Chapter Eleven – The Black Talon
Aindri suppressed a frustrated sigh from beneath her hood, mentally questioning – and not for the first time – whether the Force loved or hated her. They'd been expecting to arrive in the Kass system with a day only to be drafted by Grand Moff Rycus Kilran – Commander of the Fifth Fleet and so called 'Butcher of Coruscant' – and drafted into capturing a warship no less. It was only hard earned discipline and self-control that stopped her from giving NR-02 a baleful look. Still they were hunting a traitor to the Empire and she would do her duty, but for now she had to deal with an agitated captain.
"The Black Talon would be destroyed chasing a battleship. I fought in the war before, and I'll fight again but I won't do suicide missions!" Captain Revinal Orzik paced behind her, intent on wearing a hole in the steel floor. Now and then he glanced at Kilran's droid who'd been watching the exchange silently and no doubt relaying everything on its sensors to its master.
Aindri stood impassively, hands clinched behind her back, watching the stars glittering beyond the transparisteel viewport, "We will not engage the Brentaal Star…"
"May I remind you violation of direct…"
"We improvise," Aindri continued as if she hadn't been interrupted – the sound of boots fell silent as Orzik stopped pacing to look at her – she paused, dredging up information on Gage-class transports stored somewhere in the depths of her mind.
"Gages have a complement of ISF interceptors and a crew of three hundred eighty, inequipped to directly confront a Thranta-class cruiser but not secure their fighter bay."
"Sixty percent of our marines are shock troopers," Supplied Orzik, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he caught on to the Siths idea, "Supremacies provide escort and distraction, help clear the bay for landing. With any luck, the Black Talon won't even come within range of their turbo lasers."
Orzik considered the plan, it would be close but it would work. He sighed, "Seems we haven't much choice, damn Kilran and his fleet. Hetter prepare to jump to lightspeed. Set an intercept course for the Brentaal Star."
Stars streaked into swirling mass – it would be a short jump – and the ships communications officer Brukarra piped up with a question, "Who will lead the boarding party?"
Aindri was already striding towards the turbolift indirectly answered as she called, "Prep the shuttle!"
Vette, leaning against a support strut near the back of the bridge sighed and followed her into the lift, "We're seriously, seriously, going up against a battle cruiser? Are you crazy?!"
She arched an eyebrow at her companion who gave a disbelieving shake of her head when the doors snapped shut.
"Yep definitely crazy," Vette stumbled as a blast rocked the ship, chirping in a strained voice, "On the bright side at least if this ship explodes we won't be on it."
"My Lord," Came Orzik's voice from over the comms, "We're currently engage the Brentaal Star. Our shields are holding but we've three shuttles enroute and not sufficient defences to prevent an assault party from landing."
"Let them land," She ordered, "I will handle any boarders."
"Understood my Lord. Security will meet you at the entrance to the cargo bay."
Turbolift doors opened with an ominous hiss and Vette darted from the confined space, sliding to a stop behind the barricade. She gave a startled soldier a quick wave before drawing her blasters and releasing a volley of shots into the boarders. Behind her Aindri stalked forwards, lightsaber igniting with a hum, her black cloak – which had been inexplicably waiting in their quarters along with a new set of robes, it freaked Vette out but the Sith just smiled knowingly – whispering against the floor.
Within a minute several bodies hit metal, small wisps of smoke rising from their wounds surrounding cloth scorched, remaining corpses riddled with blaster holes.
Gradually, they pushed the boarders back through the ship Aindri's lightsaber a blur of crimson light, cleaving a line straight through a Republic trooper's body, nearly ripping him in half. They'd lost a couple of soldiers themselves but not as fast as their enemies who were soon outnumbered.
"Spread out."
They followed her orders without hesitation, splitting into groups of two – Vette staying by her side –each watching the others back to cover the hanger. Gunning down the boarders with ruthless efficiency, they cleared the cargo bay quickly. Cutting down the last Republic soldier, Aindri tapped her comm.
"The boarders have defeated."
"Understood my Lord. Shields are currently holding and we will be entering fighter range soon. A shuttle has been prepped for the assault."
