Many thanks to those who've reviewed. There were quite a few instances of potential writer's block that were averted due to a well timed review giving me the inspiration, whether through motivational words or suggestions that generated ideas from myself, that buoyed me through the rough patches. Things are about to start getting very hairy indeed in the wide Galaxy... Enjoy! ~F
Chapter Thirty Eight
The Battle of New Terra
"It is at last time, my people!" proclaimed the Eternal Emperor, staring outward at the masses that crowded the main amphitheatre of New Kaas City. Across the empire, billions were watching as Lord Veneficus, supreme ruler of the Neo-Sith Empire addressed his subjects. "The Republic is cut to its knees, and ready for the full power of our military might to come crashing down upon them!" he declared, to a shower of cheering.
Raising his hands, and with a touch of the Force, Veneficus regained control of the crowd so that he could continue his speech. "The Jedi cannot stand against our strength, and even now I have ordered the fleets to march on the Core worlds. Coruscant will hear the cries of war shortly."
The ripples of excitement and fear were palpable in the immediate area. Veneficus could sense that there were others in the crowd, who were stirred to great anger at his words, and sought to end his reign with violence. An assassination attempt would only make him all the more convincing though, and so Veneficus made no mention of it to his personal guard.
"I call upon the willing subjects of my Empire, to rise up and come forward now. I know that many of you have applied again and again for the military, to be turned down as many times. This was to protect those of my great citizens from the horrors of war, but listen to the words of your Emperor now! I have seen your valor my beloved people, and know of your courage. The time is now for you all to assemble, as many as are willing, to fight for this nation, and assist us in securing the last hold outs to a galaxy-wide Empire, to promote peace and equality for all species!"
The crowd roared their approval, and throughout the Galaxy Emperor Veneficus could sense the same pride and support in the Empire. But at the same time, his mind was drawn to the immediate area, where he could sense the drawing of weapons from those in the crowd. Amid the chanting crowd, which cried out the name of their Emperor, a lone figure swiftly stood and aimed a blaster between Veneficus' eyes.
"For the Republic!" he shouted, pulling the trigger several times in quick succession. Any lesser man would have died on the spot, but the Eternal Emperor was above such mundane things as the energy projectiles of such crude weapons.
The entire crowd gasped in shock at the ruthlessness of the attack, but even more so as the bolts of plasma halted in mid air before Veneficus, mere inches from striking his face. With the tiniest gesture and a thought, the bolts were force in and upon themselves, transforming into crimson orbs of energy, and soon they orbited around Veneficus like a miniature solar system.
"There may be those within the Republic," Veneficus continued, even as the royal Arcanamach bore down on the assassin, "who will try to stop us by any cowardly means, but we are more powerful than anything they hope to muster against us."
Others that started to attempt to flee from the amphitheatre, only to be stopped by the angry citizens of his glorious empire, and they along with the single shooter were brought before the Emperor, who glared down at them with the orange-yellow eyes of a Sith Lord.
"The punishment upon this world for attempting to slay the Emperor is death…" he said crisply, "and I have no mercy on those of the Republic who would not fight me in open combat." With a flick of his hand, the captured bolts of plasma flew out, striking each man and being in the forehead, slaying them instantly.
The bodies collapsed in a heap, and the crowd roared in pleasure at the power of their Emperor. It would be unlikely that there would be any shortage of soldiers ever again, even without the usefulness that had been Zabini's body.
Soon enough the meeting dispersed, and Veneficus returned to the Palace, presumable to consult with his generals and prepare for the new campaign against the Galactic Core, but in reality he was visiting his local Jedi prisoner. There would be time enough for preparation of the bloodiest part of the entire war, and the push that would seize for him the sole command of the Galaxy.
With the myriad of ships that the Star Forge generated on a set basis, there would be more than enough to house every solider that could ever volunteer from his empire, and soon an unstoppable fleet would make its advance toward Coruscant, and victory.
