The 12 000 mines, now reduced to 10 000 continued to fire on the Fire Light Frigate. They continued firing, though it evident they would lose, especially since the ORS Star Destroyer had been destroyed. Now their fire was concentrated on weapons, since the Light Frigate had manuvered to fire on them. Blue lightning continued to flash across the ship, causing more and more weapons, sensors, targeting computers and other electronic gadgets to be disabled.

"Sir, the enemy has manuvered two Sith Battle Cruisers to change the orbit of Shipyard 4."

"Excellent. Tell those mines to target and fire against the Sith Battle Cruisers."

"Yes sir."

25 000 Defender Ion mines immediately targetted the two Sith Battle Cruisers. Waves of blue energy flew in, went through the shields, and started to spread across the hull. Waves of blue electricity spread across the hull, disabling weapons, tractor beams, sensors, communications, targetting computers, shield generators, shield projectors and all other electrical gadgets, including the bridge and engines. The two Sith Battlecruisers would not be able to do much. They were much smaller then the shipyard, and when over half disabled, they could do very, very little.

"Sir, the ORS forces have surrendered to the Anthos ships."

"Crap. We are on our own. Keep up the mine fire."

"Yes sir."

The mines continued to fire at their targets.

OOC:
Damages:
1 Fire Light Frigate-70 % disabled(Kraken's)
2 Sith Battlecruisers- 70% disabled

The Fire class Light Frigate that had manueverd next to his Reign class Star Destroyer continued to take Ion fire from the majority of the mines. With the ORS ships having been destroyed, or surrendered to the Anthos Fleet, Admiral Kraken went about executing new orders.

"Have the Glorious begin the withdrawal, and use her tractor beams to tow the damage frigate with her. We are to withdraw to Vladet. Have all of our fighters shifted from assaulting the current minefield to assault the Ion mine field around shipyard four. Send the starfighters from Task Force Beta to help in this effort. The Victory Star Destroyers in Task Force Beta will also assist in the fighters effort, as well as assisting the Sith Battlecruisers in taking shipyard 4. Send a message to Perrin. Inform him that all of the starfighters in my fleet are now under his command, along with the two Victory Star Destroyers, and our other Fire class Light Frigate. Finally, dispatch several of our Sentinel Assault Shuttles equipped with engineers, and spare parts to the Argoth, in order to assist in repairing the ship, and getting it functional again." ordered Admiral Kraken.

Of Task Force Alpha, the Reing class Star Destroyer Glorious began a withdraw to enter hyperspace, towing the Fire class Light Frigate that had nearly been disabled, and dispatching shuttles to assist the stricken Argoth. The other Fire class Light Frigate moved to join Task Force Beta. The fighters of Task Force Alpha first extracted itself from the badly mauled minefield, and went to assault the mine field currently firing on two of Perrin's Battlecruisers. Of Task Force Beta, the Victory Star Destroyers moved to screen the two Sith Battlecruisers from the Ion Mines, using their weaponry to fire on the Ion Mines, while their starfighters, joined by starfighters from Task Force Alpha, engaged the Ion Mines, firing laser, and Ion cannons.

OOC Damages:
TGC: 1500 mines destroyed (250 from original minefield, 1250 from field assaulting Sith Battlecruisers)

TNO:
13 TIE Defenders disabled (9 from original minefield during withdrawal, 3 from new minefield)
11 TIE Devils disabled (4 from original minefield, 7 from new minefield)
2 Scimitar Bombers disabled (2 from original minefield)

OOC: Fleet Division:
Reign Star Destroyer Victorious withdrawing.
Fire class Light Frigate Sunburn withdrawing, being towed by Reign.

Victory Star Destroyer Mark II Python under command of Perrin.
Victory Star Destroyer Mark II Cobra under command of Perrin.
Fire class Light Frigate Siren under command of Perrin.

Around Shipyard 4...


The crew of the enemy star destroyer valiantly fought the buckling hull of the physical strike against the Mon Calamari Shipyard (#4).

