12. A Problem Removed
"A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril." – Winston Churchill
A week later Octavian Grant shuttle lands on the MC90 cruiser Victory.
MC90 cruiser, Victory
The MC90 cruiser Victory is brand new, fresh from the Mon Calamari Shipyards, her crew and equipment is a mix of veterans and new recruits.
With a length of 1,255 meters, the MC90 class cruisers, was the first Mon Calamari Star Cruiser designed specifically as a warship. Its focus on heavy weapons and large hangars showed a realistic assessment of the firepower required to challenge Imperial class star destroyers.
The controls and displays onboard the MC90 class were designed, for the first time on a Mon Calamari Cruiser, for compatibility with most major species, allowing for officers other than Mon Calamari to pilot the vessels. The command centre was a clear bubble in the centre of the ship, giving the bridge officers a vision of the area below as well as above.
Victory's fighter complement consists of 36 X-Wing fighters, 24 B-Wing bombers and 12 BTL-A4 Y-wing "LongProbe" for reconnaissance.
Only the ship's Captain and First officer know who Grant really is, the rest of the crew are being kept in the dark (for obvious reasons). The other person to know who Grant really is, is Major Lorn, Grant's former "aid", though Grant's true identity is bound to leak out eventually, it is hopped by then he will have established himself.
The New Republic Security Council is taking a big risk, but it hopes that one Grand Admiral can deal with another Grand Admiral or at the very worst by time for the New Republics military to catch their breath.
Victory, Main Bridge
For the past twenty-four hours Grant has been studding all the information that the New Republic will give him on the ongoing battles, he has worked out what to do and how to do it.
On the bridge the captain and command staff of the Victory is aware whom Grant really is the rest of the crew have not been told, they are waiting for Grant to arrive.
As the turbolift doors open Grant enters the bridge with is "aid" in tow, he heads for the Admirals command station and sits in the chair, then says, "Captain is Victory ready?"
The captain replies, "The Victory is ready, what is the first target."
Grant inserts a data card and transfers the data then says, "This is the first target, take us to these coordinates."
The captain looks at his display and the coordinates and say, "Helm take use to the coordinates, jump into hyperspace when ready."
The helmsman replies, "Aye sir" then a few minutes later the Victory jumps into hyperspace.
Commanding the Victory
Over the next few days Grant is able to prove his worth, as he wins every engagement against those forces that Teshik has sent to capture various system that are under the control of the New Republic. Each time the attack forces is driven back with heavy losses, by a single MC90 cruiser, with the Victory taking little or no damage.
By the end of the first two weeks of combat, the captain and the senior staff of the Victory have gone from being suspicious of Grant and questioning his orders, to that of obeying them without question.
One month into Grant's command, the Victory and her crew are building up quite a reputation as a deadly ships and an elite crew, this is entirely due to Grant's skill as a former Grand Admiral in moulding the crew of the Victory into what he needs.
On Coruscant Fey'lya was pleased that his insistence that Grant be given a single ship was paying dividends for him in political capital especially with the New Republics military high command, who had be sceptical about using the skills of a former Grand Admiral.
There was one New Republic military officer who was actually plotting to have Grant removed from his command and sent back to Rathalay, this is Brigadier Thron, he is getting very closed to being able to put his own plan into place to remove Grant.
The sudden setbacks over the past month have not gone unnoticed by Teshik, onboard the Night Hammer he is studying the tactics used and his is about to be surprised by what he discovers.
Night Hammer
Grand Admiral Teshik has been studying the tactics used by this lone MC90 cruiser for the past few hours, he then suddenly spots something and replays it, Teshik is taken aback by what he has seen and recoils back into his seat.
Captain Frisk who has been sitting with Teshik asks, "I everything ok sir, should I call a medic?"
For a few moments, Teshik says nothing then he says, "No Captain you do not need to call a medic, I do not need medical assistance. But we do have a problem" indicating towards to holo display.
Captain Frisk asks, "What sort of problem sir?"
Teshik is a matter of fact tone replies, "The individual commanding that MC90 is a former Grand Admiral, from the tactics used I would say it is Octavian Grant."
Captain Frisk's jaw drops and for a few moments he says nothing then asks, "Sir are you sure, the rebels may simply be using a former Grand Admirals tactics against you, after all you are the last Grand Admiral, all the other are dead."
Teshik shakes his head and replies, "No Captain, this is Octavian Grant as each Grand Admirals strategies had a unique 'signature' and these strategies bare Octavian Grant unique 'signature'. Looks like the Rebels are using a Grand Admiral to fight a Grand Admiral, quite clever really."
Captain Frisk says, "Yes sir, that means that those unconfirmed reports of a senior Imperial officer being held on Rathalay are true."
Teshik says, "Yes it does, we must focus our efforts on Octavian Grant for the time being, I want Imperial Intelligence to get me as much information on this MC90 cruiser as they can find and I do not care how they get the information, understood?"
Captain Frisk replies, "Yes sir, I will issue the orders right away."
Teshik says, "In addition, I want a covert ops team to go to Rathalay and locate the residence that Octavian Grant and put it under surveillance, tell them to be careful as the rebels will have left some sort of security in place."
Captain Frisk replies, "Yes sir, but I doubt that the rebels will send him back to Rathalay."
Teshik says, "Probably, but it is worth checking out, also add a strike team as well along with a rapid extraction group for both the covert ops team and the strike team."
Captain Frisk asks, "Yes sir, is that all?"
Teshik replies, "For the moment, you are dismissed Captain."
Outside of Teshik quarters Captain Frisk thinks that this is excessive use of valuable resources, but on the other hand if we are dealing with a Grand Admiral, looking back at the armoured doors at Teshik quarters Captain Frisk are I know how deadly a single Grand Admiral can be.
