The Galaxy is full of chaos.

With the recent war of light verses dark and the struggle of the Coalition and Sovereignty to gain dominance over the ever-growing Empire, the Galaxy had again been thrust into war. But this was a war of necessity, a war of justice, or so the dregs of the Galaxy are told. But there are other wars in the Galaxy, ones that are far from just.

Nevertheless there were many places where the light side factions were despised. The Imperial worlds, for one, and then in other governments, anti-ORS and anti-GC sentiment was being enflamed. The fires of propaganda wee being fanned.

But there is one place in this Galaxy, one place, hidden from all those battles. All those wars. There is a place where one of the most well-known retirees had settled down to live. There was a place where the last thing anyone thought off was war. This place had originally been the New Alliance’s crown jewel, and had become the home of an old man, as well as a few thousand settlers.

This place was one of the last bastions of strength the lightside still had. And that strength was needed more than ever before.

It was a blue-green world nestled in the Unknown Regions, deep inside the unknown charters of the swirls of stars. It was known to none.

It was a world called Onyx.


The forces of shadow gather, only to be confronted by the forces of light...





Agent Kasdan looked over the table of middle-ranking Sovereignty officers. There were about thirty of them, all above the rank of Second-Lieutenant, and none of them above the rank of Colonel. All of them had big ideas about their own importance and they all looked at the Black Hand agent as if he were nothing more than a bug on the wall.

He himself was a man of about sixty years old, and if he had joined the Navy or Army, he would have surpassed them all in rank and they would be paying much closer attention to his lecture on potentially strategic worlds. Worlds the Sovereignty may find valuble.

“Alright, next we move on to a peculiar world in the Unknown Regions.” He said, actually taking an interest in this particular subject, “It’s allegiance is currently neutral, but a faction called ‘The New Alliance’ once held sway over it. Can anyone tell me what the New Alliance was?” He asked.

A young woman holding an Army rank of captain. He noticed she was quite young for her rank, but he pushed it to the back of his mind as he pointed to her, “The New Alliance was a pro-Republic faction based on the planet Almania. It was presided over by Regent Joren Logan. It fell from prominence and the galatic stage shortly before the creation of the New Duskhan League by Jian Paret and and the original formation of the Outer-Rim Federation.” She stated, as if reading from a textbook. He nodded his approval.

”Yes. And when the New Alliance fell into disarray and merged with the New Republic, Onyx fell to them. But after the Wrath Virus, all contact with the world was lost, and the New Republic fell. Can anyone tell me if contact was been reestablished with Onyx?” He asked. A young man, also a captain, rose his hand.

“Yes and no. Joren Logan has come out of retirement several times from the world to aid the Sovereignty on numerous occasions. It is not presently known whether or not Logan is still there, and or what the world is like today.”

Kasdan nodded and turned to his left, where a new person entered the lecture hall and came to stand by the agent. He was of about fifty or so yeas of age, with a shock of white hair and a goatee to match.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you, Admiral Joren Logan (Ret.).” He said, beaming. The aging man smiled and stepped forward, much to the shock and surprise of the youngsters.

“Yes, I am Joren Logan,” He said, “And yes, I am standing here in front of you. I was called her today to give a few updates on the current status of Onyx.

“Right now, the world has a population of about twenty-five thousand humans, and other non-Onyx native, non-human beings. The settlers have formed a single city, originally created by me, as a base for the New Alliance Strategic Command. After Wrath, the base fell into disarray and the settlers built off of it. Now, renamed “New Stonia” (after the capital city on Almania) it is a thriving center for culture, art, and learning. The people maintain a representative government, presided over by the Prime Minister, who oversees a small senate from the Senate Chambers. Unlike other governments, all citizens play an active role in politics, and all are allowed to sit in on important meetings.

“I myself have been an advisor to four Prime Ministers in my day, and I am still going strong.”

One of the officer’s asked a question, “What of a military?”

“Well, the people of New Stonia have organized a Home Defense Corps consisting of about a thousand volunteers. They are small in number, but all of them are highly trained – and seasoned, warriors. I would not be afraid to put them up against ten thousand Wookies.” Logan said.

Another officer spoke up, “You say, seasoned? What enemies are there to fight?”

