Good afternoon, everyone! How are you all holding up in these difficult and dangerous times, especially on the night of Friday, March 27, 2020? I'm doing okay, but I have some bad news. As of this Monday night, my state of North Carolina will be placed under lockdown per order of the governor. I imagine it's the same with plenty of other states, and I just dread what comes next. We all need to pray for a swift end for this virus, and a return to normalcy as soon as possible. So, in better news, I finished my book that featured a spiritual aspect of the coming 2020 Election and began Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno, already finishing about half of the book in about 24 hours. And, I watched the latest episode of SWTCW: Season Seven today, and I will say that it's better than the last one. I just hope the last two episodes get better from here, and I look forward to the Siege of Mandalore. And I finished Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood a night or two ago, and then began Assassin's Creed: Revelations: The Lost Archive. So, I feel I need to remind you that I will have to slow down my writing a bit for the time being, so I can let my friends focus on their own works, and my interlude chapters. Sorry, but I don't think they'll be done anytime soon unless I take the appropriate measures. Well, I'd better get started on the chapter. I just hope I can make it long enough, and plenty of plot material. Wish me luck, and God be with us all in these scary times.
(Saturday, March 28, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this warm day? I'm doing well, and I wrote about 1,500 words by this point in the story today, bringing my total to about three thousand. Of course, I will need to work on my essay tomorrow, and that'll take a good deal of time. In other news, I'm excited for more great fanfictions being updated soon, and I'll enjoy reading them. So, I'm hoping that this chapter will be at least eight thousand words long, so I can give my friends time to work on other chapters of mione and their own words. Man, I sometimes feel that I'm going stir crazy now with the virus running amok, but what can a guy do? Oh, and I ought to let you know that I'm gonna include bits and pieces from drafts of future chapters that I had planned for later on. Well, I'd better get back to writing. Wish me luck.
(Sunday, March 29, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. How are you all doing on this hot day? I can't believe that it's only the end of March, and it's already in the low-80s. How crazy is that? So, I've written about 700 words so far today, and I still have a few hours left in the day to write. Sorry, but I had homework to worry about, and I went walking with my mom for about an hour, so I had to budget my time accordingly. In other news, I finished Assassin's Creed: Revelations: The Lost Archive, and I feel terrible for both Clay and Lucy, for they both got ruined by the Templars in different ways, and I wish that Lucy could have been redeemed in the franchise. A real shame how it all went down. Well, back to writing, as I will be having a delicious dinner soon, and then I might have to mow my parents' backyard. Wish me luck.
(Monday, March 30, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm day? I'm doing well, as I exercised a bit, did a bit of schoolwork, and am relaxing a bit before dinner. In better news, several of my favorite fanficitons had been updated over the last eighteen hours, and the updates were sheer genius. They were Iron117Prime's Worlds Collige: The Ninja Tribunal Saga, xxTheTruMan196's Legacy of Jarik V5: Rebirth, and Lord Exar Kun's Star Wars: Arda Unleashed. I highly recommend them to all of you. Well, I'd better get back to writing, as I still have a long way to go in this chapter. Wish me luck, and please pray for everyone in these difficult times.
Meanwhile, Onboard the Lucrehulk-class Battleship Lawful Bane
"How're our allies progressing in this little skirmish?" Nym asked one of his top lieutenants, Mere Sol Sixxa; chuckling as he witnessed the many explosions streaking through space.
"They're holding their own on almost every front, and Skywalker's wreaking havoc across the enemy's ranks. But we received an emergency transmission from General Syndulla. The enemy's located the Katana Flagship, and they're sending parties to take it. He's requesting both us and Slayke send teams to help secure it."
"How many?"
"A few capital ships as an escort, and a few customized freighters, but the real threat are the drop ships. About a dozen modified Droch-class boarding ships are among the convoy, and we both know how dangerous they are."
Nym remembered the Separatists' boarding craft all too well from the many attacks on his ships. He resolved, "Well, if the Imps want a fight, then we'll just have to make sure they get one. One that'll give them way more than just a bloody nose."
He turned to his comms officer, "Have my crew prepare the Havoc for my arrival. I'l be landing the response force, personally. You're in charge of the fleet until I get back."
