|
(7.25) Changing Winds
(7.25) Changing Winds
GRS Republic
Republic Flagship, Heavy Carrier
Reich Occupied Space
Mid-Rim World of Bothawui
22nd September, 1938
The battle for Bothawui first started when elements of the Reich's elite Tenth Panzer Army stormed across the boarders and faced off with the lightly equipped and undermanned fifteenth People's Army. Bothawui was a highly prized world on both sides. However, only one side at the start of the battle truly knew what it took to secure the world from the other. The Reich played its most valuable asset on the table before the battle of Bothawui could start. They unleashed their intelligence agency and turned a large portion of the population against the Varl overlords of the world. However, like the master strategists that they are, the Reich held back these partisans from spreading needless violence. Instead, they smuggled in trainers and special forces to work side by side with these partisans. Long before the Tenth Panzer Army took to their transports, the battle for Bothawui had already begun. Before the Great Galactic War, battles were triggered once a enemy unit arrived in system and changed the defending unit. Normally the two forces would take days to line up their defenders and prepare for the coming battle. The days of the Gentleman's War was long gone as the Reich changed the rules of war.
The Reich had little difficulty finding former slaves and former slave soldiers that had a grudge against the Varl and were looking for some pay back. Months before the actually battle was to take place, cells of partisan were starting their training for the coming battle. In the shadows of the large defensive complexes, Reich spies walked taking their measurements and images. History will write of the Reich invasion of Bothawui as 'The invasion so destined to succeed, still it was a failure due to countless miss opportunities and lack of solid leadership.' With all of their intelligence in hand and partisans ready to do their part, the Tenth Panzer Army under the command of Field Marshal Rederich Barth took to their transports. While the Tenth Panzer Army had over a hundred thousand troops and supporting armor, Field Marshal Barth felt that only half of the army was needed to take and secure Bothawui. It was a huge gamble with much at risk, however the Reich commander was right. The intelligence offered showed that the Varl's Fifteenth Army was not fully manned nor did they have the most up to date armor. Instead he sent the rest of his army to conquer the Varl world of Kothlis. A move that will hold importance in the months to come.
As the naval forces of the Tenth Panzer Army entered the Bothawui system, the Reich had two major concerns. First they had to disable the Varl System wide defense grid or their ships would not be able to reach the world itself. This task was left to the partisans and Reich special forces. As the large carriers of the Reich closed in on the world, there was a large sigh of relief when the massive anti-ship guns of the Defense Grid remained silent. The partisans and special forces had done their jobs. However Field Marshal Barth received troubling news from his advance forces. They had been able to disable the Defense Grid, but not completely. It was very likely that the Varl could repair the command and control centers and return the grid to operation sometime later during the battle. The warning was taken in stride as Field Marshal Barth commented that once they captured the world, repairing the Grid would be useful should the Varl attempt to recapture the world. He never considered the weight of the warning nor the fact that he could possibly fail to secure the world.
The second orbital priority was the the two naval anchorages in orbit. Here the large regional defense units were lined up. The Reich had hoped to catch the Varl with their pants down. Timing and surprise were still on the Reich's side and the Varl were indeed caught unaware of the coming battle. For the Varl, the coming defeat was nothing short of lack of attention to Galactic events and not heeding the advice of military leaders. Both orbital anchorages were ill prepared for the coming waves of Reich fighters. While the General Varl Assembly had demanded changes to all defenses to include defending against attacking fighters. These changes for Bothawui were slated to start late in the summer of nineteen thirty eight. Sadly for the defenders of Bothawui, the Reich choose to attack nearly three months before construction on new anti-fighter systems could begin. This left the defense of the anchorages to the ships moored within them.
