Public Singing in the Void[Open to All]

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Jakku system]
[Primary Participants: 2nd Expeditionary Fleet]

A calm void stood still, watching over the small formation as they cruised through the black. Dispatched to uncover the mysteries and terror that hid behind a veil of silence, the lead squadron from the Galactic Alliance’s Second Expeditionary Fleet, commanded by Admiral Zahara Myneto, kept their sensors active while their gunners waited in anticipation. Anxiety filled the atmospheres of the various starships in the unit. At any moment, from anywhere, they could find themselves on the receiving end of a bombardment.

Such was life.

Stability in the Jakku system had been disrupted a short while earlier, and paved by the monsters who lurked within came a neatly established road. This new path beckoned an increase in piracy, but not for long. They were here to tear down the road, to shatter the path.

The task force, only consisting of ten starships, had been on patrol for an hour now, there were only seven more to go.

[Objectives]
[The only goal I have for this is to get us all used to each other’s command styles. But, if Admiral Myneto would like to spice up the action, you’re welcome to throw in a pirate attack.]
[And if any of you pirate types want bloodshed. BRING IT ON.]
[Have fun, everyone.]


[Location: Jakku system - Bridge of the ANS Clarity{Invector-class Monitor Frigate}]
[Commander Teica Giraan reporting in]

The Clarity sailed along the cosmos, hugging the sides of her escort ships and the Starhawk leading the formation. Across its dorsal and ventral surfaces, point defense cannons rotated along their shafts, sweeping across the field in carefully coordinated half-revolutions. The hanger bays were clear of fighters, now simply containing the maintenance crews and their carts and other small vehicles. Meanwhile, one fighter squadron had been sent to the front of the formation while the other stayed back for basic screening duties.

Teica strolled about the Clarity’s bridge with a datapad in hand. A quiet air filled the room, with only faint clicking shining through. She let out a yawn as she neared the completion of her report.

The bridge was more spacious than she was used to, even though she found it to be far more cluttered. Consoles covered almost every inch of the sides, and further were scattered among the flooring nearer to the center. Almost half of the set-ups were dedicated to the various sensor suites, leaving the rest to be split among the other systems.

“Ma’am,” A voice cut through the silence, “Port turbolasers are on the fritz again.”

The Clarity had seen better days under her previous captain, but the effects of battle had caught up with the cruiser, and it showed in every single aspect of daily life aboard the ship. Teica let out a sigh and clipped the datapad to her belt, before turning to face the young ensign.

“Contact Chief Ethemec, have him authorized to send a team in vac-suits,” She put on a faint smile and stood at ease, “Please express my deepest sympathies to the good lieutenant.”

“Shall I send him some flowers as well?” The new comms officer jokingly asked before she picked up a communicator and contacted the chief.

She was working with a new staff aboard the Clarity. The only officer from the Peacemaker who had transferred over to the larger cruiser had been her chief of engineering. Her first officer, lieutenant commander Dara, had been given command of a light corvette and sent on patrol along the G.A's borders. And her starfighter control officer had taken an assignment closer to home. Thinking about it still stung, but she had Ethemec around to lighten the emotional load.

The commander made her way to the comms officer's console, looking over the ensign's shoulder and checking the screen sitting before her.

"What did Ethemec say?" Teica smiled.

"Well ma'am, prepare to be screamed at," The ensign tried to stifle a laugh.

"What else is new?" The commander stood up, "Confirm status with Admiral Myneto. And rotate out our fighter squadrons."

"Yes ma'am."

Teica nodded and made her way back to the cold command chair in the middle of the bridge, quietly singing to herself as she looked at the view ahead.

 

[Kyra Findlay]

Aboard the Iron Lady

Jakku.

Not much going on around Jakku most days. It was a dust ball of dust balls, filled with ancient wrecks that could barely be classified as salvage to most of the civilized worlds in the Galaxy. To the people of the Outer Rim though, it was one of the best places to find salvage, artifacts, and now illegal tech. That is...Until the Galactic Alliance showed up with its Starbird Trade Spine. Junk started selling like hot Batuu-bons and more and more Core World and Inner Rim types started bustling in, taking up all the good salvage for themselves.

