Whisper had stayed behind and when he got the comm signal from Sturm that Maru was in their possession, he smirked, lit his cigar, and began tapping away at a small computer on his wrist.

The Sullustan closest to him took a more defensive posture, and he looked up.

"Can I help you?" Whisper asked politely.

"What are you doing, Sir?" The Sullustan asked defensively.

Whisper blew a little smoke towards him.

"Just sending a message to my daughter... she gets nervous when i go offworld." Hopefully that would assuage any concern. What Whisper was REALLY doing was ciphoning Maru's accounts and rerouting them through about 6 different connections to eventually end up untraceable in Alliance coffers.

"I'm afraid I meant your cigar, Sir, This is a non smoking facility. I really must insist you put that out."

Whisper sighed. Leave it to the Sullustans to focus on that....ironically Whisper wasn't a smoker. He'd used the Cigar as a distraction so they wouldn't question his computer usage.

He nodded sheepishly.

"I appologize....I'll put that right out." As he ashed the cigar and a cleaning droid took it away, he smirked unnoticeably.



-----------------------------
Mianar had followed behind Sturm and Degrasse, acting as a bodyguard, and as they took down Maru... He smirked.

Politicians are so predictable. In the last several months since joining the Alliance after his training from Master Dolash, Aleister had learned so much.

He knew that sometimes, life would present challenges... such that would make him want to toe the line of his training.... He also knew that it was a test of his own will to ensure that he did not fall to the dark side during these tests.


"Mr Maru, I presume. My associates have told me much about you. And now, you're going to tell us....exactly what we want to know."

The Sovv family was very large indeed.



Trufa Sovv, Sullust surface

The chrono read six minutes, thirteen seconds.

Trufa Sovv adjusted the air flow on his suit, pulling the insulating cover closer around himself.

In the distance, the heavy blast doors of the Imperial garrison's docking bay began to open, and Trufa raised the macrobinoculars to his helmet's visor.

From his lookout post on the surface of Sullust, the lone Sovv watched the Imperial ground squadrons soar upward, powering to assist their companions in orbit. He tilted his head slightly, pressing the activator on his helmet comm. “Imperial fighters away. The hangar is empty.”

It had taken Trufa quite some time to get into position, crossing the barren surface of Sullust on foot, his environmental suit all that protected him from the noxious atmosphere and searing heat. Now, with a makeshift heat shield wrapped around him to offer some added degree of protection, all Trufa could do was sit in his little hole and wait for the battle to play out.

He just hoped his small part might prove of some use.



Jorn Vekk, transit tunnel

Sullust is a unique world. Its defensive installations are therefore unique in construction. The surface of the world was dotted here and there with massive shield emitters, turbolaser batteries, and ion cannons, a powerful deterrent against assault from space.

Unfortunately, the surface of the world is also inhospitable. Even the native Sullustans have trouble surviving for any period of time in the harsh surface environment. That is why every single emplacement is a sealed structure, access possible only through sub-surface tunnels that tie into the vast network of Sullustan habitation zones and connecting passageways.

And like any proper military installation, every one of them is guarded.

The chrono struck zero.

Jorn Vekk was late in recognizing the irony of the moment as he hoisted the SoroSuub-manufactured, Imperial-issue, “Equilizer” disposable ion cannon onto his shoulder. But as the hovervan veered toward the Imperial checkpoint and he fired the first bolt through the front windshield of the vehicle, his lips parted in a smile.

The force field collapsed just as the van crossed its perimeter, smashing the small security booth and crushing the guard inside. The van surged forward, sliding sideways as it approached the entrance to the planetary shield projector station further down the cordoned-off tunnel.

Jorn threw his ion cannon aside and jumped through the passenger side door as a rocket slammed into the wall of the Imperial installation, fired as the first member of the team rushed from the back of the van.

Vickin Sovv was the first to rush through the breached wall, her team members following close behind.

Jorn put a concussion grenade over a bank of terminals, waiting for the muted thud before he rounded the corner, firing at anything that still moved. He knew the pair of teammates were at his back, pressed further into the room and covered an adjoining short corridor.

“Control room's near the top,” Vickin shouted, pounding the turbolift activator but receiving no response. Glancing over her shoulder as a half-dozen new arrivals piled through the blasted wall, she knew time was of the essence, despite the risks. “We've got to move fast. Jorn, take team one and two that way. Team three and the new guys on me, to the right. We've got more friendlies en route to watch our six. Move!”

Jorn rushed down the corridor, his two companions on his heels, skidding to a stop and glancing quickly around the corner: stairs. He spun around as he ascended, keeping his blaster trained on the highest visible point.

A rattling sound alerted him to the danger. “Grenade!” He dove back down the stairs, pushing a squad mate and sending him tumbling further away.

There was a flash of light and a searing pain, and then the world went black.



Durk Sovv, Byllurun Spaceport

The chrono struck zero.

From the security room in the Byllurun Spaceport, Durk Sovv watched the plan unfold.

Some of the security force was on their side. Some were just unwitting pawns.

The pawns vanished one by one, in rapid succession, as all the chronos struck zero simultaneously and every team set about their respective task.

Stun rods, sedatives, and in the rare instance it wouldn't draw undue attention (or something didn't go quite as planned), the flash of blaster stun fire. But someone was going to catch on soon. They had to make their move now.

Corporate efficiency demanded the SoroSuub on-world defense detachment not have its own installation. The cost to maintain and staff the structure on Sullust's volatile surface far outweighed any possible security advantage. Or so the corporation had thought.

The two squadrons of Planetary Defender Fighters and Corsair-class cruisers that made up Byllurun's SoroSuub defense force were still grounded, though their pilots had been alerted to the battle overhead and were assembling in case they were required. Watching the short wing of the starport that housed the Trade Directorate fighters, Durk couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction when one of the guards on-station vanished behind a corner, replaced only a moment later by a rather unassuming Sullustan in appropriate Directorate Security uniform.

Then the three teams assigned to take the corporate fighter pad stormed into the area, and the Directorate “guard” soon became one of the very rebels he should have been defending against. A few stun bolts flashed across the security screen, but the unsuspecting guards were overwhelmed and underprepared, no match for their focused, determined foes.

The other two teams secured the starport security checkpoints, quickly reinforced by men and women of varied species approaching from the landing bays, carrying an array of heavy and medium weapons.

The tunnels leading into Byllurun City created ideal chokepoints, and the relatively small squads of off-worlders quickly pushed beyond the standard starport security checkpoints to establish a perimeter which maximized that natural feature.

And with all of the commotion caused by the stun fire and the scampering aliens carrying their terrifying weapons, the genuine, unsuspecting civilians didn't know what to do.

Durk didn't like it, but he knew what he had to do. “Teams two and five, help the civilians get clear.”

He watched one of the freedom fighters on the display lift a commlink to his mouth. “Boss, do you think that's such a good idea?”

Durk grunted harshly, not liking when he was questioned by a subordinate. “One of them's already called emergency services by now; the Empire will know what we're doing here soon enough. I'll not be a hostage taker. Get these people clear of the port, and if they won't leave, find a dark corner with a heavy door and put them behind it. If the Imps want us then they can come and get us, be we're all they'll get.”

The hoversleds bringing the resistance pilots had just arrived and were rounding the corner to enter the corporate wing of the starport, where two dozen Sullustan freedom fighters guarded as many captured fighters.



Councilor Hritam, Sullustan Senate Building

There must have been a hundred of them, two hundred of them. More than two hundred of them. Some wore the uniforms of Directorate Security, others belonging to the more general municipal forces which were only funded by the Directorate, not employed by it directly. Still others wore the drab jumpsuits of generic SoroSuub employ, or appeared only in casual wear.

