Dark Lord: Bride of Vader

Chapter 8: Battle of Rimbor

I do not own any of the Star Wars and DC characters and ideas represented in this work.
"I fight because that is what I was made to do and the Empire is the instrument through which I realize my purpose. The Empire is war made manifest. That is why it is perfect." - Darth Malgus​

Imperial Navy Battlegroup Obsidian Blade exited hyperspace on the outer edge of the Rimbor Star System. Warships with a gray, dull color boomed out of a blue extra-dimensional tunnel and into real space. In front of the wedge-like formation were two Imperial-class I star destroyers. The one in front of them and in charge of the fleet was the flagship of the New Imperial Navy: the Imperial Navy Ship, the INS Eternal Vigilance, the personal ship of the Emperor, Darth Vader. Flanking on her left and right, respectively, were the two ISDs, INS Almeracia and INS Raacal's Sword.

The Eternal Vigilance was a Tector-class star destroyer. Similar in design to an Imperial-I, a Tector traded off its fighter hangars with more armor and a lot more turbolasers. The Tector star destroyers were designed in mind to engage with capital ships only rather than dealing with smaller vessels and starfighters. Its only way of combating against starfighters was its few point-defense systems and requiring an escort screen.

The backbone of this fleet, the Venator-class star destroyers, were numbered at least twelve behind the ISDs. Behind and protected by the Venators were a dozen Acclamator-class assault ships and other transport vessels with thousands of Imperial Army regulars and a few Stormtrooper units within their hulls. Between the Venator formation were Gladiators, Lancers, Victorys, Nebulons, a couple of Dreadnoughts, and even one prototype Recusant-class light destroyer, the INS Patriotic Fist.

Vader had ordered the fleet to drop off at light speed the moment they entered the system so that they could start jamming communications as soon as possible across the entire system. This was so that no reinforcements could be called on by Rimbor. The battlegroup wasn't alone due to this; two smaller task forces were on two separate sides of the system. Not only to help jamming operations but to also lock down the system and to secure Battlegroup Obsidian Blade's approach to Rimbor. Their orders were plain and simple: No transmission and ship alike may leave or come into the system if it isn't Imperial. They have permission to destroy any ship trying to come in or leave, military and civilian.

At the front of the star destroyer's bridge, looking through the transparisteel window, Darth Vader could see the brown dot being suspended in the vacuum of space. The appearance of the ball made from the disgusting color may look unimportant, and in perfect reality it would. But the forces of scum and corruption took a liking to the dirt world, and so it must be cleaned from the slate.

From reconnaissance reports, Rimbor's defenses mainly consisted of commercially available military hardware. Light cruisers and frigates made up the bulk of the defense fleet, along with mercenaries and pirates periodically being hired. The only threat that could be considered was Rimbor's main capital ship, a purchased Gordanian Class-7 Cruiser. A ship was in the design of a ball with four dorsal fins on its sides; its main armament other than medium and point defense batteries were two prong-like heavy laser cannons that were mounted in front of the ship for engaging capital ships.

Command staff was worried that it might be dangerous against a star destroyer; its heavy cannons were known to cause trouble at long distances. Vader heeded but did not let these concerns get to him; Rimbor's defenses were less than mediocre regardless. A ship like this Class-7 might prove a challenge to a star destroyer, but in the hands of scoundrels and criminals, its efficiency will be drastically diminished.

The Battlegroup now at the halfway point to Rimbor, Vader called out to the admiral of this formation, "Admiral Ultraa."

A man in his late thirties and having an unremarkable appearance walked out of the command suite of the bridge and next to Vader. He stopped and bowed in his new imperial gray uniform, "Yes, my emperor."

"Halt the fleet here and have the Vultures lock themselves on the Star Destroyers' hulls. Send out a transmission to Rimbor in all frequencies so they can hear it. The planetary government has one hour to surrender their military and power to the Empire, if they accept, mercy can be granted. But if they refuse, they will receive none afterwards."

"Of course, My emperor." Ultraa motioned to the communications station in one of the bridge's control trenches, and the comm officer relayed the message in a subspace transmission.

Fifty minutes passed, and in between Vader ordering the call to surrender and receiving the reply, Imperial Vultures exited out the two ISDs' hangars to space. When reaching the hulls, they went onto their walker modes and latched themselves to the star destroyers. Hundreds of Vulture droids on each ISD patiently waited for their next electronic communication command. They scanned nearby space for targets as if they were birds of prey, perched up onto the hulls like on top of a forest's canopy, searching for prey.

When Ultraa returned with the reply, Vader wasn't surprised. "My emperor, the Rimborese government declared that we are in their sovereign territory and demanded we leave. They have no formal answer to your orders."

