Thanks all for your support. I am working on creating more emotion and feeling, taking the advice of some good writers like Trillian. So, more dialog! The chapter is named for an opening in chess, which is one of my favorite openings - the Queen's Gambit. Updated with ideas from BaM. Don't say I don't know a good idea when I see it.
Pawn to Queen Four
Malachor V – A rooftop in the City of Serphants
Atton Rand scaled the wall like a cat, his finely honed muscles acting in concert with his mind to bring him into an Echani fighting stance as he scanned the area for the intruder. Someone had observed his meeting with Seja and needed to be eliminated.
With his advanced optics, he scanned the ground near the ledge and eerie red images of footprints appeared – an infrared signature of the intruder.
Small…fast…perhaps a child or a woman? Nevertheless, they cannot escape.
Atton then engaged his muscles and sprinted after his prey. This would be like a hundred other kills he had made for Revan. It would be pure Pazaak.
He rounded thick pipes that were steaming with hot fluids until the sound of a droid stopped him cold.
The hum of the sentry droid was most unwelcome and could end his pursuit before it he could eliminate the threat. He threw himself to the floor, holding his breath and glanced up in the direction of the sound.
There, the spherical machine hovered, about five meters away, shrouded in steam. Before the automaton stood a short, red-haired woman, pointing back toward him.
"I am a servant of the Clan Serphants. I know the identity of a Republic spy," she declared.
Atton bit his lip. The droid would take a moment to verify her identity before investigating her claim. He would only have a moment. He would only have one shot.
With practiced hands, he aimed his blaster pistol at the droid's center while rolling out into the open. His eye focused in on the front sight and everything else blurred into oblivion. He pressed the trigger and plasma energy bolted into the droid, slamming into its processor core.
The bolt tore into sensitive electronics and power conduits, rupturing vital systems. The droid lurched, exploding into fragments and wires.
Atton closed his eyes with the flash of the dying droids explosive end. When he opened them again, he saw the woman's legs protruding from behind a wall. No one could have survived that detonation. He wiped perspiration from his brow.
That was too close…well, I got two Mynocks with one stone on that one.
He then coldly blew away a coil of smoke from the barrel of his blaster and made his way back to the street. By the time the Mandalorians found the droid and the dead woman, Malachor would be ashes – they would be just more pawns in the massive sacrifice to come.
When Atton had departed, a painful groan came from behind the wall. The woman rolled about weakly, sharp pieces of metal protruding from her arms and hands. She shrieked in agony as her senses returned until she could control herself. Slowly, she rose, noticing the damaged length of pipe that had shielded her and saved her life.
"This is not over, Republic scum. I have yet another card to play," she said with fierce determination, wiping her short red hair from her sooty face. The pawn was not quite dead.
The Republic Fleet – Day 3 – 0630L
General Mai-Lyn T'Sing brushed back her platinum blonde hair and tied it neatly into a bun at the top of her head. She drove a hair pin through its center like she was skewering an enemy. Unconsciously, the woman looked through her viewing port into the darkness of space, where hundreds of starfighters swarmed in pretty formations, training for the final assault on the Mandalorian homeworld.
Commander Dodonna's squadron will lead the first wave. She must penetrate the outer defenses of the system if my landing is to succeed. I am unconcerned about losses…all that matters is victory.
Victory for my leader and mentor, Revan.
I have come so far in so short a time. It seems like only yesterday that we were but children, playing at being Jedi in the gardens of the Academy. How could the Force know where our destiny would take us?
Mai-Lyn blinked, refocusing her eyes on her own reflection in the transparisteel window. The face of an angel stared back at her, serene and calm on the surface, much like the reflection. However, deep and dark emotions roiled under the crust that had become her demeanor. With a disgusted smirk, she tossed her brush aside with a wave of her hand.
The Jedi sighed, regretting her momentary lapse of control and leaned over to recover the item when the door chimed.
"Come in."
The hiss of the door heralded the entry of a vaguely familiar face. The nameless Iridonian technician entered and bowed. "General, sorry to disturb you, but Admiral Revan will join you soon. I am here to sweep the room to prepare for her arrival."
Mai-Lyn nodded offhandedly – this was merely protocol for counterintelligence. The threat of spies was always omnipresent.
The general pursed her lips. "So, Iridonian, what is your name?" she asked, not really caring, but wanting to show concern for the troops.
