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.
34. Endgame
Over the next six months, Thrawn's campaign regains it momentum, with system after system falling to the Galactic Alliances military, led by Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Yuuzhan Vong under the leadership of Warmaster Tsavong Lah are losing ground at an increasing rate, that by the end of the six months, the Yuuzhan Vong hold only ten percent of the territory that they had before the Empire joined the fight against them.
The ground battles are very limited due to the use of Alpha Red, the Galactic Alliances (Empires) ground troop losses drop to virtually nil. The New Republic is none too happy about the use of Alpha Red, however the rest of the members of the Galactic Alliance approve of the use of Alpha Red due to its ability to take whole planets with little or no casualties.
The only planets were ground combat takes place is on lifeless moons and other such bodies where there is no atmosphere for Alpha Red to be effective, even then the Galactic Alliances losses are relatively low, thanks to Grand Admiral Thrawn's strategies being employed.
Grand Admiral Thrawn cannot be everywhere, but Thrawn is always involved in the planning of attack on every system, where the Galactic Alliances military commanders follow Thrawn's plan there is a victory, where they do not, the Galactic Alliances military commanders (mostly New Republic) do not follow Thrawn's plan they always take heavier causalities.
These losses over the past six months, has led to a number of senior Yuuzhan Vong commanders to start, to quietly question, Warmaster Tsavong Lah fitness to lead the Yuuzhan Vong in this war.
Thrawn Lunges
The combined military forces of Galactic Alliance under Grand Admiral Thrawn's have gathered several fleets as per Thrawn's orders. Thrawn is planning to launch a deep penetration attack against the Worldship of Warmaster Tsavong Lah, to remove him this would allow a quick ending to the war.
Around the Executor there are warships from the Empire, New Republic, Corporate Sector Authority and many other races, the total numbers of warships present at the rendezvous point, numbers over 3,000 of all types.
The system that they are about to attack is a major coordination centre for the various remaining Yuuzhan Vong fleets. In the system, there are almost 4,000 Yuuzhan Vong warships of all types including the Worldship of Warmaster Tsavong Lah.
On the bridge, Grand Admiral Thrawn is sitting in his command chair waiting for Captain Mithel to report that the backup hyperdrive system is ready for use, in addition all available weapons and shields have been prepared, just in the unlikely event of any hostiles in the system they are going to jump too.
A short while later Thrawn asks, "Captain, is my flagship and my fleet ready?"
Captain Mithel snaps to attention and replies, "The Executor is fully at your command, the fleet is in formation and awaiting you launch order, 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 Empire are allowed to make suggestions freely, without fear of being punished or executed.
This freedom to make suggestions, has led to some surprising ideas on how to improve existing systems coming from the Empires military personnel, a large number of these ideas have been adopted by Grand Admiral Thrawn. This idea has spread throughout the Empire since Thrawn's official return to running the Empire moral throughout the Empire is now at an all time high and still growing, even though the Empire is once again at war.
The number of female Captains in the Imperial fleet has increased by several hundred percent, initially the "old guard" had resisted, however after the success of these female Imperial Captains the "old guard" now grudgingly supports both the use of females and aliens within the Imperial military. Daala is now no longer unique within the Imperial fleet, there are now a large number of female Imperial naval officers and they are steadily rising through the Imperial fleet ranks.
Thrawn says, "Good Captain, I see no reason to keep the Yuuzhan Vong waiting, begin the count."
Captain Mithel smartly salutes and then says, "Communications, Grand Admiral Thrawn has given the order, begin the countdown to the jump into hyperspace."
From the communications pit and operator replies, "Signal sent, countdown has begun."
Captain Mithel looks at his display showing the countdown until the fleet jumps into hyperspace, 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50…
The bridge of the Executor is alive with activity as the ship's crew begin to prepare for the jump into hyperspace and the coming battle. From the bridge, windows can be seen the combined Galactic Alliance fleet stretching as far as the eye can see, the bridge crew do however have time to admire the sight.
When the countdown hits zero, the fleet begins to jump into hyperspace for the short trip to their destination.
Yuuzhan Vong Occupied System
Onboard his Worldship Warmaster Tsavong Lah is viewing the recent looses of his forces to the relentless advances of the Galactic Alliances fleets, under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Warmaster Lah thinks to himself, whatever I do this Thrawn seems to know what I am thinking, is this rate of lose continues within the next year we will have no planets left. I cannot seem to stop this Thrawn whatever plan I come up with he always is able to counter it even Thrawn's subordinate commanders are also starting to come up with counter strategies without referring to Thrawn.
