Japheth and Shazam are certainly allowed to countermand anything I'm about to post and add/edit as needed. It is your show and I wouldn't dare to intrude on their orders.

Also, we will need to work out some set of objectives where we update each other division-wise on the progress of our missions. Since the army is essentially a character-building lovefest these days, don't wait around for us too long.

---

A little backstory for those not having dual characters. Over the past few years, the Army has moved out from our primary planets.

this map shows the area in detail, focusing on the planets to the left of the map. The full map is here and is a derivative of many other maps I've used before.

In short, we've conquered and added Moorja to our sphere of control awhile back. It's more of a breadbasket to us than anything. Bestine IV was a real hard fight against long entrenched enemies. Yag'Dhul is effectively a neutral shipyard, though no friends of ours.

Plus we've pulled missions on Devaron to keep it neutral and Eriadu down the Rimma Trade Route to keep the Empire in power there.

Recently, Phase I has taken us to Mrlsst, Abregado-rae, Belgaroth, and Phu, which you should be able to see on the maps. Right now, the army's flagship Dominion and a small Imperial Center fleet are in an empty pocket of space near Giju, awaiting deployment.

I have not yet written in the mission elements for the army, but I wanted to give you guys a head's up on what you are going into.

Our mutual target is the shipyards orbiting the planet Hast. Hast itself is just one of a thousand colonies, not too well populated and not too big of a deal militarily, economically or otherwise. The back story is that a shipyard was created here in the waning days of the Republic by Senators who feared the power of Palpatine. Hast became the secret shipyard for the Rebellion and then the New Republic. Financed by funds taken from the Republic/Imperial budget, then later by member planets once the Senate was dissolved, the Hast shipyards have been produced Corellian and Mon Calamari models for decades, and are a repair yard for the New Republic's larger craft, including captured/stolen Kuat Star Destroyers.

Hast is currently producing the new MC90 Star Cruisers. There is also an Imperial Star Destroyer in the yards undergoing a refit.

These are protected by various escort craft and by two Golan-II defense platform along with the usual array of gun and missile turrets and mine fields.

So, quick breakdown on the ships:

Primary Capitals

MC90 Star Cruisers
- Steadfast
- Resolute
- Freedom
- Harmony
- Tranquility

ISD-I
- Allegiance

Support Craft

Endurance-class Fleet Carrier Andoan Dawn

Majestic Heavy Cruisers
- Bespin
- Dantooine

3 Sacheen-class Light Escorts

4 EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigates

2 CC-7700 frigates (interdictor craft)

Defense Grid

2 Golan-II defense platforms

An array of missile and defense turrets, plus mines

Follow this link for some details on a shipyard about this size.

Also, more info on the New Class of ships, including the MC90, Endurance, and Sacheen classes.

Read up on X-Wings, E-Wings, and K-Wings as well as A- and B-Wing starfighters as both the shipyard and capitals will have many wings ready to go.

Also know that I'm sending in a sweep of Imperial Center-built Corellian missile frigates before any Imperial ship enters the target area. We have passcodes and will look as if we are coming in for a shakedown. I have a bit of random hit table stuff I'll pull to let you know what happens when those ships pass through prior to your entry into the shipyards.

Ask any questions you have and I'll try to keep track of this thread.

Japheth/Shazam, edit out or amend anything you feel the need to.

I hope we can all have some fun with this.

I have not worked that out yet completely, but I would imagine one near completion and just applying the paint and moving in furniture type of stuff, another mostly done, maybe not all systems online throughout the ship, etc.  I'd imagine the third would have a hull but maybe no internal power source yet. The other two would be in various stages of "sitting duck" with possibly some weapons emplacements.

I've been asked about the starfighter elements. I'd say off the top of my head that the shipyard itself would have a few squadrons, if not a wing or two outright. The Endurance can carry a couple of wings, and the ISD could probably carry just slightly less than an Imperial load - unless you think it would be carrying Republic TIE fighters as opposed to A- or E-Wings or something.

I frankly was going to leave that up to your guys to figure out but that's a pretty hefty complement. As for the shipyard elements, hopefully we can get some Army grunts on that for you.

I'll try to get you better answers on this soon.

A couple of alterations/additions to my above notes:

The ISD is called the Emancipator

Schematic of an ISD-II, which should be close enough to an ISD-I for our purposes

Schematic of an MC80 for reference purposes

OOC:

It's not Shakespeare, but it's done. Have fun with this.

Alvaros gave a low whistle as they exited hyperspace. "Damn boss, this is going to suck hard," he commented. Paler looked up at the magnified view of the shipyard and then looked down to begin giving orders.

Fury gave him a moment. "Paler, how bad?"

"Depends on what exactly you are looking for. Two Golan-IIs, enough mines to take a chunk out of a planet, and enough firepower to take us out. By the way, you might want to take a seat next to me and get out of the way."

