Corise nodded.

"It certainly can't hurt. I'll send the data regarding the pre-strike to you in several hours. I'm guessing that we'll have some A3s besides the normal S9s going on the strike as well."

His com-link blipped. An apologetic smile crept over the Commodore's face.

"If you will excuse me for a second, gentlemen."

With that, the Commodore walked into the CIC's first security foyer and locked it.

"Go ahead," ordered the Kashan man.

"Sir," stated the female voice, "we are having problems getting adequate infiltration craft for our commandoes."

"We can't use the shuttles with false transponders?"

"We thought about it, but it would be too obvious and the ships themselves look to pristine, and well, unpiratical."

The man nodded as he let out a sigh.

"I can arrange for a set of KDI light freighters to drop by and be used, though that may take some time," replied the Commodore, "However, it might be easier if you could get some of the corporations that were hit by the pirates to volunteer their craft. It'll let them get a shot at revenge."

"We thought about, but what if they are hestitant considering that the pirates destroyed their other craft already?"

Another sigh.

"Tell them that I will personally pay for all the damages inflicted on the ship by the attackers or buy them a new one if their's gets destroyed. I'm counting on your commandoes to ensure that none of them commit fraud on that then."

"Yes sir."

He glanced at his chrono.

"I should go, we're just wrapping up the main planning. Tell your personnel to be ready for launch at 7:00 hours..."

Budpock Space

Commander Littan’s blue and white A-Wing rocketed out of lightspeed with the rest of the combined Commonwealth-Kashan Advance Force. Littan quickly pumped all availible power into the fighter’s twin Novaldex J-77 Event Horizon engines to the limit. He and his squadron quickly roared past the Kashan squadrons. The pilot looked behind him to see the other nation’s fighters grow smaller and smaller.

Though as Kashan squadrons grew smaller, Budpock and its surrounding pirate fleet grew larger and larger. The ships seem to be following normal patterns, so Littan assumed that their arrival had gone unnoticed. He would wait to use the A-Wing’s jamming capabilities to the last minute.

Littan poured on more speed as he aimed his craft for a large concentration of assorted snub-fighters. He flipped a switch and his lasers began to power up. Another switch cycled a concussion missile into the launching tube. The last switch brought the Miradyne Phantom Jamming unit online. With that, the cloud of enemy fighters began to react; they began to maneuver in confusion.

“Lightening Squadron, form up in shield trios, be ready to break though. This is gonna be rough,” ordered the commander, breaking radio silence.

The mob of pirate fighters let loose a poorly aimed volley at the squadron. Though not aimed well, the volley was still dangerous in its massed form. The shield trios all tore into violent rolls to avoid the superheated light.

Littan let off some speed, and shunted power to his shields. The squadron was almost now on top of the mob, but moving to fast for the enemies to react. Littan fired his two side mounted cannons, scoring multiple kills. The squadron did not even slow down. This was all they were here for, clearing the way for the Kashans. Commander Littan used the A-Wing’s blaster’s three hundred and sixty degrees rotational capability to fire a few shots at the still dazed and confused pirate mob.

“Set course for the escape vector, Lightening.”

Then the nightmare scenario came true. One of the Kaloth -class Battlecruisers was moving in to block their path. Behind them the rest of the pirate fleet lay in wait. To their flanks, were Budpock’s gravity well and the fighter mob that was now regrouping with a very nasty looking gunship. There was only one way to go; stay the course.

Littan poured on more speed as he armed his concussion missiles. He powered down his shields, so he could have more power for speed. The shields would be almost worthless against the ancient ship’s powerful arsenal anyway.

The Kaloth unleashed its broadside against the escaping squadron. The A-Wings went a wild death dance with crazy turns and twists to escape the deadly fire. Littan winced, but kept concentration as two icons on his squadron status console turn red then winked out.

The cruiser filled the squadron commander’s dangerously exposed canopy. He fired his concussion missiles at almost pointblank range. He quickly pulled the stick down, so that the A-Wing would fly over the top of the cruiser into safety

The only a few of the squadron’s missiles actually penetrated the hull, but they had caused enough distraction to allow the squadron to reach safety at lightspeed. Littan closed his eyes when he noticed the final toll of the raid to be four souls.

The Commonwealth A-wings sped off, leaving the larger group of Kashan starfighters behind them.