"You sure about this? The Imps'll instantly recognize your ship from their databanks and wreak devastation down on all your bases."
"Yeah, as if they don't know already." Nym jested, before seriously adding, "If we lose that dreadnaught, then we lose the rest of the Katana Fleet, and that is unacceptable for any of us, considering that our success is tied up in theirs from this point on. Besides, I haven't repelled a boarding in years, and could use a good adrenaline rush."
Sol chuckled at his friend's unchanging love of battle and excitement. "Then make sure not to lose another hand this time."
"Clever, Sixxa. Real clever!" Nym rebutted before heading down to the hangar where his personal ship was berthed.
Five Minutes Later
Within the Lothal System
On Lothal, Within the Capital City
In the Governor's Office
"You're certain of this shipment?" Wullf furiously demanded from the Lothal Governor and New Republic spy Ryder Azadi. He shared the Director's disgust at the Imperial alliance with the Pryce family and mining company, who were already making their first major shipment of lightsaber crystals and slaves intended for Bahl'al's Tython facility.
"Completely, Director. The shipment is set to go to Garel to fuel up for the journey in six days, along with a few hundred 'indentured servants' and their families for unspecified construction projects. Once it jumps to hyperspace, it'll be impossible to predict the path it'll take. You'll have to liberate within the system."
He then added, "It might also be an opportune way to insert your team inside Lothal ahead of schedule."
"Agreed. I'll advance the timetable accordingly, and alert High Command of this opportunity. It'll be too big a target to ignore. The team will leave tomorrow and await outside the system for your clearance codes to enter unopposed. You have the New Republic's thanks for discovering this shipment, Governor."
Wullf ended the communication, leaving Ryder to contemplate the sharp turn to darkness Lothal had taken ever since the Empire rose to power. Conscription, ecological devastation, economic stagnation through corruption, and now the sanctioning of Pryce operations in the slave trade were just the start.
The complete lack of moral regard for their people, planet and sector was part of a horrific cancer that was slowly sinking its claws within many of its citizens. Only a few brave souls dared to stem the tide and restore the Republic and Jedi to their former glory. That was why Ryder was taking the risks he did, such as covering the Bridger family's tracks and protecting pro-Republic sympathizers or even preserving the Jedi artifacts that had belonged to his friend, Antron Bach; executed by the Inquisitorious.
Deep down, though, he knew he and his world were living on borrowed time. Only the sudden declaration of the New Republic and the revival of the Jedi Order, provided any real hope for the galaxy. But that hope would only come when the people themselves stood up for themselves. He didn't know what the Empire wanted with his world, or what the New Republic would do to stop them.
He didn't really care. He wanted his home back. He only hoped he lived long enough for that day to come, and that his fellow Lothians would survive the terrible trials to come before their world was liberated.
Eight Minutes Later
Within the Katana Fleet System
Within the Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser Katana's Main Cargo Hold
"Ready weapons, everyone! Enemy incoming!" Jesse warned everyone as the first enemy dropships-three Droch boarding pods left over from the Clone War-prepared to empty their hold.
Comming Rex from his position, the captain inquired, "I don't suppose out reinforcements are on the way for a miraculous rescue?"
Rex quickly answered, "They're cutting off what enemy ships they can, and are deploying troops to support us, but the worst-case scenario won't have us getting ground support for another twenty minutes. Echo's getting the first six walkers into position, and the other four are gonna be ready in two minutes, max. Until then, we'll just have to hold out on our own, and hope that Nym and the rest of the reinforcements arrive."
Not even a minute later, the first wave of Stormtroopers and Zann Consortium mercenaries disembarked and took up positions to begin opening fire on the twelve marines.
"Spread out! Don't give them an easy target!" Jesse ordered his squad before dropping a Stormtrooper and a Sullustan mercenary with headshots.
Meanwhile, Within Hangar One
"Hmm. The ssscent of fear is in the air, and it ssssmells good." Bossk gleefully hissed as he exited the Hound's Tooth. He uttered a prayer to his goddess, the Scorekeeper, for a glorious hunt and many Jagannath points today.
"If you're done with your prayer, we've got a dreadnaught to secure, and very little time to accomplish the objective." Imperial Special Forces Commander Rahn Edao chided the Trandoshan. "Our three other boarding parties are meeting heavy opposition from the New Republic forces, and we have learned that the Feeorin pirate lord Nym is personally leading a task force to eliminate us."
