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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->





*Vinda smiled ,as he made his way to where <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> had been prepped, almost in relief , as the various voices coming over the Comms confirmed they were ready and on standby...*

"...all personnel standby for my mark..."

*As he clambered up the gangway of his personal shuttle, Omar, handed him what appeared to be a small computer console, as Vinda looked at him questioningly, he responded...*

"...its a control panel, to manually detonate the explosive..."

*Vinda nodded, and as the door closed behind him turned around to face the Comms officer*

"... patch me through to the Core fleet..."

*as the officer obliged , Vinda took a last look at the inside of <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->...he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...no screw-ups...we only get one shot at this.... <!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*The officer indicated that the fleet was in position and ready...

Vinda turned back round to face Omar...*

"..are we ready to give them our reply now?..."

*Omar replied sharply

"...all crew and personnel are in position, we have an Astromech operating the Tractor-beam array....all on your word sir..."

*...With a single decisive nod the following chain of events happened in rapid succession...

The Core Fleet , launched their entire salvo of missiles and torpedos all hurtling towards their intended taget, The Vong Command ship...

As the Blistering array of projectiles showered down upon the Vong Vessel ,heavily damaging the rear aft section of the vessel <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> followed in the blink of an eye, all aiming for the suspected propulsion systems or creatures...

Vinda yelled over the comms, as <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->'s roared into life ...*

"...All personnel , GO!...initiate emergency protocol...NOW!.."


*From the outside , the sight was a curious one as hundreds of emergency escape pods fiercely ejected in all directions from the stricken Vinda-Corp vessel.
Most flew up and out of sight clear into the sky in a matter of seconds... a few accidentaly hit the Vong Vessel and rebounded back to the ground at neck-shattering speed...any onboard would not have survived the impact...

As the pods flew clear, all remaining Tractor-beams on <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> suddenly locked onto the Vong's Huge Warship, pulling it closer , and closer to the Vinda-corp craft...

Vinda held his hands over his ears as the Technician triggered the explosive. The D-tape done its job well, breaching the hull just wide enough for <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to move clear, so it could escape, flying dangerously low to avoid the tractor-beam...

Vinda glanced over to the Technician , who just happened to be grinning hugely, triggering device in one hand, a well used reel of D-tape in the other...

Turning to watch the rapidly diminishing sight of the two ships through the window , Vinda's finger hung menacingly over the trigger, waiting until they were clear...


...The Vong Vessel was virtually on top of <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> now, thick black smoke pouring our of its rear...

Omar cut vinda a sharp glance, indicating they were clear...and Vinda grimaced slightly as he slammed down upon the Trigger...


...in one momentus ear-splitting explosion , <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> played out its last and final service to its owner...as the vessel was engulfed in huge mushroom cloud of hellfire...obliterating it to pieces....

...The Vong Warship virtually sat upon it, was engulfed, as series of explosions fused and scoured its underside....

...In a ironic quirk of fate, the massive Vessel arched and was literally thrown upside down by the force of the blast...sending it hurtling down to the ground below it , its aft side grinding into the soil and undergrowth , imbedding it into the ground...throwing dust and debris everywhere...
The huge dust cloud it generated all but obscured it ...from view ...
..as Vinda opened his eyes after wincing from the bright flash that the explosion had caused,he watched with satisfaction as the Vong Ship plunged to the ground...

he visibly seemed to relax...

...and allowed a smile to form...


As the ship rocked from the shockwave, Vinda looked down at the now redundant control panel in front of him, and scowled towards Omar...

Omar, looked puzzled, and approached him...*

"..are you ok sir?..."

*Vinda, sighed as he slumped into a chair, throwing the Control panel away into the corner...*

"...no..I'm not ok, I just blew up a 32 Million Credit ship!...do you know how much my insurance premium's going to be!?..."


As Vinda grumbled in his chair, Omar left him to it, and looked around at the hundreds of crew, and personnel that had crammed into <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

....and breathed a sigh of relief...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aboard the Religious Command Ship.. Capricia.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Skyler slipped through the opening made by the Jedi Master, landing on his feet and nearly collapsing on the floor. It had been a while since he walked and he took several wobbly tentative steps before being sure of his footing.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I must look like a fledgling Yelk to her..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


However, Leia's words brought home the sense of urgency that he'd need to move out of the chamber. He was about to turn to follow the Jedi's lead when, suddenly, a sweaty arm drapped over his shoulder and Leia nearly collapsed herself.

