STAR WARS
Chapter 1: Taris Arrival
The padawan, Bastila Shan, now joined by a pair of Jedi Knights faced down the Dark Lord who had still yet to acknowledge their presence. Then slowly the Dark Lord of the Sith turned to face the impetuous Jedi who dared stood against the Sith Lord. The Dark Lord's face was covered by a blood red mask with black stripes, the infamous Mask of Mandalore, a sight that had terrorized the Galaxy long before this Lord's birth.
Now fully facing them the Sith reached for a pair of lightsabers that hung on her belt. Among the sabers the hung there were those taken from Jedi Council members the Sith Lord had personally slain: Master Sunrider, Master Polo, and Master Nataran.
Gathering her courage the Padawan brandished her golden saber and shouted, "You cannot win Revan!"
Revan… it was a name known throughout the Galaxy. It is strange that a single name, a five letter word can hold so much meaning: Heart of the Force, Renegade Jedi, Hero of the Rim, Bane of the Mandalorians, Mandalore the Great, Traitorous General, Fallen Knight, Self-proclaimed Sith, Butcher of the Republic, Killer of Jedi.
Hero…Savior…Conqueror…Villain.
Darth Revan made no reply expect for activating her pair of sabers; each producing an ominous blood shine blade.
The two Jedi Knights charged the Sith intent on ending the evil that stood before them. They came in from different angles each with radically different styles attempting to unbalance the more powerful Sith Lord. Revan stayed planted; blades held pointed at the ground till the last second when the Dark Lord reacted stepping back out of the way of the Jedi sabers, ducking and swerving avoiding the deadly beams of light.
Then as the Knights still in vain attempted to land a blow, the Sith Lord struck so swift that it was as a blur to the naked eye. The crimson blade effortlessly opened one of the knights like a ration bar, cleaving him in two.
The second Knight barely had enough time to realized what had happened before the Dark Lord caught the Jedi in a powerful Force Grip lifting the helpless Knight off the ground. Revan clenched her fist snapping his spinal column at the base of the skull.
As the body hit the ground with a thump the padawan lifted her saber in defense, for what little it was worth against such power. Then Revan did something unexpected; the Dark Lord shut down and returned her sabers to her belt.
"Bastila we need not fight," the specter of death spoke softly making a fist, "join me and we can end this destructive conflict, with your battle meditation and my martial skill this war can be over in weeks. Think of the lives you will save."
"I will not help you conquer the galaxy just so you can oppress it… Dark Lord," Bastila yelled.
"Then you doom yourself to an existence as a drone," Revan paused dramatically, "a slave of the Jedi Council. Join me and you can take your rightful place among the Sith. Think carefully Bastila… many would kill for such an honor."
"I am not a slave of-"Bastila started angered that this traitor would say such a thing.
"Oh but you are Bastila," Revan interrupted sternly, "you who wields such great power, such great ability but the council holds you back, makes you bow, call them 'master' all the while using your abilities to further their own ambitions." The Dark Lord shook her head, "You're a slave Bastila... nothing but a slave,"
Bastila stood still neither attacking nor accepting the Dark Lord's offer, she didn't want to believe Revan but her words made sense. In fact it made a little too much sense. Bastila felt Revan's words tear at her mind tempting her with visions of dark power threatening her very soul.
"So Bastila what do wa-" The Sith began anew but stopped suddenly and twirled around just in time to see twin bolts of green energy streaking towards the bridge. Time seemed to slow as the two bolts of highly destructive energy screamed through the void towards the bridge of the Flagship.
Then softly two words escaped Revan's lips not as a scream of hate, a burst of rage, a curse, but as a sad question, "Malak...why?"
XXX
Carth Onasi the former Captain of the Endar Spire sat in a hard metal chair in an abandoned apartment in the Upper City of the Sith infested world of Taris. Across from him tossing and turning in her sleep was the only member of his ship to survive the attack.
When they had crashed she had been knocked unconscious and bleeding profusely from a wound on her head. He had managed to find this apartment and a doctor to help her. Now she was asleep her head wrapped up in a kolto bandage.
As he was taking care of her it was when he first noticed the Mandalorian tattoos on her biceps and his paranoia took over. After all, the Republic had just fought a war with the Mandalorians and the remnants of their empire swore featly Revan and made up the bulk of her praetorian guard, the Black Hand.
Now as he sat over her he pulled out his data pad, brought up 'crew manifest' and typed in 'Rachel Skirta.' Once her personal file was up he began to read, she had be born on Concord Dawn, a Mandalorian world; her parents had died when she was six and she was found by Charles Norman a trader who adopted her and brought her back to Coruscant and raised her with his wife.
At seventeen she enlisted in the Republic Army during the Mandalorian wars and eventually was selected to join the elite Republic Commandos. She fought on Iridonia, Exers IV, the hellhole that was Dxun and a host of other battles eventually earning the Soldier's cross for her heroisms at Dxun.
After the war she left the Army holding the rank of Staff Sergeant and became a bounty hunter durning the brief interim between the Mandalorian War and the start of this one. Carth curled his lip in disgust at her choice of jobs.
In his mind he couldn't see why someone would leave an honorable career in the Military to become a bounty hunter. When the war started up again she had attempted to stay out of it until for some reason she accepted a contract from the Jedi.
Confused as why the Jedi would want anything to do with a lowly bounty hunter he attempted to find anything that would shed a clue on the reason, but either he couldn't find it or it was classified above his clearance level. Settling on the cautious side he made a cup of caffa then sat back down cradling his mug, his blaster pistol out and lying on his lap.
XXX
Groaning Rachel grasped her head and sat up slowly in her bed. As she did she carefully opened her eyes, "Ahh my head," she whimpered and let out a stream of curse that would have made a hutt blush.
