Imperial Rule

Disclaimer: Mass Effect owned by Bioware Star Wars Owned by Disney.

Prologue to Chapter 3: Intriguing.

Aboard the Vengeance, Jerec's Flagship, Outside Capza, 4ABY.

Reyfra could barely contain his anger at his sparring opponent… Yun.

Yun's djem so strikes were far too strong and overpowering for Reyfra's defensive makashi wards, such that Reyfra was losing ground. The entire match had Reyfra rushing backwards for most of the fight.

With frustration and anger, Reyfra lost his poise as he struck with a ferocious blow aimed towards Yun's stance. As Yun motioned his blade to block Reyfra's strike. Refra changed direction and began to attack with a sun djem or disarmament move from a reverse angle with a high lunge for Yun's arm.

Yun saw the way that Reyfra motioned his arm which allowed Yun to know that Reyfra was going to attempt to disarm him. Yun moved his training blade with blistering speed and stopped the disarmament strike mid-way with a guard. With the strike abated, Yun quickly changed stance and struck with a quick reversing slash at Reyfra's unprotected back left leg. Yun's training blade caused arcs of electricity to scourge through Reyfra's body, causing Reyfra to fall to the ground in defeat.

Jerec, Yun's master clapped towards Yun. In Jerec's eye's the fight was over.

"Well done…"

With Jerec's praise, Yun smiled. Watching Yun being rewarded with praise and affection caused Reyfra to surge with ever greater feelings of hatred for his opponent.

Jerec felt Reyfra's growing anger through the force and smiled. Jerec was going to teach the adept an important lesson when it came to learning the intricacies of Form II. Never strike out with your anger, but instead focus the anger into perfect motions and perfect form as though it were a dance, a masterful dance of deadly grace and charm. Jerec was well versed in Form II as he was a master practitioner in the art of makashi himself.

Jerec raised both of his hands outstretched towards Reyfra before directing a small stream of arched force lightning through the dark side adept.

"Fool… do not use your hatred to strike at your opponent, but instead focus that hatred into your pose, into your form… again!"

Reyfra quickly returned to his footing before walking down to his end of the sparring room. Yun did the same by walking down to his end of the sparring room.

Reyfra announced the beginning of the fight by issuing the makashi salute followed by a flourish.

Yun came in for a ferocious strike, which Reyfra parried with some strength, however he continued to lose ground to his more ferocious opponent who lashed out with multiple blows that were withering away at Reyfra's guard.

Jerec spoke up to Reyfra from the corner of the room. "Focus your hatred, channel your anger."

Reyfra tried to do as he was asked, but nothing had changed. He was still loosing ground to Yun.

"Fool" Jerec held out his palms again before hurtling out a stream of arching lightning to Reyfra.

Reyfra screamed in agony as his muscles clenched and surged from the barrage of electric currents from Jerec's force lightning.

Reyfra delved deep within himself as he started to pull out his anger piece by piece, remembering past events that angered him, remembering Yun's triumph... that smug face. Reyfra's resolve was slowly being reinvigorated by his new-found hatred, he would act upon it.

Reyfra began to stand up against the arching bolts of lightning, focusing all of his strength on a single strike towards Yun's exposed right hand.

-Klaaack-

Reyfra had won, he had successfully disarmed his opponent. The sound of Yun's training blade striking against the floor emerged through the room, Yun's defeat was certain.

But Reyfra was not content, not yet.

Reyfra was urged forward by his sadistic instincts to destroy his opponent. Reyfra reigned blow after blow after vicious blow against the now defenseless Yun, who was straining from each one of the repeated shocks of Reyfra's training blade. Yun's face had turned pink with bruises.

Jerec raised his hand into the air, a declaration that Reyfra should stop what he was doing.

"You will make a worthy addition to my ranks..."

Reyfra, now pleased that he had defeated his opponent, threw the training blade to the ground before wiping away at the accumulated sweat that had gathered on Reyfra's forehead.

Reyfra kneeled to the floor as he began to address his Master.

"Master, i strive to serve in your honour."

Jerec simply stood up tall and waved his right hand casually in dismissal.

"You have beaten your opponent thoroughly, but remember that he is still alive. He will seek revenge for your actions, and you must continue your training further in order to truly defeat him in a real fight. If you kill Yun, you will take his place at my side."

Jerec paused for a moment as his comm-link beeped in.

"Intriguing... truly intriguing." Jerec licked his lips in idle curiosity, a trait that he was known for when he became interested on a subject.

