The Empire's finest that would be holding the two
systems that were his goal.
95 So, travelling many weeks into uncharted space, they slipped around
behind The Empire's front lines, and into some of their rear stations.
They split into four groups of fifty ships and raided four stations
North thought The Goddens would have moderately protected. He figured
to find at least ten or twelve ships in each station. To his
astonishment, he found that each system had no warships at all, only
five or six old armed freighters that wisely surrendered without a
fight. North's forces quickly loaded anything that was of value to
them, the Station Personnel, and blew up what remained.
96 Reforming again, North split his Fleet into groups of twenty ships
leaving one group to guard their captives. He made another run into
nearby systems, with the same results.
97 The captives were eager to talk, most of them were old and angry.
The Empire had taken them from their homes, separated them from their
children, and sent them out to these isolated outposts with virtually
no protection. Eight in ten of them were so angry they willingly joined
North's Forces.
98 As they regrouped the second time, North knew it was time to get out
of there. Whatever forces The Goddens still had in this sector would be
rallying into the systems surrounding them.
99 They again skirted The Empire, returning home with their prizes.
North quickly contacted Morn, who, himself, in the next weeks,
conducted similar rounds on the fringes of The Empire. He found the
same thing! Even systems that were considered of high importance were
virtually defenseless.
100 "Where are those warships?" wondered North.