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HISTORY OF CAPRICIA

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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> What does one really know about history, other than that which is taught in books?


How would one act upon finding out the knowledge that they were once comfortable with is nothing more than a lie?


How would that dictate their actions now..?


..or those yet to come?<!--EZCODE BOLD END--><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->





For generations, Capricians were comfortable with their lives, barely aware of the galactic struggles going on around them. They were ignorant of Itala Marzullo's rise to power; the classic battles of the Eternal Rogue Order as factions trembled in the face of their once mighty fleet under the commands of Recon Klain, Darth Phantom, Dace Patton and their like; of the constant struggles of the Gungans against the Bathory Clan as well as other activities too numerous to recount.

A nondescript world barely touched by the Republic and ignored by the Empire.

Capricians were a hardworking people relying not on the mysticism of the force users but rather, in themselves.

There was no great "spirit" of the galaxy looking after them.

There was no destiny, no future to be had but that which they formed from their own hands.


And, for the most part, they were happy with it.


They were happy with their records of successes, with their advancements, and with their philosophies.


But all this would soon change.


Everything they ever believed in would become a lie.


But whose?



It all started 5 years ago with an alien invasion of the galaxy. Again, Capricia was not singled out for any real reason other than the fact that is was there. Had the Yuuzhan Vong passed it by, nothing of which is recorded here would have come to pass. It is this whim of chance that ultimately would decide the fates of billions.


The Yuuzhan Vong attacked brutally and with a savagry unmatched by any horrors the Caprician imagination could design. The Caprician Fleet had been obliterated and their armies smashed.


In that moment of dispair, with nothing left to gain and everything to lose, the people of Capricia were given to monumentous acts of heroism, bravery, courage as well as a fanatical recklessness. Everything they had was thrown against the Yuuzhan Vong and their Chazrach warriors... men, women and yes, even children.


..but in the end, they were a beaten people.


Capricia had fallen but the people could not, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> would not<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> believe it. Not as long as they drew breath.


And so one final battle was staged; Capricia's fate, their family's fate resting in their hands.


The Yuuzhan Vong <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> were<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> confident in their ability to defeat the Capricians. As yet, they had not lost a single engagement in their general galactic invasion (though young as it was). So what danger was posed by an insignificant little planet that it's own galaxy barely knew existed?

They would ground the bones of the population into sacrificial altars to their gods and continue again tomorrow with another planet.


And they <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> would<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> have too...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> If the Caprician history had not lied to them as well.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


For out of these battles to conquer this insignificant planet, the Yuuzhan Vong leader, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Tallien Yzan<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, noted something that had escaped even the Caprician's notice.

In the battles leading up to the last, the casualty list of the Yuuzhan Vong was getting larger and he was at a loss to explain why.


During that last battle, he found out.


For you see, In the course of their invasion of the new galaxy they had found themselves physically dominant of most species. Their only cause for hesitation, so far, were the force users (Jedi or Sith). They soon found that both the Jedi's and Sith's force use was ineffective against them and with captured victims began horrifying experiments to combat these two groups specifically.


They were confident in their course of action. Imagine Tallien's surprise when he saw his soldiers, at the height and frenzy of combat, falling to this type of "magic". One that <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> was<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> effective against them.


In the end, it was not the Caprician's courage but the Yuuzhan Vong's hesitation in the face of this new threat that allowed Capricia to live.


The alien invaders retreated into the depths of space leaving the shattered planet in ruins and people in various stages of shock. The most notable of Yuuzhan Vong horrors being the "Well of Souls": A large crater that had contained thousands of Caprician bodies piled up with stakes cresting the top for those victims screams to be heard by their gods. Truly the largest sacrifice to Yun-Yuuzhan to date. And it was here that Tallien's "seed" lay buried; a seed that would sprout the Leveller of Empires.


The reason for the invader's retreat remained a mystery to the planet's inhabitants.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The damage to history's facade, though, was also critical.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


With the planetary government nonexistant in any practical form, the population became sucked into a Civil War. Weary of conflict and still reeling from their losses, the remnants of the old government, the Clans, left Capricia to avoid being used as pawns in the power-hungry schemes of those wanting to lead in the vacuum.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> And now the lie, once strong for so many centuries, refused to simply let go..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


And it was here that Capricia entered the galactic community.


