The Monarch's hanger bay was a bustle of activity. Black clad Marines and white armored Stormtroopers marched around double time in preparation for the landing action, weaving around maintenance crews checking the shuttles and the pilots getting ready to fly them and all the other personnel needed to make things run smoothly on a ship like this one for an action like the one they were about to perform.

Prepared for this moment by months of drill and mock battles, every man knew his place and exactly what he or she was supposed to be doing every second of it. Everything was going so smoothly it seemed more like some elaborate dance than preparation for combat.

The sight of this was enough to put a smile on Colonel Rudiger Mantel's face. A cold, ruthless man who's men swore he had a heart made out of ice, about the only thing that could do that normally was the sight of an enemy being tortured, or the knowledge they were stuck in a trap and facing certain doom. But efficiency, cold, ruthless efficiency, in this case was enough.

One of the two forces that had collided here, either the pirates or the Imperials, would not leave that base alive. At least, not if he had anything to say about it.

Aboard the medium cruiser Starscraper

Captian Phall watched as the tide of the battle began to turn. What very few chances the pirates had for victory were rapidly being stripped from their grasp, as the Imperials took more and more of a heavy toll against the forces of the marauders. Some of the pirates were beginning to realize this as well it seemed, for small groups of starfighters began to break off from the action and either flee back torwards the asteriod field, torwards the gas giant in the system, or being to head outbound, away from the gravity masses and to a point where they could enter hyperspace. The captain turned his head away from the battle and glanced back to his officers.

"Navigator, keep track of hostiles entering hyperspace, and commit their exit vectors to the computer's memory." ordered the captain. "Sensors, flag the in-system locations of enemy survivor groups and map their locations for follow-up sorties after the battle is over." said the captain, as he turned to a third officer. "Hangar boss, prepare two shuttles of commandoes. I will be leading a boarding expedition to capture that disabled enemy escort frigate. Helm, bring us alongside, but keep a respectable distance, just in case their self-destruct is still working." said the captain. With that, Phall took his leave from the bridge and headed down torwards the hangar bay, where a pair of Sentinel shuttles were being prept for launch.

* * *

The battle was going well for the Imperial forces. Most of the enemy capital ships had been destroyed, with two fleeing from the engagement area, and another one, heavily damaged, making a suicidal attack on the Monarch. The suicidal attacking craft was stopped dead, then vaporized by the combined power of the pulse turbolaser cannons mounted aboard the star destroyer. There is about a wing's worth of enemy starfighters engaged with an equal number of Imperial types in the system, seperated into three groups spread throughout the battle area. About half a wing of enemy starfighters were in retreat, some of these groups being chased by Imperial starfighters or Rapier class gunships. With the space battle largely over, it was now time to move in and claim the system's stellar bodies for the glory of the Empire.

* * *

The Pirate chief was throwing fits and tantrums by now, and most of his support staff, those that had advocated him to evacuate or else had requested orders, now lay dead, victims of stab wounds or blaster shots, while his remaining staff had fled in terror. But he was going nowhere. If his treasure could not be saved, then neither would he save himself. He pressed down on a comlink button and ordered his full complement of troops to come to red alert. He had a thousand loyal and well trained buccaneers to protect himself and his horde, and he would make full use of them. Fully half of the complement would guard the vault room, where he himself would be headed with his honor guard, while the other half would congregrate around the docking bays and ambush the enemy as they come in to meet their doom.

As Black and Red Squadrons docked with the Monarch, Wes got on the comm to his men on the Venerator troopship. "Gray Squadron, Green Squadron. Head in to the pirate base. I want you there first. Be prepared for traps and armed resistance. Clear the way for the main assault."

Rolling his Defender, he entered the hangar bay and landed. Exiting quickly, Wes immediately grabbed a pilot that was entering a TIE-2. "Officer, Captain Wesley Vos, Imperial Special Forces. I'm going to have to commandeer your ship." Despite the pilot's protests, Wes climbed the ladder and strapped himself in. He'd lead the assault on the base.


