Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars
21
It was two days after the battle with Joren's fleet. The fleet was ready to move on again, and they knew that if they lingered much longer, someone would come to try and shoot them. So, the fleet had to move on, preferably before Vader arrived in a rather foul mood. Shaak Ti called a meeting of the leaders of the Resistance.
It was like an old Reconciliation Council meeting. She, Ackdara, Tsui, Exaz, Syron and Meena Tills were all present.
"Right, we have several problems facing us. The time has come for us to get a clear command structure. Otherwise, we're going to wind up fighting ourselves." Shaak Ti said.
"What do you suggest my dear?" Exaz asked.
"First, we need a strong leader of the military. Ackdara, I name you our Supreme Commander and Admiral of the fleet."
"Thank you Master Ti."
"Below you, we need a General."
"That should be Argron. He knows what hes doing." Exaz said.
"I take it you don't want to be part of the main fleet?" Ackdara asked Syron.
"No offence, but no. I'd much rather be Talo Taxi Services Limited."
Shaak Ti gave him the finger.
"Below him?"
"Kryn could be a colonel." Syron suggested.
"Fair enough. And then two captains under him, Qual and Variya." Meena said.
"Do we trust her? She's an Imp." Ackdara said.
"Ventress is a Dark Jedi." Tsui countered.
"Point taken."
"What about our army?"
"I say we put Alpha in charge of them. It would make a lot of sense." Meena said.
They agreed on that at least.
"Special Forces?" Exaz asked.
"Aidus." Syron said simply.
"Fine."
Shaak Ti smiled.
"So, we now have a military command structure. I leave it to you to work out task forces and things my dear."
Ackdara nodded.
"And now we need a Jedi Council." Exaz said.
"And a proper leader." Syron said.
"And leaders for all the different things." Meena added.
"First thing's first. The Council."
"Master Ti will of course have to be the new Grand Master." Tsui said.
"Master Choi should be the new Master Windu." Exaz added.
"Who else?"
"Exaz." Syron said.
Exaz shot him a dirty look, but the others all agreed.
"Oh, very well."
"Master K'kruhk." Ackdara suggested.
"He will be thrilled." Exaz said sarcastically.
"Master Saa?" Meena asked.
They agreed on that with ease.
"You cant have one without the other. Tholme." Syron said.
They all nodded.
"Half way there. Jeisel." Ackdara said.
"Luminara." Shaak Ti said.
Four were left to go.
"Voolvif Monn." Tsui said.
"I know he's young, but A'sharad." Exaz added.
"Now, who should the last two be? Dass Jennir? Bultar Swan?" Ackdara asked.
"What about Kota? Or Quin? Or Kai?" Syron put up.
"What about the Dark Woman?" Meena asked.
Out of all the options, she was the most controversial.
"I don't know if that's wise…" Tsui began.
"I don't see why not. She's a fine Jedi Master, and knows what she's doing. We may as well take her." Shaak Ti said.
"So, who will the last member be?" Ackdara asked.
"Ventress." Tsui whispered.
"Ventress? Whie would have my head on a platter!" Shaak Ti protested.
"It'll show unity between us, and allow us to keep an eye on her. And it will give her a morale boost."
"Any objections?"
"Don't see any reason not to put here there." Syron said, to the nods of Exaz and Meena.
Ackdara nodded eventually.
"Very well."
"So, the species leaders are already appointed. And the various parts of our rebellion." Syron said.
"And they will act as advisors and cabinet members, sort of like Senators."
"Putting me in that category, along with Gumbaeki, Resa, Wat Tambor, Tusk Teen, Syron, as he can represent the smugglers and pirates, and Dice, who can lead the clones." Meena said.
"And you're still quartermaster, and Tikkes can help you." Shaak Ti agreed.
"So my friends, I believe we have our command structure." Tsui said happily.
That job done, they now had more immediate worries.
"We have won our first victory. But Palpatine will be having a fit by now. He'll be sending every warlord in the book after us, and Vader wont be far behind. We have to get a new, proper base. Admiral, I leave that to you."
Syron then went forward.
"Back up a second. Who's actually leading us?"
"Master Ti of course." Tsui said in surprise.
"But is she absolute ruler, or does she report to these so called Senators and the Council?"
They all sat back.
