Display MoreWe've got a fascinating piece of Wing Commander archaeology today: the script for Wing Commander III's "wild lines". What's a wild line? Have you ever noticed distant talking in the background during cutscenes and gameflow aboard the Victory? These not-quite-audible-on-their-own PA announcements play to add a sense of texture to the world, making the carrier feel like it's a living, breathing place. And Origin's audio group too the challenge of recording them very seriously... they aren't nonsense lines but a set of 63 intentionally scripted possibilities.
Actually getting to read these lines gets you an interesting sense of life aboard the TCS Victory, with passengers and cargo coming and going and all sorts of shipboard events. Some of them are even specific to missions in the game, like one announcing Hobbes' escape. Most of the names are in jokes, referencing members of the development team like Adam Foshko, Chris Douglas, Chris Roberts and many more. And there are some pretty obscure references to other media in there; who remembers Buck Godot?
1) Chief Foshko please report to Admiral Tolwyn's quarters.
2) Engineers Perez and Leitch are needed in reactor bay seven. Bring CQ60 meson generator packs.
3) Medics required in Chief Potter's laboratory, deck three.
4) Project status meeting in four minutes. Officers Roberts and Savage report to Hollow Deck immediately.
5) Repair crews to flight deck in five minutes. Returning fighters inbound.
6) Chief engineer Daniel to the keel mount control deck immediately.
7) Flight Deck ready for arrivals.Unauthorized fighter departure - bearing 3-22-8 at maximum speed. Sensors indicate Captain Hobbes in the ship.
9) Matter shield lowering.
10) Officer Douglas report to the bridge.
11) Officer Todd report to deck four galley.
12) Technicians Halverson and Downing required in forward gunnery two.
13) Ordnance officer McCall required in Captain Eisen's office.
14) Patrol launch at 1400 hours. All crews report to flight deck.
15) Fighter maintenance crews report to flight control.
16) Excalibur tech briefing at 1200 hours. Engineers Roan and Oljay report to mission room seven.
17) Weapon status report to Captain Eisen's office immediately.
18) Incoming cargo freighter, docking bay ninety-four.
19) Patrol debriefing at 1600 hours. All returning pilots report to mission room two.
20) Commanders Lee and Lee are needed on the bridge.
21) Professor Yenawine's lab is in need of a clean-up. Cleaning crew four report as soon as possible.
22) Security guards Chemla and Shelton needed in the Rec Room immediately.
23) Doctor Steed to excercise room six, we have a possible cardiac arrest.
24) Captain Eisen requests engine maintenance schedules by 2200 hours. Engineer McLean to make the report.
25) Commander Krishnan, flight deck reports your special order XP-38 has just arrived. Please report to docking bay four to take delivery.
26) Officer Day to Commander Vearrier's quarters.
27) Engineers Galway and Shelus to reactor bay twenty-one. Staff report possible flux inversion and your assistance is needed immediately.
28) Deck officer Krishnan please finish your lunch and get to flight control! That's straight from Commander Williams.
29) Chief Technician Ray requires a clean-up crew in his quarters immediately.
30) Warrant Officer Morone to the bridge.
31) All pilots to debriefing, mission room four.
32) Passenger Chow-Yun-Fa, please report to customs.
33) Security Team Kilroy to docking ring nine, terminal zero. Situation Code: Azure. Repeat, Situation Code Azure.
34) All passengers must be briefed on emergency procedures, Class One thru Class Two, before boarding. Please report to the nearest service representative if you have not been briefed.
35) Transport shuttle Jade Grey will be arriving twenty-seven minutes late. Please check any public information terminal for revised docking location.
36) Golden Princess Lines cruiser Shwee Ka has docked at ring three, terminal four. Passengers will be debarking in five minutes.
37) Decompression drill in service area seventeen will be commencing in thirty seconds. This area is declared off-limits to all unauthorized personnel.
38) Emergency exits are located on both wings of main concourse.
39) Will a representative from Diplomatic Contact Services please meet the arriving contingent of Hoffmanites from Foglio's World at Customs?
40) Red areas are for loading and unloading only.
41) Good morning, good morning. Feel free to have another pleasant day.
42) Will passenger Vax, passenger Vax, please report to the nearest paging terminal.?
43) Passenger Paul Headrick or passenger Vincent Lin, please contact the nearest service representative.
44) Priority request for loading transports to containment areas five and six.
45) Code 234K. Code 234U. Received and logged.
46) Last boarding call for Seraphim, docking ring five.
47) Seargeants Amos and Neapolitano, your presence is required at security checkpoint nine Alpha.
48) Security team order five--cancelled. Repeat, security order five has been cancelled.
49) Medical alert. Medical alert. Teams RX-87 and RX-88 please report to the main concourse, walkway nine, immediately.
50) An exhibition of Edo period artifacts from Japan, Earth, will be on display in the main concourse through the end of the month for your enjoyment.
51) Pilots Su Tuin and Wade Walker, briefing in conference room five dash five will begin in twenty minutes.
52) Attention. As required by Confederation law, notification of the inherent risks of traveling during periods of potential conflict must be acknowledged by all passengers.
53) Funeral services for pilots Penya, Rice, and Lackey, will be held in the Universal Chapel at 2400 hours.
54) Repair teams Roth and Whittaker, please report to deck ten.
55) Emergencies may happen at any time. All personnel are required to remain on alert.
56) Off-duty rotations will proceed according to schedules B-9 and R-17 until further notice.
57) Medical alert, medical alert. Medical team TP-6 to main flight deck, bay four.
58) Techs McManus and Hempel, please report to your Duty Officer.
59) Power coupling tests will begin in one minute. All non-critical areas should remain on stand-by.
60) Weapons dry loading runs have been rescheduled. Repeat, weapons dry loading runs have been rescheduled.
61) Transports Carerra and Javidovich will be docking in twenty minutes.
62) Unloading of polydichloroeuthamol lots fifty-seven and fifty-eight will be completed on schedule.
63) Special Envoy Nordquist, your presence is requested in Special Operations, deck five.
