Mission Log

Episode XII: Hit & Fade

Date: 37:9:1 - 37:9:4

Not long after the Wild Fire arrived at Waypoint Station, Samic received a cryptic message from Ki-da, which indicated that he knew of a potential target in the Dava system. After agreeing a finder's fee, Ki-da provided Samic with the details of an Imperial Navy Supply vessel that would be leaving a supply base in a few days. The target vessel was a Vagabond bulk freighter called Gold Dust, which also had an escort of four Imperial Gunships. Further investigation into the Dava system by Samic revealed that the Jump Zone was located at the edge of system and that hyperspace travel within the system would not be possible. He also uncovered that the system suffered from sensor and communications interference due to it being in a nebula.

With a known window of opportunity, a relatively light escort, sensor and communications interference to mask their presence and a long transit time from the supply base to the Jump Zone the command staff agreed to seize this chance to strike at the Empire. With little time to spare the Hammer left for the Dava system immediately, making their plans on the way.

Assuming that the Gold Dust would leave on schedule, the Nova Dragons timed their arrival in system to coincide with the freighter being half way towards the Jump Zone. Once the Hammer emerged from hyperspace Kethan ordered the deployment of the Headhunters, which formed up on the Hammer in an escort formation. The three vessels then headed deeper in system, hunting for their prey.

Thanks to the Hammer's superior sensors and the difficulties of using sensors in the Dava system, Chaide spotted their target before they could be detected. With their target in sight the Hammer started to jam all communication frequencies whilst bearing down on the Gold Dust. Nearly a minute later the freighter and its escort finally seemed to detect the presence of privateers as three of the four Gunships broke off from their escorting positions to meet the oncoming threat. Meanwhile, the fourth Gunship turned around and headed back towards the supply base.

As per the plan made in hyperspace the Headhunters formed up and engaged the Gunships, whilst the Hammer simultaneously provided covering fire for the fighters and attempted to disable the Gold Dust. The fight was swift and brutal. The Imperials lost all three of the Gunships and the freighter was left disabled. The privateers only loss was Zeta 5's shielding unit.

With no immediate threats nearby, the Hammer dropped its comms jamming and docked with the drifting Gold Dust. The crew aboard the freighter immediately surrendered to the fearsome looking boarding party and were escorted to the Hammer's brig. The privateers then started transferring the freighter's cargo into the Hammer's cargo bay and hanager. Minutes later, the Hammer detected incoming Imperial vessels...

The fourth Gunship had returned with support from two RRV-1 vessels - Lightning I & II. Not wanting to risk a conflict with this incoming force, Kethan recalled the boarding teams and ordered the Headhunters to withdraw from the system. Once the boarding teams were back aboard, the Hammer disengaged its docking tube and headed back to the Jump Zone. Despite the RRV-1's superior speed the Hammer managed escape into hyperspace just as it came under fire from the nimble vessels.

Captain's Log:

<<37:8:12/NOV.DRA/CAP.LOG/>>

I've always said that one good turn deserves another, so when Ki-Da contacted us with news of an Imperial shipment that was ripe for the plucking, I had no hesitation in pursuing his information. I considered a 10% finders fee to be more than fair, luckily Ki-Da agreed.

The investment in a pair of heavy ion cannons began to pay dividends very quickly as we were soon able to disable the armed freighter. Morrez and Samic saw their first extended duty as our fighter escort, and acquitted themselves well, even if their use of concussion missiles was rather profligate. These operations are supposed to net a profit!

The boarding action was brief, resulting in no major injuries, which is always pleasing. The Imperial response was fast enough that we were unable to completely strip the target, however, there is always a point when discretion becomes the better part of valour.

Project Hammer has been in operation for around half a year, so out of interest I log here the sum of our successes to date, in gross value:

41,555,480 credits in total value extracted from the Empire, of which 20,777,740 has gone directly into the Alliance coffers, not in cold hard credits, but in the form of ships and materiel. 4 ships captured, plus the Waypoint Station we use as a staging area, 4 destroyed. Add in a droid parts factory, plus the eradication of two separate slaving groups (I gladly throw those in for free), and we, the Nova Dragons, can look back over these past months with a degree of pride in a job well done.

-Captain Kethan Falor