8 The war against The Peepians was not going
well. Before The Empire could mount its new offensive, The Peepians
launched counterstrikes....small, to say the least. Four systems were
attacked, and each attack consisted of only twelve ships. But damage
was done, and The Empire was totally bewildered as to how The Peepians
had managed it.
9 They had no way of knowing North's Rebel Group had ferried out the
attacking vessels and carried them back home. That also, Havens and
Hashons were now working in the Peepian shipyards turning out three or
four star drive vessels a day. They were crude compared to Imperial
vessels. The Peepians took many short cuts, but they carried as much
fire power as an Imperial destroyer.
10 When The Godden's assault finally came they succeeded in taking
Peepi's outermost planet, but not without tremendous losses; half of
their original attack force destroyed, ten other ships heavily damaged
but with this gain The Lord God refused to allow withdrawal.
11 He ordered additional ships taken from other systems to reinforce
the Peepian garrison. An additional fifty ships were pulled from The
Empire's already stretched resources. It was now time for Morn to make
his move.
12 At a meeting of the Regional Governors he announced his plan. "I am
ordering the building of one- hundred new warships of the destroyer
class, and one hundred new warships of the cutter class. As The Fleet
is already strapped for personnel I am ordering that The Hashons take a
more direct role in the defense of their systems.
13 These new vessels will be crewed entirely by Hashons, except for the
First, Second, and Third Officers, who will be Haven. All other
positions will be filled by Hashon personnel.
14 I have already taken the liberty of withdrawing