The Galactic Exodus Chronicles Part 2 :The Galactic Civil War

by Lord Exar Kun

Now with the rebels dealt a mighty blow, and the renegade Moffs about to strike, the galaxy finds itself moving closer and closer to full blown war! The Galactic Civil War is about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting galaxy, and this is not the war you remember in the least. Follow Exar Kun, Darth Vader, Leia, the Emperor, and everyone else through this next chapter of the GEC.

60. Chapter 60

Chapter 60

(Lucazec, Nuiri sector, Lucazec system, Outer-Rim Territories)

Gasping, panting and bleeding he crawled along the dirt. His robes were tattered messes, and his hands were sore, covered in blood and bruises. All the while they dug into the soil and allowed him to inch through the field. He idly brushed over a fallen stormtrooper body lying motionless and lifeless upon the field.

A grunt escaped his lips as air was forced down his throat and into his lungs. That only sought to bring him further pain as they expanded and brushed bruised bones and cracked ribs. His body was covered in bruises and cuts. He was a broken man, seeking along a field riddled in bodies and droid parts to reach his fallen lightsaber.

"Come on damn it!" He grunted as he threw himself onto another fallen trooper in his way and forced his body to crawl over the dead trooper. The sounds behind him of his approaching doom growing only louder, and sending his hear into such a pounding race that he almost though the artillery was firing again.

So he grunted and shoved his left arm outward and moved another corpse away from himself until he saw it in sight. His cylindrical fallen saber. With cracked, bleeding and dried lips he smiled painfully and paused as his right hand outstretched to grab the fallen saber.

"AHHHH!" He screamed into the air. A great thundering boot came slamming down upon his hand and pinned it underfoot and to the soil. The snap and pop of bones from their places rung into the air as the man writhed and grappled his pinned arm as renewed and near unbearable pain pounded through his form.

Forcing himself to glance upwards as the beating star above hit his eyes and blurred his vision. All that was before him was its dread inducing silhouette, but he knew who, or rather, what it was that stared down upon him. A cold, and cool, emotionless stare back at him with a click and whir of gears as its head tilted, with red piercing orbs glaring back were the only clue that it took true notice of him.

With hand still pinned beneath its might mechanical boot, the thing threw its right leg up from pinning the hand, and the hard as steel boot tip of the thing slammed, connected and let loose a horrific snap through the air as it hit the mans jaw and sent him flinging around onto his back. His jaw shattered and head reeling as the creature came to tower over him. The powerful slams of its boots upon the field and the whir of its many gears being the only sound heard. The organic meat suit did nothing but writhe and cry in pain like some stuck cannok of Dxun. As he pathetically brought his broken, shattered and useless right hand up to feel his equally shattered jaw.

"Wha..." The man trailed staring up at the mechanical creature. Its piercing glare silently staring back as the fool mumbled from where he lay. Atop two trooper corpses riddled with blaster bolts and unceremoniously left where they had dropped.

"You're...n...no...ordinary...droi...d" His speech slurred and broken as his jaw refused to move properly as the bone jutted from beneath flesh outward and protruded like broken glass.

"That is an apt assessment." the deep grumbling robotic voice of the droid responded as its nearly claw like mechanical hands gripped around the saber in its hand, and with a snap activated the blue beam as it hung it low and seemingly without care.

"I am a model in my own league. Though there are others like me, they are not me. I am my own droid, and have my one mission, and shall carry it out to my full capabilities, protocols, and superior programming." The droid neared and lorded over the fallen man, before its leg was brought up and slammed down upon the man's chest. He screamed as the full weight of the droid came down on him and forced all air form his lungs and caused a blood curdling wheezing, gasping, scream to erupt from his throat as ribs punctured flesh and organs within.

"I am to meet all enemy forces head on upon all battlefields for the glory of the URM and the eventual calculated victory. Primary function, dictates that all combatants who wield your garb, weapons, and special abilities classified as 'the Force,' prime you for immediate termination. A message is to be sent to your commanders, and the chain of command. I shall carry out these protocols to their fullest demands I am capable. After all, flesh suit, I am superior to you in every conceivable way." The droid mocked as it brought its blue saber beam to the man's face.

"I am EG-25, but I have been given a designation all my own. I believe you organics are quite superstitious, and fearful. I suppose that is why my designation, or name is Egriege." The grumbling and deep voice of the droid killer then swung up left and slashed right. A swift, clean and easy motion that in a swift and single stroke removed the fools head from his shoulder.

Egriege removed his foot from atop the now beheaded corpse. Slamming its foot upon the soil covered and scarred in blaster and artillery scars, the droid was quick to slam its leg right and connect its right metallic foot into the corpse and slam it several feet away from him. The red photoreceptors of the droid stared silently and, had anyone seen, disturbingly at the fallen and removed head before it. Egriege cocked 'his,' head to the side and stared into the cold, and unmoving eyes of the dead inquisitor.

The foolish meat-suit, an 'inquisitor,' by title as his mistress labeled them, had given him no challenge, and no issue. Now he lay among his fellow pathetic meat-suits. Dead, upon the soil, in a field where thirty thousand organics littered the field as the droid army marched on in glory. Of course Egriege did not understand such simplistic emotional ideals of organics like 'glory.' Egriege only knew its mission was done. And yet, it felt compelled to reach down and hold up the fallen head. Forever capturing his emotions of fear, panic, and pain in perpetuity.

Indeed, the droid reached its free left hand down and curled its smooth black metallic hand through the meat-suit's hair and grappled a fistful of the follicle growths, and hauled the head into the air. Once more, in total silence cocking his head as Egriege stared into the man's lifeless and forever watching dead eyes.

Still holding the head in his left metallic hand, Egriege lifted and, still holding its activated blue saber, and extended a free finger from his right hand, and clicked into its wrist. A small self activating holocomm beeped to life and proceeded to levitate off his wrist and onto the ground. Where a successive outbound pinging noise droned until it ended as a stream of blue holographic projection extended upwards from the landed comlink. Appearing was the robed and hooded figure of its mistress, its master.

"Ah, general Egriege! How wonderful to see you again, my lovely droid general." His mistress greeted in a tone he believed would be described as 'sweet.' If not also laced with a mischievous undertone.

"Tell me, how's the mission going? Hunt down those targets yet?" Egriege nodded, and silently lifted the severed head more before itself and toward the hologram of his mistress. The woman cocked her head and glanced the head's way. One of her brows was raised and a chuckle escaped passed her lips.

"I see. Well I can tell you'll be even more useful than expected. I can tell your new personality packages are kicking in. Good! They weren't easy to make for our technician friends." She chuckled to herself again, as Egriege nodded his metallic head. The gears of his body whirring with every movement he made.

"It is my honor to serve and obey, mistress. The one's you called, 'inquisitors,' have all been eliminated. I have, as you ordered, gathered their lightsabers...and heads." The droid announced as the hologram noticeably glanced to the droids waistline and took note of the other three sabers along with the fourth it continued to wield in its right hand.

"Very good. I knew it from the moment I saw you back on Coruscant that you'd be of excellent use. After all, any droid with initial initiative to attack a lightsaber wielding Force sensitive, has great potential. Or, at least I felt as such, and now I'm fully vindicated!" She almost clapped, but merely brought her hands together with a broad and proud smile beaming along her features. It went a long way toward making general Egriege feel...pleased, or so he thought that's what it was, with himself as well.

"What of the battle? Does it go well? I would love to have another system under our control by tonight." His mistress asked, with a quizzical, yet almost whimsy voice.

"The main armies have moved ahead of me, but are advancing on the final holds of the imperial forces. I saw to the elimination of all inquisitors, as you ordered, mistress." Egriege bowed his metallic hand, as his deep robotic voice bellowed out his words. His mistress seemed pleased.

"Very well my dear new general. Continue the siege and eliminate all, imperial forces. I'll leave exactly the manner in which you eliminate them, and what the term 'elimination,' even means up to your discretion Egriege. Just remember to show them no mercy, and leave not one inquisitor or otherwise saber wielding organic alive on the world."

"It will be done, mistress." Egriege bowed his head and took an almost awkward seeming bow for a droid, as his mistress nodded with her visage soon disappearing.

The small holocomm device lifted off the ground and recalled itself to Egriege, where it firmly planted itself back onto his metal arm. Egriege, eyed the severed head of his victim still held aloft in his left hand, and released his vice grip of a hand. Allowing the head to fall unceremoniously to the ground and roll aside, near to its corpse of origination and among the other fallen bodies scattered on this field. One of many that now stunk of rotting flesh and was silent. Silent, save for the distant booming and pounding blasts of war.

Egriege, finally allowed his saber to deactivate, and he clasped it to his waist. His metallic boots stomping along the ground, he made off to his left and stood to the overlook where the field dropped off into a canyon. A vast plain opened where to the distance a great many stacks of smoke rose and explosions followed one after the other, as the URM droid armies pushed the Empire back, and further back still with every passing moment.

Piercing red eyes, one could call them that at least, stared blankly outward toward this battle. Unfeeling, silent, and thoughtful even. As this mere droid, that had once fought upon Coruscant to defend his mistress, had now become a new killer of those who used the Force, and wielded blades of pure light energy. It gave the droid something it almost thought was a feeling. It thrilled him.

So Egriege would soon race down into the valley, where the droid would join its equally unfeeling and effectively murderous kind in slaughtering tens of thousands more, of the Imperial forces here upon Lucazec. By the end of it all a hundred thousand would be dead and litter the fields, never to be cleaned by the droids, but rather left to rot in piles. It would only seek to further the reputation of the coming of a new droid general General Egriege of the URM. The Inquisitor slayer, and Imperial mass murderer. And, he would 'enjoy' those titles greatly.

(Epica, Bes-Ber-Bikade Sector)

"...If I had known sir, that the loyalists would have committed such brazen an attack, that would've cost us as much as it has, I would never have given them a reprieve!" The general continued along down his little speech as his voice and manner became more desperate for a pardon. Sweat beaded along his brow, and his voice became more scratchy and dry. The gentleman's hands were interlaced together before himself as his two thumbs wrestled one another before himself in anxiety and fear. It was an almost humorous sight.

"You certainly must believe me your excellency! I merely wished to conduct this battle in a manner more befitting of a gentleman!"

"Calm yourself general." The raised gloved hand of the Moff silenced the babbling general as he grew even more agitated and filled with obvious fear. His voice garbled and deepened by his respirator sent an unnerving chill through general Terrosh as it reminded him of Lord Vader. But, this man wasn't lord Vader. He was a mere man. But one that Terrosh knew not to trifle with.

"Your actions were naïve surely, but we are not the Empire, and I am not Darth Vader. I do not so easily dispose of my underlings for failings as he does." Were Terrosh so inclined to make a bet, he would have bet the Moff sounded almost mocking in his tone. Though he did speak through a respirator mask so he couldn't be sure.

"The loyalists are being led by a little terrorist in training. The young Viathan as his superiors and controlled media of the Empire call him. The very same fool from Neona whom that old fool, general Morlin of Tapani, couldn't beat. We should be so lucky as to be graced with the opportunity to cut the fool from the galaxy as a cancer is cut from a rotting body." The unpleasant image flashing through his mind aside, general Terrosh nodded silently, and agreed with his Moff superior as the deeply pale man, wearing his darkly gray gear with piercing red photoreceptors where his natural eyes had once been, began to pace ever so slowly before the large viewport overlooking the damaged base.

"Tell me general, what do we know of the cowards hiding in the forests of Epica?" The Moff turned his head, or more swiveled it Terrosh's way. Another chill went through the man, which he quickly suppressed and swallowed a lump in his throat before answering.

"Well, we can confirm that a little over a hundred of the red alien warriors that they call Massassi are present. The beasts alone have killed several hundred of my men in the several counteroffensives undertaken. Their manpower pools of regular stormtroopers are dwindling, as the Empire has provided the ground commander Viathan with more reservists. Who, let's say, are less than capable soldiers." The Moff nodded as he turned his head back toward the viewport. Outside were moving many dozens of stormtroopers of the Moff Alliance. Among them and lining the open field before the command building was debris and dozens of bags filled with bodies, and various body parts. Several armored pieces were moving to the front of the base, along with more men, and smoke still ebbed upwards from the Moff's left where the barracks line had been bombed, killing over three hundred men in total.

"Then they are surviving by the very skin of their teeth. Hiding like rats in the deepest and darkest crevices of the forests. Tell me general," The Moff turned again, "why do these forests, which are nothing more than cover for our enemies, still stand? Why are these forests not burning, with our little rodent problem along with it?" Terrosh cocked his head to the side as he made to give what was an admittedly, weak excuse.

"The locals here on Epica, they are few and far between. But, they are mostly made up of wealthy aristocrats who have homes and estates planet side. An influx of wealthier inhabitants have been coming to Epica in the last few decades. Per, an agreement made with the locals, we promised to limit damage done to their local flora and fauna, so long as they keep the rest of the population in control, and off our backs while we root out and destroy all loyalist forces. Burning down the forests seemed out of the question, your excellency. If we wish to maintain good local populace relations." The Moff made no outward expression. If he was Terrosh couldn't tell from beneath his respirator mask, and red robotic eyes. In fact his suit and armor pieces along his body made him seem more rigid and cool than any general Terrosh had come across. This Moff above all other Moffs he's met was different, and Terrosh was sure it wasn't necessarily for the better.

"The local aristocrats wish us not to burn down their petty little forests? Well despite how much I may wish to please the rich fools, I will not allow for our mission here to be compromised by a cabal of rich petty fools! They can plant a new forests with but a fraction of their gathered wealth. We have a war to win general. I highly doubt Moff Kaine would be pleased to know we lost three-hundred men and more because we refused to burn down and flush out the fools while we have them backed into a corner." The Moff turned and stared out over toward the tree line where the forest began and the Imperials hid within.

"We have them utterly cut off from support general. No air cover, no reinforcements, no way of getting out of this forest surrounded on all sides by our patrols and perched along an elevated level." The Moff waved his right arm outward as he looked out over the enemy lines. His eyes seemingly piercing the initial veil of the forest and looking deeply within where the loyalists were hidden within.

"Moff Kaine wants that boy's head on a stick to mail to the Emperor personally general Terrosh. We have the opportunity to wipe out an entire Imperial army. In fact we're dealing with nothing but the leftovers of a once 'proud,' army." The Moff turned on Terrosh and clasped his gloved hands behind his back. The man leaned in near to the general and hovered over him with a chilling demeanor about him.

"I want all these rats destroyed, and their collective heads on platters. General Terrosh, we will burn these forests and those within, or smoke them out into the fray of bolts and death! By the end of the week at the most I will have Epica under control, and we will have attained total victory over the system. Nothing less. Are you in full understanding and agreement?"

General Terrosh swallowed once more, as the more subtle wisps of the Moffs breath could be heard being this close. The towering man seemed to pierce right on through him with his deadened red photoreceptor eyes.

"Ye...yes of course Moff Trachta. The forests shall be burned at once. I will gather the-"
"That would be unnecessary general." Trachta cut him off. The Moff finally recoiling his towering visage from hovering above Terrosh as he turned again toward the viewport. He waved his hand about and motioned outward over the base.

"I have already undertaken the task of ordering all EVO troopers to the border of the forests armed with their flamethrowers, and incendiary devices. They shall await your command general, and they shall commence burning the forests to the ground. Furthermore, I have ordered the retrofitting of several of our IFT-T class tanks as well as some AT-ST's with flamethrower cannons as well." Terrosh joined alongside Moff Trachta who stared ahead with his cool demeanor, but the general could feel in the air, his superior's glee at the coming prospect of battle. Though it was still a cool and cold glee, that made Terrosh feel an overwhelming sense of foreboding as he stood near this Moff.

"By tonight, general Terrosh, the skyline will be a brilliant orange shade. That shall glow and burn bright for all the Empire to see. A magnificent pyre for our coming victory. Don't you agree?" General Terrosh gave his superior a wary side glance, and noted how his demeanor had not changed at all. It was, disturbing how gleeful he could be, but not even move an inch to show it. So Terrosh nodded.

"Yes your excellency. It shall be."

---

"Move all sniper units into our planned positions in the trees, and remind them that any and every person that enters these woods are open to bring down. I also want our outward repeater nests fortified, and given three more men to act as support and defense for the repeater operator." Viathan ordered whilst the camp was alive with life. Troopers, soldiers, and Massassi moved about in fast pace, and no regard for silence as the coming and inevitable battle for survival loomed in their minds. The fear and anxiety that ebbed off them all, save for the ever battle hungry Massassi, slammed against Viathan's senses, and it was a struggle to block it all out.

"We've moved the artillery pieces to the positions you marked sir, but we're low on ammunition for all walker units. We can move our tanks forward to shore up and defend against the Moff assault, but that would mean moving them from watching our back, and flanks." Hoy pointed out as the two stood over a table where a holoimage of their immediate position was being shown for them both.

"No, we can't sacrifice our flanks and let the Moffs have a field day with a pincer maneuver. Hold the tanks where they're at Hoy." Viathan sighed and leaned in down on the table. His hands clasped the edge and his fingers brushed into and distorted some of the holoimage, as he felt weariness come across his sleep deprived mind once again this morning.

"Zar." He glanced right where his hulking Massassi ally stood with Grash nearby as well.

"Are your warriors in positions yet?"

