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Posted On:
Nov 9 2002 6:04am
The task force under the Command of Vice Admiral Desaria had one task before its retirement: to capture four planetary systems around one target the Empire had deemed strategically and tactically valuable. The task before the commander of the Brass Protectorate Fleet was to create an island out of the target designated its importance by the brass at Imperial High Command. In doing so, four nearby systems had to be taken.
More than that, they needed to be subjugated and cleansed of any and all presence that had once been the enemy’s. Vice Admiral Desaria had vowed to complete his orders to the utmost level of his talent and ability. Little did the Admiral know that his unknown vow had been heard by the Upper Echelons of the most secretive branches of the Imperial Security Forces, who had made their own vow and decision.
In plain Basic: they would make sure of it.
The interest of the Internal Security Bureau and Committee for the Preservation of the New Order, COMPNOR, since merged into departments of the Imperial Security Forces, was clearly emphasized by the arrival of one of their commissioned henchmen onto the flagship of Vice Admiral Desaria. The Admiral was by no means pleased by the respirator bound Captain, and had every intention to display his Imperial-attitude to the brash ISB agent. With a stroke of luck, he would be able to execute him in the field for cowardice or incompetence.
The Captain, having distanced himself from combat and sought only to erode the Admiral’s impeccable standing among his men, had not been obliging.
It was therefore left to the irate Desaria to formulate a plan.
An opportunity presented itself in the form of the typically ominous Imperial Command Communiqué.
Vice Admiral Desaria, Commanding Officer, Brass Protectorate Fleet, Commanding Officer: Operation Vulcan
The schedule set for the completion of Operation Vulcan has been amended. The remaining three systems must be subjugated at the most four days hence. Orders will follow pending the completion thereof.
Signed
Colonel-General Maximillian van der Ruundstadt
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff
At the end of reading the coded holo-missive, an evil grin formed on the boyish face of Admiral Desaria. Evil had finally found an outlet.
* * *
Captain Trachta was most displeased by the appearance of two Fleet troopers inside his quarters as he began his long procedure for the commencement of sleep. Reluctantly, he dressed as the silent, stern faced troopers waited for him. They escorted him to the office level, four levels below the bridge where the Admiral’s primary office was located. The room was an expansive, almost cavernous structure. A foreword facing window sat at the end of the room, with a high-backed, satin cushioned chair behind a wide, stained greel wood desk. The carving was elegant and hand-completed, a rarity in the galaxy in the modern era. The desk alone was worth the annual salary of a Captain, no matter the branch affiliation.
The Captain stepped through, as did the Fleet troopers flanking him. As the blast door whooshed shut behind him, each of the troopers took up a characteristic stance on either side of the archway, their gloved hands crossed across their chests.
The affect the Admiral was trying to create, sitting easily behind his impressive desk, his tunic done up but looking at complete ease, was obvious: he was attempting to assert control.
Captain Trachta would not be intimidated and moved closer than he should have. At that, the Admiral looked up from some flimsiplasts he was studying and motioned to one of two equally lavish chairs on the opposite side of the desk.
Captain Trachta sat and lost none of the arrogant look he had possessed from his entrance into the Admiral’s life. He crossed his legs and did not let his head droop even to look down. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Admiral saw it straightaway. This was his game, and he was determined to play the part of the Admiral years of service in the Fleet had made him.
“ Captain, you have been temporarily reassigned to the Star Destroyer Manticore. The Ageri System shall be taken by Commodore Ackerman and detachment I have assigned him. It registers as having no life or settlements, only one small garrison base and relay outpost. It is to be eliminated. Upon completion of that objective, every square centimeter of the system must be combed for satellites and monitoring stations. I have long suspected captain Yerill of less than distinguished morals, and I have reassigned you to his command to investigate my suspicions. “
“ Admiral, I appreciate your faith in my abilities,” the Captain replied, every word dripping with sarcasm,” but I have been assi-”
Desaria cut him off by slamming a small plast-carver onto the desk with enough force to break the glassed casing on the device. “ captain, I do not give a damn about your orders. These are my orders, and until you have more rank pips than I do, or you receive a dictate from Operations, then you shall do as I command.”
“ Admiral,” The Captain quipped, ready to bite back with his usual ISB wit-less attitude, but again, the target of his arrogance cut back at him.
“ You will do as I have ordered, Captain, or a picturesque view shall be the last image burned into your mind before the coldness of space takes you. You are dismissed, Captain. The Sergeant at Arms will escort you to your shuttle. You are to leave immediately, as our timetable has been pushed up. I have no time for games. Good day, captain.”
Trachta could not even voice a coarse word from his respirator, for a barrel-chested Fleet trooper was at his side, one hand on his personal side arm, the other pointing amiably towards the door. “ If you would, sir.”
It was the ISB agent’s turn to icily gaze at Desaria, who did not notice. The Vice Admiral had returned to his paperwork.
When the doors whooshed shut and he was alone, the Admiral took a large bottle of blue brandy from his desk drawer and enjoyed it, all the while exhaling the biggest relief he had ever felt.
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Posted On:
Nov 10 2002 8:17am
Trachta stood on the bridge of the Manticore beside Captain Yerill who seemed to not lose his pale complextion he had developed since the arrival og the ISB Captain.
Captain Yerill looked over at Trachta for a moment a gave a weak smile.
"Umm, we will begin our operations soon. W..would you care to remain on the bridge or return to your quarters?" The pale captain asked.
Trachta stood there for a moment with his red photoceptors focused on the viewport as if he were trying to will it to break open and cause the bridge to decompress. He then turned his gaze towards the captain.
"I will remain on the bridge for now," Trachta said as he took as seat in a side chair muttering to himself. He was seathing with outrage at having been taken away from his assignment and was even angrier that he had been reassigned by the very person he was supposed to be watching.
A scanner officer looked over at the captain.
"Sir, I'm picking up some unidentified craft approachign us."