"Then let's sssstop with the idle briefings and get right to the job at hand. Just be sure not to sssstick to the plan, and not lose your head from the diversion. Time to get down to business."
Meanwhile, Within the Rishi Maze
Within the Kamino System
On Kamino
Within Tipoca City
"You wish us to rebuild the Stereb's population?" Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su repeated after hearing Darth Bahl'al's commission.
"Precisely. Your cloning facilities are perhaps the best in the galaxy, and this offer will grant you a ten-year contract with us with two trillion credits. This is an economic boon for your people since the Empire shifted towards conscription and recruitment."
The Kaminoan groaned at being reminded of that. He would never forgive Palpatine for that treachery, especially since Bahl'al had politely omitted the Empire's use of inferior Spaarti Clones. Faster gestation or not, there was no substituting perfection.
Bahl'al continued, "I have a down payment of thirty billion credits from the Emperor himself to requisition several of your most prominent scientists, equipment, and your accumulated cloning data on certain individuals and species. Those will be for two other rather important projects for the Empire."
"This is a most generous offer, Lord Bahl'al." Lama sighed. "I will have to confer with the Ruling Council. I should have the answer for you by the day's end."
"Thank you for your time, Prime Minister. I hope this can be the resumption of a long and beneficial relationship between our peoples." Bahl'al concluded before ending his transmission, and Lama turned to his shrouded holographic contact through a secure Kaminoan channel.
"It seems the Empire is in need of our services once again. Perhaps your precautionary measures will not be necessary after all."
"Do not be foolish or sentimental, Prime Minister Su," the encrypted hologram replied, "we cannot trust the Empire a second time. Once, they drove us into near bankruptcy when they severed our military contracts and vastly prohibited our available markets. We lost face, we lost prestige. We were forced to take on humiliating work such as cloning organs and livestock and feed seeds, and that saw our profit margins drop to unsatisfactory levels."
"You do not need to remind me."
"Perhaps I do. Once, we were respected and even feared for our work on the Clone Army. Now, we are looked upon as 'has-beens.' Who needs Kaminoan perfection when you can flash clone with Spaarti tech? Disgusting."
"But surely this is a sign of trust on their part."
"Is it? This reeks of desperation, Minister, not trust. Make no mistake; we are making supplementary forces, and those supplements will only be required for so long. Eventually, the Empire will sever their ties with us, and by then our reputation will be shot. We are living on borrowed time."
"But there is money to be made from this contract."
"Yes," the hologram conceded, "and that buys us time."
"Time for what, exactly?"
"To reconsider our options. If the Empire will not expand our contracts, and the New Republic refuses to even look at them, then we must make our own opportunities."
Lama looked crossly at him, "You reached out to the New Republic without informing me?"
"Not directly, through proxy. But it is clear that they are idealists holding grudges. They blame us for the fall of the Old Republic and the Jedi. Which is why I am going to make a proposal for Operation Reclamation to the council."
Lama Su's eyes widened, "You're talking about directly selling Clone Troopers to warzones."
"And installing new frontier governments, or at the very least supporting friendly ones. We provide the manpower, they provide the credits, and the inevitable wars will deliver us back our reputation. You cannot deny that will gain us back our power in the long run."
Lama Su shook his head wearily, "I can't, but we likewise cannot be seen doing this! The Empire will enslave us if they did."
"Which is why you'll exile others and myself on account of our misconduct. We will be the middlemen and facilitate the transactions."
Lama sighed in deep regret that the future of his people was at such a crossroads as having to lose some of their best scientists and economists. "Very well. You have my support."
Bowing beneath their hood, the unseen representative gratefully thanked the leader, "Thank you, Prime Minister. I promise that you will not regret this decision."
"See that we do not, or it will be on all of our heads." Lama warned the Kaminoan economist as her transmission ended, leaving the prime minister to wonder whether he did the best thing for his people, or only accelerated their doom.
Five Minutes Later
Onboard the Katana
Within the Bridge
Jesse commed Rex over the roar of the battle, "Echo's reporting that you've got a team of bounty hunters and Imperial Commandos charging towards your position, and two squads are breaking off to support them."