Jerec turned to face Reyfra. "There is a matter i must attend to, return to your quarters and await for my arrival... we will have much to discuss."

Jerec resumed talking back into the comm-link. "Is that so... perhaps i shall ask that Gregor Raquoran be present as well. Very intriguing."

Jerec cut the comm-call, before switching to another line. "Inquisitorius Jerec here, have a shuttle prepped for my arrival in ten minutes."

Chapter 3: Approach at Entralla.

Entralla system, 4ABY.

Admiral Kast Colprie waited in his quarters for the arrival of his new slave, the Turian.

It took twelve hours for the technicians to gather all the data and store it into the Databank's. Once Kast arrived at Entralla he was going to transfer the data over to Imperial command, who would then send over the data to other Pentastar Alliance or Imperial remnant controlled planets.

Kast had enough information on hand to begin a steady line of conversation with his prisoner. If the slave told him lies, Kast would have him executed. If the slave answered Kast's question's truthfully, then he would live with Kast's word that he would not be harmed. With Kast's word, not a soul on board would even dare to touch a finger on the Turian, without being punished severely.

-tap tap tap-

Kast quickly straightened out his uniform before turning to face the door. "TC, get the door."

TC-8246 opened the door as a pneumatic hiss sounded through the room.

Kast saw two stormtrooper's holding the handcuffed Turian.

"Ah, good." Kast flicked his fingers as he dismissed the stormtroopers. "You may wait outside the door while i talk with the slave. Dismissed."

The stormtrooper's both saluted before leaving Kast alone in the room with the slave. Kast tapped at his blaster pistol to emphasize to the alien that he was armed, before motioning his hand to a bench. "Take a seat."

Kast turned to sit down on his Nerf leather seat. Upon sitting, Kast pulled out his datapad. Kast memorised a small portion of his questions before speaking. "You will answer all of my questions correctly, failure to do so will lead to your execution. Trust me when i say that i know if you are lying to me. Now that i have said all of that, i will begin..."

Kast placed his blaster pistol onto his desk, followed by his formal cap. The blaster pistol's presence was there to further emphasize that Kast held all the power.

"Tell me, what is the name of your homeworld?"

Galersius tried to answer with Palaven, he truly did, but the remaining loyalty to the homeworld remained behind in Galersius's heart. "Terra Nova, my homeworld is called Terra Nova."

Kast grasped his blaster pistol and held it to Galersius's face. "I am going to repeat that question one more time... and if you tell me another lie, this blaster will burn it's way through your leg's. If you lie again after that, i will blast away your arms. If you lie for a third time, i will give you the benefit of knowing what hell is like at the hand's of an IT-O Interrogation droid. You will suffer, but most importantly you will tell me everything i wish to know. Then you will linger for years on that one singular precipice of pain and torment. Now i will ask my question again... what is the name of your homeworld?"

"Palaven... my homeworld is Palaven."

Kast lowered his pistol back onto the table, before clapping his hands twice. "I see that you can be reasonable, those are good traits in an alien such as yourself... well done." Kast quickly fiddled with his datapad before arriving on a new question.

"You are a Turian, are you not?"

Galersius responded with the truth. "Yes, i am a Turian."

"And are you a military-led society?"

Galersius paused for a moment, then spoke up. "Yes, we are a military-led society."

Kast paused for a moment looking through Galersius's data files from the Batarian Hegemony. "Tell me, if you are a part of a military led society, then what were you doing working for a slaver vessel?"

Galersius quickly answered, hoping that his answer wouldn't be received the wrong way. "To make enough money to fund my own band... to... to... to take on human colonies."

Kast brought up a recording of a Batarian beating up a human woman. The image infuriated Kast when he first saw it from the database, and it's reemergence on his datapad made his face grow red with anger. "And this, i take it that when you 'take on' these human colonies, you would subject the human's to this same style of treatment... wouldn't you?"

"NO!... I would not harm the human's... i wouldn't... i swear by the spirits that i would never do such a thing!." Galersius was telling a lie, but he wanted to sound as reasonable as possible.

Kast knocked against his desk with his fist's, causing the desk to reverberate for a moment. "If you wish to live, then it would be very wise of you to give me information on the Batarian homeworld."

Galersius was stunned. "I know nothing about the Batarian homeworld... nobody does except for the Batarian's. The Batarian's are led by a paranoid leader and a paranoid ruling government. Nobody but a Batarian get's to see the homeworld.

'I will, and when i see this Batarian homeworld of theirs i will stare upon it as the planet runs yellow with molten slag.' Thought Kast in anger.

