Storm on the Horizon

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Jalkova Leyard stood proudly on the bridge of the first Federal Gunship Crimson Thirst. A thin, white beard lined the lower portion of his powerful jaw, the Admiral’s face was pale, his eyes were cold and cast out on the expanses that lay before his vessel. The man’s posture was perfect, his body squared, and elderly muscles tight under his black, impeccable uniform.

His voice boomed as he spoke, “Officer Tsune, notify our escort that we will be making the jump to hyperspace shortly, provide them with our coordinates. Mr. Feyrey, bring the reactors to full power, initiate stirs, check the interlinking mainframe.” The veteran of many wars, Admiral Leyard was a decorated Federal officer. Only recently had he been assigned to the testing of new vessels, a sign that he was aging beyond what most would consider acceptable for a military man.

The brilliant strategist had won campaigns that others thought impossible, laid waste to countless foes. Now he found himself on the bridge of a test ship, far behind a literal wall of Imperial vessels. Soon that would change. This jump would bring him deep within territory that hadn’t been surveyed for a prolonged period of time. The objective was to test the new drives of the Crimson Thirst; however, Leyard prayed for a situation to arise that would allow him to show he was still useful.

The only comfort to the once praised Admiral was that he had been allowed to select his crew. Each officer onboard had served under Leyard in his countless battles, they weren’t the green, pitiful military people that filled up the ranks of other navies, they were experienced and skilled Federacy men and women. Even the fighters escorting the Crimson Thirst were renowned, they were part of the infamous Black Thorn squadron.

Six pinpricks shot in front of the bow of the massive 375-meter Federal Gunship. The TIE Executioners vanished and a sudden jerk sent the new vessel following after them. The hyperspace jump had been achieved.

[Telan Desaria]

" Togoria."


The name hung the in the air some fantastically lighy painting, one made of only colour that spoke so many words with so little effort. Togoria was not a person, though, it was a world. The name itself sounded ominous when spoekn of the human tongue, even more so when one looked at the content hidden underneath.


" That is correct, my Lord."


Colonel Viscount William de'Bois stood in the sahdows of his master's conference room. Unlike the commander of other sector fleets within the gradually expanding Empire - what others termed the Sovereignty - Admiral Zacariah Makarov inspired not only respect from his subordinates, but fear. Men like Grand Admiral Desaria had been charge through hoardes to stand next to him - - Admiral Makarov sent men scurrying through the depths of hell in the opposite direction. His orders were obeyed or the Gods' eternal grasp become the least of the offender's worries.


" That is dangerously close to Onderon, a current Federacy position. You are sure it will be unescorted."


" I have received confirmation of the code from High Command on Thyferra as well as the Intelligence Enclave on Eriadu. The message is authentic, so its wording must be as well."


Makarov chewed on that for a moment, his Intelligence staff officer a wise man of forty years but little bravado. When he spoke his mind in such long phrases, he was assured of the words he spoke. Makarov had learned long ago if de'Bois
believed what he said, then he was right.


" What do we have in that area, or anywhere near?"


de'Bois checked the pad from which he had read his report. " The Victory IV-class Star Destroyer Seranor is on exercise off Umbria and could be at these coordinates within the next three hours."


" Is she fully armed and operational?"


" She is combat ready, my Lord."


" Send her in. Destroy that ship."


And so the commander of the Mayagil Sector Fleet had committed one of his own ships to war with a vessel of the Imperial Federacy. No doubt High Command would disapprove, but they would be too late to stop him...

[Khendon Sevon]

The main screens on the bridge switched from an external camera view to a model of the galaxy. Planets swept by, stars moved like so many bits of dust. A single planet fell under the scrutinizing eyes of Admiral Leyard. “Status report,” demanded the Admiral, his voice as clear and powerful as a preacher. The crew looked on at him as if they were his chore, divinely assigned to carry forth his orders.

“Sir,” said one of the many staff members, “The pulse drive’s suspension field and energy shielding is holding steady. We’ve just broken a speed record.” A slight smile crossed the man’s face as he said this.

“Bravo,” said Leyard softly, his eyes twinkling in the dim light of the bridge, “when this mission’s over, the drink are on me.” Mouths spread in protest but he narrowed his eyes, set his jaw, and squared his shoulders. The officers smiled and a few gave conceding nods.

Admiral Leyard ran one wrinkled and arthritis damaged hand over his neat uniform then sat in his command chair. He idly accessed the ship designs, looked at her powerful silhouette. The Federal Gunship design was an extreme movement away from traditional thinking. She had the fastest drives of any ship her size to date, for both real space and hyperspace. Not only was she amazingly swift, but also deadly.

Leyard’s meditation was broken as a pulsing sound swept its way across the bridge, “Sir,” began the helm officer, “we’ve reached our destination, drives deactivating in 3… 2…” The count down was never finished.

Somewhere on the ship sparks erupted from a control conduit. Cooling veins ruptured, crystals melted. Plasma vented from overheated propulsion jets, negative matter valves instantly sealed. A rumble like the battling of gods, the sounding of cannons flew through the corridors, up turbolift shafts, through vents, and made its way onto the bridge.

“REPORT!” Commanded the Admiral.

