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Corellia


Darth Jade

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Out of the star-field surrounding Centerpointe, the bulky and ungainly Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer dropped out of hyperspace. Despite being freshly painted its namesake color with its name carefully emblazoned in gold on its prow, its layers of armor were pocked and scarred with the old marks of blaster fire. A few seconds later it was followed by the twin Captor-class Cruisers Moon Beetle and The Broken Bullet, which immediately dropped behind the Black Bracer and took position behind its bulk. Away from the newly arrived ships, a single Hapan Nova-class Battlecruiser, Our Velvet Ire, dropped out of hyperspace and began circling the beachhead.

On the bridge of the Black Bracer, which looked like something between a military command center and a chapel, Commander Jaden Jorus stood over a holo-display and squinted at the read-out with his good eye. The results of the last fight played out before him in names and numbers.

 

“...Yeah, they’ll be back.” He activated communications. “This is Commander Jorus, of the Fleet of the Strands, 1st Flotilla, here as reinforcements. Sending security codes now. Just let us know where you want us to park this tub.”

As he waited for the confirmation that would let his ships approach the fleet, he grimaced and rubbed at his cybernetic arm. The boss had hired him out before, but this was different. The boss’ merc jobs usually had him commanding the tiny fleets of small-time warlords getting into territory skirmishes, or pirate-hunting for local governors. Every once in a while he got into something big, like a cartel war, but nothing like now. This was the kriffing Sith Empire. What the heck was the boss thinking? Small jobs were his style, not this imperial conquest nonsense. Sure the pay was good but was it worth the attention of a bunch of maniacs like the Sith?
 

Then again, the last time Jaden had seen the boss, he’d been different. First and foremost, the wily, overdressed schemer had had his eyes gouged out, so that had been a bit distracting. Second, the boss had seemed distracted himself, barely paying attention to Jaden’s reports. Third, a lot of the missions he’d been sending Jaden on since then had been strange. The old merc didn’t know much about the historical knick-knacks the boss would sometimes have him pick up, but it seemed he’d been doing it a lot more recently. Sometimes he’d even been pulled out of a job before it was done to go snatch some ancient tablet or cup or book from some hole in the ground or a collector’s stash.

 

Three more years. Just make it three more years, then there’s that nice resort on Naboo where I can wither away in peace.

 

He keyed communications again. “Captain Zymo, broadcast the lead ship your stealth frequencies. No sense giving anyone a reason to shoot you before this place gets noisy.”

 

Heavy Brawler Escort: Hammer and Anvil

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer |20/30|

 

 

Destroyer Group (Missiles): Focus Fire

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser Moon Beetle |9/9|

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser The Broken Bullet |9/9|

 

 

Covert Strike Force: Silent Hunters

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Nova-class Battle Cruiser Our Velvet Ire |9/9|

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“Alright, let's get started. Officer! Contact the 1st Flotilla.”

 

"Connected sir."

 

"1st Flotilla, we're beginning our advance on Talus. We're going to follow Herløv's heading and match their speed. Moon BeetleBroken Bullet, maintain formation behind us. Captain Zymo, go dark and await orders."

 

Alright, let's see how badly they want this rock.

 

He silently thanked his boss for at least picking a ship with a thick hull for him to stand in.

 

Spoiler

 

Heavy Brawler Escort: Hammer and Anvil

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer |20/30|

 

 

Destroyer Group (Missiles): Focus Fire

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser Moon Beetle |9/9|

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser The Broken Bullet |9/9|

 

 

Covert Strike Force: Silent Hunters

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Nova-class Battle Cruiser Our Velvet Ire |9/9|

 

 

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“They actually went after Kuat..."

 

"Sir?"

 

Jorus shook himself.

 

"All ships, plot a course for Kuat. Jump in battle formation, and expect immediate contact upon reentry."

 

The bridge dissolved into a flurry of activity as officers relayed orders and crewman scrambled to get the ship ready for the new fight. Jorus grimaced as he saw the hyperspace solution resolve on the holo-display.

 

We're going in first. Marvelous.

 

"Prepare to jump....Commence jump!"

