“The storm…is coming” Griff mused to himself as he stared out the viewport and the swirls of hyperspace beyond it.

The only other person in the room, Admiral Keyan put down his cup of Correlian Brandy and looked up at him.

“Yes. It is finally time”

“The trace was completed?” Griff asked, not turning his gaze from the swirls.

“Yes. We have the location.”

“The Jutraalian Empire has held up their end?” Griff asked.

“Yes. They allowed us to ‘borrow’ an Aegis Star Cruiser with the location of the target. That and the computer logs from Bakura…”

“What?” Griff asked.

“When we held Bakura, we studied extensively on the Ssi-ruuk. When Luke Skywalker took the Shriwirr, the Rebel Alliance downloaded the computer core of the captured ship. When the Federation held the planet, we received all of their files on the Ssi-ruuvi’s first invasion, and the information contained in the compute core. We have the Ssi-ruuk’s capital planet’s location. The planet is called ‘Lwhekk’. The center of the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium. They have stayed hidden long enough.” Keyan replied, standing up and joining Griff at the viewport.

“Good. The information was, of course, copied and stored into Black Hand’s database?” Griff asked.

“Yes sir. As you ordered, I dispatched a Bird of Prey into the Ssi-ruuvi Star Cluster, and to Lwhekk. They confirmed the existence of the planet and the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium” Keyan replied.

“Good. It is time they received a wake up call” Griff said.

“Perhaps” Keyan said.

“You do not agree with this, Keyan?” Griff asked.

“It is not that I don’t agree with it, Admiral. It is just I do not think now is the time for it” Keyan replied carefully.

“Ah”

“Sir?” Keyan asked.

“It is nothing. The fleet is ready, Black Hand is ready for this. Our first true test” Griff replied.

“Yes. The first of many” Keyan agreed.







“Sir, ten seconds until the fleet exits hyperspace” Keyan reported as Griff strode onto the bridge.

“Excellent” Griff said and took a seat at his command chair. Keyan would function as the Battle Coordinator. He would be responsible for relaying Griff’s orders to the individual ships to create the fleet maneuvers Griff required.

“We are entering the Lwhekk System” Keyan reported.

Griff stood from his seat and walked to the forward viewport of the Star Destroyer. The fleet had exited hyperspace close the planet itself, so they wouldn’t have to cross the entire planetary system to get to the planet. The planet was a dull green and gray ball, floating in space, of no apparent value to anyone but the pathetic Ssi-ruuk lizards who evolved there. He clasped his black-gloved hands behind his back and turned back to the starboard crewpit where Keyan sat at his control console.

“Vanguard Element to form up on the Defiant in their pre-arranged positions. Bird-of-Prey squadrons to remain cloaked until further notice. They are ordered to arrange themselves into formation bop-one-one-three-ex” Griff ordered.

“Advance on the planet”

OOC: Fleet Manifest

1 Imperial Mk. II Star Destroyer
4 Victory Mk. I Star Destroyers
3 Aegis Mk. II Star Cruisers
6 Arc-Class Sheildships
5 Intredictor Cruisers
1 Nebulon B2-Frigates
2 Lancer-class Frigates
36 Federation Birds-of-Prey (All Cloaked)

-Full Fighter compliment

Marth paced on the bridge of his flagship, Wraith One.

"What's the status on the cloak?" He asked.

"Cloaking shield is at 100% efficiency. Temperature normal."

"Helm, bring us about on a bearing of 257 and prepare for the first maneouver."

"Aye, Aye Sir."

"Sensors, give me as detailed a scan as you can of the system without jeapordizing our status."

"Sir, I'm reading 5 shipyards of an unknown configuration as well as multiple small contacts orbiting the main planet."

"Weapons, load the Concussion Missille launchers with CM-155s. Load the Proton Torpedo tubes with standard torpedoes. All other weapons leave in standby mode."

"Director if I could have a moment of your time?"

"A moment, Commander."

"I have to wonder sir. How is Vanguard Element going to survive. By all accounts the Ssi- Ruuvi have thousands of those little droid fighters and we don't even have 500 fighters total. Plus all the Bird of Preys are fully loaded and they won't be engaged originally."

Marth smiled. The plan Admiral Griff had worked up had been nothing short of brilliant.

"You will see, Commander."


EDIT:Just changed the name of my ship. Nothing important.

<span style="font-family:georgia; color:white;font-size:large;">Cree'n'aak</span>

The large grey corridors of the massive hall spiralled almost beyond sight, reaching so high into the sky that the ceiling was bathed in perpetual darkness. One didnt know, but the architect of the great city/capital was blind, his well reknowned desigs boggled even the minds of the bluescales. At the end of the hall he sat, in an open back throne his tail hung out the back. His claws scratched at the arc of the throne, trailing long ridges in the stone.