“Well, New Stonia is not the only center for the inhabitants of Onyx. There are the native Onyxians of course, who live in the caves of the nearby Victory Mountains. They are a warrior race who prides themselves on their prowess in combat. They are about three meters tall, have gold-scales covering their bodies, which act as a natural armor, sharp claws that can tear a man in two, and they are able to jump a good five meters in the air.” Logan said, smiling at the faces of the bewildered young officers.

“The Onyxians are a very hostile race, and make regular attacks on New Stonia. But the New Stonians have utilized the surplus New Alliance and New Republic defense technology, and so far the Onyxians have never made it past the city’s walls.”

“What about other hostile races in the general area? It is the Unknown Regions after all…” Another spoke up.

“The Ssi-ruuk have yet to find the world, seeing as it is almost within the border of Chiss Space. And the Chiss have always left Onyx alone, partially out of respect for the former New Republic. And because the Prime Minister’s have always included the Chiss Empire in trade with Onyx.” Logan replied.

“What about natural resources?”

“Onyx is very rich in natural resources, especially when it comes to precious stones. The Victory Mountain ranges are full of them, unfortunately, the Onyxians maintain a tight control over the mountains, and are deeply entrenched. But the planet is also rich in all types of materials.” Logan said.

The students fell silent and Logan turned back to the teacher, who turned to the students.

"Are there any more questions for the Admiral?" The agent/teacher asked.

Silence.

Logan nodded, "Well then, I must be going. I have a few things that must be done before my journey back to Onyx." He said, bowing.

The teacher nodded to him in return, "It was an honor for you to speak here, sir."

"The honor is mine." Logan said, and with that he left the lecture hall and headed to the awaiting transport, where Mahk sat in the driver's seat.

The morning on Balura was crisp and cold. Logan could clearly see his breath as he walked toward the landspeeder. He pulled his trenchcoat more tightly about him as he got inside the small landspeeder.

"It went well?" The Noghri asked.

"Well enough. Let's get to the Headquarters. Griff wanted to speak with me about something before we left." Logan replied.

Mahk nodded and started the vehicle up.






"Joren! How wonderful to see you yet again."

Logan nodded to the President of the Sovereignty as the other offered his hand. Logan took it and they both sat down in Griff's spacious office.

"Let's get to business." Griff said. Logan was silent, waiting for the other to continue.

"Frankly, with the war going on, we fall short of capable commanders for the fleet, as well as safe ports for our ships."

Logan frowned, "I have already told you that I have no desire to command any Sovereignty ships. I have put that behind me."

"Yes. You want to be left in peace, as do all of us. I already know that. Besides, I am finished trying to convince you." Griff replied.

"Then what?"

"I told you, we need safe ports for the ships. Especially in the Unknown Regions..."

Logan sighed softly, "No."

"But Onyx is a perfect hiding place. We could hide there, launch ambushes into Imperial space..." Griff tried.

"I said no. I will not have Onyx as a pawn for your war. This is not my war, and this is not the people of Onyx's war either." Logan said, leaving no room for compromise.

"You know that the Sovereignty cannot protect you if you don't provide us a service in return..." Griff said, his voice trailing off.

"I know. We just want to remain in peace." Logan said.

"I know. Well, I best not be keeping you." Griff said, motioning that Logan should best be on his way. It was clearly a dismissal. Logan took the hint and stood.

"The final outcome is not known. And it is not set." Logan said firmly. Griff looked up at him, looking grim.

"I am doing my best in a war that is full of doubt. We are losing hope." He said with a sigh.

"The future is not set, Xander." Logan said again.

Griff nodded, "Safe journey."

"Good luck." Logan said, turning to go. As he did, Griff called out.

"Joren. I almost forgot. There is a special gift waiting for you in orbit. Please take care of it." He heard the President say.

Logan frowned, "What is it?"

"Oh... just go up and see."

Logan jumped out of the landspeeder easily and looked up as a man dressed in a red and black Sovereignty admiral's uniform approahced from the landing pad, where a shuttle was waiting to take Logan back to Onyx.

"Admiral Nechyev is it?" Logan asked, grinning, reaching to shake the admiral's hand.

