Vladet, Governer's mansion, 0800 hours

The butlers and maids had set the table, and now the dishes of food were being brought out to serve the family and their guests. Scrambled eggs, fried bacon, pancakes, waffles, sausage, and all manner of other things were contained in the dishes as they were distributed around the table. Once they had finished this, the maids proceeded to take care of the bedchambers, while the butlers lined the hallways, inviting inside the guests, and being onhand in case of emergency or if someone requested a refill, as well as to eliminate the threat of empty plates. The guests began filing in. First came the Governer's family, Melina, the governer's wife, and her two children, Luke, and Larson, then came the governer himself, Park Kraken. After that came his guests, the three Commodores, Commodore Brand, Commodore Carson, and Commodore Huey. They were seated to the table, three to a side, with Park sitting at the head of the table. Park began the lengthy conversations ahead.

"First I want to welcome you all to our fine house. I thank each and every one of you for attending on such notice, but I have recieved rather perturbing news that requires action on all of our parts." said Park Kraken.

"It appears that a topic of future conversation as well as present will be the threat posed by the Dameuns. As you all know they have conquered a very large and compact region of space. Rather than spreading throughout the galaxy like we have, they have chosen to take over one area of space, and to conquer all within, thus securing a strong and compact Empire. This will naturally pose some risks and threats to us." said Park.

"Indeed, if we were to invade Dameun space, such actions would cost many men and ships, both in fierce resistance, and in occupation duties needed to help keep enemy ships from executing flanking attacks behind our lines." said Commodore Brand.

"Well, I have recieved orders that ensures that it won't happen. From what I now know, the Black Dragon Empire does not take prisoners. If we were to execute a campaign into their territory then, it would merely be one of scorched earth. We would obliterate all enemy planets in our path, metal and flesh." said Kraken with a sneer.

"How brutal. Isn't the Regent worried about uprisings from our more, how shall I say it, pacifist planets?" asked Melina.

"Normally we might be worried yes, but I hear that the Imperial news media is prepared to cover it up with stories of their own. If I were a betting man, they would say that the Black Dragons had already destroy the civilization of those worlds, and that the Empire was merely punishing them for their acts and enacting revenge on behalf of the destroyed civilizations." responded Kraken.

"See, this is why they won't let him do his own reports on the air." whispered Brand to Carson, who elicited a small chuckle. Kraken merely glowered at them in response.

"Anyways, steering this object back onto track, the point is the Dameuns pose a significant threat to the continual peace of the Empire. Since they can no longer conquer planets within their own territory, other than a few moons and backwater worlds, it is next assumed that they would start inching their way torwards the rest of the Outer-Rim, which would be bad for our planets out there, espically those belonging to the Borderland and Yaga Minor protectorates." stated Kraken.

"Ah yes, the Boderland Protectorate. What an idea it was to create the protectorate, perhaps even foolish." stated Commodore Huey, recieving forebidding stares from the other guests at the table.

"The Borderland Protectorate was created as an Imperial Directorate Initiative to deal with the growing threat of the Dameum Empire as a line of defense between it and the core worlds. What would you have guarding our most valuable planets in it's place?" asked Kraken with a high note of incredulity.

"A great line of defense of course. Space stations, minefields, patrols, all that and more, call it the Great Wall of the Empire maybe or something like that, an impenetrable barrier of defenses." replied the Commodore.

"Oh yes, so you would have use up most of our assets to create a single long solid wall line of minefields, space stations, outposts, and patrols, requiring consistent mantinence, to protect our core worlds from the Dameuns? What a foolish notion. And what, pray tell, would happen when the Dameuns break through this line of defense in a single spot, and all their vessels pour through this spot? Would your space stations and minefields be able to reposition themselves to attack the Dameun fleet?" asked the governer.

"Well no, not precisley. Our Navy will be able to stop them afterwards, after their numbers have been whittled down even further." replied the Commodore.

"What Space Navy? Do you even realize the resources that will be necessary to retain this line of defense? The way of the Protectorate means that it will have it's own planets capable of self sustaining it's own naval units used to defend the worlds, but your idea would have no mantience. We would have to make a massive effort to maintain and re-supply the line. In any case, thanks to the enemies capability of beyond hyperspace travel, this idea is completley useless. Now, let's move on." said the governer, his voice stern. The Commodore began to open his mouth for a retort, then clamped it shut. By now they had finished their meals, and the butlers began to collect the plates from around them, and take them into the nearby kitchen for cleaning.

