Alignment (The Battle of Byss)

[Flitha'urian'alan]

OOC

Spoiler

This story is open to everyone that wants to be part of it. A new empire will be born this day, and there is plenty of room for others of all types and alignments to be involved.

The two sides of Byss's forces will be fighting one another, one to join the new Empire, led by the chief of the defence forces, one to resist it, led by the planetary governor.

Work together and have fun!

The Deep Core system of Byss was tough to reach, even with modern charts and hyperdrives. One week previously, a demand for the system's surrender had been sent. That deadline had expired without reply. The Pentastar Alignment, a burgeoning Imperial faction comprised of several disparate Imperial remnant groups, had come to claim its new throne world.

Byss space was busy, with the local Warlord's fleet, as well as some merchant traffic, the system not being totally closed off as it had been in times past.

Without warning, Auriana's fleet emerged from hyperspace and began firing on anything that moved. They had recieved no surrender, and thus, the Empire would do what needed to be done.

​

​

The brand new Pentastar-Class Star Destroyer smashed all before it.

Pressed into service straight out of the yards, it was the latest and most prestigious vessel in the growing Pentastar Navy. Auriana had named her flagship Imperial Fist.

Its massive kyber-focused Megamasers made short work of the defensive emplacements and capital ships that moved against it.

Standing on the bridge, overseeing the assault, Auriana moved to a comm.

::This is the Pentastar Alignment. We claim this world in the name of the Emperor. Bend the knee, or be destroyed.::

Almost immediately, and as expected, a transmission came back.

::This is General Tagge of the Byss Defence Force. We're with you.::

And the planetary governor wasn't far behind.

::Tagge you damned traitor!:: But he was cut off immediately as a civil war broke out across the system. Pentastar agents had bribed, blackmailed, and cajoled many commanders to switch sides, and now the battle raged across space and the surface.

Pressing the advantage, Imperial Fist moved forward, engaging opposition. She was escorted in by several ageing Victory-Class cruisers, and two dozen Acclamator assault ships, filled with Pentastar battle droids, and what troops they had.

Byss would fall this day, and the Emperor would take his seat at the head of his new Empire. Auriana only had to pave the way.

[member="Baron Morcus"] [member="Severan Meritus"] [member="Tsair'ra'Nuruodo"]

 

[grammaticus]

The Malodrax took its position at the side of the Imperial Fist, the Star Destroy casting a shadow across the Victory Class vessel. The Severan Dominate, his former Imperial faction had committed itself fully to the newly formed Pentastar Alignment. He had been one of the few voices calling for patience with the coming conquest of Byss, arguing that their first new action as a galactic force should be to peacefully bring their future homeworld into the fold. However, a week had passed since the offer had been made, and even Severan had to concede the time for action had come.

He stood in the hangar bay of the Malodrax, waiting patiently as word slowly filtered down of the combat progressing in the void around the planet. He had been charged with leading the first wave of troops down to the surface of the world, something he had agreed to with some reservation. He was a military officer, he had received ample training and had years of experience, but he still had his reservations. Violence was never his first choice in a matter. Finally the signal echoed through the hangar, and the Pentastar Stormtroopers loaded onto transports. Severan followed suit, making sure his sidearm was ready at his side. As the ramp rose and sealed and the transport lifted off, Severan began working over the plans once again in his head.

Victory would belong to the Pentastar alignment today, one way or another. He just hoped that enough of their new throneworld survived the coming campaign that there would be something left to rule.

