The Last Charge...


The colony of Minos had been destroyed. The colony of Providence had been attacked mercilessly. The colony of Tirus had died from the Leveller of Empires. Antioch had been razed. Sealine City had been razed. The Line had fallen. Their leader had been killed. The Highlands were massacred. Thessonia destroyed....and on the list went..





....Flash....


"Why is it that you fight the inevitable truth?"

"The truth being a justification for your brutality?"

"What you call brutality is merely our undeniable charity to grant persons the opportunity to pay back that which IS owed to the creator of all things."




The truth was evident.

If the invaders stopped the Caprician charge cold, the flanks would close in, the Yuuzhan Vong fist would tighten, surrounding and destroying utterly the remaining defenders.

And with it, hope.

If they couldn't stop the charge, the Capricians would punch through the invader's fist rolling their flanks up. The invaders would be split and destroyed against the hammer of the defenders.




....Flash....

"Where is your will now?"




Tslah Vhess' fist clenched around his amphistaff and, drawing his muscles in tight, the large Yuuzhan Vong prepared to raise his arm.

He let out a loud roar of fury as if to hail the coming blow.




.....Flash....


"The Conquest of Capricia is over! The last of the heretics are being burned. Soon this entire world will burn as an example to all that defy Doctrine.

We have won.

Look around at the wreckage. Look around at the fires buring in Antioch, over the horizon. Look at the wreckage...

Look at the wasted spoils...

You think that your people's WILL is going to destroy thousands of years of Doctrine from the gods? You think that your WILL is going to stop US?!!!"




Amid the smoking craters, the burning barrels of blaster rifles, pistols, the shouts, the cries, the yells, the anger, the pain, the blood, the tears...

Tyscio's reaction caught himself as in the split second as Tslah's arm cocked, his feet planted themselves to meet the blow.

A defensive measure.




....Flash....


"One little realized fact escapes many, young ones....a fact that remains the same for all living things.... As long as you draw breath... as long as you are alive, you have the power to effect change.... you have the power to command your life. Let noone deceive you otherwise."


*

"You can't change that which IS! Ignoring the debt of pain to the gods does not make it go away."


"...as a Caprician, then you WOULD NOT resign yourselves to it.. Capricians would change it."




The thought burned into his mind...Capricians ACT.

As the invader coiled, he spun as he propelled himself forward using his body to carry the momentum of an upswing.




....Flash....

"...strip away a your power... strip away your dramatic speeches.... strip away your grand designs...and what are you?

If you are nothing without the force, then you are certainly nothing with it."


*


"Because I alone control my fate.... Because it is time... Because 'You would have done the same for me, had you been able'."





Tyscio's muscles cried out in agony as the war had begun to inflict it's toll upon him. Fighting for most of the night the last reserves of strength were coming up empty...




....Flash....


"It's the Caprician way, Korban. If life's challenges cannot be met head on, what's the use in facing them.... Others will tell you all about power... but power comes and goes... .you, though... you will always be a man."


"...and at the end of the day, when it's all over?"


"If, in this great galaxy of chance, you find yourself alive for one more day... do not think that it is without purpose. Finding it out.. now that's the trick..."




The scarred and dying carapace from Tslah's amphistaff shot out from it's coil.

Tyscio's lightsaber was brought up and both stepped into their swings.




....Flash....


"Yun-Yuuzhan, bring swift death to all and allow this humble keeper of your Doctrine to honorably endure this life we call Misery."

"It is Doctrine."








...Flash...


"You think that your WILL is going to stop US?!"



Tyscio cried out...






Will met Doctrine.


Their blows struck...

Bonadan

VC-HQ Base of operations – Control centre




“…get those fighter escorts in the air people!….lower shields, keep all planetary defenses on standby…C’mon people ,hussle!… lets give our men a home welcoming to remember …by the force, they deserve it!…”

Richter rattled his orders off quickly and watched the overall proceedings with his usual stern gaze . A large portion of Vinda Corp’s fleet (or what was left of it ) had come home.
Despite everyone’s weariness the floor bustled with activity and although all were over-tired , the general mood was buoyant and hopeful, they had survived after all.

