[19 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, {Outer Rim} Republic Third Fleet, Exiting Hyperspace, Bomis Koori System, Wornal Sector, Mid Rim]
Flickers of light and gravity distortions announced our arrival as I watched the holographic displays upon the bridge around me as data flowed like rivers into the sea. My fleet arrived in formation, distant from the gravity wells of the planets and the interdictors the Confederates seemed to have deployed in-system. That in of itself was a sign they knew we were coming since interdictors, true starship ones, were only coming back into fashion with the war and still weren't deployed in great numbers even now. Yes we used them, but our designs dated back pre-Ruusan, and were often pirate systems with some degree of 'modernisation' on them.
'Modernisation' I thought with the faintest of snorts. Modernisation; meaning we were making them less powerful and effective than the original, largely lost, designs of a thousand years past just to getting them functional. The joy of living in a galaxy that suffered multiple apocalypses, or just simply ran into the problem of 'lower tech' systems often supplanting 'higher tech' ones due to energy requirements/efficiency changes in the political or galactic situation. I motioned for our own to activate, to guide in the second wave of hyperspace exiting warships.
"They're formed up Captain-General"
I nodded at Gardan's words icons filling the three dimensional hologram displays before me "Yes, looks like they were expecting us. No matter, keep formation, follow Jurdan's lead. For now, have the squadron deploy strike star-fighters, all systems to full readiness"
"Aye-Aye, Captain-General" came back as I watched two 'walls' or 'blocks' of battle form up on the displays, the second wave of our forces coming in behind us. The Confederate force was pretty uniform; Lucrehulk and Providence class heavy warship escorted by Commerce Guild corvettes and Wavecrest-class frigates, with a number of Lupus-class missile frigates there as well. All backed up by a large force of droid-fighters of course...and a decent number of star-fighters, organic manned ones. Seemed they were serious for this engagement to be deploying top-of-the-line star-fighters here and now.
My forces were a much more mix and match affair; a number of Venator-class Star Destroyers and refitted Acclamators, surrounded by modified versions of those Luchrehulks, Providences, and Munificents, along with Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers as our main strike-force. Jurdan had deployed them forward, droid control ships protected inside a 'bubble' with a the muddle of escorts around them; from the recently built frigates from our Solem yards, to the more come Gozantis, refitted Consulars and light support strike-carriers. Despite that we'd invested heavily in coordination systems and tracking so, other than our auxiliaries, the main bulk forces moved forward in an organised manner.
We'd agreed for Jurdan Ironhill to take the lead in this situation, and he was more cautious and defensive than I'd usually be as our forces pushed into the gravity well between the gas giant and its moons, towards the world beyond. Our star-fighters screamed out of launch bays along with bombers, though we held back droid-fighters as the Confederates distant deployed their own. I frowned as both sides sat in slow moving activity as we tracked towards each other at sublights; the enemy were coming out, having plenty of time to get organised...
"Hyperspace activity! Enemy forces jumping in front of us!" Gardan announced as the screws went hazy, distorting a few seconds before the icons across the system vanished, then re-emerged in front of us, just outside turbo-laser range. Then more distortions, more activity, as more and more icons spilled out into the holographic displays to our right 'rear' in one of the upper quadrants. Something Gardan announced calmly as the information poured in, and orders flowed in response; they'd come in near our allied forces, and we'd gone from outnumbering them to being badly outnumbered. I sighed knowingly as the comms beeped and a familiar figure appeared in miniature on my armrest.
"I do believe we have a situation Daron"
I nodded back to Jurdan's holographic avatar "Yes, I can see. I assume..."
"Aye, let's see your magic on the field then shall we? Grey-Three-Nine"
"Acknowledged, Crimson-Nine-Three" I replied, standing and glancing at Gardan and then the Dathomiri female standing nearby "Gardan you have the bridge, Karis your with me. Preparing to initiate Chant Scenario"
"As you command Captain-General" Gardan replied saluting as I walked past him to my ready room, Karis and my bodyguard droids in two. Two taking position at the door to ready room, and the other two following me through as a secret passage opened at a command, sliding closed as myself, Karis, Aaron and Abigail entered the ritual chamber. The battle had already started I could tell, though the Stormcrow through its sheer size and armour gave no sign of it, as I carefully reached out with my other senses and felt the first of the deaths.
