"Dantooine?" Griff asked.

"Proceeding. Vice-President Meer authorized the assaults on Dantooine and Hargeeva." Admiral Jakob said, nodding towards the ORS Headquarters, a kilometer away or so.

They were currently at a fundraiser for underprivilaged children on Bakura. Griff and Jakob both were in formal dress, and Griff was just about to be called to the podium to make his speech. Right now, the director of the fundraiser was speaking.

"...and we want to express our sincerest thanks to the Outer-Rim Sovereignty..." The director droned, Griff turned to an aide.

"Give High Command my approval for the next attack." He said. The aide nodded and marched off to carry out the order.

Jakob nodded to the scorpion flag that was flying over the HQ, "Is it worth it, sir?" He asked, smiling at all the gathered children.

"..and may I present to you, the one man who has made all of this possible..."

Griff looked first at the children, then at the flag, then back to the children.

"...President Griff..."

"Absolutely." Griff said as he took the stage.




"Captain Richards of the Scorpion acknowledges the orders., Mr. Vice President."

The Sovereignty task force exited hyperspace smoothly, the world of Mechis III rose up to greet the two bakura-class Destroyers.

"Raise shields, and prepare all weapons. Prepare for battle." Richards said, signaling to his XO, Commander Peterson.

The Sovereignty force advanced on Mechis III.

"Advance on sector two-three, position the shipyards between us and the planet. We don't want any surprises. Scan the system, and alert me to any changes."


Manifest

02 Bakura- Class Star Destroyers

Positioning: Two Bakura-class Destroyers rapidly advancing on Mechis III. The shipyards are positioned between the planet and the ships.

"Life support; Check."

"Weapons Systems; Check."

"Defense Systems; Check"

"Engines; Check."

"Sensors; Check."

"All systems check out perfectly."

"Very good," Captain Warth said as he looked out the viewport.

"Lets take the Commodore's new ship for a test drive, shall we?" Captain Warth asked.

The automated shipyards of Mechis III were silent after finishing Commodore Trachta's largest pet project which was only visible as a massive wedge shape. Soon the back of the wedge came visible as its engines activated and the vessel moved smoothly out of the shipyards and away from the planet. As light hit its side, the name became visible in the sunlight: Barbarossa II.

"Sir, I am detecting two Bakura-class Destroyers closing with Mechis III. They aren't broadcasting Imperial codes."

"What is their current trajectory?"

"They are coming towards us, sir. Apparently their course is towards us and the shipyards."

"Signal the rest of the fleet and inform ground control to be ready to launch fighters, though I doubt we'll need them," Captain Warth said since the fleet of the Mechis Cluster had its own anti-fighter techniques.

"Signals away, sir. Shrouds MC1 through MC12 are moving to reinforce us. The rest of the fleet will respond if we need them. What are your orders?"

"Position us to intercept the two enemy vessels. Order the Shrouds to move into positon behind us and await further orders."

Manifest
VCD Barbarossa II
12 Shrouds

Positioning: VCD in front of Shipyards, placing it between the two Bakura-class Destroyers and the shipyards. Shrouds moving into position behind the Barbarossa II where they will await further orders.

"Report." Richards said.

The sensor officer, a mere ensign, looked up at him, "A large battlecruiser-type vessel has taken up position near the shipyards." The ensign said.

"What type of vessel?" Richards asked.

"Inteligence reports it to be the New Order's "Venerator Command Destroyer". The sensor officer said, "They are going over it's capabilities now."

"I already know them..." Richards mused, then to the communications officer, "Signal the Ecliptic." He said.

A moment later, Captain Morrison of the Bakura-class Destroyer Ecliptic appeared on the holo dias.

"Yes, Captain?" Morrison asked.

"What do you think?"

"I think that they will be using their same old strategies as usual." Morrison said.

"Yes . We better be expecting their stealth ships. They have used them at every encounter so far." Richards said.

"Indeed. But what if they aren't there?" Morrison asked.

"Then we will have lost nothing. But if we don't assume they are there we stand to lose alot more." Richards said.

