Bakura-2 Days Following Bespin Massacre

“We need to strike back!”

Vice-President Marth Meer was growing angry, and when important politicians grew angry subordinate officers usually got worried. Even if those subordinate officers were 4 of the most powerful men in the Armed Forces of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty.

Chief Marshall Jesmin Kane spoke up.

“But where? The list of targets is enormous.”

“Anywhere. I don’t care. Go find some planet where we might be welcomed instead of shot at.” Marth shot back.

“That doesn’t exactly give us a tiny list. If I was being ruled by the Imperials I’d welcome anybody who came.”

Legion-General Darmak quickly joined the argument.

“So would I Jesmin but not everybody would. We will consider your request and I will have Military Intelligence look into various options. I would contact Black Hand but I assume you’re better equipped in that department.”

Marth nodded.

“Yes. Thank you for the time you’ve given me.”

“No problem sir. None at all.”



Bakura-3 Days Later

Marth was sitting in his office reading a historical text. Before he’d joined Black Hand he’d been a student of Ancient History and it was a passion he liked to maintain even later on in life.

“Sir, Legion-General Darmak is on line 3.”

Marth looked up to smile at his secretary, Eres Nelgon.

“Thank you. I’ll take it in my office.”

“Yes sir.”

Marth put down his book and reached over to punch a flashing button on his comlink.

“Meer here.”

“Sir, this is Legion-General Darmak. I think we’ve found your target.”

“Where?”

“Rachuk.”



Imperial Star Destroyer-Oracle

“Sir, the Oracle is ready for departure.”

Rear-Admiral Kranek nodded to the captain of the Oracle Jane Snow. Most of his fleet had been assembled secretly at the Fleet Assignment Base on CN-1344, the Oracle however hadn’t left to join the massing strike force. They were to meet up on the way to Rachuk at Grid Co-ordinates Alpha-X a burned out dwarf star 10 light-years from Rachuk.

“Set course for Alpha-X. Flank Speed”

“Yes sir.”

“Proceed at your discretion Captain.”

Snow nodded to him silently thanking him for his faith in her. Kranek smiled as the stars visible through the forward view port elongated into lines. He was going to war!

Three hours later

Kranek waited impatiently as the Oracle approached Rachuk. Already in his belly he could feel the faintly sexual feeling of combat. It would be a glorious day for the Sovereignty. As the Jumpmaster counted down to zero Kranek settled down for the final jolt of reversion to realspace. It came suddenly however Kranek the veteran of hundreds of jumps barely felt it.

Immediately Captain Jane Snow began issuing orders.

“Tactical give me a complete scan of the system. Scan for shields, ships, anything. Activate shields. Order the taskforce to form up.”

Kranek just sat there. Snow was a fine captain, as good a one as any admiral could hope to have.

Fleet Manifest:

Imperial SD-Oracle
Imperial SD-Avenger

Lancer FRG-Spear
Lancer FRG-Lance
Lancer FRG-Firecracker
Lancer FRG-Storm

Aegis Mark II Star Cruiser - Insidious
Aegis Mark II Star Cruiser - Reliance
Aegis Mark II Star Cruiser - Morning Star
Aegis Mark II Star Cruiser - Bright Hope

Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar I
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar II
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar III
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar IV
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar V
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar VI
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar VII
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar VIII
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar IX
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar X
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar XI
Sovereignty Bird-of-Prey - Avatar XII

Interdictor - class Cruiser - Immobilizer One
Interdictor - class Cruiser - Immobilizer Two

Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 19
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 20
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 21
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 22
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 23
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 24
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 25
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 26
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 27
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 28
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 29
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 30
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 31
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 32
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 33
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 34
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 35
Defender - Class Gunship - Defender 36

Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Grey Wolf
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Dragon's Fire
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Scorpion's Sting
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Dynasty
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Stronghold
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Sword
Intimidator - Class Assault Cruiser - Overlord

Escort - Class Carrier - Shinzou
Escort - Class Carrier - Blade
Escort - Class Carrier - Art of War
Escort - Class Carrier - Blessings

