Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas, and I do not own Star Wars or any of the other authors characters etc mentioned in this story. I am making no money off this, so please do not sue me.
19. The Bison System Incident
As the Phoenix drops out of hyperspace within the Bison System, the sensor operator spots several ships within the system, this is unusual as the Bison System is classified as uninhabited, along with either being of no value at all, in raw materials for mining operations or possessing any habitable planets for colonisation.
The sensor operator says, "Commander I have detected three ships in this system."
Commander Mithel replies, "Can you identify them?"
The sensor operator replies, "Not at this range sir, it will be several minutes before I have a positive ID."
Commander Mithel replies, "Very well, let me know when you do" then he hits a switch on the arm of his chair and says, "Admiral sorry to bother you, we have three unidentified ships in this system."
From the other end of the comm Thrawn replies, "I can see them" from Thrawn's own quarters, Thrawn could switch the holographic system from displaying his art collection to that of a bridge in miniature.
Thrawn's Quarters
As soon as Commander Mithel had contacted him, Thrawn had flicked a switch Thrawn's holographic art his gone and is replaced by a miniature bridge monitor, with helm, engine, and weapons readouts on the walls and double display circle. The open space has become a holographic tactical display in one corner there is a flashing sphere indicated the location of the three unknown ships adjacent to the asteroid field.
The wall display gives an ETA estimate of twenty minutes, until the three unknown ships would be within weapons range of the Phoenix at the Phoenix's current speed. This display is also showing all available data on the three ships, though at there current range the amount of data available is limited.
Thrawn says into the comm, "Go to yellow alert launch four TIE Defenders towards the unknown ships."
Commander Mithel replies, "Aye sir", this is usual for Thrawn, as this is his standard tactic for sniffing out an opponent.
Less than a minute later four TIE Defenders are heading towards the three unknown ships with an estimated intercept time of three minutes, the Phoenix is closing on the three ships at slow speed, weapons range for the Phoenix is now eighteen minutes. While the four TIE Defenders are heading towards the three ships, the remaining TIE pilots are getting ready to launch, this is standard Imperial practice during yellow alert.
A minute later, the display changes from three unknown ships to three IPV-1, a few seconds later the display shows that the three IPV-1 are equipped with a hyperdrive system, this highly unusual as they are not normally are equipped with a hyperdrive system. The feed coming in from the four TIE Defenders continues to be updated and more detailed, as the four fighters get closer to the three IPV-1s.
Grand Admiral Thrawn is now looking intently at his display, over the comm he replies, "I see them, IPV-1 with hyperdrives, very interesting." As IPV-1 are not normally equipped with hyperdrives, are regarded as the first line of defence against purveyors of contraband and various organizations attempting insurrection against a populated system. These ships rely on their speed and manoeuvrability to catch and disable or destroy enemy craft with there system, only those "acquired" by pirates or some criminal organizations are fitted with hyperdrives.
Commander Mithel says, "Yes sir" looking at his display goes onto say, "they also appear to be running without any Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) active."
Grand Admiral Thrawn is by now leaning forward and studying the display more closely replies, "Again interesting, Commander, hail them and ask their intentions?"
Commander Mithel says, "Yes sir" then catching the eye of the communication operator "send a standard hail and ask their intentions."
The communications officer replies, "Aye sir" after a short pause says "No response Commander."
Across the room, four blue dots on their intercept vectors towards the three IPV-1s. From the corner of his eye, Colonel Tierce (watching over Thrawn) sees Thrawn lean slightly forward in his seat as the three IPV-1s shifted in response and then opened fire on the four TIE Defenders, causing the four TIE Defenders to veer off from the incoming fire from the three IPV-1s.
Leaning back in his chair Thrawn says, "Excellent, that will do, Commander, pull the four TIE Defenders back, and launch the remaining TIE Defenders, I think will have company shortly, in the form of enemy fighters. Once the fighters are launched go to battle stations and prepare to close with the enemy at battle speed."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir"
Shortly afterwards, Thrawn can see from his displays that the remaining TIE Defenders are starting to launch, the TIE Defender pilots had been in there cockpits since yellow alert had been sounded, at the same time the battle stations alarm goes off. Off to the right of Thrawn's chair Colonel Tierce remains unmoving as the battle stations alarm going off.