Using their swarm tactics, the Reich fighters hammered the defending Varl ships over and over again as the ships attempted to escape the trap which their anchorages had become. Ignoring the direct orders of both the System Commander and the Anchorage Commander, the most senior Varl naval commander turned the remaining Varl ships for deep space and fled the devastation. Of the sixteen Varl ships, eleven were able to escape to fight another day. Two were destroyed before they had a chance to power up their main engines. Three refused to abandon the world and attempted to fight off the overwhelming odds. One ship was turned to a burning wreck over Bothawui while the last two were captured by Reich forces. As the Varl ships were attempting to flee the system nine ships of the Bothan Rebel fleet arrived to assist in the invasion. While they were late from the original time, they were in a prefect position to stop the fleeing Varl ships. Field Marshal Barth ordered them to move on the world of Bothawui and support landing operations while his own forces mopped up the few remaining Varl system defense crafts. Once more a choice that could have changed the over all out come of this battle. Once more, a missed opportunity for the Reich and a moment of salvation for the Varl.
With the space above the world of Bothawiu secured and the Defense Grid helpless to stop the landings, the forces of the Reich's elite Tenth Panzer made their landings at the Armush Heights just outside of the planetary capital. For their credit, a large detachment of the Fifteenth rushed to meet the invaders at the Armush Heights. Under the command of Comrade Marshal Bok, the Fifteenth faced the landing Reich forces and had a chance to truly stop the Reich invasion. Marshal Bok lined his units up in such a way that the Reich Tenth Panzers were unable to muster after landing. It appeared as if the Reich invasion was dead on landing as Marshal Bok pushed harder against the Reich units. Those units on the ground were quickly pressed up against the units that were attempting to disembark off of their transports. It was a very daring move that was now paying off for the Varl as the Fifteenth used the siltation to their advantage. That was till the Bothan Rebel Fleet came in low and engaged the Fifteenth. Without direct air support, Marshal Bok was forced to withdraw his battered forced to the west and away from the city. The elements of the Fifteenth under the command of Marshal Bok were ravaged by the large guns of the Bothans and driven further and further from the Reich landing zones.
With Marshal Bok's units in full retreat, Field Marshal Barth gave his unit a chance to regroup while the rest of his units made their landings. By the end of the first day, Field Marshal Barth had blasted the Varl space defenses apart and secured the system. He also had established his foot hold on the world and was ready to move forward. He gave his unit the night to prepare for the final siege on the capital and total victory over the world. During the night, the Tenth Panzer were met up with their Bothan allies which doubled their numbers. The fifteenth were now hopelessly out numbered against the combined forces of the Reich and Bothan troops. Field Marshal Barth knew that he needed to secure the capital and the System Defense Grid Command Center to the south of the city. According to his spies, the Fifteenth were going to attempt to put up a defense within the Capital. One of his senior field officers submitted an idea that would call for the Tenth to circle around the capital and make a rapid push for the Command Center. This would allow the Bothans to face off with the Fifteenth and lay claim to the capital. The plan was sound and would have changed the events of this battle drastically. However, Field Marshal Barth was not about to allow a lesser race capture such a prize. His reply to the idea was clear, "Capturing this world will change the course of this war. It could very well spell the end to the Varl threat once and for all. No, Capturing the Capital and through it, this world, shall be the prize of the Tenth Panzer Army. And no other."
The following morning, Field Marshal Barth unleashed a bombardment on the capital city that rocked the ground for hundreds of miles. Within minutes, key positions of defense within the city were laid to ruin as well the soldiers of the Fifteenth. After an hour of the bombardment, the order was given for the Tenth Panzer to move on the city. The Bothan army were held in reserve as the battle for the city was joined. The battle was short lived as the green troops of the Fifteenth had courage and died at their posts. Still they lacked experience as the elite soldiers of the Tenth made short work of these green troops. By midday the remains of the Fifteenth were all but in full route. The retreat was a mix of chaos and terror. Still there were some soldiers that held their ground regardless of their fate. These few brave soldiers paid with their lives so that the others would have a chance to retreat from the city. By the late after noon, the remains of the Fifteenth in the city had been pressed in to a few pockets that were no longer a threat to the Tenth or their plans. The Bothan Army was called in to clean up these pockets of resistance as the Tenth cut a path of death and destruction through the remainder of the city. Field Marshal Barth took the Mayor's surrender personally from his tank as it set on the steps of the City Hall. Field Marshal Barth finally turned his unit for the last major obstacle to Reich occupation. The System Defense Grid Command Center.
