WotH Chpt 44

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 44==
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===Space engagement with Pirates===
Date: January 20, 3015/20.01.7954CRC
Location: On board the Leviathan, Karthakk system
"All ships, remember to use the Ion cannons first, we want to capture as many ships as possible." Jewel looked out over the holotable, the magnetic seals on her boots anchoring her to the ground. "Paige, your marines ready to go?"
 
"Ready to launch as soon as you have targets for us," Paige checked the chamber of her rifle before sitting down in the bay of the boarding craft.
 
"Ma'am, we're dropping out of hyperspace in two minutes!"
 
"I want confirmation that everyone's in their vac-suits," Jewel looked at the captain of the ship. "The Leviathan is yours."
 
"Aye ma'am," the Captain began barking orders at his bridge crew.
 
"I want the Grav generators powered on as soon as we exit hyperspace, and get those fighter squadrons out, I want them to hit anyone nearby," the Captain sat down in his chair, exchanging a nod with the Commodore.
 
"Exiting Hyperspace in three, two, one!"
 
The flowing starfields receded as the Karthakk system greeted them.
 
"Grav generators are deployed, the exit is locked down!"
 
"You have comms, ma'am," the comms officer reported.
 
"This is Commodore Jewel of the Marksman," Commodore Victoria Jewel calmly started. "The Lok Revenants and their allies the Mere Resistance launched an unprovoked attack on our base, resulting in the death of our civilians. Surrender and you'll get a fair and just trial. But if you decide to stand and fight, then we'll make sure that you don't get the chance again."
 
"Give them five minutes to respond," the Captain ordered. "If they don't, they're to be considered hostile."
 
"Enemy fighters are being launched!"
 
"Blaze, you're in charge of the CAP," Jewel looked at the pictograms representing the ASF fighters. "I want those fighters gone."
 
<<"We'll handle them," the pilot replied. "Squadrons Alpha through Charlie, you're covering the big ships, Delta through Foxtrot, begin bombing runs. Golf and Hotel, you're on escort duty, make sure those Marines make it in safely.">>
 
Groups of fighters split up and began following his orders and Blaze sighed as he looked at the lone fighter remaining in the bay. He longed to be out there in the middle of the furball, but with rank came responsibility, and his was to ensure that the Aerospace wing was coordinated properly.
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====Flattery will get you no where====
"Remember boys and girls, we've got a lot of flak between us and the planet," Alvin "Chopper" Davenport said as his sensors began picking up the enemy starfighters. "Keep your cool, remember your training, and stick to your wingman and we'll all go home," Chopper smirked under his helmet as he switched channels. "Leviathan, Alpha Squadron has the honor of escorting your fine ship today."
 
>>"Flattery will get you nowhere, Chopper,"<< Lieutenant Colonel Kei "Edge" Nagase cut in. >>"You know that they muted you a long time ago."<<
 
"It's because of my charm." Chopper laughed as the distance between the opposing forces lessened. "We both know that they wouldn't be able to handle me if I were stationed on a ship. Ladies love an Ace like me."
 
>>"One of those things is certainly true," Edge laughed. "Now focus up, it looks like the welcoming party is here."<<
 
"Alpha, we've got a projected intercept course, long range precision targeting is a go." Chopper's tone turned serious. "Lasers and PPCs first, then missiles, wait on the guns until you're certain of a kill shot, and remember, Ammo is cheap, lives are expensive, if you need to save your wingman, then hit 'em with everything you've got."
 
After giving the final words of wisdom, Chopper sent a signal to Archer and hit the afterburners, quickly reaching a speed that would have been unheard of back home.
 
"Thank you inertial dampening," he muttered as he tracked a white streak across the void of space. "Now, who's first on the list?"
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====The graceful whale of support====
A trio of modified Gozanti cruisers began heading for the Leviathan, their quad laser cannons and single turbolaser batteries scattering harmlessly across the ancient ship's shields.
 
"Shields are at eighty percent and holding!"
 
"They've hit us with their best," the captain smiled savagely. "Let's repay the favor."
 
As one, a cluster of ion cannons fired, the first volley shattering the first Gozanti's shields before a handful of turbolaser slagged the engine, sending the modified vessel spinning wildly off course.
 
"Ma'am, enemy ships dropping out of hyperspace, they're flanking us."
 
"Time to call in the big guns then." Jewel smirked.
 
"Copy that, bringing the Katana to bear."
 
The dark gray vessel appeared behind the flanking ships, its turbolaser batteries shattering the ships as the modified Rendili Star Dreadnought dominated the battlefield.
 
