On a normal day, things would have been quite, routine, hardly different from hundreds of other locations. The harsh blackness, speclked with a backround of stars, would have remained undisturbted, simply a set of coordinates on the map. None of the great phenomina of the galaxy were in close proximity; no comets traveled through this space, no planets gravity held sway over the region, no asteroids floated aimless across the desolate plain, no gaseuos nebula filled the empty space with its vibrant bright colors. No, this space was just that, emptiness, the definition of vaccum. Unremarkable, much like a huge percentage of this universe, filled with nothingness, or nothing of any note. However, this space did have one unique feature, one special quality which made it vastly more important than the 99% of the galaxy which was an almost exact image of this strech of vaccum.

It was the edge of the Galactic Coalition Territory.

Of course, although the territory was offical under the sway of the GC ment little. It was at the very tip of a man made line, a set of points with little strategic value, no permenant prescence. During the conflict with the Empire, it had been completly useless, because although the location did sit on the edge of a hyperroute, it was a rarley used backwater route, used primarily by traders going to and from Imperial outposts in the Mid and Outer Rims. Since the outposts were not the targets of the Coalition offensive, nor was trade encouraged during such a conflict, the space had seen a drought, and end of trade, and no ships had passed by in quite some time. However, times were changing.

The Galactic Coalition's peace treaty with the Empire had helped cool the flames that had engulfed the galaxy. While the Outer Rim Soveringty still carried on the fight, peace, and some degree of normalcy had returned to much of the vast galaxy. Even the Empire, still mobilized, was much more at ease, as the Imperial war machine took to the offensive. At some of the Outer Rim holdings of the great galactic government, things were going back to the way they were before the conflict. Trade was no longer a problem with the Coalition, or its allies and proxies (with the exception of course, of the ORS) and some of the small independent companies were beginning runs again, toward Coalition space.

One of those was runs was scheduled to come through the little plot of space- a pair of Medium Transports, unescorted, were scheduled to carry boxes of machine parts to sell to the highest bidder in Coalition Space. The choice of the backwater route had been easy:

*It was far from any current fighting involving the ORS and the Empire
*It was the shortest route from their pick-up point to their eventual destination, Mnedia 4.

With only a few quick hyperjumps, including a stop over at this desolete point in space, and the parts would be sold, and money made. Another normal routine run.... except on thise occassion it would be anything but normal.

Fringe of Galactic Coalition Space

"Reverting to hyperpspace captian."

The voice of the first mate was far too high pitched for the captain's ears. His vessel, Pollard's Star had probably been built before the young man was born. A venerable old Gallofree Yards Medium Transport, it might even be old enough to age him, if it was one of the first models that company had produced. It sure looked that way, on the outside at least- but looks could be deceiving. The captain knew that his ship would haul the cargo to the destination, and do it fairly quickly. What else did he need his the old workhorse to do?

"Good. Get that next jump calibration started, and get the ship lined up."

The stop-over was just temporary, so Pollard's Star and her sister ship Turkir Racer could reallign for the next phase of their run. Out in the Outer Rim a straight shot between two planets was likley to get you shot through a sun or some other similar catastrophe. Best to stick to known safe routes, even if they weren't used much.

"Aye, Sir."

The mate went about his duty, handing the order down to the other deck officers who would start running the ships nav computer to calculate the jump. Boring monotonous stuff, the the job description of heavy cargo hauler never said 'exciting' but it never said dangerous either. Of course, you shouldn;t always believe what you read in a job description.

There was a quick flash, and the sound of the sensor watchman filled the bridge.

"Sir, I am picking up contacts."

The Captain turned, his brow furreled. What in the blazes were ships doing out at this deserted place?

"What types?"

"1 Small, capital class vessel. A pair of light freighters, and 6 snubfighter sir."

"Hail them. Ask who they are, and their intentions."

"Sir, they're already hailing us.... demanding we power down sheilds and weapons and prepare for boarding."

