Vanguard

Chapter 41

"First Response"

[UNSC Vanguard, Command Deck, Three days later]

"Percival bring up grid coordinates G-5 by N-32, lay out topographical data and thermal enhance" James orders as he stood in front of the holotable.

"Gladly" the AI avatar responded.

Presented on the holotank was the planet Azloc-lll, still currently under Covenant occupation, or more specifically the unidentified structure they uncovered in the northern polar regions of the planet. As ordered a holographic layout of the mountainous terrain rises from the table along with a single CCS-Class Battlecruiser hanging low in the atmosphere, unaffected by the planet's harsh weather conditions, and nearly a couple thousand ground troops roaming around the structure that was currently built into the side of a massive plateau measuring roughly a kilometer in long and half a kilometer wide. All of this data was being provided by the slipspace probe Percival launched two days prior and is now currently in orbit over the planet.

"Shall I give you an update?" Percival chirped with a small grin.

"Of course" James answered, his voice sounded with exhaustion.

"Very well, over the course of the past twenty four hours two of the three cruisers that were present over the site departed for orbit to regroup with the rest of the fleet, leaving their ground troops to defend the structure of interest. Surveillance also suggests that pockets of heavy resistance are found all across the planet, possible imperial forces that survived the initial attacks, but as each hour progressed their numbers are dwindling. But focusing back on the structure, it appears the Covenant is attempting to gain access inside but something is denying them entry. What the most astonishing thing is that the structure itself is definitely Forerunner in origin- architectural design and energy signatures can confirm this."

"Forerunner? I should've guessed that's the only thing keeping them there. Anything else?"

"There are sightings of methane refineries and alloy mining sites popping up all across the surface; it appears the Covenant is making a more permanent stay here to acquire more resources- most likely to build more ships and equipment. But on another note, the Imperial Navy has dispatched another fleet to handle the situation- it's sad to say that this is their sixth attempt."

"What are their losses so far?"

"Sixteen Venators, five Acclamators, roughly twenty three escort ships, and countless numbers of fighters and troop transports."

"Time of arrival for the next fleet?"

"Three days, six hours, and forty two minutes."

"That seems a little precise."

The AI showed a small grin "Call it an educated guess."

James gave no remark to that, instead he asks "Bring up the orbiting fleet for a moment."

The grin faded from the officer's face and as ordered the holotable switched from the Forerunner installation to the Covenant fleet hanging in high orbit over the planet.

Percival continues "The fleet hasn't received any reinforcements thus far, but after running several simulations I can predict they will within the next week. Patrol patterns within the system is pretty thorough even by their standards, only a fast ship could probably get past them."

"Something we don't have, and the Vanguard will be destroyed before we even come within weapons range."

"So our options are limited then . . ."

"What do we have?"

"Well" the officer thought "We could use the docked Gozanti to make a quick dropout of hyperspace over the planet, and then deploy a small team via escape pod to the surface."

James liked the idea, but he already saw the drawbacks, "The cruiser will need time to spool up for another jump, time which it doesn't have which means whoever is on it will be put at risk. Not to mention it will take away our ability to make faster jumps throughout the galaxy."

"Yes . . . there's that."

The two fell silent afterwards, pondering about viable options that wouldn't place one of their own in danger. Many ideas came to mind but they were eventually dismissed after realizing the risks each presented to them.

Until Percival began "We could-"

But before he could continue, the two heard the swish of the bulkhead hatch behind them prompting them to turn and find Ahsoka and Lux walking in with Jorge following up from behind.

The AI quickly greeted them as they came in "Ah Miss Tano, Senator Bonteri, and SPARTAN Jorge. Glad to have you here."

Tano and Bonteri gave a small grin to the British officer but Jorge merely responded with a subtle nod before he comes by the table and glances down at the holographic fleet "So, that's what we're up against?" he asked seemingly not surprised by it.

"Seems that way, but we don't know what they have in reserve" James answered "Imperial Navy has been getting kicked out every time they try to take the system back."

Both Ahsoka and Lux came to a stop at the table across from James and studied the fleet, each ship was highlighted and marked with a red icon that labeled the ships' class and other minor detail. Each ship was organic in design and looked as if they can cause a lot more damage then what the Ardent Prayer was capable of. But despite the number of ships that was present they couldn't keep their eyes off the gargantuan three kilometer long ORS-Class Heavy Cruiser that sat in wait along with three CCS-Class Battlecruisers and two heavy corvettes in a loosely held formation and positions around the flagship.