But there was one thing that Lord Veneficus needed to have before he could safely set out against the Republic. The Jedi Padawan had to fall to the Dark Side and become his slave, before awakening to his magical powers of seership. Only then would the complete picture be his to view at any time, and he would be able to act to any situation that arose against him.
Entering the chamber cell that held his oracle-to-be, Veneficus did not allow his prisoner a moment to react before lightning engulfed the boy, causing the already worn out and weakened Jedi to writhe in pain, too tired to even cry out any longer.
Deprivation and random bouts of torture were more the norm for the boy's life at this point, along with sickly sweet words about how easy his life would become if he just gave in. The Jedi was strong of heart, but even the mightiest of wills would crumble before the Eternal Emperor in due time.
"Another assassination attempt has pitifully failed," Veneficus informed his captive, striding around the boulder where the nearly stripped Jedi was now chained. "And soon I will have an army that will crush the Republic in sheer numbers alone, thanks to the frailty of this Galaxy. The Sith will rule, and yet you refuse to grant me your service. Think of it, an end to your torment, and new knowledge that I will grant you about anything: yourself, the Force… even the future…"
"I… will… NEVER SERVE YOU!" the boy cried hoarsely, voice cracking momentarily from lack of water on his lips.
Veneficus grinned. He enjoyed every moment of this, and knew that it would be soon now that the boy gave in. The anger was palpable upon the young Jedi now, even if he still clung to the weakness that was inner peace.
"Perhaps not at the moment, but then again, perhaps I am merely using you to get at others… perhaps your little Padawan friend would make a better servant that you could for me…" he said calmly, watching the raw emotion surge like a storm around the boy. Like all Jedi, their weakness was their attachments, however supposedly fleeting or impersonal. The Order would have been stronger if they accepted that such things were the true nature of the universe, and worked to operate within the bounds of their attractions and feelings, rather than shun them as a wanton disease.
Laughing sinisterly, Veneficus moved on, leaving his prisoner with his dark thoughts. He had a final series of battles to plan, and military commanders to direct in a fashion that was one with his foresight; a difficult challenge despite them all knowing the price of disobeying their Emperor.
Granted, there was an important event that needed to happen, that would spur the Republic into action to make this war rage from one end of the Core to the other. He was merely waiting for the call from devoted Bellatrix that she had engaged New Terra properly.
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Hermione couldn't believe the audacity of the Sith Empire. First they carve a path across the Outer Rim, destroying civilizations along the way for their 'glorious' Emperor, and now they came to her doorstep and wanted to destroy all that she had worked for? Not going to happen in a million years. Hermione ran from office to office, demanding every laborer to be on full alert, and get to the hangars. Damaged ships that had escaped the dogfights were already landing, needing repairs before they could be sent out again, while the fabrication teams worked overtime to get several incomplete cruisers able to fly and fight.
Distress calls had been sent to the Republic, but Hermione knew where her fleets were at all times, and it would take a significant amount of time for one to turn back and race to their rescue. They had to do all they could to hold the line until that happened. But her station was not defenseless, despite all appearance otherwise.
"Activate the forward batteries!" she commanded, watching from the large viewport as the hidden compartments all along the station moved aside, revealing the massive guns that she had instructed in secret to be built. Hermione knew full well that her world would be a prime target, with its importance to the Republic war effort and its placement between Republic and Sith space, it was inevitable that the war would come to them. But as the cannons fired, launching missiles and jets of concentrated spells at the enemy ships, Hermione smirked. Every inch the gained toward orbit would be paid for in blood of their soldiers, she swore it.
Bombers flew overhead, and the station shuddered momentarily as the shields absorbed another bombardment. "Shields holding at seventy-four percent, Director," one of the technicians manning console readout of the station declared, even as Hermione dragged over another piece of metal to fuse back onto a damaged fighter.
"Good, divert more power to the weapons. I want to push these fools out of orbit as quickly as possible." she declared, muttering enchantments that wove the two pieces of metal together like fabric.
