Bonadan...

Mr Vinda's Office...

Miles looked up at Yana just as he had begun to pick up the new file off of the floor, so he had not seen the blue prints fall just yet...

Though after reguarding the look on Yana's face, he looked down once again at the floor, now just seeing the blue prints.

Miles slowly picked up the blue prints, a small smirk crossed his lips.

"What can I say...except that you just have one of those faces that make even the toughest of pocker faces look bad."

He dangled the blue prints in front of her face, her face was still fixed in the same place.

"...The cause of your troubles?"

He lowered the blue prints, tucking them back into the file they fell out of.

"Seems you've now found yourself in a real messy situation, huh?"

He smiled lightly, holding up a hand to stop her from speaking.

"Now wait, I do owe you the right to speak your side of things. Though again, those eyes of yours, and that face even.."

His smile grew just a little more.

"...I bet you have an excellent story to tell me. I have a feeling you're really good at making up stories...and I don't believe I'm going anywhere, anytime soon, so why don't you tell me all about it, Mr Vinda's secretary. Tell me the lnog version..."

He grinned.

"I want to hear every last juicy detail, and I know you're going to tell it all to me...because what can I say, for once, I'm just that lucky of a guy."

He tapped the file that was in his hand with his left thumb.

"The story better have those blue prints in it somewhere....in fact I'm guessing it's one of the main stars of the show..."

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Mr Vinda's office...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




*...Yana couldn't look or feel any more uncomfortable if she tried...she seemed to physically wince as Miles questioned her about the Blue-Prints...

While Miles talked, Yana looked down , wishing she wasn't there, and as he finished Yana slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes , her face despondent, her eyes seemed empty, as if in resignation, and as she replied her voice was quiet and distant...*


"...it doesn't matter..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...I... I'm....sorry....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"..they already have what they need..... whatever happens to me is of no consequence..."

*Her words were spoken simply and eloquently, as if in care to not say the wrong thing...and shook her head slowly as she said them..

A Comm's alert, cut through the tension, and as Miles answered it, Yana could just hear the rasping voice coming through the Comms, and what it said...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ...Sir, we have detected a fleet of ships, deriving from the CSA quarter, the course and heading appears to be...well...us...
it appears to be an attack fleet...what shall we do ?<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*..Yana watched as Miles listened to the message coming through..and she felt ill
...physically sick...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...its over...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...you're too late...."

*...Yana glanced around the room, trying her best to suppress the overwhelming vesuvian mix of emotion that seemed to suddenly grip her..

...Guilt...
...Anger...
...pain...

...and a small tear ran down the side of her face....*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....I am so sorry...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Bonadan

Mr Vinda's office...

Miles face softened for just a quick moment, so quick that the feature probably went unnoticed. His face quickly grew serious as he flicked the comm link back on to respond. He kept his eyes placed on Yana as he spoke.

So much for that luck...

Fleets and all the responsibilities that went with fleets just wasn't Miles expertise, yet here he was, finding himself working with something he just did not want to work with. He would make due, he would make due because Vinda depended on him, the whole corporation depended on him right now.

[i]There was a slight pause before he actually spoke.

"Put security on level two for now, I have a feeling we'll be heading into level one soon enough."

Miles, didn't really know all the technical terms used in fleet matters, but he was pretty sure the speaker on the other end would know what he meant. He knew what each level meant and that was all that mattered, no need for technical terms.

Miles reverted his attention now on Yana, his face no longer had that good natured look about it, more serious if anything.

"I think it does matter...I think it matters a great deal."

He gestured toward the comm link in his hand.

"We're under attack, which leaves me a bit puzzled. I don't have the answers as to why we're under attack, but I know you do. I think you know a great deal of what is going on here, more so than I..."

His face softened once again.

"If you are as sorry as you say you are...you'll help me sort this whole thing out..."

He paused.

"You only have one chance..."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Past...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The whisps of snow was beginning to fall which had irritated Tallien to no end.

//Eminence, the infidels march on us from the north, and west// a warrior stated kneeling before the Master Shaper.

Tallien had smiled a grim smile and put his nose in the air as if he could somehow discern the Caprician stench in the winds.

He watched the progress as the Chazrach slaves tirelessly went about their duty.

