Trumpets of Glory

[Khan Surak]

"Admiral Surak, we have confirmation from both Destroyer Groups, all warships are green."

"Good. Captain Ridgway, take us out."

"Aye, sir. Helm, 2/3rds ahead."

The Imperator Mk II Star Destroyer 'Kiyomori' lumbered forward with the other 5 ships of Destroyer Group One following in a delta formation. Destroyer Group Two advanced directly below DG1, also in Delta with the Impstar deuce 'Yoritomo' in the lead. Inbetween the two DGs, the modified IL-60 stardock 'Silver Arrow' carried Death Fleet's elite Phoenix Wing.

"Helm, all ships stand by.... Mark."

With that, 13 ships were heading towards Sluis Van, and a new future for Death Fleet.


OOC: We're starting the Sluis attack over. The last time kind of bunked out because of my absence.

Destroyer Group 1:
Imperator Mk II Star Destroyer- Kiyomori
Dominator Star Destroyer- Guderian
Vindicator Lt. Cruiser- Ryzhkov
Typhoon Carrier- Arashi
Hounder Gunship- Ieyasu
Hounder Ginship- Nagahide

Destroyer Group 2:
Imperator Mk II Star Destroyer- Yoritomo
Akula Missile Destroyer- Pertinax
Vindicator Lt. Cruiser- Kalinin
Typhoon Carrier- Hakaisha
Hounder Gunship- Kazumasu
Hounder Gunship- Nobuteru

Misc:
IL-60 Stardock- Silver Arrow

[Khan Surak]

A week later, their journey was complete..

"Captain, remove all warships from hyperspace, remain in formations."

"Yes, Admiral. Helm, upon my mark all warships shall drop out of hyperspace and revert to flank speed, remaining in their formations."

Captain Ridgway watched the blinking light on the console in front of the helm officer with a cool ease. The blinking stopped, and the invasion began.

"Mark."

As if conjured up by the mind of space itself, the task force appeared in the system with a flash of white brilliance. Cyan exuding from their engine arrays, they advanced towards Sluis Van.

"Comm, hail the Silver Arrow. Order them to release all their fighters and create a screen in front of the task force. The Silver Arrow shall halt after advancing 20 klicks towards the planet to provide support for the main force."

"Aye, sir.."

[Lady Vader]

*LV paced in the hangar, waiting for her orders to depart with her squadron. She'd breifed all the pilots on what the plan was, making sure they knew every detail intimately and could recite them backwards if need be.*

*Soon the order came, and she easily jumped into her advanced TIE Interceptor, ignoring the usual means of entering the ship.*

*Soon a screen of several ships were stationed in front of the task force, awaiting the next step in the attack on Sluis Van.*


(OOC: Soooooooo sorry, Khan. I'd forgotten about this. But I post now, thansk to your reminder of a PM. =) )

[The Enemy]

Surface Marshal Penrose was not one for subtlety. He had never seen combat, hadn't been trained at a military academy, and had spent most of his life reading reports and going to meetings. He and the Sluis Van Defense force were woefully unprepared for an engagment with more modern warships. They would do their best, however.

He had recieved a message from the Nebulon B2 Frigate Soyuz half an hour ago, and now he was standing on it's bridge, trying to get the meager defense force into high gear.

"Marshal, I'm picking up some smaller contacts. Confirmed multiple TIE series fighters. Distance 600 kilometers. Main enemy force 650 kilometers, inbound to our position."

Penrose thought for a moment. Knowing that the civilian Space Station would never be evacuated in time, he had to draw them away from it. The comm officer interrupted his thought.

"Sir, still no response from our hail."

"What was the message?"

"Remove yourself from the vicinity of Sluis Van or you will be fired upon."

"Idiot! We should've asked their intentions first. Now there's no chance for a peaceful way out of this."

The defense force that Sluis Van did have was never really trained.

"Damn you. Send to all commands..clear for battle. All warships will move forward and away from the space station." Penrose turned and spoke to his exec,"Sound general quarters."

