Paving the Future (The Imperium)

[Lash]

Stela'shlit'nuruodo stood silently on the bridge of the Carnifex as it sped through hyperspace en route to the Rothana system. The Imperium had seen a rock road so far as its mission to bring order to the galaxy had seen it displaced of its own will twice now in so many months. The departure from Gerrenthum had been a surprise to Lash and his force. He had not been over the world when Greth laid waste to the capital and fled to the mid rim. He and his force had been dealing with a pirate group near Hoth and were not informed until later that they had no home to return. Not having a home was something the Chiss under his command were used to. They had been exiled long ago from the ascendancy and now called the Imperium their home. Now as a new chapter began for the Imperium it had been tasked to him and his task force to open the door for the Imperium to Rothana and its new home.

Lash knew operatives on the world had been working for months now preparing for this day. Much of the population had been calling out for freedom from the oppressive government they had been under since the collapse of the techno union and it's influenceable had been removed from the system. The governor and his band of criminals now ruled over the world and what was left of its population and industry with an Iron fist. The Imperium too would rule as such but it would not enslave its population as the current power in control was. It would find its slave labor from other alien worlds freeing the population of the world to live, work and play as they wished.

As the blurred Starline's of hyperspace vanished in an instant and the dull white icy world appeared before him Lash grinned seeing the Destroyer before him bringing its guns to bear. without looking at any one person his voice boomed out over the noise of the command deck.

"Tear her apart!"

 

[Lash]

The Star Destroyer in the distance came to life as its commander and crew adjusted to the sudden surprise of a battle group entering its system. From behind it two smaller vessels appeared moving around it's flanks and into a line position to engage Lash and his force. HE watched as the ships slowly moved around from behind the larger ship and into position. In the distance, other smaller escorts and cruisers began to move in to engage the new force now sitting still in space facing it. Lash looked to a smaller screen to his left displaying a tactical overlay of the system. It was now updating as each ship was scanned and categorized and listed as an icon on the screen. His own force was first to be displayed as it had already been programmed into the friend or foe computer and each ship had its own icon and tactical rating. From behind him a voice spoke in a calm steady tone.

"Admiral, we have identified the enemy vessels. Three destroyers, two heavy cruisers, and seven various escorts. They all appear rather old sir. Thier transponders have them all being at least two centuries old. I have given them a low thread rating." said the Chiss officer looking over the tactical console. Lash paused at his information then spoke.

"Commander, DO not underestimate any ship of that class no matter its age. Any ship of this class is a threat no matter what it is. I would demand you rethink your first assessment and recategorize them. Many ships of that age have survived to be their age because they are formidable ships. Most would also have been upgraded most assuredly by the government. They still have many of their slipways active." said Lash not looking at the officer. He would make a note to look into the man's service record and investigate his past. An officer of his rank should have known not to underestimate an enemy. It may be time he was retired from bridge duty.

 

[Lash]

The three large vessels in the distance opened fire second before Lashes force did. The Old Pellaeon-class Star Destroyer released a volley of energy weapons on the Imperium force followed by its smaller Victory-class sisters. Behind them, more fire erupted from the smaller cruisers and frigates in support of their larger kin. Lash watched as the bolts of blue and green struck the shielding of Carnifex. Its Redundant Molecular Shielding absorbing the energy and charging the massive reserve capacitor banks of the Carnifex. the second volley of fire from the Rothanan Governments fleet had just slammed into the shields as the Mjolnir beam fired instantly impacting the larger destroyer. Its constant beam radiated for a second as the neutronic energy reformed and slammed into the shielding of the destroyer with its near infinite mass. Behind it the large assault turbolaser batteries struck out at the destroyer also adding their monstrous firepower to the barrage. Then the remaining weapons systems of the Carnifex opened up sending a stream of bolts out at the enemy fleet in the distance.

beside the Carnifex the two escorting Annihilator-class support cruisers opened fire sending out turbolaser and ion cannon bolts at the two smaller destroyers in the Rothanan formation. Thie firepower slamming into the shielding of the two victory-class ships rippling the shielding of each. Behind Carnifex the smaller escort vessels launched their fighter and took up position to protect the three larger vessels. IN the distance the fighter formations of the ROthanan government grew larger as they neared the Imperium's force.

"Captain, have all vessels prepare for attack craft. They are to maintain fire on the destroyers only use defensive weapons at point blank range." said Lash to the Chiss officer standing beside him. The man nodded and relayed the order to the other ship sin the group. Lash maintained his watchful eye on the destroyer in the distance. He knew it was the only thing in the system that had the power to do any real damage. It's constant fire was wearing on the shielding pumping energy into the capacitors much faster than they could dissipate it. Soon the Shields would begin dropping as the capacitors filled and the molecular shielding was cut off from them.

"Send word to all attack squadrons, They are free to engage at will." said Lash as the fighters from the Rothana group neared the Carnifex. Soon they would open fire and send their torpedoes and missiles against the Imperium's ships. The Carnifex's thermal shields would help but the other vessels were not as lucky they would feel the full brunt of the incoming projectiles on their particle shielding.