Truly a monument to Yun-Yuuzhan if there ever was one.

Tallien allowed himself the slight conceit as the future opened up to him with the revelation of this "hidden" ability of the Capricians.

He marvelled at the fact that the infidels were not aware of it and he knew that this was a fact that they must never know.


*

The Chazrach were finished and to the Master Shaper it was a work of art.

Capricians wimpered in front of him as they were hung on the metal stakes in sacrifice.

Their cries would gladden the heart of our gods and with their sacrifice, pave the way for ulitmate victory in this galaxy of heathens.

Slowly, as the stench began to claim the air, the Yuuzhan Vong entered their waiting craft.

The lines of infidel civilians were seen for miles as their motley forces advanced on the previously held Yuuzhan Vong positions.


And Tallien put on the creature that connected him to the ship's senses and he saw the first of the infidels reach the crest and stop...

..people were suddenly rushing to the sight that so shocked them.

Tallien wished he could have seen the expression on the infidels faces....the truth of the universe set ever so blantantly in front of them....


unrelenting...


daunting...


For before the infidels was an extremely large crater filled with thousands upon thousands of dead Capricians....

...most of the prisoners they had captured...or who had unwisely surrendered hoping for some type of escape from the conflict..

And protruding out the center of this mass pile of bodies were twelve poles, each with their wreathing, trapped, tortured, mutilated figures screaming toward the heavens..

Truly a grand sacrifice indeed...

Perhaps Yun Yuuzhan will forgive my delay of his glorious mission..


Perhaps...


In any event..


..the seed was laid...


..and there it would wait..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


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


Being surrounded by the infidels in their abominations of steel caused Tallien no worry at all....for he knew they did not understand the nature of the universe..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> They attempt to traverse the vacuum denying the gods their due for such presumptuousness..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The plasma that lanced out of their living chariots of the stars struck the infidels ships with such force as one destroyer near the planet had it's entire front end sheered off.

The mass of smoldering metal scattered in all directions hitting any and all ships near..

The craft that Tallien was on detected more intruders farther out and he could see that these were different..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Why couldn't the infidels be as divideded here as they were outside in the galaxy in general?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Tslah Vhess would be screaming for the realease soon...


Soon..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The Yuuzhan Vong fleet suddenly expanded their positions and the simple maneuver made it all but impossible to contain..


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Yun-Yammka smiles on his children... always..


The fools..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

As Tyscio held the Jedi Master in his arms, and old saying crept into his mind..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> There are old pilots and there are bold pilots...but there are very few old, bold pilots...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

As her head rested on his shoulder, inwardly he smiled.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Looks like you are one of the few...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

And he continued to stare out at the hyperspace tunnel for a moment...

..only to notice she had drifted off to sleep.


Cradling the woman in his arms he began to think that she should be resting in a proper bed..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> but to get out of the room?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The observation deck door was strangly narrow and when he stepped up to it, it slid open only to reveal that he could not maneuver through with Leia in his arms.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Now this is nice...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind irritatingly spoke.


He drew Leia closer to him as he tried to squeeze through but she shifted in his arms and an arm came around his neck.

He had to stoop a bit to make sure she was as comfortable as he could make her. But now, stooping, he couldn't make it through the door.

And then salvation presented itself..

..in the form of a protocol droid.

"You.." he whispered through the open door.

"Are you addressing me Sir?" the droid politely asked.

"Open this wider?" he hissed as Leia stirred.

"I am sorry, Sir. I am not familiar with this human custom.."

"No..no.. make this doorway wider.." he clarified..

"You require engineering droid DR-234, on C Deck. Truly a short tempered droid if I may be so bold, Sir. But he is the one.."

"Look bolts! Make this doorway wider or you will be thrown against that opposite wall.."

"Oh my, how rude! Your arms are presently occupied, if I may say so, Sir. I will .."

"This woman is a Jedi Master... she has a bad temper when she is woken up ...especially by irritating droids..."

He didn't need to say more..

"I understand, Sir." and the droid went to work, as quietly as possible.

Leia was beginning to weigh heavily in his arms...but she had a faint smile on her lips he noted with the few glances he stole.

Several durasteel panels were removed and the opening cleared.. and as the droid stood up, he innocently inquired,

"Sir, if I may be so bold, how do you know that your mistress gets angry in the mornings.... Presently, my information regarding Jedi Masters is somewhat -- ulp!"

