Finally! Seth Qorbin exhaled relieved that the long hyperjump was finally over and realspace once more surrounded him. "Sitrep!" the man commanded and next waited for the other members of his team to reply. "Spook 2 - all systems green." "Spook 3 - likewise." "Spook 4 - status a.o.k."
Excellent, the blond Human smiled.
Several weeks had gone by since the Imperial Dominion's attack in the Vectra System. During that time the Vast Empire did not retaliate, instead choosing to focus its attention on ship repairs and personnel training and transferring. It was however obvious to almost everyone that sooner or later the VE would strike back. The ID had after all suffered a great defeat, losing many of its ships - including the humongous Allegiance-class Super Star Destroyer which formerly acted as their flagship. It was only natural thus for other major factions to take advantage of this shift in galactic power.
That's precisely what the Vast Empire planned - to regroup and strike back fast and hard, annihilating any resistance and taking over the fallen faction's territories and power. Such a large scale maneuver would however require a great deal of intel. Although VENI was responsible with gathering most of that information, the regular Navy also required some data of its own - that's where small teams of TIE Vanguard fighters came into play.
Under normal circumstances Qorbin would not have been a part of these teams, already having an entire squadron under his command back on the
Halcyon Warrior. Then again the man was also acting as Wing Commander on the same ship - a fact that burdened him with an outrageous amount of paperwork. It thus came as little surprise to anyone knowing him when he suddenly decided to take the lead position on a mission taking place in a whole different system, even if that meant flying an inferior craft as well as having no real support to speak of. As far as the blond Human was concerned however... it was well worth the risk.
"Let's get this party started then", the Ensign casually ordered the other three members of the small team. "Spread out, watch your sensors and keep comm traffic to a minimum", he further instructed before shooting forward, knowing it would take both him as well as his flight members a good two or even three hours to get within sensor range of the Imperial Dominion's homeworld - the place the VE would strike first, as well as the place where the ID would likely amass its remaining forces in preparation for such an attack.
~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere between two and three hours later, Seth finally got close enough to the center of the system to pick up some transponder codes. He began recording those, knowing VENI would want to have a look at them and determine just who enjoyed hanging out in Dominion space.
The more he approached the more transponder codes popped up, as well as encrypted and regular comm trafficking. Qorbin began recording the latter as well just in case the VENI eggheads would have a chance to crack them open and maybe find a few more useful things. Then again that would likely take a while so it was also fairly possible that by the time they managed as much everything would already be over... one way or the other.
One, two... three Star Destroyers, the Onderonian officer counted the largest ships orbiting the planet.
The "Chrysalis"... the "Fiery Storm"... the "Ruffian's Demise"... Aside from these main ships, there were also a little over half a dozen Nebulon frigates as well as a few Lancer frigates and some CR90 corvettes. A quick scan of the tiny blips surrounding the larger ones also revealed a mixture of regular TIE Fighters and TIE Interceptors, as well as fewer numbers of TIE Avengers.
As far as the Wing Commander could tell there were no bombers or Defenders deployed - not that it absolutely meant the Dominion no longer possessed such crafts... No, chances were such ships were still aboard the ships orbiting the planet and a few maybe even on bases across the planet itself. If not for the fact that he was tremendously outnumbered and outgunned - oh and also the fact that he was flying a slower, less maneuverable craft than the ones he was otherwise accustomed to - Seth would've seriously considered getting in even closer, possibly even entering the planet's atmosphere, in order to take a few closer readings as well as maybe take a few pictures of the ground situation.
Military bases as well as large, important looking cities, would've no doubt helped the brass come up with a better plan involving ground attacks and orbital bombings. As things were however, the blond officer could do nothing except take general planetary readings - land formations, really big cities that could be seen all the way from space, atmospheric compounds and other miscellaneous data that didn't really seem to have the same impact though... Still, any information was better than no information - or so at least the regular TIE Vanguard pilots were apparently taught upon graduating from the Academy.
"I've been spotted! Starting evasive maneuvers as well as preparing for hyperjump", Spook 3's voice came through the comm speakers, disturbing the otherwise pleasant silence Seth started to rather enjoy.
Oh great, fun's already over I guess, the man pondered but did not immediately act upon hearing his pilot's report.
No, quite the opposite in fact - although their spying mission was blown, which was a bad thing, this actually provided everyone else to observe how the enemy would respond to this situation. Which ships would mobilize, which would remain in the planet's orbit, how many fighters would be sent to deal with the problem and just what sort of fighters would those be. Also whether more forces would show up as well and if so from where. These were all precious little details that could help the brass better plan their attack, possibly using fake leads, multiple attacking vectors as well as ambushes.
So long as a pattern could be distinguished, one would be able to take measures against it - it was one of the first things a smuggler was forced to learn in order to avoid law enforcement and space patrols. It was a lesson Seth rather excelled at, and the man had little doubt that the bigwigs back in the Vectra System would be able to find the information useful. Possibly just as useful or even more so than the number and type of ships they would likely find upon arrival - which was the information Seth and his team was initially sent to find out anyway.
The pilot was still scanning and taking readings when he noticed a squadron of TIE Interceptors suddenly change course and veer straight his way. The maneuver was too sudden for it to be part of a regular patrol route - this the man knew too well, himself having already studied and created a few patrol routes for both the
Warrior as well as the
Atrus when he was still deployed there.
Guess they've finally switched to their long range active sensors - still, the reaction time alone will also be an important element I can report back."To any and all remaining Spooks - our cover's blown so make your way to the nearest jump point and return home", Seth instructed any of the other members of his team - assuming any were still in the system by that time.
Well it's been fun but I guess I should also scram, the blond Human smiled and turned his ship around, feeding full power to the engines.
Wouldn't want to overstay my welcome after all...Fifteen seconds before the enemy Interceptors could catch up to him and without a doubt turn him into space dust as a result, Seth Qorbin engaged his hyperdrive and went back to enjoying the soothing bluish hues surrounding his cockpit as well as the relaxing silence inside it.
I should volunteer for more of these missions, the man grinned and closed his eyes, planning to take a little nap before reaching Abrae - and before he'd tire himself all over again by reporting what he had just observed...
- OOC:
- WC: 1358
