Tales of the Empire #765:  The Pruscian Betrayal
or
A Battle in Two Acts

by FM/GN James/Aleth I-II/Wing III/SSSD Sov

	In the period immediately following the Emperor's death, many commands throughout the far-flung reaches of the Empire were able to carry out a semblance of normal routine.  Some had strong-willed commanders, others were able to subsist for a time on their previous, long-standing orders: arrest smugglers, defend borders, break up pirate groups, and the like.  Inevitably, though, the knowledge that the Emperor was gone and the Rebels advancing inexorably took their toll; the commands grew weary and defeatist, the equipment worn and replacements fewer.  Like the Emperor's Hammer, though, there were some fleets that never gave up and kept their operating efficiency high through a combination of thrift, engineering ingenuity and, in the case of the more adventurous groups, capture of equipment, resources and even manufacturing facilities.
	One such group was the force controlling the Ur'Karr Sector.  Contracts formed with several of the planets in-system provided repair docks and a small industrial base to turn out ships and spares.  This meant that a relatively powerful sector fleet could be maintained, ready for action.  The Rebels could expect stiff resistance should they try to invade the sector.
	Unfortunately, the Rebels had other ideas.  The Ur'Karr Sector was fairly quiet, meaning that the Imperials didn't see much combat.  They were growing lax and precautions were neglected as the Rebels supposedly continued to ignore them.  Bordering the Ur'Karr Sector's eastern side was the system that was home to the Pruscians, a proud warrior race.  The Pruscians had long desired expansion, but not at the expense of angering the Empire.  Even now that the Empire was fragmenting, the Ur'Karr sector fleet was still a deterrent to be reckoned with for their assembly of older and smaller ships.  They had to be content with coveting the riches of the Ur'Karr Sector from a distance.
	That was when the Rebels offered them seven brand new, up-to-date starships to re-equip the Pruscian Navy.  The price: allegiance to the New Republic and access to thirty percent of Ur'Karr Sector's resources.  The price made it blatantly obvious what the Rebels wanted the Pruscians to do with their new ships.  The Rebels would not have to risk any of their people, would gain a valuable ally, and still get a sizable portion of the spoils.
	The administrator of the Ur'Karr Sector, Moff Neville, was to an extent aware of the Pruscian military build-up.  He had, however, personally signed a non-aggression treaty with the Pruscians, and was far more worried about the Rebels, a proven enemy.  He still had hopes too, of making the Pruscians willing allies with the Empire against the New Republic.  So he continued to vacillate over the reports of increased Pruscian ship movements near the border.  He did, after some hesitancy, approve the placement of a defensive line of armed asteroids on the eastern border, named the Moreth Line after a long dead admiral, but he was afraid of either antagonizing or offending the Pruscians, and the program was never finished.  The gun turrets were activated, but the shielding was never installed.  Behind this paper wall, many felt they could relax their vigilance.  The daily administration of the sector went on as usual, while the Pruscians made their plans and rubbed their hands in anticipation of victory.
	Now, today...    
	      
Battle 1

Mission 1: Reports that the Pruscians are massing ships at the border are finally being acted on.  Two corvettes from Matchless group are sent to investigate.  They arrive at a section of the Moreth Line and launch a TIE Advanced and a gunboat.  Just as patrol craft P 06 reports all quiet, it is proven wrong as a large Pruscian assault force consisting of the Scheer, Kronprinz, Hipper and the interdictor Spee comes out of hyperspace.  The capital ships launch R-41 Starchasers that attack the Imperial fighters, and assault transports that begin destroying the Moreth Line.  Matchless group must escape to warn the fleet, so you have to destroy the interdictor in your TIE Advanced, with the help of the gunboat.

Mission 2: Hypering out after witnessing the Pruscian surprise attack, you find yourself at the sector fleet HQ, Platform Scapa near the planet Kestrel.  Docked there is the sector fleet itself, including the flagship Repulse.  Initially the top brass don't believe that the Pruscians would break the treaty, but they are convinced when the Pruscians, reinforced by the Markgraf and the Blucher come out of hyperspace.  Too late, however.  The Imperial ships are caught with their shields down, and it is only a matter of time before they will be destroyed.  You must protect the fleet staff who will try to escape in three shuttles from the platform.  The Pruscians will launch numerous fighters to oppose you.   

Mission 3: The Imperial forces rally by a supply cache where a scratch flotilla, 'Force H', is assembled.  This is all the Empire can muster at the moment.  Search-and-destroy elements of the Pruscian forces are on their way.  In your TIE Advanced, you must defend the Renown, Bellona, Ark Royal and Matchless group from attack by escort transports armed with torpedoes.  They are escorted by more R-41 Starchasers.  Gunboat group Lympne will assist.  Later in the mission, two Pruscian modified corvettes show up.  Call for gunboat group Manston in reserve to disable them, as Admiral Allenby of Force H has a plan.   