"Uhhh, hail them and try to identifiy," Yerill said unsteadily. He seemed severly affedted by the presence of teh ISB agent.
The comm officers bombarded the approaching vessels with every code over and over again, but to no avail.
Trachta seemed to have come out of his stupor of outrage and was gaining interest in what was happening around him. He stood up and watched as the capitain crossed the bridge to the main viewport where he peered out at the fast approaching unknown vessels. As he did so Trachta looked over the shoulder of a scnner officer and saw that the ships had high energy readings meaning....
The bridge rocked as the flotilla of raiders opened up on the Manticore. Captain Yerill stood there only for a moment before a shot scored a direct shot and smashed into the bridge side where Yerill was.
Yerill was writhing on the floor by the time Trachta reached him. As Trachta looked down at him he realized that that writhing was death throes and not pain as the captain coughed up blood.
Trachta cursed loudly but knew he was the next highest ranking officer onborad. He siezed his control quickly. He stood up and gripped a rail heavily to ensure he waouldn't be flung over and end up dead.
"Get me a quick status report!"
"We took light damage to the bridge before our shields could compinsate. The only reported casualty is the captain, sir."
Trachta looked out the transparasteel viewport cursing the sneak attackers as he tried to figure what he could do. He looked over at a tactical disply assessing the situation as the ship remained under bombardment from the enemy ships. There were five corellian style corvettes, six squadrons of Z-95 Headhunters, and three howlrunner squadrons.
Trachta went through his memory of what and ISD III usually carried for fighters as he looked over its the computer linked to the docking bay. He went over it and began to issue orders.
"Three TIE squadrons fly ecourt with scimitar assaulkt squardron who will focus on the farthest left enemy corvette. The remaining three squadrons fly ecourt with the assault gunboats who will focus on the farthest right corvette. All TIE Defender squadrons will fly superiorty against the enemy fighters. All top level gun focus on the middle corvette!" Trachta shouted as the chaos continued.
The fighters and gunboats swarmed out of the docking bay as the enemy ships continued bombrding th upper bridge section.
The Manticore's surface guns angled upward and began firing on the middle corvette and the TIEs closed with the attacking vessels. The Defenders began to mix it up with the more inferior fighters and started to score kills with their superior speed and weaponry. The bombers and gunboats were also startign to draw fire away from the bridge as they began making their runs on the corvettes.
Soon the corvette being harrassed by the bombers erupted in flames as a heavy rocket penetrated its engine compartment. It enveloped several of the enemy fighters also, but the Defenders where still bus handling the quick and deadly howlrunners the were facing off against.
Trachta watched from the bridge as the middle corvette also erupted in flames due to the ISD III's massive array of cannons. Trachta was pleased that he had destroyed two of the main vessels as the others were now trying to destroy the TIEs that were attackign them and their fighters.
Trachta watched as another of the corvettes erupted as its bridge was penetrated by a heavy rocket. Its whole front section vaporized as the rest followed in the resulting chain reaction.
The survivng two corvettes began to turn to try and make a run for it as the last of their fighter cover was being slaughtered by the vicious Defender pilots.
Trachta watched as he gave a hand signal towatds a gunnery officer. The cannons opened up on the two running vessels as the fighters bombarded them with more firepower.
All too soon the raiders were all dead. Their ships nothing but hulks of metal floating around the Manticore. Trachta starred out of the viewport his emotionless face unable to show the relief he felt. He turned towards the scanner officer.
"Scan for the garrison. I want it found and vaporized!" Trachta yelled as he sat in the captain's chair and rotated it toward the viewport.
The garrison was soon found and Trachta had it blasted into tiny pieces without mercy. He even made a note to destroy the enemy escape pods and craft. As the Manticore's cannons cooled Trachta gained contact with the Deciesive.
"Vice Admiral Desaria, I am reporting in to inform you of our success in this area. The reason I am making this report is because Captain Yerill was killed when we were first attacked by raiders and I have siezed command being the highest ranking officer left alive. I await your response," Trachta said as he awaited a reply from Admiral Desaria.
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Posted On:
Nov 13 2002 5:50am
Coruscant
"Sir, we have a problem." came a soldier as he motioned for his immediate officer over.
"What is it?" the officer asked, slightly agitated. Things seemed to have been patched together with introduction of new security forces deputized by Senator Balladen.
His emergency powers would soon be a thing of the past though as the planetwide election of a new governor would soon commence.
The upset Musaile caused within the framework of the Republic was still causing shockwaves to the outermost planet in the faction, Csilla.
But that mattered none to the inhabitants of Coruscant if their immediate needs were not being taken care of.
Always, people feel that in the absence of complaints lie foundation of contentment.
Such deceptions seem to overtake the Republic more and more as time progresses.
“The Governor elect is coming in from Naboo and there’s an alien fleet out there.”
“Status of fleet?”
“Nonagression stance, Sir but really….All it would take is..”
“At ease Private. We shall relay this to the Planetary Security and let them deal with it.”
“Aye Sir.”
*
Office of Senator Balledan
”Senator what can I do for you?” inquired the aged Captain arrayed in an impressive Republican uniform.
“I would like to know where our ships our?” he demanded. The New Republic Fleet …”
“Is otherwise occupied right now with various pressing needs.”
“I have a need here!” the Senator boomed. “We have the largest population of any.. ANY world in the galaxy and that population will be protected!”
The Captain seemed to be taken aback.
“Senator.. Of course Coruscant will be protected. I just wanted to emphasize the fact that Coruscant is still only one planet in a vast coalition of planets trying to peacefully coexist.
They all demand protection.”
“If the GDI.. efforts, hadn’t pulled our ships..”
“Senator, you know better than to question the military’s use of it’s own assets. Do not worry. Your governor elect will be protected. An entire flotilla of ships is being send to escort him to Coruscant.”
Upon hearing that bit of welcome news, the Senator breathed a sigh of relief. “My apologies Captain. I am so used to yelling against the wind, that I forget sometimes answers are forthcoming.