"And they're off!"

"Five, quiet down."

"Yes sir."

Lieutenant Addison Leone shook his head. The Kashan element of the surprise raid was going in differently than the Commonwealth. In many aspects, the way the attack was conducted by both factions showed the philosophy differences of both factions, or at least the of their commanders.

"Shut down all transponders, activate SAS systems."

With that, the Pegasus' entire wing of starfighters disappeared completely, even to their Commonwealth allies and they prepared for their silent dash. The starfighters surged forward at speeds few starfighters could match, ven the A-wing. And as their Commonwealth allies encountered the Kaloth Battlecruiser, the seventy-two starfighters continued to surge forward, right past that engagement. It's not they we want them to die, but by following our orders, we can prevent even more people from dying. Sure they're here to clear the path, albeit I'm not sure that we needed it. But I do suppose that at least it's a distraction to further enhance that we get through.

Like wraiths, the Kashan starfighters glided around the various starfighters of both factions, making their way through the myriad of small vessels engaged in the fight. The most challenging aspect of that flight was dodging both the Commonwealth and piratical starfighters, who occasionally flew directly at the Kashan snubfighters, unware of their existence. Eventually, they passed the gauntlet to the Lucrehulk battleship, which was in the process of recovering some of the Vulture drones it had launched earlier. This could be nice.

"Listen up, we're having a change in plans," ordered the wing commander, "Greywind and Intrepid squadrons, you will take the ground targets now. Everyone else, we're going to go flying...inside a starship."

With that, a squadron of Deathsaber Mk IIs and another of Nemesis-class Assault bombers pealed away from the main group, descending into Budpock's atmosphere.

As the clouds filled Greywind and Intrepid windows, the other Kashan starfighters boldly entered the hangar bay of the Lucrehulk battleship. While the stealth measures of the Kashan starfighters made them practically invisible in space, it did little to hide them in the hangar of the warship. And as the black starfighters entered the bay, they fired; A3's acquired multiple targets, sending volleys of missiles into packs of the grounded droids. S9s occasionally released a missile, but normally sent a cycle of laser bolts into randomly into the hangar floor. But while the sudden Kashan onslaught inside one of their own vessels surprised the pirates, they were beginning to regroup and send/activate starfighters to counter them.

"We have them."

"Speak for yourself Eight, I'm drawing some fire."

"This is Lead. Gauntlet 7,8, blow us an entry vector out of here."

"Affirmative sir."

A dozen space bombs from the pair of starfighters collided with the plating of the battleship, resulting in a fiery orb of fire and a gaping hole in what should have the battleship's flight deck. And as suddenly as they had came, the Coalition starfighters exitted the hull and disappeared like Wraiths, leaving a group of befuddled pirates with several weeks of repairs.

On the surface of Budpock, Greywind and Intrepid squadrons bombed piratical hangars and defence installations out of existence. And as they pirates mustered strength to drive the other assault away, the Kashans once again disappeared into the depths of space.

"Everyone accounted for sir."

"Very good, let's make the jump home."

"Yes sir."

With that, the cockpits of S9s and A3s were suffused with the brilliant blue lines of hyperspace travel...

The Commonwealth Destroyer Rapier came out of hyperspace, turbolasers already firing. The ship’s wing of starvipers supported by Lightening Squadron’s two remaining flights. They immediately headed for their assigned targets, as the Rapier brought its shielding array online.

The star destroyer angled itself towards the largest of the pirate fleet, and then headed toward at full speed. The ship rolled to bring its heaviest weapons to bear, letting lose an awesome blow against the pirate capital ship. Reports showed the ship had taken heavy damage.

The battle for space would soon be won.



The battle for terra had just begun.

Skull Company moved through Budpock’s capital, quickly and quietly. Only stopping to eliminate any opposition that might have the misfortune to cross their path. The Kashan shock troopers had successfully drawn off a large portion of the pirate ground forces, practically leaving the city wide open for the Commonwealth spearhead.

“Captain Phiso…” began the Rodian communications specialist. “I’m receiving a report that Fleet Strike battalion has been surrounded by enemy forces. Though Major Tice is insisting that you continue on and capture the fortress.”

The Captain raised his eyebrow.

“I’m surprised Tice isn’t on the radio himself ordering me to get over there and relieve him. Very strange… but oh well… there goes our flank. Let’s keep it moving. Alpha platoon take point.”