Down the hall they approached, he could note who they were. C'ren of the Council of Elders, T'rwek of the Redscales and R'nrt of the Goldscales. Something must have happened, not since the incident at Bakura had he seen them gathered. This did not bode well for his new reign.

"What news do you bring me?"

The Brownscale spoke first

"We have the most dire of emergancies about to befal our most sacred of worlds your potency"

R'nrt just noded as T'rwek steped forward

"Its true, minutes ago we detected faint hyperspace signatures at the edge of our system-"

He dug his claws deeper into the stone chair

"The chiss?"

"No, these have more human style markings, but from areas unknown to us. We ran a more intensive sensor sweep the moment we registered them and have indicated what appears to be thirteen warships en route to this location, as well as nine other support type vessels."

"And our home fleet? Their status?"

"Just launching as we speak, 75% battle readiness and climbing. They've been ordered to blockade the planet."

Suprisingly enough C'ren raised his head from what seemed like minutes of silence

"I confered with the captains moments before we arrived here. They assure me they will do everything it takes to keep our most sacred of places safe from the inferiors. Even if that means their souls..."

"May Ssi be with them then. What of our guests, has a message been sent to their envoy of our situation?"

"No your potency, we tried, but their fleet is in hyperspace, we couldnt open a line to them. They will just have to find out for themselves when they arrive. Should be a good test of relations."

He rose, walking down the massive hallway

"Very well, keep me informed"

OOC:

Fleet Manifest

Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rew'f)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Ril)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rew'e)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (S'ril)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Ew'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (S'rir)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rw'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Srilr)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Re'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Stlrn)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Retw'f)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rilrt)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Revw'e)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (S'rilt)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Elw'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (S'rilr)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rvw'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Srtilr)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rve'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Srtlrn)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rerw'f)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rilt)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rew've)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (St'ril)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Few'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (S'ritr)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rw'erf)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Sriltr)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Rev'ef)
Fw'Sen-class Picket Ship (Stlern)
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Rweck)
-Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Sn'ref)
-Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Rweck)
Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Rweck)
Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Rweck)
Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Wurrif-class Light Cruiser (Rweck)
Swarm-class Battle Driod x 200
Lwhekk-class Manufacturing Ship (Lw'iek)
Shree-class Battle Cruiser (Fft Wren)
-500 Swarm-class battle droids

"Sir" Keyan said from the starboard crewpit. "We will be coming into firing range in two minutes"

"Good. Load all missile racks and proton torpedo tubes. All weapons, prepare to fire on the big egg (Shree), the rest of Vanguard formation are to spread out and target the smaller eggs (Wurrif). Two squadrons of Birds of Prey are to decloak. One squadron to engage the big egg, and one to engage the little ones (Fw'Sen). The remaining squadron is to remain cloaked and off to the side." Griff told Keyan.

"Yes sir" Keyan replied.

Griff turned to his comm officer.

"Jamm all frequencies but our own. They are not to get a communication out of this system. Relay that to all ships" He ordered. The comm officer nodded and went to work at his console.

Griff stood and walked to the forward viewport, where he could survey the battle and give the proper orders.

"All interdictor cruisers are to remain behind the fleet in a picket formation and turn on Gravwell generators. Also, I want one Interdictor to head out to the edge of the system and turn on gravwell generators, foucused on an inbound vector. I want all ships in hyperspace headed for the planet to be pulled out at the edge of the system.

"The cloaked squadron of Birds are to be prepared to respond to any reinforcement group the Ssi-ruuvi may have. The Lancer-class frigates and the Victory Star Destroyers are to take up point positions, and engage the enemy starfighters and small eggs (Wurrif). All ships are to load the diamond boron missles and prepare to fire at the enemy starfighters. All sheildships are to direct their sheild strength to the front of the formation to intercept the oncoming attacks" Griff ordered to Keyan.

"We are coming into range" Keyan reported

Griff nodded grimly.

<span style="font-family:georgia; color:white;font-size:large;">Fft Wren</span>

Ikrivp, the greatest Ssi-Ruuk general of his time, forced into active fleet duty by unwitting circumstance. He was now classified as Admiral, of what... a piecemeal fleet of a once great Imperium. One thing he wouldnt do though, with all his reservations of his leaderships commands, was let a non Ssi-Ruuvi step foot on Lhwekk forcebly.

Standing on the command deck of the fleets flagship, he watched the enlarge view of the approaching fleet. Truly, they were outgunned and outnumbered, as for outclassed that was yet to be seen.

"Commander, our readouts indicate a large powerspike emmiting from the center of their formation, Tactical R&D believes it may be the cuase of an anomolous reading eminating from the front of their fleet."

