Star Wars- Galaxy at War (IC)

[The New Jedi Order and New Republic]

~Mid Rim Territories~

Six TIE Fighters flew through a asteroid belt each one of them dodging the asteroids as they got close to their objective. The leading TIE Fighter is Amakae Tongami who is the leader of Alpha Squadron their mission was simple they were to find a remote Mid Rim planet that is said to have a rebel outpost on it. Her Squadron's mission was to scout the planet and let any Imperial fleet nearby be informed so it can do an orbital strike on the planet.

"Keep your eyes open Alpha Squadron the Rebel scum will have a trap waiting for us." Amakae said as she and her squad cleared the asteroid belt that led towards the planet where the rebel base should be at before they entered the atmosphere of the planet a group of X-Wings started firing on her squad.

"Alpha Squadron! Break formation now and deal with those X-Wings!" Amakae ordered as her squad split up to deal with the X-Wings.

One X-Wing was chasing one of her squadmate but she quickly got behind the X-Wings and fired on its engines making it explode.

"Thanks for the help." The TIE Fighter said over comms.

Amakae didn't reply back and instead she focused on dealing with the X-Wings.

OOC: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=421251&p=32369448#p32369448

[Monsters and Humans]

An Imperial Fleet slowly move across the void of space as they head towards a planet that is known to hold Rebel Alliance shipyard if the Empire took this shipyard out the Rebellion will become weak and this can be a swift end to the Galactic Civil War. A Imperial shuttle and two TIE Fighter Escorts leaves the hanger of the Super Star Destroyer as all three ship heads towards the planet to deal with the traitor Governor.

~On the planet~

The former Imperial Governor of the planet stood there nervously as he saw the Imperial shuttle land he was curious he knew the Imperials know about the shipyard but he was surprise that they just sent a shuttle down to the planet. The door to the shuttle open and the person that came out of the shuttle was Admiral Roliduf himself the most fearful Admiral in the Mid Rim systems.

"Good day Governor." Roliduf said as his two Stormtrooper guards followed him out.

"Why are you here?" The Governor asked.

"I just came here to check up on you and your little rebel friends my fleets scans have picked up your little ship factory." Roliduf said.

"And I must say why join this group of trouble makers? You were doing so well with being the Empire we provided peace and security for the Galaxy but you thrown all that way."

"You so called Empire rules with oppression and fear across the Galaxy." The Governor said.

"The Galaxy should be ruled with freedom and democracy and your Emperor fails to provide that."

"Well alright then join any side you want you may continue your operations here and let you rethink your decision." Roliduf said as he turn around and walked towards his shuttle with his Stormtroopers following him.

"Oh and Governor one last thing... The Emperor sends his regards." Roliduf then entered his shuttle and took off towards the Imperial fleet.

"All Star Destroyers prepare the orbital strike on the planet."

Soon the entire fleet aimed its cannons at the planet and began raining hell on the planet destroying Rebel shipyard and killing the traitor Governor and his citizens during the blast.

~On the Super Star Destroyer~

Roliduf entered the bridge to admire the view of the orbital bombardment he smirked knowing the Rebels have lost their shipyard in the Outer Rim Systems.

"Cease fire I think that'll be enough for today gentlemen." Roliduf said.

The fleet did what he asked and stopped firing on the planet.

"Go into lightspeed we have defeated the Rebel scum here."

Soon Roliduf's fleet went into lightspeed and left the system.

[Hafflegar]

Valar Drake's saber staff hummed menacingly through the air as he neatly cut the padawan's vibrosword in half with hardly any resistance. Spinning quickly inside his helpless victim's guard, he spun the staff around in a low arc and with a sudden flare of energy the smell of burnt blood and scorched flesh filled the chamber as his opponent screamed and collapsed to the floor with both legs severed at the knee. Ignoring the injured Twi'lek for the moment he spun around yet again in time to parry a flurry of blows from two more hapless fools who were fated to die today with a twirl of his staff. Valars' eyes glowed a fierce red as he drew deep on the force and sent out a shock wave toward the two other jedi apprentices and threw them both backward into the far wall with a thump. Without a backward glance, the Inquisitor lashed out with the back end of his staff, impaling the injured padawan through the neck, silencing his screams forever.

Valar watched impassively as his two remaining foes, A Devaronian male and a Human female slowly regained their feet. "You know you cannot win against me, half trained children that you are."
He said in his calm, deep voice. "Your Master has abandoned you to die, Tell me where he is and you shall be spared so long as you swear to serve the Empire. This I so vow." the two padawans were strong in the force, but given the proper training would be stronger and Valas always hated wasting good force users by killing them.

"Never!" the Devaronian growled and stepped forward menacingly with his vibrosword raised in a high guard. "We'll never betray him to the Sith! Never!" the human female said nothing, but her poise was determined and her face set as she adjusted her stance, holding her vibrosword out in front of her with the tip aimed at Valar's chest.

Sighing, Valar attempted to reason with them one last time. Not from any sense of mercy, but one of his directives was always to find and recruit more Inquisitors for the Emperor. While true that not all Inquisitors were force users, the most effective kind are and these two were exceptionally strong for being only half trained. I so hate wasting possible assets
"Look at yourselves." Valar said quietly, letting a hint of scorn into his voice, "You don't even have proper lighsabers. I found you cretins hiding in this cesspit of a planet surrounded by filth and disease, wondering when your next meal will be hoping that your precious 'Master' will come and save you. Pathetic."
Valar paused briefly to let his words sink in, "I offer you a way off this planet and away from this foolish path you're taking. Either surrender and come with me willingly, or this place will be your grave."

In answer to his words, both padawans launched into another attack, rushing at him from both sides. So they know how to coordinate. Zaknafein has taught them well Drawing on the force again, Valar sent a jolt of lightning straight in to the chest of the Human as she came in for an attack on his right flank, the silvery-blue arc of power surged from his hand and slammed her physically backward onto the floor, making her arms and legs spasm helplessly as the lightning coursed through her body. At the same time, The Devaronian charged from the left flank and aimed a slash at Valar's head. Sensing his opponent's intentions, Valar ignored the feint and instead countered with a strike of his own, stepping to the side spinning his staff up through the Devaronian's guard just as he redirected his attack and sliced at Valar's waist instead. The Devaronian had just enough time to widen his eyes in shock as Valar's saber staff neatly sliced him in two with a loud crack of energy.

Calmly, Valar extinguished his staff and nonchalantly clipped it to his belt as he slowly stalked up to the remaining padawan who was just now recovering from being shocked. "You're alive. Good" Valar purred. As Valar drew deeply on the force, his eyes once again began to glow deep red and black veins began to form on his face and neck, something that always happend when Valar embraced as much of the force as he could muster, which was quite a lot. Stooping down, he grabbed the helpless human by her neck with one hand and lifted her in the air effortlessly in a choke hold.
"We're going to play a little game, you and I" Valar whispered almost seductively to her. "It's called, You answer my questions and I end you quickly." The woman's eyes bulged as she struggled helplessly in Valar's grip. "I taste your fear, young padawan." Valar drawled as he threw her into the wall and pinned her in place with the force, splaying her arms and legs out wide. "And it's...Delicious."

[Mifan]

Outer Rim System

Darin stared at the group of dead rebels at his feet. He and his Shock Troopers were deployed to the planet after the garrison requested reinforcements. That call was over two months ago, and since then he has been stuck on this backwater planet, helping eliminate any rebel cell that was located. It wasn't too hard, considering his soldiers struck fear whenever they show up to a battle, but he was getting tired of being stationed in the Outer Rim and was secretly hoping to be relocated to the Innner Rim. His comlink began to beep, and he answered.

"Captain, sectors 3-5 are clear. No survivors." He had ordered his three lieutenants to go and secure different sectors and report back once they were clear. It wasn't uncommon to see his men working alone as they had the firepower to eliminate vast numbers of enemies, but even then, they were still all under his command.

"Good, advance to sector 6. Have your unit regroup at sector 3 with the rest of the company when done."

"Yes sir."

Darin heard a blaster go off and turned his head, only to see one of his troopers execute a wounded rebel. He didn't much care for the rebels and allowed his men to kill anybody left alive. Besides, the less rebels there are, the easier their jobs are. He ordered his unit, 36 Troopers, to form up and moved from the sector. These rebels aren't even a challenge anymore, they're just a nuisance at this point.As they walked towards the next sector, they came under fire once again from rebel forces that were hidden.

