Turi
]-)-I-(-[
"Tell the Denier and Relentless to swing about and get behind that Chiss Star Destroyer off our port!" Turi heard Moff Evelyn Tanal direct, even as their own ship was rocketed with incessant maser fire. "Have the Paladin and Incisor engage those frigates! If we can break their line, we've got this won."
"Ma'am, we're losing aft deflectors to enemy fightercraft!"
"Our own fighter cover?"
"Out of the fight."
"What? How? We had two squadrons of Starhunters and three squadrons of Interceptors back there!"
"A Chiss frigate detonated their drive core in the middle of everything, took out most of our fighters!"
"Blast it! Send a general order to fallback. We'll regroup back in the Noris system and reevaluate our options."
"Ma'am! The Chiss brought in two interdictors!" A young sensor operator called out in panic. "They're out of range of our guns off the port side!"
The Moff raised an eyebrow. "Must have a new commander then. Let's give him an Imperial welcome. Call in Captain Savin. Have them use the interdictors' own fields to drop in right behind them."
Flanked by Imperial Jedi Antalia and Sivan Draco, Turi watched impassively as the engagement intensified. She had to give the Chiss credit. After the first few resounding Imperial victories, due mostly to the new 'wolf-pack' tactics heralded by Moff Tanal, the Chiss had adapted pretty quickly. After taking five systems in two weeks, the Imperial push forward had stalled at Ornfra.
"Reach out with the Force," Turi murmured in a low voice, tuning out the bridge chatter and orders being barked behind her. "Sense the minds of our pilots, of the pilots of the Ascendancy. Feel the coldness of space, the warmth of the ion engines. In a battlefield like this, use the Force to understand the chaos and know where the next pieces will move."
A second group of Imperial vessels dropped out of hyperspace off to the side of the Chiss interdictors. The moment the Imperial fleet began unleashing their fighters, however, it was evident that the Chiss had baited them. Cloaked mines suddenly uncloaked all around the newly arrived fleet group and began to light up the void of space with dazzling blazes of blue and white. One of the newer Turbulent-class Star Destroyers was blown in two by a barrage of mines hitting its mid-section. More fighters were torn apart by the squadron of Clawcraft, decimating the newly arrived force.
Not that the Imperials were entirely helpless. Even being ravaged by the minefield, the Imperial vessels and fighters unleashed everything they had. Chiss frigates, fighters, and even a Star Destroyer were wiped out by the barrage. Fleet Group One added to the onslaught, managing to destroy one of the interdictors at the same time. It was a brutal space battle, with losses mounting on both sides.
After several minutes of intense fighting, a brief lull quickly developed as both sides pulled back to reform their lines. "Ma'am, receiving a transmission from the Chiss flagship flagged Eternal Dynast."
Moff Tanal nodded imperially. "Let's hear it."
"Imperial forces, I am acting Assistant Syndic Hess'irolia'nuruodo."
"Assistant Syndic, this is Moff Evelyn Tanal. Can I assume you're foolishly not about to surrender? The Empire can take far more losses than your Ascendancy can. And with Galactic Alliance materiel support, we can outlast your forces as well."
"The Ascendancy hasn't fallen for over four millennia. It will survive. The same cannot be said for your Empire. I am calling to offer a chance for you to surrender. Your forces are out of position, your flagship damaged. You'll lose many men and machines trying to pull out. If you surrender personally, I'll let your people retreat to the nearest Imperial system."
Moff Tanal's expression darkened. "You have a lot of gall, Assistant Syndic. The Empire will never surrender to near-humans like yourself." She made a gesture, and the communication's link was broken. "Continue a fighting retreat. Let's bloody the Chiss as much as we can."
All at once, the fighting resumed. An Imperial Star Destroyer flanking their ship lost its bridge to a concentrated missile barrage. An older Lancer-class frigate was overwhelmed by two Chiss frigates and burst apart at the seams. Chiss Clawcraft raced in to pick apart several corvettes and escort vessels.
On the opposite side, Imperial torpedoes downed another Chiss Star Destroyer. Three Imperial Star Destroyers teamed up and began to plow the field of stars before them, annihilating several Clawcraft squadrons and another frigate. Green, yellow, and blue were exchanged across the battlefield, interspersed with orange-red flashes and blazing white detonations.
Another large explosion shook their ship.
"Hull breaches on decks three through ten!"
"Hangar bay was hit by a suicide fighter!"
"Time till hyperspace?"
"We'll be clear of the Interdictor's gravity shadow in five minutes!"
Standing at the bridge window, the three Force-sensitives continued to watch the battle with emotionless expressions. They were viewing it as no one else could, feeling every death, no matter how small and insignificant, each time a fighter or cruiser erupted into flames.
"The Chiss line is weakening on the right-wing. A concentrated push would cause it to fold in on itself," Antalia observed softly. Glimmering sky-blue eyes darted to the Imperial lines. "But we're not in a position to take advantage of that."
"Not since our fighter screen was sacrificed to pull back the larger ships," Sivan agreed.
His sister glanced to their instructor. "Colonel Altamik, how long do you think the Chiss can hold the system?"
"Considering that this is Moff Tanal's third attempt to gain a foothold, probably for a little while," Turi answered. "If the Chiss had kept the previous commander, she might have pushed through here. But Hess'iorlia'nuruodo was trained by Jagged Fel and Jaina Solo. She'll hold until the Ascendancy can regroup."
"With the Way of Schesa being the only viable hyperspace route into Ascendancy space from the Empire, the Chiss can bottleneck the advances here," Sivan noted.
"Not if Admiral Pryl's forces join in for the next attack," Antalia disagreed. "The Moff is right in that we can literally outlast the Chiss in terms of the number of people and ships we can bring into the field. If we keep pushing, the Chiss will eventually have to yield Ornfra or suffer too many losses."
As the Imperial forces finally cleared away from the Chiss, leaving a trail of wrecked ships and bodies in their wake, Turi finally turned away from the window. "Tell the others that we'll have a training session once we get back to Noris. With the way things are going, I have a feeling we'll be asked to join in the fighting soon."
"Understood, ma'am." The Draco siblings saluted sharply and strode from the bridge.