Turning back to the sensors stations he approached the brownscale monitoring them. He knew not the officers name, but it didnt much concern him either way. He also couldnt read many of the sensors, but he had a basic understanding, that coupled with his staff would be enough.

"What sort of reading?"

"Its odd, like a wall of energy, similar to a shield, but by itself, in mid space. Like I said, Tactical R&D believes the large power spike eminating from the middle of their formation."

"Commander! Weve just expirienced a communications blackout on most frequancies, we've still got... intership communications and due to our closeness to the planet I believe I can overload the comm array and use the entire ship as a dish to get messages to Lhwekk, dont quote me to that though."

"Very well, give me a connection to the fleet, secure channel Gold..."

"Connection secured"

"764545545F4559575F10435B5B4644115F521943595410785C4

0544258445D141745595E44565818455F54524B165A5049144B5

258565E115551435B11575F4A1744421D115844184258515F5E1

6595E44145B5211425F1155595C10575E421843595E425411475

D115C555244531753555C5059551F10785D5C115E5E45104C45

4811455E1156575E5C104A5D431B115D5B4A43115E561144431

147585D5C18595E45115C505B5D1159441346591742555119565

F5E44595442115450481C18554445114559514C4210511342445

E5255147017505C1046585C5D595F56104C58114150481D1059

5F5410564A46525244145C56525910505F54115547544241175E

5F54115E5618485F451346591741514D1956421147545D5C1159

5F11545D51545F4254115F5E115F4541125E585C55144E58435D

541F116459594211594B174559541177564C116742565C1A1756

42515843544244115E5611515D5D106B44581C63444446511143

585A42451911475D4A5F585F5711485F44106242591844415454

551F"

He waited a few moments as the brownscale fiddled with the encrypter before turning back giving the all green signal

"Launch all fighters, keep them ahead of the fleet and ready to engage all craft that attempt to enter range. Inform me when the radiation concentration is too much for or fighters to hold station. Keep the Sn'ref's and Rweck's fighters in close for defense"

He turned back to the magnification, the fleet was approaching, faster it seemed than before, and more organized

"Send a Rweck and five Pickets to the poles of Lhwekk and inform them to hold position until further notice. All other vessels power weapons and prepare to engage"

Admiral Griff's order resounded throughout the bridge of Wraith One.

"Prepare to decloack. Full power to all weapons systems. Hold on launching the Missile Boats untill Vanguard Formation launches their missiles. Wraith Squadron is to move into Spike Formation and prepare for Mass Fire."

The bridge became a hive of activity as various officers were shocked into action. Wraith Squadron came about behind the Ssi-Ruuvi formation and prepared for their run.

"Gunnery. Target the picket ships. Select 3 targets and designate them Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Send the targets to all ships with Alpha being the number one priority, Beta the second and Gamma the third."

"Aye, Aye Sir."

The Bird of Preys waited still cloaked as the Ssi-Ruuvi ships unwittingly passed behind them on their way to their destinations.

In his leathery claw, General Kron cradled a small ,black rubber ball. His impatience etched in every turn and squeeze of the small dark sphere.

"Any word from our other groups?"

"None yet sir."

"How long?" He spat, gritting his fangs anxiously.

"Approximately Twenty minutes."

He growled lightly to himself.

Kron wasn't a one for waiting around, his impatience would be his downfall more often than not, but he viewed it more as a keen sense of urgency than anything else, a quality. He pushed his anxiety to the back of his cranium, as it would infect those in close proximity to him, spreading like wildfire through the Hive Mind. So he closed himself off and gripped the small ball of rubber tighter and tighter, causing it to collapse and crack under the pressure he applied, and in a vortex of motion and sound, he violently launched the broken ball across the bridge, impacting against the cold metal plating and landing on the deck with a resounding thud.

Even on a mission of Diplomacy, he was quick to anger . . .probably a reason why so many doubted his abilities to do his job.


In space, twenty minutes can be an enternity.


<hr />



<hr />

<font size=1>
Ancestral-class Carrier~Impalus
120 Retak Fighters (10squadrons)

Ancestral-class Carrier~Shashman
120 Retak Fighters (10squadrons)

