Chapter 5

(Dubrava, Several Hours Earlier)

Durbok had led her through quite a bit of marshlands and swamps before they finally reached their current destination. Kellia had been pleasantly surprised when the native Dubravan had been proven to be telling the truth. As they entered a clearing and her eyes were met with the sight of many shabbily set up tents with men and women of all kinds were huddled around them and several random bonfires.

Kellia felt saddened though as she felt the pain, anger, and sadness that overwhelmed the majority of them. They all looked to be suffering a horror of some kind. Whether it be physical of psychological in nature; either way they all were suffering because of the Imperial attack.

"Alright little Durbok, it seems you've earned the right to not be split in half by my lightsaber today." Kellia said to the native alien man as he cast her a look of fear mixed with trepidation.

"Right. So, why does it sound like you ain't done with me yet?" She smirked to him in turn.

"You're quite perceptive my alien friend. I need you to help me with one last task and then I'll let you be on your way." She responded with her smirk still remaining. He in turn sighed and rubbed the back of his neck in clear anxiety.

"Alright, I guess. What do you want me to do exactly?" She gave a small chuckle in return and crossed her arms nonchalantly. "I want to know who gathered the survivors here, and where he, or she is. I would very much like to have a word with this person who sent you to rob the dead of their possessions." To that he audibly groaned.

"I told ya, that he wanted all the weapons and ammo for the rest of the survivors! Y'know the people who ain't dead yet!" He responded with but a sliver of anger passing his fear. Kellia though was not impressed and waved him off.

"Yes, yes I'm well aware of that my dear Durbok. However, the request still remains. Who is in charge and where is he?" She retorted without any emotion. Durbok sighed again as he grew more and more tired of being with this rather direct, and indeed mean Jedi.

"He calls himself Forsho, or something like that. Leads some group called United Peoples Against Imperial Terror, or some nonsense like that."

Durboks last sentence fell on deaf ears however as Kellia went into her own thoughts.

'Kriffing hell! That son of a Kath hound Forsho was actually invited by Organa?! That should have been a warning sign right there!' Kellia thought as she remembered all she knew of the infamous Forsho. At least he was infamous amongst the rebel circles and gossipers.

How his UPAIT "group" was responsible for many terror attacks themselves, including a rather nasty bit of work on Denon in the Inner Rim some years back. To Kellias recollection, it involved an Imperial outpost that was placed in near a densely populated residential sector of the city world. UPAIT apparently did not factor in collateral on the side of civilians and cost "only" around thirteen-thousand deaths in a massive domino effect of spire collapse.

'Kriffing cowards. I have half a mind to kill that slime Forsho myself and do myself, and even the damnable Empire a big favor.' She thought venomously as she finally shook herself from her thoughts and realized Durbok was standing in front of her looking anxious. "Indeed, I know of the man. He is a foul piece of waste on the bottom of my boot, but sadly he's your leader." She retorted to which Durbok shrugged.

"Hey I didn't say he was real clean or nothing. I just met the guy like; what, two and a half hours ago! If he's a stain on the galaxy he's your stain not mine." The Dubravan declared with a wave of his hands. Kellia slightly chuckled in response. "That he is my dear Durbok. Now do me a favor and point his tent out to me so I may…deal with him." It wasn't really a request more so than it was a very strongly implied command. To which the alien quickly pointed to a tent off in the far left end of the encampment in the distance.

Kellia nodded her thanks and let her short time companion be on his way. Kellia almost laughed at the relief that crossed the Dubravans face as he scurried as far away from her as he could get. She paid him little mind however and made quickly for the tent pointed out to her.

She made her strides long and quick as she passed through rows of brown and green camouflaged, tents that hardly seemed decent enough to sit in let alone sleep in and recover from wounds. Mossy trees were all above her and the camp and blocked the encampment from view from the skies above, and any prying eyes. Swamps surrounded the entire area, and tall grass was further off in the distance. Making the trek to the camp arduous and Kellia thought it a rather good spot to hide from any Imperial mop up crews that the Empire may have sent down earlier.

