Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo/Star Wars crossover redux.

Thank you all for your wonderful patience and support. I deeply apprecaite it.

I also appreciate you sharing some of your concerns with me in the review. I will be looking through them at some point in the future, and I'll make tweaks to better improve this story. Rest assured, your voice is being heard.

As always, leave a review, and enjoy!

Discliamer: I do not own the Halo or Star Wars franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, Disney Films, etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers, producers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to its original composers and/or artists.


UNSC Infinity

Simulation Deck

August 8th, 0BBY, 1200 Hrs (March 19th, 2559, 1200 Hrs)

"Concentrate," Cal said. "Feel the Force. Let it guide you and your actions."

Nearby, the very individual he was speaking to did as told. Closing his eyes, N'tho concentrated on the Force flowing through him. Before, when he had initially unlocked his ability to use the Force, the flow of that mysterious energy had felt like a tsunami had washed over him. Now, it's more like a mountain rapid, he noted. Easier to control, but still very powerful.

Breathing in and out, he began using the meditative practices he had learned as a childling. As he did, he felt a slight shift in the Force. Suddenly, it was as though his eyes were open, but instead of seeing the usual colors that most Sangheili saw, he now saw the world in shades of blue, gray and red. Nearby, he could see Cal, who seemed to shine like star in the Force. Shifting his gaze downwards, he could see himself shining as well, only his glow was somewhat brighter.

In addition to seeing the world in just those colors, he could now see how the Force interacted and moved. He noticed that Cal, and presumably himself, seemed to be places in the Force that it flowed outwards from, while it flowed through and around other beings that seemingly had no connection to the Force. N'tho marveled at the amount of information he was perceiving. It was as though I was half-blind until Cal helped me open up my connection to the Force.

Shaking the thought away, he focused on the task he had been given by Cal. This was made more evident when Cal asked, "Can you feel it, N'tho? Can you feel the Force?"

"Yes. I can feel the Force. It's as though I've been half-blind all my life, able to see in one world, yet unable to in the other. I can also hear it… whispering to me."

Cal smiled. N'tho's connection to the Force is quite strong. I can hear it whispering to him too. "Good. Now, use the Force to lift the various objects I have strewn about in this room."

The room in question happened to be one of the simulator rooms onboard the Infinity's Simulator Deck. Normally used by the Marines and ODSTs, the room they were in had been repurposed into a training ground in which Cal would teach N'tho how to harness the Force in a safe and responsible manner. Inside of the room, which was currently in the previous mode used during the spar, were a number of items, from small wrenches, screwdrivers and notebooks, to crates and inactive fusion cells.

Reaching out with the Force, N'tho felt the objects inside of the room. Already, part of his rational mind was arguing that, even with the Force, he wouldn't be able to lift those objects. Why not? he asked that part of his mind. If I can grab an energy sword without the use of magnetism or gravity, then I can lift more than one thing with my newfound capabilities.

Blocking out the argumentative part of him that said it couldn't be done, N'tho willed the objects nearby to begin floating. Soon, many of the smaller items were floating in the Force, while some of the larger ones were starting to lift into the air, albeit unsteadily. It feels like I'm lifting dozens of heavy weights at a time, he thought, beads of sweat forming above his brow scales. His breathing accelerated, the exertion quickly rising.

Cal, sensing N'tho's exhaustion, said, "That's enough, N'tho. You can stop now."

Hearing Cal's instruction, N'tho eased up on his use of the Force. The items he managed to lift gently settled down onto the ground. Looking at Cal, he asked, "So, how was my performance?"

Cal smiled. "Not bad, actually. Most Padawans actually struggled initially with lifting even a single object. In that regard, you've made more progress in just a few days than most Padawans would've made in a few years. However, that's where we also need to be careful."

"Let me guess: the Dark Side will attempt to tempt me in that regard?"

Cal nodded. "Correct, N'tho. Always be wary of the Dark Side. Anger, hate, fear, suffering, all of those are of the Dark Side. Some people find the Dark Side alluring, enough that they give themselves fully into it. Once that happens, it becomes very difficult to break away, as the Dark Side's power can be addicting to those that use it."

N'tho frowned as a question raised itself in his mind. "Is the Dark Side stronger than the Light, or is the Light stronger than the Dark?"

For a moment, Cal found that the question caught him off guard. Wait a minute, he thought. I've heard that question before. A Youngling asked Yoda the same question. "No," he said at length. "The Dark Side isn't stronger than the light. It does, however, promise power more quickly and it's easier to be seduced if you desire power. Remember, N'tho, a Jedi always uses his abilities to do good, never for evil."

N'tho frowned, then he shrugged. "That does make sense. Those that want power take it by force, only to find that they are not satisfied by it, leading them to seek even more power. Those that don't are usually given that power, though they use what they have wisely and cautiously, leading to them understanding that power, while being granted more."

"Precisely," Cal said. "From what I recall in my time at the library in the Jedi Temple at Coruscant, the Sith constantly pitted themselves against each other, constantly testing the strength of their rivals. Those that were weak were crushed, leading to those that sought the most power becoming the ones in charge."

"That sounds like the Covenant I once served, only the Covenant did not have individuals that either could use, or were aware of, the Force."

"Interesting," Cal said. "It sounds as though the Covenant and Sith had something in common."

"Agreed." Looking at the crates, and feeling the sweat on his forehead, N'tho asked, "Cal, would you mind if I asked a question?"

"Sure. You don't have to ask me if you can ask a question, N'tho. I welcome questions, especially when it comes to the Force. If you have a question, just ask me, and I'll do what I can to answer it."

"Thank you," N'tho said. "While lifting the objects in this room, I noticed that I wasn't able to lift all of them. Is that the limits of my ability in the Force, or is there something that I am not aware of that you will be teaching me?"

Cal smiled. "That's a very astute question, and I believe I can answer that readily. As far as I know, and from what I recall from my training as a Padawan, there's no 'limit' to the power that one can wield in the Force. It's my personal belief, in fact, that even a lowly street urchin, if trained properly, could become as powerful as Palpatine, or even Darth Vader, in terms of their connection to the Force and the ability to use it. In my experience, the only real barriers to using the Force are the obstacles you believe exist before you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," Cal said. Pulling up a chair, he sat down in it. "I can tell you because I've been there before. As a Padawan, I trained under Master Jaro Tarpal, one of the stronger Jedi in the Jedi Order. He was firm and uncompromising in his training, but he was a compassionate and kind Jedi Master. He was also an excellent military commander, both due to his ability to use the Force, and a natural talent as a leader."

"What happened to him?" N'tho asked. "When you speak of him, I sense sadness and a sense of regret."

Cal frowned. "He was killed during Order 66. We were conducting some more training when the chips inside of the Clone's brains forced them to turn against us. Tarpal saved my life, but when I was trying to get one of the lifepods opened, I panicked. I managed to open it, but not before Tarpal was badly injured. He… he died in my arms."

N'tho frowned. "I beg for your pardon. I was unaware that -"

"No, N'tho. There's nothing to forgive. You didn't know what happened; besides, it happened a long time ago, and I've learned to move on from what happened. Still, the grief I felt, along with the same, damaged my connection to the Force. The obstacles that formed as a result served as roadblocks to any attempts to heal it. For five long years, I had to make do with what little of a connection I had left."

"What changed all that?" N'tho asked.

"Cere. When I met her, she encouraged me to persist in healing my connection to the Force, even as we searched for a Jedi Holocron that Master Cordova was looking for, a holocron the Sith Inquisitors were also seeking. Throughout the course of that mission, I realized that the obstacles only existed because I created them. I learned a valuable lesson. Guess what it is."

"Let me guess," N'tho surmised. "The only obstacles to our growth in the Force are the ones we create in our own minds. That nothing is impossible for those that can use the Force."

Cal smiled. "Exactly. I also remembered a lesson that my master taught me: persistence reveals the path. It's thanks to persistence, as well as a desire to overcome those obstacles, that allowed me to become stronger in the Force. I also have to credit Merrin, as she showed me paths that I never believed were possible before."

"You also love her," N'tho said. "When you were with her the previous day, you seemed to dote upon her."

Cal smiled, a blush forming on his cheeks. "You could say that," he said. "To be fair, it's true that I do dote on her. Most Jedi would balk at that, but I think that we shouldn't shun people out of fear of falling in love with them. If anything, my love for Merrin prevented my fall to the Dark Side of the Force following Cere's death."

The two remained silent for a minute, then Cal stood up. "I think it is time that we continued, N'tho. Concentrate on the Force, then lift the items in the room."

N'tho nodded, then he assumed his meditative stance once more and closed his eyes. Reaching out into the Force, he again focused on the objects in the room. Believe, and you will accomplish your goal, he reminded himself. Persistence reveals the path. With those thoughts echoing in his mind, he reached out to the various items in the room.

This time, nearly everything in the room floated into the air. For a moment, they were steady, then they shook slightly before falling to the ground. A wave of exhaustion and exhilaration flowed over N'tho as he realized what he had accomplished. I'm becoming stronger! he thought. Cal was right! The only obstacles that exist are within my mind. Nothing is impossible for me. All that I need to do is continue to strengthen my connection.

Cal smiled. "Well done, N'tho. Looks like you took that advice of mine to heart."

"I did," N'tho said, "and by doing so, I have become stronger as a result. Your words ring true: persistence reveals the path."

"Indeed," Cal said. "It's clear that you're becoming stronger in the Force. Now, we have to see if your swordsmanship has improved." Using the Force, he moved everything out of the sparring circle and to the edges of the room. Advancing to one side, he switched on his lightsaber. "Ready yourself!"

N'tho, hearing the command, shot up onto his feet from his knees. A quick command to the Force sent his energy sword into his hands. Activating it, he silently smiled, then began to strafe Cal while the latter did the same.

Before long, Cal leaped towards N'tho, bringing his lightsaber down in an overhead strike. Immediately, N'tho sensed what Cal intended to do, and moved his energy sword. Almost effortlessly, he blocked the blow, then lashed out with an armored hoof. Sensing the incoming blow, Cal dashed backwards, barely avoiding a kick to his midsection.

This time, N'tho charged, but rather than use a sweeping blow, he went for a quick jab. Cal blocked the jab, only to grunt when N'tho slapped him in the face, sending a stinging sensation up to his eyebrows. He's improvising, Cal realized. That's good. However, he has much to learn, and it's about time I demonstrate that.

N'tho moved to strike again, only for Cal to reach into the Force. Before his strike could connect, N'tho felt himself being shoved backwards. Instinctively reaching into the Force, he anchored himself to the ground. Still, he had slid back a few feet, enough for Cal to change his combat stance. Reaching into his garb, Cal pulled out a second lightsaber, then connected to the first one.

Eyes focused on the Jedi Knight, N'tho's eyes widened fractionally when he saw a second blade emerge from Cal's lightsaber. A twin bladed weapon! he realized. This just became a lot more interesting. Snarling slightly, he launched himself forwards, intent on getting inside Cal's guard.

In response, Cal blocked the overhead swing with his lightsaber, then he did something that caught N'tho off guard. Blocking another strike, Cal slid his lightsaber blade into the space between the energy sword's prongs, then flipped his lightsaber around. Before N'tho could react, the energy sword was ripped out of his hands and sent clattering to the ground, deactivating as it did so.

Realizing he'd been disarmed, N'tho watched as Cal lunged forward, intending to touch him with the tip of the lightsaber's training-powered blade. Jump! a voice shouted in N'tho's head. Obeying the thought, N'tho threw himself into the air, flipping once over Cal and landing on the other side. Reaching into the Force, he retrieved his blade.

"Excellent!" Cal said. "Use the Force, N'tho! Let it flow through you! Let it guide your actions in battle!"

