Plausible Deniability
by LC John T. Clark

Lieutenant Colonel Clark was lounging lazily in a chair on the Hammer Officer's Club and admired the protuberance of a nearby, very active, orange star.
"...what do you think the briefing will be about? Must be serious if the brass doesn't believe we can handle it without the Warrior and Frodo's cavemen."
Clark shrugged and shifted his gaze back to the round cocktail table. Three pairs of eyes regarded him with poised glances. Hammer's Squadron Leaders had assembled for a couple of drinks and some gossip about the planned Fleet wide operation. The gossiping part had been at full swing when John's eyes and mind had slipped toward the nearby star, pondering his first major operation in a command position.
"Guess you and Falkenbach over there will be the first to know, Dunta. Well after Delta of course...", the reconnaissance leader told the strike commanders.
While everyone was laughing a flicker of pseudo-motion revealed the familiar shape of the Warrior and her escorts. "Time to break up our little party, I guess we'll not get much sleep in the next week". Everyone finished his last drink and soon the meeting ended.

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"... and as to the obvious implications of this operation, secrecy is our utmost concern." Line Admiral Yun Vandorack nodded to the Bothan in the expensive cloak. "Of course, councilor.", he lifted the pile of briefing and intelligence pads. "I will take my leave now, if you don't mind." The Bothan lifted his hand in a dismissive gesture and watched the muscular young man leave before taking her own cue.

Back again in her Coruscant apartment, Oktra Prisk'ia threw her travelling cloak into a corner and headed right for her secure office. It felt as if the COM took ages to build up the secure connection, but finally it was done: "The plan is a go, just keep Ackbar of our backs." A short twitter of seemingly electrical noise filled the silence of the office. Then the COM cut connection. Oktra leaned back in her chair. 'Amazing what is possible with a few mercenaries, some former pirates and a disgruntled, yet ambitious, fleet officer.', she thought. And there wasn't even a chance the Republic would ever miss a couple of ships supposedly in long term storage.

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The Operations Briefing was held on the TCCOM's Flagship the ISD Challenge. Beside the Emperor's Hammer Squadron leaders, the COs of the support fleet were attending, thus the large conference room was quickly filling up.

"The security systems have engaged, please refrain from leaving the room while the briefing is in progress.", a senior aide babbled through the stage microphone, before fleeing from the Admiralty. Finally Admiral Elwood took the stage, joining the remaining Admiralty Board and the two Commodores.

He lowered his head in recognition of his fellow Admirals and began his introduction: "Commanders and Captains. Fellow Officers. Welcome aboard the Challenge and the briefing for Operation IRONCLAD! It has been some time since our successful strike against the pirate threat against our territories. Now we've received disturbing news of a renewed effort by the so called Void Raptors." Woody motioned to a seated Admiral, "Please welcome the COO who will give you further insight into the intelligence picture!"

On, that VA Crespe stood and took the stage next to Elwood, at the same time the big holoprojector in the middle of the room started up.

"As you all know we, don't have the resources to keep constant surveillance on the former strongholds of that pirate scum." A picture of the EH territory formed over the conference table, with a surprisingly large portion colored in a deep purple. "Thus, we have a couple of rowing patrols operating. Three weeks ago a scout group went missing in one of these sectors." The holo-picture changed again, zooming in on a certain part of the map. "Follow on efforts showed hidden activity in the area, it seems someone is trying to get those support bases operational again." Crespe stopped for a moment and let his gaze linger on his datapad. "Normally we would not be overly concerned with such developments and would have dispatched a small task force to sweep the suspect areas. But the situation does not seem to be normal. Intelligence assets deep inside the Republican fleet have given us warning of mothballed ships seemingly going missing from storage." He activated his datapad and held it into the air. "Please turn to page fifteen of your briefing documents and let us discuss these missing ships and the ramifications..."

