Chapter 10 – Summary
Cyphar – Dolkar Sector
ISS Black Citadel – Interrogation chambers
Early Morning
Irina had recovered very fast. After a few hours in a bacta tank, nearly all of her wounds had healed. But thanks to some very effective sedates, she had been unconscious all the time. The first things she saw after her small fight in the palace was the fear-inspiring black orb of an imperial IT-3 interrogation droid while she was shackled to an upright rack.
"The IT-3 is really effective when it come to break a victim, my young servant" she heard the smoky voice of Loam Redge. "They were designed after the infamous Old Republic G0-T0 Environment planning system that had been responsible for several droid uprisings over four thousand years ago. It similar design should inspire fear, but meanwhile, they have earned their own reputation. In most of the cases, the sheer presence of such a droid fears a prisoner into confession.
You, my young servant, are force-sensitive. I have experience with your kind. Breaking you is really an interesting game. Unfortunately in your case, we don't have so much time, so I will have to be a little bit more… direct!"
The droid hovered away and made room for the Inquisitor in front of Irina. The friendly expression of his face that he always showed to the public was gone. Now there was only grim determination, a bit of insanity and a touch of the dark side. Redge could feel her fear. The whole chamber was filled with it. Fear and pain and desperation. Even the two Navy Trooper guards at the door could feel it, and they were not even force-sensitive.
He raised his hands and trapped Irina's head between them. He didn't touch her head physically, but with the force he reached inside it. Irina could feel it, too. She panicked, struggled against the shackles and screamed, but to no avail. The scream of panic turned into agony as Redge reached her mind.
Yes…
Now we are one, my young servant, you can't hide anything from me…
Let us get started: Who is leading the Rebellion?
…Iran…Kalamar…
Very good. You see, it isn't that hard.
Where are you hiding? Marol? Reltek?
Unable to resist, Redge found the information. Hidden behind useless layers of defiance and willpower, he found one crest, containing everything he wanted.
Yes! Open it…
The crest opened and a wonderful light engulfed him.
Beautiful…
But as he saw how the light spread out, he could see turmoil and storms rising in the light. What had once been pure and clean turned into a firestorm of destruction, mixed with a cry of pain that brought Redge back into reality.
He stumbled back as Irina jerked in her shackles. The cry came from the pain as her memories burned up the nerves in her brain. Redge acted instinctively as he used the force to pull a DH-17 blaster pistol from one of the guards into his hands. He set it on stun and shot Irina in the chest. The screaming stopped.
Force-induced mind barriers? Interesting, but that might have fried her mind…
His comlink beeped. It was Lieutenant Caybasi. "Inquisitor", he said, "I have just received a report that our fleet has successfully arrived in the Tytia-System."
"Very good, Lieutenant", Redge replied, "Tell them to…" Just then another thought crossed his mind. "Tell them to wait. Tell them that they will find something bigger."
"Yes, Sir." Caybasi might have been curious about this order, but his voice didn't show it. He knew better than to question orders that weren't of his concern.
"Anything else, Lieutenant?"
"No, Sir, that was… Oh, wait!" There were a few moments of silence. "A report from the planet: It's from a certain Dr Far-Glermin. About the Jedi our troops met on Lirax-II. I'll send someone to fetch it."
"That won't be necessary, Lieutenant", Redge interrupted the young man, "I'll go there myself."
"As you wish, Inquisitor. I'll send you the address." With these words the conversation was ended.
Redge looked at the stunned body of Irina while he put his comlink away. I'll do it myself; I need something to cheer me up. He turned towards the Navy guard, gave him back his blaster and told him to get the girl into sick bay. Both guards saluted and got to work. And judging from the rumours I have heard, this will be the right place…
Cyphar – Dolkar Sector
COMPNOR Medical Research Center – Labs (Xenobiological part)
A few ours later
The clerk led Redge deeper into the facility. It was a long, clinical clean corridor. The walls and ground were flagged and along the walls was a continuous dull mirror. The light was dampened, giving the whole installation a grey and frightening atmosphere, like a nightmare. What Redge had seen so far in this installation were several different non-humans in different states of dissection and/or experimental phases. A really… lovely place. I was right to go here. And you, my friend Xarot, you would be in heaven here.
They reached the visitor's platform of another medical lab. From the windows he could see several doctors and assistants working on another subject – a Gotal. The head of the alien had been opened and the doctors were working with drills and probes on the open brain. The Gotal was shackled to the operating table, but his hands and feet were jerking and flinching every time a medical instrument was inserted.
