Travis Anderson Star Wars: Heirs to the Sith 131
Tanith loitered about while Korista fashioned her new lightsaber. Once it was assembled, Korista poured her Force essence into the synthcrystals that created the blade. She opened her eyes with a satisfied smile and ignited the blade.
It was purest magenta. As powerful as the typical Sith's crimson blade with the longevity and endurance of a violet blade. Korista went through a basic swordsmanship meditation before closing down her blade.
"That's really beautiful." Tanith opined.
"The deadliest things usually are." Korista wearily replied.
Tanith hesitated and then leapt into the verbal fray, "You know what you said to your friend about the Jedi way? The part about Jedi not forcing others to obey them? You used to do it all the time."
A sad sigh escaped Korista's lips, "I was weak. It takes an especially insecure person to want to dominate others. They're so uncertain of their place in the world and how they'll react to anything that they'll force the universe to redefine itself into the shape they wish to see it in. I was afraid of myself so I was afraid of everyone."
Korista met Tanith's eyes and hers were bright with conviction, "If I learned nothing else from the Jedi is that the only thing you can master is yourself. Fate may upend itself, fire and destruction may rain down, and everything may be stripped from you because you can't control the universe but you can master how you'll react to it. That's what the Force requires of us. We can do that when we love the Force. If we do that, we can love ourselves and once we love ourselves we can truly love others."
Tanith absorbed her words and then shook her head, "You have changed."
Korista shrugged, "I'm not the only one. When I beat that thick headed lummox determined to protect you and you stepped in…I'm not sure I could've beaten you. Anyone else here but not you. Isn't that a switch?"
Tanith laughed, "I guess it is."
"Looking good Ladies." Alaric's baritone rang forth from the doorway.
"And you're looking mighty lustful." Korista pointed out.
"Call it a result of a personal prophecy." Alaric replied.
Korista looked to Tanith and blinked. Tanith sighed, "I'll explain later."
Korista turned back to Alaric, "You're no Sith so that must make you Alaric Brekk. Which makes the cutter outside the Implacator."
"Ho ho, the lady is informed." He chuckled, "And it's the Saberstaff now."
"Then you'd better change the ID transponder." Korista dryly informed him.
Alaric rubbed his head, "It's hardwired into the comm array. I don't know anything about comm tech. I'll have a proper service tech do it soon enough."
"Maybe not." Korista warned, "I have information stating that the CSA and the Empire are on the move. One of their objectives is capturing you and getting that ship back."
"Waitaminute! The Imperial Navy and the CSA are coming here?" he asked, "How do you know this?"
"I spoke with Charis Morn." She answered, "That's how I knew where to find you. All of you."
"You've got to tell this to the Master!" Alaric declared and ushered the two women out of the shop.
At the edge of the Triann system, the CSA Victory-class Star Destroyers Profit and Monopoly emerged from hyperspace. With them was the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Implicator. The Imperial ship was twice the size of the Corporate cruisers but it was relegated to system control. Her squadrons of TIE fighters would fly space superiority missions while the Corporate ships deployed their IRD-A starfighters against the Trianni's incoming ships.
Aboard the bridge of the Profit Captain Hik Up reported to Commander Wilf Ras. As Commander of Espo Squadron 1141, the invasion of Triann was his responsibility and his brainchild. Ras had staked his career on this move and he hated the thought of turning into a mere civilian inside the CSA if this effort failed.
"The landing barges have deployed." Up reported, "All forty of our AT-TE's are being landed."
"Excellent." Ras's smile was razor thin, "Let's see the savages deal with those. What of our AT-PT's?"
"They're being landed in two waves of forty units each." Up declared.
"And the enemy's reaction?" Ras asked.
"They've mobilized their pathetic fleet." Up answered, "It consists of two picket cruisers and a frigate, all Clone Wars surplus."
"Be kind." Ras humorlessly chuckled, "After all, most of our equipment dates back as far as the first half of the Galactic Civil War."
"Except our starfighters." Up proudly pointed out.
"Yes, we did design and build those ourselves when the asking price for TIE fighters grew too high." Ras brightened, "And they've become quite an attractive export."
Both men smiled. As senior officers in the Corporate Security Forces they both owned shares of the Corporate Sector Authority. Shareholders determined fiscal policy for the Board and the Board determined the Espos' imperatives. In a very real sense, Ras wrote his own orders.
"This would be easier of the Imperials deployed ground forces beside ours." Up complained.
"Our allies are controlling this star system so that no unexpected 'allies' can surprise us." Ras chided him, "And they are deploying their TIE bomber wing. That should tilt the balance in our favor."
"Sir, we have incoming fighters." A lieutenant reported.
Up went to check on the report, he looked up to Ras; "The Imperials are intercepting. The Implicator is moving between the Trianni 'fleet' and our position. They're engaging the enemy."
"Keep a close watch on that situation." Ras ordered, "If any of the Trianni ships elude the Implicator have the Monopoly deal with them."
"Yes sir." Up obeyed.
"Have our fighters run cover for the barges." Ras commanded.
"The Trianni will wet themselves when they see our AT-TE's and AT-PT's." Up cruelly chuckled.
"Our Espo commandoes should also cause them some alarm." Ras added, "It'll be like invading Naboo. This shouldn't take long at all."
The Trianni called for the Sith's aid. Evak was saddened by the events at hand, "I thought this part of our lives was over."
"Alaric `n I will fly up t'the opposin' ships, board the command ship, `n wipe out the commanders." Ro-Jan offered.
"Almost the right idea," Korista butted in, "wrong cast of characters."
"What do you mean?" Evak wondered.
"Tanith and I will lead two Sith aboard the command ship, disable her, and capture the commanders to be used as bargaining chips." She explained.
Inspiration flashed in Evak's eyes, "I don't know…"
"Listen to the Force." Tanith urged, "This is what's right. We can do it. With Seetha Ki and Arlo V'an we can do this or anything else."
Tanith's unwavering confidence was a surprising change. Her words also fit in with what Evak was sensing from the Force. She looked at the two women endorsing this mad plan and she knew this was their destiny. The Sinherran Sith were in their hands and they belonged there.
"All right." Evak relented, "Arlo, Seetha, go with Alaric, Tanith and Korista. It's upon you to save the planet. Meanwhile, the rest of us will combat the CSA forces here at home."