On the shuttle ride back, the mood of the Hammer's Squadron Commanders was surprisingly sober. Finally MAJ Iceman broke the quiet: "Well, hells bell. Talk about a target rich environment." that elicited some chuckles and many grins. An even dozen frigate class capital ships and most likely scores of fighters missing from the Rebel 'graveyard' was indeed a force to be reckoned with. Indicating the willingness to use AI systems to supplement sentient bare-bones crews, the briefing had left no doubt that this force would also be fielded. No surprise the brass had elected to send in their elite. "Guess we need to hit 'em fast and hard to pull of Crespe's plan ..."

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Yun continued skimming through the readiness report, impassively. Yes, these former imperials were the right tool for the job, and they seemed professional enough. He handed the datapad to the men beside him. The mercenary commander might have been imposing once, but obviously he was now only a shell of his former self. No, that wasn't right, his body might have seen better days, but the mind of that Harmon fellow was still quick.
"It seems our timetable can move forward half a day thanks to your exquisite preparation, 'General' Harmon.", he looked the man into the eyes and smiled, "Get everything ready. Our sources are clear on where to strike."
Gil Harmon saluted and left the bridge of the Kothlis. He marched down the corridors in perfect step, went down to the hangar and entered his personal shuttle. In the sanctuary of the private area he took a deep breath and collapsed onto his damaged knees, the pain from the re-grown lung tissue burning in his chest. This time there would be no failure. This time they would not concentrate on useless raids. This time he would make the Emperor's Hammer pay for destroying his life.

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Two TIE Phantoms dropped out of hyperspace and did a quick scanner sweep before activating their cloaking devices. After a quick visual check of his surroundings confirmed he was clear for now, Clark took an in depth look at the scan results. Delta was looking for activity near the system the EH Patrol had been lost and this was the right sector. Far beyond the entry point of the Phantoms was an asteroid field. An asteroid field that, only a few years ago, had held a supply base for the Void Raptors. Now there was hurried activity in the asteroid field. Transports carried equipment from a particularly large asteroid towards an Escort Carrier. A couple of X-Wings patrolled in a number eight pattern, keeping the asteroid in one and the Carrier in the other loop. LC Clark toggled his LOS Communication system, and waited for the electronic chirp that confirmed a connection to Delta 1-2: "Seems we have a contact, move to communication position and call in the target. We'll proceed with OP-Plan Gulf. ", a succession of three bursts of static confirmed that the CPT Nutrientman had received the message. On the last burst John reset the timer of his mission computer. 15 Minutes until the Hammer and an Interdictor would come in, this would be a premiere opportunity to gather prisoners. Clark checked his threat indicator and decided to move in a little closer. There was no way these guys could find him.

The bridge of the Interceptor Wrench was frantic with activity. In less a few minutes Wrench would make a hyperspace jump together with the Dreadnaught Saw and two Corellian Gunships. Gulf wasn't a subtle plan, the interdictor would hinder movement out of the target system, and the remaining ships were more than enough firepower to scare an ESC into submission. The OPS officer lifted a hand with four outstretched fingers, and Captain Nextor nodded approvingly. The 'taskforce' was ready with over thirty seconds to spare. Then the hum of the hyperdrive increased in intensity and stars turned into lines and then the blue of hyperspace.

Something was off, but Clark couldn't quite put his finger on what. The Rebels/Pirates/Whatever continued their salvage operation. Even through the dampening cloaking field his sensor suite could occasionally read COM chatter. There was the next transport moving from the ESC towards the asteroid. No wait. This wasn't the next transport, it was exactly the same transport. And it hadn't been on board the Escort Carrier for more than a couple of minutes. Way to few minutes to deliver anything substantial. This must be some kind of elaborate setup. Cursing John checked the mission computer, but it was already too late. His mission computer chirped and, right on clue, an Interdictor-class cruiser and some escorts entered the system. Now the time for finesse had ended. The Phantom jumped to full power, the cloaking device barely keeping up with the increased power output.

"Starting up gravity generators, everything within normal parameters.", the XO reported. Nextor was nervous as he watched the Gunships closing in on his TAC display. But what was that? A single fighter appeared in his scanner ant it was rapidly closing the distance to the ESC. "Don't let that stupid fighter jock ruin the intercept..." the Captain mumbled under his breath.

