Rapora War (Introductory RPG)

[Trejiuvanat]

Admiral Oreton felt uneasy at the site of the monstrous shipyards of Bilbringi. Ever since Thrawn' death so many decades ago they had fallen into the jurisdiction of the New Republic and then the Galactic Alliance. After the war was over the Empire had asked for jurisdiction over them arguing that historically Bilbringi was an Imperial colony, built around an Imperial Shipyards complex.

 

Some people found disturbing that there were not planets in the system, instead the largest planetoid was been selected to harbor the colony and around it the shipyards had been built.

 

Those shipyards had seen decades of constructing the latest Star Destroyers and now four Impstar Deuces neared completion. Their completion would of course be slowed down, because of Oreton's necessity for repairs.

 

Most of his fleet was in severe need of replacing defective machinery or of complete system recontructions. The battle for Csilla had taxed their strength. Both physically and psychologically. While Oreton had given his crew a few hours of rest he had insisted in getting out of Bilbringi as quickly as possible and returning to Bastion and to the Imperial Capital. Alliance vessels had come and continued their journey to other systems.

 

"Captain?" Oreton asked as Onolovav came closer and handed him a datapad.

 

Oreton took it with his left hand, as his right hand was trapped within a bacta-bandage. So many things to repair. Oreton sighed. The datapad detailed the estimate time for completion of repairs about seven hours.

 

Too much. Oreton decided.

 

"ADMIRAL!" a young officer screamed.

 

Oreton closed his eyes.

 

"Raporan vessels, coming in from hyperspace." The officer continued. "Confirmed at least twenty vessels mutliple classes."

 

"Signal the shipyards to prepare their evacuation, design teams and research specialists have a priority, from there down the hierarchy. Tell the base on Bilbringi VII to prepare an evacuation. "

 

"The Rapora have launched starfighter," Onolovav reported. "Their are headed for the shipyards."

 

"Onolovav, signal the fleet to start moving towards space, and have some heavy lifters take the Golans and the incomplete Destroyers into hyperspace."

 

"We are leaving?" Jagged Fel asked from behind Oreton's chair.

 

"There is no point in staying here, Colonel, the sheer might of number has inclined the battle in their favor and I do not have reinforcements."

 

"The Galactic Alliance could respond." A shy suggestion came from behind Oreton.

 

"To what point and purpose, Miss Solo?" Oreton shook his head. "Bilbringi is lost, there is nothing we can do."

 

"Plus Bilbringi is not as important to the Empire as it seems," the older Fel suggested. "It has little strategic value, it's five days to Coruscant, it lacks clear access to a major trade route and other than the shipyards there is nothing here."

 

"General I must ask you not to give away most of my secrets." Oreton said lightly. Fel was an intelligent man, he had already figured out that Bilbringi had been almost totally evacuated even before Oreton left for Csilla, Pellaeon had taken precautions.

 

Ulan Shai had said nothing, though he paid attention to the exchange. Instead from the viewport in the bridge he saw the distant shapes of the Raporan Warfleet that advanced towards the shipyards that the Empire was leaving behind.

 

Another world had fallen, this one without a fight.

 

OOC: I'm not foolish enough to put up a fight I know I will lose. The Rapora can have Bilbringi.

[Mad78]

Garik swallowed the glass of ale in his hand as the few ships that his fleet still possesed sped towards Mon Calamari.

His fleet had been very heavily damaged by the blast from the raporan superweapon. All of the light ships such as corvettes had been destroyed or very heavily damaged. He had even had to order certain fregates to stop fighting to assist the evacuation of the damaged ships.

Garik hadn'r even dared look at the report of the fighter losses. All these lives for a battle which had been lost.

His own ship the Mon Mothma had been very heavily damaged. Half of the bridge crew had been killed when an Ion bomb had caused certain screens to explose in the faces of the crewmen.

His comlink beeped.

"Sir. He have arrived at mon Calamari. An someone wishes to speak to you."

The picture of Evahe Litok appeared on the holo projector.

 

***

 

Tuvax moved down the corridors of the Kar Lur. His Master had demanded to see him. Tuvax entered the dim lighted room.

Fury was there gazing at the place that used to be Csilla and who had become the new rapora shipyards.

Tuvax bowed in front of his master.

"You have come Tuvax. Good. I have a mission for you."

Tuvax lifted his head to look at his master very interessted in what he was about to hear.

"It would appear Shren and Darth Malice are incapable of accomplish their mission." On hearing these names Tuvax's artificial claw dug into the Metal floor. He despised those to people.

"Yu are to go to Tatoine and assist them. I espect you to succed Tuvax."

"I shall not fail you my Master."

One these words Tuvax left the chamber to gain his personnal transport.

A sith infiltrator. And ancien sith ship. Tuvax had found the plans while searching some ancien sith archives and personnaly modified them. Where the Infiltrator used to be a shuttle it was now a perfect fighting craft.

A few minutes later he took and entered Hyperspace. Next stop Tatoine.

[ADarkJedi44]

Darth Fury felt the dissent in the air after he had mentioned Shren and Darth Malice. He had never been too fond of them either. Watching his apprentince go, he knew he would not fail.

His thoughs turned back to Bilbringi. Obviously the Imperials had stood no chance, but they had simply left without a fight. It was an intresting strategy. It both hurt and help him. True, the Rapora had taken no casulties, but neither had the Imperials.

Without their shipyards, the Imperials would eventually be incapable of continuing the war. Therefore, Darth Fury suspected Yaga Minor as the next target for the Rapora. That, followed with an attack against Bastion, would undoubtebly force the Imperials on the defensive...hopefully permenatly.

With the Chiss already in bad shape, and the Imperials on the verge of being disabled, the GFFA would stand alone.

***

Evahe paced nervously. The fall of Bilbringi was disturbing. Another attack or two might prevent the Imperials from going on the offensive for a long while. If the Imperials were knocked out of the war, the GFFA would stand alone.

As of the moment, he had dived the remnants of the Third Fleet and placed them to help defend major GFFA shipyards. They would stay there until the Third Fleet was completly rebuilt, unless some sort of catastrophe occured requiring imediate help.

The image of General Ioor appeared before him.

"'Garik, I have a job for you. The Rapora are likely going to continue to attack the Imperials. Organize the Fourth Fleet. Leave the Mon Mothma to be repaired and take the Star Defender Viscount as your flagship. I will be there with the Guardian ASAP. Is that clear?"

[Stellar_Magic]

Cal Omas watched the briefing from Admiral Kre'fey with his head in his hands. At the center of the advisory council chamber a giant holographic image of Csilla rotated over them. The image showed the battle which had happened scarely two days earlier, and had only now been made available to the council. Cal knew the military was in utter shock, with the loss of so many personnel it would be immpossible for him to conceal the battle, let alone put a positive spin on it, and Cal knew that in truth to even think such things was a stain on the people of the GFFA. Slowly he lowered his hands and continued to listen to the Admiral.

 

"As you can see the Rapora have fielded an enormous battle station, capable of the destroying large portions of our fleet within seconds, its weaponary according to our analysists is remarkably similiar to the repulsor beam used on Centerpoint Station."

 

Senator Triebakk rumbled from his seat and a protocol droid spoke for him, "Could the weapon destroy a planet outright?"

 

The bothan admiral shrugged, "We do not know, if it could why didn't the Rapora make use of it at the start of the engagement, not using a weapon of such destructive power at the start goes against all military logic."

 

Niuk Niuv, "Thats assuming these creatures are logical behind their attacks. The force tends to bend logic out of those that use it."

 

Cal Omas smiled as Kenth Hamner bristled in outrage then he got control back and looked to Kre'Fey, "What if they didn't destroy the planet but let the inhabitants flee to cause panic throughout the Chiss Ascendancy? They may be operating under a psycological imperative, and all of us knows that the dark side is strengthend by hatred and fear."

 

Niuk glanced at the jedi, "Indeed? Perhaps that explains the effectiveness of your mind meld in battle."

 

"Enough!" Cal's furious shout echoed in the small chamber, "This is enough of a crisis without your petty political manuevering Councilor." Suddenly as he spoke an aid burst into the room carrying a datapad and rushed to Admiral Kre'Fey's side.

 

Kre'Fey's whisper echoed through the room, "Has this been confirmed?" The aids nervous nodded hardened the Admiral, "Thank you."

 

Senator Triebakk barked a question, "What is going on?"

 

The Admiral looked somber, "The crisis has deepened, a Rapora fleet struck at and destroyed the Bilbringi shipyards. Admiral Evahe has already begun moving fleet elements to shore up our defenses of the shipyards, we cannot allow the Rapora to launch another assault on a major shipyard."

 

Cal felt himself shake slightly, the Rapora had already chosen to retaliate against the Empire, soon it would be their turn, "Is there anything more which can be done?" Only silence greeted his words.

 

* * *

 

Major Solo paced in the command room of the Soveriegn class Star Destroyer, "Sithspawn!"

 

Jagged shook his head, "It would have been worse if we stayed."

 

Jaina dropped down into a chair, "That doesn't mean I have to like running away."

 

The door to the room slid opena nd General Fel slipped in, he looked tired, "Whats this?"

 

"I'm sick of running away," Jaina answered. She sighed, "Of course what choice do we have."