Mission 4: The Pruscian advance must be slowed, so a series of ambushes are planned.  One of the captured modified corvettes has been put on autopilot and is sending out a distress signal.  Cloaked by an array of satellites nearby, your gunboat group will wait to see what this bait will attract.  A carrack cruiser, the Hipper, is not long in responding.  It will fire upon the corvette and launch T-wings to attack it.  You must protect the corvette until it can ram the cruiser.  Then finish the Pruscians off.  When the Hipper's shields drop, the officers will try to escape by shuttle.  Disable them so we can learn more about the Pruscians' plans.

Mission 5: Apparently, the next objective in the Pruscian attack is a factory complex near the planet Lond.  We know the hyperspace coordinates from the captured command staff of the Hipper.  Transport group MTB has sown the area with mines.  Unfortunately, they are discovered by a scout group.  Protect the minefield from the R-41's and scout transports in your TIE Advanced.  After the scout transports have been dealt with, a light Calamari cruiser from Markgraf group enters, intent on capturing the factory station.  Before the crew can figure out what is happening, they are under fire from the minefield.  Help dispatch them, then hyper back to Force H as the Scheer and the Moltke belatedly enter the area.  

Mission 6: In order to prosecute the war against the Pruscians and recapture our lost territory, Moff Neville has bought two Imperial star destroyers, the Temeraire and the Anson, with emergency funds.  In your TIE Advanced, you must protect them from attack as we make delivery.  The Pruscians will send rocket-armed Muugarin transports in a desperate attempt to destroy at least one of them.  Once they are safe we can take on the Pruscians on equal terms!   

Battle 2

Mission 1: Before we go over to the offensive, the enemy needs softening up a bit.  Stocks of advanced concussion missiles that the Pruscians have captured are about to be picked up by cargo ferries.  These missiles will go to arm the Pruscians' capital ships, something we're not too keen on happening.  Luckily, a lone TIE Defender was discovered still in the hanger bay of the newly purchased Anson.  Fly it on a lone mission behind enemy lines to wipe out the missiles and the cargo ferries.

Mission 2: Now the action starts.  The Anson and Temeraire are making an attack at the edge of Pruscian-held space.  Our old friends Scheer, Moltke and Blucher are attempting to block us.  The Pruscians are hesitant at risking their main body, so the Blucher is sent in to attack first, along with fighters and assault transports.  Protect the Anson in your TIE Advanced with the help of gunboat group Croydon.  As the Blucher is destroyed,  The rest of the Pruscians take to their heels.

Mission 3:  The Pruscians' quick withdraw is explained by a daring attack on their home system by Force H, whilst the Pruscian fleet was engaged with us.  Scheer and Moltke have left in a hurry to deal with this threat.  Meanwhile, we are taking advantage of this to liberate more of our territory.  The Pruscians have set up a fighter base near the planet Concorde.  Escort transport group MTB in your assault gunboat as they make their torpedo runs.

Mission 4: This is it.  The whole Pruscian fleet has returned to make a final stand at Ur'Karr sector's central planet Albion.  The Anson, Temeraire, and Force H will engage the Scheer, Moltke and Kronprinz at close quarters.  Fly the TIE Defender along with other Imperial fighters to engage the enemy's escorts.  Show the Pruscians the price of treachery!

Mission 5: With their Rebel-supplied ships gone, all the Pruscian home system can muster is a couple of Dreadnoughts and a few Z-95 Headhunters.  As our forces advance towards their home planet Pruscia, a Rebel cruiser is meeting with the Pruscians.  Despite Pruscian pleas for help, the Rebels will flee as soon as their ship is attacked.  Outraged at this desertion, and completely at our mercy, the Pruscians will surrender after their dreadnought Konig is destroyed.  Fly a TIE Advanced on this, the final mission.

Epilogue:  

The Pruscians never forgave the Rebels for using them and then deserting them without even putting up a fight.  After their unconditional surrender, Imperial forces occupied the Pruscian system and  began administrating it along Imperial lines.  Although Ur'Karr was almost bankrupt from the war, Moff Neville was fair and just in the matter of reparations, gaining the grudging respect of the Pruscian people.  Indeed, many of them desired vengeance against the Rebel cowards, and asked to join the Imperial sector fleet to fight the New Republic.  Knowing the Pruscians' courage, Moff Neville supported their efforts, constructing a new training facility on their homeworld.  In the battles to come, the Pruscians were to distinguish themselves for their bravery and loyalty to the Imperial cause.  


Respectfully submitted,

FM/GN James/Aleth I-II/Wing III/SSSD Sov