On the Venerator troopship


Commander Racen Selerre of Gray Squadron received the message from Wes and immediately relayed it to his squadron. They were already in the hanger bay, and had been since exiting hyperspace. Now they'd get some action.

"Gray Squadron, Green Squadron - you heard the Captain. Into your ships! Let's go!" Selerre scampered up the ladder to his fighter, quite a feat for a man nearly the size of a Wookiee. Just the fact that he fit into the cockpit was astounding. But fit he did. He started the ship and launched, the rest of Gray Squadron and Green Squadron following.

The space battle was essentially over, but there were a few fighters still lingering. Several of them formed up and drove towards the oncoming Defenders. Selerre laughed as he set his cannons and blasted the outdated craft into oblivion. "All Squadrons, break right," he said as he angled his ship towards the asteroid base.

A TIE-2 dropped into formation alongside the commander. Selerre glanced over briefly before his comm crackled to life. "Gray Leader, this is Terror 1. Good to see you all."

"Good to see you too, Captain," replied Selerre.

"Form up on me. We've got a tight path we're gonna have to weave."


In the asteroid base


The young pirate hadn't been with the gang long, hence his current task. He had been charged with operating one of the defense mechanisms of the station. However, his superiors had fled by this time, and what was worse, they had fled without giving him orders. When he saw on the screens the way the space battle was going, he ran to the control room only to find it deserted.

Making a quick decision, the young pirate began flipping switches. Setting the defensive laser cannons to auto track and auto fire, he personally took control of the special defense mechanisms that only an asteroid field can accomodate.


Running the defenses


As the Defenders moved forward, the base began to come alive with laser fire. Breaking into flight groups, the Imperials began weaving and jinking to avoid the green and red bolts of energy. Wes spoke into his comm, "Watch yourselves. Follow me in."

As he spoke, he saw what appeared to be a few small asteroids - fighter-sized, almost - drifted towards the squadrons. Suspicious, Wes went evasive, putting as much distance between himself and the misshapen rocks as possible. It was good that he did. One of Green Squadron's fighters drifted too close and the asteroid exploded, sending chunks of rocks in all directions and shredding the TIE Defender.

The other asteroids exploded in sequence without doing any extra damage. The young pirate had given it his best, but his best wasn't even close to good enough to beat Wes's squadrons.

As the squadrons reformed, Wes dove through the continuing fire towards the opening that served as the hangar bay. His entrance would be a grand one. Gray Squadron formed directly behind him, while Green hung back. They would provide fire support in case Gray Squadron ran into trouble.

Wes sped into the hangar, spinning his fighter and skidding it along the floor. As it slid to a stop, he opened the hatch and began firing his E-11 in all directions. Selerre was a bit smarter. Keeping his Defender in the air, he rotated slowly, blasting anything that seemed to need it. The other Grays exited their ships, taking cover as quickly as possible. Before long, the hangar was clear. Time to move on to the next phase.

The glory of first blood was not destined to be drawn by the more glamorous legions in the service to the Emperor. The Stormtroopers in the white armored carapaces would have proven ideal but far too few were assigned the mission, a mission given tertiary status by High Command. No were the soldiers of the Guard to storm the bastions the pirates were no doubt throwing in the parth to Imperial Victory. Indeed, the Fleet Assault Corps would bear the brunt of the assault. It would nurse the wounds suffered in the coming battle and it alone would stand or fall on its actions.


Tightly packed together, the troopers of 1st Platoon, Kompanie B, Frigate Namuria, bounced around as their assault ship weaved around asteroids and stray laser blasts. It moved quickly, as quick as a ship with its profile could, nameless in a sea of twenty such craft each bearing a piece of the greater puzzle. Alarms sounded, feeling oh so loud in the ears of trembling men. Some trembled with fear, some with anxiety, some with rage, but all trembled. Any man who dared dismiss angst was no soldier at all.


