Crossing A Line (NR Dominion of Hex W22 Redux)

[National Extremist]

-- "Red Leader, I have a--"

-- The link to his squadron was cut off as his starfighter was blown to pieces into the void. He yanked on his stick and pulled to regroup his units to make another attack on the Republic Fighters. They no longer had the element of surprise and they were feeling it hard as another fleet appeared from nowhere. His unites were in chaos as they were starting to faulter at the appearance of the new fleet.

-- "ISIC Forces, stand your ground, focus attack on fighters and cause as much damage for the Core."

-- He looked over his shoulder to the Shuttles that were carring the ground forces to the station. A round of heavy turbolasers made quick work of them and they also entered the void in a ball of fire. Damn the Republic new forces.

-- He swung around and pulled up behind a wing of fighters that were attempting to shoot down a squadron of TIE's. He attempted to lock onto [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"] fighter and fired his cannons in an attempt to either hit or cause trouble for the fighter to take down his friends.

ISIC Fleet:

Spoiler

1x Quasar Carrier
3x Dreadnaught-class MKII Heavy Cruiser
2x NH18 "Blade Runner Corvette"
3x Katana Class Corvette

6x Squadrons of Sentinel

[member="Jerek Zenduu"] | [member="Tilesa Seth"] | [member="Aithne Charr"] | [member="Edward Thane"]

 

[Tilesa Seth]

ignore post

 

[Tilesa Seth]

Tilesa added her own little flare to the maneuver, engaging in a simple spin as she held down the trigger for her laser cannons. The TIEs didn't stand a chance, though the Arkanian was grossly amused at just how unnecessary her maneuver had ended up being. Guess the TIEs weren't quite so scary after all...

After leveling out her heading, she let out a sigh of relief once the sight of the Republic warships: under all of the logical approaches they entirely had this in the bag...well...they should have it in the bag. She hoped they had in in the bag. No need to lose men and women on the rabble attacking them today.

Tilesa flicked comms on once again, well, just because they shredded some of the fighters and the rest of the runts seemed like they were going to be crushed by the incoming warships it always seemed good to check bases.

"Good flying, Blue-5. What's the plan?"

How amusing, seems for once the Arkanian didn't have 30,000 different ideas how to approach a situation.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"] [member="Jerek Zenduu"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

Location: Inbound to aid Blue Squadron
Allies: [member="Tilesa Seth"] @Jerek Zendu, [member="Hannah"], [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

Fleet: Second Relief Force

Spoiler

The Skyfall - Infernus Class Heavy Cruiser - 900m
Apollo Class Interceptors - (5)
Rendili Starfighters - (12)
Scurrg H-7 Bombers - (12)
Umbra Class Dropships - (16)
Shard Class [SIZE=12pt]droppods[/SIZE] - (16)
Glaedr - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Shield of the Core - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Nebula - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m
Quasar - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m

Aithne smiled at the show they had been given and dropped down into the cockpit of one of the Apollo interceptors. The Job was simple, and one she could certainly complete with the help of those like @jerek Zendu in orbit and [member="Tilesa Seth"]. Now she just needed to launch and get out there.

Her main ships would hold back and defend the station incase another force appeared and moved to strike at the Republic's people there. What she needed was to get her fighter squadrons and bombers out into the field and she spoke the order with certainty. Her own hands wrapped around the controls as she started to pull back and lift her fighter from the deck of the ship's hanger.

"All fighters launch, support blue squadron and its companion wings." She pushed her controls forward and leaned back as the ship launched out of the Skyfall's bays, bursting out and angling upwards as the other inceptors fell into place with her.

Her canopy allowed her to look out and she did so, taking stock of the situation and quickly organizing the forces at work here. She needed to deal with those enemy fighters chasing down blue squadron, especially that Krayt Orbalisk. With a nod to the other two of her squadron, letting them split off into pairs, Aithne would angle her fighter to go link up with blue squadron, the inteceptor screaming towards its target.

She did not speak, did not alert anyone, only let a flash of blue color the sky as she shot past the enemy fighter, her laser cannons aimed at his wing and then nothing as all of it happened in a few seconds. Aithne was used to fighting in atmosphere, where long chases were not quite as common. That was why she flew with the interceptors as they did not have the luxury of taking too many hits.

