Verahn Minn
May 26th, 2001, 11:20:13 PM
The M-90 Cruisers Hunter I and Hunter II sat side by side in the cold emptiness of space. The rest of the task force surrounded them in a still formation. Imperial II Star Destroyers Relentless and Contest, the Nebulon-G Destroyer Erias, and taking up the rear the most important ship in the operation -- the Interdictor Cruiser Restrain. All from the New Republic's First Fleet. They all patiently awaited in the hyperspace route between Corellia and Xyquine. The Restrain was just finished powering up its gravity well projectors.
Vice Admiral Verahn Minn, commander of the First Fleet, stood with his hands clasped behind his back on the bridge of Hunter I. He was proud of his new position and rank, and wanted to show his gratitude with a clean, successful mission.
What he wasn't proud of obediently hung in the hangar bays of his ship. The droid fighters. Thousands of them. He considered them pesky simple robots. In his mind, experience and instinct bet artificial intelligence in the long run, but they were cost effective and expendable. This took some of the burden off of his job, as long as they did theirs.
===
It had been several hours. Minn had wanted to be there early in order to get properly organized, and to be there in the case that the schedule of the target had been changed. The Restrain was keeping its gravity cone pointed straight out into space.
Minn walked across the steel catwalk to the main viewport and almost bumped his face peering out into the blackness. He jumped back as multiple roars filled his ears. He knew the target was here before the crewman even shouted.
"TSO weapons convoy has just entered the area! Sensors pick up four bulk freighters and a Gallofree transport, with eight TIE Advanced on the outside!"
The admiral shouted to the crew, "Launch ten fighter squadrons! Launch two bomber squadrons, but hold them back until those TIEs are cleared!"
It didn't take long for the quick and nimble droid ships to fly out of the hangar. By now the weapons convoy had figured out what was happening and was pushing their engines to the limit trying to get out of range. The TIE Advanced stayed close, but could see without looking at their sensor screens the dozens of fighters flying towards them at suicide speeds.
With the awesome reflexes of droids, the New Republic fighters swooped down under the convoy, and back up the middle and above. They swarmed around the TIE Advanced like ants, slicing through their shields and fuselage like a hot knife through butter. The starfighters hit last dropped their countermeasures, scorching and damaging their pursuing foes. One was able to swing around and fire a quad laser burst into the cluttered mix, then shoot off a single missile.
Minn watched the battle closely. The ordeal took out only two droids, and damaged a few more. The bombers were already moving at a slower pace towards the convoy. He half hoped they got out a call for help before their communications were eventually jammed.
Vice Admiral Verahn Minn, commander of the First Fleet, stood with his hands clasped behind his back on the bridge of Hunter I. He was proud of his new position and rank, and wanted to show his gratitude with a clean, successful mission.
What he wasn't proud of obediently hung in the hangar bays of his ship. The droid fighters. Thousands of them. He considered them pesky simple robots. In his mind, experience and instinct bet artificial intelligence in the long run, but they were cost effective and expendable. This took some of the burden off of his job, as long as they did theirs.
===
It had been several hours. Minn had wanted to be there early in order to get properly organized, and to be there in the case that the schedule of the target had been changed. The Restrain was keeping its gravity cone pointed straight out into space.
Minn walked across the steel catwalk to the main viewport and almost bumped his face peering out into the blackness. He jumped back as multiple roars filled his ears. He knew the target was here before the crewman even shouted.
"TSO weapons convoy has just entered the area! Sensors pick up four bulk freighters and a Gallofree transport, with eight TIE Advanced on the outside!"
The admiral shouted to the crew, "Launch ten fighter squadrons! Launch two bomber squadrons, but hold them back until those TIEs are cleared!"
It didn't take long for the quick and nimble droid ships to fly out of the hangar. By now the weapons convoy had figured out what was happening and was pushing their engines to the limit trying to get out of range. The TIE Advanced stayed close, but could see without looking at their sensor screens the dozens of fighters flying towards them at suicide speeds.
With the awesome reflexes of droids, the New Republic fighters swooped down under the convoy, and back up the middle and above. They swarmed around the TIE Advanced like ants, slicing through their shields and fuselage like a hot knife through butter. The starfighters hit last dropped their countermeasures, scorching and damaging their pursuing foes. One was able to swing around and fire a quad laser burst into the cluttered mix, then shoot off a single missile.
Minn watched the battle closely. The ordeal took out only two droids, and damaged a few more. The bombers were already moving at a slower pace towards the convoy. He half hoped they got out a call for help before their communications were eventually jammed.