He was amazed at what she'd been able to endure and was a little scared that she had effectively placed him in charge.

Throughout his imprisonment, thoughts of him failing Gomorran and Zier when asked to escort Leia (a famous Jedi) and the estranged Tyscio Korban burned plenty within him. The fact that he had been taken prisoner and held within the bowels of their capital warship never crossed his mind as a suitable excuse.

Only the fact that he had failed, and so, like any teenage male of his age, he yearned with the desire to set right the scales in his mind.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> She's .. heavy..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, was the conclusion he came to immediately upon trying to exit the room.


The thought that he was weakened or near starvation never crossed his mind as he began to focus on getting out of the ship.

As he took those few steps forward, Leia followed almost unconsciously.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> This may not be hard after all...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His bare feet slapped against the cold, hard floor as they stepped out into an empty corridor and suddenly he was filled with dread.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Where do I go? Just how do we get out?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As he and the Jedi in tow walked down into the corridor, the floor began to slope downward causing Skyler to nearly stumble, but hold on he did.

He bit his lip in frustration and not being able to simply run, but doggedly held on to Leia.


He was, in fact, still wondering where in the huge ship to actually go that he didn't recognize he wasn't alone until he heard a sharp snarl.

Brushing his hair away from his eyes, he saw a Yuuzhan Vong and several other weird looking creatures staring menacingly at them.


Fear kept the teenager from opening his mouth as the moisture vacated, his tongue feeling like sandpaper as he tried to lick his chapped lips in nervousness.

Seeing that the Caprician boy was mute and frozen in place, the Yuuzhan Vong started to come toward him making him give out a "yelp" in response, stepping back, and dropping Leia.


Skyler saw that his tattered shirt was stained with the woman's bloody wrists and it triggered something inside of him.


Something that said, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "No.. I will not run and hide."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


She was helpless and he knew he stood no chance against this alien but something couldn't, something <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> wouldn't<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> allow him to simply abandon her... helpless.


His eyes got angry and his footing became steadier.


The Vong noticed this as well and slowly drew out a staff whispering something to Skyler in his alien language.


The creature's tattoos as well as his mutilated face flushed red as he started to approach the Caprician boy.


"N...noooo.." whispered Leia, but Skyler paid her scant attention.


He'd not listened much to adults before... <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> so why start now?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As the creature swung back to impale the infidel with his staff, the mighty vessel lurched to one side as if someone violently grabbed hold of it with both hands and shook.


Everyone lost their footing as explosions began to rip through the corridors.



"Attack!" Skyler yelled to no one in particular, probably from shock.


A large chunk of yorik corral was ripped from a nearby wall exposing the corridor to the outside elements and the Yuuzhan Vong, among other things, was sucked out.


Skyler had fallen and was being pulled across the floor.


He tried to grip something, anything in vain and had given himself up to simply screaming out of fear when a hand shot out and grabbed his.


Leia, using what little strength she had left, pulled him, catapulting both of them into an ajoining room as the vessel began to spin out of control.


"Some...someone's attacking.." Skyler babbled.


Before Leia could even think, the ship seemed to turn over throwing them against the living ship's walls.



***


The Religious Command Ship, having inverted it's position due to the Vinda Corporation's surprising attack, fell from the sky in a most spectacular display.


The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> exploded under the weight of the Vong warship; fire, smoke and debris reaching up and over the Yuuzhan Vong Command Ship.


Walls exploded outwards and the ship began to secrete a thick liquid, perhaps a defense against the damage it was taking...

The hull of the alien ship crushed all those on the surface and buried the Caprician torture victims under a mountain of Yorik Coral.


Dust, sand and debris were scattered miles high and wide...



****


Mathias ducked as escape pods shot by overhead.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Low! Too Low..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, he thought.


..and as if in answer, a small explosion kicked up debris as the pod hit the ground at a fantastic rate of speed.


"Not all pods are situated where you want them.." he murmured.


"Especially if the ship has crashed onto a planet's surface.." a person near Mathias finished, letting the gruff leader know that he'd spoken out loud.


