Burning Skies; Imperial Raid on Mustafar 9.302

The sleek battle cruiser drifted through the darkness of space, silhouetted by the moon of the dead planet nearby. Stenciled lettering let the universe know that her name was the Omnipotent, the bringer of doom for many in the past and many more in the future. She dwarfed the dozen bulk cruisers that stood station nearby, yet it was these ships that would be the key to the upcoming operation for which the battle cruiser was slated for the cornerstone of.

Each of the cruisers had been gutted in the Heriston dry-docks and refitted to serve as starfighter carriers; each could hold an entire wing of seventy two fighters. Yet they had cramped quarters for the fighter pilots and no maintenance or repair facilities to speak of, but that wasn't needed as they would be used in the starfighter carrier role for this one mission.

Pirate raids had been on the increase the past year or so, the same pirates that had always caused problems of some sort of another. Yet these pirates had started showing up in newly refitted and upgraded ships and starfighters instead of their old junk. Someone was clearly backing their raids and all indicators pointed to the Rebel Alliance. An influx of patrol craft from Eraidu had helped to counter the problems for a while but then Alliance raiding forces had started hitting the supply lines. Imperial Intelligence Agents flocked to the Sector to try and locate their new base and a dozen false leads had been run down.

Then worlds themselves had started uprisings and their uprisings had proven successful with the aid of Rebel Alliance fleets, often involving powerful Dreadnoughts, Destroyers, and Battleships. Imperial Intelligence finally nailed the location of the Rebel Base; Mustafar. The Alliance had established quite a base there, including orbital shipyards, battlestations, and planetary manufacturing facilities. A large number of Sullustians were present, indicating a possible SoroSuub involvement.

High Admiral Gusted Murdock was the overall commander of the raid, codenamed Dawncrack. Normally the overall commander of Imperial Navy forces in the Atravis Sector he had a vested interest in crushing this Rebel Base. While he felt he didn't have the resources on hand to fully destroy or occupy the enemy's stronghold he did have sufficient forces for a raid to slow them down while reinforcements were shuttled in from neighboring sectors.



On hand to observe the battle was Admiral Park Kraken of the Imperial Navy, on loan from Imperial High Command while his Destroyer was receiving a minor refit at Heriston. He stood on the command deck of the Omnipotent and oversaw the transfers currently taking place while the High Admiral plotted his strategy and viewed the latest updates from Imperial Intelligence and various scouts. They were in orbit above the planet of Gorbah where four fighter bases were located at. Originally a hidden Rebel Base, the planet had been abandoned following the discovery of the fighter bases. The world had been occupied by the Empire and the planet was turned into a depot world, with four full wings of TIE starfighters being based there for training and replenishment purposes.

These twenty four squadrons would fill four of the bulk freighters, the last four to be loaded. A substantial amount of starfighters had already been diverted from other planets and ships, leaving them underequipped in the event of a Rebel attack. One thousand TIE Fighters would be involved in the raid, the older model TIE Fighter that was horribly outclassed by the current Rebel starfighters. Admiral Kraken knew that the High Admiral hoped to counter this problem with overwhelming numbers.

When the transfers were completed, a final briefing was held. An hour later, the fleet entered hyperspace, bound for the Alliance planet of Mustafar.

The Imperial Fleet exited hyperspace well within the Mustafar system in good order. Out ahead of the force stood the menacing presence of the Omnipotent with the dozen bulk cruisers situated behind her in box formation.

High Admiral Cuspen stood with his hands clasped and sighed in pleasure.

"See there Admiraall Krakeen? That is how you bring an attacking force out of hyperspace. As one cohesive unit, not as a bunch of divided groups scattered around the solar system. From this deployment you can decide immediately whether to engage or withdraw in good fashionnn," drawled the High Admiral as he studied the view screens.

"Contact. Contacts as follow; two Golan III Novagun stations, four large shipyards for the major contacts. One Nebulon-B Escort Frigate, three Corellian Corvettes, two Corellian Gunships, five Action type Transports, and about ninety smaller haulers, lifters, and transports scattered through the system," reported the sensors officer.

