<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Parabolic course for Providence...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


//Master Shaper, my patience with these infidels becomes less with each pitiful band we meet. I truly do not see your fascination with these soft creatures..these Kappreeesseeeans//

Tallien walked beside Tslah Vhess, the fleet's war coordinator through an incredibly dry part of his religious command ship.

//Imagine, War Coordinator. An entire line of soft creatures, determined to hold back our hordes. Determined against the reality that stood before them. Our warriors even carried out the victory chant//

The fist of the War Coordinator tightened, the creatures comprising his armor changing color with his mood.

//And yet, there was no victory. We gave up. The mightly Yuuzhan Vong fled//

He turned a dangerous eye to Tallien.

//Why did the War Master not strip your position and fling you to the dung of Grutchins? Have you developed Yun Harla's gift of treachery and deciet? Have you taken on a female's attributes?//

Tallien laughed out loud in amusement.

//Why indeed, War Coordinator. When their very defeat was written in their eyes, why did we just simply leave?//

Tallien stopped before a large creature that blocked an entrance to a rather large room.

//Yun Yammka showed us the tools for shaping our destiny in this galaxy, War Coordinator. It is that simple.//

Tslah stopped at the mention of the Yuuzhan Vong war god.

//Could we have defeated these soft infidels?// Tallien continued. //Easily. Or perhaps, not.//

//THEY WERE DEFEATED! THEIR ARMIES WERE SMASHED! THEIR FLEETS DECIMATED! THEIR CAPITAL CITIES IN RUINS!//

The War Coordinator's voice echoed throughout the empty hall. Then it became dangerously soft.

//You still claim they held victory?//

The warrior was almost blind with rage.

Tallien's scar deepened as he smiled, a smile so geniune that it broke skin and blood trickled from the side of his face.

The pain was exquisite.

//They may have defeated us. In any event, I believe they hold one of the keys to victory in the conquest of this backward galaxy.//

And before the War Coordinator's rage could take over, Tallien waved a hand over the beast, and it moved revealing an overpowering stench.

The smell brought the War Cooridinator back to the present. He knew this smell... the smell of death.

//Behold, War Cooridnator. Our key.//

Tallien gestured into the open space and the large warrior stepped into the room boldly, prepared to take what suprises awaited him.

His eyes roamed the room dimly lit by bioluminscent creatures and he studied the Chazrach slaves that lay in twisted and grotesque poses... the dances of death.

..and as his mind struggled to find a reason for the pile of slaves littering the room in every direction, it was struck again by another blow by what he now saw in the center.

..not only saw...but realized, in fact, that he could proceed no further into the room...no matter how much the temptation to step forward was.

//This....this is not possible.... Our spies...//

//Our spies <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> were<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> correct, War Coordinator.//


//Then... then..// he took a step back and turned back to the entrance, staring at Tallien. //Do you realize what this means?//

Tallien's alien eyes hardened. //It means that these infidels must not be allowed to survive as a people. It means that when we exterminate their worlds...we shall be in control. With the right conditioning...with the proper rites and initiations, the Chazrach may have outlived their usefulness.//

The War Coordinator bowed in acknowledgement.

//Tallien. I understand. The War Master was correct. Yun Yuuzhan smiled on you for realizing the danger.//

The War Coordinator took another look at the center and shuddered before leaving. The creature fell back into place, blocking the entrance and the stench.

Soon, the clicking of their armored feet against the yorik coral receded.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....and resting on the cold, hard surface of the yorik coral floor, at the center of a ring of Chazrach bodies,


a small child shook lightly, his eyes wide open breathing irratically.

Tiny creatures were moving about his body sticking their needle like mouths into his skin at certain places. Several had created serious lesions on the side of his head..

..and on his tatterted clothing, a grimy patch read:


Honor Student - Minos<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Somehow Leia had known that was who she was talking to...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

But that didn't matter to her right now. She looked around in fascination as she was given a tour of the colony, and stood silent and quite attentive as Tyscio told his stories, she had not heard but one or two of them, the general ones, in full before. By the time he finished, her fingers had gone numb from the cold and she balled her fists and pulled them up into her sleeves, trying not to shiver too visibly. Concentrating on that task, she was taken by surprise as Mathias turned and addressed her directly, a sudden feeling of warmth around her at least warming her inside as well. She fumbled for a moment before she regained her speaking mind.

