GBScientist-I feel Optimus learning how to be a Jedi would make him more alive, and help him and the other Autobots integrate into society a bit more. Sideswipe is less sociopathic than Sunstreaker, and can work better with the other Autobots. And Jaina/Jag is not happening. I loathe them being romantically involved.

Grimlockx4-Thanks. I try.

Chapter Six: Rebirths

Prime and Luke approached the newly-formed Revan, Bastila, Talo and Brianna. Luke's face almost split with a broad grin as he walked up to Revan and patted him on the shoulder. "Nice to meet you," he said. His blue eyes narrowed and he did a light scan of the four through the Force. "You're not just holograms anymore."

Revan shrugged. "I don't know the particulars, myself." He waved his arm at Jaina, Lowie and Ratchet. "You should ask them what they did."

Ratchet scratched the back of his head and his right foot moved along the ground. "Oh, it was nothing, really! We simply created hard light holograms and transferred their Force essences into the holograms. Interaction between their Force essences and the holo matrix solidified them into actual solid matter."

Revan blinked twice at that. "Ah, of course." He looked up at Ratchet. "Any chance of a basic translation?"

The medic sighed while Jaina giggled. Her brown eyes focused on Prime and she felt a tingle down the back of her neck. "Sir, what is it?"

Prime's optics focused on the young woman. "I'm feeling a bit… uncertain, Jaina. I've been talking with Prowl and even Scrapper about the future of our race. We don't know where Cybertron is-or if it even exists anymore."

Lowie walked over to him and patted him on the leg. He then growled and barked a series of Wookiee phrases while Em Teedee translated. "Master Lowbacca says that even without a home, you will always be welcome among the Jedi."

Prime almost seemed to smile through his face mask at that. "Thank you, Lowbacca. And thank you, Em Teedee." He raised his arm and clenched his fist. "There are proto-forms in the hold, and Prowl is right." A small antenna raised from his head as he contacted his chief strategist. "Prowl, meet me in the main cargo hold." His blue optics fell upon the Jedi. "I would be honored if you would join us."

As Prime turned and walked off, Brianna shrugged. "I think I'll check out the rest of this planet. All I've seen so far is a hangar bay." And with that, the muscular young woman wandered off towards the Decepticon flagship. Talo started after her, but a Revan's hand on his shoulder stayed him in place.

An hour later, the group stood in front of a large metal cylinder. It had a glassine door and contained a silvery blob inside. Thick wires connected from the interior of the cylinder to the shimmering mass. Ratchet walked over and pulled out a cable from the side of the cylinder and dragged it over to Optimus. "For those of us who are not Autobots, what you are about to witness is a sacred event in our species and one of two methods for the creation of new sparks."

Prime's chest split open vertically along the juggernaut viewports, revealing interior mechanisms. Those also opened up, revealing… the Light Side of the Force. Luke, Revan, Talo, Bastila, Lowie, Zekk and Jaina nearly fell to their knees as they experienced… something almost beyond their ken. "By the Force," Revan muttered. His red eyes saw a glowing crystalline sphere partially surrounded by a metal casing. Handles fastened to the side allowed for easy carrying by Autobot or Decepticon.

As Ratchet fastened the end of the cable to the opening in the casing, Prime spoke. "This the Matrix, source of life. Legend says it was handed down by Primus to Prima, first of our kind." He noted everyone's reverence and tilted his head in confusion. He then reached out with his nascent Force powers and felt from the Matrix a bit of what everyone else could feel from it. "Oh, my." He turned to Ratchet. "Let's begin."

The medic nodded and half-ran over to the cylinder. "Okay, folks. It's Showtime!" He pulled down a lever and pressed several buttons on a control panel. The cable began glowing as energy was pulled from the Matrix and injected into the proto-form. Energy built up and the silvery mass began taking on a humanoid shape, features and details emerging…

He looked up and saw the moon bearing down upon him. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw the Falcon exit the atmosphere, and he bared his fangs in a smile. Run far, honor brother. Get away from here and avenge me! He then raised his hairy arms and waved them in utter defiance of his fate…

Luke's blue eyes shot open and he gasped. "No, it's not possible!" He broke out into a run, followed by Jaina, Zekk and Lowie. The presence he felt in the cylinder should have been gone from this plane of existence-but it was there, all the same. He skidded to a halt as the glassine suddenly shattered, causing Ratchet to flinch.