 

  Hide contents

 

Heavy Brawler Escort: Hammer and Anvil

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer |20/30|

 

 

Destroyer Group (Missiles): Focus Fire

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser Moon Beetle |9/9|

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser The Broken Bullet |9/9|

 

 

Covert Strike Force: Silent Hunters

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Green, 1XP

Nova-class Battle Cruiser Our Velvet Ire |9/9|

 

 

 

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  • 2 months later...

"Commander on the bridge!"

 

The officers of the Black Bracer came to attention as Captain Jaden Jorus limped to the command console. His eyes scanned the officers, impeccably attired and fit specimens of imperial military excellence. Their eyes danced with the fire of zealots, and every officer to a man bore the patch of Varaka, their vaunted god-king.

 

The dregs of a cult and and a ship built to get shot.

 

He smiled. 

 

I guess I'm home.

 

Jorus was anything but the naval ideal of a commanding officer. Threadbare combat gear bleaching from green to gray, old cybernetics whirring with each movement, a sun-seared face, and wrinkles turning to crevices painted the picture of a man with more years lived than he'd been alive.

 

"Get back to work. At ease and all that."

 

The officers turned back to their posts, but the steel cables under their skin didn't seem to slacken.

 

I guess having the Dark King's eye on you will do that.

 

First Officer Malk, an impressively built Cerean, eyed Jorus's limping leg as the irreverent commander rubbed feeling into it.

 

"Were you injured in the battle Commander?"

 

"Nope. Leg cramp. Report."

 

"We've arrived in the Corellian system sir, and are moving to rendezvous with his Majesty's force now. ETA 8 minutes. We just received the all's well from the Moon Beetle, The Broken Bullet, and Our Velvet Ire."

 

Jorus nodded absently.

 

"And our new toys?"

 

Malk didn't miss a beat at Jorus's informal inquiry. 

 

Good soldier.

 

"All upgrades installed on Kuat are functioning properly. Calibrations and tests run during the transit indicate everything is operating within optimal tolerances."

 

"Those kuati grasscutters really know their ships. I guess pulling their collective bank accounts out of the firing line made them all grateful."

 

"Actually sir, the upgrades were ordered by direct command from-"

 

Jorus waved his hand in dismissal, and Malk obediently stopped talking and went back to his work, an equally muted and fierce anticipation lurking under his starched and dried expression. Jorus knew that they'd gotten the upgrades for "exemplary service", but he'd bet his last arm that they'd come with at least two Holonet conferences, a shouting match, and a dozen bribes.

 

It was just how things got done.

 

Speaking of which...

 

"Let's pick up the pace. Increase forward thrust by 12% and have our cruisers follow us in pattern 22-Beta. And get Zyro to turn that fancy new cloak on."

 

Spoiler

 

Heavy Brawler Escort: Hammer and Anvil

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer |20/30|

 

 

Destroyer Group (Missiles): Focus Fire

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser Moon Beetle |9/9|

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser The Broken Bullet |9/9|

 

 

Covert Strike Force: Silent Hunters

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Nova-class Battle Cruiser Our Velvet Ire |9/9|

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Black Bracer trundled forward, its engines flaring pale blue against its ugly black hull. The knobby, bulky vessel was a blot on the starfield, with only the thin, white slit of the bridge breaking the monotony of its face.

 

Commander Jaden Jorus watched the rebel fleet from the viewport, arranging for an attack, chewing his lip and flexing his mechanical arm with the hiss of hydraulics every few seconds.

 

"Commander," First Officer Malk broke in. "Several enemy cruisers are lining up an attack run on the cruisers. Scans indicate turbolaser batteries."

 

"Orders from command?"

 

"Unchanged."

 

Jorus relaxed, held his silence for a few seconds, then said, "Full power to the engines. Aim a course directly for the enemy cruisers. Point-blank range."

 

Malk, to his credit, didn't blanch at the order to fly the ship into superior firepower. He likely suspected what Jorus knew. They were the shield, not the sword.

 

Turbolaser flashes filled Jorus's view as the enemy cruisers opened fire, the hulking Black Bracer blocking any effective attack run on the smaller and more nimble cruisers. Dull thuds and the hum of dissipating energy rang across the bridge as the shields withstood the bombardment. Still the ship kept on, steady in its advance on the enemy vessels.