But all of them carried the banner. That symbol of Sullustan freedom, the Red World large and imposing, the smaller blue-red of Sulon located at the upper-left in the background, the even smaller green swirl of the SoroSuub Corporation opposite Sulon.

Some wore it as headbands, others tied around their shoulders. Some on badges pinned to their shirts, some with the image, massive, painted on body armor acquired by means Hritam didn't have time to consider.

But here they all were, setting up e-webs and grenade launchers, portable shield emitters and deployable armored turrets. Here they were, defending the once and future center of a free Sullust. And behind Hritam, in the ancient halls of Sullustan governance, their true representatives sat and waited for their past error to be rectified, for the opportunity to shout the will of the people once more.

The Empire would be coming soon to silence them, but these people were done with silence.

“Broadcast in two minutes, Councilor.”

Hritam looked back into the grand hall from which the messenger spoke. Turning and leaving these brave souls to the grim duty that his own past foolishness had forced upon them, he nodded solemnly and thumbed through his notes one last time.



Sien Sovv, Free Sullust Command

The five data stations and two holoprojectors weren't impressive, but they were enough to cover the bare essentials.

The space battle was beyond his sphere of influence, but there were devices within reach which would prove beneficial to his space-faring allies. “Update,” He ordered.

“All strike teams have signaled their attacks. The spaceport is in hand, fighters prepping to launch. Ground defense targets three and seventeen have been captured successfully. We've lost contact with teams seven and twelve, and teams fourteen and fifteen have been stalled, and are fearing flanking attacks by security forces responding to Imperial requests for assistance.”

“Cross-check,” Sovv called out.

A young Sullustan at one of the other stations quickly worked the controls on her terminal. “Local security in team fifteen's sector is with us; they'll be fine. No friendlies reported in fourteen's zone.”

“Dispatch an assist team,” Sovv ordered.

“Sir, our reserves are extremely limited. If we don't―”

“Noted,” Sien bit back sharply. “Dispatch.”

“Dispatching assist team to strike group fourteen, Sir.”

Sovv nodded to himself. “Adjust the board. Three and seventeen: green. Seven, twelve, and fourteen: red.” The hologram shifted colors, showing the change of alignment of Sullust's ground defense stations. “All captured ground stations are to hold fire until I give the command.”

The isolated Imperial defense stations were ripe for the picking, but Sovv did not command an imposing army of millions to see his will ensured. What he had were those precious few brave enough to fight, and they had been divided according to necessity, not whim or foolish dream.

There would be no global attempt to seize the Imperial war machine's many and diverse defense stations. Instead, the Sullustan Resistance had focused its immediate efforts on the area around the capital city of Byllurun, host to the planet's primary spaceport and the site of the Empire's garrison of troops.

The battle would be fought here. The fate of Sullust would be decided on the steps of its very house of government.







Sulon, Barons Hed spaceport

Stun blasts are only so effective at rang. Stun blasts are almost totally ineffective against armor. Against armored targets at range, you quit playing nice and you start killing people, even if they are your disillusioned brothers.

The Directorate started this, Kalar Sovv reminded himself as he finally gave the order to employ lethal force, having already watched a couple of his companions cut down by Directorate fire.

“Remember, this is a delaying action. We're not here for blood.”

Considering his own words, Kalar checked his chrono and then activated his commlink. Now would be as good a time as any. “Let 'em have it, boys.”

And the handful of Ramplish and Sullustans hiding in the city behind the Directorate force fired the ion and concussion rounds from their mortars, filling the area around the starport with flashes of light and thunderous shaking.

A Ramplish defender fell from his perch, and Kalar lobbed a grenade over his makeshift barricade, sprinting for the downed ally in the wake of the explosion.

They were getting close. He'd have to stop playing around soon. Their lives weren't worth the lives of his men.

He just hoped the Alliance team in the Directorate Tower were making good use of the time being bought with his people's blood.

Efreeti-class Battlecruiser Husdant, in orbit via Sulon

“That’s just sloppy,” murmured Sei’lar, glancing out of the viewport.

Bandor followed his gaze, noticing a straggling pair of Torch gunships struggle to keep in the fleet’s wedge formation. The Bothan sighed. Should have ran them through more drills. But orbital mechanics is no easy feat to fully master. Not only does one have to keep the altitude and direction right, but one has to know the effects of gravity of certain celestial bodies…and in this case, the handling properties, the different speed, mass, and aerodynamics of the other ships involved…still, they’re faster than us, so at least they’ll have any easier time correcting their maneuvers since they have less inertia to deal with…The Fleet surged overhead of the gray plains of Sulon to reenter the glow of the system’s star. More of the star appeared to rise in their viewports, bathing the Inferno ships in an amber glow, and glinting off the sterns of the newly appeared (to Inferno eyes) Imperial defense fleet. They don’t seemed to have noticed us yet. Probably too busy evading the long-range bombardment of our artillery frigates. The helmsman closest too Kre’fy began to mumble to Kre’fey.

“Our approach is either off by three degrees, or the Imps had changed course since we last spot them.

Kre’fey gazed at the hulls of the Imperial fleet closer. We are off, we should be directly at their sterns, but now we’re coming from their five o’clock. Not the worse position, but we could have done better…His eyes briefly spotted a pair of red blurs with a gray blob stuck in between them. Crescent Flame…they got one…Flashes of light suddenly suffused space everywhere, causing Kre’fey to involuntarily shield his eyes for a brief second. The Husdant rocked. Kre’fey desperately grabbed a handguard.

“What the hell was that?” demanded the Bothan.

“An alpha strike from the ISD. Shields absorbed most of it. We probably got lucky that they couldn’t bring all their guns to bear…”

Dha’tey stopped listening and merely saw as the fleet continued to surge forward. Fiery red streaks from the Husdant’s and Aeacus's main batteries lashed out at the opposing star destroyers rear port flank, causing a chain reaction of minute fireballs to rippled across the side of the ship. Too bad most of that fiery plasma is venting off into outer space…but the ionizing, thermal, and kinetic elements of the weapon should be giving them a new experience. Streams of blue erupted from the two battlecruisers, battering down electrical subsystems, knocking down everything from running lights to heavy turbolaser cannons with their blue lightning. The Imperial star destroyer and the rest of the beleagured gray warships grew larger in their viewport. But yet the Husdant continued to surge forward, propelled by oversized drives and Sulon’s gravity. A weapon’s officer raised his voice.

“We’ve got the lock! Go!”

His fur rippling, the Bothan clung to the railing tighter. The ship violently rocked as the inertial compensators struggled to deal with some newly added mass. Bandor lost his grip and hit the deck with a thud, feeling a slight burning sensation on his newly skinned knee. I should have strapped myself in the command chair. Sei’lar quickly helped him up, and both scrambled over to the holo-projector to see their handiwork. If the maneuver had been hard on the Husdant, it had been just as hard on the opposing star destroyer. By latching onto the other ship with its tractor beams, the Husdant had not only managed to decelerate enough to say in the battle, but it had also completely pulled the ISD out of its formation by virtue of the battlecruiser’s greater inertia. Across the battlefield, other Inferno ships had emulated the Husdant’s maneuver, completely wrecking the formations of both fleets. But whereas the Inferno Fleet had expected it, the Imperial fleet was not likely prepared to be attacked from the rear or be completely torn apart like a Nerf herd among Howlrunners.

“…We’ve lost Crimson Spark!” shouted an alien.

