Disclaimer: Kotor 1 and SWTOR belong to Bioware, and Kotor 2 belongs to Obsidian!
Ever since the sudden reports of mysterious attacks within the Outer Rim, the bridge of the Sojourn was filled with chaos. The calls for help were mixed with the simultaneous footsteps of the Republic troopers and technicians running back and forth between one computer terminal to another. Carth could hear each soldier giving report after report of a world under siege and requesting for help from the Republic only to be left with silence. The glum news as well as the noise level did not help Carth as he tried to converse with Jedi Masters Atris and Mical.
Carth stood at a small corner of the bridge, where the communications terminals were placed. Emerging from the terminals were two life-size holograms of Atris and Mical, both of them standing before the Republic admiral. "Admiral Onasi, this is Jedi Masters Atris and Mical calling from Telos," Atris announced herself and Mical. "What is the situation?"
The admiral only shook his head. "Not good. We were able to evacuate some Republic troopers and Jedi, but not all them made it. And we still can't make contact with any of the worlds." Looking at the two Jedi Masters, Carth asked, "How are things holding up on your end?"
"I'm afraid it's not well, either," Mical sighed with disappointment. "We can not contact the other academies. All of our transmissions have been jammed."
After Mical was done, Atris decided to continue. "We've begun to evacuate the Telos academy, as Bastila ordered, but I can't say the same for the rest. If any Jedi did escape, then we have not heard from them."
Carth was silent, allowing his brain to take in the information that the two Jedi Masters just gave him. The Republic and Jedi's forces were still recovering from the mild wounds of the Jedi Civil War as well as the Great Jedi Purge that followed it. Though the threat of Malak's Sith and the Sith Triumvirate was extinguished, the Republic barely had enough forces in the Outer Rim to guard it, so the Jedi took it upon themselves to take responsibility for the task. However, it did not seem such a bright idea as the Republic hoped, with the recent attacks on the Outer Rim and all.
If the Republic and the Jedi Order was going to survive this ordeal, they would need to regroup and assess the situation before forming a counterattack. It would mean leaving some worlds to fend for themselves against these unknown invaders, but it would hopefully be temporarily. At least, until the Republic and Jedi forces can retake those worlds back.
Finally coming up with his answer, Carth looked at the two holographic Jedi. "Well, we're going to make do with what we have," he told them. "I'll have all my forces in the Mid Rim, while you and your Jedi can escape to the Core Worlds."
Carth opened his mouth to give his farewells to Atris and Mical, but his attention, along with the two Jedi, were diverted towards a Republic technician at one of the computer terminals. The technician was a man in his forties and he wore the standard Republic uniform of red armor, but he was not equipped with the standard blaster rifle. "Admiral Onasi, we're receiving a transmission from the Daragon!" the technician called out.
The admiral recognized the name belonged to one of the ships that was sent to guard the orbital station at Korriban. Carth's mind was filled with fear as he remembered about the attacks and he wondered about the safety of the Jedi Grandmaster and his old friend. Carth replied, "Sent it through!"
Nodding, the technician turned his attention back to his respective terminal and it was not long until another image joined the trio. As the image momentarily fizzled, Carth hoped Bastila was not harmed in anyway, for he did not want to worry about Revan's wrath. If the former Dark Lord knew something bad happened to the woman he cared for the most in the galaxy, hell would break lose.
Fortunately, it would not come to that as Atris, Mical, and Carth saw Bastila' hologram became clear, and they could see Bastila had gone through a lot. While the Jedi Grandmaster did not have any wounds of any kind, she did appear to be extremely exhausted with the small bags under her eyes. "Admiral Carth Onasi, this is Jedi Master Bastila Shan!" Bastila called out, her voice urgent.
"This is Admiral Carth Onasi of the Republic vessel Sojourn!" Carth quickly replied. His eyes staring at Bastila's, he asked, "What happened, Bastila?"
