Good evening, everyone! How are you doing on the cloudy night of Tuesday, October 9, 2018? I'm doing well, as I got four graphic novels through the mail, did some homework, and played a bit of Mass Effect: Andromeda so far. Unfortunately, I don't bring much good news right now, as I have a midterm coming up in a week, so I've got to get to studying tomorrow, which, coupled with working this Friday through Sunday, will heavily impede my free time. Oh, and let's not forget about Hurricane Michael, which will arrive in North Carolina by Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Essentially, it'll be quite an eventful week. I just pray that everyone escapes Michael intact. In other news, the Battle of Hoth is intensifying, and both the heroes and villains are going to get some reinforcements soon. So, without further ado, I'd better get to this chapter, even though Chapter 33 has yet to be published. May the Force and Iluvatar be with me.
(Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. How are you doing on this warm but rainy evening? I'm all right, as I did a bunch of schoolwork today, went to school, and was able to publish Chapter 33 this morning. Thankfully, not too much was changed, so it won't affect my current chapter at all. So, Hurricane Michael will be in my area tomorrow, and I hope that everyone is hunkered down for the storm. Well, I'd better get back to writing, as I won't have much time to write this weekend, with work and school to contend with. Wish me luck.
(Thursday, October 11, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, guys. How are you holding up on this warm but wet evening? I'm all right, as I didn't have school today due to Hurricane Michael, which probably gives me more time to study for my next quiz, fortunately. Speaking of which, how are you all holding up after the hurricane, because I don't want anyone hurt by that storm?
So, I've written over 800 words so far today, and I'll write a few hundred more before I relax for the night. Well, I'd better get back to writing, as I've got work for the next three days, so I'll be hyper busy. Wish me luck.
(Saturday, October 13, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. How are you doing this afternoon? I'm doing all right, if a bit weary from all of my schoolwork, as I have a midterm in three days. I was, unfortunately, unable to write yesterday due to volunteering in the morning, getting my haircut in the afternoon, and working for five hours last night. But, I've been able to write about a thousand words today, which is good, because I'll be working in less than an hour. Hopefully, I'll be able to get enough sleep tonight. Well, I'd better get ready for work soon, so I'll hopefully, get this chapter done tomorrow or Monday. May the Force and Iluvatar be with me.
(Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. How are you doing on this fine afternoon? I'm all right, as this chapter will finally be published today. Sorry for the long wait, but this chapter had to be revised considerably for a lack of detailed action, some plot inconsistencies, and other ideas that JSailer and Squasher had. Let me tell you, I'd be much worse off without those guys, so I owe them a debt of gratitude. Well, I'd better finalize this chapter. May the Force and Iluvatar be with you always, my friends.
Ten Minutes Later
On Hoth
4.7 Kilometers From Gardna Base
"It's been far too long since I've slaughtered a Jedi!" Ferren gleefully proclaimed as he engaged Etain and Bardan. The Itkotchi had taken six Imperial assassins, and split up from the human Emperor's Hand after the Shadow Alliance's Clone Troopers ambushed the Imperials. Not long after, he found worthy quarry.
Knowing that killing these two most-wanted Mandalorians would go a long way towards redeeming himself in the Emperor's eyes, he threw himself into the battle wholeheartedly. He fought them at close range, keeping them there within hands reach by using a layered strategy of Juyo and his Force Powers, keeping them cornered and unable to use their more powerful abilities and weaponry.
"Too bad that we're not Jedi anymore, aruetii!" Etain growled underneath her helmet, swinging her blade to fend off Barr's ferocious attack on her while simultaneously throwing a blanket of snow and ice at his assassins, sending them flying.
"Oh, poor, naïve, soft-hearted Etain. You really have bought into the whole Mandalorian system, haven't you? I wonder how your master would feel if he saw you now?" Ferren mocked the woman, shifting her attention just enough that he landed a kick on her, opening her up for a slash across the helm that put her to the floor.