Another assistant entered the room and said something to one of the doctors. The doctor – a woman in mask, goggles and coat looked up to him, said something to one of the other doctors and then left the room together with the assistant.
Mental blockades in Irinas mind. I bet she even didn't know about them. He had tried to reach the memories of Marol or Reltek, but a mental blockade coursed more and more damage to her brain cells. He had tried to break these barriers, but they were strong. Stronger than anything Irina might be able to. They had been implanted in case of capture… Wise. Hopefully this trace will be more resourceful – but I doubt it.
The doctor entered the visitor's platform. Without all the necessary clothing for the operation he could see the middle-aged but still beautiful woman. The resemblance to her daughter was indeed as strong as he had been told. She looked like an older version of Aurelia. "Thank you, Dr Glermin", Redge begun, "That you have found time for me."
"I'm always glad to help, Inquisitor Redge." Redge could feel a certain dislike coming from the doctor. Maybe the fact that I arrested and tortured her daughter's best friend … "I think you are here because of the 'subject' you sent me", she continued.
"You are correct, doctor."
She took out a datapad off her jacket. "There wasn't much left to analyse" She begun.
No, just a head and a few limbs. But it was worth a try.
"But thanks to the rarity of the Tarro species we could find some details in the databank. His name was Iranak Irasakara from Seltos. Born Two years PostEmp, but he vanished two years ago together with his ship, an old Redthorn-scout. That is everything." With that she handed him over the datapad that contained the information. Despite the dislike she had, she had been honest. Redge thanked her and left the installation again.
It was worth a try. Maybe Caybasi has found anything interesting in the reports of our agents. In any case, we need more information. Some recon mission will be helpful…
Cyphar – Dolkar Sector
Imperial Palace – Moff Giron Lar's office
Two days after the return of the fleet
Arkyn and Tel were again in their Royal Guard disguise and witnessed the conversation between Inquisitor Loam Redge and the Moff. The longer he heard the Moff talking, the more Arkyn felt the urge to draw his blaster and shoot in the face of this fat arrogant bureaucrat. But what surprised him was that Tel still stood next to him flanking the door. He would have bet that his fellow Dark Side Elite would have sliced up the Moff five minutes after the conversation had started.
"This sector is crawling with Rebels, my dear Moff!" the Inquisitor said in a very angry voice, "My agents have discovered at least seven different rebel cells on as many planets. Some weren't even hard to find! As the official governor of this sector, it is your duty to be aware and eradicate any rebel threats! But you did nothing!"
The Moff sat in his chair, smiling at the Inquisitor and had his hands lying on his large belly. He seemed to enjoy the anger of the Inquisitor – although Arkyn could feel that much of this anger was only acted – and the Moff's responses were always kind and calm.
"Inquisitor Redge, the Rebellion died six years ago at Endor. What we have here are just some unsatisfied punks. I knew about them: The Vice-Admiral always bugged me with his list of 'rebel' targets in this sector. He always wanted to destroy them." He shook his head. "He couldn't think of nothing but his precious starships and violence. Violence, Inquisitor, Violence! What nonsense.
See, the 'rebels' and I had some unspoken agreement: As long as I leave them alone, they'll leave me alone. They played their little war games outside my jurisdiction and everyone was happy."
"And the attack on the palace was…?"
"…Retaliation, Inquisitor Redge", he finished the Redge's question. "Retaliation for you, Inquisitor!"
"Could you be so nice and explain this, my dear Moff?"
"Like I said before, Inquisitor", the Moff said very friendly, "We have here an unofficial agreement to leave the other side alone. But then you had your troops sniffing around; you even dared to come here in person. It was only natural that they felt threatened and stroke back!" He sighed and looked down. "I fear that with your little 'tour' you might have provoked another reaction of the rebels – not that I can blame them for that."
"I wonder how you would think of your actions when the Rebellion and their Jedi allies…"
"Jedi, please!" Moff Gar interrupted Redge, "The Jedi had been extinct even longer than the Rebellion. These so-called sightings you came here for are nothing but rumours or some weirdos with some tricks you could buy for ten creds on the holonet. Don't embarrass yourself!"
This guy has some serious guts, Arkyn thought, or he is just plain stupid. He watched how a person that was now surely just one word away from a long vacation on Kessel could still manoeuvre himself into more trouble.
"You came here and brought nothing but trouble with you", the Moff continued, "If I were you I would get over my paranoid feeling of some long-extinct cultists, grab my fleet and ran back to the Deep Core where I belong. Out here, outside your precious Core, we can handle the situation on our own. Let the people who know their stuff do their jobs!"