Reports were shouted from the small two-man command cabin to the white-curiass wearing Lieutenant who stood over them all. The veteran of a dozen boardings, he was a good leader of men - any vestige of youth had long since been hidden by web-belts, bandoleers, and the medallions from violent victories almost forgotten.


The troopers, some young some not, waited with trepidation, each one knowing their trip was over when the Lieutenant donned his helmet. There was a moment filled with the chambering of the first blaster-gas injection as every soul readied his weapon.


A massive clang filled the hold and again the Lieutenant lead the way. Auditory mufflers protected each trooper, allowing only in the fine-tuned voice of helm-mounted comlinks - they did not hear the sound of small arms fire splattering on the hull. They did not hear the first victim of the assault enter into her death aria, cut short by a second shot that cauterized her vocal cords and turned her neck into ash. Lance Corporal Masha Vatrist would be remembered.


The troopers spilled out on the small hold's decking, fanning out and silencing resistance with quick bursts of fire. The hold secured, another drop ship entered then another until three platoons were mustered. The most senior of the commander's stood, sure enough the tall Lieutenant, and run into the depths of the asteroid. His men followed, the cowards and shirkers dead where they fell.


Fifteen minutes later...


Almost a thousand Imperial troops were on the asteroid, pushing through barricades and laying waste to enemies who failed to heed demands for surrender. What remained of a ceremonially-dressed honour guard fell in numbers greatly disproportionate to their aggrandized style. The end was near.

The pirates watched in apprehension as the Imperial forces landed into the main asteriod's hangar bay area, first a small commando force that had been flying TIE Defenders, and then shuttles conveying some hundreds of stormtroopers in their estimate began their assault. The defenders in the hangar bay area, numbering some one hundred in scattered units were quickly brought down and defeat, although not without some loss to the Imperials. A Merr-Sonn rocket propelled grenade, fired by one of the last pirates in the hangar area, streaking through the opening ramp of an shuttle and detonated in the cargo hold, killing some fifteen Imperial stormtroopers and wounding the remaining twenty five to some degree. Medics were now attending to the victims, and the shuttle it's self would be declared a total loss, with it's engine compartments torn out by the rocket's explosion.

After securing the beachead of the operation, the hangar bay, Imperial reinforcements were steadily shuttled in, nearing a thousand in total strength, as squads broke out from the area and into the other parts of the pirate's asteriod base. Some of the sections were booby-trapped, and took out one or two stormtroopers, or even entire squads. A small field hosptial being set up in the hangar was quickly overrun by casualties, as the body count approached one hundred for the assaulting Imperial forces. But the defense could not hold with such a strong assault, and quickly the number of defenders were whittled down to three main areas of resistance. The treasure room, which had heavy steel vault doors, was defended by some twenty men with heavy repeating blasters, and stun grenades, while the command centre was locked down, with a motley collection of some ten highly trained commandoes and about thirty bridge crews armed with pistols, batons, knives, or whatever they could scrounge up. Finally, there was the small private hangar bay at the rear of the asteriod, protected by another ten highly trained commandoes, with a lambda shuttle and two TIE Defenders, the pirate boss and his ready to die for his service escorts, were getting prepared for their escape attempt.

All three sites had brought down at least one stormtrooper squad apiece, and would likely need the help of special forces commandoes in order to breakthrough the defenses and be secured.

* * *

The Imperial medium cruiser on which Captain Phall was commanding broke into the atmosphere of the gas giant planet that was near the asteriod belt upon which the main assault was taking place. The medium cruiser had tracked a pair of small attack ships and a limited number of starfighters which had fled the battle to this point, and was now going in to take a look. What that look revealed was a small mining platform, upon which the ships were resting. The cruiser came alongside and targeted the station with her ion cannons, but hesitated to open fire. Instead, a communications link was opened.

