Telos
The planet of Telos was located in the northeastern quadrant of the Galaxy, in the Outer Rim, about a dozen parsecs away from the border to the nearest Mid Rim world. It had always been a quiet and tranquil planet, yet not as remote or untouched as most Outer Rim worlds. With a population of about two billion, there were some sparkling metropolises that shone on the darkened half of the planet that was engulfed in the night, located along the coasts of its pale green and rocky continents. It had small ice caps at its polar regions, and a light blue colored ocean that covered about eighty percent of the planet. Telos was one of the last destinations on the Noreast Hyperlane route that started at Brentaal in the Deep Core, and ended at Bonadan in Corporate Sector space. And today, it saw more ships than it had seen in centuries.
A single Xyston-class Star Destroyer slowly cruised through open space towards the planet Telos, tearing apart small frigates and modified freighters that were attempting to guard Telos. Barrages of green lasers seared through the defense ships with ease. There were a mix of ships, a few Gozanti cruisers, an old Arquitens frigate, a repainted Acclamator II in white and blue, and four Black Sun merchant ships that were boxy and rigid vessels. The Acclamator was the largest in the Telos defense fleet, firing missiles from its front prow, attempting to break through the shields of the Xyston destroyer - but, to no avail. It remained at the back end of the fleet, closest to the planet, and closest to a large space station.
The Xyston came between two Gozanti cruisers, one on its portside and starboard side, firing at both simultaneously. The Sith warship destroyed the old ships in seconds, plowing through to the next array of ships. The Black Sun merchant ships fired its slow turbolaser cannons, yet they were easily absorbed by the Xyston destroyer's powerful shields.
"Prepare the assault crew, we're probably going to have to fight that station for fuel." ordered Darth Temnateta, Sith Queen, and last apparent leader of the Sith Eternal. She stood on the command bridge of her Xyston-destroyer, watching gleefully as the Telosian defense fleet was getting smaller and smaller with each passing minute.
"Yes, your majesty," responded her second-in-command, Captain Sharda, "relaying orders to the deployment crew. Shall I deploy the bombers to take out the station's shields?"
"Yes, but first focus fire on that assault craft at the rear of the fleet." said Temnateta calmly, "That ship is our last obstacle to what we need."
"Yes, your majesty." responded Sharda, walking over to a group of crewmembers near a terminal station in the rear of the bridge.
The Sith Queen breathed steadily as her ship destroyed the Arquitens cruiser, and began focusing fire on the last Black Sun freighter. She slowly formed her hands into fists, feeling her leather gloves tighten around the back of her hands.
"Deploy my squadron," she announced, "I'm going out there now." she turned around and walked briskly past Captain Sharda and the other crew members, and he nodded silently.
Over thirty Sith Eternal TIE fighters emerged out of the small hangar bay on the portside of the Xyston Star Destroyer, following one single craft. The triangular winged TIEs kept in close formation behind the larger Sith starfighter. It was twice as long as a normal TIE fighter, far shorter solar panels that jut out at the rear of the ship as two wings. The cockpit of the fighter was the size of an old TIE bomber, with a single octagonal viewport that extended over the roof, giving its pilot a clear view of the battle around her.
"Keep the bombers safe." ordered Darth Temnateta as she flew in her personal Sith TIE fighter, named the TIE Dreader, painted in all black. Behind the formation of thirty Sith TIEs were First Order TIE bombers, similar to their Imperial predecessors, but smaller and faster. She whisked through the flaming wreckage of the Arquitens cruiser that was torn into three pieces, with her TIEs following quickly behind.
Temnateta came upon the Acclamator assault ship, taking evasive maneuvers as a missile was fired right at her. She spun upward, and her TIEs evaded the missile as well. She activated a missile scrambling field through her comms system, and no other missile from the Acclamator fired hit the TIEs. Temnateta smirked as she swerved her ship side to side gleefully, avoiding laser fire and the hay-wire missiles. She came upon the hull of the Acclamator and opened fire, unleashing a stream of green lasers on the forward missile launchers. The missile launching bay exploded immediately, and as she fired more lasers up its main blue stripe, parts of the hull exploded and lit up in flames. She spun to the left before reaching the command bridge of the assault ship, letting her TIEs finish off the ship.
