NOVEL WEB Contingence Interlude I
Fondor Shipyards Lost!
Navy Insists Situation is Stable - Senate Floats Inquest
Corellian Governor-General in Row with Sal-Solo
ORIDIN CITY, FONDOR, TAPANI SECTOR - Sirens continue to wail, hours after a Yuuzhan Vong carrier-analogue fell in the Carwik-Malfan Manufactory District west of the capital sprawl. Groundquakes caused by the meteoric impact have been unceasing, but according to local geological reports, their severity is diminishing. Blackouts and grid failures are a constant problem, tackled by droid repair teams struggling to keep ahead of demand.
As of this article's publication, it has been twenty-four hours since the battle in space paused. Damage and casualty numbers are still being tallied and it is suspected that official counts may not be available for months.
"Fifth Fleet remains capable of maneuvers and combat," Admiral Turk Brand clarified, speaking late last night for the first time publicly since the invader's arrival. "Losses were heavy, but thanks to the timely intervention of our allies, I am confident we can continue to contest orbital superiority over Fondor."
Notable is Admiral Brand's inability to declare intention to drive the invading Yuuzhan Vong from Fondor's solar sphere. As of publication, the hostile fleet remains counter-orbiting the world, opposite Fifth Fleet's survivors. Concerns have been raised by Guildmasters about if Fifth Fleet can contest Yuuzhan Vong attempts at initiating orbital bombardments, but the office of the Admiral has been silent on that subject. Fondor's own planetary shields remain active, providing some peace of mind, but the death of Ithor remains fresh on the minds of the locals.
The invader's ground forces, landed before the shield could be reactivated following the carrier's impact, have arrayed themselves some eight hundred kilometers from Oridin City. The Guilds have mustered conscript levies to counter the invaders, but what this reporter has been able to glean of the ongoing combat, the Yuuzhan Vong have not been measurably impeded.
Rumors circulate about non-Republic consultants taking command of the defense, linking these contractors to the mysterious squadron that turned the tide of the battle in orbit. [Brand's New Allies]
Brand's New Allies
In an Advisory Council resolution that passed by a slim majority, the Navy's Second Fleet was redeployed to Bothawui (Bothan Sector) following recently revealed, exclusive intelligence that New Republic Intelligence fingered either the Bothan homeworld or Corellia for imminent attack.
A contested decision and one that has sparked demonstrations and outcry from Corellians both at home and abroad, Chief Feyl'ya was on record as stating that "Corellia's Strident Star Defenders provide a valuable native bulwark against invasion." At this time, three of the CEC warships are on station in the valuable Core system, along with CorSec assets. Notably, Fondor is rumored to have never been discussed as an expected target for the Yuuzhan Vong, appearing absent in documents obtained by Information Transparency Act request.
Asked about this apparent oversight, Senator Viqi Shesh (Kuat) had this to say:
"Every world is, as far as our understanding of the motives of the Yuuzhan Vong, a potential target. Corellia and Bothawui were most likely given the best intelligence that our brave operatives could obtain, but in war, I daresay nothing is certain."
A frequent rival to Senator Shesh, Senator Kvarm Jia (Tapani), spoke out in contrast to Shesh's statement. "Shesh is talking from behind the privilege of Kuat. Everyone knows the Navy will fight to the last to protect KDY. I can't believe she would be so flippant about how 'nothing is certain' if her family's holdings were burning instead."
Questions continue to circulate over the unexpected arrival of three battlecruisers and a star dreadnaught of unknown make and model. First-hand accounts report nearly unbelievable losses inflicted on the Yuuzhan Vong armada by these warships, including holos this reporter has received demonstrating the star dreadnought exchanging fire with two Yuuzhan Vong 'grand cruisers'. Classified by the Anaxes War College System as star dreadnaughts themselves, sources familiar with the subject indicate that these Yuuzhan Vong warships are primarily command vessels, likely bearing the flag officer of the invading force.
Civil starflight crews witness to the battle had much to say about the four unknown vessels, such as Captain Barkee of the Yag'Dhul registered freighter Yagadn: "[They] vaped one of the bricks - I watched it myself, right there on the scopes. Pulled up next to it and boom, melted it to sludge. Like chucking it in a dispersal canister!" Other interviews report unexpected range on the newcomer ships that allowed them to engage the Yuuzhan Vong at their discretion. Unverified eyewitness accounts claim that one of the battlecruisers engaged in ramming actions. Theories circulate from the possible: the warships being experimental testbed designs by the Navy or a Chiss Ascendancy squadron; to the outlandish: that they are sworn enemies of the Yuuzhan Vong who tracked them to our Galaxy, or that they are representatives of a previously unknown star empire in the Unknown Regions.
