Kelso Windtide, Lord of Tidespring
Star Destroyer Ser Alvis Jenson, Tide’s Edge Star System
14th Day of the Sixth Month, 375 AWU
Even after six months of being betrothed, and over two and a half years of being with her, Kelso still found himself getting distracted in meetings simply by gazing lovingly across at her. His trusted Knights and close friends had of course quickly noticed this behaviour and proceeded to tease their Lord incessantly, although always stopping just before the line that they would step over into disrespect. Such was the case now, despite the fact that the meeting he was sat in really was quite important. Unfortunately, for the chances of Kelso actually paying attention it was nothing that he had not heard before, rather it was the weekly update on the preparations for their assault against Tidespring, although they were moving forwards it was happening slowly and little changed from week-to-week. As a result, as the same ground was covered, and the various attendees of the meeting updated each other and made plans for the next step, Kelso found his attention wandering and as it most often did it settled on June more often than not. It was not quite daydreaming, as he was actively taking in what was being said, but he couldn’t stop himself just drinking her in, not only her obvious beauty but the subtle movements, expressions and even the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.
“Thank You, Ser George,” Kelso said drawing his attention to him without missing a beat, despite his distraction, as George finished his briefing on the state of affairs in the Holdfast below. “Ser William, how goes our quest for a third Star Destroyer?”
“Slowly, I’m afraid, my Lord,” Ser William replied apologetically. “My father would if he could, but it’s a lot harder to make an entire Star Destroyer disappear than it is a few cruisers.”
Kelso grimaced but nodded his acceptance of the report. In general, the construction of smaller ships was so significant that it was relatively easy to siphon off a handful of ships without anyone noticing, especially if the Warden’s Inspectors were in on the plan as they were for House Windtide. Unfortunately a Star Destroyer, particularly an Imperator-III, was far too large and powerful to be lost in the background, and even the least powerful individual in the Realm could keep a track on new Star Destroyer construction easily enough, and they would be fools to think that Lord Keegan, who was certainly more powerful than they, wouldn’t be watching carefully and would cry foul play. Of course, it was not likely to do much, but Kelso and House Windtide could not run the risk that they alienate potential support as that would be catastrophic for their chances of retaking Tidespring. In most other respects, they were ready to go, but without a third Star Destroyer there was a very real chance of suffering significant losses during the assault, and even damage to one of the Star Destroyers had the potential to wipe out a number of troops if the enemy scored a lucky hit.
It was incredibly frustrating, however Kelso also knew that he couldn’t expect Lord Lambert and Lord Forrester to commit their Star Destroyer to him, as on the chance that House Windtide lost the orbital battle and were forced to withdraw, Lord Keegan’s revenge on the two of them would be swift and significant. He knew that they probably would if he asked them directly, however he didn’t want to put them in that position if he could avoid it.
“Alright, well do your best, Ser William,” Kelso said with a sigh. “Have we heard from Alyssa yet?”
Alyssa Star was a way on a secret visit to High Peak, the seat of House Howard. Given her age it had been decided that it would be a good idea if she met the young boy, Ser Jonathan Howard’s eldest son, who if all went to plan she would be betrothed to upon their return to Tidespring and eventually marry. She had been becoming increasingly nervous about the prospect, especially since the two of them had first started to be able to exchange letters, carried by the same ships that brought the Food Shipments to them, because she was worried that the boy might not like her. Not to mention the fact that, as a growing girl she was beginning to feel self-conscious about her appearance. Kelso had discussed the matter at length with her, June and Hannah, as well as Ser Jonathan himself, and it had been decided that the best thing to do was for them to meet and start developing a friendship before they had to worry overly much about what would come in the future. Ser Jonathan had assured Kelso that his eldest son was a kind soul, and that he would put any fears Allyssa might have to rest; not consciously of course (they were only one-and-ten and two-and-ten), but just meeting would do them both wonders.
As a result Ser Jonathan had dispatched a CR90 Corvette to, operating under his House’s sigil, to safely ferry the young girl to and from Arcadia; after all, no one in their right minds would attack a ship flying under the sigil of the Warden of the Frontier…
Alyssa Star
Corvette Bright Star, The Frontier
14th Day of the Sixth Month, 375 AWU
Alyssa Star was quite pleased. She had been really rather nervous about visiting High Peak in order to meet her future betrothed for the first time, but she was not glad that she had. Edward Howard was the most caring and considerate boy she had ever met (she ignored the fact that he was the only boy her own age that she had met) who had made her feel welcome almost immediately and the pair had spent their entire weekend together and had already formed a fast friendship. If Edward had been upset with the fact that he was being force to marry someone, in a few years, he didn’t show it. Aside from showing her around High Peak, they had spent some time training in the tiltyard, which Alyssa had been thrilled about and had enjoyed herself intensely, and had found herself blushing when Edward had complemented her skills. Given that Edward was going for his examination to become a Squire (which despite his parentage was not a given, even if he would one day be Lord of High Peak) he had almost apologetic when he had brought up the fact that he needed to train, little did he know that Alyssa had absolutely no problem with that, and had been more than happy to help. She had almost not wanted to leave.