 

The bridge held an eerie silence, punctuated by the rhythmic cadence of the enemy blaster fire. Malk broke then spell when the enemy ships almost filled the viewport. "Approaching point-blank range in 7...6...5..."

 

"Gunnery officer," Jorus said without taking his eyes from the enemy, "give them the teeth."

 

The uniformed Gran nodded curtly and crisply spoke into his console. "Snub gunners! Deploy weapons! Prepare to fire on my mark!"

 

Across the hull of the ship, the unsightly protuberances that gave the ship a cancerous look swiveled and opened to reveal short-range rail-guns. Barely able to adjust their aim by more than a few degrees in each direction, the stubby barrels of the cannons pointed out from the ship at whatever happened to cross their path. The shields of the old Bulwark Mk II were nearly a universal green hue as the bombarding turbolasers assaulted the ship that had recklessly piloted into their midst from every direction.

 

"Do it."

 

"Fire!"

 

A cacophony of explosions erupted as the cannons fired, sending rounds of slag into the enemy shields. Seconds later they did it again, and the enemy responded with ever more turbolaser fire.

 

"Commander! Corvettes have entered the battle zone!"

 

A few officers gawked and swore. That cramped space between ships was a deathtrap. What captains would actually fly into such a hellscape?

 

"Corvettes are...they're taking up positions along our flanks! They intend to penetrate our shields! Sir, our hull is strong enough to withstand them. Concentrating power to the forward shie-"

 

"Belay that order First Officer. Full power to the flank guns."

 

The pause was brief, but deafening. Commander Jorus had just ordered them to sacrifice some of their invaluable defensive power in this firestorm to punish some crazy corvette captains playing hero.

 

"...Aye sir!"

 

The flank cannons roared to life, tearing into the corvettes that had approached the rear of the ship.

 

"Shields dropping commander!" Malk called. "Shields at...shields failed commander!" The barrage took on a new cadence as the blasts made direct contact with the reinforced hull. "Sir, corvettes are taking evasive maneuvers to avoid the flak and... Sir! Missile barrage from the Moon Beetle and Broken Bullet just made contact with one of the turbolaser cruisers! And the Goliath just focused its axial cannon on the same ship! It's shields are down! Scans indicate hull integrity close to failure!"

 

Cheers came up around the bridge, but Jorus didn't change his grim expression.

 

The rebels weren't going to run this time.

 

Chunks of molten slag drifted across the nightmare of space between the Black Bracer and its enemies, some from corvette captains and fighter craft unlucky enough to be caught in the barrage, some sheared off the Black Bracer's own hull.

 

"Fires on deck 2....and deck 3! Mess hall is venting vacuum!"

 

Jorus ignored it. "Status on the missile cruisers."

 

"A bombing run was detected and intercepted attempting to attack them."
 

Jorus closed his eyes, already knowing the answer before he asked. "Their current heading?"

 

Malk looked up, a mixture of disbelief and fear in his eyes.

 

"Us. Sir."

 

"All hands, brace for impact." Jorus's voice remained calm and even. This wasn't pirate raids or imp dodging. This was war, the bloodiest kind. Emotion had no place here.

 

As his orders were relayed, he watched the incoming wings of bombers from the viewport. They soared over, almost close enough to read the personalized stamps the rebel pilots had marked them with. Then a new, deep thudding added itself to the percussive orchestra of death only meters away through layers of durasteel.

 

"Commander! Taking damage on all levels!  Rear passage 1-3 is-"

 

"Just put it on the screen First Officer.

 

There's no need to shout."

 

Outside, half melted lumps of durasteel, the skin that protected the crew of the Black Bracer from the enemy so intent on their death, rolled past.

 

Jorus flexed his arm.

 

Spoiler

 

Heavy Brawler Escort: Hammer and Anvil

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Bulwark Mark II Black Bracer |0/12|

 

 

Destroyer Group (Missiles): Focus Fire

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser Moon Beetle |9/9|

Captor-class Heavy Munitions Cruiser The Broken Bullet |9/9|

 

 

Covert Strike Force: Silent Hunters

Assigned PC: Nok Morliss (commanded by NPC Jaden Jorus)

Task Force Experience: Veteran, 2XP

Nova-class Battle Cruiser Our Velvet Ire |9/9|

 

 

Edited by Nok Morliss
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