An alien world, with no name or people. It drifted, listlessly, through space, as unimportant as any other rock out there. Although on it's surface, a lively jungle thrived, and in orbit, thick rings of debries spun, the planet was an inactive blip in the galaxy. All was quiet, as it had been for millenia. But, for a little while, at least, that would change.

The Imperator Star Destroyer SDI-003 exited hyperspace, and approached the target world as fast as possible. The ship's captain and overall commander of the endeavour was one Ion Yees, a Tynnan and thus perhaps uniquely unsuited to command. Nevertheless, this was offset by his natural ability and tactical know-how. Sitting atop a stool, he gave out his orders as the ship drew ever closer to the alien world.

"All right, hold the fighters in reserve for now. We don't have any knowledge of sentient life here, but that doesn't mean there isn't any. Have the troops loaded into the shuttles, along with the gear and vehicles we'll need. We'll leave the SDI-003 in orbit, cut in quick, claim the 'package', and be out before -"

"Sir!" Croaked a lieutenant "Long range scanning suggests other ships in the area. We can't confirm what, but it's something."

There goes our surprise attack. Ion shook his head. "Change of plans. Enter orbit, we'll keep our distance and try to better identify them. Don't deploy the shuttles until we can be sure that the coast is clear. Prime the fighers instead, but don't launch them yet."

Ion looked down at the planet. A huge, steaming jungle covered almost the entire surface, visible even from space. Though too small to see, he knew somewhere - in the shattered remains of a lost temple - their target awaited. Whatever was out there, Ion had to make sure they didn't take possession.

"Prime all guns and raise shields, while we're at it. We should be on full combat alert. I want information on these other ships and I want it fast. Our orders are clear - take the target at all costs." His bridge crew leapt into action, and Ion waited patiently.

Not much to do yet, it's only just beginning. Once we know what we're up against, we'll know what to do.

An alien world, with no name or people. It drifted, listlessly, through space, as unimportant as any other rock out there. Although on it's surface, a lively jungle thrived, and in orbit thick rings of debris spun, the planet was an inactive blip in the galaxy. All was quiet, as it had been for millenia. But, for a little while, at least, that would change.


The Caprician Star Destroyer Judicator (named after the famous vessel that died in the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the Caprician Homeworld) exited hyperspace from an opposite vector.


Command of the Caprician warship was in the hands of Tyscio Zier, a man donning the dark blue and silver colors of his native Clan and sporting his infamous short cropped white hair. Crossing his arms as he stood atop the bridge stations staring at the littered area of space before him.

The deflectors of the massive warship had come to life to deflect any slight piece of asteriod that might find itself crashing against the hull and marring the paint or striking something a bit more painful.

The dark green hues of the alien world broke through the heavy gray cloud cover sporadically and Tyscio knew that the atmosphere would set havoc to any communications with the ground teams. It appeared that jungle covered the planet.

Having beaten off not one but two invasions, the Caprician was not leaving anything to chance. The ground teams would be conveyed by assault shuttles, their better armoured shells appropriate for battering through the green and humid jungle canopy.

"Sir! Sensor are picking up motion beyond the larger ring!" Tyscio cursed his luck knowing that while rings of debris around the planet might mask his signature, it would do the same to any other vessel in the area.

He knew that somewhere on the planet lay a forgotten temple and inside, an object that he very much wanted. He did not delude himself into thinking that this other "ghost" signal would not be after the same thing. Not in this godforsaken armpit of the galaxy!

The other had a closer position if the sensors were reading correctly through the debris rings (which was always a dubious thought at best) and would enter orbit before he did.

He had to act now.

"Pull the safeties off the cannons, Chief," Zier ordered knowing that he could not raise the shields until he released his assault shuttles.

The shuttles in the hanger were ready and carried three full companies of soldiers. Scipio Clan lead by none other than Scipio Arien, Gommoran Clan led by a Junior Tribune and the Providence 1st, led by the enigmatic Tyscio Korban and the gruff Major Mathias.