Tyscio gave the droid a kick, allowing him to adjust Leia's position in his arms and he moved down the hall quickly.

"How rude!"


*

He went to the elevator lift to reach their rooms on an lower deck and as the door opened, he saw 5 astromechs already in the lift.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Damned robot convention going on?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Tyscio's annoyance was reaching new levels and he maneuvered himself and Leia into the lift.

Upon exiting, a droid rolled over a toe and Tyscio nearly gave a yell. Seeing the content look on Leia's face allowed him to control any desire to do so...and he limped up to Leia's room, passing his by.

Unfortunately, the security systems on the Judicator lock the rooms upon the occupant exiting and couldn't be opened without a security code..

Not knowing her code, he cursed silently to himself and limped back to his room only to find the keypad to enter the code slightly too low for him to use and Leia shifted again, blocking his visibility.

"Looks like you've got a handful.." someone said and he turned to notice Mathias leadiing a squad of his militia down the hall... jogging to keep trim, Tyscio supposed.

Tyscio gave a weak grin, "We are..uh.. having some problems with the lock here.."

And Mathias stopped the troop, the sweaty guys and gals just staring at Tyscio with the armful of Leia.

They all had "knowing" looks on their faces and Tyscio grimaced inwardly.

Tyscio whispered the code to Mattias and he punched it in only to have it beep negatively back at them.

"What's that code again?" Mathias asked quite oblivious to the fact that Tyscio had a sleeping person in his arms and Leia stirred.

"Shhhhh... " Tyscio hissed.

"What?" Mathias asked.

Tyscio whispered the code as Mathias punched buttons and the door came open.

A woman from the troop boldly strolled up and eyed Tyscio, smiling approvingly. Then her scrutiny suddenly fell to Leia.

"Jedi?" she frowned and Tyscio would have kicked her if she was nearby.

"Get back in line soldier." Mathias bellowed..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> It'd be more quiet during an Ewok birth.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Mathias turned to Tyscio before he could jump through the door and close it behind him..

"If I hear that you were not...a gentleman, there will be no place for you to..."

"..hide... There doesn't seem to be a place right now.." Tyscio grumbled.


"Treat her right.." the old man patted Leia's sleeping head and Tyscio entered the room before the Militia leader could bellow at his troop.


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


He gingerly moved Leia over to the bed and set her down upon it, her breathing not interupted.

As her head settled on a pillow an arm slipped around it and she turned on her side...as if to face him.

He moved to her boots and carefully removed them, not an easy task for these military issue knee-high kind.

He noticed in reflex that she wiggled her toes as they were free...and Tyscio grinned.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> No socks?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, he frowned suddenly.

He went to a drawer and pulled out a pair and stuck them into a boot.

Pulling a chair over he was about to sit down when he looked at the chronometer on the wall.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I wonder..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He walked over and changed the time a couple of hours back. They had the time and the Judicator wouldn't be entering Caprician space for a bit, especially with the damage it had taken. Several jumps would have to be calculated and made.

He grinned a wicked smile to himself at the changed time and went over to the chair and sat back down.

His foot throbbed so he went to put on a comfortable pair of socks and decided to get out of his rather flimsy pajama like clothing and put on his familiar light blue fatigues.

He brought his boots over to the chair and winced as he slid his hurt foot in.


Deciding to get comfortable, he threw the foot over the arm of the chair and simply waited...making sure she would be alright..


Her breathing was regular and she mumbled something in her sleep, too soft for Tyscio to make out.

His mind went over the recent experiences trying to make sense and some time passed until he felt the ship decelerate.

Leia was waking up and ever so gracefully (as graceful as a sleeping Leia could be) slipped her legs over the edge, near her boots.

As she went to the boots she looked at him and he felt the need to ask, but wasn't sure ..especially after waking..

"I’m much better now than I was before......

Thank you.”

She volunteered and his smile widened as he realized she had put on the socks without really thinking about it.


She kicked at his foot and he nearly yelped in pain..

“Get up, there’s a war on and I think our time out is over.”,
she imperiously commanded, her old self returning.

"At least some things are back to normal," he grumbled to himself in mock seriousness.

