High Command receives report that several captains from the allied forces of Roma Naval District had planned to defect over to the Rebels taking with them the ships that were given to them. High Command immediately issues a sortie order to Admiral Screed to intercept the traitors. Further orders was for Screed to use any force necessary to stop the defectors from escaping the District. DesRon 44, Fel's Flying Circus and Rhymer's Renegades were at Screed's disposal. The new VSD Scharnhorst was assigned to Screed as well but seeing how green Scharnhorst was, Screed opted to keep his flag on GSD Destroyer. Once the task force was ready, Screed immediately sortied. RSDs from Destroyer Division 41 were sent out as scouts to search for the defecting ships. The defecting ships were soon found at Spartivento Sector by RSH Akizuki. Screed made haste to the sector.
The defecting ships found to have deployed on the far side of the sector. Separated by a dense debris field, both ships had no other option but to skirt around it. The defecting ships were found to be 2 VSD, Matapan and Carpentio and the GSD Monte Casino. Escorted by a rebel assault frigate and X-wing squadron led by Skywalker. Other defecting forces included 1 interceptor, TIE Advance and bomber squadron. Seeing that the opposing forces had numerical superiority in ships, Screed opted to keep his forces together. The Flying Circus would fly ahead as screening forces while the Renegades stay behind the cover of Scharnhorst.
The defectiing forces on the other hand, seeing that they have the numerical superiority, opted for a pincer move. Matapan and the Rebel frigate approached Screed from the rear while Carpentio, Monte Casino and the star fighters surged ahead to pin Screed's force frontally.
Both forces met at the corner ahead and a chaotic melee followed. Screed's orders were simple. Concentrate all fire on a designated targets and overwhelm it. Screed declared GSD Monte Casino as the target first and both VSD Scharnhorst and GSD Prince Rupert poured murderous fire into Monte Casino. Scharnhorst followed up her barrages with bomber attacks. Monte Casino managed to survive the first attack and returned fire to both Prince Rupert and Scharnhorst. Meanwhile, the defecting starfighters went in and tried to shoot down Screed's bombers. Through the sheer defensive screening offered by the Flying Circus, their attack failed to produce any significant results.
In the ensuing melee, due to incompetence by Scharnhorst's captain, her stern rammed Destroyer's starboard bow thus stopping Screed from entering the fray.
Seizing the chance provided by Scharnhorst's captain, Carpentio unleashed a barrage of attack using her expanded launchers into Sharnhorst's side. She managed to brace and redirect the devastating barrage. Thereafter Carpentio proceeded to ram Scharnhorst. Meanwhile, Matapan and the frigate continued on their pincer.
Fierce exchange of fire continued. Only to be forcefully broken apart by Prince Rupert as she sail through the fighter melee. That gave opportunity for the Flying Circus to lock Skywalker's squadron and the TIE Advanced squadrons. Eventually withering both down with only the loss of 1 Circus squadron. Freed from the fighters, Scharnhorst ordered the bombers to launch their attack on Carpentio's port, The attack only succeeded in bringing down the starboard shields only. Scharnhorst followed up that attack with a broad side to Carpentio's bow. Carpentio's fore shields were taken down. Scharnhorst managed to extricate herself from the melee and Screed brought Destroyer up for a full broad side with advance concussion missile. The attack managed to deliver some damage to Carpentio but she was still in fighting condition.
All the while, Matapan and the frigate got dangerously close to Screed's rear. Carpentio again launched devastating attack against Destroyer but the bulk of the attack missed but it completely brought Destroyer's port sheilds down. Carpentio proceeded to ram Destroyer.
Prince Rupert and Destroyer again launched full concentrated broadsides against Carpentio and put her out of her misery. By than, both Matapan and the frigate were closing the range on Screed's force. Again due to the incompetence of Scharnhorst's new captain, she sailed out of the battle arena. The defectors on board Matapan decided to flee the battle field and jumped into hyperspace to the rendezvous point. The frigate stayed to conduct rear action but was quickly swarmed by the remaining interceptors and bombers
Screed ordered for jury repairs to be done on Prince Rupert and Destroyer while they turn around. Interceptors and bombers were ordered to harass the frigate. Repeated attacks from the planes critically crippled the frigate. 1 attack delivered by a bomber hit the engines critically damaging it. Nonetheless, the frigate continued her pursuit of what was left of Screed's ship but the damage proved to be fatal. An engine explosion completely ripped apart the frigate.
Seeing that the engagement was successful, Screed ordered Scharnhorst to rendezvous and regroup with them.