The Sluissi opened up the ships' comm and yelled,"General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations."

Penrose barked out at the fighter station,"Scramble all squadrons when ready. Have them stick close to us." He turned and shouted at the helm officer,"Come left zero-five-zero, up seven!"

"Zero-five-zero, sir!"

"Ease helm and level off. Flank speed! To all commands: weapons free at 550 kilometers!"

The entire force was now careening directly towards the invaders as swarms of fighters emptied their bays. "So much for tactics," thought Penrose.

[Lady Vader]

*That did it. The enemy vessel was begining to launch it's fighters, and it was about this time she was given the go ahead to accelerate and engage.*

*Acknowledging the command, she switched over to the main channel for al fighter squadrons.*

All squadrons. Accelerate to attack speeds and engage. Don't let any of the ships slip through.

Enter into formation Alpha-Gamma.

*She then switched over to her own squadron's frequency, Phoenix Squadron.*

Listen up, Phoenix. We're gonna go i and go in hard. Leave the Y-Wings to the Skiprays. We go after the A- and X-Wings. Focus on the X-Wings first as they can potentially cause more damage to the capitol ships.

*As she spoke, the opposing squadrons were coming quickly into view.*

We have to punch a whole big enough for those Missle Boats to get through and knock out the shield generators for those captiol ships.

*And then the time for orders was over. Soon the squadron channels were full of battle sounds as both squadrons met in a furry of lazer fire and graceful twists, dives, and sudden turns.*

[Khan Surak]

"Admiral, I am detecting drive flares. Bogies are inbound to our position, closing fast. Fifteen capitol contacts, the rest are inbound enemy fighters. Phoenix Wing has moved to engage."

Khan nodded and spoke casually while looking over the holographic image display over the command table,"Excellent. Have all Hounders advance to the sides of the battle to protect Phoenix Wing,". Khan crossed his arms across his uniform and said,"Fighter command, have all friendly ships release their Skiprays and engage enemy support craft. Also, have our Typhoons launch their swarms.. the Hakaisha's Missile Boats will go into a holding pattern near us until ordered otherwise. Message to the fleet: Weapons free. Fire at will. Break and engage."

Echoes of acknowledgments rang through the bridge as the orders were followed. The two Star Destroyers, Kiyomori and Yoritomo, were lumbering side by side towards the main battle as the other warships of Death Fleet were manuevering themselves. The Vindicator cruiser Kalinin was sticking close to the Akula Missle destroyer Pertinax as it advanced towards the enemies' left flank from the advantageous point where it had come out of hyperspace.

The other Vindicator, the Ryzhkov, was heading below and ahead of the fighter battle mainly unnoticed so it could begin to deliver volleys to the undersides of the enemy ships. The Dominator Guderian held position above the battle with the two Typhoon carriers who were launching their swarms of fighters. The Hounder gunships accelerated as fast as they could to the swarm of fighters in front of them.

Most of the friendly warships had released all their fighters, and the enemy's -wings were getting cut up in the trap that was now encircling them.

[The Enemy]

The Soyuz raged forward, directly towards the fighter swarms that were now engaged in combat. The two Strike Cruisers, the Tenret and Voleb, came behind on the flanks of the Soyuz and thus made a delta formation.

Penrose shouted,"Have our four corvettes engage those gunships on the sides of the fighter battle... tell Line Captain
Edom to take care of that Vindicator coming up below us! Uhh, get that Quasar Carrier to ah.. to engage those fighters incoming above us." The crew carried out thier orders, yet they became worried about Penrose's condition. His voice was quivering slightly.


Aboard the Dreadnaught L'trope, Line Captain Edom recieved a message. He was in command of the three Dreadnaughts the SVDF had in their small force. They were slower than most of the ships and were lagging behind.

"All right, have all Dreads lower their nose zero-seven-zero, full speed ahead. Open fire upon that light cruiser down there.." Edom checked the id tag of the ship,"Ah.. the Ryzhkov. Get those three squadrons from the bloody space station to cover our backs."

