Given the nature of traffic to and from Kessel, the space around the planet could hardly be called calm - though perhaps by comparison it could be. The space surrounding Kessel was calm before the ISC assault fleet burst free from hyperspace. Capital ships newly built and crewed stood at the forefront of the ISC battle lines, the flagship being the TE-4 Command Carrier that all of the ships were in sight of and in communication with. At the rear of the formation, the old Interdictor-Class Star Destroyer would begin preparing to "close the net" with it's interdiction field.
Fleet Admiral Scora Izer stood in overall command of the fleet on the bridge of the TE-4 Command Carrier and she held up a hand.
"Interdictor is to hold position position - TE-2 'Bothans Benevolence' and it's contingent is to remain within proximity. Remainder of the fleet is to advance with fighter screen." she commanded, the fleet beginning to move on her orders, "Push the Lucrehulk forward to act as a platform for the invasion; half compliment is to defend, other half is to ride with the assault ship wave."
She stood at a parade rest, prepared to see her first real combat fleet action as a success. As part of this she opened the agreed upon com-line within full view of the bridge staff to send a message to President Thorne and the Council.
"President Thorne... Councillors." the Fleet Admiral bowed her head slightly, "We have entered the system and are proceeding with the invasion. As previously ordered, the order to stand down will be broadcast immediately."
*** Meanwhile ***
"This message is being broadcast for the benefit of all Hutt and Pyke aligned forces within the Kessel System; this is Fleet Admiral Scora Izer of the ISC Navy. This message is a demand for your unconditional surrender. Surrender and you will be treated well as a new part of the ISC. Resist and we will offer the survivors the same demand only once."
"This message is being broadcast for the benefit of all Hutt and Pyke aligned forces within the Kessel System; this is Fleet Admiral Scora Izer of the ISC Navy. This message is a demand for your unconditional surrender. Surrender and you will be treated well as a new part of the ISC. Resist and we will offer the survivors the same demand only once."
Theo wouldn't have given them much of a chance to surrender had he been in command of the fleet but, he supposed that was why he was placed in charge of a Squad rather than an entire fleet. Dressed in his Specialist armor, the ISC Ranger had been given command within the ISC Army and Navy as part of his duties but he had spent little actual time with either during his time as a Ranger.
And now they would be bloodied together.
Looking around at the troops inside the SS-54 Light Assault Ship with him, Theo checked his weapons' straps one last time before the pilot gave him the thumbs up and the assault ship began to leave the Lucrehulk's massive hanger. He knew that there were over two dozen other assault ships riding alongside them with a dozen TE-34 fighters running with them as escorts.
The bomber compliment and the remaining fighters were hanging back for now, just in case the locals did decide to surrender - it was better to bomb the hell out of people after they refused to surrender, not before they gave an answer after all. Reaching up, he touched his helmet to activate the com-link he had to some of the other key specialists and mercenaries.
"Check check, this is Magna - how do you copy?" he called out on the coms, "Ready up people, we're going to be breaking cloud any minute now."
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