Kast closed down the foul video before attempting to smile. Kast couldn't manage to smile no matter how hard he tried, the result was an odd facial expression just shy of a jowl. "One more question. Why do you hate humanity?"

Galersius answered slowly, in an attempt to not conflagrate himself with suspicion on the part of his human host. "Because... because my father lost his vessel in the Relay 314 incident... the Turian hierarchy turned a blind eye to his plight and dismissed him. We had to leave Palaven, we had to go to Omega to make end's me..." Galersius was cut off towards the end of his conversation by a beeping sound that emerged from one of Kast's pant pocket's.

Kast held the comm-link up to his face before triggering it, causing ensign Nolan's voice to come through the comm-link. "Admiral, we are due to arrive at the Entralla System within ten minutes."

"Ensign, you will inform the bridge crew of my coming arrival. You will also tell them that i will be arriving with my slave, they are not to be distracted from their work upon his arrival. That is all."

Kast returned his comm-link back to his pocket before turning his gaze upon Galersius.

"Get up, you're coming with me."

Kast reclaimed his hat from the table and returned it to his head, before grasping his blaster pistol and holstering it.

Galersius followed behind Kast. The two stormtroopers from before followed behind Galersius, to make sure that the slave could not try anything that might harm the admiral.

It took about four minutes before Kast and Galersius reached the bridge. It was a quick trip because Kast's quarters was near an elevator.

"Admiral."

Kast gave a quick salute to the two Stormtrooper's who guarded the door's toward's the bridge. The left Stormtrooper thumbed in the door control. Kast turned around to dismiss the two previous stormtrooper's with a wave of his hand.

The bridge door opened with a pneumatic hiss, causing a whiff of cool air to descend through the hallway. The bridge was generally one of the cooler places aboard the ship, as it was cooler to help prevent computer systems from overheating.

"Ah admiral Kast you are fina..." Travis Morillo stopped mid sentence upon seeing the alien.

Morillo pointed his right hand to Galersius. "you let one of those... those 'things' on this bridge!"

Kast let out a light sigh, he absolutely hated dealing with Morillo. "Vice-admiral Morillo, what the hell are you doing aboard my vessel, i thought i gave you and the other vice admiral's permission to return back to their respective ships?"

Morillo straightened up his posture. "I remember you saying that you lost the commander's of one of your Lancer frigate's... i am here to ask if i could take over command of it?"

Kast would never in a thousand years let Travis Morillo have command of more than one vessel. His commanding of the Venator class 'Defender' was enough of a threat to Kast already.

"Vice-admiral Morillo, you are not going to have control of that lancer. You should be happy that you still even command your Venator. If you continue to persist on this subject, i will refer you to imperial command where you can continue discussing the subject over there. I hear that they do not like having to deal with trivial matter's, so you best be sure to sign off on a lot of paperwork if you do decide to bring up the subject to them. Now get the hell off my bridge this instant... or you will be going on a one way trip out of the airlock. Personally, i hope you feel the need to strike up my fury, because you will be taking a nice space walk right out my airlock."

Morillo did the wise thing and left as quickly as possible, but before he cleared through the bridge door he left a quick remark. "One of these day's admiral you will be seeing things my way!"

Kast considered shooting Morillo point blank with his blaster pistol but decided against it. Ardus Kaine would not be very pleased to hear about the death of a potential naval candidate.

"Sir, we are due to approach the Entralla system within 3 minutes." Kast turned his head to face ensign Nolan.

"Thank you ensign. Upon arrival, ready the hypertransceiver to send the database information through to high command, flag it as a high priority message."

"It will be done admiral."

Three minutes passed within the blink of an eye. For Kast, it was an ordinary day, but for Galersius, it was hell.

"Sir, your message has been picked up by the Rea..." ensign Nolan paused for a moment before hastily rechecking his computer screen. "Actually, we are now getting an incoming signal, shall we relay it here?" At that, Nolan's gaze shifted from Kast and Galersius.

Kast caught nolan's gesture, and decided to offer a reply. "Yes, the alien's presence is of no consequence... rather his presence shall enforce the truth of the information that i have presented. Ardus Kaine must believe that i have actual proof in order for him to provide me with supplies, payment or possibly ships. With these i can build up a proper expeditionary force, and with a larger flotilla i can more successfully dominate any hostile alien species that may or may not exist in the other galaxy."

Ensign Nolan flipped a switch, causing the holotransmitter to power up, shining the room in a bright blue light. A off-dressed figure appeared on the screen in all blue, but even so, the bag's behind the figure's eyes were easily spotted. It seemed as though Kast had caught Ardus Kaine at a bad time.

