Hoshistar17: So here we have it. The first chapter of my Star Wars story. I hope you enjoy it.
Wild Space: Over 20 years ago
Sequestered in a small room, a young woman sat in meditation. An intricate pattern of tattoos adorned her dark brown skin, a crown of thorns on her hairless head; features that marked her as a member of the Iridonian Zabrak race. She wore a simple light tan robe, with a lightsaber strapped to her belt.
This was part of her daily routine. For a few hours, she would meditate and let the Force flow through her being, a practice that centred her resolve, and calmed her mind. She had done this so many times, she felt a certain comfort in the monotony of it.
This time, the monotony was interrupted by a large, pulsing wave. It hit her through the Force, slamming into her hard enough to shock her out of her meditation. Moments later, an incessant beeping sounded, demanding her attention. Taking her holo-communicator out of her pocket, she pressed the button. An image of a female human appeared, wearing sleek, dark armour.
"I take it you felt that, Commander?" said the human.
"If you're talking about that massive ripple in the Force, then the answer is yes. How many others felt it, Lana?"
"Not many. If you and I are any indication, only those with an exceptionally strong connection to the Force sensed it."
The Commander stayed silent for a bit. "I have a feeling that it wasn't an individual who was responsible, but rather the Force itself."
"That would explain the scale of this phenomenon." Lana paused, obviously distracted. "You'd better get here quick. A message came through from the Mystics. They say, 'the time has come'."
The Commander's heart skipped a beat. "Then, it is time to finish…what we started."
The Planet Christophsis: Present Day
Anakin Skywalker, newly promoted Jedi Knight of the Republic, was about to embark on a mission that would put his famed piloting skills to the test. He was to fly a prototype stealth vessel, delivered by his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, past the Separatist fleet blockading the planet and deliver supplies to Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, who was overseeing relief efforts on the ground.
Before he could depart, his second in command, Admiral Yularen, had informed him the commander of the enemy fleet was most likely the infamous Admiral Trench, who had been presumed dead. Concerned about his commanding officer's mission, Yularen volunteered to join Anakin.
"Everyone's on board, we are go," said a clone.
"Dispatch, we are powering up and ready to go," Anakin said.
The ship lifted off from the hanger bay and proceeded towards the blockade. At Anakin's command, the cloaking device was engaged.
Approaching the first Separatist vessel, Anakin and his crew fell silent, their tension almost visible. Not only was the ship a prototype, but this mission was its first field test. However, the enemy ship made no move to intercept them.
"Doesn't look like they can detect us." Grinning, Anakin exhaled loudly.
Yularen remained frowning. "Yes, but if you get any closer, they might not need scanners to know we're here."
"Relax, Admiral. You're the one who wanted to come on this ride."
Meanwhile, on the Separatist flagship, Invincible, Admiral Trench, was mystified by the current state of play. A human-sized creature, his appearance was more that of a nightmare-inducing arachnoid.
Having beaten back the Republic's initial assault, he had his ship's weapons and shields recharged, ready for the next attack. But, instead of attacking, the Republic fleet maintained their potion behind the moon, making no move to engage.
His tactical droid felt the need to state the obvious. "I cannot calculate why the Republic has not launched another attack."
"What is the current state of the assault on Christophsis?"
"Resistance is crumbling, sir. I would estimate a half rotation before it is over," said the droid.
This gave the Admiral an idea. "We need to add some pressure on those who were sent to rescue our enemies on Christophsis. Send the Hyena bombers to hit Senator Organa on the surface. That should draw those cowards out from behind the moon."
Anakin's ship was making good progress, but the co-pilot picked up several blips on the radar. "General, we have incoming bombers with fighter escort. Enemy ships closing. 15000… 14000… 13000."
"What is our defensive capability?" said Anakin.
"We have torpedoes and anti-aircraft cannons, sir. But we'd have to de-cloak to use either."
That wasn't really what Anakin wanted to hear. "Yeah, but if they don't know we're here, that would give our position away pretty quickly."
Looking back at the radar, the co-pilot continued to monitor the enemy's progress. "9000… 8000."
"Have they detected us?" said Yularen.
The clone shook his head. "Can't tell, sir."
The Admiral turned to Anakin. "If we're going on the offensive, we must do it soon."