"Well, uh, I was asked by the Regency to venture here with the force you have no doubt seen and assessed by now, and help mobilize Providence's defenses in anticipation of a probable Yuzzhan Vong attack on this planet. This includes building up the militaries, building more strongpoints and defense installations, stockpiling supplies, and readying the people in general for the hardships of war. It is my opinion that nothing less than our best will be required to stave off the enemy.

And even then, to be honest, that may not even be enough...."

Leia's voice trailed off, and she swallowed, but continued steadily.

"As I see it, one can either be defeated silently, hopeless, or they can defend themselves to the best of their ability, and give themselves the chance for victory. Perhaps that is why I chose to come to Capricia."

That was a sidethought, and Leia went back to plowing her way through other business.

"The Caprician troops are valiant and capable, I expect yours here are no less. I believe Providence has a very good chance against this inescapable threat. What do you think, Commander?"

Old Mathias grunted. "We are capable..up to a point. Odds are always the deciding factor when it comes to capabilities."


Then a grin showed through his grizzly, unshaven face.

"But we will give 'em hell ma'am."


The militia leader kneeled down, and the older couple, Tyscio, Leia, and other group leaders under Leia's command formed a circle. With one motion, Mathias drew three cirlces that linked to form a triangle. "These are the larger settlements. The lines from circle to circle (forming the triangle) represent trenches that we have dug. There are also defense trenches circling the city. They were made during the summer when the land was softer and easier to dig in. We were going to make an entire network before the winter set in...."

He rubbed his hands together and blew into them.

"Heat will be a problem on the line, assuming we are to hold a "line" against the invaders."

He turned to Leia.

"We can pretty much assemble anything above ground, my lady. Is there anything, special you'd like us to make? And how much time do you think we have?"

Tyscio saw Leia shiver slightly as the temperature went down a few degrees.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The ground is hard....very hard. Hand to hand combat will hurt if it comes to that.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Where can a guy get a warm drink around here?" he suddenly asked?


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Was there a reason why we are discussing this outside?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

A wry grin touched his lips when he thought he heard the old Militia soldier mutter, "pansy".

Nonetheless the militia leader stood and gestured for the group to follow them.

"I know a good place nearby that should be an acceptable environment to further this discussion"

The group didn't have to walk far, which was to the favor of many sets of tired legs, before they came to a rather plain domelike structure on a sidestreet of the main road. This was the door that Mathias chose to enter, and so everyone else filed in behind. Leia took note of the sign above the door before she entered.

'Squeeky Space Rat Bar and Grill'

That caused a raised eyebrow on her part, though she entered placidly all the same. The interior of the establishment was dim, yet not as dark as some of the holes she had been in in the past. The floor was carpeted with a worn but functional carpet, a commodity that Leia suspected actually put it higher up on the list than other places, as this was a colony that didn't have the resources for much if any luxury.

Well, at least the air was breathable.

The group pulled a few large tables in the center of the unoccupied middle of the dining area, and everyone seated themselves, a few soldiers spreading out for guard. A server appeared to take a drink order, and as he departed they began to erect a small model of the colony in the middle of the table from whatever they could find before them, drawing a few odd looks from the scattered patrons in the place, but these looks were not noticed. In the end, a few upside down mugs marked the colony placements and straws and eating utensils marked the defense ring. Leia smirked as she surveyed their creation, and as the server reappeared with their drinks, to his credit only glancing oddly once at the odd 'thing' in the middle of the table before he continued on with his work.

Mathias still held the center of attention, and as his drink was set before him, he picked it up and leaned back in his chair.

"Now, where was I...." He began, with a look Leia found curious in Tyscio's direction, Leia only noticing the look because she was sitting right next to Tyscio.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


"...at war in the trenches." offered Tyscio helpfully, his hands grateful at the respite from the cold the establishment offered.

"Harumph!" the gruff soldier commented and looked down at his makeshift "colony" on the table.

"As I was saying earlier," he continued, pointing to the three large bowls set in a triangular formation. "These represent the colony districts: Administration here (pointing to the top), Agriculture here (pointing to the bottom right bowl) and Power here (pointing to the bottom left bowl). As I see it, Power and Agriculture are the priority defenses, becase without our Ag units, there'd be no food, and without power, we'd all..."