"So is this the Covenant?" Bonteri wondered as he stared at the sleek warships.

"Yes Senator. These were the ones we have been at war with for over two decades" James answered "Driven by the belief of The Great Journey, they began to lay waste to humanity claiming that we are an affront to their gods."

"Gods?" the senator curiously asked.

Percival chimed in "An ancient civilization that existed long ago, they were simply known as the Forerunners. The very same 'gods' that managed to come to this galaxy as well it seems."

"Wait" Ahsoka spoke curtly "The Forerunners were here? How?"

"It's no mystery that the Forerunners have been at the pinnacle of technology and understanding of all fields of science, they still far surpass what the Covenant currently has. I suppose it doesn't surprise me that they managed to develop a means of making intergalactic expeditions and depending on how long ago they probably managed to fully explore and document this entire galaxy- leaving several installations along the way for various reasons."

"And I'm guessing there's one on Azloc?"

"There is."

Jorge then finally came in "So if we take the installation down on the surface, it might help us a long ways- maybe even show us a way home."

"One step at a time Jorge, we need to find a way through that fleet" the SPARTAN sniper reminded him.

"Any ideas?" Ahsoka wondered.

"No . . . Not yet."

Lux carefully studied the ships; the three patrolling corvettes in the outer reaches of the system were making routine patrols in their assigned zones- making them an easy target for any attacking fleet. But the main fleet itself was too heavily guarded with constant fighter patrols and surveillance making it near impossible for a ship of any size to get close.

He had to ask "What're they capable of?"

James then glanced towards the AI "Percival, bring up the last known engagement."

"Right away."

The hologram shifted and warred, the Covenant fleet still held the loose formation of ships before but they were over a different region of the planet. Soon enough five Venator-Class Star Destroyers, two Acclamator-Class Assault Ships, five Arquitens-Class Escort Cruisers, and three Consular-Class Cruisers totaling to fifteen ships.

"That's a big fleet, you don't see that very often" Tano notes.

As expected the imperials dropped in just within weapons range of the hostile fleet, deploying multiple fighters and bombers almost immediately after, and raised the shields. The Covenant held their positon but their Seraph fighters had suddenly moved to counter the enemy and the patrolling corvettes initiates a slipspace jump not too long after.

Almost immediately the two fleets began to open fire, volleys of turbolaser fire rained down upon the Covenant's shields with minimal effect while a single lance of pure white light from the flagship tore and sliced into a Venator. The V-Wing and ARC-170 starfighters engaged the Seraphs in quick and deadly dogfights throughout the field of space with no clear winner, but this allowed the imperial bomber wings to close in and launch a barrage of proton torpedoes onto a battlecruiser- bypassing the shields and damage the outer hull greatly. The Consular and Arquitens cruisers used their small size and agility to get in between the massive covenant vessels to commit point blank range attack runs, only damaging the shields minimally, but they were easily destroyed by a single plasma torpedo or lance from an energy projector.

"They're being slaughtered . . ." Bonteri comments in shock and awe.

Shortly after the Senator's comment, the three corvettes that had been patrolling the outer reaches now exited slipspace in flanking position and began their attack launching volleys of torpedoes at the Acclamators and Venators who were caught off guard. The imperial fleet was surrounded.

One after another a ship was violently torn apart by the Covenant's wrath, each ship suffering from coordinated fire from the cruisers. The clone fighters were now beginning to be overrun as each was shot down and destroyed, some fighters even began to flee the battlefield in hopes of surviving but they were effortlessly hunted down and killed. The last ship to stand was a lone Acclamator that was desperately trying to flee, but a single torpedo targeted the engines and crippled the vessel denying it its only chance to escape. The covenant then began to close in around the defenseless assault ship and dispatched boarding parties. The battle was over once the covenant abandoned the ship and initiated a remote detonation inside the ship's main reactor core, destroying her entirely.

The recording ends with James stating "We don't stand a chance against that fleet, let alone a single battlecruiser."

"So what are we going to do?" Ahsoka asked.

