Nine years, nine months, and thirty-one days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-four years, nine months, and thirty-one days after the Great Resynchronization.
(Five months and sixteen days since the Arrival.)
In the distant past, the Thanium Sector bore a different name, which few people remember now, besides professional historians.
The Thanium Worlds.
Originally, the Thanium Worlds were a region independent of the Tion Cluster or the Old Republic.
In its current size, the Thanium Sector is comparable to the territories that once constituted the Thanium Worlds.
Like a significant part of the history of the sectors in the northeastern part of the galaxy, the history of this sector was tied to the name of Xim the Despot, who conquered these territories about twenty-five thousand years ago.
He significantly expanded the region and made it the industrial engine of his empire.
After Xim's death, his Empire fell apart, and the Thanium Worlds took the opportunity to declare themselves independent of any government.
Nor did they tie their history to the Tion Cluster, as most of the fragments of Xim's Empire did.
Despite the fact that the word "Thanium," brought here by Xim, was preserved in the name, too little of the past conquest's legacy remained on the planets themselves, and now only a few can imagine the scale of the Despot's conquests.
The Galactic Empire, without a doubt, controlled this territory with an iron fist.
After Endor, power over some of the planets was seized by Warlord Zsinj, and after his fall, a significant number of the worlds declared their independence.
While other worlds, like Draukize, headed to Coruscant at the maximum possible speed, begging for membership in the New Republic.
Naturally, their petition was granted, and up until the start of Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign, Draukize was a full member of the young democratic state.
Which is what attracted a Star Destroyer to it, striking the New Republic's military base on the planet.
With the onset of the acute phase of the Grand Admiral's campaign, Draukize and other worlds of the Thanium Sector chose to withdraw from the New Republic and were now neutral.
They were not concerned with Imperials, Dominionists, or even Republicans.
At least, that's what they reported, not wanting to attract the increased attention of any of the aforementioned parties.
But intelligence data says the exact opposite.
A New Republic fleet group is in orbit of Draukize.
And the same picture is observed in a number of other systems.
Most likely, Coruscant managed to somehow convince these beings to at least provide temporary anchorage for the flotillas blockading Lianna.
Taking turns relieving each other, these detachments intercepted ships heading to that planet, and also pulled out of hyperspace those departing from the headquarters of a well-known shipbuilding company.
It was in Draukize's orbit that Task Force Alpha was stationed, having returned three hours ago from patrolling the Parlemian Trade Route.
Among the other groups of the New Republic fleet, Alpha was not particularly remarkable.
The same two MC80a Star Cruisers Liberty, four Corellian corvettes, a couple of extra squadrons of X-wings.
That was the exact composition all the blockade groups could boast when they were first sent here.
Now, however, the operational formations are not marked by uniformity — General Bel Iblis took almost all combat-ready ships to counter the Dominion and the Imperials.
But still, Alpha Group had that very seed that distinguished it from the others.
The only thing that drew attention to Alpha Group was the type and name of its flagship.
An Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, captured from the Empire in the past, bore its proud name, given to it even during its keel-laying at the Kuat Drive Yards.
The New Republic government did not dare to change it, leaving it for propaganda purposes.
The fact is, this Interdictor was called... the Interdictor.
The first ship of its type in a rather extensive series of its brethren.
Armed standardly, it escaped disarmament and use as a cargo ship (as befell many Imperial starships) only because the quartet of gravity well generators took up a large volume of internal space.
"This bantha is not worth a quarrel with the Tusken Raiders" it was this proverb that became the reason why ships of this series, as well as interdictor cruisers, were not disarmed for the most part.
And now, the multi-thousand crew of the ship, having completed checks of all systems, dispersed to their duties, knowing that going on watch would proceed as usual and nothing foreshadowed disaster...
The wail of the battle stations alarm stunned the Republic officers and specialists for a second, and then, as the first volleys of turbolasers crashed down on the Interdictor, humans and other beings rushed to their battle stations.
Those who made it to the bridge could behold a proton torpedo hurtling into the command center, while a diving Scimitar bomber turned away, returning to the Star Destroyer Imperious.
Having arrived in the system at the head of an operational task force consisting of two Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers and five Corellian corvettes, the former ship of Eric Shohashi opened the Dominion's hunting season on the New Republic blockade forces.
* * *
No more than five minutes had passed since the sound of the battle stations buzzer when Moff Joshua Victus found himself in the Lianna defense control center.
"Report!" he barked at the duty officer.
