- Star Destroyer Renaissance (On Patrol) – Edge of Moddell Sector


“Report.” Lieutenant Jakob asked as he sat down in the command chair on the bridge of the Star Destroyer. He was the nightwatch officer, responsible for making sure all went well under his supervision. It was about three in the morning – Bakura Standard, and most of the higher-ranking officers were in their cabins asleep.

He was the big man on duty this time, from one a.m. to six a.m. And he wanted everyone to know it. Their were only two other officers on duty, everybody else where just navy crewers. The two men who served the shift under him were two people of radically different races and background. One, Ensign Jander Bell, a human of Bakuran descent. He was one of those ‘Han Solo’ types, cocky, arrogant, annoying, but he knew his job well, and that earned him his due.

The other was a yellow-skinned clone from the Sovereignty world of Khomm, deep in the galactic core. His name was Grobiz 118 and his race and the society on Khomm was one of complete order. Each clone did a specific, assigned task, day after day, every day of their lives. Very few Khommites ever differed from this rigid and organized lifestyle, but Grobiz 118 was one of those few, choosing to serve in the Sovereignty military instead of the job he had been assigned to do on Khomm. He was very proud and very happy to be one of those few.

Lieutenant Jakob himself was the son of Admiral Jakob – military advisor to President Griff. The young man had always watched his father serve in various governments, until he came to serve – and love – the Sovereignty. The Jakob family moved into an estate on Bakura, and the younger Jakob followed in his father’s footsteps with joining the navy.

Now, he looked over at Bell, the deputy watch commander, and sensor operator, “Everything seems quiet…” Bell said, not bothering to look down at his readout on the console.

Jakob sighed, “Bell, give me a real report.”

Bell looked a mix of mildly annoyed and amused as he glanced down. The second he did, a look of surprised crossed his face, “Actually, I’m getting something. Wow… it’s big, a few dozen ships, all drifting.” Bell said.

Confused, Jakob left his seat to stand over Bell’s shoulder, “Whatever they are, they’re old, I would say… Five PE.” Bell said.

“Life signs?” Jakob asked Grobiz 118, who looked on from the auxiliary sensor board, “I am reading eighteen thousand life signs, all very faint. It’s strange though, they aren’t hurt, just… it’s like they’re in suspended animation. Their signs are faint, but they aren’t hurt.

“Bell?” Jakob asked, who was typing in commands furiously.

“Scanning. Hull is intact. Everything seems to be okay. I am detecting one hangar bay type area on each ship. We could probably get teams over there in shuttles, just not very many teams. The ships are heavily damaged.”

“Weapons fire?”

“No. Age, I would guess.” Bell replied.

“Alert the Captain.” Jakob said.







*



The ships were all dark, with no light coming from the viewports. The Renaissance moved as close at it could, maneuvering alongside the lead convoy ship, extending it’s umbilical cables to the ship, with the aid of droids.

For the first team, Ising the captain of the Renaissance chose Jakob as team leader. Bell and Grobiz were also to be on the first team.

“Lights.” Jakob ordered, and the eight scout team members replied by turning on their glowlamps., “Alright, let’s move.”


They proceeded carefully into the ship, which Jakob noted was very old and in poor condition. But it had been built with durasteel, and was intact for the most part, but it was evident age was taking a toll on the vessel, which was huge, and probably was about eight-hundred to a thousand meters in length.

They proceeded down a long corridor which seemed more like a tunnel than a regular corridor, probably unique to this ship’s design. After they came to the end of the corridor, the walls widened gradually, until the corridor ended with a large blast door.

“Grobiz, see what you can do.” Jakob said and the Khommite clone moved toward the door with his slicers equipment.

Jakob’s comlink buzzed, “Captain Ising, to Team One. Come in.”

“Jakob here, sir.” Jakob replied.

“We are detecting life signs twelve meters in front of you. What’s the hold up?” Captain Ising asked.

“Blast door sir, we’re clearing it.” Jakob replied. Even as he said this, Grobiz signaled that he had accessed the door’s hydraulics. ‘

As the door opened, the team was greeted with an awe-inspiring sight. They came to a large chamber, with row after row of tubes, and what looked like cloning cylinders. Bodies floated in each cylinder which seemed to have some sort of bluish fluid in it, probably what was keeping the people alive.

