4 ABY
Lumiya was slightly older than Luke and Leia; she had red brownish hair, bluish eyes, and a slim figure. She had been one of Anakin's promising students of the dark side. Although trained with the light saber she had developed a new type of energy weapon. An energy whip made of crystals and Mandalorian iron. Any opponent Jedi or not would be caught off guard by her red whip.
Anakin approached her on the Death Star after the meeting. She was looking out into space, the Darth Star had moved from the Endor system into deep space where it would be completed in secret. "You are sending Master Vos to his death are you not," she asked him.
"It's necessary, she cannot have any distractions. The last of the Old Republic Jedi will be gone, a new start," Anakin said.
"Do you worry that she will hate you for it?" Lumiya asked.
"If she ever found out, but even if she did it would only strengthen the dark side within her," Anakin reasoned.
"What would you have me do, my cover has been blown," Lumiya said, she had been an Imperial spy in Rogue Squadron.
"You're mission is complete, I want you to be my apprentice," Anakin said finally.
Lumiya stared at Anakin with surprise. "I am honored, but you must know that I will be the subject of envy for the others, my life is at risk," Lumiya said.
"This is true, it shall be secret. Do not reveal this to anyone and you will be safe," Anakin said.
Bakura System
Imperial troops were entrenched at the capital city waiting for the Ssi Ruuk to arrive. Ssi Ruuk ships were also in orbit. A Star Destroyers heavily damaged retreated, its Tie fighters racing into the atmosphere to escape the Ruuk's Swarm Class Battle Droids. The Ruuk had one Shree battle cruiser the size of a Victory Star Destroyer, one Planetary Assault cruiser slightly smaller, 12 landing ships, 4 light cruisers, 20 small picket ships, but their strength was in their 1,300 battle droid fighters.
To makes matters worse the Ruuk used the biological energy of their captives to fuel their ships, to fire on their ships meant killing the captives. Imperial governor Wilek Nereus sent transmissions to anyone that could assist the Bakura system. The Rebel Alliance crippled by Endor received the messaged.
"Should we assist," an officer asked Mon Mothma.
"The Ruuk are a threat to all, we could gain Bakura's allegiance and destroy the Imperial presence there," Mon considered. "Send a small task force to assist the Bakura, it's all we can spare," Mon ordered.
The Flurry, a rebel cruiser a third the size of Victory Star Destroyer, 12 X-wings, 8 Y-wings, 3 A-wings, 4 B-wings, 1 Corellian Corvette, and 5 Corellian gunships. The task force went into hyperspace toward the Bakura system.
Mon Mothma sent a transmission to the Imperial governor. "The alliance wishes to assist you against the Ssi Ruuk," Mon Mothma told him.
The governor considered, news of the Battle of Endor had not reached the system yet. "It seems we have no choice, a truce," the governor offered.
"Truce it is, an alliance task force is on its way," Mon informed him.
Ssi Ruuk landing ships began unloading troops onto the surface. The Ssi Ruuk had a reptilian look to them, almost taking the form of a raptor. Their claws and jaws could savagely slay their enemies, but they also knew the mechanics of modern weaponry.
Han and Leia's ship landed in a resistance hide out on Bakura escaping Ssi Ruuk attention. Upon landing Han, Leia, and the two droids walked into the caves that made up the rebel hideouts.
"Commander Skywalker, Captain Solo," a rebel officer addressed them.
Han nodded looking around. "You have been missing for some time Solo, we're happy to see you back," the rebel officer said cheerfully.
"Yeah, glad…to be back where the action is," Han muttered.
"What is the situation?" Leia asked.
"We haven't received any contact from Mon Mothma, we fear she might have been captured," the rebel told her.
"If she is captured all is lost," Leia said with a tone of defeatism.
"We still have you," the rebel pointed out.
"The Ssi Ruuk?" Leia asked.
"They have attacked the planet, the Imperials look like they will be overwhelmed without reinforcements. We were planning on assisting the Imperials at the capital and then taking the capital for ourselves after the battle, but we have no orders," the rebel explained.
"All right, I'll make the order. Prepare your men," Leia ordered.
Governor Nereus watched the battle map nervously as he saw the approaching Ssi Ruuk army approach. "Send another transmission, we need more men," Nereus ordered his communication officers.
"Fortify the city," Nereus added. "How are we in the air?" Nereus asked commander Pter Thanas.
"Not good, not only do I have to deal with the Ssi Ruuk but the alliance has shown up as well," Thanas said grimly.
"The alliance is here to assist us, allow them to, but turn on them the moment I give the order," Nereus said.
"Will do," Thanas said signing off.
"The Bakura system has asked for reinforcements, should we engage the Ssi Ruuk," Admiral Piett asked.
"No, the fleet is to find Mon Mothma and destroy her, everything else is secondary," Anakin told him.
Anakin signed off, he had sent Jedi rich in the light side of the Force on Bakura, as he suspected they may turn on him. With the Jedi reaching the thousands Anakin would use this battle to purge the bad blood.