 

General Fel nodded, "Well, I'm going to need your help, I've got to convince Oreton to take this ship out into deep space for a meeting."

 

Jagged turned back to his father, "Why exactly?"

 

"Lets just say there is someone that will be our only hope in the future for both our people," General Fel answered solemnly

[Trejiuvanat]

Oreton sat with half-closed eyes on his chair in the bridge of the Imperious. Though he was used to lead battle from the command room on his Right to Rule, the command room of the Imperious overwhelmed and distracted him.

 

A small beep announced him that it was time for their session. After the debacle at Csilla and the considerable loss of Bilbringi, Fel had insisted in holding a small War Council session on the Imperious, in order to brain-storm some ideas or interpretations from the five different points of view.

 

Thus, Oreton had allowed the Jedi and Fel to use the command room as a conference room. The throne in the back of the room, was nothing more but an annoying distraction. In it center a huge holograph of the galaxy gave the room a blueish glow, that had an amusing effect on the people gathered there.

 

The blueish hue had given the Jeedai Vong, as he had called himself, a more bizarre appearance, but still his demeanor revealed a calm nature, thoughtful and calculating. Attributes he would have considered improbable in a Yuuzhan Vong warrior almost a decade ago.

 

The older Fel benefitted from the light as it hid some of his scars and wrinkles. His muscular and arrogant build made him seem to be carved out of a recruiting poster in the older days of the Empire. His son, much like his father also wore the elegant and arrogant posture that fitted ace pilots so well.

 

The daughter of the legendary Han Solo looked more beuatiful in the blue hue, her youthful and athletic figure a happy distraction in today's session. Oreton thought he detected a hint of envy in the older Fel at his son for the beauty that Jaina Solo was. Oreton made a point to himself to keep his head clear and focus on a discussion that would reveal many things.

 

Oreton nodded to the people in the room and sat on his chair, his companion did so as well. Alone the Yuuzhan Vong seemed uncomfortable with the metallic furniture that characterized the Empire so strongly.

 

"The loss of Bilbringi has put the Empire in a complicated position," Oreton stated. "Of the members of the Galactic Alliance, the Empire is in the most vulnerable position to the Raporan advance. From Bilbringi the Rapora have access to the Imperial worlds closer to the Core, and we know of the routes leading from Csilla back to Bastion or Yaga Minor. I have received a short message from Bastion, indicating that the Chiss Ascendancy is chaos. A few scouts have confirmed the destruction of the planet Csilla." Oreton paused to analyze the faces of the people around him. "There is a massive move of evacuees in the worlds of the Ascendancy. With the Families in disarray and the leadership of the Nuruodo Family killed on Csilla(Fel motioned at the mention of this name), the defense of the Chiss worlds is somewhat chaotic. There have been contradictory reports on Rapora assaults on two more worlds, some sources state that they have been destroyed, other sources suggest that no other world save Csilla has been attacked. Pellaeon has offered a save haven in some world of the Empire, but there is reluctance and mistrust from the remaining upper ecchelons of the Families."

 

"This is not unexpected," Fel said. "The ascendancy has always depended on the leadership from Csilla, that was why Thrawn had intended the Empire of the Hand to be the first line of defense."

 

"Thrawn must have miscalculated the strength of the Rapora," Jaina said at no one in particular.

 

"Or perhaps he decided not to show his strength fully." Ulan said thoughtfully and an enigmatic smile appeared momentarily on Baron Fel's face.

 

"At the cost of an entire world?" Jagged asked in disbelief.

 

"A warrior is always forced to take choices in favor of the greater good." Ulan finished, "a battle against the Resurrector must have ended in a complete massacre. It did not because the Rapora knew not of Imperial or Alliance reinforcements."

 

"Perhaps, perhaps not." Oreton whispered. "If we take a look at our current status, the Rapora have the upper hand in the Unknown Regions. He can expect BIlbringi to be fortified and become a safe advance post for the Rapora. It's four days to Coruscant, and five or six to other major worlds. Corellia is a week away. Unlike the war against the Yuuzhan Vong, the Rapora could displace the Alliance out of the Core within the first year of a war." From his screen he manipulated the galactic holo to show a Raporan advance.

 

"The Empire would fall in matter of months, and the Alliance would be left with its strongest ally." Jagged Fel said as he too drew some more advances into Yaga Minor and Bastion. Adumar, Iridonia and a handful of other worlds would be in their wake.

 

"The Empire has begun a stage of dispersement. We learnt much from the past war and from Thrawn's tactics." Oreton said. "My fear is that our first loss was our gravest loss."

 

"Denbu?" Jaina asked, adding a touch of irony characteristic to her Solo nature.

 

Oreton smiled faintly. "The loss of the Nirauan complex was a severe hit, as was the death of Admiral Parck. Thrawn's collection of information would have greatly aided our efforts to understand the Rapora."

 

"What of what was evacueated out of there?" Jagged asked.

 

"Pellaeon told me that most was incomplete, the heavily encrypted files would take years to crack even with the assistance of Crypt Chief Zakaris Ghent."

 

"That knowledge has not been lost. I can take you to the ultimate source of information on the Rapora and reveal what was meant to be the first line of defense against the Rapora." Baron Fel said speaking to the galaxy stained in the red-brown color of the Rapora.

 

"Baron?"

 

"You must trust me, Admiral." Fel insisted.

 

Oreton looked questioningly at Fel, who replied with a hyperspace coordinate.

 

"What will we find there?" Ulan Shai asked.

 

"Our only hope." Baron Fel answered.

[Stellar_Magic]

Jaina felt herself wring her hands as she stood silently in the bridge off the Sovereign class ship. Admiral Oreton stood at next to the viewport his gaze out at the whirling mass of energy which was hyperspace.

 

Beside her Jag fold his hands and starred intently at his father, seated in a command chair next to the admiral's. He was completely strapped in which seemed odd considering the current situation.

 

With a termendous thud the Sovereign was ripped out of hyperspace. Admiral Oreton was nearly throne against he viewport from the jolt. He recovered almost instantly, "Sensors scan the area, navigation, what just happened?"

 

"Gravity well sir," The navigator answered worriedly.

 

The sensor operator frowned at his displays, "I don't have any contacts, even on gravitic sensors."

 

Admiral Oreton glanced back at Fel, "Thats some cloak."

 

"I've got a transmission, its being bounced through that asteroid belt so I can't get a direct lock on its location," The communications officer reported.

 

Jaina felt herself smile as she looked out at space, "Nice trick."

 

"I've never seen anyone use it before," Jag answered slowly.

 

Admiral Oreton walked back along the catwalk, "Put it through, General Fel, come with me."

 

As they reached the rear aclove of the ship a projection shimmered to life. A female chiss figure in an unknown uniform stood before them. As Admiral Oreton opened his mouth to speak when the woman lifted her hand and cut him off, "We know who you are. We're sending hyperspace coordinates, you'll be able to take a shuttle along with the Vong, Major Solo, the Fels, and a pilot if you need one, no more."

 

With that the transmission cut off and Admiral Oreton felt himself glance turn to General Fel, "Would you explain to me what the hell is going on!"

 

* * *

 

High above the world of Tatooine the Savla class cruiser which had brought Shren to the world. From its bay a dozen mines slowly dropped into orbit around the world, the first step in Shren's plan was complete.

 

On the surface of Tatooine the Sekotan fighter slowly dropped to the surface of the planet and the Skywalkers, along with Seryk climbed out of the vessel. Before they could turn back to the ship it shimmered and disappeared.

 

Ben looked around them then suddenly frowned, "Um, where is Artoo?"

 

Seryk shook his head, "He was deactivated in the house, I guess we didn't pick him up."

 

Luke bit his lip, "I'm going back..."

 

Mara grabbed him by his shoulder, "Don't even think it! Luke, we've got to get off world, if we don't..."

 

Luke felt himself nodd, "Alright, you always were the practical one."

 

Ben arched an eyebrow at his parents, "Um, speaking of which, do you know where we are?"[/i]

[Trejiuvanat]

Fel loked at him with a tight smile on his face. "Not yet, Admiral."

 

Oreton sighed and invited Fel to lead the way out of the communications alcove.

 

***

 

Within minutes the varied crew of the shuttle ventured into hyperspace following the coordinates assigned to them.

 

Oreton was sitting close to General Fel, but avoided asking any questions. The situation was as confusing as he ever thought it could be. His task force was en route to Bastion, Captain Dorja had been given a sealed package that was to be handed personally to Admiral Pellaeon. Imperious was left at the rendezvous site and now a single shuttle advanced into unknown territory.

 

In the cabin the two Jedi were meditating and tuning themselves to the Force as Jaina had explained the Admiral who knew little of Jedi techniques, though was curious about the ways of the Force.

 

And on the cockpit the son of Baron Fel checked the coordinates and their final destination. Calmly he reported through the intercomm. "We will be there within five minutes."

 

"Baron, what will we find there?" Echoing the quesiton asked by the Yuuzhan Vong a few hours ago.

 

It was the Jeedai Vong who answered instead of Fel. "Only what we take with us." The voice seemed to come from beyond his awareness.

 

"A ghost?" Jaina asked eyeing her fellow Jedi.

 

"Perhaps." Fel nodded.

[BadSamaritan]

OOC: *Declares all-out war with the flu virus, and prepares his immune system for an all out attack, designed not only to cripple the flu, but to wipe it out entirely.* I hate the flu.....