Before he could move in to finish her off, Bardan came up behind him with his flamethrower raised. In the literal moment he had, Barr threw a wave of snow at the incoming flame, slowly fighting it back until he at last threw a telekinetic wave at Bardan. Fully concentrated on burning through the snow, he didn't realize he had left himself open until he was sent flying.
Two assassins were on him almost the moment he landed. Were it not for his training, armor and abilities, he would be dead. Instead, they almost mauled him. Their vibroblades cut long swaths against his armor, slashing him across the chest into his arm as another got his leg.
In pain and desperation, Bardan threw himself backwards with the Force, rearing up his flamethrower and blaster. On cue, the assassins leapt at him, both taking the blast from his flamethrower at full force. Though their armor absorbed the damage, the effect was still blinding. They landed in the midst of the melted snow and steaming ice to find Bardan to their left, his blaster raised and firing. The closest assassin barely had a chance, and leaping away only scored the wound in his chest instead of his head.
The second assassin lunged, his arms raised and the vibroblades singing their death songs. Though the blades landed wounds and the assassin ended up tackling Bardan to the floor, he found death waiting for him. He looked down, and the last thing he saw was the Jedi's weapon embedded in his chest.
Bardan threw the clone off of him, the pain of his wounds hitting him like a brick wall. He groaned as the sudden fire, the cold biting at his exposed flesh as blood pooled from the wounds.
"Tell me, Etain," he heard Barr across the way, punctuated by the reports of lightsabers clashing, "what would he think?"
"He'd be proud at me for choosing my own path, and not enslaving an entire world for their selfish ego or megalomania!" Etain countered, anger and desperation answered with the discarge of plasma against plasma. With clenched teeth, Bardan started to rise to his feet, intent on throwing himself at Barr's flank and maybe get him in the side when he sensed someone else coming. Someone that brought with it hope.
Ferren sensed the Jedi approaching, and smiled at the chance to capture Viridian Mallory. He recalled the human from their spars at the Jedi Temple, and knew that he had great potential. After all, reports of his activities on Arda more than proved this. But he also remembered how touchy the boy could get when you mentioned his family.
He heard Bardan approach from behind him, and he stepped back a pace, keeping the two Mandalorians to his front. With a cold smile that matched the howling wind, he started to gaud them again, "Tell me, have you fallen so far in your technique that you require a child to fight your battles for you? And here I thought that you Mandalorians were true warriors, not hut'uun. How pathetic."
"No more pathetic than an Empire who can't even catch a bounty hunter," Etain growled as she activated Kast Fulier's lightsaber with her spare hand, and threw herself at Barr. He in turn matched her, drawing his own spare saber and engaging her in a fierce competition of Jar'kai.
Bardan was coming up behind her when he sensed the rest of the assassins coming up to flank them. He turned, his blaster in one hand and his saber in the other, and began firing at them. The assassins were as quick as ever, dodging and bobbing his shots while continuing their full-sprinted charge at him. Unfortunately, they were so single minded to their task that the lead assassin was taken completely off guard when the ground beneath him suddenly reared up and nearly crushed him.
Bardan was quick to move on his advantage, tearing away more boulders and ice-hardened ground and hurling them at the clones. While they could evade the flying detritus and Bardan's blaster fire, they couldn't do both. Several of them were picked off while attempting to do either; either blasted in mid air, or crushed by a boulder.
Only one managed to make it through the obstacle course, kicking off a boulder to send himself hurtling at the Jedi. Bardan threw his lightsaber at him from merely ten feet away, and the Assassin had to twist his body to avoid the blade piercing his chest.
Unfortunately, he righted himself only to meet Bardan's blaster barrel, and with a discharge of plasma he flopped to the floor like a pickled fish, the hole in his helmet smoking.
"Impressive," Barr called ahead, "but let's test your speed, shall we?"
