<font color=red>

For the longest time, the Tava Yagen Asteroid Field had been a prime source of valuable durellium ore, a key product in the manufacture of hyperdrives. It had been shipped freely, not something to fall under the catagory of 'weapon of war'.

But that was before the Trade Federation returned after the long night. Before Vicory Galdra came to power in a single broad stroke and cut the heads from shoulders of his enemies. Before the galaxy knew evil.

The actions of the Empire were noble. They believed that they were ending a threat to galactic security. Even from the point of view of the Galactic Defence Initiative, what the New Order did was for the right reasons. Even if those 'reasons' did not apply to the Initiative. The Jutraalian's reasons were less just, but nonetheless still more so than those of the Vicroy. Fearsons desired revenge. And revenge is a powerful motivator.

The Trade Federation, however, desired only power. And they would shatter alliances with their best friends to gain that end. And so it came that the New Trade Federation came to power and collapse once more.

Because there were but two options.

<font color=green>Tava Yagen Asteroid Field

"The fleet is in position. Abolisher fields at full power, all communications have been effectively severed." There was a pause on the bridge of the Redemption as the news was passed along, and then... "They did manage to get a message to Bastion."

A smile crept to the Commanding Officer's lips.

"Let them come..."

The Shrouds Guild-class bridge was continually alight with a dull hum of sounds.

The complexity of this craft was unfathomable… sometimes even to its commander.

The dreamweaver ion assault engines propelled the craft silently through the vastness of space, its additional cooling/dispersal attachment removing all traces of the craft’s engines from the heat spectrum and anything that can detect exhaust.

The vessels stealth package was more advanced than any other craft in the history of the galaxy.

The crafts cloak skin, obviously the most notable feature of stealth package, makes the craft complete invisible to the naked eye. The hull is energized with static-electricity and a new sensor dampening field, using complex electrical signals, is projected in front of the armor. The armor also has nano-grooves, which scatter and absorb any sensors that manage to penetrate. To remove audio tracking, white noise generators are located between the double hull, as well as sound foam. To hide the ship’s gravity from sensors, the armor is lined with negative matter deposits, evening it out with the surrounding space.

Active-scanner nodes, placed all over the hull, use an electro-magnetic stabilizer to lace the signal’s area that touches the cloaking protection, enabling the sensors to penetrate. The nodes are covered in all forms of active-scanners. Passive scanners are placed at the fore and mid of the ship, using sound sweepers (sonar), heat sensors, alternate spectrum analyzers, emission detectors, etc to detect opponents.

And then… the craft had innumerable other technological advances that made if far superior to any stealth craft that may have proceeded it… and likely any ship to come in the future for some time.


And so it was that no one in the Tava Yagen system knew of the crafts presence… nor of its 5 companions…


Upon receiving the initial distress signal of the Trade Federation, the New Order had immediately deployed a probe group if Shrouds to scout the situation.

The Empire, wishing to remain largely covert in the past several weeks, had offered no response to the signal. There was no indication that the message had even reached Imperial Forces.

But the presences of the six shrouds contended that possibility.

As did the fleet of warships deployed and lying in wait a microjump out of the system.


And so the Shrouds had observed the happenings in the system… had reported information back to the Imperial Fleet.


They witnessed the presence of meager Trade Federation and Defense Initiative Fleets.


They witnessed petty arguments and threats issued by each faction.


They witnessed the arrival of a moderately-sized Jutraalian Fleet.


They witnessed the arrival of an even larger Defense Initiative Fleet.


And the Captain of Shroud SSS-94 smiled.


The Galactic Defense Initiative was bold. To hostilely engage a chief ally of the New Order when they were themselves under attack of the New Order on multiple fronts. Bold? Or stupid?


A sole abolisher shot its deadly web… a mine field of certain destruction for any incoming craft.


But the single abolisher was no threat to the Imperial fleet were they to come into the system at the predesignated exit vector.

Regardless, imperial protocol called for the complete destruction of any abolisher crafts before the signal for Imperial aid.


And so the Shrouds sprung into action.




***



“A-6, return to exit vector and proceed out of system until you have surpassed the reach of out of system com jams. Wait for our signal to call in the fleet.”

The direct line of sight laser communication system crackled for but a moment, and the reply of “Aye, sir,” came over the comm.

Captain Jiren cut the connection and turned to the vessels chief tactical officer.

“Order A-3, A-4, and A-5 to continue long-range passive scanning. A-1 and A-2 are going in. Target the abolisher.”