Grobiz stepped up to a nearby access panel, “They are in suspended animation. The last check of their systems was done about… forty-five years ago. I assume that is how long they have been here.”

“Captain…” Jakob said, “We have located the people. There must be a thousand people onboard this ship, all are in suspended animation.”

“We’re sending rescue teams. Secure the area.” Ising said, the comlink clicking off.

“How many alive Grobiz?” Jakob asked.

“They are all alive, but I count nine-hundred ninety-eight people in this chamber. I am accessing the ship’s other systems…yeah these people are the only ones on board.” Grobiz said, staring intently at the panel’s readouts.

“Secure the area, make sure there isn’t any automated security systems.” Jakob ordered.



Later...


The woman blinked furiously as she was lifted gently to the floor from her stasis chamber. She seemed confused, not knowing where she was, or possibly who she was. She seemed lost and disoriented.

"Wha...?" She managed to get out as Jakob kneeled down next to her.

"My name is Lieutenant Jakob, of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty." He said.

"Relia... my name is Relia..." She said, just before she bagan to cough uncontrollably. She looked human enough, but with different hair colors than a human woman. She had a golden tinge to her skin, and some sort of nictating membrane over her eyes. Not human at all.

Jakob stood as another person was lifted out of an adjacent stasis chamber. This was one male, of the same species, and while his skin was golden colored as well, he had several silver slashes on his bare arms. The sqaud's medic immidiately ran a scanner over him, and reported on the silver slashes, "These are scars of some sort." The medic said, checking the rest of the man as Relia, the female, stopped coughing.

"Where am I?" She asked.

"You are in the Moddell Sector, aboard a stasis ship of some sort. Our vessel located your vessel, which is among many others." Jakob replied, helping Relia to sit up. She gasped as she saw the male, still being treated by the medic, "Strom!" She shouted and struggled to his side, "Is he okay?" She asked.

"Yeah. He's just recovering from the stasis chamber, he should be up in a few hours." The medic said.

Jakob interuppted, "Relia, we need to get you off the ship and to the medical facilities onboard my ship. Are you able to stand?"

"Yes. I'll go with you. But I want Strom to go too." She said, looking down at the male.

"He can come." Jakob said, helping her to stand, "Now come with me, please."


Star Destroyer Renaissance - Later


"I am from the planet Firrerre," Relia said, as she accepted a blanket from one of the Star Destroyer's doctors and looked to Captain Ising, "We set out on colony ships to land on nearby planets in our system. There were about twenty thousand of us, and our mission was to land on our system's hospitable systems and colonize them."

Ising took a datapad from a nearby Jakob and studied it, "According to our analysis, your ships are about fifty to sixty years old. And not everyone made it alright. We are still reviving the survivors..."

Strom, the male who had been rescued along with Relia shook his head, "How many 'survived'?" He asked.

Ising hesitated, not wanting to give bad news, "Out of the twenty thousand, only about eighteen thousand survived..." He said.

Strom sighed, and Relia put her head in her hands, "Two thousand dead...? How?" Relia asked.


"The ship seems to be designed with a failsafe. If the ship is not able to provide power to all it's stasis chambers, " Ising said, reading off the datapad, "Then they are to cut power to the chambers it cannot sustain. In this case, each vessel cut power to several chambers each. That power was then rerouted to the other chambers."

"So they died so we could live..." Strom said quietly.

"How many have been revived?" Relia asked.

"Just the two of you. The Renaissance does not have the space or resources to transport twenty thousand people anywhere. We have called for relief vessels, which will arrive within the hour. They will handle the revival and they will see to the people. Everyone will be transported to a safe location untill we can decide what to do." Ising said. Strom and Relia both nodded.

"We will go with you." Strom said, "But where are we going? Coruscant? I assume that is where the Sovereignty is based from?"

"I am afraid the Empire holds Coruscant. The Sovereignty's capital is Bakura, and I have informed my superiors of your plight. You have been granted a special meeting with President Griff, the leader of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty. As soon as the relief vessels arrive, we will get underway." Ising said.