"Director, more fighters are entering the battle from the surface. I believe there may be the ships of private citizens among them!" another yelled, and Hermione was torn between their need for the help, and not wanting nonmilitary in this dangerous situation.
"Warn them of the dangers, but let them through if they hold their course. I will not turn away any aid in this fight!" Theodore said, entering the room. He had several datapads and communicators on him, and had been signaling every nearby fleet and space station, desperately trying to get any Republic reinforcements.
"It's no use; the nearest fleet is at least several hours away via Hyperspace, so were alone for the time being." He said morosely.
"Then we hold out for several hours until they arrive!" Hermione said sternly, banishing the finished component to another worker, who starting welding it back to the ship with his wand. "What of the primary defenses of New Terra? Has the planet itself been attacked yet?" she asked.
"The Sith fleet is focusing all its firepower on the station for the time being," the technician replied.
"They will want to destroy this place first, and cripple our operation, before wiping out the planet," said a new voice, and Hermione momentarily turned to see Professor Snape striding toward them, the Jedi overseers from the Republic in tow. "Miss Granger, we must insist that you fall back to the surface. There is a high probability that you will be specifically targeted by our enemy…" Jedi Master Tega'oven'remou added, but Hermione shook her head, returning to work.
"All the more reason for me to stay here: not only will it protect my people by not being among them, but I can do the most good, and the most damage to the Sith here among my work and my experiments." She explained, suddenly getting a mad glint in her eyes as she thought of all the weapon prototypes that she had just waiting to be used.
"Funnel five percent of weapon power toward the rail gun," she commanded, and the technicians all around Hermione stopped dead, looking at her in horror. "Director, the rail gun wasn't sanctioned as ready for testing," one complained, "we don't know how it will function in a full military engagement."
"What a coincidence then, that we have a full military engagement ON OUR DOORSTEP! READY THE WEAPON!" she shrieked, snapping the men out of their stupor, and having them rush about their duties. Standing shakily, Hermione dashed from the room, her husband, the Professor and three Jedi hot on her heels.
Hermione wouldn't have been surprised if the Sith had been receiving reports of the usual tactics and weaponry that were being commissioned to the Republic, but it was highly unlikely that they knew about everything that Hermione had been testing, and this weapon was one of her newest creations. Oh how she would love to see the face of the Sith commander when she fired it.
Entering her main workshop, Hermione hurried over to a bench, where a dozen canister-shaped artillery shells were laying within a glowing energy field. Instead of taking them one by one, Hermione summoned an entire cart and slid it under the table with the canisters, each about half her height and twice her weight. "These will buy us some time," she said, more to herself than the others. She directed each of them to grab a handful of select devises, know from standard Sith tactics that they would seek to break their shields and board the station, and she may not have time to retrieve these other items if that happened while she was firing the rail gun.
Going as fast as the hover-cart would allow, she turned and hurried back to one of the turbolifts, taking it to the testing grounds several floors higher. There, in an unused hangar for their weapon tests stood the long barreled weapon that she build, inspired off the Muggle artillery that had been used up till her departure from earth. Her thought had been a powerful cruiser to cruiser weapon, as ironically there was a strong lack of such weapons on the modern Galactic fleets, and she grinned as she levitated one of the enchanted shells into the main loading section, it bumping and rattling as it was inserted into the main firing chamber.
Leaping into the firing seat, Hermione started angling the weapon at the closest oncoming cruiser. She had never fired a massive ship to ship weapon before, but the rail gun functioned predominantly on physics in a zero gravity environment, so it couldn't be terribly difficult to aim and fire.
With careful adjustments to the prototype weapon, Hermione wheeled it around to face the first Sith cruiser coming directly for her station, "For the Republic," she mumbled, activating the firing mechanism, and watching as the canister used as ammunition was forcefully ejected into space with great force, sailing through the melee of fighters on a direct course for the cruiser.