"We cant afford to become like the Senate." Ackdara said, her Mon Cal eyes narrowed.
"I agree." Tsui said.
"Nor can we afford to turn into a mini Empire." Exaz said.
"This is what we do. The Senate, such as it is, can work with the Jedi Council and effectively stop her. We can remove her from power if we feel she is a threat to the rebellion. However, if its matters to do with state, she has full power, unless she is acting against our best interests, in which we can arrest her." Tsui said.
"So, she consults us, and can then ignore us."
"Three strikes and she's out."
Ackdara sighed.
"I know it's not ideal, but it will have to do until we can get a proper form of government, a permanent base and a working constitution."
"Very well. I don't like this any more than you do Syron dear." Shaak Ti said.
They agreed to move on.
"Right, so we have struck. But we cant afford to lose initiative. We need to get more ships, more allies, and more supplies to piss off the Empire even more. So, I shall be going to the Corporate Sector."
"That's handy. The new President has sauntered off already."
"Shut up. So, I shall go on the Silver Blade. And I know how bad things can get there, so Admiral, I want a task force ready to aid me at a second's notice."
"Easy enough. Meanwhile, Meena puts the info around the fleet about the new way of running things, we keep looking for a base, and attack a few Imps every once in a while."
"Essentially."
"So, all's well on the home front. I too will go with you my dear. That leaves Master Exaz in charge." Tsui said gleefully.
Exaz shot him a look that could have frozen Mustafar.
"And let's hope that we can run a state better than the Republic did." Meena said.
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The small task force that Shaak Ti was taking to the Corporate Sector was led by Captain Variya, captain of the Sucker, and now called the Meerkat, like before. The rest of the captured ships from the battle would also be joining them. Meanwhile, Ackdara, leading from the Swift, was leading the fleet away to a new home, while Colonel Kryn on the Millionaire, and Captain Qual on the Spectrum would launch attacks on Imperial interests, while General Argron stayed with the refugee ships and looked for a home when Ackdara went to blow things up.
"There is an asteroid belt not far from Etti IV captain. I suggest you hide there."
"Of course Master Ti."
Variya then leapt away with her fleet, and the rest of the fleet then went in a different direction.
"What do we plan to do in the Corporate Sector?" Vella asked.
"You'll see."
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The Silver Blade was making good time, travelling at lightspeed towards the lawless Corporate Sector. Shaak Ti intended to replace the lost fighters, gather a few more troops to the cause, gain some cruisers, and get out before the Empire found them.
"Master Ti?" Vella asked when she entered the lounge.
"Yes dear?"
Vella sat down heavily.
"Do you think we can actually escape the Empire?"
Shaak Ti smiled grimly.
"I don't know. But I tell you, we'll have a damn good try. We cant allow the people of this galaxy to suffer under the hatred and oppression of the Sith. We must fight. And I will fight until my dying breath, I assure you. I don't think we can win. But then, it wouldn't be the first time Jedi have fought an already lost cause."
Vella smiled.
"Palpatine will have a heart attack because of us."
"We can only hope. I don't think we can win. The Empire controls the galaxy, and we are a bunch of refugees without a home and travelling around on a bunch of warships. But that wont stop me."
"Or me."
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Before proceeding to Etti IV itself, they first had to stop off at a refuelling station, as Teecee had read the meter wrong.
"It's not my fault!" he protested.
While Syron refuelled the ship, Shaak Ti, Tsui, Softy, Vella and Rox explored the station.
"Damn droid." Vella moaned.
"We all mistakes." Tsui said gleefully.
He thought it was a very funny joke that Teecee had forgotten to fuel the ship.
They entered a small bar. Being only a small place, not meant to hold anything larger than a Dreadnaught, there was very little to do. It reminded Shaak Ti of a spaceport. While they had a drink, Vella's eye was drawn to several figures by the door.
"Oh no." she whispered.
"What's wrong?" Tsui asked.
"Black Heart Pirates." She said, pointing.
They could see the small group by the bar, led by a Gotal. They did indeed have a black heart emblem on their clothes.
"So?" Shaak Ti asked.
Rox whistled an explanation.
"They're the head honchos of the sector?"
"Basically. The Empire's been asked to hunt them down by the Sector Authority. "
"Charming."