"Don't worry. We'll be ready for them. As soon as you're done mopping up the enemy forces, link up with the force in the engine room, and then join us in the bridge." Rex ordered him, before turning to Adrina, "Have the walkers in Sectors Two and Eight break off and try to intercept the enemy force before they make it to the bridge."
"Right." The woman complied, before she heard the monitor's systems activate, "Well, it's about karking time! We've finally got all systems reporting green across the board, Colonel. Engines, shields, heavy weapons, internal defenses, you name it, they're all under our command."
"Well, that changes things! Nice work!" Rex commended her before ordering, "All squad leaders, get your men to a secure location. We've got full control of the ship, so I'm locking down all enemy-infested areas on the ship to buy us some more time, and then I'll set the ship's internal defenses down on them to thin their ranks. And just for good measure, I'll open the vacuum on Hangar One to cut off their escape route."
"Copy that." The squad leaders complied.
"You sure you want to use that last plan, Sir?" Adrina hesitated. "Not that I'm complaining about getting rid of those scum, but we'd lose their ships and all their top of the line gear in the process, gear I'm sure your government can put to good use for its own agents."
"Why don't we just knock them all out with a couple added elements mixed into the oxygen supply and we can take them prisoner? I figure the New Republic could use all the intel it can get on the Empire and its vassals."
"That won't work on the Imperials. Their armor has built-in filters designed against chemical attacks. But it would work against Zann's goons. Can you pull that off in five minutes?"
"I can do it in three." Adrina smirked before typing away on a console.
"Good. And warn Nym and his teams to bring gas masks if they come onboard."
Two Minutes Later
Within the Mess Hall
"I don't like this, Bossk. The enemy's retreating too fast and giving up too much ground for my liking. I'm sure they're herding us into a trap." Patrolian bounty hunter Robonino warned his fellow mercenary.
"I believe your associate is correct." Rahn grimly chimed in. "My teams are reporting that the ship's systems are all coming online, and several blast doors are cutting off their movement in any direction."
Bossk, however, was not listening to his allies' warnings. He was sniffing something off in the ventilation system's recycled oxygen, and quickly recognized the newly added elements being filtered into the artificial air.
"We need to move. The enemy's trying to knock us out with a homemade version of sssstun gas." The Trandoshan warned them.
"Commander, you know the layout of the dreadnaughts better than any of us. You know the quickest route to get us to the bridge?"
Seeing where the bounty hunter was going with this, Rahn nodded, and ordered his teams, "All units, the enemy's filtering stun gas into the ventilation system. If you can break out of the enemy's makeshift prison, rendezvous with us at the bridge to secure the ship."
Meanwhile, In Anakin's TIE Advanced x1
"Copy that, Syndulla. That's another eight dreadnaughts in our control." Anakin informed the Twi'lek before the eight Katana Fleet Dreadnaughts withdrew to hyperspace, bringing the New Republic's total to eighty-eight, while the Empire, with Black Sun committing its entire fleet to the disgraced Moff Mors, currently managed to take possession of seventy-five in total.
With his stolen TIE Fighter, the redeemed man had managed to destroy enough fighters to fully empty two Star Destroyers' complement, and half a dozen escort craft from both of the Empire's underworld allies. But the enemy was still pushing forward, and claiming many dreadnaughts at an accelerated pace, quickly closing the gap between the two galactic governments.
"We're running out of dreadnaughts to liberate, Skywalker, and the Empire's gonna catch up to us soon. If things keep escalating like this, I think we'll have to consider destroying the unclaimed ships soon."
"I hate to concede defeat before the battle's over, but General Syndulla may be right. Better to cut our losses and destroy what we can't claim than lose any more ships to the Empire." Nick reluctantly agreed.
Zozridor protested. "I can't believe what I'm hearing! We can't concede here, gentlemen. I'm not gonna let this precious relic of the Old Republic fall into the hands of scum like Black Sun and the Empire, or simply destroy it just for convenience!"
"Slayke, we can't stay bogged down here forever!" Cham reprimanded the idealistic privateer. "The Empire has another larger and deadlier fleet on the way less than eighteen hours out. Either we come up with a miracle fast to turn the tide of this battle, or we end it here and now on our terms."