"Good," She replied already walking with long strides to the starboard hanger, Vette checking over her blaster cells as they moved.
"Sooo… suicidal assault still on?"
Aindri's lips curled into an unbidden predatory smirk, hidden by the depths of her hood, her veins pumping with adrenaline both from the fight and anticipation.
"Indeed." She purred.
The hanger doors opened, revealing the chaotic yet ordered interior of a pre-combat hanger bay, pilots and troopers scrabbling to do last minute checks as the Black Talon entered fighter range. As Aindri and Vette entered an armoured lieutenant rushed up, skidding to a halt with a quick salute.
"My Lord, Lieutenant Dyral Surran. Shuttle Stormjaw has been prepped for departure and my men are at you're command."
She nodded curtly and the three of them climbed the shuttles boarding ramp, a ground crew mechanic disconnecting a hose and wiping her brow with a sleeve called up, "You're ready to fly."
"Stormjaw to bridge. How much longer?" Requested the pilot as the shuttles hatch slid shut behind Vette.
"Ensign Brukara here. Estimated one minute until were in fighter range. You are cleared for departure."
"Get us airborne." She ordered entering into the cockpit and the pilot nodded fingers flying over flight controls. Engines flaring to life with a loud roar, view tilting upward as the shuttle rose a few metres from the hanger deck accompanied by a familiar mechanical drone of flight wings folding down.
Bay doors parted before them and the shuttle surged out into open space, Supremacy fighters streaking past them to engage the talon-class fighters swarming around the Brentaal Star. Imperial and Republic fighters danced in a lethal could of crimson and jade punctuated with the occasional disintegration of a fighter. Six hung back as an escort taking out enemy fighters that got to close, too small to be tracked by the thantra's turbolasers. The pilot accelerated, pushing Stormjaw too its top speed as it wove around raging bolts, shuttle rocking as enemy fire took a glancing hit to its shields.
Looking past the deadly display unfolding before them sudden movement through the viewport caught Aindri's eye and she narrowed her gaze as the battleships blast doors shuddered.
"The Brentaal Star is closing its blast doors," Called the pilot, "They're onto us."
"Have our squadrons target the blast door controls and shield generator," She ordered, keeping her cool even as the blast doors slow started to lower, "Use our own guns if you must."
Two fighters peeled away from their escort, letting loose with twin laser cannons onto the bay's shield generator, which cracked and belched sparks into space under the assault. Bay doors grinded to a halt with just enough space for the shuttle to slip inside.
Angling for the opening, there was a deafening screech and the shuttle jolted as its wing scraped against the blaster doors edge. Troopers braced for impact, the shuttle jarring as it roughly hit the fighter bay floor.
"Urgh my head." Vette groaned rubbing where her lekku had collided with the shuttle ceiling, before she felt her head being pushed down and to side, glancing up to see Aindri examining her head.
"My Lord, we have company."
Turning away from her companion, Aindri moved to the viewport tugging her hood down further over her face as she frowned at the two squads of Republic troopers rushing in to surround them.
"Lieutenant have your men ready to fan out." She ordered unclipping her lightsaber, Vette pulling her blasters from their holsters, nodding to the pilot to open the hatch once the assault troops were ready.
Igniting her saber she shot forward.
Bolt after bolt, Aindri deflected to the side and into republic troopers, twisting around the barrage of blaster fire and redirecting them as she danced among the volley of deadly plasma. Her arms were a blur as she reacted purely out of instinct, never slowing down as she cut through the enemy.
She barely noticed the Imperial troopers pouring out from behind her, rifles raised and gunning down enemy troops with crimson blasts. Or Vette darting around the hanger, ducking behind crates and refuelling stations, taking devastating pot shots when and where she could.
When the onslaught finally ended, the Mon Calamari commanders' corpse hitting the floor when she removed her blade, Aindri stalked back to Lieutenant Surran.
"Causalities?"
Surran saluted, "Four, my Lord."
Aindri hummed quietly, closing her eyes and sending a silent thanks to those who'd died, "Hold position here and secure our retreat. Keep a line with the Black Talon open."
