AN: Sorry about the lack of updates, but college was being a bit of a bitch, and WoW: Burning Crusade completely succeeded at stealing my soul… just like the original game.

Chapter 6: Armageddon

After the successful conquest of Corellia and its outlying planets, I began to slow the advances of my fleets, opting instead to hold our lines and pen in the Alliance in their final stronghold of Coruscant so that we could destroy them in one sweep of our glorious crusade.

However, this was also partly because the Alliance was beginning to develop new tactics and technologies in an attempt to counter our unhindered advance, such as attacking supply ships and other noncombatant craft as well as small guerilla attacks. There have also been reports of new weapons being fielded that could actually pose a threat to us.

One example of their apparent ingenuity was the Superlaser class warship. They were basically large, heavy output laser cannons with engines attached. The sheer power of these weapons was enough to disable our warship's shields, leaving them vulnerable. However, due to the nature of the large weapon they had to carry, these ships were completely defenseless against smaller craft and had extremely vulnerable flanks that could be exploited. Plus they were very slow and unwieldy craft.

However, more disturbing was their use of Shadow Torpedoes. Basically large explosive devices shot through hyperspace and guided by the heretic magic of the Jedi. Because they had no propulsion system whatsoever and were incredibly small, they were almost impossible to detect by sensor and always posed a constant danger to our forces.

Fortunately for us, we also had our own weapons being designed and prepared. For instance, our Huragok were finally able to devise a way to rob the Alliance ships of their ability to escape into hyperspace by designing a device that simulated the presence of a large gravity well, which was installed in many of our ships.

Secondly, there was Centerpoint Station itself. When we set foot upon it, we realized that the entire structure and its workings were based on Forerunner design. While aesthetically, it bore no resemblance, the basic workings of the onboard technology were the same. It was only a matter of time before the Huragok were able to repair the components that we were able to discern its true purpose as a tool that could build or destroy entire star systems. I will not delve into the Huragoks' technical explanations on how the station worked, but it basically released huge amounts of energy, concentrated into a focused tractor beam capable of moving or annihilating anything in its path.

No wonder way that pathetic Thrackan Sal Solo wanted possession of the station so badly. As if he could truly comprehend the religious significance it held to us. This was proof that the Forerunner had graced this accursed galaxy with their presence, possibly leaving behind clues as to find the Great Journey.

However, I was not to let the weapon be used without a proper test, so I made preparations to use the weapon on the world of Borleias, which was an important staging point the Alliance as using from Coruscant.

Under extremely heavy guard, the station was towed through Slipspace within range of the planet. Of course, the Alliance forces stationed there attempted to retaliate, but by the time they were within firing range, the station was ready to fire.

The only way I could describe what happened was that it was… magnificent. Seeing the power of the Forerunner so neatly collapse the core of Borleias and destroy it and its defending fleet in the blink of an eye. Oh, the power these beings must have commanded in their time!

Of course, just days after the demonstration, a massive Alliance fleet made a huge offensive on Corellia, obviously in an attempt to retake or destroy the station. It was undoubtedly the largest fleet the Alliance had ever fielded at that point, with hundreds of ships making their assault.

However, against all expectations, a small force of heretics managed to board the station itself. Our troops fought valiantly, but were no match for their heretical magic. The Jedi quickly fought their way to the main control station. I regret my decision to leave security up to the incompetent Thrackan Solo. Either through his stupidity or betrayal, he let the attackers gain access to the station's controls, allowing the Jedi to use the weapon. I take some satisfaction that Thrackan died in the process.

Like the wrath of an angry god, Centerpoint Station fired and annihilated Unstoppable Force with all but a single shot, along with a good third of our glorious armada. Fortunately, there was some light in this dark situation. A good portion of the Alliance fleet was annihilated in the blast as well. After the carnage, the Alliance forces quickly retreated, but not before rendering the station permanently inoperable. Not even the Huragok could repair the damage the Jedi had caused.

Meanwhile, I was not on the Unstoppable Force at the time, thank the Prophets, but the moment I saw the beautiful station destroyed along with most of the armada, I came to the sudden and heartbreaking conclusion.

Our time here was at an end.

Because we were separated from our home galaxy, there was no practical way for us to rely on reinforcements or replacements for our losses. In light of this disaster, we had two choices. Continue the fight and slowly wither and die like a wounded animal, or take the fight straight to the heart of the enemy and make them pay dearly for every gain they have made. Without hesitation, we burned the now worthless Corellians into ash and immediately made the jump to Coruscant.

Of course, the Alliance was not expecting a counterattack so quickly. The remnants of our fleet punished them badly, but many were lost to their huge numbers and stationary defenses. The battle was fierce and vicious, and it took several hours of continuous plasma bombardment to finally disable Coruscant's shields. With the planet vulnerable, we dropped the inoperable Centerpoint Station onto the planet and proceeded bombardment, disregarding the defending enemy forces. We managed to burn 30 of the planet's surface before our formations began to fall apart. Rather than be destroyed pointlessly, many ship commanders steered their ships into the atmosphere, preferring to destroy what they could on the surface.

As for me.. I was mortally wounded in a duel with the infamous Skywalker himself. How ironic, that our Crusade began with me meeting him, and ended the exact same way.

I now lie here, surrounded by the bodies of my crew and a number of slain heretics, directing my ship to smash into Coruscant's surface…

I am not sure if this message will ever reach home again, or even leave this galaxy intact. However, I feel compelled to at least leave a record of all we have done, so that it will not be lost to the ages.

May the ever luminous light of the Forerunner shine upon you for all eternity, for it has forsaken me.

Warmaster Shaka Ralamee

END OF TRANSMISSION

Unknown Location

"Damn, that's some pretty heavy stuff."

"I know, it's pretty mind boggling once you read it all."

"Has the Director seen this?"

"Of course he has. The Director knows everything."

"So what are we going to do about this."

"Oh, I suspect it's going to get the 'classified' stamp, get put into a file closet, and forgotten for quite a while."

"Just like everything else."

"Pretty much."

"You know, there's something about this report that keeps nagging at me, as if I've heard this from somewhere before…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, it's the names, really. Skywalker, Coruscant, Solo… they just feel so familiar. I think it was something about some really, REALLY old movie."

"Yeah well, we've got more important things to do. Besides, it's probably all your imagination."

"Yeah, probably is."

"I have to go hand over some more paperwork. The Covenant have apparently glassed another planet."

"What, again?"

"Yep."

"Shit."

"Anyways, just remember to return that file in the next five hours, or else the database will start flagging you."

"Yeah, I guess- oh shit! Now I remember where I heard those names before!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, some really old movie several centuries back, uh…. Star something."

"Sure, whatever. Just get back to work"