SW:chapter 1

The convoy of transport ships fell out of hyperspace in a tight formation that's form was a credit to long training, and many runs of the same route. It was the third formation to come through the system. The last leg of a long journey to a section of territory far away from much support. That's what made them such and good target. Lacking any escort to its final destination.

Hyperspace travel through this part of the system was hindered by a wide belt debris field of asteroids. The final approach to the delivery zone, an interior plant had to be made at sub space speed. The formation of ships changed. Becoming an evenly spaced line to pass through the area of the felid cleared by engineers. So much a routine that was observed. Everything by the book. Something that played into the raiders hands. Since it was a book they had read.

BTLB Y wings powered out of the once seemingly clear debris felid swooping at different angles toward the single file convoy. Ion cannons blazed, each fighter bomber zeroing in on a different transport. The objective to disable the craft as quickly as possible. Floating in the field for easy collection. The transports acted to late and where further hindered by the lack of movement room in the cleared channel. Special electronic warfare pods switched on in the y wings blocking any transmissions for help that would be broadcast from the besieged transports

The Kurt Dive yards Vigil class corvette "Indomitable" lay still in a patch of space between the debris field and the plants of the system. Overall power output scaled back in order to keep The signature of the ship small. To appear as nothing but a hole in space. It would spend sometime monitoring its passive scanning before starting up again. Sprint and drift was more the tactic of the co.

"Con, sensors array. I've got an odd spike in Ion energy in the gap." The sensor man called back to the watch officers position. The sensor man was relatively young, this was his first time out, and was eager to be noticed for his attention to detail, and since the spike was smaller it was no less odd.

The watch officer was a former sensor man and walked to the display to check it himself leaning over the young man. His eyes danced over the display head nodding slightly. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket lighting one and taking a slow drag off of it.

"Comms what was the freight schedule for today?"

"Three sir, scramble security."

"That's new for this area." He said to himself "when's the last freight come through." To the sensor man.

"Had what read a as mass hyperspace exit a short time ago sir."

"No solid comms with any freight." The comm man said without being prompted.

The watch officer nodded one last time before speaking. "Nav plot a quick jump to the gap and I will wake the CO"

The bridge started to move with activity, and the watch officer walked back to his station. He sat and picked up a comm link punching the top button.

"watch officer Lt. Khome sir...we have ionic energy in the gap I think there may be something two it." He said "Nav is plotting a quick jump right now...aye sir." Hanging up the link Khomeini looked up. "Sound General quarters."

The Indomitable was in its night cycle, a cycle that came to an abrupt end as the alarm for general quarters or battle stations sounded. Blurry eyed men an woman leapt Of of warm racks piling out of bunk rooms toward their stations. Tie pilots walking to the days assigned fighter to begin start up. The marine stormtroop detachment pulling on armor and reporting to the armory for weapons.

The bridge doors slid open and Commander Rubis Cyrus, commanding officer Indomitable walked onto the bridge. Khomeini turned to meet him coming to attention. "Sir, the ship reports stations manned and ready."

"Excellent, and the quick jump?" Cyrus said walking past the watch officer and motioning him to fall in with him.

"Jump plotted and ready sir!" Navigation called.

"Sensors to fill please and let's get an idea of what might be going on."

The Indomitable in one instant went from a hole in space to a bright beacon in the void sending out long range sensors toward the gap reaching for more information. Information streaming into the bridge stations.

"Still the remains of Increased ion and subtle comm traces. This far out possible ship to ship." The sensor man called over his shoulder. "Still a little far out for hard returns and an exact count."

"Debris isn't going to help either." The watch officer said.

"To true, to true." Cyrus said "we will jump into it and see what's what. We are a war ship after all."

Cyrus picked up a comm. "CO for Flight ops...Yea Bal recommend you have them ready to bail out immediately after we secure the main drive...no hard returns...can't be worse than last month...yea Bal. out"

Cyrus walked back to the central bridge area. All the other officers had reported to there stations on the bridge backing up the junior enlisted men.

"Helm! Come to navigations heading and prepare main drive." The ship swung in the void. The point in space seemingly ordinary.

"Fire control, you will prioritize targets as soon as we exit into real space. Hold your fingers on the trigger until we are sure of the situation." Cyrus said looking over to the weapons officer who nodded and spoke into his head set.

