Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Wookiee governement was more than happy to negotiate with the Loyalists once the four corvettes and two freighters turned up with the former slaves. The furred bipedals had proven to be excellant mechanics and fast learners, and both ships were up and running with minimal crew in two short hours. A dozen more, and they were back at their homeworld.

As agreed, according to the warrant, the wookiee representative allowed the crews to land for some refueling and supplying, and were awarded their bounty. The leader of the entourage, Malboro, grumbled warmly.

The protocol droid at Detre's side translated the statement. The noghri replied, "You're welcome. We could do no lessss than in ssssaving them."

Several of the other wookiees growled in reply.

Detre nodded, but posed a question. "The Trandosssshanssss are active lately. Any idea why?"

Malboro replied.

"We could find out why and how. We have reliable intel from the Bothanssss and Mandalorianssss, as well asss the Huttssss we could interogate."

the wookiee rumbled.

Detre nodded, and turned away from the leaving wookiees torward his ship's captain. "Where to next?" the human asked.

"Nal Hutta," Detre answered. "The Hutts should know who isss behind the sssslavery. We will destroy it at its root, and ssssecure asss our alliesss the wookieessss and Huttsss, once we pleasse both partiess."

Blood, fire, the screams of the dying, the roar of some diabolical machine, the stink of burning flesh and the tang of discharged blasters. Above it all, he heard the fiendish hiss of some breathing apparatus.

All of it hit Link like a thunderbolt. He froze, his sandwich dropping from his hand to his tray.
“Something has happened. Something dreadful.” He muttered in wide eyed shock.

A sudden hard tap on the head brought him back to focus.
“Knock it off, human! Everyone’s looking!” Reido snapped in a hushed tone. The Rodian tilted his head slightly, his pitch black, multi-facited eyes catching the surrounding restaraunt patrons without even turning to face them. Everyone who met the Rodian’s eyes averted their own gaze and went back to their food. Those who didn’t noticed that one of his long fingers was tapping meaningfully against the holstered blaster pistol at his side.

Satisfied that he had averted everyone’s attention, Reido redirected his focus to Link.
He said, slipping into Huttese.

Link tipped his hat lower over his eyes and took his sandwich up again, acting as though nothing had happened. It had been a day since his memories had come back to haunt him. Their ship was refuling on a Bandomeer landing pad and the two were eating a cheep filling meal at a nearby Biscuit Baron.
Link stated. He took a bite of his Bantha Breakfast Biscuit and chewed thoughtfully.

Reido took a brief sip of his malt and tapped the table.

Link finished chewing before answering.

And He will be there. Link thought to himself. He probably is behind the whole affair.

The Rodian remarked. He spat on his Bantha Biscuit and then slurped up some of it as his powerful saliva broke down the food. The mush made its way to the Rodian’s back teeth where he chewed it more thoroughly before swallowing.

The Rodian said.
Link thought about that a moment, wondering at yet another odd turn of events.


So close to Imperial Space, perhaps my ancestor intended to have his enemies guard his treasure…Or would that be giving him too much credit?
Link said, standing up from his chair.
The Rodian stood as well and shrugged his flight jacket onto his shoulders.

Link gave him a dour look. “Is there anyone whom you don’t have some ill opinion of?” Link said, slipping back into basic as the two walked for the door, passing a pair of Nikto on their way out.
“Ewoks.” Reido declared confidently.
Link was impressed. “Oh really? Because they are an intriguing people with a rich culture and a deep respect for the environment?”
Reido gave an odd alien chuckle. “No. Because they’re tasty and they make funny noises when you shoot ‘em.”

And just as quickly as it was raised, Link’s impression of the Rodian dropped down again.
“How did you ever become a Ranger?”
“They lowered their expectations.” The Rodian said with another chuckle.
“Ah. Much is explained.”

All around him, Zanatos began witnessing the effects of the Storm Commandos. A smile crept upon his face, but as he swung to open fire on his teammate, a blasterbolt caught him.

