19Chapter 5
Hyperspace gave way to real space as the newly christened Intangible left the jump, as Captain Thrawn watched the stars around the edge of the Lianna system flickered and winked in and out of existence. Sixteen thousand meters, much shorter than the nineteen thousand meters of death known as the Executor-class SSD, this ship was built to handle long ranged hit and run, intelligence gathering and covert operations. The Chiss Captain watched the distant outlines of the Rebellion's fleet could be seen against planet itself.
Two continents made up the planet, with the majority of it made up of oceans. Also, it used to be under Imperial Control until the Rebellion for several months.
The command center of the Intangible is silent as the officers and bridge crew did their work. Lord Vader stands behind the scannery officer, his stance stiff and unreadable. The officer was rigid but remained quiet, doing his work despite the Sith Lord's presence.
"My Lord, all vectors have been scanned and recorded." The officer reports. Lord Vader stands up, nodding curtly.
"Very good, continue scanning for any hyperspace disturbances near this vector." Vader points at the terminal, indicating a specific vector.
The Officer nods, as the Dark Lord walks up beside Thrawn. He crosses his arms over his armored chest before speaking up.
"Your presence is noted, Captain, but it seems you are not doing your job."
"I find that allowing the crews to do the work they were trained to do until told otherwise is the best policy upon any bridge. Heavy handedness is how many newly promoted officers are failing to defeat this part of the Rebellion."
Vaders' stance relaxes, his breathing slowing down, almost in thought before returning to the constant rhythm. Fleet Admiral Sarah Maroon soon joins, her uniform clean and hand ironed it seemed.
"Lord Vader, I see your timing is impeccable as always." Her voice is calm, smooth. Her facial muscles are relaxed, set in a neutral expression. She is clearly showing her best outlook upon this new situation. "However, this is my operation, the Emperor has specifically hand-picked me for this mission."
"I understand, Fleet Admiral, but my mission is to capture one specific Rebel pilot that has been reported to be in these defense fleets."
"Then, we shall make sure to look for him or her if they do appear."
She says with finality, making her stance clear. Lord Vader only bows his head in consent before looking out the viewport.
Darth Vader could feel the dark side looking for that presence his master had felt, his eyes looking at the results his helmet's scanners had picked up. The planet of Lianna has a sizable defense force around it, made up of destroyers, dreadnaughts, frigates and even a few Mon Calamari MC80 command cruisers. Much larger than the previous fleet that had guarded the planet, which was obvious. The Intangible scanned it all with specialized sensors that would hide any after effects that any scans that would normally be picked up by any MC80's cruisers normally.
That and this experimental vessel was going to be put to the test if it was going to be found out. The black duresteel plating would help it hide from physical view, with the metal able to "show" the stars behind them, making the illusion almost complete. Next, the specialized systems that cloaked the ship, allowed itself to be kept out of the scanners of the enemy at this distance. Along with several advanced gravity well generators hidden inside the ship that would stop any ship from being able to jump system allowed the new Interrogator-class SSD to stand out against the Executor-class.
The Rebel fleet shifted slightly, as another contingent of ships joined the first. Vader studied them before one of the bridge crew spoke up.
"Thirteen new contacts, Sirs," She said, "One Dreadnaught cruiser, ten frigates and two blockade runners."
The Sith Lord didn't respond, neither did Thrawn or Sarah for that matter. A silent acknowledgement was all that the crewman got, as Vader reached out with the Force to see if any of the ships had that one pilot. None of them did, he grimaced as his search came up empty. It would seem they would have to draw the pilot out instead, which meant combat.
"It seems the Rebel pilot isn't appearing," He said, turning to Sarah and Thrawn, "it's time that we bring the pilot out of hiding."
Aboard the Resistor, Captain Gordon Jones stood with his first lieutenant, Matthew. Out of the viewport of the Dreadnought before the world seemed to turn on its head. The Dreadnaught shook as the shields nearly buckled under the fire of the supposed Imperial Fleet. They had somehow not shown up on the sensors! The ship rocked again as another bolt of green energy slammed into the shields.
"Get the fighters out there! All guns, open fire!" Gordon had to shout over the shaking and rattling of the ship.
The fleets seemed to have become disoriented from the appearance of the Imperials, putting them on the back foot as they were slowly pushed back. Dark armored Star Destroyers pushed the advantage, turbolaser batteries blazing. Gordon shook his head, trying to clear his mind as the dreadnaught shook more, he could hear the crew moving and trying to fight back.
"Sir! That first volley took out our engines!" Someone shouted as a wing of TIE fighters roared past, stitching the hull with green laser fire.
"Shields at forty percent and dropping fast!"
"Both the Freedom's Dawn and the Alderran Fist are gone, multiple casualties across all ships!"
Gordon cursed before taking command, "Get a message to the Liberation! Imperials have new technology, send assistance quickly or we'll be obliterated out here!"
As the message was sent, Gordon started getting his act together and hopefully turn the battle around.
"All portside batteries hold their fire, get this ship moving out of this position and lay down covering fire for the frigates."
He grimaced as the ship nearly buckled again under another barrage of turbolaser fire, the shields barely holding as the ship limped out of the line of fire. This wasn't good at all.