“Sir!” shouted an officer over the noise, “the pulse drive’s buffer has collapsed! We’re loosing coolant pressure to the drive, we’ve reverted, but--” the technical officer processed the data his neural cognition chip was receiving, “The drive is fried.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means we’re here, we’ve made it to the system… but we can’t get back.”

[Telan Desaria]

Captain Lirris literally twirled with satisfaction. He was alone, of course, deep inside his aft-bridge officer mounted on a swivel chair behind his desk, far from the prying eyes of his crew as he read and re read the orders from Sector Fleet Command. He knew that originally practicing maneuvers this far out in deep space, so far from Sovereign borders had had no real purpose other than to stretch out a recently refitted ship's engines, but now it seemed as if the Gods had smiled on the Empire. They were to hunt, and then destroy, one of the newest additions to an enemy fleet.


When he had regained the regal composure with which all Destroyer captains conducted himself, Baronet Lirris returned to the bridge proper, informed his executive officer of the glorious days to come, and made best speed for Togoria's outskirts.



Three Hours Later...



" Give me a complete system scan, Lieutenant Ardil. Make every segment of this space accustomed to our equipment. Leave no stone un-turned, as it were."


" Aye, sir."


" Helm-"


" Sir!" said the lanky but wholly competent officer in charge of the ship's movement section. His click of his heels was unrivaled in its force in all the bridge.


" - Make for the outer-most planet of the system. It has rings and eighteen moons, that sounds like as good a place to hide as any."

[Khendon Sevon]

Leyard furrowed his brow and looked around the bridge. This was the type of situation he excelled at. The Admiral stood, shoulders straight, chest proud, eyes full of authority. “Give me a secure line with Black Thorn squadron’s leader.”

“Done,” said a random officer.

“Admiral,” said the voice of Major Danner, “what seems to be the matter? You came out a full twenty kilometers behind the coordinates?”

“We’ve had a slight complication, Major. It would appear that we’ve taken damage in the jump, our hyperdrives are inoperable.”

“I see.”

“Major, we’re going to need a place to stay while we attempt to make repairs. I’ll be sending a distress sig—“

“Sir,” said one of the myriad officers, “we don’t have long range communications, they shorted when a burst of static electricity was dispersed in the rear of the vessel. Insolated bulkhead doors fell in time to prevent further damage to the ship; however, we won’t be making a call home for some time.”

The Admiral stroked his chin, “this isn’t good. It’ll take several hours to have a vessel report back to command, and the nearest relay station is too far out of the way. Major, we’ll be sending a message buoy, I want you to recon en force the area, use discretion and make sure your vessels have their stealth systems fully enabled.”

“As you command, Admiral, I’ll send two fighters to do it right away. Thank you for apprising me of your situation. Danner out.” With that two TIE Executioner MKIV’s broke from the formation of six craft and began heading out, barely even noticeable on the Federal ship’s sensors.

[Telan Desaria]

The concealed excitement Captain Lirris had possessed only an hour before had faded considerably. A Victory IV-class Star Destroyer was equipped with the most sophsiticated sensor suite in the Empire - under a Shroud, of course - but even that took time to scan a system for a ship the likes of whose designation and design were alien to the lookers.


Who watches the watchers? Lirris thought.


" Captain, can I trouble you for a moment?"


Lirris shook himself from his now rather honed sense of ennui and moved over in the crewpit to where his first officer stood. Three scanner-technicians sat quietly at their displays below him, their own officer conversing with Lieutenant Commander Formmin.


" What is it?" asked Lirris, moving over to behind the seated techs.


Formmin pointed to the nearest display, showing a real-holo of the planet their were growing ever close to. " This."


Lirris peered into the display but could see nothing. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if a lack of sleep was getting the better of him, and squinted. Still, he saw nothing. " What?"


" Two small objects moving away from the planet. They could be asteroids."


" You can't be sure?"


" Unusual dolomite deposits in the rock is throwing our scanners for a loop. I can't be sure, and I can't be sure they're not fighters, maybe Devils."


" Hmm." The Captain pursed his lips, and before turning aft to return to the primary level of the bridge, dispatched his orders. " Deploy one of the Mk. III Defender Squadrons, have them sweep the interior. Then we move on to the next world in line."

[Khendon Sevon]

“Charge sub light engines, activate the primary scanning suit. I want a PBB sweep of the entire sector,” spoke Leyard calmly. He had to be placid. If he showed that he had trepidations, it would seep like a virus in water to each and every member on the primary bridge.

The titan engines lit up a brilliant blue and subsided just as quickly, suppressors activating. The Crimson Thirst was propelled forward nearly instantly, her escort fighters falling in along side. “Initiate shield activation sequencing, begin charging the primary densa-cannon.”

Several officers looked up and nodded. Leyard would take no chances.


*********

The duo of TIE Executioners sprinted forward with wings of ionization. They flew close together, each pilot in a state of semi-consciousness, barely able to move their hands, but aptly able to control their minds. “Krell, you see that on your scanners?”

“Yeah, Trix, let’s check it out, could be a ship.”

“Roger that, charging shields, suggest you do the same.”

“Agreed, hey, I get to lead this time, o.k.?”

“Deal. This place and situation freaks me out.”

[Telan Desaria]

" Raise shields and deploy Squadrons II and III, but keep them back in picket positions. If I had to hide, it would be right there."


