More fiery starfighter battle...more lightsabers...more strategery...and a look into the Command Center of the Mandalorians and a look at Malak.
Bishop to Queen's Rook Five, Check
The Outskirts of the Malachor System – Day 4 - 0010
Nose to nose with the Mandalorian Starfighter, Carth grit his teeth and curled back his lips. The enemy grew rapidly in his forward canopy as the distance closed. On his HUD, a bright green circle began spinning over the target, letting him know he was within firing distance.
Carth took a deep breath, now able to just see the leering face of his Mandalorian enemy. Suddenly, brilliant flashes of light erupted from the muzzles of the Mandalorian's cannon and streaks of turbolaser fire bolted at Carth.
A single bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, but no other sign of fear or stress appeared on his face. Training took over and he pressed the trigger, unleashing his own brand of destruction.
In this brief joust of death, both warriors were now at full velocity, their combat taking place in the blink of an eye. Turbolaser fire lashed along both fighters, shields lighting up the darkness of space.
Energy tore through the Mandalorian's deflectors and scored the fuselage of the starfighter. Bolts splattered on the thin metal, sizzling through the skin into the interior of the ship, slicing though electronics and control actuators. In a millisecond, the Mandalorian's thrusters locked in the climb position, pitching his nose upward.
Carth blinked as the enemy flashed by him, clipping his vertical stabilizer, sending a shower of sparks behind him. On pure instinct, he slammed down on his left thruster peddle, yawing his craft around. Despite the vacuum of space, considerable inertia washed over him and his vision grayed as blood rushed from his brain.
The pilot grunted hard, squeezing his abdomen through the pain and dizziness. As his vision returned, his attention was drawn to the blinking red lights on his Master Caution Panel.
He had been hit too.
"Warning…life support systems damaged…thruster control damaged…engine fire right…."
"Dammit," he muttered as his practiced hands flew over the damage control systems. "Tee-Two, help me out here," he called as the hiss of an oxygen leak became noticeable. The little droid on the dorsal surface desperately shut down the engine and doused the fire while trying to plug the leak.
Carth shook his head. I gotta get back in the fight.
He looked back out into space, scanning for his enemy and his blood ran cold. The Mandalorian starfighter, nearly shot to pieces, had come about and was lining up for a shot. Hot plasma poured from ragged holes in the skin of the craft and flames licked up into the cockpit of the Mandie. Any sane pilot would have ejected, but this was a clan leader. He would burn with his craft to take Carth with him.
In what seemed like an eternity, Carth watched the flame shrouded Mandalorian's nose inch toward him, its cannon coming within firing parameters. Onasi pushed the throttle forward to evade, but his good engine screamed in protest.
"Thruster control, inop," he called, hoping his wingmen could hear him. He keyed his mike, letting any friendly know where he was. "Gold Leader is Bullseye, two-five-zero, fifteen klicks…I need a hand."
Malachor V – The Courtyard of the Clan Serphants
With only the dim overhead lights to illuminate the courtyard, shadows played about as two warriors dueled to the death for love and honor. Seja's blue lightsaber flashed against his massive opponent, Vako Serphants, bodyguard to the Clan Chief.
In a terrible instant, Callista broke free from the guards and ran between the duelists as Vako thrust at his nemesis. The Mandalorian's blade slid through her back, exposing itself again as it exited her chest. Seja's face broke in an expression of horror, freezing him in place, letting Vako continue the thrust into the Jedi.
Callista writhed in agony in Seja's arms as Vako whipped the blade back through their torn bodies.
The two stood for a second more before crumpling to the ground.
Seja retched blood as he flopped about weakly. His vision blurred with blood and tears as he tried to stroke Callista's cheek. The dying woman's breaths came in ragged gulps as she tried to focus on his face.
"Callista," he said through clenched, crimson teeth. "Don't die…I can save you."
"You…already have…saved me…." Callista told him, her eyes closing shut, and a tear rolled down her cheek, "…I…love…you…please…live…."
Vako's voice came as an ice storm in the chill night. "How touching. From one betrayer to another."
The towering bodyguard kicked his wife's body to the side and slammed his boot into Seja's wounded chest. The Jedi grunted in pain, curling over. Vako then knelt, drawing his vibrodagger, changing his tone. Suddenly, he became soft, his demeanor becoming the friendly face he had shown to Seja before.
"My friend…my friend," he spoke as one does to a naughty child, shaking his head in mock sadness. "You screwed with the wrong Mandalorian. I will make you feel pain and you will beg me for death."
Vako dragged the razor tip of his dagger across Seja's wounded face, creating an 'X' with the other cut.
The Jedi cried out, forsaken by destiny, but the Force was not finished with him. Energy flooded into his limbs and battered organs and a new strength infused his heart. With one hand, Seja flung the bodyguard back several meters, the big man crashing on the ground.
Vako stood, chuckling. "So, the Slayer still has life? This will be far more satisfying."
The Mandalorian's smug grin vanished as Seja's form blurred toward him and a blue rod of energy tore across his chest. Already weakened by the duel, Vako's armor caved around the lightsaber blade, leaving a charred, glowing surface of melted metal.
Vako choked as smoke coiled up from his ruined heart. All he could say was, "Slayer," and he fell on his face with a crash.
The two other Mandalorian guards cried out and leveled their blasters at the wounded Jedi. Two flashes lit the darkness and Seja gasped.
Both Mandalorians fell dead.
"What are you waiting for? Move your ass!" came the call from Atton Rand.
Seja staggered and Atton rushed forward to put an arm around him. Atton pulled him away, but Seja resisted, looking back.
"Callista…we can't leave her. We must-"
The tall, lean operative bit his lip. "She's history. We have to go…NOW!"