540 XM-1 Missile Boats
300 TIE Defenders
230 Tie/ad Advanced Starfighters

Alarms began to blare on the base grounds of the main Military Command center on Rachuk. When Commander William Harrier was summoned to the war room, the current situation did not appear favorable at all. Over the last ten minutes, multipule warships had appeared near the outer system. Some of them had already been identified as the well known Birds of Prey, making it very likely that this fleet was from the Outer-Rim Soveriengty. The warships, number some two dozen or more, shifted into an attack wedge. Acting on his initiative, Commander Harrier ordered the air raid alarms to be sounded, and all the fighters, and captial warships to be called up to full combat duty. Having been caught unawares after a long campaign, the Imperial Frigates Spartan, Bellona, Black Prince, and Euryalus shifted into an attack wedge, and powered up shields, weapons, and engines. Fighters screamed out of makeshift hangar bays to rendezvous with the Imperial fleet, some one hundred fighters in all, consisting of TIE Devils, and TIE Defenders. The fleet slowly began to move forward as the fighters rendezvoused with it, and formed a screen.

Commander Harrier then began to issue orders for real;

"Commander Dyrian, since Vice Admiral Kraken is away on buisness, you will be commanding the space fleet. Your main objective is to stall off the enemy fleet for as long as possible until reinforcements arrive. Colonel Gary, see to it that the civilians are evacuated to the bunkers, and that the refugees are well protected. See if you can't squeeze a few walkers into those subterranian caverns. We'll have to play it long on this one. Send a message to Rear-Admiral Telan Desaria, along with all the other Proctectorates, informing them that we are under attack, and request reinforcements. Send them routine sensor feeds, comm traffic, everything every five minutes." order Commander Harrier.

The orders were then carried out, the word was spread, the fleet mobilized for combat, and the citizens sought to. Now it was time for the Outer-Rim Soveriengty to make their next move.........

EDIT: OOC Manifest:
Imperial Fire class Light Frigate Spartan
Imperial Fire class Light Frigate Bellona
Imperial Fire class Light Frigate Black Prince
Imperial Fire class Light Frigate Euryalus
96xTIE Series Devils
48xTIE Series Defenders

Imperial Star Destroyer-SS Oracle

Rear-Admiral Kranek planned on allowing Captain Snow to do most of the ordering around until he was needed. It allowed him to get a good perspective of the Oracle’s crew and their captain.

The tactical officer, an ensign by the name of Drost, spoke up. "Ma'am, we have 4 ships on sensors. Frigate sized."

"Thank you for that detailed report Ensign. Know if you would be so kind as to tell me where these frigates are it would be much appreciated."

The ensign flushed at his commander’s tone.

"Sorry Ma'am. The four frigates appear to be Fire-class Light Frigates, a similar design to our Bird of Preys. They are located around the world defending it. They also have a very sizeable fighter escort, 10 squadrons or so."

Captain Snow sniffed.

"10 squadrons is nowhere near as many as we have. How would you like to dispose your forces Admiral?"

"Launch all our fighters. Order the Lancers and the Defender Gunships to flank the enemy fighters and begin picking off their fighters. The Intredictors are to remain here with the Carriers and the Intimidators guarded by the Aegis Cruisers. The Bird of Preys will press the immediate attack along with the TIE Advanced. All of our ships are to leave Vectors 3 through 5 open for the Intimidators. We will stay here with the remainder of the fleet."

Snow nodded her approval of his plan.

Suddenly the Communication Officer sat up in his seat.

"Sir, the Imperials are transmitting. It's a distress signal. I've begun long-range jamming but some of it got out."

"What got out? Was it audio, data?"

"All audio. They were starting a data burst but we stopped them before it could get out."

Khaln nodded.

"Well the whole galaxy will know we're here now. Order the Intredictors to take up position on the in-system hyperspace vectors. They are to be guarded by the Aegis Cruisers as well as all of our currently un-assigned fighters."