"Zero-seven-zero, aye."

"Yes, sir."

The three Dreads were in line abreast formation and were now cruising below the main battle towards the Vindicator Lt. Cruiser. Three A-9 Vigiliance squadrons were now begining to leave the near-empty civilian station towards their friendly fleet.



"Sir, Line Captain Edom is moving to intercept."

"Good, great. Okay, now then... uhh... Get our Marauders and Corellian Gunships to attack those two ships coming in on our left. Continue on course and speed... Wait! No.. uhh lower our nose zero-five-zero to get under the fighter screen and under the bellies of those ImpStar deuces."

"Zero-five-zero, aye."

Now they were really worried. The Strike cruisers followed suit, and the three warships slipped under the fighter screen and towards the underbellies of the Imperators.

[Khan Surak]

"Admiral, three enemy warships are cruising below the fighter screen inbound to our position. A Nebulon B2 Frigate and two Strike Cruisers."

Khan nodded for a moment before declaring,"Order the Guderian to take position above us. Lower both Star Destroyer's noses five degrees and give me a 180 spin on our horizontal axis. And get those Missile Boats on torpedo runs against those Dreadnaughts. Order Phoenix Wing to disengage from the fighter screen and escort them against those incoming A-9s. Have two wings of TIE Defenders from the Typhoons compensate in the screen."

"Yes, sir."

Khan's orders would have the two Star Destroyers "upside down" from the rest of the fleet, so the bulk of their weapons could be brought to bear against the Nebulon and the Strike cruisers. The Dominator Guderian would take position above them in case of another attack.

Meanwhile, the Akula Missile Destroyer Pertinax was firing volley after volley of advanced torpedos at the SVDF Marauders and Corellian Gunships that were vainly attempting to halt the advance of the two warships. The Vindicator Kalinin was aiding with it's own guns.

One Marauder, after being hit with a broadside from the Kalinin, rolled onto it's left side and drifted without course, flames inside visible exuding from gaping wounds in it's armor.

The two Typhoons had released all their fighters and were now cruising towards a Quasar Fire Carrier sent up to intercept them. The Carrier had launched it's swarm of fighters, and they were now dogfighting with the TIEs the Typhoon's had released. Both Typhoons opened up with their guns upon the smaller carrier, and it could do little to defend itself.

The Vindicator Ryzhkov was in slight trouble, with three Dreadnaughts cruising towards it. However the Captain recieved word of the incoming Missile Boats, and continued on course towards the three enemy vessels.

[Lady Vader]

*LV flew through a disipating cloud of flame where an A-Wing had once been, immediately falling on the tail of a passing X-Wing. The comm was cluttered with the chatter from the various flight groups, each member of Phoenix squadron keeping the other alive.*

*As it was, they'd already lost a few fighters, not from Phoenix ing, but from the other flight group. One had gone evac, while two others had lost their lives.*

*As much as she enjoyed flying in battle, she hated the losses, regardless of how minute they were.*

*Her comm beeped indicating she had an incoming call to her frequency. Lowering the volume for the general channel, she answered it. It was Phoenix 5.*

Phoenix 5: Commander, we've got a hole punched through their fighter defenses on grid 9. The missle boats are moving in for their attack runs on those capitol ships engines and shield generators.

*She smiled, throwing her ship into a dive after the X-Wing she was pursuing.*

Good job, Five. Take your flight and see that those missle boats make it through alright.

*She received a double click indicating the order had been received, and then switched over to the comm channel for the skip rays.*

Captain, have your skips finish off those Y-Wings. It's getting to be a job taking out not only the fighters, but incoming missle through our defenses.

Skip Ray Captain: On it.

*She then switched her comm channel yet again to speak with her commanding officer, at the same time throwing volley after volley of green laser fire into the X-Wing's engines. Talk about multi-tasking.*

Admiral, I have been informed flight two of Phoenix Wing has successfully punched a hole through grid 9 in the enemies defenses. The missle boats are making their run for capitol ships engines and shields.

