Part 2: Old Rebels – The tale of Irenez and Breil'lya
Reltek-Nebula (Asteroid 773) – Dolkar Sector
Secret Rebel Base – Irenez' Quarters
Around three weeks before the Battle of Marol an shortly before the Massacre of Wan'ber
"We can't allow this to happen, Commander", Irenez begged her secret superior. "We can't let them die!"
"We have to, Irenez", the blurred voice of the hologram in front of her said. The voice and shape of the person was not visible to her, but in her mind she could see the old grandfather-like face of him directly in front of her. "As much as it hurts me, we have to stay hidden. At least for the next time. And that means we have to let the things happen."
Irenez let her head hung. "Why did we ally with them at the first time anyway?" she asked the hologram but also herself, "We had connections to all the remaining Rebels. After Endor, we could have united them and…"
The hologram interrupted her. "They all needed a leader, Irenez. And Iran Kalamar was charismatic and determined enough to be this leader."
"Have you ever talked to him? The loss of his sons has driven him mad!" Irenez shouted, "He is a pure lunatic! It should have been you, who…"
The blurred hologram raised his hand. "We have already discussed this, Irenez. My time is over… and so is Kalamar's. Prepare for the leave and inform our allies. It is time for a new start."
"Yes, Commander", Irenez said while the hologram disappeared. Not the answer I have hoped for, but better than anything else.
Before she could grasp her thoughts, the door to her quarters opened. She turned around and saw Boc Seclam, the old Twi'lek Council Triumvir. "What do you want?" she asked. She was not in the mood to talk.
"Having a little chat with the enemy, aren't we?" he asked in his always paranoid and sarcastic tone.
Yes, she was definitely not in the mood to talk and Boc was not helping with that. "I don't know what you're talking about, triumvir."
"Oh, I think you are, Irenez." He walked in and moved around her. "Triumvir Kalamar asked you once to decide for one side. And it seems you have made your decision."
Before she could say anything to get rid of the paranoid freak, he barked his orders out in the corridor: "Dragite! Luxum! Arrest this traitor!" Two Uulshos Justice Droids, with Valken-38 blaster rifles strapped on their backs, walked into the room and grabbed Irenez.
"Are you insane?" she shouted at him, "I am no traitor! I am loyal to the Rebellion!"
Seclam caressed her cheek and she repulsed in utter disgust. "We are the Rebellion, Irenez. Everyone who is not on our side is on the side of the Empire. There are no alternatives. When you see your traitorous friends in one of your nine Corellian hells again, tell them that there is only one Rebellion."
"You can't do this, Boc!" she shouted while she struggled in the iron grab of the droids, "You need me! And my contacts to all the lost Rebel fleets in the galaxy!"
He smiled. "Fortunately, this problem will soon be solved." He turned towards the droids. "Take her to the prison block!"
The droids dragged her into the hallway. Irenez was wise enough not to resist. That's it! They have definitely lost their position as rightful Rebel leaders! She saw the satisfied grin on Seclam's face. Laugh, you arrogant idiot, laugh while you still can. I have more allies than you can imagine and if I know Tav right, then…
Another door in the hallway opened and Tav Breil'lya came out. "I heard shouting", he said nervous, "Is something…" Then he spotted Seclam, Irenez and the droids. "Council triumvir Seclam", he asked confused, although he knew exactly what was going on, "What is the meaning of all this?"
Seclam answered instantly: "Your friend Irenez turned out to be a traitor. I hope you know where your loyalty lays, Council member Tav Breil'lya."
Tav nodded. "Yes, triumvir Seclam, I know."
Reltek-Nebula (Asteroid 773) – Dolkar Sector
Secret Rebel Base – Tav Breil'lya's Quarters
A few days before the Battle of Marol
"Commander", Tav said to the blurred hologram in front of him, "All my people are in place."
"Good, Breil'lya, very good", the Commander replied. "What about Irenez?"
"She is still under arrest, but freeing her before now would have only raised suspicion." Breil'lya paused for a moment, thinking. "You have heard what happened at Wan'ber?" he finally asked.
"Yes. It's hard not to."
"We could have…" Breil'lya begun, but was interrupted.
"I have been through this with Irenez. The decision had been made."
"Still, it pains me. All these dead… Probably die-hard imperial fanatics, but still…"
"I know. But what's done is done. We have to focus on the now!"