"Our main focus here in this meeting is to discuss a closer defense line to the Dameun borders than that provide by the recent taking of certain worlds within the Expansion Region. I believe there is a focal point to be had, and this focal point would be the Meridian and Ante-Meridian Sectors." said the governer with a very serious tone.

"But sir, what about the death seed plague?" inquired Commodore Carson. The other two Commodores nodded in agreement.

"Nam Chorious is luckily a very sparesly inhabited world. I plan a military invasion for that one. You, Commodore Carson, I am electing you to lead this assault. Your first task is to eliminate the gun stations from orbit with a barrage from your destroyers. Once that is accomplished, you will evacuate the citizens on the surface, forcefully if need be. Then, after positining your ships around the planet, execute base delta zero upon the planet and eradicate the threat of death seed from the galaxy forever." ordered the governer.

"Ah yes, good plan sir. I wonder why no one else has thought of orbital bombardement to eradicate the death seed plague. Probably because of the sensitive spook crystals on the surface of the planet? I hear they are quiet valuable." said the Commodore.

"About that, I am sending a large fleet with you. It's possible, unlikely, but possible that Loronar has made a return to the planet and started strip mining the planet successfully this time. If so they will probably have a large contigent of the CIC needle fighters at their disposal. I will be assigning you a number of Attack Spheres and Fire Frigates to deal with this possible threat." said the governer.

"But Loronar has said nothing on such matters when inquired about it, other than denying any involvement." replied the Commodore.

"Yes, but do notice their lack of medium cruiser production, and scaling down their shipbuilding infrastructre. This means that either they are cutting back their buisness, something I find quite unlikely, or else they have merely shifted their buisness to a new venture. Now whether or not this involves the spook crystals, I have no clue, because we have not seen the market for Loronar open for a new type of starfighter, nor for new synthdroids, but then again the market doesn't really care about either venture for the time being. I almost think that Loronar is banking on something like this happening, hoping for a glorious defeat to elicit contracts from either the Galatic Coalition or the Dameum Empire. Either way, even if this is a false assumption, this makes the planet a top priority in our conquest list." stated the governer, eliciting nods of approval from his wife and the commodores at this news. His two sons clearly knew nothing about the current situation, and instead followed suite with everyone else, if for no other reason than for appeasement. Kraken had a brief thought of amusement at this, helping to lighten what was becoming a dark mood about him.

"Well then, I believe we have a conquest to plan then. I believe breakfast is adjounred then. If you will excuse me, I would like to spend some time with my family. I will meet you three in the war room at 1100 hours in order to continue this planning." said the governer as he stood up from the table. Everyone else stood, and offered each other handshakes, salutes, and kind words of dismissal before filing out of the room.

Above the world of Falleen, located in the Outer-Rim

The Imperial Bulk Cruiser Hydra exited hyperspace, decanting into real space within the gravity well projected by the mass shadow of the planet. Captian Jaon Fearsings nodded as the ship safely rode out of the vortex, and everything return to normal, at least for a brief instant. Alarm klaxons began to sound, and a moment later, a shudder ran through the ship. Joan was pitched forward slightly, then looked up as small dart shapes flashed by the viewports.

"Alert, alert, we are under attack, repeat we are under attack."

The voice snapped Joan's head around, and a rebuke was on her lips, about to tell the officer that there was no need to inform her of the obvious, when she found the person, her communications officer, yelling into the comlink at his station, summoning whatever warships may be in the area to help deal with the threat posed by the enemy force. But Joan also knew that the pirates would not have attacked if they was such a threat posed by nearby ships.

"All batteries, open fire on the enemy. Shields up to full, helm, bring us about and prepare to enter hyperspace on our entry vector." ordered Capitan Fearsings. Flashes of laser fire filled the sky as the weapons batteries aboard the six hundred meter long bulk cruiser flashed to life in a valiant attempt to prevent it's cargo from falling into the wrong hands. A detonation of one of the enemy fighters was bright enough to illuminate several others briefly. Joan let out a startled gasp.

"What are these things, TIE Devils? Scanners, do you pick up any ships nearby?" said the Capitan.

"Yes madam capitan, I am picking up a single vessel, three thousand meters, ten kilometers to our port side, adrift. I am reading no transponder from the vessel." reported the calm sensors officer.

"Bring up a enhanced view of the ship please." requested the capitan, equally calm now, although the rest of the bridge was a riot of panicked voices and actions.