With the setting sun to their eyes, Field Marshal Barth turned his unit for the Command Center and pushed them for glory. Less than an hour after the Tenth had left the city, scouts reported a large enemy column heading for the left flank of the Tenth. Nothing in the intelligence reflected another other units on world other than the Fifteenth. If the Tenth didn't turn to face this new threat, they could find themselves flanked while they are trying to battle for the Command Center. If they turn to face the threat, than they waste what little time they had left to capture the site while they were helpless. Riding on luck and against the advice of his command staff, Field Marshal Barth ordered the Tenth to conduct a left flanking maneuverer. He also called up the Bothans from the city to help support this coming battle. Field Marshal Barth pressed his unit hard forward to meet this new threat at full speed. He wanted to put down the Varl defenders once and for all. "Once this battle is over, the world shall be ours boys. Forward! Full speed forward BOYS!" he commanded to his unit commanders. This was setting up for a major final battle and victory was in the wind. However the Reich were not the only ones with surprises. As Field Marshal Barth, to his horror would find out.
As the Tenth speed for the new unit, smoke and dust obscured visual identifications and jammers didn't make sensors any more useful. Only judging on the size, Field Marshal Barth could assume that the unit was at least equally as large as the Tenth if not slightly larger. As the two units became engaged in combat it became clear of the trick. The unit that the Tenth was finding themselves in combat with was the remains of Marshal Bok's battered units. They were badly out numbered but had used their vehicles to mask their actual size. The battle was very short lived once the Bothans arrived and out flanked Marshal Bok's forces. Even when all seemed hopeless, the remaining forces of the Fifteenth never surrendered or withdrew. They held the line against the Tenth and the Bothans till the bitter end. By night fall, the battle had turned to a slaughter as the Fifteenth lacked the ability to actually put up an affective defense. Near ten pm, Marshal Bok's command unit was hit with massive fire from a Bothan unit and Marshal Bok was killed. With the death of their commander, the tattered remains of the Fifteenth broke and fled for the near by woods. Those that couldn't surrendered to the Reich and Bothan forces.
With nothing else between him and the System Defense Grid Command Center, Field Marshal Barth ordered his Tenth and the Bothans regroup and prepared to end this battle. Just as the units had regrouped and started for the Command Center, horror filled the Field Marshal's face as the horizon lit up as a shimmering doom covered the Command Center. Field Marshal Barth ordered his ships to fire at the command center. They fired full broadsides with little effect, the shields held fast. The defensive walls were too think for his armor to over come. The Command Center was no longer helpless and the battle had just shifted from a sure thing to they could not hold the system. Through out the night, the Tenth nor the Bothans could not punch their way through the wall or the shield. With the coming light of the third day, the main guns of the Command Center drove back the Naval support of the Reich forces. By the end of day three, the Reich forces were forced to pull back from the bluffs that over looked the command center due to direct large gun fire. There was little that Field Marshal Barth could do at the time. Plans were worked on, but the battle changed once more when the Varl smuggled in a group of transports. It was those very ships that escaped during the opening hours of the battle which brought in those transports.
Using pirates and smugglers, the Varl were able to reinforce Bothawui and prevent the complete fall of the world. By the end of the second week of occupation, the Reich and Bothans were forced out of the capital and the Varl seemed to be gaining the upper hand once more. As the days slipped to weeks and weeks gave way to months, the Varl fought hard to push the Reich off world. And with the thanks of military units from Senex Military Alliance the Reich were nearly driven from the world. For what seemed like a life time, the end of the battle for Bothawui seemed nearly over. As the Allied forces of the Varl and the Senex Military Alliance mustered their forces for the final battle, the war shifted once more. With this shift came fresh Reich soldiers and new equipment. Once more, the battle for Bothawui pushed the limits of warfare as the battles raged across the world. The bloodshed had just begun to flow across Bothawui. Sadly, it was the Bothan on both sides that saw the heaviest of losses. The lines of battle shifted regularly as new troops would arrive or the battle for the system as a whole shifted between the Allied forces and the Reich.
