The Life and Legend of Admiral Trench

Chapter 4

"Torpedoes locked and closing", TI-99 called out.

Trench looked up at the viewscreen. Sure enough, the formerly cloaked ship had fired four missiles at the bridge of the Invincible.

The Admiral waved dismissively.

"Activate the shields."

None too soon.

The impact from the torpedoes almost knocked him off his feet but the Harch could care less. The Invincible was completely unscathed. The attack was a worthy effort, considering the desperate state the enemy was in, but far from enough. A cloaking device was ingenious, certainly something that had not entered his calculations since the Republic had outlawed them decades ago, after the Malastare debacle.

So much for abiding by their own rules.

Foolish scum.

The experimental thermoshields had already proved quite effective against the Venator's turbolasers earlier. Puny torpedoes were obviously not going fare any better. The enemy commander must have thought he could use the element of surprise to get in a first strike.

An unfortunate mistake.

One that might very well cost the Republic whatever advantage they had hoped to gain.

Trench quickly gave his own orders:

"Fire the ventral cannons!"

Seconds later, he watched a set of concussion missiles arc their way towards the enemy vessel, which was veering off its original path and releasing several flares. The Admiral watched with a mixed feeling of appreciation and frustration as the missiles locked onto them and blew up while the Republic ship recloaked with no apparent damage.

He had to admit that the enemy commander was quite intriguing, replete with a series of unorthodox and annoying tactics. Trench was somewhat curious as to the identity of his opponent. In fact, whoever this being was reminded him of an old antagonist...

The Harch tore himself away from his reminiscing and quickly reevaluated.

Gesturing at the spot where the ship had vanished, he bellowed:

"Fire a spread of lasers."

For the next several minutes, he watched as the turbolaser batteries sent streams of plasma along various intersecting routes to envelop the cloaked ship's last determined location. Finally, the Admiral beckoned for them to stop. 

TI-99 looked down at a monitor, then turned to Trench.

"Scans are coming up negative. We missed."

Completely nonplussed, Trench grinned. The efforts of the Invincible's gunners had not been completely wasted. His previous evaluation of the enemy commander had proven to be rather accurate.

An assessment certainly worth exploring.

"Yes, but we have learned something. Something useful. No clone could have successfully flown through that many lasers."

TI-99 regarded him quizzically

The Harch paused, memories of a battle long past echoing through his head, then answered the droid's unstated question.

"We are dealing...with a Jedi."

He began moving towards the bridge holoprojection pad.

"Sir---", TI-99 began.

"Patch me into the comm channel. Open frequency."

Time for a proper introduction.

"Ready, Admiral."

Trench sighed, then nodded to begin the recording.

"I am Admiral Trench. If you are listening, Jedi, you've made a bold move and a grave mistake. I appreciate your decision to face me ship-to-ship. To play this little game."

Quite a game indeed.

"It's been so long since I had a worthy opponent."

All the more exceptional considering I hold all the cards.

"You have an impressive new vessel."

The Harch clicked his mandibles menacingly.

"But I warn you, I have dealt with its kind before. Your technology will not save you and your friends on the planet below will perish as a result of your failure. The people of Christophsis and her resources shall join the Separatist Alliance.

Turn back now, retreat while you can or I...am your DOOM!"

Trench stepped off the pad and motioned to the droid to finish the recording.

"Transmit the message on a continuous rotating band."

TI-99 obeyed, then turned to face the Harch.

"I calculate the Jedi will not turn back as you request, Admiral."

Trench snorted.

Droids.

"Of course not. I do not expect him to. He'll be back. A stealth ship could have easily passed through our blockade. This Jedi chose to attack."

The Admiral's brow furrowed, then relaxed.

"Keep the comm signal running and recalibrate the scanners to detect low-frequency magnetic signatures. And activate the shields as soon as the enemy ship decloaks. "

"Yes, sir."

Not long now. 

Not if I know anything about this kind of Jedi.