His eyes, though, betrayed the hint of humor and relief in finding out that, for now, she was fine.

Leia spared only a momentary glance down at Tyscio's foot, which he was being awful protective of...

She decided she didn't want to know what had happened while she had been asleep, and instead opened the door, surveying the hallway. She apparently had returned to her restless state.

It was empty, and she stepped out into it, looking back over her shoulder at Tyscio, flashing him a warm smile.

"I'm off to find something to eat before my stomach digests itself, and then I'm going to find out what's going on.... bye"

Leia quickly dissapeared out of Tyscio's line of vision through the door as she took off down the hall, before he could even reply. Her soft footsteps could be heard for a while until the door closed, and then all was quiet and dark again for Tyscio.




Leia met a freshly showered and uniformed Matthias, with his troops lounging in the mess hall when she got there. By the odd looks some of them gave her, she knew something had been up, though whatever it was it seemed quite tame.

Matthias moved to greet her with a smile.

"We still have a bit of time before we reach Capricia and the battle there, due to gravity wells and all. And even when we do reach the action, there's a chance we'll still be sitting holding on tight for a while. I take it you had a peaceful rest?"

Leia stared dubiously at Matthias. She was quite lost, having noticed a few ears perk up to hear her answer.

"Yes, I did...."

"Very good" he replied, the humorous expression on his face further intrigued Leia.

Someone handed her a tray of food, and she followed Matthias to a table. Finally her curiosity got the better of her.

"What is going on?" She demanded as out of the corner of her eye she noticed Tyscio enter the room having apparently decided to follow her...

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Wonderful thing...those healing techniques. Nothing like a good Jedi Healing Trance to put a spring in one's step..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


..and Leia seemed full of energy as she entered the mess hall, her mind intent on food.



******

"I say 20 credits that she kills him," the rather large soldier turning to the small group in his cadre, lounging around a table near the mess hall entrance.

"Did you see him in the trenches? The guy can take punishment.." another male volunteered.

"Sticking up for your fellow male eh Vance?" a rather mouthy female soldier spoke up. "She's not so tough though.."

"Bah!" another male said in response. "You're just jealous because the Jedi ran out to the front while you were ordered to guard a flank. I saw her fight... she held her own.."

"Can we say the same for our Caprician boy?" an older soldier, the group leader, asked.

"40 credits says she's killed him.. I've heard about the Jedi augmenting stamina for err.. "activities".. "

"Hmm.. you've got a point.." the large soldier said, "Though I still think you are jealous of the Jedi."

"Clan's dead bones, Striker! The man will --" she stopped when Leia entered the room and the cadre turned to her. The woman continued.. "Got a spring in her step now does she?" her mind reassessing Tyscio.

"I'll be damned.." the large soldier commented.

"Got that glow?" Vance asked.

"What glow?" the cadre leader asked.

"You know, Sarge.. 'the' glow.." (winked)

"Jedi's glow?"

"Certainly not!" A protocol droid deftly inserted himself in the soldier's conversation having overheard. "Jedi only glow after they die.." the droid suddenly became distracted as someone called out to him from a corner of the mess hall.

"So she's dead?"

"She don't look dead."

"Unless that's how she's supposed to look when she's dead.."

"Our boy killed her?"

They stiffled a laugh of disbelief when they saw Mathias walk up and inquire about her 'sleep'.

They perked up.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Yes, I did.."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Leia had answered, and the table was a buzz.


The cadre commander turned to his table, "What does that mean?"

The rather large soldier grinned, "That she'll see our boy again.."

"<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> If<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->," the female soldier interrupted, "he's not dead.."

"20 credits says that he is..." the large soldier continued again and when another male raised his eyebrow, he clarified, "She looked like she had a wicked gleam in her eye when she said that.."

"Striker, you think all woman are wicked!" the female said.

"They are.." he answered quickly..

"I'm a woman.. Am I wicked?"

"You're NOT a woman.." Striker said with all seriousness.

"What am I?"

And then Striker's serious expression grinned broadly, "You're one alien spanking, gun toting, metal gear, hot momma bitch who could smoke any guy with a finger.."

"Damn right!" the female said..

"Boo-yay!" another male laughed and they clinked their glasses together.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "What's going on?"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Leia had asked and Striker grinned.