"Hey take it easy you took quite a bump on the head," a strong voice said gruffly, "Names Carth Onasi… I a… was captain of the Spire.
Swiping at him with her arm she growled out, "Not so loud."
Then her eyes snapped open as she felt the chilly air on her skin, her naked skin. Gathering up her blankets around her to protect her modesty she glared at the man. If looks could kill there would be nothing left of Carth Onasi.
"Where… the… hell… are… my…. clothes… Captain," she said through gritted teeth.
Blushing Carth stammered, "Well um you see when we crashed," he hurriedly explained, "You hit your head and were bleeding. Your clothes got drenched so I threw them out."
"My armor," she shrieked; that armor was the only thing she had left of her birth parents and if he threw it out, Captain or not, naked or not she would kill him right there.
"No that was easily cleaned I just had to hose it down, uhmm here," reaching around he grabbed a bag and titled it so she could see it was filled with clothes, "There all used, though I washed them as well as I could."
Snatching the bag from him she sighed, "Sorry I'm just out of my just out of my element," she apologized getting her first good look at him. His face was handsome in a rugged way and she decided she liked the whiskers that were now shadowing the man's face. His forehead was nearly always creased in tension, or concentration, but right now he was giving her a soft encouraging smile and the lines were gone. It occurred to her that she hadn't even thanked him for saving her life.
"Thanks for saving my life. It's just I like to get to know a man before he see me naked," she smiled offering up her sweetest smile as he laughed at her comment.
Standing up clutching the sheets around her as she headed towards the small refresher room, "Be right back," she promised with a suggestive wink before she cracked up and let out a little laugh.
Five minutes later Rachel emerged from the refresher dressed in a pair of dark trousers and a tank top that prominently displayed her Mandalorian tattoos. Walking over she grabbed a cup of caffa and sat next to Carth, "So what's going on since I've been out?"
Shifting in his chair Carth sighed, "Taris as you probably know has been under Sith Occupation for close to seven months though it's anything from being a loyal planet."
Rachel had a sad look on her face then seeing Carth's question forming, "Yeah I been here before the Upper City isn't that bad, but the lower you go the worse it gets and everything here is legal, for a price, slavery, extortion, prostitution, anything, " she finished disgusted.
"Ok back to more important things," Carth said with the weight in his voice that came from being a Naval Captain, "There is a chance that Bastila is on Taris and alive so we need to find her."
At that Rachel's jaw dropped, "….Yeah… right. You expect us to find one person on a planet of about a trillion souls. Even if we can avoid the Sith who, by the way, are going put all hands on deck to get her where would we even start?"
Grimacing Carth had to know just as well it would be nigh impossible to find Bastila, but also knowing that he had to try, "Listen Rachel, Bastila is more important to the Republic war effort than most people realize-"
"Cause of her battle meditation thing," she interrupted, rapping her finger on her cup.
"Yes that battle meditation thing, through the Force Bastila can inspire her allies and sap the will of her foes, she is one of the main reasons the Republic's still in this war. She also is the one who killed Darth Revan," Carth said raising his glass of caffa in a silent toast.
"Yeah I heard she killed Revan, though I never really could believe it. I mean come on Revan killed Mandalore only to be done in by a stuck up Jedi Princess, I guess the Force does have a sense of irony," she finished with a laugh.
Carth smiled even though it seemed a little forced, "So you're the bounty hunter where do we start?"
"The local Cantina is all ways a good place to start," she smirked as she strapped her side-arm to her leg
XXX
As far as Cantina's went this one, Rachel decided, wasn't that bad she mused as she sat at the bar drinking her beverage. The drink and food actually seemed somewhat edible; the atmosphere was not choked with smoke and the establishment was fairly clean, no not too bad at all, considering the places she had been.
The reason they were here was three-fold, one was find any information regarding the Republic escape pods that crashed in the Lower City. Two, was to find some information that could get them past the security checkpoint the Sith had set up that prevented anyone from traveling to the Lower city without their express permission. Three, was too sure up their finances.
Between them they only had about six hundred credits not nearly enough for this kind of operation. The most frustrating part was that she had several thousand credits of spending money in a separate account, but if she drew from it, it would probably alert Republic Intelligence she was alive and on Taris, which in turn might alert Sith Intel or worse the Black Hand.
Shivering slightly, she had just barely escaped the obsidian armored killers, the Black Hand, a few months ago and it was not something she wanted to repeat. Taking a deep sip of her drinkshe gave a barely perceivable nod to Carth who was at the Pazzak table.
The man was quite the card shark, and turned back to her 'date,' a low ranking Sith Infantry Officer. She was currently trying to get whatever information she could out of him, by getting him drunk as possible. It was the oldest trick in the book, but that just meant it was tried and true.
"Sooo," the drunken soldier, Yun, she thought was his name drawled, "A couple of the junior officers are having a party tonight and I was…" he paused to hiccup, "do you want to come."
"No I…" she started then suddenly a though hit her, a Sith party for Sith Officers, maybe she could swipe a pair of uniforms for her and Carth. The more she thought about it the more it would work, with the Sith full body armor and face concealing helmet and the fact that the guards at the check point didn't seem too attentive… it just could work.
"Where is it," she quickly changed gears.
If the officer noticed her sudden turnabout he didn't say anything, "2130 at the North Apartments section B, room 131."
Marking the time and place down on her data pad, offered the man her best smile as he got up and left having to report for duty soon. She carefully maintained the smile until she was sure he left then let it fall as she quickly downed the rest of her drink in a single gulp.
"So learn anything interesting," Carth said sitting down next to her glaring at her with his piercing brown eyes.
One thing she had learned about the Captain was he could be a bit paranoid, not all that surprising considering that his mentor Saul Karath was now head of Malak's personal fleet and that the Admiral had devastated Carth's homeworld, which was also his own. Rachel felt there was more to it but she wasn't about to ask, not yet.
