All factions -


"We are about to embark upon a great endeavor. This attack, if it succeeds, will be the turning point in our war with the darkside. It will be the first of many. The New Order represents the very demon we are trying to fight. They claim to be bringing order to chaos, but all they do is bring death and destruction. We have tried to long to negotiate with this menace. Too long have we been under constant retreat. Too long have we been under constant attack. No more! The mindless masses that the Empire controls will see the wrath of the light. In order to obtain supremacy over our enemies, we must fight. Peace through power.

To War!" - Joren Arden, GC Military Address.



It was so like Joren to say something like this and Kamon had expected it. The only thing he hadn’t expected was for him to say it so soon. Technically, TTR was not ready for military action of any kind let alone a full scale assault on enemy territory. It was almost insane to even think about. He knew they were all attacking at the same time but why so soon? It drove him nuts to think about.

The fleet had been mobilized rather quickly and had gathered at a meeting point that wasn’t likely to be found out. Not too far out of their target, they had kept silent for the most part and bided their time. There had been no reason for them to give away their position or their intent to attack. None at all. So they had given the enemy no opportunity to find them and had no plans to do so.

When the day and time arrived for their attack, all the vessels were readied and everyone went to a code red alert status. The ships were brought into formation and soon jumped to hyperspace in order to head for their target. It hadn’t taken long to get there in Kamon’s opinion. The ships came out of hyperspace and brought their shields up immediately. Weapons were charged and fighters were launched. The ships streaked in at the enemy.

Kamon stared with rapt attention as first shots were fired from a long ways away at the enemy formations. It was more a warning shot than an actual attempt to hit anything. He had no intent of attacking them from so far out anyway. The Maker was designed for close quarters as well as speed. It wasn’t designed for long range combat.

“Full attack.”



Task Force Fury
Tholatin-class Star Destroyer Maker
-36 Type 717 Tie Vanguards
Tholatin-class Star Destroyer Invincible
-36 Rapyir-class Starfighters
Tholatin-class Star Destroyer Destroyer
Executioner-class Starcruiser Gem
Executioner-class Starcruiser Crystal
Agave Picket Ship PX-100
Agave Picket Ship PX-101
Corellian Gunship Tormentor
Corellian Gunship Crystallion
Dreadnaught Starfire
Saberie-class Battlecruiser Procurator
Saberie-class Battlecruiser Emancipator
Interdictor Cruiser Black Ops
Interdictor Cruiser Cobra
-12 Type 717 Tie Vanguards
Aegis-class Star Cruiser mk.II Widowmaker
Aegis-class Star Cruiser mk.II Shadowmaker
CR90 Corellian Corvette Fireball
CR90 Corellian Corvette Fire Edge
CR90 Corellian Corvette Fire Manipulator

Support Craft
20 Modified Surronian Conqueror Assault Ships
12 Sienar Fleet Systems GAT-12H Skipray Blastboats

Carida - Empire Proper

"I want picket ships here and here," the Admiral said, indicating two spots on the holodisplay that engulfed the centre of the room. "I don't want any gaps in our sensor net."

The liuetenant nodded and moved away to issue the orders.

"Do you really think they'll come here?" Deusvult Godridge asked, eying the bridge crewers of the Reign Class Star Destroyer Oscalitah.

Bhindi Drayson shrugged.

"Who knows? But there's a chance - a good one - that they will. And if we can hurt the Coalition enough here, they might shut up and go back to their corner."

The Caridan Defence Force - the Oscalitah and a handful of support craft, had been drawn from the Ubiqtorate and assigned to protect the Imperial academy from an attack by the Galactic Coalition. Assuming, of course, they were foolish enough to carry through with their earlier threats.

"Contact the Grand Marhsall and inform him that Carida is secure and braced for an assault." She ordered, stepping past the vessel's captain and looking out over the starscape. "We'll be returning to Yaga Minor shortly."

Godridge nodded and turned to leave. He was stopped by a shout from the sensor officer.

"Admiral! We have several contacts in sector One-G. Capital ships, mostly unidentified configurations. They're launching fighters."