"Thank you." Relia said, laying back down on her bed as Strom did likewise. Ising nodded and left.




Bakura - Next Day


"President Griff is very busy, but after hearing of the discovery of a lost Firrerre convoy, he wanted to meet with the both of you." Lieutenant Jakob explained as the speeder approached the Bakur, the Sovereignty headquarters building.

"Why would he care to meet with us? I'm sure other convoys have been found." Relia said.

"Only one recorded to this date. Found by Princess Leia, after the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The people found in that lost convoy were relocated elsewhere. I do not know where that was." Jakob replied.


They exited the speeder and went inside the building, where they were promptly admitted. They were met by unusually tall human beings at the only entrance to Griff's offices, a single turbolift.

"I am Zhou." One of the tall humans said. Jakob had heard the name before, and only once. Zhou was reputed to be one of the members and possibly the leader of the highly secretive Praetorian Guard unit which protected President Griff and Vice-President Meer. Nothing was known on the Praetorian Guard other than their role in protection, "I will take them to President Griff."

Jakob nodded and after giving the two Firrerreos a smile, he left. Zhou said nothing as the turbolift doors opened and the three entered, soon coming to the private office of the President.

"Mr. President. Representatives of Firrerre, Strom and Relia, to see you." Zhou announced before fading towards the back of the room, watching carefully.

Griff was sitting at his large desk with mountains of paperwork piled on it as he looked up at the two golden-skinned people.

"Ah! Welcome to Bakura, Relia, Strom." He said, smiling and standing to shake their hands.

Relia and Strom took his hand in turn, "Mr. President, thank you for meeting with us."

"No. Thank you. I just had to speak with you when I heard that your convoy had been found. Such a tradgedy your people have had to go through with the devestation wrought by the Empire." Griff said, grimly.

"Devestation?" Relia asked.

Griff looked at Zhou, "They don't know?" He asked. Zhou shook his head with a positive negative.

"I am sorry to be the one to tell you this. But the planet Firrerre was destroyed by the Empire with a biological weapon, shortly after the last of the colony ships departed. The people were wiped out..."

Relia and Strom seemed to freeze for a moment, and time seemed to stand still, "Wiped out...?" SHe asked shakily.

"I am afraid so." Griff said sadly, "The people rescued by Princess Leia and then the Renaissance are the only known survivors..."

The two Firrerreo did not move, and they did not speak.

- Star Destroyer Renaissance (Bakura StarDock)


"Again, we are sorry about your loss. Firrerre was a reknown world, and it is a tragedy about what happened." Captain Ising of the ORS SD Renaissance said apologetically to his two passengers, the Firrerreo Relia and Strom.

Relia did not speak, she still seemed in shock about hearing of her worlds demise at the hands of Hethrir all those years ago. But Strom nodded solemnly, "Thank you. The loss is very new to us, and Relia wishes to get some rest. But if you do not mind, I would like to study your records on the event." He said.

Ising nodded, "Absolutely. I will have someone bring you to the datacenter and work with you to find all the facts." He said.

Strom nodded again, "My thanks, sir."

Ising nodded, motioning for the nearby Lieutenant Jakob to escort Strom to the datacenter.


*



"What do you know of Firrerre, Lieutenant?" Strom asked, looking sideways at Jakob as they entered the datacenter on the Renaissance.

"I know it was once a beautiful world, with a thriving ecosystem. I heard the Grand Falls waterfall was one of the most remarkable in the galaxy." Jakob replied, showing Strom to a seat in front of a data terminal. Jakob took a seat nearby.

"It was." Strom said his eyes taking a distant look, "If you got there at the right time, and go to the right spot at the right time, you can see the sun glint off the falls. That was quite a sight..."

"I'm sure." Jakob said, calling up the data on the planet, "What do you know of Hethrir?" Jakob asked the Firrerreo.

"I knew him only by reputation." Strom said, his mood darkening a little bit, "He was always campaigning for something with the Firrerre Government. He was the one who convinced us we should take to the stars and colonize the other worlds in our system," Now Strom bit out a bitter laugh, "I was quite enthusiastic about it, as were many other of the younger of my people."