“Yes, sir,” came Lieutenant Nimerov’s reply.”

“Power up weapons. Bring shield compensator and DOS systems online.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“Are we are battle ready status, Lieutenant?” the Captain inquired.

“Locked and loaded, sir. All occult weapons systems online.”

“Excellent. Engage the enemy when within range.”

“Aye, sir.”




Shroud A-1 and A-2 swung around the GDI fleet undetected at approximately 40 MGLT, A-1 swooping up and coming down at a 90 degree angle from above the unsuspected GDI fleet, A-2 doing the same from below.

The 125-meter stealth crafts zeroed in on the small Abolisher cruiser from both sized, preparing to unleash hell.

The dreamweaver engines advanced vectoring technology, enabling superior maneuverability, with the powerhouse being modified to have higher output, hurled them towards their target. The engines were equipped with higher-output boosters which produce more thrust per unit of energy than the Quasar or any other engine. This unit is extremely small for its power output and handles energy at the most efficient level, using micro-processors to control miniature manipulations all over the engine.

The occult weaponry leapt to life. The occult v1 weapons are hidden within the ships armor and jut out, movement guided and controlled by high-powered magnets and hydraulics, the weapons move out of the armor and fire, moving back in the armor while the weapon recharges, then proceeds to jump out and fire again. The occult v2 have more powerful hydraulics linked to gravity generators that push and pull the weapon at a faster speed, the linkage of the computers is designed into a fire system allowing complete control from the main computer or firing computer via a optical information linkage set aside from the main backbone. It has backup targeting for slow connection times or disconnects. A secondary link runs from gun-to-gun and can act as backup while main is being restored.

Each Shroud-class attack cruiser unleashed swarm missiles from their 2 guided launchers, 4 dual turbolaser v2’s, and 2 super-heavy occult turbolasers, reserving their ion weapons for a more suitable situation. The crafts crystal cooling system kept the crafts from overheating, and as the first barrage of 4 total missiles impacted the Abolishers meager shields, the turbolasers continued to fire away with extreme power and precision.



At the outskirts of the system, Shroud A-6, also still undetected, awaited the signal to call in the Imperial legion.

<font color=red>

<font color=green>The Shroud attack came as little surprise to the GDI forces in the system. Since those ships' existance became known to the Armed Forces, each unit was directed to assume that one or more was present in every fleet engagement.

That precaution had paid off.

Even as the first blast was fired, the Restoriation was shooting back, brilliant lances of energy cutting through space... and through the Shrouds.

Though their stealth systems were top notch and the vessels were designed to be invisible, the storm of light produced by their weapons was as a beacon for the GDI defenders.

The New Order had fired first, and they would die for it. Shroud A-1 was hit broadside by the GDI flagship and, sucumbing to the massive power of that ship, burst into flame.

The second was no more lucky. It was hit from two angles by the mamoth flagship, and it to began to burn. The fires raging on her hull gave her position, and the fire that homed in on it broke the ship apart.

GDI had drawn first blood...

The powerful warheads impacted the Abolishers shields with a flourish, doing considerable damage to the meagerly shielded craft, the initial salvo of projectile and laser fire alone dropping the shields by several hundred SBD.

And then a huge reign of laser fire lashed out from the GDI command ship, slicing through space like bolts of colored lightning, some of the lasers pummeling the Shrouds shields with great destructive power.


“What the hell!?” Captain Jiren shouted in alarm.

“How did they - ” the Lieutenant began to inquire, before he was cut off by the Captain.

“Cease laser barrage immediately! Keep moving, full speed!” the Captain ordered hastily.

“Yes sir, Captain!”

The vessels cling-class shields, which provide an elaborate ray and particle shield emissions, held their ground in repelling the initial laser blasts. Once the shrouds had ceased their hail of laser fire upon the Abolisher, the damage being taken from the enemy craft was greatly reduced, due to the fact that they could no longer be located by point-of-origin weapon fire tracking.

The cling-class shields of the shroud cruisers cling to the ship's hull, sparing the extra energy needed to mushroom shields around a ship and putting that energy towards a more extravagant shield array. The shield emitters, arrayed in groups of four, each contribute to the overall shield.

The shield emitters feed off of two shield generators, one for fore one for aft, each shield generator is connected to a power generator, either to the same one or individual. The Power Compensator can select the source, if multiple, for best usage and power output or allotment.