I do appreciate this and I do thank you for your concern.”
*
Siennar District
The man in the Captain’s uniform smiled and acknowledged the apology from the politician.
“I understand Senator. Please have your security monitor the alien ships just to be sure. Help is right around the corner.”
The transmission ended and the “captain” walked out of the room…
..and into a rather large room with rows and rows of computer equipment.
“Contact the Governor-elect on Naboo. Inform him that his escort will be arriving shortly.”
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Posted On:
Nov 21 2002 10:06am
Coruscant
The reversion from hyperspace never ceased to amaze the Governor-Elect. He wondered how his “niece” would fare against the intrusions of the Sith. He wondered how the Jedi would fare.
The small escort fleet had made the jump to hyperspace leaving the Naboo system well ahead of the small transmission that finally reached them informing them of the “invasion”. If it could be called that?
Still, the unseen hand of Kaine’s mind was always in the background… guiding.. manipulating… proding events a certain way for a specific purpose.
But is that purpose so bad?
Then he saw it.
Coruscant!
Resplendent in light and bathed in the glow of technology.
As he gazed at the former capital his mind thought of his time on the bridge of the Galactus, right after he had chosen…
After the Gree Campaign… before the 2nd Sentinel Division… the 256th made it’s way back to port on Muunilist.
”Ciscero, throughout the short history of the Empire, you will find that our system of government is based solely on four largely powerful, yet highly independent foundations.
The Empire’s checks and balances you might say but with less benevolence than those systems of the Republic.
The Military, The Force, The Economics Branch, and the Intelligence Office.
These four remain supreme among all functions and organizations within the Empire’s structure and bureaucracy.
It is when one becomes dominant do we see an extreme rise on a galactic scale.”
Ciscero’s mind was following the General but where he could not discern.
“The Empire cannot really transcend the effects of its devastating rebellion until one foundation rises above the rest.”
Ciscero got it immediately. “Which is what was being determined, what has been happening behind the scenes these past few years..”
“Exactly. By the time my division and I made our way to Bastion, Intelligence was supreme. The ‘death’ of Grand Admiral Thrawn left a vacuum that Isard filled.”
The Agent’s eyes narrowed, “But the Military Command was also powerful. Admiral Hyfe, Grand Admiral Zell, Moff Handler, the Regent.. these people were taking the Empire forward!” Ciscero disagreed with Kaine. “You weren’t here in the early days. The Rebellion had won! The Empire was smashed and it was trying to rally. Everything! Everything was lost except our last fall-back positions. Everything except the Bastion of our hopes.”
“Poetic, Ciscero.” Kaine smiled slightly, “But you miss the point. The Military had failed. The grand plan of the Regent, the Restoration of Order upon the galaxy failed! But, was it the fault of the Military?”
Kaine leveled his dark eyes at Ciscero, “No. It wasn’t!”
I’ve been to the archives.. I’ve seen the reports of our officers and our corps and I can assure you that the TNO Military Command was second to none!”
“And you feel Intel’s hand in it?” the agent asked quietly.
“Of those you mentioned, Darth Exceron, Grand Admiral Zell, Moff Handler… only Hyfe remains. Only Hyfe holds a position of strength.”
“Isolate, neutralize and subtract..” Ciscero’s Intel training voiced up.
“..at least subtracted from the scene if not removed totally. Isard was Queen… but then something happened that she did not expect… another foundation was tapped… one that threatened her hold on the Imperium.”
“Which was?”
“Daemon Hyfe.”
“What??”
“He staged a brilliant plan to regain what was lost to us under the old Restoration Plan. The target: Muunilist.”
The dots connected. “And the birth of the new Imperial economy.”
“Exactly! With renewed financial and economic backing, the Military and the Empire stood poised to embark on a greater misson. To reclaim their place in the galaxy.”
‘But Isard supported the expansion, General. She had as much to gain as the Military did.”
“Of course she supported it! With the amounts of money pouring into the Empire from “Moneyland” the body politic of the Imperium now looked to the Military Command with undisguised interest.
Isard HAD to capitalize on that interest or find herself on the outside looking in. She would have been shunned by the very politicians she plotted to control. Besides, by supporting the expansion effort as much as she did, she accomplished something far more practical.”
“She kept the Fleet off of Bastion and out conquering in the galaxy.”
“Correct again. With the Fleet and the Military Command gone, there was no one left to oppose Intelligence’s assumption of power.. behind the scenes.”
“So Isard had the Military checked.”
“Yes.” Kaine smiled at the remark. “But then, something else happened. She made a mistake.” And then Kaine laughed. “A fluke really, when you think about it. At this time, the Empire was beginning to once again play on the galactic level. We had ground to cover and ground to cover fast. Intelligence was also playing on the galactic level and thought to assassinate the Republican alien leader Xylon Hexyra. When that plan backfired, the Rebels tracked the origins to the Empire and they attacked Muunilist.
It was then when the Military realized how vulnerable we really were. Questions were raised by the politicians but always directed against the defenders...against us! Why weren’t we prepared? Why weren’t we ready for the attack?”
“As I recall, the Grand Admiral’s flagship was a main target.”
“Indeed it was. It was the sacrifice of that ship’s engineering crew that saved the ship. However, the implications led up to the Office of the Regent and resentment built within the Military Command.
I remember well the angry shouts of Zell as we mulled over what to do. But we could not demand anything of the Regent. He was a force user and very powerful.
You see, the Regent tried to rule with the same ambiguity as Palpatine, trying to dominate through the darkside as did our Emperor but Isard somehow, and I wish I knew how, but she found a way to isolate, neutralize and remove him from the equation.
We were not blind to the rise of Intel’s authority and scope but we had wars to fight.”
“And when you looked back into your bunker you found?”
“People that resembled closely who we were fighting.”
“But now you were on the galactic stage.”
