Setting: Two months before Last Laugh. Coinciding with Operation: Iron Fury.

The sleek black cruiser glided through space with a deadly intent held against the world it was traveling torwards. The cruiser was armed to the teeth with weapons, held bays equipped with the latest line of deadly starfighters, and had some of the top rated engines known to anyone around. And all were under the Command of Commodore Braxus, one of the top commanding officers of the Mid-Rim Proctectorate. Commodore Braxus was a very capable commanding officer, and would do his ships and his men well on this day, the glorious assault against the homeworld of the Ishori, Isht. The Battlefleet consisted of the Victory class Star Destroyer Black Widow, and several Constrainer class Pickets. Standing by to assist his fleet were the Strike class Cruisers Asp, and Eel, them being the second van of the main fleet.

Commodore Braxus strode onto the bridge of the Black Widow, and turned to his sensors officer.;

"Major Kyrian, has there been any change within the past twenty four hours of the composition of the enemy fleet?" asked the Commodore.

"No sir. Sensors still indicate that the Ishori have three cruisers, in the medium range, classified as the classic Ishori War Cruisers, with little in the way of support craft, and little or no starfighter class craft having been detected." said the Sensors officer.

"Very well then, let's proceed.", said the Commodore.

At that moment, the Imperial fleet lumbered into action, heading with a purposeful gait torwards the waiting Ishori homeworld of Isht.

Taken from Operation: Iron Fury TNO Takeover of Diamal

"Cleivge, tell me what we're lacking. Something we have to establish.... something we have not yet created."

The tone in Cortex's voice had an air of inquisitivness, but also an air of knowledge, as if Cortex was asking a rhetorical question just for the sake of hearing the answer. That type of egotism sometimes bothered Cortex. Simply because the Twi'lek had convinced the Verpine to join his movment and cornered the Falleen didn;t man he needed a big head.

"What, Cortex, don't we have?"

Cleivge decided not to humor Cortex this time, just go right out and ask him. The other Twi'lek didn't seem to mind the sudden 'stupidity' of his confidant.

"My friend.... our diplomatic ventures have extended or alliance to many species. We are currently negotiating with many more. We tell them there is strength in numbers, and that we will be a powerful organization that shall not restrict their freedoms..... yet what proof do we have to show for it."

Something immeiatly came to mind in Clievge head, the liberation of Sullust, but he let it slide. That battle was a secret assualt amongst the chaos of a war that still continued.

"I see your point. So what do you propose to remedy the situation."

"I don't know, yet, we'll have to find out."

Cortex let that thought hang in the air, then retired to his personal quarters, thinking deep thoughts.

[/b] Ryloth [/b]

Credibility.

The single most difficult thing to establish with anybody. Credibility can not be established with words, or hollow promises. Credibility was established through actions, and actions alone.

Cortex Sinar was hoping an oppurtunity would arise were he could establish credibility. Thats what it would take- a chance to show that he was for real, that his words were not empty. That he would back up what he said. Until that time came however, all he could do was wait.

An aide broke into his underground quarters.

"Sir... transmission from Ambassador Illiok. The Empire is attacking Diamal!!"

The words hit Cortex with the force of E-11 blaster bolt.
Diamal- the planet and its inhabitants were supposed to become critical members of the alliance. To have them fall to the Empire would be a tremendous setback.

"And sir, this also came for you."

The aide set a small, sealed container on Cortex's desk. Cortex nodded, then spoke.

"Thank you very much."

His lekku twitched, signaling to the aide he could go. The other Twi'lek left quickly.

Cortex opened the container, and found it had a datapad in it. He knew immediatly who it was from. He opened a drawer in his desk and removed a special cypher, which he attacked to the datapad. The datapad came to life, and Cortex read its contents. After he was finished he shook his head, then smashed the datapad on the rock solid flor of his office. A move that came from a combination of anger and need for secrecy. No one must know he was recieving information from the Bothan Spynet.

The message was however, quite important.

The Empire is moving on Isht... seems to be part of larger offensive.

Cortex could validate that as a fact. The Empire was going on an offensive in the Mid Rim area, on the independant aliens who had not provoked the Empires wrath. Cortex knew what he must do.

We will make a stand.

