My first attempt at writing anything since leaving school, which was many years ago.
Please let me know what you think, criticism is most welcome. So please review even if it just to tell me it's rubbish.
Of course I do not own Star Wars and all that……
Back into the fold (Chapter one)
The Imperial Star Destroyer , Dark Thunder hung silently in space surrounded by dozens of smaller vessels. It was the flag ship of the experienced Captain Nithan, who's fleet; made up of this single ISD, several frigates, and a squadron of carrack cruisers had layed siege to this system for three months. The Captain had loyally served the Empire from an early age. Completing his studies at the academy with distinction he was awarded his first command at 23. Just 10 years later he had the Dark Thunder placed under his command, since then his career had stalled.
The Dark Thunder was an aging ship when Nithan took command. Its was due of a refit then, and constant action had taken its toll. It was only thanks to the experienced crew and Nithan's attention to procedure that allowed the aging ISD to still be an effective combat ship.
Captain Nithan was not a patient man. It had been a week since the General had landed his troops on this miserable planet, and two days since the General had commenced his assault of Rojoran capital below. Yet he had still not located the militia's headquarters, until this was done the Correilian mining cooperation could not continue with their mining operations. Which, as a consequence meant the veteran Captain could not leave this backwater system.
Nithan the veteran of several campaigns, had begrudged this dull assignment. He was only 42 and had this entire battle group at his command. He considered baby sitting greedy cooperation's beneath him. This was a job for private contactors he thought. Professional soldiers like my men should not be exterminating outer rim primitives, especially when the rebel alliance is on the move again. At least the rebels would at least provide his men with some much needed target practice.
The Captain was a tall man, with thick black hair, chiselled features and a thick set jaw hidden behind a short maintained beard. In his Imperial Navy uniform he was a character that commanded respect as he walked around the bridge of his Star Destroyer.
"Get the General back on the com, this is getting beyond a joke" the Captain barked at the young Ensign.
Turning to his first office, Commander Wilfons. The Captain remarked "3 months, 3 long months dammit, we should have just glassed this planet like the others, searching for a base that probably is already deserted"
Wilfons suppressed his smirk, "Sir, you know as well as I do, that if we want to complete this assignment and destroy all resistance then we need to find this base, as much as I would prefer to bombard this planet from here, it tends to eliminate the enemy combatants before they disclose the information we need"
"Trust you my friend to agree with the General, risking more Imperials lives to aid these profiteers. After what we did to Rojoran Prime, I find it high unlikely that this alien scum has any fight left in them"
"The aliens have spirit, even after the second day of bombardment they were still willing to reject Imperial rule"
"Indeed Commander, but they are aliens all the same, do not confuse heart with stupidity, these fools have learnt what it means to defy the Empire"
" I have the General on the com sir" the Ensign interrupted
Nithan marched over to the com station where the General's image was already on the screen.
"Leave us" the Captain ordered the Ensign, who immediately complied leaving the two senior offices at the com station.
"General Kiev, please tell me you have some good news"
"That what I like about working with you Captain, always straight to business"
"That's only because I am growing impatient waiting for you to eliminate this scum General"
"In that case Captain I have your good news, the governor of this city has been kind enough to tell us the location of militia headquarters, my troops are already on route and we should have the base secured by nightfall"
The Captain smiled and sighed with relief "excellent General, I will have the transports ready to evac your troops as soon as your done"
"Can't wait to leave Captain ?"
"General I am sick of this system and of these pathetic aliens, the sooner we are back in a true Imperial system the better"
"In that case Captain, I will make ready my troops"
"Good hunting General, Nithan out" As the Captain shut done the com.
The Captain was pleased, although he thought the General to be almost a humanitarian compared to himself, he was efficient and by nightfall his troops would be back aboard so the Dark Thunder could begin its journey back to the core systems. He couldn't help think that complete orbital bombardment was the only solution to these little conflicts, if you cannot destroy a base, destroy the planet. However that would leave very few survivors to enslave to strip mine this miserable rock.
"No smart comments Commander?"
"No Captain, I would know better than to spoil your mood"
The Captain laughed, expecting some sort of I told you so speech from Wilfons.
A klaxon screamed out across the bridge, interrupting the two friends. The klaxon had taken everybody by surprise, it had not sounded for weeks.
"Sir we have multiple sensor contacts coming from the planet" an excited Lieutenant Meers shouted.
"No need to shout Lieutenant, the Captain is not deaf" Wilfons said, as if to calm the Lieutenant down.
"Tell me more Lieutenant" The commander order
"Sir, 5 contacts sir, originating from the mountain base identified by the General, it looks like 4 fighters and a transport"
"Looks like Lieutenant?" The Captain sneered
"Sorry sir, it is 4 fights and a transport" the now rather sheepish Meers replied.
"Well Commander, it appears I was correct, no heart, they are attempting to flee. No honour, and no chance. Ensign, order the patrol fights to intercept, also have Carrack 1 through 4 break formation and engage."