"Forward!" Let's see what we can find!" he shouted.


The small contingent of Caprician soldiers grabbed on as a procurred transport moved swiftly over the barren ground.


"The bloody thing is still intact!" a soldier cried in surprise.


Mathias swore under his breath as the smoke and dust finally began to settle revealing a Vong mothership resting against the Caprician ground.


Fires were everywhere and aliens milled around as if in shock or it's equivalent in their culture. A Chazrach was even seen walking blankly around with a large piece of metal lodged in his front lobe.


Many were missing limbs but Mathias and crew paid them no mind as they moved into one of many openings in the ship to find Caprician or Vinda survivors and/or victims.


Breaking through the inner walls and membranes was difficult but with an extremely injured ship, not impossible.


The Caprician weapons held any warriors unlucky enough to stumble upon them at bay.


"Sir!" someone shouted drawing Mathias' attention to an inner room.


"We better make it quick. We got hostiles, lots of them, coming down from the higher levels of the ship.."


"We leave" Mathias ordered, "after we confirm status of prisoners!"


"Sir! Look!" the first man again appealed and Mathias growled in irritation but soon choked it back.


For in the room was Leia, unconscious.. bloody... and ..



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


A tear came to his eye...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Girl's got more lives than sense..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he thought affectionately.


He kneeled down to pick her up gently when he noticed one arm of hers broken (the left) and the other holding on to a smaller hand, buried under some yorik mass.


Quick action by the soldiers revealed a young Caprician teenager, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> a mere boy<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> attached to the hand Leia grasped.


The boy's breathing was erratic and he seemed to be looking up at nothing.


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


"Sir. We can't carry him." a soldier said, making a quick and careful examination. "His back is broken. It's amazing they both aren't dead."


"Get something flat and straight! Quickly!" he snapped.


Mathias positioned men around their rescue efforts to provide cover in case the masses from above ran into them and assigned others to check more rooms for surviving prisoners.


A stretcher was made and the boy cried out when they gently tried to move him.


So loud was his cry, that Mathias saw some soldiers bite their tongues in sorrow, holding back a tear or two.


"We've got a problem.. don't we?" he said, resigned.


"We can move the boy a little, but not far.... not under these conditions."


"I will not abandon him soldier."


"Yes sir. May I ask what we intend to do then?"


Skyler was mumbling something about his father, the shock of his injury and experience taking full hold of his faculties.


"I don't know.." he whispered bitterly.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We aren't even supposed to be here..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



It was then that a soldier came running in. "We've got to move! And I mean, yesterday!"


The tone of the soldier jarred a decision out of Mathias.


"Move him onto the stretcher, and we take him with us. What happens, happens."


"I need straps.. NOW! and braces! Lots of them!" the soldier acting as their temporary medical officer shouted.


Skyler's screams were heard in the darkness as the soldiers moved as softly and quickly as they could out and away from the fallen Vong ship.


One of the men assigned to check other rooms came up to Mathias. "They are all dead sir. No prisoners survived."


"Do I want to see it soldier?"

The officer's face turned to Mathias, the dust and grime hiding none of the man's surprise. "Why? They were bloody turned into paste. The beating this ship took and the torture they most certainly underwent got the best of them."


"That ship must have housed several hundred prisoners, Soldier."


"Yes, sir." the man responded flatly.


Mathias nodded numbly. "Very well. Let's get the hell out of here."



Leia was still out and perhaps would be for a while. Mathias was thankful for small favors as he carried her, one arm braced and bandaged as best they could.



Her wrists had stopped bleeding.


The soldiers from Providence moved toward the remains of Antioch.

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




Herridian had grown used to the grizzly settings he and his fellow Caprician scientist companions worked in. Their biosuits had them breathing fresh air but still, he knew the stench outside his faceplate was overpowering.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> These Marzullos were butchers indeed!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Herridian's mind observed more than once.


It was hard to sort through the decaying masses of flesh and bodies, hundreds of them lying cut open upon rows and rows of stainless steel tables. Several animals had broken in and began feeding, but the bodies were infected so evidence of decaying animals also was found.

When the Caprician expeditionary force found Itala's testing rooms, massive spaces containing experiments ranging from the technically ingenious to others than amounted to little more than simple sorcerious superstition, they had felt that they hit jackpot.

