A/N: Sorry this is so long in coming. I've been totally addicted to Battlefield 1942 (Try it! It's great!) Hope fully I'll be posting a bit more often. Again, sorry for the delay.



Chapter 7

Corporate Sector Military Penitentiary Colony, Tarvallas



Anakin Solo sat on a ridge overlooking the main complex. Dressed in full commando gear, and holding a sniper rifle, aimed directly at the compound that was just under five hundred meters away, he waited.

"Lead to all units. Be advised, the last load of workers from the mines are inbound. ETA, one minute, thirty seconds," said Face through their helmet comlinks.

The CSA had captured the majority of the Victory-Star Destroyer Negotiator's crew, as well as the crews of her support ships. They had been taken to Tarvallas, a prison world that had replaced Star's End after its destruction almost forty years ago. The Wraiths were to take the base and put the prisoners in control until the Hope of the Alliance arrived, which would be in two days.

Already, Grabakhar and Kell were sneaking towards the communications array, carrying the explosives necessary to destroy it.

A hand tapped Anakin on the shoulder. "Face changed his mind. He wants you in the main assault group. Baljos is taking your place here," whispered Kyle Katarn.

Anakin nodded. "Let's go." The two Jedi ran back to the main group, a jog which took them a couple of minutes.

All of the Wraiths excepting Kell, Grabakhar, and Piggy, who was about to cause a distraction, sat in a circle around a dim light, waiting for Kyle and Anakin. "Glad to see you two finally joined us." Face said as he chrono beeped. "Okay. Prisoners have arrived. Let's move, people."

All of the Wraiths piled into the back of a transport and Elessar drove them to the base, where they disembarked. Perimeter security was lax, and by the time anyone noticed the Wraiths, they were dead.

There was a tremendous roar, and several explosions sounded across the base as Piggy flew over, strafing the landing field and destroying the powered down shuttles and TIE fighters. Kell and Grabakhar blew the communications array, and headed towards the barracks, while the rest of the Wraiths split into pairs and set about their tasks.

Anakin was charged with capturing the armory, so the Wraiths could get weapons to the prisoners. Unfortunately, the armory was right next to the secondary barracks, which were being emptied steadily. Anakin shot both his blaster pistols at the guards heading towards the other Wraiths. After five guards had fallen prey to his blasters, the guards noticed Anakin and he was forced to draw his lightsaber and move in close.

The Espo guards were no match for Anakin's fighting prowess. The few that survived the initial attack ran, heading for the main battle. Anakin let them go. They were not his objective. Ten Elite Stormtroopers were standing around the armory building, two of them manning a heavy E-web blaster. Anakin dispatched them with ease, despite the soldiers' elite status. He was a blur with a lightsaber. With a series of deft cuts, he opened the door. "Twelve to Seven, request transport for the weapons."

"Roger that, Twelve, I'm on the way," said Elessar. A few moments later, the transport that the Wraiths had driven in approached, with blaster fire trailing it. When Anakin looked at him, Elessar shrugged. "Evasive maneuvers can only do so much. Get the weapons loaded and get on. The fighting's getting tough. Almost a whole company of guards have withdrawn into the mine shafts below the prison, they've got heavy weapons and flechette launchers guarding the entrance."

"That's going to be tough to clear. What about the prisoners?" Anakin asked as he levitated several crates of blaster rifles, grenades, and explosives into the transport.

"We kept the majority of them in their cells. To many uncertainties. We don't want to let murderers out and give them blasters. You got everything loaded?"

"Yeah."

"Then get in." Anakin hopped in the bed of the transport and flipped on the night vision filter of his helmet. The world was instantly shaded in green. There were no guards left on the surface, only bodies. They reached the vehicle entrance for the prison and went through the hole where a door had once been. The room beyond, a maze of catwalks, had been built with vehicles in mind. It was a long drop to the bottom, and walkways connected the different cell blocks. Each cell block had vehicular access, so prisoners could be loaded and unloaded for shifts in the mines. Elessar brought the transport to the bottom of the huge chamber, where there was a rectangular building and a door leading into the mines. Anakin saw he Wraiths milling about outside the building.

Face saw Anakin and walked over to the transport, his helmet off. "Did Elessar fill you in on the way?"

Anakin nodded. "Guards holed up in the mines with heavy weapons."

Face shot Elessar a betrayed look. "You didn't tell him?"

The Deveronian shook his head. "Figured it was your job, boss."

"Tell me what?" Anakin asked.

"I've got bad news." Face pulled a lightsaber out and handed it to Anakin.

Just by looking at it, he knew. It was Tahiri's. A Tusken Raider and a Krayt Dragon were carved on the sides, reminders of Tahiri's upbringing.

"It can't be...she can't be...I would've..."

"I'm sorry Anakin," said Face grimly.