"Understood, my Lord. We'll be awaiting your return."
No sooner than they'd turned away from the lieutenant, her comm chimed and there was a crackle of static before the voice of Orzik's second in command came over the channel, "My Lord, NR-02 has been monitoring enemy chatter. There's strong indication the Brentaal Star is preparing to jettison the traitor in an escape pod."
"Noted. Recall what's left of our fighters and prepare to retreat quickly."
"Already done, my Lord."
"Good," There was another burst of static as the channel fell silent and she led them over to a console turning to her Twi'lek companion, "Pull up a map on this display. Find the quickest route to the escape pods."
"Yeah hang on a minute," Vette groused, nimble fingers flying over the keyboard, "Civvy lockdowns are kark of a lot easier than military…" Near unintelligible green and yellow strings of aurebesh surged across the display, until the patterns resolved themselves into a partial schematic of the ship. Vette studied the readouts, tracing a pathway through the ship, "Right, if we take these corridors and these turbolifts we'll get there pretty quickly. There is a tram but it's on lockdown along with the rest and breaking into it will take too long."
Nodding, Aindri spun on her feel and begun moving through the ship with long, quick strides her sight and other senses constantly surveying her surroundings as Vette trotted after her.
They did encounter further crewmembers but they were relatively few and far between, and less equipped than those they'd fought in the hanger bay. The Republic must have been banking on being able to stop their advance in the hanger, her blade – singing with bloodlust – tearing through them easily as they made their way to the engine deck.
"My Lord," Captain Orzik's said over the comms after a brief burst of static, "We have a transmission coming in. Long range and using a Republic frequency but not the Brentaal Star."
"Put it through," She ordered, pulling out and activating her holocom.
A ghostly blue image of a short haired woman wearing sleeveless robes flickered to life, granting her an audience with someone she had only seen in her uncle's files on those who could – regardless of affiliation – potentially threaten the Empire.
"This is Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan hailing unidentified Imperial vessel. I'm enroute to your location with sixteen Republic vessels," Aindri arched an eyebrow at sudden the escalation of force, "I'm asking you to retreat before more lives are lost."
"I seek only one." She replied and the Grand Master narrowed her eyes.
"The Brentaal Star and the 'General' are under my protection. I just crippled three Imperial dreadnoughts, I don't wish to destroy you. The peace between the Republic and Empire is fragile enough already."
"He threatens our security. I will not allow such a risk to go unchecked."
"And I will not allow you to harm an innocent," Satele answered, "Incidents like this are happening across the galaxy, but only because we let them. Leave the Brentaal Star to me."
Aindri felt a subtle buzz in the back of her mind, the hallmark of Force Persuasion but after weeks of staying on Korriban in the near constant presence of the Valley of the Dark Lords had hardened her mind against mental manipulations and attacks.
"You are playing a dangerous game Jedi," She said slowly her tone steely and touched with a hint of danger, "I do not take kindly to attacks on my mind."
"If you will not relent, then may the Force be with you."
"Likewise," She cut the transmission, reconnecting to the Talon, "You heard."
"Every word, my Lord," Replied Orzik before turning to his ensigns, "What is the ETA of the Republic reinforcements?"
"Thirty minutes at most." Hetter responded.
Aindri was already moving forward, long gait eating up the deck plating. They were near the escape pods already, the strong vibrations echoing through their boots a result of the ships sublight engines. She was confident her and Vette would reach the 'General' before Satele's reinforcements arrived, "We have time."
Vette peeked around the corner and grinned when she saw the door leading to the escape pods – they were lightly guarded to – glancing back at Aindri she gave her a thumbs up. She hung back as the Sith surged forwards, providing long range support, not that with this few troops she particularly needed it. But what happened next, Vette would always vehemently deny her amazement. Sure a person was one thing – the Twi'lek shuddered when she remembered what happened to Vemrin – but a blast door.
Aindri almost growled when sparks flew from the blast doors before them, someone on the other side trying to prevent their passage. Closing her eyes she focused her concentration, seeing the door through the Force itself, noting weak points in its composition. Gathering the Force, which had been dancing freely around into her palm until she felt her arms thrumming with power. Drawing her hands back, metal groaned and bent before she snapped her palms outwards, the blast doors tearing away from its frame with a loud screech. Heavy metal hurtled into the air slamming into a pair of Republic troops, blood pooling beneath them as they were crushed.
