Author's Note:  I want to thank all of you for all of the feedback.  I really appreciate it!  Sorry about the revisions to some of the previous chapters.  Some minor mistakes had been brought to my attention that needed to be remedied; I'm a stickler for accuracy (or at least I try to be)!  Please keep the reviews coming and let me know what you think!

Chapter 11

            Trance and Beka looked at the ranks of faction soldiers that were now assembling into a battle formation.

"I'm not so sure about this Beka," Trance said uncertainly.  "Leading a group of soldiers into the Academy, what may very possibly be their last day.

"Don't worry about it," Beka said with a smile, pulling out her blaster.  "They already know the odds that are against them.  I would be more concerned about the others.  We at least have each other to depend on, the other two groups don't really have that comfort."

By this time, the faction was assembled, ready and waiting for instructions.  Jessea walked over to Beka and Trance, pulling them aside.

"Okay, this is what's going to have to happen," Jessea said in a hushed voice, "you're going to have to go into the academy first, trying to pull out some of their fire.  Harper and Kael are then going to advance into the Academy, us following shortly behind.  It's imperative that they succeed in shutting down the internal defense mechanisms, otherwise we won't be able to get to some of the detonation points that we need to."

"We'll do our best," Trance said, trying to sound reassuring.

"I expect nothing less."

"I guess we should get moving then," Beka said, handing Trance her blaster.  "Everybody ready?"  Beka shouted, turning to the ranks.

Only roars of voices were heard as a response.

****

The first wave of soldiers entered the Academy with blinding speed.  Blaster shots could be heard from outside of the building's walls as lightfights soon erupted inside of the structure. As Beka and Trance entered the large doors of the Academy, they soon saw how large it was; corridors seemed to go off in hundreds of different directions, thousands of doors could be seen down just the single main hallway.

Rebel soldiers were running up and down the hallways, trying to draw as much attention to them as they possibly could.  The Academy, unprepared for the assault, was in a state of total disarray.  Academy personnel were seen scurrying about, trying to recreate order in the chaos that was following.  Soon enough, however, ranks of Academy soldiers and students were lining up to start the resistance against their invaders.

Beka noticed the growing number of Academy uniforms and motioned to Trance.

"It's time to take this battle outside," Beka shouted over the blaster fire.  "We can't stay and fight in here, there's not enough room, and not to mention we need to draw as much fire away from Harper and Kael."

Trance nodded in agreement.  "Fallback!"  Trance screamed as loudly as she could.

The faction slowly proceeded to move out of the Academy, soldiers following closely behind, shooting blasters and bolts of energy at the rebels.

Within a few minutes, the majority of the rebels were mostly outside, with only a few number of them within the Academy walls, however the number of Academy soldiers only seemed to continue to pour out the door.

****

"We need to get in there," Kael said from his and Harper's hiding spot, a few yards off from the intense battle that was raging in front of the Academy doors.

"Isn't it going to be kind of hard to get by unnoticed with all of those Academy soldiers coming out of those doors?" Harper asked sarcastically.

"It's better that we go in their before they get too organized, which I know from experience doesn't take them long to accomplish," Kael answered.  He then added with a grin, "Who ever said anything about needing a door?"

Without giving Harper a chance to reply, Kael grabbed his wrist and started running toward the Academy.

"What in the Devine's name are you doing?" Harper shouted as the outside wall of the Academy was quickly came up to meet them.

"Just trust me Seamus," was Kael's only reply before pulling them into the wall.

A surprised Harper soon found himself and Kael through the wall and inside one of the Academies numerous training rooms.

****

"Now I see why you had Kael go with Harper," Rommie said, looking on as she saw the two dematerialize through the wall.

"Not only that," Jessea said, looking over Rommie's shoulder, "but he's the only one who knows where he's going in there.  I think the majority of us would only get lost.  That is if we didn't have a High Guard avatar with us."

"I'm glad that I'm good for something."

"Now's our chance," Dylan interrupted their conversation, pointing to the battlefield.  Trance and Beka had divided into two groups, pulling the Academy's forces away from the entrance.  Now only the occasional soldier could be seen coming out of the threshold.

"There's no turning back now," Jessea said, running towards the Academy, her weapon drawn with Rommie and Dylan quickly following behind.