The brilliance of the weapon was that the canisters were shielded to appear as nothing more than small pieces of metal or other debris that would normally bounce right off shields, but in reality held highly volatile enchantments that would detonate once it struck something at high speed.
True to form, the ship failed to see the danger of the canister, and once striking the vessel, the reaction was immediate. With a brilliant flash of light, the canister ruptured, sending cascading volleys of hexes, jinxes and curses sparking and exploding across the section of the ship where it had struck. The cruiser started to slow, the magic interfering for a time with normal functions aboard it, and Hermione quickly reloaded the weapon. If everything went correctly, even the ship's shields should have been disrupted, which would allow for a second shot to do serious hull damage.
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Bellatrix rocked where she stood as there was a brilliant flash out one of the viewports. "Report!" she demanded, even as lighting flickered and went to emergency power.
"We've been struck with some sort of object, which has caused a loss of power," one of the technicians said, reading from a console that was flashing red with alerts across it, "but it is only a temporary loss, we will restore power momentarily."
"I want more fighters released to protect us while we're defenseless," Bellatrix demanded, knowing that this must be something that Granger had done. "The rest of the fleet must continue the assault, and get that stations shield down as soon as possible."
"Yes Commander," the other Captains of the various ships in her fleet responded over the fleet communication, which somehow had survived the sudden loss of power.
"Sensors detect another object incoming, bearing similar markings and design to the previous," a deck officer said hastily.
"How long till power is restored?" she demanded, looking around.
"Thirty seconds," the engineering technician responded, "but the object will strike us long before that."
"Have fighters intercept the object, and brace for impact if they fail." Bellatrix commanded, seething at the humiliation of her own ship being so drastically disabled. At least the enchanted and heavily fortified hull had protected them so far, but under a direct hit of one of those unknown weapons, she couldn't tell how long they'd last.
The ship bucked as a ripple expanded outward just in front of them, "one of our fighters flew right in the path of the object, destroying their ship in the process." the tactical officer read out, just as power was restored to their ship.
"He will be remembered, when we are victorious here," Bellatrix said solemnly, "I want deflectors on double front, and intensify the forward batteries; I do not want another of those getting close to us again. Push forward!" she commanded, to a series of 'Yes, Commander,' in response.
Missiles and lasers flew from the ship, pelting the heavy shields of the station, and yet they still held. Bellatrix had to assume that, like the weapon they had just faced, it was some sort of experimental defense system that was performing marvelously beyond its normal parameters, but there had to be a breaking point somewhere.
Shields couldn't last forever under the abuse the Sith fleet was giving it. "Commander, our reinforcements are arriving," the long range sensor technician reported, and Bellatrix smiled, despite her annoyance that they had made less progress before now. With an additional three fleets of ships, they now controlled this sector, battle in progress or not.
"Send all available ships into battle; I want those shields ripped down immediately, launch the shuttles now, their firepower can be used as well." the mad witch ordered, almost temped to go herself in the Death Eater, but she resisted. She would be needed here to help direct the other fleets alongside Admiral Heb'Lolu, at least until the way was clear for her landing to eliminate Granger and the other Republic engineers.
The other Sith fleets hailed them, asking why the battle had started without them, but Bellatrix ignored them. They were mindless minions of greater commanders, such as herself, and would unlikely make it father in reputation or notice of their glorious Emperor, especially when compared to the most loyal of all his servants. Ordering them into position, Bellatrix started casting a wide net of firepower all around the station, hopefully blocking off any attempts at rescue that may come at them, as she knew that distress calls had been sent out before they fully engaged.
She did make sure to warn them about the devastating canister weapons, and the need for vigilance against any foreign object flying at them, but even still she saw another ship disabled much like theirs was, but the others weren't as diligent to be saved from the follow-up attacks, and a shattering explosion across the bridge effectively crippled the cruiser, which then hung lifeless in space, without control or direction to steer it. Those soldiers would have to be rescued onto other ships when the battle was finished.