"Give Scipio the signal." he ordered his Hanger Officer and the area outside the bay of their Star Destroyer soon became littered with assault shuttles moving towards the planet opposite the Judicator's position as the massive ship proceeded on a course to perhaps intercept the signal behind the debris ring.

"Zi.." the holographic projection of Scipio Arien appeared before him. "We'll get the 'thing' for you."

Zier nodded. "Scipio, it is imperative that the object not fall into enemy hands."

"We'll get it. Just mind the store.." Scipio's girlish features frowned in an annoyed look as if he questioned her determination.

He only hoped it was enough.

"Sir!" Croaked Ion's lieutenant "It's hard to tell... we're getting more readings from that thing on the other side of the debries field. Some sort of activity..."

Ion bit his lip, and got to his feelt. The Tynnan race could be likened to seals, as they had the rubbery and pale skin along with bulky tails and fuzzy muzzles. He was not, in any sense of the word, an intimidating sight - at least, not to those who didn't know him. "Order the fighters to launch. Have Captain Eisle on comm."

There was a crackle, then Ion was linked with the Fighter squadron's Quarren commander. "Your orders, captain Ion?"

"Take Red and Blue Squadrons, scout the enemy and engage any transports you might discover if the opportunity arises. Do not risk yourself needlessly, but I leave it to your judgement if a target of chance appears. Your main objective is to get a good look at the enemy and come back with an appraisal. Gold squadron should not launch just yet, we might need them to defend the ship."

"Got it. We're launching, sir. Eisle out."

"I hope she is up to the task." Croaked the lieutenant, and Ion reminded himself to find out his name.

"She'll be fine. They've got Kris fighters."

"Sir, what about the shuttles?"

"Keep them ready to go, but don't launch yet. We can afford to be second on the planet if we're first to leave with our bounty intact."

Or at least, that is what would have happened if all things were equal. Unfortuantely, they were not equal.

It was true that the enemy ship had three squadrons. Blue, Red and Gold. And it was true that the order went out to launch Blue and Red, Blue comprised of bombers and Red comprised of a strange fighter called a Kris fighter.

Now the Kris fighter is a remarkable machine. It is lightly armoured, relying on it's incredible maneauverability and break-neck speed to stay out of harm's way. As added protection, along with a regular shield the Kris sported a Pulse shield, which had the battery life of only seconds but when activated made the ship nearly immune to all forms of attack - a lifesaver when an inescapable explosion or stray shot comes in at the pilot.

And in this case, it saved half the squadron intent on following the B-wings for when the B-wings were launched, they were unable to reach maximum thrust due to lack of distance.

For you see, the ISD 003 had it's shields raised.


Someone had fallen asleep at the Helm.


The explosion as matter struck the impartial energy barrier was tremendous and caused great damage to the main hanger of the enemy warship. It was lucky that the enemy captain did not launch his troop transports or he'd have had no ground troops.

Luck, it seemed was still with the enemy.

The bombs were mostly deactivated but the explosions did trigger some effects (as it was only natural) causing the ventral hull charring and electrical fires springing up in certain areas.

There were only six Kris fighters remaining their pulse shield activating at the second's notice and lightning instinct of the enemy fighter elite.

They rode through the broken energy barrier none worse for wear though the same could not be said for the decimated Blue Squadron.






"Sir! Explosions!" the sensor readings flared and Tyscio cursed again. He was not sure if an asteriod exploded against a barrage of fire aimed at him or not as the reflective properties of the rock, metal and other unidentifiable materials within the rings of debris made visual as well as sensor readings almost useless.

The distant flash jarred the Caprician into action and he ordered his three squadrons of fighters to drop. Ascion Squadron, made up of Tie Defenders, Tscion Squadron, made up of Interceptor Fighters, and Tallon Squadron, made up of Scimitar Bombers.