The Yard, while damaged was not destroyed. It was far too massive for that and yet, the opposing forces of the orbit, the collision and the outside force of the ISD's full thrust all came together in a brilliant display.

Due to the corner collision, the yard had begun to rotate and as it did, it's position changed. It was now losing it's orbital integrity and as it's own armor and inner pylons holding the entire thing together tried to keep the extreme stresses to their constructs at a minimum, some supports just could not hold.

A several hundred meter chunk of the yard began to separate as decompressions along the entire structure forced the struts to collapse in on themselves.

The spread of the metal debris littering the space between the separating pieces began to spread.

Especially moreso when the Sith Battlecruisers began firing on the falling shipyard.

As luck would have it, the Mon Calamari defending ion mines were in range of the yard. All 25,000 mines it seemed turned to open fire on the Sith cruisers.


And yet, the numbers of the defending ion mines had decreased for the enemy ISD exploded from the collision. The crew just could not hold it together.

They tried to get a distress signal out that was directed to go to the nearest friendly planet. Unfortunately, the nearest friendly planet was Mon Calamari and they could do little but watch as a tiny sun lit up their sky.

Most of the mines within range of the shipyard and subsequently the exploding ISD were rendered inoperable as the electromagnetic charge released as the reactor core blew over shadowed the tiny defenders.

Still, they managed to get quite a few shots off in the few second interim at the Sith Battlecruisers.


But the path was now open to Shipyard 5.


Attack Sphere Argoth..


The soldiers shouted in triumph as General Ming's Flag was transferred to the nearest Shroud Attack Cruiser K406.

He left standing orders for the shuttle crews that would drop off needed technicians and engineers to begin the transfer of personnel to the Victory Class Star Destroyers that were nearing their position in their course toward Shipyard 4.

The shuttles werre directed to secondary hangers as the main hanger was bleeding a trail of metal debris as work crews and soldiers within were clearing away the wreckage of the enemy ship.

Groups 1-3

The yards, having escaped their orbit and cleared the enemy ships nearby, began to move onto a course that would bring them in line with the original ion cannon firing arc (pathway). From their, they would edge their way to the edge of Mon Calamari's mass shadow.


The Fire Class Light Cruisers began to turn around and set course for the Argoth.

The Shrouds continue to maintain their status.


General Ming looked at the blue orb that was Mon Calamari.

"Order those fleet units visible to the enemy to recharge their shields as well as load the appropriate weapons. "

He turned to the Captain of the K406. "Do you have a tactical map of this world?"

He turned to the Comm. Officer. "Send to the third party fleet my compliments and send an updated report to Imperial Center.."

"Aye Sir."

He glanced sadly at the Argoth. "Focus on the weapons and hanger capabilities of her. I don't think she will be able to leave under her own power."


Yes, war was a ghastly and costly business.


OOC Damages

TGC Shipyard #4 orbit decay (damaged structure)/small piece broken off, both decaying positions.

2 Sith Battlecruisers- 40% disabled (revised due to ISD explosion).

"Sovereignty ships, your surrender is accepted. Please power down both shields and weapons, and prepare to be boarded. Commander dBale out."

Drost rubbed his eyes, feeling very, very tired. They had failed at Mon Calamari, but they had fought bravely against overwhelming odds. Commander Foster made his way and stood to Drost's side.

"Ceace fire. Lower shields." Drost called out as every ORS ship in the system gathered at one point.

"What is your plan?" Foster asked.

"Ready the assault teams." Drost replied, standing up.

"You really intend to fight them? Even after the surrender?" Foster asked.

"They will merely be used as a backup." Drost said, walking into his small office. Foster frowned, indicating he did not understand.

"The Empire being here is explainable. We are in a war after all. But Anthos... I do not get them. They have made no announcements, no declarations, nothing. They just show up here and start shooting." Drost said, sitting down.

"Then they must be an enemy."