It got even worse when Jakku finally joined the GA because of, well, people like her. Kyra Quez was a procurer of illegal and ancient weapons, smuggler, and worst of all pirate. She and a few others had been terrorizing this sector of space for months now. The frequent traffic of the Starbird Tradeline used to get around the CIS and the lucrative salvage coming off-world...well it just made sense to let the scavers scavenge and the shippers ship FOR her and she could just take everything whenever she was ready for a new blaster or pair of boots.

She yawned and stroked the thick fur of her pet vornskr. She wagged her tail and inclined her snout up at the old Mando pirate expectantly, her black eyes shining in anticipation. Kyra rolled her one good eye.

"Fine," she said, defeated by the cute puppy eyes. In one swift motion she kicked off her shoe, her feet smelled like they'd been wrapped in leathery burnt bacon for weeks, and chucked it at the nearest Weequay.

"Oi you lug! Get Mesh'la one of those nice imperial officer steaks we pulled from the last raid." She cupped the Mandalorian bred beast between her old, wrinkled hands and rubbed nozes. "My baby ish hungy!" The Weequay growled but did as he was asked.

"Mum! We've got ten ships done dropped out of hyperspace!"

"TEN SHIPS?!" Had they finally sent a task force after her? "How close are they?"

"We'll have visual in less than five minutes."

"Scramble the battle disks and tell the Night Fang to prepare for battle." She stood, putting one foot on the command dash of her captain's chair and shouted.

"WE ARE GOIN' INTO BATTLE YE SORRY LOT AND BY THE BESKAR OF MY ANCESTORS I AIN'T WAITIN' TO BE HUNG BY THESE DOGS OF WAR!"

"ITS BETTER TO BE SPACED THAN TO WAIT TO BE HUNG!" came the response. A tear came to her one good eye.

"Thems my boys," she whispered and plopped into her chair. The Iron Lady swung about and moved into battle readiness.

Teica Giraan

 

[Zahara Myneto]

GADF 2nd Expeditionary Fleet - Task Force 02
Admiral Z. Myneto Commanding; ANV Redeemed
Jakku System
​

-------​

​

Jakku was a boring, dirty room of a planet.

In all honesty, under different circumstances be would have begged High Command for a different assignment, another world, one where exploration was possible. But, as fate would have it, he had recently been relegated to pushing papers in a manner of speaking, so the dirty world below him was far more entertaining than this desk on Courscsnt.

"Confirmed Clarity" The Communications officer was blunt, a Commander worth his rank and title. The young Zeltron had served with Myneto since his early days as a commodore in the Corellian Confederation, during the Saber Program, which he oversaw.

"Begin secondary sensor sweeps" Zahara ordered. He gripped the armrests of his command chair tightly as the commander rose from her own to approached him. "I have a bad feeling about this"

Teica Giraan | Kyra Quez

 

[Constantine Oliva]

Near the Jakku System
Commanding Hawk and 253rd Corvette Line
​

More boring anti-pirate duties. The 253rd had been running patrol missions throughout the Alliance's frontier since Byss. We'd missed out on the glory of the Stygian Campaign. No room for a Corvette line, I supposed.


The regular bridge crew was off duty for now, on our lunch break. I'd taken to eating with them. Eating alone was boring.


"Well sir, it looks like that expeditionary fleet you mentioned got Patrol duty too."


My communications officer spoke between mouthfuls. Still chewing, I smiled. Admiral Myeneto had been trying to form a mobile task force, to respond to things faster than Battlegroup Kenobi could. And here they were, doing patrol.


"Really? They're stuck out here too?"


"Yessir, I was talking with one of their comm boys. Says he's never been more disappointed."


"Ha!"


In the hours drifting through space, it was good to laugh sometimes. Kept you sane. I'd begun to save the officer's stoicism for when a situation arose, but on patrol, that was incredibly rare.