"Yes. It's good to see you again, sir." Nechyev said. He had started out his career as an ensign in the Almanian Defense Corps. And when Logan had formed the New Alliance he had been promoted rapidly and rose to the rank of captain and was put in command of Logan's personal ship, the Keerow. He had been Logan's right hand man for years. Now he was an admiral in the Sovereignty Navy.

The two shook hands, both grinning broadly, "What are you here for?" Logan asked.

"I was given some time off. I recieved permission to accompany you to Onyx for a few weeks. I hope you don't mind." Nechyev said.

"Not at all! The only friend I have these days is Mahk." Logan said, guesturing to his Noghri bodyguard, who stood nearby.

"Must have some great parties." Nechyev remarked and both laughed as they headed up the landing ramp and into the shuttle, where Mahk took the controls. Soon their were airborne and headed for space.

"So, where is this thing Griff spoke about?" Logan asked. In response, Nechyev pointed out the forward viewports.

"The Keerow!" Logan exclaimed.

As Logan's old Lambada-class shuttle ascended the atmosphere of Bakura, Logan smiled broadly as the "special gift" came into view.

It was an aging Imperial-class Star Destroyer, with the name Keerow painted boldy across it's hull. The ship had been Logan's original flagship, and flagship of the New Alliance fleet.

"Where did you get it?" Logan asked.

"We found it in a junk, heap actually. The Wrath virus had destroyed it, but we managed to put it back together, in honor of you." Nechyev said, grinning, "And there is also another perk, we managed to get together a few hundred former New Alliance officers and crewers. They are onboard now with the rest of the Sovereignty-employed crew."

Logan smiled, "I must thank Griff... this is incredible."

"He asked me to tell you that he knows what you have done, and wanted to properly thank you." Nechyev said.

"Well... let's get onboard." Logan said as Mahk moved the shuttle to dock with the aging Star Destroyer.

As the landing ramp descended, Logan saw with pleasure that dozen officers, dressed in old New Alliance uniforms had lined up on either side of the ramp to greet the old Admiral. As he walked past each of them, they saluted.






"It is great to have you back, Regent... I mean Admiral."

Logan smiled at the man who had greeted him. He must have been in his forties and was wearing a lieutenant's uniform. It was an interesting sight, but Logan knew the man must have been in his twenties when the former New Alliance had dissolved.

"It is great to be back, Lieutenant." Logan said.

Nechyev, who had taken up residence at his old captain's command console called out with a smile, "The Keerow is at your full command Admiral." He said.

Logan smiled and took his seat in his old command chair, "Let's go. Set a course for Onyx. Enter hyperspace at will."

A cheer rang out, and Logan felt like the New Alliance was back.


One last time.

OOC: Posting as Logan.


“This ship really is a piece of @#%$.” Logan said, a smirk creasing his face slightly as he poured himself a glass of brandy. Admiral Neychev had already filled his glass with a red liquid.

Both men were sitting down in Logan’s old personal command room. It was built originally with a comfortable seat confronted by holographic displays with access to the ship’s main computer. Now, the holoprojectors, chair, and the walls were in disrepair. The refit team that repaired the Keerow had done as best they could with the room. Their was evidence on the carpets that there was much more debris that had fallen, but was cleaned up. The room was now bereft of anything, except for the two comfortable chairs and table that had been brought in.

“It has been through a lot.” Neychev remarked, swishing his drink around inside his glass before taking a drink. His face creased with a satisfactory smile as he relished the alcohol.

Logan looked around the room, “So many battles…it survived every one of them. What happened?” He asked the other man.

Neychev was silent for a moment, taking a long look around the room before replying, “Well, the New Republic decommissioned it and sold it off to a shipyard for refit and resell – probably to some planetary space force. The shipyard collapsed after the Wrath Virus hit, and the ship was taken with it. ComTech later found it, and returned it to the Sovereignty, who then finished the refit.”

“What about the crew?” Logan asked, drinking some of his brandy

“The New Alliance members that are part of the crew are all Sovereignty-employed, we couldn’t find any…and we couldn’t search the entire galaxy.” Neychev replied, “Everybody else are regular Sovereignty crew, most of them are glad for the “time off”. Serving in wartime is difficult, and a lot of them needed a break.”

Logan nodded, silent for a moment as he let his gaze wonder to the view ports. The swirling chaos of hyperspace was prominently displayed in its entirety. Logan sat back as his eyes automatically closed to shut out the bright glare.