"Very good Arto, very good. I believe we will proceed with the operation as planned then. Order the cruisers to deploy their fighters then have them proceed to jump into hyperspace for the rendezvous point. Order our own fighters deployed as a screen," ordered Cuspen. Together the twelve bulk cruisers deployed roughly eight hundred fifty plus TIE starfighters that would advance ahead of the main force and engage any Rebel starfighters and smaller craft while another one hundred fifty or so TIE starfighters would screen the Omnipotent herself as she proceeded towards the orbital shipyards.



"Rebel starfighters deploying from the planet and two orbital battlestations. I count three squadrons launched from the planet plus six squadrons from each of the Novagun stations. An additional two squadrons from the Escort Frigate, plus a flight each from the Corvettes. Total count is two hundred sixteen starfighters. Types vary between A-wing, B-wing, and X-wing according to sensor profiles," reported the sensors officer Arto.

"Six squadrons from each of the Golan III's? Their normal complement is one squadron apiece. Sensors bring up the stations on screen and magnify at once!" ordered the High Admiral.

The picture displayed show a heavily modified Golan III. Substantial structure was added below the main decks, including what was plainly additional hangar capacity. On the bottom of the station was also what appeared to be a stripped down version of a planetary weapons system.



"Very nasty looking and our first surprise for the day. I think we'll try to avoid engaging those stations if at all possible, no telling what other upgrades they may have in store for us. Time to starfighter engagement?" asked the High Admiral.

"Five minutes at current speeds," replied Arto.

Cuspen steepled his fingers as he watched the view screens and waited. Admiral Kraken knew what was coming and fisted his gloved hands, knowing that a substantial number of TIE Fighter pilots would soon be dead, but hopefully with many Rebel pilots joining them.

Nearby, in the Hydian Way

A checkpoint had been established close to Mustafar in the portion of the Hydian Way running through the Atravis Sector. A CC-7700/E Gravity Well Frigate on loan from 1st Fleet was pulling the ships out of hyperspace while a powerful Task Force was stopping and inspecting anything that was pulled out, including Imperial forces. The score for the daylong operation included three Carrack class Light Cruisers and six IPV-1 Systems Patrol Craft that they had been ferrying from one perimeter outpost back to the sector capital of Atravis and several other small Imperial ships.

Admiral Phoenix was on the bridge of the Renown when the distress call came through. Her communications officer leaned forward while touching her ear piece. His voice became pitched and excited. Anne had just stood to walk over to his station to see what was going on when he stood and turned to face her.

"Admiral, Mustafar Command reports they are under Imperial Attack. One Praetor Mark II Star Battlecruiser and twelve Bulk Cruisers," reported the communications officer.

"Bulk Cruisers? And a Praetor Mk II? Is it the Omnipotent?" asked Anne, demanding to know details.

"Hold on, I'm receiving updated information....the Bulk Cruisers have deployed TIE Fighters and jumped into hyperspace. New information puts the attacking force at the Praetor Mk II which is confirmed to be the Omnipotent plus approximately a thousand TIE Starfighters," updated the sensors officer.

"A thousand fighters eh? Sounds like a Hast style operation but with a big bad Star Battlecruiser along for the ride as well. All right, I'll leave a portion of the Task Force here to continue operations but I'll be taking the Renown, Gigantes, and Courageous along with me to Mustafar to provide backup. Between our squadrons and theirs we should be able to take out their fighter support then TRD the Omnipotent, assuming the Battlestations don't put her down first," ordered Admiral Phoenix.

A Providence class Destroyer, a Bulwark class Battleship, and a Lucrehulk class Carrier broke off from the main force and proceeded into hyperspace, leaving behind the gravity well frigate, another Bulwark class Battleship, and a Vindertan class Dreadnought.

Each Battlestation paid host to seventy two Mark II A-wings armed with rotating laser cannons and concussion missile launchers. At top speed these nearly one hundred fifty fast and sleek starfighters barreled into the Imperial TIE Fighters, firing concussion missiles and firing their cycling laser cannons as fast as possible. While many of the TIE pilots had been trained well enough to dodge, many were new recruits with little flying time and even less battle training time.

Explosions lit up the backdrop to the planet as the crew of the Omnipotent watched in both awe and dismay. The A-wings continued through the mass until they reached the end before they turned around and broke into smaller individual wing pairs to dogfight. More explosions lit up with fighters out of control burning and debris littering the sensor screens which offered more confusion. A sensor officer took a moment to compile some of the latest data before turning around to report.

