From a distance the world looked like a glittering jewel, a small and relatively insignificant piece of property. One world in a galaxy of over a million. It seemed, when one gave it some thought, that with all the planets in the galaxy, that war should never have been necessary.

But there were some in that galaxy who were greedy. Those few who desired total supremacy. And for them war was but a game, and planets such as this but pawns in some mammoth game of Chess.

The planet of Charubah was, by all accounts, relatively insignificant. It was on the edge of Hapan space, sparsely populated, and would have been left unnoticed but for one detail. Charubah was a technological centrepiece. It was there that the Gun of Command was produced. And it was for that reason that Emperor Chadd Fearsons had targeted this world for attak.

Now Rogue Imperial warships, the traitors who now called themselves the Jutraalian Empire, orbited the world and their troops subjugated the planet for their own pleasure.

The world of Charubah had called out for a savour, and that savour had come at last. From the depths of the galaxy’s Inner Rim, the Galactic Defence Initiative had responded to the call.

“Sir, the last ships have arrived. Combat Clearance is green. We await your word.” Supreme Commander Dxun Isstal nodded and lifted his head to look out at the distant speck that was Charubah.

“My word you have. Code Clearance Blue-52. Colonel, the fleet will move out at your discretion.” The Colonel, a grizzled man with greying hair and an artificial left hand, acknowledged and turned to his console.

“Connect me with the fleet.” It was done, and the Supreme Commander cleared his throat. “People of the Initiative. Today is the day that we fulfill our destinies. For far to long the Rogue Empire had subjugated the people of Charubah. Today, ladies and gentlemen, we will liberate these oppressed peoples. Today is the day that Emperor Fearsons realizes the error of his ways.”

With the cheering of the crews, the GDI fleet made the transition to hyperspace.

OOC:

Task Force Lance

Torpedo Sphere Heavy Hammer (fleet flagship)
Aegis II-class Star Cruiser Morning Mist
Aegis II-class Star Cruiser Razor's Bite
Imperator Mark II Star Destroyer Patriot
Imperator Mark II Star Destroyer Decree
Imperator Mark III Star Destroyer Viscount
Imperator Mark III Star Destroyer Strident
Ghost Cruiser Tempest
Ghost Cruiser Temptation
*Full fighter compliment

Task Force Spar (Reserve)

Contents Undisclosed
(out of system scanner range)

[center]...to mantain the peace we must prepare for war...[center]

"What do you think of it?" He shurgged and shook his head.
"I think its pathetic. Just because Fearsons is so power hungry. It disgusts me, really."
"He seems to have the effect on a lot of people."
"Of course. His own subjects, even." He laughed shortly. "You'd think he'd have learned by now."
"Anyone who tries to rebuild the Death Star, and then wage war with the Empire, evidently can't learn."
"Ha. You forget the Rebellion."
"Oh, no. Fearsons is not the Rebellion. The leaders of the Rebellion were smart. Fearsons' incompitence lead thousands of men to their deaths at Geonosis. All because he was to damned ignorant to look at the sensor display and notice that there were Abolisher fields all over the place."
"That's true. So you anticipate an easy victory?"
"That depends, sir. At Charubah, I would believe we would be able to hit his forces there and make it out again before he can scramble reinforcements."
"And if there are already extra soldiers there?"
"I doubt very much that that situation will occur. Fearsons has more important things to do with his time than defend Charubah. Averam, Togoria, Yaga Minor, Bespin... He's being hit on so many different fronts that he stands little chance. And I very much doubt that he can afford to scramble ships to defend this world."
"And what if he takes that risk, Colonel? What then?" He shrugged.
"Then Admiral Drayson and High Admiral Katta will hit him where he's weak." The Supreme Commander nodded slowly.
"You evidently know of what you speak, Colonel. Yes, I very much doubt that Fearsons can afford to leave any world underdefended long enough to strike us here. And if he does..." He looked down at the fleet readout, the one that included the Reserve fleet stretched out behind them. "If he does, he will learn that brining the Galactic Defence Initiative into this was the biggest mistake he could have made."

Reversion in 3... 2... 1...

Reversion successful. The fleet is deployed.

"Status?" Dxun Isstal barked, looking across the bridge of the Torpedo Sphere. The fleet, task force really, had emerged from hyperspace on the outer fringe of the system, out of range of any Abolisher pickets that may be active.

"The fleet has been successfuly deployed. Starfighter Commanders are awaiting launch orders."

"Give them the go-ahead for screening. Alert all stations. Shields, weapons, at full."