*The X-Wing was beginning to slow down as it's engines began to fail, but the pilot was dumping everything he could into the shields, making it nearly impossible to make a killing blow. Tiring of this game, LV switched to her missles and let one fly before it even locked on. With the close proximity to the ship, the missle flew straight and smacked into the X-Qing, finally colapsing it's shields and overloading it's engines. She twisted her ship away as the ship exploded brilliantly, again on the hunt for any other enemy fighters in her vicinity.*

[The Enemy]

The captains of the SVDF fleet knew that they could not win in space, but that if they could destroy enough enemy vessels along with them, the ground forces would have an easier time repelling or resisting the invaders. They all recognized the situation, and acted accordingly.

Penrose began raving,"Gunnery! Open fire on the bridges of those Star Destroyers! Order the two cruisers to break formation and do the same!"

"Understood, sir."

"Give me an update on the battle."

"Sir, the Quasar Carrier has lost shields against the two enemy carriers. Taking heavy fire. It's fighters are taking heavy losses.

"The Gunship-Corvette force has lost two gunships and one corvette. Invaders have taken minor shield damage.

"Our fighters wings are taking heavy losses against the enemy fighter screen. None have penetrated through to their Star Destroyers.

"Our three Dreadnaughts are running green against the enemy cruiser. Enemy cruiser's shields are dropping rapidly. Dread force has taken minor shield damage. Line Captain Edom has expressed concern about incoming enemy fighters. Has called in A-9s from Space Station."

"Has he gotten a positive id on the fighters?"

"Yes sir.. Missile Boats and TIE series fighters."

"MISSILE BOATS?! Sithspit! Ah....uh.. Message to Edom: Tell him to hold out as long as he can... uh... and TAKE OUT THAT CRUISER!"

"Ah, okay sir."

Penrose was losing it."Hard starboard, flank speed! All port batteries fire at their bridges as you bear!"

As the massive Frigate swung to the right, it shuddered with the release of a devestating broadside volley from all it's port batteries, with green bolts of energy zeroing in on the bridges of the Star Destroyers. A cowardly, yet effective tactic.

The two Strike cruisers broke formation and sped away in different directions, all available guns firing at the bridges of the Star Destroyers as the the Imperators themselves fired the bulk of their guns at all three warships, dropping shields and disabling systems.


Line Capt. Edom heard the message from his comm officer. He always knew Penrose as an eccentric man. He never though he'd last this long anyway. He said,"Gunnery, concentrate all Dreads fire upon his nose. Release fighter reserves against those incoming bogies."

"Understood.. ah, sir.. Quasar Fire Carrier Lacedaemon is about to be destroyed. Lifepods launching."

Edom sighed and said,"Dispatch two tugs to haul any lifepods back to the planet."

"Yes, sir."

[Khan Surak]

The Typhoons began to speed through the debris and lifepods that were all that was left of the Quasar Carrier. They rotated and began heading towards two Imperators and the three enemy warships to aid them.

The lone Vindicator Ryzhkov was now in serious trouble. The three Dreadnaughts had pounded the nose of the Cruiser and had dropped it's shields strength dramatically. The Captain of the Ryzhkov became anxious for the arrival of the Missile Boats, as he ordered evasive manuevers for the quicker Lt. Cruiser. Minor amounts of shield damage had been dealt to all three Dreadnaughts.

The Akula Missile Destroyer Pertinax and the Vindicator cruiser Kalinin had decimated the enemy Gunship/Corvette force sent against them. The devestating volleys from the Missile Destroyer pounded the relatively weaker vessels into space dust. Of the four gunships and six corvettes sent, two gunships and four corvettes were surviving, but just barely. And, just barely, they had weakened the shields of the Vindicator Kalinin so that gaps in the shields coverage began popping up. With their more nimble ships, they had began exploiting the gaps around the engine assembly and had make several runs against the cruiser.

Aboard the Imperator mk II Kiyomori, things were under control.

"How are shields holding up?"

"Bridge shields are at 83%, dropping steadily, Admiral."

