Struggles of Diplomacy
Woostri Planetary Defense Headquarters
Supreme Guard Tsuri switched off the recording, "Send them a message telling them that we have recieved their message and are presenting it to the Empress. Remind them to stay where they are until we have further orders."
"Aye, sir," muttered one of the minions.
Tsuri walked out of the station on a mission. It was early morning, so Empress Reniel would be up exercising on the terrace. In mere moments he was at the palace, ready to advise the Empress on the impending mission.
---------------------
MC-90 Glory of the Republic
Minister Fratora stood leaning on the bulkhead for fifteen minutes waiting upon a reply from the surface. Admiral Sigrism approached him with a look of worry. "Does it usually take this long for a reply?"
"It is taking a bit too long for a simple courtesy reply from the defenses, a couple more minutes and perhaps we mind want to reconsider this system."
As if the defense coordinators had read the Minister's mind, the comm system beeped a tone which meant there was an incoming transmission. Yellk Blan, the Gotal communications officer, spoke up, "Sirs, Woostri is sending a reply."
"Patch it through the bridge speakers," Lance said.
"Republic vessel, you are advised to remain at your current position while the Empress is updated on the situation."
"Is that all, Yellk?" Zike asked.
"Yes, sir. It would appear so."
Minister Conn approached the transparisteel view window staring intently upon Woostri. "I don't like that title."
Zike heard the Minister mutter to himself, "What title?"
"Empress. I think there shall be an interesting number of events at this system."
---------------------
Woostri Palace
Then triple set of distant suns raced over the horizon as a figure stood rigidly on the terrace of the Woostri Palace. Deep within a meditation that had been taught to Reniel by her ancestors, the Empress sensed the presence of her Supreme Guard. "Why would you disrupt my morning ritual?" Reniel said in a spiteful tone.
"A thousand apologies, my Empress. But, a New Republic vessel is in the system, requesting to open diplomatic talks," Tsuri summarized.
"Have the 42's fire across their nose and let them know that we are fully capable of supporting ourselves."
"Yes, ma'am," Tsuri said as he began to leave.
"Tsuri!" yelled the Empress. The guard stood petrified, unable to speak. "Never again will you call me 'ma'am'! You will address me as Empress!"
"Yes, Empress. I beg your pardon."
"You have it this time, make sure there is no need for begging in the future."
---------------------
Cockpit - Green Leader
"Green Leader, this is Green Three. I'm picking up multiple signals approximately three clicks away. IFF frequencies are not set," said an X-Wing pilot as he ran his perimeter patrol.
"Green Three, you mean the IFF is set to neutral," corrected the squadron leader.
"No, sir. I mean that it's not set. Unidentified fighter. Approach vector suggests hostile."
In the cockpit of the X-Wing, Brun Triln relayed the message to Admiral Sigrism. "Admiral, perimeter patrol reports possible hostile signals two and a half clicks away."
Crackling back over the comm, the Admiral issued order, "Defense pattern Beta. Do not fire unless fired upon."
On the bridge of the MC-90, Minister Conn approached his friend, "What's the matter?"
"Our fighters are reporting possible enemy fighters. Think they're from the planet?"
The minister pondered this for a moment, "Could be. Have we heard anything back from them yet?" Conn asked Yellk.
"No, sir. Still awaiting a reply."
The comm crackled as Green Leader reported in, "We have a visual on the fighters. Actually, looks more like an interceptor, Admiral. They have a half click until we're within weapons ran..." but the communication was never finished.
"ADMIRAL!" yelled Green Eight over the comm unit. "These interceptors have some sort of disruptor ray as their main weapon. Absolutely ripped Brun's X-Wing apart."
Colonel Barhison began to run out of the bridge when Zike stopped him, "We're not engaging, we're leaving. Right, Minister?"
"By all means," Lance said.
Zike returned to the comm, "Get to the hangar, Green Squadron. The Glory's turrets will provide cover fire."
---------------------
Underneath the Glory
Ten V-42's sped underneath the mammoth MC-90, showing no fear of the larger vessel. The V-42's looked somewhat like a diamond, with the blunt end facing forward and tapering off in the back. The cockpit looked little more than a transparisteel bubble that only opened a little bit over the top of the fighter. On each side of the cockpit, the s-foils curved back and then faced forward. On the tip of each s-foil was the pride and joy of Woostri's cheif engineer, fighter sized disruptor cannons. Disruptor cannons sent out beams of highly destructive waves capable of ripping apart metal, electronics, and flesh. On the bottom of the craft was an advanced concussion missile launcher. With only three weapons, the V-42 seemed harmless enough.
