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Lieutenant Commander Kien Chen (callsign Bossman, formerly Ripper[1]) was a Terran Confederation pilot assigned to the TCS Tiger's Claw during the Terran-Kilrathi War. He cooperated in the Vega Campaign, Operation: Thor's Hammer, and the liberation of Firekka.

Background[]

Kien Chen was born in Kaoshiung, Taiwan on Earth. He was a pilot for the Terran Confederation since 2637. He also had a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Confederation Net university system.[2]

Chen had a reckless and aggressive character against the Kilrathi bogeys and was called "Ripper". However seeing new pilots trying to imitate him (and being not so lucky as him) he decided to give a different example by leading a different philosophy; and he became a model pilot. Thus, he became a source of reliable advice to his comrades and his splendid leadership in combat, he took the callsign "Bossman".[2][1]

By 2654 he married to ergonomics engineer Mingxing Chen and that March, he became the father of a baby girl in 2653. He held the rank of Major by the time he was assigned to the TCS Tiger's Claw.[2]

Vega Campaign[]

Bossman

Bossman

Bossman has an article in the 2654.110 issue of Claw Marks the first official date of the Vega Campaign proper. At the time the TIger's Claw was stationed in Hell's Kitchen above Netheranya (Toadstool).[3]

In later part of the year (August/September), he became a good friend of Christopher Blair, Carl T. LaFong and Jason Armstrong, who were that time still rookie pilots. LaFong met when he transfered from the Formidable in the latter half of the year (around August/September). Bossman used his knowledge gained from flying to help Blair, LaFong and other new pilots in the field.

During the Vega Campaign, the Confed turned to the offensive and the Claw entered the Kurasawa system against the Kilrathi bases. Bossman flew the Theta Wing with Carl T. LaFong[4][5] in Rapiers in order to engage three Dorkir-class transports arriving to supply the bases, including a command staff ship.[6] The pair also flew later in a mission to escort a captured Ralari-class to the Claw in order to assist with the sieges[7] however they failed to protect it.[8] Finally, they successfully managed to escort the TCS Formidable to the Claw.[9]

Bossman also flies with Bluehair in the losing non-canon scenario of the Hubble's Star system. They fly as backup to Hunter and Flashfire to protect the colonists by patrolling from Kilrathi incursion,[10] then escort two Drayman-class to the Claw for refueling[11]. Finally, while the Claw was defending Hubble's Star IV, they went to recon a flight of Krants and then had to defend the Claw against an assault led by Bakhtosh nar Kiranka.[12] According to The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Carl T. LaFong these missions were done by pilots of the TCS Eagle's Talon.

Goddard Campaign[]

He was also one of the few believers in the capture of TCS Gwenhyvar, an Exeter-class Destroyer the Kilrathi were using to attack human ships.[13] His belief in the ship's existence proved true when LaFong destroyed the vessel during a mission in Operation: Thor's Hammer in 2655.[14]

With LaFong they flew a Scimitar in the Midgard system as Delta Wing, with the task to destroy TCS Falstaff so that it wouldn't fall in Kilrathi hands and during the mission they engaged a Ralari-class.[15] Soon after, flying as Gamma Wing, they escorted a Dralthi that was captured by the Reavers back to the Claw.[16]

Secret Missions 1.5[]

While flying with Angel, Bossman was lost and presumed dead in Cairo system. They were waiting for his wife to arrive before they had his funeral service.

Bossman's "death" in Secret Missions 1.5 is a mix of his death from Secret Missions 2 and some of the original story material introduced for Super Wing Commander.

Firekka Campaign[]

Bossman was in the Firekka System at the time that the Kilrathi invaded the defenseless planet. He hoped to bring his family to see the planet on a holiday after Confed removed the Kilrathi from the planet.[17] Tragically, he did not live to see that day.

Major Chen attended the funeral of Puma, Spirit's wingman, who was killed by Kilrathi fighters while flying patrol. Spirit was feeling reponsible for his death and Hunter tried to console her. Maniac rudely told him to not push his luck with her, causing Bossman to give Maniac a sharp look. He offered Hunter a beer at the Rec Room with Knight, just then the ship's intercom system called them to the flight deck. It was reported that a Kilrathi Fralthi-class declared its defection and solo patrols spread out to locate it.[18]