With the two of them gone, Moff Tanal approached Turi.
"Good feelings, Jedi Altamik. It looks like we'll be needing your Jedi after all. Think they're up for the challenge?"
"Since the sledgehammer didn't work, you're going scalpel?" Turi said conversationally, not turning to face the Moff.
"If we assassinate that Assistant Syndic or the officer corps, it will make an incursion into the system a lot easier."
"Jedi don't do assassinations," Turi said laconically. "Even the Imperial ones."
"And the alternative is another naval battle that will cost the lives of thousands of loyal Imperial soldiers?"
"The alternative is calling off the war," Turi shot back. "The Empire's proven their point. They captured a bunch of systems from the Chiss and showed that they're still a military power to contend with."
"So no assassinations then," Moff Tanal said casually, ignoring Turi's statement. "Tel me, Jedi Altamik. Just what do you suppose we use the Imperial Jedi for if not to advance the goals of an Empire?"
"You've read the brief about the ability called Battle-Meditation, correct?"
"Yes?"
"Next time we attempt to take Ornfra, the Imperial Jedi will be the ones coordinating the attack," Turi said, her tone implying that that was the only thing the Imperial Jedi would do. "The Draco siblings are the only Imperial Jedi with the fleet so they'd be best used in that strategic role in any case. The Chiss are already at a disadvantage. With the Force guiding the Empire's fleets, it will be the final nail in their coffin. All the tactics in the galaxy won't work if your soldiers have zero morale and feel as if they're doomed."
"Then I look forward to seeing your…apprentices in action."
This time Turi did smile. "I do too."
]-)-II-(-[
The planet of Noris was once a gleaming jewel ruled by a prominent Chiss family. The years, however, had been far from kind to her. Even before the Yuuzhan Vong had arrived and bombarded the planet from orbit, the Chiss family in charge had been one of the many casualties during the first Killik crisis. What had been left of the Chiss family, tired of all the warring and death, had surrendered almost immediately when the Imperials had showed up in force. It was only because of that that their homes and other facilities were still relatively intact.
Any question about the Empire's motives for the war was brushed aside when the Moff Tanal and the other Imperials subsequently declared Noris sovereign Imperial territory, its citizens now subject to Imperial law.
This wasn't just a war to 'protect' Imperial interests, but to expand Imperial territory and gain resources.
Though a low-level Chiss insurrectionist movement operated in remote locations in the system—a few moons and some valleys and groves planetside—the majority of the population of the Noris system had accepted Imperial rule. Even the local House Phalanx had become integrated into the Imperial 'invasion' of the Ascendancy, being used to guard supply-lines and medical transports.
Turi, standing in the center of the ground-transport as they were bused to the Imperial Military Command Center—also known as Chiss Signata family's mansion and place of residence—evaluated the young teens in the transport with her. For the most part, she was separated in age to her charges by barely a decade. Though they were all orphans and had seen things in the war no young child should see, they all maintained an air of innocence behind their Imperial-hardened faces.
"Colonel Altamik."
"Go ahead corporal," Turi inclined her head towards one of the Void Trooper trainees in Unit One, dubbed Skull Squadron since the start of the campaign.
"I can understand what Antalia and Sivan are going to be doing, but what should we do in the interim?"
"You'll be in Starhunters, divided into four flights of three. Each of your sections will then be leading a squadron of Imperial fighters into battle," Turi answered professionally. "You may not have Force-reflexes, but Antalia and Sivan know how your minds work so they'll be able to direct you easier. When you're in your pilot's seat, just remember to listen to that little voice in your head."
"Understood, ma'am."
"While I work with Antalia and Sivan, I want the twelve of you to be spending your time in the simulators. We'll hold a joint training lesson tomorrow, so make sure your piloting skills are up to par."
The dozen Void Troopers all nodded in affirmative.
"Ma'am," a female Void Trooper spoke up, voice distorted by her black stormtrooper helmet.
"Yes?"
"Will the standard Imperial pilots even listen to us? Most of us aren't even sixteen yet, I'm only fourteen…"
"They'll listen," Turi said reassuringly. "The useful thing about the Empire is that the hierarchy is clear. If Moff Tanal tells them to follow your lead, that's what they'll do. They may not like it, but the alternative is charges of insubordination or death on the battlefield. That's not to say you shouldn't listen to the other pilots. You're right in that they are older and more experienced than you, so take their advice into account. By the end of the day, however, the only people you answer to are me, General Dorja, or Grand Moff Quille."
"So…we'll be on the front lines…killing people for the Empire," another Void Trooper said softly.
"You have another option," Turi replied evenly.
"I do?"
"There's always another option, Alind," Turi answered. "If you object to killing from a starfighter, I can post you outside of Sivan and Antalia's quarters to stand guard and see that they're not disturbed. They'll need their full concentration after all to make sure the others stay alive."
"I…yeah…that sounds…good…" Alind glanced left and right to the others in his squad.
It was Sivan who spoke up, however, offering the younger teen an encouraging nod. "Thanks, it's nice to know someone will have my sister and my back while we go all mystical."
"Just…" Alind took a deep breath and released it, looking at the others again. "Just keep them alive, okay?"
"Of course," Antalia spoke up confidently. "Sivan and I have trained for this moment for the past year and a half. No way we're letting our family down."
The transport, a Chiss personnel carrier, rolled to a stop, and the hatch opened. Awaiting them were two older Imperial pilots, both with too many years in the cockpit between them.
"Tan Steele, General Phenir," Turi inclined her head in greeting. "Thank you for agreeing to train them."
"It's our duty to serve the Empire, Colonel," veteran pilot Maarek Stele said curtly.
"Skulls, these two are your instructors for the time-being. Do yourselves and your unit proud," Turi patted each of the teens on the shoulder as they passed her and exited the vehicle. "Antalia, Sivan, you're with me."
Turi exited after the last Void Trooper, and the Imperial Jedi followed her out onto the planet. Noris had one time been a hospitable world, but the devastation by the Killiks, Chiss politics, and Yuuzhan Vong, had stripped it of most of its natural beauty. A charred desert landscape replaced what had once been a vibrant forest. Vast tracks of land were pockmarked with craters and littered with glassy rocks and gleaming surfaces. That's not to say the entire planet had the same appearance, but most of the damage had been done to the areas the Chiss family had populated. Areas that were now under Imperial control.