And with this, he struck Etain high and low, toppling her over into the snow. Before she could move, Barr thrust his left saber into her shoulder. Her scream of pain was amplified by her helmet, but before Bardan could rush him, Barr put his right-handed saber at her throat. Bardan immediately stopped; he was now two yards from him, but he knew that no matter what he did, Barr would end Etain's life first.
Without taking his eyes off of Etain, he smiled smugly, "Not fast enough, I see. As you see, Jedi Bardan, these are the limitations of the Light Side. Never quite good enough when you need it to be."
"Let her go, Barr," Bardan growled, "let her go and face me, coward."
"Coward you say? For a Jedi, you have great anger within you. Such… unused hatred," he then turned his head just slightly enough so that he could look at him from his peripherals, "you are strong, Bardan, but it is only that hatred that will give you the power to save your... what are you exactly? Brother and sister by adoption? I never did quite understand Mandalorian family structures. They're all so confusing."
"Don't listen to him Bar-GAH!" she screamed as Barr twisted the saber deeper into her shoulder.
"Etain!" Bardan cried out, his hand extending to her, but Barr pushed saber his saber even deeper into her shoulder. He then snarled sadistically.
"Do it, Jedi Bardan! Give into the Dark Side!"
"Bardan no!"
But Bardan was already rearing his arm back. Heat and energy began to build up around his hand, and all Barr could do was smile. All too easy.
Then suddenly, Barr was sent flying away, landing on his feet about twenty feet back. From the snow and mist, Viridian Mallory marched in, his lightsaber ignited.
"Bardan, don't go over," he soothed as he knelt down to Etain, touching her shoulder and ebbing away her pain, "she's gonna be fine. Put away your anger, don't let it control you."
"What are you doing, Bardan!?" Barr shouted, "You are this close to absolute power! Embrace it!"
"No," Bardan growled back, turning to face him, "I won't give you the satisfaction, except your death. But I will never sell my soul to the Darkness, or to you."
"Oh you carking sissy."
"You always were a sniveling worm, Barr," Viridian replied, "always trying to get others to do your work for you. Always putting yourself over everybody else, and always pulling others with you into trouble. You're gonna pay for what you've done, this I swear."
"I have no regrets. I am stronger in the Dark Side than I ever was in the light, and have power that you can't even begin to dream of." Ferren boasted, "Perhaps, once I deal with you and the Ryals, I'll go after the rest of your friends and family, starting with dear little Vessie. I might even take her as my apprentice. I'll enjoy making her mine," a cruel smile parted his lips, "or, I'll make sure her neck stays snapped."
Viridian's face became almost that of an animal. Teeth bared, eyes wide with rage, hackles raised and fist clenched. Yet when he took that first step, he stopped. He took a breath, and took back control.
"Nice try," and he pointed his saber at him, "now I'm just gonna kill you."
"Try, you mean?" Barr smirked.
"According to the grand master, there is no such thing. And besides, you're nothing compared to Sauron or Smaug."
"Let's find out, shall we?" But before he could make his move, he struck again in the chest. The blow was like being gut punched, and he stumbled back to his knee. He looked up, and saw Etain standing, her hand extended in a fist.
"And this is for my shoulder, demagolka," and together, the three Jedi sent a telekenetic wave that sent him hurtling away dozens of feet. When he hit the ground, Ferren spat a pile of blood as his ribs felt like fire.
"Damn. This isn't going well at all." Ferren muttered as he got to his feet. Already the Jedi were closing in. Against Viridian or those two Mandalorian not-Jedi's, he could hold his own. But against all three? He shook his head, he wouldn't survive that engagement, and he wanted so desperately to live to continue inflicting his vengeance on them and everybody else associated to them.
Therefore, he needed to retreat. But he knew he couldn't outrun them, and he had no more assassins on hand to buy him time. His opportunity came when twenty speeder bikes approached from the south, and Ferren recognized them to be Imperial.
"Inquisitor Barr," the troop commander commed, "We've been sent to support you!"
"Just in time, Commander. Engage those Jedi and keep them busy as long as you can. I need to regroup with Hand Quest."