"Yes. Kalamar has left for a visit at our Jedi allies. And the fleet has left the nebula. I can start the plan in a few days."
"Very well. Now let us hope that such things like Wan'ber may never happen again."
Reltek-Nebula (Asteroid 773) – Dolkar Sector
Prison Block – Cell 3
30:00:03 – Day of the Battle of Marol
"Well, well, well", Irenez said, looking through the bars of her cell, "What brings you here, Boc?"
Boc Seclam, as always, had a sadistic grin on his face. "I just came to telly you that your end is near, my dear human."
"I doubt it, Boc", the grey-haired woman replied, "You don't have the guts to kill anyone by yourself. You are too much of a coward."
Seclam raised a finger. "Never doubt my will to fight. I hail from a noble family of warriors!"
"And yet you are here!" Irenez remarked sarcastically. "Slaughtering kids and gloating at your victims."
Seclam shook his head. "You still don't get it? Wan'ber was a great victory. We have to fight the Empire anywhere and anytime. No mercy, no shades of grey. Your kind: appeasement, compromises… You're the reason we lost!"
Irenez didn't seem to be interested. "Anything else you want to tell me?"
Again, Seclam smiled, but not in a kind way. "Yes. We are evacuating the base. A large Imperial fleet had been detected at the rim of the system. But you won't come with us…" Before Irenez could protest, he continued, "…but we won't leave to the Imperials, either. Remember one of these creatures you brought from your mysterious allies? The Dovin Basal? We placed him near one of these proto-stars in the nebula. Do you know what this means?"
"I can only guess, but… large solar plasma ejection, right?"
"Right. If our timing is right, the flare will annihilate the entire Imperial fleet as well as this asteroid field, eradicating all traces of us ever being here… And you, too!"
Irenez wasn't scared. To her surprise, she was very, very angry. All she wanted to do was to grab the throat of that ever-smiling Twi'lek and press the life out of him, but she knew that was impossible right now.
Suddenly, the alarm went on. "Attention all personnel!" came the voice from the speakers, "Imperial forces have jumped into the asteroid field and are converging on our location. I repeat. The Empire is here! This is not a drill!"
"I guess", Seclam said, "This is the point for me to leave this place. Farewell, little human."
He turned around to leave, but suddenly the door went open, revealing the council members Tav Breil'lya, Nextor and the two guard droids Luxum and Dragite. Seclam seemed surprised.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"A change in plans, triumvir", Breil'lya said.
Fzummm! Fzaaht! Fzung!
Three lightsabers, green, purple and blue, held by the three droids suddenly pointed at Seclam's throat.
"Finally", Irenez said from her cell. "I thought you would leave me here to rot!"
"Sorry, Irenez, but I was busy." He opened the cell. Irenez stepped out of it and Seclam was placed in it.
"What is the meaning of this?" Seclam wanted to know, "What is this game?"
They ignored him and stormed out into the hallway. "The Imps are here – As you might have noticed", Breil'lya filled her in while they kept running through the alarm-filled corridors, "A full Force Superiority as far as I know."
"What about the Dovin Basal?"
"It's true! And it's already working. It will take out this base and hopefully the fleet, too!"
"Where are we going?"
"Hangar bay 7. I have already taken care of our escape. The only thing missing had been… you."
They reached the hangar bay. A single JV-7 was the only ship remaining. Once they were inside the ship, Nextor ran to the aft of the ship, taking over the turbolaser canon while Dragite and Luxum took control over the cockpit. Irenez noticed that they were the only persons on board.
"Wait a second, Tav", she said, "Where is everybody?"
"Like I said", he said and sat down in a passenger's seat, "I have been busy."
Deep Space – Dolkar Sector
Strategic staging point – RS Liberator
Same time
"What are you doing?" General Toros shouted at Laryn Kre'fey. "This is mutiny!"
"No, General", the Bothan replied, "This is saving of lives!"
Together with several other Bothans, Kre'fey had taken over the small bridge of the old Liberator-class troop transport. They had herded the bridge crew together and were now securing them with blasters.
"Ras, transmit the new hyperspace coordinates to the other ships", Laryn ordered one of his men, "And then contact the other teams"
Nearly one hundred ships had gathered at this point. But only the few of the Pegasus battle group were combat ships. The vast majority were transports, carrying the majority of the Rebellion supplies. The Liberator was just the flagship of one group.