"Looks like the legend of Clannus Romeous survives.."

"Shhhhh, there's our lover boy now!" someone whispered and Tyscio entered the mess hall..


****


Tyscio grabbed at his foot that Leia had kicked and noted she was pacing....seemingly energetic.

She went to the door, opened it, and after inspecting the hall, she flashed him a warm smile and said..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ""I'm off to find something to eat before my stomach digests itself, and then I'm going to find out what's going on.... bye"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Tyscio smiled back and as he opened his mouth, she was out the door that slid back sealing him in the dark room.

"you're welcome.." he whispered slowly to himself.

Sighing to himself, he turned his attention to his foot as he carefully placed it on the floor.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Not only did it hurt but it had fallen asleep...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Ow." he mouthed and soon got the blood circulating.

After he had rinsed his face (since he didn't sleep), his stomach growled.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> About to go into another battle and hungry?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He knew it would be bad to go into combat without having <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> something<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->...for who knew what conditions they would find or be forced to contend with?

He decided to hobble over to the mess hall.

His mind went back to the earlier ordeal and he began to smile to himself... <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Clannus knows what rumors are going on now..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

And as the doors to the mess slid open his smile fell..


For situated around the mess hall was the Militia Troop Mathias had been exercising in the hall, most of them looking intently.... expectantly at him....


..he quickly saw that the table where the soldier-woman and her soldier friends were at was grinning at him...

..a quick glance in the opposite direction to see the protocol droid he had conscripted for "door entryway expansion" duty...

..and in the center, a Leia with questions in her eyes leaning slightly forward facing Mathias, as if intent on what the man might say next...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I've died,<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he thought.. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Died and gone to the seven plains of the underworld..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Mathias turned his head slightly and, before answering Leia, noticed Tyscio limping.

He turned back to Leia and smiled widely, "I was worried..that's all. But it looks like you've got things well in hand.."

Tyscio had only gotten a few steps into the room before he stopped, as if someone had just thrown a bantha over his shoulders. Leia removed her puzzled expression from Matthias and pasted it on Tyscio.

The look of puzzlement transformed into a grin as Leia found that she was not the only one looking expectantly at him...

The whole room was.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Someone's gotten themselves in a bit of trouble...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia reflected for a moment, the grin widened. Apparently Tyscio had been through a few adventures after she had fallen asleep in his arms.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...well, largely with my help...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Now Tyscio was trading odd looks with someone... following his gaze, she saw he was staring almost competetively with a nearby table of soldiers. For some reason, a sturdy woman in the middle of the table caught her eye... Following the woman's gaze, Leia found it led her back to Tyscio.

She guessed she(unfortunately) wouldn't be able to go without knowing what had happened, and as the buzz of conversation began to fill the room again, Leia reached out with her senses, meanwhile retaining her outward expression of cluelessness.

The Jedi began to pick up snippets of conversation, and even more useful, the stray thoughts and emotions of the soldiers around her, Tyscio's included to a certain degree(he had tighter mental defenses, being Force adept)...

The grin returned. The woman that had caught her eye earlier was the most helpful to her. She met Tyscio's eyes. There was a gleam in her eye now.


She knew.


"You've got things well in hand..." She realized Matthias was talking to her. She locked stares with him, a very distinctive fire in her eye. She easily won the little battle she had instituted.

"Why wouldn't I?"

The situation was quite delicate, and awkward, Leia realized.... just not ccompletely for her. Tyscio was going to take the heat, she would just be... there.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Yeah, there, but with a little assumption on their part that would be very undesireable.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia trusted, knew, that Tyscio had not laid even a finger upon her. However, she knew quite well the typical troop lines of thought, and they were quite the opposite. She had lived with them for a considerable portion of her life.

Leia's gaze fell on that one woman again, who was deeply involved with a discussion at her table. Somehow she seemed somewhat pivotal in all of this. Leia smirked. Time to play.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> And in the process, get myself at least out of this hole... Tyscio's a grown man, he can fend for himself the parts I don't cover.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Leia smirked, unable to help this. It was rather... hilarious, if one looked past the initial layer of information.

