*


"<!--EZCODE ITALIC START-->Invictus Clannus Martiallus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->"


The old man stared hard at the group of intent younger soldiers gathered around an old table and smiled inwardly. He never tired of telling the story.

"And with those three words our entire colony was thrust into the greatest war our people had ever known. The Conquest of Capricia."

And a small bit of sadness crept in for he knew the youngsters would only look to the glory of the words... the glory of victory.

New recruits hardly looked to the cost of such victories.

They had no patience for the memories of an old man and the hardships of the conflict to defend their homeworld. But they would wait a century for any tale involving the heroic Tyscio Korban, the legendary Jedi Master Solo, the revered Regent Leantre, the swashbuckling courage of Seth Vinda...


Sometimes the old man had to remind himself that the events his mind called back from memory actually happened. Some of those events seemed too...


unreal.


He cleared his throat and turned his head to spit. He growled to himself...at himself for such philosophical meanderings that truly held no weight and had no place with a good, common, down to earth soldier such as himself.


A war hero himself, though, truth be told he shrugged off the recognition, he privately treasured the medal the Regent had personally placed upon his dress tunic.

As a hero he had a choice of retiring but military service was all he had known and so, here he was, on Elrood (of all places) leading his old marine detachment for the late warship Judicator.

Their numbers had just grown to regimental size with new recruits straight from the Commonwealth War Colleges. A fancy name to put guns in boys hands and put them out to field.

The military was in a state of transition as the policitics of the new Commonwealth sorted themselves out. Many branches of military service found themselves used as pawns to further one political agenda or another.

The old man had no use for politics and so had taken his men to the very edge of Commonwealth Territory...

At least in one direction. The Corporate Sector represented the "other" end.


Elrood was primarily an educational and research center with buildings being put up as fast as humanly possible. Construction vehicles littered the grounds and several archeological sites had swarms of people milling over them.

A temporary barracks had been set up and the old man had barely begun to organize the new regimental base when word came that his regiment would soon have an officer to command them.

The communication from Commonwealth Command had surprised them all for the regiment considered the old man their boss. To replace him... him with some upstart, high born officer type stuck in his craw.


Still, he was a soldier and orders were orders.


And as he sat there telling his story, he vaguely knew that the new Regiment Commander's transport was due any time now. That was why he paid no heed to the drones of engines overhead.

At least at first.


As their whine became more distinguished he paused and held a hand to quiet the complaints from the soldiers as he cocked an ear skyward.

Not ours...


Even as the thought ran through his mind, he was suddenly knocked to the ground by the shockwave of a close proximity explosion. As he pushed himself up, he noted looks of surprise from the experienced and near looks of panic from the recruits.


Newbies!

He spat again barking out crisp commands that whipped the attention of his soldiers back to him and away from the outside explosions.


The familiar tempo of adrenaline picked up as he prepared to throw himself and his men back into the fight.


Bout damn time!



Mathias' massive hand grabbed the back collar of a scared youngster and pulled him alongside as he pushed through the doors that led outside.


Confusion was everywhere and dust littered the sky severely limiting visibility.

He did notice the blunt craft that were making individual attack runs, not more than a handful.


Even that though seemed to be sowing more confusion than Mathias had thought possible.


Hundreds being held in check by 4..... no, 5 craft.





Brilliant!




"Private!" he shouted. "Bring those damned batteries online! NOW!"

*


The attack only lasted a few minutes but what chaos they wrought in such a short amount of time.


The panic that spread through the academic community (literally) had hindered the regrouping efforts of the military and truth be told, however unpleasant it really was..


We got caught with our britches down!


The fact that there were fewer than ten ships that attacked (all fighter class) told Mathias that their attackers had no intention of pressing their advantage.

With what?


The only significant body of soldiers around were the 1st Providence, his own regiment. Scanning equipment still functioned and there was no enemy within their radius detected.

Sure they could land their soldiers behind the scanning wall but to what end? They'd still have to march across that wall to approach and, if by ground, it would still give Mathias and his regiment time to prepare.

No, the danger were the quick strikes from the air, as the attackers so aptly demonstrated.


"Batteries 4 and 5 are having power fluctuations sir." a newly appointed Lieutenant informed him as he walked up to a group of his soldiers debating the fire control grid for the anti-aircraft batteries.

"Sir! Any power discharge and the damn things will blow. I need to bring them offline for repairs.."

"With what, Gannis? Our equipment is still enroute!"

"If they both blow, we won't need the equipment," snapped Seargent Gannis and another Lieutenant bristled.

