Empire's Vanguard: Sovereignty | Star wars

11. Snake in the Grass - I

"The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise."

Colin Powell

|| Location: Unknown Sector, Unknown System, Classified ||

|| Timeline: 3 ABY ||

My mind raced with calculations and tactical considerations as I paced the length of my quarters aboard the Intrepid. The latest threat to the Empire's stability came from Admiral Zaarin, a discontented officer whose ambitions were as daring as they were perilous. Surrounded by Provocator-Class Heavy Cruisers, Raider-Class Corvettes, Quasar-Class Carriers, and Vindicator-Class Heavy Cruisers that supported the Intrepid, I felt the weight of the Empire's strategic vulnerability pressing heavily upon me.

Admiral Thrawn had called the meeting, and his insights were invaluable. As one of the few commanders with a competitive tactical mind, his input would be crucial in understanding Zaarin's schemes. We gathered in the Intrepid's war room, where holographic displays of the Omar system and the layouts of Zaarin's recent targets filled the walls.

"Grand Moff Kodo," Thrawn greeted, his voice calm and measured. His piercing red eyes scanned the holographic displays with intense scrutiny. "Thank you for meeting on such short notice."

I nodded in acknowledgement, signalling him to proceed. "Admiral Thrawn, I'm eager to hear your briefing on Admiral Zaarin's operations. His recent activities indicate a dangerous level of ingenuity, and I need to grasp his full strategy before we respond."

Thrawn's lips curled into a faint, calculating smile. "Certainly. Zaarin aims to undermine the Empire's technological superiority by targeting key facilities to disrupt our starfighter production capabilities."

I leaned forward, drumming my fingers on the edge of the table. "And what can you tell us about his tactics?"

"Zaarin has shown remarkable strategic insight," Thrawn began, his gaze shifting to the holographic map of the Omar system. "He's exploiting his knowledge of Imperial supply lines and production facilities to cripple our manufacturing. His recent attack on the Sienar Fleet Systems TIE Advanced factories at Omar is a prime example."

The details of the Omar Incident unfolded before us, revealing the positions of the Deep Space Manufacturing Facilities—Omar 1, Omar 2, and Omar 3. "He targeted these stations with a single frigate, the Raptor," I noted. "And you responded with your new flagship, the Sceltor, to oversee the evacuation?"

Thrawn nodded. "Correct. The Raptor's mission was to disable the facilities, halting TIE Advanced fighter production. I directed the evacuation and minimised personnel losses. TIE Defenders from Alpha Squadron were deployed to cover the retreat while Zaarin's TIE Bombers engaged the stations."

"Did Zaarin attempt to reinforce his attack?" I enquired, already considering potential countermeasures.

"Yes," Thrawn replied, his expression steady. "He deployed Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transports to support his bombing runs. However, Alpha Squadron successfully intercepted and neutralised those transports before they could inflict further damage."

I acknowledged Thrawn's effective defence with a nod. "So, despite the damage, you managed to safeguard personnel and preserve some technological advantage."

"Indeed," Thrawn confirmed. "Zaarin's strategy is to exploit our weaknesses and disrupt production, but we have contained the immediate impact."

I studied the holographic projection of the damaged facilities, contemplating our next steps. "What do you propose for our strategy going forward? If we don't adapt, Zaarin's raids will likely continue."