"All of my kin are ready lord. Half await the enemy in the trees, the rest are spread about the positions of your armored soldiers." He proudly informed as he bristled with anxiousness that ebbed off of he and every Massassi. Viathan nodded and glanced to the holoimage again. The stomps of the walkers, and hum of moving tanks announced their presences behind the three ground commanders, as Viathan could sense from afar the deep desires of the enemy. The rage and hatred instilled in them, as well as the fear of entering these woods. His woods.

"We'll have to do the best we can with what we have left. We lost too many men in the breakout efforts. Those were my failings." Viathan intoned as he rubbed his eyes with his right hand, and willed the call of sleep away once more with the Force.

"Focus your ground based warriors to the front Zar. The flanks can make due with the tanks and trooper emplacements we have in the treeline." He turned to Zar again.

"I'll need all the support I can get at the front." The Massassi bowed his head and motioned to Grash to adjust where the warriors were awaiting the enemy.

"Commander!" The voice of an approaching officer rung through the open field turned camp. Viathan turned around and took note of the man being escorted by two sniper units wearing their camouflaged scout trooper armor, and carrying their standard E-11 sniper rifles.

"What is it corporal?" Viathan asked as he noted the man's rank badge.

"The Moffs! They've moved their forces to the front of the forests. EVO troopers supported by tanks and AT-ST's."

Hoy's brows raised in what seemed to be mild shock.

"EVO troopers. So they-"

"They mean to burn us out of the forest." Viathan finished as he looked beyond the men toward where the enemy base lay, and their armies gathered.

"If they burn the forest down sir, then we'd have no choice but to flee and meet them on an open field somewhere. We could evacuate out the back and move around the hill to hit their flanks. Try to force them back and allow for a reprieve on our part."

"It would be too costly Hoy." Viathan retorted as his arms crossed over his chest. "They're probably hoping we do something like that. Something desperate to avoid being burned alive." Hoy nodded as melancholy took over all those who could hear Viathan speak.

"If they wanna play with fire, then they should expect to get burned I say." Viathan looked toward the camp armory, and Hoy followed his line of sight.

"Sir?"

"We have flamethrowers and fuel ourselves don't we Hoy?"

"Well yes, we do sir, but-" Viathan nodded and Hoy grew silent as he attempted to figure out his commander's train of thought.

"Gather the fuel and take out the one's already in the flamethrowers. Gather all spare canteens and other devices that can hold liquids. Fill them with the fuel and give them to the nest units. Give me two while you're add it." Hoy felt his face unwillingly contort to one of horror as he finally understood his commander's implications.

"Sir, you can't possibly mean to use our weapons ignition fuel in such a crude manner?!"

"We do what we must to survive Hoy." Viathan gave him a hard stare as he replied with a smooth and cool tone. "We also do what we must to ensure that every last one of our enemies lay dead beneath us before this battle is over Hoy. And, if we cannot win, and we die doing the best we can to hold them at bay, then we take as many of them down with us as we can. If that means playing by their rules, and playing their little games with fire then we shall." Viathan threw his arms outward and pointed toward the surrounding trees.

"If the forest must pay the price then so be it."

"But what of us? What if the flames grow out of control?!" Viathan huffed as he looked back once more toward where the Moffs were beyond his sight.

"They would never allow for their own men to be so easily destroyed by their flames. They would either retreat or stand their ground and battle us alongside their own flames of war." Viathan smirked slightly as he glanced Hoy's way.

"Taking into consideration just how much they want my head for the barracks incident I would put my money on their commanders forcing their troops after us no matter what. Be it a flood, fire, or blaster bolts. They're coming for us all. I suggest you get ready for this Hoy." The officer released another heavy sigh, but quickly nodded thereafter.

"It's Neona all over again sir."

"Indeed." Viathan nodded.

"Zar, you're with me. Hoy, take over general command of the troops and keep me up to speed on our overall position. If we last the night then we may have a chance at reprieve. Oh, and get those artillery pieces online, and into a circle. We may need their support on any given sides, and we'll use them as much as we can." Hoy bowed his head, as Viathan nodded to himself and made off toward the woods where many men were readying themselves and Massassi were bolstering the lines. The scout troopers formed up and made their ways into trees and bushes. Massassi also waited in trees and took to the front. Men mounted nest positions and repeater emplacements with others taking up positions in dug out holes in the ground connected by small trenches. The flame fuel was poured into canteens, and bottles, and handed out to the men. Two to Viathan.

As he waited for the enemy to come to him, and begin the long fight into the night. The dark side curled around him and spread out along into the forest. As the coming death was practically already in the air.

---

"To the front!" An officer cried over the sounds of stomping walkers, and marching men as they formed up. He motioned to his regiment to move and so they did. Columns of men led by EVO troops with their flamethrowers in hands and fuel tanks along their backs moved ever onward toward the edge of the forest. Along the way being made to pass by the many dead from the 'terrorist,' attack the night before. Allowing the hatred and anger to build, fester and burn within them for their enemy. An enemy just beyond these trees and goading them, taunting and daring them to dare enter after them. As such, they would meet their dare head on.

"All troopers! This is general Terrosh." Came the booming voice of their general over their base wide speaker system as the sound echoed on through the valley. While his voice also filtered on through to some comm systems for those further away.

"Our enemy last night committed a most heinous act. Over three hundred of our fellow comrades in arms were murdered in their sleep by bombs placed by enemy infiltration. For several days I know many of you have questioned why the forest hasn't simply been burned to the ground, and there are several reasons. However, our new orders stand as such, that we are to no longer consider these forests as being in need of preservation." The troops listened on, many of them nodding happily and eagerly as their general spoke, and hands clenched around their assorted blasters.

"The Moff Alliance beat back the loyalist forces above, and we landed once more onto our world! We beat the enemy into a corner, and now they hide within a forest! They cower and dare us to enter what is already our domain, they are mere squatters who must be evicted by force!" A few of the men cheered and most nodded along in silent and burning agreement with their general. The final lines of men formed up against the forest edge, and the anxiety could be felt in their air among them all. Their legs refused to remain still and they begged to be released into the fray.

"The loyalists dared, and we shall now meet their dare! Our new orders are to move into the forests at last men. To be lead by our brave EVO troops and to burn and smoke out these rats that lay within. Follow them in and bring down every enemy you come across, leave not one standing and take no prisoners. They made this battle uncivil, and butchered men who merely needed sleep, and so now we shall unleash upon them, our collective and righteous wrath! Tonight men, we burn the forests to the ground!" At last a loud cheer erupted as the men felt the rush of coming battle and spiking adrenaline from the fear of death rush through them all collectively. No more would they have to wait and watch as the loyalist killers retreated to safety inside their forests as they killed and maimed more of their fellow troopers on the fields of battle here upon Epica.

"All field commanders, the operation is now a go. I repeat, the operation is a go! All men advance!" The general finished and the calls and cries of the officers beneath him and out toward the forest edges rung out, and the EVO troops rushed forward. Their flamethrowers at the ready and before themselves they ran forward and felt the earth stomped underneath. They felt the weight of their weapons and armor pull them down but the drive of battle carry them forward. They came to a sudden stop, all of them, and with a whir and hum that sounded like the draw of breath from a mighty beast, a roar of flame unleashed from the barrels of the EVO troopers flamethrowers. A blaze of blinking orange light, lit across the plains and into the forests. Smoke rose and the crackle of burning woods and leaves sounded outward through the valley and onwards into the forests themselves.

"An excellent use of invigoration general." Trachta congratulated as he clasped his hands behind his back and stared outward to the forest. Secretly and silently reveling in watching it begin to burn with the loyalists hidden within.

"Thank you, your excellency. We shall have to wait and see what the loyalists shall do next. If much of anything." The general joined alongside the Moff as his team of coordination officers worked away behind the two men.

"If I were the loyalists I would be keenly aware of my surroundings about to burn to the ground and evacuate as soon as possible out of the forest along the flank positions. Of course, we'll have a surprise waiting for the scum if they should try." Terrosh announced, sounding pleased with his assessment as his hands mirrored the Moff's and clasped behind his back.

"Don't be so sure of your assessment general." Trachta retorted. "Commander Viathan is unusual in his tactics. Trained by a defensive minded general in tactics. He oddly enough more usually goes on the offensive even when backed into a corner. I would wager we'll see him and his token forces confront us directly to last as long as possible, and kill as many as possible." Trachta turned and marched his way back toward the interior of the room where the officers worked to coordinate. Terrosh sighed and followed his commander.

"If they commit themselves to such a suicidal mode of attack merely out of spite of our impending victory sir, then what else can we do but flush them out and kill as many as possible? We can do nothing but expect for high casualties."

"Perhaps." Trachta nodded as he strode over to one of the many lining consoles in the room.

"However, if the loyalists prove to be too irrational and hold their ground as I think they may. I have brought for them a little surprise of my own. A farewell present if you will." Terrosh felt his brow furrow and he approached the console to glance over the Moff's shoulder. Only seeing a rather old and archaic artillery shell canister being displayed on screen with specification he was unfamiliar with.

"Artillery shells sir?"

"Ah, not mere relics of the past, but the answer to all our problems I think." The vagueness of his commander once again made Terrosh furrow his brow and nearly scratch his head in confusions. Had the action not have been improper of him he may well have too.

"I don't follow sir."

"No matter. You shouldn't worry about it for now general." Trachta shut the console off and the image blinked out of existence for the time being.

"Some within the Moff circles have come up with several ways to defeat the Empire general. We have agreed that using the methods of the Empire, the same units, armor, droids, walkers, and so on are symptomatic of a seeming reliance we as the Moff Alliance have on the men and technology stolen from the Empire before the secession. As such, we have all brought forth tactics, walkers, tanks, even men to replace our old units and thus our connections to the dying and rotting Empire." Trachta explained with his voice even through his respirator, coming off as full of whimsy and hidden glee as his mind likely wandered to places Terrosh didn't dare think of.

"Grand Moff, as he is now, Kaine has his methods for defeating the Empire, and they are interesting to say the least. Our dear leader Vellam has his own ideas. Though they are far too conventional and focus on mere swarm tactics. Hardly fitting for actually winning a war I would say." Terrosh almost thought he heard an accusatory tone come through the Moff as he mentioned Nox Vellam. But, Terrosh shook the notion away as utter nonsense.

"I have come up with a far more effective methodology to defeating the Empire's lackluster planetary armies, and ground forces, and expanded on how to defeat their navy as well. Epica, should commander Viathan take on a foolish notion of defiance against our inevitable victory, shall be the testing ground for my weapons and my tactics general. And, you shall be one of the few to witness what I feel, no, in fact what I know to be our method to total victory."

Terrosh felt confusions take him fully over.

'How can these trinkets of the past help us at all? Mere shells of the ways of warfare of old.' Were he not thoroughly frightened by the presence of Moff Trachta, Terrosh may well have called him insane. In private nonetheless, but still he feared even doing that. Of course Terrosh knew he would simply have to wait and see. Though, secretly, and for reasons he couldn't himself explain, he know hoped commander Viathan wouldn't give the Moff the benefit of testing whatever it was he wanted to.

No matter what it was, Terrosh knew, it could only mean horror for not one but all sides.

(Belsmuth Sector, Botajef System, Botajef, Outer-Rim Territories)

"And the crowd goes...boom!" A click of a trigger and the rocket launcher exploded as its projectile flew forward and over the allied droid units and toward the Moff lines. The two projectiles launched from the HH-15 projectile launcher slammed into the TIE Mauler and was followed by a brilliant explosion that threw men and droid nearby alike.

"Damn it, Boom-Boom! Can you not blast that karking thing right next to my karking ear!" The weequay removed his eye from the scope of the launcher and turned left toward his commander and merely grinned.

"Sorry boss, forgot you were there. Hard to remember the little things when yer' havin' too much fun!"

"Well don't have as much fun Boom-Boom. Some of us need a little more concentration than, 'point shoot, and watch things explode.' Okay?" He turned to the right as Shadow rolled her eyes and returned to aiming down the sights of her E-17d sniper.

"Well forgive me princess while I go about killing the Moffs in bulk rather than bringing em' down one by one with that little pee-shooter you lob around."

"Alright stow it!" Kast called as he took his Mandalorian helmet off and rapidly scratched his right ear as it rung from his team-members liberal use of the rocket launcher.

"For the love of it all..." Kast groaned as he slammed the helmet back onto his head. A blast of dozens of blaster bolts flew passed his head and those of his comrades as they ducked down behind their cover. Several droids were hit and flew back against the soil. Whirring and grunting in their robotic voices as they went offline from being hit. Only for more droid snipers to rush forward and slam against the cover and return fire with their own weapons against the Moffs beyond.

"Son of a Hutt!" Kast cursed as activated his comlink. "Crash, you Slicer and Gearhead ready to commence the attack yet or what?! We're getting karking pulverized over here!"

"Still moving into position boss! Lost three of the BX commandos and we're taking heavy fire from our flanks! I got a line of sight on the enemy artillery line though. Give me a few more minutes and I'll get you the damn coordinates!" Jodo cursed under his breath again and jumped back up. Aiming down sights he unleashed a flurry of blaster bolts from his carbine. They ripped into and sent, what he counted to be three troopers flinging backwards. As another furious bout of fire came his way and forced him to duck for cover.

A successive eruption blinded his senses from his rear as the ground shook and the air filled with dust, and booms that rung his ears again. The enemy artillery pounded the further line of droids behind him and sent bits and parts flying in all manner of directions into the air, and even hitting against him and his teammates at the front.

"Vila!" Jodo called over the endless loud booms and blasts of the battle to Shadow as she fired several precisions shots into the Moff lines. She grimaced as a stray bolt whipped passed her head and forced her into a crouch.

"Yes commander?!" She called back without even turning to glance or look Jodo's way.

"They have to have spotters of some kind over on their side! They also gotta be toward their front! Spot em,' and take em' out! Preferably before they wipe out all the damn droids we got!"

"Copy!" She shouted before flinging herself back up with a sneer and firing another set of shots against the enemy.

"Boom-Boom, get your karking backside in gear and take out some of their forward nest lines!"

"Roger!" The weequay was noticeably less smiling than before, as he kneeled and reloaded his rocket launcher and quickly heaved the device onto his massive shoulder before firing two more projectiles against the enemy lines as a swarm of red bolts flew nearby and overhead.

The sound of the two projectiles slamming into something and exploding, as dirt flew upwards into the air and fell like heavy rain, prompted Jodo to throw himself up and once more add his own rapid carbine shots into the fray as more droids joined up alongside he and his two teammates.

"Crash, you there yet?! I need those damn coordinates for the precision strike!"

"Not yet! Give me a few more seconds!" The sounds of blistering and endless bolts flying back and forth from Crash's side rung in Jodo's ear as he cursed yet again and fired a blistering stream of bolts against the Moff lines. Troopers ran back and forth across the field the battle took place as they moved from cover to cover and took shots against the URM droid army, and Jodo along with Maverick squad.

Thousands of B1 and B2 battle droids marched seemingly aimlessly forward and never ceased firing against the enemy lines. But, the Moff defenses were proving apt. A vast artillery line to the back of the Moff front lines pounded his back positions and blew hundreds of his droids to metal shards. It didn't matter that he had literally limitless droids always just a call away. Jodo wanted this battle won and won now! The droids were swarming as they were best used for, and would of course, in time take down the enemy, but right now he was concerned about his and his team's lives.

"Son of a Hutt spawn! Give me some good news guys!" Jodo hollered into his com as Boom-Boom grunted in agitation as he fired another two projectiles that slammed against the mobile cover pieces of the Moff army and Shadow fired several precision shots into the heads of four men and sent them flying backwards.

"I got a line on the enemy artillery line!" Crash reported back. His voice sounding both joyous and pained as he struggled to fire against an enemy force that alone sounded equally as overwhelming as the army Jodo was facing down.

"It's karking massive! I think I count fifty units maybe more commander! They're powering up again, take cover!" Gearhead for once yelled over the system.

"Get your heads down!" Jodo commanded to his two comrades as an expected but still earth shattering succession of booms erupted from the far side of the field beyond the visible Moff forward lines. Green light exploded into the sky and blotched the natural light in a hue as the streams of great bolts of power and death screeched through the sky and overhead. They landed and the whole planet seemed to shake as droids exploded and fell over as they were ripped into and blown to bits of scalding metal fragments. Yet more endless streams of both B1's and B2's kept on coming.

"Walkers moving up behind us!" Boom-Boom announced as he made to reload his rocket launcher again. Jodo angled upwards and indeed saw a line of normal spider walkers moving toward him and the front. Their massive antennas firing their booming red streams of energy, and scoring likely dozens of kills across the field against the Moff enemy.

"Keep the fire coming! What's the position on our artillery?!" Kast demanded as he threw himself upwards once more and fired his carbine into the Moff lines as rockets from their side flew and screamed overhead toward the spider walkers. Explosions and booms followed as one walker exploded in a brilliant orange and fiery boom, and others kept moving forward against the Moff onslaught.

"Hold up!" Shadow fired another burst round from her sniper against the Moffs, and watched one trooper throw himself back as the bolt hit and ended his life. She kneeled below the cover piece and began contacting the backwards lines.

"This is Shadow of Maverick, what's the position on our artillery?!" She paused, and listened while slamming a hand over her left ear to block out the endless and deafening noise.

"Because commander Kast requests and update! Authorization access code four-four-eight-Koros-Kagga!" She yelled her personal authentication code to the likely moronic droid receiving her request and Jodo could only growl beneath his mask at the annoyance of dealing with the B1's. As he was sure they were in charge behind him.