The opinion of many relates Brand's new allies to the closed Senate session reported on by this outlet last month, which is known to have been regarding diplomatic overtures to a new polity, referred to only in public statements as 'The Imperium Exsilius'. Little else is known, marking this battle as likely the first public involvement of this 'Imperium Exsilius' with the New Republic, should these assumptions prove correct.
Praise from the Guild of Shipwrights lauds Admiral Brand in securing this aid, tempering potentially sour opinions on the New Republic's own defense. [Official Statement by Guildmistriss Eeshu Naa]
Battlegroups Interdicted Along Rimma Trade Route
Departures at Bothawui coinciding with the attack on the shipyards proves the Navy endeavored to reinforce Fifth Fleet. Third and First Battle Groups suffered losses from dovin basal [See: Yuuzhan Vong and You, Public Release 1.19] mines scattered along most major hyperspace routes, forcing reversions and attempts to circumnavigate the hazards. At least two Star Destroyers were lost to collision, according to sources.
Retired Admiral Yarin had this to say on the subject of interdiction mines, when called on at her retirement home on Chandrila.
"It's something that should have been expected. Vong biotechnology allows for miniaturization of devices that conventional thinking would consider too expensive or too large. They already use black holes for things as simple as shields. Why not as interdictor mines?"
When asked if she viewed this as negligence on the part of the Navy, Yarin declined to comment.
According to astronagivation consultants, the reformed Battle Groups will need to travel via Eriadu or Sullust, after shooting the Outer Rim. The delay is expected to be at minimum a week, assuming no further Yuuzhan Vong interference. [Interactive Holomap of the Rimma Trade Route]
Invaders Push For Oridin City
The stalemate in orbit has resolved into a protracted engagement on the ground. Before Fondor's planetary shields were restored, military intelligence indicates the Yuuzhan Vong were able to land in force, using the destruction in Carwik-Malfan to establish a beachhead unopposed. Mustered riot-control forces and police by the Guilds have taken severe losses against the invaders in attempts to slow their advance, bolstered by mothballed stockpiles of munitions dating back to the Galactic Civil War or to the Clone Wars. HAVw A6 Juggernaut tanks have been sighted assembling at motorpools along with several aging All Terrain Armored Transport walkers, indicating the Guilds are taking seriously the threat posed to Oridin City.
Said Security Chief Semblum: "Fondor is our home and it's the civic duty of every Fondorian to do everything they can to resist the invaders. The alternative is unthinkable."
Conscriptions have swept Oridin City and surrounding suburbs as large portions of outlying factories and habitation complexes are even now being pulled down and reworked into berms and trenchworks by construction droids. [Visitor's Guide to Oridin City]
Command Shake-ups in Fondor's Ground Defense
Conscript defense forces are being funneled toward the embattled region between the Carwik-Malfan and Oridin City, joined by, it appears, reinforcements from the newly arrived 'Exsilius' warships. Large gunships have been reported moving on fire missions over Yuuzhan Vong-held territory as well as delivering armored vehicles and static emplacement artillery.
Security Chief Semblem's office has not commented yet on where these 'Exsilius' units fall under New Republic or Fondorian command, but they have clearly been given full access to Fondor's surface and the defense operation itself. Several elite units, likely some pattern of war droid, have been seen acting as rapid reaction forces to stymie attempts by the invaders to cause breakthroughs. [Embedded holovid]
Reporters are working to embed themselves with these units to provide to our readers the fastest and most accurate on-the-ground reporting as the situation develops. [Related: Tapani's Martial Legacy, from the Twelve Kingdoms to the New Republic]
Senate Inquest Begun; Advisory Council Split
SENATE ROTUNDA, CORUSCANT - Furor erupted among with outcries of condemnation, protest and support as Senator Ta'laam Ranth (Antar 4), head of the Senate Justice Council, announced the Council's investigation into the actions of Admiral Brand and Admiral Sovv in the leadup to the assault on Fondor. Named in Ranth's announcement was the role of the Advisory Council in determination of naval deployments and potential manipulation on the part of the Navy to achieve goals withheld from the Senate.
"This is not a failure of military intelligence," Ranth stressed as his bodyguards kept reporters and journalists at arm's length. "This has the hallmarks of purposeful misdirection by the Navy. The Justice Council has already received whistleblower reports and confidential communiques pointing to a concerted effort by Admiral Brand and Admiral Sovv to withhold vital tactical information from the Advisory Council during their latest briefing."
The Office of the Chief of State declined to comment officially thus far, while the office of Senator Viqi Shesh (Kuat) released a short statement of support to Brand, Sovv, and the Navy.