"Alright then, let's go earn out days wage. Helm engage drive."

The raiders circled the disabled convoy ships that drifted in the gap slowly two corvette class ships drifted in lining up to bored the convoy ships. The large amount of debris made work that should be rushed go at a slow pace but the raiders were confidant that no comms had escaped and it would be some time before the convoy would be missed. But in what seemed like a blink of an eye that plan was ruined.

The Vigilant came back into real space at the mouth of the Gap several thousand yards from the ambush. The surprise was hopefully enough to cause double takes in the raiders crew. TIE fighters and bombers began to emerge from the Vigilant powering into the gap.

"I have solutions on two corvette class ships moving into the gap." Fire control said over his shoulder.

"Very well. Helm bring the bow around so the main guns can engage. Comm are you picking up anything."

"The comms between the ships is scrambled sir we are getting a broken distress signal most likely from the cargo ships. They also have imperial friend/foe codes active."

"Good enough for me." Commander Cyrus said simply. "Weapons free on all hostel targets."

With that order the gap lit up with green turbo laser fire the beams taking no time to close through the void as the smaller ships began to maneuver toward planned escape routes. The Y wings lacked the speed that the newer model TIEs, simple though they where, had thus they found themselves quickly out numbered.

Cyrus watched the progression of the engagement from the Vigilante's bridge. A grim smirk lifting a corner of his mouth as he watched his forces overtake the raiders. He had been known from time to time as a hard man to please when it came to action drills but times like this is when all the work lead to swift victory.

A tall figure in the all black flight suit of the imperial star fighter corps came down the latter into the CIC area. Cmder. Daclif Balbri was the CO of Vigilant's air wing, a fighter pilot for his whole career and a non clone veteran of the war against the CIS and ace several times over. He was a hard man who was arguably harder to please than Cyrus himself.

"Your flight looks good Bal." Cyrus said matter of factly.

"Still not a fan of the new TIE" Bal said pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his sleeve pocket. "It makes me feel like they value the new pilots less then the old Clones."

A volunteer from a system defense force Balbri had risen thorough the ranks on his merit not ties to the new rising power structure. However after the establishment of the Empire merit had come to mean much less. With a change in doctrine that saw increased capital ship use his voice muted even more.

Cyrus felt Vigilant shift under his feet his eyes flashing to the read outs around the CIC. Seeing that navigation had ordered the course change brining the corse of the ships between the corvettes.

"Defector shields online please."

"Defector shields online aye" came the call followed shortly by "Sir, the Vigilant's shields are online."

As vigilant moved between the two smaller corvettes they began to fire towards the frigate. The red beams almost seemed to splash as they impacted the shield array of the Vigilant. The Vigilant's guns fired back at them. While lacking the fire power of the grand armies cruisers or the empires star destroyers the frigate could still hold its own against smaller craft.

The first of the corvette, off of Vigilant's port side, was trying to escape exciting a turn that brought its broadside in veiw of Vigilant's guns. At that moment it's shields also decided to die. It's hull followed not long after. The red beams of the frigate fire tearing into what armor plating It had and being rewarded with clouds of white mist as the environment was vented to the void. A shot must have hit its reactor as for a buried second it shuttered and then erupted in a cloud of debris that was projected out in all directions.

Smiles and a few muted grunts of approval greeted it in the CIC deck. The last corvette had made its turn and was increasing speed to leave the area. While the guns of the Vigilant worked its shields. Added to the frigates guns was increased fire from the tie wing that had ran out of other targets. To the credit of the corvettes crew they never stopped firing or attempting to get away. As there shields failed and the fire began to sink into the hull there where no escape pods that appeared on the sensor scene as it died.

As the death of the last enemy vessel ended the jamming the comm officers head came around to look at Cyrus.

"Sir the transports are sending out a signal but it doesn't see like a normal hail."

"Conn, Sensor, something is coming out of hyperspace aft of us"

"Bring is about and prepare for flank speed"Cyrus said not letting and tension get into his voice.

As the Vigilant swung hard around in the gap of the field at its mouth a large capital ship appeared out of hyperspace. Cyrus climbed the steps to the view ports on the bridge area. He let out a whistle as the large white ship came into view.

"They got a little bit more than the old Veanators." Balbri said coming in behind Cyrus.