His right hand retracted and was replaced by his scanner. "What the slag?" he said, his optic sensors almost seeming to narrow. "This guy's only 2.75 meters tall! The proto-form was a standard size, not a mini-bot or anything-" He stopped talking when the cargo bay doors opened and Leia Organa Solo stood there, along with Han and Anakin. The regal-looking woman stalked forward, drawn to the cylinder. Han followed her, hand resting near his blaster.

The pair joined Luke and the kids in front of the cylinder. "You felt it too," the Jedi Master said.

His sister nodded, but did not speak. Her brown eyes were wet with unshed tears. "It's impossible, but that's him. How? How did they do this?"

Han looked at his wife and best friend. "How what? What's going on here?" He looked back at Prime and scowled. "What the hell is-" His blood froze as a synthetic roar greeted his ears, sounding at once familiar and alien. It was Shyriiwook, the language of the Wookiees. Wookiees?!

Honor brother! Cub! Master! Where am I? What am I? A bronze-colored Autobot emerged from the cylinder, gangly arms stretched out. His armor plating was rough in places and almost black in others. He walked over and picked up Han in a Wookiee-class hug, lifting the former smuggler off the ground. I'm alive! Praise Bacca and the forest. I'm alive!

Han wheezed a bit. "Can't… breathe. Put me… down. Please?" He was let go and dropped to the floor, hitting the deck plate. He looked up at Luke and Leia. "Chewie. Chewie's back-but how? I saw-I mean he was-"

Prime stepped forward and 'Chewie' snapped to attention. The cable was detached from the Matrix and his chest was closed back up again. The Autobot leader crossed his arms in front of his chest and tilted his head. "Well, this is unexpected." He looked up. "Any ideas, Ratchet?"

Ratchet shrugged. "Beats me, Optimus. He's fully functional, but there was a power surge right before he came online." He kicked the cylinder. "Stupid slaggin' piece of junk!"

Han let out a breath. "So this is… Chewie? At least his soul?" By now he was close to tears and let out a shuddering breath. "Well, you're not a walking carpet anymore."

Chewie's mouth plate contorted in a smile, bearing actual fangs. Heh. I am not sure what I am, honor brother. Wookiee? Autobot? No… I am a Wookieebot! He let out a roar, but stopped when Anakin stepped forward. The younger man's lower lip was trembling and his ice-blue eyes were locked on the floor. You didn't need to be Force-sensitive to be able to feel the guilt inside him.

Chewie, I-" He looked up and tears streamed from his eyes. "I'm sorry for Serndipal. I'm sorry for abandoning you there. It was stupid and wrong and-"

Chewie gently patted him on the head, mussing Anakin's hair a bit. You did nothing wrong, cub. I'm glad you and your father are alive. If you stayed, you'd be where I was.

Luke spoke up. "Chewie, where were you? How did you get back here? Was it the Force?"

The Wookieebot shrugged, his shoulder pads bobbing up and down. I was where… all were one. He looked up at Prime. Optimus Prime, I am Chewbacca, son of Attichitcuk. I have an honor debt with Han Solo and his family here. I will serve with you, but please allow-

Prime interrupted him. "Chewie, I'm assigning you as Han Solo's bodyguard and unofficial liaison with the New Republic. I know you've just came online, but I think that's within your capabilities." Chewie let loose with a roar, causing some confusion with the Autobot leader. "Ah, why is his vocalizer only producing Shyriiwook?"

Revan, standing off to the side, chuckled. "Could be worse. He could be monosyllabic like that Grimlock fellow." The Jedi Master walked over to Chewie and his friends. "Zaalbar told me you didn't cross over. I have something in the hangar bay for you." He paused. "Actually, it might be a good idea to get HK functional again. We'll be needing him.

Suddenly, every Jedi's danger sense tingled. A half-second later, the intercom blared. "Optimus, we've got reports of Vong ships moving through the Transitory Mists into the core region! Queen Mother Teneniel Djo has also formally requested our assistance!"

Prime nodded. "Understood, Prowl. Coordinate with Megatron. It's time to put our 'truce' to the test." He glanced down at the Jedi, but they were already moving to the door. Prime looked up at Ratchet. "Get with Wheeljack. The Ark head off the Vong force." Ratchet nodded before leaving as well.

In the hangar bay, Revan dashed over to the Millennium Falcon, Chewie behind him. "Zaalbar left his blade behind to a worthy Wookiee. I can think of no one worthier than you, Chewie." Both human and Wookieebot ran to the freighter and a pile of items right below the cockpit. The deactivated HK-47 was also there, still clutching his blaster rifle. Revan knelt beside the droid and opened an access panel on his chest. He fiddled with some wires and swapped out a few power packs before the assassin droid suddenly came to life.

