TFTC-TC 16: Hammer to Anvil - Part I

General Information

Title: Hammer to Anvil - Part I

Number of Missions: 6

Original Upload Date: 2026-08-30

Author: Jagged Fell III & Sauron

Hammer of Discovery

Readme Background

In many of my other remasters I speak about how this designer or that is one of my favorite XWA creators, and that is all true, but when someone asks me for a recommendation for a XWA battle I ALWAYS recommend the Hammer to Anvil series by Sauron. This series of four battles for XWA is without a doubt, for me, the best story told in the Emperor's Hammer database. As such, I have endeavored to bring it to TFTC and give it all the bells and whistles I could. This project, all four remasters, has required nearly 20 different individual contributors, resulting in over four hours of dialog to be edited and placed into the game for the 25 missions of the total series.

One of the major changes I have made to the series was the decision to incorporate the accompanying fiction for each battle into the mission briefings themselves. This has resulted in some briefings being too long for the XWA game engine to display. As such the Commander's Briefing in Mission 1 of this battle is much longer than normal. The audio file has the complete briefing but the text displayed on screen is only an abbreviated version. It is HIGHLY recommended to play, at least this mission, with the audio enabled.

These battles are HIGHLY story driven and as such it is highly recommended to fully read/listen to all the briefings and to read the emails prior to each mission.

From the Original Readme:

Plotline:

A routine patrol by an EH task force has led to them leaving contact with us. Fleet Command has dispatched a small force to investigate the whereabouts of this task force, led by the Victory-Star Destroyer Formidable. Be on guard, and discover what has happened to our fleet as soon as possible.

Script

Mission 1: First Strike

Email

From: Tanya Narowin
Subject: Hey cutey!

I miss you and wish you were home. Do you know how long you will be deployed this time? We do have a wedding to plan you know ;-)

Love,
Tanya

From: James and Mary Tert
Subject: Wedding Plans

Do you know if we will be able to use the Academy's reception hall for the wedding? I know you graduated a while ago, and don't particularly have close ties to High Admiral Denor, but figured your rank and knighthood might be enough for us to warrant using it.

Please reply back and know your father and I love you.

Love,
Mother

Commander's Briefing

Rear Admiral Kechenko walked along the bridge of his Victory Star Destroyer Formidable. The gleaming white deck shone in his eyes, and he straightened with pride as he walked along the gangway and glanced from side to side at the crewmen hurrying about their duties. A quick glance out the viewport showed the Modified Frigate Fang flying in formation above his Star Destroyer. In the distance he could barely make out the hammerhead shapes of his Corellian Corvettes standing at station.

Captain Tallor walked up to him and sharply saluted. Kechenko briskly returned the salute, "Report, Captain."

Captain Tallor nodded and pulled out a datapad, "Sir, our initial scans of the system report no contacts at all. There has been some interference from the third planet that is causing havoc with sensor readings in that part of the system, but everything else checks out."

Kechenko nodded, "Command sent us here as a shake-down cruise, but I don't care even if this is the safest system in the Minos Cluster. I intend on reporting a perfect voyage to Admiral Kessler. We'll do this by the book."

Tallor nodded and walked off to the TIE Coordinator. Kechenko turned away to look out the viewport as he heard Tallor issue his orders.

"Lieutenant Lowen, direct Shadow Squadron to begin their patrols. I want one squadron out at all times, with another squadron of fighters prepped in the hangar, ready to be launched." Lowen nodded and turned back to his console. Tallor's next stop was the Sensor Officer's station.

"Commander Gith, I want to keep us at yellow alert during the entirety of the patrol. Keep a constant look-out for any unidentified ships."

Kechenko slowly muted out the voice of his subordinate as he stared out the window. He stifled a slight yawn and then raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't yawned while on duty in...years. He discreetly glanced around the bridge and noticed that several of the crewmen were also hiding small yawns. He walked over to the Sensor Officer.

"Commander, is there anything in this system that would affect the nervous system?" he inquired.

