Dakkon grimaced as Raven stormed out. He was not in the mood for a excellent but rebellious pilot to be running around his ship. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> And<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he was sick of waiting for action. He was going to get it.

"Vice Admiral Gant, you have the helm. Have Magenta Squadron assembled, as well as my personal ship prepared."

Moving to his personal quarters, Dakkon quickly changed into his flight suit and made his way to the FlightDeck. As he entered, he was approached by his old comrade Commodore Kashlinkov.

"Sir? Your fighter is waiting, missles all loaded. I assumed you wanted advanced missles?"

"Yes Kashlinkov, as usual you are correct." Boarding his fighter, Dakkon turned back towards the Commodore. "Make sure the Vice Admiral doesn't do anything stupid!"

He stepped into the Modified TIE Shadow, Dakkon was back in his element. Strapping himself in, he watched as the 12 members of Magenta Squadron were flying from the docking bay and awaited him. As soon as he launched the 13 TIE Shadows moved off towards the planets surface. They began to search for transmitions that could lead them to linking up with the TRE rebels.

There was only that ground resistance that the squadron had to deal with, if Raven remembered corectly.

And, she did say that she was to play mediator on this trip, so, why not go down there and find those in charge, and get things moving along?

Sighing, Raven turned to head towards the hangar, to find it in a flurry of activity. The Magenta Squadron was getting ready to fly.

She'd like to join them, but, that was not her purpose on this trip. But, who would protest if she flew herself down?

Of course, her own fighter, an X-Wing, stood out in the crowd of ties.

Raven only smiled and nodded to the other pilots as they readied themselves.

Since she still in her own flighsuit, one of which was partly of leather, and red pants, the design of the suit reflecting that of her homeplanet of Naboo. Raven merely shook her head, and climbed up the boarding ladder, tugging on her flight helmet.

Within a couple of moments, she was out there in the crowd, wondering how the admiral was going to react to her being there, and not in a diplomatic type ship.

Once a fighter pilot, always a fighter pilot.

Dakkon was concentrating hard on finding those transmitions, so hard he did not notice the X-Wing dissappearing in another direction, towards the capital of Maires.

"Sir? We have chatter on encrypted channels, but the frequency is to low for it to be loyalist. Thats gotta be our Rebels."

"Can you make out the transmitions location?"

"Better than that sir, we can read them. They are using standard Rogue Empire encryption. It has to be the rebels..."

The discussion was interupted as the squadron all moved to decode the signals. When it was decoded, the talk showed obviously who was using it.

"Unknowns, this is Captain Truly Rogue Empire Navy. DO you need assistance?"

"You've come? Finally, we have been awaiting word of your arrival. And we do need your help. Some of our units are mounting for an assault on a fighter base. It is underground and has only one Fighter size exit, its hangar bay door. If you could impact that door, we could sieze the fighters in there and offer air support to our units in the Capital. Can you implode and block those doors?"

"Of course, the coords are locked in and we are moving to engage."

Captain Truly and his wingman broke off, and within minutes the hangar bay was blocked up. He then supported the assault.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Well, this is tactically good<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Dakkon thought [/i] but i need to find out our strategic position. Perhaps this commander could fill me in once we have taken the My'Til base...[/i]

A couple of minutes, she located what she was looking for: the capital city of Martek'Leview.

Raven attempted to contact someone in the city, requesting permission to land, but only to find static in response.

"Must be busy dealing with all this fighting, Beeper." Raven murmured to her droid, shaking her head.

Beeper was Raven's own astromech droid, one which had a metalic purple paintjob, and an unusual quirk, which was the sounds which emited from it's dome. The beeping noises which it was uttering back to her in response were the result of a powersurge it suffered a few months ago, kick-started by being fried by lightening. Raven had managed to spare the droid from being tossed, and used for spare parts to other droids.

"Well, let's go ahead and land, and see who reacts, shall we?" Raven added, offering a smile.

Hopefully, what she was to do here, would be enough - enough to matter.

"You know Duke M'pat will not condone to your jurisdiction of the massing fleet, right sire?" Advisor Laet'Vew stated the obvious to Prince Isolder, whom was now enthralled at the sight of the passing speeders and air cars on the grand chamber of Hapes. Its beauty voraciously gnawing at his gut. A prolonged silence fused the room as Laet'Vew's attention was turned to the tapestry behind them of Queen Mother Ta'Chume, whom was now spending her time on a vacation to the Ghroman System, resting on the planet of Daeduin.

