Joren didn't turn to face young lieutenant who stood at perfect attention at the door to his office, on Mon Calamari. Joren had his hands clasped behind his back as he looked out at the pristine blue waters of the ocean world.
Foamwander City floated along, utilizing advanced Mon-Calamari/Quarren-made technology to keep it afloat. The three tall spires of the Galactic Coalition headquarters were located at the center of Foamwander City. Joren's office was located near the top of one of the spires.
"What is our status?"
"Admiral Dondana and High Lord Regrad have departed for the target worlds. They both send word." The lieutenant said, hesitantly.
Joren merely nodded. The lieutenant saluted, although Joren did not see it, and left. He continued to stare at the waters, where a few waveskimmers were visible.
Admiral Jogroth Amer, a Mon Calamari, looked up at him from his seat at one of the plush chairs in Joren's office.
"So it begins." Amer said.
Joren did not move, his eyes stayed fixed at the scenery, "Yes."
Amer said nothing for a moment, Joren continued.
"Jogroth...do we get to win this time?" Joren asked.
The Mon Calamari turned his fish-like features to the window, and the ocean beyond, "I don't know. I hope so." He said.
Joren sighed quietly, "What do you think about all of this?"
"I think it is necessary. It is needed."
"Is it wrong?"
"It is better than sitting here and waiting for them to come and kill us. They become even stronger, right now as we speak. Someone has to do something about them." Amer said, referring to the Empire.
"Yes. Someone." Joren echoed.
"No defeat is hollow without first trying to win."
"I know."
"We have to try."
"I know."
***
The Coalition force approached it's targets...
The white lines and swirls of hyperspace were plainly visible...
The Corellian System was in the Galactic Core. Corellia itself was home to a large shipyard facility, belonging to the Corellian Engineering Corp. Another facility, belonging to the New Order.
The Worlds of Talus and Tralus were called the 'Double Worlds'. And were ruled by Empire, with an iron fist.
The day of recokoning had come. Corellia's time had come.
The Coalition fleet dropped out of hyperspace. One force at Corellia, the other at Talus and Tralus.
So it begins.
GC Manifest
(Attacking Corellia)
3 Viscount Star Defenders 1 Yunos Class Command Cruiser 5 Imperator-Class Star Destroyers 9 Victory - Class Star Destroyers 1 Aegis mkII - Class Star Cruisers 1 Interdictor-class Cruiser 5 Assault - Class Frigates 3 Mon Calamari MC-90 Star Cruisers 2 Mon Calamari MC-40 Star Cruisers 3 Haven-class Light Cruisers 15 Nebulon - B2 Frigates 11 Mon Calamari Firewind-Class Light Cruisers 11 Defender-class Gunships 7 Corellian Gunships 5 Marauder - Class Corvettes
High Lord Regrad stood next to his Command Chair on the deck of the Yunos-Class Command Ship Wrath of The Gods, which was on a direct path to the twin worlds. Azguardians scurried to and fro, doing assorted jobs, priming weapons, and generally preparing for the upcoming battle.
Up ahead his target was quite clearly visible, the twin worlds. With a wave of his hand, the engines on his vessel and those aroun him roared, bringing the worlds closer and closer.
The assorted fighters and suits, swarming around them like insects, closed into a tight formation, and rocketed after them, their training keeping them in perfect ranks.
At the spear-point of the formation, the three terrible viscounts edged closer. Behind and slightly above was the Command Ship, its' majesty projecting outwards. Behind it was the great mass of smaller warships, every single one ready for battle.
Regrad stood pensivly, thinking to himself about the battle. Would they win? He thought so. Would they survive? Probably. Was it right? Definetly. He did not doubt for one second that what he was doing was the right thing. The galaxy needed freedom, and the Empire opposed it, and oppressed all those they could. The only way to gain freedom then was to fight back, to avenge their fallen comrades and to vanquish the Empire forever.
And for that cause the Azguards were prepared to fight and die.
He had given his men strict orders: No harming of civilians, no hostage-taking, no looting, no firing on surrendered or crippled ships unless they became a threat, and mst important of all, no retreat.
IC: Jan smiled as his ships reverted from hyperspace.
“Bring up all shields. Weapons, power up. All starfighters prepare to engage the enemy. All vessels, accelerate towards the planet. All Stealth Intruders, engage your cloak. Carry out Operation Secret Destruction. Sensors, watch out for enemy ships, and notify me if you see any. Web Weaver, activate your gravity well generators now. Everyone, I want jamming of this system to start now. No messages will get out to the system to warn the enemy.”
The 20 Stealth Intruders accelerated head of the fleet, which was going at a reduced speed, to keep in formation. The Stealth Intruders, since they had their specialized cloaks and specialized jammers on, were invisible. Their goal was to complete Operation Secret Destruction. The fleet followed them in.
“All Defiance Hover Units, detach. Leave from the aft, where particle shields will be down in five, four, three, two, one. Aft particle shields down.”
The Defiance Hover Units quickly flew away from the capital ships, and slowly followed them in. They were the ground force of this attack, but were not suited to deal with enemies. By launch them now they lost the protection of the shields that the capital ships offered, but the enemy would hopefully ignore them. And if the enemy didn’t ignored them, the enemy would be ignoring other vessels that were quite capable for war. Also, the Interdictor Cruiser would be guarding them, and the enemy had to go through the entire fleet before they could get to the Interdictor.