Commander Gith looked up, surprised, yet Kechenko could see in his eyes that he had been wondering the same thing. "One moment, sir." He tapped a few commands into his computer, and a chart came up on his display. Gith frowned and examined it carefully.

"What is it?" Kechenko demanded.

"Sir, it appears that there are abnormally high levels of gamma radiation emanating from the third planet. This might have some effect on the nervous system and might make some of our crew fatigued."

Now it was Kechenko's turn to frown. "Can you modify the shields to take the extra radiation into account?"

Gith nodded quickly, "Yes, sir. I can do that within the hour."

"Make it so." Kechenko walked over to Tallor. "Captain, I'm going to my cabin. You have the bridge."

—

Namen Kechenko awoke with a start. The light on the comm was blinking. Rubbing the last of sleep from his eyes, he spryly jumped out of bed. He strode over and tapped the switch.

"Kechenko here."

"Sir, this is Tallor," his Captain identified himself. "I just thought that you might like to know that we've been picking up some strange levels of gamma radiation from the third planet. Commander Gith has no idea what they are, but he believes that a closer inspection might yield some clues."

Kechenko nodded to himself, quickly pulling on a clean uniform. "Very well, Captain. Take the task force to the third planet. However, I want an additional flight of TIE pilots standing by. Just in case."

"Of course, sir. Thank you."

Checking himself one last time in the mirror, Kechenko sighed and walked out of his cabin.

—

Colonel Rendit slowly pulled back on his stick in a controlled turn. He grunted in approval as the rest of his flight turned with him. Everyone, that is, except for Shadow 3. He tuned his comm to Shadow 3's private channel.

"Three, One. Keep it sharp there!"

Immediately Shadow 3's TIE Defender came back into perfect formation as he double-clicked his comm to show that he understood. Rendit sighed. It was a very quiet patrol. Hopefully it would stay that way. While some of the new hotshot pilots dreamed about getting into huge melees with Rebel pilots, Rendit knew better. Even with his retrofitted TIE Defender, taking on a squad of Rebel A-wings was no piece of cake. Giving himself to the Force, he let his mind drift as he subconsciously flew his craft.

Only the Force warned Rendit. He suddenly jerked back on his stick. Two of his flight members were sharp enough to stay with him, but Shadow 3 ploughed right into the ship that had appeared in front of them with no warning.

"Formidable, this is Shadow 1…I just lost a pilot! What is that thing?" he demanded. There was no response.

—

As Kechenko was walking to the bridge the ship suddenly shuddered under his feet, and he could feel more than hear a blast of turbolaser fire hitting the hull. A second later the red klaxons went off around the ship. He started running.

Kechenko arrived to find a scene of chaos. Over a dozen ships were surrounding his task force, firing furiously. Tallor was shouting out commands, and the bridge was starting to calm down. Tallor's face brightened, though only slightly, when he saw Namen.

"Sir! We're under attack by 14 unidentified ships! They appeared out of nowhere from the third planet."

"Launch all TIE squadrons! Order the fleet to attack!"

"Yes, sir!"

—

Rendit jerked his Defender around to avoid the laser burst. It flashed through the space behind him. Four more of Shadow's pilots had died, exploding from the super-heated plasma burning through their hulls. "Command, this is Shadow One! We're dropping like flies out here!"

Static filled his comm unit. No response. Growling, Rendit let the Dark Side fill him as he continued on his destructive path.

—

"Sir! Our shields are falling!" Gith's shouted report brought Namen's head around. In the distance another one of the alien craft exploded under the Formidable's concentrated fire. "They're gone, sir!"

All of the sudden the bridge lights flickered. All of the crewmen stood up and looked around, forgetting the battle. Kechenko was about to rebuke the sudden loss of Imperial discipline when he noticed the silent rictus of pain on many of their faces. He was about to ask one what was wrong when the voice hit him.

"HEATHEN." The voice was fire in his mind, burning every cell in his body. "WHY HAVE YOU DISTURBED US?"

Kechenko fell to the floor, groaning. "Who ...are...you?"

"WE ARE THE HOLY. YOU ARE THE UNHOLY. AND YOU SHALL NOW…DIE."