"Ninety six TIE Fighters and twenty three A-wings confirmed destroyed so far High Admiral. The losses among the A-wings continue to grow in rate as the dogfight continues," reported Arto.

"Ahhh very good. When will the other fighter groups reach the engagement area?" asked the High Admiral.

"The X-wings have slowed to let the B-wings catch up. Those six squadrons will reach the engagement area in about another two minutes," Arto replied.

"Veary good. Admiralll Kraken what do you make of the engagement thus far?" asked the High Admiral.

"Very textbook from what I've seen. What about the B-wings in the second force...what will you do about them?" asked Kraken out of curiosity.

"Those B-wings do represent a significant threat to the safety of the flagship but fortunately there are only three squadrons of them. I'll order the screen to advance and pounce on them as soon as the survivors break through the general melee area. The only question in my mind is whether or not they'll try to break through the X-wings with the B-wings as an escort or let the X-wings mix it up with the A-wings and TIEs?" wondered the High Admiral.

"High Admiral, all three types of Rebel Fighters are equipped with either torpedoes or missiles. All three could be a potential threat to the Omnipotent," warned Kraken, but it went unheeded.

"Warn of TRD all you want Admiralll but I'm confident our nine hundred or so remaining Fighters will get the job done. I know you may be a bit TRD-shy after losing a Destroyer at Sullust to those Reb Fighters but that more to do with division of forces on your part than anything else," offered up the High Admiral by way of harsh criticism.

"Current loss tallies stand at one hundred fifty six TIE Fighters and forty four A-wings. B-wings and X-wings about to engage," Arto interjected into the argument.

"Thank you Arto. Now then Kraken, let's see how the Rebs treat this engagement," jeered the High Admiral, turning his attention back to the view screens. Seething, Admiral Kraken joined him in watching the screens.

"Starfighter Command to Red and Blue Wings," came the voice over the command channels of the A-wings mixing it up with the TIE Fighters.

"Red Wing Leader responding," came a mid-aged male voice.

"Blue Wing Leader Three responding," replied a young-aged female voice.

"Time to arrival of X-wing and B-wing reinforcements is thirty seconds. You are tasked to disengage from primary TIE Fighter force and accelerate to engage TIE Fighters screening Target Big Bone over," the General ordered.

"Roger, disengaging now," responded two voices as one.

"Starfighter Command to Crimson and Starstreak wings over," the General said next.

"Crimson responding."

"Starstreak acknowledges."

"After plowing through the main force you are to swing about and engage the primary TIE Force. Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to engage Target Big Bone over," ordered the General.

"Roger," two more voices rang out.

The B-wing pilots were left puzzled by the orders but hoped Command knew what it was doing. Their fighters were made to attack capital ships, not mix it up with outdated TIE Fighters.

With salvoes of proton torpedoes, laser cannons, and ion cannon fire an additional seventy two fighters ploughed into the fur ball.

"Well now this is interesting," commented the High Admiral as they watched the starfighter engagement. Just as the B-wings and X-wings were about to arrive all of the A-wings suddenly disengaged and headed for the advancing screening force and taking higher casualties they had been up until now.

With a start Park realized what was happening as about half of the TIE Fighters from the primary force turned in their wake to pursue.

"High Admiral, I would suggest that you order the TIE Fighters in the main force to turn back and concentrate on the B-wings and X-wings," advised Admiral Kraken with due urgency.

"Admirallll I thought I already told you not to get your knickars in a twist over the threat from the B-wings. The five hundred or so TIE Fighters about to mix it up with them will be more than enough to defeat them," replied the High Admiral with confidence.

"I'm not talking about TRD. If those X-wings and B-wings break straight through the five hundred TIEs they'll be able to take a free shot at the backside of those TIEs pursuing the disengaging A-wings," argued Admiral Kraken.

The High Admiral took a moment to study the display screens before nodding in agreement.

"Good idea. Commander Grafteen, get the orders out immediately," ordered the High Admiral.

"Too late," said the sensors officer.

Both Admirals watched the display screens in dismay.

The B-wings and X-wings danced and dodged their way through the first Fighter force, inflicting casualties with torpedoes and laser cannons but not turning to engage after breaking through. Rather a second torpedo salvo was launched followed by laser fire at the backside of the TIE Fighters pursuing the A-wings. Many of these were flown by the newer and less experienced recruits that not only didn't know they couldn't catch the A-wings in their older Fighters but also didn't know much about dodging.