Many of the bridge officers began praying to whatever gods they believed in, for many knew or perhaps they could smell the churning neurons of their commanders, that battle would be joined.


***


The TIE Defender had proven a loyal servent of the Empire since its inception during the raids of the Thrawn the Great forty-five years ago. Two children had been raised by it, the Mark II, and then the Mark III, along with a whole bastard family of variants from mine sweepers to missile boats. They were good craft, sure enough, the most modern thing the Empire could field. Retaining a pair of light laser cannon their had long shirked the ion pair for a very light turbolaser, affectionately called the mini by pilots. It commanded a fiercesome respect on the field - if a pilot knew how to handle her.


" We're getting close now, Captain. We're continuing bridge feed. range, fifteen kilometers. We're still having trouble making out what this is."


Captain Lirris would have chewn his finger nails were he not the commander of a Star Destroyer, the tension so thick on the bridge. Every voice could hear that of the squadron commander as he led eleven of his comrades and peers towards one of the departing objects. Every eye strained against the distance, every ear against its environment.


Then came what they had been expecting but hoping against. " Wait a minute....I see wings on that thing. She's a TIE of some kind, not broadcasting an IFF. Orders, sir?"


Lirris perked his chest, knowing except for the Defender, no TIE traveled alone. His prey was lurking nearby. He would have to draw her out. " Engage, Squadron I. Kill them."

[Khendon Sevon]

Energy surged forward, entering the complex series of circuits. A wave of specially engineered chemicals mixed with charged particles. Suddenly a massive force was being propelled through compressors and beam modifiers, crystal matrixes and intensity amplifiers. The blast erupted from the gatling under the wing of the Federacy fighter, an additional three entering existence from other locations. Suddenly a literal rain of energy poured out of the two fighters, sustained, red blasts streamed forth and filled space with artificial precipitation.

With the first blast the stealth packages of the two fighters disengaged, they were fully visible and in horrific detail. Each had swooping, claw like wings that spewed constant flows of energy. There weren’t any visible canopies, just a solid, projectile-like centerpiece. The fighters were painted black, blood red thorn insignias accenting the hulls.


*********

“Sir!” shouted an officer, “we’ve detected massive firing from the two Executioners on reconnaissance.”

“Bring shield generators to full power, open gun ports, bring Defensive banks online. Fighter command, get our other Executioners to those coordinates!” Large screens throughout the room suddenly blinked with different images. One displayed signatures of enemies, estimated forces, and current positions and paths of allied vessels. Other screens showed the view from the primary sensor housing (a portion of the Crimson Thirst that looked like a regular ship’s bridge and conveniently overlooked the fore of the ship like one) and current ship statistics.

“Helm, get us out there! Alert me when we’re at maximum firing distance.” It didn’t even have to be said, impulses commanded actions. Men and women quickly processed information and made assessments. The primary bridge was running perfectly.

[Telan Desaria]

"..Three...Six...Seven...Nine...Four....Five....Dam n it, Seranor, I'm losing my whole comman..."


That brief epithet before the voice of I Squadron commander morphed into a horrific scream, flame consuming what life had once held. Out of twelve fighters flying the flag of the Imperial Sovereignty, only five survived a minute after the engagement was cleared.


" Pull them back!" Lirris screamed, near at the top of his lungs, but low and authoritatively enough that his last word smacked the flight operations officer in the face as the captain passed back the catwalk to his chair.


" What the frell are those things?" asked Commander Formmin, looked genuinely upset at the loss of life from his station in the port crew pit. He was one always concerned with the lives under his command, but as consequence was too concerned to spare them when neccessary, forever relegating him to executive command rather than command itself.


He who hangs onto life cannot inflict death thought Lirris as he mounted the chair. Command was lonely, but then so was dying in space. He would avenge the slaughter fighter pilots.


" Engage thrusters to full! Bring us within range of the heavy turbolaser cannon and blast those bastards to the Graveyard of the Sith!"

[Khendon Sevon]

Trix watched the enemy fighters disengage in his mind, a short rain of gatling fire sending them a parting gift. “Krell,” said Trix, breathing heavily, “how’re you holding out?”

“Shields are stable, weapons are a bit hot, I’m flooding coolant now, only have two torps left.”

“No problem, the cavalry just arrived.” Four additional Executioners pulled up next to the two battle worn craft.

“Good job,” said Donner with a smile.


************

Admiral Leyard looked at the situation screen, Black Thorn squadron was now all together. “Sensors, track the ion washes of those disengaging fighters, Comm., get me a secure link with the Major.”

“Sir?” said Donner through a direct link to Leyard’s headset.

“I’m giving you the option to leave, Major. Something in my gut tells me those fighters weren’t just randomly here… a full squadron of Sovereignty craft don’t just randomly patrol territories like this. So, please, Major, take me up on this offer,” the Admiral spoke softly and calmly, his face wrinkled and pale, “I can’t in good conscious ask you to remain here with a crippled vessel hoping for the best. By the time command notices we didn’t report in and sends ships to investigate, we could be space dust.”

“I understand,” said Major Donner with a bit of aggravation sliding into his speech, “however, Black Thorn squadron has never lost an escort duty, we’ve never lost a dog fight… we are the Imperator’s lead squadron for a reason. I respectfully decline the offer, we’re getting through this together, Admiral. Donner out.”