Snarling, N'tho leaped forwards again, only for Cal to grab him mid-air before throwing him backwards. N'tho slammed into the walls of the simulation room, his vision briefly flashing gray. Dazed, he struggled to get up, only to feel a slight zapping sensation on his chest. Looking down, he watched as Cal lightly tapped him with the training blade. Switching the lightsaber off, Cal helped him to his feet. "Are you all right, N'tho?"

"Yeah," N'tho said with a frown. "You dazed me for a second there. Still, I am a skilled swordsman, and you still defeated me. Being able to use the Force adds another layer of swordsmanship that I never knew existed. I feel like a mere apprentice once more."

"In a way, you are," Cal said. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, though. I started out as a Padawan myself. However, I can say that you are doing quite well given the unusual circumstances that we're currently in. Most Padawans wouldn't have been able to do as well as you have done, and that's even when their training in lightsabers begins."

"Is that so?" N'tho asked.

"Very much so." Looking at the time, Cal said, "We'll rest for the time being. Later today, we'll continue with your training. Merrin, however, will also be present at that time. She knows a few tricks about the Force that very few Jedi ever had the privilege of learning."

"So it would seem." As the two walked out of the Simulation room, N'tho looked down at his own hands. I feel like a Childling exploring the world for the first time again, he thought. Were it not for Cal discovering my connection to the Force, I might never have realized the potential that I had. He smiled. He's also right in that using this newfound power is quite difficult. However, I will keep in mind the advice that he has shared with me. It might become highly useful later on…

Before long, N'tho was in the small mess hall that the Sangheili were assigned to. They weren't the only ones inside of the mess hall, though, as dozens of human beings were busy gathering their meals as well. One thing that always fascinates me is Human cuisine, N'tho thought as he looked at the meal in his hands.

A hand clasped around his shoulder, jarring him from his thoughts. "N'tho," Usze said. "How goes your training?"

"Quite fine," N'tho said. "Learning to use the Force is quite exhausting, but it is highly rewarding as well."

Usze smiled. "Good. I was beginning to wonder if you were starting to progress. What were you two doing in there?"

"Learning how to use telekinesis. In addition, we sparred for a minute or two. Having used the Force in that spar, I understand why Cal was able to defeat me during that initial spar. The ability to sense where your opponent is going to be, as well as what he intends to do, is a very useful tool for a swordsman."

"That it is," Usze said. "However, I must caution you not to become over reliant on this Force. Many a swordsman was felled in battle when he relied too much on one aspect of his training, rather than following his instincts as a warrior."

"I do not intend to become over reliant on the Force," N'tho reassured Usze. "I will say, however, that being able to use the Force is nothing short of a boon. However, I will keep you words in mind and remain vigilant."

Usze smiled again. "Very good, N'tho. Shall we now enjoy the food that we have been given?"

"That we shall."

As they ate in silence, N'tho felt a strange surge in the Force. The moment he did, it felt like someone had forced sewage down his throat. Using his newfound senses, he located the source of the disturbance and looked in that direction. A group of Humans, ODSTs from the looks of it, were sitting at a nearby table. All of them, however, were giving N'tho and the others wary glances.

He was about to speak up when Cal appeared seemingly out of thin air. Standing nearby was Chirrut, who was also watching the group intently. "You feel it, don't you," he said. "That feeling of malevolence and hate washing over you? The sensation of feeling sewage being forced down your throat?"

"I do," N'tho said. "Is that the 'Dark Side' that you speak of?"

"That it is, or at least a small part of it."

"I can feel it too," Chirrut said.

N'tho glanced at Chirrut. "It has been a long time since we have spoken to each other. What brings you here, and where were you?"

"I was on Pantora, meditating and exploring my newfound sight in the Force," Chirrut said. "When I sensed Cal's arrival, my interest was piqued, so I came to speak with him."

"And dare you a Force Sensitive as well?"

"Yes," Chirrut said, "though I was not one before Scarif. It seems as though the Force has a plan for both you and I."

"Indeed," N'tho said. Sensing another wave of hate from the ODSTs, he said, "It would be best if we avoided a conflict here."

"Too late," Cal said. "We've got company."

At the table, a pair of ODSTs gave N'tho a glance, then stood up and began walking his way. N'tho, to his credit, remained seated, and simply turned to enjoy his food. The two ODSTs continued to approach until they were just a few feet away from him. By now, everyone was watching what was going on, the entire mess hall falling silent. Lazily glancing at them, he said, "Yes? Do you wish to speak to me?"

One of them growled. "We don't like your kind around here, Split lip. Your kind killed a lot of our friends during the war nine years ago. You've got a lot of nerve being here on Humanity's flagship."

"Is that what you wish to speak to me about: an wound that has since scabbed over and has begun to heal?" N'tho shook his head. "I do not wish to have a quarrel with the two of you. Is it too much to simply allow this warrior to eat and drink in peace?"

"How about this?" the ODST in question growled. "How about you take your food and get the hell out of here, back to where you belong, split lip? You're not welcome in here, and I don't care what my CO says."

N'tho fought the urge to growl. Do not let him get under your skin, a voice whispered in his mind. It will only justify his prejudice. Following an instinct, he felt the Human's mind. There was anger in there, and legitimate anger too, but there was a lot of prejudice and hate as well. With that in mind, he began working out the best way to defuse the confrontation.

Cal, however, was one step ahead of him. "Are you two serious?" he asked. "Do you two really think that picking on this man is such a wise idea? If you two are really as smart as you likely are, you'd stop what you're doing and return to your table. He's done nothing wrong to either of you."

One of the ODSTs glared at him. "Stay out of this, smartass! This doesn't involve you!"

"Yet it does now," Chirrut said. "You are being disrespectful to the man that is helping N'tho learn how to control his capabilities in the Force. Do you really want to be enemies with a Sangheili that can throw you across the room with nothing but a mere thought, or would you rather cease this insipid quarrel and return to eating your food? It's your choice."

The first ODST nudged his partner. "You know, he's got a point. Screw this dumb, fucking quarrel! I'm going back to my food!"

His partner glared at him angrily. "Fine, be that way, jackass! Tell you what, I'll make the split lip leave, starting with you, asshole!" Advancing forwards, he hurled a fist at Chirrut.

The blow never reached its target.

The moment the ODST attempted to cold-cock Chirrut, the Force Sensitive flowed around the blow, with the ODST hitting nothing but thin air. Using his staff, he quickly tripped the man, sending the ODST crashing to the ground. Before the ODST could scramble back to his feet, Chirrut pushed down on his back with a knee, firmly pinning him to the ground. Sliding his staff beneath the man's chin, he pulled backwards, forcing the man to focus on not being choked into unconsciousness.

"Let me make this clear for you," Chirrut said, his voice low and dangerous. "Until you brought up this inane and petty quarrel of yours, there was no reason for me to do any of this. If there is anyone that is at fault in here, it is you for allowing your prejudice to cloud your better judgment. No one in this room is interested in helping you out on your delusional quest for revenge. Now, when I let you up, you will behave like a civilized man, or I will send you to the ground again. Am I understood?"

The ODST growled and attempted to break free, only for Chirrut to force his knee deeper into the man's back. "Chirrut, stand down!" a voice said. Removing his staff from around the man's neck, the Force Sensitive stood up, just as Master Sergeant Stacker walked into view. "What's going on in here?" he asked.

"Fucking bastard attacked me is what!" the ODST growled.

"Really?" Stacker asked. "From what I could gather, Chirrut here was giving you a lecture on your poor manners. Your attempt to start a petty quarrel is in violation of the code of conduct aboard this ship, and your behavior towards one of the men the Arbiter sent aboard this ship is completely unwarranted. By acting in this manner, you have disgraced yourself as a soldier. Until further notice, you are confined to quarters. Am I understood?" No answer. "Am I understood, Private?"

The ODST growled. "Understood…" Stacker gave him a harsh glare. "Sir…"

"Good," Stacker said. Another ODST got up from the table and took the Private by the arm before escorting him from the room. Looking at everyone else, he said, "Let that be a lesson to all of you. The Sangheili in this room are stationed on the Infinity by orders from HIGHCOM and the Arbiter himself. That means you can stow any racism and prejudice you have towards them as it does not belong on this ship. Save your anger for the Storm Covenant and Imperials, not the Arbiter's folks. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the others shouted.

"Bullshit! I cannot hear you! Sound off like you've got a pair!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

Stacker smiled. "Good. Now return to your previous business."

The room quickly became filled with sound again as the people inside resumed their lunch break. This time, however, N'tho could sense a good deal of respect being directed towards him and Chirrut."Interesting," he said. "It would appear that those people have had to put up with that ODST for quite some time."

"Indeed," another ODST said as he came over. "N'tho, was it? Corporal James Cline."

N'tho shook the offered hand. "Well met, Cline. Sit down. There's plenty of room for you at this table." Cline nodded, then sat down with his tray of food. "Has that Human always been troublesome?"

"Enrique Silva has always been something of a troublemaker," Cline admitted in between bites of his food. "During the war, he seemed to have good control of it, though; he mostly directed the trouble at the Covenant. Now that there's peace, though, his nerves seem to be fraying at this point."

"I read something about a Silva at one point," Usze said. "From what I remember, he was a Major in your corps. I think his name was Antonio Silva."

"Yep," Cline said. "Antonio was Enrique's dad. Scuttlebutt says that the two of them had something of a rocky relationship. Something about his mom and dad having a difference in opinion over the Insurrection a while back. The way I hear it is that the two divorced eventually, with Enrique ending up with Antonio. From what we can see, he ended up inheriting his dad's prejudices."

N'tho frowned. "I understand why he would feel that way, but now is not the time for prejudice. Had he been born on Sangheilios, we would've done what we could to help him destroy that prejudice. He would've been paired with his mother instead of his father."

"Why is that?" Cline asked.

"Same here," Cal said. "Chirrut?"

"I'm also interested in learning more about the Sangheili too," Chirrut said. "Go on."

"Thank you," Usze said. "Sangheili like us are not raised by both parents, as it usually is in your society. Rather, to prevent nepotism and to allow the child to grow by their own achievements, the mother is charged with rearing them properly, with an uncle filling the role of a paternal figure. Sometimes, if the father is particularly devious or adept at deception, he can fill that role while making the child believe he is an uncle, rather than their biological father."

Cline's eyebrows raised fractionally. "That's… pretty clever," he admitted. "I guess it also helps that you're people are a warrior society. Correct?"

"Yes," Usze said. "Responsibility and honor are a pair of our ideals. You are expected to own up to your mistakes and errors for the greater good of the Sangheili. Some, however, twist those ideals for their own petty ends, while others become blinded by them."

"Just like the Jedi in a way," Cal said. "It would seem that your people, Usze, and Jedi like me are more alike than I thought."

"That does seem to be the case," Chirrut admitted.

"Indeed," Usze agreed. "So, shall we now enjoy the bounty of food that we have?"

"Of course," Cal said. "The sooner we finish this food, the sooner I can continue teaching N'tho the ways of the Force to the best of my ability. Besides, a Jedi never teaches on an empty stomach."

. . .

Can't effectively coordinate a ship and a fleet on an empty stomach, Lasky thought as he enjoyed his own food. He smiled at the thought. Damn does this food taste good. I never thought that a stuffed veal cutlet with prosciutto, gruyère cheese and ricotta could taste so good. Wolfing down the last bit of food, he quickly placed his plate on a corner of his desk. All right, meal time's over. Time to head back to work.

There was a chime at the door. "Come in," he said. The door opened, permitting his flag chef inside. "Phillipe. This food was good. Did you make it?"

"Non," Phillpe said. "The person that cooked your food was one of the newcomers. I think it was Greez if I recall correctly."

