**Chapter 768: Ambush at Morishima**
**Scene 1: Bridge of the Resurgent-class Battlecruiser Sena – Morishima Orbit**
Dagon POV
On the bridge of the *Sena*, Fleet Admiral Etain Clairmoor's flagship, discipline reigned. It wasn't visible, but it was clearly felt. Only we — me, Ahsoka, Talon, Zule, Stella, Flare, Aubrie, and a couple of staff officers — disturbed this established order. However, for obvious reasons, Clairmoor had to tolerate us.
We were in orbit around Morishima, one of the planets controlled by the CIS. It was classified as a Type I planet — habitable, but of relatively little value, boasting only agricultural production. In fact, it had only been colonized five hundred years ago, due to its distance from major shipping routes. So, even though the Separatists controlled it, the Republic was in no hurry to take it. Why the Hutts would it surrender?
The planet's security fleet once consisted of five Almaz-class cruisers. More precisely, that's what it was an hour ago, when we arrived in the system. But now the planet has acquired a small man-made belt of debris. They didn't stand a chance against 10 Resurgent-class Battlecruisers and 30 Allegiance-class battlecruisers. Neither of us even had time to deploy our aircraft.
"It's certainly good to train the gunners on real targets, but according to intelligence, the enemy squadron should be in our sector," the commander noted irritably.
"Well, ma'am… Two thousand systems, two hundred habitable planets," Captain Pollarc responded. "We could fly here for years without running into them… Okay, we're preparing the jump to DPS-42…"
Here one of the clone operators announced: "Sir! Patrol ARC number one hundred twenty-seven has detected an enemy fleet in the DPS-4220 system. They jumped to Morishima five minutes ago."
"All ships, prepare for battle! What is the enemy fleet's arrival time?"
"One hour, approximately. We can't say for sure yet."
"We were planning to jump there! Just a little more and we would have missed each other in hyperspace!" Clairmoor clutched her head. "Squadron order: combat readiness number two! Launch the corvettes."
"Mirro! Are you jamming the communications?" I asked the commander.
"It's been an hour since we arrived: they have a primitive communications station here. What's wrong?" Kristen asked, surprised.
"Keep up the good work. The enemy mustn't suspect our presence." Finally we'll get them.
"Ahsoka, get to the hangar! Get everything ready for takeoff!"
"Yes, Master! I know what to do!" the Togruta snorted.
"Remember — your target is the flagship! We'll guide you, so don't miss the control tower's orders," I admonished the apprentice. I didn't want to send her into battle, of course, but she's our greatest asset. As are a couple of elite TIE Silencers under the Togruta's command.
Turning to the other girls, I pointed to a clear patch of floor.
"It's time for us to meditate."
"Yes, Master."
**Scene 2: Hyperspace Exit – Subjugator-class Heavy Cruiser Debt Collector**
The stars, merging into a single stream, abruptly slowed, and the frigate emerged into normal space near the planet Morishima. A backwater CIS outpost, it hadn't even deigned to contact the squadron to send the requested situation report. But someone in Nien Tell's retinue remembered that the local forces had a weak, constantly malfunctioning communications system. However, the admiral couldn't let this go unnoticed and was planning to give the local administrator a good dressing down. So, in anticipation of the conversation, the Muun dozed slightly in his chair. Before Captain Jael could announce the successful completion of the transfer, the tracking system operator screamed hysterically.
"Attention! Enemy ships on the left!"
Tell's languid slumber was instantly shaken off. Leaping from his chair, he turned to the transparisteel panels. The frigate's conning tower offered an excellent view, and the admiral easily spotted the silhouettes of Dagon's Resurgent-class battlecruisers looming in the distance.
"What?! Where from? They shouldn't be here! Stop, don't panic. That's what they taught you at the academy!"
"Prepare for battle! Turn toward the enemy! Landing ships — into the rear of the formation!" the Muun ordered authoritatively. His subordinates, also apparently stunned by the surprise, began to bustle about. Nien, meanwhile, kept a close eye on the Republican ships.
