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As the blue vortex of hyperspace twirled before him as Ral stood on the bow of the Shukala-class Corvette Prudii Galaar. The Mandalorian's heart was beating rapidly in his chest, if it weren't for his armor he was sure those around him would be able to see the muscle nearly beat out of his chest. Taking a deep breath, the aliit'alor looked around the forward observation room, the cold durasteel cast in a ghostly blue light from the outside as he ran a hand through his short brown hair. Each follicle brushing against the skin of his finger and distracting him a little of the battle to come. As he moved his arm, he was reminded rather naggingly about the missing IFF implant that had once been there but had very recently been removed. Around him were a cadre of his best warriors, some of his most trusted friends, and those who he knew he could count on for the coming struggle. There were no words that needed to be said to these verde, these were professionals. Of course, Ral would say something to the fleet when the time came, but the warriors who were accompanying him personally didn't need such platitudes. Walking up the rows of assembled commandos, Ral looked each one in the eye as he passed, and in each one he could see the resolution, the eagerness, the desire to prove that they were worthy to keep the name Mandalorian alive. Standing in front of a redhead with short hair, he gave Deunan a nod before turning around to face his First Commando Bardan Kex; the man looking as stoic and implacable as ever. Turning to face the assembled commandos he inhaled for a moment, looking at all those present. While they needed no words, he felt as their leader he should say something, though he doubted it was needed.
"Remember, don't get complacent today, don't underestimate your enemies. Kill or capture them as ruthlessly as possible; use whatever means you have at your disposal. As for those so-called Mandalorians in service to our enemies today... they are no vod of mine. Do with these Dar'manda as you will." Ral said heartlessly as he looked into the eyes of all the Mandalorians there, and they just as heartlessly stared back into his. These were stone killers, every one of them. Men and women who had seen lots of battle, who had fought for years and developed that diamond hard killer edge. Who had experienced loss, and had hardened themselves to it in the heat of battle. Then with one final nod he would say. "Good hunting out there today. Oya!"
And with that, Ral placed his helmet on his head with a click and barely audible hiss. Walking out of the forward observation room, Ral closed the shutters on the windows and made his way to where the ship's Combat Information Center was, buzzing with activity as was expected before a battle. As he walked on deck there was a call and every Mandalorian snapped to attention. Ral waved his hand putting them at ease; while he could appreciate their nervousness he didn't like all the formality and wouldn't deal with it in the middle of a fight when there were more important things to do. Taking a position in the middle of the CIC near where the main holo display was, Ral's eyes scanned the countdown timer. There was less than five minutes on the clock, his heart fluttered and his stomach nearly wanted to wrench and heave everything out of it. Nearby, his best Mandalorians stood by ready to respond to a boarding action or deploy for ground combat just like every other warrior in the battle group the Mandalorians had assembled. Boarding actions were a very real possibility he had prepared for, but hoped wouldn't come to pass, but if it did, Ral would be happy to have such capable warriors next to him. Leaning against the holo display, Ral took a deep breath as he looked at the warm blue light eminating from the console.
"Sixty seconds now, alor," A young Arkanian announced from one of the stations nearby. Ral simply nodded his head in response, acknowledging what the young male humanoid had reported. This is it, the voice in his mind spoke just as anxiously as he felt at that moment. Standing up again, Ral looked around at the men and women present. Grabbing the phone off of the hook, Ral punched in the code to link the system to his helmet, clearing his throat for a moment he waited as the clock timed out.
"Verde, today we are launching an attack against those who are weaker than us, against those who have what we need to make us strong once again. Remember your training, remember who you are, do your duty, and we'll all come through this alive. Ship captains will give further orders once we engage. Good luck, and may Manda, and the Force, be with us today," Ral stated over the comms. It was short but hopefully sweet.