 

IC: Seryk looked around for a moment, wondering how to repsond to Bens' question. After a moment of thought, he realized he couldnt answer. He had no idea where they were. He looked over to Luke and Mara, and shrugged his shoulders.

 

"I have no idea where we are. This is your homeworld Luke, you have any idea?" he asked, and Luke simply shook his head.

 

"No, I dont. This may be my homeworld, But I have no clue as to where we are. But Before we get to that, I have something to ask you," he said, curiosity in his voice,"I think Its obvious that you found some of the answers you were looking for. But now I am curious, as to what the were." he said, and Seryk smiled underneath his helmet. Seryk reached up, and removed the helmet, and shook his head, loosening up his hair from the sweaty mat it had become.

 

"My grandfather was who I thought he was. He was my uncle. he had lied to my father to keep us safe from the family past. Im still trying to comprehend how it happened myself, but it goes like this. My true grandfather was a Mandalorian, and my grandmother was a jedi. They fell in love, and had children." Seryk paused, and reached down to his belt, and removed the lightaber that was clipped there. He ignited it, and stared at the blue blade, his eyes seemingly lost in wonder.

 

"Im guessing that my grandfather died during the clone wars, and my grandmother was killed during the great purge. My Uncle his the truth from us, to prevent the empire from having an outright reason to kill us all. " he said, de-activating the blade. He looked over to Luke, and smiled. "But now, I am forced to make a choice of sorts. Which past do I embrace, and which do I honor?"

 

Luke nodded slowly, and Mara simply smiled. "Judging by how you fought back there, I think you have already decided to try and embrace them both." she said, and Serk chuckled.

 

"Thats true, but isnt that kind of a hypocritical way of doing it? Embracing the way of a warrior, and the way of the jedi?" Seryk asked, and Luke shook his head.

 

"No, there are a few jedi that did that during the war with the Vong. One of them still does so, to this day." he said, referring to Tahiri. "But if you just found out you have potential, how could you have used the force so well in combat?" he asked, and at that, a small chuckle came from behind them. they turned around, and saw the strange man standing behind them.

 

"The answer to that is quite simple." he said, and Luke tilted his head in confusion.

 

"he was able to utalize the force nto becuase he was trained in it, but because he was doing it without realizing it. People who have force potential, but do not know it, generally use it without realizing it. it is the same with Seryk. he had been touching to force, calling upon it his whole life. he may not know how to levitate yet, but as you saw, he certainly can use it in combat. You should have seen him fight that sith. he fought well, an almost beat him. All without any force training, but with training he had recieved from other places." he said, and Luke nodded. Mara suddenly crossed her arms, and looke to the man, a stange look on her face.

 

"Ok, now Im curious. I have a feeling I have met you before, but I cant place it. You helped me fight someone who was in my head, and you helped us back there." she said, and Seryk got a look or realisation in his face.

 

"You! You were the one who told me the skywalkers were in trouble in my dream." he said, and the man nodded. Luke stared at him, and them took a step towards him.

 

"Who are you? Why are you helping us?" he asked in wonder, as if he couldnt belive that this was all happening.

[Stellar_Magic]

With a flash the starlines receeded into stars as General Fel pulled back on the hyperspace levers. Slowly Jaina bent over the scanner for the small Lambda class shuttle, "I've got clearance for ten thousand kilometers in all directions, nothings here. I'm not getting any gravitic anomolies either."

 

Admiral Oreton glanced to Jaina then Fel, "So why are we here."

 

"What in the sith..." Jagged gapped out the forward viewport as a piece of space began to shimmer slightly, a white prow slowly slid from it as if being pushed out from under a velvet curtain, The vessel's smooth lines seemed to curve upward as the triangular bow became more and more visible. Small lumps which had to be sensor domes became apparent on its surface as more of the vessel slid out of its cloak. A quartet of black torpedo tubes appeared along the vessel's flank as the ship continued to slid forward. Above the torpedo tubes a bank of turbolasers was visible along with an elegant image of a red flame painted along the ships flank. As more of the bow appeared its basic shape took form a giant triangle much like that of a Imperial Star Destroyer, but smoother, more elegant in form. Then the bow began to flare out as bulbous parts of the hull jutted upward like the platues of a star destroyer, but smoother. A pair of forward jutting emplacements reminicent of the laser towers of a lancer frigate appeared over the hull along with a pair of bulbous generators which had to be gravity well projectors.

 

The hull swooped down like the wings of a giant bird as the last of the vessel left its cloak, the curving shape of the bridge above the hull made it intantly recognizable for what it was.

 

The ship seemed to include all of the features of imperial and chiss design, from its astetically pleasing curves to dagger like silhoutte, it was a perfect portrayal of power and might.

 

Jaian felt a chill go along her spine as she reached out with the force, then stopped, there was a blankness where the vessel hung in space, an emptyness she'd learned to associate with the vong, but this ship clearly wasn't the vong. To herself she whispered, "Yslamiri, lots of them." An alarm beeped next to Jaina, "I've got multiple target warning locks, sixty-four heavy turbolasers, seventy-two turbolasers, twenty-eight chiss locks, sixteen torpedo locks, eight laser locks, and two heavy plasma cannon locks."

 

Admiral Oreton felt his face slacken, "Are you sure this is who we're suppose to meet, they've got Rapora style weaponary."

 

The General smiled, "All the better to fight them with."

 

"Shuttle, this is the Freedom of Thought of the United Defense Alliance fleet, you will dock at the following coordinates, any change in flight path will be considered hostile, and we'll be forced to destroy you, Thought out."

 

"Concerned with security are we," Jaina hissed to herself as General Fel piloted the shuttle through the course and into the hanger. Through the viewport they could see the batteries rotate to follow their course.

 

The shuttle stopped in the hanger bay and settled to the floor. In front fo the shuttle a woman stood, her cream colored uniform reflecting the dim red light from around her. Her blue skin and red eyes instantly made it apparent she was a chiss, but her pose and demeanor seemed different, more comfortable then normal, as if the chiss warrior tradition instilled in so many others had never been forced upon her.

 

Slowly Jaina and the others descended the ramp and the woman snapped to attention, her shined boots snapping together and her shoulders straightened and proud. The unit patch on her shoulder showed a brilliant gold lightsbaer blade wreathed in flames while breast pocket was lined with bits of metal and a pair of medals. Her badge of rank was just as alien, showing a sword wreathed in leaves and branches from an unknown plant against a backdrop of stars. As she saluted line of armored personnel of against a wall snapped to attention. Their armor sparkled slightly and Jaina guessed it was from some sort of mineral imbedded in the armor. Only then did she notice the intricately curved lightsabers hanging from the belt of every one of them.

 

The woman smiled, "I am Commodore Hraw'athie'nuruodo, welcome aboard."

 

Jaina glanced back tothe line of troops and for the first time noticed that they were a true mixture of species, some looked like Chiss, while others harkened from other races, she could have sworn two of them were Vagaari.

 

Admiral Oreton, "Thank you Commodore." He frowned as he suddenly realized who she was, "Wathien, are you related to Thrawn?"

 

A smile, that few could catch as such flashed across her lips but disappeared behind a mask, "I prefer Athien, there is much we need to discuss, not the least of which is the Rapora."

 

"Admiral Oreton, if you'll excuse me," General Fel said quietly as he turned toward one fo the exits of the hanger.

 

Athien watched him go, "If you'll follow me, there is a room where we can discuss these matters, we'd like to know how you intend to deal with the invaders, perhaps even coordinate our battle plans."

 

* * *

 

A slight almost invisible smile slid across the mans face, "You already know, but won't accept the truth." He sighed, and pulled back his hood and Luke took an involuntary step backwards, he'd only seen the face once before, in a vision on endor, "I am Anakin Skywalker, there is more I must tell you, but not now, Mos Eisley is ten kilometers southwest, go there. I'll speak to you soon enough." With that he vanished from their perceptions.

 

OOC: General Fel will have a debriefing before you get to speak to the head honcho, and Athien will try and suck you dry of information before hand as well.

[BadSamaritan]

OOC: Im very tired, between recovering from the flu, and work, this is the best I can do. Sorry everybody.

 

 

IC: Seryk stood there for a moment, wondering what was going on, and then saw Luke nod. He watched for a moment as Luke nodded, and then began to head towards town. Seryk Watched for a moment, an then began to follow him. Mara and Ben stood there a moment longer, and then soon followed suit.

 

"Anakin Skywalker? Isn"t he long since dead?" Seryk asked, reaching back to what he had learned from history, and from what he had heard. Just about everyone in the galaxy now knew that Anakin Skywalker was both Lukes' father, and Lukes son. Everyone knew of Lukes' son dying ont eh planet Myryk several years ago during the battle against the Vong, but not as many had know about Lukes father, Darth Vader. Seryk knew how touchy that subject had to be, but he had to ask. Things were getting just to strange for him.

 

"Yes, he died at Endor. But then, I dont know everything the force is capable of, even after all these years." Luke said, looking to Seryk coldly. Seryk shivered seeing the look on his face. Seryk regretted asing the question, but he knew that eventuallty it would have come up.

 

"But for now, there are other things to wrry about. Like the starting of your training." Luke said, and Seryk got a confused look on his face. Seryk was a pilot and a warrior, not a jedi Knight. He didnt see the reason behind any jedi training.