Rachel lifted her arms up to rest them on the bar, "Yes actually I did Carth," she said smirking as ordered another scotch, "I'm going to a party tonight."
She nearly lost it as she watched his face went from confused to shocked to downright angry "You what…" he nearly shouted, "I can't believe you were supposed to be trying to find information on Bast…"
Then realizing they were in a very public place on a Sith controlled planet and realizing that shouting the name of the person on the top of the Sith's Most Wanted list wasn't a very good idea he calmed down… a bit, "We're supposed to be looking for her, not going to parties," he hissed.
"Easy flyboy," Rachel said with a placating gesture.
Once Carth was a little more relaxed Rachel continued, "The first order of business is to get to the lower city, right."
"Of course."
"And to do that were going to need to do is get by the security checkpoint," she continued leading him on.
"Rachel," he groaned, "get on with it."
"My plan is arrive at the party when its almost over claim I forgot what time it was then wait for a chance to swipe a few uniforms-"
"What makes you think you'll get that chance," he inquired hotly.
Raising an eyebrow she smirked, "Have you ever tried Tarisian Ale?"
Carth at least at the good grace to blush, "Yeah, on my first Tour of Duty… strong stuff," he finally added.
"A couple of fresh officers on their first tour, it'll be easy," she finished with a snap of her fingers.
XXX
Rachel and Carth stood outside apartment 131 she was dressed in a short sleeve shirt and tight pants the clung to her in all the right ways.
"Alright we're here," Carth ground out is hand resting on his gun belt, he didn't like it but he was smart enough to realize that this was their best shot. Then he turned and clapped her on the shoulder, "Good luck Rachel," he said giving her his most encouraging smile.
Nearly three hours later Rachel stormed out of the apartment cursing, clutching a large bag and her head.
"Rachel you alright," Carth asked rushing up to her.
"No I'm not 'alright," she growled, "would you be all right if you spent the last three hours being groped by a butt-ugly Sith Officer."
Chuckling he amended, "I guess not," then in a more serious tone, "Did you get the uniforms?"
Rachel wordlessly opened the bag revealing two gleaming suits of Sith Infantry Armor with 2nd Lieutenant insignia emblazoned on their shoulders on them. The fact that the suits were all encompassing meant that unlike the uniform of Republic Soldiers you wouldn't be able to tell who was wearing the suit until you took the helmet off.
"I tried to find ones that were about our size," she shrugged.
Carth nodded in approval and understanding. The pair then donned the Sith Armor making sure that they were completely covered and unrecognizable. Once ready they made their way out of the apartment complex and onto the street.
They walked for several minutes in silence before Rachel stooped realizing that Carth wasn't beside her. Franticly she looked around nearly sighing as she saw him standing a few meters behind her simply staring into the sky.
"Carth," she hissed very aware that they were standing on a public street occupied by pedestrians and even an odd Sith patrol, "Come on."
Then noticing a man staring at them she said with as much malice in her voice as possible, "You have a problem citizen."
The man paled and stammered, "no-no ahh nothing Sir... er or maam …I'll be going now," then took off down the street as fast as his legs could carry him.
Shaking his head Carth muttered, "Sorry."
The pair continued to walk down the road when Rachel interrupted, "So what were you looking at?"
"The Leviathan," he said his voice full of rage as his hands trembled slightly.
Leviathan, the word echoed in Rachel's brain… the Leviathan, "Admiral Karath's flagship…The Sith Flagship?" she said questioningly looking up in the sky to see if she could see the Sith ship.
"That's the one and it's gone now," he added as he saw her looking for it.
"So you got some kinda personal grudge against Karath," she inquired.
"He's a traitor, a defector and a Sith," Carth hissed angrily as if that was all, Rachel didn't buy it for a second.
Nudging him to look at the Sith Patrol that just passed them, "So are they, but I don't see you freaking out. I'm sorry Carth it just seemed more personal than that."
Carth was quiet for so long Rachel thought he wasn't going to answer, "Telos," came is quiet and sad reply, "I had a wife and son on Telos."
In the opening days of the war Telos had been a Republic fortress world on the Outer-Rim and one of the few that had escaped the scars of the Mandalorian Wars. However as a show of strength to the Republic and as a test of loyalty for the recently defected Admiral Saul Karath, Malak ordered the devastation of Telos, an order which Karath followed by destroying every sign of civilization on the world.
It had been just the first of many atrocities committed by Darth Malak and the Sith under his command, furthering the difference between Malak and his Master. Revan unlike Malak never destroyed more than was necessary. The former Dark Lord was concerned about the 'hearts and mind' of the galactic populace.
After all why destroy worlds when you could bring the over to your side willingly? Revan had been a charismatic figure who had convinced nearly the entire Republic Outer Rim Fleet to defect to the Sith as well as the Outer Rim worlds. Revan's Sith represented an alternate form of government separate to the rising corruption in the Republic.
Ironically Malak had done far more damage to the Sith then the Republic ever had. His brutal methods and sadistic tendencies had turned allies wary, edged those who had been unsure about their allegiance to the Republic and vindicated their enemies' warnings.
Feeling her chest tighten Rachel opened her mouth to tell him how sorry she was but closed it when she realized how meaningless such words would be and that they were approaching the security check point for the elevator.
The check point consisted of four Sith trooper two of which were leaning up against the wall while the other two were sitting at a table playing cards. Apparently the Sith didn't think that manning the elevator checkpoint the Upper City was a dangerous position.
Either that or these Outer Rim garrisons were manned by second and third-rate troopers while all the rest were at the front in the Mid and Inner-Rim. As they drew closer one of the Sith soldiers with a corporal's insignia etched on his armor jumped to his feet calling the others to attention.
"Sirs, How may I help you," the Sith asked saluting.