Kechenko screamed as he could feel invisible hands ripping at his mind, his soul, tearing him apart. His screams were no louder than the rest of the bridge crew, however.

—

Rendit stared at the Formidable, as he saw lights going down all over the ship. As soon as its shields dropped from the incessant fire, it had merely…stopped. This was his undoing. An ion blast caught his fighter and overwhelmed his shields. As he turned his throttle uselessly, he felt a power pulling at his mind. "What in the world?" he muttered to himself as the strange presence forced itself on his mind. Reaching out to the Force he pummeled the enemy invader. It recoiled and then came back stronger. Howling in pain, he pulled more and more of the Force into him, until he could stand it no longer. He let it all loose at the enemy being and let loose a cry of victory as he felt it crumple beneath his onslaught. His victory was short lived, however, as the incredible amount of Force flowing through him incinerated his body.

—

Two hours later, nothing stirred. Only the ruined hulk of a Victory Star Destroyer, a Frigate and a lone TIE Defender were left. No signs showed of the mystery attackers. Only the flickering lights in the Star Destroyer's bridge showed the slightest sign of power.

—

Sometime later, a patrol is being readied aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Relentless to ascertain the fate of the Formidable…

Tactical Briefing Text

A task force, led by the VSD Formidable, has recently dropped out of contact with us.

You will lead a team from our strike force assembled to investigate their disappearance.

Figure out what is going on and make contact with our ships if possible.

When your mission is complete return to the ISD Relentless.

Radio Messages

<Relentless> Alpha, head over to the salvage zone with our team. Keep your eyes open; something took out our task force here

<Alpha 2> Whoah! What happened to that VSD!

<MAJ Tert> Alpha to Command, the Formidable is adrift and listing. I can see huge chunks taken out of her hull too...

<Relentless> Acknowledged. Guard our transports as they salvage the wrecks

<Alpha 2> I'm getting some strange readings from the VSD...

<MAJ Tert> Control, we have hostiles! We need immediate backup!

<Relentless> Roger that…we are sending Gamma and the Battleaxe to assist

<MAJ Tert> These guys are good!

<Lambda> Alpha, we've boarded the Formidable...guard us

<Lambda> Ugh, it's awful...what happened to these people?

<Battleaxe> VSD Battleaxe here to help, Alpha One

<Lambda> Get back to the Relentless ASAP Alpha One…this is serious

Victory Briefing

The Commodore of the ISD Relentless, Vice Admiral Jarak Maldon, opened a commlink to the private comm station of the TIE Corps Commander, Fleet Admiral Kyle Kessler. Kessler looked haggard, and there were large bags under his eyes.

"Yes Jarak, report."

"Sir, preliminary findings are in from the bodies that we recovered." Jarak winced hearing what he said. Over 20,000 crewmen...murdered. "While many were killed from battle damage, a small but significant number...well, it's hard to explain sir."

Kessler leaned forward. "What do you mean, hard to explain?"

Jarak gulped and continued. "Sir, their brains were...well, our scientists don't know how to explain it. There were no physical marks on their heads, but the brains themselves had large portions missing, and there was a tremendous amount of scar tissue."

Kessler sat heavily in his seat. "File your report as ordered. Begin salvage of those ships too."

Jarak nodded. "Yes, sir. There's one other small note." At Kessler's nod he continued. "We recovered the remains of one of the pilots in a Defender. Our database shows that he was also a Dark Jedi in the Brotherhood. At least, we think it was him."

"What do you mean, you think?" Kessler demanded.

"Well, the ashes that were left in the seat had deteriorated significantly." Jarak watched Kessler's mouth drop, aghast. "One of our pilots is also a Dark Jedi, and he reported that he felt a very strange sensation around the derelict TIE. As if there had been some struggle through the Force and in the end our pilot turned to ash, most likely because he drew too much on the Force."

Kessler's eyes narrowed and bored into Jarak. He could feel small beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Admiral, I will be joining you shortly. I have a small amount of desk work and then expect my arrival. The Outer Rim has been quiet lately, and this report has intrigued me." He signed off.