"I need that info, yesterday Shadow!"
"Working on it!" Shadow ducked as a droid flung backwards from being hit and slammed next to her. The B1 laid motionless and the woman snarled in anger, as she grasped her rifle and flung herself against the cover and fired three more shots into the Moff line. Each one snapping a Moff trooper's head back.

She lowered herself once again and covered her ear to listen, and even pushed her comlink against her ear to hear more clearly.

"Artillery is mostly up!"
"MOSTLY?!" Jodo yelled as Boom-Boom hiked the launcher over shoulder and fired two more rounds into the Moff cover. Three more troopers flew back into the air screaming as an explosion obscured a section of their lines.

"They need coordinates! All auto target acquirement is down, and Moff anti-air is too heavy for fly-by's for targets! They want a ping device placed in the heart of their artillery line!"

"Karking droids!" Jodo screamed as he dodged a bolt that nearly struck his left shoulder plate. Ducking, he snatched a thermal detonator off his belt and activated the explosive before throwing it over shoulder against the enemy with violent force. It exploded and shook the land as the spider walkers neared and stopped at the forward lines. Drawing both enemy fire and attention away from the URM ground units.

"I need a ping or some damn good coordinates Crash!"

"Gotta problem with that one sir." Jodo felt his blood boil and a frustrated scream beg for release at the base of his throat.

"Elaborate damn it!"

"Moffs are packing a stang ton of heat back here! I count at least a full two battalions of armor moving to the front with the artillery getting ready to fire again. Maybe fifty to a full hundred troopers in the area; and wouldn't ya know it sir, THEY'RE KARKING SHOOTING AT US!"

"Sithspit!" Jodo cursed once again as he fired another burst round hitting one trooper whilst the second dove from his fire. A repeater position trained in on him and fired a hail of searing red bolts his way. He ducked in time for the bolts to slam against the cover and through the air. Though a few hit a couple running droids.

"Hold it! I think I can get a mobile ping locator on the forward artillery line!" Jodo heard Gearhead offer over the comm.

"You'll get yourself shot up faster than you could blink!" Jodo made out Slicer's voice.

"Give me a chance to move in under some decent cover from you boys and the droids and I should be able to make it in close enough to place an active beacon. Plus I have my personal shield on me, as ever. It won't last long, but long enough that I think I can make it. Or we could retreat. Your call boss." The female cathar offered. Jodo ground his teeth together and grasped his carbine tighter as the decision loomed over him.

"Damn it all, pull back and we'll sound a retreat. I ain't sending ya to your death Mikela."Jodo called her by her name.

"Unreadable boss, I think you said 'go ahead,' okay then!"

"Gearhead, I said no go! Pull back damn it!" No response came. "Crash, where the hell did Gearhead go?!"

"She's running for it boss! Hold chatter! Taking heavy fire and laying down cover!" the man howled as the ripping and endless bolts flying where he was nearly blocked out his own voice despite his comm being next to his very mouth. Jodo himself howled in rage as he flung upwards and fired another long set of bolts from his carbine against the enemy.

The spiders looming above them fired their cannons against the enemy and sliced into their forward repeater positions. The men screamed and called and fired, but they did not waver. It was a damn brutal defense if Jodo had ever seen one. A new concept he thought for the Moffs. Especially as he found his droids dropping like flies. Though more would always come.

"Somebody talk to me damn it!" No response as Jodo fired another round. "Report! Gearhead, Crash, and or Slicer, somebody karking repor-" Jodo spun and fell back in a heap and felt a seethe escape passed his lips and hit the floor.

"Boss!" He heard Boom-Boom cry even as he fired another rocket sortie against the Moffs. Jodo grunted as he felt the searing pain radiate up and down from above his elbow where a damnable bolt had finally made its mark against him and threw him down to the floor beneath them all.

"I got it! I got the ping, fire the kriffing artillery! We're bugging out!" Jodo heard Crash update. Though despite his relieved voice Jodo could make out Slicer calling to Gearhead to run and the hail of bolt exchange only increase in sound and speed.

"Shadow, order the firing Gearhead's ping. Should be the only karking identifiable ping out there."

"Copy!" The woman dropped below the cover and four B2's rounded close by and fired into the Moffs as she made to call the back lines once more.

"Targeting ping has been established! Fire on location beacon set furthest from the front toward the enemy lines! Should be the only karking one out there." She hastily informed in what seemed to be a single breath as the firing never ceased about them all.

"Artillery barrage in ten seconds!" Shadow called.

"Down!" Jodo followed and the team fell and the droids even followed the command by ducking ever so low to the ground. As a blistering and air splintering crack resonated and pounded through the air. The soil shook and a roar erupted forth. Streams of rockets with trailing purple smoke, intermingled with red mass bolts of energy and other energy flew through the air and overhead. Like the enemy artillery before it, the mix of colors hued the sky and ground alike and cast an eeriness over the whole plain. Until finally successive blasts, slams, and eruptions pounded from afar into the air. Again and again the ground seemed to shake and throw the team around while the droids remain far more steady. The spider droids never ceased firing against the enemy lines and added to the billowing plumes of smoke and debris that flew up into the air. Stray rounds hit both the artillery lines far beyond their sight and the forward lines.

Until finally the pounding stopped and a moment's silence fell across them all.

"Over the cover! Charge em' now!" Jodo demanded with a hasty and near desperate voice as he felt his body shake and mind spin. This was his one chance and he knew it!

"Roger-roger." The many droids responded and dozens, on to hundreds of the metal soldiers moved around or jumped over the cover and fired into the enemy lines. The spider droids stomped on forward and left marks as they moved toward the shaken and disoriented Moffs.

Jodo rose and slammed his boot down atop the cover while his other remained planted to the soil. He activated his jetpack, and with a roar accompanying the pounding of his adrenaline spiked heart he blasted upwards from where he was. High in the air and watching the Moff troopers stumble, grab their helmeted heads in pain and all around wander aimlessly, Kast unhooked another thermal detonator from his belt and tossed the activated ball down toward their line. It exploded and sent more men flinging about. The ground shaking for them once more.

"I want all reserved droideka's to the front leading the charge now!" Kast ordered as he flew downward some and aimed his rifle down toward the hapless men. The droid across the comm system confirmed his order and Jodo felt the rush of the battle spike through him ever more powerful!

The spider droids stomped forward and slammed their beams against the Moff walkers. AT-ST's rushed forward to shore up what had become an ineffective if not limp line of defense. Twelve Moff walkers met eleven spider walkers. Each great walker firing rapidly against the other. Sending bolts, beams and debris flying against the other, with explosions following suit. They thus, paid little attention to the horde of small balled figures rolling toward the very same defective line.

The droideka's garbled out in their binary language to one another; unintelligible to most sentient ears, and they uncurled before the Moff defensive emplacements. Their dual blaster arms extending from them and their shields springing to life around their forms. They fired round after round and splintered into the defenses and the men. They screamed and cried out as their bodies were splintered and torn by endless waves of droid bolts. Hundreds of them flinging over the covers as B1's swarmed toward the enemy and B2's stomped faster than usual to the organic enemy. Blistering and cutting them down, as Boom-Boom fired his launcher again, and watched the bright explosion erupt from the head of a caving in AT-ST. It's Moff occupants still inside and likely roasting.

Jodo landed and his jetpack ceased. He fell into a kneel in the middle of three troopers fumbling to shoot back at the droid horde. Dropping his carbine to the side Jodo activated his flamethrower and aimed at the first man. The fire roared to life and hit the man. He screamed as his armor began to crackle and crack. Kast spun around and allowed the fire to whip through the air and hit the other two men and set them alight as well.

"Sorry guys." Jodo cringed behind his mask. The flamethrower being a bit overkill, but he felt necessary in the end. Turning back around quick Jodo threw his right, carbine holding arm, up and stopped a trooper from slamming the butt of his rifle against him.

"Now that was a dumb move bud." Jodo mocked as he slammed a kick against the poorly armored gut of the trooper and threw him backward with a distorted audible grunt escaping from his mouth. Jodo lifted his rifle and splintered five bolts up the length of the man, the last one slamming into his helmet and flinging his head against the ground, as life escaped from him.

The Mandalorian armor clad commander took in the sight around him as dozens of droids, led by droideka's and followed by the spider droids, who had won their battle against the Moff walkers stomped on forward. The Moffs firing but mostly running, retreating and falling back from their defensive lines. Another extreme bout of URM droid artillery all the while slammed to where they made to run. Promising them nothing but death and ruin where they sought safety and protection from the droid march.

"All units advance another half a mile unless you encounter heavy enemy resistance. Otherwise pause and hold positions until further orders given." Jodo ordered and let his arms fall to his side. One wielding his carbine. He let a deep sigh release from him. The bolts raged near sure, but Kast was tired and spent from this last little squabble with the damn Moffs. Plus, as far as he was concerned the biggest threat to his personal safety and that of his team was now running, with their backs turned against him. Backs that were being chased by the fodder of the URM armies. The droids, who would mop up what resistance the Moffs could muster now that their forward lines were collapsing further and further down from the initial breach Jodo and his team made.

"Phew! Now that seemed almost too easy and too fun!" Jodo glanced over his shoulder as Boom-Boom jogged up to him with Shadow following close behind. The weequay had his launcher still hiked over his shoulder, and a renewed grin on his face. His eyes glinting almost joyously if not proudly over a nearby wreck of a fallen AT-ST, where it had fallen and taken three additional troopers with it.

"Commander, he's hopeless. I however feel damn well lucky to have made it this far. You know the Moffs will only remake a defense line and wait for us to smash their lines again right?" Boom-Boom shrugged and allowed the launcher to fall to the ground. The weequay sat himself with a content sigh atop a Moff defensive emplacement, and he took out a canteen to quench his thirst.

"Yeah, they will, but as with the rest of our campaign we'll take off in a few days and continue on to our objective." Jodo reminded Shadow. She nodded along.

"Sure, we've had a few immediate successes and full conquests here and there, but we have well over a hundred planetary conquests going on behind our galactic lines. Moffs and Imps are fighting like made boma to keep their systems even as we push on. Leaving nothing but endless hordes of droids behind as we go on."

"Conceded boss. Just thought I'd point out the Moff defenses reforming to lazer-brains over there."

"Hey!" Boom-Boom objected as Shadow smirked and rolled her eyes, before she too sat down for a break.

"Commander!" Jodo turned toward the familiar voice as Crash, Slicer; who looked beat, and Gearhead; who looked pleased with herself, and was smiling a near feral feline smile along her furred face. Along with them came at least a dozen BX commandos, wielding their blasters in both hands and silent as they followed their organic commanders. They were silent, dirty and missing several Jodo remembered sending with the team.

"Gearhead! Get your backside over here this karking instant!" Jodo howled as his anger noticeably barked from his hoarse and tired voice. He threw his helmet off and tossed it to Shadow who caught it. She also shared the other team members expressions of shock. Gearhead herself ceased smirking and recoiled as she stopped walking in clear shock.

"Karking guts and a death-wish is what got ya through that stunt! I ain't gonna deny you got the job done Mikela but if you pull that type of stunt again I will personally kill you myself! Not only that," He went on his his face curled into a further frown of deeper and deeper frustration. "You defied a direct order, and don't give me that story that you couldn't hear me! You, I and every-karking-body here know damn well you could hear me, but chose to go out and risk your skin and fur to place a damn beacon on the enemy!"

"Sir I-"
"Stow it!" Jodo commanded as the cathar lowered her head to look toward the ground. The other team members watching on in silence as he went on.

"I swear, you all think we're still back on Nar Shaddaa and stunts like that are just easy and respectable by your peers. Well we ain't fighting Hutts, working for Hutts and we ain't killing Hutts. This is a war people, and there's a reason why I recruited you all." He made a sweeping motion toward the team.

"You all got guts, and you all are loyal, but you're also not worth a damn dead, and ain't nobody here, me above that, wanna see any of you dead! So you pull that again, get me worked up and make me sound like some damn crazed officer again I'll kill ya' myself. Got me?!"

"Yes sir." Gearhead assured as she continued to stare toward the ground, seemingly in shame. Jodo himself nodded, and seemed more or less satisfied.

"Good. Now...good job Mikela." She looked back up as Jodo clasped his right hand on her left shoulder and smiled thinly. "Like I said, you did a damn good job, but don't ever, ever, pull that again. You got me?" She stared into his face for a moment before she also smiled once more, mirroring his thin smile, and nodded.

"Yes commander." She chuckled and Jodo finally dropped his stern commanding face. The rest of the team followed suit by sighing and laughing, some congratulating Gearhead despite their commander's words before. The droids alone doing and saying nothing but watching on.

"Nice to know I ain't the only crazy one in this outfit! Good on ya' girl!" Boom-Boom hollered in a booming deep laugh. Shadow herself shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

"Alright people. We can pretty much count the planet taken. Yeah we'll be taking off as usual, but give it a few weeks, maybe even days if the Moffs really kark up and we'll have another planet for good old Nelrain and the URM." They nodded along and seemed pleased. Boom-Boom adding a 'whoop!' to the response.

"Today's the day. I think you all remember what the goal of this long and kinda muddled campaign was right?" They nodded. "Well we're there guys. Right outside this sector is the goal. The gateway to the Mid-Rim for the URM in the galactic-north all around, and a prize worth beating down and putting in their place for the first time in history. The Mandalorian sector." The team made various claps and cries of glee. Their goal of the last several months finally within sight of reaching.

"Until then we're gonna rest and stay planet side for a few more days. See if we can clean up Botajef before we leave, and then we'll take the prize itself. Mandalore!" Jodo plastered a smirk unto his face as he thought of his goal. His mission, and reason for taking Nelrain's offer at all. Bringing the Mandalorians down a peg, and proving once and for all, that they were no better, and maybe even less then he, or any other living being in the galaxy.

"Commander Kast." Jodo turned as a yellow striped commanding OOM series battle droid march up with at least a dozen B1 battle droids and two B2's following behind. Along with them was a line of dirty, disheveled Moff officers. They were wearing the usual gray uniforms, and missing their caps. All of them had their hands behind their heads and all were bloodied in one place or another. As their eyes seemed distant and beaten.

"These officers surrendered." The droid robotically informed in its usual garbled voice. They all came to a stop and the droids broke away and forced the officers into a sitting position on the ground nearby the fallen AT-ST.

"Ah, I see. Well then we best set up a detention camp somewhere to the back of our lines."

"Negative." Jodo turned with a furrowed brow as the deep voice of the BX commando leader; BX-34 responded to his instruction and approached. His commandos following close behind.

"What was that?"

"By command of supreme commander of all allied URM military forces, mistress Nelrain, all captured and captive enemy organic officers are to be summarily executed on site. If officers surrender or re captured without officially surrender the order stands." The commando droned out with its deep rumbled and pointed its blaster to the head of the first officer who recoiled with horror.

"No wait don't!" He cried in his accented voice with terror.

"Now wait just a minute!" Kast commanded as his team rose from their seats or closed in closer to their commander. A sudden tension rising in the air about the squad and allied droids.

"I'm in command here! I say these men surrendered so they are to be detained. Ya hear me thirty-four?!"

"Negative." The commando didn't bother turning to look at its superior as it trained its blaster on the shaking officer beneath him. The barrel of the blaster now touched his forehead despite his instinct to run. The other officers stared between Kast and the droid as Kast came up behind the metal soldier.

"Now you listen here-" Kast clamped his left hand down on the right shoulder of the commando. The droid suddenly snapped, and in a swift motion slammed its left hand down onto that of Kast's. The grip was iron tight and Kast winced as the droid made to peal off the man's hand.

"Argh!" Kast groaned as the droid twisted the hand off of its shoulder and forced the man to a knee in pain. The other mavericks raised their blasters and aimed at the droids. Though none of the droids could raise their in return. The droid released his hand and stood above Kast who angrily rose back up to a full stand.

"Hold it damn it!" Kast ordered and motioned to the squad to lower their weapons. They seemed hesitant and unwilling, but they finally did as ordered. Though they all gripped their weapons tightly, and stared between the droids.

"Now listen to me for one damn second! I am in command here on Botajef, you were assigned under my command by Nelrain! While we're here on the planet you listen to me!" Jodo hollered to the cone shaped head of the droid commando. It just stood and stared for a moment. It's glowing white photoreceptors simply looking forward and glowing. No emotion to read what was processing through its head.

"Orders made by mistress Nelrain, at high command override all local ground or naval commanders. Protocol, for eradication of enemy military leadership stands." The droid finally responded and made to turn back and fire on the officer who all but cowered and Jodo thought may have soiled himself.

"Now wait! I am in command here! You hear me? Me, not you. You override my command and you are in direct defiance of a chain of command!" the droid ceased moving and cocked its head from side to side. Unsure how to process the logic of the commander for a moment.

"Now let me contact the supreme commander, and discuss the standing order, okay? If the order stands after I've discussed it here openly with her, then well, you can carry out your damn order. Until then though, you'll wait a few damn minutes!" The commando leader finally nodded once and lowered its blaster before easily walking back over toward the group of commandos and simply stood in silence with the others.

"Karking droids." Kast cursed, as he noted the approach of his team around him.

"I don't like those droids sir. They, unlike some of the others are a bit too self thinking." Slicer noted and eyed them. Also noting that the OOM commander droid and his lesser B1's had remained silent and did nothing during the entire ordeal.

"Yeah well a droid more capable of thought and on the spot action has its uses Slice." Kast replied in a lower voice, and pulled out his comlink.

"Braden." Kast called to Boom-Boom in his actual name. The weequay neared in.

"Yeah boss?"

"Go over and inspect the officers for injuries and give em' some field treatment will ya?" The weequay cocked a brow, and glanced the way of the officers.