Turning off the cloaking device DELTA was still accelerating, Clark send out a hold position command to the 'support fleet' and then put all his remaining power into the scanner. The return was not what he expected. Not a single life form in the entire Asteroid field, they must be jamming him. But, no, there was a very distinct scanner result. Without regards to secrecy John pushed an all frequency call and then waited to send his hyperdrive into a two second emergency jump to the fringes of the system. Hopefully the Interdictor would deactivate his generators in time.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!", screamed the COM-link aboard the Wraith. Puzzled the COM officer turned to the XO, who addressed his Captain: "I think he went utterly mad, we show no trace of a Baradium device."
Nextor only knew this Lieutenant Colonel by reputation, but he remembered the man asking some intelligent questions during the briefing on the Challenge. "Activate deflectors, emergency shutdown the gravs, then get us a solution out of here." The crew did just that with puzzlement.
Seconds later the Escort Carrier disintegrated. And then the Asteroids closest to him followed suit. A fireball expanded through the system, a shockwave leading it's path. Captain Nextor saw the Gunship farthest from him being hit by an asteroid, it's splintering hull turning into shrapnel being hurled towards the Wraith.

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A light on Yun Vandorack's command chair turned from green into red. One of his traps had just sprung. Excellent. He knew the Imperials simply couldn't not investigate that location with full force. He checked his pad for the copy of the EH operations manual. Not much longer than six hours and he would have destroyed the crème de la crème of this stubborn imperial faction. Peace and liberty in this sector was only a question of time now. Time to aim and fire Gil Harmon and thus break the ground for that liberation.

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The first thing Lieutenant Colonel Clark realized was that he was missing his flight helmet. More and more sensory input returned, until he was positive that he was lying on his back in some infirmary or other. He opened one eye slowly, peeking through his eyelashes. A faint figure in ISB White stood at the edge of his vision. Clark opened both his eyes full: "What, in the emperor's name, is going on?", he exclaimed to the room.
Into his vision stepped an old friend, LC Diaboli, former TC pilot and now full time lent to the EH's Security Bureau. Clark was a little distressed seeing his friend's cybernetic eyepatch, raising a hand to his head to make sure he wasn't missing something.
"Seems you saved an invaluable TIE Phantom from certain destruction.", the familiar face cam a little closer, "Only to almost make it lost forever with a poorly executed emergency jump." Diaboli's face changed and a crooked smile appeared. "Thanks to the valiant men of the Wraith you and the Phantom are back on the Hammer. And, apparently ready to fight." He held out his hand to help his mate up, Clark took it and stepped on the cold deck. "From what I've gathered we need you both in fighting shape, ASAP.", Diaboli explained, "I must be gone on some ISB business for a while, but I think the fleet will see action soon."

"To be honest, Ma'am, it's a mess and I wouldn't trust more than the gist of most of these preliminary report." Hammer's senior intelligence analyst told Admiral Dempsey. "While I do agree that a multi megaton Baradium fission device has detonated in the sectore, I don't I don't believe that this was a botched attempt at taking out one of our ISDs." Dempsey pondered that for a while before speaking: "I agree Major, this smells like some type of setup." She turned to the XO: "Prepare for a jump to the fringes of the system, and prepare a return jump ASAP." The admiral made some quick calculations: "After the jump make a call that we will be going to General Quarters in 60 minutes. Tell the pilots to get a meal and some rest, I want the whole Wing ready.", she lifted her hand in a dismissive gesture, "Oh, and also tell the Warrior."

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A blue whirlwind and then white lines turned into stars again. An Asteroid field filled the view from the bridge of the Strike Cruiser Defiant. But there were not only Asteroids around; the large triangle shape of an ISD II-Class Star Destroyer was also easily visible. Some escorts were arranged deeper in the Asteroid field, but Gil Harmon's battle group had expected exactly that.
On a preplanned command the fleet started it's attack run. Dreadnaughts and Modified corvettes formed the bulk of Tiger fleet. But the fist of the fleet were the Defiant and her two sisters, Daring and Dauntless. The whole fleet was supported by swarms of alphabet fighters. "Allright, Green Wing, hit the TIEs hard and keep them of the Y-Wings as long as possible without risking yourself. Blue Wing proceed as planned towards the escorts. And Red you're clear for free hunt." The work had already begun for the fighter controller aboard the Defiant.

