Chapter 50

Traitor

SPACE

Caliban's Subjugator

The Subjugator-class heavy cruiser was a type of heavy cruiser, battleship, dreadnought, and Star Dreadnought designed by Ruggle Schmong for use by the Confederacy of Independent Systems' naval forces from a discarded SoroSuub Corporation starship design. Potentially the largest warship that served at the time of the Clone Wars, the Subjugator was heavily armed with hundreds of laser cannons of different types, ion cannons, flak guns, proton torpedoes, heavy tractor beams, and a pair of mega-ion cannons capable of disabling the power of an entire fleet of capital ships in a single blast. The heavy cruiser also carried over two-hundred droid starfighters, and several boarding ships, landing craft, assault vehicles, and shuttles. The Malevolence, a member of the Subjugator-class, was one of two examples of the class model that served as the flagship of the Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous, while also serving as the lead ship for the class and the initial testbed for the mega-ion cannon early in the war. Following a series of attacks on the Galactic Republic's navy in over a dozen star systems that left no survivors, the Malevolence and the specifications for the Subjugator-class were discovered by the Republic after a battle in the Abregado system. Sometime later, the warship attempted to destroy the Republic's secret medical station in the Outer Rim Territories, but was hindered as a small strike force crippled the entire ship by striking its ion cannon, disabling the weapon and forcing the Malevolence to retreat. As the warship attempted to make its retreat to Separatist space, the Malevolence was destroyed by the Republic after Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker sabotaged the ship's navigation computer, which sent it crashing into the nearby Dead Moon of Antar in the Prindaar system. Despite the destruction of the Malevolence, the Separatist Alliance had maintained a small number of Subjugator-class heavy cruisers, with no more than five left in active duty. However, due to the loss of the lead ship, the remaining vessels of the class were held in reserve by the Separatist fleet and saw rare deployments except in dire emergencies.

Of the six that had been constructed, only one remained and that belonged to Caliban, given to him by the Bloodwolves of Lothal, the most radical of the Militia fleets, Caliban stood on the bridge looking at a hologram of his assassins failing to kill the Militia high command.

"That could have gone better." the Emissary said to Caliban, like Caliban and his entire crew of operators they all wore masks, the Emissary's a red horned devil mask, he wore a snug black uniform with pants tucked into the boots, a wrapping around his head making his identity like Caliban's, impossible to decipher above being humanoid.

Caliban leaned back in the commander's chair fingers interlocked, thinking, "I knew you and Asimov had your differences sir, but I had no idea he was going to make a move against you."

"An unexpected move, Asimov was so focused on the war, on his new apprentice…. But this, unexpected." Caliban said behind his golden mask.

"You don't seem so worried, the entire Militia fleet will be after us?" The Emissary asked him.

Caliban rose, as the Emissary continued "First they need to find us, make preparations, recall all operative not in deep cover. We'll make for neutral space." The Emissary said.

"No." Caliban said.

The crew all stopped dead in their tracks, "Asimov had made his move, now we counter with one of ours."

"But my Lord, Asimov will kill you." the Emissary started, "He can try."

RAXUS

Raxulon

The combined fleets of the Vanguard led by Asimov and the Free Company led by Tuuk and Durd began to depart from Raxus, the warships taking off from the surface loaded with troops, ships, supplies and more for the hunt. Lord Asimov and Ahkilleon walked side by side past the docks of Raxulon as the Dreadnoughts took to the skies, battle droids and regulars marching side by side into the bellies of ships as they approached an outdoors command center, Mar Tuuk, Lok Durd, Kleeve,a hologram of Trench and Steela were surrounding a holotable looking at the Subjugator.

Ahkilleon started to turn to join them but Asimov kept walking forward, "We're not going to the briefing?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Not yet, the others will formulate a plan to take on the Cabal. First we must find them." Lord Asimov said as he led Ahkilleon down the docks hallway, a cavernous structure with open windows, trams driving by, droids and regulars passing them. They headed up a flight of stairs to an observation perch where Ahkilleon recognized some people. The first was Corto and Yumi's mother Asajj Ventress, along with another pale woman, the zabrak woman with red horns and black hair Marris Brood, the two women wore their New Jedi robes with jacket-like robes over them. Maris was however sporting a pair of jedi shoulder armor with a leather jerkin over her chest possibly made from rancor hide. The towering Harch battlemaster Nareua Stormblade stood their robes, his muscular harry arms, his apprentice Fatima stood behind him, all eight of them folded over his broad, Ventus stood their with his padawan Kraggen who gave a nod with Fatima following.

The third jedi who was already sitting was a figure in dark black robes, her face hidden by a hood, the two standing women turned "Shall we begin already?" Asajj asked.

Ahkilleon looked at the mysterious figure in all black, "Begin what, Masters?" Ahkilleon asked them.

Maris cocked a brow, "Wait, the kids have never done this before?"
"No time like the present." Lord Asimov said before he turned to the woman in black who rose up, hood still obscuring their face "Wouldn't you agree Barris?" Barriss gave a nod and she sat down,the other jedi all formed a circle.

Then the stranger in black rose up, removing their hood. It was another woman with green skin, diamond markings across her nose and chin with deep blue eyes. A miralian, Ahkilleon looked at her deep blue eyes as she met his green ones, "Barriss… Offee?" Ahkilelon asked.