In a soft drawl, the Zabrak replied, "It's Bao-Dur, General. Thanks for asking." His soft smile permeated his gray lips in contrast to everything else about him. The jagged lines on his face, the sharp head spikes on his scalp, the squareness of his jaw all implied a hardness of his being. One day, the general would come to know these things, but for today, only a superficial understanding of this unique man would reach her.
"Yes, of course," she responded as one does to an inferior. Revan always had a knack for interacting with the rank and file that Mai-Lyn couldn't understand. For some reason, Revan saw them as her brothers and sisters in a common fight. For the general, however, they were something different.
After all, what are soldiers except pawns to advance the cause? How else could I live with myself for sending so many to their doom?
"General? General, are you okay?"
Mai-Lyn blinked, letting the images of blood pass from her mind. "Yes, Bao…Bao…."
"Bao-Dur, General," he reminded politely. "You seemed distracted. I know you have a lot on your mind with the final assault pending. I won't bother you any further," the technician said, his voice soothing and rich in timbre.
"Thank you, Bao-Dur. I appreciate your concern."
He finished his electronic sweep, finding nothing out of the ordinary. "General, everything checks out. The Admiral has arrived."
Revan strode in confidently, always in command of every situation and setting. Her tall, lean frame was clad in the uniform of a Republic admiral, golden epaulettes and cords ringing her shoulders. The admiral's raven hair lay layered over her neck, framing her face like a picture.
She smiled warmly at Bao-Dur, putting her hand gently on his arm. With her Force-fueled mind, she could recall the names of every crewman, every pilot, every technician on her ship. She cared for every one of them and mourned every loss. This was the feast that fed the fanaticism of her fleet.
"Thank you, Bao-Dur. You may retire for the moment," Revan said, addressing him like a personal friend.
The Zabrak bowed with a glow in his eyes. He loved the admiral and would give his right arm for her. As he departed, Revan pulled up a chair and sat next to Mai-Lyn.
Seated across from each other, the two women looked like mirror opposites, Mai-Lyn's platinum hair and crème-colored robes in contrast to Revan's ebony locks and gray uniform.
Here, two of the most powerful officers in the Republic made eye contact and a long forgotten mirth burst forth. They giggled like school girls for a moment before Revan got herself under control.
"Oh, how I miss this feeling, Mai-Lyn. Back when things were simple and carefree. Do you remember how we played on Dantooine?"
The blonde wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "How could I forget? Master Vrook thought we were always studying. Oh, and that Bastila Shan…stuffy Bastila Shan…."
The smile left Revan's face. "Yes, how can I forget the one who refused my friendship? Do not worry, Mai-Lyn, she will be forgotten by history as will that Vrook," she said. The smile returned. "I am honored that you stayed with me. It means a lot. Here we are, no rank, no titles, just two women chatting."
"I've always admired that about you, Revan. Despite your royal upbringing, you can always relate to the common man. You know the troops worship you, don't you?" The general took a deep breath and looked inward. When she spoke, her tone was softer, more introspective. "For me, I prefer to keep them at arms length…it helps me to issue orders…especially when I know men will die."
Revan nodded sadly. "I feel every loss, but I know that it is all for the greater good. If we do not invade Malachor, the enemy will continue to attack…continue to kill us. You have a good heart, Mai-Lyn…you must learn to connect with it. One day, you will understand."
A wry smile crossed the blonde Jedi's lips. "And where does your heart lie, oh mighty Revan?"
The two thought immediately of Malak – it was becoming common knowledge that he and Revan were romantically involved. Once again, girlish giggles burst from the two officers.
The dark-haired woman wiped away tears. "I have such high hopes for us after this war ends. We will build a new galaxy with high ideals."
Mai-Lyn nodded enthusiastically. "This was the reason I went to war…why I follow you…for a better future. I chafe at the thought of the fleet bureaucrats and the corrupt senators that dominated the Republic. That Minister Locarno…how I burn at the thought of his ridiculous regulations and stifling dogma. Under those ersatz admirals, the Republic could not fend off an attack of Ewoks, much less Mandalorians."
Revan's face flushed red at the reminder of her conflicts with the other admirals and with Minister of the Navy, Locarno. At the height of the Republic's rout, Revan arrived on the scene at a critical time when the Republic command was shackled with incompetence and cronyism.
Revan stood and looked out into the stars. She changed the tone of the conversation, switching back to a more formal demeanor. "Come, General, let us put those fools out of our minds and show them how a battle is fought."