The Admiral noticed he had been holding his breath and released it in a great sigh, “Helm, half power. Fighter Command, have our escorts remain in formation off to our starboard side. Status on weapons?”

“Sir,” said a youthful voice, “all ports open, weapons are hot. The main cannon is fully charged, lowered, and in firing position. Gunnery awaits your orders.” Leyard stood, proud and domineering. His cool eyes scanned the faces of his officers, if this was done wrong… it would be on his hands. These lives were on his hands.

[Telan Desaria]

Captain Lirris stood once more on the catwalk, this time just a hair's breadth from the viewports which tended so precarious a balance between space and a warship's interior. While giving access to the wandering eyes of men, they held back the tendrils of vacuum, saving those very men to look again.


And look Lirris did, though he did not like what he saw. The TIE Defender Mk III was supposed to be the most agile and improved space superiority machine in the arsenal of the Empire. Obviously, it was not, as the pair of Federacy vessels had shown. They had come crawling back, the battered and weary survivors, the wounded in tow suspended at the end of small tractor beams. There were too few to count, too few worth counting.


And we didn't get one.


The closer the Seranor got to the asteroids and outer-most planet in the Togoria system, the more able her sensors were to pick up what lay ahead. The slaughtering TIEs flying so wretched and foreign a flag had been joined by four of their peers, but in doing so had made an excellent target for the long range guns now trained on them.


" Open fire!" Lirris ordered with delight, watching moments later several neon bolts lance out from the prow of his ship bruning plasma and vengeance as they went.

[Khendon Sevon]

Claxons resounded throughout the bridge, instantly the lighting shifted from a mild yellow to a deep red. Tension filled the room; sweat tainted the usually metallic air. “Triangulate,” muttered Leyard to himself as his officers did that very action. The Admiral puffed out his chest, curled his nose, and muttered in a low snarl, “Return fire on those bastards.”

The Crimson Thirst had been designed for long range engagements, this was her forte. Every battery on board was either created for extended distance combat, or it had been specially modified for it. She was a magnificent, ranged death machine.

The entire vessel began to shake. At first it started as a small tremor then worked its way into a loud, hate filled roar. Battery after battery on the side of the craft spat its deadly contents. Guns honed in on the exact location of the enemy ship and let loose powerful barrages.

SureShot 500’s fired deadly pulses of energy designed to shred shields. Sunburst batteries erupted with packets of multi-layered destruction. Towards the prow of the vessel a single weapon turned to face the ship identified as a Victory-class star destroyer; however, it waited in silence.


****************

Major Donner narrowed his brow, the taste of perspiration seeped onto his upper lip. He cringed, “Break on my mark.” The veteran pilot eyed the incoming wave of energy. The Major would have shaken his head if it weren’t securely fastened in cushioning material and plugged into mechanical devices he didn’t even fully understand.

The barrage stretched its energized hands towards the half-squadron of fighters and suddenly they scattered like Delteon’s cavabats, engines blazing with power. Shields were made visible momentarily; however, they had avoided the long-range onslaught. “Crimson Thirst, this is Major Donner, requesting permission to take that sorry S.O.B. out with a bomb run, acknowledge?”

“Negative, Black Thorn leader, the Admiral requests you split into two fights and stay out of the way of his shots for the moment. You have orders to act in a fighter suppressing role only..”

“Confirmed, Crimson Thirst, Donner out.”

[Telan Desaria]

The Seranor shook violently.


Captain Lirris had to work very hard to keep his balance, block gloved hands grasping for life the catwalks rails for support. His figure tumbled and turned as his ship rocked under-foot.


" Damage report!" he screamed, yelling to heard over the din of alarm klaxon and shouting departmental commanders, each one trying desperately to regain control of an attacked ship.


" Sir! We have fifty percent on main shields gone, back ups coming online. Shunting primary to auxilliary. We have seventy-five percent energy shields now, ninety particle/matter shielding."


Lirris tried to ascertain who had given him the report, but a small pauldron of smoke had crept onto the bridge, obviously from some overloaded console or burnt out terminal.


The Captainl regained his balance once more and glared out of the bow viewports. There sat his enemy, making a wide yaw to the [i]Seranor[/]'s port to bring some sort of bow-fixed weapon into play. Lirris would be damned if his ship would go down without a fight.


" Flight Ops! Deploy Skiprays, Missile Boats, and all of our gunboats. They are to form up under the ventral hull and then run on that ship - - Defender Squadrons II and III are to protect them at all costs until they deliver whatever damage possible onto that ship!"


The gunnery chiefs had already taken matters into their own hands: all heavy turbolasers had been directed at the ship, while gunners themselves deep in the gundecks of the battleship began loading proton warheads into their launchers.

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Leyard clenched his teeth, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He sensed, rather than saw, the oncoming Sovereignty barrage. “Engines to full,” the Federal officer muttered, officers idly nodding as they quickly went about the task.

The demonic Crimson Thirst began to build up speed, her massive Titan engines propelling her with the full force granted them by their makers. If I allow that star destroyer to close with us, thought Leyard silently, then I’ll be dooming the ship, the only chance is to keep our distance.