One hour later…

It’s amazing how quickly things can change. One minute the company is moving up a street that is supposedly secure, the next second, the man in front of you is a smear on the pavement.

“Alpha is taking heavy fire!”

Captain Phiso kneeled in attempt to survey the battle. The enemy was coming from directly in front of them and the open flank left by Fleet Strike. A “T” intersection had Alpha Platoon cut off from the rest of the company.

The company commander began to bark orders in an attempt to salvage the situation. “Delta! Counter attack! LEFT SIDE!”

Delta Platoon dashed out of their cover and tried to hit the pirates at their flanks. Overwhelming numbers soon bogged the platoon down.

“This isn’t going to work…” murmured Captain Phiso.

Sometimes… you just had to gamble.

“Company! Mass counter attack! UP THE MIDDLE!”

The captain charged out from behind his cover with the entire company behind him. Fire from the hip, he caught one pirate in the head, blowing out the back of his skull. The next two shots were not as well aimed, hitting the pirate in legs, causing him to fall to his knees. A third shot to the chest finished him off as Phiso ran by the pirate’s kneeling form.

The gamble was paying off. The decisiveness of the charge had caught the enemy off guard. Its lines were crumbling. The battle was won.

Phiso raked his teeth over his lip as the last pocket of resistance was destroyed. A feral grin came across his face, they had defeated a force more than three times the size of their own.

“Phiso… you Death Watch son of bitch…” a raspy voice made the black uniformed man do an immediate about face.

A wounded pirate was talking to him.

“How do you know my name?”

“Because I’m your superior officer…”

“Tice? What the fuck is this?”

The traitor tried to sit up; the company commander’s black boot kept him from it.

“A lot of people want the Death Watch gone Phiso… A lot of people with a lot of power...”

The Death Watch man’s boot moved to the traitor’s neck. His rifle was now pointed at him.

“Spill it Tice, or I’ll spill you…”

The man snickered. “Regrad the Azguard.”

“Bull shit! Give me some fucking names!”

“Representativ—“ Death took the traitor.

Phiso walked up to another pirate corpse. It was another man from the Fleet Strike battalion. Ten other corpses yielded the same results. The Fleet Strike battalion’s “neutralization” had all been a ruse to set up Skull Company. The battalion had never been surrounded.

The Death Watch Regiment had more enemies now. Enemies on inside. Enemies outside.

“Company move out,” order the captain.

“What about the prisoners sir?” asked one of the platoon commanders.

“Just waste ‘em Lieutenant. Just fucking waste 'em…”

Pegasus, Kashan Flagship

“Reversion in five, four, three, two, one.”

The blue lines gave way to space, Budpock, and the piratical fleet.

“Blast they’re moving fast,” noted Commander Fyre, observing the Rapier.

“Well,” stated the Commodore, “we have some options available to us that they do not. We could probably be doing the same. Let’s go with the standard engagement protocol for now.”

“Yes sir.”

The Kashan fleet gracefully slowed to a walking pace as the Rapier surged forward. Emerald and sapphire bolts lanced forth the Coalition craft, striking the pirates at ranges at which the pirates had little hope to retaliate at. The Commodore had made it a priority to try and capture all of the opposing vessels, and thus, Kashan officers carefully monitored the firing rate of the allied vessels and compared it to the damage the criminal vessels were taking. With any luck, we won’t have to divert any new ships to guard the post. Although it can’t hurt to send some KDF starfighters. They are fielding the most craptastic starfighters I’ve ever seen.

The fleets closed distances, but the pirates had already been damaged by the long-range barrage. Already demoralized by the attack, the pirates could do little to stop the rushing onslaught lead by the Rapier and followed by the Kashan ships, which were also deploying their transports for the ground engagement. Under the blue barrage of bolts, the piratical ships succumbed to silence and their inevitable capture. And thus, the nucleus of the CW-Coalition defence fleet of the planet, starting with a Lucrehulk-class Battleship and a trio of Kaloth Battlecruisers.

With the last of the pirates decimated by the allied fleets, the Commonwealth and the Coalition occupied the planet; the latter immediately setting up automated mining operations and allotting additional defence forces to the area. Perhaps the most important gain of the mission was not the planet, but the allies.