Ch22 The Eye Of Fate
Cerinia 19.8 ABY fifteen minutes later.
The small Imperial taskforce slowely approaches a massive black pyramid with a large eight sided star prism with a purple spherical gem in the middle.
"Admiral we have reached our target."
DeGuale looks towards the eight kilometer station and smiles sadistically.
"Ah yes, my finest achievment ever. Captain run the radiation scan." DeGuale orders.
"Yes sir, but may I ask what is this thing sir?"
"This my friend is the Eye of Fate. I'll explane everything once were inside." DeGuale anwsers.
"Yes sir."
The radiation scan takes nearly fifteen minutes. The readings show no sign of radiation or contamination.
"Sir the station appears to be clean."
"Good send a squad of RAD troopers in to sweep the area just in case." DeGuale orders.
"Yes sir. Ensign ready Echo squad for deployment."
"Yes sir."
The squad of RAD troopers load up on a Sentinel landing craft abd leave the Blood Reigns hanger and fly inside the hanger of the station. After the squad lands, they slowly leave the transport and sweep the hanger for any threats. Convinced that the area was clear, the squad then activated their hazardous material detection gear. The suad continues to move through out the station looking for any sort of threat. Once they finally make it to the control room the squad sergeant removes his helmet and brings up his comm link.
"Admiral we are in the control room the station is secure and clear of contamination sir."
"Very good sergeant start up the gower generators and wait for my arrival." DeGuale orders.
"Yes sir."
After about twenty minutes of waiting the doors of the control room hiss open. As DeGuale and a few other officers and squad of stormtroopers walk in, the RAD troopers snap to attention.
"At ease troopers you've done well." DeGuale says.
"Admiral may I ask what is this thing?" Cap Deckert asks.
"Ah yes captain I almost forgot. The Eye of Fate is an experimental super weapon powered by Cerinian energy crystals." DeGuale says.
"You lost me sir." Deckert replies.
"Roughly seven years ago back when the fleet was scattered. My forces were out here in the unknown regions rebuilding and conducting research. When we were informed about Cerinia I knew it sounded promising. After four years of research on Cerinia I discovered that their energy crystals could be used to power almost anything including a class 3 superlaser. It took me almost six months of negotiations with their monarchy but I managed to convince the King to donate six of their most powerful crystals to me in return to give them some of our outdated technology. You see the Cerinians were very back water, having very little technology of their own. They relied on their magic to get them by. So I gave them a few blasters, some bacta, a couple of old transports and speeders and a couple of droids. It's funny that they were naive enough to fall for my deception. Whats even better is that our negotiations were completly secret from their populus. The king's daughter didn't even know until the last minute. I keep myself undercover the entire time just in case, of course. Once I had the crystals I put them into the Eye and tested the weapon on their planet. The crust of the planet was burned off. You see captian these crystals are buried deep underground and the locations of their mines were keep secret, now with the crust gone and population exterminated-." DeGuale said.
"We can then send mining crews to easily dig the crystals up and use them for the Empire and get away with it because all the witnesses are dead." Deckert says.
"Exactly captian." DeGuale replies.
"What happened then sir?" Deckert asks.
"Then problem was that the Empire was very short on funding so I couldn't build the station up to code, and the crystals power proved to be unstable. After the weapon was fired the computers stated that the reactor was becoming unstable, so I ordered an evacuation. At that time I was also informed that the other rouge battle groups were begining to form back up as I ordered, so I decided to let the weapon sit until I had the funds to maintain it, and concentrate on our war effort. Now we do so I want it back up and running within six months and I want a detachment sent to the surface to constuct a mining base there." DeGuale says.
"Yes sir. Corporal you heard the man head down to the surface and begin preperations." Deckert replies.
"Roger that sir." the clone replies.
Coruscant 20:15 that evening.
As Tim and Fox were instructed the two of them went up to defence post AV-1 for their future instructions. They figured they would get there abit early just incase the general was early as well. Fox and Krystal veiwed out the windows and gazed upon the several docked warships.
"What kind of cruiser is that?" Fox asks.
"Thats a Majestic class heavy cruiser. It's a pretty powerful escort ship. It don't carry any fighters though." Tim replies.
"What about that one?" Krystal asks.
"That would be a Recusant class light destroyer. Like the Majestic class they have alot of guns but no compliment of fighters. But it is a good ship for its age." Tim says.
"How old is it." Fox asks.
"About forty to fifty years old, they were used by the CIS during the Clone Wars. After the that many CIS ships were commissioned by the Alliance and are still used today. We use what ever we can get, and we make good use of them." Tim says.
"I'm surprised that you guys would use such outdated vessels." Fox says.
"Well ships can be hard to come by, plus we still don't have the production capabilities as the Imperials do, espessialy now that some our leading companies defected back to the Empire." Tim replies.
"Those ungreatful bastards, you guys fighting all those years for their freedom only to turn their backs on you." Fox comments.
"Oh well what do ya do?" Tim replies.
"Not to change the subject guys but what exactly is going on? All Fox told me was that you two might have a plan and that we were ordered to meet up here on this station. Could some please enlighten me." Krystal asks.
"Ok Krys, we suggested to the general that since a full battle group can't be organised right away, instead sending a small strike force to Lylat to help us keep the Imperials busy until reinforcements can arrive." Fox says.
"My fighter wing will be going back with you, the general also agreed to give us some sort of cruiser to give us some extra firepower. Right now were just waiting for the general." Tim replies.
"Ok you could have told me this hours ago." Krystal comments.
"Sorry." Fox says.
The three continued to talk for around ten more minutes. Their conversation was halted when they seen the general walk in. The three young officers were quick to salute him.
"At ease you three. Good evening." Rieekan says.
"Evening sir, so what were you able to arange for us sir?" Tim asks.
"Right to the point as always, follow me then." the general says.
The four officers then proceed through station. Fox and Krystal couldn't stop looking at all starships in dry dock. After about ten minutes of walking they stop in front of the window and see a midsize cruiser.
"You know what this is Welch?" the generals asks.
"Yes sir this is a Rendili Dreadnaught Heavy Cruiser." Tim replies.
"Very good captian you know your stuff." the general coments.
"Sir is this a Katana fleet Dreadnaught sir?" Tim asks.
"No captian this is the Katana." the general replies.
Authors notes: Sorry it took so lomg I had a long week, but anyways. The Eye of Fate, what do ya think of that? Quite the sinister plot? Just wait until find out the rest of history. Their is more than meets the Eye. Thanks for reading and reviewing.