"Hey sir, are you planning on upgrading to the Warrior-IIIs?"


In the relaxed atmosphere of the patrol, casual questions weren't uncommon. Not was this particular subject's discussion. I'd tried to get the Avalon corvettes upgraded to the next model in the line, but my request had been denied.


"Probably, but I don't think the big hats consider us important enough yet."

"Ah, damn shame. They look great."

"I don't know what you're on, Warriors have always looked like trash."

As the discussion turned away, I leaned back, listening while I ate. Life on patrol was boring, that was certain. But at least, I didn't have to worry about losing these men.







Then, the temporary bridge officer interrupted.

"Sir! Shark has reported potential pirate activity, and captain Kell wants your input!"

"Alright."


I stood to head to the bridge. Captain Kell was a new captain, replacing the Shark's old commander, who'd recently retired. The line was dispersed, maximizing the search area. Pirates likely weren't stupid enough to attack an alliance military vessel-especially the well armed Warrior-IIs.



Teica Giraan Zahara Myneto Kyra Quez

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Jakku system - Bridge of the ANS Clarity{Invector-class Monitor Frigate}]
[Commander Teica Giraan reporting in]
[This will concern: Constantine Oliva Zahara Myneto Kyra Quez ]

"Commander, Several ships moving off the port bow. I count at least one frigate, but sensors are still picking up considerable background noise," The scanner chief, turned to face the commander.

"Switch to Code Yellow. Get repair teams inside. Recall our scout fighters for screening. Starboard guns to full power," Teica stood up and made her way to a tactical table.

Her fingers danced across the buttons along the rim of the table for only a few brief moments before holographic starships emerged from the projectors. She counted the ten ships from the 2nd Expeditionary, then turned her gaze to the blurred silhouettes of smaller raiding craft, moving in at full speed.

"Ma'am, our repair teams have reentered the Clarity, airlocks secured."

"Hard to port, target their lead ship. Switch turbolasers to salvo fire." The commander rotated the projection.

The Clarity made a sharp turn, bringing an array of turbolasers to bear. As soon as the raiding ships were in optimal weapons range, a swarm of plasma fire screamed through the void and dispersed along the enemy's shields.

"Proton torpedoes, half spread." Teica gripped the sides of the tactical table as she watched the chaos unfold through a blue-tinted projection.

Joining the turbolaser bolts were at least eight torpedoes from the broadsides of the cruiser, sailing at full speed and exploding across the energy barrier surrounding the pirate frigate.

The commander pushed herself away from the table, proceeding to cross her arms in front of her, then moving her left hand for her chin to rest upon.

"Signal Commodore Oliva's line, get him our coordinates and see if he can get behind these raiders," She swiped her hand across the hologram to get a new angle, "And get me direct ship-to-ship with Admiral Myneto, full encryption."

Teica's hands lowered and she gripped the rim of the table.

"{Admiral, this is Clarity, a broadside exchange and a few torpedoes to their lead ship should take out their engines. Requesting permission to follow through. Over.}"

 

[Kyra Findlay]

Teica Giraan Constantine Oliva Zahara Myneto

"Copycat pods away Mum," The old Mandalorian leaned back in her captain's chair and gave a smirk. With their own transponder off and both ships releasing their copycat pods in unison it would look like on sensors that there were at least four frigates out there with them. They had changed course to delay visual. The original plan was to charge head-on until that massive behemoth of a battlecruiser dropped out of hyperspace. That had changed everything.

"Keep her steady helm."

"They launched torpedoes." They'd taken the bait. Or someone had. The copycat pods stopped responding to pings. There wasn't much they could do now. They were in it. It wouldn't be long until the battlecruiser turned its attention on them too. What had started as a potential win was quickly turning into a fight for survival.

"Battle Disks away!"