He was, Bhindi noted, exceptionally calm for a green officer. His voice carried no trace of fear that she would have expected from a man facing battle for the first time.

"What is your name, officer?" She asked, ignoring his report. The man was taken aback, but did a good job of hiding it.

"Liuetenant Jason McKathy, Admiral. Graduated top of my class from the Caridan Academy." Bhindi nodded. The man was bright, that much was obvious.

"Very well, Liuetenant McKathy. I want you to compile a complete readout on those ships - estimated weapons capabilities, shielding strength, weakeness, that sort of thing." She smiled thinly. "And find out where they came from."

She turned to Godridge, who had stopped when the sensor officer had first spoken.

"Transmit all this to Coruscant, Urgent. We should be able to handle their assault, and inform them that I will personally make whoever is responsible pay for this."

Godridge acknowledged with a sure nod and left, leaving Bhindi to watch as the Imperial Defenders were spurred into action.

Aside from the Oscaliath, two of the Ubiqtorate's Imperator Class Star Destroyers and Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platforms had come to Carida to aide in her defence.

An Attack Sphere had been assigned by the High Command, and eighteen Corellian Gunships. All in all, more than enough to shatter whatever the enemy could throw at them.

"All ships, raise shields. Vessel commanders can designate fighter launches as neccessary, but move all fighters to a forward position of the fleet. I want the Tyrant and Devestator flanking us, the SATAPs in behind. The Thunder Cloud can take position behind. Gunships to form up with support ships to form a Skirmish line."

The orders were carried out with the usual Imperial effeciency, and within minutes sqaudrons and wings of TIE Devils, Defenders, and Starfury Starfighters were lining up in front of the fleet.

"Jam all of their communications." She added after a moment. "And clear our waste deposits. I don't want the extra mass slowing us down." She paused, thinking, then went on. "Lock onto the waste with tractors and bring it around the front of the fleet. I want a minefield for their missiles to get through."

There were more acknowledgements, and Bhindi turned back to the viewports.

"Admiral Drayson, we've recieved a point of origin from those enemy ships." McKathy, the sensor operator, had returned, holding out a datapad.

Bhindi took it and, skipping through the records tracing, smiled. Printed neatly across the bottom were three words:



"This should have been ended a long time ago." She said softly, watching as the enemy ships fired the first, useless shots of the day.

<font size=1>Fleet Manifest

Reign Class Star Destroyers Oscaliath (Fleet Flagvessel)
(8 Sqaudrons TIE Defenders - Deployed)

Imperator Mk. II Class Star Destroyer Tyrant
(6 Sqaudrons TIE Defenders - Deployed)
Imperator Mk. II Class Star Destroyer Devestator
(6 Sqaudrons TIE Defenders - Deployed)

Attack Class Carrier Sphere Thundercloud
(55 Sqaudrons TIE Devils - Deployed)

Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Steel Rain
(36 Squadrons Starfury Assault Starfighters - Deployed)
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Crimson Demise
(36 Squadrons Starfury Assault Starfighters - Deployed)

18 DP20 Corellian Gunships

Planetary Based Units and Other Assets

800 TIE Raptors
216 TIE Defenders
56 Missile Gunboats
36 Beta Class ETR-3 Escort Transports
38 GAT-12j Skipray Blastboats

"Full stop." Kamon ordered.

"Communications are jammed."

"I know."

He relayed the message to the other ships via the Force. Their commanders complied with the order and Kamon nodded to the captain of the vessel. The Captain spoke with one of the cre men and moments later, a Conqueror Assault ship jetted from the vessel back in the direction the fleet had come from. It was sending a message to the two hold out ships that they may be needed.

"Alright. Laser cannon volleys. Destroy that debris."

The message was relayed and the Tholatin fleet opened up on the debris field the enemt had put out in front of them. WHoever he was fighting against was smart, but Kamon could get his job done. The ship rocked a bit as lances of energy shot out at the debris from the enemy vessels. Explosions could be seen as bits of the debris blew up or melted. Some of the bolts even made it through to splash across the enemies shields.

