The Rebel Faction

~~~Echtaban, Bisk Planetary Assault Fleet, Onboard the Aggressor~~~

The pieces on the stage where set. Moff Zhukov had given the order and now the fleet moved into place. Tycho was now making the final preparations for the assault. He stood at the bridge in his usual parade rest stance. Abruptly he turned to one of the junior officers on the bridge.

“ Ensign Hales, I understand you are the Ship Systems Officer. You will be serving working closely with me.”

“ Understood, sir.”

“ Very good, signal the fleet, it is time to move out.”

The junior officer snapped to a salute. “ Yes, Sir.” The Ensign hailed all the other ships in the fleet.

“ This is the flagship Agressor, all ships will now proceed with the fleet, prepare to make the jump to lightspeed.”

The black void of space began to fill with light as the stars seemed to lengthen around the ship.

“ Jumping in five, four, three, two, one. Jump to lightspeed all ships.”

The world became a tunnel of light as the ship traveled through it. The complicated intricacies of making the jump always intrigued Tycho. It involved complex mathematics and was one of the most useful creations of technology he had ever seen. But he needed to focus. He snapped back into real time.

He needed to be sure of this victory. With it, he would secure himself a strong position in the New Order. So that one day, one day he would rise above what he had been, to eclipse all those who had come before him. The New Order would once again dominate the galaxy. This time, there would be no rebellion. Already he possessed abilities that many did not have. Tycho supposed he would need to contact one who knew about these things and ask them what it meant for his future.

As Tycho stood on board the bridge all these thoughts past through his head. Suddenly, he turned and activated the ships speaker system.

“ Soldiers of the New Order, this is Commodore Shorn speaking. This upcoming battle may seem of no importance to the Empire, but I assure you it represents everything that the Empire stands for. We will subdue the galaxy and bring about order and peace, one planet at a time. With the capture of this planet, it will show those who oppose the Empire how futile there efforts are. No one can stand against our might. The chaos of the galaxy is caused because of all the different factions within it. Once it is all one then we will truly have peace. You fight this battle not just for the resources that lie within the planet, or to expand our realm. In fighting this battle you will be showing our enemies that we too have bravery and courage, we too have armies, and we only shall conquer this galaxy. Troops, today....today you fight for the glory of the Empire!”

Tycho slowly hung up the com. He knew the speech had roused the men. But would it be enough? Straightening the collar of his uniform, Shorn resumed his stance at the bridge. His stomach was gnawing with nervousness. Cool prickling tingled its way across his skin. Cold sweat beaded upon his brow. This was it, the battle that would make or break him.

If he won here, glory would be his. His name would be spread across the holonews as a conqueror of planets. When he returned to the New Order, it would be with his head held high. Nothing would defeat him here, for nothing could. He was Tycho Shorn, who was Bisk to stand against him?

~~~Bisk Space, onboard the Aggressor~~~


The Aggressor moved into place, both Harbingers flanking it, with the Aurora following a ways to the side. Tycho still stood on the bridge of the Destroyer. He was staring at his enemies maneuvers and could tell that the man wasn’t stupid. Putting both of the Strykers to cover the MC-90 made it impossible for his current fleet to engage either the MC-90, or the Credence, without the other ship attacking his flank. Tycho however still had his wildcards. He would show these men why the Imperials where famed for tactics.

“ Signal the Fleet to all ahead full and direct the attack on their flagship.”

“ Yes sir.”

Now the two fleets were headed straight for each other, both sides going at full speed. The distances lessened and lessened until the order was given.

“FIRE!”

Streaks of green, blue, and red flashed across the blackness of space. As the Aggressor passed the Credence it fired a broadside into the enemy vessel. The shields shuddered as the Credence took the hits and returned fire. Now it was Tycho’s turn to hold on as the whole ship was rocked by multiple impacts. The Aurora passed on right side of the Credence, firing another broadside from its range of weapons. Its turbolasers blasted away at the surface of the shield. Then it fired its proton torpedoes. All along the hull of the Credence appeared at least three explosions as the proton torpedoes passed through the parts of the shield weakened by the turbolasers.