“Yes. And so we had to act carefully. The Darkside was a growing power in the form of the Naboo Sith Order. The Galactic Economy dominated by a former crime syndicate who held a political connection with Moff Cronus, Intel who controlled the Imperium, and the Military which had yet to suffer any serious defeat.
Battles were lost, yes. But the Empire lost no ground.”
“So your four foundations were in the hands of others…”
“And if the Empire, if the Military was to rise above all other factions, it would need to control them. But, would the Sith attempt to assimilate us and have the Military Command become their pawns as they were with Palpatine? Would Tenloss go mad with the control exerted over goods necessary for galactic commerce and drive us into a depression? Would Isard simply show up at our quarters one day with two agents and kill us in our sleep as her power solidified?”
Kaine’s eyes flashed..”Or… Would the Military Command control the destiny of the Empire?”
“You talk of Civil War..”
“No. Not that. Look what one rebellion already cost us? Do you think the Empire would survive another?”
The General dressed in black leaned forward, “Ciscero, The Sith go mad, the businessmen become slaves to greed, and intelligence organizations become havens for the paranoid.”
“And the military?”
“The military keeps the whole damn thing running. Restoration of Order! The credo of Fleet.”
“So why not act then?”
“Because, Ciscero, we had other enemies besides internal ones. So in order to focus on the internal problems of the Empire, we had to neutralize our external ones.”
A light came on inside Ciscero’s head. “So that’s when the Dark Alliance was formed!”
“The brainchild of Grand Admiral Zell, Admiral Hyfe and Darth Poreon. With our combined strength, there was nothing that could oppose us. Even an understanding was reached with the Rogue Empire and Fearsons joined.”
Ciscero grinned. “I remember that. Intel HQ was in chaos. Too much was happening and it was like Isard was manic to stay on top of it all. She earned her rep as a @#%$ that day..”
“What was the day?”
“Thursday.”
Kaine let out a small smile, “We were going to route our enemies with one fell stroke. The Military was to return as victors and our MPs would arrest Director Isard for conspiracy against the Empire. With our victories behind us, no politician would dare stand in front of us.”
“So what happened?”
“Zell underestimated the cunning of Imperial Intelligence. Hints were leaked to the Rogue Empire and Fearson’s lost his nerve within the Alliance.”
Kaine’s voice grew wistful. “Imagine that Ciscero. The most powerful alliance ever created and already dissent was showing. The red flags should have penetrated but we were all blinded by Zell’s singular planning for galactic conquest. He took Muunilist very seriously.
So Fearson’s then asked for aid in a war he was waging with The New Alliance. It would be a way to quell his fears of us and TNSO and also remove a thorn in our side. One of many thorns that made up the lightside factions.”
“The attacks on TNA.”
“The attacks on TNA. And in the middle those attacks, Intel spreads word that the Rogue Empire was to be betrayed by the Dark Alliance and so he acted.
He withdraws his forces leaving us in the fire. We were surprised by his betrayal and coupled with Intel forgetting to inform us that the Republic had gathered their own alliance and attacked devastatingly against Dantooine.”
“I remember that.”
“Isard was triumphant that day. She had fractured the Alliance, checked all of Military Command and set us back months.”
“You were almost killed at Dantooine weren’t you?”
“Yes I was. A last ditch sacrifice to hold off Gash Jiren until we could rally. But they simply left. A mistake by Jiren. A mistake compounded by Isard. She should have made sure I was dead.” Kaine’s eyes had a quiet fire in them. He needed no glowing acts to instill in people an aura of cold dread. “And so the fight to Endgame began in earnest.”
“What is Endgame?”
“The dominance of one foundation over the other three. The ascendancy of the Imperial High Command and the birth of what was..”
“Ambiguous.”
“To an extent.
TNSO was becoming insular. The Dark Alliance was fading. Engineered by Daemon Hyfe, Moff Handler and I secured the transition of power as the Empire doubled. The Dark Alliance was over and all that remained was the Empire.
As an impediment to Imperial ascendancy, TNSO stood no more. No longer were they a faction with their own interests, but their purpose and the Empire’s merged. In that respect, we have gained dominance in that the most powerful of the force groups no longer stood in the way of our destiny.
But grappling with the galactic economy was something else. But we cater to Tenloss no more. He made his fatal mistake when he invested heavily in the CSA credit.
With Vinda Corp. breaking the back of the CSA, Tenloss’ money is now becoming worthless. And so, the Empire gains dominance over the second foundation.”
“And what of the Intelligence ‘foundation’?”
“The same plan as before, return to the politicians with an outstanding victory, money lining their pockets and we will be unstoppable in solidifying our control once and for all over the Empire.”
Ciscero’s lips stretched in a thin smile. “One foundation to rule them all..” And then his eyes narrowed.
“What ‘outstanding victory’?”
So Kaine told him.
***
The Nebulon Cruisers, Corelian Frigates and Gunboats remained in orbit as the Governor-Elect’s private shuttle descended.
“Port Authority, this is Republican Escort carrying Governor Elect party. Requesting clearance and docking instructions.”
“Escort, clearance granted. Protocols being transmitted to you.. You are instructed to follow them to the letter.”
Motsi saw the Captain frown in surprise. “Port Authority, this seems highly irregular..”
“Escort, get used to it. Aerospace Traffic Control was issued new security procedures from the Senator’s own Oversight Committee. We are making sure no more terrorist acts will go unpunished.”
The Captain turned to Motsi and the Governor Elect shrugged. “The people are frightened Captain. Can you blame them?”
Just then the sun broke through the clouds that the ship had descended into revealing several buildings leveled in one spot. The devastation, when pitted against the straight lines of Coruscant’s structures, was not hard to miss.
“Emperor’s Black Bones.” The Captain whispered.
Motsi was inclined to agree.
Cryonics Industries Buildings.
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Posted On:
Nov 30 2002 10:14am
Coruscant
“I, Motsician Aeurilias, do accept the office of Governorship over the whole of Coruscant from Senator Belladan.”
