I had received orders which had not particularly improved my current mood. I was to begin raiding Separatist shipping again, with only a fraction of my usual forces until a Jedi and their battalion could arrive in a couple weeks to finish the fight off. Currently it was looking to be a Jedi who had been placed in charge of a regiment of volunteers from an expansion region mining world. I suppose it will be Faxe’s problem to deal with on account of me leaving the Buckler behind for the ordered raids.

  I thankfully still had my network of sensor buoys set up and with Elix playing the information game in the area until he had enough spare cash to load up on shield generators and Hondo’s most recent information package. It appeared the Separatists were moving their newest local shipments in Diamond class cruisers. Specifically in convoys with multiple Q-ships, quite similar to what we are doing with the Peltas.

  Apparently a convoy was heading to Dellalt and I had been ordered to intercept it. Something about it was rubbing me the wrong way. Not like I had the option about doing anything about it. The 159th was in transit between Dac and Hutt space, so it would be the Little Revenge, with Hope Company, alongside Little and Bastard Squadrons against five Diamond class cruisers, three in transport configuration and two as proper cruisers, based off of what Hondo said.

  I clench my jaw as I watch the fighters assemble around us. If this wasn’t an order for an attempted honorable suicide I'd eat my boots. Hondo may be able to show up, but I trusted my friendly privateer to show up on time about as far as I could chuck a Hutt. I needed to fight this unconventionally, overload the droid brains with unknown variables. I'd be damned if I went into the cold night without even trying to win.

  “Awaiting your orders.”

  “Maker preserve us. Jump.” I order.

  Realspace fades away as the swirling blues and whites of hyperspace take over the view of the bridge. I would not allow myself to loose this.

  We had exited hyperspace an hour ago and I had nestled the Little Revenge in a stable nebula just outside the jump point the Separatist convoy would be exiting from. On the opposite side I had the entirety of Hope company stuffed into our two LAATs and the AT-TE/bs alongside Little squadron within a small asteroid field at the edge of the area.

  “Sir, multiple signatures about to exit hyperspace.” The sensors officer says.

  “Prepare the opening volley. I want to hit them before they know what’s going on.” I order.

  A moment later the first Diamond class cruiser exits hyperspace.

  “NOW!” I bark and a salvo of turbolasers soar towards the offending cruiser. The second Separatist cruiser emerges behind the first and the volley of turbolasers smash into their primary target.

  “All ahead full. Fire at will, move Bastard Squadron below us, they’re to wait on my mark to pummel the weakened cruisers. Hold Little Squadron and Hope Company until I give the order.” I command as I watch another Diamond class emerge from hyperspace below the first.

  Another volley of turbolasers soar towards the Separatist ships and impact the shields of their vessels. Finally our angle is right for some of our starboard light turbolasers and heavy lasercannons to join in the next volley. This one too smashes into the Separatist ships, with the final two Diamond class cruisers emerging between us and the rest of the convoy, taking the brunt of the fire.

  Finally the Separatists return fire, the lasers thudding ineffectively against our shields while another volley of Republic turbolaser fire smashes into their shields.

  “Status.” I request.

  “Frontal shields holding steady. Enemy missed seven shots. They’re getting in the way of one another and it appears the actual cruisers don’t have a good lock on us.” Mi-Kus answers.

  “After this volley move to all ahead full. Bring us in the middle of their formation and give Bastard squadron free reign. Deploy Hope Company and Little Squadron to seize the outlying transports. I advise Captain Chain to deploy half his forces in each boarding action.” I order in turn as another Separatist volley of lasers thud against our shields.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Our returning fire smashes into the ships as the Y-Wings emerge from below and soar towards their targets. Meanwhile the R-41 Starchasers and Clone boarding vessels soare out from the asteroid field towards the more exposed cruisers in the rear.

  “Sir, one of the enemy cruisers has broken formation, they’re pulling back to the jump point.” I hear Mi-Kus say and I turn to the tactical display to see it confirmed.

  “Leave it, prioritize the other ships.” I order. I would allow one of them to escape, better one than all of them.

  Another volley passes between the two sets of foes, this time the Little Revenge shudders under the impacts of turbolasers while the Republic fire smash again into the Separatist ships. The Y-Wings finally unload their first payload of proton torpedoes onto the closest Diamond class, causing the ship’s shields to finally shatter under the pressure and parts of her hull to crack and break off as the bombers of Bastard Squadron move on to their next run.

  “Focus fire on the weakened cruiser. Sitrep on the boarding parties.” I order and watch as the next volley of turbolasers smash into the rapidly floundering ships.

  “Captain Chain reports successful contact on both ends. Lieutenant Solo reports all ships still accounted for. Chain has secured his bridge, Lieutenant Bugs reports successful seizure of the other ship’s reactors, Little Squadron is requesting new orders.” I hear from Sergeant Slas.

  “Order the gunners to hold off of the boarded ships. Move Little Squadron to support Bastard Squadron in her attack runs.”