With the ships now locked in broadside engagements, they both released their fighter complements. Scores of fighters roared out of the hangar bays, dancing in the starry skies. The pilots yanked on the controls or screamed into their comsystem as they began a deathly game of cat and mouse, winner stays alive, for the moment. To the Commodore standing on the bridge of the Aggressor it all appeared so beautiful. Beautiful, only until he was yanked back to the ship by the explosion from a hull penetration.

As the fighters danced in the skies, bombers did runs across enemy vessels, and ships fired broadsides into one another. The MC-90 arrived on Tycho’s flank. It came along with its two Strykers and began to quickly batter down his defenses. The Aggressor was rocked with more explosions and the Aurora took another hit, not to mention the Harbingers, one of whom seemed to be on its last legs. Victory appeared to be within the grasp of the Defense fleet. She was reaching out her hands to them. The robes of her garments flowing around her as she stared out from beneath her war helm and held her great spear aloft. The sailors of Bisk began to cheer as they could see Victory’s hand within meters. But then it she took it away from them. Instead she raised her mighty spear aloft and stabbed downward into the heart of the Defense Fleet.

~~~Bridge of the Credence~~~

“ Sir! We’ve taken another direct hit!”

Admiral Vance knew this already, seeing as how he had almost fallen from his chair with the shockwaves. It didn’t matter that their shields were failing. The enemy was within his grasp. Foolishly, the enemy commander had tried to attack head on against the Credence. The plan had worked for a while, until the Captain Sevant flanked the Imperial Star Destroyer. Now it was only a matter of time until the enemy either surrendered, or was utterly destroyed. Already one of their Harbinger Cruisers was half destroyed. Its internal systems aflame from the conflagration that had sprang up when a weapons cache took a direct hit.

The only problem that remained was the smaller Star Destroyer. It had gone around the other side of the Credence and was now safe from the firing of the MC-90 and its escorts. However it shouldn’t prove to be a problem. The Credence was already engaging the smaller vessel and pounding its shields to pulp. Although those proton war heads were proving a bit of an irritation, in the form of explosions that could be felt throughout the ship.

“ Direct all batteries to open fire on the bridge of that Aurora. If you eliminate their head they cannot stand for long.”

“ Yes, sir.” Barked the weapons systems officer. He directed the gunners and computers to merge their fire upon the bridge of the Aurora. It wouldn’t take long for the shields to give way.

“ Ensign Rivan, direct all bombers to attack the bridge.”

“ Yes, sir.”

Vance watched in silence as the bombers and turbolasers began to pound the Aurora.

~~~Bridge of the Arbiter~~~

The last thing Captain Elminoor saw was the proton bomb making a direct impact on the forward viewport of the bridge. The entire bridge burst into flames. Lieutenant Caaven felt the burning shockwave as it hit him and threw him back several meters. He landed in a heap on top of a control console. Half of the bridge was on fire. Caaven ignored the weird oddity that had become his arm. A pale-purple white thing, with a lump in the middle of the forearm. It was numb. Looking around he saw he was the only standing officer on the bridge, everyone else was either dead or unconscious. Thankfully, the bridge’s emergency viewport shut over the hole, sealing off the escaping oxygen and restoring Caaven’s breath. The sticky red blood that was dripping from his forehead was wiped away by his good arm as he ran forward to a communication console. He shoved the dead officer off of the panel and wiped off the gore so he could see the better.

“ This is Lieutenant Caaven. I am now the commanding officer. All proton batteries fire at their turbo laser batteries! Take them out!”