However, the more they dug, the greater the evidence of how truly desperate for a cure this empire was.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> In three years, Marzullo's Empire fell from a galactic, conquering power down into obscurity.... but how?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"..the transition rate of the pathogen is astonishing." a scientist commented almost in reverential tones.

Herridian knew not to flare up angrily and retort that this bug could and most probably would be used against their loved ones.

And the scientist needed no such reminder.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> To effectively fight an enemy, one must first acknowledge and respect that enemy's abilities. To ignore that respect is to underestimate your enemy and invite certain defeat.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"There seems to be no culture growth..."

"Of course not! The pathogen exhibits many characteristics inherently bacterial in nature."


"Whatever it is, it must start somewhere. These mass infection instances make tracking any origin point impossible.."

"ENOUGH ABOUT THE ORIGINS!" Herridian's mind couldn't contain the frustration felt as it teetered over the edge.

For two solid Cuzzko days, through his hazmat speakers, he'd heard the polite bickering back and forth about the origins so much that they were no closer to even a clue to any type of cure.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..let alone a treatment!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He calmed himself, "Looking for an origin point is pointless given that it infected the Marzullo empire as a whole... plus, we don't have that kind of time."

"Then we make the time," one researcher commented stubbornly. "Proper analysis.."


"Sweet Clan's Graves Man! Our people could be dying this very instant!" Wye responded incredulously.

"We cannot rush a cure or results, sir!" a third scientist admonished as he overheard the conversation.

"I know. But, we can build on what's been learned already and not waste time retracing steps already taken." the leader of Clan Herridian snapped back. He pointed to the rows of tables and adjacent labs, "These Marzullos seemed to focus on destroying the virus itself."

"It's not a virus!" the first scientist said emphatically. "Well, not entirely.."

"Semantics!"

"But.. Marzullos failed. They are all dead." a second researcher claimed.

Herridian looked at his group, "Did they? Are they all?" he fired back cryptically. "Finding the source is impractical. We need a way to kill this bug and keep it dead! That is proactive!"


The first researcher stated informatively, "Well, they weren't researching that here. I belive our Advanced Scouting Party 28, I believe, located a quarrantine biolab on another continent."

"Then we move there." Herridian said decisively.

"But, what about..."

"Now! We've no time!"


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


He began to understand why everyone thought his Clan was so aggravating.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Capricia.. Sealine City..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->





<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">.....beat....

Korban stood a little straighter on this day as his right of passage was granted to the great Clan of Tyscio. Tyscio Zier, leader of the Clan,...


..Tyscio Zier? No.. It wasn't him... he's Gomorran Kay's friend..

No..


It was ...


His mind hurt.


Aurelian!!


Tyscio Aurelian, Korban's older brother, stood in front of him, and his eyes glanced at the clan leader's famed, short-cropped white hair.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->


Memories mixed with current experiences...


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">His older brother responded with an amused look of his own as he handed Korban a dark and light blue uniform.


"Welcome to the clan...Tyscio.." he had told the young Korban, a slight grin coming to his features.


...Aurelian, the oldest of the brothers turned to Viescian, the 2nd brother, and someone else faced Korban ...his teacher....


Hespante?

The aging man asked him a question.


"...who are you?"


The absence of mental barriers allowed Tyscio to pluck the answer out quickly. He stood a bit taller.


"I am Mikhail of Noble House Korban, Tyscio Clan, thirds son of Stettin IV, Ruler of Brindheir and heir to the Commonwealth Union of Worlds."</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



Another whole world of memories opened up to Tyscio as images of a lifetime long forgotten ... long repressed suddenly found the light of rediscovery.



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">......beat......


Tyscio Korban was running through a forest when a shadow jumped out from his right.


*


The force users, the harbingers of the Nephys, has won. General Bane's transformation from Commonwealth General to Nephys Warlord had been complete.

The Union was falling... hell, it had fallen.


Utopia rendered to ash.


The Royal Family, Korban's father, Stettin IV, his mother, his brothers... all had been executed by rebelling factions.


Brindheir, the Throne World of the Commonwealth had isolated itself from the Union.