The craft’s shield compensators were alive and active, working to the best of their abilities. The shield compensators are AI imbedded in a ship’s deflector shield generator that links to a ship’s sensors, enabling it to automatically angle the shields to oncoming fire or allot shield coverage to areas in need.


The incredible hail of laser fire directed towards the two shrouds that had been strafing the Abolisher from different directions at 40 MGLT was mostly useless as it shot past the Shrouds indefinitely, but even some that didn’t hit the shrouds slammed into the shielding of the Abolisher, dropping its shields yet even more.


Captain Jiren, seeing the laser fire impacting the Abolisher, and noting the extreme briefness of which they suffered damage from the enemy ships, smiled, his spirits lifted.


“Continue erratic flight patterns at full speed. I want strong bursts from all weapons at random intervals firing at that Abolisher. Give her everything we’ve got all at once for just a second, and then change course. With our constant movement and random fire origins, it will be impossible for the enemy to track us. We and A-2 will take turns, keeping the fire up to one salvo every 10 seconds, making it 1 salvo every five seconds with us combined.”

“Aye, sir. Orders given, sir.”


And so the two shrouds, each having suffered roughly half shield loss from the initial barrage of laser fire, continued to pulverize the enemy abolishers shields, effectively remaining undetectable by the enemy defenders. Their shield strength began to slowly come back.

Each salvo, coming once every 5 seconds from one ship or the other, originated from a different location in space for but a moment, and then the location of the shroud-class attack cruiser was again completely indecipherable. Each salvo consisted of 2 unguided occult swarm missiles, 2 guided occult swarm missiles, 6 occult defiant ion torpedos, 2 super-heavy occult turbolaser v2’s, and 4 dual occult turbolaser v2’s.


Within another 40 seconds, the Abolishers 2,200 SBD shields had been dropped entirely by the two Shrouds.

<font color=green>The shields of the Neutralizer 418 Cruiser Glinting Steel fell on cue as the Shrouds continued their attack, flickering for a moment and then vanishing into themselves...

And then came back on at full power. The Abolisher's captain had sacraficed both his engines and weapons to keep the shields operational, but it was an even trade.

The fire coming from the Restoration would soon prove that theory. Each time a Shroud was detected firing, the massive flagship would fire a volley in return, turbolaser fire filling the sky on all sides of the enemy ships.

No matter which way they dodged, they were struck by a hail of heavy laser blasts. The first was burning, and that fire stood out against the blackness of space and allowing the flagship to target her and tear her apart piece by piece.

And the other... the other Shroud was still dancing in among the laser blasts, struck time and time again as she ventured to close to a salvo. It was a deadly game of cat and mouse...

(OOC:Posting for Dak)

Dakkon watched with a sense of glee as flames and arcs of laserlight errupted from the GDI lines, radarmen reporting it came from unknown warships, who had been designated non-hostile under the premise that 'the enemy of the enemy is my friend'. The abolisher was indicated as the target of the attacks, as it was of the TJE fighters whose stealth charge was running low. TIE Shadows were only able to maintain full cloak for a short while before reverting back to skipper mode, but that cloak time would be all that was needed. By the time the Jutraalian fleet reached combat range o fthe GDI fleet, the abolisher would be destroyed, and reinforcement was possible if not necessary in his eyes.

Reaching out with the Force he felt anger in the mind of the GDI commander. She felt stupid for letting her guard down momentarily, just enough to let her chance for victory and isolating the emeny fall from her grasp. He sent her more Anger, fueling her current mood, making her dwell on the past rather than the presence. It would lead to mistakes.

The TIE Shadows moved with haste, all power to cloak and thrusters, their warheads armed with heavy rockets. They closed to well within the accuracy range necessary before firing. In unison as all power as diverted back to shields and weapons, lock was gained on the abolisher cruiser. Astonishing the GDI commander as 244 heavy fighters appeared behind her picket line, then 488 heavy rockets appeared on their scopes as each craft fired a double volley of rockets.

Overkill perhaps, but it gets the job done...

From minimum range the rockets streaked in, the TIEs pulling away rapidly to avoid recompanse fire, however small it would be as the skipper cloak activated, missle lock becoming impossible, as did any kind of accurate track. And the GDI commander just watched, her mind frozen by Dakkons Anger fuelled confusion as the missles impacted the Abolisher. The craft, already weakened on its sheilds by the unknown attackers assault, was destroyed, its explosion being linked to a term Dakkon used.

It was atomised...