"Yes sir."

"Launch them with the rest of the fighters. However they are to proceed around the Lancer Frigates. The TIE Defenders will guard them. The TIE Advanced will lead our attack on the enemy fighters."

"As you command!"

"Make sure all of the TIE Advanced pilots know not to go close to the frigates. They are to engage the enemy fighters, but stay out of range of the frigates laser cannons."

"Yes sir."

XM-1 Missile Boat-Slash 1

Brevet Captain Dela Ralethorn sat in the dark cockpit of her XM-1 Missile Boat onboard the Escort Carrier Art of War. Her small ship was heavily loaded with missiles and torpedoes of all sorts including 4 special Ion Torpedoes that had been added to her payload just 10 minutes before the Sovereignty Fleet arrived at Rachuk.

Why the hell does the Admiral want us to use Ion Torpedoes? An Ion Cannoned ship is still able to be used.

Ralethorn had always been a firm believer in leaving nothing useful for your enemies. Working capital ships even if they were temporarily disabeled counted as useful.

Suddenly the voice of the Art of War's commanding Officer, Captain Nelson, a former bomber pilot like herself crackled in her headset.

"Attention all fighters. Begin launching."

Ralethorn flexed her hands and prepared to launch. Her squadron had been located in the second row of the Starboard Docking Bay onbord the Art of War. Through her forward viewscreen she could see the last fighter of Green Squadron, Green 12, lift off the docking bay floor and smoothly exit the hangar bay. Then a red light on her command console burned green as the Hangar Control Officer signaled to her that it was her turn to lift off. Smoothly she applied power to her repulsorlift engines bringing her fighter just a few meters off of the deck before she applied forward power. Bringing her fighter smoothly out of the docking bay into the expanse of space. Behind her the other fighters of Slash squadron followed.

"Form up!"

A series of clicks acknowledged her over the comm as the other fighters in her squadron formed up into the standard wedge formation.

"Squadron Commanders, this is the Oracle, form up in your wings. The Wing Commanders have your orders. Load your Missiles and good fighting."

A storm of clicks came over the comm unit as the hundred some odd squadron commanders who were on the mission clicked their comm unit. Ralethorn quickly switched her comm unit over to wing frequency to hear her Wing Commander, Colonel Higlac, already issuing orders.

"Listen up! We're going to be defending the Intredictors. The Imperials got out a distress call so we may have company soon. Fan out. We're going to be in a bowl-shape around the enemy so any cappies that get dragged out are going to be blasted."

Ralethorn clicked her comlink in acknowledgment before flipping a few switches on her control panel to arm her weapons.

The Imperials are going to burn!

TIE Advanced-Death 1

Colonel Grad had other worries as he was preparing for battle. He was commander of the 2nd TIE Advanced Wing meaning that under his command were 72 men and women.

72 different people that I might be sending to their deaths. How many will die today? 5, 10, 20? It's the god-dammed Imperials fault, why the hell did they have to @#%$ murder people? Those butchers on "Imperial" Center should all be shot and killed. Then people like me wouldn't have to go in to battle. Then there wouldn't be any of these god-dammed clones either.

Grad hated clones. They were great pilots, yes, but it just wasn't natural. He was fine with twins, he had two twin daughters, it was just the idea of thousands of identical mass-produced "things", not even humans "things" that lived solely for the purpose of killing and being killed.

"Sir?"

The query broke his thought. Battle was about to begin and his pilots were waiting for him to say something. Clearing his throat he thumbed his microphone switch then began to speak.

"You've all seen the footage, you all know what's happened to these people. The empire came and destroyed them. Burned their homes, people died, mothers, fathers, grandparents and children. Children, that is what they killed. Most of you have children or at least younger siblings or nephews. If you ever find yourself asking why you're fighting think of them. Think of the little children of Rachuk, some of them orphaned, nobody to care for them, others are dead. Think of them and you will know why you are fighting. Fight well, the Empire will fall and their ships will burn like stars."