Vader expected a hive of cowards and crooks to give up when a real significant power arrives, as their greed for wealth wouldn't be able to stop a turbolaser shot. This is why he gave them the privilege of surrendering, so that they all could get this over with. But it would appear they were not that cowardly.

"Very well." Vader said. "Begin the assault, Admiral."

Ultraa bowed, "Yes, my Emperor!" He started to give out orders to the comm center. The order of the assault had begun.

The Eternal Vigilance led the formation deeper into the system as cruisers readied their fighter wings for takeoff. The Battlegoup started to pick up the increased pace, heading towards the ugly ball. The bridge was busy with comm chatter, orders, and commands being relayed to other parts of the fleet. Several of the Venators went in line with the ISDs while the rest continued to have a fair distance to protect the transport ships.

When in view, Rimbor was seen alongside her defenses. An orbital weapons platform was behind the Rimbor PDF fleet. A vast array of ships that had no quality control and seemed more like a band of pirates were in the Imperial fleet's way of taking Rimbor. Very few Rimbor ships were in military design, one of them was the Class-7 Gordanian cruiser.

When the Rimbor fleet was close enough, turbolasers from the ISDs, Venators and their proton torpedo salvos, and the Recusant with its long-range prow turbolaser cannon opened fire onto the mishmashed Rimbor fleet.

Hot bolts of green energy raced through the cold void and collided against a good portion of the fleet. Some of their shields buckled and their hulls were ruptured; smaller ships didn't survive during the first minutes of the volley. Proton torpedoes targeted some of the bold corvettes and smaller vessels that attempted to break formation and head towards the Imperial line but were blown up in clouds of superheated gasses.

As their numbers were getting reduced and the Imperial formation getting closer, the Rimbor fleet was in range to fire as well. Bolts of many colors crossed the space in between and crashed onto the star destroyers' shieldings. Vader felt the light rumble of the Eternal Vigilante's shielding getting hit but stabilizing during the barrage.

Most of the shaking was caused by the Gordanian cruiser's heavy frontal laser cannons. Though the star destroyers' shielding will hold as well their armored hulls, it was a considerable threat to the smaller ships. Vader raised a hand, and the order was given to release the vultures from their roosts and attack the enemy. Vulture droids chattered to each other in anticipation, then unlatched themselves and dashed towards the Rimbor fleet. A large cloud of droids emerged from the star destroyers and began moving towards Rimbor.

Energy bolts and flak destroyed some of their numbers but could stop the storm of droids. Rimbor sent their own starfighters that were just as aftermarket junk as their capital ships. The cloud of vultures swallowed the Rimborese star fighters, their momentum not stopping; their losses could be seen by small balls of fire lighting space like sparks from fireworks, but the screen of Rimbor fighters was totally devastated and was no threat to the Vulture droids. The pilots that did survive the clashes were chased by packs of Vultures who gave no mercy as their programming wouldn't have the definition of it.

The very few survivors that were trying their best not to be slaughtered by the droids will get no relief because behind the swarms of Vultures are formations of TIE-Interceptors and Hunters that were tasked to 'mop up' the leftovers. TIE engines screamed through space and engaged with the very few Rimbor pilots left who had no chance of recovery or mounting a proper counterattack with the relentless Imperial green fire. Multiple dog fights ensued but only lasted for a handful of minutes, Imperial casualties were at the minimal while nearly the entire Rimborese Star-Fighter Corps was crushed under thirty minutes.

When the last Rimbor fighter was destroyed, an electronic order was signaled to the Vultures that their primary objective was to continue searching for enemy starfighters and destroy them, while their secondary objective was to harass the enemy's larger vessels with their discord missiles.

They did so, maneuvering around larger ships in search of prey while some fighters fired their buzz-droid-filled missiles at helpless cruisers who had no fighters to protect them. Blue streaks trailed from the rampaging missiles and detonated near their targets. Instead of what some might think was shrapnel that erupted from the missiles' explosion, it was actually large metal orbs infiltrating the ships' shields and unballing themselves to reveal their three red photoreceptors, their skinny legs, their many tools of sabotage, and their psychopathic, mocking, hyena-like laughter.

Ships that had a buzz-droid infestation on their hulls were like meandering beasts infected with many large lice. The droids went to work; they began to target communication arrays, cutting dishes apart. They used saws to cut off turrets' cannons and rip apart their swivel rings. Some used their control rods to drill into the hulls and began transmitting computer viruses to their hosts' electronics or shutting down controls. Because of this new threat, none of the hired pirates, contracted mercenaries, or official sailors were prepared for this kind of warfare, for their shields were penetrated by the droids and their weapons systems were too large to defend against the mechanical pests.