The smoldering remains of him was left with the patrol that had just been decimated.


~~~~


On board the Pillar's Bridge, Veers watched alongside Ferno as shuttles shot straight at the planet in front of them.

"Keep out of the direct line of sight of that Ion cannon. It is unlikely that reinforcements should arrive, but the Pillar is not a small target and packs enough of a whallop to make it a valuable asset." HM stated.

Freya frowned to Haldir. "Like, what the kark is totally going on?" she said in a tone of annoyance.

It had been nearly an hour since the alert. Archaras felt the detonation rock through the base. One of his staff, Lt. Corwin shouted "Emitters Alpha and Beta are gone! Charlie is holding, barely!" The Echani swept up calling "Execute Plan Delta Tango Seven, ready all defenses, All Squadrons up."

The orders began to relay through the nets. Archaras brought up a list on his datalink.

"Give me the 1st Lancers and the 25th Alliance Guard. Everyone else to withdraw." The Echani intoned.

He signaled a Battalion of Rangers to defend the third Emitter. They swept up out of tunnels, and within a moment, they were dug in, ready to repel an attack from any angle.

Lt. Corwin, one of the Staff Officers looked up at him and said "Sir? So few?"

"They aren't going to overpower us Lieutenant...they're going to try to take us out from above."

There was a pause, and the Echani then added

"Hit those Snipers Lieutenant. Teach them the meaning of pain!"

The Lieutenant nodded and relayed the order.

***

Two Turrets turned, gently, and opened fire. After that all that was left of the Commando Sniper Company were their component atoms.

***

He shouted into the Comm "Group Leader Raal, remove that nuisance from my valley. Those Commandos must be dealt with!"

Suddenly there was a series of chuffs, and ships began to pour from secondary hangars farther into the mountain range. Transports headed spinward of the approaching fleet, and rose into the stars before vanishing into hyperspace. The Yellow Alert had readied everything for an evac. should it be necessary, and this time it was. Nonessential personnel were loaded, components stripped.

He turned and then opened a channel to Freya and the others "All of you. You are leaving now. The GLF cannot afford your capture. Get out before that fleet is fully deployed. Go."

***

As the battle with the Commandos raged, Squadrons of Fighters rose, ready in CAP patterns, while the Fronts Vynocks flew, ready to dive like their namesakes upon any ground troops unfortunate enough to be there.

The Imperials were in for a Fight.

***

Archaras turned, thinking, as ICIS noted "I think they are going to try an Armored Fist, with a Heavy Aerial Assault attempt."

The Echani nodded. He looked, and said to his command staff "Anti Air Defenses on the Ready. If they decide to come at us from the Air, I want them to know the depth of their mistake..."

He then turned back to the unfolding battle, his Helmet display showing shuttles inbound. The Evacuation was preceding quickly, but it was going to be close.

The Colonel turned, and began Barking orders.

Epsilon would not fall easily.

Seraphim would see to that.
***

Major Shirax of the 2nd Front Rangers, Beta Battalion, aimed up, spraying at the wraithlike forms that shimmered from above. A number of Storm Commandoes fell, smoking holes in various positions on their bodies. This Emitter must stay active. He knew that.

The Major crouched, and removed the Beam Rifle from his back. He scoped it in, and the Barabel quietly cycled through his own natural eyesight spectra. A slight shimmer on one of his Radiation spectrum greeted his eyes. That meant only one thing. Then, momentarily, they all shimmered into view.

Then the Rangers, ex-Galactic Alliance Elites, quietly painted them. For a nanosecond a tiny dot appeared on the ground near one of the Storm Commandos. He took a blast to the stomach, and went down.

The Fighters had their coordinates.

The rest held in defense, ready to repulse any attack on the last emitter.

***

"Damage report Lieutenant..." Seraphim asked.

"We lost 2 squadrons of Vynocks. A squadron of light fighters were damaged as well. Our transports and heavier fighters were already out of the way, but the primary Hangar is out of commission" responded the Colonel.

He nodded, and watched the incoming vectors as the Imperial troops entered the atmosphere...

" Alright boys, it's show time. " the Mandalorian said. Suddenly, the Heaven's Fury, while having been maintaining a false sense of being oblivious to the attack, exited orbit, coming down to the planet, its fighters launching just as the battle was in view. Turbolaser and fighter alike hammered anything getting too close to the base. " Remember boys, stay on the defensive. If we try to spread out and attack everything we'll be stretched too thin. Just keep to ensuring our VIPs' safety. " The battlecruiser and its fighters maintained a tight defense line around just the main base where Angel, Freya, and the rest were located.

((Actually no... The Rangers were geared up for an evac. they had all of their weapons with them...and the Tunnels swept around the Shield Generators. The Regiments have to gear up yes, but the Rangers do not...))

With the Ion cannon down, the Pillar had no opposition.

"Take several support craft, and move to this sector" Veers directed. HM looked (even though he could not emulate facial features) puzzled.

"Taking initive again?" HM asked.

"I believe mi'lord has other plans." Veers said, as the Pillar moved away from the rest of the fleet, taking only two other support ships with it.

~~~~

Ferno had left the bridge to find some entertainment on his own. Martialling up his fighter, and a squadron of Fighters, he had already launched from the bay and outwards.

The NICS, neural integrated communication system, allowed for Ferno to fly in a relaxed state, as his wingmen flew by his direction. A hud pointed where each was supposed to be.

Several transports had gotten away before the fleet had arrived. Unfortunately, they now had no defense to escape with. As the first transport came up on sensors, the squadron of fighters blurred right by it, as the Firebolt peppered it with a full blast of ionic energy, incapacitating it. No fighter coverage seen, the ship was a sitting duck for the sith. Several blasts from the fighter's guns damaged the engines, as a quick sweep opened up a gash from bow to aft, preventing any further progress.

Dots came up on the squadron's hud, as they flew on for the next transport attempting to exit the system.