"Then I say we teach the Empire a lesson it won't soon forget, and literally have their plans blow up in their faces." Sol began. "They're close to starting up another ten dreadnaughts while closing in on another five that we'll never reach in time from our current position. But they're still linked up to the flagship, which we still have control of. We can have the dreadnaughts self-destruct when they get close enough and keep them out of their hands."
Anakin agreed, "That'll give us time to regroup and seize a few more ships before we pull out. I'll comm Rex to give him the plan, then I'll see if I can swing over to his position to help him and his men repel the boarders."
Quickly contacting Rex to inform him of the change of plans, he could feel his old friend's well-hidden anxiety as he listened intently, and he promised, "We'll get it done, General, but it'll be close. The enemy's closing in on the bridge, and I don't know how long the inner defenses will hold."
"Don't worry, Rex. You've got Nym and his band of reinforcements about to reach your position, and I'll be joining him as soon as I can."
"Negative, General. You'll never make it in time, and the fleet needs you out here to help keep the enemy off our recovery teams. Besides, we can handle them just fine once Nym arrives." Rex declined the offer.
"All right. Just stay alive, old friend."
Five Minutes Later
Onboard the Katana
Within Hangar Two
"Well, nice of the Empire and their stooges to give us a good welcoming party, boys!" Nym enthusiastically shouted amidst the screams of blaster fire as he fired away at the enemy with his customized GAR blaster rifle, before he pulled out a grenade from his pouch.
Quickly priming it before he threw it right in the middle of the force, it detonated not even two seconds after landing, and blew away the center of the Imperial's formation, allowing the New Republic force to advance and gun down several recovering enemies.
There would be no prisoners taken in this battle, for the stakes on this ship were too high for any risk of an insurrection within this crucial vessel.
"All right, the hangar's clear, boss." A Mere commando reported.
"So I noticed," Nym commented, "Team Three, remain here and secure our ships. Teams Five and Six, help the New Republic sweep the ship clean of intruders. Everyone else, we're heading to the bridge. That's where the battle will be decided. Everyone needs to keep a close eye on your respirators and oxygen levels. No telling how long this makeshift gas will last."
Five Minutes Later
Just Outside the Bridge
"How long until that door's open, bounty hunter? Two of my squads aren't responding to my hails, and that pirate Nym has entered the ship. We're running out of time." Rahn urged Robonino. Both squads of Imperials and bounty hunters had taken several casualties from the Katana's internal defenses.
"Will you cool your jets? I just need another thirty seconds to override the lockdown, and we'll be in." The diminutive mercenary groaned as he finished his rewiring of the ray shield-enforced durasteel doors that led directly to the bridge.
"Commander, Hunter Bossk! We've got company!" A commando warned the two leaders before they turned to see two AT-PTs quickly approaching them from a hundred meters dead ahead and prepared to open fire on their exposed enemies.
"I'll take care of this." Bossk calmly said as he took out his sniper rifle, carefully aiming to hit just ahead of the walkers' path.
"Bulls-eye." He smirked before he finalized his trajectory and fired several grenades to the ground. These detonators exploded just as the walkers' legs stepped on them, and completely obliterated the vehicles and their pilots.
"Nicely done, Bossk. I can see why Zann wanted you on his payroll." Rahn reluctantly thanked him before Robonino's datapad pinged, "Get ready for anything, men."
As the ray shields deactivated, followed by the doors slowly sliding open, the Imperials and mercenaries parpared to enter the bridge, instead seeing several blaster bolts emerge, catching an unprepared commando and mercenary right in their chests, while the rest scattered to avoid making a single target.
"Remember, check your aim, and set for stun! We can't risk damaging the equipment!" Rahn reminded the teams before taking point on the battle alongside Bossk.
From what Rahn could gather, the Empire's final obstacle from securing the Katana flagship was approximately twelve New Republic soldiers and half a dozen scavengers. Still, the enemy did not have to beat them back here, just hold them off until Nym's reinforcements arrived. If that happened, it would be an unacceptable loss for the Empire.
Something drastic would have to be done if this was to be resolved quickly.
But for once, Bossk was one step ahead of Rahn. Ordering Robonino to toss him a minature sonic grenade, he shared a look with the commando, who nodded in approval before the Trandoshan threw it straight into the bridge.
