Just a quick note. I made an error in planet location. Onderon is in fact closer to Kessel than Dantooine. Onderon appears in the Expansion Region, which is near the outer rim, but not in it. So after attacking the base on Kessel, it was actually closer to Onderon than Dantooine to take Dustil. I have found a very detailed map of the SW galaxy as the coming war will take place everywhere and I wanted exact positions as I could possibly get.

The Children

War!

Part Two

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

DANTOOINE

"… Share much in common Mission." Yuthura said as they walked along the shore of the large lake several kilometers from the enclave.

Over the last week the enclave on Dantooine had become a center of attention. After word of the assault had spread, Canderous had dispatched seven Mandalorian Lictor-Class Capital ships as well as several dozen attack cruisers. The LICTOR-Class capital ships had originally been designed as prison transports at nearly eight hundred meters long, but since the end of the Mandalorian War, Canderous had them refitted and revamped to replace the capital ships lost at Malachor V. They carried a crew of six thousand, with complements for nearly two thousand troops and nine squadrons of either Mandalorian Pursuer Class ground attack ships, or the Mandalorian A14 Basilisk Fighter.

Also now in Dantooine space were five HARBINGER Class Republic capital ships made by Rendili StarDrive and another thirty or so attack cruisers and a massive, newer Republic VANGUARD Class carrier.

It had taken the Republic Senate only two days to conduct a vote after Revan's heartfelt impassioned display, and the declaration of Master Vandar. The vote had been overwhelmingly unanimous to mobilize the Republic for war. Senator Carth Onasi had been reinstated as Admiral of the Fleet, and was currently pulling seven LEVIATHAN Class Interdictor ships out of mothballs and rushing to have them activated. His first official act as Admiral of the Fleet was to order the Ninth Republic Battle Group to Dantooine to assist in covering the Jedi enclave there and begin to establish a forward base. After the destruction of the Star Forge, the republic fleet had been able to capture nearly two dozen of the massive Interdictor ships completely intact, and a number of damaged ones. Carth immediately ordered these ships to repair yards for refit.

The Republic Forces swept in quickly establishing their base, and in only three days buildings had gone up, defenses had been set in place, and Dantooine had become a heavily guarded planet on the edge of Republic space.

The enclave also bustled with activity as dozens of Jedi Knights and Padawans had begun to return to Dantooine at Master Vandar's order. Not meant to house more than a hundred at any one time, new structures had to be built and Yuthura had enlisted many of the civilians on Dantooine to build their buildings. The civilians felt more comfortable around the Jedi, and they were better paid thanks to massive reserves built by Revan senior and the Dxun Jedi.

However, even with all the activity, Yuthura still made it a point every day to spend several hours with Mission and help her to adjust back to normal life. Even though both of them could sense the Catharian security that had been assigned to Yuthura all around them, they maintained a discrete distance.

"It is becoming easier Master Ban." Mission said. She had taken to wearing Jedi robes very similar to Dustil's rust colored ones, though the robes could not hide her obviously female figure. Mission had grown into a stunning woman, even by Twi'lek standards. Her Lekku folded over her shoulders to curl just over her full breasts. "At first… I couldn't even look at him, knowing what I had done. Yet even these few days have brought me more peace than I thought could ever exist."

"Dustil?" Yuthura asked.

Mission nodded. "We were going to marry before all this happened. Now, we have to rediscover each other again."

"He holds nothing but love for you Mission." Yuthura spoke softly. "Use that as your strength."

Mission looked at her. "I do, every waking moment. And my friends as well."

Yuthura nodded. "What you went through will always be with you, as is the nightmare I experienced. In time you will learn to push all that to the back of your mind, and only the peace will remain."

"And what of these new abilities that have manifested themselves in me?" Mission asked her.

"It's true that you are perhaps the oldest person to have their connection to the force bloom. But the manifestation of your powers was ripped from you. It was never allowed to nurture and grow." Yuthura said. "That is what we need to address."

Mission looked at her. "Do you feel it is a bad thing? That somehow, the way they came to light will make me more susceptible to returning to what I once was?" Her voice was full of worry and suspicion.

