CHAPTER XXIV

STAR DESTROYER DUEL

THIRD PERSON-VILLERIA

As Villeria led the Cosmos and the Adherence through Hydian Way, she sparred with Captain Wallop. While she and Wallop sparred, she felt that she had faced many powerful adversaries, but she'd always used either her pistols or her rifle depending on what the situation was. Although she used the electrostaff before on Kamino, she felt she still didn't have much experience with her new weapon. After an hour, their spar ended in a draw with having her staff aimed at Wallop's chest and Wallop with his sword against her neck.

Eight hours later, Villeria just reached the deck right before the bridge when sergeant Kace burst through, a look of alarm in his eyes.

"What is it, Kace?"

"We got Star Destroyers, three of them, coming our way."

"Get the gunners to their stations and the crews to their fighters! Tell Captain Wallop to prepare for Imperial boarding parties and prepare 2500 men to board the enemy command ship."

"Yes, general."

Villeria then turned to her astromech, K11-Z3, and said, "K11, prep my fighter for launch."

K11 made a Blip-beep-beep sound that translated as "Right away!"

Eighteen minutes and twice as many seconds later, Villeria jumped and hit the deck before an Imperial boarding ship smashed through the ceiling above her!

The moment Villeria got back on her feet, she drew her electrostaff and one of her pistols. As Villeria retreated to take cover behind a corner, she fired her blaster and downed eight stormtroopers of the boarding party before the rest of the troops, twenty in total, were right on top of her. She then killed a stormtrooper with her electrostaff by fatally shocking his heart, rolled to dodge a blastershot, shocked the shooter, heal-kicked another in the diaphragm, then electrocuted two Terror Troopers simultaneously.

She then rolled and began to run from the remaining enemies, but not before throwing one of her bombs to both buy her time and take out six more enemy soldiers.

The moment Villeria rounded the fifty-sixth hallway, blaster bolts flying passed her, she regrouped with ten of her troops and readied them.

Twelve seconds later, Villeria's ten pursuiters rounded the corner, only to be gunned down by the ten clones Villeria linked up with. Villeria then ordered the troops to cover her as she made her way in haste to the hangar where the fighters were docked.

Unfortunately, when Villeria got to the hangar, she saw heavy fighting as the clones attempted to repel the enemy. Although Villeria did manage to dodge multiple enemies, twenty-three had engaged her individually before she got to her z-wing.

As soon as Villeria launched from the hangar, she saw several dogfights all around her. She saw a z-wing take down a TIE fighter with its turbo-lasers and destroy a TIE Interceptor with three proton torpedos; eventually, she was engaged by a trio of TIE fighters.

As the three TIE fighters chasing fired at her, she managed to take out a TIE bomber that she suspected was targeting the Soul.

When Villeria made a sharp right turn, she saw that she was heading straight for the enemy command ship. She then decided to allow the fighters to get close enough that, should she turn at the last second, the enemy fighters would be too late to turn and crash right into the Star Destroyer in under a second. As soon as she was six inches away from crashing into the Star Destroyer, she made a sharp left, though the fighters chasing her failed to turn and crashed into the ship as she'd anticipated.

When Villeria landed in the enemy hangar, she saw that her troops had captured it. The moment Villeria exited her fighter, she slumped against it and began shaking off the dizziness in her head. Groaning as she stood up, Villeria began advancing through the hallways of the Star Destroyer to the bridge.

As Villeria walked through the hallways of the enemy vessel, she heard small skirmishes in some areas and loud fighting in others.

Five hours later, Villeria finally reached the door to the ship's bridge.

Fortunately, Villeria only saw two Scout Troopers guarding the door. Drawing her two pistols, gunned down both troops at the same time.

The moment Villeria and the seven troops accompanying her entered the bridge, they saw a figure in black and blue armor flanked by six officers on either side and holding what appeared to be a double-bladed vibrosword. Villeria knew that this was either an Imperial officer who had a different taste in battle attire or a bounty hunter, assassin, or mercenary the Empire probably hired at some point.

