Operation Backdoor

[Admiral Jyener]

The day had seemed like the longest ever. Though able to control his patience, the last twenty-four hours were a real challenge. They were also tiring and strenuous for not only him but the entire fleet. For as long as at least the last month every enlistee and officer on Dayark had been doing some sort of work, whether it be training or preparing for this day. Ranging from technicians to tacticians, kitchen crews to starfighter crews, ground troops to generals, everywhere he went he saw someone helping out to make this run smoother and all the better.

Jyener had spent the last few hours flying from ship to ship visiting squadrons of pilots and garrisons of troops, giving speeches and raising morale, knowing how the encouragement of a superior could boost a single man's performance - not to mention twelve or fifty men and women. He'd seen thousands of different faces in the crowds that he spoke to, yet he knew that unfortunately not all of them would be there after the operation for award ceremonies or mission debriefings. When he was finally done, he appreciatively took his last shuttle ride back to the fleet's flagship and made his last address - to his bunk. Time was running short and sleep was all he needed right now.

It was nearly midnight when the Admiral woke up, spending his remaining time in his quarters overlooking holo-images of blueprints and maps. He could admit that he probably spent more time studying than on the bridge, but he did it to keep on top of things. His eyes still heavy from the short rest, he purposely leaned up against his desk, the cold metal pressing against his skin. Fingers playing with the flat holo-projector cradled in his palms, Jyener overviewed the various nav-points that lay ahead for his fleet. Planting the information in his head over and over to memorize, he made sure that his crews would take the quickest and cleanest routes to get half way across the galaxy.

[Athena Lady Darknss]

Athena was sitting in her office while that Admiral gave his many speeches. Her mind raced to finish her last minute changes of command and what not. As the General many of her officers looked at her for all the answers. But not always did she have them. She anticipated the loss of many of her men. She and her troops some of the first do get with in the fighting.

[Dark Lord Mittharauruodo]

Dragging himself out of his bunk and into the refresher to wash the sand out of his eyes. Leaving his courters Hara strolled down the starell courters to his ready room where his officers waited to be breifed. He felt like a kid at christmas, the war was about to begin.

[Admiral Jyener]

The protruding bridge positioned near the rear of the Super Star Destroyer, Jyener could overlook the entire fifteen kilometer wedge shaped bow in front of him. Like a butcher's knife cutting through space the enormous vessel slowly turned to it's port side, thrusters on the starboard side of the ship pushing away to move it in its desired direction.

"Admiral, sir. All ships from Task Force Three have finished reporting in. Everything is ready and they will be on their way in approximately seventeen minutes."

Turning his attention away from the moving behemoth, Admiral Jyener nodded to the captain.

"Thank you Yllek, have the Line Captain call me before he makes the jump. That's an order."

"Of course, sir."

Dismissing him with a second nod, Jyener himself walked over to the communications terminal and addressed the seated officer.

"Patch me into Shipyard Two."

"Yessir. Here you go, sir."

The flat blank screen on the wall ahead of them sizzled to life. Shifting from black and white static to an almost clear image, the bulky face of a dark skinned man appeared.

"Hello Admiral Celchu."

He had obviously seen Jyener's face on his own viewscreen.

"Greetings Director, how goes the construction?"

The Director's emotionless face grew a grin, "Fifty percent complete, sir. She's coming along just fine and will be ready at your disposal by tommorow."

"Excellent. You know your orders. Once the carrier is complete have her immediately stocked with those six fighter squadrons."

"Affirmative Admiral. My men won't waste second."

Giving a quick and sharp salute to the man on the other side of the viewscreen, Jyener signaled for the comm. officer to close the transmission.

[Drill Sarge Fox]

He loved screaming and yelling in people's faces. It was why he was hired and he saw it as his duty. To be honest he never had the slightest clue on what was going to happen today, yet he saw something coming. All the drill instructors around the fleet had been put on activation and for the last few days they were told to encourage and train the troops as usual. Now he knew why, and now he was appreciative of his hard work recently.

"Those damn soldiers need it too."

Talking to himself again, sheesh. If any of his commanding officers ran into him in this maze of corridors and found him blabbing away they'd have his hide locked up in one of those institutes faster than he could get his rank taken away from him. Oh well, his job was done. He had helped Task Force Three's army and they were now prepared. Now to get back to his quarters and sleep through their hyperspace jump.