Enter <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Gomorran Kay<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, leader of Clan Gomorran, on Onderon to enter into business dealings with the Tenloss Crime Syndicate (now Cryonics Industries) for materials to begin the reconstruction of Capricia.

It was on Onderon where Capricia had built it's embassy bringing legitimate business to Tenloss. Drifting through space for three years taught the clans the type of galaxy they shared.


Amid reports of the formation of the Marzullo Corridor (which threatened the very existence of the Embassy and was Capricia's vital link to the galaxy) and Itala's expansion north, (which threatened Capricia itself) Gomorran Kay, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Scipio Arien<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Borianus Capal<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Herridian Wye<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Mescian Roul<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Tyscio Zier<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> and the Clans under them returned to Capricia.


There they found weak leaders and an unhappy people. They took control of the planet almost effortlessly and they desperately armed their small world expecting the larger factions to hit at any moment as reports of Elrood's fall are circulated among the population.


Time, however, changes the playing board and soon the shouts of Marzullo, ERO, and Klain became mere voices. The voices turned to whispers and the whispers into memories. No one questioned the fall of these empires or their great armies for fear of learning something more fearful.


The old threats are forgotten as new threats emerge and the stories of the vanquished, the stories of victims, the stories of "why" are covered over by the speculations..


No one ever asked, or wanted to ask, how such mighty empires covering such vast areas of space could die out in such a short period of time.


No one questioned their good fortune...especially the Capricians.


For a time, under the reconstruction, much of the population underwent a healing of body and soul.


But not of mind for they could never forget.



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> And on that weak foundation, history's lie took root once more and the facade continued.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



Until the Invaders returned shattering that foundation forever.




<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The story so far...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Where do I begin?


Perhaps before history is as good a time as any.




Before the recorded history of the galaxy as it is...


Before the Force...


When the galaxy was at peace.




For thousands of years the Commonwealth Union of Worlds held sway over the galaxy. From the Throne World and it's four founding planets, Capricia, Coruscantes, Brayden, Elroodia the Union experienced two millenia of scientific and exploratory advancement.


With these advances, though, this utopian society would soon discover the product of it's eventual downfall.


There were planets in the galaxy whose people would exhibit certain characteristics, certain abilities that could be described as "magic". The peoples who displayed these abilities took it upon themselves to create this galactic peace and so formed the Union.


For millenia, nothing could oppose this genetic power..


..until now.


They were called the Nephys.


No one knows by what means they came into the galaxy and no one knows how they first came to develope their symbiotic relationship with life in the galaxy. But one could tell their effects for rebellions broke out within the Union as powers unlike those held on the Throne World revealed themselves.


These powers, fueled by passion, by intense emotions or by the "will" of these symbiotic "creatures" spelled the end of the galactic peace and ushered in a dark age.


By the time Throne World leaders discovered the Nephys, it had infected so much that to destroy the Nephys was to destroy themselves.


In an effort to combat the Nephy's alarming spread across the galaxy, the Throne World cut itself off from the rest of the Union and without the head, the body soon dies.


Some, though, chose to remain and fight those forces that would use the Nephys' powers for destruction but even that could not prevent their civilization's fall into anarchy and eventual obscurity.



More eons passed and the Age of the Nephys began.


The Throne World, the Union, became lost to legend.. then to myth.. and then forgotten.


The name "Nephys" would become the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> force<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, now an integral part of recorded history.




Herridian Wye, in an effort answer the questions regarding the Marzullo Empire's quick fall, is following a theory that is merely whispered about. A theory that an extremely potent pathogen was let loose in the midst of the most powerful factions of five years ago. Due to the secretive nature of these groups their death was as quiet as it was quick. It is the Caprician's belief that the pathogen was of Yuuzhan Vong origin. A pathogen dubbed: The Leveller of Empires.