The helmet covered figure turned around and, in a masculine tone, said, "General Villeria Fraes. I recognized the sound of your blasters from the other side of that door."

Villeria scoffed and said, "I'm surprised you're not afraid of me. You've probably heard of what happened on Vanqor because of me."

"I do not fear you… Because of the reputation you've gained. The deadlier the threat to the Empire, the bigger the bounty that goes to the one who ends it. You alone are worth 500'000 credits for your doings on Vanqor."

"I assure you bounty hunter, you won't get your reward without a fight!"

"Not in a firefight at least," the man said before removing his helmet, revealing an olive-skin face clean-shaven except for a half-inch long goatee and a blonde, short-haired head, "but in single combat."

"Challenge accepted."

"My ancestors were amongst the Mandalorian clan Amanax. I am Forgos Amanax."

"Pleasure."

Amanax then handed his helmet to one of the men to his right.

"And our terms for the losing duelist?"

"Hmm?"

"Whenever my people challenge another to a duel, there are terms for the end of the contest."

"Well then, your men surrender the ship."

"Your ships, the soldiers within them, the officers, and the pilots still fighting outside may leave. Those men still aboard our ship surrender willingly and will be spared."

"So be it."

Villeria then drew her electrostaff, spun it over her head and held it out in front of her and Amanax broke his vibrosword in half and held the two blades in front of him. The two combatants then charged toward each other.

As Amanax went for a dual overhead swipe, Villeria blocked the blow, kicked him back, and attempted a thrust. Unfortunately, Amanax parried 's under swipe and kicked her back with a kick to her left ribcage.

Villeria groaned softly and said, "Well, that's pathetic."

Amanax growled and said, "Then let me show you something impressive!"

As soon as the vibrosword Amanax had in his left was a millimeter from Villeria's head, she stepped back, spun her electrostaff in front of her, and went for his neck only for Amanax's right-hand sword to parry the strike.

"That's impressive." said.

Villeria then blocked and swatted aside a dual downward strike, got between the swords, and disarmed his left hand. She then attempted to strike Amanax's left ribs, but he caught her hand and threw her to the side. Villeria then crashed into a computer. Villeria shook the spots out of her eyes and rolled to the left a minute before Amanax ran her through. She then kick Amanax's sword out of his hand then kicked him in the back, causing him to stumble forward.

Just as Villeria went for a downward punch to Amanax's head, the Mandalorian turned and flipped 's right leg out from under her.

Before Villeria could regain her footing, Amanax grabbed her arms, headbutted her, lifted her over his head, slammed her hard on the ground, flipped her over his shoulder, spun her around in a circle twice, and threw her hard against the tactical computer, though that also landed her right next to her staff.

Amanax chuckled mockingly and said, "Your skills with a melee weapon are indeed to be acknowledge, but your hand fighting skills are utterly laughable."

Villeria then let out a snarl of rage, retrieved her weapon, blocked a dual upper strike, kicked her opponent hard in the gut, headbutted him, spun, and elbowed him in the face with such ferocity that she fractured his nose.

As soon as Amanax was down, Villeria spun her staff thrice, thrust downward, and delivered a fatal shock to the chest.

Villeria then looked expectantly to the Imperial spectators, panting from exhaustion and wincing from the consistent beating she endured during the fight.

The ship's captain stepped forward and said, "We will honor our commander's terms and declare the Extravagance's surrender."

Twelve minutes later, the other two ships retreated and the Extravagance was filled from bow to bulkhead to stern with Villeria's troops.

As Villeria watch the fighting die down, she softly said to herself, "I've not only won a battle, defeated a Mandalorian, and captured an enemy ship; I've also passed my first test in melee combat."

Eighty minutes later, Villeria returned to the Soul and ordered the jump to lightspeed. Undisturbed, Villeria's ships continued their journey through the Hydian Way back to the rest her fleet.