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.
28. Mobilising the Empire
As the battle for Bastion is underway, Lieutenant Forbs modified Gamma class, assault shuttle has reached its first stop point.
As the assault shuttle drops out of hyperspace, Lieutenant Forbs jettisons a communications beacon, as per his orders from Admiral Daala, this communications beacon will transmit Admiral Daala's orders to the rest of the Imperial Remnants military forces, as the Bastion system is being jammed by the Yuuzhan Vong.
These instructions are not Admiral Daala's they are actually Grand Admiral Thrawn's orders, which he had given to Admiral Daala via Admiral Pellaeon during one of their meetings. Though Admiral Daala will be in charge of running the defence of the Bastion system, as even Thrawn cannot run a battle that he does know exactly when a were the battle will take place, Thrawn Can only leave general instructions, Admiral Daala is more that capable of dealing with the running of the Battle for Bastion.
Thrawn's anticipation of where the Yuuzhan Vong would strike first against the Empire is correct.
Once this is complete, Lieutenant Forbs enters the coordinates for the Yaga Minor system for the next part of his missions then the assault shuttle jumps back into hyperspace.
Just after the assault shuttle jumps back into hyperspace, the communications beacon begins transmitting its coded message, once this message has been acknowledged the communications beacon will self-destruct.
Deep Space, Executor class star dreadnought Intimidator
The Intimidator and her accompanying warships are part of the Imperial Remnants mobile reserves this Imperial battle group is under the command of Admiral Sil Sorannan.
On the bridge of the Intimidator, a communications operator says, "Sir I am picking up a priority coded message" pausing for a few moments, then the communications operator says, "The message is a Alpha Red Message"
The Captain of the Intimidator after verifying from his command console what the communications operator has just said flicks a switch and says, "Admiral, we have just received an Alpha Red Message, this requires your authorisation codes to read."
From the other end of the comm. Admiral Sorannan replies, "I am on my way to the bridge put the fleet on Yellow alert, just to be on the safe side."
The Captain replies, "Aye air."
Less than a minute later Admiral Sorannan is on the bridge, with the fleet under his command coming to Yellow alert status.
After entering his command codes, Admiral Sorannan begins to read the message
The message reads as follows
From: Fleet Admiral Natasi Daala
To: Admiral Sil Sorannan
The Yuuzhan Vong has attacked the Bastion system this is not a drill.
You are herby authorised to initiate Case Black in my name.
Once you have initiated Case Black, you will mobilize the Imperial Remnants military forces, you will also cooperate fully with the Imperial forces under the command of Admiral Pellaeon.
If I am killed, you are herby ordered to accept Admiral Pellaeon as supreme command of all Imperial Remnant military forces.
Signed
Fleet Admiral Natasi Daala
Supreme Command, Imperial Remnant
Admiral Sorannan reads Admiral Daala's orders twice, just to make sure.
Admiral Sorannan looks out across the bridge of the Intimidator at the crew going about their duties, then after a few moments Admiral Sorannan says, "All hands to battle stations, this is not a drill, the Yuuzhan Vong have attacked the Bastion system, the Empire is at war." Alarms go off and the bridge of the Intimidator is bathed in red light, Admiral Sorannan says, "Captain, bring the fleet to a combat posture, I have to make an urgent call."
The Captain replies, "Aye air."
Admiral Sorannan heads towards the secure communications room just off from the main bridge. Once there, Admiral Sorannan seals the room, then he says to the ships computer, "This is Admiral Sil Sorannan, verify?"
The ships computer thinks for a few seconds and replies, "Verified"
Admiral Sorannan takes a deep breath and slowly lets it, in the enormity he is about to do and says, "Initiate Case Back on my authority."
The ships computer replies, "Enter authorization code."
Admiral Sorannan enters his code on the keyboard the ships computer thinks for a few seconds and replies, "Verified" then after another short pause, the ships computer says, "Case Black orders are being sent"
Across the Imperial Remnant, the Imperial military forces begin mobilizing under the orders of Case Black.
Admiral Sorannan nods to himself, satisfied that the ships computer will carry out the orders, Admiral Sorannan then returns to the bridge, leaving the ships computer to send the instructions to the various parts of the Imperial military to begin preparations for war.
Now Admiral Sorannan must prepare his fleet for war.
Assault Shuttle
After jumping into hyperspace, Lieutenant Forbs thinks to himself next stop Yaga Minor system and Admiral Pellaeon, after that, Grand Admiral Thrawn, who is suppose to be dead, this is way too much to take in one go, he wishes that Admiral Daala had given him more information. He wishes that he had never volunteered for this duty, though it did fast track him to the rank of full Lieutenant,
A few hours later, the assault shuttle comes out of hyperspace at the edge of the Yaga Minor system, even before the Imperial patrol vessels in the Yaga Minor system has time to hail the assault shuttle, Lieutenant Forbs transmits the coded message that Admiral Daala had given him to send to Admiral Pellaeon.
A few moments after the message has been transmitted, Lieutenant Forbs jumps the assault shuttle back into hyperspace towards its final destination, Grand Admiral Thrawn's location.
Back in the Yaga Minor system, after reading the message from Admiral Daala, Admiral Pellaeon also starts mobilizing the forces under his command, he thinks to himself, that there is no need for secrecy for much longer, the galaxy will soon seen the Empire reborn.