"Green Squadron, prepare to intercept," Green Two said.
"You heard what the Admiral said," interjected Green Eight.
"They're not getting away with this. Attack pattern Omega." Green Two continued. "Execute now."
The remaining eight X-Wings peeled out from in front of the V-42's, each X-Wing drawing one enemy and Green Two and Three drawing two. Attack pattern Omega called for each pilot to peel off in a symmetrical pattern, each equally spaced from the other. Then, each member would draw an enemy fighter. After the squadron had seperated, they formed into a circle, with each X-Wing directly behind at least one V-42. The V-42 pilots caught onto the pattern, jerked once, and then played along.
"Proton torpedoes." ordered Green Two. Each X-Wing released a volley of two proton torpedoes at the V-42 in front of it, Green Nine and Green Eleven doing it twice for they were each behind two V-42's. But the V-42 pilots knew what was coming and with uncanny precision, each V-42's cut out of the circle at a ninety degree angle.
"What was that?!" exclaimed Green Six. "How can they pull that maneuver without blacking out?"
"Green Six, pull up!" But too late, Green Six erupted in a ball of flame as Green Four's torpedo ripped through his hull. What the V-42 pilots had done was pull out before the torpedoes had a lock on their target. Once the V-42's were gone, the torpedoes locked onto the respective members of Green Squadron. What X-Wings weren't destroyed by torpedoes were picked off by V-42's.
---------------------
Bridge
"Get us out of here, now!" yelled Zike.
"But, sir. They've destroyed Green Squadron," replied Kaptirc.
"Exactly, and we're leaving before they start picking on us." Time precisely, the V-42's began their attack on the large MC-90, ripping through the hull with their disruptor cannons. "Get us out NOW!"
Commodore Dhray yelled a, "Yes, sir." as she pushed the hyperspace panels forward. Star streaks took over the view of the MC-90's screen.
Woostri Planetary Defense Headquarters
Supreme Guard Tsuri switched off the recording, "Send them a message telling them that we have recieved their message and are presenting it to the Empress. Remind them to stay where they are until we have further orders."
"Aye, sir," muttered one of the minions.
Tsuri walked out of the station on a mission. It was early morning, so Empress Reniel would be up exercising on the terrace. In mere moments he was at the palace, ready to advise the Empress on the impending mission.
---------------------
MC-90 Glory of the Republic
Minister Fratora stood leaning on the bulkhead for fifteen minutes waiting upon a reply from the surface. Admiral Sigrism approached him with a look of worry. "Does it usually take this long for a reply?"
"It is taking a bit too long for a simple courtesy reply from the defenses, a couple more minutes and perhaps we mind want to reconsider this system."
As if the defense coordinators had read the Minister's mind, the comm system beeped a tone which meant there was an incoming transmission. Yellk Blan, the Gotal communications officer, spoke up, "Sirs, Woostri is sending a reply."
"Patch it through the bridge speakers," Lance said.
"Republic vessel, you are advised to remain at your current position while the Empress is updated on the situation."
"Is that all, Yellk?" Zike asked.
"Yes, sir. It would appear so."
Minister Conn approached the transparisteel view window staring intently upon Woostri. "I don't like that title."
Zike heard the Minister mutter to himself, "What title?"
"Empress. I think there shall be an interesting number of events at this system."
---------------------
Woostri Palace
Then triple set of distant suns raced over the horizon as a figure stood rigidly on the terrace of the Woostri Palace. Deep within a meditation that had been taught to Reniel by her ancestors, the Empress sensed the presence of her Supreme Guard. "Why would you disrupt my morning ritual?" Reniel said in a spiteful tone.
"A thousand apologies, my Empress. But, a New Republic vessel is in the system, requesting to open diplomatic talks," Tsuri summarized.
"Have the 42's fire across their nose and let them know that we are fully capable of supporting ourselves."
"Yes, ma'am," Tsuri said as he began to leave.
"Tsuri!" yelled the Empress. The guard stood petrified, unable to speak. "Never again will you call me 'ma'am'! You will address me as Empress!"