The next words that came out of Bastila's mouth shocked the two other Jedi and the admiral. "We lost Korriban," she glumly answered. "The station was attacked, and we were losing our forces. The two Jedi who accompanied were killed in the assault. We had to escape while we could."
Silence soon followed Bastila's words as the other three let the news of Korriban sink into their minds. Carth's eyes traveled to the floor as he wondered how the loss of Korriban would affect the Republic, but he did not forget of the two Jedi who were slain. Carth had seen-and interacted-with plenty of Jedi during his travels with Revan, and after he what he had seen for the past five years, he had a respect for them. Unfortunately, some delegates within the Senate did not see the Jedi in the same fashion, and only saw them as the only defense for the safety of the Republic.
He noticed Atris and Mical kept that fact on their minds, above all else. Though both were silent, Atris attempted to have a calm demeanor, while Mical almost bowed his heads in respect for the deaths of Jomar and Leeha. However, they knew, just as much as Carth, they could not mourn forever.
After looking at the other two Jedi, Carth turned his head towards the Jedi Grandmaster. "I'm sorry to hear that Bastila," said Carth, his tone a little soft. That tone was gone as he spoke his next words. "But we don't have time. We need to fight back."
If Bastila was still a Padawan, she would have not have taken kindly to what Carth just said, but she was a grandmaster, now, and she learned much during the Jedi Civil War. Bastila knew if she was going to respect Jomar and Leeha's deaths, then she needed to act like the grandmaster of the Jedi. Besides, Carth was a dear friend, and Bastila did not need the Force to tell the truth in the admiral's words.
Exhaling a soft sigh, Bastila's eyes stared at Carth's as she said, "You're right, Carth." Bastila paused for a moment and during that moment of silence, she turned to Mical and Atris, "What's the status of Telos Academy?"
Mical stepped forward to answer on behalf of himself and Atris. "We have begun evacuating the Jedi, as you have instructed," Mical reported. "We've also stored the holocrons on boards the evacuation ships."
Bastila was silent again, pondering what else she needed to be informed of. It only took a moment as she quickly asked, "What about the Sith holocrons?"
"Those that haven't been destroyed are sealed away in the vault. No one can get through," Mical answered, much to Bastila's relief.
When Mical spoke those words, Carth noticed an uncomfortable look flashed across Atris' face momentarily, but he ignored it as he let Bastila continue. "Alright, continue with the evacuation. See if you can contact any of the other academies in the Outer Rim."
At this point, Atris decided to join in. "We can't contact any of them. Any communication has been jammed by these attackers," Atris interjected. "At the moment, the plan is to retreat back to the Core Worlds."
Carth knew Bastila would not take to the idea of leaving world unprotected, too kindly. Many times, the Jedi allowed worlds to be devastated during the Mandalorian Wars and seeing as how it would lead to the eventual Jedi Civil War, Bastila did not want to make that same choice.
He was right as Bastila's eyes widen with a hint of shock, but the grandmaster did her best to prevent her the rest of her face from conveying the full extent. "But that will leave those worlds defenseless!" Bastila protested.
If this conversation continued, there was a possibility it would lead to a debate, so to make sure that did not happen, Carth stepped forward to take the conversation. "I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice, Bastila," Carth stated. "Ours forces are spread too thin. We don't have enough ships or soldiers to face them, now."
Once more, Bastila fell into silence, considering Carth's words carefully, but like last time, it was only for a moment as Bastila gave in. "Very well...I shall order my ships to head for Corusant. It'll take some time but we should get there."
"Alright," Carth nodded. "We'll meet up on Corusant."
As soon as Carth was about to return to work, another trooper-this time, a female sergeant-caught the admiral's attention when she announced, "Admiral, we're receiving another transmission! It's coming from a Dynamic-class freighter!"
Those words made not capture the attention of just Carth, but the other three Jedi Master with him as they all felt a familiar shock well up inside them. Within a second of after hearing those words, they all knew what the ship was: The Ebon Hawk.
AN: That's all I have for now. Please leave your thoughts in the reviews and if you have any criticism, please let it be constructive. Thank you.
Raika out!