Once the debris was destroyed, they had a clear shot at the enemy and Kamon ordered a slavo of missiles to be fired immediately. The ship rocked again as the proton torpedoes lanced out of it. Some of the other vessels, the Saberie's and Executioners included, launched their concussion missiles and proton torpedoes. Impacts were made on the enemies frontline Gunships. And Kamon ordered the melee tactic. Now it was the enemies move.

Bhindi watched calmly as the Tholatin ships fired the first shots of the battle. Laser weapons flashed out through the darkness, smashing uselessly into the debris they had scattered in front of themselves already.

Or perhaps not so uselessly. The garbage, as per Imperial policies, had been crushed into large cubes and ejected as a whole. The enemy laser fire effectively broke up these cubes, scattering the debris into a far wider field. The intense heat of the lasers no doubt also superheated the metals, turning them into red-hot chaffs for the enemy missiles.

Even as she thought this, warheads lanced out from the enemy fleet towards the Gunships. Dozens of them, but most of their ships were still tucked into formation, their guns not able to bare on the Skirmish screen.

The missiles entered the debris field, now added to be laser fire from the Gunships and fighters, and exploded. Tiny pieces of waste, no larger than a credchip, ignited enemy torpedoes as they slashed through them.

A scarce few of the warheads made it through to explode against the reinforced shields of the Imperial craft.

"Enemy moving to engage the Skirmish line, Admiral." Liuetenant McKathy reported evenly. "Skirmish line holding."

Indeed, the Gunships were dealing out their own damages to the enemy fleet. The Starfury Fighters, which in their own right outnumbered the enemy 18 to 1, buzzed through the enemy ranks, their superior numbers and piloting skill easily accounting for entire sqaudrons of enemy craft.

The other fighters, TIE Devils, Defenders, and larger Skipray Blastboats and Escort Transports, held alongside the Skirmish line, directing their fire at the leading enemy Star Destroyers.

"Status?" Bhindi asked, as one of the Gunships caught fire and dived below the plane of the battle, only two of its turbolasers still firing.

"Skirmish screen at 90% and holding." McKathy reported readily.

"Very well. Release missile salvo on my mark." She paused, enjoying the feeling for a brief moment, then said, "Mark. Release missiles."


It is said that war is hell, and for anyone observing the Battle of Carida that day it would have been the utmost truth. From the Imperial battleline came more than two thousand proton torpedoes and concussion missiles, all directed at the leading enemy vessels.

Some of the missiles were shot down, others hit debris left hanging in space from the explosions of starfighters. But more than three quarters made it past the gauntlet, erupting against the shields of the enemy formation.

The cooridinated move caught the Tholatin fleet off guard, and before damage reports could come in from the salvo the Gunships and attack vessels were already pressing their advantadge, hammering the weakened parts of the enemy fleet.

Bhindi smiled as she watched one of the enemy ships begin to burn.

"Bring the battleline forward. All guns, fire at will."

Damages Sustained

TNO

2 Corellian Gunships Disabled
16 Corellian Gunships w/ shield damage
6 SASs lost

TTR

60% loss of shields on all Tholatin Class Star Destroyers
40 Starfighters lost

As soon as the shields on the Tholatin went down to 60%, the Aegis cruisers and Saberie Battlecruisers moved up to screen the Destroyers. The enemy was advancing and Kamon smiled. The four ships that were covering the Destroyer opened fire on the two lead vessels with everything they had. Missiles and lasers lanced out against the vessels, blasting away.

With the shear amount of firepower fired from the four vessels against the two small vessels, the enemies two forward gunships lost their shields and were given hull breaches. Kamon smiled as the Executioners opened up on two of the enemy Gunships on their end. The Interdictors, paired off with the Corvettes, attacked the enemies on their end. The remaining ships lanced out against whichever was closer. Every enemy ships was hit by something.

The conquerors and skiprays joined up with the fighter squadrons and began to destroy the enemies fighters. The enem had only killed the weaker pilots, leaving the best trained and more experienced pilots behind. It gave them the upper hand in the fight even though they were greatly outnumbered. His battle web was holding and the Tholatin Fleet was eating away at the enemy while the Destroyers recharged their shields.