"No. I don't think so. That doesn't seem like them. But again, I do not know for sure. If they intend to really capture us and turn us all into POWs, then the assault teams will begin. But otherwise... I want to see what they are up to."


"Ah."


"Contact them - dBale was it? - and tell them that we shall welcome them when they arrive." Drost ordered. Foster went to carry out the order.

dBale,

You have my complete trust in this matter, your fleet record is impeccable and your skills impressive. You have already read your orders, and I'm sure you have already formed your battle plan, but I thought I would take the time to give you an additional word. The question is doubtless weighing on your mind, even though you did not ask it. Lesser of two evils, dBale, lesser of two evils.

I hope to congratulate you on a tremendous victory,

Isjhe Kaant
President, Anthos Republic


D'Bale folded the piece of flimsy once again, and placed it in his brest pocket. The level of trust given him both pleased and worried the commander. The Republic had always kept to itself. As a new government, stability was crucial to its success. War didn't aid stability in any visible way, and thus war was avoided.

Indeed, the question had come to his mind several times.

"Sir?" The voice of his first officer registered in his mind suddenly.

"Yes?" replied d'Bale.

"The Sovereignty ships have lowered their shields. Their weapons, however, have not registered as powering down. They have also confirmed their surrender, and say they will welcome us when we arrive..."

D'Bale frowned slightly, and looked at a detailed scan to confirm for himself. As reported, the enemy weapons had not powered down.

"Alright," he said at last, "This is what we're going to do. Place our Skipray's here," he pointed to the rear of the Sovereignty formation. "Move our Phantoms there as well, have them stay cloaked. Once their weapons are powered down have the Vigils begin boarding operations. Prepare the shuttles on all other craft for boarding as well."

He trailed off slightly, thinking. They had yet to take any losses aside from the inadvertent accident earlier. He wanted to keep the record clean.

"Have our boarding teams stay cautious, keep a constant com-link with them. I doubt the Sovereignty commander will try anything foolish, but if he does ... we'll cripple his engines."

D'Bale's bridge crew seemed to agree with his course of action, and set about sending out the appropriate messages.

"Give me an open channel to the enemy Imperator," said d'Bale again. A few moments later, he got a nod from his communications officer.

"Sovereignty commander, this is Commander d'Bale. I congratulate you upon your bravery in fighting an enemy with an unknown motive and superior numbers. You have my assurances that you and your men will be treated well. Please power down your weapons systems so that we may begin boarding your craft."

The line was terminated, and d'Bale's command force began to re-align itself. D'Bale's Imperator and its sister ship arranged themselves several kilometers apart, with the heavily armed Aegis cruisers sitting interspersed in the center. The Interdictor cruisers powered up their grav-generators, and stayed in the rear of the formation. The Skipray blastboats and Phantom fighters moved toward the rear of the Sovereignty formation as ordered, and ever so slowly the Vigil-class SPC's began to align themselves for boarding, waiting only for the powering down of weapons.

On a private com-channel

Skipray pilots, should your sensors register a raising of shields in the Sovereignty craft, you are ordered to fire your torpedoes with the intent to cripple the engines.

"Sir, we are ready to enter hyperspace." said the Chief Navigator.

"Very well, send a final message to Perrin wishing him luck, and that we will be in touch should he need us. Prepare all hands for hyperspace." ordered Vice Admiral Kraken.

"All hands prepare for hyperspace." called the officers.

"All hands are prepared." called back the mid shipmen over the comms.

"Very well, execute." ordered Kraken.

The Starlines enlongated, then they were in hyperspace, their charge, the Fire class Light Frigate, still alongside them, having made the jump without any difficulties.

OOC:
1 Reign SD
1 FCLF
withdrawn from system.

IC:

The starfighters of the task force continued their assault on the minefield surronding one of the last yards in orbit, the one in which some Imperial ships were now inbound. The fighters had long since run out of missiles, but their laser and ion cannons were still used to great effect.