A view sank into focus on the forward viewport, being put their by hidden holoprojectors, showing a close up image of the vessel. The lines were not fimilar, and the vessel seemed almost to be half mon calamarian cruiser, half Imperial Star Destroyer. Captian Fearsings noted what appeared to be a small insignia near the battleship's bow. She pointed to it, to magnify it. The screen was now dominated by the blazing signal of the Loronar Corporation, with the company's motto, "All the finest, All the first", below it. Captian Fearsings recoiled in confused alarm at this revelation.

At that moment, the weapons officer blurted out. "Capitan, I have identifed the attacking starfighters as CIC Needlers from our old technology database."

"This is not a standard pirate raid. This is a mission to destroy. Helm, get us the hell out of here now." said the capitan vehemetley.

* * *

The Impervious class Battleship Sidious hung in space near the distraught Imperial freighter. Inside the bridge of the vessel, two men watched the display screens with interest.

"I imagine our customers will be well pleased with the results of this version trial. The CIC's Mk IIIs have proven most adept to dealing with Imperial nusances. I anticipate a hidden profit surge of one hundred in the first quarter of production alone." said the figure, an aide to the main sitting in the chair next to him.

"For once I agree with your Spuirti. I have watched too long in the shadows. We shall leave the wreckage of the cruiser here. The Imperials will come hounding for our blood when they put the pieces together of what happened here. And well shall be ready for them." he said as his right hand curled into a fist.

Kraken walked into the playroom, the main room in the governer's mansion dedicated to taking care of the children's entertainment needs. There he found his two sons, Brasck, aged ten years now, and Karsk, aged eight. The two boys were playing holo games, something that had to do with pod-racing apparently. Glancing to the right, he caught sight of his wife, Melina, leaning against the wall near the hallway that lead to the children's room, a smile on her face as she watched them intently. Lately the two boys have been having problems fighting with each other ever since the older boy had logged onto the galatic net and downloaded codes to help give him an edge in the games. Kraken walked over to stand beside her and clasped his hands behind his back and stood at attention while watching his kids play the game. She turned her head to him and smiled.

"Oh you, stop it. You know I don't like it when you act all militaristic around me." said Melina, clasping one of Park's arms with her hand.

Park fiegned mock suprise at her. "That's not what you say in the bed, dearest." he said with a mock glare.

Melina glowered at him. "That's different. You know that." she said, giggling slightly beneath her breath.

"Harumph, women." said Park with a huffy grunt.

"What's that mean?" she said with incredulty.

"Why, what a..Ow Ow Ow." said Park as Melina grabbed onto his ear and pulled his head down torward her. She then snaked her hands around his head and kissed him.

Park looked into her emerlad eyes, then, moving his hands behind her back, he returned the kiss, and passionatley at that. They stood there for about five minutes before double exclamations of "Eeeews!" brought them out of their reverie.

Melina glowered at the kids. "I thought you were playing racing games?" she asked them.

"We were, but watching you two fight is always more entertaining." answered Brasck.

Park walked over to where the two boys were seated. "Oh really?" he asked, picking up Karsk and seating him on his shoulder.

Karsk squealed as he was lifted up. Brasck joined in the fun by pushing his daddy to the ground, leaving Melina to catch Karsk. All four of them fell or knelt to the ground. Pillows were soon siezed from the nearby couches, and battle was joined, the laughter echoing around the mansion...

* * *

In the meantime, Commodore Brand joined the other two commanders in the hoverlimo as it departed the mansion, and headed down torwards the main part of the sprawling military base that covered much of the visible terrain. The three men watched the landing fields out in what used to be fields and plains, watching the newly refitted Venator class Troopships loaded up complements of stormtroopers and assault vehicles. The Empire was gearing up for a major assault, and some of them knew where and what the Empire was attacking or invading, but not when and how. When the governer arrived in the the war room, that at least would finally be revealed.

Nam Chorios

"Get back to work. Lunch break is over. Move it you scumbags, move it." yelled the shift boss as he cracked his virbo-whip on the table top. The bedraggled group of oldtimers put down their dishes with a silent sigh and stood up, filing away from the lunch table and out into the open air from the bunker, into the sunlight of Nam Chorios, the world they have once loved, now hated with a fiery passion. Some time ago, a time many of them could only distantly recount now, they have lived in peace, having been rescued from the clutches of the Loronar Corporation and Seti Ashgad by members of the New Republic. But now those times were gone, the Loronar Corporation having come back to finish what they started, mining the valuable spook crystals for installation into their Needle Starfighters and Synth-Droids. These particular oldtimers had been working on one of the latest strip mines to open up. They hacked into the bases of the crystals with the cheap tools that they have been equipped to work with. The crystals would come free, and they would walk back to a conveyer belt and place the crystals on them to be carried away into an awaiting hover-train. Oh, if only someone would come a liberate them again.

