Emperor's Hammer Halts RS Advance
Imperial Outpost established in Elornia System

After its initial success in the Cadrel Cluster conflict, the New Republic's frontline force, known by its members as the 'Rebel Squadrons', has been beaten back by the Imperial remnant Emperor's Hammer.

After the forward taskforce of this formidable Imperial foe was held back by Rebel troops and fighters in the Dia Pas system, RS scout vessels discovered that the EH had moved swiftly to establish a presence in the nearby Elornia System - construction of an Imperial outpost had already begun on the lucrative planet of Elakia. Sensors scans and surveys of the planet show it to bear lucrative amounts of natural resources, including metal ores and edible vegetation - it made a perfect base from which to re-supply a military taskforce.

Last transmission with the scout ships occurred at 0900 hours, after which no further communications were sent. Among the transmitted files were a number of sensor scans and holo frames that clearly showed a sizeable group of freighters and escort ships heading into the atmosphere of Elakia, loaded with building materials and worker drones.

Unwilling to let the Emperor's Hammer gain such an important foothold in the Cadrel Expanse, command ordered a significant portion of the fleet to Elornia in response. The taskforce consisted of approx. three Calamari Cruisers, four Nebulon B Frigates, six corvettes, one Victory-class Star Destroyer and several other ships of differing design. Arriving above the world of

Eldorian, a planet wreathed in electro-magnetic fields that played havoc with the fleet's COMSCAN equipment, preparations were made for a short hyper-jump to Elakia. Fleet commanders were completely unaware of the approaching Imperial ambush until it was within firing range.

Consisting mostly of light cruisers and gunships, the EH fleet destroyed three ships in their initial barrage - corvettes Gemfire and Sunlight were completely destroyed, while the frigate Starjack had to evacuate when hull breaches exposed crew to the vacuum.

What followed was a fierce and desperate battle - both fleets moved into the unconventional brawl tactics used rarely in capital ship combat. The sheer numbers of targets and the overwhelming influence of being in the centre of such a titanic clash meant that starfighter coordination suffered, and lone ships often found themselves cut off from the rest of their flight groups. Many of the capital vessels on both sides took damage from friendly fire as they attempted to navigate through the twisted paths of enemy and allied ships.

In the thick of this engagement, small RSCD insertion ships launched from the Malice, a marauder corvette attached to the RSCD division, managed to attach themselves to the hulls of two Imperial vessels, a Lancer-class frigate and a Carrack Cruiser. These boarding teams quickly overwhelmed the defending crew and Stormtroopers, seizing control of the ships and turning them against the EH fleet.

Despite these turns of fortune, the element of surprise had tipped the balance in the ambushing ships favor. Although the battle was close, and casualties were high for both sides, Fleet Admiral Trebonious-Astoris called Omega Signal from the bridge of the Rebel Spirit after it became clear the fleet would be crippled by a prolonged encounter. Nebulon B Frigate Blood Sword was lost covering the retreat.

The final battle for the Elornia System occurred several days later when the fleet struck at Elakia and attempted to destroy the EH defence forces and the nearly completed forward command outpost. The Emperor's Hammer TIE wings were able to repel many of the starfighters though a good number of dropships managed to reach the surface carrying RSCD commandos.

Ultimately the damage sustained to the fleet resulted in the recalling of the RSCD units for a hasty retreat. Despite this untimely departure, our men managed to sabotage much of the construction efforts, and it is estimated that EH will have to expend approximately five thousand additional credits and two weeks of work time to complete the base and repair the damage done. These acts of sabotage have only delayed the inevitable however; the EH has begun to harvest the resources of Elakia, and it shall prove most useful to them as they continue their campaign for the sector. Intelligence reports a rise in moral amongst the EH ranks, while RS pilots and troops have taken a battering from three hard weeks of combat.

Elornia represents the Republic's first major loss since the beginnings of the Cadrel Conflict. RS forces are retreating to the Vectian System where it is rumored more EH vessels are gathering.

- Captain Taosko Silev

RSCD Wipes Out EH Scout Unit

Minor Victories for Coalition

Vectian a 'Cradle of Life'

With the dramatic entrance of the Emperor's Hammer into the war for the Cadrel Cluster, the other forces involved, labeled the Coalition by High Command, have been swept to the sidelines.

Encounters with fighters and troops from the Star Viper's, Last Starfighters, Vast Empire and other factions have been somewhat infrequent, although they made a number of highly effective raids on the RS and EH fleets in the downtime between the major battles.

It seems that these other factions are unable to muster the firepower to take on the RS and EH fleets directly. Intelligence shows that many of these fleets are engaged on other fronts and are only able to divert limited resources to establishing a presence in Cadrel. Others are suffering from a lack of supplies, high death tolls and low recruitment rates.

Studies have shown that Vectian may hold the secret to the origins of all life in the sector according to Republic scientists.

Sociologists studying the Cadrel Expanse in the wake of recent public interest have appealed to High Command to ensure that the fleet secures the Vectian System.

"Vectian holds the key to the secrets of how life begun in the Cadrel Expanse," claims Dr. Toobec Henroc, a leading figure in the study of xeno-biology. "If we could be allowed to study the planet's ecology then we might learn much more about how life flourished in the rest of the universe."

RS High Command issued a response stating that although Vectian held some tactical importance, extensive fleet resources would not be given over to the pursuit of scientific interests during the course of the Cadrel Conflict.

While the majority of our forces suffered several weeks of bitter defeat, an RSCD commando detachment assigned to scout the planet Elari met with victory when an unexpected encounter arose between an EH advance unit and several lone Coalition scouts.

The innermost planet of the Elorian system, Elari is a rugged world with few features that would endear it to military commanders. High Command suspects that the planet may have valuable ore deposits, and so ordered the expedition.

"It happened completely by

accident," one commando commented. "Sensor scans hadn't shown activity, but when we reached the top of the ridge they were there, below us, doing the same job. They were still holding their scanners and holocams when we jumped 'em with repeaters and rifles blazing."

This was the first of five scouting parties the RSCD would encounter and eliminate before finally locating an area seemingly marked out for a new construction site. The team went on to make the area unusable via proton charges and a thick blanket of lethal radiation before pulling out.