Leia dropped to one knee beside Tyscio.

"I...."

She stopped even as she started, and looked oddly at Tyscio.

Her vision was distorted, somehow the Force was twisting it. It was telling her to do something....

On impulse she reached out and grabbed Tyscio's shoulder....

A jolt ran up her arm, as if she had touched a live electrical wire. But the Force pressed her not to let go, and she didn't. A hot wave then ran up her arm, spread over her body, and lastly engulfed her head....

immersing her in a familiar world, yet it was different, a different time. A near, future time....

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Kneeling on the hard cold ground, chanting on her left, inhumane screams of pain and suffering on her right.

Capricia had been invaded, and Leia had come to help, now she was on Providence, kneeling here alone in the middle of two forces, unable to go either way. She was frozen in place by some uncomprehendable force.

Around her corpses lay in various contorted positions, piled over each other, enemy and ally alike. She was covered in the blood of both. The lightsaber clutched in her right hand, it's blade not ignited at the moment, had the blood of countless enemies on it's bright green blade now. Yet every time she ignited the blade.... it was clean.

Every time she stabbed a body and withdrew a blade from a fatal stab, slashed a throat, the blade was always clean....

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked around at the carnage. It was early morning, the dull grey sky making everything all the drearier.

The emotions inside her, some conflicting, bottled up for long enough, more powerful than many normal people could handled, boiled over and came out.

She threw back her head, a loud, long, tortured scream erupted from her lips, the likes of hadn't been heard from this woman since she had been in the hands of Darth Vader and an imperial probe droid. And even then, the intensity now was greater than then.

The outcry ending, she lowered her head again, the collected tears in her eyes streamed down her cheeks, but no more fell. She was back in control now, the moment of openness taking only a few moments total.

She suddenly knew what kept her here and why as some recently ingrained extra sense informed her a Yuzzhan Vong, or one of their minions, approached.

She could see him now, he was searching fallen bodies, then he happened to look up and see her. He saw the saber in her hand, he seemed to grow taller.

"Jeedai...!!!!" He roared..... Leia stood, unafraid, frighteningly calm.... <!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Something jarred her out of the vision. The present world came back to her, she drew her arm away from Tyscio, who was staring at her, apparently just as surprised at her as she was dazed.

A thud bug slammed itself into the dirt wall of the trench right next to her, surprising both of them and all of the soldiers around them, and everyone dove for cover.

Leia hefted her blaster rifle up in front of her, resting it on the trench top. Sighting down the barrel, she saw the Yuzzhan Vong and Chazrach hopping out of the first trench and starting their charge at the second. She picked off two, looked to her sides to see what the rest of her forces were doing...

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




Leia knelt down and started to speak in a low voice...

"I..."


Tyscio's eyes watched her and a curiouis expression crossed his face.


It was one of vague remembrance....one of surprise....


one of...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> desire?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




She reached out and touched his arm and nothing was the same...





<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Union is peace.. The Union is forever... The Union is eternal..<!--EZCODE BOLD END--><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




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




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..unfamiliar voices.. ...unfamiliar images ... and yet.. Tyscio felt a kinship here..



"..the Union has stood for over 5,000 years, Sire!" a shout came forth.


"We are crumbling, Hespante! The spread of the Nephys cannot be halted."


"There are many who claim the Nephys as benign, my Lord."


"Indeed, and there are reports of those using the gifts of the Nephys against their own.. against US! ..a dark age is coming... I fear.."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->





<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Union is peace.. The Union survives.. The Union.. rebuilds..<!--EZCODE BOLD END--><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "How many still stand in the Union, Hespante?" came a tired voice.


"Four worlds, Sire."


"Four worlds..." the man whispers, almost mournfully. "From the galaxy to four worlds.."


"But the most powerful of worlds, my Lord! Coruscantes, Capricia, Elrodia, and Brayden!"


"How long, Hespante? How long till they fall to the darkness growing out of Ziostesia? How long till Coruscantes discovers other concerns than that of the Union?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->






<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Union is dying..... <!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Coruscantes?" came a bitter voice.


"Fallen.... to.. the religionists."


"Elrodia?"


"Infected by Terreyis.."


"Brayden?"


"Destroyed.."


"That leaves Capricia.."


"You are Clannus Prime still, Sire."