He sighed, "And then once we were in the colony ships, he destroyed everything. I just want to know why..." Strom said.


Jakob, who had been half-listening, half reading on Hethrir, nodded, "It says here that he wanted to prove himself to the Emperor, and once the people were in the colony ships, he ordered a special squad to hit the world. It appears to be some sort of biological weapon, wiped out all of the ecosystem." He said.

Strom nodded, "He wanted to prove himself... to a foreign master..." He muttered, "That is... not the way of my people."

Jakob looked back, "It also says Hethrir was a Force-sensitive... and he apprenticed under Darth Vader."

Strom inclined his head, "I suppose that makes more sense...It is no excuse, however."

Jakob nodded, and Strom leaned forward, to study the screen.



*



The brown, dull world hung in space, dead and lifeless. It had been this way for some time, not touched by the outside galaxy, except perhaps by a smuggler here and there needing a refuel or a hideout from the local authorities.


"It looks so much different..." Relia said from the bridge of the Renaissance at Strom's side.

"I am detecting no life signs. There is nothing down there, not even bacteria." The sensor officer reported.

Ising heard the sharp intake of breath as Relia and Strom heard this new news, "Has anyone been down there since the incident?"

"No. No traces of ship fuel or ion trails. No one has been here for about forty-five years." The sensor officer replied.

"I would not blame them." Strom said, "It is a dead place now. Captain Ising, I would be appreciative if you would allow us to go down to the surface and look around."

Ising nodded, "A shuttle will be ready for you. I will accompany you," He looked behind him at the helm station in the crew pit, "Lieutenant Jakob, would you be so kind as to accompany us?"

Jakob nodded, "Yes sir."



*




The winds whipped around the four as the the landing ramp descended down, touching softly on the lifeless world of Firrerre. Strom and Relia were dressed in warm parkas while Jakob and Ising wore their military trench coats with their ORS military insignia displayed prominently.

"Not what I remember." Strom stated into the winds, looking around at the brown world.

"No.." Was all Relia could say.

Another ORS shuttle touched down a few hundred meters away, carrying a science team to examine the surface and do soil tests. They began setting up their equippment as Relia and Strom walked around the landing area, which looked much like a desert. For kilometers, all that could be seen was endless wasteland of barren rock and soil.

A few minutes later, the science team came over to ising, to report to him, Relia, and Strom.

"Sir," Science Officer Morris said as he approached the group, "We have found no traces of any sort of biological agent. Whatever the Empire used all those years ago is now gone, probably dissipated to prevent anyone from getting their hands on it. The soil checks out okay, and we have determined that it is fit for terraforming, but on a global scale."

Ising nodded and did not speak. But Strom did, "You think we can rebuild the world?" He asked, hope forming in his eyes.

"Yes, I beleive so." Morris said, "But nothing like it has ever been attempted. It will require drastic amounts of resources to do it, and it will take some time."

"How much time?"

"About a year and a half. But again, lots of resources will be required." Morris replied.

Strom thought for a moment, before turning to Ising, "Captain, I would be appreciative if you would take us back to Bakura. We need to speak with President Griff."

Ising nodded, "Let's go."

The congress building was silent - not a normal occurance, Griff noted as he faced the one hundred - plus Sovereignty Congress, most of them men, but with a few women here and there.

The sunlight on Bakura was fading, and cast a slightly erriee glow on the building. A skylight was directly above the speakers podium, casting Griff in a beautiful golden glow that he had always hated. It was like a spotlight.

"The people of Firrerre were never oppressed." Griff stated," But they were hurt. They were never beaten, shot, stabbed, molested or robbed, but they were destroyed. They never did anything to cause anyone else pain, they hated violence and crime, yet they were attacked and destroyed."

He paused to let his words sink in before continuing, "The world of Firrerre has been burning, ladies and gentlemen. An old Imperial wrong needs to be righted. The planet is burning and we have a chance to stop it, we have a chance to calm the storm on this world. We have a chance to do good. We have a chance," He paused again, "To bring about a restoration."