"Uh sure, but why?"
"Well I may or may not be using you as a living shield just in case those droids get antsy."

"Oh...goody." The weequay sighed and pulled out his medical kit and made over to the officers and silently went to work giving them field examinations.

"Alright everybody shut it and stand back a bit. I have a call to make." Kast entered in the keys to call out to Nelrain into the comm and waited as the whirring beeps of the call sounded a few times. Finally the ceased and the link projected a miniature hologram of blue, in the form of Nelrain. Wearing her robes and hood pulled above her head.

"Kast. Today is full of calls from the front I see. How are you?" She greeted in a slightly cheery but mostly monotone voice. Kast almost made to ask her what she meant by 'calls,' but decided against it.

"Yeah it's not going all that well. You see I was doing okay until I got a few trigger happy BX commandos telling em they have orders to execute all field officers. By your orders, and thus my orders are just bantha poodoo." Kellia raised her hood slightly and Kast made out her cocking a brow of her own.

"Yes. The elimination of all enemy officers protocol. Can't remember what we called it officially, but yeah I gave it. They, officers of both Moffs and Imperials, are potential future dissidents and subversives to peace. They must all be wiped out here and now to be made example of." She coolly replied. Seeming almost bored with having to explain herself to Kast once more.

"They surrendered though! What's the point of killing em all here and now, when we can put them in camps, lock them up, and then after the war put them on any trial, or whatever. Take care of them after the war in...I don't know, 'legal' manner." Kellia sighed.

"Look, Kast. I don't have time, and I really don't have the will to explain to you the intricacies as to my thought, and that of others in the high command, as to why this protocol is necessary. Needless to say though, it is, and it's a standing order."

"Well I'm gonna fight you on this." Kast coolly replied.

"Oh? And why's that Kast?"

"Because! It's the damn principle of it!" The man shouted. "I'm in command here, and not only are you undermining my own authority, you're killing people who are too damn scared, and too damn incapable to fight on! They gave up we won. End of story! If they had fought on and kept shooting I'd get it. But they didn't. There's no reason to kill em' here and now and not wait for some damn court to take care of them and decide their fates." Kellia shook her head and once more sighed. The sounds of an explosion behind her momentarily distracted Jodo, but she remained calm and still even as her cloak billowed in the wind.

"You're not going to let this go are you?"

"No." He retorted with a set and hard expression.

"You know it wont change anything right? The order will stand, and nothing you will do or say will change how this war is waged, and how it is won. Just let me know you know that personally Kast. Because I'm beginning to doubt you remember just what war is, and that people, inevitably, die in them." Her expression was hard, and noticeable even below her cowl. Her tone equally was calm, and cool.

"I know that, but again, it's the principle, and these are my prisoners, on my battlefield, with the droids you put under MY command." Kellia rubbed her hand over her eyes and sighed one last time

"BX commandos! Can you hear me?!" Kellia announced and indeed her voice was raised on the comlink. The droids all snapped to attention.

"Affirmative mistress."

"For the time being, while you are under the command of commander Kast, all standing orders regarding the elimination of enemy officers, now fall under his discretion. Understood?" The droids oddly glanced to one another.

"Affirmative mistress Nelrain."

"Good." She nodded to herself. Another explosion slamming her cloak about wherever she was.

"There, satisfied Kast?"
"Very." He nodded.

"Good. Now that you're placated, is there anything else you wish to inform me of? And, of those things are any of them of any actual importance?" She cocked her brow again, and Kast felt a groan beg for escape. Which he suppressed.

"Well you may like to know that the campaign here on Botajef is at the tipping point. The local forces can mop up the defenses left here, now that we've made a breach on their defensive line. I was going to eagerly and happily inform you of our readiness and ability to begin the invasion. Of the Mandalorian sector." Kellia paused and stood silent for a moment.

"Truly? Well, that indeed is...wonderful news Kast!" She gleefully replied, a broad smile curling along her somewhat obscured features.

"Yep. IN fact me and my team can make into the sector in about a week or so. Just need some time to-"

"No." She cut him off and he furrowed his brow. "You'll wait two weeks, for my arrival. We will enter the Mandalorian sector, and we will do so together. With my fleet leading the charge. And, then finally we will have put those genocidal fools, cowards and criminals in their place. Long overdue it is." She intoned to herself, and Kast got the distinct impression she had not meant for him to hear her.

"Yes...you'll wait, and when, and only when I arrive will we move on the sector, and in time Mandalore itself will...burn." She smilingly informed, and Kast simply decided to nod in agreement. Though he thought it sounded a bit more ominous than he would have thought necessary. "Excellent work, Kast. Take some time to rest, or partake in cleaning up Botajef if you must, but ready yourself and your team. For in two weeks we will make galactic history."

"Will do, Nelrain." He nodded, and watched as her figure faded, and the comlink went silent. He sighed and pocketed the little device.

"Is there a reason why we should like the lady? She's seems kinda...nuts."

"I concur." Crash and Shadow spoke up in that order. Jodo shrugged. His mind on thoughts of his future glory and on his own little victory as he took note of the commandos fully standing down.

"Ah...she's not that bad. Just a little, what I'd call trigger happy. I mean you all know how Coruscant still looks right? Besides I can usually talk her down after a bit. As you all saw." Jodo sighed contentedly. Once more his thoughts traveling to the thought of glory, the fields of the Mandalorian worlds beneath his boots, and those of the droids. And of the mystery, and mastery surrounding the Mandalorians, washing away in place leaving he, Jodo Kast. The man who defeated and conquered the Mandalorians.

"Doesn't mean she still ain't nuts."

"Stow it Braden." Kast called over as the weequay continued checking in on the officers. "Alright, take those officers and set up a prisoner camp, and you!" Kast pointed toward the commandos. "You all will continue on with your objectives at the front, and NOT execute surrendering forces. Instead you will bring them to the new camp. Details to be provided in due time. Understood?"

"Affirmed." The leader droid nodded.

"Good. Alright guys, let's get to work, and clean up Botajef a bit." And, so they broke and made for the front, or the camp, and continued the battle for Botajef, and prepare for the prize that laid ahead of them all.

(Roche Asteroid Belt, Shantipole Station)

"As you can see my lord, the ship completely disappears not only to the naked eye, but on even the most top of the line radar systems." Zaarin proudly showcased further, as he and Exar stood among many imperial and Verpine scientists walking about the large test chamber they stood in. The TIE phantom hovered above the ground in the middle of the large chamber and had since then activated its cloaking device. Completely disappearing from the Sith lord's sight. Before he and Zaarin were several top line and even more obsolete radar devices found in both fighters and larger ships. All failing to track or even recognize the phantom as existing.

"Indeed. It's an impressive design and capability my good admiral. And, you say that you can mass produce these ships?"

"With the design of synthetic stygium crystals we can indeed." Exar nodded and folded his arms. The scientists around them walking about, testing and tinkering around the large lab, and doing whatever it was they were supposed to, Kun supposed. He and Zaarin were more or less intruding upon them and their time, but Exar was sure they were pleased that he was showing some sign of interest in their little experiments.

"What of larger vessels? Can they be cloaked as well?" Zaarin sighed unhappily.

"We have attempted to cloak an entire stardestroyer, however, it would appear that either the stygium crystals must be larger, or we need more power to increase the output, or yield, whichever, to cloak a ship that large. It is impractical though. The cloak cannot hold when weapons are firing even on a phantom. Though we succeeded in cloaking a tartan cruiser for a minute."

"Interesting." Exar intoned and watched as the phantom came back into sight and uncloaked before the both.

"Well it would not be practical indeed. The only use it may have had was moving a fleet into position, but then again, it takes away from the majesty of a grand fleet entering the system. Don't you think?" Exar noted with a smirk. Zaarin huffed a small laugh and nodded along.

"Nonetheless, my lord, give us a few more weeks, and we can produce at least two wings of the phantoms for each stardestroyer to add to their assorted fighters and bombers. Given that production is authorized by the Emperor of course." Kun smirked.

"It will be. Needn't you worry admiral. I shall make the case for these wonderful little machines to him, and I am more than sure he will see the reason and intelligence in using such tools. Especially as the war has taken off." Zaarin bowed his head and smirked along with Exar. The thought of his experiments finally being put to use allowed for a sense of pride to beam through him at last.

"These toys as you call them. Do you two really think they will make that big a difference?" The new voice caused both men to not only frown at the intrusion, but also at the subtle jab within his voice. They turned and witnessed a man robed in cloth more befitting of a holy man or monk walk in, than an officer or trooper. Of course Kun could immediately sense it off the man. The dark side, and more specifically the Force was strong in him.

"Ah, so you must be the inquisitor we've heard of. Raydonn I believe your name was?" Raydonn neared toward the two and folded his arms across his chest. His dark blue eyes stared toward the TIE phantom before leveling back off with Kun's gray.

"Yes. I'm Raydonn, inquisitor of the Empire, in service to his majesty the Emperor. You're lord Kun right?" Exar nodded, and allowed a proud smirk to stretch along his features. "Interesting. Care to explain why you're out here at Shantipole station?"

"I'd rather not." Raydonn raised a brow and cocked his head to the side at the lord's defiance. Kun on the other hand scoffed, and laughed all at once, as Zaarin remained silent between the two.

"You're rather bold or an inquisitor I'll give you that, but that's all you are Raydonn. An inquisitor. I on the other hand am a lord. On the same level as Darth Vader in authority and therefore don't need to explain anything to you or your kind. Though I'll say this; look at these marvelous little machines! Certainly they are more deserving of use than sitting here idle in the Roche asteroids right? So, I came here to meet with the good admiral after retrieving some troops from the Outer-Rim, and inspect his progress in doing as the Emperor commanded of him. That being, design and create new weapons for the war effort." Exar explained and mirrored the mans crossed-armed pose. Zaarin nodded along and allowed his sense of pride to swell enough for both Force sensitives to easily sense off of him.

Raydonn nodded, though his face contorted into a small frown of annoyance. Something that Kun nearly grinned openly at, but decided against it. For now.

"I see. Well that's as good as any of an explanation I suppose. Curious though, what troops did you retrieve from the Outer-Rim?" Exar laughed.

"I'm sure you know by now, as do most people in the galaxy, what a Massassi is correct?" Raydonn nodded. "Well then, I have added more to the retinue of warriors ready and willing to fight and die for me" Raydonn rubbed his right hand along his chine and brushed the small patch of facial hair there. Oddly quiet as he looked toward the Sith lord as well.

"Curious. Your choice of words."

"How so?" Kun asked cocking his own brow. The inquisitor smirked.

"You said die for you and not for the empire, or the emperor. Curious choice of word. If I may say so myself." Exar glanced toward Zaarin, who shared his cocked brow look.

"Perhaps, but at the end of the day is it not all semantics?" Exar smirked and the inquisitor gave him a seemingly conceding bow.

"Admiral Zaarin sir." The three men turned as Raveen approached carrying a datapad in hand.

"Raveen." Zaarin acknowledged. "Have something to report, I assume?"

"Yes admiral. Something...odd actually." That caught Exar's attention even further and caused the Sith lord to pay more attention and ignore the inquisitor who had since returned to looking him up and down. Seemingly silently testing his patience.

"Define odd Raveen."

"Well." The officer waved his finger across the datapad and sifted through information on it. "Fifteen minutes ago an unidentified Victory-II class stardestroyer entered the system. We hailed it but received no response. Thermal and biometric scans reveal no life forms on board, and further visual scans show a signs of damage along the hull and possible damage to the engines as well. The fleet has surrounded the vessel of course and are keeping it a safe distance from the asteroids. We merely await your go ahead to board and search the ship." Raveen explained and let his hand drop to his side. The admiral scowled in confusion and thought. It was after all a report on a 'ghost ship,' for lack of better term, in Kun's mind.

"An entire stardestroyer with no signs of life making a jump into our system? I don't like the sound of that at all Raveen. I don't care what scans report. I don't trust scans worth a damn until I have visual confirmation from the men. However, in this case the idea doesn't suit me. Doesn't sit well." The admiral intoned.

"Perhaps it would be best if a small team of droids be sent aboard ahead of any troopers." Exar offered and approached the two. Leaving Raydonn to silently watch the three.

"After all, photoreceptors are as good as eyes I believe." Zaarin looked to Raveen.

"Do we have any droids on station that can do the job?" The officer hummed in thought.

"We do have a few combat training droids on several stardestroyers in orbit around the vessel. We could load them onto shuttles and put them into patrol mode in the ship once inside." Zaarin nodded.

"Good. Do it then, and keep me up to speed. I don't want any surprises."

"Yes admiral sir. My lord." The officer bowed to both and took back off from where he came in a small jog. He quickly disappeared out of the lab and out of sight into the main hallway.

"Well at least something interesting has finally happened around here." The inquisitor quipped. Both men turned back toward him.

"Interesting indeed. Almost as interesting as an inquisitor coming out of the blue, arriving with many gifts for development. Tell me Raydonn, how did you get those scars upon your face?" Kun asked. The inquisitor's subtly cocky face drained and was replaced with a sudden deep scowl of contempt.

"Why do you wish to know?"

"Because, whomever put them there, is rather droll. An odd sentence indeed." The Sith lord smirked as he brought a hand to his chin and eyed the scars that were long since planted along Raydonn's face. Of course it only caused the man to ball his hands into fists and stare down the Sith in kind. The rage and anger feeding into his powers in the dark side. The memories of the past and what had been done to him only adding extra fuel to the already scorching internal flare.

"I'm glad you approve, milord. The scars were given to me long ago. By a foolish little man who doesn't matter at all." Raydonn paused then. "Wait. You can read this?" Exar chuckled and nodded.

"Indeed I can. I read many dialects of Sith. The Massassi after all, are a sub-race of the Sith. If you did not know that. Of course, only those who are actually learned in the ways of the Sith, and the dark side would know. Therefore I shouldn't expect one such as you to understand or know that of course." The dark lord grinned openly. His toothy smile blatantly bared for the inquisitor who pursed his lips as he felt another sneer approach his features.

"Now that-" Kun began. Only for the station to shake and a groan sound through the whole facility. The officers, scientists and verpine about all paused and looked around as the lights shook and ground shook. Exar, Zaarin and Raydonn all made similar gestures. Exar's face contorting to a confused furrow, as his eyes darted about.

Zaarin snatched up his comlink from his pocket and snapped it toward his face.

"Raveen! What's going on?!" He demanded as a scowl curled along his whole face. The station shuttered again, and an explosion resounded in the distance of the facility.

"Went to relay your commands sir! Enemy vessel opened fire on the fleet and suddenly enemy transports appeared! They've landed in five...make that six bays." Zaarin audibly growled.

"Get the damn troopers to choke off the entire bay sector! All security teams are to round up and secure vital scientific assets. That includes the verpine!" The base shook again, and firing could be distantly heard.

"They're firing their way toward your position sir. I think they may not know it yet, but they're pressing hard to get to your position!"

"Who are the enemy? Droids, rebels?" Zaarin asked further, while Kun began to causally stride toward the entrance. All the while maintaining a calm about himself. Raydonn watched between the two, but also remained silent.

"Can't say. We have men garbed in trooper armor, but they have aliens working alongside them."
"Define aliens Raveen." Zaarin nearly growled again.

"Uh, reports of Wookiees, and Twi'leks. Lots of Wookiees!" Zaarin visibly frowned deeply and glanced Exar's way. The dark lord eyed him back and shrugged.

"Wookiees?! Who in their right mind brings Wookiees to fight alongside troopers?!"

"Can't say sir." Raveen replied. Sounding more frazzled by the moment. "But they're tearing into the security on post at the bay area. They're spreading out and moving in both directions. Toward your position and the living quarters. Sending more troopers from deeper in the facility, but the enemy vessel is nearly destroyed." Raveen added. Sounding ever hopeful to placate Zaarin.

"It had better be gone within the next ten minutes Raveen. I don't want a single enemy vessel to last long than it has, and place that in my report to the Emperor! You understand me?"

"Fully sir."

"Good." Zaarin nodded. "Now seal off the further down research labs and facilities. Leave mine open, but route some more guards this way and evacuate the scientific staff here."

"Aye, sir." The man replied, and Zaarin ended it there. Snapping his finger off the trigger used to verbally reply he sighed and shook his head. The station once more shaking.

"It would appear the day has suddenly gone for tedious and boring to quite loud and active. If I do say so myself." Exar chuckled. "I think...yes, I think I should go and add myself to the defense of this fine base and those aboard it." The dark lord intoned, all the while a small smile was plastered along his features. Causing Zaarin a measure of confusion.

"My lord, I don't think-"
"Calm yourself admiral." Exar interrupted. "The forces here are obviously attempting to attack the station for one of two logical reasons." Exar offered. "Either they have attacked for clearly simple miniscule hope of hurting your ego. Or, they actually know that this base is used for the purposes of studying and developing new weapons for the war effort. Either way, we cannot allow them the pleasure of victory. Be it a victory for the morale of their people, or an actual taking or destruction of this base." The Sith offered out in points. The men in the room, from trooper to scientists rushing around seemingly not knowing what to do or where to go, as the base alarm finally sounded. Blaring a loud and obnoxious horn and causing red siren lights to flash and periodically illuminate everything and everyone.

"Therefore, I shall rally mine, and my own, and take the fight to these fools. I would even offer that they chose the worst time possible to attack this facility. After all," The Sith smiled. "I'm here to meet them head on."