"Understood, m'lord. We have a spare bike. Take to it and fall back. We'll cover you."
"Thank you, trooper," and as the bikes zipped past him, he made his way to his own.
"Damn, he's rabbiting," Bardan cursed as the Jedi immediately took up defense postures, and began deflecting incoming blaster fire.
"We'll get him later," Viridian replied, "We need to pull back and regroup with the others. On my mark, make a run for it. Ready? Mark!"
Viridian promptly threw up a snowstorm, blinding the bikers long enough for the Mandalorian Jedi to hit their jetpacks and Viridian to make a mad dash to his speeder bike.
One Hour Later
3.4 Kilometers from Garnda Base
Despite the Shadow Alliance's resilience and entrenchment, they were being pushed back to Gardna Base from the Empire's reinforcements. The Imperials were being bolstered from several dozen transports of Snowtroopers and walkers in order to replace the losses they had suffered.
The Shadow Alliance had lost several hundred men, about a sixth of their overall strength; while the Empire had suffered about two thousand losses so far before receiving an additional two thousand troopers and ten AT-ATs, turning the tide of the battle in the Empire's favor.
It would not be long before the Shadow Alliance moved forward with their plan.
Darman regretted every shot that hit its target, knowing the high odds that it killed another one of his fellow clones as the Imperials continued their relentless advance to the repurposed Starship Graveyard. He truly wished that this battle never had to occur, but he knew that the chance to take out more of Sidious's best servants was too great, and put his feelings aside to complete the mission. They were his enemy now, and they were here to kill his new family.
He snapped himself out of his regrets when he saw a Black-furred Wookiee approaching him, and, knowing who this bounty hunter was, warned Walon and Kal, "Heads up, guys! We've got company!"
The two rivals saw the exile charging straight towards them, and barreled out of the way to avoid his attack.
Black Krrsantan roared at the failed ambush, and pulled out his bowcaster.
[I'm going to claim the bounty on your corpse, Skirata, and none of your family can stop me!] Krrsantan proclaimed.
"Not if we make a pelt out of you!" Walon shouted before he blasted at the Wookiee, who sidestepped out of the way and threw a flashbang grenade at Walon, disorienting him.
Kal and Darman came at his flanks however, and the Wookiee Exile immediately dived for cover. He threw fresh grenades at them, and the Mandalorians retreated further into the trench line.
[No way out, Skirata! I'm gonna get you eventually!]
"Not if our reinforcements show up first!"
[You're bluffing!]
"Am I?"
Sure enough, Jaing Skirata and two of Bo-Katan's men appeared, and fired grazing shots at Black Krrsantan's shoulders, making him drop his one memento from Kashyyyk. Krrsantan had no time to recover it though, and he began a fighting retreat; tossing grenades and trading blaster fire as he went.
Seeing a chance to get the drop on the Imperial agent, Jaing crashed onto the Wookiee. His electric gauntlets set to the max, he slammed his hands around the Wookies head and began vent volts into him. The Wookiee screamed, his fur smoking as his skeleton showed in and out from his body. Against any regular opponent, this would have been death, but not Krrsantan.
Summoning his strength, he pulled the Null ARC off his shoulders, and threw him onto the ground in order to crush his head like a grapefruit. Jaing smiled underneath his helmet, and fired a dart into his adversary's left eye, blinding him as blood and tears gushed out of the disabled eye. Unending agony rolled through his body as the pain from his injuries and the effects of toxin began their work.
The other three Mandalorians prepared to execute the half-blind Wookiee, but Kal received a transmission that made him curse, "Osik! All units, pull back to the second line! N-K Necrosis and Quest have broken through the trench line, and Gerrera's Partisans are being decimated by Barr and that blazing Iridonian! I repeat, all forces pull back!"
"Fine. But first…" and Vau set the Wookiee on fire with his flamethrower, sending him running and screaming back to his paymasters. "If I can't have my pelt, at least I can see the satisfaction of having this brute send a message to the Imperials."
