“The target is Aveo, a large moon whose mother planet was destroyed in the same upset that hit Thisspiass last year.”
Kyoto’s words echoed in the overcrowded hanger bay. They were holding the briefing here because it was supposed to be a simulation of an emergency call – an assault on an Imperial base, and a rapid response by the closest available unit. As a result, the force that Kyoto was fielding was something of a mismatch of ships. The Borderland could field a formidable fleet, but it was divided up amongst their worlds, varyingly on patrol, customs duty, and homeland defence. What Aveo would be getting was whatever could be scrambled to hold the enemy, until support could be mobilized. For their purposes today, that meant not even a Star Destroyer. The largest ship Kyto would be fielding today would be an Aegis carrier – a moderately armed but dreadfully under shielded carrier/cruiser that had been the mainstay of many government fleets because of its relative power for its cost. Not to mention the fact that, with its distinct arrowhead shape, it resembled the Star Destroyers of the Empire.
“The Rebels,” (played, of course, by Imperial sailors), “attacked the planet and are strafing the planetary bases, likely softening them up for a ground assault.” Kyoto went on.
He looked around the hanger bay. He had spent the last month rigorously training his fleet for this. This engagement would be their big test – word had come from Imperial Centre last night that Grand Moff Drayson herself would be observing.
“That means their cappies will be without starfighter cover for a good five, maybe ten minutes.” Brock Jayce, his Wing Commander, said. Kyoto nodded at the big man.
“Yes, it does. And because our fleet is fairly light on heavy firepower, I want you to use that time to pound their capital ships with your proton torpedoes.”
The starfighter pilot nodded. While the simulated fleet was supposed to be hastily assembled, and thus lacked many large capital ships, they had a good number of TIE Defender starfighters and Scimitar bombers. Those ships, with their proton torpedoes and concussion missiles, could deal significant damage to capital ships.
“Interceptors will fly cover and try and take out the enemy starfighters as they return to the engagement. Understood? Good.”
Wing Commander saluted, and immediately turned to his pilots, barking orders.
* * * * *
Aveo was unimpressive world, overshadowed by the nearby relative wonders of Thisspiass and Contruum. There was little of value for anyone to be had on Aveo, and were it not for its strategic position between the Imperial Core and the Black Dragon Empire, it would not even warrant the small Imperial garrison that was stationed there.
Kyoto’s fleet emerged from hyperspace in line, his pair of Dreadnaught cruisers flying point for the Aegis that was serving as his temporary flag. It was an unconventional formation, given that Dreadnaughts were vastly undefended and undergunned; the Aegis in contrast was a powerhouse.
“Sensors?” The Admiral asked, straining to see something out the viewports. The distance was to great, of course. All he could see was the mass of Aveo, filling the viewscreen. The enemy ships – if they were there – would be invisible against it.
“Seven contacts, Sir. Two cruiser analogues, sensor profile suggests Assault class. Three frigates, possibly Nebulon variety. And one corvette analogue, confirmed Marauder class Tenacious Grip. And one Loranor Corporation Strike Cruiser.”
None of which boded well for Kyoto’s fleet. His pair of Dreadnaughts outgunned the Rebel Assault Cruisers (which were in fact nothing more than modified Dreadnaughts themselves), but the enemy ships were faster and more manoeuvrable. More importantly, they were distinctly suited to engaging enemy starfighters, on which a large degree of Kyoto’s plan relied.
“Starfighters?”
“We have contacts, at least three squadrons and climbing, moving to rejoin the enemy fleet. No suggestions on what variant they are, but based on their speed I would guess Rebel X-wing class.”
The enemy fleet was reacting, too. The Assault Frigates and Strike Cruiser were hanging back, hoping to have the Imperial fleet pass through the screen of their smaller capital ships to engage them. Kyoto would have done the same thing: lure the Imperial ships behind his frigates, and let those ships pound away at their relatively undefended sterns.
And all the while, those fighters were getting closer.
“Allright. Starfighters are clear to begin their first run. Priority targets are the Nebulon frigates. Designate targets by squadron. Helm, bring us to attack speed and target the same, order the fleet to do likewise. Target the frigates and fire as soon as we’re in range, I want those ships dead by the time we reach them.”
Before long space above Aveo was a mess. The TIE Defenders, exercising their impressive speed, they snapped across the distance and let loose a full barrage of proton torpedoes. Shamelessly a tactic stolen from the Rebel Alliance, the missile assault was as effective against their ships as against those of the Empire. No gouts of fire gave away the simulated missiles’ impact, but the computer showed shields down and minor hull breaches across the board on the targeted vessels.
Then the fighters were gone, evading the enemy antistarfighter fire by diving down, towards the planet. Working with gravity now they redirected engine power forwards into shields and met the rising X-wings head on, the two sides exchanging thousands of millions of joules of energy before they were past, the TIEs no turning against gravity to pursue. But the effectiveness of their lightning attack could not be doubted – the Imperial fleet fast approaching in their wake now found the enemy frigates unshielded, and easy pickings for their turbolasers. And the enemy starfighters were splintered – some still on course for the capital ship engagement, others turning to do battle with the Imperial pilots.
From the bridge of his flagship, Admiral Kyoto watched events unfold. The speed of their attack had caught the enemy off guard, and he was down two of his Nebulon B frigates. But against his Dreadnaughts, the enemy Assault Frigates still held the upper hand, and the Aegis was trapped in a pitted battle against the Strike Cruiser. Here, in Aveo’s gravity shadow, the superior manoeuvrability of the Strike Cruiser did it little good. But if it could keep the bigger ship from reaching the Dreadnaughts, it could well mean the death of those two ships. The only (minor) consolation was that Kyoto’s Carrack cruisers had made short work of the enemy Marauder corvette and remaining frigate, and now they moved forward and raked the bow of the enemy Strike Cruiser with fire.
In mere moments, the assault had gone from good to a slugging match. And in Admiral Kyoto’s mind, slugging matches were never good.
“Fighters returning, Admiral.” The report came from sensors. Indeed, the enemy and Imperial fighters were both returning now to the fleet engagement. The X-wings were leading, with the TIEs in hot pursuit. “Dreadnaught Iron Man reports targeting lock.”
Kyoto brought the sensor displays from the Iron Man up on his screen and smiled thinly. Iron Man was one of his Dreadnaughts engaging the pair of Rebel Assault Frigates. And it was being targeted by the approaching hoard of Rebel fighter craft, nearly two squadrons worth still.
“Order Captain McLaren to execute order seventy-two at his prerogative. Let’s see if the new training has paid off.”
A moment passed, and then the bright blue propellant trails of proton torpedoes appeared in the bleakness of space, lancing across the distance between the fighters and the Dreadnaught. And then, strangely, stopping.
The fighter pilots, accustomed to seeing their missiles devastate enemy vessels, were so surprised by the sudden change that they forgot the TIE Defenders approaching in their wake – until those ships opened fire, eliminating several of the enemy ships and then breaking, away from the deadly Assault Frigate ahead.
Completing a rotation on her axis, the Iron Man used her tractor beams, their operators laboriously trained to utilize sheer plane mode to its greatest extent, to accelerate the frozen proton torpedoes into the flank of the Rebel Assault Frigate. Unprepared for such an attack, and still attempting to ward off the Dreadnaught with which she was engaged, the Assault Frigate broadcast total systems failure, and shut down.
Which left just the Strike Cruiser, and the second Assault Frigate. But then, everything changed.
This is a good time because Kas is so up-tight you could stick a coal up his ass and in two weeks you would have a diamond.
-Theren Gevel