 

"Training? Me? You have got to be kidding" he said, and Luke simply smiled, and turned to him as they walked.

 

"The dark side is always present, waiting to take over your mind as soon as it is able. At your age, just now starting to learn, you are very suseptible to it. you must be wary of its call." Luke said, and Seryk nodded. He knew of everythng agents f the dar side had done in the past. He knew he didnt want to become one of them. He nodded, to Luke, and smiled.

 

"So where do we begin?" He asked, and Luke smiled, although he seemed to be frowning at the same time.

 

"Tell me all you know of ytour past for now, we will gop from there." he said, and Seryk nodded. s the group walked towards town, Seryk began to tewll the tale of how he had come to learn of his history, and all he had found out from the robot at his grandfathers house. Luke listened intenly, as if absorbing every bi of info as he could. Seryk knew that he was absorbing asmuch info as was needed, But Seryk contiued to give him all the info he could. He knew it was a long walk, so he had plentyt af time to fix any part of his story that he wqasnt sure of.

[Mad78]

Tuvax smilled as he saw the planete Tatoine appear in front of his ship. He had spent the long Hyperspace trip meditating and preparing himself for the battle he would have to fight. The entered the atmosphere and turned his cloaking shield on. He looked over the dune sea. This gigantic desert were only the strongest could survive.

The landed the ship in a hangar on the Outskirts of the city. As the descended the ramp he saw two cloaked figures moving in the shadows.

"Tuvax. What are you doing here. i was not alerted of your arrival." said Malice with a hiss.

"I have come to accomlplish what you have failed." answered Tuvax. Feeling his claws dig into the ground because of anger. "You were supposed to capture Skywalker."

"We tried but they were assisted..."

"Am i to understand that two fully trained warriors were incapable of capturing three people even with the help of ten Rapora?!"

"They were assisted by a Mandalorian jedi."

"Mandalorians have been extinct for hundreds of years."

"They also had a Jedi master."

Tuvax let out a hiss on hearing this. What was a Jedi master doing on Tatoine?

 

***

 

"I understand Sir." answered Garik. "I shall leave imediatly."

Garik took the lift to the command level. At last another assignement.

He rapidly had crews prepare for depature. He needed a large Task Force.

 

A few hours later the Task force of ten ISDs, 5 MC-90, one Visscount and multiple support crafts entered Hyperspace to assist the Imperials.

[Stellar_Magic]

OOC: I'll leave Trej alone for this post, he's going to post pretty soon, I think. But I just realized I've left the character we started with alone.

 

IC:His dreams were filled with visions of a desolate world, one battered and ruined from the air and ground. A tragedy that is all but unknown, or so he thought now, he'd not heard of the investigation or his sisters where about. His mind conjured up images of a burning cityscape every night now, one which ripped his heart from his chest. But tonight was different, tonight the city was another one, one which he'd only seen in images, the white city of Csilla. Above him he saw countless ships, blasting at one another, the blue, red, and orange blaze of weapons fire lighting up the night sky. He saw his sister's X-wing flash overhead as bombs fell, great mushroom clouds of damage flashing across the horizon, as a Clawcraft slid beside the x-wing.

 

With a brilliant flash the sky seemed torn and a giant beam of energy blazed across the sky. The agonizing wave of thousands of deaths burned across his sense.

 

Jacen Solo woke up, his back bolt upright, sweat streaming from his face, his skin slick from the moisture. He'd felt the wave of death two days before, now he'd felt it again, in a dream or vision, he did not know.

 

A vocie echoed in his quarters, a quiet keening of a comm alarm, "Jacen Solo, transmission from Denon, the High Council would like to see you."

 

Jacen slowly reached over to the comm and keyed it, "By the Force, its oh-four-hundred, what could this be about?"

 

A familiar voice cut into his thoughts like a vibroblade, Jaina had been under threat, could she be... He shook those thoughts away, he'd have known if she was killed, still there was something more going on.

 

Suddenly the Holocom chimed again and the insignia of the GFFA appeared in three dimensions in the air. It was soon replaced by an image of Cal Omas, "Citizens of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, I come to you under the gravest of situations. As some fo you have may have heard, the Chiss Ascendancy and the Imperial World of Bilbringi have been off the air. There is a reason for this, but first I'd like to brief you on the events of the last several weeks."

 

"Nearly two weeks ago Jedi Knight Jacen Solo came across a world in the unknown regions in search of a group of refugees. Instead he found a world ravaged from space, a city burned to the ground, and a way of life erased from the memory of history." As Cal spoke images of the burnt out shells of buildings and blasted corpses appeared. "Scenes like this played out over a world in the Imperial Remnant a day later."

 

"Gravely concerned by this course of events the High Council dispatched several Jedi Knights to obtain information on the attackers. They managed to put together a basic analysis of the foes. Luke Skywalker and his wife traveled to the unknown regions, we've had no word from them for days, our hopes go out to them, they may have been captured or killed by this new threat."

 

"They are called the Rapora, a race of force sensitive warriors native to our own galaxy, with fleets and weaponary unlike any we've seen before. They've taken control of the systems of Csilla and Bilbringi, strangling our two greatest allies, the Chiss and the Empire in the last seventy two hours. It is only a matter of time before they strike upon us directly. To this end I've order elements of the fourth, fifth, and sixth fleets readied for an enemy attack. Already thousands of our people have been killed by this aggressor, we have no choice but to be ready for all out war. May the force be with us."

 

Jacen Solo suddenly found the darkness of his quarters far to chilling for his comfort.

[Trejiuvanat]

Athien lead the way through a few empty corridors and turbolifts. Oreton memorized carefully the layout of the ship incase he ever had to run these laberynthine paths away. Finally their walk ended before a metallic bulk door, names were written in a handful of different calligraphies, none of which he did understand. On board he had spotted beings of different races serving on the ship, and knew that they had been there because whoever was in charge wanted them to be seen, to spark more suspicions in the visitor's minds, Oreton knew that suspicion always triggered the need to think harder and stronger. Doubt would only feed our need to find a truth. Oreton smiled to himself, the Vagaari on board had served their function, he would not need to ask about them anymore.

 

The door opened to reveal a dark room. Patches of weak light were scattered across the room, not enought for Oreton to guess their function. Athien entered and Oreton followed her. She paused close to a wall, and from the control panel she lit up the main lights of the room. Oreton took a wide glance on the room.

 

The weak lights were from pedestals that held beatiful examples of human... no Alderaanian art. Masterpieces, some of them replicas, some of them inequivocably original. He orbited around some of the examples of art marveling at their existence. Born on Alderaan, days before the destruction, Oreton had never known much of his world but what his father and other Alderaanian had told him. He had lived Alderaan through memories of others, and now these few links strengthened his bond to the longgone homeworld. Still, there was something unsettling about this.

 

"This is the Alderaan room," Athieen needlessly explained. Oreton nodded, another piece of art had attracted his attention, simply confirming his suspicions. A wooden crest, with incrusted jewels and delicately decorated with gold and platin. A military crest he knew well.

 

He advanced towards Athien who waved to invite him to take a seat. Pieces of metallic furniture were to be their accomodation.

 

"I trust that you are pleased with our choice of decoration." Athien spoke plainly.

 

"Yes, thank you. I do hope that your information on the Rapora is at least half as detailed as it is on me."

 

An enigmatic smile blossomed on her face for a heartbeat. "Sadly it is not. Although we have a very complete database, our information on the Rapora is lacking. They are a very hermetic race. The Vagaari workin for them, are not given enough information. As it is, they do not even know the location of their homeworld."

 

"Something, I believe, that you do know."

 

"Yes, but as you can expect there are slim chances to actually get an operational unit on the ground."

 

Oreton nodded. She had given him a valuable piece of information, hinted lightly at the over all plan of the United Defense Allied Fleet.

 

"You are interested in my battle plan against the Rapora?"

 

She did not answer. The Chiss do not state the obvious.

 

"After years of fighting the Yuuzhan Vong, and the threats on worlds like Bastion or Yaga Minor, Pellaeon decided to implement a new strategy to protect our civilian population and to protect our more valuable assets. In this past eight years, dozens of worlds have been secretly colonized. Shipyards, and Training Centers have been built on some of those worlds. Sleeper cells, much like Thrawn's own cells, have been scattered through out the Empire. I must admit that, nor Pellaeon nor myself, ever believed that we would confront a foe as formidable as the Rapora."

 

"Would you or would Pellaeon repeat your actions at Bilbringi?" Athien inquired.

 

"Most likely, by now Pellaeon must have received my report on Bilbringi and he must have started to evacuate Bastion."

 

"Unlike the Yuuzhan Vong, the Rapora do not take your worlds to settle them. They destroy the world and use them as raw materials to build their armies, the more you yield to them, the faster and stronger will they continue."

 

"I am aware of that. Their fast advance, and superior technology forced me to rethink our choices, but I still saw no point in battling over Bilbringi."

 

"The Syndic did not consider it a foolish action," she commented sounding as if she wanted to dissipate some of Oreton's inner doubts. "Where do you expect the Rapora to strike next?"

 

"After Bilbringi, I would expect the Rapora to strike either at Yaga Minor or at Bastion and thus eliminate the Empire from the battle plan, or they could move into the Core. I am not entirely familiar with Raporan psyche, I am not qualify to interpret their strategies."