"What the hel..."

The fighters came swooping in, old but dangerous RU-41 Starchasers. The passed over the bow of the transport, lasers blazing. The bridge rocked with the impact of the lasers.

"Sir, they're demanding we power down immediatly."

"Is the jump coordinates set in?"

"No sir.. we're working on it."

"Capital class vessel in range, appears to be a Kaloth Class Battle Cruiser."

The captain bit his lip. The Kaloth was a powerful, if outmoded, warship favored by pirates. Small, fast and dangerous, it did stand up well amongst the behemoths of todays warfleets, but was certainly more than a match for a pir of medium transports.

"Get those coordinates laid in NOW!! Send a distress signal.. and quickly, before they jam us."

The area was technically Galactic Coalition territory. There was supposed to be a holonet transceiver somewhere within communications range of here. Hopefully the Coalition would be able to respond. With the the Kaloth cruiser bearing down on him, the Captain knew that was probably his only hope...

Admiral Sarn sat in his command chair, on a patrol around GC held space.

"Sir, we are receiving a distress signal from a some traders. They are under attack."

"Do we have their location?"

"Yes sir."

"Then jump in."

GC Alpha Patrol jumped into the arena.

"Sir we have 6 starfighters, two freighters, and a Kaloth-class Battle Cruiser on our scanners, as well as 2 Gallofree Transports. The Gallofree Transports are the ones under attack."

"Launch the fighters. I want a Firewind on each of the freighters. I want Liberty Star attacking that Kaloth. Bring up shields."

"Yes sir."

"Send a call to the traders, tell them who we are and that we are here to help. Then tell the pirates to surrender."

"To the traders, from the Galactic Coalition ships, do not worry, we are here to help you. If you want, once we deal with these pirates we will escort you to your destination, provided it is in GC or ORS space. If it is not we will escort you to the border of that government's space. To the pirates, surrender immediately, or face the consequences."

The Admiral turned and stared at the sensor officer.

"Did you say Gallofree Transports?"

"Yes sir."

"Who uses those any more? They aren't very fast, and don't have good shields, as well having basically no weapons. Ah well, we are forced to defend them."

One Firewind Light Cruiser moved in and started to pound on one of the freighters, while another one moved in on the other. Liberty Star, a Republic Star Destroyer, moved in and pounded on the Kaloth. The two squadrons of XJ X-wings that had been launched flew forward and started to pound on the enemy fighters from behind. The battle seemed to be going well for the GC forces.

Micro-jump from the Battle
Bridge of the ISD Noir Soleil

"Everything is in place sir."

"Are you sure?"

"We just recieved the flash communique. The correct code has been recieved, along with precise coordinates."

"Excellent. Reroute power as we have previous discussed."

"Already done sir."

"Excellent. Lay in the coordinates."

"Yes sir."

A minute later, hyperspace consumed the wedge shaped behemoth, and it dissapeared into the void.



Battle Site

The battle was obviously stacked in the favor of the Galactic Coalition. The pirates were outgunned, outnumbered, and out-classed. The Coalition had a 4 to 1 advantage in fighters, was pounding a pair of old freighters with a pair of frigates, and the Liberty Star was simply smashing the out-moded Kaloth cruiser. Any impartial observer would have seen that a rout was in store. Of course, an impartial observer would not have known what was about to happen.

An XJ-X Wing swooped over the bow of Liberty Star , fired a pair of fire-linked lasers and obliterated a Ru-41 Satrchaser fire, bursting through its debris with ease. Open space lay ahead of the fighter, while a little off to the right a freighter was dancing slowly, as a Firewind light cruiser peppered the space around it with laser fire. The XJ-X banked left, moving to head off the freighter, whose defensive guns were occupied, firing futilely back at its purserer. The XJ-X Wing pilot hit his throttle to full. In a sudden moment however, the space dissapeared, to be replaced by the engines of an Imperial Class Star Destroyer.

