Star Wars: Darkness Rising

Chapter 15: Defenders Defence!

Thrawn was on the bridge when the battlegroup arrived at Nirauan. "Status!" he ordered. "All green Grand Admiral!" called one of the bridge officers. Thrawn studied the planet before him. "Are there any ships on sensors?" he asked. "Not that I can see sir" answered another Chiss. Thrawn took a brief look outside. "Widen search, check behind all the moons and planetoids" he ordered. The officer at the sensor station looked doubtful, but did so anyway. "Several ships detected, Grysk warships!" called the officer. Thrawn wasn't surprised. "How long before they are in battle range?" he asked. "Five minutes!" "Place our battlegroup in a blockade formation, all power to shields and weapons, deploy all fighters on a triangular formation and fire all weapons on minimum power! Aim for the chinks in the armour around the bridge! Communications contact Director Ronan and tell him to hold the special weapons in reserve until I call for them" Thrawn instructed. The bridge began to fill with activity as the officers on board rushed to carry out his order. He turned to a Chiss guard. "Inform General Bridger he has ten minutes to get his forces down to the surface!" the guard nodded, and rushed off to find the general. "Ready sir!" called the last officer as soon as they were ready. "Lock targets and fire, lowest power possible" he ordered. A spread of laser and cannon fire lit up the dark void of space. The gunner crews were true to their mark. The first wave of Grysk ships were destroyed as their bridges exploded. "Lock weapons on second wave targets" Thrawn said calmly. "Ready sir!" called the weapons officer. "Fire!" thrawn said. once again, the void lit up with laser and cannon fire, only this time, the ships were ready for it. They raised their shields, and the shots were deflected. "Raise power level, aim for the center of the ships, their shields are weakest there!" Thrawn ordered. "Targets locked sir, enemy ships able to fire in thirty seconds!" called the chief weapons officer. Thrawn watched the ships get closer. "Hold fire, lower forward shields!" he ordered. The bridge crew looked at him for a moment, shock on their faces before doing as he had ordered. "Shields lowered sir; enemy ships are charging weapons!" called an officer. "They're right on top of us!" Thrawn smiled. "All weapons fire, aim for their ships underbellies, then re-raise the shields!" he ordered. "Fighters, you are cleared for assault wave one! Attack in swarm formation!" At this moment, the battle began in earnest. The first wave of starfighters, mostly Clawcraft, rushed forward to meet the Grysk warships head on. "Assault wave two, launch, flank as many ships and disable engines and shield generators!" Thrawn ordered as the Chiss blockade covered the fighters assisting with keeping the enemy warships busy. "Grysk ships launching fighters!" called a sensor officer. "Assault Wave three, Launch!" Thrawn said calmly. Within seconds, the fighters had launched. "Focus fire on their fighters, and observe their flight patterns, then cut them off from their fleet!" he said. The fighters began carrying out their orders instantly. "More Grysk ships coming out of hyperspace sir!" called the sensor officer. Thrawn nodded. "Bring the battlegroup to full battle readiness!" he said, observing the black of space in front of him. "Fire wide salvos, hit as many ships as you can before they get too close to us, then return fire against the closest warships!" he instructed. Within moments, the Chiss battlegroup had begun to fire.

Ezra and Sabine were asleep in Ezra's cabin when the ship jolted awakening them. "Blast!" Ezra cursed, realising what was happening. "Whats going on!?" Sabine asked, barely awake. Ezra gritted his teeth before answering. "The Grysk have arrived!" he hissed angrily. This news woke Sabine up completely. "Where's my armour!?" she demanded. Ezra pointed to a nearby closet. "In there!" he said. The ship jolted again, and before Ezra could say anything, there was a pounding on his door. "General, Grand Admiral Thrawn says you've ten minutes to get your landing craft on to the surface!" called a voice in Cheunh. "Acknowledged, get them launched and on the surface, I'll join them shortly!" he replied, and quickly began grabbing his gear. He clipped his lightsaber to his combat armour's belt, and tossed Sabine her own blade. "You'll need this" he said. "Thanks" Sabine said, putting on her armour. "Meet you on the surface?" Ezra asked. Sabine smiled as she put on her helmet. "Only if you promise to get there unharmed kid!" Sabine said, cocky as usual. Ezra nodded. "Go" he said. Ezra watched Sabine left the cabin and ran for the hanger deck before he activated his comm. "How many enemy ships so far Thrawn?" he asked as he ran to find Ahsoka. Despite their differences, he knew she would be invaluable to help in the coming battle. "I estimate roughly fifty in total so far, all ranging from capital ship class to frigate and freighter class. Several of their ships have been crippled, or destroyed. They are currently preparing to launch landing craft, I suggest you hurry to the surface while I deal with their allies!" replied the Chiss. "Acknowledged!" Ezra replied. The ship rocked and rumbled as he continued moving forwards. "Blast!" Ezra muttered as he struggled to keep his footing. He wasn't surprised his ship was being bombarded so heavily. It didn't take long for him to find Ahsoka, tending to a possibly injured crew member. "Is he alright?" he asked, rushing to her side to help. "He should be fine, was just being certain" she said. Ezra nodded. "Good, leave him for the medics, I need you on a landing craft to help me defend the surface!" he said. he gestured to another crew member running past. "Get him to the medbay to have him checked and then get to your station" he said quickly in Cheunh. "Get to a landing craft" he ordered Ahsoka. When she saw how serious he was, she nodded. Ezra nodded encouragingly at his soldier, and got up, running in the direction of the hanger.