A man then sat at the table.
"I remember you from Rogue Station. You're the Jedi." He said certainly.
"I am." Shaak Ti whispered.
"I'm the leader of the refugees. We came here, trying to find Grobba and stop him. We were caught. We fled to the asteroid field, but we were caught in the Empire's trap. He destroyed three of our ships, so we fled to here."
"Sad soul. You've been through the mill dear boy, I understand that. What do you have left?"
"Not much. All that remains from Rogue Station is the people I have on my ships, and Grobba's thugs. He's here in the sector too."
"Oh, let's pay him a visit." Vella said enthusiastically.
"How many people are left?"
"Around two hundred and fifty four."
All that was left of a station that had about ten times that number of people living on it.
"You poor dears."
"We want to join you. We've got nothing else left to do. It's either that or go up against Grobba, who'll blow us out of the sky, and the Empire, same thing."
"Very well."
She gave him a data pad, with a list of points on it.
"Go to the location third down. There you will find a fleet of ours. I know it's Imperial ships, but they're on our side. Tell Captain Variya I sent you. She'll look after you for the moment."
The man thanked her, shook her hand, and left.
"Poor man." Tsui said sympathetically.
"I wonder what ships he's got?" Vella asked.
Softy moaned that he cant have much.
Ten minutes later, they saw a Consular cruiser, two medium transports and three freighters leave.
"That's all that's left?" Vella asked in disbelief.
"Fraid so." Tsui said sadly.
"Vella dear, I reckon we should go and see that overgrown slug again." Shaak Ti hissed.
"Best idea you've had all day."
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Grobba's moon was not far from Etti IV either. The Corvette shot out of lightspeed and headed on in. Four skiff like cruisers flanked Grobba's cruiser. Syron operated the comm.
"Tell Grobba that a few former colleagues have a Jedi for him." He said.
The man on the other end let them in, and they docked inside the rocky moon where Grobba had set up shop. According to Vella, Grobba had infuriated Jabba last time he was on Tatooine, and wasn't welcome there, explaining why he had fled here. Syron, Vella, Rox and Softy escorted the two Jedi, in chains, out the ship and to Grobba's throne room at the top of the moon.
"Syron, Vella, Softy! How nice of you to come and see Grobba!" he said happily.
"You still owe us money. And we want more for brining you this pair." Vella said.
"Ah, Jedi! You see how my life has gone into the gutter since you appeared? Not to worry. Grobba will make enough money to recover his losses."
"I'm sure." Shaak Ti said listlessly.
She looked at Vella and Syron, who discreetly nodded. She then winked at Rox, and nudged Tsui.
"Bring them to me." Grobba commanded.
Thugs shoved them both forward, and Shaak Ti winked at Rox again.
"Come on!"
Rox whistled.
Shaak Ti and Tsui then leapt into the air, their lightsabers flying from Rox's dome and into their hands. They landed and proceeded to lop the hands off of Grobba's guards, While Syron, Vella and Softy opened fire with stun bolts.
"Stop them!" Grobba yelled.
Nighsk, Grobba's bodyguard, cowered behind his master, while the three smugglers fought their way up, and more thugs arrived. Meanwhile, the two Jedi were neutralising the threat of a bunch of thugs.
Then, a Mandalorian appeared his blaster blazing.
"Boba Fett!" Shaak Ti hissed as she deflected shots back towards him.
"Boba Fett? Where?" Syron asked as he fired a shot off by accident.
His jetpack lit and sent him flying out of the window.
"Found him."
"I'll get you for that Jedi!" he yelled as he jetpacked away.
Most of Grobba's thugs were missing weapons, and a few were missing hands.
"Call them off Grobba!" Shaak Ti yelled.
"Fine! Stop!"
The thugs all ceased fire and looked at their boss.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his eyes narrowed.
Shaak Ti hissed.
"That was a bit of revenge for Rogue Station. You know, the people you ruled and then hung out to dry."
"All this for them?" he demanded.
"Yes. And for Scout."
"Foolish move Jedi."
"Maybe. But you deserve to be blown out of existence. I have a fleet, which has now been joined by the Rogue Station survivors, which I would dearly love to order to come here and blow this place to smithereens."
"What was I supposed to do?"
"You could have helped them."