But before the grenade could detonate, what appeared to feel like an electromagnetic pulse descended through the area and deactivated everyone's weapons. Rahn heard a woman gratefully say, "Thank you, Echo."
Bossk suddenly laughed. "Those idiots shut down all of their weapons, and they're completely vulnerable," he drew his hunting knives, "time for slaughter."
"Wait. Take the leader alive!" Rahn tried before the bounty hunters charged in, and he quietly groaned at their lack of discipline.
Rex saw the bounty hunters charging in, and warned Adrina, "We've got five minutes. If this plan fails, you're dead."
"And when it works, you owe me a thousand credits." The scavenger gloatingly reminded the Clone Colonel before she stood up, and with a gesture from her hand telekinetically pulled both knives from Bossk's hands before throwing one to Rex.
"She's a Jedi!" A commando exclaimed.
"Not quite. I'm just a self-trained mercenary with a few extra gifts." Adrina corrected the Imperial, before ordering her friends, "Why don't we show these party crashers just how we handle unwanted guests?"
Four members of her team pulled out various hand-to-hand weapons, ranging from vibroswords to Electrostaffs, and quickly reactivated the weapons before they charged at the enemy, while the last one pulled out eight blaster pistols from her backpack, and used the diversion to distribute the blasters to the closest marines. They quickly loaded the weapons with their tibanna cannisters and took aim at the enemies.
"I'm gonna enjoy tearing you apart, Jedi!" Bossk growled before he noticed Rex attempting to flank him. "You want to die first, clone? Then be my guest."
"Boss, remember the plan!" Robonino scolded him just before he found himself caught in an electrowhip, and quickly shocked into unconsciousness.
Over the next three excrutiating minutes, the tide of the battle quickly turned against the combined Imperial/Zann Consortium force. Two of Bossk's men were electrocuted by a Togorian with her electrostaff. Another bounty hunter was sliced in the stomach by a Falleen male, her guts spilling out onto the floor.
The Imperials saw the battle turning against them, but they could not retreat with the enemy about to surround them. Rahn held his men back. As shameful as that was, he would not lead them into a senseless slaughter just because a moronic bounty hunter wanted glory for his false goddess.
Bossk, on the other hand, was moving too fast for any of the New Republic operatives to get a fix on him, He was determined to go down fighting to the end as he used a blaster rifle as a club to ward off any overreaching enemies and as an added bonus, to break two necks in the process.
Before he could kill anyone else with his bludgeon, he felt the rifle slip out of his grip, and turned to see it move towards a grinning Adrina and Rex.
Snarling, he cracked his knuckles while proclaiming, "No matter. I only need these."
He swiftly charged at the two enemies, swinging out his clawed arms in a sweeping motion to separate them. He grabbed Rex and threw him across the deck. He turned to face Adrina, licking his lips in anticipation.
"Jedi or not, you'll provide me with an excellent final offering for the Scorekeeper."
Not allowing his enemy a witty repartee, he charged at her, only to find her ducking to avoid the clumsy attack. She immediately launched a series of Force-enhanced kicks and jabs against the bounty hunter, knocking him back a few steps from the strength of those blows.
"Not bad. You've got some skills." Bossk admitted. "Now it's my turn to surprise you."
With a swiftness unseen in the Trandoshan, he landed a fierce punch into Adrina's gut, knocking the air out of her before he punched her in the jaw with enough force to knock a couple teeth out of her mouth. Before she could even clutch her jaw from the excruciating pain, she was held up in the air by Bossk's firm grip on her neck.
"You lose." He gloated as New Republic Marines closed in, "Ah. Don't even think about it or the girl dies."
There's no honor in this. Rahn lamented at this hostage situation, every bone in his body urging him to stop this madness, and he was prepared to act on it for both the girl and his crew's survival.
Before he could, Rex rose from his position to throw Bossk's own vibrodagger into his right forearm, eliciting screams of horrific pain from the Trandoshan as he released Adrina while blood gushed out of the open wound.
Taking the opportunity, Rex pulled out one of his blasters and blew out the Trandoshians kneecaps, dropping him while Kix examined Adrina's wounds.
"You're beaten. Surrender." Rex simply ordered Bossk, who whined.
