Prelude to War (Book 6)

[Akirapryde]

Since the Great Fall of the Republic, the struggle for survival has left many Galactic powers to prepare for a coming great war. With those seeds finally planted, it is time for that war to burn down what was left of those great powers and make room for the rebirth of the Republic.

[Akirapryde]

(6.1) Within the Serpent's Lair
Ganthery Military Proving Grounds
Core World of Acatmen
Reich of Humanity
November 2nd, 1936

This hot sand covered world at one time was lush and green. Its had vast oceans and mountains that reached for the sky. Its people were proud and strong, with a deep rich history. They helped the Reich in both wars against the Varl. Only to be betrayed when they fought for independence. Their punishment was that their entire world would be filled in with sand. It took the Reich nearly a decade and hundreds of cargo ships. But finally all traces of the live that once thrived on this world had been covered and destroyed. While, that is what the Reich had thought. When Ogon, Brigr, Angel and Ashla crashed on this world. They uncovered the Reich's little secret of what happened here. And more importantly they found the life that the Reich had hoped to destroy. The Reich might have made the buildings and cities vanish, but the culture and hope for freedom remained. Now, there are whispers on the winds of the coming of the One.

Ogon watched Birgr and Angel leave the shuttle all dressed up as Reich soldiers. He felt a bit like he was missing out on the fun. But he also knew better. He was Bothan and the Reich didn't look kindly on aliens. He had to make sure that the shuttle was secure before he went in to hiding and waited for the others to return. He checked the two bodies of the two Reich soldiers. He made sure that they were tucked away needly. He walked over to the storage compartment where his armor was hidden. He moved some things around to ensure that it was not clearly seen. taken apart and also hidden away in a supply closest. He pulled a few key components just in case the suite was discovered. He hid them behind a panel within a I beam. It would be hard to get to in a rush but the suite was completely useless without it. It was a fair trade off considering the situation that they were in. He was not the fire support on this mission. All he had to do was wait and then hit a button and then pilot. Birgr and Angel had the hard mission.

Ogon made a last minute check of everything before starting to head for his hiding place. He peaked out one of the small view ports. They were tented so he knew it would be safe for him to get a peak or two. The base seemed like a standard military style spaceport. It seemed to have two sides. The side they were on was divided from the other side by a triple fence line and guard towers. There were roving patrols along the fence line and check points before anyone entered this part of the base. There also seemed to be something very odd about the base. As Ogon moved from one view port to another, he noticed both sides of the base had their own runways. This struck him as odd because the runways were not designed like he was used to. These were heavy runways with black marks on either side but not in the middle. As he continued to search the area he noticed the ground vehicles moving about. There were those with wheels and those with tracks. He also noticed some with large cushions under them. He even saw large humanoid walkers on patrol. From what he saw this close to them, they came in all sizes. From slightly larger than man size to over nine meters tall. Most had one shape in common. They all appeared humanoid, with two legs and two arms.

He didn't see the massive robots from the space training mission before the storm. But these Walkers seemed pretty nasty on their own. He also noticed the six legged walker that the party saw on Fra. Though these seemed to be designed differently than the one they saw on Fra. These seemed smaller and more agile. Clearly these were either a different class or an improvement on the design they saw before. He saw rocket troops coming and going from the base. He calls them rocket troops because they don't use repulsers to move around. They use older jet packs instead. It was something that Ogon thought very strange. There was a clear lack of repulser technology here. Sadly there was one piece of equipment which did have that technology. Their assault shuttle! Ogon decided that they would not get the shuttle if their plan failed. He took a moment to rig a dead man switch to the reactor. If in twenty four hours, he doesn't reset the switch. Then the explosion will take out both sides of the base. There would be nothing left of the shuttle for them to gain.

Once the dead man's switch was hooked up, he decided to give the area one last look before departing for the restroom and to hide. He looked up and down the row of hangers here from safely inside the shuttle. He noted that only a few were open and the rest were closed. Those that were open were empty. The hangers that had their doors closed were under heavy guard. More importantly, he noticed the large number of jamming antenna's atop of all the hangers. “We are at a military testing site. Great, more security and more paranoia. Wonderful” he commented. He saw a group of techs dressed in white coats over top of their military uniforms walking towards a building. A truck filled with armored soldiers pulled up to an area near the runway. Ogon saw a shuttle come in for a landing. Its wheels made a loud sound as a bit of smoke filled the air under the shuttle. The shuttle taxied to where the truck was waiting. When the shuttle stopped, the troops moved to encircle it. They were loud as they moved yelling their commands. Once they were in place, another command was given and they turned around to face away from the shuttle. They stood their like statues as a group of men walked out to greet the shuttle. One was dressed in a pilot's uniform. A group of men walked off the shuttle. None were dressed in uniforms, though two carried brief cases.

Ogon moved to another view port trying to get a better view of the men. He felt that their might be something worth while about them. He heard from somewhere in front of him, “I can't believe you did this to me!” It was then in that moment he felt something drive in to his gut. The force of what hit him caused him to double over in pain and fall to his knees. Ogon looked and saw the metal floor under his hands. A metal and leather boot slammed down on his right hand. The blow smashed the tiny bones causing a cracking and snapping sound. Ogon wanted to scream but fought back the urge. He looked up to see a young man holding a sword, “I remember when my father gave you this sword.” A kick to Ogon's side forced him to drop to his left side. Another cracking sound of the ribs breaking. The blow gave Ogon a better view of the room. There was five uniformed men in the room. All dressed in a black and dark gray uniform. It seemed like a Reich uniform by didn't match what he saw on Fra. They all had red armbands with the word 'PSI' in black. The young man was dressed in some kind of royal outfit. There were four clergy against the far wall watching what was going.

The young man looked at the sword, “I remember that day. I looked up to you as my father presented this sword to you, claiming that you were the defender of the Reich. You are nothing more than a common traitor” the young man spat at Ogon and broke the sword over his knee.

Ogon closed his eyes as another blow to his back. Ogon opened his eyes to see he was back on the shuttle. The heat of the day told him that he was in reality but he knew that the vision still held to his mind. 'No, NOT NOW!' he cursed in the back of his mind. He fought to maintain his senses against the flooding vision that was being driven in to his mind by the Force. Ogon knew that if he was caught at the mercy of the vision than the rescue mission would be in danger. This was the worst time for the Force to do this to him. He senses alerted him to the sensation of being moved even though he was laying on the deck of the shuttle. He looked at his broken human hand, 'No' he screamed from his mind hoping that he could force the vision to stop. It was a futile effort and he knew it.

Ogon's head cleared as he heard voices around him speaking and the sounds of chains being moved. He struggled to his feet only to loss his balance once more. As he fell, his arms were pulled upward and outward from his body. He hung on his tip toes by the chains as he saw the men in the black gray uniforms around him. There was another surge of pain from one of the guards driving a fist in to his side. “WAKE UP TRAITOR!” the guard said. It was hard for Ogon to see from his eyes. They pulsated with pain as did the rest of his body. There was a clergy standing next to the young man and speaking. He motioning towards Ogon as he hung, saying something about salvation and waiting to question him further for others. The young man only looked at Ogon with hate in his eyes. Ogon knew that this had to end and the only ending was through it.

With a wave of his hand, Ogon muttered in a very low voice, “There are no others. Let the sentence continue.”

The young man repeated what Ogon said, “There are no others. Let the sentence continue.” The clergy did not seem to like the comment. Ogon was not surprised that no one else detected his action. After all, they only saw what they wanted to see. The young man turned to the clergy with anger, “I gave you the interview you wanted. I gave you all that you asked for. I will give you no more. This traitor will pay for what he did to me, the Reich.” The young man pushed aside the clergy and walked up to Ogon, “Why don't you tell us how long you were betraying your own people.”

Ogon couldn't control his mind as he softly spoke, “not our people My Lord. Only you, My Lord. You broke the promise that your father gave.”

The young man looked away and nodded as Ogon felt the pain once more. It was if every part of his body sensed pure pain and flooded his mind with the sensations. Ogon by sher force of will held his tongue as he fought again against the vision. 'Not now!' Once more he was back in the shuttle shaking while the sounds of crackling filled the air around him. Ogon knew he had to get in to a better hiding spot. He knew he had to move. On shaking hands and knees, Ogon crawled towards the front of the shuttle. His broken hand caused him a great deal of pain and the broken ribs made breathing nearly impossible. The pain from the vision was all too real for his mind. He could feel darkness forming at the edges of his mind. With each wave of pain, he heard the crackling sound. It didn't take him long to link the sound to the pain.

Another wave of pain washed over him forcing him to fall back to the ground. Once more he was back in the room. He saw the mixture of grounds and clergy within the room. They are all dangerous. However, they were not the most dangerous threat within the room. He could sense it moving about watching him. He knew that no one else could sense it. It was so close to him, that the hate and anger could almost touch his very mind. He couldn't see it, nor was it visible. But as sure as Ogon knew he was alive, he knew it was there. The young man grabbed Ogon's hair and forced him to look in to his eyes.

“You were like family to me. And you betrayed me. Tell me why!” The young man said coldly with so much anger that Ogon could clearly feel it.

“We tried to change you. warn you. You left us with no choice. You were supposed to be a guiding light for all. You betrayed the pact. Instead you became just as evil as the rest. We don't blame you. We pity you for what is to come” Ogon said softly through each painful breath.

The young man motioned and the pain filled Ogon once more as he moved back. The pain filled Ogon's mind forcing his real body to roll and jerk. “Pity me!” He laughed, “what were you going to kill me?”

“Never, My Lord. Your death will come by your own hand.”

The young man moved forward once more, “then why pity me?” He asked with a sense of curiosity in his voice.

“Because you have fallen from the path” Ogon jerked once more as more pain washed over his body. “Lost in the darkness without a guiding light.”

Ogon fought once more as he realized he was still in the shuttle. He snapped his mind back to his body with all of his will. The fight over his mind was the most intense thing he had ever dealt with. Ogon, now forced to crawl, continued to make his way to the restroom just behind the flight deck. It was the only place he could hide. More weakened than before Ogon pulled himself along the floor of the shuttle with each painful moment. He felt another wave of pain once more and again he was ripped from the shuttle. Once more he was back in the darkened room. This time there were people in the a room next door. A large window was opened for them to see in to what was going on. He noticed that one man had a paper. He noticed the date on the paper, November 1, 1936.

He saw the large mirrors around the room. Each set up in such a way to ensure that the person where Ogon was right now had a clear view of his back. He saw the young man walking behind him. Ogon watched through the mirrors as the young man walked up to a hooded man with a rod. The young man spoke, “make him scream for mercy or I promise you, your family will follow.”

The hooded man nodded, “y....yes My Lord.” Ogon watched as the hooded man uncoiled a multi lash whip. At the end of each lash was a piece of sharpened metal.

Two other men approached Ogon's back and ripped the fancy shirt away which Ogon had been wearing. Ogon saw the eagle tattooed over the full length of his back. The bird was so detailed that Ogon could easily make out each feather and a tear off the birds right eye. The bird was so magnificent and majestic. Ogon knew in his heart, that all would be right. No matter what, it would all be right. This would soon be over and what will be done will be done.

“Nice ink, traitor” the young man said as he walked in front of Ogon. He turned and nodded to the hooded man. “Make this traitor scream for mercy!”

Ogon looked over the group of people watching him. There was a man dressed as a soldier with a bit of formality to his uniform. There was a sense of family between Ogon and the man, but history had driven a wedge between them. Behind him, he saw a young woman standing behind him. It was clear that she was the man's daughter. However her uniform was different from his. It was something that Ogon hadn't seen before. Though there was something strange about her. Almost as if Ogon was willing Ogon to see her and pay attention to her. On her chest, she proudly bore a emblem, though her eyes didn't reflect that pride today. The emblem was of three worlds touching each other in a form of a triangle. Behind them was some kind of strange looking fighter with white streaks running behind it as if to show motion to the fighter. The worlds were set in a gold triangle with the fighter crossing in front of the lines of triangle but behind the worlds. Encircling the entire thing was a green blue reef that almost joined at the top of the triangle. As his eyes feel to everyone else, each of their eyes were filled with hate and anger for the traitor before them. Her eyes drifted away as Ogon's glanced at her, almost in a sense of grief.

Ogon was sure that he had never seen the girl before. Nor could he read anything from her other than her displeasure of the show before them. The pain from the lashing against his back rocked Ogon back to the shuttle. His mind still gripped by the pain as he felt the lashing continue even though he was still on the shuttle. Ogon pulled himself across the floor of the shuttle despite the growing pain and the blackness as it forged forward in his mind. The safety of the restroom was so close, 'almost there! Just a few more feet' he thought as he felt each lashing against his back. Ogon fought hard not to scream out in pain from the lashings. It took all of his control not to alert the guards beyond the shuttle. He tried to closed his eyes hoping to clear his mind and end the vision. As his eyes closed, he saw the young man laughing as the lashing continued. Ogon lost count of how many times the whips crossed his back. Looking to the mirrors he could see how much punishment he had taken so far. He also knew there was more to come as the hooded man switched of whips. The whipping continued for hours if not even longer. There was a difference between breaking of the body or breaking of the spirit. Ogon wasnt sure which one had failed him. But finally Ogon could no longer hold back. The scream which was forced from his lungs seemed almost endless. He saw the people clapping as the young man cheered the scream. Ogon dropped his head from the exhaustion and from a sense of defeat.

Ogon raised his head once more and saw the shuttle before him. He was unclear if he had really screamed out or if it was within the vision. Between his broken hand which he could clearly see now and the pain that he felt, Ogon had a hard time telling the difference between reality from the vision. He painfully crawled harder for the restroom. 'Please' he begged as the darkness was closing in on his mind. He struggled pulling himself along the floor by the tie down points within the shuttle. His neck jerked as he heard the voice of evil. He felt sharp pointed prongs pressing against his neck as they pinched down on his neck. He felt a bit of blood dripping down his neck.

“Think this is over, Jedi?” Ogon could feel the grip on his neck and heard the voice. He noticed that he was alone in the room. “Tell me where the heart of the Tiger is Jedi. Do this and I will kill you now.”

Ogon knew he didn't know what the voice was talking about but knew better to deal or trust a Sith. “I would never tell you anything. Sith!”

Ogon heard laughter right before his face and still he saw nothing. “Sith! Is that what you think I am? I was the last great Grand Master of the Jedi. I brought peace to the Order. Ended its weaknesses and now I am much more. Tell me Jedi, where is the Heart of the Tiger!?” He felt a great struggle in his mind over something he knew for a fact he didn't know. But then it happen. A memory flashed before his mind's eye. Ogon in the vision didn't know, but Ogon had heard of the Heart of the Tiger before. Someone had asked about it, and now that person's image filled his mind. His attempt to block it failed due to the pain and the suffering he had already endured. He heard laughter in the back of his mind.

Ogon's mind clear as he returned to the shuttle once more. He felt men moving his body and the pain still surged. There was a sense that more was to come. He renewed his efforts to reach the restroom and the safety within. He ignored the new degree of pain he felt as he pulled himself along the floor. His hand was still broken and he saw blood dripping down from his wounds. Never before had he ever endured so much pain and so much suffering. His body rebelled against his will to continued. Breathing was nearly impossible from the broken ribs and his vision was blurred. He felt as if the vision was killing him one painful moment at a time. With the door in reach he pushed his body upward with all his might. His hand reached for the handle that so many times before he had never considered to be such an obstacle. Now it seemed so impossible to reach. His body screaming at his mind for relief the tips of his figures just reached the door as he saw new wounds opening up on his hand. As if something was being pushed through them his body jerked once more. This time, the pain was joined with a massive wave of heat.

Ripping him back to the vision world, Ogon saw a wall of fire around him. The sun was high in the sky over the park where this was taking place. Ogon saw a civilian waving a news paper that read, 'Come watch the Sabbat Burn!' The date on the news paper was November 2, 1936. There were people standing on the grass while others watched from balconies. Most were cheering but Ogon felt that it was a forced cheer. Those in uniform and those standing on the same balcony as the young man were sincere in their cheers. He tried to move but his hands were screwed to the concrete post that he was resting against. The flames rose up from wood that had been placed about four feet from the post that he was bound to. The fuel for the fire had been stacked pretty high and the heat was intense. Ogon screamed out as his body slowly reached cooking temperatures. The fires burned him, but didn't consume his body. He felt his skin cooking from the heat, his breathing was made even harder. He was wrong, what he felt earlier was nothing compared to being cooked alive. Just beyond the flames Ogon looked down to see two cloaked men dressed like clergy. Their hoods hid their faces from him but Ogon felt their hate towards him. Each held a long torch that they had used to light the fire.

The flames kept their distance but the heat continued to rise. If only the flames would bring an end of the pain and heat. However Ogon felt no desire for such thing. He would face this till its bitter end. He screamed out once more as his eyes blurred till a point he could no longer see anything. Only shapes and shades of dark and gray which was all masked by a large wall of orange and white. Even though his voice was nearly gone, Ogon tried to mumble something. His voice failed but his mind rang out clearly, 'the key.' Ogon knew that his mind was once more protected. He focused all his will on this one task and allowed his body to scream and entertain the crowds.

“Who is she Jedi? Your feelings betrayed you. Tell me who she is and where is the heart of the Tiger. Jedi, they learned the lesson about fire and Jedi. There will be no burning your body. You will be trapped. Tell me what I want to know and I will ensure you are consumed and freed from this world.” The voice was close to him. Ogon could feel its hate and anger. The being was fueling the crowd as they watched his death.

Even if he wanted to speak anymore, his lungs and vocal cords were already burning from the heat. His screams were becoming distorted. He felt the darkness close to him. It was pushing in to his mind even further. Ogon fought back with so much strength that it shocked even him. Ogon could still feel the hatred and anger trying to push once more back in to his mind. Even at death's doorstep, Ogon held up his will and prevented the being from reading more from him. The heat started to boil his eyes as his vision failed completely. There was a popping sound as his own screams went silent. He felt his mouth open and his lungs pushing outward against the heat but heard nothing. The popping sounds continued as his skull and the liquid in side it started to boil. Death was not fast enough, but it did finally come. Even as death cast his hand over Ogon, he heard in his mind, “TELL ME WHO SHE IS!”

Ogon felt a cool hand on his shoulder that startled him. He was back in the shuttle, or at least he thought so. His eyes failed to focus and his hearing was filled with a buzzing sound. The echoes of the pain was still there. He heard something around him but couldn't identify it. He blinked over and over again to see a ghostly image slowly form. There were no details, just an image of something before him. A shadow stretched from the ghostly image to his shoulder. He felt movement once more and more sounds of something. He blinked over and over again till his vision somewhat returned. He saw a Bothan dressed in a white lab coat kneeling next to him. Under her coat was some kind of dirty stripped pants. In her hand was a clip board and her other hand rested gentle on his shoulder. He heard her voice, “are you okay?”

[Akirapryde]

(6.2) Shot in the Dark
Ganthery Military Proving Grounds
Core World of Acatmen
Reich of Humanity
November 2nd, 1936

It has been only a few minutes since the shuttle blasted its way from the air field and a large group of the slaves started revolting. The base had been divided in six major sections. The air base, the R&D Labs (where the shuttle was being held at), the motor pools (next to the air base), the barracks (where all the soldiers were housed at), and two slave holding areas (now one was in complete revolt). The base was laid out in such a way to maximize the ability to the troops to control out break of violence. Each section of the base was divided by three separate fence lines. Two ten feet tall, with a third between them that was twelve feet tall. The fence lines were built to be strong and resist hoards of bodies pushing and pulling against it. Fifteen foot concrete guard towers lined all the fence lines and were protected by their own fences. Each tower had four soldiers, food, water, and enough ammo to fight for hours if not days. The towers could seal themselves off by pulling up their own stairs making access hard.

Around the entire base was the same tri-fence line and towers. However, there was also almost a half mile of mines buried within the sands as well as sentry guns that pop up at the last minute to kill who ever crossed their sensors. The base was secured from the only threat that the Reich foresaw, slave riots. However, the Reich did not just relay on the physical barriers to protect the base. The soldiers were highly trained just to handle just this kind of event. Colonel Asurion had ensured that his troops trained heavily and drilled over and over again to be ready for riots and out breaks of violence. While his unit might not have the efficiency that Vandor might wish, however they were more than ready to handle tonight's riot. If Colonel Asurion could watch his soldiers, it would be clear that he would have been proud of their performance. However, he would not be watching from the command center. Psi-Colonel Heatem would be watching. His opinion of the performance is less than pride full. He watched the troops react to the situation with contempt and disappointment. The slaves should be lucky to have a place to call home and they dare revolt. They should be gunned down for this.

As the first alarm went out from the watchful eyes of the guard towers, troops within the sectors that were rioting rushed from the areas so not to be taken as hostage. Also to ensure that no weapons would fall in to the slaves' hands. Within seconds of receiving orders from acting base commander Lt Colonel Cipire to push to the rioters back, the towers opened fire. As the first shots were being fired at the rioters, the gunships were moving to the sections that were in revolt. Those troops who were cut off from retreat were picked up and rescued by the gunships. Sometimes under heavy, Reich soldiers were picked up by the brave men and women of the Gunship crews. Even with the gunships, some soldiers were lost behind enemy lines. Some losses are expected, however it had always been Colonel Asurion wishes that the few losses the better. It was one thing that won the respect of his men. Tonight, that respect will be tested on all levels.

Once the gunships finished their mission, they would turn their spotlights on and add the towers to keep the rioters away from the fence lines. Containment was the general order for riots and protests. It was a prove fact that time was the secret to disbanding a rioting crowd. Through a large number of studies which had been done, slave riots tend to last a few hours if contained properly. If not, than the revolt had a chance of breaking out and the entire base would be at risk. While the towers are doing their duties at maintaining containment, the motor pools would be getting the combat robots ready action. The entire mechanized battalion would move to their ready positions along the runway. From this position they could react quickly to any breach in the fence lines or rush to support any of the guard towers. Theirs was a duty of last resort according to Colonel Asurion's plans. And if all goes to Colonel Asurion's plans, the mechanized battalion would never be needed and the revolt would be over in just a few hours. It was a test by proxy for Colonel Asurion who had written a large number of papers that helped the Reich redesign the way their slave bases operated. His entire reputation was riding on the ability of his troops to preform their duties as trained. If not, than all the years that had been put in to changing how Reich slaves are treated during crisis would be swept away along with all the other changes the last Emperor had put in to place. And undoing this change was a personal mission of the upstart Psi-Colonel Heatem and his Psi-Troopers. There was more on the line tonight than anyone could possibly have foreseen. And one laser welding woman was about to become center stage for the events that would later shape this base and this world.

None of the guard towers were designed to resist being shoved off their base by a powerful force users. Force users in the Core worlds were rare and far between. In fact, only a hand full of soldiers had actually seen a living breathing force user before. The word Jedi normally referred to gangsters who supported and helped slaves beyond the Core World. Once in a while they would cross in to Reich space, but that was rare. So when Angel reached out with the Force and knocked the first tower over like an angry child pushing tools about, it caused panic within the ranks of the soldiers. The lines shook with fear of this laser welding woman who commanded the power of the Dark Lord of the Abyss. Rumors had been whispered about earlier that day of how the Dark Lord was upset over the death of one of his minions. Even though these soldiers were harden and highly trained, the sight of the second tower being tossed to the ground was more than enough to break their moral. The panic caused those in the command bunker to take noticed. No one could touch her with their weapons as her laser sword was protecting her. Finally Lt Colonel Cipire gave the order to call in one of his best shooters. He had to give his men something to hold on to or that whole line would break and containment would not be possible.

The call went out for Staff Sargent Steltois to guard tower five over the open net. Lt Colonel Cipire wanted his men to know that not just any help was on the way. It was the one help that would stop this woman. Staff Sargent Steltois one of the best shots on the base and highly respected within the base. However it was his loyalty and trust in Colonel Asurion that won the love and respect of his fellow soldiers. A lone gunship flew in to position over guard post five as the side gunners kept a keen eye out. A lone man with a rifle leaped down from the back of the transport and on to the roof of the guard tower. He waved as the gunship moved off and then opened the top hatch of the guard tower. He leaped down and moved to the firing balcony. From here he could see the whole scene unfolding. It was not a pleasant sight. He grabbed the goggles and reviewed the situation. With the help of the gunship spotlights, he could easily see her. Her plan seemed sound enough. Clear the towers and push for the fence line. She was making good ground with the rioters behind her. He watched her used her laser sword to protect herself and the slaves as they marched on the fence. With a thrust of her hand, another tower fell over. 'she has to be stopped' he thought to himself. There was no hate for her. He knew that she was just another person. They were just on opposing sides. No, he didn't hate her. In fact, he actually respected her bravery and courage. She still had to be stopped.

He turned to the gun mount next to him which was being reloaded. He pushed the gunner aside while passing his rifle and the goggles to the gunner. He took the box of ammo from the loader with a nod. With a spring of the latch, he tossed off the lid. He slid the metal box in to the bracket which merged the box with the gun. He pulled up the brass cased, blue tipped belt of ammo with one hand and lifted up the feed tray with the other. With his eyes on the woman, he carefully laid the belt in the feed tray. He closed the lid with a clicking sound and locked the belt in to place. He pulled the charging handle and released the handle. The weapon made a metallic clicking sound as the first round was driven in to the chamber. Stel, as he is more commonly called, flipped up a metal flap on the butt of the weapon and tucked himself behind the weapon. He pulled the weapon in to his shoulder as he switched it from safe to fire. He adjusted the sights to compensate for range and windage. Watching her down the iron sights at nearly a thousand meters. It was a hard shot for most, not for him. This was his specialty and they all knew it. With the weapon ready to fire, he rested his left hand on the feed tray of the weapon as his cheek rested on his hand. Still he pulled the weapon in to his shoulder was he looked down the sight. He watched them cross the green line, a line of small plants designed to add beauty to the base. But also to ensure the guards know that the next line that is crossed is the danger line. The slaves had to be stopped!

His right hand rested on the pistol grip of the weapon while his index finger rested lightly on the trigger. He slowed his breathing as he took aim at her left flank. All things around him seemed to slow till they stopped all together. It was only one moment in time and he and she were the only two living beings in his little world. He watched her actions carefully and saw how she defended herself. He knew that a midsection shot would be pretty futile, so he took aim lower on her body. One final adjustment and he was ready to open up on her with over five hundred, seven point six two millimeter, rounds a minute. He took in a breath as his finger slowly squeezed the trigger. The sounds of everything around him diminished till all he heard was the sounds of the weapon moving its metal parts around. The flash at the end of the barrel told him that the round had fired. He watched it land right behind her left foot as the blue round shot up in to the crowd behind her. He knew what he was doing and meant to miss the first round. He gave him vital information about the wind, and her movement. Even before she realized that she was under attack from the side, the weapon had reloaded the next round and it too was speeding its way towards her. However, this round he pulled more to the right a bit. The blue round slammed in to her ankle causing her first reaction to the attack.

The brass from the first two rounds were sent flying along with the metal links that held the rounds to the belt. The suppressor at the end of the barrel shot three blasts of flame down and away from the sight picture as the weapon continued to fire. The next round slammed in to her calf muscle causing her to twist towards the incoming fire. Even as she was bringing her laser sword to block the incoming fire, the next round landed against her thigh. The first three impacts sent the woman stumbling back as she lost her balance. Sargent Stel, held the sights on her as he continued to fire at the staggering woman. The next round slammed in to her gut causing her to double over a bit. Sargent Stel walked the nest two rounds up her torso slamming in her her chest forcing her body to shake and bounce under the repeated impacts. She was actually driven back by the fire as the first rank of slaves tried to stop her backwards motion. It was to little avail and only left her open for the next incoming fire. The last round hammered her right shoulder with so much force that it sent her flying backwards off the ground. Her body twisted in to the air and disappeared in to the hoards of slaves as the most of them already started to flee for cover. The last two rounds slammed in to rioters who had been standing near her. She had been stopped.

