Chapter Twenty One
Darkest Before the Dawn
Slowly the warships passed by the transparisteel windows, and Aaryn sat there simply watching them go by. After leaving Telos, Aaryn contacted the High Council and told them of the Mandalorian plot that had been uncovered. Undoubtedly they were still reeling from the attack of the Covenant Jedi, but still warned Aaryn of getting involved with the attack.
"We assigned you to uncover why the Mandalorians had invaded the Republic, not to join the fight against them Aaryn." Vandar said without any condescending tone.
"I know, Master, but this warship will bring devastation to the Republic if we allow it to become operational. By not acting, we will doom thousands to their deaths." Aaryn fought back.
"You starting to sound like a Revanchist," Lonna Vash raised her brow.
"I don't agree with most of the things that they do, but if we don't do something about this then people will die. It is our duty to defend the weak, and I intend to do that Masters."
After Aaryn had said what he needed to say, he abruptly ended the comlink. After making contact with the High Council, he then made contact with Capitan Harman of the Republic Fleet. They had met just a few jumps away from Sleheryon, forming up a task force to destroy the Greyon warship. Harman had come through, but it wasn't enough. They needed Admiral Karath's fleet if they wanted to win this thing.
Harman had met with Aaryn and his crew, and he brought along five Hammerhead Republic warships, with squadrons of Aurek starfighters. Silently, his eyes followed the floating warship as it glided through space.
"Aaryn, Harman is ready to meet with us." Ta'sa stuck his head in the cockpit of the Divinity.
Aaryn took one last look and turned to go meet with the Republic Capitan.
***
Two Years Ago…
Aaryn stared out through the microbinoculars, not seeing what his master was talking about. He shook his head in impatience.
"I don't see it, Master." Aaryn put down the binoculars.
"Because you aren't looking," Cruuso mumbled.
"Right…" Aaryn said to himself. Aaryn stood up next to his Arkanian Jedi Master and handed to pair of binoculars to him. Cruuso took them, applying them to his belt. He folded his arms and looked at his Padawan. They were on the planet Corellia, searching for a lost Jedi Knight. They were in the dense polar region of the planet on a distant ridge looking down at the expanse of snow before them. Both were wearing white jumpsuits to blend in their environment.
"It's well camouflaged, but it's there." Cruuso said.
"And you are sure our Jedi is in there?" Aaryn asked.
Cruuso stared at his Padawan learner. Aaryn gulped.
"You do exactly as I say in there, do you understand me." Cruuso clenched his teeth.
"Yeah, of course," Aaryn shrugged.
Cruuso put his hand on his shoulder hard. Aaryn looked confused.
"I don't think you do understand, Aaryn. You must do exactly as I say in there; I may need you to make tough decisions. You may want to question them, but I want you to do whatever I tell you. Now do you understand me?" Cruuso said with some venom.
Aaryn waited a moment before replying and then nodded. "I understand, Master."
Cruuso stared at his apprentice for a long moment and then also nodded back. "Good. Let's go," He said walking past him.
***
Aaryn entered the conference room with Ta'sa, seeing that Jove, Maverick, and Belo were already present with Capitan Harman in his warship the Protector. Harman kept his hands clasped behind his back, turned to acknowledge Aaryn and Ta'sa.
"Jedi Karsa, it is good to finally meet you in person. Once again, I would like to thank you for your help in our escape at Jebble. I am happy to report that once the Mandalorians took the planet, a plague of some sort occurred on planet and their installation there had to be destroyed." Aaryn could see the faint smile cross his lips.
"Thank you for being here," Aaryn replied.
"We have sent out a reconnaissance ship to scope out the coordinates you have proved for us, and these are the images that have come back to us." Harman said, gesturing towards the pop-up holodisplay in the middle of the table. Jove gasped at what she saw.
"I'll be damned," Maverick whispered.
The image showed a massive Mandalorian warship being constructed over Sleheryon. The sheer size of it was awe-inspiring, but it was its unique three cannons on it that sent chills down Ta'sas spine.
"Admiral Karath has contacted me and said he would arrive for aid, but unfortunately we cannot wait for his aid. Reports suggest they are preparing to move the warship now, to strike at Telos. We are to halt and keep it occupied until the Fleet arrives." Harman explained.
"For how long?" Maverick sat straighter up in his seat.
"The Admiral said anywhere from two to four hours after we strike at it,"
"We'll all be dead!" Ta'sa exclaimed.
"No, we won't." Aaryn said with folded arms.
Ta'sa raised his brow and turned to his friend. "Oh, is that right?"
"Yes, it is. Capitan, say what if a small strike team of, let's say two, board the Greyon warship to sabotage it from the inside out and bring it down?" Aaryn asked. Harman mulled over his words.