Everyone looked to each other, hoping to find an answer but there wasn't one; until Percival spoke "Well I suppose we will just have to do what we can right now. Ahsoka you can go down to the hangar and resume working on your fighter, I will give you any help I can offer. Jorge, you and Senator Bonteri can head out to the debris field and continue scavenging for materials we can use. And James, I believe Komari wishes to speak to you. Now we all have work to do, so let's get to it."

Everyone began to make their way off the bridge without another word, Bonteri and Tano taking the lead with Jorge and James following them out. The door seals themselves behind them and Percival has the bridge to himself once again.

[Forty two minutes later, debris field]

Floating out in open space, Lux and Jorge combed the debris field for any valuable salvage that can be used to further enhance or maintain the UNSC destroyer that lied out in the distance.

"So what are we exactly looking for anyways?" Bonteri asks into the comms unit in his EVA helmet.

"Droids, weapons, scrap metal, anything that could be worth something to us" the SPARTAN answered as he gently pushed aside a shard of metal.

"Oh . . . that should be easy enough . . ."

The two began to search a nearby wreckage; a Consular-Class Cruiser that had spilt in halves during the battle that took place here, Jorge was the first to enter through a breach in the hull with Lux following close behind. Once inside, the two magnetized their boots onto the floor and began to walk further inside.

"So what's your story?" Bonteri asked.

"What do you mean?" Jorge asked back as he walked.

"You know, where you were born, what it was like growing up. That sort of story."

"Oh . . ." the SPARTAN muttered "There's not much to talk about."

"Okay . . ."

"I was born on the fortress world called Reach, born and raised like any other child. People said I was a likeable boy back then."

"Ahsoka did say you were a bit of a soft guy."

The big man chuckled "Huh, did she now?"

"Yeah" Lux grinned a little "So how did you end up here with James?"

"I didn't exactly come with him the same way."

"What happened?"

"The Covenant" the soldier sighed "They found my home and they came in force, I was attached to Noble Team at the time and we did everything we could to fight them off. But everyone knew in the back of their minds that once those bastards found a world, they won't stop until they win. But that also gave us an opportunity to deliver a hard blow."

Lux was silent as he carefully listens "The Covenant had a super carrier in geosynchronous orbit over the planet and Kat, our second-in-command, had a plan to knock it out. It called for Six and I to get up there and deliver a makeshift slipspace bomb to the carrier for remote detonation, everything had gone smoothly until the bomb became damaged and needed to be detonated manually."

"You drew the short straw. . ."

"Not exactly, Reach was my home and it has been good to me. So I thought I should return the favor, so I stayed behind."

"And Six, what happened?"

"I gave Six a chance to keep fighting for humanity, I threw the lethal bastard out the hangar and that was the last time I ever saw someone I could call a friend. I detonated the bomb and after that, I ended up here as a prisoner. Until they found me."

"So you knew James before coming here right?"

"Yeah?"

"What was he like? Was he any different than he is now?"

"I suppose he has changed since the last time we met after the Battle of Meridian, he was a quiet man with a strong heart and steady aim. But as always he preferred to work alone to get the job done."

"The Battle of Meridian? What happened?"

"There's nothing special to tell, it was a human colony that was found by the Covenant and then glassed . . . just like everything else."

"What was your mission?"

"That's classified, but part of it involved knocking out a cruiser out of low orbit with a ground-based mass driver."

"Was there anything else?"

"Nothing that isn't classified. Where do you think the armory is?"

The question prompted the Senator to look around "On a Consular cruiser? I think I remember finding them on our cruisers in the Onderon Defense Navy, they should be located on the mid-deck near one of the weapon batteries."

Jorge luckily finds a directory mounted on the side of the corridor they stood in "Well it looks like we're on the mid-deck, let's go see if there's anything left for us."

The two ventured further through the corridors without a sound, nothing greeted them in the wrecked cruiser but they didn't seem to mind. They finally reached the armory with the hatch sealed tight, Lux stepped over to the security console that resided on the wall next to the door and tried to get the system back online.

But his efforts were to no avail "Well the power is out."

The SPARTAN grunts "Obviously" then turned towards the door and asks "How sealed you think that door is?"

"The doors have built-in maglocks, a magnetic pull that keeps them shut- but even without power the doors themselves are-"

Jorge digs his fingers into the crevice between the doors and with all his might he forced the hatch open, inadvertently breaking the internal locking mechanisms and jamming the doors tight within the frame of the doorway.