Caaven saw that the enemy flagship was sending out boarding shuttles. The things seemed to float towards him. Some burst into flame as remaining Ties struggled to keep air superiority. But they were still coming and they were full of enemy troops ready to board the ship that was now under his command. “ All turbolaser batteries, concentrate your fire on those boarding shuttles!” He quickly sent out the command, then opened up the ship wide speaker system. “ Men, this is Lieutenant Craaven your commanding officer speaking. The bridge has just taken a direct hit, most of the superior officers are dead. The enemy is sending boarding shuttles. We cannot let them take this ship. Men, I want you to hold this ship with your lives. Ask for no quarter and give none out. If we are captured you know the horrors that await. Defend this ship to your last breath!”

~~~Bridge of the Aggressor~~~

Tycho saw from the bridge and battle reports that things weren’t going so well. Already one of the Harbingers was very badly wounded and out of action. The Arbiter had taken a direct hit to the bridge and his own ship was getting pummeled by the MC-90 and its Strykers. Shorn stared in sadness as he saw fire burning across his flagship. The death of fleet seemed certain. It was time to pull out the wildcard.

“ Ensign Hales, issue the order.”

“ Yes Sir!” The Ensign readily complied, eager to help save the fleet. Already Shorn could feel that Victory was not quite sure of placing her hand in the Defense Fleet’s grasp. This battle wasn’t over yet.


~~~Bridge of the Dominance~~~

Commander Sivar received the order. His face lit up. It was time for his Eternal Advanced Destroyer to have some action. Turning to the weapons systems officer, he ordered the proton war heads to be readied for immediate use. Their orders were to target the MC-90 and make it burn. Then he gave the order to jump.

Two Eternal Advanced Star Destroyers burst into the middle of a titanic battle. The MC-90 and the Strykers were locked in battle with the Aggressor and a Harbinger. Sivar gave the MC-90 an evil look.

“ Fire the torpedoes!”

Bursts and flashes of light appeared as first one cluster, then another was sent at the MC-90. The first cluster clashed against the shields, creating holes in them, but not penetrating themselves. The second cluster went through these holes and straight into the hull of the MC-90. Massive explosions rippled along the enemy vessel as both Advanced destroyers opened fire. Suddenly, a com requesting to speak with the Captain came in. The heavily pounded Star Cruiser seemed to dip forward a bit as its systems were burned and floated about in space.

“ Sir, the enemy vessel i requesting to speak with us.”

“ Put them through.”

A hologram appeared in front of Sivar, depicting a Mon Calamari in a Commander’s uniform. The Mon Cal spoke in sad, defeated tones. “ I regret to say that my ship must offer you its surrender.”

“ Your surrender is accepted Commander.”

The hologram disappeared and a smile made its way across Sivar’s face. They were winning now, nothing could stop the Empire.

“ Direct all fire at those Strykers.”

“ Yes sir.”

“ Bring us up to the MC-90, as we pass the Stryker fire everything we have at it.”

“ It will be done Commander.”

The Dominance began to move towards the Mon Cal’s cruiser. As they passed the Stryker missiles and turbolaser fled from their ship and onto the enemy’s. A skispray blast boat fired concussion missiles into the engines of the Stryker, crippling it and leaving it to float, helpless in space.

The second Stryker was similarly dealt with by the second Eternal Advanced. Though it didn’t not have the pleasure of drifting about space as its hull was ripped open by the impact of multiple detonations. Soldiers and officers spilled out from within the Stryker. There last thoughts were filled with horror as the vacuum of space sucked them into its arms. Death received them. Glad to add more to his collection.


~~~Bridge of the Credence~~~

Admiral Vance stared out at his once proud fleet, now burning in space, or drifting helplessly. The admiral had never been defeated in battle before. It was something new for him to experience. The arrival of two more Star Destroyers through his plans and tactics to the ground and burned them in his hand. The MC-90 had been assaulted heavily by both Destroyers. The overwhelming firepower and freshness of the newly arrived Destroyers showed itself as the MC-90 sustained blow after blow.

The wounded Aurora was pummeling away at his turbo laser batteries on the right side. Leaving him open and unable to return fire. The enemy’s flagship turned away and began to head straight for the Credence. Both ships weren’t in peak condition anymore, but the enemy’s vessel had superiority in technology and weapons. Vance gritted his teeth.
There was no hope of his winning now. He would have to surrender, but he would have his final act of spite.

“ Destroy that crippled Harbinger.”

“ Sir?!”

“ Destroy it.”

The weapons officer reluctantly gave the order. Turbo laser batteries opened fire upon the severely wounded vessel. It shuddered and then gave way, fragmenting into chunks of steel as those within died in a sudden explosive fireball. Vance smiled cruelly. They would have to learn that victory came with a price tag.

“ Signal their flagship, we surrender.”

The glum reply came in the standard “ Yes sir.”