"A bit dry out here," Sivan commented mildly, a desert wind washing over the trio of Jedi. The landing platform had led them into a narrow gorge between a winding path of reddish-brown sandstone bluffs, a set up that trapped the wind perfectly.
The wind was hot and strong, and reminded Turi of the heat straight out of an open oven door. "And this is just the early morning."
"Joy," Antalia deadpanned, her black boots creating a small dust-cloud in her wake as she kept up with the rapid strides of her brother and mentor. "So, ma'am, what's on the schedule today?"
"Today you'll be getting better acquainted with the minds of your squadmates," Turi answered calmly. "Because they are not Jedi, they won't be able to openly broadcast their thoughts and emotions. It will be up to you to read their intentions and moves so you can better guide their actions. While they're in the simulators, you'll be eavesdropping in their heads, trying to see and perceive what they are. Tomorrow, we'll have live exercises in orbit where you'll then go one step further. The trick will be to turn the rest of the unit into extensions of yourselves. To let the Force flow through you and into them to help preserve as many lives as you can."
"Understood."
"Colonel."
"Go ahead Sivan."
"Have the Jedi ever done anything like this before?"
"No," Turi smirked. "We're the first. Theoretically, it should be possible. The Jedi Order has never tried to deliberately create a mixed unit like the ones we have in the Empire."
"That doesn't seem to be tactically sound. There are not enough Jedi to cover what needs to be done," Antalia spoke.
"Hey, I just follow orders, not make them," Turi shrugged. "But I've talked with Lord Argor and Master Katarn and they both agree that this might be what the Jedi Order sorely needs; a wake-up call that tells them that there are many others who are more than capable of protecting the galaxy if given the chance. You don't need to wave a lightsaber around to make a difference."
The trio slowed as they reached Signata's primary estate, an ancient looking series of buildings carved straight out of the roan-colored sandstone mesa wall. From the worn colonnade out front, the mural-framed procession way to the main building, and the dust-covered reliefs that decorated the front of the building, one could easily imagine Signata in its prime. But that had been many decades ago. Merchant stalls still sat between the sandstone columns, and Chiss still went about their business, but much of the splendor appeared to have been lost in the interim.
"The Empire's fighting and people are dying for worlds like this?" Antalia raised an eyebrow as she took in the sights.
"It's the thought that counts, sister," Sivan muttered. "The Moff Council doesn't want a group of heavily armed non-humans on their border."
"I know that," Antalia said with a small huff. "But just look at this place. I can see the Chiss living happily in their little caves and going about their lives in peace, but I really pity whichever Moff or Imperial governor gets assigned here."
Sivan shrugged. "What's worse is that I hear that Ornfra is almost like Csilla, a ball of ice that only a Chiss could love. And already thousands of Imperial soldiers have died trying to take that system. The only thing we can do now is make sure they didn't die for nothing. We help end the war, make the Empire stronger, and go back to Taspir to train some more."
"What do you think about all this, Colonel?" Antalia, her light olive-colored skin and long dark hair looked distinctly exotic among the blue-skinned, blue-haired Chiss in the colonnade around them. Her brother was lighter skinned and both he and Turi were shorter than Antalia by a head. Coupled with her non-standard Imperial Jedi clothing, and the sixteen year old Imperial Jedi girl definitely stood out. "Is this what we're supposed to be doing as Imperial Jedi? Helping the Empire conquer others in the name of preserving the Empire?"
"No," Turi replied, her jaw clenched. "What we're supposed to be doing is learning from this. Learning how we can be a in a position to stop it the next time this happens."
"What?" Sivan blinked. "Walk into a meeting of the Moffs and wave our hands to stop a war?"
"If it will help in the long-run, yes," Turi answered, steel in her voice. "But if we have to keep doing it, then it's pointless. What we have to do as Imperial Jedi is be in a position to affect policy. We're warriors, but we need to fight our battles both out here in the battlefield and in the political world. Otherwise, we'll end up like the Jedi Order and become lapdogs for a government desperate to hold onto power. The only thing we can do right now is end the war as quick as we can and learn from it. We may be loyal to the Empire, but I'm not about to throw your lives away for it."
"Thank you," Antalia murmured, smiling faintly at Turi. "It's nice to know at least someone is looking out for us."
"I try," Turi shrugged, slightly embarrassed at the awe and reverence she could feel radiate from the young teens.
"I take it your Master in the Jedi Order and pretty much everyone else doesn't share your views?" Sivan asked wryly.
"You guys know Mirta cares for you too," Turi protested. "And in their own twisted way, so do Lord Argor and the other Inquisitorious instructors."
"It's not the same, ma'am," Antalia shook her head. "Well, for Lord Argor and the others anyways. They see us as weapons for the Empire, a way to boost their status in the eyes of the Moffs and become useful to the Empire again. Instructor Kanos and the older Marek are only helping out to make sure Lord Argor and the others don't turn us into Sith Lords and Ladies. Instructor Gev is doing it for the paycheck, and the younger Marek sees his training us as an opportunity to affect the galaxy on a bigger scale than just being on his planet. You don't have to come to our training camp once every week, especially with your busy schedule, but you always found time for us."
"Listen, I'm really not anyone special," Turi blushed slightly, looking away. "I just…I guess when I managed to get a compromise from the Moffs and start the Imperial Jedi program, I wanted to make sure it wasn't another one of my mistakes. That I didn't just consign several dozen orphans to a fate worse than death. I mean, I agreed to have Sith train you guys for Empire's sake, who in their right mind would agree to that?"
"It worked out, kind of," Sivan chuckled in agreement. They reached the end of the colonnade and entered the shaded coolness of the main building. Artificial cooling systems kept the temperature just above freezing, perfectly comfortable for Chiss used to the cold climes of Csilla; not so for their Imperial 'guests'. The sudden change in temperature caused the trio to shudder for a second. "Look at 'Talia and I. We came out okay, I think."