Jarak sighed and leaned back in his command chair, looking out the viewport. The immense shape of his own Star Destroyer and the ISD Colossus matching orbit comforted him, as well as the distant shape of the VSD Battleaxe, but he had a gut feeling that something was wrong. Very wrong...

Mission 2: Salvage Operation

Email

From: James and Mary Tert
Subject: Amazing News

Thank you for whatever you did. Tanya's mother and I just heard from the Daedalus that we can use the Hall for your wedding in the Fall.

Could you reach out to any of your fellow Knights and see if they would be interested in being an honor guard in the ceremony? It would be a lovely holo to have, you and Tanya walking out under their crossed lightsabers.

Love,
Mother

Commander's Briefing

FA Kessler has decided to visit the ISD Relentless to temporarily take command of the situation. He would like to inspect all the information that we have gathered so far and plan our next step to find out who destroyed our task force and what they want.

Tactical Briefing Text

We have decided to salvage the VSD Formidable and recover it.

Also, Fleet Admiral Kessler will be arriving to take personal command.

While the Colossus salvages the Formidable you will escort Kessler's shuttle.

Be aware of any attacks by the mysterious ships that we have encountered.

Radio Messages

<Relentless> Okay Alpha, Kessler should be here at any time

<Colossus> This is the Colossus, we are heading over to salvage the VSD

<MAJ Tert> Kessler's shuttle is here...pretty small escort

<Hawk> This is Admiral Kessler requesting permission to board

<Relentless> Granted...where are the rest of your escorts?

<Hawk> I left them behind on Aurora. I want this to be low-key

<Relentless> Fine, but this IS a combat zone you realize

<Colossus> Warning! Unidentified ships coming out of hyperspace!

<Relentless> Aw, just great. Alpha, intercept those hostiles! Kessler, I advise you to get here ASAP

<Relentless> We want one of those gunships captured! Assist Tau in disabling it, and guard Talon while it docks

<Colossus> This is the ISD Colossus….we are under attack!

<Relentless> Alpha One, we have hostiles in the salvage area. Get over there to help as soon as you can

<Relentless> Excellent work, Kessler is safely on board

Victory Briefing

Jarak walked into the Conference Room, off to the side of the bridge. The pristine deck of the bridge gleamed on his sharply pressed uniform. A short glance out the starboard viewport showed salvage teams going over the wreckage of the alien craft that had attacked them. Damage teams had reported to him that they had sustained very minor damage that would be repaired within the hour.

As he approached the door, it slid open silently on well-oiled tracks. Fleet Admiral Kyle Kessler was staring out the viewport at the same scene that Jarak had pondered on moments before.

Jarak walked in the doorway a few steps and came to attention. There was no sign that Kessler had noticed his presence until he half-turned his head and opened his mouth.

"What is the report of our salvage teams, Jarak?" he asked.

Jarak relaxed from his position of attention and handed a datapad to Kessler. "There was some minor damage to the ship, but nothing major sir. The ISD Colossus reports that she had a small overload in one of her shield generators, but it will be fixed in the next two hours. Our worst casualties were among the fighters; we lost over half a squadron." At that point he paused.

Kessler looked up from the datapad. "Yes, seven pilots were killed and two were forced to go extra-vehicular." He turned away from Jarak and walked back to the viewport. "There's something strange about these aliens, Jarak. They fly as well as some of the best pilots I've seen. They seem to strike out of nowhere. They know exactly when and where we will be. Either there's a traitor among us," Kessler eyed Jarak as he stiffened at the suggestion, “or this is an alien race that is completely unknown to us. Either way, they appear to be a grave threat."

Kessler walked to the oblong table and sat down, motioning Jarak to do the same. "When will the report from that Gunship be in?"

Jarak shrugged. "The Inspection Team is going over it now. They expect to have the finished report within twenty-four hours."

Kessler nodded. "Okay. Well, I want all TIE crews to be prepping their ships at all times. Keep an extra flight of TIEs out there on patrol just in case." He stopped momentarily, and Jarak looked at him questioningly. "And prepare the Recon teams. Once we get that report I want to find out where these people came from." There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he finished. "Blood was spilt here, Admiral, and I mean to find out who did it and destroy them, utterly..."

