Planet Thustra
Three years ago

The tall command section of the vessel was covered in technicians and space tugs working to patch up the blaster scoring. Further back, 20, 40 meters, more technicians were patching up burnt out hull plating to restore integrity. Another 60 meters, and the efforts were more in removing the twisted tendrils of melted metal splaying away from the ship's aft sections. Finally, in the far back of the freighter, techs were preparing a full removal of the massive engines, or what remained of them, as they were simply beyond salvage. What was once a Praetorian-class Battleship had seen far more action in a single supply run than before its refit as a bulk freighter.

Within the starport proper, and within view of the repairs going on out in space, Captain Antilles and Jedi Knight Gauan gave their priority report to Republic Command via holo. The human captain looked shaken and agitated, with bandages covering half of his neck and an arm in a cast. The bothan, meanwhile, stood somber and saddened.

"Sir, I know it's beyond reckoning, but the dead and the state of my ship will tell you it's true; the Mandalorians made a full assault on the Wayland colonies, even after cutting through the defense fleet. It was no military action, but a slaughter! We tried to evacuate what colonists and natives we could, but... it was ugly, sir. We'd have lost all hands if it weren't for that pilot Master Gauan suggested." He gestured for the Jedi to take over, then took as close to an at ease stance as he could, considering his condition.

"Admiral, the pilot in question is a relatively new academy graduate, but his record has shown extraordinary talent. We've now gotten to see just what that means in person. During our retreat from Wayland, Mandalorian turbolaser fire turned on our engines to keep us from escaping. Lieutenant Hassik gunned the engines, then killed them and turned the vessel to let them broadside us. At first it seemed suicidal, but the sudden turn confused their targeting computers and they spread fire across the whole of the ship rather than purely on one system. That gave us time to make the jump to hyperspace." Captain Antilles nodded as best he could with the plasma burn on his neck.

"I'd no idea what to expect from one of the lizard folk at the helm, but this one's a miracle worker. I'm eager to see what he could pull off in a more agile vessel." The admiral gave the pair a solid nod and wrote something down on a datapad someone off-holo handed her, before passing it back.

"That's grave news, captain, but I'm glad you managed to escape with your lives. We'll have to redouble our protections of even non-military targets, it seems. As for your pilot, we'll be watching his career with great interest."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Sat 16 Oct 2021.