The next few hours were a flurry of activity as pirate escape pods were rounded up, the CR-110 corvette was swept for contraband and the various new little debris fields caused by the fighting were logged and categorized. The damaged Marauder was towed to storage in the Quasar Sun-class carrier Alderaan Spirit, as was Loc Bei's corvette.
Back aboard the Zama, Commander Vahle stood patiently in the middle of the main hanger, hands folded behind his back, a veritable statue compared to the bustle around him. Tambralynne Kusarni, absent her helmet but otherwise still in her flight uniform, stood nearby, shifting weight from one foot to the other and occasionally twirling, unable to keep still for more than a few seconds. Lieutenant Daniels was to Vahle's right, having taken to one knee to reach the height of Suchi, who he was chatting with. Vahle had offered this honor to Colonel Tallion, but she had turned it down, as she often did. Lastly, further away and flanked by two New Republic Army Troopers was Loc Bei, sitting on the hanger floor with his arms cuffed behind his back. He looked none too pleased to be there.
As the shuttle landed in front of the group and its rear ramp began to descend, Major Chur materialized beside Vahle, clutching her datapad as always. "Nice of my Local Forces Liaison to drop by" said Vahle.
"You know the intel business, Commander" Chur replied. "Staying two steps ahead is a constant job."
"Yes, well, at least pretend to give the locals your attention" said Vahle. "You're supposed to be a diplomat as well as a spy."
"Commander Vahle!" came a loud voice from the top of the shuttle's ramp. A green Ishi Tib in gilded robes and flanked by two aides shuffled down the ramp, applauding slowly as he did so. "I must admit, I had my doubts, but you and your people pulled through. The Kalikeedan's daughter is safe, this rascal Bei is in binders and the people of Tibrin owe you our deepest thanks."
"The Republic is happy to be of service, Minister Irun" Vahle said. "The ships you loaned us from your planetary defense fleet proved key to our trap as well."
"But of course" said Irun. "Is that not how you Mobile Fleets are supposed to operate? We bring you a problem, loan you our forces and your specialists handle the rest?"
"The New Galactic Republic exists to serve its member planets" said Chur. "If it were the other way round, we would just be another Empire."
"Of course, of course" said Irun. "And nobody would want that."
Without another word, Irun and his aides moved past Vahle to Suchi and Daniels. "Come along, young one" he said. "It is time for you to return home to Tibrin."
Suchi looked at him and then back at Daniels, who gave her a little wave. The girl paused for a second and then threw her arms around Daniels's neck.
"Goodbye, Mr. Daniels" she said.
"Goodbye, Suchi" he replied.
As the young Ishi Tib followed Irun's aides back to the shuttle, the minister walked in front of Loc Bei.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Loc Bei, the Scourge of Okani, in the flesh."
"It's 'Scourge of Okawi'" Bei muttered.
"Well, it won't be either in very long" said Irun. "What made you so bold as to try and ransom the daughter of the holiest man on Tibrin?"
After a few seconds of silence from Bei, Major Chur stepped forward. "We believe the crime lord Tyber Zann is the one responsible for this affair," she said. "He has been causing chaos throughout the Mid and Outer Rim for months, challenging all sorts of lesser criminals to try bold new schemes for his so-called Consortium."
"I see" said Irun. "And why haven't you dealt with this Zann fellow yet?"
"He is difficult to find, and difficult to gather evidence against" Vahle said. "Tyber Zann never does anything himself that he can manipulate others into doing for him."
"Well, if your performance today was anything to go by, I feel confident that you will track him down eventually" said Irun.
"Thank you, Minister" Vahle replied, giving a slight bow. It was good to hear someone still believed in the Republic's ability to do its job.
Irun turned and walked back to his shuttle, two Tibrinese soldiers dragging Bei behind him. The rest of Bei's crew and his 'reinforcements' were still being processed. They would be identified, sorted and handed off to the Tibrinese, the Republic Justice Ministry or other system governments, depending on how many had outstanding arrest warrants. But there seemed no reason to hold off handing over the big fish.
Vahle stood quietly as Minister Irun's shuttle left the hanger and the welcome party began to disperse.
"Hey, do you think this'll get on HoloNet News?" Vega 7 asked a group of mechanics working on his X-wing.
"Nah" said Warrant Officer Suzan Tuada, a Karkarodon mechanic. "The girl lived, so no one off of Tibrin cares. Now, if she'd died, there's be a week of nonstop coverage about everything we did wrong. No one watches 'The Republic is working' stories."
Vega 7 sighed. "Guess you're right."
Vahle had started towards the turbolift when he noticed one of the hanger crewmen staring away from the fuel canister he was supposed to be checking. Vahle thought to reprimand him, but decided first to check what he was staring at. Sure enough, more and more of the hanger crew's attention was caught, and the room nearly went quiet, a rarity for any hanger.