""I agree, What are your orders?" Morrison asked.

"They have not raised shields or powered weapons, so we must assume we have the element of surprise. Tactic alpha-nine." Richards said. Morrison nodded and dissapeared.

The two Bakura-class Destroyers, Ecliptic and Scorpion, gunned their engines to full power. The enemy vessel had not charged weapons, and not raised shields. It was now one very large sitting duck.

Suddenly, the [/i]Ecliptic[/i] pulled up a bit, and slowed her engines so it came on over the ventral potion of the ship. Opening up with it's turbolaser cannones, it fired straight at the conning tower of the Venerator. The laser weapons penetrated deep into the unprotected hull of the ship. Concentrated fire from all of the Ecliptic's weapons ripped it apart, leaving only smoking wreckage.

Meanwhile, the Scorpion headed straight towards the engines of the huge command vessel, and in much the same way, it pumped fire into the engine housing.

This is how the fight progressed, witgh the Venerator already losing most of it's sheild capability and mobility.


Reinforcements -

24 Birds of Prey
5 Bakura-class destroyers
1 Allegiance-class Star Destroyer

The Shroud, on patrol from the Empire Proper, was labelled "K161". It picked up a message from Mechis III, and immediatly made a hyperjump towards that location.

Not a powerful vessel, but perhaps it could be of use...

(OOC Manifest: 1 Shroud)

Sweat trickled down the side of Captain Warth's face as he watched the situation develop. He gripped his hands tightly behind his back as he considered his options. The damage on the Barbarossa II could be repaired after the battle, but what really made the sweat pour was what would happen to him if he lost the ISB Commodore's newly built command ship. Trachta was known to be merciless if disappointed or angered; the loss of this ship would cost Captain Warth his life and he knew it. Either the enemy might get him or the Commodore would. What mattered was that Warth saved the ship and destroy the enemy at the same time.

But how do I do that?

Warth smiled a bit nervously as he looked at his displays and then looked at the Barbarossa II's stats. They had their warhead banks completely in tact and the enemy's attack wasn't as effective as they probably thought it was. Sure they had damaged the primary shield generators, but at least they weren't destroyed which was the advantage to mounting shields internally; the armor platting could take a good bit of damage but the shields could still funciton on some level. As for the engines, Warth didn't need those. The enemy would come to him because they didn't have a choice. He even thought of actually thanking the enemy commanders for what they were doing, but he thought better of it. He needed to deal with this situation and the enemy had made some of their own tactical errors.

"Ensign Diruvu, dispatch a distress signal in a sweep pattern so our enemy doesn't try to be cute and attempt to intercept it. Inform the Empire that Mechis III and is under attack and requests assistance. Make sure it goes towards all parts of the Empire."

"Yes sir," Ensign Diruvu said as he turned to his comm station and began to speak into his comm whose message was then amplified and sent out in a large spread to prevent its full interception; the enemy might hear it, but they couldn't stop the Empire from hereing it either. The message would reach the Empire but who knows if any help would come.

As Ensign Diruvu made his transmission, Captain Warth was already issuing other orders so as to make the enemy pay for their arrogance in attacking a vessel almost eight times their own size. A very stupid strategy if they had wished to survive.

"Bring weapons systems up and vaporize that ship hitting the conning tower. Order the Shrouds to cloak and attack that one hitting our engines. All ships are to load warheads. Inform the rest of the fleet that we need their assistance."

The Barbarossa II's massive array of weapons soon came online as the enemy continued to focus on the systems that could do no damage to them. The weapons slowly aimed as the two destroyers continued their singleminded attack on the two areas of the massive Venerator. As the first weapons came to full power, they opened fire, smashing into the Ecliptic. As the Barbarossa II hammered the Ecliptic, the 12 Shrouds, who had activated their cloaking systems before moving, closed in quietly on the Scorpion who was completely oblivious of the danger it was now in. They moved in, with their weapons ready, and opened up on the vessel while staying on the move so that the enemy gunners had nothing to track that wouldn't vanish a moment later. They began to focus their firepower on the enemy's shields and weapons.