The fleet advanced towards the enemy. The three Viscount Star Defenders led the way, in a wedge formation. 6 Defender Gunships were in the center of this wedge, prepared to engage smaller threats. Then there was the Yunos Command Cruiser, above the Viscounts and slightly behind, flanked by two Imperial Star Destroyers. With them were 4 Corellian Gunships. Below the Viscounts, and slight behind were 3 Imperial Star Destroyers, in a wedge formation. 3 Corellian Gunships accompanied this group. To starboard of the Viscounts, and slightly behind were 3 MC-90 Star Cruisers, with 3 Marauder Corvettes. To port and slightly behind the Viscounts were 3 Victory Star Destroyers, with 2 Marauder Corvettes and a Defender Gunships. To starboard of the Yunos Command Cruiser were another 3 Victory Star Destroyers, with 4 Defender Gunships. To port of the Yunos Command Cruiser were the remaining 3 Victory Star Destroyers, with 4 Firewind Light Cruisers. To port of the Imperial Star Destroyer formation that was below the Viscounts were an Aegis Star Cruiser Mark II and two Assault Frigates. With them were 3 Firewind Light Cruisers. To starboard of that same Imperial Star Destroyer formation were three Assault Frigates, and 4 Firewind Light Cruisers. To port of the other ships, and spread out in Three Diamond Formation, which was usually used by fighters, were a squadron of Nebulon-B2 Frigates. To starboard of the other ships were 3 Haven Cruisers and 2 MC-40 Light Cruisers, along with 3 Nebulon-B2 Frigates. Fighters were spread amongst the fleet. Jan sat in the Yunos Command Cruiser, watching the fleet advance forward.
The transmission was playing over and over on most INS Stations. Already the networks were creating a fear by putting slogans everywhere, “The aliens are coming!”. “Protect your children! Get your blaster while supplies last!”
Yes, commerce was alive and well in the advent of war. Especially against an inevitable attack.
All day long, the news services were pulling in close-ups of Coalition speakers along side clips of massive attacks against Dantooine, against the Ebony Vigilance..the Empire’s Eclipse Class Star Destroyer made famous with it’s attack against the TJE Death Star and made legend at Bastion. Especially, shots of civilian transports being blown up in the cross fire of attacks and counter attacks.
Old footage from the Mon Calamari’s violent occupation of Kamino and it’s bloody putting down of Rebel uprisings were also broadcasted into the homes of billions of families across the Empire.
INS did an exclusive on Theren Gevel and his self sacrificing mission to liberate the downtrodden of Kamino. A small holiday was named after the man. Amid war preparations, the people watched as heroes of the Empire were put on the viewer to inspire the minds of the young and put to ease the mounting tension.
Yes, the Ministry of Information was doing it’s job and doing it well.
So much so that some claimed the New Empire was a Coalition plot to overthrow the Regent and that deep under the waters of Mon Calamari were the laboratories that developed the hideous Wrath Virus.
Yes, INS was alive and well and in control.
*
The transmission flickered on Kaine’s terminal and the Grand Marshall sighed. To many meetings and strategy sessions.
The Galactic Coalition had tipped their hand with the Declaration of War blazing across every child’s school desk.
The Empire figured a war was coming. Hell! They figured an attack was coming but when was anybody’s guess. Already, the Fleet was mobilized, meetings held on strategic areas to concentrate defenses. What were the priorities and what would the overall plan be in the event of an attack here or there.
The Fleet was more than mobilized. They were ready!
With that transmission, the alien leaders of the Coalition told the Empire that an attack would come.
What is left to do but issue general quarters?
“Kaine! What the @#%$ is this I hear about the bloody aliens attacking?” Moff Zell’s voice boomed over the speaker pulling Simon from his thoughts.
“I take it you’ve seen the transmission, Zell?” Simon asked a little sardonically.
“Did you hear this crap?” Zell nearly shouted. The Moff played the message across and a tiny box appeared under his transmission, being captioned by none other that the Moff himself.
“Who says you cannot have fun when you’re retired?” Kaine mumbled to himself as he heard the message for the fiftieth time.
“Who the @#%$ is he talking too?” Zell demanded. “We ARE the leaders of the peoples of the galaxy? Don’t these @#%$ aliens know anything?!”
“Thanks for pulling your wanker out and letting us cut if off!” Zell laughed at his own joke. Simon let him go on. The older man was a cantankerous one but the former Grand Admiral was nobody’s fool. He was as shrewd and as ruthless as the Empire bred them. His insights would prove invaluable.
“No, the last time you banded together you slaughtered Kamino’s population and set their cloning projects back months!”
“Freeze Frame.” Zell ordered. “Did you get that reference, Kaine?”
“Azguardian Galactic Military?”
“There IS another faction out there supporting the damned rebels!” Zell confirmed. “We captured many of their people during the Kamino Invasi..err.. Liberation.”
“Intel and Interrogation have been working them over for information but I think they’ve been focusing on the Mon Calamarians.” Kaine said, frowning in thought. “Commodore Gevel may have questioned these Azguardians in more detail….but..”
“If they ‘joined’ this Coalition, then, it stands to reason Kaine that they..”
“..Have an infrastructure to to contribute to their enterprise.” Kaine finished. “That they have something to contribute other than warm bodies and taxable civilians?”
Zell’s eyes narrowed in irritation slightly. “You always do that Kaine.”
“What do you need, Moff?” Kaine asked, quietly chuckling.
“I want access to the little @#%$!”
Kaine entered a series of commands from his consol and gave Zell his carte blanche over quite a few of the Azguardian prisoners rotting away in an undisclosed location.
“Information is compartmentalized, Zell, but I would like copies on what you find.”
“Yes..yes..” Zell waved dismissively. “The Fleet is in play?”
“Admiral Chandler’s at Corellia, Telan is there as well…Drayson is being sent to Carida..”
“She needs to temporarily shut down the Academy, perhaps put the students to good use and good training.” Zell started.
“If Carida is attacked..” Kaine prompted.
“If..” Zell agreed, then his eyes lit up. “I hear she’s a @#%$ tiger in bed..” the old man leered.