Fyor Rodan (Commenor) spoke on his perception of the briefing in question, from his office on Commenor. "There was an unwillingness to discuss any system besides Corellia and Bothawui. Fondor was never floated as a consideration the Navy held and their fixation on those two systems concerns me."
Cal Omas (Alderaan) took a more mediated approach, placing his support behind Ranth and the Justice Council, saying: "This is the point of the SJC. I've known Admiral Brand since his bold actions during the Black Fleet Crisis and I have full confidence that what was shared to the Advisory Council was the best estimates the Navy could present. I have faith Senator Ranth's lawful inquest will clear both Admirals of any wrongdoing and, indeed, bolster faith in the transparency of our institutions.
As of publication, Senators Chelch Dravvad (Corellia), Niuk Niuv (Sullust), Navik (Rodia), Pwoe (Mon Calamari) and Triebakk (Kashyyk) have not made a statement. [Watch: Senator Ranth's Speech]
Thrackan Sal-Solo, Former Human League Firebrand, Blames Jedi
CORONET CITY, CORELLIA - Protestors who had previously enjoyed monopoly outside the Governor-General's Palace have clashed recently with new and opposing groups. Signs can still be seen condemning the New Republic, the Chief of State and the Jedi specifically, but new counter-demonstrators have brought holobillboards and flags declaring support for the New Republic Navy and the Jedi, the famous Solo clan in particular. When asked why they bore a placard that read "Jedi sent them scared!", a dockworker named Datmus credited the very visible and controversial claiming of Centerpoint station by the New Republic as why the Yuuzhan Vong moved against Fondor, on the opposite side of the Core.
"Everyone remembers what Centerpoint was capable of, so if the New Republic is so eager to garrison it and fly out the Jedi responsible for ending the crisis - seriously, am I the only one who remembers that? - to help, they must have it running again."
This perception that Centerpoint proved a bluff against the Yuuzhan Vong has appeared to have caught on strongly, giving pushback to those Corellian nationalists who view the wresting of the artifact away from local control to be a bridge too far.
"Centerpoint is as Corellian as the Rebellion was! Coruscant doesn't need a new toy, we deserve to have control over our ancestral history." Easily summing up the views of many, former data statistician Ana Antilles held up her own pasteboard sign, demanding 'Feyl'ya, Eat [Expletive Removed]!'
In a microcosm, the demonstrations and counterprotests mirror the latest turmoil in Corellia, as Governor-General Marcha, Duchess of Mastigophorous, returned to Coronet late yesterday. As footage circulated of Centerpoint station relocating itself in the skies above Talus and Tralus, Thrackan Sal-Solo, remembered as an untrustworthy firebrand at the same time as a true-blooded Corellian revolutionary, spoke on behalf of the Centerpoint Party within hours of the Yuuzhan Vong assault on Fondor.
Sal-Solo claims that the Jedi Knight Anakin Solo had the opportunity to utilize Centerpoint's starbuster weapon to destroy the Yuuzhan Vong fleet preemptively, but chose not to act. Sal-Solo and the Centerpoint Party have made official demands to the Governor-General to petition Chelch Dravvad to call on the Contemplanys Hermi, a concept done away with under Emperor Palpatine's control of the Imperial Senate.
The Jedi Praxeum proved unreachable, as did the Jedi Headquarters on Coruscant, our reporters unable to reach a representative for their response.
Governor-General Marcha decried Sal-Solo's demands as well as his recollection of the events, backed by her chief aide Ebirihim, who had also been present on Centerpoint at the time in question. According to Ebrihim and supported by Jenica Sonsen, former administrator of Hollowtown and current Chief of Centerpoint Research for the New Republic, the exact order of events places blame squarely on the shoulders of Sal-Solo. Knight Solo is confirmed to have activated the station, until Sal-Solo had attempted to wrest control away, directly.
Analysis of publications about the nature of Centerpoint station and the Planetary Repulsor Network of the Corell system reveals likely reasons behind the choice of inviting Knight Solo on the part of the research teams. Antone Baris, PhD Theoretical Engineering, proposed in his doctoral thesis in 23 ABY that the entire system had imprinted on then Trainee Solo, explaining failures in interfacing that have plagued efforts to understand the machines since their activations by the Triad in 18 ABY.
Sal-Solo's influence has taken a significant hit following the statements from the Governor-General's office, with opinions now mixed on the Centerpoint Party but trending negative toward Sal-Solo as many blame his apparent rash actions in causing the station to shut down in self-defense.
In related news, due to Sal-Solo's public release of protected information, New Republic Intelligence has censured the former Dorthus Tal inmate for breach of Non-Disclosure and requested CorSec detain him for questioning. As of publication, no arrest warrants or detainment orders have been issued. [A Retrospective: The Triad on Trial]