As one of the most key battles in the region raged, it became clear that the world of Bothawui would hold more than just a strategic victory to either side. Both sides launched massive campaigns to lure the location population from the other side. With the large number of former Varl world in either open revolt from their former Varl overlords or in complete support of the Reich, the Republic was faced with its largest battle over the hearts and minds of citizens of the Galaxy. For hundreds of years, the region had been subjected to Varl domination. Once the Republic and largely Daz Murl forced the Varl to release their slaves, those same slaves were now turning a deaf ear to the Varl's call for help against the Reich. With the Reich's knife at the throat of the Varl Grand Assembly, its former slaves refusing to help or even joining sides with the Reich, the Republic had to find a way to battle the Reich without taking the Varl side in this war. A political and military crisis had been formed out of the Varl release of millions of slaves, many of them had served in the Varl Armed Forces as a slave army. If the Republic was to win against the Reich, it had to offer these former slaves a third option.
That option came out of the brainstorm from Cevita Murl, Minister of Strategic Planning and Daz Murl's adoptive Rodian daughter. It was her political maneuvering that forced the Varl central government to give up any and all claims on former worlds currently held by the Reich. The exchange called for the worlds to fully join the Republic and offer its support in the Republic's war against the Reich. The offer quickly spread to Varl worlds that were not being held by the Reich. It became clear that the Varl as a galactic power was being dismantled one world at a time by both the Republic and the Reich. The Varl central government had very little to do but accept the situation while the Republic pushed the Reich back from completely destroying the Varl. This third option allowed the Republic to work independently of the Varl while defending the Varl from the Reich. The move was widely successful across the region, but seemed to fall on deaf ears when it came to Bothan worlds. Still, this gave the Republic the room it needed to battle the Reich and its Bothan allies. The true test of the Republic came with the hard fought victory on the Bothan Mid-Rim world of Hursah.
Hursah was a strong Varl outpost before the war. With the invasion of Bothawui, the Varl moved millions of tons of supplies to Hursah as hopes to use the world to supply the embattled world of Bothawui. To the Varl horror, the garrison on Hursah surrendered to the Reich forces once they arrived in system. The very same units were used to spearhead the Reich invasion of the nearby world of Luisten. Hursah became a valuable resupply world for Reich forces and key to the bypass route for Bothawui. Minister Cevita Murl knew that for Bothawui to fall back in to the Republic's hands, Hursah not only had to be liberated, the Republic had to win the hearts and minds of the people of Hursah. A task that was not easily accomplished. To show her devotion to the people of Hursah and to upstage her Reich counterparts, she secretly went to the world personally to speak to planetary leaders. She negotiated in vain to get the Hursah people to switch sides once more. Her last meeting nearly saw her captured by Reich military police. Before leaving, she told the Hursah people that the Republic was not finished with Hursah and that she would see that they would become a free world and members of the Republic.
Six months later, the world would fall to the combined forces of the Republic and Sexen Alliance. As the planetary leaders were gathered up, Minister Cevita Murl met with them and informed them that they would not be placed under arrest. Instead they would still serve their people by helping the world's transition in to a full member of the Republic. World spread across the region of the events on Hursah. Finally that third option for the Republic became a reality and a path to victory in the Region was able to be seen. Which was the final part of the larger plan to end the Reich's strangle hold over the Region. It was time to finally put an end to the Reich's direct involvement in the region once and for all. Of Minister Cevita Murl's plan, hundreds of battles across the region and spanning the entire Reich occupation zone were called for. The over all plan called on the overwhelming of the Reich defenses and forcing the Reich to pick and choose which worlds to loose and which to attempt to hold on to. The center of this plan called for a massive diversionary attack on Bothawui to draw out as many Reich forces as possible. The heart of the diversionary attack was the Republic's elite 1st Republic Guard commanded by her own father, Chancellor Daz Murl.
"Chancellor, the Bothans are attempting to flank us!" called out a member of Daz's bridge crew.
"They can not hope to win against us!" Daz said walking across the bridge. "This is only a futile attempt to force our hand. Press forward and continue to hammer at those Reich carriers! The sooner they are forced from the battle, the sooner we can proceed with our landings. Inform Prince Arwen Phanan and Admiral Jorric Tarrak that we are pushing the Reich navy back. Soon they will be in position to take fire from the world."