The troopers began to spread out and returned fire, hitting anything that was in front of the unit. Darin aimed his blaster and opened fire, taking out three rebels in quick succession. The skirmish was quick as the rebels were once again wiped out. Darin looked around and saw two of his Shock Troopers dead on the ground. He shrugged and sighed, knowing he's going to need to order replacements for the troops he lost. He hated going into battle undermanned and whenever he got the chance, asked for replacements.

He saw one of the rebels on the ground, holding a wound in his side. Darin could see the fear and hatred in his eyes. He approached him, and aimed his blaster at his head. "You think your little victory here will stop us? We will come back stronger than ever, and destroy you and your Empire!"

"I highly doubt that." He pulled the trigger, sending a bolt through the rebel's head, before moving on once again.

[Danceria]

Bardotta, Shasos Sector, Colonies Region
11:43hrs, local time

---

"It appears you have placed me in check." the Zabrak mused mildly. It was comforting to know that even a galaxy in the midst of civil war, two men could still get together and play dejarik. Although, there was a perfectly valid reason behind this: for Commodore Khaad Koth was on official leave, in fact, Admiral Tenant himself begrudgingly insisted upon it. He had always hated pacification assignments, and relied heavily upon the Commodore to peacefully resolve situations so he could acquire slightly more exciting paperwork. Unfortunately, work would not leave the Commodore's mind so easily, and neither did the rage when his suspicions were confirmed. That idiot Tarkin seared Alderaan! And the personnel on the Death Star did it without hesitation, without question! he grimaced to himself Why didn't the Emperor allow me to be there? Almost the Joint Chiefs were in the same place, did he expect that Vader to handle the situation? Those blowhards at the Admiralty got what they deserved when a rabblerouser ended their lives in a flurry of explosions.

"Don't tell me you're that sore of a loser, are you?" a bemused voice taunted lightly, and the Zabrak's eyes refocused on the companion and one of the main reasons that he chose this world as his vacation spot. The esteemed Grand Admiral, the first and thus far only nonhuman to possess such an esteemed command, and leader of the Seventh Fleet: Thrawn. Bardotta's history of art and meditation made it a frequent place of solace for the Chiss commander, and Khaad was beginning to see the world's charms.

"I am not so aloof in the battle." Khaad replied coolly, but with a coy smile "Though I must admit, you are a tenacious one, Grand Admiral."

"What you mistake for aloofness it is in fact focus." the Chiss smiled "I have never been placed in so precarious of a position before, you forced me to act recklessly. As recklessly as you have occasionally played."

"And it paid off." the Zabrak responded.

"And it paid off..." Thrawn echoed slowly, but begrudgingly. "Though I must warn you, it is good to focus upon what is far away in battle, but be mindful of what is in front of you..." It was conversations such as these that made the Zabrak commodore respect the Grand Admiral all the more, if his impressive feats weren't enough. Though his sense could indicate that Thrawn was displaying concern for him, and his next line proved Khaad's intuition correctly. "You still are...dissatisfied with the recent events of Yavin IV?" The Chiss ventured cautiously.

With a sigh, Khaad confirmed it. Embarrassingly enough Thrawn was there when they both received news of Vader's spectacular defeat, as well as the recent details. He was there when Khaad railed and vented at the whole stupidity of the decisions made by much of the late Admiralty. How their whole strategies were flawed, how they didn't fly with even the most minimal of escorts as per most Imperial prototypes (it wasn't as if there weren't fleets to spare, and such a command would have many in the Imperial Military rushing to aid), the use of such a weapon to obliterate an entire planet of Imperial citizens. Not one or two installations like the incidents on Jedha or Scarif, which would have been forgivable if there was a confirmed rebel presence on the planet, but killing billions, including an esteemed Imperial Senator (even if the Senate was recently dissolved, a move that Khaad was still questioning but rationalized as a means to counter a galaxy wide rebellion), and then losing that weapon the very next encounter...

It resulted in a series of tirades, threats, and vehement words that would have earned him a dishonorable discharge and a one way trip to Kessel.

The Grand Admiral deactivated the holograms, and reassured Khaad "With the more...incompetent members of the military out of the way, it should hopefully give rise to more shrewd and tactful officers." A cruel sense of optimism, but Khaad wasn't one to hope. "Do you have intentions on becoming Joint Chief?" Khaad asked "Your connections to the Emperor and experience would make your application perfect. With the Seventh Fleet being deployed away from the Unknown Regions and into combat, you will need all the resources you can get."

A beat occurred between the two officers, and the Grand Admiral countered "Do you?" This in turn was met with another pause. While such a position enticed the young Commodore, it would certainly interfere with his mission, a mission given to him by the Emperor himself. He was his Hand, and Khaad intended to remain in the shadows, for now. "My men have grown accustomed to me being in battle, and I am contnent to serve the Empire in the manner I am doing right now." the Zabrak answered carefully.

"My sentiments are the same as yours."

This disappointed Khaad, but nevertheless, he could do little but ask himself Serve the Empire by doing...what? Nothing's ever come out of the Unknown Regions for thousands of years... The two adjourned for lunch, and continued to talk about their various services to the Empire, and how they may continue to do so. Above them was a scattering of stars and the battles and cares they carry.

[Hafflegar]

Jedi Sentinel Zaknafein, Mid-rim Hypserspace route. Aboard the Aurora


There is no Emotion, there is Peace. There is no ignorance, only knowledge. There is no Passion, only Serenity. There is no chaos, only harmony. There is no Death, there is the force. Zaknafeins' body remained kneeling on the hard durasteel floor in the Captain's cabin of his Dynamic-class freighter while his mind was thoroughly intertwined with that of his only surviving padawan, Mila. Zaknafein was vaguely aware of someone buzzing the comm channel in his private quarters but mentally pushed the incessant beeping aside in his mind and tuned it out, A trick he learned from years of meditation. Zaknafein would get to it later but right now his Padawan needed him more. While the Master Jedi could do nothing to stop the torture as he was not physically there, he could help ease the pain and horror of the ordeal as Valar Drake plied his disgusting trade upon her, prying for information.

Another spike of agony coursed through their shared mind as Valar probed viciously with his will into Mila's already battered consciousness and once again, Zaknafein rebuffed him. It hurts, Master! oh it hurts
I know my Padawan Zaknafein sent out toward her. We will endure this together. Remember the the code and speak it with me Zaknafein could feel Mila's resolve harden and they spoke the words together, There is no Emotion, there is Peace. There is no ignorance, only knowledge. There is no Passion, only Serenity. There is no chaos, only harmony. There is no Death, there is the force. Another wave of agony coursed through Mila and Zaknafein's body as Valar redoubled his efforts.


Valar Drake, Nikto district slums of Nar Shadda

Growling with fury, Valar Drake used the burning anger to fuel his power as he once again sent another pulse into his helpless victim. "You will tell me what I need to know, Mila of Corelia or your family will suffer once I'm through with you." Valar discovered the female human's name whith his initial push into her mind some time ago, and discovered a few useful things as well before being forcefully cut off from her will. She's stronger than I ever suspected. No one, not even I could withstand this amount of sustained psychic assault
Valar's glowing red eyes narrowed as he watched the padawan's lips moving. She was speaking quietly as if there were someone else in the room aside from just the two of them. Someone she trusted and felt safe and secure around. Valar could tell because her eyes were no longer glazed over with agony and the look of abject terror faded from her features. Leaning in closer to his victim, Valar could just barely make the words out from the sounds of crackling energy surrounding them both caused by the amount of power he was forced to bring to bear.

"There is no Emotion, there is Peace. There is no ignorance, only knowledge. There is no Passion, only Serenity. There is no chaos, only harmony. There is no Death, there is the force." With a sneer, Valar stepped back and redoubled his efforts, pushing against her mind with all his will and striving to drive a spike into her thoughts while simultaneously sending jolt after jolt of force lightning into her helpless body. The scent of burning flesh and cloth filled the small apartment where Valar cornered the three Padawans in his search for the ever elusive and ever cowardly Master Zaknafein, Last true knight of the Old Republic. With sweat beading on his face and running down his back Valar kept up the assault, pushing harder and harder but still making no progress. It was as if he were trying to push through a durasteel wall!
With a wordless roar of rage, Valar un-clipped his saber staff and before he realized he had activated it, thrust the glowing end of his staff through the infuriating woman's chest.

Suddenly snapping out of his rage, Valar quickly extinguished his saber and stepped back, releasing the now dying prisoner from his hold and letting go of the force altogether. Valar silently berated himself for letting his fury consume him so thoroughly that he had lost control. One must NEVER lose control of his emotions, but harness and use them like a tool to control the force.
In the sudden silence of the room, Valar could distinctly hear the last dying words of the victim he unsuccessfully interrogated, "There is no death...there is...the...force" As the life drained from her eyes Valar turned away in disgust.