"Yes, Empress. I beg your pardon."
"You have it this time, make sure there is no need for begging in the future."
---------------------
Cockpit - Green Leader
"Green Leader, this is Green Three. I'm picking up multiple signals approximately three clicks away. IFF frequencies are not set," said an X-Wing pilot as he ran his perimeter patrol.
"Green Three, you mean the IFF is set to neutral," corrected the squadron leader.
"No, sir. I mean that it's not set. Unidentified fighter. Approach vector suggests hostile."
In the cockpit of the X-Wing, Brun Triln relayed the message to Admiral Sigrism. "Admiral, perimeter patrol reports possible hostile signals two and a half clicks away."
Crackling back over the comm, the Admiral issued order, "Defense pattern Beta. Do not fire unless fired upon."
On the bridge of the MC-90, Minister Conn approached his friend, "What's the matter?"
"Our fighters are reporting possible enemy fighters. Think they're from the planet?"
The minister pondered this for a moment, "Could be. Have we heard anything back from them yet?" Conn asked Yellk.
"No, sir. Still awaiting a reply."
The comm crackled as Green Leader reported in, "We have a visual on the fighters. Actually, looks more like an interceptor, Admiral. They have a half click until we're within weapons ran..." but the communication was never finished.
"ADMIRAL!" yelled Green Eight over the comm unit. "These interceptors have some sort of disruptor ray as their main weapon. Absolutely ripped Brun's X-Wing apart."
Colonel Barhison began to run out of the bridge when Zike stopped him, "We're not engaging, we're leaving. Right, Minister?"
"By all means," Lance said.
Zike returned to the comm, "Get to the hangar, Green Squadron. The Glory's turrets will provide cover fire."
---------------------
Underneath the Glory
Ten V-42's sped underneath the mammoth MC-90, showing no fear of the larger vessel. The V-42's looked somewhat like a diamond, with the blunt end facing forward and tapering off in the back. The cockpit looked little more than a transparisteel bubble that only opened a little bit over the top of the fighter. On each side of the cockpit, the s-foils curved back and then faced forward. On the tip of each s-foil was the pride and joy of Woostri's cheif engineer, fighter sized disruptor cannons. Disruptor cannons sent out beams of highly destructive waves capable of ripping apart metal, electronics, and flesh. On the bottom of the craft was an advanced concussion missile launcher. With only three weapons, the V-42 seemed harmless enough.
"Green Squadron, prepare to intercept," Green Two said.
"You heard what the Admiral said," interjected Green Eight.
"They're not getting away with this. Attack pattern Omega." Green Two continued. "Execute now."
The remaining eight X-Wings peeled out from in front of the V-42's, each X-Wing drawing one enemy and Green Two and Three drawing two. Attack pattern Omega called for each pilot to peel off in a symmetrical pattern, each equally spaced from the other. Then, each member would draw an enemy fighter. After the squadron had seperated, they formed into a circle, with each X-Wing directly behind at least one V-42. The V-42 pilots caught onto the pattern, jerked once, and then played along.
"Proton torpedoes." ordered Green Two. Each X-Wing released a volley of two proton torpedoes at the V-42 in front of it, Green Nine and Green Eleven doing it twice for they were each behind two V-42's. But the V-42 pilots knew what was coming and with uncanny precision, each V-42's cut out of the circle at a ninety degree angle.
"What was that?!" exclaimed Green Six. "How can they pull that maneuver without blacking out?"
"Green Six, pull up!" But too late, Green Six erupted in a ball of flame as Green Four's torpedo ripped through his hull. What the V-42 pilots had done was pull out before the torpedoes had a lock on their target. Once the V-42's were gone, the torpedoes locked onto the respective members of Green Squadron. What X-Wings weren't destroyed by torpedoes were picked off by V-42's.
---------------------
Bridge
"Get us out of here, now!" yelled Zike.
"But, sir. They've destroyed Green Squadron," replied Kaptirc.
"Exactly, and we're leaving before they start picking on us." Time precisely, the V-42's began their attack on the large MC-90, ripping through the hull with their disruptor cannons. "Get us out NOW!"
Commodore Dhray yelled a, "Yes, sir." as she pushed the hyperspace panels forward. Star streaks took over the view of the MC-90's screen.