"Ardus Kaine here... if what i have read is correct, you say that you have encountered an alien species from another galaxy. Furthermore that you have gained access to a new strategic material?"

Admiral Kast stood as straight as possible before speaking clearly.

"Admiral Kast reporting. Yes, we have made contact with an opposing force from another galaxy. They are of a pre-corellian level of spaceflight technology, rely on slugthrower's and were taken out by mere tie fighters. We only lost one vessel, a tartan cruiser. Though that was due to it's inability to raise it's particle shielding on time. We shall rectify this mistake and ensure that it will not happen again."

Ardus Kaine visibly shrugged, as though the information meant nothing to him. "Yes... yes, tell me about this so called 'celestial' object... this 'mass relay'."

Admiral Kast cleared his throat quietly before replying back. "Yes. This device, through unknown means propel's an object through space at vast speeds through a bridge of space. From the captured alien datafile's that we have currently deciphered, the device's were made by the Protheans about 50,000 years ago. However that does not match up with the scientist's observed date of one billion years or older. Regardless of these trivial matters, we know that this device can send vessels to another galaxy which we believe is the Krenth galaxy. What we do not know is on how we will be upon arriving on the other side. That has me concerned, further more, i will have to hire out explorers to map out possible hyperspace lanes as well as cargo vessels to carry materials to and fro. From the data that we have recieved, the Krenth galaxy has no known stores of various important strategic resources, especially the important ones used toward's making durasteels or other types of materials, this means that to build fortified structures, we will have to import our supplies. On the other hand, the Krenth galaxy hold's the valuable material eezo. This material may prove to be a ground-breaking substance."

"The Krenth galaxy... that far away! this present's us with an opportunity that must be exploited, before others can exploit it first. We cannot let this oppotunity pass to the rebellion! Unfortunately, as you can no doubt see, i am in no shape to hold a meeting aboard my vessel at this time. I will inform you when i do become available, so that you can present your information to me personally. That alien of your's, bring him as well."

"I will wait then. Should you need me, i will be on Entralla overseeing and ensuring that my flotilla gets a resupply and ensure that repair and maintenance work is done. Admiral Kast out."

Nolan cut the feed with the flick of a button.

"Nolan, get us in orbit of Entralla. Have a shuttle prepared for me, i will order for resupply once on the surface. Should you need me, raise my comm-link."

"It will be done."

Kast turned around and was about to leave when he noticed something that was missing... his new slave.

"Slave, on me."

Galersius lowered his head in shame before beginning to walk up behind the admiral.

Admiral Kast walked through to the elevator and thumbed it the button that would cause the elevator to be lowered to the hanger bay level. As the elevator began to whine in it's descent, a sudden realization struck Kast in the chest.

"It has just struck me... i am going to have to teach you a great many things, am i not."

Galersius looked shocked, but did not voice his concern for fear that he would be harmed.

"You're quiet, i take it that you are afraid of me, good. I guess to start off with, i should show you the basics, the formation of the Empire perhaps... then i will definitely show you the holo-vid of Tarkin crushing those Ghorman scum... or of the Atravis sector massacres, perhaps that will rid you of your violent past against us humans. Since you were so sure about capturing humans before... it might give you some insight into who really run's the galaxy, or perhaps soon to be, galaxies. When Ardus Kaine see's things my way, i will be sure to teach you Turians who really holds military power, and this Systems alliance that your kind previously shamed, will join with us. After all, it's us human's who are the real leaders of this galaxy. With your galaxies eezo in my pocket, i will have a power all of my own."

Galersius did not like the sound Kast's rhetoric, but he did acknowledge that learning about this new galaxy would fulfill a certain desire, the feeding of Galersius's curiosity.

With an electronic ding, the elevator door's parted greeting both Kast and Galersius with a view of the hanger bay.

Large numbers of Tie fighter's and Tie bomber's were hanging from the top racks. AT-AT's, AT-ST's and AT-PT's were resting stock still, their size intimidating and yet bedazzling, it were as though they were just waiting to be powered up, ready to fight.

Off to the side sat a lone Lambda shuttle against the gleaming sterile-white flooring. It was Kast's chosen Lambda shuttle, Kast realised. It was being guarded by four stormtrooper's, one of whom had an orange shoulder pad. A lone figure in all black clothing was busy, seemingly checking things off on their datapad.

Kast turned to face Galersius, to see that his gaze remained focused towards the AT-AT's.