Cyphar – Dolkar Sector
Endless Submission, Salon – en route to ISS Black Citadel
An hour later
"Do you believe this guy?" Tel complained. They were sitting in the salon – which had the same depressing ambience as its larger counterpart on the Citadel. "'Let people do this who know what to do!'" he mocked, "Man, WE are these people!"
Inquisitor Redge joined them, leaving Lox to pilot the ship. "Replacing him now would only alert the rebels. But after all this is over – lax security, ignoring rebel threats, blocking necessary military operations: That all comes close enough for treason."
"Even if it's only because of plain stupidity", Arkyn added.
Cyphar – Dolkar Sector
ISS Black Citadel – Planning Room
A few hours later
The room here was much larger than the one of the planetary headquarter on Cyphar: Several ascending rows of benches, multiple holoprojectors, holonet ports and, most importantly, a continuous flow of caf from the ship's cantina.
Although there was room for a lot of persons, only a few were here, assembled in a loose group in the center of the first two rows: Vice-Admiral LeFey Gordon and his adjutant, Tel Vynkar, Arkyn Medor, Inquisitor Loam Redge, Lox and Commander Jex. At the central lectern Lieutenant Jaios Caybasi had a last look at his report before he finally dimmed the light and activated the holoprojector. As he spoke, diagrams, pictures and datafiles appeared in the air, always fitting to the current subject.
"Since our fleet has successfully returned from its little tour" he begun, "and most of our Operative/Commando-teams are also back home, it is time to summarize our recent results. We all know that this sector is crawling with rebels. Not only numerous Rebel Cells, as our teams have discovered, but also the main Rebellion!"
Before someone could bring up the fact that the Rebellion had been destroyed at Endor, Caybasi raised his hand and continued: "We all know about Endor, but we also know that some Rebel Splinter Cells had not been present at Endor. One of these Cells, let by a certain Iran Kalamar, was able to bring many of these remaining cells together, so we can speak of a new 'main' Rebellion. That explained the large concentration of Rebel spaceships the Vice-Admiral had discovered over the few months.
The Rebels we have captured could not provide us with any information about the fleet, but from the material we have we can assume at least four full battle lines!"
That means twelve heavy cruisers and dozens smaller ships, if we are lucky, Arkyn thought, and in a worst-case all these twelve are heavy MonCals.
"Commander of the fleet is probably a certain Mon Calamari named Tixel. He is a decorated Rebel hero and has fought at Turkana and Vallusk, but his fleet got separated from the main Rebel fleet after Hoth. An Imperial Battle Squadron chased him to the Outer Rim where he then fought a private war until he and his fleet vanished three years ago. His flagship happens to be the Oceanborn, so we are lucky that he didn't shred our fleet at Tytia."
"We weren't there to win anyway", Tel commented.
"Yes", Caybasi continued, "You were there to place the Morrt-class spy droids onboard the Rebel ship. We have already received multiple signals that suggest that the droids have already spread on numerous ships. Admiral Gordon, your job is it now to destroy all remaining targets on your list. I assume that you have already taken of this."
"I have", the Vice-Admiral said, "As we speak several Squadrons destroy every known Rebel hideout in this sector."
"And with every known destroyed", Caybasi continued, "The droids will lead us towards the unknown – which brings us to the suspicious places: C'tau III, Marol and the Reltek-Nebula.
C'tau III harbours the main shipyards of the sector. Judging from the material we have found we suspect a Rebel cell on the shipyards. The team consisting of Operative Raum and the Commandos Sixtee and Fouron had been nearby. They will infiltrate the shipyards and take a look around.
The Reltek-Nebula is a place with numerous young and proto-stars, an ideal place to hide a fleet. More interesting is an asteroid field in the nebula. There had been mining activity around two hundred years PreEmp, but it was abandoned after a few years. The asteroids are therefore an ideal hiding place.
Marol had once been a Jedi Academy until the New Sith Wars. During the days of the Old Republic, there had been several archaeological expeditions, as well as under the Empire. The last one was seven years ago. The Vice-Admiral has prepared recon-operations for both Reltek and Marol."
"Commander Jex", Inquisitor Redge said, "You will join the recon mission on Marol and search the old Jedi ruins. Maybe you will find anything interesting."
"We have detailed maps of that place, Inquisitor", Admiral Gordon said, "I'm pretty sure there's nothing. A space-recon would be enough.
"Well, I don't think so, Admiral", Redge replied, "Jex will join this mission."
Gordon shrugged. "Whatever you say, Inquisitor." He then tossed a datapad to Jex. "The recons start from the Thunderous. You better report there."