A few moments passed before the flights of TIE Raptors began to emerge, flying in perfect sync to take up positions in front of the fleet.

"Threat assesment?"

"One, repeat one Imperator-class Star Destroyer. One, repeat one Carrack-class Light Cruiser. Standard Rogue Imperial defensive screen."

"Have they spotted us?"

"Negative. Link with Task Force Spar is intact. The fleet is ready for your orders, Admiral." Dxun nodded and smiled grimly.

"Let's give the Rogues something to think about. Standard point formation. Execute!"

Slowly, the great ships moved until they were formed around the Torpedo Sphere, flanking her on each point with the Aegis Cruisers up and down and slightly ahead.

"Enemy is responding, sir. We've been spotted." Isstal nodded once.

"Let's do this thing."

"What in the name of the Force are they doing? Why haven't they responded?" A shrug was all the ship's captain could give in response.

"It would seem that they're ignoring us, sir." Fuck it. I've had enough.

"All right. Fire Control, you have authorization to fire at will. I want those threats dead and I want them dead now. Captain, begin the countdown."

"As ordered, Admiral."

Within moments the mamoth Torpedo Sphere had locked onto the bow of the enemy warship and, with hardly a moment's hesitation, fired its main weapon.

The salvo of warheads errupted along the sides of the warship, breaking apart hull plating and exposing vacume.

The ship lay dead in space, a hulk of what had once been a deadly enemy.

...idiots...

Dxun Isstal looked at the dead hulk with disgust on his face. Disgust at the lack of any kind of response. Disgust for the captain, who had (apparently) held the entire crew on the ship. Disgust for Emperor Fearsons, for starting this whole thing.

Not a single escape pod had blasted off, nor had anything been seen emerging from the hanger bays.

The ship was a shell, dead in space. Fires continued to burn on the ship's hull where the air recylcing system was still forcing oxygen.

The bridge was gone, destroyed in a wash of fire and proton torpedo propellent. Craters marked other detonations, spots where missile salvos had struck home and devestated the vessel.

Not a single laser battery was firing. The ship was dead in space, almost as if it had never had a crew. Never been a real warship...

Something clicked in the Supreme Commander's mind.

A sacrafice. This entire place is a sacrafice. They don't care about Charubah, or the lives of their soldiers. I'd be very surpirsed if they have more than a skeleton crew on those ships, just enough to make them look operational. This wasn't meant to be a battle.

"Any word from the reserves?" He asked breathlessly, fearing the worst.

"Negative sir, they're reporting all clear out their way." Dxun Isstal nodded, slightly reassured.

"Dispatch two flights of Raptors to circle the planet. Make sure one pair from each flight is flying in sensor stealth mode, have the other two conduct a standard recon mission with active sensors." He ordered, calmly.

The Wing Commander nodded, slightly confused but not questioning, and complied. The eight TIE Raptors were two many for a normal mapping and recon run, yet did not carry enough firepower for a recon mission that would probably run into hostile forces. The nature of the orders, the inistance that half of them operated with passive sensors only, only made the mission more confusing.

If it's a trap, we'll be ready for them. We can jump out before they can get any Interdictor or Abolisher fields up, and they don't know about our reserves. But it never hurts to be prepared.

"Helm, plot us a course out of the system. If they surprise us, make ready to jump. Sensors, inform me of anything you pick up that shouldn't be there. We can't be too careful. Communications, relay to the second Task Force and open a secured status line with them."

The bridge became a flurry of activity as the orders were filled, and then a silence settled over them. Only the measured beeping of the sensor terminal and the steady hum of machinery and the ship's engines broke the silence.

Now we wait.

Time seemed to drag on infinitely. The GDI fleet had been in orbit for three hours now, and seen no sign of activity from the enemy ship or from the planet itself. Several freighters and personal vehicles had arrived in the system and proceeded towards the world, but none had shown any hostility or even acknowledged the fleet waiting in the system. It was, everyone thought, really very odd.

Supreme Commander Isstal sighed and turned away from the viewscreen that showed the magnified planet in front of them. This had gone on long enough.
“General Kagge!” The hologram of a man, in his mid-forties with greying hair and wearing the uniform of a General, appeared.
“Yes, sir?”
“I want you to lead a planetary assault on the planet. The subjugation of the people of Charubah ends now.” The General saluted, a smile creeping onto his face.
“As ordered, Supreme Commander. My men will move out immediately.”
“Thank you, General. May the Force be with you.” The hologram vanished, and the Supreme Commander settled back into the command chair.