Grobba fumed, but still showed no remorse.
"Fine. I've had enough. I will send a message to my fleet and have them come and wreck the joint."
At the precise moment, a fleet dropped out of hyperspace.
"Very clever. Call them off Jedi, and I swear I'll do my best to help the survivors of Rogue Station."
"It isn't them. I haven't called them." She protested.
"Master Ti, there's six Star Destroyers there. We don't have six Destroyers."
"Oh no." Tsui moaned.
"Admiral Snake!"
"Who?"
"Evacuate!"
At those words, every thug ran for the exits.
"Where is your fleet? I swear I'll help them!"
Shaak Ti threw a datapad to him, and he slithered off to his cruiser.
The team ran through the corridors, back to the hangars, where thugs were hopping into fighters and freighters.
"Bugger this, Grobba's attracted the Empire! Let's go serve the Sector Authority instead!" someone yelled.
"Take that Corvette!" a man yelled.
Shaak Ti force pushed them and they thought better of it. They entered the ship, and Teecee gunned the engines. The Corvette blasted out of the hangar, and shot away from the moon, observing what was happening.
It was indeed Snake who had appeared, and his Star Destroyer had just destroyed one of the four frigates. Freighters were either shooting away on their own accord, or were forming up with Grobba's cruiser.
"Git." Shaak Ti cursed.
"The Interdictor's are powering up." Teecee reported.
"Then let's go before they do." Syron said.
The Corvette jumped to lightspeed.
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Grobba, aboard his cruiser the Spice Lord, cursed as Snake's forces bombarded his base out of existence. He had nowhere left to run. Expect perhaps…
Another frigate blew apart behind them.
"Let's go." He said wearily, giving the pilot the location Shaak Ti had given him.
The cruiser, with his two frigates and half a dozen freighters that had survived a recent TIE Fighter ambush leapt away.
All he could do now was hope that those he had left to dry would accept him.
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Snake looked at the flaming and smoking moon with satisfaction. The last remnant of Rogue Station had been swept away.
"Congratulations. We have just crippled a Hutt crime lord." He said.
"Sir, a word." An ensign said from a crew pit.
"Yes?"
The man handed him a report. Snake glowered.
"What are you doing in the Corporate Sector Shaak Ti?"
He gave the man the report, then stormed off to his cabin. This needed further investigation.
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They finally arrived at Etti IV, and nearly crashed into a Corvette with a circular bridge.
"What the hell are you doing, blocking the hyperspace route?" Syron yelled.
"Syron Talo? Is that you?" a woman's voice responded.
"Jula?"
"How are you? It's been a long time. Are you going to the planet?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I'm just waiting for my two other ships to arrive, then I'm going down."
A Tartan cruiser and a Broadside cruiser then arrived.
"Now we can go. Cudgel, stay up here."
"Right boss."
The two Corvettes shot towards the planet's surface and landed in the spaceport.
Ten minutes later, after Shaak Ti had used the Force to get in for free, they met Jula's crew.
Syron and Vella hugged her as they saw her. It seemed that she had taught them a few tricks when they had started out as smugglers.
"How's the Drunk Dancer?"
"All being well, considering we got caught at Kashyyyk."
"You were at Kashyyyk?"
"Yes. My son was killed by that new guy, Darth Vader."
Shaak Ti approached the crew.
"Who was he? Was he attacking him?" she asked.
"Yes. Lightsabers flashing and all."
Silence met these words.
"He was a Jedi?"
"Yes, Roan Shryne."
A young girl with black hair came out with a young man with spiky blond hair. She stopped short when she saw Shaak Ti.
"Hello Master Ti." She said in surprise.
"Olee Starstone. I assumed you were dead."
"Not yet Master."
"So, another Jedi. Well, if you want her back, she'll cost extra."
"I leave it up to her what she wants to do. I must say, you've done well for yourself my dear." She said with a wink.
Olee and Filli blushed.
"So, what are you doing here?" Jula asked.
"Shopping." Syron said.
"We're here to try and find some of the Wookiees the Empire imprisoned."
"We've got some. Thousand." Tsui said.
Jula smiled.
"Good. At least you'll look after them."
They set off up the street, where Jula and the crew of both ships decided to go for a drink.
