Kaine shifted in his seat when Logan went on about good and evil.

"But who truly decides what is good and what is evil, Logan?

Why is it said that the Empire was evil?


Because of Alderran?


Tell me, how would your pull the roots out of a revolution that was tearing down all that you built up?

Perhaps the act was extreme. But those were extreme times. The rebels never thought about the price the galaxy would pay when they pulled the New Order down.

They never realized the price the galaxy would pay with their lack of convictions. They tried to bring back the annals of the Old Republic under a guise of the New.

But what people do not realize is that the Old Republic was falling before Palpatine ever entered the scene. He was just the architect of what the falling Republic would emerge as.


It is easy to blame the Empire for evil deeds. Propaganda that the Jedi spill to mask their ineffectiveness.

They do not realize that WE ARE AT WAR! We have always been! The Empire has never lost sight of this fact.


The Revolution of Alderran... of Baal Organa... of Mon Mothma is OVER!


We have retaken what is rightfully ours! The usurpers are destroyed!

The New Order will be reestablished in this galaxy and all will be made whole!"


Kaine's eyes narrowed. "Logan, do not let someone else's ideas of right and wrong, of good and evil, hinder you from what needs to be doing.

War is a very nasty business.

That is a fact.



Our power is the justification of the New Order. Our security is the justification for the New Order.

When everyone else has gone to ground, their dreams turning to ash, their dreams of conquest drowned,

know this, Logan.


The Empire will remain. Always."


Simon Kaine stood once more, straightening his uniform. "Forgive my prattling like a Religious Jedi Master."

"On to more practical matters now. Khomm and Esseles. Opinions on gaining a foothold and reinforcing it. Core worlds are what we are strengthening. If there is to be a strong rebirth of the New Order, the core worlds need to be stong.

What can you do to help?

We can tip our hand at Bakura drawing Outer Rim notice that way leaving Khomm and Esseles open or is there another way you can suggest?

A better way?

A more sublte way?"


Kaines eyes glanced briefly at the Noghri guard.

OOC: I need to speak with you over AIM, when possible...

Joren smiled slightly, and leaned back in his chair.

"Yes of course there is. I would like to see as little bloodshed as possible. Griff is...was...my friend. And I wish him no harm. There is also a way to preserve future relations with the Sovereignty, if that is what you wish."

He guestured to the holographic projection of the galaxy, to Bakura.

"You see, the Sovereignty, in its many forms, have established an efficient intelligence network. They will prove an annoyance to your spies on Bakura. They are extremely adept at exposing operatives. I am not saying that your Isard could not avoid them, but the Sovereignty intell, codenamed the Black Hand, will prove to be a...bump along the way."

He stood.

"I think Griff would be pursuaded to give up two of his core holdings. However, Khomm is very heavily fortified. It would be difficult to secure the world. Griff is determined not to lose that planet, but there is an alternative..."

He touched the map, and it swivled to show a new area.

"This is the planet of Arkania. It is in the Colonies region, near the core. The Sovereignty has established a base there, and as well as an alliance with the Arkanian people. If an Imperial fleet were to show up there, and then at Esseles, under my command, I am sure he would give them up. Then, you withdrawl from Bakura."

He twisted the map again, to show an outer-rim planet.

"However, this is the world of Tattooine. Griff's orders to me were that if the Restoration was delayed at Bakura, we were to proceed to Tattooine. The Sovereignty is establishing a base there, and we were to go there and await further instructions."

He paused.

"And If I do not show up there within forty-eight hours...they will assume the worse." He said.

OOC: Thinking of a response. I should be on later tonight sometime. Don't sweat Khomm. I just couldn't remember which two planets we had talked about and so took a stab in the dark.

I will post later today in this.

BTW: I almost couldn't locate this thread with you changing it.. lol

OOC: Indeed. We have well over 10,000 words, so I thought we might as well make some use of it. I will be watching for your reply.

Kaine's lips stretched into a reasonable facsimile of a smile. "I do not want your 'friend' hurt either, Logan. Such connections are useful and may one day save your life.

I agree with preserving relations with this Sovereignty."


He came to a decision.

"Joren Logan, there are times when a call has rang out in the galaxy for courageous people to fight against the chaos. Sometimes those calls are silenced by fools, sometimes by trajedy.

I know you have lost everything and nothing I can offer you will ever replace what you have lost.

But I sound the call out to you Logan.

The Empire can lose Logan. We live with that fact every single day when we fight the chaos that would rip us asunder. It is a reality and the day we stop believing it, we will fall."


Kaine extended his hand, "Help me restore Order to anarchy. Help me wipe the board clean of fools!

And perhaps, just perhaps, we might leave this life with some measure of meaning.


If you accept, I ask you to carry out your friend's last orders. As a soldier, that is your duty.