Conveniently enough there was an open chair right next to the rambunctious woman. Leia picked up her mug of drink and an unidentifiable piece of food(typical of ships and the military in general), and putting a saunter and touch of swagger into her stride, she strode over to the table and plopped down into the targeted chair, sitting the metal mug of drink down on the metal table with a resonating clang of finality.

A wave of surprise from all of the soldiers seated at the table assaulted Leia through the Force as they assessed their new company.

Good.

"Hi boys" She said playfully with a grin, then turning her head slightly to acknowledge the woman next to her, she added. "...and gals."

They all sniggered.

She looked up to locate Tyscio. He had occupied himself over in the serving line.

Also good.

Leia reached into a pocket and extracted a 20 credit chip from her pocket. She flipped it onto the table, and the soldiers stared at it dumbly.

"Okay, let's get to business. 20 credits says you bunch of dirty, gun toting Vong herders haven't seen any real action in a looong time, since your records tell me all of you are single, full timers, and seem the right.... type."

Leia's grin grew impossibly wide as the soldiers traded 'uh oh' looks with each other, and all were inexplicably quite silent. She casually flicked another chip onto the table.

"20 more says this Jedi is correct in assuming you think I got some."

If it was possible, they grew even more silent. The whole room in fact was silent, they were all straining to hear what was going on at the table.

Leia raised an eyebrow, cast a sidelong glance at the woman beside her.

"Jealous?"

The woman shifted under the unexpected spotlight, her male counterparts were all grinning at her, shifting to supress laughs and the usual humorous puns of comradeship.

Suddenly Leia's elbow was landing a sharp blow in her side in jest, and Leia stood up, her voice rising(purposely so that it was easier for everyone to hear, though she made it appear otherwise) as she towered impossibly over the woman soldier, who still appeared quite cool, of course.

"Well, there's no need to be, because I didn't, wasn't offered any, don't want any, and I have a war to run!"

Leia smoothly sat down, propped a foot up on the edge of the table, and clasped her hands over her knee. The change in composure was nothing short of astounding(so Leia's political skills <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> were<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> of use for more than just politics after all).

Leia looked coolly around the table, those eyebrows raised again questioningly. In fact, if they didn't know better, she was... <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> laughing<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> silently at them.

"Well, do I win?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aboard the Judicator...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




Mathias saw the light fire appear in Leia's eyes and he flinched. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> That boy Korban knows how to pick the trouble ones..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


And Leia got up to go into the lion's den... her stride more of a saunter with a hint of swagger..


Mathias grinned after her...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Sometimes an offense is the best sort of defense..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He chuckled and went back to his meal, taking a healthy swig of his drink.


*******


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Well, there's no need to be, because I didn't, wasn't offered any, don't want any, and I have a war to run!"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The woman was cool as ice undergoing the typical banter the men in her cadre exchanged and Leia's <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> laughing<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> look. Her hand slipped to her side quite casually and came back up placing 40 credits on the table.

"Right on both counts, Dame Fiona," she responded (and the men grinned wider at the reference [of typical Caprician history]).

'"You fought well on Providence and have earned the right to be here. Well fought...well played and I pay my dues."

The man named Vance opened his mouth in surprise at the surrender of sorts from his fellow trooper. It was...out of character for her.

But then the woman took a drink from her mug and leaned foward to face a Leia whose feet were propped up on the table. The men leaned in as well... and the room at large seemed to lean a little bit in their direction.


"I had to be sure though, you understand. Jedi are so hard to read and I surely didn't want there to be any misunderstandings."

Her gaze flickered to Tyscio (calmly enduring the looks as he went through the food line) "The boy seems to look at you with such fondness, we were led to believe it was returned."

The woman's eyes showed a touch of fire themselves, "He doesn't know the Jedi mantra... 'A Jedi shall not learn hatred....nor fear.. nor love..' which led to the confusion.

With your little speech, the situation is now straightened out."


The woman's smile widened, "and all it cost me was 40 credits." She slid the money over to Leia.


"You win. Go run your war. We'll be ready when you call us to fight."



***************


There was an uncomfortable silence....


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Women!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Mathias grumbled to himself. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Bought and sold a man for 40 credits..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Well, let's see what the boy is made of...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


***************


The woman had pushed back her chair, stood up and began to walk (with a touch of a swagger) toward Tyscio.