Losses
TTR
Aegis Cruisers-Very minute shield damage
Saberies-Very minute shield damage
Tholatin-class Star Destroyers-SHields up to 65%
7 Rapyirs Destroyed

TNO
2 Gunships disabled
2 Gunships w/ no shields and hull breaches
14 Gunships 75% shields
30 SAS's destroyed

What will they do next?

It was, Bhindi mused, like a game of Chess. One side would move, and the other would attempt a counter. And it would go on and on, until one side or the other could not counter.

The trick was knowing what the enemy would do to counter, and taking the oppertunity to strike hard and fast into that breach.

The enemy had suffered heavy losses amongst their starfighter Corps, but those remaining pilots would be their best. To throw them into the fray while they were so immensely outnumbered would be stupid - but Bhindi knew from personal experiance that Prince Kamon Vondiranch was stupid.

"Watch their fighters!" She called, even as the first of the enemy ships began to leave the protection of the enemy fleet. The Starfury Assault Starfighters, tiny vessels designed for dogfighting against larger enemies, met them with wave upon wave of laser fire, their sheer numbers doing enough to quell the tide of enemy vessels.

Nearly two dozen of them were lost, but when the brief interlude was over none of the Tholatin starfighters remained in the air. The last one was seen spiralling, out of control, to collide with a turbolaser blast from the Tholatin flagvessel.

Even the Skipray Blastboats and several smaller but lethal-looking freighter/fighters were vaporized by the more powerful craft deployed by the Empire. The Escort Transports, nearly twice the size of the Blastboats, cut those ships apart with relitive ease, superior numbers, skill, and machines tearing the Tholatins apart.

Now, what will the Prince do?

If the previous battle had been any indication, Kamon would attempt to protect his ships while continuing the fight, an equation that made little, if any, sense. And he would make a massive effort to call home for more ships to overwhelm his enemy.

The communications jamming made reinforcements impossible, but protecting his ships was still possible. But to protect them from all angles...

"Status of the enemy fighters?" Bhindi asked calmly, even as the Battle line came into optimum range and doubled its fire.

"There are none left, Admiral." McKathy responded quickly enough. Bhindi smiled thinly.

"Very well. All ships to reinforce their shields. Form the Skirmish line back up along the Battle line. Are we ready for another volley?"

"In a moment, Admiral. We've got a lock on the enemy lead ships."

"Very good, very good. I want the fighters and support vessels to form into an Attackhead Formation and attack the rear of the enemy formation. Raptors to cover the laterals and sides of the capital ships."

She looked out at the enemy fleet, where several of their craft were moving up to screen the Tholatin Class Star Destroyers. Or trying, rather. None of those ships were fast enough to get into position in time.

"All capital ships to reinforce their forward shields. All batteries, target the lead ships. Fire on my mark."

She smiled thinly.

"Mark."

The enemy fleet, which was still manouvering first and firing second, took the brunt of the first volley across its weakened forward shields. Missiles slammed into the enemy Tholatin Star Destroyers from one direction, collapsing shields and sliding into the hull to detonate and spark fires and oxygen leaks.

The second volley came from behind a split second behind the first, and its impact on the enemy shields caused at least three generators to explode, ripping gashes in the sides of the enemy vessels. The Skipray Blastboats were already pouring ion fire into the ships' undershielded rears, shorting out the few weapons that faced backwards and shutting down vital systems.

The other ships, the Escort Transports in particular, concentrated fire on the necks that connected the bridge towers to the base of the vessels. The Tholatin ships were taking heavy fire from all directions, and there was little they could do to stop it.

The fleet's turbolasers concentrated their fire on the smaller Aegis Cruisers, 800 meter warships designed to pack a punch, but suffering in shields and armour. The heavy lasers of the Reign and Imperator Star Destroyers would make short work of them - it was a commonly known fact that Aegis vessels did not stand well in prolonged firefights.

Lastly, ion fire sparked its way across the hulls of the enemy's Saberie Battle Cruisers, causing entire sections of the vessels to go dark. The Empire prided itself on the accuracy of its gunners, and those of the Black Fleet were among the best the Empire had to offer.

Running lights remained active on the enemy vessels, even as entire turbolaser banks went dark, blue lightning sizzling across them.