Shot after shot was spat into space by the Federal gunship’s weapons. Onboard, the sound was defining. The belly of the beast rumbled as salvo after salvo was propelled into space towards its goal. It looked as if a perpetual rain of red energy were emanating from the hellish craft.

“Brace for impact,” said an officer in a flat voice. Straining sounds made their way from the outer hull inwards as the impacts of destructive energy on the shields were compensated for. Lances of green collided with the fiery Federacy shields and withered away as they were torn into harmless particles.

I wonder how long we can keep this up? wondered Admiral Leyard as he studied the shield status. Federacy technology called for a very redundant shielding system with many layers. Furthermore, each projected field had several parts to it, every sub section having a specific intent.

The Admiral’s eyes suddenly went wide, his wrinkled skin tightening as he flexed his facial muscles. “Load the flak cannons, prepare defensive banks,” commanded Leyard as he pooled tactical information into his neural cognition chipset. Fighters, lots of fighters. “Activate defensive bank network, initialize a script assigning priority to missiles, torpedoes, bombs, anything threatening the Crimson Thirst. Secondary targets will be fighters… hold flak cannons until my order…”

[Telan Desaria]

The Long Nines they were called, small, almost diminuitive turbolaser cannon mounted on the port and starboard gunwales of all the Victory V-class Destroyers. Each gun had a four meter barrel but only a nine-centimeter bore diameter. In that bore, however, was a sort of propellant-crystal structure that accelerated an energy shot to three times the speed of a standard turbolaser bolt. Accompanied by twice-plasmized blaster gas, their shots packed quite a punch.


As an unofrtunate drawback, however, the intended target needed to be within twenty kilometers - just over what was considered objective broadside range.


It was to this range that Captain Lirris tried to push his craft. With luck, the work his heavier guns was doing would gnaw enough of the Federal's shields away that the long nines would finish the job.


" Increase to flank. Match her every move and get us along side!"


Close the range did - in a matter of time - - - if the Seranor lived long enough - - - the Federal ship would be under the most powerful guns a Victory-class Star Destroyer had ever mounted.

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Leyard frowned, The engines must have been damaged, they’re closing on us… He confirmed his worries with a quick mental glance at the current operating levels of the Titan engines. The compression chamber of the main drive had been breached, siphoning precious power from the propulsion mechanisms. “Shut down main drive,” said Leyard smoothly, closing his mouth with a click. The Admiral looked old, his face showed signs of wear and exhaustion. The old man took a deep breath and focused his sharp mind, What to do…

“FIRE MAIN CANNON! Show them our broadside.” Commanded Leyard.

A wave of energy approached the Crimson Thirst. They looked remarkably like colored shooting stars lacing the heavens. Shimmering projectiles launched from defensive banks, meeting several of the oncoming energy lances, causing them to leave existence. The remaining deadly, green fingers collided with the heavy shields of the vessel’s side.

From the fore of the craft a large bore weapon slid out from beneath guarding plates and turned to track the approaching enemy ship. Gunners hurried about the room positioned directly above the massive weapon. Officers ran this way and that, screaming orders and getting to stations. All aboard the Crimson Thirst went silent. Only the droning of the cannon’s being fired and collisions with the shields reminded these silent warriors that they were still in battle.

Particles began to collect around the muzzle of the extended range Densa-cannon as it traversed ever so slightly, compensating for the Victory star destroyers proximity. Suddenly all hell broke loose, a great red and white beam shot forward with tremendous speed, space super heating around it, blinding onlookers momentarily, blotting out the stars. The long energy beam continued and continued, its prolonged charge allowing it extended operating time.

“Make ready the spiker generators!”

[Telan Desaria]

" Damage Report!"


Captain Lirris slammed a fist off the rail when his ship was done shaking. One of his officers moved about with a lethal frenzy in an attempt to folow his captain's orders, but the later blocked it out. He moved forward to the viewports and saw about a hundred meters of the forward-port gundeck chared and scathed. A jagged edge replaced once pristine angles. The Captain was angry.


He knew that near fifteen percent of the warships weapons had been housed in that blackened portion of the hull. And given the immense crews turbolasers took, Captain Lirris shuddered to think of the dead.


" Forty-degree turn to port! Fire as she bears. Every Long Nine - Give her hell! And re-route power from the hyperdrive reactor to shields. We're not going anywhere until this bastard's dead."

[Khendon Sevon]

The bridge suddenly became light hearted, cheers rose amongst the crew. Admiral Leyard’s face relaxed, his eyes sparkling. “Sir! She’s bringing her side to bear! Her gunners will have targeting solutions in three seconds!” The Admiral grimaced and the room went silent again. It wasn’t over yet.

The Crimson Thirst sat in space, a large demonic beast pouring fire from its pores into the wedge shaped opposition. “Initiate containment fields, remove safeties from bulkhead doors,” Leyard assumed his commanding voice again, eyes narrowed and peering at the hulk of the enemy vessel.

The bow of the Victory star destroyer rotated away from the Federal gunship. “Triangulate our own solutions on their batteries, fire as they become visible. Launch spikers on my command!”

Suddenly, the Sovereignty vessel unleashed a downpour of energy. “She’s firing!” yelled an officer as the hailstorm of green rushed the Federal vessel with amazing speed.

“Brace for impact!” The streams of death pummeled the Crimson Thirst’s shields, massive waves of scarlet visible as the walls of energy tried to keep out the invaders.

