Set two years after the battle of Jakku in 7ABY, we follow a Fighting Squadron "Dagger" stationed aboard an imperial Arquitens-class light cruiser. We follow our main character, Squadron Leader Dayn Fennel... an experienced veteran of the now infamo...
In the hangar of the cruiser, Venture... stood a young Imperial Star Fighter Corps Officer. He had been pondering a recent event hours earlier. This pilot was in command of a Tie Fighter squadron, nicknamed Dagger squadron: Staff officers in this squadron wielded TIE/LN Interceptors whilst the regular pilots wielded the standard line fighters. Not much of this mattered anymore, who flew what- they were lucky that they had tie fighters at all. Much of the main fleet at being destroyed at The Battle Of Jakku two years earlier, Gallius Rax had disgraced the empire... by stupidly using what resources they had left to try and fight that battle. Dayn Fennell had only been a Flight Captain then, he wasn't even a squadron commander! He had been a section leader, and was also a Battle Of Endor veteran. Fennell had been a pilot aboard the Executor, the SSD destroyed during the engagement. He had watched in horror that day as his friends helplessly died- as an A-Wing star fighter plowed into the command bridge. It had been three years since that battle. The Empire had lost the war, and what was left of it were fractured into small fragments known as Remnants.
He and his men were under the overall leadership of Rear Admiral, Kerrel Lannen... Lannen had been a Line Captain at the Battle Of Endor. Lannen however, had lost his ship... when it was assigned to support the assault on the Nadiri dockyard. His ship had been destroyed by a Starhawk, ships which were considered legends for single handedly destroying Star Destroyers. However, because he had used his ship to bid for time... by taking on the Star Hawk- Kerrel was promoted to Rear Admiral and was ordered to take a task force to the Unknown regions.
Months later, the Battle of Jakku occurred... and the New Republic and what remained of the Imperial Navy battled it out- the New Republic ultimately won the battle. And Jakku becoming a graveyard, for hundreds of destroyed Imperial ships. A ground war ensued for months after though, with the 32nd Infantry Division of the Imperial Army and 1st Stormtrooper Division fighting for months on the hot desert surface of the planet- the ground war also ended in defeat. What was left of the Imperial forces surrendered to the New Republic, and soon after a treaty was signed.
This effectively ended the Galactic Civil War, and finally brought supposed 'Peace' to the Galaxy after five years of total war. An unimaginable number of lives had been lost, both from the Imperial forces... as well as the New Republic (formerly the Rebel Alliance). For months after, Imperial Remnants began popping up after- notably the remnant under the command of Rear Admiral Lannen.
After being sent into the unknown regions, Kerrel took Fennell with him... promoted him to Squadron Leader and gave him command of Dagger Squadron. They immediately began attacks on freighters- anything that supported the New Republic. These attacks persisted for a year after Jakku, until losses started to mount- planetary security forces got old Alliance Star-fighters, and began to fight back. Lannen called off operations, and fled back into the unknown regions.
As Dayn continued to stand in the hangar, watching as maintenance crews worked on TIE's and shuttles. A deck crewman approached him, and would say.
" Squadron Leader, the Admiral has requested your presence on the Bridge... he's asked me to escort you. "
Dayn was puzzled, he could only wonder what his superior needed from him... he however did in fact long for action- they hadn't even been allowed on patrols as of recently. The fleet was low on fuel, and very few Imperial sympathizers were left to give them what they needed. Therefore, that had been the present reason for no patrols. Fuel conservation was the main concern at the moment.
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As Dayn entered the bridge, he observed the officers and enlisted ratings working in the data pits... not even looking up from their screens as he entered the bridge. There were crew doing various tasks all around the bridge. Everyone in this remnant had a task, the preservation of the Empire- even if it was small menial tasks that meant the continuation of their operations to terrorize worlds loyal to the New Republic- a corrupt government that claimed they wanted 'peace' but were no better than the previous regime. Rear Admiral Lannen stood at a Holo table, a map of the galaxy was what was in the blue glow.
" Ahh Mister Fennell, glad of you to join me... I have a task for you and your unit- can you handle that? "
Dayn nodded his head, Lannen would then say.
" A fueling depot only operated by a small crew, and a contingent of defense contractors has been reported around Bespen... we need you to escort a Death Trooper Platoon and a Replenishment vessel to the station. And distract the defense forces guarding it- it's our last chance before our fuel runs out next rotation. I understand your squadron wants action- plus I know I can count on you to see the job through. "
Fennell smirked, this is what he and his squadron had wanted... a mission. It had been two months since an operation like this. These were costly though- and fuel conservation was also on the mind. Plus he cared about the safety of his men.
" Dayn... if this mission fails, you and the replenishment vessel will be stranded- if that happens... you're ordered to not let the ship nor your men fall into enemy hands. Is that understood? "
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" Sir, I understand the risks... we'll get this done. And the fleet will have its fuel. For the empire! "
Dayn saluted, Lannen returned his salute and dismissed the man. He walked down the corridor of the Light cruiser towards his quarters. The mission was tomorrow- he had to prepare his men... they could possibly not be coming back from this. His mind dozed off, as he fell asleep and began to think back of the fateful day above Endor...