"Take 15% from aft shields and reroute to bridge shields. Gunnery, increase forward battery firepower."

"Understood, sir."

"FiCom, report!"

"Sir, fighter screen is holding up easily against enemy bogies. Elements of Phoenix Wing are escorting the Missile Boats to the Dreadnaughts. All commands are holding up."

Khan smiled and said grimly,"Excellent. Continue as ordered. Message to the Fleet: Prepare ground forces for assault."

[Lady Vader]

*She heard the message go over the fleet channel that they were preparing for ground assault. Good. That meant they'd broken through.*

*She watched as the missle boats went about their business, completing the disable of one of the enemy ships. It began to spark and drift as the missle boats went for their next target.*

*By now the enemy fighters were diminished in numbers, and she flipped a switch to the general command channel for the fighters.*

Phoenix Wing, form up on me. The rest of you finish off those fighters.

*She then switched to Phoenox Wing's command channel.*

Phoenix's, load up what torps you have left. We're going after that Frigate. Accelerate to maximum speed. With us goign that fast, they won't be able to hit us.

*The ships began forming up on LV's, each within it's wing, each with 2 to 4 torps and/or missle each. he herself only had 3 missles left as she had used one already.*

Once we're within spitting range, I want all missles and torps concentrated on the bridge. It'll be a help to our capitol ships in taking it out.

*She got confirming clicks from her squad mates, their ships speeding towards their target. soon they were in a jungle of red lazer fire, but their maneuverable ships allowed them to get by. She kept the channel open.*

Almoooost there...

*Phoenix 7 took a glancing blow from a wild lazer bolt, but it didn't apear to lessen it's speed.*

Just a few more klicks...

*Through the Force, she could feel the anticipation from the squadron, each one itching to hit the trigger.*

FIRE!!!

*Several tiny pin pricks glowed to life and sailed faster then they were going towards the bridge of the frigate. A few detonated as some wild lazer fire hit or glanced them, but the majority got through. soon the bridge blossomed into a firey flower, tiny fires errupting about it's hull. Though the bridge still stood, it was evident the shields in that area had either been depleated considerably, or gone completely. Now it was up to the Star Destroyers.*

Phoenix's, peel back and target whatever you want. Star taking out gunnery ports and shield generators at your convinience.

*Within moments, the fast maneuverable ships were buzzing around the large frigate like insects, stinging it with lazers, destroying gun ports and anything that was easily destroyed.*

[The Enemy]

"... 57% losses! wait.. INCOMING!!!"

"COUNTERMEASURES!! INCREASE FORWARD SHIELD OUTPUT!!SHOOT 'EM DOWN, DAMN YOU!!"

It was not enough. The torpedoes impacted against the Frigate's meager shields and the last few from the volley broke through and slammed into the armored hull surrounding the bridge.

Several command stations erupted, setting aflame their screaming officers. The bridge lights blinked on and off sporadically, as a loud rumble shook the entire ship. Sparks flew from all directions. Curses, and random yelling from those who survived filtered through the noise. In the flickering darkness, the crew wondered if their commanding officer was still alive.

"REPORT!!"

what's it take, huh?

"Sir, forward shields are down!*cough* We have casualties and injured on bridge and surrounding decks. Life support is damaged... Hull breaches one deck below us! Steering mechanisms offline, damage is irreparable."

"What was our heading when the torps hit?!"

"Uh... we were on a course toward the Kiyomori."

"WHAT?! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE, YOU FOOL!"

"Sir, the damage is extensive. We'd need to replace the system! It's impossible to change course!"

Another dull explosion rocked the ship and the lights continued to flicker as the officers argued.

From space, flames were visible through the breaches in the ships' hull, though they quickly died when in contact with space. The frigate was on a collision course with the Kiyomori, and was listing badly to port, but not enough to avoid the collision.


Meanwhile, aboard the L'trope,Edom had his hands full with the Missile Boats.

"Sir, the enemy missile boats have disabled the Jaslin. Life pods are launching. They are beginning torpedo runs on the Zarfay!"