"Shields and weapons to full power," Ral remarked loudly and clearly just to make sure it had been done. As the clock reached 00:00:00.00 Ral's ship, along with the other 3 Shukala-class Corvettes, the assembled fighter contingent of the forces present, and two Vhe'viin gunships donated by Clan Ordo ermerged out of Hyperspace within a kilometer of defense fleet of their target. Not too far behind, perhaps only a kilometer or two farther back, a combined force of Underground and Confederacy Corvettes: 5 Shukala, and one Crusader class ships. Some distance behind them the lead elements of the Cartel Forces moved in, like great sharks looking for prey, 2 Corona-K-class Fast Frigates, and a Mainstay-class Light Cruiser with 5 Haranov-class gunships waiting not too far behind them. At the rear of this attack force would be a Star Trench with the accompanying Mandalorian and Hutt transports and mining craft. Before them a blue and green world rotated on its axis, its inhabitants and those who occupied its space above very probably not expecting what firestorm was about to be unleashed on them.
With the assembled fleet now present Ral activated his comlink to the fleet. "For Manda, for Glory, and for the Bounty!" The Mandalorian declared. "All ships open fire!" Then as the batteries of all ships within weapons range fired, and as the fighters present began swarming the enemy corvettes in coordination with the capital ships that had dropped in close, Ral switched the frequency to an open channel and hailed all ships within the range and with a voice as cold and hard as ice, he spoke. "Order of the Keywork, the Hutt Cartel sends its regards."
The battle had now begun. Using the information clan Renelo had gained during its tenure as the ally of KES, Ral had formulated a plan of attack with the other heads of the Mandalorian groups and clans he had come to ally with. Using their IFF codes Renelo would lead the Vanguard of the Task Force right up to their doorstep hoping to surprise and trick the defenders into thinking they were friendly. This would allow them to get within "knife-fight" range where the surprised defenders would be blasted by the fully armed and prepared Mandalorian fleet which would start to zoom into their lines. The second line of Mandalorian ships would also do the same, hoping the staggered attack would give them a strong tactical advantage and would be led by Tala Outlander and Inga Kelborn. To the rear, the Mandalorian reserve force of five Haranovs would begin torpedo runs of the larger KES vessels with the Cartel heavy hitters. For now this would have to do, Ral had also sent messages to Arya, and Lutomi asking them to join in the fight, but he knew it was a long shot. They'd have to make due with the assembled warriors.
"Alright everyone, remember we want to take as much of their assets as a prize as possible. So, once their shields go down focus fire your ion cannons and disable them. Keep moving and blast them with everything they've got, and for the love of Manda make sure our fighters stay away from those flak cannons." Ral's voice rang out through his ship and all of the other ships assembled there as lasers, turbolasers, and ion cannons boomed and discharged sending their colored energy bursts into the KES ships present.
The first battle of the coalition of Mandalorians and their allies in the Hutt Cartel had begun.
@Outlander, @Crim, @Zapp Frankigan, @Commissar Brett
"Remember, don't get complacent today, don't underestimate your enemies. Kill or capture them as ruthlessly as possible; use whatever means you have at your disposal. As for those so-called Mandalorians in service to our enemies today... they are no vod of mine. Do with these Dar'manda as you will." Ral said heartlessly as he looked into the eyes of all the Mandalorians there, and they just as heartlessly stared back into his. These were stone killers, every one of them. Men and women who had seen lots of battle, who had fought for years and developed that diamond hard killer edge. Who had experienced loss, and had hardened themselves to it in the heat of battle. Then with one final nod he would say. "Good hunting out there today. Oya!"
And with that, Ral placed his helmet on his head with a click and barely audible hiss. Walking out of the forward observation room, Ral closed the shutters on the windows and made his way to where the ship's Combat Information Center was, buzzing with activity as was expected before a battle. As he walked on deck there was a call and every Mandalorian snapped to attention. Ral waved his hand putting them at ease; while he could appreciate their nervousness he didn't like all the formality and wouldn't deal with it in the middle of a fight when there were more important things to do. Taking a position in the middle of the CIC near where the main holo display was, Ral's eyes scanned the countdown timer. There was less than five minutes on the clock, his heart fluttered and his stomach nearly wanted to wrench and heave everything out of it. Nearby, his best Mandalorians stood by ready to respond to a boarding action or deploy for ground combat just like every other warrior in the battle group the Mandalorians had assembled. Boarding actions were a very real possibility he had prepared for, but hoped wouldn't come to pass, but if it did, Ral would be happy to have such capable warriors next to him. Leaning against the holo display, Ral took a deep breath as he looked at the warm blue light eminating from the console.