 

[Cruanless Orcash]

Location: Jakku, Bridge of the MC75 Star Cruiser, the Reverence
Objective: Make Contact and link up with 2nd Expeditionary Fleet
Tags: Teica Giraan Constantine Oliva Zahara Myneto Kyra Quez

Theme: TIME TO KICK SOME ARSE
​

Like many previous times, the blue swirl of hyperspace begin to slowly subside as the Reverence had reached the Jakku system.

"Exiting now Captain"

"Finally, its been one hellish journey for sure".

"We could have gone through the Dastrhau Nebula uncle". Spoke Cruanless's young nephew, Gaachar, a newly graduated starfighter pilot. He had not requested that his nephew be sent under his command, but the boy's mother insisted. Cruanless had only taken him on board a few months prior to the First Battle of Ziost. He had actually caused them to be little late for the start of the battle due to him "coordinating" with some young human females on Balmorra. Despite the boy's demeanor and questionable commitment, he was still his blood and ever since the Sith had ravaged his world that was just being salvaged by heroic members of his species, his blood was in short supply. He lost 4 brothers, 6 cousins, 3 aunts, 2 uncles, and many more of his direct kin. Not to mention the thousands more of his brethren that were slaughtered. Only himself, his sister, his male cousin, and his nephew had survived. No matter what the kid did, he was still Cruanless's to protect and keep safe. Still, he knew the dangers of fighter combat, but if his blood was go out, let it be with lance in hand.

He now zipped back to the present, away from his thoughts and back to his nephew. "No, you dumb fish fry". "Yes, it is a shortcut, but contains sections that are completed uncharted and this ship would never fit through it anyway".

His nephew submitted and bowed his head slightly to signify that his uncle was right. The young Mon Calamari had been placed in Blazer Squadron, A-Wings. They were led by Captain Kaoi Assam, descendent of Imperial Knight and Galactic Hero, Jao Assam. He was one of the only humans that Orcash liked and respected, especially with his family's military past.

As he turned back to the bridge view, the Reverence was exiting hyperspace at the very moment.

........

As he could see out into space, the GA starships looked to be engaging some kind of pirate scum.

"Seems we're late to the party sir".

"Force darn it Jagrall!". "Your the reason we're late this time!"

"But sir, I had to ta....."

"Stow it, Pappus bring us 40 degrees to port".

"Aye sir, turn, 40 degrees to port!". As Pappus steered the Reverence to its position and towards their allies in space, Cruanless sat down his datapad on the console behind his seat and moved to sit down in his command chair. He plumbed his butt into the seat and made himself as comfortable as he could, given the circumstances and all that.

"Sir, our sensors are picking up our friends". A quick pause then the Lieutenant continued. "The Clarity".

"Ah Giraan's new vessel, it looks quite intact, perhaps she hasn't had it very long".

His nephew laughed behind him. This surprised him a bit. He had let the boy stand with him and the bridge officers during hyperspace travel and non combat times. Now it was time for battle and boy still didn't entirely know his place or perhaps he forgot it again.

"What you doin laughing there boy, get to your station, MOVE!!!!!".

Gaachar dropped his grin immediately and bolted back through the bridge command center and towards the access hall. There he would go to his room, grab his gear and make his way to the hangar.

Orcash gazed at his young kinsman, looking eager for battle. Even after years of wear and tear, Cruanless himself still felt the eagerness of battle every time he began combat. The adrenaline kicked in and he was ready to rumble. He turned back to his command.

"All crew, Battle stations!"

"Aye sir", repeated many on the bridge.

The crew rushed around, to complete pre-battle objectives and tasks, while pilots prepped for space flight & gunners prepared to lock their targets.

The Captain could now see the Holoscreen brought up by Jagrall to his left, "Admiral Myneto, well I'll be". "So that's who they got to command this new little fleet". Captain Orcash had ignored the report that he received on the new naval task force and delegated that to Lieutenant Pappus. He knew most of the stuff that the Captain should know, but didn't have the time for. Orcash had gone from assisting the Bothan Spynet and Gramani Fey’la with a mission to.....bang, he was on his way and now had arrived at Jakku.