Alvaros began handling requests for berthing from the shipyard coordinators. Three squadrons of E-Wings and X-Wings had already launched and were forming an escort wing around the fleet.

Fury and Paler got to work. Paler started laying out a grid of this shipyard.  "Alright, the beacon is on the Freedom which is the second ship in the lineup. The Tranquility is just about complete and is first in line, the Harmony has about everything but a squadron and full crew is third, and the Steadfast next to her is spaceworthy but not entirely completed. We shouldn't have to worry about the Resolute as it doesn't seem to even have shipboard power yet. But I'd keep a few guns on it just in case.

"The goal is to target the Steadfast and work our way down the line to include the Tranquility and Harmony.  We'll give the Steadfast a few parting shots but that's about it. Hopefully the stormies can take it easily.

"Obviously our biggest threats are the Golans and the fighters from the Andoan Dawn. The Emancipator is a complete unknown. I have no data on its status or if it is even capable of leaving its berth. Same for the Tranquility but I'm gonna bet it is just about fully operational."

Fury sighed. "Alright, task some targeting orders. Have the ships move into position as soon as we can do so. Also, get our fighters ready to go. We're about to have a busy day. Anything else?"

Paler cringed. "Real bad news? I'm picking up two gravity well projectors coming online. CC-7700s. It is going to take me a minute but I'll update you with a firing solution."

Alvaros wasn't seeming to be getting anywhere convincing the shipyard of his bona fides. Some actor he turned out to be. "And get those Majestics back, damn you. I'm flying a Corellian warship. I have the right codes. No one knows where this damn yard is anyway! How dare you accuse me of being a spy?"

The Officer on Duty was having none of the act. "If you won't calm down, we will fire warning shots and you will submit to our 'paranoia' as you have been calling it."

Paler nodded to Fury, who stood up and nodded to Alvaros. "Captain," he said. "We're ready."

The OOD suddenly became concerned. "Ready for what?"

"Ready to stop talking to your sorry ass!" yelled Alvaros. "Shields up. Fire at will!" One last look at the holo. "And I'll see you in hell!"

---

The fleet had begin moving into a formation that put the Castanaveras and Bent at the center with two of the Victory frigates as Task Force Aurek. The other Victory's accompanied the Bludgeon and were to focus on the "left" of the yards to take on the closest Golan-II as Task Force Besh.  The Richter was providing cover to the Pezzini and Kiddo while the Havel was covering the Angel as Task Force Cresh, Kerbouchard and Sledgehammer which would be breaking "right" as Task Force Dora.

At this moment, however, the immediate issue was to fire the first shot.

At Alvaros' orders, all ships turbolasers began seeking out targets from amongst the starfighter escort, hitting many of them by surprise. Morningstar-D fighters left the Castanaveras with a shudder, joining those emerging from the Richter, Bent and Havel.

Fury was momentarily blinded as the Bludgeon took an early shot at the nearby Golan. Immediately a third of its beacon lights went out, though the remaining guns were beginning to seek targets.

"Move forward and protect TF Cresh", yelled Alvaros. Laser beams began splashing against the forward shields.  Off to the right of the bridge, Sledgehammer shot a bolt at the nearest CC-7700. The Interdictor craft actually recoiled from the shot. Missiles began streaking towards it from the Angel and Kerbouchard.

"Status report Paler!" yelled Fury as a few random missiles hit the Castanaveras and almost threw him to the ground.

"Nothing's wounded yet, but I don't see that lasting for long. We should have brought more fighters."  The shipyard and Andoan Dawn were throwing dozens of new fighters into the fray.

"This is going to be close. Get those gunners to hurry up please," he shouted to fire control. They just laughed.

---

A few minutes later the situation was becoming clearer. The fleet was in trouble. Sledgehammer was in danger of losing its shields but had disabled the CC-7700 with its escorts finishing the job. It had also fired two bursts at the Emancipator, which could, after all, launch from its berth. Plumes of flames near the engines meant that was temporarily not the case. The Tranquility was now online and beginning to leave its berth.

Task Force Cresh had, however, done its worst against the other MC90s. Moving from under the Castanaveras and Bent and had damaged the Steadfast, while the Harmony had thrown up shields fast enough to only lose the port side of the ship. Without an engine plant, it was still firing from its dorsal and starboard turbolasers.  Freedom was offline from a shot from the Sledgehammer but it was unclear how damaged it might be. Most likely systems were coming online and it would be a danger in mere moments.

Fury, aboard Task Force Aurek, was watching a slugging match with the two Majestic cruisers Bespin and Dantooine. Having mopped up the Strike cruiser that had escorted them into the shipyards, Castanaveras' fighters had taken on two of the Nebulon-Bs and had crippled one. A few missiles had split the other in half.

Over on the other side of the battle, the Bludgeon had lost one of its escorts and had silenced the first Golan.