The Lancer Frigates and Defender Gunships surged forward and began their flanking maneouver. Already laser bolts began to swarm out from the mighty ships to strike Imperial ships destroying them in bright explosions. Then it was the Bird of Prey's turn. The mighty ships surged forward quickly accelerating to speeds rivalling the speeds of some fighters. As the ships came in range of the imperials batteries on the ship swivelled and struck out and some fighters. In the wake of the Bird of Prey's came the TIE Advanced, flying among the enemy blasting at the enemy fighters.

Grad walked his lasers up on to the port side of a TIE Devil. The resulting explosion forced him to look away. As he did he caught site of the Imperial Frigates. The Intimidator's had just fired with all but one of the frigates being targeted by two Intimidators firing standard shells. The shells caught the Intimidators and severely weakened their shields just in time for the Bird of Preys to hit them. Flying at full attack speed the Bird of Prey's split up with three to a frigate firing with all their weapons. The Frigates fired back but they were being overwhelmed by the Bird of Preys.

OOC:
Damages:
3 Fire Frigates(Shields at Nil 70% Armour)
1 Fire Frigate(Shields at Nil Armour at 90%)
30 TIE Devils Dead
20 TIE Defenders Dead

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Intimidator's had just fired with all but one of the frigates being targeted by two Intimidators firing standard shells. The shells caught the Intimidators and severely weakened their shields just in time for the Bird of Preys to hit them. Flying at full attack speed the Bird of Prey's split up with three to a frigate firing with all their weapons. The Frigates fired back but they were being overwhelmed by the Bird of Preys.

_______________________________________________________________________
Commander Harrier watched with fascination as the Indimidators fired on one another, then the Birds of Prey strafed them, severley weakening their shields, and hitting their hull. The Intimidators were severley weakened by this assault.

Seeing the opportunity he had been waiting for since the battle began, he ordered a withdraw. The Fire class Light Frigates layed down a quick covering fire as the TIE Fighters clawed their way out of the fleet, the TIE Devils buying the time needed for the more valuable TIE Defenders to escape. In a furious counter attack the Devils swarmed about the TIE Advanceds, stinging them with their laser cannon, and light ion cannon, most of the time damaging them, but in cases where two or three ganged up on a single fighter, destroying them.

In the meantime, the Fire light Frigates were also clawing their way from the engagement, scattering turbolaser and ion fire across the engines of the Defender Gunships. This slowed them down enough for them to fall behind the retreating frigates. The remaining fighters lined up on the frigates, and the taskforce, some distance ahead of the ORS fleet now, began to move out of the system.

Commander Harrier could only smile at the enemy's misfortune. Perhaps the captians of the Birds of Prey have been listening to the latest propoganda reports.........

OOC: Damages:
TNO:
1 Fire class Light Frigate Hull down to 80%
1 Fire class Light Frigate Hull down to 70%
2 Fire class Light Frigates Hull down to 55%
21 TIE Devils remaining
11 TIE Defenders remaining

ORS:
2 Intimidar Assault Cruiser crippled
10 Defender Gunships 5-10% shield damaged, with 15% reduced speed.
15 TIE Advanced destroyed
30 TIE Advanced damaged (forced to withdraw)

Imperial Star Destroyer-SS Oracle

Rear-Admiral Kranek jumped out of his command chair as his ships began to fire on each other. "What the @#%$ just went on there?"

"Something's wrong with our computer systems. And the systems onboard the Bird of Preys. There's some weird virus that's screwing them up. The Bird of Preys have shut off their weapons and engines leaving them with shields only. I've had Intimidator control shut off all but the shields on the Intimidators. We're currently flushing all the illegimate programming. Sir the enemy ships are retreating right towards us."

"Good. Now let's end this fight. Have the Defender Gunships sweep in from the rear. We'll attack from the front with the Avenger. The TIE Defenders will come and finish the remaining fighters, though reming them to stay away from those Fire Light Frigates. Order the TIE Advanced to finish all of there present engagements then do a flyby on Rachuk."

"Yes sir."

