The Imperial class Star Destroyer slid effortsley through space, accompanied by her sister-ships, these destroyers had served many years under the reign of the Galatic Empire, and would continue to do so for many more years, as long as they were wanted, and needed.
The Chimera, an Imperial Star Destroyer Mark III, was the lead vessel in this phalanx of six powerful ships. Behind her, the Bellicose line up, and heading on down the line followed the Judicator, Peremptory, Nemesis, and Death's Head were in column formation and prepared for battle. Line ahead formation had been assumed, and they were waiting for the opportunity to unleash their massive cannons against the enemy.
The flag of the commanding Admiral however, rested on none of these vessels, but rather on one of the residing Curaisser class heavy cruisers lining the flanks of the destroyers. The Coruscanti Fire was commanded by Admiral Desaria, long vaunted baron of the Empire and commander of the Imperial Guard. Several more Curassier class heavy cruisers and Carrack class light cruisers lined up the other flanks. Finally, there were Missile Boats and TIE Scimitar assault bombers deployed by the star destroyers waiting for their chance to make their runs.
"Admiral, a report from one of the TIE Scimitars, foretelling of the approach of the enemy fleet." said the junior officer, handing the admiral a sheet of flimsiplast paper. The fleet commander took it, browsed it over, then discarded it.
The enemy fleet approaching was a Galatic Coalition taskforce, commanded by Admiral Snowkan. It consisted of two Republic class Star Destroyers, forming the center of the task force. Three Dreadnought heavy cruisers formed a perimeter, with one Nebulon-B frigate and eleven Corellian corvettes and gunships forming the flanks and defensive perimenter around the core capital ships.
The TIE Scimitars were the first to attack, breaking away from various floating asteriods to assault the Coalition fleet. In groups of three they made their attacking, locking onto a target, firing spreads of heavy rockets, then breaking off to head to safety. Most of these heavy rockets were shot down or decoyed away from the Coalition defenders, but a brace of rockets slammed into the Nebulon-B frigate, blasting her apart amidships. The wreckage of the frigate floated through space as several escape pods blasted away.
Admiral Snowkan, undaunted by this loss or of the relentless attacks, spead his taskforce ahead into the narrow confines of the passage through the thick asteriod field, the remains of an old planet.
Next, the Missile boats were to have their turn. These also came out in groups of three and four apiece, but they fired much heavier salvoes of heavy rockets than the little TIE Scimitars, and more of them too. The missile boats came in closer, allowing the enemy warships to lock on and fire at them, but none were hit. The heavy rockets that they fired, on the other hand, were successful in reaching their targets.
One of the Republic class Star Destroyers was blown in half after a brace of rockets blew her shields away and detonated her ammunition magazines amidships. Three of the Corellian gunships also detonated as they were overwhelmed by mass rocket attacks. The other star destroyer had her shields damaged by the rockets as well.
Then they were past the Missile boats, reduced but still a formidable force. Still Admiral Snowkan drove forward, trying to accomplish his objective, no matter what the cost to him was.
Admiral Desaria let a grin slip across his face as he watched his relentless enemy approach. His grin disappeared, replace by a flat smile as determination to accomplish his duty to the Emporer filled him. He turned to his communications officer.
"Signal the flotilla. They may fire when ready." ordered the admiral.
He had no sooner turned back to the battle when a immense flash of light nearly blinded him, the destroyers and cruisers opening fire with their turbolaser cannons, having long ago acquired targeting locks on the enemy vessels.
Their target of choice was the enemy flagship, plus the accompayning dreadnoughts. The Republic class Star Destroyers staggered under the blows that she was recieving, but kept coming on, her remaining batteries now blasting back at the imposing line laid across her path. However, her aim was not good, and Desaria speculated that her targeting computers might have been damaged by ion cannon fire.
At about the time the enemy vessels finally began to turn away and begin a withdrawal, a message came through that some of the Missile boats were being hit by friendly fire. Admiral Desaria relunctantly gave the order to ceasfire, and the space again became dark, as the enemy vessels had ceased firing as well. The enemy fleet was withdrawing now, the remaining corvettes and gunships having gotten a head start on running away.
The order was given for the Missile boats to again commence attacks, having had the time to reload their tubes. And so out they went, launching the salvos of rockets at the enemy formation. First on their target list were the fleeing corvettes and gunships, and two of these fell to the rockets that the boats launched. Finally on their menu were the battered capital ships.
One of the dreadnoughts, too battered to take any more punishment, broke apart and detonated by several rocket hits. Finally, the last Repubic class Destroyer, the flagship of the enemy fleet, began to break up as well, escape pods being jettisoned from her hull. Admiral Snowkan locked himself on the bridge, choosing to perish rather than live on with the shame of his defeat. With a brilliant flash, the enemy flagship detonated her magazines, becoming so much debris floating among the asteriod field.
With this, the massacre was finally over. The Imperial forces were triumphant, preventing the enemy forces from transiting the passage to attack Imperial landing ships on the planet of Zanar, and driving off the enemy flotilla, with cheap losses of one TIE Scimitar destroyed and one Missile Gunboat heavily damaged.
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Note: This battle is a Star War-ized version of the Battle of Suriago Strait, which occured on October 25th, 1944. For the purpose of this battle, the Galatic Coalition represented the Japanese Empire, while the Galatic Empire represented the Allies. (I know, it's reversed as it should be, but oh well). I felt Admiral Snowkan fit the bill as Adm. Nishimura, the Japanese commander who foolishy charged into a trap and kept on going even knowing all the time that it would be futile to do so. Admiral Desaria played the role of Jesse Oldenorf, commander of the Allied fleet.
