Chapter XI
Seldom were the times when Leia recalled the Advisory Council to have been divided this dramatically. She glanced around at the others, an observer at the invitation of her fellow survivor of the destruction of Alderaan, Cal Omas. Those assembled were looking at Garm Bel Iblis in various ways, but they all seemed to express disbelief at his report.
Naturally, Fey'lya was the first to speak. "General," Borsk said, "I don't think you understand our priorities. We are vulnerable, especially if this force decides to return. We don't know their motives or even where they've been hiding at all this time. We would hardly benefit by sending our fleet chasing after this armada." "The least you can do is send a message out," Cal said, "Warn the systems along their path that trouble could be on the way." "May I remind my colleague that they can change course at any time," the Bothan said, "We cannot be certain where they are headed."
"Any assault group of this size can't be dismissed either," Garm said, "We know they exist and have the battle scars to prove it. If there's any chance of it being commanded by Vhaldoq..." "You can't prove that it is," Fey'lya said, cutting him off. "You can't prove that it isn't," Omas said. The discussion moved on to other matters, and soon ended. As Cal escorted her out, Leia said, "Thank you for letting me sit in. I sometimes feel left out not knowing the way they are leaning."
"Fey'lya will continue to put his own spin on this until we're all old and gray," Omas said, "Once the shield can be lowered, I bet Garm will begun hunting the galaxy for them." Organa Solo nodded, her thoughts turning to the refusal to even send out a message of warning to others. Whatever happened, Vhaldoq would likely catch his intended targets by surprise now. The Councilor from Alderaan waved farewell as they parted and went their own ways in the corridors of the building.
His senses were split between directing the battle thru Xavyu and hunting Jlan. Ahead, he could sense his opponent tense in preparation for his strike. Sival was about to face the Wookiee when he abruptly lost contact with the Captain. In that moment, Jlan struck. The weapon he bore flared to life, catching his foe's attack. The alien lashed out with his claws, spinning his weapon impossibly fast to carve off one end of the Sith's weapon. The other still spat red-white energy, and Sival knocked his adversary back with the Force.
His free hand went to the wall, and blue-white lightning arced from his fingers into the metal. Lights shorted out and conduits melted beneath the heat. Toxic gases began to spill from one into the corridor, and Sival redirected his energy into the growing cloud. With an enormous boom, the mixture exploded and sent a shock wave down the narrow space. Jlan was far too strong to die so easily, but Sival had rendered him unconscious. Slapping the intercom built into the wall, he keyed for the bridge. "Status?" he said irritably.
"Our forces are suffering major damage," Xavyu replied, "Twenty-five percent losses in our starfighters, minimal damage to the Apocalypz. We seem to have lost the advantage." "Instruct the fleet to begin our retreat," Sival said reluctantly, "Recall the starfighters, and send a squad of stormtroopers to my location. Do we have a cell that can hold a Jedi?" "We can make one," the Captain told him, "What course should we set?"
"Take us to Svivren, Captain," Sival ordered, "I'll join you as soon as the prisoner is locked away." "If I may ask, why are we taking him captive?" Xavyu said, "Our records show that he has escaped custody many times before." "Bait, Captain Xavyu, pure and simple. I'll explain further when we reach Svivren," Sival said, deactivating it and settling in to wait.
"We're going after him," Kun said. "You can't speak for the rest of the fleet," Mara Jade Skywalker objected, "They still have to defend the shipyards." Exar nodded and said, "That is why only the Rebel Dream will follow Sival." "That's suicide!" Captain Olif said, "One Star Destroyer doesn't stand a chance against that kind of firepower!" "You'd be right," Kun said, "If I didn't have a card up my sleeve. My allies boarded that ship and I can track their movements precisely. While one of them may have been captured, it is doubtful that the other was even noticed."
"He'll want to face you again," Mara said, nodding understanding, "He's hoping you come after him." "Which is why we're going to give him just that, only not in the way he anticipates," Exar said, "If Sival is to be beaten, we must act now." "We have to get word of this to Coruscant," the former Emperor's Hand reminded him, "They need to know what happened here." "Already done," Kun said, "My ship launched a courier drone before it boarded that Super Star Destroyer. It should reach the nearest HoloNet relay quite soon." Mara nodded, and said, "I wonder if Luke is having as much excitement as I am?"
"All ships present and accounted for, sir," Rashan said. Vhaldoq nodded, his gaze taking in the nearby forms of his fleet. A few light-years away was Sluis Van, the intended target of this mission. "What did the last report from our intrusion team have to say?" the Grand Admiral asked. "They will be in position by the time we arrive," Kyle assured him. "And from the Apocalypz?" D'ukal asked. "Captain Xavyu reports that the losses at Ord Trasi were minimal," Rashan said, "It seems that Sival left the bridge at the height of the conflict, after which they lost the advantage. They are now en route to Svivren."
"Inform the Captain privately that if Sival interferes with the overall battle plan again, he is to take him into custody and rendezvous with us immediately," Vhaldoq said coldly. As the Captain noted the order, D'ukal gestured for a stormtrooper to step forward. "Take this to Monark at once," the Grand Admiral said. "Sir, is that wise?" Rashan said, "Monark is a facility we can't afford to lose." "Objection noted, Captain," Vhaldoq said, "But doing this will ensure that whatever Sival's agenda is, he will further our plans. As soon as the shuttle is away, we will proceed." As the stormtrooper walked off, Rashan thought he saw D'ukal smile thinly and say softly, "To victory."