The colossal wreckages of gigantic CSA and Vinda-Corp starships had proven a major obstacle to access to Bonadan, and although it would take many months to clear away the dangerous and unstable debris of battle away. Richter had seen to it that a temporary path had been cleared to provide the way forward for the returning ships.

Richter’s eyes glanced downwards to the tracking station in front of him and they narrowed slightly. The cost of the CSA invasion had been considerable, and he couldn’t help but wonder at what Vinda’s reaction would be.
Kyoto station had been destroyed, along with most of the Vinda-Corp fleet , the price was nigh incalculable. Not many Companies could recover after such a loss of assets, not many governments could either for that fact.

Vinda-Corp ,however , was no ordinary company, it had seen many Warlords, and competitors come and go, and with them , the many forms of Empires, and governments that followed suit. Along with these they had survived the ensuing invasions and threats that inevitably followed .
Hell!, even Vinda himself had survived more personal attacks than anyone else he could think of…. (this thought comforted him slightly, and the sliver of a smile crept over his lips)

…gotta hand it to him…he’s a tenacious son of a @#%$…

Richter’s eyes glazed over momentarily as he wondered how the old man was doing, they hadn’t heard anything in a long while, since before the attempted CSA invasion...

...which worried him.

So much so, that he had ordered a contingent of ships to be prepped and ready to ship out to Capricia , as soon as reasonably possible... The delay was, manpower.
Those who were experienced Commanders, and were still alive and not injured, weren’t in any fit state to go gallavanting halfway across the galaxy. They needed a break, at least twenty four hours ...a small price to pay after defending their homeplanet from an all out attack.
Richter was just hoping whatever was happening on that far away planet, could hold for a while longer.

His eyes glided to the view-screen in front of him, and the view of what was left of the fleet had already exited hyperspace and had slowly begun to negotiate the narrow pathway home. For a brief moment Richter felt almost omnipotent as he kept a protective vigil for the returning convoy.

He took in the carnage surrounding the ships, and he grimaced slightly to himself…

…one things for sure…no insurance companies gonna pay out for this one…

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts….

“…so who’s the poor sod who’s gotta explain how we lost Kyoto?…”

Raising an eyebrow at the remark, Richter turned around to face Kaneda…

“…that would be me…”

“…ah…”

Kaneda grinned…

“…better you than me I feel…”

Rolling his eyes a little , Richter decided not to dignify that remark with response, and instead changed the subject…

“..what are you doing here?…aren’t you supposed to be with our new family member?..”

A sudden frown appeared across the Section operative’s face…

“…I thought she was with you?…I told her to meet me here…”

Richter shook his head…

“..no…I haven’t seen her since the evacuation…”

Despite Richter’s initial scepticism , he too had since accepted she was who she had claimed to be, mainly from the DNA samples he’d managed to get the medics to analyse, it had proven to match, but that didn’t mean he trusted her.

His brow furrowed deeper than Kaneda’s…

“…you want me to initiate a security alert?…”

Richter’s response was met with a strange vague look from the agent in front of him as if he’d just remembered something he’d since forgotten, and the operative replied softly..

“…no….I think I have an idea where she might be…”

As the Section agent turned to leave , Richter spoke, causing Kaneda to turn around and face him expectantly...

“...its good to see you alive...”

Kaneda smiled and bowed a little, before making his way out of the control room.

Bonadan

VC-HQ - Two Hundredth Floor - Mister Vinda’s private residence…


“…you know….you really shouldn’t be in here…”

looking up,startled, Natalya relaxed as she realised who was standing in the doorway, and smiled a little to herself…

“…you know you really shouldn’t sneak up on people like that…”

Kaneda's quick reply was delivered with a wry smile…

“…I can’t help it, it’s a talent…”

Natalya’s eyes fell to the large black obsidian desk dominating the middle of the room, the biggest piece of furniture within the whole chamber.
It spoke volumes about the man who used it.
While she walked slowly around it she ran her hand across its smooth surface, and it glided effortlessly, her fingertips sensing the jet black stone cold to the touch.
She spoke without facing the operative, who watched her curiously…

