Dawnbreaker Episode Split Destiny/Part 9

CHAPTER 25

OUTER REGIONS OF THE SYSTEM CONTAINING KALRICH C0. HQ...

A large force of pirate craft decanted from hyperspace minutes ago, consising of a pair of Corellian Corvettes, two modified Bulk Freighters, converted into mobile hangars for fighters, three Skipray Blastboats, one YT-2000 transport, and a Star Galleon bringing up the rear. Immediately upon arrival, the freighters began deploying fighters... four full squadrons strong, twelve Toscans, twelve Preybirds, and twenty-four Pinooks.

One of the Corvettes dispatched a menacing message to the station...

"You made a big mistake resisting Overlord Riion! Now, we're not here just for your cargo... we'll drink blood from all your skulls before this day is done!"

With that, the pirates began their approach to the station, several of its freighters in the area, some lightly armed, some completely unarmed, and a few visible Razor and Z-95 fighters flying escort. Those aboard the station knew that this was a vengeful retaliation from the same group that launched the earlier raid at the distribution station. Given the size and composition of the pirate force, their situation seemed hopeless.

--

Meanwhile, in hyperspace, less than a sector away, aboard a moderately damaged Munja class RTSE frigate, the Strijela, retreating from an abortive RTSE assault on Iridonia, with the rest of its battlegroup destroyed by New Republic defenders.

"DAMAGE REPORT!" - the captain barked at the engineering officer in the rear bridge, over the blaring of klaxon alarms.

"Hull integrity at 58%, shields have just been re-established, and are slowly regenerating. Weapons grid is mostly functional, with only 18% loss in overall firepower! Hull breaches across the lower-rear section, however... Engines are half-disabled, and the main hyperdrive motivator is leaking! We won't be able to reach the repair yards at Serenno, sir!" - the officer reported in a crisp military tone.

The captain scowled at that.

"What's our range estimate on hyperdrive?" - not certain he wanted to hear the answer.

"We're losing power at a rate of 3% per minute, sir. At this rate, we will revert to realspace within 10 minutes at most! We cannot even reach RTSE space, captain..." - the woman replied, shaking her head.

"And those miserable Republic dogs will not give up the hunt so easily... the last thing I want is to be stranded in open space with no hyperdrive, and be forced to send a distress call, which WILL be intercepted by anyone within 15 sectors of space!" - the captain reflected, his face compressing into a scowl, before he turned to the navigations officer:

"Display a list of known non-aligned facilities with the capability to repair a hyperdrive within our current range!" - he ordered.

"Yes, sir." - the officer replied, and a moment later, a rather short list of names appeared on the main tactical display in front of the captain.

The captain studied the list, noting that most were various pirate and shady mercenary outposts, which would not be a particularily healthy choice for a damaged RTSE warship to appear at. However, one name caught his attention...

"This station... Kalrich Shipping Headquarters... how far away is it?" - he asked the navigation officer.

"Less than 10 light-years, sir... just at the edge of our range, but we can reach it." - the man nodded.

"Alter the hypervector accordingly... and someone shut off this blasted alarm!" - the captain replied.

"Yes, sir!" - the nav officer replied, adjusting the course.

As the klaxon silenced down, the captain added:

"Until we arrive at our destination, divert all reserve power to shield recharge - no telling what will meet us there, and I'm not interested in taking chances! Seal off the hull breaches with emergency bulkheads and begin re-routing damaged systems as much as possible... even if they are supposed to be a shipping operation, that may be just a front... " - sitting back down at the command chair, while thinking:

"And we will have to bargain for repairs... an RTSE warship captain in a situation to be forced to haggle with civilians! However, desperate situations leave little room for one's pride..." - straightening his uniform.