He could also now see the ping on the screen representing Constantine Oliva , however it was an officer he was not familiar with nor had met.

Cruanless now turned his command seat to center and readied to enter battle, one more time, one more fight.



"Jagrall get me contact with the Admiral and Giraan too"

"Yes sir, patching us through now".


["Captain Giraan, its been a while since Ziost, heard command is readying an assault". "Anyways I like your new ship, hopefully this one doesn't get shot to bits".] He chuckled shortly under his breath. He now addressed the Admiral.

["Admiral Myneto, this Captain Cruanless Orcash reporting in from the MC75 Star Cruiser Reverence ". "I'm glad we finally get to meet sir". "I'm currently located at your 3 o'clock and at the 7 o'clock of the pirate scum". "Permission to provide sweeping cover to the enemy's rear, over".]

After he clicked off the comm and waited for a response, he turned to Pappus. "Launch Barrow and Blazer Squadrons". "Have them maintain secure defense circles around the Reverence until further orders".

"Aye, sir, fighters are fueled and ready".

Orcash now looked back out into space, where his eyes and mind wandered a second, into the black abyss of the unknown.

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Jakku system - Bridge of the ANS Clarity{Invector-class Monitor Frigate}]
[Commander Teica Giraan reporting in]

"Ma'am, multiple new contacts off the port. Matching configuration...Unknown, ma'am."

Teica looked through the viewport, concentrating on the almost brown-tinted saucers, covered in hastily slapped on greebling. They were screaming right at her, blue rings surrounding what seemed to be engine units.

"Concentrate our laser cannons on those..things. I want a full structural analysis while we're at it," The commander turned back to the holo-display.

"Point defense charging...Targets locked..Firing, full force."

"Commander, One new contact emerging from hyperspace. It's the Reverence," The scanner chief had said only a few seconds before the cruiser emerged on the display, "We're being hailed."

Reverence? By Ivax's name.

"On speakers," A grin made its way onto her face.

["Captain Giraan, its been a while since Ziost, heard command is readying an assault. Anyways I like your new ship, hopefully this one doesn't get shot to bits,"]

"Mister Orcash, it's always a pleasure. And, it's Commander Giraan now," The Corellian felt the impact of a torpedo hitting the starboard shields, "We can save a conversation for later. Good luck, captain."

The Clarity yawed upward, it's engines fading out and firing up yet again to adjust the direction. Then, the cruiser flipped itself about its port-starboard axis, burning retrograde to its current course. Across the port hull, facing the ventral surface of the frigate, the munitions hatches flipped open, and the torpedoes rolled into their launch tubes. Behind, the guided munitions, freshly polished hatches closed off their escape, leaving the void ahead as the only way out.

After a pregnant pause, the warheads accelerated out, standing on contrast to the plasma-dominated battlefield. Concentrated bolts of energy continued to fly back and forth some hitting the torpedoes, most glancing off. But even with their compatriots being torn to bits, the torpedoes kept their lock.

The Clarity kept its lock.

Teica watched the space in front of her being thrown to the side as the Clarity swerved around the sides of the pirate formation, and after locking its guns, fired a full front-mounted salvo at the lead ship, while furious laser cannons sprayed the battlefield with rapid bolts of light.

Feel free to surrender, She gritted her teeth as she looked back and forth between the enemy and the shield status, Any time now.

 

[Kyra Findlay]

It seemed there were more and MORE and MORE ships that kept pouring out of hyperspace. What was her small band of pirates going to do against that? A few armed freighters, taped together battle disks, and a pair of aging frigates wasn't enough to warrant all this. Who were they really after? Was it that Brotherhood of the Maw that she'd been hearing so much about? She cursed under her breath.

"Hail that cruiser we just hit," she ordered harshly. "All of ye better get out of 'er. Noth'in we can do about the Battle Disks but tell them to get out too. I might as well do that." Her bridge crew looked on in wonder and fear for their captain. She'd led them for nigh on fifteen years now, raiding and running from the law. It was easier when the Core was still in chaos from the Sith. But now...It seemed the era of pirates was coming to an end.