"What the hell are those A-9s doing?!"

"Taking heavy losses against the enemy fighters. They are unable to stop the Missile boats."

"Blast. What is the status of that enemy cruiser?"

"Forward shields down. Enacting evasionary tactics below us."

"Continue assault on it. Increase battery fire by 10%."

"Yes, sir."

The L'trope nosed downward to destroy the Ryzhkov, it's batteries hammering the weakened shields as the cruiser attempted to evade, offering little return fire.

"SIR! The Soyuz has a hull breach below it's bridge!. Fires visible. It's on a collision course with an enemy Star Destroyer!"

"By the gods.. it is lost. Message to ground command:.. prepare for assault. Soyuz destroyed. Penrose is dead. Will hold as long as possible. Good luck."

"Sending, sir."

The hopelessness of the situation had longed dawned upon them. Only then did they set it behind them, and did what they had to do.

[Khan Surak]

"Ah, sir.. Phoenix wing made a torpedo run against the Frigate. Hullbreach below it's bridge deck... it's closing towards our bridge awful fast."

Khan's eyes widened for a moment before he shouted orders,"Pivot amidships! Bring our nose ninety degrees left. Message to the Yoritomo: "Be advised. Dangerous manuever. avoid.""

"Yes, sir, immediately, sir."

The massive Star Destroyer pivoted on an imaginary vertical line in the middle of the ship, bringing the bridge out of the path of the crippled Frigate. The Yoritomo accelerated away, chasing after the two Strike cruisers along with Phoenix Wing. The burning frigate passed beneath the Kiyomori, and out away from the battle. A final port broadside volley from the Star destroyer put an end to the frigate. The blasts hit the engine assembly and slagged it. The massive explosions ran up the length of the ship, finally consuming the nose of the stricken frigate in space-faring flame. It quickly subsided, and debris floated.

"Flip us rightside up. Flank speed towards the dreadnaughts."

"Aye, sir."


The gunship/corvette force that had engaged the Vindicator and the Missile destroyer had been eliminated. The Quasar Fire carrier had been eliminated. The Strike cruisers were being hunted down, and two dreadnaughts were all that were left. Inside the bellies of the DF warships, soldiers prepared for the ground assault.

[Lady Vader]

*The damage to the frigate was more than LV could have hoped for. But she hadn't anticipated it's maneuvering thrusters to go haywire and lock into position heading towards their lead Destroyer. She knew the Admiral could take care of his ship, and knew whatever force he used, her squad should be clear of the path of destruction.*

Phoenix's, peel back from the frigate. Leave it to the big guys to finish off.

*She received acknowledgments from her squadron as the ships began to peel back away from their runs against the frigate.*

Pick off whatever scattered fighters you can find. Split into wings.

*Receiving double clicks from her ships, she herself turned to port, angling towards a pair of enemy ships, one Y-wing, and one limping X-Wing. She and her wing mate went to work on obliterating the tw and finsing whatever else they could destroy.*

*As for the rest of the battle in space, it was almost complete. Soon, the ground assault would begin.*

[The Enemy]

"Sir, we're it! Strike Cruisers Tenret and Voleb are being pursued by an enemy Star Destroyer.. sir, they're surrendering."

"Oh, damn.. I can't blame them."

The L'trope and Zarfay were the only two SVDF warships left, and the Zarfay was taking heavy damage from various enemy warships and missile boats. The stricken enemy Cruiser Ryzhkov was now limping away from the L'trope, towards an incoming enemy Star Destoyer.

Edom looked about the bridge, wondering what his crew were thinking now. They couldn't hyper out, the enemy Dominator was seeing to that. It was either surrender or be destroyed. The Strike Cruisers had already made their choice. What would be theirs?

Time elapsed as he was thinking. Too much time.

"Sir! The Zarfay has surrendered. All enemy ships are closing on us."

"Well.. perhaps we can get away with something before we go. Helm, flank speed towards that incoming Star Destroyer. Weapons free."