Yuthura shook her head quickly. "Never." She said, assuring her. "You have a gift now as we all do; our connection to the Force. As Revan once showed me all those years ago… I will show you. I will help you to channel your emotions and harness the power they can bring you, to not allow the passions to overwhelm you. I believe as Revan and Bastila do. Emotions are not the path to the dark side. Repressing those emotions are. What we will begin working on with you is how to not repress the emotions you feel, but how to embrace them. Accept them as part of you. To not let them rule you, but to let them provide you comfort and strength. Your love for Dustil has already provided your foundation Mission. And it is that foundation on which we will build."

"I feel… I feel so tainted by what happen to me. I am afraid… I am afraid Dustil will not desire me anymore." Mission spoke.

"Does his touch make you withdraw?" Yuthura asked.

"Hardly. It brings me the greatest joy."

Yuthura stopped and looked at her. "Then allow him to help you remove this taint you feel. Let him help you purge it from your soul. I have seen the way he looks at you Mission. The desire for you is there, in his eyes. Perhaps you have just not noticed because you are frightened of so many things. To allow him to help you heal is the first step in the road you face. And I sincerely doubt a pair of Albino Kath Hounds could pull him away from you."

"But the war?" Mission said. "He will want to fight beside his friends."

Yuthura nodded. "We all will fight." She told her. "We all may well die. But it will be for a cause we believe in. And for each other."

Revan kicked over the piece of computer console at the rear of the burn out hulk of the Sith transport. They three ships had burned for days due to the intense bombing the Pursuers had pounded them with. Only the fragmented shells remained now. Though small pieces still smoldered, they had been declared safe to investigate, and now Revan and half a dozen Republic technicians were swarming over them. The smell of death still hung in the air, as the ships had been hit while they were still unloading troops, and the bodies that were not instantly vaporized by the plasma bombs were scattered all over in pieces.

Revan had spent the last two days resting in the enclave and meditating with Anja. He had been happy to find out the Republic had voted to mobilize for war, and that the other members of his family were safe on Coruscant now inside the walls of Jedi Temple with hundreds of Wookie and Mandalorian troops guarding them. He had ordered Arren and Dralor to take a Pursuer and visit their children for a few days, as it might be the last chance they had for quite a few months. Neither of them had argued with him in the least. Dustil was out of the Kolto tank and fully recovered from his wounds, and being fitted with a prosthetic lower arm.

Revan wore his customary dark gray robes with the armor built in, the dark, flexible cortosis protected and intricately designed bracers covering his forearms, and his black cloak swirling behind him in the slight breeze. His combat boots crunched under him as he walked through the wreckage. He looked up as Anja exited the hulk of the freighter from the rear. She wore identical robes and armor, and he couldn't help but smile as she filled her robes out much better than he did. The last few days here with her had been more than he had ever hoped for. They had spent every waking hour together, either meditating or training. In the evenings they would return to the quarters they shared and would pleasure each other until they were both utterly exhausted. It was almost as if they would never tire of each other. Revan had memorized every millimeter of Anja's luscious body, committing every curve, every smell and every contour to memory, burning it into his brain. And Anja had been no less eager to do the same for him, driving him insane with her kisses and the touch of her soft hands as they explored his body. Their bond with each other grew stronger each passing day, and they shared everything. They knew each other as well or better than they knew themselves. Revan had spent hours simply studying Anja as she slept next to him. He would sit on the floor of their room early in the morning and let his eyes wander over her, watching how the soft sheet outlined her soft, yet muscular feminine form. How her lips quivered ever so slightly as she breathed deep in sleep. Her skin was the texture of unblemished satin, so smooth and soft, and her eyes, oh her eyes, how he would lose himself in her eyes and their intense emerald green color. Her presence was like a soothing balm to him, and his to her. They drew strength from each other, and both their connections to the Force had become stronger and clearer than either of them had ever known.

Anja held two data pads in her hand which she held out to him as she came up. "I found these, but not much else. Everything is burned beyond recognition. They still have power, but I think the data cubes are damaged."