She glided through the door, light on her feet and muscles slight tense in anticipation. She'd sensed the stronger than average Force signature emanating from behind the door and she was rewarded with the sight of a pink-skinned Twi'lek wearing plain brown robes, lightsaber extended in front of her.
"Halt where you are. I am Yadira Ban, Padawan of the Jedi Order. I was sent to protect the General, and you will not pass."
Narrowing her eyes, Aindri examined the young woman before her. A Padawan, was like an apprentice but that was by no means a measure of strength. Some Sith, whilst powerful enough to be a Lord, could remain an apprentice for decades. And she held a lightsaber, meaning she was nearing the end of her trials. She could almost taste Vette's apprehension of facing the other Twi'lek, Padawan though she maybe.
Igniting her own lightsaber, she slowly begun to close the distance between them until they were circling each other and from the corner of her eye she could see Vette's hand move to her blasters. She turned her head fractionally towards her companion who froze before nodding and stepping back.
Aindri would take on Ban and would do so alone.
"I will not allow to pass," Ban repeated, "I will drive you back, meter by meter if need be. Just as the Republic pushed the Sith Empire into the dark of the galaxy."
There was passion in her words, righteous anger as well, far from the calmness expected of a Jedi. It was the Padawan who struck first.
Flicking the tip of her lightsaber upwards, she meet her opponent in a clash of red and green plasma. Whirling away half a step, she eased up on any strength she'd put behind her blade so Ban was off-balance having expected solid resistance to her blow.
Stopping behind the Padawan, she brought her lightsaber up in a sweeping slash, which almost missed. A piece of badly singed brown cloth fluttered to the floor in front of her as Ban rolled away to safety. The Padawan pushed to her feet, now sporting blackened tear in the bottom of her outer robe.
This time, Aindri was the one who attacked and the paced back and forth across the room trading blow after deadly blow. They were near evenly matched in terms of skill, but her strikes were slightly stronger, her reflexes faster, her footwork more accurate.
Yadira Ban was growing desperate. This Sith was more of a challenge than she thought she'd be, the force of her attacks sending vibrations down her arms and she was sent stumbling backwards by a foot slamming against her sternum when her opponent leapt into the air to avoid a sideswipe of her saber.
The Sith landed lightly on her feet before flying forward once again, keeping low to the ground to slash at her thighs. Ban lowered her saber to block the blow only for her eyes to widen.
She'd miscalculated.
Her blade a fraction too high, the Sith's saber suddenly changes its angle slipping under her guard to snap upwards, piercing her midsection and up into her heart.
Aindri closed her eyes and released a breath, deactivating her lightsaber and stepping back to allow the body to fall. She looked up, her gaze moving to the opposite side of the room and the corridor leading to the escape pods. Stowing her lightsaber, she stepped around the corpse and headed for the corridor, giving the Republic soldiers manning it a baleful look. It was a token guard at best and she cut through them easily.
Reaching the pods, five in total situated next to each other, she scanned the room with her eyes and a flash of movement from her left caught her attention. Vette darted forward, nabbing a large balding man in an Imperial military uniform by the scruff of his neck.
"There's a finder's fee right?" Vette asked cheerfully, shifting so she could poke one of her blasters between his shoulder blades, "Cause if so I call dibs."
Aindri took the traitors chin, lifting it with a finger so pale blue eyes met stormy grey, "You betrayed the Empire. Why?"
"If you knew what I knew, you'd understand. If you'd heard what both sides were plotting, you wouldn't be so eager to restart this war. They're building doomsday weapons. Shields that envelop planets, missiles that darken suns. Republic and Empire are planning to raze worlds, annihilate civilisations. There's no place for me in the Empire anymore. I thought my last act might be to even the odds. Create a stalemate."
She removed her hand, letting the traitors chin fall and looked over him at Vette who nodded before she tapped her comm, a brief moment of static as she connected to the Black Talon.