This was hardly my true Sanctum, but it was a ritual space installed for just this sort of need, and I walked forward into the Yin-Yang symbol surrounded by layers of runes and symbols as if a magical onion of some sort. Karis stared at them a moment, mouth begin to move, to talk, before I gestured to her to sit in the white circle within the black teardrop as I moved to the black one within the white. There really wasn't time to explain, and she was merely here as a helper, a power boost of sorts, so I raised a number of Force Sensitive Crystals with my powers. I slipped down into a meditative pose, mouthing softly for Karis to follow my lead as I lowered the crystals of various hues into position and began to unleash my power.
"I will guide you, just add your strength to mine" I commanded calmly, hands coming to rest on knees, letting out a breath as emotions rose, the Force giving a faint shudder. Karis nodded, eyes darting, her will subsumed to mine for the ritual. I could have done it on my own, or from the bridge, but here...here I could control things, here I could focus and expand my will while shielding against others influence. So I closed my eyes, the energy beginning to build, feel it running through the first line of runes...
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
...glowing silver as the crystals pulsed, light illuminating the darkness, surrounded by the darkness as the 'ceiling' filled with tiny stars of signals and runes that were identical in every way to those below; even the Light-Dark ritual circle. One runic circle, then another...another...as the darkness deepened around us, yet was also filled with motes of brightly blazing light. Silver and White, Crimson and Blue, Yellow and Purple, and a host in between as we breathed together, reached out together, Light and Dark, Logic and Emotion...
There is no fear, there is power.
...breathe in, breath out. Feel the power pulsing. Control it, make in mine as I held back the flood. Damming it in; building it up, my body and Karis's lifting faintly off the ground, our words as one at my guidance...feeling the lives in my charge aboard this warship. Where there was Chaos I brought Order, where there was Fear, Strength and Discipline. In, and Out, In, and Out, the lights pulsing with each heartbeat as we breathed in sync, actions and minds as one...
I am the heart of the Force.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The Force was Life, the good and bad, the order and the chaos, and the heart beat firm and solid as the ship was alive, each a part of the whole. Me, the awed Karis, the stolid Gardan, the nervous yet determined Wee'bako, even the defeated yet content Miraj; all were together aboard this vessel with thousands of other sparks of life, bringing focus. Coordination, Strength, and Will to face the fight...
I am the revealing fire of the light.
...then pushed out across the void between starships, between asteroids and dust of broken vessels, Wonder, Courage, Hope, and Will to face the Void filled hearts and minds. All were one, yet separate, a part of greater whole that I guided, but did not command. Orders came down from one high, from Jurdan, thorough Captains and Squadron Leaders, followed before they even left a mouth. Star-fighters danced in unison now to an unseen, unheard, yet beautifully sung, song, a swirling, dancing, dervish of death as droids faltered in face of the sudden Unity...
I am the mystery of the darkness.
...as the waves washed over our foes. Where there was Wonder, there was now Terror. Where there was Light, Darkness. Reaction times slowed, veterans panicked, as confusion reigned amidst motes of firm Will that stood firm as the waves crashed up against them. Ones that stood against the Fear; respect was offered, if unknown, but it did not matter as the Song blazed across the void and the enemy fell into chaos, confusion, just as order took hold in ours. Machines were less affected...those of limited minds and thoughts, but the wave washed over the 'superior' models, a burning, invisible, slick on mechanical minds the twisted logic and physics...
In balance with chaos and harmony,
...just as the battle truly began, ordered and serried now meeting those cast into chaos and confusion. The winds rose us, silent and invisible, yet touching us as we hovered above the circle of shimmering light and deepest darkness. My limbs burned, my mind expanded, the Will and Force as One, the Guiding Hand as the hammer blow fell upon the forces before us. Starships died, a few fled, as ships slammed into others, or fired on others; all part of the delicate dance of Order and Chaos that made up the greater whole. I could see...we could all see, one as many, many as one...
Immortal in the Force.
...as victory awaited and we burned like a beacon in the void...
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