Mission 3: Recon Flight 107

Email

From: Tanya Narowin
Subject: Reception

So we are getting married at the Academy?! I haven't been there since your graduation. You have always spoken highly of your time there...maybe I could join up too? Then you might have to wait for me to come home for once;-)

Love,
Tanya

Commander's Briefing

Following the successful recovery of the VSD Formidable and the safe arrival of Fleet Admiral Kessler, we have been ordered to begin immediate recon flights of the surrounding systems to try and ascertain the location of our mystery attackers. Due to your prowess in the previous missions, you have been selected to fly the gauntlet recon mission where we believe that the bulk of their forces may be.

Tactical Briefing Text

After salvaging the Formidable we are going on a recon run.

To try to discover the whereabouts of the enemy ships attacking us.

You will fly a lone T/D and do a recon run of three locations.

If you run into any enemy craft, attempt to destroy them.

Good luck.

Radio Messages

<Relentless> Okay Alpha, begin your recon run

<MAJ Tert> Command, we have a cap and a squad of fighters here!

<Relentless> Roger...we are sending Battleaxe and Eta to help out

<MAJ Tert> We have more ships here too...is this a convoy or something?

<Gamma 1> Gamma here to assist you with these guys, Alpha

<MAJ Tert> Whoah!!! Relentless, they have an Interdictor here! I need immediate backup!

<Relentless> Roger that, we're coming after you Alpha One

<Relentless> Concentrate all firepower on that enemy Interdictor!

<Relentless> Okay, the Interdictor's gone....get out of here NOW!

<Colossus> Looks like we found a major base, Alpha One

Victory Briefing

The Wing Commander finished his report, and Jarak thanked him and turned off the comm unit. Kessler was sitting across from him in the conference room, thinking hard.

"What's next?" Jarak inquired.

Kessler came out of his reverie. "I've already been in contact with the Grand Admiral and advised him of the seriousness of the situation. Fortunately for us, almost all New Republic activity has ceased along the Minos Cluster. Intel still has no idea why, but it seems that they are massing their forces."

Jarak started. "An invasion force?"

Kessler shook his head. "According to what limited information we have, it appears that they are pulling their forces back into a tight defensive screen along most of their major planets in this sector. It's almost as if they are expecting an attack..."

Jarak's eyebrows shot up. "You don't really think these...Vepaal…” what they believed to be the name of the aliens, taken from the captured Gunship, still burned in his throat. “That these Vepaal would dare to attack both the Emperor’s Hammer and the New Republic, do you?"

Kessler shrugged. "At the present, we have no idea, but that appears as likely as anything. To cover all eventualities, Ronin has ordered Ambassador Manesh to covertly contact the New Republic."

Jarak sucked in his breath. "Isn't that possibly catastrophic?"

Kessler nodded. "And I'd appreciate it if you would keep that under wraps." He went on as Jarak quickly nodded. "I know, as does the Grand Admiral, that it goes against many of our principles. However, we believe that these Vepaal," the name was smooth on his tongue, “represent a very serious threat. Large numbers, very intelligent pilots on a par with ours, and we have no idea where they are coming from. Add that to the possibility that they may be starting a two-front war, and the situation looks very grim. Plus..."

Jarak looked at Kessler when he stopped. "Plus, what?"

"Our Dark Jedi that was killed...the matter went all the way to Zoraan himself. Even he does not know what happened to him, but he believes that he engaged in some sort of mental conflict with the Vepaal. The mere possibility that they may be Force-sensitive has led Command to dispatch the SSD Avenger and the Star Destroyers Challenge and Immortal." Kessler paused once more for a moment. "Our scientists have finished their report on the bodies that we recovered from the Formidable." He pulled out a short report marked CLASSIFIED and tossed it to Jarak, who opened it up and began reading. He stopped at the third page and looked up in horror.

"They were killed telepathically!"