"Yes, plasma bombs will do that." He replied taking the pads. "I forgot that they carried plasma bombs in their ordnance."

They turned at the sound of crunching boots and saw Juhani and her apprentice come over from the transport they had been inspecting. Revan had only seen her briefly at the enclave and he stepped up to her now, taking her outstretched hands. Revan extended his hand to his head, down to his lips and then placed it over Juhani's chest. Juhani did the same in the Cathar gesture of greeting family.

"I did not have time to thank you before." Revan spoke, still holding her hands.

"We did whatneeded tobe done, no thanks is needed." Juhani replied. "I still very much consider Dantooine and the enclave here as a second home." Juhani turned to Victor. "Revan, this is my assistant Jedi Knight Victor Paal."

Revan bowed his head to the Jedi Knight and motioned to Anja. She stepped up to him, taking his hand. "Juhani, this is Knight Tamari."

Juhani smiled and gave her the same gesture as she did Revan. "It is an honor to meet the one who has calmed the heart of the son of Revan."

Anja smiled brightly, no longer embarrassed that so many knew of her and her special connection to Revan. "I have heard much about you." She said, returning the Cathar greeting to her. She looked at Victor. "Knight Paal."

"You may command the Force Anja Tamari, but a Jedi Knight you are not." Victor spoke with barely hidden contempt in his voice.

Juhani's head snapped around quickly and she glared at him. "You will apologize to her Victor! This instant!" She barked yellow eyes flaring.

"I will not. She has forsaken our Code and allowed her feelings to guide her path." Paal replied calmly.

Juhani turned back to Revan and Anja who stood there like nothing had happen. Anja still held Revan's hand, and the smile had never left her face. "I must apologize for my assistant Anja." She spoke.

"Apologize for him speaking his mind?" Anja said, shaking her head. "There is no need for that. I have completely accepted who I am. I do not feel or think any different than I did before. I have simply allowed myself to love."

"Love is the path to the dark side." Victor spoke.

"Is it?" Anja asked. She stepped in front of Revan who towered over her. He had simply crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at Victor with his sapphire eyes. "Correct me if I am wrong Knight Paal, but would you dare tell Master Bindo he is no Jedi? He left the Order for love and marriage. Would you dare tell Master Sunrider that she was no Jedi? She was married to a Jedi, and had a child."

"I… he…" Victor was at a lost for words as Anja stepped closer to him, her green eyes filled with fire.

"How dare you stand there and judge me when you have not the courage to tell Jedi Masters who have known love and marriage that they are not Jedi." Anja said, stepping even closer to him now. "You stand there and tell me I have abandoned the Jedi Code because I follow my heart. Tell Revan Panlie and Bastila Shan they are not Jedi and saviors of this Republic because they love each other. I get the sense that you choose to target me because you feel you can intimidate me by your words. I assure you… your words mean nothing to me for the simple reason that you have absolutely no clue about what you speak. You are as ignorant as a Wamp rat in these matters, and you embarrass the Master who trained you with your complete ignorance." Anja now stood directly in front of him, and though considerably shorter than him, the power that radiated from her was nearly overwhelming. Juhani could barely hide the grin that was trying to spread her Cathar features. "My suggestion to you Knight Paal, would be to pull your head out of the Bantha backside it resides in now, before you make a bigger fool out of yourself than you already have."

Anja turned quickly and looked at Revan. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply. "I'm going to find Bao-Dur at the next transport my love. He is a far better judge of character than the present company." She looked at Juhani. "You being the exception Master Juhani."

Juhani bowed her head and smiled. "I shall enjoy talking with you later Anja."

Anja looked at Revan and she smiled at him, feeling his love and pride for her through their bond. She squeezed his hand as she starting walking towards where the third burned out transport lay.

Victor looked at Revan who had a very large smirk on his face, and he felt his cheeks flush just as the Republic technician jogged up to them.

"General Panlie! I found you!"

Revan looked at the young man. "Excuse me? What did you call me?"

The young man pulled up short, his eyes wide. "You are Revan Panlie Junior, correct sir?"

