Chapter 7-B  - The Calling… = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Lotaith – High Council’s Headquarters = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Field Marshal Kadann and the rest of the High Council staff sat in their chairs listening to reports coming in from different systems.  The army had their High Command back and was joining them in viewing reports.  Navy High Command wasn’t far behind and they would be heading home within the next few days… News from both the army and navy divisions were very good.  After just a short few weeks of surprise attacks on fleets and systems, things were looking up.  The force that was planning their attack on the Vast Empire home planet of Lotaith has all but been eliminated.  The few council members talked and debated which direction the VE was going to take with opposing forces.  The display panel in front of each council member rang with red light and sound alerts.  After a few seconds the alerts stopped.  Anakin looked over his shoulder to the guard standing at the door and nodded.  They guard knew he was to get a report from the alert and report back.  “We have been getting these small alerts about every hour or so… Seems we are being hit with small meteors and debris at different locations on the planet, or that’s what our reports tell us.  I would not pay any attention to them…” Anakin said to his fellow council members.  Fifteen minutes later another alert sounded.  This time lasting just over a minute.  Anakin shook his head and stood, nodding to the other members, and excused himself from the large table.  He made his way down to the communications room and demanded a report on the situation.  “Commander,” a pilot replied back, “It seems that these meteors, if that’s what they are, are falling at a very alarming rate.  Would you like me to investigate this further?” “Yes, send a squad out,” Anakin replied. As soon as the orders were made a small explosion could be heard from the outside.  Seconds later the High Council Headquarters shook very violently, sending a small shock through the building and threw standing officers to the ground.  “Damage report!” Anakin yelled out.  “Our outer defense outpost was hit,” was his reply. ”hmm…That was no ordinary meteor explosion,” Anakin said to himself. “Launch all available fighters!” Anakin giving the bridge command his orders. A lieutenant stepped in.  “But sir, they won’t stand a chance against those meteors…” “That last hit was not a meteor.  It was an ion blast, aimed at our defense shields.” Anakin replied.  “It’s a shot in preparation for an invasion…” Seconds later another blast hit the ground.  Once again shaking the building.  “We’ve lost our second defense cannon!” “They must be jamming our radar and detection equipment… Change frequencies and get reports from our other systems.  Launch the remaining droid fighters and get the pilots up as soon as possible!”  Anakin said, and opened up a hologram connection into the High Council Chambers.  “What’s wrong?” Brigadier General Talon asked in confusion.  “We have been hit by an unknown source.  We are changing frequencies on our sensors and should have a better picture in a moment.” Anakin’s hologram replied. Kadann sat, looking at his control panel, he let out a small laugh, as the High Council members looked over at him.  “I thought there was something wrong when we started all of this…” He could feel a presence that was outside our goals.  Every second getting closer and closer. Another alert sounded.  This time not because of a blast, but the jamming signal was stopped.  On each High Council’s control panel information on an incoming fleet filled their screens.  Talon and Fury quickly stood and rushed out the door.  They knew what was happening and they couldn’t waste any time setting up any defense perimeters they could.  The rest of the High Council soon followed, and met up with Anakin in the command post. The Invading fleet was largely made up of Pirate vessels small attack fighters and transports.  The brunts of the command ships however were Imperial in design.  Trailing the pack is a pair of modified Imperial Star Destroyers supplying the Ion Cannon Fire, and followed by an Executor-Class Super Star Destroyer.  Ahead were several Lance Frigates, Escort Carriers and Nebulon-B Escort Frigates.  Guarding them were about 5 VSDs and several Enforcer-class Picket Cruisers.  It was a fleet designed for conquest and was well put together.  General Anakin looked over to Lord Kadann sitting in his throne.  “Our fleets aren’t going to arrive in time.”  Kadann nodded, and Anakin looked over to the communications officer.  “Open up a link to Lord Kaardoon of the FES.” = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FES Headquarters = = = = = = = = = = = = = = “Incoming transmission from the Vast Empire!” The FES High Command sat at their council table, when the image of Anakin appeared before them.  “Greetings General…What bring you here?”  Kaardoon asked. “Lord Kaardoon and fellow FES High Council, The Vast Empire is under attack.  We need your immediate assistance of whatever forces you have available.  Our fleets are on their way but I fear that they will arrive later then the time we have to ward of this invasion.  We aren’t sure if there are any other waves associated with this attack.”  Anakin replied back to the commanders. Lord Rage, XO of the FES stepped in.  “Are forces are on standby and are ready for immediate departure.  Black Sword (Navy) will head up on the defense and when we clear it up we can bring in the Shadow Army along with a few members from our Dark Jedi Order.” “Who is behind the attacks?”  Lord Kaardoon asked wondering if this would mess up any previous alliances. “As of now we aren’t exactly sure.  It is a fleet of Rebel Pirates backed by Imperial commanders.  We are however sure that this was another faction of the Rebel group that was planning an attack on us before we took them out.  Seems that our intelligence has missed its target, while still causing damage.  Anyway, according to your fleets position and our main forces, you will be arriving before our Navy will…  Our Commanders are on the planet Lotaith if you need to make communication with our various divisions.  I’ll catch up with you on the planet.”  Anakin saluted as the hologram flickered into nothing. The division leaders of the Vast Empire quickly began sending reports out to their forces. Their time was short; there was no time for hesitation.  The hope of Vast Empire itself was in the hands of its divisions and their allies…let us hope that it will not be to late….   ----------------------- -=:General Anakin:=- Operations Officer for the Vast Empire OO/GN Anakin/HC-3/mSSD Atrus/VE [SCP][CDS][IOC][CM-SS][LoCx23] E-mail 