Kre’fey hurriedly glanced at the battlefield and almost immediately picked out the hapless gunship: it was the one whose bow had disappeared into the flank of a Cuirasseur-class heavy cruiser. Having grappled onto a larger vessel, the Spark had insufficient inertia to move the heavy cruiser, but more than enough to bring it right back to the Imperial vessel. Several red capsules jetted away from the destroyed gunship to rear echeleon of the fleet. For its part, the heavy cruiser simply disintegrated the remaining stern of the gunship into oblivion. But unlike its counterparts, many of its weapons on the collision side had fallen silent under the damage from the crash.

“Release missiles!”

Bright streaks of light emerged from vessels across the red fleet. Plasma warheads leapt from the sides of Cerberus attack cruisers and larger Efreeti battlecruisers, adding to the thermal barrage already inflicted on the Imperial fleet by the mass driver cannons. Scorching plasma burned through plate and space and alike, making certain halves of the battlefield unbearable to look at with their bright light. At the same time, general purpose warhead launchers from Phelegetons and the Efreeti launched a spam attack of ion warheads. Normally, missile defenses and interceptors would have simply shot down the bulk of the missiles. But with the Kalrechis of the fleet keeping the same defenses busy by destroying and distracting them, the Hunters disabling point defences and interceptors alike, the random and fluactuating sensor readings from Inferno’s sensor scramblers, and the sheer surprise and chaos of the attack, many slipped through Imperial defenses to weaken their ability to fight back even harder. But both fleets continued to slug it on even as Imperial starfighter reinforcements from Sullust entered the battle.

“Sir, the Crescent Flame is ready for its operation,” said an officer, “and we have their transmissions coordinated with your comlink sir. We're hacked into their channels, everyone there should here it.”

Kre’fey grabbed a comlink from his chair, “Attention Imperial Fleet, you have fought valiantly, but alas, today is not your day to shine. It is hopeless and inhumane to struggle against. Please, I beg of you to listen to your comrades in arms…”



Cerberus-class Attack Cruiser Crescent Flame, in orbit via Sulon

Syfonne glared at the chief mechanic. He didn’t need reminding now that their little snatch-and-grab maneuver to capture the picket ship had cost the cruiser its port shield emitters. The Eddel merely muttered a few choice words and scampered away with yet another team of Inferno marines to aid in damage control and repairing of the ship. Instead, the captain gazed a man wearing a uniform smeared with blood as red as Inferno Fleet’s uniforms. The battered Imperial crewman slumped down on the chair more dazed and confused than a bantha trying to make sense of an LON meeting. The man muttered into the holo-camera, convinced as much about the authenticity of the experience as much as the dozen blasters trained on him. He continued to bumble and plead.

“…they just hit us so hard…there’s no point in resistance. There’s too many of them, and they are brutal…I mean, sorry, superior to us in individual combat…”

Syfonne quietly snorted. He doubted that this man’s, or any other Imperial POW’s sobbing pleads for capitulation or peace would be enough to dissuade the Imperial fleet from fighting. How many fellow Imperials would sympathesize would be helding on a strange ship with guns pointed at them? For those who followed in Vader’s or Tarkin’s footsteps, the pleas would do nothing. At least not all of the fleet, or at least those higher-ranking officers. The typical Imperial crewman hearing and seeing the open transmission was also unlikely to not follow orders or simply try to escape the combat. More likely than not, it would distract many of the Imperials as they fought. But that was the value of propaganda, there was always more than simply what was being said. One of their own had been defeated and taken, admitted by a much more powerful force. The pleas suggested that the battle was already lost. Demoralizing. There would be no clear-cut victory this time. There would be no one-sided battle like those INS always portrayed in its media. No, this time was different.



Phlegeton-class Carrier-Destroyer Feuer, in orbit via Sulon

Captain Resi gazed out of the viewport as the bulk of Inferno Fleet surged forward to engage the Imperial defense fleet. Probably nearly every Imperial officer aboard that fleet would be busy simply trying to fend off that attack, as if they weren’t already busied by the dogfights, strafing runs, and long-range fire from the frigates. Probably nearly every eye on Sullust too focused on the same battle, whether Sullustan citizens by pirated satellite feed from Inferno Fleet, or Imperial infantry deep in their bases watching it live from the Imperial fleet’s sensors. And that all-consuming focus was key to Resi’s success.

“Ma’am, the Husdant has engaged the Imperial fleet in close combat…and the rebels have taken the star port.”

She nodded, “All right, let’s go.”

The destroyer, accompanied by a single Cerberus, let the gravity of Sulon whip it towards Sullust. Resi nervously glanced at her screen, showing the various states of the ground defenses as seen from Inferno Fleet’s makeshift survelliance net of hacked satellites. Damn it. They’re powering up…this could be bad…but we had to leave the cover of the moon sometime…hopefully our speed and the Cerberus’ ECM bursts will help us out a bit…Bolts surged up from the desolate surface to lash out at the would-be invaders, suffusing the area around the two ships with a random scattering of bolts. But a lack of good sensor data and the poor tracking speed compared to ships’ abnormally high speeds rendered most of their shots futile. The Feuer rocked as the two ships began to dip into the atmosphere.

“We’re hit!”

Resi stammered, “But how? We should have been unhittable…”

“We took a glancing blow on the bow shields…something like that was bound to happen given the sheer number of them firing…”

The Captain swore, “What did we lose?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I think an ion bolt just caused a power flux somewhere…an ion cannon probably nailed one of our turbolaser’s capacitors…”

That’s bad. Very, very bad. If we don’t fix that, we’re going to have a tenth of our craft blow up into smithereens… And we don’t know which one got hit...She silently cursed.

“Power down all of the turbolasers and see if that does anything to stop it-” ordered the captain.

“Fighter’s away!”

As the two Inferno cruisers plummeted to the ground via the shield gap opened up by the Sullustan resistance, the Feuer and her consort launched their fighter complements, sending them off to neutralize any remaining ground defenses. The weapon’s officer reported the turbolaser’s shut down, along with all of the point-defence weaponry. As soon as he had done so, the damage control officer reported an immediate drop in the consuming power surge, but not before noting that targeting computers and several power conduits on the starboard side had been completely blown out. That would require repairs at the dockyard to be fully fixed. The ground grew closer to the keel of the Feuer, revealing a crater which the capital city’s star port occupied. Less than two minutes later, the Feuer hit the ground like an oversized dropship, unleashing thousands of infantry and dozens of armored vehicles to reinforce the Alliance forces already holding the spaceport.

Mianar could swear he could see sweat beginning to bead up on Maru's face from fear and nervousness, though he kept a bravado about him, one that was quite annoying.

"I won't tell you anything. You'll kill me first." Aleister sighed. He knew it wasn't true, but, The man wanted to keep his dignity.

"Stevens, you and Kraten make sure we're not interrupted... This may get a little... Messy." Aleister pulled out a knife from his boot, and began to slowly cut open Maru's shirt.

"What are you doing?" A slightly more panicked Maru inquired.

"Its for me to know, and you to feel...that is, unless you want to give us the information we desire." Aleister gently pressed the tip of the blade to Maru's skin, causing it to break the skin, just enough for a small amount of blood to pool to the surface.

"This is just the beginning."

As Stevens and Kraten turned, they saw a two man patrol wearing Alliance Gear enter the room.

"No, Mr Gray, I'm afraid, Thats the end. We have our orders to escort Mr Maru Out of this facility to an undisclosed location." Mianar could recognize that sneer anywhere. Col. Steln Jiern. A man who Aleister never could understand how he ended up as part of the Alliance... Then again, Aleister guessed thats exactly why they took him in the first place.

"You are lucky, Mr Maru... Where you're going will be like a hotel compared to what I had in store for you."

Aleister allowed the Colonel to take Maru, and he motioned to Stevens and Kraten.