The woman nodded "In the flesh." She said in a soft calm voice, her hair was brown but with almost blueish tint, cut short and combed over her garments under the robe were snug and rose up to her neck, something similar to a traditional mirallian garment except for the head covering Ahkilleon knew them to wear, "I thought… I mean."
"That I was dead, many do."
"Master Offee lives on Arcadia near Bastion Temple, but stays in the woods." Maris said Ahkilleon remembered seeing a dark figure pass through the woods when he was first training with Turok, what felt like a lifetime ago now. "That was you?"
Barriss didn't nod, she looked at Asimov, "No time like the present, we will begin." Barriss said sitting.

Ahkilleon looked at Kraggen and Fatima, "What is this?"
"It's a Seeker Circle." Fatima said as Naruea and her sat down, so did the rest of them along with Lord Asimov, so Ahkilleon did so too. "Caliban has made it a point to hide himself, but the Council wants him brought back alive for questioning, if possible." Maris said.

Lord Asimov titled his helmet toward her, "No, we know Maris, Caliban will never be taken alive. I have given the order to my fleet to shoot him with stun bolts onsight, per General Freeman's orders. But his ship will be crawling with his assassins."
"And now we will endeavor to find it." Barriss said as she placed her hands on her knees, "We must open ourselves to the force, allow it to guide us to our goal, with all of us jedi assembled here we will be able to find him." Barriss said as she closed her eyes.

Everyone started to shut their eyes, masters and apprentices, "Focus on Caliban, his ship, focus." Barriss said as she guided the meditative circle, Ahkilleon could feel the force began to flow from the jedi, spiraling like a drain and he could feel the others thinking of Caliban, he sat down and joined the circle allowing the force to show him what he wanted to see in his mind's eye. The vision started to take shape, like a hologram but made of steam and wind, it blew around him he saw shapes, forms, but nothing distinction.

"Hmm I can't see him, he knows how to cloak his presence, we all do." Asajj said, arms crossed, opening her eyes.

The others stopped too, "Asajj is right, and nobody is better at hiding than Caliban."
"Not as good as Qu Rahn." Nareua said as the others, Ahkilleon felt some of the jedi look at him, he had killed Qu to save the militia from Thrawn's integrators and while Qu's spirit had forgiven him Ahkilleon still felt that weight on his chest.

"True, we hadn't considered we needed to use it on our own."

We need to focus, Caliban is no longer a jedi, we must go deeper." Lord Asimov said.

They resumed the meditation, and Ahkilleon joined him, they returned to the minds eyes and the blurry images returned, he could see figures moving back and forth, but they were like ghostly silhouettes shrouded in shadow, Ahkilleon focused on finding Caliban, but he knew that wasn't his real name, Ahkilleon opened himself to the force and focused, he focused on on the golden masked man of mystery, or the Subjugator with its hundreds of canons, it's mega ion canon, no he focused on someone who hadn't heard his name is many years.

"... Jinx…" Ahkilleon whispered out and suddenly the shadow and black smoke of the fog vanished, Ahkilleon was standing aboard the Subjugator bridge, Cabal agents passing around and through him, but he saw Caliban turning his gold mask and purple shrouded head. Behind him was a sea of stars, surrounded by a fog, no gas of some kind cloud obstruction. The Cabal II was swimming in an ocean of clouds above the stars, like a great shark.

Then Caliban saw him, Ahkilleon looked around the bridge for any sign or signal that would give a barring on where he was, coordinates on the bridge, nothing, he looked out the window and saw a jungle moon of some kind, and it had two smaller celestial bodies orbiting it. "Nice try." Caliban said before Ahkilleon felt himself blown back right onto Raxulon where he was looking up at the sky gasping for air like he'd been horse kicked out of the circle.

"I- saw I saw him." Ahkilleon said up and the other jedi rushed to him, "Where?" Asimov asked.

Ahkilleon coughed the wind knocked out of his lungs, "He's hiding… he- he's hiding in a gas giant, white clouds-" He wheezed, "A jungle moon, it… it has two moons too?" Ahkilleon asked.

The other jedi looked at one another, "Well done." Asimov said helping him to his feet, "Ventus, you and Kraggen go to the war council, tell them to look for a gas giant with a jungle moon, that has two of it's own moons, hurry."
Ventus slammed his fist over his chest in salute before he and Kraggen headed out, "Well done." Kraggen said patting Ahkilleon on the shoulder, "The rest of you, we must prepare." Asimov said as Warlord of the Jedi taking command, "Asimov, I'd speak with the boy." Barriss said to him.

Lord Asimov helped Ahkilleon regain his stamina with the force, "Very well, but Ahkilleon is no boy Barriss, he has become a fine young man, join us at the briefing when you're done Padawan." Lord Asimov said, heading off with the others.

Ahkilleon coughed a few more times to gain his breath while Barriss turned her back to look out at the gathering armada, Ahkilleon held his helmet under his arm following her to the edge of the balcony. "Master Offee?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Barriss please, your Master speaks highly of you, you're the talk of the Temple when I visit, seldom as that is." Barriss said as she looked him over, "Why is… oh." Ahkilleon asked, then remembered he knew this story.

Barriss nodded, "No doubt your mother told you what I did, my past sins, if she ever mentioned me."
"She did." Ahkilleon said, "Mostly about your adventures when you two were padawans." Ahkilleon said.