It was when Kaine Australis began to fire on the quasar that she had an idea.

"Commander of the Time's Orphan, take out the shield rayshielding on the Quasar's hanger, I have an idea." Her hands quickly went to the console next to her, priming a very special weapon that the Apollo Inteceptors carried and gunning it for the Quasar, ready to have some fun.

 

[Tilesa Seth]

"How nice of the cavalry to show up."

Tilesa let out a laugh, left as far more of a playful jest to no one in particular rather than some true bitterness over stolen glory: she got to snag a few of the eyeballs and that was glory enough for her. Her hands were immediately off in that overly complicated blur to flick her systems, gunning her engines Tilesa was zooming right back into the fight. Bold, reckless, and overly confident. Now if she was being arrogant she'd have been the perfect Arkanian right there!

But truly, didn't seem like there was much of a fight left: she took her sweet time examining what the Mandalorians did...those weren't exactly small ships. And they were crumbling like just...like just...a capital ship being torn apart. Those things always frightened her, just such raw destructive power: not considering the crew of each capital ship that was destroyed, slept better when she didn't think about that.

No time to gawk though, there were TIEs to be blown up into pretty space fireworks!

Flicking on her comms, Tilesa hoped they all used a similar frequency:

"Blue-7, reporting in! Point me in the right direction!"

Needed to make sure she wasn't a total loose cannon when zipping around.

[member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Aithne Charr"] @National Extremist

 

[Jerek Zenduu]

As his T-85 headed for the cluster of TIEs now engaged with the rest of Blue Squadron, Jerek spied several on the tail of his squadron mates. For the most part, they were too far away to help. Jerek pushed his fighter to its top speed, ignoring the caution of avoiding any flanking laser fire as he sped toward his comrades in arms, hoping he would not be too late to prevent the destruction of his newfound friends.

Even the appearance of another fleet, also friendly this time, could not be allowed to distract the boy. The Jedi Ace focused his sight, angling his craft toward a particular TIE Sentinel that was on the tail of Blue Leader. Master Xantha was his friend, yes, but more importantly Blue Squadron could not function well without him. The TIE on his tail seemed to be attached there like glue, following his squadron leader tightly as he bobbed and weaved through the defense fleets.

"Blue Five to Blue Leader, there's a bandit on your point-six. I'm judy, over."

Jerek eased his fighter into the maze of hellfire being exchanged between the opposing fleets as Blue Leader signaled his acknowledgement. His fighter was small enough to fight through the salvos of turbolaser and laser cannon fire, twisting around as he nearly caught some errant fire from a passing TIE craft. It wasn't the enemy fighter he was focused on, however, so he let it by unharmed, unwilling to break off his pursuit just when he was getting close.

Another TIE screamed by, its cannons flaring as it passed close to him, forcing the teen pilot to pitch out of the way. The enemies were starting to swarm now, despite the plethora of targets, his starfighter and Blue Leader's appeared to be the juicier ones for them. Jerek's brow began to sweat as he strained to follow the TIE on Master Xantha's tail, whoever was piloting that ship, they were good. Maybe too good. The enemy was getting far too close to shaking him off the tail, and if that happened, Blue Leader was surely done for.

"Blue Seven, Blue Squadron, I'm all beaded up here, could use some assist. Got a whole string of bandits painting my tail, and I can't shake 'em."

Trusting his wingmates would come to his rescue, Jerek kept his focus on the enemy ahead of him, the TIE dogging Blue Leader with near-laser precision. He rolled instinctively to avoid fire from behind him, a moment before he heard the alarm bells ring out from the T-85's hardware, and a moment of ire rose within him once more at the limitations of the technology at hand. He dismissed it, however, as he realized the roll had set him almost directly behind his prey. Jerek nudged his craft over a little, letting the two fighters synchronize for the smallest of moments, and opened his laser cannons on the fighter pursuing Blue Leader.