HK-47 rose on creaky joints, his photoreceptors glowing. "Query: Where the hell am I?" He saw Revan standing before him and sounded gleeful as he spoke. "Exclamation: Master! You are alive. Interrogative; How the stang are you alive?"

Revan blew out a breath. "Not now, HK. There's some new enemies that require killing. Meatbag enemies." He quickly filled HK in on the Vong and the current situation. Within ten minutes, HK's servos were quivering in anticipation at the coming slaughter.

"Gratitude: Thank you, Master, for giving me more things to kill. I will forever be in your debt." He tilted his body and saw Chewie standing there. "Interrogative" Who is that?"

Bastila joined the group. "That's Chewie, you tin can." She grabbed her double-bladed lightsaber and clipped it to her belt before tossing Revan his two blades. "Just like old times," she remarked.

Revan caught the blades and hooked them to his belt with one smooth motion. "I assume you'll be doing battle meditation?" he asked. At Bastila's nod, a smirk crossed his mouth. "This won't take long." He then motioned to a huge ryyk blade, "Chewie, this was Zaalbar's blade. Be careful though. It's pretty-" He stopped as the Chewie clomped over and picked it up with no effort from his servos. "Of course, I could be wrong…"

Han and Leia ran up the Falcon's ramp and into the cockpit. Chewie nodded his thanks to Revan before joining his honor brother and his wife in the cockpit-where he belonged. Within a minute, the old freighter rose up on its repulsorlifts and exited the hangar bay.

Talo glanced around, then reached out with the Force. "Brianna's in the Fountain Palace with Jacen and Tenel Ka. I think she'll be all right." He retrieved his lightsaber blade and motioned to Luke and Mara. "Shall we show them how it's done?"

One Hour Earlier

Tenel Ka stood in the shadow of the Nemesis, personal comlink in her good hand and activated. A bluish image of her father Isolder hovered a few centimeters above the holo-emitter, looking rather grave. "Your mother is very ill, Daughter. Not only in body but in mind. She is not long for this world."

Tenel Ka's gray eyes blinked as she tried in vain to hold back hot tears. "I will go at once, Father." She cut the connection and looked up, seeing Jacen emerge from a corner. "Mother is sick, Jacen. I must go to her."

It took all of a half-second for Jacen to nod at her. "Let's go," he said. His brown eyes glanced around. "Only question is, how? Do we take Soundwave, or one of the Autobots?" he suddenly noted an older woman approaching him and Jaina. She wore a silver jumpsuit and matching robe that covered a slim, athletic body. Her short hair was snow-white and her blue eyes piercing. Jacen noted her staring at the two and swallowed. "Ah, can we help you?"

Brianna-AKA the Last Handmaiden-looked the pair over. "You two are in love," she said to Jacen and Tenel Ka. She then locked eyes with the startled Hapan princess. "And you are a warrior born who does not know where her next battle is."

Tenel Ka's gray eyes narrowed. "That is a fact, but I have no time for this…" she paused. "Wait, weren't you a hologram?"

Brianna smirked and twirled around. "Thanks to Autobot technology, we all have bodies again. And we're alive, too." Her expression turned serious as she faced Jacen and Tenel Ka again. "If I may ask, what is the problem?"

Tenel Ka's head slowly turned to the capital city in the distance and the fairy tale-like castle dominating the skyline. "My mother, the Queen Mother, is ill in body and spirit. I must go to her now." She motioned to Jacen. "And he is close to me, Brianna. That is a fact. How did you know this?"

Brianna shrugged. "I've been trained in the ways of the Jedi and Echani. I can tell." Her blue eyes shone with a bit of mischief. "And even without that, it's written all over your faces."

Jacen's cheeks turned beet-red while Tenel Ka swallowed. "Ah, aha." She sighed. "Still, we must get going. And we still need transportation."

The Last Handmaiden nodded and pulled a comlink from her belt. She held it up to her mouth and activated it. "Prowl, this is Brianna. Any chance of sending someone over for transport? Princess Tenel Ka needs-" She stopped as metallic Vornskr and his centaur friend approached. "We just need someone, okay? Thank you." Her feet slid apart and her shoulders squared as Ravage approached. "So, Decepticons. What brings you here?"

