"There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no death, there is the Force"
The Jedi Code
Chapter Sixteen
Bits of furniture and computer systems lay strewn about the private quarters of Lord Krell. In the middle of the frenzied chaos stood the Dark Lord who was looking for something else to break. Seeing a chair that had somehow escaped his notice, Krell used the Force to pick up the chair and rip it to pieces.
Not only did he have to abandon most of the systems the Empire had conquered in this galaxy but he also had to abandon his search for the final genetic marker, the last species that formed the very source of these Magog creatures.
Worse yet, if this system fell, he would have to return to the Empire's home galaxy and face Darth Vader. Only two beings in the all the universe could make a chill go up Krell's back, the Emperor and Darth Vader. Vader had been sending ultimatums for some time now demanding a report, but he was reluctant to travel to this galaxy himself. That however would change if Krell could not hold back the native forces himself.
But he would not ask Darth Vader for help.
The Lusankya still functioned and the Commonwealth engineers were still hard at work, though reluctantly, on the slipstream modifications to the Corellian Corvette Running. Krell also still had nearly two hundred Imperial Warships at his disposal. Star Destroyers and Dreadnoughts, Strike Cruisers and Frigates. He even managed to relocate two of the new Golan III defence stations from their respective worlds.
A light flashed on one of the few still functional monitors in his chamber. With a causal flick of the Force he activated the screen and saw that the tactical situation report he had asked for was here.
He smiled, the defences of this system were adequate and there were enough ships to launch crippling raids on the nearest worlds. The Empire would not leave this galaxy without a fight.
And he would find the secret of these Magog.
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Charlemagne Bolivar and Jack Fremont were nearly at each others throats, the former could have slit that throat without much effort, and would have under different circumstances, but Charlemagne Bolivar was far to gentile to do that sort of thing himself, at least not in full view of Dylan Hunt.
"Pride Sabra-Jaguar will not allow its forces to fall into an obvious trap, Minister," Bolivar bit out in his most aristocratic voice, "I suggest that the Commonwealth should clean up its own mess from now on."
"The Empire is still a threat to your worlds, Archduke Bolivar," Fremont replied with a measure of venom in his voice, "It is in your best interest to continue the war."
"Gentleman," Dylan interjected, "Please take your seats. Let's try to discuss this calmly."
When both men had returned to their seats Dylan continued, "The tactical data provided by the Drago-Kazov Pride, and the date retrieved by our own Captian Valentine proved absolutely invaluable in the recent strike on the primary Imperial base in the Cheops system. Most Imperial forces have withdrawn to the system catalogued as T-12D-32147-C were the conduit to their galaxy is located. This conduit system is well defended and is being used as a strike point for raids on nearby planets."
"What do you intend to do about this," Bolivar demanded.
"I intend to build a large enough coalition to drive the Imperial forces back through the conduit and then destroy it by whatever means are necessary."
"I'm afraid our members are not willing to contribute more forces to this battle Captian," Fremont told him, sending a glare to Bolivar, "If the Archduke is willing to maintain his Prides presence for what should be the final battle of this war, then you'll have this ships you had at Cheops. If not then other members might withdraw their forces as well."
"Tell me what you intend to do Captain," Bolivar said shaking his head in resignation, "If it is a worthy plan my forces will be at your disposal."
"Captian Dylan Hunt, may I present Fleet Marshal Cuatemoc of the Drago-Kazov Pride and General Red Glow at Daybreak, Holoes of Bloody Shadow, Clarion of Loss, of the Than Hegemony," Rommie said as the two commanders walked into the conference room aboard the Andromeda.
"Welcome both of you," Dylan said as they approached the table Dylan was standing behind, "It is good to see you both again."
"I trust my tactical data came in handy Captian," Cuatemoc said smugly.
"Very much," Dylan told him, "Our loses at Cheops would have been much higher without it."
"Perhaps you can tell us why we are hear," the red carapace Than-Thre-Kull buzzed, "I don't particularly enjoy sharing space with Nietzcheans."
"Few inferior species do," Cuatemoc shoot back.
"Very well," Dylan said ignoring the Nietzschean's response, "The Commonwealth's recent victory over the Empire at Cheops has presented us all with an opportunity to end this war. We have the location of the Empire's main access point to this galaxy. When we are ready, I want us all to be there to take it out."
"The Empire still maintains bases on other worlds," Cuatemoc pointed out, "The war will not simply end by destroying this access."
"Without the support of their main fleet, the bases wont be able to stop us from liberating those worlds."
"You understand that my people will not want work with Nietzscheans," Clarion of Loss told them, "Particularly Drago-Kazov Nietzscheans."
"They wont have to," Dylan told her, "We can hammer out the details later, but each fleet should maintain operational autonomy."
"This could be acceptable," the Than decided.
Dylan smiled, "Good, then let's get to work on the details."