Only those forces loyal to Korban and his Royal Retainer Hespante stayed with Stettin's third son to continue the fight against the further spread of the Nephys.


It was a futile attempt for the Nephys... the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> force<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was in the galaxy to stay.


It was a hard and bitter truth to face for something so small.


For something that had claimed his fiance.


Brandt


And now he hunted her along with Bane...


*


Tyscio's attacker charged.


His fiance had ignited her lightsaber and immediately gone on the offensive as Tyscio parried but was throw off balance.


Ferendi continued her swings and thrusts, but Tyscio, knowing what to expect, readily steadied himself. His was a weapon of the Union... strong enough to grapple with a lightsaber but lightsabers, as the Union soldiers was finding out was considerably ingenious weapon.


She was relentless...



Brandt? Why?



In an exerted effort, he knocked the saber from her hand and threw her to the ground. In a reflex, he started to swing his sword down but upon looking at her..the saber wavered...


I will not kill you...


..and in that hesitation, Bane had captured him.


Deep within Bane's fortress, he had injected Tyscio with the Nephys...as suitable revenge against Commonwealth Noble who had fought the Spreading.


Tyscio's own genetic abilities were overpowered as midichlorians took hold of his cells.


The Commonwealth General's laugh could be heard in the distance.



But Brandt had resisted Bane's influence. When it counted. She had contacted his Royal Retainer, Hespante, and organized my escape.


Our armies met near Almania...


We destroyed each other..


General Bane was killed, Brandt mortally wounded....


She was dying and asked me to perform the ceremony.


I killed her.


I was dying..


Hespante played one last gamble...


My father's Preserver Project was based on a small planet near the Rim...



What was it?


Almania...</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">....beat...beat...




Almania... My awakening..



The sad eyes of Iriana accepting a fate that the Sith Master had chosen for her....

Tyscio looked down at his hands and saw them bloody...


A blade instantly flashed in his hands and with a quick motion, his wrists were slashed...


....water started to come from his veins, washing away the blood and he suddenly felt as if a great weight were lifted.


"Who am I now?"</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



Faint voices in the background.

"damn.. is he Jedi? Don't know if that was brave or just plain stupid!"

"Saved our bacon, Major."

"Get those bacta patches on him.. that goo burns."



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">....beat... beat...



....a great weight was lifting...and suddenly, he opened his eyes to a bright light.

Several people were staring down at him he saw as a head blocked the sun.

The Caprician wind felt cool.

Slowly his senses were engaged..

His ears began to hear the sounds of machinery and people.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I am..


alive!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His mind began to register the hurt his body felt as he lay there... too tired to really move....


"I take it I am not dead yet?"


A young Seargent, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> too young<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, grinned. "We can always throw you back into whatever that thing used for blood..." he offered helpfully, throwing a thumb back.

Tyscio chuckled and was helped up by the soldiers. He felt a bit dizzy but as he looked around he saw that the Capricians had defeated all the invaders.


"I missed the fight." he said which drew some laughter out of the tired soldiers.


"You gave us a fighting chance, Sir." one said.


"That was one hell of an act!" another interjected.


"Who are you?" Tyscio asked, of a man wearing Major colors.


"Major Gomorran Trest, Jak'tol Amoured Division Four."


"Jak'tol? That's quite a ways from here."


"Yes, Sir. Our machines were sent here for typical repairs and maintenance."


"Sounds like you were in the right place at the right time for these people." Korban said, giving the soldiers the well deserved compliment.


"Sir, we've got close to 5,000 civilians here, and pieces of the city's defense units, but the enemy capital ships took out all the major military installations."

"Are those Capital ships here now?" Tyscio sharply asked, glancing at the sky.


"No, Sir. They moved off after unloading their warriors. There seems to be some excitement happening on the Antioch Front."


"How far is that?"


"Quite a ways as well sir."


"Was Sealine City the largest defense position on the area?"


"Yes, Sir."


"Then we best evacuate this region quickly."


"That's just it sir. Transports are in very short supply...and finding fuel for them will be tough."


Tyscio thought a minute, as he ran his hand over the bacta patches on him. "What about the Magnetic Rails?"


The soldiers who had begun to whisper about their next move stopped and stared at Tyscio. The Major grinned in admiration. "Damn. Right under our noses! That's not a half bad idea."