Stel let his breath out as he lost sight of her. It was just a short burst from the weapon but it was enough to break the will of the rioters. He lifted himself up from the weapon and checked the crowd as they started to flee. He shook his head at the scene. There were pats on his back over a job well done. Still he knew that this night was just getting started. They had a lot further to go. He turned the weapon on the rest of the slaves. With a few long bursts from his weapon, the rest of the slaves quickly retreated from the green line. With the help from the other towers and gunships, the slaves were sent fleeing from this fence line. Sargent Stel rose up from behind the weapon once more and looked over the scene. He turned to the other troopers in the tower who were now applauding him and patting him on the back. The smile on his face didn't betray what his heart was feeling. He doesn't like killing like this. Shotting fish in a barrel so to speak. He only nodded as he get the weapon back to the gunner and radioed back to the Command Bunker that the woman had been stopped and that the slaves were retreating from the fence line. He asked for further orders and got his next assignment. He turned to see the rioters pushing once more. 'They shall have the night' he thought. He also knew in his heart that by the light of morning, this revolt would be over.

---

Ogon's head snapped up as he pulled on the controls. The shuttle fought for altitude as he pulled back on the controls. He didn't know what he was doing just moments before, but he did know that he saw something. He turned to see Birgr walking up to the flight deck. The fighter had been driven away and they were for the moment, safe. Ogon saw everything through the eyes of Sargent Stel. It was a remarkable shot that spoke of the Reich soldier's skill and dead aim. However he also knew that the woman he was shotting at was Angel. He watched in slow motion as each round hit her and her body's reaction to each round. Ogon saw everything! Ogon just looked at Birgr, trying to find the words to tell him that Angel had been gunned down by a Reich soldier. Everything in his eyes, were mirrors in to his soul. He couldn't hide what he saw.

Its not just any day that you get to take on one of the most advanced fighters in the known galaxy, and win. The Birgr's shot had hit the fighter somewhere in the engine causing it to smoke and the pilot to turn for space. There was a great sense of pride in his smile as he walked up to the flight deck. After all, it was a one in a million shot. When his eyes fell upon Ogon, he could tell something was up. The look in Ogon's eyes told of something tragic. “What is it?” Birgr asked holding his cool against the fears of what could cause that look on Ogon's face. Already he had had his mind messed with and his temper was not under full control.

“Its Angel, I saw her.....” Ogon started but was cut off by Birgr.

Birgr felt his heart sank, “What happened?”

Ogon took in a deep breath as he continued. “She was leading the riot from the front” Ogon explained. He knew all too well that Azgardians were not known for the level tempers.

Birgr spoke back quickly, “Damn Loki and his tricks, she is still alive!” He saw the look in Ogon's eyes and the tone in his voice. He knew something had happened, but his heart refused to let her go.

Concern grew in Ogon as he tried to explain. “I never said that she wasn't, Birgr, I saw her.....” Was all that Ogon was able to say before being cut off by Birgr once more.

Ogon took noticed of the desperate tone in Birgr's voice. “Tell me what you know Ogon!” He knew that if he would just shut his mouth, Ogon would. But part of him didn't want to hear what his heart feared. He couldn't explain it. His rational mind never considered how much of an affect his heart would have over him. He wanted details, he needed details. He just didn't want to hear them.

“Listen, I saw her through a vision. She took shots. I don't know what her condition is.” Ogon explained what he saw in limited details. It was the truth, from what he saw. But at the same time, there was one thing resting heavily on his mind. Something that his eyes could not hide from someone so close to him, like Birgr. A simple feeling of, 'Urgent!' He turned the shuttle around and noticed the sand storm in the distance. 'Great, more storms” Ogon thought as he noted it was heading for the base.

Rage filled Birgr's heart and mind as images filled his mind of what Ogon could have possibly saw that would shake him so much. Still, she was alive and his heart believed it. It had to believe it. He needed her. “We are getting her back. Nothing else matters.” even as the words crossed his lips, Birgr couldn't believe he said them. The mission always came before anything else. However this was a matter of the heart. Something else drove him and his actions now. He loved her, and now she needed him. “Those bastards will pay!” he sore as he stormed off the bridge. The Psi troopers had gotten in to his mind and fucked with him. They messed with his actions and now because of that, she could be hurt. Or worse. 'They will pay!'

---

Flashback, Ten Years Ago
Ganthery Military Proving Grounds
Core World of Acatmen
Reich of Humanity
December 10th, 1926

Acatmen has been a hot, sandy, whole in the wall assignment for as long as anyone can remember. It offered no prestige or perks as assignments went. In fact, Acatmen only claim to fame was one hell of a desert survival school. Beyond that, there was nothing else to it. Most soldiers assigned to Acatmen often considered their careers tanked with no hope of salvage. Life on Acatmen boiled down to a simple rotation. One month deployed to the deserts while the slaves built a few cities. Two weeks of watching star boys in orbit try to blast their cities to dust with running repairs here and there. This often meant rushing in to a city to repair buildings while other cities were being hammered. One week of review and reports for the big wigs while the troops and slaves rested. Then back to the deserts all over again. One can only get worked up over watching orbital bombardments so much till even the light and show offers nothing. Plainly, it was a long, boring four year assignment. Well for most. Some actually sought out this assignment. They came to test their metal against the desert. Others came to prove something to someone. While others had even more personal reasons to seek out Acatmen.

The shuttle had landed and taxied to the tarmac just a few moments ago. A large number of veteran soldiers had gathered along the hangers to watch the show of new recruits. Watching the new recruits come in was just one way to break up the mundane existence that was forced upon each of them. The shuttle rear door had opened and the troops filed off the shuttle in military fashion. Each had their weapon slung on their shoulder and carried their entire lives within their duffel bags. A group of officers and senior NCO's watched as the leaders of the recruit platoons gave orders and ushered the troops in to their formation. Their uniforms were clean and sharp just like they were, fresh. Their movements were crisp and precise right down to the distance each recruit stood from the other. As the four platoons started to form up on the tarmac, it was clear that they were a symbol of pride for their training commands. As was expected from any Reich soldier just coming from the training command. The veteran soldiers hardly looked as professional in their dress or demeanor as the young recruits. The commanding officer didn't mind though. After all, it was Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day is one of the most important holidays celebrated by every human within the Reich. It marks two great events in Reich history, the day the Reich launched its first attacks against the Varl during their first uprisings. What started out as a minor slave revolt against their masters, turned in to a movement that nearly toppled one of the most powerful empires in the galaxy. The First Reich of Humanity paid a horrible price for trying to win their freedom. The Varl were brutal and savage in their revenge for the humiliating defeats at the hands of mere slaves. Decades later, the Varl would come to blows with a human uprising again. The Second Reich of Humanity was born out of those fires. And this time, humans from near by empires and worlds flooded to the cause. The Varl were helpless to stop the massive influx of humans taking up arms against them. Above the ice world of Cigna VII and on its surface, the Varl planned one last counter offensive aimed at crushing the humans once and for all. It amassed nearly all of its military for one of the largest military operations since the Golden Days of the Republic. However, the Reich caught wind of the build up and launched their own surprise attack. That day so long ago occurred on the same day that the Reich first fought for freedom. On that day, the Second Reich of Humanity handled the Varl one of its most humiliating and crushing defeats ever. On that date, after that single battle, the Reich had kicked the Varl from the Core Worlds, once and for all.

The base commander looked over to his Sargent Major and gave a little laugh, “I really hope you are enjoying yourself today.”

The old Sargent Major was a three time combat veteran against both pirates and the Free Worlds' Council. He was the most ranking enlisted man on the entire base. His role was the middle man between the enlisted soldiers and their Officers. A trusted position that gave both great respect and honored responsibility. He gave the commander a big smile, “Oh Sir, you have no idea how much I enjoy new recruit arrival day.” It was clear by their tone that the two had been close personal friends for some time.

The commander shook his head, “You are a very sick man.”

“That maybe Sir, but you are the one actually doing this. Again!” The old Sargent Major said with a smile and added, “And how many times does this make now?”

“Too many times. I think during the next batch, I will have Jack do it.” motioning to the Base Executive Officer. The other ranking NCO's and lower level officers laughed at the comment.

“Um Sir, with all do respect” said the Base XO, and then added, “The men really get a kick out of the way you deliver the, um, message, Sir.” He motioned to the troops gathering at the hangers, “All of the men, Sir.”

The command group looked over at the gathering of soldiers watching the scene unfold. The Base Commander sighed, “I hate this part. Somebody please tell me why I keep doing this?”

The Sargent Major laughed once more, “Because it works Sir. Not all of your ideas work. Hell thats why you have me here. But this one is all your's and it works.” He pointed out at the recruits and singled one out, “Thats our boy. That's the one I pick.” The Base Commander nodded his understanding and started to walk towards them. “Sir, your side arm” he said as he checked the pistol before handing it to his commander with the grip first.

The Commander turned around and took the weapon. He checked it and then slid it in to its holster. He smiled, “Come guys, its the only day we get to be movie stars. Lets have fun with it.” His voice lifted as he turned and started to walk towards the group of recruits now in a formation.

With a final call to attention, the cadet commander spun about and faced the gathering of officers and NCO's the recruit unit now faced. “Sir! The recruit detachment has been formed and waiting your inspection” he yelled out with a shape salute.

The Commander walked up to the cadet commander as the others took their positions behind the formation. “You have a fine unit, son” the commander said looking over the unit. “You should be proud of yourself.” He added as he returned the salute.

The Cadet Commander smiled as he dropped his salute, “Thank you sir. I am”

He nodded, “Okay, I will take it from here. You are relieved son. Take your place in the back.” he said then fired a sharp salute at the young cadet officer. The cadet returned the second salute and turned in proper military fashion. He walked briskly along the front of the unit till he was clear of the unit and then turned towards the rear of the unit. “At Ease!” The unit shifted from a position of attention to a more relaxed state. “Good Morning, I am Colonel Asurion. I would like to take this time to welcome you all to my command. This command and all that you see is special to me. My father was a base commander here. He was a Captain when this base was built. My grand father built the original base which this base later replaced. And his grand father fought to make this world free from alien influences. So when I say that this base is special to me. I really mean it.”

The commander turned to walk up and down the front of the unit, “Many of you might see the sand of this world or you might see the slaves in the distance. What you see on this world CAN be far from the truth. Do not ever take anything for face value. Take in point, right where you are standing. You see the airbase, but that is only skin deep. Almost a mile below us is the ruins of one of the largest cities on this world.” Noticing their disbelief, “Its true. But don't take my word for it. Come down to my office and I will show you. I want you all to know, I have an open door policy. Come by and talk about anything. I can not promise that I will be available all the time. But I can promise that I will try to make time to hear any problems you might have. Or make an appointment with my lovely secretary. Oh by the way, she is a Twi'lek.” He knew that this statement would get the reaction that he wanted from them. Their shocked looked almost made him laugh. “Why is my secretary a Twi'lek? Cause she is good at. The slaves here, are here doing their jobs because they are good at what they do. Just like all of you, they are here to do a job. Your job is to make sure that they are safe from the desert and theirs is to build the targets to be blown up in the name of training. We do our part, they do theirs and the Reich Navy gains valuable training. The Reich is enriched by what is being done here. It is a simple relationship.”

He continued to walk up and down the formation, “A simple relationship as long as we keep it simple. Tell me, what makes the green grass grow!”

Almost in prefect harmony, they all screamed out, “BLOOD! BLOOD MAKES THE GREEN GRASS GROW, SIR!”

He nodded to the automated reply, “Yes, the blood of our enemies. These slaves are not our enemies. They are our property and as such our responsibility to safe guard. You would not break your car. Or your bike. Or your house. I don't expect you to break my slaves. You will treat them with respect and if they don't return the respect then that slave will be dealt with. This base operates like no other Reich facility you have ever heard of. Because of the special conditions out there in the desert. We have to operate differently.” he walked up to the recruit who the Sargent Major pointed out. “Revolts are handled very carefully. In my entire tour here, I have never had a revolt that the guards were not able to regain control with very few casualties on either said.” he said to the entire unit then looked to the young man, “Have you ever taken a life before, son?”

The young soldier shook his head, “No Sir” he said plainly.

Colonel Asurion nodded as he issued the order, “Port, Arms” softly to the soldier before him. The soldier took his weapon from his shoulder and moved it to a diagonal position in front of his body with both hands. Colonel Asurion took the weapon from the soldier. “You take good care of your weapon.” the soldier nodded but didn't reply. He knew better than to speak out of turn. “I promise each of you” Colonel Asurion said in a loud booming voice, “that there will be hard times ahead. This is not an easy assignment. But how we lean on each other as well as preform our duties will define how hard this assignment has to be for each of us. I have loose regulations on what you do with your free time. I encourage you to further your professional and personal development. I have made sure that you have access to some of the best educators in the Reich. I do not mind you socializing with the slaves either. In fact I encourage it. Most of them have been here longer than all of you will be. There is much you can learn from them. There is much we can show them and teach them. Do not fear building friendships with them. Yes we play hard during our down times. However, we WILL work hard when called upon. During rotations, I will expect more from you than anyone else has ever asked. We build cities here. Our best record is a medium sized city in three weeks. A record that no other gunnery range has come close.”

The Colonel turned and tossed the weapon to the soldier next to the man who gave it to him. “Now for the most important note” he said still being loud. “During my time as commander of this base there have been five protests and riots on record. Hardly a record considering the vast number of slaves under my direct control. However what is a record is that during the same time, only two beings have ever been killed during these events. One was a soldier on a tower. He got tangle in his gear and fell from the tower and broke his neck. The other was a slave who got stampeded. Many of you have been taught that we are superior to aliens. And this is true, we are. However remember this, we do not slaughter our workforce. This would be stupid. So what happens during a riot? As I have said, we handle things differently here. I expect you all to shot them. Keep them contained at all costs. I expect you to do your duty to this base.” He walked back to the soldier who was now weaponless. The old Sargent Major walked up behind the soldier. He drew his pistol as he thought of how much he hated this part. “I expect you to take your weapon and fire” he explained to the men. Then lowered his voice, “Take my pistol son. Aim at my chest and shot me.”

The Colonel forced the pistol in to the shocked soldier's hand. It was clear that he was more nervous over the order than the rest of the soldiers who were all shocked at it. The Colonel backed up a few feet and the Sargent Major started to yell in the soldier's ear about following orders and to shot the pistol at his own commanding officer. Near panic ran through the large group of recruits as the other members of the Command group urged them to hold their ground. The on lookers paid closer attention to the scene as this was what they came to see. Still the soldier refused to follow the order issued as the Sargent Major continued to yell in the soldier's ear. Slowly and with a great sense of resistance to the order, the soldier raised the pistol. Still unsure if what he was doing was right or not. The rest of the recruits were in shock over the order and it was clear that their panic was growing. They were trained to follow orders and never question a superior officer. Also they were trained to never take up arms against a superior officer as well. This was a nightmare for most to comprehend. With all the pressure to fire, the soldier finally gave in. The pistol range out three times as he squeezed the trigger. The Colonel took all three shots in the chest as he was thrown to the ground with a loud grunting sound. Everyone watched wish shock and horror over what they had seen. The Colonel laid motionless for what seemed like forever.

Till the Commander rose his fist up and slammed it down, “SON OF A BITCH!” he half grunted and half yelled. He slowly got up from the tarmac and walked back over to the soldier. It was clear that the Commander was hurt now. The soldier had this look of terror on his face, “Relax son, though I should kick your ass for the extra two shots.” he ripped open his uniform and lifted up his white under shirt. There were three bright red marks on his chest. “Your shot group is a little open” he said pointing them out, “Wouldn't you think?”

The soldier nodded, “Yes Sir” he paused a moment, “I will work on that, Sir. But Sir, how I watched the round hit you.”

The Colonel took the pistol from the soldier and removed the magazine. He then pulled out a single round, “Let me introduce you to the Nonlethal round! Something unique to this base.” he said holding up the blue tipped round for all to see. “I had them specially designed for my command. They are being tested for all Reich slave camps as we speak. It has a slightly reduced range than a normal rounds and it will fly differently. Each of you will be trained to fire these rounds with accuracy. These rounds will break bones and will cause a lot of pain. However, if used correctly, they will not take a life. Your trainers will guide you through how to fire them, what parts of the body to aim for and where not to aim for. These rounds have ensured that we maintain order and respect here on this base. You will learn to use these rounds effectively.” he lowered his hand while handing the weapon and round to the waiting hand of the Sargent Major. “Whats your name son?”

The soldier stood their like a professional soldier. Shock and terror had worn off, “Private Steltois, Sir!”

The Colonel nodded, “All in all, you did a good job. Just work on your accuracy son”

“Yes Sir!” Steltois said with pride.

The Colonel turned to walk back towards the front of the unit and yelled to his new recruits, “welcome to Ganthery Military Proving Grounds.” In the same military fashion as before, he handed the group of recruits back over to their cadet commander. Once that was completed, he turned and walked away from the group. He was joined by his command staff. “Did you enjoy the show”

The Sargent Major smiled and nodded, “Its not every day you get to watch your Commanding Officer get shot by one of my privates. Oh yes, I really did enjoy the show.”

The Colonel laughed with clear pain in his voice, “You are a sick man....yes, a very sick man.” The rest of the group joined the two laugh as they walked to the infirmary.

[Akirapryde]

(6.3) Alone in the Dark (Part One)
Royal Palace, City of Re'ew
The Inner Rim World of Tufura
Kingdom of Kel-Vahr
November 22nd, 1936

The protesters beyond the walls have been growing during the past weeks. It all started as pirate activity rose a few months ago. The civilian shipping were the only targets by the pirates. Within weeks food supplies became disrupted around the Kingdom. The military did everything in its powers to stop the attacks but the pirates hit like ghosts. One minute they were there, next they were gone. The next cause for the increase was the rumor that the King had been building up his military and placing them along the boarder with the Reich. This pulled vital ships from patrol duties against the pirates and allowed more attacks to take place. The rumors were sadly true, but for good reason. Spies had reported a sizable build up of troops and ships along the boarder. The move was to deter a Reich invasion and was never meant to last for long. It had been hopeful that the protests would have died down once the pirate attacks subsided in recent weeks. However, the King took another political blow after the Reich announced that they would be taking eight worlds from the Kingdom. Within hours of the declaration Reich soldiers moved in. The King was unprepared to stop the advanced and his own allies encouraged him to withdraw and allow the Reich to claim them. The loss of these worlds only fueled more protests across the Kingdom.

The protesters waved signs calling for the King to take action. Others called for peace, and still others called for food. Princess Oidusa Xesarv looked down at her people with great sadness. Her pale blue face seemed only to further show her sadness. She could feel the anger of the crowds beyond the walls of the Palace. She ran a hand over her long lekku as she watched them. Even though she was only eighteen, she all to easily understood the dire situation her husband has been put in. The pirate attacks seemed to come from no where. Not one of her husband's naval warships had been able to locate them. If it were not for the destroyed ships, even she would consider that the attacks were fake. With the untimely events unfolding almost too untimely, she had started to wonder if all of them were in fact linked in some hidden way. She had mentioned her suspicions to her husband only to be told she was being paranoid. That was before the Reich had stolen eight of their worlds without having to fire a shot. Now even the King has his suspicions of who might be behind these seemingly random events. However, with the Reich's knife at their throats, their only hope now rested in the man her husband so dearly trusted. Citizen Daz Murl!

"Where are they!" The elder King said with a impatient voice as he marched in to the throne room where she was looking out the window. She turned to watch the large powerful man walk in to the room. She loved the way his deep green skin filled her eyes. The marriage was arranged by her family when she was very young. She had never met the King in person before the day of her wedding. They chatted over communications before a few times, but that was it. However, after the wedding, she came to love the man she married. She found in him such a wonderful and caring man. His love for her was only seconded by the love he held for his people. This made the situation that much harder on him. She gained his trust and love and he gained a fertile woman to give him strong children. However the children would have to wait till she was older. For now, he found something surprising in her. She quickly became a trusted adviser. For her family in return, they gained control over more land back home and more influence within the court. Now that all seemed pointless to her. Her homeworld was one of the eight that the Reich had laid claim to over a week ago. When the Reich took control, all communication stopped with her homeworld. She didn't even know if her family was still alive or not.

"I don't know My Lord. The protesters have all but blocked the streets. Even my guards are now having problems moving through the city's streets" explained General Marish. General Marish was a tale strong human who towered over the rest of his men. He walked with a strong sense of command about him that demanded respect. He had been a long time friend of the King and loyal supporter of the court. When she first arrived to Re'ew two years ago, he was the one who had shown her her way around the city and the palace. She found out that the King trusted him with more than just his life. It was strange for her to understand their relationship though. The racial tensions had always been so high back on her homeworld. Human and other races never seemed to really get along very well. Even back on her own home world, she learned at a young age to distrust humans and their intentions. She did not fully trust General Marish when she first met him. Now, she trusts him like her own father.

“They have always come when you called upon them, my love” she said softly turning from the window to face her King completely. “Trust in them. They will come this time as well” She added as she walked with all the grace of a swan moving effortless across a still pond towards him. “Please be still your fears” she added sensing that his fears were raising. For her it was a gift that allowed her to counsel her husband. She had her own fears about her gift and it gave her reasons to hide it even from her husband and family. Should anyone found out, it would be seen as a curse and reason to be burned her at the stake. Taking a deep breath and turning her smile and eyes in to a sense of hope, she finished her walk to her husband and took his hands in hers. “Please trust in the Republic, My Love. They will not fail us” she said softly looking in to his eyes. Regardless of what she felt about the Republic or its intentions, the Republic was the only hope that her people had right now.

When word from the Generation ship Skiplight came to the court regarding Daz Murl and his goals to rebuild the Republic, the King had his doubts. He asked the Captain to come to Re'ew to visit the court and speak with him about this new Republic. And more importantly about this Daz Murl. The Captain spoke for hours about what he saw personally within Daz Murl and what it could mean for the Galaxy. The Captain was not easily fooled and the King knew this. Still, this Daz Murl had a plan that could work. After being convinced of the sincerity of Citizen Murl and the ideals behind his Republic the King started to do his own research. The more the King learned the more he liked what he saw. He learned about how Citizen Murl had rushed in and saved an entire people from right under the noses of the Reich. After some very surprising findings, and much convincing from his young wife, The King was won over. The King decided send an official delegation to meet with Citizen Murl and open up talks. The day before his chosen emissaries were to leave for the Narshana, the King was contacted by no other than Citizen Murl. Citizen Murl requested an audience with the court to discuses matters of the Republic. Within a few short weeks the two were speaking via messages like old friends. There seemed to be something about Citizen Murl that gave her husband a reason to hope for a brighter stronger future. However, the crisis' came one after another and for the first time, Kel-Vahr did not stand alone. Citizen Murl was there to render his help through the vast support of the Republic.

“My Lord, they are landing on the Roof” Cried a guard.

With a heavy sigh of relief the King nodded. “You shall see. The Reich has gone too far this time. I know you were against all the talk of the Republic my old friend” the King said to General Marish, “but now you will see why joining the Republic was so important to us as a people. Evil states like the Reich can not be allowed to act this way without facing a larger galaxy. As Citizen Murl told me, only united can we stand. You will see now the might of our unity.” The King calmly said with pride as he moved towards his throne.

She silently followed behind him as she watched him taking his throne. She also took her own place next to his. She couldn't help remembering her own thoughts of the Republic. While at first she had thought it was a sound idea to join this movement of rebuilding the Great Republic. Every part of her being said that it was the right thing to do. The Great Republic had meant so much in the past. She couldn't think of a better time for it to come back. This all changed when she first met the emissaries of Citizen Murl. There was something off about them. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something seemed so murky about all of them. After each meeting, she felt like they were making a big mistake and that they were getting even deeper. Finally she worked up the courage to speak her fears. However it was too late. She had waited too long to issue the warning. Her husband and Citizen Murl had become such close friends. A bit too close and far too fast for her liking. She knew her husband would never betray a friend. It was what made him special. He had a deep routed sense of honor about him. Now, she only hoped for the best and bet against her senses which had been proven in the past.

“We shall see My Lord. I prefer my enemies at the tip of my blade rather than dressed in silk, gold and diamonds.” General Marish said following his King and Princess. He knew the fears of the Princess, as she was easy to read. That and she also had confided in him about them. The Reich might be evil, but he didn't trust Nu Dors either. He knew how the Reich would behave in most ways. Nu Dors had a nasty habit of changing their minds and their views to suite their own agendas. He didn't trust them at all. The alliance with the Reich only went to prove his opinion about them. Just seventy years ago, they launched a sneak attack on a Reich fleet during the Council/Reich War. He lobbied hard against joining the Republic. It had been tried a of numbers before. Even twice by the Nu Dors. Each time it started, it failed horribly. When the Reich started its saber rattling the Republic was there to offer its suggestions. Each time the King followed the suggestions of the Republic, the situation only seemed to get worse for them. None of this eased General Marish's fears over the Republic. Now the very survival of the Kingdom was on the line.

“Introducing Sir Birgr Heartman, speaker of the Galactic Republic” the official court greeter called out loudly.

A group of soldier walked in. They were all dressed in the flashy uniforms that have become known by the court. Sir Birgr led the soldiers with his mighty ax on his back. He was a tale strong man who matched the General in height but over shadowed him in raw power. Sir Birgr showed off his strong muscles and prefect build through his manner and movement. Most ladies of the count found it enough to watching the man walk. Others had attempted to corner him during those rare times that he and his men stayed at the Palace. Just behind the soldiers were three civilians dressed in some kind of normal business attire. They were hardly impressing to the court but in the middle of them walked a person completely cloaked. There were whispers within the court of who that person could be. Still none were spoken so loud that the King could over hear. After all, these representatives of the Republic were honored guest of the King. Sir Birgr was almost a legend throughout the Kingdom already. During their last visit, he and his brave men stopped an assassination attempt on the King and Princess. It was tragic, Sir Birgr was badly wounded and lost two of his best warriors. It was something that the court or the King will not soon forget. While there was no hard evidence the King and Birgr both believed the Reich was behind the attempt in retaliation for breaking off talks regarding trade rights and piracy.

These special meetings had their own flow about them that the court soon began to follow. Before the King and the court, Sir Birgr and his soldiers would walk in and politely introduce themselves. They would play a short message from Citizen Murl and then the King would speak to them of current events. As the King would explain his ideas and concerns over current events it would help Sir Birgr relay these feelings and desires back to Citizen Murl. Once the King was finished talking about what ever current or future events he wished, he would give a message chip to Sir Birgr to personally hand over to Citizen Murl. However today the King noticed two important changes in the visit. First was the cloaked person with the civilian personal. Never before had Sir Birgr brought others in to the court without permission. For Sir Birgr to do this, it meant something big was about to happen. The King decided to wait and listen before reacting. Second, the look on Sir Birgr's face told him of a dire situation. The court quickly fell silent as Sir Birgr and his men walked in to the Throne room and took up location just before the King.

Sir Birgr handed the message chip over to a waiting guard who turned and walked it over to the reader. Long ago, before the fall of the Great Republic there were allot of technologies which made life easier for everyone. One such technology was holo-technology. Holo technology allowed people to communicate over the vast distance of space without feeling so far away. There are records of some being so small that it could fit in the palm of a person's hand. While technology for the holoplayers still exists today, the networks and power systems have made them less effective. The power requirements for hand held models were simply too high for normal batteries. Due to the limited networks, the holo players rapidly turned in to means of delivering messages rather than real time communications. Which was what Sir Birgr delivered today, a message. After a few moments a actual representation of Daz Murl appeared standing in the center of the Throne Room. He was dressed in the very same suit he was seen in during the highly publicized ceremony of the Free Worlds' Council signing the Articles of the Republic. The King remembered the good laugh he had of the Council's propaganda claiming they were the first. He had actually signed his copy of the Treaty of the Republic over a week before. The King didn't care who signed what first. The Galaxy had to pull together if they were to survive.