Outside the friendly blue glow of the energy shield keeping the hanger's atmosphere in, off in the infinite deepness of space, nestled between two stars themselves light-years apart was a red streak of light. By itself it likely would have warranted no attention; space was filled with strange nebulae and supernova remnants. But such things formed and changed slowly, over the course of thousands or millions of years. They did not spring to life in the blink of an eye.
Lieutenant Daniels had just noticed the light when it split into five new streaks, giving the appearance of the long-fingered hand of some extragalactic deity or hyperspace demon or primordial titan. At the tip of each finger, one by one, blossomed a bright light, though at this distance each tip was barely brighter than an ordinary star. A few seconds after that, the whole thing vanished, a bizarre cosmic light show lasting a mere minute.
"Well that was odd" said Tambralynne before returning her focus to her X-wing, preparing to fly it back to the Alderaan Spirit. The hanger began to slowly drift back to normalcy, only to be abruptly dragged there by the hanger chief's shout of "GET BACK TO WORK!"
Vahle and Major Chur entered their turbolift in silence. Both knew that such a cosmic event had to be extremely close to the system or involve truly extraordinary amounts of energy.
"Major, instruct Comms to send all sensor data related to that event to the Republic Astrographic Office for analysis" Vahle said.
"Of course, sir. Don't want the crew spreading rumors about Dravi Joules's hand cursing us, now do we?"
Vahle did not reward the comment with a response and Chur returned her attention to her datapad. Both of them knew that they had much bigger things to worry about than a freak cosmological event. Tyber Zann wasn't going to hunt down himself, now was he?
Back on the bridge, Commander Vahle walked over to his command station, hands once again behind his back where they belonged.
"Sir, the Tibrinese minister's shuttle has left the system" reported a staff member. "The Tibrinese Defense Fleet cruisers are still with us and are awaiting further instructions."
"Good" said Vahle. "We'll release them once we are confident Zann and Bei had no other schemes in the area."
Vahle turned to the Communications desk. "Have we received word from Republic Command?"
"No, sir" replied the ensign at Communications. "They acknowledged receiving our report, but we have detected no additional transmissions since."
"Very well. We are free to continue our hunt. Contact the Justice Ministry and have them send over all known criminal and mercenary hideouts in this sector. Let's start running Loc Bei's associates down."
"Yes, Commander" the ensign nodded. "Right away."
The next hour went quickly enough, Vahle reviewing maps of the sector, trying to trace Zann's supply lines. The frigate he had sent to assist Loc Bei was clearly a disposable asset, probably some mercenary or small-time gang Zann had co-opted, but it had come from somewhere. If Vahle could find that location, he'd be one step, albeit a small one, closer to Zann himself. Nearby, Major Chur was analyzing data from the CR-110's navcomputer, hoping to get a sense of where Bei was going, presumably some sort of safe house. Obviously, they could just ask Bei, but he had shown no signs of willingness to cooperate when he was handed over to the Tibrinese. The other captured criminals were either uncooperative or hired thugs with no information to share. This answer was probably going to have to be found the hard way.
"Ensign, has the Justice Ministry sent us those files yet?" Vahle asked.
"No, sir" the comms station ensign replied. "They have not acknowledged receiving the message either, sir. Neither has the Republic Astrographic Office."
Vahle frowned more than usual. "Have we received instructions from Republic Command?"
"No, sir, not in the last hour."
Vahle somehow frowned even more, one of his many talents. "Have we received any communications at all from Republic Command or any other Republic institution?"
The ensign shook his head. "No, sir. Radio silence, at least for us."
Major Chur turned to the commander. "There could be something wrong with our antenna" she suggested. Vahle doubted that, as the Zama, being an Acclamator-IV communications variant, had among the most advanced transmissions gear in the Republic navy. Still, technical malfunctions could happen to anyone.
"Contact Sluis Van" Vahle ordered, naming the primary Republic base for the southern quadrant of the galaxy. The ensign nodded and pushed a few buttons. Vahle, Chur, the ensign and an increasingly large crowd of curious bridge crew sat in silence. The ensign tried three different audio channels, but failed to get anything other than static. Attempts to contact Corona Base and Seara Minor also failed. Vahle was in the middle of ordering a physical inspection of the ship's long-range transmitter when the console beeped, signaling an incoming message.
"Do we have a response?" Vahle asked.
"Not exactly," the Comms ensign replied. "Transmitter code says it's Admiral Carr from the Fourth Main Fleet."
