-50 BBY- Location: Mid rim deep space
Located in a galaxy far far away in the vacuum of space a small group of space faring ships were traversing the black void. This ships were from the Judicial Security Forces of the Galactic Republic. The ruling government of the known galaxy, dating back to more than twenty-five thousand years, and being made up of countless unique species from across countless worlds.
The Judicial Security Forces were the peacekeeping forces used by the Republic to enforce law and order throughout their territory.
This particular group of Republic Juridical ships consisted of five Consular-class light cruisers and two dozen Z95 Headhunters fighters. They were currently patrolling the Bright Jewel Sector, a sector located on the border between the mid-rim and the outer-rim of the galaxy.
Due to repeated reports of suspected pirate attacks on civilian and merchant ships in the sector.
"Master Fisto are you sure we shouldn't just report that this sector is now clear to republic command and return to Coruscant. We've been patrolling this sector for the past month and have had not seen any sign of pirate activity in the slighest"
"Come now captain. We may not seen any pirates, but that doesn't necessary mean their not out there. After all before we arrived in this sector there were over ten reported ships suddenly going missing in the last three months. The pirates may very well have noticed our arrival in the area and are simply lying low and waiting for use to leave before resuming their marauding"
Aboard the bridge of the lead command cruiser was the ship's captain. Captain Gortena, a 30 year old human male, who also doubled as the commanding officer of the small fleet of Judicial Forces, for this operation.
And who was bantering with an adult Nautolan from the jedi order.
This was Jedi knight Kit Fisto.
(Image of Kit Fisto)
"Well yeh, that possibility cant be ruled out I suppose..... guess I'm just starting to feel a bit restless. With no action these last few weeks I feel like I'm going a little stir crazy. Personally I've always been a man who appreciated the call of action and not just sitting around"
"Hahaha, trust me I understand your feelings captain Gortena. But let us be patient. Good things happen to those who are willing to wait"
"True enough ------ but if I may say I'm still a little surprised I that a jedi was dispatched to our small task force, who are just dealing with some minor pirates"
Captain Gortena said expressing his still fresh surprise that a jedi was joining him and his men on this mission. Having served for more than a decade, this was his first time seeing a jedi up close, let alone working besides one.
When the Judicial forces where tasked by the senate with putting together an armed response to deal with the pirates currently plaguing the Bright Jewel sector, the Judicial military requested that the jedi send some knights be present as added assistance if needed.
This stemmed from the fact that the Judicial forces have a fairly amicable relationship the Jedi. Which is from the two organizations often working together on peacekeeping and law enforcement missions.
As such the jedi council were than happy to comply with the request and decided the dispatch the capable Kit Fisto for the assignment along side a group of three other knights in tow.
"I can guarantee you this captain, for the order, anyone or thing that seeks to harm the people of the republic, are considered no minor problem. But rather a priority"
Wanting to alleviate the captain's restlessness Kit Fisto tried giving some words of encouragement, with hos iconic smile showing proud on his face.
"We are always happy to provide aid"
"Of course master jedi, and it is most welco---"
"Captain! captain! we are receiving an critical destress signal!"
As Kit Fisto and the Captain were speaking they were interrupted by one of the ship's bridge communication officers who intercepted a distress signal coming from deeper within their current system and acted to quickly relayed it to the captain.
"Well speak of the devil! Quickly! all hands to your stations! Order all ships to jump to the coordinates of the distress signal! And be prepared to enter combat immediately upon arrival, we don't know what sort of mess we'll be jumping into"
Excited at the sudden chance to finally enter combat for the first time since they began this mission Gortena didn't hesitant to hand out his orders for the fleet to rush towards the action.
"""Aye sir!"""
All present crewman on the bridge at the time shouted in unison. Giving confirmation that they understood their orders, then got to work.
"See captain, a said good things are bound to happen to those who wait"
Fisto said with a smile, happy to see that his earlier words were proven correct.
(Captain Gorten): "Indeed you did master Fisto, know let us hope we arrive in time to help"
(Kit Fisto): "Agreed Captain, lets move quickly"
Not wanting to waste even a second the fleet soon jumped to lightspeed in hope of catching the pirates terrorizing the sector, and to save whoever was now their unfortunate target.
*******
After traversing through hyperspace for 10 minutes the Republic ships arrived at the coordinates of the detected distress signal.
On arrive they witnessed a civilian transport shuttle surrounded by a half a dozen fighters of unknown origins, like flies swarming a source of food. In addition a Baleen-class heavy freighter was seen nearby.
With had seemed to be modified with a large docking claw. A piece of heavy machinery used to secure ships at ports.
Coming up the transport's side.
"What in the galaxy is that thing suppose to be"
Gortena asked, puzzled by the sight of the freighter with the out of place docking clamp attached.
"I can only hazard to guess, but I believe the pirates attached a docking claw to their ship in order to capture their prey whole and transport them"
"Seriously? what the traditional method of them disabling their targets, boarding and looting not good enough for them?"
Gortena said in an ironic tone.