Vladet

The Imperial War Room was bustling with activity. A good portion of it belonged to asset tracking, keeping up with all of the new arrivals and keeping track of the vessels and troops that had already arrived and were being shifted around. Another portion belonged to insystem defences, having to keep up and coordinate with asset tracking to ensure that all the new arrivals were friendlies and protect the system from any unsuspected hostile threats. Finally, the rest was devoted to the planning and execution of the current operation at hand, the plan to invade and secure the Anti-Meridian/Meridian Sectors. The charts here were divded into four sections on four tables, showing different planets, routes, etc.

The three Commodores had arrived at the war room sometime ago, and were busy talking to fighter commanders and ship capitans to discuss how the operation was to proceed and what their role in it was. Then the Governer himself arrived, ready to proceed with a short speech about the current situation.

"As many of you know, we are here today to discuss the first phase of a plan to takeover the Meridian/Anti-Meridian Sectors. Many of you may believe that this plan is to establish yet another border base close to the Black Dragon Empire, maybe even a staging sector for incursions into Dameun space, but let me be the first to tell you that this is not the case. Yes, this sector is in close proximity to the BDE Empire, and it would in fact make a nice incursion site or border patrol base, but let me tell you the real reason for our incursion." said the Governer, his words suprising many of the people in attendance.

"Recently, one of our Bulk Cruisers ferrying supplies to the planet Falleen was intercepted and destroyed by an unknown group. Two of our medium cruisers patrolling the area responded to the emergency, but found only the dead cruiser, surrounded by a field of wreckage. One of the medium cruisers picked up some of this wreckage and took it to Corellia for examination. I have read their results, and this is the direct reason for the invasion, for you see, the wreckage was not in fact from the Bulk Cruiser, but the remains of CIC Needle Fighters." said the Governer, eliciting a startled gasp from many of the commanders in attendance.

"We must assume the worst based on this information, and that is that either the Loronar Corporation or a new group has once again attempted, this time successfully, to harvest the spook crystals on Nam Chorios to produce these starfighters. A spy in a underground network near that location passed on some information that Loronar was to soon start selling a new line of Synth-Droids, and had already sold many samples to local crime lords and drug bosses, so we are now certain that Loronar Corporation is indeed behind the latest crystal scandal. Commodore Brand will now fill you in a little on what is happening with the Corporation right now" said the governer.

"The Loronar Corporation had been in dis-array following the attack of the Yuuzhan Vong some years ago. The old company president was killed when his planet was bombarded with poisions and toxins, and a new, arrogant leader was elected. The corporation fell behind in ship building, and so as a result, many of their shipyards and workers were transferred to other agencies by the Republic to speed up building in response to the threat of first the Vong then other threats. Loronar Corporation retreated to the Outer-Rim, has stayed there since. Their activies had been very hush hush recently, and now we know why." said the Commodore.

"Our first target will be the base of their crystal production will be Nam Chorios. We will be jumping in their with a full war fleet, since we have no clue whatsoever as to how many crystals they possess or what type of a navy or ground defenses they have in place. The fleet will be organized tommorrow, and we will be departing the day after that. Until then, you will have time to make final preparations to your ships, supplies, and personnel. Good luck." said the Governer. With that, the war room fell back into it's bustling pace, and the governer proceeded to the charts to look them over with his aides.

Vladet

"Status of the 16th?" asked General Grudge.

"They have been loaded successfully into the 24th Assault Line." reported the aide.

"Which ships are those?" asked the General.

"The Nothos, Diablo, Vader, Mauler, Sidious, and Plagues." responded the aide.

"Good. I love keeping track of my men until landing time. Well, I think that about wraps it up here. Let's get loaded up. I'll see you aboard the Allegiance." said the General.

"Yes sir. Have a good flight." responded the aide as he gathered his papers and departed the General's Office. The aide headed from there to the Commodore's office to inform him that the Imperial Army Divisions that will be used in the attack on Nam Chorios have been embarked successfully. He knocked on the door, and when the Commodore bid him entrance, the aide entered the room, and made his report.

