He was tired, awaiting the call to action for over a week. It was good that TRE had been in relative peace, but a warrior in peacetime was a waste to society, or so Dakkon believed. That was why he had taken the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Shadow Fleet<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> out looking for pirates.

Another 2 weeks of patrols had come up nothing, merely encountering a few smugglers and confiscating their contraband. It was <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> hardly<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> an excellent allocation of military resources. But then, so was Almania some had said. Then it arrived.

A message probe, old and of Chiss manufacture. Dakkon was intrigued, for this could be extremely important. After 3 days of concientious hacking and decrypting, the message was revealed.

Dakkon sat in his quarters as the message was sent to him. He waited, barely containing his patience. Suddenly the darkness of his study was interrupted as the picture of a Chiss with regal baring shot up from his holocom.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> This is Viceroy Darmak. I am the current elected ruler of Mshaw'era'npoear. We are under attack from pirates and need help, ANY help. They are after our shipyards, or so we believe, and plan on enslaving our people. Somebody please help us. They severely outnumber us, our defences, consisting of come ground batteries and a VSD with some substandard fighters, are weakening, and cannot hold out for long. Please help us, i cannot ask anything else. Here is our tactical and galactic position.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

The Chiss disappeared and was replaced by a tactical HUD, from a VSD. It showed a VSD, with numerous R-41 Starchasers and Z-95 Headhunters, in between a shipyard and a large raiding fleet. It consisted of a Marauder Corvette, a number of CR-90 Blockade Runners and for added firepower a Corellian gunship.

Dakkon paused the playback and pressed his comlink to bridge control.

"Kashlinkov? Have our fleet move to the coordinates of Mshaw'era'npoear. We have some pirates to kill."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Finally, perhaps he could do some real good, that would benefit others as well as the Empire.... Perhaps.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Bringing up the HUD again, he began examining the pirates tactics and planned his counter offensive. Chadd would be happy if he captured some of those ships for anti-pirate runs.

The ships blasted into hyper not ten minutes after decoding the signal and were on-route to Mshaw'era'npoear.

SHIP MANIFEST
**********************************************

Shadow Fleet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Ships

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Imperial<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Shadow Hunter
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Imperial<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Marksman
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Shardenay
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Potar
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Everlasting Potent
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Mirror's Array
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Interdictor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Immobilizer Cruiser Potency
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Interdictor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Immobizilizer Cruiser Fortitude
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Interdictor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Immobilizer Cruiser Warped
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Gunship Horrid
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Gunship Disfigured
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Escort<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Carrier Gunship

Total Ships: 12

Fighters

72 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Imperial<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Shadow Hunter
72 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Imperial<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Marksman
50 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Escort<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Carrier Gunship
12 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Shardenay
12 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Potar
12 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Everlasting Potent
12 TIE Shadows- <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Corellian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Corvette Mirror's Array

Landing Craft

20 <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Gamma<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->- Class Assault Shuttles

"Sir? We have arrived. Can you please come to the bridge."

Dakkon rubbed his eyes. He must have dosed off. He quickly ran to the nearest turbolift and was soon on the bridge. He flopped down onto his command chair and activated the newly installed buttons on the botttom of the chair. The Ships HUD sprang up and detailed the latest battle details.

The planet was under siege again. The VSD, now identified as the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was under massive attack. The gunship was in close, pounding the ship with its turbolasers whilst the CR-90's were engaging the fighters. The Chiss seemed to be fighting a losing battle.

"Hangar Bay, Launch all our fighters. And task them to engage the Marauder Corvette, it must be the command ship and is hanging back. Lets give it some action."

The Marauder was turning around, perhaps to exploit a weakness in the battleline of the Chiss, when suddenly, as soon as the Shadows got in range, it winked out into hyperspace.

"<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Vice Admiral Gant!<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> I told you to activate the Interdictors! What are you doing???"

"Our Interdictors were still launching their fighters. They could not open their gravity we...."

The exchange was interupted as a massive explosion ripped through space. The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, having suffered immensely against the attacks of the Corellian Gunship, had finally gone down. And the worst thing was the fact that the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Shadow Hunter<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> only tracked 3 escape pods. Alot of men and women had died on that ship.

Suddenly the rest of the pirate fleet turned about, tracking for their jump point.

"<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> GANT!<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Get that gravity well up and running."

"I'm trying sir, but they are having tetheing problems. The generators are building up slowly, we cannot catch them all. Perhaps a few if we are lucky."

"Fine. Make sure we DO catch something. Kashlinkov, open a communique with Mshaw'era'npoear. We need to let them know that we are here to help."

"OF course, sir. It is already being prepared."

"Assault group, move your shuttles towards their escape route. I want something captured in recompanse for the loss of the VSD. Wait on that actually."

Examining his HUD, Dakkon noted that one of the CR-90s was barely moving, a scan showing that the Chiss fighters had damaged its engines.

"Assault group, move in to intercept that damaged corvette. This could be our gift. Shadow group, move in and knock out their defences, but do NOT destroy it."

"Sir? Communique from Mshaw'era'npoear, they wish to meet you on planet as soon as the pirates have been turned back."

"Excellent, thank you Kashlinkov."

TIE Shadows moved and and began straffing the stricken cruiser, Cloak on skipper mode making them visable but impossible to target, and allowing the Gamma shuttles to move in unhindered.