The Imperial fleet continued on it's course torwards the Ishori homeworld of Isht. They began to de-accelerate as the Imperial commander was having second thoughts about razing their world, and utterly destroyng their fleet. Commodore Braxus thought about trying to negotiate with the aliens first, see how they responded, before he launched an unprovoked attack on the Ishori.

"Ishori Prime Minister, this is Commodore Braxus of the Imperial Navy. I would like to speak to you about the future of Ishori. Many choices, and many hard decisions will soon have to be made about the fate of the Ishori. Much will depend upon your answer. Commodore Braxus out." said the Commodore.

Now they only awaited the response of the Ishori.

Ishori Space

The message flew through wspace at the speed of light, then was gobbled up into the Black Widow's communication arrays.

"Greetings Commander Braxus, welcome to Isht. The ishori people bid you greeting. What news do you bring of the future of our glorious species. We are very interested in news that brings warships to our homworld. Is thier need of our assitance in vanquishing a horrible foe? The Ishori are prepared to charge into glorious battle for the sake of the welfare of others."

The tone was upbeat and full of valor- a personification of the Ishori race. Still, there was a tiny hint of darkness, as if the Ishori could guess that the Imperial armada was not here on peacable purposes.

Unknown Space
Rally Point 35X3IC

The vessel, numerous vessel lay waiting.... put on alert for an any situation. Cycled and rotated they waited for a call, ready at all times to do their duty.

A transmission came in, and the ships began to stir- their purpose soon to be fufilled....

Two weeks before Iron Drill

Vice Admiral Kraken had been at his office, sipping on a cup of stimcaff, when a knock came to his door.

"Come in." he called out as he sat his cup down.

"Sir," said the Major as he came in, "There is an Ishori at the front gate. He requests to speak to you about Operation: Iron Drill. I told him I had no idea what he was talking about, but he is very insistant to see you, sir."

"Very well, send him in." said Admiral Kraken.

A few moments later, a tall Ishori walked into the room, wearing the uniform of the Prime Minister's Aide. He came in, and sat on a chair opposite of me. I began to speak with him.

"Mr. Frodo, how goes the inquiries with the Ishori military?" asked Kraken.

"Not very well. Most of them want to go to war again with the Diamalans. It's in their blood. There is no way that they can be convinced otherwise." said the Aide with a sad note.


"Very well, and what of the civilian population?" asked Kraken.

"They want to live under a new goverment. As it is, the Prime Minister is being blackmailed by the military. We expect a Cout De'Tat to be carried out in the near future. And they don't want to live under the rule of the Outer-Rim Soveriengty, after hearing of the Bespin, and Talorran Massacres, and nor the Galatic Coalition, for it is viewed as a weak goverment, with a weak military to boot. Guess who that leaves as a major contendor?" asked the aide.

"Won't the Ishori have quarrels joining the Empire? I mean, after all, we did have a score to settle with them after the Hand of Thrawn incident." asked Kraken.

"Yes, that concern has been brought up. As long as the Empire respects us, and our rights, and has an clear Ishori ruler in place, then the Ishori won't mind." said the Aide.

"So, as long as we don't enslave the Ishori, and install a puppet Ishori goverment, we are free to take over the world?" asked Kraken.

"Precisily. But the military will need to be dealt with. The Ishori Admiral will need to meet an untimely demise, along with the majority of the Ishori in the Royal Isht Navy." said the aide.

"Done, and done. The Operation will be carried out in two standard weeks. See you then, aide." said Kraken.

"Very well, see you then, Vice Admiral." said the aide.

As the Ishori began to stand up, Kraken stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"One last thing. If any other goverments try to coax you into joining them, talk with them, but don't agree to anything. Is that understood?" asked Kraken.

"Yes sir. Talk, but do not make promises, agreements, or overtures. Understood." said the Ishori.

With that, the meeting was concluded.

Present

Now Commodore Braxus stood at the bridge of his flagship, having been sent by Admiral Kraken to vanquish the Ishori fleet, and help rebuild the goverment from one focused on the military aspects of a society, into one better suited for peace. He prepared another message, one that would convey his intentions, and the reason he had come, very clearly.