“I missed that memo..” Kaine commented, pursing his lips. Sometimes Zell was incorrigible. “Anyway, there are more deployments but I don’t have the time to go into them.”
“Well, I have my work cut out for me… or at least, my pleasure. I’ll have something for you soon, Marshall. Give Gevel my love.” The old man was sometimes a pain.
“If he’ll have it.” Kaine answered. “If you need anything else, reach me on my personal code. I’ve a meeting with the Regent.”
*
Imperial Palace..
The double doors leading into the inner sanctum of the most powerful person in the Empire, opened without a sound. Which was amazing when one considered the sheer size and weight of the massive silver barriers that stretched nearly fifteen feet up.
The shiny floor with the Imperial Seal emblazoned in rich color in the middle of the hall looked as if it had not been walked on ..ever.
Hidden subtly were the security measures, the narrow doors that led to Imperial Guard barracks, hidden within the massive structure that was the palace.
The Grand Marshall would have walked the entire hall to meet the Regent, as was normally expected, yet this day, however, Regent Hyfe met him halfway. It was a measure of how the man yearned for a more active duty. Kaine realized, if the Regent could, he would take out a command ship of his own and enter the coming fray. Hyfe was a soldier, not a politician and he ruled with a soldier’s wisdom, a soldier’s cunning, and a soldier’s ruthlessness.
Even so, Kaine made as if to kneel before his Regent and the older man impatiently motioned him to stop and rise.
“They are coming..” the Regent rasped out, his eyes hardening as the two began to walk down the seemingly empty hall.
“Yes, Lord. They have made their intent known.”
“When will they strike?”
“Within the week, no more than two, Lord. You don’t send out a transmission like that and wait a month.”
“The Fleet?”
“The Fleet is ready.”
The Regent stopped, his voice ice. “Who are these.. .these.. aliens?” his brittle voice spat out the question with disgust.
“The transmissions originated from Mon Calamari. They confirm what Imperial Intelligence has supposed for a while. That their Coalition is made up of three independent factions: Mon Calamari Republic, the Azguardian Galactic Military, and the New Rebellion.”
“New Rebellion..” Hyfe murmured with contempt. “What were they rebelling against?”
“Their psychology is beyond me, Lord. In any event, Moff Zell is following up a lead with the Azguardians.”
“Good.. good.” The Regent stopped, and raised a finger to Kaine. “They are not going to get away with this, Marshall. I will remember everyone that lifts a hand against us.”
His eyes were piercing.
“Everyone, Marshall.”
“Our retribution will be swift and devastating, my Lord.”
The two men walked into the Regent’s antechamber and a large, holographic map of the galaxy came into view. One of the largest maps Simon had ever seen.
“Tell me what is happening, Marshall.”
“Well, it involves several agencies, Lord. INS, Ministry of Information, Imperial Corps of Engineers, Imperial Intelligence, The Naboo Sith Order, Imperial Counter Terrorist Bureau, among others…”
The Grand Marshall began to outline the preparations…
The Day After…
The imperial war machine was in full motion.
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.
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Elsewhere – location undisclosed
“What is my name?” The light was harsh, the question a drone in the mind of a very dehydrated body.
“I…. I don’t know…” came the parched response from cracked and bleeding lips.
“Do we need another lesson?” the voice was firm, unyielding.
“N..no.” the alien’s eyes widened in desperation.
A hand lashed out, striking the creature tied down.
“Your stink is offensive to me! Your cowardly acts contemptible!
You do not deserve to live.” The harsh voice spat out.
“P…please… I .. “
“You can end this, you know? You can end this right now..”
“P..please..” the alien shuddered, hunger and thirst burning their desire within.
The voice changed as a weapon was aimed straight at the alien. The voice was soft, pleading in it’s own way.
“End this, please..” it said, strong yet hopeful.
“I…. I …” one eye was bleeding, the good eye staring down the barrel of the weapon, his expression totally helpless.
“Why did you live with the Calamarians?”
“I don’t know…”: the reply, was the same. “I am just an engineer… I fix things..”
The weapon hit against the victim’s cheek.
“What secrets do you possess?!”
“I.. have…..no… secrets..” It was becoming harder to talk.
The weapon’s energy charge was building.
“WHY DID YOU COMMIT MURDER!!??” the voice was unforgiving.
“I… no… murder… no..” the voice was weakening as the tied creature found sitting up becoming too difficult.
The voice murmured something and a strong voice came in over some speakers.
The voice was that of Jan Dondana.
“Do you think anyone gives a @#%$ about you?” the voice asked, quietly incredulous.
Desperation, depression, helplessness… all these emotions played across in various shades as the voice studied the complete shattering of the other’s reality.
“One more time: Why did you murder?” the voice asked.
“I…. I DON’T KNOW!!!…” wailed the creature, sheer exhaustion taking it’s toll.
The weapons charge clicked and the gun shifted from the restrained alien to another lying unconscious on the floor.
The gun discharged and the creature let out an anguished cry. The cry of futility.
The captive’s head hung and the creature wept dryly. There were no more tears.
“Let me ask you something easy.” The voice said, almost conversationally, giving the hint of granting a very large concession.
“Your pain and those of your companions will end if you can answer just one question… just one simple question.”
The alien raised his tired and beaten eyes at the interrogator. The aging man smiled congenially.
“What is my name?”
The alien stared at him in horror because for the life of him..
…he didn’t know..
*
Excerpt from Groder Stu’s editorial for 48th INS Region
It’s always nice to see rebuttals with knowledge. For so long, we here at INS come up against outlandish opinion and choppy suppositions hastily thrown together and presented as some half-assed attempt at deception.
Puh-leasse!
What a refreshing difference this seems to be!
Let’s see..
What the @#%$? That’s right! I said it! What the @#%$??!!