"Those are AT-AT's, we use them in assaults to overpower our foes. Those huge feet can tear through defenses and fortifications. Up there on the chin are two chin mounted medium laser-turrets. The side mounts are equipped with light blaster turrets. They can blast through several meters of Duracrete with a single blast of their chin mounts. You can even fit squads of Stormtrooper's inside the belly."

Galersius commented on the ability for soldiers to go inside, and remembered that there was ancient human story that he had forgotten the name of. "So... they are like the Trofan horse, in that they can carry men inside their bellies."

"A Trofan horse huh. You must tell me about this Trofan horse some time."

Kast pointed his hand out to a nearby Tie-fighter that was hanging vacant on a metal rack. "That there is a Tie Fighter. I doubt i would have to explain the concept of a fighter to you. Armed with laser cannons and quite deadly. I find it quite funny that your so called Batarian friends were so completely humbled by mere fighters. But, given that your primitive societies are at a pre-correlian stage of technology, you certainly have done better than i would have thought you capable of. It is such a shame that the humans from that galaxy of your's are so... archaic. After all, it was us Human's and the Duro's who share claim for creating the hyperspace cannons, launching us through the galaxy where today we Human's rule the galaxy. It was meant to be, you aliens always cause trouble."

"Admiral... here is a schedule for some supplies that we need." Kast turned around to face an imperial technician. The Technician quickly gave a short salute, which Kast returned.

Kast grasped the datapad from the Technician's hand and gave it a brief glance.

"Thank you, you may leave."

Kast stored the datapad in his spare chest pocket before turning around to get back to talking with the slave.

"You see that there, below the AT-AT's. those are what we call AT-ST's. We have an innumerable number of them. Those cannon's there on the chin, they can blast armoured vehicles to slag at a distance. We use those for keeping unruly systems in check... do not make yourself a target of one of those. Next to the AT-ST's are smaller craft called AT-PT's. Do not let the smaller size make you think that they are any weaker, those twin heavy laser blaster's are both rapid firing and extremely damaging to personnel."

Kast turned to look at Galersius, and recognized that familiar glint in the eyes of the alien. "I bet you are wondering why i am telling you, an enemy of my kind, why i am telling you about my military equipment... well i will give you a rather simple explanation. I do not fear you at all, and even if you did know about the insides and outsides of my equipment, you do not even have the weapons to destroy them all. Sure, your kind's slug throwers might knock out and defeat one or two lone AT-ST's, but against an AT-AT squad and their thick Durasteel armour, your kind will stand no chance at all. It is a simple fact that many across the galaxy have found out to their cost, and those were armed with blasters which your kind do not have. Thus, i think it is safe to say that i have all the Paazak cards in my hand's. And if i do not, i soon will."

Kast tapped Galersius across the shoulder. "Come, time to see the planet Entralla."

Kast walked up to the Lambda shuttle, but was greeted by a facially scared human female... and an attractive one at that. Kast couldnt help but linger at how beautiful she looked in a uniform, and that black ponytail streaking behind her cap was stunning.

"Greetings admiral, i am Otara Buir, your elected pilot for today." Kast saw that Otara blushed slightly as she noticed his lingering gaze.

"Thank you Otara Buir, it is nice to meet you. Today you will be flying me and my prisoner... my slave, to Nexus city. Land us in a place near the overhang. Do be ready to fly away at any minute in case things go sour. "

"Very well. This way please." Otara pointed the way to the ramp, before falling in behind the alien and Kast.

"Here is your seat, will you be needing anything?"

'Just you, me and this seat... the alien can fly us there' thought Admiral Kast for a moment, before answering truthfully. "No, this will be fine."

"Very well, it shouldn't take to long."

-Later the same day-

-The Overhang, Entralla-

Kast fiddled with his hastily assembled cloak, ensuring that it was disguising his face as well as hiding his uniform as best as it was able to.

Kast fiddled around in one of his pocket's before handing a spare comm-link to Galersius. Earlier, Kast had shown Galersius how to use most mundane everyday item's, including comm-links outside of a run down apartment building. Preparation in case things went horrible.

"Slave, you will keep a watch out and alert me of any suspicious behavior going on behind my back. Your alien brain will probably be spinning a scenario concerning my death and you escaping to find a new life, but with no credits and no knowledge you would be as good as dead. You rely on me, and you had better remember that. Now keep your face covered with your hood, and keep your mouth shut and stick to me."

Kast thumbed the door that opened up the cantina. Alien's and Humans crowded the run-down room, and the sound of music surrounded the nearby room.