The Outskirts of the Malachor System – Day 4 - 0010
Carth looked down at the holoimage of Morgana and Dustil. Gods, I'm not going to make it this time.
Desperate fingers punched buttons on the instrument panel, rerouting systems. Red lights turned to green.
"I'm back in business. Ready to rumble!" he uttered in near disbelief.
In an insane maneuver, he slammed the stick into his right thigh while firing the ventral thrusters. It popped him up and flipped him over like a beetle as turbolaser bolts tore through empty space where he had been.
Carth saw the burning Mandalorian's evil grin vanish. He pressed the trigger, unleashing his cannon.
"Guns kill, off my nose," he declared as pieces of flaming wreckage bounced off of his starfighter.
Carth released a long breath and pressed his back into the seat, closing his eyes.
"Glad to see you still around. That was some damn fine flying, Onasi," came Forn Dodonna's voice over the commlink.
"About time you got here, Dodonna…I'm pretty beat up, take me home."
As the other starfighters escorted him back to the carrier for repairs, he looked down at beautiful Morgana. The hologram gazed back at him, seemingly telling him that she would be there when he returned. The force of her will could be felt, filling him with hope.
The Fortress of the Mandalore
Encased in his awesome silver armor, the Mandalore stood before the massive holographic display of the unfolding battle near the seventh planet of the system. Points of light of various colors darted about the display, representing the various clans and the despised Republic.
Canderous Ordo and Ergeron entered, bowing to the warrior chief with their daggers held over their chests. In a practiced move, they then sheathed the weapons and took their places at the war table. The two men of the Ordo clan nodded greeting to their brethren in arms: Kelborn, Bralor, and Sherruk.
Suddenly, on the display, Mandalorian symbols began to wink out. Forn Dodonna's starfighters had crashed through the defensive satellite barrier and had trapped the Fett defenders.
Larger symbols soon appeared and ripped through the Fett line.
"Admiral Karath has broken the Fetts. They are in retreat," voiced Lord Serphants. "I told you the offense would not work – Revan knows our very soul."
"Calm yourself, Serphants," retorted Canderous sarcastically. "We are not done yet."
Serphants turned venomously back to Ordo. "I ask you how could Karath sweep though the line so easily…how did Dodonna know the layout of the grid? Spies…that's how. I tell you, we do not know whom to trust. Only now have I learned of an attack on my compound by Revan's agents."
Canderous smirked, ever irritated by the whining of this lord. "An attack on your compound? How weak of you. I am sure that the perpetrators' heads are on Force pikes outside your keep this very moment."
"We are pursuing the operatives vigorously at this moment."
Canderous clapped mockingly. "Good for you."
The display showed the further disintegration of the Fett force and Canderous stood. "Mandalore, we are wasting time whining about spies like old women. Let me lead the counterattack. My Basilisks are ready."
Mandalore turned hesitantly. "Yes…yes…the counterattack," he said as if distracted. "You lead them, Canderous."
Ergeron stood, but Canderous put his arm on the man's chest. "No, Ergeron, I need you here…with the Mandalore. You need to be by his side. I trust no one else."
Canderous' lifelong friend nodded reluctantly but returned to his seat.
Ordo then pointed to Kelborn and Bralor. "Come my friends; let us sing the song of battle."
As the three marched from the war room, a voice stopped them.
"Canderous…be wary. Malak has just arrived," said the Mandalore.
On the display, more Republic ships dropped out of hyperspace, aiming like a dagger at Malachor VII, a stronghold of the defense.
Malak's Fleet
Filled with youthful exuberance, Malak stood before his command seat, looking out at the Malachor System as his ship, the RNS Indefatigable settled back into normal space. A hunter's smile formed on his lips and he swept his thick, blond hair from his blue eyes.
"By the Force, Admiral Karath has the Fetts on the run," he declared to his friend and fellow Jedi, Bandon. "Bring us to a heading of Zero-Nine-Zero, Mark Six and flank the Mandalorians. We need to clear the way for General T'Sing's landing on Malachor Seven. The stronghold must be neutralized before the assault on the homeworld can take place."
Bandon nodded with a grin and issued the order to the fleet. The dark-haired Jedi had filled out his painfully thin frame since the days on Dantooine and now, his powerful body rippled with muscles beneath his black uniform.
As the many ships in Malak's formation came about, he quickly reviewed his intelligence updates. He nodded with satisfaction as he read about the death of Vako Serphants by his team.
"Bandon, one of our prey has fallen. The death of Vako Serphants will weaken the resolve of their clan and cast the seeds of doubt in the Chief's mind. He will not know who to trust and it will be easier now to get to him."
"Most assuredly, Malak. However, tell me why you aborted the operation to kill Ordo?"
Malak mused for a moment, his blue eyes lost in thought. "I surmised that his death would actually help their cause. Any moment now, he will come barreling at us. Furthermore, he will be instrumental in the divisions that will wipe out the Serphants…and other clans."
"Incoming message…Revan on line one," voiced Carriaga Sin, one of Malak's aces, who sat at communications. She, along with Nisotsa, were two of the Jedi who had followed Revan into exile and they had served she and Malak well.
The bluish hologram of Revan appeared, life sized, in the center of the bridge. Despite the simplicity of the image, Revan's warmth toward Malak showed through.
The dark-haired woman parted her lips. "Malak, my strength…be warned, the Ordos have launched and are planning their counterattack. But, I am sure you are already aware of this."
The blond Jedi brought his finger to his own lips. "Indeed, I am ready."
"Then it is time for phase two. I shall deploy the appropriate platforms," she informed and the hologram strode to Malak. With translucent hands, Revan stroked his cheek in a ghostly show of affection.
As her image faded into static, Malak turned back to Bandon. "Canderous Ordo is in for a rough ride."