During the course of his search, these secrets of history are being uncovered starting with the Caprician ruins on Elrood.


Minos is liberated but there is no one left to celebrate. It's inhabitants are dead. The small force led by <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Adalric Cronus<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, of the Imperial Syndicate (now Cryonics Industries), is hurt but far from defeated. A ship is sent to investigate whether the blockade still continues or not. Scipio Arien, aided by <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Achinta Vega<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, set their eyes toward the Caprician homeworld.


Providence has withstood the Yuuzhan Vong attack upon it but something more insideous reveals itself to <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Leia Organa Solo<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. Massive bioengineering and experimentation is being conducted on the young taken from Minos. The result? A creature of immense telekinetic power whose function is to combat the natural (though dormant) ability that the stresses of annihilation is bringing out in the Capricians. An inherent genetic marker...an ability that has not been awakened since the forgotten age of the Union. With Providence won, Leia's force returns to Capricia in the midst of a Second Invasion.


The colony of Tirus nears death by the hand of the Leveller of Empires and it's final screams are falling upon a silent Capricia.


The Yuuzhan Vong intiative is cemented by the fear that the Capricians will soon discover a way to use their inherent abilities on a practical level before their objectives are reached.


The Caprician Defense Fleet engaged the Yuuzhan Vong forces in orbit around Capricia though they were outgunned. Tyscio Zier recalls the fleet from Tirus and is joined by Leia's Star Destroyer to attack the Yuuzhan Vong ships from the rear. During the battle, Vinda Corp's own CEO, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Seth Vinda<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, at the head of his fleet arrives to aid the Capricians.


The Yuuzhan Vong ships expand their radius making it nearly impossible to contain them by the joint Caprician-Vinda Fleets. Therefore, the Defense Fleet's ships slip around the enemy to strengthen the rear positions of Tyscio Zier leaving the planet seemingly undefended against the invaders.


But a suprise awaits the invaders as the planet opens up with it's planetary battery emplacements. Vinda ships form a perimeter line to prevent any attempts to escape by the Yuuzhan Vong. However, the Vong have no intention of retreat.


To the astonishment of the Capricians, the massive capital ships begin to descend upon the surface. Their massive invasion and occupation of Capricia begins with their targeting the planet's major cities. The batteries cannot track all of the groups that split off the main Yuuzhan Vong forces and the Caprician capital of Antioch is the first to fall.


As the Caprician Fleet begins to release it's fighters to aid the surface and to target the groups, the Yuuzhan Vong outflank the Caprician-Vinda fleets with living missiles fully incubated from Minos.


Caught utterly by surprise, the damage to the defending forces was extensive. With Leia's ship dying, the crew abandons it for the surface. Leia tries to rally her forces and attack the unloading Yuuzhan Vong but is captured.


Brutally held by Tallien Yzan, Leia learns about the Master Shaper's obsession with the Capricians and of Herridian Wye's son being captured.


The boy reveals a startling truth in the the Yuuzhan Vong attack. That there are spies among the Caprician forces! But the knowledge is too little, too late.


For in a daring attempt, his forces also dying from the living missiles from Minos, Seth Vinda takes his flagship into Capricia's atmosphere to challenge Tallien's Religious Command ship. The mighty Victory Star Destroyer is brought down at great cost to the Yuuzhan Vong and their slave's lives. Mr. Vinda's ship crash lands in the midst of a large unloading of soldiers and creatures.


Irritated at Leia's continued defiance, troubled by the Caprician's tenacity, and enraged at the damage caused by Vinda, Tallien decides to show the Yuuzhan Vong's enemies their true plight.


He releases the virus in the form of a massive explosion at the "Well of Souls" memorial site. The incubation seed that remained buried since the first invasion is opened and the Leveller of Empires spreads quickly. The explosion has an adverse affect on a nearby fault line that causes massive earthquakes to occur. The battery line is battered and destroyed as the fissure widens to swallow the defenders on the Antioch Front. Gomorran Kay is lost.