Galersius's gaze was occupied to the voluptuous alien being with two odd, long head tentacles, not too dissimilar to the tentacles of an Asari... however the female was a shade of tan-green. Kast knocked on Galersius's back to stop him from looking and refocus on his task.

Kast walked through and his slave followed two paces behind. Kast gestured for the turian to sit on a nearby seat, before sitting down himself.

"Oi, can i get you two anything?"

Kast turned to face the male bartender before speaking. "Yes I will take one Bakuran Namana, you know of any particularly good spacers?"

"You must be bloody rich to afford that." The bartender looked through the room for a moment before sighing softly. "I might know of a spacer or two, but that information will cost you. Forty credits for the information, thirty for the drink." seventy credit's was a rip-off, but Kast was very well financed and had some deep pockets being an admiral.

Kast counted out a sum of credit's before handing the correct amount to the bench in front of the bartender.

"Here's your drinks then." The Bartender pointed out to a direction where there were six trandoshan's. "You see those Trandoshan's over there, they are good spacer's. They don't ask question's and will fulfill any role you wish, so long as they are paid well."

Kast grabbed his drink before tapping against Galersius's shoulder. "Remember, keep an eye out."

Kast proceeded to walk in the direction that the bartender had pointed out to him.

"Ssssssllllllllssssss... you were feeling ussss out, weren't you." One of the Trandoshans gestured to a nearby seat, which Kast sat down on.

"I have a business proposition for you, that is if you are willing to work for the Pentastar alignment. I am in need of explorers to plot out Hyperspace routes. I cannot describe any specifics, suffice to say that you will be well rewarded for your time."

"Hyperssssspace routesss huh... i will work for you, but i want my payment in full upfront. 20,000 creditssss upfront plussss 10,000 creditssss for refitting my vesssssel. It cossst's money to modify a sssssmuggling vessssel into an exploration vessssel."

Kast stood up. "Good. I will return here at this spot, at this exact hour in two days time with the credit's in hand as well as a security code. With this security code you will have protection from Pentastar alignment vessels for a given time. With this code, my vessels will know not to target you."

Kast turned to leave, when one of the trandoshans spoke behind his back. "You better not double-crossssss usssss, you don't want to know what happensssss to thossse who double crossssss ussss."

Kast turned with a vicious grin. "I wouldn't dream of it... but only if you prove to be as good as your worth. Those valuable to me become important to me, and that which becomes important to me will earn my protection. Those who are not worthy of working for the empire are to be discarded, be they Human or otherwise. Not a threat, but a fact. I can promise you my protection, so long as you perform as well as you advertise."

Kast walked away and returned back to sit next to Galersius. Kast was about to take a sip of his drink when Galersius shrugged Kast.

Kast saw immediately what had caught Galersius's attention. It was a male Devaronian followed by two Duro's, and a Zeltron male. Kast instinctively leaped his hand to his holster before speaking.

"Yes?"

The Devaronian spoke for the group. "You, you've been talking with those Trandoshan spacer's, right... well whatever they are doing we want a cut out of too."

Kast couldn't believe his ear's, he would earn two crew's of spacers instead of one.

"I see, let me describe the job description to you. If you are willing to work for the Pentastar alignment, then i have a job for you. I need explorer's willing to peril the great dangers of unmapped space to plot Hyperspace routes. I cannot describe any specifics beyond that, but you will be well rewarded for your time."

"By well rewarded you better state a number, otherwise it might as well be a trashy, blue-milk run."

Kast sighed. This was going to be a costly endevour. "I can offer you 12,000 credit's per month, plus 10,000 credit's upon joining up, does that satisfy you?"

"With that much money being thrown around, you have a crew. When can we expect our job?"

"Like i told the Trandoshan's, i will return here, at this exact same hour in two days time with the credit's in hand. I will also hand you with a security code. With this security code you will have protection from Pentastar alignment vessels for a given time. With this code in your hand's, my vessel's will know not to target your vessel. Meet me then and you have your job."

The Devaronian and his team grew large smiles on their faces. "Expect us to be here on time."

Kast downed his glass of Namana Liquor before tapping Galersius across the shoulder. "We're leaving before we attract too much attention. Keep your eye's open, the Overhang can be a dangerous place."

Galersius spoke up for the first time in several hours. "Yes sir."

"Good, you speak. I thought you had lost your voice, or perhaps you aren't used to being in a new galaxy?"

"Partially, yes, though some things remain the same, especially nightclubs and gangs."

"Good. Get acquainted to this galaxy as fast as you can, it can be a rough place."