"Ishori War fleet, this is Commodore Braxus, addressing the military commander directly. You will immeditaly power down your weapons, and drives, and prepare to be boarded." ordered the Commodore. He knew what the enemy response was most likely, most predicted, to be. He then turned his words upon the civilian population. "Citizens of Isht, the time of liberation, the time of your destiny, is now at hand. Whether you want to continue in your war like ways, locked in immortal combat against the Diamalans, or convert, and let the Empire rule, bringing prosperity, and peace once again to your race." said Commodore Braxus with authority. While he waited for the Ishori Commander's reply, the sensor officers began to notice a lot of activity tracking from the civilian population centers. The beginning of riots against the rule of the goverment, Commodore Braxus suspected. Whatever the case, now it begins.........

"What is this blasphemy. The Ishori have not wrong the Empire, yet you come speaking of liberation- as if our people are opressed. This is a falshood- then you dishonor us by suggestion our mighty forces surrender. This is a disgrace, and we shall not stand for it. We wished for words and you brign weapons. If you do so, do so at your own peril."

The words were harsh and filled with indignadion. The transmission cut off, but the Ishori would not comply with the Imperial request. Their war cruisers were movine into a defensive formation, and bringing their sheilds and weapons online. The ishoriwouldn't go down without a fight.

The message was recieved by the Ishori, and their military commander sent a reply, as did some of the higher ranking civilian Ishori, but now hundreds of weapons discharges were being detected as the majority of the civilian Ishori population rose in revolt, rejecting the leadership of the current warmongering goverment, and wishing to be under the rule of a more understanding goverment, one that could grant them the liberty, and freedom from war, the same old war that has lasted for generations between the Diamalans, and Ishori. At the current time a similar operation was being undertaken in Diamal, but Commodore Braxus had recieved word that the Diversity Alliance was interfering. The DA, an associate of the Clans of Bothawui, a collection of the most power hungry aliens the Empire had ever seen. No doubt the DA was using the constant wars of the Ishori, and Diamal to their advantage as they seek to expand. Braxus wondered whether or not the DA would interfere in this operation.....

The Ishori war fleet began to form up, with three cruisers taking the lead, of the old but mighty Predominance class, the Flagship herself in the lead. Support ships also gathered, but they would contribute little to the coming battle, Braxus suspected. In from hyperspace reverted the Asp, and Eel. Upon hearing that an engagement would be fought, these two cruisers were called in. The Imperial fleet charged shields, powered up weapons, loaded missile launchers, and deployed starfighters as the coming battle began to take shape......

"Imperials, victory can be measured in many ways. Our valiant defense will prove this to you. You may win a battle, but the means needed to acheive victory over the Ishori are not within your reach."

The Ishori zoomed forward, and then with a start, their war cruiser opened fire on the closest Imperial vessel.

"Sir, message recieved by the Ishori. They have reject our overtures, and their fleet is moving into an attack wedge. It looks like they want to open fire first, sir." said the sensors officer.

"Very well then, let's move to get this party started. Deploy the fighters, first and foremost. Have them attack the lead cruiser, firing all of their torpedoes in three waves, then using their ion and laser cannons to strafe the shields, and flechettle launchers as the missiles hit home. Two of our picket ships will accompany them on this strike." said Commodore Braxus.

