The Grand Admiral's Birthday

Plot and fiction by BGCOM/RA Ingwe
Missions and fiction by CA:XO/AD Compton/CA-2/SSSD Sov
Help and kibitzing from COM-DEAN/VA Jerrold/PLT Haven
(Note:  The events in this mission happen prior to the release of NL 36.)

	It started out as a fluke.
	A low-level records-keeper newly transferred to the SSSD Sovereign had been assigned the lowly task of transferring some of the older files from the SSD Avenger to the Sovereign's data banks, and he had come across some distressing information.  He checked the date, double checked the info, and then looked at the date again.
	Vice Admiral Jerrold just happened to be in the records department checking up on some requisitions he had made for the PLT Haven when said officer began shrieking at the top of his lungs.  The record-keeper immediately filled in the Vice Admiral on the source of his excitement.  Reaching out with the dark side of the force, Jerrold caused the lowly officer to have an aneurysm, killing him instantly.  A smile spread onto Jerrold's face when he realized what he could do with this information...

	Relaxing in his stateroom a few days later, Grand Admiral Ronin gazed out a viewport as the SSSD Sovereign patrolled the newly-discovered Minos Cluster.  He knew that his birthday was approaching, but he did not care.  He knew that if the Fleet knew about his birthday, someone would want to throw him a party, and that was the last thing he wanted.  A few well wishes, maybe a small gift, yes.  But NOT a big party.  He hadn't had a big birthday party since...
	In the midst of this reminiscing, there was a chime at the door.  His solitude broken, Ronin crossed the room and opened the door to see his Command Attaché, VA Devin.  Devin apologized for the disturbance, and handed the Grand Admiral a small data card before making his exit.
	Ronin took the card and read it.  Apparently there was a disturbance on Aurora Prime, and the newly-appointed Planetary Governor wanted him to deal with it personally.  Strangely enough, there didn't seem to be anything else for him to do this day, so he decided that he would indeed pay a visit to Aurora.
	He was met at the ATR Hawk by VA Devin and VA Jerrold.  As the Grand Admiral climbed into his personal Assault Transport, a wide grin spread over the faces of the two Admirals.  Things were going exactly as they had foreseen...

Mission One - The Grand Admiral Departs

	Grand Admiral Ronin has been tricked into leaving the Sovereign so that his birthday party may be planned.  He is far too perceptive to allow party preparations to occur right under his nose!
	GA Ronin will leave the Sovereign in ATR Hawk.  He will be escorted to his hyperspace jump point by Omega Squadron.  Additionally, the area around the Sovereign will be patrolled by the TIE Defenders of Yod Squadron.
	(Compton's notes:  After leaving the Sovereign, ATR Hawk will be attacked by Y-Wings using ion cannons.  The Y-Wings are escorted by Z-95s.)

Mission Two - Party Supplies

	Since this will be a HUGE party (The EH consisted of about 1245 members at this time), we will need a LOT of party supplies.  It seems only natural to have some pirates "contribute" to the party.
	The mission of capturing party supplies will fall to the ISD Relentless.  They will intercept a pirate convoy with the normal freighters and modular transports.  Since this is a pirate convoy, they will be transporting some goods that we do not want.  We are mainly interested in the shipments of Norvanian Grog that is supposed to be in the convoy.  We also need to take the shipments of "salty snacks".  The other freighters will carry such foul fair as lum, elba beer, and glitterstim.  These FRTs are to be destroyed!  The convoy will be protected by normal pirate craft:  Z-95s and Y-Wings which will be launched by the convoy's real protection - a Nebulon B Frigate.  Defend the ATRs while they capture our party supplies.  ALL pirates must be destroyed!  If anyone were to survive, we'd have to invite them to the party!
	TIE Defenders from Dagger Squadron will inspect the FRTs, disabling the ones carrying the Grog and the snacks.  They must protect the ATRs Pickpocket and Charity.
	(Compton's notes:  This mission takes a while.  The ATRs do not launch until you have identified all of the ships in the proper flight groups.  I suggest NOT identifying them all until you have destroyed all of the unnecessary pirate craft, including the FRG.  Also, this mission is easiest when you first disable the FRTs, then kill them off at your leisure.  I've found that the easiest order in which to do this is as follows:  Getoutahir, Monchiiz, Gettawai, Gottagit, Boozum.)

Mission Three - Where to have the party?