But warn him about our goals. It is not the planets themselves but the security of the Core that is our goal. Arkania and Esseles would satisfy us. Rest assured that given Khomm's location, they will run into Imperial warships. But they will not attack the world.

As for Bakura, it was a diversion really. All activated agents will be removed.

Would you prefer Imperials at your back or would you like to negotiate alone, aboard the Restoration, after you have aided the Soverienty secure their base?



From Tantooine, head to Muunilist, if an Imperial Destiny is what you desire. From there, I will take you into our heart. Into the Imperial Center."


Kaine waited.

Excerpt – Taken from Firestorm (Wayland)…




The 50 year old human sat in the command chair on board the Freedom's Choice, staring at the white swirls of hyperspace. He was thinking back to a time when war was the last thing on his mind.

20 years ago his wife, Keira had been killed in a fire in their house on Almania. Logan had been out directing the battle against the Empire when it happened. He remembered Captain Neychev reading a datapad,his face had turned white because of what he had been reading. He turned to Logan and handed him the datapad.

General Logan,

We regret to inform you that your wife, Keira Logan, died in a fire at your house today.The causes of the fire are presently unknown.

Logan had just stared at the datapad, frozen with fear, anguish, and sadness. His lips moved but no words came out. Captain Neychev just stood there, unsure what to do. Logan felt dizzy, he quickly went to his quarters and slumped to his knees and screamed. He pounded the floor of his command ship, the Empire had supplied to the New Alliance. He pounded the floor until his hands were numb. He stayed in his quarters for the rest of the month. Neychev posted a 24 hour guard at Logan's door so he would not be disturbed.

When he finally came out of his room to go to Keira's funeral he looked like he had been shot out of a torpedo tube. Neychec helped the Admiral prepare for the funeral. After the funeral was over Logan walked up to his wife's coffin. He stood there for a long time, just staring at the coffin. After a while he put a single Lavender rose, Keira's favorate, on top of her coffin and then walked away. Years later Logan had never gotten over the death of his wife. It haunted him everyday of his life. Now he tried to focus on the mission, instead of remembering the past...


Logan stared at Kaine for the longest time, his mind flashing back throughout his life. All the memories of the past floated up into his mind, unabated. The first time he had left Almania, his fateful meeting with Moff Tarkin, the first time he had stood onboard a Star Destroyer, the first time he had met Chadd Fearsons, Vonta Horn, Arthorn Blackkon, JumpBump, Captain Neychev, and so many others. They had been a part of his life for the longest time, always there to help him through a difficult command, war, peace. They had helped to shape the life he had lived.

His mind drifted to the memories he had of his wife. The first time he had met her, asked her to marry him, all the times he would come home from commanding an Alliance to their simple home. All of those memories he treasured. He also remembered that day that Neychev had handed him that damn datapad that would change his life.

He looked at Mahk. The Noghri was a walking talking reminder of Logan's own inner demons. Perhaps it was his faithful bodyguard's constant presence that reminded him of his losses. Logan had much to account for, many experiences, many friends long gone.

He wondered where they all were. Vonta had dissapeared, Blackkon was with the Black Sun, JumpBump was gone, long gone. Fearsons, his old nemesis and later his friend, was gone as well. Hexadragon was gone, Gash Jiren was on Ossus.

But Mahk still stayed with him, as had Keyn Neychev. They were the only ones from his long history that were not dead or missing.

He sighed and looked back at Simon Kaine.

"An Imperial Destiny?"

The corners of his mouth went up slightly.

"Isn't that we all strive for?" He asked.

It was a rhetorical question, and Logan needed no answer. He took Kaine's outstretched hand.

"I will do so, Grand Marshall. All I wish is for a secure foundation once more. I will make the necessary arrangements." He bowed respectfully to the Grand Marshall and with Mahk following, he left. Two of the Spartans followed him, while another led Logan and the Noghri to the hangar bay. They entered the shuttle and headed back to the Restoration. Soon the Star Destroyer had dissapeared into hyperspace, bound for Tatooine.

Tatooine - 24 Hours Later

The room was as dark as it was before. Logan liked it that way, it was soothing, and gave him a certain peace.

"You wished to speak with me?" Mahk asked from the darkness.

Logan was sitting one a chair, near the large viewport, looking at Tatooine's twin suns. There was a sister planet of Tatooine, that was surrounded by rings of ice, and Logan enjoyed watching the different colors that splashed off the billions of ice particles from the suns.

He didn't look at Mahk, instead he continued to stare at the ice rings.

"Yes."

Mahk waited. And after a moment, Logan handed him a datapad.

"These are the command codes to one of the YT-2400's down in the hangar bays. Captain Braxton has already approved my descision to give you the vessel. And I have decided to release you from your duties."

He looked at Mahk.

"It is time for you to go home." Logan said softly.

Mahk nodded and calmly handed the datapad back.

"My duty is to you. And my home is here." The Noghri said firmly.

