Eclipse, Imperial-Controlled Outpost/Mining Colony
Corellian/Imperial Border, Deep Core
Along with Tarkin's Fang, Eclipse had nothing growing on it, and its value as a system was based entirely on its location. Over the years, the Empire had carved into the rock of a planet huge holes and caves, laying down flooring and placing airtight portholes.A substance known as plastiform was used to mold and fill in gaps,creating a space safe from the vacuum of space.
Eclipse was situated in the center of a large asteroid field, and the planetoid's surface also housed the key reason for establishing the base - mining equipment. Asteroids were mined for metals and ores which were brought back to the planet's surface, sorted out in a refinement process and then shipped - carefully - out of the asteroid field and into the empire at large.
Until recently, Eclipse had been home to only a small defensive force, enough for those on the planet to have time to escape. The PDFs were small,nubile craft that could navigate the asteroid field, and one or two larger capital ships that would circle the outskirts of the field, and mindfulof straying asteroids as much as the threat of oncoming ships.
With the Corellian threat though, changes had been made recently - not because of what Eclipse had (though it had a fair storage of valuable resources) but because of its key location. eclipse lay on the path to Byss. And so on Imperial orders, the defenses there had been increased, with over two dozen auxiliary craft and several squads of fighters based on the planet's surface, and nearly a full size system squadron - including an imperial star destroyer - that now patrolled in circles around the field.
Mining operations continued with fighter escorts, and a particular mining run was in progress. The small vessel with a pointed drilling nose eased its way over an asteroid, clawlike fingers grasping so it could position itself, finding its target, the drill began spinning as it bit into the rock.
Boom - in a ball of fire, the mining ship had vanished and rock was flying everywhere, hitting one of the two fighter escorts and sending it spiraling into another asteroid. Another explosion as the fighter hit, sending more rocks everywhere, the second fighter on escort regaining his trajectory and looking around frantically as space went silent.
"This is fighter 00-91B. We have had an explosion. Correction, two explosions. Weve lost the mining ship and escort 00-91A. No enemies sighted"
The signal was garbled with asteroid interference, but a message came back promptly.
"00-91B, this is command. Run a visual scan of the area. We are sending out a patrol to assist you. Stay on your guard"
"Understood, command."
the pilot skirted around the area, careful to avoid the new dust that had formed from the explosions. what had caused them? Then he saw it a small filament of metal remains, a metal that was not in the asteroid rocks.
"Command, 00-91B. I think the asteroids were rigged with something. I've got on my readout small metal components, not native to the region."
The fighter slowed down as he circled the small debris of filaments closer up.
"Definitely some circuitry in there, cannot quite make it out."
Inching closer to get a better look,the fighter was about to come to a full stop.
Another explosion, and the fighter was gone.
A new shower of rocks sprayed out in all directions, and the reinforcement fighters on their way pulled back.
"What happened?"
"Another explosion - he got too close?"
"Or something hit him"
By now, alarms were starting to sound in the fleet - losing one or two small things in an asteroid field was not totally uncommon, but this was starting to seem too deliberate.
"Command, this is Patrol Leader, we have seen the other explosion and - wait, Command - command, I think we have bogies"
The fighters watched as a series of asteroids, having been moving in what appeared to be a totally random pattern, now began moving steadily toward them.
"Command, I think some of the asteroids are being used to mask bogies. They are coming straight at us"
The particular asteroids, all small, were picking up speed.
"Patrol Squadron, this is leader - free to open fire"
The fighters began spraying laser fire at the oncoming asteroids. One hit, and there was another explosion, the others kept coming. More firing, more explosions as one by one they aimed and targeted and destroyed the oncoming bogies.
Of course, they were still in the middle of an asteroid field, and rocks of all kinds were floating around them. they were paying so much attention to the floaters, none seemed to realize a fairly large asteroid that was pummeling toward them.
With a, half the squadron had been flattened against the new intruder, the others scrambling with just enough time. No explosion, but now this asteroid was turning toward the base.