At the same time, the smaller groups of Yuuzhan Vong ships begin close quarter bombardments of the cities they are positioned over. In one night, most major cities on Capricia fall and in one stroke, Tallien wipes the chess board clean.


As the 'Leveller of Empires' sweeps across the planet's surface with frightening speed, the defenders realize their days are numbered.


And the Invaders turn their attention to the only stronghold left... the Highlands.


House Parliament Member, Jorrum Gerrard arms the Caprician Highlands in the wake of the fall of Carpicia's major cities. Basking in the praise of the people for his successful mission to the New Republic and taking advantage of the natural barriers the Highlands provide against the prevailing winds that are carrying the pathogenic bioweapon, they eagerly await the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong.


And yet, Tallien's move also affects happenings in the Corporate Sector. Taking advantage of Seth Vinda's absence, the Corporate Sector Authority, with the coercion of <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Yana Okani<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, attack Vinda's Headquarters on Bonadan intent on breaking his hold in the Corporate Sector.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Miles Johnson<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> arrives just in time to prevent total disaster and learns of the CSA's plans by capturing Yana. Knowing that war is coming to the Coporate Sector, and realizing that Mr. Vinda would not be returning soon, Miles takes a gamble and gives the go ahead to the untested and untried Admiral of Vinda Coporations Fleet, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Supreme Commander Isstal<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->.


Realizing that he cannot escape the conflict, Miles makes the surprising decision to right the wrongs done by (and too) Yana by taking her to Roonadan.

Seth Vinda's trainging and trust in his people will sorely be put to the test as Vinda Corporation enters a war without his leadership. With it's resources already taxed and it's loss of commerce due to the Yuuzhan Vong blockade of the Caprician System the questions fall to Isstal and a returning <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Richter Bayern<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->.


Will the Vinda Corporation live to see another fiscal year? Or will the Corporate Sector Authority's hostile takeover prove successful?



And amid all this, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Tyscio Korban<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> is learning more about his origins than he cares to remember. He is breaking his mental barrier and remembering events past his memory of Almania...past Recon Klain.


For inside of him, a war is raging. The same war that the old Commonwealth Union of Worlds fought ages ago. His dormant genetic abilities are awakening and, yet, its use is being resisted by the Nephys, by the midichlorians within him.


This awakening, however, also stirs someone hidden in Kendra. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Hespante<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> follows the awakening to Capricia, his ties to Tyscio as yet uncertain.



Whatever the events..


Whatever the future revelations, one thing is certain:


Historical forces are converging, crashing, and being broken wide open on this small, insignificant little world who once thought itself separate from the rest of the galaxy.

Personal ambitions, the unpredictability of conflict, friendships and loyalties, old hatreds and Divine Causes combined with sinister brutality all meet to settle the challenge posed in the beginning:


<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><!--EZCODE CENTER END-->



We come full circle.



Conquest of Capricia concludes...</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->

<font color=green>This was not good. Not that war was ever good, but when you're in orbit over the only planet in an Empire with a minisucle fleet to defend yourself and an oncoming enemy armada that outnumbers you almost 5 to 1, it's more than 'cause for worry'.

And this was exactly the situation Supreme Commander Dxun Isstal, Admiral of Vinda Corporations fleet, imagined happening over Bonaden as Operation 2D lifted off.

He wasn't worried so much over the coming engagement, but rather the outcome. If all went according to plan (which is rarely did, when you think about it) they would win this and move in for the kill. But there was, as always, any number of thins that could go wrong. If the enemy brought in more than was expected, or the Vinda Corporation navy wasn't quite what he thought it was, it could spell disaster for their coming operation. And since he hadn't had contact with his boss, Mr. Seth Vinda, he was a tad nervous. But Vinda trusted him, and Miles had given him the all-clear. That should have been enough... but for some stange reason, he didn't trust himself completely. Maybe it was the fact that he had never commanded anything as large as the Mon Calamari Super Star Cruiser Empress, or that he had never fought these opponents and didn't know their style. Whatever it was, he knew it was not a good feeling. And he would have to change his feelings before the opposing fleet arrived. Which would, again if all went according to plan, be when the majority of the fleet he was to command left him. It was his own plan, and it had been approved by his superiors, but the idea of virtually abandoning a planet never appealed to him. Ah well; there was nothing for it now. Bracing himself, Supreme Commander Isstal prepared to change the course of history.</font>

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Orron III<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> CSA Data-Center<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->





A lone dark figure Glided swiftly through the Data-Center's many maze of Hallways, the Vinda-Corp infiltrator 's footsteps were almost silent, as he glanced in all directions to check he had not been seen..