“It is my pleasure to turn over the reigns of governmental responsibility.”
And with the solemn traditional exchange between former and future leaders, Motsi Aeurilias, uncle to Queen Aeurial of Naboo, accepted the leadership of Coruscant. The holographic programming of the event had superceded all other networks planetwide.
The Senator smiled as the man went answering questions of the various planetary reporting agencies, content to slip into the background. He had done it.
A concerned citizen, THE concerned citizen had won and Belladan felt it a personal victory.
During a time when it was hard to know who to trust, one man with the welfare of Corsucant dear to his heart was allowed to shine through the dirt and mire that plagued others.
Motsi was just as he presented himself. A regular man attempting to carve out of a hostile galaxy, a niche for the planet he so loved.
He was no former Sith as Gash Jiren and Xylon Hexyra had been. He was no ambitious power-hungry maniac as Musaile had been.
Lately it had seemed the quality of leadership within the New Republic had faltered and become nonexistent.
At first, he feared Corelia would try to lure Aeurilias there as they did with any politician worth their weight in popularity. But Motsi did not budge.
He was singularly devoted to the rise of Coruscant and had held a distrust of Corelians that even the Senator found refreshing.
His eyes strayed to the back of the Governor as the man was commenting on where he would focus his energies first.
“Why Coruscant, of course.”
“But Governor, the New Republic will..”
“The New Republic is governed from Corelia where our good Senator Belladan will have the priviledge of representing Coruscant. My concern right now is the restoration of order to Coruscant, the rise of prosperity to those commercial interests that bring us needed economic health, the restructuring of our public education system, massive overhauling of our planetary security, and to bring power back to those levels shut down during our resource crisis.
With the influx if new business from Cryonics Industries, Arliss Industries and Vinda Corporation, we find our stores being filled once more.
No longer will our children go to bed hungry or cold. No more will the darkness reign in the lower levels.
We were rich once… we will be rich again!”
The cheering was loud but also forced. The people had been through a lot and a politician’s promise only held so much value in this day and age.
Governor Aeurilias smiled to himself.
They haven’t seen anything yet…
It was time for Coruscant’s rise…
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Posted On:
Nov 30 2002 10:25am
Asation
“Planetary alignment has been lost… “ came back the report to Captain Chandler. “We will not get it back for another four months.”
The connection was lost and the Nexus was shut down.
Chandler nodded at the news, content with the report. He had dispatched several Star Destroyers to Cryonics Industries holdings with orders to put down any riots that would be plaguing the worlds.
The corporation seemed to be going bankrupt and the speed of it seemed to prompt his orders from Bastion (by way of Muunilist). Given that Tenloss had political connections within the Empire, it was only reasonable that the Empire would act (if not only for self interest).
Chandler had to endure the outbreaks of indignation from his Captain’s as they balked at being ordered to babysit a falling company’s holdings.
To those that did not know what was going on… chaos would seem to reign..
Orders were orders though.
Bespin, Thyferra, Mechis III and Telti were priorities for the contingent of warships. Several smaller ships were dispatched to Onderon and Korriban with orders to located and secure the officers of Cryonics Industries.
Throughout it all, one question remained in the back of Chandler’s mind.
What had happened to the forces that Cryonics had produced?
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Posted On:
Dec 2 2002 4:50am
Muunilist
"Are you sure it's all here?", a slender, sensual young female figure asked quietly. She was tall and graceful, but definatly not royalty, her choice of clothing giveing her true occupation away. She wore a long, dark cloak that covered her arms, upper body, and head. A pair of nicely shaped legs clothed in baggy black jeans could be seen sticking out from under the cloak; heavy black boots adorned her feet.
An equally slender, but definalty not sensual, knobby kneed alien male clicked and whistled back in his own language at her, "All here, Ma'am. Double checked me'self."
"Good...very good."
The pair walked up into the cargo hold of a large freighter named the
Unrest. It was a dirty, dank hunk of junk, but it served it's temporary captian's purpose: hauling 127 crates of parts to several KDY Ad. Cannons and two Ad.
Planetary Shield Generators. The mysterious yoman woman looked over the crates and counted 2 extra ones.
"Are those the decoy crates?", she questioned, turning to look at the stocky alien over her slender shoulder.
"Yes, Ma'am, just bits of electrical wires and masonary tools and building stuff, just like you asked."
"Very good, Gaalixo. You've been a great help." With this said, she took a small pouch of currency from her vest pocket, clipped it to the clipboard she'd been going over, and handed the lot back to the alien, who beamed at being tipped so generously.
"May the powers that be look over this journey and any other you embark on, Miss Solo.", he called out as he scurried back down the ramp of the ship.
The young woman turned and pulled back the hood of her dark gray cape, revealing a bright, young, beautiful face, and smiled softly at the alien, "You too, Gaalixo. Later days!" With a wave and a electrical hiss, Jai shut the loading ramp to the freighter and turned, walking towards the cockpit.
***
Hours Later..."
Unrest? Please state your business and destination on Coruscant." A crisp, bossy voice came over the freighter's com system as Jaina Corellia Han Solo brought the craft out off of hyperdrive and into Coruscant airspace.
"This ship is laden with electrical and building materials from Arliss Towers on Muunilist. I'm bound for the Cryonics Industries Embassy Re-Building site."
"Oh yes, I see it here. Pardon me, Miss Solo. Your craft as already been cleared. You may proceed."
Jai's lips curled into a devious smirk as she turned off her com. "Thank you...
suckers!!!..."
-
Posted On:
Dec 6 2002 6:04am
Coruscant
Smoke was everywhere even now, days after the devastating terrorist attacks on the Cryonics buildings.
The Governor of Coruscant has deployed the Civil Engineers to sort through the rubble, aided, watched, and guarded by the massive body Planetary Security. Having deputized the entire core of Arliss and Cryonics Industries’ Security to take on the larger task of protecting not simply business interests but civilian interests as well.
