Encounter over Honoghr image - Star Wars - Reborn Roleplay Hub

*Kain stood at the bridge of his flagship, The Endurance. The Praetor MK 2 was a serious warship, constructed at the end of the reign of Darth Krayt. While newer models of star destroyers and battlecruisers had been developed, the raw power of the Praetor MK 2 made it a powerful force even in this era.

Assembled around his flagship over Erilnar was the fleet he had managed to gather. It was not the most powerful of fleets but Kain hoped that by catching the Hutt fleet unprepared, it would be enough.

A series of beeps came from his comms officer's station. The officer looked up at Kain, the nervousness clear on his face. "My Lord, the attack has begun." the man said simply.

Kain sighed inwardly. So it has begun. No time like the present. He opened the channel to the fleet. "All ships prepare for the jump. Destination: Honoghr. Delta Formation upon entering the system. Let's teach these Hutt bastards the error in their ways eh?" Kain exclaimed. He closed the comms channel and the fleet jumped into hyperspace..

Upon exiting hyperspace the fleet immediately formed into the usual Imperial battle formation. The Endurance took up the center of the arrow head formation, flanked on each side by the ISD 1 and the Pellaeon. The 4 ardent class cruisers were interspaced between each ship. The pair of Nebulon-b class cruisers positioned themselves on the flanks of the formation. The 6 action VI transports had been loaded with marines and boarding parties and took up positions on the flanks of the Endurance. The 7 corvettes he had under his command took up positions around the main line of ships in the formation. Fighters and bombers were prepped but not launched, wanting to see the situation before deploying them.

And situated at the back of the formation protecting the rear of the Endurance, Kain positioned the Austerity, the alliance corona class.*

The Austerity stays at the back of the formation, in the shadow of the larger ships, content with the pretense of being a rear guard.

Previous intelligence reported that the Cartel had six capital ships in orbit around Honoghr, including its flagship. However, something was amiss. There were eight- no, nine vessels in orbit. Long-range scans of the planet's surface revealed that the Hutt warfleet was rapidly ascending.

Several starfigher squadrons, consisting of Kihraxz and X-wing starfighters were scattered around the system. Once they take notice of the presence of Centrality starships, the squadrons drop their special payload and return to their fleet at high speed. Where a pair of Venator-class star destroyers, two Nebulon C frigates and four corvettes of various types form up around the Dragon Fang. Strikecraft are being deployed from the hangers of the various capital ships gathered, including from the planet's surface.

In addition to the X-wings and the Kihraxz, Y-wings and Skipray blastboats make up the Hutt starfighter corps.

No communication is sent.

Curiously, of all the ships present; none which bore the identification codes of the Saleucami Authority were to be found.

*Kain was speechless. Scans of the system reported no Authority vessels present, and it was clear the Hutts were expecting them. "Damn that man!" He exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the arm of his chair. His mind raced, thinking of a hundred different possibilities. One thing was clear. Tiruel had betrayed them.

"My lord, weapons deployed. Squadrons have deployed unknown munitions." his tactical officer announced. "Have corvettes form a picket screen and deploy fighters. Have them form up around the capitol ships. But make no aggressive actions." Kain replied. The corvettes take up antifighter and anti-missile defensive postures, scanning for any incoming.

"Open up a comms to the Subjucator or the planet itself. Let's see what's what. and prepare the fleet for the jump to hyperspace in the meantime. I don't like this." Kain explained.

A communication was opened with the Subjucator and the system itself. "Hutt Forces, this is Sovereign Protector Kain Talus of the Imperial Centrality. While we have enacted this aggression we wish to inform you that we were sent here by Tiruel of the Saleucami Authority. Perhaps we have been deceived? Put on a path of mutual destruction? He claimed that he would support me in destroying your force. Claiming your forces were on a path to attack the Centrality. Yet his force is absent. And even know could be attacking mine or your systems, can't you see? Is it safe to assume he warned you of the attack? And what of your intentions? I wish to not see unnecessary bloodshed and destruction." Kain explained.

He hoped that maybe they could talk things through, and worst case escape with his fleet intact.*

*I skip my turn

The Huttese strikecraft were content to remain in defensive screening positions near the fleet, said fleet continued to increase in number; another star destroyer and cruiser join the formation.

There was a reply from the Cartel forces; via holo-communications the image of a Hutt was projected to the sovereign protector. Talus had seen images and videos of the supreme mogul, this was not them. The Endurance's computer translator converted the Huttese to basic, albeit a very robotic and digitized basic.

"Ho ho ho little warlord, you are here not because warlord Tiruel forced you but of your own accord. You choose to listen to his words as we listened to his warning."

Just then, gravity well generators were activated, a vast number of them. The payload the starfighters had dropped, the capital ships of the Hutt warfleet, it were gravity mines.

"The days of your warlords are numbered, the Cartel claim its place in the galaxy. But you are right, we needn't fight if you would surrender yourself to us. We will treat you and your people with courtesy and respect and protect you from the other warlords."

Due to being a Hutt, it was difficult to read this fleet commander. An officer informs Talus that the commander is known as Fleet Master Daarga the Hutt.

*Again Kain thought before speaking, his mind continued to race. Alerts rang out across the bridge alerting him of the activation of local gravity well generators.

"Greetings Lord Daarga, I am pleased you decided to discuss these unpleasant times. I understand your point, but again stress points of my own. We were both deceived by the same conniving man. And while we sit and bicker, he gathers his strength behind us. I am not afraid to admit that the Centrality is currently all but defenseless, and my intel has shown that the majority of your fleet is gathered here. I again implore to you think about these things. The Authority fleet is strong, but we are stronger. You engage us here, you risk loosing much of your force and I'm not afraid to admit most of mine. That leaves him in control of this area. A warlord that you wish to also see defeated. Why not turn on this man and his fleet? Together we could take on his forces, you could take control of the Authority. I would not interfere, neither would the alliance." Kain explained. He continued. "In fact, I am sure the alliance would gladly offer their help in this matter. I have it on good authority they want Tiruel and his forces destroyed as much as you do. Let us together take the fight to the Authority and make him wish he never deceived the mighty Hutt Cartel! Make him have nightmares upon hearing the great name Fleet Master Daarga the Hutt!" Kain finished.*

"Ho ho ho, the little warlord would bargain with a kajidii? Such arrogance!"

It was a tense moment. Another three ships ascended from the surface of Honoghr; two corvettes and a Nebulon C frigate. Then, the Huttese fleet began to advance in a loose formation in the direction of the Centrality forces.

"Greed favours the bold, little warlord. Assemble your ships, return to your space and take out this Tiruel. The Cartel will be watching."

With that, the gravity well generating minefield was disabled.

*Kain's relief was barely contained.

"Thank you Gracious Master Daarga, this shall not be forgotten. I shall be sure to send the good admiral Tiruel your regards." Kain replied. He quickly turned to the helmsman. "Make the jump, quickly!"

Fighters were hastily docked and the fleet, as quick as time would allow, began preparations for the jump to hyperspace. Their destination was Erilnar. After a short time the fleet jumped away, narrowly avoiding all but certain destruction...*