Kessler nodded. "Using the bodies and the information from the Formidable's sensors we were able to piece together what happened. A large enemy strike force came upon ours and attacked. We fought back and destroyed several ships, but the instant that the shields of our fleet went down, the sensors recorded both that we ceased fire and almost everyone on all the ships died simultaneously. Somehow the shields stopped the Vepaal from attacking telepathically before, but once they went down…" Kessler grimaced.

Jarak's eyes were wide. "And if our shields had gone down even once in any of the attacks..." He couldn't finish.

Kessler's eyes hardened. "Well, that won't happen now. We've developed a back-up shield generator that is attached directly to the ship's core that will form a thin, telepathically impermeable layer on the hull. As long as the core remains intact, it won't go down. We'll experience a slight drop in power, but it will be worth it."

"When will the modifications be complete?"

"The Colossus and Battleaxe should be finished within the day. The Relentless will have her's by tomorrow morning. And after that, we test out our new toy. We are going to attack the Vepaal base that we discovered in the recon mission. We are going for blood."

Mission 4: First Blood

Email

From: James and Mary Tert
Subject: Outrageous!

What is this about how you can't tell us how your patrol is going? Do you think your father and I are New Republic spies now!?

Now stop this and write back where you are and how your mission is going. I can't imagine you're giving Tanya this "classified" tripe.

Mother

Commander's Briefing

After having discovered what appears to be a large base in this system that belongs to the Vepaal, Kessler has ordered that our full strike force attack and destroy it. High Command is sending reinforcements but until that time comes, we are going to attempt to eradicate the Vepaal from the system.

Tactical Briefing Text

We will be attacking the Vepaal facility that we discovered in the last mission.

You will fly Alpha One and lead the attack.

While our Star Destroyers engage and destroy the enemy starships,

You must wipe out all enemy fighters.

Radio Messages

<Relentless> Okay Alpha, 30 seconds and counting until hyperspace jump. Remember guys, they took out over 20,000 of our men

<Relentless> Get ready to jump on my mark......NOW!

<MAJ Tert> Oh boy, they left a small fleet for us...how nice

<Relentless> Relentless to all ships, we're surrounded!

<Relentless> We and the Colossus will take out that platform and its caps, while the Battleaxe destroys the Frigates on our flank

<Kessler> FA Kessler to all fighters, you must provide cover!

<Kessler> Alert! Some of the fighters are attacking our Star Destroyers!

<Relentless> Well done! The Frigates are gone

<Relentless> This is the Relentless...our shields are going!

<Colossus> This is the Colossus...we have no shields left!

<Battleaxe> Battleaxe here...under heavy fire...shields are gone!

<MAJ Tert> Now that's a pretty sight! Good work guys, we've destroyed the platform

<Kessler> We've lost a Star Destroyer! All ships, pull back!

<MAJ Tert> This is just a RECON POST! Oh no...

Victory Briefing

Jarak walked into the conference room with a heavy step. Kessler was there already, staring off into space.

"Sir, the battle is over." At Kessler's gesture he continued. "All three Star Destroyers have taken damage, and the Colossus will need major repairs. We have commenced them, but her Commodore believes it will be several days before they are complete. Our starfighter wing also took heavy losses; 29% were destroyed."

Jarak swallowed and continued. "However, all enemy ships were destroyed. No fighter or capital ship made it out alive. We got them, sir. You wanted blood and we got it."

Kessler shook his head and motioned for Jarak to sit. "This report just came in from Alpha squadron, Jarak. One of their boys got close enough to the platform to inspect its contents. While the readings were a bit garbled, what he discovered was recon equipment."

Jarak's good eye widened. "Recon equipment! You mean this was a scouting force?"

Kessler nodded. "It's starting to look that way. Things get worse, too. You remember that piece of equipment from the Vepaal gunship that we thought was some sort of transmitter?"

Jarak nodded, and Kessler went on. "Well, our scientists finally think that they know what it is. We thought it was a transmitter, but now that we know that the Vepaal are telepathic, things started to make sense. There were a few gadgets on it that they didn't know the function of. Now they do."