"Seargent! Check the Rail stations. See what we can scrounge up."


The rather young Seargent stole a glance at Tyscio and murmured. "Knew you were alive for some reason."


Tyscio gave him his best "scoundrel" smile and started playing with his saber, flickering it on and off to make sure it was still functional.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Well, Korban, looks like we are a bit out of time ..and place aren't we?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As he moved to look at the people and items that would need to be transported by some means, his mind mulled over what he was remembering.


A different time.

A different war.

A different enemy.

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




*Struggling to gain Vinda's attention, a Soldier clambered over the boxes and crates of supplies that had been hastily packed onto Vinda's personal ship before their dramatic exit from <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> . Being engrossed in his own thoughts , Vinda hadn't noticed the man before he was virtually beside him.

The Soldier , tapped him on the shoulder...*

"...Sir , message from Bonadan...its important..."

*Turning around to face the man, Vinda nodded, noting the mans worried expression, getting up from his chair Vinda started to follow him...*

"...patch it through to my personal quarters, I'll take it there..."

*As the soldier acknowledged and relayed the order, Vinda picked his way past the many crew and personnel that had managed to fit themselves onboard , some stared, as many hadn't been this close to Vinda himself before....he overheard one crewman talking to another...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "...he's smaller than I imagined..."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*Vinda scowled in the direction of where the voice had come from, tempted to respond, but after failing to pin-point the source, decided , instead , to pretend he hadn't heard it....and continued to his quarters...

As the door slid shut behind him, Vinda walked over to the Holo-net transciever on his desk, and activated it...
with a low hum it flickered into life, the bright image casting a blue hue all around the room, and Vinda himself...

Vinda's eyes narrowed as the figure of a captain came into view...*

"..what is it Captain?..."

*The Captain seemed to shift akwardly under Vinda's scrutiny...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "...Grave news indeed sir....In your absence the CSA launched a massive offensive against us , as well as a terrorist attack against VC-HQ itself..."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda's face seemed to visibly darken, his hand clenching into a fist...as he struggled to keep his composure*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...DAMN THEM....they shall pay for this.....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....with the aid of Supreme Commander Isstal , he lead our defence fleet, the attack was thwarted....at considerable cost to the CSA ..."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda's brow furrowed , casting a dark shadow across his eyes, the anger in his voice not missed on the Captain in front of him...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Isstal?...he is new...and, until now, unproven<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...who authorised this?..."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Mr Johnson Sir..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda seemed to relax slightly at the mention of Miles, as if relieved he had been there, he nodded slowly as he replied...*

"..Very well, Commend our New Admiral on a job well done, he will be well rewarded....Can I speak with him?..."

*The image of the Captain shuddered slightly, from interference, but could still be seen shaking his head....*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ..I'm afraid thats a negative sir, he is en route to Kyoto Station as we speak, to meet with Mr Bayern...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda's stare seemed to grow more intense as he listened to the Captain speak*

"...What about Mr Johnson , is here there now?..."

*the Captain shook his head once more...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ...no , he is currently heading a taskforce on Roonadan to hunt down those responsible....<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda raised an eyebrow at this remark, in surprise...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....Taskforce?...Roonadan?...Miles?...not a course of action one would expect from Mr Johnson ....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*He paused to consider this for a brief moment, perplexed as to why Miles would take it upon himself to take on such a dangerous task....*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...there must be more to this than meets the eye...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*The pause soon turned into a long pause as Vinda felt the Anger rise inside him, observing this , the Captain continued cautiously ...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "...Shall I pass on a message to Commander Isstal?..."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Turning away from the Captain, Vinda stood up , as if deep in thought...The Captain kept silent , from both expectation, and also from the heavy veil that had suddenly seemed to fall upon their conversation....after what seemed like an aeon, Vinda replied, his back still towards the Captain. His voice shaped just one word, its meaning sinister, and serious...

.. deadly serious....*



"....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Retaliate<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."



*As the Captain acknowledged and signed off, Vinda pressed his hands against the wall, his head dropped , and sighed deeply...
Now was decision time, stay and keep his word with the Capricians, stay and fight, or go home?....The urge to up and leave was immense, his instinct was to protect home, after all what was all this for , if they lost their own home in the process....