In the hours since they had left High Peak she had persuaded herself she could still feel the gentle kiss Edward had pressed to her cheek as he said goodbye.
Despite how much she had enjoyed her time there it would be good to get back to Tide’s Edge, it was a very exciting time after all with the preparations for the Conquest of Tidespring continuing in earnest.
Fortunately, the voyage home promised to not be boring in the slightest, for the fledgling professional interest that Alyssa had, from her time shadowing and learning from Ser Hannah, had been piqued by the ship she was on. Designed by the Corellian Shipbuilding Guild, the massive shipyards that built all the ships for the three Systems of the Core, plus the Capital, and some ships for the other two Systems, the CR90 was a highly popular ship operated by pretty much every House Naval Force in the Realm but also many civilian ventures (the latter tended to have somewhat reduced shielding and less powerful weapons, although this varied on the Lord to whom the civilian in question answered). A highly versatile ship the CR90 was designed to be modular and easily configurable for anything from light escort or troop carrier to cargo transport or even a passenger liner. In the military configuration the Bright Star carried two dual turbolasers and four single turbolasers, giving her respectable firepower against any non-military threat, and her massive number of engines ensued she could outrun anything she couldn’t outfight. The ship possessed a crew of eight officers and thirty eight enlisted crewmen, all of whom had bene more than happy to allow Alyssa to ask as many questions s eh wanted.
The Captain had even agreed to allow her to join him for a duty watch on the bridge, and it was to there that she was heading when all hell broke loose. The ship rumbled and made some disturbing sounds, Alyssa would later learn that it was the ship being ripped from hyperspace, and almost immediately the battle stations alarm sounded. Alyssa frowned but quickened her step in order to get to the bridge sooner. When she arrived she found the front viewport dominated by the distinctive shape of an Interdictor ship; the familiar arrowhead corrupted by four large spheres which she knew to be gravity well generators. The space in front of them with criss-crossed turbolaser fire, from both the enemy Interdictor and from the Bright Star herself as she desperately tried to defend herself against the much larger and more powerful enemy warship. To make matters worse the enemy had launched TIE Defenders of their own which were launching precision strikes as the Bright Star tried to turn and run, however she could not turn her stern entirely to the enemy, as the mass of engines prevented any of the weapons from targeting aft, a well-known flaw in the CR90.
“Can we get a signal out?” The Corvette’s Captain asked urgently.
“Negative Captain, the enemy is jamming all communications channels,” The Communications Lieutenant replied.
“The enemy is targeting our engines and weapons, Captain,” The Tactical Lieutenant added. “Our shields are failing, we’ve got hull breaches on decks five, six and eight.”
The Captain grimaced and turned to Alyssa, and the Force Knight from the Windtide Guard that had been assigned to protect her, with a grim expression.
“My Lady, Ser, I recommend that you try and get out of here via shuttle, we’ll try and give you covering fire,” The Captain said with a heavy sigh. “If you can get a good look at the sigil on that ship please make sure Lord Howard knows who attacked one of his ships.”
“They’ve taken out the power feed to our engines, shields are done,” The Tactical Lieutenant reported. “We’re being boarded!”
The Force Knight nodded and encouraged Alyssa to follow him, drawing his sword and energising the blade as he did so, behind him Alyssa did the same with her smaller sword and gripped it tightly. They made it a few decks down before they encountered the enemy boarders, the Knight stepping forward and deftly blocking the Bowcaster bolts the enemy troops were firing at them as they pushed forwards towards the shuttlebay. For a few moments it looked like they were going to make it, at least until, just before the shuttlebay, they found themselves face to face with a Force Knight bearing the sigil of House Keegan on his surcoat. The Windtide Knight grimaced and stepped forwards, engaging his enemy in single combat as he tried to push him back to allow Alyssa to get to one of the shuttles. Unfortunately the enemy Knight appeared to outclass the Windtide Knight and although Alyssa was able to make it into the shuttlebay her protector was steadily pushed back until, in the blink of an eye, he was too slow on a parry and he fell to the deck minus a head. Alyssa started in shock at her decapitated protector before she threw herself at the enemy Knight.
For her first few strikes the enemy Knight appeared shocked at the young girl’s angry assault, but once he recovered from the surprise he was able to easily overpower and disarm Alyssa. She glared defiantly up at the Force Knight at her held his sword to her throat. For a moment she thought he was going to kill her, but instead he sheathed his sword and reached out with the Force to restrain her, Alyssa tried to struggle against this hold, but he was too strong for her.
“I’d stop struggling if I were you, Bastard,” The Force Knight scowled. “Lord Keegan said he wanted you alive, he didn’t say how many pieces you were to be in.”
Alyssa scowled but stopped her struggling, a few moments later additional enemy troops arrived in the shuttlebay.
“The ship is secured, Ser, the Captain and bridge crew are captured.”
“Good, we’ll take this one back to the Interdictor,” The Force Knight said firmly. “Set the destruction charges, I want no evidence of this ship left once we’re done.”
“And the crew?”
“Kill them all.”