The Seduction sat calmly against the backdrop of space, the Galactic Defense Initiative fleet now struggling to deal with a large scale assault by cloaked warvessels, unregistered to the Trade Federation, or the Jutraalian Empire. The Admiral of the First Sovereign Command Fleet smirked as he overlooked the sudden spuratic fire of the Turbolasers of the Galactic Defense Initiative's Flagship, the Restoration.

Ironic wasn't it?

The Admiral merely folded his arms, smiling as he overlooked the Restoration from the viewing ports of the Seduction, Flagship to Flagship. It had become obvious that the tables were turning, and the Trade Federation had friends.... Friends that they couldn't even recognize under the cloak of there ships. Whoever they were... Pirates.... Raiders.... Liberationists..... They were welcome in the conflict. Any enemy of the Galactic Defense Initiative was an ally of the Trade Federation, and the Confederacy of Independant Systems. That much had become bluntly obvious.

Though.... there was still a slight problem. The Trade Federation had become only a megar force in the System, and with communications jammed, they could not call for reinforcements. The Galactic Defense Initiative's fleet had strategicly positioned itself between the Jutraalian ships, and the Trade Federation Defense Force. Not bad....

The Admiral turned to a large tactical readout screen, the red vessels indicating the position of the Galactic Defense Initiative's warships, the Blue indicating the Trade Federation Warships, and the Silver, Jutraalian Warships. Small blinking question marks blinking throughout the screen indicated the position of the mysterious new arrivals, as a lock on there position was impossible to pick up due to the cloaking devices.

With a smile on his face, a plan came to mind. If, somehow the Trade Federation fleet could make it through the Galactic Defense Initiative's war fleet, to the Jutraalian Fleet, they could not only provide more fire power, and strategic defense for the Jutraalian's, but also form a defensive parimeter, and force the Galactic Defense Initiative out of the System.

"Captain." the Admiral started, still looking down at the Tactical readout Holographic map displayed before him. The Captain snapped to attention, saluting the Neimoidian Admiral.

"Yes Admiral."

The Admiral looked at him, a simple grunt escaping his lips.

"Is the Fleet in a Wedge Formation?"

"Yes Admiral, as usual."

The Admiral nodded his head, a bright smile crossing his lips. He had a plan.... a Tactic not used in generations. It was an old tactic, once used by the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire, what seemed like ages ago, but it just might come as a supprise to the Defense Initiative's fleet, not to mention the other ships in the vacinity.... That was if they could pull it off. The Admiral had come to the same philosophy as the Rebellion had; Sheer Size, and Firepower didn't guarantee, or ensure victory by any means. Had that been true, the Galactic Empire would still rule, two Death Stars at their sides.

"It's time to teach the Galactic Defense Initiative a lession in Tactics, and Vulnerability, Captain. Order all ships to a combat ready status, shields raised, all weapons armed, and at maximum capacity. Have the Serene, and Blade move into position infront of the Manifest, Monitor, and Destiny, then order the Seduction into the line. After that, I want the Dreadful, and Enchanter to hold down the middne of the formation, while the Aegis, Wonder, and Silversabre hold down our rear flanks."

The Captain nodded. "What of the Dagger's Edge?"

The Admiral smirked. "I was hoping you'd ask, Captain. Put it at the front of the assault. We're going to resurrect an old tactic once used by the greatest Admiral in the New Republic Fleet.... Admiral Ackbar."

The Captain nodded his head for a moment, finally realizing what the Trade Federation Fleet was going to attempt.

"Orders confirmed, Admiral." one of the Tactical Advisors said as he stood from his chair. "All ships moved into position, weapons and shields at maximum."

"Exellent." the Admiral said as he looked back down at the Tactical map.

"We'll go through here..." the Admiral said, pointing to the weakest position in the Galactic Defense Initiative's fleet.

"Understood, Admiral." the Captain said as he stepped away from the Tactical Readout Holographic Image, grabbing his communications link. "All ships prepare full thrust Coordinates Zero Four Seven Nine, and Zero Four Six Four. All ships, commence!"

As the Captain spoke, the Admiral also began to speak into his communications link, to the Jutraalian Ships.

"We're on our way through. We're a safe distance away from the Restoration, and will remain out of it's range...."

The Ackbar Slash had been initiated....

The Trade Federation Warships proceeded at maximum speed toward the Galactic Defense Initiative's fleet in what was almost a single line of warships in a tiny, yet sharp wedge formation, the Dagger's Edge slicing through the fleet as a Lightsabre through a Taunton's flesh.

