The glum melancholy in the Termite Navy went deeper than the food, was more
horrible than the booze in the mess halls. But there was still hope in the
higher ranks that the fleet, led by the newly de-classified Super Worm
Destroyer could crush any resistance the Worms could offer.
Worm paced the deck for several minutes, occasionally looking up to check the status of the ship or of a campaign. He eventually spoke to Captain Welleon.
"Don't worry, once we crush the Worms at Wendor and Sigma-19 we can start taking planets and destroy the rebellions," he said softly.
"Yes, sir," was all Welleon could say. Wendor, the site of the death of the Empire. No, the birth of the new.
All was quiet on the yacht carrying the Worm High Council. All eyes were on the tactical display, showing the location of all Worm ships and stations, and new intelligence reports.
Weia was deep in thought. You could tell it in eyes she was under immense strain, maintaining a fragile coalition of over a dozen breeds of Worms. The New Republic military was dangerously stretched. The new enemy armada was already making its presence felt. Three Worm Cruisers sent to investigate were effortlessly destroyed. Wackbar was reeling back, assembling all available ships to meet the enemy before they reached Walderann and the vital trade lanes of the Sigma-19 system. Something needed to be done fast.
Sigma-7 is a quiet system, not much there, just the salt mines of Naha and the occasional trade convoy. It knew nothing of war or famine, no combat has taken place there since the Dirt Wars of the Old Republic.
The Independent Mining Guild star sloop Autumn was on station, patrolling the system; it was an old ship, but still serviceable, she was known as a "five minute" ship because that is how long she would last in an engagement. The slow, lumbering box made its way.
Captain Wuzzle was an experienced commander, he had commanded the Autumn for over ten years. A veteran of the Dirt Wars, he retired from the navy and joined the Independent Mining Guild. Little did he know the calm easiness of Sigma-7 would soon be broken.
"Sir, contacts, three marks One-Four-Zero, ten clicks. Wuzzle frowned.
"Fighter or capital?"
"Wormnaughts sir," the crewman answered.
Damn, it looks like trouble. "Hail unknown ships! Battlestations!" he barked. After a few minutes the Wormnaughts spoke at 7 clicks.
"This is the Termite Wormnaught Redwood, power down and prepare to be boarded."
Termites, every worm on the Autumn knew they did not stand a chance. Ten seconds passed in silence.
"Repeat, power down or you will be fired upon." The sky was lit up by turbolaser fire. The Autumn left service the way it was meant to.
The Worm High Council had settled in Walderann, capital of the Sigma-20 system. They were now running the war from the control room of the local military base. With ships and trained personnel scarce, all was in doubt. The fate of the galaxy hung in the balance.
"Sir," A young voice piped," We have a message from the Independent Mining Guild." Admiral Wackbar looked up at the young face. Our youth, all that is left.
"What is it corporal? What do they want now?"
"Sir, they lost one of their Star Sloops in the Sigma-7 system," the next words did not come out easily everyone could tell. "It was attacked Termite ships."
Weia's mouth dropped. "In the Sigma-7 system? Worm's ships are in the trade lanes!" All eyes turned to Wackbar.
"We need ships and fast. And crews to man them."
"But we don't have any!" Weia protested.
"Well, there's Commodore Perry's taskforce in the Sigma-35 system, he's got a Worm Cruiser and a few frigates. Then there's the Inshore Squadron under Admiral Wormblower, he's got another Worm Cruiser and six frigates. Then there's two more cruisers in ordinary...I think I can scrape together a task force."
"We don't have anybody to man them!"
Won Wothma then spoke.
"Gentleman, its official. Round up every merchant crewer on the planet and put them in ships and fast.
The search went on; by day's end three hundred Worms had been found. Sixty Worms from the base volunteered. After Wackbar got everything together three days later they were still short of skilled crewers.
Commodore Wick Perry and the now Admiral Woratio Wormblower stood on the bridge of the Worm Cruiser Just Cause. They had found five cruisers and eleven frigates, poultry at best.
"Sir, the Admiral's yacht has arrived in the hanger bay.
"Thank you Commander."
Admiral Wackbar arrived on the bridge. He turned to Perry and Wormblower.
"All ships in position?"
