Chapter 4
-Flashback-
18 BBY, Belasco System, Belasco Sector, Expansion Region
Inside the Bridge of the Venator-class Star Destroyer Redemption currently in battle against the Separatist Blockade over Belasco.
"Launch proton torpedoes! We cant let these Separatist bastards have this planet!" A younger Captain Maesiff Lowe ordered the bridge crew.
"Sir, Incoming Tri-Fighters!" A clone shouted.
"Activate Point-Laser defense systems, and launch all fighters! We need to break through that blockade!" Maesiff yelled again.
"Yes, Captain!" The clone confirmed.
Maesiff walked towards the front of the bridge, staring intensely at the opposing fleet.
The Separatist blockade consisted of one cylindrical, medium armed Recusant-Class Light Destroyer, two lightly armed Munificent-Class Star Frigates, and in the middle, a stock variant Providence-Class Dreadnaught. Each of the ships the same bleak, grey and blue color scheme.
On the attacking side, Maesiff's fleet consisted of three grey and red Venator-Class Star Destroyers, Manticore, Redemption, and Fortitude. Four Acclamator-Class Assault Ships, Constellation, Merkava, Adder, and Horizon. Lastly, the fleet had three Arquitens-Class Light Cruisers, Huntress, Ingenuity, and Polaris.
"Contact the Huntress! We need to screen those fighters!" Maesiff continued to order, as a Vulture droid collided with the bridge deflector shield, rocking the deck.
Just as he made the order, an explosion filled the viewport as the Huntress took two shots from the Recusant destroyer's heavy turbolaser cannon, hitting the cruiser's magazine causing the ship to explode immediately.
"What do we do now Captain?" A clone asked, slightly worried.
"Our cruisers can't hold up to that Prow Heavy Turbolaser. Without those cruisers, we have no fighter protection. Whatever the case. No matter what the cost, we need to free the Belascans!" Maesiff contemplated, confident about the outcome of the battle.
"Open communications with the rest of the fleet, I have a plan!" Maesiff shouted, still stressed from the situation.
"Transmission is open, Captain" The clone first officer notified.
"Fortitude, Manticore, take either side of my ship. As for the Acclamators, I want each of you four to stay behind the destroyers. Lastly, Ingenuity and the Polaris, I want you two to stay close to my ship. Since my ship is taking the lead, I need you to screen for fighters. We are going to move towards the blockade, slowly, but steadily. Lastly, launch all bomber squadrons, and launch fighter escorts for the bombers, we are going to rain hell on them, Captain Lowe, Over and Out" Maesiff ended the transmission, a large grin on his face, the stress on his face slowly being replaced by confidence.
"First Officer CT-6767 tell me as soon as our ships are in position, and notify Admiral Kenning on the operation immediately!" Maesiff ordered.
"Sir, we just lost two of our heavy-turbolasers!" A clone interrupted.
"We need to hurry up or else we aren't going to last any longer than our cruisers" Maesiff contemplated in response.
Moments later a certain clone first officer gave the first good news he'd heard all day.
"All ships are in position sir, and all squadrons are ready for launch." CT-6767 stated confidently.
"Full power to the forward deflector shields, launch all fighters, I want nothing to break through our defenses. Let's move in." Maesiff responded, returning the confidence.
The Captain then turned his focus to the ships ahead, full of determination, his eyes stared through the viewport.
"This is our chance, this act will define the history of this planet, and this w-" As Maesiff was in the middle of a thought, The Redemption's secondary fighter control bridge exploded in a brilliant array of colors, as the Seperatist Destroyer's Heavy turbolaser landed a direct hit. The jolt of the explosion rocking the command bridge like an earthquake.
Several moments of deafening silence passed, as the staff of the command bridge came to the uncomfortable realization that, that could have been them.
"What do we do now, Captain? The enemy's heavy turbolaser can breach our shields." The Clone First Officer broke the silence
Maesiff kept his gaze forward, with an expression of confidence, masking his emotions, so as not to arouse too much concern or panic amongst his men. When in reality, he was concerned himself.
"This ship is almost useless without the second bridge. We're losing turrets by the minute. Think. What would Admiral Yularen do?" Maesiff thought, trying to remain as calm as possible.
As he thought silently, he eavesdropped on a conversation between two of the bridge staff.
"This is giving me flashbacks of Ryloth." Said one of the Clone Officers.
This caught Maesiff's attention, turning his head to the clone, Maesiff pressed for information.
"Officer, what was that you just said?" Maesiff asked, the interest evident in his voice.
"I said this reminded me of the Battle to liberate Ryloth, Sir" The Clone replied.
"That's it!" Maesiff exclaimed. The Officer's statement aided The Captain in coming up with the perfect plan.
Maesiff turned his attention to his first officer.
"Tell everyone to abandon ship, make for the Fortitude." The Captain ordered.
"Captain, what are you planning?" The First Officer spat out worryingly.
"First Officer, you're staying with me. Once everyone is evacuated, you and I will stay to make final preparations to ensure the ship stays on course." Maesiff explained, hoping that his second-in-command would catch on.
His hopes were answered, as the Clone opened up the ship-wide intercom.
"All units abandon ship, this is not a drill. I repeat, abandon ship for the Fortitude, this is not a drill!" CT-6767 announced.
Moments later, the Redemption was all but abandoned, leaving the Captain and his First Officer to carry out the final phase of the plan.
"All power to engines, aim for the Separatist Flagship. I want full control of the reactor's self-destruct system routed to my comlink, so I can detonate it remotely once we have evacuated"
"Y-yes Captain, right away" The Clone sputtered out. Obviously unenthused with the idea of destroying the ship that he'd served most of his career on.
Maesiff sensing his nervousness, tried to reassure his first officer.
"We'll be alright, you know that old saying 'A Captain always goes down with his ship?"
"Sir, with all due respect, I was worried about the ship" His first officer corrected.
Maesiff cracked a smile.
"It's not you who has to worry about this ship going down" Maesiff said whilst throwing the engines in full power.
"Now if you want to go down with the ship, be my guest, but I want to live" The Captain stated sarcastically while ushering his first officer to follow him.
It took only minutes for Maesiff and his first officer to board a pod and escape the ship.
As the pod maneuvered into position, the Redemption speeding ever closer to the separatist flagship, Maesiff felt the tension in the pod. His officer was acting well but was obviously stressed. They sat and watched through the pod's circular viewport as the Separatists had an exercise-in-futility, their launching volley after volley of laserfire at the Redemption desperately trying to slow it down.
As the Redemption got in range, the Captain handed his first officer the comlink.
"Sir?" The Clone asked, puzzled.
"You seem more attached to the ship, so I thought you might better serve to be the one to destroy it" Maesiff said, a proud smile on his face.
"Thank you, sir" The First Officer stated.
As they both turned towards the window, the Redemption exploded in a myriad of colors, temporarily filling the pod in a blinding light.
As their vision returned, they were met with a pleasant sight. The Separatist fleet was in shambles. Debris filled the space as the initial explosion of their star destroyer had blown both the enemy destroyer and the dreadnaught's midsections into pieces, leaving both ships in half.
"We did it" Is all Maesiff could vocalize as the remaining Republic fleet forced the last two Confederate Frigates to flee the system.