Chapter 31

The Wraiths laid down their blasters and lightsabers. "All of them, if you please, and your helmets." They began taking off all of their weapons, pulling out knife after knife, and several clips of ammunition.

Thrawn tapped a button on his comlink. Another soldier came up from the crew pit, wearing black leather armor, hooded cloak swirling around him, the hood keeping his face shrouded in shadows. "He, along with his clones, are Garinoska's crowning achievement. They are the shock troops that will make the CSA the ultimate power in the galaxy.

"And if you had waited, the would have been yours to command, Master Skywalker, amd Jedi Solo. They were to be your Force troopers." As if on cue, the new arrival pulled out his lightsaber, the blade glowing a ruby red. "Master Skywalker, if you would please turn up the air pressure so I can get rid of this horrid breath mask."

Anakin stepped forward hands in the air, walking towards the control console next to Thrawn. He reached down to type into the keypad, but with speed far faster than everyone, excepting Anakin Solo (since he had had the same enhancements), Anakin pulled his lightsaber towards him, ignited it, and held it at Thrawn's throat.

"None of you move," he said coldly, "or your admiral will no longer have a head." He looked at Thrawn. "I have one question, why are you stooping so low as to serve Garinoska? Why aren't you preparing to lead the Remnant to glory, with Admiral Pellaeon at your side?"

Thrawn looked at Anakin, who's gaze remained cold as steel. "I can't. Garinoska has programmed me somehow for loyalty. Help me, Lord Vader."

"Order your men to back down. We'll get you to the Temple on Borleias, but you need to help break the blockade."

"I can't!" cried Thrawn. He seemed to be having two personalities emerging. "Back down! All of you!"

Thrawn's men looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Before anyone could have reacted however, Anakin Solo grabbed his lightsaber and leapt behind the Force trooper, locking into saber combat. The Wraiths took advantage of the situation, grabbing their blasters and trading fire with Thrawn's soldiers. Anakin Skywalker hit Thrawn over the head with the hilt of his lightsaber, knocking the Chiss admiral out. He then entered the battle against the Force trooper.

Anakin Solo had his blade locked against the Force trooper's when his grandfather came up and beheaded the Dark Jedi. The other Wraiths looked at the dead man's face and gasped. It was Anakin, but with his eyes glowed a bright red, similar to the glow in the eyes of a Chiss.

"Anakin," said Face. "Can you log in from here and send the rest of their fleet away?"

"Easily. Then I'll lower the air pressure of the Deathly Silence and send it into orbit around Mon Calamari, where they can muster some troops to capture her."

"Get on it. Bhindi, lift the comm jamming and get word down to the garrison not to evac."

"As ordered Face."

After a moment, Keyan Farlander's voice echoed through the bridge on the intercomm. "Colonel Loran, we've repelled the attackers for the time being. Captain Drason says you've accomplished your mission and are going to summon reinforcements."

Face walked over to the console and answered back, "That's right, General. We need a crew to come up and assume command of the ship, and some labor droids to move all unconscious crew members to the brig, until they can be dropped off somewhere safe. We might have a new ally. Grand Admiral Thrawn."

"What?!"

"He's been brought back by Garinoska and made obedient to Garinoska along through a Dark-side Force technique. Skywalker thinks some of the Jedi could lift the conditioning and make him loyal to us. He'll have to be watched of course, but imagine what he could bring to our side."

"I'm glad to hear it Colonel. We'll have a makeshift crew up ASAP, and some droids will come with them. Farlander out."

"Get ready people," Face said to the Wraiths. "We're heading back down soon."