"I mourned her when she… passed." Barriss said looking forward "I wish I had a chance to make amends to her, you must know it is the greatest shame what I did, to her, and to you by proxy I wouldn't hold it against her or you if you hated me"

Ahkilleon clutched his helmet firmly, this woman, this thing beside him who stood tall but humble was the jedi padawan who bombed her own temple, killed fellow jedi, framed his mother which caused her to leave the order. "For what it's worth Master Of- Barriss, I don't think my mother hated you for what did, or for that matter do I. My mother taught me to fight for what you believe in."
"I believed in terrorism, if I had true courage like her, like your father I would have openly challenged the Jedi Council. Instead I was a coward."

Ahkilleon fidgeted, "Why tell me this?" Ahkilleon asked her.

"Because if Caliban has truly betrayed us, we could be facing another purge, better nothing left unsaid." She said backing away and heading away from the balcony.

Later Ahkilleon joined the others in the war council, the jedi, Asimov, Tuuk, Durd, Freeman, and a hologram of Admiral Trench.

"The Subjugator class cruisers were designed to withstand the full of over twenty Venator-class Republic Cruisers, single blast of its ion cannon being its greatest threat." Tuuk said as he explained in it in his almost robotic voice, that with his cybernetic eyes he was almost more computer than neimoidian.

Ahkilleon watched as General Freeman arrived with his azure guard and his son, Jay, "However we learned that its greatest strength is its greatest weakness." Tuuk said as he showed one of the warships in flight, flaming with Republic ships chasing after it, "The mega ion cannon can only fire starboard, and to port."

"So we use a pincer move, our two fleets from two directions?" Maris said looking at it.

Trench clicked his mandibles "No, click-click-click, this class warship has nearly over five hundred turbolasers, and click-click-click, we don't know what other modifications click-click-click, Caliban could have made." Trench explained.

"And whatever direction we attack from, the ship will move to take out the first fleet that comes at it." General Kleeve said as he paced around the holotable.

"We, you have a change of heart, Kleeve?" Lord Asimov asked him, "Caliban knows where Arcadia is, we all have people there we care about whatever ships I have, their yours Asimov, we could send the Owl's in, stealth warships have been able to work before?" Kleeve suggested.

Asimov shook his head, "No, I know Caliban, he knows how to hide and how to find those who are hiding, "What if we pulled a Skywalker?" Maris said.

"A Skywalker?" Ahkilleon asked, "A ludicrous plan that only Anakin Skywalker would try, last war he flew a fighter so close to the Malevolence it was almost through hallways."

"Skywalker was as skilled as he was lucky, and again Caliban would have prepared for that." Lord Asimov said leaning on the table, "Is there anything we 'can' do?" Jay asked them.

Fives turned to his son who stepped back having spoke out of turn, "I don't get it?" Fatima asked.

"What was that padawan?" Lord Asimov asked Fatima, her brown eyes wide behind her veil for speaking aloud, "If Caliban is the traitor, why not just tell the Empire where Arcadia is, we'd be distracted by any coming attacks to risk two fleets. He'd be able to slip away in the chaos?" Ahkilleon asked aloud.

Everyone looked to one another, "It's a fair question, my Lord?" Ventus said with Kraggen nodding.

"It's his trump card, Caliban could have already given it to the Empire for all we know and Arcadia has been put on high alert already, regardless he must be stopped." Lord Asimov said.

"But how?" Fives asked again.

Ahkilleon's eyes got wide and sighed, "Masters, Generals, Admirals I… I may have an idea." Ahkilleon said.

"Well out with it click-click-click my boy?" Trench said.

"Caliban knows the Militia, he knows our strategies, our strength. We need to think outside the box, do something not even Caliban or any of us would expect, something ridiculous." Ahkilleon said to them, everyone paused. "Do we know any experts in 'ridiculous'?"

Ahkilleon nodded and scratched his forehead "Fortunately, I do."

ATOLLON

Chopper Base

"That has to be the worst, bone headed, insane, mind numbing, brain breaking idea I have ever heard of." Zeb said to the holograms of Lord Asimov, Ahkilleon, Kleeve, Tuuk, Trench and Fives Freeman. They were speaking to the spectre's minus Sabine, with Commander Sato at the holotable of their base's hanger. It was night on Atollon and the interior of the base was illuminated by overhead lights, "We are out of options, and out of time, we have tracked the Cabal II to Ajara, a gas giant planet located in the Ajara system within the Cademimu sector, it's orbited by the jungle moon Ajan Kloss, which had two moons itself." Asimov said to them.

Hera frowned "And you can verify this?" she asked.

"My padawan found it, and I trust in his instincts." Asimov said, patting Ahkilleon's shoulder.

"And I trust this is a bad idea." Kanan said to Hera and the others, "We agreed to trade and provide intel to the Militia for supplies, the agreement we'd aid in military issues, especially what you would call an internal militia affair, is asking too much." Commander Sato said to them.

The rebels murmured among themselves "We aren't asking you to participate, we need help coming up with a plan, Hera, and unfortunately we need something… extreme." Ahkilleon said as he looked over to the grand strategist he had in mind "But this, but him, have you lost your mind." Hera said as they looked down to the thing that Ahkilleon had suggested to come up with a plan.

The astro droid namedChopper, "This is an… unorthodox idea." Mar Tuuk said adjusting his cybernetic spectacle.

"But it is the last thing Caliban would expect us to do, when was the last time any of us took tactical advice from an old astro droid?" Kleeve prompted.

Chopper made some indecent remarks in binary and Kleeve smirked, "My mistake, not old, but a veteran."