The TIE fighters' missiles bombarded the Acclamator, and were strong enough to destroy its main weapon systems. The Acclamator began to fall back into space, towards Telos, as its engines could no longer keep it in orbit.
"Your majesty," scrambled a voice through the comlink of Temnateta's ship.
"What is it?" she asked, irritated with Captain Sharda.
"We're picking up a fleet of ships that are about to enter the system." answered Sharda.
"Resistance?" right as she asked, an MC85 heavy cruiser exited from out of hyperspace right over her fighter. She jolted to the side, startled. The Resistance warship began firing at her, and she evaded as quickly as she could, flying back towards her squadrons of TIEs. The TIE bombers scrambled as they were slower and easier targets for the Resistance vessel.
"Fire on that Resistance cruiser!" ordered Temnateta. Temnateta was flying back towards the Xyston, but upon giving those orders, more ships exited out of hyperspace. Another two Mon Calamari cruisers appeared right above the Xyston destroyer, both MC80a type, wingless. A couple Hammerhead cruisers entered the star system as well, whisking right past the Xyston and firing upon the TIEs that were still heading for the station. Numerous Corellian Corvettes, both CR70s and CR90s followed the Hammerheads, easily destroying a few TIE fighters and bombers.
"I want those ships destroyed!" she shouted through her coms system, figuring that her crew was still listening to her. Temnateta circled over the wreckage of the Acclamator and Arquitens ships, flying back towards the Telos station. She had some distance from the larger and intimidating MC85, which was deploying a stream of endless X-wings, A-wings, and Y-wings. Two ships caught Temnateta's eyes, however. They were old Jedi starfighters, sticking out like sore thumbs. They were followed by an old Resistance troop carrier, and a few more X-wings - heading right for the Xyston.
"Your majesty - we're - taking on more damage-" said the static voice of Captain Sharda. Temnateta looked over her shoulder, there were now over eight ships that were surrounding her destroyer. The two MC80s, two Virgillian Bunker Busters at its sides, and two Nebulon frigates.
MC85
The Democratia
Leia Organa
"We have a clear opening for attack on the Sith warship, General." responded Poe Dameron through the coms system as Leia stood at the holotable in the center of the bridge. She anxiously kept glancing out the viewport, seeing that to the port side of her own vessel was the Xyston Star Destroyer; surrounded by her fellow allied ships.
"Make sure those Y-wings get through, activate ion weapons." responded Leia. She looked at Admiral Prentos, "Activate our heavy ion cannons and fire on that destroyer's bridge!" she ordered.
"Yes, General!" responded the Mon Calamari Admiral.
As the MC85 Democratia was facing perpendicular to the Xyston Star Destroyer, the heavy cruiser began to fire broadside at it. Blue lasers seared through open space from the ship's ion cannons, striking the upper hull of the destroyer, and mostly its command tower. The other MC80 cruisers began firing their ion cannons as well, instead of their normal turbolasers. Y-wings in groups of five dropped their ion bombs across the hull of the Xyston, quickly deactivating small laser turrets and shield generators. Sparks of electricity fizzled across the surface of the Xyston destroyer, and some of its lights began to flash as they shut down completely.
"Looks like we got that son of a bitch." said Dameron, and Leia smiled with relief.
"Gold Crew, you're clear for boarding the destroyer." informed Leia.
"Roger that, Master." responded Rey, who was leading the Gold Crew to the destroyer. Her green and white Delta 7B led Ben's Eta Actis fighter, Coruscant's T80 X-wings, and troop transport.
"Cease fire on the destroyer," ordered Leia, "we want that thing intact for us to use, focus your efforts on remaining TIE fighters and bombers."
"Copy that, General Organa." responded Poe. Within minutes, the smaller Resistance vessels were forming a small blockade in front of the Telos space station: shooting down all and any TIE bombers or fighters that strayed too close. The swarm of Sith fighters had completely shrunk, and most were attempting to return to the Xyston destroyer.