Edom was a bit annoyed that the Zarfay had surrendered without his command. He would try one last thing. He was, after all, the last resistance to these invaders.

Why had they come here? Why did they have to ruin our lives?. He fell deathly silent. It was all over. Time to adapt.

"Helm.... belay that order. Drop shields.. divert power from guns to life support. All stop... message to the enemy: The Dreadnaught L'trope submits unconditional surrender to you," he said tiredly.

The bridge officers nodded and carried out their orders. The Sluissi were not a violent race. They understood their captain's orders. None of them wished to die like this. Now it was up the their comrades on the ground.

[Khan Surak]

"Sir, the enemy Dreadnaught L'trope has surrendered."

Khan nodded and said,"Very well. Message to the fleet: Board all remaining SVDF ships and have all Sluissi crews be put aboard the Silver Arrow. Give them proper medical attention and enact standard prisoner procedures. Begin final preperations for ground assault."

"Yes, sir!" the officer said elatedly.

Khan sat back in his chair."Now then.. we'll see how our new divisions hold up," he thought. "Give Phoenix Wing my discretionary order. They may escort the barges and transports to the surface and give air cover for the ground campaign, or return to the Silver Arrow for some R&R."

"Immediately, sir."

The bridge screw were happy the space battle was over. Now their mud-stomper comrades would finish the job. All in all, DF had captured two functional dreadnaughts, one crippled dreadnaught, and two functional strike cruisers. "Not bad.. we only lost a wing of fighters or so. Oh, yes.. some casualties on the Ryzhkov..," Khan thought.


"One more thing...get me the commander of the lead Dreadnaught."

[Lady Vader]

*And that, as they say, is that. The last enemy ship in space surrendered, ending the battle in the cold of space, but not finishing the war. They still had the ground assaults to deal with.*

*LV pulled back on the yoke of her fighter, flipping the comm for Phoenix wing and the other fighters and missle boats in her command.*

Regroup. Gather what evac pilots you can find, dead or alive.

All save for Phoenix wing are free to go back to Silver Arrow for some R&R, as ordered by the Admiral.

Phoenix's, each wing will escort a transport through the planet's atmosphere and give any air cover from ground cannons.

*She received confirmations from the various pilots. Phoenix wing regrouped towards her fighter, while the rest made for the Silver Arrow or hunted down evac pilots.*

*Once she had Phoneix wing around her, she ordered the various wings to escort different transports down to the planet. She'd see to it the troops got planet side safely.*

[The Enemy]

"Now guys.. don't try anything. They might just want to stop for some gas."

That brought laughs from the bridge crew several minutes before the boarding parties landed. That was 3 hours ago.

Now no one was laughing aboard the transport as Line Captain Edom lay on the ground barely recognizable, a blaster bolt having sizzled off his face. Several moments before he had lunged at the lead guard of the shuttle much to the surprise of the command crew in stun cuffs around them. He had easily been subdued, and executed.

Silence was never louder to the prisoners.


On-planet, things didn't look so bleak. First Consul Sh'kul had been evacuating the cities, laying many various traps for the invaders, and basically doing everything to buy some time. Sluis Van had a very large population, and millions of Sluissi civilians had been conscripted in the day or so since the invaders arriving in-system. Their conscripted force for the entire planet came to 18 million. The Sluissi's regular army had about 2,500,000 standard troops. However, all these troops were vastly different from the DF forces in one medium. The Sluissi utilized projectile weapons.

The vast majority of the regular force did employ low-grade blasters, but their armored forces, artillery, anti-aircraft, and conscripts all had slug-throwers, shells, and flak canons.

The planet's crust had a toplayer of soil that was very nutritious to the Sluissis, and their slug-like tails had adapted to move swiftly over the soil, and that was why they had retained their eel-like shape. The Sluissi body was outlined with a soft-fin like jutting on their skin. Their face did not resemble a humans in the slightest, as their elongated nose, hairless body, and black eyes would argue.

Sh'kul had the responsabilty to defend the planet. The space battle had bought him time enough to make the enemies' advance less than fast. Now he waited.