Charubah – Surface

The flight down had gone smoothly. No Imperial starfighters had attempted to shoot them out of the sky, and none of the anti-aircraft sites that were rumoured to be scattered around the planet had revealed themselves by trying to attack the incoming troop shuttles.
The planet they found themselves on was quiet. There was no sign of Rogue Imperial soldiers, or if they were there they were keeping quiet and well hidden. General Kagge’s company of the 22nd set down inside the capitol city, after a thorough sweep by a group of TIE Raptors that showed it would be safe. Those same fighters were now resting on the ground nearby, ready to launch at the first sign of trouble. Two Skipray Blastboats had accompanied the troops down as well. They now hovered overhead, a very efficient and extremely lethal eye in the sky.

A soldier, a Major by his rank plate, approached the Geberal and saluted, “Sir, we have completed preliminary scans of the city and detect nothing. The situation seems normal.”
“Except that it shouldn’t be normal. This should be a war zone, or at least hostile territory.” The Major nodded.
“Yes, sir. Which leads me to believe that the Rogue Empire evacuated their soldiers from this world in order to reinforce them somewhere else.” The General nodded, smiling now.
“There have been rumours of a Mon Calamari Republic assault on Ylesia. Perhaps their lack of response has something to do with that.”
“Maybe, sir.” The Major was silent for a moment. “Do you have any new orders, sir?”
“Yes, I think so. Have a stay here and watch the landing shuttles. I don’t want to come back and find our rides destroyed. Likewise, order one of the blastboats to stay in position over the site. The other will follow the remaining men and us to the Rogue Imperial garrison, wherever that may be. Perhaps there we can get some answers.”

The trip to the garrison building was quite uneventful. The soldiers passed several groups of armed civilians and did confiscate hundreds of weapons from them (with the promise that they would be returned at a later date), but no one fired on them as they marched towards the old Rogue Imperial garrison structure.

The building itself, they saw when they arrived, was far from the pristine and well-kept garrisons of the old Empire, or in fact the true Empire that the Rogue Empire was currently waging war with. The walls were still standing, and the gates were locked, but beyond that the building was in disarray. Shattered and abandoned equipment littered the parade grounds, and the doors were wide open.
“Major, I think we’re going to have to go inside.” The other man nodded.
“I’ll rig them to blow the gates.” The General shook his head. “If they’ve set any kind of traps, or happen to have any functioning autoguns, then they’re sure to be set on the gates. Blast through a wall where it looks weak.”
“That’ll take more explosives,” The other said sceptically.
“We can requisition more if we need it. Now let’s move.” Within moments the bombs were rigged, and soon after a portion of the left-side wall had been blown in. The GDI soldiers moved in warily, blaster rifles armed. They quickly spread out, securing the outer compound and raising a makeshift gate to block the shattered wall.
“The outside is secure, sir. But we’re not sure what we might find inside. Chances are the entire building will collapse,” The Major reported, glancing at the cracked walls of the building.
“All right, we use a probe then. If it’s clear, we’ll follow it up with a team.”
“Yes, General.”


Charubah – Orbit

“The situation is good, sir. Our troops have landed and have successfully taken the Imperial garrison. They report that it was empty when they arrived.” Dxun Isstal nodded.
“I guess that it’s a good sign. Very curious, but a good thing none-the-less. All right, have Patriot and Decree hold their positions. Transfer whatever you can in the way of troops and equipment to those ships in case they need to re-enforce the ground troops, then get us out of here.”
“As ordered, sir.”

Two hours later, the two Imperator Star Destroyers and the burned out hulks of former Rogue Imperial warships were all that remained in Charubah’s orbit.

OOC: Just wanted to let you know that Torpedo Spheres are not capable of firing on anything more maneuverable than a planet, at least with thier full weapons complement. They may fire up to 50 tubes at a time at something smaller, but no more. Just wanted to clear that up. Ohh, and they can't fire concussion missiles. (You should be able to figure out why.)

All at once, almost as if it all had been one great, delayed reaction, the shields turn themselves on around the planet. The great energy particles rising and creating an impenetrable barrier. How foolish these men really were to dare defile the ways of the Jutraalian Empire! How foolish they were indeed to try the might of Emperor Fearsons!

The ships slowly began to pull themselves in from the far side of the planet, there was no fear amongst these men, they were ready to take the war into their own hands. As was the emperor.

Slowly the probe droid came in on its little scouting mission, slowly came in to find out truly what was waiting for them. Of course everything had been abandoned, everything. There was nothing here, right? The Jutraalian Empire was one great cowardly empire right?

Wrong.