A staggering series of explosions lit up the starscape ahead of the Omnipotent as two hundred TIE Fighter pilots met their deaths at roughly the same time.

"Pincer movement," spoke Admiral Kraken aloud as he studied the display screens.

"Ehhh? Ahhh, I see what you mean. Yes indeed Commander, have the primary Fighter force unite with the screening force. Those Reb Fighters might be united now but they're positioned between a hammer and an anvil and will soon be crushed," ordered the High Admiral with excitement.

Leaving the High Admiral to his boastings of impending victory to raise the moral of the crew, Admiral Kraken walked over to some of the various display screens to see what was going on right at the moment.

They had advanced well into the planetary system and would soon be approaching the outer orbit of Mustafar. Battle debris from Starfighters destroyed earlier in the engagement was now pinging off the shields of the Star Battlecruiser. The four shipyards and two battlestations loomed tempting in the orbit, while the few smaller capital ships and freighters had fled to the far side of the planet. Admiral Kraken took a keen interest in how none of the freighters appeared to have fled into hyperspace. Had they not witnessed or heard of what happened at Sullust a few months ago?

"Admirallll Kraken, see anything interesting?" asked the High Admiral after sneaking up right behind him. Kraken jumped slightly, causing the bridge crew to roar in laughter.

"Just looking and remembering," replied Kraken.

"Yes, remembering how much sheet you'd gotten yoursalf into by about this time over Sullust. Well we've had some surprises of our own but we still hold the advantage on the field," teased the High Admiral.

Kraken hid a sneer for the man behind a thin lipped smile. He'd read much about the High Admiral and knew that he'd won most of his promotions from suppressing the Atravis Sector, launching bombardments against civilian cities and bombing houses and homes. An excellent effort to root out dissent but of little use in a real battle as Park was now beginning to see. The question is, would the High Admiral see it too and lean on Admiral Kraken for a little useful advice if it's needed?

Starlines shrank into pinpoints and the deck shuddered slightly as the Renown exited hyperspace well within the Mustafar star system. Alarm klaxons blared as enemy vessels were identified and assessed by the advanced sensors system built into the reborn destroyer. Anne was excited at the prospect of testing her still new flagship in battle but knew it would have to wait after glancing at the sensor screen. Anne pulled up her private display from the armchair holovid.

'Threat assessment;'

'One Praetor Mark II Star Battlecruiser - ID Omnipotent'

'Six hundred fifty three TIE Fighters'

'Friendlies assessment,'

'Two Type IIIa Golan Novagun Battlestations - ID Scharnhorst, Gnesenaiu'

'One Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - ID Admiral Ackbar'

'Three Corellian Corvettes - ID Sword, Shield, Hammer'

'Four Corellian Gunships - ID Courage, Glory, Pride, Just'

'One Hundred Fifty Starfighters - ID ninety nine A-wings, twenty eight B-wings, and twenty three X-wings'

'End assessment'

'Hmmm, out of their normal complement that would be sixty six Alliance starfighters lost in exchange for about three hundred fifty TIE Fighters or roughly a five to one kill ratio. Not bad but not good either considering they were outnumbered five to one to begin with. Well, now that we're here we can change that equation,' Anne thought to herself.

"All starfighters are to deploy immediately and head for the primary engagement. All starfighters are ordered to assist forces with elimination of enemy TIE Fighters. Target designate Big Bone is off limits until all enemy TIE Fighters are eliminated," ordered Admiral Phoenix.

X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings, and B-wings began swarming out of the hangar bays of the Renown, Gigantes, and Courageous. Between the three ships alone three hundred sixty fresh starfighters would be added to the equation. Anne just hoped it would be enough for both the enemy TIE threat and the threat after posed by the Omnipotent.

"High Admiral! Enemy ships decanting from hyperspace on our starboard flank. ID's are coming in now; we have one confirmed Lucrehulk class Battleship, one Bulwark class Battleship, and one Providence class Destroyer. Memory banks have hits on all three; Courageous, Gigantes, and Renown," Arto exclaimed as alarm klaxons blared on the bridge.

"Are the targets deploying any starfighters?" asked the High Admiral in sudden dismay.

"Yes sir, I'm now picking up starfighter signals from all three ships. X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings, and B-wings from sensor profiles. Count is up to eighty and still climbing rapidly," Arto replied.