"Put it through" said Vahle with a not-well-hidden splash of impatience. He walked back to his station and its holodisplay, followed closely by Chur. A few seconds later, the full-body image of Vice Admiral Aras Carr appeared. A slightly overweight Rodian, Carr remained an imposing figure, well-known among the fleet for her exacting nature and intolerance of incompetence or laziness.
"Admiral Carr" said Vahle, his voice as nearly emotionless as ever. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Carr looked worried, which was uncharacteristic of her. Throughout the navy it was said that Carr could fly a ship through an ion storm and a supernova into the maw of an asteroid slug with a look of confidence on her face.
"Commander Vahle" Carr said. "I have been out performing exercises with a portion of the Fourth Fleet. Attempting to communicate with my headquarters at Sluis Van, I found myself unable to make contact."
"We've had the same problem here, Admiral" Vahle said. "We haven't been able to raise any Republic base in the region. Or Hosnian Prime, for that matter."
Carr stroked her chin in thought. "It sounds like we have a general breakdown in the galactic communications network."
"Accident or sabotage?" Vahle asked.
"Hard to say" Carr replied. "The sweeping nature of the blackout suggests a total system collapse, but the fact that our fleets are still in contact could mean a localized affair. I'm still getting civilian HoloNet signals, and they are reporting loss of signal at several locations, including the Hosnian System. I've sent some ships back to Sluis Van to investigate, but…"
Carr was interrupted by loud beeps on both ends of the transmission. "We've got an incoming signal" reported a comms worker to Vahle as one of Carr's crew did the same. Vahle nodded and a New Republic emblem appeared on the holodisplay next to Carr, indicating an audio-only transmission.
"Can anyone hear me?" came a voice. It was male, relatively young and very scared. "This is Republic Outpost Bos-Sigma-Six on Tren Roq! We are under heavy fire from unknown forces!"
"Outpost Bos-Sigma-Six, this is Vice Admiral Carr with the Fourth Main Fleet. What kind of enemy forces?"
The voice on the other end was silent for a second, as if its owner couldn't believe that they had actually been heard. "Oh, thank the Force! I thought for sure nobody was out there! I've been calling for over an hour, but no one's responded. It sounded like they were jamming us."
"The enemy forces, trooper" Carr demanded. "Who are they? What do they want?"
"I-I don't know who they are" the voice said. "Some kind of Imperials, I guess. They hit our space assets with some big ships, then bombed the base with some kind of TIE. Took out all our ships and our hanger. I don't know why they didn't hit the transmission tower. They started landing troops around the base, and brought in some big walkers! We're surrounded, but they haven't started pushing into the base yet. I don't know what they're waiting for."
"Well, trooper, they are waiting for us, whether they know it or not" said Carr. "Help is on the way."
"How long to Tren Roq?" Carr and Vahle asked their navigation officers at the same time. "Two hours, fifteen minutes" came the reply from Vahle's navigator. Carr's reported two and a half hours.
"We should form up and move in together" Vahle said.
Carr shook her head. "We don't know how long those ground forces are going to hold off attacking the base. Your fleet is faster. Get there, put troops planetside to reinforce our people down there. Get me a picture of what's going on and I'll smash through anything they've got in space."
"Understood" said Vahle, though he didn't sound like he liked it. "Take the fleet to Tren Roq immediately" he ordered. "Bring the Tibrinese cruisers with us. An attack on the Republic is an attack on them as well."
"Of course, sir."
"I'll see you at Tren Roq, Commander" said Carr. "Let's teach these Imperial wannabes a lesson they won't soon forget."
"Right…" Vahle muttered before ending the transmission. He stared out of the bridge's window as the Eighth Mobile Fleet began to turn in preparation for a jump to hyperspace.
"Tren Roq is on the border of the Unknown Regions" Major Chur said. "There are no inhabitants beyond a small Republic base built to service patrol craft. If it is being targeted…"
"Then our Imperial friends have some interest in the Unknown Regions" Vahle said. "They may even have attacked from there."
"If what our radioman said was true, then this is an act of war even the Senate will have a hard time ignoring" Chur said. "The Republic will need to respond in force."
"That's what I'm worried about" Vahle replied. "This attack and the communications blackout cannot be coincidences. Whoever these people are, whatever they want, they came prepared to stall the Republic's counterattack, which means that this is no impulsive action. They thought this through."
He stared out the window as the stars stretched.
"We may be rushing into a trap."
Aldon Daniels, fresh from being chewed out by Tallion over surrendering to Loc Bei, had just been getting into his long-postponed post-mission shower when the call came to assemble for deployment. Grumbling, he collected his gear and headed back to the hanger.
"We find Zann already?" he asked the assembling troops.
"Doesn't sound like it" Trooper Noarh said. "Whatever it is, Command's spooked about it. Want us prepared for anything."