Kast retrieved his Comm-link from his pocket before speaking up. "Otaira, ready the shuttle to pick us up, we are about three blocks down. Then drop us off at a fancy hotel. And Otaira, i'm paying."

"What?"

Kast grinned. "Your own hotel room, i'm paying for the night."

Otaira giggled on the comm-link before giving a reply. "All right then, but be warned, i'm Corellian, so i drink a lot... i also like to eat a lot too. It better be top quality food too."

-The Next Morning-

"Admiral Kast... Admiral Kast, report in."

Kast pushed Otaira's arm from his bare torso before uncovering the blanket so that Kast could get up off the bed.

"Hmmmnnngg?"

"Nothing, just my comm-link."

Kast walked up to the bench that held his comm-link before picking it up.

"Kast here."

"Admiral, Ardus Kaine has set up a meeting for 2:30 aboard the Reaper."

"Thank you ensign Nolan. I should be there in about forty minutes or thereabout."

Kast cut off the comm-link connection between ensing Nolan, before switching to another connection on his comm-link.

"Galersius, ready yourself. We are moving out in 15 minutes."

Kast turned to Otaira before regaling her with the news. "Sorry, but we have got to be out of here within 15 minutes. Soon i am going to meet with Ardus Kaine, which means we had best be there as soon as possible."

It was a frantic rush to be showered and attired in such a short time, but the trio managed it. It took 12 minutes for the Lambda shuttle to reach the Hammer. Once aboard, Kast had several crates full of captured weaponry, armour, omni-tool's and eezo. Kast was going to offer them as a gift in the hope of encouraging Ardus Kaine into funding Kast's expedition.

Once all the crates were loaded aboard, Otaira lifted off and flew towards the Reaper, Ardus Kaine's military vessel.

"By the spirits." Galersius muttered aloud at the newly emerging sight that came from outside the view of the cockpit.

Admiral Kast turned his head. "Yes, that there is called the Reaper. She is an Executor-class Star Dreadnought, with more than 5000 weapon emplacement's and is nineteen kilometer's long. The Executor-class Star Dreadnought is just one of the many triumph's of imperial engineering at it's finest, and these are not even anywhere near the top, especially when you compare them to the Deathstar's."

Otaira Buir spoke out to the room. "No offense admiral, but why are you telling the alien that?"

"Please don't call me admiral, Otaira. My first name is Colprie. As to your question, what harm is there in informing him as to just how much power the Empire wields? It is not as though he could ever prove to be a threat."

Galersius hated being talked about as though he were not even in the room, but he did not question it for fear of being harmed.

"Whatever you say... i would still be careful with it, it's got all those sharp teeth and claws."

"Yes, but he is indebted to me. I will keep him safe, and he will secure me a galaxy! If he raises one claw against me, he would know that it would mean signing his own death warrant."

"How... can something that huge fly?" Galersius commented on the Reaper.

Otaira Buir gave a sarcastic retort in return to Galersius's comment."Big kriffing annihilation engines, that's how. How else do your ship's fly in your galaxy... magic?" Otaira sighed before continuing. "But seriously, how do your ship's fly?"

Galersius decided to respond with the truth. "Engines of course. Though to reach FTL speeds, we pulse electric charges through to the eezo to lower the mass in a given region of space, thus allowing a ship to reach negative mass and thus negate Gnaevian-physics... or as the human's called it, Einstein's physics or something like that."

A beeping noise came through the cockpit, followed by tapping. "We have an incoming ship leaving hyperspace 30 klicks on our twelve o'clock... something called a Vengeance class ship is coming through. Whatever it is, it has one of the highest security pass-code's there is."

Kast visibly shuddered for a moment. "Damn it, i should have known."

Otara turned to face Kast. "What, you know that ship?"

"Only in rumor. That vessel is the flagship of High-Inquistor Jerec, you don't hear about him much unless you're in the higher circles. It is said that Palpatine kept him on a tight leash, and that Jerec was ambitious enough to be a threat to the Emperor. If Jerec is here, he must be interested in my cargo, and that could be a dangerous thing."

Out of a corridor of space came a bright light... that was quickly swallowed up whole by a great long dagger of darkness.

Galersius had thought that seeing the Reaper alone was enough, but the sight of a second behemoth spaceship set his head alight. This new galaxy had technology that far rivaled the Prothean's. What Kast had said was true, Galersius and his galaxy had no way of defeating their adversaries.

The Lambda shuttle made it's way up through the large hanger bay, before being secured in place by a

"Time to present my case, i guess."

-Aboard the Reaper-

Ardus Kaine was very interested by the implication on what the new resource, this 'eezo' could do for the Galaxy.