"Thirty-six Mon Calamari Star Cruisers have emerged from hyperspace," the officer said quickly. "MC80, MC80a, MC80b. They've deployed a blocking formation. Launched starfighters and..."
"The type!"
"Sir?" The confused officer stared at him with eyes like a bantha, clearly not understanding the nature of the question.
Or its subtext.
"The type of small craft launched from the enemy ships!" Joshua snarled, stepping up to the holoprojector displaying a three-dimensional white-blue map of the near-planet space closest to Lianna.
The planet's sphere, surrounded by a planetary shield that someone with brains had managed to raise, two dozen Golan-II type defense platforms and twelve of the third modification.
Six Carrack-class patrol cruisers, already reduced to wreckage by the enemy... Two dozen Guardian, Overseer, and Bayonet-class cruisers already engaged in battle with the enemy's starfighters, covering the orbital defense stations.
On the far side of the planet, where dozens of the company's combat ships were guarding the orbital assembly yards, a dozen heavy cruisers were already moving to enter the fight.
Everything was happening exactly according to the plan he had devised.
The main part of the company's ships held position on the far side of the orbit, protecting the assembly yards and mobile shipyards from attack. They would not move for one simple reason — they had no need to engage in battle.
Three dozen Avenger-class heavy cruisers were already moving to the battle site, to, together with the Golan cannons, delay the enemy until the arrival of the mercenaries, whose fleet was half an hour from Lianna.
A small trick to conceal the presence of additional forces from a hypothetical enemy.
And two hours after sending the corresponding message, ten Star Destroyers of Moff Gronn would be in Lianna's orbit, which the latter had finally managed to tear away from his precious holdings and keep in operational reserve.
"X-wings, sir," the duty officer explained.
"Do we have identification data on the starships?"
"Yes," the officer handed him a datapad, swiping away the open text.
Three columns of names appeared before the Moff's eyes — one for each ship type.
"Bastards," he hissed, handing it back to the duty officer.
"Sir?" The officer continued to blink.
"Brainless fool," the Moff cursed, jabbing a finger at the monitor. "These are the ships the New Republic supposedly 'lost' during Thrawn's campaign! Coruscant has cleverly deceived us and the entire galaxy, slowly accumulating forces for an invasion."
"Sir, but you yourself assumed this could just as easily be a trick by Grand Admiral Thrawn..." the duty officer mumbled.
"That's why the enemy is armed with X-wings, right," Joshua chuckled. "Open your eyes, son. T-65s in the latest modifications! Incom only recently started supplying them to the New Republic. Coruscant not only pulled a bunch of ships out from under Imperial supervision, but also equipped them with the latest starfighters. Look there," he pointed a finger at the hologram, indicating an X-wing squadron tearing a Overseer-class cruiser apart. "I could believe that Thrawn somehow captured a huge number of X-wings from the New Republic, but making his pilots virtuosos on Incom machines... Retraining from our technology to Incom technology requires months of continuous practice to get a worthwhile result. But here... Open your eyes, son, their squadrons are so well-coordinated, you can see they're elites. You can't get this kind of effective interaction even after six months of continuous practice. No, no matter how much the Republicans want to convince us otherwise, these aren't Thrawn's pilots. And it's by no means one of his 'deceptions' Coruscant got tired of acting like a democratic power, and they decided to achieve everything with their armed forces."
"So, the New Republic did attack us?" the duty officer asked quietly.
"No, they came here for lunch!" the Moff exploded. "Raise the alarm for everyone who can be raised! These treacherous Republic rats need to be taught a lesson so they never again dare to encroach on our planet. Has the signal been sent to Moff Gronn?" he asked, looking into the same officer's eyes.
"Yes, sir, per your instructions — immediately after the attack began."
"Has Lady Santhe been informed?"
"Yes, Moff. We sent a message but haven't received confirmation..."
Joshua furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean, you haven't received it?" he roared, driving the duty officer pale. "She always replies to messages from headquarters! Notify her security immediately!"
* * *
"Sir, a message from Lianna has been intercepted," the watch officer addressed me. "It's addressed to Moff Gronn. In the Allied Tion."
"Decrypted?"
"Yes, sir. They're demanding immediate reinforcements."
"Have we received a reply?"
"Yes, sir. Moff Gronn has dispatched six Imperial-class Star Destroyers and four Victory-class to assist Lianna."
"Do we know the ships' names?"
"Yes, sir."
"Cross-reference them with the database — I want to know everything about them before Moff Gronn's fleet falls into our trap."
"Yes, sir."