"Unlock the elevator corporal," Carth said his gruff no-nonsense 'officer voice' after returning the salute.
"Yes sir," the corporal answered and quickly ordered one of his men to unlock the elevator, "Be careful those biker gangs will take a shot any one even us. Oh and sir, Captain Marshall has established his HQ by the elevator to the Under City just head left until to reach the end of the walkway."
"Thank you Corporal," Carth said dismissively as he and Rachel entered the elevator.
The short three minute elevator ride to the lower city was uneventful. Once arriving the pair quickly made their way off the elevator. As the rounded the corner they walked in on a gang dispute. Two handfuls of biker thugs were going at it with one another with virbo blades, regular daggers and heavy pieces of pipe.
Blades slashed and blood flew and as the last members of the rival gang died the leader of the survivors looked up and saw Carth and Rachel standing at the elevator exit, "Sith," the leader's eyes narrowed dangerously and he growled in barely understandable basic, "You're kind aren't welcome here. Get'em boys!"
"Firefek," Rachel swore as she hoisted her carbine and Carth drew his twin blaster pistols. Rachel shot two of the charging bikers dead while the second one closed the distance and took a swipe at her with his vibro-sword. The biker's sword swung at her chest and Rachel got her carbine up to block the blow though it knocked the weapon from her hands.
Stepping back to give herself space Rachel withdrew the dagger she had hidden in her boot and held it defensively in a reverse grip daring the biker to attack her. She knew that her best chance was to dodge or block his strike then quickly get under his guard.
The gang member clumsily swung his sword just as Rachel hoped. Dodging the strike she used her free arm to grasp the biker arm pushing the blade farther away from her body and brought the her dagger up hard against his throat. The surprise alien fell to the ground uselessly grabbing the bloody gash at his neck.
Spinning around she saw Carth grappling with another alien. Her seasoned eye saw Carth was slowly losing the fight as the alien's dagger was inch by inch growing closer to Carth's chest. Cocking her arm she threw her own weapon sending it sailing across the hallway imbedding itself in the alien's chest.
Breathing heavily Carth pushed the dead body off him and removed Rachel's knife from the biker handing it back to her. Removing his helmet he said, "Thanks for saving my life… beautiful."
Rachel cleaned her knife then slid it back into her boot, "No proble-" then something his last words hit her and she glanced up to stare him right in the eyes. Slowly an odd smirk played over her face, "Carth… are you flirting with me."
Blushing, he coughed probably not expecting to be called on it, "Um yeah I guess I'm."
Her smirk growing, "I like it," she added.
A small smile touched his lips, "What saving my life or flirting."
"A little of both," she said saucily.
The pair shared a moment of silence before Carth replaced his helmet, "I think we should get moving we need to find Bastila."
The walk to the Sith Checkpoint was largely uneventful. The worst they had to endure was the frightful and sometimes hateful glares of the Lower City inhabitants. The Checkpoint itself was defended by two E-web automated turrets. There also was a platoon of Sith troopers fully armed and geared up who had just stacked into the elevator headed for the Under City.
"Halt," shouted one of the sentries as Carth and Rachel approached the checkpoint.
"Ah sirs… joining up with a patrol," the sentry, a sergeant by the markings on his armor, asked lazily.
"Yes, Sergeant," Rachel said thinking quick on her feet, "We're replacements for a unit that lost is officers."
"Glad I'm not you two," the sergeant said laughing along with the rest of the four man sentry team, "From what I heard it's a nightmare down there like something right out of a horror holo."
"Alright that sounds… nice," Carth added tentatively taking a step towards the elevator.
Quickly blocking him the sergeant held out his hand, "Whoa, whoa sir let me see your security clearance."
"Security Clearance," Rachel asked in what she hoped wasn't a surprised tone, if the sergeant thought that this was something they should know he might get curious and comm his commanders. If that happened then they might realize that Carth and Rachel were imposters, then things would get hairy.
But to their relief the sergeant merely sighed in disgust, "You left your papers back at the base."
The sergeant then muttered something under his breath in another language then said out loud, "Well not two just march right back up to your base and get your papers."
"Hey can't-" Carth protested.
"No I can't," the sergeant said vehemently, "No one goes to that vermin infested Under City without clearance, those are the orders of the Governor," finishing with a shudder.
It was a well-known fact that when the Sith conquered a world a Dark Jedi was installed as the planet's governor until it was deemed 'properly reeducated' and a new civilian government loyal to the Sith could be installed.
Placing a hand on Carth's shoulder Rachel said, "Come on lets go get those papers."
Once they were out of range of the checkpoint and safely around the corner Carth ripped off his helmet, "Shavit, what the hell are we supposed to do now?"
Removing her own helmet and letting her frustration surface she yelled, "Your Captain Republic here why don't you think of something for a change!"
Wincing as Carth looked around to see if anyone had heard her outburst, "Rachel quiet."
Her face reddened in annoyance at her unprofessionalism as she realized she could have just blown their cover, "Sorry," she muttered.
"So now what there's no way we can forge the security papers," Carth said leaning up against the wall.
The pair stood there quietly both their minds racing for an answer when Rachel stomach rumbled causing her to blush for the second time in ten minutes and Carth to break out in an infectious laughter which caused Rachel to laugh as well.
Once the laughter calmed down Carth jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "I think there was a cantina back that'a'way."
Going wide-eyed and dramatically placing her hands on her stomach she groaned, "Good 'cause I'm starving."
"Well let's take off these giant silver bull-eyes," Carth ordered, "I'd hate to get shot on the way to dinner."
Rachel snickered at that, "Oh yes that would just be a terrible ending to the perfect day... okay turn around.
"Pardon?"
"I'm going to change," she said removing her scout armor from her bag and as she began to remove pieces of the Sith Armor.
"Oh."