"Sir, the Imperial Army Divisions are loaded up and ready to go. The 16th Army is ready for the assault on Nam Chorios." reported the aide.

"Excellent work. Now we just need to make sure that the navy is ready to defeat whatever lies ahead and cooperates with the army fullest in occupying the planet." said the Commodore.

"Sir, I have prepared a full order of battle in prensentation to the current operation. Would you like me to go over it?" said the aide.

"Yes, go ahead and present it." said the Commodore.

"Very well then. We have at the current time a total of seventy two capital warships prepared. Not including the Army ships or auxiliary vessels involved in the operation." said the aide.

"It has been organized into one Fleet Group, termed Fleet Group Alpha for the upcoming operation, since it is the first phase of the overall master plan." said the aide.

"The Fleet Group is made up of Four Task Forces, Task Force Aleph, Task Force Bravo, Task Force Charlie, and Task Force Dogma, each with eighteen ships." said the aide.

"Task Force Aleph is composed of Four Squadrons, two with five ships, the other two with four ships. Squadron A consists of four line ships and one fleet tender. Squadron B consists of four line ships, and one tender. Squadron C consists of four escort ships, no tender. Squadron D consists of four escort ships, no tender." said the aide.

"Specific types?" asked the Commodore.

After typing through the keyes, the aide responded. "Squadron A consists of two Imperial Star Destroyer Mark V, and two Victory Star Destroyers Mark IV. Squadron B consists of two Imperial Star Destroyers Mark V, and two Victory Star Destroyers Mark IV. Squadron C consists of four Rapier-II class Gunships. Squadron D consists of four Rapier-II class Gunships." said the aide.

"Task Force Bravo, Squadron A, consists of two Imperial Star Destroyers Mark V, and two Victory Star Destroyers Mark IV. Squadron B consists of two Imperial Star Destroyers Mark V, and two Victory Star Destroyers Mark IV. Squadron C consists of four Rapier-II class gunships. Squadron D consists of four Rapier-II class gunships.Two fleet tenders included." reported the aide.

"Task Force Charlie, Squadron A, consists of four Illustrious class Fast Attack Cruisers. Squadron B consists of four Illustrious Fast Attack Cruisers. Squadron C consists of four Thorne Dreadnoughts. Squadron D consists of four Thorne Dreadnoughts. Two fleet tenders included." reported the aide.

"Task Force Dogma, Squadron A, consists of four Fire Light Frigates. Squadron B consists of four Fire Light Frigates. Squadron C consists of five Pa'al class Light Cruisers. Squadron D consistes of five Pa'al class light cruisers. No fleet tenders." finished the aide with a sigh.

"Embarked fighter squadrons?" asked the Commodore.

"Yes sir. All ships are fully embarked. Task Force Aleph is equipped with TIE Defenders and Scimitar Assault Bombers, the remaining task forces equipped with everything from TIE Fighters and Interceptors to TIE Phantoms and TIE Devils." said the aide.

"Good. In one hour's time, the fleet will depart. We have until then to get up to the flagship, which is the seventy third vessel of the fleet." said the Commodore.

"Plus, the communications ship, which makes overall fleet strength eighty vessels." said the aide.

"Indeed. Off we go then." said the Commodore.

Nam Chorios

"Has the fleet been gathered then?" asked the shadowey figure to his whimpering aide.

"Yes sir. The Shadow Hand task force just reported in two hours ago that they were in their assigned orbits and are ready to commence battle at a moment's notice." said the lowly aide.

"Good. Order all sixteen task forces to ready their control devices and to make extra sure that no matter what, we must contain full control the CIC Needle Swarms. Without them we are nothing, well, not entirely true, but we cannot attain victory without control. Even worse, they may end up destroying us." said the shadow boss.

"Yes sir, very good sir. I will now carry out your orders." said the aide, glad to be out of the figure's presence.

Once he left, another unknown presence made it's self known at the edge of the room.

"I take it that everything is ready then?" asked the figure.

"Yes, it is all well in hand. Spies in Vladet have informed me that the Imperial fleet is on it's way. Sixteen hours from now, we will hand the Empire it's most humiliating defeat ever." said the shadow boss.

"Excellent. You have done well, Boss Ross. You can expect further great things to come of your reign within the Loronar Coporation." said the shadow figure as he melted back into the shadows.

Boss Ross turned around and stared out the viewport of his flagship, the Providence class Carrier/Destroyer Emancipation. Now all he awaited was the arrival of the people who he would destroy in order to ensure his elevation and of his glory. It was to be a fine day indeed.