Darth Temnateta
"Your majesty, they're sending boarding craft!" exclaimed Captain Sharda, "We've lost all auxiliary power, we're a sitting duck!" Temnateta growled lowly, pushing as hard as she could on her fighter's throttle, flying at full speed back towards her destroyer. It was surrounded by numerous Resistance ships. The Y-wings had already made their runs, and were fleeing to the safety of a nearby MC80a cruiser.
"I'll be there momentarily to deal with these savages." replied the Sith Queen.
Rey, Ben, and Cere
Two Resistance troop carriers landed inside the cavernous hangar of the Xyston-destroyer, facing outward, as Sith troopers began firing at the ships from the nearby doorways and turbolifts. Rey and Ben both landed their fighters near the carriers, and four other X-wings followed. Rey quickly deactivated her ship's power systems. R2-D2 whistled nervously as Rey opened the cockpit,
"I know, buddy, just think of it as another little mission." responded Rey, taking off her piloting helmet. She got out of her ship and R2-D2 used his rocket boosters to exit the droid socket as well. Rey ignited her double-bladed lightsaber, beginning to deflect the red blaster bolts from the red armored Sith troopers at the other end of the hangar. She gave cover to R2 and Ben as he got out as well, and the incoming Resistance soldiers.
Ben ignited his lightsaber as well, joining Rey at the frontlines of their assault. Blaster bolts were shot back at the Sith troopers by the two Jedi, striking a few of them down. Momentarily, the troop carriers opened their main doors and out poured dozens of Resistance soldiers. Cere was with them remaining at the rear with Chewbacca. Chewbacca roared as the other soldiers charged, and fired his heavy bowcaster.
Rey bolted across the hangar, dodging laser fire as she spun her golden double-bladed lightsaber with just one hand. She leapt atop a landed TIE fighter with its wings folded. She used the Force to push back an entire squad of Sith troopers, sending them flying back and smashing their heads into the wall within their helmets. Rey Force jumped off the TIE fighter and landed in the middle of the remaining ten Sith troopers. They surrounded her.
Ben thundered into the area, throwing his lightsaber at one of the Sith troopers. He used the Force to pull it back, and Force-pushed the others down to the ground. Rey relaxed her shoulders and lowered her lightsaber. She deactivated her double-blade and clipped it to her brown leather belt. Still standing atop the TIE fighter she looked at the gathering Resistance troopers.
"Team A, we're going to the bridge. Team B, you're going to stay here and guard our ships." R2 whistled loudly, "Yes, you're coming with us, Artoo." responded Rey with a smile. "Team C, get to the main weapon control center to deactivate the super laser, we don't know what that thing can do even if we have control at the bridge." ordered Rey.
The large group of assaulters split into three groups. Team A, with Rey headed for one corridor that ascended upward. Ben joined her. Cere Junda was leading Team B, with Chewbacca and fifteen other soldiers, headed down another corridor to head for the control center of the main super laser. And Team C, another fifteen soldiers, found cover near their fighters and crates to protect their ships.
Within minutes, a larger TIE fighter entered the hangar bay, catching all of Team C's attention. It was larger than a normal TIE, and painted jet black. The fighter landed between the two Resistance troop transports, and the soldiers readied their weapons. The cockpit opened, and a half-masked woman carefully climbed out of her ship. She landed firmly on two feet a meter in front of her ship, and straightened her black uniform. Her blood-red cape curled onto the floor behind her, and she looked around.
"I don't remember throwing a party for mangey scavengers and scoundrels…" she walked forward, clearly seeing the soldiers around her. Some crept over the hulls of the X-wings and TIE fighters, cocking their blasters.
"Freeze!" shouted an Aqualish soldier in front of the Sith Queen. Temnateta used the Force to lift the Aqualish and throw him out of the hangar, and the being screamed as it was thrown out into space. The other soldiers started firing at her, and Temnateta held out her hands. The blue blaster bolts froze in mid-air just a meter around her. The Resistance soldiers slowly stood up to get a better look, completely frightened at what they were seeing. Temnateta smirked, and with the flick of one finger, the blaster bolts shot outward, striking all of the Resistance soldiers.