"This droid does not have the tactical capabilities we require to pull off such a feat, we must board the vessel no?" Tuuk deduced, "Even if we send a thousand boarding pods the Ion cannon, the turbo lasers, and its own crew wouldn't be enough to get past."

Kanan stroked his beard, as Rex spoke "Then use a distraction like last time, General Skywalker flew a squadron of Y bombers behind the ship and was able to take out the ion cannon."
"Do you not think I have considered every option possible clone?" Tuuk asked him, "And so has Caliban, this is a fools errand coming here, General." Tuuk said to Fives who frowned at the clone comment.

"That is, unless Chopper has a plan?" Ahkilleon asked the droid who cocked its oculus at him, "Think of it Chopper, the biggest baddest ship in the Militia, beaten by you and more importantly if it works, the Militia will owe you?" Ahkilleon asked the droid.

The droid scratched his cranium, "This is insane." Tuuk added as Chopper came to a decision, the droid drew up to the holotable, plugged in and started to relay messages. Tuuk downloaded them into his synaptic drives and started to read through them at supersonic speed, so did Trench "Hmmm click-click-click, interesting?" Trench said.

"This is…. Very…. Very unorthodox." Tuuk said before Ahkillen got the plans, "It's mad." Ahkilleon said, handing a datapad to Lord Asimov, "And it just might work."

AJARA

CABAL II

Caliban sat aboard his vessel, the great subjugator class cruiser crusher, hovering over the gas clouds of Ajara, the white backdrop of the world making his ship appear as a silhouette. "How much longer, Emissary?" Caliban asked as he looked out at various different shuttles boarding the ship.

The emissary turned his red horned devil mask to him, "Not much my lord, many spies are already boarded, and the Chiss Ascendancy has agreed to give us sanctuary until-" suddenly alarms went off and the Emissary spun around to see over a dozen Militia warships dropping out of hyperspace, the Vanguard "Damn." Caliban said as everyone turned to him.

"Battlestations, get the ship ready to jump to hyperspace." Caliban said "Prime the mega ion cannon, if Asimov thinks I'll make it easy he's greatly mistaken." Caliban said as the agents and masked men began running around to follow his orders.

The emissary looked down at his dashboard, "Incoming transmission sir."
"Send it through" Caliban said, three holograms of Lord Asimov "Ah my old comrade Asimov, come to see me off?" Caliban asked.

Lord Asimov had his armored arms folded, "This is your only chance, Caliban, to spare your men and your ship. Surrender now, prepare to be boarded and face your crimes." Asimov closed his glove into a tight fist to show his resolve.

"And answer to your idea of 'justice', I don't think so." Caliban said.

The transmission was cut off, and Caliban returned to his commanders seat, back aboard the flotilla flagship, the Shatterpoint, the three fleets began to move forward, the Vanguard sigil of the Jedi, the red One Eyed Devil and the silver circle of the Free Company. "Mega Ion Cannon ready to fire in ten seconds." the Emissary said as they saw the fleet starting to move to the left.

"They're broadsiding, raising shields." the Emissary said as the Ion Cannon was ready, "Fire."

The mega ion cannon unleashed a blast of electrical purple energy that expanded in size like a great disk of death hurling itself to the Vanguard fleet and it jumped to hyperspace. "What happened?" Caliban asked to get to his feet.

"Vanguard has left the sector, why?" the Emissary asked before he could get an answer another alarm went off, "We have another fleet dropping out of hyperspace, flanking us." Caliban walked over to the portside window to see another Militia fleet appearing, opening fire immediately on the Cabal II's engines. "One Eyed Devil's, coming in fast." the fleet was smaller than the Vanguard but it's lighter frigates and corvettes allowed it to fly in quicker as the massive cruiser tried to wheel around.

Caliban went back to his chair, "Launch fighters, prepare to rebel against any boarding craft."

The Cabal II flew upwards from Ajara leaving the clouds and started to turn about its gigantic body moving slowly so its hundreds of turbolasers could lock on, the shields getting hammered. The One Eyed Devil's fleet split around on the ship on all sides as the Cabal II opened fire only for the smaller frigate fleet of Devil's to jump to hyperspace.

"Again?" The emissary asked.

"Hmm?" Caliban hummed to himself as the Emissary looked to him, "Hard to starboard, now!" Caliban shouted just as the Free Company fleet dropped out of hyperspace, six Providence Class Mk II dreadnoughts dropped out of hyperspace opening fire on the cruiser crusher. They opened fire and veered left.

"All turbolasers direct fire on the third fleet." The emissary said.

Meanwhile outside the system, the Vanguard fleet was wheeling around, "Come on get the ships redirected." Admiral Zygote snapped aboard the Shatterpoints bridge.

One of his B5 droids turned to him, "Admiral the hyperdrive is overheated, we must allow it to cool off."
"Belay that." Zygote swung his claw back around "We need to get back to the fight."
Down in the hanger Lord Asimov was addressing his soldiers with Ahkilleon, "When we make the second jump we will launch droch pods alongside the Cabal II, preparing for heavy resistance and close quarter fighting." Lord Asimov stated "The Cabal are stealth fighters, they'll use stealth tech, so stay close and don't get separated."
Overhead the ship's intercom relayed in a droid voice "Prepare for Hyperspace jump." The alarms began to ring, Asimov held up a holodevice in his hand to show General Kleeve and Admiral Tuuk "Status?" Asimov asked.

"Our hyperdrives are taking a beating, but we made the jump." Kleeve said.

Tuuk then added "My fleet has engaged the enemy, preparing to jump." Tuuk said.