Does the Coalition not have a budget for actual intelligence gathering that they have to rely on heresay and rumors from refugees?
Well, hot damn! Some refugees better run on over there and let them know that the Rebellion, the New Republic, has fallen.
I don’t think these buggers know!
Is it just me or has INS been saying this the whole time? From the Conclave to the Imperial Center, who’s been giving it to you straight?
That’s right!
Good ol’ INS!!
Makes you wonder about all the other stuff we’ve been saying now doesn’t it?
Well slap him on the wrist and call him Skywalker! Probably enjoying a pension paid vacation for doing such a good job at killing the good citizens of Kamino. Hell, were any of his soldiers arrested?
Obviously not!
Why should they be? They were only following orders, like the good little @#%$ murderers they are!
Besides, they were probably needed for murdering us!
Wonderful side of the galaxy these buggers live in!
Commit genocide and get removed from active duty! Liberate a people, and hop on the nearest battleship to kill em!
But what is said next is really priceless!
Absolutely @#%$ brilliant!
First they admit the murder of numerous people on Kamino was true! But they want to see if there is proof!
If there was no proof, why admit it in the first place?
Hmmm… Because it happened?
And they want to question if there has been any wrong doing.
Any wrong doing?
Murdering numerous people on Kamino and they want to know if it was wrong??
I don’t about you but that is @#%$ wrong!
And this, boys and girls, is what is attacking us!
No doubt the now peaceful people of Kamino are just itching to fall under the rule of these genocidal, murdering maniacs! I am sure they are just thrilled at the prospect!
This is Groder Stu – INS
*
The day before…
Galactic debate continues as worlds brace for war…
“The alien mind is hard to fathom, Marshall, but these are the logical targets. If they strike outside those areas..”
“It will not matter..” Kaine said. “We have a response plan in play and we will act accordingly.” Kaine stood and began to pace as military aids each held up to the minute reports.
“The necessary civilian channels have implemented encryption procedures?”
“Yes, Marshall. Select networks have acknowledged switching. Emergency Response Protocols are enabled. The military enacted stricter controls over their communications rather quickly with the onset of the ‘declaration’ but civilian response is better than I expected.”
“Food for thought then, Lieutenant. Keep your expectations high. Have the Sith and/or Inquistoriate members been assigned to their respective warships? The Engineering Corps?
“Yes to both questions.”
“Damage control facilities, Emergency Medical Facilities, tighter Martial and Civil areas? All ready?”
“The last reported in two hours ago, Marshall.”
Kaine stared at the galactic map as if it was mocking him.
“Strike dammit!”
Corellia
“Sir? Why are we positioned like this?” a rather young Ensign, asked during the 2nd watch. Maintaining instant battle readiness aboard a ship was a serious business. Tension and strain was at an all time high during these moments to protocol demanded a regimented schedule for shift changing. No one officer stood watch (maintained a post) longer than another, the shifts actually changing to a shorter time during battle conditions. The last thing a commander wanted was a tired, anxious crew manning critical sections.
“It’s a variation of our maneuver at Dantooine. Maintain a 90° perpendicular angle against incoming enemy ships and you maximize our weapons while minimizing theirs. We will be able to bring about 90+% of our guns to bear and they can perhaps bring, at most 30% against us.
We would aim our bows down straight at them.”
“But how do you know where they are going to emerge?” another asked.
“Well, Ensign Vedda, we don’t know exactly. And, if left alone, they could appear anywhere. However, we know they are coming. That is important.
They control whether we will fight or not. Therefore, since they decided for us that we are going to war, it behooves us to control the board.”
“the board, Sir?”
“The battlefield. You see, we know they are coming from Coalition Space which is roughly here. We know that there are only so many approaches to a planet’s navigational beacon. We are covering Corellia’s beacon, not the Corellian System’s.
Therefore, we set up Constrainer Pickets here, here and here,” he pointed to a holographic map of the outlying area, “and set our trap here.” The Commander indicated their relative position.
“Why won’t they jump past us?”
“Because of the planet’s mass shadow. No, they will either be pulled from space by the Constrainers or they will exit hyperspace ahead of us. Either way, because of our 90° vantage point, we will require only a slight adjustment to compensate if they are pulled out or if they come out ahead. You see, Ensign, we are spaced pretty evenly so that every ship has a chance to bring their weapons to bear. Given that we are not in a tight formation, we have excellent maneuvering room and can blanket a larger area with weapons fire.”
“I still think they can go around us, Sir.” The first Ensign commented.
Admiral Ibren Chandler smiled, slightly. “If they were going anywhere else in this system, then yes. If they were going to say.. Drall, Selonia or Tralus…they would bypass us strike there. We would be to far away and probably would have to microjump to be anywhere effective. But our job is not Tralus or Drall. It is Corellia, therefore we are guarding the approach.”
“But what if the enemy is heading for the Double Worlds .. won’t they be pulled out of hyperspace by our Pickets?”
Admiral Chandler’s head shook. “No. Remember your tactics. If we wanted to hit Drall, we would plot a course straight for Drall. That course would take us wide of Corellia and any of the other Five Brothers so that our ships can avoid their gravity mass shadows. Such a course would take them wide of our pickets.”
The Executive Officer sighed, “Besides, the major hyperlanes go through Coruscant, Kuat, and Yag’Dhul. Our tracking systems would pick them up, especially since we are looking for them.”
The tracking officer’s board beeped once or twice and civilian traffic exited several hundred meters directly under the bows of the Chandler’s waiting force.
In wartime, civilian traffic, especially trading merchants were assigned recognition codes (more like ‘pings’) identifying them as friendly. If a hyperspacial reversion was detected without the code, the fleet would open fire.
“What if someone stole a code to sneak in?” someone asked.