Kaneda was worried, extremely worried, he had not heard from Vinda-Corp, not anything, despite all of his best efforts...

The CSA were jamming all frequencies coming to and from Bonadan...

..and a communications black-out could only really mean one thing...

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


Kaneda had tried to warn of a possible attack, as all intelligence reports he had come across seemed t o point in that direction...
His worst fear now, was that he was too late...

He had to get in contact somehow, which is why he was now skulking through the CSAs Data-Center in the middle of the night, trying to evade what seemed like virtually every security system possible...

But then that was his job, and he was damn good at it., in fact you could say, it was all he was good at..
As he deftly removed the grill of an air-conditioning system, he smirked a little at this thought...

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..never really been a 9 to 5 person anyhow...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Carefully replacing the grill behind him, he slowly shuffled his way to the Data-Center's roof where the Center's Communications array was based.

He was going to hijack the systems array and use it to send a coded message to Bonadan, at least that was the theory... he wasn't even sure it would work, he was taking a great risk..

If they were to catch him, his cover as a CSA-DC operative would be blown , which would certainly mean his execution.
But it was the only array on the whole planet potentially powerful enough to break through the CSA's Communication's black-out.

Unfortunately this also meant they would certainly receive the message too. Although its encryption would mean they would not be able to make sense of it, they would however be able to ascertain whereabouts it came from.
That was the risk, but it came with the job, besides, he enjoyed it... the adrenaline kept him sharp...

Removing the secondary Grill, he twisted and turned his way out from the Ducts , and heaved himself out onto the roof, a quick glance around made sure he was alone.

Slipping quietly over to the massive array, he opened his small backpack and retrieved a small lap-top, feeling his way around the back of the array, he took a small screwdriver and started to open a small junction box.

Removing the wires he needed, he crudely connected his comp to the system, just the wiring up alone lasted for about 15 minutes. Satisfied, he started to punch in the co-ordinates , and with a sharp mettalic creak the array slowly and painfully shifted to change its direction.

Kaneda winced and glanced around again slightly nervous at the noise it was making....

..and after what seemed like hours it finally stopped...

His fingers raced across the small keypad as he typed his encrypted message to Vinda-Corp...

...and at what seemed like the exact moment he tapped the "send" key , the Center's alarms started to ring...

..after checking the message had been successfully sent, he quickly gathered up his equipment...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..time to go....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<font color=yellow>War is hell. And despite the obvious; we engage in it anyway. Sometimes we have no choice. The rebels did not want to be constantly fighting; but they saw it as the only way to destroy evil in the galaxy. Sometimes we have no choice.

This is one of those times. The Corpoate Sector Authority has held power for to long; and with the impending crisis at Capricia and the Yuuzhan Vong invasion forces in our galaxy; we have little choice but to fight. Actually, that's not right. But fighting the CSA is the lesser of two evils. We must make a choice; and only one of our options has a light at the end of the tunnel.

But still; war is never good. People die. Everyone suffers. But under the CSA people are dying and suffering anyway. Sure, this doesn't reach Bonaden and the Vinda Corporation. Or does it?

If the CSA advances continue, Bonaden is a likely target. Only by waging war with these agressors can we hope to avoid certain doom.

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Grounded<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




“…ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!…”


*Those were the last words Vinda had heard before <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> cleaved itself into the surface of Capricia, whilst ploughing through the off-loading attackers…

Opening his eyes slowly, he winced them closed again as the medic’s voice seemed to cut straight through him…*

“..Mr Vinda Sir?..”