"More than okay," Turi corrected fondly. "Just make sure the two of you stay that way. Help me keep the younger Imperial Jedi that way too while you're at it."
"The pains of being the big brother and sister," Sivan quipped.
"The pains of being the best," Antalia reworded with a mock-superior tilt of her head.
The trio headed through the building largely ignored by the Chiss within. Only a few of the younger Chiss children stopped what they were doing to openly stare. There was a general feeling of ambivalence in the building—as if the Chiss didn't care who they reported to, be it the Ascendancy or Remnant, so long as there was a proper chain of command and their people were cared for. They were just weary of the fighting and the death and really wanted no part in the war between the Remnant and their former overseers.
Turi led Antalia and Sivan into an artificial oasis created in the middle of the mesa. Water cascaded down from a fairly good-sized waterfall on one side, and meandered through the center of the room before pooling in a glistening lake. Sunlight shone through the circular opening cut into the ceiling, filtered by several taller trees that grew ever upwards towards freedom. A pavilion sat on the bank of the lake, surrounded by flowering shrubs and flats of grass. It was one of the few places where the flora native to Noris had managed to survive, one last slice of Noris before the conflicts had razed much of it.
"First thing we'll practice is centering exercises," Turi instructed, directing her charges to sit down in the pavilion. "Centering one's self when your ship is being shot up and death is occurring all around you is a lot harder than you might think. As Jedi, we're connected intrinsically to the Force. We can feel every death around us, no matter how small. The reason why Jedi don't fall to pieces when they're in battle is because they're taught to accept those deaths as a natural part of life. That people don't truly die, but rejoin the Force and become part of the mystical energy that we use to better the lives of others. For the position the two of you will take in the coming battle, it is imperative that you remain as level-headed and logical as possible. Even if you have to make a sacrifice that sits ill with you, you need to press on so that others can continue to live and so that those who died did not do so in vain."
"So we should enter a light trance then?" Sivan asked.
"Yes. But as you do so, I'll begin projecting my experiences during the Yuuzhan Vong War to you. Some of the experiences will also be from Jedi Ambassador Jaina Solo, who shared them with me at my request when the Imperial Jedi were first founded. I'll start slowly, but increase the experiences in severity. Stay as calm and in control as you can."
Sivan and Antalia nodded once, and closed their eyes, immersing themselves into the Force.
Turi regarded them almost regretfully. "Forgive me, you two. With the battle in a couple of days, this is the best way I can think of that will maximize your chances of getting everyone in your unit back in one piece."
After several long seconds, just as they began to reach equilibrium, images began to flash through their minds. They were onboard a starship, a fighter battle was taking place and they could only watch as lives, one by one, were snuffed out by hopeless odds. Another image, they were running, being chased. People they recognized as being from the nearby village fell around them and they were completely helpless to stop it. Another, this time they were witnessing the death of a Star Destroyer, feeling hundreds of lives disappear with every explosion.
Then, the images changed. They could see the smiling faces of several teenagers, all of them huddled around a campfire, listening and telling stories. The teens were absolutely terrified, but were taking comfort in the presence of the others. But that idyllic moment passed. A plasma projectile roared out and blew a hole into one of the teens who had just stood to begin his story. Panic flared, and Antalia and Sivan shared in Turi's distress as she ran, feeling her friends die all around her.
Another set of images, this time of the famed Ganner Rhysode. Antalia and Draco could feel the bonds of friendship he had established with many Jedi. Could feel how he had felt in the Force when he had been alive. They shared in his adventures, years passing in a matter of seconds, until they reached that fateful day. The sudden abruptness in which his grandstanding aura vanished. The aching absence of a friend no longer with them but with the Force.
More images, the final battle where millions died. Running and fearing. Fighting for one's life. Surviving when no one else did. Grief, regret, as Turi shared more and more, she found herself unable to stop. Someone had to understand what she had gone through so that no one else would…someone.
By the time Turi was finished, tears were running down Antalia and Sivan's cheeks, their trance and the lesson long forgotten. Turi herself was ashen in color, her face almost wooden. Without a single word between them, Sivan and Antalia stood as one and promptly engulfed their instructor in a comforting hug, reaching out through the Force to take away her pain.
"Sorry guys," Turi managed hoarsely. "I just…I don't want you guys losing friends and family…like Jaina and I. I just want…"
"You don't have to say it, Colonel," Antalia muttered. "It's the same thing Sivan and myself and the rest of our unit want. The same thing Units Two, Three, Four, and Five all want even if they might not realize it yet. Siv and I will keep our family alive, we promise. You and the others have trained us well, so keep on training us. Keep on showing us what happens when our training lets us down so we know how to be better. We're Imperial Jedi, Colonel Altamik, trained by Jedi both light and dark. There hasn't been Jedi like us in the galaxy before, and we're going to show the galaxy what they've been missing."
"'Talia's right," Sivan backed up his sister. "It'll start with me and her, but soon the others will be of age and be able to join us. Vetter and Sinde, Drae and Sa'kai, they're only two years behind me, three behind 'Talia, they'll be at our side in no time."
Turi just smiled half-heartedly and nodded. "Okay, enough of the touchy-feely stuff. Get back into your meditation and try to reach out to your unit. I'll inject both urgency and fear just to keep you guys on your toes. Right now you need to get used to finding their minds no matter how vast the distance. Finding and perceiving as they do. More will come tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am," Sivan and Antalia both saluted sharply.
"Get to it." Turi said with forced optimism. It was extremely hard to do because her mind and heart were not only elsewhere, but in another time too. It had been so long since she had recalled the many memories. And since the mob-violence in the market several weeks ago, the memories were coming easier, much to her chagrin.
Her apprentices re-entered their trance, and Turi vainly tried to separate her emotions from the memories they were attached to.
There was no emotion, only peace.
No chaos, only harmony.
No death, only the Force.
But no matter how many times she recited the maxim in her head, her heart refused to obey.
]-)-III-(-[
Ten Years Ago- Outer Rim Planet Edusa
"You're a terrible liar, Kensig," Fifteen year old Jedi Apprentice, Turi Altamik laughed, shaking her head. She was surrounded by a group of teenagers at several outdoor benches in front of the city-center, headquarters of the mining operations within the Edusa system. They were all in casual mining outfits, taking a break after the morning labor shifts.