"Provide rear guard for them until they get off world. We'll rendezvous here, where it appears some of our comrades could use some backup."

sorry wrong ID

Deep space - twenty two light minutes outside the Sullust system.

The light of Sullust's sun shown dimly in the distance on the assembled fleet. Never before had 3rd fleet been brought together for one action. This was a shift from the normal tactic used by alliance command. Six battle groups sat silently in space awaiting the order to jump. Each having its own set of co-ordinates and orders once in the system. On the view screen scenes from a battle just beginning could be seen. The alliance's Secret Inferno fleet had engaged the imperials near one of the moons orbiting Sullust. Green and red bolts could be seen as well as the blue/white static bolt of ion cannons. The feed from the hacked satellite was being sent via the hyper transceiver link from the Hawkeye. As the flagship of the 3rd fleet moved closer to the battle more and more action could be seen.

Line Captain Talmi stood watching the feed and taking in the situation as best he could with the data given him. He turned to his XO and ordered for the display to be shut down. The time was growing near for them to be called to action. He could tell by the pace with which the battle was moving.

"Commander Lock down all non essential areas and seal up the ship. Instruct the rest of the battle group to do so as well."

The officer carried out his orders with out a word. Talmi stood once again silently looking out at the dim star in the distance. Soon would be time for war.



Advanced Destroyer Hawkeye

Inside the cavernous hanger of the Hawkeye men and women began to form up into companies sized formations. These were the men and women of the Alliance 45th Pathfinders, The 29th HWS (Heavy Weapons Specialists), and the Alliance 8th Engineering Regiments. The best Alliance Spec force had to offer. Men and women stood proud and ready to receive the words of the man standing at the for of the hanger. The gruff looking figure stood shorter than most of the men next to him but his charisma was second to none. He stood for a moment then looked out over the troops before him.

"Men and women of the alliance, I stand before you today humbled by pride and honor of you, the people assembled before me. I have fought many battles. I have tasted death and spat it from my mouth! I did not like the taste."

A small quiet outbreak of laughter nearly broke out as General Forlon smiled at the audience.

"I have tasted the blood of man and my soul has been bathed in war. I am here to tell you that today is the finest day I have known. I look out over this group of volunteer soldiers and my heart, a tough and hardened heart I remind you, is softened. I want you to know that with each meter of ground we take a measure of pride and honor will be equally bestowed upon you and the entire Alliance. We are here to liberate a fringed planet imprisoned by tyrants. A world slaved to arrogant and disillusioned men who know no better. They thing the Imperial way is the key to filling their coffers with credits. they think the power the gain can wash the soul clean of the crimes they do. Let us go now and free our friend, our family, even our enemy from the strangle hold which has been mistakenly thrust upon them. We all know our job. We are trained, ready, and more than able to carry out the task before us. So I say lets go and shine the light of freedom on Sullust once again!"

The troopers broke out in a cheer as Forlon's voice and charismatic speech reached a climax. All around men and women began to fall out and move to their companies holding zone. Three companies moved away from the rest and walked into the massive aft port hanger bay. On the floor of the bay twelve Old LAAT/i transports sat facing each other in a double row of six gunboats. Next to them a LAAT/c was coupling up to a Mole Miner. the massive digging machine looked like a building. only the small treads under the boxy frame and the spinning disc of the digging assembly made it look like anything other than a permacrete bunker. The doors of the LAATs stood open. At the doors of each the Platoon commanders of each company began shouting out Platoon assignments. The men and women ran to their assigned transport and boarded. Each equipped and ready to fight for the alliance, the people of Sullust, and for each other.

Reshmar looked over the latest data and watched on the display as Admiral Kre'Fey and Inferno Fleet assailed the defending imperial forces. The Hawkeye was clear of the asteroid field and was moving at flank speed towards the far side of the planet. Inferno fleet and the Imperials had now moved into Sullusts shadow and were no longer visible on the forward view cameras. What was visible was the Golan Two battle station which was position between the Hawkeye and the planet.

As Inferno fleet attacked the defense fleet the station had launched its fighter wing to assist the defense group. Now with the Hawkeye out of any sensor shadows and very visible to the station its fighters had been recalled and now moved to intercept the Hawkeye.

"Commander, Lunch green and blue squadron and have them intercept those incoming fighters. Also send word to the Kirov Battle Group that it may jump in and take up position."

As the Admirals orders were carried out small icons began to appear on the display. The twenty four New T-65E BD2 Xwings moved into small four ship flights and closed on the nearing Imperial Fighters.

"Weapons Range Sir!"

The chief weapons officer called out only seconds before six starships reverted from hyperspace and began moving into formation. It did not take the Imperial commander on the Battle Station long to notice the ships within range of its heavy guns. Green blots of energy shout out and raced towards the Hawkeye and her new companions.

"Admiral, Kirov Battle Group reports all ships present and moving into alpha nine position."

A smirk came to Reshmars bulbous face. What was a smile for a Calamari only looked like an expression of pain. On the tactical display six new contacts lit up and were given data tags.

On the displays to Reshmars left and right he could see the two old CIS Recusant Destroyers and four Munificent Frigates moving up beside him in an Line Abreast formation. The old ships were new additions to the fleet and Reshmar was proud to have them fighting along beside him.

"Helm, all Stop, Hold position and bring the bow down thirty degrees."

Reshmar's order was sent to the bridge and the massive hulk of the ship began to slow. In the depths of the ship and the emptiness of space pitch the crew had no way of knowing the declination of the ship and the slow movement into a forward down angle went unnoticed to all who were not watching it on a display. The ship nose now pointed off away from the planet and station at a slight angle. Though this made a larger silhouette for the gunners on the station it brought all eight of the heavy batteries of the Hawkeye into firing position.

"Open Fire!"

Reshmar shouted out as excitement took hold and he was fully engaged in battle. The eight main batteries of the Hawkeye began spraying energy bolts at the battle station in the distance. rippled of energy could be seen as the Heavy fire impacted on the shields of the station. At the same time the hull beneath Reshmars feet shook as fire from the station fell on the Hawkeye. The foes exchanged volleys between them as the fighter wings made contact out in the distance.

The new X-wings were the most advanced fighter the alliance had. They had stat of the art weapons, shielding, armor, countermeasures, and the best pilots available. As the six four ship formations made contact with the incoming imperial fighters the first run proved positive the new X-wings were the best. five imperial fighters had vanished from the tactical display. it was not unit another ten imperial fighters were gone that the first of the X-wings disappeared from the display. they proved to be a better craft than their imperial counterpart but the almost four to one odds soon became obvious and one by one the X-wings were disabled or destroyed. The kill ration was on their side but numbers were not.

As the last of the old CIS ships moved into post ion the massive forward weapons of the old ships opened up and added to the already punishing barrage of the Hawkeye. Imperial fighters had now pushed their way back and were within range of the defensive batteries of the group of ships before them. The last of the Imperials fighter never knew what hit them as point defense laser and Flak mass drivers blanketed the space before them. With the barrage in front and the remaining X-wings behind the Imperials soon feel and were no more.

"Admiral the stations shields are failing."

Reshmar turned as the a Weapons officer spoke. The smile once again returned. He had lost his odd smile as the men and women of Green and Blue squadron lost their lives but now it was time to repay the imperials.

"Have the Munficent's open fire."

Reshmars orders were transmitted and within seconds massive bolts of charges energy exploded out and at the station. Reshmar watched as the long ranged heavy ion cannons of the frigates began to pound the station with energy.

"Let the assault group know they may jump in now."