"But for how long?" a heavy sigh. "No. The Dark Age has come... "<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




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




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Tyscio opened his eyes and all around him were fires...


"You think you know war, Caprician?" a voice came forth from the darkness. Tyscio recognized it as the 'Clannus Prime' of earlier.

"You think you know loss?"

And a figure walked amid the snow flurries and dead bodies making up the torn battlefield of Providence. The snow had turned gray... and Tyscio followed the man to a clearing, and there was Leia standing, her blade lit but noone to fight.


She had a look of intense horror but at his vantage point he could not see what she was staring down at.


"The bitter irony of it all, Caprician. A truth that cuts through all our self made codes of honor." The man turned his sad eyes to Tyscio, "That dispite our codes, our piety... with all the battles we fight, with all the wars we see, constantly surrounded by death..."

the man's voice grew earnest.. "No matter how pure the blade... Nothing, can cleanse the soul."



"Endor.." Tyscio whispered and braced himself, seeing the tears streaming off the Jedi Master's cheeks...


Leia screamed an inhuman scream...


"She hurts..."


"As will you, my Caprician friend. For what she sees is horror unmasked. What you will see is horror triumphant."


Tears streamed down the man's face to match those of Leia's...


"All is lost." he whispered and then laughed bitterly. "..and the sad thing, Caprician, is that you don't even know it. You don't know who you are.. You don't know <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> what<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> you are."


The man turned his back on Leia's figure. "Open your eyes Caprician." he ordered.


"Perhaps you can salvage your situation. You and your religionists."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Flash...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




And Tyscio was staring into the shocked eyes of Leia.


Clearly they both had some type of "vision" (if one could call such an event a vision).



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I'm.. sorry..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind whispered and a thud bug slammed into a nearby wall.


People grabbed for their weapons at the masses of invaders coming out of the first trench..


Mathias came running up as Tyscio helped Leia to her feet. The Militia soldier raised a discreet eyebrow but said nothing, "Damn bugs! That's what's throwing the damn plasma!"


"Look!" handing Leia and Korban magnification lenses.


Leia had already gotten off a couple of shots taking the charging creatures down. Mathias grinned in response.

Sure enough, not only could they see several lines of Chazrach soldiers but several hundred feet behind them large blob-like creatures simply waiting, their front ends held up, their mouthlike orifices aimed at the sky.


"What are they waiting for?" Tyscio asked.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Snow turning gray?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> His eyes seeing only the dull white blanket reflecting Kendra's light.

And suddenly, the invading warriors stopped and there their numbers stood, facing the Capricians.

The chanting started once more, yet, this time, the sounds were different.

And as he asked the question, a strange wail carried along the wind and Tsycio adjusted his lenses to a movement much closer to the trench leading to the power center.


"What in Clan's good name is that?" Mathias mouthed and Tyscio had to agree with the sentiment.


A small figure of about four feet lumbered over a small mound. Even from the shadows, it looked vaguely humaniod but large spike-like protrusions stretched out from the creature's shoulder blades, forearms, back and head. The protrusions seemed thin and blew with the bitter wind and the creature wailed again.


"Damn thing is giving away it's position." Mathias grunted.


"Harris, you have a shot?" he asked through his suit's communication's system.


"Yes Sir! Damn this is small but not that small.."


"My Lady?" Mathias asked and Leia nodded.


"Fire, Harris."


And a shot rang out from the far right.


The figure in the shadows screamed on impact and went down.


"That was too..." Tyscio was starting to say when the creature raised it's head and screamed again, looking in the direction the shot was fired from.


"What the...?" Mathias started, startled by a slow rumbling sound and the snow carpet was flung aside by some invisible force striking the sniper Harris. The man didn't even have time to cry out, the invisible wall hit him so fast, killing him instantly.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The force? The Yuuzhan Vong have the force?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Tyscio's mind pounded incessantly.


But try as he might, he could feel no force presence in the creature.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Have to do this the hard way...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His fingers went to his side, pulling out his lightsaber.

...The Outmarches...

Miles stood aboard the ship quietly, softly chewing on his left cheek, disappointed in his luck of time.

He watched the flash of light blast through, not bothering to cover his eyes from the large energy of light. He watched the main viewscreen pick back up, along with the lights. He stopped chewing on his cheek, clenching his hands into fists about his side, his eyes narrowing as he watches everything return to normal status.

