Attack on Goff

Seize Airam Supply Platform at Goff was the name given a battle of Imperial Task Force Vengeance during its operations in the Airam sector. The title itself was that of the Empire's mission briefing and what it was called by its Rebel and Airam participants is unknown.

Background
Following their police action near the Blair cluster the Empire had, through interrogation of prisoners, gained unequivocal evidence of Airam involvement with the Rebels. Intent on discouraging such cooperation a demonstration of Imperial might was agreed upon. The target selected by Intelligence was to be an Airam supply platform in the Goff system. The goal was to seize it intact for use as a forward staging point for further operations in the sector.

The Battle
"M/FRG Colada, your shields are down. Surrender!"

- Star Destroyer Rage

"Never! We'll never give up our ship!"

- Rebel frigate Colada

"Very well, then; prepare to die!"

- Star Destroyer Rage

The Empire's strike force, consisting of Star Destroyer Rage and Interdictor Compellor, entered the area and proceeded to execute its foreplanned pincer attack. As had been expected a Rebel ship was present, docked at the platform. This was escort transport Omicron 2 bearing Rebel officers.

Avenger Squadron was launched to draw off defending forces while Rage and Compellor then made a nano-jump to the other side. Once there, Rage launched Beta and Gamma squadrons in their TIE Bombers and TIE Fighters. Beta was to knock out Goff platform's shields with torpedoes so as to enable Stormtrooper Transport Squadron Sigma to disable it for capture. Gamma was tasked with protecting Beta. All craft were also required to protect Sigma as the loss of even one of the craft would constitute a mission failure.

Goff platform's defense force consisted of Bat Squadron in R-41 Starchasers, patrol crafts Sele and Iphige, Lambda-class shuttle Flan, and escort shuttle Cateb. Bat Squadron and the others engaged Avenger Squadron but were soon destroyed by their speedier, shielded adversaries. Omicron 2, in defiance of an Imperial arrest order, opted for loosing a torpedo salvo at Compellor. Despite taking damage the Rebel ship fought hard and surrendered only when faced with imminent destruction.

Meanwhile, Beta Squadron's own torpedoes slammed home against Goff. However, no sooner had the platform's shields fallen to quarter strength then the Rebel Nebulon-B2 frigate Colada arrived to aid its potential allies and rescue Omicron 2. Goff then proved its informal alliance with the Rebels by launching shuttle Rateb with an Airam leader aboard to dock with Colada. In defense of it, and with intent to drive off Compellor whose interdiction fields trapped them all, the commander of the Rebel frigate launched Azul Squadron in its Z-95s and Grez Squadron in its Y-wings.

Faced with this new threat the Imperials turned their starfighters against them. Beta Squadron now loosed its remaining torpedoes against Colada, leaving Goff to be handled by Sigma. Avenger and Gamma squadrons engaged Azul and Grez, both of which had Compellor as their target. Shuttle Rateb also was fired upon as the Empire had no wish to allow a Rebel/Airam alliance of any kind to strengthen.

In a sharp fight Avenger and Gamma disposed of their Rebel starfighter foes while Beta and Rage pounded Colada. Goff, by now heavily damaged, broadcast its surrender, pleading that fire on it end as it was losing air pressure rapidly. Sigma promptly boarded the Airam station and within minutes had taken control. As for Colada, it fought back with zeal. When the frigate's shields hit null, Rage demanded its surrender. However, Colada responded with a defiant no. The Imperials gave it a cold farewell and then resumed fire, destroying it completely.

Aftermath
With this, the second win of the campaign, Task Force Vengeance was well pleased. By capturing the Airam platform, Admiral Senn was convinced that he had properly demonstrated the might of the Emipre. Knowing the price they would pay for assisting the Rebels, the Airam, he believed, would be dissuaded from such activity in the future. Furthermore, a permanent Imperial presence had been established within Airam space.

There were, however, some causes for concern. The arrival of the Rebel frigate, the Empire theorized, was a calculated attempt to recruit the Airam over to the Rebellion. By showing the Airam their willingness to sacrifice their own troops to save a neutral, it was feared that the Rebels might well succeed. Also, it was proven to the Empire that the Rebellion was indeed working towards setting up a new base of operations in the sector. The prisoners taken would be interrogated to learn just how and where.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: X-wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of Power