The enemy could trade fire with the Imperial fleet for as long as they wished; without starfighter support, the Tholatins could do nothing to assault anything but the fronts of the Star Destroyers, and could not hope to stop the swarms of fighters that swarmed around them, picking off turbolaser turrets and shield generators.

"Bring out interdictor fields up to full." Bhindi ordered calmly, watching as another turbolaser volley rocked an Aegis cruiser.

Counter this.


<hr>


Actions
<ul type=1>
<li> Imperial Battle line comes into position on left flank of Tholatin fleet and opens fire
<li> Imperial starfighters eliminate Tholatin fighters & support craft
<li> Tholatin Aegis Cruisers and Saberie Battle Cruisers attempt to screen damaged TSDs.
<li> Imperial Support line flanks enemy fleet
<li> Imperial Battle line delivers missile/turbolaser/ion salvo into enemy fleet
<li> Imperial Support Line assaults rear of Tholatin formation
<li> Reign Star Destroyer Osciliath raises gravity wells
</ul>

Total Damages Sustained

The New Order
<li> 4 Corellian Gunships Out of the Fight
<li> 30 Starfury Assault Starfighters

The Tholatin Republic
<li> 3 Tholatin Star Destroyers w/o shields w/ hull breaches
<li> 2 Aegis Carriers w/ 70% shields
<li> 2 Saberie Battle Cruisers w/ 80% working guns
<li> 48 Type 717 Tie Vanguards
<li> 36 Rapyir-class Starfighters
<li> 20 Modified Surronian Conqueror Assault Ships
<li> 12 Sienar Fleet Systems GAT-12H Skipray Blastboats

Keep in mind that TNO has 2910 Fighters and Support Craft, as opposed to TTR's 116. Also keep in mind that all of our fighters and support craft have missiles and targetted your capital ships.

The fleet began to fall back under Kamon's direction. Where there support was he didn't know. The ships were supposed to have gotten there right when the TTR fleet had gotten there. Kamon hadn't really worried about it until now. Unfortunately, now he was worrying about it.

At Kamon's direction, multiple cluster bombs exploded outward from every ship in the fleet. These bombs were added to by the firing of Diamond Boron Missiles that took out even more enemy fighters. Kamon smiled as the fleet began to turn away from the enemy. They had both been hurt, but TTR had taken a beating in the ifghter area. TNO had lost a few capital ships.

Some last topredoes and missiles were launched as the fleet fully turned and headed away from the battle. They needed to get away and begin repairs as the damages sustained were not exactly small. The wounded Star Destroyers were shielded from the rear by the gravimetric shields on the Saberie's and the shields on the Aegis cruisers. They headed away from the fleet.

Damages
TTR
Same as afore mentioned by Drayson

TNO
140 miscelaneous fighters destroyed

Apparently not.

Bhindi watched out the bridge viewports as the Tholatin warships continued to be assaulted from two sides. The Support line had fallen under assault by cluster bombs, none of which managed to touch their vessels. It was a commonly known fact that Cluster bombs were short range devices, and the Support line was to far away for any real effect. A handful of TIE Devils were shreaded by the devices, but that was all.

The Diamond boron missiles, though, posed a much greater threat to the fighters. Heavily armoured, they could easily withstand anything but a blast from a turbolaser.

Which was, conviently enough, exactly what the Empire used to stop them. The three groups of Escort Transports had quite a time intercepting the expensive missiles, but they did manage to do so. The agile TIEs and other fighters evaded the few that made it past the gauntlet, and only a few of the ships were destroyed.

What the missile firing had done, though, was to distract the Support line, if only temporarily. The enemy fleet had begun to turn away from the battle, the Tholatin Star Destroyers easily showing signs of the immense strain. All three of those craft were burning from numerous places, and shields had been collapsed all around on those vessels.

Bhindi watched the enemy fleet turn, diverting what little power they had left to their engines and attempting to run. The structural strain on their damaged hulls would be enourmous.

She watched one of the vessels as cracks began to appear, and a thought struck her. It was a long shot, a possibility that may or may not work... but it would be well worth the energy.

She left the command chair and walked nimbly down the stairs into the crew pit, until she came to the station of the ship's Chief Science Officer.