Jedi Sentinel Zaknafein, Mid-rim Hypserspace route. Aboard the Aurora


There is the force.. Zaknafein felt the life flee from Mila as he withdrew his conscience from hers and retreated back to his body. Immediately his physical senses returned and the cabin filled with the ever insistent beeping of his private com channel. With a resigned sigh Zaknafein slowly regained his feet and walked the couple of paces to a small holoterminal on his desk and pressed the receive button. Immediately a small image of his first mate, a Rodian named Frakas appeared and began to speak immediately in his native language, "Honestly, how deeply could you sleep Captain? I've been trying to reach you for an hour! never mind that right now, We need you at the bridge We've arrived in orbit over Balmorra"

"Very good, Frakas. I'll be there in just a moment. Send a request to the port authorities for docking coordinates and we'll see about offloading this cargo." Zaknafein's ship, A Dynamic-class freighter was disguised as a run-of the-mill merchant vessel complete with the proper documents and licenses for ownership and travel. All expertly forged, of course. The real purpose of his ship was to act as a mobile command office for his new resistance movement. While carrying a cargo hold full of Bantha and Tauntaun hides as well as a few crates of good Corellian brandy, Selling them was just a cover for him to meet his contact in the Balmorran Capital of Sobrik and the profits garnered from the sales funded his operations.

Aside from the ship, all 15 members of his crew were highly trained resistance operatives skilled in the trade of spycraft, handpicked and trained by the Jedi Master himself. Zaknafein cut the com channel and reached for his baster pistol, strapping the holster to his right leg and pressing the open control button on the side panel to his cabin door. As the door whirred open, Zaknafein began to formulate a plan. For all Valar Drake's bluster and ruthlessness, He was a coward through and through. Everywhere he went, Zaknafein was careful not to leave a trail for the Inquisitor to follow and to keep his padawans safe while he tended to urgent business. Somehow, Valar learned of their location anyway and executed them in a most brutal fashion. Mere children where the force was concerned. Slaughtered by a madman. Zaknafein felt each death through the force and a sense of profound loss for his pupils threatened to overwhelm him. They are one with the force now With effort, Zaknafein pushed the emotions aside and centered himself, allowing his mind to grow calm again. Yes He decided as he marched onto the bridge of his ship, It's time to hunt the hunter While revenge was not the Jedi way, destroying a serious threat to the order was always the prudent course. He would go after Valar, this he swore, but only after he could do so with a clear mind and heart. Violence born of anger is the swiftest path to the Dark side

[The New Jedi Order and New Republic]

~Above the Rebel Planet~

Amakae and her Squadron kept on fighting the X-Wings above the planet already she has lost two pilots in the space battle however she ignored the deaths of her own men and kept fighting the Rebel X-Wing Squadron. That was until she saw Rebel transport ships start leaving the planet along with a capital ship.

They must have sent a message down to the planet... Amakae thought as she shot down another X-Wing knowing its the right time she sent a Imperial Transmission to the nearest Star Destroyer fleet in the Mid Rim Systems.

I hope they got my message.

Amakae went back to fighting the X-Wings until a Imperial Fleet can arrive to take care of the Rebel base and their fleeing fleet just then six Star Destroyers arrived in the system and TIE Fighters started leaving the hangers to aid Amakae and her Squadron. Just as soon the second wave of Rebel transports is about to leave the planet they are shot down by the six Star Destroyers after the second wave of rebels was destroyed the Imperial Fleet started an orbital strike on the planet destroying the rebel base there.

Once the X-Wings were defeated and the Rebels were no more Amakae and her Squad landed in one of the Star Destroyer's hangers the Imperial Fleet soon lightspeed out of the system.

[Monsters and Humans]

~In Lightspeed~

Admiral Roliduf stood inside his bridge as they traveled through the blue like dimension that ships traveled through when they went lightspeed it felt calming to Roliduf he was always used to seeing this sight he has seen it many times through out his days as an Admiral of the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars.

"I sometimes miss those days planning attacks against CIS fleets those were good times." Roliduf said talking to himself like he always does when there was peace and quiet. He then started to think about the utter mess that happen above Yavin IV he was there when Krennic first showed the Death Star's power on Jedha and it was beautiful when he saw it however it was all a waste of credits because Tarkin made a foolish move he tried to blow up the secret Rebel base with no Star Destroyer escorts at all it made him mad that Tarkin didn't call on his fleet to protect the Death Star. But then again it was Krennic and his Engineers who put the flaw in the Death Star allowing the Rebels to destroy the Death Star if it didn't blow up it could've been the Empire's greatest weapon to make sure the planetary governors stayed in line.

"Sir, we will be arriving to our destination soon ETA two hours." A Imperial Officer said.

Roliduf simply nodded and turn to face the young officer.

"Let me know when we arrive I shall be in my quarters and tell the Emperor the good news." Roliduf said as he left the bridge before the Imperial Officer could say 'yes, sir.'

[The Grand Duchy Of Nova Capile]

Captain Axon Karr
Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer Bulwark
Alzoc III, Alzoc System, Outer Rim

---

Axon stared unblinkingly at the monitor, completely enraptured in the dogfight taking place over the pitiful world of Alzoc III. That ice cube of a planet had become, in recent years, a large contributor to the Imperial economy- through the furtive use of slave labor. The local inhabitants, alien freaks resembling albino Wookies, were just as effective as those tree-dwellers when it came to menial labor, and, curiously, the frozen world harbored a number of resources necessary to fuel the Imperial war machine, including many rich minerals and ores and also the rare and precious Alzoc Pearls, highly valued in jewelry markets.
But it seemed that the Empire was not the only one interested in Alzoc III; despite their careful efforts at discretion, the blasted Rebellion had found them out.

Another TIE fighter blinked off, evoking a curse from the officer; but just seconds later two of the enemy X-Wings were also shot down, and his frowning lips curled upwards into a slight grin. Karr grew tired of watching, knowing that his capable pilots would soon finish off their inexperienced Rebel counterparts, no matter how desperate they were. The bridge's viewports were all filled with mottled starstreaks, the obvious sign of a hyperspace trip. The disorientation and nausea which would have overtaken most had no effect on the seasoned Imperial; he was more than used to it by now, after such a long and industrious career in the Imperial Starfleet.

"We'll arrive in approximately two minutes, Captain," a junior officer called from one of the crew pits. Captain Karr nodded stiffly. As the Grand Admiral was in his quarters, Axon was the ranking officer on deck, and he expected- nay, demanded- the same respect and unquestioning loyalty from his subordinates. Turning back to the brightly lit display, he noticed that combat seemed to have simmered down, and the TIE squadron had taken no more losses.

Suddenly, the stars outside changed from long, vibrant lines into pinpricks of light, and the deep blackness of space spilled back over the Bulwark's viewports. Juxtaposed against the endless void was, of course, the small, obscure world of Alzoc III- as well as a Rebel task force. Karr shot into action.

"Launch TIE fighter squadrons!" he commanded, paying no attention to the scrambling officers all around him. "Turbolaser batteries, concentrate on that Correllian corvette, and those transport ships!" His steely eyes caught a young, panicking adjutant. "You! Alert the Grand Admiral that we've come into contact with a Rebel fleet."

But there was no need. Almost as soon as the battle had begun, it was over. The corvette, its shielding shattered under the focus of several dozen turbolaser batteries, sputtered to a halt in dead space, its engines and armament all knocked out. The transports, lightly armored, exploded into dust almost immediately, whilst the handful of remaining X-Wings were harassed and harangued by swarms of TIE fighters. Only one managed to escape, shooting off and then vanishing before it could be destroyed.

"Tractor beams, bring in that corvette. I imagine the Grand Admiral would like to chat with the commander of this task force, assuming he hasn't already been killed." The crew did as they were told, slowly and steadily bringing the immobilized corvette into the Bulwark's hanger bay and dispatching with a few stray escape pods along the way. "I want a stormtrooper detail ready to storm that ship, immediately."

Captain Axon Karr had done well, or so he thought: He had destroyed the task force in one fell swoop, and now had its nucleas trapped within the Bulwark. All that was left was to await the Grand Admiral's arrival...

[G-Tech Corporation]

Grand Admiral Jarnassus Kuat
Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer Bulwark
Alzoc III, Alzoc System, Outer Rim

---

The pneumatic hiss of the door at the rear of the Bulwark's formidable central command sounded even as the Captain sent a man to alert the Grand Admiral, and an underofficer near the door sang out.

"Admiral on the bridge!"