Planetary Security Oversight Chair Committees and Subcommittees met in small rooms, intent on routing the chaos from the levels and sublevels they represented.
*
“I don’t want you to go to Corelia just yet Balledan.”
The Senator chuckled slightly. “Come now, Motsician. Are you telling me that you are still nervous about the public eye?”
Aeurillias smiled wryly, “You’ve no idea Senator.”
The older man clapped his hands together as the chuckle became more pronounced. “You always liked the shadows, Governor… Intent on swaying me with words of reason, getting me to run about to do your bidding.. You never expected me to pull you out into the light now did you?”
The Governor grinned gamely. “No, that was..” the Governor’s eyes drew in humor, “unexpected.”
Then Motsi threw an accusing finger at the aging Senator, “But you! You can smile now that the problems are in my hands now. Leave me with the work!”
“Work will do you good! And now I will be getting back to MY work! My real work. Representing your interests.. representing Coruscant’s interests in the New Republic.”
At this the Governor sighed, “You may have the harder fight. Corelians are a stubborn and proud people.”
“That they are. We never stop reminding them that Coruscant was once the capital of the galaxy.. and they never stop reminding us that Corelia is now.”
“Such as the galaxy is… It’s grown quite smaller since Coruscant’s day.”
Mosti leaned forward, seemingly troubled. “Senator, what happens if the Republic doesn’t help? What if the Republic does not answer to the needs of Coruscant?
While it is true that we exist in a cooperative organization, our interests remain at the fore in our minds! And their interests remain in front of your opponents…”
“So what do we do?” the Senator asked rhetorically. “We deal with that if and when it happens.”
“Waiting will cost us.” Motsi said, as if to himself. “Arrangements should be made now to ensure that we do not suffer anymore.”
Balledan laughed. “The curse of Coruscant, Governor. A planet that supports the largest population a world is every meant to hold.. think of the resources it must take to feed it? Think of the resources it must take to heat it, cool it, clean it? Coruscant was designed to be the perfect capital. A focal point to which everything looked too, and yet dependant on those very …”
“Not always..” the Governor interrupted. “Coruscant need not remain dependant.”
Coruscant’s Senator opened his arms, “And look where that got us..”
Motsi smiled sadly, “When do you leave?”
“Two days..”
“Two days.” The Governor repeated. “Just enough time for me to have dinner with your family one more time.”
Balledan bowed his head, “I do thank you for allowing me the privilege of taking my son and his family.”
“A man shouldn’t be alone.”
The Senator gave a curious look at the Governor and the men shook hands before each departed to accomplish their own needs.
*
Kuat
The tiny armada from the 256th left port enroute to their wargames exercise…. The small fleet prepared for a series of microjumps, seeing as the exercises would not take them very far from the planet.
The black ships of Kaine’s fleet were tracked to the edge of the Kuat System before disappearing off the scanners.
Imperial manifests and registry recorded the following ships:
<small>
Abolisher-Class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-Class Cruiser
Abolisher-Class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser Abolisher-class Cruiser
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-377
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-378
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-379
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-380
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-381
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-382
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-383
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-384
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-385
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-386
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-387
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-388
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-399
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-390
Shroud Attack Cruiser M-391</small>
Asation
Captain Chandler took one look at the tactical board for the units deployed in Cryonics Industries systems to keep the peace.
The pieces were scattered across the expanse as Imperial reclamation divisions were moving in.
The Captain of the Victory sighed. It was now official. Cryonics Industries as an independent corporation was no more. Simply a hollow shell replaced quickly in key spots by temporaries on loan from Arliss Towers.
They never knew what hit them…
“Prepare to move out.” He ordered, drawing his attention away from the tactical display.
“All moorings cleared Captain. Abolishers have powered down and secured their reactors. The fleet has signaled. At your command, Sir.”
Chandler stood up from his chair and clasped his hands behind his back. The Abolishers would remain at Asation.
“Execute. Best speed to Ralltiir.”
The Command Group of the 256th entered hyperspace….
<small>
Point Axis Group Y (Y1-P/SF2)
Fire-Class Light Cruiser
Fire-Class Light Cruiser
Fire-Class Light Cruiser
Fire-Class Light Cruiser
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer - Herectic (R-flank)
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer - Fiery Diligence (L-flank)
Top Axis Group Z (Z1-T/SF2)
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Eterniss (B-Flank R)
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Archon (B-Flank L)
Victory-Class Star Destroyer - Terror’s Edge (R-Flank)
Victory-Class Star Destroyer - Dauntless (L-Flank)
Anchor Group (00/SF2)
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer - Victory
Constrainer-Class Interdiction Picket
Constrainer-Class Interdiction Picket
Attack-Class Carrier Sphere - Argoth
Bottom Axis Group Z (Z2-B/SF2)
Imperial-Class Escort Carrier - Preen
Imperial-Class Escort Carrier - Verrel
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer - Hathon
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer - Rampart
Carrack-Class Cruiser
Right Axis Group X (X1-R/SF2)
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Dark Fire
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Tempest
Attack-Class Carrier Sphere - Lagoon
Victory-Class Star Destroyer - Redemption
Carrack-Class Cruiser
Left Axis Group X (X2-L/SF2)
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Bane
Reign-Class Star Destroyer - Jade
Attack-Class Carrier Sphere - Terra Nasar
Victory-Class Star Destroyer - Ancalagon
Carrack-Class Cruiser
Rear Axis Group Y (Y2-R/SF2)
Victory-Class Star Destroyer – Headlong
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser
</small>
-
Posted On:
Jan 2 2003 9:17pm
Coruscant
The Governor of Coruscant gave a self satisfied smile as the aging Senator Balledan walked beside him on their city-wide tour. Already the effects of the terrorists actions (notably against the Cryonics Embassy) had been disguised as City Engineers worked round the clock to restore the glory of Coruscant.