[member="National Extremist "]| [member="Tilesa Seth"] | [member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Aithne Charr"]​

 

[Livia Maddox]

Location: W22
Objective: Destroy the Station
Allies: None
Enemies: NR [member="Kaine Australis"], [member="Harley"] Fenstermacher @

The fleet was hired by a third party, whose handfuls of Corusca Gems were enough of a down payment for Captain Maddox to rustle out her crews. Only those who wanted the work came with her, chasing credits.

After all, the crews had families to feed.

Coming out of hyperspace, an identically set fleet of ships zoomed to the battlefield.

“Mr. Tanner, scan potential targets. Give the gunners ships to hit. Ms. Yika, come the remaining extremist ships and have them cluster to our position. Baldy, take us about. Put us in league of the station. Squads Nyran, Shiraya, Spetz and Grosh, engage Republic squadrons.

Gunners, target the station’s docking connectors. Blow the docks. Target the lead Republic ship and have the corvettes slide along its underbelly and fire all cannons.”

One does not mess around, when one is hired to hit hard and fast.

 

[Oukaze Ryuu]

Oukaze Ryuu The Cog Boy
Location: W22
Objective: Destroy the Station
Allies: [member="Livia Maddox"]
Enemies: NR [member="Kaine Australis"], [member="Jerek Zenduu"] , [member="Tilesa Seth"], [member="Aithne Charr"]

I wonder if I only need to loose forty eight percent of the battle-group. The calculated thought turned to broken fragments as alarms rattled Oukaze, his cybernetic appendage quickly muted the sound of the alarm as his right hand lifted up one of the nearby datapads. If he still possessed an eyebrow it would have certainly been raised at the situation unfolding in front of him.

Hired to conduct a small guerrilla strike afforded them certain luxuries that otherwise would prove fatal to any dedicated fleets or major governments. ​Apparently we won't need much to do if so many Republic forces have arrived in system. After all such was the premise, let the Republic know that their presence would be made to suffer and they would need to expense large amounts of manpower to rid themselves of an annoying guerrilla force.

Silently he mused on the possible outcome for attempting to target more of the fleet, with the meager battlegroup of ships present would certainly be a stretch. But if I have time since. . . A slow shake of his head and Oukaze stepped forward from his room and quickly marched to the bridge. The undisciplined bunch annoyed his auditory sensors and since Oukaze couldn't just use his own droids, he needed to suffer through this battle with the unchanged. Besides, be a shame to waste my droids for this attack.

"Proctor, issue the rest of the Sentinel crafts to delay the Republic star fighters, with the emergence of another friendly battle-group we'll use them as a distraction and head off the Republic reinforcements." Oukaze grated out his commands. His XO nodded and rushed to their communication officers to relay the orders begin their advancement.

The Quasar carrier soon emptied out the rest of their TIE Sentinel craft out into combat to help delay any Republic Star-craft from their fighters to their bombers. With now freedom to conduct further battle movement the three Katana Class Corvettes converged to help swat away the Republic forces daring to finish off their Carrier comrade.

The other three Dreadnought Heavy cruisers enjoyed the freedom to once again move and circle around the Republic forces to allow themselves full range of their weapons and to deploy the remaining TIE Sentinel crafts from their hangers unhindered by pestering long range turbolaser fire and small battery fire.

While the remaining two Blade Runner corvettes sped along ahead of the Heavy cruisers to strike fast and open up a path for the Heavy cruisers to take and cut off any more Republic reinforcements from assisting those still attacking the Carrier ship. Oukaze smiled to himself, his cybernetic appendage lashed out to grab another dataslate and meticulously began to draw up Hyperspace navigation coordinates.

"Proctor, send a message to Captain Maddox, they'll see the center slowly give away to the weight of the Republic forces but our definition of victory is vastly different from the Republics." Oukaze ordered, if the Proctor could see his face underneath all those cybernetics he would have seen Oukaze grin a rather toothy grin.