He stood up straighter, waiting for comments. One Congressman stood, and Griff identified him as Jeori, a stout man, and graduate of Salis D'aar University. An intelligent fellow.

"Mr. President, we have heard of the wrongs done to the people of Firrerre, and I beleive I speak for everyone when I say it is tragic and the Firrerreo have our sympathy, but we must be frank. What of any of this benefits the Sovereignty?" Jeori asked.

Griff turned to two of his companions, Relia and Strom. Relia stood and moved forward to the microphone, "We have spoken with the survivors found by ORS ships in a colony convoy. They know that the Sovereignty is able to restore our world, and we know of the resources that must be expended to reach this goal. Firrerre does have a strategic position in this sector. It is rich in minerals, which were not destroyed by the horrible Imperial bioweapon all those years ago.

"We are mostly a farming community, with a simple system of government. The survivors of Firrerre have agreed that if the Sovereignty helps us restore Firrerre, we will petition this very same legislature for membership within the Sovereignty and become a full-member world." She said.

Jeori nodded, and returned to his seat as another congressmember stood, this one a woman. Griff knew her as Talia Geoff, a Kal'shebbol native new to the Sovereignty and Congress, "What kind of resources must be expended in order to achieve this goal? Finances and logistics included." She asked.

"My aides have completed a final tally of resources, and have concluded the restoration effort will require the Engineering Corps and one hundred trillion credits." Griff replied coolly.

Geoff was taken aback, "One hundred trillion?!" She exclaimed. A few other congressmembers echoed her sentiments.

"Have you ever tried to rebuild a world, Congressman, Geoff?" He asked politely before raising his voice so everyone could hear, "This is not about resources, and how much this will cost. This is about right and wrong. The Empire comitted a dastardly act by destroying this world and in doing so have destroyed an entire civilization. This is not the first time this has happened, and we all know that most of those wrongs cannot be righted. But we have a genuine chance here to do something right! We have a chance to restore an entire people to their home! Credits can be replaced, the lives of these people cannot." Griff replied.




Later


"It is the decision of this Congress..." Marth Meer read off a datapad from his speakers podium, "In regards to the restoration of the destroyed world of Firrerre, has been made. The Sovereignty has decided to assist the Firrerreo in their reconstruction efforts of their homeworld. And it is my pleasure to announce this to the galaxy. The restoration of Firrerre has begun."


Griff smiled as he watched the holo being played on several news networks across the galaxy. He had been pleased when Congress had voted to front the money and resources to restoe Firrerre. Relia and Strom had broken down, the former in tears. It was the first time the President had seen them happy.

It was a good feeling.

And not many of those come aorund these days. He thought bitterly. The war with the Empire was still dragging on, and good news was few and far in between. All he saw were casualty reports that he requested. Normally such reports would not be delivered to him, but he wanted to at least read the names of those killed in the galaxy-spanning conflict.


He had been given reports that thousands of Firrerreo, not associated with the rescued convoy has begun to flock to the world where ORS technicians were already mapping out their plan to restore the world. The work would take about a year, and more money than anyone had ever expected... but it would be done.

Griff was determined that the world would be restored. The resuced eighteen thousand Firrerreo signed up for jobs in the Engineering Corps to help in the process. Manpower was not needed for the job at all, for ORS had plenty of ready and willing people to help.

The eighteen thousand Firrerreo had elected a Provisional Government, to be based on Bakura until Firrerre was fit to support life. Relia and Strom were both elected, the latter as ambassador to ORS, and the former as Prime Minister. Relia and Griff had already held conferences on how to restore the world the best.

The provisional government had also already voted for their homeworld to join the Sovereignty.


Griff sighed as the holo of Marth Meer's announcement was replayed over and over...

The congress building was silent - not a normal occurance, Griff noted as he faced the one hundred - plus Sovereignty Congress, most of them men, but with a few women here and there.

The sunlight on Bakura was fading, and cast a slightly erriee glow on the building. A skylight was directly above the speakers podium, casting Griff in a beautiful golden glow that he had always hated. It was like a spotlight.