The 45th level, Northern Hemisphere, Gantry Sector was rather quiet as the curfew began to take effect. Imposing an almost martial-like policy upon Coruscant had done much to quell the lower levels somewhat and restore order.
“Restoration of Order, Senator. That has been my goal.”
“A worthy one considering the chaos of a few months ago.”
“What news from Corellia?” the Governor suddenly asked, showing an interest in politics on the galactic level.
The Senator sighed. “The usual, I fear. We are spoken out against in the Senate Chambers for our isolationist-like stance.”
The Governor grinned. “One would think we were the Separatists of old.” But then his grin faltered. “Did you not show them our need? Did you not ask for..”
“..the funds? Yes, they were requested, as you had wanted but as I said to you when you first wanted me to ask, such requests are not lightly granted.
The Republic is having a hard time of it as it is.”
“They would,” the Governor spoke dryly. “For the Republic is once again preparing for war with the Jutraalian Empire.”
Ballendan looked at Motiscian in surprise. “How did you know that? Even I did not find out until recently and my stay on Corellia was rather long.”
“It doesn’t take a genius to figure the upscaled production requests from Corellia of our shipyards is due to some sort of evil plan from our most glorious Senate.”
“That gives you suspicion but not the reason for.” The Senator challenged.
“It gives me reason to send agents to Corellia to investigate. We are just now beginning to see returns on our depleted resources and if the Republic has designed to use them, I’ll want to know why.”
“Governor!” the Senator exclaimed but not too shocked. The news of the Republic attempting to intervene in war with the Jutraalian Empire was daunting enough.
Playing the Devil’s Advocate, the Senator did say, “This war, though, is brought by the Jutraalians more than the Republic. There is word they they attempt to cross the expanse and attack Hapes.”
“What has Hapes to do with the price of bread!” the Governor snapped back. “War is war, no matter who starts what. The truly wise will count the costs of such extreme actions before jumping in. It may be that the Hapans prove to be the death of the Republic.”
The two continued on in silence, the Senator noting for the sixth time another patrol of soldiers.
**
The Past… taken from a Sleeping Giant Awakens..
It was amazing, really, how Gormul, Intel's resident Research and Developing Agent, used everyday items to enhance the reach and abilities of Intel's children.
The Analysis/Encoding computers had nearly finished all the subroutines. Aided by the Intellex Automaton IV Internal Computer (borrowed from a nearby companion), there was no system left uncopied.
The "bridges" created by the systems diverters would leave him virtually undetectable. And even then, with hackers, inferior constructs and the general techy lowlifes that Coruscant housed he would be extremely hard to pinpoint.
He looked at the archive and smiled.
Seventeen diverter systems installed...and that is just here.
A tightbeam signal was sent to it's proper recepticle and Cicsero started to close operations.
Upon entering the area, he was pleased to find that the transport had arrived with the needed items.
Thousands upon thousands of the MerenData 45-T Info Cores
It took him a while to get the automation devices ready to retool his "companions" but he had the time. The a/e computers would take time, especially with the more encrypted files.
He disconnected the Automaton Series IV and moved it back to it's host. Snapping the encasing back into place, there was not much left for him to do.
Slowly, one by one, his companions left to reenter service.
Planetary Operations Building: Defense Network
The maintenance droid slowly made its way being guided by the repair crew as the faulty junction appeared and disappeared on their tracking systems.
“You’re almost on top of it R9. Can’t your scanners see it!”
The droid beeped in response and the translation protocols spit out the message for the crew and they laughed.
“Yes, yes… just find the damned break and fix it!” came the response. Being humiliated by a repair droid did nothing to the man’s already souring mood. To be brought into work while in vacation was bad enough, but to be brought in for junction repair was maddening. Especially moreso since the break was next to impossible to locate.
Probably some residual damage from the terrorist attack.
I should not have answered the call..
On the monitor, he could see the droid’s light shining here and there are the various conduits attempting to trace the break to a particular line.
“Ok.. You’re near the computer core. It looks good from here, thank god. The break may be in a monitoring systems.”
Again the droid beeped an acknowledgement and started to comply when a terminal nearby the droid sparked.
“What was that?”
Before the droid could answer, the terminal sparked again..this time with a larger discharge enveloping the droid.
It started to squeal when the chief’s monitor went dark.
“What the frell!” he shouted as his repair crew were scrambling with their equipment.
“The droid was prepared to withstand shock absorption yes?”
“Yes sir!”
“Then why…” and that was when he felt a distant rumble.
“Shockwaves! Emperor’s Black Bones, a bomb!! It was a bomb!”
The lights on the computer consols had remained on but then the Chief began to note that the displays were not changing. It was as if the data had frozen in time, set for none to change.
“I am getting panic responses, Sir!” a tech came running in. “Are we under attack?”
“I.. I don’t know..” the Chief simply said, his mind trying to deal with how fast things were happening.
“Northern hemisphere reports TAC displays going haywire! Cannon Control remaining online but without Command and Control emplacements.”
“What?” the Chief said rather horrified. “Initiate Emergency Protocols! NOW!”
“No can do, Chief! With the core offline, all functions from here are dead.”
“DAMN! Do you realize what is going to happen?”
“Sir?”
The Chief suddenly was moving. “Find me a way out of this building.”
“We are under lockdown, Sir. Bombardment Protocols!”
“We aren’t under attack! Are we?”
“Sir, Southern Hemisphere transmission interception shows TAC redefinitions.”
“no..” the Chief whispered.
“Get the guns offline. We need too…”
And then it started.
With the Command and Control core interface damaged, the Defense Network attempted to restart to engage emergency procedures.
Without core functions, important buildings were locked down.. “Siege Mode” the designers had called it.
The restart was successful but only partially. For the TAC displays returned with a wealth of information, and according to it’s sensors, it was under attack.
Unfortunately, what it was listing as enemy ships and targeting were, in fact, Republican traffic (both civilian and military).