"Enemy mining platform, this is Captain Phall of the Empire. If you wish to live, then do not fire upon the troops which are coming to take possession of the station. Surrender, and your lives will be spared." said the captain as a pair of assault shuttles were dispatched from the medium cruiser. Very little resistance was encountered when they landed, and about forty prisoners were taken. The five top officials were brought back to the medium cruiser, and the rest shoved over the side of the platform to suffer a long fall before being crushed by the increasing gravity of the gas giant. A small occupation force to run and maintain the station was left behind until it was determined whether or not the station would be maintained.

* * *

The remaining enemy starfighters were rapidly being mopped up, while the enemy capital ships had all be eliminated or captured. The Imperial commander of the fleet was congratulated on his abilites in combat, and word spread throughout that he may recieve a promotion for his excellent work. One thing was for sure. The captain of the medium cruiser that had first encountered the pirates would be promoted to commander and recieved command of a task group of Imperial warships. Although captain Phall did not know this yet, it would be a richly deserved award. Command of his flagship would be taken over by the first Lieutenant, a fellow by the name of Marso Bucktwise.

Asteriod Hangar, Lancer Asteriod Belt

The stormtroopers were now securing the areas that they had conquered. The casualties had stopped flowing in, and it appears that a final tally of their casualties were in hand. Some ninety-eight stormtroopers, including those killed in the shuttle, had died, with another two hundred ten wounded in action. That was effectivley one third of their fighting potential out of action, although only about ten percent of it would be permanently out of action. In turn an estimated nine hundred bodies, dead pirates and crews, were scattered throughout the station, and were being piled into mass garbage bags to be disposed of.

In the meantime, the special forces units were working to dismantle the remaining enemy strongholds so that the Imperials could have complete control of the station. The pirate chief's hangar was the first to fall, the commandoes being blinded by a flash bang grenade, then succumbing to stun bolts. The pirate chief was found aboard his shuttle, and was taken into custody.

The throne and treasure room was next, and this one was won through attrition. Although no specops soliders were outright lost, some were wounded. No enemy commandoes were killed. Some were wounded and put out of action later, and the others surrendered, perhaps realizing how stupid and futile their resistance was.

Finally, the operating station was taken, with the door being blown down, and specops again throwing in flash bangs and stun grenades. The specops moved in and secured the room with relative ease. The few commandoes in there fell quickly, and the crewers that offered resistance were quickly slaughtered.

With the asteriod hangar finally secured, the asteriod field could be claimed as being in possession by the Empire. The Imperial forces moved in to set up shop, and the asteriod hangar base would be used as the Empire's newest outpost in the system, until a more permanent base could be set up elsewhere. Rumor has it that a large space station would be deployed to the system, in order to provide a place where commerce and the military could replenish their ships and forces at.

Nerisia system, 1 month later

If there had been any neutral observers in this system, the changes that had affected this area of space say, compared to how it was two months ago, would be startling. For one thing the planetery system had undergone a change of goverment, from being under lawless pirate control to coming under control of Imperialistic rule, that being the Galatic Empire as it was often called, actually the goverment being the New Order, as they preferred to be called.

The change in goverment had not been a peaceful one, but then again they rarely if ever are anymore these days. An invading force had leapt into the system, a battle had been fought, people died, while other people were decorated as heroes. One side won, the invaders, and set up shop in this new planetery system.

Standing in the command center for the large space station known as Imperial Junction, newly minted Commander Phall looked over the forces he would be commanding in subsequent campaigns to secure surronding space, and let a smile spread across his lips. The fate of the star system in which they now resided was clear. The asteriod hangar base would be converted into a civilian station and mining contracts for the asteriod field would be awared to those corporations in alliance with the Empire and her goals. The gas giant would be striped mined for it's valuable tibanna gas, and a new type of gas discovered that seemed to have a potency greater than tibanna for applications to energy weaponry. The entire system would serve as a staging point for those who wished to venture into the beyond.