As she closed in on the tent she began to sense eyes begin following her in trepidation and intrigue, but no one actually stood to get in her way or talk to her, and she was soon entering the tent where Forsho awaited.

"So, I think that we are all in agreement here." Came the voice of a man standing in the middle of the tent, as he spoke to a circle of fellow men gathered close and intently listening to him. He had short and spiky black hair, deep brown and dark eyes, as well as an athletic build, but really he was nothing special. His voice however was one of oil, and ambition. It practically leaked off of him in waves, and Kellia sneered immediately. 'Well I think I found Forsho.' She thought to herself as Forsho continued on babbling.

"With this disgrace of an attack committed by the Empire just a few hours ago upon us. I; as the last surviving leader of all the gathered rebel cells, believe that it is only right that I take command of a united effort for all of our sakes. Bail Organa has indeed betrayed us all my brothers! So I say that we really take the fight to the Empire now! That we teach them the meaning of pain, and that we seize every Imperial world in the grips of terror, and fear. Teach them the cost of accepting Imperial rule! Let them now we are not broken. Instead we are now more united than ever before!"

Forsho declared with balled fists held high into the air, and was met with some nodding heads and whispers of the gathered men in agreement and approval with him. Kellia could only roll her eyes in response. 'Let us end this ridiculous display.' She declared to herself and stepped forward still cloaked in her dark robe.

"I do believe Forsho that you are an idiot if I've ever seen one." She boldly declared and caused every gathered head to turn in shock, and Forsho immediately sneered with anger at her. "You say we should all bow to your whim and…what? Terrorize people, kill people, slaughter, genocide maybe? What's next dealing spice for a quick profit?" She accused him without a hint of fear, as she closed the distance between them.

"Who are you to challenge and belittle me?! Were you a leading member of any of the gathered rebel cells her upon Dubrava? Were you there when we were being slaughtered by the Imperial fleet above the world in orbit and we could do nothing to stop it?!" Kellia stood silent for a moment and simply laughed. Much to his and the other men's shock.

"You truly think you're intimidating don't you Forsho? I do not fear you or your pathetic group of gangsters pretending to be some kind of heroic band of outcasts." She declared and crossed her arms in utter defiance of him and his authority.

"Bah! You didn't even try answering me. You obviously have no idea how to lead, and no right to even talk amongst us. Why am I even talking to an idiot like you? GUARDS!" Forsho commanded and came forth two rebel soldiers dressed in green camouflage gear with backpacks and blaster carbines in their hands. They came to a stand behind her and expected her to merely follow them outside. When she did not respond at all one of them reached out to grasp her arm. In a fraction of a second she twirled around and with saber hilt in hand, activated her cerulean blade and held it right to the bold soldiers neck. He in turn froze and fear gripped his eyes. As every other person in that room jumped from their seats and backed away from her.

"Touch me, and you die." She said in a low and almost guttural tone. With hardened eyes that bore into the soldiers Kellia allowed him to slowly back away with hands held at his sides in fear and surrender. "I could cut all in here down with but a stroke of my saber and maybe a bit of twirling." She declared with pride as she circled the room with her saber. All the men in turn held their hands out in an attempt to seem harmless.

To that she smiled. "Good. It seems like I now have everyone's full attention." She declared and refocused her attention upon Forsho who too looked utterly shocked.

"You…you're a Jedi? Well why didn't you say so in the first place? We could use someone like you for our little group!" Forsho declared as if he were still in command of the tent. Kellia, however, huffed in disgust.

"Use me? No, no Forsho you will not be 'using' me for anything. I have been the slave of many masters throughout my life, but I refuse to lower my standards to someone like, well like you. You little 'Grain Maggot.'" She openly insulted him, and he turned red with anger but said not another word as her saber was still brightly and plainly obvious in her hand.

