WHEN IT HITS THE FAN
By Kalen Joss
Lieutenant Commander Sarvo Tud, the Twi'lek Executive Officer of the Bright Light had to have his comms officer confirm the message for him a second time. He struggled to fathom how an enemy strike force could have penetrated the heart of the Plagueian military without anyone noticing.
“Transponders from at least 3 capital ships of the First Mobile Fleet have gone dark sir.” The senior Intel officer added as he stared at the system plot.
The bridge got uncomfortably quiet for several seconds. They were half way in-between Trecurus and Congrion, with barely half the crew aboard. It was supposed to be a quick shakedown trip to test out the new sets of RCS thrusters that had been installed a few days before. But what they had been doing didn't matter any more, what they were going to do was the primary concern now.
“All hands to battle stations. Helm bring us about, and make best speed back to Hellas.” Tud slapped his armrest comm and opened the intercom to the hangar bay.
“We have an emergency situation. The Fleet Yards are currently under attack by an unknown fleet, all pilots man your birds. SCRAMBLE. I say again scramble. Head to Hellas, full afterburners. You are authorized to disregard all local flight restrictions and regulations. Move people!” Tud closed the channel. The A-Wings were the fastest ships in the Ascendant Navy, and they'd be able to make it back to Trecurus in about 10 minutes if they kept their throttles pinned to the firewalls. He looked up at the combat plot and did a quick calculation in his head, the Bright Light was quick as far as frigates went, but they'd still be about a half hour behind Angel Squadron.
“Charge weapons, reflectors to full. Shunt all auxiliary power to the engines.” The old veteran shouted as the quiet of a moment before had given way to the din of a combat vessel at battle stations heading into a fight.
((Aliso, North Creek subdivision))
“What? Under attack by who?” Kalen exclaimed into his commlink.
“No one knows sir.” Replied the duty officer who had called him, and presumably every other member of the senior leadership, from the Pinnacle.
“Sithspawn. Understood.” The Jedi cursed as he turned off his comm.
A few seconds later a massive explosion occurred right in the direction that Kalen had been looking. It appeared to come from the water treatment plant a mile away. Then he heard a second explosion and he saw its fireball shoot into the sky on the other side of the city.
“Babe, what's going on? Was that a bomb that just went off” Corra asked as she came out of the house, followed by D-3PO who seemed even more nervous than usual.
“I don't know hun. Our shipyards are under attack right now…I gotta go…” Kalen half turned as he was about to head over to the Star Commuter and head up to the Corra VI which was parked in orbit.
He stopped himself. What was he thinking?He wasn't going to leave his pregnant fiance here alone with the goldenrod droid when there were bombs exploding all over the city.
“Grab the black bag from under our bed and get on the shuttle hun. D, go get the Ugnaughts from the orcha…nevermind you're slower then a geriatric Hutt, just lock the house behind Corra and get on the shuttle too. I'll go get the Ugnaughts.” Kalen headed off in a full sprint towards the peach orchard.