"Well now that changes the equation wouldn't you say Admiraall?" asked the High Admiral.

A memory surfaced then in Park's mind, a report encountered during the endless shuffling of paperwork on Imperial Center. One was an old report concerning a Lucrehulk named the Fortressa that had launched five hundred X-wings at the Death Star before being destroyed by the super laser from the battlestation. Another concerned more recent sightings and battles involving these tough ships with large complements of starfighters and laser batteries.

"Arto, are any of the three Rebel ships powering up weapons?" asked Admiral Kraken.

"Yes sir, I'm detecting weapons powering up on all three ships," replied Arto.

"What are the threat assessments on all three ships? Any different from their normal profiles?" asked Kraken.

"Well sir I'll go ahead and run the assessments and see," replied Arto as he bent over and got to work.

"What are you thinking there Kraken?" asked the High Admiral with suspicion on his voice.

"Well sir we know those Golans over there have been heavily modified and that some of our line ships have been bested in combat with some of these ancient ships that they would've easily bested if they had been deployed according to their original configuration. What if all three combined were capable of equaling us in firepower?" asked Admiral Kraken.

"I see. Well Arto, what does the assessments say?" asked the High Admiral.

"It seems Admiral Kraken was correct. The Renown is listed as two Imperial Mark II Star Destroyers, the Gigantes the same and the Courageous as one Mark II for threat assessments," reported Arto with a sweat drop on his brow.

"Well I'll be Sithed; it appears the Admiralllll is on to something. Going up against five Mk II Imperators at once doesn't sound too inviting. I think we'll stay as far away from that group as possible. Good thing we're between the planet and that force; we can have our leisure in demolishing those shipyards," growled the High Admiral confidently.

"Aren't you forgetting something, High Admiral?" asked Admiral Kraken politely.

"And what would that be Admiraall?" asked the High Admiral.

"Their starfighter reinforcements. They have as of last count three hundred sixty additional incoming fighters most likely with rested pilots and full armament load outs. With one hundred fifty remaining Reb pilots versus six hundred fifty TIE Fighters the outcome doesn't look good for our screen which will leave just the Omnipotent to fend off attacks from those capital ships, battlestations, and any remaining Rebel Starfighters plus any other surprises they have in store for us," explained Admiral Kraken patiently.

"It still sounds like you're fretting over TRD Admiralllll," doubted the High Admiral.

"As formidable as the Omnipotent is, she isn't invincible. I know we haven't seen the rest of their fleet stationed here as it with reports from Intelligence, other sources, and battle survivors. When those forces come in they too should have starfighters fully armed and rested," argued Admiral Kraken.

"In case you forgot Admiraall we still have that enemy Taskforce behind us. We can't very well go backwards and withdraw now can we?" asked the High Admiral sarcastically.

"So we withdraw forward instead," proposed Admiral Kraken.

"I presume a single firing run at the planet is what you mean?" asked the High Admiral.

"Yes. Hit one or two of their shipyards if possible and initiate some planetary bombardment. Slingshot out of their gravity well and enter hyperspace. Any remaining starfighters of ours can either be recovered just after our firing run or by the bulk cruisers in an outer system rendezvous," said Admiral Kraken.

"Well, I can't see any alternative right at the moment. Your plan Admiraall, you give the orders," said the High Admiral, gesturing to the bridge crew.

Admiral Kraken knew he was being set up for the responsibility of whatever happens from then on, with the High Admiral already knowing he was in potential trouble for how his plan was turning out. Admiral Kraken knew it could turn out badly for him but doing nothing was sure to result in his death or capture. Neither one was what he preferred right here and now as he opened his mouth to issue orders, his role as only an observer now officially over.

"Do it."

Admiral Phoenix watched as the Omnipotent began to accelerate, heading away from her Task Group behind it and towards the planet and stations orbiting it. She turned from the battle to ask her chief navigator a question.

"Navigator, on her current course and speed, what will the Omnipotent threaten the most?" Anne asked.

"According to the computer's calculations, she'll come closest to Anton and Scharnhorst in addition to the planet itself," answered the navigator.

"Damn. Well, hopefully Scharnhorst can take her out or disable her. If not we may have to task some starfighters to attack the Battlecruiser and risk losing them over losing a shipyard and her workers," Anne thought out loud.