With that said, Kal ordered through the Shadow Alliance's comm channel, "All forces, this is Colonel Skirata! Fall back to Gardna Base! We need to regroup before the Imperials overwhelm us!"
The Mandalorians witnessed the fighting retreat of their forces, and went into the fray to help save as many of their troops as they could.
Five Minutes Later
Saw silently prepared to detonate the turrets and other equipment so that the Imperials could not utilize them. He was exhausting his supply of grenades at the enemy troops and walkers, while Kravous and Ferren were routing his men with their superior skill and numbers.
If this is the end, at least let me take out Barr and his goon with me! Saw prayed to whatever gods were listening before he heard a howl come from his right.
Turning to see the Wolf Pack speeding towards Barr, he smiled at the reinforcements, and thanked the unknown deity for his prayers being answered.
The Wolf Pack had lost twenty of its eighty-man team, but had taken out three hundred of their Imperial adversaries, and eight Imperial walkers.
Commander Wolffe was proud of his men for their determination to stop the Empire's aims, and lamented that he couldn't fight alongside General Plo Koon again. Come on, Wolffe, keep your head in the game! Wolffe scolded himself for getting distracted during a heated battle.
Coming up on the Imperials that were threatening Saw Gerrera, he ordered through the comm, "All right, boys! Let's show the Empire who they're messing with! Clear a path for the Partisans!"
"AWOO!" his men howled, and they charged the Imperial line, blasting and ramming everything that came their way.
First tricky Jedi, now these fools! Give me pause for one moment, damnit! Ferrren silently ranted while he dodged blaster fire from a BARC Speeder that seemed to have it out for him.
Sensing the familiar presence of multiple Clone Troopers from the speeder formation, he ordered Kravous, "Keep on the Partisans! I'll deal with these interlopers!"
He sensed Kravous's glee at being able to slaughter so many enemies all by himself. He snorted and turned to face off against the two-dozen Clone Troopers. As he deflected the enemy's blaster fire, he got a good look at the rider's armor.
So, Koon's lab-grown cub is out for my head, eh? How quant! Ferren mused before he unleashed a barrage of Force Lightning at a nearby Snowspeeder, causing it to explode from the combustion and shower the BARC riders in fiery fragmentation.
Seeing the explosion ahead of him, Wolffe changed tactics, and ordered his surviving men, "Forget trying to take out Barr! Focus on his men, and give our allies an opening to retreat!"
The fifty-eight remaining Wolf Pack men scattered, and picked off bands of Imperial hunters, with the horrific screams of dying Imperial troopers filling the air, allowing the surviving Partisans to begin a fighting retreat to Gardna Base.
Seeing his men follow the Partisans to their stronghold, Wolffe prepared to follow suit, before he felt an unshakeable grip on his throat, squeezing the life out of him as he was dragged off of his speeder towards a squad of Imperials.
Ah, kark it! Wolffe cursed when he saw Ferren drawing his free hand in a vice like grip before he was thrown to the ground, surrounded by the squad of Snowtroopers at blaster point as they ripped his helmet off.
"Well, well, CC-3636. Or, should I call you Commander Wolffe, given your preference for human names, traitor?" Ferren drawled out with a vicious, toothy grin on his face.
"Go to Chaos, Sith scum!" Wolffe sneered before he felt a probing sensation in his mind, like ice-cold fingers digging into his brain.
"I don't think so, clone. You're going to go to Chaos after I tear your thoughts asunder."
He immediately did what Plo Koon taught him and threw up a wall to block off the Dark Jedi's attempts; forming what his former commander called the Armor of Contempt. "I… Augh… won't give you anything!"
"Very… Impressive," Ferren seethed as sweat began to pour down his temple, "your will is… impressive. But… it… cannot… hold!" and he slammed his palm into Wolffe's forehead, throwing him onto the cold snowy floor, "Give me… your… damned… thoughts!"
"Kark… you… you petulant child!"