Lux then remarks "Forget I said anything . . ."

052 smirked under his helmet and stepped inside to see what was left of the armory, Bonteri follows him in.

Upon first glance there wasn't much to go by, they even found a clone body gently floating in the middle of the room donning a set of Phase l armor from the early days of the Clone Wars. Jorge gently pushes the body aside letting it float towards a wall and began to examine the weapons locker while Lux went for the racks. The soldier's search proved fruitless until he came across the third locker, finding two RPS-6 Rocket Launchers with a munitions crate full of APHE warheads, and a Z-6 Rotary Cannon with a smaller crate containing tibanna cartridges and power cells.

"Not bad" he muttered silently as he slung the two launchers around his shoulders and grab hold of the munition crates, intending to return later for the Z-6.

Bonteri managed to find a better yield of resources than the SPARTAN, finding a partially filled rack of DC-15A and DC-15S blasters along with several tibanna cartridges stored inside a small box. He slings three rifles around his shoulders and grabs hold of the box before he notices that Jorge had already left with his findings and went after him, the two came back and forth between the armory to the pelican dropship that waited outside, storing the weapons inside before moving on with the salvage operations.

During their search they had made their way

[Meanwhile, UNSCVanguard, Hangar Bay]

"Percival, what's the readout on the systems?" Tano asked, lying underneath her Delta-7 replacing worn out components with the salvaged materials found from the debris field.

Currently standing on a portable pedestal with a small screen in front of him, the AI officer responded "Life support systems are online, weapons are functional, shields functional, all other systems are green across the board. I believe we have a fully functional Starfighter."

Ahsoka replaces one last integral component before she shuts the compartment and climbs out from underneath "Well we'll know when we get it started up."

She briefly cleans her grease covered hands with a dirty rag before she climbs into the cockpit and keys the ignition. In moments the fighter's HUD and monitors lit up and came to life, a subtle hum from the twin sublight engines signified that the fighter was ready for flight, and a readout on a side terminal suggests that everything has been restored to functioning status.

The togruta couldn't keep her excitement at bay "Finally" she grinned as she pressed several keys and switches.

"Shall we take it for a ride?" Percival asked, a proud smile was evident on his face.

Tano smiled with approval to which she seals the canopy tight while the AI began making preparations "Depressurizing main hangar bay, unlocking hangar doors."

As he did so, Tano felt right back at home as she brought the fighter's systems to optimal levels and prepares for takeoff.

"Depressurization complete, opening hangar bay doors."

The massive heavy doors slid open showing the emptiness of space ahead of them, the lights turned orange and blared loudly, the AI then turned to her "Miss Tano you are cleared for takeoff."

Ahsoka nods and begins to pilot the fighter, the craft slowly levitates from the floors, and in an instant the Delta-7 races out of the hangar at unprecedented speeds. Upon leaving the Vanguard Tano begins to make a run for the debris field, intending to find Jorge and Lux in the midst of the wreckage. With the first line of debris approaching she expertly ducks and weaves through the field avoiding anything that may damage the fighter and soon enough she spots them.

Leaving a destroyed Consular-Class Cruiser, the SPARTAN and senator were making their way back to the pelican. In an effort to show off she redirects her course and makes her way towards the dropship at combat speeds, and in a mere instance she makes a rapid flyby dangerously close to the pelican and the two individuals.

Ahsoka could feel the exhilarating sensation of flying again, something she had longed for since the last time she flown. She was approaching the scattered remains of an Acclamator Assault Ship to where she banks hard left along the dorsal hull that was ravaged by cannon fire long ago. Once she passed the main engines she makes a roundabout and begins heading back to the destroyer awaiting for her return. However only then on her way back did she realized she hasn't tested the weapons or shields, having been caught up in the momentous renewal of her love for flight, and arms the cannons for operation.

She quickly spots her target, a splintered Munificent-Class Star Frigate rusting away over the years, before she changes course and moves in for an attack run. Once she aligns her sights on the frigate she presses down on the triggers sending blue concentrated, high velocity bolts of energized plasma streaming across the vacuum of space before impacting the durasteel hull and armor, effortlessly smashing and destroying a small but respectable portion of the warship.