"No! You can't! I can't lose here! I can't be captured, or my Jagganath score will be reduced to zero! I'll have no place in the afterlife!"
"Then you never should've joined up with Zann and the Empire." Rex simply replied.
"If you do any further harm to me, you'll only be making an enemy out of the entire Bounty Hunters' Guild. My father is Cradossk, the guild's leader. He will ssssend an army to avenge my defeat!"
"Then I guess I'll just have to watch my back even more." Rex simply said before he stunned the bounty hunter.
"Well, looks like you kids didn't need my help up here after all. Well, aside for a little mopping up." A blunt deep voice came from the bridge's entrance, and everyone turned to see Nym leaning on the wall while his men held the Imperials at gunpoint.
To everyone's surprise, Rahn calmly uttered, "Commander Nym, I hereby surrender myself and my men to your custody. I expect fair treatment for us in accordance with the Alderaan Conventions."
"And you have my word that you'll get it." Rex promised. "Just be sure you order the rest of your forces to withdraw from the Katana."
"I can convince my troops to evacuate, but I can't promise that Zann's people will follow suit. You may have to kill them all." Rahn honestly warned, before he pulled out his comlink to give the orders. Before he did so, however, he confessed, "I must admit, I would have thought that you'd want all of my soldiers to surrender, given our attack on you and this dreadnaught."
"Neither of us want a bloodbath or a prolonged battle here, and it would only get your men killed by the end of it all. I'm giving you a chance to preserve your honor, and your men's lives."
"Just no tricks, or all bets are off." Nym warned the commando.
Meanwhile, On Vermund
Within Pro Consul Carrick's Mansion
Within the Library
"After we returned from Coruscant from our raid to save our frineds, I set out with my crew to help build the Shadow Alliance. Yeah, I know, a poor ripoff from my brother, and a inadequate name for our government., but it was only temporary. The rest, well, that was a lot of missions and campaigns against the Empire, building strong alliances to prepare for galactic Armageddon, and falling in love and marrying my strong, intelligent, beautiful, and pregnant wife." Tau finished his tale of his brother and his own travelling exploits, to see the astonished looks on both Pro Consuls.
Even Elias and Eltariel had sympathetic looks for Tau after hearing of the ordeals he and Edaan had endured for their own missions, be it a promise Edaan made as a child to redeem Sith Lady Vestara Khai and reunite her with her love, Ben Skywalker; or divine commandments by the first Celestial, Iluvatar, after being sent back decades through time.
Crawford, the first to speak after hearing this incredible tale, turned to Odo, "You find any lies in that tale?"
"None." Odo admitted. "Though it sounds like a folk tale. Love in the darkness and all that," he looked bluntly at Tau, "When do you plan to reveal your true heritage?"
"I honestly don't know." Tau admitted. "With all the chaos erupting, we need to be careful, or we'll make things worse through being brutally honest… if people would believe us, that is. I suppose we'll just have to play it by ear and wait for the right moment."
"Is there really any reason to?" Ventis asked, "All it would do is make you sound like a crazy person."
"A lie in politics can only last so long," Crawford explained, "it doesn't have to be now. Hell, I'd probably wait until the war's over, but it would be best for you to come clean before someone does it for you and does make you sound crazy."
"In the meantime," Ahsoka interjected, "we would be in both of your debt if you kept this a secret until then."
"We'll try, but the security council will need to be informed. There's also the matter of all these intergalactic threats about to drop on us. That information alone is key to securing this alliance, especially with those who hold reservations about it to begin with."
"Let me guess," Obi-Wan sighed, "the Hutts and Mandalorians?"
"Precisely. Regardless of the necessity or any reforms going on, that bad blood runs deep."
Rising from his chair, Odo suggested, "Let us table this discussion until after dinner."
"Thank you, Master Maloy. That would probably be for the best." Ventis said while the group rose to follow the two Pro Consuls to the dining room.
Odo took the time to approach Ventis, and quietly asked him, "Your son is quite spirited. I imagine you must be quite proud of him and the rest of your children."
"Most of them, yes." Ventis acknowledged, hiding his shame of Occisor.
"I understand. We all have some dark shadow of our past." Odo sympathetically said before noticing Elias and Eltariel quietly speaking to each other, and noted, "I will say that Elias chose his future wife well. I can sense a growing bond between the two of them, and I wish them a life of happiness together when they tie the knot."