[The Lady Athena]

Athena was standing just out side of her quarters when she saw a man she didnt need near her men.A man who thought he was a Drill Sargent, well if he wanted to hear some yelling she could yell. She then heard him speaking out loud. Her body was tightly inclosed into her leather combate uniform. Every curve was noticable and her long hair hung around her neck.

<font color=purple> "Who the hell are you talking to?"</font>

[Drill Sarge Fox]

As quiet as it was, he wouldn't be surprised that the softest of noises could be heard from the other side of the Star Destroyer. Yet it was the loud noises he was concerned with. All staff and personnel aboard the warship would be found in their quarters. Sending off messages of goodbyes to whatever families they had and transferring from their daily casual clothes to their uniforms, jump suits or armor. He was on his way to do the same, and his living space was only a few corners away.

Interrupting his thoughts were the harsh, yet rhythmic sounds of footsteps. The sound of metal marching on metal made him guess it was most likely a stormtrooper reporting to a mission briefing or a transport awaiting a regiment of soldiers.

"How I'd like to see him hit the broadside of a barn..."

"-Who the hell are you talking to?"

Had he not been talking to himself again, he would have noticed the footsteps growing louder and closer. Seemingly out of nowhere a tall woman came around a corner clad in battle armor and mysterious looking weapons, kinds he'd never before. Fox would've ran right into her, had he not been stunned by the sight. Half scared and half confused, he caught glimpse of Death Fleet rank patch embroidered on the top half of her outfit, when his eyes grew wide.

"...Ge-General, hello! Forgive me, I was just on my way to my quarters."

[The Lady Athena]

Athena thought it interesting how most men would have stopped to look at her body like other people. but the moment they see she is of rank they studder harder then trying to ask her out.

<font color=purple> " Yes I know that much, but like i asked. Who are you talking to? I heard your voice, that or i was reading into your thoughts. Again..."</font>



<font color=blue> General of DeathFleet Apperentice to Dara ShadowTide Member of The Sith Empire</font>

[DarkLordKhan]

"Yes, sir!"
"Understood, Captain!"
"I'm on it, Skipper!"
"Right away, sah!"

:: The flow of acknowledgements drilled into Khan's head one after another, and various officers marched away to accomplish their objectives.

"Could do without the goose-stepping," Khan muttered. He stroked his temples with his fingers, clenching his jaw. They would be off schedule with the pace they were taking.. blast... He stood and made his way past the scurrying officers and enlisted, to the holo projection/communications room that was set aside from the bridge, private. Khan slid a hand across a panel between to flashing buttons on a short table in the middle of the room, and a light flashed from a small trapezoid-shaped emitter in the center of it ::

"Inform the Admiral that Line Captain Surak is ready to speak with him now." The message was shot out across space to the command ship.

[Drill Sarge Fox]

Read his thoughts? What kind of trouble did he get himself into now? He knew the higher ranks of the group were mainly force users, and the entire "force" concept confused him enough, so could she be related to them at all? Ah blast...it wouldn't surprise him if she was reading every single one of his thoughts as if out of a book right now.

"Err..Excuse me m'am. I have ah, a tendency to talk to myself. I shall report to a medic immediately if it is what you want!"

He could not believe this. A fierce drill sargeant, falling to his knees and sucking up to his commanding officers. The power this character held was amazing, for he knew he usually didn't act like this. Was she playing some sort of mind game with his head? He heard tales of such things, but thought them foolish. Nothing was more mind warping than a determined drill sarge.

[Athena Lady Darknss]

Athena rolled her eyes. She knew with out having to read his mind he was about ready to die. She just looked at him. She canted her head to the right. She winked at the Drill master.

" No Im not playing a mind game with ya... Im just that intemidating...."

Athena smiled and watched as the Drill Master finished walking down the hall.

" Ohhh and Dont bother going to the Medbay .... Got it? "

She turned and walked down the hall to find Lord Surak.

[Drill Sarge Fox]

"Yes'm, General, mam!"

