The Quarry Escapes
Andronikos piloted the Fury Interceptor himself, maneuvering wildly to avoid the blaster cannon fire pouring at the ship from several batteries on the spire.
As he made his final approach to the private space dock, he shouted into the ship's public address system, "All hands brace for impact! I'm going in hot and heavy!"
Securely strapped in the commander's seat, Nox noticed that the Phantom X-70B, which Acina was known to favor, was not in its hanger bay. She had acquired the ship from the Imperial Intelligence Service when the agency had been dissolved a year before. He began to wonder if she had fled the station and the battle, or if she had intended to board one of his warships to commandeer it from him. Perversely, he had hoped it was the latter, because he wanted her to give him a good fight before he finished her off.
Nox brought up a holo image of the private hanger, and though the image was tiny and taken from a very bad angle, the image was clear. The nose end of her ship could be seen inside the private space dock. Nox contacted Admiral Thane.
Admiral Thane had survived being thrown by Darth Achelon at Eviscerous, when he was known as Kirnon. He had also made a full recovery, and as such continued serving as the executive officer of the task force under Eviscerous' command. Admiral Henness Thane had been left in command of the 3027th Naval Task Force, by Darth Eviscerous, so that the Sith lord could board the station to lead his shock troop divisions in the conquest of the Arcanum.
The admiral responded to Darth Nox' summons, "Admiral Henness Thane here. What are your orders, Dark Lord?"
Nox reported the situation, telling him, "Admiral Thane, alert the task force of the possibility that Darth Acina has boarded one of your ships to wreak havoc with the task force. Her ship is no longer in its docking bay."
Admiral Thane replied, "Right away, Dark Lord. Please excuse me, Dark Lord."
Admiral Thane cut the connection.
Andronikos turned the ship one hundred eighty degrees on it's axis, facing the ship away from the private space dock. He then fired the main thrusters to brake the ship. When the ship had slowed to a crawl, he cut the main engines and turned the ship about again and eased the ship, nose first, into the hanger bay.
He announced, "The force field is down, so the hanger bay is in vacuum. All hands will need to don space suits to exit the ship."
Nox told Andronikos, "Go out and see if you can get the shield back up and the hanger bay repressurized."
Andronikos replied, "I'm right on it, Boss. I'll take the mercs out with me to clear the hanger bay. We'll make sure no bad guys are out there waiting for us."
Andronikos was busy piloting the ship, so he did not see Nox nod his approval.
Darth Nox didn't want to wear his space suit if he could help it, which was why he'd ordered Andronikos to go out to see if anything could be done about it. A short while later, Andronikos went out with his crew of eleven Mandalorian mercenaries. While the mercenaries cleared the hanger bay, Andronikos looked over the hanger bay controls.
Andronikos reported back in less than five minutes after exiting the ship.
"Sorry, Boss. The controls have been destroyed. I can't even get it done manually from here." He continued his report, saying, "My crew checked out the dock. It's clear. No ambush in the hanger bay. They must be waiting for us on the other side of the blast door going into the station."
Nox acknowledged, "Very well."
Then he got out of the Commander's seat and walked to his private quarters to prepare to don his space suit.
Ten minutes later, 2V-R8 inspected Nox's, Zash's, and Shahn's space suits, in preparation for Nox and his apprentices to exit the ship.
Khem Val shoved the droid away, and told it, "Out of my way, or I shall use you for spare parts!"
2V-R8 replied, "There are plenty of spare parts available in the ship's stores. There is no need to cannibalize my chassis for parts, Master Khem."
Khem shook his head inside his space helmet, amused by the droid's reply. He gave a laugh as he left his, now spacious quarters, and walked into the common crew section.
Khem Val contacted Andronikos and asked, "Pirate, have you found an airlock into the station? The blast door will let the station atmosphere out, and we shall all be blown into space."
Andronikos replied flippantly, "I sure did, Captain Obvious. I'm checking it out, now. It looks good, so far. I'll have it all checked out by the time you guys come out. You got any other suggestions for me, Captain Obvious?"
Khem replied testily, "Yes, stay out of the path of my vibrosword."
Andronikos smirked, because he knew he'd just pushed one of Khem's buttons. Then he replied, "Whoa! That's great advice! I'll be sure to do exactly that!"
Khem knew this could go on, and on. So, he resolved to remain silent.
Nox was about to tell the two to focus on the mission, when 2V-R8 reported to Nox, "Admiral Thane is attempting to contact you, Master. Shall I accept the transmission?"
Nox, standing at the hatch of his personal quarters, and forgetting about Khem Val and Andronikos Revel, said to the droid, "Put it through."
Nox took a half step towards the center of the common crew space, but jerked to a stop. He was surprised that Admiral Thane's holo-image appeared in front of him, right where he stood, instead of in the center of the common crew space where the holo-transmitter terminal used to be.
