I am unsure if anyone is interested in anything like this, but tonight after playing my first two games of Armada ever, I finally found the inspiration to write again (I used to write often, mostly horror). This is a short story inspired by my first game, using nothing but the core set. I'll include a few pics of the game if I can.
The Kuat born Captain Nalgol Khoss had graduated from the Imperial Naval Academy on Pfesbelt three years ago. In only three years he went from Ensign Khoss to Captain Khoss. It was a mere three weeks ago that he was Commander Khoss. His hand moved to his rank insignia, feeling for straightness, as he blindly stared out the viewport as the stars formed white lines, distorted by the effects of hyperspace. Captain Khoss and his Victory II Star Destroyer "Defiler" (as well as a full crew of 6,107 and a half-compliment of 800 Imperial Stormtroopers) were on their way to Urce Space in the Galactic North. A small system there, the Pa'hir'al system, was to be their destination.
Pa'hir'al I, one of Pa'hir'al's three moons, was suffering some civil unrest. Like most systems, Pa'hir'al had known a new era of peace, stability, and prosperity under the direction of the Empire and its Emperor. There were, however, remnants of the Old Republic who in their hazardous obsession with nostalgia refused this peace. Those that insisted very much on constant war. These missionaries of discord would take their gospel of misleading rhetoric and outright lies to the less intelligent, the less informed, and stir up trouble. It was because of these rebel provocateurs that the local governor was forced to call on the assistance of Imperial Navy and Army.
This detached Captain Khoss from fleet with which he was attached, but he relished the chance to take command. Almost as much as he relished the knowledge that he was bringing order where the social sickness that was the rebellion attempted chaos.
"Navigation," the Captain said "when we drop out of hyperspace, move us into geosynchronous orbit above the primary habitation center on Pa'hir'al I. I want a detachment of Stormtroopers ready to put boots on the ground. Start prepping TIE Fighters for deployment as a precautionary measure as well."
There were no "yes sir"s or "right away, captain"s. None were needed. Captain Khoss did not require a verbal reminder that he was in charge, and he did not need to hear an affirmation to know that his orders were being carried out. He gave an order, and the order was followed.
"We'll be dropping out of hyperspace in fifteen seconds" Lieutenant Commander Halcyon at navigation announced. Captain Khoss rose to his feet, taking an active stance as he readied to give more preparatory commands, as well as open communications with the local authorities.
The white lines slowed and became dots. Pa'hir'al, dark green and small at this distance, appeared before him. Three moons, one half obscured by the planet, appeared as small, dull colored marbles. Before Khoss had the chance to ask which one was their destination, the small information console next to navigation chirped. That was the console that displayed all of the relevant sensor information for the local system. Khoss recognized the sound.
"Let's have it then, Ensign," Khoss ordered the officer sitting at the console as he stepped toward the three dimensional display and attempted to keep the excitement from his voice. With a light initial flicker, the display came to life. On the display was Pa'hir'al, all three of its moons, the Defiler, and two more vessels labeled "Twilight of Tyranny" and "Despot's Demise".
As the three dimensional display formed, the Ensign immediately began to read the information aloud.
"There are two vessels in the system. An EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate as well as a CR90 corvette. Their relation to us is zero-one-six mark three-five-seven at five-point-one-two kilometers out. They are two-point-seven-six kilometers apart from each other. Heading..."
"That will be enough, Ensign," interjected Khoss. The Ensign was correct, of course, in his protocol to read the information to the Captain, but Khoss could take everything in on the three dimensional display. The most important detail was the names of the vessels. He recognized the names. They were rebel ships that had been attacking the nearby shipping lanes that ran through Ithor in guerrilla attacks.
"Navigation," Khoss began, his voice taking on a more bassy air of command, "change heading by zero mark zero-one-six. Communications, open up a channel to both vessels." Khoss waited until he saw the officer at the comm station cease movement. "Rebel vessel, you are ordered, by the authority of the Empire and its Emperor, to cut your engines, power down your weapons, drop your shields, and prepare for boarding. You are under arrest."
As Khoss had expected, there was no verbal response. He looked at the comm officer to confirm that the message had been sent successfully. The officer turned to the Captain and shook his head, aware of the unspoken question. The rebels had received the message, and had chosen to not respond verbally. They did, however, respond.
"CR90 corvette, the 'Twilight of Tyranny', is increasing speed and changing heading for an intercept course," the Ensign at the information console updated. "EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, the 'Despot's Demise', is also increasing speed, but moving parallel to the corvette on our starboard side."