Spoiler: Battle Group

1x Quasar Carrier
3x Dreadnaught-class MKII Heavy Cruiser
2x NH18 "Blade Runner Corvette"
3x Katana Class Corvette

 

[Aithne Charr]

Location: Inbound to aid Blue Squadron
Allies: [member="Tilesa Seth"] @Jerek Zendu, [member="Hannah"], [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

Fleet: Second Relief Force

Spoiler

The Skyfall - Infernus Class Heavy Cruiser - 900m
Apollo Class Interceptors - (5)
Rendili Starfighters - (12)
Scurrg H-7 Bombers - (12)
Umbra Class Dropships - (16)
Shard Class [SIZE=12pt]droppods[/SIZE] - (16)
Glaedr - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Shield of the Core - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Nebula - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m
Quasar - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m

Aithne smiled wide as she dropped down into the seat of her interceptor, letting her hands go on autopilot as she got the fighter ready for combat. The distant strikes on the carrier's hull made her glance around for a moment before leaning back and breathing in. A thin flame left her mouth as she let the breath go and the smile on her face grew twice it's length as she grabbed at the controls. With a single, fluid motion she put power into the engines and felt her body press back in her seat, the fighter launching from its place and turning quickly, her body experiencing the shift without mercy.

Her hands quickly twisted the interceptor around and up, looking towards the other four that made up her squadron and motioning for them to split off into pairs while she oversaw the battle as best she could from her place now. The battle had almost been won, atleast that's what she had thought until the arrival of [member="Livia Maddox"] and [member="Oukaze Ryuu"]. Their arrival was unanticipated and she had to react quickly if they were going to defend the station from these new aggressors.

"Captain, get the fleet inbetween those new ships and the station right now. I do not care if you have to take the brunt of the strikes, but you cannot let them through. That is an order." She closed off communication and looked for the command ship before breathing in and launching forward. Her hands quickly worked to change comm frequency and she reached out to [member="Jerek Zenduu"] and [member="Tilesa Seth"], not sure if [member="Kaine Australis"] would hear the transmission.

"We need to cut off the head of the snake now, and those fighters from the Quasar will stop us if we do not deal with them now. Im going to push in with my interceptor and those from the Skyfall, I request your aid blue Squadron. If the Time's Orphan can hear me, I need you to move in with my fleet and defend the station at all costs."

She would not fail this mission.

 

[Livia Maddox]

Location: W22
Objective: Destroy the Station
Allies: [member="Oukaze Ryuu"]
Enemies: NR [member="Kaine Australis"], [member="Harley"] Fenstermacher [member="Jerek Zenduu"] [member="Tilesa Seth"] [member="Aithne Charr"]

“Captain. Message from our compatriot.” The comm officer tossed the holoprojection to the Captain’s chair, knowing well enough Livia kept firm planted in her berth. Hand on the top of her cane, Livia listened to the message, and watched the battle schematics from Oukaze.

“Hmm. Unorthodox. Quite fancy that… alright you swabbies! Let’s give a good show!” TIE Sentinels poured from the hangars of Maddox’s borrowed ships. “Gum them up, clutter the Republic squadron’s attack vectors and cut their pathways.”

“Ma’am! It’s the Time’s Orphan! And he’s not on our side.” Mr. Tanner threw the holo of Kaine Australis’ ship and MandalArms fighters. Maddox clung to the side of her chair, slamming her cane’s bottom on the ground.

“What’s Australis doing here?”

A small silence stole across the command deck. Fire on Mandalorians? Clan Australis might have left the Mandalorian Empire, to raze worlds as independents, but the Mandalorians frowned upon firing on their own.

“We’re in enemy ships, using no Mandalorian tech… hired to do a job…” Livia leaned forward with a scowl. “Disable the Time’s Orphan’s weapons systems, if you have to. Leave life support and essential systems intact and steer clear of those cannons, they’re hefty. Leave the fighters to the others. Farbeit for us to be the ones to kill the Mand'alor's gorram husband! For now, we have other ships to fight. Target the remainder of the Republic forces.

Fire all cannons. All corvettes, open fire.”

As the small fleet spread across the field of battle, the full teeth of Maddox’s ships came to bear across the Republic forces.

