Ganath - Independently-Controlled Planetary System
Space went on forever when one peered through almost a meter of transparisteel, safe in the steel carcass of a Star Destroyer. When a being found itself crammed into the small confines of a fighter of any variety or affiliation, space became intimidating. Many an E-wing pilot, after flying their first combat mission protected by shields and the Republic’s best and newest fighter craft, admitted to feeling alone ‘out there.’
There was just as much anxiety, fleeting or otherwise, among the pilots of the most feared combat department in the galaxy: the Imperial Fighter Corps. Many of these humanoids sat in the crash-couches of TIE mkII Defenders surrounded by top of the line technology and a strong hull unheard of with the half-century old TIE/ln series and felt the same thing.
Or at least Senior Lieutenant Antoine Varris did, commander of the 71st Fighter Squadron off the VSD
Praetorian. No matter how many of his comrades swarmed around him he shuddered every time he left the magnetic resonance field of a warship’s launch bay.
“ We’re all here, boss.”
Varris listened to his leather flight suit crunch as he turned his helmeted head to the comm. relay on the side of his snubfighter’s ball cockpit. “ As if my sensors weren’t working, Five.”
Vape Five, leader of second flight and the executive officer of the termed-Vape squadron, laughed in reply. “ So this is Ganath?”
Varris whistled. “ That’s what I’m told.”
“ It looks more like Sluis Van!”
Vape Five was not too far off on his comparative assessment. Where the shipbuilding hub of Sluis Van bristled with star yards, stations, platforms, and ships through its entire system so did Ganath. Stations as large as a kilometer in width and height orbited the near-dead world with literally thousands of smaller objects immobile yet secure in their orbit. In the utterly lawless region of Hutt Space it was as close in appearance to a legitimate metropolis as any native planet came.
Files provided to the 71st were small as Intelligence had to forward to every squadron a dossier of some four-thousand planetary systems. The were informed the ‘governor’ was the son of a former Imperial who had inherited the world from his father and controlled all aspects of life close to legitimately: police service was provided, as was electricity, water, sanitation, and medical care. Taxes were small and fixed at a percentage of declared income. Where the world differed from the main line in that those who did not include the ‘government’ in its illicit dealings found themselves at odds with the Police who committed crimes such as arson and murder as enforcement. Extortion was the way of life.
“ Well, what are we supposed to do again. Just show the flag?”
“ That’s it. Break off by flights and do some general harassing. Don’t concentrate fire, be indiscriminate. Make sure every one knows we’re here. Broadcast in the clear so they know just whose flag we fly.”
“ What fun!” Vape Five replied.
Vape Lead smiled and turned his fighter to port, the sound of his accelerating engines filling the cabin even through his head gear. Nearest to him and the three Defenders following in precise order behind was an old Urbikkian yacht sporting more weapons than was ever intended a ship produced for interplanetary courier duty.
Lieutenant Varris gave his trigger a gentle squeeze send three dual-linked bursts of light laser fire at his prey. The vessel’s shields were not up letting the bolts of light impact the hull. Scorch marks replaced worn and paintless hull plating; fire broke out at the lasers’ last hit mark, a fuel cell hit.
“ Two, your turn.”
The Defender to the squadron commander’s left punched his throttle forward and came into position before his superior. Two more Defenders formed up expertly on his flanks, Varris taking the diamond-end position at the rear of the flight. Two picked a fleeing skiff barely suited for vacuum exposure for his target, a target that disappeared after only three independent shots. After rotating again the flight left its mark on a repair dock that doubtless charged exorbitant sums for arriving, departing, time spent, and parts.
Chaos was easily created above Ganath. Several small craft had been destroyed and many others had minor damage. Many had shot back but were too ill trained to hit any of their attackers. Before forming up on their exit vector, Varris made his message clear.
“ Resistance to the Rule of the Empire will be dealt with mercilessly. Remember that when our bigger brothers come to vist.”
The squadron left for its carrier, rest, food, and then another identical mission briefing.
[size=1]Requiem en Terra Pax[/size]