"Anything?" Daniels asked.
"Anything" Noarh said, pointing behind him at a crew of mechanics loading a T2-B ground assault vehicle onto a U-wing. "We're bringing the tanks."
"Intel suggests walkers" said Shade as he checked his technical equipment. Nearby, Trooper Lon'ti and a group of army soldiers were moving crates of hand-held plex missiles. Lon'ti, a Selkath, was the only one in the hanger with anything resembling a smile on his face.
"Alright troops, listen up!" shouted Major Paneer, commander of the fleet's army detachment. The Grannan stood on a box, Colonel Tallion on the ground beside him. In theory, she should be the one doing this, as the Eighth Mobile's Commander of Ground Forces, but such work had never been her specialty.
"A Republic outpost on Tren Roq has been attacked by unknown hostiles" Paneer said. "Their exact nature and purpose is unclear, but we are expecting heavy resistance. The mission is simple: Get on the ground, secure a perimeter, prepare to evac any wounded or non-combat personnel and await further orders. Is that clear?"
The assembled army troopers gave a hearty shout in affirmation. The Galactic Marines were quieter, with most just giving a brief nod.
"Get to the shuttles" Paneer ordered. "We deploy the instant we're out of hyperspace."
In the massive hanger of the Alderaan Spirit, the atmosphere held no tension, just pure energy as the pilots and crew ran around, trying to get four squadrons of starfighters ready for deployment.
Wing Commander Tambralynne Kusarni weaved in and out of the groups, checking on each of her squad leaders. Vahle wanted the entire wing out of the hanger the minute they left hyperspace.
"What can we expect, Commander?" asked Libra 1, a yellow Quarran.
"Don't know yet" Tambralynne replied. "Top's afraid that it's big, though. Wants your squadron armed with the heavy anti-ship torpedoes."
"Makes sense" Libra 1 said. "We don't get called out unless the target's big. If the opposition is light craft, the rest of the squads should be able to clean it up."
"That's the plan!" Tambralynne shouted, having already moved on.
"Good job disabling that corvette" she said as she passed Libra 3, patting him on the back.
"Boss, droid says your ship's still a little banged up from the last fight" said Vega 2, materializing next to her along with BR-17, a pink and blue rolling astromech unit. "Shield generator's not back at 100%."
"We don't have time to replace it, so I'll just have to live with it" Tambralynne replied. "I can handle that."
"If you say so" Vega 2 said. "Maybe try to get shot up a little less this time?"
BR-17 beeped in agreement. Tambralynne shrugged.
Above them, Chief Dorath, a stocky Bothan, stood on a catwalk and watched the hanger with arms crossed. Attempting a rapid full wing deployment was always a tricky thing, but with little time to prepare and both Loc Bei's CR-110 corvette and the fleet's damaged Marauder occupying the hanger, things became very cramped indeed. Dorath's mechanics were forced to bend a few safety rules to ensure everything was fueled and loaded in time.
"I hope you don't spring something like this on me again" he shouted down to Tambralynne as she passed by.
"I don't make promises. I make results!" the Zeltron shouted back up.
"I suppose that's why you're always taking point, instead of coordinating your snubfighters from the deck like the books say you should" Dorath replied.
"No better way to lead than by leading the charge" Tambralynne replied. "Pilot can't complain about what I tell them to do when I'm doing twice as much myself."
"The front's no place for a Wing Commander" Dorath said, shaking his head.
"You have a problem, take it up with Vahle" Tambralynne said, walking off.
Dorath chuckled. He was teasing, mostly. The joke throughout the fleet was that Vahle kept Kusarni in charge of the fleet's fighter wing because she was the only one she'd take orders from. But whatever the bureaucrats back at Hosnian Prime said whenever Kusarni crashed something and they tried to remove her, she could speak to her pilots in their own language, and every one of them would follow her into a supernova without question. Dorath had worked with a lot of pilots over the years and had hated a fair number of them. But Tambralynne Kusarni was something special. Everyone had to admit that.
Even if most doubted she'd survive to retirement.
Back on the bridge, Commander Vahle sat down, staring at his console as the numbers counting down to realspace got smaller and smaller. Though his expression was as stern as ever, the few people who knew him well would be able to perceive a sliver of concern in his eyes. He still had no idea what he was bringing his fleet against, but they didn't sound like pirates.
"It's almost time, sir" Chur said as she sat down beside him.
"I am aware" Vahle replied.
"Waiting is always the hardest part" Chur said.
"I am aware" Vahle said, irritation creeping into his voice.
"The fleet can handle this" Chur reassured him. "And Admiral Carr is only a few minutes behind us."
Vahle didn't say anything, and Chur returned her focus to the map of the space around Tren Roq that she had pulled up on her datapad.