Many Rimbor casualties after the battle were not created by starfighters dogfighting or capital ship engagements. The after-review reports claimed that the main bulk of Rimborese deaths can contribute to the buzz-droid swarms. Sabotage droids that plagued Rimbor starships killed their quarry by shutting down their prey's life support systems, cracking through their observation windows to let the vacuum of space suck up the crew, overriding the ships' controls so that they crash into one another, or shutting down the ship so that an Imperial boarding party may take it over.

Most of the Rimbor ships that saw their comrades suffer the buzz-droids became terrified at the droids as well as some Imperials, for they were thankful that this weapon was on their side.

Many Rimbor ships, from which they maneuvered and fought, attempted to flee from the battle, but this was a foolish attempt. A detached section of Venators and Dreadnoughts made a half-ring around battle, along with Lancers and Gladiators. This half circle of armor and turbolasers boxed in the Rimbor fleet so that they only had two choices: either head towards the Imperial line or run back to Rimbor; some attempted the former.

Some aftermarket cruisers tried to go out of formation but were harassed by TIE-Bombers that were armed with proton bombs and discord missiles. Those strong enough to survive the swarms of torpedoes and buzz-droids were met with unrelenting fires of turbolasers from Venators, Dreadnoughts, and the Patriotic Fist.

The ISDs, Venators, Victory star destroyers, and the Eternal Vigilance began their push towards Rimbor; the cruisers that made the half circle also closed the gap, making a choking point where the Rimbor fleet will have no else to go other than fight or retreat to planet side.

Some surviving Rimbor pilots lingered and did their best to protect their escorts, but Lancers and TIE pilots drove multiple attacks to their dwindling numbers. Imperial cruisers and Rimbor ships were now at broadside distances, coming close to each other as laser fire sprinkled between space. Some lighter Imperial starships like Nebulons and Arquitens were badly damaged, and a few got destroyed; two Venators were wounded as well from the close range broadside duels, but that wasn't compared to the numbers that Rimbor lost.

Venators broadsided Rimbor cruisers; their heavy turbolasers pounded onto their shields and ripped apart the ships. Victories sent concussion missiles at unfortunate targets who received them en masse. The Patriotic Fist went further into the formation that used to be the enemy's battle lines. The automated ship with its droid brain detected a weak point in their defense and aggressively charged into the Rimbor fleet. Its heavy turbolaser located at it's prow discharged at whatever and whenever it could reach, its batteries firing wildly. Vulture droids that latched onto its hull with a few Tri-Fighter on racks and unplugged themselves caused chaos on the corvette and frigate screens.

A Venator was also wreaking major havoc on the Rimbor fleet; a special prototype Venator cruiser in the name of the INS Almaara's Shield boldly cut through enemy ranks and blasted its heavy turbolaser cannons at the enemy. Much like how the ISD had an up-armored and armed version of itself like the Tector-class, this version was the same as the Venators.

This Type II had no large hangar the Venator-class is associated with in the front hull, instead, large doors don't open in exchange for more armor and turbolasers. Where the hangar used to be, eight more Dual DBY-827 heavy turbolaser turrets were placed there along with more cannons, ion batteries, and point defense systems. Almaara's Shield is the only ship of her class at the moment.

The Eternal Vigilance, Racaal's Sword, Almeracia, Almaara's Shield, Patriotic Fist, and Venators the INS Maximec, Blood Royale, Stargazer, Imperial Justice, and Carnonite's Bane demolished the Rimbor formation with their green fire and proton torpedoes. Whatever wasn't caught in their firing vectors, rendered useless by buzz-droids, or taken apart when trying to flee. Surviving cruisers and smaller ships retreated backward to the space station as a last stand.

The Gordanian cruiser were sending volleys from their heavy cannons at the Imperials, managing to penetrate a Venator's shields and blast a few rounds into its hull. The rest of the Rimbor fleet, with whatever they had left, the space station was participating as well, sending battery volleys to the Imperial fleet.

Vader decided this was his chance to take the stress out of him.

"Prepare my ship and my escort." He said, now turning his back from the battle outside the window, which lasted up untill then for hours, he was loud enough for Ultraa and the ship's captain to hear.

Both looked worried and confused, and Ultraa said, "My emperor, is that wise decision? Perhaps it's best too..." he didn't finish his sentence when Vader whirled around to face the admiral, and Ultraa understood the meaning. "Of course, My Emperor," he bows, "it'll be done."

He motioned to the captain, and the ship's commander transmitted orders to have Vader's wingmen prepare for flight. The Dark Lord exited the bridge and made his way towards the ship's only hangar bay. At the sliding door that led to the large room were two TIE pilots standing with their helmets off for the moment alongside two stormtrooper guards.

On the left was Major Primaa of the Imperial Starfighter Corps. From Neu-Tamarae, she is considered to be one of Almerac's top pilots before the creation of the New Empire. Winning all sorts of piloting awards and being involved with engagements with pirates and bandits, she racked up an impressive record despite being a female, where the male-centric society of Almerac would make it difficult for anyone else.