"Shut up, all of you!" Mathias barked and the soldiers shifted uneasily. "You're crying over split milk like baby ewes eyeing their mother's tit!"

His eyes coldly raked them over and he pointed a finger at the technical Seargent. "Get those damned batteries offline."

"But that'll..." one Lieutenant blurted, Mathias turning toward him interrupting.

"..leave a gap in our grid so large a star destroyer could fly through." Mathias added and the younger man nodded.

"Then, my young pups, move the batteries you have to compensate."

"It'll reduce our coverage!" another said.

"What good is the coverage if you've a large gap? Think, you newbie pups! Think! Remove the gap and you make what we can cover protected."

The others stared at him and Mathias grumbled. "Get moving ladies!" which broke them up.


*

"Major!" came a high pitched shout and Mathias turned around to notice several academicians coming over to speak and surpressed an inward groan.


"Major! The Commonwealth promised us protection! Protection!" The man waved his hands in the air behind him. "Does that look like protection?"


"We're working on it." he snapped. He knew he shouldn't for the men represented the ruling body, though an academician one, on Elrood and therefore representatives of the Commonwealth.

"Personally, I think you could do a better job.." someone interjected and Mathias growled at the men.

"Is there anything practical you wish to add?" the Major asked with a rapidly dissappearing grain of patience.

One of the men stopped and blinked as if presented with a problem. "Of course, Major. Your Colonel has arrived and we certainly expect him to do a much better job."

"If he's to retain it.." another added and all the men nodded.

"Where is he?" a Lieutenant asked, coming up along side the Major saving the men from a sound throttling Mathias was gearing up to give. He turned to the younger man and scowled but said nothing in reprimand.

Though younger, this Lieutenant had actuall fought in the Conquest of Capricia and had earned the right to speak up with a few words... and probably a few more after that.


"Over at the logistics office trying to make sense of.."

"WHAT? What is that damned fool trying to do?" From experience Mathias knew officers and logistics did not mesh well. Mathias had a feeling he would be working long into the night to undo the damages their new "boss" was inflicting.

"We'd better get going." the Lieutenant started but the other men kept talking amongst themselves oblivious.

"What a nice young man. Vinda, his name was?"


And Mathias stopped for a second, and then moved quicker over to the Appropriations Department.

"Vinda?" Lieutenant Veers asked, keeping pace.

"Beats the hell out of me, 'Ears' but I suppose we'll find out soon enough." Mathias grunted.


".. But Vinda?"


Mathias had to agree. Already the Vinda Corp Security Personnel that had transferred to Commonwealth Military Branch and specifically his regiment were not anything to write home about.

Kids really.


Paper-pusher kids. I bet Zier got all Vinda's best with the Navy!


He turned and spit nearing building that served as Logistics Center for the 1st Providence.


Vinda?

*


The man was tall and was conversing with a lovely junior grade officer who manned the Military Appropriations Desk for the 1st Providence.

"Major Mathias and Lieutenant Veers reporting Colonel," he sounded out catching the young Colonel off guard. A bit of irritation flashed across his face but it was gone in a second as the young lady he had been talking to took the time to get back to her duties.

"Colonel Vinda," the young man offered and stood straight saluting causing Mathias and Veers to snap to attention.

"At ease, gentlemen. Commonwealth Command has given me direct command of the 1st Providence."

"Just graduate from the Academy?" Veers commented and the irritation on Vinda's face returned.

"Lieutenant, perhaps you should consult the regulations on what actually constitutes 'at ease'." Vinda returned causing Veers to bristle at the comment and the return to formality.

"Major, If this is the way the 1st Providence has been handled, it's no wonder such damage was caused without so much as a return of fire."

A deep growl was forming in the Major's throat at this new upstart and he knew that Capricia had assigned this fool to his regiment to be a sore pain in his ass.

A common ailment that veterans suffered apparently.

"Sir. I have to ask. 'Vinda'?" Mathias asked in a voice that was curious. The Colonel laughed understanding the Major's voice to be timid or shy and placed a placating hand on his Major's shoulder.

"No relation, though the name recognition has been good to me."

"But.. sir, Vinda is not really that common of a..."

"I have answered your question, man. Invasion of privacy is not a habit I indulge in!" the Colonel snapped and the Major inwardly sighed snapping back to attention.

"So, tell me, Major. What do we know of these attackers? I need to be brought up to speed about their attack and what we are doing about it."



Damned little! Mathias thought. Then he sighed.


This was going to be a long tour of duty.