Neither wanted to consider what would happen if she was wrong.
The Eighth Mobile Fleet snapped into realspace in perfect formation. The MC40c cruiser Insight was in the lead, Zama to its rear and starboard, the interdictor frigate Certainty and carrier Alderaan Spirit behind them both. The two Tibrinese cruisers each took up one side of the formation, and the fleet's four Raider-class corvettes and functioning Marauder were scattered between the larger ships.
Vahle had ordered the jump to end a bit further back from Tren Roq than was standard, and as Insight, Zama and Alderaan Spirit began deploying the fighter squadrons scattered between them, that was proving to be a wise decision.
Floating over the planet were two hulking behemoths of slate-grey metal, each one four times the length of Zama. The massive triangles were topped by squat but familiar bridge towers, and only the slightest examination was needed to tell that they bristled with weapons.
The bridge was silent, except for one officer at Navigation's brief profanity.
Vahle recovered quickly. "Open a channel" he ordered. After a second of stillness, he gave the order again.
The bridge snapped to life as the personnel scrambled to their tasks, but most of them spent any free second they had staring at the ships out the front window.
These definitely weren't pirates.
Vahle's traditionally emotionless expression served him well as contact with the mystery ships was established. This was no place to show fear.
"Unidentified ships, this is Commander Marius Vahle of the New Republic Eighth Mobile Fleet" Vahle said, deciding to start with a by-the-book approach in preparation for the inevitable Senate investigation that would second-guess his every decision. "You are intruding on New Republic military space. Please state your identity and purpose."
A hologram appeared before him, showing a human woman, probably in her late 50s or early 60s. Though there was grey in her pulled-back hair and wrinkles on her face, a fire still burned in her black eyes.
"Commander Vahle, I am Admiral Dido Asardus of the First Order's 12th Attack Group" she said, her voice confident.
"First Order?" Vahle muttered under his breath. Somehow that wasn't a surprise, though how they'd gotten ships twice the length of an Imperial Star Destroyer were beyond him.
"Admiral Asardus, this is Republic space" Vahle said. "Your unsolicited presence here is a violation of the Galactic Concordance. If you do not immediately remove your ships from this system, it will be treated as a possible act of war." Vahle glanced at his holodisplay, mentally counting the seconds until all of his fighter squadrons were in play. All he needed was time.
"Commander Vahle, I am afraid that the Galactic Concordance, signed as it was by sniveling traitors, is not currently in effect. This system is Imperial space, being pacified of insurrection in the name of the Supreme Leader, rightful successor of His Majesty the Emperor, may He rest in peace."
Delusions of grandeur, check Vahle thought. Definitely the First Order.
Asardus's two massive Star Destroyers – they looked like they might be big enough to be classified as battlecruisers – began moving towards the Eighth Mobile. Vahle could tell that the formalities were about at their end.
"Admiral Asardus," he said, summoning every ounce of officiality he could muster, "you are hereby ordered to deactivate all weapons, engines and shields and submit to an inspection."
She laughed. She actually laughed. Vahle wasn't surprised, exactly, but he still felt offended.
After a second or two, Asardus caught herself, straightened posture and glared into the holoprojector.
"And you, Commander, are ordered to surrender your ships and bow before the glory of your Supreme Leader."
For several seconds, Vahle and Asardus stared into each other's' eyes, trying to measure the other one's resolve.
At once, both turned their heads to someone on their bridge and spoke a single word.
"Fire" said Asardus.
"Execute" ordered Vahle, slightly faster.
The Battle of Tren Roq had begun.
The main batteries of the First Order's fleet opened with a powerful pre-sighted volley, aimed straight for Vahle's main ships. Unfortunately for them, the Republic fleet's early exit from hyperspace had left considerable distance between the ships, reducing the barrage's accuracy. This was made worse by the Eighth Mobile's simultaneous starboard banking maneuver, moving their ships from the positions they had held during the brief parley. Straining their inertial compensators to their limits, the ships shifted power to their ventral shields as they rapidly turned away from Asardus and towards Tren Roq. A few hard turbolaser and ion cannon blasts struck, but the shields would hold for the brief minute needed to get the curve of the planet between the two fleets.
On the bridge of the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Requiem, Admiral Dido Asardus examined her prey. A Republic Mobile Fleet, while a valuable prize, was not the quarry she had hoped her bait would draw in. At the same time, though, the perfection of their evasion maneuver indicated that their leadership was not paralyzed with fear as some would be in the face of two unexpected battlecruisers. If anything, the fleet's efficiency meant that must have been following orders given before they had even arrived in the system. Before they had even known what threat they faced.
This Commander Vahle was an interesting one. Perhaps he would make this a worthy battle after all.