“…what do you think of my father Kaneda?…”

The Section agent seemed to think about this for a moment…

“…what do you mean?…in what way?…”

“…well,…do you like him?…do you trust him?…”

Kaneda frowned for a moment, as if surprised at the question…

“…I trust him…”

Natalya simply nodded as the agent gave his reply, and continued to walk around the desk studying its contents. Her eyes fell to a picture , the picture was that of a woman who looked exactly like her…only older…

“…this is my mother isn’t it?…”

Stepping beside her to gain a better look Kaneda took the frame away from her hands to study it, and shook his head slightly as he examined the picture before him...

“..I wish I could tell you…he does not talk about her…”

The Operative caught the subtle hint of disappointment within Natalya’s eyes, and he quickly continued…

“…but you do look alike , it must be…”

Natalya spoke without showing any signal she had heard the Operative speak, her voice was quiet and detached…

"...I was named after her, you know..."

Carefully, the Section Agent brushed aside the dark hair that had fallen in front of her face to reveal her eyes. Natalya seemed distant...

“…you must have many questions, your father will return soon, and he’ll be able to answer everything himself…” He stated, matter of factly in an effort to reassure her, (though he wasn't entirely sure what from)...

Natalya shook her head slightly as she stepped back from the agent and ran a hand through her hair, exhaling deeply as she considered the prospect…

“…I’m not sure I can do this…”

Kaneda looked at her confused, and she continued before he could say anything…

“…this isn’t me…I …”

For the first time since he had walked into the room, Natalya looked at Kaneda properly, and her eyes were serious…

“…I can’t do this…”

Capricia

Jak’tol Province



Vinda instinctively ducked as some kind of projectile hurled its way towards the Vinda-Corp figurehead, in all the chaos surrounding him it’s direction appeared to have been random, but it was no less damaging.
The ear-splitting boom seemed to blot out all noise , as fire, bodies and dust were suddenly thrown up everywhere, knocking Vinda and quite a few men beside him to his feet.

Coughing loudly, Vinda leant against his las-rifle for support and shakily rose to his feet.
To get his bearings he glanced around him, the air had become thick with dust…and in a vein gesture to clear the air around him, he attempted to fan away the smoke and ash with his hand. Spluttering loudly he spat out a mouthful of dust.
As he looked behind ,Vinda cursed under his breath, seeing the after effects of the thunderous explosion, a crater, at least several metres in diameter…

“…Son of a!…”

For a bitter moment, he regretted taking off his Enviro-suit , and he narrowed his eyes in an effort to stop the dust blinding him. As if in almost direct response , the mix of Caprician and Bonadan’s own surged forward to plug the gap, and in the midst of it all Vinda found himself looking up at a familiar silhouette beside him.Omar…

“are..you ok Sir?..”

“…I’m fine…where in the hell did that come from?…”

Omar pointed to a raised hilly area, set back against the line of seemingly endless enemy figures pushing forward…and as Vinda followed the Captain’s direction he saw several huge bulbous creatures launching yet more projectiles into the ranks of the Caprician’s and their allies.

“…we can’t stand much more of this …take the bloody things out!…”

“we’ve tried sir!, we can’t get near them!…”

(Omar shouted over the deafening sounds of the gunfire and more explosions…)

“…and even if we could, these guns don’t even seem to scratch their armour… we haven’t got anything that powe…”

The Captain stopped what he was saying abruptly as he instantly read the old man’s face like a book…

“…I know that look! What crazy idea you got cooked up now?…” (he asked worried)

Pointing his finger in the air , Vinda suddenly yelled back his answer…

“…the Narcissus is still operational yes?…”

“..The Narcissus!?, yes, but… with all due respect sir, what good would that do against , those…”

Omar pointed back to one of the huge monstrosities still spewing out its deadly projectiles…

“…even the lasers on the shuttle couldn’t penetrate through that armour!…”

By the time he turned back to face his employer, Vinda had already started to make his way back to where his shuttle had been crudely parked…

Cursing loudly he followed after him, and before he could make his objections any louder, Vinda shouted back towards him…

“…get me my pilot and two volunteers!…”

Sighing in resignation Omar gripped the barrel of his laser-rifle tightly, he knew by now the tone in the old man’s voice , he was quite serious, and there would be no changing his mind.