"Our squadrons are engaging the enemy Fighters now ma'am," spoke up the sensors officer.

One hundred forty four A-wings barreled into the fight with laser cannons blazing and missile launchers spraying out their deadly cargo. TIE Fighters that had been involved in dogfights suddenly exploded as others wheeled out of control heavily damaged. Behind them came a similar number of X-wings with their own laser cannons and torpedo launchers and more TIE Fighters exploded. Finally came the B-wings and the Y-wings at thirty six apiece, climbing and diving as they weaved through the engagements.

"Sensors, give me an update on the starfighter situation," ordered Admiral Phoenix.

"Yes Admiral. Current count shows three hundred sixty four TIE Fighters active versus four hundred eighty Alliance starfighters active. Looks like we now have them outnumbered Admiral," reported the sensors officer. Some light cheering broke out on the bridge at the good news but Anne waved them down with her right hand.

"Let's not forget people, we still have one big bad Battlecruiser to deal with, plus the remaining TIEs will either be the experienced veterans or the rookies who've learned to dodge and fight by now. This battle isn't over yet," she shouted to her crew members.

'But, if Scharnhorst can handle the Omnipotent and save Anton, then this might not only win us the battle, it just might win us the campaign,' Anne thought with a small grin.

"Enemy modified Golan III Battlestation coming up dead ahead High Admiral. Enemy modified Type 3 Shipyard coming up to our port side," updated Arto as they approached the outer orbit of Mustafar.

"Thank you for your efforts on our behalf Admiralllll Kraken but I think I can handle it from here. Bring all weaponry to bear on that enemy shipyard while all remaining weaponry will target the Golan station. Guns commence firing as they come into range," ordered the High Admiral, reassuming command of the Omnipotent.

Green turbolaser and blue ion cannon fire shot out from the Omnipotent at the enemy shipyard. Stepping back from the command seat Kraken brought up an enhanced display of the enemy shipyard. Judging from the frameworks he saw there he estimated that about forty DP20 Gunships and fifty or so Gallofree type freighters were under construction there. The shipyard workers would've already been evacuated to shield and armored hull zones reserved for hostile attacks but that wouldn't save them if they took a series of direct hits.

One such zone did take a direct hit, judging from the spilling of flailing bodies after a tough looking area took a turbolaser blast. The flailing stopped as the objects froze, bringing a small smile to Kraken's lips. Other turbolaser strikes destroyed some of the frame worked gunships or hulls of a few of the Gallofree transports. Then they were moving past the shipyard and coming into range for the enemy Golan station.

The Commander of the Battlestation Scharnhorst looked up from the display screen to the viewport as the Omnipotent drew closer to the station. Right now he was feeling a mix of both anticipation and worry. This would be a big combat debut for his station and it may very well be the station's last. Knowing the capabilities of Scharnhorst though, the Commander was sure everything would be fine as long as nothing went haywire with the station's systems.

"Sir, the ion cannon is locked on target," spoke up the chief gunnery officer.

"All right let's give her a taste of our might. Order the cannon to open fire," ordered the Commander.

"Yes sir! Ion Cannon commencing firing in three...," the gunnery chief began the countdown.

On the bottom of the station the heart and guts of a KDY-150 Planetary Ion Cannon which was now wrapped in a protective space gun mount had been trained on the approaching Praetor-II Star Battlecruiser for a while now. Upon receiving the order to fire from the station's bridge the ion cannon heaved twice and shot out two masses of ion bolts. The first one struck the Battlecruiser's bow and danced across her hull, the second smashing fifty meters aft of the first shot.

The effect was instantaneous as weaponry stopped working and shield projectors were shut down, leaving the hull of the Battlecruiser's bow open to attack.

"All remaining weapons may open fire at will," ordered the Commander after seeing the hits and their effects.

About thirty Turbolaser Batteries that could bear on the Battlecruiser opened fire on her exposed bow while Proton Torpedo launchers spat out their deadly warheads. The Battlecruiser blasted back at the station with her own turbolasers and ion cannons but had little effect other than disabling some of the station's own armaments.

"Keep it up keep it up," the Commander half muttered as the shields began to glow slightly under the Battlecruiser's bombardment. Another pair of shots from the '-150 struck the Battlecruiser amidships, disabling more of her weaponry and taking down another portion of her shields.

