Chapter 29

Secret location within the Zoloch Sector:

The Munificent Class Star Frigate Minotaur and a few small escorts emerged from hyperspace at Lanthia's Paradise, a notorious pirate bolthole. It had been built into an asteroid that was about two kilometer in length. It held extensive hangar docking bays capable of holding ships as large as a frigate. The biggest attraction was the markets, where all kinds of illicit goods were bought and sold, and brothels that housed exotic females from across the galaxy. None were slaves though, with all choosing to do the work out of free choice (and being paid generously with good health and satay standards to prevent diseases.

Slaves were one of the few products that were banned from the station, as it made the pirates who led it uncomfortable and uneasy. They were not the empire after all, and the station's commander's Renalo Sridginer had pro-free confederacy views. In fact he had helped the movement buy weapons on many occasions, and had many business dealings with them.

Since both Earth and the Free Confederacy had begun invading the system, he was a bit nervous. The Free Confederacy knew many of the places the station would hide. Lanthia's Paradise held a hyperdrive that allowed it to change positions on a regular basis. This had allowed it to almost completely avoid the empire, ensuring that it's business was never threatened.

Many aboard the station had celebrated Earth and the Free Confederacy's victory, but some looked with worry to the future. The Empire's hardline utg orianna rule had criminalized many things not criminalized under either the republic of the separatists. This had of course, strengthened galactic black markets. In recent years, the Empire had been dedicating a growing proportion of its strength to fighting the rebels instead of criminals. But now many of the things banned under the Empire would likely be allowed again. And with the Free Confederacy knowing where they were located, it would not be difficult to be tracked down.

If push came to shove, he did have a somewhat powerful security force to help defend the station. An old Munificent Star Frigate, the Charybdis, was the centerpiece of the defenses, heavily modified in the year since it had been built. It was supported by the Dreadnaught Class Heavy Cruiser Janunus, another ship that dated to before the Clone Wars. There were a number of smaller ships, almost 20 smaller ships from smaller cruisers to corvettes. There were a couple hundred starfighters of various models as well, from old vulture droid starfighters and cloakshape fighters to new model Z -95's and r 22 spearheads. It was a formidable defense, and in an outright fight the approaching star frigate of the free confederacy would be defeated.

Though that was not the intent of the frigate. All Munificent Frigates were fitted with a prow mounted heavy turbolaser cannon with a limited field of fire. It could cut through the shields and pierce the armor and shields of a small battlestation or an Imperial Star Destroyer, though it had a fairly low rate of fire.

The Minotaur moved its large gun into position, aming it at the station and ready to fire. One shot would likely punch through its shields and could cause catastrophic damage.

"This is Captain Codore Gent of the Free Confederacy, if you stand down no harm will come to you nor any of your property will be confiscated. I'd like to speak to Dunkan Sogqet, or whoever is in command of this station now."

There were a few moments of silence before a response was made. Then Gent could hear the unmistakable voice of Sogqet. "Where do you want to meet, Captain."

Gent thought about his options for a moment. "I will meet you over at the station, just me in a shuttle."

"Very well, you are authorized to land in shuttle bay two." Sogqet said.

Gent turner towards his executive officer. "If I do not call you over the comm in an hour from when I land, you have the authority to open fire on the station and the surrounding ships."

"Yes sir." The executive officer said.

Considering the situation, Gent would have wanted to have more ships than his frigate and the four smaller escorts. But that was all that could be spared, as all other ships were being rushed to the exposed sectors near the border with the Imperial sectors. The remainder were dedicated to defense of important systems behind the front lines, such as Garnizon I I and Zoloch Prime.

He soon reached the station in his Shepipide Class shuttle, and landed in shuttle bay two l. The bay was busy, with small shuttles, skiffs, and light freighters being loaded and unloaded. A few guards were waiting and escorted him through corridors to his destination, an opulent room filled with luxuries from across the galaxy. They say Sogqet, staring at him with a pensive look on his face.

"Captain, what did you come here for?"

"To give you an offer." He replied. "As you probably know, there has been a change in leadership within the sector. And we won't be making as much money now that you cannot sell as many things to people through the black market. Not to mention the fact that we know your hiding places, and can track you down time and time again. Many, especially some of Earth's leaders, would like to see you bright to justice. However, I have a way around that if you might be so inclined to help you survive and even profit from these new developments." He paused for effect. "I want to make some privateers." He said.

"Well, what would you do with them?" Sogqet asked.

"Send them against the empire to raid convoys and other forms of shipping. You would be forbidden from attacking civilians, unless they are from a pro imperial company or are transporting imperial equipment. Any Imperial military vessels or any ship that is property of the empire, with the exception of hospital ships, are fair game for capture or destruction. In return you will be paid generously for ships that were destroyed, captured, or damaged in Imperial Credits. If you accept, you will also be resupplied with food, medical supplies, fuel, spare parts and when you have proven your worth to us, maybe even new ships. You will also be allowed to keep up to 50 percent of the items you capture from the Empire, with the exception of slaves who will all be liberated by us. Any Imperial prisoners, defectors, or slaves that have been handed over to us will have the option to join your ranks. All of this will be put into writing so that there are clear rules to follow and that we do not infringe upon you. What is your choice?"

