Ambush at Tralar

Copyright © Mark Howman 2005

Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet

Written by Master.

Chapter One.

Chapter One – A Normal patrol.

Three months…three long months since the ISD Challenge had seen the home system of Aurora, after the long battles with the New Republic near the Galactic Core with a small force and limited fighter craft.

However the Challenge along with the Escort carrier Cardinal, an Infiltrator Wing MC-60 the Malice and a small group of Corvette's and Frigates they had managed to capture several factories, starships, raw materials and destroy New Republic warships, however even after these major successes the cost was indeed high, at the final battle with the New Republic forces while the Challenge was trying to leave the core with most of the ships, they had been attacked by a Mon Calamari fleet consisting of several MC-60's, 80's, 90's and their were rumours or an even bigger Mon Cal Star ship going around, however it had not been confirmed but the thought made your blood run cold. Never-the-less the New Republic with a Star Cruiser that could take on a Super Star Destroyer easily was a terrible thought to think about. The group of ships had made it into Hyperspace, but they had been damaged and lost most of their fighters.

At the moment, the Challenge, Escort Carrier Cardinal, MC-60 Malice, the M/FRG DeathFyre, several Corvettes, a Victory Class Star Destroyer The Ravager and many freighter craft were travelling through hyperspace heading for Aurora, the Commodore of the remarkable ship, Rear Admiral Manitsas was seated his eyes half closed on the command chair on the bridge. If you had of glanced in his direction you could have sworn that he was asleep, however his time as a Squadron Commander in Inferno Squadron had taught him that you could never be off guard. When everything looks peaceful, something is waiting to go wrong.

Then all at once it did.

"Navigation. Report! What's going on"? The Rear Admiral asked standing up.

"Sir we are exiting hyperspace, the hyperdrive seems to have malfunctioned, engineering reports the damage in our last battle was more extensive than they originally thought" The officer replied.

The starlines disappeared and realspace returned in-front of the view port, there were several nebulas and planets around, the area looked like it had been recently formed, light from several close objects blinded the bridge but the dampeners did their job and the viewports darkened.

"Location"? Manitsas asked as he walked over to one of the officers.

"It appears we are still in the Inner Rim sir, still deep within New Republic territory, we are on the fringes of the Cubla Nebula close to several New Republic planets" the officer replied as he punched a few buttons on the console then continued "Some of our escorts have exited hyperspace next to and behind us, and there are no other craft on our scopes" the officer said reading the Commodores mind.

"Give me a damage report" Manitsas calmly said.

A holo screen flickered to life and a young technician was shown, he saluted sharply. "Sir, the hyperdrive is damaged, it must have taken a hit in the last battle, it managed to get us this far, but there is no way we getting any further"

"Can you fix it"? Manitsas asked.

"Its possible, with the right parts and tools and enough time" the tech replied.

"How soon"?

"A day at least, and that's if we have all the right parts on board"

"Very well, Get your men on it ASAP and report back to me every few hours" Manitsas said saluting then he closed the connection.

He sat for a few moments in the command chair wondering what to do, almost all the fleet that was returning to Aurora, and they had been lucky to stop a few of the ships before they could pass them and continue on, but they were also deep in New Republic territory, and the New Republic knew they were still in the area, and they would be decimated if the Mon Cal fleet jumped in.

"Communications get me WC Darklord" Manitsas said calmly.

A few minutes later General Darklord entered the bridge, he saluted RA Manitsas who got up from his position on the command chair and saluted back.

"Thank-you for coming so quickly DL, At Ease" Manitsas said.

"You called Sir"? Darklord asked noticing the nervousness around the bridge.

"Yes, I want Wing X on a constant patrol around the ships, I'm sure you have read the damage report of our skirmish with the New Republic fleet" The Commodore asked.

"Yes Sir, I have read the reports and familiar with our losses" DL replied.

"Then you understand what we have?"

Yes sir. I know what we have to work with."

"Very well, make the best of it."

The pilots and Squadron Commanders stood to attention and saluted as General Darklord entered the briefing room.

"At ease all, please take your seats" Darklord said as the Holoprojector sprang to life and the Emperor's Hammer Logo was shown.

Darklord began,

"Reports say that the Challenge's Hyperdrive was damaged in our last battle with the Rebel Mon Calamari Cruisers. Repairs are essential for us to catch up with the rest of our battle group. We'll be flying a just in case patrol. The Commodore feels that we may be in some danger here. And I agree that caution is best, so we will be sending four craft patrols who will circle our ships".

The Holoprojecter changed to show the Challenge, then showed the area map.

"The Craft that managed to exit Hyperspace when we stopped were, the Escort Carrier Cardinal, MC-60 Malice and the M/FRG DeathFyre. The VSD, several Corvettes and freighter craft carrying supplies continued on so we are on our own".

Several pilots gasped, Darklord knew how they felt, stranded deep in New Republic territory, with the enemy knowing roughly were they were was suicide.

"Squadron's will take turn's in patrolling, one flight from two squads will be patrolling at once which should be plenty to deal with any New Republic forces or any hostiles that enter the area, the New Republic doesn't know exactly where we are so we have some time on our side".

The map showed the patrol patterns then Darklord continued.

"Pilots this was the good news. The bad news is that all ships used in our last battle with the Rebels took considerable damage and has been called 'unstable' in flight. Therefore…you will be flying our training fighters, the standard Imperial Twin Ion Engine Fighter".

Many of the old hands groaned who were lucky enough to use them when the Empire was still in power and survive.

"However," and he grinned. "We've managed to attach a couple of missile tubes onto the TIEs that. True, you'll be flying the paper crate machine of death, but you'll have a couple of Advanced Missiles sitting under your seat. All the more reason, not to collide with another craft out there."

He was met with a few nods. "Squadron Commanders I want you to drill this into your pilot's heads: You don't have the luxury of shields out there. You are a flying bomb if your hit. You die, your ship dies. We don't expect much trouble but the tech's need about a day of repair time or it's going to be a VERY long flight home. Now we come to the most exiting part of the briefing, naming the first two squads to fly patrol, and the winners are Squads Thunder and Typhoon, report to the hanger bay at once. The rest of you squads, get your rest while you can, I have a feeling your going to need it, DISMISSED"!

The pilots saluted and DL returned the salute then left heading back to the Bridge.

Thunder Squadron and Typhoon remained in the briefing room and picked the eight pilots who would fly while the rest of the squadrons went to do their own things until it was their time to do their patrol.

ISD-II Challenge

Hanger

LC Beef eased himself into the Tie Fighter, Definitely not my day he thought as a tech closed the top hatch, after checking important systems he opened the channel to the other pilots in the flight. "Ok gang, report in".

"Ready to Rock and Roll Major" LCM Dex D'Alcobia answered who was in position two.

"All systems go" LT Stuart replied who was in position three.

"Lets get this done" SL Han Shek replied who brought up the rear of the flight.

"Ok, waiting confirmation from command, sit tight for the moment" Beef said punching in the codes for the bridge.

"Sir, Thunder Squad is ready to go, do we have permission for patrol"?

"Confirmed, good luck out there, bring those Tie's back to us in one piece and the pilots with them" WC Darklord replied answering then closing the connection.

"Ok lets hit it, remember these Tie Fighters don't have shields so u cant bounce it off the Challenge if you get bored" Beef said with a chuckle.

The Tie's Twin Ion Engines roared to life and they shot out of the hanger and began their patrol.