Ferren snarled and began electrocuting Wolffe with torrents blue lightning. Wolffe cried out in utter pain, his voice becoming hoarse and then mute in silent terror as the pain began to overwhelm his body and senses. Seconds of the torture passed as slowly as his mind was being pried and torn apart, his armor beginning to scar and burn under the intense heat and pressure.
As images began to flood in about the bases layout and other such things, Ferren stopped the electrocution and tiredly smiled, "Finally, we're getting somewhere."
The images were distorted and vague at best, but Ferren could make out several things from them. He could see the underground tunnels of Mysta's base, the movement of troops, a hidden army of battle droids? That last bit made him smirk at the unsaid irony.
There was something else though. In the flashes of several images stitched together by hazy memory, he saw the holographic imaging of the asteroid belt. Why would that be there? he wondered. So, he probed deeper, and came across a name. Phobos? Phobs what?
He focused his mind, trying to piece out the missing words. They were garbled, confused but he could make out Base. Phobos Base? So they had a base in the asteroid belt? Why? He tried to find that out but everything became a garbled mess. He cursed himself. Wolffe's mind was strong, no doubt the work of Plo-Koon, and this simple interrogation was only producing bare intelligence.
He would need more time, and a more thorough interrogation.
"Take him back to the mobile command," he ordered the troopers, "I will meet you there."
Wolffe's lips stretched into a wolfish grin as he made the motions of laughing even if no sound came about it.
"Is there something amusing you, you lab grown meat droid?"
Wolffe managed with all he had to prop himself up on his elbows, and spoke his voice coming out so hoarse one could barely hear it, "You prove my point."
"And that is?"
"You're just… a petulant child… throwing a temper tantrum. Blame… Jedi… all you… want. Don't matter. Couldn't have the big toys… so ya killed to get 'em. You sorry sack of a humanoid. Grow the cark up already, and finish me off like a man."
Rage encompassed Ferren like a bull seeing red, blinding him to only his hatred. "As you wish," and he slammed his lightsaber into the troopers stomach. Though the Clone gasped in pain, it was soon replaced with a grateful smile.
In his mind, Ferren saw a flood of images from the man's past, and it was here that he understood. The man wanted to die. He saw the death of his commander, Plo Koon; the result of his inability to protect him. He saw the pain that had come from that, and how it had eaten away at the Clone's heart.
Then he saw the grenade held in his dying hands, and the wolf grin that followed, "Gotcha."
Ferren immediately threw up a Force Wall, but he was still sent hurtling back into the trench line below, his battered body taking with a fresh score of wounds. "Damn you," Ferren blubbered as blood pooled from his orifices. After a moment, he ascended the ladder and found nothing remaining but a smoking crater. The grenade had obviously set off the rest that had been on everybody's equipment belt at the time.
Still, he admitted, the bastard clone'd had a spine. A worthy kill. Bu then he realized his greatest blunder when he went over what he had saw in Wolffe's mind. Stupid. Wolffe had all but broadcasted what had happened, and anybody worth their salt in the Force would've heard. Worse, he had only gleamed from his enemy a surface understanding of their plans.
Stupid. He'd just wasted his advantage. Stupid.
"You're damn right," he heard Viridian's voice in his head, "that's one more life that'll be avenged when you die."
"Ah, there you are. Why don't you come down here and finish what we started?" Ferren answered back.
"Soon, Barr. Soon."
"I suppose so."
Twenty Minutes Later
2.3 Kilometers From Gardna Base
"We need to press the attack now, before the Jedi fortify their position!" Aurra seethed, while Sarcev rubbed his temple in order to keep himself from snapping the simple-minded bounty hunter's neck.
Before Sarcev could rebuke her with a few choice barbs about her lack of tactical understanding, N-K did it for a great bit more tactfully. "Negative, Hunter Sing. We need to regroup after our losses, and we need a plan if we are going to defeat the Shadow Alliance in a location where they have, as you organics say, the home field advantage."