"Kellia? Kellia Nelrain, is that you?" Came a voice Kellia knew she had hear before. Turning to see who it came from she slightly smiled, but also sighed. 'Oh terrific.' She thought as none other than the loud, obnoxious Corellian himself Dase Vorum made his way towards her. A massive sideways smirk upon his face. "Man…I thought you had gotten killed by them three badies back on Nar Shaddaa woman!" He laughingly declared as he closed the distance between them and merrily placed a hand on one of her shoulders. To which she merely glared at it before addressing the Corellian directly.

"Yes well, there were complications attaining a new ship after I…after I dealt with the problematic Inquisitors." She informed him in a distant manner. After all, the images of clutching a mans throat entered her mind, and it made her grimace at the memory.

"Ah okay I get ya." He responded still in a joyous manner. "We could've used your help earlier. You missed one hell of a party! Y'know if death and fire is your version of a good party. I rather prefer some Corellian ale at my parties" He declared in his cocky, and at times very irritating Corellian manner. Kellia again found herself rolling her eyes, and pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

"I'm sure I could've done allot against Imperial stardestroyers, Vorum." She declared to which he merely shrugged.

"This is all one big happy sweet reunion I must say. So forgive me for interrupting, but there is more pressing matters at hand, Jedi." Forsho butted in with a snarl in his voice. To which both Kellia and Dase looked at him in common annoyance of the man.

"Yes you're right there are more pressing issues needing taking care of." She responded and turned to all the other men who had remained quiet throughout all the chatter.

"You see I came here to join in the gathering that all of you so desperately wished had happened long ago. I came here because we all believed in the lies of one man. Bail Organa." She venomously spat the name and many men nodded slowly in agreement.

"I know of the pain you all feel. I know because I can feel it coming off of you all. All of you believe that the time had finally come, when Bail Organa would forsake his petty game of pretending to be an Imperial. That he would rise up and lead us all to victory against the Empire. That we would finally destroy this Empire of inequity!" She declared with rising venom in her gruff female voice. Many of the men nodded and were obviously into what she was saying. As Dase nodded along himself.

"Only we didn't get our wish did we?" They all looked down in shame, and anger. "Instead the man you all believed to be our saving saint has shown himself to be a monster in the clothing of a saint! He has betrayed us all, and now what do we do?" She asked in a rhetorical manner.

She didn't give them time to possibly answer her. "We do not simply lay down and fade into the abyss of history. We do not surrender and we should not waver in our conviction for the demise of this dictatorship!" She declared with a passionate fire that not even she knew she held. "Yet what do I come here to find? Weak and scared soldiers begging a thug and two bit terrorist to lead them forward! Forsho is nothing but an incompetent fool seeking glory for himself and you all are willing to simply bend to his will? Would that be what your old leaders, your old and now dead comrades would want?!" She demanded of them and they all seemed to begin thinking it over while more zealous ones began cheering her on already. Some looked even ashamed.

Forsho sneered himself. "Oh I see what this is. You want to merely waltz in here and just, what? Take over Jedi? Sorry but you cant do that. You have no credibility, nothing for us to really fall back on. In fact I've never even heard of you until today! How do we know you aren't just some damn Imperial spy sent by the Emperor himself huh?" Kellia opened her mouth to silence him but Dase beat her to it.

"Hey Forsho, will you do the galaxy a favor, and just shut your kriffing mouth before I punch your jaw in! I worked with this Jedi for in all honesty a short amount of time, but I'll tell ya this much. She's one hell of a rebel straight to the bone man! So yeah, shut it!" Dase threatened him before sending a reassuring smile to Kellia. For once she didn't feel like choking the Corellian, and in return nodded her thanks.

"As I was trying to say. I do not come here to try and take any power for myself or lead anyone, but to ensure that you all don't make the mistake of listening to this bottom feeding maggot of a man! Do not fall for his lies, and deceit. We are rebels against the Galactic Empire we are morally superior on all levels, and I refuse to let you all succumb to mindless terrorism so that this man may exploit us and our passions for self benefit." She said as she lowed her hood and tried to convey sincerity to them all.