"Sir? This is Lieutenant Ryan, Marine Corps. We have docked with the Corvette and are begining to assault the main points of activity. Bridge team shows light fighting, and is approaching the bridge, our other teams have seized the hangar bay and engine room, plus the remaining laser batteries. Ship should be overrun in a matter of minutes. We really did not need this many marines to capture a small capital ship..."

Dakkon smiled. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> He usually complained of misallocation himself, but now he was not worried. Perhaps now we can find out more about these pirates.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he thought.

"Kashlinkov, ready my sentinal shuttle to move to planets surface. Have Magenta squadron run escort and have 2 gamma assault shuttles with me as ground escorts. We wish to offer them as ground protection should the pirates land."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> TEN MINUTES LATER<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

Dakkon was gliding towards the surface, content with his strategic position. His Shadows were enforcing a system wide CAP, and his Interdictors were <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> finally<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> working, ready to entrap the pirates on their next assault. And he had a gift for the people of Mshaw'era'npoear, their Newest fleet ship the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable's Revenge<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was awating crewing in dock with the shipyard.

The sentinal shuttle touched down in tandem with the Gamma's, and in perfect parade formation. He had always reminded his troops that first impressions last, and as always, they had come through for him. As he stepped out of his shuttle, Magenta squadron buzzed overhead in precise reverse echolen formation. Commodore Kashlinkov appeared at his side.

"Sir, this is the Viceroy's delegation, he is more than happy to see you."

"Thank you Dimitri, efficient as always."

Dakkon stepped forward, and was greeted warmly by the Viceroy. He was adamant that the planet would not have survived were it not for the fleets timely arrival. Dakkon knew this was true of course, but did not wish to insult the man. He told Darmak that the pirates were weakening, and had the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> held on a little longer, the pirates would have been broken. As they entered the Viceroy's residence, after artful negotiation and discussion whilst onroute, Dakkon had the Viceroy and his staff in the palm of his hand. It was then that he delivered the 'coup de tant'.

"Well Viceroy, i have enjoyed your company immensly." His Chiss guide showed him to a seat next to that of the Viceroy for lunch. "But i believe that more than your freedom, you need the right to defend yourself. Therefore, on behalf of Myself, the Shadow Fleet, The Rogue Empire, my benevolent Emperor Fearsons, and of course the efforts of your fighters, I wish to present to you a gift, may it serve this planet well."

Dakkon removed from his cloak a portable hologram projector. Pressing a button a picture of a CR-90 Corvette appeared. Suddenly a voice projected from the hologram.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> This is the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable's Revenge<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. It is a heavily modified CR-90 Corellian Corvette recently captured from the pirates raiding the planet. It has been refurbished, its engines upgraded from our spares and repair equipment and a larger powersource and shield capacity installed. It is easily the equal of 2 standard CR-90's. Crew is intended to be that of the destroyed VSD <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Inexhaustable<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> who survived, so that they may exact revenge upon the pirates who killed so many of their friends and family.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

The entire Chiss delegation gasped. Never had they received such a gift, especially from someone so unknown. Viceroy Darmak stumbled as he replied.

"We.. W. I humbly accept this gift on behalf of the our people. We shall send the crew up shortly."

"Viceroy Darmak, if it is within my bounds, i wish to speak to the man in charge of your defences so that we can coordinate ourselves better. I wish to set up a command centre on the planets surface."

"Of course Admiral. Go with my blessings. His name is Admiral Galleen."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ONE HOUR LATER<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Efficiency is tantamount to victory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Dakkon thought as his construction crew put the final touches on the command centre. Negotiations with Galleen had gone well. He had put himself in charge of the defence of the shipyards, whereas Dakkon had been tasked with everything else. He would have liked to defend the shipyards as critical as they were, but he didn't wish to be pushy. Suddenly a message came through on his private channel.

"Sir? This is Kashlinkov. The council of the planet has been discussion making <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> you<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Overlord of the planet."

"What??? Are you sure? I am not sure how the Emperor will react to this."

"Regardless sir, that is how things are looking. Once Overlord, you could of course join the Empire..."

"True, true. Keep me posted."

He slid his comlink away and settled in his command seat. The HUD popped up and revealed his fleet in excellent battle positions, the Gamma Assault shuttles in safe but excellent positions to exploit any advantage that came along.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Being Overlord is all well and good, but we have to defeat the pirates first...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Dakkon had waited for days for the pirates to return. As the days streched into a week, then two, Dakkon realised that they wouldn't be coming back. Or if they did, they were getting friends right now to help. His silent reverie was broken by chatter over his comlink.

"Admiral Blackblade? Viceroy Darmak wishes to see you in his private chambers."

Without responding Dakkon leapt up, smoothing his clothes as he walked. As he left his room, he nodded to two stormtroopers of his personal body guard and turned towards his speeder, the two troopers flanking him the whole way. As he walked outside he paused to acknowledge the beauty of the planet. It was lush and had many hidden secrets. Massive caves of chrystaline beauty, tall mountions, blue rivers, sprawling plains. It was a beautiful planet. Perhaps it would become a major tourist attraction one day.

He stepped up onto his speeder then sat.

"Driver, please bring me up all the details we have on the planet again. And then take us to Viceroy Darmaks residences."

Dakkon lay his head back and looked at the beautiful sun, one of his Destroyers partially eclipsing it. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> For the sake of this planet it should be saved, not only for its people.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->