"Freeze to death.." Tysico interrupted slightly.

"..Be hard pressed to contact that big ship up in orbit, with ourselves, not to mention what no lights or heat would do to us. "


A Captain, under Leia, in nominal command of one unit of Caprician soldiers asked, "What about backup generators? Small units? Do you have any that could be put in strategic spots in case the main power does fail?"

The old militia officer looked at the Captain with grudging respect. "That we can do. Our drilling equipment also is equipped with standalone power sources. If we can distribute them between the power and ag line, we could keep our forces fighting longer than expected."

"And the Administration section?" Tyscio suddenly, seriously asked.

"In my opinion, we can cut it off at the midway point here." and in the middle of both sides of the triangle, he looked around and picked a stringy pasta off someone's plate before they could cry out in surprise and laid it across, effectively slicing off the top of the triangle. Instead of a triangle, a trapezoid now looked up at those grouped around the table.

"Correct, me if I am wrong," Tyscio started again, "But don't the majority of the colonists live in that section."

"Yes.." the old man finally spoke. "However, most will be in the trenches, if necessary."

"We should move them, then to the center (pointing to the center of the trapezoid) and set up a medical unit, and makeshift housing. As was said, we can assemble almost anything above ground quickly.."

Tyscio eyed the setup on the table warily. "I don't know..." he murmured, "that looks like an awfully long line to hold, even with trained soldiers.."

The Captain and Mathias turned to Leia. "Mistress? Your thoughts?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Now...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


They were all tired. After 5 months exploring the Mandalorian section of space they were going home.


The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, showing the scars of battle, slowed and exited the hyperspace in the Outmarches.


"Avatar, calling Station 12.. Avatar, calling Station 12.." the communications officer droned on as the vessel pierced the blackness of space.

"Nothing sir," the officer concluded.


"Strange," Herridian murmured. "The location of Station 12 is classified. Keep trying."


"Sir! I think you should take a look at this!" the scanning officer shouted over the small bridge.

Herridian walked over and looked at the hologram that appeared to his right.

"What-??" he started.


The Caprician vessel floated into a massive debris field that used to be Station 12.


"Skyler..." Herridian whispered, thinking of his children on Capricia.


He choked back some emotion and briskly ordered, "best speed to homeworld."


"Yes, sir.. making the calculations for an emergency jump."


Soon the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> winked into hyperspace.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Tirus....3rd planet from Capricia's Primary<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> They are all dying!!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, thought Tyscio Zier, as more reports came in from the surface.


Already, three landing teams have been contaminated by the unknown pathogen that was wreaking havoc with the colony down below.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Or, rather, what was left of the colony.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He turned to the comm unit where the holographic image of Gomorran Kay waited patiently.

"Kay, this bug has nearly wiped out the colony and our medical facilities are having trouble isolating it. The damned thing is so dangerous, standard quarantine procedures will not work. The Fleet is at Emergency Hazard station right now, but until the medical team gives the all clear, we are floating impotent in orbit!" he banged his hand in frustration.

The Caprician Regent looked similarly tired but responded, "Is it from our invading friends?"

"There is a good chance of that Sir. If it was a local bug then the colony would have been killed long ago. The hospital administrator on the surface seemed to indicate the the occurances were very recent."

The Regent thought about that for a minute. "Then this thing was designed to move extremely fast, given those reports you've sent. Perhaps we should think about Firewall."

Tyscio did not want to think about razing the colony to ashes. It was the last ditch effort to stopping agressive virus's, especially artificial ones, but they were not backed into that corner yet.

"Until the medical staff concur, I will remain on station as long as I can." he informed.

The Regent nodded, being handed a report from someone to his side.

"Any word on Providence?"

"None Sir, I have half a mind to send a taskforce to investigate... but we are already spread thin, with forces on Capricia, Tirus, Adalric's group on Minos..." his voice trailed off..

They still don't know what was happening with the Minos task force headed by the Imperial Syndicate's Adalric Cronus.

"I will keep you posted," Tyscio remarked before closing the channel.