The image came to life as the massive holoprojector played out the message. The image came to life as it spoke, “My Good friend King Xesarv. I wish that this was not such troubling times. I know I have been putting off my visit to your grand Kingdom. I cannot tell you how much I wish I was able to take you up on your kind offer to show me your Kingdom. Times have been getting rough for me as I struggle to rebuild the Republic. And the Republic is growing. As you have been able to see we are signing up Kingdoms and Empires alike. I want you to know, all that has been done has been done so that the Republic can be reborn. As I have warned you, the Reich did come for your worlds. I am fulfilling my promise now regarding direct military support. However I have run in to unforeseen problems. I feel so strongly about our friendship that I have sent my most personal and trusted adviser to speak with you about the future. We all have tough and trying times ahead. We all will be tested, some will break while others grow stronger. I hope that our friendship will continue to grow through these times. Without further delay, allow me to introduce Swip Larn. She has been appointed personally by me to speak on these matters regarding your Kingdom and the future. Be well my Friend.”

As the image waves its hand toward the group the small hooded figure steps forward and removes her hood. As the hood dropped, the King saw a small framed female Nu Dor dressed in a gown before him. The image of Daz Murl faded as Princess Xesarv read this new comer named Swip Larn. Princess Xesarv could sense the sincerity of the female Nu Dor as she read the surface emotions of the Nu Dor. However there was something else in the air. Princess Xesarv could sense something in the room. 'Is it the magnitude of the crisis' she questioned herself. 'Something is wrong' she pondered as the Nu Dor spoke. She remained calm as she continued to feel the emotions of the room and tried to figure out what was triggering these strong emotions in her. 'This is not right' she thought as she realized the red flag going up in her mind. She didn't feel right bringing this issue up at this moment. She could sense that something very important was in the air. The feeling was so strong that it grinned on her nerves. She hated such powerful feelings like this one. It forced her to focus more intensely on her ability to control the near overwhelming emotions and feelings. She choose to be silent and carefully watched what was unfolding.

“Your Majesty, may I present my self and my aides before your Court” she motioned to the civilian dress people who accompanied her. The three disguised psi-troopers stepped forward and bowed along side the look alike Swip. Their disguises were allot easier to fashion than Swip's. From the intelligence that the Reich had from Fra, Daz surrounded himself with mostly humans. So for them, all they needed to do was match what the analysts reported regarding those who followed Daz. For the spy who would play Swip however, a complete make over to include skin grafts were in order. There were a number of surgical changes that had to take place while she was learning to become Swip. In fact two others also followed in the same procedures as a fall back plan. Three were chosen from the Reich Ministry of Covert Defense to play this part today. Each spent hours becoming Swip through classes and watching videos of the young Nu Dor. The surgeries had been squeezed in to the already tight schedule. One of the candidates died on the operating table. To other failed her final exam before being allowed to join this mission. There was so much riding on this mission that failure was not an option for the Ministry of Covert Defense.

The three psi-troopers had only one role to play in this mission. All they had to do was to ensure that the illusion was bought completely. Passing Captain Jaivi for the blood thirsty warrior Birgr was easy. Captain Jaivi's role during this operation was only to be a messenger, nothing more. Swip's role was much more complex. Plus unlike Birgr, Swip is a very public figure who is record in a number of news footage along side Citizen Murl. Luckily for the Reich, she hardly ever spoke on camera, leaving the center stage for Citizen Murl. This meant that her voice didn't have to match completely. It seemed very do able for the Reich till the operation was placed in jeopardy by a surprising find. A spy within the Kel-Varh Palace discovered that the Crown Princess was either a Telepath or a full fledged Force User. If the Crown Princess was able to detect the truth of the situation before it was too late, the operation would fail. The psi-troopers' role was to ensure that the Crown Princess didn't detect anything but the truth of what her eyes were telling her. Still this was still a hugely risky operation. And for what? Something that only five people within the Reich knew. It is all for the BernzChi Crystals!

Never before had a single discovery so broadly changed the Geo-Political, military balance, and direction of an entire Empire. Fifty years ago the Reich had just dragged itself from the Council/Reich war. A war that was so bloody and costly that it nearly drove both Empires to destruction. While searching for new resources a Reich ship discovered a hulk drifting in space very close to the boarder of the Deep Core. The ship was extensively damaged and at first seemed to offered little in terms of salvage. The search parties could not uncover what happened to the ship due to data loss. What they were able to uncover was that the ship was a survey ship and had been abandoned by its crew over a hundred years before the fall of the Republic. There were hopes that some ancient maps or some long forgotten space lines might be uncovered. Sadly the ship's computer core offered very little in terms of useful data. It almost seemed like every new hope they had about the ship would turn up being false. Sure there were allot of cultural items located in the crew quarters and throughout the ship. However the military Commander saw little use for those things. Just as the ship was tagged to be used for target practice, a group of techs made a remarkable find. While making a final pass through the ship they discovered a part of the ship that had been over looked. Within this section of the ship was the back up power supply for the main engines.

This new power source was a massive advance in power supply technology over the fusion reactors currently in use in most other navies. The discovery allowed for even further breakthroughs in engine and power designs. For the Reich it was the equivalent to a transition from coal fired engine (or wood fired in some navies' cases) to using diesel turbines. With this new power source aboard their ships, it was possible to add more powerful weapon systems, more powerful shield systems. And even reduce the size of the ship's power plant without sacrificing over all power for the ship or its systems. Ships were now faster, harder hitting and could survive more damage. However it was not just ships that benefited from this new technology. The new reactors could be designed so small that they could be fitted in to fighters, walkers and even suits to be worn by troopers. It was the Free Worlds' Council which unlocked the secrets of Walker Technology and made the Reich pay dearly for falling behind. Now the Reich's own walkers were out performing the most top of the line walker the Council is fielding. Another area the new reactors changed was in hyperdrive design. Normally because of the massive amounts of power needed, hyperdrives were only built for large transports or capital class ships. Now, for the first time since the Great Fall, ships smaller than corvettes became hyperspace capable. With these new reactors, even hyperspace able fighters could now be considered. The discovery became the single greatest strategic discovery in the Galaxy in over a thousand years. It also quickly became the single most guarded secret within the Reich.

The scientists who studied the new reactor and helped unlock its secrets simply vanished from existence. The original crew who discovered the hulk were transferred to a new base where the reactors were studied. An entire world sprang up to support the further study of this one piece of technology. There was no communication to or from the world and the Reich navy guarded the world to ensure that no unauthorized ships landed or left. The captains of the ships who patrolled the space around this world didn't have a clue was secrets were being unlocked. The project took on the name of Star Quest after the name of the hulk that the secrets were found in. As the first prototypes were built and tested, a special group of engineers were trained up to maintain the new reactors. They fell under a completely new command that was separate from the rest of the crews. Within years the first prototypes revealed that the scientists and military commanders had completely under estimated the potential of this new power source. The research expanded to other areas of the Reich technological structure. It was rumored that it would be easier for someone to assassinate the Emperor than uncovering the secrets of Star Quest.

As the research continued, the military leaders of the Reich started to completely rethink how they fight wars. Before, it was large armies, big ships with big guns and lots of big powerful walkers, that won wars. Now, they looked at all kinds of new and fresh ideas of how to fight and win wars like never before. New weapon technologies, shield technologies, and even some technologies that seemed to be nothing more than tall tails, all became possible. It was this realization that finally hit home. The Reich could launch a series of wars against the entire Galaxy and win. It was a realization that scared the Emperor. The Star Quest Reactors could very well lead the Galaxy back to the level of war that had not been seen since just after the fall of the Republic. Plagued by nightmares of entire worlds burning under his hand, the Emperor created a plan to exchange the Star Quest Reactors for lasting peace with many of the Reich's enemies. While the Varl were left out of this trade, the Free Worlds' Council and the Kel-Varh were not. Sadly he never had a chance to act on his plan. The Emperor's death saw his son take the throne and cancel the plan, he dubbed, “My father's single largest mistake”, before the secret could be let out.

The BernzChi Crystals had two major draw backs. Unlike the power sources of the modern Republic, the BernzChi Crystals burned up at a much higher rate. Which meant that they had to be resupplied on a regular basis. If the Reich was to see its great Unification War started, a stockpile of these crystals had to be amassed first. During the past ten years the Reich sent out covert ships searching for these crystals. While they didn't find all of the sites, they were able to mapped out seven locations where these crystals could be found. One was in Reich space while another had been outside of Reich space. Within years of its discovery, the Reich annexed the world and its valuable resource. Two were discovered within Kel-Varh space, which was why this mission was so important. one of the largest deposits discovered was found on a worthless world called Fra. The last two deposits were discovered on two different worlds deep within the Free Worlds' Council. Still the Reich is continuing its search for any major deposits of this powerful energy source. If the Emperor's Unification War was to be won and all Humans were brought under one Empire, he would need as many BernzChi Crystals as possible.

“I bring very troubling news from the Council of the Republic. Citizen Murl has been debating with the Council over getting military support to your Kingdom in light of the current situation. I wont lie to you. Things have gotten more difficult for Citizen Murl.” Swip explain.

The King rose in anger, “Wait a minute, we were told that the Republic would be there to support us as long as we were member states. What could have possibly changed”

Swip signed deeply, “many on the Council feel that you should have spent more time negotiating. The fact that you broke off the talks which could have brought an end to this peacefully is used by some within the Council. Namely the Free Worlds' Council and the Varl, to undermine Citizen Murl's efforts to get the needed support here.”

This time it was the Crown Princess who rose to speak up, “wait! We broke off negotiations because Citizen Murl said that we should not negotiate with the Reich. It was done at the Republic's request.” The Crown Princess' voice was calm and measured. She knew how much the Kel-Varh needed the Republic. Even before the current crisis, she knew that her people needed a strong central Galactic government. When they found out about Citizen Murl and his goals of the Republic, she knew they had to support it. It was the reason why they were so eager to follow the suggestions of Citizen Murl.

Once more Swip signed, “My Lady, things have become very complicated”

“Complicated!” the King said as he stepped forward from the Throne. “Don't tell me about how complicated things are. The Reich has kicked in our door and now holds a knife at our throat. We were promised direct military support. We were promised help. What could possibly be more complicated. We need your help. We need the ships and troops you promised.” His anger was clear for everyone to see.

Swip nodded, “I know you were promised ships and troops. However things have changed.” she looked down a bit, “I am not going to lie to you My Lord. Larger empires and kingdoms are signing up for the Republic everyday. If we were to wage war with the Reich right now, then we risk losing everything we have worked for. Citizen Murl has noticed the change with the Republic's Council. As we speak, the Republic is growing stronger day by day. Some kingdoms will have to be sacrificed if the Republic is to be stronger tomorrow.”

The Crown Princess brought her hand up to cover her mouth. “Oh my god” she said with tears in her eyes as she stepped forward and pulled her husband to look at her. “We have led our people destruction” she finally realized what her feelings were urging to her to pay attention to. “The promise of the Republic has failed us.”

The King turned to face the representatives from the Republic, “you have betrayed us. For what! For your dream of unity? How dare you come here and claim unity when you leave us to the wolves!”

As if on cue, Captain Jaivi portraying Sir Birgr spoke up, “My Lord, please understand. We have to think of tomorrow and the future.”

The Crown Princess slowly moved back to her own thrown while still holding her hand over her mouth. They trusted that the Republic would be there to help in this crisis. They were alone to face the Reich. When Citizen Murl suggested that they should reject the Reich's offers, she and the King blindly agreed. Now, the Reich was preached to overrun their Kingdom. The Republic had abandon them. All she could think of was the suffering that was surely to come to their people. She turned her tear filled eyes to Swip once more. “Maybe there is hope. Maybe we can speak to the Council directly and try to sway them to help us. Sure we will loss some battles but the Kingdom can be saved. Right?”

Swip shook her, “My Lady, I am sorry for this news, but. I have heard what the others have said. Do you really think that they would risk war with the Reich. I am sorry but there is nothing more that can be done for the immediate future. Citizen Murl and I will still work on your behalf. The Council has already voted not to revisit this issue till the beginning of the new year. For the time being you will have to stand on your own. Alone.” Swips voice was clear, level and direct.

Anger filled the King as he turned to look at his beloved wife. He blamed himself for what is happening. He turned to Sir Birgr, “We have nothing more to discuss” he said with anger in his voice. He thrust his finger at the door, “leave! Never return. This may be the end of my Kingdom, but you have proven what really runs through your veins. I curse your Republic for all of its treachery. I pray to the All Mighty that you all shall soon feel the cold steel of betrayal just as you have forced it in to the heart of my people. GET OUT!”

After they left the Palace and boarded their shuttle once more, did any of them speak. Captain Jaivi spoke up, “They will not call for help from the Republic or its allies. And even if it is offered, they will choose to stand alone. The invasion can start once you give the order.” The rest of the spies boarded the shuttle and took their seats. As the door finally closed, Swip removed her mask taking in a deep breath of air. Her human mouth did not look much like a Nu Dor once the mask was removed.

Field Marshal Karl Halder nodded as he sat dressed in a common tech outfit. Nothing was left to chance for this mission. He had remained in the shuttle like all other missions to this world. This operation was all his idea and so he wanted to remain close to ensure that any minor changes could be dealt with in a more timely fashion. His plan started over a year ago with the deployment of spies and saboteurs throughout the Kel-Varh worlds. They would became the whispers in the taverns, shops and schools which would drive the people to rebel against their own beloved Royal Family. By special clearance from the Emperor himself, the Wolf Packs would hunt the merchant shipping throughout the Kingdom and cause the market crisis. All of this built up to the current crisis now facing the helpless Kingdom. With the Reich kicking in the door, the people would turn to chaos in fear. He had over a million troops and hundreds of warships along the board waiting for the order to be given. His only disappointment was that he was not allowed to use any of the advanced warships in his invasion. The Emperor was clear on this issue. He was only allowed to use weapons and ships that had already been seen on Fra or cleared for service beyond the boarders. Still it didn't matter, he was given use of Field Marshal Erich Von Kessler for this daring operation.

His orders were clear. The Kel-Varh must fall quickly with as little fighting as possible. The Kel-Varh were not a major power. However they were not helpless either. A message had to be sent to the smaller Kingdoms and Empires. Bow to the rule of the Reich or face the consequences. This whole operation was meant to be a shock and awe mission. Today everything was finally coming together since the Fra delay was imposed. Now that Fra had been settled the Emperor cleared his plan to conclude. Not a moment too late for as he said would happen, the Kel-Varh hit their boiling point. Now was the time to strike. Everything rested with Kessler's genius to sweep aside what was left of the Kel-Varh military and win the day. Field Marshal Halder leaned back in his chair as the shuttle lifted off the ground and smiled. “Send word to Kessler, the invasion will begin in twenty four hours.”

The above change to the date was in reflection of a mistake in dates by my doing. I have corrected this. Please make note of it.

[Akirapryde]

(6.4) Crisis of Kel-Vahr
The Lord's Voice
Galactic Media
Broadcast from The Holy See
November 28th, 1936

Good evening children of the Lord. We bring you tragic from the Colonial Empire of Kel-Vahr. As weeks of growing protest continued to spin out of control on all of the Kel-Vahr worlds, the Reich under the terms of a treaty and occupied five of their worlds on November 20. Despite promises of peace the Reich military launched a very rapid build up only hours after the occupation began. If there was any question as to the Reich's intentions, all was removed when the Reich aired videos of a military parade on Yu'Orin. At the lead of the parade was none other than Reich military genius Field Marshal Erich Von Kessler. The news of the top Reich military leader only a mere hours from the Kel-Vahr homeworld was enough to send the people of the Kel-Vahr in to panic. By November 22, the Reich had well over two million troops and thousands of warships on the newly occupied worlds. As Reich officials explained away the troop build up as part of a training operation and to secure their authority on these worlds. Investigative Reporters from the Lord's Voice uncovered that none of the troops left their transports as the build up continued. We all wanted to know why. The reason would become more shocking than what we ever dreamed or feared possible.

In the face of raising negative public opinion, the Royal Family found themselves trapped between a civil upraising and the Reich military on the other side. The King and Crown Princess did everything in their power to try to bring the Civil Upraising under control to little success. It was if the will of the people had been guided to this point by an outside force. With both time and options running out, the Royal Family boarded one of their remaining ten warships and left their Capital. While no one outside the Royal Court knows for sure, there are many rumors regarding why the Royal Family choose to flee. One rumor which is persisting is that the King asked for a meeting with representatives from the newly formed Republic. It is unclear at this time what could have possibly taken place in this meeting or if the meeting actually happened. Late at night on November 22, the King and his family boarded their ship and slipped in to hyperspace. It was a decision which will haunt the Kel-Vahr people in the days that followed. Panic in the streets turned to chaos with no central government in place.

With the chaos taking hold across the Kel-Vahr space, the Reich made their move. Claiming civil unrest and national security reasons, Field Marshal Kessler launched a massive invasion in to the heart of Kel-Vahr space. The entire operation took only six day to reach all their goals of securing all twenty nine of the remaining Kel-Vahr worlds. The advance was so fast that most Kel-Vahr garrisons were caught completely off guard and unprepared for the invasions. There were actually confirmed reports of some Kel-Vahr garrisons did not even bother showing up to their barracks when the alert was sounded. In some cases, the Reich forces were able to walk right on to a base and secure it with only a few dozen troops. Nearly all of the Kel-Vahr units surrendered with hardly a shot being fired. In fact the hardest resistance was offered from the local police units as the Reich army moved in to take control. These units were ill prepared to face off with a occupying force. Because of this, these battles were short lived and ended with heavy casualties in the ranks of the local police forces. It was only learned after the occupation of Tufura began was it learned that General Marish had issued the order for all forces to surrender before the Reich invasion began. Once this information was uncovered, it explained why so many Kel-Vahr units simply surrendered or failed to show up for the battle.

Field Marshal Karl Halder, over all commander of both the invasion and the occupation, led the victory parade through the streets of Tufura as his units secured the city. It was truly a grand sight to see for the millions of civilians whom lined the streets greeting the Reich soldiers. There were Reich flags waving as the troops of the Reich decked out in their uniforms paraded by. At one more the parade was stopped as a group of children rushed out and presented Field Marshal Halder with a large arrangement of flowers. When Halder's opened air ground transport reached the city center, he gave an up lifting and reassuring speech. While many have their doubt regarding the Reich occupation of Kel-Vahr. From the words of his speech, Halder painted himself and the Reich as liberators. Here is just an exert of his speech.

“In the coming months, many will ask us why we came here. Just a few days ago, there was only chaos here. Just a few weeks ago, there was hungry and shortage. Just a months ago there was tyranny. Today, Reich ships are landing on every Kel-Vahr world. As I speak here today, those ships are off loading millions of tons of food and medical supplies that the good people of Kel-Vahr need so dearly!(loud applauds are heard) Today, Reich warships will be patrolling the space lanes between the worlds and ensuring that the pirate threat is eliminated once and for all. We saw a need and we acted on that need. We did not sit and talk about it. WE saw YOU in need of help and so we acted to help you. A few days ago, we received word that your own leaders abandoned you. YOU! They LEFT YOU BEHIND! Why is this? Their sole reason to exist is to serve and protect you from danger like the pirate threat. No, they failed you. We the Reich will not fail you. We are not here to conquer you. We do not seek war with you. We wish to help led you in to a better and brighter future.(loud applauds are heard) What many of you may not remember is that over a thousand years ago a debt was created. Humans and nonhumans alike reached out from Kel-Vahr and fought along side the brave warriors of the Reich against the Varl threat. It is my duty....NO....My Honor and Privilege to be the one to start to repay that debt to the Kel-Vahr people.(loud applauds are heard) The Reich will make good on its debt to you. The people of the Kel-Vahr.”

“Effect immediately, today, the Royal Court of Kel-Vahr will be dissolved. Those who have leached off the people of the Kel-Vahr will be rounded up and brought to answer for their crimes against the very people they were to serve. In six months time, free and open elections will be held and the people will be represented by the common people of Kel-Vahr. The Reich will over see the elections to ensure that they remain free from corruption. The Reich Military Governor over the Kel-Vahr will work with the newly elected government towards one goal. The ability of the people of the Kel-Vahr to finally stand on their own without the need for a King or his puppet!(loud applauds are heard) NOW, now, this road is not an easy road to travel. Changes will need to be made. Some changes will be easy. Others will be harder to make. But this road is not impossible to travel. And you have a strong friend who will be there to help you through the hard times. Over the coming months and years, it will seem like tomorrow will be nearly impossible to reach. Trust me, my friends, together we will reach it!(loud applauds are heard).”

Within his speech, Field Marshal Halder did mention the new voice of the Galaxy, Citizen Daz Murl. Here is another exert from that speech regarding Citizen Daz Murl.

“Many of you, as I have as well, heard of this savor Citizen Daz Murl. He speaks of so much wonderful things. A Galaxy unified under one government. A Galaxy free from tyranny and evil sounds so appealing to even me. Even I, the highest ranking military leader of the Reich, would love to see this dream come to light. After all, History had taught us that such a thing is possible. But History has also taught us something else. Warned us of evil and darkness moving in the shadows. A few days ago, we called for a summit to address pirate activities along the boarder. Your own government refused to attend. This Republic, that Daz has been speaking so highly of, instead of dealing with the pirate situation directly they choose to force the Reich to deal with it. Instead of offering to form a collation to combat the pirates, they felt it easier to just brush your worlds under the rug. In light of our support and help to the worlds of the Kel-Vahr, they will attempt to paint our liberation as a invasion of your worlds. Instead of working to solve the problems of the Galaxy, the Republic has been working with the a few strong governments to plot war against the Reich. They have a Military Pact with the Varl to invade not only the Reich but even the Dorins. The Free Worlds' Council has signed this pact as well as other Governments. Did the Republic once come to the Reich in hopes of bringing peace to the Galaxy? Did the Republic even take the time to look in to our hearts and actions? The answer is NO! They are using us as an excuse to make war and to justify their darker goals.”

“Yes, the Republic is unifying the Galaxy. This fact is clear to us within the Reich. This Citizen Daz Murl is unifying the Galaxy under one repressive boot with the Varl as his personal army. We did not come here to make war. We came to help solve your problems. In time, once you are ready to stand on your own, we will leave and go home. Citizen Murl wants his Republic to stand till the end of time. To control all worlds under one government. Under one voice, HIS! (Loud bo's are heard) Enough of these silly talks regarding the Republic. As you and I all know, we have larger problems. Problems the Republic chooses to ignore. Its time to get to work. Now, as I have said. We are not hear to make war with the good people of the Kel-Vahr. We are hear to build a future for you. But as mighty as the Reich and its military is. We can not do this alone. I am asking you, the people of the Kel-Vahr, for your help. Lets start construction of a bigger and brighter tomorrow. Will you help me?(loud applauds and cheers are heard).”

Despite his words, there were conflicts with the incoming Reich troops and local resistance. One such conflict caused a disaster on the Kel-Vahr world of Dinnisha. Dinnisha is well known for its extremely rich mineral deposits across the world. During the hight of the Great Republic, it was a world of great importance to such a degree that the Defenders of the Republic, known as the Jedi, had build a massive military stronghold on the world. During the great war, the mountain stronghold was blasted from existence during repeated assaults. For the next half millennium the world was all but forgotten. Slowly as the world crawled out of the dark ages, the people of Dinnisha found themselves invaded once more. This time, by the armies of the Kel-Vahr. The invasion brought rapid changes and advances to the people of Dinnisha. One such advance was the Yul'ing Dam. The Dam provided almost seventy percent of the power requirements for the world. It stood as symbol of pride for both the Kel-Vahr and the people of Dinnisha.

When the Reich landed on Dinnisha, the local garrison of nearly two and a half million soldiers deserted their posts. While there are conflicting reports regarding the details of the event. What is known is a loosely organized group of militia of nearly a thousand members raided the garrison barracks and supply deputes ahead of the Reich advance. They quickly retreated to the Yul'ing Dam and set up for a prolong siege. With more than enough food, ammo and weapons, the dam became a sizable defensible position. According the Reich Military Command, the Yul'ing Dam was a high value objective that they could not allow to remain in the hands of terrorists. According to official document, the Reich ordered two companies of armored infantry, some six hundred soldiers, to liberate the dam. During the battle for the dam, loud explosions were heard from deep within the dam structure. With the structure weakened, the dam failed sending billions of litters of water down river. Several towns and cities were quickly flooded. Many estimates place the loss of life at well over a hundred thousand. The Reich was quickly to blame the militia for the dam failure and the loss of life. We have an exclusive interview with a Reich soldier who was part of the battle for the dam.

“My name is Sergeant Mitch, I am assigned to the 3rd of the 101st Infantry Battalion, Bravo Company, 2nd Ghost Division. I will always remember that morning for the rest of my life. The Sivish Militia had raided a weapon cache and held up in the Yul'ing Dam. My company and Delta Company were tasked secure the dam. We were not allowed to use armor piercing or explosive rounds. We were searched to ensure that no one smuggled any. Only grenades we were allowed to have were flash, gas and smoke. We first engaged the enemy on the approaches to the dam. The resistance was stiff and dug in. My platoon got caught in a nasty cross fire and were pinned. I was mad because they would not let us call in for Walker Support. The answer was that the dam was too valuable to risk damage. We had to fight our way out of the cross fire. We finally broke their ranks and moved forward.”

“We reached the upper deck of the dam and found their supply trucks. We searched the trucks and found that they were not completely unloaded yet. The stupid bastards didn't think to unload their gas protection equipment. We were carrying gas grenades, a poisonous gas that will kill those who breath it in. We realized that this mission was going to be very easy at this point. The remainder of the militia had retreated in to the dam for protection. We sealed our suites and reloaded our weapons. Delta Company enter the dam from the North while my company moved in to the dam from the south. We flooded that dam with dam with so much gas that it reduced visibility. The militia members were dropping like flies. Some had the common sense to grab masks. They put up some of a fight but not enough to stop us. Generally, it was nothing more than a roach hunt. They couldn't offer any more resistance to us. I remember, we were finishing our sweep when the whole thing shook. The order to evacuate came and we ran to get out. Those bastards couldn't stop us from securing the dam so they blew it up. I lost nearly half of my platoon just trying to get out of the dam before it completely failed. When I got to the surface, the dam had failed and all I saw was water. I remember thinking, what about the people down river.”

With the massive loss of life on Dinnisha, the Reich military rushed in six different aid ships. Many critics claim the only reason why Dinnisha is receiving such help is because of its majority human population. Still, aid ships have landed and are doing their best to help the survivors. The Emperor of the Reich has dispatch his younger sister, the Princess Etelka, to the world. The Emperor has issued the following statement in response to the disaster on Dinnisha.

“It pains me so deeply that there are still those out there who would put their own selfish nature ahead of the safety of others around them. We move to restore order in the face of chaos, and the response is violence. This disaster is just one more reason why we should all reach out in times of need and to do the right thing. With this in mind, I am sending my very own beloved sister, Princess Etelka, to over see the crisis and the recovery. I have placed at her disposal four Imperial battle fleets and the personal within them to help the survivors. The Reich will not turn its back on those in need. It is my deepest hope that the lost of life will be limited. However being the realist that I am, I know that innocent lives have been lost. It is important that we realize that is was the unlawful acts of radicals who detonated explosives which brought the dam to failure. Even though we did not cause this disaster, we SHALL NOT turn our backs on the people of Dinnisha nor of the Kel-Vahr in their hours of need.”

With so much going on in Kel-Vahr space, we asked our own Military Analyst, Brother Parrie Hrirry to go over what the Reich has shown us in their current actions. Brother Hrirry?