"…Fourteen ships! Distance twenty kilometers!.. We're observing ten more corvettes — thirty below! Enemy aircraft are attacking! Distance ten kilometers!"
"Launch the Vulture squadrons!" Tell commanded nervously. "The enemy has opened fire! Frigates number six and forty-four are under fire!"
"Bantha crap! This isn't a random encounter! They were expecting us, definitely were! They couldn't have reacted so quickly to a spontaneous encounter. But who could have leaked the information?!"
**Scene 3: Battle of Morishima**
It took about four minutes to turn toward the enemy and form a semblance of formation. During this time, 18 frigates were destroyed by Resurgent-class fire. Another, with its bow ripped open — the ship had lost its main guns — was slowly retreating, protected by other ships. And this despite the enemy suffering no losses! Meanwhile, the group's fighters and bombers — a mere fifteen hundred aircraft — clashed with enemy fighters. A typical melee ensued, except… the Republic aircraft were more numerous, and of superior quality. Heavy Republic interceptors operated against a motley array of Belbullabs, Mankvims, Daggers, Vultures, and Hyenas; and while some of them held down the bulk of the air force, the rest provided cover for the bombers, which attacked the ships with impunity.
As he noticed on the left from his command of his Subjugator-class, the Hapan fleet was struggling. Miy'til starfighters and Miy'til assault bombers fell against the enemy — what do they call it, 'Skelters' — and those Resurgents. His ship didn't have the ion cannon but replaced it with 2000 Muun heavy turbolasers. Still, against those Resurgents and Allegiance ships, his fleet was outgunned.
"Formation complete!" The admiral barely waited for those words — damn it, how slow — before he ordered the enemy to fire. The heavy twin forward turbolasers and ion cannons began spitting out their deadly gifts. They were echoed by numerous medium turbolasers. The distance to the enemy had closed, so the Muun could clearly see the splashes of impacts on the enemy ships' shields. However, this was even more evident in the enemy bolts hitting his ships. And this was far more painful: not only were the enemy ships' shields stronger, but their own cannons were also weaker.
"Concentrate fire on the enemy's left detachment! Distribute targeting!" Nien nodded automatically in time with his words. That's exactly how the enemy operated: two groups of seven ships each would knock out one target and then move on to the next. Otherwise, they wouldn't have managed to destroy so many of his ships in such a short time. Well, Tell had always been told he was a quick learner. Let's see what the enemy commander has to say about this. He's not the only one so smart…
"Sir, the Mon Cala ships are taking heavy damage. 8 of their light cruisers have fallen and their shields are at 10%. They advise a retreat. Same is coming from the Hapes," a Muun captain reported.
"Negative! Don't retreat! We must break through or at least avoid them. Engines forward! Get the Hapes to provide cover for the Munificent-class frigates — those have the ground units!" the admiral ordered.
"Enemy bombers are approaching the flagship! Launch torpedoes!" someone reported.
"Evasion!" Nien commanded, but the admiral knew they wouldn't make it in time.
"The shelling of the flagship was not spontaneous… Amazing coordination. The Big Brothers took down the shields, and the bombers will finish what they started. That's what General Dagon means."
The bridge shook. The protective shutters quickly lowered, cutting off the control room from outer space — but the transparent panels, shattering into a hail of fragments, maimed the crew: one of the fragments struck Nien in the head. The floor suddenly dropped out from under his feet and the admiral suddenly saw the ceiling. "Strange… it couldn't have ended like this… How unfair…"
Through the roaring in his ears, the Muun caught vague cries.
"Too… too… urgent. Evacuate… Save… the admiral!"
"Evacuation? That means the ship is doomed… Wait! Where are you dragging me? To the capsule? No. Anything but captivity! Better to die with the ship." But consciousness was treacherously leaving his body, and the Muun could do nothing. The last thing he remembered was someone laying him down on a flat surface.
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Dagon watched from the *Sena* as the enemy flagship burned. Another CIS relief fleet shattered before it could reach Mygeeto.
The noose tightened.