Special K's

A TIE Corps battle by LCM DarkEagle/Inferno 3-3/Wing X/ISD Challenge

Special K (K for Kamikaze) is a proposed pilotless starfighter design based on the old Missile Boat chassis, designed for tactical anti-capital-ship deep strikes. It has less shield, more powerful engines plus SLAM, and fully loaded with high-grade explosives; which can ram an enemy capital ship at 300 MGLT. This design is better than T/E4 because the Special K is almost impossible to hit while on its death run.

However, because the Science Office would not fund this project, DarkEagle had to do it on his own. He owned large parcels of very profitable shares from several Tibanna gas mining operations and he felt it was time to cash in some of that to do something he's always wanted.

After extensive negotiations, the Fleet Commander approved DarkEagle's independent Special K experimental project and he has authorized DarkEagle to "rent" a small fleet and a squadron of crafts of his choice for 3 standard months. However, this was done on the conditions:

1. That DarkEagle funds the research himself.
2. Conducts the research in a non-EH system for secrecy purposes.
3. That this system should be one that can be of value to the EH. So even if the research project failed, the Fleet Commander still expected DarkEagle's actions to benefit the Fleet by annexing a new system.

Thus this was how DarkEagle was given command of a small fleet. It consisted of a M/CRV, 4 ATRs, 2 freighters, protected by 8 TIE Defenders and 4 Missile Boats. The FC would not spare his regulars so instead he authorized DarkEagle to man his fleet with the top fighter and ground cadets from the Imperial Academy.

After some research, DarkEagle found a suitable system: Beryl Harbor. It used to be a major Old Republic Naval base, which had been abandoned long before even Yoda was born. DarkEagle thought it was empty, however, he was wrong. The New Republic had built a refuelling station in a large asteroid to refuel a large fleet that was due to arrive to rebuild the naval base and colonize this system.


Mission 1: Scout, T/D

Scout the area around the refuelling platforms and check out the vanguard of the large fleet to get an estimate of the actual size of the fleet. Mission must be performed with the utmost discretion, the enemy capital ships must not be attacked. However at the end, some enemy fighters spotted you and attempted to intercept your flight.
 

Mission 2: Destroy tankers, MIS

Intelligence information suggested that most if not all of the capital ships of the New Republic fleet would have run out of fuel before or once they reach the docking platforms. The refuelling station sent out refuelling tankers escorted by a large number of fighters to greet the rest of the capital ship fleet once it arrives out of hyperspace.

Destroy these tankers, as this action will definitely force the main NR fleet to actually dock with the station to resupply after they hyperspace in.

This is a precision strike, as you will be outnumbered by the enemy, and DarkEagle can only spare just exactly enough MIS and ordnance for this purpose so you will be unescorted and only have half missile load. Just destroy the refuelling tankers and get out of there.


Mission 3: Clear the picket, T/D

The New Republic thought that DarkEagle was just engaging in a scouting operation and skirmish warfare, since they did not think that DarkEagle's small fleet would dare to challenge their large fleet. DarkEagle personally flew with the other pilots and engaged in skirmish warfare to deplete as many NR fighters but though they all managed to destroy many NR fighters with minimal losses, eventually DarkEagle realized he cannot prevail against this fleet by a war of attrition. He decided to strike a decisive blow.

Half of the New Republic fleet arrived and were being resupplied. DarkEagle knew that this was the only time the ships are vulnerable; and if he destroys or capture the refuelling platform, the other half of the arriving NR battlegroup would be stranded once they arrived out of hyperspace. On paper, he's outnumbered and outgunned; and he will probably face the destruction of most of his fleet.

At the beginning of the strike, it was during one of the most spectacular cosmic event in the galaxy. The two large planets closest to the sun were on opposite ends of each other, and it created a strange gravitational effect that attracted a large amount of light-bluish plasma out of the star Beryl Harbor, so that the normally round-looking star looked like a piece of blue gem, hence giving it the name. This cosmic event, besides being spectacular, would have cancelled out all radio transmission within a certain area of the system for a few days, thus creating a perfect cover for DarkEagle to send in his fighters into action.

DarkEagle decided to send in all of the MISs escorted by a 4 T/Ds to strike at the stationary fleet. However, on the way there, they ran into a forward picket of a ESC plus its complement of fighters. The bad news was that there were quite a few fighters opposition out there and they have spotted the attacking flights. The good news was that radio transmission was blanked out in the area, so the only way the ESC can warn the main fleet was to send a craft to the fleet at the refuelling station.