“You okay?” He heard Neychev ask.

“I am ready to go home…for good.” Logan said, his eyes still closed.

And he did not reopen them. Neychev finished his drink, and quietly left the old Admiral to himself.



The Galaxy is full of chaos. The Galaxy is full of war. The Galaxy is full of anger. Only the restless endure…and secret malice hides in shadow…



The Galaxy is full of chaos.


Logan felt like floating… an interesting feeling he was not well associated with. Which is when he felt like he was not standing on solid ground, the first warning signals went up. Was he sleeping? Drugged? Questions knawed at him, and he felt a sudden rush of disorientation… where was he? What was going on?

His first feeling of awareness came in the form of a loud explosion. He opened his eyes to see flame licking at his feet. Suddenly, everything came back to him, he had been drinking brandy with Neychev on the Keerow and he realized he must have fallen asleep. The chair where Neychev had been sitting was now wreathed in flame, as was the table to Logan’s left.

He stood up…

…and fell right back down.

He looked down and suddenly noticed blood staining his right leg down from the knee. And that is when he felt the pain. A searing, deep pain that he could feel right to his bones.

Smoke filled the air, and Logan knew that the air circulation system, along with the fire control systems was not functioning properly. Coughing, he reached down, and felt a sharp spike imbedded in his leg above the knee. It was some sort of metallic shard.

The fire was spreading toward the injured Admiral, and would reach him in seconds. With a gut wrenching cry, he pulled on the shard, sending a tearing pain through his body. The shard came free easily enough, and the blood followed. Standing painfully, he stumbled toward the door, and a small cabinet next to the door. Pulling the cabinet open, he grabbed the old fire control lever and pulled it down, and with a creak, water began spraying from the ceiling, putting the flames out.

Logan stumbled through the door, and onto the smoke-filled bridge. He could hear warning klaxons, screams, and explosions all over the bridge. Bodies lay around the bridge, collapsed at their stations. The Captain’s chair and console was empty, Neychev was nowhere to be seen.

In fact, no one was anywhere to be seen. The crewpits were empty, except for a few bodies, and not one creman was alive at his station. Logan stepped forward, covering his mouth. Sparks flew from the command console as he touched the comm. system, which suddenly came to life, “…nyone! This is the engine room! Anyone! Please respond!”

Logan leaned forward, “This is the bridge. Engine room?” He half coughed.

“Thank God one of you is alive! We need you to go to the master control board and get the emergency systems back up! They collapsed during the attack and we have fires and gas everywhwere.”

Attack Logan’s worst fears were confirmed. The Keerow had been attacked and heavily damaged.

Putting those thoughts to the back of his mind, Logan searched the master control board for the emergency systems control panel. There was a few blinking red lights, and text the read Emergency System on Standby. Inputting his passcode, and then putting the system o full alert, Logan turned back to the comm. system, “Engine room, emergency systems are back.” He said before stepping back as the smoke was quickly vented out of the bridge. Clean air was then circulated through the room.

Only after the smoke cleared, did Logan see the full extent of carnage on the bridge. Consoles were missing entirely, having been ripped from their moorings and toppled, some of them onto unwitting crewmembers. After a few minutes, Logan counted no more than twenty-three dead – some of them he recognized as his former New Alliane comrades.

The doors to the back of the bridge hissed open and Neychev, bloodied from a dozen cuts, and walking with a slight lip strode in with a dozen or so crewmen behind him.

“Oh..Admiral….we were here to check on you.” Neychev said.

Logan stared at him, remembering not just two hours ago when they were drinking and talking about the old New Alliance, “What the hell happened?”


Later, Ke medical center…[/i]

“We were pulled from hyperspace on our final approach to Onyx. By ships we have never seen before. One of them was a kind of interdictor, the rest were frigates, warships, destroyers, dreadnaughts…everything. All from a design that was completely new to us. And we received a brand new computer core during the refit… and these guys weren’t in it.” Neychev said as the ship’s doctor tended to Logan’s leg, which had been pierced by a rogue shard of durasteel


“What happened?” Logan asked, wincing as the doctor picked carefully at his wound, pulling smaller pieces of durasteel out of Logan’s leg.