Asimov paused, "Then it's working." Lord Asimov said, "Who'd think that using hyperdrive to hit and run would be effective against one ship?" Commander Sigma said alongside some of the men.

"That's chopper for you, if the plan doesn't get the enemy killed, it'll get us killed." Ahkilleons said as they waited for the jump.

"When we board we must secure all major support functions of the ship, engines, hyperdrive, live support, the stardeck and primarily the bridge. Caliban also has a group of Mandalorian bodyguards, formerly Deathwatch, so be prepared." Lord Asimov said.

There were many nods of agreement, before Ahkilleon fidgeted, "Master, a word?" Ahkilleon asked.

Asimov handed off the holodevice to Sigma and they stepped aside to speak in private, "What is it Ahkilleon?"

"I know that the General ordered Caliban captured, but I sense your anger, we will capture him, right. We have no idea what he's told the Empire?" Ahkilleon said to him in a practical sense.

"Perhaps, but he's too dangerous to be left alive. We can't leave anything to chance, if it comes to it we will have to kill him." Asimov said walking away.

"If we don't know what's compromised like Arcadia the whole Order could be in danger?" Ahkilleon asked.

Asimov stopped before he reached Sigma and the others, "... I will consider it, but at the moment we must-" Suddenly Tuuk's hologram shimmered and he turned, "Tuuk, what is it?" Lord Asimov asked.

"Our hyperdrive is unresponsive, we have been boarded by saboteurs we must-" Tuuk was fiddling with something in his commander's chair when they lost the signal.

"Get us back to Ajara!" Asimov shouted.

The Vanguard fleet made the jump straining the hyperdrive engine to it's max, as they flew back through hyperspace droch boarding pods began to get filled with Vanguard's finest, Asimov and Sigma took one pod with a squad, and Ahkilleon boarded his with Breacher and the Tigers. Boarding the vessel, the hyperspace void began to slow and they arrived back at Ajara to see the Free Company in flames, the Cabal II firing at the disabled ships.

"Damn, the Free Company must have been hit by the Mega Ion Cannon." Zygote said from the bridge down to the boarding pods.

Ahkilleon slipped his helmet on, "Ready men?"
"Ready sir." Breacher said as all the soldiers put their helmets on, close for close quarter combat.

Outside the ship the Shatterpoint and the Vanguard were at full speed to the Cabal II, when it saw the Vanguard fleet coming toward them "Redirect all fire power to the Shatterpoint, we kill Asimov they'll break." The emissary commanded.

"Raise shields." Zygote said as the Shatterpoint and other Vanguard ships closed the distance to the Cabal, the ships came alongside the massive Subjugator three times their size "Fire pods!"

An in an instance hundreds of droch boarding pods launched from the Vanguard fleets like great ticks swarming over a larger animal, dozens were lost in turbo laser fire and the others shook, Ahkilleon was strapped down in his seat with Breacher, the ship shaking through space before a heavy lurch of metal cutting through metal, the lower door swirled open to the inside of a ship "Go, go, go." Ahkilleon shouted, jumping from his seat and into a metal hallway.

Coming out lightsabers drawn, down the hallway they saw other droch ships had made contact and were starting to board with B5 droids and regulars. "Master, we made it, but I think we're on a different level."

"Roger, Roger, Padawan, make your way to the hyperdrive core, Sigma and I will head for the bridge." Lord Asimov ordered.

Ahkilleon nodded "Roger, Roger." Ahkilleon replied before he turned to the Tigers and other soldiers "Let's move."

The vanguard began to spread out across the ship and as they didn't encounter any resistance, Asimov and Sigma headed toward the interior of the ship that had a massive tram system to move ammo and supplies through the ship when suddenly the lights went out. Asimov drew his lightsaber and the Militia forces switched to night vision. "No visuals." Sigma said blasters raised as they looked around the trams, "Switch to thermals." Asimov ordered.

The men did so and suddenly they saw hundreds of figures in body heat signatures, "Contact!" Sigma shouted opening fire.

Up above Ahkillelon and the others could hear fighting throughout the ship, "Stealth tech, thermals now." Ahkilleon said when he sensed something, he spun around with his red and blue sabers skewering an invisible enemy. The stealth field disintegrated and a black clad Cabal agent with a sword was there.

One of the tigers went down, stabbed in the back and they opened fire, "Move, move, stay together." Ahkilleon ordered as Cabal agents appeared everywhere from thin air.

Outside the One Eyed Devil's fleet had returned to see the Vanguard ships wheeling around the back to avoid the Ion Canon's on the left and right, Kleeve saw the remnants of the Free Company, "Damn, contact the Free Company to see if their are any survivors." Kleeve ordered Kalani to stand behind him.

"It is unlikely any survived, the efficiency of the Malevolence was-" "Kalani, now." Kleeve said as his frigates swarmed around the vessel, "Send every fighter we have, focus on taking out the cannons."

The vulture droids and Hawk fighters soared out of the frigates and toward the Cabal II, Kleeve keeping one eye on the wreckage of the once proud Free Company, "The Merchant Alliance will be furious."
"Indeed." Kalani said.

Kleeve cocked his head to him, the devearonian man looked around and drew closer "If you have something to say Kalani, now or never?"

"It is a coincidence isn't it? The Merchant Alliance's many military patrons eliminated by a rogue entity in one swoop?" Kalani asked him, Kleeve turned away "Focus on the battle at hand Kalani."