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> was it worth the risk?.....are they worth the risk?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He reached into his pocket and clutched the small Chrome lighter , his grip tightened , as the thoughts swirled around his head, the Hate burned inside of him....

....flowed through him....

....somehow, strengthened his determination...*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...they would pay for this, he would make them all pay for this....like he should have done before

.... the first time around....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*he glanced down at the lighter in his hand, weary with the knowledge that his one single word would cause more, war, more death, and destruction...

...and made a small vow, his murmur just barely audible....*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....Never again Natalya.....never again...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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

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




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Tell me, In your travels for Mr. Vinda, have you come across many women?"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*Achinta had been studying with great interest the two Giant planets, assessing the situation...
As Scipio spoke he turned to face her and noticed with curiousity the effects from the two planets ,as their light accentuated Scipio's features , making her appear to glow ...

..despite the obvious signs of tiredness one could read in her face, she looked...

..he searched for the appropriate word...

...then as Scipio finished, his mind focused onto her question. He Paused for a moment, calculating all the beings he had met...*

"...approximately, six hundred and twelve females...fifty three I was unsure off..."

*He smirked a little at his last comment...*

"...it can be hard to tell with some species..."

*he glanced back at the two planets, then tilted his head slightly to face her again...*

"...do you feel we will find Providence untouched?...I hope we do not find they have met the same fate as those on Minos..."

*he shifted his gaze back to the sight of the two planets outside...*



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

Aboard the Radiant Suns, en route to Kyto Station

Supreme Commander Isstal was lost in thought. So lost, indeed, that he failed to notice the approach of his trusted aide, Colonel Ross.

'Sir?' he asked, startling the VC Admiral.

'Yes, Colonel?' Isstal asked, turning away from the cockpit viewports.

'Sir, we're nearing the station. They say they have recieved a message for you sir, from Mr. Vinda.' Isstal nodded.

'What is it?'

'He sends his commendations for the routing of the CSA fleet, sir. And...'

'And?'

'He orders you to retaliate against the CSA. He wants you to destroy them, sir.' Isstal was a little stunned. Seth Vinda had never seemed the bloodthirsty, revenge-wanting type to him.

He laughed sharply.

'Profits!' he said, to no one in particular. Ross was confused.

'Profits, sir?' Isstal nodded exicetdly.

'Vinda thinks that attacking the CSA will gain profit! And this is an excuse to do it! I love it!' He re-gained control of himself and smiled. 'I'm sorry, Colonel.'

The Muurian Transport set down in Kyto Station's landing bay with a soft thump and the sound of escaping steam.

'I believe we have arrived.' Colonel Ross nodded. 'Come, Colonel. We must meet with Mr. Bayern.'

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Capricia, Natabb City Front... <!--EZCODE BOLD END-->






Twenty Yuuzhan Vong capital ships responded immediately when the villip choir on Tallien's Religious Command ship suddenly (and abruptly) stopped communicating.


Capital ships took up positions around the fallen craft, their villip signals going back and forth frantically, attempting to find order among the chaos that bombarded their organic senses.


//The infidels did what??// Tslah Vhess snarled out.


//They have brought down the Master Shaper's command ship, master// the soldier fearlessly informed.


The brutal honestly displayed by his warrior impressed Tslah on one level while, on another, his anger barely held in check as that same honest reverberated against what he knew to be faith.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What are the gods telling us?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


//Leave no infidel alive in the region. No man, no woman.. no chit.. no.. jeedai//


//It shall be accomplished, lord//



The Yuuzhan Vong brutal strike against the cities had been going well, those infidel habitats being cleansed of their filth methodically.


//Is the Master Shaper dead?//


//His vessel is injured greatly, lord. Communicating with it is proving.. difficult//


//Have our corral fighters destroy any abomination that fled the metal abberation that pulled the Master Shaper's vessel from the sky.//


//Their distance was not far. Many, in fact, were destroyed by the hovering fighters.//


//Vinda, maker of abominations, shall know pain.// Tslah vowed, this affrontery a mockery of his actions just as much as Tallien's.


//He will go to his death screaming for life, clawing like a wild animal for one more moment of breath//


The War Coordinator walked over to a wall that seemed to change into topographical maps of the planet.