“They pounced on us like Corellian Sand Panthers. We didn’t even know what hit us… our shields were knocked out, power grid smashed within a few minutes. We tried to fight back…but none of the crew were at the gunnery stations, or fighters. I myself was in the engine room when it happebed. I was unable to get back to the bridge, so I ordered a blind hyperspace jump, which led us, as far as we can tell, a lightyear from Onyx.”

Neychev fell silent as Logan digested everything he had been told, “How…?”

Neychev said nothing.

“What about repairs?” Logan asked as the doctor applied a bacta patch to his leg.

“Under way, we have engines back, and our power grid is being fixed. We expect to be on our feet in eighteen hours. But our weapons are damaged…the cannons themselves are okay, just the power grid supplying the weapons with power was damaged. We have teams working on it.” Neychev said quietly.

“Set a course for Onyx and get us there as soon as possible.” Logan ordered, standing up from his bed, the doctor would have none of it, “But Admiral, you should not be walking on that leg!”

“I have a ship to run, Doctor.” Logan replied tersely, “And I must get to it.”


With that, he strode out of the medical bay with Neychev in tow, “I want a complete write up of everything that was damaged. What spare parts we have, and what we don’t. I want weapons back up in two hours.” Logan said, pushing all thoughts of pain to the back of his head as his command sense took over.

Neychev shook his head, “I need three.”

“But you only have two. Order the helm to get us to Onyx as quickly as possible. I want to make sure those unknown aliens didn’t pay the world a visit. “ Logan said.

Neychev frowned, “Why do you think that they hit Onyx?”

“Keyn do you remember that time when Obroa-skai was attacked by the Empire?” Logan asked.

“Yeah.” Neychev said, frowning, “What about it?”

“Remember that bad feeling I got before it happened?” Logan continued as both men stepped into a turbolift bound for the bridge.

“Yeah.”

“I have it again. And I think something is terribly, terribly wrong.” Logan said as the turbolift doors opened on the bridge.

Neychev eyed him but said nothing.


*



“Entering the Onyx system…” The helmsman announced as the Keerow shuddered from hyperspace reversion.

The battle analysis screen came to life and Logan studied it carefully. Sensor readings indicated that several ships had been in the system for a little while, then left. There were no other ships in-system other than the Keerow.

Logan was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he suddenly heard Neychev gasp next to him. Truning to see what was going on, Logan say Neychev staring out the forward viewports of the bridge. Logan followed his gaze.

Onyx was there…

But not as Logan remembered it. The lush green colors of forests and jungles were now replaced with a dull brown color. The crystal blue of Onyx’s several oceans were replaced with a dark gray color. The golden-brown plains of the northern continent had been burned black.

Logan felt his knees give way under him, and he fell down into the command chair, too shocked to even open his mouth.

Neychev spoke for him, “Sensors…scan the planet. What the hell happened here?”

“No weapons trails detected. Only a single exhaust trail leading from upper orbit to the southern sea.” The ensign at the sensor station reported.

:A fighter crashed…?” Neychev mused loudly, “But that can’t do that kind of damage.”

Several of the senior officers spoke their opinions. But none seemed to fit.

“A missile…” Logan finally said, “They launched a missiles…probably containing a biological agent…and it did this…”

Neychev looked at him, realization dawning on him, “The aliens…!”

“Ready a shuttle. I want to go down there.” Logan said hoarsely.




*



“Lifesigns?” Logan asked nervously as the Lambada-class shuttle glided through the turbulent atmosphere of Onyx. The wind had never been this bad, Logan noted. In fact it was always a calm ride down, now it felt like a great big hand was slapping the small shuttle around.

“I am detecting little over three hundred.” Neychev said, who was piloting the shuttle.

Logan felt as if someone stabbed him in the gut with a knife and twisted it several times as he heard.

Three hundred..!…out of six thousand!

The clouds parted for the shuttle and Logan got his first few of the surface of Onyx. Where once was a beautiful world with mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, jungles, plains, and ice caps, now was a brown, dull world with black lands and gray oceans.

Neychev landed the shuttle, amid twenty others (filled with rescue and relief personell, medical teams, and scientists. Logan stepped out of the shuttle and was instantly bit by the cold, sharp wind that had never been there before. Even when it entered the winter season. But instead of snow, white ash now fell freely from the dark sky.