Lusa smirked and adjusted the strap of her blaster rifle. "Just wanted to see how everyone's doing here." She turned to Tenel Ka and smiled sadly. "I am sorry to hear about your mother, Tenel Ka. I met her once, and I liked her." She suddenly looked over as Bluestreak ran over. "Ah, your transport has arrived."

Bluestreak skidded to a halt in front of Brianna. "Hey, Miss Brianna! Heard you needed a ride somewhere. I'm at your service. Wherever you need to…" He trailed off as his optics saw Ravage and Lusa. "Wait, what the Pit are you two doing here?"

Ravage snarled at the gunner and pilot. "The Decepticons deserve representation at whatever negotiations with the Hapan government. Right now, it seems to be the most stable one in Known Space!"

Tenel Ka shook her head. "There will be no negotiations, Ravage. I go to see my mother, perhaps for the last time." She locked eyes with Lusa, and felt odd when the centaur flinched a bit. "You may accompany us, but please do not attempt 'negotiations' with the government. I soon may be the government.

Lusa nodded and Bluestreak transformed into his Chariot LAV form. Brianna, Tenel Ka and Jacen sat up front while two of the seats folded down, allowing Lusa and Ravage to sit in the control area comfortably. "Okay, let's roll!" Bluestreak shouted as he sped off. Within minutes, he entered the capital city. "Wow! It's so clean!" his sensors looked about as a childlike wonder descended upon the gunner. "So peaceful…"

He pulled up to the front gates of the Fountain Palace and rolled down one of his windows, allowing Tenel Ka to lean out and show one of the guards her ID. The statuesque female waved Bluestreak through the force field-enhanced gate and he sped along to the front entrance. A tall blond man stood there, his arms crossed and a sour look on his face.

The side door opened and everyone piled out. Tenel Ka marched up to the man and scowled. "How is Mother?" she asked her father. "Where is she? Where is Ta'a Chume? What is going on here?" With each word her anger rose. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced back at Jacen. He had his hand on her shoulder and was sending soothing thoughts to her through their Force bond. "Thank you, my friend," she whispered.

Isolder motioned to the door. "Your mother has isolated herself in a study. Ta'a Chume is in front of the Hapan Senate as we speak, trying to retake control. Uncle Remmis is attempting to block her, but even he can go so far."

Jacen's eyebrows quirked at that. He held his fist high and clenched it. "Wait, why aren't you doing anything to stop her? You're the prince, for Force sake! And… who is Uncle Remmis?"

Tenel Ka turned her head fractionally to him. "Remmis Advis is Father's uncle on the paternal side, unrelated to Ta'a Chume by blood. He is… honorable. And someone I like." A sad smile crossed her lips at the talk of Remmis. She then turned back to Isolder and poked him in the chest. "And there is nothing you can do, correct?" She waved him off. "No, of course not. You'd never go against her again." She pushed by Isolder, but not before half-shouting to Bluestreak. "Wait here for us, Bluestreak. We will return, and that is a fact."

Tenel Ka, Jacen, Brianna, Lusa and Ravage pushed by the bewildered Isolder. "Interesting droid," he said about Ravage. He then turned to the LAV. "Wait, there's no one else in here. Who was Tenel Ka-Ah!" He screeched as the Autobot changed back to robot mode. The prince-regent of the Hapes Consortium fell back onto the steps and crawled away as fast as he could.

Bluestreak watched the odd man scamper away and scratched his head in confusion. "Huh. What was that about?" He then looked up at the sky with his optics and let out a slow whistle. "Such a nice day." His proximity sensors then detected several humanoids standing a few meters away. He waved at them and his mouth plates curved up in a smile. "Hey, there! My name's Bluestreak. I'm an Autobot from Cybertron. Who are you? Man, this place sure is nice. No fighting, unlike Cybertron."

The two palace security officers tentatively moved over to the large droid, hands near their blasters. They had never seen anything like him before, but the princess did ride in him. And he did seem friendly enough… "I am Sergeant Teleki of the Hapan Royal Guard, and this is my subordinate. I must ask-what is 'Cybertron'?"

She sat near the window, looking out. Once lustrous hair now hung limply, and eyes that could stare into your soul were hollow and sunken in. Queen Mother Teneniel Djo's bony hands were curled into fists and she mumbled incoherently. "Not her time. Not her time. Oh, hello daughter. Are you leaving me too?"

