Chapter 11
The Kessel Run was one of the greatest tests for all smugglers. To successfully navigate around the black holes was a significant challenge even for Han Solo. It was not an easy trek for any Imperial fleet group, making it difficult to stem corruption in the spice trade. But now the barren world was laid before Grand Admiral Thrawn's gaze.
Thrawn was known for his patience and few things surprised him. The lack of any real defenses around Kessel made the trip seem cheap.
"Send a transmission to the administrator," Thrawn ordered. He turned to a communications officer and said, "Demand his surrender."
Han Solo was immediately suspicious when he saw the lack of any real Imperial presence near Kessel. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he said.
Chewbacca added, Something's not right.
Yoda hobbled into the cockpit and said, "Chewbacca is right. A dark omen this is. Sensed a shadow around Thrawn I did during our trip."
Han could not deny any existence of the Force and nor could he disagree with Yoda. He survived for years by relying on his instincts. Something did not feel right.
Lando asked, "Why would he send a fleet this big to attack Kessel? We were led to believe the Empire had serious reinforcements here."
"Maybe the intelligence was wrong," Han said, trying not to admit it to himself that something bad was about to happen.
"Wrong the intelligence was," Yoda said. "Had to sense it myself, I did."
"Do you think Thrawn plans to betray us?" Winter asked Yoda.
The Jedi Master closed his eyes. "Difficult to see, Thrawn's motives are," he admitted. "The dark side clouds everything."
Han shook his head. "For a minute there, I thought you were going to make more sense than Obi-Wan," the Corellian commented.
What will we do? Chewbacca asked.
Yoda said, "Down to the facility, we must go."
Suddenly, turbolaser fire erupted from the enemy Star Destroyers, forcing Han to tense. "Get to the gun turrets!" he told Winter and Lando. "This is going to be a bumpy ride!"
Rogue Squadron was one of the first fighter groups to leave the hangar bays of Rebel fleet. The X-Wings were out of place among the various TIE models moving towards the enemy fighters.
Luke felt at home in his X-Wing. He was always a natural pilot, but he had not seen action since Hoth nearly a year ago. But with the Force, his innate skills received a turbocharged boost. There was no cockpit rust whatsoever.
The first wave of TIEs approached the Rebels. Tibanna powered cannons spat green plasma at the Rebels, forcing them to take evasive action and return fire. Many allied fighters went down in the first assault before the fighters broke formation and formed up in squadrons.
Luke jerked his control stick as he turned to starboard with his wingmate. Mara followed him as Luke pursued his target, a trio of TIE Interceptors. He locked his quad lasers and blasted the far fighter. The center ship made a swift maneuver and crashed into the other Interceptor.
Suddenly, another group of TIE Fighters surged through the debris cloud and began firing on Luke. Mara quickly covered Luke, spraying the TIEs with sharp bursts of fire.
"Thanks, Rogue 2," Luke said.
"Nothing to it, Farmboy," Mara replied.
"Rogue Squadron, Bolt Squadron, form up," Luke ordered. "We've got to keep them away from our Star Destroyers."
"Copy, Rogue Leader," Bolt Leader acknowledged.
Luke's grip on his control stick tightened as he led the fighters in a rapid turn towards the Rebel fleet. Some enemy fighters had managed to shatter their defensive screen and were wreaking havoc on the Rebel ships.
"They're going for the Septic," Hobbie observed. "If they take it out…"
"Cut the chatter," Luke barked. He was not going to stand for any comments that could decrease morale even though the Rebels had superior numbers for once. Luke realized how important a Grand Admiral was to the Rebellion and made swarming the fighters attacking the flagship his first priority.
The Rebel fighters attempted to evade enemy fire, but friendly fire from one of the Septic's turbolaser batteries tore through one of the Rogues, forcing Luke to wince. Rogue 11 was a new recruit and being killed by friendly fire was not the best way to go.
Luke did not give his quad lasers much of a rest. He fired relentlessly at the Imperial fighters, hoping to pin them against the hull of the Star Destroyer for an easy fight. The added risk of friendly fire complicated matters, allowing many Imperials to escape. Rogue and Bolt Squadron cut down most of the ones who tried to escape.
By the time Luke led the squadrons away from the Septic, Star Destroyers began trading fire. The Imperials were horribly outnumbered and were beginning to pay the price for not surrendering.
Fighters continued to duel away from the Star Destroyers. Rebel numbers began to take their toll on the Imperials. Enemy TIEs were being swarmed and crushed by waves of laser fire.
Luke flew through some debris and noticed the Millennium Falcon flying towards Kessel. "What are you doing, Han?" he thought aloud.
Han clenched his teeth as he tried to outmaneuver the fighters. Winter and Lando were proving to be a skilled gunner team, which helped keep the Falcon's shields intact even though some shots always hit the freighter. "Come on, baby," he said as he put his ship through a tight dive.
The Millennium Falcon flew through the meager atmosphere surrounding Kessel, still pursued by enemy TIE Fighters. "Keep them off my back!" Han shouted.
"I'm trying!" Lando growled back. "Someone doesn't want us down here!"
A few shots made it through, scoring hits against the freighter's shields. Winter kept a durasteel resolve, firing quick, accurate shots. A few more fighters were vaped and suddenly, the TIEs broke formation and left the freighter alone.
"Han," Luke said over the comm. "They're surrendering."