“Some probably could. However, there is another sign that those reverting from hyperspace are enemies.”
“What’s that?”
Ibren’s Exec Officer spoke up, “the fact that they are enemy warships.”
The bridge conversation changed, and Ibren’s trained eyes kept roving about the different stations noting that the crew was on top of their assignments.
But this waiting is bad.
Ibren’s mind looked at the situation around Corellia. His was not the only force but he felt he had to act as if it was.
So what if someone were to come up from behind the planet, from within the system?
It was a long shot but the shipyards had been moved to the far side of the planet away from the hyperlanes.
“Dane? Send a couple of Pickets around Corellia and have them lay a gravity mass here and here. Send a couple of Shrouds as protection.” The Shroud Attack craft were maintaining their cloaks ever watchful for something untoward. In fact, the Shrouds and the Admiral’s fighter corps were on a constant state of alert. Shields were kept raised except for the emergency launch, if needed.
“Yes, Sir.” And the Exec began relaying the instructions.
The Next Watch..
“How long do we hold here?”
“Until Command determines that there is no threat, I’d imagine, Lieutenant.” Ibren grinned at the man from the new watch. “We have the consumables.”
“Aye, Sir..”
But even Chandler wondered how long that could be.
“Comm..—“
“TRACKING! HYPERSPACE REVERSION, NO CODE!”
Whatever the Admiral was going to say immediately left his mind as he snapped into command mode.
“Where?”
“Beneath us, Sir! They missed our pickets!”
“Launch Fighters and raise the shields after they’ve cleared!”
Sure enough, stacks of Coalition warships were exiting hyperspace. At least Chandler assumed they were Coalition for they had the lumpy designs of the Mon Calamari. At least some did.
“FIRE!” he cried and the fleet fired downward, their bows pointed straight at the tops of the moving warships beneath them.
It seemed that there were three large warships in a wedge formation with six gunships directly behind them centered. However nearly covering the gunships thus taking the brunt of the fire with the larger vessels was a large command cruiser flanked by two ISDs. By them were four corellian gunships…
… there were more ships exiting within a very tight formation with fighters, it seemed, moving through and through the formations, spread amongst the fleet.
Several of the advance ships were struck before they disappeared.
“Cloaking vessels!”
Damn!
“Enemy shields coming up!... and …*static*. They are jamming sir!”
“Begin our jamming, Lieutenant.” Chandler ordered calmly. “Let’s interfere with their signals as well..
OOC Fleet Manifest
3 Imperial-Class Star Destroyers 2 Archangel Class Star Destroyer 2 Attack Class Carrier Spheres 2 Victory Star Destroyers 2 Carrack-Class Light Cruisers 3 Fire-Class Light Frigates 7 Constrainer-Class Interdiction Pickets 5 Shrouds
1320 TIE Devils 20 Scimitar Assault Bombers 56 TIE Defenders
Corellia, Office of the Governor, 3 hours prior to terrorist attack.
Fury filled the Siths mind as he sat impatiently on the plush Corellian leather recliner. His eyes were closed and his head tilted back, but the comfort of the seat did nothing to sooth his mind. Without warning, his hands darted up from his side, latched onto the massive oaken table before him and tossed it off into the wall on his left. Its flight was marked by a demi cartwheel in the air before impact, the wall itself taking the blow surprisingly well. Then again, this was the office of a man whose petty temper was known to flare at the most inopportune and innane times. The office, of course, had to be Lupercus proof.
His eyes were open now, their twitching indicative of his mood, his fists clenching and unclenching in his lap. Here he was, a Sith Lord of the Empire, powerless to stop his enemy.
Boredom.
His fists continued to tense in irritation when suddenly his legs dropped off to the side of the recliner, his hands opening to latch the recliner between his legs. In a brutal show of rage he half rose, sweeping the chair out in front of him, its momentum lifting it up into the air, and pivoted, launching the massive chair behind him through a massive plate glass window. It landed a full 30 metres away in the sprawling gardens that were one of the benefits of Imperial Service, its crater permanently marring the once beautiful view.
I AM SICK OF WAITING!
His mind flashed angrily at the fact he had summoned the Order to Corellia, only to find nothing happening. They had come expecting war and plunder, but instead lay wasting away in Imperial Barracks, their frustrations becoming more and more apparent as the number of force related assaults increased on Corellias streets. They were the greatest warriors the Empire had, and they were lying fallow, like so many bails of rotted wheat.
In an attempt to calm his mood, Lupercus turned on his heel to leave his office, making for the small temple that had recently been completed at the Governors residence. It was completely isolated from the world, and was itself completely inconspicous, looking more like an administration centre than the focus of the Darkside in the galaxy. It was a part of a much larger complex, of his design, that served as home away from home for the members of the Naboo Sith Order. As he approached, his mood grew more focused, the anger remaining but simply being pocketed for later use.
Soon, very soon. I can feel it in my bones...
Corellian Sith Temple, 30 minutes prior to terrorist attack.
Admiral Danetta Pitta Jnr. had a large reputation to live up to. As the direct military subordinate of the Governor of Corellia, the defence of Corellia was his primary concern. But, with the recent declaration of war by some upstart terrorist group, Fleets and Commanders were a dime a dozen in the Protectorates capital world. The Governor has put Danettas position succiently.
"Your goal is to protect the Corellian Protectorate as your domain of the empire. Your current orders reflect this. The others, they have their own Orders. Protect the Empire. You too must oblige by this command, but you can easily do so by following my orders. You are the last line between Order and Chaos in this system.
Keep those filthy aliens off my goddamned planet!" He had turned to leave them, but spun back quickly to add something. "And don't let those Reinforcements show you up. Make sure as soon as they start firing, so should you. This is glorytime Admiral."