"You don't have to mum!" Said one of the Weequay. "We know we joke 'bout it, but it don't mean it need be true!" She shook her head as she began to pull her pirate regalia off bit by bit, first her headband, then her waistcoat and cloak.

"No, but that's where yer wrong. I do look like her. Now get. Its a lucky thing I have Mesh'la with me today. Lady Tagge's known to be fond of them exotics. What's more exotic than a tame Mandalorian Vornskr this far out from the Rim?" There was no arguing. She'd stripped down already to nothing but her trousers and her white tunic. She unbuttoned the first two and ran her fingers on her dirty console, inspecting her fingers for grime and dust. Satisfied with the amount she smeared some on her face and some on her tunic before untying her hair and letting it fall in a mess around her.

As the console began registering copy cat pods and escape pods launching she hailed one of the ship commanders, putting on her best damsel in distress. She was the spitting image of a certain senator....

"Hello? Hello?!" she wailed, hailing Teica Giraan over a shoddy connection. "This...This is Senator Brama Tagge ! I...They've all left! I think they mean to blow up the ship! PLease! Someone! Save me and my darling vornskr!"

Cruanless Orcash Constantine Oliva Zahara Myneto

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Jakku system - Bridge of the ANS Clarity{Invector-class Monitor Frigate}]
[Commander Teica Giraan on Standby]
​

The fighting began to die down, the Alliance vessels now officially establishing their overwhelming numbers. The Clarity stood on the opposite 'side' of the battlefield as the others, torpedo tubes facing the afts of fleeing vessels. What was it now?

Her suspicions were only amplified when the communications alarm sounded.

"Ma'am, their lead ship is hailing us."

"Maintain weapons lock...patch them in..." Teica bit her tongue, and prepared for negotiations.

Before she could open her mouth to speak, a frantic voice screamed to life.

"Hello? Hello?!" Came the hail, "This...This is Senator Brama Tagge! I...They've all left! I think they mean to blow up the ship! PLease! Someone! Save me and my darling vornskr!"

"[This is Commander Giraan..of the ANS Clarity...Senator, I going to need you to slow down. Who are They?]"

The commander kept her head still, no matter how hesitant she felt. The face was definitely familiar. As to how familiar, she couldn't possibly describe. Rarely had Teica taken much interest in the faces of Alliance politicians, or whatever they wanted to be called. By now, the rest of the fleet was circling, with some corvettes moving in to directly join the Clarity's sides.

As soon as she saw the "senator's" eyes dart to a side, Teica made a quick glance at her first officer. With an expression of concern and curiosity, the commander mouthed the words "voice, facial rec, go," and turned back to the screen.

[ Kyra Quez ]​

 

[Kyra Findlay]

"Are you blind?! The pirates! The ones that have been raiding along the Starbird!" Be it luck, the Force, or just really good genetics, Kyra Quez was a near-identical match of the senator, save for biological markers like fingerprints and probably blood type.

"I can't fight them all off on my own."

Teica Giraan

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Jakku system - Bridge of the ANS Clarity{Invector-class Monitor Frigate}]
[Commander Teica Giraan on Standby]
​

"Are you blind?! The pirates! The ones that have been raiding along the Starbird! I can't fight them all off on my own."

"Of course, Senator. Sit tight." Teica looked to the side.

The commander's eyes set on her first officer, Captain Lalhdene, waiting to confirm the senator's identity. To the detriment of her skepticism, the response she received were the mouthed words "Clear." Teica adjusted her uniform, and came to stand.

"Two squads of marines on that frigate, prepare to extract the senator. Notify the other ships to keep a perimeter. Recall interceptors to escort transports."

The Clarity had come to a halt, hanger bays now opening to free a pair of light dropships. Rerouted from their protective circle around the frigate were a squadron of V-wings that moved in to flank the small transports on their journey to the Iron Lady's hanger.

"Senator Tagge, prepare for extract."

[Kyra Quez]​