Template:Battle The Ninth Battle of the Keltros Expanse was a dogfight between elements of the elite Phoenix Wing squadron and Vali Trini'qar, the Grand Marshall of the Draconian Fighter Corps. The skirmish, which ended in victory to the Draconian Union, resulted in the capture of Damar Cantii and the dissolution of the Phoenix Wing.
Overview
Background
"It is almost certainly a trap, but we must rescue Kalyna at any cost." -Damar Cantii.
Following the destruction of the Fist of Ci'hani in the Eighth Battle of the Keltros Expanse, the Draconian Union wanted revenge on the Phoenix Wing for destroying one of their precious Tractia Heavy Cruisers. Deemed fit to handle the elite fighter squadron, Grand Marshall Trini'qar was assigned to develop a plan for destroying or capturing the fighter aces.
As part of a plot to lure the elite squadron to fight on the Draconian's terms, Kalyna Amethius was captured by operatives on Charubah and taken to the Rebo system. False information was then fed known informers about when the prisoner would through the Keltros Expanse to the Alsace system on a dungeon ship.
Trini'qar estimated the most likely point of interception would be near the Rel'amma Belt close to the Eye of Rel'amma where the dungeon ship would have to come out of hyperspace due to the star's massive gravity well, and then change course towards the Rim Worlds region.
Trini'qar's Introduction
"Here comes the pain!" -Trini'qar's comm-chatter, as she vapes Phoenix Wing's escorts.
On August 3, 3994 the Draconian Dungeon Ship arrived at co-ordinates near the Eye of Rel'amma. The Phoenix Wing intercepted with a mixed squadron, consisting of six Miy'cal Interceptors and six Druui Assault Bombers. The Druuis had been fitted with EMP torpedoes that could be used to mine the area and also be fired directly at the dungeon ship to disable it.
As the Druuis moved in, an auxiliary cargo module attached to the keel of the dungeon ship detached and split in two, deploying Vali Trini'qar's Blood Raven. The Grand Marshal shot a proton torpedo from her aft launcher in to the dungeon ship, destroying it and two of the Phoenix Wing Druuis in the process. Amidst the initial confusion, the Draconian fighter ace was able to vape two additional Phoenix Druuis before the real battle began.
The Phoenix Wing, while superior in numbers, was equipped with ships far inferior to Trini'qar's modified Druui. She knew that Cantii would be a fairly close match to her in terms of skill, and did her best to engage his wingmen before the final confrontation. She used the speed and maneouverability of her fighter to easily take care of the remaining Druuis before concentrating on the Miy'cal Interceptors.
Rel'amma Belt
Knowing that the Miy'cals would likely be able to gang up on her, the Grand Marshal took her fighter in to the Rel'amma Belt, leading the remaining Phoenix Wing pilots in a dangerous chase. The asteroid field, in addition to the dangers of floating rocks and debris, was also plagued by ion storms caused by the Keltros Expanse and Eye of Rel'amma.
Ace vs Ace
"Just you and me, hotshot!" -Baroness Trini'qar engages Damar Cantii.