Tenel Ka blinked back tears at the condition of her beloved mother. Even Ravage was affected by her condition, so listless and out of it she was. "What happened to her? According to the datatrax I have on the Queen Mother, Teneniel Djo was incredibly strong-willed and in command. This-this is nothing like what I expected!"

Jacen shrugged. "At the Battle Of Fondor, a large portion of the Hapan Navy was decimated. The psychic backlash caused her to miscarry her child. Both events… broke her." He tore his brown eyes away from her. "My fault. All my fault. If I didn't stop Anakin, She would-"

Tenel Ka abruptly stood up from her seat and grabbed Jacen's arm. "Do not do that, Jacen. You had no idea what would happen." She turned her head to look down at her mother. "None of did at the time." The warrior woman sat back down. "Now we must simply go on as best we can."

Teneniel's eyes suddenly turned to the window. She cocked her head to the side, as if listening to a song no one else could hear. "Why are you calling me? What do you-oh!" She stood up on shaky legs and leaned on the windowsill. Suddenly, Jacen, Tenel Ka, Lusa and Brianna felt… something. An outpouring of the purest Light Side of the Force. It was cathartic, wondrous and humbling all at once. Teneniel's vision blurred...

"Momma."

Teneniel rocked her newborn child in her arms. "I'll never let you go, my young warrior. And I'll see you soon enough."

She and Isolder watched as their daughter walked across the floor on two wobbly legs, her stubby arms flailing about for balance. "No, Momma. It's too soon. We can't see each other yet."

Teneniel observed her daughter taking lessons from tutors on etiquette and politics, then running along the rivers of Dathomir. "But I want to see you again! My heart aches without you. And when you were ripped from my body…" Teneniel hugged her arms to her chest and the scenery dissolved away to a blank slate.

Off in the distance, a lone woman walked up. She wore a dress and had a lightsaber clipped to a sash. Her long blond hair was almost bleached out by the starkness of the landscape. "I miss you too, Momma. But if you die, I'll never be reborn. Please, live so I can live!" She walked up to Teneniel and kissed her on the cheek before dissolving.

The Queen Mother rubbed the spot where her unborn daughter kissed her. "I will, young warrior. I will live so you can live!"

Teneniel began coughing, her body wracked with convulsions. "I…will… live!" She shouted, her fist punching the air. She turned to an astounded group of Jedi. "I will live! Daughter, get me-" She coughed again, feeling something warm and sticky on her hand. She pulled it from her mouth and was only mildly surprised to see blood on the palm.

Lusa sprang to her hooves and clomped over. "That's not normal," she said. The Chironian took her hand and reached out with the Force, probing Teneniel's body. "I sense… foulness here. Something is in you that shouldn't be there." She gasped. "Poison! Of course!"

Brianna snarled at that. "Bah. I hate cowards like that. Give me a straight-up fight any day of the week." Her eyes narrowed. "Is there an antidote to it?"

Lusa turned her body around and scanned the room, looking for a container of some sort. "Maybe, but I've got a better way." She levitated a decorative vase over and grabbed it. "Please place a hand in this," she said, holding it out. Teneniel's face quirked at that, but she complied. The Jedi then concentrated on Teneniel's body, searching out the parts that felt wrong. "Mistress Cilghal taught me this before the Vong Incursions. It's a method of removing poison from the body." A thin sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead, causing her headband to slip slightly. "There, there!"

After a half-hour, Lusa's shoulders slumped and she staggered away from the Queen Mother on four unsteady legs. Ravage was by her side in an instant. "Lusa, are you all right?"

Lusa nodded at her friend, reaching into the Force to steady herself. "Yes, Ravage. Thank you." She unclipped a cylinder from her belt and poured a bit of liquid from the vase into it. She then levitated the vase out the window And unsung her laser rifle from her shoulder. She sighted the floating vase and squeezed off a plasma bolt, shattering it and superheating the viral liquid contained within. "Okay, now what?"

Teneniel was already at a closet, going through several selections of clothes. "If I know that dog of a mother-in-law, she's already trying to gain power. I will not let that happen!" She finally grabbed a set of older Dathomirian clothes and shrugged it on. "Daughter, could you please help me with this?"

Tenel Ka ran over, glad that her mother was well. When she was close enough, she whispered. "Mother, what happened? Did you experience a vision as well?"

Teneniel smiled, a tinge of sadness at the corners of her mouth. "I saw her again, Tenel Ka. I saw my little warrior. And I know I'll see her again. Someday." Her expression hardened as she pulled on a woolen shirt. "Now, time to deal with Ta'a Chume."