The pair quickly and quietly changed, Carth into his orange jacket and black pants and his pistol holstered menacingly on his hips. Rachel changed into her version of Mandalorian Scout Armor. Unlike other Mandalorian Armor at the time which provided fully body protection, the Scout armor consisted of Mandalorian Iron plates covering the chest, back, upper arms and legs.
The scout armor was far lighter and granted a greater freedom of motion then its assault cousins. However her slightly modified version forwent the arm armor so that she could display her Mandalorian clan tattoos, something she had found discouraged a fight even more than the armor itself.
As they came to the Cantina door which had the large sign with the imprinted words "Javyar's Cantina" they ran into a large burly looking Rodian bouncer.
"Welcome to Javyar's, leave problems at door… no fights… I crack heads," the bouncer said in thick huttese.
"Alright," Rachel said as her and Carth entered the building.
Immediately on entrance their sense were assaulted by the atmosphere of the cantina. The scent of smoke and unwashed bodies hung heavy in the air of the dingy cantina. Various beings of various species sat around getting intoxicated or eating. There were also several dancers mostly scantily clad humans and Twi'leks females dancing nearly obscenely on the dance stage.
However Rachel's attention was drawn to a brewing confrontation between a short man dressed in a blue overcoat that looked like it concealed some kind of body armor and wearing what looked like a sun cap and speeder goggles. Around him were a bunch of alien biker thugs gang members jeering and scorn the diminutive man. The man looked familiar but she just couldn't place his face.
"Go away," the short man said him a bored tone. However something about the man's tone set her senses on edge.
"Hey you no talk like that we just wanted to talk to big bad bounty hunter Calo Nord," the Alien said.
Calo Nord? Rachel turned back to study the man's features and sure enough the name and face clicked. Calo Nord was one of the most ruthless bounty hunters there was he always killed his bounty no matter what. Rumors had said that as a child he was sold as a slave and at sixteen he killed his master them hunted down a killed his parents for selling him. It was said that he had a body count to rival that of Darth Revan… an exaggeration to be sure, but still.
"Hey this can't be Calo Nord," one of the other alien's said mockingly, "He's supposed to be tough but this guy's just a runt."
"One," the mass murdering bounty hunter counted.
"One?" the first alien laughed, "What you trying to be funny."
"Yeah," the second alien retorted puffing out his chest and trying to look tough, "Do you know who we are funny guy, we're the Black Vulkars so you better not try anything funny with us."
"Two."
"Me no understand," the first alien questioned scratching his antenna "One? Two? Why he count? Is he trying to count how many of us are against him?"
"Well," second alien yelled, "There are three of us against one of you, what do you say against those odds, funny guy. Well? You got something to say."
"Three," and Calo Nord exploded into action, quick-drawing his two heavy blaster pistols and firing four shots. The first two bolts simultaneously killed the two Vulkars that had been flanking the first and before the surviving gang member could even draw a weapon Calo Nord shifted and put two more bolts in the last alien's head.
No doubt shocked by the brutal display Carth dropped his hands to his blasters but Rachel reached out and grabbed his arm, "It's the way things work down here Carth, shhh"
As if to futher her point most of the other patrons didn't even blink and simply continued their business avoiding the fresh corpses until one of the bars hired muscle came by to clean up. Carth looked uneasy but decided to follow Rachel's example as she had spent more time in the Galaxy's dregs than he. Making their way over to the bar they sat down at an empty stool. Rachel rested elbows on the table propping her arms up so the mnythosuars skull, the symbol of the Mandalorian clans, tattooed on her biceps was prominently displayed.
As the bartender came over he gulped at the sight of the tattoo. The sight of a Mandalorian was always fear inspiring given the destruction they unleashed on the Galaxy in the Mandalorian Wars. That fact that most of their race now served Revan as her praetorian guard and private death commandos did nothing to dissuade that aura of fear.
"What will it be miss," the cubby bartender asked beats of sweat dripping down his face and staining his shirt.
"A Mandalorian Firewater, and a tarx-masher," Rachel answered, "Carth?"
"Corellian brandy and a bantha steak."
A few minutes later their food arrived and the pair began to eat and discuss possible ways to get into the lower city.
"Shooting our way in is impossible they have enough fire powered to hold off a company," Carth wearily.
"I agree, but there has to be some other way into the Lower City."
"Maybe-" Carth started to say but Rachel silenced him as she noticed they had an intruder.
"Can I help you?" Rachel asked. The 'intruder' was a blue Twi'lek female probably around fourteen or fifteen Rachel guessed
"Hi I'm Mission," was the girl's cheerful reply.
"Rachel," Rachel said indicating herself, "and this is Carth. Carth way don't you go play cards or something while Mission and I talk."
Carth hesitated for a second then got up and made his way over to the pazzak table, not understanding but trusting his partner. The man had a stick up his ass the size of a Republic cruiser and he had an aura of authority about him she didn't think would go over well here.
The smiling teen hoped on the bar stool next to them and said, "You two must be pretty new here, cause Zaalbar I know everyone here."
"Zaalbar?"
"My best friend, he's… right over there," she said pointing.
Rachel's eyes followed Mission's arm until she found Zaalbar, "Wow, you don't see many Wookiees off Kashyyysk."
"Kashyyysk?"
Frowning Rachel said, "It's the Wookiee homeworld, he's never talked about it?"
"No Zaalbar doesn't talk much about home."
"So Mission you seem like a knowledgeable person," Rachel said quickly changing the subject.
Beaming the young Twi'lek agreed, "There's no one who knows more about the Lower City than me and Zaalbar."
"Good, do you know any ways into the Under City that the Sith might not know about," Rachel asked.
"Well…" Mission trailed off looking thoughtful.
Rachel having experience in the seedier parts of the galaxy knew instantly what the girl was looking for and slid a twenty credit chit across the table.