"That's the best news I've heard all day," Han replied.
"A clear path to the prison facility, we have," Yoda spoke.
Han turned to the old Jedi Master. Yoda appeared concerned, but surprisingly calm to him despite having just been through a battle. "Yeah," he said. "I don't have any environmental suits in your size, Yoda."
"Of little consequence, that is," Yoda said. "The Force is my ally."
Han said nothing, turning to resume piloting.
Kyle's X-Wing emerged from hyperspace. Ziost felt like cold in the Force to the Jedi. The world had long been lost, but returned to most star charts when some Rebels accidentally stumbled upon the former Sith world.
Kyle attempted to contact the Rebel base, but received no return signal. "Just as I feared," he muttered.
The X-Wing flew through the atmosphere and towards the landing pad by the Rebel base. Kyle noticed a ship he could not identify and he could feel the dark side swirling around the area like a hurricane.
He cautiously set the fighter down, knowing that all his training had prepared him for the moment Kyle would have to face a Sith Lord. Moments later, he was climbing out of his fighter.
Kyle drew his lightsaber as he entered the old Sith temple, a curious location for a Rebel base. The air reeked of burnt flesh, creating a sense of dread about the place. Kyle could sense the Sith Lord waiting for him as he entered the antechamber, but it was not who he expected.
A man dressed in a black Jedi robe stood in the chamber. "I've been waiting to test my skills against a Jedi," the Sith Lord said. His face was concealed beneath a hood. He was like a living representation of death.
"Where's Leia?" Kyle asked.
"Darth Apostas is my prisoner," the Sith replied. "I am Darth Mortis."
"I thought there were only supposed to be two of you," Kyle remarked.
"I serve the true Sith Master," Mortis said. With the flick of his wrist, a lightsaber fell into the Sith Lord's right hand. He activated the blade, producing a column of synthetic bloodshine.
Kyle quickly ignited his azure blade and fell into a familiar Soresu stance. He raised his sword to a high guard as he prepared to defend himself against the Sith Lord.
Mortis closed the distance between them quickly, assuming a classic Ataru posture as he struck at Kyle for the first time. Red and blue plasma roared in the chamber as Kyle gave ground to parry the blow.
Mortis snarled as he struck swiftly and aggressively, prodding high and low for openings in Kyle's defenses. His version of Ataru reminded Kyle much of Mara's technique rather than Yoda's. Mortis was more concerned with trying to stab and get underneath his blade than trying to dazzle him with a rapid offensive. The Sith Lord was also more skilled with a lightsaber than Mara.
Kyle let the Force guide his actions, turning his body and limbs to meet every slash and thrust from his enemy. He sometimes took the offensive, striking for the legs or the head. But Mortis was fast at jumping and just generally evading him. He displayed a considerable familiarity with Soresu.
So Kyle switched his form when he had the chance, meeting offense with offense. It was once again time to test Vaapad. Kyle opened himself to the dark side and danced along the edge of a wire. His unconnected staccato cuts quickly surprised Mortis, prompting the Sith Lord to leap far out of the way.
"So, you know Form VII too?" Mortis asked. "Let me show you mine." With the flick of his wrist, a short lightsaber fell into his left hand. The blood red blade emerged and the Sith Lord twirled both weapons in his hands before assuming a Juyo posture.
"Oh, not good!" Kyle exclaimed.
Mortis leapt at Kyle, engaging him with an even greater ferocity. It was Juyo against Vaapad, ancient against new. Their blades clashed again as Kyle managed to intercept each blade and he delivered swift ripostes in response to the Sith Lord's blows.
But the Jedi was mostly on the defensive. Kyle was slowly guided deeper into the temple. He was relying solely on Vaapad against Mortis's two-handed offensive just to keep his limbs intact.
Kyle backed into the control room, allowing greater movement. Before Mortis could take advantage of it, Kyle struck swiftly for the man's short lightsaber and sliced just below the emitter matrix. Before he could make any further moves, a Force push threw Kyle into a terminal and his lightsaber flew out of his hand.
Mortis leapt into the air, raising his remaining blade for the kill. Kyle quickly dove out of the way and the synthetic bloodshine sheared through the terminal. The Jedi quickly called his lightsaber back to his hand and reactivated the blue sword.
The Sith Lord snarled as he drew his lightsaber away from the terminal. Jedi and Sith stared at each other briefly before the fighting resumed. Kyle took advantage of the opening first, thrusting and slashing rapidly. Mortis was proving to be his equal with a blade.
Red and blue plasma tore through the air, humming and crashing as neither man could best the other. But Kyle was the one giving ground, moving out of the control room and into another hallway. He fought with the ferocity of Vaapad and the grace of Soresu, alternating between the forms whenever he could to throw off the Sith.
Their blades locked and eyes connected. Kyle's brown eyes met Mortis's sulfurous tinged irises. In a move of desperation, Kyle used a Force push to knock Mortis off balance.
It was all Kyle needed. He drew back and slashed upward, cutting through the Sith Lord's right wrist. Mortis snarled before Kyle pivoted and decapitated him with blue plasma.
Darth Mortis fell to the floor, leaving Kyle exhausted. The Jedi deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. Suddenly, he sensed a tremendous spike in the Force.
"An excellent show, Jedi," a female voice said. "That fool managed to cut the controls keeping me in my cage."