I watched the officer heading toward the "pit" stations, then turned my gaze to the gray-haired man in uniform standing beside me.
"Captain, order the Eternal Wrath to activate the gravity well generators. In twenty minutes we'll pull the pirate fleet out of hyperspace — no need to hold back. Take no prisoners."
"Yes, sir," replied Captain Pellaeon. "In ten minutes our bombers will finish mining the enemy's emergence point and return to the flagship for rotation. Five minutes after that, I'll launch interceptors to prepare for destroying enemy small craft."
"Correct," I confirmed, glancing at the tactical display.
It showed four squadrons of TIE bombers tirelessly working, seeding the area where the pirate fleet would be pulled out of hyperspace with space mines.
Each bomber can deliver six space mines per sortie. Currently forty-eight are there. That means they'll deliver 288 space mines this run. And this is their fifth run since we emerged from hyperspace. One thousand four hundred and forty space mines...
I almost feel sorry for the pirates and mercenaries who answered Lianna's call and intend to protect her from invasion.
Almost.
* * *
The Thanium system was located a relatively short distance from the Lianna system, and thus was chosen by the New Republic forces blockading that planet as their rear base.
The core of the blockade and patrol forces had already received the distress signal from Lianna and was preparing to sortie.
The hour had come, and the Dominion made its treacherous move. A move that had been seen through by the wise leadership of the New Republic Defense Forces.
Now all that remained was to unite all forces into a single fist and grind the enemy into stardust, putting an end to the rumors that New Republic forces were conducting raider strikes across the galaxy.
It was time to put an end to Grand Admiral Thrawn's insinuations and the defamation of democracy's champions.
At the same time, Lianna was to be captured, a democratic regime installed, and the planet brought into the fold of the New Republic.
Three Immobilizer 418 cruisers, twenty-four Nebulon-B2 escort frigates, four MC80a star cruisers, six MC40 light cruisers, and over fifty GR-75 medium transports.
Intended to carry army units and supplies, they were the first to be struck as soon as the Crimson Dawn emerged from hyperspace.
The wedge-shaped eight-kilometer blade of the fast dreadnought slashed through the vacuum of Thanium's near-planet space.
Following it out of hyperspace came Victory-class Star Destroyers: Adamant, Striving, Triumph, Monarch, Liberator...
Missiles and turbolasers tirelessly and mercilessly shredded the hulls of the transport ships.
Some exploded when hit in vulnerable spots, while others split apart as shock waves and warhead detonations snapped their spaceframes.
Still other ships sported blackened plating and melted holes through which the bodies of crewmen doomed to a horrible death and debris were ejected into the vacuum.
Completing the main force formation of Red Star Squadron were three interdictor cruisers, the last to cross the light barrier.
The most experienced Republic specialists might have recognized them as ships captured at the Battle of Brentaal IV.
But now they bore entirely different transponder codes and names: Net, Ambush, and Angler. They operated according to the plan of Red Star Squadron's command.
And their crews had no intention of letting a single enemy ship escape. Only destruction and capture.
"Deploy gravity trawls," orders poured from the newly appointed Rear Admiral like a cornucopia. "Sixth and seventh batteries, acquire target number three — a frigate trying to outflank us on vector six starboard."
"Adamant has struck the first cruiser! Enemy shields are overloaded."
"Striving is providing artillery support. Launch bays are engaging two escort frigates at point six."
"Triumph and Monarch have taken position at point four and are cross-firing the second star cruiser."
"Liberator is executing a flanking maneuver to get behind the Republic trawlers. Engaging two corvettes!"
"X-wing attack, starboard side. Approach vector sixteen!"
Rear Admiral Shohashi watched the battlefield and saw two Mon Calamari star cruisers slowly turning to engage the Crimson Dawn in a counter-course exchange.
The sheer number of enemy ships in Thanium's orbit dictated only one correct way to fight. So Red Star's strike core adopted the "brawl" tactic.
Using its local advantage in firepower, speed, and maneuverability, the Crimson Dawn gutted and turned six New Republic escort frigates into scrap metal within the first five minutes.
No one even mentioned the transport ships, which bomber aviation was now finishing off.
The enemy had done everything to make their own destruction easier. It was no accident that they had received the message that the Dominion, disguised as the New Republic, had attacked Lianna.
The Republicans had expected this move, so their ships were ready to sortie. The problem was that Red Star hadn't entered the Thanium sector systems just to let the enemy carry out their plans.
