Task Force Anvil (248/250)
Empire

Objectives: Fighter Ambush, Precision Strike, Superior Positions

Victory I-class Star Destroyer (73)
- Reserve Hangar Deck (3)
- Assault Concussion Missiles (7)
= 83 total points

Victory I-class Star Destroyer (73)
- Reserve Hangar Deck (3)
- Assault Concussion Missiles (7)
- Quad Battery Turrets (5)
= 88 total points

Squadrons (77/84):
3x Tie Bomber Squadron (27)
3x Tie Fighter Squadron (24)
1x Lambda-class Shuttle (15)
1x Tie Interceptor Squadron (11)

Act 1 - Pivotal Battle - Evacuation
Escape from Mygeeto - Hold the Line

5.................4.................3....... ‘Ships exiting hyperspace’ called the senior operator. ‘Class and position’ Captain Octavean responded.....they are early he thought. ‘MC80 is crossing the T to our front moving away from the asteroids and an Assault Frigate pushing through the asteroids on the port flank.’ Our flank, Vendetta’s flank thought Octavean. ‘A CR90 is attempting to chase down Raider Impervious, beyond the field.’, the sensor operator continued.

It had been 20hrs since the sisters Vampire and Vendetta comprising Task Force Anvil, were recalled to the Imperial staging post at Mygeeto to cover the evacuation. TF Anvil was tasked with covering the port flank of the Interdictor Wrath of Ages during the flight out of Mygeeto’s gravity well and to the hyperspace horizon......and the Rebels had been early.

Wrath of Ages had used the experimental technology within her hull to alter the gravity field at the Imperial exit point keeping it clear of all vessels but the largest of displacement......like the MC80. The Wrath’s engines flared and signalled to the Imperial fleet, that it was time to go. Octavean nodded to the helmsman and Vendetta’s engines burned bright blue. Vampire between her and the Wrath.

‘Scratch one 90’, the sensor operator advised, ‘Impervious is clear to the horizon’. Never get too close to a Raider, Octavean mused, a mistake that CR90 will not make again.

The Imperial squadrons of TF Anvil began to engage the Rebel opponents. The Rebel Assault Frigate began slipping down to the side and behind Vendetta, not daring to enter into a close-range brawl with the Imperial heavy-weight. ‘Tactical’ Octavean commanded. ‘Frigate will be unable to engage the Imperial fleet once it has passed us by, however we will be the only Imperial vessel in range until then’ the Tactical officer responded. Vendetta was the wedge, opening a gap between the two rebel capital ships. The problem was that the wedge is often scuffed in the process.

The gap continued to open, providing an avenue for the fleet to escape. There was a catch however, Octavean noted, the gap was swarming with Rebel bomber squadrons......and Vendetta was going to be the tip of the spear.

The Assault Frigate lashed out at Vendetta as it passed, as simultaneous the Rebel squadrons began their bombing runs. ‘Weaps, concentrate all fire on the enemy squadrons’ Octavean commanded as the Frigate passed out of range. ‘Shields collapsing’ Tactical advised. Vampire closed range on Vendetta adding her flak to the maelstrom which was opposed the Rebel fighters, attempting to protect her wounded sibling.

The rebel bombers, for their part ignored the Vampire preferring to taunt and antagonise Vendetta. Scavengers picking on the wounded. On the bridge of Vampire, Admiral Von Illes, watched the bombers feasting on Vendetta. ‘The vett’s shields are down and her weapons and propulsion are off-line’ the Vampire’s sensor operator reported. ‘Do we have comms with her?’ Von Illes questioned. ‘No sir’ was the response.

‘Imperial fleet has reached the horizon’ the sensor officer reported.

‘Captain Ajax, combat grapple if you please’ Von Illes commanded. ‘Yes sir’ responded Ajax.