"Yes. I am no General however."

The tech shook his head. "I sorry sir, but as of 0900 hours this morning, Fleet Admiral Onasi promoted you to the rank of General."

Revan's jaw dropped open as he looked at the young tech. Juhani laughed at his stunned expression, until the tech turned to her.

"Admiral Onasi has also promoted you to the rank of General Master Juhani." The tech said.

Juhani stopped laughing immediately her mouth clamping shut as it was Revan's turn to laugh. Revan turned back to the tech.

"What is it you need Chief?" He asked.

"When your Pursuers hit this trio of transports sir, the forward section of the far one there was blown clear. We found it two kilometers from here lodged in some rocks. It appears the impact caused a small rockslide that hid it from our thermal scans. The cockpit was intact sir. The flight crew was still strapped in their seats. The Colonel thought you might want to see it."

"Indeed I do." Revan said.

The forward section of the Sith transport was half buried in the side of the hill, rocks surrounding it on all sides. The metal of the bulkhead had crumpled on impact, though from outside it looked as if the cockpit was still somewhat intact. There were a dozen Republic troops surrounding the crash site, all of them with weapons out. The republic Colonel stepped up to Revan as he approached, Anja next to him, Bao-Dur, Juhani and Victor coming in behind him. He had heard many things about Revan Panlie and his son. They were tacticians unequaled he had heard, and they did not believe in pompous displays of arrogance.

The Colonel saluted as Revan walked up to him. "General. A pleasure to finally meet you."

Revan returned the salute awkwardly and nodded. "Colonel…"

"Colonel William Zhpyer sir; Republic Marines."

Revan nodded. "Three things right away Colonel." He spoke. "Don't salute me in the field, I would prefer not to make all of us targets for some lucky Sith assassin or bounty hunter."

Zhpyer nodded with a smile, glad to see the rumors were true about the son of Revan hating anything to do with shows of rank and pomp. "Yes sir."

"The second thing, I assume you have been assigned to some sort of command under me by my Uncle Carth?"

"Correct again General. I have a full Brigade of Republic Marines that have been assigned to you, to include our ships and all support personnel."

"Total?" Revan asked.

"Approximately four thousand General, and that includes the support forces. Exactly twelve hundred fully trained combat Marines." Zhpyer said proudly.

Revan nodded. "Then I will trust you to lead your forces Colonel, and insure they have everything they require. What you can't get, come to me for."

Zhpyer looked somewhat taken aback. "General, we have been placed under your direct command." He said. "We are at your disposal."

Revan shook his head. "No. You and your men are not pawns Colonel, and I will not treat them as such. When we go into battle you and I will be beside them as will many others and we will leave no one behind. Ever. Is that clear?"

Zhpyer nodded his head with a smile. "Perfectly sir."

"Good."

"You said there were three things, sir."

"Yes. When we are finished here, please poll your men. Any who do not wish to be placed under my command grant them their wish and expedite their transfer requests." Revan said. "If they don't want to be here, I don't want them."

Zhpyer tilted his head. "That could well ruin some careers if they want that sir."

Revan shook his head. "I will personally write their recommendation for them with the highest praise, as long as they do it now and not later. I will not tolerate it later."

Zhpyer nodded. "Understood General."

"So let's see what this Sith transport can tell us." Revan spoke.

"I've had my men pulling away debris from the torn section to allow entry." Zhpyer explained. "There seems to be roughly thirty meters of the transport here, not including the cockpit, which surprisingly is still intact for the most part. I have a perimeter established within 100 meters of this location, but so far we have been able to detect no signs of life. It appears however, there seems to be some sort of interference coming from within the terrain itself that is interfering with our sensors the closer we get to the cockpit."

Revan looked at Anja and the others. "Do you feel it?"

They all nodded. "It appears the transport has inadvertently slammed into a previously unrecorded crystal cave." Juhani spoke. "I don't recall any caves discovered in this sector of Dantooine."

"Colonel, have your men conduct a sweep around this hill. Look for another entrance on the far side." Revan spoke.

"At once sir!"

