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This is posted as per the request of former Tau CMDR Kaerner.
Greetings,
As the topic says, this is my resignation from the position as Tau Squadron Commander and my position in the Dark Brotherhood of the Jedi. This is not going to be a protest letter of any sort; I am simply going to tell a few stories from my long career in the Emperors Hammer as well as my reasons from resigning.
For those who do not know me, I have served as squadron commander of Tau Squadron since January 1997. 6+ years is a long time in one position, the longest (to my knowledge) anyone has ever served in a single position excluding the Fleet Commander. When I was appointed Tau Commander the squadron needed to be rebuilt. I was fortunate to find some excellent and active pilots and the squadron quickly became one of the best in the EH. During the years people have quit but we have always managed to have an excellent group of pilots. We have participated in many competitions and have always done very well. Some of the victories I especially remember is beating Praetorian squadron of INTEL, Black squadron of the IW and being the 1st squadron in the first IWATS fleet wide competition where all EH squadron competed, including Omega, Praetorian and the CA/CS squadrons.
I soon realized that I would never take another job in the EH, even though I have been offered some interesting positions throughout the years. The one reason I have stayed in the squadron is because of its members. I have been very fortunate to have served with excellent pilots and, more importantly, good friends. Had it not been for all the past and current members of the squadron, I would have quit this club years ago. One of the most important lessons I have learned is that your members will be as loyal to you as you are to them.
I have never been one for rank nor medals. All I wanted to do was to have fun and provide a good environment for the members under my command. All too often have I seen good members being kicked out of the club because of disagreements with the high command. I figured that as long as I stayed as CMDR I would not be bothered by the politics that has forced so many good guys out of the club. I have seen many revolts during my time in the club, the DB/Crona/Deathwatch, IW/Dogger and DB/Zoraan/Thedek incidents being the most notorious. I have stayed loyal to the club and the squadron through all of this. My loyalty for the club in general and the squadron in particular should be without question. But my loyalty is also to my friends in the DB who now wants to go back to being a sister organization. I have served under more Grand Masters than I can remember and I am also friends with a few of them. My loyalty lies within both groups and if I could stay in both I would. However, as circumstances are, I cannot. With my loyalty to both groups and the necessity to make a decision between them, I do not see any other options than to resign from the Emperors Hammer and the Dark Brotherhood. I should not need to add that the behaviour displayed by senior members of the EH and the DB in this matter has left me both sickened and sad. This situation should have been resolved without it coming to this.
I know it is not the case, but after 6+ years as commander of Tau, the squadron sort of feels like mine. What makes me sad about this situation is that I have never seen such a talented group of pilots assembled in one squad in the history of the EH before. To see it all go to waste is my biggest regret during my six and a half years of Imperial service. It is my outmost wish that the squadron be rebuilt to its current status; namely being the best multiplayer squadron in the Emperors Hammer strike fleet. I am still going to be around on IRC and if the next commander wants to contact me about anything, he or she is more than welcome to do so. High Admiral Patel, please take care of my squadron for me and make sure someone competent is put in charge.
I have met more friends throughout my years in the EH/DB than I can possibly thank here. You know who you are. It has been my pleasure to have gotten to know you all.
High Admiral Priyum Patel and Grand Master Firefox: Please assign me to the reserves in your respective organizations immediately.
With regret,
General Magnus Kaerner
Dark Side Adept, Knight 1st Class
Commanding Officer Tau Squadron
CMDR/GN Kaerner/Tau/MC Tripidium (ret.)</bow>
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It is with a sad heart that I wish you farewell, Kaerner. It can be safely said that you are without a doubt the most long-standing and most dedicated squadron commander in the history of the EH, as well as a fine Dark Jedi in the Brotherhood. You may be retiring, but none of us will ever forget you. Good luck wherever life takes you man :)
Kaerner, as Tau Commander over the years, you were a friend and mentor to many, including myself. It is sad to see one of the last people in the DB I truly looked up to, leave. Farewell friend. Be safe, and visit us often.
With great sincerity and admiration,
Nicholas Kelric
P.S. Perhaps one last drink at the Trip's tavern? ;-)
RA Sindar - former SovCOM... He told me who you were. He told me who Crona was - who Deathwatch was. He introduced me to Dogger and the "rIW" or whatever the abbreviation came to signify since early 97. I remember you and the time you were appointed. I remember when Compton got FO a few months later and I remember when i became AvrCOM 8 months after that. I remember how Khyron brought Tau back to the Avenger and how we reigned glorious defeating the ISD Intrepid. Defeating all six wings of the SSSD Sovereign. I remember when i made a clone of myself and joined Tau. I remember when Howie and Kumba were low ranking CMDRs on the Avenger. I remember the fun we had on the e-mail lists. I remember the old vets who we never see around anymore. All of these are memories in association with Tau Squadron. You are beyond a doubt the longest serving commander ever in history. You are beyond a doubt irreplacable. As much as people say they can move on, Tau Squadron will never move on. The memory of the past will always linger. Even after the memory is long faded, assuming everything lasts that long, the squadron will never be the same in our minds. The past is never restored and a chapter in the history of Tau has been closed after six years and three or four months. You are a legend, Kaerner... Even the new kids from two or three years ago know that. With this, you will always be remembered. Long after your name has faded from the rosters, your memory will live on - even if with those who had the chance of knowing you sometime in the past six years and seven or so months.
RA Sindar - former SovCOM... He told me who you were. He told me who Crona was - who Deathwatch was. He introduced me to Dogger and the "rIW" or whatever the abbreviation came to signify since early 97. I remember you and the time you were appointed. I remember when Compton got FO a few months later and I remember when i became AvrCOM 8 months after that. I remember how Khyron brought Tau back to the Avenger and how we reigned glorious defeating the ISD Intrepid. Defeating all six wings of the SSSD Sovereign. I remember when i made a clone of myself and joined Tau. I remember when Howie and Kumba were low ranking CMDRs on the Avenger. I remember the fun we had on the e-mail lists. I remember the old vets who we never see around anymore. All of these are memories in association with Tau Squadron. You are beyond a doubt the longest serving commander ever in history. You are beyond a doubt irreplacable. As much as people say they can move on, Tau Squadron will never move on. The memory of the past will always linger. Even after the memory is long faded, assuming everything lasts that long, the squadron will never be the same in our minds. The past is never restored and a chapter in the history of Tau has been closed after six years and three or four months. You are a legend, Kaerner... Even the new kids from two or three years ago know that. With this, you will always be remembered. Long after your name has faded from the rosters, your memory will live on - even if with those who had the chance of knowing you sometime in the past six years and seven or so months.
Probably the only thing you could do, Kaerner... a sad day nonetheless.
A plague on both your houses.