 

"You have been involved in this Raporan Crisis since it began. You have interpreted some of their thoughts based upon sketchy and incomplete information. You have not won a battle against them, time will change that."

 

"Despite the losses of Nirauan and Csilla I do not think I lost either battle. To escape from Nirauan was a commendable success, opaqued by the death of Admiral Parck. At Csilla I was aware the planet could not be saved the moment the Resurrector fired for the first time." I escaped with most of my fleet, unlike the Galactic Alliance forces that were reduced drastically."

 

"After the power centres of the Empire are captured and destroyed, how will the Empire react?"

 

"We will fight our war, we will most likely switch our tactics to fit the circumstances, we have considerable manpower in reserve and production has been tripled since Denblu."

 

"What about your commitment to the Galactic Alliance? Will a weakened Empire assist the Alliance in their battles."

 

"Yes." Oreton said not fully certain if he would or could.

 

"Our interview has been very satisfactory." Athiena said and stood up.

 

"One last question," Oreton said. "Why are you different?"

 

"I am not entitled to relate the details of the United Defense Fleet to you. I am sure that the presence of Vagaari must have confused you but in time you will understand."

 

"I did not mean the United Defense Fleet, I have already made some conclusions about their presence and I find neither of them confusing nor distrubing. Instead, I meant you. You act slightly different than other Chiss I have met, why are you different."

 

"I am." She stated. "But I am not allowed to detail that either."

 

"Is it related to the unanswered question in the hangar?" Oreton insisted.

 

She frowned trying to remember and nodded. "Then you do understand. Please stay here."

[Stellar_Magic]

OOC: Good post Trej, here's another twist in the UDF forces, and another twist at Tatooine

 

IC:"Tricky, isn't he," General Fel whispered in the darkened room as Athien left the Alderann room on the monitor.

 

"Yes he's very intelligent, and adaptable, thats quite clear," A voice answered from the seat before the monitor. Slowly the being inside it swiveled its chair to face General Fel, its reptilian eyes locking on him, "You kow I opposed bringing them here."

 

"Yes, yes, yes, operational security and the like, Veran we can't go to war with the Raporan Imperium alone, we've got exceptional ships, but not enough of them, we're lacking severely with medical supplies and pilots, we need their help." General Fel hissed.

 

Veran stood, his clawed feet clacking on the tile floor, "You still haven't offered your report, what happened at Nirauan?"

 

General Fel seemed to diminish under the question, "The Rapora learned after Thrawn premptive strike on their homeworld, they wanted to decapitate the Empire of the Hand, and they nearly did. With other strikes on worlds such as Csilla they've thrown possible allied worlds into chaos. The Chiss Ascendancy isn't going to be capable of launching a counterattack any time soon. The GFFA and Empire are the only forces which still have intact governments that could change at any time."

 

"So, my old comrades have dealt a near death blow on the Empire of the Hand and the Chiss Ascendancy," Veran shrugged, "I see why you want to bring them in as allies, but how much do we tell them?" The door of the chamber slid open and Athien slid inside. Veran turned one golden eye to her, "Commodore, what do you think of Admiral Oreton?"

 

Athien seemed to stand rigid for a moment, and a soft smile slid across her face, "He's quite intelligence Veran." She sobered slightly, "I think we should tell him the truth."

 

Both General Fel and Veran glanced at each other in surprise. Veran hissed to himself before answering, "Why Commodore?"

 

Her red eyes focused steadily on Veran, "It wouldn't matter what we told him Commander, he already knows, you can see it in his eyes and the questions he asks." Veran seemed to be ruffled by her words, "I know my father's safety is of your utmost concern Commander, but if we are to be their allies we have to give them reason to trust us."

 

Veran glanced at the floor, "And you don't think your would be allies would find it curious that a Raporan Warrior is entrusted with the Security of the United Defense Force, and the personal safety of its leader. We may do this and any trust in us would disappear."

 

"I trust you Commander Veran," General Fel said simply as he crossed his arms in front of him, "And they trust me, I think you'll find them to be more open minded then you think."

 

Veran sighed, a surprisingly human gesture coming from him, "Very well, I figured this would happen, but now I must face the storm." He keyed a link to the hanger bay, "Prepare my transport, Commodore Athien and our guests are leaving to see the Supreme Commander." As he clicked off the comm he straightened and ran his hands down his grey and red uniform, "Take me to them then, and let us hope you're right."

 

* * *

 

Luke smiled as they traveled through the flat pans of Tatooine. Already the square buildings of a small moisture farm were visible in the distance. Seryk walked alongside Luke talking animatedly, his helmet tucked under his shoulder, "So, I suppose now that I know I have this heritage, I should train I guess."

 

"Yes, and balancing on the razors edge of your two backgrounds may be difficult at best," Luke smiled thinking about the Solo children, how they managed to become famous independent of their parents, "Take Jaina for example, she's both a Jedi and a fighter pilot, or Leia for that matter. Being a jedi doesn't eliminate other careers, but it will give you a unique perspective on the world."

 

Mara shook her head slowly listening to the discussion, "Hey farmboy, what about being a smuggler, a former assassin, a cynic, and a jedi?"

 

Luke actually snickered to himself, "I forgot, its hard to believe you used to want to kill me."

 

Mara felt her breath go out of her, it hadn't been that long ago she'd come faced to face with that past. Luke stopped and turned to her, his face suddenly twisited into one of concern, "Are you alright?"

 

Mara bit back a retort, Luke had to have felt her fears, there was no tricking him now. She waited until Luke was beside her before answering her voice a whisper, "I...someone nearly implanted a compulsion in me earlier, it seemed..."

 

Luke's bright eyes flashed at her, "Familiar, like someone reaching from the grave?" He suddenly stiffened, "What you said earlier?"

 

Slowly Mara nodded and Luke knew that there was more. She seemed to be fighting back tears, her composure dissolving before him in a way he'd never seen before, "It felt like him and... I could see myself standing over your body, with..."

 

A roar filled the air and suddenly a starfighter shot overhead, its dull brown hull ripping through the sky. It suddenly curved upward and rolled bringing its weapons to bare on them. Suddenly from beneath its claw shaped cockpit a rocket roared out. It shot into the ground before them and didn't explode its motor shooting flames into the air for a moment as it burned out. With a pop a small canister shot from a compartment within it and rolled toward them.

 

Seryk was already pulling on his helmet, "Watch it, it could be gas." Mara had already bent down and picked up the cylinder and with a pop of pressurized air it spit open to reveal a gleaming holoprojector.

 

"Skywalkers and Mandalorian, this is Shren, surrender now or you'll never leave this world alive." As the holo cut out Luke turned to see a hundred War Droids decloak in a circle around them, their weapons already tracking on them.

 

Ben glanced around the circle, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

 

Suddenly the droids in front of them evaporated in a volley of red laser blasts. Mara looked up as a Firespray class attack craft soared overhead. On its sides, in crude scratchy script were the words, Slave VI.

[Trejiuvanat]

OOC: Nice twist. I'll let you set the meeting, in the meantime I'll have Athien pay a short visit to the Jedi and the young Fel.

 

IC:

 

Jaina Solo allowed her hand to be protectively taken by Jagged's own as they were ordered to enter a room. There was a bizarre lighting in the room, that came from a few aquariums scattered across the room.

 

Colored wateres and and wide variety of fishes were contained in magcon field. The guards closed the doors as soon as Ulan Shai had entered the room. In the relative darkness Fel moved to a familiar looking control panel and turned the lights on.

 

Part of the mysterious atmosphere of the room, vanished as the light bathed the room in its white fulgor. Four chair were positioned around a table.

 

"I guess we wait," Jaina murmured as she sat on a chair. Ulan sat on the chair opposing her, and Jagged finally sat on Jaina's right.

 

"Jagged Fel, do you know who these people are?" Ulan asked.

 

"No, at least not exactly. I believe that my father has dealt with them in the past, and they are connected to the Empire of the Hand."

 

"You noticed their weapons, Ulan?" Jaina asked.

 

Ulan nodded. "Lightsabers, a curved dessign. As I recall curved handles were preferred for a special sytle of lightsaber combat. Lightsaber vs. Lightsaber."

 

"Whoever they are they are opposing people who use lightsabers." Jaina started.

 

"And the Rapora use lightsabers." Jagged finished.

 

"Their patches also showed lightsabers." Jaina commented. "And their armor seemed to have a mineral imbedded in it. I'll bet my Rogue Squadron Patch that it's cortosis."

 

"So we are dealings with learnt warriors, that have not forgotten the lore of the Jeedai of Old." Ulan concluded. "Can we expect the Rapora to be equally antique?"

 

"Not necesarilly, Ulan. But it is a good hypothesis." Jaina said, as soon as the last word came out of her mouth. Athien entered the room.

 

"I apologize for the delay, even a short interview with an Imperial Admiral is very life-consuming."

 

"And you undoubtedly also had to comment the interview with my father?"

 

"You understand how this region of space works, Fel. The two Jedi, on the other hand are probably not all that familiar with the Unknown Regions. Much like the fish in these aquarium, all they have ever seen was their immediate vicinity. Held within a containement field they have believed to see the Unknown Regions."