Now it all happens, when I'm fine and danddy! Not when I'm lost and can't find my way, no, that would be much too simple!

His face turned a softer expression as he looked at Vinda who was smiling faintly as he sat back in his chair.

Well, at least we're all alright and we can live to see another sunrise and sunset...He thought.

The were alive for now, but for how long?....Miles had doubts.

He locked eyes with Vinda suddenly, they each finding the same thoughts in one another, but neither of them said anything.

Miles turned to look at the viewscreen, rubbing at his chin in thought. He felt like he should be elsewhere and not here, like there was something else he should be doing, it was...just a feeling...

Now what? Is this where it ends? Or is this just the beginning? There's not much else I can do here. I feel...like I should be somewhere else. What about...Bonadan? Vinda Corp?

In the back of Miles' mind he was worried. They all had left Bonadan, the corporation, to go on this mission. Yet they all really had no communications back there. They had all been rushing, doing this and that, but no one had really made any plans except to leave someone in the look out for Vinda Corp. Most who had worked there had all but gone and left on this mission, leaving only new recruits, those in training, and a very small group of well informed employees.

Miles wanted to go back there, if not for anything more than a check up on the corporation. He only hoped Mr. Vinda would let him go back.[i]

[i]He turned back toward Vinda, his hands now clasped behind his back. Vinda was now looking back onto the viewscreen again, appearing to be in deep concentration. Miles cleared his throat once, and waited a moment, when Vinda didn't respond he cleared his throat again but a bit louder than what was normal for any person clearing their throat. Vinda turned toward Miles, the same blank expression on his face he often used, giving a sense of mystery about him.

"Ah, heh, sorry, Mr. Vinda. I just have something on my mind, and well, I'd really like to talk to you about it..."

When Vinda didn't respond he continued on with his conversation, a little nervous given the blank stare that remained on Vinda's face.

"Um, well, you see, I'd um..really like to go back to Vinda Corp. I want to know how things are doing there, give the place a good check up, make sure everything is alright and in full swing."

He smiled lightly, his eyes glued on Vinda, awaiting a response of some kind from him.

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


Herridian Wye was fascinted by the butchery displayed in the Marzullo Clan's mural. Even faded and cracked, the relief, in all it's gore and detail, showed the expansion of Itala's empire.

"This was to be a coliseum of sorts..." he murmured and a scientist came up, catching a bit of Herridian's speech to himself.

"Yes sir," he agreed, and added, "there is evidence that the Marzullo's used their captives, prisoners of war and whatnot to actually fight against each other...even fight against a Rancor."

"A rancor?" Wye asked suddenly nervous.

"We've found the remains of one still in it's sealed room. Apparently, they left in such a hurry, they didn't care one flip about the creatures in their care."

"Any word on the slicer?" Herridian inquired, changing the subject. He wanted to keep people focused on their mission, and not delve too deep into the living habits of the dead empire (though a socialogists dream).

"Damn systems are encrypted beyond reason. Whatever horrors these Marzullos inflicted on others, they were nobody's fool."

"Paranoid bunch of warmongers.." a nearby soldier spat.

"Careful. It may yet be that paranoia that saves us." Herridian admonished. "Any luck on extracting a map? Coordinates?" At the slicer's negative shake of his head, Wye continued, "Every now and then, a report would come across the Intergalactic Affairs Office noting some encounter with old Marzullo weaponry or defenses (most notably mines). But given the wide stretches of space this Itala claimed to have conquered, one could conceivably lose Capricia and never find it."

The slicer grunted and adjusted his search.

Another scientist came up. The one investigating the ruined Jedi Temple found not far from the Marzullo base. "From what I could tell, the Jedi were here long before Marzullo came..and were probably one of his last victims before his collapse."

"You are sure it wasn't after the Marzullo's left?" Just what he would need, Jedi blaiming <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> them<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> for the loss of their temple.

"No Sir. Preliminary data concludes that the Jedi were the actual target."

Someone whistled at that. One just doesn't attack a Jedi stronghold.
The true might behind the figure of Itala suddenly began to sink in.

Before he could really ponder it, however, his personal communications device beeped.


"Herridian"


"Sir.. This is Private Garrai. I think you'd better see this!"


"Relay your position and I shall be there shortly."


"Merrai, Find us that info." he ordered.