Another officer spoke up, "Sir, reports are flooding in, the operation is in full swing. All allied units are reporting engagements. The Reich lines around the region are buckling."
Daz smiled through his mask and nodded, "As I have foreseen; all things are happening according to the Will of the Force. You see, ladies and gentlemen? When you trust in the Force, we can accomplish great things. Inform all commands to push forward at all costs! We must break the Reich's hold here." He paused as his comlink went off. Raising his forearm, he saw that it was Cevita calling. He turned from his bridge crew, "Speak," he said into the comlink.
"Father," her voice came over the comlink, "He is here. I sense his presence just as you had foreseen it. It is time."
Daz nodded as he turned back to his crew, "Admiral Quish, you have the command. Follow the battle plan to your judgment. Push the Reich back towards the planet and allow the planetary defense systems to finish them off," he commanded, then added, "I must take my leave, as the Force is calling me to attend to other matters." Daz turned and walked for the lift. His six red-armored guards followed close behind him. He turned and faced the bridge before the doors of the lift closed. "I will be back shortly. We will win the day! I have foreseen a great Republic victory," Daz said. 'And the death of an old friend,' he thought. The doors closed as the lights of the battle flashed across the bridge.
The lift took Daz to the upper observation level of the massive warship. The battle was raging around the flagship of the Republic as forces from both sides were locked in a deadly struggle for survival. The large observation deck flashed different colors as Reich fighters dueled with Republic fighters just meters from the windows. This too was foretold to Daz, the moment when he would finally face Master Visst once and for all. He didn't know how Master Visst got aboard his ship, and he didn't need to. Daz only knew that this moment would happen and with Cevita by his side, Master Visst would fall. It pained Daz to know that he had to kill his former friend and Master, but he knew that for his vision of the Galaxy to come to fruition, Master Visst had to die. Daz walked out on to the observation deck and saw Cevita waiting for him with five more red-armored guards. All was just as Daz had foreseen. Between Cevita, the guards and himself, Master Visst stood no chance of victory on this day. "Are all things ready?" Daz asked.
Cevita nodded, "Yes, Father. He is up there," she pointed to an upper level of the deck. "I still would like to know how he got on board," she added.
Daz waved his hand. "That is unimportant," he said as he looked up to the deck above them. The lights of the battle flashed casting shadows over the entire deck. The massive ship rocked slightly as a nearby warship exploded in a brilliant flash of light and energy. "Take the guards to the upper levels on the far side of the deck and wait for my signal," Daz commanded Cevita. "Together, we will end Master Visst's attempts to change the future," Daz started to walk towards a nearby staircase.
Cevita nodded, "Yes, Father," she said with a bow, motioning for the entire guard force to follow her. She led the red-armored royal guards opposite the way Daz was walking.
Daz climbed the stairs as a Reich fighter rocketed past the large windows. In pursuit, a pair of Republic fighters were close behind. Their blaster fire filled the staircase with flashes of bright red. Daz's shadow was cast across the floor of the deck as he slowly climbed the staircase, his royal purple cloak flowing behind him. His hands steady as he walked upward towards the battle, he knew this was no longer avoidable. In the balance of this battle was everything that Daz had worked for. Daz knew that Master Visst would never join the Republic and would never accept Daz's vision for the Galaxy. Daz truly believed that there was nothing that he could do to avoid this coming battle. As Daz reached the upper level of the observation deck, a massive energy bolt slammed in to the mighty Republic's shields. The energy blast washed the area with spectacular colors as the energy danced across the strong shields. The light which was cast throughout the area was filled with a wide spectrum of colors, mixed and chaotic. Daz paused with confidence as the light from behind bathed him in a rainbow of colors that illuminated the entire deck.