Jarn dutifully returned the salutes of his officers, striding up with measured stead to the gangway that spanned the main corridor of the bridge, his eyes drinking in the stars beyond the armorglas windows and the vision of the distant icy world that was Alzoc III. He stopped his walk just beside Karr, the ice-gray gaze flickering over to the slightly younger officer before he spoke.

"The rebels are in hand? Good. Imperial Intelligence has just deigned to tell me why we are here in this powerforsaken backwater."

The white-garbed figure of the Grand Admiral imperiously waved a black-gloved hand towards the communications officer down below his elevated abode.

"Open a channel to the rest of the fleet. I have new orders."

As the man bent to his work, holoscreens flickered on across the displays at the front of the bridge, the mustached Admiral nodding at the speed with which his captains answered the call. As the last of the patrol frigates and Tartans responded, Jarnassus began, no preamble, merely orders dispatched and ready to be obeyed.

"Excellent work with the picket fleet, gentlemen. We have bigger problems now, though. Intelligence has intercepted several Rebel encrypted signals originating in the Mid-Rim near Thyferra; apparently the whoresones in this oversector have managed to steal a Mandator, the Redoubtable while she was undergoing repairs on Fondor. I needn't explain to you all the danger a Star Dreadnaught under mutinous command poses to the legitimate rule of law and the sinews of commerce in this sector."

The men moved uneasily. Mandator's were undergunned compared to current vessels, but they were formidable assets nonetheless. Compared to the frigates and light cruisers the rebels had been relying on until now, this represented a significant upgrade in the amount of damage the revolutionary radicals could do in spaceborne combat. Jarn held up a hand.

"Fortunately, we have been given an opportunity to correct the failure of Fondor's Moff. Intel suggests that the Redoubtable and her escorts will soon drop out of hyperspace here, over Alzoc III, to take aboard more crew. She has yet to reach a decent crew complement, a failure the rebels are hastening to correct, and so for now she is vulnerable. The Claw of Silence will hold her for us, preventing her escape, and we shall disable the wayward vessel and take her, returning her to Imperial compliance. That is our current objective; if necessary she will be destroyed, but I trust in the competence of the men of this fleet to prevent that outcome. Millions of manufacturing hours and billions of credits have gone in to the creation of such a vessel, and shattering such a vital rebel operation will crush their morale as surely as any military victory can. Dismissed."

With a wave of his fist, the Grand Admiral ended the transmission, barely leaving enough time for the muttered "Yes Admiral"s that would have chorused back down the vidfeeds. He knew his men. They would serve with distinction, as they had always done.

Jarnassus motioned to Captain Karr.

"Captain, your work here has been exemplary, but I have a special assignment for you. How are your piloting skills these days?"

[The Grand Duchy Of Nova Capile]

Captain Axon Karr
Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer Bulwark
Alzoc III, Alzoc System, Outer Rim

---

The bridge transformed instantly as the turbolift's doors slid open, the men straightening up and silencing themselves immediately. It was a reaction that, regrettably, only a Grand Admiral could command, no matter how hard the Captain tried. He himself stood a little straighter, crossing his hands behind his back and observing the surviving TIE fighters as they straggled back to their host ships. Grand Admiral Kuat, his arrival confirmed by a junior officer near the door, walked towards Karr, coming to a halt directly beside him. Following the example of his men, Axon saluted and returned to rigid military posture after Kuat returned the gesture.

"The rebels are in hand?" the man questioned, his ice-blue eyes lingering on the charred, blasted remains of the Rebel ships as they slowly drifted away into empty space. "Good. Imperial Intelligence has just deigned to me why we are here in this powerforsaken backwater." The Captain raised his eyebrows; here in the Outer Rim, it was rare for Intelligence to entrust the Fleet with much information at all; it was lucky, then, that Jarnassus kept his men well informed. "Open a channel with the rest of the fleet. I have new orders," Kuat ordered, the comms officer bursting in a flurry of activity at his words. Such unprofessional behavior would have been inexcusable just two or three years ago, but after the disaster of the Death Star a serious lack of qualified officers had allowed less-than-optimal recruits to slip through the cracks.

The various Captains of the other ships in the starfleet flickered into view one by one, and the last managed to arrive in record time, earning an approving nod from their supreme commander.

"Excellent work with the picket fleet, gentlemen," the Kuat complemented, quickly moving on to other business. Karr couldn't blame him. Mopping up Rebel task forces on the fringes of the Galaxy was hardly an interesting affair. "We have bigger problems now, though. Intelligence has intercepted several Rebel encrypted signals originating in the Mid-Rim, near Thyferra; apparently the whoresons in this oversector have managed to steal a Mandator, the Redoubtable while she was undergoing repairs on Fondor. I needn't explain to you all the danger a Star Dreadnought under mutinous command poses to the legitimate rule of law and the sinews of commerce in this sector."

He needn't at all. Axon's brow furrowed and he cursed under his breath. A massive Mandator, in the hands of the Rebellion? True, it was outdated, far outclassed in speed and firepower by the newer Imperial models- but those dreadnoughts were massive, and could truly take a pounding, as well as dish one out. It would be a fiasco if the Rebels were allowed to keep it.
Karr was just surprised they had enough crewmen to keep it puttering through space.

"Fortunately, we have been given an opportunity to correct the failure of Fondor's Moff." So the Moff was responsible. Karr detested bureaucrats, utterly incompetent in military affairs and yet allowed to remain in power for their skill at "middle-management", as the Captain called it. Here was just another example of their shortcomings. "Intel suggests that the Redoubtable and her escorts will soon drop out of hyperspace here, over Alzoc III, to take aboard more crew. She has yet to reach a decent crew complement, a failure the Rebels are hastening to correct, and so for now she is vulnerable." What a stroke of good luck. Axon just hoped that the sole survivor of the space battle, that lonely little X-Wing, didn't reach civilization in time to warn the Redoubtable about the trap it was scheduled to stumble in to. "The Claw of Silence will hold her for us, preventing her escape, and we shall disable the wayward vessel and take her, returning her to Imperial compliance. That is our current objective; if necessary she will be destroyed, but I trust in the competence of the men of this fleet to prevent that outcome. Millions of manufacturing hours and billions of credits have gone in to the creation of such a vessel, and shattering such a vital Rebel operation will crush their morale as surely as any military victory can. Dismissed."

At that, the holograms flickered off and the bridge crew of the Bulwark was left to themselves. Kuat next turned to Axon.
"Captain, your work here has been exemplary, but I have a special assignment for you. How are your piloting skills these days?"

The Captain raised one eyebrow, his gray eyes flickering with curiosity and surprise for a moment before he regained his composure. "I suppose I could still hold my own," he replied. He, of course, had learned to pilot at the Imperial Academy, and, although not a natural flyer, reckoned that if he could handle bulky and unwieldy Imperial shuttles and cargo ships than a nimbler starship would be easy, if it would take some getting used to.
"What exactly is my assignment, if I may ask, Admiral?"

[G-Tech Corporation]

The Grand Admiral nodded.

"Very good, that will do. I have need of a man with nerves that will not falter in this operation. There is a Victory-II frigate set to arrive in-system in a few hours from the strategic reserve, the Compeller, whose presence will be vital if my objective of seizing the Mandator instead of consigning her to orbital scrap is to be achieved."

Jarn turned, striding a few meters to a hologram projector at the rear of the bridge, and waved a datadrive over the control surface. The blue lines of light flickered and pulsed, before coalescing in to the familiar sword-shape of a Victory-II, though one that appeared to be heavily modified.

The white suited soldier gestured towards the modifications.

"The Compeller was redesigned some years ago for just such operations as we are about to undertake. She has fortified forced boarding ramps at fifteen different points, sealed for hostile environments, and can deposit a legion of the Empire's finest in to the heart of an enemy capital ship in a matter of three minutes."

Turning, the Admiral regarded Karr.

"And, unfortunately due to an untimely retirement, she needs a captain. It is a bit of a step down from a capital ship, but right now she is of critical importance, and I see no need for you to remain at her helm in the long term. The truth is, Captain Karr, that the Redoubtable is carrying an immense shipment of bacta in her hold, a shipment enough to sustain a campaign for months."

Kuat stroked his beard for a moment, contemplating how much to reveal, and shrugged.

"And the Empire will need that bacta. Imperial Intelligence also informed me that some idiot over in the spinward Rim just subjected a civilized world to a base delta zero, and nine new worlds have declared independence as a result. Our fleet will soon depart to help put down those uprisings, and I would wish to have the medical resources for our use, not the enemy's."