He smiled as he remembered the conversation that followed. The Governor had placed a large emphasis on the fact that his father had successfully defended the Corellian Sector to the last, and that pleased the Admiral no end. Finally he would have the chance to prove that he was more than twice the man his father was. So what if he was one of the first 12 Grand Admirals? So what if he ended his life to save the Corellian Diktat?
Now would be Juniors time to shine!
He looked out across the courtyard while a number of sith trained. They were all assigned to the ships in his fleet. The added benefits of having the Sith coordinate the assault would boost his skills no end. Pitta sank back into his seat, tapping his chair idley. He had nothing to do on the surface. He was bored, and the entire fleet would suffer with him.
“Captain Marshall? Ready the Anvil. We are running a scramble exercise in an hour! I expect the fleet to be ready in 10!”
There was a concise acknowledgement before the order was rapidly disseminated. The Imperial War Machine was ready.
R.S.D Ravager, Corellian Fleet Flagship, minutes prior to terrorist attack.
Lupercus paced up and down the hangar bay, many other Sith of TNSO watching him carefully. They knew he was desperate for an enemy to appear, and he probably wouldn’t care whose side they were on, so long as he got to vent.
“Why the hell did he call this damn exercise?”
Stopping in his tracks, Lupercus’ eyelids dropped allowing him to come into tune with the rest of the Sith aboard the Corellian Fleet. They were already in position, they minds latching the fleet together with its pilots, and also with their compatriots amongst the other fleets. That soothed the Siths mind no end, but it did not put a stop to his pacing. He could feel the ships lined up against the Corellian beacon, ready to lash out the second something appeared. TNSO would ensure that torpedos would be in the air only a split second later.
Suddenly, Lupercus felt the engines hum, and a glimmer of focus echoed out through the mind mesh from the flagship of Admiral Chandler.
They were here…
The other sith knew it too, and instantly ran for their transports. They all felt the crew start firing, torps streaking out towards the invaders, their minds honed to a razor edge. Off to the Side, Lupercus and Silus boarded their own craft, to take them to their shroud. Master and apprentice stood side by side inside the dark shuttle, the other occupants remaining conspicuously silent. The Corellians were ready. The Cenobites were ready. The Sith were ready. The Fleet was ready.
The Empire was ready.
Admiral Pitta saw the reaction from the Imperial battleline.
“Call in all outbound fighters, form up in strike wings. SATAPs should launch all fighters, full shields. Arm torpedos for launch. We have waited long enough. Its time those @#%$ learnt their lesson the 18th time around…”
OOC: Corellian Anvil
01 Reign-Class Star Destroyers 03 Imperial-Class Star Destroyers 02 Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platforms 03 Victory-Class Star Destroyers 06 DP20 Corellian Gunships 05 Lorell-Class Gunships 15 Sith Battle Cruisers
162 Starfury fighters 400 TIE Defenders
Ground Forces of the Corellian Governor on station.
375 All Terrain - Armoured Transports (AT-ATs)
Movement Summary:
Entered System and Immediatly fired upon by Fleets of Admiral Chandler and Pitta. (Above and facing respectively).
Corellian Fighters Flying interdiction skirmish missions from fighter screen.
DP20 Gunships and SBCs flying in groups of 3s, holding fighter skirmish screen against frigate and missile incursion.
Lorell Gunships remaining in reserve line with RSD, ISDs, SATAPs and VSDs.
All ships maintaining a killing zone of laserfire between attacking fleet and the Corellian Anvil.
"Colonel Janus? Colonel, are you there?" The voice came from the intercom inset in the far wall. With a grunt of irritation, Colonel Enrique Janus pulled himself out of bed and hit the button on the unit's side.
"Yes, what is it?" He snapped, pulling his uniform jacket on over his crumpled shirt. The chrono on the table beside his bed read 6:30 in the morning, shipboard time.
"Admiral Chandler requests a meeting, Sir. At your convience." Janus paled slightly. There was no doubt that the words 'at your convience' meant right now. How long had the Admiral been waiting?
Without replying, he left the room, adjusting his jacket as he walked the short distance to the bridge of the Shroud Class Cruiser.
Captain Kolt was waiting on the bridge, beside the shimmering life-size hologram of Admiral Ibren Chandler, commander of the Corellian Defence Group.
"Admiral," Enrique said politely, saluting the superior officer as he stepped into the hologram pick-up field. "I apologize for the delay; I had not planned to rise for another thirty minutes."
The other officer nodded and returned the salute with casual grace.
"Apology accepted, Colonel Janus. What is the status of your Battle Group?"
He looked to Captain Kolt, who offered a double thumbs-up, and Janus smiled thinly.
"We are at 100%, Admiral. Ready to move out as needed."
Chandler nodded.
"Very good, Colonel. Very good indeed. Our contacts in Coalition space have just reported in - their worlds are virtually emptied of military personelle. It shouldn't be long now."
"You expect an attack today, then?"
"Within six hours, Colonel. I want your entire division on standby - the second the enemy appears, full stealth mode. They won't have time to get a reading on you."
"As ordered, sir." Janus said, and nodded to the vessel's Captain. He would relay the orders.
"And you know your attack plans?"
"Yes, Admiral. Every detail."
"Very well then, Colonel. I'll leave you to it." The hologram flickered once, then vanished. Grumbling, Janus glanced at the bridge Chrono and saw that it was already ten minutes to seven. No use in returning to bed, now.
"Captain Kolt, alert the crew. I want them on two hour change overs from now on. When this thing comes, I want us ready."
"Aye, Colonel."
* * * * *
Captain Derrian Kolt had grown up on Corellia, and like most Corellians always claimed to have no use for the odds. He was known as the man that had thrown his Victory Class Star Destroyer headlong into a pirate's nest, and just barely survived to tell the story.
