Telan Desaria
Aug 27th, 2002, 11:48:15 PM
Two Years Ago - When the Vong Struck
Torool, the Char'dil System, Thyferra Sector
The IX Destroyer Squadron, 2nd Division, Thyferra Sector Fleet, had been docked for repairs for over a month. Since a border skirmish near Ord Cantrell with suspiciously well-armed raiders, the squadron's three Fire-class Frigates had required a complete refit, their hulls pock marked and laced with torpedo hits.
Captain Arimen had repoted the incident to command and been given the first open berth in the Sector repair yards.
Rumor had it that an entire battle group of four squadrons had been sent by Fleet Admiral Desaria to hunt down their base.
The Animosity, command Destroyer for the squadron, sat off the small orbital repair yards, with two Victory-class cousins and a Hammer-class Cruiser around it. What else remained had been gobbled up by the Reserve Deployment Group for the time being.
All told, Divisional Command's abrupt annexing of the squadron's support craft was not a bad thing, for a reserve squadron was put into the IX's place, though weaking the RDG.
" Captain, Yard Master Ventix is hailing you."
The Captain nodded, and a textual message was displayed on the hand hold of his command chair. He relayed the good news.
" Commander, the Frigate Nantanna is completed with repairs. She is being launched in an hour. The Mertille will roll out threed days from now. It appears we may be back in the line in a week."
" It's about damn time!" He saw the look of his captain, annoyed but humored. He quickly added," Sir."
* * *
The Frigate Natanna emerged from her moorings, large cables and gangways falling aside as the warship exposed itself to space once again. First her prow, then her mid section...
The ship never made it more than fifty meters out when the yard and her unshielded hull were buffeted by hundreds of missile-like organic projectiles. The yards erupted in chaos, beams and support structures torn apart by violent explosions. The Frigate was hit as well, her reactor quickly penetrated. Down she slid, colliding with the station then enveloping both Way Four and the
ship herself in a brilliant double conflagration.
Both other ships, unaware and defenseless, met the same fate. The cloud of debris left in their wake slowly expanded from all that remained of the thousand-meter yard complex, itself on the first leg of a graceful plummet into the planet below.
" Battlestations!"
" All batteries fire at will!"
" Deploy all TIEs!"
" Incoming!!!!"
Before the potent, yet dangerously unmaneuverable Destroyers could bring their broadsides to bear on their unprovoked attackers, dozens of Lancer-sized mobile rocks were among them, as well as hundreds of small, coral-grown fighters.
From the images flashed on the viewpanes and the ships whirring past the bridge, it was obvious as to their assailants' allegiance.
They were independent.
The were the Yuuzhan Vong.
* * *
Only two squadrons of TIE Defenders made it away from Torool in one piece. Their winged counterparts and larger carriers had been slagged before the pilots' very eyes. Before the engagement had been decided, over fifty large enemy ships were in the system, with dozens of smaller craft and thousands of deployed corralskippers.
While the Imperials had given more than they got, it was not enough against the numbers the Vong had arrived in.
There was another threat to be wary of now.
But the Empire would know.
The TIEs later arrived at the staging area of the Fifth Division, Flag flotilla of Sector Kommandant, Fleet Admiral Desaria.
Torool, the Char'dil System, Thyferra Sector
The IX Destroyer Squadron, 2nd Division, Thyferra Sector Fleet, had been docked for repairs for over a month. Since a border skirmish near Ord Cantrell with suspiciously well-armed raiders, the squadron's three Fire-class Frigates had required a complete refit, their hulls pock marked and laced with torpedo hits.
Captain Arimen had repoted the incident to command and been given the first open berth in the Sector repair yards.
Rumor had it that an entire battle group of four squadrons had been sent by Fleet Admiral Desaria to hunt down their base.
The Animosity, command Destroyer for the squadron, sat off the small orbital repair yards, with two Victory-class cousins and a Hammer-class Cruiser around it. What else remained had been gobbled up by the Reserve Deployment Group for the time being.
All told, Divisional Command's abrupt annexing of the squadron's support craft was not a bad thing, for a reserve squadron was put into the IX's place, though weaking the RDG.
" Captain, Yard Master Ventix is hailing you."
The Captain nodded, and a textual message was displayed on the hand hold of his command chair. He relayed the good news.
" Commander, the Frigate Nantanna is completed with repairs. She is being launched in an hour. The Mertille will roll out threed days from now. It appears we may be back in the line in a week."
" It's about damn time!" He saw the look of his captain, annoyed but humored. He quickly added," Sir."
* * *
The Frigate Natanna emerged from her moorings, large cables and gangways falling aside as the warship exposed itself to space once again. First her prow, then her mid section...
The ship never made it more than fifty meters out when the yard and her unshielded hull were buffeted by hundreds of missile-like organic projectiles. The yards erupted in chaos, beams and support structures torn apart by violent explosions. The Frigate was hit as well, her reactor quickly penetrated. Down she slid, colliding with the station then enveloping both Way Four and the
ship herself in a brilliant double conflagration.
Both other ships, unaware and defenseless, met the same fate. The cloud of debris left in their wake slowly expanded from all that remained of the thousand-meter yard complex, itself on the first leg of a graceful plummet into the planet below.
" Battlestations!"
" All batteries fire at will!"
" Deploy all TIEs!"
" Incoming!!!!"
Before the potent, yet dangerously unmaneuverable Destroyers could bring their broadsides to bear on their unprovoked attackers, dozens of Lancer-sized mobile rocks were among them, as well as hundreds of small, coral-grown fighters.
From the images flashed on the viewpanes and the ships whirring past the bridge, it was obvious as to their assailants' allegiance.
They were independent.
The were the Yuuzhan Vong.
* * *
Only two squadrons of TIE Defenders made it away from Torool in one piece. Their winged counterparts and larger carriers had been slagged before the pilots' very eyes. Before the engagement had been decided, over fifty large enemy ships were in the system, with dozens of smaller craft and thousands of deployed corralskippers.
While the Imperials had given more than they got, it was not enough against the numbers the Vong had arrived in.
There was another threat to be wary of now.
But the Empire would know.
The TIEs later arrived at the staging area of the Fifth Division, Flag flotilla of Sector Kommandant, Fleet Admiral Desaria.