Thank you for giving me a chance to show the skills that the Lord has gifted me with. The past six days were very eventful and alarming. Not since the Great War between the Reich and the Free Worlds Council has the Reich shown such a military show. Prior to November 22nd, the Reich only conducted minor military operations against pirates and a few of its neighbors in boarder disputes. The first glimpse of the Reich's Military might took place on the far distant world of Fra. Here we watched the forces of the Reich put down a much weaker and ill prepared force. The first battle took only a few hours, and complete control ended at the end of the week. For all the grand show that the Reich put forward, little was really learned from it. The Reich has been able to keep nearly all of their military secrets hidden so far. However with the resent activities within the Kel-Vahr, we have been able to see a much better picture of what the Reich Military has been up to during the past few decades. During Great War, the Council was the first within the Galaxy to field Walkers. At the time, Walker technology was only mentioned in texts of the Great Republic. It was a technology which was lost and only within this century recovered. The Reich paid a heavy price on the battlefield for falling behind in this technology race. Based on what we have seen now, it is clear that they have learned lessons from that war. I am sure that all eyes are on Kel-Vahr space and on the Reich's latest military designs.

As seen on Fra just a few months before, we saw main battle walker of the Reich. Nicknamed the BattleSoldier Walker. This biped walker stands just over six meters tall and packs a reasonable rail gun over the right shoulder. It also carries a limit supply of medium ranged missiles. It boasts closer ranged weapons and better than average armor. However, the design doesn't seem to be much more different from the first walkers the Reich fielded during the last major war. There is nothing very remarkable other than the switch between a shoulder mounted auto-cannon to the more powerful rail gun. Now what I have see to be a clear break from traditional thinking is the Hammer walker. This six legged walker is a complete shift from the normal biped design as seen across the galaxy. It boasts two powerful rail guns, with great stability. The added legs gives it better climbing and speed. Its only weakness are its limited weapons load. The rail guns and a point defense laser turret. It makes up for it in heavy armor. As we saw during the Kel-Vahr invasion, the Hammer walkers do not operate alone. They were seen with heavy infantry support.

The Reich is also fielding man sized walkers that can fly. This is a complete break from modern technology. Which has left many questioning the actual technology levels of the Reich military. These Flier Walkers were first seen in skies of Fra. They were fast and easily able to out flank their enemies. Each carried what is being called a micro rail-gun, which hit hard and easily cut through the limited armor of the Fra rebels. These flier walkers were used side by side with the hammer walkers giving a new dimension to the battlefield. The Reich also made sound advances in their personal body armor for their infantry. While the changing strategies with walker technology has made a clear impact on the Reich military. There were a large number of new Reich armor and armored personal carriers. These new tanks were built to be fast and hit hard. They also have become specialized in to roles. Within the Fra conflict we saw only main battle tanks, which left many leaders wondering. Those questions were answered during the Kel-Vahr invasion. Anti-air armor as well as heavy hitting missile support armor. It was also noted the continuing shift from auto-cannons to rail guns. On Fra there were a limited number of auto-cannons seen used. Within the Kel-Vahr front, none were seen.

The Kel-Vahr invasion saw the elite Panzergruppe III (Heavy Armored Group, six panzer divisions along with supporting fleet assets), under the command Field Marshal Erich Von Kessler, work side by side with the Heeresgruppe A (eight Imperial Ghost Divisions along with supporting fleet assets) with Kessler's long time mentor and friend Field Marshal Karl Halder. The entire Reich force occupying the Kel-Vahr space was fourteen divisions and were out numbered by the defenders by nearly three to one. It was technology, training, speed and fear that played right in to the Reich's hands. The defenders fled the battlefields before the Reich forces even showed up. At this moment, the rest of the Core World empires are all watching closely and have started to take notes. If this was any sign of what is to come, the next Great War will make all others look like picnics. And still there are many unanswered questions. Like, these rumored wolf packs which are thought to have played a key role in the Kel-Vahr occupation. Or rumors of more advanced weapons and technology hidden behind the black curtain that is the Reich counter intelligence.

In light of the situation, we have received the following statement from Citizen Daz Murl, spokesman and current leader of the Republic.

“The Galactic Republic is actively investigating reports that the Reich Empire has invaded and subsequently occupied the sovereign Kingdom of Kel-Vahr, including its capital city of Re'ew on Tufura, within the past week. As we continue to gather information about this shocking act, we wish to make it known that the Kel-Vahr Royal Family and refugees are hereby granted asylum within and safe passage through Republic space. In addition, we have received word of a catastrophic dam break due to military action that has resulted in a high civilian death toll. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.”

[Akirapryde]

(6.5) Futures and Pasts collide
Generation Ship Narshana
Inbound Leg, Three Days out of M'Haeli
Expansion Rim
November 29th, 1936

Ogon stumbled down the corridors of the Med Bay like a drunken man. He attempted to brace himself by leaning heavily on the walls only to loss his balance. He knew that the vision was coming and that he could do nothing to stop it. While his control over the visions were still hit and miss, he was becoming better at holding on to his own mind during them. Despite every part of his being telling him that he was somewhere else, he knew that he was still aboard the Narshana. Even though the vision was so completely believable, he could still hold on to the fact that it was only a vision. The vision was as intense as all the others were in the past. It still demanded his full attention and focus just to remain in control of his mind. His learning path was flawed and he was starting to realize this. Only recently did he figure out that these hyper intense and highly focused visions were tied to his studying of the Teutonic Knights. A version of Jedi from another Galaxy. Unlike the Jedi, the Teutonic Knights focused solely on their powers of sensing and control. Now with no Master to teach him more able control, Ogon was forced to deal with these visions on his own.

As he was becoming more and more able to dive deeper in to the visions, the sensations of the visions become even more real. He knew that this was only an affect of his mind. However as he shifted back and forth between vision and reality, the lingering smell of the vision became all too real to him. The sounds echoed around him as even the shift in his position seemed to affect the vision and his perception within it. He knew that if he didn't gain some kind of control over the visions, that he might do something which could cause him serious injury. As the vision entered its complete viewing state, Ogon foolishly stood assumed that the vision could not harm him. He stood behind a groups of soldiers as enemy fire rained in on them. He took a flesh wound to the shoulder which seemed all too real than simple vision. Still wave after wave of the vision would not be denied. There was simply no delaying or stopping it. From the onset of the vision, he knew it was some kind of great battle fueled by desperation. He knew that it was one of those battles which defined the rest of a war. The fate of entire empires and the very war itself hung in the balance. Ogon could gain from the vision that it was not about the battle itself. There was something else within the vision. Something that the Force wanted him to see. Something demanding to be understood, seen, and maybe even avoided. Or maybe as events were meant to be. He was not sure of the what or whys.

Like never before, Ogon had so much more control over his perception within the vision. He looked up to the morning sky of where the vision was taking place. He could see a bright moon hanging low in the distant horizon against a off green sky. The moon was bright even during what had to be early morning hours while a orange-ish sun slowly rose over the other horizon. The smell of war filled the air like the morning dew. Bodies littered the valley floor as if they were leafs tossed by the fall breeze. The large wide valley had been cut by massive glaciers millions of years ago. Now a two forked river finished the landscape. Across the lush green landscape two massive armies are locked in mortal conflict. Ogon could see soldiers and robots on the ground already taking their own roles in a dance that is as old as culture itself. He could see flying robots, fighters and winged creatures takign their own parts in a dance within the clouds. High above the sky Ogon could see clear flashes of lights that could only be fleet on fleet battles. As his eyes shifted back to the valley below it was easy for Ogon to spot the forces of the Reich on one side. He noticed their traditional gray/black body armor. He also could see another style of uniforms among the Reich soldiers. While their armor and equipment were all the same as the Reich. These soldiers who the color of dark blue on their body armor and robots. They fought side by side with the Reich soldiers as brothers in arms.

Across the battle field Ogon could easily make out the forces of the Varl. This was clearly their battlefield. He could see wave after wave of slave soldiers pushing ever forward while Varl whipmasters continued to surge them forward. Behind the whipmasters were massive walking creatures. At first Ogon thought these creatures and the soldiers riding on their backs were providing support to the Varl front waves. He watched in horror as the mounted soldiers fired upon the slave soldiers when they turned and tried to run from the battle. It was clear to Ogon what the message was. Life and rest was just on the other side of the Reich lines. These waves of slave warriors slammed up against the Reich lines like a massive force of water. The Reich stubbornly held up against the massive force. Still, the Reich had to withdrew just a few feet with each new thrust by the Varl. Though the results were more due to the next surprise that Ogon saw. He could clearly make out the Black Dragon banners that could only be the Azgardian Warlord's personal bodyguards. He never thought he would see a day when such a elite unit would fight side by side with the forces of the Varl. While the Black Dragons seemed fresh to the battle, it was clear by the bodies and state of the soldiers on both sides that this battle had been raging for weeks if not months. A group of twin blasts rock valley as Ogon turned to see sets of paired bright white balls of energy rocketing up in to space. The point of origin was well behind the Reich lines, but Ogon knew what they were. Planet side antiship artillery! All the reason why this battle was taking place.

Beyond the massive battle in the valley, there were hundreds of smaller battles taking place around the mountain range. It was one of these smaller battles which was the focus of Ogon's vision. On a ridge top near the peak of the mountain chain stood a Reich unit that had become cut off from the main lines. Alone on this peak top, nearly two hundred Reich soldiers fought back wave after wave of Varl assaults. The leader of the unit was someone that Ogon felt he recognized but could put a name to the man. The looks on the worn faces of the Reich soldiers told of how the situation had to be in a state of desperation for some time already. Even the wounded were put to use along able soldiers to defend the ridge top. Runners hurried fresh supplies to other parts of the embattled unit from the latest supply drop sometime during the night. Ogon watched as Reich soldiers took what ammo they could from their fallen brothers and evenly spread them out. Along with the heavy weapons which cleared the skys above the valley, Ogon could see that the unit was well dug in. These soldiers dressed in dark blue held the line against all that hell could throw at them. Still the look in their eyes told the story of their heart. Remaining on this ridge top was by choice alone and not by force or situation. Their sacrifice in their eyes spoke of higher propose than the mere loss of their lives. He couldn't help but wonder what they choose to die for.

He watched the commander working with a group of men on one of the larger gun emplacements. They were hammering out some kind of pin from a group of gears near the base of the gun mount. Behind Ogon he heard the loud thunderous blast of what could only be a high rate of fire weapon. He watched as a pair of Azgardian fighters were turn to ribbons by the weapon on the Ridge Top long before they were ever a threat to the ridge top or the lines below. Cheers from the large gun emplacement were heard as a pin from the base of gun fell free. The four large barrels were now lowered by the operators so that the valley below could come in to aim. Soldiers loaded the weapon from the top of the rear of the weapon as the Commander directed fire. The four barrels started to firing in pairs and large puffs of black smoke blasted across the Varl and Azgardian lines. The slaughter now ensues as bodies fall like rain. The Azgardians and Varl valiantly pursue their charge across the valley. Ogon watched as they tried to reach for cover from the new attack. The large weapon meant to engage warships had now turned the valley in to the mouth of hell. The Commander gave orders to his men as he gave them the hammer while showing them what to do to the other guns.

Under the increasing fire from the ridge top, the Varl/Azgardian advance seemed come to a complete stop. Ogon could feel the eyes of Commanders on both sides taking notice of this small unit and its tipping of the scales in this battle. The ridge top became a point of importance for the entire battle. All the commanders knew this now as the line of anti-ship guns continued to rip the Varl/Azgardian lines to shreds. It was not long for both sides to try to get as much support on the Ridge Top. Sadly the Reich couldn't spare much more than a few already battle exhausted platoons. The Varl were much more able as their assault began a new on the Ridge Top. It was near afternoon when the sight of a number of massive beasts charged up the ridge side. On their backs were Varl slave soldiers. The gun crew made short work of the beasts but the troops survived. Ogon watched as the Varl soldiers leaped in to action once their leader cracked his energy whip over their heads. While there were two whipmasters with this assault, it was clear these were no normal salve soldiers. The large group of Varl soldiers fought hard pushing in to the Reich lines as the gun crews turned their fire on the soldiers in the valley below once more. They were clearly highly trained and motivated beyond those of the slave soldiers in the valley below.

The Commander of the Reich soldiers and his loyal soldiers fought the Varl soldiers back throughout the day. A whipmaster commanded a group of small fast moving creatures, he pointed to one of the large gun emplacements. The small creatures took off for the gun emplacement as they leaped over and around the Reich soldiers. Stopping them seemed almost impossible even for the Reich Commander. Their agility was used to the best effort as they ran and leaped across the battlefield. Ogon didn't know what small creatures could do in such a large battle, but he watched them rush up to the gun emplacement and attack the operators with their small claws and teeth. The soldiers were taken by surprise from the little attackers. Still, the little creatures seemed like hardly a match against armored soldiers. It was in that moment that Ogon watched the whipmaster lift up his left arm and activate something on his wrist. The small packs on the small creatures began to flash red before they each
exploded. The blast was so violent and powerful that the entire gun mount was ripped from its concrete pad and tossed off the ridge top.

The Commander of the Reich soldiers engaged the Varl whipmaster in personal combat. The battle was just as epic as the larger battle in the valley below. As wave after wave of Varl troops worked their up to the top of the Ridge the Reich soldiers fought with valor and courage pushing the Varl back down. Ogon could hear the screams of death around him from both sides. Slowly as the sun reached the other horizon the Reich soldiers fought back the Varl back off the Ridge Top once more. He could feel their hearts as the this battle finally came to a close. With the last gun shot echoing in the distance, the Reich soldiers quickly gathered both wounded and supplies from the fallen Varl soldiers. As the Reich soldiers saw the larger mass of soldiers at the base of the ridge, Ogon could feel the Reich soldiers as they resigned themselves to what could only be the last final battle for the ridge top. Down the ridge the rest of the gun emplacements continued to fire in to the valley below. The ridge line still held its importance and was still a high valued target. Those wounded how could not walk were placed in fighting positions, those who could stood around making their final moments.

The air around the ridge was silent expect for the guns firing in the distance. In their hearts, Ogon could hear their battle song thriving. “The burden lies upon us, Surrender is not an option, We are the flank, and if we break, the line crumbles, we could lose the war......When up against all odds, we hold our line, For the cause that we so love, We must hold at all cost!!!” It was an unspoken song that each of their hearts sung in this moment. Ogon could see the strength of their unity binding the Reich soldiers to this moment, to this one goal. Ogon could see how each of them shared strength as their song played out. It was as if they were drawing on the Force to bind them to this moment, to this cause. The Reich soldiers rebuilt their defensive barriers and readied for the next assault which they knew was coming. Already the sounds of the giant walking creatures filled the air as tress were pushed aside. It was their last battle and each Reich soldier accepted their own fate. They looked down the ridge to see hundreds of Varl soldiers rushing up the side of the ridge. This time, there were Azgardians within their ranks. Ogon could easily make out their leader as he readied his mighty battle axe. Ogon knew it was Birgr and knew that this battle was not going to be an easy fight.

Many of the Reich soldiers shared what limited ammo they had left. A few took their last drinks of water before the final battle. Some checked ammo creates for any ammo that could be found. Bodies were sacked as the hurried search continued. The soldiers amassed one last time just as the Varls were nearing the half way mark. The Reich soldiers each gave a solemn nod to their brothers in arms. The Reich Commander walked among his troops one last time. Giving humble words to each of them. He even removed his helmet and Ogon could see his face. There was a look in the Commander's eyes that spoke of the grave moment that Ogon was witnessing. Still Ogon could not completely understand what was beyond the ridge that these soldiers would be so willing to die for. Still the moment bound each of them as the Reich Commander finished his speech and drew out his bayonet as he commanded, “fix bayonets!” Each soldier followed suit with their commander. The screamed out their battle cry as they rushed to their fighting positions to ready to the last battle. As the next wave charged over the ridge slopes once more, the battle quickly became personal as the Reich soldiers attempted to make every shot count. Birgr locked blades with the Reich Commander within moments of reaching the top of the ridge. It was clear that both men knew each other well as their epic battle raged. Once more the small Varl bombers did their job on the remaining large gun mounts and the two radar stations. Again the Reich soldiers were all but helpless to stop the suicide attacks. The battle was epic for those within it. The Reich soldiers fought and died with such honor that even the Azgardian warriors gave respect to their fallen foes before moving to a new target. Something Ogon had never seen before. Within the hearts of the Reich soldiers their song sang out in unison, “We must hold at all cost!!!”

Fate was not with the Reich defenders today. Ogon was not able to see what happened within the battle between the Reich Commander and Birgr. The battle for the ridge top was too chaotic for him to be able to watch it all. His lack of control within the vision also made following parts of the battle hard. He felt like a piece of wood adrift on a large fast moving river, taken wherever the current was to lead. The Reich soldiers fought back hard against the combined Varl and Azgardian assault. Even the aid of a few Reich gunships didn't turn the tide of this battle. The Azgardians were going to take this ridge top and they would not be denied. In the end, a few surviving Reich soldiers were rescued by a pair of gunships as the battle came to a close. Ogon watched as Birgr cross the Reich ridge top in victory. The battle had taken its own toll on Birgr as the mighty warrior tossed off his helmet to see with his own eyes. The look on his face turned to horror as Birgr looked down on the other side of the ridge. Ogon could see Birgr's eyes as they widened in shock as if his own nightmares had somehow became a reality. Slowly Birgr dropped to his knees while his helmet and weapon fall to the ground. The shifting of Birgr's hair blowing behind him meant only one thing. A powerful shock wave rushed toward the Ridge top shifting the trees and soldiers alike. Even the light of the sun seemed to be dimmed by a new light in the sky. Still the look of horror on Birgr's face never changed as he looked on ward.

“Odin, please forgive me” were the words Ogon heard from Birgr's mouth as the vision faded. The memory of the vision still rested heavily on Ogon's heart. He could still smell the gun powder as well as the dead in the air around him. Hear the sounds of combat from the distant valley below. Once more he knew that the vision had passed. He still lacked the control needed to recover fully quickly. He continued to make his way to the med bay where Carissa had asked to meet him just a few hours ago. He had talked with Spoonie and found out that she had been working on a project in one of the Doctor's offices. It would appear that Carissa had been hard at work on something since they returned for Mearisa. He turn and noticed a pair of pirates walking out the office where Carissa was working. He was pretty sure one was the chief engineer and the other was a weapon's officer. His mind was still a bit under distress from the vision but he was able to put forth a normal face.

“Don't waste your time. She's not talking to anyone. Stuck up little....” the Chief Engineer was saying till the Weapon's officer cut him off.

“Watch it” she said giving him a good elbow. “He's, her father” she further explained.

“Oh” the man said as they walked past. “No disrespect, sir”

Ogon didn't return the looks or the comment. He knew that Carissa had a habit of rubbing people the wrong way due to her lack of engagement. Its not that she meant to be rude, she simply didn't bother speaking unless she had something to say. It was a quality that many claim, but she perfected. And when she did speak, she choose her words very carefully. It all gave others the impression that she was snobbish or worse. Still he had already figured the pirates had no manners and didn't care for their opinions. Ogon just walked passed them as he turned and walked in to the office. The lights were dimmed and the only sound was typing on a pair of keyboards. Ogon walked around a cloth isolation screen to see Carissa working hard over two keyboards and watching five different monitors. He had always been so impressed with her abilities. Her mind, her skills, and her desires to remain a person of peace. 'Person' he thought as a smile slowly crossed his lips.

Sometimes he forgets what Carissa truly is. Her flesh and other organic parts are all his DNA. He could easily see his own eyes in her soft brown eyes. Her long wavy hair matched his nearly perfectly. Outwardly it was easy for him to see his own daughter in every bit of her even though her body was that of a human female and his was a Bothan. However, under skin, she was every bit her mother. Carissa's mother was something very special, remarkable and unique. Her mother was the ISA Ka-riss-ah, a free independent thinking warship from a long dead empire called the Inter Stellar Alliance. The party had discovered Ka-riss-ah floating dead in space well beyond wild space a couple of years before the battle of Hothe. After they managed to bring the ship's powerful AI on line, they learned that she had been drifting in space from a distant galaxy. However, even the ships advanced AI was unable to identify how long she had been drifting. The party learned that in Ka-riss-ah's galaxy, a group called the Teutonic Knights roamed and kept the peace. The Teutonic Knights were a form of Jedi in many ways, though they only focused on sense and control. There was no mention of alter forms within the Teutonic Knights philosophies or teachings. It was from Ka-riss-ah's own libraries where Ogon learned to use the Force like the Teutonic Knights.

Also, like the Reich, the ISA were a human superior culture. The had managed to conquer nearly all of their Galaxy and forced almost every other race under their rule. Those races not under their direct control learned to fear the ISA. While they were brutal and cruel, they were also evolving. Unlike the Reich, they were forced to change their cultural mind set in the face of an unstoppable threat. An enemy called the Chaos. The ISA scientist failed to learn the secret of the Chaos which ultimately led to the death of their entire galaxy. The ISA fought the Chaos just like all of the other races of their galaxy, like any other space faring race. However the Chaos were creatures of space itself. Their ships were not ships at all, they were living, breeding creatures of doom. Creatures that were force sensitive and highly intelligent. Ships like Ka-riss-ah were built to fight these creatures directly. However, even with ships like Ka-riss-ah the Chaos were simply too much to over come. In the end, the ISA's only hope was to prevent other galaxies from suffering the same fate as they did. They detonated millions of massive black hole bombs across their galaxy. It was a doomsday operation which wiped out trillions of chaos ships and killed the entire galaxy. Though a few escaped and followed Ka-riss-ah. These few would be faced off during the battle of Hothe and the fate of the entire galaxy would hang in the balance.

Ka-riss-ah's secret mission had two parts. One was to contact the First Ones, the ones believed by lore to have unlimited power and hopes of stopping the Chaos. The second was to be a ark ship carrying a DNA base of trillions of animal and plant life forms from her own galaxy. She also carried within her core the complete libraries of her home galaxy so that their culture would not be forgotten. What none of her designers ever foresaw was that ships like Ka-riss-ah had the ability to develop feelings and emotions. What Ogon didn't release was his own ability to develop feeling for the warship and to fall in love with her. Before he met Ka-riss-ah, he had loved the idea of artificial intelligence in concept. But druids never really lived up to Ogon's ideals of truly AI level of thinking. When he met Ka-riss-ah, she was everything he dreamed AI would be plus so much more. During their time together, Ogon develop such a deep routed love for the AI that he stopped seeing her as just a ship. He started to see her as a person within the ship. Ka-riss-ah returned that love and shortly before her death during the battle of Hothe, she revealed their child Carissa. Ogon learned that Ka-riss-ah had used his DNA to help create the off spring.

The effort was nothing short of a technological and biological miracle. Ka-riss-ah had enlisted the help of four allies of the party who were experts within their fields to create the child. In Carissa's face and smile, he could see her mother looking back at him. Her fair skin and soft touch was a sorrow reminder of the love that he lost during that battle. Surprisingly she did not take after either him or her mother in philosophies. Being the daughter of the most powerful warship in the known galaxy, she choose to followed the path of pacifistic. While he was becoming a very solid and able leader, she was happy taking the back seat to everyone else. For her, watching the interactions of others was enough. She was always there to lend advice or offer a thoughtful word. This was surprising as her programming lacked the same level to develop emotions. Not wishing to step forward and led, nor desiring to pick up arms troubled Ogon about her. Neither of these traits were dominate in either him or her mother. Still, he admired her. Still he loved her. Still she was his daughter.

One trait that she perfected that came from both her mother and him had to be her strong focus on details and understanding their complex relationships. Ogon looked at the back of Carissa's head as she worked diligently. He moved silently over to a desk as she continued to work. He knew that she had to know he was here. He simply didn't wish to interrupt her work. He could tell that she was looking for something within the files and images before her. She had a way of looking at two facts and see connections that others would over look. Each of her hands were typing away on its own keyboard while her eyes shifted between the computer monitors. She had told him before that she was in the mists of uncovering something important and urged him to meet her here at this moment. She was clear not to be late. He looked over the few screens in hopes of getting a better idea of what she was working on. Sadly, her eyes could read the data much faster than his could. All he could tell was that she was looking up news reports of some kind and data about energy. Finally without warning, Carissa stopped and turned around to face him. She wore that same emotionless face that she always had. It was something that Ogon found confusing. Ka-riss-ah had mastered emotions and developed them on so many other levels. Yet, she did not pass this on to Carissa within her programming.

“Thank you for waiting, Father” she said without a trace of emotions in her voice. “Sometimes I wonder why Mother gave me this limited form.” She questioned as she held up her human hands. Karissa had chosen her avatar to be that of a human female in most situations but she had taken on other forms as well. Ogon recalled how she changed her Avatar to that of a Bothan female. He recalled just how lovely of a Bother her mother had been. Carissa looked up from her hands and back at Ogon as she changed the subject. “Do you recall that transmission we intercepted back on Fra?” She asked then continued, “within the transmission the speaker told of flaming cloud attacks. It was a report that we all assumed was talking about nuclear or atomic attacks”

Ogon nodded as Carissa continued, “then there was the musical group from Po'lash. They performed a song called Nuclear Attack. The song was about the story of how the Reich crushed their military during the invasion of Po'lash. The two separate attacks which brought their military to its knees. Than the attacks on Mearisa. We had first hand wittinesses that gave detailed accounts of what the attacks looked like and did. Lastly we have the report of the attack on the Petershaw. The explosions were so massive that it rocked the super ship and was able to cripple and destroy it in short order. On the surface, it all seems like nuclear attacks. That is if they are nuclear attacks, which is generally more likely than anything else. So I asked myself what kind of weapon could this be, if the obvious, likely answer was wrong. Let's go back to Fra. I played the transmission over and over again till I was able to rebuild the event through the eye wittiness reported. At first I dismissed the entire event because of what could only be mistakes in size and descriptions.”

Before Ogon could ask her to get to the point she continued, “back to my first question. If the obvious answer was wrong, what was the weapon. I spent days rebuilding the event piece by piece given from the transmission and other eye wittiness accounts from Fra. I wrote a cgi program based on what they all reported to have seen.” She explained as she turned and played the program for Ogon to see. “I would say at best, these programs are about forty percent accurate based on the reports. I had to put all the eye wittiness statements in to sync with the others. There were four total attacks on Fra which could be cataloged as flaming cloud attacks. In each attack, I found a discrepancy between the weapon delivery system vs the size of of the explosion. One eye wittiness claimed that the weapon was no larger than a brief case. The blast of that explosion would have been much smaller if the weapon was in fact that size. This only meant that the weapon we are looking at is no normal nuclear weapon. There was no usable recorded data recovered from Fra to analyze. So I could only base these findings on the eye wittiness statements of the blasts which they survived. Many of these statements come from soldiers and officers. People who have skills in taking and giving reports. So this does offer some credibility to the reports and the findings. Some credibility.”

She paused to take a breath even though she didn't need to breath. It was something that she was working on to not seem so, inhuman. “I moved next to Po'lash and the events there. The Po'lash refugees took detailed notes and some scientists even took a great deal of readings while their world was consumed in fire. The level of data and records was surprising. I mean its really amazing their devotion to science. Here they are having their world being blasted and over run right around them....” she continued off subject.

“Carissa” Ogon said softly.

“Sorry Father” she replied and nodded as she continued on subject. “The first thing I noticed was again the ratio between explosion and delivery system which I discovered on Fra. The same ratio seemed to be taking place. Also the data taken seemed to ensure that the reports from Fra can be mostly trusted. There was something new on Po'lash I discovered. A scientist named Gug'ran Jlu noted in his findings a clear and evident lack of nuclear fuel at two blast sites he investigated. When a nuclear explosion occurs there are trace elements of fuel used to power the explosion. Rather it was Uranium or Plutonium, or whatever there are always trace amounts left behind after the explosion. On these two sites he did not report any amounts of fuel remaining. It was as if, the nuclear fuel was completely consumed by the explosion. While this is possible to have happened, it is simply unlikely. Then I looked at medical reports from survivors. I have seen evidence of genetic damage which is conducive with a nuclear attack when you remove all other factors. However some of the genetic damage again doesn't match the nature of the blast. See the genetic damage from a normal nuclear blast is driven by the radiation of the blast. Here we see the damage on scales never see before in any report of nuclear attacks. The attacks on Mearisa were also much like the attacks on Po'lash. I discovered nothing new, but this did allow me to further authenticate my own findings so far.”