Anakin's grip on the flight controls tightened. He decided to take a chance. "Keep the cloaking device engaged. Power down all non-essential systems."
He wasn't the only one who held his breath as the bomber squadron flew right past them.
"They missed us!" Anakin leaned forward slightly, relieved. "They don't know we're here."
But Yularen noticed where they were headed. "They're heading for Bail Organa and the command centre. They're going to bomb it!"
Yularen's words were confirmed when Obi-Wan contacted them. "Anakin, I've just spoken to the Senator. They're in dire need of our help. Continue with your mission to the surface. I'll engage Trench's fleet with the ships I already have."
Before Anakin could respond, Yularen said, "General Kenobi, with all due respect, you do not have the resources to engage Trench openly. He wants you to attack. You'll be walking into a trap."
"He's right, Master. You won't stand a chance."
"Anakin, I've got enough problems without you becoming one of them. Get those supplies to the refugee camp, I'll worry about Trench. Just stay on course and-"
"Your tactic won't work," said Anakin. He turned to his co-pilot. "Prep torpedo tubes one through four. Fix range on Trench's command ship."
This caught Yularen off guard. "Sir?"
"You heard me, Admiral."
Obi-Wan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What are you doing?"
"We need to destroy Trench and this ship has the best chance of doing that," Anakin argued.
"I want those supplies on the surface now."
"Don't worry, I'm on it," Anakin said, before cutting the transmission.
Anakin then swung the ship around, aiming it right at the Invincible. "Prepare to de-cloak on my command."
"You do realize our torpedoes might not be enough?" said Yularen.
"All I want, is for Trench to think about us instead of the people on the planet below. It's time to introduce ourselves."
Once the preparations were complete, the ship de-cloaked. Anakin gave the order. "Fire!"
The ship shot four torpedoes at the Invincible but were stopped by Admiral Trench's timely activation of his ship's shields.
"Well, that did little good," said Yularen.
Anakin wasn't fazed. "Re-cloaking in 9… 8…"
The Invincible's anti-aircraft cannons locked onto the stealth ship.
"Pilot," said Anakin. "Prep the flares."
A series of flares were launched just as the torpedoes were about to hit. The cloaking device was re-engaged. The torpedoes changed course to one of the flares and blew up.
It was clear Trench was determined to destroy them as the Invincible started firing its laser cannons in a bid to flush them out. Despite his ship's unwieldy design, Anakin proved his skills as a pilot, successfully directing it through available gaps within the barrage.
The tactical droid had been keeping watch over the scanners and when the results were shown, it addressed Trench. "Scans are coming up negative. We missed."
"Yes." Trench sounded far from disappointed. "But we have learned something. No clone could have successfully flown through a barrage of that scale. We are dealing with a Jedi. Patch me into the comm channel. Open frequency."
Anakin's ship picked up on the transmission coming from the Invincible. He opened the comm channel, giving him his first look at the infamous Admiral. "Hello, ugly."
"I am Admiral Trench. If you are listening, Jedi, you've made a bold move. And a grave mistake. I appreciate your decision to face me ship-to-ship, to play this little game. It's been so long since I've had a worthy opponent. You have an impressive new vessel, but I warn you, I have dealt with its kind before."
Anakin didn't like the sound of that statement.
"Your technology will not save you, and your friends on the planet below shall perish as a result of your failure. The people of Christophsis and her resources shall join the Separatist Alliance. Turn back now. Retreat while you can, for I am your doom."
Words failed Anakin as he realised Trench obviously had experience against ships with cloaking technology. Not only would this be a blow to their morale, Anakin also realised his gamble had backfired – Trench was now aware of their presence and, especially, his presence, a Jedi.
Before Anakin and Yularen could discuss their options, the radar sounded, interrupting them.
"What is it?" said Yularen.
"Small, no life-form readings," said the co-pilot. "Must be some sort of probe, but its readings don't match anything used by the Seps, or us for that matter."
At that moment, the probe flew by the cockpit, continuing past the Separatist fleet.
"Who would send a probe out into a warzone?" said Anakin.
On board the Invincible, Trench's tactical droid had also noticed the, seemingly, random probe and relayed the information to the Admiral, who was mystified by this development. "How bizarre. Shoot it down. I want to know who was spying on us, and what they may have learnt."
Trench was about to get his answer sooner than he thought.