The Bombers began to trail the shuttles as the assault craft was coming up on the outer atmosphere, debris causing the approach to slow with certain caution.

The Interceptors moved ahead of the Judicator in a screen and the Defenders took positions behind the Judicator though leaving their line of sight open.

The Hanger Bay empty, Tyscio Zier nodded to the Shield Monitoring Station. "Raise the walls, Marcus." he ordered and the Ensign's hand went for the button.

For about one second, one blissful second of ignorance, all that Ion had to worry about was his own confusion. After that, he knew what had happened, and there was no end to his anger.

"Who here's in charge of the shields?!" He shouted. Everyone began rapidly backing away from Lieutenant Fawsk, an Aqualish, as well as the shield operator.

Although, as an aqualish, he coudn't speak basic, a translating unit around hi neck piped up in his defence. "Well... you didn't say to drop the -"

He got about that far into the sentence before Ion's knee met his reproductive organs at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light. Repeatedly. "Take this... person, and lock him in the brig."

It was another few seconds of wrathfully smashing a chair with his hands before Ion could bring himself back under control. "What's the status?"

"We've got... half of Red squadron left. Eisle's... dead, sir. Along with... all of blue Squadron. Those that are left went back into the hangar and landed. Looks like they're refusing to fly, sir."

Ion knew that even though he had half his fighters left, effectively he had no fighters left. The Coalition and it's people were thin-skinned when it came to personal failure - if someone else beats you, that's one thing, but if you fail yourself, well, that's devastating. They weren't going to fly this battle, and they certainly weren't going to trust him.

"Ok then... have someone deactivate all the fighter ammunition and turn off the missiles. Remove the catalyst componants. The less explosive hazards we have, the better. Close the hangar doors for now, we don't want any surprises flying their way inside. Any damage to the ship?"

"Some electircal fires, sir. We've got crews putting them out. The blast did little external damage. Overall, only surface damage detected."

"Double check, anyways."

Now what did he do? The shuttle pilots were pretty chummy with the fighter pilots. He couldn't send them out - they probably wouldn't fly until the very heat of battle. Escape pods? Wait, what was he thinking? No way they'd be good for anything here but escaping.

That left him with one option. "Move away from the debris field. We're going to have to make a long orbit around the planet and hit the enemy ship personally. Make sure everything is locked down, prime and load all guns. Raise all shields - using common sense, for Gods's sake - and once we're clear of all the debris, make best possible speed for the enemy ship. Prepare to broadside them as soon as possible."

Planetary Atmosphere


"Tell Junior that his forces should spread-!" Scipio's order was cut off as a transport from Gomorran Clan exploded having run into an unseen asteroid of some unknown metallic composition.

"The sensors are having a hard time locking on!" the pilot yelled to Scipio and she opened a com.

"Tyscio, slow your approach!"

"Already on it!" replied the happy-go-lucky response as the transports carryign the Providence 1st entered the atmosphere and disappeared from view.

"Here we go.." Scipio silently whispered a prayer to the previous dead Clannus Primes hoping they they were looking out for them or, at the very least, had nudged the goddess of luck over to their neck of the galaxy.

As the craft entered the atmosphere, their sensors suddenly went dead...




Space..


Pilot Nash moved his craft to the edge of the debris ring watching his scans bounce back as metallic debris shimmered into existence and then disappeared.

As if the sensor signals triggered a glassing effect upon the debris.

But what the sensors could not tell, their eyes could. The vague lights that were interpreted at being another ship seemed to be moving paralle to the planetary rings.

As he was about to relay his observation, his wingman screamed as something struck against his forward transparisteel chassis causing a seal to lose pressure.


The shields rose and Tyscio Zier decided to halt the forward momentum of the Judicator.

He stared at the planet's massive debris rings.

"Sir?" came the forward scanning officer and Zier turned.

"What is it?"

"The Interceptors seem to be having some sort of trouble. Evidence of some metallic debris appearing and vanishing.."