Master Kaardoon reviewed the situation in his mind. A vast fleet coming from the west, additional fleets competing with defenses and quite possibly a full fledges ground war. He slowly raised, walked across the glass like floor toward the chamber's mass array of windows reaching the entire height of the vass room. "Admiral", Kaardoon stated calmly, "Prepare your fleet, eliminate these invaders and report back... alive." The Admiral smiled, saluted and after clicking his heels, left the chamber followed by his officers. Kaardoon returned to the window, watching TIE Fighters on their routine patrols. He would not let this chance down. He would save his allies, and inturn his own people.
 
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Lord Rage,
Executive Officer of the FES Gaming Network
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www.fesclan.com | www.fesgaming.com

Kosigan stared out the window into the shimmering blue-white funnel of hyperspace surrounding him in his officer's quarters.  He contemplated over the Vast Empire's attackers, wondering.  Pictures of a planet with hundreds of surrounding ships flooded through his mind.  Closer and closer they got, laser bolts being exchanged from the planet's surface and the many capital ships.  Suddenly he realized that the ship was back in sublight propulsion.  Suddenly a large trimmor shook him off balance, and the floor met the back of his head.  Then another trimmor, softer yet more rapid shook the floor he was laying on.  Kosigan layed, grasping the floor plating with his palms, breathing heavily.  Through the barrage of ceaseless alarms, he could slightly hear his com tranceiver beeping monotonously.  He grabbed it from his belt and flicked it on.  It was an unfamiliar voice, probably a crewman. "Lord Kosigan, this is Crewman Ishtyl, the primary fighter launching bay has suffered some damage, I think we need you to come down here and give us some help..." "How severe is it crewman?" Kosigan asked. "Pretty bad sir...a couple of the pylons have fallen from the ceiling and are blocking the launch port, not to mention that the life support in here is failing... you are the closest available commander sir." "I'll be right there!" And with that, he flipped off the tranceiver and sprinted towards the fighter bay.
 
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"Who's the more foolish?  The fool, or the one that follows him?"

OOC: Before I start posting, what planet am I currently on? Lotaith or Tadath?
 
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Captain Cosmic
Commander of Training
[OPE][OTH][OPA][IH][CDS][EW1][IOC]
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CO/SL/DJK Cosmic/Lion 1-1/mSSD Atrus/VEDJ/VE [VP][KC1]
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Kosigan looked up as he slowly hoisted himself, balancing his stature against the chair he had been standing beside before the tremmor. Something here wasn't right. The lights had dimmed down, and flickered about, casting shadows across the room which set a mysterious, yet silent mood. His facial feaures showed his expression of anguish as he moved toward the passageway ahead of him. Down the hallway, yelling was heard as debris showered from the ceiling above, raining metal, ash and dust down on crewmen hurrying to the nearest escape exit. Kosigan looked down in a fear-inspiring way, seeing the result of heavy punishment on the outside. Rushing down wasn't easy, either. Broken railings and parted stairways made it difficult to hurry to the fighter bay. It was quite some ways down the hallway, and with the constant tremmors, it was very easy to get sidetracked. The power was failing and the smell of hinted metal hovered about the area. A storm of thoughts raced through his mind, creating a deafening swarm of ideas in his mind, racing against each other to be the explanation of the difficulties faced so far. Hesitating for a moment, Kosigan began to realise that these tremmors could only mean one thing. They were been followed...

The Task Force Rampage desended toward the planet as the Vast Empire Defense Command lowered its defenses of the planet and shut down its shield network allowing the freighter like vessels to land. Hoovering above the surface about a kilometer, the cargo craft Omicron dropped its first cargo. Four massive pods were let loose, fell at a remarkable rate and crashed into the ground, causing desent size gaps in the soft earth. General Matok searched through his command pod of the hidden vehicle. Two pilots and three gunman with him. Then the pod started to unlock. Outside the pod it would be a remarkable site. The large pods opened in unisen, dropped the top panels and allowing the massive vehicles inside to emerge from their gel covered lair. To many of the crew, MTAT walkers and their pods were known as Animals, since they seemed to emerge from eggs covered in joices. After the vehicles left they pod they shook quickly, disapating the remaining gel slabs that have not yet dripped off its armoured shell. 'Ah.. the MTAT is my favourite tool' thought Matok as his walker approached the others and lined up next to the now landed transports. "Command, lay courcse for the designated location. Prepare the remaining drops" stated the General a small hologram of his task force captain. He would not fail. As his walkers halted their position, multiple transports were landing, making frequent drops of ATAT walkers, scouting equipment and other weaponry and personal transport craft. Dozens of stormtroops and other field units were unloaded and deployed to random locations amoung the setup crew, keeping guard of the forces while speeder bikes  and scouts were sent out to patrol the area. As the last equipment was moved into place and temperary sheild generators were set around the equipment, the commanders were located in small prefabricated barracks, the ATATs were being loaded with troops and ammunition, and all parties were accounted for. The army was ready for combat.