The loyal Captain turned around to do as he was asked, and as he ran back in the direction of the men, he complained loudly through his tightly clenched teeth…

”…I didn’t sign up for this!…”

Dirt sprayed up as bugs zipped by Scipio's legs as she ran following the masses in her immediate vicinity that disappeared entering the dusty fog. The dirt and ash in the wind made the invader's throws blind throws.

She held her fire as she shifted her blaster rifle in her hands. The last thing she needed was having the enemy trace her rounds through the haze getting a mark on her position.

To her right was a woman of forty and a girl of seventeen. The group she had found herself running with was comprised of civilians of all types toting their own weapon designed to be as brutally efficient in killing as possible.

As Scipio's eyes began to scan the haze, the seventeen year old girl screamed as a Yuuzhan Vong thud bug connected to her leg causing her to fall. Her blaster pistol fired several times blindly into the haze and the "voices" of the Chazrach grew nearer zeroing on the girl's sounds and her firing.

Bleeding Clannus Prime! Scipio thought bitterly. They've made us!

The fact that they had done so so quickly told Scipio that the invaders were charging as fast as the Capricians were and that those in front of her had not been able to hold the invader advance.

Dim figures .. shadows were coming out of the dusty fog and Scipio shifted the sights of her weapon, clicking it to "automatic/rapid" fire.

The girl who had been struck was attempting to scramble away from the shadows, scooting along on her rear as her leg was badly mangled.

"Get down!" Scipio shouted and the girl fell flat on her back.

The blaster rifle's trigger was pulled and the gun's kick nearly knocked it out of her hands as she swept it back and forth along the shadow's that appeared.

But as soon as a shadow that was struck went down, another appeared to take it's place.

Scipio squeezed the trigger with all her might, shouting at the invaders, until no more power could discharge. Only the spinning of the turbine chamber from the barrel was heard spinning as the power cells, their charges spent, cycled down.

The shadows were still coming and the girl began to frantically push away from their approach.

Scipio dropped the rifle and reached behind her back looking for her knife. What she found was her lightsaber that she mostly used as a ceremonial symbol.

Thinking that beggers shouldn't be choosy she grabbed it and whipped it out igniting the blade instantly.

The first Yuuzhan Vong became visible.

But instead of running down the girl, the creature turned it's attention to Scipio's light blade and suddenly it looked to her like all the shadows were converging on her position.

//Jeedai!!// the chant erupted.

Should was hardly in a position to inform them of their mistake. In fact, that she sliced off the hands of one alien that was bringing his amphistaff to bear on the forty year old woman near her seemed to confirm the alien charge that she was a Jedi.

Scipio franticallly tried to bat away the scores of thud bugs sent their direction but there were just too many.

The woman next to her was hit on both shoulders and in her gut at the same time.

A Chazrach stepped up to end the woman's life when Scipio jumped in front of his swing throwing him off balance as she allowed the strike against her personal armor.

The hard weapon was moving with a force that Scipio didn't quite realize as she heard her armor crack under the blow shattering a piece completely. The jolt from the impact caused her to fall and as she did, she swung her blade across the reptilian alien's kneecaps. It screamed as it fell backward.

As Scipio struggled to get up, another thud bug struck her again thowing her back down to the ground. Before she could recover another Chazrach stepped over it's fellow invader intent on ending her life.

It's club was brought down on against her back and she felt her armor separate as she tasted blood in her mouth. The alien's breathing suddenly seemed to disappear as darkness claimed her.

Aboard the Avatar


The living vessel of the enemy broke apart blanketing the area with sensor inhibiting yorik coral debris and particles.

"Enemy capital ship destroyed!" an Ensign quite unnecessarily gleefully remarked.