“Massive node failure!” Suddenly spots appeared in the formerly impenetrable wall, opposing shots were making their way through the heavy shields and colliding with the demonic hull. The first blasts dissipated on the armor, and second volleys did so as well, however, the carbon-composite material was becoming bright red with heat.

“Hull pressure reaching critical!” Chunks of carbon were incinerated and quickly filled with reinforcing gel, only to have more holes formed by continual barrages.

“Flash points crumbling!” Specially designed sections of the vessel were crushed on their first shots, relieving the hull pressure, “Armor is holding, for now.”

Admiral Leyard took a deep breath and eyed the Victory star destroyer before him. The Crimson Thirst was literally dwarfed by the ship. “Launch spikers,” he said solemnly as he reviewed damage in his mind. Four batteries out of commission already, a defensive bank slagged, sixty percent of the baring side’s shield nodes down, hull integrity fluxuating, what am I going to do… . Two large, fiery balls of energy erupted from the side of the vessel, tendrils of silver and red spinning around them.

[Telan Desaria]

" Hit them again!" Lirris ordered, his voice not without a hitn of cheer for his fast-acting gunnery officers.


His jubilation proved a tad short lived, however: some sort of energy was thrusting itself from the Federal warship in two points. It was slow and plodding, but was definitely determined. The shots gave scant time for action, but any time was used time.


" Shunt shields to impact points. Each blast, rotate back to standard. Drop port shields and re route power to starboard. Fire!"


Another wave of neon turbolaser blasts from guns of all sizing poured forth from the starboard side of the Seranor. Just behind them came the first wave of proton warheads, highly explosive line-of-sight projectiles each packing as much punch as twice their number in standard torpedoes - - what was lost in guidance was gained in explosive.


Then the energy blasts hit.

[Khendon Sevon]

“Torpedoes detected!” Screamed an officer unable to control himself as his neural interface relayed the danger.

Projectiles streamed from defensive banks countering several energy blasts. The network of protective weapons quickly switched priority as the torpedoes entered firing distance. Defensive banks and flak cannons poured out rainstorms of blue energy. Space was filled with colors and shapes of all sizes.

“Brace for impact!” screeched an officer as the vessel shook violently. The Victory class vessel’s volley tore deep gashes in the hull of the Federal gunship. Gel attempted to compensate for the massive, gaping wounds in the beast, but to no avail. Sections were exposed to the vacuum of space, everything not bolted down quickly being sucked out. Moments later, bulkheads fell, fields expanded, and pressure returned to normal.

The neutron armor skeleton of the craft prevented the unshielded ship from being torn to shreds and helped absorb a hefty portion of the damage. More guns went silent as they were taken offline, the Crimson Thirst was taking a beating.

“Spiker generators, fire at will!” commanded the Admiral, “I want that ship torn in two!” Leyard screamed his words now, his eyes filled with rage, his muscles tight under his uniform. He had wanted action, and had gotten it.

[Telan Desaria]

The Captain found himself awake, deep inside a layer of haze, heat, and the stench of death. Moving a hand to his forehead, Lirris drew it back red with his blood. He tried then to open his left eye, but it would not budge. The Captain wondered if he could stand, and so tried to execute a maneuver he had so often taken for granted.

The Seranor rolled under the Captain's jackboots, and it helped to propell him upright - - if it could be called that. He stood roughly against a catwalk rail-support, his gloves covered with his own blood. At almost a crawl, he returned to his command chair where he assessed the damage.

Apparently things were notn as bad as they seemed, for with every passing moment more and more of Lirris' hearing returned. From what he gathered over several excrutiating minutes was the partial collapse of the port shielding. The command tower had taken several direct hits, but repair crews had gotten the damage under control. The auxilliary bridge had been torn open to space, but the primary bridge had been spared.

" Commander," Lirris slurred, shaking off what was surely a concussion. " Bring starboard engines back full until we have the bow at a thirty degree angle with their centerline, give them less to shoot at. Fire another volley of warheads when they're loaded."

" Loaded, sir!" replied the XO, his own face covered with a red-tinged sweat.

" Fire."

[Khendon Sevon]

“Incoming, Sir!” Shouted a bridge officer as torpedoes screeched across the battlefield towards the Crimson Thirst. Defensive banks quickly unleashed hell, unloading thousands of bolts of energy into space in a matter of seconds. Flak cannons fired in anger, explosions of blue formed small clouds of energy that ate through the torpedoes as they passed by.

“Brace for impact!” cried a harsh, nearly horse voice from somewhere on the command deck. The demonic vessel shook violently as the warheads erupted on the unshielded hull. Armor gave in and jagged chunks of carbon fiber were torn from the side of the craft. Charred, smoldering sheets were quickly covered in refocillating gel, producing a secondary barrier and reinforcing the weakening hull.

Admiral Leyard cursed under his breath a thousand times, his eyes watered from the sting of sweat. Suddenly, his eyes sparkled again, a sly smile played on his face. “Rotate on horizontal axis, bring our other side to bear on those Sovereignty dogs, let’s give them hell!” The Federal gunship began to rotate, fresh weapons unleashing their bitter remarks towards the Victory star destroyer and powerful, fully functional shields greeting incoming discharges.