The Captain smiled. Rebels with their silly ship names. "Scramble all TIEs. Aggressive screening forward and starboard. Formation four. Increase speed to maximum, raise shields, power up all weapons." Khoss watched the three dimensional display, ignoring the viewing port for now. Both of the little ships were faster than the Defiler, and they were going to make full use of this. They were going pincer him. This was an unfortunate strategy for the CR90 corvette, as it was going to play bait to deter Khoss from reacting to the obvious pincer. Khoss was willing to take the bait.
"Sir," it was the information Ensign again, "both ships have deployed their compliment of X-Wings. Three squadrons each."
"Are the three squadrons with the escort frigate joining the corvette?" Khoss asked.
"No sir."
These delusion anarchists want to play navy, thought Khoss, but lack any proper education on the subject.
"Very good," Khoss' voice was distorted slightly by his smile, "have five squadrons of TIEs move to engage the corvette's X-Wings, the other three are to remain starboard." The X-Wings were more powerful ships. More resistant to damage as well as wielding more powerful weaponry, but the TIEs were much more agile, and now outnumbered the doomed X-Wings.
"Corvette within firing range of double heavy turbolaser cannons, yawing toward starboard."
"Hold fire until they are within range of all forward weapons." Khoss looked forward, using the viewing port for the first time since the ships appeared. He could see the corvette now, slowly changing direction to move toward the Defiler's starboard side. The combat between the fighters was just beginning.
"Corvette within range, sir."
"Fire all forward weapons," Khoss ordered. Before all four words were out the viewing port erupted in bright light. The weaponry was far too much for the corvette, whose captain brought the small ship too close to the Star Destroyer. Khoss thought he saw a short flashing of the corvette's shields as it attempted to mitigate the overwhelming attack before failing. The small corvette was bathed in green light, washed in the Will of the Empire before exploding.
Khoss returned his view to the three dimensional display. The escort frigate was just now passing the Star Destroyer, being sure to stay out of reach, and beginning to flank behind it. The escort frigate was much too fast and maneuverable for the Victory class. Khoss was unsure if he'd be able to shake them from his rear.
"Decrease speed and change heading to three-two-four mark one-one-seven," Khoss ordered, attempting to turn sharper than the escort frigate would be able to manage at its current speed. "Move remaining three TIE squadrons to point-seven-five klicks away from the ship, remaining as permanent screen for the remaining X-Wings."
As the Imperial vessel began it's slow, arduous turn, it came upon the remaining TIE and X-Wing engagement. The TIEs were dominating. Khoss watched as anti-fighter fire leapt from the Defiler and toward the X-Wings. It was only a matter of moments before the TIEs with the support of the Defiler had finished the X-Wings.
"All remaining TIEs to form an aft screen," Khoss ordered, his focus returning to the three dimensional display, no longer able to watch the action through the view-port. The escort frigate was closing fast. The X-Wings engaged the TIEs. According to the information gathered and displayed on the viewer, neither the X-Wings nor the escort frigate's anti-fighter weaponry were doing much good against the swarm of TIE fighters. There was a slight grumble and moan from the ship.
"Rear shields hit. Damage mitigated to side shields," the engineering officer informed the bridge. The rear shields on the Victory II were the weakest, so damage was almost always automatically mitigated to the port and starboard shields to help compensate.
"Fire all aft weapons, and continue to slow and turn about. Speed on the frigate?" It appeared in the three dimensional display that the frigate was not slowing down fast enough, and would shoot past the Star Destroyer.
"Two and a half times our speed," information updated the captain, knowing that the captain was interested in relative speed, not a quantitative number in a standard measuring system.
"Very good, change heading zero mark two-seven-one," the captain ordered, changing the heading to parallel with the faster vessel.
Khoss watched as, on the three dimensional display, the frigate, going much too fast, pulled alongside the Star Destroyer, trying to turn away.
"Fire at will," Khoss ordered, ending the lives of those that sought to disrupt the stability of the Empire.
The first volley slammed into the starboard shields of the frigate. The shields held. Second volley broke the shields, and punched through the hull in several places. Then, as the small frigate began to limp out of range of the port-side cannons, the sounds of the third and final volley played their death knell for the small vessel. Khoss looked away from the bright display that showed the death of disobedience, to watch the TIEs finish the small compliment of X-Wing fighters.
Today was another victory for order.