Well that went well. Interesting to say the least. He'd seen it as getting off lucky. Surprised that he was actually walking away with his rank, Sergeant John Fox paced down the hallway until he cut off to the right and out of sight. His small cramped quarters awaited him now, and for the next week he planned to make friends with his bunk. He never liked hyperspace travel. Patience wasn't his thing, especially when confined to a kilometer long starship travelling half way across the galaxy. He had to give it to those in the navy, where travelling through space was their life. And even as an instructor in the army, he had the grim hope of seeing action in the upcoming weeks.

[Jyener Celchu]

The five hundred meter Escort Carrier loomed out of the shipyard's steel arms. It's odd shape branded it with a bulky look and laggard movement, yet what it wielded in its immense bay was the exact opposite. Completed over a time frame of two days in the forty kilometer yard, the Deprive was destined for the DFSF Reserves. A key ship to the operation, the production had postponed the fleet's launching. Though approximately eighty kilometers from the shipyards, Jyener could clearly make out the box shaped craft sliding from one of the two facilities from where he sat on the Hell's Guardian.

"Admiral, Line Captain Surak is sending a message!"

He leaned his concentration towards the report, "Patch him through to me Commander."

Both arms on the armrests of his command chair, Jyener tapped a flashing button with the fingers of his right hand. Suddenly static could be heard through a built in speaker on the left armrest, forming into a hoarse voice.

[Khan Surak]

:: Khan glanced a flashing light on the panel before him, giving him the go-ahead to speak ::

"Hello, Admiral. Task Force Three will be on schedule. Black Ice had a few malfunctions when they tested their grav wells, but it will be fixed within the next half hour. The rest of the Task Force is perfectly running, and we are awaiting confirmation from the rest of the fleet to enter hyperspace. "

[Jyener Celchu]

"-and we are awaiting confirmation from the rest of the fleet to enter hyperspace. "

A grin grew on his half serious, half tired face. As the Line Captain finished up his words, Jyener prepared a message of luck and victory in his mind.

"Captain Surak, glad to hear it. Your ships are clear to go on my watch. Task Force Two will be following up right behind you as soon as I hear word from the Vice Admiral. The fleet is depending on you now. Good hunting, and may the Forces of evil be with you."

Celchu slumped back on his chair as he tapped the flat rectangular button a second time to close the transmission. His lazy eyes rose to stare out into space, observing sections of his fleet ahead of him, forming to jump into hyperspace. Space was dark with the sun behind them, the silver and gray hulls of more than thirty warships lit up from the star. It was early morning on Dayark, the start of a new day, the start of a new battle.

[Khan Surak]

:: Khan exited the private room in his normal stride, and entered the large bridge deck with officers sprawling about in their attempt to complete their tasks. The OOD saluted and all others stopped what they were doing and saluted as well. Captain Surak motioned for them to continue, and it began again. The XO, a lanky pale young man, approached Khan and saluted ::

"Sir, Lieutenant Maryk has ordered me to inform you that the Black Ice is fully operational. Task Force Three is ready to depart!"

"Thank you. Return to your station. I have the conn."

:: Khan nodded to the man and he walked off. Several officers stopped and saluted as Khan made his way to the captain's chair and sat down. Confirming reports and acknowldeging various orders he waited until all the officers had returned to their stations ::

"Alright..helm, take us out.. all ahead 2/3rds. TF 3 is to follow in delta form like we practiced. Inform me when we reach the pre-set coordinates and we shall wait there for confirmation of the Vice Admiral's force."

: Khan watched out the viewport as the Crimson Storm began it's lumbering advance toward open space. The rest of Task Force Three sliced into the blackness, following in the Super Star Destroyer's wake ::

[Jyener Celchu]

"The last of Task Force Three has jumped into hyperspace Admiral!"

"Thank you, Captain.."

"The Death Fleet Space Force Reserves have regrouped and settled in with the fleet!"

"Thank you.."

Sometimes it all gave him a headache. Everyone around here liked to report the obvious. He wondered if there were any that actually did some thinking besides him, and were keeping their observations to themselves so the lackeys could do all the annoying. He wondered if there actually were some creative crew members onboard his ship, that deserved a higher position. Or maybe the officers were bored and needed something to report while they waited for the real thing. Oh well, he made a mental note to remind himself that he'd have to go through his crew sometime and pick out the weeds. If not that, let time tell who would prevail from this battle.