"Especially since Black Krrsantan literally got burnt and half-blinded in the attack." Kravous added in a rare display of caution. "I love a good battle, but I won't go headfirst into a trap unless I've got a plan."
"And I have one." Ferren announced while walking up to the forward command center for the Imperial advance, with a vicious smile on his face that actually managed to worry the Emperor's Hand.
"Where have you been, Barr? Too busy picking off strays to join us in this vital strategic conference?" Aurra mocked the Jedi turncoat, earning a death glare from Sarcev.
"Aurra, for once in your life, shut the hell up!" he snapped, "Unlike you, Barr here actually shows the signs of being in battle, and under your direction we would be dead! Now, be silent. Barr, what have you found?"
"I interrogated Commander Wolffe. He was killed before I could learn the full extent of their plans, but I have learned much of it from his memories."
That sentence caught everyone's attention, and they listened intently to Ferren's impromptu briefing. "Ryal has an army of battle droids in reserve, hidden underground in his base. It also appears that this base is larger than we imagined. If I had to guess, he probably connected several of the downed warships to it superstructure. Lastly, Wolffe's memories point to a 'Phobos Base' located somewhere in the asteroid belt."
"A second base?" Quest shook his head, "This might explain why Pellaeon's task force hasn't been responding. Damn."
"Where'd he get the money for all of those resources!?" Aurra shrieked, horrified that a Jedi lover could assemble a system-wide base, and surpass her in resourcefulness.
"Rumor has it he may have stolen a sizable amount of Dooku's personal funds," Ferren shook his head, "but that is still hearsay."
"Regardless, we have a problem," N-K interjected, "our enemies possess two separate bases. Which one is our quarry at?"
"The Jedi are here," Ferren pointed out, "but that is no indication that the Ryal's would be here as well. For all we know, they might be at this Phobos Base."
"Our objective is to capture Vega if possible. Last I checked Mysta and Elain didn't matter." Sarcev pointed out
"On the contrary they are extremely valuable, Vega will not be a suitable servant of his majesty unless he has the proper motivation."
"Besides," N-K pointed out, "the Ryal's will more than likely remain close together. Finding one may find us all three."
"What about this fleet of yours?" Aurra asked, "My money is that they defected."
"Maybe, maybe not," Quest rubbed his temples, "we don't have the numbers to go looking. Our reinforcements will not arrive for ten more hours, so we'll need to deal with the base here first."
"It'll be a tough nut to crack, Quest," Kravous pointed out, "if the base is underground, so will the shield generators that protect it from orbital bombardment. We won't get air support until we take them out."
"Ghost has thought of everything." Aurra snarled
Turning to face Ferren, he ordered him, "Tell us everything you know of the base's layout and defenses. No matter how obscure."
One Hour Later
Within the Second Chance
Nineteen Hours Until Arriving in the Hoth System
"Just another thing that traitor Barr will pay for when we take him down." Ahsoka snarled, a deep and buried rage boiling within her as she felt Wolffe's violation and death. Wolffe had been a friend, both to her and to the man she considered her father. He didn't deserve to die like that.
"Get in line, Ahsoka." Mysta groaned before rubbing his weary head, making Tau worry at the stress that he was under.
"I assume that you're all working on a new plan." Tau worriedly advised his friends.
"No. I figured that we'd all prostrate ourselves before Quest, and beg for mercy." Mysta satirically responded, before adding with a hint of anger, "Of course we're working on a new plan. Just get here within the next rotation, or we're going to be in deep osik."
"Understood." Akku told the human bounty hunter, before getting an idea, and having Arnine follow him, elaborated, "I'm gonna see if this ship's got any smuggler's routes to shorten our trip by a couple of hours."
"I'll help. Gallies went to this sector a few times, so I might be able to offer some input." Ventis offered, earning a nod of gratitude from the Anzati as the two men and astromech droid went to comb the Second Chance's databases.
"How're your guests doing, Mysta,? All things considered?" Jarael requested.