The potential properties exhibited by it was limited by the fact that repulsor tech and hover tech were far more efficient than 'eezo' powered devices. However there was no doubt that it might be invaluable in the fields of weaponry and defense. Shields better able to absorb kinetic energy were in demand in some sectors, and this 'eezo' powered kinetic barrier looked promising. Furthermore was that the 'eezo' could be used to allow an object to gain mass, which could prove to be invaluable for defensive purposes.

Mass accelerator weaponry could also prove to be a promising field. For what it majorly lacked in destructive power it made up for in penetrative ability. With durasteel or even barradium pellets, the impact would be extremely damaging.

Kast was unusual. There was no doubting that he was a dedicated officer to the cause, but he had little naval experience to speak of.

To Ardus Kaine, trusting the young admiral with such an important task as exploring a new galaxy would be better left to another, more experienced admiral. However, from what was shown of the other galaxy and it's lack of the materials necessary for a sustainable venture, few admirals would be willing to go for long periods of time. Kaine relented, but decided that he would allow Kast to gather as much resources from the new galaxy as he so wished, in exchange that Kast would offer 40% of all resources directly to the Pentastar alignment and affiliated partners.

"I have made my decision. Admiral Kast, you will have my backing on your endeavor on the agreement that forty percent of all 'eezo' extracted is given to the Pentastar alignment and it's affiliated partners. I will also be expecting monthly reports of your expenses. Should your venture become too expensive to be valuable, i will cut your expedition's funding."

Kast stood up straight and tried to withhold a smile from forming on his face. "I agree, forty percent of all eezo will be given to the Pentastar alignment and their affiliates."

An emissary from the Galentro Heavy Works spoke to the young admiral. "The Galentro Heavy Work's will be expecting no less then five percent of that share."

An associate of Elta Besk, who worked for Dynamic Automata shouted across the room at his opponent. "If they expect to get five percent, then so will Dynamic Automata, this Omni-tool application will make a killing on the market!"

The emissary for the Galentro Heavy Works shouted back. "Kriff to that, your products are faulty droid knock-off's."

Kaine raised his voice. "We can decide the distribution percentage of the resources later."

The emissary for the Galentro Heavy Works quickly apologized first to Kaine, then to Kast. "Forgive my earlier rashness, admiral Kast. The Galentro Heavy Works will be pleased to offer you with two Enforcer-class picket cruiser's, on the condition that you provide the Galentro Heavy Works with a promise to provide us with extra eezo."

Kaine rubbed his head for a moment. "You will offer the picket cruiser's for free, waive the fee through my expenses."

Gregor Raquoran quickly raised his voice. "No, i will cover the fee. I am also willing to speak to several sources on cheap ships suited for exploration and freighting. This new mineral may become exceptionally vital to the Pentastar alignment in due time. If we have access to a resource that only we can obtain, then it will become a vital strategic resource worth a huge amount of credit's to the right people, and the right buyers."

Jerec walked forward, before raising his voice. His intent was to hand out Reyfra to Kast to avoid having a schism within his ranks, since Yun was sworn to kill Reyfra in revenge. "I have a certain pupil who may be suited for this task. He is unskilled with a lightsaber, but his ability to use the force may prove advantageous. To read your enemies mind's to give away all the information that you need will be invaluable when dealing with the aliens."

Kast didn't want a sith pupil in his ranks, but they're ability to read minds in a hostile galaxy would prove invaluable in his efforts.

"I accept."

Jerec simply smiled faintly, before removing himself from the room.

That smile lit up several lightbulbs within Kast's head. Kast now wished that he hadn't accepted the sith pupil. Occasionally the sith offered the opportunity for advancement and wealth, but they could also prove to be treacherous and deadly. What if the pupil was a spy or an assassin?

Ardus Kaine spoke to the room. "This meeting is now over. You may all dismiss yourselves."

2 Weeks later...

Saren's vessel sensed something.

It could not deduce what it was that it felt, but it sensed something. Saren could feel it in the back of his neck, like a prickle.

Saren sent his vessel forward with a new-found purpose.

He was headed for Eden Prime, his mission was to capture a prothean artifact. Saren would use the device, and then he would destroy it and the colony in a single swipe. He may have hated humanity first and foremost, but he also hated the fear of the unknown.

After destroying the prothean relic, he would investigate the source causing this pain.

Saren had the feeling that something lay out there in the beyond. Whether it was the Reapers or something else he did not know, but he felt it. Cool in the background, watching, waiting.