The Hapan Senate Chambers

Former Queen Mother Ta'a Chume gazed out at the assembled senators and repressed a smirk. With a Vong fleet near the Transitory Mists and the Queen Mother soon to be dead, it was a perfect time to resume power. Of the 63 senators-one for each star system in the Consortium-most were leaning to giving her power back. Only a small bloc, led by Remmis Advis, stood in her way.

The former admiral was standing in front of the speaker's dais, back to the Senate and gazing up at Ta'a Chume with fire in his gray eyes. "This is intolerable, Ta'a Chume! It's obvious you've seized power on your own accord. Where is Teneniel Djo? Hell, where's Isolder?"

Ta'a Chume chuckled, gripping the sides of the dais in order to steady herself. "My dear Remmis, if you have any proof, please speak now or-" Ta'a Chume suddenly looked up and saw the senator's collective gaze turn to a side door. Ta'a Chume's eyes followed-and she gripped the side of the dais until her bony knuckles turned white.

Teneniel Djo strode in, escorted by Tenel Ka, Jacen, Lusa, Ravage and Brianna. The Queen Mother marched over to Remmis and bowed to the older man before looking up at the old crone, her brown eyes brimming with hate. "So, not even waiting for me to die?"

Ta'a Chume's hands suddenly went to her throat as she felt an invisible noose encircle her neck. "No-no! You-urk… Please! Wait, you're a-" She stumbled back, her dark green eyes bugging out. "But… you're a Jedi."

Teneniel Djo scoffed at that. "And since when the hell was I ever a Jedi?" Her right hand closed and Ta'a Chume's neck snapped. "Get that garbage out of here."

Remmis stepped forward. "Milady, there is a Vong fleet-what the hell is that?" His eyes were on Ravage, who merely growled at the older man. Remmis gulped as the mechanical Vornskr paced about on silent paws.

"I am Ravage, Decepticon saboteur. The Queen Mother has been told all about us, both Autobot and Decepticon. We stand ready to assist you against the scarred heads."

Teneniel nodded at him. "Contact the Ark and Nemesis. I officially request aid from both Autobots and Decepticons." She then looked up and locked eyes with her granduncle. "I hereby reinstate you into the Hapan Navy at the rank of Admiral, Remmis Advis. Take command and drive the Yuuzhan Vong from our skies!" Remmis nodded and saluted before turning on his heel and half-running out of the chamber. She then turned to the remaining five. "Go out, in case the Vong break through. We'll need the Jedi more than ever."

Brianna flashed a savage grin. "They'll never know what hit 'em."

Revan shielded his scarlet eyes as he watched the Ark lift off from the grassy plains of Hapes Prime. He, Talo, Bastila and HK-47 had stayed behind in order to implement a special plan of his.

Bastila sat down cross-legged and began centering herself in the Force. "I have no idea if I can still do this, Revan," she said. "It's been, what, 4,000 years?"

Talo waved her off. "If there's anyone who's still got it Bastila, it's you."

"I hope you're right."

HK padded up to Revan, one hand clutching a heavy blaster rifle and the other clutching four necklaces. "Statement: Master, I have the necklaces you gave me. Meatbag Brianna is not here for hers, however."

Revan nodded and took one of the necklaces. Talo levitated another one over to him while Revan took another and gently placed it around Bastila's neck. "Maybe this will help you, Bastila," he whispered.

Bastila let a smile cross her lips. "Thank you." She reached out, sensing the various Hapan ships, along with the Cybertronian vessels. She began linking the various threads together, letting them fight as one. The Vong were a bit shadowy to her, but definitely detectable. To them , she sowed fear, confusion and panic. They were more disciplined than the average soldier, but soon her Battle Meditation began to take effect. Coralskipper squadrons began to fall out of formation, despite yammosk coordinator control. Capital ship gunners began missing their targets while the Hapans became preternaturally accurate.

On board the Hapan flagship Song of War, the chief tactical officer gasped as her large eyes saw the shield readings. "Admiral," she said. "Someone dialed down the energy shields to 60 and…" She checked the readings again, just to be sure. "The ray shields are off."

Remmis' gray eyes narrowed. He stalked over to the tactical station and examined the readings himself. "What the? Reset to standard levels." His gray-haired head shot up and he sought out the comm officer. "Send a message to every allied ship here to check for that." He glanced to the side in thought. "How the hell did that happen?" He quickly pushed that train of thought away as he straightened up and walked back to his command chair and sat down next to Commodore Astarta. "Now, Commodore. Let's show those Vong how to really fight. All batteries, fire at will!"