"Juhani, take your assistant and Bao-Dur with the sweep. Your senses will better be able to detect any entrance, no matter how small. Anja and I will enter through this transport with a number of Marines."

Juhani nodded and touched his arm. "I sense something else here as well Revan." She said. "Something dark in nature. Go with care."

Revan nodded. "I sense it as well. May the Force be with you." He looked at the Colonel as he finished relaying Revan's orders. "Colonel, select your most experienced squad. We'll go in from here. Something is not right in this place, and I want to be prepared."

"Request permission to accompany you sir."

Revan nodded. "Leave your deputy in command then. Five minutes."

Revan closed his eyes taking Anja's hand as she stood next to him. He opened himself completely to the Force, probing the crash site and all around it.

Do you sense it?

Yes. Something very dark. But it is weak. Almost…wounded.

If this is a crystal cave, then it will distort our perceptions somewhat, making a clearer picture fuzzy until we are closer to the source. We must be on guard.

Revan moved carefully through the twisted remains of the inside of the forward section of the transport. His right hand rested continuously on the hilt of one of his lightsabers, his eyes sweeping in front of them as they moved. Behind him, moving just as cautiously were half a dozen Republic Marines, their rifles extended in front of them. The senior non-commissioned officer was a grizzled veteran of several minor conflicts along the Outer Rim, and his eyes watched with extreme satisfaction as the man they had been sent to serve under led them. He had a great deal of respect for his Colonel, but to see a General at the head of what essentially was a combat patrol made him extra aware and alert. The noncom knew that he was the son of Revan Panlie, and that he commanded the Force, but he was most impressed with the skills Revan obviously had. He moved with the alert and ready attitude of an Echani warrior, ready to pounce in the blink of an eye.

Revan stopped, holding up his hand for the others to do the same. Anja was at the rear of the column, her own senses wide open and in tune with Revan's, and her hand resting on her lightsaber. Revan looked at the edge of the troop seat he was next too and detected blood on the cold metal. He squatted slowly and reached out with a finger, touching the spot of blood and coming away with wetness. He looked at the noncom, who covered him expertly and showed him his fingers silently. The noncom's eyes narrowed and his grip on his rifle tightened. The blood spot was only a few hours old, and could not have come from someone who had been killed in the bombing.

Revan came to his feet again, unclipping his lightsaber and looking at the cockpit ten meters in front of them. He could feel Anja within their bond; she was nervous but confident and drawing strength from the bond. He made sure she was aware of everything he saw, and their bond allowed them to speak without sound if need be.

Revan moved more cautiously now, as they entered the part of the forward section that was buried in the rock. It grew darker, with just small wisps of sunlight entering through torn sections of hull behind them. He stepped silently up to one side of the cockpit, the noncom moving directly across from him. The transport had a large flight deck, and Revan could see the slumped figures inone of the seats, while it appeared the navigator's seat was empty. Revan looked at the noncom, who nodded to him, and he stepped onto the flight deck portion. The instruments and controls were shattered and scorched from electrical fires, and Revan moved up behind the traditional pilot's seat. Revan looked down and his eyes grew wide.

Seated in the pilot's seat was a red skinned humanoid figure, its head slumped forward against the controls that its four fingered clawed hands grasped. The side of its pilot helmet was sheered away and purplish blood was coating the creatures' side, dried and caked on now. Six small tentacles dangled limply from the pilot's chin, and Revan could see small black spikes trailing down the pilot's back, poking through the flight suit. Revan could sense no life in the creature and reached down to pick up a piece of metal which he poked the lifeless figure with hard enough to open a new wound. The creature didn't flinch and Revan reached out to pull the creature back from the flight controls. He didn't flinch when the right arm tore loose from the body as it had been hanging by only a few threads of skin.

The noncom stepped closer, his eyes still sweeping the area of the cockpit where the thick glass had been shattered, the nose of the transport opening a large hole into a dark cavern in front of them.

"No offense General, but what in all we hold holy is that?" He hissed the question.

Revan looked at him. "What we have here Master Chief is a pilot of pure Sith blood." He answered calmly, not betraying the rapid beating of his heart.