"Concentrate all Ion Cannon Fire on the lead Light Frigate."

"Yes sir."

Kranek watched as his flagship drew steadily closer to the oncoming Fire Light Frigates. As the ships came into each other's range turbolaser and Ion Cannon fire began to pour out from each other. The TIE Defenders who had newly joined the fight swept in quickly picking off the remaining fighters while the Defender Gunships came up from the rear attacking the Fire Light Frigates as well. As Kranek watched the lights on the lead ship flickered and died. Seconds later a huge explosion eclipsed it's nearest partner and it began to break up. Into pieces most of which floated away from the battle. Within minutes it was all over with all of the Imperial Forces having been rounded up and destroyed or disabeled.

"Launch two shuttles with assault teams towards the disabeled frigate. They are to use Fire Plan 3."

"Yes sir."

Through the forward viewport, Karnek could see two boarding shuttles flying quickly towards the disabeled Fire Light Frigate Black Prince. The teams onboard the shuttles quickly cut themselves hatches near the engineering section.

Fire Light Frigate-Black Prince

Clone Trooper XE354 was the first off his shuttle. The second the makeshift airlock had opened he and the rest of his team had thrown, flash bang grenades as well as gas grenades which gave off the same sleeping gas as was used at Bespin and Taloraan. The troopers moved through the Engineering Section with their Air Masks running at full so they wouldn't be forced to breathe the gas. They quickly located the main Air-Pumping Mechanism. Glancing over the controls XE354 was glad to find that it was a standard Imperial Design like that onboard the Imperial Star Destroyer where he was based. Moving quickly he took a large container of the same gas he'd used seconds ago and attached it to the Air-Pumping Mechanism. Within seconds the whole ship was full with the sleeping gas as the crew of the Black Prince began to faint left and right. Once XE354 was sure that the gas had reached the whole ship he signaled to his team leader that they could proceed. The boarding teams began to move through the Black Prince quickly and efficiently, binding all the sleeping prisoners they found. Those that were still awake and fighting, they killed.

ooc:Total Losses for this engagement:
TNO:
0 Fighters Remaining
1 Fire Light Cruiser, Captured
3 Fire Light Cruisers Destroyed

ORS:
8 TIE Defenders Destroyed
13 Defender Gunships 5-10% shield damage
2 Intimidator Cruisers Crippled
15 TIE Advanced destroyed
30 TIE Advanced damaged (forced to withdraw)

Captian Ade Buckner of the Fire class Light Frigate Black Prince watched as his ship was disabled by Ion cannon fire from the Imperial class Star Destroyers. He ordered all bulk doors, and airshafts to be slammed shut as the boarding shuttles came to capture his vessel. Even now, the twenty or so Special Navy Troops that had been assigned to protect his ship first planted charges in concealed access panels, then activated their dead man switches. In the meantime, the Stormtroopers stationed on his ship, one platoon of about twenty, came running to the bridge in order to protect the captian. Then the boarders hit.

Captian Buckner soon realised that they had to have pumped gas into the ship, for he could hear the Special Navy Soldiers hitting the deck, but he heard no blaster fire, and more importantley, he didn't hear the explosions that would have gone off if the soldiers had released their grips. By now every compartment on the ship except for the bridge had gone silent. Two of the Special Navy soldiers remained, along with the twenty stormtroopers, and the bridge crew.

Then, a noise was heard from the bulk doors. The doors exploded backwards violentley, knocking ten of the stormtroopers, and four crewers out cold, or just plain dead. Then, the gas crept in. The two Special Navy troopers were fast asleep, unable to let go of their detonators in time. However, the stormtroopers were not affected by the gas. They fired as the invaders crept through the doorway, and the bridge erupted into blasterfire. The stormtroopers were outnumbered, but fought back valiantley.

But, as the last stormtrooper was shot, it appeared that the ORS had won. But, in fact, they had not, for this last stormtooper went down firing. One of his last bolts pierced the body of one of the Special Navy troopers. His body spasmed as he died in his sleep, and his armed twichted. A detonator came rolling out of it, then as the enemy boarders watched in horror, a pin clicked.

