Imperial Center
The Past

"If the plan is to succeed," the Grand Marshall said, "the enemy must feel threatened. They must not act – they must be made to REACT."

He smiled, a thin line forming on his lips.

"You, Admiral, will force their reaction."


Kal’Shabbol
Now

The fleet emerged from hyperspace in three sections, the massive wedge shaped Valhalla driving down the center of the formation. Spread across the system, far outside range of any weapons (including the long-range Intimidators oft employed by the Sovereignty) was the largest fleet assembled by the New Order is a long time.

It’s target – the capital of the Kathol Sector.

Ahead of them, the blue/brown globe of Kal’shabbol waited.


<font size=1>OOC Manifest

Command Flotilla

Venerator Class Command Destroyer Valhalla
Reign Class Star Destroyer Andúril
Reign Class Star Destroyer Silmaril
Reign Class Star Destroyer Amon Sul
Victory Class Star Destroyer Victory
Victory Class Star Destroyer Corruptor
Victory Class Star Destroyer Meance
Victory Class Star Destroyer Gilded Claw
Victory Class Star Destroyer Talon
Victory Class Star Destroyer Scion
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Inplacable
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Indomitable
Belarus Class Cruiser Implosion
Belarus Class Cruiser Devonshire
Belarus Class Cruiser Fussilade
Belarus Class Cruiser Peregrine
Belarus Class Cruiser Harrier
Belarus Class Cruiser Whiplash
18 Corellian Gunships

1320 TIE Devils
504 TIE Defenders
72 Assault Gunboats
72 Missile Gunboats
24 Skipray Blastboats
18 ATR Escort Transports


Starboard Flank Flotilla

Corellia Class Star Defender Dark Reverence
Reign Class Star Destroyer
Reign Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
12 Fire Class Light Frigates

1440 Starfury Assault Starfighters
336 TIE Defenders
72 Assault Gunboats
72 Missile Gunboats
24 Skipray Blastboats
18 ATR Escort Transports


Port Flank Flotilla

Corellia Class Star Defender Conception
Reign Class Star Destroyer
Reign Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Eternal Class Star Destroyer
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
Rebel Assault Frigate
12 Fire Class Light Frigates

1440 Starfury Assault Starfighters
336 TIE Defenders
72 Assault Gunboats
72 Missile Gunboats
24 Skipray Blastboats
18 ATR Escort Transports


Support Flotilla

Guardian Class Fleet Defence Vessel Guardian (I, II, III, IV)
Guardian Class Fleet Defence Vessel Protector (I, II, III, IV)
Surveyor Class Scout Cruiser Inquisitor
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Basilisk
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Repulse
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Gauntlet</font>

Kal'Shabbol

"Inquisitor reports no hostiles in-system." The communications officer's voice sung out from the port side crew pit, confirming what the flagship's own sensors said. The Inquisitor, a Surveyor class Scout Cruiser, had sensors far more powerful than the norm, and her report of a clear system was a good one.

"Three orbital shipyard facilites confirmed active, one under construction." The officer continued, still reading the feed from the other ship. "Two likely ground-based facilities as well."

Standing beside Stremmins Joda, the Valhalla's captain, Bhindi was in her element. The fleet was deployed in a fairly conventional three-pronged formation, with the largest ship spearheading each.

"Plot the shipyards into the computer and designate them as One, Two, and Three. Ground facilities Alpha and Beta."

The fleet was advancing quickly, shields and weapons armed, closing with the massive orbital shipyards.

"Jam all long-range communications, launch fighters as they're ready and ensure all shields are to full once they're clear.

"Missile tubes loaded."

There was a moment of frenzy as the orders were relayed and acted upon, and Bhindi smiled thinly.

"Tell Inquisitor to keep her sensors tuned. First sign of any surface-based defences coming up, I want them destroyed. Prepare our ground contigents for launch."

The Imperial fleet moved into range, ion fire began to streak out towards the shipyards. More carefully targetted turbolaser beams blasted through hull plating to expose entire sections of the constructs to vacuum.

But the majority of the fleet waited, watching for an enemy response.

(Damages: Ground emplacements are essentially useless, since as soon as they begin powerup they'll be detected and vaporized)

Lieutenant-Colonel Davon Usher gripped the handrail of the shuttle tightly as it blasted its way through the shipyard’s static defences. Ion fire from the Imperial fleet had shut down whatever external weaponry they might have had, but hanger doors were closed and still blocked access to the most convenient landing sites.