In the hanger men and women ran to prepare the group for launch. First the twelve A-wings launched from the Starboard forward bay fallowed by twenty four K-wing's from both port hangers. The assault wing of the Hawkeye moved out away from the ship and towards Sullust. Shortly after forty eight LAAT/i assault transports began to leave the hanger on their way towards the planet.



Above Sullust

With a blast of light the remaining ships of 3rd fleet reverted from hyperspace near Sullust. Immediately the planetary defense batteries began firing on the ships.
fire erupted like a carnival week fireworks display on Coruscant. From what seemed like an uncountable number of locations on the planet turbolasers, ion cannons, even a hypervelocity cannon began to pound on the ships of 3rd fleet.

With a massive blast of fire and energy a round from the hypervelocity cannon struck the lead Nebula Class Star Destroyer midship just forward of the hanger. The shields had held but the massive power of the weapon had taken its toll. Shields were now at forty seven percent and three of the ten projectors had shorted out.

The ships of 3rd fleet took a moment to organize and return fire. What came after their re-organizing was nothing less than a shower of death. Hundreds of weapons emplacements rained fire down on the imperial weapons. They were heavily shielded but the massive barrage was the unstoppable force to their unmovable object. From the bowels of the fleet forty eight K-wings launched and joined the assault wing from Hawkeye. Squadrons of Interceptors and fighters launched and took up positions escorting the bombers or protecting the fleet.

With a second blast from the Hypervelocity cannon and concentrated fire from other planetary weapons the shields of the Destroyer failed and the hull was exposed to fire from the planet. Ion blasts struck the hull and enveloped it in a dancing fire of blue energy. Turbolasers struck the armor and singed the hull black just before the armor melted and opened the interior of the ship to vacuum. Fire from the Destroyer blazed in small open sores spread over the hull. A third blast from the Hypervelocity cannon cracked threw the ships like a dagger sending its energy in the dorsal hull and out the ventral.

Aboard the Hawkeye, Reshmar watched with dread as the hull of the Tigress split and two halves of the ship moved away from each other. life pods shot out from te dead ship as the gun crew of the massive cannon on the surface targeted another ship and awaited the magnetic coils of the hypervelocity gun to recharge.

"Have all ships target that gun emplacement. Weaken that shield and send the assault wing to take care of it."

Reshmars orders once again were sent threw the fleet and the men and women moved to carry them out. Beams of energy lanced down at the area of the planet the Hypervelocity gun had been placed. The massive weapon was not hard to find. As turbolasers pounded the shields twenty one of the twenty four K-wings from Hawkeyes assault group had made it threw the shield and flew along the planet. the bombers maneuvered between large hills and gorges and just as the weapon shot another round into space they climbed over the last mountain and down at the waiting gun emplacement. seconds after the K-wings peaked the moiuntain flak batteries and laser cannons began filling the air before them with death. Two K-wings collided as they tried to move around massive Flak clouds. The crews of the bombers let lose a hail of plasma torpedoes and Concussion missiles at the now recharging battery. the pilots of the bombers cut to the left and right of the facility as the combined mix of plasma and Concussion missiles brought down the shielding of the weapon and impacted.

An explosion racked the planet as the power core of the gun exploded. The plum of fire and energy spread out at the speed of light engulfing three of the slower K-wings. From orbit the explosion looked like a small country had exploded. The energy wave spread out over the mountain side and took out ion cannons and turbolasers unfortunate enough to be positioned close to the massive cannon.

gunships from the fleet joined the K-wings above the surface hunting the planetary weapons. As larger wholes were blasted in the planetary shielding two massive Acclamator MkII assault ships escorted by two CC9600 frigates moved from the aft of the fleet and began to descend towards the planet. Fire from the planetary weapons which had been targeting the larger destroyers now tracked the four assault ships. Turbolaser exploded against the shields of the ships as the cleared the fleet and began moving into the planets atmosphere. The assault ships slowly made there way to the star port and the rest of the alliance forces. One of the frigates had suffered a major hit and was smoking as fire spread over the port side. As it sat down on the starport a small explosion sparked an internal fuel cell and the ship exploded. Shrapnel and fire were thrown over a five hundred meter area as the burning hull of the ship slowly disappeared into the cloud of fire and smoke. The second of the frigates sat down along with the two assault ships. the loss of an entire regiment was unimaginable yet it had happened. twelve hundred men and women gone in the blink of an eye.

Reshmar stood quietly as he watched the frigate explode. Such a waste of life, such a terrible tragedy. He was responsible for those men and women and he had no one else to blame but himself for their deaths.

The planets weapons were one by one being taken care of and the orbiting station had been disabled. The majority of the troops made it planet side and even with unexceptionable Losses the men and women of 3rd fleet cheered. They had landed an army while the defense fleet was distracted by Inferno Fleet. This was their mission and now it was done.

Reshmar was sick and in the pit of his stomach ached for the people he had lost. Intelligence had said nothing about a hypervelocity cannon nor had they expected the planet to have so many defensive batteries. The intel people had really messed up. and because of it Reshmar had gotten men and women under his command killed. He would be sure to mention this once he was back at Command. Now all he could do is wrap up the landing and move to assist Inferno fleet.

Less than one light year from Sullust
SS-SSD Tyrannus


"Is that all of them?" Colonel-General Wesley Vos, black armor seeming to draw in the very darkness of space, inquired of the Admiral next to him. They had arrived at the Sullust system nearly three hours earlier and had immediately sent Phantom-IIs to scout the surrounding area. Lying well outside sensor range, the Phantoms had observed the movements of the Rebel fleets, their tactics and positions, recorded them, then jumped back to the fleet coordinates to report. The last Phantom, from Sullust itself, had just transmitted its data.

Admiral Typton, commander of the SS fleet, hesitated for a moment as he glanced over the manifest and the report files. His light gray uniform, though not the lightest of colors, stood in stark contrast to the black armor beside him. His face, hardened by war, loosened slightly in a smile. "Yes, General," he replied finally. "And if I may, General, now would be the perfect opportunity. It appears to be a fleet of unknowns - certainly not Coalition or Cree'Ar, and not anything like the Confederation vessels we've seen. Probably a rebel group. Some are similar to ships engaged by Captain Malice in Oversector Outer. They seem to be in the middle of landing troops; if we jump in now, we should be able to catch them oriented towards the planet. We'll have them trapped, like the Cree'Ar had us trapped at Coruscant."

Wes contemplated his options for a moment. He had hoped to catch the Cree'Ar here, but it appeared that fate had offered him another target. As far as ship strength went, he was certainly at a disadvantage; though if he waited for Thorton's fleet, they would be in a worse tactical position. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, he nodded. "Comm all ships, we are go for the attack. Orders Alpha Three Four Three, Battle Plan Six Four Seven, Variant Seven Point One. Let's go kill some rebels."





Sullust


Three minutes and seventy-five seconds after this order, one Imperial Star Destroyer V - the Astrus class - two Stalwart-class frigates, and an Interdictor cruiser dropped out of hyperspace. At full sublights, they throttled towards the rear of the newly arrived Third Fleet. Well before they reached firing range, the Super Turbolasers of the ISD V opened up on the fleet, slamming into the shields of the largest ships. Those on board the Rebel ships, having never faced an ISD V, hardly knew what had hit them. No ship should be able to fire at that range!

Yet they were. And now, as the attacking ships slowed, the Interdictor powered up its gravity generators, centered not on the Third Fleet but next to it. Even as the commanders wondered how to react to this apparent Imperial ineptitude, turbolaser blasts lit up their shields at nearly point blank range. The rest of the SS fleet had arrived.


SS-SSD Tyrannus


Seventy-five seconds. That was all it took to jump the short distance from the launch point to the battle. Weapons were primed, shields raised, crews ready at battle stations. For that terrible, long minute and fifteen seconds, Wes stood at his command post, next to the Admiral, wondering what exactly would happen next.