"Admiral!" He said, standing and saluting rather clumsily.

"Commander Terra." The position of CSO was a prestigious one, and the officers who recieved it never ranked lower than Commander.

"I need your expertise. The enemy fleet, as you are no doubt aware, is greatly damaged and attempting to retreat. The strain on their superstructure must be great."

"Are they still caught in our interdiction fields?" The scientist asked, seeing where the Admiral was going. Ignoring the interuption, Bhindi nodded.

"They are. And they still remain in the gravity shadow of Carida. Would it be possible to somehow utilize the gravity of the planet and tear his ships apart?"

The scientist said nothing for several moments, other than and endless stream of inane babble that he uttered under his breath, and obviously to himself. After a time, he nodded.

"It could be done. If you were to increase the strength of the Osciliath's gravity well generators and swung them around a bit, it would create a sort of gravitational storm. Normally, it wouldn't have a terrible effect, but if his ships are damaged and strained already, it could just do the trick. Regardless, it will slow him down anyway."

"I am giving you command over the gravity well crews, Commander. See to it personally, I must return to the bridge."

The man nodded, already mumbling again under his breath.

"Continue firing." She ordered, watching the enemy Star Destroyers carefully. There was little change for a moment, then the deck below her started to vibrate as the power in the gravity wells was brought up.

The enemy ships had almost fully turned now, but suddenly, as if caught in a massive pair of hands, they stopped, and began to shake. The conflicting gravity of the Osciliath and Carida was tearing the vessels in two seperate directions. Even with artificial gravity, it must have been hell on those warships.

Turbolaser blasts actually began to bend outside the viewports as they struck the enemy craft, a testimant to the strength of the gravity out there.

Then, the first ship went. It did not explode, as the Tholatin Empire's Star Destroyer Serene Justice had done when Bhindi destroyed at Omega-Prime, but rather... crumpled. The massive forces of gravity crushed the weakened warship together. Some minor explosions blew the hull out in places, but otherwise the ship was left simply... dead.

The other vessel's death was a bit more spectacular. Turbolaser and missile fire chewed through the superstructure and began to detonate against the power core's protective housing. Soon, the vessel's lights were flickering, and turbolaser fire all but ceased. Then, after a moment of darkness that seemed to stretch forever, the ship exploded.

The shock wave was no doubt felt on the final Star Destroyer, as would be the debris smashing into its and collapsing what little shielding remained up. The last ship was no doubt severely damaged, it's main drives now flickering in and out as it struggled to remain powered.

It to died, after a moment, the bright blue orbs of its engines going dark. It did not explode, but rather stopped, lights and weapons dying as the main reactor failed.

Bhindi did not waste time cheering herself over the victory. There were still other enemies out there, and they needed killing too.

"I want the Star Avengers to concentrate on those Aegis Cruisers, recall their own fighters for assistance. The rest of the fleet will move on the enemy's larger battle cruisers."

The new orders were carried out as usual, and within seconds the fire coming from the Imperial fleet had shifted. The Saberies, already limping from the ion attack they had suffered, now found themselves targeted by the Empire's most powerful lineship and a host of smaller, though decidedly lethal, Gunships.

The Aegis' were already damaged, and the SATAPs moved quickly to take advantadge of their superiority. They poured turbolaser, missile, and ion fire into the smaller vessels. Fighters buzzed around the fleet, attacking individual turbolaser turrets. With each pass, less guns remained to fire at the Imperial fleet.

<hr>

Damages (this round)

TTR:

2 Tholatin Class Star Destroyers Destroyed
1 Tholatin Class Star Destroyer (Kamon's) Crippled
<font size=1>(No weapons, no engines, no shields, no nothing)</font>
2 Aegis Cruisers Moderate Damage
2 Saberie Battle Cruisers Moderate Damage

And note, you are still in the planet's gravity wells.

The fleet turned back again as escape pods were being picked up by the still active craft. Kamon took a shuttle over to one of the Saberie's. It's shields allowed it a better chance of survival by rotating them around. The enemy hit different shields if they shot at the same spot multiple times.