The Admiral's gaze caught that of his subordinate. "Succeed here, and you will not find me ungrateful. Can I count on you to command the Compeller, Captain?"

[Mifan]

Outer Rim

Darin looked out at the garrison he was on and saw the replacements he ordered arrive, and placed in the platoons that had taken losses. His company's job was done and he was ordered to maintain order until another unit arrived to take their place. He had his men train the new members to make sure that they were used to the formations and tactics that were used. As he watched over them, the garrison commander came over to the captain, with new orders. "Captain, I have new orders coming from Command."

Darin looked at the commander confused. "Sir, with all due respect, we aren't suppose to receive new orders until our replacement unit had arrived."

"I understand that, but Command is redeploying you. You are to be placed on a ship called the Compeller until further notice. You'll find out about the rest of your mission when you arrive. Transports are already prepared to take you there."

Darin nodded and walked off to pass off the information to his lieutenants so they may prepare for departure. It wasn't the first time he was assigned to a ship, but those missions didn't give much action. Most of the time it was escorting important materials and goods. Very rarely has he been able to board enemy ships in an battle, as most were destroyed by fleet. He was able to count on his hand the number of times he saw combat in space. Regardless, it was probably just another escort mission that the Empire needed him to run.

The preparations would take almost two hours as his company collected all of its equipment before loading onto the transports and taken off the planet, and placed on a Star Destroyer that would take the company to their new assignment. Well anything beats this backwater planet.

[Dentali]

.

[Hafflegar]

Master Zaknafein: Sobrik spaceport Balmorra

Zaknafein waited patiently by the ramp of the Aurora as an Imperial port inspector read the bill of lading while a squad of storm troopers scanned the ship for possible contraband. "So how is the family, Mercus?" The jedi asked while watching his crew begin to unload the Aurora's cargo and stack it neatly for shipping. Sobrik Spaceport was not a very big place, but it what it lacked in scale it made up for in activity and it was quite loud this afternoon. Zaknafein leaned in as if to be heard over the din of the busy dock and casually slipped a cred stick into Mercus' coat pocket.

Pausing his inspection, the short fat man smiled up at Zaknafein and replied in a cheerful and warm voice, "Why just great, Captain Durran! My eldest son just got into the Academy and is shipping off for the core worlds in a few days. Selena has grown since you've been here last and I have to tell you, I'm afraid I'll have to start chasing off boys soon." Both men a shared laugh as Mercus handed the datapad back to Zaknafein and clapped him on the shoulder. "Everything seems to be in order my friend. I've got to hand it to you not many Alien merchants can compete in the Imperial markets."

Zakanfein grinned at Mercus and shook the inspector's hand. "It must be my ruggedly handsome looks and charming personality, my friend." After pocketing the datapad the Jedi continued, "Besides with friends like you it's easy to be successful"
Mercus waved the praise away with an air of false modesty, "You're not giving yourself enough credit. Never have I met such a shrewd Merchant as you! Anyway it's good to see you again and we'd be delighted to have you as our guest for a few days."
Zaknafein shook his head regretfully, "Unfortunately I have to see this Cargo to Benson's warehouse and pick up a shipment of power converters and maintenance droids. They are due in Corellia soon and my buyer is not a very patient man." Giving Mercus a warm pat on the back he turned to leave, "Give Cora my regards and Selena a big hug from me though would you?"

Suddenly Mercus reached out and took Zaknafein's arm. "Please, won't you visit for supper at least? The wife is making your favorite. Nerf steak and roasted garro root" Zaknafein turned toward the inspector once again and studied the man in earnest. The Jedi had spent decades in the spy trade and learned to read faces and emotions even without the force. Mercus was frightened of something and more than a bit desperate.Interesting "What time would be proper to come calling then?"

The relief was plain on Mercus' face and he breathed out a lough sigh, "How does 1800 sound to you?"
"Sounds like a fine evening my friend. I'll bring over a bottle of my best Corellian." Mercus let the Jedi's arm go and waved at the storm troopers who had just finished scanning the Aurora and marched off into the crowd. Zaknafein watched him go with a thoughtful expression for a few moments when Frakas moved up beside him.

Before the Rhodian could speak Zaknafein looked over at him and and began giving orders, "I'll take Nills and Speks with me to the warehouse. We shouldn't have too much trouble in the streets. You stay here with the rest of the crew and look after the ship. Be ready to depart as soon as you have the converters stored and ready to go, I won't be back until late." Frakas just nodded once, turned to the crew and began to relay the orders

[The Grand Duchy Of Nova Capile]

Captain Axon Karr

---

Axon hesitated, but only for a moment, and he was careful to hide it from both the Grand Admiral and his subordinates. In the cutthroat world of the Imperial Navy, a single error or slip-up could be fatal to a senior officer, especially with the glut of ambitious young officers rising through the ranks after the destruction of the Death Star.

Karr was certainly surprised, if not startled, by the mission. It was not what he had been expecting, that was for sure. The Victory-II's had largely been phased out at this point, regarded as antiquated, but there were still a number of them retained in Imperial service, mainly used in operations of lesser importance- such as this one- in the Outer Rim. And it was a rather steep step down, to go from captaining an Imperial Star Destroyer to an obsolete frigate.
And there was more than one alarm bell ringing in Axon's head.

If Kuat wanted to remove him from the chain of command, this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Karr could be shunted off to command this rusted hulk, the Compeller, for the rest of his life. The dingos under him in the hierarchy were already jockeying for his position, and would gladly replace him. He could even be killed, his death arranged in the chaos of battle, and no questions would be asked; such was the immense political power that came with the white uniform of a Grand Admiral.

But somehow, the Captain felt as if he could trust Jarnassus. In the short time they'd worked together, they had built a warm relationship, and the Admiral seemed to demonstrate an almost paternal care for his men, which extended from the lowliest technician to even the senior officers and Karr himself.
In any case, Axon was not about to taint his spotless record, and certainly didn't want to disappoint the Grand Admiral.

"Of course, sir," he said, barely managing to not miss a beat. "I understand that this assignment is imperative and will carry it out to the best of my ability- just as well as if I was serving aboard this ship. If you will excuse me, I will go to inspect the Compeller and prepare the crew for battle."

---

The Lamba-class shuttle descended and made a graceful landing in the Compeller's cluttered hangar bay. A ramp extended from the shuttle's rear and two stormtroopers exited, followed by Captain Axon Karr and his callow adjutant, Ensign Nedix. The Captain noted that the remnants of the crew had at least attempted to follow protocol when it came to the arrival of a senior officer, and had formed a bad excuse for a welcoming committee.

A single rank of low-level officers in grubby, loose-fitting uniforms awaited him; behind them was a phalanx of stormtroopers, far surpassing their superiors in terms of decorum. The acting Captain stepped forward, an anxious man with a goatee and mustache. "Lieuten- Captain Rischi," he stammered, saluting.

"Captain Karr- and you're back to Lieutenant now that I've arrived." He eyed Nedix and his pitiful subordinates with disgust. "The Imperial Academy's standards are abysmal these days," he muttered, shaking his head and turning away from them. "I hold out hope that they are simply the worst of the worst, shunted here as to eliminate the weak from the important starships in the fleet- but I still have my doubts," he said quietly to Nedix, once they were out of earshot of the crew.
He glanced behind him to see that the stormtroopers, clearly disgruntled about being summoned for such an underwhelming event, were disbanding, whilst Rischi and his lackeys were scurrying behind them.

"Before you show me to the bridge, Lieutenant," Axon said loudly, "I want you to show me the shocktroopers that were recently transferred here. I should wish to speak to them, seeing as they will be the driving force behind this operation. And make haste, man- we have no time."

The bumbling Lieutenant took his new Captain to a section of the living quarters that had clearly been unoccupied for quite some time, judging by the state of disrepair it was in but was now burgeoning with life thanks to the unit which had just arrived and were only now beginning to settle in. The soldiers were easily picked out from normal stormtroopers by their extra-thick armor and distinctive red markings, and Karr ordered them to assemble in the hangar bay for his review of them. Five minutes later it was done, and the entire company was standing at perfect attention, much to Axon's pleasing.

"Attention! I will be your temporary leader for this operation, which is of the utmost importance to the Empire," he said, his voice amplified through the hangar's speaker system. "Commander," he continued, now looking directly at the man who was clearly the leader of the company, "you and your company is tasked with using the fifteen different boarding ramps to infiltrate the enemy ship, secure its primary systems, and eliminate the enemy crew. The ship is a large dreadnaught, but it is severely undercrewed, which you will use to your advantage. You are the best of the best, elite soldiers, and so you will be doing the heavy lifting, even if you will have support from the stormtroopers and navy troopers here on the Compeller. I will get you close enough to board the ship, and the rest will be up to you. The dreadnaught in question is one of our ships, captured by the enemy, and so the Grand Admiral would prefer you to take it without seriously damaging its systems, if possible.

