Star Wars: Crimson Commander

Chapter Two: A New Conflict

Locke Terroz:
6 ABY, Empty Space - Outer Rim

After opening his bedroom door, Locke could hear the sounds of klaxons blaring throughout the ship. He saw several officers rush past him to get to their stations. The fleet had been out on red alert. But for what? The New Republic's largest fleet was stationed in the core right now, they wouldn't have anything to have the whole fleet readying for what looked like a huge upcoming battle... or could they?

Locke's intelligence officers have been hearing rumors about a 'Super Star Destroyer Killer'. Locke had thought these rumors were merely propaganda, but now he was rethinking this. It would make sense after all, Locke thought, while speed walking to the bridge, not many newly built capital ships have been coming off NR production. And no non-NR persona have been able to enter Kuat or Mon Cala space for almost a year now.

As the doors to the bridge almost silently slid open, Admiral Donovan Valentine turned to see Locke marching towards him. "Commander on deck!", Valentine yelled before approaching Locke. "Grand Moff, the New Republic fleet has been holding position outside of firing range since they arrived. It seems they're waiting for someone, sir."
"Or something... activate all of our sentry Interdictors. It might not be too late to stop whatever is coming."
Surrounding the fleet are 25 Interdictor-Cruisers each over 50 lightyears away at strategic points. Each are accompanied by at least a Victory-Class Star Destroyer for protection.
"I already did when the NR fleet came out of hyperspace, sir. But we've lost contact Sentry Squadron-8 since then. We have attempted to hail them, but no response. We've sent a Arquitens-Cruiser, the Night Blade, out to investigate. It should be exiting hyperspace shortly."
"It's already too late", Locke responded while leaning over a holo table displaying the two fleets. "Have the fleet arranged in a defensive position around the Imperial Fist. Don't deploy a fighter screen but have all pilots ready to take off.", the Moff called out before turning back to Admiral Valentine. "And what happened to the new recruits?"
"Some fled, but I ordered the rest to head to Geonosis and wait for orders."
"How many had arrived?", Locke said while thinking of a battle plan.
Valentine pulled out his datapad and started to skim through it. "18 light freighters, 12 bulk cruisers, 2 corvettes, 4 frigates, 1 Victory-Class Star Destroyer, 1 Venator-Class Star Destroyer, and 2 Imperial Star Destroyers so far. More ships should be forcefully taken out of hyperspace by our interdictors soon."
"Have the Interdictors shut down their fields and retreat to Geonosis. Also prepare hyperspace calculations to Geonosis, I want us out of here within the hour.", Locke stated while removing himself from the holotable.
"We're running, sir?", Valentine hesitantly asked. He'd never seen Locke run from a battle before, no matter what the odds were.
"Retreating, Admiral. Alert Teradoc to bring his fleet into the Geonosis asteroid belt and wait for orders there."
Valentine stood there for a moment, wondering what the Grand Moff was thinking. It'd be suicide to send a fleet into a asteroid belt, but Valentine also didn't want to have the same fate as one of the advisers. "Of course, sir, I'll contact him right away. And we're ready to jump to hyperspace at your command."
"We'll wait, I want to see if my presumptions are correct..."
"Of course sir...", Valentine said while walking away.

It had been almost 20 minuets until Locke had found out he was correct. A large ship; around half the size of an SSD, but almost twice as wide; of Mon Cala design had come out of hyperspace. It had dwarfed all the other ships in the New Republic fleet. Terroz looked out at the large ship, wondering how the New Republic had gotten the funds to build it.

"Grand Moff!", a young officer called out, "The New Republic flagship is attempting to hail us, should we answer?"
Locke debated the decision for a moment, but made up his mind. "Answer them. I want to speak with their commanding officer". After a moment of waiting a tall young looking man appeared in front of Locke as a blurry blue-grey hologram. "Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?", the Grand Moff sarcastically said while observing the man. He was a NR officer, but there was something different about him. He was wearing a rank plaque, but not a uniform. Instead of their tan uniforms he was wearing combat armor and a long trench coat.
The man smirked. "General Brion Kular, at your service", he said while bowing. "You've got yourself a nice fleet there Grand Moff. It'd be quite a shame if something were to happen to it."
"And you haven the quite the flagship, General.", Locke said, amusing Kular. "I've heard rumors of the New Republic creating a 'Super Star Destroyer killer', but I haven't believed them till now. What's her name?"
"We call her the Star Talon! She's the first of many Viscount-Class Star Defenders, built to destroy SSDs like the one you have there."
"I would love to see a demonstration, General, but I have more important things to deal with. Not scum like you.", Moff Locke says while shutting off the hologram. "Make the jump to hyperspace."
The fleet starts to jump away, one ship after another, until all that remains is the Imperial Fist until it too jumped away.

Brion Kular:
6 ABY, Empty Space - Outer Rim

"Huh. I was really expecting him to attack.", General Kular said, while turning towards the ship's Mon Cala Captain. "Alert Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar that the plan is going as planned. Also tell them I'll be departing aboard the Golden Valkyrie and commencing radio silence for part two of the plan shortly."
The Mon Calamarian nods and walks away.
Brion looks out from the command deck of the Viscount and saw a damaged Victory Star Destroyer come out of hyperspace in front of the fleet. "Looks like my ride is here", he muttered while getting up from the command seat and sighing. "I have a bad feeling about this..."