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A human once said the "devil was in the details," but rarely had the statement been more true. Rev Bem had torn into the swarmships database as soon as he was able, he need hard evidence to show Dylan the danger.
Nearly three thousand swarmships were gathering. It was the largest single swarm that he had ever heard of and they were going to attack this Empire and utterly destroy it. Many of the ships carried Point-singularity Projectors, weapons that could destroy worlds.
Rev dropped himself back into the pilot seat, he had less then a week before the Magog were ready to strike. And after the battle they would turn to destroy the known worlds.
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Vader hated waiting.
Twenty Imperial Mark II Star Destroyers, the best ship Vader could find were arrayed around his Command Ship the Executor. It was enough firepower to leave entire worlds nothing but smouldering slag without an effort. This fleet alone could have stood against either the Separatists or the Old Republic in the opening stages of the Clone Wars and not have lost. All this power was to be arrayed against a new galaxy and perhaps against the Empire's own ships.
Lord Krell was arrogant and foolish. Did Krell really believe that he that could hold the true Dark Lord of the Sith back without consequences?
The Emperor had ordered Vader to wait just a few more days before going in to remove Krell on his own. He said he did not want to lose the Lusankya over this or risk losing forever this new galaxy.
What the Emperor seemed to not realize was that Krell was a dangerous man, more dangerous than even Vader would ever admit to anyone else. The lesser Dark Lord had something planned, something that was evil enough that it would disturb the Emperor himself.
"Admiral Ozzel," Vader voice boomed, "Open a channel to Imperial Centre, I would speak with the Emperor."
The Emperor waited nearly three hours before returning Vader's call.
The Emperor had decided to forgo his usual holoprojector setting, one of a dominating large head, for a wider panoramic view of one of his favourite Throne rooms on the Imperial capital world. Palpatine had decided to call his world Imperial Centre, forgoing the ancient name of Coruscant.
Personally Vader like the old name better.
"What is it my servant," the Emperor demanded quietly.
"The fleet is ready my Master," Vader told him, "I am ready to take command of our forces on the other side of the conduit. I ask you blessing on an early departure for your glorious forces."
"Your thoughts betray you my friend," the Emperor said with a disquieting smile, "You wish to leave now so that you may wring the life out of one of my servants. Why?
Vader starred at his master for a moment in silence, there was no hiding from the Emperor's gaze.
"I do not trust him, my Master. He is dangerous to us."
"I foresee no danger, Lord Vader. You will wait."
"Yes, my Master," Vader responded.
The communication closed and Vader was left to wallow in his own frustration.
Returning to the bridge Vader approached Admiral Ozzel, "The Emperor commands that we wait, we will wait for one week. If Lord Krell has not answered me by then the consequences will be on his own head."
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Harper and Trance watched in fascination as Luke went through his Jedi exercises. He told them during the flight back from Kafreion that his old master, Obi-Wan Kenobi had left taught him only a little of the Jedi ways, but it was enough that he was able to do a few exercises that strengthened him in the Force.
Luke had asked Harper to build him something called a "remote," a small ball-like device that shot little stinger bolts at him. The unit Harper had built was simple enough and seemed to satisfy Luke as he continued to practice with the small device.
"He's pretty good with that thing," Harper said indicating the lightsabre.
"Yes, he is," Trance replied.
"I wish I could do stuff like that, its just so cool," Harper told her, "I mean if I could do the stuff Luke's doing, old Mister Mental back there wouldn't hadda chance."
"Luke is training to be something, Harper," Trance began, "Something he doesn't fully understand yet. When he does it will change him forever."
"Your not afraid of him anymore are you," Harper asked knowingly.
"No," she told him, "His path is no longer so clear to me. But there is great danger, and horrible trials in store for him. I felt something on Kafreion, a presence, the one I truly feared."
"Your not going to tell me any more than that are you," Harper realized.
"Not yet Harper, but one day."
Luke seemed to have finished his exercise and was walking over to them.
"That's some pretty impressive stuff," Harper beamed as Luke approached, "You think you could show me how to do that?"
"The Force is in all things, "Luke told him, "But not everyone can use it as I can. Besides, even if you did have the ability, I barely know what I'm doing myself, I wouldn't want to teach any one else."
"Aw, I understand," Harper said, "But it was still really cool."
Luke looked with confusion to Trance.
"That means he liked it," Trance translated.
"I see," Luke replied, "Well, I'm beat. See you two later."
After Luke had left Harper picked up a piece of piping nearby and began swinging it around like a lightsabre.
"Aw, Trance, wouldn't be great to have that kinda power, to be a guardian of Justice and all that," Harper said.
"Your on a High Guard Warship," Trance told him, "Your already a guardian of Justice."
Trance left Harper alone to think about that. Not long after Harper dropped his make-believe lightsabre and walked happily back to his workshop.