I don't normally chime in on fanspec or wishlists, but I was so pleased, enthralled, and moved by this campaign that I have to post
something, and since glowing reviews have already been done more eloquently, I thought a wishlist would do the job just as well. partial and complete spoilers within:
1.
I want Simms to live. I know, I'm sure that's been decided by the talented writers already, but seriously, the Simms character arc is officially the only visible hope spot in the entire saga, after the failure at Saturn. For me, at least, the Laporte/Simms relationship is the last thing that seems to give a sense of attachment to the Martian fleet. If she dies as a result of bad intel, I'll really have nobody left to root for/defend. It's saying something that, as I player, I can feel so strongly for a group of fictional characters, but as I said, it's so engrossing that I can't wait for R2.
2.
I want more missions with a level fighter-to-fighter playing field. As committed at the team was to subverting the fs2-style wave after wave of cannon fodder, it did happen a few times that whole bomber squadrons with escort would be thrown at the player, only to be slaughtered. It's the missions that pitted us against a few talented fighters, or a heavy assault wing that didn't suck, that made me feel like a skilled pilot, instead of a gun turret. Maybe the last mission is still fresh in my mind (where the number of fighters is justified), but it seems like, for all that's been said about avoiding the silly waved attack pattern, it would be nice to see it even less than in R1.
3.
I want another ride in that Uriel Sweeping down on those cruisers in my terrifying Gunship was exhilarating - war god indeed. gimme another run! which leads me to...
4.
I want a victory My god, what a gut-wrenching finale, guys. It was an awesome piece of work..the sort of thing we as gamers can point to and say 'this is what games can do for storytelling that other mediums can't'. but that same uniqueness has me desperate for a real 'win'. I mean, come on. I don't see the Feds winning the war, but I do seem giving a few bloody noses! I understand the player agency problem, and that you guys have big plans, but if you're going to introduce ship and crew to us, then slaughter them before us, over and over, you've got to let us pull off a successful OP. I'm still reeling from that last one. I was pissed, I want blood. so give me blood.
5.
I want the possibility of peace. This campaign has done a brilliant job of giving the players and characters a cause. But the rumblings of a secret project make me uneasy. Such a compelling war drama suffers in having a potential Deus Ex Machina in the wings, ready to fix the plot. I have no problem with a tragic ending to this saga, but if the 'secret plan' is for the Federation to begin anew, pack up and leave BSG-style (a series that's obviously had some influence on the writers

), it just wouldn't be right. I hope there can be peace between the two peoples of Earth, brothers that they are, even at a high cost. I just don't want that peace forced on them, or given to them. This is a human story...they need to fix it themselves.
.
So aside from a little more player 'winning', none of my suggestions are gameplay related, as I think you guys have nearly nailed it, gameplay wise, and especially FRED-wise. so consider these suggestions a review in disguise, as no game has ever moved my like this one. these suggestions are also for me - I need to decompress after that campaign....right now I'm finding it hard to go back to the comparatively less sophisticated campaigns. So thanks for ruining freespace for me!

I guess I'll just have to rename it 'Blue Planet' and pretend that the FS2 campaign is poorly executed fan-fiction for BP!