"Remember to get the stuff on the list." Shaak Ti said, as she and Tsui headed up to see some of the casinos.
"Can I do a Bespin?" Tsui asked.
"No you cant. We're here for ships, not cash."
Then, they felt a flicker in the Force.
"A Jedi, here?" Tsui whispered.
"I don't see why not. Let's have a look."
And so they entered a casino. They quickly tracked down the Jedi. An elderly Bothan was sitting playing sabaac, and winning a lot of money. They waited until the end of the round, and then followed the Jedi as he left the casino. He led them down a side street, then turned to face them.
"Master Ti. You shouldn't sneak up on an old man."
"Master Hudorra."
She embraced him.
"It's good to see you my dear lady. I thought the Empire had wiped out the Council."
"Most of it I'm afraid. However, I'm rebelling, with aid of several other Jedi." She said, indicating Tsui.
"Yes, so I've heard. The local commander is not happy. Though perhaps that has something to do with Admiral Snake's arrival."
"Perhaps. It's good to see you alive. How much of a fortune have you amassed over the last few weeks?"
"A fair bit." He said, his eyes twinkling.
"I'm glad for you. Goodbye my friend."
She beckoned to Tsui, who looked at her in confusion.
"Why didn't you ask him to join us?"
"Because he needs to find out if he wants to join us himself."
"Master Ti!"
He ran to catch up with them.
"I would be honoured to fight alongside you."
"Thank you my friend. Go to the cantina on the corner of the next street. You will see a Wookiee, a Corellian man and a blonde woman. Tell them I sent you. Olee Starstone might recognise you."
He nodded and set off.
"Not bad for a day's work. And we haven't even started yet." Tsui said.
"And we cant start until tomorrow. The ship auction isn't until then."
With that, they headed to the cantina.
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The next day dawned misty and bright in the capital city of Mondder. It was the day of the ship auction that Shaak Ti had heard about, the one that she planned to buy a fleet from.
"We don't have limitless money." Teecee warned.
"That's where the Force comes in." she said with a wink.
Borrowing Olee Starstone, the four Jedi headed to the auction. They had about two hours after it started, as they were looking for heavy cruisers, rather than small ones like Corvettes. They eventually entered, after several cups of coffee.
"Right, you all know what to do. Master Hudorra, you deal with the crowds with Master Choi. Olee, deal with the auctioneer, and I'll deal with the bidding."
Olee slipped up to the auctioneer.
"You will start the bidding at ten credits."
After he complied, she waited in the shadows.
The auction began.
"So, first for this lot we have an Accumulator cruiser, and the bid is starting at ten credits!"
There was excited muttering at this. One man raised his hand.
"Did you say ten?"
"Yes."
The man was then fixed by Tsui.
"Sorry. Thought I misheard."
Shaak Ti grinned.
"So, first bid, ten credits, any advance on ten."
Shaak Ti raised her hand.
"Twenty credits, any advance on twenty credits?"
As the Force was at play, there wasn't.
"Sold to the lady at the back!"
Tsui was on the floor laughing.
"That's terrible! Twenty credits for a fully armed warship. Madness!"
Now considering they normally cost 40000000 credits, it was a brilliant bargain indeed.
The bidding continued. Soon, they had accumulated two more Accumulators.
The auction went on, with the Jedi using their powers to great effect, paying twenty credits each for three Venator Star Destroyers. As these normally cost 59000000 credits, Tsui could hardly move from laughing.
The last stage of the auction was military surplus.
"We have a nice set of three Victory Star Destroyers here, as the Empire wants more Imperials. So, ten credits for the lot!"
Unfortunately, two folk also bid on it, so they had to pay thirty credits all told.
An hour later, after they made the poor people in the crowd forget the best bargain in galactic history, they walked outside.
"Whatever happened to using the Force for knowledge and defence?" Olee asked.
"I was. I was defending our coffers from the evil prices they were charging." Shaak Ti said.
They all laughed. They had just got the best bargain in history, and a fleet to go with it.
Syron and the rest of the crew of the Blade and the Drunk Dancer came to greet them.
"How much was it?" Vella asked worriedly.
"One hundred and fifty credits all told." Shaak Ti said.
They stared at her in disbelief, and they related the tale. Syron was poorless.
"You've just killed their auction business."