"Ok Doctor," he started, looking up at the new person on the bridge, "What have we got?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Capricia<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



The elderly leader of Clan Leantre moved away out of respect for the Regent as he conversed with Tyscio in orbit over Tirus.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Pathogen, unknown, devestating virus...!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The words played across his mind as tidbits of Zier's communication came into earshot.

This enemy was using something new to Capricians. Something they did not expect.


His mind stirred as memories started to come forth... memories of the Clan's exodus from Capricia right after the first invasion.


memories of their return..... the galactic stage they'd heard whispered in the dark places of those forgotten planets, stations... places where it was easy to get lost ....places ripe with information.

At how they were to avoid the corridor at all costs....

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> .. Corridor?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


..and then it struck him! He realized why his mind was taking him back there....

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..a similar report... a similar pathogen... incredibly quick... oh the damage such a thing could do...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He quickly went over to a terminal and poured himself in to the clan archives.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> reports.... Gungan Council... farther back

reports.... Eternal Rogue Order... farther back..

reports....Aron Astrin... farther...

reports... ahhhhh..... and a sidenote.. Quintus...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Pieces were falling into place.


The galaxy was a stage....and though actors and actresses came and went.. the same play went on and on...


..the same plot unfolded while none were the wiser...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The same thread binds us...the same spell entraps us... the same scene unfolds... I wonder, will <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> our<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> destiny remain the same?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He took a copy of the report and went over handing it to his Regent, who was finishing up with Zier.

The leader of Tyscio Clan terminated transmission and Gomorran looked at it. The farther he read, the wider his eyes got.


"Sweet...


Clannus...


Prime.."


He quipped when he stopped reading. He raised his head to look at the elderly clan leader.


"Do you know what this means?"


"It means we have to go back to the past.. and face that which half the galaxy trembled under..."


"The name is a distant memory now, Leantre....something parents scare their kids with as punishment. Eat your vegetables or <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> he<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> will come.... besides, where would we start?"

Leantre smiled grimly, "I know exactly where to start.."


"Sir!" a Lieutenant came up beside the Regent to report. "The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> has signalled and is on approach!"

"Herridian?" Leantre voiced out in question. "Have all guns track him... it could be a trap." he ordered.

"Yes," agreed Gomorran, "and open a channel.. quickly!"


"Herridian," mumured the white haired Leantre. And suddenly his eyes lit up in question, "Where's Skyler?" he suddenly asked.

Providence...


Leia frowned down at the model.

"It looks like we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

The question was purely rhetorical, and she continued after a moment of silence.

"It looks like the only viable way at the moment, and if we curve the sharp corners at the ends of what is left of the triangle into more theoretically strategic curves, we can save ourselves some trouble. We can bring the new Caprician troops in to set up shop first from the outside in, evenly distributed throughought the line, and then we can take the land and resource familiar Providence troops and have them work from the inside out, maybe get some of these generators and supplies mentioned before out and working. No matter what we decide to do, I say we do something... most preferrably this, since it at least gives us a chance... now, while we have time. I have a feeling time is not in our favor any longer, and we can always make alterations to the plan..."

Tallien moved quickly down a cold yorik coral hall intent on following the screams that interupted his reverie.


With a quick hand motion, two warriors moved away from a doorway allowing the Master Shaper to enter.

He opened his mouth in surprise for there in the middle, covered in the blood of the infidels was the War Coordinator for the Caprician Campaign, Tslah Vhess. He was without his typical body armor and armed only with a curved, yet jagged, Synthian Blade (a personalized weapon Tallien cooked up exclusively for Tslah).

In various corners were remnants of the humans taken from their mining colony on Minos. He knew Tslah was very disappointed with the operation so far, especially being disappointed at the few number of infidels inhabiting the farthest planet from the Caprician sun.

Several women and men were grouped together, admirably showing some signs of resistance fashioning what crude weapons they could from what was at hand.

Several humans were squirming on the ground moaning rather pathetically, some in motions looking for lost limbs or attempting to hold their insides together.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Yes, the warriors were disappointed at the low numbers inhabiting Minos...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

..and yet, they <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> were<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> on schedule. The genocide (as the infidels called it) was progressing at such a pace as to ensure the Caprician's complete destruction.

At least that was Tallien's justification for the almost lethargic pace they had been implimenting since the beginning.