This was his moment, this was his time to show the entire galaxy that his path was the right path. For once, everything would go just as he had planned it. On the far side of the deck, Cevita waited with the guards for his signal to strike the final blow to Visst. He slowly continued as he took the final steps up and on to the upper level of the observation deck. This was going to be his moment in history to prove once and for all that there are not two sides of the Force. There is only the Force and it was calling upon him to unify the Galaxy under his rule. Daz felt Visst's presence through the Force. It was clear to him that Visst was not making any attempt to hide himself. However, Daz felt another presence through the Force. This one was making an attempt to hide, 'Herself,' he thought as he knew right away who it was. Daz called out, "Greetings, my old friend!" he paused just long enough to take a breath before stepping to the center of the deck. This deck doubled as Daz's personal retreat while on board. The couch and chairs in the center curved around a table. It was here that Daz and Cevita had planned to defeat the Reich and to defeat Visst. Daz glanced at the table a large metal tray which held five lightsabers. Each belonged to members of the Inner Light who Daz had consumed. He couldn't help but notice Knight Murl's lightsaber among the others. "I sense Angel is with you. This is as I have foreseen it, Visst. When will you realize that we are each bound by the Force to play our role in destiny?"
"The future is always in motion Daz, a lesson you have failed to heed each time," Visst said. Daz turned to the direction of the voice and saw Master Visst seated cross-legged near a large window. Visst slowly rose from the floor. "Master Heartman is not here with us," Master Visst said truthfully, "She is on the world below." It no longer mattered what Daz knew; plans had been placed in motion that would end Daz's control over the Republic and his influence within the Galaxy. There was nothing Visst could do anymore to change this fact; it all fell to Daz to change what was going to happen. Again, there was nothing Visst could do that would change this. Darkness had to be purged from Daz or Visst would purge it from the Republic by destroying him. Days, weeks of meditation had given Visst no other path forward. Daz had to decide which path to follow.
Daz didn't believe Visst, he felt the second presence. He knew that it had to be Angel. There was no other option. He could feel the second strong Force-user concealing herself through the Force. Daz knew that Angel would play a critical part in this battle, which is why it was so important that Cevita had to play her part. Sure, Cevita would pay with her life, but it was a sacrifice that Daz was willing to to make. Angel and Visst were both strong, but Daz had grown far stronger than both of them. "Hello, Angel," he called out in an attempt to have Angel betray her location to Cevita. "Angel, it does not have to be like this!" Daz said, calling out to his old friend. He needed her to betray her location. "You can still join me. There is so much you can help me do, Angel. Together we can rebuild the Republic. I know that you are working to unify the Inner Light and Sabbat within the Jedi Order. You will need my help if you hope to take on the Church." Daz still held out hope that Angel would come to her senses so that she didn't have to be destroyed. "Angel, please hear me out!" Daz didn't want to harm. After all, he still remembered that day back on Coruscant that now seemed a lifetime ago when they started this grand adventure.
Master Visst could feel the movement of the Force around them. There was great darkness emanating from Daz, but he no longer felt Lord Murl's dark hand. Lysire, the Council of Me, as well as a few others had dealt with the dark monster. Master Visst closed his eyes as he gave silent thanks to Lysire; Daz could still be saved. They had done their part, now Master Visst could convince Daz to turn back. "Daz, she is not here," Master Visst said once more in truthfulness. "Daz, can you not feel the darkness around you anymore? That darkness is within you, but you can be saved. Please, Daz; let me help you," Master Visst pleaded with Daz.
Daz knew that there was no turning Visst from this path. He also knew that Visst's strongest weapon lay in his defense. The ability to beat Visst meant getting past that defense. "Visst," Daz said coldly, "There is only one way this will be settled. I am fighting to unite the Galaxy, you would prefer to keep it divided!" Daz said with anger in his heart. Visst had turned everyone close to Daz against him. Even the one he called sister now turned her back on Daz. 'I am so sorry you must die, Angel,' Daz thought with sorrow. "No more talking, Visst; allow us to finish this," Daz said, activating his lightsaber, the once flames of gleaming white, but now muted ivory blade springing from its hilt.
