@Viyata Nicashii, @[member="Darth Praelior"]
While the Sith forces combatted the gunships and tanks that erupted from the Command Ship to deal with them, the sheer scope of the battle seemed lost on them. As Alpha Core's two carriers guarded the far side of Shab'rudur, the three cruisers and two heavy cruisers of Strike Alpha assumed close cover of the larger ships starboard side. While the first and most obvious result of this maneuver was to protect the vulnerable ship from enemy fighters and long range attacks. However, the port side of these cruisers faced the wounded command ship.
As tank and gunship crews cried out in confusion in the moments before their death by squad support weapons and a hyper up force user, the attention of more than one commander was drawn to the source of the conflict. At their own volition, orders were given to target the exposed Sith infantry with the point defense batteries of the cruisers. With Shab'rudur's shields offline and damaged starboard hull, this maneuver would likely cause collateral damage to the ship itself. But such damage was deemed to be insignificant next to the potential damage a large force of invading Sith could cause.
So, with cold hearts and steel stomachs, the commander of Strike Alpha ordered flak batteries to be fired upon the Sith forces before they could have a chance to do any real harm to the ship.
((--fast forward past some increased casualties))
((OOC: I'm surprised you acknowledged the tanks at all. Hats off to you for realizing the value of the tactic.))
Larraq allowed his attention to be drawn away from the overall battle for a few moments that he may focus on the struggling Command Ship. Heavily damaged on the starboard side and reporting Sith boarding parties in her corridors, the ship was rapidly losing whatever tactical value it had originally posed. The vessel had already launched her full complement and all that remained in her were drop pods and life boats. But these were already loading with waiting marines and armed mandalorian crewmembers. Even after the complements inside the various shuttles and dropships were taken into account, there were no less than one thousand mandalorian troops and four thousand mandalorian crewmembers still aboard the ship and packed into the outer corridors. The vast majority of which wore full void-capable combat gear. The rest simply wore basic light armor with armored void suits overtop.
With the push of a button, Larraq patched himself through to the bridge of the Shab'rudur, and instructed the commander of the vessel on how to deal with the situation. “Launch whatever drop pods and escape pods remain towards the planet. Close and seal all bulkheads near the boarded sections of the ship. Divert anti-boarding parties to those sections and slow their advance while marines prepare for a counter attack. Instruct marine forces to deploy explosive traps along corridors leading directly to the reactor and bridge from those locations, and send reserve forces to the armory to acquire heavy weaponry. I want choke points set up throughout the ship with sealed bulkheads funneling enemy forces into the heaviest guns. And once your men are in position, I want you to use the artificial gravity generators to full effect. Fluctuate gravity as violently as you can. Break the damned lever if you have to. Up, down, on, off, port, starboard, half power, double power, five times power. Whatever you can get it to do, do it fast, fluctuate it often, and overload the system if you have to.”
Larraq breathed in deeply and let it out slowly. He was not fond of the idea of losing such a large ship so quickly in the engagement, but casualties were to be expected in such a conflict. In some conditions, they were even acceptable. But to lose a Mandalorian ship to a boarding action... It was embarrassing. “Shab'rudur, break formation and prepare hyperdrives. Make your way back to Mandalorian space. If previous instructions fail to stop the Sith boarders, they should slow them down long enough for you to reach an outpost and receive additional support. Good luck commander. Fleetcom out.”
Switching frequencies to speak with the rest of the fleet, Larraq continued giving orders. “Remainder of Alpha Core, merge into Strike Alpha. Strike Alpha, Bravo Formation, Charlie Formation, move towards Sith fleet in tandem with Republic forces. Support Fleet, continue flanking maneuver. All ships, launch all craft and begin bombing runs. Use the Republic ships for cover on approach.”