The wake of the engines fried the XJ-X Wing, the huge ion blast turning the small fighter into a pile of molten slag. The star destroyer lurched forward, like a huge predator converging on its prey. The pirate freighter was flaming, its engines running at only low power. However, the Firewind had bigger prooblems. The sudden apperance of the Star Destroyer had caused a sudden panic. The sudden wave of blue ion blasts that slammed into the Firewind sent electricity coursing through the ship, the combined effect of 40 supercharged ion cannons overwhelming the sheilds, and knocking out most of the Firewind's systems.

Meanwhile, at the rear edges of the ISD, 6 rare and expensive vessel sat gaurding the flank of the huge vessel. 6 Cygnus Missile Boats sat their, three to a side, missile pods loaded with concussion missiles, ready to deal with the any GC fighters whod would try to pester the ISD in the next critical phase of the operation.



Bridge of the ISD Noir Soleil

"The target has been knocked out."

"Excellent! Prepare step two of the operation immediatly. Move all the neccessary teams to the main docking bay."

"Of course sir."

"Reroute the power to prepare for phase two."

"Yes sir, rerouting weapons power to sheilds, tractor beams."

"Get on. And lay in the course, we need it ready when phase 2 is complete."

"Implementing sir."

OOC- Manifest

1 ISD Noir Soleil
6 Cygnus Missile Boats.

Damages:
1 XJ-X wing destroyed
1 Firewind Class Light Crusier- Disabled (Sheilds 0%. Weapons 45% and engines 45%)

"Ambush!" Shouted the lieutenant on the Liberty Star to its' captain.

The captain was about to speak, when suddenly the deck shook violently from an extraordinarily lucky shot. The captain fell forwards, and embarrasingly hit his head on the floor, knocking him out temporarily.

The lieutenant, realizing he was now in command, rapped out quick and consise orders.

"Inform the merchants to pull away, full speed! Call those fighters and the remaining fire-wind over to our right flank to protect us from return fire. Swing this ship so the enemy Imperial Class is to our upper-right, and order that half-disabled Firewind to pull in beneath us!"

The ships complied, immeadietly. As the smaller ship in this engagement, Liberty Star took full advantage of its' opponants' focus on the small Firewind, and left a fierce strafing across the lower flank of the Noir Soleil.

To their right, the Kathol and the two light freighters turned to attack the fairly vulnerable right-flank. The snub-fighters kept formation near the Firewind until the last minute, and then turned, making a quick charge towards the Kathol.

The ships' guns fired quickly, but the snubs had the advantage of speed, and the six Starchasers were far too few in number to hold them. Nevertheless, there was some short sparring between the two groups, before the X-wings whipped by, relativly unscathed, and went on to deliver a small wave of their small torpedoes on their enemy. The shields wavered in places, and one torpedo made it through to explode in a fiery ball on the surface of the ships' armour, cutting a deep gash and letting the air seep dangerously out.

Zipping overhead before any return fire could be organized, the formation made a long U-turn and prepared for another attack at the rear of the enemy's formation, which was now coming under punishing fire from the Firewind and the guns on the left of the Liberty Star. The three ships' shields were wavering in the face of the continued onslaught, but it appeared they'd be well postioned to fight back before their vessels risked serious damage.

The Firewind that had suffered from the attention of the Imperator above was making a sluggish but determined run towards the underbelly of the Liberty Star. It looked entirely possible that the little ship would make it to safety in time, and then again it might not. It was close.

Your sole and only objective is to aprehened the primary target. This goal is to be acheived at any and all costs- failure will not be excepted. No other priority is to take prescedence over this; except fo the safe transport of said target to the rendevous point. Any and all means are available for your use; success must be acheived regardless of cost, either monetarily or in lives. Succeed, or die trying. The Union will accept no less.