The slicer grunted again.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Moody, those slicers..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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



Tallien watched as the tiny flickers of light flashed all around him and smiled. This was a familiar sight to him as he gazed outward toward the blue, green and white planet under him.


Already the three massive 8km vessels, Tslah Vhess' command ship, and the two Guardian ships pulled from Minos, had entered high orbit and begun to rain down fire and plasma.


Thousands upon thousands of tiny corralskipper fighters blanketed the area, but the infidels fought back with a tenacity all their own.


Ground defenses opened up reducing the smaller attacking ships to tiny coral particles in mere moments.


It had been decided by both Tallien and Tslah to release the 'Leveler of Empires' into the capital city... a place their spies had identified as Antioch.


The massive war machine's dovin basals were put into practical use as they brought down orbiting defenses and cut a path through orbiting mines.


The Master Shaper rejoiced in the anticipation he knew their warriors felt at this momentous occassion.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We have returned to finish what we once started.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*

Tslah Vhess' eyes narrowed at the villip choir.


//Where is the fractured Kapp reeeeaaan Fleet, spy?// he demanded.


The human looking spy shifted uneasily. //My Lord, it should orbit the planet as we speak.//


//Yes, I agree// The War Coordinator spoke quietly. //It <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> should<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> be here//


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The planet's guns were impressive<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, he had thought. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> They were anticipating our return...which makes them all the more dangerous.


But where were their cursed machines?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Then they intercepted Borianus' panicked transmission, demanding help from the other infidel fleet tied up with their virus.


He smiled.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Let them panic. They know they shall surely serve as sacrifices to Yun-Yammka for wasting precious moments that could be spent in our conquest of this galaxy.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*

Squadrons of fighter craft lept up from the surface of Capricia to meet the alien threat and were met with fierce resolve.


And the Caprician Defense Fleet was nowhere to be found..




*




<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Location: undisclosed<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




"Sir, we are in position..." the helm reported.


"Hold" the Captain (of Gomorran Clan) said.


"Hold?"


"Sir, Engineering says that you've got about thirty minutes till we pass the gravity threshold."


The Captain nodded at the verbal report and turned to his Exec.


"Are the Ion Cannon's still masking our presence?"


"Ionization of the atmosphere at extreme concentration, Captain."


"Very well."


The Executive Officer moved over to his Captain and quietly spoke.


"Sir, our fighters will not survive against the enemy for long without capital ship support."


"Probe TAC displays on," the master of the Caprician ship ordered, ignoring the Exec.


Because of the ion signal interruption, the Caprician vessels had to launch probes that carried small extensions to peer out of the atmosphere, like eyes protruding from a pool of water.


Holographic representations of the planet, the Caprician hidden fleet, and of the invaders suddenly appeared...the hologram flickering at points due to the ionization effects.


"Look sharp people! Command believes these bastards are going to launch a deadly pathogen at our homes." He paused turning to view

everyone on the bridge. "A very deadly pathogen. To do that, a ship will have to descend into the atmosphere to release. That's when we get it and quickly." No mercy!"


"Sir," The Exec. pointed out, "That will leave our flank exposed to an enemy that will surely rain hell on us from above."


The Captain nodded. "That it will. Hopefully Tyscio Clan will get here quickly enough to distract our 'friends'."


He smiled at Borianus' plea for help.


"Convincing," his Comm Officer murmured.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Remain confident you alien butchers. We shall grind your bones against the anvil of our fleet!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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




*...With his left hand still clasping the bulkhead of the ship , Achinta, raised the other to activate his wrist-unit, awkardly trying to press the correct button against his still-gripping hand...
...he looked up again, to catch sight of the enemy vessel...


...it had already started its attack run...


...getting greatly concerned, Achinta hurriedly continued trying to press the right button...


..He Glanced up again, just in time to see the Fighter shoot...

the plasma blasts shot past him impacting what seemed like only feet away, the force of which seemed to rock everything, the heat seared his coat...
Achinta Grimaced, and closed his eyes in response to the intensity...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...He couldn't have missed at that range, he's toying with me!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*..as he opened them again he saw the craft bearing down even closer...
Starting to panic, Achinta whacked the unit onto the ship's surface...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...come on, come ON!, Damn YOU!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*...a small red light flashed on the unit.... Achinta swung round in time to see the redundant-looking Oni suddenly
launch what seemed like an entire payload of Torpedos and heavy laser fire towards the Aggressor...