*Vinda raised his head , still slightly dazed from the knock he’d received after being thrown to the ground…(literally).. He gradually stood up, rubbing his temple, feeling the unmistakable warmth from the sliver of blood that had started to trickle down his forehead.
Looking around at the chaos surrounding him, a tirade of emergency alarms filled his ears.
He Gestured towards the Medic that he was fine..*

“…I’m ok, see to the others…”

*he glanced around amidst the confusion for Omar..*

“..Omar?…Status?…”

*A much beleaguered Omar , raised his hand to gain Vinda’s attention, from the Bridge dugout below…*

“…Extensive damage from decks 1 to 5, Particle shields have overloaded since they took most of the impact, multiple casualties on almost all decks…”

*Vinda winced once more, before replying..*

“..what about the Vong ship?…are we still able to keep tractor beams on it..”

*..Omar shook his head wearily…*

“..negative sir, currently we have a 40% power loss, we’ve had to disengage the Tractor beam generators…”

*After seeing Vinda’s eyes glaze over slightly, he explained further…*

“otherwise we’ll have no power to supplement our weapon emplacements…”

*Gripping the rail , Vinda nodded grimly, just as another voice shouted across the bridge..*


“..intruders sir!, decks one to three!..”

* Vinda swung round to respond…*

“..activate the Droidekas, repel all boarders!..”

*As the instructions were relayed…Vinda clenched his hand into a fist, and cursed under his breath…*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> …This is where it gets ugly…<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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


Scipio looked at the humaniform android as he withdrew his hand that held the towel. Brief memories of the young girls of her clan talking about Achinta came to mind and she bit back a smile.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What IS it about him?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


But her mind suddenly refused to go down that road...refused to answer that mental question. Not in light of what was facing all of them...


Annihilation.


"Ambassador?"

A young Caprician came up to Scipio and Achinta. Eying the Vinda Corp. Representatively nervously (especially at the droid's rather grim demeanor) he started, "Mr. Adalric Cronus has destroyed the enemy presence on Minos. Tracking had them bound for either Capricia or Providence."

"Any word from Capricia?" Scipio asked suddenly.

"No Ma'am"

"Odd", she murmured. "Prepare the shuttle for departure and inform the others that I want this facility secured for abandonment. We leave soon."

"What of Mr. Cronus?" the man asked.

Scipio smiled grimly, casting a glance at Achinta. Adalric Cronus' nature had already been impressed upon her to the point of souring her view of the Imperial... but he was here and she had to respect him for that.

"His hands are tied with the blockade still in effect. As long as they are, we shall use him to our advantage."

It was then, as she was talking, that Scipio glanced down and realized really how dirty she was.

Glancing at Achinta's grimey towel (from her) in hand, she thought to herself.. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> A nice hot shower would be nice about now.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The android's steady bearing caused a burst of affection to well up insider of her. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you." she whispered. "Thank you for being here."

When she stepped back, Achinta noted her fear being buried deep down within her and a small hint of her old mischevious smile come to her face.

"Shall we descend further into hell?"

And the petite Caprician leader turned to focus on her men finishing the last of the graves. Her straight blonde hair providing a stark contrast to the maroon and black colors of her Clan's garments.

"We leave for Providence." she announced.


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Deck Nine of the Blaze of Glory..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font size="-6">The data burst was short...

<font color="red">"ECHO THREE.... COME IN ECHO THREE.. HOMELAND WAR.. REPEAT.. HOMELAND WAR.."</font>

And the transmission garbled.


A curious droid noted the muffled sounds and entered an area still restricted due to the battle damage and still under massive power failures. This, of course, did not hinder the droid's sight as he chanced upon two bodies.

One was Yuuzhan Vong.

The other was Caprician.

"oh my.." was all he said and left to locate the nearest medical droid.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Corporate Sector<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> en route to Roonadan<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




The small unassuming Vinda-Corp Gallofree transport launched itself through hyperspace. Onboard , Miles, Andersan, Yana, and a elite task-force of about fifty men...