Charming, dark-haired sixteen year old Kensig Soli, face stained with soot, affected a wounded look. "Me lying? Come on, Altamik, I wouldn't do that to you."
"Apart from the fact you're horrible at it, I am a Jedi you know," Turi rolled her eyes, running a hand through her hair to shake free some of the debris that had been caught in her blond locks. The others with her chuckled. "Besides, I would have to be completely daft to believe that the ore on Edusa Three, the ore that powers several systems and is worth its weight in credits, is fossilized space-worm excrement. I may not know a thing about mining, but really Kensig?"
"Hey, you believed me when I told you we had teams of Gamoreans doing our mining for us."
"I only let you believe I believed you," Turi stuck her tongue out. "Besides, don't you have anything better to do than pick on a city-girl like me?"
Kensig pretended to think, then shook his head along with the rest of the group. In unison they smiled and said, "Nope."
Turi just smiled and gave Kensig a friendly shove. She had been on Edusa for four months now; thanks to her parents' contacts and the fact that Edusa had once been a proud, card-carrying member of the Galactic Empire. Though wary at first, the planet's small mining hamlets had eventually warmed to her, and she had made quite a few friends. Among them was the attractive Kensig, son of the system's governor, and she had taken some small delight when he had given her a personal tour of the planet. Even on a backwater place like Edusa, with Kensig and her new friends, it was hard to believe that an intergalactic war had just been started. That Ithor and Sernpedial were uninhabited balls of rock.
Almost as if her thoughts had jinxed her, she caught sight of a harried militia officer sprinting across the dirt road from the militia barracks. The man's face was sheet-white and Turi could feel nothing but fear pulsate from him. He continued his urgent trek, disappearing into the city-center without breaking stride.
Turi's friends picked up on where she was looking, and immediately sobered.
"Come on," Kensig said gruffly. "I can get us in HQ. Perks of being the governor's son."
The group abandoned their casual time in the afternoon sun and quickly followed the militiaman in. Passing a checkpoint with only a lazy wave from the guard, they piled into the central room.
"We have a problem!"
The room, full of the governor, several representatives from different planets in the system, and other wealthy and influential people all enjoying a light, afternoon drink, fell silent.
"Problem?" The governor said slowly, setting down his tumbler and slowly rising. "Please explain, lieutenant."
"We were wrong about the Vong!" The messenger gasped. "The scar-heads doubled back and just took the Vandyne system! A pair of refugee ships barely made it out of there and have landed here requesting sanctuary."
A low murmuring broke out between those in the room, fear and anger oscillating rapidly as they absorbed the information.
"M…maybe they're just using it to mount an attack on the Ciutric Hegemony," stammered one of the influential citizens. "Edusa has nothing but mining operations."
"But the Vong hate people who ruin a planet's ecosystem for wealth," Kensig spoke up. "Given that half of Edusa was dug up and carted off to our trading partners, I don't think the Vong will be too friendly with us."
"Kensig, no need to frighten the others unnecessarily." The governor rebuked. He nodded to the others. "Perhaps Representative Karn is right. Lieutenant, have the Vong shown any signs that they're continuing to advance in our direction?"
"Well…no…"
"So they've only taken Vandyne at the moment?"
"Yes, sir."
"And these Vandyne refugees, they thought it safe enough to retreat here and stop?"
"Er…yes, sir."
"Then I see no reason to stir up trouble or invite it. If we lay low, maybe the whole war will blow over and we'll have worried over nothing."
"But dad!"
"Kensig," the governor glared.
"You heard the reports on what they did to Sernpidal! The New Republic forces haven't been able to stop the Vong."
"Enough!" The governor glowered. "Kensig, you and your friends may leave now. The Yuuzhan Vong aren't coming to Edusa, and we won't provoke them in any way to do so. Representatives, let's shut down our mines temporarily. If the Vong are hitting the Hegemony, then our major trading partner won't be able to pay its bills anyways."
Further protests fell on deaf ears, so the group of teens left the room.
"Your dad's crazy, you know that?" Turi quipped, feeling anxiety rise in her stomach as she gazed about the settlement that had been her home for several months. "We have to start evacuations, or at least call a New Republic fleet for help."
"You're a Jedi, can't you just contact your masters and have them send help?" Asked one of the other teens, evidently shaken by the news like some of the others in the room had been.
"I…" Before Turi could answer, her comlink pinged. "One moment, getting a message routed from my ship."
"Your parents?" Kensig asked.
"Probably."
"Great, maybe they can send help."
"Highly doubt that," Turi pressed a few buttons. "This is Altamik."
"Daughter."
"Hi father, checking in?"
"Word about Vandyne has reached me here. Your mother and I have arranged for another safehouse further away from the frontlines."
"I'm just fine, father. Thanks for asking," Turi replied darkly.
"Don't talk back to me, Turi. I am your father. Now, you will get on your ship and go to the coordinates I've sent you. The governor of Noonar will be expecting you."
"And what about everyone else here?" Turi hissed.
"They are the governor's responsibility. Not yours. The Yuuzhan Vong have put an open bounty on the head of any Jedi, and it would reflect poorly if your mother and myself were unable to shield you from simple bounty hunters."
"But…"
"Do as your mother and I wish, Turi. The people of Edusa are not your concern. They have merely been the tool with which we used to shield you from the outset of the war. Go to Noonar. You will be safe there."
"Until the Vong get there."
"At which point we will move you to another safehouse."
"So what, I'm just supposed to forget about what will happen to everyone here? Father, I'm a Jedi..."
"And what will that mean if you're dead? Even that Jedi Horn couldn't stop a Vong fleet from razing Ithor. What chance do you have?"
Turi clenched her jaw, tears coming to her eyes. She tried to avoid looking at her friends, understanding full well what would happen. That she was completely helpless to stop it. And that this was probably one of the last times she would see them alive.
"Turi," Kensig said softly. "Go."
The blond Jedi jerked her head towards the teen. "Kens…I just can't leave…"
"Yes you can," Kensig said, forcing out a brave smile. She didn't need to Force to feel his terror. "You're not just an anybody, a refugee, or soldier. You're a Jedi. Somehow, some day, you're supposed to make a difference in the galaxy. Your dad's right. You can't make a difference if you're dead."
