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The Elornia System Invasion
A Prelude to Invasion...
Deep in the core of the Rebel Squadrons Fleet Domed Command Complex, a lone guard mistakenly gives a fortuitous glance at two men exiting the main doors of the always busy and industrious planning center of the RS Fleet. As they pass him, the guard, finally noticing their rank insignias, immediately snaps to attention and signals his crispest salute. “Admiral, Sir! Colonel!”
With a customary gesture, both Admiral Rahj Tharen, Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander, and Colonel Isoldur “Dragon” Cauthon, Rebel Squadrons Operations Officer, casually return the salute and proceed on their way to execute the new plan the Operations Office staff and the Fleet Commander had conceived in the past several days because of the new and unexpected orders that had arrived from Admiral Ackbar himself just one week ago. Turning to the Admiral, the Colonel gives a dry smile and alleges, “Do you think he has any idea what is about to take place?”
With a serious look, Rahj Tharen replies, “I hardly think anyone knows what is about to happen. Most of all…us.” Nodding in agreement, they continue to briskly walk in silence to their destination.
Having finally arrived at the now hyperactive command nexus of the Combat Operations Center, feeds from far away capital ships, scouting forces, and sensor equipment could be seen coming in on a plethora of screens, bombarding the technicians with information. As the two high ranking officers entered the busy room, the current Watch Officer, a young Major, came to attention and bellows, “Attention on deck!” After a short pause as everyone did just that, the Major followed up with the traditional, “The Admiral has the bridge!”
After acknowledging the Major and a quick brief on the Renegade Fleet and Intrepid Battle Group’s current positions, everything was ready to commence. Directing his voice at the senior technician at the communications console, Rahj Tharen gave the first order. “Please patch me through to the Ad Astra, Rebel Fist, and Vendetta.” In a short while, live holo-images of Generals Gavin Cantorph Kravis and Adam “Vender” Fene and Vice Admiral Kaz Falcion protruded from the central projector. Without delay, the Admiral directed his orders.
“Greetings, gentlemen. Command authorization Omega One-Three-Three-Seven-Niner. Operation CORDON is a go. I repeat, Operation CORDON is a go. You may commence with the liberation of Elakia.”
The images of the three forward commanders, who were broadcasting from a staging point in the Dia Pas System, cracked to life with similar responses. “Verification received. Operation CORDON is green. Countdown to hyperspace is in five minutes.”
After a long pause of impending silence, tensions ceased for just one minute as an air of understanding ruminated between these four men. Before it faded away in face of their imminent actions, Admiral Tharen broke the silence.
“Kaz…Adam…Gavin…give them Hell.”
Operation CORDON: Phase One
Deep in the Greeop System, in the chaotic midst of the command nucleus of the Combat Operations Center on Blerthmore, the frenzied displays of battle screens indifferently present the schematics of war taking place in an entirely different sector of space as if it were an elaborate chess match. Reducing the casualties and destruction of war to a predetermined list of objectives and incoming statistics, decisions are made to win the ongoing Battle of the Elornia System.
At the main communications console the Rebel Squadrons Operations Officer, Colonel Isoldur Cauthon, abruptly turns from his station to the man burdened with the bulk of these decisions, Admiral Rahj Tharen, Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander.
“Sir, the Ad Astra has confirmed that all of Elakia‘s main defensive platforms have been neutralized. The first strike wave successfully knocked Platform Juno offline, and completely disabled Platform Sword. The Wyvern and the rest of the Defense Operations Task Force totally destroyed Platform Gold, but the Frigate Unforgiven took considerable damage and is now slowly limping its way back to the Vectain System.”
Smiling at having successfully completed the first phase of Operation CORDON, and viewing similar screens, the Admiral responds to the update with a confident overtone, “Inform General Kravis that Jedi and Red Dragon Squadrons should be duly congratulated.” After only a short pause, and a quick reflection of remorse for what the crew of the Unforgiven must be experiencing, the next order is rapidly given out of necessity.
“Notify General Fene that he is clear to commence with the orbital bombardment of the main garrison and that Stinger and Wildcard are free to strike the landing zones, as planned. Shift the Renegade Fleet to the second phase of the invasion. They may now begin their patrols of the system and release Vice Admiral Falcion’s troop transports.”
Acknowledging the orders, Isoldur issues the commands to the forward commanders. Once accomplished, he returns his attention to the Admiral. “The commando’s transports are set to enter Elakia’s atmosphere in 15 minutes. The Rebel Fist also acknowledges that it will cease bombardment at that time.”
Rahj gives Isoldur an approving nod, but it seems as if the Operations Officer has more to say. Having learned to trust the Colonel’s instincts, Rahj asks, “What’s on your mind, Colonel?”
“It looks like our interdiction efforts of the Elornia System over the past year have been largely successful. No encounters of enemy capital ships have been reported. But it all seems too easy, Admiral…”
With the same sentiment, the Fleet Commander agrees. “I get the same feeling… Okay, so we do not overextend the RgF’s security zones and patrols, order General Fene to move his Fist Task Force and Chin'tal Task Force into the void of Eldorian’s electro-magnetic fields. Hopefully the modifications we made to their COMSCAN equipment will help lessen the communicative distortion they will experience. If there are any Fleets hiding in there, I want to be the first to know about it. And if not, it still gives us an excellent surprise vantage point with which to strike any reinforcements that Elakia may receive. The Vendetta and her escorts are well suited enough to cover and support the invasion forces.”
With resounding approval, the Operations Officer complies with an enthusiastic, “Aye, Sir!”
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Twenty minutes later, the first troop transports hit the ground. Immediately, the battle hardened soldiers of the Rebel Squadrons Commando Division began the work of securing the immediate landing zones and pushing forward against the surviving stormtrooper resistance from the preceding and deadly orbital bombardment in an effort to cement a secure beachhead for the bulk of the oncoming New Republic invasion force…
However, as the groundpounders start their campaigns, the forward echelons of the Chin'tal Task Force begin to enter the electro-magnetic fields surrounding the adjacent planet Eldorian as their reduced sensors slowly detect the blips of large ships ahead on their screens…
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