There was a deep sense of foreboding in the room. Jarak almost shivered. "And?"

"They were able to hack into some of those pieces of equipment, and they found these stored inside them." Kessler tossed several datapads towards Jarak; all of them were marked "Imperial Communications - Top Secret".

Jarak drew in a quick breath. "Holocomm transmissions? From us?" Kessler nodded.

"The Science Section now believes that the Vepaal are somehow capable of capturing Holocomm transmissions that we send and decrypt them."

Jarak looked alarmed. "That means that all of our plans that we went over with High Command..." he trailed off.

"Yes. They could all be in Vepaal hands. For this reason, I'm dispatching a team directly to Aurora Prime to inform them of this. While this is a deadly disadvantage to us now, it could work in our favor."

Jarak nodded. "But they know right where our reinforcements are headed to meet us."

"Yes. There will be a large battle soon, if they still have any ships left. But that is still several days off. Meanwhile, I'm sending the Battleaxe to the Marbe system. It's the home base of the Baruka Smugglers."

"Why? What's there?" Jarak inquired.

"Intel believes that they have a large knowledge of everything in this sector. They could know where these Vepaal are coming from. Also, according to rumor they are superstitious about one of the nebulas in the sector and never go there." Kessler's fist came down hard on the table, jarring the datapads in front of Jarak. "We believe that could be where the Vepaal are. And if we find them..." he trailed off.

Jarak smiled. "I could almost pity them."

Mission 5: Battle of Baruka

Email

From: Tanya Narowin
Subject: Your Mother!

John, please do something about your mother! Remind her that this is OUR wedding, not her's!

Tanya

Commander's Briefing

While the rest of our Task Force prepares for a possible attack when we receive our reinforcements, the VSD Battleaxe has been sent on an important mission. We are to find the Baruka Smugglers and seize whatever information they have on the Vepaal. As everyone knows, the Baruka have the largest supply of information about this sector.

Tactical Briefing Text

The Battleaxe has been ordered to raid this Smuggler's outpost.

We believe that they may have vital information on the Vepaal.

You will fly Alpha One and support the operation.

If the Baruka resist you have permission to use all force necessary to take the station.

Radio Messages

<Battleaxe> Crow's Nest, this is the Star Destroyer Battleaxe...stand down and prepare to be boarded

<Crow's Nest> We have no quarrel with you Imperials...what do you want?

<Battleaxe> We think you may have information about the...Vepaal

<Crow's Nest><gasp> Vepaal? Uh...who are they? Never heard of them!

<Battleaxe> Don't lie to us smuggler...who, and what, are they?

<Crow's Nest> You'll bring their vengeance on everyone, Imperials! We cannot tell you!

<Battleaxe> Alpha One, the Baruka are launching fighters. It is clear that they intend to resist. Guard our fighters as they disable the platform, and then oversee the capture operation

<Battleaxe> WARNING! VEPAAL IN THE SYSTEM!

<Eagle> Alpha, this is Eagle, we're approaching the station to board

<Polon> This is Polon, Alpha One, requesting a guard to the station

<Battleaxe> Good work, the Vepaal are withdrawing!

Victory Briefing

Kessler raised an eyebrow at Jarak as he walked into the conference room. "Yes?" he inquired.

Jarak saluted. "Sir, the raid on the Baruka Smugglers was a success."

Kessler smiled, the first time in days. "Excellent work, Admiral. The Battleaxe and her fighters are to be commended. Have you begun the decryption yet?"

Jarak nodded. "Yes, sir. The Crypt Section began working on it as soon as the teams reported back. They think that they will have it completed by the time that the rest of the Fleet arrives."

Kessler's eyes gleamed. "Let us just hope that the Baruka have some accurate information and are not just superstitious fools."

"There was one other point, sir." At Kessler's nod, Jarak continued, "According to our pilots with the Battleaxe, the Baruka claimed that by attacking the Vepaal we will bring their vengeance down upon all life in the galaxy. The way that they said it implied that the Vepaal could destroy all of us."