Fleet:

Spoiler

1x Quasar Carrier

Spoiler

3x Dreadnaught-class MKII Heavy Cruiser
4x NH18 "Blade Runner Corvette"
3x Katana Class Corvette
2x Hapan Battle Dragons

 

[Aithne Charr]

Location: Inbound to aid Blue Squadron
Allies: [member="Tilesa Seth"] @Jerek Zendu, [member="Hannah"], [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

Fleet: Second Relief Force

Spoiler

The Skyfall - Infernus Class Heavy Cruiser - 900m
Apollo Class Interceptors - (5)
Rendili Starfighters - (12)
Scurrg H-7 Bombers - (12)
Umbra Class Dropships - (16)
Shard Class [SIZE=12pt]droppods[/SIZE] - (16)
Glaedr - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Shield of the Core - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Nebula - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m
Quasar - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m

Aithne blinked as the ships in her field of view shot forward and colors filled the canopy of her interceptor and the black sky that she shot through. It was renewed conflict and aggression and Aithne's mind narrowed as she focused on the ships she was now facing and the force lain out before her. It was alot, the chaos having renewed and forced her to reach out into the force for help, to see the world around her as fighters shot past and her eyes could barely follow the craft. This was bad, the ships of the Republic were already strained and now aligned against them was a force she did not know how to deal with.

She looked towards the swarm that the enemy put against them and breathed in with a grin slowly crawling over her lips.

"Green Squadron and associated forces, pull off now and fall back... Nova Squadron, commence with Field Clearing." She pushed the power forward and her interceptor spun, looking to strike at the fighters put against her. Her hand moved and hovered over a switch, pushing the safety up and clearing the weapon as the interceptor shook, a laser bolt striking her craft's wing. She felt the fighter screaming towards the enemy command ship. Her hands gripped the controls tight and soon she punched through and into the enemy formation, flicking the waepon switch up.

The voice of one of her squadron mates filled her ear as he ejected his payload before being consumed in flames. It would be up in a second, their little ploy, so Aithne punched the ejection handle and out from the back of the interceptor came their payload, her craft scrapping the top of the enemy cruiser as she got too close. The Interceptor would be fine but her eyes quickly seized on the damage screen. Stabilizers were damaged, meaning she had no choice but to gun it as a timer counted down to her right.

Her hands pushed the power into the engines and her body slammed back into the seat as the world around her blurred.

The timer was almost done, the other squadron members had released their payloads, which now sailed into the enemy formations. These smaller, cylinders tumbled and Aithne's in particular round its way falling into the hanger of one of the enemy ships, halted only by the ship's rayshields which had not been opened for it.

Seismic Charges, that was the special present and her cockpit sounded as the noise that was absent in space was given form in her little cockpit. A simple, sudden noise as the five charges lit off and the world around them turned to further chaos.

 

[Oukaze Ryuu]

Oukaze Ryuu The Cog Boy
Location: W22
Objective: Destroy the Station
Allies: [member="Livia Maddox"]

Enemies: NR [member="Kaine Australis"], [member="Jerek Zenduu"] , [member="Tilesa Seth"], [member="Aithne Charr"]

"Fighters are being reduced quickly!" Shouts came up, as more news erupted from one of the Communication Officers, "Shields dropped below seventy percent!"

Oukaze rubbed his forehead gently, his audio receptors decreased their range and input sensitivity as he simply peered at his data-pad. Honestly why I bother being here in the first place. He possessed all information on his data-pad and if he had brought his own crew perhaps Oukaze might have not even bothered staying in the bridge. Eyes focused on the new battle formations forming to attack his fleet, interesting enough a large majority of the Republic fleet elected to remain close to the Station.

Content enough themselves and understanding that the key to their victory and continuous presence resided in keeping their Station functional. But as I said, that's their victory condition. Not mine. Oukaze moved closer to the Communication Officer, frantic as ever, and with a mechanical hand rested on the Officer's shoulder he quickly calmed.

"Stagger our forces as we continue on our attack plan. Allow our Fighters to screen for our cruisers to keep off the enemy starfighters. Keep in maximum range of their Heavy Cruisers. Watch for which ships decide to reinforce their Star Fighters." Oukaze ordered.