While Xg-1 assault gunboats and TIE Interceptors were grinding down New Republic air power, the Crimson Dawn shifted its turbolaser fire to the enemy star cruisers that were not locked in combat and were closing on the flagship.
His hand habitually slipped into his tunic pocket...
"Quite a spectacle," he heard Lady Ventress's voice as she drew up to his left.
"The enemy has no choice but to counterattack," Shohashi explained, taking out the chronometer. He turned it in his hands, then put it back. "We've pinned them to the orbit; their maneuvers are constrained by our air cover."
"Yes, I see that," Ventress confirmed, clearly pleased that her position in the Dominion had strengthened since their last meeting.
She still controlled the Crimson Dawn's military contingent, but she was no longer under Shohashi's "direct" control.
Green needles from the bow batteries pierced an escort frigate that crossed their path.
Heavy turbolaser cannons literally vaporized part of the central section, causing the bow and stern to collide.
The flash where that ship had been was impressive, but it paled compared to the massive missile salvo that the third New Republic star cruiser failed to stop.
Its shields collapsed, and kinetic shells filled with baradium bored into the hull with the hunger that drives several nexu to attack a newborn bantha.
Compounded by the fast dreadnought's turbolaser fire, the anti-ship missile detonations literally tore apart the star cruiser's bow, exposing its soft underbelly to fresh blows.
Turbolasers fired from a range of fifty units, and few gunners missed a target that had lost central control and was still moving on its previous vector.
One after another, green energy bolts punched through and melted bulkheads, decks, hatches, and armored doors, subjecting the ship's interior to relentless new attacks.
The subsequent missile strike and the shock wave that followed ripped open the upper plating, literally tearing it away in several places.
Decompression and hits to vulnerable spots inside the ship caused a course change, but a TIE bomber squadron was already there.
Their proton torpedoes found their targets, and the ship's right "fin" which had actually crossed the fast dreadnought's course — was blown off by the explosion, revealing a massive "wound" with flame-engulfed edges.
"All guns, fire on the breach," Shohashi ordered, instantly realizing how to exploit the situation to his maximum advantage. "Salvos at maximum rate of fire!"
The gunners and launcher operators responded to the new order within two seconds.
The Crimson Dawn spat turbolaser fire and a rain of missiles.
The disfigured star cruiser, given a solid kick, lost part of its hull but stayed on course.
The second salvo opened up its stern, and the uncontrollable stub of the Mon Calamari star cruiser began to spin.
In doing so, it entered the course vector of the fourth ship of this class.
The commander of the latter, seeing the collision danger, was forced to reduce speed using reverse thrust from the starting engines and bank right. This allowed him to let the wreck pass on the port side.
But a new salvo from the Crimson Dawn showed just how mistaken the fourth star cruiser's commander was.
The shock wave and the inertia of the barrage drove the wreck of the third cruiser onto the side of the fourth.
Shattered blisters and plating, extensive decompression from the collision, and destroyed deflector shield projectors...
By the time the fourth star cruiser managed to escape from under its comrade's carcass, its entire port side was torn open as if it had been in a fight with a giant predator.
Asajj silently applauded when Eric ordered the attack from that exact direction.
History repeated itself, and within ten minutes half of the New Republic's star cruisers were destroyed.
The other two ships of the same class, blackened and mercilessly shot up, were now swarmed by boarding craft. And now the battle raged inside.
Dominion stormtroopers, supported by droidekas and battle droids, advanced, capturing one compartment after another.
"As I see, you decided to take my advice," Asajj said barely audibly.
Eric tore his gaze from the scene of the Republic fleet remnants' defeat only for a moment to see the triumphant smile on the Dathomirian witch's lips. Then he returned to his work.
Of all the ships, no more than ten escort frigates remained, battered to varying degrees.
And the Liberator was engaged in battle with three interdictor cruisers that were trying to break out of the deadly trap.
"Shift fire to all available targets," Shohashi ordered. "Change course — heading to point eight. Ion cannons, switch to engaging the lead enemy interdictor. Increase dreadnought speed by a quarter — do not let them withdraw from the system."
"Yes, sir!" the watch officer acknowledged, relaying the order directly to the executors.
"Prepare boarding parties, Lady Ventress," Shohashi ordered, still watching the battlefield. "All three interdictor cruisers must be captured as quickly as possible."
"It will be done, Rear Admiral," Asajj threw back at him, turning to leave.
Leaning on his cane with his right hand, Eric extended his left and gently grasped the Dathomirian witch by the elbow.
Ventress gave him a quick appraising look, and then their eyes met.