"It's in a relatively close proximity to Imperial Space. There is a danger they too will want to annex the planet."

Kal Shora nodded, absently.

"It is possible. We could only count on unimpeded expansion for so long... eventually we knew that we would encounter opposition."

Shran Badaar looked at the visage, plan outlined so expertly... so close to completion... and knew the answer before he even asked the question.

"And if I am to encounter opposition?"

Kal Shora knew that Badaar had no doubts about his mission. But his mission was to give his purpose an absolute clarity... and leave no further question.

"Then may whatever god they believe in, have mercy on their souls."

And Shran Badaar nodded.

He had a feeling there was no mercy to be had.

***

"...and if Borleas deign it wise that we do battle today, then do battle we shall. And if we are to die today, then we shall not cower from our fate. We die in his honor; our blood lost in his name, in pooling is his glory, the river is his strength. What we are we owe to him... and when we die we go to him. Always believe this.

Faz'ro'shan.

And make sure you do not fall alone."

Shran Badaar stepped down. As was customary, one of his men stepped forward.

"Entaro Badaar!"

Shran Badaar spun on his heels, facing the man with eyes aglow.

"Not today. Cry; Entaro Shora! For it is his will I carry just as it is Borleas' will that guides Kal Shora on this day! I serve as but a tool of my master, our master, Borleas Quayver. So do not salute me."

He paused, allowing a moment of uneasy tension to break across the men, before washing it away as only he could.

"No, men, you may save your salutes to me until after we have won."

There came then an exuberant shout... anticipation put aside momentarily as the ship's crew savored one final moment of singular camaraderie before the coming war.

"Entaro Shora! Met're'kai Dominion! Met're'kai Shran Badaar!"

Shran Badaar would have smiled, had he a mouth.

"We shall see."

He made a brisk signal with his hand, and the crew rushed to take their station. In moments, everyone was in place aboard the ship's dark bridge, and Shran had taken his rightful spot in the Judicator's Chair, eyes locked on the space ahead.

"Open a conduit... we are going to Nam Chorios."

***

The Badaar’Do’Sho’F’aan was quite the sight to behold. One of the new Ador-class light cruisers, it was given to Shran Badaar as a gift in honor of his expemplery service at Dameo and Vladet. His old flagship, the Sep'Ta'Fw'shen, was not forgotten, joining the newer vessel in an uneven circle, pushing away from a planetary orbit under normal power.

Pulling up the rear was an impressive sight to behold. A full formation of heavy cruisers broke orbit, two Cree’Ar shield ships trailing behind a full dozen Mer’a cruisers. The absolutely massive Parrow Lin warships staggered along, both the heavy cruiser and the larger battleships present and accounted for. A late addition, two dozen Assault Ships broke from the atmosphere of the planet, engaging their cloak and shimmering into invisibility beyond the heavy cruisers…

The final piece of any fleet, the Arbiter, arrived fashionably late. But once it was in position it did not take too much time to open a conduit, through which a full 2 Cree’Ar attack fleets began hurtling towards Nam Chorios…

Nam Chorios

The fleet belonging to the Loronar Corporation appeared ready for battle. The swarms of needle fighters awaited for only the word from the controllers to engage the Imperial ships once they arrived.

Then, it happened. Screens flashed and alarms blared onboard the Emancipator as Imperial ship after Imperial ship appeared on the sensor displays. When the alarms ceased, over one hundred Imperial ships, warships to the front, tenders to the rear, had appeared in the system. The Loronar Commander breathed heavily then, expecting a fleet of perhaps only half sized, not sure anymore whether or not he could win. He hesistated then, and then ordered the CIC Needle Fighters into action.

In the meantime, the Imperial fleet formed up according to their taskforces. Fighters were launched, shields raised, weapons held at the ready, and sensors swept the system.

"Sir, enemy battleships in orbit around the planet. I make a count of thirty ships total." sang out the sensors officer.

"Enforce jamming on all frequencies except on local 235 and 245. Fighter squadrons are to not exceed the formation, repeat, not exceed the formation. Bring up the Rapier and Fire Gunships to the front lines. Their anti-starfighter guns will be the front line to needle swarms that we are expecting. All taskforces, move ahead, one quarter speed." ordered the Commodore.

The Imperial fleet headed torwards the planet, and awaited the eventual deployment of the CIC Needle Squadrons.