"Bring the shields up," Captain Warth said coldly as he watched on his tactical display as the enemy ships were getting pummeled fiercely. The Ecpliptic's shield were already failing after taking full blasts from the many turbolasers and ion cannons on the Venerator. The Scorpion was suffering some damage also since it was recieving concentrated fire from 12 unseen warships.

"But sir, our primary generators are badly damaged."

"I know that, but bring them up anyway and reinforce them with our secondary ones," Warth said evily. He had decided to play a little mind game with the enemy commanders. With their continuing attack they woud find what was apparently a fully operation shield absorbing their blasts as their ships were being unmercifully pummeled. It would be a very useful intimidation tactic, though they had no chance of running due to their current positions.

"Sir, the rest of the Cluster fleet is coming from around Mechis III as requested. They will be here to aide us soon," Ensign Diruvu reported.

"Excellent. Order them to close with us immediately. I have a feeling we are going to need them. What of the plantary based fighters?"

"They will launch the miniute you order it, sir."

"Good," Warth said quietly as he mentally prayed that he wouldn't lose the command ship and, if he did, survive to face Commodore Tractha.

OOC Reinforcement Manifest
4 ISDs
4 VSDs
8 Lancers

Damage:
Venerator shields at 50% with Secondary shields reinforcing the miniscule bit of Primary shields generation left.

Ecliptic shields at 10% due to Venerator bombardment

Scorpion shields at 70% due to Shroud attacks

Captain Morrison once more appeared on the holograph projecting dias.

"We're taking damage." Morrison said. Richards nodded, "As are we."

"Where is the calvary?"

As he spoke, the ORS reinforcements appeared out of hyperspace and a new holograph appeared, "Captains Richards and Morrison, this is Admiral Drox. I am under orders to assist you."

Richards smiled, "We could use the help. We are under heavy fire."

"We are just outside Mechis III's gravity wells. We should be there momentarily."

"Good." Richards said and Drox dissapeared. He turned back to Morrison.

"Get underneath them." He said. Morrision understood.

The Ecliptic, after a few parting shots at the wasted conning tower, dove hard, using it's added manuvering thrusters to navigate the tight turns. It positioned itself under neath the massive ship, where no weapons system was located. It was using the ship itself as cover.

Using all of it's weapons, it pounded the bottom of the ship, turbolasers and ion cannons alike firing at the ship, weakening it's shields.

The Scorpion fired all of it's weapons at the area where the fire was coming from, and scored a few lucky hits, damaging a few of the Shrouds. It then concentrated on the engines of the Venerator yet again. It had been able to destroy one of the engines before the shields went up. But with the concentrated fire of the Scorpion, the Venerator's aft shields dropped utterly, due to the decreased shield efficiency. The Bakura Destroyer then resumed it's fire on the engine assembly.

Reinforcements -

1 Allegiance - Class Star Destroyer
280 X-wing fighters

Damages -

Bottom shields of Barbarossa II weakened (10%)
Aft Shields of Barbarossa II gone. (This is due to the multiple weapons emplacements on the Scorpion and the decreased efficiency of the shields. Backup shields are supposed to be used for emergency use only, and therefore are inferior - any problems catch me on AIM. I prefer to solve our differences out of the OOC forum)

Shields on Ecliptic at 5%
Shields on Scorpion at 40%

Positioning as of this post -

Ecliptic underneath the Barbarossa II (The R&D does not list any weapons emplacements on the bottom of the ship, so nothing is fireing at it)
Scorpion positioned at the aft of the Barbarossa II and is firing at the engines. One engine has been destroyed, and there is decreased efficiency to the engines, please note that)

Captain Warth watched as one of the enemy ships moved, trying to avoid fire from the massive weapons arrays of the Venerator. It went to the underside where they were free of heavy weapons fire. It was also in range of the Shrouds which were harrassing the other destroyer and doing their damage. They had taken some hits, but since they couldn't be seen, most shots were simply skimming their shields since they were practically impossible to detect. Warth then looked at his tactical displays and simply smiled. The Mechis Cluster Fleet was already moving towards them at full engine power and they were powering up their weapons arrays and shields. Warth decided to make a little reposition of ships now that he could free up his Shrouds.