"Thank you for our last conversation," the squadron commander said quietly. "It really helped me."
"You're welcome," the woman casually freed her arm. "Just don't think I'll be your staff psychologist from now on. This service is very expensive, and you're unlikely to afford another session."
"I'll keep that in mind," Shohashi promised dryly, turning back to watch the battlefield.
Behind the Rear Admiral, the soft footsteps of the departing Dathomirian witch could be heard.
Eric lowered his hand into his pocket and felt the cool metal of the archaic chronometer.
The ritual that had haunted him for years was broken today by Ventress's appearance. But strangely, his composure did not suffer.
After holding the device in his fist for a moment, the officer withdrew his hand.
"Fourteenth battery — fire more accurately!" the Alderaanian ordered quietly, his thoughts returning to the battle.
* * *
The Galidraan system housed the New Republic's Beta Task Force.
Immediately after the Abyssal Fury emerged from hyperspace, Captain Stormaer glanced at the tactical monitor, watching as the Star Destroyer's systems identified enemy ships.
One MC80a star cruiser, Liberty; two Quasar Fire escort carriers; seven GR-75 transport ships; and a Corellian DP20 frigate.
Also an interdictor cruiser moving toward the jump vector, surrounded by the ships of the entire group.
A fairly typical formation.
The star cruiser led, with the interdictor behind it, flanked by the escort carriers. The frigate held two echelons above Liberty, and the transports brought up the rear.
A kind of "triangle."
One that was not destined to reach Lianna.
"Begin jamming," Antonias ordered. "Launch interceptors, deploy the gravity trawl on Sentry. Cruisers, re-form on our right and left fronts. Begin launching bombers using tractor beams."
This time, the group commanded by Captain Stormaer consisted of, in addition to the Star Destroyer and interdictor cruiser, only two Dreadnaught heavy cruisers and four CR90s.
The reason for the change in traditional composition was the losses suffered by the cruisers and corvettes, as well as the small size of the enemy detachment.
Not to mention that most of the Dreadnaughts and Corellian corvettes had left the fleet base in the company of the Chimaera, while the remainder took part in the defeat of the New Republic blockade forces.
But Antonias would deal with such a number of enemy ships fairly quickly.
As soon as conical contours appeared on the monitor, indicating zones of artificial gravity — at that moment, all enemy ships were caught in just such a trap.
The Abyssal Fury opened fire on the enemy star cruiser, while the Dreadnaughts announced their participation in the battle with salvoes against the escort carriers.
The Corellian corvettes, ordered to deal with the transports and the frigate-gunship, surged forward.
Adding laser fire to the conflagration, they fairly easily separated the lone DP20 from the enemy's main formation, dooming the ship. Four against one — not the kind of odds that would help the New Republic forces leave the battle without losses.
Air power — TIE fighters and interceptors — clashed with the enemy in a brutal fight, gradually pushing each other away from the battle unfolding between the capital ships on both sides.
"Order to the cruisers," Antonias stated his initiative. "Take the escort carriers with minimal damage."
The Dominion didn't have many ships of this type, unlike Mon Calamari star cruisers. And yet they could deliver an air group to the battlefield that outmatched the one aboard the New Republic's main line ship.
The Dreadnaughts shifted from a frontal assault to containment.
Turning broadsides to the escort carriers, they opened barrage fire on the enemy ships, preventing them from continuing on their intended vector and forcing the Quasar Fires to maneuver.
Thus breaking the Republic formation and leaving the interdictor and its star-class sibling without flank cover.
From the very first seconds of the battle, it was clear that the enemy's initiative to continue on their course was a vain undertaking.
The enemy commander began turning his flagship to engage the Abyssal Fury from the most advantageous position for his gunners.
The Republican clearly intended to put the Star Destroyer in a crossfire — from the MC80a and from the interdictor cruiser.
The Abyssal Fury patiently absorbed numerous turbolaser and laser hits on its deflector from Republic ships, while bringing the full weight of its broadside artillery to bear on the Mon Calamari star cruiser.
The Immobilizer 418 under Republic transponders was currently being hit exclusively by ion artillery, and everyone was fine with that.
Especially the enemy commander.
He never realized that he had already lost when he ordered the star cruiser to maneuver, unwilling to engage the Star Destroyer one-on-one — thereby exposing his flagship's stern to attack.
"Order to bombers: strike," Antonias said with undisguised satisfaction as a dozen TIE bomber markers appeared on the tactical display, which the enemy, to their surprise, had spotted only a couple of units from the MC80a. "Fourth corvette, disengage and cover the bombers' withdrawal."