Like the captain had said, the slower warships of Task Force Three had finally completed the jump to lightspeed which was easily observable through the foward viewport. Gliding through space at an unimaginable speed, they then zipped off into the black void and disappeared from sight. Only a few more days, and the task force would arrive at its destination. Task Force Two was expected to follow right behind, leaving no time or space for delay or error.

[DF Security Force]

Security had been heightened to full alert on all levels. With two shipyards orbiting Dayark, and one that served as the birthplace of their allies flagship, her job was to enforce safety and protection. As director of security aboard the two massive construction facilities, she had just recently received new orders to double their efforts and be sure that nothing got through in the final days of TSE's masterpiece.

Only ten minutes ago she had witnessed the departure of Task Force Three, with Task Force Two ready to make the jump to lightspeed at the moment. Appearantly Task Force One was sticking behind to help guard the planet. She had nothing to complain about there, the massive warships of the task force spread a sense of security in the area, better than her and her people could do.

"Director! A dozen squads of mixed fighters appearing at the edge of the system!"

"Bring up more information and get back to me."

"Dispatch defense squadrons DFS1-I, II, and III?"

"No, Task Force One is closer to the target, they can handle it."

Curse the intruders. Only twelve squads, what did they plan to do with that? Hopefully the outer perimeter defenses could rid of the threat as soon as possible. According to the sensor sweep, 96 TIE Defenders and 48 unidentified craft were closing in fast.

[Jyener Celchu]

Coffee would be good about now. He had stayed awake for more than twenty four hours, just to see the initial stages of the operation he had worked so hard on. Unfortunately his attack group would not see the blood of battle this time around. Plans had changed for the hundredth time and once again they altered the scale of the attack and the strategies. If there was one good thing he could find out of this, it would mean less of his soldiers would die. He'd rather have two thirds of his fleet on the defensive rather than none. Intelligence revealed some threatening possibilities of what would happen after the attack took place. When the Admiral heard of this he almost immediately called off the launch of Task Forces One and Two to keep them home. It was all up to the brave men and women of Task Force Three now.

Jyener sighed as the thoughts scrambled through his head. He wanted this over with. He was tired of his men being severely crushed by the immensely huge fleets his enemies posessed.

"Admiral Celchu, sir. Dayark Shipyard One is reporting the arrival of a starfighter threat in the system."

The man making the report sounded near dead, giving away his signs of boredom and no concern. It was obvious to everyone that a few starfighters proved no match for the fleets assembled at Dayark. Jyener thought otherwise.

"I want full details stat. Send an analyis to my seat when finished. Anyone have a fix on their location?"

The crew members situated around the Admiral's command chair leaped into action at their control stations and carried out his orders. Within a minute statistics rolled onto the holographic screen displayed in front of Jyener.

"They arrived in the South Quadrent sir!"

"I see it. False alarm everybody."

A famaliar voice chirped in, "What was it Admiral?"

"Commander Varlon's fighters. The twelve squadrons that chased down Kanos' super star destroyer have returned."

"Ah, sucessful I presume?"

"Affirmative. Remind me to have new Instant Friendly-Foe transponders installed in those shipyards."

[Khan Surak]

:: The space surrounding Reecee was rather quiet and slow. Soon, however, that will all change. In a flash of brilliant white, 15 ships of war knifed through the darkness into realspace, in the middle of the wedge formation the Super Star Destroyer Crimson Storm . From the bridge deck of that behemoth the fate of this planet would be decided ::

"Sir, we have exited realspace and-"

"I know, Lieutenant! By the Sith, I'm not blind!" There has got to be something about Dayark and stating the obvious when it's completely unnecessary. Okay, it's miliary protocol but we're not the Empire, where subordinates have to report every bloody detail to their ignorant superiors "Alright, have the ships report in immediately."

"Sir, ISD Mk III Osprey , ISD Dragon's Pride I and Dragon's Pride II , DSD Dark Talon , Interdictors Black Ice and Black Cloud , Frigates Swift Fire I and Swiftfire II , Typhoons Panther and Atlas , and Hownders Protector, Guard, Fury, Grim and Defender have all reported in!"

