Chapter 9. New Allies or Enemies
The Star Fire was moving deeper into the Unknown Regions. They had made contact with Gunjaghi, a reptilian race living a primitive life. The Alliance had promised to help them become technologically advanced and an Alliance Embassy was under construction on the planet.
The Star Fire was in an uninhabited system with seven planets. Only three of them were capable of supporting life. Captain Mason had given his crew shore leave. The Star Fire orbited the second planet of the system.
"Are you alright?" He asked to Nala his second in command.
"If your brother's murderer escaped justice would you be alright?" She asked in aggravation. They were on the bridge alone.
Mason sighed, "I'm sorry you have been distracted and I was concerned for you." She burst into tears and ran into his arms. "Go ahead and let it out I am here." Mason said holding Nala in his arms. She sniffed and looked up into his eyes. They stared at each other and without realizing it their faces were getting close. Their lips touched and they kissed. It was passionate and terrifying at the same time for Nala.
She drew close, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have." He tried to stop her, but Nala ran off to her room. The droids on the bridge ignored the little drama that just took place.
Nala went to her room to be alone so that she could clear her head. Her emotions were all over the place and she needed to resolve them. "Whoever you are go away." She said when the door chimed.
The door opened and Jedi Master Sun Jin was at the door. "Apologies for disturbing you, I am an old fashioned Jedi and well when I sense great emotions I tend to want to help."
After her talk with Sun Jin Nala went looking for Captain Mason, they met up in the hallway on the Captain's deck. "I just wanted-" They both spoke at the same time.
"You go first." Mason said embarrassed.
"I love you Mason, I have always loved you and."
She stopped when he grabbed her and kissed her, "I love you too-I was afraid of ruining our friendship. We could have dinner together and talk more."
"I would like that."
"Captain Mason-Please report to the bridge." A droid said over the COM. When Mason got to the bridge the droid informed him of an alien ship approaching them. "Show me." He demanded. A saucer shaped ship was projected from the main holo-projector. Mason turned to the droid, "Recall the crew!"
The Saucer shaped ship had a grey hall and two fins on the top side of the hall. "What is going on?" The Ambassador asked arriving on the bridge.
"We have made contact with an advanced alien intelligence." Mason said answering the question. He showed him the hologram of the ship entering the system. "Lt send them friendly messages in all known languages."
"Yes sir!"
A hologram of a human with tattoos on his face was projected onto the bridge. "This is Praetorian Van Ushark of the cruiser Van please identify yourselves."
"This is Captain Mason of the Capital Ship Star Fire –We represent the Galactic Alliance of Free Star Systems-We are on an exploration mission in this part of the galaxy."
"We are on an exploration mission as well-Allow me to contact my superiors to see how they wish to handle this."
It took an hour for Praetorian Van to contact his Regent. Then he escorted the Ambassador and his aids to the Arquellion home world. They were greeted by the royal Vizier, who took them on a tour of the royal palace. It was dinner time and the guests stood around the table waiting for Princess Regent Caseopeia to arrive.
"I don't like this." Maxuss Vaneer said.
"You have been saying that ever since we started this campaign." Caseopeai replied. They were looking at the guests from the hallway that lead to the dinning hall.
The herald announced them and they entered the dinning hall and everyone was seated after Caseopeai. They dined on Arquillion dishes from all over the empire. It was a lavish rich meal meant to impress the guests.
"Your majesty this meat what is it called again?" The Ambasador asked.
"It is called Ma'darf."
"Much of your symbols and decore reminds me of the Mandelorians." The chief aid to the ambassador said.
"Our people were once slaves to the Mandelorians-When they were defeated our people turned against them and found this planet-we built a mighty Empire." Caseopeai said.
"The Alliance has always stood for equality and freedom for people-We seek peace with your Empire." The Ambassador said.
Maximuss wiped his mouth, "Peace-but first there must be trust between our governments."
"Of course perhaps we can sign a treaty and trade agreement."
The rest of dinner they discussed the treaty and trade agreement policies. Then the Ambassador invited Caseopeai and Maximuss to Coruscant so that they could officially sign the treaty. The Alliance ambassador party was invited to spend the night in the palace. While everyone was sleeping one of the aids named Leanna put on a cloaking suit. She was actually an agent for Galactic Alliance Intelligence and her mission was plant a spike device into a terminal so that the Alliance could get a look at the Arquillion Empire's military strength. Her mission was successful and she made it back to her room without incident.
Mount Praetor Academy-Training Camp for the Arquillion Imperial Guard:
The Eclipse landed in the main Hangar to the academy. The Academy was on the seventh planet in the system. Donovan, Jaddock, and Kindo walk down the ramp with Anakin still in the Vong pod.
Ryle Norg was already on the planet inside the facility. His world had been turned upside down with the death of his wife and children. Now he had been taken from custody by Donovan's apprentices. He was on a strange planet in a distant part of the galaxy.
The doors to his room opened and Donovan came in. 'Where are we?" He asked.
"Deep inside the Unknown Regions among the Arquillions-I brought you here because I need your help."
Norg sneered, "To do what?"
"Follow me." He lead him to a lab inside the mountain where a Vong pod was on the floor with its roots digging into the metal floor. There was also a table with four covered bodies on it.
"My wife and children! What is this?" Norg screamed when Donovan uncovered the bodies. The woman woke up and looked at Norg after he waved his hand, when he waved his hand again she lay her head down and closed her eyes. "Lyra! Lyra!" He grabbed Donovan, "What did you do? Bring her back!"
"I used the force to make her live, then I sent her back-I will restore her life if you use your knowledge to make the boy in the pod mine to control."
Norg released Donovan, walked up to the pod, and started examining it. I will need a scan of his body. "Well?" Donovan asked impatiently after twenty minutes.
"If I remove bigot controlling his brain it will kill him-I can put it to sleep and alter its output carrier patterns-both procedures are dangerous-The second is safer."
"Get started then." Donovan left the lab so that Ryle Norg could get started. When he exited the lab Maximus was waiting for him. "Viceroy Maximuss-always a pleasure."
"Did you use members of the Royal guard for your expedition?"
"Yes I did-but-"
"How dare you-You are a rogue Jedi three steps from falling to the dark side." Maximuss said interrupting
"That's enough!" Caseopeai said entering the room. "Those men were of my personal guard."
"This operation is getting out of hand." Maximuss said looking in between them.
"We are on perfect schedule-We have allies in the core, the Alliance will sign the treaty of non-aggression and the trade agreement. What are you concerned about?"
Maximuss turned his back to Donovan, "I have spoken with several Force Priests-they feel trimmers in the force and they feel that somehow we are being manipulated-Maybe we should rethink this."
Despite all he said Maximuss was unable to convince Caseopeai. The surgery on Anakin was a success and now he was completely under Donovan's control. Donovan reunited Ryle Norg with his family, who were actually clones.
"Whom do you serve?" Anakin asked.
"You milord." Anakin said in response.
Donovan smiled, because now he had Anakin Solo under his control and the Alliance was getting ready to sign the treaty. His destiny was about to be fully realized and he would reshape the galaxy and the Jedi.