[Telan Desaria]

" They're rotating, sir!"


" No, they're not. We are! Helm, use the ventral thrusters and take power from where ever you need to - keep us in line with that damaged side.


" Guns - target their propulsion systems and fire."


Energy laced out from the Destroyer as it matched its enemy's maneuver, this time every blast and shell trying to find one key area of the ship - its engines.

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Leyard smiled as he watched the enemy use their engines to try and match his maneuver. His eyes twinkled in the dim bridge light, his sagging, wrinkly face contorted into a wicked grin. Luckily, he only had to roll his ship while his opponent was forced to physically move his craft in synchronous orbit with the Crimson Thirst. This would be a decisive advantage.

“Cancel yaw, initiate counter thrusters!” The nimbler, smaller ship suddenly switched direction, forcing the larger vessel, which had a greater factor of inertia to counter, into the Federal gunship’s fresh cannons. “Compensate and stay aligned! Fire all batteries! Traverse and fire the main cannon!”

Enemy shots were picked out of the sky as they angled towards the demon’s wings. Shields greeted whatever energy made it passed the defensive network and held. The embedded engines of the Federal gunship were well protected from any barrage.

The demonic ship’s weapons erupted in fury. Once again the vessel’s halls were filled with the sounds of the enraged beast striking. From its protective niche the main gun of the Crimson Thirst arose and began aligning itself. Its venom would soon be thrust forth into the Victory star destroyer.

[Telan Desaria]

" All ahead flank!"


" Sir?"


" Do it!"


The helmsman hesitated, but the hypernav-officer seated to his right pushed him out of the way and slammed forward the subspace control yoke.


Lirris was glad to see his ship lurch forward, unhappy that he was replacing one risk for another. However, his ship could not stand too many more shots from whatever hellish cannon had been mounted on the Federal craft's bow. Inertia never would have allowed the Seranor to rotate her embattled but holding starboard side in step with that of her enemy's. The port would have been riddle with shot before one lucky blast hit the power conversion station and destroyed the ship.


" Captain, we must decrease speed - we fly right into that world's rings and we'll get chewed to death by planet fragments."


" I am aware of that, Number One! Take us in and rotate the ship onto course zero-six-niner and redesignate plane of battle with the box-axis. Let them come at us and let them stare down the prow."


The guns fell silent as she entered the rings, only to replay their horrifying crescendo against rocks and chunks of stellar debris. What light batteries were not needed for the immediate defense of the ship aimed themselves for the battle's final act.


What fighters and blastboats remained formed up behind the prepping warship and readied themselves for the end. One way, or another.

[Khendon Sevon]

“Sir, she’s disengaging,” sounded an officer. Leyard’s eyes narrowed, So, they want to play a game of cat and mouse, do they?

“We’re in no condition to follow, remain in our current position, have sunburst cannons fire at our current range, I know they won’t hit much, but it’ll let them think we’re planning something. While we do that, send emergency repair crews to all damaged sections, attempt to restore some shield nodes and let’s see if we can’t get that compression chamber patched up on the main engine.” Leyard sat down in his seat and released a heavy sigh, “oh, and someone better fix that communications array, or there’ll be hell to pay.”

Officers sent orders rapidly. A tremor shook the Crimson Thirst as she fired off extended range volleys, most of the blasts erupting on asteroids and debris floating in the nearby ring.


************

Hyperspace was something the Fast Attack Frigate’s commander was used to. His squadron of craft was on constant call throughout the Held Territories. Captain Exrell’s ships served one simple purpose, rapid response. The attack group consisted of Two Fast Attack Frigates and a squadron of TIE Executioner MKII’s.

The frigates were old designs from an older time. They had been recently upgraded for Federal service. Now they had simple orders, a ship had gone missing, it couldn’t be hailed, and a distress canister had been retrieved, they were to find the ship and bring it home.

Captain Exrell stood on the bridge of the Demonica. He had vitality, was strong, devoted—the perfect new generation of Imperial. Exrell had studied at the Imperial Academy on Delteon, trained at Wor Tandell, and participated in the Boarder Wars. He was cocky and headstrong—the perfect example of youth. Now he rode into battle, his war horse a Federal design. He was eager for victory and ready for a challenge. If only he new the perils that now faced the vessel he was charged with rescuing. If only.

[Telan Desaria]

The Federacy ship was firing off long-range bursts with some sort of directed energy weapon, but they were detonating harmlessly before the shields of the Seranor. Brilliant and dedicated officers of the ship's engineering department had restored twenty percent of the bow deflectors, another fifty percent available within the hour if repairs went well.


" Captain, the preliminary casualty report."


" Very good, thank you Commander."


Lirris could not even look at his executive officer in the eye. He had drilled his ship hard and they had reacted excellently in th situations that had arisen. But given the numbers scrolling down the pad, Lirris began to wonder the purpose of his mission.


" Commander," Lirris said, standing. The FX-7 droids had patched his wounds, but the pain he felt from a badly bruised leg refused to ebb.


" Sir?"


" We'll give them twenty minutes, then we'll set a course perpendicular with the planet's rings and micro-jump our way home. If they come forward, we'll be ready. Have the modifications been made?"


" They have sir."


" Very good. Remember, twenty minutes. No more."