"Sir, they are trying to slip around the planet" an officer reported.
"I can see that, Lieutenant" Asardus snapped. "Continue to move the cruisers forward. Send in the TIEs."
She might respect Vahle's performance so far, but that wouldn't change his fate.
"Admiral, the enemy has deployed a squadron heading towards the planet" an officer from Sensors called out. "It seems to be headed towards the Republic base on the ground."
As predicted.
"Intercept and eliminate" Asardus said. She pressed a button, and a hologram of a stormtrooper appeared before her.
"Captain, the usefulness of the Tren Roq garrison is at an end. Move in and eradicate them."
"Yes, sir" said the stormtrooper. As he deactivated his holocommunicator, the trooper took a brief moment to crack his knuckles before signaling the walker standing above him to begin the advance.
Time to show these pampered wannabes what a real army looked like.
"Admiral Carr, we have established hostile contact above Tren Roq" Commander Vahle said into his console. "It's the First Order. They have two large battlecruisers, unknown ground forces and are looking for a fight."
"Understood, Commander" Carr replied. "My forces are-"
The hologram crackled and dissolved.
"Comms?" Vahle asked the Communications staff.
"They've started jamming us, sir" an ensign replied. "Extra-system communications are a no-go."
"Of course" Vahle muttered. "Study their jamming output and devise countermeasures."
"Presumably they were jamming Tren Roq's distress call before we received it" Major Chur said. "So why did they stop, only to restart?"
"Because someone took their bait" Vahle replied.
"Us."
Strapped tightly into a seat in the back of an Omicron-class shuttle, Aldon Daniels briefly checked his chronometer, the pilot's estimate of time to the surface firmly in his mind.
The ground reinforcements had been the first units out of the hangers, and were headed towards Base Bos-Sigma-Six even before Vahle had established communications with Asardus. Four UT-80 U-wing transports, three swept-wing Omicron assault shuttles and the Raider-class corvette Vrogas Vas made up the landing force, escorted by the 12 T-85 X-wings of Cetus Squadron and two of the fleet's six Excelsior-class escort gunboats.
"Hitting atmosphere now" said the pilot of one of the gunboats, E-41, over the intercom to the rest of his crew. "No targets yet on sensors."
Resembling a grey brick with engines and a few Republic Blue lines down its hull, the Excelsior-class, universally known as the "Eskie," was a marvel of Republic engineering despite looking nothing like the sort. A mere 30 meters long, the ship was only slightly longer than two X-wings but stuffed 6 or 7 crewmembers, powerful engines, a hyperdrive and strong shields into a durable, if uncomfortably tight, package.
The reason for the high crew numbers was readily apparent to anyone who saw an Eskie, as the ship featured no less than five manned rapid-fire laser turrets, facing in all directions.
As the ground convoy descended into Tren Roq's atmosphere, the gunners strained their eyes to see anything through the cloud cover. They had sensor targeting, of course, but shooting at something you couldn't directly see was always a tricky proposition.
"I've got movement" the E-41's port gunner reported. An instantly recognizable blocky shape formed in the clouds. "It's a TIE. Looks like it's checking us out"
"Command's given us free fire discretion" the pilot said. "Light 'em up."
The port gunner replied not with words but with action, sending several laser blasts at the TIE. The fighter attempted to evade and dove downwards, but not before taking a hit straight to its wing-like solar panels. The bolt dissipated without apparent effect.
"Holy nerfs!" the port gunner shouted. "That TIE's shielded!"
"Shielded TIEs? That's just not fair!" the dorsal gunner replied.
As the TIE dove away, E-41's ventral gunner put three laser blasts into it from above, causing a clearly fatal explosion.
"They ain't that shielded" the ventral gunner reported. "A balloon with shields is still a balloon."
"Understood" said the pilot. "Double-tap everything you shoot, just to be sure."
"No problem" the starboard gunner said. "We got this."
Then the ships exited the cloud layer and saw the smoke coming from the surface.
Back in space, Tambralynne Kusarni and the rest of the Eighth Mobile's starfighter corps held formation quietly behind the fleet's capital ships. The arc of the planet was now in the fleet's favor, and few of the First Order's turbolaser shots connected.
"Everyone alright?" she queried. A quick check confirmed that Vega, Altair and Libra Squadrons were intact.
"Top, we can't run like this forever" Libra 1 said. "When do we go in?"
"Patience" Vahle said, studying a holodisplay of the battle carefully. "You'll get your chance."
Part of the holodisplay flashed red. Dozens of sensor pings were moving towards the fleet at high speed.
"TIE fighter swarm inbound" Vahle reported. "Prepare to defend the fleet."
