Chapter Fourteen
The weeks of Zira's recovery whizzed by Vitani in what seemed like days. Before she knew it, she was adjusting to seeing her mother in a Coalition Uniform. Because of her previous command experience, and her recommendation from Simba - something even Zira found surprising - Zira was put through officer training, and by the time she got through it all, managed to hit Lieutenant. In the following months, she was awarded several awards and accolades for bravery and skill, leading squads and sometimes platoons into combat against Hyena Raiders and other rogue elements that openly attacked the Pridelands. She went from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander, and then to Commander in a rather messy incident involving an assassination attempt on Simba by a radical terrorist. From there, she popped Commander when she secured vital intel that led to a thwarting of an attempt to bomb Pride Rock. As if that wasn't enough, she subsequently rose to Captain for her quick thinking in a diplomatic crisis that ended with the Pridelands earning an ally in an independent faction operating from the lands beyond the Outlands, the Helguard Independent Alliance.
Simba was impressed with Zira's meteoric rise through the ranks - and Tyber was doubly so. But they both knew there had to be a reason Phospho had been so quiet. They both suspected the same thing - he would be paying them a visit... soon.
Zira had no way of knowing just how soon as she got off a drop ship that had landed at the Independents' base of operations. "Alpha Base" they called it - situated on a plateau overlooking a vast valley. In a way, the base reminded Zira of a UNSC Base that she read about in one of Tyber's books. The head of the Independents - a panther named Commander Sorbik - approached her with a salute. "Captain Zira! Damn good to see you!" he greeted her, shouting over the drop ship engine.
Zira returned the salute. "Likewise, Commander! King Simba and Lord-Admiral Tyber look forward to working with you - and on that note..." Zira waited for the engines to shut completely down before continuing in a normal tone, "... Your last message said you had some data on an unauthorized mining operation in the nearby valley?"
"Walk with me, I'll bring you up to speed, Captain," Sorbik said, stepping aside and gesturing inside as Zira's ODST Bodyguards - something Tyber came up with, a dedicated Lion Special Forces supplemented by specially-armored and equipped battle droids - got off the drop ship. Zira walked alongside Sorbik as they headed inside the base.
"You said before that the Lord-Admiral was looking for anything regarding forces under a Sith Lord named Phospho?" Sorbik asked.
"Yes, what of it?" Zira affirmed.
"Some of our boys came across this mining operation, and guess who we caught there on-site?" Sorbik chuckled.
"You're certain it's him?" Zira asked.
"We'll be able to prove it to you soon enough," Sorbik said with glee. They walked down the stairs leading down into the deeper depths of the base.
"What are they mining down there?" Zira asked.
"Near as we can tell from eyewitness accounts and intercepted data, something called Acid Quartz. We don't currently know what they want with it, but they're mining it in a hurry," Sorbik answered.
"Anything in your data about a Slipspace Portal?" Zira queried.
"I know you guys found one, and this Sith, whatever his name was, wants to use it. We don't yet know how the Acid Quartz fits in," Sorbik said as they wound their way through the base.
"It has to fit in somehow, else a Sith like Phospho wouldn't mine it the way you describe," Zira said.
"I know; however it fits into his plans, Phospho is trying to get as much of it as he can - according to scouts, he seemed tense and agitated - educated guess, something has him spooked," Sorbik stated. "None of us can quite say what."
"Damned if I know," Zira scoffed as they walked into a computer room, where a Tiger stood at attention upon seeing Sorbik and Zira.
"Captain, I believe you remember my XO, Major Silva?" Sorbik asked.
"Indeed," Zira answered, snapping off a salute to the tiger. "Good to see you again, Silva."
"Likewise, Captain," Silva responded, returning the salute.
"Show the good Captain what you showed me - your scouts' report," Sorbik requested.
Silva nodded, then tapped the shoulder of the tech at the computer. "Punch up three," he told her. The tech complied, and a video image was pulled up of a lion wearing a hooded, black cloak, standing amidst a large mining operation consisting of several dozen apparent slaves and about a half-dozen overseers. He bore a remarkably striking resemblance to Nuka. So striking, in fact, that Zira wondered if she was now looking at an image of her alternate-timeline late son. He seemed agitated, tense - and visibly shuddered, then looked toward the camera, causing the scout holding it to duck it behind the rock outcropping he was perched on. "Our boys also got a bit closer, enough to get an audio recording," Silva reported, nodding again to the tech. The tech punched in a command, and Zira heard Nuka's voice as he spoke,
"We'll need to get as much of the acid quartz as we can; if I'm right, they'll be the key to..." Nuka stopped unexpectedly. "... there is a disturbance in the Force..." he then whispered, so softly it was barely audible on the recording.
"Our boys exfiltrated after that, fearing their cover had been blown," Sorbik said.
"Does that sound like Darth Phospho to you, Captain?" Silva asked.
"I wouldn't know; I've never heard his voice before. What that voice did sound like was my late son, Nuka," Zira admitted.