Spacecraft moving on inertia with minimal active equipment are practically impossible to detect visually in space. That is precisely why the TIE bombers were dispatched to the enemy ship this way.
Twelve unwieldy Sienar-made machines simultaneously discharged their deadly payload, unleashing sixteen heavy space-to-space proton rockets onto the star cruiser's stern and left "fin" each.
And after that, under the cover of a Corellian corvette with Dominion identification codes, the bombers, without suffering a single loss, set course for home.
One hundred ninety-two proton torpedoes, capable of penetrating the enemy's sturdy shields, regardless of the fact that the ship's numerous reactors were feeding the deflectors, preventing Dominion gunners from turning the hull into a sieve.
The dozen Ashek interceptors nearby did what they could to mitigate the strike. Their pilots outdid themselves, shooting down two dozen proton torpedoes.
The star cruiser's gunners destroyed only a quarter of that number, but it wasn't their fault.
The starship was attacked from the rear hemisphere and left beam, so without reliable stern cover and guns capable of heavy rear fire, the MC80a was doomed.
The first rockets didn't seem to cause much damage, as Captain Stormaer might have thought while watching the enemy flagship's beating from a range of thirty units.
But the crews of three Corellian corvettes, who had broken apart a New Republic Corellian gunship with their own guns, could see how the starship's engines had been destroyed.
The first rockets destroyed every single nozzle of the star cruiser's engines, condemning it to move only on inertia. But it could still bite back. It could have — if the main blow hadn't struck the left "fin," effectively vaporizing it in a series of detonations that merged into a single pyrotechnic display.
The crew of the Abyssal Fury could watch as a series of explosions merged into a flash that momentarily swallowed the enemy ship.
A few seconds later, the glow faded, and the battle participants could see that the star cruiser — mutilated, scorched, with exposed interior spaces, venting atmosphere and surrounded by clouds of debris — resembled a sea creature from which a massive predator had bitten off nearly half the left side of its body.
The melted and disfigured structure no longer represented anything capable of defending itself.
The vaunted Republic SEAL system couldn't protect the damaged side — you can't pump energy into something that isn't there.
The daggerlike shots from the Abyssal Fury, exploiting the advantage of its wedge-shaped design, played a cruel trick on the ship's remains.
Turbolaser salvos literally burned through the ship, breaking the charred and mangled hulk into smaller pieces.
And immediately after, the Star Destroyer's gunners, having adjusted course, turned their attention to the interdictor cruiser, saluting it with a broadside.
"Corvettes, switch to destroying enemy transports," Antonias said with a resigned sigh.
Destroying fine GR-75 medium transports was a pain that hardly anyone besides the Abyss itself could understand.
But to the great disappointment of the Star Destroyer's commander, there was simply no other choice.
Operation "Gut and Dry" did not involve taking all possible prisoners.
All New Republic groups participating in the blockade of Lianna — almost a dozen of them — were to be demonstratively routed, destroyed, reduced to atoms.
The only exceptions were the interdictor cruisers and similar starships, as well as those ships that command had designated in advance as prizes.
For example, the aforementioned Quasar Fires.
The medium transports, gleaming with fresh paint, were to be destroyed. The enemy was carrying ammunition and army units on them that were meant to attack Lianna.
That was precisely why they were being destroyed. One by one. No mercy.
Every explosion, every enemy freight container reduced to scrap, stirred in Stormaer the sadness and pain of a man not accustomed to squandering things that could, in one way or another, prove useful later.
Yet at the same time, the Abyss remembered the order perfectly.
And the Grand Admiral's directive was not subject to change.
After the troop-carrying freight containers were destroyed, the corvettes were sent to support the heavy cruisers, easing their burden in eliminating the remnants of the New Republic's air force.
Which, by the way, had managed to inflict fairly substantial damage on both dreadnoughts.
Yawning breaches, destroyed cannons, shattered engines…
Well, war never comes without losses.
Even when you outmatch your opponent — nothing is ever perfect.
Abyssal Fury had already practically breached the deflectors of the interdictor cruiser, no matter how hard it tried to bite back with its guns.
The Star Destroyer simply had more of them.
One of the Quasar Fires had taken a heavy knockout blow from the first squadron's interceptors, and its hangar deck had burned out, leaving it unable to receive the New Republic's fighters and interceptors for rotation.
The second showed several large breaches, and its artillery had been picked off by sniper shots from Dominion pilots.