"Who will join me in saying no to this fool of a man? Who will stay true to the rebel way and not become a petty terrorist?!" Kellia asked of them all, and where there was once fear for her all she could now sense was approval, and even adoration. She had not meant to be as inspiring as she was, but if it stopped Forsho in his tracks then it was indeed for the better.

"Kriffing morons! Do you not see that this Jedi is already dividing us!? She seeks to rip our unity because she is the one with the hidden agenda here, and a plan, and a will to dominate us all! She is the deceiver! She is the…." Forsho did not finish his insults as in flash he felt an incredible shooting pain in his abdomen, and looking down all he could see was blue. A blue beam of light had gone clean through him, and at the end of it was Kellia. She did not look satisfied. In fact she looked cold, and serious as her dark eyes bore into his. She sneered at the man that now choked out his last breath, and Kellia unceremoniously kicked his body off of her saber. Forsho was dead, and all was similarly deadly quiet in the tent as fear took hold once again.

Sensing the fear Kellia allowed her saber to vanish and she re-clipped it to her belt. "I do not expect many of you to understand why I did this." She intoned after another moment of silence. Dase for one was looking at her with a furrowed brow, and seemed utterly perplexed by what she just did. "I was once a Jedi knight of the Order. I was taught to never kill an enemy who was unarmed, but what my order did not realize was that some use their mere voice as a weapon to seduce and break another. Forsho, would have gone on to terrorize, kill, and reap the rewards that such things bring you. All the while pretending to be a rebel commander, and gathering those with true fire, and true conviction to his group, and limit their ability to actually help the galaxy."

She said as she turned to them and for once allowed her eyes to soften and look almost pleading. "I killed Forsho because that man was a monster. No better than Palpatine himself, and I refused to let him continue rot the galaxy as he did." She declared and held her hands out at her sides. "If all of you wish for me to be punished for what I've done then you may arrest me here, and now, or even kill me if you will. I do not repent for my actions. I will only die knowing I at least did what good thing for the galaxy. What have any of you done to help the galaxy today?" She asked them and they all seemed to ponder over her speech.

"Lady, I think you're nuts." Came Dase'es voice. "But, I gotta admit you kinda have a point. I mean the guy was a real slime ball." Dase said as he looked over the corpse. "Cant say I'd just outright kill they guy, but like I said I understand why you did what you did." He said and allowed his smile to return.

Many of the others agreed and nodded their own approval. Some took a bit longer to mull it over, but most agreed in the end, and those who didn't agree with the method of the sudden murder had to admit Forsho was a monster. So why weep for a dirt bag like him?

"I thank you all for your understanding." Kellia finally said and lowered her arms. "I know you all have much to think over and talk over now, and I'll leave you all to do that." She said and began to merely walk away.

"Err, Kellia?" Came a voice of a random rebel in the tent. "I don't know about everyone else here, but I kinda like the idea of a Jedi leading the charge." He declared, and much to Kellias surprise everyone else there seemed to agree with him. Dase included, as his big cocky grin returned to his face.

"I'm no leader of armies, and governments. I am but an ex-Jedi seeking the end of a dictatorship responsible for the death of all I knew." She retorted quietly as the memory hit her hard in this moment.

"Give it up Nelrain. It's obvious you got the ability to fire us up. You got conviction, and well you got just the stuff needed right now." Dase said in a matter-of-fact tone. "the question is, will you give us that boot in the backside that we all need, and lead us against the Empire? Or do you seriously wanna sit on the sidelines forever?" He asked and Kellia stood frozen for a moment.

'Lead the rebels? Fight the Empire in a united front for the first time? Bring the fight to Palpatine on your own terms? Destroy him, and his Empire, and kill all his little cronies?!' She thought as ice ran through her blood in that moment. Kellia knew she could not refuse the chance to bring the fight to the old man. To finally make that kriffing worm pay for all he's done! No, she had to do it! She had to take the fight to him, and make him pay the ultimate price.

By her hands.