"At least be smart enough to bring personal shields…" exhaled the Sith Queen as she stepped over a dead body, heading towards one of the corridors.
Rey and Ben
Rey ignited just one end of her lightsaber for quick and easy maneuvering through the narrow corridors of the Xyston destroyer, leading the pack of soldiers against more Sith troopers. At her side was Ben, deflecting laser bolts as well. The two Jedi moved in sync, one protecting the left and the other protecting the right, their blades moving simultaneously and in quick, sharp, slashes.
Ben used the Force to pull one Sith trooper right into his lightsaber, causing a few other remaining Sith troopers to retreat further into the ship. R2 whistled loudly behind the group of soldiers, and Rey heard him clearly.
"We're getting close to the bridge." she repeated for the others to understand.
"They must be holed up there." noted Ben. Rey lifted her wrist, activating her comlink. "Master Junda, are you there?"
"Yes, Rey." replied the old Jedi Master.
"We're coming upon the bridge, have you reached the weapons control center?" asked Rey.
"We're a few halls away from it, there's a lot of troopers down here."
"Alright, let us know when you reach it, stay safe."
"You too."
Rey continued down the hall with Ben at her side, and the Resistance troopers following, and R2-D2 at the very end. The halls were quiet now, with the exception of the air vents blowing cool air into the hall from the ceiling. She was a little nervous, not too sure what to expect on the bridge. Hopefully it was just some disgruntled admiral or captain from the Sith Eternal Navy.
Leia
"General, I think you should hear this." approached Commander Kaydel Connix on the bridge of the Democratia, with a datapad in her hands. Leia stood at the front of the bridge with Admiral Prentos, watching in silence as her fleet kept the Xyston destroyer still. General Organa turned her head to see the young Commander walk up to her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A transmission that was intercepted from the Sith ship to Serenno moments it was destroyed." said Connix solemnly. She activated the screen and it played an audio message.
"This is Darth Temnateta of the Sith Eternal, Queen of the Sith-" the message faded, "surrender your station or face severe punishment-" Leia's eyes widened slowly. Connix lowered the datapad as the message finished. Her heart began to pound,
"There's a Sith on that ship…" muttered the General.
"I'm going to inform the assault team." said Connix quickly, and Leia shook her head. She lowered her gaze and looked out the side viewport, to the Xyston destroyer. She felt her heart skip a beat, and a tremor in the Force. She reached out to Admiral Prentos, grabbing his forearm for balance.
"General, are you alright?" he asked worriedly. Leia rubbed her forehead,
"Tell the hangar to get a shuttle ready for me. I need to get on that destroyer." she looked into the large gray eyes of the pale white Mon Calamari Admiral. He nodded understandingly, and immediately sent orders to the hangar bay.
Cere and Chewbacca
Cere Junda, Chewbacca, and the fifteen other Resistance soldiers reached the weapons control center of the Xyston-class Star Destroyer, located in its lower levels. It was a very wide room with large windows, giving a wide view of the enormous super laser cannon mounted to the underside of the destroyer. The chamber was completely abandoned, yet the computer systems were still on low power mode. Cere stood at the top of the steps to the room that led down to the computer terminals, and the troopers dispersed to get to work. Chewbacca grumbled nervously as he stood beside Cere at the top of the doorway. Cere looked up at Chewbacca,
"I know… something's not right." she whispered. Cere walked down the steps carefully down to the main level of the chamber, walking past a few of the large computing stations. The troopers were paired in groups of two, each pair working on a single module to shut down the main super laser. Standing at the doorway was just a lone Resistance trooper, keeping guard.
"They seemed to have left all the systems unlocked." noted a Resistance technician, a female human working at the farthest station, near the large windows that looked out to the massive cannon. Cere approached the computer system, the screen was listing thousands upon thousands of command codes and numbers. She squinted, trying to get a better look at it, but her eyes weren't the same as before.