"I would say the chances of that succeeding are very slim, how would this supposed strike team enter the Greyon?" Harman asked.
"A squadron flies in with the strike team to protect it and the two drop onto the warship and obtain entrance through a maintenance shaft." Aaryn shrugged.
"We can't afford that type of risk of losing an entire squadron to protect two men on a suicide mission," Harman shook his head.
Aaryn bit his lip, wondering what to do now. Suddenly the ship's intercom system sounded off.
"Sir, we have some visitors vectoring towards our position." The voice sounded young.
"Friendlies?" Harman asked.
"Yes sir, they are identifying themselves as part of the Mercy Corp." The Ensign replied.
Aaryn smiled.
"Who?" Jove asked.
"The Revanchists are here," Aaryn said.
***
Harman, Aaryn, and the rest of the Divinity crew made their way onto the deck of the hanger bay. Out of five personal starfighters, five Revanchist Jedi climbed out taking off their helmets. Up the middle, and clearly the leader of the bunch walked a tall, strongly built man who was bald with tattoo's of some sort on his head.
"Squint? Is that you?" Aaryn asked.
"It's Malak now, but I still respond to Squint," He smiled, extending his hand.
Aaryn shook his hand. As if Malak read his mind, and maybe he was, he answered the question that was floating around in Aaryn's head.
"I look like this now because of our Mandalorian friends," Malak said with a hint of venom. "Demagol tried doing experiments on us Jedi, but we managed to take care of that Flesh Carver. Soon, he'll be going on trial."
"I'm just glad you are here, Squint. It's been too long," Aaryn rested his hands on his hips looking at the five Jedi.
"You the Revanchist?" Maverick asked.
"No, that would be my friend and Master. He sends his regards, but he was on special assignment so he sent us." Malak answered.
"Is it just you five?" Harman said.
"No, we brought an additional twelve with us."
Aaryn did the math quickly in his head that would make seventeen Jedi. Maybe they would still be able to pull of their plan after all, the smile from before reappeared on Aaryn.
"Squint, I've got a plan. Thanks to you, it may just work."
***
Jove swiveled in the pilot's chair of the Divinity towards Aaryn, beside her sat Belo looking over the controls.
"Aaryn, I don't like this idea. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get through that ship? It will be packed full of Mandalorians. You'll be lucky if you make three steps once getting inside that thing. What am I thinking; we'll be lucky enough just to get inside." Jove shook her head.
"It's going to work Jove," Aaryn tried reassuring her. "The Revanchists are going to protect us when we are getting in,"
"How are you going to get out?" She asked.
"We'll figure something out," Aaryn shrugged.
"Well, I don't like it." Jove complained.
"All you need to worry about it flying this thing into battle, and that's it. Ta'sa is going to stay on the turrets, and Belo will be helping you up here. Everything is going to work out, trust me." Aaryn said.
"You better come back to me," Jove said.
"I will," He smiled, leaving the cockpit to enter the main cabin with Maverick. Both already had the red combat spacesuits on, but Maverick was packing in the thermal charges into the carrying pack.
"Will that be enough you think?" Aaryn asked.
"More than enough," Maverick smiled.
"Come on, we are about to begin." Aaryn said, waving him towards the cockpit. He followed and the two men filled the doorway. The Divinity was leading the charge into the fray, and Aaryn could hear all the fighters calling in ready to go over the com. It was Jove's turn.
"Divinity here, we're all ready." She said over the com.
"Malak here, the Mercy Corp is standing by," His accent sounded even more impressive of the comlink.
"May the Force be with us," Harman said. "Engage in hyperdrive in three…two…one,"
Jove pressed the lever forward the stars collapsed into the familiar blue tunnel of hyperspace. They were in hyperspace for about three minutes and the ping from the ship told them they were about to come out of it. They were only a short jump away.
"Here we go," Jove whispered and took a deep breath. The stars stretched out before them and once again became points in the dark vastness of space. Just ahead of them in the viewport was the massively huge Mandalorian Greyon warship. A wave of sickness hit Aaryn as soon as they exited hyperspace, and apparently it did the same for all the Revanchist Jedi.
"What is that?!" A Jedi from Malak's squadron said over the com channel. Aaryn had to steady himself to keep himself from collapsing onto the ground. He closed his eyes, steadying himself with the Force and began to block out the strong sensation. Then it hit him, the Greyon was infused with the Lignan ore! The Mandalorians had purposely fused the Lignan ore within the hull to throw off the Jedi, and to confuse them.
Aaryn stood up straight, watching as the Greyon began to break away from the floating construction platform to engage the newcomers in battle. This warship was created to combat Jedi specifically. Aaryn knew that it had to be destroyed if the Republic had a chance at all of winning the war.
To be concluded!