"Very well.. assume planetary assault formation Wrath of Helios and have all ships begin sweeps of the area with their sensors. Hail the Osprey and Commander Hunter. Order him to take control of the Hownders and Typhoons.. he designed them, he should be best suited to use them. All pilots are prepped, so we shouldn't have anything get through to us."

[Varlon Konrad]

The returning wings of fighters pull a sharp turn as they head out towards their patrol route, each of which bearing fully charged shields and lasers. Aboard the commanding Super Star Destroyer, the Death Wind, Varlon Konrad watched as hoards of starfighters and capitol ships swarmed around the Dayark shipyards, a constant presence to the massive construct that was undergoing the finishing phases of construction.

A matter of days now, until the Apocalypse shall cut the very fabric of reality on its way out of this system. The knight thought to himself as a smirk blossomed on his face.

[Milom Sargast]

"Admiral Sargast." The ensign saluted as he entered Milom's office.

"At ease." The Admiral replied, taking the datapad that the subordinate officer handed him.

"Sir, urgent dispatch from Reecee. It appears that a hostile task force has entered the system."

The Admiral half-read the report, and half-listened to the Ensign.

"Reecee? Do we have any intelligence on this incursion?"

"Reports from the planet confirm elements of the Death Fleet involved in the assault."

Sargast raised an eyebrow. "Death Fleet? Are you positive?"

"The intel has been confirmed against NR records. Fifteen marks exited hyperspace corridors fifteen minutes ago."

Sargast stood up, punching a comm button on his desk.

"This is Admiral Sargast. Second Fleet, alert all commands. We have a hostile interdiction in the Reecee star system."

Sargast dismissed the ensign, and left his office, to board his flagship. He would soon be meeting with his command council on possible reprisal responses.

[Captain Hunter]

Steeping into the bridge of the Osprey Commander Hunter arrived just in time to see the maw of hyperspace disappear and becaome the dark coldness of space.
"Sir, all stations report maned and ready."
"Very good, Fighter Ops launch Alpha squadron and have them set up a screen around the ship in Delta formation. Communications get me Surak!"

[Khan Surak]

"Launch all twelve squadrons immediately, and have the other ships release their complete fighter force as well, except the Osprey and the ships under Hunter's command. I want all ships to raise shields now. Have Swift Fire I and II flank the Black Ice and Black Cloud. Order the interdictor's to power up their wells. All fighters launched are to form a screen around TF3. How far are we away from Reecee, what is the ETA?"

"Sir, ETA to Reecee at flank speed for all elements of our force, 4 minutes. We are 7 klicks away from the nearest enemy blip. IFF codes are coming through, we should have the elements of the Reecee Defense Force coming in shortly."

"Order all capital ships to follow the Osprey into battle at flank speed, while we catch up. Have our fighters join the rest of them as well."

"Captain, we are recieving a message from the Osprey!"

"Very, well.. communications, belay that order to tell him, I'll inform him myself... "

:: Khan rose from his seat and walked into the holoprojection room, with the table before him as officers scurried about, rushing to perform their tasks. The fighter screen would be able to sprint towards any target at a moment's notice. He reached forward and punched a small red button and the holoprojection came on, with a visage of Hunter ::

"Before you begin, I am going to give command of the Typhoons and Hounders over their C.O.s. to you. You had designed them so you are best suited to use them.. this will also test their abilities under fire, Commander.. use them wisely. I will report to the Admiral their effectiveness later on... so be shrewd. Also, because of the Crimson Storm's slower speed, you will lead TF3 into battle while we catch up, and our 12 squadrons will join you.. Now, what is it?"

[Captain Hunter]

:shootin
Glancing up at the holoprojection Hunter mearly smiled "Sir, my sensor sweeps have yet to pick up any NR ships but they could be on the far side of the plant. I request permission to jump to the otherside of the planet. This will pincer all of the units that could be hiding and help to divide their forces."

OOC: Where is Phoniex Wing

[Khan Surak]

"And how do you intend to do this, Commander? Jump the Osprey, Hounders, and Typhoons under the planet, or out of system and around? And don't be too hasty...we'll get readings on the entire force shortly."