-TE



The memo was burned deeply in the captain's mind, the one he had recieved before boarding the Noir Soleil . It had been a personal note, from a high ranking Union offical, and he had taken it to heart. His job, his career; his life depended on success. He knew the significance of this operation.

"Captain, the target is still moving. Enemy forces are responding, starboard flank sheilds taking hits. The pirate forces are taking heavy fire."

"Concentrate all ion cannon fire on our target. Order the Missile Boats to fire full salvos on the enemy Star Destroyer."

"Sir, they are currently loaded with concussion missiles... such an action would not cause maximium dama..."

"Reload with proton torpedoes then. Our 'allies' will hopefully distract the coalition long enough for our purposes. Those medium transports are far to slow to escape a Kaloth."

"Yes sir."

The Noir Soleil came alive with blue, as its Ion cannons let loose a wrath of tremendous power on the Firewind cruiser that was it's target. Blue ion energy crackled through the sluggishly moving ship, and after a hellfire of concentrated fire stopped moving, its engines knocked out. The 6 missile boats on the flanks of the Noir Soleil began the process of rearming with proton torpedoes, preparing to leave a deadly impression on the coalition ship of target.

"Sir, the target has been stopped dead."

"Revert weapon power to shields. Engage tractor beams."

With a suddenness, the ISD fell silent, its many weapons silent. Internally the shield generators hummed with newfound energy, rejuvenated and ready for a beating. The sparse power remaining congealed around the ships docking bay tractor beams, engagin the invisible beams, which lanced out and ensnared the helpless firgate. With a definite speed, the craft began its inexoriable path toward the underside of the ISD.



Succeed, or die trying. The Union will accept no less.

No other mantra would suffice in the situation.

"Sir! Sir!" Shouted a technician in the captured Firewind "We're being pulled in!"

The captain looked out his window, and saw the larger vessel begin to pull his ship in. The systems were none-responsive, and he set his jaw grimly.

"Tell the crew to prepare for bording, we're going to resist!"

There was silence on deck, as they counted down their approach.

But suddenly, from above, swung the Liberty Star! It flew right in the path of the tractor-beams, disrupting them and bringing the Firewind to a halt. The guns of the Liberty Star beat a rythmic pattern into the shields of the larger vessel, and was even getting a few shots through the shields and onto the armour, which melted away like putty. The damage was mostly superficial, but their enemy's defences were being worn away piece by piece. Liberty Star engaged its' own tractor beams, and dragged the disabled ship along with it as it pulled away from its' foe before it could marshal its' guns to counter-attack.

With this swift maneuaver, the Liberty Star showed its' rear to the pirates. The Firewind that was guarding that point seemed to pull away in dissaray. The Pirates, blinded by their oppourtunity, rushed the rear of the enemy ship. Their guns rang out as the rear of the ship crackled and spat.

But they had left a crucial point undefended. The six starchasers, reduced to four by dogfighting, had to fall back, as the twenty-one active X-wings and the supposedly fleeing Firewind tore into the rears of their ships. Theirs shields failed, and the savage attack left the back of their ships pockmarked and melted. The tiny snubfighters reloaded their missiles and prepared to fire their second volley.

The Liberty Star moved nimbly around the Noir Soleil moving from one flank to the other, in a well placed move to block the larger ships tractor beams from locking onto the disabled Firewind cruiser. The move had been well played, and had saved the small vessel, temporaily from capture. However, the move had also put the Liberty Star frigtheningly close to the Noir Soleil , and the six missile boats sitting on its flanks. In saving the Firewind, the Liberty Star woul pay a grave price.



"Captain, the enemy Star Destroyer has interpose itself between our target and our tractor beams. "

The Captain nodded in acknowledgement, as he looked out of the Noir Soleil's bridge viewport. The huge wedge shaped vessel, only a few hundred meters smaller than his own vessel looming large, its close distance easily discernable.

They've played right into our hands. Now to make them pay for such a valiant maneuver.

