Chapter 38: End Of The Tarkin Doctrine

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“Rogue squadron, report in.” Wedge commed to his comrades. “Rogue two is ready.” “Rogue three is ready…”. One by one their voices came through as they approached the Empire’s own personal guinea pig; Scipio.

Their task was to safeguard the ‘Rebel Hammer’; Princess Leia’s flagship. The Rebel Hammer was a captured Imperial I class star destroyer set to bombard the banking clan vaults while being defended against Ties by Rogue squadron.

The task force was accompanied by three Nebulon-B frigates and an MC-75 star cruiser; set to hold position above the planet while the rest descended lower.

“Existing hyperspace.” A helmsman announced. “Prepare to meet heavy resistance. Have the hangar pilots be ready to also launch.” Leia ordered.

In typical fashion, Rogue squadron opted to fly directly out instead of launching; feeling as that was unproductive by their standards. 

But once they were out of hyperspace, they found no resistance above the planet.

“This doesn’t feel right. A critical Imperial center so lightly defended?” Wedge commented. 

Although concerned, the New Republic taskforce pressed on; about to take advantage of their situation to great effect. Even in their descent, they found nobody to oppose them. Something wasn’t right; not even a single Tie fighter was there.

It was so absurd that the Rebel Hammer was hovering above one of the vaults yet nobody came out to even see what was up with a full star destroyer showing up unannounced and with a New Republic escort.

“Commence bombardment.” Leia ordered. The gunners were quick to act, starting to shell the facility which is protected by a shield?

No sooner had the turbolaser bolts hit the shield, did several hatches swing open; revealing SPHA barrels which opened fire.

“They were expecting us! But how!?” Leia exclaimed, more so to herself than the helmsman and woman. “Princess, the taskforce above is reporting incoming ships.” A helmswoman announced.

“Leave for the task force above and order  Rogue squadron to head for the oncoming hostiles.” She ordered.

“Rogue leader, this is the Rebel Hammer. You are ordered to station yourselves to meet an incoming imperial task force.” Wedge heard over the intercom, urging his squadmates to follow suit.

When the taskforce below, had reached the remaining one in space, they saw four Lancer class frigates and five Carrack class cruisers approaching them.

“Lighter ships? Are we even fighting the Empire anymore.” Wedge questioned. “Rogue squadron, cancel the attack and head for the hangar. Those frigates are too much.” Leia said, canceling her previous order, since she and everybody else was expecting multiple star destroyers as opposed to these much smaller ships with much superior starfighter countermeasures.

“Order a general advance.” Leia called, but before she could even finish, the approaching group split into two.

On one side, two Carracks and a Lancer while the other had three Carracks and a pair of Lancers.

In an attempt to mimic them, she took one Nebulon-B with her to meet the larger task force and had all her starfighters on standby.

The Imps were the first to fire. The Carracks opened up against the lesser task force just outside their own weapons’ range.

The three other Carracks, would charge just to their weapons’ range, fire and scurry back. Using this over and over again.

“Princess, we can’t keep it up like this. They’ll eventually take out shields and the rest of us will be over run.” Her Captain warned. “Order a retrea-” Leia pausex, seeing the Imperial ships break off both engagements and head back. “Order all other ships to converge with the Rebel Hammer.” She said, changing her orders and waiting to see what was to come.

No sooner had the more damaged ships got back to their spots did the Imperial ships turn around to face them once more, leaving a large gap in the middle for seeming reinforcements.

“We’re detecting a new arrival.” A helmsman announced. No sooner had he finished, a star destroyer dropped from hyperspace.

“An Imperial?” She questioned. “Worse. That is a Tector. Pure battleship. No point defense, just guns.” Her Captain corrected in a grim voice.

“the battle is lost. Evacuate all crews and pilots. Leave a droid to ram our taskforce into theirs.” She ordered, leaving the bridge with the crew behind her.

A hyperspace jump wasn’t possible since they were too close to Scipio and were in its mass shadow.

“Lord Vader, the rebels have jetsend. Should we blow them up?” “I can see that myself and no. Let this be a reminder that the Galactic Empire is still the strongest military force in the galaxy.” Vader told the Captain of a Carrack, staring out the small bridge windows.

“Lord Vader! They’ve directed their flotilla to crash into us!” The same Captain said in a panic. “Disperse.” He ordered calmly.

Just in time, all Imperial ships bar the Tector, avoided the incoming ships and the damage suffered by the Tector was a scrape but her guns worked so more damage wouldn’t be sustained.

Now, as the New Republic escape pods were flying through hyperspace, they now understood that, this wasn't Vader as they had known him; chained and shackled by Palpatine's political games. This one was set fully free to unleash pure military might on the galaxy and the first step was ending Tarkin's legacy.

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