Chapter XVI

The blaring sirens made it impossible to sleep and Cal stood beside Garm Bel Iblis as they looked at the display showing the emerging situation in orbit of Denon. Though the world had avoided severe damage during the fight with the Yuuzhan Vong, the defenses the Galactic Alliance could mount were in place to ward off most attackers. I guess nobody expected something like this, Omas thought as the orbiting Super Star Destroyer let loose countless volleys of turbolaser fire at one of their orbiting defense platforms.

"We're being hailed," Belindi Kalenda said as she came up at his side, "They're using a code that has been out of date since before the fall of the Empire." "Can anyone pick it up?" he asked. "It's not encrypted in any way," the chief of Intelligence told him, "I think they want people to see this." "Put it through," Garm ordered and a moment later the image being sent was visible to them both. "Emperor's black bones," Cal whispered as the dark figure spoke.

"Your actions have only continued to betray the weakness all too evident in the Rebellion from which you sprang," the masked figure said, "Had you carried out the threat to annihilate the Yuuzhan Vong, they would never again have the opportunity to rise against you. I speak on the behalf of the worlds which have bent before my power and declare that we will do something about this problem! My fleet will crush your pathetic government beneath its heel and then march on the remnants of the alien populace. We will then be rid of them, wiping them out without mercy."

"Who does this charlatan think he is?" Bel Iblis muttered. "He'll convince some people that this is real and that's all he needs to start a panic," Cal said, "There are some who'd oust us themselves rather than take the chance that Darth Vader has somehow returned and is seeking to make us pay dearly for our failures."


"This is a fine mess," Han commented as he watched the scene of combat form outside his window, "Remind me to thank you later for suggesting we come here." "Jag just launched his starfighter," Lando said, "He probably wants to get into the thick of things before Jaina does." Solo nodded, for given his daughter's past record that was just where she would go as soon as she realized the scope of the problem. "Now do you think we should have checked up on Leia first?" Calrissian inquired.

"Not that it would have made a difference," Han said as he coordinated the movement of his aging ship with the one Horn was flying. "I must say, whoever is funding this faction certainly pulled out all the stops," Lando remarked, "In addition to that flying wedge of death, they've got a number of Imperial Star Destroyers and hordes of TIE fighters. You know how difficult it is to find good pilots in that quantity, especially with the turmoil that has been festering everywhere you look for the past five years."

"Maybe they recruited the remnants of the Peace Brigade or made their own cloning cylinders," Han said idly, "How would I know? It could even be droids like the ones that crazy student of Luke's set on us just after the Senate was bombed." "Have you looked at the news reports?" Calrissian said, "The facilities being used have come under attack again and some think the Yuuzhan Vong are behind it."

"Fascinating," he said as he shot a few TIE fighters on their way to the battlefront. At the edge of the system, Solo saw another group of ships come out of hyperspace of similar design and wondered if they were reinforcements for the attackers or they had come to help those defending Denon. The display lit up with the identity of the new arrivals and Han shook his head in amazement.

"Excellent timing as always," the former smuggler muttered as the second group of vessels came closer and began hammering at the defenses of the first. "Where'd they come from?" Lando asked as the two largest vessels faced each other. "I'll explain it to you later," Solo told him as the fray went on.


"This is an unexpected occurrence, but one I think will work to our advantage," Tork said as Quirlarna just stared at him. She probably thinks I'm insane and I wouldn't want to disillusion her, the con man thought. "Any reply from Denon?" he asked. "Not yet," Janim said without even glancing at him. "They can take us all out if they try hard enough," Valeriy reminded him, "Perhaps it would be wise to move up your timetable."

"Do you think any of the Jedi will try to board us and confront me?" Tork asked as he avoided discussing the carefully laid plans his master had given him. "As a matter of fact, a ship is already heading up from the surface towards us," Janim said, "A Jedi could be on board, but then you would know that wouldn't you?" The hate for the man overwhelmed Tork and he thrust out his armored hand for the other. Janim evaded and yet seemed to be stricken and having trouble drawing breath.

The experiments were successful, Tork thought, Now we can give our acolytes what they seek most. Releasing the man, Tork flexed his hand and faced Quirlarna. A look of fear was plainly visible for a moment before she buried it beneath a professional mask. "There is indeed a Jedi coming our way," Tork said, sensing inwardly that his statement was true without really knowing why, "One of the most powerful to rise in the time of conflict so recently past. We shall allow him to board and escort him into my presence." "You sound as if you know who's coming," the Moff said. Nodding her way, he said, "Perhaps I do."