The holograms of several other Bothans and humans appeared in front of him: Morst Tayl'skar, Karka Kre'fey Utric Sandov, Sena Midanyl and many others.
"Status report?" Laryn Kre'fey asked
"All flagships are under our control", Sena Midanyl said.
"We are submitting the new coordinates now", Morst Tayl'skar reported.
"The Pegasus has already received and confirmed the new coordinates", Utric Sandov informed him.
The Pegasus, a Mon Calamari Cruiser, had been the only ship that couldn't have been taken over as easy as the transports. But since she and her line was on escort duty, all they needed to do was to submit new jump coordinates from the de facto flagship of this whole operation: The troop transport Pelagia, which was now under the command of Utric Sandov and his team.
All squadrons were now locked on the new coordinates in the Dalonbian Sector. The survival of the Rebellion was secured. Laryn looked at the angry General who was standing with his crew in one corner of the bridge.
"Don't worry", Lary said to General Toros, "One day, you'll thank me for this."
Reltek-Nebula (Asteroid 773) – Dolkar Sector
Hangar bay 7 – Punisher 5
Same time
Irenez knew Breil'lya well enough to know that her people were safe, so she no longer followed that issue. She sat down and strapped herself in.
Dragite shouted from the cockpit: "Everybody hang on tight! This'll get hairy!"
She was pressed into her seat as the shuttle accelerated forward out of the hangar.
Rim of the Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
ISS Fragmentation – Bridge
A few minutes earlier
Vice Admiral LeFey Gordon looked out of his ships main window at the Reltek Nebula. Several proto-stars were seen, as well as numerous asteroids. Over the last weeks he had lost three patrols in there, so now it was time for some payback. He looked out of the other windows and saw the rest of his fleet.
His ship, the Fragmentation, a Praetor-class Star Battlecruiser that looked like a pumped-up 2.2km version of the Imperial-class, was in the center. Around his ship was his escort, Timeline, Hermeskeil and Cosmic Warden, three Victory-class Star Destroyers.
The 89th Force Superiority of his Crimson Diamond Command formed the main assault force in this battle. Three battle squadrons, led by the Imperial-II-class Star Destroyers Core of Had Abbadon and The Planetarian and Tector-class Star Destroyer Protuberance delivered the muscle, while the 49th light squadron was the eyes.
Galactic Empire Data Bank
File #64835581: Jedi Rebellion of Dolkar
Sub-file #64835581-19101: 89th Force Superiority (Capital Ship Composition)
-
-49th Light Squadron
--Attack Line Aurek-51
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
---EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate
---EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate
--Attack Line Aurek-2 [Flag Line]
---Dreadnaught-Class Heavy Cruiser [Flagship: ISS Cold Blood]
---Nebulon-B2 Frigate
---Nebulon-B2 Frigate
--Skirmish Line Senth-9
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---Broadside-Class Cruiser kdb-1
---Broadside-Class Cruiser kdb-1
---Broadside-Class Cruiser kdb-1
---Pursuit-Class Light Cruiser
---Pursuit-Class Light Cruiser
---Pursuit-Class Light Cruiser
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
--Recon Line Resh-14
---Imperial Patrol Frigate
---Imperial Patrol Frigate
---Imperial Patrol Frigate
-
-31st Battle Squadron
--SD-Line SD-4451-T [Flag Line]
---Tector-Class Star Destroyer [Flagship: ISS Protuberance]
--Attack Line Aurek-11/L
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
---EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate
---EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate
--Attack Line Aurek-24
---Vindicator-Class Heavy Cruiser
---Vindicator-Class Heavy Cruiser
--Pursuit Line Peth-45
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---Immobilizer-418 Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
-
-13th Battle Squadron
–SD-Line SD-37821 [Flag Line]
---Imperial-II-Class Star Destroyer [Flagship: ISS The Planetarian]
--Attack Line Aurek-17
---Vindicator-Class Heavy Cruiser
---Vindicator-Class Heavy Cruiser
---Broadside-Class Cruiser kdb-1
---Broadside-Class Cruiser kdb-1
--Attack Line Aurek-44
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
--Pursuit Line Peth-38
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---CR90 Corvette
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---Pursuit-Class Light Cruiser
---Pursuit-Class Light Cruiser
-
-8th Battle Squadron
--SD-Line SD-37555 [Flag Line]
---Imperial-II-Class Star Destroyer [Flagship: ISS Core of Had Abbadon]
--Attack Line Aurek-56
---Nebulon-B2 Frigate
---Nebulon-B2 Frigate
---Nebulon-B2 Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
---Lancer-class Frigate
--Attack Line Aurek-10
---Dreadnaught-Class Heavy Cruiser
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
---Strike-Class Medium Cruiser
--Pursuit Line Peth-16
---Assassin-Class Corvette
---Assassin-Class Corvette
---Immobilizer-418 Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
---Escort Carrier
-
-End of file.