Admiral Thane's image snapped to attention and reported, "Dark Lord, all ships have inspected all landing bays. No ships, foreign to this task force, has been found. Additionally, there have been no reports of enemy raiders aboard any of the task force's ships. All ships' crews remain on high alert against the possibility of hostile boarders."
Nox replied, "Very well, Admiral. Carry on."
The admiral replied, "As you say, Dark Lord." Nox cut the transmission.
He shook his head and thought disgustedly, "She ran away! The coward!"
He was disappointed that she was not going to give him the fight that he wanted. However, he realized that he was getting ahead of himself. He still actually needed to capture the station.
Despite knowing this, he thought gleefully, "She has abandoned the Emperor's station to me! I have won!"
Darth Nox, along with everyone else, had to carry their battle armor separately, because the armor didn't fit inside their space suits. Andronikos waved everyone into the airlock. Once it was pressurized, everyone changed out of their space suits and into their battle armor.
Ten minutes later, the Mandalorian mercenaries, taking point, arranged themselves in two rows of five. The front row knelt, and the back row stood, as they readied themselves to blast their way into the station. Andronikos took his place behind his mercenaries and next to their leader. Behind the former pirate stood Khem Val, then Shahn and Zash, with Nox bring up the rear. He didn't feel comfortable with Zash standing behind him, so Nox made sure he was in back.
Andronikos gave the command, "Shields up, everyone!" Then to the Mandalorian team leader, he ordered, "Open it."
Andronikos' pirate blood boiled with excitement. It had been a while since he'd conducted a raid for plunder and profit. He was filled with nostalgia for his wild and rough pirate days before he'd met Nox. The circular airlock door pushed into the airlock with a hiss of air, before rolling into it's recess.
As expected, they were greeted by a storm of blaster fire. The mercenaries opened up with a mixed volley of high explosive grenades, EMP grenades, and armor piercing mini-rocket fire. They then immediately followed that up with a storm of blaster fire from their overpowered assault rifles. In seconds, the light and medium grade security droids were decimated.
The Mando mercenaries rushed out and swept the passage way in both directions in teams of five. Andronikos, the Mando team leader, and Khem Val took up positions just outside of the airlock entrance looking at the action in either direction of the small passage way, with the Mando team leader shouting commands to his men. Immediately after silence had returned, Khem signaled Nox to exit.
The three Sith came out of the airlock. Nox and his apprentices turned right and paused in the passageway near the airlock, while Nox consulted a three dimensional holographic diagram. Since they didn't enter through the blast doors, their orientation had changed and a new route to Acina's quarters had to be plotted.
Darth Nox, his apprentices, Khem Val, Andronikos Revel and his mercenary team leader studied it carefully and listened as Nox explained the new route they would take to Acina's quarters. Andronikos and his mercenaries would add their firepower to Nox's team, covering the rear as Nox's group advanced. With all the bases covered, Nox gave the go ahead. Khem lead the charge ahead of Nox, with Shahn and Zash covering Nox's flanks on either side of him.
Khem Val, leading the attack, walked at a brisk pace. After their initial encounter at the airlock, there seemed to be no further resistance as they made their way through the passage ways and broad staircases leading up the spire to her private quarters. The rooms Nox bypassed, and the Mandalorian mercenaries searched and cleared, all seemed to be set up for private social gatherings, small, large, and grand. Only a very few of the rooms seemed to have any official purpose.
Nox wondered to himself, "To whom has she been playing hostess? This is suppose to be a secret station housing the Emperor's personal treasures."
Nox's assault group finally made it to Acina's private quarters. Aside from the initial confrontation from the security droids at the airlock, they'd only passed a few protocol droids on their way to her quarters. Acina's quarters were also empty, except for two protocol droids.
One of the droids approached and announced itself, "Greetings, esteemed guests. I am protocol droid, 9T-M8. On behalf of the dark lord, Darth Acina, I welcome you to her home away from home. I have been tasked with delivering a message to you, Dark Lord. Would you like to hear it?"
Darth Nox, wanting clues as to where Acina might have escaped, said, "I'll hear it."
The droid produced a device from a utility compartment in its chassis. It was about to push a button on it, when Khem Val's vibrosword came down on its arms, severing both arms and causing the droid's hands, parts of both of its forearms and the device to fall to the floor. Khem Val gave the protocol droid a vicious kick to it's chest and sent the machine stumbling backwards until it finally stabilized itself.
The droid said, "I apologize if I have said or done something to have caused you offense, Dark Lord. I shall endeavor to improve my services. If you'll excuse me, I must report to the droid maintenance facility. I have sustained damage to my chassis."
Nox, surprised by Khem's sudden vicious attack on the droid, only managed to say, "Then go."
The droid turned about and left Acina's quarters.
Khem Val, kneeling, scanned the device on the floor where it had fallen.
He then stated, as he stood again, "It is a bomb, Master."
Nox, shook his head, as a chill ran up and down his entire being.
He said, "Khem, your instincts are strong. Once again, you've saved me from my own blunders."