Lasky looked at the plate with a newfound respect. Damn, he really is a good cook. "He's a good cook," he said. "Was that his first time?"

"Qui, monsieur. That was the very first time he made a stuffed veal cutlet with prosciutto, gruyère cheese and ricotta. All I needed to do was give him instructions on the recipe, and he decided to play it by ear."

Lasky let out a long, low whistle. "That man's got talent then. Inform him that the quality of his cooking was very impressive. In fact, you think you can show him more recipes?"

"I was just about to ask you that, in fact."

"Good," Lasky said. "Share some more with him. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to return to my duties." He was about to when the alarms began to ring. "Aw hell! What now?"

Roland appeared over the holo-table. "Sir, XO Conners is requesting your presence on the bridge ASAP."

"Tell him that I'm on my way," Lasky said. Getting up from his desk, he quickly began moving towards the bridge…

The doors to the bridge opened, permitting him into the room. Everywhere, Lasky could see officers and ensigns moving about their stations. Most of them were busy monitoring the situation, while his XO, Conners, kept a close eye on the holo-table. "Admiral on deck!" he shouted with a salute.

"At ease!" Lasky said. Running over, he asked, "Conners, what are we looking at?"

"Roland's picked up numerous hyperspace signatures coming in, sir," Conners said. "He's already calculated their flight routes. All of them are on an intercept course with the hyperspace exit point in this system."

"Is Fleet Admiral Harper and Fleetmistress 'Juran aware of this development?"

"We're aware," came Harper's voice as his, and 'Juran's hologram appeared over the holo-table. "We're moving our ships into battle formation. Vice Admiral Cole has informed the Pantorans and their defense forces are moving into position. If this turns out to be another pirate attack, we'll be ready for them."

"Understood," Lasky said. As the COM channel closed, he said, "Why would they attack so soon, especially when we're back at home base?"

"No idea," Conners said. "Though I do have my suspicions. Remember the Battle of Genarius?"

Lasky thought back to that battle, then he remembered something. "Wait a second… Remember when those pirates were getting ready for a strike on one of the battlegroups?"

"Yes," Conners said. "RDML James was in command when we detected that Judiciary group firing on the pirates. Good thing they got busy taking them out, otherwise we'd have been dealing with a Kandosii-class Dreadnought armed with nuclear weapons. What? You think we might be dealing with the same group?"

"I don't know," Lasky said. "We could be about to face retaliation. Make sure all of our ships are ready. Roland, what's the status on the MACs?"

"Fully charged and ready to fire at your command," Roland said.

"Good." Now, it's a waiting game. Keeping an eye on the holo-table, he waited for the newcomers to make their first move.

It wasn't long before that came about. Within seconds, Lasky watched as seventy one ships of varying classes appeared out of hyperspace. "Roland, what are we looking at here?"

"Scan complete," Roland said. "We're looking at one Defiance-class battlecruiser, two Gerardia-class Star Destroyers, two Keldabe-class battleships, seven Venator-class Star Destroyers, six Antoline-class assault frigates, thirteen Acclamator-class assault ships, eight Arquientis-class light cruisers, eight Pelta-class frigates, two Victory-class Star Destroyers, and four Crusader-class corvettes, along with a pair of Consular-class frigates and Consular-class cruisers. Looks like the Defiance-class battlecruiser is around 3.5 kilometers. There's another fleet of seven ships surrounding a smaller Consular-class cruiser, likely an ambassadorial ship."

Lasky nodded. "Anything else you can tell me?"

"Yeah," Roland said. "A lot of their ships have been heavily modified. Some of the Pelta and Acclamator ships have been converted into fleet tenders and mine layer ships, along with troop transports.

I've seen this fleet before, Lasky thought. "Why are there here?" he asked aloud.

"Perhaps we can ask their commander," Conners suggested.

"We've got an incoming HoloCOM transmission," Jespersen said. "Should I send it through?"

"Patch it through," Lasky ordered.

Within moments, the holographic image of a man with black and gray hair and brown eyes appeared over the holotable. The uniform he wore was well kept, and the man stood up straight, indicating he was alert. "This is Rear Admiral Garris Garon of the 25th Judiciary Forces Fleet to the UNSC Infinity. I would like to speak to Rear Admiral Lasky."

I remember him from that one final battle with the pirate fleet at Genarius, Lasky thought. Keying his end of the COM, he said, "This is RADM Lasky to RDML Garris Garon. State your intentions."

"Very well," Garris said. "I and Ambassador Goodman are here, RADM Lasky, to negotiate a possible defection of the Judiciary Forces to the United Earth Government."

Lasky frowned. I remember him all right. "I remember you. You assisted us during the Battle of Genarius, when we had to deal with the Pike Syndicate trying to launch a counterattack on our ships when they were vulnerable."

"That's correct," Garris said. "I also informed you that, should all go well, our ambassador would negotiate our defection to the UNSC and UEG. We have a lot of experience in dealing with criminals and slavers, experience that you people could make good use of. In addition, our ambassador would like to speak with you on other, more pressing, matters."

"I see. Standby." Muting his end of the HoloCOM call, he said, "Harper, 'Juran, what do you two make of this?"

"It sounds legitimate to me," Harper said. "According to ONI, there are a lot of dissatisfied people within the Galactic Empire that would love to come on over to the UEG. That being said, we're going to have to do what we did with Vice Admiral Teron. We'll bring him in and interrogate him, after which we'll decide if he can work with us."

"What about you, 'Juran?"

"That would be wise," 'Juran said. "In addition, if they do intend to serve us, we will need to ensure their loyalty. A traitor once is a traitor twice."

Ain't that the truth, Lasky thought. "Cortana, what do you make of this?"

"If you want, I can hack into their ship systems and determine if they really are telling the truth or not," Cortana suggested. "Besides, if they try to hide anything from me, I'll be able to easily figure out what it is and counter them appropriately."

"All right," Lasky said. "I take it that means we'll accept his offer to defect, yes?"

"Partially," Harper said. "In other words, accept but verify."

Lasky nodded. "All right. I get it now. Permission to go ahead and do so."

"Granted."

Closing that COM channel, Lasky cleared his throat, then unmuted the HoloCOM channel. "Rear Admiral Garris Garon, this is RADM Lasky speaking. Your fleet is to maintain position. A flight of Spartans will be sent over to secure you and your crew. Once you are onboard, you will be asked to speak with us. Understood?"

"Understood," Garris said. "As I stated earlier, I intend to join your organization. I do not intend to cause any trouble. Anyone in my fleet that tries any fast ones will be punished most severely."

"Then, for your sake, let's hope everyone plays nicely. RADM Lasky over and out." Closing the COM, he said, "Send Blue Team over to secure the good Rear Admiral and his troops."

"Understood," Cortana said.

. . .

Onboard the Defiance-class battlecruiser, Garris Garon looked outside of the bridge viewports at Pantora. A classic example of a planet that is more than it seems, he thought. On the surface, it appears to be a drab and uninteresting world, but a closer look yields something greatly rewarding.

He took a breath, then let it out. From his position, he could see the twinkling sparkles of light that marked a series of Pelicans that were bringing the Spartans that would board his ship. More sparkles of light showed the Broadswords and Longswords that were escorting the Pelicans coming to his ship.

A sigh to his left drew his attention to his XO Ketris Calderos, a short but stoutly built man with brown hair and green eyes. "Are you sure this is such a good idea?" he asked Garris. "I know that Michael Garon will let this slide, but the other Garons? I'm not too sure on how they'll take this defection, even though we've discussed it for quite some time and even with the Ambassador agreeing to negotiate for us."

"I know how you feel, friend," Garris said. "However, as the very same man told me, 'you have to trust your gut instincts.' My gut instincts tell me that siding with the UNSC will be one of the best decisions we can make. Besides, you know as well as I do that we've been trying to get as far away from the Empire as we possibly can. Joining the UNSC is as far as we can get from them, and we'll be of far more use to them than we ever will be to the Empire."

Ketris shrugged. "I know. I guess I'm just old enough to where I worry far too much. You've never led us wrong before, Garris, and I know for certain that you won't lead us astray now."

Garris smiled. "There you go. Have a little faith. It goes a long way." Hearing footsteps, he turned to see a tall, lanky man with brown hair and blue eyes approaching. "Yes, Lieutenant Garon?"

"Permission to come aboard the UNSC's flagship with you?"

"Denied," Garris said. "I will be speaking to Lasky and his men alone."

Lieutenant Garon frowned. "You do realize they'll be interrogating you. What if they refuse your offer, and instead jail you? You're taking a tremendous risk here, sir."

Garrin sighed. My son is right to be worried, but he is not at the same time. Resting a hand on Anthony's shoulder, he said, "I know how you feel, son. I really do. That, though, is why I must go through with this. I've come too far to back down now. Besides, I have a feeling that they'll be hospitable to me. So... could you have a little faith in me, Anthony?"

Anthony frowned, then nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good. A little faith goes a long way, son. Remember that."

One of the officers on the bridge turned to them. "Sirs, the Spartans are coming onboard the ship now. If you have any unfinished business, I'd suggest finishing that business now before anything else happens."

"We're ready," Garris said. Taking a deep breath, he let it out. "Once more unto the breech." Advancing into the holo-table room, he began waiting for the Spartans to arrive.

He didn't have to wait long.

The door leading into the room opened, permitting four heavily armored soldiers into the room. One of them, dressed in olive drab armor, approached Garris. "Are you RDML Garris?" he asked.

Garris nodded. "That's me. You don't have to worry about my men. I have ordered them to stand down, while their officers are ready to be taken in."

"Good," Chief said. "Blue Team, secure the VIPs. RADM Lasky will speak to them at 1430 hours local time." Garris had a resigned and calm expression on his face, even as his hands were cuffed.

. . .

While the drama that Lasky, Harper and 'Juran had ended up in concluded itself quite nicely, Admiral Sark was busy examining the UNSC's latest catch. The thrusters on the Pelican gently maneuvered the ship through the vacuum of space, allowing her and the rest of her team to examine the ship's thin and sharp lines. I must admit, she thought to herself. The Mandalorians certainly know a thing or two when it comes to ship engineering.

Nearby, Fornell was also admiring the ship's structure. "Now this is impressive," he said. "I've got so many new ships to examine that I don't know where to start. The Mandalorian ships, though, are the most impressive of the bunch by far. They seem to actually have sat down and figured out what they needed for their ships."

"That's true," Okuni said. "However, I've noticed something off with the back end of the ship. I don't know why, but something about it strikes me as being a tad… off."

"We'll find out once we're aboard the ship," Sark decided. "I must admit, though. These Kandosii-type Dreadnoughts almost seem… UNSC-like in design philosophy. It would explain why the Judiciary Forces wanted it so badly. Pilot, can you take us in?"

"You got it, ma'am," the pilot said. With a gentle application of yaw and pitch, the pilot gently guided the Pelican towards one of the hangars onboard the ship. There was a brief shimmer as they passed through the magcon field that kept the ship's atmosphere inside of the ship, before they gently settled down onto the deck of the hangar. "And we're down. Thank you for flying UNSC Airways. We appreciate having you onboard, and we hope you are satisfied with our service."

The tongue-in-cheek humor had Sark chuckling, while Fornell merely smiled. "You know your way around a joke or two, do you Zach?"

The now named Zach shrugged. "I have my moments. Loading ramp deployed. I think Jordan will want to speak to you."

"Jordan's onboard this ship too?" Grayson asked.

"As Lasky's favorite engineer, Jordan gets to have a first look at any new ships we bring in," Sark said. "To be fair, it can be a bit tiring running into him all the time, but given that he's pretty good at what he does, that's something I can live with. Besides, I can't think of a better way to test his engineering skills." With a shrug, she stepped out of the Pelican, with her team quickly following behind her.