"Inform the science department about this. We'll need better information." The Captain of the Judicator turned to another officer. "What about the other ship?"


"Sir.. it's seems to have disappeared from our sensors!"


Tyscio gritted his teeth. His soldiers were into the atmosphere. All he had to do was hold for as long as it took them to locate and secure the object.


He hated holding.

And he hated waiting.


"Sweet Clannus Prime! I'm turning into an impatient pup!" he muttered. "Weapons?" he barked.


"Casings are cycled up.."


So we wait..

"Sir!" Exclaimed a Vrakken sensor operator "The interference is pretty heavy from the debris field, looks like metal keeps vanishing and reappearing, or something. We can't quite lock it down or figure out what it is."

Ion was thinking fast, and a plan was forming. "Double check that all soldiers are aboard the assault shuttles, brace for boarding action. Do not launch our fighter screens. With any luck, they'll have already launched their shuttles, that should make it easier. Somebody go down and console the fighter pilots, see if we can convince them to fly again - but not to fly just yet.

"As for guns, prepare to fire on the enemy warship. Ignore fighters unless it's a life-or-death situation out there. Try and knock out enemy guns, especially anti-fighter or other point-range weaponry.

"Make sure all reserve power is committed to either the shields or the thrusters, and prepare for initial broadsides!"

003 skirted the edge of the field, trying to spot the enemy vessel. Finally, Ion saw a static object in the swirl of matter around the planet, clearly a starship.

"That's our target, right over there!"

"But sir, we cannot detect it on radar!"

"We have eyes, don't we? Set a visual course to the underbelly of that ship and prepare to fire!"

With that, 003 pivoted back towards their enemy, making a beeline for beneath them. Turbolaser turrets, batteries, and the assortment of other weapons hummed with waiting power.

Planetside...


"Keep the nose up!! UP!" Scipio shouted as the gravity of the world seemed stronger than most. Which mean't that the trees...


"Ahh... frak!" and the assault shuttles entered the canopy.



*


Tyscio Korban pushed open the dented ramp that still failed to descend properly but allowed for the noises of the jungle to seep in.

"Damned hot out here.." he murmured as he wiggled his way out of the rear of the shuttle.

He dropped down onto the soft ground and as he scooted the edge of the craft a side door slid open and a gruff Major Mathias stepped out squinting through growing beads of sweat as the team began unloading and salvaging what they could.

The craft had been stopped by a massive tree and fallen to the bottom. Only the safety harnesses and shock absorbers of the shuttle saved the troopers. The pilots did not fair so well.

"Where the hell is this thing we're supposed to find?" Mathias grunted as Tyscio activated a sensor module. "Life signs all over the damn place. No good here. We'll have to coordinate the old fashioned way."

Mathias grunted. "You're too young to know about old fashioned ways."



Space..


Tyscio Zier felt a growing unease as the sensor equipment sat silent. How to achieve space superiority and keep it?

He felt he had an edge. A feeling but it was fleeting. The more time he simply sat there the more opportunities for planning he gave his opponent.

Leantre was the defensive man. He could wait out a seige and eat hard tac till his sides burst and think nothing of it. Zier was young enough to desire action. Something.

Yes, the waiting rankled the Captain of the Judicator.

"Engage engines, Maximum thrust!" he suddenly ordered. "Take us into the debris field!"

"Sir.." an Ensign came up.

"Keep the shields charged! Don't run us into the larger asteriod, Helm but do take us in. Better the enemy comes at us in there than out in the open!"

"We'd at least see him, eh?" Herridian Wye stepped off the lift holding a datapad.

"You might want to see this, Zi.."

Several weapons on the Judicator discharged blasting the larger pieces of rock into something more manageable for the shields to handle.

The Caprician warship entered the field, passing the Interceptor line. The Defender's trailed cautiously.

"Looks like they're heading into the debris field..." said Ion "Good. That should make our job a little easier."

