Corellian Conflict Campaign Narrative: Round 1

My local Armada group has started playing through the campaign box, and so I'll be keeping a narrative of our group's play through.  We've got four players for this play through, and no extra fleets (although we had discussed it.  To set a little background, we've house ruled a few things for the campaign since the FAQ has yet to be updated for Wave 5.

• Rapid Launch Bays are #TeamOrange
• Snipe is not affected by Flight Controllers, and is limited by engagement
• We have a 500 point cap for whats on the table, but you can buy as much stuff as you want
• Squads are limited to 1/3 of your total available points, not your fleet cost
• Nebula Outskirts leaves 1 command ships with a dial

Here is an image of our Conflict Map at the start of the game

And now without further ado, the narrative of the battle

Grand Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod stood upon the command bridge of the Unforgiving, a newly commissioned Interdictor class Star Destroyer, and his flagship of the newly formed task force Zekkog of the 69th fleet. His first mission within the new group was to patrol Selonia, a small system within the Corellian sector. There had been word of a rebel incursion and command thought it appropriate to let Unforgiving run through a shake down cruise while inspecting. Such a dubious claim, he thought, rebels hiding in the sector. All this mynock chasing was putting him out from the real fight and allowing Admiral Motti a chance to seize glory. He thought to himself, At least I'm getting this ship.  A wonder of design, something I might have come up with had I not been able to secure a position higher up. Although he had been told it was yet to have its truly experimental upgrades installed, the Unforgiving had been outfitted with enhanced shielding that allowed it to extend to nearby ships. And he had been given two new wings of TIE Defenders. Perhaps the Emperor's favor was upon him already.

"Sir, our advanced probes have spotted rebel ships ahead!"  Jerjerrod woke from his musings with a start. "Where!??!"  "On the far side of this asteroid outcropping. We couldn't pick them up before because of the Solar Corona thats on going" the head of the sensor team said. "They appear to be setting up some sort of presence. Lots of construction going on. "

A whole construction operation?  This close to Corellia?  How had the ISB missed such a large presence?  We're not truly prepared for this size of an an engagement, but I can't just turn and run, the Emperor will assuredly be displeased, the Moff thought. "Prepare to engage he said. Move along near the Corona, and use it to our advantage. Launch fighter wings."

To his left, the Obedience moved into position and began launching it's fighter groups. An older Victory I design. Dependable carriers, but poor engine design made them a liability these days. Luckily, Tiaan himself had overseen some engine modifications to make sure all the ships under him were more agile to deal with smaller, faster rebel ships. He also knew that trying to get into position would be the light cruiser Khopesh, returning to a firing position from its picket duty nearest the Corona. He ordered his small flotilla of Gozanti class carers to launch their TIE fighters and move behind the fleet, out of range of the rebel guns. A small Raider class vessel, Halberd, was positioned behind Unforgiving, ready to jump upon any enemy squadrons with the flechette Torpedoes it was stocked with. 

"Enemy profiles coming in sir: One MC80 liberty class attack cruiser, and two Nebulon-B support frigates. A small handful of Gr75 transports are amongst them as well, and they have a lot of fighters with them" the tactical officer reported.

They do have quite a few fighters Tiaan thought.  And an MC80?  This is a much larger incursion than he could have imagined.  None of his ships were in true fighting shape, all having been in dry dock refitting or newly off the line, ready only for a slight engagement with a small rebel scout force.  We need to close quickly if we're to have a chance at getting out of this.  

"Order the fighters forward to counter those A-Wings, and tell Halberd to get forward to engage any survivors" the Moff called to his subordinates.  Remain calm he told himself. 

The asteroids in this system had forced him to slow Unforgiving to a crawl, and he'd have to stay there to get around them.  He could only watch as his fighters began to engage the forward elements of the Rebel forces.  It was not going well, despite the extra flight controllers he'd been able to requisition prior to leaving Corellia.  The Defenders were picking A Wings out quickly, but taking some staggering losses.  The new design just wasn't holding up to some the more veteran Rebel Pilots.  And with the Defenders getting beaten back, it had allowed a rogue group of XWings to jump into the fray as well.  The fight lasted as more TIE Fighters spilled forward from Obedience, but just as many XWings it seemed moved in to devour them.

"Is Obedience in firing range yet of that MC80?  What the hell is taking it so long" he asked the Captain of the Obedience.  Just as he finished speaking, Obedience's turbolasers opened fire.  The fire had some effect, but the Liberty class was just too far out to take the full brunt of the Victories guns, and far out of range of any of the missiles it carried.

"The MC80 has stopped to try to stay out of range of Obedience and us.  We're not going to get a firing solution it seems" the Gunnery captain reported.  Tiaan moved towards the tactical output, to watch  the battle unfolding.  His squadrons were melting under the Rebel air superiority, and all of his ships had been out of place to move and engage a rebel force that had clearly been prepared for an Imperial counterstrike.  As he watched the holographic display, the Unforgiving was given a jolt, as Halberd took a strike from the MC80 that sent the forward shields crashing down, and Unforgiving took peppering of fire from the nearest Nebulon B steaming towards it.  "Reinforce Halberd now with those Shields, and return fire on that damn ship" he ordered.  Unforgving's shield generators hummed  with life, and the advanced shield experts had stabilized the shields to both ships.  These generators are amazing, Jerjerrod thought.  He was not so impressed by his gunners though, who missed widely against the Frigate charging at them.

A moment later, Khopesh entered the battle field, and fired its dual turbolasers into the side of the MC80, bringing the shields down.  His own ion cannons were able to also hit the Friagte that had turned hard to avoid a collision.  Things are finally turning our way, Tiaan saw.  We just need to keep their fighters off of us.  But that hope vanished a moment later, as the battle indicators showed the last remnants of his fighter wings hurrying back, completely routed from the field.  A few flechette torpedoes from Halberd helped cover their retreat, but the Moff knew he needed to get back to Correlia now.  Without fighters and Halberd in range of the MC80, he'd soon lose any real fighter cover.  He ordered Khopesh to open fire hard into the rear of the MC80, to cover a retreat.  He did not want to face the Emperor back on Corellia, but he wanted even less to have to slink back after having his whole task force obliterated. 

Epilogue

Having returned to Corellia, Tiaan had taken a stern rebuke from his superiors, but was quietly told that the true blame had fallen on the ISB for missing such a large group.  His spirits were lightened a bit, but not so much, as Admiral Motti had been able to win a huge victory at Polanis against a rebel fleet, destroying several ships and squadrons.  The Empire had quickly established a base there, to guard against further incursion.  The Moff brooded for several days, before he began overseeing the work to finish installing the other retrofits to Unforgiving, and making sure that the Obedience was further outfitted with more powerful turbolasers to help it do damage at range.  His fighters were repaired, and re-staffed.  He'd be prepared for the next engagement, ready to strike back at the Rebels and win himself some accolades.