After the Emperor’s Hammer returns from Parmea, with their fleet in tow, the Hammer ‘s Battlegroup I Commanders meet in the war room to debrief what they have learned. With the information collected from the Parmean civilians regarding information on the Ishtari, the Hammer’s Squadron Commanders relay their findings to Battlegroup Commodore, Admiral Phoenix Berkana.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. I am sure we were able to uncover much information during our time on Parmea and I understand each of you have prepared a full report based on your squadron’s engagements. Lets begin with Alpha Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Araujo, you may begin.” says Phoenix

Araujo attempts to load up his datapad and begins to read off of his prepared logs

“Ahem, according to my gallant pilots, the civilians have informed … hang on … my data pad seems to be lagging.”

Araujo chuckles nervously and smacks his datapad.

“There we go, the civilians have informed us that the Ishtari stole their food supplies and damaged their factories, crippling their source of food. Of the groups that we questioned, we were told of their disdain for the Ishtari but nothing more was learned. “

Araujo sets his datapad down on the table in front of him and crosses his arms.

“Thank you Colonel, next we have KeblaOmega of Beta Squadron, perhaps your squadron was able to at least find out where the Ishtari have gone?” asks Phoenix

“Unfortunately sir we did not exactly find out that bit of information, however we did learn that the Ishtari love to steal fruit and meat. The farmers we questioned claim that the Ishtari did not attack any of their livestock and spared all living creatures. Aside from the defensive military that counter-attacked, it seems the Ishtari’s goal is self sustenance by force.”

“Understood, this may prove useful in determining their next strikes. Okay, who is next? Colonel Genie, Major Highlander, General La’an? Do you have your reports prepared?

Genie and Highlander look at each other nervously and begin to fumble with their datapads. Epsilon Commander General La’an attempts to chime in before Captain Witchblade of Gamma Squadron jumps to attention. She stands up and adjusts her uniform.

“Sir, permission to deliver my report?” asks Witchblade

“Please Captain, proceed”

She picks up her datapad and begins to read aloud to the group.

“My pilots interrogated over fifty civilians regarding the whereabouts of the Ishtari. We have learned that the Ishtari make their passes to nearby systems where people are settled, stealing their food supplies every four months. They then return to a system called Graedi where no life forms are found, these systems are not suitable for life barring one or two planets, in addition, these systems are outside the jurisdiction of the New Republic, making it easy for the Ishtari to leave and return without opposition. The civilians have reached out to the local government multiple times for assistance to no avail. My recommendation is to search this system and investigate the planets within the system. That is the end of my report.”

Witchblade clicks off her datapad and returns to her seat, eagerly awaiting her Commodore’s response.

“That is wonderful Captain! This is enough information to move forward with our investigation. Gentlemen, I’m sure your reports were as thorough as Captain Witchblade here, thank you for joining us. Ready your pilots for deployment, we will set a course for the Graedi system and move the battlegroup to this location.”

Admiral Phoenix heads to the bridge of the Hammer and reaches out to Grand Admiral Rapier via his subspace communication system to deliver his findings. A hologram of the Fleet Commander appears before him.

“Yes Admiral, what is it?” asks Rapier

“Sir, we have received intelligence which suggests the Ishtari are domiciled within the Graedi Sector in Wild Space. The planets within this sector appear to be uninhabitable as of late. I suggest we deploy to this system and scan the area for any signs of the Ishtari.”

“This seems promising, we will send the entire battlegroup and hunt down the Ishtari. We will overwhelm their forces once we are able to track them and eliminate those who stand before us. You have your orders Admiral.”

Rapier ends the transmission and Phoenix turns to his bridge officer.

“Set course for the Graedi system and prepare for deployment” says Phoenix.

“Sir, which squadrons should we deploy?” asks the bridge officer.

“All of them.”

“Right away sir.”

The entirety of the battlegroup enters hyperspace and streaks of stars elongated at an unimaginable speed. The fleet instantaneously enters the Graedi System and appears within range of a terrestrial planet called Beldai.

“Sir, we have arrived.” says the bridge officer

“Wonderful, what do our scanners read? Any signs of life?” says Phoenix

A radar technician reviews the screen depicting the planet below the fleet, the screen refreshes with no blips on the radar.

“Sir, it appears there are no signs of life, however the report on this planet suggests it was recently evacuated as the scanners pick up mass established cities on the surface”.