It wasn't long before the aforementioned engineer caught up to them. Stepping into the hangar bay, Jordan caught her gaze. "Admiral Sark," he said. "We seem to be running into each other quite often."

"That we do," Sark said. "So, could you brief me on what you've learned so far in the preliminary check-over?"

"Yes, ma'am. If you could follow me to the bridge please?" As Sark and the others traveled down the hallways of the ship, Jordan continued to speak. "Once we came aboard, we decided to do a preliminary check of the ship to see if she was in good condition. I don't like criminal syndicates like the Pike Syndicate, but there is one thing I will give that syndicate: they take good care of their ships."

"They do?" Sark asked.

"That's right. Our teams went through the ship and checked for any obvious maintenance concerns. So far, we've found nothing of the sort, and any concerns we did find were quite minor and nothing that needed immediate addressing, which would explain why the Judiciary Forces were after it. There was something, however, that we did find in the design that was quite alarming."

Sark stopped for a moment. That's not good. If there's a structural or operational safety hazard, I have to know about it. "What did you learn?"

"As it turns out, the hyperspace navigation systems onboard this ship are placed in a vulnerable spot. According to the records onboard this ship that we recovered from the Pike Syndicate, the Kandosii-type Dreadnoughts had their hyperspace navigation systems placed in a manner where a well placed explosive charge on the rear of the ship could cripple them, preventing the ship from performing FTL flight jumps. With this ship, they performed a refit that toughened up the hull in the trouble area, but it is something we're definitely going to make note of."

"I see," Sark said. That is a concerning engineering flaw, especially if ships of this design are going to be shared with the New Republic. "We'll have to conduct a design revision of the ship to ensure that nothing of the sort happens during combat."

"What about the armaments of the ship?" Okuni asked.

"It's pretty well armed," Jordan said. "This ship, which was called the Colossus, is armed with five Heavy Turbolaser Batteries, four Point Defense Medium Ion Cannons, two Point Defense Triple Laser Batteries and two Super-Heavy Concussion Missile Batteries with around 120 missiles for both."

Okuni whistled. "That's some pretty impressive firepower there."

"That it is. There's also something else that we discovered with this ship. It can carry an impressive amount of personnel."

"How many?" Sark asked.

"Around forty thousand people, with 10,000 being the crew and 30,000 being the passenger compliment, with enough consumables to last for five years."

Sark looked at Jordan with confusion. "Why would they need to stuff that many people onboard?"

"For two reasons, specifically. The first is that boarding actions are likely very common in this galaxy, so it makes sense to have a large crew compliment capable of holding. The second is that this ship is equipped with a unique type of dropship." As they entered the bridge, Jordan handed Sark a datapad.

When she looked at the image, the first impression she had was that what she was looking at was an insect of some kind. Then she noticed the angular sections of the ship, as well as the six mechanical legs. "What is this thing?" she asked.

"That," Jordan said, "according to ONI, is a troop dropship of some kind. I'm probably going to butcher the pronunciation when I say it, but it's called the Shaadlar-type troopship. Around 130 meters in length, it's designed to carry upwards of 800 ground troops into battle. The ship also carries enough consumables to last one year."

Sark arched an eyebrow. "That's quite impressive given the size of the ship."

"Not exactly," Grayson said. "According to historical records, ships from Earth have been known to carry a similar amount of people. The Gerald R. Ford-class Aircraft Carriers, for instance, could carry upwards of four thousand people in a ship roughly 340 meters long."

"I see. How many fighters does this thing carry?"

"Around 128 Davaab-type starfighters," Jordan said. "The Colossus had that exact number of them onboard, likely when the pirates were preparing for their assault on our forces at Genarius. We're currently running performance metrics of them, though I doubt that they'll match the Broadsword in a number of critical combat areas."

"Fair enough," Sark said. Looking up from the data pad, she asked, "Is this the bridge?"

"Yes," Jordan said. "Take your time in examining it."

That much Sark chose to do. The bridge, from what she could tell, was arranged like a cylinder with a trapezoid at the rear, with the officers and holo-table located in the front, while other officers worked at a series of panels near the entrance to the bridge. The center-aft portion of the deck was also depressed, with more seats for officers and ensigns located on the lower deck.

"So, what are your thoughts on the bridge arrangement?"

"Very interesting," Sark said. "From what I can tell, the bridge is arranged in a manner to where the Captain is located directly in the center of the bridge, while his subordinates are located all around and beneath him. All he has to do to address his subordinates is to rotate to the left and right. Quite efficient."

"Indeed," Jordan said. "So, with all that being said and done, we need to determine what we're going to do with this ship. I'm good at my job, but even I need instructions on where to go from here. So, with that in mind, what are your orders?"

Sark thought the question over carefully. We'll definitely have to study the ship in order to improve our own designs, she thought. That being said, there's one area we need to start with first. "Can you crews remove the weapon systems from the ship?"

"That we can do," Jordan said. "We've had enough practice with the Keldabe-type Battlecruisers to be able to remove the weapons off. Why?"

"Because that's what we're going to start off with. I want your teams to have all of the weapon systems removed from this ship to be shipped back to Earth and Mars for further study. With any luck, we'll be able to reverse-engineer those weapons and make improved versions that we'll be able to mount onto the hulls of our ships. After that, we'll begin studying the systems onboard this ship, as well as the general layout and hull plating."

"You got it," Jordan said. "I'll also send you the plans for the class of ship. We found them in the ship's computer databanks. Anything else?"

"Yes," Sark said. "Given that I'm in this galaxy now, you can return to your duties as Chief Engineer of the Infinity. I appreciate your efforts to assist in this regard, but while you're checking these ships out, I won't be able to fulfill my duty in studying these ships so that the UNSC can benefit from them. Understood?"

Jordan nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'll inform Lasky that I'm heading back to the Infinity ASAP. It'll be good to be back aboard her. Studying other alien ships is nice and all, but as the old adage goes, 'there ain't no place like home.'"

"I fully agree," Sark said. "Dismissed."

. . .

Onboard the Infinity, Borodin was back inside the shooting range, testing out the prototype he had created for the Ordinance Commission to evaluate for the umpteenth time. His auto-polarizing safety glasses darkened once more as he pulled the trigger, sending blue-white blaster bolts down range once more. When the weapon clicked to indicate empty, he unloaded it and took off his glasses.

He was about to leave when one of his colleagues, Alex, came through the door. "Hey, Borodin!" he said. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Borodin said. "I was just testing out the prototype blaster design that we developed for the Ordinance Commission to test for the umpteenth time. Why do you ask?"

"We've got three more blasters to look over," Alex said. "Geras has been quite eager to begin. Want to take a look?"

Borodin shrugged. "Why not? It's not like I have anything better to do nowadays." Following Alex out into the engineering room, he quickly spotted the blasters in question. Like Alex had said, there were three blasters, each one varying greatly in length. The first one was quite large, with the weapon being somewhat longer than the M739 SAW. It looks like an LMG that's been cut down slightly, he thought.

The second blaster was significantly shorter, with a folding stock and a much shorter barrel. Interesting. It has a passing resemblance to the E-11 BlasTech Carbine. In fact, something tells me that this blaster is related to that one.

Then there was the last one, and it was a really odd one. While he could see a typical blaster rifle, Borodin noticed some modules that were lying next to it. "Those are some interesting blasters," Borodin noted. "What are they?"

"According to intelligence that ONI has provided us, these are the DC-15A, DC-15S and DC-17m Blasters," Alex said. "These were the weapons used by the GAR during the Clone Wars."

"Nice," Borodin said. "We could learn some useful stuff just from studying this tech. Did ONI or Cortana find anything useful on them?"

"That they did," 'Xhotum said, his eyes carefully examining the device. "These blasters were designed to make them highly effective against droids. From what your ONI has shared with us, the blasters were designed to carry a high level of ionizing energy on them, which proved to be devastating against droids, though they are also highly effective against organic targets as well."

"And that's not all," Alex added. "It's got a smart-link interface that enabled it to interface with the helmets that Clone Troopers wore, so they could hip fire the thing without having to aim. It does have some rudimentary iron sights, though they're not particularly good. The effective range, though, is quite long, especially for the DC-15A. It's got a scope that also doubles as a handhold on the weapon. Maximum range is 10 kilometers with a bipod installed, though given how close combat usually happens, I don't expect the effective range to exceed four hundred meters."

"That's good to know," Borodin said. "The high ionization levels mean that the blasters could also be quite effective against energy shields as well. One shot from such a blaster could cause severe damage to the energy shields on Spartans. We won't have to worry about that, though, as our blasters already cause that level of ionization. However, I would like to have these blasters studied so that we can determine any improvements that could be made to our own."

"That's not all," Geras said. "The last blaster is known as the DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System. Apparently, it was built to very high standards, and it was capable of being converted into a sniper rifle, repeating blaster or even a grenade launcher."

"That's a Swiss Army Knife sort of gun if I've ever heard of one," Borodin said. "I want you two to study it and the other blasters we've got."

"You got it," Alex said. "Geras and I will begin studying them shortly. I -" A sudden chiming sound interrupted him mid-sentence. "Borodin, is that for you?"

"Yes, that's for me. I'll be with you two shortly. You can get started without me." While the two engineers quickly went to work studying the DC-15A and DC-15S, Borodin advanced into his office. Opening his computer, he quickly noticed something off. A letter in my messaging inbox? he thought. How very curious. Selecting the inbox, he opened it.

Moments later, the document in question came up:

"To: Kalashnikov, Borodin.

"From: UNSC Ordnance Commission

"RE: Weapon Schematics & Testing

"Summary: Having conducted a series of tests, we have determined that the new weapon designs that you have submitted have passed all current UNSC military hardware trials as of July 11th, 2559. Testing with the new designs have revealed no major design flaws that are notable as of this time (see attached appendices below for further details).

"As such, in light of this development, the manufacture of these new weapons was approved of following the expansion of the munitions factories owned by Misriah Armory, Hannibal Weapon Systems, etc., at Mars and other star systems affiliated and aligned with the United Earth Government and United Nations Space Command. As part of the final phase of testing and evaluation before full production is permitted, limited production of the finalized designs was authorized on July 18th, 2559, followed by the shipping of a batch sufficient to arm a platoon of ODSTs and Spartans. Current feedback suggests that the weapon designs sent for testing have performed well beyond current expectations. Should these expectations continue to be exceeded within the next two weeks, full production of the new designs will be fully approved, and all UNSC forces in the Andromeda Galaxy will receive the first shipment of new weapons due to current circumstances.

"On a more personal note, we would like to congratulate you for your efforts to further improve the effectiveness of our soldiers in the field of battle, thereby ensuring a more speedy conclusion to any armed conflicts the UNSC may wage, as well as the survival of our valorous men and women currently serving on the battlefield to protect UNSC and UEG interests. Your efforts to better safeguard Humanity have led to a brighter future for our civilization. We will continue to watch your efforts with great interest, and we are more than happy to accept new designs from you in the future.

"Sincerely, VADM Princeton Edinburgh, UNSC Ordinance Commission Board of Directors."

By the time he was done reading the letter sent to him, Borodin's heart felt like it was going to explode with excitement. I gotta tell the others this! he decided. Calming himself, he stepped out of his office to the others. "Gentlemen," he said. "I have some news to share with you."

Alex and Geras looked at him. "Is it good news or bad news?"

"I'll let you determine that," Borodin said. "I received a letter from the UNSC Ordinance Commission concerning the weapon designs that we sent to them several months ago."

"And?"

Borodin smiled. "Our designs have been met with near-universal approval from the Ordinance Commission. In fact, they manufactured version of our weapons designed specifically for testing and evaluation. So far, our designs have been met with universal acclaim and, if all goes well, full production will commence in two weeks time."