"Shut it down," ordered Cere, "we can figure out why later." Cere stood straight, feeling a chill down her back. Chewbacca roared from behind, and everyone turned to look. A dead body lay over the railing from the main door. The troopers quickly picked up their blasters and aimed at the door. Footsteps echoed down the hall, culminating loudly until a white half-masked woman stood at the railing, pushing the body onto the floor. She looked around at the soldiers, and then at Cere Junda.
"Would you care to show me your invitations?" she asked sarcastically. Chewbacca held up his bowcaster, but right before he fired, the Sith Queen forcibly threw her hands outward, using the Force to push everyone back violently, even smashing the sturdy glass viewport. Chewbacca grabbed onto a chair that was bolted to the floor and caught Cere by her wrist before she was sucked out into outer space. Troopers scrambled and flew up into the air, screaming, some trying to hold onto something, but none could get a firm grasp and were sucked out into the vacuum of space.
The Sith Queen laughed and pushed a button on a small panel on her wrist. The windows sealed shut with heavy durasteel. Chewbacca and Cere both landed on their feet, and Cere looked around. She couldn't believe that all of their troopers were gone, and Chewbacca roared furiously.
The Sith Queen walked down the steps slowly, with a pursed smile on her face, her shoulders loose, and hands firmly behind her back. Chewbacca roared, giving her a threatening warning. She lifted one of her eyebrows, the only one that was visible from the side of her face that wasn't covered. There were a few meters of open space between the three in the control room.
"I haven't fought a Jedi… in years." hissed the Sith Queen. Cere Junda reached for her lightsaber that was on her belt, and held it firmly with both of her hands. She ignited the weapon, and a blue blade emitted from the hilt. It shone brightly and loudly, reflecting off of Cere's determined eyes.
"I've been waiting for a moment to strike down a Sith myself." she said sternly, "I never thought I'd have that honor." Chewbacca immediately activated his comlink, sending a distress signal to the other groups - and the flagship.
"Go, Wookiee." smirked the Sith Queen, "Go tell your friends I am here." Chewbacca glanced at Cere, she wasn't sure whether or not it was even safe to run around her. Chewbacca remained by Cere's side, with his comlink blinking on his ammunitions sling. The Sith Queen reached to her back, within her cape, and pulled out a golden lightsaber hilt with her right hand, and then a second in her left hand. She ignited both simultaneously, blood red blades pointing at the floor diagonally. She began to take a few steps closer to Cere, and Chewbacca let out a grunt.
"Go, Chewbacca." said Cere firmly, "Get to the hangar." Chewbacca exclaimed at the old Jedi and she shook her head, "Just go, I'll be fine." Chewbacca headed for the door, cautiously, with his eyes and bowcaster pointed at the Sith Queen with each step. Once Chewbacca reached the doorway on the top of the few steps, he aimed his bowcaster at the Sith Queen's head.
Darth Temnateta extended her left hand behind herself, Force pushing Chewbacca down the hall, and shutting the door. Cere heard Chewbacca's roar behind the door, and him pounding on the thick metal. She then smiled at Cere.
Temnateta slid forward with her lightsaber slashing at the floor. She pulled up her blades and clashed against Cere's blue lightsaber in an X formation. The sparking white and yellow light between their clashing weapons shone against the Sith Queen's white mask, and even her yellow eyes. Cere grunted and managed to push her back. Temnateta swung one blade at a time, left, left, right, left, and right again, spinning around to tire the old Jedi.
Cere was remaining steady, blocking each of the Sith's strikes at perfect timing. The Sith Queen tried advancing against Cere, trying to push her closer to the sealed windows, but the elderly Jedi remained still. Cere was able to gain footing in an offensive move, and pushed the Sith back with a two-handed swing of her lightsaber.
"I expected more from a Sith!" remarked Cere, catching her breath as she backed away from the Sith Queen. Temnateta tilted her head,
"You haven't seen anything yet." the Sith bent her legs slightly, crossed her lightsabers and jumped in a spiral fashion at Cere, spinning her blades around her. Cere's eyes widened as the monstrosity of a move came at her, quickly ducking to the side. She groaned as the tip of the Sith's blade slashed at her shoulder blade. Cere nearly fell over, but caught herself on a computer station. Her own lightsaber speared into the computer terminal, causing it to spark brightly and cause the other computers to shut off entirely as well. Cere flinched and looked over her shoulder.