The TCS Holmen boarded the ship and reported that another Fralthi the KIS Kraj'nishk moved against them, so he diverted to course to assist the KIS Ras Nik'hra. He was joined by Spirit and Hunter. The Imperial Fralthi launched a Jalthi and Bossman told the other pilots to 'burner past it as he'd keep it occupied, and try to preent the Fralthi from launching more fighters. Spirit fired against its launch bay and once Bossman took care of the Jalthi, he assisted Hunter by drawing the Fralthi's turret fire. Hunter destroyed the Fralthi and Bossman escorted the Ras Nik'hra back to the Claw.[19]

By the next week, Kilrathi presence increased and Halcyon arranged for more frequent and intense patrols. Bossman was assigned as Gamma Wing with Angel. They were patrolling the jump point area, when suddenly a Kilrathi strike force - a Fralthi-class, several corvettes, 2 Lumbari-class tankers - surrounded them. Bossman knew that even if they retreated to their carrier, the corvettes would overtake them. He ordered Angel to return to the Claw, and attacked the Fralthi by himself. He managed to keep them busy long enough for Angel to get out of range while he kept transmitting to her as much information as he could, the number of fighters, their course, new arrivals so that she could warn the others. His last words to Angel was "Angel, tell my wife I love her" before his image was replaced by static.[20]

Bossman was flying alongside Major Jeannette Devereaux on a patrol on 2655.271[Source?] when the Kilrathi Imperial Guard ambushed them. Bossman was killed while trying to save Angel's life, who managed to get away.[21]

Bossman's death was a devastating loss for the Claw, since they had gotten used to taking advice from him. Angel kept blaming herself for Bossman's death[20] and it was a while before she forgave herself. The loss had been hard for both Carl T. LaFong[22] and Christopher Blair.[23]

Bossman is survived by his wife, Mingxing and a daughter who was born in 2653. As of 2655, they live in San Francisco, California.

Personality[]

Maniac and bossman

Maniac with Bossman in the bar

In his younger days, Bossman had been a pilot who liked to push everything to the limit, comparing himself to Hunter, until he decided to make a better example.[2] Bossman was one of the best pilots in the squadron and always as steady as rock. He spent nights with Hunter drinking beer in the Rec Room.[20]

He would be found in the bar shuffling a deck of cards, and his name was seen among the TrainSim top scores.

Behind the scenes[]

Bossman "dies" at least three recorded times in the various published stories in the movie, in Missions 1.5 in the Cairo system, and during the Firekka series. He also can die at any point during Wing Commander 1 with little impact to the story itself. There are two interpretations of his "final" death between Secret Missions 2 (see The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel T. LaFong: The Kilrathi War's Greatest Ace (TCSN, Retired) and Freedom Flight.

WC1 VDU Bossman

When Bossman dies in Wing Commander, these words are heard in his funeral:

"The Terran Confederation has lost one of its best leaders. Major Kien Chen, whom we all knew as Bossman. Many of us, myself included, turned to Major Chen for advice from time to time. Now we must find our own answers."
Peter Halcyon
"I hope someday I'll make you proud, Bossman. Goodbye."
Prankster

In Operation: Thor's Hammer this becomes:

"Sadly, we must pay our last respects to a seasoned veteran. Major Kien Chen, whom we all knew as Bossman. In our time of uncertainty, Major Chen was always ready to lend himself to anyone who needed guidance. He will be missed."
Peter Halcyon
"I'll try to follow your example of leadership, Bossman. Goodbye."
Prankster

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wcn16
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Claw Marks (Wing Commander I box package), Pilot Profiles
  3. Pilgrim Stars, pg
  4. WC1&2G, pg
  5. Star*Soldier, 26
  6. Wing Commander I, Kurasawa series (Mission 1)
  7. Wing Commander I, Kurasawa series (Mission 2)
  8. The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Carl T. LaFong
  9. Wing Commander I, Kurasawa series (Mission 3)
  10. Wing Commander I, Hubble's Star series (Mission 1)
  11. Wing Commander I, Hubble's Star series (Mission 2)
  12. Wing Commander I, Hubble's Star series (Mission 3)
  13. Wing Commander I, Goddard series (Mission 1)
  14. Wing Commander I, Jotunheim series (Mission 3)
  15. Wing Commander I, Midgard series (Mission 1)
  16. Wing Commander I, Midgard series (Mission 2)
  17. Wing Commander I, Firekka series (Mission b1)
  18. Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon, Freedom Flight, Chapter 4
  19. Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon, Freedom Flight, Chapter 5
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon, Freedom Flight, Chapter 6
  21. Wing Commander I, Firekka series (Mission b2), Debriefing
  22. WC1&2G, pg
  23. WC3 Novel, Chapter 1
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