The battle had been more than either side bargained for. With their fighter contingent swept away the assailing Starvipers were joined by the Cloakshapes and surviving Headhunters and swarmed the Guardian who's heavy weapons were desperately plastering space with lethal burst of energy. As the New Order warships Missile defense systems began joining the point-defensive barrage, the attacking mercenary ships finally began to fall off one by one.
The Guardian was severely damaged and the stressed structure moaned it's lament as the last of swarming attack ships was dispensed, just in time as the opposing Hammerhead Frigate was wading back in to the battle and began exchanging position and blows with the Venator.
By sheer will of a well trained and responsive crew, the Venator Cruiser Guardian of The New Order survived the day and now dominated the orbit and space around Kessel..
Venta let a quiet tight exhale loose as the Hammerhead Frigate peeled off of it's attack path and leapt forward in a visual mirage as it entered hyperspace. A much relieved cheer and celebratory uproar erupted across the bridge of the Venator Cruiser Guardian, now the only starship left in the Kessel system but had paid a dear price. Secondary generators powered the current low level bridge lighting as all primary power sources had been diverted to Weapon Systems. As the Commodore stood from her command chair and straightened herself the lighting and full operation of ship systems seemed to return with an invigorating electrical hum. It was the first major combat experience for most of the Guardians crew, and the ship herself since being commissioned in the New Order Defense Forces. As Venta rose from her command chair and casually straightened herself she suppressed the surging rush of emotions and continued to lead. "Sensors, continue full active sweeps of the outskirts. All departments in full damage control mode for the next three shifts. Inform the Colonel that he's clear to deploy and secure the platform. The operation is his. Deploy the rest of the shuttles for recovery operations in sector B4. Open a broad channel to the planet and begin broadcasting the message.." The Governor of Scarif, Belmar Jotun, a man who most if not everyone on Kessel would have no idea whom he was, appeared and spoke with a warm confidence, "Congratulations Citizens of Kessel and welcome to The New Order! Fear not ye Law-abiding, legal beings as the yoke of the malcontents has been lifted! Peace and prosperity now loom for all!.."
As the upbeat toned message continued, aboard the Guardian now closely orbiting Kessel near the Golan Platform, the Sensor pit Officer urgently addressed the Commodore,
"Ma'am! Contact, seven small ships now leaving the planets atmosphere! Four of them are too far to intercept before they jump but three are emerging in adjacent sectors in range of Lambdas or Missiles!"
"Neither Lieutenant, hold you fire Chief. Let the last of the rats flea.." Venta ordered.
The Governor's message continued to beam down to the surface before beginning to recycle itself. Soon the new custodians of Kessel would take full possession and mark their territory..
"..we are not the Empire, we are not the Republic- Old or New, we are not anarchist Rebels, not warlords nor overlords. We are Law. We are Security. We are Order. We are the future of the righteously guided intelligent beings of the galaxy, let that future be yours. Embrace it. Welcome to the New Order!" the Governor's likeness concluded the recording with the same exuberance it carried throughout.ACTION SUMMARYVEC Guardian spends 1AP to move from C5 to C4
VEC Guardian Spends 6AP to deploy 2 ZETAs, 4 LAMBDAs
LAMBDAS spend 1AP to move to B4 and begin recovering any human remains
ZETAs spend 1AP to move to boarding Golan Platform in C4
VEC Guardian spends 3AP to DAMAGE CONTROL and repair 3 ARM. ARM is now 17.5
FLEET STATUSVEC Guardian - LOC C4AP/UCR/SHD/ARM/SYS10/4/0/17.5/12
Lambdas (4) - 100%, LOC B4, Recovering Remains
Zetas (4) - 100%, LOC C4, Boarding Hangar
