The signs had been there but nobody had picked up on them, thus Cronin did not hear of the Emperors demise until a good full week after the battle of Endor. According to official documents the entire rebel fleet was supposedly present during that massive fight between Imperials and Rebels. This was simply not true. Admiral Ackbar and General Madine felt that several cells would stay out of the battle as sort of an insurance force. If the rebels lost at least the rebellion would not die. Cronin was the commander of one such cell.
He was on the bridge when the encrypted holiness transmission brought back news of the Empires defeat. As per his orders, direct from General Madine himself Cronin mustered his forces a short three hours later. From his vantage point on the bridge of the rebel dreadnought Akurish Sun Cronin realized that his fleet was really just a small collection of fighters and lightly armored ships.
Besides the Akurish Sun, which served as Cronin's flagship, there were two Marauder Corvettes, a bulk cruiser (Starfighter Carrier), a Corellian Corvette, three rebel transports and two more dreadnoughts to protect the transports. The carrier contained a mixed assortment of A-wings, X-wings, Y-wings, Z-95 Head Hunters and four captured TIE Fighters. All in all Cronin commanded ten Battle-class ships and three squanders worth of fighters, about 5,000 men.
Cronin assembled his officers an hour before their scheduled departure from the Gunto system. He stood tall, his rebel uniform gave his shoulders a broader appearance, and muscular. "Men," he said in a grim tone. "In one hour are ships, hidden by the Hallenot Asteroid field, will make a run for open space. As soon as we reach it, we will jump to a set of coordinates that I have received from High Command."
Cronin paused for a moment and took a deep breath. His officers, many of them were much to young, they would have been cadets in the Imperial Academies had they not been so idealistic.
"This will not be an easy task. Even though the Empire was defeated at Endor does not mean that the Imperial Navy no longer exists. This Sector still has a sizable garrison and currently there are two Victory Star Destroyers in the system, between us and open space."
Cronin stepped down from the rise he had been standing on. "Its going to be bloody, boys. Prepare your men the best you can and get ready to leave. Good Luck to all of you." Cronin nodded then walked out and back towards the bridge. Behind him the war room emptied of its officers. They headed in clumps towards their shuttles in the Dreadnoughts hanger.
The Bridge was one of the few large open spaces on a warship. It was split level, with a rise in the back for the Captain and the other higher ups. The lower level contained the command crew and their equipment. In front of the rise was the view screen, a massive window/video screen currently displaying the space in front the Akurish Sun.
Cronin marched towards the railing at the edge of the rise and clasped his hands behind his back. "Ensign, time until we leave?" he asked.
"Four minutes, thirty eight seconds sir," called back Ensign Neiil from his station below. The Rebel Cell drew heavily from the surrounding systems, which were effectively devoid of native sentient life. Cronin's fleet was made up almost entirely of humans. His bridge crew was one hundred percent human. To Cronin the bridge looked like it came of an Imperial Star Destroyer.
For four minutes and thirty eight seconds Cronin stood there, tense, on the bridge. His body was rigid and unwavering. Sweat trickled down his tan necked. He had spent time on the beautiful beaches of Burlen Minor the week before.
"Sir, five seconds," called up the Ensign.
"Initiate ion engines on my mark," ordered Cronin. He watched the clock display count down the last five seconds of peace Cronin was afraid he would ever have. The clock hit zero and Cronin gave the order his men had waited at least a year for. "Mark!"
The fleet of ten ships came roaring out of the Asteroid field like demons escaping to Hell. Almost immediately after the ships sensors were no longer effected by the mineral content of the Asteroids klaxons began to wail.
"Sir Imp Star Deuce, twelve klicks out," called a soldier from close to the view screen. Cronin turned to the Heads Up Display (HUD) in front of him, where the Star Destroyer was being displayed red.
"Ensign, open the comm line to all ships. Basic encryption"
"Aye Aye sir."
Cronin watched as the white Star Destroyer slowly came in to view. Sithspawn, those things are big. "All ships, do not engage, fire defensive weapons only, and make for the hyperspace vector with all possible speed."
"Ensign, transmit the coordinates for the jump to all ships."