"My Lord?" Came Orzik's voice.
"We have the traitor. What is your status?"
"We have only taken a few minor hits to our hull but our luck is beginning to run out. ETA of Republic reinforcements is fifteen minutes."
She and Vette were already moving, going as fast as they could whilst "Recall our fighters and have Lieutenant Surran prep for evac. Enter hyperspace as soon as Stormjaw enters the hanger."
"It will be done, my Lord. I will see you upon your return."
New Republic corpses were scattered throughout the hanger, Surran and his men had held their own against the onslaught. As soon as Suraan saw them, he ordered the other troopers to get into the shuttle its engines already primed for take-off. Two came forward to take the traitor off Vette's hands, yanking his arms behind his back and shoving him up the ramp.
They raced up after them, Vette grabbing onto the edge of the hatch as she swung around and slapped her hand against the controls. Hatch sliding shut, the shuttle lifted off wings snapping down as it tore out of the Brentaal Stars hanger.
"The Talon is providing cover fire." Called their pilot as the shuttle rocked from a shot hitting the ship's hull.
She watched the outline of the Black Talon starboard hanger becoming clearer as they approached surrounding heavy defence turrets rotating to lance Republic talons with deadly laser fire. They banked port, shuttle jerking upwards as enemy fire just grazing the underside of its hull. Sliding into the hanger at an angle, the pilot yanked back the throttle to full reverse preventing them from smashing into the back wall.
Aindri jumped from the shuttle before it even landed on the deck, striding towards the turbolift, "There's no way I'm jumping from a moving shuttle," Vette muttered waiting for the shuttle to actually touchdown before following.
"My Lord, you are the heroes of the day." Orzik smiled when they entered the bridge, the familiar tunnel of hyperspace stretched infinitely beyond the viewport, "My men will take the general to the brig. Congratulations. I never expected the mission to go off this cleanly."
She waved a hand dismissively, before asking softly, "How many?"
"A couple of Supremacy fighters and a marines," Orzik replied his expression turning slightly downcast, "They were good men."
She stayed silent, allowing the captain his moment of mourning.
"Grand Moff Kilran is eagerly awaiting your report," NR-02 broke the silence, "Shall I put him through?"
She inclined her head fractionally towards Orzik who nodded gratefully understand she was returning command of the Talon to him. He owed a lot to this Sith, not only had she spared his life but she'd also eliminated a threat to the Empire.
He sighed, there was no point in putting it off, "Put the Grand Moff through," His expression tightening when a ghostly blue image of Kilran flitted to life.
"Well how fortunate I could reach my friends aboard the Black Talon," Kilran drawled, a smirk in his voice, "The droids keeping me apprised of your work, but I very much wanted to hear from you. How did the attack go?"
"The traitor is in custody. He will be in your hands soon enough."
"Excellent," He smiled, "I'll let Korriban and Imperial Intelligence fight over him. You should be proud. This is only one of many operations we're conducting across the galaxy. It's a new beginning to the war. The general was one of the greatest weapons the Republic had – a defector – and you've snatched from him from enemy hands. I'll remember this, and I'll make sure you're rewarded."
"I seek neither reward nor recognition," She replied emotionlessly, "I did my duty."
Orzik stared at the Sith in surprise and had the pleasure of seeing Kilran blink, coughing to his own.
"Of course and you fulfilled it wonderfully. Darth Baras will be pleased," Aindri's eyes narrowed beneath her hood, so he knew who her master was, "But my words hardly matter. Soon you'll be joining us on the homeworld, and you can see for yourself what you've been fighting for."
"It should be," He smirked, "Inspiring. Enjoy the rest of your journey. Kilran out."
Kilran's image flickered once before disappearing and she released a silent sigh and she turned her head to gaze at the swirling blue, white and black outside transparisteel, "Arrival at Dromund Kaas?"
"Two hours, my Lord." Replied Lieutenant Sylas who had been standing by the navigation console.
"I will be in my quarters." She replied, the crew bowing as she turned from the viewport, black robes swirling around her ankles, and strode from the bridge, Vette trailing behind her.