After all, he mused if they did not directly engage their defensive perimeter they had little to fear with the Republic's superior firepower and fleet size. Oukaze figured that if the enemy simply intended to grind out starfighters, this was a perfect for him for the moment. They are attacking us where we hold the advantage. They had their cruisers, and carrier in range to assist their own fighters but the Republic Starfighters had no luxury of support craft or heavier weapons to deliver the killing blow.

"Also, send a request to our Compatriot Captain Maddox that we should link up at the earliest convenience." Oukaze ordered his Officer to send out the message. Now, let's lure them away from the station. . . or they call back their Starfighters. Really, a win win from my view point. Honestly, Oukaze figured if this evolved into a staring match between fleets he wouldn't at all mind.

Spoiler: Battle Group

1x Quasar Carrier 100% Hull 65% Shield
3x Dreadnaught-class MKII Heavy Cruiser 100% Hull 80% Shield
2x NH18 "Blade Runner Corvette" 85% Hull 55% Shield
3x Katana Class Corvette 75% Hull 90% Shield

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Theme
Equipment: In signature
[member="Alexander Sannes"]

The vigilant envoy was an amazing ship – fast, hidden, and with plenty of amenities. Most of the modern necessities were available in the ship. Most importantly, though her navigation were locked onto the Wakeelmui system.

She was traveling through hyperspace to finally see her father – after months of hiding away on Mandalore hiding away from, well, everyone. To be fair, she was in University but… Still. Anyway, her mom gave her the name of the system, but didn’t really give her any more information. Beth didn’t ask. She had assumed it wouldn’t be any issue, anyway. Plus, it looked like he had been spending time with the New Republic! Beth liked that – democracy was pretty cool, even if it wasn’t the Mandalorian way of governing. The idea of senators and chancellors and elections was interesting to Beth.

In either case, Beth was in her beskar’gam, sitting cross-legged on the pilot’s seat. Her buy’ce rested on the other chair; her hair pulled up into a messy bun. In one hand she had a data pad, scrolling through the latest fashion from some of the hot spots like Alderaan. She really needed to visit those places, sooner than later.

Her head bobbed to the music that was playing. Some old music she hadn’t really listened to but had always been interested in hearing. Maybe her dad had heard it before? She’d have to ask him…

Pow! She was out of hyperspace and in the system and… Oh boy. Beth scrambled to take manual control of the craft. The craft was still cloaked, and hopefully none of the fighters would somehow pick up on the Vigilant Envoy’s presence. It looked like she had picked a bad time to visit! Instead of surprising [member=Kaine Australis], she herself got surprised by some form of space battle. She stopped the ship far away from the all the ships as she carefully watched the scene unfolding. She had never fought with her ship before and hopefully today wouldn't be the day for that, either.

Her dad in a battle though? Not really that surprising.

She sent an encrypted message to one of what looked like the main ships that her ship could scan, the Time’s Orphan. “Hello, this is Bethany Australis-Cadera of Clan Australis and Clan Cadera. Is Kaine Australis aboard?” It was… Awkward, and to be honest she wasn’t really sure what to say. It had been a long time since she’d the last time she had to hail a ship, during a battle. Actually, had she ever been in this situation before? She had really only used her ship for transportation, or helping out with diplomatic stuff.

 

[Edward Thane]

From the bridge of the large star destroyer the officer paced back and forth, brow twitching as he watched the battle unfold from the beginning. The ship was far out of position and slowly maneuvered its bow and encroached upon the battle. Fighter squadrons zipped about blasting apart enemy fighters while larger vessels assaulted the station. Taking another drink of Ariondight Red he set the glass down.

Blue Squadron had performed admirably, their skill having caught his attention as they held off the assault until the battleship was ready. Now it was his time. As the monolith crossed the distance to the station the blonde commander barked out orders. "Focus those turbolasers on the large vessels and fire on my mark." Datapad in hand he quickly scanned over rapidly updating information.

Then with a needlessly dramatic gesture of the arm he ordered in an even, straight-laced, tone. "Fire." A cacophony of brilliant green streaks flew from the ship towards their intended, larger, targets.