She looked at Dase. "We need to get even more groups on the team Vorum." She declared and he grinned wildly. "Don't worry, I know some people that are itching to bring the fight to the old geezer." He laughed and every single person there erupted into a cheer. For despite the Empires attack. Despite Bails betrayal.

The rebels had been united. Under a Jedi with a will to kill, and ability to do so with utter ease.

(Bestine System, Bestine)

Camderan Wellik stood proudly upon his tower command deck with hands clasped ever so Imperially properly behind his back. His men were all sitting in their sterile grey chairs and tinkering with computer consoles that lined the tower with an eye catching assortment of blue, yellow, red, and even green buttons of all manner and uses. "Commander Wellik sir. TIE squadron 1-2-1, is reporting an all clear in sector four." Came the voice of one of his efficient officers who diligently sifted through all incoming and outgoing communications of Bestine.

"Excellent. Order them to complete their patrol of sector five and then order a return to hangers." Camderan ordered as he paced along the width of the room and looked over all his officers as they worked without a pause. "Aye sir." Came the confirmation form his officer as he began transmitting to the squadron lead. Wellik nodded and smiled as he walked along the entire line of officers. Then the same officer shouted a report.

"Commander Wellik sir! Emergency communication from squadron 1-2-8, they report an unidentified stardestroyer has entered the system!" He reported without a breath. Wellik frowning, made for his station on a standing podium overlooking all the com officers.

"Patch it through at once officer." He commanded and received an "aye" in confirmation.

"This is squadron lead flight trooper 5-6-7, of TIE squad 1-2-8 reporting in sir!" Came the muffled but understandable voice of the imperial flight trooper.

"This is Commander, Camderan Wellik, of com tower control speaking. We understand that an unidentified stardestroyer has entered Bestine space. Is that what you are reporting pilot? Please clarify."

"Yes sir commander, sir. They are not retuning all hail attempts to facilitate communication." Wellik nodded in return.

"Understood pilot. Hold your squads current position, and await further orders." Wellik received the confirmation and muted his end of that transmission.

"Officer Roland, send hail request on all Imperial channels and attempt contact at once." The officer by the last name of Roland gave his aye, and immediately sent out the hail transmission. It took a few seconds but then…

"Commander Wellik, sir, they are responding to our hail. Patching them through at once." Roland said and Wellik turned to one of his several video screens, as the face of another imperial officer materialized in full color and motion in a clear transmission.

"This is Commander Camderan Wellik of Bestine com tower control speaking. Please identify yourself at once, and state your business here in Bestine space." Wellik commanded as he placed both hands behind his back and held his head high in a commanding manner.

"I am Grand Moff Nox Vellam, of the Imperial Stardestroyer 'Conquest.'" Said the slightly older man on the screen who stood in the full uniform proper of an Imperial Moff. However, Wellik frowned and his brow line scrunched in confusion.

"Forgive me sir, but surely you know that orders have been sent out to all sectors of the Empire that the title, and office of Moff is null and void of all authority and command. I am going to have to ask you to power down all your vessels nonessential systems, and prepare for a boarding party to make an inspection of your ship." Wellik said only to see this Grand Moff Vellam chuckle and then give a sigh that did not seem one of annoyance or depression, but rather one of mirth.

"I am afraid I cannot do that Commander Wellik. I am here to take command of Bestine, and relieve you and all imperial staff of your posts at once. This is not a request."

Wellik shifted uncomfortably where he stood as a knot in his gut began to form. While he could see all his officers turning and watching with sweat and anticipation obvious upon their collective faces.

"I cannot allow you to do that, Moff. By order of the Galactic Empire under jurisdiction of the 'Power Limitations and State Security Act,' you are to stand down immediately or face immediate retribution." Wellik warned and then turned to another officer.

"Officer Teeris, contact the 'Bane,' and the 'Resolution,' from Bestine system defense command at once!" The officer by the name of Teeris was sweating like a waterfall but immediately sent out an emergency request to the Bestine systems defense forces. In a matter of seconds two stardestroyers entered from hyperspace and right in front of the Conquest.