Snatching it up quickly she answered, "No all routes into the Under City are either guarded by soldiers or electronics. No one can come or leave without the permission of the Sith Governor."
Rachel while externally remain calm, internally was upset. She and Carth needed to check out the crashed escape pods to see if they could find any trace of Bastila. Not for the first time she wondered why exactly she was doing this.
She held no true love for the Republic or the Jedi. Glancing over at Carth she saw that he was engorged in his Pazzak game, sighing she realized she was doing this because it was important to him. Event though it was stupid she felt like she owed ham Rachel wasn't one to let a debt go unpaid.
"However there might be someone who can help you," Mission continued interrupting Rachel musings.
"Who," Rachel asked sliding out another credit chip.
Grabbing the chip she said, "Gadon Thek, he's the leader of the Hidden Beks."
"A Swoop Bike gang," she said questioningly.
"Yeah, and don't give me that look the Beks are all right, they're an honorable group unlike those scumbag Vulkars," the young alien said defensively, "Go to Gadon he hates the Sith as much as anyone I'm sure he might be able to help you."
"For a price?"
Mission shrugged, "It's the way things work down here," then standing up she smiled, "It's been a pleasure meeting you Rachel but I should go before Zaalbar eats everything."
Walking off she yelled out, "Come on Big Z lets go."
The Wookiee then growled out something that Rachel thought meant, 'But I haven't had my fourth helping,' or something to that extent her wookieespeak was a little rusty.
Paying for her meal she stood up and waved Carth over to explain what was going on.
XXX
So far, as far as Rachel could tell Gadon Thek seemed like a pretty straight shooter. He was a man with a set of principles who followed them even if they hurt. His 'gang' was less of a criminal group than a group just trying to survive in the lower city. The man as Rachel was learning was also a talented negotiator.
"So there's no way past the Sith checkpoints and into the Under City," Carth grumbled.
The leader of the Hidden Beks sat down at his desk, "Why do you want to go down there. It's not exactly a friendly place."
"We're looking for a friend," Rachel started the deciding to go out on a limb. It wasn't like they had much of a choice any way, "A Republic officer. We think her pod crash landed in the Under City."
Carth ever the soldier immediately tensed and threw Rachel a glare.
"Don't worry your secret's safe with me," he said holding up his hands in a placating gesture, "I'm no friend of the Sith."
"You have a problem with the Sith then," Rachel asked wanting to know where he stood. Taris had been under Sith occupation almost since the start of the war. It was plenty of time for certain people to get in cozy with their new masters.
"Damn straight, a foreign army marches in conquers the planet and declares martial law and you think I am all right with that," he yells standing up and pacing about the room,"Blast, if only this fracking swoop war would end. Then our strength wouldn't be wasted against each other and we could drive the Sith out of the Lower City. If they ever came back we'd use guerilla tactics, hit and run strikes; their causalities would be enormous."
Rachel barely contained a snort at the man's optimism and Carth had no problem voicing his doubts, "I don't think the Sith would be that easily beat. They've had a lot of practice overrunning worlds and ou wouldn't last long against any dedicate anti-insurgency forces."
The pair looked like they were about to argue when Rachel stepped in, "Alright boys, settle down. Mr. Thek about the Under City?"
"Actually I believe we can help each other," he said a grin sliding over his face, "See the young woman you're talking about is a prisoner of the Black Vulkers and they have put here up for collateral for the Taris swoop race. If you don't know the Taris Season Opener is incredibly important event here in the Lower City. If the Vulkers win they will gain enough support to wipe us out and if we win we can force the Vulkers to a peace settlement."
"How can we help," was Carth's guarded question.
"My best mechanic managed to create an accelerator for one of the bikes that will ensure our victory."
"But…" Rachel inquired just waiting for the other shoe to drop."
The old man let out a sigh, "It was stolen; get it back and I let you ride it and you'll be a sure-fired winner. It's the only way you'll be able to rescue your friend."
"Where do we find the Vulker base," asked Rachel wearily.
"The main entrance is at the end of the Southeast corridor," Thek explained, "but you'll never get through that door it's too heavily guarded. However there is a secret entrance in the Under City. A young Twil'lek by the name of Mission Vao and her Wookiee friend Zaalbar know where."
Carth looked alarmed, "What she could have been more than fifteen years and she goes running around in the Under City?"
Rachel felt alarm too but didn't show it, "Well with a Wookiee at your side I guess you can deal with the odd threat," she said to carth before turning back to the old man, "but Gadon that still leaves us getting past the checkpoint and down to the Under City."
Gadon smiled a smile of a man who held a winning hand and knew it," While you can't get around the checkpoint you might be able to go through it."
Carth huffed, "With all the firepower they got?"
"No with these," he said laying two white pieces of paper on the desk, "These are Sith security papers saying that the bearer of these is a licensed private contractor in the service of the Planetary Governor; they're forged of course."
Rachel eye's went wide leading down she examined the documents. They all seemed to appear genuine as far as she could tell. With these they could hopefully get into the Under City without any further problems from the Sith. Rachel leaned forward and reached out to take them but they were snatched away.
"Ah hah," Gadon said waging an eyebrow, "I'll give you these in exchange for the Sith Armor you used to buff your way down here."
Crossing her own arms she put on a curious look, "And what do you want with a couple of Sith Uniforms?"
"I'm trying to formant a resistance movement against the Sith," Gadon explained, "Having Sith uniforms on hand might make things easier."
Agreeing Rachel and Carth surrendered their uniforms in return for the Security papers, "Thank you," Thek said signaling two of his people to come in and take the uniforms.
"It's late," he said holding his hands out in a welcoming gesture, "and I prepared quarters for you."
Rachel hesitated before realizing that man was right. It was late and she was dead tired. Her muscles ached and she was having trouble keeping focused. Smiling she replied, "Thank you for your hospitality."
