	 Long ago, humans began colonizing
nearby star systems. Ships would travel
to neighboring systems in search of
planets for colonization. When a suitable
planet was found, it was colonized. Other
races were eventually encountered. Some
were friendlier than others. But none
posed a major threat to mankind.

	 Expansion continued unchallenged until
a scout ship sent to one prospective
system was attacked and destroyed. This
star system was the domain of the Hortax,
a xenophobic race. Somewhat superior to
humans in strength, intellect, and
technology. Aggressive and violent, the
Hortax saw humans as pests to be
exterminated.

	 Soon after the loss of the scout ship,
numerous human systems in the area were
attacked by the Hortax. Hopelessly
outmatched, many human systems fell in a
short period of time.

	 Now only a few human systems remain.
Human losses at the start were staggering.
Much of the human's space defense capability
was destroyed in early unsuccessful attempts
to stop the Hortax fleets.

	 As losses continued to mount, the
humans began to hire mercenary space pilots
to help stop the Hortax. Soon after, the
first mercenary squadrons were formed,
and joined in the battle against the
Hortax. As the Hortax advanced deeper and
deeper into human space, the scope of the
conflict grew to cover many quadrants.
Eventually entire wings of mercenary
squadrons supplemented the regular human
space defense forces.

	 The addition of the mercenary squadrons
helped slow the Hortax advance. Now the
humans are desprately trying to hang on
to the few systems they have left, and
regain lost systems.

	 The mercenary squadrons are deployed
at bases all along the front. As a pilot
in a mercenary squadron, you will be
stationed at one of these forward bases.
You will fly combat missions against the
Hortax. The extent of the domain of the
Hortax is not known, but it is believed
to be quite large.

	 Your commanding officer will be
Commander 20, a half human with a long
and illustrious career in the human space
defense forces. He has been assigned to
command MSW (Mercenary Squadron Wing) Gamma.
Mercenary squadron wings Beta, Delta, and
Gamma have been selected to spearhead the
human's last ditch counter-offensive.
Needless to say, success is critical at
this dark hour...