As Khem bent down again, to neutralize the device, Nox turned to face the remaining droid and began to interrogate it, "Where is Darth Acina?"
The droid replied, "Darth Acina has left the space station. I was not advised as to her destination."
Nox asked, "Why did she abandon the station? Why did she leave?"
The droid responded, "The dark lord left under the advice of General Frah-iim, commander of the Imperial Guard stationed here."
Nox asked, "Why did he advise her to leave?"
The droid replied, "The general believed that the station would suffer heavy damage and that the Emperor's artifacts and devices would become endangered. He intended to consult with General Iissak about surrendering in order to mitigate further damage. General Frah-iim believed Darth Acina would be endangered after the Station had been surrendered."
Nox took out his holo-transmitter from it's compartment in his utility belt and contacted Darth Eviscerous. There was a delay of a few minutes before Eviscerous finally answered Nox's call. When Eviscerous' image appeared, he was already kneeling on one knee.
He apologized, saying, "Forgive the delay in my answering, Dark Lord. I was in the midst of a vicious fight for a passage way leading to a bank of turbolifts. I'm almost to the command hub, and my forces have control of over three quarters of the station.
"We have overwhelmed them, Dark Lord. Their forces were scattered, but as we push them back, their lines become more concentrated. They seem to be pulling back in order to strengthen their numbers by consolidating their forces, but this strategy will avail them of nothing, Dark Lord. Your victory is assured."
Nox replied to Eviscerous' report, "Very good." Then he asked, "Has anyone contacted you about surrender?"
Eviscerous answered succinctly, "No, Dark Lord."
Nox ordered him, "Give them a call and offer them terms for surrender. I'm not after their heads. I just want this station."
Darth Eviscerous objected, "They may betray us and launch a sneak attack, Dark Lord. We should finish them off."
Nox reiterated his order, reminding him, "Remember my final objective. I plan to relinquish the station once we reach Korriban. There is no need to finish them off."
Darth Eviscerous replied, "As you say, Dark Lord. I will contact you with the results of my negotiations with them."
Nox simply replied, "Good."
Then he cut the transmission.
Turning to face Andronikos, Nox ordered, "Sweep these quarters carefully for hidden assassins, booby traps, and spying devices. These quarters will become my headquarters on this station until our arrival to Korriban. Take whatever you wish from the station, but remember to stay out of the vaults."
Andronikos nodded, and smiling in anticipation of booty and plunder, replied to his employer, "Understood, Boss."
He signaled the Mandalorian team leader to follow him as he left Acina's private quarters.
Nox addressed the remaining droid, "Droid, listen to me."
The droid replied, "Yes, Dark Lord."
Nox told it, "Get every droid remaining in these private quarters and in the levels below, including the private hanger deck, and report to the droid maintenance section. There are to be no droids of any kind left anywhere in these four levels. Understood?"
The droid replied. "Yes, Dark Lord. I'll see to it now."
The droid departed to carry out its assignment.
Zash approached Darth Nox and said, "Dark Lord, you didn't seem very surprised that Acina wasn't here."
Nox said, out of the blue, "Call me, Master."
Zash became instantly livid upon hearing Nox's command, and her face showed it plainly. Khem Val, seeing her fury rise, grasped the hilt of his vibrosword and readied himself to strike Zash down. Shahn bowed her head towards Darth Nox and, stepping away from Zash, grasped the hilt of her sabrestaff in preparation to strike Zash down as well.
Zash, looking around at Khem Val and at Shahn, realized that she would not prevail. She pulled in the reins of her fury and of her pride.
Then, bowing her head towards Nox, she spoke through clenched teeth, saying, "Master, you seem to have anticipated Acina's absence."
Nox replied, as if nothing were amiss, "In the intelligence briefing, when I was told about high level communications to this area, I could see the nose of her ship in the holo-image of the hanger bay. However, as we approached for our assault, the ship was gone. I suspected that she'd fled."
Zash, her voice quavering with fury, replied, "I see," she hesitated a split second before grudgingly adding, "Master."
Nox then gave out his next set of orders, "Lord Shahn, Zash, find Darth Eviscerous and lend him your power to finish this fight, in case General Iissak refuses to surrender."
Shahn, without hesitation replied, "Yes, Master."
Zash also, without hesitation replied, but her voice was barely audible. She'd realized that Nox had called Shahn, Lord Shahn, but only called her by her name without her title. It had finally dawned on her, that not once had Nox ever called her name with her title, since he'd gotten her out of her prison. She realized at last, that Nox had stripped her of her title, Darth.
She asked herself, "Can he do that? He can't do that! Can he?"
Nox said, in a calm voice, that did not hide the warning in his eyes, "I didn't hear you, Zash."
Zash had finally mastered her fury, and replied, "Yes, Master."
There was no irony, nor resentment, in her tone when she answered him that time, but Nox knew she was furious.
Darth Nox, smiling wryly, said, "Good. Then go."
Shahn and Zash left Nox's presence to accomplish their task.