As the droid came around it suddenly crashed to the ground in a pointless heap. When it hit the ground with its loud clank the fires began and it gave off a loud shriek before finally falling in on itself. The weapons around the base chose then to come on, all power on, everything on in one flashy show of lights and power.

The door to the garrison was quickly opened to show the dark silhouette of a man, hundreds of soldiers behind him with their weapons aimed. The man spoke, and as he did his voice boomed loudly, amplified through some unknown means as he stared down at the ground.

"Behold the judgement of those who defile the grounds of the Jutraalian Empire!" he cried out, looking up suddenly as the waves upon waves of gunfire took place around him, sweeping up his cloak in a dramatic display. As he stared up at the targets of the deadly blasts of gunfire his long silver hair was seen, his glowing red eyes displayed in all their fury.

For those few shots that would have nearly killed or narrowly missed he used the Force to guide them into place before reaching down for the one remaining lightsaber on his belt. He withdrew it slowly and relished at the glorious snap-hiss of its ignition. The pitch black blade hummed its wicked tune as it began to ricochet the red blasts coming his way.

Oh what a prize the famed Emperor Fearsons would indeed be! Their blasts however could not slip by his stunning defensives, and when he charged, hell charged with him, right into the line of Initiative troopers. The PeFauna, gowned in black, their cortossis weapons and armor gleaming, their weapons ignited, charged beside him, to battle to the end.


**********************************************


The Star Destroyer's wedged shape was a beauty to behold indeed! Starked in a beautiful gold it led the battle triumphantly against the enemy forces. Though its speed was unremarkable, its raw power was a beauty to behold. With fighters leading the way it showed the tip of Imperial sovereign and power.

Though still out of range the fighters slowly closed in, the TIE interceptors and defenders leading the way. With weapons blazing, coming from below, the battle began with full fury as the five Star Destroyers, the Carrack Cruiser, and six Lancer Frigates slowly began to come to play with the enemy.


**********************************************



As the power came back on all over the planet, so did the anti-aircraft batteries. Missiles had been locked on and fired as quickly as possible, and one unfortunate pilot had crashed himself into the shield, not knowing it had come back on.

The skies were suddenly lit up with laser and missile fire, the battle for Charubah had begun.


Manifest

Five Imperial-Class Star Destroyers
One Carrack Cruiser
Six Lancer-Class Frigates

(LOL. You know how a missile works, right? Unlike laser beams, they are able to manouver. Thus, if the sensors on the front side of the Torpedo Sphere were to lock onto a enemy, all the missiles could fire and their onboard computers would bring them in line with an enemy.)

Orbit

"Foolish Jutraalians. I knew it was to easy." The Commodore smiled grimly as he surveyed the gathered enemy ships.
"Bring Task Force Spar into the system. Likewise, bring us about and prepare to fire on the enemy vessels. All shields at full."

The orders were carryed out with the usual efficiency, and within moments the second, and much larger, portion of the GDI fleet appeared from hyperspace and took up positions, a semi-circle surrounding the Jutraalian vessels.

"Right then. Have each of the spheres select target one, target two. Likewise, order the VicStars to lock onto the remaining enemy Star Destroyer. I want a single volley from each of the Spheres, two from the VicStars on my orders. Our Star Destroyers should lock onto the Lancers, two to each of the Mark IIs and one each for the Mark Is.
"The Battledragons and Darkstars should stand by to fire on whatever's left. Fighters to take up positions to intercept any incoming missiles or enemy fighters, or fire missiles as needed.

As one, the GDI warships moved. They Torpedo Spheres came around, their missile launchers bristling dangerously.

"Fire at will." The Commodore ordered, and the ships rocked as the missiles streaked out towards the enemy warships. To four of the enemy Star Destroyers went 250 Proton Torpedos, erupting across the shields and slamming against the hull. Seconds after that turbolasers across the fleet flashed out, striking at key points in the enemy ships' armour. Fires erupted where the shield generators were to be found. More fire lashed out at the hanger bay, slipping inside and starting fires among the ships inside. Explosions wracked the underside of those vessels as fuel storage cells exploded. The other Star Destroyer, struck by two volleys from the Victory Star Destroyers, fared to better. Missiles had melted the bridge and most of the topside hull to slag, leaving it in flames, deep craters scattered around. Atmosphere and debris vented from holes across the entire enemy fleet.

At the same moment, the GDI Star Destroyers opened fire with their own turbolasers. The smaller Lancer frigates were vastly outguned by the GDI ships. Turbolaser fire lashed out towards them, exploding shields and weapons batteries as if they weren't there.