That was cause for some unprofessional, if elated cheering. "All right!" Alex shouted. "That is music to my ears!"

"Excellent!" Geras roared. "Our warriors in the field will now have another means by which to smite any enemy that dares stand against us! This is a glorious day for all of us!"

"That it is," Borodin agreed. "However, that doesn't mean that we get to rest on our laurels. We're in a new galaxy that's changing all the time, which means that, in order to remain effective, we'll have to continue to research new and more exciting ways to allow UNSC soldiers to defeat the enemy. Alex, Geras, I want you two to continue cleaning up and disassembling those Clone Trooper blasters. As for the rest of everyone in this room, continue pursuing any projects you think will benefit the UNSC at large."

"Yes, sir!" the others shouted…

While Borodin and his compatriots were celebrating their success, Dr. Halsey and Olivia were busy examining another piece of equipment. "I must admit," Halsey said. "Your creators, the Kaminoans, certainly knew a thing or two about armor design. It's much better than what the Stormtroopers use, and that's a first."

"That they did," Olivia said. "The Phase-I Clone Trooper Armor was some of the best armor plating manufactured during the Clone Wars. It's not exactly impervious to blaster bolts and lightsabers, but in terms of impacts, heat and acrid vapors, it's practically impervious. However, the current armor the Marines and ODSTs wear blows it out of the water."

"Indeed," Halsey said. "You can thank the efforts of the UNSC Ordinance Commission and the research laboratories of ONI and the UNSC for that. If memory serves, we've recently discovered the means by which to manufacture nanolaminate armor, though it's currently a very tedious and time consuming manufacturing process. If things keep going as they are, however, I believe that the Swords of Sangheilios might help us streamline the process."

"I heard about nanolaminate armor a few times. Some kind of highly advanced armor system?"

"In a way, yes," Halsey said. "From what I recall, nanolaminate armor is manufactured by immersing a base material, typically Osmium or a similarly dense element, into a vat of various chemicals. An electrical current is then run through it, with a computer varying the strength and frequency of the current at speeds impossible for a human being to calculate. This rapid variance in current frequency and strength allows for different elements to be bonded to the base material and subsequent layers via electrolytic reduction, with the orientation also changing to prevent separation along the grain."

"So, what does that mean, essentially?"

"To put it simply," Halsey said, "nanolaminate armor is manufactured via electrolytic reduction to produce a fully dense material that is incredibly hardy and resistant. UNSC ships were known to fire MAC cannons at Covenant ships, only for the slugs to ricochet off. Albeit, that's likely due to how thick the armor is, but in general, it's extremely resilient. Before we switched from the M118 round to the new M1200 round, most bullets were having difficulty penetrating body armor."

Olivia whistled. "Wow. That's really tough armor. Kinda reminds me of Katarn-III Armor."

"Katarn-III Armor?"

"It's a form of Clone Trooper armor that was made," Olivia explained. "It was typically given to the elite of the elite in the Clone Army: the Clone Commandos. That armor could withstand direct hits from blaster cannons, Verpine shatter guns and light explosives. Rumor has it that one Clone threw himself onto an explosive while wearing that armor to shield nearby civilians from the detonation."

"What happened to him?" Halsey asked. It must've been a grizzly scene, she thought internally.

"Aside from being badly shaken, he was perfectly fine," Olivia said.

"That's impressive," Halsey said. "The only armor I know of that can survive such a blast is the MJÖLNIR Powered Armor System that I designed. What about weapons?"

"They were also armed with pretty good weapons, but their real favorite was the DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System. It was designed to where, by swapping out certain modules, you could make the weapon a repeating blaster, sniper rifle or even a grenade launcher."

"Sounds like a Swiss Army Knife sort of gun," Halsey said.

"That it is," Olivia said. "Do you think we snagged any from Genarius?"

"Possibly," Halsey said. "Lasky and Cortana know that better than I do."

"Actually, we have," Cortana said, her hologram popping into view. "During the contraband seizures that were conducted at Genarius, a number of Marines and ODSTs acquired what ONI has positively identified as Katarn-III Clone Commando Armor, as well as the DC-17m. If you want, I can have them send you and REAP-X some suits to study."

"That would be nice," Halsey said. "If we can study the Katarn-III and Phase-II Clone Armors, we might find a way to improve upon the armor that our Marines and Army personnel use."

"Already done," Cortana said. "It's nice to study some of this gear."

"That it is," Halsey agreed. "That it is…"

. . .

While Halsey and Olivia were discussing various kinds of gear the Clones used, Garris Geron was currently sitting in an interrogation room onboard the Infinity. Sitting before him was Osman, while Lasky stood at the rear of the room, close to the entrance. "So," Osman said, "The reason why you wish to negotiate the Judiciary Forces defection to the UNSC was because you disagreed with the Garon Clan's politics. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Garris said. "I, along with many like-minded individuals in the Republic's Judiciary Forces were, and still are, quite displeased with the fact that the Garon Clan has grown close to the Empire. officially speaking that is. Unofficially, I support the Clan's actions, even if they are a bit strange at times. The Imperials have benefited greatly from the Garons actions in the Outer Rim Territories, especially when it comes to eliminating pirates. As long as we remained out there, we were perfectly content to do our jobs, which was to crack down on any pirates and criminals out there."

"What changed?"

"The mission changed," Garris said. "The Empire was no longer content with having us deal with criminals in the wider galaxy. Many of our operations became punitive measures towards dissatisfied locals, which left us stretched increasingly thin, allowing pirates and slavers to thrive. The final nail in the coffin was when your forces attacked Genarius, ridding the Cularin system of the criminals and slavers that have infested that place for so long."

"So you chose to defect for political reasons as well?"

"Yes," Garrin said. "When the Republic still existed, we fulfilled our duties to the fullest that we could. Yes, the Republic was becoming corrupt and bloated, but that wasn't who we served. To us, the Republic wasn't a government, it wasn't a bureaucracy. The Galactic Republic was an ideal, and while the government may have forgotten those ideals, we didn't, so we swore to uphold those ideals to the best of our ability.

"When the Empire overthrew the Republic, that was when things changed. No longer were people interested in protecting the innocent, the poor and the forgotten. They were more interested in acquiring ever greater amounts of power, while also becoming sycophants to the Emperor and his cronies. We wanted no part of that, yet as time went on, we were asked to do more and more extreme measures to keep the peace. If we even so much as disobeyed, we were to be punished severely."

"Is that why you went to work for Michael Garon?"

"Not initially," Garrin said. "Michael Garon was still quite young, so it was his father, Garrin Garon, my brother, that I initially went to work for. Well, not me specifically, but the Republic's Judiciary Forces. With the Imperial Military displacing them in that regard, we would've been disbanded and swept away. It was my brother Garriin that sought to keep them together through his own means of financing, as well as his loyalty to the Emperor.

"What changed?"

"Tarkin came along. He and my brother have a rivalry, as does my second nephew, Michael Garon. After my brother's disappearance, another one of our relatives, Tarnis Garon, took over for him. However, under Tarkin's command, we were forced to obey the Galactic Empire or face dissolution and/or destruction. I personally approved of Tarnis and Micahel's decision to play along, as it would've kept a remnant of the Republic alive. Now, however, the Republic as we knew it is long dead and gone, replaced by a twisted version of what it could have been."

Osman and Lasky shared a look with each other. It was clear that Garrin deeply hated the Empire, and had a love for the Republic that few people had. "Is that part of the reason why you chose to defect to the UNSC?"

"Yes," Garrin said. "While I understand my second nephew's desire to remain in the Empire, I myself have no desire to do so. We had already been planning the defection from Garon's clan to the UNSC after we heard rumors of Teron succeeding in his defection from the Empire. When Genarius fell to your forces, we believed it was time for us to defect as well. Now, here we are, at a crossroads as to what will happen."

Osman and Lasky looked at each other again. "I see. Would you be willing to excuse the two of us for a moment?"

"How can I not allow you to do so? I'm handcuffed to the table. It's not like I could force you to remain in here."

Fair point, Lasky thought. Stepping outside, he turned to Osman. "As far as I can tell, this seems to be pretty clear cut to me. He's obviously dissatisfied with how the political situation is going, and he doesn't want to have anything to do with the Empire anymore."

"My thought's exactly," Osman agreed. "Do you want me to monitor his communications to ensure his loyalty for the time being."

"Yes, but not for too long," Lasky said. "That sort of thing will cause resentment to build up really quickly."

"Very well."

The two turned and reentered the room once more. Taking a seat this time, Lasky said. "We've considered your request for asylum within the UNSC, and your request to join the Navy. While the offer appears interesting, I cannot accept at this current time. However, I have informed the Secretary of Intergalactic Affairs, Veronica Janice, along with Vice Admiral Cole, one of my superiors, of your request. If you attend the meeting that will be happening shortly, she will be willing to hear you out. Understood?"

Garris pursed his lips for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. You want to make certain that the good ambassador and I are in agreement. Very well."

"Good. Guards, escort Garris to the meeting room. Osman?"

"I will attend the meeting shortly," Osman said. "Before it starts, I want to make one miserable excuse of a human being we have in our brig suffer for his sadism. However, I will be finished before the meeting starts."

Lasky frowned, then he remembered. "Ah, I see. In that case, have fun with that... fiend. I will be tending to other matters in the part of the fleet that's been delegated to me. If anything arises during the meeting, call me, and I will come."

Osman smiled evilly. "That I intend to do." As Garris was escorted out, Osman keyed her earpiece. "Dr. Halsey, would you be willing to come down to my location on the ship?"

"I'm on my way," Halsey said.

Osman's evil grin grew wider. "Good. Osman out." Closing the COM, he said, "Roland, have the guards escort Geotor to the interrogation cell I am currently in."

"That piece of trash?" Roland asked. "Gladly. You gonna do what I think you're gonna do?"

"Yes," Osman said. "It will be most... entertaining." She sat down in her seat, hands clasped before her face.

It wasn't long before the door opened. Two ODSTs hauled Geotor into the interrogation room. The man's face was stuffy, both from inflammation, and the surgery that had been done to restore the structure of his face. Behind him, Halsey walked inside, he expression stony and cold. Good, Osman thought. That means we're going to have a lot of fun.

Once the man was seated, she began. "Well, well, well... What have we here, gentlemen? Looks like we've got ourselves a crime lord that thinks himself above the law."

"Indeed," Halsey said. "A truly magnificent example of everything that people like me despise: a vile, disgusting, monstrous individual that has no conscience."

Geotor growled, barring his teeth. Before Genarius, such an expression would've had many a criminal thug wetting himself. Now, however, it only made him look more like the twisted, disgusting animal that he really was. "You sluts can stop with the insults! You have not seen the last of what my syndicate can do to you!"

"Oh really?" Halsey said. "Well, we've seen what it was capable of, and to be frank, your forces were little more than a nuisance." Feigning ignorance, she asked, "What were the casualty rates for his forces, Osman?"

"95 percent," Osman said. "Needless to say, in the UNSC, that's what's called a FUBAR situation."

Geotor snarled and tried to stand up, only for the ODSTs to firmly hold him down. "I'll kill you for that, you slut! In fact, once I escape, I'll sell the both of you to the Hutts! Perhaps they can teach you a lesson in manners!"

Halsey laughed, a cold, humorless sound that chilled Geotor, though he didn't dare admit it. "How very rich, coming from the man that raped one of my best friends, then treated her like she was nothing but a piece of trash. If anything, you're only digging your grave ever deeper, shithead."

Geotor snarled again, though he now looked more confused than angry. "What do you mean? Answer me plainly!"