The man's eyes widened. "Tell me you are joking sir."

Revan shook his head. "I'm not." He said, looking over to the co-pilot's seat. He saw the purple stains of blood on the console and the seat, and several jagged pieces of metal that extended out from the torn fuselage that were stained with the same purple blood. "And it appears we have at least two survivors from this incident. The blood we found back there was not the same as this, and the navigator's console is empty. Whether they had a navigator is up for grabs, but the co-pilot definitely survived, and someone was in the back recently."

"Sith's blood General! What could have survived this crash?"

"I believe we are going to find out." Revan said leaning back and motioning Zhpyer forward. The Colonel was beside him in five steps. "Colonel, take three men and secure this portion of the crash. Contact Master Ban at the enclave and have her send a dozen Jedi to this location. Then contact the Republic encampment and have a full medical team dispatched here as well. The Jedi will provide security while your people remove this body back to the enclave for study."

"As your order sir."

"Contact Master Juhani and inform her of our discovery. Advise her we are proceeding into a cavern that seems to have been caused by the crash. If they have found another entrance, have them proceed with extreme caution, there are at least two survivors. One appears to be badly injured, the condition of the other is not known." Revan told him calmly. "I will continue with the remaining force we have."

"General that is not wise. Let me go forward." The Colonel spoke. "We don't know what is in there. And you are too valuable to lose this early in the war."

"All of us are too valuable Colonel. I will not ask something of our men that I would not do myself. There is a dark side Force presence within this area, and Anja and I need to go. The Master Chief will keep me safe." Revan said with a grin.

Zhpyer nodded somewhat reluctantly. "I'll see to it sir."

Revan nodded and motioned Anja forward to him. He looked at the Master Chief. "Pick the two most experienced behind you and let's move forward."

The Master Chief turned quickly and pointed at one man and one woman. They moved closer behind him with barely a sound. Revan turned to look at the opening into the dark cave before them. "Master Chief, our voices have undoubtedly carried past this point into the cave. Why don't we send some surprises down there before we continue forward?"

The Master Chief grinned and pulled three cylindrical canisters from his combat vest. He held them out. "One frag, one plasma, and one luminary?"

Revan nodded. "Perfect for greeting friends." He said taking the plasma grenade, and handing the frag to Anja.

The Master Chief turned the knob on the luminary grenade first and tossed it side arm as hard as he could into the opening. They all heard it hit the ground, rolling quite a ways down the tunnel until the light it provided ignited and sent an eerie glow back to them of the shape of the tunnel. Revan turned the knob on the plasma grenade and heaved it side arm as well. They watched its shadow bounce and they covered their eyes and the grenade exploded, sending superheated flames in all directions for twenty meters. When they looked again, the plasma fire had attached to parts of the wall, adding more light to the luminary grenade. Anja was next and she turned the knob on the frag grenade before holding it in front of her and using the Force whisked it down the tunnel in mid air. It exploded roughly a hundred meters from their position, showering anything that might have been hiding in the area with shrapnel.

Revan looked at the Master Chief. "Our senses are more acute, so we will take point. Follow close and watch the rear."

"Understood sir."

Revan looked at Anja and she nodded she was ready. Both of them lifted their lightsabers and Revan was the first to move through the large opening in the cockpit fuselage.

Into the darkness.

ARKANIS SECTOR

BETWEEN RYLOTH AND SISKEEN

Kelborne sat in his quarters on the Mandalorian LICTOR-Class Capital ship THE ORIGIN, sippingthe mug of caffa, and going over several data pads of reports. He had moved his fleet to this location after the attack on the Sith base near Kessel, to provide support to the forces completing an evacuation of the smaller colonies and Ryloth. The attack on the Sith base had been a welcome exercise for the newer crew on his ships, and they had performed quite admirably. He had received the news of the Republic Senate voting to mobilize for war with no emotion. He had been following Mandalore and Revan for nearly thirty years, and it mattered not to him who else joined their effort, as long as they could fight.