When the turn was complete, the fleet split into two battle groups. One Aegis, Saberie, and Executioner per group. They split into even numbers and assaulted the enemy ISD's. Multiple Proton torpedo's and Concussion missiles lanced out and struck the enemies shields. FOr the moment, the enemies gunships were ignored, bu the smaller ships fired on the fighter craft as well as the ISD's.

Ion blasts as well as turbolaser and laser blasts lanced out from the multiple ships in the TTR fleet. They impacted on the enemy ISD's shields, dropping their shields down even more. Soon they would be completely stripped and would be destroyed. Kamon glanced around space and at his sensors officer for any sign of reinforcements. He got nothing.

"Keep firing. Show them we do not run."

Losses
TNO
40 various fighters
ISD's shields down to 60%

TTR
Same as above mentioned

OOC Note: I'm pressed for time atm, so the content and manifest contained in this post are subject to change. I'll ask you two to stay until tomorrow, when I'll have the time to post Bhindi's reply.

Thank you.

From In the Hands of the Gods

The holovid opened with two children playing outside.

The children, blond, a boy and a girl, were neatly dressed and were all smiles as the girl chased the boy around several fruit trees.

Camera pan to the mother looking out a window, a classical, traditional setting as she places a meal on a table. Her eyes glance at a time piece and the camera shoots to a man in an Imperial Uniform directing refugees in an orbiting space station. His eyes glance up at the time.

He was due home soon.

Camera view changes to the children again. Both children are laughing, the girl having caught the boy and they both fall down.

The view froze and faded to white.

The Coalition’s Ambassador’s voice was heard over shouting masses..

“So BEWARE!, Empire,

for we ARE coming!”


A Mon Calamari Battleship appears in orbit of an Imperial planet.


The camera angles in on the mother as she drops a glass.


The alien vessel opens fire on the orbiting station and panic stricken voices are heard over the sounds of destruction. The ship begins to open fire on the planet and the yard the children are playing in is turned to ash.

The window explodes inward against the mother, knocking her back before fire begins to consume the house.

The picture fades.

KNOW WHERE THE CLOSEST SHELTER IS LOCATED. REGISTER AND LOG ONTO THE ARLISS SECURITY NET FOR YOUR UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS AND EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES.

GOVERNMENT SPONSERED MILITIA BARRACKS AVAILABLE TO ALL WISHING TO SIGN UP.

BE A PATRIOT AND STOP THE ALIEN AGGRESS





The transmissions had been playing across Imperial Centre – and the Empire, for that matter – for days now. Protect Yourself! Serve the Empire! Stop the Aliens! The Galactic Coalition had tipped their hand with their Declaration of War.

The Empire, and every citizen of the galaxy, by this point knew a war was coming. But when, and where, remained the questions. The fleet was mobilizing, Star Destroyers pulled off patrol duties and assigned to protect worlds of vital interest to the Empire.

Admiral Chandler had taken command of the Imperial forces at Corellia.

Baron Telan Dessaria was waiting with his fleet at Coruscant to deploy where necessary, and Commodore Theren Gevel was doing likewise from his outpost on Duro.

Bhindi Drayson had been assigned to Carida, to defend the academy there.

The fleet was in place. They were ready.

All that remained was for the Coalition to make the first move. It would come soon; of that there was no doubt.

Captain Essian, the man who had become famous within the Empire for his serve alongside now-Regent Daemon Hyfe in command of the Eclipse Star Destroyer Ebony Vigilance, watched from the flag deck of the Galactus as the last of the supply shuttles left his hanger bays.

The Galactus was the largest ship in the Imperial Navy – nearly seven kilometers long and bristling with destructive weaponry. She was the pride of the Imperial Navy, Grand Marshall Kaine’s own command ship, crewed by former officers of the 256th and the brightest students of the Imperial Academy. And commanded by the man who had built his career serving aboard nearly every ship the Galactic Empire produced.

“Captain Essian, Sir?” A voice said from somewhere behind him. At this time of night (night being according to ship’s time; it was early morning in the Imperial Palace) the Star Destroyer should be nearly abandoned, only a skeleton crew on duty.