The Galactic Coaliton warship was equipped with a very well designed, high powered missle defense system called Elite. Highly respected and believed to be one of th best such systems outside of the Galactic Empire, a missile barrage could easily be decimated, especially if fired from long range. However, to opbtain the precise targetting neccessary to hit its targets, the Elite need space. In making its latest manuever, the Liberty Star , a Republic class Star Destroyer almost gaurenteed to house such a system, space was the one advantage the ship did not currently posses.

"Order the missile boats to make their move now. Return power to forward heavy batteries- concentrated salvo at the enemy star destroyer on my mark."

"Yes sir."



The 6 Missile boats, payloads changed to the deadly proton torpedoes, recieved their orders. With a sudden start, they engaged their engines, sending them at a quick pace toward the Liberty Star. they we close when they started the runs, being at the flanks of the Noir. Seconds after engaging their engines they were at a range the couldn;t possibly miss from. The 4 quad missile launchers engaged one each boat- letting loose a horde of 96 deadly streaks at the imposing figure of the Liberty Star . Then the missile boats accelerated to an extreme pace, engaging their SLAM systems to propel them far beyond Liberty Star , in an attempt to keep them safe from danger.



The Noir Soleil's bridge jostled from the heavy fire it was recieving from the Liberty Star. The captain however paid it no mind. He had no concearn other than obliterating the Liberty Star and escaping with his prize.

He watched as the missle trails of the proton torpedoes nears the Liberty Star .

"Fire..... now!!!!"

The Noir Soleil lit up in a tremendous burst of energy, a double burst of trouble for the knight in shining armor.....

OOC:Staff made it so I had to put ships in drydock to upgrade them, so none of my ships currently have the upgrade.

IC:

As the Missile boats came in, the 3 extra squads of MC-10 Starfighters flew out of the docking bay of Liberty Star, and the particle shields on Liberty Star were put back up just before the 96 missiles hit. The 36 fighters quickly fired on the 6 enemy fighters, disabling 1 and destroying 2 before they flew out of range. The new fighters quickly loaded up their missiles, and then followed the enemy Missile Boats, just out of range of the ISD, but stopping the Missile Boats from coming back to harrass the GC fleet. The capital ships also loaded their missiles, and prepared to fire them. The disabled Firewind was kept away from the Imperial Star Destroyer.

"Sir, they are re-routing power to their forward batteries."

"Swing in under them, it will take them time to re-route the to their forward batteries, and then they have to re-route more to the batteries underneath. Tell FLC-02 to target the rear."

"Yes sir."

The remaining Firewind swung behind the enemy ISD, and fire on it's shields at the rear, unmolested.

The original four squads of fighters finished off the remaining Starchasers, without using missiles, and managed to disable one of them. They swung around and shot a salvo of 94 proton torpedoes at the enemy ISD, and then followed the salvo up with strafing runs on the top of the rear of the ship, concentrating on the command tower, going from port to starboard and back again.

Damages:
All Starchasers destroyed/1 disabled
1 Missile Boat Disabled
2 Missile Boats Destroyed
Imperial Star Destroyer's Sheilds-Down to 35%(94 proton torps, 1 post strafing run by 47 XJ X-wings, 3 posts of a Firewind and a Republic firing on it)

GC:
Republic Star Destroyer's Shields-70%(96 proton torpedoes, 1 post firing by ISD)

"Sir enemy ships have launched additional fighters."

"Rear sheilds failing sir!"

"Frontal Shields at 30 percent captain."

The bridge of the Noir Soleil was becoming a mad house as officer from all over the bridge began to report the increasingly hectic results of the battle. It was obvious, that despite the massive barrage from the missile boats, the Union force was outgunned and losing. The pirates.... the pirates might as well have hyperjumped into a blackhole.

"Even out shields distributation. Take the ship onto course mark 7, 3, 9. Hold fire."