Like the switch on Visst's own silver-bladed lightsaber, Master Visst changed roles from attempting to save a fallen friend to the Jedi who would save the Republic from darkness. Master Visst waited for Daz to make the first move and it came quickly. The two Jedi Masters entered in to their duel as the battle for Bothawui raged around them. Their lightsabers clashed as the flashes of light from the space beyond this deck filled the room. Their lightsabers danced around each other as the Force was called upon in ways not seen in the Galaxy since the time of the Great Jedi Civil War. Both beings were experts in the ways of the Force and each called upon their own side to help within the battle. Light and dark raged in this conflict of Masters. The observation deck lit up with the chaotic light show from energy blasts hitting the shields. These rainbow shows washed over the two Masters as they continued their life and death duel. Their silhouettes moved across the deck with the lights of the battle still behind them. This allowed their lightsabers to appear more defined.
"Visst, you have grown stronger since the last time we crossed paths. I am actually surprised that you don't need Angel's help," Daz said as they locked sabers. He knew that Visst was getting worn out from the battle, but at the same time so was he. If Angel didn't bring herself in to the battle, he would have to call on Cevita to play her part.
"Daz, I sense you're weakening. We don't have to go any further. I have a ship waiting. It can take you back to Origin and you can be saved," Visst said, hoping for Daz to come back to the light.
Daz knew that Visst was right. He was running out of energy to continue the battle. Daz pushed Master Visst back, "You are right, we don't have to go any further," he said raising his voice. It was time to end this. "Visst, you have betrayed the Republic; it is time for you to pay with your life!" he shouted. As the two Masters stood there, a large ship exploded in the background, filling the Observation Deck with a brilliant flood of light as large chunks of debris bounced harmlessly off the shields. Daz looked around, waiting for the incoming fire that was to kill Master Visst. Still the two former friends stood there facing each other in an awkward moment of silence. Daz turned to the back of the deck, "It is time to pay with your life!" Daz yelled louder to no effect.
"Alone in the darkness you have become Daz," Master Visst said, as apparently what Daz was hoping would happen didn't. "Come with me back to Origin," Master Visst pleaded, "Let Origin save you."
Anger filled Daz's mind at Cevita's betrayal, 'Damn her!' Daz thought with rage. 'This would be over if not for her treachery,' Daz's mind added. "Don't worry about me being alone, Visst!" Daz said with pure anger. "I have a Republic to lead!" he said, rejoining his attack on Master Visst.
This time he allowed his anger and rage to flow freely. Daz's attacks were filled with rage, hatred and the dark side. Daz's repeated attacks were overpowering. He screamed out his anger with each new attack. The battle between Daz and Visst took a more violent turn as Daz no longer held to any one form or technique. He wanted Visst to pay for this battle. He was going to make Cevita pay for her treason! Angel would pay for her betrayal! Swip would pay! They would all pay for leaving him when he needed them the most! Each attack was filled with more anger, more rage, more hate. The dark side flowed so freely that it was all Master Visst could do to hold up his own lightsaber as Daz hammered away at him. Reich fighters rocketed past the large windows as they were conducting their attacks on the Republic herself. The massive ship shuddered under the attacks as Master Visst's arms shuddered under Daz's repeated hits against his lightsaber. Pushed back against a chair, Master Visst fell to the ground as Daz kicked him.
Master Visst lost his grip on his own lightsaber as Daz disarmed him. With a single swipe of Daz's lightsaber, Master Visst's lightsaber was destroyed. The hate and anger flowed so horrifically through Daz that there was no longer any containing it. Daz hated them for betraying him and he hated Master Visst for being right. Daz raised his now black-bladed lightsaber as the moment finally belonged to him. Below him was a now helpless Master Visst and retribution was finally at hand. At last, Daz saw that this battle was about light and darkness. He knew the power of the dark side and knew that if he was to control the Galaxy, he needed that power. All of his plans had been paid for with the blood of millions. Daz would make every last one of his enemies pay for their crimes against him, starting with Master Visst. Daz smiled as he brought his lightsaber down towards Master Visst's helpless form. In this battle between light and dark, it was a triumph of......