"Didn't even know they assigned one to the sector”

“I didn’t know they had even finished trials”

The tails about the new class of capital ship had spread around but since the Vigilant had been assigned to the out rim systems for sometime it had yet to see the new model of Star Destroyer. The effect was quite impressive.

“Sir, the ship sent a communication .” An enlisted man said from the ladder well to the CIC. “Vigilant requested a bored immediately”

“Strange becomes Stranger” Cyrus said to himself.

“Pass the word for the XO to meet me in my cabin. I would imagine they wouldn’t want me over there in my utilities.”

Midway through his uniform change there was a knock at Cyrus’s hatch.

“Come.”

The door slide quietly open and the XO of the vigilant stepped into his cabin.

“My apologies for not making it to CIC I was touring the engineering spaces when we went to battle stations.” The XO said. His standard imperial was cut with a strong accent of his home world. And while Cyrus had come to command through the “front end” of the ship his XO was an expert in the rear end. Engineering, hyper space travel, and a good amount of knowledge on the other ships systems. Groms Aiden had also been a volunteer to the republic navy during war with the CIS and served in several large fleet actions to include the attack on corrisant. He was pale like most of the crew, not much sunlight to be had on a Star ship, but a tall broad man standing a head taller than Cyrus.

“It’s no trouble Groms it was well in hand. How did it go back there?” Cyrus said stepping out of his sleeping area where buttoning the under shirt to his dress uniform.

“The chief would like to ask we take it easy in the blink jumps it’s a little rough on the drive.” XO said with a smirk knowing how much his CO disliked the dress uniform. “Something about the Vigilance not being as young as he once was.”

“I will try to give him time for a full check before the next long jump. Plus if there are more of those our role here might be at a end.” Cyrus said pointing out his window at the star destroyer.

“They definitely made them big enough.” Aiden said stepping over to look out at it.

Cyrus grimaced as he buttoned down his uniform coat. Inspecting himself in the mirror and smoothing out the fabric one last time before doing up the belt.

“Well Ex you have the con till I return. Which will hopefully be very soon.” The end of the statement drew a chuckle from Aiden.

Cyrus walked into the hanger bay of the Vigilant towards the troop carrier that would take him to the star destroyer. While some chose to carry the Lambda class transports that where much nicer he didn’t believe that a nicer ride from a to b justified taking room from operational ships. If the ride was good enough for one of his Marines then it would be good enough for him.

He acknowledged salutes from various flight deck crew and white armored marines that had formed to bored and secure the convoy ships. A marine fell into step with him, on his left, as walked up the ramp into the passenger area.

“All forces accounted for?”

“Yes, Sir. Only one squad got a bored to secure a convoy ship. Then a fall back order from the capital ship.”

That caused Cyrus to stop and stare at the trooper. He took off his helmet to revile the face of an aging kamino clone trooper.

“I didn’t get that word.”

“No sir I didn’t think you did. It was sent directly to the squad. Code words and call signs were correct. Carried the weight of an admiral.”

“Have you debriefed them?”

“Yes I have Sir. They said the ship wasn’t hauling supplies. Seemed to be artifacts of some kind.”

Cyrus may be only a commander but he hated the thought of his men being ordered by anyone without his knowledge.

“I will be sure to bring that up while I’m over.” Cyrus stepped into the transport and the door slid closed behind him sealing for its short trip through the void.

The embark deck of the newer star destroyer class ships was a beehive of activity that Cyrus hadn’t seen since the outer rim sieges during the clone wars. Rows of ships, wing after wing of the new tie fighters, what had to be an entire armored division staged for use.

“Damn..”he whispered taking it all in.

“Commander Cyrus sir?” a young voice asked over the din of noise.

“Yes Ensign” Cyrus said turning and returning a offered salute

“If you will follow me sir, I will take you to the admiral.”

“Very well. Should I have brought a canteen?”

The ensign revived the joke nervously with a smile and somewhat forced laugh. “No sir, there will be transports for some of the longer bits”

The road a lift off of embarkation and then to a series of turbo lifts leading them up through the ship towards the bridge. While Cryus wasn’t winded by the end. He was surly lost, the sheer size of the battleship was off putting really. After what seemed like a hour they came to a set of blast doors that slid silently open to the main CIC area. Where the Vigilance was almost a bunker in the ship. Walls covered in readouts from around the ship, the bridge of the star destroyer was the opposite. Wide windows looked out onto the void. Recesses in the floor holding mute crew members who watched there displays and relaid information to various watch officers behind them. Cyrus almost let out a whistle. The officer of the deck approached and Cyrus snapped to attention.