“Interesting, this must be where the Ishtari have returned to, perhaps they drove out the local population. Deploy the fleet down to the surface, we’ll touch down at the largest citie’s spaceport. Colonel Task, ready the garrison of stormtroopers and pilots, we’ll need every hand on deck for this mission. Ensure they are fully equipped to deal with any resistance we may encounter.”

“On the double sir” replies Task.

The fleet head down to the spaceport on Beldai, platoons of stormtroopers, TIE pilots, and officers exit from the trooper transports. They distribute sonic imploders, E-11 blaster rifles, DLT-19 heavy blaster rifles, and SE-14r light repeating blasters. With the garrison armed to the teeth, they begin to walk throughout the city. As the troopers descend upon the city, they notice quickly how pristine the buildings are but noticeably empty and abandoned, a giant statue of what looks to be an old figure head is at the city center.

“Hey Colonel Genie, where did all the people go?” asks TheBlackxRanger.

“I am not sure, there doesn’t seem to be a single soul here” replies Genie

“This is pretty creepy” replies Gytheran.

“Did we scare them off?” asks Solohan50

“No, no, that can’t be it, the place looks like it's been abandoned for quite a while. There’s speeders and transport just left in the streets.” informs Genie.

The group continues along the path towards the city center, led by the protection of stormtroopers. Rustling is heard down the dark alleys and side streets.

“What was that?!” exclaimed DemWookieCheeks

The hairs on the tall wookie begin to stand up on themselves.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” replied Redbaron.

Large groups of shadows appear from down the road and suddenly jump out at the group. Large bipedal, armor clad insectoid creatures armed with beam weapons begin filling the street, stopping the troopers in their tracks, silently staring as if they are awaiting orders, then the Ishtari begin to move forward, firing their beam weapons towards the troopers.

“Take cover!!” shouted an officer among the crowd.

The troopers dive out of the line of fire and take positions behind walls and speeders, shooting back at the Ishtari as they make their way to cover. Red bolts of plasma light up the streets, kicking up dust and debris as they make impact to the ground and against the enemy’s armor.

“We’re pinned down over here Captain!” yelled Witchblade

“Hang in there Captain, we’ll provide cover” boomed KeblaOmega

Beta Squadron provides cover fire with their Beta Blasters and lets loose a barrage of lasers from their heavy repeaters, shooting down waves of insectoid droids as their bodies hit the ground. Their lasers ricochet off the metallic armor and connect with other Ishtari, wiping out multiple targets in an efficient display of accuracy and skill. Gamma squadron, while under the protection of Beta, fires off bolts from their E-11s as they regain their defense positions

“What are we going to do? There’s too many of them!” exclaimed Lieutenant Colonel Araujo.

“We need to make a defense retreat, form up and regroup with the remaining squadrons. Inform Colonel Task that we have engaged the Ishtari and are in need of back up” shouted Genie

General La’an opens his communications device and connects to Narven Task

“Colonel Task, this is General La’an, we are under heavy fire. We have located the Ishtari and are in need of air support, they are north of the city center’s statue”

“Roger, what are your coordinates? We’ll send in fighters ASAP, laze the target and clear the area”

“Epsilon 3-1, Type 1 Control

PLATFORM

180 LEFT

7.6

200

Infantry dug in

CM 3769/1204

Ishtari in the open, 200 lined up

Concussion Missiles

South 200 of Statue, troops in retreat

Egress south to PLATFORM”

“Roger, air support inbound, retreat and take cover”

“All troopers, retreat!! Our fighters are on their way!! Regroup at the platform.” shouted La’an

Task orders in a flight of TIE Fighters to descend upon the city, the fighter pilots make their approach starting their run above the platform as they make their way to city center. The fighters swing left and make their approach.

“Target in range, all clear to fire. Deploy missiles.” says the fighter pilot

The TIEs launch a payload of concussion missiles at the large group of Ishtari, decimating everything North of the statue, wiping out all the opposing forces in one fell swoop. Explosions ring out through the city as a fireball erupts where the Ishtari once stood. Black smoke fills the area as the TIEs complete their attack run, stirring up wind as they rush by.

“Target destroyed, Flight Group 2 headed back to base.”

“General La’an, status report?” ordered Task.

“All clear sir, no casualties. Looks like that got them good” replied La’an.

Task grasps his communications device and radios to the Hammer.

“Admiral Phoenix, this is Colonel Task. We have located and destroyed a large number of Ishtari forces, inform the Grand Admiral. We found them.”