"Roger, Roger, sir."

Aboard the ship, Asimov and Sigma were fighting through a sea of Cabal agents "Push forward, we must reach the bridge." Asimov shouted as he and a dozen his men jumped on one of the tram rails and sped off.

Up above them Ahkilleon was in no better positon, Breacher and the tigers followed him "Flamethrowers, flamethrowers!" Breacher shouted as his men came up with the fire breathing weapons, squeezing the trigger they sprayed out in front of them igniting the invisible Cabal agents who started to scream and throw themselves at the Tigers. Ahkilleon cut down three in a series of strikes and rushed a dozen more spinning in a hurricane of red and blue laser swords till he was separated from the others. "This way." Ahkilleon told them

Ahkilleon ran on ahead when he heard the door slam shut down behind him, "Breacher!" Ahkilleon ran back hearing fighting on the other side of the door, he stabbed his lightsaber into the door and another blast door slammed shut and he had to take his blue lightsaber out, before it could smash the emitter.

"Breacher can you-" Ahkilleon heard nothing but static, "Jammed, damn."
He froze feeling a chill run up his spin. Turning around he saw a figure in the shadows of the dim hallway walking toward him, "Good, now we can talk." Caliban said.

Ahkilleon charged without a second of hesitation, "Or not?" Caliban dodged his lightsabers like a snake moving and weaving out of the way hands behind his, his purple robes flapping as he dodged. "I've got nothing to say to a snake like you."
"Snake huh, and here I thought you rebels had more wit?" Caliban asked as Ahkilleon drew back his hand and sent a bolt of force lighting at evaded it again and again his speed astonishing to the eye, Ahkilleon slashed and cut at empty air every time he struck Caliban was two steps ahead of him at every move, "I'm Militia, a War Jedi of the Vanguard." Ahkilleon snapped when Caliban flipped over him using one bandaged hand to land gracefully ten feet away down the hall.

Caliban rose up turning hands behind his back, "So, does that mean you won't listen."
"I've got nothing to say to you." Ahkilleon said.

Caliban sighed and popped his neck, "It's a blessing your parents never saw what you've become, Ahkilleon Tano." Caliban drew his bandaged arms out and was holding not one lightsaber in each hand, but two? Ahkilleon heard a series of clicking and hydraulics starting to activate "The first Subjugator that the jedi destroyed was helmed by General Grievous, a Kaleesh cyborg. We discovered in many Separatist safehouses copies of his cybernetics, specifically designed to fight jedi." Caliban said as the bandages tore, revealing mechanical arms that were splitting from shoulder to fingertip, his five fingered hands splitting down the middle finger into three claws holding the four sabers. His legs extended and bowed back in double joints like a mechanical animal getting taller. "I've made some modifications." Caliban said turning on the lightsabers,four orange lightsabers appeared.

"Orange? Not red?" Ahkilleon said aloud.

Caliban lunged his mechanical hind legs rocketing him off the metal floor lok a cannonball, Ahkilleon dodged and the cyborg whirled around faster clashing his sabers against Ahkilleon who blocked two and had to dodge the third and fourth, "Surprised, or did mommy tell you that the bad guys carried the red ones and good guys the blue?"

Barrel rolling away from Caliban's orange blades "So what does that make you, boy?"

"Makes me dangerous." Ahkilleon responded changing forms to the more aggressive makashi running at him and striking his sabers like spearsat Caliban, who dodged, blocked and parried.

They fought their way down the corridor moving from form to form, Ahkilleon switched to shein just in time to block all four lightsabers, "Dangerous, every young arrogant apprentice thinks they're the next Revan?"

"And what about you, the next Grievous, a monster, who turned himself into a machine for power, sold his soul to a Sith Lord for what? FOR WHAT?" Ahkilleon barke. Caliban took a step with his mechanical lizard like legs, Ahkilleon tried to press up on the slick metal floor but it was all his strength just to stay up right while Caliban pushed him back and spoke.

"Sold my soul, arrogant boy?" Caliban growled behind his golden mask brown eyes bruning behind dark rimmed eye holes, "I was there at The Last Charge of the Black Knights, fought against the endless tides of clones. We held the line, I watched as your father, my friend, my brother risked all to stop the Empire but it wasn't enough, it was never enough, Jinx wasn't enough."

Caliban started to run pushing Ahkilleon down the hallway his boots grinding down on the metal floor, loud screeching while they passed hallway after hallway, fighting spread out through the ship before Ahkilleon dropped sliding between Caliban's legs. "Fifteen years preparing, planting spies across the Empire, Hutts, Syndicates and all of it compromised because Turok and Asimov wanted you, 'Jedi King'?"

"I never claimed to be a King." Ahkilleon said getting up, Caliban turned around and ran his metal fleet leaving claw marks in the floor as he moved to the walls and then the ceiling, using all fore blades in a typhonic assault down another hallway, "You think I don't know ambition when I see it, why else would you swear yourself to Asimov, he's practically groomed you to succeed him."

Ahkilleon paired and blocked till he saw an elevator hatch opening up with black B5 battle droids, he broke off the fight and ran for the elevator shaft, Caliban scuttling behind him on all six limbs like a giant metal insect. Ahkilleon, using the force he ripped the doors off to pull them into the droids, smashing them, leaping into the hatch just before Caliban skewered the wall aiming for him. Ahkilleon used the force to leap up the elevator shaft Caliban using his hydraulics and own force power to chase after him. The two moved like bullets ricocheting off the walls and beams avoiding elevators whooshing up and down, Ahkilleon saw one go up past him and Caliban about to pounce, he severed the cord just in time to have it crash down on Caliban. He continued up the shafts before arriving at the top, Ahkilleon saw they had run out of shafts and burst out the main door onto the bridge!