Now he commanded a division of Shrouds, the Empire's covert attack ships, and was charged with the defence of Corellia.
In all honesty, he wasn't sure whether that was a rise, or a fall.
"Captain?" A voice said close by, interupting his thoughts. "We have contacts. Coalition warships, closing fast."
The stars outside the viewports had already vanished, the ship's cloaking device having come up around them.
"Right. Arm all warheads. Attack pattern Gamma. Alert the Colonel."
The officer nodded and retreated to fullfill the orders, and Captain Kolt smiled.
So it begins.
<font size=1>Fleet Manifest - First Imperial Shroud Division (Colonel E. Janus Commanding)
Corellian Protectrate | Three Days Prior to Attack
Corellian Academy of Politics, Corellian Surface
"Who can tell me the reason the Rebels lost Corellia so quickly after the Battle of Bastion?" The professor asked, walking past the rows of students and directing his question to entire class.
When there was no answer, he turned and slammed his metal hand down on the teacher's desk.
"Well? Can no one tell me why the Rebels lost this world?"
There was silence in the room for a moment, before a tentitive hand rose from the front.
"Yes?" The professor asked, his anger receeding as quickly as it had surfaced. The student, a young girl with curly blonde hair, who was obviously intimidated by her teacher, nonetheless spoke clearly and concisely.
"The Republic - Rebels - believed in democratic leadership. They shared the right to rule... after the Battle of Bastion, no one had any idea what the fuck to do.
"They lost everything - their fleet and spirit included - fighting the New Empire. By the end of it, everyone was disagreeing about what to do next, and they ended up splintering off.
"Coruscant had fallen, most of their worlds were being overrun by the Empire before Wrath destroyed them all, and then the Empire came. By the time the Rebels had attempted to make a stand, Corellia and a dozen other worlds already belonged to the New Order.
"There was never any hope for them, even before Bastion. Afterwards..."
She trailed off and met her Professor's eyes, seeking approval. He offered a brief nod, and settled his metal hand on her desk.
"A perfect answer. The Rebellion was weak - their love of democracy set them on the path to destruction from the start. The Old Republic proved that large-scale Senates do not work. The Empire proved that a small council does, but they ignored that."
He smiled grimly.
"And the Empire crushed them."
* * * * *
"Sir? Excuse me, Sir? Agent Janus, Sir?" The voice was young and shrill, and came from behind Ton as he walked down the hallway of the University. Upon the mention of the name Janus, he spun and slammed an elbow into the man's neck. He spluttered once, then slumped against the wall.
"Never use that term in public. Are you an idiot?" He hissed, paying no heed to the passersby. The man nodded meakly, and for the first time Ton noticed he was wearing an Imperial officer's uniform. With a sigh, he released the man and let him breath.
"I'm General Vlademeer Tagge." The man said quietly when he had caught his breath. "With Imperial Intelligence."
"This isn't going to be good news, is it?" Ton asked. General Tagge shook his head.
"No. Have you seen this?" He held out a copy of the recent announcement from the Galactic Coalition, which Ton only bothered to glance at.
"Of course. We get all of the terrorist propaganda here. It's not like this hasn't been the biggest news around all day."
"Intel reckons they're coming here. To Corellia." The officer said, tucking the information back into his pocket. "They want the shipyards. And they can't help the publicity issue - what with this John Snid character going on about mass murdering, world-raping Lupercus Darksword."
"And what does this have to do with me? I'm not even affiliated with the Empire... I'm here as a civilian."
"Here under the authority of the New Order. If Moff Drayson had not vouched for your authenticity..."
"Bhindi? Is she here?" Ton broke in, smiling for the first time since seeing the Imperial.
"Moff Drayson is on station at Carida, defending that world from the Coalition in case they strike there. The Empire needs your assistance here."
"What if I don't want to help the Empire?" Tagge shrugged.
"Then we denounce you as a traitor and execute you as such. Under our law, Imperial citizens are always able to be conscripted to the military. You would be charged with failure to respond to the call of duty and shot." Ton swore and shook his head.
"Can we at least talk somewhere more private? My officer, perhaps?" Tagge nodded and motioned for Ton to lead the way, which he did. When they were safely inside the room, he rounded on the other and said, "What do you need me to do?" Tagge took a seat in one of the chairs, and Ton did likewise behind his desk.
"Understand, first, that everything I am telling you is classified. Repeating this information to anyone is punishable by the death sentance." He said.
"Of course. I'm used to hearing classified information, General. As you no doubt already know." Tagge smiled.
"Of course. Forgive me. Imperial Intelligence has been gathering information about the Galactic Coalition since before they took that name. We know they were once three factions - the New Rebellion, led by the former Rebel Jan Dondana, the Mon Calamari Republic, formerly run by an alien calling himself Emperor Teebo,"
"Funny that," Ton commented, idely lighting a cigarette and blowing smoke at the cieling, "a Republic having an Emperor."
"Yes... there was also the Azguardian Galactic Military, a relitive unknown. We know only that they are unheard of before now, and we believe they are based somewhere in Wild Space."
"The planet Azguard, perhaps?" Ton asked.
"You know where it is?" Tagge was almost hopping with excitement at uncovering the hidden capital of the Azguards. Ton, though, just laughed.
"Me? Hell no. If the vaunted Imperial Intelligence can't find a fucking planet, why should I be able to?"
"No reason, of course... forgive me." He stopped, settling himself in his chair more comfortably.
"The location of the Azguard homeworld is one thing we are looking for. We had hoped to use their invasion as an oppertunity to do so."
"How? The Empire would be hard pressed to stop that many ships at once... especcially if Griff decides that ORS will take a more active stance against Commodore Gevel."
"Griff?" The General asked. "Who the hell... Oh, it doesn't matter. No, we don't need to spare ships to track down Azguard. We need access to their computer networks, is what we need."