"I'll tell it to you straight," Osman said. "Nobody knows your here, Geotor. You don't exist, and given what you've done, there's nothing I can't do to you. However, the UEG President herself has plans for you. You see, you have an incredibly long laundry list of crimes. Roland, can you furnish me on his crimes?"

"You got it," Roland said. "Geotor has numerous counts of drug trafficking, slave trafficking, rape, murder, tax fraud, illegal arms dealing and many other crimes."

"Indeed. As you can see, Geotor, you have a long laundry list of crimes."

Geotor waved a hand dismissively. "Bah! As if you can claim any better, slut. You don't even have the nerve to kill me yourself!"

Osman's face hardened. "That is where you are wrong, Geotor," he said. "Let me make this loud and clear to you, you disgusting animal. You are talking to a woman that has orchestrated the deaths of many people throughout the galaxy we have come from. I have done many terrible things, and have experienced many terrible things myself. I am more than capable of killing you, Geotor. I could simply walk over to you and snap your neck like a twig. I could have you tortured to the point where your mind would snap like a twig; in fact, I may just do that.

"I am more than capable of doing all of these things to you. The difference between you and me is that, unlike you, I have a conscience. I may not listen to it often, but I have one. You, however? You're nothing but a spoiled brat and animal that thinks he can get whatever he wants, however he wants, whenever he wants. Compared to the things that we have faced, Geotor, you are nothing but a mere insect, an insect that thinks he is far more important than he really is in the grand scheme of things. All of the things we did at Genarius, that was a mere warm-up compared to what we are fully capable of doing. We have defied gods and demons, and you... you are none of those things. Just an unimportant bug that is easily crushed under foot."

"And that's not all," Halsey added. "I have done terrible things myself. I abducted seventy five children to create the most effective supersoldiers in the entire galaxy. I have used my knowledge to create suits of armor far greater than anything you have ever seen or used. I too have defied gods and demons, and I can say for certain, that you are just an insignificant pest."

Throughout the entire speech, Geotor's bravado began to crack. Looking into Osman and Halsey's eyes, the world seemed to become smaller and smaller, until it seemed to only be Osman, Halsey and the table he was at. Her eyes didn't hold the firey inferno of rage; instead, they held something far worse: a logical, yet ice-cold hate that now sought to consume him. Halsey's eyes were filled with much the same.

By the time the speech ended, Geotor was now beginning to shake with fear. Good, Osman thought. Now he feels true fear. I know just the kind of torture that will work on him. "So you see, we are more than capable of filling you with terror. However, the UEG President has given me carte blanche to do what I please, so long as it is within reason."

"What are you going to do to me?" Geotor whispered.

"Simple, really," Osman said. "Halsey, did you happen to bring Olivia with you by any chance?"

"Yes," Halsey said. "She's just outside the door."

"Good. I have a meeting to get to, but while I'm gone, you and Olivia have carte blanche to do whatever you please to Geotor, given that he caused you the most harm." However, I would prefer that you didn't break his mind, she thought to herself.

Halsey must've guessed that thought, as she coldly smiled. "Oh I intend to make him quake with fear when I am done." Leaning in close, she whispered, "I'll see to it that his mind remains intact."

"Good. Now, if you excuse me, I have a meeting to attend."

"Yes," Halsey said as Osman walked out while Olivia walked inside." Now, Geotor. I believe it is time that you and I became very weill accquainted."

It didn't take long before Geotor began to scream.

. . .

The stealth Pelican shuddered as it flew through the atmosphere of the planet. In the cockpit, Calvin looked at the surface of the planet. Nothing but green, green and… more green from here, he thought. It's as though the entire planet is one massive tropical jungle or swamp. Still, these are the coordinates that Kilo-Five recovered from Zeffo, so here we are.

Alexandria, the team's AI, appeared over the holo-table. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Calvin said. "Just wondering why the coordinates had to lead to, of all places, a planet that's one giant jungle."

"Actually, it's worse than that. Scans conducted with the Prowler's sensors indicate that, in addition to being jungle, there are large swaths of swamp land on the planet."

"Good thing I was born in Louisiana," Frank said. "Kinda feels like the entire planet is Cajun territory. If that's the case, then I could have a house here. Certainly wouldn't mind fishing in the swamp."

"That is if you could mind the xenofauna and know which species are safe to eat," Lisa added over the TEAMCOM. "Plus, according to records, Dromund Kaas was a world formerly controlled by the Sith Empire during the Jedi Civil War and the Galactic War. Who knows what kind of shit they did to the planet."

"Well, we're about to find out," Calvin said. "According to the most recent scans, we've got a pretty big thunderstorm along our flight path."

"The Pelican should be able to handle it easy," Frank reassured the team. "They build these things tough, and the Stealth Pelicans are built even tougher." No sooner had he said this than they flew into the stormclouds.

Almost immediately, the ride became bumpier, with the dropship being shaken about by severe turbulance. "Incoming hail shaft!" Alexandria reported. "Divert course 25 degrees to starboard!"

"Diverting!" Calvin reported. Easing the control column to the right, he maneuvered the Pelican around the hail shaft, which now showed up on the HUD as a bright red column. The Pelican just barely missed the hail shaft, with several more popping up. Wind howled and lightning flashed as the vehicle powered its way through the storm.

"We're about to exit the thundercloud!" Frank called out. Seconds later, the Pelican burst from the storm clouds into clear blue skies. "Whew! That was a doozy!"

"Tell me about it," Calvin said. "Alexandria, are we still on course?"

"Affirmative," Alexandria said. "According to the flight plan, we're about to pass over a large urban center. Scans indicate little to no activity down below."

"Copy that," Calvin said. "Descending now." A control was adjusted lightly, a few buttons pressed here and there. At his command, the Pelican slowly began to descend from its height of 20,000 feet down to 10,000 feet.

Looking outside, Calvin was just in time to see what Alexandria had been talking about. Visible between breaks in the clouds was what appeared to be a massive city down below. Alexandria quickly sent a scan of the city to his HUD. According to the scan, the city was divided into six massive hubs, each one surrounding a central structure. Said structure resembled the Jedi Temple, but it was in bad disrepair, as many of its features were slowly crumbling away. A shiver ran up Calvin's spine.

Frank, seeing the city, let out a low long whistle. "'And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay, Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away.'"

"Ozymandias, by Percy Bysshe Shelly," Alexandria said. "I must admit, it's quite fitting. Here was this Sith Empire that said much the same, but now… all that remains are ruins."

Calvin nodded. The poem, written in iambic pentameter, was more than just the expression of artistic value in poem; it contained a very strong lesson to remember. Power is ultimately ephemeral, and the rule of tyrants is just as ephemeral. All that remains of this once great empire are the bones of its great capitol. Still, even in this sad state, it retains some of that glory.

"Indeed," Frank said, unaware of Calvin's internal musing. "The archaeologists in the UNSC will definitely want to study this place."

"Agreed," Alexandria said. "We should be… well… hello."

"What is it?" Calvin asked.

"I've got another structure around a hundred clicks to the west of the city inside a valley. Scans only just picked it up now, but it appears to be a temple or shrine of sorts. There's also an outpost that's at the eastern entrance to the valley."

"Could it be a private residence of some kind?" Lisa asked.

"Or it could be a laboratory and data repository," Calvin said. "Alexandria, can you guide us towards the structure in question? Mark the city for investigation by the salvagers and archaeologists. They'll be able to tell us more than we can learn on our own here."

"Aye, sir," Alexandria said. The flight plan changed, with the autopilot quickly adjusting their course. Within a few minutes, they had overflown the entire city, and were now approaching the structure in question.

"Get me a ground scan of the area," Calvin said.

"On it," Quincy, who had been silent until now, said. Punching in a few commands, he quickly obtained a read-out. "Just got a scan of the terrain. Looks like it's in a section of jungle. Not a lot of clear spots, but I did find one just before the structure."

"Any life signs?"

"Just the local fauna," Alexandria said. "I also had the Prowler's systems perform a deep scan of the structure. If there's anything alive in their, either I can't detect it, or it's inactive. Either way, I don't believe anyone lives here now."

"Copy that. Just making sure. You never know what might hole up in such a place after thousands of years of abandonment."

The structure soon came into sight. It resembled a rhomboid square, with a series of large horns extending from the corners and sides. Thousands of years ago, it would've been an impressive and imposing structure. Now, however, large cracks crisscrossed the entire structure, and some of the horns had been broken off. Once more, the poem that Frank uttered crossed his thoughts. Just like that poem, he thought. They built to last, only for things to not go their way.

There was one thing that was on his mind. "Alexandria, what's the structural status of the building?"

Alexandria performed a quick scan, checked a few readings. "Stable, but I wouldn't exactly call it safe. I've also detected a power source underneath the temple, likely a geothermal power generator. If that's the case…"

"… then we have computers in there. Setting her down now. Time to bust out the gear and get to work." With expert skill, he gently set the Pelican onto the ground. Once he was certain that they were right where they needed to be, he quickly switched a number of systems off, then moved into the troop bay. Every one of the ONI Agents inside was decked out in ODST armor. "You ready, people?"

"Yep!" Lisa said. "Time to do a little spelunking." Without further ado, they moved outside, weapons at the ready.

The closer they came to the overgrown structure, the easier it became to see how old it really was. Large cracks were present in the stone steps leading up to the doors, with said doors having long since either been destroyed, or rotted away. Past the doors was a short entrance hallway that led to a flight of stairs that led upwards. After checking to make sure the area was clear, the team advanced up the stairs.

Those stairs led to a massive chamber that occupied the area just past the flight of stairs. Large holes and cracks in the ceiling allowed ample light to flood and illuminate the chamber. Two hallways lined the massive chamber, and here and there, large statues of men with their heads bowed could be seen, with those on the left facing right and those on the right facing left. At the back of the room was a massive statute that must have, at one time, depicted a man with arms extended forwards. All that remained, however, was the waist, legs and feet of the statue.

Calvin examined the chamber as they moved inside with a critical eye. The structure reminded him greatly of some of the more grandiose Forerunner structures he'd been inside of. Nearby, Frank voiced his own thoughts. "Whoever built this place certainly had an eye for architecture, though given that the Sith likely built this place, they likely did so with slave labor."

"Talk about a massive superiority complex," Lisa said. "Is anyone else feeling that chill, or is it me?"

"I'm feeling it too, which is odd, given that it's a fucking sauna outside."

"Perhaps it's a nautral reaction to what this building is an edifice to: the debauchery and evil of a Sith empire," Calvin suggested. "Personally, though, I don't like the place one bit. If we had a HAVOC on hand, I'd nuke the place and wipe it clean from the surface of the planet."

"Hey guys!" Quincy shouted. "I found another set of stairs behind the giant-ass statue!"

"Let's send a drone up that way," Calvin ordered. Reaching into her armored 'pack, Lisa pulled out a small drone, before sending it on its way with some commands from her TACPAD. At the same time, Calvin pulled out a series of much smaller, spherical drones before sending them off on their way as well. "Alexandria, let us know if you find anything useful."

"Copy that," Alexandria said. "If I had to guess, though, any computer terminals will likely be underground." She paused, then said, "In fact, they are underground. One of our seeker probes just found a computer terminal down below. Judging by the scan, I'd say that it's in good condition, which is a shocker given how long this place has been abandoned."

"Where at?"

"Take the northwest passage, roughly 167 meters forwards and to the right," she said. A waypoint appeared on Calvin's HUD, showing him the way.

Motioning to the others, he quickly had them form up on him. "Alexandria says that she's found a terminal beneath this temple. Follow the navpoint but remain in formation. I don't want us to get lost in here."

"Copy that," Quincy said.

The team slowly, but carefully, advanced down the northwestern hallway, weapons aimed as they carefully advanced down the flight of stairs they soon came across. Eventually, after meandering through a few hallways, they came across the data terminal in question. It was a large, bulky thing, with large computer screens, dials, buttons and keyboards. "Is this thing even working?" Frank asked.