"A minor detail. What matters is that we got nine cruisers for one hundred and fifty quid."
"That's despicable." Jula said, though she had just recovered from cackling on the floor.
"Course it is." Olee said with a grin as Filli kissed her cheek.
An alarm suddenly blared across the air.
"What's that?"
"The pirate alarm."
They hastened to their ships.
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The Silver Blade and Drunk Dancer were in the air in minutes, and were joined by Jula's Broadside cruiser, commanded by Cudgel, named the Bearing and a Tartan Cruiser commanded by Guanta, a Wookiee, named the Compass Point.
Shaak Ti emerged onto the bridge and looked at what was facing them.
"We need to get rid of them, otherwise we'll never get our ships off planet." Vella said.
(Four ships wont stop them. It's a massive fleet.) Softy growled.
"He's certainly right about that." Kai agreed.
At the centre of the pirate formation was a Venator Star Destroyer. This was backed up by three Kaloth cruisers, two Corellian Gunships, two Corellian Corvettes, two Escort Carriers of the Quasar bulk class, a bulk cruiser, a bulk transport, two Trade Federation Missile Frigates, a CC7700 and a CC9600.
"That's his entire fleet." Syron moaned.
"What do we know of this chap?" Tsui asked.
"He's an Aleena by the name of Kree. His crew are loyal to him. He's not bad for a pirate, but he scares the daylights out of the entire sector. And I don't reckon that's his full fleet. He'll have a fleet guarding his base too." Teecee said.
"We cant call in Variya without due cause. And they may leave and not cause much harm." Kai said.
"We cant take that risk."
Shaak Ti then went for the comm.
"This is Jedi Master Shaak Ti to the Corporate Sector Authority Space Force. We will fight to defend your planet. But we need help." She said.
"This is Commander Bsitith Varan of the Star Destroyer Economy. We are en route to you now. I am told that Etti IV has put out a call to ships on the planet for ships that will defend."
However, Kree's pirates were moving towards the planet, and the missile frigates were nearly in firing range. If they fired, either Etti IV would be hit, or their ships. From behind them a task force of mismatched shuttles, fighters and freighters arrived from the planet. There were about twenty five freighters and shuttles all told, and five squadrons worth of fighters.
"Better than nothing I suppose." Shaak Ti said.
"This is Kree of the battleship Piracy. Stand down, or we will be forced to destroy you."
"Pleasant fellow." Tsui commented.
"Captain Kree, I am a Jedi Master. I have business to conduct here, but I assure you, that if you allow me to carry it out without interference, we need not fight."
"I think not Jedi."
"Typical."
"Mind you, the local Imp commander might pay a fair bit for you. Come on Jedi, let's play."
A missile streaked forth from one of the missile frigates and ripped a shuttle apart.
"Bad move. All craft, prepare for battle." She ordered.
They however, seemed to have lost their nerve.
"Please." She asked hopefully.
There was a rush, and suddenly three Venator class Destroyers, two Lucrehulk cruisers, five Dreadnaughts, ten Marauder Corvettes, seven Carrack Cruisers, twelve Medium Transports and three Nebulon Bs arrived.
"This is Commander Varan of the Economy. Captain Kree, I strongly recommend you surrender."
"Not likely. Engage."
The two fleets cruised towards each other, their weapons firing and their fighters deploying. Much as she hated to admit it, Kree's forces were good. Two medium transports were destroyed in a barrage of missiles, and one of the Nebulon Bs was knocked out early doors. Kree's Destroyer fired at all who got in its way, with its ion cannons taking out the first of the Lucrehulks.
"Captain Kree, this is Master Tsui Choi. I invoke the right of parlay!"
With a stutter, all guns in Kree's fleet went silent.
"Parlay?"
"Yes. In the pirate's code, a person who invokes parlay can negotiate with a pirate."
"Oh very well. Come over to the Piracy."
"How on earth did you know about that?" Shaak Ti asked in amazement.
"You'd be surprised what watching 'Pirates of the Caribbean' can do for you." He said happily.
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The shuttle landed in the hangar of the Piracy. Tsui, Softy and Shaak Ti went to talk.
Kree was already waiting for them. He certainly looked like a pirate. He had numerous scars, and they could feel the power emanating from his small frame. He was tough skinned and looked ready to fight and die at any moment.