"Better than I thought. They're preparing to bolster our fleet, and hopefully disable a few of their ships." Mysta responded, before turning to face Tau, "Oh, and Gilad's decided to work with Thrawn in taming the Unknown Regions for us."
"Excellent!" Tau gladly replied, exuberant that another good piece of history from his timeline would occur, albeit in a better way from the original occurrence.
"Let's just hope Hallena will be just as understanding." Ahsoka warned, knowing how the woman would hate to be away from her loved one.
"Gilad's breaking the news to her right now. From what Oniye told me, he has a plan to take her with him when he goes to Thrawn. After all," he added with a knowing smile, "I doubt a crew as loyal as Gilad's would object to him being reunited with his wife. And, this will be an expedition with little to no contact with the rest of the Empire. Such circumstances require certain regulations be put aside for the sake of crew functionality in such a situation."
"Good ol' Pellaeon. Always finding ways to loophole a situation. We'd better let you get back to holding out against Quest's fleet. May Iluvatar be with you." Tau ended the communication, and uttered a silent prayer that no more of his friends would be killed in this battle before preparing to inform the fleet commanders of the altered plan.
Meanwhile, On Phobos Station
"Are you sure of this?" Hallena asked with a raised eyebrow, "This is rather… unorthodox, to put it bluntly."
"So is exploring the Unknown Regions, Hallena," Pellaeon said with a wry smile, "and it's not the first time the Empire has made exceptions, especially if the circumstances require it."
"Will Thrawn be okay with this?" she asked with an edge to her tone. Pellaeon's brow creased darkly as he grumbled.
"He better be. I've sacrificed far too much over my years of service to two governments. If I'm going to serve a third, then I am damn well going to be with the woman I love."
"Easy, Gilad," she smiled, "no need to burn the bridge before you cross it."
"Of course," he nodded with a grin, "I'll send coordinates for you to rendezvous when I finish discussing the matter with my new superior."
"And I'll be waiting," she then grinned slyly, "though I better be put to work. Don't want your crew to think I'm just a housewife."
"Perish the thought, my dear! Anyone who lives and breathes on my ship is a part of my crew, with all the responsibility that entails."
"Then I will see you soon, dear," she blew a kiss to him, "I look forward to making this a bit more… real."
And the hologram flickered out, leaving Gilad with a tired but content smile, "So do I, Hallena. So do I."
Four Hours Later
On Hoth
One Kilometer Outside Gardna Base
"Sir! All of our forces have been deployed to the suspected entrances that High Inquisitor Barr informed you of." Commander Keller, a Clone Snowtrooper from the Outer Rim Siege of Toola, reported to Sarcev.
Sarcev had divided his forces into twelve divisions after receiving an additional three thousand soldiers, and deployed them to assault each portion of the repurposed Starship Graveyard.
"Good. Order all forces to commence assault in ten minutes. No matter what, do not stop the assault, regardless of the casualties." Sarcev ordered the clone, and prepared to lead his team and division into Gardna Base.
Well, that ends another chapter of my story. Sorry that it took so long, I had a bunch of studying to do, along with two days of work, with another up in less than two hours, so I've had a lot on my plate. So, how are you doing on Sunday, October 14, 2018? I'm excellent, as I saw the SWTOR 5.10 news, and I can't wait to watch videos about it when it's released. Oh, and, on another interesting note, I assume that you heard the Chuck Wendig news? All that I will say is that, it's a shame that things got to this point, and that they've escalated so far in such a short time. Oh, and, Unexpected Jedi should be updated within the next few hours, as Chapter 45 is next, and I'm so excited for it. Ah, I forgot something else. On Friday, I bought a bunch of Star Wars books from my local help center to sell on EBay, as they were just going to be donated to somewhere else anyway, so I figured that I'd buy them myself. Well, I'd better get ready for work soon. Oh, and I'll be studying more tomorrow, so I won't be able to write as much as I'd like. Wish me luck on my midterm, my friends. May the Force and Iluvatar be with you, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!