“Commander Cyrus, commanding officer of the Vigilante?” He asked

Cyrus acknowledged with a tight nod. The officer appeared to be much younger than him and Cyrus would only let the nice veiw put him so far off of balance.

“The admiral is with his staff right now. He will be with you shortly. His ready room is just over there,” the officer of the deck said not impolitely motioning to a blast door along the starboard bulkhead.

With another tight nod Cyrus turned on his heel and walked to stand outside the door. He spent the waiting time going over the data slate of the Vigilant’s various actions, patrol notes, and other logs. It was regularly turned in when they returned to the docks but it was good form to have it for such a situation. He was lucky to have a good clerk that he didn’t have to go behind.

After several minutes the doors slid open silently and Cyrus locked back to rigid attention as a cadre of ranking, and some junior officers walked out.

“Commander Cyrus? The admiral will see you now,” the voice came from within.

He was seated behind a long glass table starring down in though as Cyrus entered and stood respectfully until the admiral chose to acknowledge him. Through the viewing glass the ‘Vigilante’ hung in the void. At the prow of the massive star destroyer.

“Have a seat commander I will just be one more minute. “ the admiral said without looking up from his work. Cyrus walked formerly to the seat across from him and sat still as attention. With a sigh he looked up assessing Cyrus.

Since the change from the republic to an empire the navy has been flooded with new appointees to fleet command positions. Cyrus hadn’t recognized this man just yet. Why even see him in person. Why not have the ships books cryptoed over.

“Now.” The man said looking up. “I know we haven’t met but I’ve heard your name around the ether during the last war. Fairly good things that I’m happy to see are true. Your fast actions preserved that much needed convoy.”

“Thank you sir, just happy to serve,” Cyrus said formally

“I assume that you know I could have said that over a message and had you return to your patrol route,”

“Yes sir the thought had occurred to me.”

“However there are something’s that I can’t ask even over a secure net. Current, well, politics being what they are in today’s age. Sometimes you can’t be to careful,” the admiral said leaning back and steaplng his fingers. “With this last attack it is clear that the system doesn’t just need security patrols. Would the vigilant be ready for a long cruise of the system?”

“Yes I believe so sir. My wing commander has some concern about the new Tie fighters but the crew is well worked up.”

“Balbri’s views are what got him sent to this back water to begin with.” The admiral said absently looking st a spot in the over head. Cyrus was silent for the moment. Letting it hang there.

“An all new navy. At any rate my secretary will have an orders and intel packet for you if you wouldn’t mind staying with us for a few hours.

“Aye, sir” and the meeting was over. Cyrus about faced and walked from the conference room meeting with the ships captain who was walking the bridge.

Captain Toradin, a Corellian who had spent more time with space under his feet than actual soil, smiled and held out a hand for Cyrus to shake.

“Been a while since the outer rim,” Cyrus said taking the proffered hand with a firm grasp. The two men had been in around each other during the waning time of the Clone Wars. Serving in the same task forces on the outer rim sieges.

“It has, bad business after the shake up. I’m surprised you weren’t called back in,” Toradin said mater of factly. Cyrus only shrugged as they both looked out of the large veiw ports.

“Someone has to mind the backwaters I guess,” Cyrus said. “Keeping the pirates and smugglers on there toes.”

The spoke together walking the length of the bridge between recalling old actions, Cyrus learned about life in the inner of the Galaxy, keeping away from any political maters or the establishment of the empire.

A black fatigued man came to a halt behind them waiting a respectful distance. He held a data pad handing it over to Cyrus along with a silver code cylinder, taking it he looked side ways at Toradin who’s eyebrows raised as he made eye contact. Placing the cylinder in his uniform and taking the data pad, the man turned on his heel marching away from the captains.

“Give Bal my best then,” Toradin said holding a hand out

“I will. Stay safe then,” Cyrus shook the hand and walked off the bridge finding the same young man that had met him at his shuttle waiting to escort him back to the hanger, for his trip back to the “Indomitable”