"So Jedi, you finally got Etti IV to create a defence against me. What's so important here I wonder?"
"I have ships here, and I need them for my resistance against the Empire." Shaak Ti said.
"So, you're looking out for yourself. Pirate." Kree said, and his crew laughed.
"Look, we don't want to fight. By all means, keep shooting them after we leave. Just leave us alone for now." Tsui said.
Kree appraised him.
"Tell you what Jedi. You fight me, no Force powers, fair and square, and beat me, I'll leave. If not, you give me your cruisers, and the ships you originally had, and let me plunder and pillage my measly black guts out."
"Agreed." Tsui said.
With that, he whipped of his cloak and the crew, along with Shaak Ti and Softy, gathered to watch.
Kree started first, headbutting Tsui square on the nose. As he fell backward, Tsui punched Kree in the head. The other Aleena staggered back, laughed, and then charged Tsui in the stomach. Tsui was flipped over and he thudded to the ground. Kree laughed and ran for him again, but Tsui took his legs out from under him. He then sprang up and leapt onto Kree's chest and started pummelling him. Kree however, showed his strength and forced Tsui off, kicking him as he did so. Tsui dropped to the floor again, and after Kree got his breath back, was kicked in the stomach. Tsui then punched Kree right in the stomach, jumped up and punched him in the mouth, and then shouldered him into the air, where he punched him back down to the ground again. Kree cursed wildly, and cracked his knuckles on Tsui's head, but Tsui just came back around again and kicked Kree to the floor.
Kree wasn't done, and kicked Tsui square in the stomach, making the Jedi drop to his knees. Kree went in for the kill.
Which, Shaak Ti noticed, was exactly what Tsui wanted.
Kree brought his fist screaming around to meet Tsui's head, when Tsui grabbed the pirate, threw him over his shoulder and crashed him to the ground. Kree gasped in surprise, then put his hands up in defeat.
"You win Jedi."
Shaak Ti and Softy whooped in approval, while Kree's crew were silent in shock.
Kree got to his feet and shook Tsui's hand.
"A fine battle Jedi. This id the first time in forty years I've been beaten. I salute you!"
"Thank you."
"I stand by my agreement. We will leave Etti IV alone until you've gone. Unless…"
(Pirate.) Softy moaned.
"Unless you want us to go with you."
"Eh?" Shaak Ti said.
She hadn't been expecting that.
"I'm as keen to fight the Empire as anybody. And I reckon you'll be doing a fair bit of that. I need to make them pay for wiping out one of my task forces last week. I haven't been beaten in years. Now I have. I reckon we could be good partners Jedi."
Tsui looked to Shaak Ti, who shrugged.
"You are a noble, if immoral man, Kree. I would be honoured to have you fight beside us."
Kree then shook hands with Tsui, Softy and Master Ti.
"The entire fleet out there, it's yours. Where are we going?" he asked.
"Nowhere until we have what we came for. Are you bringing your entire fleet?" Tsui asked.
"No, I'll leave some here. But you have that lot outside. Tell me when you're ready to go."
And with that, he walked off, his crew chatting excitedly and Shaak Ti, Softy and Tsui exchanging mystified looks.
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When they got back to the Silver Blade, Jula was waiting for them.
"You know Jedi, seeing you makes me think that my son needs avenging. And the Wookiees on my cruisers want blood. Can we come with you and help fight the Empire?"
Shaak Ti smiled and took her hand.
"It would be a delight to have you my dear."
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An hour later, the Defence fleet had gone back to wherever it was, and the vigilantes had landed again. When Shaak Ti left the ship, she was met by a Magistrate, who she knew was the leader of the city.
"Master Jedi, I cant tell you how thrilled we are that you are removing the pirates for us. I see that the Jedi aren't all evil after all."
She grinned.
"Thank you."
"We wish to express our gratitude. As a result, we give you an Accumulator, a Carrack Cruiser, a medium transport, a Dreadnaught, a Marauder Frigate and a Nebulon B."
"Thank you very much indeed."
"They're all fully crewed and ready to serve. I don't know what you plan Jedi, but may the Force be with you."
He then strolled off, leaving Shaak Ti very bamboozled indeed.