Kelborne's mind drifted to his eldest son and the woman who he had taken as his wife, and he smiled warmly. His mind went back many years to the day he had met Arren's father in the jungles of Dxun. He was out trying to impress Mandalore enough to gain a ride to Onderon, and Kelborne had been out on Mandalore's orders to track down the small ship that had tried to sneak onto the moon. They had met standing over the body of an Onderonian scout killed by cannocks. Over the course of the next six hours, Kelborne and Dacen Vorsut had hunted the Onderonian scouts to keep them from discovering the Dxun base. Fighting with them that day had been Dacen's future wife and the Iridonian Bao-Dur. Over that span of time they had removed the threat of general Vaklu's scouts finding the hidden Mandalorian base, and forged a bond that only battle could forge. Over the years he had grown closer with Dacen and his wife, and even gone so far as to name Dacen his first born son's Life Guardian.

He had watched Dacen's oldest child slowly steal the heart of his son. She had been fourteen at the time and the gleam in her eye when she looked at Dralor was still very evident in her pale blue eyes even after six years of marriage and a pair of twin boys that were strong and proud. Arren was everything he had ever hoped for in a Mandalorian wife for his son, and she wasn't even Mandalorian by blood.

Kelborne knew war and battle as he had fought in the last dozen battles of the Mandalorian War, nearly losing his life on Malachor V. He had survived, and drifted for a time, until finally Canderous Ordo, now Mandalore had found him working as a scout on Duros. He had returned with Mandalore to Dxun to help rebuild the clans, and after the peace he had helped forge with the Onderonian people he found his wife. A strong Onderonian woman with pride and fire in her blood, she had given him powerful children in Dralor and Vlaina and his youngest son Trakl, who was part of the unit guarding the Sanctuary. His wife had refused to leave Dxun, insisting instead on helping Brianna Vorsut establish and maintain the large hospital they had built. He would return to Dxun and his wife in another three days to rest and refit his crew and ships. He…

The alarm claxon ripped him from his thoughts quickly.

Kelborne strode onto his bridge in just under three minutes. "Report!" He barked.

"General, we have just received a transmission from the support ship ACCENDANT! They are reporting hundreds of Sith ships dropping from hyperspace in their sector, everything from fighters to dreadnought capital ships!" His executive officer reported.

"Get me the commander of the ACCENDANT now!" Kelborne popped.

It took under a minute, and Kelborne looked at the hologram of the obviously concerned young officer.

"General… we are picking up hundreds of Sith warships moving on our location! They will be on us in less than thirty minutes! They are closing in what appears to be a planetary bombardment formation!"

"What is the status of the evacuation?" Kelborne asked calmly.

"It's only seventy-five percent complete sir! Most of the women and children are off, but quite a few of the older citizens are refusing to leave their home world! Much of the functioning government is still on the surface!"

"Commander! Another wave has dropped from hyperspace!" a voice in the background called out.

"General it appears that we are sitting smack in the middle of one of the Sith invasion corridors." The commander spoke.

Kelborne nodded. "So it seems. Lord Revan predicted they would come this way. The planets they seize are rich in minerals."

"General I have informed my transport crews to gather what they can onto their ships and depart in the next fifteen minutes." The commander spoke. "I will attempt to convince the governmental leaders to evacuate as well."

Kelborne nodded. "I will position my group between you and the Sith. We will hold them off as long as possible. Get as many as you can Commander. I don't care how. Drag them, beat them, but get as many off the planet as you can!"

"Understood General!"

Kelborne turned to his executive officer. "Set an intercept course that puts us directly in the path of the lead Sith warships. We must buy as much time as possible and get as much information as we can!"

"I have already plotted the course changes General!"

"Take the fleet to light speed then Colonel. And get me Mandalore on Naboo."

Kelborne's eyes grew wide when THE ORIGIN dropped from hyperspace. They had made the jump and planned to come out just on the other side of Ryloth. What Kelborne saw bearing down on the planet made his blood go cold in his veins.

Stretching before him were nearly seventy capital class ships and hundreds of heavy cruisers and frigates. He could also see nearly a thousand snub fighters moving within the Sith formations.

