"How long before we exit hyperspace to Reytha?" Lomeir asked.
"A minute or two. Are you shure this is the fastest route?" asked Luke uncertainly.
"Lets just say that if the Grand Admiral's schedule is correct, it is the fastest route."
"I hope youre right. Every moment is precious, especially with the Yuuzhan Vong advancing torward Coruscant."
"No problem. Just hope he didnt bring the Dendaari along, they dont have the capabilities to interecept our transmissions." Lomeir murmored.
"Hold on a moment, what are you saying?" Luke said as the stars reverted to points of light, signifying that they have arrived into the Reytha system, the system of the former breadbasket of the old Empire. The system reeking with Yuuzhan Vong warships.
"Looks like we got in the middle of an invasion. Evasive manuevers, calculate course for the nearest planet." Luke said calmly, not at all excited. Lomeir's ship reminded him of the Falcon in many ways, fast and furious, capable of handling out punishment in the hands of a skilled pilot - he wondered who showed Lomeir how to pilot, among other things
"No, stick to evasive manuevers for now. Relocate to sector N-06, and give me a count-down to enemy warships." Lomeir calmly requested.
"A little under sixty starships, mostly minor analogs but there are half a dozen of destroyer analogs, that means somewhere around six or eight wings of skips."
"Very well."
"Not trying to shake your confidence, but you arent planning on taking out the entire fleet by yourself are you?" Luke asked, he knew Lomeir was hiding something. When it was obvious he wouldnt reply, Luke poked:
"Well, do you have a plan at lea - Hold on! hyperspace exit points in sectors N zero six and N zero seven, sensors picking up six Star Destroyers in a triangular formation, and a dozen and a half minor starships. This the company you were expecting?" Luke said with a cocked-up eyebrow.
"More or less." he murmored as he keyed in a private channel, and began speaking:
"Imperial Star Destroyer 'Inquisitor', this is Lomeir, would you be so kind to cover us while we come aboard?" he said with a smile.
* * *
"Captain, is my admiral ship ready?" Thrawn asked per protocol from the command chair.
"The 'Inquisitor' is fully under your command admiral." replied Cayel per protocol as the hyperspace tunnel outside dissolved into points of light. They have arrived.
"Sensor report." Cayel requested.
"Fifty eight Yuuzhan Vong warships in the area as expected sir. Sir, we are picking up one of our intelligence starships, it has half a squadron of skips on its tail, and its coming torwards us." the report came.
"We are being hailed." another report flew in.
"My lord, Lomeir is requesting escort until he can come aboard, he says its urgent."
"Very well, order the 'Reaper' to provide support. Control, launch all TIE squadrons, swarm pattern around the capital starships for now. Helm, full speed." Thrawn boomed, as the rest of his strike force began launching TIE squadrons. Behind them, the 'Shadowfox' carrier began to launch its starfighters as well.
"Inform admiral Torroro and Admiral Naismith to commence herding the enemy. They shall be the anvil, we shall be the hammer." Thrawn grimly nodded to the communications officer who relayed the orders.
"My lord, Lomeir has successfully docked."
"Good. See to it that he finds his way here." Thrawn darkly said.
On the holographic screen, the triangular formation of Star Destroyers divided into two trio's of Star Destroyers in delta formation, and while admiral Torroro's group moved portside to engage the enemy flank in its typical strategy of an all-out attack, Thrawn's group moved in torward the main bulk of the enemy fleet, the Dendaarian force engaged the Yuuzhan Vong warships from the other side, and with Naismith's and Torroro's forces catching the Yuuzhan Vong forces in a deadly pincer, the 'Inquisitor was ready to deliver its load of death and destruction.
"TIE squadrons, commence space superiority." Thrawn boomed as he rose from his chair and walked torward the viewpoints, and clasped his right hand behind the small of his back, as the turbolift opened behind him.
"Admiral Naismith, Torroro, damage report."
"Minor hull damage admiral. Zero losses, and Im going to keep it that way. Naismith out."
"Seventeen TIE starfighters lost in the first clash, so far no serious damage. Torroro out." Torroro's hologram fizzled out, and Cayel winced. Seventeen TIE starfighters, and he considered it insignificant. What a man. Torroro would have made high rank under Lord Vader's command.
"Signal the 'Shadowfox' to commence its attack. Quadrants one and two, focus all available firepower on the destroyer analog attempting to cover the damaged frigate analog on the portside, quadrants three and four, continue attacking the frigate." Thrawn ordered. He could hear Cayel gasp, followed by heels clicking in salute.
"Lomeir reporting back for duty. There is someone here to see you sir."