Imperial shuttles approached Bakura and unloaded Jedi to the capital numbering a little over a hundred. Unlike the old times, the Jedi did not wear long robes but short white or black outfits that didn't restrict movement. They were also equipped with sight enhancers, shield generators, blasters, grenades, and a light saber. In the days of the Old Republic there was a greater reliance on the Force if a situation went bad. Now every Jedi knew to rely only on himself and use the Force as a tool if needed.
Master Vos walked out of his shuttle and greeted the governor. "We have been called to defend the capital," Vos informed him.
"This is it?" Nereus said disappointed.
"Don't underestimate Jedi, tell me the situation," Vos requested.
The rebel task force exited hyperspace and engaged the Ssi Ruuk along the Imperial cruiser Dominant. Tie fighters and X-wings for the first time fought along side to blast apart the battle droid fighters.
"Do not concern yourself with who powers their ships, you will be giving them a favor," Thanas reminded his pilots.
The Furry and the Dominant fired together at the Ruuk battle cruiser Shriwirr. Underground rebel forces under Leia's command signed a temporary truce with the governor. Rebel and Imperial artillery guns were put into place for the advancing Ssi Ruuk.
"Create a "V" bottle nose them so that the Jedi can get at them as they come," Vos ordered.
"Leia Skywalker, a pleasure to see you again," Vos commented as he greeted Leia.
"I didn't plan to come here looking for a war," Leia said.
"The war always seems to come to us," Vos said almost sadly. He was an old man now; he had seen his fair share of war.
"You're father is concerned for you, if not for this battle, I would have half a mind to have you taken back," Vos said seriously.
"I don't think it will come to that," Leia said.
Imperial and rebel guns began firing as the lizards came into range. Troops on both sides began firing into the distance. As planned the lizards were going to concentrate on one point giving the Jedi the advantage.
"I will see you again, very soon," Vos warned Leia as he led the Jedi to the outside of the city walls.
Vos in front of the Jedi ignited his red and green light sabers. The hundred Jedi behind him also ignited their sabers. Green, blue, yellow, purple, and some red sabers sprang up among the Jedi.
Vos whirled his light sabers in an intimidating fashion and ran into the battle. The Ssi Ruuk fired at the approaching Jedi. The Jedi used their sabers to back the fire, but a few were hit falling behind. Vos used his sabers to slice into the first Ruuk killing him instantly. The Jedi rushed the Ruuk slicing into their unarmored flesh. The Ruuk screeched in pain as sabers sliced limbs and tails.
The Ssi Ruuk lines fell into confusion as Jedi mixed within their ranks. Some dark side users sent lightning into their opponents causing them to fall to the ground. Other Jedi Force pushed the Ssi Ruuk away from them.
"Don't waste your energy, rely on your saber techniques," Vos shouted among the roars and screeches of the Ssi Ruuk.
As the battle turned against the Jedi, more of them increasingly fell. Some had been killed by concentrated laser fire or by melee weapons. Others were gutted and torn by the Ruuk's claws and teeth.
Vos in the middle of the battle lost his red saber after a Ruuk bit his arm. Vos spun around slicing the gut of his attacker. His saber out of reach Vos ignited his second green blade. Now with a double bladed green light saber he whirled around in circles slicing into anything around him.
A Ssi Ruuk planetary cruiser observed the battle. It fired on its own army blasting Jedi and Ruuk into the air. "Fire at the cruiser," Leia ordered.
"We need to get a ship, and get out of here," Han said.
"But the battle," Leia protested.
"This isn't out fight, it's too much for us," Han said taking her hand.
Inside the caves Han realized quickly enough that the Ssi Ruuk had invaded the caves taking the rebels prisoner to power their ships. Leia ignited her blue light saber while Han started firing.
The two struggled to get to the hanger bay deep under the ground. Leia used the Force to send the rocks down on the Ruuk keeping them at bay. Inside the hanger C3PO and R2D2 were waiting for them.
"It's nice to see you back captain Solo, with all the fuss outside," C3PO commented.
"Is the ship ready?" Han asked.
R2D2 made a few beeps. "He says that we have enough fuel to get us to next system," C3PO reported.
Han rushed inside and began powering up the engines. The Imperial shuttle became active and flew towards the outside.
The planetary cruiser looked at the ascending cruiser. "Capture that ship, I can sense a powerful life force," a boy's voice told Admiral Ivpikkis of the Ssi Ruuk.
The cruiser ignored the battle below and went after the Imperial shuttle trapping it in a tractor beam.
"We're trapped in their beam, you two hide somewhere in the ship," Han said.
"I don't see how that will help us," C3PO said skeptically. "Better to talk with them, I am fluent in…"C3PO began.
"They don't use droids, only people," Han argued.
The shuttle was placed inside the Ruuk's hanger. The admiral and the boy known as Dev Sibwarra walked toward the shuttle. "She is the one," the boy said to the admiral.
"Good, a live Jedi," the admiral hissed.
Leia ignited her light saber. "Put away your weapons or you will both be destroyed," the admiral threatened as his fellow creatures aimed their guns at them.