"Commander, their shields are overloading," another officer declared, and Bellatrix almost wanted to prance over and kiss the hapless fool, but restrained herself to something more dignified. "have all shuttles swoop in and begin the boarding, fire infiltration pods, I will be joining them in the Death Eater, I want five squads of elite shock troops with me, as well as demolition teams and every heavy weapon trooper you can fit comfortably in there."
"Yes Ma'am," the communications office replied, making the needed calls around the ship as Bellatrix strutted from the bridge. She would see that station fall before day's end.
Troopers were still running for her ship when she arrived, and Bellatrix had wait several moments as the last stragglers were loading their repeating blaster turrets up the ramp before lifting off, but that was fine. They would need all the firepower that they could muster, if Granger had done anything about protecting them from boarders.
The space battle had more or less started to wane, as Republic fighters were being destroyed left and right, outmatched against the superior firepower of multiple Sith fleets, and the blast boat of a shuttle sailed comfortable through space toward the station, taking a mid perched hangar that had already been secured by previous waves of troopers. Bellatrix leapt lightly to the deck of Granger's factory, amid the hustle of her troopers as they rushed to disembark and set up their weapons.
"You lot, with me," she said to the shock troopers, around three dozen in all, as well as the engineers and heavy weapon experts that had been piled into her shuttle, "We're going to render this station inert and crash it into the planet."
Leading the way, Bellatrix opened communication to the other forces on the station, demanding a layout of the immediate portions of the facility so they could navigate chokepoints and fight effectively on foreign ground.
From what she received, it appeared that their soldier's progress had been completely halted just outside of the hangar area, where the corridors converged to one massive section with turbolifts to all sections of the station.
It was likely that this was where many of the engineers of Granger were making their stand, trying to hold off the tide of Sith troopers from spreading through the station. "Let's move!" she commanded, leading her force to meet this irritant.
The closer they got, the more bodies strewn across the ground there were, as though whoever was holding this point had fallen back, leaving a wake of destruction behind them as they fled. Even Dark Adepts had fallen to whatever madness lay ahead, and Bellatrix gritted her teeth, and conjured a powerful shield just in case.
Once they arrived, Bellatrix knew the problem immediately, and ordered her troops to converge from different angles. Not only were there wizards among the defenders, picking off any stray target with their wands, but four or five massive battle droids, each wilding a massive turret arm and portable riot shields were blocking the way of any advancement.
"For the Republic! For New Terra!" the defenders yelled, and a storm of magical jets flew at the elite squads, which took cover while Bellatrix shielded herself from the bombardment. The spells were weak, but against those unused to wizarding tactics they would have been devastating. Bellatrix shifted her weight to a dueling stand, and attacked, firing explosive and armor piercing spells with abandon, dancing around the pitifully straight forward attacks of her enemies.
Most surprising of all were that the droids seem to fire powerful spells of their own, heads swiveling to keep up with every step Bellatrix made, even as her forces started to return fire, pelting the heavy metal shields with their weaponry.
Even as the Killing curse flashed from her wand, Bellatrix spotted an opening, and twirled out of the way of another spell, focusing her mad determination and apparating behind enemy lines. Four of the poor fools didn't even manage to turn before they were slain, gore flying as cutting and crushing curses flew in every direction as Bellatrix danced for the glory of her Emperor.
The droids turned, but that was their doom, as heavy rockets flew from the lines of the Sith troopers, impacted the less defended rears of the droids, turning them into scrap.
Several of the Republic engineers tried to flee into a turbolift, but with extreme focus and control, Bellatrix unleashed a rampage of fiendfyre after them up the shaft, their screams piercing before going mute as the cursed fire overtook their lift and annihilated it.
"Status report," Bellatrix requested, and the troopers went about checking everyone for injuries.
"Minors burns and shrapnel lacerations, nothing major commander," the red tinted soldier that was the commanding officer of the group replied when all was taken into account, "we are ready to move upon your command."