"How about we find out," Calvin said. Taking the chip that held Alexandria, he pulled out a slot adapter and looked for a scomp-link terminal. Finding one, he slotted Alexandria's chip into the slot adapter, then plugged it into the scomp-link terminal. "Alexandria?"

"One moment," Alexandria said. Suddenly, the computer terminal's screens lit up instantly. One of the screens popped and exploded outwards, while the rest remained operational. "Looks like this computer is working. I'm downloading any information relevant to the Jedi Civil War right now. I… well… this is strange."

"What is it?"

"Looks like there's information on that person RADM Lasky was interested in," Alexandria noted. "Apparently, there's mention of a 'Bastila' being brought here for 'processing.' There's no date code to let me know if this was before or after her death. However, I did find coordinates for another planet called 'Ziost.'"

"Can you grab that information?"

Alexandria ran a few queries, then said, "Already done. I've copied the information inside of this terminal. Go ahead and pull me."

With a nod, Calvin pulled the scomp-link adapter out, while slotting Alexandria back into his armor. "Good work," he said. "That'll make things much easier. Let's head back to the Pelican and link up with the Prowler. We've got what we've come here for."

. . .

While Calvin and the others were busy extracting intelligence from the computers at Dromund Kaas, Veronica Janice, Captain Milius, RDML Osman and Vice Admiral Cole were inside of the meeting room. Sitting at the table, flanked by a pair of ODSTs, was Garris, who calmly drummed an arpeggio with his fingers.

I'm certain that Halsey and Olivia are having the time of their lives with that man, Osman thought. I take no satisfaction with doing my job, but I do take satisfaction in seeing a truly rotten monster get his just desserts. Once I get to go back there, I'll definitely see what they've been up to.

"I hope this meeting goes smoothly," Cole said. "Still, it's nice to get away from the desk job for once."

"Me too," Veronica said, "and I agree with you in that my job was also boring until now. I wonder who they've sent as the ambassador."

"I believe we're about to find out," Osman said.

Right on cue, a guard spoke over the shared COM channel "Sirs, the ambassador and his entourage are outside. Permission to permit them and their guards inside?"

"Granted," Cole said. "You ready, Veronica?"

"Yes," Veronica said.

The door opened, permitting acluster of humans and aliens inside. Leading the group was a bald man with a salt-and-pepper beard inside. Standing next to him was a woman with graying hair; despite her plain appearance, she had a regal air about her. An octuple of guards in heavy body armor accompanied the entourage; each one wore helmets made of metal, save the faceplate, which had a T shaped visor.

A smile crossed the Ambassador's face when he saw Cole and the others. "Welcome onboard the Infinity, Ambassador Garon" Cole said. "I trust that the journey went well for you?"

"That it did," Ambassador Garon said. "Say, where is Rear Admiral Lasky? I thought he would've been attending this meeting."

"He's currently dealign with other affairs," Milius said. "He sent myself and Osman as his representatives."

Garon shrugged. "I see. Oh well... Perhaps I will meet him before I and my entourage leave. For now, let us begin, shall we?"

Everyone sat down, with Veronica and the UNSC members of the meeting furthest from the door. "Firstly, I would like to start with introductions," Veronica said. "I'm Veronica Janice, the UEG Secretary of Intergalactic affairs. With me are Vice Admiral Cole of the joint UNSC/Pantora defense forces, Captain Milius of the UNSC Navy and Rear Admiral Osman of the Office of Naval Intelligence."

"Well met," Garon said. "Now, I will start with my side of things. I am Ambassador Goodman Garon of Clan Garon. With me is my wife, Camelia Garon and my associates. We are pleased to make your accquaintance."

"And so are we," Veronica said. "Now that we've introduced ourselves, it's time to begin business. Osman?"

"Thank you," Osman said. "The first order of business is this man, Garris Garon. Is it ture that he wishes to defect to the UNSC, along with all of the Imperial Judiciary Forces?"

Garon peered at Veronica. "Of course! He and I have been discussing that sort of thing for quite some time, ever since the Sacking of Genarius. Both he and I have agreed that, due to the sour state of affairs between the Imperial Judiciary Forces and the Galactic Empire, it was best for the IJF to defect to the UNSC. It pains me to say this, but the Imperial Military has taken over the role the IJF usually performs. My son wished to make certain that his defection wouldn't ruffle any feathers."

Veronica did a double take. "Garris is your son?"

"He is," Camelia said. "He's been our son for the past forty eight years. We have a good relationship, and he values us both as his parents and sources of sagely advice. It was natural for him to consult with us first, given that we have greater experience in the matter."

Garris blushed. "They're not my parent's actually," he said hastily. "Goodman and Camelia are my uncle and aunt, respectively."

Veronica smiled. "Ah, I see. So his desire to defect is geniune?"

"Yes," Camelia said. "It is."

"Fair enough," Veronica said."You can release Garris." The guards by Garris nodded. Reaching down, they undid the cuffs around his wrists, then stepped back from his chair.

"Thank you," Garris said.

"You're welcome," Redirecting her attention. Veronica asked, "So, what do you wish to negotiate to us about? I doubt that you came all the way here just to negotiate Garris' defection."

"Quite right," Garon said. "I am here to negotiate a secret alliance between the United Earth Government and the Garon Clan."

The UNSC members of the meeting shared a look with each other. "Why do you wish to do so?" Cole asked.

"For a number of reasons really. The first is that there are many threats out there in the wider galaxy, including one that the Empire cannot face on its own. In order to defeat that threat, we will need as many allies as possible in order to win. However, the Empire itself is also a threat. Tell me... have the three of you been made fully aware of the atrocities and crimes the Galactic Empire has committed?"

Osman nodded. "We do. So... what? You're not only asking for an official alliance should this threat you speak of come about, but a secret alliance with us? There's gotta be some kind of hook to all of this."

"Admitted, you are correct in that regard. However, it will be more than just a military alliance. The Garons have been quite interested in the UNSC for quite some time, both militarily, and economically. First, however, I would like to present you with a gift for sacking the criminal filth of Genarius. Should you accept, I am willing to gift you several thousand tons of beskar."

Cole and Osman shared a glance with each other "What's that?" Cole asked. "I've never heard of a material called beskar before."

"Neither have I," Veronica said. "Osman?"

"We've heard mention of the material before," Osman said. "However, we were unable to acquire any for the purposes of study. It is vanishingly rare according to our analysts."

Jedura shrugged. "I'm not surprised that you haven't heard of it before, or gotten a sample of the material. Beskar, known as 'Mandalorian Iron' to the wider galaxy, is only found at Concordia and Mandalore, both of which are in the Mandalore System. It is a metallic material that is extremely resistant to most forms of damage. Even lightsabers have a very difficult time cutting through it, that is if they can cut through it at all."

"Do you have a sample or something on your person?" Cole asked.

Ambassador Garon smiled, then reached into his formal wear. Osman and Cole reached for a hidden gun, while the ODSTs and Spartans reached for their weapons. Instead of a blaster, however, Garon produced a slate of silvery-gray material around half the size of a datapad. Stamped on one corner was an odd symbol that looked like an alien version of an elephant or wooly mammoth. "This," Garon said, "is beskar. I brought a sample of it with me should you doubt my word about its properties." He offered it to the others.

Taking it into her hand, Veronica felt the material for herself. The slate of beskar was smooth and cool to the touch. I wonder if it really is lightsaber resistant, she wondered "Can you demonstrate it's properties for us?"

"Of course," Garon said. Looking at one of his guards, he made a snapping sound with his fingers. The guard in question advanced forwards, then pulled a metal cylinder out from his toolbelt. With a slight flick, a beam of yellow-white plasma erupted from the hilt.

"Now that's a surprise," Osman said. "Is that guard a Jedi?"

"No," Garon said. "He is a Mandalorian Knight, trained to use exotic weapons, including lightsabers." They are also Force Sensitive, as is my son, he didn't add. Handing the slate of beskar to the Mandalorian Knight, he and everyone else watched as the Knight gently passed the slate of beskar through the lightsaber's beam.

To everyone's amazement, the slate of beskar didn't melt. Instead, it began to glow red-orange, yet it didn't melt in the slightest. Withdrawing the lightsaber beam from the material, the Mandalorian Knight waited for the beskar to cool down; before setting it down on the table. Then, in a flash of movement that caught everyone off guard, he pulled out a small hammer and smashed it into the plate of beskar. There was a loud CLINK, yet the beskar didn't break; instead, it stubbornly remained intact.

Osman leaned over and picked up the plate. To her amazement, the material was warm, but not uncomfortably so. What surprised everyone, however, was that there was a dent in the table the same dimensions as the slate of beskar. She whistled. "Damn! Now that's impressive. It doesn't even look damaged. What do you use that metal for, Ambassador?

"Mostly armor and weapons," Garon said. "As you've seen for yourself, beskar is well known for it's one outstanding property: extreme durability. Blasters cannot damage it, and neither can lightsabers. The only material that can truly damage it is itself, though some Mandalorian clans are understandably hesitant to make weapons from the material. The Death Watch, for instance, has forbidden the manufacture of weapons made from beskar in their clan."

"I can see why," Cole said. "I take it that there's a catch to all of this."

"Yes," Garon said. "During the battle at Genarius, you captured a Kandosii-class dreadnought from the Pike Syndicate. The Garons would like to have that ship."

"Why?"

"Historical and cultural reasons," Garon said. "The Kandosii-class dreadnoughts are but a class of the finest Mandalorian built ships ever made. Even to this day, they are notable better than their Imperial or Republic counterparts. In addition, the Kandosii dreadnought is closely linked to our culture and society. Having that ship back would allow us to have somethinig to remember our history and culture by, while improvinng our means of defending ourselves."

"What do we get in exchange for that?"

"We would like to trade information with you, specifically on past events," Jedura said. "I'm certain that, with your recent encounter with Palpatine and Vader, you wish to learn more where the Sith and Jedi originated, from the beginings of the Jedi Order to the Jedi Civil War up to the present day."

Osman's eyes widened fractionally. "Gentlemen, would you excuse me for a moment?"

"Go ahead," Cole said. The glint in his eyes told her he knew what she was doing.

"Thank you." Stepping outside, Osman closed the door, then keyed her earpiece. "Lasky, are you there?"

"Yes," Lasky said. "What is it?"

"Ambassador Garon has information pertaining to the Jedi Civil War."

"Really?" Lasky asked. "Why does he want to share it with us?"

"He wants the Kandosii-class dreadnought we got during the Battle of Genarius. My guess is that he also wants the plans as well."

"I see," Lasky said. "I'm on my way."

Closing the COM, Osman walked back into the meeting room. "My superior is on his way here," she said, pretending to show surprise. "Apparently, your mention of the Jedi Civil War got his attention."

"I look forward to meeting him," Garon said. "So, when will he arrive?"

"In a few minutes."

Before long, there was a chime at the door. "Sir, RADM Lasky wishes to enter the room," a guard said.

"Send him in," Veronica said.

The door opened, permitting Lasky inside. Seeing Garris uncuffed, he said, "I take it that means you're off the hook?"

"Yes," Garris said.

"Good."

As Lasky sat down, Garris reached out with the Force. Hhmm... Lasky's not Force Sensitive, he noted. Still, why is he interested in all of this?

Lasky, unaware of what Garris was doing, focused on the matter at hand. "Could someone please provide me a summary of what's going on?"

"Garon would like to have the Kandosii dreadnought we acquired at Genarius, as well as the plans for the dreadnought," Cole said. "Apparently, he wants to make the ship a museum ship,"

"I see," Lasky said. "In that cause, I must disappoint you, Garon. The answer is no. We will not be handing over the plans to the Kandosii dreadnought."