"As am I." Raydonn offered and stepped forward. A sudden saber hilt in his hand. The Sith lord turned and regarded the inquisitor. The Force extended outward from him and nipped at the edges of the man's defenses. Exar felt him repulse, and his eyes narrow as he sensed Kun's probing. Exar merely smirked.

"Sorry. I don't think I need your help, but you're more than welcome to help this facility out in anyway you see fit. I however, have my own ideas."

"Oh?" Raydonn cocked a brow. "And, do tell us, my lord, what are these 'ideas,' of yours?" Exar chuckled and shrugged.

"If I told you my dear inquisitor, it would not then be a surprise. And, I would love to surprise both you and out uninvited guests." The facility shook once more as blaster fire rung again. The admiral quizzically eyed about the room and cleared his throat. A bead of sweat traveling down his brow.

"Yes well. I think the facility could more then do with your aid. Both of you. Please." The admiral motioned to the exit, and Exar for his part nodded and swept around himself, his cloak waving about, and made for the door in great and targeted strides. Raydonn sneered and stomped after the man.

"I think I had better keep an eye on the situation myself."

"Ah, an eye on the situation or me boy?" Exar mockingly inquired as the door opened for them leading to a long hall. Troopers allied with the imperials ran down it, and toward the research lab they had occupied before.

"Please." Raydonn rolled his eyes and followed close behind the Sith. "I merely wish to do my part to help out. Maybe watch you in action. I recall the reports from the Coruscant invasion reports that you led a majestic assault to break through the droid lines besieging the senate plaza."

"Your insincere interest and flattery means very little to me boy." Exar paused and gave him a pointed look. "Either drop the act and say what your true intentions are or stay clear of me as I handle this little incursion." Raydonn smiled innocently in the Sith lord's face.

"Whatever do you mean my lord? As I said. I only want to help." Exar hummed and nodded his head.

"Oh my. That is a large Wookiee." Exar noted as he looked over Raydonn's shoulder. The inquisitor scowled and flung around. His saber activated and he fell into a native Juyo pose. The hall was dark and flashing with the red lights of the facility entering into emergency. But it looked, as far as he could tell, vacant. Raydonn stretched out his senses but felt nothing. He finally relaxed and stood straight. Allowing his saber to deactivate.

"There's no Wook-" Raydonn turned and found no one. The hall was empty. Vacant where the dark lord had just stood. He turned left and right, around himself, and even looked to the ceiling.

"Son of a... Did I really, honestly, just fall for that karking trick?!" The man howled and felt his hands coil into furious fists. His right hand balling around and damn near denting his saber hilt. The Force stretching out from him once more, he failed to sense and track the Sith lord, and felt a growl escape past his ground teeth.

Releasing a near primal howl of anger, Raydonn rolled his shoulders and sighed after the release. Turning back on the hall leading to the docking bay area he began to make his strides down the hall. All the while standing but mere feet away in a shadowy corner of the room, only the red light blaring at intervals above illuminating his features, stood Exar. A smirk across his features and interest peeked within his mind.

"Why is it I have such luck with finding Force sensitives who just fascinate me?" Ear asked himself in a low intone. A small chuckle nonetheless escaped him.

"Raydonn. I think you'll make for good fun. In due time boy." The Sith turned toward another hall. One leading directly away from the research lab. Exar decided to take this one instead and find his own, non-direct way to the enemy. Only sending out one quick call through the Force. A call for his warriors on station to rally. A call for the Massassi.

'We have work to do.' And, they were as they always would, coming to their lord's call.

(Imperial-I Class Stardestroyer Exactor, Genon System)

"This will be out stopping point milady. The bulk of the relief force will gather and from there we can make our move for Epica." Piett pointed out as he stood beside the teenager he spoke to as both looked out the viewport toward the glowing image of the world of Genon. Around it surrounded already several dozen imperial class vessels, and more were arriving in due time.

"Good. When do you think we'll arrive in the Bes-Ber-Bikade sector admiral?"

"In two days if we set ourselves to max speed, and of course plan ahead of time what our method of attack will be." Leia nodded. Her head covered in a dark cloak and staring forward. She sighed slightly on top of that.

"Has the operation here finished up? I don't want to waste too many of our resources taking care of that fat sleazeball." She narrowed her eyes as she felt her disgust bristle inside her and the Force whisper inside her very head. The admiral bowed his head and entered into a nod.

"Yes, that Hutt scum on the planet is being taken care of milady. Your father gave us strict instruction to clear him off the planet since this was our layover point."

"Well nobody really likes Hutts now do they Piett?" Leia intoned lowly and allowed a small smirk to curl along her features.

"Indeed milady." Piett chuckled lightly, and clasped his hands behind his back. The bombing campaign of the planet by squadrons of TIE bombers by command of her father from afar was taken with ease by Leia. The Hutt on the world, Grappa had connections with all manner of criminals and scum, and slavers of the galaxy. It was odd to Leia. But, once again she couldn't find it within her to care much what happened to the slug.

'After all that was happening in the galaxy with the war, why not clean it up a bit?'

"We'll have this mess taken care of within the hour ma'am. The planet is only inhabited by Grappa and his men. Given the bombings, nobody will know of his loss for a few weeks at least, and nobody will care. I would put credits on it."
"No sympathy for a Hutt, admiral Piett?" Leia glanced his way with a renewed smirk upwards toward him. He chuckled, and shrugged.

"No ma'am. The Hutts are a waste of time, and wholly beneath any good mannered people. I think it would be a good idea myself to expel the lot of them. I cannot quite say I disagree with what Nelrain is doing to them in the Outer-Rim." He admitted and cleared his throat. Leia sensed his trepidation at offering up his opinion. Figuring her father didn't much ask or care for the opinions of his men. As for her though, she smiled.

"Not to worry admiral, the sentiment is shared. Though I'd rather both they and Nelrain wipe one another out." Leia sighed and shrugged. "Though I feel that the droids will win. The Moffs and their Hutt allies will try as hard as they can, but when you can throw a trillion droids at them and another after that times five and beyond, you have the battle won." Piett nodded.

"It's going to be a long slog, but we'll defeat Nelrain in the end milady. I feel it." Leia nodded. The optimism of the officer was a nice change of pace for her, but Leia couldn't help but think of how many droids that woman had under her belt.

'If only we had gotten to that damn transmission hub in time.' She clasped her jaw together as she stirred anger for herself and her slow actions back on Coruscant. Her shoulders tensing and her eyes narrowing in anger once again as a squadron of TIE patrols flew past the viewport before her and the vice-admiral.

"Well," Piett broke the slightly awkward silence between them. "general Immodet has drawn up a battle plan for invading and counterattacking the enemy forces on Epica. We have the coordinates of commander Viathan's positions, and the approximate positions of the enemy advance and staging areas." Leia nodded.

"The plan is reliant on heavy bombardment by our bombers that blast open landing points for our transports along a rim surrounding the enemy army. Thus giving us an immediate encirclement of the Moffs. However, it does mean having an enemy attempting to push out and break through. If we don't hold when we land, we could have too many men confused and surrounded on multiple sides by Moff units."

"So the bombings should be substantial enough to ward off any counterattacks by the Moffs. Putting possible ground allies at risk to be caught in the bombings?" Piett nodded.

"I wanted to run by you the basic plan as it stands ma'am."

"Well I'm hardly one to make any real tactical choices Piett." She smirked. "Just because I'm my father's daughter, doesn't make me a tactician yet, Piett. Whatever you think best, I will follow. Just remember this is a relief operation to try and save as many of our allies as we can, and then win the battle itself." Piett bowed his head.

"Of course ma'am. I'll continue to work with the general to refine our attack procedure. We may run into a situation where the enemy has either moved forward, or better yet been pushed back by commander Viathan. Forcing us to alter our attack plans on the fly, so to speak."

"We'll see admiral." Leia offered and made to turn. "I'll be studying in my quarters. My father has his orders after all." She rolled her eyes, and the captain bowed his head again. "Please inform me when we're done with this little Hutt problem, and when we're taking off for Epica."

"Of course ma'am." Piett bowed and Leia gave him a final smile, before making off down the long hall out of the bridge. Several officers moving about and managing the others paused to salute and move on, and she nodded their way politely each time. Feeling nothing but deep relief flood from them after she did so.

She figured she must have looked the part as her father's daughter. Her deciding to placate him and his sense of fashion some by wearing her usual white clothing, but with a black cloak hanging over her head and its cape falling down to just above her ankles and folding round her figure. The men would merely look at the teenage girl and see the black cloak. Her figure alone would scare the men into submission. The daughter of Darth Vader indeed. Even though she did nothing but smile, bow, and wave her way among them, they all held within them seeds of fear long since planted by her father's imposing figure.

"I'll have to try and change that." She sighed as the door closed behind her and she allowed the cowl to fall from atop her braided head.

"Change what?" Leia glanced right as she heard Shira approach. The red head held an inquisitive look on her face with an equally inquisitive smile along her face.

"Oh nothing. Just the opinion of some of the men I guess."

"Their opinions? What does that matter?" She matter-of-factly inquired. "As long as they're loyal and do what told that's all that matters isn't it?"

"For some maybe, but if we're going to ever have a more cohesive and operable military they need to not just respect but feel a kinship with their superiors. If they feel nothing but fear and anxiety they'll make poor decisions. They need to be relaxed and calm, assured of the backing of their commanders, and brought up to trust and believe in their usefulness and mission. Scaring the living poodoo out of all of them does nothing but breed resentment, fear, and lacking decision making."

"Wow." Shira retorted as the two girls made down the opposite hall. "You put a lot more effort into that reply than I thought you would." She giggled. Leia smiled in return.

"Yeah well, I do like arguing a point. I was going to be a senator after all."
"Could still be. Or a lawyer." Leia wrinkled her nose in disgust prompting another bout of giggles from Shira. "You're right bad idea."

Walking through the halls, the two laughing teens passed by several troopers and officers who all bowed and saluted. They nodded their way in kind. The men moved on but Leia and Shira could sense their confusion at seeing the two teens laughing about. Especially aboard an Imperial stardestroyer.

"They think we're weird." Shira nudged back over her shoulder to the men.

"Not we, so much as us not being big, scary and constantly brooding like dad." Leia retorted, and Shira once more grinned and nodded in agreement.

"So, we up for some training then?" Leia sighed and already felt her muscles cry out against her.

"I suppose. Dear dad would be peeved if he heard I didn't do some training. But, man this is wearing on my muscles." Shira rolled her eyes.

"Just think of it like this! You'll be a looker for the guys!" Leia scoffed.

"Shira. There's a war going on. Guys are the furthest thing from my mind okay?" She giggled.

"Sure, sure. I'd just warn ya' though, being the daughter of Darth Vader will bring you bucket loads of hopeful suitors. Just thought I'd let ya' know ahead of time." She giggled further as Leia felt herself grow queasy.

"Please. If anything, I learned under my father, that political unions are a bunch of poodoo in and of themselves. Sure you make positions, titles and territory bigger, and stronger, but I'm not going to partake in such triviality myself. Besides I have a counterweight to your reasoning Shira." Leia winked as they kept on walking slowly down the halls.

"Being?" She asked.

"My father is Darth Vader. I win." Shira smirked broadly and nodded.

"Yep, can't say any argument I'll make can top that one! Well I guess you're destined to be an old maid, and alone forever."
"Oh shut up." They both laughed once more as they continued on down the hall and once more passed by three officers. All three watching them pass by with furrowed brows.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention something. It's why I came to meet you at the bridge." Leia glanced to the red head who seemed suddenly more serious.

"Well, what is it?"

"We got an inquisitor on-board the ship." Leia paused and forced Shira to follow suit in the middle of the hall. Leia's face also turned to a more serious furrowed expression.

"Got any other details?" Shira shrugged to one side.

"Not much. He was placed here by the Emperor. He's younger for an inquisitor. Kinda weird, and has been sticking to his room the entire time. My master, your father, has ordered us to stay away from him, and to not engage in any conversation. Also, don't overtly involve him in any of the battle plans or even inquire as to when he'll join the battle. As far as he is concerned he either joins on his own accord or not at all." Leia nodded and extended herself within the Force. Sending out feelers through the ship, she indeed sensed a dark and almost intangible void within the immediate area of the Exactor. It troubled her as she sensed no retaliatory extending of his senses to her probing actions.

"Well we'll do as father says and keep clear of him. I guess the info regarding the attack will just accidentally miss him eh?"

"Precisely!" Shira nodded happily, and the two girls made off down the hall once more. Thoughts of intrusive inquisitors and the coming battle and all other troubling ideas cast aside, as they made to train together.

"A foolish notion, and weak attempt indeed." Stepping forward and watching the two girls walk away the man said. "A commendable attempt, but not good enough." The man thought as a small smirk crossed his features, and he shook his head. Before he too made down another hall and explored the vessel some more. It wouldn't be too much longer until they made for Epica. Where someone of great importance awaited him, and their long overdue meeting.

(Epica, Bes-Ber-Bikade Sector)

The star of the system was setting in the distance. Yet the twilight sky was bright. The glow of the forests was a sight to behold and graced them all. All who would stare forward and watch with anxious and awed eyes would be given a great show before them all. The show of war. War at its most purest. Or so Trachta believed.

The Moff stared forward. He stood atop the command building now. Upon its roof where two troopers stood as well. They both held sniper rifles and stood guard, but Trachta knew they were unnecessary. His eyes, no more than photo-receiving lens's could see, and common sense would back up, that none were coming to attack him or this base again. At least not from this forest or those that surrounded the valley along the hills. He like so many from the ranks of the Imperial officers, and translated to that of the Moffs, clasped his hands behind his back and interlaced his fingers.

If one could see his mouth, or discern his facial features more clearly they would see the clear and apparent smile that had forced itself there. But none would. In a way Trachta preferred this. No enemy would see his features, guess or attempt to guess what he was thinking or feeling be mere tells of expression. So he sighed. Contentedly so, as the skies flickered.

"Your excellency." General Terrosh approached from climbing the metal stairs leading to the top of this quickly assembled building. Trachta raised his right hand and curled his fingers forward, signaling the man to approach. He did so and Trachta did not pay him any mind, or bother to turn and look toward him. His eyes were transfixed and focused elsewhere.

"Your excellency. I bring news from the front."

"Have the men reached the enemy lines yet?" Trachta inquired before he could speak. Terrosh nodded.

"Yes sir. We've finally met some resistance. Blaster fire exchanges with snipers lining a treeline with light and heavy repeater emplacements forming what we estimate to be an ovular defensive ring around their base. However, we cannot guess how far we'd have to go in either direction to flank around." Trachta gave the most subtle of nodding acknowledgments.

"Does the resistance merit sending in the heavy units such as the walkers?"

"Negative sir." Terrosh clasped his own hands as he looked to his superior in a sideways stance. "The fires are rooting out their snipers to their forward lines, and forcing them into the open. We've cut down several already. The mobile forward walkers and tanks can and have been targeting their nest positions. Some troopers of there are advancing against us but we've met them head on and thrown them back, despite the added aid of their alien brutes."

"Ah yes, them." Trachta intoned with a sardonic laugh erupting from behind his mask and sounding raspy and ever more robotic. "Do inform the men to bring those creatures down first and foremost of the enemy. I want those red beasts dead and lining the soil for their kinsmen to see. For all to see." Terrosh bowed his head.

"Now, is this not a sight to behold general?" Trachta waved his right hand before himself from left to right. Terrosh furrowed his brow but turned to mirror Trachta and face where the Moff was facing. Before them the forest where the enemy lay beyond.

"It's a pure representation of cleansing. Fire within a deep forest. Setting the trees and other foliage alight! Burning away the cancer that lay within. In given due time we shall burn the whole forest down. Of course if the enemy doesn't root itself and the honorable thing and surrender." Trachta mockingly added and re-clasped his hands together behind his stiff and rigid back.

"It's a wondrous sight. If it continues to play out as we desire and planned I may not even have to test my new weapon against these corrupt loyalist fools. That would be most disappointing. Alas though, victory is victory all the same general." Almost as if he was writing a story the Moff went on and caused Terrosh, and not for the first time, a measure of confusion and slight worry underneath that.

Trachta even took in a long drawn in breath of air, and released a further robotic sigh. The hot air of the night entering his lungs and making him feel alive. While it made Terrosh feel nothing but slightly uncomfortable as a bead of sweat raced down his brow and along his cheek.

The two men stared out and forward. Laying before them was a once great forest of a simple world. Pillars of deeply black smoke rose into the air, and the orange tint of the fires burning in the distance lit what was becoming night and illuminated them all. For miles the fire burned and for miles the night did not come, as the great burning of not just this forest but those around the whole valley commenced. The distant blaring of blasters firing reached their ears as did errant and rare tank or walker fire. Small explosions and even if you listened real hard the screams of a man dying all reverberated around them. For them to hear, partake in and even enjoy.

And as this world burned brighter and brighter still, the Moff and his general watched in silence among them both, and between them. A hidden grin plastered itself once more across Trachta's features. And his skin bristled! The world burned, and it did nothing but invigorate and excite Trachta. For, he would show his superiors and pathetic Moff equals his ferocity, his power, his skill, and his victory!

---

"On the left! Fire on the karking left side!" A trooper commander hollered to a trooper manning the nest repeater. The body of the trooper shook as the repeater recoiled back against him as he fired forward. He threw his body right and the gun went left. He didn't bother to stop firing. The bolts ripped out and forward. Flying in a wild spray and blistering the air with its rapid and drowning scream.