Temnateta stood tall, with her lightsabers still at her sides, staring at Cere.
"Now," said the Sith softly, "you will die." Cere gathered her strength and got up, reigniting her lightsaber.
"You may kill me, but the Jedi will never cease to exist." sneered Cere, swinging her lightsaber at the Sith. Temnateta blocked the blade with one of her lightsabers, and swung her other at Cere. The older Jedi stepped back, blocking the second blow. Cere angled her blade to block Temnateta's strikes, which were coming at a faster rate. Temnateta managed to engage in a lock with Junda.
Junda clenched her jaw tightly as she exerted as much strength as she could to hold back the younger Sith Queen. Temnateta began to smile, seeing the very energy and strength dissipate from within Cere's body.
"I will end all the Jedi…" responded the Sith Queen. A slashing sound came from the door, and Temnateta looked up from Cere. She looked behind the old Jedi, and saw a burning slash across the door. Another one appeared, in an X. Then another, and another, and another until there was an overheated glow to the center of the door. Temnateta backed away.
Cere nearly fell back, and gathered her balance. The door burst open from the center, with sparks of searing hot metal flying into the room. Standing in the doorway was a Togruta, with two blades ignited. She slashed the railing in front of her, and used the Force telepathically to move it aside. She landed down on the main level, and took a few steps towards Cere. Ahsoka's two green lightsabers glowed at her sides as she held them tightly in her hands, she furrowed her bare brows angrily as she looked at Temnateta.
"Wonderful." smiled Temnateta, raising one red lightsaber to point at Ahsoka, "Come at me, Jedi." Ahsoka furrowed her brows and jumped at the Sith Lord, spinning her own lightsabers just as she did before. Cere launched at Temnateta as well, from the side. Temnateta blocked Ahsoka's blows perpendicularly with just one lightsaber, and the other lightsaber blocking Cere's blade. The two Jedi were locked with the Sith Queen, pushing back at her, trying to overpower her. The lightsabers crackled and screeched loudly, and Temnateta began to laugh maniacally.
The Sith Queen pushed both of the Jedi back and swung her two sabers at Ahsoka. Ahsoka ducked and swerved behind the Sith, throwing a heavy swing at her neck. Temnateta blocked Ahsoka's two blades with one of her lightsabers over her head, pointing down at the floor. In front of her, Temnateta held back Cere's blue lightsaber. Ahsoka withdrew her right hand and swung at Temnateta's legs, but the Sith jumped into the air, kicking Ahsoka in the shoulder. Ahsoka stumbled back, nearly losing her balance. Temnateta landed behind Cere, driving her lightsabers like spears towards her. Cere slid to the side, parrying the Sith's blows.
"I'm growing tired of your tricks." hissed Cere.
"So am I." insisted the Sith. She fired lightning at both Cere and Ahsoka. Cere managed to block the lightning with her blade, but Ahsoka was caught off guard, and the lightning shocked both of her lightsabers out of her hands. Cere gasped, but saw that the Togruta was holding back the lightning with her own two hands. Ahsoka grunted and clenched her jaw tightly as she mustered all of her strength with the Force in absorbing the electricity. Temnateta laughed again, and whilst keeping one hand of lightning on Ahsoka, swung her other blade at Cere.
Cere wasn't steady and knocked over onto the floor. Temnateta then focused both of her hands on Ahsoka, her index and ring fingers pointed out at the Togruta from the grasps of her gold lightsabers. Temnateta took a step forward, sending a powerful shockwave of energy at the Ahsoka. Ahsoka slid back a few inches, breathing heavily. She began to close her eyes, feeling her strength leave her body with each passing second.
"I will bring a swift end to the Jedi once and for all!" roared the Sith Queen. Ahsoka opened her eyes, seeing the Sith's eyes glare bright yellow, and a dark circle beginning to form beneath her right eye. Her cheek was starting to sink inward, and a wrinkle appeared at the corner of her mouth. She let out a roar and sent another shockwave at Ahsoka, pushing her off her feet entirely. Ahsoka slammed up against the window shields, and slid onto the floor. Temnateta caught her breath and lowered her hands. The life force of both Jedi were disappearing… and quickly.. The comlink on her wrist started to flare and beep rapidly, she needed to escape… and quickly. Temnateta ran for the door and deactivated her lightsabers.