//"You called for a Hammer?"\\ Captain Kaylee Frye asked cheerily.
 
"Indeed we did," Jewel replied. "How's the new girl handle?"
 
//"Like a massive whale with a lot of guns,"\\ Kaylee replied. //"But aside from that, she's sexy and sleek."\\
 
"Glad to hear it, mind watching our flanks? We seem to be having a bit of a pest problem."
 
//"Copy that, moving to holding pattern Yankee,"\\ Kaylee replied. //"We'll keep the flies off of ya."\\
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===Annoying Peacemakers===
The waiting was the worst part of any military operation. Being stuck in limbo, not knowing what happened to the soldiers and sailors that you sent ahead, praying that you hadn't wasted their lives in the pursuit of nothing more than a petty agenda.
 
"Colonel, direct comms from the Commodore!"
 
I tuned my helmet into the comms station.
 
"You got a report for me?" I asked Jewel.
 
(("Aye, sir." I could hear the savage grin on her face. "We have met the enemy and they are ours. They never knew what hit them, you should be clear to land and engage on the ground."))
 
"Anything else to report?" I asked.
 
(("Yessir, we've got some Senator from Naboo demanding to speak to our leader, something about negotiating a peace settlement between us and this band of pirates."))
 
"We don't negotiate with terrorists and pirates," I replied. "I'll meet with the senator and try to explain that."
 
"Good luck, sir," Paige shook her head. "She's got quite a chip on her shoulder."
 
"Sheppard, proceed with the invasion as planned," the Messenger jumped into hyperspace headed for the Karthakk system. "I'll join you once I've dealt with the Republic's watchdogs."
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===Interlude: Some Conversations are Worth Having===
"Senator Amidala," I greeted the petite woman with a sharp nod. "I've got an invasion to run, so is there any chance we can make this quick?"
 
"The Senate has attempted to reach you with a Summons for quite some time now," She sat down, making it clear that this would not be a short conversation by any means. "All of our communiques have been ignored."
 
"Ma'am," I looked her in the eye and took off my helmet, my hair and beard looking a bit crazy."With all due respect, I don't answer to the Senate. I answer to my employers, and to the moral code written out in the Marksman's founding. So, unless you're here to take me in on trumped up charges, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ignore you."
 
"I believe it would benefit you tremendously to make a case before the Senate," Padme raised an eyebrow. "After all, if everything you are doing is legal, then you will have nothing to fear."
 
"Fuck it," I exhaled. "Amidala, I'm going to be blunt. These pirates attacked my people and killed my civilians. I'm not going to negotiate with them, I'm going to eradicate them and send a message to pirates everywhere. I have recordings of what they did, and I have multiple reporters recording exactly how this campaign goes. And no, I refuse to appear before a senate and defend myself when I have done nothing wrong. I also won't have anything to do with a hypocrite.'
 
She moved to speak, but I cut her off with a glare. 
 
"You, Senator Padme Amidala, claim to be a pacifist, but you are not one. No, you are among the worst of those who love peace. You see, if you were truly a pacifist, you would have laid down your arms and surrendered to the Trade Federation. But instead, you went and fought against them, those are not the actions of a pacifist." I slammed my gauntleted and armored fist against the table, leaving a dent in it as my nostrils flared. 
 
"You do not even have the strength to stand by your convictions," I said after a moment. "I know of those who were true pacifists. Those who refused to even pick up a weapon to fight, even in a war that was just! They at least had the strength of character to stand by their beliefs. Venturing out into battlefields to help those who were dying and injured. But you? You picked up the blaster yourself, you waged war, you fought. Nay, you fled when your people needed you to be strong and overthrow their attackers."
 
I sighed as a tear fell from her eye as revelation began to dawn on her.
"I wish that we lived in a perfect galaxy and that war were not required. But we do not live in such a galaxy. And as such, I ensure peace remains the way that it must be maintained. Si vis Pacem, para Bellum."
 
"If you really want me to speak before the Senate, then try talking to Tarkin, he's one of my employers, and can ask me to speak on one of my contracts if necessary."
 
I turned and began to leave the room.
 
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"That was a pretty harsh dressing down." Jewel said after I stepped out of the room. "I'm glad you had me record it, I'm sure our Drill instructors will be impressed."
 
"It needed to be done," I replied. "You can let the Representative out of his holding cell, provided he's still frozen in carbonite, that is."
 
"He's not set to unthaw for another day," she took up a position on my left flank. "Sheppard is getting ready to make planetfall as we speak."
 
"He's on schedule then," I reseated my helmet. "Time to finish this and get back home."
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Chapter 44