	A huge party like we are planning is going to make a tremendous mess.  While we certainly have room enough for the party aboard the Sovereign, any messes we make there will have to be cleaned up.  To avoid such problems, we are going to "procure" several Rebel craft to host the party.  Who cares if we make messes there?
	Since this will be a party for the whole Emperor's Hammer (including normal Imperial personnel), we will need more than one Rebel ship.  A MC80a Mon Calamari cruiser holds 5,402 personnel.  Its normal crew compliment should be more than enough for the elite pilots of the Emperor's Hammer.  After all, we'll need a little elbow room.  We will also need two PLTs to hold the various crew members from the EH who will be attending.
	Fortunately, just outside of EH territory in the Borderlands region, there is a Rebel outpost that has two PLTs that will suit our needs.  The Intelligence Division has located these platforms, Skyhook II and Spirit of Endor, here presumably as bases for strikes into our territory.  Capturing these bases seems like a good way to kill two birds with one stone.
	As for the MC80a we need, the CRS Rieekan is reportedly in the area and using these two PLTs as bases of operations.  There is no doubt that when the Sovereign attacks the PLTs, they will signal the Rieekan to come to their aid.  For this reason, no jamming of communication signals will occur until AFTER the Rebels have sent their cry for help.
	Since the Rieekan will not arrive immediately, we should have time to secure the PLTs before it arrives.  T/Ds from Epsilon and Beta Squadrons will carry out the attack.  They will be armed with heavy rockets to knock down the PLTs' shields.  Once the PLTs are inspected, ATRs Snatch'er and Grab'er will launch.  It is imperative that the PLTs be disabled promptly so the ATRs are not destroyed.
	The PLTs will launch E/Ss once they are attacked.  I suggest that you do not identify the PLTs until after you have destroyed all of the E/Ss, as they are likely to attack the ATRs.
	Once the CRS arrives, MIS Lambda will launch to take down the shields.  Inspecting the CRS will launch ATR Hold'er.
	Both the PLTs and the CRS must be captured to complete the mission, in addition to the ATRs making it safely back to the Sovereign.

Mission Four - Kidnapped CA:FC!

	Not only is Vice Admiral Devin the Fleet Commander's Attaché, but he is also a first-rate chef.  As such, he has been put in charge of the food and drink for the upcoming surprise party.  However, Devin took the VSD Formidable to the planet Bakura in order to capture some valuable namana nectar.  Unfortunately he was discovered collecting the nectar by a Rebel patrol.  The surprise party will be a disaster if we do not rescue him!
	The duty of rescuing him will fall to Delta Squadron.  We have discovered the location of the craft which took VA Devin, the CRS Noble.  Delta will Hyper in, disable the Noble, then alert ATR Snatch'er when they inspect that ship.

Mission Five - The Grand Admiral Returns!

	GA Ronin has returned from his trip to Aurora.  The "urgent" problem that required his attention was mysteriously taken care of by the time he got there.
	As the GA returns to the Sovereign aboard ATR Hawk, he may be harassed by pirate craft.  He must reach the flagship safely!
	Omega Squadron will be responsible for Ronin's safety.

Mission Six - Surprise Party!

	As Grand Admiral Ronin sat in his ready room, he was not a happy person.  He couldn't believe that he had gone all the way to Aurora for nothing.  To top that off, today was his birthday, and none of the three officers who knew this information had even sent birthday greetings to him.  He tried to turn his bad mood into a positive though, by channeling his anger to strengthen his already formidable dark side powers.
	He sat there concentrating... anger... aggression... power...
	Then he felt the Sovereign come out of hyperspace.  "What the heck...?"
	Now he was really mad.  The Sovereign wasn't supposed to exit hyperspace for another 2 hours.  As he stomped onto the command deck, waves of dark power could be felt emanating from his body.  Pilots, officers and crewmen leapt into side corridors to avoid catching his attention.
	"What is going on?!?!?"  Ronin demanded.
	"Just take a look, sir."  said the navigator.
	There, right in front of the Sovereign sat a battle cruiser and two platforms of Rebel design!
	"BATTLE STATIONS!!!"  roared Ronin as he was jarred back to his senses.
	No one moved.  They all just stood there and looked at him.  Just then the communications officer announced that he was receiving a message from the MC80a.
	The Grand Admiral stormed to the comm station to read the message.  It said "Happy Birthday, Grand Admiral Ronin."
	"SURPRISE!!!"  Yelled the crew on the bridge.

	As a smile spread across GA Ronin's face, the SSD Avenger and the ISDs Relentless and Colossus came in from hyperspace. All battle groups were represented.  In the next few minutes, the CRS Renegade, the FRG Stormwind, the Star Galleon Ivanhoe and the ESC Iron Fist hypered in.  All the sub-groups were there.  The party could begin!
	Dagger squadron from the Relentless had drawn the unlucky duty of safeguarding the party.
	As the mission begins, the party is winding down.  The Grand Admiral has spent the whole party thus far aboard the captured CRS Rieekan, having fun with the elite pilots of the EH.  However, he must still visit the support staff aboard the PLTs.  He will once again be traveling in ATR Hawk.
	The ATR will leave the Sovereign, travel to the CRS, then travel to each of the PLTs before you must order it home.  The GA must survive!  Luckily, the only ships that the Rebels have left to fight with in this sector are previously-mothballed Z-95s, R-41s, and T-Wings, all of which had the shields removed when they were removed from service.
	It is up to you to make sure that the party goes on uninterrupted.

Aftermath

	After the party was over, the Grand Admiral was happy.  He had gotten to blast a few Rebel craft from a turret on the ATR.  The crewman hadn't liked the idea, but...
	The CRS Rieekan had been re-christened the CRS Trashcan after all the mess the EH party had left there.  The PLTs weren't too clean, either!  They were renamed Dump and Landfill.
	GA Ronin had sent techs over to strip all vital systems aboard the three captured craft so the Rebels could never use them again.  Someone in the machine shop had even made some new plaques to go on the command bridges of the newly-renamed Rebel ships.
	The last of the techs returned to the Sovereign.  Soon, a distress call would be sent out to the Rebels calling them to aid their ships.  Of course by then, the EH would be long gone and the Rebels would have noting but our mess waiting for them.