"Copy" Tambralynne said as Vega Squadron swung around. The Eighth Mobile's cruisers were already firing at the swarm, though it was too far to expect any effect.
"Libra Squadron, stay behind the cruisers" Vahle ordered. He needed all of his B-wings saved for strikes on the Star Destroyers, assuming they made it that far. "Eskies and Raiders form a firing line to chew them up. Vega, only strike when they get close. Altair, take position to crush their flank."
"Copy that" said Altair 1, leading her squadron of A-wings towards the upper atmosphere of the planet, ready to turn and strike.
Vahle found himself a bit puzzled by the TIEs' plan of attack, but if these First Order pilots wanted to charge into the maw of the Eighth Mobile's considerable anti-fighter defenses, they were welcome to do so.
"Admiral, the enemy is massing anti-fighter weaponry in front of our attack."
"Good" Asardus said, staring at her own holodisplay. "Tell the squadrons to begin the maneuver."
Too easy.
The TIEs had just about reached the effective range of Vahle's weapons when the formation split into three packs, each going in a different direction as they attempted to encircle the fleet. One pack went towards each planetary horizon and the third out towards space, all resembling giant fishhooks at they prepared to strike from the flank and rear.
Vahle reacted instantly. "Vega, hit the outer group, Altair, slash the lower, gunnery focus on the upper! Libra, prepare to engage fighters!"
Despite brief confusion as to which enemy group was which, the squadrons leaped into action. Using Zama as a reference point, its prow pointed towards Tren Roq, and its ventral side towards the enemy, a group of TIEs was attempting to go above, below and behind the ship. The corvettes and Eskies quickly focused their fire on the group heading over Zama, Vega cut to intercept the one headed behind it and Altair's A-wings charged at the one going below it.
"Let 'em have it!" Altair 1 shouted, her A-wings unleashing a barrage of anti-fighter concussion missiles at the lower pack. At this distance, such missiles could be fairly easily evaded, but only if the TIEs broke their tight formation. Sure enough, they scattered, avoiding the missiles but leaving no fighters able to engage the A-wings head-on as Altair slammed into the group.
The outer group had more time to react and peeled off several TIEs to engage Vega Squadron. Tambralynne was fine with that. A head-on fight favored her X-wings, unless these TIEs had somehow massively improved their durability.
The Raider corvettes and Eskies angled to pursue the upper group of TIEs, but the sudden nature of the course change and the TIEs' incredible speed meant that the corvettes could only nip at the fighters' heels.
"Libra, prepare to slash" Vahle ordered. B-wings were not built for this, but it was better than leaving them sitting still.
The upper pack of TIEs, save one or two unlucky flameouts, crested the Zama and began to dive only to be met by Libra Squadron charging upwards, lasers and ion cannons firing. B-wings could not outmaneuver TIEs, but in head-on confrontation it was agility advantages that were lost. The TIEs scattered and attempted to get behind their targets, but Libra Squadron made no attempt to maneuver or dogfight, simply charging through the formation. The strike bombers' anti-capital ship weaponry didn't hit many TIEs, but it made quick work of the ones it did. Libra raced over the side to the relative sanctuary of the Eskies' guns as the Zama's own weapons took over the battle.
"We've got a problem" one of the U-wing pilots reported. "LZ's no good."
Base Bos-Sigma-Six was a small complex built on a relatively flat clearing in Tren Roq's otherwise thick jungle. The main base consisted of two short but wide buildings, a living quarters with a courtyard that made it resemble a square ring and an administrative building attached to it. Beside the administrative building was a dome-shaped hanger with a large concrete landing platform stretched out in front of it. A tall tower with an antenna and a shield generator dominated the area.
The problem was immediately obvious. The landing pad was covered in scorch marks and the burning husks of several small spacecraft. The hanger had a massive column of smoke billowing out of its entrance. Neither looked like a safe place to set down.
To make matters worse, two AT-AT walkers had emerged from the jungle and were firing at the base's transmission tower. Several AT-ST light walkers and infantry transports were moving across the damaged tarmac. Even without the obstruction, landing in front of them would be suicidal.
"Convoy, wave off to the east" ordered the lead Omicron shuttle. "Don't want to jump in front of those AT-ATs."
"4, 5, 7, strike on those walkers" Cetus 1 called out. Cetus 9, 10 and 11 had already broken off to chase two more TIEs and Cetus 8 had taken a serious enough hit that she had been sent back to the carrier, so fighter cover was wearing thin. Fortunately, most of the First Order TIEs seemed to be in space. Otherwise, this landing would be in serious trouble.
Cetus 4, 5 and 7 dove at the AT-ATs and sprinkled the soldiers around them with laser bolts. As the X-wings pulled up, two white trails of smoke followed them, clearly from handheld anti-air rockets.