  Another volley of lasers and turbolasers impact our shields as we finally enter the midst of the enemy formation. The Separatist ships surrounding us on all sides and all batteries firing off in tandem at the surrounding vessels. Some of the Separatist cruisers are now trying to come about, but their shape is making it difficult. One of the boarded ships starts firing at the other Separatist ships while the LAATs of the other one detach and soar towards the other boarded Diamond class. A moment later the abandoned cruiser explodes in a fiery display, its debris thudding against the shields of other cruisers.

  “Shields about halfway gone.” One of the Techs reports.

  “Sir, the energy readings of the portside Diamond class is off.” Another voice barks.

  “Focus fire on the portside cruiser, reroute some of the starboard shields to the portside as well and pull the fighters and bombers to the starboard cruiser.” I respond.

  The fighters pull away to unleash a payload of ordnance upon the starboard cruiser as the portside ship continues to take a pummeling. Suddenly the portside vessel detonates in a fire of blues and whites.

  “BRACE!” Mi-Kus and I shout in tandem as the fire sweeps over the ship and the thuds of debris bashing against the shields sound. It lasts for a few moments and I right myself and re-adjusting my officers cap.

  “STATUS!” I bark.

  “Shields have failed, we shielded the last hostile Diamond and the retreating Diamond used the explosion as cover to jump.” Mi-Kus reports dutifully.

  “Sir, the LAAT/cs have been knocked from the captured Diamond. AT-TE/bs still attached and secured.” Sergeant Slas says.

  “Bring us about. Fire all available batteries on the remaining hostile Diamond. Send the LAATs to gather their disturbed brethren.” I order.

  “Bastard Squadron making a run.” Sargent Slas says.

  I turn to look out of the windows to witness the Y-Wings firing off their payloads as their soar above the Diamond class. As they finish their pass the volley of turbolasers smash into the ship, breaking the shields and smashing into the hull. Another volley and the Diamond starts listing. One final volley and the ship’s power signature goes out.

  “Move us and the captured vessel to the Jump point. Have Bastard Squadron finish any remnants off. I want all LAATs to scour the battlefield for escape pods and to deploy explosive charges throughout the battlefield to act as proximity mines.” I order.

  “Sir, should we waste that much time?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “One enemy ship got away from us. I would enjoy ensnaring any foolish patrols sent out to check up on them. Remind me to inform Hondo of the mines.” I answer.

  We spend an hour redeploying Hope Company and some crew to man the captured Diamond class cruiser. Finally we had been fully prepared to return to Dac, leaving four wrecks and a dozen mines in the nameless parcel of space.

  We returned to Dac with a fanfare. An armistice. The Republic and Separatists were conducting the opening stages of peace talks. Senator Bonteri had apparently lobbied the Separatist Parliament to seek peace and the Republic had demanded and received an armistice during the opening negotiations.

  I felt hopeful for the first time in ages. Maybe this war would be over after almost a year and a half. Maybe I could return to Fondor. Maybe I can finally return to quiet patrols. I couldn’t loose my vigilance during the peace talks. I wouldn’t risk it. Maker knew we were using the armistice to push the invasion of Targonn along. I may in fact need to head there soon, since the Jedi General would arrive in system within a week.

  I glance out of the dockyard window, feeling light. The Little Revenge had received a bit more charring after the last battle. Her entire hull was now burnt into a black gray coloring instead of her previous lighter grays. I think I preferred it this way made her seem more imposing, especially when surrounded by brand new ships being slowly churned out by the Rendili Stardrive owned shipyards at Dac never mind the art peaces masquerading as ships that the Mon Calamari make for themselves.

  I had arranged a meeting with the local Government to give a final report on the recent suspicious shipments of Separatist war material we had booth intercepted and found out about. Elix and Luis had scoured the docks and found out that there had been a couple ships that were completely isolated when unloading. Elix had even managed to get one of the guards to spill the contents of one of the transports before he headed back for Fondor. It had been filled with droids.

  I should also request more reinforcements on a more permanent basis again. Maker knows a squadron of battle worthy vessels is not enough to sustain this front, especially if I am also attempting to suppress a revolt before it happens. Maybe I could steal the regiment of trenchdiggers the Jedi was bringing to Targonn. Maybe I could re-route them to Dac for resupply before they need to head out to the newest front? That sounded rather unlikely with my current posting. The Army would likely bristle under a Navy man giving orders like that without the authority of a regional officer.

  Depending on how this meeting goes I’ll need to increase my supply of infantry weapons, boarding shields and explosives. I don’t want to set anything in stone, but if Ringo Vinda was anything to go off of securing the shipyards should stop any secession planetside and if it didn’t I would not allow the Separatists the strategic resource that the shipyards and dockyards present. I’d rather cripple their economy for a generation than allow the Separatists gain the value of them. Though to fully secure them I’d need at least part of the Mon Cala Merchant Fleet to remain loyal to the Republic. I need to draw up battle plans and soon.