It was then that the ship was jerked out of hyperspace by their own Interdictor.

"Fire!" came the command over the intercomm. Over two-thousand turbolaser batteries and two-thousand heavy turbolaser batteries fired as soon as they could come to bear on an enemy vessel. They were less than a kilometer from the enemy fleet, and with the magnifying computer-focused sights on each cannon, it was nearly impossible to miss. Around them, the two ISD V's and their complements were doing the same, slamming round after round of turbolaser fire into the enemy fleet.

"Drop ventral shields, launch all fighters!"

The shields covering the starfighter bays beneath the behemoth ship lowered, and the SS fighters and bombers that had been ready and waiting launched immediately. Wave after wave of the fast, powerful, and deadly TIE Schutzstaffel poured out, followed by the slower but deadlier TIE Hurrikane and, lastly, by the powerful TIE Storm bomber. Many of the Hurrikanes immediately assumed an escort formation around their capital ships, ready to use their turret cannons to devastate any enemy fighter coming in range. The Schutzstaffels pushed both engines to maximum and made directly for the enemy fighter formations, which were now reorienting towards the new fleet.

In the lead fighter, Commander Sarus, veteran of Coruscant, examined the X-wings speeding towards them. They seemed a bit faster, better shielded, and better armed than the standard model. No matter; his ships were simply better.

Dropping his fighter into a snap-roll and quick dive, he quickly pulled up and fired all six cannons at full power into the hull of a slower X-wing. Three quick volleys, and he was rewarded by the sight of the enemy fighter simply breaking apart, then exploding two seconds later. Another roll out of the way of the red death of a second X-wing, then a quick loop to get on its tail. Seconds later, another X-wing was nothing but slag.

This was a good day. A third fighter died, its cockpit shot away, exposing its pilot to vaccuum, before the first red laser even touched Sarus's shields. He snap-rolled right, then left again, moving into a split-S maneuver. With the speed and maneuverability of the SS fighter, most pilots would have been shaken; not this one. He stayed with Sarus, lasers spitting red bolts all around the SS fighter. Sarus kept juking, trying every trick he knew, but this pilot anticipated his every move.

Now it might not be such a good day.

Then the pursuing fighter exploded under a barrage of fire from Sarus's wingmate. "Thanks, Arduss," he commed.

"My pleasure," came the reply. "Now, if you don't mind..."

Arduss flipped his fighter and sent a rapid stream of green bolts searing through another X-wing that had attempted to sneak up on his rear. The enemy pilot spun away, all four cannons gone and three engines smoking. He was out of the fight.

In the lead Hurrikane, Commander Radtur, another veteran of the Coruscant battle, saw two squadrons of fighters slip around the main battle and head for the Tyrannus. "Chear and Xyned Squadrons, break off. Let's smoke some Rebs."

Heeling his fighter over, he led his squadron straight at the approaching X-wings. Shifting his shields forward, he powered his craft directly at the enemy fighters. At the last instant, he - followed by his squadron - dipped his nose to slip under the approaching formation. At that instant, the turret gunners fired, their repeating cannons tearing the enemy formation to shreds. Only four of the twelve craft made it through the barrage.

Radtur pulled back on the stick, keeping the remaining four fighters in his gunner's sights. Another one disappeared under the stream of fire before the generator gave out. "Recharge time, Sir," came the voice from the turret.

Radtur nodded. "Affirmative. I'll take the next one myself." Completing his roll, he pushed the thrusters to full and locked on to one of the X-wings. Pulling the secondary trigger, he launched a proton torpedo at the craft and instantly obtained a second lock, which prompted another torpedo. At this short distance, the pilots had no time to react; both vanished in a ball of flame. The last two were taken by the remaining Hurrikanes.

Radtur smiled as his ships returned to escort formation. They'd only lost three of twelve, and two of those pilots were EV, waiting for pickup. This was a good day.

Back on the bridge, Wes and Typton were reviewing the tactical holo feeds. "It appears they are very interested in that spaceport," Wes said as he watched another lander disgorge troops. "What say we deny them their prize?"

Typton nodded. "Let's worry about the rest of those ships, though, first, shall we? All ships," this into the intercom, "withdraw and reorient for defensive maneuvers. Prepare to fire on any approaching ships. In case of tractor-beams, implement Defensive Maneuver Valinor Three. Otherwise, Standard Six Four Eight Alpha."

The Imperial ships began a fighting withdrawal from the devastated Third Fleet, reorienting as they did so towards the two remaining enemy formations. Now the numbers were more even.

Five hours after Inferno Fleet initially jumped into the Sullust System…

SoroSuub Headquarters, Sulon

Sturm watched as an Alliance team ushered Sei Maru into an Inferno Fleet shuttle. Sturm locked eyes with one of its red-clad marines. He set his mouth. Mercenaries. Why the hell does Command use them? I suppose I’d rather see them dead than one of our own, but still. Never know what those idiots are really going to do…the ramp closed, and the shuttle jetted off into space before jumping into hyperspace and to the Unknown regions. He glanced at SoroSuub freighter just requisitioned from the HQ. Now it was loaded with the design mainframes kept at the HQ. It too lifted off and jumped into hyperspace to a deep space rendezvous point. One of the Alliance team members strode up to him.

“Everything is away that needs to be boss.”

Sturm nodded, “There’s nothing left for us there that SoroSuub can’t handle for itself,” decided Sturm, “let’s go.”

The rest of the team piled into a pair of waiting CEC-built YM-series transports. As the ships jetted away from Sulon, the last Alliance elements had abandoned their occupation of Sulon. A hour later, Sturm found himself with some other members of his team setting foot on Sullust.

Four hours after Inferno Fleet’s initial jump into the Sullust System…

Hunter/i-class Starfighter Mako Nine, in orbit via Sulon

“Hold on, I’ve got it!”

Rush Anarth slammed his piloting yoke to the port side, jetting out of the way twin streams of emerald laser fire. His alarm klaxon went off again. Oh come one, not again…The klaxon abruptly ceased, causing Rush to glance at his sensor board. He actually got that guy off me…I’d say that’s a good start. Anarth realize that he was accidentally surging towards one of the Imperial frigates. He held one of the triggers, indiscriminately spraying dual streams of ion cannon fire at the ship; it wouldn’t like do too much to the ship, but it may knock minor subsystems like a turret’s comlink system or a sensor, which combined with the rest of the starfighter’s strafing it in similar movements, had to create at least a bit of havoc in simply trying to keep the already damaged ship still running. A quartet of crimson-colored Kalrechis swooped in, haphazardly performing Segnor’s Loops as the dampened Imperial defensive fire attempted to drive the heavily armored starfighters off. Shrugging, he checked his sensor board for more appropriate targets.

Frak it. It’s still mostly jammed up with ghost signals and conflicting readings. He noted a single Tie starfighter attempting to pick off one the Kalrechis strafing the frigate. He snorted. You’ll do. He glanced at it closer, noting that oddly enough, only one of its laser cannons was working. It’s already been hit by a Hunter…or sabotage? Who knows? He goosed the Hunter towards the starfighter and tapped a trigger. A burst of indiscernible slugs shot into the void to pepper the Tie’s immediate area. Most of the missed, but one pierced right the Tie’s viewport; shattering glass and what Rush thought was its flight console. Its one laser cannon still firing, the Tie careened out of the battle to plummet to the rocky ground below.



Four hours after Inferno Fleet’s initial jump into the Sullust System…

Efreeti-class Battlecruiser Husdant, in orbit via Sulon

“Direct hit!”