"The fighter markings show it to be a fringe group?"

"A what?" Lieutenant Veers looked up in confusion.

"Pirates, Ears. Pirates." Mathias offered, tired having been up all night.

"Where would they be based?" Colonel Vinda asked pointedly, standing up to view the holographic map of the Elrood Sector. "Their composition suggests something greater than short range fighters."

"Somewhat, Sir!" agreed the Private giving the report. "Added power and fuel pylons and upgraded weaponry." he said, pointing to the few video captures taken during the attack.

"So where is their hiding place?" Vinda murmured staring intently at the map. He stepped back and turned to face the others, "My money is on Kidron!" he announced.

"Why do you say that?" Mathias asked grumpily, hating being at the meeting.

"Some Academicians were arguing with the KSD (Kidron System Defense). It's a well known fact that the place is a haven for the local scum and convicts. The Marzullo database had something about it though they left the Marzullo Empire alone. Even the Jedi Temple before mentioned problems between the KSD and pirates."

"That, in itself, does not really mean anything..." Mathias started.

"Dammit, man! The Commonwealth is here to stay! We are here to extend our interests and, more importantly, to protect our interests in this area. And pirating is just not going to be tolerated."

Mathias quelched a groan. "Are you contemplating military action against Kidron?"

The Colonel frowned. "A preemptive strike against pirate havens, even if we do not strike those that actually attacked us, would send a message throughout the entire sector."

"Sir, our assets are not secured here. In another six months, full military and colonization missions are slated to leave the Caprician System to reinforce our position here. To upset the delicate balance we've managed to achieve here would only.."

"They attacked!"

"That we were attacked, yes! I agree. But to attack a sovereign state..."

"If they harbor pirates, then perhaps they shouldn't be in power." Colonel Vinda retorted. "I've seen our roster. We can shoot transports over to Kidron and land the 1st Providence and be on their cities in under a week!"

The casual thought woke Mathias up but it was Veers who commented wide-eyed. "Launch full transports without naval support? They'd slaughter us."

"We'd have the element of surprise on our side." the Colonel insisted. "And according to every tactical analysis I've read, surprise is half the battle."

"Surprise, you're dead." muttered Veers in a tone that only Mathias could hear.

"Colonel," Mathias spoke up, "Perhaps you should review our stores to see if we've enough equipment to move the entire regiment across the system before coming to any decision regarding a course of action. I think that would be an excellent idea, Sir.."

"Capital idea, Major. Brilliant." the Colonel brightened seeing that a veteran had given his plan at least some thought.

Elrood System - "The Corridor"


"What do you think about these newcomers?"

Preta smiled a truly feral smile at her personal guard as they slowly made their way through the caverns that proved to be their temporary base for this operation.

"Academics...Politically naive, militarily inferior and understrength." She licked her lips. "Just like I want them."

"So you think they will strike at Kidron?"

"Oh, I do believe they will. The fighters were made to look like those fools protected under the KSD. They will smash through the KSD."

"Why not simply stay where they are?"

Preta laughed softly. "Then they will be struck again. And again. And again until they are motivated to move."

"If their military presence leaves, we can strike .."

"No." the woman said stopping to put a finger on her guard's lips.

"Not yet." she whispered moving the finger across the guard's cheek. As her hand grasped the back of his neck, forcing his head down her lips met his forcefully. Biting his lower lip drawing blood, she smiled inwardly.

Everything was moving according to her desires.

"Major," Lieutenant Veers whispered, "I didn't survive the bloody invasion only to die on some backwater planet at the orders of some idiot!"

"Ears," Mathias whispered back harshly, "because we were both fighting the invaders, I will let that one slide. But any more comments like that and I'll have you in chains!"

Lt. Veers drew back in surprise. Mathias pressed his case, "If discipline breaks down now, we are finished. No matter who is leading us, the fact remains that we are the Commonwealth's ONLY military force in this region. If we are destroyed, Elrood is helpless and the planet is lost. We cannot break now!"

He relented, "Besides, I've been looking at the Colonel's plan a little bit more closely and he does have a point. He may be young and the move bold, but we could effectively land our regiment and be on top of them before they have time to react. If we can avoid the KSD Fleet."

"The hinge that everything rests on." the Lieutenant agreed, taking the rebuke in stride knowing the Major was right. Still, he didn't have to like the plan or the Colonel. "Major, let's say we are successful with Kidron. What if the message we send is not the warning we intended but a call for other systems to unite against us?