"Then what about you all?" Turi gestured with her comlink. "Do you seriously think I'm just going to let you all become Vong-bait?"
"We'll be okay."
"You're a terrible liar," Turi retorted half-heartedly. This time the dread shone in her eyes as she stared up at the older teen.
"This is our home, Turi," Kensig placed a hand on her shoulder. "The only corner of the galaxy we've ever known. It may be an out-of-the-way mining outpost with delusions of being part of a greater Empire, but it's still our home. Not yours."
"But…"
"Turi," one of the others spoke up. The other teen offered an equally fear-filled smile. "Go, please, for us. Maybe, somehow, we'll still come out of this."
"I…I…" Turi looked to one face to the next, her heart clenching painfully. Finally, she just bowed her head in defeat and nodded.
"Just one request, Turi," Kensig almost whispered.
"Anything?"
"We may be a backwater in the back end of nowhere, but don't forget us, okay?"
Turi sniffled and nodded, taking his hand into her own. "Never."
Five hours later, she was in the mountains overlooking the village, running through the pre-flight checklist onboard the Altamik Flier. Efforts to convince the governor to evacuate the system had fallen on deaf ears. The governor remained firmly convinced that the war would 'blow over' and pass them by. Akin to sticking one's head into the ground, it was almost business as usual for the handful of inhabited planets and moons in the system. With the governor and militia not budging, no one wanted to listen to a group of teenagers preaching about doom. When it had become apparent that no amount of convincing would work, Turi finally admitted defeat. She shared one last dinner with her friends, before practically being forced by them to the city-limits.
It had been one of the hardest decisions to make, and even onboard her ship, she continued to tell herself that what she was doing was for the better.
"Last chance to come with me guys," Turi said with a forced laugh, holding the comm-button down.
"Good luck out there, Altamik," Kensig sent back, communicating back from the city-center. "For what it's worth. May the Force be with you."
Turi closed her eyes, not bothering to hide her tears. "Yeah, thanks."
Kensig's next message had a bit of urgency to it. "Altamik, get out of here! A Vong frigate was just picked up on long-range sensors! They'll be here in five."
Turi's stomach acid rose. She leaned forward to peer out the cockpit window down at the city below. "Get out of there!"
"No time. We have to try and get the civilians evacuated. I'm the governor's son after all."
"Kensig!" Turi yelled.
"Got to go. You should too!"
Turi bit down on her lower lip, finishing the last of the checklist. She took a breath and called out to her ship's AI. "Father, start up the engines and get me a trajectory away from the city."
The words 'trajectory plotted' appeared on the console. Turi started up the engines, and her Delta-class JV-Seven shuttle hummed as it began to rise from the ground. As it did, however, a flash of yellow lit up the upper atmosphere, temporarily brightening the cloudy night's sky. Turi immediately placed a hand to the window, horror and dread filling her.
Almost in slow motion, her Force-assisted senses tracked the ball of plasma from air to ground. It impacted squarely with the city-center, a ball of fire erupting up in an instant.
In a panic, Turi thumbed the comlink again. "Kensig! Kensig! Come in damn it!"
The atmosphere flashed again, and two more streaks of plasma boiled away the water in the air in their downward course. Two more explosions erupted from the mining city. All Turi could do was keep her hand against the cool transparasteel window and shake her head in denial.
A flight of coralskippers screamed down through the clouds, guns blazing. Smaller explosions blossomed up from the city. With most of the population asleep, they never stood a chance. It was almost as if the Yuuzhan Vong was razing the place simply because they could.
The Altamik Flier chose that moment to rotate away and dart through the mountain range. When that happened, the only thing Turi could do was stare at the rear-view on her main console, watching as her home of several months went up in flame. She wasn't the strongest in the Force, but she could literally feel lives disappear by the handful.
"I'm sorry guys," Turi breathed, squeezing her eyes shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her ship angled upwards and away, the stealth systems paid for by her wealthy politician parents allowing it to avoid detection by the lone Yuuzhan Vong frigate in orbit. "I'm so sorry."
She bowed her head, unable to stop crying as her ship leaped into hyperspace. The blue vortex of hyperspace offered little comfort. She hugged herself with her arms, drawing her legs up to her chest. She vowed repeatedly not to let another Edusa happen, to stay at the next place and fight with everything she had. She wasn't a warrior or soldier by any means, but the feeling of helplessness gnawed at her very soul.
Little did she know that her pledge would be for naught. That Edusa would only be the first of many homes she would see burn. That Kensig and the others would be the first of many friends she would outlive. And the first of many times she would be completely powerless to stop her world from crumbling around her.
]-)-IV-(-[
Present time
Turi linked herself to the Force, sensing what her teenage apprentices were sensing as they sat at the forefront of the Bloodfin's bridge. Three days of non-stop prep and training were now about to be demonstrated in a friendly war-game. Outside, another Imperial taskforce imitating Chiss tactics maneuvered, and several squadrons of TIE Interceptors and Defenders mimicked the agile Clawcraft. The lasers of both fleets had been reprogrammed to fire non-damaging bursts. A computer program would record the number of 'hits' and designate a ship or fighter as 'destroyed.' The 'destroyed' vessel would then have to drift where it was, acting as battlefield debris.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Moff Tanal asked dubiously.
"Just watch," Turi replied, the bridge chatter in the background keeping a constant din in the air.
"Admiral Jeratai is a brilliant tactician, his hatred of the Chiss drives him, and the fact that he had been captured by the New Republic has twisted his mind even further," the female Moff shook her head. "I fail to see how two teens in the midst of puberty can best him."
Admiral Jeratai's fleet massed several light minutes away, changing formation every couple of minutes to keep the smaller 'Imperial' fleet guessing.
He's reckless, Antalia's thoughts filtered into Turi's mind, disapproval lacing every syllable. Even from here we can feel his bloodlust. The only thing holding him back is that he knows the Chiss would never strike first and he has to play by the rules.
It must be killing him to listen to his Chiss advisors, Sivan added in amusement.