Herridian wiped his sweaty forehead. Why do stout people sweat like yama beasts?


The shadowed outline of the Imperial Syndicate vessel Blaze of Glory was visible as it hung in the dust that was all that remained of the enemy.

"Have all enemies been eliminated?" the portly leader asked.

"Scans are uncomfirmable." an officer remarked, staring at the data scrolling across his terminal. "No signs of enemy vessels near the shipyard."

"Yet.." Herridian added. He exhaled and opened a channel to Tyscio Zier's flagship, the Tribune. He and his bridge officers grimmaced as the visual of the battered and burned Caprician Star Destroyer appeared on their screens.

"Ouch.. My boy. You've taken quite a beating.." Herridian commented when he saw the white haired visage of Tyscio Zier.

"Not nearly as much as Homeworld. Sending over the reports now.." Tyscio retorted soberly.

The Avatar's scans went only so far toward's the planet's surface and so the warship's information was a welcome advantage. Or so Herridian thought.

His eyes at first widened and then watered as the list of destruction and damages wrought by the invaders began to scroll ever higher and higher.

Natabb City had been overrun.

Herridian's thoughts turned to those of his children left there before he departed on his scientific mission and he began to visibly shake.

"Sweet Clannus Prime!" came a technician's whisper as the list began to display on other terminals.

We've already paid too high a price...


And for what?

Jak'tol Construction Yard..




The seventy year old man watched as the yard emptied as everyone joined in the final charge to finally bring these invaders to their knees or die trying.


Die trying. There is nothing left...


A tear ran down the old man's cheek as he looked about the wrecked bays where shattered machinery lay. The moans and screams of the injuried and dying within the yard's medical areas tore at him.

Looking around he knew the fate of the injured would rest with those few Capricians who were charging.

Perhaps Zier could take his fleet to another homeworld.... But even as his mind grasped the thought, he knew that the white haired younger man would not leave. Not while he drew breath.


He slowly moved toward the opening and out into the light of the day, sitting himself down leaning against the wall of the yard.

The dusty fog clouded everything but he heard the brutal sounds of battle being waged somewhere in front of him.


He knew that out of the mist would come either salvation or damnation.


He felt a light pain on the left side of his chest and he tried to control his breathing.


NO! Not until I know...

Caprician Space...



"Abolisher losing integrity!" came a shout as soon as the sensors jerked awake as the Tribune's engineers worked feverishly on the damaged systems.

"Bring us about!" ordered Zier as the Star Destroyer began to rotate it's forward angle.


There were swarms and swarms of corralskippers surrounding the incomplete warship in Caprician orbit, the latest invention by the Caprician shipworks. The orbital fire that Tyscio had the vessel direct to the planet to stop the masses of aliens that were converging on Jak'Tol Province had evidently stirred something fierce with the invaders.


"Clannus Prime! They are throwing everything at the ship!" an Ensign exclaimed. "It must be their planetside reserves."

"Can we signal them?" Tyscio asked but the Comm Officer shook his head.

"Too far away for the strength of our signal, sir." the officer replied.

A flash appeared in front of them as a large chunk of durasteel glowed brilliantly and broke away as the ship entered it's death throws.

"WE'VE BEEN MARKED!" came another sensor officer as two corralskippers left the dying warship behind moving rapidly toward the approaching Tribune.

"Shields!" Zier ordered and then a station toward the back of the bridge exploded..

"Shields down! Targeting systems offline!" Bridge officers nearby moved to break down the panel to see what they could do by way of emergency repairs.

"Enemy fighters closing.."

Tyscio turned to the helm and sharply barked out, "Increase speed! Full flanking thrust!"

And the warship gave a lunge as the mighty reactors kicked up their power output levels catching the petulant dampeners off guard.

Whatever the fighters expected, however, it was not to be rammed by the damaged capital ship.

Their hulls burst open as the speed of their advance cut into their turning radius leaving them unable to escape the appraoching hull of the Tribune.