 

None of the Jedi said anything. The words of Athien rang true in their ears. Though Jain had been to Csilla and Ulan lived on Zonama, none of them had been involved with the races and species from that region of space as closely as Jagged had.

 

Ulan twitched and his lightsaber ignited and charged against Athien. In matter of milliseconds her own blade had come up, the curved handle gently maneuvering in her hand to parry the strikes of her unexpected attacker.

 

Ulan thought like a predator, analyzing in less than a heart-beat dozens of approaches to his prey, ceaselessly continuing with the slashes. Expecting Athien to fail to deflect his blows. But it did not happen.

 

Two Chiss soldiers burst into the room, their lightsaber ignited. Through the Force Ulan pushed one into a wall. Madly Ulan drove the blade into the other trooper's torso and watched it die. Cortosis.

 

"Your combat training is commendable, as is your choice of weapons, commodore." Ulan spoke softly. "Your warriors are equally well prepared."

 

"I trust that bit of exercise confirmed your evaluation of our lightsabers skills." Athien answered. "I must ask you to accompany me. General Fel is waiting for us."

 

"All of us?" Jagged asked.

 

"All of those that came from the Imperious," Athien answered.

[Stellar_Magic]

The Timeless One stiffened in the glossy black throne as the doors to his personal command chamber hissed open. Slowly, almost cautiously a cloaked man stepped into the room. Slowly he knealt and laid his lightsaber before the throne like a sacrifice. A slight smile slipped across the Timeless One's face, "You may rise Darth Fury."

 

Darth Fury rose his face stony, "You asked to see me Lord?"

 

"Yes, you will take a force to the imperial world of Yaga Minor, and destroy the base there. You will then proceed to bombard the world from orbit, I want nothing capable of breathing to be left upon that world."

 

"As you wish," Darth Fury turned to leave.

 

"A moment, you are without an apprentice, at this point I feel that Darth Tuvax has enough experience to be considered a knight, you therefore need a knew partner." Darth Fury merely stood there waiting, but the Timeless One could feel irritation radiating from him like waves. He smiled, "Darth Venom, step forward." From the shadows an attractive woman appeared, her black hair and cloak giving her a ominous appearance despite a severe beauty. Her green eyes flashed to Darth Fury and a half smile slid across her face, "Darth Venom has completed her traditional training, but she lacks field experience. She will be your resource from now on."

 

Darth Fury nodded and glanced to the woman, "You accept my offer of mastery?"

 

"I do, my life is now in your hands Master Fury," Venom answered, her voice as smooth as velvet.

 

"So be it," Darth Fury answered as he led the woman to the door.

 

* * *

 

Athien led the group down the corridors of the Emerald Spectre class Star Destroyer and into the hanger bay where a aestetically pleasing transport sat in the bay. She halted and glanced around the group and nodded to the guards, precautions were necessary, there was no telling how the guests would react to Veran.

 

General Fel stepped into hanger from the opposite end his battered features easily recognizable. Jagged glanced around the hanger and saw the guards begin to adjust the settings on their personal weapons, their blasters, or whatever analogous technology the UDF posessed. Jag felt a chill pass down his spine as he watched the guards, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

 

Jaina smiled slightly, "I don't sense anything threating about them, they seem nervous not...sinister."

 

Admiral Oreton shrugged, "Perhaps their afraid we'll hijack the shuttle?"

 

"Perhaps we're afraid you'll jump to conclusions," A thick voice said from the shuttle. Suddenly a figure Jagged had only scene from a distance in an enemy cockpit stepped down the shuttle's ramp. Its claws clacking against the plates, "I am Commander Veran, chief director of security for the UDF."

 

Ulan hissed softly to himself, "A Rapora."

 

The Raporan officer lifted its hands palm up into the air, "We're not all monsters, if you feel that I'm not to be trusted ask General Fel or the Athien." He shrugged and gestured to the shuttle, "But right now time is off the essence, we've decided you must meet the Supreme Commander of the UDF, so if you'll board, we can get this underway."

 

Jagged glanced at the guards, "We don't seem to have much of a choice."

 

Slowly, unconsciously Admiral Oreton studied the Rapora, "One must wonder how a Rapora would inhabit such a position of trust, perhaps the Rapora have factions or sects."

 

Veran actually smiled as he touched the craft, "Perhaps some fo us value freedom as you do."

 

Admiral Oreton nodded slowly, "Perhaps."

[ADarkJedi44]

OOC: I'm going to cut to the chase. By the way Tuvax, Keep in touch

 

Although she lacked experiance, she was highly trained. Darth Fury decided to waste no time training her himself. She would be put in command of a squadron of Raporan fighters and if she did a good job, she would be gradually promoted until she was in charge of all of the fleet's fighters. Darth Venom was to be thrust right into the action. Hopefully she would not disappoint him.

Abruptly, the fleet came out of hyperspace. In front of Darth Fury's eyes was the world of Yaga Minor. This time, he was in charge. Only an Imperial fleet stood between him and glory. It was a formidable fleet, but they would recieve no reinforcements. The rest of the Imperial fleet would be tied up at Bastion.

The Imperials reacted quickly. Doubtelessly, they had been put on alert. A swarm of TIEs came forth, but the Raporan pilots were far superior to whatever the Imperials could throw out.

"We are nearly in range of the Imperial capitol ships."

"Very well. Continue on our current course. We will move to close quarters and slug it out with them. There, we can use our mines effectively."

"As your wish."

He wonder how his new apprentince was faring...

***

Evahe sat peacefully in his office, looking over the holoprojection of the galaxy. An abrupt and violent knock brought him back to reality.

"Come in.

The young officer ran in, looking rather unsettled.

"SIR! We have urgent news from Yaga Minor! They are under attack from Raporan forces!"

Evahe gritted his teeth.

"So the Rapora are moving in to finish off the Empire. Get me General Ioor immediatly!"

[Stellar_Magic]

The Shuttle dropped out of space within seconds after it jumped and Veran nodded to himself, they were committed now, "Attention Second Life this is Commander Veran, with emissarys from our possible allies to hanger control request docking."

 

"Hanger control acknowledges, please transmit clearance code and begin aerial manuever code," The comm answered and Veran pull back on the stick brining the shuttle up into a loop that ended with a sudden sideslip and a sudden deceleration that signaled a complete stop. He tapped the com and transmitted the clearance code, then the comm crackled to life once again, "Welcome back Commander."

 

The shuttled bumped slightly as a tractor beam locked onto them and the craft was slowly pulled into the larger invisible vessel which was the Second Life. Slowly he stood and stepped through the hatch to the passenger compartment, "We're docking now, I must request that all of you leave your weapons behind."

 

Athien sighed, "Veran is this really necessary, surely f... the Supreme Commander..."

 

"I won't allow weapons in his presence!" Commander Veran hissed and his killing claw clicked ominously on the deck.

 

Commodore Athien nodded slowly and pulled her blaster belt from her waist and tossed it to the floor along with her lightsaber. It was quickly joined by other weapons from the rest of the party.

 

Slowly Admiral Oreton stood and straightened his tunic smiling confidently, "I believe we're ready then." The deck bumped slightly and the rear hatch of the craft hissed open. The Admiral stepped through into a scene he knew from his position. A line of stormtroopers snapped a salute to them as they stepped through the hatch. A red shoulder patch and a band of red along parts of the armor were the only differences from the imperial norm.

 

Behind the line of stormtroopers was a rank of officers and technicians as varied in species as the crew of the other vessel. Behind that was a line of soldiers in full combat garb. Above their heads in racks were a number of grey and red Clawcraft, their hulls slightly modified to carry a pair of modular launchers between each wing. None of the party knew what equipment lay within each of them.

 

The line of Stormtroopers snapped into escort formation around the party and led them forward. Jag, walking beside Jaina whispered, "You know what this reminds me of, the arrival ceremonies for the Empire of the Hand."

 

Jaina glanced at the stormtroopers, "More like what Luke reported on the Chiss and their show of respect for visitors. You think this is all for Oreton?"

 

"That would be my guess." Jag answered simply. They came to a set of double doors and a pair of guards stepped forward and pulled them forward to reveal a darkened chamber. Slowly they stepped inside and the doors closed behind them.

 

Jaina saw that they seemed to be in some sort of art gallery. Statues, both real and holographic appeared along the walls along with paintings and ceremonial weaponary.

 

Admiral Oreton was enrapture by a piece of art when a calm serene voice echoed in the chamber, "Mystical Twilight is such a fabulous example of Post disarmament Alderannian work, isn't it Admiral Oreton."

 

Slowly Jaina turned to face the source of the voice as a pair of red eyes glanced to her over the holographic depiction of the galaxy, "And you Jaina Solo, I remember hearing about your first full months, unfortunate times it was then. I did what I thought was best, even though in the long run it proved a gross miscalculation. I'm sure your Master told you about what was out beyond the rim didn't she, Jaina. Mara Jade always was a cunning individual." The eyes flashed across the room to Ulan, "Ah yes, the Vong warrior turned jedi, a wise decision considering what you will face. I have great respect for your species spirit no matter how misused."

 

Admiral Oreton smiled slightly at the silhoutte, knowing full well who it was, "You have us at a disadvantage, you seem to know all of us, but the same cannot be said of some of us."