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Kerkov stared at the holomap displayed upon his bridge. "Well, I think we're lost." His second in command, Draco Kayra, simply nodded in agreement. Kerkov said, "That slimy little Neimoidian merchant said we'd be at the Byss system after sixteen jumps, using these coordinates." Kerkov tried to count something in his head, "Helmsman, how many jumps have we made?" A young Twi'lek woman shouted back, "Twenty-eight." "Yep," Draco concluded, "We're lost." Kerkov shook his head and said, "That couldn't have been twenty-eight jumps." He looked over to the helsman, who could barely stand on her two feet. "She's drunk!" Draco laid back and took a swig of his own poison, "So? Who isn't on this deathtrap." Kerkov raised his finger to reply, but couldn't come up with a counter-argument. "Helmsman, make a jump to preset coordinate 49." Draco looked up from his drink, "What are you doing, Bill?" Kerkov smiled and took the bottle from Draco's hands and knocked back a taste himself, "To be frank, I'm not sure."

When Akira's Star arrived upon Byss, Kerkov was more surprised than anybody. However his attention was taken up by the battle currently going on. He looked to his fuel reserves. Not nearly enough to get back to the nearest civilized system. Slowly he considered his options, which seemed to lessen every minute.

 

[Flitha'urian'alan]

The entire system was awash with the sounds of battle. Though no sound travelled in space, the comm nets were alive with battle transmissions as the confused melee burned and broke ships and beings across Byss and its outlying worlds. Auriana's fleet was moving in towards Byss, already beginning to launch dropships and transports, complementing the clouds of TIE Defenders that swarmed the resistance-loyal craft commanded by the Planetary Governor.

Not all the loyalist forces had made it into the air or into space, many were destroyed on the ground, or prevented from launching by defectors or those serving the elements of the planetary guard that had gone over to the Pentastar Alignment. The Generals that had, were making good on their word, with many successes on the ground preventing the loyalists from putting up an effective resistance to the occupation.

Naval forces dueled in the skies above Byss, with some fleet elements changing sides to support the invasion, while others fought on doggedly. Resistance in space was centered around three Imperial-II Star Destroyers, ageing but capable, that were engaged with Auriana's flagship and her escorts. Fortunately for the Grand Admiral, Imperial Fist far outgunned her opponents, outnumbered or not.

Auriana turned to Imperial Fist's Captain, who was relegated to supernumerary duties while the Grand Admiral had the command.

Have we identified which of them is the enemy command ship?

The Captain responded immediately, relieved to be useful.

Right to Rule, Grand Admiral.

Auriana nodded appreciatively and turned to appraise the displays and readouts near the Captain.
Her glowing red eyes studied the holodisplay showing the three enemy destroyers, though her face showed no emotion. There was an opportunity here, and it was one she didn't intend to waste. The three Destroyers were named Right to Rule, Devastator, and Razor's Kiss. No doubt the local warlord thought himself a student of history. Auriana intended to educate him.

All batteries cease fire. Targeting solution on the bridge of Right to Rule. Full time on target barrage, maximum firepower.

The orders sent the Destroyer's crew hastening to obey. Imperial Fist's many guns fell silent, but for her point defence cannons blazing away at missiles and hostile starfighters that came too close. Her huge arrays of kyber-focused Megamasers were all trained on the very obvious bridge of Right to Rule. Once they were fully charged, Imperial Fist spoke, and her many, many primary weapons all spoke as one, filling the space between the two ships with incadescent green fire.

The effects were spectacular and devastating. The concentrated barrage sheared through the Star Destroyer's shields, and blasted so violently into her primary hull that the entire bridge tower was decapitated, leaving the Destroyer's angled bridge tower a truncated, sparking, leaking ruin. As was to be expected, the massive ship began listing heavily, out of control with her primary command functions entirely and permanently severed.

Outstanding. The Grand Admiral put just a tiny hint of warmth into her tone. The gunners had done splendidly. No doubt the tale of how the barrage had impressed the old ice lady would make its way around the ship and the fleet before too long. Sailors loved to gossip.

A comm officer called out. Ma'am, Devastator and Razor's Kiss have signalled their surrender.

No smile this time, just a nod. Their enemies had seen sense, and her estimation of their commanders went up a small notch, though it hardly took a genius to see they'd picked the losing side today.

Signal our acceptance and direct them to recall their fighters and hold position.