"THEY ALL SEE US NOW!" came another shout and Tyscio cursed, as the sensor data coming in began to light up his tactical display with hundreds of tiny dots representing enemy corralskippers.

"Where are my weapons!?" he directed to those working on the damaged panel when, all of a sudden, large energy blooms streaked across space striking the dying Abolisher squarely.

The resulting explosion caused Tyscio to shade his eyes as debris from the exploding Caprician ship struck against the unprotected hull of the approaching Tribune.

"Minor decompressions over three decks.." sounded a partial damage report.

"It could have been alot worse." Tyscio murmured. "Status of enemy fighters?"


"Scanning.... Scanning..." The Ensign looked up in surprise. "They appear to have been destroyed!"



The Blaze of Glory moved into the field of vision and Tyscio narrowed his eyes as the shadow of the Super Star Destroyer fell upon his own flagship.

"Comm that ship."

And the vision of Adalric Cronus appeared before him, his lips planted in that superior smirk of his.

The smirk grated on Tyscio but before he could react, a nearby Lieutenant, his outrage at having witnessed their sister ship destroyed by an ally seeping from him, spoke up. As the Lieutenant did so, Tyscio studied the man on the transmission.

"You fired on a Caprician warship, Captain!"

Adalric appeared unamused and unfazed. If anything, he seemed bored. "Tell me, Lieutenant, did your ship take sensor readings from the Abolisher for lifesigns?"

"We've taken too much damage.." came the half answer to a question that startled the younger officer.

As if talking to an idiot, Adalric patiently continued, "Then you must have noted that the ship was no longer returning fire to the enemy fighters?"

Even Tyscio thought back but for the life of him, he could not remember. "What are you saying, Commander?"


"That they were already dead. As such, their warship became an asset I could use to destroy the alien fighters that would have made short work of your ship seeing as you have no shields."


The glowing gun ports of Adalric's own warship stopped Tyscio from voicing any contradiction. As well as the fact that the Imperial Syndicate Commander was correct.

He could not prove one way or the other Cronus' claims.

"What do your sensors show planetside?" he asked, changing the uncomfortable subject.

"That your homeworld has gone to hell. Enemy transports are being intercepted by what looks like your local fighter corps.

Tactical analysis shows their losses are heavy though they are keeping the invading army near your construction facility from receiving any more reinforcements."


"Can you aid the fighters and fire on the enemy below?"


Adalric smiled. "I could.. But I won't."


"WHAT?" the Lieutenant nearly shouted, looking to the men fixing the panel to see if weapons were availabe.

"I must look to my own concerns and right now, my concern is for new hyperdrive parts. I will be taking control of your shipyard facility to located them."


And then, Tyscio laughed. "Like hell!"


Adalric's smirk grew larger and his ship seemed to loom ever closer. "I was not joking, Captain. I mean to get what I need."


"You make a move against my fleet or my shipyard, and I will order it to self destruct." Tyscio commented, surprised at his own audacity.


Adalric narrowed his eyes at the unexpected challenge Zier brought to the table. "You've a counter proposal?"

"You begin firing on invader positions from orbit and we will give you first birth inside the yard when this is over. Your hyperdrive will be given top priority."

A slow grin appeared across Adalric's face.


"You've some backbone after all.. Very well."

He turned to his nearest officers, the gunnery stations.

"Locate, triangulate and reduce to dust the enemy field positions."

"Aye Sir."


And the Super Star Destroyer entered Caprician orbit with the battered remains of the Tribune following closely behind.

Capricia

The Narcissus



""...where the frell is it!?..."

Muttered Vinda, as he rummaged through the many boxes, and crates of supplies that had been salvaged from The Nostromo before they had evacuated. The businessman had been concentrating so much on what he was doing, he had failed to notice that the shuttles engines had started up, and Omar had returned with about three volunteers...

"Sir?.."

Startled, Vinda turned around to see the men looking mystified, and
somewhat concerned...

"...ah, excellent, you found some...you two..." (Vinda pointed a finger at two out of three of the volunteers)

"...give me a hand with this bloody thing!.."

The two men looked absently at each other for a moment before obliging...