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Leyard nodded slowly as information streamed into his neural interface. His piercing blue eyes coldly cut through the empty expanses of space and spied the wedge shaped craft. So, they’re just going to sit and wait… gather strength, then what? Run? Attack?

His headset beeped and he sat in his command chair, letting go a slight sigh as his weary bones relaxed. Leyard gently placed the communications device on his head and spoke softly into the verbal receiver, “Leyard, here.”

“Admiral,” said Donner’s voice from the other side, “all of Black Thorn squadron accounted for. Requesting permission to resupply and run some maintenance.”

“Permission grant—,” Leyard’s face tensed and furrowed in though, “—ed, and Major…”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Once you’ve done that, I have a mission for you.”


*****************

The Demonica raced through hyperspace at breakneck speeds. Her drives were running at maximum speed, coolant flushing the superheated systems. Captain Exrell reviewed the situation in his mind. He absently stroked his brownish-red goatee, green eyes skimming data. “Navigation,” he said in a cool, confident tone, “report.”

“Sir,” said the young woman, “ten more minutes until reversion.” Her deep, brown eyes caught Exrell’s gaze and held it. She was beautiful, and, like nearly all of Exrell’s crew, fresh out of the academy.

The Captain winked and took his chair, quickly focusing on the tasks at hand, “Engineering, bring generators to full power. Weapons, I want everything operational and out of their ports as soon as we’re out of h-space. Target Acquisition, you know what to do. Sensors and Navigation, find me the Crimson Thirst.”

[Telan Desaria]

" This cannot be good."

" Sir?" asked the executive officer, glancing wearily at his captain from down in the crewpit. Several of the crewmen around him were not members of the standard bridge crew, instead replacements from the reserve pool and auxiilliary bridge. Exploding monitors and a pitching ship in battle had taken its toll.

" There are only two possible solutions to this waiting game. Firstly, they know we can give them as good as we got and are hanging just out of range to save themselves. In this scenario, they have signalled for reinforcements and are awaiting there arrival."

" The second, sir?"

" The second is no better. They can take us themselves and are biding their time to formulate an assault plan at our expense."

" Which do you think, Captain?"

" I'm not prepared to wait for either to come true. Flight Ops! Ready all survivng gunboats and missile boats. Designate Vector 002 mark 012 as main. TIEs to return to hangar and refuel. Guns! Ready forward batteries 1, 4, and 6...!"

[Khendon Sevon]

Admiral Leyard stood, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. His eyes pierced through the hull of his mighty vessel and traversed the depths of space. He stood and took a rigid stance. The bridge was silent except for the heavy breathing of strained officers.

“Initiate a ninety degree turn starboard!” he said in his most authoritative voice he could muster, “prepare to launch an overlapping field of fire from the defensive banks and flak cannons.” The Admiral ignored the neural network for a moment, then began issuing more descriptive orders and monitoring the progress of the mission he had assigned Donner’s squadron.


*****************

Donner’s mind suddenly narrowed like a vice. He perceived the scent of his cockpit, a mixture of human sweat and plastics. The Major closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles—the chemical cocktail being pumped into his body aiding in his meditation.

All around him he felt, rather than saw, the narrow tube of hyperspace he was being propelled through. Somehow, Donner could sense that he was on course and would soon exit hyperspace.

A violent jolt confirmed the Major’s mental note. His violently styled craft slid gingerly from hyperspace. The Executioner’s body was visible for a second and then appeared as if it were being absorbed by liquid. In and instant, she was no more.

The Major checked his sensors, “This is Trix,” came a hushed voice over the burst directed laser communication system, “running at zero emissions, visual cloaking successful, following plotted course.” Additional communications were received signifying that the entire squadron had accurately made the jump and were running “zero”, as the pilots had so aptly named the evasion method.

The cloaking wasn’t perfect, of course. Very few Federal ships were actually equipped with full sensor evasion systems—the Shroud design excluded. However, it would be adequate to protect from nonspecific sensor detection, and it would suit its purpose. The Executioners of Black Thorn squadron sped towards the Victory star destroyer with a single intent on every pilots’ mind.

[Telan Desaria]

" Captain - we have incoming Federal Fighters. Given the field's density, ETA in five minutes."

The stalwart Imperial clasped his hands at the small of his back. He had one shot at stalling the inevitable. Opportunity only vame once - he was intent on seizing it.

" At thirty seconds, fire Pattern Special 1."

[Khendon Sevon]

Shadows danced on Donner’s still face. His eyes were under intense R.E.M. activity as his mind raced and coaxed his neural implant. A single voice broke his devoted concentration, “Weapons’ spikes,” warned the gruff man.

“Frell,” the Major mumbled under his breath. His body tensed as his bloodstream was force-fed drugs. “Let’s do this. Scatter and continue the mission. I’ll see you boys in the debriefing when we try to explain this mess up to Leyard.”

Donner’s brow furrowed as he entered a state of intense activity. His Executioner shed its cloak, two pods disconnected from the craft and metabolized. “Jacked.” The Major mentally bumped the throttle up to the redline. Suddenly, the fighter’s exhaust went from a dull blue to a brilliant crimson. Streaks of silver erupted in jets around the focused vectoring systems of the Mustang assault engine. The six-meter craft accelerated and hit the 360 MGLT marker.