"Aye, Aye sir"
Cronin turned back to the viewscreen. The Star Destroyer was getting larger and larger, now it was taking up a full quarter of the screen. The Akurish Sun shuddered as the first salvo of Imperial weapons slammed against the shields. Fires broke out at several of the computer stations and sparks fell from the ceiling. Cronin smiled grimly. May the Force be with us...cause we're gonna need it.
He was on the bridge when the encrypted holiness transmission brought back news of the Empires defeat. As per his orders, direct from General Madine himself Cronin mustered his forces a short three hours later. From his vantage point on the bridge of the rebel dreadnought Akurish Sun Cronin realized that his fleet was really just a small collection of fighters and lightly armored ships.
Besides the Akurish Sun, which served as Cronin's flagship, there were two Marauder Corvettes, a bulk cruiser (Starfighter Carrier), a Corellian Corvette, three rebel transports and two more dreadnoughts to protect the transports. The carrier contained a mixed assortment of A-wings, X-wings, Y-wings, Z-95 Head Hunters and four captured TIE Fighters. All in all Cronin commanded ten Battle-class ships and three squanders worth of fighters, about 5,000 men.
Cronin assembled his officers an hour before their scheduled departure from the Gunto system. He stood tall, his rebel uniform gave his shoulders a broader appearance, and muscular. "Men," he said in a grim tone. "In one hour are ships, hidden by the Hallenot Asteroid field, will make a run for open space. As soon as we reach it, we will jump to a set of coordinates that I have received from High Command."
Cronin paused for a moment and took a deep breath. His officers, many of them were much to young, they would have been cadets in the Imperial Academies had they not been so idealistic.
"This will not be an easy task. Even though the Empire was defeated at Endor does not mean that the Imperial Navy no longer exists. This Sector still has a sizable garrison and currently there are two Victory Star Destroyers in the system, between us and open space."
Cronin stepped down from the rise he had been standing on. "Its going to be bloody, boys. Prepare your men the best you can and get ready to leave. Good Luck to all of you." Cronin nodded then walked out and back towards the bridge. Behind him the war room emptied of its officers. They headed in clumps towards their shuttles in the Dreadnoughts hanger.
The Bridge was one of the few large open spaces on a warship. It was split level, with a rise in the back for the Captain and the other higher ups. The lower level contained the command crew and their equipment. In front of the rise was the view screen, a massive window/video screen currently displaying the space in front the Akurish Sun.
Cronin marched towards the railing at the edge of the rise and clasped his hands behind his back. "Ensign, time until we leave?" he asked.
"Four minutes, thirty eight seconds sir," called back Ensign Neiil from his station below. The Rebel Cell drew heavily from the surrounding systems, which were effectively devoid of native sentient life. Cronin's fleet was made up almost entirely of humans. His bridge crew was one hundred percent human. To Cronin the bridge looked like it came of an Imperial Star Destroyer.
For four minutes and thirty eight seconds Cronin stood there, tense, on the bridge. His body was rigid and unwavering. Sweat trickled down his tan necked. He had spent time on the beautiful beaches of Burlen Minor the week before.
"Sir, five seconds," called up the Ensign.
"Initiate ion engines on my mark," ordered Cronin. He watched the clock display count down the last five seconds of peace Cronin was afraid he would ever have. The clock hit zero and Cronin gave the order his men had waited at least a year for. "Mark!"
The fleet of ten ships came roaring out of the Asteroid field like demons escaping to Hell. Almost immediately after the ships sensors were no longer effected by the mineral content of the Asteroids klaxons began to wail.
"Sir Imp Star Deuce, twelve klicks out," called a soldier from close to the view screen. Cronin turned to the Heads Up Display (HUD) in front of him, where the Star Destroyer was being displayed red.
"Ensign, open the comm line to all ships. Basic encryption"
"Aye Aye sir."
Cronin watched as the white Star Destroyer slowly came in to view. Sithspawn, those things are big. "All ships, do not engage, fire defensive weapons only, and make for the hyperspace vector with all possible speed."
"Ensign, transmit the coordinates for the jump to all ships."
"Aye, Aye sir"
Cronin turned back to the viewscreen. The Star Destroyer was getting larger and larger, now it was taking up a full quarter of the screen. The Akurish Sun shuddered as the first salvo of Imperial weapons slammed against the shields. Fires broke out at several of the computer stations and sparks fell from the ceiling. Cronin smiled grimly. May the Force be with us...cause we're gonna need it.