Monday - Strip 6 - Nothing like a one-sided space battle, huh? Droid speech styles have varied in comics source to comics source, though I've always been partial to the square word balloon representing mechanical speech.

The terrified "REEEE...." in this case is coming from "Deo," which is short for R2-D0. As we find out later in the week, the X-wing pilot is a spy by the code-name of Tiree. He's been floating around the EU for several decades now, under a couple of different names. His real name is Tay Vanis. Tiree is a nickname.

From the looks of his X-wing, he's fond of keeping track of records.

Tuesday - Strip 7 In the script, I made no distinction as to what Star Destroyer this is, or who the captain is -- so sorry for those keeping track of Imperial war assets. This warship will remain anonymous for now.

The ranting gentleman is ISB Officer Mar Barezz. His uniform is accurate to at least one depiction -- a woefully outdated Technical Companion about the Death Star. Personally, I think ISB officers are quite often not in uniform and sprinkled throughout Imperial ranks to sniff out sedition.

The actual dynamic between the ISB and the military is a thread that has not been picked up very often. The ISB are civilians -- they're loyalty officers, secret police. I'd imagine if I was a Star Destroyer captain, I wouldn't be too happy about having one aboard.

The officer is Mar Barezz. Note that he considers a bad report from him to be the ultimate trump card.

Jerk.

Wednesday - Strip 8 - Back to Tiree's cockpit. The peculiar markings on his helmet do actually mean something, but that will have to wait.

"Short coordinates" as a phrase actually dates back to the Holiday Special. Thinks of it as a quick blind jump just to get out of immediate danger.

Tiree's words talk of a missed rendezvous... the Imperials were waiting to jump him at a rendezvous point. Perhaps this opens up the question as to who the "them" is in "we're leaving them behind!"

Thursday - Strip 9 Another of Barezz's favorite ploys: name-dropping. He's carrying out Darth Vader's agenda, if he's to be believed. Also, the cat-and-mouse relationship between Barezz and Tiree is something of a legend in intelligence circles, according to old roleplaying material published in the late 80s.

Friday - Strip 10 That monstrosity of a bulging starship is Home, an old Tsukkian water freighter that's been converted into a base. You get some idea of scale by peering into its mouth-like hangar bay: there's an X-wing in there. I don't believe the Tsukkians have ever been explored in the EU, so the name sounded alien enough to design the craft to be likewise alien.

Home base and General Reekeene date back to 1988 (or was it 89?), an old Star Wars Campaign Pack, which by now should give you some idea of what I meant when I said this story would touch old EU no one talks about much these days.

Let's check the comments from last week...

Hedec Ga writes: Is this [commentary] something we can look forward to every week?

Yes, as long as I don't get distracted.

joe corroney writes: Your webstrip is off to a fabulous start, I love how it starts with a chase scene. I'm hooked already. And strip #6 with that dynamic perspective shot of the X-Wing and the SD is awesome

Thanks Joe. You know, it didn't originally begin with a chase, when I sent my first outline in. But thanks to some helpful editorial tips from Sue Rostoni, I reworked my outline, and this new beginning was one of the consequences.

Rive Caedo writes: my guess at what the strip would be about in your last blog was... "A story of the Rebels replacing the pilots lost at the Battle of Yavin?" I suppose that still might not be far off from the truth?

That's a very good guess, and you're close. It's not about pilots lost at the Battle of Yavin, but it is about replacements. Or, at least, that's part of the story.

And special note to Nar Cranor, for predicting both Tiree and Barezz just from Deo's appearance. You know your old school EU well, my friend! And JMM, there will no doubt be Marvel references beyond Tay Vanis, but nothing too major just yet.

See ya next week! (Note: Rookies will not publish on Monday due to holiday, but there will be a full five strips next week).

ph