 

The figure stood revealing a bright white uniform with a red sash. His blue complexetion and commanding manner struck all, for it could be none other then the imfamous Chiss Admiral before them, Mitt'hraw'nuruodo, Grand Admiral Thrawn."

 

OOC: Did anyone not see this coming?

[Rattler3]

Colton stared off into space.

 

It had been a long time.

Years of relative solitude for the small group. 'Renegade's' they were called. But they disagreed.

They wanted nothing more then peace. They had grown tired of the ancient battle between Imperials and Rebels...

They had fled.

 

Taking whatever ships and supplies they could, they had headed outward. There they had colonized a planet, had expanded to 2 more. They're technology had hardly advanced... they were probably years behind the known sector. There single shipyard had worked on keeping there few ships operational as well as producing the brand new ship...

A one of a kind ship. It was based on the old Victory Star Destroyer. The hull had been changed, and the lasers ripped out. It was bristling with 70 concussion missile launchers... Modified ones. They could deal a crippling blow to a capital ship or ward of fighters...

The Introvertor. One of a kind, the ship class named after the ship itself.

It had been completed a mere 3 weeks ago. And now the shipyards were to be completely refitted... brought up to date, expanded... they would be able to pump out these ships 1 a month, 2 X-wing squadrons for it as well as refit ships. The rebuilding would take 3 months... 3/4 of the combine's resources had been redirected to this project.

 

They had warded off pirates and enemy species for years... hunting them down. They embraced the refugees. They had no ability for long range communication, but that did not matter...

But now they did. A top of the line Lambda shuttle had entered their capital planet... it claimed to be Imperial, and it had a top of the line holonet.

 

They learned everything. The truce, the Vong... and now the Rapora. The Taurian Combine lived for peace. It was what lead them away... But the Rapora sounded incredibly threatening. It was there duty to try to fight them off... to help bring peace to the rest of the galaxy.

 

And so there taskforce was to set off. They had few co-ordinates... they were going to jump to Yaga Minor, the nearest System they had co-ordinates for.

An Assualt Frigate, Peace , 2 Carracks, and the Introvertor.

They carried 3 X-Wing squadrons... the very old X-wings, T-64's. They also had 4 regiments of Defense troops...

 

They left behind 3 X-wing Squadrons and a single dreadnought... enough to ward off pirates, they hoped.

 

"Admiral, the fleet is ready." Admiral Colton glanced up. He was the ranking Officer of the taskforce... he was also the emisary from the combine.

 

"Very well... Jump." Within seconds the view out of the viewport changed to that of hyperspace.

 

"52 hours... 52 hours until we discover the depth of the situation..."

 

OOC EDIT: Changed us arriving to Yaga Minor from Bastion.

Edited October 4, 2004 by Rattler3

[BadSamaritan]

"Sithspit!" Seryk spat and ignited his lightsaber as the droids appeared around them. Mara and Luke followed suite, manuevering to form a protective circle around young Ben.

 

"Dont these guys ever give up?" he asked, and watched in astonishment as laser blasts eradicated a swath of droids in fron of him. he looked up in time to see an old Firesprey calss ship fly off, then bank sharply to make another pass. Seryk thought he had read the name on the side of the ship, but he knew he had to be seeing things now. It couldnt have been what he thought it was. Then the droids attacked.

 

Almost as one, the remaing droids opened fire, some of them moving to cover the space left after the new vessels first run. Seryk deftly began to block the blasts cming towards him, sending them flying off into the distance wildly. Mara and Luke were more precise, wending the bolts back to the droids that had fired them. The droids started to move towards them, and the firesprey struck again, taking out another handfull of droids.

 

"Is that Fett?" Mara asked, disbel;ief in her voice. Seryk didnt think it was, He could remember hearing rumors that Fett had died peacefully on some outer rim world a few years ago. But he also knew that Fett had faked death before, so It would not be beyond him to do it again.

 

"I dont know if it is Fett, but thats his ship!" Luke yelled, strain in his voice. Even with the droids being pounded from the air, there were still a large number of them, and there were still moving closer. Serykl could also see the fighter coming in to deal with the Firespray. As the fighter got behind it however, the laser cannons on the ship swiveled, and began to spew fire at the fighter following it. The fighter deftly dodged the fire, but a few shots hit their mark, and the fighter shot skyward, as if re-alizing that it was out-gunned, not to mention out-classed.

 

The firespray turned again, and made a third pass at the droids, wiping out yet another handfull. But this time it slowed quickly, and came to a stop over them, and it quickly spun on its axis, its guns blazing. Seryk watched as the remaing droids fell to the laser blasts, and the ship then lowered to the ground, and the door on the ship opened up. Out of the external speaker system a comaanding voice boomed over the wasted landscape.

 

"Get in! We have more fighters incoming!" the voice ordered. Seryk waited for a few seconds, and then began to make a mad dash for the ship. He could sence Mara and luke following behind him, Ben in tow. As they reached the ship, bursts of plasma began to rain down around them from Reporan fighters. Seryk reached the door, and turned to help Mara and Luke into the ship.

 

"This is starting to get real old!" Seryk said, and Luke nodded quickly in agreement.

 

"Seryk, get up to the cockpit, and find out who is piloting this ship." Mara yelled, and Seryk nodded. He began to climp towards the cockpit, when the ship manuvered suddenly, and Seryk was thrown to the floor. He could feel the ship blast off, accelerating far faster than the ship was ever meant to go. A few moments later, he could hear the lasers began to fire, and Seryk realized that they were going into a dog-fight. He quickly began climbing to the cockpit again, wondering who was piloting, and what he had done to get himself into this mess.

[Trejiuvanat]

The Chiss Grand Admiral locked his scarlet gaze with Oreton. "You are not to be counted among the unknowing."

 

"No. Most of it, was unconsciously revealed by your daughter", Oreton finished the sentence with a questioning look at Thrawn who slowly nodded his agreement to Oreton. "Although I must admit that I have been surprised by a few things." Oreton replied calmly, as he stretched his arm to greet the Chiss. "As ever your collection is admirable." His hand gestured the painting, but Thrawn caught the meaning well. As ever Thrawn had "collected" people from everywhere in the Region. The Vagaari, the other few aliens and Veran himself.

 

Thrawn took the comment with a short nod and shook his hand with the Imperial Admiral.

 

Ulan eyed the Chiss Admiral curiously. "Equally, Domain Shai always held you at great respect. Art is a soul's escape, if you understand it, you understand the soul." And half bowed to the Chiss Legend.

 

Jaina nodder her assentment to Thrawn. There was no need for an exchange of words between them both. Jaina knew that only a master tactician as Thrawn had a real chance at success, but she could not take our of her head what Thrawn had intended for her when she was born.

 

"As in every war time is scarce, for every wasted breath another claw has shed the blood of your people." Veran noted and Thrawn sat back on his chair.

 

The map of the galaxy was colored in dozens of different shades. A red-brown patch grew larger in the border of the Unknown Regions. A single arrowheaded shape moved into Imperial Space. Into Bilbringi, another was moving into the Outer Empire. Into Yaga Minor and Bastion.

 

"The Rapora have decided to decapitate the Empire."

 

"Are you certain? It would make more sense to take the Core. With Bilbringi they have a clear entry into the Inner Rim." Jaina interrupted.

 

"The Rapora have multiple reasons to deal with the Empire first. Mainly because it is a strong faction. The easy capture of Bilbringi has made them suspicious, they intend to destroy Yaga Minor and Bastion as soon as possible to avoid any further suprises. Plus their leader is certain in destroying the Empire."

 

"Why?" Oreton asked.

 

"It is something you may not understand yet." Veran murmured.

 

"When will the Rapora launch their attack?" Jagged asked.

 

"Their fleets already departed Csilla," Thrawn responded. "The Imperial Forces near both worlds will not be enough to halt them. I understand that a few elements of the Imperial Fleet have disappeared in the past few days."

 

"Not many, just enough." Oreton answered, Thrawn probably had learnt of his interview with Athien. Imperial Fleets were busy scattering the civilian population of the Empire, and setting the defenses for their secret facilities.

 

"I expect you have a battleplan ready Admiral?" Oreton asked and the holographic map shifted into the familiar design of the Satirnaynian System, the once-secret location of Bastion.

 

OOC: I think BadSam's flu is Internet-contagious, as I got it and am pretty bad. Take it away Stellar and send me back to Imperial space.

[Stellar_Magic]

Thrawn nodded and gestured to Athien standing at his right, "We will send a sizable force to assist in your defense of Bastion. If you will brief him in on Task Force Alpha."

 

Athien nodded, a slight smile playing across her lips, "We're sending two Guardian Class Star Destroyers and three Freedom of Thought Class Star Destroyers."

 

"And you will be in command of that force?" Admiral Oreton asked slowly and Athien nodded. He glanced to the Admiral, "What of the disposition of Imperial forces in system?"

 

Grand Admiral Thrawn nodded, "Yes, your fleet has deployed in great detail, with one task force on each end of the world." The display lit up to reveal the imperial fleet deployed to either side of Bastion:

 

2 SSDs

8 ISDIIs

9 VSDIIs

7 Dreadnaughts

12 Carracks

2 Lancers

 

Thrawn nodded at the display, "The Rapora will launch their attack coming from the system's center, making their cloaking technology that much more effective." A spear of ships shown in brilliant red appeared and marched toward the imperial capital. A series of glyphs shimmered into basic letters stating the composition of the opposing fleet:

 

9 Karlur Class Cruisers

16 Savla Class Cruisers

22 Defra Class Cruisers

 

Veran hissed quietly at the numbers, "Commander, how can five of our ships hope to oppose such a force."