"Good, we're taking three of these lifts, I want heavy weapons set up at the front, while other soldiers pile in behind, hopefully there's no surprises waiting for us at the top, but with that little fireworks show I gave them, better safe than not…"
"As you command!" the soldier replied, ordering his trooper into the three freight lifts, spreading out their heavy weapons and setting up portable turrets to guard the doors when they opened at their destination. Bellatrix herself took the lift in the center, and as one they selected the highest floor for the lift to go, taking them as close to where the executive offices and special equipment labs were likely to be.
Even as the lift rattled its way along, Bellatrix started prepping for what spells she might need for whom or whatever was waiting for them. She was rarely wrong when it came to ambushes, setting them or anticipating them. The lifts ground to a halt, and the doors slowly opened, and just as she suspected, all the turrets started to open fire on hostiles waiting for them just inside the next room.
What she hadn't anticipated was a noise like the ignitions of lightsabers, as three Jedi started to dance about, deflecting the bolts wildly, and Bellatrix slipped between several troopers to get a better shot at them.
The initial barrage had mowed down the troopers, but more were starting to make their appearance from various corridors. Activating a powerful shield for stray bolts, Bellatrix leapt out of the lift, spitting a pair of bone breakers at the nearest Jedi, a reptilian Barabel creature, which slapped the two spells out of the air with his weapons, before charging directly at her, while some sort of walrus-like creature went for the injured troopers, deflecting bolts as it ran.
Setting her jaw, Bellatrix accepted the initial charge of the Jedi, rolling out of the way and nimbly dodging the thrusts of the yellow and orange blades the Barabel held. Now that the Jedi was close, it would be harder for him to dodge as Bellatrix started a rapid chain of spells, some mundane, many of them dark and powerful, which reflected off the twin blades and Bellatrix's shield as the Jedi's weapons flashed and spun, trying to intercept as many as possible.
But, inevitably, one slipped through, and with a roar of pain the Jedi reeled back, left arm flying away from his body as a dark cutting curse severed it midway between elbow and shoulder. One of his weapons denied to him now, Bellatrix pressed the attack, snapping spells into the legs of the Jedi, but needing to break off the attack as the third Jedi, who had been waiting at the sides, leapt in to interpose himself between her and her victim. A violet double ended weapon whirled once above his head, before aggressively advancing on her, deflecting and slapping aside anything she threw at the Jedi.
If Bellatrix were to guess, from the look of complete peace on the red eyed and blue skinned creature, then this had to be a Jedi Master, the other Jedi rushed to their fallen companion, grasping the fallen arm as she went, and Bellatrix wondered if their strange magic would be able to heal even that grievous of a wound. Once having a firm hold of the Barabel, the creature let out a hoarse grunting, and departed, with the Jedi Master covering their rear, despite the bombardment of spells and bolts that followed, eager to cut them all down.
"If they're throwing Jedi at us, then we're close!" Bellatrix shouted, to the cheers of her warriors, and they surged out of the lifts, firing at the other Republic troopers that had appeared, blasting many of them back as they sought to pursue the retreating Jedi.
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Severus watched as Jedi Knight Deres Umba half carried, half dragged her companion, Bela Deshlatin, back from the lift area, one arm severed and in the Aqualish's free hand. "Let me see," he said as she laid the injured Jedi nearby. Miss Granger had expended her experimental ammunition long ago, and had divided her other experiments between herself and her other scientist and engineers, all while transforming this section of the offices into a makeshift command center.
Knowing that the enemy was already boarding them, Severus thought that Granger would have taken the better part of valor and withdrawn to the planet, but the girl had a mean streak in her that screamed Gryffindor, and would not surrender her life's work without a fight. Even now she was giving orders, marshalling all regiments and experiments throughout the station, throwing everything she had at the Sith Forces. In all quadrants but the one the Jedi had went to the Sith were being held back, but there had to be something, like a Sith commander or Dark Adept with that main spear tip, that was pushing through even their defenses.