Leia's old Lambda shuttle landed inside the hangar of the Xyston Star Destroyer, in front of the two Resistance troop carriers. Upon the ramp of the ship unfolded, more Resistance soldiers poured out, guarding the way for the General herself to get off the shuttle. Leia walked down the ramp quickly, but slowed down upon seeing all the dead bodies scattered across the floor, including all the dead Sith troopers. She kept on walking through the hangar, with the thirty troopers surrounding her.
"General, that's no normal TIE." noted a heavily armored soldier, and Leia looked to where he was pointing. There was a larger and more intimidating looking fighter in the hangar… the one that had to belong to the Sith.
"General - General Organa." there was a static voice coming from Leia's comlink on her wrist, and she held it up,
"Yes, Admiral?"
"We're detecting First Order ships coming their way, I suggest you evacuate immediately."
"W-what? First Order ships?" Leia turned around and looked outside the hangar. She stared at the blackness of space, only seeing the underside of the MC80 that had ambushed the Xyston.
Rey and Ben
"We've got control of the shields, but there seems to be something preventing us from taking control of the sublight thrusters." said a Twi'lek engineer, who was working on the bridge of the Xyston destroyer, with the dozen other Resistance troopers, and Rey and Ben. Rey and Ben stood at the front of the bridge with the engineer. Ben had his arms crossed, and stared out the viewport of the ship; seeing the MC85 off in the distance, protecting the planet Telos.
"Maybe they've hardwired a security restraint in there before abandoning ship." said Rey, looking at the control console with the Twi'lek male. The screen kept flashing red in color, and depicting an image of a key-lock.
"We've got another problem." called out a trooper at another module, "Incoming First Order ships." Rey looked up out the window, but didn't see anything.
"When?" asked Rey, bluntly, shaking her head.
"There," said Ben. Rey turned to look out the viewport once more. Between the front of the Xyston destroyer and the MC85 appeared a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, and it wasn't alone. Another First Order destroyer entered the star system, right above the bridge of the Xyston, and then a third.
Rey ran up to the windows, looking up as far as she could see. There were two Resurgent destroyers above the Sith destroyer, and another one below. The MC85 warship began taking evasive maneuvers as one of the Resurgents opened fired on the Resistance vessel. The massive Mon Cal cruiser tilted and veered away from the battle, raising its rear shields, and began deploying more X-wings and A-wings.
"We need to get out of here." said Ben, walking up to Rey.
"No, we can get this ship under our control and change the tide of the battle." insisted Rey. She rushed over to the rest of the soldiers that were on the lower level of the deck, trying to get the ship's subsystems online. Rey nearly fell over into the lower level from explosions outside the ship. Ben caught her, and looked out the viewport.
One of the Resurgent destroyers was opening fire at the Xyston, sending volleys of green heavy turbolaser fire up along its hull and command tower. Explosions ricketed right outside the bridge, metal exploding and creaking. The shields weren't even up.
"We've lost the shield generators." informed a Resistance soldier. Rey looked desperately at Ben, and then back at the soldiers that were staring at her, waiting for command.
"We need to get out of here, back to the hangar."
Leia
Chewbacca desperately hugged Leia as he reunited with her in the hangar of the Xyston-destroyer, with the sounds of explosions booming off in the distance as the First Order fleet continued to bombard the captured Xyston. Little by little, surviving Resistance soldiers were making their way back to Leia and the other troop carriers.
"Where's Cere and Ahsoka?" asked Leia, looking up at Chewbacca. The Wookiee grumbled nervously and tilted his head.