"AHA!" He yelled triumphantly, as all three of them whisked away a large tarpaulin that had been concealing a very large Cylindrical object...

Omar's jaw almost dropped, as he recognised what it was...

...Seeing his reaction Vinda , grinned , and tapped on the Cone shaped Mettalic lump, it replied with a kind of dull ring...

"...about the only thing left of The Nostromo..."

Omar stared at the old man in disbelief ....

"...you meant to tell me, we've been flying around with a ship-Class bloody proton torpedo warhead....in the name of Vader!...you're not suggesting what I think you're sugge"

His stopped abruptly as he threw Vinda a look of both astonishment, and worry...

The Vinda-Corp figurehead, simply nodded, and promptly activated his comm-link to the Pilot ...

"...get us into the air immediately!, above the invaders...when I give the word we'll need you to fly low, and then fly like the clappers!..."

The rather 'gung-ho' Pilot confirmed and then signed off...

"...Roger that! hang on to your hats fellas!...."

Turning his attention back to Omar and the men, Vinda pointed to the Warhead...

"...we need to get this to the cargo bay, and quickly, we've got no time to lose..."






Outside the shuttle, the battle was growing more and more intense, as the ranks of Capricians and their allies clashed against the invader's hordes...

A few looked up, enemy and ally alike as The Narcissus blasted its way over the battlefield, its somewhat scorched and battered shimmering hull still being able to glint against the sunlight, albeit barely.

Its extremely low altitude made it an ideal target for the enraged invaders, and their screams and cries against the infidel machine could be heard from inside it, much to the worry of its occupants...

"Lower!.." Exclaimed Vinda through his comm-link to the pilot, as he gauged their position through the plexi-glass window looking out below the shuttle...

"...open the Cargo-bay, and extend the gantry!..."

Omar obeyed quickly, and activated the large Cargo-hatch, and in unison the three Volunteers pushed the Warhead into position...

Suddenly the entire hold was filled with the rush of air, the deafening roar of the Shuttle's engines, and the now all too familiar sounds of the battle raging below them...

Clambering down onto the gantry Omar flicked open a terminal and armed the warhead, setting off a small hum that reasonated from within the device. Glancing up to Vinda, Omar signalled his readiness by gesturing with his thumb up and awaited the signal from his employer...

The Cargo-doors, and its small gantry were now completely open and extended, giving the old man an unparralled view of the battle from above , and the sight was grim. The masses of Vong were pushing forward, and with every surge, the allies seemed to be pulling back, but only just...

Catching sight of their destination, Vinda watched as the large bulbous creature spat out another of its deadly bombs, his eyes narrowed...

...gonna to have to sweep low and fast...

Shouting over the noise of everything, Vinda raised the pilot on his comm-link...

"...Take her down , Lower!, .. when I give the word, I want you to fly like a bat outta hell!..."

"roger that! Sir!...

"...you see that large green creature coming up on your portside now...take us over it!"

"I see it, making a pass now!..

Banking left hard, The Narcissus rapidly approached its target , sweeping low... Vinda and the others clung onto the support rungs tightly as the shuttle was buffeted by the turbulence from the invaders shots. Their rage increasing as the Chrome shuttle seemed to evade their fire...

Vinda could see there seemed to be a sudden urgency in the invaders targetting, as more shots started to pound upon the hull. The Invaders had clearly seen the threat, and had even started a vein attempt to move the creature out of harms way, but it was too late...

"NOW!" Shouted Vinda at the top of his voice...

In response, Omar and the others pushed the warhead forward over the edge of the gantry, sending it hurtling towards the ground below, to the bulbous creatures, and the masses of Yuuzhan Vong warriors surrounding them...

"...PULL UP! CLEAR THE AREA!..." Vinda bellowed into the Comms, almost deafening the pilot in the process...


As the shuttle's engines kicked in , its occupants were thrown backwards by its harsh acceleration. Grimacing from barely being able to grip onto the cargo-Hold railing, Vinda just managed to catch a glimpse of the ground below as the home-made bomb hit paydirt.