An explosion blew out the viewports of the bridge, sucking with it the enemy troops. Then the chain reaction began, as detonator after detonator exploded. In mere seconds, the Fire class Light Frigate was reduced to rubble, the main ship being in seven large pieces, with other peices in among it.

OOC: Damages:
1 Fire class Light Frigate destroyed
2 Boarding Shuttles destroyed

OOC:Buddy uh no.

A)If the guy went down firing there's next to no way his bolts would have pierced somebody on the ground in front of him. He would have likely been knocked backwards meaning his bolts would have A)Hit my troopers or B) Hit the roof.

B)If your guys were using weapons that volatile then they must have all been prepared to die

C)Ever heard of grenades? Exact same method I took the Air Filtration Plant I could have taken out your platoon before they had time to shoot.

OOC: Buddy, uh yes.

A) It depends on which way he was pointing the rifle. In the Death Star in the first movie (#4), a stormtrooper that was shot while entering the detention room went down firing in front of him.

B) Of course they were. Imperial crews, at least my crews, fear that when they are captured, that they will be ruthlessley tortured for information. In this case they would rather die than be captured.

C) The concussion from the grenades would have knocked the dead mans switch from his hands, still having the required effect of scuttling the warship. By my method, or yours, it doesn't matter. The end result is still the same.

OOC:A)If he was firing at my troopers it would have happened my way. Trust me.

B)No comment

C)Flash Bang grenades don't emit a concussion big enough to move it. It would have just disoriented your troopers.

However I am letting you get away with it.

IC:

Imperial Star Destroyer-Oracle

Kranek sat there staring impassively out of his forward viewport as the Fire Light Cruiser Black Prince self-destructed in a flurry of fire. As the debris began to drift apart Kranek could see no sign of the boarding shuttles that had ferried his troops over.

Behind him he could hear Captain Jane Snow begin to issue orders.

"Begin recovery operations. Collect all debris and bodies. We may still find something useful out of this."

Major Kemach, flight co-ordinator for the fleet nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"Move us into orbit around the planet. Have all ships secure from battle stations and take up position in orbit. Order the escort carriers to begin to take on fighters. They are to be re-deployed with fresh pilots."

This time is was Lieutenant Kemant, the helmmaster who nodded.

"Aye."

"Tactical, give me a scan of the planet look for any military bases."

Another officer, Ensign Drost nodded his head in acknowledgment of his captain's orders.

"Yes sir."

A minute later Drost looked up from his screen.

"Sir, we've detected a huge stormtrooper training facility on the outskirts of the capitol city, Rach."

Perhaps remembering his former embarrasment when he didn't give his captain a complete report he quickly continued.

"It's location is grid co-ordinates 52.987 W and 76.534 North."

"Guns do you have the locations?"

Lieutenant Sabing, chief weapons officer nodded.

"Yes ma'am. I have Batteries 8 and 9 trained on it."

Snow now turned towards Kranek.

"Shall we proceed sir?"

Kranek hesitated a second before answering. This ship was operating perfectly without him. He wasn't used to not being needed, but Jane Snow had managed to train her crew to perfection. As a reward he would allow her to operate autonomously. If she did a good job maybe he's recommend her for Commodore after this mission.

"Proceed at your own discretion Captain."

Snow saluted and did a perfect right turn so that she was facing he officers.

"Guns. Fire at will."

Sabing nodded and then quickly began to speak into his headset. Seconds later Kranek felt the Oracle rumble as the reactors in the bowels of the ship fed power to the turbolaser batteries which were emitted in controlled bursts of coherent light. These bursts of light quickly travelled through the atmosphere before striking home on the stormtrooper training facility. The first few shots struck a hastily errected shield but that couldn't last. The Oracle continued to fire pumelling the shields. Within minutes the shields began to fail and soon they were gone altogether leaving the facility open to attack. Then the turbolaser blasts which had before disipated harmlessly began to strike home. Hitting the training facilities. Drilling fields were reduced to a scorched wasteland, ammunition buildings a ranging inferno, barracks and other structures, a pile of debris.