"Look out!" screamed a female soldier, catching Leia's and Chewbacca's attention. At the other end of the hangar, a red lightsaber spun in the air, stabbing a Resistance officer. The Duros officer fell to the ground, and the troopers scattered, yet readied their blasters. Leia took a few steps forward, seeing a white masked woman dart into the room, using the Force to retract her saber from the corpse. She stood tall, and stared out at the Resistance forces… seeing Leia. Leia took a step away from Chewbacca, out into the open space of the hangar. Chewbacca roared nervously.
"Maker, how many are there of you?" asked the half-masked woman, the Sith Queen.
"You must be Darth Temnateta," spoke Leia loudly, "the Sith Queen."
"I didn't think I'd have the honor of meeting the Princess of Alderaan herself." smirked Temnateta, pursing her lips. She took out her second lightsaber and ignited it, holding them both close to her sides. Leia slowly reached inside her long vest, taking out her own lightsaber. The General held her finger over the ignition switch, pointing the blade at the floor.
"I didn't think I'd have to fight such wretched villainy at this point in my life - but the Galaxy's wonders never ceases to surprise me." Leia ignited her lightsaber, the hilt shooting out her bright blue blade. The Resistance soldiers slowly and carefully began to surround both Leia and the Sith Queen, pointing their blasters at her. Chewbacca held out his heavy bowcaster, and roared.
Temnateta winked at Chewbacca, and launched at Leia. Leia held her lightsaber to her far right and used her left hand to Force-push the Sith out of the air. Temnateta flipped backwards, yet landed on her feet. Her white and brown hair was messy across the side of her face, and she growled as she looked up at Leia.
"Stun her!" ordered Leia. The Resistance troopers began firing their blasters, sending blue rings of energy at the Sith. Temnateta began to run, spinning her lightsabers at her sides to absorb the stun bolts - running directly at Leia. Leia cocked back her blue lightsaber with her right hand and swung as hard as she could at the Sith Queen, blocking both of her lightsabers. The troopers shot at Temnateta and she was hit by the blue rings on her back. She grunted and she nearly lost her balance. She pushed Leia back and used the Force to push away a couple Resistance troopers.
A few more rings hit Temnateta and she nearly fell forward. Leia swung her lightsaber heavily at the Sith Queen, and Temnateta could barely keep up now. She was feeling the effects of the stun. The Sith Queen fell forward onto her knees and Leia swung down as hard as she could. Temnateta's lightsabers screeched as she swung at Leia and the two blades swiped at one another.
"I will not fall to the likes of you!" screamed the Sith Queen. She held out her hands and fired lightning at Leia and all of the troopers surrounding her. Leia took a few steps back, blocking the lightning with her saber, hearing the screams of the other troopers that were being electrocuted. Temnateta got up onto her feet and focused all of her energy on Leia.
"Neither will I." grunted Leia fiercely. Temnateta's skin began to turn far paler than before, and her eyes glowed a brighter yellow than before. She sent a shockwave of electricity at Leia, nearly causing her to stumble back. The Sith Queen took the opening, jumping over Leia, and running to the open hangar. There were Sith TIEs whisking past the Xyston, and she ran for the openness of space.
Leia looked over her shoulder, watching in exhaustion and complete surprise as the woman leapt out of the hangar, and into outer space. Temnateta held out her hand and caught the wing of a Sith fighter, quickly being whisked away.
Leia looked around, seeing all the dead bodies on the floor of the hangar. Explosions continued to ricochet all around her on the Sith destroyer. She put her lightsaber away and rubbed her forehead.
"Master!" called out Rey from the other end of the hangar. Rey ran up to her Jedi Master, hugging Leia. Ben was with her, and so was Cere and Ahsoka. The older Jedi Masters were tired and drained… visibly by the looks in their eyes, and Cere could barely stand on her own. Ahsoka held Cere by her arm, giving her balance as they all got to the troop transport. Chewbacca was already in the ship, roaring anxiously as he powered up the ship.
...
Rey and Leia stood at the end of the transport, right near the ramp as it closed and sealed. The two just stared at the gray wall of the ship, feeling the ship take off and blast out of the hangar. Ben approached the two and placed his hand on his mother's shoulder.
"This wasn't a good idea…" muttered Leia, "So many people died…"
"We are going to find her, and finish her." said Ben firmly.