OOC: Some NR person will provide the list of defenses and the like. I didn't know Phoenix Wing was with us..

[Captain Hunter]

"Sir I was planning to take a short hope towards the systems binary and then take another back to the other side of the planet. And I am not hasty it has just been to long since I batteled."

[Nayala Palain]

Athena watched as the Captain Surak barked out the orders for the Space Jocks as Athena called them. She was in the back of the area. Athena made sure she was not in the way of anything important. Soon although her and her specail opps team would be sent to the planet surface and then her work would get started. Right now her and her men are just in the way. Athena shook her head and waited. She knew that the moment they were needed Khan was going to start his normal yelling to find the general and make sure she was ready, This time she was ready and he was not.

Athena was in her normal combat clothes ready to leave once needed. Her natural Sith clothes that she wore most of the time were in her quarters.

[Khan Surak]

OOC: I have tried for several weeks to get ahold of an rper for the NR to plan this out. I have been unsuccesful and have decided to just see where it goes. If someone wants to contact me and we'll plan it out, that's great. sithlord_khan@hotmail.com
khann@worldnet.att.net

IC:

:: Khan's brow furrowed for a moment, and his eyes closed for several seconds. Silence inhabited the link, and several seconds later Khan opened his eyes and nodded to the holoprojection ::

"Very well, Commander. Take all the Hounders and the Atlas. Leave the Panther with me. Depart when you feel it is necessary, but only after that scan is finished and we know the composition of the enemy. Remember, this is the real field test for the Typhoons and Hounders. Don't fail me... good hunting. Surak out."

:: Khan ended the projection and turned on his heel out to the main bridge deck. Several officers saluted and the OOD marched up and saluted stiffly ::

OOD-"Sir, General Athena has arrived."

Khan-"I know, Lieutenant. Return to your normal duties. And get that damn scan finished."

:: The OOD marched away into the throng of scurrying officers and Khan strode easily towards Athena at the rear of the bridge. Once there he stood rigid beside her, looking out the main viewport with his hands clasped at the small of his back ::

"This is it, Athena... your troops are prepped?"

[Khan Surak]

:: As Khan spoke, Abel Kell - the stout young comm officer - finished decoding a short, 1 line message. He thought,"This is odd.. oh well, can't read it. Screw the authority! " as he marched briskly towards the Line Captain and Brigadier General conversing. The man saluted, handed the paper forward, and turned on his heel back towards his desk. Khan read it quickly and stared at the paper for a moment. The contents of the message disturbed him, however his face remained emotionless ::

Return to Dayark. All forces are ordered to return to Dayark. Leave now.

:: Khan looked up, and crumpled the paper in his fist. He looked forward at nothing, his mind racing and trying to comprehend this.Months of planning... so many resources.. why now? What could.... damn. Damn it all. He strode forward to his chair and stood in the middle of the bridge. Raising his voice he yelled ::

"Recall all fighters and ships! Turn us around... flank speed. Prepare to make the jump back to Dayark immediately. No questions. Order the Task Force to do the same. We leave on my mark!"

:: Most of the officers blinked for a few seconds, also not comprehending the order just given. The same thoughts that went through Khan's mind a few moments ago went through theirs as they got to work. Abel turned around in his seat and stared at the table for a moment. He had just decoded the message that no one wanted to hear. Methodically, he began hailing all TF3 ships and giving them the orders. Several captains questioned them, but Abel just reaffirmed his orders with harsh words and acknowledgements. All fighters returned to their hangars on their seperate ships, and the lumbering vessels of war turned about at flank speed and headed to the jump point. Several seconds later, the attack force pierced the fabric of space with the energy output most civilizations take millions of years to generate. Behind them rested Reecee, untouched and unharmed for now ::

[Kir Kanos]

Odd. A feint? Unlikely.

"Maintain long range sensor-sweeps," Kanos commanded with vibratory purr. A dutiful 'sir' replied.

The SSD Infliction hung in space only a microjump's distance away from the New Republic held Kuat. On a command, the monstrous battlewagon would leap in-system, bearing its very sharp, very deadly teeth.

Jeyner had something up his sleeve... and the one-time Imperial Royal Guardsman intended to call him on it.


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