It is a time of great loss. Though the GREAT WAR has ended, the death toll is high. Thousands lie dead, and GDI's armada has been cut in half.

But all is good, for the war's outcome was in their favour. DarkestSith6 has not been seen for months. He is believed dead.

And now, from the ashes GDI rises again to defend the free peoples of the galaxy.</font>

<font color=silver size=2>New Alderaan - Orbital Command Station

"Sir, the last reports are in." Supreme Commander Isstal spun.

"And?" he asked, smiling grimly. Admiral Drayson's eyes lit up.

"All enemy resistance has failed." Isstal nodded.

"Excellent, Admiral." He turned away and looked out the viewport.

"What of ourselves? What do we have left?" Admiral Drayson consulted his data-pad.

"Have the effective fleet, sir. With several more vessels undergoing repairs. Our construction capabilites have been reduced, I'm afraid. We have... five operational shipyards and a construction yard. Several more are under construction here, but they will not be complete for some time."

Isstal nodded. He knew all of this.

"What of the Capitol?" he asked. The news was not good.

"Siezed, sir. By the Order of Eternal Darkness. Balmorra is under the influence of Balmorra Arms Co, and Khomm was devestated in the attack."

Isstal sighed.

"We can rebuild, sir. We will regain the capital eventually." Isstal nodded.

"Yes, yes, of course. It's just - Admiral, do you think it was worth it?" Drayson looked at him a second before responding.

"The war, sir? Of course. Despite everything, the Sith had to be stopped." Isstal nodded his agreement.

"Good. Admiral, I want you to do something for me. I am giving you the Slight of Hand. I want you to find out what is happening in the galaxy at large, and report your findings to me." He smiled as he handed the Admiral a data-pad.

"Welcome to Alpha Blue."

Alpha Blue Flagship Slight of Hand - Byss System

[i]All great things must come to an end.

Of course, that's only saying that his is an end.

Admiral Drayson stared out the viewports at the planet he had once called home.

Byss: formerly the Emperor's thronworld. He sighed.

"Helm, lets go. We've got everything we need." The three small starships spun in space and elongated as they accelerated past lightspeed.

Present Day - New Alderaan

Supreme Commander Isstal turned as Admiral Drayson and Cononel Ross entered the room.

He smiled.

"Admiral, Colonel. You have reports, I assume?" Drayson nodded.

"We do, sir." he fished a datacard from his pocket and handed it Isstal, who placed it in his reader.

"It appears that Byss has declared neutrality, sir. They are unimpressed with their former rulers. The latest polls show a 75% popular support in our favour, sir." Isstal smiled.

Three years ago, before the Great War, GDI had been in possession of Byss.

Now they would be once more. Smiling still, he turned to Colonel Ross.

"Colonel, prepare my shuttle. I believe we should pay a visit to the former capitol." The Colonel saluted and left, leaving Isstal and Drayson alone in the room.

"You look troubled, sir." Drayson ventured. Isstal laughed.

"Troubled, Admiral? Hardly." he beckoned to the Admiral to stand beside him.

"Look at it, Admiral. After all we went through, we have gained something back." Drayson nodded.

Outside the viewport were the gleaming hulls of the Galactic Defence Initiative First Fleet.

A fleet that had been all but destroyed in the Great War.

"Admiral," Isstal said. "How would you feel about commanding the First?" Drayson spun to face him.

"The First, sir? I'd be honoured... but what about Alpha Blue?" Isstal nodded as if he'd expected the question.

"You are still in charge of Alpha Blue, Admiral, and will remain so for the forseeable future. However, I wish for you to join me when I make my appearance at Byss." He grinned.

"Slight of Hand will serve as a command ship for the mission." Admiral Drayson saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

Messenger - GDI Seventh Task Force – Byss System

The swirling blue tunnel that was hyperspace retreated, being replaced with an empty field of black, as the Carrack Cruiser Messenger reverted to realspace. The little ship was eclipsed, however, by the massive shape of the Imperial Star Destroyer Conquest.

On the bridge of the Carrack, Commander Davis looked out at the distant world of Byss, former capital of the Galactic Defence Initiative. He smiled. He had been to Byss as a Lieutenant… before the war. Since the end of that war he had served on the cruiser Messenger, eventually rising to the rank of Captain of the vessel.

Now, as he looked out at the planet and the stars beyond, he smiled. With the GDI’s reclaiming of Byss he had been promoted to Commander, and given a position to oversee the Seventh Task Force of GDI’s armada.

“Ensign,” he spoke quietly. “Prepare my shuttle.” The woman nodded and saw to it.

Seventh Task Force Flagship Conquest – Byss System

Commander Davis’ shuttle set down in the cavernous hanger bay of the Imperial Star Destroyer Conquest with a soft thump and the sound of escaping steam. The ramp lowered, and Davis strode down it. The sound of 1000 soldiers coming to attention and snapping their feet into place echoed throughout the hanger bay. Truly an awe-inspiring sound.

The captain of the ship, Wallace, approached the shuttle and saluted. Commander Davis returned the salute and waited.