"MC1 through MC12, refocus your attacks on the vessel below us. ISDs Faust and Mephisto, perform a pincer on the ship attacking our engines. All other ships prepare for combat and move into defensive positions around the Barbarossa II. All vessels that haven't already, load warhead launchers.

Warth watched as his plan to destroy and cripple the two annoying vessels was emplaced like clockwork as the Shrouds moved out of the way and the Faust and Mephisto moved in to replace them with a much greater amount of fire power. Each of the ISDs had closed in from one side so that the enemy was wedged into position to take their punishment. The two vessesl then opened up without mercy and hammered the Scorpion mercilessly with their largest turbolasers and ion cannons on the sides facing the single destroyer in a sort of double broadside attack like that of ancient sea faring warships, though this assault came from both sides. Warth smiled evily as the Shrouds moved about the Ecliptic and soon withered its shields down to nothing.

"Shrouds, fire warheads and load again in case it needs another volley," Warth said coldly and smiled as the Shrouds unleashed their payloads on the Ecplitic's unshielded hull tearing tremendous gashes in the hull and destroying weapons emplacements even as their turblasers continued to rip its hull to shreds. Warth though didn't rejoice since his tactical readout showed other ships that would soon attack, though these two were already doomed.

Damages-

Ecliptic: 0% Shields, Hull at 40% from combined Warhead/turbolaser hits of Shrouds

Scorpion: 0% Shields, Hull at 20% Due to severe and continuing bombardment from both sides.

Shrouds:
MC1 Shields at 90% due to lucky hits
MC2-MC7 Fully shielded
MC9 & MC10 Shields at 90% due to lucky hits

Positioning
-Shrouds now surrounding and bombarding Ecliptic underneath Barbarossa II.
-ISD Faust on left of Scorpion
-ISD Mephisto on Right of Scorpion
-Both ISDs aimed forward but broadsiding the Scorpion from their correct sides.
-Remainder of fleet moving ahead of Barbarossa II into defense positions in two battle groups comprised of 1 ISD, 2 VSDs, and 4 Lancers each.

ASD Nirvana -- Undisclosed Location

The room was dark, as per the norm aboard the flagship of Admiral Bhindi Drayson. The only light was provided by the holographic map that took up a large portion of the room, slowly rotating as the Admiral ran her gloved hands across it.

The Empire was under siege. Reports were constantly being intercepted of Coalition troop movements, fleet elements shifting in response to the Imperial defence.

Communications with Corellia had been lost some time earlier, shortly before the Tholatin attack on Carida.


She smiled at that.


Prince Kamon Vondiranch and his foolhardy attack on the Empire's training world had been beaten down, literally in rivers of his own dead soldiers.

Dantooine was facing a small task force from the Outer-Rim Soveriegnity... Bespin and Taloraan were under assault... communications had only recently been regained with Cinnigar and Koros Major, in the Empress Teta System.


The holomap blinked in a slow, throbbing red were battles were presently under way. A dozen or so planets, in total, all in which the Empire had a hand.

Her eyes went to the section of space that belonged to the Outer-Rim Soveriegnity. They had been responsible for many of the attacks, and it was a question now in the Admiral's mind where they would strike next.

The options, such as they were, were many. But the enemy no doubt recognized the worlds of most value to the New Order.

Imperial Centre... but not fool would dare to strike the heart of the Empire. Not until all the limbs have been hewn off and scattered to the galaxy.

Yaga Minor... the Ubiqtorate's capital. But that was to heavily defended, both in body and spirit, for any but the most foolish of enemy's to attempt.

Corellian and Bastion Protectrates were already under attack...


There was only one option left for the enemy to strike. Her eyes settled on the Mechis Cluster, Commodore Tratcha's personal slice of the Empire.