We would be forcing their hand for no real reason. We need to investigate the attack more!"

Mathias grinned and Lt. Veers knew he had walked into a trap. "As our Colonel would say, Capital Idea, Lieutenant! As it turns out, we need someone overseeing the investigation and I want someone there who I know will dig to find the truth. The Colonel is reacting. It is understandable due to his inexperience. But I want to make sure he is not reacting to someone else's tune. Reacting to a situation is one thing. Reacting to someone else is another thing altogether!"

Lt. Veers grimaced at his new duty but nodded. "I best get on it then. Knowing the Colonel, he may want to launch a strike today."

"Not likely," Mathias chuckled but then turned serious, "But he will want to move as soon as possible. You won't have much time."

The Lieutenant nodded again and was off to his task leaving the Major alone.
He had an odd feeling regarding the attack but could not quite put his finger on it.

He shook his head and immediately set his pace to the Inventory Office to yell at the boys over there.

*

Colonel Vinda sat on his rather plain cot trying to control the shaking of his hand and frayed nerves. It was intimidating interacting with veterans from the Caprician invasion and he already feared that his despite his attempts, the 1st Providence just did not respect him.

He looked up and saw a familiar icon of the Jedi. The 1st Providence had taken to posting and carrying the icons and symbols representing the Jedi Order as a sort of good luck charm.

It was a reminder that Leia Organa was something special to their regiment, some soldiers even superstitiously praying to the Order for whatever.

He thought it a silly tradition but he also knew most of the military corps held onto their traditions or whatever it was that saw them successfully through one battle after another.


Never having been in battle it was something he could not quite comprehend.


The Major seemed to give his idea merit and it was not an idea he took lightly. On the transport, which delayed docking due to the attack, he had thought long and hard about what action to take.


It was a risk, he knew, to move troop carriers without fighter support.


Hell, without any support.


But the move was just bold enough to perhaps not be expected and given what he’d read about in the brief over the 1st Providence he felt sure they could handle whatever came their way on the ground.


Of course, that was a sureness brought on by blind faith in what he read and not actual experience.


In order to obtain credibility and respect, he would need to survive a battle. The thought terrified him but he was determined to make his situation work.


It was amazing how the “Vinda” name had helped him progress in school, allowed him to attend universities that were otherwise out of his financial reach. His mother had named him to honor the man who ended the massive depression that was being suffered on Bonadan when the Vinda Corporation bought out the CSA puppet government’s outstanding debt and improved living conditions so many years ago.


Now, Bonadan was the capital of the Corporate Sector and the people of the planet took pride in their new status. Those that traveled were received well when claiming to be a citizen of Bonadan for outsiders never knew who would have the ear of the enigmatic Seth Vinda.


And then the Capricians came.


Considered by some aristocratic know-it-alls and presumptuous in their belief of self determination, they wondered what Mr. Vinda liked about them.


But, the fact that they were becoming ever increasingly important in the Vinda Corp sphere, the more discerning citizen did not dismiss these Capricians so quickly.


And now Bonadan passed into what was called a Commonwealth, controlled (many feared) by Capricia. But those doomsayers were faced with the fact that business continued on as usual. The Corporate Sector did not fall apart and a free-flow of inter-commonwealth travel sprung up.


Intermarriages from people who lived their whole life in the Corporate Sector to those that never left the Caprician system became the norm of the day.


It definitely was a strange new galaxy they found themselves in.


It will all be better in the morning.


The Colonel sighed and shifted his body on the cot hoping to fall off to sleep.


It didn’t come till hours later.

"Major. Just what do you think about the idea?" Colonel Vinda asked the next day as the shuttles were being prepped.

"Tough call, Sir." the grizzled Major grunted back reviewing the repair reports. "The Academicians are crying to Homeworld for protection. The government cannot act outside it's own allocation perimeters. Plainly, Elrood is off the beaten path. By acting as you suggest, you give the Academicians comfort in knowing something is being done."

The Major turned to the young Colonel.

"But at what cost? We do not really know if Kidron is responsible They only happen to be the closest at hand. They may harbor pirates but that is not proof that they attacked us. If we are wrong, we set the standard for military policy in this region for the next decade. If we are wrong, alot of people will die and Commonwealth credibility in this region won't be worth spit."


"Leutenant Veers does not seem to like me." Vinda said quietly.

"To hell with Lt. Veers!" Mathias barked loudly. And then added, "Sir. This is not a popularity contest!"

He sighed.