"Yes sir." said Perry.
"Damn!"
Wackbar sighed deeply.
"Stand by for lightspeed"
Worm paced the deck for several minutes, occasionally looking up to check the status of the ship or of a campaign. He eventually spoke to Captain Welleon.
"Don't worry, once we crush the Worms at Wendor and Sigma-19 we can start taking planets and destroy the rebellions," he said softly.
"Yes, sir," was all Welleon could say. Wendor, the site of the death of the Empire. No, the birth of the new.
All was quiet on the yacht carrying the Worm High Council. All eyes were on the tactical display, showing the location of all Worm ships and stations, and new intelligence reports.
Weia was deep in thought. You could tell it in eyes she was under immense strain, maintaining a fragile coalition of over a dozen breeds of Worms. The New Republic military was dangerously stretched. The new enemy armada was already making its presence felt. Three Worm Cruisers sent to investigate were effortlessly destroyed. Wackbar was reeling back, assembling all available ships to meet the enemy before they reached Walderann and the vital trade lanes of the Sigma-19 system. Something needed to be done fast.
Sigma-7 is a quiet system, not much there, just the salt mines of Naha and the occasional trade convoy. It knew nothing of war or famine, no combat has taken place there since the Dirt Wars of the Old Republic.
The Independent Mining Guild star sloop Autumn was on station, patrolling the system; it was an old ship, but still serviceable, she was known as a "five minute" ship because that is how long she would last in an engagement. The slow, lumbering box made its way.
Captain Wuzzle was an experienced commander, he had commanded the Autumn for over ten years. A veteran of the Dirt Wars, he retired from the navy and joined the Independent Mining Guild. Little did he know the calm easiness of Sigma-7 would soon be broken.
"Sir, contacts, three marks One-Four-Zero, ten clicks. Wuzzle frowned.
"Fighter or capital?"
"Wormnaughts sir," the crewman answered.
Damn, it looks like trouble. "Hail unknown ships! Battlestations!" he barked. After a few minutes the Wormnaughts spoke at 7 clicks.
"This is the Termite Wormnaught Redwood, power down and prepare to be boarded."
Termites, every worm on the Autumn knew they did not stand a chance. Ten seconds passed in silence.
"Repeat, power down or you will be fired upon." The sky was lit up by turbolaser fire. The Autumn left service the way it was meant to.
The Worm High Council had settled in Walderann, capital of the Sigma-20 system. They were now running the war from the control room of the local military base. With ships and trained personnel scarce, all was in doubt. The fate of the galaxy hung in the balance.
"Sir," A young voice piped," We have a message from the Independent Mining Guild." Admiral Wackbar looked up at the young face. Our youth, all that is left.
"What is it corporal? What do they want now?"
"Sir, they lost one of their Star Sloops in the Sigma-7 system," the next words did not come out easily everyone could tell. "It was attacked Termite ships."
Weia's mouth dropped. "In the Sigma-7 system? Worm's ships are in the trade lanes!" All eyes turned to Wackbar.
"We need ships and fast. And crews to man them."
"But we don't have any!" Weia protested.
"Well, there's Commodore Perry's taskforce in the Sigma-35 system, he's got a Worm Cruiser and a few frigates. Then there's the Inshore Squadron under Admiral Wormblower, he's got another Worm Cruiser and six frigates. Then there's two more cruisers in ordinary...I think I can scrape together a task force."
"We don't have anybody to man them!"
Won Wothma then spoke.
"Gentleman, its official. Round up every merchant crewer on the planet and put them in ships and fast.
The search went on; by day's end three hundred Worms had been found. Sixty Worms from the base volunteered. After Wackbar got everything together three days later they were still short of skilled crewers.
Commodore Wick Perry and the now Admiral Woratio Wormblower stood on the bridge of the Worm Cruiser Just Cause. They had found five cruisers and eleven frigates, poultry at best.
"Sir, the Admiral's yacht has arrived in the hanger bay.
"Thank you Commander."
Admiral Wackbar arrived on the bridge. He turned to Perry and Wormblower.
"All ships in position?"
"Yes sir." said Perry.
"Damn!"
Wackbar sighed deeply.
"Stand by for lightspeed"