“Sir, welcome to Conquest.” Wallace said. Davis looked around the bay and nodded in approval.

“This is all very impressive, Captain. I see that you have kept this ship in excellent condition.” Wallace nodded.

“We try our best, sir.” Davis laughed softly.

“Your best is very good, Captain.” Before the Captain could respond a voice echoed across the Public Address system: “Captain Wallace, Commander Davis, to the bridge, please. Repeat: Captain Wallace, Commander Davis, to the bridge.” Davis turned

“Captain?” Wallace nodded and led the way to the Star Destroyer’s bridge tower.

Turning at the sound of the bridge doors sliding shut, Liora Layna strode forward to meet the newly-arrived.

"Commander Davis, I presume?" Smiling diplomatically, Liora extended a gloved hand with the practiced grace of either a princess, or a politician.

"My name is Liora Layna. I served at a diplomat and senator for GDI before the Great War, and I have decided to continue doing so, seeing as how my services have come to be in high demand."

<font color=gold>Davis smiled.

"M'lady, it a pleasure to have you. I trust you enjoyed the trip?"

She nodded, causing Davis' smile to grow.

"The Supreme Commander should be here soon, but it is our job to visit the planet and see if we can't swing the planet's allegiance our way.

"We have a shuttle departing soon... I assume you will want to join them?"

<hr>
<font color=red>
GDI Second Battlegroup Flagship Slight of Hand - New Alderaan Orbit

"Admiral on the bridge!" No matter how many times he heard it, Supreme Commander Isstal never grew tired of the formal introduction he recieved on stepping onto a ship's bridge. And despite his rank of Supreme Commander, 'Admiral on the bridge' was the correct announcement for him.

Isstal smiled and saluted the officers, all of whom were standing at attention.

"Captain, is my flagship ready?" He asked, gazing about the faces of the ship's bridgecrew.

"The fleet is at your command, Admiral." [/i]The vessel's Captain, a young Mon Calamari acknowledged.[/i] "We await your orders."

"Give me an open com to the rest of the group." It was done. Isstal picked up his microphone and spoke:

"Today is a great day... for all of us. Three years ago we lost much in the war with the Sith... today we get it back.

We will reclaim our capital at Byss and rebuild! We will not let another enemy crush us, and we will stand proud in the pursuit of freedom!" He put down the mike and clicked off the com system.

"Helm, take us out."

Liora smiled back at Commander Davis, nodding her answer. "I presume you will also be aboard that shuttle, Commander?"

<font color=gold>Byss System

Davis nodded.

"Of course," he gestured towards the door. "Shall we go then?"

Liora nodded.

"Colonel, you have command. Alert me when the Supreme Commander's group arrives." The younger man saluted.

"Aye aye, sir!"

<hr>

<font color=red>HOC Slight of Hand - Hyperspace en route to Byss

[i]Ten years ago my father told me that nothing in life came easily, and anything that did was to good to be true.

What he didn't mention was how hard these things came.

What you want the most is most often the most difficult to get. The most prized things: all but impossible.

For ten years I have struggled to bring peace to the galaxy. I have fought in more battles than I can remember, much less count, and have sent more men to their deaths than I like to think about.

Most people would call me a hero, but I'm not. I'm just a man striving to gain what everyone desires. I'm just one man who believes that peace is a possiblity, and that everything in life must be worked for.

Ten years ago, I was filled with ambition and the desire to fight - to kill.

Now that desire is gone, replaced by a knowing that what I do is a neccessity. I may not like war, in fact I hate it. War is evil. But it is a neccessary evil.

No one ever achieved peace through nice manners and good intentions. If you desire peace then you must prepare for war.

How true that is... sadly true, but true none-the-less. And though we strive for peace, we find it just out of our grasp.

There is always someone who tries to take it away from us. And war means more death. More pain. More suffering.

War is evil. But yet, it cannot be avoided. And so, despite a seething hatred of war, we engage in it.

We tell ourselves its for the greater good, but is it really? Will the deaths of a thousand today mean that tomorrow, a thousand will live?

That is our goal, the preservation of life and the continuance of peace. But to gain peace we must fight, and to fight is to lack peace.

So, the question before us all is...

Is peace really possible?

I remember the celebration we had three months ago when our goal was achieved.

<font color=gold>

Yes, peace really is possible.

Settling herself aboard the shuttle, Liora waited for refreshments to be brought to her via droid. Watching Commander Davis seat himself across from her, she smiled before speaking her mind.

"What are your hopes for these negotiations, Commander? Do you really think it possible for GDI to rise from the ashes and become the great power it once was?"

<font color=gold>Davis smiled and accepted the drink offered by the droid.

"Oh yes, Miss Layna. The Supreme Commander is set on this, and with his plans for Byss and beyond, I do not think we can fail.

We are in very good condition, and short of a full scale war like the last one we should be in fine shape." He sipped his drink thoughtfully.

"Of course, there may yet be problems we cannot see. The path to success is long and bumpy."