"Overkill don't you think Captain" Wilfons asked
"Perhaps, but we are all getting a bit rusty, it will be good for the crews of those ships to see some action before we leave, even if it is just a few cowards fleeing for their lives"
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The battle was over swiftly, the Carrack cruisers wasted no time in targeting the transport, their turbo lasers had depleted their shields by almost half before the fighters could even return fire. Seriously out matched the transport could only try to break away and make for a hyperspace jump, a desperate move, but with minimal armament, it was the only move available to the alien crew of the transport.
The fighters, old Y-Wing variants, sensing that the transport was doomed, quickly broke away from the transport. Even the aging TIEs from the Dark Thunder easily out classed them in every aspect, try as they might they also had no chance to escape. Having to dodge TIEs while trying to make a hyperspace jump was beyond the Y-Wings pilots. They last only a matter of minutes against superior Imperial fighters.
By this time the Carracks were laying volley after volley into the now unshielded transport ripping through its hull as if it were paper. The ships reactor imploded, splitting the transport clean in two. There were no survivors.
"Captain, Carrack 3 reports fleeing ships destroyed. No survivors" reported the Ensign.
"Excellent, inform the Corrielian Mining Corp that the planet is theirs, and tell them that it is safe to start their landing"
"Understood sir"
After a moments pause the Ensign continued "The mining ships have acknowledge and send their gratitude Captain"
Nithans nodded to the Ensign to continue his duties. Nithans begin to drift into to thought, gratitude from slavers and profiteers, is that what my career has come too. Gone of the days of hunting the rebels and engaging pirates, now I just massacre aliens who think that they anything more than tools of this Empire. In the last three months alone the Dark Thunder had laid waste to both of the other inhabited worlds in this system, an estimated 18 million Rojorans killed at his hands, and still they opposed the alternative. Stupidity indeed.
"Commander I will be in my quarters should you need me, recover the Generals troops as soon as he is finished and inform me when we are ready to depart"
"Yes sir" Wilfons replied as he snapped a fast salute, Nithans retuned the salute and spun around to head towards the turbo lift.
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Nithans quarters were by far the largest on the ship, after all he was the Captain and it had been his home for the last 9 years. Nithans was a military man, his quarters immaculately kept. Few soft furnishing existed, and a large oak desk dominated the primary living area. Expensive looking works of human art adorned the walls of his quarters, collected over many years of loyal service to the Empire.
He'd been dozing at his desk with his feet up for only a few hours well the com awaked him, he stretched out and yawn. Checking the time he realised he had not been asleep long. Straitening his uniform he flick the monitor on his desk on.
"Captain, sorry to disturb you but we are ready to depart, the Generals troops are back aboard and all station are reporting ready"
"Excellent Commander, I shall be there shortly" The Captain moved to shut down the link, but was stopped by Wilfons.
"One more thing Captain, we are receiving a transmission from the Admiralty"
"Probably our congratulatory message on a job well done, I'll take the message here"
"Yes sir" Wilfons face faded from view, and was replaced with the Imperial emblem. The details of the message overlaid the emblem. The message was not what the Captain expected.
The bridge was bustling with activity when the Captain walked onto it.
"Captain on deck" shouted a middle aged Lieutenant.
The crew snapped to attention, and Nithans informally waved them to at ease. Wilfons was gazing at the fleet assembling into formation awaiting the signal from their flag to make the jump to hyperspace. Nithan walked with purpose as Wilfons turned to meet him. The veteran Captain looked visible shaken.
"Captain, all ships ready and waiting for your command, I trust the Admiralty are pleased with success" The commander asked, slightly puzzled at what would cause his friend and commading officer to look so worried.
Nithans spoke with a scowl of his face "There has been a change of plan, the fleet is to return to section command as before, we….. or rather I am being recalled to Coruscant, Admiralty's orders"
"I don't understand Captain, what do they possibly need us at Coruscant for?"
"Me, old friend, they are recalling me, and I have no idea why, the message was vague to say the least"
"Maybe a promotion?"
"Wilfons, I have been in command of the ship for almost ten years, dozens of victories and millions of tons of enemy ship destroyed by our hand, if it was promotion then it would have happened by now, and sector headquarters would be sufficient, this is different, this does not bode well"
"Captain, I have served with you for six years, you never disgraced the uniform of the Empire, never retreated or backed away for any battle, your wrong about this"
"I appreciate your kind words old friend, but I have not exactly adhered myself to the Admiralty in recent years, this is not a positive thing"
"Your tactics have sometimes been considered hard, but anything we have done has been justifiable in the name of the safety of the Empire"
"That maybe our point of view, but nobody shares that opinion, but one way or another we will soon find out"
Nithans turned away from his friend, speaking loudly now he addressed Lieutenant Meers, in control of the helm
"Lieutenant, break away from the fleet, and set course for Coruscant, engage hyperspace as soon as the nav computer is ready"
The puzzled Lieutenant at the sudden change of course hesitated, but the look from his Captain soon prompted him to snap to attention shouting "Aye aye Captain"
"Ensign, signal the rest of the fleet to make their jumps to sector command, explain we have other orders"
The Ensign acknowledged the Captain's order and went about his task. The massive ship begin to pull away from the formation of smaller vessels casting a shadow down upon them as they accelerated into hyperspace.
The Dark Thunder's massive ion engines roared in life with a blue glow as the steered the ship onto its
new heading. As the engines settled down the ship steadied, and launched itself into hyperspace.