"This is captain Ristid of the Imperial Stardestroyer Bane responding to emergency hail from Bestine com tower control. I am in command of Bestine system defense command. You are hereby ordered to back down at once, and allow us to board your vessel. Or you shall face the full wrath of the Galactic Empire." All were quiet as the com officers planet side; including Wellik, stood sweating and feeling the heart pounding adrenaline pump through all of them.

"I am afraid I cannot do that captain." Vellam responded without a hint of fear in his voice. "Is this really how this has to end?" The Moff strangely asked, and all Imperials seemed confused on the stardestroyers and planet side for a moment.

Captain Ristid was the one to respond with pride and assurance in his voice. "This is how it has to be." He declared. "Captain Ristid out." The captain thus suddenly cut his transmission.

"So be it." Vellam said and his transmission also faded, and Wellik stood in stunned silence. Until something quite unexpected happened next.

"Commander Wellik! Incoming fleet out of hyperspace!" Yelled Rolland without any propriety of an Imperial officer. "The fleet numbers over one hundred Imperial warships!" He yelled. To which Wellik found himself unable to respond.

"This is squadron lead 5-6-7, I have dozens of Imperial class starships firing on the Bane and Resolution! Require immediate assistance, and orders!" Came the obviously shocked and scared pilot. Over the transmission the com officers heard nothing but imperial pilots begin barking at one another in confusion and fear, and Wellik found himself walking to the tower observation viewport.

As he looked toward the skies all he saw were Stardestroyers, Tartan-class patrol cruisers, Victory II Class warships, and broadside class corvettes. They all flew forward and he saw two stardestroyers get slammed with every once of firepower by the unfriendly Imperial fleet. "What is happening for forces sake!?" Wellik demanded of no one, as all his officers began to get overloaded with transmissions.

"This is the Imperial Stardestroyer Bane! Bestine com tower command you are ordered to send immediate emergency transmission to Imperial Sector Defense forces! Transmit immediate assistance protocol initiations!" The voice of the Banes coms officer yelled out before a massive boom was heard and shook the entire tower as the Bane blew apart in the orbit of Bestine.

"Quiet that chatter at once officers!" Wellik commanded with a sudden adrenaline rush forcing him out of his stunned stupor. The officers began the horrid task of cutting off all the random yelling and chaos that was flooding the coms systems.

"Officer Teeris, contact Bestine system defense forces at once and transmit the emergency request! Officer Roland, contact sector security and defense forces and initiate all emergency reinforcement request protocols! Officer Geron, contact Inner Rim Security command and relay the entire transmission between the Conquest, us, and the Bane! Order it to be resent to Imperial Center and request immediate support from the capital!" Wellik commanded to three of his officers while running about the tower and overlooking their hurried work.

"Officer Irike," Wellik suddenly barked to and the young officer jumped in his seat. "Yes sir?!" He responded as another explosion reverberated from orbit as everyone assumed it was the Resolution being ripped asunder.

"Officer Irike initiate all defense protocols and send out the commands to all planet side Imperial forces at once! Contact general Ferroun, and get him up to speed!" He commanded and the man went to work.

"Sir Imperial fleet coming out of hyperspace! It is the 467th Imperial Defense Fleet!" Called out officer Roland who seemed slightly relieved but still scared out of his mind. "Sir Imperial dropships have entered our atmosphere! They are coming from the enemy fleet!"

"Sir! Admiral Yintti of the 467th is engaging the enemy fleet with three dozen warships and all communications have been routed from channel to channel! Imperial Center shall be informed in several moments, or at the most hours!" Wellik nodded his understanding as the thought of the capital not receiving the emergency transmission for hours horrified him.

He could not waste anytime however. For war had come to Bestine in the form of not rebels, but Imperial warships and a Grand Moff. Little did he know war had just come to all the galaxy.

Haha it has begun my friends! Please let me know what you think, and thanks again for reading!