Once more he scooped the wine into his hand and drained the last of it, watching the blur of colors unfold. His mind was elsewhere, recalling his first naval sortie. This was of a grander scale, and even yet it was small compared to the great theaters of war he had been educated on.

[member="Tilesa Seth"] | [member="National Extremist "]| [member="Jerek Zenduu"] | [member="Aithne Charr"] | [member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Oukaze Ryuu"] | [member="Livia Maddox"] | [member="Beth Cadera"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

Location: Inbound to aid Blue Squadron
Allies:[member="Hannah"], [member="Edward Thane"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Beth Cadera"]
Enemies: [member="Oukaze Ryuu"] [member="Livia Maddox"]

Fleet: Second Relief Force

Spoiler

The Skyfall - Infernus Class Heavy Cruiser - 900m
Apollo Class Interceptors - (5)
Rendili Starfighters - (12)
Scurrg H-7 Bombers - (12)
Umbra Class Dropships - (16)
Shard Class [SIZE=12pt]droppods[/SIZE] - (16)
Glaedr - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Shield of the Core - Hapan Battle Dragons - 500m
Rendili Starfighters (24)
Aurek Class Interceptors (12)
Nebula - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m
Quasar - Cluster Class Heavy Frigate - 400m

Aithne's hands turned white as she continued to pull on the yoke of the fighter, watching her fighter spit smoke into the blackness of space and trying to figure out how best to use it at this point. She still had enough control on the fighter to get back to her ship but that would do little to help the fight and she looked around as fighters were closing in behind her, survivors of the Seismic charges her squadrons had loosed on the enemy. Her ships were busy protecting the station itself and she had to focus on the enemy. There had to be something she could do and then she smiled as she glanced to the screen, knowing that [member="Edward Thane"] was still in engagement.

She grabbed at the comm device, turning her fighter and arming the torpedos as she looked at the bridge of the enemy capital ship with a wide smile crossing her face, the fighter turning. Her nose pointed towards the Quasar Carrier that had been giving them troubles, smiling as dark shadows clouded her eyes and she spoke.

"Admiral Thane, this is Naval Operative Shade, I am going to lead a strike on one of the Command vessels, I require your Destroyer's aid. Target the Quasar and pepper its shields down, give my people an opening to wipe those bastards off the face of the galaxy." She left it at that, letting [member="Kaine Australis"] and [member="Beth Cadera"] deal with the other Ship owned by [member="Livia Maddox"]. They seemed more apt to dealing with that one, and likely more able to take it down.

Aithne grabbed her controls and breathed in, pushing the power into her engines and lurching forward as she spun back into an interception path. Her squad members moving to get on her wings and arm their own torpedos.

It was time to make some fireworks.

 

[Arage Bao]

SPACE​

[member="Mav Vohaloveer"] | [member="Sabetha Tag"]​

​

The tick of boots against metal announced her arrival on the bridge, before anything else.

The swoosh of the doors sliding open. She was met with the scent of burned flesh, electronics and sweat. The battle had been fierce, but necessary. This was the first assignment of one Admiral Bao. The first time Humbarine's fleets had left the Reach and assisted with establishing order. Such a thing was not trivial by any means. [member="Koda Fett"] was presumably still busy infiltrating the upper echelons of Zeltros, as he tried to track down the missing energy tycoon that would be key to her plans for Sarapin.

Instead it was Mav Vohaloveer who was retained for his services for this battle. Him and half a dozen Golden Guard. They had been there to make sure certain elements were truly dead, before the victory was called through the wreckage of the pirate ship.

A dozen of the pirate crew were aligned against one another. Waiting for their fate as Arage surveyed the scene. The viewports gave the sight of space outside. There were derelict spacehulks drifting gently through the void now. Their hulls filled with hulls from large velocity rounds bursting through them. She could almost imagine the scenes within. Of asphyxiated crews drifting slowly as the ships drifted around them. It was almost enough to make her shiver.

Then Arage noticed something.

Her eyes squinted at one of the pirates, a bit off the side. She had red hair.

Arage's expression grew dark.

 

[Sabetha Tag]

"So, uh, that didn't go as planned."

"Ya think?"

"Look I was just-"

"Shut up Tarik."