"Maybe this will teach them a lesson about messing with the Galactic Defence Initiative. All ships, prepare for a second barrage. We'll finish them here."

Surface

The probe was gone. That much they determined when the direct-link com was cut off. The troops new that something was coming, naturally. And so they hunkered down and prepared for the worst.

It was not long in coming. Suddenly several hundreds enemy soldiers were among them, charging out of the building. The troops were ready. Proton grenades launchers were brought out, firing their shells towards the building. At the same moment, the two Skipray Blastboats popped up over the roofs of the buildings behind the garrison and fired. Missiles, heavy Proton Torpedoes, streaked out towards the building, slamming into it. The structure collapsed, crushing the remaining Jutraalian soldiers inside. Then they came down to ground and moved along it, their shields incinerating any of the enemy soldiers that came into contact with them. Likewise, their massive ion cannon bolts lashed out, cutting swaths through the ranks of enemy soldiers. Those struck by the blast were killed instantly, their nerves fried.

A dark day in the history of the Jutraalian Empire.

<hr>

Jurtaalian Losses:
5 Imperial Star Destroyers heavily damaged
6 Lancer firgates heavily damaged

TJE Garrison Building
Most TJE troops fighting near the garrison

Task Force Spar

Battle Dragon Class Cruiser- Condor
Battle Dragon Class Cruiser- Seed of Power
Battle Dragon Class Cruiser- Hapan Gamble
Battle Dragon Class Cruiser- Duskhan Pride
Battle Dragon Class Cruiser- Caliph
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Mark II- Chameleon
Imperator Class Star Destroyer Mark II- Minx
Imperator Mark II Star Destroyer Patriot
Imperator Mark II Star Destroyer Decree
Victory Class Star Destroyer- Crusher of Treachery
Victory Class Star Destroyer- Traitors Destruction
Darkstar Class Cruiser- Imperial Might
Darkstar Class Cruiser- Royal Influence
Darkstar Class Cruiser- Pomp and Circumstance
Darkstar Class Cruiser- Democles Hero
Nova Class Cruiser- Dakko
Nova Class Cruiser- Thimble
Nova Class Cruiser- Transcendal Mists
Nova Class Cruiser- Hyperflux Confluence
Aegis Class Cruiser- Vindas Fist
Aegis Class Cruiser- Vindas Fury
Aegis Class Carrier- Vindas Haven
Aegis Class Carrier- Vindas Concubine
Aegis Class Carrier- Cluster Lizard
Aegis Class Carrier- Wolvenn Huntar
Aegis Class Carrier- Animus Ankhys
Aegis Class Carrier- Drydak
Aegis Class Carrier- Carmens Steed
Aegis Class Carrier- Casionies Ice
Strike Class Cruiser- Nova
Strike Class Cruiser- Dryad
Strike Class Cruiser- Carbon
Strike Class Cruiser- Ore
Strike Class Cruiser- Slicer
Torpedo Sphere
Torpedo Sphere

Fighters

36 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Condor
36 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Seed of Power
36 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Hapan Gamble
36 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Dushkan Pride
36 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Caliph
22 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Minx
24 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Crusher of Treachery
24 Hetrinar Fighter Bombers- Traitors Destruction
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Imperial Might
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Royal Influence
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Pomp and Circumstance
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Democles Hero
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Dakko
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Thimble
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Transcendal Mists
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Hyperflux Confluence
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Vindas Fist
24 Miy'Til Fighters- Vindas Fury
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Vindas Haven
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Vindas Concubine
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Cluster Lizard
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Wolvenn Huntar
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Animus Ankhys
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Drydak
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Carmens Steed
72 Miy'Til Fighters- Casionies Ice
12 Miy'Til Fighters- Nova
12 Miy'Til Fighters- Dryad
12 Miy'Til Fighters- Carbon
12 Miy'Til Fighters- Ore
12 Miy'Til Fighters- Slicer

OOC: Isstal, I'm speaking in reference to the "Starships of the Galaxy" sourcebook. I'd be more than happy to quote it to you, with page references if you like. Like I told the Mon Cals, there is a reason the Empire only built six of them.

It's not an issue with the missiles maneuverability, though as I said, a missile cannot be fired from a Torpedo Sphere, only Proton Torpedos. What it is an issue with is with coordinating five hundred tubes to fire at the same target. It actually takes hundred of technicians over an hour to do that under normal circumstances(vs. planetary shielding).

Ohh, and a single persons views aren't important huh? Well then I guess we should just disregard everrything George Lucas ever thought up. Guess the game is over then.