The great wedge suddenly fell silent, its bow pointing upwards. With a tremendous push the ISD's engines fired on full and the ship moved slowly but surley to a higher plane above the RSD and the other galactic Coaltion vessels.

As the ISD neared it's new position the captain spoke again.

"Full weapons barrage on my mark!"

"On which target sir."

"None, all batteries fire indiscrimintly. Disable saftey controls- fir until your guns over heat!"

The bridge crew didn't protest, what was being done might ruin the ship, but they would follow their orders no matter what they would be.

With a flash the entire ship illuminated as all of its weapons began firing wildly downward at the Galactic Coalition vessels. The rate of fire was tremendous as the shots were both unaimed and without any regard for saftey protocols. Coherent beams of light smashed onto the upper sheilds of the Liberty Star , punching through in sections but due to the randomness, only a few bolts slipped by the weak points before they were closed. As the ISD moved and its position changed a salvo of fire suddenly slammed into the disabled Firewind.

Completly defensless, the small frigate's spine cracked and then split. As several more bolts smashed into it, a pair of explosions occured, each half blowing away, leaving only shards were the frigate had remained.



"Sir, primary target has been destroyed."

The captain's face turned pale white. He stood for a moment, motionless, unable to speak. The sensor officer spoke again.

"Your orders captain?"

Still pale, the Captain stared at the officer. His mission was a failure. He had been ordered to return with his prize, or die trying. But he had destroyed the vessel, yet he lived. What was there to die for- his mission could not be accomplished?

"Order the missile boats into hyperspace. Cease firing, all power to lower and rear sheilds. Lock in hyperspace coordinates."

"Yes sir."

The ISD fell silent once again.

"Sir, enemy ships have destroyed FLC-01. Their missile boats are pulling away and they have stopped firing."

"Current damages to them?"

"Lower and Aft shields are 15%, but rising."

"Rising?"

"Shields on the top are weakening. They are obviously re-routing power. Sir, they have dropped their top, forward, starboard and port shields. Lower and Aft shields now at 45%, though once again dropping."

"I want the 36 fighters pacing the Missile Boats to swing back into range, and fire at the engines, once they have permission. FLC-02 is to move up, and concentrate power on the engines. I want us to move, and pound on the rear shields and engines, with all our guns. The original fighters will strafe the command tower from the front, aiming at the shield generators."

"Yes sir."

The 36 MC-10 Starfighters quickly turned back from their pacing mission, and headed straight for the enemy ISD, moving so that they would attack it from behind.

The 48 other MC-10 Starfighters moved and started to focus all their weapons on the unprotected shield generators. 24 attacked each target.

FLC-02 moved up more, and continued to concentrate it's fire on the engines.

Liberty Star move so it's bow was facing the enemy's engines, and pounded on them.

"Sir, one shield generator destroyed. Enemy aft shields down to 20%."

"Excellent."

"Sir, the 36 MC-10 Starfighters are within range."

"Tell them to hold their fire."

"Second shield generator down."

"Tell them to fire their missiles, now. FLC-02 is to also fire it's missiles."

76 proton torpedoes flew forward, and hit the enemy engines, dead on. The explosion was enormous. The two capital ships continued to pound the engines with their laser cannons.

"Sir, enemy engines have been severally damaged."

"Can they make hyperspace?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"They can enter into hyperspace, however their engine speed will be low. I expect that they will have to drop out of hyperspace soon after entering it."

"Damn. Start tracking their position, and follow them. Plot their course. I want to know where they are headed, and I want us to follow them there."

"But sir, they could have reinforcements. We should let them run."

"Never."

"Yes sir."

The ships continued firing on the engines of the ISD, and began to plot it's possible course. 6 MC-10 Star fighters broke away, to concentrate on just the course, 3 to the port of the ISD, and 3 to the starboard, but out of range.

Damages:
ISD:Shield Generators Destroyed, engines: severally damaged able to make hyperspace, but at a reduced speed.


Hope that is more reasonable.