Terakesh Gunship~Shekeshl

Terakesh Gunship~Mihthish

Terakesh Gunship~Jeklash

Terakesh Gunship~Arhasked

Terakesh Gunship~Smishlohek

Terakesh Gunship~Iknabrak

Terakesh Gunship~Pintokosh

Terakesh Gunship~Keshtar

Terakesh Gunship~Reytak

Terakesh Gunship~Smishkla

Terakesh Gunship~ee'eklamaar

Terakesh Gunship~Kashk'ta

Terakesh Gunship~Ch'iad Feshon

Terakesh Gunship~ShimonK'inaine

Terakesh Gunship~ShauTeek

Terakesh Gunship~Isstash

Terakesh Gunship~Dakkosh

Terakesh Gunship~Maishaim

Terakesh Gunship~Beshpik

Terakesh Gunship~Detabesh


52 Retak Eluders
</font>

OOC: The Swarm is not en route. The Swarm knows nothing about the attack. SI and Black Hand forces have not even met yet, (the thread has only progressed maybe two minutes) and the Swarm is already in hyperspace 20 minutes away? I think not, thanks. I will not even mention the fact that SI's transmissions are jammed, wich means that there will be no transmissions out of the Lwhekk system. I am not sure on the legality of that but the staff can decide that. So, the Swarm is not in hyperspace and I will disregard all posts made by them unless a staff member tells me otherwise. I will be happy to discuss this in the OOC forum and will respect all staff decisons.

IC:

Griff smiled at the approaching enemy starfighters and turned to Keyan.

"All ships launch fighters and target and destroy the enemy fighters"

He watched the approaching little droids get closer and closer to the Lancer-class antistarfighter frigates at the front of the Vanguard formation.

"Sir, two squadrons of Birds have decloaked and are awaiting final confirmation to fire"

He nodded and then turned back to the stars.

"All ships....fire"

The Lancers at the front of the formation suddenly unleashed their laser cannons, obliterating several of the oncoming droid starfighters. The Victory class Star Destroyers as well opened up with all weapons firing, keeping the droids busy. The Black Hand fighters suddenly erupted from the hangars of all ships, who targeted the droid vessels as well. The entire Vanguard formation plodded on, destroying the Ssi-ruuvi fighters that came too close. All ships came into range of attaking the light cruisers and the big one.

The Birds of Prey, 20 in all, began to pound the light cruisers while the ISD Defiant and four more Birds of Prey began to fire at the Shree. The remaining Victories and the Aegis cruisers, as well as the Black Hand fighters, continued to harass the droid starfighters.

"All right, all ships with loaded missiles and torpedoes, fire at the big egg (Shree) on my order" Griff told Keyan.

All ships began lancing out with turbolasers at their designated targets, firing relentlessly at the lightly armed, and lightly sheilded Ssi-ruuvi ships.

"All ships, fire missiles and torpedoes" Griff ordered and he watched as his ships obediently did as ordered and released all of their missiles and proton torpedoes. The projectiles lanced out and Griff was dissapointed to see that some, one third of them missed and entered the atmosphere of Lwhekk instead. But alot of them hit anyway, causing damage to their intended targets."

He watched as all of his ships continued their punishment of the enemy...

SI Damage:

10 Droid Starfighters destroyed.

OOC:Umm isn't it 24 Birds of Preys that have uncloacked?

"Sir, Admiral Griff has given us final confirmation."

"Guns set up sequence fire for all forward facing torpedo and missile launchers. Have the rest of the squadron do the same."

"Ready Sir."

"Helm, 80% speed. Put us on a course directly for target Alpha."

"Aye Aye Sir."

"Guns. Wraiths 1-4 are to target Alpha, 5-8 Beta, and 9-12 Gamma. Tell all ships to prepare for Firing Sequence one."

"Ready Sir."

"Fire!"

One after another the forward mounted Proton Torpedo and Concussion Missile Launchers fired off their deadly projectiles.

"Load all Missile Tubes. Open up with Pulse Turbolasers and Ion Cannons on the targets. Leave the Laser Cannons for the fighters."

"Aye Aye Captain."

Missles flew off toward thier targets, too large to avoid them, yet not needing to. The space between the two fleets, which became increasingly smaller lit up with the first blast of the engagement. The droids swarmed upon the missles, which were impossibly faster than the droids, still couldnt get past pure numbers as missle after missle collided with droids blocking their path. The massive wall was serving its porpose well.

"Ikrivp we have at least three confirmed battle groups closing on our position, from heading 60 mark 165. They appear to be using some sort of reflective sensory device to have hidden them from our sensors"

He consulted the battle analysis computer near him, new positions, new ships all opening up before him. The outlook still looked bleak, yet not so.

"Bring our upper left flank to bear, keep all other vessels in position and fire at will. Our flank will intercept as they pass and engage from above, hold our fighters back unless they luanch their own."

He consulted the BAC once more before issuing his final orders

"Arm all missles and target the lead vessel in their run. When it comes within optimal range, fire a salvo of all our weapons into it. Contact our 'others' on gold frequancy, tell them to head out of the system but await further instruction."

"Our right flank is firing Ikrivp..."

OOC:

SI Damage:
Sheild Damage to:
Stlrn
S'rir
Rew'e
Elw'ef

10 Droid Starfighters destroyed

BH Damage:
Shield Damage to 5 Birds of prey