“Lastly, I looked deeply in to the attack on the Petershaw. Daz's accounts of the attack seem to support my unfolding opinion. The blasts which ripped the Petershaw apart so quickly along with the two Corvettes simply can not be that of a nuclear weapon. The battle footage was surprising. Look at the explosions on the Petershaw compared to those against the corvettes. There are noticeable differences between the two blasts. Yes it is possible that they fired two different kinds of weapons. However looking at the energy signature of the explosions, it is my belief that these are the same kind of anti-mater weapons. Because these types of weapons can be charged up or down to be used on an intended target. See a nuclear weapon is built for a set yield regardless of what the target is. However a anti-mater weapon can be ramped up or down so that the charge is not wasted on smaller ships or too light for larger ships. It is highly unlikely that these weapons were nuclear in nature. All of my findings simply don't support this finding. These inconsistency can only mean that the Reich has on some level weaponise anti-mater. It might not be too much of an assumption that the Reich has even managed to turn it in to a power source.” she finally rested her findings and waiting for him to think it over a bit.

Ogon nodded as she finally added, “this is all only theoretical though. As most of my data is hear say from refugees, battle footage from substandard sensors, or scientists whom truly believe their own findings support a nuclear attack.”

Moving from the desk, Ogon walked over to the computers as Carissa presented her data for his review. He couldn't deny the facts as she laid them out for him. He also couldn't deny her statement about it being only theoretical. Much of her own facts came from witnesses who believe that the Reich is using nuclear weapons. Even the best scientists believe that the weapons are nuclear in nature. While her work was thorough and detailed, it did lack solid evidence. But he knew something she didn't. For all of her brilliant mind, nothing could replace eyes and ears on the ground behind enemy lines. The kind of work that spies do. A chance encounter put him in contact with the very source of information which would prove her theory correct. “What if I were to tell you that one of their leading scientists was working on something like this.” He said showing her the image of a formula left for him by the Bothan Scientist on the Reich world of Acatmen. He had his assumptions about the formula, but needed a bit of reassurance regarding his belief.

She looked at the formula for only a moment before speaking once more, “then I would have to say my opinion is more factual than I first feared.” Turning to one of her keyboards as she continued, “however the formula is not complete” she said as she entered in parts of the formula and continued to finished it. Within moments a energy pattern showed up on one of the monitors. “This is not weaponise anti-mater. Notice the change in the pattern. These are more stable with higher energy output than those used on Po'lash or the Petershaw. These notations are concerning anti-mater as a power source” she explained softly. “If both lines of thought are indeed true, than the Reich would have a clear advantage over their enemies” she said as she turned to face Ogon once more.

Ogon nodded at the statement as he recalled his fringer days. Anti-matter engines were pretty common during the days of the Republic. They were horribly under powered compared to the energy cell engines of the day. However they were very reliable and offered steady standby power. Because of this, anti-matter engines almost always found on nearly every ship as power supplies for back up hyperdrives. He recalled helping their engineer once time to repair one. They were pretty complex but compact and the difference between life and death should your main power die on you. He also knew they needed a special focusing crystal for the reaction. “Okay so explain to me what we are looking at in terms of comparison.” He had ideas but he also knew she could easily cover all aspects that he didn't consider.

She blinks for a moment as she gathered her thoughts before starting, “the most powerful engines currently being fielded are in use by the Free Worlds' Council. If what we suspect is true. Than the FWC's engine could be out preformed by a ratio of three to one. However if the Reich's research is further along than we suspect, it could be a ratio as high as twelve to one or even more. Based on my findings I feel three to one is a safe assessment at this point based on our current information. I have noticed that all the major powers have been fielding energy shields for over two centuries. The current shield systems in use by all factions suffer from lack reliable of power during combat.”

“This was most noted during the last major war between the Reich and the FWC. The main ships of the line used a timing cycle called Line Fire for their tactics in regards to their shields. The ships would come in to line with their shields at full. Then lower the shields to transfer power to their main energy weapons. They would then fire their weapons and return the power back to the shields. This is a direct result of limited power which the fusion engines can produce. It is a clear fact that the anti-matter engines would resolve this problem. More over is that the added power could easily power other systems during combat. Such as a clocking device which Daz was able to witness during the Petershaw attack. The weight of the engines would be cut by nearly half. However some components of the engines would require more space but this would not affect the overall weight of the engine. Considering the power requirements, this also means that these engines could be fitted on craft as small as fighters or walkers.”

“There is a down side, these engines would require a need of highly advanced skills to maintain them. Plus a much more developed support crew for these systems. Should the Reich go to war without these support crews or the skills to maintain these engines, it could prove to be tragic for the Reich ships. Without knowing when the Reich started their research in to this technology, it is unclear to gauge how far along their education and training are with these engines” she finally finished explaining her key point. It was clear that Ogon didn't like what he saw or what she explained. The Reich had a clear advantage and he knew that they couldn't be allowed to keep it.

On that note Ogon realized that there was a key component of the Anti-matter engines. He knew that they used matter and anti-matter which is channeled to a focal point and created a powerful reaction. That focal point is a special crystal which gets burned up at a rapid rate. He remembered days having to check the back up drives and emergency power to ensure that the crystals were still usable. “The focal crystals used during the Republic were artificially created. Do you know if they are using artificial crystals or natural occurring?”

She listened to his statement carefully before answering. “To create the focal crystals requires a level of industry that I have seen no evidence of within the Reich or anywhere else in the galaxy. Based on this, we must assume that they are using natural crystals”

He nodded, almost grateful for that bit of luck. He was starting to come up with a plan but needed some more information. “Where are these crystals found within the Core worlds”

She turned around and worked her computers once more. A map of the core worlds came up and within moments a overlay of gold colored dots covered over twenty worlds. Ogon couldn't help but noticed that Mearisa was one of those worlds. There were so many worlds deep within the Reich space and others along the boarders of it. Luckily, these worlds had limited deposits meaning that the Reich had to find them outside their domain. Denying the Reich of the Crystals would be hard but not impossible. It all banked on how long that they had been stockpiling them. With that fact unknown he needed a better plan to even the odds.

He nodded as he took in all the information. “Expand the map to cover the entire galaxy.” Another plan started to take shape as to how he could even the playing field with the rest of the galaxy. However as she expanded the map he noticed that Fra was now covered in gold. “Wait!” He snapped “when we were on Fra, I recall the rebels were backed by a mining company. Shain'hof Mining, I think was the company's name. They backed the rebels and pushed the war to its conclusion. The Reich has a powerful grip on the world now due to this war. I wonder. Show me any other locations where Shainhof operates.”

She continued to type away at her computer and the map changed just slightly. Ogon saw something very disturbing. The mining company had been busy during the past twenty six years. They seemed to have moved outward from the Core worlds expanding their operations. It seemed to appear that they only set up major operations on worlds which were rich in BernzChi crystals. “Now show me changes in government to becoming Reich friendly.” It was just as he suspected, each world where Shainhof had been operating and BernzChi crystals were discovered, the Reich vested heavily in the world to change their opinion of the Reich. If the world was in a key shipping line, the results were the same. If the world offered no strategic value and did not have any BernzChi crystals, Shainhof simply moved on regardless of the needs of the world. “Okay give me a time table of Reich military expansion, Shainhof operations, and worlds turned Reich Friendly. Cross reference it with the locations of these crystals and cover all the Galaxy."

She changed the map once more and continued to type. Within moments the map reflected just what he was looking for. The Reich became interested with worlds where these crystals can be found just over fifty years ago. During this time, they invaded, annexed, got the worlds to warm up to them, or simply had the governments over thrown and replaced with a Reich friendly government. The findings were pretty clear and easily understood. The Reich has been building up a stockpile of these crystals for decades. 'This only means that any war with them will have to be either a very short war or it would end up being a very long one' Ogon considered at he looked over the findings. There were some bright point to these findings. There were many worlds that the Reich hadn't reached yet. It was clear that they had a number of mining companies searching the galaxy for these crystals.

The FWC had a world which had large deposits of BernzChi crystals across it. However it was close to the Reich boarder. And more impotently, a Reich funded mining company had visited the world some two years ago. They didn't set up shop, which told Ogon that this world would be one that would be targeted very early on in any war. The Dorins according to Carissa's maps had several worlds that were clearly out of the Reich's reach. Also, the Varl had many large deposits on a number of their worlds. Looking across the galaxy and based on the Reich's past actions, it was a safe bet that their next major operation would be targeted right at the FWC. Still something didn't seem right with that assumption. If he was to level the playing field, he would have to act quickly. Mining these crystals would take time. And refining them would take even longer. He turned and looked at the energy signature of anti-mater. It pulsated around and twisted and turned. The nature of the signature was steady and even as it pulsated.

[Akirapryde]

(6.6) Hostile Take Over
Jedi Stronghold, Fortress Cas
Mid Rim World of Flo'luwer
November 29th, 1936

The mid rim world of Flo'luwer was a largely peaceful world before the fall of the Great Republic. The people thrived as they exported their arts and crafts. Even though Flo'luwer was nested in the center of the war zones, it was spared the horrors of the Brush Fire Wars and the Violent Jedi Civil War. At the end of the Jedi Civil War, Flo'luwer became home to a small number of rebel Jedi whom were not satisfied with the peace treaty that was signed. While the war was over, the causes were still fresh in the hearts and minds of many former rebel Jedi. Slowly the numbers of these Jedi grew and organized in to a force. They were led by the charismatic Jedi Master Ro-Mal-Zom, these Jedi had lost their taste for armed conflict. However they didn't lose their disgust with the Coruscant Jedi. Jedi Master Ro-Mal-Zom didn't support the Civil War but at the same time felt guilty over not acting to prevent it. He continued to teach his students the ways of the Living Force from their canyon hide away. They treated the locals with respect and earned their trust. The two groups formed a strong bond over the years. They remained in hiding until they were discovered by a small band of Republic Rangers. Within days of being discovered, a large Republic military force landed on Flo'luwer and wiped the enclave out.

Flo'luwer once more slipped in to the pages of history as the wars waged around it. Every once and a while a faction would land and lay claim to the world. Then they would loss interest and leave. Flo'luwer offered little in natural resources and even less in military value. Flo'luwer was only valued by its local population. That was till the third century when the Jedi returned to Flo'luwer. The new comers were recognized by their grabs and mistaken as being part of the same group led by Master Ro-Mal-Zom. Hundreds of locals flocked to greet the returning Jedi. Within hours, to their horror, these Jedi brought with them slavers. The Jedi were led by the ruthless Jedi Master Cas Murl. To her, Master Murl saw Flo'luwer as the prefect location to build her stronghold. Using the millions of fresh new slaves, she dug her stronghold out from the same canyon where Master Ro-Mal-Zom and his followers had been massacred. By the end of Master Cas Murl's leadership of the Jedi, hundreds of thousands of Flo'luwerans had been killed digging out her massive stronghold. Her vision was to create a huge complex that was a prefect copy of the long lost Temple on Coruscant. She built the temple within the canyon walls to hide it from attackers and raiders. However she would never see the temple completed.

Master Fif Murl became Grand Master after the passing of her mother, Master Cas Murl. Master Fif continued the construction of the stronghold and its defenses. She also gave the stronghold its name, Fortress Cas. While Fortress construction continued, the slave markets on Flo'luwer had become widely known. Each day slave transactions numbered in the thousands, with slaves being bought and sold within large lots. The Jedi ensured that the slavers kept a steady supply of slaves for the market. New Spaceports were built to handle larger loads of slaves and the Jedi even built one of the first shipyards since the fall of the Great Republic. For all of its market activities, Fif ensured that the Fortress was a well kept secret. Even new training Jedi never knew that the location of their school was on Flo'luwer. While many Jedi learned the ways of the Force within the dark passageways of the Fortress, it was the Fortes' Black Tower that held the true power. Here only the Elite Jedi Masters were allowed to trained. Here Fif and her Jedi Council perfected their art forms and mastered the skills that would ensure they would remain in power. It would be in the Black Tower, Fif's control of the Jedi would be challenged and she would be defeated by her own son, Rish Murl.

Jedi Master Rish Murl would secure his power base by dispatching his own mother and her supporters at the hands of his own lightsaber. He than turned to expanding the slavers operations which fueled the Flo'luwer economy. While so many within the slaver markets and even outside of it might know of Flo'luwer, very few truly understood this world or the politics that enslaved it. Much like his ruthless grandmother Cas Murl, Rish continued the construction of the Fortress as it dug deeper in to the world. He ordered millions of slaves to be brought to the Fortress as he demanded that the project would be completed under his rule or he would kill every worker. Rish also sent his slavers out to find artist of the Galaxy. He brought these special slaves in to create works of art never seen by the Galaxy. Large galleries with hand carved stone pilers gave the Fortress a sense of culture from around the galaxy. Sadly, the site was heavily tainted by the darkside of the force. Master Rish murder more slaves than any other Grand Master before or after. Their suffering would spread in to the galleries and echo down the halls for hundreds of years. His special art slaves would become the first permanent slaves to take up residents within the tunnels of the Fortress. They would become the stock of a special breed of slaves which the Jedi would hold only to themselves.

It was Grand Master Rish's love for arts which put the Jedi on a collision course with the Galatic Church. Master Rish ordered a raid for a painter well known to the Church. Prior to this raid, the Church had not seen the Jedi as a threat and largely ignored them as it battled larger threats to its dominance of Force users. The raid embarrassed the Church in a way that it had not foresaw. Since that time, the Church fought to destroy the group. However, unlike other groups the Church faced off with, the Jedi were not willing to just avoid the Church in conflict. Master Rish, was more than willing to attack the Church in ways others never dreamed possible. The Jedi and their slavers carried out acts of terrorism and murder directly against the Church and its puppets. Master Rish laid the ground work for a war that would last for hundreds of wars. Each step the Church took to slow the growth of the Jedi, they would learn to grow in a different way. There were years when the war seemed to slow to a near peaceful state, it never completely ended. The Jedi made sure of this launching violent attacks against the Church and their followers. Nothing that the Church did seemed to slow or even harm the Jedi and Fortress Cas remained nothing more than a fable to the Church. It was the raise of the Varl that brought the war to a uneasy peace between the church and the Jedi.

As the Varl became a massive power within the Core and surrounding the Jedi and their slavers found a valuable ally within the Varl Markets. The Varl had become an entire culture driven by the slave markets across the Galaxy and the Jedi held great influence within these markets. After long and hard negotiations, the Varl were finally able to help broker a peace between the two factions. At the time, the Varl had become one of the most powerful Empires within the Galaxy. Their own influence spreading, the Varl used their worlds and realm as grounds to bring the Church to the table with the Jedi. During these times, the Jedi saw their ranks grow as they continued to spread their influence. With an uneasy peace with the Church finally secured, the Jedi leadership turned to ensure that the Church would never again be able to strike back at them. Spies were sent out and hidden secrets within the Church were discovered. The days of open conflict with the Church might have ended, but that didn't mean that the war was over. The Church stepped up its operations to combat the Jedi through indirect actions. Creating subgroups that worked against the slavers and helping local communities defend themselves from slaver attacks. However, it was the actions of the Knight Roses which caused the Jedi the worse problems.

The Knight Roses were able to hunt down and murder low and medium level Jedi leaders without fear of reprisals. These attacks continued without check for nearly a decade while the Jedi attempted to figure out who was behind these covert attacks. However, when they did finally figure it out, the Church paid a heavy price for the murders. Jedi Grand Master Ni'osh Murl ordered the gloves off and one of the most violent wars that no one ever heard of took place. Over night, spies were given their orders and across over a hundred worlds bombs exploded within Churches and more than a thousand members of the church across the Galaxy vanished, sometimes without even a trace. The actions of the Jedi were directed to hurt and shake the Church on levels never before attempted. High ranking members of the Church like Bishops, and Cardinals who never before thought vulnerable to such actions. Prior to the Hidden War, no one dared act directly against the Church. Now with their cloak of protection ripped away, many within the Church felt fear from more possible Jedi attacks. The kidnappings and bombings continued for the rest of the week as the Church was rocked to the core. Be the end of the week, the Jedi had proven their point with their latest victim. During the early morning hours on the Holy See, an abduction occurred that forced the Church to its knees. The very son of the leader of the Church was taken by force from his bodyguards while on his way to service.

Finally the Church had good reason to end its covert war with the Jedi. The two powerful groups met in secret on the farming world of Yavin IV. The short talks yielded a peace that would survived till the lasted events. The Church agreed to stop its hostile actions against the Jedi in return, the Jedi would release most of their hostages. While the Jedi refused to release all of their hostages, they did agree to release the most important ones. The remaining were by agreement with the Church allowed to be sold within the markets. The Jedi did allow the Church to have first bids on those, and all were bought back by the Church. In return for the peace, the Jedi agreed to allow the month long war remain a secret and not to oppose the official story that members of the Sabbat carried out the bombings. The war was over and the Church agreed to allow the Jedi to conduct their slaver operations without further interference. The Church was the only power within the Galaxy that really could stop the Jedi and their slavers. Without the Church in the way, the Jedi were able to really flourish. Flo'luwer became the center of all slave trade in the Galaxy.

With the Church finally off their back, the Jedi grew in to the organized group it is today. Generally they are a group of powerful cells that have been given control over sections of the Galaxy. There is the main Council of the Jedi on Flo'luwer that over sees and approves all major missions. As long as the less cells pay their tribute to the Council all is well. From time to time, the cells have been known to go to war with each other over territory. However these wars tend to run hot and burn out fast. The Council has been known to step in and end internal conflicts when they threaten the entire Order. As the Order grew under new leadership one thing remained the same. The House of Murl ensured that it remained strong and always led the Order. Some Grand Masters were more fair than others, while others were down right evil in the way they conducted the affairs of the Order. Not all affairs were a benefit to the Order. One such mission planned and carried out by the House of Murl nearly led the Order to its own destruction. As the Galaxy continued to regroup and rebuild after the wars that shattered the Great Republic, a new Galactic power rose from the ashes. A power that was too much of an opportunity for the Jedi or House of Murl to pass up. The Free Worlds' Council.

Grand Master Cylose Murl laid the plans for one of the largest slave raids to ever be carried out. It would include ten Jedi Cells and all their resources. The mission was simple, punish the FWC for their antislavery laws and fill the Jedi coffers with a slave stock that would take years to deplete. The Grand Master's own forces would take the first set of raid along with his closest allies. Then the rest of the cells would make their raids and continue till the slave holds were filled. The raids were planned out and executed with prefect details. Within the first two days of the raids, the slavers were surprisingly successful. Hundreds of thousands of slaves were captured and collected. However greed got the best of the Jedi as they pushed the slavers harder and further in to FWC controlled space. As the Council started to understand the nature of the raid they started to plan for them and estimated where the next targets were going to be. By day six, the slavers were starting to take heavy losses along the entire theater. Despite the suggestions of the Grand Master, the other cells continued the raids while the Grand Master's forces and those of his allies pulled out. The remaining cells were determined to match the gains made during the start of the raids. It was too late, the Council's military had scout ships patrolling the suspected routes looking for the world that the raids were being conducted from. Within days, the Council was ready to launch their own counter offensive against the slavers.

In what would become one of the Council's finest hours, their warships arrived and caught the slavers completely by surprise. Thirty six slaver ships and forty five pirate ships were either destroyed or captured by the Council. It was a complete disaster for the remaining cells. Most of their leadership were caught up in the military action and unable to flee the system. During the battle, the five Master who led the cells were killed. While none of the Council records indicate who killed them, it became rumored that they were killed by their own troops. The world was fiercely fought over as Council ship after ship continued to arrive. Soon even the ground forces of the slavers were unable to hold the line. The slave markets were captured and a blow against the slavers had been recorded. While nearly half of the civilians remained in slavery, never to be seen again, all of the those being held on this world were liberated and returned home. It was the first major military action the Council took and they won. It was a loss the Jedi would not soon forget. Though it did teach them a lesson regarding their own limitations. The Grand Master would replace the cells with more of his own supporters and the Jedi would continue to grow. While they would conduct actions against the FWC in the future, they would never carry out such massive raids again. As time passed, the Jedi continued to run slave gathering missions and expanded their influence across the Galaxy. They became an organization that many thought would never fall. That was till recently events. Now the fate of the Organization resting in the hands of Zer'ra Murl.

Zer'ra Murl, born Zer'ra Calorld. Zer'ra's mother was the daughter of a tribal chieftain. The tribe fought back against the Jedi and their slavers for months till they were finally defeated. As punishment, the Grand Master Pax Murl ordered the entire tribe enslaved. Zer'ra's mother was taken by force as a prize for the Council. She was violently raped over and over again before being sent to the brothels. What saved Zer'ra from the same fate as her sisters and mother was the fact that she was touched by the Force. Zer'ra was sent to the training pits where she was forced to hone her skills or die. Her abilities within the Force were so pronounced that she quickly caught the eye of Grand Master Pax. He pulled her from the training pits and presented her to his own son as a gift. Pax had hoped that his son would be tested by her skills over time. As time passed Pax waited for the moment when his son would best her and take her life. In doing so, he would complete his dark arts training. Sadly that day come in a different way.

Zer'ra was raised in a world where one had to be quick to adapt or die. When she was pulled from training and offered as a gift to, Smad Murl, by then known as Master Nur'Ang (the meaning was simple, dark warrior). Even before this, she was forced to know fear. Striped of her innocents by her trainers, fellow Padawans, and anyone willing to pay the right price. Fear governed her life and she was trained to focus that fear in to hatred and anger. When she was given as a gift to the son of the Grand Master, she was told that it could only mean one thing. He was to take her life as part of his training to become Grand Master. For all others, her fate had been sealed. For her, she knew that she had to adapt or die. She bought her time wisely by ensuring that he could not best her in combat or through skills of the Force. This part of her plot to survive lasted till her mid-teens. It was becoming clear to her that her delaying tactic was running out of time. Alone in her cell she devised a plan that would ensure not only her survival but a place where it will never be questioned again. She carefully worked her charms on Smad as they continued to train in one on one combat settings. The two had already build up a close friendship. She used that friendship to build his love for her. She exploited everything she knew about him. Everything had to be set up perfectly or her plan would fail by his lightsaber. With her own life in the balance, she ensured to keep his love in check for the right moment. A moment of her design.

She waited till her seventeenth birthday to execute her plan. She started the day as normal training on their skills together with the other Masters of the Council. What no one else knew, she had made a secret report to the Grand Master that she had over heard one of the Masters suggesting on this day that an accident could be set up to kill Smad. For her it was no surprise when the Grand Master showed up to the lesson. She knew that Smad had great hatred over his father for the death of his mother two years ago. Like a good friend she never once spoke ill of Smad's father but was there to listen and keep his secrets. She knew that his love for her had grown beyond his own reasons. This would be the day that she would place her fate in his hands. If she had read him wrong, she would be dead. If she was right, than her life would be spared. Just as she hoped, the Grand Master sent the members of the Council away while the two teens spared. Halfway through the match, she commented to Smad about not feeling well. She lowered her performance to match her fake illness. Smad noticed and took advantage of her weakened state.

At first she thought that she misread him. Fear grew as she thought he would actually kill her. But she trusted in her plan and continued it. She allowed Smad to defeat her. She laid helpless on the ground looking up in to his goggles. She could still hear Pax's voice ordering Smad to finish her. Holding true to her plot, she played her eyes for all their worth. And then without warning giving Smad a soft nod, she turned her eyes from him and looked down. In that moment she did everything she could to silence her fears and rage. She had to seem as helpless as possible. She had to sell the moment if this was going to work. Pax's rage blew as he ordered Smad to finish her. Zer'ra only looked at the ground as her eyes slowly closed. If she was to die in that moment she didn't want to see it coming. She heard the sound of the lightsaber moving fast. She almost thought that she going to die. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air as she opened her eyes. The smile on her face grew as she saw Pax Murl laying dead before her. Two days later the pair were married and Zer'ra would never be called slave again. Even the Council now bowed before her.

Just like that, her life went from slave girl fated to die, to wife of the Grand Master. Smad had completed his training and become Grand Master of the Jedi. There were those who tried to oppose him, but Zer'ra knew who they were as slaves were never seen. She used her knowledge and helped her husband ensure no threats would come to him. She reigned no different than other members of the Murl Household. There were a some moments however where she couldn't bring herself to be as ruthless and cold blooded as her husband. There were times when fate allowed her to display the pure nature of her own people. While those moments were few and far between. They did happen and had a lasting impact on her spirit. Still little would have changed her current situation. Now she set in the center of her cell in deep meditation over the events of the day. Before she ensured that she was feared and powerful. She made sure that no one dared question her right to reign. Many would even suggest in secret that she was stronger and more powerful than her own husband. Those whispers were cast in dark shadows away from ears. She knew that not being a Ne'Dor, she could never reign over the Jedi without Smad. She knew her place and understood that she could not go higher. Her continued life meant that Smad must be protected. It made her, his most loyal followers beyond just his wife.

That was before, now she was powerless to do anything to protect her own life. That powerlessness gave her great fear. She knew many people aboard hated her because of who she was. She knew none of them cared of what she had done, they just hated her. She didn't want to die, she feared death. And she knew that if given the slightest reason, any of them would gladly end her life. She expected last night, that someone would fill her cell with gas and she would be dead by morning. Simply because death didn't come, didn't mean it wasn't. It just meant that she had something to offer them still. She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew she had to find out quickly. Her legs crossed as her body set rigid. Her eyes closed and focused on one of Smad's lessons to her. “Focus your hate, your rage. Feel the flow of darkness around you. It has a pulse that can be sensed.” His voice filled her mind as she recalled his lessons. Between her opened hands a small ball of blue lighting crackled and shifted. She could feel how it struggled against her control over it. She willed the Force to pushed against it forcing the lighting to hold its round shape. Her anger was never so great as it was now. Her rage was nearly out of control. But she knew better than to allow it to feed on herself. The anger and rage had a target and she was not able to deny it. A few days ago, her Jedi Order had been attacked without warning.

She remembered that no one knew how the attackers gained access to their fortress or why so many of her former Jedi now served the attackers. She focused her rage and her anger grew as the memory came to light. The report that one of the attackers name, Makarov, raided deep in to the Fortress and murdered her four children. The ball of lighting reacted to her rage as it grew in force and fought against her control with a renewed strength. Her memory moved as she recalled the battle between Smad and the leader of the attackers. The leader of them was none other than a child with powers that she had never seen before. Zer'ra could feel the ball growing in both power and size as the memory continued. Her eyes still shut tight as she remembered in detail the way the child took down her husband claiming he had no right to bare the name Murl. Zer'ra always knew the curse of being the most powerful. That someone would come challenge her husband's authority to rule over the Jedi. It happen before and each time he was able to best the challengers. Each time, he became even stronger than before. Each time Zer'ra was grateful that he won. His ability to remain in control over the Jedi ensured her life would continue.

Zer'ra had worked so hard to free herself from the bounds of slavery. She had worked so hard to save her own life. It was not an easy task and there were challengers that plotted against her. Some were driven by greed while others wanted to take what was hers for their own. Never before in Jedi History had a Grand Master taken a slave to be his wife. In doing so, this ensured that Zer'ra would never suffer a slave's fate. He continued her training as a Jedi and helped her skills to grow. When Smad, Nur'Ang, finally claimed leaderships of the Order, he named her as his right hand. It was an honor that no former slave had ever dreamed of achieving. All of this came at a price even Zer'ra hadn't realized. Fear! Zer'ra now had to fear assassins, challengers and even her own husband. Life in the Jedi was about adapting or dying. Zer'ra would never be a slave again. She forced herself to over come ever challenge put before her. With fear demanding action, Zer'ra channeled that fear in to rage and anger. Now it was her time to prove her worth once more. Zer'ra leaped in to the combat in defense of her husband. But this was more than just defending her place within the Order. It was more than defending even her own husband. This was personal. They had murdered her children and now they would pay for that.