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Admiral Snake looked at the report. Shaak Ti had destroyed Joren's fleet and was now running around amok in the Corporate Sector.
"Damn her."
With a knock at the door, his captain entered.
"Sir, we've just had a priority message from Etti IV. The Black Hearts are attacking again."
"Oh, very well. Let's go."
"Seemingly, a Corellian corvette under the name Silver Blade has facilitated a defence."
Snake grinned.
"Shaak Ti. Signal Colonel Idis and tell him to set course for Etti IV. She will not escape us this time!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
An hour later, a skeleton crew was on each of the ships they had bought which were part of the destroyed task force belonging to Kree (they had abandoned ship before they were wiped out and had been on the Piracy since), their fighters were all loaded, and they were ready to leave.
"Best of luck to you Jedi," the Magistrate said.
"Thank you. May the Force be with you."
The fleet launched off from the ground and head into space, where they met up with Kree's pirates and Jula's small task force.
"Prepare for lightspeed." Syron ordered.
"Syron!" Jula yelled.
Snake's fleet had just shot into the system, and was backed up in seconds by another fleet containing five ISDs and an Interdictor.
"Fortune vomits in my eiderdown once more." Shaak Ti moaned.
"Shaak Ti. I don't know how you escaped General Joren, but you will not escape me. You and your fleet are not leaving this system."
"Call Variya, now." Shaak Ti whispered to Tsui.
"Snake. We have you outmatched."
"No we don't." Kai said.
Shaak Ti kicked him hard in the shins.
"You think so do you? Even if they were running at full crews, you wouldn't overmatch me. Surrender. And I might be able to use those ships of yours for the Empire."
"Never."
"Very well. Destroy her."
Variya's fleet, backed up by the Rogue Station leftovers and Grobba's ships, then surged into the system.
"What?" Snake demanded.
They heard a man in the background explain they were part of Joren's fleet.
"That's very clever Shaak Ti. It will do you no good."
"Good afternoon you bastard."
Silence met these words.
"Variya." Snake breathed at last.
"Yes, you insignificant little man. Now, get out of our way or I'll blow you out of existence."
She didn't need to, as the Corporate Sector Fleet, backed up by twelve VSDs, suddenly shot it and opened fire.
"Get out of our airspace. We are not part of the Empire!" Varan yelled defiantly.
Snake was caught between two fleets, and the new arrivals could cause a lot more damage. Both Imperial fleets turned to meet the Corporate Sector fleet.
"Flee Master Ti! We'll hold them off! Get out of here, and take the fight elsewhere!" Varan implored.
"May the Force be with you dear boy. Good luck." Shaak Ti whispered.
There was an explosion as the Serpent blasted the Economy out of existence.
"Fair skies Commander Varan." Vella said.
As the fight raged between Snake's forces and the Corporate Sector Fleet, the Jedi fleet turned and shot to lightspeed before Varan's sacrifice was made in vain.
She's back! It's good to be writing Dark Times again.
Shaak Ti has now set up a power structure, and has greatly increased her fleet, thanks goodness.
The Drunk Dancer's fleet comes from Dark Lord, set after Revenge of the Sith. The Dancer itself is basically a Corvette but with a circular bridge, the Tartan is in Empire at War and so is the Broadside.
As I've said before, the Hutt Cruiser looks like Jabba's sail barge and the frigates like a skiff.
The medium trasnports are the rebel transports that you see evacuating Hoth in Empire Strikes back.
The Venator Star Destroyers are the ones seen in Revenge of the Sith with the two bridge towers.
The CC7700 and CC9600 are both in Star Wars Rebellion.
Missile Friagtes are the ones from the Starfighter and Jedi Starfighter games.
Escort carriers are the Quasar Bluk Cruisers, in Star Wars Rebellion and Truce at Bakura. Just put Flurry into Wookieepedia and it will come up.
Kaloth battle cruisers are in Spectre of the Past and I Jedi.
Marauder Frigates are in Empire at War as well.
Bulk Cruisers are in Rebellion as well, so put in bulk cruiser into Wookieepedia and go to Neutron Star class
Bulk Trasnports are the same as the Wild Karrde.
I think thats all the ships covered. What will happen next time in Dark Times? I cant remember.
Until next time, please read and review! Oh, it's good to be back!