The Moff troopers ran forward and between trees. Many of them useless for cover as their EVO advance troops ran among them and set them slight. The pillars of burning hot fame wrapping around the trunks of these trees and catching nearby ones alight as well. Their packs making them slow and easy to hit, but they didn't care. More would come, and they didn't stop!

"The center, the center!" The commander yelled and slapped the shoulder of the trooper manning the repeater. He grumbled as the anxiety of the loud battle fueled him alone. He flung his body left and centered the barrel. He fired and the bolts splintered into two troopers who flung back at being hit. More ran forward and kneeled firing on his position. Their bolts furiously but wildly ripped passed them. Over and next to them. The bright and blinding lights of the fires making it hard to see and aim for both sides.

"We get enemy incoming on the left! Focus on the center for the love of everything!" The command threw a glance right as a dozen allied troopers ran and fired on the right. Their commanding officer being the one to inform the two of a large troupe of Moffs advancing. Three fell immediately and the other nine or more flung themselves to the ground and lay on their stomachs and aimed down the sights and fired on the troops advancing. They merely fired back, and EVO troops ran up behind and then alongside them. Three threw frag grenades.

"Grenades! Get do-" they blew and two more troopers were tossed back. A free flying man's arm flew into the air and backward. Three more troops rolled on the floor howling in pain as pieces of the frag shards splintered and tore into their flesh. The commanding officer within the nest had fallen back against his repeater manning trooper and had flung him against his repeater. He grunted and heard his heart pounding in his ears, his breath coming out in ragged gasps, as he picked himself back up and threw his body against the nest's right wall. The trooper shook his head and straightened his helmet and slammed his hand onto the trigger and fired more blistering bolts against the stream of Moff troopers running forward.

"Commander!" The nest commander yelled to the field one, who had himself fallen back and struggled up again as a sea of bolts flew against his men who still lay prone on the ground firing back with equal ferocity and hatred.

"We got EVO's incoming! Focus on the EVO troops!" The nest commander howled and the men turned to look his way and he felt his frustration burn as bright as the boiling air and fire that neared them and their defensive lines.

"Fire on the karking EVO's!" He screamed and nearly ripped his helmet off, but was forced down as the bolts ripped passed his head again. One slammed into the head of his repeater mounted trooper. His head flung backwards as his body fell forward and he went limp.

The other troopers and their commander fired openly against the EVO troops and their infantry allies. The first EVO planted himself against the ground and the whir of his flamethrower sounded in the air, as a roar of fire erupted and the flame flew against one prone trooper. The man screamed and he flailed and dropped his blaster. The fires consumed and roared around his figure. The EVO turned with the flame firing and setting the grass alight and waved the flames into two further men who all rolled around as their armor whined under the scorching flames.

"For the love of-" The commander was cut off as he shook himself free of his own curse and pushed his fallen man of the repeater and took it up himself and fired on the nearest EVO trooper. He screamed a guttural and primal scream of fury and released his fear and anxiety! The bolts ripped into the trooper and one slammed into his pack. An explosion ripped the man's very body apart and flames erupted upwards as a ball of flames and sent three men from either side, he wasn't sure, flying away from the flames. The crackling and crashing of a nearby burning tree caught his attention for a split second when it fell and sent embers flying up. With the calls of the Moff troopers behind it reminding him that a flood was still heading their karking way.

The second and third EVO troopers set their flames of war against more loyalist troops who broke and made to run four more were caught and began to scream deep and throat rupturing howls. Their flesh erupting in flame and melting beneath them. Their flesh and bone turned to charcoal black as they would fall and finally cease flailing and crying for someone to put out the flames. Only if they were lucky would an enemy trooper put a relieving bolt into their prone heads and cease the pain.

"ARGH!" The commander hollered in pure primal rage still. The second commander outside of the nest fired in much the same manner and screamed his fury. The troopers left began breaking into runs away from the advancing EVO troopers. At least another ten non stormtrooper reservist infantrymen ran forward and fired alongside their stormtrooper allies. The EVO troops fell into crouches and allowed their infantrymen allies to race forward and return fire against the loyalists.

Five reservists were hit and shred into several times each. They fell and their eyes remained open in pain and horror as they were. Their bodies limp and the stench of their burning flesh being added to that of the choking smoke that surrounded them all already. More troopers from the Moff ranks burst on through the burning and fallen tree. Dozens raced on forward and fired on the commanders nest and that of those down the line. The commander pivoted and fired more blistering shots into the field of bright orange. The glint of their armor and the streaking incoming bolts at times being his only signal of enemy positions.

"Focus on that incoming group on t-" The other commander chocked back the rest of his sentence and dropped his blaster as a bolt hit his throat. He fell to his knees and grasped his neck and began choking as his airway was burned and singed off. He fell forward against his helmet on the soil below and ceased speaking, another order to rise up from his burned throat.

His men fell into chaos and fired into random Moff positions as they slowly advanced and returned fire. One, two, three, and four more loyalists were thrown to the ground dead with burns across their armored figures. The EVO's hollered in a war cry that erupted all at once and ran forward. They fired their flamethrowers, and a united roar erupted against the loyalist soldiers. They too screamed as they became mobile pillars of flame.

The commander seethed and grit his teeth behind his mask and fired a wide and rapid spray from right to left and back. His repeater barrel burning bright at the tip and recoiling against his tired and shaking body and muscles. The knowledge of death approaching to the forefront of his mind, and only anger and fear driving him to live and kill as many of his Moff enemies as he could before that time came!

An enemy trooper rushed against him and planted himself on his nest wall. The commander made to fire his blaster on him, but as he turned the trooper kicked him back. He fell with a grunt against the left wall and faced his enemy who stood above him and aimed down. A whir erupted but not from the Moff trooper's blaster. It grew louder until it peaked. The Moff trooper turned left as a red beam of light zipped on through him. His detached head rolled off his shoulders and plopped against the nest wall before hitting down to the soil and rolling like a damn child's ball. The commander coughed and picked himself up as the red beam of light whirred and whipped back right. It sheered on through and tore apart enemy after enemy. They ran and moved but it split into and carved up at least five before it picked back up and zoomed back into the Imperial back line. And right into the waiting left hand of their commander, Viathan.

"Advance!" He threw his right hand held lightsaber forward and around him came the brutes. The Massassi, and they charge with guttural roars erupting from their massive chests. The beats stomped over and passed fallen men, pieces of fallen men with their armor, and weapons flung about equally as the fires flew upwards and lit the skies. The night came but the lights remained for them all, as embers whipped through the air and caught onto other trees sending them alight as well.

The Moff troopers turned and fired on the beasts. They erupted in screams of fear as they missed, or hit but the bestial warriors didn't stop, or even slow down. The first trooper hit by a Massassi felt his body boots fly off the ground as his body flung back and he slammed down onto his back. The air escaped his lungs as he lay on the ground. The Massassi above him roaring as he slammed its lanvarok into his body. The spiked tip puncturing armor and flesh and breaking, cracking through layers of bone and flesh.

The second Massassi ran and gripped his left hand onto the neck of a trooper and threw him down. The man clutched the crimson arm of the beast that hung over him, but the beast merely grinned and dug his clawed fingers into the man's neck. His blood erupted forth and he began to bleed out, as the beast flung himself up and stabbed down into the man much as his kinsmen had. The same warrior clutched and hiked the lanvarok up and swung right. It's ax end slammed and cleaved into another trooper who audibly gargled on erupting blood and was throw around and slung from the lanvarok and thrown into a burning tree to be caught alight.

More Massassi, roaring as they did, ran and slammed themselves against unsuspecting Moff troopers who either turned and ran, screaming all the way. Or, they turned and shot like madmen, and were easily thrown about, ripped into and torn apart, by the hulking crimson aliens. Who were turned even more red from the spilt blood of Moff troopers.

The commander picked himself u and clasped onto his blaster and aimed it down the center and unleashed another bout of bolts into the open field. Three splintering into the body of a Moff trooper and flinging him backwards. Three more hit two other troopers who fell down shooting as they went. Running into the nest came three more reservist troops, and he commander felt his breath release in a sigh.

"Commander, we got the repeater covered!" One man hollered as the roar of the nearby fires masked with blaster exchanges from other nest positions sought to drown them all out.

"Copy. Hold them down center. You two watch the left. I got the right!" They confirmed and the first trooper took up and lasted the repeater. The two other troopers slammed their blasters onto the nest wall and opened fire on a nearby EVO trooper firing his flamethrower on the far off nest. Their bolts struck his fuel tank and it exploded and sent a fireball flying in all directions. Along with four more Moff troops being flung back and the nest troops being covered by hyper heated dirt.

"All troopers hold the line for a while longer!" The call of their younger commander came over all comm units. His form flew passed the commander on his left and flung upwards. He slashed down and carved his right saber down across one man and his body fell into two slanted pieces. He spun left and slashed both sabers through a second trooper. He dove right and missed bolts heading his way and he threw his left hand outward. Three Moff troopers howled as their bodies dove upwards and back into a burning pile of flaming trees.

Viathan dove back left with sabers hung behind him. He flew passed two more men, and they both fell into piles of pieces as he went on. His sabers doing the hard work for him. Spinning right he cleaved through three more men, and they all screamed and fell to the floor. He stopped and tossed one saber right. It spun through the air and cleaved through an already burning tree. The top half fell, and several Moff troops hollered to one another to move, as the trunk fell and sent a booming bout of embers upwards as one man screamed under the weight and fire below him.

Viathan recalled and caught the second saber. His breathing heavy as he fought against the smoke billowing around them all within the air.

"Commander Viathan." Hoy's voice sounded over his comm.

"Go ahead Hoy." Viathan permitted and coughed lightly.

"Enemy forces are swelling on the general right and moving on the left. We have fires nipping at the camp to the center, but so far they are contained. Do we commit mine blasts?"
"Negative." Viathan crouched from a stray bolt that flew overhead. He idly glanced left as a random explosion caught his attention for a moment. Hr reached behind himself, and moved his cloak aside, clasping onto his canteen, and snapping it off his belt.

"We commit to fuel bombardment. We set their fires back on them. Order general launch!"

"Confirmed sir." Viathan made sure to deactivate and clasp his second saber back onto his belt and grasp the canteen tight in his left metallic hand. Fire exchanged to his left as Moffs ran toward his nest lines, and the roars of the Massassi boomed out. The fires roared and the forest fell, with stacks of smoke rising upwards to a black sky. A blackened sky spotted with glowing stars and added to with the hue of orange from the fires of the Moffs fury and rage. The fires of their war.

"This is command, all units, launch fuel containers toward nearest enemies. I repeat, launch all pieces of fuel at nearest enemy targets!" Hoy's voice resounded over the comms. Viathan ran on to his left further. A sea of enemy troops rushed about and around him. All moving forward and shooting toward his own men. He grasped his canteen, and felt a sneer form across his features. He found the nearest EVO trooper. The man ran forward against a nearby nest position, and Viathan heard his flamethrower prime and whir.

Stomping his foot against the soil Viathan hung his right hand low and the saber skimmed the ground beneath him, and he flung his left arm back, and with a mighty and precise heave threw the canteen toward the EVO trooper. The fire erupted from the barrel, and Viathan directed the canteen toward the erupting fire as it roared. The canteen jerked and spun its way. Until it was directly in front of the troopers barrel.

An explosion ripped apart the barrel, and fire exploded in all directions as the fuel spewed about the EVO troops immediate area. The flames caught on four troopers. Who all clawed at themselves and patted the flames and screamed before falling to their knees as the flames burned their way down to their flesh, and then their very bones. The flames erupted and spread back against the Moff lines, and a wall of flame fueled directly by flame fuel erupted and blocked off more Moff advance.

Viathan glanced around himself as another explosive ripped off through the air in the distance nearby. Further erupting flames grew across the region as more and more men tossed their canteens, bottles, and other liquid containers toward the Moffs, or their already burning flames. The fires grew only hotter, and higher into the sky. The heat consumed the whole region, and Viathan felt sweat bead down his brow and his back, his clothing clinging to him, and cooling his skin as he moved through the air.

Tuning right Viathan spotted a line of more Moff troopers and EVO troops advancing. Behind them stomped over fallen and charred burning trees were several AT-ST's and a few retrofitted tanks. The machines of war bellowed out and shot flames through the air. The fire, almost liquid as it erupted from their barrels flew down and outward. The flames sticking to and igniting every piece of land, tree, or man that they fell upon.

"Armor is advancing on the front Hoy." Viathan spoke into his comm.

"Confirmed commander. Orders?" Viathan eyed the walkers and tanks led forward by men, flames obscuring his view and sounds of battle dancing around him in all directions and consuming his senses.

"Yes, fire one line of artillery fire on the points lining our center at approximately a mile and a quarter up from the base. Concentrate to the center of the forward range, and disorient their reinforcements. I'll mop up the leftovers."

"Confirmed" Hoy replied.

Viathan moved forward against the Moff troopers coming his way. Sending an expanding wave of Force energy rippling from his hand outward, he dissipated a line of flames blocking his way, and watched them flee from where the Force exploded from him forward and out. A line formed for him that was free of fire and flames. Giving him clear line of sight as over undoubtedly a hundred new Moff troopers advanced.

"There he is! Kill the terrorist!" Viathan cocked his head at the label as one officer wearing armor pointed toward him. The troops raised their blaster rifles and opened a torrent of fire against him. Viathan could feel their hatred, and anger, their fear and deeply seeded rage. And, he fed off of it.

The bolts flew toward him in a hail and many were merely meant to miss and never hit him. Those that had a chance, met his saber. Viathan twirled his single activated saber before himself with quick ease and let the bolts fly away in a circle. Upwards, downwards and back even against the Moffs. One, two, three, and four Moff troops flung around and fell in screams and a heap. Their own bolts or those of their allies coming back to strike against them and steal away from them their very lives. Their fear, sadness and rage only fueling the unseen flames that burned through the Force, while the real flames folded around them all.

"Artillery line firing! All men take cover!" Viathan heard Hoy cry out over the comm in his ear. A smirk crept along his features all the while his saber flew before him in a dazzling swirling display that sent red bolts away from his form. The distant impacting sounds in the distance behind him and a whine through the air let Viathan know to prepare. He planted his boots deeper into the soil beneath him and crouched more all the while dodging bolts and sending them away.

"Incoming!" He heard a Moff yell as the walkers came into range of him at last. Viathan ducked down even lower and draped his left arm over his head as the sky lit with a green hue above him and mingled with the orange glow of the flames. Then a final whir through the air, and then the ground shook. Pulsing and successive explosions resounded before him and shook the soil beneath his feet. He grit his teeth and held his ground and made to steady himself more as the region was rocked again and again. The screams and cries of running men mingled underneath the pounds and shrieks of the artillery bolts that blew debris, dirt, and body parts into the sky beyond. The fires nearby merely whipping through the air as the artillery pounded man and tank, walker, and soldier alike.

The whole front section was pounded again and again by the artillery pieces until the smoke of the flames and the billowing debris of the artillery hits mingled to form one great big choking black fog. Impenetrable at the moment by the naked eye. The final artillery bolt slammed into the soil and crashed into a tank, sending a new fireball pluming upwards and roaring into the sky as metal shards flew about the area and fell like rain drops.

The artillery barrage finally ended and Viathan allowed himself to stand back to his full height. The smoke billowed out in all directions, and even towards him. A light cough erupted from his lungs, and again he raised his left hand and sent forth a wave of Force energy that sent the smoke flying away from his form in a visible expanding bubble. The smoke retreated from the line of Moff forces and even further back some. The fires around them also dispelled and receded. Giving him a clear view of the carnage before him.

Men crawled on the floor disoriented, while others lay on the floor and either rolled in agony or lay where they were moaning and groaning in pain. Pieces of walker and tank lay embedded in the ground or embedded in trees that either burned or did not, like jagged knives cutting into the bark. Corpses lay about and several caught fire and burned. Others were missing legs, and arms, their bodies twisted and mangled on the ground or hanging over broken tanks and the walkers that had fallen over. They themselves now missing pieces of their legs, their heads caved in, and their flamethrowers leaking fuel along the ground or burning. The whine of the metal consumed by fire mixing with the distant sounds of war and mingling with the cries and calls of the fallen men.

One saber still active in his right hand, he marched toward them. His crimson eyes falling on those troopers who still lived. The first one in his sights clawed up onto his hands and knees and struggled to push himself up to a stand. Viathan sneered and charged. He landed a kick into he troopers abdomen and he grunted as he lifted off the ground and flung back onto his back and groaned in agony.

Inverting his saber handle, Viathan stabbed downward and watched the beam of light pass through the man's armor into his chest. He lurched and grunted his last breath, before he slumped down dead. Another man nearby groaned and struggled to a stand. Viathan turned toward him, and the trooper shook his head and looked back toward the Sith. He flung his hand up, but only then realized he had lost his blaster in the artillery shelling.

"Oh..." He intoned, and Viathan sneered. Tossing his saber into his left hand he raised his right hand outward and unleashed a torrent of blistering lightning from his fingertips. Their light adding its blue hue to the blackness of the night and orange of the flames. The trooper howled and was thrown off the ground into the air, carried by the streams of lightning as he slammed back into a fallen tank carcass. The thud of his body letting out a nasty sounding crack of armor against metal. Before he went limp and lifeless.

Indeed, Viathan turned to face the slew of men rising and others that lay in agony incapable of moving. Several, he sensed, were pushing through the pain and torment of their aching bodies to rise and attack him. They had heard, some had also seen, what Viathan had done to their comrades. Now they felt nothing but fear and the rush of their primal need to survive.