"Launch! Launch all our fighters!" Kelborne barked. "Split into two echelons! Target the closest capital ships! Work in groups!"

"General we're detecting nearly seven hundred ships!" His executive officer gasped. "Over fifteen hundred fighters General, and quite a few of them are close support bombers!"

Kelborne nodded. "Charge all batteries and have damage crews stand by. All personnel are to report to their duty stations and stand by. Tell the commander of the ACCENDANT he has six minutes to leave this system! Mandalore has ordered if they won't leave the planet then leave them there!"

"Yes General!"

"General, three of the Sith capital ships are moving to engage us!" A voice barked.

Kelborne glanced at his holo display. "Launch all guided missiles now! Target the first capital ship!"

The entire area around the eight hundred meter long LICTOR-class capital ship was lit by bright flashes as nearly one hundred guided missiles were launched from the front and sides of the ship. They streaked across space leaving trails of flame and impacted on the shields of the first Sith capital ship.

These Sith ships were designed much the same as those produced by the Star Forge Kelborne saw from his bridge and he had ordered adjustments to the missiles before launch. The missiles began to pound the Sith Interdictor class ship, and finally its starboard shields could no longer stand the punishment and failed. This left the remaining thirty or so missiles an exposed target and they burrowed in. Kelborne watched with satisfaction as his missiles began tearing into the hull of the Sith ship bringing forth massive gouts of flame from explosions dotting across the superstructure. Four of the missiles impacted directly above the Ion engine core of the ship and the bridge crew of THE ORIGIN roared in approval as the blinding explosion ripped the ship asunder.

Their exuberance was short lived as THE ORIGIN shuddered under the impact of dozens of Sith missiles and turbo laser blasts. Mandalorian ships were built for combat, and THE ORIGIN survived the initial barrage from the remaining two capital ships with limited damage.

"Bring us around!" Kelborne shouted. "Course 145 mark nine! reload all missile launchers and…"

Kelborne's voice was drowned out by the massive groan of collapsing hull and the violent shudder of direct hits on his ship. He was tossed violently to the deck, smashing his head on the leg of a communication console. He shook his head, ignoring the pain and blood spilling from the nasty gash now located on the side of his head above his left ear. He heaved himself to his feet, using the console for support.

"Report!" He shouted.

"Aft shields are down! Aft shields are down! We have decompression on decks four through nineteen! Main engines are off line! We're venting plasma!"

"Engage emergency engines! Turn to face them! Protect our flank! Damage crews to station!" Kelborne screamed.

"General! Two more capital ships are closing!"

"Status of missile reload!"

"Automatic reload was in effect General, but only half the launchers are now fully operational!" His executive officer yelled.

"Status of the ACCENDANT?"

"They have made the jump to hyperspace and are clear General!"

"Order a full retreat!" Kelborne spoke! "Unload all operational missiles at the nearest capital ships and give me full power! We need to break…!"

THE ORIGIN shuddered violently again, and several small explosions on the bridge sent crew sailing through the air to impact hideously against the bulkhead.

"We've lost main power!" His executive officer screamed. "All shields are down! Five Sith capital ships are coming to bear and locking on us!"

Kelborne turned to the large view port blood soaking his uniform. His eyes narrowed as he watched the Sith ships line up to pulverize his ship and he knew there was nothing he could do. Kelborne drew himself to his full height, ignoring the pain in his head.

"May my grandchildren be powerful and remember me!" He spoke the last words of his life with great feeling as he watched the Sith ships open fire on his crippled capital ship. His last conscious thought and sight was brilliant streaks of light erupting in front of him, and then there was blackness.

THE ORIGIN bore the brunt of the directed fire of five Sith capital ships, allowing his other ships to escape the battle. THE ORIGIN seemed to crumble from within before it blossomed into a huge ball of fire engulfing several dozen Sith snub fighters as if reaching out in death for one last final blow.

The Sith ships plundered past the shattered hulk of what once was a proud ship with an even prouder commander.

Kelborne of the Mandalorian Clan of Ordo and four thousand of his men and women were the first official casualties of the Pure Sith War as it would come to be called.