Rebel and Imperial fighters blasted away at the battle droids as the two cruisers sliced away at the battle cruiser. Finally the cruiser exploded. Thanas looked away as it was visible to see frozen humans floating through space after the explosions ended.
"Concentrate on the task at hand," Thanas ordered.
Leia and Han were strapped into the Ssi Ruuk machinery used to extract life energy for their ships. Leia and Han shuttered as their life energy became part of the ship. "Yes, soon we will have enough energy to kill all those below," the admiral grinned curling his lips.
The admiral left to prepare the weapon. Dev looked at Leia in wonder. "Please, deactivate the restraints," Leia begged him. Dev looked at her fearfully. "Many people will die if you don't let us go," Leia stressed.
"All right, but you don't know them like I do. They do gruesome to people who oppose them," Dev said.
"I'll protect you," Leia promised.
Dev walked away; going past the guards he was able to convince the guards to go elsewhere using a mind trick. He proceeded to deactivate Leia's cell. Leia and Han fell to the ground exhausted.
"You're light saber," Dev said giving it to her.
Leia ignited the light saber. "You have done well," Leia said and ran towards the bridge.
Slicing through the guards she took one of their rifles and gave one to Han. "Here," Leia shouted throwing the weapon.
Han took the weapon. "This was not what I had in mind," Han said fatigued.
"We're loosing power," an officer told the admiral. The bridge was blasted open, Leia's light saber lighting up the room.
Leia sliced the guards down but was stunned by the admiral's blaster. Han took out the remaining guards.
"Leia," Han yelled over the firing.
"It's not bad," Leia said, the wound was on her shoulder. She threw her light saber blasting open the glass. The room was depressurized throwing the admiral out.
Leia caught Dev as he was about to fly out as well. Han with enormous effort climbed up to the console and shielded the windows.
"Do you know where the shuttle is?" Leia asked.
"I can take you to it," Dev answered.
On their way to the hanger bay they noticed many more humans and alien life forms chained to the equipment. "We have to free them," Leia said.
"We don't have time," Han said.
Explosions threw all three to the ground. "We have to get to that shuttle," Han pressed.
Sacrificing the captives Leia and Han killed off those in their way to the hanger. An explosion hit Dev sending him to the ground.
"Dev!" Leia shouted.
"He's dead, we have to go," Han told her as it became obvious he wasn't responding.
The Imperial shuttle exited the cruiser as it went into a dive toward the ground.
"Retreat back," Vos shouted as the cruiser was about to hit the ground.
The cruiser hit the ground causing a huge explosion, dust went everywhere. Vos was caught up in the explosion and buried in the rock and dirt. Other Jedi faced the same fate, their light sabers deactivating as the explosion hit them.
"The Ssi Ruuk fleet is in retreat," Thanas reported.
"Good, destroy the rebel ships, we have no need of them," Nereus ordered.
Thanas turned his guns on the Flurry. After a few surprise shots and Tie fighter attacks the Flurry exploded in a fiery blaze. Rebel fighters immediately turned on the Tie fighters.
Anakin sensed the death of the Jedi with some irritation. "Go to Bakura, and give me a report," Anakin ordered Lumiya.
Three Star Destroyers went into light speed toward Bakura. The Dominant became dead in the water due to constant rebel fire. It was about to be boarded when Lumiya's ships showed up. The rebels retreated as the Star Destroyers emerged from hyperspace.
"I sense a familiar presence," Lumiya said to herself.
She observed an Imperial shuttle leaving the atmosphere. "Where is that shuttle going, call it back," she ordered.
"It's not responding," an officer told her.
"Follow it, bring it in," she ordered.
The Star Destroyer chased after the shuttle and began to fire. "Now what?" Han asked himself as laser fire was all around him.
"I couldn't save him," Leia muttered.
"We're going to be killed ourselves if we don't get out of here," Han reminded her.
"We're too slow," Lumiya said. "My ship," Lumiya ordered.
"Hyper drive offline, it will take a while to get it back online," Han informed a panicked Leia.
"Dropping into the atmosphere," Han told her. The shuttle went into the atmosphere, the surface of the ship becoming red hot.
Tie Interceptors exited the Star Destroyer and went after the shuttle. "We'll take out the engines and force them to land," Lumiya told her fellow pilots. "I want them alive," she added.
Taking her ship she sent it into the atmosphere, where the Tie Interceptor's panels absorbed the heat. She began firing into the atmosphere, unable to hit the shuttle. "I am sure it's her," Lumiya said to herself.
Using the Force Lumiya concentrated and fired. The shuttle was hit directly and was headed toward the ground. Grinning she continued the chase. Suddenly her Tie Interceptor escorts exploded. Rebel fighters from the planet itself blasted her remaining escorts.
"No!" she yelled in frustration. An X-wing fighter blasted her ship. The ship turned to flames and crashed on the planet.
"Thanks guys," Han said gratefully.
"Glad we could help, we need to prepare for evacuations. We'll get you a new ship," the X-wing pilot informed them.
Author's Note: Okay, this is seriously the last post of the year. Found some time to write this up, but I won't see your reviews until I get back. Happy New Year.