Without needing to give an order, Imperial Fist began to re-orient, slowly, she was a heavy vessel, on the remaining orbital defence platforms.

Two remained, though one was on its last legs. The still resisting station was a Golan-III. Tougher than an Impstar Deuce, but still no match for the Imperial Fist. It would be the next to fall. From there, the mopping up on the ground could be completed, with air and space superiority achieved, though the enemy fighters continued to resist. A mixed bag of TIEs and other craft dueled with the TIEs of the Pentastar Alignment and their allies, though without capital ship support, their struggle was doomed, and they would bend the knee or be destroyed.

​

[member="William Kerkov"] Jr. [member="Severan Meritus"] [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[grammaticus]

Explosions erupted several feet away from Severan, a small section of the building several Pentastar Alignment Stormtroopers had been using for cover caved in on them. Debris showered the faces of the Byss Pentastar soldiers fighting beside Severan, throwing a few off their feet as more weapons fire rained down on them from above. Wiping some of the dust from his eyes, Severan sends two squads of Stormtroopers and Byss turncoats forward, establishing a new line of defense further up the street.

Through long months of preparation The Alignment had been able to subvert the loyalties of a majority of the Byss commanders. With their support Severan had been able to deploy the majority of the Alignments own military forces to the planet below. The hope had been they would simply march through and establish their control over the planet, however they had met resistance the moment their boots had hit the ground. Forces still in support of the planetary government had been ordered to dig in, securing their positions in armories, government buildings, and anywhere else they could. Combat had descended into a large, building by building battle in almost every city on the planet. Alignment forces were gaining ground quickly, though it was costing them. Severan had ordered that all forces refrain from overly destructive tactics. They were here to liberate and rule this world, not destroy it.

Moving out from his cover, Severan rushed down the street, a squad of Stromtroopers at his back. Weapons fire came at them immediately, and the trooper nearest Severan crumbled to the ground as they advanced. Finally reached the end of the street, one of the Stormtroopers placed a breaching charge on the door of the armory. The moment the explosive went off, the Stormtroopers poured into the building, weapons fire erupting moments after. Severan moved in quickly after, he would be by his troops side through all of this.

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

"Are we within comms range?" Kerkov asked. Draco Kayra's eyes grew in horror, "Comms range? Are you mad?" He shouted. "The second we get within weapon's range of that damn star destroyer they'll blow us to bits." Draco sneered, "When has any two bit, regional Imperial government ever wanted scum like us around?" Kerkov rolled his eyes and stared right back at Draco, "Well, we don't have enough fuel to leave the damn system, and we sure as hell can't just wait them out. It seems these stiffs are taking this place for good." Kerkov continued, "Regardless, new upstarts like whoever these folks are are always in search of extra help like ourselves. Maybe we do a few things for them, they give us a few pretty pennies, and we get on our way back to the Hydian Way. Maybe even have a new business contact for later if we are ever in need of some easy cash." Draco wanted to respond, but he didn't, knowing Kerkov wouldn't listen.

A few minutes later, they entered comms range, and Kerkov recorded his message, "Hello there, your Imperialnesses, I am William Kerkov, second of my name, third of my house, and captain of this here vessel." He made a mockingly deep bow to the holocamera, "Me and my organization, the esteemed and reputable Hydian Way Corsairs, wish to dock with your high, very important, big ship, to perhaps, discuss a deal of mutual beneficiaryness." He flashed his white, clean, human teeth, a by-product of his hybrid species, "As purveyors of the open stars, and obtainers of special goods, we could prove invaluable to your, grand, and glorious effort to bring peace to whatever the hell you'd like to bring peace to." Kerkov took in a deep breath.

He nodded to the comms man and they sent the holomessage. Kerkov was a trained military officer, graduate of an esteemed academy on Terminus, and by the force he loved being a pirate.

[member="Severan Meritus"]
[member="Flitha'urian'alan"]