"Sixty seconds now, alor," A young Arkanian announced from one of the stations nearby. Ral simply nodded his head in response, acknowledging what the young male humanoid had reported. This is it, the voice in his mind spoke just as anxiously as he felt at that moment. Standing up again, Ral looked around at the men and women present. Grabbing the phone off of the hook, Ral punched in the code to link the system to his helmet, clearing his throat for a moment he waited as the clock timed out.
"Verde, today we are launching an attack against those who are weaker than us, against those who have what we need to make us strong once again. Remember your training, remember who you are, do your duty, and we'll all come through this alive. Ship captains will give further orders once we engage. Good luck, and may Manda, and the Force, be with us today," Ral stated over the comms. It was short but hopefully sweet.
"Shields and weapons to full power," Ral remarked loudly and clearly just to make sure it had been done. As the clock reached 00:00:00.00 Ral's ship, along with the other 3 Shukala-class Corvettes, the assembled fighter contingent of the forces present, and two Vhe'viin gunships donated by Clan Ordo ermerged out of Hyperspace within a kilometer of defense fleet of their target. Not too far behind, perhaps only a kilometer or two farther back, a combined force of Underground and Confederacy Corvettes: 5 Shukala, and one Crusader class ships. Some distance behind them the lead elements of the Cartel Forces moved in, like great sharks looking for prey, 2 Corona-K-class Fast Frigates, and a Mainstay-class Light Cruiser with 5 Haranov-class gunships waiting not too far behind them. At the rear of this attack force would be a Star Trench with the accompanying Mandalorian and Hutt transports and mining craft. Before them a blue and green world rotated on its axis, its inhabitants and those who occupied its space above very probably not expecting what firestorm was about to be unleashed on them.
With the assembled fleet now present Ral activated his comlink to the fleet. "For Manda, for Glory, and for the Bounty!" The Mandalorian declared. "All ships open fire!" Then as the batteries of all ships within weapons range fired, and as the fighters present began swarming the enemy corvettes in coordination with the capital ships that had dropped in close, Ral switched the frequency to an open channel and hailed all ships within the range and with a voice as cold and hard as ice, he spoke. "Order of the Keywork, the Hutt Cartel sends its regards."
The battle had now begun. Using the information clan Renelo had gained during its tenure as the ally of KES, Ral had formulated a plan of attack with the other heads of the Mandalorian groups and clans he had come to ally with. Using their IFF codes Renelo would lead the Vanguard of the Task Force right up to their doorstep hoping to surprise and trick the defenders into thinking they were friendly. This would allow them to get within "knife-fight" range where the surprised defenders would be blasted by the fully armed and prepared Mandalorian fleet which would start to zoom into their lines. The second line of Mandalorian ships would also do the same, hoping the staggered attack would give them a strong tactical advantage and would be led by Tala Outlander and Inga Kelborn. To the rear, the Mandalorian reserve force of five Haranovs would begin torpedo runs of the larger KES vessels with the Cartel heavy hitters. For now this would have to do, Ral had also sent messages to Arya, and Lutomi asking them to join in the fight, but he knew it was a long shot. They'd have to make due with the assembled warriors.
"Alright everyone, remember we want to take as much of their assets as a prize as possible. So, once their shields go down focus fire your ion cannons and disable them. Keep moving and blast them with everything they've got, and for the love of Manda make sure our fighters stay away from those flak cannons." Ral's voice rang out through his ship and all of the other ships assembled there as lasers, turbolasers, and ion cannons boomed and discharged sending their colored energy bursts into the KES ships present.
The first battle of the coalition of Mandalorians and their allies in the Hutt Cartel had begun.
@Outlander, @Crim, @Zapp Frankigan, @Commissar Brett