The battlecruiser rocked even as those words echoed throughout the bridge. The lights briefly dimmed out, forcing the consoles and holo-projectors to provide the bridge’s only illumination. Kre’fey briefly wondered if the bridge looked like a starscape with the lights off, but before he could form a solid thought, the most of the lights were back on; bathing the bridge in a subdued crimson light. Kre’fey muttered.

“What the hell just happened?”

“That Imp’s punched through our shielding, but just for a second.”

“A second too long!” snarled Kre’fey, glancing at a flashing area on his diagnostic screen, “now we have a frakking radiation leak in one of our port thruster sections.”

“The SDCS has it contained,” reported his damage control officer, “and the droid repair crews are already working on it. The engine crews in that area are getting out there though, so we’ll only have automated control.”

“Roll over to our portside,” demanded Kre’fey, “I’d be willing that those shields are less battered than our starboard’s right now.”

“Aye sir.”

Sei’lar pointed at the enemy star destroyer, “They don’t seem to be doing better than us either.”

Trapped between both the broadsides of the Aeacus and the Husdant, the star destroyer had suffered from their bulk of the battlecruisers’ combined firepower. Plasma fire had melted off entire chunks of hull, leaving a multitude of holes from which streams of white-gray gas vented out. Kre’fey snorted. That can’t be good for the ship’s crew, to be losing that much atmosphere. He tapped a few buttons on his screen, zooming in on the superstructure just ahead of the star destroyer’s conning tower, where white and black flecks seemed to intermix with the ship’s atmosphere. One of the flecks resolved itself into a stormtrooper, who grappled onto a piece of debris hurtling away from the ship. Kre’fey winced. He must have an emergency air supply, but by the maker, what a way to die…. Lost in the void, bound to die of suffocation, of cold, a burst of stellar radiation, a random piece of shrapnel…

“The star destroyer is attempting to break out of our tractor beams’ grips,” shouted a crewman, “they’re really pumping everything into their engines!”

Kre’fey glanced at the stern of the star destroyer. Aside from the trio of blue engines, Bandor noticed that the four emergency engines were blazing too. That can’t be good for their hull, all that stress from being pulled apart from both the Aeacus and Husdant and trying to jet away from the battle can’t be good for the hull…it’s going to be structurally unsound at this rate. Bandor glanced at his screen. They’re not firing at us? Ah…routed all their weapons power to the engines. Frak, it’s actually moving us…He cleared his throat.

“Release the tractor beam locks on that star destroyer,” ordered Kre’fey, “and tell the Aeacus to do the same.”

The weapon’s officer muttered a few choice words under his breath.

“Forget it Briggs,” said the bothan, “we’re not going for a confirmed kill. We’re aiming for a victory. The two are vastly different things. Nor would I rather kill any more people than I have to win. Refocus all batteries, and fire at will.”

As the star destroyer jetted away from the moon and destruction, the two battlecruisers set their firepower to the rest of the smaller Imperial vessels, devastating ships already caught into close, pitched battles. Plasma fire from the Aeacus slashed into one of the Cuirasseur-class heavy cruisers, completely melting the spar that connected the engine block to the rest of the warship. Once the Imperial warship was bisected, the Aeacus gave the front half of the cruiser a downward shove with its tractor beam, sending the engineless piece plummeting to the ground. Escape pods jetted off from both pieces amid the battle, with no sanctuary to be found. The Husdant split up its plasma fire, equalizing and overcompensating for firepower lacked by individual Inferno ships as they dueled their counterparts. But it focused its ion cannon batteries on a single frigate-sized vessel. Blue lightning continually waxed and waned across the gray hull; blowing out capacitors and frying circuit boards: running lights and weapons fire alike blinked out of existence. Kre’fey spared a glance at Sei’lar.

“You know better than I. Think we have a chance of capturing it?”

Sei’lar shrugged, “A ship that size can’t have more than a thousand troopers, and that’s assuming it also doubles like a transport, something like a star galleon. I say that’s a distinct possibility once the fighting dies down, and if we have the troops available. You do think that they could be better used at Sullust, do you not?”

Kre’fey’s fur rippled back and forth like the lightning on the Imperial frigate. No. The resistance should be able to hold their own. Especially with all we’re giving them. No, we have to look out for ourselves and our own goals in this case. The bothan mimicked a human shrug.

“We’ll see,” said the admiral, “but I think the resistance is pretty competent. We might have even given them more help than they needed…”

Four hours after Inferno Fleet’s initial jump into the Sullust System…

On Sullust…

Even as increasingly loud comlink chatter filled his helmet, Sergeant Lawless looked up at the rapidly ascending crimson hulk of Feuer. Even as it ascended, starships continued to stream out of its side. The Inferno marine thought he saw a pair of YT-1300s and a Skipray blastboat surged out of the carrier’s hold. But suddenly, the Feuer stopped moving upwards. Lawless frowned. Repulsorlift failure? That could be really bad right now…A set of four blue blobs shot out of the ship’s side to descend to the earth. Or rather, to the four AT-ATs marching upon the space port. The capital-grade proton torpedoes were too powerful for the walkers to withstand. The fireballs formed by the explosions faded, leaving only blackened parts of the walker legs still standing; grotesque monuments testifying to the power of fleet fire support. A roaring cheer went up across the motley horde of Inferno troops. Lawless glanced around him, noticing that most of his Inferno marines were the only ones immediately not cheering. Using the zoom function of his helmet, the marine could tell that the other crimson-armored marines, a minority in the first wave of the ground forces, were the only ones not cheering. Probably professionalism. Or acknowledgement that some people on the other side are more like us than those on our own side. He glanced at golden-skinned Saurton toting a heavy blaster rifle and an overly large bandolier. The alien jogged past him, continuing to revel in the first repulse of Imperial forces. A human resistance fighter off of Entrus followed in his wake, brandishing his weapon and likewise continuing the cry. On the other side of the sergeant, a pair of TIE Crawlers with crimson stripes, captured from Fossk, rumbled by, and the troops in front of the tanks scattered to get out of their way. Two ULAVs floated in their wake. Lawless winced. The best old Imperial equipment money can buy. Not that they aren’t deadly enough, but we’re kind of lacking in the vehicle firepower department. What? We have a half-dozen T4-Bs? Or did Kre’fey actually end up giving us more of those? Probably doesn’t matter if intelligence is right. He began jogging with his marines out of the starport.

For the first time since landing, the sergeant glanced at Sullust itself. The spaceport itself resembled most of starports he had seen across the mid rim; mostly open but with the occasionally docking bays with duracrete dividers and walls. Several duracrete control towers rose above the landing areas. To Lawless’s eyes, they seemed slightly stylistically different, but part of it could have been the prominent SoroSuub logos plastered on each one. But up ahead looked vastly different from most planets. They weren’t moving across ground, but rather into it.

Tunnels and caverns.

It looks a lot like Essowyn, except not nearly as squalid. No wonder Kre’fey argued for the Saurtons to be at the fore-front of the attack, not that they needed much persuading…Just at the neck of the cavern that led into the capitol city itself, both sides traded blaster fire, with the golden-skinned Saurtons leading a ferocious charge against a platoon of stormtroopers. Unlike the perhaps reckless aliens, the Imperial fighters took cover wherever they could, picking off rebel fighters that came too close to their positions. Damn it. And I had to bring a proton torp tube instead of a rifle. Lawless swung his launcher on its sling to his back, and drew his DL-44 blaster pistol. He toggled his comlink.

“Someone tell the Saurtons to hold, just for once,” demanded Gabriel, “they’re not helping us by dying…”

“I think someone’s already doing that, boss.”

