I was very apprehensive about coordinating a fleet. There was no need: the quality of LUMEN pilots makes it actually not difficult at all. Mostly I warp the fleet about to wherever the next target location is, and make sure folks stay together somewhat during travel. Once on grid, the expertise of the individual pilots take over.
Of course, I do not claim that these rescue fleets require the same capacity as real battle fleets such as those we face in Syndicate. But still, even though it is a small step, it is a step forward.
Sometimes I have to keep the pilots' zeal in check: they would take over from other rescuing fleets for example, claiming that we can be faster! But in the end, if multiple rescue workers run the same operation, they just end hindering each other. And if we sometimes have to wait for the next operation, well that is a good sign: our navy seems to need search-and-rescue operations less frequently than at the start of this conflict. We are defeating the drifter incursion.
Of course, it is not all joy and victory. The greatest dread of the fleet commander (well at least for an amateur) is losing ships. I lost two. My first loss was Dr. Larnoniette Marcelle Ellecon, a medical professional and pilot. An ideal combination of skills to have on a rescue mission, and I think that made her the primary target of the Drifters.
I fretted and felt guilt - should I have been more attentive, and warped her our or tried to save her in another way? Would she blame me? None of that! She simply reshipped and warped back and continued, apparently still happy to have me as fleet shepherd. She did not blame me at all.
Let the expertise and forgiving nature of our pilots be an assurance to all those in LUMEN aspiring to lead a fleet out on some venture.
