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 Star Wars Civil War Star Wars Story Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Getrealistic Home Copyright 2000 GetRealistic & CRN |
3. Betrayal Haywater strode into the massive briefing room in the belly of the Intrepid. It had been a week since the revolution. The Star had been involved in parades and shows of strength. Then the fleet had received word that they all would help crew the new star destroyer. As he helped his crew find stations and bunks, Haywater had been contacted about a briefing "for the future of Chrysllist." The briefing room was filled with officers. In the second row, he saw Devin and Kashar talking with Vie Nesh. Haywater decided to head over there. Devin turned. "Commander Haywater, a pleasure to see you. What, with all the celebrations, I haven't had a chance to see you or my ship." "Well, I'm just glad we survived to see each other." Vie leaned over. "I hear their going to be handing out promotions like mad." He looked up. "Here comes our esteemed leader." Pash Riekken strode down the stairs with Dalgrain in his wake. "Would everyone please be seated? Thank you. My assistant, Comdr. Dalgrain, will conduct this briefing on the future of our military. Comdr. Dalgrain." Dalgrain rose. "Thank you. As you probably know, this cluster in a state of chaos. Right now, our own Pash Riekken, of Brankanof, and of Binar have declared themselves warlords. Shipyards, noticing this conflict brewing, are opening up a market in military goods. That is how we came in possession of this star destroyer." "We have currently three alliances in the making. The planet of Covrusa, as you know, is very rich in trade, but has a small military. We have promised protection in the coming conflict in exchange for trading rights. The second alliance is with Zan Coltariot. The alliance will be mostly trade based, but will assist Warlord Aburado in military need. The third alliance is classified and will be discussed with the senior officers." "Another deception has been the creation of a mining fleet. This fleet will bring in revenue for the military without burdening our people. Admiral Devin has been assigned to command the mining fleet..." Devin's jaw dropped. "...We have also decided to downgrade our fleet, except for the fighters, to a planetary defense role. People will train on these ships before allowed to join the main fleet. Colonel Nesh will command the fighters." Nesh turned to Haywater. "See?" "This will conclude the general briefing. We want all officers the rank of captain or above, except Admiral Devin, to remain." Haywater, Kashar, and Devin rose to leave. Dalgrain abruptly stood. "Commanders Haywater and Kashar can remain." Devin nodded to Haywater and left the room. When the rest of the officers left, there were still twenty officers in the room, mainly captains. Pash stood and walked to the holoprojector. "I will give this briefing, but first, there is something you should know. I am not Pash Riekken, but Cyrll Magaden, son of our oppressive rulers." His statement was met with gasps of astonishment. "Now that I am in command, I will be known as the Cyrll." Haywater frowned. That man has some ego, and if I'm not careful, his ego will get us all killed. The Cyrll continued. "First off, when you leave, you will be handed a datapad. It contains the specifications on several designs of ships that my designers had created. It also contains Zan Coltariot designs we're thinking of purchasing. Ok, now let's get down to business." He hit a button and a lush, green planet came up on the holoprojector. "This is Binar. now rules it. He came to power right after his expeditionary force returned. Their military buildup is just beginning. The planet is guarded by a planetary shield and several planetary weapon systems. Our first campaign will be to take the planet and knock Binar out of the war. Now I want every commander here to draw up a plan to take the planet. The one who comes up with the best plan will become our main fleet's admiral." Haywater immediately saw everyone begin thinking of a plan. He didn't have to. One of the exercises in the Imperial academy was exactly the same. His plan was first in the class. The Cyrll began again. "To help us in this quest, I have contacted a powerful pirate. He has 400 troops armed with concussion rifles to aid us. The Intrepid will be tasked to meet up with the pirates in the Sol system and pick up the troops. Because of his experience in star destroyers, Captain Haywater will command the ship. I will be accompanying him. Any questions?" Haywater spoke up. "Sir, I noticed that this ship has no fighter compliment, nor any troops. Am I getting any?" "We won't be needing any. Any other questions?" "But sir..." "No buts about it Captain. You want this job or not?" "Sorry sir." "Good. Dismissed." Haywater looked over his handpicked bridge crew, thankful to be back in familiar surroundings. Behind him Kashar spoke with Lieutenant