Andersan turned from the small window , and observed the people around him, they were all dressed like normal civilians. He had been surprised at the fact they had managed to get this far. He had to hand it to Vinda, he definately had some tricks up his sleeve.
Installing a cloaking device onboard the Gallofree had paid off. The small party had escaped the CSA's embargo by cloaking the entire ship and as a result had managed to slip past. Once clear they had jumped to hyperspace at the first instance..

Now they were rapidly approaching Roonadan, he shook his head at the sight of them...

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

He would be willing to bet half of them had never even been there...let alone possibly know what to expect..

A voice bought him out of his thoughts..

"...how much longer?..."

Asked one of the men , who at the sight of him obviously didn't relish space travel, Andersan shrugged his shoulders in response.

As the Soldier sighed and turned to walk off to where the rest were congregating , Andersan watched him go...
At the same time, he glanced over to where Miles and his entourage were, and as they made eye-contact, Andersan nodded in acknowledgement..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..soon enough...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Immersed in his own thoughts he turned back to face the window...

Corporate Sector

On way to Roonadan...

Even as the transport had jumped into hyperspace, Miles mind had already jumped into worry mode. Had he made the right choice? For Yana, not just for Yana, but for everyone?

He believed he had. He could only imagine the consequences, consequences that might have meant that Yana would not have been given a fighting chance to find her family if he had not made this decision that he had made.

He did not want her to suffer the same tragic fate....He did not want her to lose her family...to lose her family like he had....

The pain was still with him now, even as he thought of the present, not just the pain, but the memories too.

Miles had only been gone one day, just one day. It had been a day that he would remember for the rest of his life.

He had been an only child, raised decently. His parents had given him anything he wanted and ever needed, without question. His parent's had been wealthy, but money had never mattered to Miles, for he had the thing that money could never buy, love...

[i]Then in that one day, his whole world fell apart. He'd never been gone a full day in the absence of his parents, never. He wished still to this very day that it had always been that way. However, it hadn't, and he had gone off, though it wasn't supposed to be for just one day, more like several weeks.

He had wanted to follow in his parents footsteps, to become spies, like they had. So it was, after his nineteenth birthday, the very next day after his nineteenth birthday, his parents had given him the chance to fulfill his dreams of becoming a spy. They'd been planned this event weeks ago, they'd set him a place among the academy so that he could learn all there was to being a spy....

...And he had had no worries that day. He'd left home with a smile on his face. He'd told his parents he'd loved them, hugged them both and set off for the Academy, no worries at all.....

It had all been planned, at least it seemed that way to Miles. He'd felt as if he'd been set up some how. They had told him that his parents had gone off for a simple space ride, that was all, no mission, no specific destination, just a time of for relaxation and rest. Yet it was not meant to be, for as soon as his parents had set out into hyperspace, their ship had exploded upon impact. That is what they told him anyway, but he did not want to believe it. He wanted to believe that they weren't dead, that they were still alive, breathing, that they were back home and they were happy....

...But what he believed was far from the truth, far from reality.

He never started his training to become a spy, what dream he once had was crushed the day his parents had died. His dreams weren't the same after that, he didn't believe in dreams anymore after that, at least for himself anyway.

He wouldn't let Yana's world fall apart before his own eyes, he couldn't and he wouldn't. He wouldn't crush her hopes and dreams. He'd do anything and everything to make sure that she would get the happy ending he knew in his heart that Yana was hoping for.

Miles made eye-contact with Andersan, watched him nod, and he swore as he saw Andersan turn away, that he caught a glimpse of something hidden in those eyes of his....

<font color=red>Bonaden

"Sir?" Supreme Commander Isstal, on board the Viscount-class Star Defender Empress, turned.
"Yes?"
"Priority message incoming from Orron II." Orron III. That's not the most common place for a message to come from, especcialy under communications blockade.
"Patch it through."

- Begin Message -



Agent- 239


Agent Status:

Green


Operation Status:


Operation successful.

Possible Threat of Invasion Iminent.

CSA Military facilities on high alert.

Previous contact to Bonadan failed

Threat of CSA Infiltrators - High - Will research further

Orron III's Defenses are accessible - Will act accordingly - Once confirmation is recieved via emergency protocol.