"Perhaps, but I can see the benefits of this method before use"
"Really? How so?"
"The pirates don't need to waste time boarding and subduing the ships screw and passengers, and then having to transfer over their ill-gotten gains to their ship. They just need to disable their quarry, latch on with the claw then tow them back to their hide out"
"Giving little time for any possible rescue to arrive in time to interfere"
"Correct"
Fisto said in affirmation to Gortena at understanding his thought.
"No wander no one has been able to catch sight of them until now. They been draging any ships they catch back to their base. By the time any patrols can spot them during their raids their long gone.
Just as the two finished realizing how the pirates have been operating until now. They spotted the enemy freighter getting into position to clamp onto the shuttle. With the severely pattered state the Corellian shuttle was from the pirates previous attacks on it, there was zero chance of it making an escape on its. With its shields disabled, multiple hull breaches, and engines destroyed it was literally a dead fish in the water.
"All ships prepare to fire on the pirate vessels!"
Seeing this captain Gortena ordered the judicial ships to quickly prepared to fire.
"Please delay the order Captain!"
"Why master jedi! Don't you see what I do! If we don't attack now the pirates will capture that civilian ship!"
Gorten yelled in confusion at Fisto stopping him.
"I can see that captain, but the enemy Heavy freighter which I assume is serving as their command ship, is too close to the civilian ship. If we open fire now we risk hitting them too. Please have our fighters engage the enemy instead and see if we can draw them away from the civilians a bit first"
"Huh, A fair point----As you wish, all cruisers hold fire! Fighters engage enemy ships immediately, pull those bastard away from the civilians!"
With reluctance he listened to Kit Fisto and ordered the fighters to attack first. Though he respected the jedi as military man he didn't approve of his orders being undermined, even from a jedi. But the Captain also a man who could and accept another idea, if it was indeed better than his own.
Follow the order the Judicial fighters engaged, quicky destroying three half of the enemies fighters in the first strike, before they had the chance to react. The judicial fighter then split into two even groups. One continued engaging what remained of the pirate fighters, while the second group began attack runs on the heavy freighter.
As the Judicial freighters launched their assault on the pirate freighter, it returned fire.
The freighter was retrofired with several automated turrets that surprised the republic fighters with heavy saturation fire. Forcing them to take evasive maneuvers.
This at first gave the impression that the Heavy freighter had the upper hand, but in the end this type of freighter was meant to be a cargo transport ship. Not originally designed for direct combat and was still soon overwhelmed.
Once all the pirate vessels where far enough away from the civilian shuttle thanks to the efforts of the Judicial fighters the five Consular-class light cruisers were at last given the go ahead from captain Gortena to open fire.
From the shear force of the Republic's pen point superior fire power the pirate freighter's shields were quickly penetrated and the ship was disabled before it could attempt to escape with a hyper jump.
As for what remained of the enemy fighters well, only one or two managed to flee, as they saw the battle was one sided, they smartly jumped away.
Overall the space battle ended with the Judicial forces overwhelming victory, losing only two fighters and another six suffering only minor damage.
Onboard the Republic lead cruiser The Captain and Kit Fisto discussed the aftermath of the battle.
"Well now that we've delt with the pirates in this sector we just need to secure the remaining pirates on that freighter and escort that civilian shuttle to safety and we can finally go home"
The Captain said with tired but gleeful expression.
"Haha not so fast my friend, we don't know for sure that this was the main pirate force in the sector, the reports on the attacks never mentioned their exact numbers so we can't be sure we got them all."
Hearing Fisto's retort seamlessly turned Gortena's smile into a frown. As he realized that their work may not be finshed.
"Best we send a few technicians with the squad heading to enemy freighter to secure any surviving pirates, and have them access the computer systems and see what we can find. If were lucky me may find the location a main base if they have one. Plus we should send a medical team to the civilian ship as well, to see if any ones injured. Their ship was in rough shape before we arrived to aid them"
(Captain Gorten): "(Sigh), Lucky, yah right---but your right, damn it and just when I thought this mission was finally over."
The captain said with a hanging down head, signifying his depression from the fact that he still couldn't go home yet. He then activated the ships intercom system, giving the order for two squads to assemble.
Kit Fisto turned to walk towards the exit to leave the bridge. Wanting to help prepare the departing squads for their assignments. But then suddenly he felt a strong pull in the force that caused him to stop, wide eyed in place.
He immediately turned around to see where the source of the mysterious pull was coming from.
It was originating from the heavy damaged civilian ship.
"What is this feeling"
Fisto thought as his gaze on the ship intensified
"Hm? Is something wrong master Fisto?"
Gortena asked, noticing Kit Fisto's strange behavior. The question causing Fit to snap out of his semi-trance stare.
(Kit Fisto): "No captain, not at all, but -- I think that I will join the medical team going to that shuttle"
(Captain Gorten): "Haa? ... Why so all of a sudden"
(Kit Fisto): "Just a feeling captain. Just a feeling"
Fisto said as he stroked his chin with one of his hands with his signature smile on his face, and pondered what was in store for him.