Finally Prince Isolder spoke. "Yes, I know," he said solemnly, focusong on one air car inparticular in the distance.

"Then why now do you stand here when you could prevent his sanction?" the advisor accused.

"Look out thsi window Laet'Vew, tell me what you see."

Laet'Vew emerged toward the transparisteel windowand blossomed a pride-filled smile. "Why that my lord is the grand highway of Hapes, casting out its spectacular brilliance with the assortment of expensive speeders and air cars careening before the royal cathedral." Laet'Vew finished his description with a warming smile. PRince Isolder relished a grin.

"Exactly, this is why I won't stop him," he said matter-of-fact. Lat'Vew showed him a puzzled expression.

"Sire, what do air cars and speeders have to do with an assault on Maires, a planet toward the end of the Cluster?" he asked sardonically.

"House M'pat is the third most powerful in the Consortium, possibly the second now with Milyark's decent to rebellion. Obviously Ta'Chume could crush them, but look at this spectacle. It would be the heart of the war, destroying the beauty we worked so hard to attain. Let him assault Maires and bring the Rogue Empire further into the conflict...let Fearsons destroy him and spare Hapes."

One thing the advisor had to grant Isolder was how his wisdom had grown in the years. Now he had this all thought through, and seeing as his word was law there would be no contestation.

"I see my lord, what shall we do then?"

"I don't know..."




M'pat watched the Infernal Glory race past the bridge of the Defiant Tyranny toward the nav buoy leading toward the Maires system. The My'til fighters were already out and examining for potential threats. So far none were reported.

A hand left his side and made for his smoothe, jawline, untainted by unshaven scratch. The bridge of the Defiant Tyranny, the Hapan BAttle Dragon flagship of House M'pat, was sparecely active, quieted for the sake of concentration. Prince Isolder, surprisingly enough, had not objected to his use of the royal fleet. A strange yet convenient turn of events that would let the duke hit with such force that Maires did not stand a chance.

"My'til fighters reporting sir," one of the helmsmen suddenly said from the relay station. M'pat nodded for the man to continue. "The Rogue Empire has brought in a support fleet sir, approximately four Corvette analogs, and two Star Destroyer analogs. Apparently there is another outbreak...on the moon sir."

M'pat scowled at the news, the sinking disappointment had bellowed two fold. A Rogue Imperial Fleet would result in ample protection to Maires. They would have to distract them somehow.




Elart Crenstalker gently patted the butt of his cigarra against the Barkhesh Oak desk in his office as he glanced over the text of his durasheet documents; death-rates, trade incomine, financial loss, and spy reports on the current rebellion. Recentlly Maires' moon, Ort, had joined in the uprising.

Staging as a businessman for both sides, Rylick Industries had just recently "placed an embargo on all trade of weapons and likes to the rebels", supplying on foodstuffs and bacta supplies. Munitions were strictkly to the Consortium...or so they thought. The Hapan dictators would see how useful the weapons were.

Lifting his now lit cigarra to his lips and puffing at the tabacc, he glowered down over the aurabish words. His back to the transparisteel viewport, every now and again a Z-95 or a Rogue Imperial TIE would zoom past the space station. However, a sudden knock on his office door broke his train of thought.

"Who is it?" he asked, a hint of startaldness in his voice.

"A business associate," a soft, enthralling female voice called back. A short grin folded Elart's lips.

"Come in!"

The door opened gently for the young woman, whom was gowned in shiny glittersilk, with long silvery hair reaching down to her elbows. Her skin however was of strange texture of indigo and feathery smoothe. But beyond all this, nothing cought the man's attention like the glowing hue of her pupiless crimson eyes cast. There were only two other men he'd ever seen those eyes on.

"Well hello there Miss...?"

"Nyena," the woman said to the businessman in an enchanting tone.

"Of course, now how may I help you?"

"I have a bussiness offer for you sir."

"Really now? What kind?"

"My people would like to help you in your war..."





The Black Dragon's curving wedge of a bow pierced toward the planet Maires, specifically monitoring for something like starfighter trouble. There were only a few starfighters that caught their attention...

"Attention Admiral Blackblade," they called, "this is the Star Destroyer Black Dragon. Cease hostilities and return to the Dragon at once!"

Ah, to be on the ground again!

Raven couldn't help but smile as huridly removed her flight helmet and gloveds and popped the canopy of her X-Wing.