The Ships continued, Turbolaser, and Concussion Missiles firing from all ships as they quickly penitrated the Galactic Defense Initiative's Fleet.

The first ships to enter the fleet's weakest point targeted the Flame's Fury, a Galactic Defense Initiative MCE-10 Escort Frigate while the following ships continued to fire upon the two Light Carrack Cruisers in the vacinity. The Blitzkrieg seemed to come as suddenly as the Trade Federation fleet had, penitrating deep into the Galactic Defense Initiative's fleet as GDI Fighters engaged the Ackbar Slash Tactic. The Trade Federation had created what appeared to be a large Dagger of Warships, cutting through bread.

The Admiral only hoped that the Tactic, unused for centuries would come as a supprise to the Galactic Defense Initiative.

<font color=red>...a light in dark places...[/center]

<font color=green>Freedom Group Engagement - Mestra System

The time of reckoning hath come.

Already the Trade Federation had thrown themselves into the fray. The first of the two factions to draw blood. The final breaking point between the GDI and the Federation.

And an action that would cost the Trade Federation more than could be imagined.

The line of enemy battleships was not an expected tactic, but drilling tactics and combat moves dating back for millenia, the fleet responded in time.

The Mon Calamari cruisers moved alongside the oncoming Star Destroyers and those Trade Federation ships were forced to fly between the gauntlet, taking fire from each of the MC90 cruisers and their much larger MC95 'Home One' brethren. Those Home One cruisers, modified to carry an additional hundred turbolasers. Those guns tore into the enemy battleships, ripping aside shields and hull plating.

Meanwhile, somewhere near the rear of the battlefield...

"General! Love's Loss reports catostrophic shield failure! Hull breaches on all levels, major radiation leak in sector six!"

There was a silence as the viewports showed the crippled Abolisher spinning out of control, flames issuing from her side in her death agony.

"Issue the order Abandon Ship. Prepare for full retaliation."

The orders went out in due time, and within ten minutes ten heavily modified Sith Infiltrators had been prepared and launched. Those ships engaged their cloaks and approached the mamoth Super Star Destroyer, flagship of the Jutraalian fleet.

Within one hundred meters they armed their proton torpedo launchers and laser cannons. At fifty meters, they slowed their speed and targeted the enemy battleship. At twenty-five meters, they double-checked their targeting computations and shot off three sets of double torpedoes. Eight Sith Infiltrators fired nine sets of warheads at key points across the ship. One pair shot theirs at the bridge, sequencing mere seconds apart, just long enough to inflict maximum damage. As soon as the smoke cleared, those ships were gone.

Six of the others fired their salvos at three seperate key systems. Primary shield generators. Fuel cell access. Reactor core access.

The last two rose steadily into the hanger bay and let loose with all guns...

Proposed Losses (DSSD)

<li> Heavy bow shield damage
<li> Moderate power loss
<li> Reactor core leakage
<li> Main bridge destroyed

GDI Infiltrators

Slight damage to most ships (occasional turbolaser graze on way out)

The Trade Federation Fleet had done what it had set out to accomplish... It had made it through the Galactic Defense Initiative's fleet, but it had come at a price. The Seduction, heavily flanked on all sides by the Warships of the Trade Federation's fleet had been the only ship to escape some form of damage in the dagger tactic.

"Admiral, reports are coming in that several of our ships have either been lightly, or moderatly damaged."

The Admiral nodded, smiling. "I know. Ackbar's tactic wasn't ment for a full engagement of a Fleet, but rather to get through the fleet with as little damage to all of your ships as possible. It eas often used as a last resort retreating tactic, but overall, Captain... I'd say we accomplished out mission."

As the Trade Federation Fleet sunk behind the Jutraalian Warships, status reports came in for the ships.

Trade Federation Ship Damage:
<font size=-2>
<li> Corellian Gunship - Dreadful
Moderate Shield Loss/Light Hull Damage
<li> Lancer-Class Frigate - Enchanter
Light Shield Loss
<li> Dreadnaught-Class Frigate - Qalaxy Quest
Moderate Shield Loss/Moderate Hull Damage (Under Internal Repair)
<li> Imperator Mark III-Class Star Destroyer - Seduction
No Recorded Damages
<li> Imperator Mark III-Class Star Destroyer - Manifest
Light Shield Loss
<li> Imperator Mark III-Class Star Destroyer - Monitor
Light Shield Loss
<li> Imperator Mark III-Class Star Destroyer - Destiny
Moderate Shield Loss/Light Hull Damage
<li> Imperator Mark III-Class Star Destroyer - Wonder
No Recorded Damage
<li> Heavily Modified Corellian Gunship - Serene
Moderate Shield Loss/Heavy Hull Damage
<li> Heavily Modified Corellian Gunship - Silversabre
Light Shield Loss/Light Hull Damage
<li> Heavily Modified Corellian Gunship - Blade
Light Shield Loss
<li> Heavily Modified Corellian Gunship - Dagger's Edge
Shields Offline/Moderate Hull Damage</font>