Turi let her lips quirk upwards into a half-smile. "So, my apprentices, your opening move?"
Sivan replied verbally, rattling off a list of orders even though his eyes were completely closed. The bridge crew paused for a moment, glancing towards Moff Tanal.
"You have your orders," the Moff said tersely. "Carry them out."
At once, the chatter on the bridge increased in volume, comm-officers sending orders to fighter squadrons and other capital ships in a flurry of motion. The 'Imperial' fleet began to move, its formation abandoning orthodox Imperial stragems in favor of what appeared to be an unorganized mess.
"We'll be more efficient if we send the orders directly to the officers involved," Antalia spoke up, her forehead creased.
"Will you be able to maintain focus on the battlegroup?" Turi asked aloud.
"Sivan or myself can temporarily take control while the other issues the orders."
"Do it."
All at once, the Force seemed to surge around the two Draco siblings. The officers in the bridge jolted in both alarm and fear, eyes flicking up to the two teens as they began to hear Antalia and Sivan's voices in their heads. Slowly but surely, the bridge began to work at an even greater speed, efficiently coordinating commands like never before. This resulted in fightercraft maneuvering in perfect sync with the capital ships. Captains of vessels somehow knowing where their support would come from, knowing where there were holes in their defenses. Orders and their intentions were clear, leaving no doubt in the minds of those receiving them what they were supposed to do.
Admiral Jeratai's fleet, seeing the non-standard formation approach, momentarily halted their formation shifting. They tried to determine just what it was that was coming at them, but couldn't seem to identify the strategy being used. He formed a smaller taskforce of several light cruisers and a Star Destroyer, and used a fighter screen to launch a probing attack.
Rather than engage, the closest parts of the 'Imperial' fleet seemed to recoil as if burned, folding back into the rest of the fleet behind it. Another probing attack, another 'retreat,' the 'Imperial' fleet denying the 'Chiss' fleet combat. As if interpreting the reluctance to attack as a fear of his abilities, Admiral Jeratai quickly formed up the rest of his fleet for a sudden surge.
Turi had to hide a smile as she sensed her apprentices' idea, shaking her head almost ruefully. Imperial or Chiss, due to their adherence to the chain of command, the fleet was only as strong as the ones in command. Rather than slog their way through the enemy fleet, both Antalia and Draco had assigned numerical values to the ships they identified as 'command' ships. Much like the Imperials had done against Yuuzhan Vong yammosk vessels during the war, the 'Imperial' fleet was now geared towards these 'command' ships and had maneuvered themselves for optimal firing solutions. The trick was to minimize losses and maximize the casualties inflicted.
The seconds and distance passed quickly. Admiral Jeratai's fleet opened fire as they charged headlong into the center of the 'Imperial' fleet, seemingly trying to collapse it into itself. At the last moment, however, the admiral's fleet swung about to the right flank of the 'Imperial' fleet, trying to cut them off from the rest of the fleet.
"Nice move," Turi remarked, watching as the monitor that displayed the 'health' indicator of the Bloodfin. Shields were already taking a pummeling, and the computer likewise marked several turbolaser batteries as being 'hit' by enemy missiles. "Not nearly enough though."
True to Turi's words, that was as far as Admiral Jeratai got.
Antalia and Draco's plan kicked into gear. Despite being dummy-rounds, no Star Destroyer commander enjoyed seeing multiple squadrons of fighters fire warheads at their bridge-tower. The coordination provided by the Force meant that the squadrons could cover for one and other even with enemy fighters trying to swoop in to disrupt the firing runs. The minutes ticked by, and the displays on the Bloodfin's bridge indicated that nearly every command ship in Admiral Jeratai's fleet had been knocked out. After that, any vessel that appeared to try and take command of the situation was targeted by a mass of fighter-borne laser runs. Not helping matters was the demoralizing affect the Force had on the remains of Admiral Jeratai's people. Every ship knocked out of the fight sunk morale far lower than it normally would have, until things seemed absolutely hopeless.
A half-hour into the training exercise, and Admiral Jeratai's fleet had been utterly decimated…and this was after they had tried to withdraw mid-way through.
"You were saying, Moff Tanal?" Turi said smugly.
To her credit, Moff Tanal managed to keep her jaw from dropping, though her eyes did seem a bit stunned. "Admiral Jeratai has led over a dozen campaigns. How…"
"That, Moff Tanal, is the power of the Force," Turi answered. She looked over to her apprentices. "Go check on your unit, think about how to improve things, then take the rest of the day off. We'll have one more training skirmish tomorrow, and in two days we make another attempt on Ornfra."
"With your Jedi leading us, this war should be done in no time," Moff Tanal remarked, saluting the two apprentices as they walked past.
Turi raised an eyebrow. "If it were so easy to for Jedi to win wars, Moff Tanal, the Yuuzhan Vong War would have been over in a year."
"Then what is your opinion, Jedi Altamik? I thought they did quite well."
"There's a great deal of difference fighting a practice skirmish and fighting a group of people who want to protect their homes and families. Battle-Meditation works best when one side believes in their cause more fully than the other. If our men and women fighting in our ships have even the slimmest of doubts that this war is best for the Empire, then the beliefs of the Chiss whose homes we are threatening will ultimately win out in the end. Besides, the Force is not infinite despite what some masters say. Antalia and Sivan can only do so much. Like any elite soldier, you push them too hard, use them for too many conflicts, and they'll burn out."
"Then let us hope they can win us several decisive victories so all the Imperial fleets will need to do is mop up what is left."
"Yes," Turi replied with a poisonous smile. "Let's. I'll tell you what, Moff Tanal. Why don't you pick several engagements you predict you'll need the Imperial Jedi for? We'll train for those. That way we don't burn out our resources and get ourselves in a bind later."
"An excellent idea. And to think, if we can accomplish this much with only two Imperial Jedi, what will happen when the other ten are ready to join our ranks?"