When her fighter wing was retrofitted to have the new TIE-Interceptors, not only was she the first to get incredibly well at it, but she was the first pilot in the New Empire to destroy an enemy in the TIE when a skirmish happened some weeks prior. Her skills were so great that Vader saw her out, promoted her from captain to major, and made her his personal wingman.

The other TIE pilot was his stepcousin, Duke of Tae Tamarac and cousin to his wife, and a Junior Lieutenant in the Imperial Starfighter Corps, Kristoph. Vader doesn't have much to say about the boy; he was weaker than Maxima, telepathically and physically, had some skill in piloting, but was ultimately unremarkable.

He supposed that he brought him along so that he could keep an eye on him, seeing how the boy has some interesting thoughts about Vader.

"The battle will soon be complete," the Sith Emperor said, "The enemy's fighters are destroyed with most of their fleet, I want to see the final victory at hand."

Major Primaa bowed, "As you wish, my emperor."

Kristoph kept adjusting the crotch area of his black pilot flightsuit. "I'm just getting used to this suit; isn't there a size bigger?" He looked up to Vader as if that was his main concern.

Vader had to fight the urge of grabbing the boy by the throat and telling him all of the pain and discomfort the Sith had to go through for years in his own suit. His only response was to walk past the boy to reach the hangar, and Primaa gave the duke a look of annoyance.

Entering the small hangar, he got into his TIE-Advanced with Major Primaa and Kristoph getting onto their own TIE-Avengers. Starting the ship up, multiple buttons were pressed that warmed up the ship, and he thrust forward outside from the hangar with his escort behind him. Space outside of the Eternal Vigilance was a cacophony of weaving energy; blossoms of light erupted far in the distance; and vultures and TIEs preyed upon whatever fighters were left.

Almaara's Shield was still going through enemy lines head-on, spraying emerald bolts of deadly energy at helpless ships and neutering them with its ion cannons. Much like how the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker modified some of the Republic Open Circle Fleet Venators to have a SPHA superlaser at the ventral hangers, it was the same for Almaara's Shield, a modification Vader did as well to increase her firepower even more so. She went above one of the very few Rimbor pirate cruisers left; a tight, long beam of green energy exited out of the hangar bay and to the cross section of the marauder cruiser. A massive cloud of heat and debris was birthed from the cruiser; the ship was torn apart and split in half by the beam. It spiraled downward to Rimbor with the planet's gravity well taking the corpse ship to its surface.

Vader effortlessly moved and turned around through the crumbling wreckage, Primaa though less gracefully, did as well; and Kristoph had to go around the flaming ship pieces. Away from the destroyed boat, Vader could see the Gordanian cruiser along with the space defense platform and the very few ships mounting a last ditch defense.

During his time studying the Milky Way, Vader suspected that the Gordanians would not like the new galactic order the Sith would establish, for it would destroy their position in the galaxy and the status quo they thrived under. They will be an enemy for sure. The cruiser was the main force of their navy, as it was reported by Thangarians in their generational conflict. Because of this, Vader wanted the cruiser to be as unharmed as it possibly could during its capture for study. They will have to look for weaknesses and exploits if the New Empire plans to rid the galaxy of such animals.

He pressed into his TIE's comm and ordered through the frequency, "Admiral Ultraa,"

"Yes, my Emperor?" Ultraa's voice entered through the comm channel.

"Alert all commands: the assault will continue towards Rimbor, destroy everything and leave no prisoners alive. But I want that Gordanian cruiser captured and undamaged. Send a squadron of Tri-Droids to my coordinates."

"Of course, my lord." Ultraa's voice disappears.

Vader switched channels to the one that he was connected to, Primaa and Kristoph. "Listen well, we have a new task at hand. I want that Gordanain vessel under Imperial control. The fleet will hold off its attack until the ship is ours. Tri-Fighters will help us in this endeavor."

"I understand, my emperor." Primaa said.

The annoying voice of Vader's step cousin entered the voice channel, "Wait a minute...aren't the other squadrons going to help us?"

"No," Vader bluntly replied, "They will protect the fleet as a starfighter screen until we deal with the last line of defense."

"What?!" Kristoph's voice sounded off in a disbelieving manner. "Just the three of us against those cruisers?"

Vader wanted to force choke the duke he was related to by marriage out of his annoying attitude and lack of understanding the needs of the situation, but his promise to Maxima of not hurting him was holding back that desire.

Vader and his TIE escort were now approaching the last line of defense that made up the Rimbor Defense Fleet. Flak and energy bolts passed and detonated around them. The purchased Gordanian flagship was becoming a bigger globe by each second. "Let us hope then, boy..." Vader said before fully submerging himself into the force, "That Almerac's royal blood in you, will keep you from dying."