"They've got plex!" Cetus 5 shouted as the X-wings scattered and rolled to evade the missiles. A few seconds later, two powerful bursts of rapid-fire green laser blasts shot up from the ground, revealing two squat, quadrupedal walkers whose backs were covered in massive clusters of anti-fighter guns. The AT-AA's octuple cannons swept the sky like green spotlights, promising instant death to any fighter or transport that crossed their path.
"We have to get on the ground" Colonel Tallion said into the radio. "Can we land further into the facility?"
"Maybe" the lead U-wing pilot said as the landing force skirted around the base's landing pad, the U-wing door guns and Eskie turrets peppering the First Order troops approaching the base with inaccurate but hopefully intimidating fire.
"There's a courtyard in the middle there" said Cetus 9, returning to the formation. "Might fit the Raider if you don't mind scratching the paint."
"Go for it" Tallion ordered. "Cetus, do everything you can to those walkers."
"Copy".
The transports dove towards the courtyard, the three Omicron-class shuttles touching down on the roof of the surrounding building and disgorging their troops as the U-wings dipped into courtyard and released two platoons and two T2-B light repulsor tanks strapped in specially-made compartments on the underside. As the U-wings and Omicrons took off, the Vrogas Vas barely managed to lower its dagger-shaped frame into the diagonal of the courtyard. The corvette's main ramp dropped and dozens of troops and medical personnel spilled out.
A spiky-haired Zeltron in a New Republic technician's uniform stuck his head out from a door to the courtyard.
"I don't believe it!" he cried out. "You actually came!"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that" said Tallion, using her suit's jets to descend from the rooftop along with the rest of the Galactic Marines. Daniels was right behind her. "The Republic leaves no one behind."
"If you say so" the Zeltron said.
Above them, the U-wings and Omicron shuttles flew off to avoid exposing themselves to attack, Eskies in tow. A technician from the Vrogas Vas activated a portable shield generator and covered the roof of the courtyard in a translucent blue bubble. Hopefully it would protect them from airstrikes, at least for the moment.
"Get your wounded and non-combat people onto the ship" Daniels said to the Zeltron. A shot from an AT-AT slammed into the transmission tower overhead, sending sparks, embers and shrapnel bouncing off of the shield.
"They're already coming!" the Zeltron shouted. "We'll never evacuate in time!"
Tallion grabbed the man by the shoulder. "Those cloacae are our problem, not yours. Nova Team, move out" she shouted, gesturing in the direction of the AT-AT approach.
"Going up against those maniacs? What, are you trying to win the Republic Star?" the Zeltron asked. Tallion grunted and shoved him as she followed her Galactic Marines.
"Nah, the Colonel's not in the Republic Star business" Daniels said, patting the technician on the shoulder. "After the second one, she ran out of room in her medal drawer."
He signaled a platoon of army troopers and they all disappeared into the base.
Back in space, the outer pack of TIEs had managed to largely avoid destruction from Vega Squadron's attack. They were, however, being pushed back, far away from their goal of the Zama's engines.
The upper TIE group had successfully reached Zama, but Libra Squadron's rush had disoriented them, and though the TIEs fired laser blasts and a few concussion missiles into the Acclamator, they had little time before two Eskies appeared above them, turrets blazing. The TIEs bid a hasty retreat back under Zama. This also gave them a chance to come to the aid of the lower group, which had scattered in the face of Altair Squadron's ferocious strike and was now engaged in a brutal dogfight for its survival. The attack was faltering.
Back on Requiem, Admiral Asardus continued to stare at her holodisplay. Vahle had responded to her tactic well, and even with the skill of First Order pilots on her side, the Republic's elite fighter corps was quite effective. Their pilots in-atmosphere had chased off the squadron she had left over the base, and she dared not send further TIEs down there for fear of weakening her fleet's defense against the likely Republic counterattack.
But it did not matter. Her pilots, in their bravery, had achieved their goal – slowing down Vahle's retreat around Tren Roq and allowing her Star Destroyers to put the Eighth Mobile Fleet in the crosshairs once again.
"Admiral, additional ships coming out of hyperspace" a sensors officer reported. Sure enough, space bent to reveal between the two fleets a long, thin vessel with a massive prow. The unmistakable silhouette of a Starhawk-class battleship.
A second Starhawk appeared behind it, followed by the distinctive curves of an MC90 star cruiser to their left. An Endurance-class fleet carrier came in behind them, as did an Aquitens-class light cruiser and a smattering of corvettes.
"Commander Vahle" said Aras Carr, standing proudly on the bridge of the second Starhawk, Ortanic. "The Fourth Main Fleet has arrived. Let's get to work, shall we?"