"And one last thing; there is a large quantity of bacta onboard this Rebel ship, which is vital to the enemy's war effort. Secure it." He swept their ranks with his steely eyes one more time, a tight smile overtaking him. "I'm confident that this mission will be easy for you. Any questions, Commander?" he asked, turning to face the leader of the company.

[Mifan]

Aboard a Star Destroyer, 2 hours before transfer

Darin looked over his orders once again. He was being assigned to a Victory-II class frigate, something he thought the Empire had gotten rid of and replaced with their newer ships. He was to be under the command of a Captain Karr. He hadn't heard the name before, but at the same time, didn't care. He had to take orders from the Captain for his mission, which the orders didn't specify. Must be real important if they aren't giving the full details.

"Captain, we're almost out of hyperspace and should be meeting up with the Compeller shortly." His second in command, Lieutenant Ren Lacer, had entered the room. The only reason he remembered his name was due to him being in the platoon he led personally. "Any orders I should give the men before we arrive?"

"Make sure they act like we are suppose to. We're the best the Empire have. I don't want our reputation tarnished."

"Yes, sir." He left the room to make sure the men knew what Darin had said. He looked over his orders again to make sure nothing was missed before laying back and falling asleep for the rest of the journey.

Aboard the Compeller

Darin and his company had arrived on the ship only a few minutes before the new captain, and was already settling in the living quarters, though the area was degrading a bit. The area hasn't been used by any other unit so it was in a sad state before his unit came into the area. He had his men begin to load off everything and move it into the living quarters. They all still had their armor on when the Captain had ordered them to arrive in the hanger. It took only a few minutes for Darin and his men to arrive and stand at attention.

He finally was able to see who this Captain Karr was. The man clearly kept his uniform sharp, and seemed to have a no nonsense attitude based on how he walked. He walked down the row of Shock Troopers, inspecting them.

"Attention! I will be your temporary leader for this operation, which is of the utmost importance to the Empire." Karr stopped in front of Darin and looked him straight in the eyes. "Commander, you and your company is tasked with using the fifteen different boarding ramps to infiltrate the enemy ship, secure its primary systems, and eliminate the enemy crew. The ship is a large dreadnaught, but it is severely undercrewed, which you will use to your advantage. You are the best of the best, elite soldiers, and so you will be doing the heavy lifting, even if you will have support from the stormtroopers and navy troopers here on the Compeller. I will get you close enough to board the ship, and the rest will be up to you. The dreadnaught in question is one of our ships, captured by the enemy, and so the Grand Admiral would prefer you to take it without seriously damaging its systems, if possible."

So we're boarding a ship that is undermanned? Shouldn't be difficult, we can probably clear it out in a few minutes. Just don't damage the systems. Darin knew the rebels weren't much of a threat. Hit n' run are common and whenever they are left in a prolonged fight, they collapse, especially with nowhere to go.

"And one last thing; there is a large quantity of bacta onboard this Rebel ship, which is vital to the enemy's war effort. Secure it."

Bacta? I see why the orders were vague then. I'll have three platoons fight towards the bridge and secure the ship as we go, and the fourth will head to the cargo hold and secure the bacta.

"I'm confident that this mission will be easy for you. Any questions, Commander?" He looked at Darin and waited for any question.

"None, sir!" He, himself, was confident in his unit in securing the ship, and if resistance is stiffer than he expects, they'll handle it.

[The New Jedi Order and New Republic]

~Inside the Bulwark~

Amakae and her squadron left the cockpits of their TIE Fighters after landing inside the hanger she took her helmet off showing her young but experienced face. Her eyes are a crystal blue and her brown hair was tied up in a bun so her helmet could fit her she put the TIE Fighter helmet around her right arm and walked towards her squadron.

"Good job men we took those rebel scum down which means another victory for the Empire." Amakae said as her squad stood at attention and looked at their captain.

"Some of you may be sad that we lost two of our pilots during that dogfight but remember they gave their lives to protect the Emperor and his citizens do not fear death because when you die you die going out knowing you served the Empire til the very end understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Her squad said all at once.

"Now go get some rest while I go see if we have any more missions from the Grand Admiral." Amakae said.

Her squadron nodded and got out of attention as they walked away from her Amakae went to one of the elevators and press the button to head up towards the bridge once got to the upper level she walked inside and saluted the Grand Admiral as she walked in.

[The Grand Duchy Of Nova Capile]

Captain Axon Karr
Victory-II-class Frigate Compeller
Alzoc III, Alzoc System, Outer Rim

---

"None, sir!"

Axon nodded and smiled approvingly. This was the kind of attitude needed from every Imperial soldier if the Empire was to finally crush this band of insurrectionists, the Rebellion.

"In that case, you are all dismissed. You should have a few minutes to prepare yourselves for the battle, but I expect you to all be stationed on the boarding ramps before the battle begins. You see, we've lured the enemy ship into a trap, and she'll be arriving soon. Commander, I leave the specifics of the battleplan to you, but know that I've also given you command of two stormtrooper platoons and two squadrons of naval troopers. Company, dismissed!" His voice echoed through the empty hangar bay, and the shocktroops started to disperse. Captain Karr himself was about to leave when he suddenly turned and caught the leader of the company.

"Captain Mott, I've examined your service record and it is exemplary. The Empire has great things in store for you, as long as you continue to serve it with the same zeal you've displayed in the past. Good luck to you." With that, the Captain turned and left for the bridge.

---

The turbolift's doors slid open, not with the hiss Axon was used to, but with a horrible grinding moan from the ship. The Captain cast a scowl at it and Rischi, appalled at the condition of the ship. The bridge wasn't much better.

It consisted of a few banks of outdated monitors and a motley collection of officers and technicians, one of whom was battling a hacking cough. "I've had enough of you layabouts and slackers!" the Captain suddenly shouted, a fire burning in his steel-gray eyes. "Stand at attention! Fix your uniform! Clean those rank bars! Wear your hat the proper way! You bring disgrace to this uniform!" He rounded on the coughing man. "And you! Get down to the Med Bay and get yourself fixed!" Karr said with extra ferocity.

The Captain took a deep breath as the startled Ensign scurried towards the turbolift. "I expect this bridge crew to handle this ship as if it were an Imperial Star Destroy. You will be competent, you will be efficient, and you will make no mistakes- or else I will ensure that you wind up slaving away in a spice mine on Kessel for the rest of your miserable lives!"

That seemed to put the fear of the Emperor in them. Without further ado, they raced to their stations and, doing their best imitations of standard military postures, carried out their duties. Axon sighed and stepped towards the very front of the bridge, looking through the armored viewport and all the way down to the bow of the Compeller. The Redoubtable would jump into space right before their eyes any moment now; he trusted that the shocktrooper Commander, Darin Mott, would have his men in place in time to board.

"Alright, men, prepare the engines for a forward thrust at maximum power. Remember to keep the shields up and operational, too. We musn't let this dreadnaught slip away- and, of course, we can't have it blasting us out of space either. Order all gunners to hold their fire; the Grand Admiral doesn't want any unnecessary damage done to the ship."

His orders were in place, as was his ship and the boarding party. All that was left now, was to wait.

[Dentali]

The Blockade of Yavin

Character: Brenn Katar



Location: Outside the Gordian Reach

The Jungle Moon needed to be evacuated

Yavin IV had served as the base for Rebel Forces a long time and despite the heroic actions of Luke Skywalker and the destruction of the Deathstar the need to evacuate and find a new base was never stronger.

Admiral Brenn Katar stood on the bridge of the “The Herald” his MC80 Cruiser and Flagship of the 5th Battle Group. His group was a motley crew, ships from both sides of the clone wars, converted civilian vessels, stolen imperial ships and State of the Art Mon Calamari and Bothan ships. He certainly couldn’t lift the blockade with this force.

He peered out at the recently stolen “Ironhand” an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer, his proud and recent addition to his armada, which greatly increased his firepower. It was still undermanned and being refit to hold X-Wings instead of Ties.

Katar turned to his 2nd in Command “Leave the damaged ships here. Once they are prepared have them carry out ‘Operation Blunt Stick’” the Sullustant admiral nodded and rushed off to send the message. A few minutes later the fleet prepared to hit hyperspace

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yavin System.