The pair exchanged lighting bolts of such power that the blue glow filled the entire area of the fortress. Zer'ra's rage went off the charts as she channeled as much of her power in to her lighting. She dug deep and called upon the Dark side to help fuel her anger and lighting. The few remaining loyal Jedi watching the battle were struck by the show of power between the two rivals. The Twi'lek girl pushed back against Zer'ra's lighting as they continued. Each of their lighting met halfway between the two. At the point where the two forces met, the energy blasted out causing massive damage to the walls and anything else caught between the two. The Twi'lek girl's forces held their ground while Zer'ra and the girl continued to push their own skills even further. It seemed almost as if Zer'ra was going to gain the upper hand. Then it happened! The girl summoned up a skill Zer'ra had never seen before. In all of her years of study, she never saw a power such of this even being mentioned before. The girl pulled her lighting back allowing Zer'ra's to advance. Then without warning, the girl channeled all of Zer'ra own lighting back at her. Above all of that, the girl pushed her own lighting in to the blast. Before Zer'ra knew what had happened she was faced with more power than she ever realized possible.

In that moment, Zer'ra knew that she had lost. But her defeat would not happen today. Zer'ra had bought Nur'Ang the time he needed to gather up his own strength once more. He pulled up his will and leaped forward knocking Zer'ra from the blast. He took the full force of the blast with his lightsaber. He directed the blast away from them and up towards the ceiling of the Fortress. The explosion was so intense that it caused everyone within the area to be knocked off their feet. Zer'ra remembers Smad's words in that moment. 'RUN!' It was the first time she ever heard him willingly flee a conflict. The others were all to willing to leave Smad behind, Zer'ra wasn't. She forced the others to pick up Smad and take him with them. The departure from the Fortress was a series of running battles. Their former allies and servants had turn on them. Luckily it would be the last time Zer'ra saw the Twe'lek girl. But the child's influence would make their escape that much harder. Zer'ra never saw anything like it. Just hours before the attack, their allies were as loyal as ever. Now they seemed to be under some kind of mind control. Something beyond mind trick, something that she didn't know how to combat.

Zer'ra continued to remember the events back at the Fortress and that girl. Now she is hanging on to the warrior she once was. Broken, she sat in a prison cell aboard the Generation ship Narshana. Zer'ra had led her people here in hopes of finding a safe haven. She still does not second guess that choice, and she knows that she had rough waters ahead. She could feel the lighting surging against her control. His words once more came to her, “hate can be a sword or a weight around your neck. Its up to how you use it. How you channel it.” There were truths in his words. But there was also something else. Something that gave her reason to doubt her past actions. The words from this Master Visst had reason. She had already lost so much from her life. The death of her children, the lost of her life and her husband. 'Has my whole life been wrong' she reflected.

“Oh Zer'ra, see how far the mighty have fallen” the voice ripped Zer'ra from her meditation.

Zer'ra looked up to see the translucent image of a young Twi'lek girl dressed in Jedi robes. Zer'ra knew all too well who it was that had appeared before. “Master Shakka” Zer'ra said with all the hatred and callus she could. She had heard the other attackers addressing her as that. The anger in her welled up to the point of breaking her focus on her lighting sphere in her hands.

Master Shakka smiled, “Do you really think that this Master Visst will be able to protect you and your followers from me. I took the lives of your children, and oh how is your husband? Dead I hope!” Zer'ra didn't hold back as she released all of her hate in to her lighting bolt. The bluish glow filled the cell as it leaped forward towards the image. The sound of the lighting was only drown out by Zer'ra rage filled scream. It passed harmlessly through it and impacted the wall with so much devastation that it nearly burned through the entire wall. The image faded as Master Shakka's voice echoed in Zer'ra mind, “I shall find you” the image said then all Zer'ra could hear was its laughter.

Zer'ra's breath fought for control as her mind raced. The meter thick wall was reduced to nearly a two meter hole through to the other side. Zer'ra's mind raced as her felt the dark creature redraw from her mind. Her mind was cloudy once more with fear, anger and hatred. That peace which was almost found, now just a distant memory. There was no peace in her heart or her mind. Only rage, only hate. Zer'ra wanted the Twi'lek child dead like nothing else she ever felt. Her mind was so scattered by the encounter that she never noticed that the door had opened. She set there on the floor on her knees with her ankles still crossed from her earlier meditation position. Her hands now resting on the floor trembling in fear over what she had experienced. Never before had an illusion come from so far away and touched her mind so clearly. Zer'ra knew it was only an illusion but still she felt the being in the room with her. Her long red hair hanging low as her head dropped under her shoulders. She set like that for a while as she fought back the surging emotions that were ripping her control to pieces.

“Are you okay?” Master Visst said calmly. He walked in just after they heard the loud force lighting discharge. He motioned for the rest to wait while it was clear that Zer'ra was facing another struggle within her heart. Her fear was great and ran deep. He could feel so much of her heart in so much pain. Tapping in to her state, he was able to feel her emotions and realized that much of them started when she was very young. 'Maybe as a slave girl raised in a world where the strong are worked and the weak are destroyed' he pondered. He noticed her nod and added, “Anger consumes the body from within.” He also sensed the being he felt back on Mearisa. However this time, she was much more powerful. 'What is the connection between you two. Why is she still haunting you' he thought to himself while looking at Zer'ra. He felt petty for her. She was near her emotional and mental breaking points. It was a dangerous place for her. Which was why he was happy that he had a plan for it.

“I would like to introduce you to some friends of mine” Master Visst said as motioned the two beings forward. “This is Master Scorylance and Master Salaban. I have asked them to help me, help you and your people. I understand that you have only known one kind of life. It was a hard life where only the strong and powerful are allowed to survive and thrive. I wish to show you a life with other options. I have asked them, if you will allow it, to mentor you and your followers. It is really important that we help your people feel like they belong here.” he explained his plan and reasons for it as clearly as he could. He could feel her stress and emotions still raging barely within her control. He added, “I also believe that this will give you the needed space to help regain control of your own emotions.” he was not sure but the glare in her eyes as they shot up to his indicated that he touched a nerve with her.

She didn't say anything as she still fought to bring her own breath under control. He dropped to a knee next to her, “I will help you and be there for you every step of the way. You will not be alone during this.”

He could feel the conflict within her heart once more growing. He could sense the good in her fighting against the fear and hatred. Her eyes lied to him as he only saw rage and anger within them. He knew in his heart that she could be saved. She wanted to be saved. She needed to be saved. He also now knew she didn't know how to ask for it or even accept it. He leaned back on to her lower legs and slumped her body with her head. “We will do what ever it takes to ensure our asylum” she said with a heavy heart and a deep sigh. In that moment, Visst sensed the good in her. He knew in his heart that she had done good things simply because it was in her heart. It was still there, and he could feel it in her.

Master Visst nodded, “You may return to your people” he said softly. He and the other two Masters watched as she got up silently and walked out of the cell. Her walk was labored by the struggle in her heart. It was clear that it was taking its toll on her.

It was Master Salaban whom spoke up first, “You are correct Master Visst. She is very gifted within the Force. But also I sense great darkness with her. Her spirit will be hard to cleanse.”

Master Scorylance nodded, “Hard but not impossible. I sense that her fate is tied closely with the Order and our hopes to rebuild. I am not sure what role she will play, but I feel that she will become important to our goal. To this end, we must be determined to cleanse her of these darkness. Already there are rumors of those on board plotting to remove her and her people. To seek justice for past crimes. These will become our obstacles.”

“Do you feel she should not face justice?” Master Salaban said turning to Master Scorylance. “After all, we both know of what she has done as a member of the Jedi Council.”

“Master Salaban, you of all know my views on justice.” Master Scorylance turned to Master Visst, “when the facing those who do wrong, we must show them what they did was wrong and why. When we move from this goal and take up a goal of locking people away to separate them from society. We leave behind facing and learning from the wrong doing, and take up a policy of vengeance and isolation. When these people have paid their debt to society and released. Typically they learn nothing of their first crime and will most likely only move further down the path of darkness.”

Master Visst nodded as he listened to Master Scorylance's view on justice. “What troubles me the most is this Sith Spirit's interest in her. This is the second time I have felt it and now it has become even stronger than before.”

“Indeed, something that I agree we must meditate on and learn what these two hold in common before it turns on us.” Master Salaban was going to continue but a message from the bridge broke off his statement.

The sound of the Captains voice told Master Visst that something horrible had happened. “Master Visst, we just got word. The ship that was carrying Citizen Murl and his party had suffered some kind of malfunction. Another ship near by reported a massive explosion within the same space as Citizen Murl's. We are dispatching all of our ships to search the area.”

[Akirapryde]

(6.7) Voyage Home
Orbital Memorial Station 'The Fallen'
Expansion Rim World of Azgard
December 5th, 1936

The voyage home for all of the Azgardians was filled with excitement and anxiety. There were so many questions that were about to be answered. At some points the excitement could hardly be contained. Songs of battles long forgotten and heroes were sung loudly through the Assault shuttle. Senni was quick to lead the songs, as she once more proved herself to be the spiritual guide of the group. When the anxiety took hold, tempers flared and anyone caught in the middle faced the wrath from both sides. Once more, it was Senni whom managed to keep the piece between the hot blooded warriors. For Talon, the voyage home pushed her in to deep meditation for much of the trip. In her memories, the last time she was home it was her sixteenth birthday. It was the day she became a full fledged Azgardian Warrior. The Galaxy was slipping in to the brush fire wars, and duty called on her. Not only did she prove her worth as a warrior, she excelled as a leader. Her life and career seemed limitless. Than that fateful morning over Coruscate her life ended.

She remembered the night clearly. It was one of her most cherished memories. It was the night that she and Zya spent their first night as lovers together. Before that night, she never dreamed that anything could challenge the priority of duty in her heart. That was before she met Zya. For Azgardian Warriors, love was not common, but it was not uncommon either. However Zya was forbidden love. Homosexual love within Azgardian culture was viewed as the darkest of sins. Talon could never understand what she saw in Zya's eyes, but her eyes could trap Talon's heart for a life time. That night, Talon experienced love on a level and a passion so deep, that than her heart then questioned her loyalty to a culture that would keep her from such a love. Talon's last memory were looking in to Zya's eyes and running her hands through her hair. Then she was woken up by the party months after her reported death. There was attempts to lie to her about who she really was. There were even threats on her life by those she at one time called friends. Now, she was able to fulfill her destiny, to return home and lead her people. 'Nothing will stop me from fulfilling Odin's' she promised herself. That was before she actually returned home and saw what left behind.

Azgard had been laid to ruin by the Republic during the Chancellor's war against Azgard and the surviving Jedi. Talon felt her anger surge as her home world slipped in to view. Azgard had at one point and time been seen as the jewel of the Outer Rim. The Warrior culture of Azgard has strong beliefs regarding balance within a Warriors spirit. Due to this, they carried the philosophy to how they treated their homeworld. While other worlds had large footprints of their industry, Azgard guarded their environment very closely. It had lush deep seas, vast forests and high reaching mountains. That was the Azgard of the past, what Talon saw upon returning home was nothing short of an alien world. The entire world was a blank wasteland. Thick brown dust storms hundreds of miles across raged on the surface of the world. There were no mountains, no seas, no nothing. Just wasteland was all that was left behind of her world. She found out that the Chancellor had dropped asteroids on her world during the opening battles which spelled the end of the Republic. The bombings continued till the upper crust of her world was no more. There was no hope of survival for her people. Yet still her culture did survive.

They learned the truth of how their culture had survived by annexing some sixty worlds around Azgard space. The Azgardian culture survived but they were leaderless. Warlord Brea had nearly avoided a civil war within her own people once the Republic fell. With resources never before so limited, there simply were not enough to go around. Warlord Brea dissolved her own warrior house in hopes of helping ease the resource burden. While under her leadership, she did help them avoid both civil war and the loss of their culture. Still, the winds of change had hit the survivors of Azgard hard. She knew that it only took one poor leader to undermine all that she had been able to do thus far. Most of the current leaders were filled with anger and rage over what had happened to them. These leaders lacked the experience that she had. She couldn't trust the fate of the entire culture in their hand. She ordered the construction of the Great Barrier which was sold as a means to keep invaders out while Azgard rebuilt. The truth behind the Great Barrier was that it was meant to keep the Azgardians in as well. Warlord Brea knew that the Galaxy had seen enough death, that it didn't need to face a vengeful Azgard. On her death bed, she left two commands for her fellow warriors. Continued to train and be ready when called. Till those Heroes of long lost return, there shall be no Warlord of Azgard.

While there were many who claimed to be that long lost hero. It wasn't till Talon returned home that the prophecy became fulfilled. Never before, had anyone seen such a renowned hero return home. Never before had anyone seen with such clarity that the dead had returned from Valhalla to lead them. Talon's missions had been written in to Azgardian Lore so many centuries ago. The rescue on Wormwood, the brush fire war on Baklid VI, her rapid raise through the ranks and her honor all reseeded her. Word of her return spread throughout the Warrior Houses like a wild fire. Within hours of her arrival in Azgard space, fleets of warriors were already speeding their way to Azgard to see the legend for their own eyes. Then a second event occurred, Talon was challenging the Council of Warlords for the right to led their people. For the first time in over two thousand years, the warriors of Azgard were going to witness history in the making. For the first time in over two thousand years, Azgard was going to have a leader. There was going to be a Warlord of Azgard. That's if, Talon can survive the challenge!

The first match pitted her against the Warlord Dace, of House Warden. His long double bit battle ax was more than a match against her quick long sword till first blood. By using the reach of his weapon he was able to keep Talon out of range for any attacks that she would launch at him. His experience matched his skill with the weapon of choice. However, Talon had her own battle prove experience and her own fighting style which gave her the advantage. Her agility allowed her to get within his reach and attempt to land some sound bows. Still he avoided her attacks for the moment. In the end, it was clear that he gave her an opening which she took and drew first blood. Like that, Talon won her first match on her way to becoming Warlord of Azgard. It wouldn't be her easiest match to win, but even this match would help her learn who she could count on and who she would learn from. The old Warlord smiled as he accepted his defeat while bowing to her. “My house and I shall follow you, Warlord!” She returned to the bow respectfully and thanked him for the battle.

The next match was against the Warlord Tornik, from House Furey. It was surprisingly uneventful. He walked in to the ring with a steady determination. He strolled up to Talon and whispered to her. Under the rules of the matches, what is exchanged between rivals shall not be reveled. He kept whispering to her and she kept nodding as if he was giving her directions to some greater battle. After a few tense moments, he slipped back and she gave one last nod. He turned to face the warriors who had come to watch the events. Raising both arms he announced, “We have decided to settle this upon a single toss of the stone.” There was a great gasp of surprise as many rose to their feet. The anticipation was thick and could be felt across the arena. The High Priest from the Temple on High stepped forward with the stone. It was a flattened oval like stone which was wighted to land on one flat side or the other. Talon's quest to become the next Warlord of Azgard could end with the toss of this stone. The High Priest gave Warlord Tornik the honor of calling the side. Talon bowed her respects to the offer and accepted her fate in this toss. The High Priest tossed the stone high in to the air as it flipped over, Swords then Hammers. Over and over it flipped till it reached its maximum hight. Warlord Tornik never took his eyes off of Talon as the stone flipped through the air. As the stone started to fall, those warriors not standing finally took to their feet. What would he call was their common thought. Would it be Swords or Hammers. As it passed between them, Warlord Turnik finally spoke up loudly. “EDGE!” he called out. Another gasp of shock filled the area as the stone landed with 'Swords' facing up. He bowed respectfully, “House Furey will follow where ever you shall lead us, Warlord”

The area erupted in cheers as every warrior stomped down on the decks where they stood. The move by such a powerful Warrior House only proved that she was meant to be the next Warlord of Azgard. Warlord Turnik smiled as Talon returned his honorable bow and smiled. “Thank you Warlord,” it was all she could think of saying at the time. She knew that in the future she would need allies, and House Furey was on that she had to have be her side. It was that simple. Earning their trust and respect was going to be hard. However, just like the rest of them, she knew she had to earn all of their trust and respect. She watching Warlord Turnik walk from the ring as her next opponent stepped forward. The two Warlords exchanged looks and Talon knew that this match would not be so simple. Warlord Jocasta from House Shaw carried with her a mountain of respect and power as she walked. She also had that look in her eyes that told Talon, that she better come hard or quit now. The two sized each other up as the stone was tossed. Warlord Jocasta called Swords and swords landed face up. The Warlord drew out her twin blades calling blades. Talon knew better this time to call for first blood. She called “First Disarm” for the victory condition. The move once more changed the match and ensured that Talon would not be at much of a disadvantage.

The match started just as Talon had expected, with Warlord Jocasta using her twin blades with great skill and speed. 'I am sure Senni is loving this match' Talon thought as she narrowly avoided being tangled in the weapons. The older Warlord was just as fast as Talon and just as quick to change up her tactics during the changing match. Talon bid her time wisely as she held her attacks as limited as possible. She didn't want to give Warlord Jocasta an opportunity to disarm that she didn't earn. Talon held much of her skill focused on defense and avoiding being entangled which would surely lead to a disarm attempt. Using the entire ring this time, Talon drew the match out forcing the Warlord to continue to move in on her. She had watched Master Visst enough in combat and seen what he could do by biding his time wisely. It was clear that Warlord Jocasta had been used to fighting quick battles. It was most likely the reason why she mastered Azgardian Sister Blades. The style of twin long swords which she was using now. These weapons were by design, fast and agile. Talon continued to learn all she could as Warlord Jocasta pressed her attacks. Then it happened, Talon got the opening she was waiting for.

Talon switched from a defensive battle to a pure offensive battle while Warlord Jocasta was in mid attack. The change forced the Warlord off balance and blasted an opening in the Warlord's defense. Talon took full advantage of it as her long sword worked fast to keep the Warlord on the defensive. While the Sister Blades were quick, they lacked the pure power that came with the long sword. And Talon pressed that power forcing the Warlord backwards for the first time in the match. Within moments, Talon saw her change to disarm the Warlord's left weapon. However she didn't take it. Talon knew that the disarm would win the match. But she wanted to win the respect of the warriors from House Shaw. This had to end like it began, with a massive explosion of force, speed and skill. Talon continued to press the attack keeping her blows against the Warlord short and to the point. This forced the Warlord to pull her faster blades in closer where they had to slow down to match Talon's speed. Once more, the attack was just another attempt to bide her time. Talon knew what she wanted and was willing to force Warlord Jocasta to give it to her. Talon saw the signs coming as Warlord Jocasta formed her next move. The Warlord shifted from the defense back to the attack. As she pulled her blades and sped them up, Talon turned and tangled them with her own long sword. The two highly skilled warriors twisted each other as they fought for control of the disarm.

The warriors watching were cheering the move by both warriors as the two continued to roll and twist within the disarm. Like two uncaged animals, the two growled at each other as they desperately fought for control over the three weapons. This was it, within moments this match was going to be over. Within moments a warrior was going to loss. The moment was signaled by a loud “NO” from Warlord Jocasta. The pair backed up from each other and between them laid Warlord Jocasta's Sister Blades. Not only had Talon got the first disarm, she managed to completely disarm the leader of House Shaw. It was clearly not seen as a simple feat as the watching warriors cheered the victory. The rage and anger in the Warlord's eyes quickly faded and was replaced by acceptance of the extended match. She lowered her head, “Warrior House Shaw shall follow you, Warlord.”

Talon nodded as she returned her blade to her back. She then stepped forward as she lowered herself. She reached down and picked up the two blades. “You are a remarkable swordsman” Talon said as she returned the blades to their owner. “You have honored your House today” Talon added with a smile.

Warlord Jocasta took the blades and nodded “thank you, Warlord.”

Talon watched Warlord Jocasta walk out of the ring with her head held high. The next warrior was a stand in for Warlord Buckler from House Redick. It was normal for the House Warlord to allow other warriors a chance for honor in such matches. As such the last three houses had elected to allow their houses to be represented by someone other than their house Warlords. The next two matches were no less exciting as the first three. During each match, Talon had the warriors on their feet banging and cheering on her victories. It was regardless of rather she had weapons or not, each match ended the same. Each of the next two warriors were honorable in how they fought and brought cheers from the on looking warriors. The battles were equally intense and none gave Talon any quarter. In the end however, Talon did defeat both warriors. Starting with House Redick and followed by House Elwards, swore their allegiances to Warlord Fiolla Heartman. As the Warlord for House Elwards walked out of the ring, Talon stepped back to where Master Visst, Captain Ogon and the others were watching.

The rules required her to remain in the ring till the end of the last match. While she had only been in combat for just over an hour and a half, the stress is already looking as if it is taking its toll on her. Her wounds were still fresh and her blood dripped freely from them. Talon bore the wounds of her combat with pride as she took water and listen to words of encouragement. Her most recent ally and friend, a noble and Ambassador from the Free Worlds' Council stepped forward, Zan Xall, moved closer without entering the ring. “Talon, You are the best fighter, I have seen in my life. You are in the the right in every way. You are the Warlord, right by your laws. The universe needs your lead, therefore you are universal right. You have your friends' love, you are right in there hearts.”

Talon's gazed at him through a black eye and smiled, “But am I more pretty than my sister?”

He nodded and said with a smile, “Yes, in every way.”

Talon laughed as she stepped back and turned to face Angel, “In your face!” Talon yelled over to Angel in a playfully ton. Talon than turned as she walked proudly for the center of the ring.

Angel appeared confused as she only heard part of what was said. She reached up and touched her face. “What about my face?” She looked confused for a moment as she wondered what was wrong with her face.

Talon walked to the center of the ring and waited for her next opponent. It was a match forged by the Gods themselves. House Heartman had always been long time rivals of House Mercer. This was just the way she wanted to finish this. If she could possible when over House Mercer than it would seal her place as Warlord of Azgard. Talon took the moment to calm her mind and clear her thoughts. The warriors were all stomping on their benches as they screamed out her name over and over again. In Talon's mind there was only peace. She had fought five of the best warriors of Azgard and beaten them. She now stood ready to face off with a powerful rival of her family. Still in her mind there was only calm. She could feel the beat of hundreds of boots slamming down. Her body eased as she controlled her breathing. The only thought in her mind was how lucky she was to be here in this moment at this time. Here history will be written. Here she will earn the respect of her fellow warriors and they will support her leadership over their culture. With each passing moment, her breath came in and left.

Hundreds of voices called out her name. It was almost intoxicating to feel their emotions surging through the area. She slowly opened her eyes as she looked down the dark hallway where her next opponent was walking. Even as a distance, he was a monster. As he got closer, Talon could see that he was no normal Azgardian. He dwarfed her by nearly a half meter. His arms and legs were massive and matched the build for the rest of his body. However as he walked towards her, she gritted her teeth. It was an insult to not even bother to remove his cloak as he readied for battle. A dishonorable slap against her honor and worth as a warrior. The move was an arrogant one and Talon took it personally. Glimmering in the spotlights was the metal starburst, which was the symbol of House Mercer. At one time, the Starburst was a symbol of the new hope for their culture. Before the Warrior Houses were divided up, the Starburst was a symbol for all Azgardians. Now only House Mercer used the symbol. Talon wasn't the only one to recognize the insult. Many warriors hissed at the move from the warrior from House Mercer.

Talon closed her eyes once more and cleared her mind again. There shall be no distractions in her mind. She refocused her thoughts on the moment. 'If they do not respect me as a warrior now. Than I shall earn their respect in this battle.' she thought as her mind calmed. The High Priest called out and Talon's eyes snapped open. The stone was about to be tossed, and she nodded her ready. It flipped in to the air and the Mercer Warrior called out, “Hammers!” Sure enough, the stone landed with hammers facing up. Talon had already figured that he would ask for a match with no weapons. She watched as he tossed his might warhammer off beyond the ring. Talon nodded as she called out, “To the knock out.” She had figured that she would take a beating in this battle. She knew that she would have to take him down the hard way. Which meant a long painful battle. She reached over her shoulder and removed her sword and tossed it to the side. She made her first and only mistake of the entire day. She took her eyes off of her opponent as she tossed her beloved long sword aside. The crowds reaction brought her attention back to him as they booed. It would be her last mistake of the day.

She never saw the hit coming before it landed soundly in her gut. The force of the blow bent her over and lifted her off her feet. Her lungs exploded as the air was forced from them. He bent down low and brought a powerful upper cut against her face launching her off her feet and in to the air. Her eyes sparkled with stars and planets as she flew through the air. She landed hard on her back and slid to a stop. The warriors around the area were screaming at the cowardly attack. Talon rolled over to her belly and fought to get to her hands and knees. 'I will not be beaten by a sucker punch!' she demanded as she slammed her fist against the ground. She pushed herself back up to her just in time to block his next attacks. Talon might not be more powerful than him. But she was faster than him. She brought her arms up and used them to block his next blows. She dodged as best as she could while blocking the rest. His attack was unrelenting as she tried desperately to get some space between his attacks and her. She knew she had to do something before he broke her arms. She side stepped and landed a fast powerful combination attack against his side. He spun around and landed a sound back fist against the side of her head. She once more flew backwards, this time landing by where her friends were standing.

Zan bent down, “You can do this Talon. I know you can. Just try not to get hit as much.”

Talon looked at him, “Really?! Thanks for that advice” she said in sarcasm. She got back up while her opponent was taunting the crowd. His arrogance was going to cost him this time. She used all of her speed and at the last moment she leaped in to the air. She preformed a prefect side kick. He spun just in time to see her attack. He reached up and snatched her leg as he side stepped. He pulled her off her planned attack and dropped to a knee while using her leg to flip her over his shoulder. He slammed her in to the ground face first causing the sand and fill the air around her. The stars of her eyes were joined by solar systems as she fought hard to regain her senses. She felt her body getting up off the ground. For a moment she thought she was actually standing. Her eyes cleared to see him standing before her. He wasn't going to beat her, he wanted to break her first. The anger filled her heart as she tried to get her arms up before his next attack. However, her mind was still too cloudy and his attack was too fast for her at that time. He landed a strong powerful combination against her torso followed by a kick which sent her back to her side of the ring. She rolled over spitting up blood. Her body felt like she had been twisted over and over again.

Ogon dropped down to his knees, “Talon!” he yelled to her, “His arms....their not real! He's a cyborg!”

Talon's mind gripped that like a fish on a hook. Her head twisted to watch him. He was once more taunting the crowds. She got up and changed her attack plan this time. She moved up on him just in time to dodge his first attacks and relied completely on her speed to avoid being hit. She waited for her chance to act and she took it once it opened. She landed a few blows to his torso than grabbed his right arm and dug her nails in to it. She ripped away the flesh and reveled the cybernetic arm. The crowd let out a powerful wave of discord and boos over it. Many called for the match to be called. All knew however that it couldn't be. The match had to continue till the end. If Talon wanted to dispute it, she could but there was no guarantee that she would win her dispute. The best way to ensure that he doesn't win by cheating was to simply beat him. As she finished her plan, he kneed her and drove both fist down on to her back. She hit the sand once more hard. This time, he didn't walk away from her. He lifted up his foot and drove it in to her back. Talon let out a scream of pain and anguish. Zan got Talon's attention once more. “Try his cloak!” he yelled while pointing at the cloak around the man's neck.