"The people of Firrerre were never oppressed." Griff stated," But they were hurt. They were never beaten, shot, stabbed, molested or robbed, but they were destroyed. They never did anything to cause anyone else pain, they hated violence and crime, yet they were attacked and destroyed."

He paused to let his words sink in before continuing, "The world of Firrerre has been burning, ladies and gentlemen. An old Imperial wrong needs to be righted. The planet is burning and we have a chance to stop it, we have a chance to calm the storm on this world. We have a chance to do good. We have a chance," He paused again, "To bring about a restoration."

He stood up straighter, waiting for comments. One Congressman stood, and Griff identified him as Jeori, a stout man, and graduate of Salis D'aar University. An intelligent fellow.

"Mr. President, we have heard of the wrongs done to the people of Firrerre, and I beleive I speak for everyone when I say it is tragic and the Firrerreo have our sympathy, but we must be frank. What of any of this benefits the Sovereignty?" Jeori asked.

Griff turned to two of his companions, Relia and Strom. Relia stood and moved forward to the microphone, "We have spoken with the survivors found by ORS ships in a colony convoy. They know that the Sovereignty is able to restore our world, and we know of the resources that must be expended to reach this goal. Firrerre does have a strategic position in this sector. It is rich in minerals, which were not destroyed by the horrible Imperial bioweapon all those years ago.

"We are mostly a farming community, with a simple system of government. The survivors of Firrerre have agreed that if the Sovereignty helps us restore Firrerre, we will petition this very same legislature for membership within the Sovereignty and become a full-member world." She said.

Jeori nodded, and returned to his seat as another congressmember stood, this one a woman. Griff knew her as Talia Geoff, a Kal'shebbol native new to the Sovereignty and Congress, "What kind of resources must be expended in order to achieve this goal? Finances and logistics included." She asked.

"My aides have completed a final tally of resources, and have concluded the restoration effort will require the Engineering Corps and one hundred trillion credits." Griff replied coolly.

Geoff was taken aback, "One hundred trillion?!" She exclaimed. A few other congressmembers echoed her sentiments.

"Have you ever tried to rebuild a world, Congressman, Geoff?" He asked politely before raising his voice so everyone could hear, "This is not about resources, and how much this will cost. This is about right and wrong. The Empire comitted a dastardly act by destroying this world and in doing so have destroyed an entire civilization. This is not the first time this has happened, and we all know that most of those wrongs cannot be righted. But we have a genuine chance here to do something right! We have a chance to restore an entire people to their home! Credits can be replaced, the lives of these people cannot." Griff replied.




Later


"It is the decision of this Congress..." Marth Meer read off a datapad from his speakers podium, "In regards to the restoration of the destroyed world of Firrerre, has been made. The Sovereignty has decided to assist the Firrerreo in their reconstruction efforts of their homeworld. And it is my pleasure to announce this to the galaxy. The restoration of Firrerre has begun."


Griff smiled as he watched the holo being played on several news networks across the galaxy. He had been pleased when Congress had voted to front the money and resources to restoe Firrerre. Relia and Strom had broken down, the former in tears. It was the first time the President had seen them happy.

It was a good feeling.

And not many of those come aorund these days. He thought bitterly. The war with the Empire was still dragging on, and good news was few and far in between. All he saw were casualty reports that he requested. Normally such reports would not be delivered to him, but he wanted to at least read the names of those killed in the galaxy-spanning conflict.


He had been given reports that thousands of Firrerreo, not associated with the rescued convoy has begun to flock to the world where ORS technicians were already mapping out their plan to restore the world. The work would take about a year, and more money than anyone had ever expected... but it would be done.

Griff was determined that the world would be restored. The resuced eighteen thousand Firrerreo signed up for jobs in the Engineering Corps to help in the process. Manpower was not needed for the job at all, for ORS had plenty of ready and willing people to help.

The eighteen thousand Firrerreo had elected a Provisional Government, to be based on Bakura until Firrerre was fit to support life. Relia and Strom were both elected, the latter as ambassador to ORS, and the former as Prime Minister. Relia and Griff had already held conferences on how to restore the world the best.

The provisional government had also already voted for their homeworld to join the Sovereignty.

Griff sighed as the holo of Marth Meer's announcement was played again, and again...