Warmaster Lah is still pondering what to do next when the alarm goes off, switching to the tactical display, Warmaster Lah is shocked to see a large Galactic Alliances fleet coming out of hyperspace. Looking at the numbers Warmaster Lah smiles to himself, and think that Thrawn has made a mistake by not bringing overwhelming numbers to destroy the forces that are assembled in this system.
Warmaster Lah immediately issues orders to bring all the Yuuzhan Vong warships in the system to a combat posture.
The First Hour
During the first hour, the battle between the Galactic Alliance and Yuuzhan Vong fleets are pretty much well matched, looses are even, neither side is in any real danger of being destroyed.
At the end of the first hour, onboard the Executor, Grand Admiral Thrawn says, "Captain Mithel I think that it is time for phase two."
Captain Mithel replies, "Understood sir." Then to the communication it Captain Mithel says, "Communications send the signal for phase two."
A communications operator replies, "Aye sir" a few moments later, the operator says, "signal sent."
Grand Admiral Thrawn looks at another countdown had begun.
Captain Mithel knows what is about to happen, and thinks to himself that the Yuuzhan Vong will be surprised.
Phased Two
Warmaster Lah has been watching the battle for the first hour and it has been going better than he expected. However suddenly several dozen interdictor cruisers drop out of hyperspace at the edge of the battle a begin powering up there gravity well projectors designed to pull ships from hyperspace and/or prevent them making the jump to light speed.
The Yuuzhan Vong warships are now trapped in the system, unless they can destroy the interdictor cruisers.
Warmaster Lah is now puzzled on why Thrawn would use interdictor cruisers, there is no reason to use them in this battle, as both fleets are evenly matched. Warmaster Lah however sends a warning to his commanders to prepare for unexpected events or attacks, he also instructs his reserve forces to remain alert and be prepared for sudden orders.
For now, all Warmaster Lah will do, is continue to fight the battle he knows about and adapt to any surprises that Thrawn has planned.
For the next four hours the battle continues, with the Yuuzhan Vong warships being careful when engaging Alliance warships, the TIE Droid trick that Thrawn had used in the past is much less successful in this battle than previous battles, as Warmaster Lah is issuing orders directly rather than though subordinate commanders.
Phase Three
As the battle enters, its fifth hour, Thrawn allows himself a very thin smile, Warmaster Lah is doing exactly as he had expected him to do.
Looking at the main tactical display at the progress of the battle so far, Grand Admiral Thrawn says, "Captain Mithel I think that it is time for phase three with interdictor group five being the right choice."
Captain Mithel replies, "Understood sir." Then to the communication it Captain Mithel says, "Communications send the signal for phase three, with interdictor group five."
A communications operator replies, "Aye sir" a few moments later, the operator says, "signal sent."
Grand Admiral Thrawn looks at another countdown had begun, this time interdictor group five will allow a single warship to drop out of hyperspace without the need for exact coordinates.
Redoubtable, Deep Space
Admiral Daala had given the preparation orders as soon as the signal had come in Thrawn had informed her that he doubted that Warmaster Lah would treat the Redoubtable as a serious threat. Thrawn had stated that all Warmaster Lah would do is to try to contain the Redoubtable, even with the Redoubtable advanced systems and that Daala was to play along until he gave Daala her go signal.
Watching the countdown hit zero, the Redoubtable, jumped into hyperspace for the short journey to the battle.
With interdictor group five's location and the shifting the focus of the gravity well projectors, this would allow the Redoubtable to drop out of hyperspace between the main battle and Warmaster Lah Worldship.
As the Redoubtable travelled through hyperspace towards the coordinates, the Redoubtable at the right point is pulled out of hyperspace by interdictor group five's gravity well projectors, right between the main battle and Warmaster Lah Worldship.
For the next few minutes the Redoubtable is alone, this however does not last long, Warmaster Lah dispatches some of his reserves to contain (while keeping the bulk of his reserves near his own Worldship) the Redoubtable, just as Thrawn had predicted.