Cashmire, the Covrusan in charge of the guns. Looking past them, he saw Lt. Madab, the other Imperial officer freed, in charge of sensors. He was also glad to be free of Kashar watching his every move. The Cyrll had said that his performance in the revolution proved his innocence. "Sir, the Chrysslist has gone into hyperspace." It was Madab. The Chrysslist had been tasked to escort a weapons shipment in to arm the five warships being constructed in the shipyards. "Thank you. Would someone please notify the Cyrll that we are clear to move out?" "That won't be necessary." The Cyrll walked in a dazzling uniform. He took his place in the chair specially built for him in front of the viewscreen. "Captain Haywater, you are clear to proceed." "Thank you sir. Status?" "Sir the courdinents are locked in. We are ready for the jump." Haywater turned on the com. "All crew prepare for jump into hyperspace on my mark! One, two, three, MARK!" The stars around the ship twisted and turned created the tunnel of light known as hyperspace. Haywater turned to Kashar. "I'll be in my cabin." In his cabin, Haywater looked at his things, which were still in a crate on the floor. He picked them up and opened the door to the executive escape pod. He put them in the small storage compartment, then walked back to his room. He knew not taking fighters or troops along was a mistake, now he would have to see if they would pay for it. "...two, one, MARK!" The star destroyer came out of hyperspace in front of the gas giant of Sol. The red planet had a magnificent ring that crossed its equator. The planet was renown in the cluster for its gas mining operations. Haywater looked into the crew pit. "Sensors, what do we got?" "Sir, just various cargo vessels. Wait, we have two vessels, an ugly and a Raptor transport. They just came out of hyperspace." Haywater winced. His ship carried no anti-starfighter weapons. One burst while the raptor was going in... He forced his mind from those thoughts. The Incom Raptor was built especially for troop transport. He had heard a report that a Captain Zsinj had replaced his assault craft in favor of Raptors. "Sir, the Raptor requests that you lower the shield to allow entry." He looked at the Cyrll. "Do it, Haywater." "Permission granted. Sergeant, get your welcoming party ready. Someone get me a holocam view of the main hanger." An image materialized in front of Haywater. It showed the small, unarmed welcoming party walk up to the Raptor. Out of the ship marched dozens of men. They formed neat ranks. The sergeant talked with their leader, apparently giving instructions to their quarters. Suddenly there was a flash, then the sergeant's body disintegrated. Haywater's blood ran cold. His worst fears had come true. He looked over and saw a look of pure fear on the Cyrll's face. In the hanger, the rest of the welcoming party was killed and a shot took out the holocam. Haywater began giving orders. "Seal off the hanger bay. No, seal all bulkhead doors. Prepare to decompress the hanger bay. Someone send the evacuation signal." "What!?" It was the Cyrll. "You are going to give up just like that?" Haywater gritted his teeth. "Sir, we have no garrison. They will murder our people if we stay." "Sir, they've blown through the hanger doors! We have enemy squads spreading out through deck one!" Haywater sighed. "Evacuate deck one." Throughout deck one, men scrambled for escape pods as enemy troops blew open doors with their rifles. The riflemen abruptly stopped when they reached the engine room and began to take control of the engine system. "Sir, we've lost our engines." Haywater looked at the Cyrll. "Sir, with your permission, I'd like to start a full evacuation and set the self-destruct." "No." "Sir, that pirate wants this ship. We blow it up and we deny him what he wants." The Cyrll tried to protest, but then weakly nodded. A recorded voice started up. "All crew evacuate the ship. All crew evacuate the ship. All crew..." He turned to the self-destruct officer. "Worden, give me a silent, five-minute destruct." He turned to his handpicked bridge crew. "You men get to your escape pods-NOW." The bridge crew left, leaving Haywater, Kashar, and the Cyrll alone. They all looked out over the hull of their prize ship. Kashar looked at a screen. "Sir, the crew is almost evacuated. And sir, they're almost here." "Let's get out of here." As they ran out, he took one last look at the self-destruct clock. Two minutes. The executive escape pod shot out toward the motley collection of freighters picking his crew up. Haywater looked at the display in the pod. Ten seconds. With a roar, the door to the bridge blew open. A soldier ran in, brandishing his concussion rifle. He noticed a display in the front of the bridge. "What's that?" Two, one... A titanic explosion engulfed the Intrepid from bow to stern. A wave of shrapnel tore apart a cargo ship just coming into the system. Within seconds, the pride of the Chrysslist fleet was a cloud of debris. |