Falcon Squadron

From Emperor's Hammer Encyclopaedia Imperia

Falcon Squadron was an Heavy Assault squadron attached to Wing XI of the ISD Immortal. It operated from 1999 until around February 2004, when it was closed two months prior to the eventual closure of all squadrons onboard the Immortal.

History[edit]

Falcon Squadron was opened on July 1st, 1999 as part of Wing XI and the Immortal, commissioned earlier that same year. Its first commander was Kessian Armus.

Armus would serve in that role for three months, before being replaced by Dras Hempor, a pilot from Phantom Squadron that would go on to serve as Wing XI Wing Commander and as the Immortal Commodore. After four months in the role, Dras Hempor's ascension to Wing Commander opened the door for Arso Slyth, a Falcon Flight Leader who would also one day serve as Wing XI's Wing Commander.

Arso Slyth stepped down to a Flight Member role after three months. His replacement was Sanj, a pilot from Psi Squadron onboard the Sovereign. Sanj would serve as Squadron Commander for seven months before returning to Psi, the longest time of any commander to date. But that record would soon be shattered by his replacement: Darksaber.

An active Falcon pilot before, Darksaber would go on lead Falcon Squadron for over ten months before ascending to the Wing XI Wing Commander position and, later, Immortal Commodore. Not only would he go down as Falcon's longest tenured commander, but arguably led Falcon during its most successful period, leading the squadron to an award as Immortal Commodore's Own in May 2001 and TIE Corps Battlegroups Squadron of the Month in April 2001.

Upon Darksaber's appointment to Wing Commander, he was replaced by Dark Hawk another long-time Falcon pilot. Dark Hawk led the squadron for five months. As Dark Hawk prepared to leave, it was decided to close Ranger Squadron and merge its pilots into Falcon. While Ranger's flight leaders Iylan Kano and Cray Mikalen retained their positions in Falcon Squadron, Loor, the Ranger Squadron Commander, refused his appointment to command Falcon, instead opting to take up a Flight Member role on the Relentless. Instead, command of Falcon went to a returning Kessian Armus, back in command of the squadron he first founded. His second stop was a brief single month, but during that time, in April 2002, Falcon Squadron, bolstered by the arrivals from Ranger Squadron, could finally boast a full squadron of twelve pilots. It would be the only time in the history of the squadron that all spots were accounted for.

Armus's single month of command was followed by another single month of command by Nicolas, an up and coming Falcon pilot who ascending quickly to the position and then left it just as fast. His replacement, the Immortal veteran Bobxavi, would serve longer, exceling in the position for seven months. Upon his decision to return to the less-strenuous Flight Leader role, he was promoted to Major, in recognition of his excellent work with Falcon Squadron.

Gutt, a long-time Falcon veteran, took command of the squadron for two months, before ceding to former Falcon commander and Gutt's fellow "Falcon Duo" member, Dark Hawk. Dark Hawk's second run lasted five months, and, arguably, represented the end of an era for the squadron.

Dark Hawk's replacement would be Efherman, a Sovereign pilot who lasted a month in the role before stepping down. With the squadron in rough shape, Immortal Commodore Locke Setzer was desperate for veteran leadership, but the Immortal had too many squadron openings, and veterans that were interested in commanding again opted for squadrons in better shape. With few options, the squadron was handed over to Aresis, a Flight Leader in Falcon eager for the opportunity.

After two months in the role, Aresis recommended the squadron be shut down and merged into Ghost Squadron, a suggestion Locke flatly rejected. Nevertheless, by February 2004, the squadron was closed, its pilots scattered to the Reserves and elsewhere in the fleet. Two months later, the Wing XI and the Immortal as a whole would be closed.

Mottos and Nicknames[edit]

Falcon Squadron's mottos and nicknames, by all accounts, remained consistent for the entierity of its existance as a squadron. They were as follows:

  • Squadron Nickname: Birds of Prey
  • Squadron Motto: If it absolutely has to be destroyed overnight, call Falcon.
  • Flight I Nickname: The Quartet of Deliverance
  • Flight I Motto: Now is the death of doers of wrong.
  • Flight II Nickname: Havoc's Reign
  • Flight II Motto: Feel the Power!
  • Flight III Nickname: Hand of Darkness
  • Flight III Motto: History will be kind to us; for we intend to write it.

Awards and Competitions[edit]

  • TIE Corps Battlegroups Squadron of the Month (April 2001)
  • COM´s Own (May 2001)

Command History[edit]

Commander Start Date End Date Start Rank End Rank
Kessian Armus 07/1999 10/1999 Commander Captain
Dras Hempor 10/1999 02/2000 Commander Major
Arso Slyth 02/2000 05/2000 Commander Captain
Sanj 05/2000 12/2000 Commander Major
Darksaber 12/2000 10/2001 Commander Major
Dark Hawk 10/2001 03/2002 Commander Major
Kessian Armus 03/2002 04/2002 Colonel Colonel
Nicolas / Nicolaas Vlieghe 04/2002 05/2002 Commander Commander
Bobxavi 05/2002 12/2002 Commander Major
Gutt 12/2002 03/2003 Captain Captain
Dark Hawk 03/2003 08/2003 Major Lieutenant Colonel
Efherman 09/2003 10/2003 Commander Commander
Aresis 10/2003 ? Commander Commander

Image History[edit]

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