With a sigh, Essian turned and offered the man a slight not. He was Commander Loyyd, the ship’s Chief Tactical Officer. With a shallow face and two dark ink spots for eyes, the man could have been a convict sitting on Death Row, not an officer aboard an Imperial warship.

“Commander Loyyd.” Essian said, returning the other’s salute.

“The last of the supply ships have left our hangers, Captain. The Righteous Fist is now at full fighting capacity.” Essian nodded, that was what he liked to hear.

“Very good, Commander. Ahead of schedule too, I believe. Was there anything else?”

“Yes, Captain. There is a priority message from Grand Marshall Kaine. Would you like me to transfer it to you hear?”

Essian cast one last look out the viewports, where Coruscant’s sun was just beginning to appear from behind the planet, and shook his head.

“No, I’ll take it in the Communications Centre. Thank you, Commander.”

They made their way to the bridge together, where Loyyd took his place at the end of the command walkway, and Essian continued back to the Communications Centre at the rear.

The indicator was blinking when he arrived, and he quickly activated the privacy field and entered his proper authorizations. Soon, a life-size hologram of Grand Marshall Simon Kaine was standing on the deck before him. Essian saluted properly.

“Captain Davin Essian reporting, Marshall.”

“Good evening, Captain.” Kaine said. “I trust I did not wake you?”

Essian had known the Marshall nearly as long as he had known Hyfe, since the man was a mere Colonel with the 256th. He had always known the man was brilliant, and his nearly bloodless seizure of Coruscant had proven than. And earned him the rank of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces.

“No, Grand Marshall. I was overseeing the loading of the Galactus when your call arrived.” The man nodded his approval. A military leader will always respect the man who spends his nights overseeing the running of his ship and his days training the crew.

“Very good, Captain. You are no doubt aware that the Galactus is being assigned somewhere other than Imperial Centre, then?”

“I had supposed as much, Sir. The enemy would be a fool to assault the Capital.” Kaine’s image smiled tightly, and he chuckled softly.

“We already know they are fools, Captain. Who else would, how did Moff Zell put it?, ‘pull out their wanker and let us cut it off’?”

Essian barked out a laugh. Moff Zell was known for his belligerent and often crude remarks, but the man was widely acknowledged a genius. A former Grand Admiral, he was nobody’s fool, nor one to be taken lightly.

“Who indeed? Where will we be going, Marshall?”

“The Academy at Carida.” Kaine said simply.

“I was under the impression that Admiral Drayson was overseeing the defence of Carida…” Essian said, somewhat cautiously.

“Ah, I see your confusion. Yes, Captain, she is. But between you and I, Bhindi Drayson is young. She is untested in combat and her loyalty to the Empire may yet waver.”

“She handled the Tholatins fairly well, or so I’ve heard." Davin said uncertainly.

“Indeed she did. But she defeated the Tholatins using superior force and an ambush on their forces. And Kamon Vondiranch is a fool. As for Tholatin, well… she did so by bombarding that world into the Stone Age. Not a very pleasing tactic… and not one I wish to see used on Carida.”

“Yes, Grand Marshall.”

“I want you to proceed with the Righteous Fist and the Narasil to Carida and provide support for Drayson, should she require it. If not, you are to remain unseen. I do not want Drayson to think we have no faith in her.”

Essian nodded politely.

“As ordered, Marshall. The Narasil will be accompanying us?”

“Yes. I do not doubt Drayson’s tactical ability, but what the Coalition lacks in command they make up for in numbers. I want the Empire ready to counter anything they can throw at us.”

“Very good, Sir. I’ll alert the crews and prepare for immediate departure, then?”

“At your convenience, Captain. I’ll be uploading further information to your vessel shortly. Good luck, Captain Essian.”

“Thank you, Marshall.”

“Gloria Imperium.”

The hologram vanished.

“Gloria Imperium.”


OOC Manifest

Venerator Class Command Destroyer Righteous Fist
(36 TIE Scimitars)
Reign Class Star Destroyer Narasil
Shroud Class Cruiser (Mark II) TRV100
Shroud Class Cruiser (Mark II) TRV101
Shroud Class Cruiser (Mark II) TRV102