You are flying one of the T/Ds. As radio transmission is impossible, you cannot send any other messages to other fighters. All MIS must survive and make it through this stage (by hyperspacing). You must prevent the ESC and its courier craft from escaping and warning the refuelling fleet.


Mission 4: Destroy the first battlegroup, MIS

All MIS and T/Ds made it safely past the NR picket in the previous mission. The refuelled fleet were still unaware of the doom about to befall them. All but one of the capital ships were powered down. There were only a few fighters on regular patrol around the base since the fleet believed the pickets would have stopped DarkEagle's small fleet or at least gave them sufficient warnings.

The surprise was almost total. As soon as the T/Ds arrived within striking range, they quickly dispatched the small patrol and created a distraction for the MIS to attack the sitting capital ships with impunity.

Needless to say, the enemy capital ships were totally destroyed. However, this was only half of the battlegroup that's supposed to arrive, so the other half will eventually arrive. DarkEagle has less than 1 standard months' time to solidify his position in this system.

Do not destroy the refuelling station.


Mission 5: Escorts cargo ships, T/D

The first step in preparing this welcoming committee was to refit the refuelling station into a fully operational research/battlestation plus adding a few laser batteries. DarkEagle moved in all of his fleet near the station and found that although he struck gold in terms of fuel, there was not enough equipment to refit this station completely for his purposes.

DarkEagle contacted the EH Intelligence Division about where he can get the required supplies and also reported his first victory. The Fleet Commander heard about this and was pleased. He promised to send this additional equipment to DarkEagle's fleet. All was well, except for the fact that the shortest route for the freighters from the EH passed through a lawless system, where local pirates abound.

The freighters, escorted by EH fighters, made it through that system unscathed. They didn't even get as much as a nominal welcoming committee by the pirates. So the freighters continued to hyperspace into Beryl Harbor, while their escorts returned home.

DarkEagle sent a flight of T/Ds to greet the freighters at the arrival jump point to escort safety to their destination. The pirates finally showed up, and they were dispatched very quickly. But although this seemed like a milk run of an escort mission, the pirates had something up their sleeves.


Mission 6: Recapture the lost supplies, T/D

Obviously this was not a good situation, as chasing the freighters mean that the station refitting will be behind schedule. All 4 ATRs with a flight of T/Ds were sent to chase them into the pirates' space. Although they did not find the freighters, they found the cargo and more than what they bargained for. It was a major blow to thex pirates, as the strike force captured the pirates' capital ships and destroyed their home platform. Revenge is sweet, indeed.


Mission 7: Capture the second vanguard, T/D

The station was refitted and the laser batteries have been built, although they're not exactly 100% functional. However, because of the delays in recapturing the supplies, the NR vanguard arrived before DarkEagle can secure all his perimeter, as only 4 of the 8 defensive platforms were ready. On one hand this was a bad thing, but this could be a blessing in disguise as they can be isolated, captured, and used against the rest of the incoming fleet!

Our advance scouts, however, just had enough time to return to give us advance warning. DarkEagle dispatched his latest report to the Grand Admiral, and in return, GA Ronin dispatched the only EH forces that can make it in time; which happened to be Flight 1 of Inferno Squadron.

This mission has multiple objectives. First of all, ensure that the station and the defensive platforms survive. Secondly, you must disable the vanguard capital ships to be captured. The vanguard has come prepared with a few squadrons ready to deal with the threat we've prepared for them. Inferno squadron will help to disable the capital ships, but since GA Ronin wants them all back alive, you should attempt to remove threats to their safety.


Mission 8: Armageddon, MIS

The rest of the NR fleet finally arrived. As much as DarkEagle would've liked for the two new M/FRGs to stay in the battle, he did not have enough personnel on hand to fully man those two ships. So he sent both home to EH space with only a skeleton crew. Well, at least that's what he said....

Little did the New Republic know about an ace up DarkEagle's sleeves. Before he set out on this mission, he managed to smuggle in components for a system that will be critical to the formation of Special K's: A very accurate hyperdrive targeting system. This system will enable a ship to hyperdrive to a jump point within ~1 km accuracy.

The 2 M/FRGs sent away were refitted with minimal robotic crew, their human crews were shuttled off safely back to man Beryl Harbor's defensive platforms. They were sent away some distance in order to give the impression that they're heading back to the EH space. However, they're set up as part of a trap for the incoming NR fleet.

You may or may not decide to use the trap, at your discretion; however the mission is harder if you don't use it. To set the trap, press Shift + S for reinforcements once the first of the NR fleet arrives.