"Weapons work just like brand new" she remarks as she looks upon the damage done before resuming her trek back to the Vanguard.

For a short moment she continued to fly pass the wreckage and debris until she finally broke out of the field with the destroyer in sight, just then Percival chimes in through the communications relay "Wonderful display you just made there, I take it the weapons are functioning properly?"

"Yeah, but the only thing left is the shields. I need them to be ready before our first fight."

"How would you propose we test them? Fire a blaster at it?"

"No . . . blasters aren't strong enough to penetrate shields, we need something bigger."

As she said those words her eyes rested upon the Halberd-Class Destroyer and noticed her eight dual-barreled point defense batteries, then came an idea "How powerful is one shot from the turrets?"

"A 50mm high explosive shell? One round could put a starfighter out of commission with a direct hit, why?"

"Think it could do a number on the shields?"

Percival became eerily quiet for the moment but then he pleads "Please tell me you're not asking me to do what I think you want me to do."

"Just one shell is all I need, plus it doesn't have to be a direct hit. Just close enough."

The AI gave a weary sigh "I strongly disapprove of this. But very well, bringing gun battery seven online, loading a single shell set with a proximity fuse for twelve feet. Make your way towards the dorsal hull."

Ahsoka follows his direction and begins heading towards a place high above the destroyer, meanwhile the AI takes command of one of the M910 batteries and acquires a lock on Tano's Delta-7.

Once he has the proper lead and shell trajectory locked in he spoke "Firing."

The shell exited the barrel with a muffled blast and begins screaming its way towards its target, Ahsoka braces herself for the incoming hit, and in mere moments the shell detonates just twelve feet from her ventral side. The blast itself rocked the starfighter immensely, Tano was nearly knocked to one side of her craft but she was able to recover just as it happened and hearing the warbling noise of one of her monitors displaying the shields to be standing at a waving twelve percent capacity.

"Ma'am? Are you alright?" Percival asked wearily

"Shields held Percy" she responded calmly "Though next time I prefer the explosion to be farther away."

"Hopefully there won't be a next time" he answered "Return to the Vanguard, there's still work to be done."

"On my way."

[Sixteen minutes later, UNSC Vanguard, Detention block]

Cain sat silently in his holding cell, a reasonably sizeable windowless room large enough to fit a bed, toilet, table, and two chairs. During his time in detainment he had taken the opportunity to meditate and rest as he waited patiently for Longarm to arrive, a man who was probably taking his time for some unexplainable reason.

Of course he wasn't exactly alone, the AI Percival had been of some company for the Jedi whenever he needed to speak with someone, he asks "How much longer?"

There was a light chiming sound of a response and the AI answered "He's just about here, one more minute."

"Thank you."

Another minute passed as Percival estimated and with a swish of the door it slid open, letting in a figure he's been wanting to speak to. But as the man walked in, Komari noticed there were no heavy metallic footsteps signifying the presence of Mjolnir armor but rather a set of boots.

James, currently wearing black combat boots, black BDU pants and shirt, stood in front of the Jedi sitting at the table and asks in his usual calm tone "You wanted to talk?"

"Yes . . ." Cain answered.

Komari listened to the SPARTAN taking up the seat across from him and two light 'pink' of glass being set on the metal table followed up with a larger 'clunk' of a third. Then he could hear what sounded like a quark being pulled off of a bottle and finally the sound of something liquid being poured into the two glasses, his nose quickly caught the whiff of alcohol and something richer.

The Jedi was actually surprised "What is this? Smells like Lum or Corellian Brandy."

The soldier answered as he poured the bottle into the other cup "It's called Bourbon Whiskey, a recipe handed down by companies back on Earth before they stopped making them in the twenty fourth century. This bottle belonged to the captain of the Vanguard, before he died."

"Were you saving it for some momentous occasion?"

"No, I'm not much of a drinker, but this might help ease tension."

The Jedi hears the man place a shot glass in front of him to which he picks up and drinks, the burning feeling of alcohol and other ingredients brewed into the beverage was actually quite refreshing for the Cerean.

James loosely held his glass within his hand "I suppose you want to talk about Cila and the others?" he wonders.

Cain sets the glass down and answers "No actually, I want to talk about us."

The SPARTAN leans back in his chair "Us?"