The Fighter ,clearly caught off-guard, lost control as the barrage struck it....*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...HAH!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*..Achinta's eyes grew wide as he realised where the distressed Fighter was heading....
only one word sprung to mind...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...FRELL!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*...Achinta looked around,then across to the Breach in front of him, quickly calculating the distance.
Pushing back hard against the surface with his feet, Achinta propelled himself backwards, the force of which sent him flying away from the SSD , only just avoiding the enemy fighter as it Crashed into where he had just been only seconds before.

Achinta watched helpless as the Fighter ploughed into The Oni, obliterating it, in a fushion of heated metal and flames...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Vinda's not gonna be happy...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*..still rapidly moving away from the ship, Achinta activated his Bionic arm shooting out a grappling hook into the Breach...as it caught a foothold the line grew taut, the counter-force making him drift back towards the hulk of the ship...
he reeled in the line to speed up the process...

...He waited until he grew close enough to grasp the surface and the edge of the crater.
Peering into the ominous gaping hole of the Breach, he then
glanced at where his craft had once been, only a minute earlier. Amid the wreckage Achinta caught sight of two landing modules, still upright and attached to the hull of the SSD.
Virtually all that was left of his ship...

Achinta despondently looked back at the Breach in front of him....*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...no turning back now...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The First Invastion...five years ago..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The alien guttural laugh was unnerving as he touched something near the base of his ear.

Perhaps another creature...


He had called her a Jeedai and she wanted to laugh in bitter irony.


Already her tunic, ripped and torn by the constant pain inflicted by the different kinds of creatures torturing her, was falling apart. Her hair was caked and matted with mud and her own blood as she raised a weary eye at the invader.


He seemed to be going on and on in his alien tongue as if she could understand him. After a few minutes, she realized the alien was, in fact, speaking her language.


Some sort of translation bug?


Her mind was tired...after frantically trying to use her invisible force ability to grab and something, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> anything<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> to aid in her escape. Unfortunately, the aliens as well as the vessel they were in seemed to block the force.


She had never felt so blind..so alone.


The creature moved his hand over and picked up her head with his razor tipped fingers. She winced.


The alien went on about sacrifice...glory of pain.. something..something..


Arien found it hard to concentrate and in a brief moment, she knew she was going to die.


There would be no escape.. no rescue.. no hope..




..and then, something inside.. changed.. subtle..



The feeling.. was.. exhilerating... a release of sorts... and her alien tormentor retreated further from her perceptions.


Suddenly, in her mind's eye, the yorik coral wall opposite her drew extremely close... as if she could see across it's uneven surface.


larger...larger it grew.. until she could see the imperfections along the wall.


and there it was!


quite small...


but unmistakable!


a miniscule opening.



Suddenly the opening grew larger and she saw the light of the Caprician sun shining through...


..through..


..through..


and there... on the ground,



lay the broken pieces of a smashed Caprician ship.




The metal stirred as her mind drifted over it... and a piece moved.


Metal across metal, the scratching sounds seemed like trumpets in her ears as she made her grasp firm.


Her mind refused to let her see the alien torturer as he slapped her across the face and suddenly brought out an extremely sharp amphistaff.

Her concentration on the metal object outside made her heedless of the staff until it was thrust into her shoulder.

She screamed out as pain lanced through her body and the metal object moved, sticking itself into the yorik coral.

Deeper he plunged the staff, allowing his weight to rest on it smiling as his captive screamed herself hoarse.

The metal chipped and chipped the ship's shell and as the pain increased, so did her frantic efforts.


Suddenly, something was trying to lessen her hold on the metal piece...and she could feel the force trying to grow within her..


..but her hold couldn't be shaken. With one last desperate, insane snarl her mind broke through the restrictions...shaking the off the awareness and savagely pulled at the metal.


A yorik coral piece dropped from the opposite wall and the alien turned.... and suddenly the metal was through..


The alien reacted instantly withdrawing the staff to block the metal shooting toward him.


Relief was instant which caused Arien to lose her hold on the metal...


Her mind simply too tired...


And she slumped, the creatures holding her wrists letting go sensing somehow her self defeat.


Her tormentor stared quietly at her.....


"You shouldn't have been able to do that, Jeedai. Or are you?" he said. "I wonder..."