The Imperial Captain of the Immobilizer cruiser was showering when the alarms began blaring, rushing to the bridge arrived just in time to see the rebel fleet just emerging from hyperspace. The battle was short, the imperials were spread out far across the Reach they were not expecting such a large force to focus their strength and punch a hole straight through the blockade.

2 Interdictors went down before the Tie reinforcements even arrived, 4 more suffered the same face soon after. X-Wings, A- Wings and Ties weaved between the larger ships charging towards Yavin IV…



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Yavin Base

They didn’t know the exact moment the Battle Group would arrive but they were ready when it did. Every last ship they had was loaded up to capacity and lifting off the planet within 5 minutes of the Katar’s arrival. They couldn’t take everything but set a large amount of explosives to deny the Imperials any intelligence they could use to find their new home….



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yavin System.

A third bombing run hit the Star destroyer directly in the bridge, now near crippled it began listing, drawn into Yavin’s gravity well. A cheer could almost be heard through space as the crews of ever rebel ship cried out in unison, in victory. They might have become drunk on victory had the Executor not arrived at that moment.

Vader’s new Super Star Destroyer was massive, incredibly powerful and a truly insurmountable obstacle. Katar had heard the intelligence reports of the titan, but none truly did it justice. Katar’s normal confident smirk now turned to a serious countenance “All ships to lightspeed NOW. They know the rendezvous point.”

The Executor caught a few transports in it withering fire, slicing through them like they were nothing. No point to shield against that much firepower. Fortunately most of the fleet escaped, transports in tow living to fight another day….

[Cybraxia]

Arc Zero: Prelude
A Fate Forged in Steel

The House of Light,
In the Forests of Onderon:

"We know why we are gathered here." the low bass of Light's voice rumbled across the room, instantly silencing the murmuring of the gathered resistance members. "We are here, in this squalid ruin, to insure that we lay the foundations of a path to galactic emancipation. The Clone Wars were only the end game of a power I fear is more powerful than we have seen. Indeed, this power that leads this abominable new government is of the same that permeates through the ruins we stand in today."

The gathered soldiers shifted uneasily. "We can all feel the creeping sickness of this place crawling upon our skin, seeking purchase in our very pores. But our cause is just, our mission righteous, and our goal is nothing less than bringing Light back to our galaxy!" Cheers rang out, and Light smiled slightly. "But take heed, our path is fraught with perils and dangers, from both mundane threats, and supernatural. Yes, warriors of this dark essence may be sent out to destroy and divide us. Quicker than the eye, and wielding blood red lightsabers; these foes will be among the deadliest and most dangerous threats on our path.

"But just as the heroic Jedi were felled, so too can these Warriors of Shadow can be beaten! Nothing is truly invincible, and we will show that though this dastardly Empire's might is impressive, their prodigious size will not dissuade our sharpened blades!" Another cheer, louder this time. "We will convert this Empire to a just government, as we have converted this old and dilapidated dungeon of darkness into a domicile of hope and light." He paused, lighting a torch, and raising it upwards. Though unneeded, especially in the well-lit briefing hall, the action caused the gathered to shout with a cacophony of cheers and hurrahs. Above the din, Light shouted, triumphant. "In radiance may we find victory!"

End Arc Zero

[Revlona]

Orbit of Tattoine

Former Jedi Knight micheal striker was getting ready to go into lightspeed with his grey colored X-Wing. He had already been stopped twice by imperial patrols asking his buisness. His buisness was...complicated. There where rumors of a rogue Imperial inquisitior hunting down a rebel Jedi involved in some of the Corscant rebellions. He planned to find this rogue Jedi and help kill the inquisitor. Of course it wouldn't be as easy as it sounded, his spy's and friends where having a hard time finding the Jedi and having exactly zero luck finding the inquisitor. Though they had a general idea of the Jedi location.

Michael fingered his lightsaber at his side and began to remeber better times before the clone wars, training with his master and the other padawans who where his friends.
He shook his head to get rid of these thoughts for they only served to make him angry.

"R-6 route us to the balmorra" He said

[Dentali]

Bren Katar’s Fleet aka 5th Battle Fleet

Flagship
1 MC80 Cruiser “The Herald”

Capital Ships
1 Imperial II-class Star Destroyer “Ironhand”
75 Starfighters
2 Refitted Venator-Class Star Destroyer “Beholder” and “Prophet”
200 Starfighters
1 MC75 Star Cruiser “Trident”
No Starfighters
1 Refitted Providence-Class Dreadnought “Rampart”
200 Starfighters

Cruisers
1 Arquitens-class command cruiser
No Starfighters
4 Arquitens-class light cruisers
No Starfighters
2 Carrack-class Light Cruiser
4 Starfighters
1 Gozanti-class cruiser
4 Starfighters
1 Recusant-class light Destroyer
100 Starfighters
1 Diamond Class Cruiser

Frigates
4 DP20 Frigate
3 EF76 Nebulon B Escort Frigate
24 Starfighters
1 CC-7700 Interdictor Frigate
3 Razor-class frigates
5 Munificent-class star frigates
2 Quasar Fire-class bulk cruiser
1 Nebulon-B2 frigate


Corvettes
8 CR90 Corvette
10 Hammerhead Corvette
4 CR92a Assassin-class Corvette
5 Raider-class corvettes
3 Maruder Class Corvettes

Other
Several Dozen yachts, transports and freighters

Total Starfighters
850 Starfighters in 34 squadrons
400 Fighters
300 Bombers
150 MultiRole

[G-Tech Corporation]

Bridge of the Bulwark, High Orbit over Alzoc III

The Grand Admiral stood at the command console at the rear of the bridge, taking in the tactical displays as he prepared the fleet for the ambush. They had more than enough firepower for anything the rebels were likely to have brought with them, and picket ships and to spare to deal with the Rebellion's unhealthy starfighter fetish. Still, it never hurt to be safe. The destruction of that hapless vanity project, the Death Star, had emboldened restive elements across the Galaxy. It now fell to the Fleet to show those elements that a setback did not mean the Empire was weak, and reassure those that counted on the Imperial Will for protection that their faith was not blind. This operation would be clockwork, if Jarnassus Kuat had anything to say about it.

A flight leader entered the command deck from the elevator, her hair deep brunette; ah, Flight Leader Tongami. The Grand Admiral returned her salute, as was protocol, but frowned. Seeing his commander's face, one of the underofficers hurried over- the flight comptroller, as it happened, Garvin Malset. He was a blonde-haired man, a bit paunchy for his neatly trimmed gray uniform, but a good man who had a strong head for the intricacies of ship-to-ship combat en masse.

"Flight Leader, good to see you made it through that skirmish in one piece. I just had your orders for the upcoming engagement transmitted downstairs- you know, we do have a briefing room for a reason."

Jarn smiled. The comptroller looked harassed, so he addressed the pilot, the golden eagles on his shoulders staring at her haughtily.

"Good flying out there Squad Leader. Alpha 2 and Alpha 4 are running escort for the Compeller once our quarry is within range. I need you and your boys keeping the rebel rent-a-cops off of my boarding assets. Happy hunting, Tongami."

Just then, the proximity klaxon began to sound, a low wail. The Grand Admiral turned fluidly, just as one of the signal officers sang out.

"Hyperspace signature reported from the Claw of Silence, Admiral. She's coming in earlier than expected, five and a half units down spinward."

Kuat nodded. That would do. Enough range to get the big guns and particularly ions to bear before the rebels even knew that they were in trouble.

"All hands to battle stations. Prepare to engage enemy forces. Signal the fleet; full advance, primary formation aleph-delta. I want those rebels out of commission and our forces unscathed, keep it tight and watch for bombers."

The comptroller hurriedly waved at Squad Leader Tongami to get below, before ducking back in to his command station and beginning to bark out deployment orders for the Bulwark's formidable fighter contingent. Except for the Alphas, Midnight Fleet's ships were TIE Interceptors- one of the advantages of having access to the shipyards at Kuat, some of the best equipped squadrons in the Empire, deflector shields and the whole bucket of bolts. They would be more than a match for any cheeky Rebel deployments, or so it was hoped.

Before the Bulwark's viewscreen, the Redoubtable arrived. She dropped out of hyperspace just where the Claw of Silence and her gravity wells had said she would, in between the planet and the Imperial starships. The Grand Admiral leaned forward at his console, counting the escorts with the naked eye quicker than the displays could update. Two Nebulon-Bs fitted for anti-starfighter duty, an Assault Frigate, and at least three X-Wing squadrons. That was more than he had expected the Thyferran rebels to have mustered, but then again, this was an important prize. They had probably begged, borrowed, and stolen for what they had from neighboring wretched cells. Too bad those pilots would never go home again.