Raising his hand again he sneeringly unleashed an even greater bout of lightning forward. The blue tendrils slamming against five troopers. Who all cried out in torment and were also flung backwards. Viathan sent a pulse up through his arm and watched the bodies fling into the air, carried by the wave and lightning and then he ceased. Waiting and letting their flailing forms fall with a crash back to the soil. Where they would surely die.

More men had raced to a stand and aimed their blasters down on him. Viathan threw his right hand out again, but this time let loose a powerful Force blast. The rage unleashing and crawling up his arm from his back and blasting outward. The wave slammed into five more men and they flew back in writhing and wiggling forms and slammed into trees, a pile of fallen tank bits, or each other and crunched to the floor beneath.

The Force screaming out in his mind, Viathan swung right and cleaved his saber down over his head and down to his right and across a trooper. The man howled and fell as his chest was burned and charred open. Then back left and blocked another incoming bolt. It flew back and struck it's originator in the chest. He groaned and fell back.

"Kill him!" Viathan turned more left and found a squad of troopers led by an officer aiming down at him as the officer pointed his way. Seven men raised their blaster rifles and fired on him from behind a charred tree husk. Viathan dove right and the bolts blistered the soil where he had stood, and traced where he ran.

Running toward a fallen walker, Viathan slammed his boots onto it and jumped back left and under a stream of bolts heading his way.

"Aim and fire where he's going not where he is!" The officer commanded and himself fired a blaster pistol where Viathan made to run.

"Clever." Viathan intoned and ducked right as bolts hit the ground where he had made to run to. The bolts followed and the men redoubled the amount heading his way. Viathan spun and sent three or four bolts away from himself, and turned back to unleash a wave of Force energy that pulsed through into the squad, and sent them all stumbling back in various groans.

Viathan smirked and dove forward, slamming his boot down and jumping upwards. Turning saber in hand as he fell, he felt the Force climb and swell inside of him, and down his arms. He slammed downward with his saber pointed to the ground beside the men. A cry of battle escaped past his lips and Viathan slammed into the ground. His saber stabbing downward, and the Force exploded out from him and through the saber out into a bubble. The troopers all flew away from him in various cries and groans. As Viathan once more used the basic tenants of Niman, to link the Force and his saber together into attacks, to through his enemies aside.

Pulling the saber from the ground, Viathan swung left and trained his eyes on a man flung against another tree. He dove forward ran his saber through. He turned right and threw the saber toward another man rising back up. The saber slammed and stabbed through his chest. Viathan clutched his second saber and threw himself left again and the second saber flew through the air and took another troopers head off. He turned back and called his first saber to him and spun it around to his back as he blocked, with precision, a bolt meant to his his turned back. He swung back as the bolt flew off on the officer. The man sneered and began screaming like a madman and ran at Viathan shooting bolt after bolt. Viathan blocked them one after the other and over again.

The officer was right upon him, and Viathan ducked right and slashed his left hand across his face. Hitting the man in his left cheek and throwing him right as the sting of his metallic claws pierced flesh and sent blood rushing outward. His back now turned to him, Viathan gripped and plunged up. Thrusting the saber through the man's spine, and eliciting another final gasp of breath, before he too went limp and fell to the ground.

Pulling the saber out and spinning back right Viathan hit another incoming bolt and sent it flying to the ground away from his form. The trooper and a comrade both rose and fired a rapid, and wild spray of bolts his way, and Viathan blocked them before throwing his left hand outward and recalling his second saber to his hand. With both he blocked even more easily and dove forward, every now and again dodging, under or away from wild bolts. Until he spun into a jump and made an arch where he fell he slashed in a spin through both troopers, who fell into various parts and cried their final cries, before falling like the rest did and would.

Viathan rose and breathed out a small breath and took in the sight of carnage and waste around him. A whole unit, well over a hundred Moff men now lay in ruin around him. Beaten by artillery barrage, and himself. Fires roaring around him, and beading extra sweat along him and drenching his form, added by the fuel reprisals he enacted, that lit Moff and forest alight along with his men. The endless blitz of the repeaters from his line in the distance and pelting reprisal fire from the Moffs met his ears along with the crackle of the fires and screams of men. The Force whined as it was saturated in darkness and rushed around him. Filling him, and swelling his figure with power. It was a rush, and he felt a tingling just beneath his flesh. Pure adrenaline, mingled with battle lust. The dark side called and coiled to him. It felt good.

A mighty roar caught his attention and he flung around. A trooper with his blaster aimed at his exposed back jerked his head right and screamed as a red blotch in his vision ran forward and slammed into the trooper. A Massassi warrior had run his left shoulder into the trooper and threw him back easily into the soil beneath. The Massassi heaved great breaths as he grinned and spun his lanvarok spear in hands and pointed the tip downward. The man screamed a mighty plead to 'stop,' but the beast didn't hear him. Viathan doubted he could as the dark side fueled the lust of the Massassi as it did himself. The beast slammed down, and the tip of his lanvarok pierced into the troopers neck under his armor, and through as the circular ax soon reached up to the neck after the whole tip entered and went through the man. He gargled and began to choke on his blood, as the pain consumed him. Viathan approached and the Massassi yanked the lanvarok out from the man's neck. He grasped his neck as crimson red blood began pooling and pouring out, and Viathan shook his head. A distant and near apathetic sense of pity overcame him, and with a snap of his right hand coiled in a grip the man's head snapped and life was taken from him.

The Massassi didn't seem to care as the hulking brute breathed in and out, each one sounding like a low grumble was begging to erupt into a full on roar. The brute did bow his head to Viathan who smirked and returned the gesture.

"Hoy." Viathan called after clicking onto his comlink.

"Yes commander?" The sounds of blaster fire going off in the distance where Hoy was rung in his ear along with the officer's voice.

"What's our position looking like?"

"Holding sir. Pushes by the enemy along our flanks have decreased and they're funneling reinforcements to the center. Along your position." Viathan glanced up where the enemy positions were. A distant rumble and calls of men barely reaching his ears.

"Right. Hold the line, and order any units making advances to return to standing positions. I don't want anyone to be heroes tonight Hoy."

"I copy sir." Hoy replied.

"Oh and Hoy."

"Yes sir?" Viathan sneered as he looked back toward the enemy positions.

"Blow the mines."

"Copy sir." Viathan nodded to himself and pulled the Massassi back toward their lines, and both made their way back. Awaiting the Moff approach for a surprise Viathan hoped they wouldn't forget for a long time.

---

"Moving reinforcements along the center now! Five brigades formed up another three moving to their left. Artillery attacks on our center front have destroyed most of brigade forty-three." Terrosh shook his head as he listened to the report streaming in on the console.

"Continue to advance, and pin down the enemy before they push out. Monitor your positions and the damn fires. Let them take care of the enemy for us."

"Confirmed sir but," The officer paused for a second. "The enemy fuel bombings."

"We are aware officer." Terrosh retorted as he felt a sigh fight to erupt form himself. Reports had long since returned to him and the command headquarters on the loyalist attacks using their own flame fuel supplies to intensify the fires against the Moffs. A couple dozen men had already been burned to death by fires lit by allied EVO troops.

"Watch for high flame concentration areas, and avoid over use of the EVO's troopers from here on out. The current amount of fire in the forests are sufficient in your sector." Terrosh looked out the window as the bright flames lit the whole valley as the smoke billowed in a great mass toward the sky. "Trust me on that one." Terrosh intoned without anyone able to hear him.

"Copy si-" The whole valley shook and a rumble echoed outward from the forest. Terrosh himself stumbled some, and the other officers in the room all mumbled and steadied themselves. Terrosh moved toward the window as a mass of new smoke and dirt blew upwards from deep within the forest. Then the comms came to life, and it sounded awful.

"Mines!" One man screamed clearly over the system.

"Fifteen wounded!"

"Whole squad-"

"Medics! I need medics!"

"Dead all ov-"

The mingling voices began to overlap and grow incoherent beyond recognition.

"Clear up that chatter!" Terrosh commanded, with another officer confirming his order.

"Having issues general?" Terrosh turned right, as Trachta entered the room, with hands clasped behind his back.

"Uh, Moff Trachta sir. A large explosion has ripped through our lines. I'm trying to ascertain what has happened of course." Trachta nodded slowly and moved to the window out looking toward the forest not alight with his flames.

"This I can see general." The Moff intoned.

"General Terrosh, sir, front line officers are now sending back reports. A line of landmines have just exploded and ripped through the reinforcement columns. Estimated death tolls are at three hundred plus, give or take fifty sir." Trachta nodded silently to himself while Terrosh rubbed his forehead with he back of his right hand.

"Right. Pull the forces back and regroup. We'll advance back on the enemy positions with double the force. Order the bombers to begin their runs, and level that position, and adjoining territory. Hopefully we can detonate any further mines before we advance again." The officer confirmed his orders, and went about relaying them to the front.

"Come here general Terrosh." Trachta beckoned with another lazy motion of his hand to the general without turning to look back at him. Terrosh cleared his throat as he felt anxiety grip him, and then he moved up alongside the Moff, and bowed his head some.

"Yes your excellency?" Terrosh questioned and clasped his hands behind his back. Trachta remained staring out the window to the burning forest where a mass of new smoke rose where the mines had exploded.

"The situation has reached that point I'm afraid." Trachta intoned coolly. Almost happily though, as it sounded to Terrosh. The general furrowed his brow.

"What do you mean your-"
"We haven't the time nor the resources to allow this extermination of the loyalists to become further protracted." Trachta cut him off and finally turned to faced the man. His red photoreceptors glaring down unmoving to the general who clasped his jaw shut and didn't speak in retort.

"I made it very well clear that if the loyalists continued to draw out this fight we would be forced to take extra and extreme measures to end this charade. Commander Viathan will pay for his insolence and unwillingness to accept defeat when it is before his very eyes." Terrosh felt himself grow wary and that familiar uneasy feeling gnaw at the back of his head. Whatever the Moff wanted to unleash, Terrosh didn't want to know, now see. Something ever still told him it would do nothing but harden the enemy, even if it proved effective. Whatever it may have been indeed.

"It has been hours since the initial advance. The longer we wait the more I can guarantee you, general, that our enemy makes ready to commit another breakthrough in orbit. It may not come tonight, or even tomorrow, but we cannot know for sure. We must end this pitiful teenager's career here and now, and take with him the hopes of a loyalist quick victory in this system, and the sector altogether." Trachta glanced toward the other officers. Several of which watched the interaction between the general and Moff, and held looks of trepidation, anxiety or even excitement across their faces.

"One of you, head down to the newly arrived artillery pieces, and order the arming of the shells marked, 'PH-70,' and await further instruction."

"Yes sir." One officer took up the command, and hastily picked himself up from his seat and made out of the command room. Trachta refocused his attention to Terrosh.

"I am not, however, attempting to subvert you general." Trachta attempted to placate. "I am not above nor below recognizing that you wish to win this battle in a way more fitting to your style, despite my belief that we cannot maintain the initial momentum, or the current situation." Trachta glanced out the window that still glowed brilliantly with the gleam of the fires he had ordered lit himself.

"So I shall meet you half way. It is night, and the night is young. I shall give you until the morning to rectify this situation, and hold off on using my new weapon immediately until then. However, if by then the commander does not surrender or is not dead, I will have no choice but by the authority of the Moff council rectify the situation here on Epica by extreme but necessary measures. Do you understand me general?" Terrosh breathed a small sigh of relief and nodded his head into a bow before the ever staring Moff.

"Of course, your excellency. I am most grateful for the added opportunity to end this fight without your extreme measures. I of course don't mean I object to your measures altogether, but rather-" Trachta raised a silencing gloved hand, his small intakes and outtakes of breath sounding very similar to a certain supreme commander.

"I understand your concerns, general. However, we haven't the time nor the ability to simply win this war by swarm and brute tactics. We are in a precarious situation. Unlike the Empire we are being crushed on two fronts. The Imperials from the Core and the rebels from the Outer-Rim. They are but a few brute force attacks from entering the Mid-Rim. I don't need to remind you of all of this general, but yet, I feel the need to. We haven't the luxury of taking days, weeks, and months to fight one battle. We must shorten and complete every battle in as quick and precise a manner as possible. By any means. For now though," He relented, as Terrosh took what was very much a tongue lashing from the Moff. "I'll allow you to wage this battle, and either prove me correct and thus mean the necessity of my new weapon is absolute, or that your tactics are indeed superior, and I will relent." Trachta offered and Terrosh nodded. Feeling a new resolve rush through him to win this battle.

"So, you have until the morning general. I would get on it as soon as possible if I were you." Trachta began stomping his way for the exit door.

"If you need me I shall be inspecting my artillery pieces general."

"Of course, your excellence, I shall keep you up to speed." Trachta idly and almost uncaring, nodded as he made his way fully out the door, and let it slide closed behind him. Allowing Terrosh to finally release another nervous breath.

"Alright men. Let's take care of these loyalists once and for all." Terrosh spoke to the gathered officers who all nodded in agreement and went back to work on their consoles and holoboards overlooking the battle.

"Begin the bombing runs at once!" He commanded and turned toward the window once again. Given a few moments a stream of TIE bombers screeched overhead and dropped a vast amount of bombs across the entire length of the forest. Sending dirt, smoke, and all manner of debris flying into the air. The ground shook and the air rung with the bombs. Terrosh watched the display as a kernel of hope budded within. To defeat the enemy before Trachta unleashed devastation on not just this world, but the galaxy beyond. This Terrosh could sense without a doubt.

(Roche Asteroid Belt, Shantipole Station)

Firing around the corner with his bowcaster the wookiee watched the green energy fly through the air down the hall and smack against an enemy trooper in the chest. He flung backwards and fell on his back with a grunt. His blaster idly firing as he fell into the ceiling. The wookiee barked an order behind him and another wookiee grunted in reply lowly, as the hulking creature barreled across the hall to the other corner opposite the first wookiee.

The first wookiee called in a loud roar mingled with a quieter call, and flung its arm toward the hall as three more troopers fired down at them incoherently. The second wookiee peeked around the corner and nodded. Unclasping a grenade from a belt wrapped down from his right shoulder to his left, the wookiee activated it, allowing a small beep to ring out in an interval, before, with a mighty heave, the wookiee tossed it down the hall.

"Grenade!" Just as the trooper yelled it the hall shook and the grenade exploded. The hallway was filled with smoke and the walls were dented and scarred by the explosion, as the men cried out and fell back. The first wookiee roared a mighty roar and run around the corner. Following behind was the second wookiee kin, and three others. The mighty wookiees stomped over fallen man and their blasters. Those that were not dead, the other wookiees to the rear would stop and put a single shot from their casters into the troopers helmets and finish them off painlessly, or at least they thought so.

The first wookiee came to another turn in the hall to the right and slammed its mighty form against the wall. Peeking around the wookiee saw a room full of troopers and officers. They were taking up position to defend the room that the wookiee had in his sights since landing on the station.

"Chewie! You get to your position yet big guy?" The comm in the wookiees ear sounded out with Han's voice. Chewie clutched the small device to his ear and went about lowly grumbling and roaring into the comm.

"Okay good. You got back up?" Chewie affirmed in a set of low roars. "Alright buddy. We need you to get in the room, and look for anything, and I mean anything, that looks important to these guys. Grab it, whatever 'it,' may be, and book on out of there, and get to the extraction shuttle. We've got bay twenty locked down tight for you and your fellow warriors." Chewbacca grunted affirmatively and peeked again around the corner before glancing to his fellow wookiees who all nodded their readiness.

"Alright buddy. If things get too hot get the kriff out of there. I don't need you dying down there for something that may not even be important. Got me?" Chewie chortled lightly and affirmed once again to his companion, and ceased the communication.

Unleashing a roar and bounding around the corner Chewie tossed another detonator, and was followed there by all of his fellow wookiees. The room exploded in smoke and the screams of surprise and pain of men, as the wookiees unleashed their might against the Imperials and made for the door and the secrets that lay within.

---

Slashing down from the right the trooper cried out and fell in a heap missing an arm. Raydonn spun his saber, the deeply purple color of his blade dancing through the air before himself, and his robes moving around him as he spun and blocked over a dozen incoming bolts. Troopers marked with odd insignias had entered the station with the enemy alien forces, and had come across him. A mistake to be sure.

A smirk danced across his features and he dove under several more bolts and closed the distance between himself and the troopers. He slashed outward and the blade cut through eight legs, and dropped the screaming troopers to the floor. Rising he grasped them all with the Force and tossed them back through the hall. Their bodies slamming int the far end of the hall and echoing their slamming bodies through the whole sector. Their lives ceasing as well.

"Who's next?!" Raydonn called down the hall. The enemy had taken up positions at the far end where he had tossed the bodies. They had since then sent me in bulk around the corners to meet him head on. As Raydonn continued slowly and easily to make his way to the bay they had attempted to take over. Raydonn intended to re-secure it and kick these rabble from the station.

"Eat it you Inquisitor freak!" A man muffled by his helmet yelled in a drawl that Raydonn recognized as Corellian. His brow was raised and a smirk came back onto his features. A detonator landed at his feet and he rolled his deeply blue eyes, that were now mingled with the yellow blotches of the dark side. Raising his left hand and waving his fingers upward lazily the device rolled back down the hall in great speed. It hit the far end of the hall next to the corpses with a decently loud thud.