The deck was hard and cold beneath her knees. This was the last place Sabetha wanted to be. Hira would be laughing her arse off right now. Or yelling at her. Probably both.

Hands bound behind her back, she shifted her wrists slightly, testing the cuffs. Good quality, she'd give them that. Chit.

There was some shifting of the ragtag group- she wouldn't call them a crew here. Hired out of a star port for the job. A big part of why they had failed too. She knew it, and made a mental note that, if she survived, it was time to start putting together folks who she could actually count on not to be utter durnis in any given situation. People invested, not just on because of some quick credits.

Green eyes glanced up, then down.

Then.

A smile curling over her lips as the white haired woman closed in.

"Hey Ara. Long time no see." Casual. Like they were in a bar, rather than Sabetha staring down at her boots in cuffs with blood on her vest.

[member="Arage Bao"] [member="Mav Vohaloveer"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Sabetha Tag"] | [member="Mav Vohaloveer"]

Already Arage could feel a headache slowly starting to seep in behind her eyes.

She walked firmly towards that gorram menace. Her boots clicking against the floor with force, where you'd almost think she was trying to kick through it. Why was it like this? How was it like this? The last time that Arage had seen Sabetha had been... a flash of memories. Hair like blood in the wind, smiles and laughter, hungry nights, cold. She had put those days behind her. Aggressively. The last time that Arage had seen Sabetha had been when the Jedi accepted her.

So what had happened between Padawan Tag and this fethin' chit?

"That is Admiral Bao of the Humbarine Navy for you." Bao finally managed to say, between clenched jaw and grinding teeth. "Law and order, ladies and gentlemen. That is all that matters. The law protects, order sustains, the people remain happy."

Her voice had gotten a cold edge to it now. No longer talking to Sabetha specifically.

Instead it was to the whole ensemble.

"But you broke the law. You stole, cheated, killed. Understand- there needs to be recourse for this." A thought, her eyes meeting Sabetha's for one moment, before a decision was made. "Does any of you wish to recant? To assist the law and repay for your crimes?"

 

[Sabetha Tag]

"Yes Ma'am."

She kept her head down. Smiling, but hair hiding it. Oh, Ara would know. Sabetha was bold, but she wasn't stupid. The tone of voice, the clack of the boots. Arage had something to prove. And there was no doubt in Sabetha's mind that they had both changed enough that she couldn't assume she'd just let her sass her and breeze out of this. No. This was a matter of face. She didn't know just what was going on perse, but she could guess.

Former street rat now Republic rising star. Admiral huh?

Good for her.

"Assist how?"

Inwardly Sabetha groaned.

"Probably press gang, or turning over other criminals you know of in Republic systems," Sabetha answered immediately. "So. You know. Have fun with that Tarik."

[member="Arage Bao"] [member="Mav Vohaloveer"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Sabetha Tag"] | [member="Mav Vohaloveer"]

There was no way of pretending like Arage didn't know Sabetha.

Not when the dumbass had already outed them both.

Why couldn't she ever make things easy? Even when they were kids, it had always been a challenging prospect. Now... now the stakes were so much higher. "I see that even here you find yourself the ringleader, miss Tag, how convenient." Arage said with no amusement in her tone. Crisp and clear-cut. "In the old days you'd be executed to serve as an example." A pondering thought followed next. Clearly stretching out the moment. There was a petty little chit part of her that wanted to push that.

Punish Sabetha.

Scare the chit out of her.

But sadly that wasn't the way Bao conducted herself... even if it would have been satisfying as feth. "But it is your lucky day. We need information and who best to extract it from than the leader?" Her fingers snapped and the soldiers around them came into motion.

Two would snatch out Sabetha.

The rest kept the line under control. "The ones that wish to cooperate to the right, Corporal, the ones that refuse are to be executed." A glance towards Mav. "Make yourself useful, Vohaloveer. You can execute the first and the last." From anyone else it might have sounded like pleasure. Amusement. Arage was completely dispassionate about it. A tone frigid and cold. Like she had ordered the crushing of ants, rather than the execution of at least half a dozen of people.

Far cry from the girl that Sabetha had once known.