Worldship of Warmaster Tsavong Lah
Warmaster Lah watched as the lone star destroyer come out of hyperspace, for a few moments Warmaster Lah thought Thrawn was mad by sending a lone star destroyer, however once is was identified as the advanced star destroyer Redoubtable. Warmaster Lah ordered a detachment of warships from his reserve force to contain the Redoubtable, as he was not prepared to commit his entire reserve for trying to destroy a lone star destroyer, however advanced it was.
Warmaster Lah was certain that Thrawn was trying to bait him by forcing him to commit his reserve fleet Warmaster Lah was determined not to be fooled by Thrawn. What Warmaster Lah did not know is that Thrawn was already pulling his strings.
Executor
Captain Mithel was looking worriedly at the Redoubtable by itself being attack by several dozen Yuuzhan Vong warships.
From his command chair Grand Admiral Thrawn says, "Captain Mithel, do not worry about the Redoubtable or Admiral Daala, they are in no danger."
Captain Mithel replies, "Understood admiral" though his fears are not entirely abated by Thrawn's reassurance.
However, after another hour of combat, the Redoubtable with Admiral Daala in command is holding their own against the Yuuzhan Vong warships attacking the lone star destroyer.
Grand Admiral Thrawn says, "Captain Mithel I think that it is time, for phase four, send the signal to Corporate Sector Authority fleet to begin their countdown."
Deep Space, Location of CSA Fleet
At their holding position 250 Victory III class start destroyer have been waiting for Grand Admiral Thrawn go signal.
On the bridge of his command ship, the Victory III class start destroyer Profit Motive, Fleet Admiral Doug Max, a former Imperial officer who after Endor has left Imperial service for the CSA. Where he was quickly promoted through the ranks of the CSA fleet to the rank of Fleet Admiral, the pay from the CSA is several times what an Imperial Fleet Admiral would get.
Doug Max has also been very good a persuading other former Imperial officers to come to the Corporate Sector, every time he got an former Imperial officer to join up he got a 100,000 credit recruiting bonus. Doug Max had managed to recruit several hundred former imperial officers to join the Corporate Sector that had made his very wealthy.
Now he commands a fleet of 250 Victory III class start destroyer, this had been one of his first suggestion of the head of the CSA Security Division, with his current flagship being the test bed for the Victory III class start destroyer.
After the death of the Emperor at Endor, the CSA Security Division begins a refitting program for their fleet, especially the Victory I class star destroyers, these star destroyers would be upgraded with the most advanced weapons that the CSA had available. This would lead to the Victory I class, being upgraded to much the apart from the framework this would be a new class of warship, leading to this call being call the Victory III class star destroyer.
This upgrading work to the bulk of the warships operated by the CSA Security Division would be carried out by Rendili StarDrive shipyards in the Corporate Sector.
The Victory III class star destroyer is optimised for space combat unlike the old Victory I class that was optimised from planetary assault. The CSA Security Division had 520 Victory I class star destroyers that have been upgraded to the new Victory III class standard in the years since Endor, this gives the CSA a strong and highly mobile defensive force against any potential attacking force.
Admiral Max's fleet is made-up entirely of Victory III class star destroyer's, with no other types of warship in his fleet. Before the battle Thrawn himself had briefed him, he knew his instructions by heart, though he did not understand Thrawn battle strategy, he knew enough to follow Thrawn's orders, as Thrawn's plans always seemed to work.
Breaking through his thoughts the communications offers says, "Admiral we have received to go signal the clock is running."
Admiral Max grins and replies, "Good news, have the fleet go to full battle alert, instruct the gunnery officers that we should have a free shot at the enemy warships when we come out of hyperspace."
The communications offers says, "Understood sir" and goes about relaying the admiral's orders.
A short time later, the CSA fleet jumps into hyperspace towards the ongoing battle, this is an impressive sight, 250 Victory III class star destroyers jumping into hyperspace.
Worldship of Warmaster Tsavong Lah
Since the Redoubtable had entered that battle the star destroyer had not attempted to do anything, this had reinforced Warmaster Lah option that the Redoubtable was a faint by Thrawn.
Just as Warmaster Lah was relaying the instructions that the attack by the Redoubtable was most likely a faint by Thrawn, the 250 Victory III class star destroyers of CSA are drawn out of hyperspace by the interdictor cruisers. As soon as the 250 Victory III class star destroyers drop out of hyperspace on the opposite side of the battle to where the Redoubtable is, these star destroyers open fire on the Yuuzhan Vong warships, before joining in the fight.