Admiral Pellaeon, smiles to himself and thinks that again Thrawn has predicted the movements of the Yuuzhan Vong, just like the old days, then Admiral Pellaeon shakes his head and sets about his tasks.
Imperial II class Star Destroyer Executor
Captain Rejlii Mithel had been reviewing the latest additions to Thrawn's small but growing task force, apart from the Executor the rest of the task force is made up of fourteen CR90 Corvettes also known as the Corellian corvette. This particular version is classified as pocket carriers, for their ability to carry a dozen starfighters this makes them ideal for his and run operations.
Originally, when Thrawn had created these sleeper cells, the pocket carriers carried a dozen TIE Interceptors (fitted with shields), however as each corvette had arrived at Thrawn's location, the TIE Interceptors have been replaced with TIE Defenders, giving each corvette much more of an offensive punch.
One of the sensor operators says, "Captain an assault shuttle has just come out of hyperspace."
Captain Mithel says, "Have the nearest fighter patrol intercept the incoming assault shuttle, communications send a request for identification."
The communications operator replies, "Sir, we are already being hailed" pausing for a moment to look at the transmission, then continues, "It appears to be transmitting Admiral Daala's recognition code, along with two words 'Open Visor' this appears to be some sort of secondary code, though it does not appear to be in the data base."
Captain Mithel looks at his display to confirm, then says, "Have that assault shuttle escorted to the Executor's main hanger bay, then have the pilot escorted to Grand Admiral Thrawn's quarters."
The communications operator replies, "Aye sir" and issues the instructions.
Captain Mithel, flicks a switch, activates his comm, and says, "Captain Mithel for Grand Admiral Thrawn."
From the other end of the comm, the replies is, "This is Thrawn"
Captain Mithel says, "Sir, an assault shuttle has just come out of hyperspace transmitting Admiral Daala's recognition codes, along with the code phrase 'Open Visor'. I have ordered the shuttle to dock and the pilot to be taken to your quarters, Admiral."
There is a short pause, then Thrawn says, "Good work Captain, put the fleet on Yellow Alert, but do not deploy and fighters and recover our current fighter patrols, we will be jumping into hyperspace within the next hour or so."
Captain Mithel replies, "Understood sir."
Grand Admiral Thrawn's Quarters
A short time later, standing before Grand Admiral Thrawn is Lieutenant Forbs, who has just finished giving Admiral Daala's message to Thrawn.
Thrawn's says, "Thank you Lieutenant Forbs, I will have quarters assigned to you and your crew onboard the Executor, dismissed Lieutenant."
Lieutenant Forbs salutes and leaves.
Thrawn then flicks the comm switch on his chair and says, "Captain, ready my fleet, I will be on the bridge shortly."
From the other end of the comm Captain Mithel replies, "Understood Admiral"
At Thrawn's current location, Thrawn has been assembling a small fleet of warships around the Executor these include a dozen of the Tagge Industries Modular Taskforce Cruiser (Carrier Variant) they are each carrying TIE Droid fighters (144 on each carrier). These TIE Droid fighters have been specially programmed, on Thrawn's instructions, this programming is one part of Thrawn's strategy against the Yuuzhan Vong.
In addition to the Executor, there are forty-nine Imperial II class star destroyers along with 300 other warships (various types, mostly they are variants of the Tagge Industries Modular Taskforce Cruiser) and support vessels that are part of Thrawn's "small" fleet.
Executor, Main Bridge
A short time later Grand Admiral Thrawn enters the main bridge of the Executor, with his personal Royal Guardsmen Kir Kanos following close behind, around the bridge of the Executor there are a dozen other Royal Guard, with the remainder protecting the access areas to the main bridge.
On the bridge, Grand Admiral Thrawn is now sitting in his command chair, looking over the bridge with his glowing red eyes then focuses on the displays to see the status of not only the Executor, but also the other ships of his fleet.
A few moments later Thrawn asks, "Captain, is my flagship ready?"
Captain Mithel snaps to attention and replies, "The Executor is fully at your command, Grand Admiral," the formal question and response a ghostly remembrance of the days before Endor when proper military protocol was the order of the day. Here and now a slightly different military protocol exists, were all crewmembers and troops of the Executor, whatever their rank, are allowed to make suggestions freely, without fear of being punished or executed.
Thrawn's command style is very different.
Then Thrawn asks, "Captain, is my fleet ready?"
Captain Mithel replies, "You fleet is ready and awaiting your order, Grand Admiral,"
Then Thrawn says, "Captain, all ships to battle stations, jump my fleet into hyperspace, course is the Bastion system."
Captain Mithel replies, "Aye sir", then turning to the bridge pits and Captain Mithel says, "All ships to battle stations, set course for the bastions system." Waiting for a few minutes for the confirmations to come in, then finally Captain Mithel says, "Jump the fleet into hyperspace."
The rest of Thrawn's fleet follows the Executor as it jumps into hyperspace towards the Bastion system.
Captain Mithel thinks to himself, the Yuuzhan Vong is in for a surprise then he thinks to himself, the New Republic will be more shocked at Thrawn's return than the Yuuzhan Vong will.
To be continued.