"Command, large bogie, heading toward Eclipse Station"
"Take it out"
"Trying, Command"
It now seemed that the once empty space was filled with enemies, and the remainders of the squadron were watching all sides as asteroids began chasing them, and they were chasing the large one, firing at it in hopes of slowing it down. From behind it, they could now see a small, barely visible ploom of exhaust, coming from what appeared to be a crater of the asteroid.
"Target its engine"
Zooming downward now, the asteroid was pummeling toward the entrance to Eclipse Station.
"Activate Station shielding"
"Somethingis jamming our signal sir - it's not going up!"
"Prepare for impact!"
the asteroid plunged into the base, sirens blaring as air began to billow outward.
"We have depressurization! Seal off internal areas!"
Systems though were malfunctioning, a result of the crash or something more sinister.
Those still onboard were sealing their pressurized suits and heading to more secure locations, deep within the facility. Fighters were now circling overhead, trying to assess damage.
And that is when the real assault began.
Far away from the planet itself, the imperial fleet was now watching and waiting. they had a feeling they knew what was coming. Shields were up, weapons were online.
Four dozen corellian vessels appeared out of hyperspace. Without a moment's hesitation, they began letting loose their firepower, as Corellian Fighters zoomed out into defensive posturing.
Soon, the space was filled with cross-fire, fighters, and battle debris.
"This is command - send out a distress signal, all frequencies. Let Byss know we have been attacked"
"Trying too, Commander. They appear to be blocking our signal"
"Impossible - our transmitter is"
"Destroyed - sir, the first thing they did was take out our best transmitters. We are using backup signals."
"Smart enemies. order two hyperspace capable craft, small, to enter hyperspace and make for the nearest imperial base"
"Yes sir"
Two assault transports were soon moving as quietly as they could away from the battle. It was to no avail. The Corellian fleet spotted them, and soon, their engines and hyperdrives were disabled, leaving fighters to finish them off.
"Sir, no distress signal sent."
"what is our status"
"We aren't destroyed yet sir - but they have more firepower than us. Our ship is already losing its backup shielding, and we have lost some smaller frigates, not to mention fighters"
"Have they made any demands?"
"No, Commander"
"Order all ships to retreat immediately. Hyperspace coordinates for Tarkin's Fang. We'll regroup and then return."
"What about the base?"
The commander glanced out the viewport at the darkspot, deep amidst the asteroid fields. he turned to his executive officer.
"We'll come back to avenge them. We were not prepared for this attack like we should have been. The Corellians were too ready for us. No, we have to retreat. Give the order. Recall what fighters we can and then get us out of here"
"Yes, Commander"
It was another two minutes before the ships were ready for hyperspace. Originally more even in numbers, the larger and more durable Corellian ships had started reducing imperial numbers, such that only about half of the imperial fleet remained, mostly its larger craft.
Disappearing into hyperspace, the commander sat gravely in his chair.
"Prepare a report of the battle and have i-"
He suddenly felt himself flung forward as the ship lurched. then booms and thuds. sparks flew in the command center as he commander tried rising to a stand.
'Report"
"Sir, it appears we've been pulled out of hyperspace"
"By what"
"artificial gravity well sir. might be a pulse mass mine, but its signature isn't clear. sir, our exit seems to have triggered several proximity mines"
More explosions, louder this time.
"How many"
"Dozens -maybe hundreds. We are sustaining heavy damage sir. Already, we are suffering breaches on many levels"
More explosions, still louder.
Fireballs outside indicated the loss of several ships.
"Get us out of this gravity well mess, NOW! Send any distress signal we can."
"Trying, Commander. Transmitters are all offline"
The space outside lit up again with laser fire - the corellian fleet had waited only a few minutes, letting the mines do their work before coming back. to finish off the fleet.
Huge chunks of metal broke free of the imperial star destroyer, and a final series of blastes disconnected the bridge and command center from the ship's triangle.
Not long after, the last of the imperial ships exploded into fire.
TBC