In the bays of the Victory Star Destroyer Mark I, alarms blared and klaxons sounded as the Battleship was prepared for combat. Crewers, and gunners ran about going to their stations, except for a group of twenty four people, dressed in black, and holding helmets under their armpits. These were the pilots of the Imperial fighters about to fly into combat, and they were being briefed by the leader of their two squadrons, Black Leader, almost under the name of Commander Fosh. Fosh was describing to the pilots what had to be done, and how they would do it. Once that was done, the men climbed into thier fighters, and prepared to lift off. Commander Fosh strapped himself in, then activated his repulsors. Then, as the order was given, the fighters flew out of the bay, four at a time, and formed up into their individual trios once they were clear. In route to the enemy fleet, they recieved a signal that enemy fighters were launching. Fosh grimaced. Although his own squadron, Black Squadron, was made up of elites who had fought in many fighter engagements, their second squadron, Grey Squadron, was made up primarily of rookies led by a veteran fresh from a few battles, the rookies having been trained at Vladet. They were here to replace Red Squadron, a good group of veterans who had been annihiliated in a battle over the world of Rachuk in a battle with a group of Lancer class Frigates. Those were good pilots, and their absence was already being felt. The rookies were well trained, but this would be their first real combat engagement. Commander Fosh thought it would be best to call on some support to deal with these fighters, with Black Squadron handling any that got through. The two Picket ships accompaning them raced ahead, and opened up with their dual laser cannons on the approaching starfighters. Several large explosions were seen as the laser cannons aboard the pickets found their mark, then the explosions slackened off not only as the enemies numbers began to whittle, but also as the remaining enemy fighters assumed manuevers. There were eleven fighters left, a shadow of the former forty eight there had been several minutes ago. Commander Fosh made the decision to bring in one half of Grey squadron to assist Black Squadron in dealing with the remaining enemy fighters. By breaking into groups of two, each group had more than enough firepower to rid of a target in one pass. And so in they went. Indeed, on the first past, each pair of Defenders scored a kill, leaving two enemy fighters, now identified as Headhunters, left. The remaining two both dropped behind a pair of Grey Squadron's Defenders. They began sticthing the Defender's rears with laser fire as a pair of Black Squadron Defenders roared in on a head to head pass. One of the Headhunters fired a torpedo as the both of them were being chewed apart by laser cannon fire. Both of the remaining Head hunters vanished in a firestorm, but so did Grey Three as his Defender was destroyed by the Head hunter's torpedo. Silently cursing his unfortunate loss, Commander Fosh had no choice other than to swallow it, and continue on with his mission. The TIE Defenders blew through the remaining Headhunters, and reformed for the attack on the lead Ishori cruiser.

Commander Fosh grinned as the cruiser opened fire with it's turbolaser batteries, trying to score a lucky hit on a TIE Defender. Commander Fosh's grin died when one of Grey Squadron's TIE Defenders went up in a blaze of fire from a direct turbolaser hit. He had forgotten to bring the rookies about for evaise manuevers. Silenty cursing himself, he brought up his targeting reticle for the torpedoes, and aimed it at the lead cruiser.

"All Defenders, slave your targeting data mine, and prepare to fire all torpedoes in three waves, each one at my mark, firing in pairs." said Commander Fosh. He watched as the lock grew to a yellow, then a steady red, then a tone sounded. That was their mark to unleash hell.

"Fire, one mark."......."Fire, two mark."..............."Fire, three mark" yelled Commander Fosh as he squeezed his own firing trigger three times close together. Three pairs of Proton Torpedoes lanced out from each of the twenty two starfighters coming against the Ishori war fleet. Then the fighters pulled up and away from the Ishori cruiser, lest any more of their number be utterly destroyed by accurate anti-starfighter massed turbolaser volleys. Then the cruiser stopped firing as it bled the energy from it's weapons into it's shields in an effort to prevent it's self from being destroyed. The first wave of proton torpedoes slammed into the cruiser's shields head on, collapsing most of it's shields. Then the second wave of forty four torpedoes arrived, collapsing the shields, and causing moderate damage to most sections of the hull. Then the third wave of torpedoes arrived, smashing into the now vulnerable and weakened hull, consuming the cruiser in a hail of fire, and wind. When the explosions dimmed, small and medium sized chunks of metal were all that remained of the once mighty and proud Ishori war cruiser, and the Ishori's best officers, and leaders. Commander Fosh's part in the engagement was now over as his starfighters withdrew into the Star Destroyer's hangar bays.