Logan smiled.

"I can't ask you to come with me, and I won't. Xander had sent a preliminary report to Braxton while we were on the Galactus, the Sovereignty has accepted Honoghr as a member world." Logan told the Noghri.

Mahk digested this for a moment, before repeating his earlier statement.

"My duty is to you, and my home is here." He said.

Logan smiled again, sadly.

"I am afraid you won't be coming with me. I will not ask you to come to Muunilist."

Mahk almost recoiled.

"You will not actually take him up on his offer...?" The Noghri asked, shocked.

Logan sighed. "As our host said.

"There is always a reason."

Mahk stared at him.

"I am afraid this is the end. Retirement simply doesn't suit me. And Xander can run his little government without my help. I have no choice."

"There is always a choice."

"And there are always secrets."

Mahk nodded, and took the datapad as Logan handed it to him again.

"You should go, Mahk."

Mahk turned and walked towards the door. He stopped before leaving, and then he turned around.

"Admiral. It is greatest honor of my life to serve you."

Joren Logan smiled, his eyes full of warmth.

"And now you must serve your people."

Mahk looked at him for a moment, then bowed slightly to Logan, then left.

And Joren Logan was once again alone.






Logan stood on top of a large sand dune, one that gave him an excellent view of the Jundland Wastes. Behind him, the Outer-Rim Sovereignty Engineering Corps we busy setting up a new base.

As per their orders. the Restoration had delivered the supplies and personel that were necessary to complete the base. It was little more than a garrison, however. And the Star Destroyer would stay in orbit to protect the garrison.

However that was nothing more than a sidetrip. While Logan had been preparing to meet Kaine, Mahk had sent a transmission through the holonet to a ORS front company. The message was coded, and rehearsed, but it basicly alerted Griff that Logan would be at Tatooine at the appropriate time.

Now, Logan stood alone on Tatooine, in the midst of a sea of sand, gazing up at the twin suns.

"What are you going to do now, Joren?" A familiar voice spoke up behind him.

Logan did not turn as President Zander Griff walked up next to him, and looked out at the Jundland Wastes.

"Whatever I can." Was Logan's response.

"What was your delay?" Griff asked.

"One that will have great meaning for me for years to come." Logan said quietly.

Xander nodded.

"You are leaving then." Xander stated.

"Yes."

"Where will you go?"

"The only place I have left."

Griff showed no sign of annoyance at Logan's hidden answers.

"I have a message, Xander. A message from Simon Kaine." Logan said.

Griff raised one eyebrow. and looked at Logan, who was still looking up into the sky.

"Arkania and Esseles." Logan said, as if that was all Griff needed to hear.

Griff nodded slowly, "Yes I know. The Empire is busy in the Core. And we have been prepared to evacuate those worlds."

"The Empire is also busy in other places. They know about Bakura, and Tatooine." He said.

"I know that they want Arkania and Esseles. But what are they going to do about Bakura, or Tatooine."

"I made arrangements. Kaine has agreed not to touch Tatooine, or Bakura, or Khomm for that matter. Yes they do know about Khomm."

Griff felt anger creep into his mind. So much for future plans.

"The Empire will appropriate Esseles and Arkania, and have agreed to give the Sovereignty time to make the necessary arrangements."

"And if I refuse?" Griff asked.

"You will lose all four." Logan stated with a sad certainty.

Griff sighed, and looked out at the landscape again.

"It is in your best interests." Logan continued, "And I will not be with you any longer. It is time to go."

Logan turned to Griff finally, and offered his hand.

"I suggest you make the arrangements with the Imperial authorities. Otherwise disaster will befall you."

"For the people." Griff said and took Logan's hand.

"Yes. For the people." Logan nodded once aqnd turned to walk away.

But something stopped him and he turned back to the President. He reached up and took the admiral's rank insignia from his uniform and handed it to Griff.

Griff looked down at it, and then at Logan's retreating back.

He stood there for a long time afterwards.





Logan closed the hatch to his Lambada-class shuttle and walked up to the pilots seat.

As he approached the seat spun around, and the figure sitting there stopped Logan cold.

"Mahk?" He asked incredulously.

The Nogrhi stood.

"I told you it is the greatest honor of my life to serve you. And not many warriors would attain such a honor. I will continue to protect you." Mahk said simply.

Logan opened his mouth to protest but instead he relented.

"No man could ask for a better friend than you Mahk. We had better get going."

Mahk nodded and returned to the console and lifted the shuttle off the desert surface. Soon they were in hyperspace.




Logan sat next to Mahk in the copilot's seat hours later. Their ship had just exited hyperspace. And there was only one planet in their path.

Muunilist.

Logan looked at the world with mixed feelings. He remembered the words Griff had said to him.

"For the People"

"Twilight is upon me...and soon...night must fall."<!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->- Jedi Master Yoda