Proposed GDI Damage
<font size=-2>
Moderate Shield Loss to Flame's Fury
Light Shield Damage to Two Mon Cal Cruisers

After only 20 or so seconds of the heavy pounding the shrouds were inflicting upon the abolisher, the Defense Initiative defenders had adapted.

With each, or nearly each, intense volley of fire from the shrouds, the enemy destroyer unleashed a colossal amount of laser fire in the general direction of the cloaked attack cruisers, spelling inescapable doom for two outgunned vessels. Dozens upon dozens of turbolaser blasts scored hits on the invisible ships, eventually crushing their shields entirely.

The shroud commanders had no time to respond, because it was within only 2 or 3 of their own volleys that they began to suffer ship-wide system failures and the shields collapsed under the incredible destructive power imposed on them by the unknown model of enemy star destroyer.

In one last valiant effort, shroud A-1 fired off its volley at the abolisher, and the enemy crafts shields sputtered, and at last, came off line.

A hell-fire of lasers slammed into the shroud, ripping through the hull, striking the engines and blowing them into a bright ball of flame that propelled the shroud forward, end over end.

Another cluster of laser fire impacted the shrouds guild-class bridge.

Captain Jiren had been making a mad dash for the aft turbolift, but to no avail. The foreward viewports were cracked open by the turbolaser blast… the bridge began to decompress. Consoles and operating stations were ripped out of place, and hurled out the viewport… smashing through the transparasteel completely, leaving gaping holes.

Jiren, one hand clasped to the turbolift entrance doorway, was attempting to pull himself into the lift, fighting the intense wind pulling everything in the bridge out into space, like an Ithorian tornado. He noted with some surprise that he was actually not having much difficulty breathing.

His forearms and biceps were strained beyond imagination, and his hand was sore from the effort. It seemed as if he would make it… he was so close…

But his hand ceased to clasp the turbolifts entryway…

Why…?

He had been so close. What had caused his hand to slip?

The only thing he could thing while being hurled end over end through the guild-class bridge was that question: Why?

The thought was violently interrupted as the side of his head impacted something… a BAC display that had ricocheted off the roof in its trip towards the smashed foreward viewport.

A pain more intense than any he had felt in his life overcame him. His eyes were liquid red… his vision blurred… Blood…

The pain would not stop… but when he could finally make some sense of what his eyes were showing him… he came to realize that he was no longer inside the shroud.

Space was his only companion now… the vacuum… the silence… the nothingness…

He realized now that, at last, he could not breath…

He saw the invisible form of the shroud-class attack cruiser that had been his home for the past 18 months raging with fires, and somehow in the madness realized that it was ripped into 3 or more pieces, spinning wildly to its grave in the asteroid field.

He could think nothing of pride, duty… Nothing of the honor in dying in the service of his mighty Empire… He couldn’t think - …It was only now that he realized with great sadness that he was going to die… Why had it taken him so long to realize this…?


… Why? …


And then he thought no more.



*****



The commander of shroud A-2 had given the order.

Shroud A-3 and A-4 leapt to action. A-5 waited… ready to give the signal…

A-2, tumbling in a cork-screw manner, was now only partially stabilized. Its primary engines were no longer functioning, but directional thrusters still served true. So it was that it had been able to direct itself, in its dying glory, towards the abolisher-class cruiser… towards the bridge… towards…

The 125 meter craft flared brilliantly as it impacted the enemy abolisher abolisher…


And then countless missiles impacted the abolisher… blasting it apart as if by an act of some supreme being…

The abolisher cruiser now looked like nothing but another monstrous asteroid… a mangled shape, gaping holes, not a single system on board still operating. Utterly destroyed beyond any hope of repair.


The Jutraalian fighters veered off as the abolisher was left dead in space…


The cloaked shrouds A-3 and A-4, heading towards the wrecked abolisher, veered off as well.


The signal was given.