Captain Frisk heads towards the bridge to issue Teshik's instructions.
One Month Later
Brigadier Thron using a faked order, reporting to be from Fey'lya, orders that Grant be removed from his command and sent back to Rathalay, this comes as quite a surprise to the senior command staff onboard the Victory.
Grant is also surprised, as his recent victories against the Empire had halted the Empires advance in several sectors, Grant could not understand what Fey'lya was up to.
On the trip back to Rathalay, Grant had time to think through what had happened, he had come to the swift conclusion that Fey'lya had not ordered this, someone within the New Republics military had these orders faked. Though Grant had figured out what had happened there was nothing he could do, therefore he asks his aid to take a written message to Fey'lya asking why he has been remove from his command, this will be the last time hi s aid will see Grant.
Two days after arriving back on Rathalay, Grant's aid departs for Coruscant, it will take Grant's aid ten days to reach Coruscant due to the war it is necessary for him to take an indirect route.
It will be the last time Grant's aid will ever see Grant.
Imperial Surveillance Team
Two days ago, the Imperial Surveillance Team observed the return of Octavian Grant to Rathalay the Imperial Surveillance Team immediately passed this information on to Teshik requesting instructions. After the message was sent, the Imperial Strike Team was put on standby.
While they were waiting for a reply, both the Surveillance Team and the Strike Team began planning to attack Octavian Grant residence, Octavian Grant residence is guarded by a New Republic Close Protection Team, this team has a dual role of protecting Octavian Grant and making sure that he does not try to escape.
These New Republic Close Protection personnel will not cause a problem from the Strike Team to deal with.
Night Hammer
Onboard the Night Hammer, Captain Frisk has reported to Grand Admiral Teshik the news that Octavian Grant has returned to his residence on Rathalay. This news puzzles Teshik as from the reports he has been getting from the front as Grant has been dealing with Teshik attacks against the New Republic very well, this is no reason to remove Grant from the front.
Captain Frisk asks, "Sir, shall I order the Strike Team in?"
Grand Admiral Teshik sighs slightly then he says, "Yes, use plan Bravo Nine."
Captain Frisk frowns slightly at Teshik but does not question the order and replies, "Yes sir, I will issue the order right away."
Rathalay
On Rathalay, both the Surveillance Team and the Strike Team have received the go order along with instructions to use plan Bravo Nine.
Octavian Grant residence is extensive though Grant himself keeps to one corner of the mansion the rest of the mansion is patrolled/used by the New Republic Close Protection personnel.
With the go order received the Imperial Strike Team begins its mission, with the Imperial Surveillance Team providing support, it only takes the Imperial Strike Team three minutes to eliminate the out layer of protection, that are patrolling the grounds.
As Imperial Strike Team move in on the main residence, Octavian Grant, who sighs, has observed the Imperial Strike Team Grant easily identifies them as an Imperial covert operations team.
Grant could warn the remaining members of the New Republic Close Protection personnel, that are in the residence, but he decides not to, as there is no point, the New Republic Close Protection personnel would be eliminated either way, this way it will be relatively painless for them.
Grant goes into his room and changes into the clothing he was carrying in the small black case, if he is to be killed, his killers will know whom they are killing.
Ten Minutes Later
With the last of the New Republic Close Protection personnel eliminated, the Major in charge of the Imperial Strike Team, signals them the close in on the room containing there target.
As they enter the first room, this appears to be a large study, with a large fireplace up against one wall with several rooms leading off from it.
Before the Major can issue signals to his men, a voice with the air of command says, "That will be unnecessary to search for me."
The Major looks towards one of the large chairs facing the fire rising from the chair the coming around the chair to face the leader of the Imperial Strike Team is a man in a Grand Admirals uniform. This causes some of the Imperial Strike Team members of gasp, as only the Major had known who the target really was, every member of the Imperial Strike Team knew all the Imperial Grand Admirals by sight.
Before the Imperial Strike Team members, stood an Imperial Grand Admiral, resplendent in his white uniform.
The Major says in a commanding voice, "We have job to do, check the other rooms, MOVE"
With the sudden command there, training clicks in and they search the other rooms, finding nothing, they return to the large study, where the Major and his own section are covering Grant.
The Major raises his weapons and fires at Octavian Grant without ceremony then into his comm the Major says, "This is strike team lead, to observation team lead, mission complete, begin withdrawal phase" over the comm a confirmation comes.
One Hour Later
With both the Imperial Strike Team and the Imperial Surveillance Team have withdrawn, the former residence of Octavian Grant explodes, as the mini nuke they planed detonates, destroying Octavian Grant's estate, erasing all evidence.
Fallout
The fallout within the New Republic will huge.
A day after the two Imperial teams has left, Grant's aid arrives on Coruscant he goes straight to Fey'lya office, Fey'lya is shocked by the news that Grant's aid brings him, as Fey'lya had nver idded such an order to have Grant returned to Rathalay.
It only takes a few hours to find those responsible along with the ringleader Brigadier Thron, who is proud of what he has done. Brigadier Thron and the others responsible for this are arrested for treason and will be found guilty and sentenced to death.
A few hours after Brigadier Thron and his co-conspirators arrest word is received that Grant's estate on Rathalay, has been destroyed with no survivors.
None of this will bring back Octavian Grant the New Republic has lost its only chance against the Empire led by Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik.
Fey'lya is not one to give up, neither is the military and civilian leadership of the New Republic, the war will go on.
Night Hammer
Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik receives the news that the mission has been a complete success he orders that the offensive operations (that has been slowed with the discovery of Grant) be speeded by, as there is no one that can defeat them now.
Both imperial teams are on their way by to the Night Hammer, to be debriefed by Teshik himself.
For the New Republic, it is the beginning of the end.
To be continued.