"Well you and I" he explains with an open gesture "It's becoming apparent that we don't see eye to eye and we often argue over certain topics, such as the one regarding young Bayu's upbringing. Essentially I want us to understand where we are coming from as Jedi and SPARTAN."

"Fair enough . . ." James remarked.

"Then let's start with talking about you."

James shifted uncomfortably in his seat before he started "Where I come from, we have to fight to keep what is rightfully ours. When we made first contact with the Covenant and they began burning our worlds without justification, we had to fight back in order to survive as a species. Surely you can understand the hard decision of either facing extinction or having to resort to killing."

"It's a difficult decision I can imagine, but now that you are here how does it make you feel not being home fighting the war?"

"Honestly it's infuriating, but I try not to think about it because there's nothing I can do about it."

"Do you see this as a fresh start in life? Being here with us?"

The soldier took a moment to ponder "Yes . . . and new chance to fight for something worth it."

"You still continue to fight? May I ask why?"

"Because I believe we have a chance to make things right again."

"Through violence?"

"Master Yoda made me promise him that I will keep the surviving Jedi safe wherever I might find them, I've made it my duty to do what is necessary to keep it that way no matter who it is."

"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the Jedi? Perhaps for Ahsoka, Cila, Lador, or possibly me?"

"If that's what it takes."

"Hmm . . ." Komari sat silently as he takes in what he has heard, then it was his turn "During my time as a youngling in the Jedi Temple, Master Yoda has always told us that while the lightsaber is our weapon and life we must not always use it to solve the problems of the galaxy but rather as a final resort. The Jedi were well known for their peaceful ways and contributions to the progression of the galaxy as a united people regardless of affiliation, race, or anything."

"Ahsoka told me about the things the Jedi has done before the war, they handled negotiations between warring factions and upheld peace in the galaxy."

The Jedi nods "Correct. But once the Clone Wars began, the Jedi slowly became more like generals and soldiers rather than peacekeepers and negotiators. Many claim that the only way to achieve peace is to subdue the Separatists and end the war swiftly- but so many have failed to realize there were other alternatives to ending the conflict."

He gestures for the SPARTAN to pour him another glass, which the commando obliges, and he continues "My old master, Garem Shay, had a unusual mindset for a member of the Jedi Order. He believed that the Sith was the only true way to achieve peace, because unlike the Republic and the Jedi, they knew how to successfully rule the galaxy without fear of rebellion."

"The Sith? Who're they?" James questioned.

"Force sensitives who practice in the dark ways of the Force, praising strength and power over other things. The Sith and the Jedi have been fierce rivals for millennia, and for a long time the darkness had remained hidden, until now."

The warrant officer thought for a moment then quickly remembered something Obi-Wan had said to him back at the temple, then he muttered "Anakin . . ."

Komari silently nodded "He has become one of the dark lords of the Sith . . . Have you told young Ahsoka?"

The SPARTAN's eyes saddened "No, I haven't. If I tell her it will destroy her emotionally, she'll be ruined" to which the Jedi acknowledges with another subtle nod accompanied by a small sigh.

James had never heard of the Sith until now, which also sparked interest within him, but Cain goes on "But back to the topic on hand, I slew my old master in fright which was the only time I took a life. We've all been there before, when we had to do what needed to be done, you probably didn't blink during your first time but for me . . . I needed time to adjust and understand what I had done."

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be, my master knew what he had brought upon himself. But from that moment onwards I dedicated my life to ensure peace is maintained without the use of a blade. If I were to kill again, I would be back right where I started and I fear I may never come back from that path."

". . . I understand"

The two fell silently, now understanding one another more than ever. James, who is a soldier at heart and is obligated to uphold a duty and promise to those he swore to protect no matter the cost. Cain, who has a sense for a better purpose for himself and the fear of losing that purpose should he be vengeful.

The SPARTAN-ll looks down at his shot glass, having not yet drink the whiskey inside, and sets it aside with a defeated sigh before he began to stand "I'll make arrangements for your release" he stated and begun to leave.

Komari nodded in silence, but before the warrant officer could open the door he stops himself and adds "You can keep the bottle" to which the Jedi responded with a small grin.

Then a voice echoed from the intercom "SPARTAN James I need you on the bridge immediately" it was Percival and it sounded urgent.