Vampire closed with Vendetta, flak raining from her hull. Combined with the efforts of the remaining Imperial squadrons, the rebel bombers either retreated or fell. As the last remaining bomber squadron was reduce to debris, the Vampire’s tractor beams locked onto Vendetta’s powerless hull and then............both ships were gone.

24 hours later - Yavin Shipyards: Octavean looked out through the viewport at the scarred and battered form of Vendetta.....the wedge does get scuffed and then some......

Act 2 - Round 1 -

Blockade of Lothal - The Rift

Things had gone bad from the start, Captain Octavean thought as the hum of air recirculating, indicated that life support had been restored to the inhabitable spaces within Vendetta . He stared out through the bridge viewports as Task Force Anvil flag ship Vampire moved into position to tow Vendetta out of the rift and return to the shipyards of Yavin.........

It had all started when Vendetta was confronted with the twin concerns of an unknown gravity rift in front and a Rebel convoy consisting on a MC80 both in close proximity on exit from hyperspace.

Vampire increased speed to pursue the MC80 going the long way round the rift. The MC80 responded by turning away from Vampire , ducking behind the rift and closing range with Vendetta . Vendetta struggled against the drag of the rift, unable to gain any steerage, locked on her heading on exit from hyperspace.

Vampire was unsuccessfully chasing the MC80, the lack of speed of the Victory class, a known problem. This resulted in the MC80 and her attendant fighter and bomber squadrons becoming solely enamoured with Vendetta. The Imperial squadrons were unable to adequately shield Vendetta and the toll began to rise and overwhelm the hardworking damage crews. First weapons, then life support and finally propulsion dropped off line. Vendetta went dark, becoming a powerless 900 meter long flaming arrow head........combat non-effective.

With Vendetta going dark, the Rebel convoy took the opportunity to proceed at speed towards and into the protection of the orbital defences of Lothal.

The vibration of Vampire ’s tractor beams locking onto Vendetta shook Octavean back to the here and now. Back to the yards at Yavin......

Act 2 - Round 2 - Superior Positions

Defence of Sullust - Yard Queen

Captain Octavean watched as the Rebel CR-90 nosed it’s way through the asteroid field in front of the Vendetta . The Vendetta was at rest, with minimal power to shields, with the planet of Sullust at her back. Beside her, her sister ship and task force flag ship, Vampire , was also at rest. This was both a means to catching the Rebels by surprise as they exited the asteroid field and a consequence of the fuel rationing resulting from a lack of support bases in the sector.

Octavean continued to watch the approaching CR-90 as it identified the presence of the twin Victories. He continued to watch as the it began to sparkle with out-bound turbo-laser fire. He gripped a handle rail of the bridge as Vendetta shock on receiving fire. The drone of damage reports indicated loss of forward shields and hull damage.

The crew looked to him as one, the desire, the need to move and retaliate clear in their eyes. Octavean understood the look. Over the past couple of weeks, he had heard rumours of the Vendetta being referred to as ‘The Yard Queen’ by others in the 7th Fleet. A reference to the amount of time spent in the ship repair yards.....more than actually in combat, they say. ‘Hold’ he commanded, soon but not yet.

The blue glow of the Vampire ’s engines indicated that the trap was ready to be sprung, with Vampire moving to close off potential escape vectors back into the field. On the approach of Vampire and imperial squadrons, the CR-90 dived back into the cover of the field.

The blunt nose of an Assault Frigate began to exit the field, which was the signal for Vendetta to power-up and block the path to Sullust. Vampire and Vendetta converged on the frigate as the imperial squadrons got the upper hand over their rebel opponents.

Vampire and Vendetta trading blows with the frigate. The opposing units approaching each other until the space between Vampire and the frigate became a blur of motion as volley after volley of missiles impacted against the frigate’s shields, hull and then debris.

Octavean watched as Vampire passed through the remains of the frigate, shields sparkling as the debris was vaporised on contact. A cheer erupted on the bridge, Octavean allowed himself the smallest of smiles.

The queen did not need to return to the yard just yet.