The Chimera, an Imperial Star Destroyer Mark III, was the lead vessel in this phalanx of six powerful ships. Behind her, the Bellicose line up, and heading on down the line followed the Judicator, Peremptory, Nemesis, and Death's Head were in column formation and prepared for battle. Line ahead formation had been assumed, and they were waiting for the opportunity to unleash their massive cannons against the enemy.
The flag of the commanding Admiral however, rested on none of these vessels, but rather on one of the residing Curaisser class heavy cruisers lining the flanks of the destroyers. The Coruscanti Fire was commanded by Admiral Desaria, long vaunted baron of the Empire and commander of the Imperial Guard. Several more Curassier class heavy cruisers and Carrack class light cruisers lined up the other flanks. Finally, there were Missile Boats and TIE Scimitar assault bombers deployed by the star destroyers waiting for their chance to make their runs.
"Admiral, a report from one of the TIE Scimitars, foretelling of the approach of the enemy fleet." said the junior officer, handing the admiral a sheet of flimsiplast paper. The fleet commander took it, browsed it over, then discarded it.
The enemy fleet approaching was a Galatic Coalition taskforce, commanded by Admiral Snowkan. It consisted of two Republic class Star Destroyers, forming the center of the task force. Three Dreadnought heavy cruisers formed a perimeter, with one Nebulon-B frigate and eleven Corellian corvettes and gunships forming the flanks and defensive perimenter around the core capital ships.
The TIE Scimitars were the first to attack, breaking away from various floating asteriods to assault the Coalition fleet. In groups of three they made their attacking, locking onto a target, firing spreads of heavy rockets, then breaking off to head to safety. Most of these heavy rockets were shot down or decoyed away from the Coalition defenders, but a brace of rockets slammed into the Nebulon-B frigate, blasting her apart amidships. The wreckage of the frigate floated through space as several escape pods blasted away.
Admiral Snowkan, undaunted by this loss or of the relentless attacks, spead his taskforce ahead into the narrow confines of the passage through the thick asteriod field, the remains of an old planet.
Next, the Missile boats were to have their turn. These also came out in groups of three and four apiece, but they fired much heavier salvoes of heavy rockets than the little TIE Scimitars, and more of them too. The missile boats came in closer, allowing the enemy warships to lock on and fire at them, but none were hit. The heavy rockets that they fired, on the other hand, were successful in reaching their targets.
One of the Republic class Star Destroyers was blown in half after a brace of rockets blew her shields away and detonated her ammunition magazines amidships. Three of the Corellian gunships also detonated as they were overwhelmed by mass rocket attacks. The other star destroyer had her shields damaged by the rockets as well.
Then they were past the Missile boats, reduced but still a formidable force. Still Admiral Snowkan drove forward, trying to accomplish his objective, no matter what the cost to him was.
Admiral Desaria let a grin slip across his face as he watched his relentless enemy approach. His grin disappeared, replace by a flat smile as determination to accomplish his duty to the Emporer filled him. He turned to his communications officer.
"Signal the flotilla. They may fire when ready." ordered the admiral.
He had no sooner turned back to the battle when a immense flash of light nearly blinded him, the destroyers and cruisers opening fire with their turbolaser cannons, having long ago acquired targeting locks on the enemy vessels.
Their target of choice was the enemy flagship, plus the accompayning dreadnoughts. The Republic class Star Destroyers staggered under the blows that she was recieving, but kept coming on, her remaining batteries now blasting back at the imposing line laid across her path. However, her aim was not good, and Desaria speculated that her targeting computers might have been damaged by ion cannon fire.
At about the time the enemy vessels finally began to turn away and begin a withdrawal, a message came through that some of the Missile boats were being hit by friendly fire. Admiral Desaria relunctantly gave the order to ceasfire, and the space again became dark, as the enemy vessels had ceased firing as well. The enemy fleet was withdrawing now, the remaining corvettes and gunships having gotten a head start on running away.
The order was given for the Missile boats to again commence attacks, having had the time to reload their tubes. And so out they went, launching the salvos of rockets at the enemy formation. First on their target list were the fleeing corvettes and gunships, and two of these fell to the rockets that the boats launched. Finally on their menu were the battered capital ships.
One of the dreadnoughts, too battered to take any more punishment, broke apart and detonated by several rocket hits. Finally, the last Repubic class Destroyer, the flagship of the enemy fleet, began to break up as well, escape pods being jettisoned from her hull. Admiral Snowkan locked himself on the bridge, choosing to perish rather than live on with the shame of his defeat. With a brilliant flash, the enemy flagship detonated her magazines, becoming so much debris floating among the asteriod field.
With this, the massacre was finally over. The Imperial forces were triumphant, preventing the enemy forces from transiting the passage to attack Imperial landing ships on the planet of Zanar, and driving off the enemy flotilla, with cheap losses of one TIE Scimitar destroyed and one Missile Gunboat heavily damaged.
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Note: This battle is a Star War-ized version of the Battle of Suriago Strait, which occured on October 25th, 1944. For the purpose of this battle, the Galatic Coalition represented the Japanese Empire, while the Galatic Empire represented the Allies. (I know, it's reversed as it should be, but oh well). I felt Admiral Snowkan fit the bill as Adm. Nishimura, the Japanese commander who foolishy charged into a trap and kept on going even knowing all the time that it would be futile to do so. Admiral Desaria played the role of Jesse Oldenorf, commander of the Allied fleet.