He could tell, though, that the rather slow pace was starting to grate at the warriors who were thirsty for pain.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Perhaps it was time to quench it.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


//HOW FAR WILL THESE KAP REEESSS EEANS GO TALLIEN?// Tslah hissed, his alien tongue bewildering their captives.

With a howl, not waiting for a response, Tslah charged and a human male stepped up to the challenge.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> When nothing before them is a glimmer of hope..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The other's were moved to action by the bold male and gave a charge of their own.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Perhaps they finally realized they outnumbered Tslah... as if it would make any difference..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


..and yet, Tallien was still amazed at their captive's attempt to rally.


And then, rather suddenly, in the heat of the extreme hand to hand combat...as the atmosphere of desperation thickened..

a Caprician female screamed something incoherent at the mighty Yuuzhan Vong War Coordinator, perhaps in some failing attempt to block a swing of his weapon that would sever her head...

....and Tslah was knocked backward.


So sudden was his rebuffing that Tallien and Tslah's guards were thrown into a momentary confusion.

That was all the humans needed as they charged Tallien and the guards.

The woman snarled something and a guard was thrown off his feet onto his back.

Tslah was moved to catch the fleeing infidels when two maimed humans he had taken for dead suddenly moved and grabbed at his legs.

His blade quickly removed their heads, but Talliien found himself being tackled by the prisoners. They were, however, more interested in getting past him and the guards.


Tallien removed a creature from his shoulder with one motion and mashed it into a human male's face, causing him to cry out. The creature grabbed onto the facial skin and quickly burrowed killing the human instantly.

The other guard used his staff to run another female through..and Tslah caught a male in the doorway from behind, his bladed hand penetrating the human's back and he grasped the man's spine, toss him backward.

The female, with the sudden and surprising ability, narrowed her eyes wild with fear (yet enjoying her newfound ability) at Tallien succeeding in holding him by some unseen forces.


Tallien was sure that she would crush his throat...


..and then Tslah snarled distracting the woman. She turned at his sound only to be impaled by his throwing blade through her forhead.


Tallien fell to the ground, released from her grasp as death struck.


Tslah slowly walked over to the guard on his back, noting that his back was broken, and ran him through with the other's staff.



Tallien and Tslah were silent for a time.


Tslah spoke first. //Prudence be damned, Tallien! Our piecemeal conquest of this system puts the bulk of their forces in front of us. They are expecting that. Our spies indicate that their forces are scattered. A massive strike now at the heart would crush them forever! Tallien....if this ability is one forgotten by these people, we cannot afford them to remember...Yun Yuuzhan's will... would be difficult to achieve.

Tallien? What say you? We must end this threat now!//



The Master Shaper looked at his slight wounds and felt his throat.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Just like that. The conquest might have been thwarted by one frightened female Caprician. She would have killed both the campaign's Master Shaper and probably War Coordinator.

If even one of these infidels gets a handle of this (obviously) latent ability....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

His thoughts raged within him. He felt the impatience as well..but also knew the danger of haste.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..and yet the spies were right! The woman was no Jeedai. He thought back to the last battle of the first invasion...


...when the far ranks of soldiers began to fall, face to face with the Caprician rallying of their population. Someone, some people (perhaps unconsciously), faced with the catalyst of their own fear, their own emotions, brought this ability to the fore. Many warriors fell before we left... the infidels never knowing why, never the wiser for their own chemistry and biology.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Even now, with his experiments he could not find the common denominator with this genetic ability. Why it appeared in some Capricians and not others. However, the ability could be enhanced in the infidels chits.. their young.

He came to a decision.. for he was, after all, the leader of the mission.


//Tslah Vhess, I propose a compromise. We shall send a small detachment out to the remaining colony worlds, retrieve the forces left at Minos and outside this system, and strike at their heart... the infidel homeword of Capricia. Our "Leveller of Empires" (referring to the virus) is working well//

Tslah smiled in grim satisfaction, causing his scars to stretch across his hideous face.

//We shall send a contingent of warriors to ..// his face twisted as he tried to pronounce the planet's name in the infidel tongue // Providence. We shall prevail there overwhelming their pitifully small population of sheep... and while they are dying there, we shall be sinking our teeth into their homeworld. Come Master Shaper, let us plan their inevitable defeat!//