The huge explosion skewered a hole straight into the rear of the Invaders , taking out its intended target , and many Vong warriors...Bodies, dust and burning red-hot debris were sent flying in all directions, as well as a small shockwave which would have knocked many more troops off their feet...

Finding a moment to catch his breath, Vinda rested his head against the cold solid inside hull of the hold, and smiled faintly towards Omar and the others ....

"...bet you never learnt that in basic training..."

//Tslah of Domain Vhess. You have ascended to the rank of War Coordinator. Your contribution to the Gods will neither go unnoticed nor will it go unrewarded.// The monotone voice of the Religous Caste member was ignored by the ascended warrior as he basked in the pride of his achievements.


The Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong has halted their people's great trek and turned their attention to this pitiful galaxy, so much in need of redirection and Doctrine.


Soon the inhabitants of thsi new 'promised land' will understand as the truth sweeps their heresies aside. They will convert or be ground to dust to make way for the Children of the Gods.


Their success was inevitable.


Yun Yuuzhan himself showered his people with his approval.


There was no doubt.



When he was charged with the elimination of the inhabitants of a particular stubborn people that would not submit to Doctrine, he was comfortable with his carrying out of the God's Retribution. Such was his duty.


Pain was necessary to appreciate life.


Even when Tallien revealed the secret these insignificant infidels kept, his faith was not shaken. If anything, the fact that the Master Shaper had recognized it and had taken steps to neutralize it was proof indeed of the God's favor upon their actions.


Millions of these heretics had died during their massive attacks and yet these cursed infidels had yet to realize that they were a beaten people.


At Providence his forces were routed. The enemy taskforce engaged at Minos had managed to remain alive and his forces were unable to prevent the Caprician fleets from converging on their homeworld.

And despite the victory after victory as each major Caprician city capitulated, was overrun or destroyed, it's people continued to fight.

The Leveller of Empires had cut into this planet's population as easily as one cut butter. The most potent living creature that Tallien had created with the aid of the Cortex handed down by the God's had done it's job admirably.

And yet, he too now contracted it's infectious manifestations along certain portions of his skin.

If the Leveller was a gift of the God's and he had contracted it, what did that say about the God's feelings on their current action?

And, for the life of him, he could not understand why the God's would be angered by their initiating of the people to Doctrine.


THEY WERE RIGHT!


They had to be.


The enemy had grouped their men inside the yard so their machine fighters could pound his ranks and artillery beasts. They had managed to scatter his forces but the machines could not route them.

To route them the machine pilots would have to control the ground, not the sky.

A brilliant flash shined in the sky and Tslah knew that the enemy warship that was directing his boiling lights down upon them had been destroyed.


Surely a sign from the Gods..


He roared out a challenge of his own and stepped up to wipe Capricians from the face of their own planet, one by one personally if he had too.


Faced with the onrushing Capricians as he saw victory hanging on a precipice of what he does next, he gave himself into the moment by grasping his amphistaff and moving with his minions to meet the challenge.


The rush was exquisite and he feared not the chance of death.


His course was set as he noticed ahead an oncoming Caprician brandishing a lightsaber and prepared the meet him. The Yuuzhan Vong leader pointed his staff at the approaching Caprician.


As his arm was drawn up, he again noticed the blue infection spots along his skin and suddenly a singular thought interrupted his submission to his emotions.

Why?


A mechanical shuttle was heard rising in the distance, no doubt to carry out some infidel underhandedness but what he noted was that it's rise went unchallenged.


The Gods allowed it to lift off without being challenged.


Again, why?


The Caprician man did not shrink back from the intimidating form of Tslah and as his heart pounded with the lust of battle, giving into his more primitive motivations, his mind still worked in the background.



Yes, victory was hanging on a precipice of what he did next and as he threw his entire force into his thrust to crush this Jeedai leader thus blunting and ultimately crushing the final remnants of these stubbort heretics a new formula was thrown into the fray.


And with it, the balance tipped one last time.


Something he did not expect to face throughout his entire life.


And that was ...



Doubt.





And their blows struck...