A slight breeze tickled her face, and she breathed the air in deeply. None of this air was recycled and stale. No way!

She had been onboard a ship for far too long. Raven was so adjusted to seeing trees and life beyond her own windows, not stars streaking past her in hyperspace.

Locating her comlink and lightsaber, she hopped out of the cockpit, only clipping the items upon her belt once her feet reached the ground.

Hearing her droid honking as it moved itself out of it's socket, she knew that it would a bit late to tell him to stay put. Oh well, she reasoned, wouldn't hurt to have him come anyways.

Of course, Raven was alone for long, for she soon had an escort, all losely holding their blasters in their hands.

"Ah, gentlemen, you're just in time. If you would be so kind, I'd like to speak to who is in charge. I made attempts to ask for permision to land, but your com-channels were busy, so I thought to land in plain site, to show that I pose as no threat to any of you." Raven told them charmingly, offering them a gentle smile.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Gant was at heart a coward<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Dakkon thought <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> so if he dared call me with such a disregard in rank, something must have scared him more than me... I had better get up there. And at least they captured the base...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Ok, you heard the man. Magenta squadron break off. Truly relay them our Fleet position, or to a secure place near there so that we can call on them for reinforcements."

Dakkon gunned the engines, removed all power to shields and weapons. He was defenceless, but not even a missle could catch them at the speed they were going. Within minutes he was docking with the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Shadow Hunter<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and made his way to the bridge, still dressed in his flight suit.

"Gant? Kashlinkov? What is going on? Is a Hapan Fleet on route? Has the rest of our fleet arrived?"

Dakkons mind was in a blur. He was still thrilled about being back in the cockpit, the adrenaline was still flowing.

"Yes sir." It was Kashlinkov who answered. "The rest of our fleet has arrived. And we beleive a Hapan Fleet is moving to engage us. If they don't back down of course."

"Launch our fighters, and make sure the CAP covers the whole planet. Task 6 group to stay between our fleet and the planet and wait for My'Tils to appraoch. They could be friendly or not."

OOC:
Updated Fleet manifest

Capital Ships

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

Total Ships: 12

Fighters

20 Gamma Assault Shuttles
72 TIE Shadows- Imperial-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Shadow Hunter
72 TIE Shadows- Imperial-Class Mark II Star Destroyer Marksman
50 TIE Shadows- Escort-Class Carrier Gunship
12 TIE Shadows- Corellian-Class Corvette Shardenay
12 TIE Shadows- Corellian-Class Corvette Potar
12 TIE Shadows- Corellian-Class Corvette Everlasting Potent
12 TIE Shadows- Corellia-Class Corvette Mirror's Array

A war cry deafened from the My'til fighter as it continued to linger over the capital city of Maires. Again he was scouting for the rebel base...and if he could find it...

"This is Fighter Signey, I have found nothing of suspicion except the factory that belongs to SelTech, but nothing else, returning to base."

With a roaring screech the elegant fighter pulled off and made way for home base. The Consortium Infantry would find them.


***************************************************


"Well madame, your business offer sounds...sounds quite tempting," Elart said profoundly, reading over the datapad. Money, weapons, ships, personnel, it was astounding. "What will you want in return?"

"Loyalty...sanction...trade...assurances, you name it," the young woman, Nyena, said keeping her eyes focused downward.

"I suppose that can be ar-"

The last part of Elart's sentence was cut off by a booming siren, and his eyes suddenly flashed up to the radar screen. His eyes suddenly widened at the sight.

"It's a Hapan Attack Force! They're...coming in on the far side of the planet to cut off the Rogue Empire...there's so many of them!"

"Sir? A Hapan battle fleet has entered the system on the other side of the planet."

Dakkon turned towards the HUD. It was a good trick, we couldn't see the fleet, but our fighters could.

"Move to engage it, and activate our Interdictors. We need to make sure that this battle is decisive. All shields to full power. All weapons fully charge. Missle tubes loaded. Have our Shadows move in on full cloak, we want to surprise them.

Try to parlay first. Lets see what they want."

"I'd like to speak to your delegation commitee, to learn of the current situation." Raven spoke up, offering her most innocent smile.

Diplomacy wasn't something she'd like to do, but she felt it was necessary. This fighting had to stop, though, she wasn't exactly sure how.

The guards only reasured her that she was to see the local authority here, as they escorted her down the streets.

Once she knew the current situation, she would be able to figure out what to do - she hoped.