"Sir, these men are brave. They will go where you lead and accomplish what you set them to do to the best of their ability. But, remember this sir, these people are veterans of the Invasion. They've seen war at it's worst and that we are still alive is a testament to their value.

Do not squander it.


They will die for you, sir. That is their job and promise to you as soldiers. But, as regimental commander, you have a responsibility to them as well. Let their deaths count for something.


Be sure!"



The Colonel remained silent for a while as Mathias went back to scanning the report noting a few mistakes here and there.

"Then perhaps our maneuver should remain undetectable. And perhaps we should have a few observatory drones attached to the regiment as well, wouldn't you say Major? Something Lt. Veers could work on personally?"


Mathias grinned. "Sir, I thought you'd never ask."

*





Commonwealth Government Council - Capricia




"What was Herridian thinking by laying claim to Elrood?" Leantre asked to the others comprising the various organizations making up the Commonwealth.


"Perhaps it was the fact that 1. Elrood was uninhabited, 2. It held a wealth of knowledge on the Sith and Jedi having both temples in one spot, a very rare find it seems. And 3. Advanced ancient Caprician technology." Hespante answered the old former Regent.

"It's too bloody far to properly support. Vinda Corporation is demanded their fair share of representation, which means that we'd have to pull ships from the Corporate Sector run to divert to Elrood. Also, it takes twice as long to get their." the Minister of Economy complained stating the obvious.


"Bonadan can hold for a few weeks. We should be diverting whole convoy's to Elrood now!" Hespante advised.


"Already they are under attack from pirates, it seems." Tyscio Zier, Admiral of the Commonwealth Fleet indicated. "Our fleet is spread too thin as it is between Capricia, Corporate Sector and Scipio's mission to Elom, there is nothing to spare just yet for Elrood."

"What of the Stellar Explorer?" someone else asked and Zier turned to look at the man.

"The ship is untested and untried. We have new systems aboard but the crew is still being trained. It is not scheduled to launch for another few months."


"Perhaps we can field it early. A shakedown cruise to Elrood that doubles as a transport run as well as a show of protection."

Tyscio Zier grimaced. "Sir's the Explorer is just that. It is a research and science vessel-"

"..That also happens to be armed. Granted it isn't a battleship but it can defend itself well enough."

"Assuming the equipment works as it should."

"Take engineers man! Besides, they should be able to last a week or two which is enough time to reassign the ships under Scipio's command to Elrood as support."

"Support for what?" Zier asked with narrowing eyes and Leantre grinned.

"Support for what will be the Explorer's mission."

"You're being very cryptic, Leantre. What mission?"

The old man's grin widened, "Why to unite the Elrood Sector and bring it into the Commonwealth, of course."


Tyscio Zier's eyebrows rose in surprise.


So much so that Leantre was compelled to respond, "When you plan, Tyscio, plan big."

Space Dock.... aboard the Stellar Explorer




Herridian Wye was a rather short and portly. Even so, he jumped out of his chair in record speed in reaction to Tyscio Zier's message from the Commonwealth Government.

"You want us to launch when?" he asked incredulously.

"Day after tomorrow. Stick to the trade routes and you'll be in the Elrood Sector in record time."

"If the engines don't give out!" snapped Herridian back. "This is all new technology, Zier. We are working with hardlight technology. Holographic circuitry!

We haven't even began to unload the storage containers.."


"Sweet Clannus Prime, Herridian. Do it enroute! Do it afterward. But get to teh sector and get a handle on things there."

"I'm not a diplomat," Herridian complained. "Get Scipio. Telling other people to do stuff is her department."

"Unfortunately, she's talking over on Elom..."

"Of all the damned organizational..."

"Herridian, be quiet!" Zier snapped. "Stop complaining! We both know the state of the fleet and we both know that your ship is the closest thing available and we both know you are going!"

"I know!" Growled Herridian, "It's just... It's just I wanted the first mission to be an exploratory mission. You know... go where no Caprician had gone before.."


Tyscio Zier's eyes softened. "I am sorry, Wye. I wish I could give you that mission."


The former leader of Herridian Clan sighed. "We'll launch in four hours."


"Herridian, you don't need too.."


"If I read your reports correctly, speed is what we need. Another day in Space Dock would not make us more prepared. We'll just work out our kinks enroute.

Our defenses and weapons have already been rated."


"Then I'll wish you good hunting."


"If you mean for archeological sites, I'll accept the sentiment." Wye murmured, faint memories of the Invasion coming to mind. "Just watch over Skyler and Sun, will you?"


"Like they were my own," the white haired fleet leader assured.