"Yes Lomeir." Thrawn said as he turned, and approached Lomeir and Luke, looked up and down Luke, and spoke again.
"Welcome aboard the 'Inquisitor' master Skywalker. Excuse me for a moment, this should be over shortly." Thrawn offered a curt nod.
"Absolutely admiral, don't let me hold you." Luke said and returned the nod, somehow managing to hide his puzzled look. Thrawn turned around and again assumed his position infront of the viewpoints.
"My lord, Phantom squadron informs that they have located the war coordinators vessel. Further instructions?"
"Inform all starship groups to ignore the vessel, we shall deal with it properly once we have eliminated its entourage. Patch me through to general Hotan." Thrawn said coldly.
"Yes my lord?" Hotan's voice bursted through the comlink.
"General, I need boarding parties for a Yuuzhan Vong destroyer analog, what is your reccomendation?"
"Three to four detachments, depending on initial resistance admiral."
"Take eight detachments, it is imperative that this vessel is captured."
"At once my lord. Your troops shall be ready in a few minutes."
"Very well general, Thrawn out." Thrawn said as the connection was closed, hailed by a ring of explosions which scattered yorik coral accross the battlefield.
"Damage report?" Cayel requested.
"Seven TIE's lost in the initial contact my lord, minor hull breaches in quadrant one and two." the report came as a frigate analog was sliced in half by the imploder lance from Naismith's flagship, the 'Triumph'.
"I had no idea admiral Naismith's fleet had that amount of imploder lances." Cayel whispered as their strike force neared admiral Naismith's positions, whose warships were slicing enemy warships with deadly imploders and spitting burning plasma.
"Yes, those ships are truly amazing. We shall have to incorporate at least three more imploder lances, one for each quadrant." Thrawn returned, as more warships detonated in the distance.
"Admiral, admiral Torroro reports that the Imperial Star Destroyer 'Champion' has taken heavy damage, and has begun retreating." another report flew in.
"Negative, order the admiral to transfer that Destroyer in the last lines, but do not allow it to retreat. If that ship falls, our entire line falls." Thrawn boomed.
"Aye aye sir."
Space was littered with detonating warships, starfighters, durasteel and yorik coral were in ample loads all over the battlefield, even though they couldnt compare against six Star Destroyers, the Yuuzhan Vong fighted back - and continued fighting back when hope for victory was a non-existent word.
The battle alltogether lasted well over two hours.
"A minute or two. Are you shure this is the fastest route?" asked Luke uncertainly.
"Lets just say that if the Grand Admiral's schedule is correct, it is the fastest route."
"I hope youre right. Every moment is precious, especially with the Yuuzhan Vong advancing torward Coruscant."
"No problem. Just hope he didnt bring the Dendaari along, they dont have the capabilities to interecept our transmissions." Lomeir murmored.
"Hold on a moment, what are you saying?" Luke said as the stars reverted to points of light, signifying that they have arrived into the Reytha system, the system of the former breadbasket of the old Empire. The system reeking with Yuuzhan Vong warships.
"Looks like we got in the middle of an invasion. Evasive manuevers, calculate course for the nearest planet." Luke said calmly, not at all excited. Lomeir's ship reminded him of the Falcon in many ways, fast and furious, capable of handling out punishment in the hands of a skilled pilot - he wondered who showed Lomeir how to pilot, among other things
"No, stick to evasive manuevers for now. Relocate to sector N-06, and give me a count-down to enemy warships." Lomeir calmly requested.
"A little under sixty starships, mostly minor analogs but there are half a dozen of destroyer analogs, that means somewhere around six or eight wings of skips."
"Very well."
"Not trying to shake your confidence, but you arent planning on taking out the entire fleet by yourself are you?" Luke asked, he knew Lomeir was hiding something. When it was obvious he wouldnt reply, Luke poked:
"Well, do you have a plan at lea - Hold on! hyperspace exit points in sectors N zero six and N zero seven, sensors picking up six Star Destroyers in a triangular formation, and a dozen and a half minor starships. This the company you were expecting?" Luke said with a cocked-up eyebrow.
"More or less." he murmored as he keyed in a private channel, and began speaking:
"Imperial Star Destroyer 'Inquisitor', this is Lomeir, would you be so kind to cover us while we come aboard?" he said with a smile.
* * *
"Captain, is my admiral ship ready?" Thrawn asked per protocol from the command chair.
"The 'Inquisitor' is fully under your command admiral." replied Cayel per protocol as the hyperspace tunnel outside dissolved into points of light. They have arrived.
"Sensor report." Cayel requested.
"Fifty eight Yuuzhan Vong warships in the area as expected sir. Sir, we are picking up one of our intelligence starships, it has half a squadron of skips on its tail, and its coming torwards us." the report came.