Then it was the turn of the capital ships to eliminate the two remaining war cruisers, and the numerous picket ships. Even though they were still outgunned, with the elimination of the enemy flagship, the Imperials had gained the advantage in morale, and had disorganized the enemy, which would prove to be a big advantage in the battle to come. The Constrainer Pickets were ordered to concentrate all their firepower upon one picket ship at a time, while the Victory would target and eliminate one cruiser at a time. With that done, with the words over, it was time for action. The Imperial fleet lumbered forwards. The Ishori fleet began to fall into disarray, then the third cruiser in line began to issue orders. The picket ships then jetted forwards to meet the constrainers, while the two cruisers split apart, and came to envelope the Victory. Commodore Braxus, impressed with this manuever, thought that a member of the leaderships must have been on a inspection tour or whatever on this cruiser when the Imperial fleet arrived, and thus his life was spared so that he could reorganize, and command the fleet to victory. Too bad it wasn't going to happen that way. With an order, the Victory began firing her turbolaser cannons at the third cruiser, the combined power of forty turbolasers weakening her shields. At the same time, the two Ishori cruisers also opened fire, their more powerful turbolasers weakening the shields of the Victory even faster. Then, in one move, and a order from Commodore Braxus accomplishing this, the Victory drastically changed the equation. It fired all of it's eighty concussion missile launchers, spewing eighty missiles of death outwards. Then the arcs became inwards as they all fell on one target; The third cruiser. In five seconds, the cruiser went from being a mighty vessel of war to a mighty pile of scrap as the missiles blew through the turbolaser fire weakened shields, and impacted the hull, their concussion warheads causing immense structural damage, which was then taken advantage of by the turbolasers as they resumed fire, destroying the ship utterly.

Seeing the demise of the third cruiser, and the elimination of the last of the Ishori command staff, the second cruiser tried to flee the battle. Normally, the Imperials wouldn't mind this, but in this case, with this particular treaty, it was Commodore Braxus's job to eliminate the cruiser. He quickly ordered the tractor beams to sieze the ship, and ordered the missile tubes to reload while the turbolaser cannons once again sought to weaken the shields of the cruiser. Then the cruiser lowered it's shields, powered down it's engines, and blinked it's hull lights on, and off twice in succession, a signal of surrender. Too bad Braxus wasn't interested in surrender. He ordered the turbolasers to fall silent, a sign that the Imperials are considering the offer, then ordered the reloaded tubes to fire. In a blazing light, the last Ishori cruiser was gone.

Meanwhile, the Imperial picket ships weren't doing so well against the Ishori pickets. Two constrainers had been knocked out, and a third tittered on the brink of destruction. Of the five Ishoiri pickets, only three remained, but these were the best, modified DP-20 gunships. Then, the Victory changed the equation.

With the fighting done, it was time for Isht to become a proud member of the Empire.......

......Or so it was thought, anyways. For it appeared that with the space navy eliminated, that the Ishori would finally settle down, but within hours of the announcements that the Space Navy had been annihilated, and that the Empire was taking into it's care the world of Isht, numerous violent riots had broken out over the surface of the planet. These riots were soon seen to be lead by former Naval officers formerly serving as instructors at the numerous naval training facilities scattered over the world of Isht. Despite the relativley small naval force, there was an amazingly large number of recuruits being trained at the academys, most of whom joined their messiahs in rebellion against the way of peace and serenity.

Commodore Braxus stifled a sigh and turned to his commanding officer of the ground army that had accompanied his ships on his expedition here.

"General Vladimir, it seems that there is a rogue army slowly seizing control of a world that has petitioned to join the empire. It is our duty to see to it that the world becomes a proud member of the empire, and that it is protected by our forces. Ten Juggernaught Assault Vehicles, Fifty E-webs, and Five Thousand General Infantry Stormtroopers is all that you have at your disposal. See to it, that with a very minimal number of civilian casualties, that this rogue army is defeated." ordered Commodore Braxus.

"Yes sir. Drop Shells, and Sentinel Shuttles with TIE Defender escort are being deployed now. If you don't mind, I will take my leave of absence, and join my troops in the operation. However, I do have one question. Should something go wrong, will I have laser support from friends in high places?" asked the General.

"Unfortuantley, no. Not only would it utterly destroy our attempts to seize the world without having to subjugate the entire speices, and give our enemies a reason to come down on our heads, but Imperial High Command has decreed that no more worlds shall suffer the brunt and power of our turbolaser cannons. We not need them for this operation anyhow. You may now leave, and good luck." said Commodore Braxus.

"Thank you, Commodore. Gloria Imperium!" yelled the General as he raised his hand in a salute.

"Gloria Imperium!" replied the Commodore in similar fashion.

After that was over, Commodore Braxus strode to the viewport of the bridge, and watched as the pods containing the Juggernaughts began to fire their retro rockets as they entered the atmosphere, while not far behind approached the Sentinel Shuttles with TIE Defenders flying escort on other side. Then a Lambda shuttle emerged from the Victory Star Destroyer Mark I, and joined the other vehicles in descending into the atmosphere