"Master, I've made it to the bridge." Ahkilleon said his comlink was working again "What- you were supposed to be at the hyperdrive core?" Lord Asimov asked, still fighting the agents of Caliban. "Well I got attacked, by Caliban and-" Ahkilleon finally noticed he wasn't alone on the bridge, the Emissary was there along with the Cabals entire bridge crew. "Kill him!" the Emissary shouted "Talk later."
Ahkilleon drew up his lightsabers and was attacked on all sides by the Cabal, their vibro swords and blasters drawn, Ahkilleon made quick work of any B5 battle droids, and killed the agents of the Cabal their bird masks hiding their shrieking mouths as he hacked, stabbed and cut them down till it was just the Emissary.

The devil masked agent crossed his arms over his chest his fists tightened and foot in a half arm blades popped out of his sleeves, he attacked with various punches, jabs and hooks leaping around the monitors and commanders chair, Caliban chased after him slashing the chair down before he attacked the Emissary. "Years of loyal service, years of secrecy and you jedi hundreds of Cabal agents who died taking our secrets to the grave, and you have the audacity to come here- have you no shame!" The Emissary back flipped onto the thick glass of the bridge with heavy dog fighting taking place out in space.

"You act like we're traitors?" Ahkilleon yelled as his blades vibrated against Ahkilleon's, "Don't act dumb jedi." the Emissary swung up his boot another hidden blade popping up and nearly cutting Ahkilleons throat while the agent backflipped, Ahkilleon spun away when he saw another strike coming, Ahkilleon grabbed him with the force and slammed him into the ground than the ceiling, the snapping of bones echoing, blood spurting out from behind the mask.

Ahkilleon panting, winded from the fight with Caliban, the Emissary and all the others caught his breath. Before he could ask what the man meant the elevator doors burst open to reveal Caliban his purple robes slightly torn, his hulking skeletal cybernetic frame still very much functioning. Caliban raised his lower left arm and Ahkilleon felt the force coming from him, but instead Caliban yanked the Emissary towards the elevator, which opened to an open car. Caliban waved his hand making it go down, taking the Emissary away.

"Enough of this." Caliban said stomping toward Ahkilleon "Asimov thinks I'm going to give him the Militia, let him hand it over to you?"
"I don't want it, I want the Galaxy free of the Empire and people like you, lying, backstabbing traitors. Who hide behind masks and shadows saying whatever they want to get ahead." Ahkilleon spun his lightsabers back around in a forward grip.

Caliban attacked again, but this time Ahkilleon was ready he wasn't going to get sucked into another duel like last time, he remembered Asimov on Thrawn's flagship, the way he used the force not as a tool, but a weapon, snapping necks, crushing men in their armor. Ahkilleon raised his hand and grabbed hold of Caliban reaching not for his lightsabers or to slam him into the ground Ahkilleon focused on the inside of Caliban and when he felt something soft, and warm he crushed his fingers tight around his lightsaber.

"Graa-" Caliban coughed stumbling forward, Ahkilleon saw sparks fly from his robes, an opening Ahkilleon didn't waste, putting Caliban on the defensive at last, Caliban rotated one of his lightsabers in his upper left hand but Ahkilleon slashed the lightsaber arm off, more sparks. "You may look like Grievous, but even he trained." Ahkilleon said as he felt one of Caliban's metal feet kick him square in the chest of his armor. Ahkilleon forced the air to stay in his lungs somersaulting over the broken commander's chair. Caliban hurled himself up landing his metal foot on the broken chair, Ahkilleon focused on the joints of his metal legs and crushed it with the force making Caliban stumble.

Ahkilleon ran at him, and slashed off the two right arms "When was the last time you trained, or fought another Jedi?" Ahkilleon asked.

Caliban used his last lightsaber to hack and slash madly at Ahkilleon, "Don't answer that." Ahkilleon said cutting off the last hand leaving Caliban with four stumps before Ahkilleon backed away enough to draw back as much force power he could muster to knock Caliban off his feet, Ahkilleon tore at the cybernetics, bending the metal and twisting it until it broke. Caliban stifling scream after scream before finally Ahkilleon flung him like a rag doll. Caliban crashed backwards into the monitors and seats of the bridge, his cybernetic arms going haywire, sparking and fidgeting; only one of the stubs managed to work as he tried to prop himself up. His wrappings and purple silks were in shreds, some of them singed from the lightsaber marks still burning away to reveal more of his cybernetic body. Ahkilleon leapt over the wreckage by the glass lightsabers raised "Yield, I don't want to kill you but I will." Ahkilleon snapped.

The spymasters voice box, damaged from the battle sparked and sizzled, the golden mask cracked "You-zzt you-you- fucking idiot."

Ahkilleon watched as the cyborg moved one of his other arms, he had no hands let alone fingers left, moving to his cracked golden mask. Ahkilleon pressed a button on his comlink, "Master, I've secured the bridge, I'm taking Caliban into custody."

"Well done apprentice." Asimov's voice said from the doorway up the elevator on the other side of the bridge, his master had arrived with Sigma and the elite guard of the Vanguard, Sigma headed over to a monitor to check the status of the battle "We've secured the engines, life support and Hyperspeed core, turning off the turbolasers… it's over." Sigma sighed.