Not that stopped the missiles and lasers of the New Order. With grim precision, the pilot of the Serendipity armed two proton torpedoes and unleashed them against the durasteel portals. They managed to hold the ship steady as the shockwave swept by them, with only a minimal amount of rocking as they piloted the assault craft into the bay.

A flurry of small arms fire met them as they set down, but small arms was never very effective against spacecraft and the return from the ship’s topside blaster cannons sent the enemy combatants running for cover. From the back of the hold, the Lieutenants were yelling “Go! Go! Go!”, and the troops were sprinting down landing ramps and returning fire against the small number of enemy troops still alive in the bay.

“All clear, Sir.” Usher’s aide said, and he nodded. Unclipping his crash webbing, he followed the troops down the ramp. A group were dragging the bodies of fallen enemy soldiers into a neat line at one of the bay. Elsewhere, the Dark Trooper regiment were gathered and awaiting orders.

Usher looked around, and allowed himself a smile as he realized that none of the bodies present belonged to his soldiers. In their first field test, the Spartan-IIs had proven themselves quite adequately.

“Get me the Admiral.” He said, and one of his aides removed his datapad to program the appropriate frequencies and encryptions. Without a word, he handed this to Usher.

“Spectre Squadron, position secured.” A reply came back, and he smiled thinly.

“Move out. You know the drill.”

The Empire had arrived.





“All unit reporting in position, Admiral.” Commander Godridge said from behind Bhindi. The Admiral nodded, turning to look at the young officer.

“Casualties?”

“Phantom squadron lost one, heavier resistance in that yard than we originally suspected. Colonel Fron suspects it may be their orbital command centre, or something similar.”

“Have her squad exercise extreme caution.” Bhindi paused. Generally, shipyards were lightly defended and didn’t require any extensive effort to secure. But there was no sense in wasting life if it wasn’t necessary, really. “Order Telchu’s Special Ops squads to reinforce our positions on the yards.” This Godridge did with no argument – perhaps the same thoughts were running through his head. “Are our Army units prepared for deployment?”

“At a moment’s notice, Admiral. We can have positions secured within a half hour, if our estimates are correct.”

“Let’s make them correct, Commander. Have the Eternal commanders commence operations. Base Delta Zero-One, targets are predetermined. Give them leave of their fighter squadrons and half our Skiprays to cover them.”

The Commander nodded, already speaking into his comlink.

Like their smaller cousins, the Eternal Class of Star Destroyers were able to enter and operate in a planetary atmosphere. Unlike orbital bombardment, which was inaccurate at best and could prove devastating (as the ORS had proven at Abregado-Rae), atmospheric operations allowed for a great deal of accuracy in bombardments. The Sovereignty positions on the surface would have a great deal of trouble dealing with the Imperial vessels, and Bhindi knew that her officers would exercise the necessary caution in not causing civilian casualties. Not that the Empire was overly concerned with what became of civilians – but the disasters at Abregado-Rae, Bespin, and Taloraan, had opened a can of worms on the issue, and even the INS could not keep a mass slaying like that under control if the Empire were to perpetrate it.

The solution was simply to exercise more caution in their operations, and not give the enemy the benefit of ammunition.

With the fleet deployed for bombardment (should it become necessary) and soldiers already working on securing the yards, Kal’Shabbol was ready to fall.

“Offer their local government this opportunity to surrender.” Bhindi ordered grimly. “Inform them that if they do not, Imperial ships will liberate this planet and its people. By any means necessary.”

"We surrender! We surrender!" Cried the frantic planetary government. There was no logical way they could resist. It was just good sense.

"Please, show some mercy" pleaded the less-the-brave governor. "We're standing down what little defences we have."

The response came almost immediatly, screaming across all bands and flooding the bridge speakers of the Valhalla.

"Lock that signal down." Bhindi ordered calmly, watching in fascination both the sensor screen (which showed the Eternal SDs fast approaching their targets) and the bridge officers who, at last, managed to get a lock on the transmission and to put it through in full to the bridge com system.

"We surrender! We surrender! Please, show some mercy. We're standing down what little defences we have."

There was silence as the words sunk in, then from somewhere at the front of the crew pit a cheer was taken up. It spread through the crew, and Bhindi allowed it to continue for a moment before depressing a button that sounded the ship's battle alerts, effectively silencing the crewmen.

"Order the ESDs to hold their positions." She said, turning to Captain Joda. "Alert our other positions - shipyards should be within our complete control within twenty minutes. I want our troops on the surface and all major centres secured within the hour."

The Captain nodded and turned away to issue the orders, a smile playing across his lips.

"Alert Coruscant. Kal'Shabbol has surrendered."