Thrawn is looking at his displays, then he says in the comm, "Bridge, I want a twenty-five degree port yaw rotation, bring us flat to the hostiles vector, so that the Phoenix pointing at them. As soon as they're within our outer weapons perimeter, the four TIE Defenders are to re-form behind Phoenix with our fighters and then jam all enemy transmissions."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir"
Thrawn straightens slightly in his chair and says, "Bridge, bring us to flank speed. Prepare to commence attack, expect enemy fighters from vector two seven nine, from the asteroid field point that the 3 IPV-1s are guarding."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir" several minutes later the fighters are in position and Commander Mithel says, "Ready Admiral"
Thrawn replies, "Engage at attack speed" the Phoenix along with her 24 TIE Defenders leap forwards towards the three IPV-1s.
Within thirty seconds of moving to attack speed, the sensor operator says, "Sir I have multiple contacts coming from vector two seven nine, they appear to be various types of fighters, they currently number forty-seven."
On the bridge Commander Mithel is worried, as his fighters are outnumbered two to one, over the comm Thrawn says, "This is nothing to worry about commander, we are not in danger, as soon as we are in firing range of the 3 IPV-1s, have our fighters engage the enemy fighters, we can handle the 3 IPV-1s, by ourselves."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir", then thinking to himself, how can Thrawn know what I am thinking when he is in his quarters and I am on the bridge, this though causes Commander Mithel to smile slightly.
Shortly afterwards, the battle commenced, this would be a short a brutal affair, Thrawn's tactical skill assured victory for the Phoenix.
Two hours later, it was all over, all forty-seven fighters have been eliminated along with all three IPV-1s.
After the last IPV-1 is destroyed, Commander Mithel says, "Well that is the last of them Admiral, permission to stand down from battle stations?"
Thrawn replies, "Permission denied commander, as that is not the last of them, there is still the pirate base within the asteroid field to deal with."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir, sorry sir"
Thrawn replies, "No apologies necessary commander, have the fighters return to refuel and rearm. While they are doing that prepare both Gamma class assault shuttles for launch with a full complement of spacetroopers onboard each assault shuttle."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir" then nods towards the communication operator to rely Thrawn's instructions, the fighters are soon on their way back to the Phoenix to refuel and rearm.
From his quarters, Thrawn says, "Good commander, now move the Phoenix to cover the exit vector two seven nine, that should prevent anyone getting away, though I doubt they will try anything. I would surmise that they are attempting at the moment to fortify there base as best as they can."
In the hanger bay the Gamma class assault shuttles are being prepared for launch, these ships are composed of three sections. The first section was the command crew cockpit, where a crew of five not only controlled the shuttle, but monitored its spacetroopers as well. The second section, the main body, was where the forty spacetroopers that are carried onboard each assault shuttle.
While being stored in the assault shuttle, the spacetroopers' power armour is constantly being recharged each compartment was equipped with a foldaway door, allowing the shuttle to quickly launch its troopers into space towards their target.
To protect its elite spacetroopers, assault shuttles are very well shielded, unlike most combat ships, which devoted 25% of their power to shields, the shields of a Gamma class assault shuttle takes up a full 62% of its power, with over half of that directed to the ship's front arc. This allows assault shuttles to withstand heavy damage as they close with an enemy vessel, in an attempt to launch there spacetrooper complement or dock.
It takes on thirty minutes to refuel and rearm the 24 TIE Defenders and prepare the two Gamma class assault shuttles.
By this time the Phoenix has moved to cover exit vector two seven nine and is maintaining station covering exit vector two seven nine.
Thrawn says over the comm, "Commander, launch the two Gamma class assault shuttles and the TIE Defenders."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir" it only takes five minutes to launch and form up the two Gamma class assault shuttles along with the 24 TIE Defenders into attack formation.
Once in attack formations, Thrawn says, "Have them follow exit vector two seven nine back to the pirate base of operations, then we will see where these pirates are based. Once they have identified the base they are to capture the base and eliminate all resistance."
Commander Mithel replies, "Yes sir" and nods towards the communications officer to pass on the attack orders.
A few moments later the two Gamma class assault shuttles along with the 24 TIE Defenders head into the asteroid field, to deal with the pirate base.
