LOCATION: Taris Obj I
TAG: OPEN
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Objective I — Siege of Taris
(PvP/PvE)
The air above Taris crackled with emerald fire. Turbolaser batteries, once dormant relics of a forgotten war, roared to life, carving desperate paths through the incoming swarms of Mandalorian fighters. Below, the cityscape was a tapestry of burning plascrete and collapsing durasteel. The planet, once scarred by cataclysm, had finally begun to heal, only to have its wounds ripped open anew by the iron claws of the Neo-Crusaders.
Above this inferno, the
ANS Indomitable, a Courageous-class star destroyer, hung like a defiant sentinel. Its shields shimmered and buckled under the relentless bombardment. Inside the bridge, alarms blared, a chaotic symphony of impending doom. The guns of the ship were targeting anything and everything that was deemed a threat and downing them all successfully, but the numbers were just too great, and on top of that, this was meant to be "rescue" and "evacuation" not direct engagement.
Captain Gym Halpern, a man etched with the grim realities of a lifetime spent in military service, stood unyielding amidst the storm. Middle-aged, his face weathered and lined, his eyes held a depth of experience that spoke of countless battles fought and sacrifices made. He was a hardnosed officer, yes, one who demanded discipline and unwavering loyalty. But beneath the gruff exterior beat a compassionate heart, a deep-seated commitment to the men and women under his command. He was the kind of leader who led from the front, who would never leave a soul behind, even if it meant taking their place.
Report! he barked, his voice cutting through the cacophony.
Lieutenant Nara, her face pale but determined, swiveled in her chair. "Captain, we've reached maximum capacity. Refugee holds are overflowing. The hangar deck is a solid mass of bodies. We can't take on another soul, sir."
Halpern grimaced. He could feel the tremor of the ship as another volley of enemy fire slammed against their shields.
What about fighters? Can our screening force land?
Nara shook her head. "Negative, Captain. The hangars are completely full. We can't even cycle the doors. We're a sitting duck if we try."
Halpern ran a hand through his thinning hair. He could see the tactical displays, a swirling vortex of red encroaching upon their position. The Neo-Crusaders were relentless, driven by a fanatical zeal, a hunger for conquest that threatened to engulf the entire Outer Rim.
"Captain, we have to prepare for immediate departure," Commander Billut, his XO pleaded. "Helm, plot a course for the nearest hyperspace jump point. Engines to full power."
Belay that! Nara protested, his voice laced with concern and anger.
We still have thousands more trapped on the surface.
Halpern's jaw tightened. He knew the implications of the potential situation. Leaving meant condemning countless innocents to the brutal mercy of the Mandalorians. But staying meant risking the loss of the
Indomitable and the thousands already crammed within its hull.
He closed his eyes for a moment, the faces of the refugees – the scared children, the weary parents, the wounded soldiers – flashing through his mind. He thought of his own family, light years away, safe and secure under the protection of the Alliance. He had to make a choice, a choice that would weigh heavily on his soul for the rest of his days. He wanted to stay and provide cover fire for the transports from other ships, but they were taking too much fire, they could not stay.
We have a duty to those already aboard, he said, his voice heavy with regret.
We can't jeopardize their safety. Execute the order, Lieutenant.
As the
Indomitable began its slow ascent, shaking and groaning under the relentless assault, Halpern turned to the comms officer.
Open a channel to all planetary frequencies. Broadcast this message: “This is the ANS Indomitable. We are departing Taris under heavy fire. We have reached maximum capacity, if we could hold a moment longer, we would, if we could take one more aboard, we would. May the Force be with you.”
The message, a desperate plea echoing across the ravaged planet, was met with a cacophony of anguished cries and desperate pleas. Halpern could hear the raw terror in their voices, the sound of hope dying. He clenched his fist, his heart aching with a pain he had known too many times before.
Suddenly, a new voice crackled over the comms, clear and strong amidst the chaos. "
Indomitable, this is General Varad of the Taris Defense Force. We understand your situation. Do not blame yourselves. We will fight to the last breath."
Halpern recognized the voice. Varad was a seasoned veteran, a man of unwavering courage and resolve. He knew that Varad and his remaining forces were facing certain death.
Godspeed, General, Halpern replied, his voice choked with emotion.
May we meet again on the other side.
As the
Indomitable broke through the atmosphere, ramming smaller Mandalorian ships trying to block her path, leaving behind the inferno below, a lone figure emerged from a concealed bunker on the outskirts of the capital city. He was a Mandalorian warrior, clad in the iconic armor of the Neo-Crusaders. His name was Torin, and he was a zealot, a devotee to the ideals of Mandalore reborn.
He watched as the star destroyer vanished into the blackness of space, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. "Let them run," he growled. "They cannot escape the will of Mandalore."
Torin raised his weapon and fired a single shot towards the sky, a symbolic gesture of defiance, a promise of unrelenting pursuit. The shot streaked upwards, a tiny spark against the vast canvas of the cosmos, a whisper of the coming storm.
Back on the
Indomitable, the tension was palpable. The ship lurched violently as it entered hyperspace, narrowly avoiding a devastating collision with a rogue asteroid. Halpern remained on the bridge, his gaze fixed on the swirling vortex of hyperspace. He knew that the battle for Taris was lost, but the war was far from over.
He thought about the refugees, the survivors huddled in the cramped holds of the ship. They were the seeds of hope, the promise of a future free from the tyranny of the Neo-Crusaders. He had a duty to protect them, to guide them towards a new dawn.
But as the
Indomitable raced through hyperspace, a chilling premonition washed over Halpern. He knew that he had to be ready, that the
Indomitable and its precious cargo were destined for a confrontation that would determine the fate of the galaxy. He had to prepare his crew, to steel their resolve, to teach them the true meaning of courage and sacrifice.
The myth of the
ANS Indomitable began not with a triumphant victory, but with a heartbreaking retreat. It was a story of impossible choices and unwavering commitment, a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity in the face of overwhelming adversity. It was a story that would be whispered in hushed tones throughout the galaxy, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times, a reminder that even in defeat, there was still a chance for redemption. And Captain Gym Halpern, the hardnosed but compassionate leader, would forever be remembered as the man who chose to save a future, even as a planet burned behind him. The story of the Indomitable had begun.
They did not fail.
He did.