The enemy will strike soon, and they will strike hard. She thought to herself. The Empire must whether the assault!

She smiled thinly, remembering the words the Grand Marshall had spoken at the outset of the conflict.





And the equal response from the New Order's officers.





All is coming to a head. Bhindi thought, echoing to herself the cliche that had been passed down through the ages. The story draws to a close.

She regarded Mechis III a moment longer, frowning. The defences would hold. Of that, there was little doubt.

Behind her, the doors slid open, spilling light into the darkened space.

"Captain." The Admiral said, not turning from the holodisplay. "Make ready the fleet. Set cooridinants for Mechis III."

Stremins Joda only nodded, and the doors slid shut once more.

Bhindi Drayson smiled into the darkness.




<font size=1>(OOC Manifest)

Main Line

Archangel Class Star Destroyer Nirvana
(Flag - Cpt. Stremins Joda)
Reign Class Star Destroyer Oscalith
Reign Class Star Destroyer Narasil
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Tyrant (II)
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Devestator (II)

Skirmish Screen

Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Eternal
Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Deception
Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Appiration
Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Majestic
Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Twilight
Olanji/Charubah Battle Dragon Relentless

Fighter Compliment

432 TIE Defenders
18 Missile Gunboats
18 Beta Class ETR-3 Escort Transports
18 GAT-12j Skipray Blastboats

Yes the defenses were certainly failing. Captain Richards of the Scorpion and Captain Morrison of the Ecliptic knew this both.




"Report!" Richards shouted.

"All systems are still functional. But our port engines are nonresponsive. All turbolaser banks are still firing."

"Good. Destroy as many of the engines as possible."

"Sir...I am reading excessively powerful energy surges coming from the main reactor...it is becoming unstable."

Richards nodded, "Have the droids take over the turbolasers and continue firing. Evacuate all crew to the pods and get them out of here. Abandon ship."

"But.."

"Do it." Richards said.

"Yes sir."

He turned back to the comm system, "Admiral Drox. I am sorry but the Scorpion cannot render any more assistance. But perhaps I can strike one final blow." He said.

Drox sighed quietly, "Understood captain... godspeed."

"And to you sir. Kill as many of these @#%$ as you can." Richards said.

"Will do."



"Abandon ship." Morrison said to his XO.

"Yes sir."

"Have the droids take over." The captain said. The subordinate nodded and turned back to the comm system, much in the same way Richards did.

"Mayday. This is the Ecliptic we are going down, repeat we are going down. Godspeed to all Sovereignty forces."





Admiral Drox watched as the two stricken Bakura - Class Destroyers listed for a moment as escape pods were jettisoned. Then they both exploded. The explosions were massive, and the fire and debris slammed into the Venerator and the two ISDs harrassing the Scorpion, and even the Shrouds.

"Make sure that all of our forces have their shields up before attacking."

"Fleet confirms shields up."

"Good."

"Sir, I am reading massive damages to the Venerator. The Scorpion took most of the engine systems with it, and the Ecliptic tore a hole in the bottom, as well as damaged those two Star Destroyers. The Venerator's shields have also failed" Drox's XO said.

"The Birds of Prey are to attack the Venerator and finish it off. Order them to focus on weapons emplacements and and power grids and so forth. The rest of us are to proceed to the mission targets and destroy them."

"Understood."

The Birds of Prey, twenty four in all swarmed the stricken Barbarossa II. Their heavy turbolaser cannons and concussion missiles slammed into the shieldless ship, tearing gaping holes in it's hull. Five Birds were tasked with destroying all command structures.

Meanwhile the rest of the ORS forces, including the Praetor descended on the shipyards, attacking all four of the yards.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of turbolasers rained down on the yards, ripping into them.


Damages -

TNO -

Barbarossa II - Hull at 80%, engines completely destroyed, underside has a hole the size of a Corellian Corvette and is venting atmosphere, people ect.

Shipyards - Light damage

ORS -

Two Bakura - Class Destroyers - Destroyed


Positioning -

ASD Praetor underneath MC1
5 Bakura - class Destroyers spread evenly underneath MC2, MC3, and MC4.