Four hours later, the pirate base is captured, this pirate base is located inside a large asteroid deep within the asteroid field the pirates themselves put up some resistance however, this is futile as the spacetroopers superior training and weapons easily win the battle.
The two Gamma class assault shuttles along with the 24 TIE Defenders escorting them, return from attacking and capturing the pirate base deep within the asteroid field. From the post beefing analysis it seems as though the only safe exit from the asteroid field is along one route, this is what the 3 IPV-1 where guarding, the entrance/exit to this route.
Losses to the spacetroopers are none, with all the pirates killed and only some minor damage to one of the assault shuttles during the initial attack on the pirate base, the attack is a complete success. Once secure the bases main computer records are downloaded to a portable data storage computer for examination later, by both Thrawn and by the Imperial Intelligence team onboard the Phoenix.
Phoenix Briefing Room
Commander Mithel after reading the reports of the boarding commander and the two squadron leaders on the action taken to capture the pirate base, no prisoners are taken alive, Commander Mithel looks at Thrawn trying to figure out how Thrawn knew.
Thrawn knowing what Commander Mithel is thinking says, "Commander you have a question I believe?"
Commander Mithel looking a Thrawn, replies, "Yes sir, how did you know that there was a base in the asteroid field, the three IPV-1s could have just been waiting there."
Thrawn replies, "No commander they were not waiting there, if they where just waiting, on our exit from hyperspace they would have jumped into hyperspace straight away. They remained to engage us because there knew two things, firstly they knew that there own fighters would be launched from there base within the asteroid field. Secondly they assumed that there forces where a match for the Phoenix, they where wrong on the second point."
Commander Mithel says, "You learned all that from sending the four TIE Defenders against them."
Thrawn replies, "Yes I did. Any normal pirate confronted by an Imperial warship would flee back to there base, however these three ships could not flee back to there base as this system was there base. So that left them with two options, one to flee and abandon there base or two stand and fight. They chose to stand and fight, that was the wrong option for them to choose."
Commander Mithel says, "Yes sir, I understand now." Though Commander Mithel says that he understands he does not really, as he has never grasped how Thrawn understands these things.
Thrawn says, "Have a shuttle sent to back the pirate base, with a demolition crew onboard, we do not what to leave this base for others to occupy. Once the shuttle has returned and the base has been destroyed launch the stealth communications beacon for this system."
Commander Mithel says, "Understood Admiral"
Thrawn replies, "Dismissed commander" Commander Mithel gets up and leaves the briefing room to carry out Thrawn's orders.
Just over an hour later, the pirate base has been destroyed shortly afterwards the stealth communications beacon is launched into the edge of the asteroid field, as the asteroid field will provide good cover for the beacon.
A few minutes afterwards the Phoenix jumps into hyperspace, with Thrawn studying the recovered information from the pirate bases main computer, to see if there is any useful information that maybe of use to Thrawn. Along with the data retrieved from the pirate bases main computer there are also some minor works of art that had been discovered at the pirate's base, these would be added to Thrawn's own collection when he gets back to Nirauan. Thrawn's has also made holographic copies of this art to add to his own considerable holographic art collection.
On a detailed review of the art discovered at the pirate base, Thrawn indicates that he would have liked to talk to the pirate leader about his art collection, before the pirate leader would have been executed for his crimes. Unfortunately, the pirate leader was killed during the taking of the pirate base, making this impossible for Thrawn to do.
For the next few months, the Phoenix jumps from system to system, to establish diplomatic relations with various independent governments, or to pass through various systems that are part of the New Republic as part of the Phoenix's fact-finding mission. During these visits, Thrawn keeps to his quarters and monitors what is happening via remote cameras.
The other part of the Phoenix's is to deploy stealth communication beacons to act as Thrawn's own private communications network. This communications network will be one of the key parts of Thrawn's plan to deal with not only the alien race, but also in the long term to deal with the New Republic.
Four Months Later
Finally, after four months of searching Thrawn has the location of Kir Kanos, on a planet in the Outer Rim Territories called Potrass, this is a neutral planet with a small population numbering only a few million.
Can Grand Admiral Thrawn convince Kir Kanos to join with him just as Grodin Tierce has done?
To be continued.