After rearming, the TIE bombers delivered an incredible headache to the interdictor cruiser's crew, striking it with two dozen light proton torpedoes.
The weapon so beloved by the Rebel X-Wings swept the guns clean off the ship's hull.
Along with its screening squadron, leaving the vessel defenseless before a Star Destroyer holding overwhelming superiority.
Rout was inevitable.
Antonias had just given the order to dispatch boarding parties to the damaged escort carrier when the communications section reported that the Republicans were trying to contact the Star Destroyer.
"Sir, the interdictor's commander reports he is ready to negotiate…"
"Negotiate?" Captain Stormaer repeated, staring in surprise at the young communications officer. "Son, tell that optimist that the only conversation happening is about his unconditional surrender. Otherwise, my stormtroopers will board his ships and kick the remaining crew into the airlocks. Which will then, completely by accident, activate in automatic compartment purge mode."
"Relaying that, sir," the young officer replied, paling.
Replacements for the regular fleet veterans recalled personally by the Grand Admiral. How many and for what purpose, no one, of course, knew, but for the most part, it concerned few people.
If Thrawn did it (and not by sweeping out specialists wholesale, but making targeted 'removals'), then it was necessary.
The Grand Admiral had better things to do than arrange rotations by personal order.
This kid was young, and therefore inexperienced.
One of the rookies for whom this was their first serious battle.
Not so long ago, he'd still been crammed into the bridge of a Carrack-class in the home fleet, and a week ago he'd signed a contract and transferred to the regular fleet.
His confusion was understandable — youth tends toward compromise and a lack of understanding of important things.
Never mind, he'd learn.
"Sir," he said quickly. "The interdictor's commander reports they are surrendering. The reactors aboard the ships will be shut down as soon as we send them confirmation that we have received this message."
"Send it, Lieutenant," Stormaer agreed. "Transmit on an open frequency: 'Republican forces have capitulated. Any New Republic fighters offering resistance will not be taken prisoner.'"
Ten minutes later, two escort frigates and an interdictor cruiser of the New Republic were already receiving assault squads aboard.
And five standard seconds after that, their transponder signals identifying them as belonging to the Defense Forces were deactivated forever.
And just ten units from the surrender site, a squadron of TIE Interceptors was practicing their marksmanship, destroying four stubborn, hard-headed Republican X-Wing pilots.
* * *
Moff Victus staggered.
He would have fallen if not for the unexpectedly quick-thinking officer on watch catching him.
He, along with a good dozen of Valles Santhe's security guards, stood in the middle of her office, stunned by the scene before them.
The majestic woman, who had prevented the vast conglomerate from falling apart, sat in a massive chair of Imperial design, her hands resting on the angular armrests.
She sat facing the huge panoramic window that offered a view of the beauties of Lianna.
And she was smiling, her eyes closed.
Her aged, slightly withered hands were not tense and were still warm to the touch, despite the wind blowing through the office — the constant companion of open rooms on high floors.
The problem was that the panoramic windows of Lady Santhe's office did not open.
They hadn't been armored for such a stupid breach of security protocol.
"Bastards," Joshua whispered, barely audible, collapsing onto the small sofa the watch officer had guided him to. "Republican filth…"
Lady Santhe looked alive, but the through-hole in her skull said otherwise.
Forensic investigators were extracting a small metal projectile from the armored back of the chair, the tool the assassins had used to accomplish what their diplomats could not.
They had gotten rid of Lady Santhe's firm position.
Simultaneously demoralizing the Liannans.
No matter what measures Joshua took to prevent the spread of rumors about the corporation head's death, the news overcame every ban.
It spread with the speed of a forest fire, and nothing was an obstacle for it.
Neither pleas, nor threats, nor arrests, nor even distance.
The inhabitants of Lianna, as well as the military in orbit, knew that Lady Santhe had been killed.
"Mandalorian," the chief forensic investigator stated, showing Moff Victus a small transparent polymer box containing the projectile.
"What makes you say that?" the moff asked dully.
"Preliminary analysis indicates this round is made of beskar," the man explained. "I don't know of any place it could have been obtained except Mandalore. And firearms or mass-driver weapons are the favorite toys of Mandalorian mercenaries. Additionally, we found traces of the same material on the outside of the glass," he pointed toward the hole in the armored transparent panel, "as well as soot and combustion products from jet fuel."
"That bastard was using a jetpack," Victus ground his teeth.