Sogqet chuckled. "That's implying I have a choice. But regardless, I do accept. What about this station?" He asked. "It has defences, many of them that are strong. But not enough to survive sustained heavy combat. What will I do with it?"

"Use it as a mobile refueling and resupply base near where your ships are operating." He said. "It does not need to be in Imperial space, and in fact having a stable location will probably mean you get more trade and money. You also will be able to keep trading goods that would be considered illicit on Earth or any of the planets that either they or us occupied."

"This is an excellent deal Captain, when can we start?"

"Our recon drones are currently surveying the Imperial sectors, so I would recommend waiting until their data is in. There are a couple of other details you should know. First, the Tibannas Sector is off limits to any attacks. All other Imperial sectors are fair game. Second, we will provide you and your ships with all data we have from the drones. This also includes any computer files our slicers and hackers uncover. Your ships will be able to resupply and refuel at our bases as well."

"Well Captain, this is about the best thing that has ever happened to me."

One week later, unknown space within the Ghralia Sector:

An Imperial convoy jumped out of hyperspace, nearing its destination of Ghralia Prime. It consisted of a single Arquetens light cruiser, a Nebulon B Frigate, and half a dozen corvettes escorting 18 various auxiliary ships, including freighters, transports, tankers, and a mobile dry dock.

This group of ships was nearing their destination: Ghralia Prime. They would be helping to provide supplies for an upcoming Imperial counter offensive into space Earth controlled. But unbeknownst to them, they were being watched. One of Earth's recon drones was surveying their position, and moments later another group of ships appeared quite close to them on sensor range.

This was the Munificent Class Frigate Charybdis and a group of escorts. Sogqet stood overseeing the ship's operations and commanding the fleet. Two DP 20 Frigates, some of the most powerful ships in the galaxy in their size class of just 120 meters. Their influence on Earth's smaller ship designs could not be overstated, their impressive sublight speed able to keep up with starfighters. The next two ships were modified CR 90 Corellian Corvettes, updated with a stronger armament to better counter larger threats. While not as fast as the DP 20 's, their speed was still far above average thanks to its massive bank of sub light engines. It was no surprise that they were popular with both criminals and the rebellion, who used them as blockade runners. Their modularity and ease of modification present on both them and practically all other designs by Corellian Engineering Corporation made them be used in practically every role in the galaxy. From armed freighters used to transport valuable cargo through dangerous space to high end diplomatic couriers to light warships, the C R 9 0 was a valuable asset to everyone and anyone.

The other ship with the small pirate flotilla was a Baleen Class Bulk Freighter that had been mostly stripped of it's rear spine used to hold cargo. The front portion that remained held a large hanger/cargo bay had been outfitted to carry assault shuttles for boarding actions against unfriendly vessels. Most pirate groups would use smaller vessels for such a task, but with so many ships that needed to be subdued, manpower was essential. In addition, the rear of the ship held large docking clamps that could latch on to several of the captured ships and tow them away. This would come in handy later.

The Charbybdis used its hyperwave jammer to jam any outgoing communications from the Imperial ships. It's first use of weapons was its firing of its main forward heavy turbolaser gun at the Nebulon B's vulnerable spine which connected it's main section with the rear engine block. The engine block held main engineering, as well as the ship's main reactor. Both sides of the ship had their atmosphere sucked into the vacuum of space, killing most of the crew. The remainder could do little to stop the ship drifting with only emergency power.

The Munificant also had a heavy ion cannon mounted on it's bow just ahead of the turbolaser. It turned and disabled the mobile drydock in one hit, incapacitating the most valuable asset they planned to steal. It's smaller but still potent guns began firing turbolaser blasts as well as ion ones on the various Imperial ships, joined by the guns of th 's and the C R 9 0 's. The Arquitens light cruiser was the next ship to fall, pummeled by an endless number of turbolaser blasts. One Vigil Class Corvette was taken out in a volley of torpedoes launched from one of the D P 20 's, and another was taken out in a hail of turbolaser fire from the Star Frigate. The thin shields of the non combat vessels quickly fell prey to the blasts of ion cannon fire. Soon four corvettes and all the supply ships were disabled. A demand for surrender was made by the frigate, and over half of the non combat ships and two corvettes accepted the demand.

One corvette and eight of the disabled civilian ships now resisted the pirate fleet. Assault Shuttles and boarding pods launched from the Charybdis and the bulk freighter soon began boarding all the ships that resisted. The ones that surrendered were boarded by technicians who began repairing the ship's hyperdrives after they had been temporarily disabled. Soon, the captured ships began jumping away. They would be headed to Garnizon I I where the forces of Earth and the Free Confederacy would be able to process the prisoners more effectively, as opposed to his space station. Some of the ships that were unable to jump quickly were docked with the bulk freighter or were attached to hyperspace tugs.

Sogqet's force arrived over Garnizon victorious with few losses. In fact it was one of the greatest victories the old pirate had commanded, and he had commanded many successful raids. A little over two dozen of the pirates who had boarded the resisting ships had been killed, but there was no damage to the ships at all. And best of all, the Imperials had no idea where the convoy had gone.

It was as if the ships had vanished into thin air. This of course would not last, as eventually at least one of the ships would get off a comm message. But before that happened, Sogqet intended on getting as much booty as he possibly could.