Garon frowned. "Why is that, if I may ask?"

"For two reasons of my own," Lasky said. "The first is operational security. My superiors, specifically the Secretary of the Navy and the Chairman of the UNSC, are not keen to allow the plans for a ship of this size to be given over to a faction that, from the looks of it, has had their ships stolen before. In additon, one of my superiors, Admiral Sark, is still studying the ship, and she's not going to be particularly keen on giving it back yet. Besides, what guarantee do you have that you can keep the plans out of enemy hands?"

"The battle at the pirate shipyard at Genarius should be the answer to your question. For the last few decades, the Garons have been dedicated to reclaiming Mandalorian technology that was stolen by the pirates and criminal syndicates of the galaxy. Ever since we have begun our work, not one ship has been taken from us. Those that do succeed are punished most severely."

"I see," Lasky said. "While it's good to hear that you are reclaiming your tech, and in a way your heritage, we cannot allow you to have the plans. We can, however, allow you to claim the dreadnought itself once we've finished studying it. There are some stipulations when it comes to making it a museum ship."

"What would those be?"

"You will need to acquire and sign some paperwork from the Secretary of the Navy to convert the ship into a museum ship," Lasky said. "One stipulation in the contract is that the ship cannot move under its own power, nor can it be armed with working weapons."

"I see," Garon said. "Quite complicated, but I believe it is well worth it."

"I'm glad you think so," Lasky said. "That being said, you had information on the Jedi Civil War?"

"A good portion of it, yes," Camilia said. "My husband and I will be sending it over shortly, but there is one piece of information that you might find intriguing." Leaning in closer, she said, "During the Jedi Civil War, the Sith made use of a specially designed space station called the 'Star Forge.' Apparently, it was a massive production facility that drew off gasses from the star, both for power and for conversion into materials used in the manufacture of ships, droids, and more. Rumors also have it that it is where Revan succeeded in redeeming Bastila before defeating Revan."

"Very interesting," Lasky said. "Bastila was there?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"HIGHCOM is interested in the events of the Jedi Civil War for some strange reason," Lasky said offhandedly. "Their reasons, however, are classified, and I cannot comment on that."

"Understandable," Camilia said.

"Very much so," Garon agreed. "How long until your President arrives?"

"I'm not at liberty to say," Lasky said. "Why?"

"Once she arrives, I would love to speak with her. I'm interested in more than just reclaiming history; I'm also interested in creating trade agreements with the UNSC. We have a number of things to trade, one of which will be information on some equipment you could use."

Veronica shrugged. "I don't see why not. You'll have to wait until she arrives, though. In the meantime, is there anything else you wish to acquire from us?"

"A few Keldabe battleships wouldn't hurt. However, I'm guessing that I'll have to sign more museum ship contracts?"

"Yep," Lasky said.

"Well then... might as well get to it."

. . .

A few hours later, Lasky was finishing up the last bit of paperwork for the day. Garon knows how to drive a hard bargain, he thought. At least he's willing to wait until the UEG President arrives before beginning those talks. The weapons schematics he shared as part of the proposed alliance were good too. 256HC-Sledgehammer Heavy Proton Plasma Cannons? That's something we'd definitely be interested in.

He was just about to get up from his desk when Osman came into his office. "Yes?" he asked. "Is there something you need?"

"Just came to deliver a report that I just finished," Osman said. "You remember the intelligence that we gathered on the Jedi Civil War?"

"Yeah," Lasky said. "Why do you ask?"

"As it turns out, one of my ONI scout teams came across something interesting." Using the holo-table, Osman brought up the information. "While following up on some information we recovered from the Venator wreck at Zeffo, the members of my team, Kilo-5, came across information that detailed the location of another planet: Dromund Kaas. Records indicate that it was the Capitol of the Sith Empire during the Jedi Civil War and the Galactic War roughly four thousand years ago."

"Interesting," Lasky said. "Go on."

"Once we had the information back here, we managed to extract the location for Dromund Kaas from the intel we gathered. According to Lieutenant Calvin, one of my top agents, they found the abandoned urban center Kaas City, as well as a temple or shrine of sorts around a hundred clicks away from the city. Inside that structure, they found information that said a certain 'Bastila' was imprisoned there, before being moved to a planet called Ziost for 'permanent storage.' There's no date code, so we can't be certain as to when this happened, but I can say that we now have another lead to investigate."

"Very interesting." Leaning back in his chair, Lasky said, "Is there anything else that's useful?"

"No. However, we did recover more information pertaining to the Jedi Civil War from the archives. My people are already compiling a report to send to HIGHCOM once that information's been worked on."

"Good," Lasky said. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention."

"You're welcome. Did your meeting with Ambassador Garon go well?"

"Yes," Lasky said. "Goodman Garon knows how to drive a hard bargain. We've agreed to accept some shipments of beskar from him, along with some interesting pieces of technology. In exchange, when Charet arrives, he'll negotiate trade agreements with the UEG, along with a potential military alliance. We've also got a new officer in the form of former Judiciary Force member Captain Garris Garon. He'll make for a good addition to the fleet."

"Good," Osman said. "Do you need me for anything else?"

"Not at this moment, no. Get yourself some rest. Dismissed!"

As Osman walked out of the room, Lasky leaned over his desk, hands clasped before him. So, it appears that the search for information on Bastila is hot once again, along with that of the Jedi Civil War. A suspicion that had been forming in the back of his mind nagged at him. Something doesn't add up. We're finding this information way too easily. Either this Force is guiding us along this path or it's a trap. He frowned at the implications.

Either way, if it's a trap, there's only one way to solve this quandary. Keying his HoloCOM, he said, "RDML-117, are you there?"

Right on cue, Chief's hologram appeared. "Go ahead, sir."

"Is Blue Team ready for operations?"

"Yes," Chief said. "Why, sir?"

"Because I've got a new mission for you. Roland will send you the relevant data, but here's what we're looking at. One of Osman's teams managed to find information on the location of what I believe might be Bastila's interred body, or information pertaining to her. According to the intelligence that we've acquired thus far, any information on Bastila, or her actual body, is being held at the planet of Ziost. My orders are for you to head to Ziost and locate this information or the body in question."

Chief looked over some information that Roland sent him. "Understood, sir," he said. "We'll be ready to move out in 48 hours. I will also be bringing Buck with me on the mission."

"Why is that?"

"To determine if he is suitable for the position of Spartan Commander," Chief said. "For the majority of the mission, he'll have command authority. We need to see how he handles the pressure."

"Can you bring him up on the HoloCOM?"

Within seconds, Buck's hologram appeared. "What is it?" he asked.

"RADM-117 is going to be bringing you on a mission I've assigned him," Lasky said. "He wants to see how well you perform in a command position."

Buck's eyes widened fractionally. "Are you certain that's a good idea?" he asked. "I was a squad leader before and I got burned."

"I'm well aware of that incident. However, your service record shows that you have the ability to lead. Consider this a test, to see if you're ready once more."

Buck opened his mouth to protest, thought better of it. "All right," he said. "If that's what you want, then I can do that."

"Good. Report to RADM-117 when you can." As Buck's hologram faded, Lasky said. "Chief, keep up the good work and inform me when you begin the mission. In addition, I will have Captain French go with you. You will have temporary command of the Cascadia until the mission is complete. There's also one more thing I should tell you, Chief."

"And that would be?" Chief asked.

"Personally speaking, I'm thinking that this is a trap. The information we've found came too easily for it not to be."

"Understood," Chief said. "Is that all, sir?"

"That is all. RADM Lasky over and out." Closing the HoloCOM, Lasky rubbed his face. If this is a trap of some kind, Chief's the best person I can think of who can spring it. If not, then at least nothing will go wrong. Keying his HoloCOM, he waited for the man he called to answer.

The holographic image of a bald man with brown eyes appeared. "Captain French here," he said. "Rear Admiral Lasky? Is there something you need?"

"Yes," Lasky said. "What condition is the Cascadia in?"

"Excellent condition. We've just finished making sure all of the upgrades went well. Why?"

"I have a secret mission for you to undertake," Lasky said. "I'm sending you the coordinates to a world that ONI teams recently found the coordinates for. Your orders are to accompany Blue Team there and assist them in their mission. RDML-117 will send you the relevant details."

"Understood," French said. "I'll see to it that Blue Team comes back alive and well."

"Good. RADM Lasky over and out."

"Got it," French said. "Captain French out."

. . .

Far away, on the planet of Naboo, a trio of Stormtroopers proceeded inside of a large building. Glancing around the place, he asked, "Why is Lord Vader interested in this place all of a sudden?" the first one asked. "Why suddenly take interest in a dead body? It doesn't make sense to me."

"It doesn't to me either," the other said. "However, we are to follow Vader without question, regardless of how questionable it is. Let's find this body and get the hell out of here."

"Hey!" the third Stormtrooper snarled. "Keep your voice down, and mind your manners while you are here!"

"Why do you care?" the second one asked.

"Because it is very stupid to speak ill of the dead. Show some respect to the people interred in this Mausoleum. The dead have paid their debts. It's up to the living to pick up the tab." The snappy remark had the other Stormtroopers fall silent.

Then a fifth voice spoke up, one that they all recognized immediately. "You would do well to remember your compatriot's words," Darth Vader said. "Even if they are our enemies, the dead are to be treated with dignity."

"Yes, sir," the Stormtroopers said. "Which way, sir?"

"Follow me."

After what seemed like hours of walking, they eventually came to a single alcove in the mausoleum that held a sarcophagus that had the stylized emblem of Naboo carved into the stone surface. The alcove had a pair of columns that had vases filled with red flowers, between which was a stained glass window of a beautiful young woman. The light streaming in through the stained glass window seemed to give the alcove an air of quiet reflection and peaceful rest.

For Vader, the sight was one that, even to this day, broke his heart. Resting a hand on the sarcophagus, he bowed his head slightly as the memories of that day flooded his mind. Underneath the mask, tears streamed down his scarred face as grief and remorse threatened to overwhelm him again. The hand he rested onto the sarcophacus shook slightly, making a scratching sound that broke the silence.

"Are you all right, Lord Vader?" one of the Stormtroopers asked.

Vader took a breath, let it out. He could sense the concern flowing off the Stormtrooper like an ocean current. "Yes," he said. "I am fine. This is the sarcophagus that we are seeking. Bring the others in. Remove the casket within, but be extremely gentle and careful with it. If it falls even once, I will choke the life out of all of you."

To their credit, the Stormtrooper Commander within the group simply nodded. "As you wish, my lord," he said. Keying his helmet com-piece, he said, "Squads Alpha and Bravo, you're cleared to come inside. We've found what we're looking for. Extract it, but be extremely careful. Lord Vader wants the cargo onboard the shuttle without a single scratch." Closing the com, he said, "They're on the way, sir."

"Good."

Several Stormtroopers quickly entered the mausoleum. Seeing the sarcophagus, fourteen of them silently advanced forwards and, undoing a series of locks underneath the lid, gathered around it. Lifting the lid, they found a casket made of fine wood overlaid on a metal surface. On a silent count of three, they lifted it into the air. Grunts of exertion could be heard as two more Stormtroopers fitted a repulsorlift onto the bottom of the casket. Once they gave a thumbs up, the fourteen other Stormtroopers slowly eased off, their shoulders slumping in relief when the casket simply hovered.

As they pushed it towards the entrance to the mausoleum, Vader looked at the casket once more. I don't know how, but I will bring you back, he thought. I'm sorry… I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm sorry for what your death allowed Palpatine to do. I don't know how, but I will make things right. Shutting out the remorse and grief, he steeled himself and proceeded towards the Lambda shuttle outside.