Kessler snorted, "The Vepaal have already attacked us, Jarak. Right now, it doesn't matter if we bring their vengeance upon us; they should be more fearful of bringing our vengeance upon them." Jarak nodded quickly and Kessler went on, "What is the status of the minefield?"

Jarak scanned his datapad, "Well, we only have a limited amount of mines on board right now sir." Kessler frowned and he continued, "However, our teams report that what we do have should be finished several hours before the Fleet arrives. It won't stop a determined attack, but it will slow them down."

Kessler grimaced, "Very well. From now on I want at least a full squadron on constant patrol from each ship, with another squad ready to go in the hangars. Tomorrow could see the difference between victory and defeat for the Emperor's Hammer."

Mission 6: The Fleet Arrives

Email

From: James and Mary Tert
Subject: So sorry

I am so sorry that I was fighting with Tanya. You know your father and I think she is amazing. Don't worry, I have made up with her.

But John, you still haven't written to tell your father and I where you are. I am of half a mind to have your father use his contacts to find out for ourselves.

Love,
Mother

Commander's Briefing

After having received a considerable amount of rumor and some information from the Baruka Smugglers, we have returned to the site where the Fleet will be jumping in. We expect that the Vepaal know exactly when and where it is happening and that they will likely launch an attack. You must patrol the area and push back any attack until the Fleet arrives.

Tactical Briefing Text

The Imperial Fleet reinforcing us should be arriving soon.

However, we expect that the Vepaal will attack before they arrive.

You will fly Alpha One and lead a patrol.

If the Vepaal do arrive then you must delay them until our ships arrive.

Radio Messages

<Relentless> All ships, begin your patrol...the Fleet should be here soon. The Vepaal know we're here, so keep your eyes VERY open. We have ships standing by in case they appear, Alpha One

<Delta 1> Alpha, this is Delta Flight, coming out to join you

<Relentless> What's the status of the minefield?

<MAJ Tert> All complete, sir...it should slow them down a little

<MAJ Tert> SIR! I HAVE VEPAAL SHIPS ENTERING THE SYSTEM!

<Relentless> Roger that...Red Alert, Launch ALL FIGHTERS!

<MAJ Tert> They're launching fighters too sir...there are swarms of them!

<Delta 1> All three Strike Cruisers are headed for the Relentless! Some of those fighters are carrying heavy rockets, Alpha One!

<Avenger> ISD Relentless, this is the SSD Avenger...glad to see us?

<Kessler> No joking around Avenger...we just beat back a major attack

<MAJ Tert> The Relentless has been destroyed! Kessler's dead!

Victory Briefing

The massive armada of 4 Imperial Star Destroyers and the Super Star Destroyer Avenger hung menacingly in the orbit of Muabe. A short distance away the relatively small forms of the Interdictor Claw and the Victory-Star Destroyer Battleaxe could be seen. Small flashes of light glinted off the swarms of TIE Fighters flying a constant patrol around the mammoth motherships.

Kessler turned away from the viewport to look at the five admirals gazing at him. The four Commodores of the Star Destroyers and the Avenger's Admiral were all looking expectantly at him.

"We have won a great victory here," he started. "We have wiped out a large force of Vepaal cruisers and fighters, though at great cost to ourselves."

Kessler paused and looked at each admiral in turn. "However, the danger is far from over. We have no idea of the strength of the enemy. The information that we received from the Baruka has pointed us in a direction, and we must take it. From now on we will be the aggressors."

Vice Admiral Corran Force of the ISD Challenge caught Kessler's eye. Kessler nodded at him to speak. "If these...Vepaal...can read our Holocomm transmissions, won't they know where Aurora Prime and the rest of our bases are located?"

Kessler nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. For that reason, every ship in the Emperor's Hammer Fleet has been mobilized. The Sovereign, along with her protecting task force, will be on guard over Aurora Prime. They will not dare to attack her. The Aggressor Strike Force and our reserve fleet will keep watch over the rest of our territories."

"And now, it is up to us. The fate of the Emperor’s Hammer rests in our hands. Soon we will be leaping into the lion's den, but we will not be easy bait."