Stood and led them out of his office and handed them off to a young biker. The man led them through the Beks main base until they arrived outside one of the many identical rooms in the facility, "Well here you are," he said and then promptly left them alone.
"Hey.. ahh, thanks I think," Carth called out lamely.
"Damn," Rachel said softly open seeing their sleeping arrangements. The room was furnished like a small apartment with a single medium sized bed up against the far wall.
"What's… oh," Carth echoed.
"Blast… Carth," Rachel started feeling her stomach flutter.
Sighing Carth set his bag down and ever the officer gentleman said, "I'll take the floor."
Dropping her own bag she responded, "Carth, no it's alright were adults," smiling nervously, "I promise not to molest you in your sleep or something like that."
Carth chuckled and left the room to use the refresher while Rachel stripped down to her bra and underwear and climbed into bed. A few minutes later Carth returned wearing naught but his shorts.
Rachel grinned slightly as she saw his well-muscled body, hardened by nearly six years of non-stop fighting. He may be a slightly paranoid office type but Rachel had to admit he was easy on the eyes. Even if he was a good bit older than she was.
Suddenly she glanced over to the pile of her armor and her bodysuit lying along the wall. Maybe it wasn't such of a good idea to strip down to her undergarments. Looking back up had him she sighed under her breath that when she got out of here she need to get laid… and bad.
Carth climbed into the other side of the bed and pulled up the covers, "Night Rachel."
"Night Carth."
XXX
A young 10 year old Rachel…no Revan was playing with her pet strill in the forest behind her mother's house on Errdus III, a small planet in the Outer-Rim. Revan knew enough that her mother had been a Mandalorian and had been forced to leave the clans. She wasn't sure why but Revan believed that it had something to do with her and the reason she didn't have a father.
Though if the young girl was honest with herself she didn't need a father, her and her mother got along just fine.
"Come here Mir," she called out to the strill. The answer came quick as the meter long furry flying reptile swept down out of the trees and landed right next to her. Giving the creature a big hug Revan said, "Come on Mir we got to get back home before mom starts worrying."
It was getting dark out so the girl and her pet began walking back to her house. When they reached the house Revan knew immediately that something was wrong. It wasn't a feeling she could put into words. She had had this feeling several times before and it had never failed her.
Not quite knowing why she was so worried Revan began to pick up speed and broke into a run towards her house. As if sensing its master's fear the strill began to run as well.
Upon reaching the house Revan felt her fears multiply. The front door was kicked in with the hinges broken. Moving quietly she entered the house, Mir following right behind he. The hallways and rooms that once provided security now filled her with fear. Suddenly she heard a deep angry voice.
"Where is your little bastard, Mirta," Revan heard the voice say and realized it was coming from the living from. Making her way to the living room she felt her heart well up in her throat as she saw her mother on her knees bleeding from a gash on her head and a split lip. Her assailants were three massive Mandalorian Supercommandos, encased in their white and silver armor.
"She's gone I sent her away from her," her mother spat.
Seemingly displeased with her answer the leader backhanded her hard across the face, "You lie! Is she here? Where are you hiding her?"
"She's gone," Revan's Mother repeated spitting blood from her mouth.
Drawing his pistol the warrior placed the barrel between her eyes, "Then you are useless to me," he said and pulled the trigger.
"NO" Revan screamed tears streaming down her face as the bolt from the pistol tore through her mother's face and her body dropped to the floor lifeless. Upon hearing the scream the three commandos turned lifting their weapons and training them on the young girl, but they held their fire.
"There you are little one and just so you know it gives me no honor to kill children but I have my orders," the leader said shrugging.
"Why," was Revan's simple question?
"Because Mandalore has ordered it. He wishes you dead for some reason," the lead commando answered honestly, "Now you die little one."
As he finished the sentence Mir shot out from behind Revan leaping up onto the leader and sinking its fangs into the weak point in the armor were the helmet and breastplate meet. A strill's fangs were long and sharp and Mir's bit cut deep into the commando's neck. The strill itself was long lived and had killed men before and knew were to strike.
The commando had to know he was dead as he felt the strills fangs puncture his jugular. The commando fell to the ground as the strill jumped off him and he grabbed uselessly to stem the tide of blood following from his neck.
The other two commandos though caught off guard reacted as one would expect of Mandalorian Elites, quickly and deadly. The surviving commandos quickly blasted the offending strill and the turned their weapons of Revan intent on finishing their mission.
Revan's grief and loss had now turned into rage and suddenly Revan felt something she never felt before. A red veil seemed to fall across her vision and all she wanted was those men dead for murdering her mother and Mir.
Revan screamed and the power of the dark-side, though she didn't know what the power was, was unleashed. The two commandos raised their arms in a useless gesture to ward off the wave of dark power. The Force ripped through them reducing them to misty free floating particles of blood leaving Revan with her mother's mutilated body as she drifted into blackness
XXX
Carth woke up sometime in the middle of the night and found his and Rachel's limbs interwoven and her head buried into his chest. Not wanting to wake her up he simply lay their admiring her. For the first time since they had landed he allowed himself to truly admire her. She was beautiful he thought as he ran his hand through her shoulder length blonde hair.
"Hmmm," came the noise from the sleeping woman.
Carth froze afraid he was going to wake her and find himself in a compromising position. However he grew more concerned as her breathing grew erratic and she began to toss and turn and mumble. The young woman's face was a mask of terror and her eyes darted rapidly beneath her eyelids.
"Rachel, Rachel, wake up your having a nightmare," Carth whispered nudging her shoulders. When she didn't wake up he became worried and began to shake her slightly and began to speak a little louder.
"Carth?" she said weakly licking her cracked lips as tears streamed down her face.
Confused as to what was going on he simply nodded and asked, "What happened?"