"And you want me to get you them?" Tagge smiled.
"Among other things, yes."
And he told Ton exactly what he would be doing.
* * * * *
Corellian Protectrate | Minuts Prior to Attack
Reign Class Star Destroyer Ravager, Corellian Orbit
"You know your mission, then?" Tagge's hologram asked. Ton Karlos - Agent Janus again, now - nodded and hoisted his gun belt.
"I know, General." Tagge gave him one last lingering look, then with a short (and, it looked to Ton, heartfealt) "Good luck." the holo disappeared.
Buckling the two V straps across his chest, Ton checked his body armour one last time and made sure the safety was active on his blaster rifle.
The Coalition had arrived, and it was time to act. Boarding the shuttle, Ton prepared to go back to what he had thought had been left behind him.
Trachta more or less hadn't really been surpised when the declaration of war came. The rabble that was the Galactic Coalition were nothing but formal types when it came to warfare. They didn't understand the subtleties of intrigue, something Trachta was very well schooled in. But it didn't matter now, what mattered was the meeting with the men dispatched to serve under him temporarliy. Trachta walked quietly down the corridors of the ISD Inquisitor. He soon came to the conference room where the main officers were waiting for him. He walked int quietly and stood before the small group.
"Pardon me, Commodore, but what is this meeting for? Everyone knows the attack will probably come soon, now that those rebels have declared war on us." said Captain Motte, one of the Line Captains unders Trachta's temporary command.
"The point, Captain, is that we must be ready. I believe that the enemy will strike here in the Corellian system soon and I want our forces ready to pounce the minute they do."
"But how, sir?" asked the other Line Captain, Captain Blight.
"We shall move the Centerpoint Task Force out of basic system and scanner range and wait. When and if the enemy fleet comes, we shall make a micro jump and come in from behind them. It is the only way to gurantee that we have an advantage on them. They will be too busy attacking our worlds here."
"But what if they attack more than one world, sir?"
"We shall try to preserve Corellia. Talus and Tralus can easily be held by guerrilla tactics. I already have mobilized a large number of ISB garrisions on both worlds and they have prepared some surprises for any military force that should try to conquer the Double Worlds. As for us, we must be ready to strike the enemy force. I expect all of your ships to be at the waiting coordinates by tomorrow," Trachta said as he stood up and walked out of the room.
Outskirts of Corellian System | One Day Prior to Attack
Trachta sat quietly in an admiral's chair on the bridge of the Inquisitor. It probably frustrated some that he would sit in a chair not even ment for someone of lower rank like him, but no one would dare speak up. Trachta quietly scanned the tactical displays in front of him as he made checks that everyone was in ready to jump at a moments notice.
"Sir, is this really necassary? I mean we could just have sat at Centerpoint and waited for them to attack."
"Ah, but that would spoil the surprise, Captain. When they come to try and liberate the Corellian system, they will try to attack the worlds and won't expect something like this."
"It still doesn't make sense, sir. I mean we could just as easily have waited for them somewhere else in system and then..."
"Then we would be detectable and probably trapped by an interdiciton field somewhere. No, I won't have that. We must be ready to strike at a moments notice. When they strike, we must be ready to strike back at the one place they won't expect, from behind," Trachta said as he peered at the sensors and displays again.
Everything was in place, now it was only a matter of time to see if Trachta was wrong.
Outskirts of Corellian System | One Minute Prior to Attack
Trachta sat in the admiral's chair quietly looking over everything and checking his ship manifests. Everything was ready, including the large number of TIE Raptors that been borrowed from Bhinidi Drayson. Trachta was sure it would frustrate her that he had taken them for use in his task force after the declaration of war, but that mattered little. Once it was all over, some ships would undoubtably be lost, but droids were easy to replace.
"Sir, unknown forces have arrived in the Corellian system. Two forces with two different trajectories have been detected. One is aiming for Corellia as predicted, the other is aiming for the Double Worlds."
"How preditable," Trachta said evily as he watched the images start to go dark as jamming from the enemy kicked in. "All forces, prepare to make the microjump so that we arrive approximately behind the force aimming for Corellia."
Trachta watched as his task force carefully aimed their hyperspace trajectories and then with careful precision, all activated their hyperdrives as they made their way towards the enemy force at Corellia.
Corellia | Arrival Behind TGC Force
Trachta watched as the streaks of hyperspace quickly vanished, a few minutes before the chrono countdown had finished.
"Interdiction fields, how typical," Trachta muttered to himself in an amused tone. "All forces, deploy fighter screens and prepare to attack. Lancers prepare to manuever against the enemy fighters. Shrouds activate cloaking devices. All ships close with the back of the enemy fleet."
Trachta looked at the strategic displays and simply laughed. The enemy commander had dropped the back shields to launch his fighters, but the shields hadn't been raised again.
"All ships focus fire on the backs of the enemy ships while their shields are still open!" Trachta bellowed as he watched.
Trachta watched with a bit of sadistic glee as the first turbolaser blasts emitted from his ISDs and VSDs and cruised in towards the undefended backsides of the enemy force. Their shields would come back online, but by then the first turbolaser shots would have already hit and most of them were close enough together to gurantee some hits, but then the real battle would begin.
Floating close to Lups command ship, Malice sta inside his Lambda shuttle. The coalition had finally come. Now they would feel the might of the empire. Or worse.......the darkside. Closing his eyes in meditation, Malice began the tactics they planned end on end In simulation modes and practice drills right after the declaration of war was issued. Malice mind melded with that of many of the fleets commanders, and soldiers.
Making them as one. Making their minds think like one entity. One thought floated through all their minds. Destruction. Chaos. Utter anihilation of the Coalition and all its men. This fleet that attacked Corellia would soon find this space to be its graveyard.