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As they had been trained, Wing II's pilots maneuvered to intercept the attacking bombers first. But even Sin Squadron's advanced missiles were to slow to hinder the first wave of Wishbones from firing their torpedoes. Frantic activity ensured, with TIE Advanced and Defenders sharing their attention between attacking fighters and Proton torpedoes hurled towards their battle group.
Further complicating the situation was that the Y-Wings seemingly lacked any instinct for self-preservation. The attack wings were decimated twice a minute but still held their positions and continued firing. So far the fighters and attack craft were mainly a problem for Warrior's escorts, with VSD Decimator taking the brunt of the Y-Wings proton torpedoes. But with the attacker's capital ships now incoming and pushing through that battered screen towards the Warrior herself, it was time for a little support.

Clark's Phantom didn't even had it's paint scratched during his escape from the Bomb. Moments before the Hammer and Wing II had been ordered to General Quarters. But that was half an hour before the planned GQ that had already been announced. Johns maintenance chief gave a thumbs up and a smart salute. Then the TIE Phantom was lowered onto the launch ramps just in time so it's Pilot could see the Hammer exit Hyperspace. A shudder went through the fighter and within seconds it was accelerating and invisible, with throttles to full power and the cloaking generator active.

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"The second Star Destroyer has just arrived, it's not with any escorts.", reported the XO. Gil nodded in acknowledgment. "Launch the last AI wings and signal the reserve." The Mercenary commander smiled. Everything was going to plan.

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"Alpha, you're in against those freshly launched Y-Wings. Beta and Epsilon, counter those DREADs." John heard through his COM, "Delta: you're in general melee, take out as many fighters as you can." With his objectives clear, Delta's commander switched to the squadron COM line: "Three and Two, stick together and concentrate on heavy assault craft. One we're dissolving to take out single fighters and elements." He waited only a second for the replies. "Razors, let's cut some meat off these fellows!"

In her mind, Admiral Dempsey thanked the skeptical intelligence officer. Had the Hammer been in system when the Opposition arrived things would be much more difficult. Wing I was the strike element of the TIE Corps, and already the strike squadrons were advancing as planned. Just why did these three Strike-class cruiser sat so far back the line of battle?

Clark scratched the third kill of the battle, an A-Wing, and was maneuvering to get into position for his next. A quick check of his scanners showed that Delta was working as he had intended. Flight one had already destroyed an even dozen enemy fighters, while the other Flights were wreaking havoc on the B-Wings that had engaged the Imperial escort and support ships.

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"The package is away as planned, sir.", Kothlis' Captain told his Admiral, who was admiring the live feed from the battle. Yun Vandorack checked his chronograph against the planned jump time of his surprise package. "The trackers were locked before we launched?" he requested from his Operations officer for the umpteenth time. Just to receive a reassuring nod for an answer. "Then it's our clue to make a getaway.", the Admiral shrugged his shoulders apologetically: "Set course back to Coruscant."

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Finally the Strike cruisers had moved and were aggressively advancing towards the Hammer. Though no match against an ISD by themselves, as a group they proved a considerable danger to the battle damaged Star Destroyer.
"Alpha, call in missile complement and prepare to engage the STRK designated Sierra Seven." Before MAJ Iceman could acknowledge a flicker of pseudo motion revealed two heavily modified Dreadnaughts jumping into the system, right in between their advancing siblings.
Admiral Dempsey was confused, "Give me a detailed scan analysis!"

These things looked like DREADs modified for heavy armor and shielding. And they were heading right for the thick of the battle. Clark gave in to a hunch and reduced his weapon recharge rate to power up his scanners. It never hurts to be careful "Delta disengage and get close to the Hammer. Something's not right here."
"Delta reports traces of Baradium radiation from the DREADs and Colonel Clark has already ordered his Squadron to stay clear." INTEL reported, "I think we should make that a general order, Ma'am." Admiral Dempsey gave the man a look: "You think?", she grinned, "Make that order and signal the Warrior.", more sternly, "Concentrate long range firepower on these ships."