Birds of Prey swarming Barbarossa II, and are attacking weapons emplacements as well as other targets.


Oh, and also note. The shields on all ORS ships are up.

"Sir, we have some hull breaches."

"Seal the blastdoors in those areas."

Captain Warth stood quietly on the bridge as the ship was getting pelted by the Birds of Prey, who were continually ignoring the defensive fleet around the massive command ship; a mistake they would soon regret.

"Distance of enemy vessels?"

"5 kilometers, sir."

"Fire an ion pulse bomb on the thickest clustering."

Warth watched as the ship realligned itself and fired of of the devious little weapon towards a cluster of the vessels. In a fraction of a second, there was a flash of ionic energy and then several Birds of Prey were drifting helplessly. Warth smiled at that but also turned his attention towards the rest of the small annoying ships blasting at his vessel. They were still completely oblivious of the fleet as they singlemindedly focused on the Barbarossa II.

"Stupid tactic," Warth muttered, though knowing well that he didn't have a good chance of surviving this battle.

"All Shrouds as well as Faust and Mephisto, move and protect the Barbarossa II, I want those Bird of Preys slagged. Engineering, push all engine power into the weapon and shield arrays, I doubt our engines can use that energy anymore."

"Sir, the rest of the fleet has come around the planet, what are their orders to be?"

"Destroy the interlopers attacking the shipyards."

"Yes sir."

The fleet erupted in weapons fire as the Shrouds and two ISDs moved along the Barbarossa II helping to attack the many small agitating vessels that even now were throwing their firepower at the heavily armed and armored command ship in their effort to destroy it. The Empire though quickly proved its metal in designing warships as the massive command destroyer opened up with its many remaining weapons banks. It easily cut into the much smaller vessels since they were facing a practical space fortress since they had completely ruined its engines which no longer needed the power that was now being pushed into the energy weapon and shield systems. Warth watched quietly, wondering if anyone would come to the aid of the Mechis Cluster Fleet, though they didn't need much since the enemy were using such small vessels against some of the Empire's finest warships even since its beginning.

The rest of the Mechis Cluster Fleet, now fully around the planet closed in quickly and mercilessly on the 5 Bakuras and the ASD trying to destroy the shipyards that had only been under Commodore Trachta's control long enough to build the massive Venerator as well as a decent beginning fleet for his governorship over the area.

Line Captain Vassili stood quietly on the bridge of the ISD Infamy as he watched the situation. The rest of the Mechis Cluster Fleet was now moving in to attack the enemy fleet, with their shields and weapons raised for battle. He needed to save as many of the Shipyards as possible. The solution to that was apparent as he watched the enemy warships.

"Battle group 1, focus on the ASD. Battle group 2, focus on the cluster of Bakura firing on Shipyard 2. ISDs Infamy and Katana, perform 90 degree flip and position yourselves between the shipyards and the enemy vessels so as to protect them."

Vassili watch as his ship and the other quickly flipped so that their tops were now facing downwards and moved to shields shipyards 1 and 2 as well as open up with their weapons arrays. The two VSDs with the Infamy closed in on either side of the ASD and pounded it with their weapons designed just for this vicious purpose. The other two VSDs moved in and began harrassing the two Bakura's now being fired on by the Katana as it acted as a shield and weapons emplacement to save the 2nd shipyard. Vassili watched as the underside down world erupted in lights as the Infamy and the Praetor exchanged shots while the two VSDs took advantage of the distraction.

Damage:
ASD Shields at 60%
2 Bakuras shields at 70%
2 BoPs(Bird of Prey) disabled by ion pulse bomb.
10 BoPs shields at 30% and dropping
9 BoPs 0% shields and 90% hull
Venerator Shields at 20%

Movements:
-Venerator, Shrouds, and ISDs Faust and Mephisto focusing on BoPs.
-Rest of Mechis Cluster Fleet engaging enemy ASD and 2 Bakuras