Looking at the wound with a critical eye, Severus could tell it was cursed with wizard's magic, and paled. He recognized the signature of the person who used this spell, and the thought of that madwoman here, out among the stars and serving the Sith sent chills down his spine. Still, he could easily eliminate the curse and reattach the limb, although the Barabel Jedi was out of this fight for a time, barring Jedi healing techniques that he was sure Knight Umba was going to employ.
Jedi Master Tege'oven'remou appeared, sealing the exit behind him with a sweeping slash of his lightsaber, "They're already here," he announced, out of breath and strikingly different from the composed posture that the Chiss Jedi had maintained throughout the time Severus had been here, and even through the start of the battle, "They have some sort of magician with them, a vile and cruel woman with black hair and a sadistic aura about her."
"Bellatrix LeStrange," Severus confirmed, making both Mr. and Mrs. Granger pale. "I know her well… I doubt that any in this room could contend with her save me alone. The shock of seeing me will work to our advantage, but we need to move the injured back to the rear offices. She will not hesitate to stoop past threatening their lives if it means her success."
As the others in the room hurried to obey his dire suggestions, there was a banging from the other side of the now sealed door, and flashes of light as what Severus presumed to be cutting instruments were prepared to carve open the way for their forces. Whipping off his outer cloak, newly bought from the planet below, Severus drew his wand, waiting patiently to guard the way as the others retreated to a further room in the rear.
If he could, he would face Bellatrix alone. As the Dark Lord's supposedly most faithful, she would probably accept his challenge of strength, and if he could defeat her, perhaps she would have retained some measure of honor to withdraw. Personally, Severus hoped to remove the head of this snake at this time, and kill the madwoman once and for all.
As soon as the door was breached, masked and armored Sith troopers poured in, firing at him as their only adversary left in the room. Severus almost lazily batting their shots aside, smirking at how predictably they fought, not even bothering to retaliate. Soon enough the force had all piled in, and Bellatrix made her appearance.
"Severus Snape… my… my, it's been a long time, hasn't it, my old slippery ally…" she sneered, and Severus grew cautious, as this was not the insane woman that he remembered from before. She had mellowed, possibly with age as well as plenty of assignments from her new Emperor.
"Bellatrix…" he responded with equally coolness, "No surprise that you would come in like the Emperor's attack dog, snapping at the heels of those he wouldn't bother with himself."
"This invasion was a high honor, much like what I was used to back in the days of the Dark Lord," she responded, and Severus smirked to learn that she still had all the same old triggers for her anger.
"And still, your tactics were crude, straightforward and quite predictable. If not for your strength alone, none of your forces would have made much progress at all past the hangar levels… Granger saw quite well to that…" he retorted, goading her intentionally.
"That filthy Mudblood won't stand a chance against our forces, no matter what toys she whipped together at the last minute." the woman sneered back.
Severus was quite inclined to disagree, having seen firsthand what some of Granger's powerful experiments were capable of. Several battalions' worth of Sith troopers had already been eliminated all across the station due to her ingenuity.
"Still, I'm afraid I must now stand in your way, against the madness of your Sith Empire, for the good of not only our old home world, but the Galaxy as a whole." Severus said, brandishing his wand.
All the weapons of the opposing force rose, but Bellatrix bit back a sharp cry of rage, "You dare defy his Majesty, the Heir of the Dark Lord, who's service you swore to. I will enjoy cutting that traitorous tongue from your mouth Snape, and presenting it to the Emperor personally." With that she stomped forward and raised her wand as well.
"Well, you'd have to defeat me first, a feat that no other Death Eater has claimed to…" Severus stated flatly, and struck like a viper, snapping off a trio of hexes and curses, before raising a shield to deflect her retaliatory spell as she dodged.
Hopefully, he could buy enough time, at the very least, for the Jedi and Granger to escape the station, or figure out a clever way to drive all the Sith forces from it at once.