Though this sudden attack had initially taken the Yuuzhan Vong commanders by surprise, with the warning from Warmaster Lah that this sort of attack might happen, the Yuuzhan Vong commanders surprise did not last long.
Now Warmaster Lah knew where Thrawn's main thrust would be he dispatched ninety percent of his reserve forces to deal with this attack by Thrawn.
However, there was one small flaw in Warmaster Lah thinking, it was completely wrong, this is not what Thrawn has planned as his main attack.
Redoubtable
As per her orders, Admiral Daala had been "playing" with the Yuuzhan Vong warships attacking the Redoubtable, until Thrawn sends the launch signal for the Redoubtable's real attack to begin.
For the past few hours the Redoubtable gunners had been engaging the Yuuzhan Vong warships without trying to destroy them (as per Thrawn's orders), the Redoubtable was not in any real danger due to her advanced system, if Daala chose to do so the Redoubtable could quite easily deal with the attacking Yuuzhan Vong warships.
From the communications pit one of the communications operators says, "Admiral, I have receive the proper authorisation codes from the Executor for Phases five and six."
Admiral Daala can't help but crack an evil smile on her fact, then replies, "Acknowledge the single. Helm set course for the Worldship of Warmaster Lah, have the six modified assault shuttles prepare for launch on my command. Guns prepare to eliminate these Yuuzhan Vong warships on my command."
From around the bridge there are a series of Acknowledgements, once Admiral Daala had verified that the Redoubtable, Daala says, "Guns eliminate the attacking Yuuzhan Vong warships. Helm, prepare to go to emergency flank speed on my command."
From the gunners pit the gunnery offer replies, "Aye admiral" then instructs his gunners through the comm to eliminate the attacking Yuuzhan Vong warships."
To the surprise of the attacking Yuuzhan Vong warships, the Redoubtable gunners open fire with all the Redoubtable main armaments. The attacking Yuuzhan Vong warships are quickly eliminated.
The Redoubtable is now alone again in space, surrounded only by the remains of the Yuuzhan Vong warships then from the Redoubtable engines is a sudden surge in thrust propelling the Redoubtable at emergency flank speed.
In the Redoubtable main hanger bay, there are six heavily modified Gamma class assault shuttles, the shuttles a piloted by clones. The Gamma class assault shuttles each contain ten members of the Royal Guard these guardsmen have been specially trained for their coming mission.
As the Redoubtable closes on the Worldship of Warmaster Lah, the Redoubtable begins to receive incoming fire from the Worldship of Warmaster Lah.
Once at a certain distance the six heavily modified Gamma class assault shuttles are launched from the Redoubtable main hanger bay, with the Redoubtable providing as much cover as possible for the Gamma class assault shuttles.
The six Gamma class assault shuttles head towards one of the Worldships landing bays, by the time the Gamma class assault shuttles land in the landing bay of the Worldship the number of assault shuttles have been reduced to only three.
The guardsmen know there mission, once outside of the shuttle they open the values on the canisters of Alpha Red that each one of them is carrying to infect the Worldship, while the Alpha Red is being dispersed into the air the guardsmen hold their ground around the three Gamma class assault shuttles.
The Yuuzhan Vong troops quickly engage the guardsmen it takes only a few minutes to eliminate the guardsmen along with the clone pilots. However the guardsmen's work is done, Alpha Red is already killing the Yuuzhan Vong troops that killed the guardsmen.
It takes only twenty minutes before the Worldship of Warmaster Lah explodes killing Warmaster Lah.
With the destruction of the Worldship of Warmaster Lah and the death of their military leader, the Yuuzhan Vong warships immediately begin to break off their engagements and withdrawn from the system. The Yuuzhan Vong warships coordinate their attacks on one section of the blockade and manage to destroy one of the interdictor groups, thus creating a hole in Thrawn's containment.
Most of the remaining Yuuzhan Vong warships do mange to withdraw from battle, though they do take casualties in doing so.
Grand Admiral Thrawn's strategy to eliminate Warmaster Lah has succeeded.
They only thing that remains is to deal with the remainders of the Yuuzhan Vong.
The various news networks across the galaxy will be headlining this battle for several weeks to come.
To be continued.