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Gil Harmon was hunched together on his command chair, this was his support? But he had been promised a couple of MC 30c Frigates and some full wings of Fighters. Sithspit, he had seen this strikeforce around the Kothlis.
This muscle packed joke of an Admiral had betrayed him. But now his eyes and his final course of action was clear. "Order Daring and Dauntless to keep formation we're hitting the closest ISD." He looked up again on his tactical display, even if he wouldn't live he would kill these rotten TIE Corps.
"Sir, we've got another incoming.", Tactical reported, "Another Dreadnaught, this one right on top of us!"
"WHAT THE ..."

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"...HELL?" In a flash of light the latest arrival disintegrated in a massive Baradium fusion explosion, shattering the three STRKs that just had begun heading towards the Hammer. Seconds later two more sun-like explosions filled the system. Admiral Dempsey was thrown to the ground by the sudden shudder of her Star Destroyer.
Grapping on her command chair she lifted herself back to her feet. "Status?" she asked breathlessly.

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Clark was sitting next to his Fighter on the return Hangar. Wings I and II had been extraordinarily lucky with no permanent casualties. The retreat order had come just in time to prevent scores of fighters and elite pilots being incinerated.
A large portion of the two Star Destroyer's support fleet had not fared so well. A number of smaller escorts had severe damage or were simply gone. John stood and found Dunta Polo waving him to follow the other Squadron Leaders. A fist-bump to his Chief and Clark walked after his counterparts, wishing for a drink and some logic behind that situation.

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"...stressing that the use of banned weapons of mass destruction is not acceptable under any circumstances, the minister urged the Senate and the Governing Council to no longer ignore the threat posed by rogue Imperial factions in the galaxy." Oktra Prisk'ia's Holo-receiver muted automatically as the doorbell of the luxurious apartment chimed. Annoyed Prisk'ia switched to the door camera, to see the picture of a man in an expensive suit who held up a small camera drone. "Councilor, my name is Ruwen Dankkar from HNN's political office. May we have an interview about the imminent emergency meeting of the government?" Oktra hid her smile - this was beginning sooner than she had hoped." She stood as she unlocked her door. Strange, she hadn't noticed the cybernetic eye of the reporter before.

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Vandorack had returned to report immediately, but found himself waiting in vain. The Councilor wasn't coming, and he didn't know why. Though he had been ordered not to see the Bothan in her apartment he simply couldn't wait any longer.
Luckily a hover-cab was waiting right outside, and it took only minutes to reach the exclusive apartment complex. Vandorack rode up the lift to the Councilor's floor, and was surprised to see the door ajar. He drew his pocket blaster and entered carefully.

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An anonymous call that someone was trying to assassinate a Republican Councilor demanded some response.
"Yeah right, must be important if they send only you." Ivar Da'enko entered the apartment complex and produced his ID to the doorman/droid.
Equipped with the right apartment number and an code-chip for the door he took the boring ride up. The Police Officer drew his sidearm, as he found the door to the apartment wide open. A moment Ivar pondered whether he should call reinforcements first, but then decided against it. If this was just a misunderstanding he wouldn't want to be responsible.
Silently the officer entered the apartment blaster at the ready. The councilor was a Botha, so everything else was fair game to be asked questions later. Most rooms were dark and empty, but in the back a light was shining out of an open door. Da'enko advanced, and found a humanoid standing hunched over what appeared to be a Bothan body.
"Security Service! Hands up", the man was large and muscular, and virtually jumped at the scream before he turned, clearly a blaster pistol in hand. Ivar had no choice and two blaster bolts to the chest left two bodies on the expensive carpet.

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Smiling, Colonel Diaboli exited the hover-cab and walked toward the exit of the parking garage. Less than four hours until his connection to Corellia would leave. Luckily that Vandorack fellow had appeared just in time.
He checked a nearby Holo-monitor for the latest news. Breaking news were a shootout and two dead in a luxury condo in the governmental area.
Good that he wasn't any way near that.

END
by LC John T. Clark, DELTA for RtF 2015