"That might not be as easy as you think, Master Maloy." Ventis explained. "Eltariel is in a rather difficult situation from past demons, and there's no telling when her personal mission will be completed."
"While I wish to pummel you into oblivion for you and your brother's constant blathering, Ventis Uriel, there is something Elias and I wish to discuss with you about my Nazgûl hunt." Elterial stoically piped up, before mischievously adding, "And you are certainly one to talk about difficult situations, with how Celeste is pining after you."
Ventis raised an eyebrow at the last remark, "Wouldn't pining imply she and I are not in a relationship?"
"Heh, fair enough."
Thirty Minutes Later
Within the Katana System
Onboard the Perilous
"What do you mean, ten dreadnaughts you captured self-destructed?! What did your idiot crews do wrong to cause this disaster?!" Delian exclaimed to the Empire's underworld allies.
Even though the Empire had lost the battle for the Katana and several teams worth of commandos, they had still claimed precisely eighty dreadnaughts to the New Republic's ninety-two, leaving only fifteen still salvageable.
"We did nothing, Moff Mors. The enemy is simply employing more ruthless tactics to keep the dreadnaughts from us." Xizor began, while Tyber finished the explanation.
"Every ship that blew up was still linked to the Katana, and the New Republic used that link to trigger their self-destruct sequence. We were lucky that the crews were able to delay the detonation long enough to escape."
"Then tell me, Zann, how would you proceed from this deadlock?" Trachta asked.
"I believe the solution is obvious, Grand Moff Trachta." Tyber courteously answered the older woman. "If we can't have the last of the dreadnaughts, then we need to make sure the New Republic can't get any more for their own war."
"Agreed. Better to destroy a few dreadnaughts than to lose them to the enemy." The Falleen Underlord concurred. "Do you concur, Moff Mors?"
"As painful as it might be, yes, I do." Delian relented, seeing that this was the only option left in this debacle.
"Very good. Finish destroying the final targets, then retreat to Naboo with the remaining dreadnaughts. While you do so, I will report to the Emperor on your progress." Trachta ordered the three leaders before, seeing a nervous Delian, reassured her, "Do not fear, Moff Mors. You did well today under the circumstances, and I will ensure that you are protected from any negative repercussions by the Emperor."
After the Grand Moff closed the transmission, Delian breathed a sigh of relief she did not even know she was holding, and ordered the two criminal leaders and her communications officer, "Well, you heard our superior. Prepare the remaining Dreadnaughts for hyperspace travel, then recall all our fighters for a strategic retreat, aside from our elite bomber squadrons to eliminate the losse ends."
Nodding in compliance, Tyber and Xizor departed the holotransmission, and Delian prepared to order Aron to help coordinate the withdrawal.
Well, I think that's a good place to end the chapter! So, this is the largest chapter I've written so far in the story, and it only took me five days to write the whole thing. How are you all doing on this warm night of Tuesday, March 31, 2020? I'm doing well, as I had two online classes today, and I think I did well in them. I'm gonna work on some homework tomorrow, and maybe finish Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno and start the main game of Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Both will be promising. I hope that this chapter is done quickly, but I won't hold my breath due to its length, and Squasher and JSailer's own projects and lives. I hope you all are staying safe in these trying times, and I hope to see you all soon. Please be sure to leave a good constructive review. May God be with us all, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
(Friday, April 3, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm night? I'm doing well, as I got this chapter revised just now, and will soon publish it. I am also close to finishing Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Fury, and will soon return to the Kushiel's Legacy Series so I can take a break from Star Wars for a bit. I have also begun working on the first chapter in another arc further down the line in my storyline, so I'll take a break from writing Ch. 23 to work on that one. It will also have an added bonus of giving Squasher and JSailer time to work on their own works, and on my 2nd Tau/Ahsoka chapter and character interludes. And, I've been playing a bit of the main storyline Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and it's a good game. Well, I'd better get ready for bed soon, as I have a busy day tomorrow with some homework and yardwork. On another note, please pray for my brother, as he's in a bit of a difficult situation due to the Coronavirus pandemic. I really hope he bounces back soon. May God be with us all.
