrow! Some of you might remember the first one that took place a bit less than a year and a half ago.

Like any challenge competition, it will be hosted by Battlestats. Links to the war sites are available in the entries in the combat calendar, which should be visible on the right side of this page as well. For tips on getting signed up, see my first COO report.

Good luck, and good hunting!

The new edition of the FCHG Mission Creation Contest begins today, deadline on December 15th ! Full details available at http://www.tiecorps.org/tac/fchg.html.