~~~Bisk Space~~~


The wreckage of the Harbinger floated past the Aggressor as it closed in on the Credence. Tycho’s eyes were closed as he sat in the troop shuttle. Emotions ran through his heart. Sadness, anger, and most of all irritation. He had not expected the enemy to be so savage. Destroying a crippled ship when you had no chance of winning was in his book spite. Now he was going to meet his nemesis face to face, so as to accept the man’s surrender.

The shuttle settled in the hangar bay and Tycho was escorted by a full platoon of storm troopers. Their stark white armor blatantly screaming imperial at the pilots who sat in the hangar under guard. Passing through the hangar, Shorn entered a long hallway at the end of which he turned left and stood in a turbolift while four troopers crowded in with him. The rest took additional lifts. The doors hissed open as he stepped out upon the higher levels. His black boots clacked on the floor as the tramping of the stormtroopers came from beside him. After several more hallways and a final turbolift, Tycho arrived on the bridge. His arrival was announced by the ensign who had come with him.

“ Commodore Shorn, of the New Imperial Order.”

“ Welcome to the bridge of the Credence.” Said the voice of a man with admiral rankings on his uniform. The man’s pinched face and close set eyes reminded Tycho of some of the birds of prey on his planet. “ I am Admiral Vance. It is interesting to meet you at last, though not altogether pleasant under the circumstances.”

Tycho stared coldly at the man. “ I have your surrender?”

“ Yes of course but I-” 

Tycho cut the man off by pointing a .48 cal Enforcer slug thrower at the man’s face.

“ Wha-What do you mean by this?!”
The itch to pull the trigger and wipe this scum off the face of the galaxy was almost irresistible “ You are charged with war crimes against the New Order. You will be taken into custody and placed in a detention cell on board the Imperial Ship Aggressor.”

Two stormtroopers seized either arm of the admiral. They dragged him out of the bridge amidst many protests. Shorn turned from watching the admiral being escorted out, to those aboard the bridge.

“ You will all be escorted to the hangar bay, where you will sit under guard until we deal with you.”

After the rest of the officers had been taken out, Tycho turned to the Ensign.

“ Get quarter crew from the Aggressor they will man this ship. Also tell the Dominance to place a skeleton crew on board the MC-90.”

“ Yes sir.”

Tycho turned and stared out the bridge. The final conquest lay before him. They would send landing parties to take the capital. With it taken, there could be no further hope for Bisk.


~~~Bridge of the Arbiter~~~


Caaven stood, his arm cradled in a makeshift sling. The bridge was now filled with a small crew of survivors. It was enough. The battle in space had been won. The assault vessels sent to take the Arbiter had been met in the hangar bay with severe resistance. After a bloody struggle, the soldiers of the Arbiter had succeeded in repelling the invaders and capturing their vessels. Caaven had ordered them to ready those vessels for immediate use. The Arbiter would have its share in the taking of Bisk. As the planet became closer and closer Caaven could feel the nervousness of the men in the assault vessels. Then the order came.

“ All assault craft and fighters, this is Lieutenant Caaven. The order to assault Bisk’s capital has come. All craft launch.”

Sirens sounded in the hangar as the pilots fired up the engines and descended on the planet in droves. The fighters escorting the troop carriers and the bombers heading for AA guns. It appeared from the bridge as if a swarm of giant bugs had been loosed upon the planet as spacecraft came from all of the Star Destroyers gathered.


~~~The Vindicator~~~


The pilot’s mission wasn’t over yet. They still had one thing left. As the Vindicator moved away from the moon and headed to the planet Captain Rolet thought about how he wished he could be there, in the pilot’s seat, right along side all those other flyboys. He had a job to do though. They arrived at the gathering of ships above the planet. The men boarded there fighters, troop carriers, and bombers. All ready to go at it again. Captain Rolet shook his head and sighed. Well, he couldn’t say he would be envying the ground troops on this one.