The three Battle Squadrons had surrounded the asteroids. Elements of the 49th light squadron and moved into the field, alone or in pairs, with or without fighter escort. Broadside-cruisers fired long range artillery strike into the field, destroying any suspected hideout. The ships transmitted their telemetry to the three Recon frigates, which again combined these datastreams with their own and transmitted them to the Fragmentation. But so far, they had found nothing.
Vice-Admiral Gordon watched the hologram of the asteroids field. He had nothing to say. His orders were clear and until there was a new development, no new orders were necessary. Never trust a traitor… Where is that Rebel fleet? I'm getting impatient!
"Admiral", the Captain of the Fragmentation asked, "shouldn't we activate the Interdictors?
"No, captain", Gordon replied. "This may also be a trap and we don't want to lock ourselves in."
"Yes, sir."
"Admiral", a young Ensign came from the comm-station, "Recon Frigate Under the Stars reports strange gravity- and EM-readings from the one of the Stars."
"Tell them to keep an eye on it. "
"Yes, sir."
"Contact!" The sensor officer shouted. Indeed, a small red dot had joined the green ones skimming through the holographic asteroid field.
A new, static voice appeared on the bridge. "Command, this is Captain Talbat, Heart of Destiny, I think I've found the Rebel base. Asteroid 773. Several external turbolaser and hangar bays. One shuttle has left – initiating pursuit."
"New contact, Admiral!" The sensor officer shouted again. "Rim of the Nebula, Dreadnaught-class. Ships are moving to incept!"
On the hologram, two green dots that were closest to the newest red one left their position and begun to intercept in a ninety-degree angle. The red dot ignored the newcomers and continued its path. It had started from high above the asteroid field and was a straight line towards Asteroid 773, the Rebel shuttle and the Cruiser Heart of Destiny.
The two imperial ships got closer and started to blink, as did the red one: All ships had opened fire.
"Ship identified, Admiral", the voice came from the crew pit, "It's the Mercury, a… Bothan ship?"
"Interesting but unimportant", the Admiral ordered, "Activate Interdictors! One ship is better than none!"
Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
Near Asteroid 773 – Shuttle Punisher 5
Same time
The shuttle rocked under the impacts. The Pursuit-class cruiser did not have the acceleration or manoeuvrability to compete with the shuttle, but the squadron of TIE Interceptors surely had. And then there were still the two heavy turbolaser cannons of the cruiser: One direct hit and they were toast. But the shuttle had pilots and gunners that were guided by the force. So far, the damage of the shields was minimal.
Dragite brought the ship into another spin. Two Interceptors had suspected a turn into another direction and now had to fly a long bow until they were a threat again. But another pair was still on the shuttle's tail.
A JV-7 shuttle's greatest weapon was the aft-mounted light turbolaser turret, especially for pursuing starfighters. Nextor fired a salvo into the two fighters. The first one got two hits on its shields and broke of, while the other one lost his shields completely as well as the left solar wing. Leaving a smoke trail, he vanished into the asteroids.
But unfortunately for the shuttle, the last manoeuvre had brought it directly head-to-head with the cruiser.
Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
Above the Asteroid field – around the Mercury
A few minutes earlier
The two Imperial CR90-Corvettes got into weapon range and opened fire. The laser bolts impacted on the shields of the large cruiser, making them glow. The Dreadnaught ignored them and continued its path. The corvettes were faster and joined the Cruiser on its way down, caught up, one on each side. Both Corvettes made a ninety-degree barrel-roll, so that their upsides pointed towards the enemy ship, which allowed them to deliver a maximum of firepower.