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Bellatrix howled in fury as she attacked again and again, watching in anger as the irritating half blood deflected spell after spell. She recognized that Severus Snape had been a master at the Dark Arts, as well as his primary profession of Potions, but she had not counted him among the finer duelists of the Dark Lord's servants.
Clearly she had been mistaken, which was bound to happen eventually, she supposed. But it did not matter; she would kill this traitor and present him before the Emperor on Dromund Kaas for her just reward.
Spells flew in every direction, some splashing off the high ceiling or leaving gouges in the floor. The troopers had fallen back as the fighting became intense, and Bellatrix was then able to unleash her full power into the fight, without thought of what collateral damage might be incurred.
Delving deep into the blackest of the Dark Arts, she threw curses meant to rupture organs, hexes that would boil the blood in her target's veins, and jinxes that would rip the nails from the fingertips at Severus, ducking and dodging as he repaid in kind. Those of a lighter mindset could have their tiffs and scuffles, but a true battle only occurred in the wizarding world when two dark wizards went head to head.
She whirled, dancing out of the way as a powerful severing charm, infused with dark power, ripped along the metal floor at her feet, tearing up the plating that served as the floor of the station, leaving jagged edges and making the terrain of their duel all the more treacherous.
Then she started getting creative. Summoning and banishing charms were employed, taking stray objects from around the room and adding them to the salvos of spells that she flung with abandon at Severus, hoping that something would clear an opening for the curse of death that would take his life. Transfiguration was thrown into the mix as well.
But still the man fought on, surprising even Bella with his ruthlessness. Time and again when she thought she might have gained the upper hand, he would blast chunks of metal from the ceiling, or produce a strange, and probably self-made, spell that would put them back on even footing once more.
The man had to have trained under Dumbledore, as there was no other option for how anyone in the core of the Death Eaters could have been Bellatrix LeStrange's equal in single combat.
The collateral damage to the room started to take a significant upturn, and Bellatrix had a moment where she was sincerely considering just piercing the hull and allowing the cold vacuum, of space take her and Snape out of this fight, sacrificing herself to the great cause of the Emperor.
But then, why now did the itch behind her mind return, and she start to wonder why her lord had had such a change of heart so long ago, in the depths of the fortress of Azkaban. The hesitation must have appeared on her face, as Snape took the opportunity to strike, launching an offensive volley of his own spells, which Bellatrix had to duck and dodge, narrowly avoiding the hazardous flooring and raising a shield to protect herself from the concussive blasts when the traitor's spells struck the wall behind her.
It was in that moment, when she glared at the black eyes of Severus Snape, that Bellatrix felt the searing pain in her mind as Snape lashed out with Legilimency, a skill she was unaware that he had possessed. Because of her distracted thoughts, she was unable to muster all her defenses to keep him out, and Severus immediately dove into her memory of that fateful escape from Azkaban.
Having Snape walk out from the side of her Lord, while trapped in that dingy cell was unnerving, but what was worse was when he spoke. "Just as I thought… the Sith have betrayed you from the beginning Bellatrix…"
With a wave of his hand, Severus dispelled the image of the Dark Lord, having it fade away to another unknown man, a third eye in the middle of his head gleaming red and orange in the darkness.
"This is the Sith Lord Darth Millennial, master of the current Emperor… a fraud who posed as Voldemort to convert you to his cause, stealing you away to serve their own ends…" he said, even as he withdrew the metal probe from her mind.
Staggering from the intrusion, revelation and retreat, Bellatrix looked around wildly. Snape had taken the opportunity to flee, and her warriors, no… the troopers of the Sith Empire poured in, asking for her orders…
But they were not part of her Lord's legacy. She could tell that Snape had revealed to her the truth. All this muggle contraptions were not part of her Lord's original design, but the same muggle filth that they had wanted to stamp out for generations. Magic was the strength that moved the universe, not these filthy machines and their muggle operators.
The first few troopers had no idea what to do as their commander turned on them, wand blazing.