Megatron sneered as the Nemesis rocked. Five Miid Ro'ik-class battleships were filling space with magma projectiles, and even the Nemesis' formidable shields were put to the test by the sheer number of molten rock hitting its shields. The 1,620-meter long ovoid masses of striped yorik coral were faring worse, however. Several of them were stripped of dovin basil protection and were leaking atmosphere. One of them was little more than space debris at this point.

Soundwave checked the sensor readings and half-shouted. "Yammosk coordinator detected at coordinates 005 mark 218. It is heavily protected by several dozen Chuun M'arh-class frigates and one Kor Chokk-class grand cruiser. Shall I dispatch the seekers after it?"

Megatron shook his head. "Negative, Soundwave. Master Skywalker flying Thundercracker and Mistress Jade flying Skywarp might be formidable, but even that is too much firepower." The ship lurched and Megatron's grip on his throne's armrests tightened. "RSC thrusters, fire and correct our tilt! Frenzy and Rumble, use flank guns on the crippled Vong ships and reserve the forward guns and missile batteries for the healthy ones!"

The Nemesis lit up as the guns along the side opened up, sending sheets of plasma at the already damaged Vong battleships. The few dovin basils still living were quickly overwhelmed and vaporized-seconds before the ovoid yorik coral hull was split open like a ripe melon. Several hatches along the spear-like bow opened up and several dozen missiles streamed out, racing away to their targets in a frenetic race to see who would reach their target first. The Miid-Roik's magma cannons tried in vain to intercept them, but for every missile destroyed, three more swooped in and impacted the micro-singularities. After several minutes of furious exchanges, the Nemesis' main guns opened up and blew huge chunks of their hulls away. Internal pressure did the rest of the job.

While the Nemesis plowed through the Vong capital ships, the Millennium Falcon dodged and weaved through coralskipper squadrons, its dorsal and ventral quad-lasers firing at intervals-and never missing. Two E-wings flew escort for the disc-shaped freighter. One blue with red markings and the other black with purple markings. Both were piloted by Jedi Masters, and both proved to be all but invincible.

Han sent his ship into a steep dive, barely avoiding an incoming flight of coralskippers. He glanced to his right, still not able to fully believe that his best friend had literally risen from the grave. Chewie barely fit in his chair now, but his reflexes were sharper than ever. "Almost like old times," he muttered.

In the dorsal gun turret, Jaina's eyes were half-closed and her hands twitched as they held the quad-laser's controls. She let the Force guide her actions. Down in the ventral gunwale, Anakin did the same. Brother and sister lent each other strength and guidance as they danced with the castoff spawn of the Sith.

All across the length and breadth of the Transitory Mists, the Hapan Navy and other allied ships pushed the Vong back along the narrow corridor of navigable space. Leading the way was the Ark. Prime barked orders to his crew, trusting each one implicitly and knowing they'd do their best. "Bumblebee, contact the Gallinore and the Indomitable and have them reinforce the left flank. Drive the Vong ships into the Transitory Mists where their sensor clusters and villips will be useless."

While the smaller Autobot complied with Prime's command, Jazz spoke up from the port side of the bridge. "Optimus, we've got that freaky yammosk close by. Taking out Mister squid would pretty much cripple their entire force."

Sunstreaker let a sadistic grin cross his mouth plates. "Oh, really?" His fingers danced across his control board, bringing up an image of the yammosk on the main viewscreen. "It's close by, Optimus. Well within range of our weapons." His optics shone. "Shall I?"

Prime nodded, "take it out." He rubbed his head just above his eyes, where a humanoid's forehead would be. "All this death. All avoidable." He turned his optics to Ironhide, who was standing to his right. "Sometimes, old friend, I don't know if it's worth it."

Ironhide waved him off. "Aw, Prime! It's their slaggin' fault fer trying to start something with the New Republic and the rest of this galaxy. Yah heard that Revan fellow. These boys were bred to be bad."

The Autobot leader nodded at that. "I know, Ironhide. Still, my spark aches at the lives we must take." His head turned a bit. "Jazz, contact Admiral Advis and inform him that the yammosk coordinator will be destroyed momentarily." He got to his feet and thrust his fist into the air. "Autobots, roll out!"