Talon nodded and rolled over and kicked her way up to her feet. She moved fast once more and snatched his cloak. In one action, she flipped it over his head and rapped it around him. For the moment he was blinded by the cloak. She took full advantage of the moment. She unleashed a set of combinations which forced him back as she landed blow after blow on him. He tried to land a hit against her, but being blind made it hard. With her moving as she attacked, made it even harder. However he did score a lucky hit which sent her flying back once more. As he ripped his cloak from his head Ogon got her attention once more, “NO! Talon LOOK!” he said pointing up above the ring. There hung Warlord Raynar's Hammer. The rules of this match were simple. What ever is brought in to the ring is legal to be used, less the Warriors agree to remove them. It hung above the ring and she realized that they could argue its use being legal or not. Either way, she would surely win with it. She looked back to Ogon who added, “The Starburst!” Finally it hit Talon like a brick. She nodded and fought to get back up. Her body was rebelling against her demands for more. There was not a part of her that hadn't taken a beating.

She rushed forward once more and this time focused completely on avoiding his attack. She fainted to the left and rolled to the right as she passed him. She picked up his starburst which had fallen from his cloak while he was removing it from his head. She cleared her mind and focused on the moment. She pulled everything she had left in to this one moment. She took her aim at the target, a small metal box which was the emitter for the tractor beam which held the hammer in place. 'Oden, let your will be done' she prayed as she surged her entire body forward in to the through. She felt the pain rip from her shoulder as she launched the starburst in to the air. She had to watch for where the hammer was going to land. If he got it, she was finished. She had to ensure that it was going to fall in to her hands. She watched as the starburst flew upwards. There was a moment when she actually thought that it wasn't going to make it. But the sparks which exploded from the box told of her success. The hammer was released from the beam and started to fall. Talon rolled to the side as his fist moved just past where her head had been. She leaped to her feet and sprinted behind him leaping in to the air. She landed on the small of his back and kicked her self upward for the hammer. 'Thank you Odin!' she thought as she reached for the hammer.

As if a door had been opened to her memory, just as her fingers gripped the weapon she recalled the training that her God-Father had given her as a child. She recalled how Warlord Raynar and her had trained together before she joined the fleet. Her eyes filled with all that he explained to her about combat and warfare. “Remember child, If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Raynar was more than just her God-Father, he was her mentor. The feel of his weapon awoken something in her that had long been asleep. His words echoed in her mind, “Know yourself before you attempt to know anything else.” She gripped the weapon in her right hand and landed on her left foot. She knew in her heart that this match was over now. She spun once more as his attack flew past her again. She spun on her left foot as she turned her head to look over her shoulder. She watched him line up for another attack. She continued to spin as she brought the hammer out to gain speed and power. She watched the point of her target carefully as the last moment she side stepped his attack.

She drove the hammer hard against his incoming fist. The two metal items hit with such force that the impact was felt throughout the area. His arm collapsed under the impact and caused a shower of sparks to fan outward. The blow sent him reeling backwards as the remains of his arm fell across the ring floor. Talon pressed her attack as she carried the momentum of her attack against him. With a second blow to the man's torso, Talon caused the man to double over. She spun around him as he fell to his knees. He tried to get back up to his feet before her, but she was faster. Moving behind him, she rose the hammer high in to the air. She let out a scream as she drove it in to his back. The blow landed just above his shoulder blades. The force of the blow caused his spin to compact in on itself. She pulled the hammer around once more to ready for the next blow. In that moment his life was held in her hands. No one would second guess her reasoning for killing him. No one would even raise a question about it. In that moment she could end his life, just like that. Talon let out a long breath and watched him fall face first in to the sand. He was defeated, but still alive. In that moment, Talon remembered the teachings of Master Visst about knowing when to fight and when not to. The match was over, killing him would have proved nothing.

There were cheers around her and people rushed her. She slowly turned to see everyone cheering and rushing towards her. The legendary Fiolla 'Talon' Heartman had returned and claimed her rightful place among her people. She could see the Warlord of House Mercer screaming his protest to the outcome. She couldn't hear what he was saying but the High Priests didn't seem to take much notice as that walked past him. She stumbled a bit as she herself dropped to her knees as her arms no longer had the strength to hold Rayner's Warhammer. It hit the sand covered floor with a thud as people rushed here she was kneeling. She could feel people shaking her and speaking to her but she couldn't hear them. She looked around almost confused by the explosion of emotions. Talon looked down at her broken body as her blood pooled under her. She looked up once more as the joy filled faces of Birgr and the Immortals surrounded her. “Um.....medic please!” She said before falling over on to her side. Every part of her was in pain. It was if her whole body was being placed over a giant fire.

[Akirapryde]

(6.8) Minutes to Midnight
W-52, Wolf Class Assault Ship
On Long Patrol, Deep within FWC Space
December 9th, 1936

The lights were as dim as possible with a glow of red stretching to the shadows. Beyond the red lights, the reddish glow from the few think windows added a eerie sense to the bridge. The hum of the engines could be felt throughout the entire ship. Some members of the crew were quietly talking among themselves as the ship continued with its duties. Captain Otto Salman walked through a man size hatchway and on to his bridge. It was clear that he was master of this ship. As he stepped on to the bridge his crew members all took notice. He was a a tall good looking human male, with a strong defined face. Captain Salman was a legend among the Wolf Packs and to serve under him was seen as a good omen. During the short war between the Reich and the Fichnee' two years ago, he took his ship on seven war patrols deep in to Fichee' space. Under his command, his ship claimed thirteen ships and five major warships. Not once did he loss a single crew member during any of his patrols. Captain Salman had earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. With a nod to his crew, he calmly walked across the tight bridge and glanced over the shoulders of his crew as they returned to their duties. Now each of them gave a renewed focus to their task at hand. He shifted his sight towards the front of the bridge where his XO and command staff were working. Captain Salman noticed the Order Board was up with the latest orders written on them.

He read the orders and made mental notes regarding them. The Officer of the Watch had ordered the ship to change to a new heading and decrease speed. From this information he could tell that the ship was moving behind a target and was trailing them. He also noticed that no command for battle stations was given. Which meant that either the Officer of the Watch was unsure of the target or of himself. Something that he would have to speak with the young man about. The Order Board was based on the idea of calm clear communication between the Officer of the Watch and the bridge crew. The board was broken up in to sections. Each crew member could look up their orders and understand what the ship is doing as a whole. To avoid misunderstanding during crisis situations, the Order Board gave everyone a clear picture of what was going on. As he continued to read the Order Board, he could tell that they were tracking a medium sized Council patrol. It was nothing special being they were deep in to Council Space on patrol. It was unlikely that their current patrol would go by with no contacts. However, what did bother him was why his XO felt the need to summon him to the bridge at such a late hour. Still, there was nothing urgent, just 'something you need to see' was all the XO said.

Captain Salman paused as he walked behind the Chief Energy Distribution Officer. The man didn't look up from his station for very good reason. During a dive, this station was by far the most critical station across the entire ship. From here the power was regulated between the Reactor and the Field Event Engine or FEE. The FEE gave the Wolf Class is special attack abilities. The Distribution Officer ensures that the regulation is maintained correctly and that the energy flow is not disrupted or the sine wave do not alter. Captain Salman watched the cosine waves dance across the monitors as the Officer made minor adjustments to them. In terms of the sine waves, they must fall within very tight tolerances and these tolerances change regularly. The Officer had a number of mathematical calculations written in black wax pencil in front of his consul. If the sine waves get out of control, they could actually damage the FEE and leave the ship stranded in space or have them sink deeper in to the dive with no hope of returning. In relation to the power flow, too little power during a critical attack and ship becomes visible. Too much power and the ship would drift too deep in to the Event and not have the power to return. Captain Salman knew better than to ask questions of the man. It was clear the ship was in a dive and the man needed all the focus he had.

Looking over the readings at the station, the Capitan noted the state of the ship and how much energy she was using. The Wolf Class had one of the most powerful reactors built within the Reich. In fact, the entire ship was built around two items, the FEE and the ships reactor. The ship's reactor was so large that it rivaled even some of the largest ships of the fleet in terms of energy output. One of the issues that Captain Salman had problems with was that with all that energy the Wolf Class was still horrible under powered. The FEE demanded nearly seventy percent of the reactor's output when running at a full dive. This leaves very little energy left for other systems like manoeuvring, life support, weapons and defense. The ship offers very little in terms of luxuries or what might be seen as the norm on other ships. One energy saving plan changed the way the Fleet trained its cadets and crews. Something that Captain Salman actually liked. The Wolf Class has very little automation aboard. In fact there were only three computers aboard the entire ship and those help regulate the FEE, the reactor and targeting/tracking. Captain Salman watched as the Distribution Officer wrote down a new set of numbers for his calculations. Because of this simple change, the Wolf Class crews had to be very highly trained and educated to do their roles aboard the ship. And because of this, there was a massive increase in the time it took the train new crews. Again something that Captain Salman didn't mind. He preferred a more intelligent crew over the mindless drones in the army and on other ships.

Captain Salman had great disdain for the other branches of the Reich military because of the lack of furthered education within their ranks. He felt that it was the Commanders' job to push their soldiers further. When he learned of the Wolf Pack program and the requirements, he knew he had found his home. With over twelve active patrols, he is the most experienced wolf commander within the Reich. And the crew members under his command were the very best across the board throughout the entire Reich military. This was directly linked to the level of education needed to serve aboard this class of ship and the high standards that he personally has set for them. The captain walked up behind the navigation officer who was also doing calculations. The young officer spun a set of cardboard wheels to line up figures which he needed for his calculation. He then wrote the numbers within the formula on the console before him. Within moments, the officer had the exact location of the ship. However it was not prefect. Captain Salman bent over the chair while saying, “Here, you are forgetting the winds within the event while we are at a dive. Like currents in the water, they too push us and in this case fight our movements.” He explained while helping the officer with the calculation. The young officer was a new replacement fresh from the academy. It was a mistake that many other navigational officers make during their first mission out. The Captain smiled as he watched the young officer recalculate the formula on the console.

“Thank you Captain. It wont happen again” the young man said softly as he turned to face his commander.

Captain Salman smiled, “Don't be foolish. It will happen again. But given time, you too will be able to feel the winds as that move the ship. Give it time and focus on your readings. The gauges don't lie.” The Captain turned and walked to the next station.

It was the Sensor Station and by far the most important defensive station on the ship. Here, the Sensor Officer watched for any sign or hint of enemy ships. It was the only station on the entire bridge which at a press of a button could have the Helm and Dive Officers send the ship in to a dive. The procedure was simple. While the ship is not in a dive, the Sensor Officer searches the space around the ship for anything that might look like a incoming ship. The Sensors on the Wolf Class ships were so advanced that they had a three second warning of a ship about to slip out of hyperspace. It would take the Wolf Class ship only ten seconds to completely dive. Should the Sensor Officer pick up an incoming ship, he would press the red dive button on his console. A light would kick on at the Helm and Dive stations. The two persons manning those two stations would put the ship in to a dive without question. Even if the incoming ship detected the Wolf Class as she was diving, it would be highly unlikely that they would put anything in to a sensor shadow that only lasted for a few short seconds. If the Wolf can't be detected, than she is not a target to be pursued. Because of this logic, the ship is always ready to dive. Not once has a Wolf Class ship been seen by any Reich enemy or ally. They are only phantoms and shadows out to pray on the enemies of the Reich.

Captain Salman turned and walked to the front of the bridge where his command staff waited for him. They were looking over a grid map and hand written reports which indicated what they had found. “Mr. Kline, you were Officer of the watch” he said addressing the young female cadet before him, who nodded back at him. Ensign Kline was also a fresh Cadet from the Academy. Just before leaving for this patrol, the ship took on nine new crew members and picked up five new cadets which were completing their cadet courses. Of all of the Cadets, the Captain liked Ensign Kline the most. She had a very quick mind and did not allow her mistakes to cloud her judgments in the future. One day she would make a good Wolf Commander with a great deal of promise. That was, if she could set a side her politics and learn to listen to her gut instead of what is political. “Tell me what did you find during your watch, Mr Kline.”

The young officer got nervous as she addressed Captain Salman. There was good reason to be nervous when addressing someone like Captain Salman. He was a legend among the Wolf crews. Back at the Academy, there were two separate courses dedicated to the tactics that he created. Captain Salman had written five books regarding Wolf tactics and how these class ships would change navel strategy. Ensign Kline respected the Elite Captain and requested this very assignment. She had seen him speak at the Academy and had a crush on him ever since. She felt that his career could be unlimited if he would just consider how politics play in the military action and affairs. Just this year, he was in line for a promotion to Konteradmira, or Rear Admiral. The promotion came with a nice teaching assignment at the Academy. However it was canceled at the last moment. While not many knew the reasons why, she found out through her contacts that it was directly in relation to his vocal speaking out against using the Wolf Class ships to attack civilian targets. Some actually believe that he was suppose to have commanded some important operation but refused on these grounds. His punishment was to remain a Captain and command his small pack of Wolves. “Sir, we detected a contact fifteen minutes ago. At first detection, each member of the pack dove and has remained at that state ever since. I ordered us to sweep the contact and within five minutes of first contact, we identified a total of seven separate contacts moving in formation. W-94 has confirmed the track of our contacts and the number as well as W-406. I issued the orders for us and W-124 to slip ten minutes behind the contacts and run forty five degrees off the lead contact. W-124 is currently running flank to us. I have W-94 ranging ahead and flanking the contacts' track with W-406 on the opposite side of the formation ranging flank as well. W-569 is on flanking defense awaiting orders.”

The Captain looked over the reports as he listened to the briefing. He smiled as he saw what she was lining his other wolves up for. “Interesting. It would appear that you are running our wolves in a Box Trap formation. It is a safe formation given our situation and the lack of a state of war.” he said naming the tactic she was attempting to achieve. He knew she was smart so nothing less would have been accepted. It was a sound tactic that would give them the first kill and the two flanking wolves the meat of the hunt. While the enemy was turning about the face the threat behind them, the flanking wolves would rip up the enemy lines. Holding W-569 in reserve would give them further kill options after the first shots and counter moves were made. But she made one mistake. She did not understand what she was facing off with and because of this, she would suffer needless losses. “Number One, do you confirm these readings on the lead ship?”

Captain Salman's best friend and the ships XO nodded, “yes sir. I double checked the readings which is why I thought you would want to know about this.”

Captain Salman nodded, “You are correct Number One. This is a very interesting.” He turned to the other cadets, including Mr. Kline, he pointed to the sensor readings on the lead ship. “Can anyone tell me what is important about this ship?” The readings on the ship were all in numbers. Mass, general shape, electromagnetic readings, and power signature readings were all included in the data sent to them by the Sensor Officer.

The five cadets looked over the sensor logs. Of the seven contacts, they all agreed that the four out on the edge of the formation were fast moving Header Class destroyers. Captain Salman nodded at their correct answers. They were able, after a bit of discussion, to identify all four destroyers by name. Though they got two mixed up. Captain Salman showed them how they got the two mixed up. The lesson was important for the cadets. “Correctly identifying ships meant the difference between a kill or a friendly kill. Each Wolf Captain had to know his pray as well as he knew his own ship. This is why we focus on these skills and log every contact we make.” Captain Salman explained. The group took a bit longer to identify the one of the last three. In the end, they did finally agree it was the light cruiser Diginess, a Vor'Rig Class Light Cruiser. Once more the Captain informed them that they were correct. The last two seemed to prove to be much harder for them. The struggle reflected why these two contacts were so very important.

“Um, the larger one is the Triv'Lester” Ensign Kline said softly. She was not completely convinced of her choice. Her mind couldn't get over what she was looking at.

Ensign Porter shook his head, “It can't be the Triv'Lester. She is sitting in dry dock undergoing a complete over haul. It was in the book that we all got when we came on board. Captain, you logged the contact as she entered the yard.”

Captain Salman nodded, “You are correct, we followed her for six days before she slipped in to the safety of the ship yards. According to intelligence, her overhaul is not due to be completed for three more weeks.”

“Maybe its one of the sister ships, the Triv'Coaster or the Triv'Horash. Both would have similar sensor readings. Both would look nearly identical” explained Ensign Guther. Even though he said it, he was not sure of his own words.

Captain Salman looked at Ensign Kline with disappointment as Ensign Slaivar spoke up, “It could be a new ship of the same class.”

“All are very likely. So Mr. Kline, you are the Officer of the Watch. What is the contact?” Captain Salman said as he watched her struggle over the sensor readings.

“Um.....Sir......I would have to say, its a um....new ship of the same class” she said nearly confused of the statement.

“Then tell me Mr. Kline, what ship is the last contact” the Captain said in a slightly angered voice. The look in her eyes told him that she couldn't answer without admitting her first mistake. He spared her the moment, “Its the Empire Mine, a Welshing class Heavy Cruiser. Which means that your new contact is not so new after all. The Empire Mine and the other ships are known escorts for their flagship, the Triv'Lester. A Zicklur Class Heavy Cruiser. There are only three built before their class was rendered obsolete by newer engine designs two years ago. The Council Ordered the line stopped and a replacement design was put in to production. So it couldn't possibly be a new ship of this class. The Empire Mine was the only ship of her class to be fitted with the larger more powerful Mk VII engines so that she could keep up with her escorts during a running battle. So her engine signature is unique for her class. So there is no question that this ship” he said pointing to the sensor log of the ship labeled Contact Number Four. “is in fact the Empire Mine. These ships are all owned and operated by the Sall family. It is highly unlikely that they would loan their only ships to another corporation or family to use. This means that this contact” once more he pointed to the sensor logs. This time he pointed to the one labeled Contact Number Two. “Contact number two is no other than, the Triv'Lester.”

He picked up the log and held it out for Ensign Kline to see, “the numbers don't lie. Look at the engine signature. It is nearly the same as the Empire Mine. Intelligence reported that the Sall Family recently bought four new Mk VII engines. Looking at the Contact data, it would be safe to assume that the engines had been fitted to the Triv'Lester. Okay, if not that. Look at the Electromagnetic signature. While these can be faked, well looking at all the other numbers it is starting to be more and more unlikely. And when we compare them to the visual sighting log, we confirm our findings. But you already knew that, didn't you Mr. Kline.”

She looked down in disappointment, “I did Sir” she said softly. She waited a moment then lifted her head once more, “But how can she be out here, when at the same time, she has a date with the dry dock.”

The Captain nodded, “That is a good question. But for now, all of you return to your quarters and study the Sensor Log Books I gave each of you. Tomorrow expect to be quizzed on identification of ships.” With that, all of the Cadets saluted then they turned about sharply and left the bridge with their new found purpose.

“Captain? That is a good question. Why rush her out of dry dock.” Commander D'Aoust said.

Captain Salman looked around his officers, “The only reason why you rush a flagship like the Triv'Lester out of dry dock is to prepare for war.” he calmly said as he reached over and pulled a set of papers from a thin slot. He started to write something down, “Triv'Lester was expected to have a complete overhaul done to her.” He continued to write his letter out, “New, faster engines were installed. New weapon mounts were installed. And look at the visual log give to us by ninety four. Look closely gentlemen.” he pushed the photo over to them to examine as he continued to write his message out. “Well what do you see.”

“I see an open cargo bay, and I think that shuttle is leaving” Commander D'Aoust said as he looked over the photo carefully.

“Look inside the cargo bay. What do you see” the Captain probed as he neared the bottom of the paper.

“I see.....oh my god....” the Commander said as a cold chill ran down his spine. “I see building materials.”

“And so did I. They didn't just rush her out of dry dock, her over haul is still on going. We heard no news of any major crisis that would require such a ship to be called back to duty like this. The Sall family is very highly connected and respected so it would not be out of the question that they are privy to information that even our spies can't reach.” the Captain said as he continued to write his note.

“Like a coming war. My God Sir!” cried the Master of the Boat. “The Estates General would never allow it to develop in to a war. Not after the last war. No one would. Not even the Emperor would dare another war like the last one we had when we fought the Council.”

The Commander turned to face the stocky Master of the Boat, “Don't be a fool. The Estates General has not held power since the Emperor took power from the Crown Princess. I am surprised that they still meet.” he then turned to the Captain. “Sir, what if this does mean war. What then?”

“Then my friends, we do the honorable thing. We are after all, honorable men and women. We shall fight with courage and honor for our nation. And at the end of our days, we will go to the grave knowing that we were noble and honorable” he explain with a grim look on his face. “Regardless of our personal feelings regarding war, we are still sailors in the Reich Navy. We shall fallow our orders.” He pulled the papers apart, “Master of the Boat, please post this to the ship's log” he said handing one part of the papers over to the Master of the Boat. Then he handed another set over to the XO. “Roba'r, Order Wolf 569 to slip back from formation till they loss contact with us and the contacts. Once they are sure that they are free from any other contact, they are to make best possible speed for the closest communication frigate. This message is to be relayed to WolfCom urgently.” Both men looked at the communication with a grim almost terrified look on their face. Captain Salman righted himself and took a more ridged stance “Gentlemen, if the Council is preparing a sneak attack, then we must uncover it before its too late. Stopping this possible threat might be our best hope of preventing war” he explained before looking down at the contact reports and sighed. He didn't like the idea of war.

The last war between the Reich and the Council had caused suffering across both regions of space on the level that was compared to the fall of the Great Republic. The loss of life on both sides ranged in the tens of billions. Thanks to the advance in technology, the next war between the two super powers could cost both sides hundreds of billions of lives if not even more. His father told him stories of the battles and how they were waged. It was one of his favorite subjects in school as he grew up. Many falsely believed that he studied it because the war excited him or somehow he was inspired by it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Studying the war brought him great regret and sorrow. It was the reason why he joined the Wolf Pack Program. They were never meant to be an offensive weapon. The program was designed to be a deterrent to war. Now, his beloved Wolves had a chance to stop a war before it had a chance to start. If it meant so, he would gladly give up his life in ensuring that this war doesn't happen. He looked up from the sensor logs, “you have your orders, gentlemen” he calmly said.

---

Letters
FWC Triv'Lester, Heavy Cruiser
Enroute to the Apler System
Inner Rim
December 9th, 1936

Brother,

Well I was supposed to be enjoying the sun, beaches, drinks and the ladies at Laventa Resorts. Laventa, omg what can one really say about paradise other than, wow. The three weeks I spent there was incredible. The women, well they just love a man in uniform. Don't worry brother. You would have been proud of the way your little brother resisted the women of Laventa. I know that you thought my marriage was ill advised and that I am too young for a family. While I was on Laventa, all I could think of was of Cha. My shipmates on the other hand, they had their minds, well else where. I picked up that book you mentioned and enjoyed reading it. So much between us has changed since I joined the navy last year. Uncle has really taught me so much. About being an Officer and being an honorable man. While my shipmates were off living life to its fullest, I found myself walking the beaches alone. Something about the ocean allowed me to think. I found peace while I was alone. But also I found a great feeling of doom ahead of me.

That was last week, now I am back aboard the Triv'Lester. Our leaves were cut short due to the prospects of war. It came as a complete surprise to everyone. The fleet has been activated and they rushed the Triv'Lester out of port to join them. The word going around is that if war comes, we will be more than ready for the Reich. I was surprised to see that they put more fighters aboard. You should have seen the deck hands moving ships and cargo around to make room for them. We know have a whole wing of twenty four fighters. With the rest of the fleet, we can field thirty six fighters. Word has it that these fighters will be used to attack other ships and defend against attacking fighters. Can you imagine such a thing? Attacking fighters against the Triv'Lester. Uncle believes that this must be simply silly. Our armor plating is too think for the light weapons of a fighter to penetrate. But still, the idea just sounds like such a waste of man power to throw fighters at ships of the line. Uncle has decided to use the fighters as scouts, to hunt down the enemy fleets and ships. This will expand our own sensors and give us a bit of early warning. Early warning....for what?

It must be getting pretty ugly for you dealing with all those negotiations and trying to keep the peace. I guess if you fail on your battle field, we will have to win on ours. So many of my shipmates are eager for this war. Too eager if you ask me. I was talking with my roommate the other night and he said that it was about time we put those Nazi's back in their place. Oh, give you heads up, the term Nazi has been floating around fleet for a few months. Ever seen a Reich naval officer? So those colored sashes that they wear are called Naz'zia. Mr. Corin our Cultural Officer said that the word Naz'zia means honor sash. It is worn by noble families within the Reich. Rumor has it that a group of pirates had captured a Reich crew and hung them by their sashes. So that is where the term comes from. Hanging Reich sailors by their sashes. Morbid, right? Either way, as I was saying, my roommate was saying how it was time to put these Nazi's back in their place. Its not just him. Allot of the younger officers like me have the same feeling. I at the moment really don't know what to think. Every time I try to think about it, I keep having this feeling of doom about me. I think uncle is wary of a war with the Reich also. He was just a boy during the last war with the Reich and I am sure that those horrors still sit heavy on him.

Last night, as we were having diner with the rest of the command staff. Lt Commander O'vali's, our tactical officer, asked Uncle if he thought there would be war. Uncle had this look on his face that I had never seen before. Zan, if looks could talk, I am sure it would have screamed fear. It was if death took hold of his heart in its cold grip and squeezed. Uncle said, “if the Lord finds it in his heart to show us mercy, we will be spared another war with the Reich. If the Lord finds us worthy of being taught a harsh lesson and condemns us to suffering than we will know suffering like none of you has ever seen before.”

Zan, it really worried me. And now they have activated our fleet. Do you really think there is going to be war? I figured you of all would know what is going on. Being the new Ambassador to this Republic. Zan I have something to ask of you. But first, I am sorry Zan. I know that you, Mother and Father were upset at me over the way I went behind you backs to marry Cha. I love her. We share a world together. I am sorry about the last time we spoke. I should have never said those hurtful things to you. I should have never ran out on you three like that. But that was then, and this is now. Zan, if there is war, I have no illusions of what could happen to me. I have to ask you Zan. Should something happen to me. Please Zan, take care of Cha. What I could not tell you then, I tell you in confidence now. Mother and Father would never understand. I had to marry Cha. She was carrying my child.

I know it was a stupid thing to do. But I was young, and so was she. We made a mistake. But that mistake now had a name. Your niece is Yan, named after the brother who looked after me all my life. Please Zan, should anything happen to me, take care of the two most important things in my world. I entrust their well being with you. Though I am not the only one who trusts you. I was watching a speech by the Speaker of the Council. The way he speaks of you, one would think that the entire fate of our people rests with you. I guess in a way it does. Guide us all through these troubling times and keep us safe from war brother.

Yours,
Que

[Akirapryde]

(6.9) The Mathematics of War
On Approach, Ten Hours Our
Inner Rim System of Hu'uf
Generation Ship, Narshana
December 13th, 1936

Carissa turned from her work station as she looked at the now closed door. It was such a simple question of rather the Free Worlds Council could win in a war between the Reich and the Dorins if the Val had softened the Reich up first. At the moment it was asked, Carissa had not considered the complete depth of the question or more importantly the scope of the answer. From the first moment of her ability to think one answer had alluded her understanding. The scope and meaning of life. Now, she was faced with the very same question in a completely different context and perspective. The more she ran both questions through their logical conclusions, the more she realized that both questions within their routes were connected. As considered the question in the terms that Master Murl asked, she realized that the only way to answer it correctly was to understanding the scope and meaning of life itself from its this new perspective. It was such a simple question for Master Murl to ask her.

Based from her experiences she had found that very rarely do living creatures often ask questions to which they truly want the full truthful answers. Based on her observations, she found that it was a general fear or a lack of understanding of the answer which drove many lifeforms to ignore the truth directly in front of them. It was a lack of logic which confused her so many times. So many times she has been approached to answer questions. Only to find that the person asking already knew the answer. She also saw that many would ask her questions which they truly did not desire the answer. She found that this questions often referred to questions regarding appearances. One most illogical response to her answer was when Swip had inquired if a dress had made her rear end look large. Carissa answered truthfully by stating the obvious truth. “No, but it does make your breast seem rather small compared to your torso.” Carissa attempted a friendly smile but Swip just looked at her for a moment that stormed off. It would be the only time Swip would ever inquired such advice her. Carissa found the dress is a waste bin a couple days later. Situations like this has proven to Carissa that lifeforms tend not want to know the truth even if they are asking for it.