"What's happening?" he answered with the same sense of urgency.

"Someone is contacting us . . ."

The soldier stopped, he wasn't sure if Percival was speaking the truth or if his ears are deceiving him, but when he looked back at Komari even he knew something wasn't right "Nobody has done that before right?" he wondered.

"Until now. Percival I want everyone on the bridge ASAP, recall Jorge and Senator Bonteri back to the ship. I'm on my way."

"Yes Sir, SPARTAN-052 and Senator Bonteri are already on route to the Vanguard as we speak, Ahsoka, Bayu, and Lador are already waiting for you."

Cain was steadily getting up to his feet "Let me come with you, this seems too important to miss out."

"Well then you better hurry" James retorts.

[Ten minutes later, Command Bridge]

SPARTAN James and Cain Komari finally stepped onto the bridge, Ahsoka, Jorge, Lux, Lador, and Cila were all standing around the central holotable waiting for the final two to arrive.

"What's going on" James asks as he came next to his fellow SPARTAN.

Percival's avatar was already present when he stated "Simply put; somebody with enough skills and resources have managed to trace our first transmission back to us, using a piggyback subroutine to jump from data hubs throughout the Holonet to find us. It would appear that somebody had already cracked my encryptions."

"Imperial?"

"No, the signal we're receiving isn't from any of the known territories held by the Empire. This one is originating from a planet in the Ryloth System along the Outer Rim."

"Ryloth?" Ahsoka questioned herself.

But Longarm dismisses the comment and orders "Put it through."

The AI nodded and in moments a holographic representation of a male humanoid figure materialized into view, the most notable feature the figure had were the two tentacle-like appendages hanging from the back of his heads signifying him as a Twi'lek.

Percival notes "Two-way connection confirmed."

James nods then asks the figure "This is the UNSC destroyer Vanguard to unidentified personnel, identify yourself."

The man responded "Are you the ones who sent that transmission of rebellion against the Empire?"

Everyone looked to one another, unsure whether to answer the question or not, but the commando answers "Yes, how did you get this frequency?"

"I have had some expert help with the communications, my name is Cham Syndulla leader of the Freedom Fighters of Ryloth. The clones have betrayed their Jedi general and are now taking over our homes, we need your help. Your words of rebellion has inspired my people to take up arms once again and fight the Empire for our home."

A majority of the attendants seems hesitant, but Syndulla goes on "If you are the kind people I believe you to be then we need you in our darkest time. Our people are ill-trained but well equipped, I can understand if you are not willing to help out of the kindness of your hearts but perhaps we can offer you something in return for your assistance."

Komari then gently sets his hand on the sniper's shoulder "You said you believe there is still a chance to make things right again. Do you stand by your word?"

James stood there silently for a moment, then he turns his attention back to the Twi'lek leader "Hang in there Syndulla, we're relocating to your location. I cannot give an exact ETA but we will arrive within the week, from there we can better assess the situation and provide aid."

"Thank you Vanguard . . . my people will be pleased to hear this. We will hold out as long as we can but you should hurry."

"Acknowledge, we're setting course."

"Good, I look forward to meeting you in person."

The hologram disperses into thousands of tiny fragments while Percival projects a navigational route to their destination "If we can avoid the major imperial systems, we'll arrive in five and a half days approximately."

"Then we better get moving" Tano remarks.

"Of course, course plotted in and FTL drives spinning up."

Longarm then addresses the group "Alright we still have work to do before we arrive, let's get to it."

Everyone acknowledged and started to make their way towards the hatch, Percival notes "I've registered this location on our map, if we ever need more materials we can always return here."

The soldier answers "Good, hopefully this Syndulla is what we need to get this rebellion started."

"I'm sure this Cham will be quite helpful indeed."

James soon begins to walk out as well, but before he left he asks ". . . Percival, send whatever you can find about the Sith to my personal terminal, I need to do some researching."

"Of course, I'll get right on it as soon as possible."

The destroyer slowly shifts its orientation onto the correct course away from the debris field, moments later a pitch black rift rips open in the fabric of space and the Vanguard moves to full speed into the void of slipspace with its new destination locked in. Cham Syndulla, and the people of Ryloth.

Sorry for the wait everyone, things have been turning up lately and I needed to handle them before anything else. As always, leave your comments and thoughts. Thank you.