History VideoGame / BetweenTheAshes

'''''Between the Ashes''''' is a series of fan campaigns for the ''VideoGame/FreeSpace'' franchise. Set between the two official works, these campaigns depict the decline and fall of the [[TheAlliance Galactic Terran Alliance]] during the interbellum period. So far, the project has released one large campaign and two two-mission mini-campaigns, with a second large release expected in 2023.

* DeadlyDodging: In "Going Out with a Bang", the player's fighter is equipped with decoy beacon, causing ''Cardinal'''s torpedoes to chase them instead of ''Intrepid''. Using this trope to cause a friendly fire incident among ''Cardinal'''s battle group is not only a legitimate tactic, but explicitly commended by ''Intrepid''.

** In "[[spoiler:Bringing Down the Gavel]]", the player uses an experimental technology to assume control of and remotely operate a fighter belonging to [[spoiler:notorious pirate Arris Gavel]] and frame them for double-crossing their allies.

** Most Vasudans take a "Terran name" from [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Egyptian mythology]], and Terrans likewise use Egyptian mythological names to refer to Vasudan ships. Vasudan carriers, however, use simple evocative names like ''Frontier''. [[note:This is a carry-over from the first ''Freespace'' game, which featured ships such as ''Hope'', ''Pinnacle'', and ''Anvil''.]]

* OutsideContextProblem: Downplayed example. [[spoiler:Whatever HLC ''Taweret'' did during ''Antwerp'', that's ''not'' how FasterThanLightTravel works here]].

* PullTheThread: Early in ''Slaves of Chaos'', Alpha wing is posing as a gang of smugglers to intercept the pirate vessel ''Benedict''. ''Benedict''s captain mentions getting their boss a Doberman as a gift, and when Alpha wing doesn't contradict them, replies with "[[PlayedForLaughs It was a dachshund, you twat!]]" and opens fire.

** Most Vasudans take a "Terran name" from [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Egyptian mythology]], and Terrans likewise use Egyptian mythological names to refer to Vasudan ships. Ozymandias, the Hammer of Light commander in Antares, and his ship, ''Cardinal'', stand out, although there's a good reason for it: Ozymandias chose those names to create a specific effect on his Terran opponents.
** Carriers operated by the Parliamentary Vasudan Navy use simple evocative names like ''Frontier'' instead. This is a carry-over from the first ''Freespace'' game, which featured ships such as ''Hope'', ''Pinnacle'', and ''Anvil''.

* PropagandaMachine: The Antares Federation's Kalev Ehin is an arguably heroic example. While their pieces are definitely propaganda, they also raise very valid points.

* DeadpanSnarker: The flight controller on Antares Station does not hide her distrust of the GTA, although she's professional enough to cooperate in emergencies.

** Many missions have things to find if the player pokes around, from the fun (a freighter in "The Gulnara Heist" has a hold full of antique cars) to the serious (a smuggler in another mission is carrying military-grade ordnance). Unlike the above, these are canon. "How the West Was Lost takes the cake with a full-on radio broadcast reporting on the player's actions.

* FalseFlagOperation: Three notable examples in ''Slaves of Chaos'':
** In "Playing Pirate", ''Intrepid'' has found a connection between the pirate groups in Antares and [[spoiler:two senators from the highly corrupt Regulus system]]. The player [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin poses as a pirate]] to retrieve the individuals in question.

** Additionally, the player has the chance to meet a GTA spy who's undercover with the Antares Federation.

** At the end of ''Slaves of Chaos'', [[spoiler:the fledgling Antares Federation fleet helps ''Intrepid'' defeat finally defeat Ozymandias's ''Cardinal'']].

** "Gerar's Judgement" is a more straightforward example in that the player ends up intercepting enemy bombers... while themselves flying a heavy bomber.

* OutOfFocus: The Parliamentary Vasudan Empire is a borderline case. They deploy ''Frontier'' and her battlegroup to support ''Intrepid'' against the Hammer threat in Antares, one early mission involves extracting a Vasudan spy from a [=HoL=] station, and [=PVE=] officials try to appeal to the Vasudan population of Antares, but the player interacts with the Hammer of Light much more than friendly Vasudan forces. This is largely a consequence of the story focusing on the decline and fall of the Galactic ''Terran'' Alliance.
* OutsideContextProblem: Downplayed example, but [[spoiler:whatever HLC ''Taweret'' did during ''Antwerp'', that's ''not'' how FasterThanLightTravel works here]].
* PropagandaMachine: The Antares Federation Kalev Ehin is an arguably heroic example. While their pieces are definitely propaganda, they also raise very valid points.

* HopeSpot: At the end of [[spoiler:"Camp Angel", Ozymandias's flagship ''Cardinal'' is ambushed and captured by ''Intrepid'' and ''Frontier'']]. Soon, [[spoiler:both ''Cardinal'' and ''Frontier'' are under his control, and ''Intrepid'' is laying low while the Antares Federation hunts it down]].

* ActionBomb: In ''The Gulnara Heist'', pirate forces repurpose repair drones as improvised bombs.

** In ''[[spoiler:Bringing Down the Gavel]]'', the player uses an experimental technology to assume control of and remotely operate a fighter belonging to [[spoiler:notorious pirate Arris Gavel]] and frame them for double-crossing their allies.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]], but there's one noteworthy example in ''Mefistofele''. At the time, the game engine didn't permit changing the name of the player's wing, so the pirate fighters still use the [=GTA=]'s Greek designations. [[spoiler:The same characters reappear in ''Slaves of Chaos'', where they use the designation "Diamond" .]]

* OutsideContextProblem: Downplayed example, but whatever HLC ''Taweret'' did during ''Antwerp'', that's ''not'' how FasterThanLightTravel works here.

* StealthBasedMission: "Black Flag" is a straight example. Unusually for ''Freesace', the patrolling fighters respect line of sight; the player can duck behind the objective or nearby cargo and transports to avoid detection.

* BreatherLevel: In 'Slaves of Chaos', "Rebels and Revolutionaries" (a relatively straightforward action against enemy reconnaissance elements) and "[[spoiler:Bringing Down the Gavel]]" (a fan-favorite power fantasy) both provide some much-needed levity in otherwise intense arcs.

** In "The Will to Act", the player, another Terran pilot, and a Vasudan interpreter pose as Hammer of Light pilots using modified [[DemonicSpiders Thoth]] fighters. The player needs to pass a series of [[DialogueTree dialogue trees]] to maintain the ruse.

** The Hammer of Light loves outfitting their [[DemonicSpiders Horus interceptors]] with Hornet swarm missiles and Flail cannon, which apply disorienting knockback... while you're trying to dodge said swarm missiles.

* ThatOneLevel:
** "To Steal A March On" is an odd example in that the mission isn't particularly ''hard'', but chaotic enough that some players assume they screwed up and reset.
** "The Will to Act" is another odd example. The player is undercover as a Hammer of Light pilot, and needs to ''act'' the part or blow their cover. The mission is effectively a test of the player's social skills as much as their piloting skills.