A Rude Awakening
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Systems(s) Involved: | Messari |
| Squadron(s) Involved: | Nazgul Squadron |
| Timeline (Actual): | 10/11/06 to 11/12/06 |
| Timeline (In Story): | Two Days After Forman II |
| Mission Type: | Ship Defence |
| Outcome: | Close Victory |
| Link to Story: | Click Here |
Contents
History[edit]
The aftermath of Forman II caused a number of changes and challenges. The uniting of Nazgul Squadron at Messari brought more than organization. Aegis Squadron pilots had arrived to merge with the Nazgul unit and the condition of Jen Knight, Nazgul's Executive Officer, was critical. The unit reunited to join the Strike Cruiser Faeso captained by Captain Lacey Porcema whom Shazam knew from previous service years earlier. There is some animosity between the two of them that was immediately apparent. The Faeso was orbiting the gas gaint Messari where the Imperials had been engaging in fuel extraction. As with many ships in garrison, guarding, and defending positions, the Faeso was low on spare parts and in disrepair. Ships damaged in battle were being reassigned to these types of duty due to a lack of ships and the need for all combat ready ships at the front.
Mission Objectives[edit]
- Eliminate enemy forces
- Maintain a three kilometre perimeter around the Faeso to prevent the X-Wings from making torpedo runs
- Defend the Strike Cruiser Faeso
Personnel Involved[edit]
Nazgul Squadron[edit]
Squadron Commander: Shazam
Executive Officer: Jaden
Flight Members: Darius, Raigen, Tokijin, Trevor Evenson, Hunter
Faeso[edit]
Captain: Lacey Porcema
Interim Communications Officer: Arturus
Imperial Arbiter[edit]
Opposing Forces[edit]
1 Squadron of A-Wings
1 Half Squadron of X-Wings
2 DP-20 Corellian Gunships: Patent, Rebel Logic
1 Unidentified Frigate Rebel Anchor (sometimes slurred to sound like Rebel Anger)^
^=Flagship
Outcome[edit]
Close Victory.
The story began as Nazgul Squadron was regrouping on board the Faeso. Arturus was assigned to assist with ship repairs and command and was later named communications officer when the battle began. Initially, Porcema served Shazam notice of his pending court martial and suspended Nazgul from active duty to the anger of Shazam. Shazam threatened to report Porcema for dangerous conditions on board the ship and later defied the suspension by launching in the Faeso's fighters when the battle began. The New Republic, upon recieving information and having studied gas levels on the planet which alerted them to the fact that extractions were occurring, sent a force to investigate. Two Corellian Gunships, a Frigate, a squadron of A-Wings and 6 X-Wings jumped into the system surprising the Faeso. The ship scrambled for battle and Nazgul squadron deployed. Part way in, they were joined by Amason in an Assault Gunboat who arrived for the court martial. He took the temporary position of Nazgul 3.
Shazam and Jaden struck the first blows in battle with each taking out an A-wing from the lead group of eight after avoiding the initial missile launch on Nazgul. Darius destroyed the first A-Wing of the second wave which was targeting the second group of Nazgul. All the initial kills were with missiles after the A-Wings' shields had been destroyed. Tokijin shoot one A-Wing off her tail before outflanking it to destroy it. Then, with Trevor, she finished a second off with missiles while Trevor shot down an A-Wing whose piloted had been blinded by the head on strike Trevor had made with a missile. Both pilots broke off quickly to attack the X-Wings which were forming up for torpedo runs. Sharron Rhyse, a pilot from the Faeso, was killed when she tried to ram her damaged fighter into a damage A-Wing. The eject button jammed and the novice pilot died in the collision. Rhyse's wingmate, Jack Nebulax, was heavily damaged and forced to retreat from battle.
Flight 3 engaged the first flight of X-Wings while Flight 1 raced ahead to intercept the torpedoes launched at the Faeso. Shazam and Amason broke off to engage with Shazam destroying one fighter while Amason severely crippled a second. The crippled one veered away only to collide with one of its own, destroying both fighters. The rest of Flight 1 targeted the torpedoes with only two getting past and only one hitting the ship. The X-Wings increased speed forcing Nazgul to reduce shields but Shazam managed to catch one and destroy the fourth X-Wing. Flight 1 then finished the X-Wings while Flight 3 finished the A-Wings. Nazgul Squadron broke off to engage the Corellian Gunships on orders from the Faeso which had moved into position to engage the NR ships before the systems on board shut down. Missile launches damages the ships while the full firepower of the Strike Cruiser was brought to bear, easily destroying the Gunships once the systems were brought back online. To do this, the ship was left vulnerable without shields in the middle of the battle temporarily but it survived.
On board the Faeso, Procema ordered that shields be brought to full, all weapons brought online, and that the shuttle run at full throttle despite the power levels being only at seventy percent. Despite protests from the engineering officer, the orders were followed including instructions to run the generators at 110%. Power had to be increased to 125% once the ship's weapons engaged causing temperatures in the generators to red line. The override of the emergency shutdown system caused a major power spike followed by the generators scramming. This left the ship dead in space as the engines, weapons, systems, and shields all died when the generators stopped. With the ship drifting straight for the gas giant, Porcema refused to bring the engines and navigational systems online, demanding the weapons be brought back instead. Angry with Porcema's actions throughout the entire battle and with her course of action now, Arturus rebelled against her demand and with the support of the officers, relieved Procema of command and had her arrested for recklessly endangering an imperial warship and the lives of 350 personnel. After a risky systems reboot, the ship was prevented from drifting into the giant thus saving all on board.
Amason was sent as an imperial arbiter. The former member of the High Council was dressed as an Ensign and flew an Assault Gunboat on orders by Kadann, the man who personally ordered Amason on the mission. His arrival during the middle of power forced him to join Nazgul Squadron in the fight. Once the battle was over, he arrived to oversee the court martial of Shazam on the charge of dereliction of duty. The charges of treason and espionage brought by Procema were dropped when Amason revealled that part of his real mission was to arrest and try Porcema for these charges. Amason stated that imperial intelligence had traced encrypted messages that were giving classified information to the rebels. Initially, they had been found to come from Shazam's ship the Real Bebop as Porcema alleged. However, further investigation revealled that Porcema herself had sent them by hacking into the Real Bebop's communications system thus trying to frame an officer she greatly disliked. This potentially damaging evidence against Shazam was even more convincing given that his ship passed through enemy territory to get to the Faeso thus potentially alerting the New Republic.
After Effects[edit]
Captain Lacey Porcema was given a brief trial followed immediately by her execution. The execution was carried out by placing her in an airlock and releasing her into space. Porcema's death penalty was opposed by Arturus who opposes executions though the odd person might suggest that it could be do to suspected sympathies he might harbour for the rebels.
Nazgul and Aegis Squadrons were officially merged under the command of Shazam.
Shazam was acquitted of the charge of dereliction of duty. He had already been cleared of espionage and treason when Porcema was arrested.
Arturus was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and Ship Captain of the Strike Cruiser Doashim thus fulfilling one of his greatest desires. The promotion was due in part to the actions he took in relieving Porcema from command in order to save the Faeso and its 350 crew members.
Jen Knight succumbed to her injuries.
Amason was assigned to Nazgul Squadron as a pilot after completing his mission to oversee Shazam's court martial which changed to overseeing Porcema's court martial and execution.