 

Thrawn glanced back at the display, "In a pitched battle we wouldn't stand such a chance, but we're not gunning for such a battle." Suddenly five chiss vessels shimmered into existance behind the Rapora, "Our forces will attack from the rear and below. This is the enemies weakest point. Once you've made your attack, scatter Athien, draw them away from Bastion. Activate your gravity wells and have the imperial and alliance ships jump to your positions." The holoshifted to show those moves, "You should be able to destroy the opening wave in detail."

 

"Subsequent waves?" Admiral Oreton asked cautiously.

 

Grand Admiral Thrawn actually grimaced, "We believe they'll bring the Resurrector in system and a flotilla of supporting ships. Plus probably fifty or more Vagaari vessels."

 

Admiral Oreton looked ashened as Jaina frowned, "You said Alliance ships?"

 

Thrawn smiled, "Yes a task force of ten ISDs, five MC-90s, one Viscount, and multiple support craft under General Garik Ioor is due in system in three hours."

 

"How long till the Rapora attack begins at Bastion?" Admiral Oreton asked slowly.

 

"They're jumping in system as we speak, but won't be on station for two and a half hours." Thrawn stood signaling the end of the discussion and smiled, "Athien, the rest of you, good luck and.." And the admiral's eyes twinkled with secret knowledge, "May the force be with you."

 

* * *

 

The battle of Yaga Minor was about to commence as a small force of ships dropped in system, led by a modified VSD and a squadron of T-65B X-wings (OOC: You say older, the T-64 is a different craft all together, so their T-65Bs.) The ancient predicessor of the GFFA T-65 XJ X-wing.

 

Darth Venom yelled in her cockpit as multiple warning lights lit up on her board, "Darth Fury, this is Venom, we've got multiple concussion missile targeting locks."

 

"How many?" Darth Fury hissed from the command chair.

 

Her voice crackled through the static, "Over a hundred sir, they seem to be coming from that Victory destroyer." Her voice suddenly pitched upward into a whine, "She's firing, all units evade, evade!"

 

Darth Fury watched his sesnor board in horror, three full squadrons of fighters winked out, and more squadrons were ripped to shreads from the onslaught, "Darth Venom report."

 

"I'm still here, lost an engine though, request hanger clearance."

 

"Granted," Darth Fury glanced at his fighter controller, "Get her back out there as fast as possible.

 

* * *

 

Jacen Solo stood before the assembled High Council, his heart racing from what he was hearing, "So Master Skywalker hasn't checked in?"

 

"No," Saba Sebatyne answered slowly her reptillian eyes focusing on him, "We need him here, both for this council and the Advisory Council."

 

Kyp glanced at Jace, "We don't know whats happened out there, but if the Rapora are involved you have to be prepared. Compared to the Rapora, the Vong were amatuers at hunting Jedi."

 

Jacen felt a chill run down his spine, "I'll head out as soon as possible, I'll find them."

 

Cal smiled slightly even through the holographic projection, "We know you will."

 

* * *

 

Boba Fett smiled beneath his helmet as the Rapora starfighter jittered in his targeting recticle, suddenly it disappeared from view. The smile widened, so these Rapora were exceptional opponents, an enemy worth killing, an enemy worth fighting for they would be an even more glorious addition to his kills then the jedi in his hold.

 

Jedi, the very word made him shudder with hatred, still he'd known these Jedi for some time now, and despite his despise deep down he realized he had grown almost fond of them, as he had of Solo. They weren't the same as those that had killed his father, no these were a new breed, a different breed, one worth more then killing, one worth knowing.

 

Boba turned as a man in a suite of armor he hadn't seen in years stepped inside. A slight smile slid across his face in recognition, "Hello Seryk, your grandfather would have loved to see you now."

 

The ship suddenly shook and a warning light blared on, "We've lost the sublight drives." Boba ground his teeth in annoyance as he switched to repulsor lifts and glanced at his empty sensor board, "Show me your face you stinking Rapora."

 

* * *

 

Shren smiled as she watched the Firespray tilted to the sky and kicked in the repulsor lifts. Rolling the fighter she climbed away from the wounded vessel and into the sky, "Tuvax, Malice, target is descending to land. Be sure to bring the Rapora, looks like our friends picked up another ally."

[Rattler3]

The Klaxons were loud. Colton was used to them, but they were pointless. They knew they'd jumped into the middle of a fight.

"Shut those alarms down. Sensors, give me targets! Gunners, stand Ready. All fighters, Launch. Shields to full."

3 seconds passed before the sensor operator called out, "Sir, 22 unidentified ships of unknown origin. 24 ships identified as Imperial, with 4 other ships of unknown type with them, though they look Imperial in origin. We're coming in range of the lead fighters of the unknown ships in 5 seconds sir."

It took all of a second for Colton to decide.

 

"All missile, stand by to fire. Fire as they bear. Weapons free. Fighters, stay close to us, protect us from the fighters. Open a comm to the imperials."

 

Colton waited patiently, watching out the viewport. The Introvertor shook as the deadly concussion missiles leapt out of there tubes towards the enemy fighters.

about 45 fighters winked out, but there was more...

Then the carracks joined in. They were primarily anti-starfighter, with some Turbolasers thrown in for good measure. These Raporan craft were hard to kill, but they were killable. However, sticking around was not a good idea.

"Navigation, give me a course away from them. Use a micro jump if you have to. We better be gone before those capital ships get here. Red group, cover Green and Yellow squadrons escape, join us on the way out." The Introvertor shook as its shields absorbed damage, and the second salvo of concussion missiles leapt out.

 

"Course plotted... 20 second to entry, all craft forming up."

15 seconds and the shields had already fallen, the ship shaking violently from the damage being inflicted upon it. Nothing for it, no way to maneuver as they fled. Seconds later and they entered hyperspace, exiting exactly 3 seconds later, pretty near to the imperial fleet.

 

"Damage report? And get that channel open!"

"Sir, Shields will be up to full strenght over the next 4 minutes. We lost 7 X-wings, and 4 missile turrets. Lots of damage to the Ships hull. No concussion holds lost sir... we still have enough for 70 shots from each turret The other ships never lost there shields, so there fine."

 

"Sir, channel opened." Colton walked back to his seat and pressed a button opening the channel.

"Imperial Forces, this is Admiral Colton of the Taurian Combine. We have come to help you in your fight. Please tag us as friendlies. Requesting orders."

[Mad78]

The GFFA Taskforce exited the Hyperspace on the Rim of the Bastion system. Garik had asked for this precotion as he did not want to risk loosing this fleet.

"Sir i detect several Rapora ships as well as Imperial ships. There are also several ships of Imperial design but who do not bare the same identification signals." shouted the bothan at the detectors.

"On the holo!" answered Garik

The Holoprojector lit up and a picture of the Bastion system appeared. The battle was begining and the two fleets had not yet met but fighter battles filled the reducing place which seperatied the two fleets. A few minutes and the fleets would be within firing range. Garik watched as the Rapora fleet started to seperate to form attack groups. The Imperials central ships kept their near perfect formation while the lighter ships moved to prepare to seprate with the cap ships following them.

 

Anbd the two fleets met. Opening fire at optimal range. The space between them filled with laser fire. Ships were ripped appart. The battle then started to turn into group combats the major ships staying towards the middle and the lighter ones loving away to avoid lost fire from the caps.

Garik spotted one of the larger groups fighting. The Imperials were clearly undergunned and the Rapora were taking the advantage.

"Prepare to Hyperjump towards that group. The support craft are to go for close combat while the caps cover the Imperials."

A few seconds later the Taskforce dived into Hyperspace. It exited in the middle of the battle. The corvettes and lighter fregates with more maneouverability dived on the middle of the confused Rapora forces. The corvettes were weak but their number and the fact the rapora hit themselves while trying to destroy the new forces caused many losses.

"Open fire."

The Viscount's heavy cannons opened fire on to the Rapora ships.

Maybe the battle was not lost

 

***

 

Tuvax looked at the 5 rapora who followed him. He had personnaly chosen them for this mission, but he still thought their lack of experience would be a problem. The Slave 4's ramp opened and the Skywalker came rushing down folowed by two men in Mandalorian armor.

"Leave me Skywalker!" hissed Tuvax as the Rapora charged, their feet making little noise as the approached the group. One of the Mandalors opened fire with his blaster rifle, the Skywalkers and the other Mandalor ignitted their lightsabers. The five Rapora warriors seperated the Luke from the reste of the group. Tuvax lept ignitting his red lightsaber, Skywalkers emerald blade intercepted his. Tuvax lept back twirling his blade.

"It would appear that you will be worthy of this fight. Skywalker[\i]"

On these words Tuvax lept giving a blow and try to lash Skywalker's side. His blade was blocked and the Jedi lept back to avoid the claw.

The fight seemed like it would be long.

[Stellar_Magic]

OOC: Mad, you just screwed up Thrawn's plan! You're suppose to hang back until the UDA makes their appearance, now the Rapora will destroy your fleet in detail! You can't win a slugging match with the Rapora!