"Ion batteries, target the Mandator and that Assault Frigate. We'll deal with the Nebulons later."

The communications officer nodded at her Admiral's words, and from the Imperial fleet lashed out fire of all descriptions. Green turbolasers hammered the shields of the Assault Frigate, shimmering a brilliant blue as the rebels realized their danger, and here and there ion impacts sent rippling waves of coursing lightening through the large Dreadnaught's superstructure.

Now came the answering fire. Nobody could deny the rebels had pluck and to spare. But here, faced down by six Imperial Star Destroyers and their escorts, ah, that was not where they wanted to be.

And it was exactly, as it happened, where the Grand Admiral wanted them.

[Spindle]

Docking Umbilical
Swiftwind
Molavar

There are a number of issues which dogged at the heels of one who wished to maintain a warship in the face of the Empire's hostility.

The first is the Empire's hostility itself. Beyond the damage that did to every other aspect of running a warship, it means that your options becomes constricted. Space is large, that is true, but the points anyone cares about are much, much more limited. The existence of hyperspace lanes make the issue even more dangerous - if the Empire gets a serious lock on her location, they could use that to lock her down with ease which belied the stupidity or, to give them due credit, rigidity which the Empire demonstrated. And, given the size and power of the Empire, them locking her down was something she couldn't afford.

The second issue is material resources. Hypermatter is hard to come across, and even harder to make yourself. At the same time, tibanna gas, high-quality components and doonium or neutronium-impregnated hull plating - or indeed, additional weaponry - are all monitored to some extent by the Empire. It's not hard to get false identification, but that's never going to be enough. The Empire is smart enough to check the procurement of dangerous material and track potential malcontents that way, and Helenea had learned that at her own cost early in her career.

The last - and most important - issue is reputation. It doesn't matter so much if you want them to fear you, love you or merely respect you, you need to have the correct reputation. You need to be on the right side of the smugglers, so that you can get information and supplies the Empire doesn't want. You need to be on the right side of the free ports, so that you know they won't kick you out or sell you over to the Empire. You need to be sufficiently well-known in business that people don't bother trying to screw you over.

It is also a double-edged sword. What you do not need is to have a reputation as a saviour, or a rebel. If people think you're a saviour, they will inevitably ask you for almost anything, even when it's flat-out impossible. Especially when it's flat out impossible. You don't want people knowing you're a rebel either: people know how much more the Empire pays for rebels over simple scum. You don't want to give people that kind of incentive to betray you. Not before they're in far too deep to remove the taint from their own personage, anyway.

Planets like Molavar helped Helenea to deal with all three of these issues at once. On the far side of Hutt Space, and at a T-junction at the hyperlanes, the Empire was unable to project sufficient force out there to trap even the slowest tramp hauler. That allowed the scum and malcontents of the galaxy to gather there, creating an environment where both material and immaterial goods can be traded. Favours, weapons, personnel and more could be bought and sold here, and so it was that the Swiftwind found itself in a familiar orbit over the planet.

The ship Swiftwind was docked with was also familiar. The Desolator was a five-hundred metre long, lumpy warship constructed from an amalgamation of Bulk Cruisers, with a KDY Planet Defender bulging out of its dorsal hull like an overgrown tumour. It was intimidating, significantly less rickety than it looked and generally all too well-worn for its brief life. In short, it was exactly the kind of vessel you'd expect to form the personal transport any self-respecting pirate-turned-trader. And Sthilizaar Nmbarek was nothing if not self-respecting.

"Ciree." Nmbarek greeted, fangs glinting evilly, "Meeting with you is always a pleasant experience."

"You need to stop lying." Helenea sighed, whether in mock or not she couldn't herself tell, "What is it you want from me?"

"I have heard that there is an interesting situation developing in the Rim." Nmbarek grinned, spreading taloned fingers wide, "And I have discovered that I have a sudden deficiency of distributors for the region."

"The point?"

"I would have assumed that would have been obvious."

"Try me."

Nmbarek sighed theatrically before half-turning with a flourish and glancing back across to Helenea.

"As you likely know, the Empire is reducing its policy of tolerance towards populations with particular levels of rebellious spirit."

"The Alderaan incident." Helenea nodded.

"That is indeed the defining example." Nmbarek agreed, "But, in several examples, this policy has had...alternate effects."

"I didn't have you pegged as the type to look for rebellion when it gets stirred up."

"Rebellion is hardly my business, Captain." Nmbarek inclined his head, a overly-knowing grin splitting his face into jagged halves, "But it provides a fertile market for me to sell my wares."

"And why would you need the Swiftwind? There are any number of freighters out there who could do the same thing without charging you half of what I'm going to, and you know it."

"There are...circumstances which could make it difficult to bring freighters into the market."

Helenea stared evenly over at her opposite number, who simply grinned back at her with equal parts innocence and mockery.

"Exactly what kind of circumstances?"

"The kind of circumstances which result in overly-energetic depositions into the hull of a number of ships I have hired."

"Imperials?"

"But of course." Nmbarek agreed good-naturedly, "The rebellious are unlikely to engage those bringing their supplies."

"And so you want me to bring the supplies through for you."

"I was aware that there is no love lost between you and the Empire."

"And I have a ship which can break through a light blockade?" Helenea added.

"That was certainly a contributing factor." Nmbarek nodded, handing over a datapad, "The Empire has its attention elsewhere - for now. How long do you want to talk for?"

"I'll call you when we're done."

"But of course."

And with that Nmbarek span around and marched back through the docking umbilical, coat billowing behind him like a cape. Sighing to herself, Helenea turned to the intercom and keyed for Officer Band:

"All officers, meet me in the CIC ASAP." She said simply, "We've got a job offer."

---

CIC
Swiftwind
Molavar

"You're screwing with us, right?"

Helenea supressed a grin at the Togruta's outburst. Ceril was what the Imperial navy would call the Swiftwind's CAG, and acted as the voice of conservatism in the officer meetings. That was a position which made a lot more sense when one considered that she was the person who had to deal with any starfighter casualties they incurred during a job - something which she made sure Helenea knew every time they lost a starfighter pilot. It was an influence which had warded the ship away from more than one high-stakes mission in the past.

"I don't see why she would be." A Zabrak - Tyrii - replied for Helenea, "It's exactly the kind of mission we take on a regular basis."

"Except with more Imperial interest." Cylesce injected drily, "This is going to force us up on their priority list, even if we manage to pull it off."

"When." Tyrii modified, "It's hardly a difficult mission."

"Which isn't something we should assume." Ceril noted, "That's the easiest way to lose people."

"Back to the task." Helenea snapped, "Do we agree that the salient issue is that we show up on the Empire's radar with this mission?"

"And we might just be there when the Empire shows up in force." Tyrii added sourly, "I don't want to be in the same system as a Star Destroyer if I don't have to. And certainly not if it's trying to kill me."

"I imagine most of us share that sentiment." Cylesce rolled her eyes, "But we have a little time before that goes down."

"The Redoubtable issue?" Kanchampa asked.

"The Redoubtable issue." Cylesce agreed, "How many of them know you were hired as a consultant?"

"Only the ringleaders." Helenea answered, "Although at least some of that information has probably leaked down into the crew."

"Chances of the Empire bumping us up on the list anyway?" Cylesce pushed.

"That depends on whether they try to capture anyone or just blow it right out of the sky."

The room stilled at that, the background hum and whirr of machinery filling the void where words had once been prominent. Meaningful looks were exchanged between the various officers in the room as each one weighed up their options and made their own judgements. There was only one real question to be answered now: how likely was it that the Empire wanted the Redoubtable back intact, as opposed to gutted? Thoughtful furrows formed in some brows, and smoothed in others as Helenea watched the faces and bodies of her crewmates.

There was a certain amount of operational security protocol which Helenea had learned from her time running the Swiftwind - certainly more than most Imperial officers used on a regular basis. She hadn't even been looking for the consultanty job when she'd stumbled onto the plot: she'd been looking for hyperdrive components, had gotten overly lost and had seen an opportunity to make a little money at the Empire's expense. But throughout, she'd made sure that there was almost nothing left to identify her should everything go wrong for the mutineers.

"I feel this decision was taken from our hands." Tyrii noted eventually, breaking the silence.

"So you're aboard for this?" Cylesce asked, half-grin on her face.

"How much are we being paid for this?" Tyrii asked Helenea, ignoring the Pantoran.

By way of reply, Helenea scrolled down on the central datapad. Tyrii's eyes widened, pupils dilating visibly.

"Oh." Was all she could say, "That's quite a lot."