"Sir, our sensors are useless while they're in there - but it's safe to say that so are theirs. There's just too much interference."

"I can't tell for sure without sensor data, but visually, we appear to be in firing range."

Ion smirked. If they were far, he'd risk the element of surprise that accompanied the first volley. On the other hand, if he didn't fire and kept going, he might be fired upon and in turn lose the element of surprise that way - and also be under fire.

"Begin firing! Keep our fire focussed on the enemy cruiser - only on the fighters if you have to! Do not launch our fighters or shuttles, but try and get them ready to launch just in case." Ion was glad someone had stepped up to take the place of the now 'unavailable' shield operator, and the gentle vibration that passed through the ship as the guns began to fire was almost a comfort. So it begins.

The shots weren't exactly as accurate as a most, being at range and without the aide of sensor technology, but they still got the job done. Bolts of energy crackled and sputtered along the shields, forcing fighters to break formations temporarily to dodge out of the ensuring blasts.

"Right! We're in firing range! Keep us clear of any large debris, and stay on that Star Destroyer! I want us to close the gap hard and fast, and keep all our focus on the cruiser. The instant our sensors can recognize it, have them lock on as well!"

The Star Destroyer cut fast through space, it's hull becoming a light-show of fire as salvoes flew towards the enemy ship. The battle had truly begun.

Space...

The ship rumbled slightly as the enemy ship began to open fire and Tyscio Zier had to hold a hand out to steady himself.

A Comm Officer looked up. "That was close."

Tyscio ginned, "How do we look?"

"Sensors are worthless and targeting sensors are crap! The enemy must be experiencing similiar issues since we are within long range firing and they can't seem to hit the side of a barn."

The Captain of the Judicator grunted at that. "Not for lack of trying."

The ISD shook and Tyscio glared out, "That was no weapons fire!" he snapped.

"This ring is littered with debris!" shouted the head helm officer. "We might as well be in a damned asteriod field!"

"Use the tractor beams to see about mananeuvering some of the larger pieces." Zier suggested as his focus returned towards the visual aid the enemy warship was giving as it's location lit up as with more fire.

The ship shook again and something sparked.

"That hit us." Zier grumbled but the Judicator was moving deeper into the debris field. The enemy warship would either follow them in or try to remain outside and circumnavigate the rings which would take time.

The Interceptor Squadron under Pilot Nash had bolted at the sight of the shooting ISD. They set their course for the planet to either enter the atmosphere or swing around on the inner circle of the rings surrounding the jungle world.

The Defenders followed the Judicator at a discreet distance thought one took a wrong turn and was blown to smithereens by a stray shot from the enemy warship.

"If the enemy enters the field, we are going to have to do a broadside at near point blank range, if we are to hit anything. Begin rotating our vector and have us come about."

The leader of the sciences on Capricia stood in awe on the bridge watching the spectacle unfold. "Look at how the weapons fire is being absorbed into some of the debris!" he nearly shouted. "They are glowing!"


"What the hell is this stuff?" Zier asked irritated. "If the enemy enters the field, hold fire until we know we can hit something. If they want to expend their energy and overload themselves, we'll let them. I want full cycled charges the ready if they come in."


"May those bastards rot in hell, Zi." Herridian said in an low tone and the Captain grinned. "Actually, I was hoping we'd confirm their reservations."



Planetside...



The Providence 1st took stock of their situation as they regrouped. Some shuttles had crashed while the others landed scattered about.

"Where the hell is Scipio Clan?" Korban asked in irritation as the intermittent signals were slowly coming in.

The junior Tribune had landed somewhere off to the North whereas it seems Scipio Clan's soldiers were thrown towards the South with Providence 1st in the middle.

"We'll need to get some rocket boys in the treetops." Mathias grunted as the Company cook was starting assess his options to keep the men under him fed and hydrated.

It was hotter than Rancor's breath here!