The Ark approached the floating rock that held the coordinator and let loose with several salvos from its starboard weapons pods, hitting it with particle beams and missiles. The entire structure quickly collapsed in on itself, spewing debris from its wounds before shattering.

Aboard the flagship, chaos reigned. Khalee Lah stood with the high priest Harrar onboard the Kor Chokk-class grand cruiser. The roughly 8,000 meter long slab of rock, resembling a long, flat triangular island, was covered with either pulsing red dovin basils or magma cannons. The latter were belching out continuous streams of superheated rock, battering down the Hapan Battle Dragons and Nova-class attack cruisers that made strafing runs on the ship. Still, their range was inferior to that of the infidels. The rocks cooled to floating meteorites at roughly ¾ the distance of the Hapan turbolasers. And that range proved key to the fight.

Khalee turned and saw the villip choir in the back of the command center. Each blob of flesh represented a ship-and they were closing up one by one. The son of the Warmaster snarled and grabbed High priest Harrar roughly by his arm. "Come, priest! We will die honorable deaths on their world!" He rushed out of the command center and down the hallway. The warrior stooped in front of a mass of flesh and pressed his hand against it. The mound retracted, allowing him and Harrar entrance to a Yorik-Trema transport.

Over a dozen of the pyramid-shaped transports detached form the ventral surface of the grand cruiser and sped in the direction of Hapes Prime. Several frigates fell into formation alongside the yorik-trema-class transports and formed a loose shield from five incoming Nova-class battle cruisers. The 400-meter long cruisers moved in, their wing-mounted ion cannons firing off a lightning storm of azure bolts and the turbolasers mounted in the forward command pod blasting away with blood-red turbolaser bolts. Space became thick with energy as the Vong frigates were quickly torn apart, their dovin basils failing and being vaporized-seconds before the rocklike hulls were split apart and shattered under constant fire.

The yorik-trema transports pressed on, however, diving into the mouth of the rancor and not giving a damn. Two were quickly picked off by Hapan Battle Dragons, the double saucers moving in on them. Within ten minutes, however, the remaining transports reached Hapes prime itself. The planetary defenses opened up, shredding three more in an instant as shields went up over the capital planet. The final seven slipped through, though, and entered the atmosphere. A fiery trail shot behind each one as they made planet fall, making them resemble little more than a meteor shower. These meteors, however, were far more deadly than your average chunks of rock.

At the field where Bastila, Revan, Talo and HK-47 sat and stood, Bastila shot to her feet. "They're coming."

Talo nodded, his eyes scanning the area where the transports landed. The sonic boom from their entry and shockwave from their landing had already abated. He reached out with the Force, sensing them. "Seven transports landed, with… forty on each." A wry grin crossed his face. "That's two hundred-eighty total. Not very good odds, I'd say."

HK readied his heavy blaster rifle. "Statement: I agree, master Bastila. The rivers shall run red with their blood." He turned his optics back to Bastila as she readied herself. "Query: Why are you not performing battle meditation, Meatbag Bastila?"

Revan's lips quirked in a smile. "Took the words right out of my mouth-well, some of them." He sighed. "Yeah, why aren't you still doing it?"

Bastila shrugged off her Jedi robe, allowing her lithe arms unrestricted movement. "Not necessary for two reasons. The first is the Vong fleet's been smashed. Those ships not destroyed are either retreating or lost among the ionized gases surrounding the Consortium. The second," Bastila unclipped a canteen from her belt and took a swig of water before continuing, "the second is…" She let out a short bark of laughter and shook her head in amazement. "Someone else is using battle meditation. An untrained form, but still highly effective."

Talo glanced over and saw nearly three hundred Vong warriors approaching, their thud bugs, amphistaffs and several dozen Voxyn at the ready. "Well, who is it? Leia Solo? Luke?" he paused for a moment and looked back at Bastila. "Man, you two look alike." At the Jedi Master's glare, he chuckled and turned back to the approaching Vong. "So, who is it?"

Bastila ignited her lightsaber just in time to slice a thrown thud bug in two. "His name is Optimus Prime. And when fully trained, he'll be incredibly powerful." Her ears suddenly detected the whine of repulsorlifts.

Revan looked back and saw Bluestreak approaching from the capital city. "Well, looks like we've got reinforcements." His scarlet eyes glanced among his companions and friends. "Shall we?"

All held their lightsabers up and shouted, "For the Republic!" before the Vong wave hit them. Now the time for talk was over. The time for battle had begun.