Jex caught the datapad and looked at it, then at the Inquisitor.
"Alright, Jex", Redge said, "You may leave."
Jex nodded and then left the room.
"We now come to the leaders of the Rebellion", Caybasi continued with his speech, "The leader is, as I have mentioned before, a certain Iran Kalamar. He was born on Alderaan in thirty PreEmp and had two sons, born in five PreEmp and one PostEmp. He worked in the shipping company of his father until nineteen PostEmp. When Alderaan was… pacified in that year, his family died, except for his older son. Both had been off-planet at this point. They both joined the Rebellion, but Iran soon advanced a more… drastic view on how to fight the Empire. He gathered a few followers, namely Boc Seclam and Tailamur, who became his most trusted advisors. But the numbers of their followers was never really large and there were hardly any connection with the main Rebellion under Mon Mothma. His movement therefore never played a larger role in the Civil War."
"What about his son?" Redge asked.
"He never had such drastic point of view like his father. He remained with the main Rebellion and became a starfighter pilot, stationed onboard the cruiser Reef Home. The cruiser participated in the Battle of Endor. The loss of his second son made Iran hate the Empire even more. He now wants to kill everybody who supports the Empire and with that he means everybody who has 'Imperial Citizen' written on his ID."
"That's almost the whole galaxy!" Arkyn said in disbelief, "Is he crazy?"
"Pht! Fanatics", Tel commented.
"Indeed", Caybasi said, "Intelligence reports on him suspect a slight mental disorder. But he is in good company: Boc Seclam, a Twi'lek, was once a leader of his clan on Ryloth. But due to a series of strange events that included the imperial governor, a rival clan, crime lords, several droids and a Bantha (don't ask), he suddenly found himself exiled and his daughter as the governor's personal masseuse. He blamed the Empire for all this, joined the Rebellion and later Kalamar's group.
The third one in this illustrious group is a Stenax named Tailamur. As all Senax, he is violent, ill-tempered and one of the few that had left their homeworld. Not much is known about him, except that he was a soldier for the Rebellion, until he was kicked out for displaying too much violence, namely wiping out an entire village to kill one potential imperial spy. He then joined Kalamar's group and later became one of his advisors."
"Who lets people like this out of the nuthouse?" Tel asked.
"This is a large galaxy, Tel", Arkyn replied, "Everything is possible."
"Fortunately", Caybasi said, "We have now the potential to eliminate him and his cell once and for all. All known cells and hideouts are destroyed or soon will be. All remaining secret places will be revealed soon. We just have to be patient and be on our guard. Maybe our dear Moff was right and he will attack soon."
"I have increased the patrols and the alert-level on all bases and ships", Gordon said, "We will be ready!"
"What about the Jedi?" Inquisitor Redge asked.
"They are another interesting fact. Other than we had suspected at first, there seems to be a secret cell of Jedi in this sector. So far we know of three, Irina from the palace, the Tarro from Lirax-II and the mysterious one that had wiped out Loco's platoon. We don't know about more, but it is a safe bet to say that we will see more. Like the Rebel fleet, they come from all over the galaxy, Kailion and Seltos in our cases. We suspect that Kalamar has some sort of Jedi-detecting device or even a real Jedi from the old Order."
"Whoa, wait a second", Arkyn interrupted, "A real Jedi? Isn't that a little bit far-fetched?"
"As far-fetched as anything else we have about this matter. It is one theory among many."
"Anyway", Tel said towards the Inquisitor, "It seems like someone at the Inquisitorius hasn't done his job."
"Indeed", Redge replied, ignoring the mocking, "I will mention this fact once we have returned to the Core."
"In the meantime", Caybasi continued, "all we can do is waiting. The droids and the recon missions – all this requires a certain amount of time. I'll inform you once we know anything new."
"And what should we do in this time?" Tel asked, "Sit around and do nothing?"
"Not at all", Caybasi said with a smile, "The carrier Tome of Horrors has arrived from the Deep Core to replace our recent losses. You can help to work the new soldiers in. Also, your fighters as well as the capital ships require maintenance after all these battles and…"
"Alright, alright", Tel interrupted him, "I had to ask, hadn't I?"
AN: It seems like the Rebellion has to make the next move. But hopefully they will do it before Tel starts a killing spree. But don't worry, the Rebellion has a plan. Trybokk wants his revenge and the mysterious Jedi wants his Rakatan artefacts. So in the next chapter it's Jedi and Rebellion! In the meantime, enjoy this chapter, read, review and get a reply.