Now the turbolaser blisters on the Dreadnaught's hull sprung to life. The port cannons hit the spine of the corvette, causing a massive detonation. The Corvette drifted off, with several secondary explosions bursting out all over the ship, before it finally detonated in one fireball. The starboard turbolasers hit the other Corvette just before the engine block. Several searing flames sprung out of the hull. No longer able to steer, the Corvette crashed into an asteroid.
Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
Near Asteroid 773 – Shuttle Punisher 5
A few minutes earlier
Dragite saw the Imperial cruiser right ahead. Its heavy turbolasers were charged and glowing, ready to strike. His first thought was to break off, but then he felt a prickle in the force. He transferred all possible energy to the front shields, but didn't change the course.
A large red beam from above descended upon the cruiser, impacted on the bow and emerged on the underside. Two torpedoes hit the upper left superstructure, leaving the cruiser drifting.
Luxum, looked up and saw the descending Dreadnaught. "Looks like our ride is here!"
"And not a moment too late!" Dragite added, "The sun's going critical!"
Rim of the Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
ISS Fragmentation – Bridge
Same time
The two red dots, representing the shuttle and the cruiser, merged into one and the, it vanished.
"Interdictors are online… now!" an officer reported.
"Too late", Gordon sighed. "They're gone."
"Sir", the Ensign reported, "The activity in the star is growing. According to Under the Stars this is very unusual for star in this stadium. The only explanation would be…"
"New contact!" the sensor officer shouted again, "Mon Calamari Cruiser, edge of the system!"
That got the Admiral's attention. "Turn this ship around!" He ordered, "Escorts in formation Alpha-Three. Squadron Eight on stand by, launch all starfighters!"
"Errr… Correction, Admiral", the sensor officer said, "Cruiser identified as Black Citadel, Inquisitor Redge's ship."
Gordon groaned. Why in the name of Kashi Mer's Last Emperor did he take a Mon Cal? A normal ImpStar would have done the same and saved a lot of trouble!
"The ship is transmitting a priority one message, Admiral", the Captain reported. "Decoding in progress."
"All right, what about the sun, Ensign?" Gordon asked.
"New data is coming in… Oh by the Gods of the Sith, it's going critical! Massive solar eruption!"
Reltek-Nebula – Dolkar Sector
Deep Space – Near a proto-star
Same time
A strange creature was floating in the nebula. Bred and created outside this galaxy by a yet unknown race, this being had just one purpose. Gifted with the ability to manipulate gravity, it had altered the young star, creating an imbalance in the wild fusion process. But the universe condemned an imbalance and so, driven by the immense powers that lay within the young star, a fountain of superheated solar plasma was ejected, towards the creature.
The creature, of course, being mortal like anyone else, was vaporised within a millisecond. But for the solar flare, this wasn't the end of her journey. This wave of raw galactic power would destroy anything in her path, no matter whom, no matter what.
---End of Part 2---
Author's notes:
-As someone might have noticed, there were several different fractions within the Rebels. Fanatics like the cell led by Iran Kalamar and more freedom-oriented ones.
-The mysterious Commander, Irenez, Sena Midanyl and the Liberator should be enough hints to point towards a certain Rebel splinter cell.
-The Dovin Basale showed that other 'groups' are interested in the Rebellion as well, although for their own reasons.
-The Mercury and all the other Bothans like Tav Breil'lya, showed that a certain Bothan clan had worked together with the Corellian Rebels for quite a long time. The Mercury first appeared in X-Wing Alliance, by the way.
-The Pelagia was a massive troop transport that first appeared in Empire's End, capable of transporting a hundred thousand troops plus equipment.
-The Liberator was of the Liberator-class, but it was not the first ship of the class. This Liberator was once known as Trader's Luck which was once known as Guardian of the Republic.
-The Pegasus battle group was one of many Roving Battle Lines the Rebellion used.
-Imperial patrol/recon frigates, like the Under the Stars were modified Nebuon-Bs, towing a large sensor pod. Although armed, it was better for them to stay out of combat areas.
-Pursuit-class light cruisers were from the old Marvel Star Wars comics.
-Part three of Chapter 19 should be finished soon, in the meantime, read and enjoy. If you have any questions or comments, let me know.
-JCE1985