The girl was the center of attention, having robbed Leia of the spotlight, but then Leia had nothing really to fight for and didn't seem to mind.


Caught in circumstances, situations entirely outside his control Tyscio stood still as the woman went up to him.


"So, love? What say you and me..."



(Reversion... the last micro jump was made.)



Tyscio looked calmly at her his eyes betraying a tiredness.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> A kick in the gut?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"No." he told her softly but firmly.


The woman's eyes registered surprise and not a little bit of anger, her plan backfiring.


Before she could get a word in, however, the ship lurched as if grabbed by the bow by some unseen hand and tossed around space.


People, tables, and chairs went everywhere and the battlestation klaxons blared throughout the Judicator.


"Emergency Stations!" came the shout through the ship's comm system... "all soldiers prepare to evac... NOW!"

Professionalism took over as dead or injured comrades were left in the mess hall while the rest ran to their places.

Tyscio was pushed through a side door but made his way back to his room to grab his saber. As he was leaving he looked out a nearby view port and saw hundreds of beams of light flashing here and there... each marking some individual for death.

Already rubble and debris were clouding the sight as Caprician, Vinda Coporation and Invader vessels locked together in their life and death struggle.

He caught a glimpse of invader ships opening up their plasma death beams on the planet and he cringed as he felt a part of the chaos silenced forever.

Already, smaller vessels were breaking off from the main invading Yuuzhan Vong forces and entering Capricia's atmosphere.

So captivated Tyscio was that he almost failed to hear the popping sound that seemed to hit against the durasteel plate he was against.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What the..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


A faint hissing noise was heard and Tsycio sudenly shouted, "HULL BREACH!!! GET OUT!! GET OUT OF THE HALL!!"

Frantic crewmen moved and Tyscio picked up an injured person who was lying on the floor against a wall.

The section's blaster shield doors slowly were closing and Tyscio, with one final push, lunged forward, through the closing gap just before the vacuum took hold of the weakened armor and pulled away the steel plating.

With a final rush of air, the hall decompressed and debris was sucked out a large gash in the steel under the view port where Tyscio had been observing the battle.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Too close..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He turned to a crewman.. "We've got to get out of here.. away from the outer edge of the ship!"

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


The Regent watched the monitors as Antioch was razed to the ground by the massive plasma blasts that shot out from the mighty oval vessels of the Yuuzhan Vong.


The plan had been bold ..and dangerous.


By broadcasting Borianus' plea on the open channels the invaders that intercepted would assume overconfidence and strike with impunity. Hidden, though, in that plea was the military details (all they could get) of the invading ships and their positions. Tyscio Zier at Tirus would be coming...and wit the Home Fleet lying in wait, perhaps.. perhaps they could crush the invaders.

However, there were just too many of them. Even the intelligence reports did not do the numbers of the enemy justice and Gomorran saw, first hand just how determined these aliens were.

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

The unfathomable reasons in themselves left the Regent angered. The fact that they should have lost the first invasion left a bitter taste in his mouth but the fact that they were dying without really knowing the reasons why??

That was beyond humiliation..


The small landing craft of the invaders were descending all over the countryside...

They were starting with Antioch but soon their small fighter craft would take air superiority quickly.

The Regent hailed the commander of the Home Defense Fleet, "Commander, get your ships out of there!! Swing around and aid Zier's forces to push the invaders toward the planet!"

"The planet sir??"

"Get out of there..get out of their way.. You can't help us if you are dead!" Gomorran shouted into the comm so the commander could hear over the commotion on the bridge..

"Aye." came the distracted response and the Regent's features expressed relief.


The comm went dead.


Their underground bunker, several hundred miles from Antioch still shook as the ground absorbed the plasma blasts from the invader's capital ships.

The aging Leantre walked up, still dressed in his loose fitting rather plain uniform.

"Are we ready Leantre?" Gomorran asked, as he strapped on his battle armor (gray and black).

"We are, my Regent."

"Then they shall bring the war to us and come what may.... we shall either live or go down in the history books."

The old man smiled and simply said, "Let's try and live Sire. History cannot be written by dead people."

Gomorran laughed and placed a hand on Leantre's shoulder.


"Let's show them what they are facing.." he whispered as Leantre moved a hand up and clasped the Regent's arm.