The Glorious Protectorate Navy

Adz-class Pursuit Destroyer (Corvette) as used by the Constitutional Protectorate of Prakith.

“All weapons, stand by. Estimated arrival in seventy-five seconds,” announced Captain Rensai Erris over the star cruiser Eradicator’s comm system. “I always hate this part,” he muttered.

“You worry too much, Captain,” Admiral Elija Rath said beside him. “The 58th Fleet is not what it was a year ago, besides which I’m not anticipating Prakith to have much apart from their Golan IIs.”

The helmsman began counting down from ten, and on zero the brilliant blue swirls of hyperspace collapsed into stars. The Consortium taskforce was small in numbers, only four ships, but each was more than capable of playing its role. The Citadel, a venator class, would serve as a picket for the cruiser Eradicator while also providing fighter cover for the entire force. The landing craft Octavian and Tertullian would hold back until it was safe to land, at which point they would supply Consortium forces on the ground with much needed reinforcements. Eradicator, flagship of the 58th Fleet, was simply to engage and destroy all hostiles, with defensive installations taking priority.

The sensor chief began listing enemy contacts but was cut short by the comms officer.

“Admiral, we’re being hailed!”

“By whom?”

“One moment. It’s the—” the comms officer suppressed a laugh, then cleared his throat. “We are being hailed by ‘The gallant and eternally vigilant patrol destroyer Tobay of the Grand Imperial Navy of the Constitutional Protectorate of Prakith, in grateful and loyal service to His Glory, the potent and courageous governor for life, Foga Brill.’”

“Are we now? Put them through, I suppose.”

“Yes, sir.”

The comms officer opened a direct channel to the Tobay, which provided nothing but soft static for a few seconds before an overly aggressive voice cut in.

“Attention forces of the Imperial Consortium, this is your first and only warning: leave or be destroyed,” the voice said.

“Captain of the destroyer Tobay, this is Admiral Rath of the cruiser Eradicator. I’d like to offer an alternative. You may choose to exit the battle immediately and avoid any unfortunate fate that may befall you. You will not be pursued and no action will be taken against you or your crew,” Rath stated.

The bridge crew waited for a response from Tobay’s captain, and within a few seconds received one in the form of a heavy torpedo launched from the bow of the diminutive warship.

“Admiral, torpedo!” the sensor chief shouted.

“I see it,” the Admiral responded right before a white flash appeared at the edge of the bow shields. “They seem to have made their choice; main battery, you may fire at your discretion,” he ordered.

Brilliant green turbolasers lanced out from Eradicator’s main batteries, vaporizing the unfortunate corvette within mere seconds. The remaining Protectorate ships began moving towards the Consortium fleet, launching fighters as they advanced.

Admiral Rath addressed the fleet, “Citadel, launch fighters to intercept, then engage enemy frigates Gorath and Ender; Octavian and Tertullian, hold position until we’ve drawn fire from their orbital defenses.”

“Should we not worry about those battlestations switching targets to our assault craft?” Captain Erris inquired.

“Intelligence indicates that they lack the manpower to pose a significant threat, besides which our explicit orders are to expedite this battle,” Rath replied.

“Understood,” Erris said. In reality he wasn’t entirely sure what to think of the situation. Admiral Rath seemed to be receiving conflicting orders as of late, and rumor had it that most Consortium forces were being ordered to the core. Why was anyone’s guess, but it did seem to indicate a shift of power.