The hundred or so people who all occupied the twenty shuttles spread out to the only civilized city on the world, New Stonia. Logan had a residence there as well and walked with everyone else toward the great walled city. The defensive measures on the city were one of Logan’s great prides, the high walls and defensive lasers – all built to protect the 6,000human and alien settlers from the barbaric tribal Onyxians, who constantly tried to get rid of the New Stonians.

Parts of the wall had collapsed on the western sector, allowing Logan and the team to get into the city. They were greeted by ten or so tired-looking humans, who, aupon seeing Logan, walked forward.

“Joren…” One of the humans said.

“Daedrid… what happened?”

“We were attacked. By hostile aliens. They call themselves the Narcati. Two days ago, the hailed us, our sensors indicated they had about a dozen ships with them. But they openly proclaimed this world a “member” of the “Narcati Confederation”. We basicly told them no. Then they fired some sort of missile at us, which did all of this…then they fired a bit more, hitting the city.” The one Logan spoke to as Daedrid said.

“Narcati Confederation…” Neychev mused, “I know them. They were giving the Shi’ido trouble. We defeated their fleet over Sh’shuun. After that, they disappeared… but we never figured out where they went – or ehere their homeworld was.”

Daedrid spoke up, “They got here fast. Our long range sensors picked them up a few lightyears away…they must have a homeworld close by.”

Daedrid led them into a nearby intact building, “The missiles released a bioagent into the atmosephere, and it spread throughout the world. It killed off most of us, and we think it got a good few of the Onyxians.”

“Do you know for sure?” Logan asked.

“No. They are still up in the mountains as far as we can tell. And haven’t come down.” Daedrid said, “But now that you guys are here, everybody needs medical attention, we would appreciate it.”

“It will be done. We should get a few scouts up into the Victory Mountains to see if the Onyxians need help too.” Neychev said, to both Logan and Daedrid’s surprise.

“What?” Neychev asked the two.

“The Onyxians have openly proclaimed their hatred for us. They have attacked the city several times… you saw the defenses? We built those to keep them out. They are brutal, standing about three meters tall with claws sharp enough to tear an X-Wing in two.” Daedrid said.

“But…what if they need help!” Neychev exclaimed, “We can’t deny it to them!”

“They have never helped us.” Deadrid said, his voice rising as if were going to challenge Neychev. But Logan broke in, “Admiral Neychev is right… we should help them. But not yet. We need ORS here first. We need more ships…Keyn, contact Griff. Tell him the situation.”

“He’ll help…but I think he’ll want some compensation.” Neychev said.

Logan nodded, understanding what the other meant. Glancing at Daedrid, “Tell him that Onyx will join the Sovereignty if he helps us repair this world, and find the ones who did it.”

Neychev nodded, “It will be done. We can have a Sovereignty fleet here in three days.”

“Do it.”


*



“I’m so sorry about what happened, Joren.” Xander Griff said, in holographic form.

“Yeah.” Logan replied quietly as he took a sip of some stem tea. It had been three weeks after the Keerow’s return to Onyx. Upon hearing about what happened, Griff immediately sent a relief fleet to Onyx, and ORS engineers had been repairing New Stonia and getting the residents medical attention round the clock.



“The Narcati…what have you learned?” Logan asked, ignoring Griff’s apology.

“They have rebuilt somewhere in the Unknown Regions. The Black Hand believes that their homeworld may be within a few light years of Onyx.” Griff said.

“A few lightyears? But why now? Why do they suddenly show up, raze Onyx, and then leaves?” Logan demanded.

“Because they tangled with the Shi’ido, and lost their main fleet against the combined Sovereignty-Sh’shuun forces. They have probably been rebuilding at their homeworld and decided to go on another expansion tour of the surrounding space.” Griff said, and as he did so, the holo link crackled slightly.

“We are loosing the feed, so I must be going. A battlefleet is on it’s way, to be placed under your command. Get rid of the Narcati once and for all. Bakura out.”

Logan cut the link and turned. Neychev awaited him.

“The Keerow is ready sir. Fully repaired.” Neychev said.

“They have met the Sovereignty in battle before. Let’s see how they react to the New Alliance.” Logan said, walking past Neychev and onto the darkened streets.