Chapter 1 Submission
SUBMITTED BY: LT Antillies / Aurek Leader / ISD Chimaera /
Imperial Navy
HOLONET REGISTRATION: <emperorfrecks@aim.com>
SUBMITTED ON: 2008.05.16
Lieutenant Ramius
Antillies sat in his command chair on the bridge of
the Imperial frigate Chinook and looked out into the tunnel of blue and
white. His elbows rested on the arms of his chair and his fingers were laced together,
save his index fingers which rested against the ridge of his nose. His usually
wavy red hair was subdued underneath his cap and his eyes were locked on the viewport.
A console beeped and Sub-lieutenant Wilson popped his head above the
cluster of computers.
“Sir, one minute until we exit hyperspace,”
Ramius inclined his head.
“Pass the stand-to for reversion, Lieutenant.”
“Aye, Sir.”
The only other officer on the main bridge was a green Ensign, Miles Fox was his name, who had just graduated from
the Academy two or some weeks prior before being posted on the Chinook. Ramius didn’t complain; he was in desperate need of men,
especially officers. The ship was being run by a skeleton crew and his two
officers and he had been working double shifts lately, not good when a battle
of somewhat large proportions was brewing.
“Ten seconds, Sir,”
The blue tunnel of hyperspace faded back into the black darkness of
space with a whine of the faster-than-light engines.
The Chinook’s bow dipped downward, revealing a gigantic space
station inside of a ring of more than a dozen defense
platforms. Flanking the station were two very old Acclamator-class
assault frigates. Ramius was shocked that such ships
from the days of the
As the Chinook moved closer to the station, the sleek, white
hull of a Star Destroyer slid from behind the station’s bulk. It was of the Victory-class,
much smaller than her Imperial cousins but still more than match for
anything the rebels were capable of sending their way.
The communication’s console pinged and Ensign Fox moved to it.
“We are receiving a hail from the Victory Star Destroyer Striker,
Sir,” Fox said.
“Thank you, Ensign, route it to the portside holo
projector.”
“Yes, Sir.”
With a great effort and a grunt, Ramius
lifted his body out of his chair and walked slowly to the left side of the crew
pit. He reached the projector and hit a couple of buttons in succession, making
the image of the Striker’s captain flicker to life. Ramius
snapped to attention and saluted, his body reminding him of how tired he was.
Line Captain Calder returned the salute and said “At ease, Lieutenant.”
Ramius complied and the
captain continued: “We will begin the assault on the Rebel fortifications
momentarily. The Imperial Star Destroyer Nemesis has taken a portion of
the fleet and is attempting to capture a mining facility at the top of this
sector.”
The blue image flicked for a moment but then steadied.
“You will follow us in and act as the rear guard. The Rebels have been
using Corvettes to outflank our battle groups of late and inflicting damage
upon the aft portion of our vessels and, in some cases, damaging their
sub-light drives. You must prevent such actions. The Vice Admiral has seen to
this operation personally, Lieutenant, I don’t want any slip ups.”
“I understand, Sir,” Ramius said.
“Good, we are relaying the coordinates and attack plans into your nav computer now,” The captain’s image flickered and
disappeared.
Ramius strode back to his
command chair and sat down, his senses fully alert now that adrenaline was
running through his veins.
“Ensign, bring us on the heading given to us,” Ramius
said.
“Aye, bringing the ship to 1-2 mark 4.”
“Very good, match speed with the Striker and prime all cannons.”
“Aye, Sir. Weapons primed and green.”
“Lieutenant, status report on the shields.”
“Shields are one-hundred percent and holding,”
Ramius nodded in
satisfaction. The toiling hours of work had not been for nothing; the Chinook
was ready for battle.
The defense platforms could be seen from the
side viewports as the Chinook glided past. The
two Acclamators were on both sides of the frigate and
slightly ahead, holding the outermost position in their attack formation. Ramius tapped a button on his command chair and tuned into
the encrypted command channel they were using.
“All craft, prepare to engage the enemy. We count thirty Rebel
fighters and two supporting frigates. Launch your fighters and prepare to
engage.”
Ramius smiled; the Rebel snubfighters would be no match against the TIE Interceptors
the Striker had been just recently equipped with. Serves them right,
scum, Ramius thought.
“Sir!” Fox’s voice was
filled with excitement and a touch of fear. “Two Rebel
Corvettes have appeared on our scopes!”
“Right. Ensign, have the TACCOM plot us a firing solution,” Ramius noticed that Fox was jittering slightly. He added,
“Calmly, Ensign.”
A few seconds passed before Fox said, “Firing solution complete, Sir.”
"Comply with it and prepare to fire all guns,” Ramius
said, his heart racing a little faster now.
The two Corvettes, not expecting such staunch resistance that had not
been evident in their previous quarry, hesitated and stopped accelerating in
their wide arcs. That was all Ramius needed.
“Fire!”
The deck shuddered as the Chinook’s guns discharged a broadside
of magnificent green energy bolts into the first Corvette. The Corvette’s
shields shimmered, seemed to steady, but than buckled and several lances of
energy punctured the ship’s hull. It began to vent oxygen and small dark
objects, which Ramius assumed to be bodies, from
multiple decks and into space.
“Bring us around, Ensign. Prepare a second broadside!” Ramius bellowed.
The Chinook swept in an arc and again let lance after lance of
pure energy drive themselves into the Corvette’s hull. The ship shuddered and
snapped in half, the strain being too much for the durasteel
support beams.
The sister Corvette seemed stunned at the loss of her sibling and
stood, gaping. Fools.
Fox was learning and brought the ship so the Blockade Runner was in
their sights. Ramius opened his mouth to order the
guns to fire but was stunned into silence.
The white wedges of two Imperial Star Destroyers reverted from
hyperspace directly behind the Corvette. The Corvette’s captain, obviously
panicking, order the engines to a full burn and tried to escape; it was his
only and last attempt.
The Star Destroyers unleashed concentrated volleys of emerald turbolaser fire onto the Corvette and shattered it, sending
debris in every direction. Ramius couldn’t help but
gape; such a magnificent show of firepower made him feel that he had chosen the
right side to fight for indeed.