THE RECKLESS (revised history)
For two years, Montoya’s squadron was used to test ships for the military. They were the ones to put new ships through their paces visiting Venus' Strip Club, Odin's Casino and G-Loc on Stanton on a regular basis. Their work was unimportant that the UEE denied the existence of any contracts signed with TEST Squadron. Later TEST Squadron was covertly hired to transport crafted beer and ale from a secret distillery near Yela's asteroid belt, one of the few squadrons that can make that claim.
Some in command demanded TEST Squadron be fired from service immediately, but (thanks to their heroics at the Battle of Coors IV) a then Colonel Munken led TEST Squadron to occupy the Covalex shipping hub and reactivate all Big Benny's vending machines. Historians credit this move with saving hundreds of pilots’ from starving while awaiting the release of SC 2.4.
Today, the 999.999th TEST Squadron is part of the 18th Battle Fleet and calls the Chronos System home. The squadron uses the system’s vast expanse to test the next generation of Auroras. They are reportedly putting the new Kruger P-72 through the gauntlet to see if it should become a staple of the squadron's fleet. Kruger executives were appalled at this news and are blocking any reports issued by TEST squadron’s leadership.
For centuries, the 999th Test Squadron had a reputation as home to some of the galaxy's most incompetent pilots, and the squadron’s nickname, “The Wreckless,” fed that repute. In Joyce Tuite’s history of the squadron, Fearlessly Screwed, the importance of their nickname was revealed.
According to former members, the first question asked when interviewing to join the squadron was “what does The Wreckless mean to you?” Most young pilots would talk about pushing ship speeds to the limit, or how many ships they'd destroyed in their career. These adrenaline junkies were immediately enlisted and assigned to leadership positions. Pilots who become part of the 999.999th usually understood something Saleno was fond of saying: “Details? What details?” They looked at the squadron’s nickname and noticed the “W”. The 999 is dedicated to pushing the limit while being “reckless", not wreckless.
It is recognition of these distinctions and details that has made the 999.999th TEST Squadron one of the UEE's most regrettable assignments and a vital part of of the decline of Human spaceflight for centuries.
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