Shocked and dismayed voices echoed through the bridge as the enemy battlestation had opened fire with what was now known to be a KDY-150 Planetary Ion Cannon. Four shots had struck the Battlecruiser already and disabled all of her forward shields plus a quarter of her armaments.

"Fire fire fire! Keeping firing until that space station is dead! Sensors, why aren't we penetrating through her shields?" the High Admiral almost screamed in question.

"Sir, I'm reading two strong power sources emanating from the station. They must've installed a second reactor to power her ion cannon and strengthen her shields sir!" Arto almost screamed back in response.

"High Admiral, if I may?" asked Kraken calmly and politely.

"If you have an idea then by all means!" the High Admiral exclaimed as he began to calm down.

"Guns, concentrate all ion cannon fire on the KDY Turret. If we can't penetrate the station's shields then we can at least knock out their ability to disable ours," ordered Admiral Kraken.

"Yes yes Guns do it immediately!" reinforced the High Admiral.

All the remaining operational Ion Cannons that could be brought to bear, about thirty eight total, opened fire on the KDY mounted on the bottom of the enemy battlestation. Some of the shots missed but most connected, blue arcs of electricity playing over the weapon. The barrel stopped rotating to track the passing Omnipotent and a second or two passed before the next estimated firing time came and went without the cannon firing again.

"Success!" the High Admiral cheered along with the crew. At that moment, several turbolaser strikes from the Omnipotent finally broke through a portion of the station's shields and struck her hull, destroying a couple of turbolaser mounts.

Then the Omnipotent was past the battlestation and accelerating away from the planet while heading into outer space.

"Prepare to recall all starfighters while plotting a jump to lightspeed," ordered the High Admiral calmly, having finally regained his composure.

"High Admiral, another suggestion if I may?" Kraken asked again.

"Yes, Admiralllll?" asked the High Admiral in turn, returning to his sarcastic ways of treating the observer.

"Recalling all of our starfighters at once will not only expose them to easy shot from the Alliance starfighters but will also expose our hangars to enemy missile and torpedo attacks. I suggest recalling half now, then using our weaponry as a flak barrage to cover the rest after the first half are recovered," suggested Kraken.

"Your idea has merit, but I have a better proposal. Sensors, how many of our original complement remain operational versus all our TIE Fighters remaining operational?" asked the High Admiral.

"Fifty two of our TIE Fighters remain operational with a further forty four TIE Fighters from the other various ships operational," Arto answered after a moment.

"Very well. Order our TIE Fighters recalled immediately. After they're safely aboard raise our shields and order the remaining TIE Fighters to make their way into the outer system to be picked up by the Bulk Cruisers. Comms, I want you to send a message to our Bulk Cruisers at the alternative rendezvous point. Have one of them come to our exit vector and pick up the remaining TIE Fighters found there. Guns, I want you to lay down a barrage upon the Reb Fighters after our complement is aboard and the remaining TIEs head for the outer system," ordered the High Admiral as he was received with a series of acknowledgements.

Fifty two TIE Fighters broke from the engagement and headed in to the Omnipotent's hangar bays. Fifty made it safely inside with two being vaped on the way in, one kill each going to an A-wing and a Y-wing. After the Omnipotent's shields were raised her guns opened fire in a random area pattern bombardment as the remaining TIE Fighters broke off and headed for the outer system. Sticking to their original orders the Rebel Fighters headed after the retreating TIE Fighters, the faster A-wings catching up to them and using laser cannons while the slower Rebel fighters locked on and fired torpedoes and missiles after the retreating fighters.

Admiral Kraken watched with a grimace as the number of remaining TIE Fighters dwindled to forty, then twenty, then ten, and two before finally dropped to zero. He knew those pilots had been green before the engagement started but now would've had experience and been novices or veterans at least but with their experience wasted thanks to one High Admiral too worried about his precious flagship to try and save them.

"Comms, send a follow up message to the Bulk Cruiser force and tell them never mind on the retrieval," ordered Admiral Kraken bitterly. The High Admiral glanced up from his brooding in surprise but nodded after glancing at the display screens. Admiral Kraken glanced at the display screens between the gravity well limits area and the converging dots of the Rebel starfighters on the Omnipotent. Alarm locks began to screech on the bridge and he knew that this was going to be close one.