Fury ordered an escort for the Raiders and sent them to take over or cripple the first Golan before it got online again.

He ordered additional cover fire and escort to send the Dark Dragoons and Eclipse squads on their respective targets, taking care to stay out of the way of the Tranquility's fires.

Then he waited for the tide to turn. It didn't take long.

---

The Pezzini took a broadside of bombs from the K-Wings aboard the shipyard and began breaking up.

The same group of bombers damaged the Richter and it cost the whole of its fighters to turn back the aggressors.

Using the shell of the Pezzini for cover, the Kiddo moved back behind Task Force Aurek with the Richter limping behind.  Prior to getting hit hard they had managed an array of salvos at the shipyard itself, with spectacular results.

Bludgeon had lost its second escort frigate and was now being torn apart by fighters. It launched its escape craft and the ship began counting down its auto-destruct as it came up to the second Golan.

Sledgehammer was now being harassed by fire from the Emancipator and Tranquility though it managed one more shot at the second CC-7700, crippling it at least temporarily. The Kerbouchard and Angel set themselves between the Aggressor and began hammering back at the Tranquility with their last missile salvos.

As the ships collected themselves together, the Imperial Center fleet had managed to kill another Nebulon-B and had shot the Dantooine's engines out from under it. It was adrift and still firing when the Sledgehammer self-destructed right next to it.

Bludgeon took out the shields and part of the second Golan at about the same time. The Bent had evacuated and were now aboard the Castanaveras.

Paler looked at Fury, who looked at Alvaros, who was looking mighty grim at this point. "The Navy better finish this place off. God knows we paid enough to lighten their load."

"S'alright Captain. Let's just get the hell out of here." Paler had sent the remnants of the fleet coordinates out of local space so they could regroup.

They had done all they could. Now they just had to get out of here. With a short hyperspace jump, they left it up to the navy to decide the rest of the battle.

I did note that the IC fleet managed to take out about six to nine squadrons of fighters, mostly from the Majestics and the shipyard though the Endurance wings got slapped around a bit too. Use this to diminish your targets.

I'll leave it up to you guys how you want to disperse the responsibility. Remember, barring the Sacheens and the Endurance carrier, these ships have been softened up, as have the Golans. The shipyard should be under constant harassment from squads inside it as well.

Yes, you have a target rich environment but many squadrons are depleted, possibly lacking leadership, and most of the capitals have a weakness you can exploit at this point.

I did not mean to overwhelm you and if you feel that way, I apologize.

Just someone make some calls concerning distribution of attack/defense roles and please ask if I can help or just give me your two cents on how this was too big of a scope of mission.

Scratch the Assault Frigate Mk. II "Reichiz" - that's to be replaced with the Strike-Class Cruiser Doashim, which will have a fighter capacity of two squadrons (none of which have been designated just yet.)  Anywho- the members of that ship can either stay on for that development and write on thier own, or they can leave it to me to write in the position of that ship and what, preciselly, it is doing.  I won't be writing much about Art or the crew, as Art will stop by every once in a great while to do that himself, but I'll ensure that it plays a part in the battle.  So- the two Doashim group members can choose to jump on my ship or do otherwise.  Note that the Doashim 450m in lenght, a bit longer than the Carracks, and is equipped with 20 turbolasers, 10 ions and 10 tractor beam projectors.  For those of you who are wondering what the differences between Turbolaser and Laser are: turbo is a hell of a lot stronger and is used in capitol ship battle where as lasers and medium lasers are used against fighters because they are generally less power-consuming and more mobile in terms of directionality and fire arc.  For those who are really new, Ion cannons are the primary weapon we use to disable other ships- the ion cannon's fire basically overrides or disrupts and disperses the electrical flow of instruments and other necessary equipment aboard ships.  The Ions they use aboard capitol ships is far more powerful than those that you'll see on some fighters and, though they do little physical damage, can destroy a fighter if at a close enough range and with a big enough gun.

As for where Kaph and Nazgul are launching from- I leave that up to them to decide.  Both squadrons also have the right to designate a specific squadron from specific ships on either the ally or enemy side: I'd like to be informed of it's existence though so we can scratch off or account for a number of fighters and keep somewhat within the realm of relative figures.

Uh- the Steadfast was destroyed..?

Fury- I apologize but it's going to take a little longer than anticipated to get this story up to speed: momentum is tough to gather when you only have one officer besides yourself around.  We'll put our best efforts into making this work, but school is really making it tough, so we'll get done what we can without pushing beyond our limits.  I'll let you know well ahead of time if things aren't going to work out, but I entrust you understand that this type of major operation is tough, even with good resources.  More importantly, I'd like to make sure our men and women are having a good time, and if this is just going to work counter to that- I'll let you know.  Keep up the good work to everyone who's helping out though; keep rockin.'