"We got data from the surveillance cameras. The quality is poor, but the frames show someone in Mandalorian armor flying up to the window. Evidently, Lady Santhe was somehow drawn to him, after which he shot her through the transparisteel."
"This stuff," Joshua pointed at the panoramic windows, "would have protected her from a laser cannon blast!"
"That's presumably why beskar was used," the investigator suggested. "The substance is dense, and, frankly, transparisteel isn't that strong against kinetic weapons. And it might withstand one laser cannon shot, maybe two or three. Remember how the rebels destroyed the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer? They rammed its bridge with their fighter. Transparisteel is stronger than durasteel, but not when it comes to resisting kinetic weapons. Durasteel performs better there. It's no accident the Imperials use it for armoring their ships…"
"I want the bastard who did this found," the moff declared. "Inform the Santhe family residence that we have leads regarding the murder."
"To whom exactly, sir?"
"Everyone," the moff replied. "All the Santhes are in the residence now; security escorted them there. They're discussing Lady Santhe's murder and deciding who will lead the planet and the company after her death," but who would inherit that position after the great Valles? Lady Santhe and the Santhe family had no children, and the remaining relatives were so petty, worthless, and treacherous that Lianna would 'fold' to its enemies within a few days. "I will address our military and citizens, tell them there's nothing to fear…"
Despite the special construction devices and technologies, a slight tremor and the sound of a distant thunderclap penetrated the dead woman's office.
Joshua sprang from his seat, rushing to the panoramic window.
Guided by his assumption, he fixed his gaze in the direction of…
The comlinks of both his adjutants and the watch officer, whom he habitually regarded as pieces of furniture, all chirped at once.
"Planetary shield projectors thirteen and fourteen have been destroyed!"
"Reports from orbit indicate the enemy has begun bombarding two stations covering the headquarters!"
"Enemy landing craft recorded, breaking through to the surface under fire from the Golans!"
Moff Victus seemed frozen.
From the corner of his eye, he watched the huge, dish-shaped projectors collapse onto the city, which had been empty since the siege began, its residents sheltering in bomb shelters.
Lianna, unlike the government of Coruscant, valued the lives of its citizens and employees, driving them to safe places at the first sign of enemy ships.
But what struck him most was something else entirely.
The walls and ceilings of the Santhe family residence, where the last representatives of that ancient line had gathered, collapsing under the onslaught of a raging fire that followed a colossal explosion.
The Republicans hadn't just used a Mandalorian mercenary's hands to kill a great woman — they had stripped Lianna of everything.
The capital's defenses, its ruler, his heirs — however unworthy — and its pride and self-respect.
The moff stood before the window, shell-shocked.
He heard excited shouts behind him but couldn't make out the words…
"Sir, the commanders are demanding orders," the watch officer tugged at the sleeve of his tunic. "There's panic in orbit. Assault squads from the Republican army have already been spotted in the city. They're attacking our factories and information centers."
"Throw all forces into destroying the enemy fleet," Moff Victus said, as if snapping out of it. "Recall the fleet from the orbital assembly yards to the breakthrough point. I… I am assuming command and control of the company for the duration of the crisis. Immediately dispatch rescue teams to the residence. Someone must survive! Must survive! Where are those Hutt pirates? They were supposed to arrive almost an hour ago!"
"Sir," one of his adjutants addressed him, his lower lip trembling. "We have massive problems in orbit."
"What is it?" the Moff asked, but the next second, he saw a defense station crash into the planetary shield in the sky above the horizon, shattering. "What kind of Jedi insanity is this?! How did they manage to shoot down a station so quickly?!"
"That's… that's what I'm trying to say, sir," the adjutant said nervously. "Our fleet in the area of the orbital assembly yards is currently under fire from the New Republic's flagship."
"An entire fleet under fire from one ship?" the moff asked, dumbfounded. "Son, you've clearly overheated…"
"Moff," the watch officer interrupted him. "Your adjutant is right. We've already lost twenty-two ships out of one hundred and three in that area. The enemy is conducting a real massacre!"
"Oh, no," Victus groaned. "Don't tell me that…"
"Yes, sir, the New Republic has thrown the Lusankya against us. And it's already chewing through our shield while simultaneously carving up starships and attacking the orbital yards with boarding forces."
"Oh, for the love of…!" Joshua grimaced. "Contact Moff Gronn, tell him to be ready to face that monstrosity!"
As he gave this order, the moff was unaware of one detail.
Moff Gronn's ships had already emerged from hyperspace.
But half an hour earlier than planned.
And what the ships' crews saw, they did not like.
Not one bit.