- End Message -

The land had stopped shaking a while back and Leantre's stare cast a regretful glance at the destruction scattered about.

From torn machinery to weapons to the sightless eyes of the dead, the twilight of the dying sun did little to hide the embers of the fires caused by the plasma weapons of the Yuuzhan Vong.

The sky was erie in it's silence.

No friend.

No enemy.


He took the opportunity to move from the wreckage of the room he had taken cover in and set out away from the lost position.

The enemy was strengthening their presence, as dark spots moved in the far distance from the direction of the hovering enemy Command Ship. On the ground was the remains of the Vinda Corporation's Victory Star Destroyer.

There were tiny fires burning around it.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Poor @#%$..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He glanced down at the injured man his Regent had given his life to save.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The enemy will be here soon..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



**


Leantre was moving as quickly as he could in the Hazmat suit. The injured man he had been protecting was unceremoniously thrown over his shoulder as the aging clan leader attempted to escape the closing sounds.

Five Chazrach were moving with frightful speed, their clubs knocking against their living armor.


Closer..


Closer, the enemy came and Leantre, turning to see how close they were, tripped and both he and the injured man fell to the ground.


The enemy was upon him.


Raising an arm to vainly protect his life as the Chazrach fell upon his position, he never heard the spits in the air until the creatures were thrown off their feet as if hitting an invisible wall.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Projectiles!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind came to the answer and he mentally chided himself for the hesitation.

Looking around as he stood, he noticed a human coming toward him from the shadows.



**


"Not entirely protected are you?" Leantre noticed.

"If Mr. Wye doesn't come through for us then we are dead anyway." the man shrugged.


Leantre raised an eyebrow. "How do you know of his mission?"


The man turned, almost irritatingly, to the old man. "You'd be surprised what I know Mr. Vio. What I know is that if you do not move quickly and do exactly as I say, then you will be left, Clan leader or no."

"Persuasive aren't you."


"I try." the mans whispered back swinging his rifle around to cover their desired direction of flight. "The invaders set up predictable search and destroy parties which works to our advantage."


"So what are we worried about?"


"Being predictable doesn't necessarily mean they are pushovers. If their parties spot us, we are dead. There isn't more.." the man grinned slightly, "..<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> help<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> for another 300 meters."


It was then that Leantre spotted a patch of red on the man's weapon.

"You are Clan Scipio aren't you?" Leantre asked.

The man stopped and turned, pointing the gun at the old man. "What prevents me from offing you now?"


Leantre, on some level was shocked at the rather callous behavior and disloyalty this clan devotee was displaying. However, on another level, he smirked in satisfaction. This was the type of soldier Capricia needed right now to hold the enemy off until the army could be organized to hit back.


But, he would have expected the soldier to be Clan Gomorran.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Kay was shrewd.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> A private army under Scipio Arien's command and no one would be the wiser. Sweet, disarming, vulnerable, innocent Arien.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



"Ms. Arien's loyalty to the Regent... and right now, young man, I am he."
Leantre's experienced eyes bored into the soldier's with frightening conviction.


The man mulled over that for a moment before swinging his weapon away from Leantre.


"For now." was all he replied with not so much conviction.


Leantre had nothing to say to that for the soldier was right.


"Where are our people?" he asked, adjusting the injured man Gomorran had saved over his shoulder.


"The army scattered. There are three small towns nearby which more than likely the enemy will strike tomorrow. Perhaps remnants will make their stand in those."

The man pointed in a direction, "The smarter will continue until they are out of striking reach of the invaders."


"What's to stop the invaders?" Leantre asked puzzled. "With no resistance, their striking range will increase."


"Their priorities seem to be the destruction of the machines in the area. That is buying us <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> some<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> time."


"Where are we going?"


"With the population scattering from the Capricia's major cities and attempting to protect themselves from the damned pathogen, there is only one logistical rally point."


"The Highlands?" Leantre asked.

"The Highlands." the man confirmed.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> So your knowledge isn't as extensive as you thought is it?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Lead the way young man."