OOC: Damages:
GC:
2500 Mines destroyed
500 Mines disabled

TNO:
10 TIE Devils
10 TIE Defenders
all disabled

Mon Calamari


Groups 1-3


Having entered the original firing "lane" of the disabled ion cannon, the 11 Sith Battle Cruisers moved away from the planet.

"Mass Shadow nominal range coming up.." Perrin heard the Captain say.

The Tie Devils continued to screen.


Attack Sphere Argoth...


The Fire Class Light Cruisers settled near the Sphere in a protective manner, the scanning crews directing damage estimates to the outside of the former flag.

The two Victory Class Star Destroyers hanger bays were busy as the injured from the Argoth were transferred as well as materials and other items.

At the same time, the orientation of the Attack Sphere was changing as a new side of the warship began to face the Coalition's capital world.


Group 4

The remaining, damaged Sith Cruisers tracked the paths of the decay of Shipyard 4, taking several shots to hasten it's descent.


Shrouds

Maintained their status.


K406


General Ming watched the tactical display as options moved across a nearby panel.

"Encryption signal to these coordinates. It is time."

"Aye Sir."


He turned to the blue globe and did not smile.


You fishheads have caused us enough problems!

"Sovereignty commander, this is Commander d'Bale. I congratulate you upon your bravery in fighting an enemy with an unknown motive and superior numbers. You have my assurances that you and your men will be treated well. Please power down your weapons systems so that we may begin boarding your craft."


Drost sat back, rubbing his eyes, feeling very, very tired. Finally, he turned to Foster.

"Was the Firewind able to get out a distress call?" Drost asked.

"Yes. It got through before the ship was destroyed." Foster replied.

"Then the fleet knows something is up, they will come." Drost said contentedly, "All is not lost."

"But what about us?" Foster asked.

"Everyone, every officer, crewman, droid, machine, or weapon all has a purpose. We are here to do only what we are meant to do." Drost said, standing up, "What about repairs?"


"Repair teams have finished with the hyperdrive and engines, they are at full capacity." Foster replied.

"Transfer the majority of our shield power to the engine systems - on all ships." Drost said then, with hatred in his eyes he looked out to the Anthos fleet, "Hail them."

"Channel open."

"Commander dBale. This is what you are facing. You have committed an act of war, the Sovereignty fleet has been alerted to your presence here. If you allow us to leave, here and now I assure you, that no punishment will come down upon you for your cowardly attack here. Let us leave and we will forget this ever happened." Drost said, anger filling his words.

"What was that about a surrender?" said dBale to Gullage, his first officer.

"Change of heart," replied Gullage.

dBale thought for a moment, tapping his chin. As he mulled the situation over he received confirmation that his previous orders concerning the fleet and their firing positions had been carried out.

"Do you think they're stalling for time? Fixing something, sending a signal, forming a plan?" he asked, finally.

"Obviously. To surrender, then threaten with hostilities... They hope that the threat extended hostilities will cause us to allow them free passage..."

Gullage paused in his train of thought.

"Go on," said dBale, interested.

"Well sir, I highly that a battle-commander is in any capable of granting what he is claming to grant."

"And this was supposed to be a quick mission," muttered dBale. "Very well," he continued, "Signal the rear formation to prepare to fire. Open a link to the Sovereignty commander."

"Link established," said his coms officer.

"Sovereignty commander, power down your engines and shields, and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply within thirty seconds, you will be fired upon."

As the Reign Star Destroyer began to retreat, bringing the partially disabled Fire Light Frigate with it, the ion cannons on the mines turned to fire on the enemy ships surrounding Argoth. They concentrated fire on a VSD.

Menawhile, the mines that were firing on the two Sith Battlecruisers near Shipyard Four completed their damage, fully disabling both Sith Battlecruisers. Then then fired on another VSDs, the one on the other side of Argoth.

Damages:
VSD near Original Minefield-15% disabled
VSD near Second Minefield-25% disabled