"Didn't your superiors mention Phospho was using a disguise?" Sorbik asked.
"Speculated, and yes, they did - though Tyber also theorized at one point that Nuka may have survived in an alternate timeline and became this Sith; either way, we need to know what he has planned for the-" Zira was cut off when the computer bleeped with an incoming transmission.
"Commander, we're getting a distress signal from a Pridelander Drop Ship," the tech reported.
"Let's hear it," Sorbik requested. The tech punched in the command, and a male voice came on the line:
"... Drop ship Bravo 22 requesting immediate landing clearance! I got a Sith attack force hot behind me, and they're heading here! Repeat, this is drop ship Bravo 22 requesting immediate landing clearance!"
"Confirmed, sir - seismic sensors indicate a large ground force heading this way," the Tech proclaimed.
"What do you make of this, Captain?" Sorbik asked.
"Something's not right," Zira said. "Bravo 22 has been missing since that incident a few months back with the diplomatic crisis that landed you with us."
"Maybe - but he's clearly not lying about the attack force; Phospho must have realized we were on to him and sent an attack force to grind us into dust," Sorbik said.
"It may be more than that - he may try and erase any data we have on his activity and goals. Phospho wouldn't want us knowing what he's after and whatever connection it has to the Slipspace Portal," Zira suggested.
"Can you get your people over here? We'd be hard-pressed to defeat a force like that without them," Sorbik queried.
"Already done," Zira growled. She got out her radio. "Captain Zira to Lord-Admiral Drakona."
"Go ahead, Captain," Tyber responded. "What do you have for me?"
"Lord-Admiral, we've determined that Phospho has a mining operation here, mining something called Acid Quartz; we think it has some connection to the Slipspace Portal in the Pridelands. I could tell you more, but I have a Sith attack force bearing down on me and our allies, and they're requesting aid," Zira told him.
"Say a...? You're... ing up! Signal ag...! Did... say Sith... you?" Came Tyber's voice garbled in static.
"Affirmative! We need reinforcements ASAP! Can you hear me, Tyber?" Zira responded.
"They're jamming comms - that's not good," Silva commented.
"Tyber will take notice of the communications disruption and send reinforcements promptly," Zira assured him. "In the meantime, we need to determine why Bravo 22 is popping up on the grid now."
Sorbik paused, then looked to the tech. "Allow that drop ship to land, but keep a close eye on him!" Sorbik commanded. He looked to Zira. "I'll handle the ground force until your commander can get reinforcements here; you talk to your pilot, and above all else, protect our data."
Zira nodded. "Gladly," she replied. As Sorbik headed off, Zira turned to a lieutenant. "Get the pilot down here, pronto. I want to know where the hell he's been." The Lieutenant nodded and rushed off as the tech at the comms gave Bravo 22 clearance to land. Tense seconds ticked by as Zira waited for the drop ship to land. After it did, however... nothing. The pilot didn't step out. In fact, it was almost as if the craft was empty. Then, suddenly, alert klaxons blared, and soldiers left and right began dying, killed by moving, shimmering apparitions. Gunfire and screams echoed down to Zira, who readied her rifle. She left a good security team down in the server room, and was on her way up when she collided with one of the apparitions; it was almost so invisible, she couldn't see it. But she immediately raised her rifle, which was quickly swatted away. She barely deflected his counterattack and flung him into a wall, momentarily disrupting the warrior's cloaking device. Zira was quick to roll, dodging the next attack, and pick up her rifle and fire a sustained burst into the creature. he howled, and was quickly silenced, after which he de-cloaked to reveal a Sith soldier. "Zira to team - we have Sith Infiltrators in the base! They're using stealth devices - switch to Thermal tracking!" Zira commanded, right before equipping thermal goggles. Just in time, too, as a fire team of Sith Infiltrators came around the corner. While their stealth fields hid them from the base personnel, they didn't hide their thermal signature - and actually, they generated more heat than normal Stealth Devices. Zira was quick to raise her rifle and fire, and two of her cohorts arrived and did the same. The Sith fire team dropped like a rock.
"Captain, we have reports of Sith troops making their way down to the server level of the base!" One of Zira's NCOs reported over the radio.
"They're after the files we have on Phospho," Zira surmised. "All hands, defend the server room! Do not let the data get erased!" She then turned and high-tailed it to the server room - and arrived with the rest of her squad. Just in time, it seemed - no sooner than she arrived did yet another team of Sith Infiltrators arrive; the gunfight was started by Zira, who raised her rifle and drilled the NCO of the group, before they had a chance to shoot at the computers. The lot spread out, but in that narrow hall, there was little cover - Zira's team fired on the enemy, and they were forced to retreat. Zira would not let them. She primed a grenade and threw it into their midst, making sure it landed ahead of their path, yelling, "Frag out!" as she threw it. The soldiers ran right into it, evidently either unaware it had been thrown or erroneously believing the grenade would fall short - when it detonated, it rocked the hall and shredded the enemy troops.