Dealing with Daz was much the same as dealing with any other life form. Each time he would come to her to uncover or unlock some hidden answer which alluded his understanding. She discovered the answer was most logical and obvious. At first it would always confuse her about why he would ask for an answer that was so clear and logical. Later she figured out that the only possible conclusion was, he didn't want to know the truth. She estimated that he was betting, most incorrectly also, that logic and mathematics would be wrong. For her, numbers were pure and never lied. Each time she was presented with a question she found that she could deduce the question to simple numbers. She found it strange that even the most intelligent of the lifeforms would sometimes buy in to the same failed logical as Master Murl. When he came to her once more seeking more answers to questions which once more seemed clear and obvious, she already knew what he truly was seeking and what he didn't want to know. Based on her conclusion of what he wanted and didn't want to hear, she had calculated that a null answer was more appropriate than the truth.

However his null answer was not appropriate nor acceptable for her standards. Her answer to Master Murl simply did not complete the answer to its most logical truthful conclusion. After calculating all of the variables and considering all the possible linked equations of the question, she realized that this simple question dove in to the very question she had been asking all her life. The very scope and meaning of life. Master Murl's question was the kind of question which she could see a number of truthful answers. From this question and the answers which she learned from it, she could explain once and for all of her views on war and violence. The answers could explain why the Republic had fallen in the first place. It could explain why a government like the Reich could be supported so lovingly by its people. There was so many different questions which she would be able to answer for herself and others. The possible calculations were endless from the resulting answers to this simple question. But most importantly within these answers, she could finally find that warning for Master Murl and the others of the true cost for the coming war.

Carissa's eyes were lost in the space between where she say and the door in which Master Murl had walked out through just moments before. Her mental focus was on another question which came hand and hand with Master Murl's question. Should she should devote so much of her resources to answering this question only to have the answer not wanted or heeded. She ran a short calculation regarding the possible out comes of the project she was considering. At the end of her calculation, she concluded that none of the answers she would uncover would have any meaningful impact on the coming events. There was a simple fact that seemed to be recurring to her. Living beings had a tendency to ignore the truths right before their own eyes. Regardless of this fact, she did have reason to pursue the question which Master Murl had asked her. Her logical mind rationalized the sense that they could ignore the truth. However they would not be able to claim they were never warned. She turned back to her work station in silence as her hands went to work issuing new commands to her computer.

She would answer Master Murl's question along limited parameters in which he asked her. Everything else discovered above and beyond those parameters would be secured and analyzed at a later date. Her mind raced as she set up two main categories, those which would be returned to Master Murl and those that she would not. All the while, she started to back up every bit of data which was stored on her terminals. She knew that she had to start from a completely different approach to answer this question. As her hands flew over the keyboards, she turned each of her categories in to a graph in which she would use to create her equation. She pulled a data storage device from the terminal and labeled it for future use and placed a new one in the empty slot. Her scientific approach started to form in her mind as she continued to back up every bit of data she had on her terminals. Each time a storage device became filled, she would label it with identifiers so she could return to it in the future. The care of how she labeled everything reflected the order and pure concepts of her mind and thought process. She continued to work to save all of her past and current projects. As the backups continued, small shoe box sized boxes starting to build up in the center of the room. Nearing the end of her backups, she came across her first major problem. With a clear defined approach set up, she realized that a higher ranking officer could simply order her to divulge the study that she was about to start. She pulled up a one meter square section of wood and placed it on the boxes. She nodded at the sturdy as she tossed a bed sheet over the newly functional table. Her first major problem offered her a new concept to consider.

The loss of life and suffering could be expanded exponentially if her formulas were to be used by one side or the other to predict possible movements or actions. She realized that the formulas could be used to undermine what she actually wished to achieve if they fell in to the wrong hands. The threat was so very real that she almost considered stopping her project before it even started. The purpose of this project is to show the leaders the true cost of their actions. Not to make those actions easier through a better understanding of her work. However, the potential lives saved if she as able to convince the leaders the errors of their ways out weighed the risks. However she also knew the tendencies of life forms. She would have to create a security protocol that would allow her to hide her project even from her superiors. There was one more problem with this issue. She didn't have the ability to write such a protocol within her normal operational parameters. Like her mother she was designed and programmed to be loyal to whom she served. In this case, those were the Azgardians. She didn't like to consider herself as a piece of property, but simply it was the truth. She preferred to keep things as simple as possible. In this case, she was property of Azgard. She trusted and felt great connection to her father. Even if she couldn't explain such a trust or connection logically. Despite all of that, Capitan Ogon was in fact her superior officer. This meant that she had to be able to hide this data from all, including him. And that gave her what she was looking for, her Master Programming. For within this Master Programming was her answer.

Her Master Programming was a part of her Operating System which she had completely no control over nor could she even access it. Each and every millisecond her master programming ran well over a thousand different processes. Each one ensures that her body and mind function correctly and it detected a number of possible errors. Her organic components require special independent processes which ensured that they remain healthy and functional. Her Master Programming ran those processes also. It functioned completely independent of Carissa's General Operating Systems on a security level that even she could not hack. It was by far the most secure location within her memory and her Operating System. Even if she wanted to, she could not access the data within the Master Programming. The reason why it had this level of security, was to prevent someone from attempting to change the basic loyalty programs within her Operating System. It also gave Carissa a measure of self control over her own actions. The Master Programming allowed her to override her own survival programmings should the situation allow for it. Because of this, it created a balance between blind faith which could lead to her destruction and stubborn reluctance in the face of danger. It was the Master Programming which allowed her mother to risk her own life while attempting to win a critical victroy during the battle of Hothe. The action cost Carissa's mother, her own life but saved a large number of the fleet. Carissa saw the Master Programming as a gift which allowed her to not betray her own views on warfare and violence. The Master Programming was indeed the answer she needed, and yet still out of her means of access.

The security protocols needed to write in to the Master Programming was a level in which she lacked access. She would have to seek special permission to create the new protocols. It was a issue which she knew would raise more questions now than later. She decide to proceed with her project and allow that issue to resolve its self in time. Worse case situation would be that she would have to ease her project as it neared completion if she can not gain that permission. With this issue placed on her back burner, her next problem was what if someone caught stumbled on to her project. Many visitors came to see her within her work space daily. Some would come to ask questions while others would come to simply talk. And still others would come to just watch her work. This problem was simpler than all others to over come. As her work would slowly turn in to a mathematical equation, she would encrypt her work in a complex alpha numerical string. She returned to the terminals to double check all of her nodes. She needed to make sure that no data got lost. Her terminals flashed, 'All Data Storage Nodes Cleared' as she finished her last check. Wanting to make sure that there were no hidden strings of data, she commanded the terminals to run a erase program. Once the erase program had completed its task, she commanded the terminals to formate the storage nodes and to streamline the nodes for this one task. She knew she would need the maximum memory and storage capacity to complete this project. Carissa noted the time it would take to complete this next task. She got up and went to gather up other supplies for the project at hand. She knew that if she was successful, this single task would become her greatest work. She knew that if she did this right and the others acted the way she theorized they would, this formula would put an end to all future wars. For her, she knew that this would be the last time that the galaxy would have to know war.

And by the end of this war, it would prove her formula was correct and that it could be used to stop future suffering. The idea of the coming war being unavoidable was completely illogical to her. She didn't understand why lifeforms wanted to throw away their lives so willingly. Or why others would allow it so freely. All logic dictated that war was bad for each power involved. However she knew that there was very little she could do to directly impact the coming war. Even if she could impact the events leading up to the war, she would become drawn in to the conflict and forced to take sides. It was a logical choice for her to not focus on this war, but ensure that through this war her formula would be proven. And as such, she would be able to prevent others.

With her work terminals carrying out its commands, Carissa sat in deep focus over her next step within her project. She knew that she would require assistance if she was to complete her task within the schedule that she set up. The Azgardian ship had come and dropped them off a few days ago. Despite what she realized the others wanted, the ship simply turned and left once they were aboard the Narshana. Her father was deeply determined to return to Hothe and the grave place of her mother. There were factors involved which demanded that the party wait for their assault shuttle to return from Azgard after it had been repaired. Based on her estimations, she had nine days, forty two minutes and eleven seconds to complete her task. It was not practical for her to attempt this task alone. She ran through a long list of possible candidates to assist her with the project. She crossed her list with traits that she wanted this assistant to have as well as ran through parts of her project that she could allow them to do without endangering her over all project. That gave her almost two weeks to complete her task, and a list of possible assistants. There was a trait in which she knew would become a problem if allowed to be unchecked. That trait was being curious. Whom ever she selected had to know when to ask the right questions and when not to ask anything. Because of the nature of her project and the effects it could have, she made this requirement a priority to whom ever would help her.

Because of this simple requirement, her list got cut down considerable. It wasn't that she didn't trust most of those that she marked off her list. Trust was an emotion that she simply lacked the understanding of. The reason why was she had to be sure that whom ever she asked would follow only what she asked of them and nothing more. She favored Dunfee for this task because of his detachment to emotions. This made speaking with him more logical and his mind was easier for her to understand and predict. However, he had left days ago. He was not even added to the list to be removed. As she continued to remove names off her list she realized there was only one logical choice. She finally got up from her chair and walked out of her work space. The last name on her list would take her to the Inner Light and Knight Murl. It didn't take much effort to enlist the quasi-Jedi and a few of her friends. She explained that the project was due to a request for an answer by Master Murl himself. As she talked to her assistants, she explained the importance that they only ask the questions outlined and if challenged to not push deeper. She ensured that they understood that all data gathered had to be returned to her as soon as they had it. As she explained what the young Knights were to do, she calculated the time needed to fulfill the research within the alloted time. Based on this, she concluded that each of the twenty members of the Inner Light can only afford to spend forty three and a half minutes speaking with each Ambassadors aboard. She made sure that each understood that time was critical and that they had to be aware of it. With last minute instructions over, Carissa sent the members of the Inner Light on their way as she turned to her own information gathering.

While each of her assistants were interviewing the Ambassadors, Carissa made her way to the Church for her part of the information gathering. She concluded that if she focused the next three days on gathering information only, that that would leave her enough time to put her calculations in to the right structure. From there, she would be able to execute her analysis. Once she had her analysis, she would then prepare her report for Master Murl and the Assembly. She planned the the next three days very carefully as she kept a low profile while she gathered all the data she could. As days passed on, her work space slowly turned in to a temple devoted to war itself. While she was easily able to conceal the actual objective of her research. The reference materials were impossible to hide. The Inner Light interviewers headed up by Knight Murl had gathered pages of documents regarding regional conflicts and historical wars. The church was able to provide over nearly two thousand years of news casts regarding galactic wars and tensions between states. Thanks to the help of the XO, she was able to collect military books written by some of the best military minds of both the current time frame and historical. The books were so numerous, that they stood in five stacks, over a meter and a half tall. Maps and overlays of battles and wars long forgotten littered make shift tables and any space she found to lay them out. The sight of it all got so bad that even the nurses stopped coming by to speak to Carissa.

To Carissa's surprise, her first phase was going to take longer than she had calculated. The interviews ended only three and a half hours behind her original estimates. Uncovering the data was not the issue. The issue was that even Carissa had not expected there to be so many separate conflicts across the galaxy. As per her request, the Ambassadors provided as much data as they could on conflicts within their own realms and bordering their realms. As she shifted to her next phase, Carissa realized that there was never a simple reason why conflicts occurred. Many conflicts occurred for vest and deep routed reasons that in nearly every case were completely devoid of any logical. Some conflicts proved her reasoning regarding lifeforms. That they have conflicts for the sake of conflicts. Each Ambassador had provided her with valuable points of reference for most of these conflicts. The books provided her with the how's which the conflicts were fought. The most recent detailed intelligence provided to the Republic showed her the destructive capabilities of all sides now. By day five Carissa was diving deeper in to the nature of war and through it, the very nature of life, her work space looked as if a mad man had written across the walls.

Her formula wasn't even close to taking shape and she had already reduced the past three thousand years worth of conflicts and wars to a mathematical purity. Each consequential prediction she made as she continued to work would be proven by the next line of reason within her equation. Slowly her work was taking shape and she could see the events unfolding within their separate conflicts. Still she could not explain the lack of logic linked to each conflict. Because of this, she pushed deeper in to her equation and deeper in to war. However she started to realize a serious problem within her work. Regardless of how much she simplified the variables, the complex nature of them simply grew beyond her own ability to process them. Still she worked through each variable as she wrote them across the walls and white boards in her coded scribe. Each number written down reflected in her mind a variable. An evolution or devolution of technology, strategies or geo-political influences. These variables also reflected life, the lives lost during these conflicts. She started to see the connections in which she was looking for. To her, each line of her formula highlighted a connection between the wars, conflicts and influences and the people, technologies and strategies. To her mind, as she looked around the room she could see beyond the walls of her space and see the years of warfare unfolding before her eyes. The bloodshed, the death, the horrors and suffering had been reduced to a pure mathematical equation. Still she could see beyond it. These historical wars have come alive within her workspace. She had reached the point of what she was looking for.

By day seven, she had worked nearly nonstop on her complex formula. Carissa stood in the center of her workspace surrounded by the horrors and death which lifeforms are capable of committing upon each other. Her formula finally reaching a point where it was ready to compile the data. The past few days had been a test on her very nature to endure the long hours and limited rest cycles. However it was finally upon her. If the compiling works correctly, she would have all of her answers. Looking around at wittings on the wall as she focused on the mathematical calculation that has surrounded her. Everything had finally reached this moment in time for her. The room was silent as her eyes scanned the walls and white boards as she took in all the data before her. The depth of her research gave her a level of prospective that she hadn't expected before she started this project. As she read the equations, she could see the meanings behind them. Slowly in her work space the the walls drifted away as she started to see each conflict behind them once more. In her mind a counter ran down as her processors worked beyond their capacities. The formula was immense and she pushed her processors to compile the data. She pressed her very will over the processors' safeties and paid the price for it. Carissa's safety protocols kicked in and terminated her operations. She stood there in the center of the room motionless as her central core rebooted.

Carissa's systems had completely crashed due to the overload of data from her formula. She stood their motionless staring out in to nothingness as her long hair moved about due to the vent she was standing under. She was completely helpless as a complex set of algorithms ran their course searching for the line of code which caused her current state. Her Master Programming had completely taken over her higher functions and shut everything else down. There was no thought in her mind nor in her processors. The only activity allowed was the Master Programming which was attempting to find the flaw which pushed her to beyond her safety protocols. Slowly, one by one her subsystems started to take over their normal functions. She blinked a few times as an involuntary reaction from being shut down for a short time. She ran the data over in her mind as to why she had failed to compile the entire equation. Once more, it was all about numbers. She lacked the processing capabilities by only a short margin. Upon review, the final compiling of the data took a turn in which she had not expected. It pushed the required resources beyond her ability.

There was an answer though. Part of her mind was locked up behind a barrier designed to take over in situations in which just accorded. If she could gain access to those processes, than she would have just enough memory and processes to complete the compiling. Just as she started to consider the concept, she did realize the risks involved. If the data compiling task took another turn in which she didn't consider, then she would have no back up programs to shut the function down. A data crash could end up being the worse case scenario. She ran the numbers in her upper memory over the odds of all possible events. The numbers were not favorable, however, there was a slightly higher than average chance of success. Of the possible scenarios in which she could became damaged over this function. Data crash, data corruption and excessive heat were the top three and most likely. All of which could cost her, her own existence. There were risks involved, however, she knew that the end result was worth the risks. Even if it meant possibly being cast in to oblivion, the task was worth it.

She walked over to her work terminals and hooked her self in to the system. She decided that a complete back up would help limit these risks. That was as long as the hardware was not damaged during a extensive heat scenario. Still, she trusted her father would be able to salvage as much of her as possible. She started to compare living beings to her. She was able to upload her entire identity in to secondary storage devices. She considered what death would be like. She knew that she lacked a living spirit like living beings. As she looked at the storage device, she wondered if there was much difference between it and a living spirit. As she watched her live being backed up, the idea of death seemed like a very interesting idea to research at a later date. She always wondered why some living beings feared it while others didn't. She rested her hand on the storage device and felt it working. She had seen death in all of its horrific glory. She had seen living creatures tossed about a battlefield back on Fra like fall leafs. Long after the battle was over, she walked among the dead and heard the cries of the dying. At the time she had meant to look at it from a scientific point of view. However something in her perception changed regarding the suffering.

She pulled the storage device from the terminal once the back up was over. She carefully examined the device as she rose it up to eye level. Within it was all of who she was. Her memories, her experiences, her life. 'Was this my spirit?' she pondered. She placed the storage device next to a small box with all of her care. She pulled out some loss papers and started to write out a list of instructions. She knew that her father was intelligent, however she wanted to make sure that he could understand each step. She made the directions as simple as possible. This was going to be her last hope of survival if all of her estimates were wrong or something unexpected occurred. If anything was misunderstood, it would mean the loss of her, 'spirit' she added to the thought. With the directions completed, she placed the storage device and the papers within the small box and sealed it with tape. She wrote Captain Ogon on the top of the box. The most logical path would be to inform her father before hand of the risks and the steps taken. However she estimated that he might not be able to think objectively regarding her project. She estimated that this plan would ensure that her project precedes along her chosen path.

Her next step was to find her father and seek special permission to access her Master Programming. She found him and Lt. Birgr within the lounge telling war stories to the new recruits. The conversation went as well as she had expected. At first he was resistant to the idea, but finally gave in. Then once the risk sank it, it seemed like he was going to resend his permission. After assuring her father that all risks were as minimal as possible and that precautions were being taken, he finally accepted her plan. Though it was clear that he did not like the risks or the factors involved. She had estimated correctly, had she explained everything in its detail, he would have denied her request. She also estimated that he didn't want to know the complete truth regarding the risks or factors. His questions were limited and he did not ask many follow up questions. He had expressed that he trusted her judgment. A thought that she found odd. Her judgment was sound and free from emotional factors. She promised to be objective and to brief him on the question in which Daz asked her. Even before she returned to her work space, she set up the program and calculated the time needed.

Once back in her room, she took to taking in all the data around her. Once more her mind started to compile every bit of data. Once more the equation started to take form. Bit by bit the numbers across the wall turned in to data in her mind. Everything was taken in as her mind worked to filter it all. Beyond the walls of her work space, the images of war started to take shape once more. She could see creatures, weapons and machines of war moving across the vast reaches of space. She reached the peak of her capabilities and just before the Master Programming took over and shut her down again, she overrode the safety command. The final bits of date started to be compiled and in that second she could see the equation taking its final appearance in her mind. She could see hundreds of thousands of small, medium and large conflicts. The horrors of what creatures can do to creatures became even more apparent to her. This formula was going to put an end to warfare once and for all. Or at least that is what she hoped would happen. She stood their motionless as her hair moved as the air blew down on her. All of her hope for a end to war now hung in the balance between her hope of ability and her actual capabilities. Once more Carissa stood motionless starring out in to nothing.

“Your calculations are remarkable. IF you were living, we would have no trouble guiding you toward a higher level of existence.” Lysire said as she walked from behind Carissa. Her long red cloak flowed behind her. Her flowing brown hair laid over top of the hood of her cloak. Under her left eye was a tattoo of a upside down arrow in the shape of a tear drop. Her off white gown was simple but in the center of her chest was a noticeable light red stain that nearly filled the entire front of the outfit. Her thigh high boots and utility belt clashed with everything else on her outfit and marked a time in her life, long gone. A lightsaber hung from the belt along side a small pouch.

“we don't think the Council of Me would disagree with that course of action” Lysire said from her perched atop of a dividing screen. She wore a full Jedi robe with a belt to hold it all together. “The quest for understanding is a noble one. And the definition of life is questionable in this context with this creature.” Under her opened Jedi robes she wore an outfit that was delicate, stylish and not fitting of the young scholar she was hoping to become. In her eyes were the hopes and dreams of a young passionate Jedi Padawan. Her body full of life and beauty while her mind was full of questions and quests for answers. While her hopes for career might had been of the Jedi Library, her heart and dreams begged for adventure. Along her hip hung her first lightsaber, dressed up to match her stylish outfit. With her lightsaber, dreams and knowledge, her future seemed as bright as the glimmer of her eyes.

While both appeared to be identical in their physical appearances. It was clear by their ton and the way in which they spoke that they were two completely different creatures. The Lysire dressed in the red cloak walked calmly over to the wall and hovered her hands over the writings. She took in all the data before her eyes as a new voice spoke up. “The quest for understanding tends to lead one towards the quest for knowledge which can also lead one for the quest for power if one is not mindful of the temptations.” This new Lysire was dressed in her former Jedi Hunter uniform. Her shirt and paints were a deep blue and knee high boots which were lightly armored. Across her shoulders she wore a matching short cloak that her long hair ran down. On the front of the cloak, a symbol of the Republic on one side and the Jedi Order on the other. She and the symbols stood as a reminder of how official killing became near the end of the Republic. A sharp red sash with a lightsaber hanging from it brought the whole outfit together. “The temptation which draws us to pursue power leads to suffering and pain.” Unlike the first two Lysires, this one had her hair colored black. The look in her eyes, told the rest how far she had gone to pursue power. “Look where this got us” she added as she leaned against a nearby wall. Lysire knew the reference all too well. During the Jedi Civil War, Lysire had fallen down the dark path. She along with her team hunted down Rebel Jedi without mercy. Under the banner of the Republic, she took more lives than she wishes to remember. The sight of this Lysire brought a wave of guilt and sadness.

“Yes, look where it got us. Let us not forget the entire journey that we took when we only look at one leg of that journey. If we did not travel that road than how many lives would not have been touched by us once we awoke from our own nightmare.” explain the forth Lysire which appeared sitting on the desk of Carissa's work station. She was dressed in simple clothes which reflected a simple, dirty and harder life. Her hair now back to its normal shade of light brown, but her face dirty and under kept. “Like us, each are tested in their own way. Each must find their own answers to overcome the obstacles before them. It is the simple Will of the Force that we all must learn to listen to. This is the true lesson of our journey. That we were too busy becoming heroes that we failed to heed the Will of the Force. Regardless of who we are, regardless of what we have done, the Force will test us. For each of us, this will take time and personal courage.” Her shoes covered in dried mud and worn. In her eyes and her outfit where the signs of the long gone days of privilege. There was great sorrow and sadness in her eyes. Lysire had awoke from the nightmares and turned her focus to helping others. However, by this time in history, her entire team had been betrayed by both the Jedi, the Republic and the new found Republic Ranger. Before they were heroes hunting down monsters in the night. Now, according to the Republic news they were the monsters to be hunted. Her eyes reflected no sadness of her own situation. Only grief from what she had become and done before she awoke.

Carissa's chair spun around to reveal another Lysire. “Yes the Force will test everyone. It is the very nature of life to be tested. From birth life is tests. It is up to the individual to see these tests before them and learn to overcome the tests or overcome the failures there of.” She was filled with eager emotions which were fueled by her dreams. This Lysire wore a long black dress that had a sewn in corset which gave the flashy teenager and more tighter appearance. At the bottom of the legs, red fur draped around her legs and feet. Over her shoulders, she wore a matching thick red fur shawl. Across her waist was a purple sash that draped neatly over her knees and nearly touched the floor. The gems and pearls across her body and the small crown atop of her head clearly reflected her noble history. There was no evidence of Jedi training about her outfit or in her eyes. Instead that was only the young teenager eager to flee the confines of the Royal Palace and make a name for herself beyond that of her parents. “Let us look to this one, it ponders the most basic of questions yet it is not alive to some. What is the very conversation of life if not by this simple act. Who are we. What do we want.” she said wanting to her the reason why they were all summoned here.

The red cloaked Lysire turned from the calculations on the wall and nodded. “These are the most basic of questions which the Force seeks us to understand. But let us not forget the last question of understanding. Why are we here”she almost started her next line till she was interrupted.

The Lysire wearing the Hunter Uniform rose her hand to speak, “And still we do feel connected to the events which have shaped the galaxy to the current form that it is now.”

The Jedi robed Lysire nodded, “Yes, we do feel this connection to the events. Yet still, we have not been able to isolate how we are connected to these events. To this, we must ask, has our most recent events become these connections.” She paused a moment than said, “please continue” as she motioned to the red cloaked Lysire.

With a nod once more, Lysire continued again. “through out our future we have seen these connections prior to those of our past. We have attempted to honor the direction handed to us by the last of those who have left this realm” she explained.

“A direction in which we have found all too easily to ignore in our recent future” claimed the Lysire wearing the royal outfit. “Because of our actions the Reich has sought out an ally with the Dorins. The nature of the political landscape as become more hazardous. Because of us, the sitaution has become more dangerous than ever.” She explained speaking of the event where she brought Daz to the capital of the Reich and a face to face encounter with the Reich Emperor. “All this because we claim that it is necessary for the relighting of the galactic candle.”

“We still believe this” red cloaked Lysire said plainly.

“In our defense, the Dorins were going to come in to the war regardless of what we did. We saw in our past that they would side with the Reich” said the simple dressed Lysire. She continued to explain her point, “By allowing the events to unfold the way we did, the Galaxy now knows where the threats truly lay. And after all, we did give Daz a choice in this mater. We all did know that Daz Murl has been tested by the Force. That his time is rapidly coming to an end. By giving him this choice, we opened the doors to the tests in which he is currently undergoing. It is equally possible that our actions can be seen as following the Will of the Force. We all know the law regarding the Will of the Force.”

The Jedi dressed Lysire raised her hand, “we agree, that Daz is continuing his test. And as for this one? What will become of her?”

Again with another nod, Lysire dressed in a red cloak continued. “Before us is the question. It is our task by the last ones, that we must watch for those who ponder these questions of life and seek higher understanding. However there is a threat before us as well. It is possible that this question might turn this one towards the wrong path. In this moment, all things are equal. Shall we allow them to be equal and maintain the balance within the Force. Or do we do nothing and allow this one to continue down the path that it is seeking. Search our past and look at what is before this one if we do nothing. We have a duty to uphold. It is same duty in which the Teacher had taught to us. What shall we do?”

The Hunter Lysire stood up from the wall and stepped forward towards Carissa. As she slowly walked around the immobile droid, “what we say now does speak volumes on to us. There is a strong case within your vision of yesterday. But before we decide on this, we want to something clearly said. Assume that we do nothing from this moment on, it could cause further problems in the past for this us? As the Teacher took us under his wing and helped us along, we must be willing to do the same. And should it fail, we must be willing to do what the Teacher was willing to do. Under its existence completely. Is this what we are willing to take on? Direct intervention upon their plain. Something we have avoided to a larger degree for over two thousand years.” She stopped walking around Carissa as she came face to face with the red cloaked Lysire, “something in which we had done in our future and because of that act, this council was formed, solely to keep US in check.”

The red cloak Lysire lowered her head. The event that was being spoken of now, was of her own making. During a moment of weakness and without any other being capable of stopping her, she nearly destroyed her own homeworld. In her eyes, they had become corrupted by the abomination called the Galactic Church of Hope. The man to whom she owed her heart to was being burned alive because of lies and false charges brought by the Church and its protectorates. She knew she shouldn't have watched but she couldn't resist. She knew that she shouldn't have been there but she couldn't fight the urge. Her heart couldn't let go her love for him as she watched him scream out while he burned. What happened next would go down as one of her most darkest moments. However it was the man she loved the most which would steady her hand with his soft touch. Before slipping beyond and rejoining the Force, he asked her to forgive them and let her wrath be still. It was a moment of clarity for her. She didn't cross that line. She gave the people of her world a sound scare but no one lost their lives. She owed once more her saving to the man, whom she called husband, Prince Biggs Saar, also known as, the Tiger Prince. “We agree, that this one is worth the effort” they all said in unison.

Carissa blinked her eyes as she finished the compiling of the data. “It is done” she said softly out loud. She had her formula, now it was time to test it. Her internal clock read, 0300 December 20th, 1936