She didn't answer and he was surprised when she buried her head in his chest and began to cry. Carth's instincts took over and he tightened his arms around the crying women and just held her whispering that it would be alright.
He didn't know what was bothering her and just lay their stroking her back as sobs racked her lithe body. In a way it made him uneasy. While he hadn't known her for long what he did know about said that she was strong, tough and disciplined. From what he'd read in her file she'd been through hell during the war. What could make her fall apart like this scared him more than he'd like to admit.
XXX
Rachel was the first to wake up rolling out of bed quietly so as not to wake Carth. Remembering the events of last night she cursed herself for falling apart. Sitting down she thumped her head with the heel of her palm.
"What the hell is going on," she groaned, these dreams were starting to scare her. Why of all people was she dreaming of the childhood of Revan the former Commanding General of the Republic Forces Outer-Rim turned Dark Lord of the Sith.
She had never even met the woman, Rachel frowned, or had she? Searching through her memories of the Mandalorian Wars she realized that as a member of 1st Special Forces Regiment Republic Army she must have met Revan. The unit had been under the ex-Jedi's personal command during Dxun and half a dozen other battles. So why couldn't she remember?
Grasping her head in her hands she groaned again, maybe it was just too early or maybe she had simply wanted to forget everything she had seen. Suddenly she heard a noise and spun around hand dropping for the knife in her boot. Carth was sitting up in bed blinking the sleep out of his eyes.
Catching his gaze she sighed somewhat embarrassed, "Carth about last night…"
"What about last night?" Carth said with a smile and Rachel knew there would be no conversation about last night and for that she was thankful. She held his gaze for several moments and felt a fluttering in her heart she at not felt for a long time.
Quickly she stood up and told Carth, "Let's get going we got to find Mission."
XXX
Command Structure of the Sith Empire of the Star Forge, by Lt. Commander Allison Dodonna deputy commander of Raithel Naval Academy
The command structure of the Sith Empire during what would become known as the Jedi Civil War was very particular. The Sith command contained elements of several different forms of government; a theocracy (rule by a religious body) because the Sith were a Dark side cult, a corruption of the Jedi Order. The government also has elements of a kratocracy (a rule by the strong) because the strongest Sith Lord must always rule and finally a Stratocracy (a rule in which the government is the military.)
The leader of the Empire was the titular the Dark Lord of the Sith. To be the Dark Lord the Sith in questioned had to be the strongest amongst those in the Sith Order. During the Jedi Civil War this title was held by two people, first by Revan the founder of the empire and later by Malak her apprentice and de-facto heir after her supposed death.
Underneath the Dark Lord the command split. Down one path sat the Council of Sith Lords. The number of chairs on the council depended on the size of the empire. In the opening days of the war Revan's Sith controlled most of the Outer Rim and an unknown portion of the Unknown Regions (See notes).This territory was split up under the lords Renault and Strumn, two of Revan's earliest converts. As the war progressed more Dark Jedi were granted the title of lord and territory to administer. At the height of the war there were known to be at least twelve lords. Each Sith Lord had the responsibility to keep order in his or her territory as well as protect it from enemies (i.e. the Republic.)
Under each lord was a Theater Command for their respective territories with the Sith Lord acting as the Theater Commander. The theater command was expected to maintain order throughout the multiple sectors, systems and planet's throughout its area of responsibility. The theater command then broke down as one would expect of normal military command.
The second command path from the Dark Lord was Sith High Command (HCOM) which controlled the Sith Empire's massive war machine. High Command consisted of two army High Generals, two High Admirals, a Marine General and the Dark Lord acting as the Chairman. Revan however appointed Field Marshal Karl von Swhartze of Corulag to chair high command because she often took personal command of one of the Fleet and Army Groups at Front.
As Revan often took command of the Fleet and Army groups with the toughest assignment it fell to High Command to conduct the strategic planning for the other fronts. After planning HCOM would submit plans to Revan for approval before implementation. Field Marshal Swhartze's genius was well known among military circles and he himself had served as General in Revan's army during the Mandalorian wars, so he plenty bloodied. Though the Field Marshal lacked Revan flair and ingenuity, under his charge Sith High Command became one of the most effective Military commands in the history of the galaxy, far out shinning its Republic Counterpart.
Though it should be noted after Malak's coup he had many of the members of High Command executed under vauge charges of treason as they were unwavering supporters of Revan. Malak then had them replaced with his sycophants greatly hampering HCOM's efficiency. The only survivor from the original command was Field Marshal Swhartze who was far too popular to simply kill off so Malak had him reassigned to the position Inspector General of the Army, a honorary but dead-end appointment, where he could not threaten the new Dark Lord.
Underneath High Command their existed multiple front commands both Army and Fleet which in turn broke down into individual fleets and armies and so on and so forth.
Notes:
There may have been additional Sith Lords active in the Unknown Regions though it remains a mystery.
Their also existed a shadow organization with the Sith Empire, The Dark Lord's Black Hand or simply the Black Hand. Little is known about this organization during the war except it was originally comprised of Mandalorians that swore loyalty to Revan (exact reason for this alliance is not known) and former Republic Special Forces operatives and it reported directly to Revan.
Towards the end of the war the Black Hand in addition to its intelligence and special operations roles the Black Hand could field close to a hundred combat divisions, at least thirty armored division, and six Sector Fleet sized elements all reporting directly to Darth Revan. It was a massive private armed forces Revan could call upon to fulfill her will independently of the regular armed forces. It also served as frightening deterrent for any Sith Lord or Dark Jedi tried to overthrow her.
This organization is believed to be responsible for the captured and or assignation of many Jedi during the War. Numbers remain unknown as does their exact mission. Also the Black Hand is believed to have opposed Malak's ascent to Dark Lord of the Sith, but any action taken before Revan's return is unknown.