"Get back!" The same man cried and then, BOOM! The whole hall burst with the detonator. Raydonn waved his hand before his face and lazily waved the sudden smoke from before himself and strode on down toward the fools. Turning the corner lay three more men thrown about in various broken display. A fourth man was on hands and knees crawling down the hall away from him. Raydonn moved on forward and as he passed the man thrust his saber down and up in a quick motion and kept on walking. The man's head rolling off to the side and his body falling over easily.

A door down the hall to his left opened and in came three more troopers, two Twi'leks and a wookiee. Raydonn paused and stared at them as they turned to spot him.

"There he is! Bring him down!" One trooper commanded pointing his way, and all of them opened fire on him. Raydonn smirked and ran toward them. He dashed right, then ducked, all the while moving forward seamlessly. All of the bolts missing and passing away form him, or his saber catching the one or two lucky enough o make a hit if his saber hadn't been there.

He laughed openly and dove right and passed them altogether. He spun back left and allowed the saber to slash through one trooper's back. He fell over in a death cry. The others turned and fired on him. But Raydonn cleaved his saber right and through another trooper's hand. He screamed and stumbled back as the blaster fell with the limp appendage.

"You imperial bastard!" One twi'lek, with blue skin cried. Raydonn rolled his eyes as the man fired a burst round at his head. He jerked left and sent his left hand outward. The rest of the squad flew back and fell in several displays against the cold metal ground. The twi'lek however remained standing, and Raydonn twirled his form fully left and as he spun next to the twi'lek allowed his saber to fling out. A swift and sudden motion that took his head and lekku clear from his shoulders.

Raydonn tossed his saber, spinning through the air toward the other twi'lek struggling to a stand. He rose and the saber stabbed him through the chest and tossed him back again. All the while he raised both hands and unleashed a strong bout of lightning that slammed its tendrils into the body of the two troopers and let them fly back against a far wall writhing and screaming in pain, before he grasped both hands into two fists and from afar snapped both their necks. Ending their suffering.

'Now for the wook-' Raydonn felt his eyes widen just as the beast barreled into him. He grunted out as his breath was forced from him, and the wookiee carried him over his shoulder and came to a sudden stop throwing him against the wall. He fell to the ground in a slump and bashed his head into the wall. Letting out a seethe, before the Force cried out and he dove forward and to the left of the beast as it fired its caster where he had been upon the ground. The beast roared mightily and made to stomp his great foot where he now lay on the floor. Raydonn seethed and rolled aside hitting the door to the bay, and missing the wookiees foot by a few mere inches.

Slamming his left hand out in a fist he connected it against the mass of muscles that was the wookiees left leg. The aline didn't even register it and merely turned to throw a kick into him with his right foot. Raydonn dove forward into a roll and stopped back on a knee. Rising he called his tossed saber to him and clutched it tightly in his hand. Just as he turned the wookiee barreled toward him again. Raydonn raised his saber but the beast dove under and grasped his abdomen and tossed him to the floor, skirting some back again. He hit a fallen troopers corpse with a grunt and shook his head to look up to the beast as it stood over him making ready to fire on him again.

The door to the bay swung open and the wookiee turned to look, but was himself thrown back. A red blotch had slammed against the wookiee and had now thrown him back into the opposite side of the hall. Raydonn threw himself back into a stand and turned to look toward the fallen wookiee. Beside him, hulking and breathing in great puffs of air was one of Exar Kun's brutes, a Massassi warrior. The crimson beast matched the wookiee in strength and muscle, as he had tossed him back where Raydonn hadn't even phased the beast.

"Nice save." Raydonn thanked, but the warrior didn't acknowledge him, as it pointed the spear end of its weapon to the neck of the wookiee as it lay back to the wall, and dazed.

"Put it down Mattizz." Raydonn turned to see Exar himself, followed by another Massassi enter the hall. The Massassi next to him grinned wider as it plunged its spear into the wookiee's neck. A cry was unleashed and blood spurt forth, causing Raydonn to step back and look at the display in a mingling expression of disgust and nausea. Before the Massassi repeated the process again and again, until life finally left the being, blood covering the Massassi brute and the floor. Some of the wookiees blood having fallen on his robes as well.

"Can't kill things fast and painless Kun?!" Raydonn seethed and turned as the Sith approached.

"My Massassi fight war in a style we fail to understand and appreciate. They fight war as war is meant to be fought at its purest form. Brutal, vicious, unrelenting and bloody. Very bloody indeed, my ear inquisitor. Of course I would have ended the beast and been done with it. Yet, Mattizz and his kin sometimes just get overzealous. But, you must admit they have gotten the job done." Exar offered and patted the shoulder of the one he called Mattizz. The warriors fleshy growths hanging down from above its lips quivering in what Raydonn sensed was joy and pride at its lords praising gestures.

"Yeah well next time how about you just order them to kill the enemy and not take their sweet time." Exar scoffed.

"The wookiee is dead, and pain aside it was alive a further several moments before death overcame him. Raydonn, surely you can figure out that in war people die. This wookiee knew the risks and likelihood it would die. Death itself, no matter how it is brought about is never pleasant. Raydonn sneered and shook his head before pushing passed them toward the door.

"You needn't worry about the bay my friend." Exar stopped him.

"Why?" He asked tuning back. The Sith lord turned and laughed lightly.

"Because myself and the Massassi have secured it. See for yourself." He offered with a motioning hand toward the door. Raydonn turned and waved his hand using the Force to open the door from afar, and when it opened he indeed was met by a large bay with bodies strewn about. He couldn't tell who was on whose side, but there were dozens of bodies, blood was everywhere, and a horrible stench rose of rot and metal. There were wookiees, troopers, Twi'leks and Massassi.

"By the Force Kun. What did you and your people do in here?!" Raydonn demanded as the stench forced him to cover his nose with his left arm sleeve.

"Secure the entire bay from enemy reinforcements or extraction. In case you haven't been keeping up to date the entire time this battle has been waged Raydonn, the enemy battleship was destroyed approximately two hours ago, but they still have dropships incoming and outgoing." Raydonn's brow furrowed, and Kun rolled his gray eyes.

"A whole fleet entered the system. We've been holding them off, but they keep landing and taking troops off and on station. They have attacked in waves against the research labs, but were surprised when the verpine, instead of welcoming them as saviors, more or less mauled a squad of their men to death in the deeper caverns of the base. The point being, inquisitor, we have to secure all bays to stop anyone from escaping with any information they aren't privy to. You understand? By any means at that." Raydonn sighed and rolled his eyes yet again before moving away form the door and deactivating his saber and leaned against the wall.

"My lord Kun, come in." Exar's comlink sounded off, and the Sith idly plucked it up from his belt.

"Admiral Zaarin, how goes the battle?"

"Well enough, but we ave a problem." Exar cocked a brow and Raydonn glanced his way in renewed interest.

"Proceed admiral."

"A team of wookiees attacked one of our highly secured hold facilities and took down an entire platoon of men! They breached and entered. My team is down there right now surveying the damage, and it appears one of our experimental prototypes was stolen." His voice was low and irritated as Kun could sense the admiral's anger from afar.

"Do tell admiral, what was inside of this hold?"

"Several dozen of our experimental synthetic stygium crystals." Raydonn cocked a brow, recalling that was what he saw to be making that fighter from before turn invisible before he, Exar and the admiral.

"I must apologize my lord, but they've taken them, and we believe the team has extracted itself within the last ten minutes or so from the final bay under their control. Bay twenty." The admiral continued. "We're also noticing enemy withdrawal from positions deeper in the base toward the bay. We think that they are pulling out with the crystals now secured." Exar pondered for a moment and let the comlink fall from his face.

"Converge all forces on bay twenty. I want the verpine warriors to meet up and attack in bulk, and have the troops redouble the push. I will meet them there shortly. I want that fleet destroyed admiral. We take from them as much as we can!"

"Of course my lord Kun." Zaarin replied and Kun ceased the communication and clasped the comlink to his belt once more.

"Looks like you secured the wrong bay." Raydonn shot with a cheeky smirk. The Sith lord paused in his tracks and glared to the inquisitor. An awkward moment of silence fell before Kun himself smiled.

"Well then I best secure another now shouldn't I? Come Mattizz!" He commanded and the two Massassi followed after their lord, and left Raydonn standing alone for a moment.

"Well...I guess I'll go help out too." he intoned to himself and smiled once again. Thoughts of annoying this damnable Sith lord some more playing in his mind, and giving him an even greater drive to follow after.

And without paying him any mind, Exar allowed the inquisitor to follow after. The Massassi following their lords example. As the four made their way toward the bay, and a wookiee made his way onto an allied warship, his mission a success.

(Epica, Hours Later)

The night faded and the star in the distance rose once again. The smoke of the charred forests still rose, as it had all night. Overhead bombers flew back and forth across the skies, and time and again felled their bombs onto the decayed and dead forest. Sending dust, dirt and debris upwards. Moff artillery pounded the distant forests again and again unrelenting.

"Adjust artillery to point 343-567. Pound that position, and order the fifth battalion to move on the right flank. Destroy forward enemy nest positions and clear out so we can push on int and cut through the half of the enemy command base. You understand me commander?" Terrosh demanded as he spoke into the console.

"Confirmed sir." The artillery pieces outside of the command building adjusted and began pounding into the newly ordered position. The bombers followed overhead above the forest, moving through the smoke and dropped added payloads on the same line. The whole region shook and the explosions slammed against the ears of every man nearby, as the holoboard shook and the images became disjointed they nonetheless showed the battalion of several hundred men, backed by several tanks moving in on the positions Terrosh ordered.

"Give or take another hour or two and we'll be in the very heart of the base men!" Terrosh proudly proclaimed and rose up clasping his hands behind his back with a smirk. The men cheered and clapped, the general allowing them a moment of break in propriety. A night long battle with a nearing victory was more than in need of a release.

"An hour or two too late general." Terrosh whipped around as the door opened and Trachta entered, and like that a sudden gloom overcame the room.

"Bu...but your excellency I am but a mere-"

"You had your time general. We had an agreement, and as you can see the morning is dawning." The Moff motioned out the window as the morning star was indeed rising higher and pounding down across the planet illumination. It hurt his weary eyes even.

"Ye...yes of course Moff Trachta but-"

"The time for waiting is over general. The time for swift action is at hand. Order your forces to pull back by a mile and a half. The loyalists would not be stupid enough to follow after." Terrosh felt his brows shoot up in surprise and horror, the other officers doing the same but stifling any shocked murmurs that may be wishing to erupt forth from their throats.

"We are mere meters from the enemy base camp sir!"

"Enough general." The Moff coolly commanded and motioned one hand in a downward style. Silencing the man in full.

"Your chance has ended I am afraid. Do as I ordered, and pull the men back. Unless you want them too, to be caught in the way of my new weapon?" The Moff slowly glared toward the general who relented and shook his head.

"Yes, Moff Trachta." He motioned to the other officers, and they slowly went to work relaying the commands.

"Oh, and reactivate the broadcast, and bring me the mic. I wish to give commander Viathan, one last chance." Trachta commanded coolly and in an intone. Terrosh silently and dejectedly did as ordered, and Trachta silently awaited, and watched out the window. Now was his time.

---

"Sir, the enemy is pulling back." Hoy called to Viathan over the comlink. The teen commander was planted with his back against a random tree. His head hung low and his breaths were ragged. He'd been fighting all night and had received a shot to his left ankle. His forces had been beaten and broken down hour after hour, and the Moffs were a mere moment from total victory. Thus, what Hoy said made his head shoot back up and adrenaline once more pound through his body.

"What?" Viathan glanced around the corner, and toward the tree nearby where Grash had taken up position stood and also looked around. To his direct forward position lay a burnt out husk of a nest, bits and pieces of its occupants lay about from an artillery and bombing run.

"They're pulling back sir!" Hoy happily restated. Viathan sensed the relief and joy flooding from his men and Hoy. However, he didn't allow himself the luxury.

"Hoy...get me an approximation on how many forces they still have in this damn burning forest. They're winning, there's no karking reason why they should be pulling back." Hoy cleared his throat and went silent, Viathan figured doing as told.

"Several hundred by the looks of it. They had been advancing on your position. They're still pulling back commander." Viathan furrowed his brow and walked around the tree. Before him the forest was charred with only small bouts of fire here and there. The rest of the foliage having gone black or ceased being altogether. His saber hung low in his hand and hummed, and he scanned the whole expanse. Made clear and open to him with the loss of much of the green of the wood. Behind him came up dozens of his last troopers and his Massassi comrades. All allowing the sense of victory to swell within and all lowly laughing even congratulating one another. The terrible memory of the night slowly leaving for a sense of elation.

Yet, all Viathan could sense was a looming darkness. He glanced toward Grash. The Massassi hulk nodded his way, signaling he felt it too. The natural ability to use the Force within him as with all Massassi giving him a similar outlook as Viathan. The other Massassi also remained ready and lacked any elation that their human counterparts held.

"Commander Viathan." A voice rung through the forest and boomed for all to hear. It was doubly muffled. As if going through the mic filter robotically twice. But, Viathan could still make out what it said, as it silenced all the men, and their elation. As sudden fear and shock broke them free of the feeling.

"I am Moff Trachta. I am now in command of all Moff Alliance forces on planet. I have one last offer to make you, boy. Lest you and all whom have allied themselves with you be brought to oblivion." Viathan scowled and took a stubborn step forward though he knew the man couldn't see him. The name nagging him as sounding familiar.

"You can surrender now, along with your men and alien scum, and be placed in my care as a POW. Given all the treatment that you don't deserve. Or," The man went on, and already Viathan felt his scowl deteriorate into a sneer.

"You can remain in your rat hole of a burnt husk of a forest. Remain, fight and die. Where I shall display for all the Empire the death of one of its most promising sons. An embarrassment indeed." The man ended. His voice ending into a slithery and prideful boast.

Viathan grasped his comm in his hand.

"Hoy, broadcast me on all channels now."

"Yes sir." He replied. Hoy's voice now mirroring the worry Viathan felt welling inside of himself. "Go ahead sir."

"I will not be made a fool of, nor be fooled into taking part in Moff 'hospitality,' Trachta." Viathan replied on his comm, knowing damn well they would be listening on their comms for his reply, and he wanted the men to hear. Both Moff and loyalist.

"I would rather be a lost son, an embarrassment than embarrass myself and the Empire by becoming your slave. I also hold no doubt, nor any delusion that you would go back on your meaningless word, Moff!" Viathan seethed and fell into a hoarse and tired barking retort.

"Ah, the illustrious commander Viathan himself." The booming voice spoke. "Then you have sacrificed yourself and the men under you to the void." He declared in a grandiose fashion, that made Viathan furrow his brow once again. "Very well commander. We shall play this game your way, and I shall unleash upon you the fury of the Moff Alliance, and give you a peek into how your pathetic empire shall collapse. Not by the blaster, or the saber, but by the air." Viathan turned and looked to the men. A look of confusion about him, and they too looked to one another confusedly.

---

"Fire all shells on the approximate enemy position from before. Order no man to advance until I give the green light. Understand general?" The two stood upon the roof of the building once more, and Trachta tossed the mic to the floor unceremoniously, and with utter finality. Terrosh merely nodded, and felt his heart race in fear and anticipation in whatever Trachta was about to unleash.

"Fire all, on position 343-567." He ordered and let his comlink drop, as the refitted artillery guns fired and launched the shells high into the air, flying over the burnt out husk of a forest toward the enemy.

---

The whine of an incoming shell met Viathan's ears and he felt his brow furrow deeper than ever before.

"In the name of-" He was cut off as the sound grew louder, and he jumped back as the shell slammed down just meters in front of himself and the men. A small explosion ripped through the air and sent debris flying up, but otherwise nothing happened. A large rising cloud of smoke and falling dirt was it.

"Was...was that it? An archaic piece of warfare?!" Viathan demanded as he coughed lightly from the smoke. He took a tentative step forward, but stopped as the Force blared inside of his mind. Every hair on his arms and neck stood to attention and he stopped moving altogether as another cough was elicited from him.

Then, his arms...they began to burn. He looked down and saw nothing, but again he coughed. He looked for a nearby flame or cut, but found nothing, but he ran his hand across his left arm and tried to rub the sensation away. It didn't stop. In fact it only felt worse.

"What th-" He was cut off by another cough. Only this time it degenerated into a fit. He fell to his knee and coughed roughly. His lungs began to burn and he hacked for a few moments before he covered his mouth and forced himself back up to a full stand. Only then did he turn and notice, that all his men too had begun to cough. Several falling over, especially those without helmets, and as he turned to his right he noticed the Massassi also on their knees. The beasts coughed and hacked. One man began screaming about the burning, but nothing was on him, no fire, no flame.

Viathan felt his eyes widen to the greatest extent they could even as they too began to feel like they were burning.

"Gas...gas!" Viathan called and felt another cough erupt from his lungs, and he fell once more to his knees. His vision became blurred and his arms weak.

"Hoy... (cough), pull everyone back! (cough, cough) Trachta...gas...(COUGH)." Viathan couldn't speak, he couldn't breath, and his body felt like it was about to collapse. Every breath burned and his body was on fire!

His vision went dark once again, and he felt the ground beneath him smack against his face, as the sound of Hoy's voice blared on the comm for all men to pull back to the base camp.

As Trachta had unleashed chemical warfare upon them all.

---

Authors Note: Well guys I hope you enjoy this overly long chapter, and all the goodies that lay within. As always please excuse or point out any and all grammatical errors that are likely to show here and there. Please review and tell me what you all think and of course shoot me up with any ideas, or just thoughts. I like hearing and seeing feedback. More updates as ever to come in time. College eats time!

:)