"Order a couple of TIE's to do a flyby of the base. See if there's anything left to destroy."

"Yes ma'am."

"I believe it's about time to issue an order for surrender. Rear-Admiral Kranek I believe that is your duty?"

Kranek nodded and stepped forward to the main holographic recording station. The comm tech there quickly warmed up the machine and calibrated it. Then he nodded to Kranek indicating that he should feel free to speak.

"This is Rear-Admiral Kranek of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty. We have come to liberate you, the people of Rachuk from the tyranny that governed you. Short weeks ago a similar fleet to mine showed up in orbit and bombarded your planet and your capital city killing thousands of civilians. We have also bombarded your planet. However we have and will just restrict our targets to legimate military targets. I know call upon all remaining Imperial forces on the planet Rachuk to surrender. If you appreciate your lives then you will realize that there is no point in continued fighting."

"Who are they?" asked a civilian woman as she was being rushed by a stormtrooper to a large cave.

"They are traitorous elements of the Empire, coming to utterly destroy Rachuk. They, unlike our commander and us, believe that Rachuk should pay dearly for the destruction of Vice Admiral Kraken's honor guard. They believe that Rachuk should be left nothing but a burning ball of wasteland." said the stormtrooper.

It was all lies, of course. The forces belonged to the Outer-Rim Soveriengty. But part of what he said was the truth, in that, using the technology of the Empire, the ORS was very much like a traitourous faction of the Empire. At first the civilians had taken refuge in the military base, hoping that the hastily erected shield generator would protect the military command staff, and the civilians that sought refuge there from the ships above, but that hope had been dashed by the bombardement launched by one of the two enemy Imperial class Star Destroyers in orbit. Nearly five thousand civilians had been killed, and the bombadement had been captured on holocam. It showed the large base, with a large Imperial New Order flag at staff over it, being pummeled by turbolaser blasts. It showed the stormtroopers ushering the civilians to run away from the base, as the energy shield began to fail. Then, it showed the turbolasers hitting the base, destroying buildings, and killing stormtroopers, and civilians fleeing the base.

Now, with the holocamm quickly being reproduced, and distributed by land line all over the world, so that one day the universe may see the horrors of what happened here today, the surviving Imperial Command staff, those who were touring defenses when the military command center was hit, quickly formulated a defense of Rachuk with what strength they had left. They had about three divisions of armour and troops remaining on the planet, nearly eighty thousand men total. Plus, a militia was hastily being formed at the moment. The only aircraft they had however, was at the moment at Rach's spaceport, and was being filled with civilians who wouldn't be able to make it to the caves before the Outer-Rim Soveriegnty struck again.

Then, this motly collection of civilian craft and military boats lifted off, and headed for the skies of Rachuk. Whatever fighters the Imperials had left flew escort as the ships entered the atmosphere.

The Imperial troops were ordered to switch their suits of armour for the clothes the civilians were wearing. When asked why by the civilians, they answered that it provided more protection for the civs, while making the Imperial troops inconspicous if the ORS troops landed and attacked. Then, the civs looking like stormtroopers, and the stormtroopers looking like civs, continued to run for the cave entrances.

After the defense plans had been implement, in a period of about an hour, the Imperial command staff took for the mountians, to direct the defense of Rachuk from there.

And as for the statement by ORS commanding officer, it went on ignored.

OOC:
Outbound from Rachuk:
7 Pleasure Yachts
3 Spaceworth Skiffs
10 Sentinel Assault Shuttles
3 Lambda Shuttles
2 TIE Devils
4 TIE Scout Fighters
2,500 civilians
500 stormtroopers

Hidden in or around Rach:
4 AT-ATs
6 AT-STs
10,000 stormtroopers

Full Rachuk Defenses:
10 AT-ATs
20 AT-STs
80,000 stormtroopers
140,000 militia
5,000 pieces of artillery (couting the blasters mounted on tripods)