| Blackfire_Contacts | Date: Wednesday, 11 Apr 2012, 8:56 PM | Message # 1 |
 Lieutenant colonel
Group: Users
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| Subterrel did not see many visitors. True, it was known for its extensive mining operations, but as a laborer's planet, the actual number of visitors, specifically in the Imperial range, were uncommon. Of course, Subterrel was not the point of the raid. Subterrel, in fact, was not valuable in any manner to those planning the current raid and, after this particular instance, was not likely to be even a viable raiding target. Nonetheless, for this mission, a scouting craft was sent ahead. Painted all black, the MorningStar-B that served as a scout was one in the squadron of twelve that had been temporarily modified to have its trio of heavy laser cannons replaced by a trio of heavy ion cannons. Quite some distance from Subterrel, it would engage in a long-range scan of the system. If, of course, there were no Imperial vessels in the system or large manner of defensive vessels, the following would occur:
When the next outbound freighter convoy came through (ideally made up of the following vessels: BFF-1 freighters, modular conveyors, container transports, cargo freighters and cargo tankers), the MorningStar-B designated Shadow-1 would have already identified their trajectory at the edge of the system. This convoy was lacking largely in defensive craft, having only six Z-95 Headhunters as a roving defense. However, the convoy commander had wisely placed the unarmed BFF-1 freighters (of which there were eight), cargo freighters (of which there were two) and cargo tankers (of which there were also two) in the middle of the convoy, with a container transport at the head and rear and two modular conveyers to either side. While this was hardly foolproof, it allowed the three turbolaser turrets on either container transport and the trio of dual laser cannon turrets on either modular conveyer to have the widest arcs of fire.
Prior to the convoy reaching their destination, a pair of modified Barloz-class freighters dropped from hyperspace. Painted all black as well, their transponders identified them as independent freighters out of Corellia, namely Hauler-1 and Hauler-2; unoriginal names as far as most were concerned, but they sufficed. Seeing the oncoming convoy, they hailed the lead vessel, transmitting an alternate course for themselves that would take them within three kilometers to the port side of the departing convoy. The blacked-out and powered-down Shadow-1 was watching all of the distances and then, when the right moment came, transmitted the proper signal to the other vessels waiting in the wings. Powering up, it oriented on the freighters, still outside of weapons range. After that, things happened rather quickly.
Hauler-1 and 2 had reached the end of the convoy, just having cleared the final container transport and altered their course slightly. This brought them in full targeting range of the six Headhunters that were flying three per convoy side. Having achieved a passive lock with their quartet if concussion missile launchers, each of which held three missiles per tube, the pair of freighters went active, firing two missiles at each escort and then firing their remaining six missiles at the rear of the container transport that was pulling rear security. From there, they would engage full engines and whip about, each peeling off to one side of the convoy to flank around the final container transport.
Emerging from ahead of the convoy, which was just now realizing it was under attack, were the remaining eleven modified MorningStar-B fighters of Shadow Flight, accompanied by six equally black and non-broadcasting SS-54 assault ships, designated Gaunt Section. Following them were a pair of (you guessed it) black-painted Doomtreader transports. By now, all but two of the Headhunters had been destroyed, taken fully by surprise. One of the survivors was heavily damaged and the last had been saved only by luck: it had jinked ahead of a modular conveyor and the missiles intended for it impacted instead against the rear of said modular conveyor. Sweeping in from the rear wings, Hauler-1 and Hauler-2 poured six turrets worth of quad laser fire into the now-unshielded container transport that had been struck squarely by twelve concussion missiles. With its engines out and power systems damaged by the first strafing run, its cannons were useless and it was left to drift under its own power.
Up front, the lead container transport was still trying to make heads or tails of the ships that had appeared before it. They should have likely fired first and asked questions later, but by the time it came to use weapons, it was likely too late. Firing at a cyclic rate, the twelve ships hammered the bridge module of the lead container transport with a combined total of thirty-six laser cannons and thirty-six heavy ion cannons, smashing through the shields and then shredding the bridge itself, leaving the second escort drifting dead ahead. This meant that there were only four modular conveyors to defend the fleet, and to this end, six craft peeled off on either side. The Doomtreaders and Gaunt Section rose 'up' in regards to the formation. Gaunt-1 through six then dove downwards, aiming not at the BFF-1 freighters, but the front crew cabins for the cargo freighters, pounding their shields down and then the cabins themselves with a combination of twenty-four laser cannons. Rising back up, they would aim to dive back down upon the rear sections of the cargo tankers, where their crew cabins were. This left the command group in the Doomtreaders to utilize their two sets of dual laser cannons to fire upon the BFF-1 freighters, which were largely defenseless and unable to maneuver. From one of the Doomtreaders came a message of a man with a terrible prosthesis that covered half his face, with the other side horribly scarred. "Freighters, this is the pirate captain Zorn Alexian! You will all power down your weapons, shields and engines and prepare to be boarded! If you comply, you will survive. If you do not, we will slaughter your unarmed companions."
The modular conveyers, one of which already had its shields damaged, hesitated for a moment. The one of them fired up at the approaching SS-54 gunships, which took the strike and broke off. After that, things went downhill. From the rear, Hauler-1 and 2 opened fire on the modular conveyer that had fired, followed by the massed fire from Shadow Flight and then chipped in by the others from Gaunt Section. The combined blasts overwhelmed the shields and the modular conveyer exploded into nothingness. From there, the other quickly powered down their weapons, engines and shields, hoping for an unsure fate rather than certain death. With their communications jammed, they had little hope of calling for help at the moment. The entire fight, from first shot to surrender, had taken less than ten minutes. Utilizing the transport space available aboard the Doomtreaders, the modified Barloz freighters and even some space aboard the SS-54 assault ships, including strapping cargo containers to the exteriors, the 'pirates' succeeded in making off with a number of valuable containers that included Tibanna gas, ores and mining equipment.
Making sure his face was seen well by the surviving crew, Captain Alexian instructed them to tell all whom they knew that Alexian was the new ruler of this system. Once his vessels were safely in hyperspace though, 'Captain Alexian' removed his prosthesis and began peeling off his makeup. Underneath, Agent Thirty-nine smiled. The first Blackfire-based raid had been successful.
The Citadel's Contractors
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