"Major Silva to Captain Zira - Sith forces are retreating to the drop ship, but we have it locked down with a tractor beam; the controls are locked down at the moment, but that won't last - can you give us a hand up here?" Silva asked over the radio.
"On my way, Major," Zira replied. She turned to her squad. "Two droids, with me - the rest of you, defend this room with your lives!" She then headed up topside, and found a raging battle in progress. The drop ship was still landed, trying to power up, but was unable to leave due to the tractor beam. Zira saw the Sith troops, sitting covered by the drop ship. Inside the cockpit, she saw the limp form of a pilot in a Coalition uniform - Bravo 22. He was clearly dead, though it was not apparent what had killed him; more than likely, he was killed before landing. Only one thing to do, Zira thought. She issued her orders, and the droids opened the fuel valves, while Zira grabbed a hose and shouted for everyone to get clear. She then proceeded to spray the drop ship and the pad with fuel, saturating it. The spill was contained in a barrier around the pad. When she ordered the valves shut, she raised her rifle and threw a grenade; the resulting explosion, coupled with a releasing of the tractor beam and the drop ship's thrusters flaring full blast in an attempt to escape, blew the drop ship off the pad - which crashed on the plateau below, well away from the Alliance Forces - and ignited the fuel, turning those that survived the explosion into shimmering, dancing torches; Zira and the Helguard forces wasted little time putting them down. It was then that a line of explosions ripped the plateau further afield, where the Sith forces were advancing from; the enemy forces that were engaging the Helguard forces chose that moment to retreat and regroup.
"Lord-Admiral Drakona to Captain Zira - am I correct in assuming you were in a tight spot?" Tyber's voice came over the radio.
"Affirmative, Lord-Admiral - damn good to see you!" Zira affirmed.
"Good to know you're still with us, Captain - sit tight, reinforcements incoming. Keep your heads down," Tyber advised.
"Roger, Lord-Admiral!" Zira gleefully shouted. "You heard the Lord-Admiral! Reinforcements inbound! Let's give these bastards a good show!" It was as Zira was saying this that Coalition drop ships arrived, dropping fresh troops off just as the Sith forces launched a renewed assault; this time, Helguard forces, assisted by Coalition troops and armored groups, gave them a bloody fight; A pair of Scorpion Main Battle Tanks blew holes in the advancing enemy formations and blew apart the Sith-deployed 2M Repulsor Tanks. Curiously, Phospho was nowhere to be seen - one would expect that an attack of this scale would be headed by Phospho himself, but he was nowhere in sight. After a tense battle that went into the hours of dusk, the Sith forces were routed. The battlefield was littered with corpses as well as husks of vehicles. The Helguard suffered grievous casualties - but even they admitted that had the Pridelander Coalition forces not intervened, it would have been a hell of a lot worse. Zira had overseen the transfer of data between Helguard and Pridelander systems, and when it was finished, she and her squad headed up topside, where Silva, Sorbik and Tyber were waiting. Tyber's face was serious. For a moment, Zira was worried something had come up - before she realized she'd seen that face before - every time he promoted her.
"Attention!" Tyber shouted. Everyone in the vicinity immediately snapped to attention. Zira approached Tyber calmly. "I knew this day was long coming, Zira," he told her. "Zira, you have gone above and beyond in these recent months. You have gained the loyalty of the Coalition, and you have earned our trust. You are a credit to us all. That being said, I have come to rely on you heavily; it is only fitting you join the upper echelon... effective immediately, you are hereby given the rank of Admiral. Congratulations, Admiral Zira." Zira barely resisted the urge to grin, and snapped off a sharp salute, which was returned by Tyber. "I imagine there's a lot to be done, Admiral," Tyber said.
"Indeed, sir," Zira agreed. "But the news here is... grim, to be blunt."
"In what way?" Tyber asked.
"Examination of the recovered enemy bodies indicated the troops that entered the base while the main body engaged the Helguard forces were actually advance scouts - and if Phospho's scouts can do this..." Zira indicated the devastation around them "... kind of damage, then it stands to reason..."
"... That their main attack forces can do a lot worse," Tyber surmised. "I figured such. And I knew there had to be a reason Phospho himself didn't lead this attack."
"He sent this force to keep us occupied while he took what he already mined and slipped away; Helguard forces and ours confirmed that," Zira said. "Phospho evidently feels he has enough Acid Quartz to pull off whatever he has intended for it. Fortunately, Lord-Admiral... I have a plan to deal with this, and resolve two issues at the same time."
Tyber cracked a wide smile. "I thought you might, Admiral," he said.
Zira returned the smile with a toothy grin of her own. It begins, she thought.
(I apologize for the long wait for this chapter; it has become increasingly difficult to find time to write these days. I will try to get more done in the coming weeks and months as another project of mine nears completion. -CDA)