Orbit
“Vessel is secure sir.”
“You account for the drift?”
“Of course, we can depart whenever you are ready.”
“Very wel---“
The ion cannon volley struck the ship so hard that the skeleton crew were tossed about like playthings in a giant’s pen.
“We’re hit!”
“They are early!”
“Damn! We have to find a way off the ship..”
The ship began to careen as the ion did its work on the ship’s insides.
*
From all quandrants of the planet came ion cannon fire as well as turbolaser fire. The damaged Defense Network recognized nothing as friend and everything as foe as it continued to think Coruscant under attack (though imaginary).
Civilian ships blown apart and cruisers sent adrift began to mark the space surrounding Coruscant as vessels of all sorts scrambled to get away safely.
Governor’s Office
“Admiral, we have a situation here.”
“Terrorist?”
“I.. I don’t think so. At least, not now, though related perhaps. Apparently, from what we’ve been able to gather, a repair team was sent into the Defense Network’s Core to locate a faulty power junction or something. It was thought to be a residual effect from a previous terrorist act on Cryonics Industries Embassy here. There was a power-spike and we believe the droid exploded.”
“Rupturing the Core and it’s memory..” the Admiral concluded.
The Governor nodded, “Now we have the Defense Network running amok shooting at everything in orbit. It’s a mess out there. We’ve managed to get a general warning out to all incoming ships so they will be diverting to Corellia for the time being.”
The Admiral frowned. “That much traffic in the Corellian System makes logistical support for Coruscant next to impossible at best.”
The Governor shrugged slightly and wiped his brow. “Any support now would be shot out of space. Already, we have a Nebulon Cruiser drifting into Coruscant’s gravity well. We are going to have to blow it to bits but the debris will still hit the City with devastating effects.”
The Governor leaned forward. “What is Corellia’s stand on our crisis?”
The Admiral grunted. “The same. It’s related your internal problems and the Republic is taxed enough as it is. Use any resource you can to broker a solution.”
“Any word from the Fleet?”
“The Fleet is out of pocket and, at the moment, being readied in case the Jutraalians come knocking at the Hapan door.”
The Governor sighed an exasperated sigh. “Tell me, Admiral. What does… what CAN the Republic do for us?”
The Admiral leaned forward and smiled a cynical smile while mimicking a Corellian Senator, “Ask not what your government can do for you but what you can do for your government…”
He couldn’t help it.
Motsician laughed.
Yes, indeed. Such is the nature of Democracy.
He then frowned at the report of the explosion.
This was not supposed to happen. At least, not now!
The timetable would be moved up. It would have to be!
-
Posted On:
Jan 11 2003 1:42am
Coruscant
All Districts
“By order of the Governor, Martial Law has now been initiated! Curfew for all off duty, non-working citizens will be enforced! Anyone caught on the levels after curfew will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!”
The announcement boomed across levels, both open and closed, as Coruscant’s new Militia (made up of Security Personnel from Cryonics Industries and Arliss Industries) began to fill up precinct stations that had remained empty due to the economic hardships the planet had recently experienced.
Siennar District
“Transmission is successful.”
“Total Republican Fleet dispersal?”
“The last group left the Coruscant System an hour ago. All command and control strictures are in place. All is needed is the transfer of power and we will have area superiority.”
“Interceptions?”
“Several local agencies have figured out something is up, but they are thinking corruption within government.”
“Starship Operations Oversight Committee has already begun to introduce the Star Destroyer Advanced designs and so far no disruptions have occurred.”
A laugh followed.
“The corporations don’t want to rock the boat to the new business that’s coming to them. The New Republic made a mistake in continuing the creation of Imperial Designs.”
“Yes sir. However, there may be problem from the private sector with regards to our security measures.”
“They do like their so-called freedoms don’t they?”
“Yes sir.”
“Show them the error of their ways and the ineffectiveness of their faith.”
Governor’s Office
“Tell me again, what’s happened? Slowly this time!” the Governor snapped.
“Water Refinery, Republican Fighter Corps Academy, Western Hemisphere Ion Defense Control, Southern Hemisphere Communications Control, Air Circulation Essen District, … these are but a few locations that have suffered major to minor explosions.”
“Droids again?”
“Yes sir. Same pattern.”
“What triggers the explosions?”
“That, we do not know. Nor do we know how many droids are affected. Nor can we speculate as to when it happened. Though investigations of the remains seems to indicate the explosive devices have been in place for quite a while.”
“Which is probably why some explosions are minor..”
“Exactly Sir.”
“What does this do for Planetary Security?”
“Well sir, very few security officers have been killed and the Militia seems to have had some success in identifying and locating ‘tainted’ droids.”
“They didn’t find the one in the Water Refinery..”
“Sir, that’s because the public have been destroying almost every droid they can get their hands on and when a droid is wired to blow…”
“It blows prematurely due to its… mishandling..”
“That’s what happened at the Water Refinery.”
“This is getting worse. With most traffic being redirected to Corellia, our business are taking a hit. The stores that had been built up are beginning to dwindle and the public is frightened.”
“Sir!” an aide came bursting into the Governor’s Office.
“What now?” Motsi groaned.
“Corellia is under attack!!”
“What???” the Governor and others in his offce exclaimed.
“Who?”
“The Empire..”
And then the Governor sat back into his chair.
What is Kaine doing?
Think dammit… think!
Then the Governor saw the bleak looks on the faces of those in his office and he realized that they were too were realizing their options were suddenly drying up.
Upon closer inspection of the people, his intelligence training came into play as he suddenly saw that each of his cabinet members and administrative aides were native to Coruscant.
“Gentlemen..” he said slowly, and yet with authority.
The others turned to him, their eyes shouting entreaties for hope..
“Before you shoot this idea down, please hear me out.”
Suddenly their eyes became perplexed, more hopeful and not a little curious.
“About dealing with the Empire’s aggression…”