A set of Tie Crawlers advanced past many of the Saurtons to the neck of the cavern, blasting away at the Imperial positions with blasters and turbolaser cannons. The tanks’ attacks pierced through the stormtroopers’ covering walls and information kiosks. To wreck further havoc on the garrison troops, three of the ULAVs hovered over the tanks to begin lightning raids on any of the stormtroopers continuing to try and hold their position. Laser, blaster, and grenade fire from the repulsorlift vehicles threw the Imperial forces in disarray. One stormtrooper, wielding a PLEX, fired a missile at one of the ULAVs. But the missile just missed the repulsorlift vehicle and hit the ground instead, buffeting the rebel CAV off track. The CAV smacked into a duracrete wall, and went still. The stormtrooper leveled his missile launcher to get off another shot, but was promptly cut down by a torrent of blaster fire from the Saurtons, who had just renewed their charge.

“Sergeant, get onboard!”

Gabriel glanced sideways at an awaiting freerunner painted in crimson. Nodding, he motioned for his men to mount up in the APC. No sooner had he dropped into a seat when the vehicle lurched forward. He glanced around, noting that several other of the same decades vehicles accompanied him. They passed the Tie Crawlers holding the main entrance into the capitol city. Multiple ULAVs closed in around the freerunners. Above, a pair of crimson Kalrechi starfighters squeezed through a narrow gap at the height of the cavern’s cathedral like ceiling. The rebel armored convoy surged through the streets, forcing most civilian repulsorlift traffic to scatter. One robo-hack refused to get out of the rebels’ way, forcing the rebel vehicles to pass the stubborn droid by hovering over it. As they passed through the streets, the Inferno marine noted several stormtroopers laying on the ground, with charred holes marring their armor. None of them moved. It looks like the resistance has been active. Probably gunning them down from building tops or windows by the looks of it. Yet glancing at the squat buildings, he could discern any resistance fighters. But they’ve got to be there. They have to be. Several blocks later, he glanced at the driver.

“Where the hell are we headed?” questioned Lawless, “and where did the Imps go?”

The driver snorted, “We caught them a bit offguard. They thought no-one would deactivate the shield generators to let us in, so for the most part, they haven’t gotten much of a chance to move out of their main garrison base. Those on patrol have pretty much gone missing, courtesy of the native resistance, and well, we took care of those guarding the starport. Those Imps that have survived have been known to be fleeing to the main garrison base; probably pretty safe there behind layers of armor and automated weapons.”

“But how do we know that?”

“Fleet intel won’t tell me that,” said the driver, “but it’s something like PRAISE? I don’t know, it’s just what the other guys have been saying. I don’t know, it’s just above my pay grade.”

Lawless leaned back in his seat, “I’m guessing that’s where we’re going?”

“Yes sir, the rest of the army is taking care of smaller Imperial outposts in the area or taking vital areas…oh crap!”

The freerunner in front of them exploded violently, tossing crimson-clad bodies into the buildings around them. Lawless’ freerunner violently jerked to the side to avoid hitting the wreck. The two Kalrechis above them unleashed a torrent of chain ion cannon fire and a set of missiles in front of the convoy. As his freerunner passed through the smoke of the freerunner’s blazing wreck, Gabriel became aware of an Imperial armor column standing in front of them. Or rather, part of an Imperial armor column. The front line of vehicles did not seemed to have faired too well against the resistance starfighters’ attacks. One enemy tank was missing a turret. One was missing its entire front half. All of them sported gouts of flame. But emerald laser fire erupted from behind those hulks to indiscriminately lash out at the rebel ground forces. Lawless felt his vehicle vibrate as the freerunner’s own batteries returned fire; most of its fire tearing up the already destroyed Imperial vehicles, much like their Imperial counterparts. But every now then, a bolt would safely pass through the wrecks to actually hit its intended target. And above them all, the Kalrechis hovered like angels of death; raining down destruction.



Six hours after Inferno Fleet’s initial jump into the Sullust System…

Hunter-class Starfighter Mako Nine, in orbit via Sulon

“…copy that, I spot six escape pods heading down at roughly eight-point-one-two-niner,” said Anarth, “look pretty small. I’d guess they’re from one of the pickets-”

“Gunship Torchfire acknowledges, we are in the process of intercepting those pods…”

He heard a dull thud emanate from his portside wing. Glancing to the side, the Inferno pilot noticed that he had managed to snag the body of a decompressed stormtrooper on his wing. He stomped on his break, sending the white-clad body flying forward among the debris of the battle. Anarth stared into the disappearing blacks of the helmet’s eyes, wondering the man’s story. What had drove him here to seek a life among the starry void? What series of unfortunate events had sent him plummeting among them? Rush winced. That man’s body is never going to be recovered. Wonder what his parents are going to think? He winced again. If he even has parents…they say the Empire just makes humans now like factories stamp out droids. Has life really become that cheap to them? He shook his head. Just ahead of him, one of the Torch Gunships grappled onto the Imperial escape pods he had just spotted. Even as his comlink cackled, Rush goosed his Hunter forward.

“…Mako Nine here, I’ve spotted one of our pilots EVA. Requesting rescue assistance immeditately…”

Nearly five and half hours in the cockpit. The man wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. By the maker, I couldn’t dogfight well if I wanted to. Let’s hope no Imp decides to pull a fast now on me. His eyes glanced back and forth from his sensor scope and to outside his fighter’s bubble canopy. Gray metal and red shards seemed to dominate this section of wasted space. He realized that he was passing by where the Spark had met its demise: half destroyed in collision, half destroyed by Imperial turbolaser fire from the very ship it had crashed into. Not that that ship had ended up faring any better, its superstructure now separated. Like one of its sisterships, its engine block now freely floated among the stars whiles its bow section had partially burned up upon atmospheric reentry to the moon. If anything else had managed to survive the reentry, Rush was willing to bet that it now lay twisted and wrecked upon Sulon’s surface.

“Attention Mako squadron, the Admiral is relieving you of duty. You are to return to the Husdant immediately. Goldfire squadron will be taking your place with SAR duties.”

Rush barely chimed in on the squadron members acknowledgement of the new orders. Damn it. Where was Chris’ voice to let me know that I was next in line to report in? Stupid. Just stupid. Well, I guess he at least feels safe now, his body floating among the void. I wonder if I will see him, on my way back? No, I can’t…it’s just impossible…Rush lightly pulled at his control yoke to send the fighter in a gentle loop around the derelict hull of wrecked Torch gunship. Mako Nine's craft jetted among the debris to towards the Husdant.

The crimson warship seemed to lord over the remains of the battle, its foes either vanquished or having fled the system. Anarth had been pleased to learn that the star destroyer had managed to just limp out of the system. Though in its damaged state, Rush wondered if it would even be capable of making a hyperjump to any nearby Imperial dockyard. Its compatriots had fared less well, caught up in the vengeful fire of the red invaders. Most of the Imperial ships had eked out of the battle less than intact if they had in fact survived, though a medium-sized vessel in front of him seemed nearly pristine. He briefly wondered if he was nearing an ambush, but the constant flow of crimson-clad shuttles and transports from that ship and the Husdant allayed his fears somewhat. As he neared the battlecruiser’s ventral hangar bay, he could make out the blips of other Mako squadron Hunters. Ten of us left. That’s pretty good, but we are an elite squadron, I bet the rest of the fleet isn’t as lucky. Hopefully the reserve pilots will at least have some ships to fly…at least none of us seemed too damaged…but the chief is definitely going to have to take a look at more port stabilizer...that Tie really got lucky there…what are the chances of it severing the auxiliary controls? A tractor beam gripped his starfighter to pull it into the Efreeti, and Rush stopped caring about anything related to the battle.