Both fleets were aware of the probe's presence as it flew off into open space. Neither side was prepared for what happened next.
From the direction where the probe had disappeared, a new fleet appeared out of hyper-space.
Battlecruisers of unknown design, the sheer size of the fleet was incomprehensible. Not two dozen, not even twice that many but hundreds upon hundreds of ships. All focussed on the blockade. Without warning, several of the lead ships fired at the Separatist fleet. Instead of exploding, the projectiles embedded in the hulls.
Chaos erupted on the Invincible's decks. The projectiles turned out to be troop pods, which now opened, disgorging squads of droids.
These droids were nothing like the battle droids of the CIS. These gold-coloured droids were more humanoid, each equipped with a blaster rifle; each with a set of four small thrusters on their backs.
The enemy immediately began firing at the Separatist droids, and tossing grenades to further confuse the crew.
Up on the bridge, the tactical droid was trying its best to control the situation. But the completely unexpected arrival of the new fleet had thrown its calculations off altogether. "All decks are reporting hostile forces. I believe they are trying to disable key systems within the ship."
"Stop them at all cost!" Spit flying from his maw, Trench stabbed the deck with his cane. "I will not lose my ship to some unknown force."
On Anakin's ship, Obi-Wan had gotten through on the comm channel. "Anakin. Given this new development, perhaps you might now agree to head to the surface. With a fleet of that scale, I doubt the blockade will survive."
"For once, I agree. We'll head down and meet you on the ground."
Anakin steered his ship back towards Christophsis, heading for the surface, while sparing a glance at the battle raging around him.
Trench's fury was starting to subside with news that his crew had managed to hold the lines against the invaders. His victory was short-lived. As an explosion rocked the ship, he turned to his tactical droid. "What happened?"
"It appears our shield generator has been disabled."
"What? But how?"
After listening to the report, it responded. "Some of the enemy droids possess cloaking technology. They bypassed the defenders."
Before Trench could react, one of his pilots alerted him to the enemy fleet which was now closing in.
The enemy opened fire on the Separatist blockade. Like fish caught in a net, they could not hope to survive such an onslaught.
Closing his eyes, Trench knew he had been outplayed. Seconds later, the bridge was engulfed in laser fire.
Hours later
Obi-Wan had taken advantage of the battle to take his fleet down to the surface, meeting up with Anakin, Yularen and Senator Organa. But now they found themselves in an uncertain situation, unsure what to do with the massive fleet still in orbit.
"I think we ought to take this matter seriously, Master Kenobi," said Bail. "We don't know what the people in charge of that fleet want."
"I agree," said Yularen. "Even if they did destroy the blockade that's no guarantee they're on our side."
"I understand your concerns," said Obi-Wan. "But I do believe we should at least try and contact our would-be rescuers, before we come to any conclusions."
At that moment, a clone trooper called them over, claiming that the fleet in orbit was sending a message. When the holo-projector came on, the Jedi, Senator and Admiral were surprised.
The image was that of an Iridonian Zabrak woman, dressed in sleek armour, with a waist-cape hanging from her belt. What also caught their attention, was the unmistakable form of a lightsaber strapped to her belt as well.
"Forces of the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems. I am sending this message to you as a warning. You have, by now, heard of what has transpired here in orbit. My fleet just smashed through the Separatist blockade in a matter of hours, something the Republic was struggling to accomplish.
I have more military forces under my command than you can fathom, but I would prefer if you didn't let pride or greed overrule your senses. I ask that both armies withdraw from Christophsis within forty-eight standard hours. If you are concerned for the people of the planet, I have prepared relief supplies on some of my ships.
However, should you choose to stay, I will not be lenient. Just know that you have been warned, by the Supreme Commander of the Eternal Alliance."
The message ended, leaving the group speechless until Anakin broke the silence. "I think we can call that a declaration of war."
Hoshistar17: There you have it. This story was inspired by Deiru Tamashi's Eternal Rule, which follows the same concept of the Eternal Alliance entering the Clone Wars. I have played SWTOR for quite some time now, and I enjoyed the Eternal Throne story-line quite a bit. So this is just my own spin on the idea. Expect to see familiar face from the game, as well as some new ones.
Anyone who knows my writing habits will know it might take a while between updates, but I hope you'll stick with me and this new story.
Until we meet again, May the Force be with you. Always.