Master Visst knew that the war was far from over. He knew that he had been beaten, but this was only a single battle in a much larger war. In that moment, Master Visst had accepted what had happened and was ready to meet his fate. In Daz's face, Master Visst saw the anger and hate finally consume Daz. He heard footsteps rushing from somewhere on the deck. Someone was screaming out and Master Visst saw the lightsaber coming down at him. This was it, this was the moment in time when history would be made. Master Visst closed his eyes and was grateful that the Force allowed him to share this remarkable journey. So much he had seen. And so much he had experienced. He even had the very rare chance to experience love. Never before had he ever felt so much peace in his heart and mind. He accepted what was happening as the Will of the Force. 'I am at peace,' he thought as he was ready to let go.
"VISST!" Daz called out, "STOP ME!"
Master Visst's eyes snapped open as Daz's lightsaber hung only inches from his face. The voice was not that of the Daz who Visst had been attempting to save, but of the Daz back on Yavin 4 when they first met. This was the Daz that Visst knew. There was clearly a struggle between the two within Daz's mind. Darkness had taken its toll, but Daz was still inside there somewhere. Master Visst also felt that struggle fading quickly. Master Visst reached out to the table and through the Force snatched the closest lightsaber from the metal tray. There was no pause in Master Visst's actions, though the pain on his heart was heavy. Daz had finally found a way to save himself. With lightsaber in hand, Master Visst activated it. Its scarlet blade shot up from the hilt and in to Daz's chest. Just as Master Visst's lightsaber fully activated, the struggle in Daz ended. Daz brought the blade down on to Master Visst. The blow was a glancing one to his, but Master Visst's own strike was a mortal one. Daz withdrew from Master Visst's blade and fell to his knees. Death was written across Daz's face as the Darkness faded.
.........It was the triumph of light!
With pain across his face and in his voice, Daz looked up to Master Visst one last time. "Thank you," he said, just before falling over lifeless. Master Visst took note of the lightsaber in his hand and realized why it looked familiar. It had belonged to Knight Murl before her death at the hand of Daz; the crystal within given to her by her killer.
"Visst!" Canny yelled, rushing to Visst's side.
"Stop them!" Cevita yelled as she led her troops on to the deck. "They murdered the Chancellor!"
Master Visst was far too weak to oppose this new threat as Canny helped him to his feet. She held her sword out in defense of the man she loved. The two were more than ready to end their lives here. Their mission had been completed; Daz had been saved. The Chancellor's bodyguards moved to cut the pair from escape as the battle for Bothawui continued to rage behind them. Cevita's plan had played out perfectly. Daz had weakened Master Visst to a point where even she could dispatch him. She smiled as she looked at the fallen dark-sider. She no longer had to worry about killing her own Master. Visst had done that for her.
Canny looked to Master Visst and smiled, "I love you and I don't regret a thing."
Master Visst turned to Canny and smiled as he struggled to hold up Knight Murl's lightsaber, "Neither do I."
"Guards, avenge your Chancellor!" Cevita cried.
The red-armored guards, who were all too familiar to Master Visst, each raised up their weapons at the two light-siders. In that very moment, the ship rocked as a powerful blast hit the hull just below the observation deck. The lights went out and sparks flew across the deck as the ship rocked violently from the impact. A loud hissing noise was heard as a nearby breech was caused by the impact. Sirens wailed as the impact took its toll on the ship and the section. The only lights in the area came from the blasts and weapons fire beyond the large windows of the Observation Deck. As a result of the impact, Cevita and the Guards were forced to withdraw a bit and seek cover from the large array of sparks and falling superstructure. It was Cevita who cried out for the guards to stop the escape that was taking place. However, it was to no use. When the emergency lights returned, Master Visst, Canny as well as the body of Daz were gone. The red light of a nearby escape pod indicated the route of their flight. It didn't matter, there was nothing Cevita could do. There was too much debris and the fighting was too far from being over for them to locate the escape pod.
She activated her comlink to the bridge, "Alert all hands and all commands: The Reich has sent a spec ops team aboard and murdered our beloved Chancellor and his guards," she reported. The guards around her all turned and looked to her as she activated her own lightsaber. Across her small mouth, an evil grin grew. There had been no reason for her to attempt to assassinate her Master; she had known that Visst would perform the task for her. Soon, she would be Emperor of the entire Galaxy and everyone would hate the Reich and humans for this assassination... just as she had planned it.
|