//Instruct all warriors to meet us here// he pointed to the living map that the Capricians knew to be the Highlands.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Focus on the task at hand. Do not underestimate the cleverness of the creatures you hunt.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*Looking out of the small window from within his private quarters, Vinda could just start to make out the downed Vong Command ship engulfed in a cloud of smoke, before it became obscured by the Caprician landscape...

He couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding about how they would respond to it...

..that and the orders he had just given to Isstal, whether he was doing the right thing by staying on Capricia...

Shrugging these thoughts off for the time being he focused his mind on the present, and called thru to the pilot via the comms...*

"...how long until we rendezvous at the rallying point?..."

*the Pilot responded quickly....*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "..about ten minutes, we'll be there in no time..."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*Vinda paused for a moment, ten minutes was fine for everyone onboard this craft, but what about those on foot?...he responded, his voice collected....*

"...recall all fighters, from whatever they are doing, I want those onfoot to have air support..."

*the order was promptly acknowledged and relayed, and Vinda signed off..*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...a fighting chance at least...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*A loud rumbling sound followed by an abrupt shaking bought him out of his thoughts once more...placing his hands out against the wall to steady himself , he caught sight of two rapidly moving dark shapes flash past the window...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...enemy fighters!....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> banked left sharply to avoid the flurry of plasma-fire spewed by the two highly manouverable Coral skippers...

..as they spun around to regroup and launch another attack run , the Criuser's engines accelerated hard...

...Vinda, caught by surprise was sent flying, landing in a heap on the floor. He was about to curse, loudly, when, suddenly he was sent reeling once more as the Cruiser nose-dived dangerously in an attempt to throw off the fast moving attackers...

The vessel shook violently and creaked as if in protest as it scrapped through the tops of trees sending foliage and birds flying in all directions. The enemy fighters followed closely behind weaving in and out of the debris thrown up by the ninety metre long ship....

Struggling to get up, Vinda's face frowned even further as a pile of boxes stacked up in the corner , stocked full of supplies, slid towards him , knocking him back over.

Outside, Vinda's vessel launched itself back up skywards, with the fighters in close pursuit, as the fighters quickly gained and sped up quickly to start to attack , <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus's<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> pilot turned slightly, offering the right flank of the vessel up as the best possible target for the incoming fighters, they accelerated in reply , taking the bait...

Waiting until the last possible moment, the pilot airbraked sharply, as a result the two fighters caught by surprise over-reached a little .With its turbo-lasers charged, and photon torpedos armed, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Narcissus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> sent a blistering array of firepower towards the two enemy craft, their hard exterior, giving way under the pressure, fissuring and cracking into a burst of flames...

In his quarters, Vinda, who by this time had found himself on the other side of the room, got to his feet slightly dazed, and looking more than slightly dishevelled heard the pilot's voice come through over the comms...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...are you ok Sir?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*rolling his eyes , and biting his lip, Vinda replied, his annoyance clearly evident ....The carcasm was not lost on the Pilot, who smirked slightly at the response that came through...*



"....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> swell<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Kyoto Station<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




*As the doors to the Command room onboard the station slid apart to reveal Commander Isstal and his colonel, Richter stood to greet him...*

"...Mr Isstal, its a pleasure to finally meet you, Vinda-Corp is in your debt, your annhilation of the CSA fleet was masterful..."

*..As he talked they all took their seats, Richter smiled wryly, his eyes focued on Isstals...*

"...I heard of the message that Mr Vinda sent you, to be honest with you, we always knew this day would come, it was just a matter of...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> when<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->...."

*He paused for a minute as he glanced down at a data-pad he was holding....*

"...which was why we developed this plan of action, in the event of such a situation occurring..."

*He slid the data-pad towards Isstal, and as he studied it closely, Richter continued talking...*

"....The CSA, showed their hand, and failed, now....it is time for us to show ours...what you have in front of you is the guidelines for a military campaign to retaliate against the CSA. We are not going to sit and await for any further action to be committed against us...we need to strike back, and strike back....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> hard<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."

*he took a moment to gauge Isstal's reaction, then continued..*

"...With the military incursions committed by the Rogue Jedi Order , and the destruction of their major attack fleet, the time is right...we shall start by hitting them where it hurts the most...

...their pockets..."