]-)-V-(-[
Turi wasn't able to sleep as her thoughts continued to spiral about in her head. It seemed the Jedi thing to do, end a war as fast as possible and minimize the number of casualties. Neither side wanted to go to the table, not when both believed they were morally right. Especially not when the Empire thought that the war was winnable and were throwing credits and people into the conflict like never before. A Jedi was supposed to save lives, and she was doing it the only way she knew how—by making sure the Imperials won such a decisive victory that the Chiss would sue for peace and end the fighting. There was no doubt that the longer the war went on, the more lives would be in jeopardy and the more desperate one side would get.
But was what she doing right? After years of running and hiding, she was finally in a position to make a difference. Finally in a position to save lives and change an otherwise undesirable result. Yet, to do so, she was literally aiding the Empire in a war that boiled down to race and resources. Sacrificing the lives of the Chiss military to minimize the lives lost on the Imperial side. Of course, one could argue she was sparing the millions of Chiss colonists from prolonged garrisons and orbital bombardments, but even that sounded like a poor excuse to her.
Keeping Antalia and Sivan from directly killing sentient beings was one thing, but the two teens were still going to orchestrate one of the greatest mass-killings of Chiss in the coming engagements. An orchestration that she had made possible and approved. It went against everything she was taught a Jedi should do. But what other choice did she have?
She couldn't be like the older Jedi who preached and preached about tolerance and harmony until her ears bled and her eyes rolled. For one, the Empire most definitely didn't run on 'Jedi morals.' Neither did the galaxy for that matter; and trying to impose her 'Jedi way' of doing things on others was a sure way to get herself blacklisted in a Palpatine second. The Jedi Way hadn't stopped the Vong from raising Edusa or the many of the other worlds that perished in the Yuuzhan Vong War, and certainly had stopped the war from occurring in the first place.
For another, if she had the ability to end the war quickly, shouldn't she take it regardless of the methods? To sit back and do nothing, to show apathy to the situation or hide behind her Jedi code of 'non-interventionalism,' would mean the deaths of thousands of Imperial and Chiss. Apathy was death, yet to do something meant that she wasn't following the Jedi code.
A long, drawn out discussion with Master Katarn at the onset of the war had been utterly unhelpful. As wise and experienced as he was, a generational gap was definitely exposed. There were the Jedi of his generation, trying to legitimize their Order by following the teachings of the previous Order as best they could. They wagged a finger at the dark side, justified their actions with interpretations of the Jedi Code, and blindly believed that things would turn out for the better if they stayed the course. His generation had grown up when the threat of the dark side was very real, with Vader, Palpatine, the Dark Side Prophets, and all manner of dark side baddies trying to take over the galaxy. They were determined to separate themselves from those specters of the past, determined not to follow in their footsteps or let their apprentices go 'dark. ' The Jedi Masters of Katarn's order were more worried about the means used to achieve the goal, and not the actual goal itself.
And then there was her generation, realizing that those teachings were for a different era and different Order. That everything wouldn't fit together nicely if they just waited for the Force to make things right. They constantly had to make exceptions in the Jedi Code to do what had to be done. Sacrifice people, planets, feelings, sometimes morals, to ensure that the 'Jedi way' was carried out.
Despite the propaganda, she didn't doubt for one second that Anakin Solo had been shipped off to Zonama Sekot because of his beliefs. That Jacen Solo's rise had halted because older Jedi Masters and Knights were too wary of his Unifying Force theories. Both had tried to make some sense of a shattered galaxy because the Jedi Code definitely didn't help in that matter. After all, the Jedi may follow a logical code, but that doesn't mean the rest of the galaxy played by the same rules.
Turi let out a breath, walking to the viewport of her cabin and staring out into the stars. Even the first stanza of the Jedi Code was flawed in oh so many ways. 'There is no emotion, there is only peace'? She wondered what type of galaxy the creators of the Jedi Code had been living in to come up with that. She sure as Kessel had emotions, ones that grew with her increasing frustration between her job and the limitations set upon her by the Jedi Code. And peace? If there was only peace, given the current state of war between the Chiss and Empire, she'd hate to see what chaos and violence looked like.
All those thoughts and more continued to run through her mind. It wasn't that she resented being a Jedi. In fact, she thought of the Jedi as the family she never really had. Lauded their goals and desire to bring galaxy-wide peace and prosperity. But there were times when she wondered if she could do more if she left the Jedi Order and not toed the company line. Times that grew in frequency as the years went on. The Imperial Jedi had been her 'compromise' with Grand Moff Quille's attempts to restart the Inquisitorious. But to tell the truth, she had been all too eager to start a 'Jedi' academy without the oversight of her Master and those on Denon.
And now she was at a crossroads. She absently pressed a hand to the transparasteel window, pensive green eyes reflected back at her. If she went through with this, helped the Empire win their war by massacring the Chiss, she doubted the High Council would keep her as the Jedi Ambassador to the Empire any further. They'd probably recall her, place her on leave so she could 'find herself' again and reflect on her actions. But if doing what she was doing was not what a Jedi of the Jedi Order would do, what did that make her?
She spun around in frustration, squeezing her eyes shut to prevent a fresh set of tears. When she opened her eyes again, they settled on the small cloth patch on her quarter's desk. It was the unofficial emblem of the Imperial Jedi emblazoned on the shoulder pads of all the Void Troopers and Imperial Jedi trainees. It was a simple design in standard Imperial gray; a single lit lightsaber over the Imperial crest.
Almost on a whim, Turi picked up the cloth patch and let her thumb trace the stitching of the crest. After several seconds, she shook her head and placed the patch back down.
She had to be mad. She couldn't leave the Jedi Order, leave the only place she had known since she had been just a toddler.
She looked out the viewport again, then glanced back to the patch.
But then again…maybe she wouldn't have a choice. She reached into her desk and pulled out the latest holocron she had been recording for Tionne. With a weary sigh, she sunk into the chair at her desk and activated the device.
"This is Jedi Knight Turi Altamik. Owing to the events that will soon unfold, this will likely be my last entry in my official capacity as the Jedi Order's ambassador to the Imperial Remnant. The only regret I have is that the Jedi Order in all its infinite wisdom decided to name me to this post in the first place. What I will say next will not justify the plans I have set in motion, but will hopefully help future Jedi avoid this no-win situation I've gotten myself into…"
]-)-Chapter End-(-[
A\N: Next chapter, next week. See you then!