Ahkilleon backed up a bit as the men aimed their blasters on Caliban, who was snickering, "Poor P-p-poor Petro-zzt, the inquisitors did better work than I th-th-thought." Caliban said as he looked up.

"Quiet you fucking traitor." Sigma said as he pulled out some manacles to cuff him, "Stand down General Sigma." Asimov said to, "Ahkilleon, kill him."

"Master, please?" Ahkilleon asked.

Asimov stood there, looking at Caliban "Kill him now.'
Ahkilleon looked back at Caliban, "Oh… this is-is-is-is-zzt in-interesting." Caliban said as he sat up a on his knees, "That's what you were after-r-r-r Asimov, hmhm I should have known."
"What is he talking about?" Ahkilleon asked his Master.

"Nothing, the dog has gone mad, he betrayed us on Naboo, the same way he betrayed us to the Empire. Kill him." Asimov ordered

Sigma removed his helmet, setting it down and stepped back, heading Lord Asimov's command, "Do it kid, he doesn't deserve mercy." Sigma said, spitting on the ground, Ahkilleon looked at the clones face, he knew it wasn't Rex, but the voice, the eyes, it felt similar but he knew it wasn't.

Ahkilleon looked back at Caliban who coughed, then spat out blood before keeling over his golden mask falling off in fractured pieces, "Do it."

"No… This is wrong, we can't." Ahkilleon said as he looked back, "He has to stand trial, there has to be justice for what he's done."

"This is justice, no mercy for fascists, no mercy for traitors!" Asimov told him again hand up pointing at Asimov, "This 'thing' betrayed everything he swore to uphold, he sent men, our men to their deaths."

Ahkilleon saw Caliban try to rise up but his body was to damaged, his golden mask clattering and shattering to the floor. The face revealing what was once a blue skinned twi'lek named Jinks was a pale salty teal with cybernetic implants, around the jaw, holes where a nose should be, two robotic eyes and many scars. "We take him prisoner and the High Command let him slip through his fingers, he's too dangerous to be left alive." Asimov told him and repeated "Do your duty, and kill him."
Caliban's optics met Ahkilleons green eyes "Oh… oh no-zzt." He said as his voice short circuited from high to low frequencies, "You zzt p-p-poor boy…zzzt he didn't tell you." Caliban glitched out.

"Tell us what?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Kill him Commander, he'll say anything to save his own hide." Sigma grunted, "Do it sir." another one yelled, "Kill'em!" one yelled, Ahkilleon could feel their blood lust, their anger, their pain. Was this from his battle meditation or was it from knowing or thinking Caliban was the reason so many of their brothers and sisters died on Naboo, on a dozen worlds, Ahkilleon stood over Caliban lightsabers drawn looking down at the defeated opponent "He's…. lying to you." Caliban wheezed "Shut up." Sigma kicked Caliban in the face breaking the voice box of his neck.

"End him, Ahkilleon." Lord Asimov commanded in a low tone

Slowly Ahkilleon felt his arm raise, his red lightsaber in hand, the hum of the red energy the shouts and yells for blood from Vanguard, the heavy gaze of Asimov and Caliban looked up at him with the cybernetic optics and closed his eyes, "I won't." Ahkilleon turned his lightsabers off, dropping them, he took his helmet off and tossed it away "This is wrong, all of you stand down." Ahkilleon almost shouted to everyone.

He turned to Asimov, "This is not the Jedi way, he must stand trial."

"You would defend him, after he tried to kill you, Sabine, and all of us?" Sigma asked him.

"No, I'd see him brought before a court, his crimes laid bare for all to judge. If we can't give justice to our own, then what are we fighting for?" Ahkilleon said, arms outstretched, "I know you are not the monster he says you are Master, that everyone says you are. Petro was a Jedi and you are two, deep down I know you know this is wrong." Ahkilleon begged.

Lord Asimov stood there, his helmet hiding his face, "I was wrong." Lord Asimov said.

"What?" Sigma asked, "Just say the word, my Lord and I'll do it." Sigma said blaster pointed at Caliban who sat kneeling. Ahkilleon felt a wave of relief wash over him, Asimov stepped forward to Ahkilleon and put one hand on his shoulder "No Sigma, it was too much to ask Ahkilleon to do it, we all know if you want something done right."

Ahkilleon looked up with hope at his Master, "You do it yourself." Ahkilleon saw a flash of yellow, and looked down to see Lord Asimov had turned his great saber on the long yellow laser sword sticking out the hilt and right into Caliban's chest.

"No" Ahkilleon dropped to his knees over Caliban, Caliban turned off his lightsaber letting Caliban fall to the floor dead, "We were supposed to take him alive." Ahkilleon said.

"He resisted." Sigma said, "He was beaten." Ahkilleon snapped, before Caliban with his dying breath raised his severed arm up toward Asimov, his voice box crackling out one final gasp of life "tt-tr-tra-tra-tra-... traitor-r-r-" Ahkilleon looked back to Lord Asimov and a horrible feeling ran over him, the juggernaut towered over him "Master?"

"I was wrong, wrong to assume you could be the Jedi King." Asimov said, Sigma and the men stood back "But if you want something done right, you need to do it yourself."

Ahkilleon looked to his lightsaber but the flew off the floor not towards him but to Asmov, and with one thrust of his hand Ahkilleon was sent off the floor with Caliban through the reinforced glass of the bridge, out into space.