"We are being hailed." another report flew in.
"My lord, Lomeir is requesting escort until he can come aboard, he says its urgent."
"Very well, order the 'Reaper' to provide support. Control, launch all TIE squadrons, swarm pattern around the capital starships for now. Helm, full speed." Thrawn boomed, as the rest of his strike force began launching TIE squadrons. Behind them, the 'Shadowfox' carrier began to launch its starfighters as well.
"Inform admiral Torroro and Admiral Naismith to commence herding the enemy. They shall be the anvil, we shall be the hammer." Thrawn grimly nodded to the communications officer who relayed the orders.
"My lord, Lomeir has successfully docked."
"Good. See to it that he finds his way here." Thrawn darkly said.
On the holographic screen, the triangular formation of Star Destroyers divided into two trio's of Star Destroyers in delta formation, and while admiral Torroro's group moved portside to engage the enemy flank in its typical strategy of an all-out attack, Thrawn's group moved in torward the main bulk of the enemy fleet, the Dendaarian force engaged the Yuuzhan Vong warships from the other side, and with Naismith's and Torroro's forces catching the Yuuzhan Vong forces in a deadly pincer, the 'Inquisitor was ready to deliver its load of death and destruction.
"TIE squadrons, commence space superiority." Thrawn boomed as he rose from his chair and walked torward the viewpoints, and clasped his right hand behind the small of his back, as the turbolift opened behind him.
"Admiral Naismith, Torroro, damage report."
"Minor hull damage admiral. Zero losses, and Im going to keep it that way. Naismith out."
"Seventeen TIE starfighters lost in the first clash, so far no serious damage. Torroro out." Torroro's hologram fizzled out, and Cayel winced. Seventeen TIE starfighters, and he considered it insignificant. What a man. Torroro would have made high rank under Lord Vader's command.
"Signal the 'Shadowfox' to commence its attack. Quadrants one and two, focus all available firepower on the destroyer analog attempting to cover the damaged frigate analog on the portside, quadrants three and four, continue attacking the frigate." Thrawn ordered. He could hear Cayel gasp, followed by heels clicking in salute.
"Lomeir reporting back for duty. There is someone here to see you sir."
"Yes Lomeir." Thrawn said as he turned, and approached Lomeir and Luke, looked up and down Luke, and spoke again.
"Welcome aboard the 'Inquisitor' master Skywalker. Excuse me for a moment, this should be over shortly." Thrawn offered a curt nod.
"Absolutely admiral, don't let me hold you." Luke said and returned the nod, somehow managing to hide his puzzled look. Thrawn turned around and again assumed his position infront of the viewpoints.
"My lord, Phantom squadron informs that they have located the war coordinators vessel. Further instructions?"
"Inform all starship groups to ignore the vessel, we shall deal with it properly once we have eliminated its entourage. Patch me through to general Hotan." Thrawn said coldly.
"Yes my lord?" Hotan's voice bursted through the comlink.
"General, I need boarding parties for a Yuuzhan Vong destroyer analog, what is your reccomendation?"
"Three to four detachments, depending on initial resistance admiral."
"Take eight detachments, it is imperative that this vessel is captured."
"At once my lord. Your troops shall be ready in a few minutes."
"Very well general, Thrawn out." Thrawn said as the connection was closed, hailed by a ring of explosions which scattered yorik coral accross the battlefield.
"Damage report?" Cayel requested.
"Seven TIE's lost in the initial contact my lord, minor hull breaches in quadrant one and two." the report came as a frigate analog was sliced in half by the imploder lance from Naismith's flagship, the 'Triumph'.
"I had no idea admiral Naismith's fleet had that amount of imploder lances." Cayel whispered as their strike force neared admiral Naismith's positions, whose warships were slicing enemy warships with deadly imploders and spitting burning plasma.
"Yes, those ships are truly amazing. We shall have to incorporate at least three more imploder lances, one for each quadrant." Thrawn returned, as more warships detonated in the distance.
"Admiral, admiral Torroro reports that the Imperial Star Destroyer 'Champion' has taken heavy damage, and has begun retreating." another report flew in.
"Negative, order the admiral to transfer that Destroyer in the last lines, but do not allow it to retreat. If that ship falls, our entire line falls." Thrawn boomed.
"Aye aye sir."
Space was littered with detonating warships, starfighters, durasteel and yorik coral were in ample loads all over the battlefield, even though they couldnt compare against six Star Destroyers, the Yuuzhan Vong fighted back - and continued fighting back when hope for victory was a non-existent word.
The battle alltogether lasted well over two hours.