And then she lost consciousness..




When she awoke, she was in some cave with Gomorran...safely away from the monster invader.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*


Scipio's mind hardly ever thought of those dark days except when around a force user. Ever since that day, strange as it was, any measure of force use would cause her an inordinate amount of pain.


The darkened halls of the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Blaze of Glory<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> had amazingly provided her with some measure of comfort...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Ironic as that is.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Suddenly, commotion in a nearby corridor caused her to come out of her memories and into the present.


"Something to do with the deck that Adalric Cronus closed off.." a nearby engineering damage control officer managed to get out as he ran past her.


She turned to follow, feeling her saber still strapped to the small of her back under the armor.

"Damn it engineering, I need for power!"

Cronus lavishing khaki suit no longer had the fine appeal and luster it once bore, as a satin trance enveloped his tunic, a stream of scarlet above his brow.

His hands gripped the Tactical Comand Console fiercely, whitenning his knuckles, his teeth gritted in vehement towards the away invaders. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Frell... failure... again...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> He threw his head fowards, scanning a glance of the condition of the battle scene, and the condition of his crew.

With the detonation of an unknown source errupting from within the cooridors of the massive destroyer, power grids had failed from all over the ship's systems, life support was stable, fortunately enough, engineering section had suffered loss of the primary sublight drives, and the secondary hyperdrive unit was leaking coolant. Gunnery had reported that several capacitors had overloaded in gargantuan power surge that left most of the aft starboard weapon platforms destroyed.

Scanning systems had shutdown, navigation consoles had warped into a pile of stenched metal, even docking had suffered minor damages to tractor beam modules. The entire ship had been affected. And still no word from ambassador Scipio and her assembly.

Worst of all, CORE had gone absolete.

"Khurgee, status report, are shields holding... can we direct some power to our sublight drives?"

Cronus turned in unison with his petition to a blood stricken sight. Khurgee's left had had been severed from the wrist, his eyes were stained with dried blood, black and blue from several concussions he had the misfortune to suffer. Cronus jaw dropped in astonishment. He rushed to his aid, checking a pulse, and once acquired, dragged Khurgee off his feet.

"I need a med team on the bridge A.S.A.P."

He searched frantically across the pathways and control centers amoung the bridge, beholding the chaos that ensued in vain efforts to reestablish order in the ship. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> That's my job...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> In an act of sacrifice, he helped Khurgee in the furnished seat of the Tactical Command Console, and began to issue orders to his crew.

"Relay, reroute power from energy and particle dampenners to sublight systems, Navigation, plot us an escape vector and transmit coordinates to the entire task force."

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


*...Vinda's expression changed, breaking the lines,
as he listened to Miles, nodding slightly, agreeing...*

"...Very good idea Miles...."

*...Vinda had already noticed that Miles seemed out of his depth, he was a good loyal employee , but this was not his scene...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...he is right, we did leave in quite a hurry...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"...we can handle things here fine. Actually , I would feel better knowing that you were back at home checking that
the Business is running smoothly..."

*...he smiled slightly...*

"...I think we both know this isn't your area of expertise, Miles..
Arrange for one of the security staff in the firesprays to take you, better off leaving in an armed escort..."

*as he spoke he glanced to the viewscreen still showing the battle in progress ...*


"...best leave now, we don't know what other suprises we are going to find...."

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..Blaze of Glory...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*...Clambering slowly down the sides of the Breach, Achinta chose his footholds carefully, and stopped suddenly as he felt an unmistakable sensation, a force pulling him down...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Gravity!.....at least thats something!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*Glancing below him, Achinta judged the distance then
allowed himself to drop...
...the drop had been considerable, but finally he was inside.

Gathering himself up, Achinta observed his surroundings,
he had entered what seemed like a pretty none-descript corridor...The familiar grey metal streched out in front of him for quite some distance, it was hard to tell though, since it appeared to be in almost total darkness, save for an emergency light here and there...
Achinta smiled slightly,
it was an Imperial ship alright , but whose?....

Checking his wrist-unit, Achinta noted the atmosphere had been cut off....*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...that breach must have been more serious than I thought...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

(he reasoned to himself)

*Achinta looked left then right as he decided which way to go, the long corridor looked the same in either direction, cold, grey, and dark. He caclulated where the Bridge would normally be on a ship like this, and made his decision, walking swiftly...*